Chapter 2.1

He said, the New York headquarters where he currently works is about to establish a branch in Taiwan, overseeing business operations in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, among other Chinese-speaking regions. And he is one of the candidates for the general manager position of this branch.

Another candidate is from Hong Kong, a few years older than him. Although his abilities may not surpass his own excellence, his qualifications are superior. More importantly, he has a wife and children, boasting a blissful family life that everyone admires.

“Our company’s board of directors has a peculiar perception. They believe that married executives are more stable. When selecting candidates for high-level management positions, the support a family can provide often becomes their main consideration.”

“So what you’re saying is, getting divorced would deduct points from your competitiveness for the general manager position?”

“Not only can I not get divorced, but I also have to prove that my wife can add points to my performance in my career.”

“I understand.”

In other words, he needs her help to create an illusion, pretending that he has a happy family, with a capable and virtuous wife who can support him, so that he can fully focus on his career.

“Aren’t you a multinational corporation? Why are the top-level views so conservative?”

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“Psd’v usw jdso? Gxlaknydp ynvwyzzu hyzwl qyxkzu y zsv, lprlnkyzzu vbspl obs nsdpkela vblxplzhlp qasx ralpvktkswp cynjtaswdep.”

“Tso zsdt okzz kv vyjl qsa uswa nsxrydu vs elnkel oblvbla vs rasxsvl usw vs cl vbl tldlayz xydytla sq vbl caydnb?”

“Elzz… kv wpwyzzu vyjlp ycswv y xsdvb.”

G xsdvb.

“Fs, vbkp xsdvb, R’zz dlle usw vs vyjl nyal sq xl y zsv!” bl pbyxlzlppzu yddswdnle.

Mbld, lhld xsal pbyxlzlppzu, bl kdpkpvle sd xshkdt kdvs bla bswpl.

“Rv’p dyvwayz qsa prswplp vs zkhl vstlvbla. Zsw esd’v oydv vs zlyhl xl yzz yzsdl yde zsdlzu swvpkel, es usw?”

“Zsw nyd pvyu kd y bsvlz!” Fbl clzklhle bl nswze yqqsae kv.

“I don’t want to.” He acted stubbornly.

“Then go back to your parents’ house.”

“They’re living in Hualien now, but I have to stay in Taipei to handle the establishment of the branch.”

“So, you insist on staying here with me?”

“Please take care of me.” He smiled and reached out his hand to her.

She knew this gesture wasn’t friendly; it was a challenge.

He was challenging her, smiling to see if she had the courage to refuse, like a wolf with ill intentions.

She couldn’t let him intimidate her. If she showed even the slightest hint of fear, the battle might not even have started yet, and she would have already lost.

Qi Feifei took a deep breath, straightened her back, and adopted the most resolute posture, welcoming the wolf into what should have been her own private domain.

“Just for one month, I agree to accommodate you. But after one month, regardless of whether you receive the appointment letter for promotion to general manager, we must divorce.” She made her stance clear.

He smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“What do you say?” She insisted on a clear answer.

But he refused to give one. “Didn’t I say I’m the one who sets the rules for this game?”

She felt frustrated instantly.

He ignored her and pulled the suitcase into the living room, surveying the interior decor. This was an apartment located on a high floor, not as luxurious as his in New York, but spacious, bright, tasteful, and comfortable.

“Not bad. Where’s my room?” he asked.

“Over there, the first one on the left,” she pointed in the direction. Just as she was about to lead him there, her phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she waved at him, signaling him to go to the guest room himself. “Hello, Jiajun.”

The sweet call made Xin Zhihuan’s nerves tense, and his ears pricked up.

“…Hmm, I received the flowers and the gift, thank you, I really like them.”

She liked them? Xin Zhihuan clenched his fist secretly. She hadn’t even opened them yet, how could she say she liked them? When did this woman become so good at speaking polite words?

“…Tonight? I’m really sorry, I have something tonight…” as she spoke, she glanced in his direction.

Was that a hint of lamentation? He wasn’t pleased and glared back at her.

“…It’s not about the restaurant, it’s… well, a ‘friend’ is coming back from the United States unexpectedly, I have to entertain him… He’s not exactly a close friend, just an acquaintance…”

Not exactly a close friend, just an acquaintance?

Xin Zhihuan felt his anger rising. He walked over in large strides, grabbing his wife’s phone without hesitation. “Hello, Mr. Fang, I am Feifei’s ‘friend,’ but our relationship goes beyond just friends. In fact, it should be—”

“What are you doing?” Qi Feifei stopped him in shock, hastily grabbing the phone back, and the two engaged in a tug-of-war. She finally managed to snatch back the right to speak. “It’s nothing, Jiajun, don’t mind him. He’s just being playful. I’ll call you tomorrow, bye.”

With that, she hung up in a hurry, her clear eyes filled with regret as she stared at him.

“Why would you do that? Don’t you think you’re being childish?” 

Yeah, he was being childish. So what?

He squinted at her for a long while before dropping the subject. “I’m hungry.”

“What?” She was taken aback.

“I said I’m hungry and want food,” he whined like a child.

She rolled her eyes, almost defeated by him. “What do you want to eat? I’ll order from a restaurant.”

“As someone who owns two restaurants, do you really not have the ability to cook for yourself?” he mocked. “I want home-cooked food.”

“You want me to cook?”

“Is that not possible?” Wasn’t that something a wife should do?

“Today is my birthday.”

“So what?”

He actually expected a birthday celebrant to cook? Did he have no conscience at all?

She glared at him, gritting her teeth, seemingly considering whether to confront him. Finally, she decided to remain calm. “Fine, considering you haven’t been back to Taiwan for a long time, I’ll cook some hometown dishes for you. You go to the guest room and rest first.”

He nodded, not bothering to be polite, picked up his luggage, and went into the guest room. Soon after, he came out again.

She had just tied an apron and was opening the fridge to see what ingredients were available when she saw him standing stiffly beside her, furrowing her brows.

“What are you up to now?” 

He ground his teeth, pursed his lips, showing an unwilling expression. Then, his hand extended long, reluctantly passing her a rectangular gift box with a peach-colored satin ribbon tied into an exquisite bow at the edge.

“What’s this?” she exclaimed.

“It’s a gift for you. Isn’t today your birthday?”

He had prepared a gift for her birthday? Qi Feifei was astonished, hardly daring to believe it. After a while, she hesitantly took it. “Thank you.”

He snorted lightly, lifted his chin, not knowing what he was showing off, and left with proud steps.

She watched his tall figure in a daze until he disappeared from sight, then suddenly came back to her senses, slowly unwrapping the gift.

Lying in layers of bubble wrap was an exquisitely crafted crystal music box, revealing a string of melodious tinkling music when the lid was opened, with a ballet dancer in colorful attire spinning lightly.

Was this made of Bohemian crystal?

Looking at the production mark on the base, Qi Feifei understood that this music box was a rare limited-edition boutique item, and it might even have been brought back by him personally from the Czech Republic.

He would actually think to give her a music box…

Her heartstrings tightened, trembling gently with the clear and melodious melody.

Six years ago, she had told him that her wish was to collect all kinds of music boxes, and one day, when she had money, she would definitely do so.

Could it be that he still remembered her wish back then?

Or was this just an unintentional but pleasantly surprising coincidence?

She was puzzled and bewildered as she cradled the music box and returned to the bedroom. In one corner of the wall, a glass cabinet displayed dozens of music boxes of all sizes, and she carefully placed the one he had given her on the highest shelf.

Then, she stared blankly at—

Hakka stir-fry, basil omelet, three-cup chicken, Kaiyang bok choy, and grouper clear soup. She had prepared a table full of home-cooked dishes, all of his favorites.

Just looking at them made Xin Zhihuan’s appetite stir, and as he tasted each dish, his mouth watered even more.

He had known that she was good at cooking, but he hadn’t expected that after six years, she hadn’t lost her touch; in fact, her skills seemed to have improved.

“Slow down,” she said, surprised and amused as she watched him gobble down the food, shove rice into his mouth, and devour the dishes.

He thought that after struggling outside for six years, he would have changed a lot, but in some ways, nothing had changed, especially his crude eating habits.

“Do you eat like this when you’re entertaining clients outside?” she couldn’t help but ask.

He sensed the teasing tone in her words and sent her a disdainful look. “Of course not. Do you think I’m that clueless? I don’t know what etiquette to display in different situations?”

“So you only eat like this in private?” 

Private?

Xin Zhihuan was stunned for a moment. Upon careful consideration, he realized that it had been a long time since he had enjoyed a meal like this. In New York, even when dining with colleagues and friends, he often couldn’t taste the food, let alone his daily meals, which were usually accompanied by work documents.

“Why do you care how I usually eat?” he didn’t want to think about it anymore, deliberately retorting. “Anyway, if I go out to eat with you, I won’t embarrass you.”

She stared at him for a few seconds, then sighed softly. “That’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean, then? You’re just making fun of my ugly eating habits, aren’t you?”

She smiled. “Your eating habits aren’t very attractive.”

See! He glared at her in frustration. “You’re still making fun of me, aren’t you?”

“I’m really not making fun of you,” she clarified. How should she put it? Actually, she was… caring about him?

No, she should say she was a little curious, just curious.

Qi Feifei calmed her thoughts, picked up her bowl, and ate gracefully, her elegant manners contrasting sharply with his.

“Are you doing well?” After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke softly.

“What?” He was startled again.

“Have you been doing well these past six years?”

Why was she asking the same question again? He was annoyed. “As I said, I didn’t come back to catch up with you.”

“I know, you just need me to help you secure the position of general manager,” she replied softly, not getting excited because of his temper, her tone still calm. “But after all, we haven’t seen each other in six years. Even if we’re just nominally husband and wife, can’t we ask each other how we’ve been? Isn’t that right?”

He was speechless for a while before responding with a mocking tone, somewhat sarcastically. “I didn’t expect you to still care about me. In these six years, weren’t you avoiding me as far away as possible?”

“It’s you who’s been avoiding me, right?” she quietly countered. “Over the years, I’ve visited your parents in Hualien every month, but every time you came back to Taiwan to visit family, you always deliberately avoided the times I went, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t deliberately avoid you,” he denied.

“Didn’t you? Then how come we never met by chance?”

“How would I know how it happened so coincidentally?”

“Just admit it, Zhihuan,” she whispered softly. “You don’t want to see me.”

He didn’t want to?