Chapter 17: Can You Marry Her?

Jin Zeyu's jaw nearly dropped. So she was President Shen's hidden ex-wife! To be honest, her looks were far more refined than his sister's. If it weren't for their childhood sweetheart bond, his flashy, superficial sister might not have stood a chance against this formidable rose. "President Shen, even if she's your ex-wife, that's no reason for me to apologize to her!" Jin Zeyu, stubbornly clinging to his pride, refused to back down. "Let her apologize to me, and I'll pretend none of this happened!" "If I had arrived a moment later, your people might have done something outrageous to her." Shen Jingjue's face was already as cold as impending snow. "Just because it didn't happen doesn't mean you're not wrong. Apologize." Jin Zeyu was trembling inside, but still putting on a brave front. Tang Qiao'er's cheeks were flushed, the alcohol starting to take hold. She only heard something about an ex-wife and an apology... She thought, is this scoundrel still trying to make me bow my head? I'd be doing him a favor if I didn't twist his head off and kick it like a ball! "Why bother with an apology? In my opinion, we should follow the rules here. Either I send you to the police station and act as a public informant, or we drag you out and beat you up." Huo Ruxie, with his strikingly handsome face, wore a playful smile as he led two rows of people forward, exuding the aura of a mob boss's son. "Why should you hit me? Is there no law anymore?" Jin Zeyu's voice trembled when he saw Young Master Huo appear. Huo Ruxie crooked a finger, and the girl who had been forced to drink earlier timidly scurried behind him to hide. "First, the girls in my club are here to sell drinks and dance; they never provide escort services. You repeatedly forced her to drink, which already broke my rules. Second, no illegal drugs are allowed in my club. I absolutely despise anyone who tries that here. If you do, breaking your legs would be getting off easy! In my opinion, you should really thank Miss Bai. If she hadn't stopped you from drugging her, hah, you'd be leaving Ace horizontally right now." Shen Jingjue was stunned. So that's what happened! "Haha! You're a man! Well done!" Tang Qiao'er's eyes narrowed into crescents as she gave Huo Ruxie a thumbs-up. "Thanks for the compliment, ex-sister-in-law." Huo Ruxie winked at her. Seeing them exchange glances, Shen Jingjue felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest. "Jingjue, what do you think of my arrangement?" Huo Ruxie asked. "Acceptable," Shen Jingjue replied concisely. "I was wrong! I was wrong! President Shen, I really didn't know this lady was your ex-wife. I... I was blind. I apologize to Miss Bai, I'm truly sorry..." Jin Zeyu gritted his teeth as he apologized to Tang Qiao'er, seething with anger inside. Shen Jingjue still felt it wasn't enough, but then he noticed. Bai Xiaoxiao was gone! "Looking for your ex-sister-in-law? Look." Huo Ruxie whistled and gestured towards the stage. Shen Jingjue's pupils constricted, his heart skipped a beat. In the dazzling lights, Bai Xiaoxiao swayed her slender waist, performing a sexy yet playful dance. She smiled with wild abandon, like a captivating little enchantress, her radiance outshining everything around her. Tang Qiao'er was completely drunk, completely high! She had no idea what she was doing. She felt like she was flying, like she was the undefinable wind. Suddenly, she leaned back. Amidst a chorus of gasps, she fell into a firm yet warm embrace. When she barely managed to make out Shen Jingjue's angry face, she just giggled foolishly and uttered three words: "I want to throw up." ... Shen Jingjue dragged Tang Qiao'er into the men's restroom. She vomited into the toilet, a beautiful person throwing up still looked like a disaster. Shen Jingjue initially just watched her coldly from the doorway, but seeing her obvious distress, he walked behind her and gently patted her heaving back. After she finished, Tang Qiao'er groggily walked to the sink, still remembering to wash her mouth and rinse. "Ugh... I feel so sick..." "Then why did you drink? You brought it on yourself," Shen Jingjue stood by, frowning coldly. "Because... I'm sad... so sad..." Tang Qiao'er's mind was muddled. She even thought the man beside her was her brother, so she choked up and started crying. "Why doesn't Shen Jingjue like me... Why?" Shen Jingjue's heart thumped. He listened to her sobs, his thin lips pressed tight. "I tried so hard... I really tried so hard... But it seems the harder I try, the more he dislikes me... Why, tell me why!" Tang Qiao'er suddenly turned and hugged the man, burying her face in his chest and sobbing loudly. Snot, tears, and makeup smeared his clean shirt in colorful streaks. Shen Jingjue stood frozen, his throat tight, feeling every hot tear brand his chest, soaking into his heart. After a long moment, he asked in a low voice, "Do you really like Shen Jingjue that much?" Tang Qiao'er lifted her tear-stained face, her crimson lips slightly parted. The man's Adam's apple bobbed. He used extreme self-control to resist the pure, alluring temptation. He even regretted asking the question. What did it matter if she liked him or not? Their divorce was final. His lifelong partner could only be Jin Enrou. With a loud bang, the restroom door was kicked open. "Shen Jingjue! Do you have no shame?! Eating from one bowl while eyeing another?!" Tang Xu's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He immediately pulled Tang Qiao'er into his arms, protecting her like an eagle guarding its chick. Shen Jingjue's handsome brows furrowed. The usually refined President Tang's furious defense of a woman showed how much he cared for his ex-wife. His breathing suddenly felt constricted. "President Tang, she can't hold her liquor and just threw up badly. If you truly care for her, you shouldn't have brought her to a place like this." Tang Xu was about to curse the scoundrel, but hearing him call him President Tang, he decided to play along as Tang Yue. "My woman can do whatever she wants. If she likes to have fun, I'll have fun with her. President Shen, since you've divorced Xiaoxiao, don't meddle so much. Go back and take good care of your Miss Jin!" With that, Tang Xu helped Tang Qiao'er walk out, but Shen Jingjue stopped him. "What are you doing?" "Do you truly love her?" Shen Jingjue asked in a deep voice. "Nonsense." "Can you marry her?" This question stumped Tang Xu. She was his biological sister; how could he commit incest? "What does that have to do with you? Get out of the way!" "Bai Xiaoxiao has no power or background; she can't withstand this kind of emotional game. If you can't marry her and only see her as a lover, then don't drag her down. Let her return to a normal life as soon as possible." A dark fire flickered in Shen Jingjue's eyes. "Hahaha... Shen Jingjue, I've never seen such a shameless person. When you divorced Xiaoxiao for Jin Enrou, why didn't you consider Xiaoxiao's situation? Thanks to you, she's a divorcee at a young age. And you don't think that's dragging her down? Since divorce was inevitable, why did you marry her three years ago? Wasn't it just to use her as a stepping stone to marry the woman you truly loved? Bah! Utterly despicable!" Shen Jingjue's heart was pierced. His muscular body, hidden beneath his suit, subtly trembled. Tang Xu shoved him hard. "Go somewhere cool and stay there! Shen Shimei!" ... Shen Jingjue didn't even know how he got back to the private room, his mind filled with that phrase—"used her as a stepping stone." And "Shen Shimei." "Where's ex-sister-in-law? Did she leave?" Huo Ruxie leaned against the railing, sipping his drink and observing Shen Jingjue's lost and dejected expression. "Yes," Shen Jingjue mumbled, picking up a glass of whiskey and downing it in one gulp, a burning sensation scorching his throat. "Tonight, if it weren't for your sake, I would have definitely beaten Jin Zeyu to a pulp. The drugs were one thing, but he also tried to lay hands on the woman I care about. He's really asking for it." "You don't need to give me face. Rou'er is Rou'er, and her brother is her brother." Suddenly, Shen Jingjue reacted, his brows tightly furrowed. "The woman you care about? What do you mean?" "I figured it's best to keep good things in the family. Since you don't want her, Brother Shen, I'll take her off your hands." Huo Ruxie raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "It's just that the title will change from wife to sister-in-law. I wonder if you can get used to that." "I haven't even finalized the divorce with her yet, and you're already showing your true colors?" Shen Jingjue's eyes were dark, his lips curled like cold hooks. "Oh, come on, the divorce agreement is signed. How far away can the official divorce be?" "Other things, I don't know." Shen Jingjue clenched his fingers, his incredibly handsome face covered in frost. "But you're definitely not far from death."