Chapter 15: My Wife Left Me

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Qiao Xu thought it was the cold medicine she had ordered being delivered, so she opened the door without checking through the peephole. She was about to reach out for the takeout when she hesitated. “Why are you here?” Her face and lips were pale. Xu Sian furrowed his brows but didn’t answer her question; instead, he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead.

Of course he knew. With her delicate constitution, catching a cold during the changing seasons was normal—let alone after plunging into icy lake water. During their recent reunion, he hadn’t seen her unwell and thought she had recovered.

“Did your brain get dumped at the recycling center?” he snapped. “What kind of weather and temperature is this? You could have called security to retrieve the dog instead of going down yourself.”

Qiao Xu felt dizzy and her head was foggy from his shouting. The discomfort in her body and heart made her emotions flare inexplicably. “You’re the one who’s sick—showing up at your ex-girlfriend’s place late at night with that passive-aggressive attitude. When you go to get the dog, maybe you should see a doctor too.”

Xu Sian was nearly silenced by her sharp tongue. He snatched the half-smoked cigarette from her fingers, took a drag, and pressed on her shoulder to push her back inside.

“If I don’t come, next year on this day I might have to go to my ex-girlfriend’s…” Suddenly, he caught himself and fell silent.

He took off his shoes and opened the shoe cabinet, spotting a pair of black men’s slippers inside. Looking up at Qiao Xu, he asked, “Are these for me?”

She tightened her trench coat around her. “You’re imagining things. They’re my boyfriend’s.”

“The one who came over for dinner last time?”

Qiao Xu knew he meant Meng Zhe and didn’t deny it.

Closing the cabinet, Xu Sian slipped off his leather shoes, leaving only his socks on the floor.

“Aren’t you going to wear them?”

“No. I don’t wear other men’s things.”

Qiao Xu watched as he casually sat on the sofa. “Get up. Go out.”

Xu Sian pretended not to hear. “Come here, take your medicine.”

“No need.”

“You caught a cold fetching my dog. I’m responsible.”

Qiao Xu felt cold and dizzy, only wanting to sleep, too weak to argue with him.

“Put the medicine down and leave.”

His cold face remained almost expressionless. “Will you come take it yourself, or do I have to hold you down and force-feed you?”

Qiao Xu knew his stubborn streak. If she didn’t take the medicine in front of him, he would definitely force her.

There was still hot water she had poured a few minutes ago on the table. Xu Sian opened his palm and placed a few pills before her.

She grabbed them and swallowed immediately. “Enough, Mr. Xu.”

“Drink water.”

After downing half a cup, Qiao Xu slammed it down on the table. “Happy now?”

Xu Sian shrugged off his suit and tossed it on the sofa casually, then grabbed a cigarette from the ladies’ pack on the table, lighting it.

“Sit down. Let’s talk.”

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Page 2 of 3

Qiao Xu instinctively tried to back away but he pulled her down onto the sofa. “When did you learn to smoke?”

“Mind your own business.”

Xu Sian stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray. “Alright, new topic. Did you hit Shen Zhiwei?”

On the way here, he had seen the surveillance footage the villa’s property management sent.

Shen Zhiwei threw the dog into the water; Qiao Xu jumped in to rescue it and slapped her as they got out.

“Are you here to settle scores on behalf of your wife?”

“She threw the dog—whether it’s Cherry or someone else’s, I’d still smack her.”

Xu Sian gripped her wrist and raised it above her head.

Her trench coat was open; Qiao Xu had just showered and wore nothing under her pajamas. The position made her inexplicably embarrassed.

“Let go.”

His voice was hoarse, holding back the urge to bite her fiercely. “Shake your head so I can hear if there’s water in it. My wife already threw me away, what nonsense are you spouting?”

His fingertip traced her jawline. “You’re all thorns to me, but at least you slap others.”

“If I were you, I’d kick her into the lake.”

Both her hands were held by him; she could only lift her foot to kick.

Xu Sian was familiar with every move she made and caught her foot before it landed.

“Xu Sian, you’re such a bastard.”

He leaned closer, his handsome face near hers. “A bastard? What have I done?”

“You seduced me, and I didn’t say anything.”

After saying that, he glanced down at her pajamas…

Qiao Xu’s pale face flushed red. “What exactly do you want?”

“If you want to get back at your wife, then hit back.”

“Oof…”

Her lip was bitten and bleeding; his eyes gleamed fiercely. “I told you, she has nothing to do with me. My wife threw me away.”

He said the last sentence with a heavy heart and released her hand.

“Sorry.”

“Go to the hospital or have your boyfriend come take care of you.”

Qiao Xu sat up and zipped her trench coat. “I’ll have him come.”

She braced herself and called Meng Zhe.

“Xiao Xu? What’s up?”

The anger in Xu Sian’s eyes deepened. Was she always this close to others?

Qiao Xu cleared her throat awkwardly. “I have a fever. Could you…”

“Are you at home or the hospital?”

“At home.”

“I’m coming right now.”

After the call ended, Xu Sian sat still, staring coldly at her.

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Page 3 of 3

There was a trace of… grievance in his gaze.

“He’ll be here soon. You should go now. Thanks for bringing me the medicine.”

Qiao Xu couldn’t bear to meet his eyes, especially fearing his meltdown once he saw Meng Zhe.

She knew how possessive Xu Sian was.

He didn’t move, chain-smoking her pack of cigarettes until the last one was gone before standing.

Qiao Xu: …Crazy!

When Xu Sian opened the door, he met Meng Zhe stepping out of the elevator.

He walked up to him with a faint smile, his throat hoarse from smoking too much. “Do you even know how to be a boyfriend? You know it takes days for her fever to break?”

Meng Zhe sneered, “I know.”

They’d grown up together; he was five years older and certainly knew her condition well.

Xu Sian’s next words caught in his throat.

He knew?

So… they had slept together?

Damn it!

Qiao Xu, you really are something.

Meng Zhe knocked on the door. When Qiao Xu opened it, she saw the man still standing by the elevator.

“I—”

Meng Zhe reached out to touch her forehead. “Fever again? Kicking the covers off in the middle of the night?”

Xu Sian, one foot in the elevator, nearly lost his breath.

He even knew she kicked off the covers when she slept, which meant…

They often slept together.

Qiao Xu said, “Come in.”

The door closed behind her, and the man at the elevator left like a walking corpse.

Meng Zhe noticed the opened cold medicine on the table. “He brought this?”

“Yeah.”

The ashtray was filled with cigarette butts from the ladies’ pack. Meng Zhe flicked her forehead. “You’re burning a fever and still smoking so much. Want me to call your aunt?”

Qiao Xu slumped onto the sofa, disappointed. “He smoked them. I’m fine, just called you to help out.”

Meng Zhe tidied the table and poured her a fresh cup of hot water. “Alright, I’m just a tool.”

“So, how about going to the hospital? Don’t let the fever fry your brain.”

Qiao Xu hugged a pillow, curled up on the sofa. “No need. I’ll be fine soon. You should go. I want to sleep.”