Chapter 52 Finding Life in Desperation, Each Relying on Their Own Skills

Qiao Jiu couldn’t help but laugh when she heard his question. “What, so the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common folk can’t light a lamp?”

She snorted. “So it’s fine for you to have a new romance, to meet her parents, and to immediately start planning your next steps, but I’m not allowed to meet someone more worthy of trust, to meet his family?”

She went on, “Since when does the world work like that?”

Lu Fengzhou was still pinning her against the windowsill, his gaze shadowed and complicated.

Qiao Jiu held her chin high, refusing to yield in the slightest.

They stayed locked in this standoff for a while. Eventually, her composure faltered, and she began to recall the past.

When they first fought over the divorce, she hadn’t wanted it. She’d smashed things at home, thrown fits, cried and screamed, threatened her own life.

Her father’s death had shattered her world, and just as she was at her lowest, he’d driven the knife in deeper.

She couldn’t take it back then. When pushed to the edge, she really had thought of ending it all.

He’d pinned her to the window then, just as he did now, telling her that signing the papers was her only way out, that threatening him with her life was pointless.

He’d never been gentle, but he’d at least maintained some veneer of gentlemanly restraint. But in that moment, the mask dropped—he revealed his sharpest fangs.

Now, once more, he’d pinned her to the window, demanding to know if she’d found someone else.

Why? Was she supposed to be trapped in a dead end forever?

Lu Fengzhou pressed his lips together, silent for a long while before finally saying, “Didn’t I tell you—the Liang family isn’t an option?”

Qiao Jiu curled her lips. “So the Liang family is out, but anyone else is fair game?”

Lu Fengzhou fell silent again.

Qiao Jiu let out a mocking laugh. “You really are something—hypocritical and shameless.”

She shoved him hard again. “You say you’re not jealous—then tell me, just what is this?”

She wasn’t sure if it was the force of her push, or her words that rattled him, but Lu Fengzhou slowly released her and stepped back.

Qiao Jiu rubbed her lower back, which ached from the impact—she wondered if it would bruise.

She went to sit on the sofa. “Just tell me—so long as it’s not someone from the Liang family, am I free to be with anyone else? Give me a straight answer. If I can’t afford to cross you, I’ll just pick someone you can tolerate.”

Something occurred to her, and she laughed. “For example, the bartender at our bar—you two have no connection. If I got involved with someone like him, there shouldn’t be any problems, right?”

After a moment, Lu Fengzhou turned to look at her. “No.”

His tone was as firm as when she’d once begged him not to divorce her, and he’d refused.

Qiao Jiu raised her eyes, her smile layered with meaning. “Do you know what saying that implies?”

Lu Fengzhou walked over and sat down beside her—the place Wei Guan had found for her was much better than her old rented apartment; at the very least, the sofa was big enough.

He didn’t answer, but instead asked, “After the divorce, I had someone give you a plane ticket. Why didn’t you leave?”

Qiao Jiu was caught off guard, and the memory surfaced at once.

After the divorce, Lu Fengzhou really had someone deliver her a plane ticket, urging her to leave Yun City.

The person who brought the ticket said everything had been arranged at the destination. As long as she went, maybe she wouldn’t live in luxury, but she’d have no more troubles.

At the time, Qiao Jiu thought the “trouble” referred to the accusations she faced from the outside world, due to Lu Fengzhou’s schemes.

Looking back now, she realized that wasn’t it—the “trouble” probably meant the problems Lu Fengzhou himself would create for her.

Lu Fengzhou continued, “You should’ve left then. It would have been better for both of us.”

Qiao Jiu’s expression grew somber. To be honest, leaving or staying made little difference to her. She had no relatives or friends in Yun City. Life elsewhere might have been even harder.

But she couldn’t accept it at the time—after living here for over twenty years, why should she be driven out by a man?

She waited a moment, then smacked her lips and asked, “You were so ruthless with me then—you must have hated me, right? If you hated me so much, wouldn’t keeping me around to torment me have been more satisfying? Why were you in such a hurry to send me away?”

The person who’d brought the ticket had pleaded with her every which way, and would have tied her up and put her on the plane if he could. It was obvious he was just following orders—Lu Fengzhou’s orders.

“So what were you so afraid of, trying so hard to get rid of me?” Qiao Jiu pressed. “And now that you won’t let me have anything to do with other men, what is it you’re afraid of now?”

Lu Fengzhou’s face darkened in an instant; he obviously hated hearing her say such things.

Qiao Jiu let out a soft laugh, rose, and walked to the window. “If it’s not what I suspect, then I really can’t figure out what you’re thinking. You already have your sweet little thing at your side, so why are you still clinging to your good-for-nothing ex-wife?”

She chuckled. “Your ex-wife is quite a handful, you know. If you push her too far, she might just be the reason your little sweetheart gets burned.”

Lu Fengzhou said nothing, merely watching her.

Qiao Jiu stood at the window, eyes lowered. This was where Lu Fengzhou had just been, watching her interaction with Liang Xiucheng.

What a calculating man, she thought with amusement.

Still, Qiao Jiu was in high spirits. Eight words leapt to her mind:

“Finding life at death’s door, each relying on their own wits.”