Chapter 32

Having suffered such a great injustice, I hadn’t even had the chance to get angry before Du Hongting started throwing a tantrum.

“Next time you make any major decisions, remember to consult with me beforehand. Avoid making mistakes like letting Shen Cheng take advantage of the situation…”

I interrupted, “I did consult with you this time, and the mistake was entirely due to your attitude!”

“What’s wrong with my attitude?”

“Not sincere.”

Du Hongting squinted, “Tell me, how sincere is Shen Cheng?”

I explained, “Just discussing this software took Shen Cheng a full two days, and he emphasized that he values my personal investment value. After all, products and projects are easy to replicate, but people are not.”

Du Hongting made a call and arranged for Shen Cheng to come over.

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Shen Cheng looked around my house and said, “Nice house. When did you move in?”

“Renting it for almost a year now.”

“Renting?” Shen Cheng chuckled, “It’s the first time I’ve heard of someone renting the house they bought.”

“!!!”

I looked at Du Hongting.

Du Hongting’s expression changed slightly, “Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

Shen Cheng smiled without saying a word, picked up some asparagus with shrimp, and commented, “Meng Qiqi, your cooking skills are good!”

“Thank you.”

Shen Cheng added, “But it’s not even one-tenth of Du Hongting’s level.”

“You can’t fool me with that. He can’t cook,” I replied.

Suddenly, Du Hongting said, “Shen Cheng, are you done eating? If not, you can leave.”

Shen Cheng laughed, “To avoid doing chores, you’ve hidden such excellent culinary skills. Du Hongting, you really are something. Is it fun to bully our little Meng like this?”

“Our little Meng?” Du Hongting questioned.

Shen Cheng apologized, “Sorry, I forgot she’s already married to you.”

He couldn’t resist making another remark, “But the temptation of being a wife…”

Du Hongting jumped up and kicked, Shen Cheng agilely evaded, chair and all. “Who told you not to send a wedding invitation to your brother when you got married!”

Du Hongting handed him a contract, “Sign the termination agreement, and I’ll compensate you double the money.”

Shen Cheng tore the paper on the table, “Alright, I’ve drunk this wedding wine today. Consider it a gift.”

After the guests left, I immediately turned serious, “Did you buy this house?”

Du Hongting still denied, “You believe whatever others say.”

“I’ll check with the property bureau.”

“Alright, I’m the homeowner,” Du Hongting admitted.

I stared at him.

Du Hongting tried to smile, “I was just worried you’d feel pressured, that’s all.”

Nonsense!

If I had known you had such a big house within the Third Ring Road, I would have laughed myself awake from dreaming!

“I could never feel pressured!”

Du Hongting countered, “I have an annual income of fifteen million after tax. You don’t feel pressured?”

“…No.”

I’m someone whose next month’s living expenses haven’t been secured…

Du Hongting continued, “Besides this house, I have two commercial properties on the shopping street. No pressure?”

“No, none.”

I can’t even afford to stay in a budget hotel in this city…

“Next week, I plan to buy a Land Rover Range Rover. No pressure, right?”

“…”

Yes!

I can’t even afford a single wheel of my dream car!

I’m on the ground, unable to get up!

Du Hongting tried to persuade me, “During our relationship, you never spent my money, refused the gifts I gave you, and even split the bill when we had the ability to pay. I know you don’t care about money; you care about your dignity…”

“Bullshit! I thought you were broke!” I retorted.

“When I started making money, you still acted the same. How do you explain that?” Du Hongting asked.

“I’m saving money for your down payment!” I declared.

Du Hongting struggled to hold back his laughter.

I cried in frustration, “I love money so much!”

I received a supposedly large-limit, almost-unbreakable black card from Du Hongting.

I went out for spending.

It was my first time using a credit card, and it felt a bit scary.

Du Hongting accompanied me.

After being broke for over twenty years, suddenly having money, I didn’t know how to spend it.

Usually, when I receive my living expenses, I celebrate by buying a cup of bubble tea.

But today, I have money.

I can’t drink bubble tea anymore; it doesn’t seem high-class enough.

I remembered a female classmate in the lab who loved coffee, something called “Star Baba.” She always took selfies whenever she drank it, showcasing its classiness.

So, I went with Du Hongting to try it.

The cashier asked, “May I take your order?”

Me: “Coffee.”

It was my first time buying coffee. I had only ever had instant Nestlé before. How could I make myself look like someone who regularly drinks coffee?

Cashier: “Would you like to try the new one?”

I looked up, feeling confused. There were too many adjectives, and I couldn’t understand any of them.

I gave up, “Just whatever, a cold one, and make it a bit sweet.”

Cashier: “For cold, we have Americano.”

Me: “Is it sweet?”

Cashier: “Bitter.”

Me: “Which one is sweeter?”

Cashier: “Cappuccino.”

Me: “Alright, then.”

Cashier: “Cappuccino is only available hot.”

Me: “Never mind, I’ll have a milk tea.”

Cashier: “We don’t have milk tea.”

Me: “…”

It’s so difficult, even harder than taking an entrance exam. How do I choose?

The cashier showed impatience.

Did I fail at pretending to be sophisticated?

Suddenly, Du Hongting asked, “Do you really want to drink coffee?”

Me: “Hmm?”

Du Hongting: “Don’t drink this fast-food style cheap coffee. I’ll take you somewhere else.”

The cashier’s expression—

I couldn’t bring myself to look.

Ran away.

I’m never coming back.

Later, Du Hongting took me to a seemingly quiet place.

There were hardly any customers.

I watched a barista grind coffee beans, brew coffee, and filter it for about an hour.

My throat was almost smoking by the time he handed me a small cup of coffee.

With a devout heart, I took a small sip as if sipping holy water—

Du Hongting: “How does it taste?”

I covered my mouth and whispered, “Bitter as hell…”

Du Hongting: “Take another sip.”

I took another sip.

“Scrubbing pot water?”

Du Hongting silently paid the bill, then took me to buy a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea and asked, “How’s this taste?”

Me: “Like nectar from the heavens!”

Du Hongting commented that my taste was still stuck in the school days and needed improvement.

What does that mean?

Loving milk tea means having no taste!

I’d rather live a lifetime without taste.

But this incident reminded me.

Du Hongting disapproves of my taste; surely, he is comparing me to other women around him.

Suddenly, I felt a slight sense of crisis.

After getting married, I’ve always adopted a laissez-faire policy towards Du Hongting. I’ve never inquired about things he didn’t report actively.

I thought this approach was excellent. Everyone has their own way of life, and no one likes to be too tightly constrained by another person. Plus, I trust him a lot and don’t think there’s anything to worry about.

Many people have warned me that Du Hongting, being handsome and successful, would face a lot of temptations, and the probability of him cheating is high.

I disagreed and even told Du Hongting, “Whether a man cheats or not has nothing to do with his appearance or earning ability; it’s all about his character. Moreover, scientists have said that people with higher IQs have the lowest probability of cheating. So, all men who cheat are idiots! A mature, responsible, good-character, high-IQ man like you who loves his wife, I absolutely trust!”

Du Hongting was almost floating in the air, “You’re really putting on a sophisticated act with that high hat.”

Me: “After saying this, do you still have the face to cheat?”

Unexpectedly, he denied it, “Who knows, maybe you shouldn’t trust me too much.”

My heart sank.

What does this mean?

There’s a situation!

He dropped a line on me, “When I’m with clients and friends, their wives seem very distrustful. They call, to check the WeChat location, ask to send videos, non-stop, within an hour.”

Me: “You find it annoying, right?”

Him: “No, I envy it.”

Me: “…”

Du Hongting: “So, I hope you occasionally don’t trust me a bit.”

I couldn’t take it…

He’s even jealous of this kind of thing?