Huo Tingyun held a cigarette between his fingers, his other hand hanging by his side, wrapped in a fistful of bandages from back to palm, several layers thick, with blood seeping through.
After standing still, he tossed the cigarette to the ground and lifted his small leather shoe, crushing the butt with force.
He looked at Su Qi, smoke escaping from his thin lips.
Su Qi coughed and covered her nose.
"Pregnant?"
Huo Tingyun's voice was faint, slightly hoarse from smoking. His voice was excellent, like the lower register of a piano, digging deep into Su Qi's heart.
Su Qi's eyes shot up, "No!"
Her heart pounded.
How did he find out she was pregnant?
She had hidden it so well.
"No?" Huo Tingyun leaned in.
The distance between them was only a fist.
The scent of smoke from the man entered Su Qi's nostrils.
"If you're not, why are you so nervous?"
Su Qi turned her head away, avoiding Huo Tingyun's gaze.
"Mr. Huo, I don't think we need to dwell on this topic. Since we're divorcing, let's just get it done. After all, Miss Xu is waiting for you to marry her!"
"Jealous?"
Her chin was pinched by the man's hand.
Su Qi was forced to lift her chin, meeting the man's eyes.
A faint scent of blood entered her nostrils.
It was from the man's palm.
"Jealous?"
Su Qi found it amusing. In the past, she would have been driven mad with jealousy, but things were different now. She had no right to be jealous, nor did she dare to be.
The last time she was jealous, she paid a heavy price for it!
"Mr. Huo, please show some respect!"
Su Qi saw Huang Ying's car approaching and wanted to leave, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed by Huo Tingyun.
Huo Tingyun, with elegant posture, unhurriedly took out a snow-white handkerchief from his pocket.
He vigorously wiped Su Qi's wrist, palm, and even each finger.
"Huo Tingyun! Are you crazy!"
Su Qi seriously suspected this man was not mentally stable. Why was he wiping her hands for no reason?
She tried to shake him off, but the man effortlessly held both her hands with one hand, making escape impossible.
Only when Su Qi's hands were rubbed red, like boiled pig trotters, red and swollen, did Huo Tingyun release her with satisfaction. Su Qi, in pain, couldn't help but curse.
Huo Tingyun raised an eyebrow but didn't get angry. He simply threw the handkerchief into the trash can, then put his hands in his pockets and got into the eye-catching Rolls-Royce.
Su Qi's hand hurt even to open the car door.
Huang Ying was so shocked she couldn't speak. After Su Qi got in, she didn't ask anything but drove slowly.
Su Qi expected Huang Ying to ask something, even to rack her brain for an excuse. She never expected Huang Ying to remain silent the entire way.
Huang Ying drove Su Qi to the villa area. This was the marital home bought by the old man for Su Qi and Huo Tingyun before his death.
Su Qi was packing her things these days and hadn't moved out yet.
"Rest early and be on time for work tomorrow morning."
Huang Ying said, then rolled up the car window and drove away.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Su Qi felt Huang Ying's voice was gentler than usual.
The next day.
The first thing Su Qi did upon waking was call Huo Tingyun.
"Beep beep beep... The number you have dialed is switched off."
The electronic voice's mechanical response came from the other end.
Su Qi gritted her teeth.
What was this man playing at?
She certainly wasn't narcissistic enough to believe Huo Tingyun was delaying the divorce because he still had feelings for her.
All of this was merely the man's method of humiliating and tormenting her.
She tried calling several times, but his phone was off.
Seeing that it was almost time to go to work, Su Qi had no choice but to give up.
Upon arriving at the company and parking her car, Su Qi got out, carrying a canvas bag.
To avoid gossip, she had borrowed an auntie's clothes and handbag.
She changed out of her previous attire.
Such luxury had never belonged to her, just like her ephemeral, dream-bubble marriage.
It was time to wake up.
Su Qi perked up and walked into the company building. As soon as she entered, she noticed her colleagues' gazes were strange.
Before she could reach the office area, she was stopped in the pantry by a colleague.
It was Yang Haotian, the male colleague who had taken her to the Huo family that day.
"What's wrong?"
Su Qi saw his expression was not right and a bad premonition arose in her heart.
"An Xin invited me for drinks last night..."
Yang Haotian looked dejected and apologetic.
"What happened with drinks?" Su Qi frowned, vaguely guessing something.
Yang Haotian stammered, "I got drunk, and An Xin asked me some questions. I have a bad temper when I drink, and I told her everything she asked. She found out about you, and now the whole company knows." Su Qi was startled, then found it amusing.
If she said it out loud, she probably wouldn't believe it herself, that she was the daughter-in-law of the Huo family?
"It's okay." Su Qi waved her hand, not taking it to heart, and walked out of the pantry, heading directly towards the office area.
"Su Qi, you still have the nerve to come to work?"
"Yeah, what a shameless person!"
"The famous Master Huo and Xu Linyun are a well-known loving couple in the entertainment industry!"
"To chase Master Huo, you even ran to the Huo family. What's the difference between this behavior and that of a love child stalker?"
Su Qi stopped in front of her desk and saw that her seat had been splashed with bright red paint, with several large characters written on it: Shameless.
Yang Tianhao followed behind Su Qi, "What are you talking nonsense about! What's wrong with Su Qi liking Master Huo? Does it concern you?"
Su Qi found the words exchanged between Yang Tianhao and her colleagues amusing.
As Su Qi was lost in thought, An Xin suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Su Qi's shoulder, and shoved her hard.
"Our Sheng Yue doesn't welcome people with your character! If you're smart, you'll resign and get out!"
She heard that Sister Huang Ying had even sent Su Qi home last night. An Xin had been by Sister Huang Ying's side for half a year and hadn't received such treatment.
Hating Su Qi to the bone, An Xin felt unhappy if she didn't vent her anger.
Su Qi did not expect this and, with the shove, fell towards the painted desk. Yang Haotian, quick as lightning, caught Su Qi.
Su Qi's elbow slammed into the corner of the desk, almost burying her entire face in the paint.
Fortunately, Yang Haotian pulled her back, narrowly saving her.
"Thank you!" Su Qi, still shaken, stood up, patted her chest, then frowned at An Xin, "You pushed me?"
"So what if I pushed you?" An Xin, relying on her long tenure at the company, raised her chin and put her hands on her hips.
"What can you do to me?"
*Slap*—
A slap landed hard on An Xin's cheek.
An Xin's entire face turned to the side from the impact. She covered her swollen face, staring at Su Qi in disbelief.
"You—you dared to hit me?!"
"So what if I hit you?"
Su Qi mimicked An Xin's tone.
"What can you do to me?"
"Su Qi! You bitch!"
An Xin screamed and lunged to tear at Su Qi.
Su Qi dodged to the side, evading her.