Regret that his goddess had been married, pain that she married a man who looked at least ten years older— at least in his mid-thirties! Relief that she was divorced! This was the best news he could hope for.
Kurt comforted her, “Divorce is a good thing. My mother said women must be brave enough to abandon men who don’t treat them well. Eleanor, if he causes trouble for you, I’ll protect you.”
Zhuang Qiting watched this brazen little vixen clinging to Eleanor in front of him, spouting childish nonsense. A cold smile tugged at his lips as his fingers unconsciously clenched.
His Aru (Li Yaru), these days, was far from obedient.
Zhuang Qiting subtly signaled to Assistant Shen who understood instantly, nodding quietly but sighing inwardly.
This handsome young man was in for some bad luck.
Fortunately, Assistant Shen was smart and well-behaved, never daring to steal a glance at the lady.
When the lady was in a good mood and noticed his efforts, she’d occasionally give him a small gift and praise him, to which he reported everything meticulously.
Thanks to his honesty, he had managed to stay by the Chairman’s side for a long time.
.
Li Yaru locked herself in her room, venting her frustration by punching a throw pillow as if it were Zhuang Qiting. Only then did she change her dress, touch up her makeup, and pick out jewelry.
This vacation, she hadn’t brought any assistants or stylists— she wanted to travel light, to avoid Zhuang Qiting’s control. Yet he had still tracked her down.
Curling her hair with a scowl, an impulse struck. She slipped out of her long dress and pulled on a black strapless mini dress.
The taffeta fabric was stiff and full-bodied, the hem just covering her ample hips. She paired it with sheer black stockings and pointed high heels exuding mature feminine charm.
Her figure was perfectly proportioned— large bust, slim waist, high hips—which made her legs look even longer. Any form-fitting outfit would inevitably make her the center of attention.
As she strode in elegance, the Serengeti welcomed the day’s most romantic moment— the sunset.
The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant hues, the golden veil of dusk draping Kilimanjaro’s snowy peak.
Elephant herds returned home at sunset, lion prides rested quietly, and a leopard lay on an acacia tree, becoming a black silhouette. At this moment, the wild heartbeat of the earth slowed.
The sunset bathed her as well.
Zhuang Qiting silently watched his wife approach, his facial muscles taut with suppressed anger. She was doing this deliberately— showing off how stunning and captivating she was, even here on the African savannah.
Those collarbones, shoulders, arms, the pomelo he had kneaded soft, the legs he had kissed and bitten…
Why did she dare to show herself to others?
These were all his.
Kurt had never seen Li Yaru like this before— mature, sexy, full of charm, like a perfect, glossy red gem. He stood up excitedly and declared, “Eleanor, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever known!”
Zhuang Qiting clenched his fists. The Italian-born sly vixen was even more disgusting— throwing out flowery words so freely and shamelessly.
Every woman was like this. He equally despised all males, regardless of purity, who lost control around anyone.
If Li Yaru took these words seriously, she had wasted her life and betrayed his years of painstaking guidance!
Li Yaru didn’t even look at Zhuang Qiting, indifferent to his dark thoughts. She walked over to Kurt with a smile and invited, “Remember to take photos of me later.”
Kurt’s blue eyes gleamed with affection as he performed a gentlemanly bow. “Peerless beauty, it’s my honor.”
Zhuang Qiting nearly gagged. He repressed his fury and smoothly inserted himself between Li Yaru and Kurt, smiling gently.
His usually dark, deep eyes softened under the sunset glow, seeming tender. “Baby, I brought your favorite roast meat from Hong Kong Island. You haven’t eaten any these days. Aren’t you craving it?”
Li Yaru glanced at him lightly and leisurely gathered her things, proudly refusing to reply.
That spoiled little expression made Zhuang Qiting want nothing more than to strip her bare and devour her.
The dining table was laden with abundant dishes— half local specialties like coconut curry beef, roasted Nile perch, and coarse Ugali (a local staple). The other half seemed to have fallen from the heavens.
Bamboo steamers carried translucent shrimp dumplings, thick and glossy honey barbecued pork, steamed crab vermicelli, Portuguese egg tarts, mango pomelo sago… even red tea chestnut cake, along with her favorite red tea.
All her usual favorites from the Zhuang household.
Zhuang Qiting explained gently since Li Yaru remained silent, “I was afraid you wouldn’t get used to the local food, so I brought two chefs specially to cook for you.”
Li Yaru said, “You really don’t mind troubling people.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled, “They’re very happy to come to Africa and see the savannah.”
Li Yaru didn’t understand his intention behind this conciliatory gesture, but she wasn’t one to make things difficult for herself.
Since he had come all the way from Hong Kong Island as a caretaker and brought her favorite food and drink, she wasn’t about to refuse.
After all, she was tired of eating only Western and African dishes these days.
She gave a sly smile and invited Kurt, “Kurt, these are all specialties from Hong Kong Island. I don’t know if you’ve tried them before. Come, let’s eat together.”
Kurt pitifully only ordered a steak and salad.
“Really? Kind goddess, you’re willing to invite me to eat with you?”
Zhuang Qiting grabbed Li Yaru’s wrist, forcing her to look at him coldly. “Baby, I don’t have time to invite foreign friends to dine.”
Li Yaru smiled back, “If Kurt doesn’t eat, I won’t eat either.”
Zhuang Qiting was silent for a moment before coldly uttering, “Fine.”
Kurt was polite and aware this meal was prepared by Li Yaru’s ex-husband. Before starting, he expressed gratitude, “Sir, thank you for your generous hospitality. May I ask your name?”
Zhuang Qiting didn’t want to eat with a child. In his eyes, Kurt should be in a child’s seat, no different from Ming.
Though deeply disgusted inside, he maintained a calm exterior. Given his age and status, he would never openly show favor or disdain. “My surname is Zhuang.”
Kurt said, “Mr. Zhuang, hello. I’m Kurt, Eleanor’s good friend and her exclusive African photographer.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled as he served Li Yaru a piece of char siu. “Baby, you’re right. Boys in their teens or twenties are really no different from char siu. Even more noisy than Ming, don’t you think?”
Li Yaru was too lazy to respond to his mockery and bit into the char siu. She hadn’t had Hong Kong cuisine in half a month.
The salty-sweet flavor delighted her, making her squint in enjoyment. “Char siu has its own merits.”
“What merits?” Zhuang Qiting asked, watching her.
Li Yaru blinked. “It tastes fresh and delicious, soft but firm, much better than old preserved pork.”
Darkness flickered in Zhuang Qiting’s eyes, but he concealed it calmly. His voice lowered, “Aru, he’s only about twenty-four or twenty-five— about the same age as our son, right?”
Li Yaru smiled, “I think he’s interesting. He’s handsome and cute, young and energetic. He doesn’t threaten me and listens well. He’s very obedient.”
She emphasized “obedient,” something she had never said to him in all these years.
She lazily toyed with the chestnut cake. “Do you know why among my three sons, I love Ming the most? The eldest inherited your steadiness, the second your scheming, but the youngest is the most promising. He has none of your traits, listens well, and I like him best.”
Zhuang Qiting felt a slow, sour sting of jealousy bubbling up inside. He sneered, “He’s just a fool. All he does is get into trouble and act spoiled. What’s so likeable about that?”
Li Yaru smiled, “Zhuang Qiting, I’m only allowed to like obedient, well-behaved boys. Am I not allowed to like others?”
Zhuang Qiting swallowed hard. “I’m not angry. Aru, what have I done that you’re dissatisfied with? I’m willing to back down.”
“It’s not about being angry. I’ve come to realize why I keep fighting with you. You’ve spent decades trying to make me obedient. You refuse to admit failure because of sunk costs— you’re unwilling to give up. I’m just smarter than you, Zhuang Qiting. I admit I can’t beat you. Your tactics, scheming, power, wealth, even endurance all surpass mine. So—”
Her tone suddenly softened, drifting straight into his heart. “I don’t want to play anymore, Zhuang Qiting.”
“I won’t argue with you anymore. I won’t quarrel or get angry. I’ll just live my own life. When the divorce is finalized, you won’t have anything to do with me.”
The sunset blazed like fire, scorching the wilderness and burning a painful feeling inside Zhuang Qiting. He watched his wife’s brilliant profile, bathed in the fading glow of dusk, cold and distant.
Nothing to do with him. She no longer belonged to him.
He clenched the wedding ring on his ring finger, eyes darkening with nearly insane malice.
“Baby, you won’t get away.”
Unless he died, he would never let her go. She was his woman, now and forever.
Even in death, he would not become a ghost but haunt her day and night.