Gloves - Chapter 26

An Chujie handed Shang Zhuoxi the keys to her house, using her spare set for herself. She bought the most comfortable pillows and mattress for her, hoping that when she came over after a long day, she could at least sleep comfortably.

However, after her leg injury healed, Shang Zhuoxi rarely visited her at home, as if doctors never bothered to check on patients who had already recovered.

An Chujie was busy every day composing and arranging music. During this time, she would occasionally go to the hospital to check on Shang Zhuoxi and cook delicious meals for her to nourish her body. Inevitably, she would also run into Xu Yuer. So, An Chujie would usually do a little more than before because she knew that Shang Zhuoxi would share what she had with her.

As time went on, An Chujie would also ask herself if she truly accepted this situation. Xu Yuer’s presence became more and more like a growing thorn, glaring and piercing her heart. An Chujie remembered that day when Shang Zhuoxi held her but immediately let go when Xu Yuer approached.

An Chujie knew deep down that Shang Zhuoxi wasn’t an assertive person and didn’t like excessive physical contact with others. Xu Yuer was assertive, and Shang Zhuoxi surprisingly fulfilled all her demands. Perhaps Shang Zhuoxi herself wasn’t aware of how much she cared about Xu Yuer, enough to make An Chujie feel uneasy. That uneasiness, to put it simply, was jealousy, or to put it more seriously, a sense of envy. This was the first time An Chujie had such feelings.

There is no woman who is never jealous; there are only women who don’t care enough.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, An Chujie would quiet down and think about all of this, unable to help but cry. When Shang Zhuoxi came back from her night shift and heard the faint crying, she would push open the door and ask what was wrong. An Chujie would just turn away, wiping away her tears, and say that she had a bad dream. She didn’t want her complicated thoughts to affect Shang Zhuoxi’s mood or disrupt her sleep.

How An Chujie wished she could be like Xu Yuer, casually jumping into Shang Zhuoxi’s arms and telling her to keep some distance from Xu Yuer because it would make her sad. But An Chujie didn’t have the courage. She still feared that Shang Zhuoxi would dislike her, after all, Xu Yuer could be by her side all day, discussing medical issues together, while she couldn’t.

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Hua Xinghua absentmindedly ran his hand through his hair, seemingly not hearing Nian Zichun’s words.

“Hua San, let’s get a divorce,” Nian Zichun said, sitting on the couch with her hand against her forehead. She had finally lost her patience.

The man stopped his actions, gripping the towel tightly in his hand. His disheveled hair fell onto his forehead, making him look a bit dejected. Hua San had never considered the idea of divorce. He would rather have Nian Zichun hit him, scold him, or even give him the silent treatment for as long as she wanted.

Nian Zichun didn’t look up at Hua San; she was waiting for his response.

The prolonged silence was Hua San’s struggle to contain the storm in his heart.

“Wife…” Hua San finally spoke.

Nian Zichun finally removed her hand and looked at Hua San. However, this casual gesture easily overturned the man’s hard-earned composure. Hua San fell to his knees beside the couch, holding onto Nian Zichun’s waist as he began to cry. Now that he called her his wife, she would still agree. But if this woman insisted on divorcing him, who would respond if he called her his wife tomorrow?

Nian Zichun raised her head, preventing tears from falling, and took a deep breath to maintain a calm tone.

“Hua San, don’t be like this,” she said. A man’s knee is made of gold, and Nian Zichun felt a deep discomfort seeing her husband in this state.

“I was wrong, wife, I’m sorry,” the man repeatedly shook his head, and Nian Zichun’s waist was soon soaked by his hot tears.

“Wife, it was my momentary confusion. I truly love only you in this lifetime, and I will never do something like this again!” Hua San lifted his head, his nose and eyes red.

“I swear, from now on, if…” Hua San sniffed and reached out his hand.

“Hua San, you don’t have to be so hard on yourself,” Nian Zichun gently held his hand as he made his vow.

“Just look at you, so outstanding, young, and with your own career. There must be many women who are interested in you,” Nian Zichun’s voice carried a hint of melancholy. Indeed, thirty years old is still very young for a man.

“It’s me who has let you down. There are certain things that I just can’t give you,” Nian Zichun cradled the man’s face, looking at him with a compassionate gaze.

“That’s my failure as a wife. But I don’t want to hold you back. You should find a better, more caring wife who can openly give you what you desire, instead of…” Instead of sneaking around, which would be safer.

“I don’t want any other woman. I only want you!” Hua San held Nian Zichun tightly, his voice choked with tears. Nian Zichun’s face became clear and then blurry, blurry and then clear. He deeply regretted his momentary desire for pleasure, disregarding the consequences. However, Nian Zichun’s next words left Hua San speechless, unable to cry anymore.

“Hua San, it’s not that people can’t make mistakes, but it’s hard to forgive repeated mistakes,” Nian Zichun’s grip on Hua San’s hand weakened as she gently pushed him away and stood up.

“Ever since I found out about you seeing escorts that one time, I’ve been observing you. How could I not care? When you were in Singapore, I called you, and there were two different women who answered. I know your daily routines, when you shower, when you sleep. I know all of it better than anyone else. At first, I could turn a blind eye because I understood a man’s needs. But in the past six months since you’ve returned, have you been ‘working late’ a bit too often? Several times, your colleagues from the office came to me because they couldn’t reach you when they needed some documents. They asked if Manager Hu was in. Hua San, how can I bear this? Do I have to tell them that they are all blind and can’t see that you’re in the office? I would make up excuses like you went back to your hometown to visit your parents or that you were too tired and fell asleep. I even turned off your phone to avoid disturbing you. At least they would still think you’re a caring leader. Hua San, do you know that I’ve never lied from childhood to adulthood?” Nian Zichun stood tall with her back straight. Her hair was perfectly arranged, like a queen looking down at the man kneeling before her.

Hua San’s mouth hung open, his gaze vacant. His body relaxed and slumped down, his hair still falling messily onto his forehead, casting a shadow over his eyes.

She felt heartbroken for him.

Nian Zichun walked into the room and took out a yellow file folder. She opened it and carefully placed a few papers on the coffee table. The large words “Divorce Agreement” and the wedding ring on Nian Zichun’s hand pierced Hua San’s eyes. Suddenly, he transformed into a different person. His eyes turned red, and he mumbled something as he crawled towards the coffee table, grabbing the papers and tearing them to shreds. He stood up, crying, but then his head spun and he collapsed again, overwhelmed by the sea of white paper swirling around him. He gasped for breath heavily.

Nian Zichun stood there arrogantly, shaking her head as she looked at the desolate scene. The divorce agreement could be reprinted, but Hua San’s state needed to be addressed first. It seemed that they wouldn’t be able to proceed with the divorce anytime soon.

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“Beep…beep…” Two urgent and bright honks sounded, and the car lights kept flashing. Qi Ruan was signaling to the other person, letting them know that the only parking spot was hers.

However, the driver of the other car, a champagne-colored Maserati, completely ignored her. After a brief standoff, the Maserati decisively reversed and parked sideways, directly taking the spot. Once the engine was turned off, the driver arrogantly flashed the lights at the Land Rover behind them.

A pair of long legs clad in high-quality tight pants stepped out first, followed by the iconic golden hair. Shang Zhuoxi closed the car door, twirled the car keys in her hand, disdainfully glanced at Qi Ruan’s car, and with a toss of her head, elegantly walked away, leaving Qi Ruan with a cold and distant figure.

“Hey! Shang Zhuoxi! I clearly arrived first!” Qi Ruan awkwardly stopped in the aisle, rolled down her window, and shouted. The First Hospital is always so crowded!

Upon hearing the familiar and detested voice, Shang Zhuoxi curved her lips, turned around, and casually dropped a remark, “Blaming me for your poor driving skills?” After speaking, a layer of frost reappeared on her queen-like face.

Qi Ruan, feeling indignant, honked a few times and reluctantly backed out. She found a secluded spot to park. President Shang was always so dominant. Qi Ruan secretly made up her mind to find an opportunity to teach this woman a lesson.

“Tu Yi! Is it easy for me to come to your hospital?! Come down yourself!” Tu Yi’s eardrums were about to burst. Meowjie had quite the temper. Even though she had said she would come to see her, she was still so fierce.

“Meowjie, she’ll come down eventually.”

….

“Hey, An~” Qi Ruan saw An Chujie coming out and immediately threw away the cigarette in her hand.

“…Qi Ruan…” An Chujie had just left the company when she encountered the enthusiastic Qi Ruan.

“An, can you call me Xiaoruan? Is that okay?” Qi Ruan interlocked her hands behind her head and walked alongside An Chujie, glancing down at her lower body, saying with a mischievous smile, “An, I didn’t notice before, but your legs are so straight and beautiful.”

“…” An Chujie was speechless.

“I would be so happy if you called me Xiaoruan. Do you know that many women can’t help but call me that when they’re in bed with me?”

“That’s them, not me. Don’t you have work to do every day?” An Chujie felt that Qi Ruan seemed idle every day.

“Mind your own business. As long as I can support myself and support you, it’s enough,” Qi Ruan said, lowering her hand to try to hold An Chujie’s hand.

“Who said I need you to support me!” An Chujie quickly shook off her hand, blushing and looking down.

“It seems like your foot has healed, and you have more strength now, don’t you?” Qi Ruan reached out and held An Chujie’s hand in her palm.

“What is there to like about that Shang person? At the very least, she has never held your hand like this, right?” Qi Ruan let go of her hand and said earnestly.

“No, she hasn’t,” An Chujie replied without much confidence. Qi Ruan walked up to An Chujie, lifted her face to make her look at her, and said, “What I mean is, she takes off her gloves.”