CH 10

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Liang Yin was unable to react looking at the people inside the car. Zhong Mingzhen never replied to her, thus she didn’t expect him to suddenly appear here.

However, he eventually has to be here to end it all.

“Mrs.” The chauffeur had come down to pull open the car door.

Liang Yin didn’t go over but just took off her face mask. As she was carrying the shopping bags, she said, “I’ll put the things home first.”

She had just bought some steaks and frozen food which could not be left out for too long.

She had no intention of inviting Zhong Mingzhen up. Since she had already made the decision, she didn’t want too many complications.

This apartment, is something very private of hers.

“Get in, I’ll send you in first.” Zhong Mingzhen opened his mouth. His voice was light but the emotion in his eyes was eventually indistinguishable whether melancholy or joy when he looked at Liang Yin.

His features are well defined and attractive while the pair of eyes are extraordinarily deep-set.

He is someone who never reveals emotions on his face. When he was young, he was already profoundly reserved that no one could see what he felt. As time passed and he later took charge of the Zhong conglomerate, he became even more unreadable.

Liang Yin evaded his line of sight and did not insist – since it was a long way in and this was also not the place to talk.

She thought, Zhong Mingzhen might not want to waste too much time.

Sitting in the car, her heart was amply clear. She originally thought Zhong Mingzhen might not know why she had mentioned divorce, but now it seemed that he must have known.

Once the car drove into the basement, it soon stopped again.

“I’ll come back shortly.” Head lowered, Liang Yin said and got out of the car with her stuff.

“En.” Zhong Mingzhen replied with no intention to follow.

He is someone with a sense of propriety who always respects others. And he could see Liang Yin’s unwillingness.

After the chauffeur closed the door, he did not get in immediately but just stood by the side and Zhong Mingzhen was the only one left in the car.

Seemingly kneading his temples, he soon returned to normal.

In the past two days, he had flown from Europe to North America, then from North America back to China without stopping for a moment.

Liang Yin came down very soon in the same attire, except with her hair tied up and looked just like the ordinary girl next door.

The chauffeur had opened the door for her and Liang Yin got in the car. Zhong Mingzhen shifted his gaze and said, “Let’s go and have a meal first.”

With her hair tied up, Liang Yin’s entire face was revealed and the thinness of the past few days was even more obvious.

It was almost noon at this moment.

“No need.” Liang Yin rejected indifferently.

She didn’t want to eat and didn’t know if she could still eat anything.

Now, she just wants to end it all sooner.

Zhong Mingzhen did not force her.

Realizing that they had something to discuss, the chauffeur opened his mouth, “Mr. Zhong, Mrs., I’ll go down first.”

The fact that Zhong Mingzhen didn’t say anything was his acquiescence.

Soon only Liang Yin and Zhong Mingzhen were left in the car. Neither of them spoke and the atmosphere was dreadfully quiet.

Liang Yin recalled the time when Zhong Mingzhen seemed to have cooked her a meal.

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It was summer vacation at that time and she was staying with the Zhong family. Old Madam had gone out that day while the cook had asked for a day off to do something, so she and Zhong Mingzhen were left at home.

Zhong Mingzhen was reading upstairs. At noon, she intended to make something for him. But while she was bustling about, Zhong Mingzhen came down at some point and saw her awkward maneuver. He took the knife in her hand, “Let me do it.”

She told him that the cook had left to do something and he understood her intention at once.

She didn’t know how to cook and that was her first attempt.

Zhong Mingzhen, however, was very skilled and easily prepared lunch for two. She later learned that Zhong Mingzhen lived away from home when he was in the university and learned to cook when he had nothing to do alone.

After lunch, he reminded her, “If you can’t cook, you can order food next time and they will deliver it over.”

Afterwards she realized that if he was alone at home that day, he probably wouldn’t have cooked at all. He merely saw her bustling around and took over her shoddy job.

He was the host in the Zhong family; in terms of age, he was older and when no one was home, he was supposed to take care of everything for her.

At that time, there was still some revelation of tenderness in him that others felt he was not so difficult to get close to.

But that was all.

That was the first time she saw Zhong Mingzhen cook and it was also the last.

**********

After a long time, Liang Yin finally opened her mouth, “Let’s get divorce.”

13 year affection is enough.

All along Zhong Mingzhen did not explain, perhaps an explanation is of no importance anymore.

He should have gotten back with Qiao Shan and then they will be together again, while she was merely someone who unexpectedly intervened in between.

Zhong Mingzhen didn’t answer but asked after a long time, “Have you thought it through?”

His voice was very soft but the question went straight to Liang Yin’s heart.

**********

How did she get married to Zhong Mingzhen?

At that time, Zhong Mingzhen waited a day at the marriage registry office but Qiao Shan did not show up, thus he treated it as if nothing had taken place. He returned home, continued to go and get off work, engaged in social events while carrying on to be the successor and head of the Zhong conglomerate.

Except he would always drink himself to stupor alone at night.

He has always been a self-possessed man, meticulous all the time as if never made any mistake. But he started to fall into depravity at that time.

He really liked Qiao Shan, so much that no one could have imagined.

Liang Yin heard that from his friends. As she would often stay in the Zhong family, she would meet those friends of Zhong Mingzhen regularly too. After a long time, they knew her as well — they were all fond of the Zhong family’s little sister. She was younger than them, lovably quiet and easily shy. Although she had not fully grown up yet, she was a conceivable beauty. So, they would usually not refrain from talking in front of her. When Liang Yin found out, she went to the Zhong family and it just so happened that the next day was also Old Madam Zhong’s birthday.

She couldn’t sleep that night because Zhong Mingzhen did notcome home. He never had the habit of staying out all night yet it was already very late at that time.

She finally heard a commotion later. Opening the door, she saw Zhong Mingzhen walking up the stairs. He was obviously drunk which was not visible on his face but he stumbled a little while walking up the stairs. She went forward to help him and he looked at her without saying a word.

But her heart seized. The look in his eyes was so calm yet it was so sorrowful.

He never looked like this before.

Helping him into the room, she got a towel to wipe his face. She told him not to be sad since there were still many people who liked you.

Zhong Mingzhen was leaning against the wall on the carpet at that time. Hearing what she said, he raised his head and asked with a chuckle, “Many people like me? What about you, do you like me?”

Her hand paused and soon, she nodded her head, “En.”

After that, Zhong Mingzhen glanced at her before pulling her over and kissed her ….

Early the next morning, she left Zhong Mingzhen’s room and went back to her own. She cleaned herself up, changed her clothes and pretended that nothing had happened.

She thought Zhong Mingzhen might not remember what had happened last night as he had been calling ‘Qiao Shan’s’ name all along.

She was 21 at that time and never thought of holding him accountable. She did not reject him completely because she had liked him for so many years.

But when Zhong Mingzhen woke up, he eventually remembered everything that took place the night before and the stains on the bed were too evident.

As he was totally sober at that time, he stopped her in her tracks once she stepped out of the door.

He said was it you last night?

She didn’t say anything.

He then said, I will take responsibility for you.

— To begin with, her marriage to him was by accident.

And now, she had already thoroughly thought about ending this accident.

“En, I’ve thought about it.” Liang Yin said with a nod.

Zhong Mingzhen looked at her for a while then turned his head before he finally said, “I will have Lawyer Chen draw up the divorce agreement.”

He nevertheless agreed to her request for divorce.

Liang Yin’s heart seemed to have eventually settled.

“If there’s nothing, I’ll leave now.” She said, “You can contact me when you need me to sign it.”

“En.” Zhong Mingzhen responded.

Hearing that, Liang Yin pushed the car door open and got off.

**********

Liang Yin quickly disappeared into the elevator while Zhong Mingzhen sat in the car and did not leave for a long time.

He suddenly remembered the first time he met Liang Yin. She was still very young at that time. Dressed in a skirt, she sat on the sofa and stood up when she saw him coming in; vulnerably reserved, beautiful without self-awareness.

She should be 15 years old at that time, a middle-school student.

She was that little sister of the Zhong family whom everyone liked. At that time, they always joked on the sly saying, let’s marry Yinyin once she has grown up. He never said anything at that time but he didn’t expect he was the one who married her in the end.

But this eventually was a hasty marriage.

He had bedded her and wanted to be responsible. He thought marrying her was the best option and had never asked for her opinion.

She is always too quiet, doesn’t argue nor squabble that causes others to unconsciously overlook her.

However, it was unfair to her after all.

He has never loved her and has married her out of responsibility. But in his opinion, his affection for her is always greater than romantic love.

And all these years, she has possibly been wearisome.

Recalling Liang Yin’s appearance just now, she has thinned down, defiance yet was calm too.

It’s as if she was prepared for it.

He could see that she really wanted a divorce.

So he just swallowed all the words that he originally intended to say.

He should have known she was not a person who opened her mouth rashly. Once said, she would do it.

He had seen the photo that Qiao Shan sent her, but it wasn’t like that at all.

Qiao Shan came to find him and wanted to get back together but he refused. He had indeed loved her once but that period had passed and everything had relinquished. He has always been rational. He would be clear-headed once he leapt of the momentary fascination.

But Qiao Shan has totally changed. Spiking his wine, she slept beside him when he woke up. She wanted to prove her charm by any possible means, merely because she couldn’t accept it.

He never saw her again over these years yet he kept hearing about her news. She had a few romances which all failed. She seemed to be drastically down on her luck and having bad times. She tried to find him again, just like someone who has had enough fun and finally wants to go home. She knew he had loved her dearly once and assumed he would still love her that much now.

She purposely took that sort of photo and sent it to Liang Yin. When she called and sent the text messages, she hung up and deleted them all. He was still heavily asleep at that time and was completely unaware about it.

But she was disappointed after all. He is no longer the same person. Seeing her lying naked next to him, he just put his clothes on and walked away.

The person whom you once liked so much has eventually become an eyesore.

But his action stung her and she wouldn’t let him go. Hysterically she grabbed his handphone and threw it out the window when he tried to call back.

Afterwards, he still left eventually. But the recovered cellphone was shattered.

It was already afternoon when the deleted data was retrieved when a new cellphone was replaced. Liang Yin’s text messages came through once he first turned it on.

She said, Zhong Mingzhen, let’s divorce.

He then rushed back to the mansion and quickly transferred back to China without stopping all the way.

The servants in the mansion said that Old Victor had died and Mrs. had cried very sadly.

He had never seen her cry in all these years.

When Qiao Shan sent her the photo, she just told him, Mingzhen, Victor is dying.

When he didn’t reply and Victor was dead, she told him plainly;

— Zhong Mingzhen, let’s divorce.

He could feel her pain, but in the end, he could also feel her resolution.

Then, all the words were not worth mentioning either.

She had made up her mind and he could only respect her decision.

Zhong Mingzhen’s eyes were dazed for a moment, but he quickly returned to calmness.

Dialling the chauffeur’s number, he spoke faintly — “Let’s go.”