Five years without pregnancy means you're too weak; I remarried a powerful man and had triplets

He stared at Shen Zhiyi, trying to regain some dignity as a man: "Manman is innocent. She shouldn't be dragged into our dispute. She still wants to be in the industry. What you wrote is like cutting off her path. You write about what happened between you and me, and I'll sign it. That way, it's the best of both worlds."

He spoke with an air of righteous indignation, as if he were rescuing his girlfriend from distress and was a great hero.

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhiyi chuckled softly, a sound as light as a feather, yet it stung Xu Zhesheng's cheek.

She finally looked up, her gaze sweeping over his forcedly protective and affectionate facade, as if watching a clumsy one-man show: "Director Xu, that's a novel way to put it. Su Manman stormed into my camp, smashed my things, and publicly spread rumors about me—did I force her to do any of that? She herself insisted on shouting that she was your fiancée, trying to solidify this marital affair, and now I'm the one cutting off her path?"

She pointed to the line in the statement that read, "Ms. Su Manman's actions are her personal opinions," her tone cold and unwavering: "I'm stating the facts, not a conviction. If she feels wronged, she shouldn't have done it in the first place. If she did, she shouldn't be afraid of what people say. What, Director Xu, do you want to enjoy having her as your backer, but also want me to preserve her innocent image as a national sweetheart? There's no such thing as having it all!"

"Besides, as I've already said, this statement will only appear in the General Star internal OA system and will not be released. If you insist on making trouble, then I don't mind turning internal into external. What do you think?"

Lu Zichuan, standing to the side, also sneered, "Now you want to be her protector? If you really wanted to protect her, you shouldn't have left home without a word, should you?"

"Besides, even if it's about the conflict between you and her, wouldn't that involve Su Manman?"

"You drank two bottles of alcohol, and you even drank all your brains off?"

These two sentences were like two slaps to Xu Zhesheng's face. His face turned red and white in an instant. His lips trembled as he tried to retort, but when he met Lu Zichuan's cold eyes and Shen Zhiyi's cold face that showed no emotion whatsoever, all his words got stuck in his throat.

He then realized how ridiculous his words had been.

He thought that this would at least make Shen Zhiyi think he was more of a man, but he didn't expect to receive even deeper ridicule in return.

Lu Zichuan casually twirled the car keys between his fingers, then raised three long, slender, pale fingers, issuing a final ultimatum: "You have three seconds. Sign here, or call the police."

"three."

He enunciated clearly, giving the other person no time to react, skipping the word "two" and flicking his finger to neatly spell out the word "one".

He then raised his chin and swept it across Assistant Wang: "Call the police."

Assistant Wang had been waiting nearby. Upon hearing this, he deftly pressed the dial button. The dial tone of 110 was exceptionally clear in the quiet, enclosed space, sending chills down one's spine.

Xu Zhesheng stood frozen in place, while Su Manman screamed, her voice cracking and distorted: "No! Where's the two?! Why didn't you count to two?!"

Lu Zichuan leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed, his toes dangling lazily, and raised an eyebrow mockingly: "This is my territory, my rules. I can count however I want."

The moment he finished speaking, Assistant Wang's phone connected, and a stern police voice came through the line: "Hello, this is the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. What can I do for you?"

Xu Zhesheng panicked. He had thought that Lu Zichuan was just bluffing, but he didn't expect the other party to be serious.

He had been drinking heavily for days and was already exhausted. He was still covered in that sour, rotten smell. He staggered forward and tried to snatch Assistant Wang's phone, his movements as unsteady as if he were walking on cotton.

But Assistant Wang was no ordinary clerk. He was not only an assistant, but also Lu Zichuan's personal bodyguard. He worked out regularly and was extremely strong. Before the bodyguards behind him could step forward, he grabbed Xu Zhesheng's wrist with a swift grappling move and slammed his knee into Xu Zhesheng's lower back. Xu Zhesheng groaned and was forced forward, his hands twisted behind his back. He was in so much pain that cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead, and he didn't even have the strength to struggle.

This struggle only intensified the sour, rotten smell emanating from him—a mixture of alcohol, sweat, and leftover instant noodles. The stench made Su Manman gag, tears welling in her eyes. She frantically waved her hands, trying to cover her mouth, "Ah Zhe, you...you don't misunderstand! I'm not disgusted by you! I just ate something bad this morning..."

Xu Zhesheng's face was already flushed red from being restrained, and upon hearing this, he felt even more ashamed and indignant, his ears burning. He gritted his teeth and roared, "Enough! Shut up!"

The more she explained, the more pathetic and ridiculous he seemed. Even his own wife disliked him. He had previously tried to act affectionate in front of Shen Zhiyi, which was simply self-humiliating.

He was panting heavily, clenching his teeth, knowing that continuing to argue with Lu Zichuan would only make him look worse: "It's come to this, just sign it! Don't cause me any more trouble!"

Su Manman's eyes still flashed with resentment. She moved her lips as if to say, "How will I face people if this gets out?" But when she saw Assistant Wang holding up his phone and the police officer's voice still urging her, she was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. How could she dare to say anything more?

She practically collapsed onto the table, her hand trembling as she grabbed the pen. Even her signature was crooked and illegible. She held the statement to Lu Zichuan with both hands, barely daring to lift her head, her voice barely a whisper: "Mr. Lu...it's signed..."

With a gesture from Lu Zichuan, Assistant Wang immediately understood, politely said into the phone, "Sorry, wrong number, misdialed," then put away his phone and stepped aside, deactivating the alarm.

Xu Zhesheng, who had been released, stumbled and almost bumped into the corner of the table. He glared fiercely at Lu Zichuan, then tried to pull Su Manman away, but Lu Zichuan slowly called out to him, "Wait."

He shoved the statement signed by Su Manman toward Xu Zhesheng, pointed to the part of the paper that involved him, and said in a chilling tone, "You just reminded me that this involves you, so you have to sign it too."

Xu Zhesheng was so angry that his fingertips were trembling, and the pen gripped him so tightly that it creaked. He glared at Lu Zichuan, but couldn't help turning to look at Shen Zhiyi. He still had a ridiculous fantasy in his heart, hoping that she would remember the good times they had shared in the past and say something kind, because he had just protected Su Manman.

But the moment their eyes met, his last shred of hope shattered completely.

There was no emotion in Shen Zhiyi's eyes, no hatred, no resentment, not even a ripple. There was only utter indifference, as if she were looking at a complete stranger passing by.

That look hurt him more than Lu Zichuan's mockery or Su Manman's disdain; it felt like someone was scraping his bones with a dull knife.

He gritted his teeth and, almost as if venting his anger, signed his name on the statement, the pen tip piercing the paper. Then he threw down the pen, grabbed Su Manman, and walked out without looking back.

Just as they were about to walk out the door, Shen Zhiyi suddenly remembered something: "Wait!"

Xu Zhesheng turned around and heard Shen Zhiyi's voice: "The cooling-off period is over in ten days. Remember to come for the divorce on time."