Chapter 3: Given to Me

Liu Zhuyin did not return all night.

Over the past six months, this had become all too common. She never truly regarded me as her husband; staying out all night, she naturally felt no need to offer me any explanation.

In the morning, I skipped work to organize the things I intended to take with me. At noon, Liu Zhuyin returned, accompanied by Ning Yuanzhou.

"A-Zhou’s health has just recovered, and he will be staying here for a while. I need to take care of him personally." She paused, then added, "Go and clean up the guest room."

Liu Zhuyin didn't even glance at me. Her eyes remained fixed on Ning Yuanzhou the entire time she spoke. It was not a request, but a command. It was as if they were the true couple, while I was nothing more than a servant in this house. As the man of the house, I wasn't consulted, yet I was expected to prepare the room for him.

"I’m here as a guest; how could I let Mr. Gu do the cleaning? I’ll do it myself," Ning Yuanzhou said, casting a condescending look at me while feigning modesty.

"No need, you’ve just recovered. Don't overexert yourself," Liu Zhuyin replied quickly, her eyes filled with tenderness. She didn't notice the anger and sorrow etched onto my face.

"Very well." I took a deep breath, swallowing the bitterness, and turned to head upstairs.

"Mr. Gu, take these two ties," Ning Yuanzhou called out, stopping me. "I think they suit you better." He pulled out the remaining two ties from yesterday, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips.

"Keep them. Zhuyin gave them to you." I shook my head in refusal.

Ning Yuanzhou looked slightly aggrieved and hurried to explain, "Mr. Gu, I… I really think these two suit you. Please don't misunderstand!" He turned to Liu Zhuyin for support. "A-Yin, tell Mr. Gu; I really didn't mean anything else by it."

Liu Zhuyin simply snatched the ties and shoved them into my hands. Without a word of explanation, she coldly uttered, "Take them."

I gripped them tightly, then offered a hollow, powerless smile. "Fine. As you wish."

I turned and went upstairs to clean the guest room. I knew I was leaving, and I knew that Ning Yuanzhou would eventually move in, but I hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Liu Zhuyin, oh, Liu Zhuyin… how impatient were you?

I felt a sliver of relief, however, that she had never truly paid attention to me. Even a moment of observation would have revealed that what she signed yesterday was a divorce agreement. If she had agreed to it gladly, I might have truly crumbled.

Liu Zhuyin walked in, worried I wouldn't clean it well enough, and decided to supervise.

"The bed… move it further from the window. He’s in poor health; the morning and evening breezes are too cold."

"This mattress is fine, but the quilt won't do. Later, have a custom one made, like the one we have."

"These curtains let in too much light. A-Zhou needs his rest; the morning sun is too harsh and he won't be able to sleep well…"

"And another thing…"

Liu Zhuyin went on and on. It was likely more than she had said to me in the entire five years of our marriage. I simply noted everything down, doing my best to satisfy her.

Once I finished, my assistant arrived, carrying a massive bouquet of red roses. The vibrant, piercing color stung my heart once more. She had never given me roses, and she had never even spared a glance for the ones I had given her.

"A-Yin, did you order these roses for me?" Ning Yuanzhou asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he looked at Liu Zhuyin with feigned infatuation in front of me.

"Oh… I did order flowers to celebrate your move into my home tonight, but why are they here so early? And besides—"

Her confusion was cut short as Ning Yuanzhou interjected, "It doesn't matter. They were meant for me, so it makes no difference if they arrived early or late. Thank you, A-Yin. You are so good to me."

A blush spread across Liu Zhuyin’s cheeks, and she looked away shyly.

At that moment, however, the assistant awkwardly shattered the beautiful scene.

"Miss, these flowers… these aren't for Mr. Ning. Didn't you say… they were to be delivered to Mr. Gu?"

The living room fell into a dead silence.