Chapter 7

Shen Laichao and Yuan Qiyue smiled again, "Let's take a look at next week's work schedule"

Shen Lai now not only feels discomfort in her stomach, but also begins to feel distressed in her heart, and her head starts to throb violently. She pale-faced clutches her stomach, having lost all strength to retort against Zhou Ji due to her anger.

Zhou was about to support him half-huggingly, "Can you still walk?"

A surge of anger rose from the soles of Shen's feet to the top of her head. She took several deep breaths before calming her emotions. She got up and walked into the bathroom, taking a cold shower.

What right does Zhou Ji have to criticize her now? Wasn't the failure of their marriage due to Zhou Ji's initial mistakes? The only thing he has over her is a bit more money, and even that money includes a share from her, Shen Lai. It's a pity that Zhou Ji is so ungrateful.

Shen's eyes felt a bit sore; women are just so troublesome. Clearly knowing they shouldn't, they always linger on the warm memories of the past.

Zhou no longer spoke, but only tormented her even more fiercely; a tank of water, if not replenished from a source, would eventually be drained dry by his agitation

"Wait." Zhou Ji threw down Shen Lai and quickly walked to the private room. When she came out, she had a women's bag in her hand and found Shen Lai on the sofa in the lobby outside the restaurant. She had already fainted in a daze.

Finally, Shen was released like a dehydrated fish. She had no strength to resist and could only lean against the edge of the tank, gasping for breath, her knees still aching

Zhou picked up his hand and looked at Shen Lai, who was staring at him with disdain, "Shen Lai, do you have any contribution to that money? Why should I give you money to go out and support a gigolo? You gave up your rights, so why do you turn around now and blame me?"

However, Yuan Qiyue was quite persistent, continuously calling for a month and even waiting for her several times at the Shen Lai studio. Seeing her attitude was truly indifferent, he finally ceased his efforts

In terms of the week, who is not sleeping? Sleeping with an ex-wife carries no other burdens, as there is no concern about her seeking responsibility from him, nor is there any need to spend money

Shen smiled faintly and said, "Can we leave now? I have work to do this afternoon"

What happened last night was not within Shen's expectations, but later she did not seriously resist, so it is not surprising that Zhou took advantage of her

At that time, Shen Lai did not explicitly refuse Yuan Qiyue, but rather did not want to engage in a prolonged discussion with him outside the community, and was even more impatient to hear him apologize again, which is why he chose to handle the situation coldly

It seems that Shen remembers that last night in the private room, Zhou had brought a female companion, but he does not know how he sent her away

The surface of the lake shimmered with scattered scales of light, reflecting the hotel’s street lamps. She could imagine the scene that Zhou Ji had described, which indeed resonated with her. In the past, when she and Zhou Ji vacationed in Hokkaido during winter, they both enjoyed soaking in hot springs amidst the snow. At that time, she jokingly suggested that Zhou Ji should also open a hot spring hotel like that upon his return.

Zhou lifted Shen from the bed, and Shen symbolically resisted a couple of times before yielding.

Once she enters society, what does it matter if she is a returnee? Without the network of connections in the country, no matter how capable she is, it will still be difficult to get by

Shen Lai sat up, embracing the blanket, while Zhou had already vanished without a trace. The phone that Shen Lai had thrown into the corner was now back on the bedside table, with a WeChat message from him: "The room fee has been paid"

Yuan Qiyue nodded and took down the luggage on behalf of Shen Lai

Zhou indeed felt satisfied, even the tone of his voice softened. He embraced Shen from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and said: "This place is even more beautiful in winter, the lake is frozen, and it's more comfortable to soak in the hot springs when it snows. Shall I bring you here then?"

"That is also because you handed the leverage to me yourself," Zhou said bluntly

Back when she was still married to Zhou Ji, he was involved in real estate, had many connections, and it was truly effortless for him to find some side jobs for Shen, who was still studying. The number of contracts he secured was several times more than what she currently gets from running her studio, with plenty of money and less stress. Out of respect for Zhou Ji, everyone treated her well, and there were indeed those who actively invited her to design, just to build a relationship with Zhou Ji.

Shen Lai closed her eyes and remained silent, but in her heart, she was willing; she truly needed hot water to alleviate her fatigue

A man who cannot even protect his female companion should be passed over as soon as possible

Shen said angrily: "That is because you threatened me." It was because Zhou had threatened to tell her mother about her infidelity, along with a few other reasons, that Shen came to regard money as worthless.

Shen Lai remained silent, knowing that as soon as she spoke, she would have to confront Zhou Ji. However, all she wanted at that moment was peace and quiet

However, since Zhou Ji brought up the matter of being lofty and noble, Shen, under the influence of alcohol, became irritable and said, "Zhou Ji, what right do you have to say these things? The marriage law clearly states that marital property should be divided equally, yet when we divorced, you didn't give me a single cent. I also wish to be noble, but can being noble support oneself? Furthermore, I have neither stolen, nor robbed, nor engaged in any transactional relationships. What right do you have to accuse me? Don't consider yourself a moral benchmark; you are unworthy of it."

In the dead of night, the moonlight outside is just right. Zhou has never been a good person; his gentle gestures are always given with the expectation of reciprocity.

It was probably Shen Lai's silent compliance that satisfied Zhou Ji, as he no longer used words to provoke Shen Lai, but simply held her quietly.

Shen replied in a daze, barely managing to utter, "912." That was her room number

Therefore, Shen Lai must not let her mother know that she is also having an affair

When Shen was studying, she was truly aloof and proud. Later, she became so spoiled by Zhou that she lost all sense of reality. She studied design and declared that she would never compromise for a project, insisting that those people should come to her and request her to design for them.

Shen Lai frowned in pain and said, "Why do you talk so much?"

Shen Lai's response was a reluctant hum or two

While it is merely a form of play, it can also serve as a solution to physiological needs

But these were no longer matters of concern for Shen. She wiped the water clean, neither in a state of despair nor in the mood to think much about her relationship with Zhou Ji.

This was not a clear rejection, so Yuan Qiyue thought he still had a chance. However, after that, Shen Lai never answered his calls again and even blocked him on WeChat

Shen placed her hands one on top of the other on the edge of the tank, her back to Zhou Ji, as she rested her face on her hands and closed her eyes, pretending to doze off. Just as she was about to fall asleep, Zhou Ji approached her again.

As for the subsequent events, Shen Lai had little impression of them; she only felt that someone was gently taking care of her, washing her hair and bathing her, allowing her to sleep comfortably. Although Shen Lai woke up several times during the process, she truly lacked the strength to resist and, enticed by that tenderness, allowed herself to drift back to sleep.

Upon arriving at the outdoor hot spring tub, Shen Lai realized that this was not her room, as this one faced the lake, while her room was a garden view.

Shen Lai is a child from a single-parent family. Her father had an affair when her mother was giving birth to her. Her mother gritted her teeth and divorced, never remarrying for the rest of her life. She raised Shen Lai on her own, cherishing her like a precious gem, ensuring that she did not suffer any grievances, and raised her to be like a little princess from a two-parent family.

Upon entering, although it seemed that the room had become much larger, Shen Lai was already too intoxicated to think clearly and immediately rushed to the bathroom, where he finally vomited.

Although it can be said that Zhou Ji is shameless, if Yuan Qiyue had been a bit more assertive and had considered her as a female companion, she would not have had to be entangled with that despicable man Zhou Ji again. Since Shen Lai did not want to blame herself, she could only blame Yuan Qiyue.

When everything became calm, Shen lay with her back to Zhou Ji. Her head still ached, and her body felt even more sore and weak. At this moment, she had no strength to get up and pull at Zhou Ji's face a few times, and he would not allow her to do so anyway. Therefore, she could only comfort herself by thinking that she would settle the score in the morning.

"Your man changes partners more frequently than I change women?" Zhou Ji asked again, the force of his question growing ever stronger.

Zhou placed the cup on the bedside table, "Are you awake?"

"The man who picked you up last morning isn't the same one as tonight, is he?" Zhou Ji asked

In the middle of the night, Shen felt thirsty and groggily called out for "water." The person beside her turned over, got out of bed, poured her a glass of water, and helped her sit up to bring it to her lips.

"Shall we go soak in the hot springs?" Zhou Jidao asked

On the way back, Shen Lai was in no mood to talk, and Yuan Qi tried to speak several times, but the conversation never continued. When they arrived outside the community where Shen Lai lived, he finally spoke again, "Come on, I know you're angry. What happened yesterday was my fault. Next time, let's go somewhere farther away so we won't run into acquaintances. How about next week? We can go climb Huashan next week"

When she woke up in the morning, the sunlight was already blinding. Shen could not remember how she had last left the hot spring tub; she must have fallen asleep at that time, and Zhou had probably carried her in.

Just after changing clothes, Yuan Qiyue came to knock on the door, "Come, come, did you sleep well last night? When did you come back? I'm sorry, I got drunk yesterday and lost track of things. Sigh, they are all business associates, it's hard to refuse.

However, there were small red marks on Shen Lai's neck and arms in the mirror, which was clearly the result of Zhou Ji's malice. Shen Lai put on his clothes, donned a bathrobe over them, glanced at the time on his phone, went down to the hotel lobby's boutique to buy a silk scarf, and then returned to his room

After weighing the pros and cons, Shen Lai weakly said, "Can you go in and get my bag out?" She was well aware that she truly could not go back in; otherwise, if she had another drink, she would lose consciousness and be at the mercy of others. As for Yuan Qiyue, he had long since fallen out of Shen Lai's considerations.

Shen fully awakened after drinking water