After the joking, Xu Tingyu said seriously, "Qi Shifeng is a man with a deep mind. Even if he doesn't do some things, he must do them cleanly."
Back then, she had asked Chen Yan to help her get a divorce. When she left the Qi family, she had hesitated for a long time.
At first, she asked Chen Yan to spread rumors with Xie Yu to make Qi Shifeng nervous and shift his attention to Xie Yu.
But this trick didn't work.
Qi Shifeng still went to the sanitarium whenever he was free, leaving her no chance to take advantage of.
Later, they had to change their strategy and create momentum in public opinion to put pressure on the Qi family.
This time, the rumor between Xie Yu and Qi Shifeng was Chen Yan's doing.
The Qi family cared most about their reputation. Then they would expose the dirty things the Qi family had done to the Xu family and make them lose face.
Xie Yu wanted to marry into the Qi family cleanly by building a good persona. Then they would make her hope shatter forever.
Xu Tingyu wouldn't let them get what they wanted. No one would have an easy time.
Soon, the two of them returned to the lively private room, as if the conversation on the balcony had never happened.
After the meal, someone suggested going to the next activity. Xu Tingyu checked the time and apologized to everyone. "I still have something to do, so I won't go."
She really did have something to do.
Half an hour ago, someone had sent her photos of Qi Shifeng entering Xie Yu's residence.
Judging from the time, it would be just right to catch them in the act now.
Chen Yan was worried about her but didn't show it directly. He just took the opportunity of going to the bathroom to see her off.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go? What if those two get angry and hurt you?"
Chen Yan knew about this matter, and his eyes were full of worry.
He hadn't advised Xu Tingyu to do this at that time. It would only disgust herself and might not be useful.
After all, since the other side had been so high - profile in the media, what would it matter if they were caught in bed?
But Xu Tingyu insisted.
Because no one knew that when Qi Shifeng made her believe in him, she had shamefully softened her heart.
This man had occupied her heart tightly. Since the idea of divorce came up, she had made great efforts to get rid of him.
But it wasn't that easy.
She had loved him so devoutly and passionately for many years.
This matter had been engraved in her bones. Every time she tried to pull it out, she would suffer excruciating pain.
It was only through this that she realized how indecisive she was.
In the past year or so, the long hours of sitting alone in a daze had made her understand a truth.
What had been torturing her was never Qi Shifeng.
It was her illusory expectations.
She wouldn't let herself go. She was trapped in this swamp. The mud had already reached her lips, but she still wouldn't let go of the withered grass in her hand.
She was struggling hard, constantly worried that the withered grass would break.
She clearly knew in her heart that no one would come to save her.
It would be better to sink into the swamp and be reborn from death.
This well - planned act of catching them in the act was her last ultimatum to herself.
She wanted to see that man lying beside another woman with her own eyes, and then tell him and herself: She didn't want something that was dirty.
So when she looked up into Chen Yan's eyes, there was still a hint of excitement hidden.
"Chen Yan, you shouldn't worry about me. You should congratulate me on my upcoming rebirth."
In the night, her eyebrows and eyes were as bright as when she was a girl. Her expression wasn't one of happiness but more like that of a person going to her death.
Chen Yan had no reason to stop her.
He could only watch helplessly as she got into a black business car.
When she passed by him, the hem of her clothes fluttered by the night wind briefly brushed against the back of his hand.
The faint fragrance filled his nose, and he inexplicably felt very irritable.
So after Xu Tingyu left, he didn't turn back. Instead, he leaned against the resplendent pillar in front of the restaurant and took out his lighter.
The blue flame sprang up, illuminating his eyes, which were as charming as the peach blossoms in a spring night, making them look as deep as a swamp.
A familiar acquaintance came out first. Seeing him leaning against the pillar smoking, looking so lonely and desolate as if he had been abandoned, couldn't help but step forward with a smile and tease, "No way, Young Master Chen. After all these years, are you still thinking about the Xu family's younger sister?"
Back then, everyone except Xu Tingyu could see Chen Yan's affection for her.
But at that time, he had made a mistake and was sent abroad by the Chen family. Before he returned, the news of the marriage alliance between the Xu and Qi families had already made the headlines.
Over the years, Chen Yan had never mentioned Xu Tingyu after he came back.
Xu Tingyu seemed to have disappeared. Since her marriage, she rarely appeared in public.
At today's gathering, everyone had been observing Chen Yan's reaction.
But they saw that he was calm and generous, not like someone with lingering feelings.
Only then did everyone feel relieved, and couldn't help but sigh that this couple was destined to be apart.
The proud daughter of heaven and the arrogant young man back then were the dreams of many people when they were in their first love.
Now one was involved in a scandal of a broken marriage, and the other was lingering in the world of women, with no good reputation.
A female classmate whispered quietly, "They really have both gone bad together."
Chen Yan ignored them. He smoked a cigarette on his own. Soon, a car came to pick him up, and he disappeared into the boundless night.
Chen Yan hadn't drunk much. At least, it wasn't much for him.
But now his head was hurting badly.
Leaning on the seat, he remembered the question his classmate had asked just now, "Are you still thinking about the Xu family's younger sister?"
The neon lights outside the car window fell into his eyes. The colorful colors all turned into deep ink in his peach - blossom eyes.
Yes, he was still thinking about her.
When she had smiled and asked him to congratulate her on her upcoming rebirth, he had stared at her face like the fading sunset clouds and her thin, slightly pale lips.
Suddenly, he had a strong urge to kiss her.
His heart was like an abyss, insatiable.
When she had walked past him and got into that car, he had wanted to hug her regardless of everything.
Proud as Xu Tingyu was, she had been forced to such a state by a man.
This trip was like killing eight hundred enemies but losing a thousand of her own.
Now she had no support at all. If Qi Shifeng insisted on hurting her, she might be ruined tonight.
Moreover, everyone said that this little girl was as invincible as a hedgehog when she was stubborn.
But he knew that it was all an illusion.
Her spines were all soft, and she was full of flaws.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have cried and shouted, "Mom, you don't love me at all." when she was a girl.
And as long as Zhang Qiu looked at her, she would surrender.
She didn't hurt others but only suffered herself.
But he couldn't stop her. If he did, she would be trapped in this bad marriage forever.
He calmly reported an address to the driver in front.
If she was going to fall into the abyss, then he would accompany her.
It was his fault that he had come late these years.
This time, even if she was going to fall into hell, he would be there to catch her.
His unusual behavior tonight made the usually taciturn driver couldn't help but look back at him.
Everyone said that Young Master Chen was unrestrained and amorous, but in his charming peach - blossom eyes, there was always a tired look, as if hiding endless stories and hazy memories.
But tonight, in those peach - blossom eyes, there was a grand, gorgeous, and passionate light.
It was as if he was going to ignite someone.