After five years of a cold marriage, I can no longer hide the child I secretly gave birth to.

Then, a hand with distinct knuckles handed over two cups of milk tea.

"It's hot."

The unique scent of tobacco, distinctly masculine, wafted into her nostrils, causing Xu Daikui's heart to race slightly, and her fingers tightened around her bag.

"No need." She frowned.

"It seems Fang Qing is really useless; even the milk tea he bought is unappealing. I'll dock his pay when we get back."

Zhou Yanci said calmly.

He knew he was cold-hearted, and according to Fu Minghao, the way to coax a girl was to buy her milk tea. But Xu Daikui refused, so it was the milk tea's fault.

"What does this have to do with Assistant Fang? Don't make things difficult for him."

Xu Daikui had no choice but to reach out and take it.

Zhou Yanci smiled with satisfaction, then turned his head slightly to look at Mengmeng, who was sitting obediently to the side.

"Would you like something to eat?"

Xu Meng felt very complicated when she saw him, especially since he used to be inseparable from Xu Jiaojiao and always had a dark face when he saw his mother. But now he was suddenly being so attentive to his mother and even showed a smile for the first time. He probably didn't have any good intentions.

She frowned decisively and shook her head.

The gesture of frowning was exactly the same as Xu Daikui's.

Zhou Yanci was startled.

He recalled the first time he met Xu Meng. The little girl was innocent and lovely, and she was always relaxed and approachable when she saw him. But now she seemed to really hate him.

It seems she's angry that he's blocking her path to recognizing her biological father.

...

The auction began soon.

Several foreign business leaders were sitting to Zhou Yanci's left. They were chatting enthusiastically with Zhou Yanci, and Zhou Yanci was also exchanging pleasantries with them.

It is said that men who are serious about their work are the most attractive. Xu Daikui glanced sideways and noticed that the man was focused and handled the questions and answers from the foreign friends with ease. He was truly an excellent and capable entrepreneur.

Aside from his flaw of being a cheating scumbag, he is perfect and impeccable in every other aspect.

No wonder Xu Jiaojiao was willing to bear the reputation of being a mistress for five years, just to stay by his side and act like a concubine.

"Want to know what I'm talking about?"

Noticing the woman's gaze probing him, Zhou Yanci stopped talking and looked at her with a half-smile, asking.

They were speaking French, which Xu Daikui couldn't understand, but she wasn't interested in it either.

She shook her head. "No."

"Let me tell you, they're praising Mengmeng's paintings."

This man, who is usually very sparing with words, took the initiative to explain to Xu Daikui.

Xu Daikui crossed her arms on her lap, her expression calm. "Oh, they have good taste."

"How much do you hope to sell this painting of glaciers for?"

Zhou Yanci asked her again.

Xu Daikui thought for a moment, "Mengmeng's best painting sold for 100,000, this one probably won't sell for that much. It's all about participation, whether it's a lot of money or a little doesn't really matter."

Zhou Yanci smiled faintly and said nothing more.

...

The auction process was completed quickly, and Xu Daikui was filled with astonishment.

Mengmeng's painting actually sold for 500,000.

It was bought by a foreign friend.

This is unprecedented.

Mengmeng was also very shocked.

She originally hoped to sell this painting for only around 50,000 yuan.

But the organizer had described her painting in glowing terms, saying it could be a future masterpiece and was one of their flagship works for the year-end promotion of Sunflower Star, which made the foreign friends want to compete for it.

When the price dropped to 500,000, the scene became lively and excited.

Everyone started praising her paintings.

She always felt something was wrong.

Could all of this be Zhou Yanci's doing?

After all, she believed that there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Xu Meng felt a strange feeling towards Zhou Yanci again.

"There's food over there, come with me."

After the auction ended, Zhou Yanci did not rush to leave, but instead invited the mother and daughter over.

This was the first time he had ever been so patient and considerate towards her.

Xu Daikui felt a mixture of disbelief and irony.

He must have been just as considerate and attentive to Xu Jiaojiao over the past five years, right?

He only lowered his head to look at her a few more times today because Xu Jiaojiao happened to be away.

Her body stiffened, her lips pressed into a distant curve. "No need, Zhou Yanci, let's talk..."

"Let's talk after we finish eating."

Zhou Yanci interrupted her, not giving her a chance to retort, and bent down to carry Xu Meng away first.

Xu Meng resisted his embrace and frowned unhappily, but the man's embrace was warm, comfortable, and full of a sense of security. This inexplicable feeling made her body quickly give in to her heart, and she nestled in his arms without moving.

Xu Daikui stood at the door and saw Zhou Yanci carrying Xu Meng as they walked among rows of exquisite and high-end cakes, carefully asking Xu Meng which one she wanted to eat.

He looked no different from any other loving father.

He clearly believed that Xu Meng was Shen Jun's child, so why was he still so good to her?

She really couldn't understand this man anymore.

Under Zhou Yanci's strong pressure, Xu Daikui also sat down, ate about 80% of the cake, and drank a glass of sweet fruit wine.

The warmth of the wine seeped into her bloodstream, flushing her cheeks a rosy pink.

Zhou Yanci sat opposite her, his gaze fixed on her rosy cheeks and full, moist lips, his Adam's apple bobbing unconsciously.

...

When Xu Jiaojiao returned, she saw Zhou Yanci taking such good care of Xu Daikui and her daughter.

In an instant, jealousy overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

If she had a gun right now, she would definitely shoot Xu Daikui in the head without hesitation.

She gritted her teeth slightly, took a few sheets of paper, and walked towards Zhou Yanci with her usual signature smile.

"Aci, I have something to tell you."

She walked straight to Zhou Yanci's side, bent down slightly, and deliberately closed the distance between them.

Then, as if seeing Xu Daikui and her daughter, he smiled and turned around to greet them.

"Daikui, you and Mengmeng are here too? What are you talking about?"

Xu Daikui felt uncomfortable just looking at her. With a cold expression and a detached tone, she said, "Let's talk about things between husband and wife. What, you're interested?"

Xu Jiaojiao's face turned red instantly.

She turned to look at Zhou Yanci, biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, looking embarrassed as if she had been targeted.

"Mengmeng, let's go!"

She really didn't want to see their lovey-dovey, tearful, and coaxing scenes; she was afraid it would make her vomit up the pastries she had just eaten.

"Zhou Yanci, I'll be waiting for you in the lobby. Don't worry, I'll only take up three minutes of your time."

Before turning away, she looked at the man again and added a sentence in a humble yet assertive manner.

All I need is for him to sign his name; three minutes will be enough.

After saying that, she took Mengmeng's hand and went straight out.

"Mom, don't be angry. That woman was just putting on an act for us."

Xu Meng quickly took out her notebook and wrote words of comfort for her.

Xu Daikui was already used to their blatant flirtation.

She was even quite certain that when she clashed with Xu Jiaojiao, the person Zhou Yanci would protect was definitely Xu Jiaojiao.

She knew it when she hit her head last time.

Therefore, she doesn't want to get entangled with them anymore, nor does she want to provoke Xu Jiaojiao. She just wants to get the divorce certificate as soon as possible and stay far away from that couple.

"Mom isn't angry. Let's go to that gallery over there."

Xu Daikui chuckled as she comforted Xu Meng.

Xu Meng nodded.

The two wandered aimlessly for about ten minutes before Zhou Yanci's upright figure walked towards the hall.

Xu Daikui led Xu Meng over and sat on the sofa in the lobby to wait for him.

Zhou Yanci approached, looked at her cold, pale face, and bent down to sit beside her.

"Why are you just waiting around? Can't you even get a glass of water...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Daikui interrupted him, "President Zhou, sign it."

She spoke coldly, then placed the divorce agreement in front of him and thoughtfully handed him a pen.