Song Jiaye originally thought that since he and Li Xiyu had agreed before marriage that they wouldn't fall in love with each other and wouldn't interfere in each other's lives, they could really get along as ordinary business partners.
In fact, that was exactly what Song Jiaye had done over the years.
He regarded Li Xiyu as a shareholder of his company. He took care of and respected his wife just like he would a colleague, shouldered the common family expenses, and carefully managed the Li Corporation.
He knew such a marriage wouldn't last long. Moreover, when they got their marriage certificate, they had already discussed the matter of divorce.
It was initially meant to end in divorce.
However, later on, Li Xiyu broke the agreement. When the "contract" expired, she refused to get a divorce. Now, with the divorce law and the kindness of the Li family as a threat, she had him cornered, and he was helpless.
The six - month agreement he mentioned to Li Xiyu a few days ago wasn't an impromptu decision but a long - planned one.
After six months, it would be enough time for the Li Corporation to truly gain a firm foothold and enter the next stage. It would be enough to repay the unwavering support of his brothers when they started from scratch, and it would also be enough to repay all the kindness of the Li family.
What Song Jiaye didn't expect was that during this process, Li Xiyu would go crazy. From the initial agreement of living separate lives, her demands had become more and more excessive.
When did it all start?
At first, she would just ask where he was. Later, she demanded that he report his whereabouts at all times. And then, she didn't care what he was doing. If he didn't get home before ten o'clock, she would go crazy, break down, and throw things at home.
Besides controlling him, she also meddled in his social circle. Almost all his friends had been questioned by her. Before, she only guarded against women, but later she even guarded against men - all thanks to the recent popularity of same - sex relationships in TV dramas.
This had made all his friends know that he had such a hysterical wife who would check up on him every few minutes.
Song Jiaye had thought about ending this painful marriage for both of them earlier, to let her go and let himself go. But Li Qiyu disagreed.
According to the country's marriage law, if one party disagreed, the other party would be helpless.
Moreover, no matter how much he disliked Li Xiyu's control, Song Jiaye was still grateful to the Li family and wouldn't take her to court for a divorce.
In the circle of socialites, face was more important than anything else. If the mess in their marriage was exposed, it would only make it harder for Li Xiyu to gain a foothold in the circle.
After hanging up the phone, Song Jiaye slumped into his office chair, with Li Xiyu on his mind.
Not the violent Li Xiyu from before.
But the current Li Xiyu, a bit like a little girl and a bit cute.
He couldn't help but think that maybe, before marrying him, Li Xiyu was like this. She was a cute, bright, tenacious, and generous girl.
A near - drowning incident had wiped her memory clean, starting everything anew. Maybe it was a relief for her.
Letting go of him and her obsessions.
Song Jiaye couldn't quite describe his feelings. He was a bit sad, a bit reluctant, but mostly happy.
It wasn't the happiness of finally not being entangled by Li Xiyu anymore, but the happiness for her having a better life.
She was becoming more and more herself, and that was good.
Song Jiaye always believed that whether man or woman, one shouldn't pin their life on another person.
So - called lovers and spouses were just two parallel lines that occasionally intersected, comforting and encouraging each other, and then continuing to pursue their own dreams and what they wanted.
Therefore, compared to the wealthy but cold life in a powerful family, Song Jiaye envied the life of ordinary couples more. A bowl of perhaps not - so - perfect egg noodles and a not - so - magnificent but warm light, full of the comforting smell of life.
The life that the refined and domineering Miss Li couldn't give him before, he had recently found in this clumsy and forgetful Li Xiyu.
Thinking of this, Song Jiaye picked up his suit jacket, stood up, and walked out.
His secretary was just standing at the door with a folder. Just as she was about to knock on the door and saw Song Jiaye walking out, she asked, "Boss, there's a document here that needs your signature."
Song Jiaye pointed at the computer desk and said, "Just put it on my desk."
Seeing that Song Jiaye seemed to be in a hurry to go out, the secretary quickly said, "You still have a meeting later."
"Reschedule it." Seeing the secretary looking a bit embarrassed and blocking his way, Song Jiaye casually made up an excuse, "I have to go and meet an important client."
Hearing this, the secretary didn't dare to stop him anymore and bowed slightly to let him go out first.
However, as she watched Song Jiaye's back, the secretary couldn't help but have many doubts in her mind.
There was no mention of an important client visiting in Mr. Song's schedule recently.
What kind of important client was it that made Mr. Song rush to meet them like this?
At this moment, Mr. Song's "important client" was choosing clothes in the room.
When Ming Yuexuan opened Li Xiyu's cloakroom, Li Qiyu's mouth fell open in shock.
She was, after all, a queen, but when faced with Li Xiyu's cloakroom, she suddenly felt that being a queen was so shabby.
Li Xiyu's cloakroom was as big as half a garage and had three floors. The outer layer was filled with daily clothes, dresses, shoes, bags, accessories, etc. Opening the inner layer revealed underwear and gold and silver jewelry.
Li Qiyu was very curious about the rows of underwear.
"What's this?" She pointed at the rows of underwear in the glass cabinet. She remembered seeing this when the servants in the Li family brought her clothes, but she didn't know where to wear it, so she didn't put it on.
"A bra." Ming Yuexuan suddenly realized something and stared at Li Qiyu with wide eyes. "You don't mean... you haven't worn underwear all this time, do you?"
"Underwear? Do you mean inner clothes? I've been wearing them." Li Qiyu said as she lifted her clothes to reveal a red bellyband.
Ming Yuexuan recognized this bellyband at a glance.
"Where... where did you find this?"
"In the wardrobe." Li Qiyu said and complained, "You modern people are so strange. You hide the bellyband at the bottom of the wardrobe. It took me a long time to find it."
"That..." Ming Yuexuan swallowed twice and said, "This... you bought it for Song Jiaye."
Because Song Jiaye, that old - fashioned guy, liked everything ancient and elegant. His study, desks, and bookcases were all made of antique - style mahogany. He also loved to practice calligraphy. Whether he was happy or sad, he would write a few strokes. His daily entertainment wasn't going to bars or drinking but going to listen to Peking operas and pingtan.
If it weren't for the fact that he was a company boss and needed to pay attention to his image, he probably wouldn't even wear suits and would just go out in a long gown.
Since Li Xiyu loved Song Jiaye so much, she naturally knew his preferences well. Not only did she practice calligraphy and study Chinese art with Song Jiaye on a daily basis and go to the theater with him - although most of the time she just slept in the audience - but she also took care of Song Jiaye's "taste" even in crucial moments.