Chapter 5: There Is No Reason to Be Jealous

I prepared a lavish dinner—everything that Lily Zhuyin liked to eat. But just as I brought the dishes to the table, she glanced around and suddenly looked apologetic toward Ning Yuanzhou.

“Sorry, I forgot that Ah Zhou, you love fish the most.”

“Go get a fish right away!”

After giving the order, Lily Zhuyin didn’t forget to praise me.

“He makes really delicious fish! You have to try it.”

He? In her eyes, I was merely “he.” If one didn’t know we were married, such a way of addressing me would make me seem like a household servant.

“Really?”

“Then I must try it!”

Ning Yuanzhou’s face was full of anticipation, his pride swelling.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Gu.”

His words implied he regarded himself as the master of the house.

I simply smiled and nodded. After all, it was the truth.

Returning to the kitchen, I continued to bear the cost of Lily Zhuyin’s favor.

Outside, the two of them chatted and laughed. I was alone, bustling about in the kitchen.

The roses and carnations on the table felt all the more ironic, silently narrating my embarrassment.

Before long, the fish was ready, and I brought it up.

“Mr. Gu, thank you so much.”

“But your cooking is so good, I’m full and can’t eat anymore.”

“Sorry.”

Ning Yuanzhou looked at me apologetically, a strange smile playing on his lips.

“It’s all right.”

I was indifferent, not taking it to heart.

“By the way! By the way! I’ll take you to see my records!”

“There are several that belong to you!”

Lily Zhuyin, having eaten her fill, eagerly pulled Ning Yuanzhou away.

“But… I haven’t eaten with Mr. Gu yet.”

“Oh, the food’s right there. He won’t starve himself.”

“Gu Yichen, you eat by yourself first.”

Lily Zhuyin hurriedly set down the records and dismissed me without looking back.

She was right—I wouldn’t starve.

Why bother joining them?

Soon, the melody began to play.

It was the song she loved most.

I hadn’t realized until now that these songs were sung by Ning Yuanzhou.

I had even once complained that the singing was awful.

She had given me the cold shoulder for a whole month after that.

Now I understood.

This was the voice of the one she loved most.

They listened to the music together while I stared at the leftover food on the table.

I had no appetite.

I felt pitiful.

After a whole evening’s work, all that remained for me was a mess.

I cleaned the table, washed the dishes, took a piece of bread from the fridge, and filled my stomach.

Silently, I returned to my room to handle my work.

Downstairs, Lily Zhuyin’s laughter sometimes drifted up.

It was pleasant to hear.

But it didn’t belong to me.

Until late at night, Lily Zhuyin did not return to the master bedroom.

The next morning, as I stood before Ning Yuanzhou’s door, I encountered her.

“Did you sleep in his room last night?”

I frowned in accusation.

Though we had signed the divorce papers and I was preparing to leave, I was still her husband in name.

Could it be that she truly didn’t consider me at all?

“Yeah, Ah Zhou had a burst of inspiration last night, so I stayed with him to work on a song,” Lily Zhuyin replied casually, then gave another instruction.

“Prepare fish porridge; Ah Zhou likes that.”

Leaving me with that order, she went to wash up.

I stood there dumbfounded, feeling a chill wash over me.

It took me a long while to recover.

I gave a self-mocking smile and scolded myself inwardly—what was I jealous about? What was I angry over?

She never loved me.

Wasn’t this only natural?

At that moment, Ning Yuanzhou came out and saw me.

“Sorry!”

“Last night Ah Yin and I talked too late; she fell asleep afterward.”

“Mr. Gu, she and I grew up together.”

“You’re not jealous, are you?”

He was a cunning man.

He could fool Lily Zhuyin, but not me.

Though he told me not to be jealous, in his heart he was surely delighted.

He might even be hoping I’d lose my temper.

I really wanted to punch him right in the face.

But I still smiled.

“No.”

“She’s keeping you company—that’s what she should do.”