Chapter 18 (1/2): Pick Wings-P

Li Yaru’s lips tingled, saturated with the man’s breath, sharp as strong liquor— deep, burning, and impossible to shake off once touched.

She truly hated the way he acted as if he controlled everything, and she wished she could just climb on top of him and trample all over that proud, high-and-mighty expression.

Up to now, he had never taken her request for a divorce seriously, even though the provisional divorce decree was about to be issued.

Everything in his life had always gone so smoothly, he got whatever he wanted with ease, and no one dared to defy him. That had shaped his innate arrogance.

“You never really took our divorce seriously, did you?” Li Yaru didn’t even know what she was feeling at the moment. It was as if she had been punched.

She quietly stared at the man before her— the one she’d slept beside for over a decade.

They had been husband and wife for years; she knew him well.

Zhuang Qiting didn’t answer, only gave a faint smile, his meaning clear without words.

Li Yaru said, “You think I’m just making a scene. You’re just going along with it for now, waiting for me to get tired of it or hit a wall, and then I’ll obediently come back to you, isn’t that right?”

Zhuang Qiting pinched her nose. “How are you this clever?”

Li Yaru’s gaze cooled. “But I’m serious this time, Zhuang Qiting.”

“I know, you’re being serious.” Zhuang Qiting laughed indifferently, not caring at all, and with a flex of his arm, he scooped her up. Her legs, splayed apart, closed together like a compass. The mountain air was cold, and lying on the floor for too long would catch a chill. “Haven’t I always cooperated with you? You want a divorce, I respect your wishes.”

His nonchalant attitude made Li Yaru even more annoyed, but there was nothing she could do.

He was just that kind of person— the more she emphasized it, the more childish and defeated she seemed.

So she decided not to argue with him anymore. Whatever. He could keep playing his game, but she wasn’t going to go along with it anymore.

The man’s embrace was still comfortable— solid and strong, giving her the illusion of being cradled in a cozy nest. Zhuang Qiting gently placed her on the tatami mat.

Her legs were sore and aching, so she massaged them with the heel of her hand and said, “Big boss, the word ‘respect’ coming out of your mouth is about as believable as Aqiang saying he’ll never gnaw on a big bone again.”

Aqiang was the guard dog raised at the Zhuang Residence, a German Shepherd with a huge appetite.

Zhuang Qiting’s expression darkened. No matter what, he couldn’t be compared to a dog!

He was her man.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” he scolded.

Seeing his gloomy face, Li Yaru felt a bit better. “Isn’t it true? All these years, have you ever respected anyone? The whole Zhuang Family is under your iron rule. Your subordinates act like mice seeing a snake when they see you. Even your three sons are afraid of you. So am I.”

Zhuang Qiting said, “You’re afraid of me? Darling, you’ve practically climbed onto my shoulders.”

Li Yaru was being honest: when she was younger, she was a little intimidated by him and yielded to his domineering ways. She even agreed to marry him in a muddle, not completely of her own free will.

That went on for the first two years after marriage. But as they got more familiar— and did it more and more— the vague sense of fear disappeared completely.

“Screw you. You’ve managed my life for so many years. From when I was nineteen until now, everything has been arranged by you. You’re more of a dad than my real dad. Looking back, I admire myself for being able to put up with a control freak like you for so long.”

Zhuang Qiting looked at her with amusement, as if watching a rebellious teenage girl. “How have I controlled you?”

He couldn’t stand watching Li Yaru knead her legs like a cat, so he took her hand away and massaged her thigh himself.

Outside, the bamboo grove swayed in the wind, shadows flickered, and the rustic woven lamp cast a warm yellow glow, enveloping the two sitting on the tatami.

This was probably the most peaceful night they’d had since the divorce drama began.

“You had to control everything— what I ate, what I wore, even the friends I made had to be screened by you. Every day you arranged a bunch of random classes for me. I wasn’t even allowed to nurse my sons. If that’s not being a control freak, then what is?”

Zhuang Qiting frowned and said, “It was all for your own good. You’d just entered this circle back then, and all sorts of people wanted to curry favor, please you, or scheme against you. If I didn’t keep an eye out for you, how would you have coped? The classes were to enrich your time and improve your abilities.”

“As for not letting you nurse them…” He fell silent.

The truth was, he couldn’t stand anyone else touching her— not even their newborn sons.

All three sons grew up on formula, so what? Didn’t they grow up healthy and chubby? It’s not like they’d dare argue with him about it!

He wanted to have her all to himself.

Li Yaru looked at him with disdain and slapped his hand away. “Shut up. A dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory. Anyway, believe it or not, I’m not going to cater to your weird fetishes anymore. When the decree comes through, we’ll go our separate ways. Don’t even think about controlling me again.”

Zhuang Qiting thought to himself that she was still naïve. Divorce wasn’t just a piece of paper.

He had cared for her meticulously for over a decade. If she really left, she’d either freeze or starve.

“Arong, have you even thought about what divorce means? You can’t cook, can’t clean, can’t manage a house. You’re used to having all the old staff who’ve looked after you for years, but you can’t take any of them with you. If you have to hire new people, will those troublemakers be able to serve you as well?”

Li Yaru sneered.

“Eating, bathing, beauty routines, going out, hygiene, gardening… You know better than anyone how high-maintenance you are.”

The servants at the Zhuang Residence had worked there for six or seven years at least, some for over a decade.

They knew all of Li Yaru’s temperaments, preferences, and habits inside out. She never needed to say much, and everything was taken care of to her comfort.

Zhuang Qiting could just imagine her trying to live on her own after leaving the Zhuang Residence, dragging a whole crew along. Had she ever even thought about it? These people were all his!

“Don’t trouble yourself about it. I’ll handle it myself.”

Zhuang Qiting’s eyes darkened a little. Fine, he’d said everything he could. If she insisted on being stubborn, she could cry about it later.

“I can’t be bothered to care about you.” His tone was icy.

“As long as you don’t mess with me behind my back, I’ll be thankful.” Suddenly, Li Yaru remembered something, pulled up her knees, and stared at him with wide, peach blossom eyes: “I can’t buy a house—are you behind this?”

Zhuang Qiting’s face didn’t change. “What house?”

“I’ve asked all around Qianshui Bay, but no one will sell to me.”

She wanted to live near Qiu Mei and Awen, so she was only looking for houses in that area.

Zhuang Qiting grabbed her calf and put it back on his own leg, continuing to massage it. “I have no interest in playing tricks over something like that. If you can’t even manage to buy a house, you should just give up, apologize to me, and I’ll let you off with a small punishment.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll spank your butt a hundred times.”

He still didn’t realize his own mistake, and was even thinking about spanking her!

Li Yaru was suddenly overwhelmed by anger and frustration. With nowhere to vent, she kicked him hard a few times. She might as well be his grandchild!

“Are you sick, you old bastard? If anyone should be apologizing, it’s you— on your knees, begging and calling me ancestor! You want me to apologize to you? In your dreams! Dream on, anything can happen in dreams!”

“Go sleep on the floor! Ex-husband! We’re divorced!”

She didn’t hold back when she kicked him— she was fierce. Zhuang Qiting’s muscles tensed from the pain.

If he hadn’t reacted quickly, one of those kicks would have hit a vital spot, and with that force, she really might have kicked him into the hospital.

The final round of negotiations had completely broken down.

Zhuang Qiting was burning with anger after being kicked. Two months of pent-up frustration and desire erupted all at once.