Volume One, Chapter 19: Who Truly Is Your Husband?

"Let it be," she said, not wanting to say much, her fingers gently stirring the spoon in her coffee cup.

"You seem down. Did something difficult happen? Trouble at work? Or did you have a fight with Huo Shixu?" he tried to guess.

Song Nanyi looked up at him.

Lu Weiqian had a close relationship with Huo Shixu.

Since Huo Shixu managed to find Lian Peng to handle her divorce case, Lu Weiqian must have provided him with plenty of information.

But... ironically, it was still Lian Peng who was recommended to her.

"Do you know Lian Peng? She's also a lawyer," Song Nanyi suddenly asked.

Lu Weiqian was slightly taken aback.

He wasn’t familiar with that name.

"Which law firm is she with?" he asked apologetically, "That name sounds unfamiliar. Is she new?"

If Lu Weiqian truly didn’t know Lian Peng, then perhaps it really had little to do with him.

"She’s a friend of mine, specializes in divorce cases. She was reported for some alleged misconduct," Song Nanyi said.

Lu Weiqian’s expression hardened. "Is that so? Do you need my help?"

"The person who reported her is..." Song Nanyi looked him in the eyes, "...Huo Shixu."

Shock and disbelief flickered across Lu Weiqian’s face.

Having been a lawyer for many years, his sensitivity to matters of relationships surpassed most.

He easily guessed the implication behind Song Nanyi’s words. "This lawyer friend of yours is helping you with the divorce? You’re breaking up with Huo Shixu?"

"You're right. I did want Lian Peng to handle my divorce case, but Huo Shixu used his power and connections to force Lian Peng to stop working with me."

She didn’t have to discuss such matters in front of Lu Weiqian.

He wouldn’t help her.

Even if he agreed to take the case for a hefty fee, she wouldn’t necessarily trust him.

She just wanted Lu Weiqian to know that his childhood friend wasn’t a good person either, and that he was pushing her to a dead end.

"I haven’t seen Shixu in a long time, so I’m not sure how things stand between you two. Have you found a suitable lawyer yet?" Lu Weiqian asked with concern.

Song Nanyi shook her head.

Lu Weiqian should know that once Huo Shixu got involved, no one would take her case.

"No one in the country is willing to take this hot potato. Everyone fears Huo Shixu’s influence. I’m trying to find a lawyer abroad."

"Has your relationship really reached an irreparable point?" He seemed to hesitate, then added, "I mean, if Shixu doesn’t want a divorce, maybe you two can talk things through."

"He doesn’t want a divorce because of family interests, not because he still loves me."

Lu Weiqian fell silent.

Song Nanyi didn’t know what he was weighing during those quiet minutes.

Then, as if making a firm decision, he said, "Nanyi, if you really want to go through with this divorce, I can help you."

This was something Song Nanyi hadn’t expected.

"If you help me with this case, then your friendship with Huo Shixu ends here," she warned him, hoping he would think it through.

Lu Weiqian didn’t back down.

A complex smile curved his lips. "To be honest, I’ve also found many of Shixu’s actions inappropriate. I’ve told him many times. You know how stubborn he is. If you feel the marriage has lost its meaning, then let me help you get out of this predicament."

---

He was sincere.

But she still didn’t dare to agree lightly.

"I... need some time to think."

"Alright."

---

Outside the café.

Inside a prestigious Rolls-Royce, a long slender finger flicked ashes from a cigarette out the window twice.

Huo Shixu had been sitting here for quite some time, staring persistently at the table by the window.

His wife was dressed elegantly today, her softly curled waves, delicate makeup, manner of speech, and the way she sipped her coffee all exuded a deadly allure.

She had always possessed feminine charm.

Lu Weiqian’s gaze on Song Nanyi was intense.

As childhood friends, he had known for a long time that Lu Weiqian liked Song Nanyi.

But his personality was different from Huo Shixu’s.

He preferred to keep his feelings secret, never confessing or fighting for her.

When Huo Shixu was courting Song Nanyi, Lu Weiqian would merely watch from afar.

Once, when Huo Shixu was half-drunk, he asked Lu Weiqian, "Do you like Song Nanyi? Be honest with me; I won’t mind."

Lu Weiqian didn’t respond.

Instead, he tilted his head back and downed a drink, then regretfully muttered, "Nonsense."

That kind of regret and missed opportunity gnawed at Huo Shixu, tormenting him.

Men understand men best.

After all these years, Lu Weiqian hadn’t had a girlfriend — clearly, he still had feelings for Song Nanyi.

The more he thought that way, the more unsettled Huo Shixu felt.

He flicked the half-smoked cigarette out the window, pulled out his phone, and called Song Nanyi.

He kept staring at her.

She didn’t answer and even turned off her phone.

Huo Shixu was furious.

He slammed the car door and strode into the café.

When Song Nanyi saw him, his fist was already raised, aiming for Lu Weiqian’s face.

Tables, chairs, coffee cups, and cake plates shattered everywhere.

The café’s patrons screamed in fright.

Song Nanyi was terrified as well.

It was the first time she had ever seen Huo Shixu throw a punch, and it was no light hit.

"Huo Shixu, stop it!" she shouted.

The staff rushed over and struggled to separate the two men.

---

Fearing someone might get seriously hurt, someone secretly called the police.

Huo Shixu’s punches were hard, causing blood to trickle from Lu Weiqian’s lip.

He felt dizzy.

He’d hit the corner of a table, tearing a cut on his temple.

"Ah... you’re hurt," Song Nanyi quickly took a handkerchief and pressed it against Lu Weiqian’s bleeding wound. "Lawyer Lu, you should go to the hospital to get that treated."

"Yeah."

Song Nanyi helped Lu Weiqian out.

Huo Shixu grabbed her arm, commanding, "Stay here."

"Let go," Song Nanyi said, baffled by his madness. "Huo Shixu, don’t embarrass yourself here. Let’s go back."

Song Nanyi drove Lu Weiqian to the hospital to have his wounds tended.

Huo Shixu slumped into a crooked chair, defeated.

Su Yuan came over, eyes full of concern, lifting his large hand to examine it again and again.

"Shixu, how could you hurt yourself while hitting someone else?"

She gently wrapped his bleeding palm with a handkerchief.

"Nanyi is so reckless. Instead of caring for you, she took Lawyer Lu to the hospital first. Shixu, it must hurt, right?"

Su Yuan softly blew on his hand.

Looking at her delicate face, emotions surged within him.

That kind of tenderness and warmth was something Song Nanyi never gave him.

---

At the hospital.

Lu Weiqian’s wound had been treated.

The two sat in silence, unsure how to discuss what had just happened.

"Just now..."

They almost spoke simultaneously, feeling awkward.

"Just now, Shixu probably misunderstood something. Don’t say it—I haven’t taken a hit from him in years. I’m getting old, and it’s hard to take," Lu Weiqian joked, trying to lighten the mood.

But they both knew Huo Shixu too well.

This was no simple misunderstanding.

He surely thought something had happened between Song Nanyi and Lu Weiqian, whether emotional or physical.

At that moment, Su Yuan supporting Huo Shixu entered.

His cold eyes fell on the two.

Su Yuan openly scolded Song Nanyi, "Nanyi, you really can’t tell friend from foe. Didn’t you see how badly Shixu is hurt? Don’t you feel any sympathy for him? Who exactly is your husband?"