“Did you hear they divorced? So, Miss Li is single now?”
“Are you trying to chase her? The ex-wife of Mr. Zhuang? You dare?”
“I wouldn’t dare, but since Mr. Zhuang doesn’t want her anymore… does that mean no one else can have her? You don’t know how many favors I owed just to get this invitation. I even had a drink with Miss Li. Totally worth it.”
Zhuang Qiting’s temples throbbed with anger at their lustful comments about Li Yaru.
Is this what she wanted by divorcing him and leaving?
Li Yaru was too alluring— a lamb among wolves. Once the strongest alpha wolf stopped claiming her, countless others would fight to win her favor.
Even if she was capable of protecting herself, how could she keep others from coveting her? Or did she even like the chase?
Zhuang Qiting just hadn’t expected even these lowly scum to dare to pursue her. Was he dead? He had only kept silent about the divorce. How dare they think that meant he didn’t want Li Yaru?
No, it was Li Yaru who didn’t want him!
His woman, even if divorced, was still his. No cheap trash had the right to fantasize about her.
Two sharply dressed men were chatting animatedly nearby when Zhuang Qiting quietly approached. His eyes, dark and cold beneath the mask, flicked with a deadly sharpness.
He lifted the champagne glass and calmly poured it over one man’s head, the gesture elegant despite the action.
The man was stunned. A splash of champagne ruined his perfect look. When he recovered, he was furious and about to curse the “madman.”
Zhuang Qiting removed his mask and stared at him coldly.
The man trembled, legs weak, “…Mr. Zhuang…”
“Rumor has it you’re chasing Li Yaru?” Zhuang Qiting grabbed the man’s mask and checked which foolish little lapdog he was.
The man panicked and trembled, “N-no no no… Mr. Zhuang, you must have heard wrong. How could I be worthy…”
Zhuang Qiting smiled slightly, lazily dragging the empty champagne glass across the man’s face and said softly, “A toad lusting after swan meat only has one way out.”
Sweat beaded on the man’s temples. Another masked man nearby was silent, too afraid to speak. Zhuang Qiting casually slid the champagne glass into the man’s suit pocket and said, “Leave.”
Everyone’s attention had already been drawn away by Li Yaru. This little scene caused no big stir.
Zhuang Qiting put his mask back on, restoring his noble elegance.
Li Yaru, surrounded by admirers, took center stage, smiling brightly as she accepted champagne from Liang Sijie, uncorked it herself, and poured it into the towering crystal champagne fountain.
She was tonight’s star. Guests came in an endless stream to toast her, and gifts piled up on the table. Waltz music played one tune after another to warm the atmosphere.
Zhuang Qiting stood in the shadowy recesses, watching countless masked men with leering faces flutter around Li Yaru like flies no one could shoo away.
These men appeared gentlemanly but harbored lustful and filthy intentions.
He had warned Li Yaru more than once that men outside were dangerous and urged her to keep her distance.
While bored in the car, Zhuang Qikai received an order: 【Cut off the power at Li Residence. Now.】
Zhuang Qikai: “???”
【Please, big brother, I can’t get in! It’s such a big mansion, the main switch is hard to find. How am I supposed to cut the power?】
【Why cut the power? Big brother, don’t cause trouble.】
Zhuang Qiting: 【Have Shenghui Electric cut all power to this area of the Li Residence. Ten minutes. Make it look like a fault.】
Zhuang Qikai: 【……………】
Crazy. Crazy. Big brother is really crazy! You don’t chase a wife like this!
The Shenghui Group had bought the largest power supply company on Hong Kong Island back in the 1980s, renamed it Zhonghua Shenghui Electric, and owned two power plants on the island, supplying nearly one-third of Hong Kong Island. The Li Residence was right inside this supply zone.
Li Yaru chatted happily with guests, masked so unfamiliar faces couldn’t be distinguished. The gentlemen’s hidden lust grew bolder behind the masks. Li Yaru had heard far too many flirtatious, ambiguous compliments tonight.
Yet, many of these men had partners—wives or girlfriends. These men wore clothes like people but were like ghosts when undressed. What low scum dared embarrass themselves in front of her?
Li Yaru snorted softly, unable to hide her contempt. She blamed Zhuang Qiting for this.
Zhuang Qiting exceeded her expectations by being so upright and faithful. In over twenty years of marriage, she had never once worried he’d cheat, flirt, or glance at other women.
A man so powerful and influential could easily keep multiple wives and concubines if he wanted.
Many times she wondered whether she had married the right man or the wrong one.
When he was bad, he was very bad— making her hate him enough to wish for mutual destruction.
But when he was good, he was very good— leaving her reluctant to let go.
He was obsessed with transforming her; had she never tried to change him?
“Miss Li, have I offended you somehow? Today’s your birthday; you’re the queen of the day.” A gentleman noticed Li Yaru’s silence and stared in awe, feeling a sudden surge of affection.
How could such a beautiful, passionate woman exist in this world? Luckily, Mr. Zhuang was tired of her and no longer possessed her; otherwise, who would get this toast?
Li Yaru raised a lazy smile, “Since I’m the queen, I’ll skip this toast. Sir, please excuse me for a moment.”
The gentleman melted with joy, but then—
Snap!
Suddenly, the entire hall plunged into darkness.
Li Yaru’s heart skipped. This sudden blackout made her panic slightly, as if she had fallen into a pitch-black pit. A power outage?
This was the wealthy district of Hong Kong Island, supplied by Shenghui Electric. How could there be a blackout?
“Sijie!” she called urgently.
“Damn! Who kicked me? Ah— ah—” The gentleman was suddenly kicked in the groin and stomped on several times in frustration.
“Don’t hit me—”
“What’s going on? Is the power out?”
Chaos quickly erupted.
In the dark, Li Yaru lost her footing and felt around in confusion— tables, chairs, columns— anything to hold onto. Suddenly, a strong force encircled her waist, squeezing so tightly she couldn’t breathe.
Yet it was the only anchor in the darkness.
“Who’s there?” Li Yaru struggled nervously. Was a man trying to assault her under cover of darkness?
She deliberately grabbed the man’s suit collar hard, trying to identify the fabric and leave marks. Her nose caught a strange scent, faintly familiar but not quite.
She didn’t have time to think deeply, just hissed fiercely, “Let go! Do you know who I am, you bastard? If I find out who you are, I’ll kill you.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled. The little one’s fierceness had its merits. She had to be fierce— to other men, that was right.
He deliberately wore a different perfume today, a scent he never used before. She couldn’t tell it was him.
Zhuang Qiting said nothing but lifted Li Yaru up. In the darkness, he flipped her so her back was pressed against a column.
His burning gaze locked on her. Though he couldn’t see clearly, his mind vividly displayed her face, eyes, nose, and lips…
Li Yaru felt goosebumps at being stared at so intently. Just as she was about to scream, a large hand covered her mouth. The scent couldn’t be masked, nor the warmth or the intimate skin contact.
No two people knew each other better than they did.
“…Zhuang Qiting?” Li Yaru trembled, barely managing to speak.
The moment she recognized him, Zhuang Qiting removed his mask, threw it aside, and eagerly kissed her ear. His hot breath caressed her earlobe in the dark, sending shivers down her spine.
“Happy birthday, Miss Li.”
It really was Zhuang Qiting. Li Yaru’s tightened muscles relaxed instantly. She lifted her foot to stomp on Zhuang Qiting’s shoe and muttered angrily, “Zhuang Qiting, I didn’t invite you. What are you doing here, umph—”
She shivered as her earlobe was taken into his mouth. His rough tongue shamelessly licked in the dark.
They hadn’t been intimate for half a year. The moment their bodies touched, it was like a spark landing in dry hay—an uncontrollable instinct. Her body, against her will, responded to him.
“You dressed like this on purpose, didn’t you? You just love showing off that figure, huh? You’re almost exposing your butt.” Zhuang Qiting bit his words out.
“What madness… Your mouth’s filthy. What I wear is none of your business.” Li Yaru’s breathing was uneven, hating that he said such crude things.
It was just an ordinary haute couture dress!
“Do you know how many men tonight are fantasizing about you? They say you have big breasts, a nice butt; they want to plow you, get you drunk, chase you, even… sleep with you. You like this?” Zhuang Qiting’s cold voice was as chilling as frost.
“I don’t like a damn thing! They’re filthy and low. And you blame me? You’re sick.” Li Yaru dug her nails into Zhuang Qiting’s neck.
Zhuang Qiting took a deep breath. It hurt that she was hurting him. Yes, he should drive these men away completely, not forbid Li Yaru from wearing the dresses she liked.
“Fine, you convinced me. They’re filthy and despicable. I’ll deal with them one by one. It’s your birthday. No ruining the mood.”
Only ten minutes.
Zhuang Qiting then cupped her chin, unable to hold back, and kissed her deeply. The instant their lips met, his tongue eagerly pried inside, wildly exploring. Li Yaru, held and kissed, lost herself for a moment.
It had been so long since their last kiss…
Even she didn’t know why she hadn’t tried a younger, handsome guy. She had before — she had fantasized about the perfect one, someone better than Zhuang Qiting.
She constantly warned herself not to be the type who’d accept anything rotten; she had standards.
Zhuang Qiting frenziedly took her breath, his mouth full of sweet nectar which he swallowed. His palm traced over the stockings studded with diamonds.
“You’re impossible… You can’t keep that fox tail hidden for more than three days,” she whispered between breaths, “Zhuang Qiting, you’re still chasing me. I’ll never— umph— let you— umph— chase me in this lifetime!”
“It’s fine. You can only let me chase you for life. I’ll wear you down. Li Yaru, you might as well tell everyone we’re divorced and that you don’t want me. Doesn’t matter. I, Zhuang Qiting, can lose that person. But I’ll make sure everyone knows I’m chasing you. Let’s see which man dares to covet you!”
There were many ways to assert ownership.
The woman Zhuang Qiting chased was off-limits to others.
He slid his hand over the diamond-studded sheer stocking, wet and soaked in lace, palm filled with moisture. Even Zhuang Qiting was a bit surprised by how intense she was in this moment.