Li Yaru had lately started fearing Zhuang Qiting—this man was like a piece of chewing gum stuck to her shoe.
Wherever she went, he followed. Whether it was public events or private gatherings with her girlfriends, the flashy jewel-red Phantom was always glaringly present, a blatant display of affection.
After another round of ostentatious antics, she and Zhuang Qiting once again made the headlines of every major entertainment tabloid on Hong Kong Island.
【Breaking News! Tycoon’s relentless pursuit of his wife intensifies year after year; sky-high luxury cars publicly acknowledged by their owner; “Eleanor” ex-wife license plate Phantom shocks all of Hong Kong. Miss Li’s private girls’ night shyly erupts: Enough already! So much flaunting, it’s annoying! Insider sources reveal the tycoon’s relentless tactics go beyond car ownership—his relentless moves have rekindled his ex-wife’s passion…】
Li Yaru had always enjoyed reading entertainment tabloids as light reading during meals. Recently, the Li Residence even stopped subscribing to them, fearing they might end up the subject of the gossip.
“Ah Rou, I just saw Zhuang Sheng’s car again when I came in,” Liang Yongwen teased, winking and placing her hands on Li Yaru’s shoulders, pinching them lightly as she leaned in and whispered, “Have you two gotten back together?”
“Huh? He’s here again? Isn’t this place for women only?” Li Yaru’s mind lit up with a “ding.”
Today, Li Yaru was attending the monthly gathering at the Mid-Levels Ladies Club. She hadn’t come in the past few months, so naturally, she became the center of attention this time.
The ladies all surrounded her, chatting about everything and anything, even dragging her into a golf game, where she left them utterly defeated.
The whole afternoon had been pleasant, but the moment she heard Zhuang Qiting had come again, her face instantly fell.
What kind of person was this? How could he cling to her every single day?
Liang Yongwen found Li Yaru’s expression hilarious. “Though this is a ladies’ club, Shenghui Group is its biggest sponsor this year. They wouldn’t just bar Zhuang Sheng from coming in.”
Li Yaru snorted coldly, folding her fan. “I didn’t know he was even interested in sponsoring the Ladies Club.”
After a while, a group of wealthy women came laughing over, and upon seeing Li Yaru, began chattering all at once—
“Madam Li! Guess who we just saw? Zhuang Sheng’s sitting outside at the café waiting for you!”
“Yeah, yeah, and there’s a huge bouquet of roses next to him. It must be for you.”
“Waited for half an hour already!”
“Ah Rou, when are you and Zhuang Sheng going to get back together? He’s really making a move lately—changed his car and even the license plate to ‘Eleanor’! Clearly trying to win you back!”
“No rush, no rush. Ah Rou, don’t be in such a hurry to make up with a man. You have to play hard to get! Make him your obedient chauffeur!”
“I’m so envious. A man of Zhuang Sheng’s age still so romantic and passionate. Mine? Ha, all that passion’s spent on some twenty-year-old beauty.”
A cluster of glamorous women laughed together, while Li Yaru’s face stiffened, feeling utterly embarrassed—embarrassed to the core!
The club provided a complimentary dinner, but Li Yaru didn’t eat. She grabbed her bag and strode out of the event room.
At the café, she indeed spotted the man in a suit, sitting elegantly, a laptop open on the table as he worked leisurely while waiting.
A steaming cup of coffee sat beside him.
“Zhuang Qiting!” Li Yaru marched up fiercely, muttering a barely audible “old bastard.”
Zhuang Qiting, seeing her finally emerge, closed his laptop and gave her a slight smile. His gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose gave him a proper, polished air.
“Haven’t had dinner yet? Then let’s eat together,” Zhuang Qiting said, handing her the bouquet.
At first, every time he gave her flowers, chauffeured her, appeared wherever she was, Li Yaru found it novel.
But when it happened repeatedly, she just found him annoying.
Despite her disdain, she took the bouquet, the Monet-inspired colors making her complexion blossom like a peach flower. “Don’t you have work and social engagements? Did you dump everything on A Zhou again? He never complains, but lately, he’s been saying it’s too exhausting.”
Zhuang Qiting was indifferent, coldly replying, “Whining to you over minor troubles? Pathetic. Back then, I worked ten or a hundred times harder than him, and you never cared.”
Li Yaru rolled her eyes. “I care about you my ass. You’re busy working late into the night, but I see you’re still as lively as ever.”
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Zhuang Qiting’s eyes. He raised a hand to gently cover his wife’s mouth. “Ah Rou, stop saying that. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Her little mouth always stirred unexpected turmoil in his otherwise unshakable heart. He couldn’t scold her, nor could he punish her. Frustrating yet helpless.
Li Yaru glanced around; the café was empty, so she relaxed slightly.
Noticing her expression, Zhuang Qiting smiled and took her hand. “You know you want to save face. Let’s go, I’ve booked a restaurant.”
The custom jewel-red Phantom sat conspicuously at the club entrance, its “Eleanor” license plate a silent but bold declaration.
Li Yaru’s cheeks flushed unexpectedly. “Zhuang, the car’s yours.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Then give me the license plate. It’s my ‘Eleanor’—it suits me best.”
Zhuang Qiting stepped forward, pulled open the car door with a gentle smile. His eyes were deep and calm like a slowly flowing dark river.
His voice was steady, “No, Ah Rou, I can give you everything else.”
Li Yaru stared at him. “Aren’t you embarrassed driving this car around every day…?”
What man would flaunt his ex-wife’s name on his license plate? Zhuang Qiting wasn’t ashamed, but Li Yaru felt mortified. Recently, everyone in their circle was gossiping about them.
Li Yaru hadn’t expected to be the romantic lead in a real-life romantic movie in her forties, enduring all the teasing and poking about her relationship.
Especially when meeting the younger Zhuang family members, who bluntly asked when the matriarch would forgive the patriarch.
She was so embarrassed she wished she could just disappear into the Li Residence and never come out.
“What’s there to be embarrassed about?” Zhuang Qiting laughed carelessly, took her hand gentlemanly, and led her into the car. Leaning down, he carefully buckled her seatbelt.
“I said, I want the whole world to know I’m chasing you, Miss Li.”
“And what if you can’t catch me? Isn’t that embarrassing, Mr. Big Boss Zhuang?” Li Yaru lifted her eyelids and stared straight into his eyes.
The two locked eyes at close range, their breaths mingling. Fragrance blending—sweet ripeness meeting intensity—melting into a unique scent.
Zhuang Qiting kissed her nose tip. “Then I’ll keep chasing. Chasing you is never embarrassing.”
A warm tingle lingered on Li Yaru’s nose tip, soft and fuzzy, which she brushed away with her fingertip.
She fixed her gaze on the man’s tall, proud figure and thought to herself, let’s see how long you can keep chasing.
*
This year, the camellias at the Li Residence bloomed early again. Four transplanted Haiyunxia plants from Yuncheng thrived beautifully in the mansion.
At first, Li Yaru worried about acclimatization, but plants proved more resilient than her.
After years of careful nurturing, vivid vermilion flowers adorned the branches like a streak of vibrant sunset.
Hong Kong Island was warm all year, and the weather before Halloween was most pleasant and comfortable.
Li Yaru had an exclusive interview scheduled today; the editor-in-chief of Wind Appreciation magazine would arrive at three in the afternoon.
It was still early, so Li Yaru laid out her yoga mat and did morning exercises in the garden with her personal trainer.
The mansion was quiet and elegant as ever, meticulously maintained by Liang Sijie, who managed it like a refined Yin Dian Garden.
After her workout, Liang Sijie habitually brought her a cool, refreshing sugarcane and water chestnut drink to soothe the heat.
“Madam, over at the Zhuang Residence, Zhuang Sheng will be staying here for a while these days. Li Guanjia will send over his necessities this afternoon.”
Li Yaru puckered her lips. Last month, Zhuang Qiting had overstayed at the Li Residence for half a month; after she finally kicked him out, he was back again this month.
Nearly five years had passed.
She had come to deeply understand Zhuang Qiting’s persistence and was helpless in the face of his stubborn nature.
He said he was chasing her, and he truly had pursued her all these years with relentless determination, step by step.
From once a week to three times a week visits, he had gradually made himself at home in the Li Residence like he owned the place.
“Let him be; if he wants to stay, he can stay,” Li Yaru said, sipping the warm, sweet drink. “It’s just hard on you. He’s always rude to you; don’t pay attention. He’s jealous of men.”
Liang Sijie smiled faintly. Over the years by Li Yaru’s side, he had become increasingly gentle and steady, mastering control over his emotions. “No, Zhuang Sheng is actually quite nice to me. Just occasionally unfriendly, but I can handle that.”
“And what about you? What do you plan to do?” Li Yaru asked.
“Me?”
“You follow me every day; don’t you find your life boring? Your mother is waiting for you to return.”
Li Yaru only learned a year ago that Liang Sijie was the youngest son of the Yamazaki Family, whom she had rescued on a whim years ago from a dog hole.
This information came out because Zhuang Qiting let something slip carelessly.
Zhuang Qiting had described Liang Sijie as scheming and calculating, warning Li Yaru not to be naive and trust any man easily.
He said he had found her the world’s top butlers, always ready to serve—and of course, female.
Li Yaru rolled her eyes and told Zhuang Qiting to stop meddling in the affairs of the Li Residence.
He lived there, ate her food, drank her wine, and hadn’t even paid rent, yet dared to interfere in her family matters!
“My mother…” Liang Sijie’s brows darkened, “Madam, I’m not going to leave your side.”
“Planning to be my butler for life?” Li Yaru smiled.
Liang Sijie suppressed the turmoil inside and answered calmly, “Why not?”
“Great! I’d love it. Wish you’d manage the Li Residence forever,” Li Yaru set down her delicate porcelain cup. “But I can tell you care about your mother. Don’t disappoint her.”
She narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. “Ah Jie, your grandfather won’t have long. Once he’s gone… your cousins and siblings will turn the Yamazaki Family upside down. You can’t just hand over your share.”
Liang Sijie lowered his gaze, silent.
Li Yaru said, “If you return, I’ll help you reclaim your and your mother’s property, even more than that.”
Just as Liang Sijie was about to speak, Li Yaru stopped him. “No need to answer now. Think it over.”
In the afternoon, Qi Xiaoxiao, the editor-in-chief of Wind Appreciation, arrived at the Li Residence in a flashy Audi.
She was highly respected in the entertainment industry, well-connected, and known as the Chinese version of a fashion diva.
Being interviewed by her meant you were a top celebrity or from a wealthy family.
Li Yaru changed into a light, comfortable haute couture gown—not ostentatious but lavish enough.
Her well-maintained neck showed no wrinkles, adorned with an extravagant pearl necklace from a foreign brand.
Qi Xiaoxiao was sharp. She immediately hugged Li Yaru enthusiastically. “Finally meeting you in person! OMG! Babe! I can’t believe it—you’re the same age, but you look like a different generation! How do you maintain yourself!?”
Li Yaru smiled wryly, teasing, “If this airs, I’d say it’s all about good mood, good health, good eating, and good sleep. Then you look young. But honestly—four or five million a year is unavoidable.”
Qi Xiaoxiao gasped, “That part’s not going on air!”
Li Yaru laughed aloud. Afterwards, Qi Xiaoxiao toured Li Yaru’s haute couture wardrobe and the huge jewelry exhibition room.
Thousands of pieces sparkled brilliantly in the dim display room, eliciting exaggerated gasps from all visitors.
The crew set up the interview equipment in the garden. After the tour, they sat down for a casual chat.
Li Yaru had received the interview outline in advance but hadn’t read it thoroughly. She preferred to answer questions as they came.
Qi Xiaoxiao sensed the authenticity of this Hong Kong Island legend—free-spirited and rarely contrived.
Even when she occasionally said something striking, it never felt obnoxious or boastful. Simply unique.
“Let me throw in some gossip, Miss Li. I heard the artist Kurt you’ve been promoting has a special connection with you. Some even speculate you two have a private relationship… hahaha, you know what I mean. So, what’s the real story?”
“It’s not really about promoting anyone. Art can’t shine just because of promotion; it’s worth appreciating on its own. Kurt and I do have a special bond. I met him five years ago on a trip to Africa. That was when we first connected, and we’ve kept close ever since.”
“Wow, sounds interesting,” Qi Xiaoxiao smiled.
At that moment, Zhuang Qiting’s car arrived at the Li Residence. Liang Sijie came to escort him.
The man cast a cold glance at Liang Sijie but quickly averted his eyes, walking briskly with long legs, as sharp and decisive as in his youth.
“Zhuang Sheng, you might want to stay out of sight for a while,” Liang Sijie said behind him.
“Me? Stay out of sight?” Zhuang Qiting smiled coldly, stopping in his tracks. “Why should I?”
Liang Sijie calmly accepted Zhuang Qiting’s unfriendly scrutiny, neither humble nor arrogant. “Madam is currently being interviewed. Your appearance might cause unnecessary trouble.”
“What trouble?” Zhuang Qiting asked darkly.
“You’re not Madam’s boyfriend, and she hasn’t acknowledged your relationship. If you’re caught entering or leaving Madam’s residence, it would have a negative impact on her.”
“……………”