Chapter 7: Don't Touch Her

“No one looks more like a thief than you—you walk without making a sound.” Zhang Xiluo turned, her eyes misty with tears, unable to understand why he had returned yet again.

A strange feeling stirred in Li Mingye’s heart. Every time he saw Zhang Xiluo cry, he was always overwhelmed by irritation and disgust. But this time was different; she was clearly holding back her emotions, and for once, he didn’t feel annoyed.

“Aren’t you going to explain yourself?”

“As you can see, just cleaning up and sorting the trash,” Zhang Xiluo cleared her throat, regaining her composure.

Li Mingye’s face darkened instantly. Did she really see their wedding photo as garbage?

“Good. You’ve finally come to your senses,” his tone turned icy, barely concealing his anger. “Should’ve thrown it out long ago.”

He gave the picture frame at his feet a kick and strode upstairs. Zhang Xiluo found his reaction baffling and had no intention of paying him any mind.

She instructed the housekeepers to move the photographs to the basement and asked them to help tidy a guest room on the second floor, turning it into a studio.

“Zhang Xiluo, are you planning to tear the house apart?” Li Mingye emerged from the study, his gaze cold as he looked at her.

His tie was half undone, two buttons at his collar open, revealing the faint outline of his chest—enough to make one’s thoughts wander.

Ah, what an alluring figure.

“It’ll be done soon,” Zhang Xiluo replied apologetically. “Once these are moved, everything will be in order.”

“Heh.” Li Mingye had no idea what she was up to, making such a mess. “This villa doesn’t belong to you alone.”

“Yes, I know.” Zhang Xiluo nodded, speaking softly, “I’ll move out after the divorce, don’t worry.”

“So you’ve decided to give me your shares?” Li Mingye raised an eyebrow.

“No.”

“Then save your breath.” With that, Li Mingye turned and walked away. “If you keep making noise, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

Zhang Xiluo was left speechless. She could only ask the housekeepers to be quieter and gave them an extra tip for their trouble.

By the time the studio was finished, it was past eight. Zhang Xiluo took a hot bath, then went downstairs to grab something to eat, just in time to see Li Mingye hurrying out the door.

Could that wretched man not have left earlier?

He’d cost her extra money.

That night, Zhang Xiluo slept poorly. She dreamed of her past life, watching her father leap from the building with her own eyes… She woke up crying, her eyes swollen by morning.

She first went for a facial, then had her hair styled in a luxurious fashion, deliberately arriving ten minutes late.

Zhou Yao was dressed in a white dress, as delicate as a blooming lily. Her expression was grave, hands clutching her glass, tense and flustered.

As Zhang Xiluo pushed open the door, Zhou Yao’s gaze flickered. “Sister, over here.”

“Sorry I’m late,” Zhang Xiluo sat across from her, placing her Hermès bag on the table.

“It’s alright.” Zhou Yao shook her head quickly, her clear eyes brimming with tears. She bit her lip, “I didn’t know the car was so expensive… I, I…”

“I can write an IOU. May I pay you back in installments?”

“Of course,” Zhang Xiluo nodded. Zhou Yao gave her a grateful smile.

Zhou Yao was only a sophomore in college; the money she made from part-time jobs barely covered tuition and living expenses. To her, tens of thousands was a fortune.

“I’ll pay it back as soon as I can.” Zhou Yao took out an IOU she’d prepared in advance, already signed and stamped. “Once I start working, I’ll pay a bit more each time.”

“Ten years?” Zhang Xiluo couldn’t help but exclaim. Then she pushed the IOU back. “Forget it, you don’t have to pay me.”

“I can’t do that!” Zhou Yao refused, insisting that Zhang Xiluo take the IOU. “I must pay you back.”

“I like your attitude, but forget the money.” Amid Zhou Yao’s stunned expression, Zhang Xiluo tore up the IOU. “Let’s just put this behind us.”

With that, Zhang Xiluo stood to leave. Zhou Yao tried to follow but accidentally bumped into the edge of the table and fell to the floor.

Zhang Xiluo turned back to help her, but a figure appeared behind her, glaring fiercely.

“Move aside, don’t touch her!”