Xia Xia’s worst fear had come true.

After calling the police, she ran toward the address Zhu Ziyu had given her.

A crowd had gathered outside Starbucks. In the center, a middle-aged woman stood before Zhu Ziyu, one thick hand gripping her hair while the other tore at her chiffon blouse. Zhu Ziyu’s clothes were half-shredded, with straps sliding down her bare arms.

Zhu Ziyu wasn’t one to back down. She pushed back against the woman’s shoulders and pulled her hair in return. The two women were locked in a fierce struggle.

“Shameless woman, you dare hit me?” the woman shouted.

Zhu Ziyu responded coldly, “Watch your mouth.”

“Watch my mouth?” The woman sneered. “You’re the one seducing my husband, making him spend money on you, even getting him to steal my bankbook to buy you a house! How many times did you serve Zheng Zhiming to make him willingly spend so much money on you?”

As the woman repeatedly said “My husband,” Zhu Ziyu’s long eyelashes trembled.

The woman was barely five feet tall, overweight, with sallow skin, yet dressed head-to-toe in luxury brands. Her confident demeanor suggested she lived an extremely privileged life. Zhu Ziyu stared at her with pure disbelief at every glance.

“Zheng Zhiming is your husband?” She laughed mockingly. “You must be joking.”

Zheng Zhiming graduated from a top domestic university in the most sought-after major and then studied in Australia. Ten years ago, a graduate degree carried more weight than now. He stood out among his generation as an elite. Later, he built his chain of teahouses and restaurants, accumulating considerable wealth through stock and real estate investments. He could certainly be considered solidly upper-middle class.

He was handsome, loved fitness, and maintained both his face and figure well. Countless women pursued him. Not only was he supposedly unmarried, but even if he were married, the idea that this woman – who seemed mismatched with him in every way – could be his wife struck Zhu Ziyu as laughable.

The woman read the disbelief and deeper contempt in Zhu Ziyu’s gaze, like an enraged lioness.

She took off her LV bag from her arm, removed her rings and bracelet, and pointed at Zhu Ziyu, shouting, “Hold her down!”

Several women rushed forward, grabbing her arms and legs. Those who couldn’t find a grip used their handbag corners to strike Zhu Ziyu’s head.

Zhu Ziyu’s forehead turned red from the blows. The woman grabbed her hair and pushed her to the ground.

She took off her flat shoes and began frantically slapping Zhu Ziyu’s face with the soles.

When Xia Xia arrived, Zhu Ziyu’s top had been torn to shreds, leaving only a broken black bra hanging crookedly on her body.

Zhu Ziyu fought with practiced skill. No matter how many people hit her or stared at her exposed body, she didn’t cry out in pain. She kept a death grip on one woman’s hair, refusing to let go. That woman howled in pain as her scalp burned, her nails leaving countless bloody scratches on Zhu Ziyu’s shorts-clad thighs.

Xia Xia pushed through the crowd, shoving aside those in front to pull Zhu Ziyu up from the ground.

Zhu Ziyu’s hair was disheveled, and her body was covered in nail marks. Her pant legs were rolled up, her top gone, and her bra half-torn off.

She didn’t cry or wail but expressionlessly adjusted her shoulder strap.

Xia Xia took off her T-shirt and threw it to Zhu Ziyu. She still had a tank top underneath. She bent down to pick up Zhu Ziyu’s scattered belongings.

The woman, whose head was missing a large chunk of hair pulled out by Zhu Ziyu, covered her scalp. Her face flushed red as she tried to push past Xia Xia to continue the attack. Xia Xia blocked her: “Just try it.”

The woman cursed viciously, “You’re in league with this mistress, both shameless women who seduce men everywhere.”

Zhu Ziyu could handle being cursed herself, but couldn’t stand hearing Xia Xia insulted. She lost her composure and moved to continue fighting: “Do you want to die—”

Xia Xia stood straight-backed, her expression cool and dignified, emanating a calm, steady strength.

She held Zhu Ziyu back and opened her phone’s camera to record the woman: “The police are coming. You’ve physically assaulted my friend and verbally insulted me. I’ve recorded everything. If you’re brave enough, repeat what you just said on camera.”

The woman snatched her phone and smashed it to the ground.

Xia Xia picked it up. The screen was shattered but still recording. She coldly regarded the woman: “Destruction of property – add that to the list.”

After confirming she had recorded all the woman’s malicious behavior, she put the phone in the shopping bag containing the watch she’d bought for Xie Huai, placing it safely away from the conflict.

In the summer heat, her tank top didn’t look out of place under the bright sun.

As the group of women surged toward Zhu Ziyu again, Xia Xia used the hair tie from her wrist to pull her back-length hair into a high bun.

She stepped forward, grabbed the arm of one woman who was swinging her handbag to strike, and without hesitation, slapped her hard across the face.

At the police station.

While the woman was taken to give her statement, Zhu Ziyu sat silently on a bench in the main hall, not having spoken since entering.

Xia Xia went out and bought two coffees, handing one to her. Zhu Ziyu accepted it while studying Xia Xia.

Xia Xia had also been injured in the fight. Her hair was completely disheveled, one tank top strap had broken and been hastily knotted back together. Her face showed several slap marks, and her fair skin from chin to collarbone was covered in nail scratches – shocking to look at, but far less severe than Zhu Ziyu’s injuries.

“Sorry you got scared,” Zhu Ziyu said hoarsely.

“Minor incident,” Xia Xia said lightly. “When I was young, the beatings I took were much worse than yours.”

Zhu Ziyu took a sip of coffee: “I once had a dream where I was walking down the street and a group of women stripped me naked. No one helped me or showed sympathy. Everyone was filming with their phones, laughing while they uploaded the video titled ‘Wife Beats Mistress in Street.'”

“When I woke up, Zheng Zhiming called me stupid.” Zhu Ziyu laughed self-mockingly. “He said I was the wife – I should be the one beating others, who would dare beat me?”

The coffee was scalding, but Zhu Ziyu seemed not to notice.

She finished her coffee, her gaze falling on the woman giving her statement inside: “She’s Zheng Zhiming’s wife. Can you believe it?”

Xia Xia frowned. Given the woman’s circumstances, not only did Zhu Ziyu find it incomprehensible, she too was confused. However, she didn’t know much about Zhu Ziyu and Zheng Zhiming’s situation. She had joined the fight simply because they were friends, and because when Xie Huai was hospitalized, Zhu Ziyu had unhesitatingly transferred all her savings to her. Xia Xia was grateful for that.

As for other matters, Xia Xia reserved judgment.

When Zheng Zhiming drove to the police station, Zhu Ziyu was holding an ice pack from the bubble tea shop against her face.

Her originally delicate, beautiful oval face was now swollen beyond recognition, covered in countless scratches, and where the skin wasn’t broken, it was mottled with purple bruises.

Zheng Zhiming’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression ferocious as if ready to devour someone. He crouched before Zhu Ziyu, his features twisted as he looked at his lawfully wedded wife: “She did this to you?”

He bent to embrace Zhu Ziyu: “Come, I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

Zhu Ziyu forcefully stomped his kneecap, making him fall backward and knock over a police officer’s chair.

Her expression was cold enough to freeze someone to death as she pointed at the woman in the distance: “Who is she?”

Zheng Zhiming grabbed her hand, his gaze pained: “Yuyu…”

Zhu Ziyu threw the ice pack at his face, repeating: “I asked you, who is she?”

…

Zheng Zhiming’s exposure came from buying a house in Changping District.

After seeing the poor conditions of the old dormitory building, Zhu Ziyu started considering renting off-campus. She mentioned this idea to Zheng Zhiming, who took it to heart, but he had no intention of renting. First, given his financial status, renting would invite ridicule. Second, living on someone else’s property never felt secure.

Without telling Zhu Ziyu, he paid cash for a four-bedroom apartment near the university town, planning to surprise her when school started.

Property prices in the south city were expensive – even in a remote area like Changping District, it cost over ten thousand yuan per square meter.

His wife, receiving medical treatment abroad, had her phone linked to their bank cards. Though not physically present, she kept a close watch on Zheng Zhiming. This was why he had claimed to have no money when Xia Xia asked to borrow some – any large expenditure would prompt a call from his wife, and explaining a loan to an unrelated person would be too troublesome, so he simply refused.

When two million yuan disappeared from the bank account, his wife called to ask. Zheng Zhiming calmly told her he had bought a house as an investment, his words and tone showing no signs of deception.

But a woman’s intuition is a mysterious thing. Driven by some instinct, she called the bank to check the transaction history – during her year abroad for treatment, Zheng Zhiming’s spending had nearly tripled.

Though Zhu Ziyu rarely asked him for things, their travel and entertainment expenses weren’t small, and with Zheng Zhiming’s emphasis on quality of life, it added up to a significant sum.

The woman flew back that night without telling anyone. What followed was like a TV drama – she hired investigators, discovered her husband was secretly keeping a college student, and unable to contain her anger, gathered friends to confront Zhu Ziyu while she was shopping alone.

Zheng Zhiming came from a rural background and had completed his education only through financial aid. At his graduation ceremony, the coal baron who had supported him for years smiled while introducing his daughter, openly suggesting that Zheng Zhiming marry into their family. The coal baron promised that if Zheng Zhiming married his daughter, not only would his previous educational debts be forgiven, but he would provide capital for Zheng Zhiming’s first business venture.

Having crawled up from the bottom, Zheng Zhiming had seen the world’s fickleness and human coldness. He knew how difficult it was to change social class through individual effort alone in this era, so he abandoned his girlfriend of eight years to marry his current wife.

His career flourished, but his marriage was unhappy. In eight years of marriage, the most common term he heard at home was “phoenix man” (a derogatory term for a poor man who marries into wealth).

His wife was ugly and crude, a spoiled only child who grew up pampered. Her personality was violent and overbearing. She never considered others, couldn’t handle any housework, had no skills, and had even returned home after completing nine years of compulsory education, claiming she disliked studying. Before marriage, her parents supported her; after marriage, her husband did. As a full-time housewife, she neither earned money nor did housework, spending all her time and energy on entertainment, eating, drinking, traveling, and mocking her husband.

In many years of marriage, Zheng Zhiming’s intimate life was practically nonexistent. He could provide his wife with a luxurious lifestyle but couldn’t generate even a spark of desire for her body, even with the lights off. Their most frequent period of intimacy was when Zheng Zhiming wanted a child. After several months of trying without success, they went to the hospital for tests and discovered she had polycystic ovary syndrome and couldn’t conceive. She wasn’t surprised by the results – she had known all along.

Zheng Zhiming felt deceived. His wife, feeling somewhat guilty about concealing her infertility, voluntarily contacted a famous foreign hospital for treatment.

After she went abroad, Zheng Zhiming met Zhu Ziyu through Zhao Jinsong. Zhu Ziyu somewhat resembled his college girlfriend, and her unique combination of cool elegance and youthful vitality captivated him instantly.

“…At first I just wanted to play around, but later I truly couldn’t help myself. Yuyu, I’m serious about you.” Watching Zhu Ziyu’s face gradually darken and the light fades from her eyes, Zheng Zhiming’s heart nearly shattered. “After what she did to you, I won’t let her off easily. I’ll find a lawyer when I get back, I’ll divorce her…”

Zhu Ziyu remained silent, her eyes downcast, thick eyelashes casting shadows on her face.

Hearing Zheng Zhiming’s words from a distance, his wife tried to rush over to hit him but was stopped by police officers.

She grabbed everything within reach – water cups, vases, file folders – and threw them at him and Zhu Ziyu.

Zheng Zhiming shielded Zhu Ziyu: “Are you done? Can you stop acting like a lunatic?”

His refined brows furrowed in extreme irritation, every expression and tone revealing his disgust for his wife.

Zhu Ziyu shook off his hand and walked toward the exit. Zheng Zhiming persistently held onto her: “Yuyu, you’re hurt, let’s go to the hospital first—”

“Let go of me!” Zhu Ziyu shouted and slapped him. Her face was deathly pale, her entire arm trembling with anger.

Pointing at Zheng Zhiming, her voice hoarse: “You disgusting thing.”

Zheng Zhiming’s expression almost shattered. He pressed his lips together, forcing a calm appearance: “You can hit me all you want, just don’t bottle up your anger or hurt yourself.”

Zhu Ziyu kept hitting him while he absorbed all the blows, holding her tightly.

“Come to the hospital with me.” He spoke pleadingly, “You’re pregnant.”

At that moment, Xia Xia turned to look at Zhu Ziyu, whose already pale face took on a thunderstruck ashen hue. Her eyes widened, and her whole body swayed unsteadily.

“It’s true,” Zheng Zhiming said, “Haven’t you missed your period this month?”

Zhu Ziyu’s periods had always been irregular. A few days ago, she had complained to Zheng Zhiming about not getting it this month, wondering if she might be pregnant. At the time, Zheng Zhiming had shown no reaction, only reassuring her that they’d always used protection so she couldn’t be pregnant, telling her not to worry.

Xia Xia sat with Zhu Ziyu in the hospital corridor, arm around her shoulders: “He’s lying to you. How could you suddenly be pregnant?”

Zhu Ziyu remained silent.

When their number was called, Xia Xia went in to collect the test results. Seeing the words “early pregnancy” printed on the form, she felt dizzy. This was her first encounter with such a situation, and even her usual composure faltered. Zhu Ziyu stared at the paper in Xia Xia’s hand. Though she couldn’t read the words clearly, she could tell from Xia Xia’s expression.

“Pregnant?” She appeared remarkably calm.

Xia Xia folded the ultrasound report and stuffed it into her back pocket: “Let’s get checked at another hospital.”

“Zheng Zhiming always wanted children. He said we’d marry after I graduate,” Zhu Ziyu said expressionlessly. “Calculating the timing, if I’m pregnant now, the baby would arrive right around graduation.”

A chill ran down Xia Xia’s spine. When she saw the report, she had only thought about how contraception wasn’t 100% effective and how unlucky Zhu Ziyu was, never considering that Zheng Zhiming might have deliberately planned this.

But Zhu Ziyu saw it differently. Her beautiful eyes were red, white teeth biting her lip hard as she looked at Xia Xia: “Should I give him what he wants?”

Zhu Ziyu walked to the department and asked the doctor about abortion procedures.

She acted purely on instinct, rarely considering consequences. Unlike Xia Xia’s cautious nature, she always spoke her mind and acted on her feelings, never using protective coloring to hide her true character. When she loved Zheng Zhiming, it was genuine love, but when she found him disgusting, that too was genuine.

So disgusting that she couldn’t bear having the embryo inside her for one more second.

Xia Xia, usually full of ideas, was at a loss, unsure whether to advise further consideration or encourage termination.

Once Zhu Ziyu made a decision, there was no room for negotiation. She told no one, giving her bank card and ID to Xia Xia, asking her to help with payment and paperwork downstairs.

When Xia Xia returned, Zhu Ziyu was clutching her stomach, upper body bent over her legs, head buried in her arms, vulnerable as a child. She didn’t cry. She handed the papers to the doctor without a moment’s hesitation and followed them into the room.

It was 5 PM when Xie Huai received Xia Xia’s call. He was about to leave for an important business dinner.

Xia Xia asked, “Are you busy now?”

Her tone lacked its usual casualness when talking to him, carrying a slight tremor. Xie Huai asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xia Xia briefly explained the situation: “…Others can leave after resting a while, but Ziyu’s bleeding severely. The pads are soaked through. The doctor says it’s normal, but she’s in too much pain to walk, and they won’t admit her here.”

“Her family isn’t in South City. If you’re not busy, could you come?” Xia Xia paced anxiously. Zhu Ziyu lay on her lap, unable to move from pain. The outpatient building was about to close, and she couldn’t carry Zhu Ziyu. Even leaving this floor would be difficult. And this wasn’t something they could ask others for help with – if word got out, Zhu Ziyu’s life at school would be ruined.

Xie Huai said, “Understood, I’m coming now.”

Xie Huai bought the next available high-speed rail ticket from the neighboring city. When he arrived at the hospital, it was closing time. Xia Xia was arguing with security for a few more minutes’ stay. Xie Huai immediately noticed the injuries on Xia Xia’s neck and her half-broken tank top strap. His face darkened instantly as he approached: “Who hit you?”

“We’ll talk later, let’s get Ziyu out first.”

Xie Huai took off his jacket and draped it over Xia Xia, then lifted Zhu Ziyu from the bench. Xia Xia called the elevator, taking them directly to the parking garage. Xie Huai placed Zhu Ziyu in the back seat. Her pants were bloodstained, and she was nearly unconscious from pain.

Xie Huai started the car. When they crossed the speed bump at the hospital exit, the car shook, waking Zhu Ziyu. She grabbed Xia Xia’s hand, her hair at the temples wet with sweat.

Xie Huai saw through the rearview mirror that Zhu Ziyu’s nails had left red marks on Xia Xia’s hand. He couldn’t help saying: “Zhu Ziyu, deal with your pain, why grab Xia Xia?”

Xia Xia quickly said: “It’s fine, hold my hand if you’re in pain.”

She offered her hand to Zhu Ziyu, but Zhu Ziyu wouldn’t take it anymore.

She stared at the car ceiling. Xie Huai had turned on the light, filling the cabin with warm amber.

Xie Huai placed Zhu Ziyu in the guest room bed. Xia Xia shooed him out and changed Zhu Ziyu’s pads.

Zhu Ziyu fell asleep after taking medication. Since the procedure, she hadn’t said a word, not even reacting when Xia Xia brought her to Xie Huai’s rented house.

Xia Xia quietly closed the door. Xie Huai was organizing things in the kitchen. He had just bought a hen and vegetables from the market outside the complex. With a week until school started, Zhu Ziyu would be staying here.

“Let me see,” Xie Huai cupped Xia Xia’s face to examine it. “You still haven’t told me who hit you.”

Xia Xia rolled the words around in her mouth several times before spitting them out angrily: “Zheng Zhiming is such scum! Having a wife and fooling around is one thing, but trying to get someone to bear his child? How could Ziyu just happen to get pregnant – he probably punctured the condom!”

“It’s so nauseating, that greasy old man, castrating him would be too good for him!”

“Disgusting thing, trash man—”

Xie Huai pinched her face hard, making her yelp. She covered her face, complaining pitifully: “What are you doing!”

“Trashman? He doesn’t deserve that title.”

Xia Xia used to curse at Xie Huai whenever she got angry, even posting multiple times on Weibo calling him trash. Xie Huai had strange jealous spots – like getting angry when Xia Xia called Zhao Yilei “brother” before, and now getting upset hearing her call another man trash.

Xia Xia was surprised that Xie Huai could be jealous over the word “trash,” so she switched to different insults.

While listening to her curse, Xie Huai retrieved the medicine box from under the TV cabinet to treat her face.

As the cool ointment touched her swollen face, Xia Xia’s anger subsided slightly. Not having seen Xie Huai for a while, she grinned and hugged his arm: “Don’t worry too much, Brother Huai. I hit back – the person who hit me has a face even more swollen than mine.”

Xie Huai snorted: “You’re quite proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

He put away the ointment as Xia Xia nestled obediently in his arms, rubbing her head against his hard jaw.

“I was wrong,” she said softly. Xie Huai didn’t immediately realize she was apologizing.

He asked: “What were you wrong about?”

“I shouldn’t have broken up with you before, or told you to find another girlfriend.” Xia Xia counted her sins on her fingers. “I did think that if you found a girlfriend like Zhao Shanqi, you could work less hard for a few years, but after seeing Zheng Zhiming, I realized how disgusting it is when men live off women. If you become like that—”

Xia Xia couldn’t bear to imagine it.

Xie Huai raised an eyebrow: “Living off someone isn’t always bad, it depends on who.”

“If Sister Xia wants to support me, I’ll not only accept it, I’ll ask for seconds, but not from anyone else.”

“It’s good that you’ve realized your mistake and reformed, but that doesn’t mean I’ll forget about those months you ignored me.” Xie Huai smiled. “I remember everything clearly – what’s that expression? Acting cute won’t work with me.”

“Brother Huai—” Xia Xia threw herself at him, returning to her former sweet demeanor now that they’d reconciled. “I know I was wrong, don’t hold it against me anymore.”

Her face reddened: “Can’t we stop counting? Last time after you left…”

Her voice grew tiny: “I couldn’t get out of bed for a day.”

Her soft body squirmed in his arms. Xie Huai pushed her away through gritted teeth: “Stop wiggling, or I won’t be able to leave.”

Xia Xia looked confused: “Where are you going?”

Xie Huai looked at her, and Xia Xia realized: “Did you come back temporarily? Do you have plans tonight?”

Xie Huai straightened his clothes. He wore a black checkered tie – his business-only attire.

Xia Xia asked: “Did I interfere with your work?”

“How could you?” Xie Huai couldn’t resist kissing her. “Time spent on you doesn’t count as interference.”

He checked his phone’s time, held Xia Xia’s waist, and gave her lips a firm kiss: “I have to go. I’ll deal with you when I get back.”

“…Wait.” Xia Xia remembered something and pulled a small box from under the sofa to give to Xie Huai. “Wear this.”

Xie Huai shook it by his ear, a refined smile curving his lips: “What is it? An apology gift or a bribe?”

After not seeing each other for days, Xie Huai’s mouth was still as crude as ever: “If you want to apologize sincerely, you don’t need gifts. Just calling me daddy a few more times in bed will make Brother Huai completely happy.”

He opened it to find an elegant men’s watch.

Though Xia Xia had removed the tag, its considerable price was still evident. He closed the box and tried to return it: “Don’t waste money, go return it.”

But his gaze lingered on it, clearly pleased with Xia Xia’s gift. It wasn’t about the price – it mattered because it was from her.

“I tore off the tag, it can’t be returned.” Xia Xia took his wrist and put on the watch. “A man needs a good watch for business meetings. Sister Xia doesn’t have much money now, but I’ll buy you an even better one in the future.”

Seeing Xie Huai’s hesitation, Xia Xia stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek: “You have to accept it. Wear it to close your deals, then earn lots of money to support me.”

Xie Huai smiled, pulled her head against his chest, and stroked it.

At the door while changing shoes, Xia Xia suddenly called out: “Brother Huai.”

Xie Huai turned back. She said: “I’m not that hurt, don’t go causing trouble for them. Although Ziyu was deceived, we’re somewhat in the wrong here.”

She had heard from Zhao Shanqi about Xie Huai confronting Zhao Jinsong on her behalf and had seen him split open the head of the perverted photographer who had harassed her with a wine bottle. Now that she had been beaten like this, though Xie Huai said nothing, it wouldn’t be like him not to seek revenge.

The calmer he seemed, the more suspicious it was. Xie Huai had only applied medicine without saying anything – Xia Xia didn’t believe he could resist seeking revenge for her.

“Besides, I hit them too, so let’s call it even.”

Xie Huai neither agreed nor refused.

He rolled up his shirt sleeve, revealing the watch Xia Xia had put on him, and said coolly: “We’ll see how I feel.”