"Tap, tap, tap..." The sound of high heels clicking against the wooden floor echoed through Jiang Hai's villa.
For both people and animals in Jiang Hai's villa, this sound had always been an unusual one. While humans might ignore it, Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai were always quick to react. They woke up immediately.
Sensing their disturbance, Jiang Hai also roused from his sleep. It wasn't that he had remembered, but given recent events, he had to be extra cautious.
He glanced at the time. It was only half past ten in the evening. Though it was completely dark outside, it was still relatively early for bedtime. He had been lying on the bed, lost in thoughts about Qi Li, and must have drifted off without realizing it. The TV was off, as expected. Jiang Hai knew Xiao Huang had switched it off; their intelligence now rivaled that of children, and they were keen on taking care of things, even covering him with a blanket when he slept.
Of course, it was winter, and with the current temperature, he wouldn't catch a cold even if he forgot to cover himself.
"What's going on?" Jiang Hai shook his head, a bit confused. The sound of high heels was still audible.
"Bang, bang, bang." Just as Jiang Hai wondered, there came a soft knock on the door.
"Who is it?" he asked, curiosity piqued as he got up from the bed and made his way to the door.
"It's me." Qi Li's clear voice came from the other side.
Her words made Jiang Hai pause, but he quickly regained his composure and opened the door. Qi Li stood there, dressed neatly, as if nothing was unusual.
"Oh, it's so late. Is something wrong?" Jiang Hai asked, still a little perplexed. He had only just fallen asleep.
"Are you still not asleep? If not, come take a walk with me." Qi Li's voice, though laced with some annoyance at Jiang Hai's questioning, seemed unaffected by it. She looked at him softly, not waiting for a real answer.
"So late?" Jiang Hai looked outside. Although it was half past ten, in the city, the night was just getting started. But in Winthrop, or more specifically, Jiang Hai's manor, it was already late.
"You don't want me standing here all night, right? Let's go," Qi Li said, not giving Jiang Hai a chance to refuse. Despite a hint of sleepiness, she insisted. Jiang Hai, knowing a serious conversation with her was needed, hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. He closed the door behind him.
About two or three minutes later, when Jiang Hai opened the door again, he was dressed.
The two of them left the villa, walking slowly toward the sea, following the streetlights that Jiang Hai had installed around the manor. The night view was beautiful—thanks to the lack of air pollution, they could see the stars clearly, hear the wind blowing, and the waves crashing on the shore. The road lights were dim, giving everything a mystical, fairy-tale-like ambiance.
In the distance, fireflies flitted across the grass, adding to the tranquility and comfort of the scene.
Jiang Hai and Qi Li walked side by side, but each kept to their own side of the road, with their paces matching but no effort to merge. While the scenery was stunning, Jiang Hai, having grown accustomed to it, only yawned and walked forward absently, while Qi Li seemed more intrigued by the surroundings.
Without realizing it, they had walked for over ten minutes. The lights of the villa had faded into the distance, and Jiang Hai began to feel more awake in the cool night air. He wiped his face and finally asked, "Why did you call me out here? You didn't just want someone to accompany you on a night walk, did you?"
"That's one reason," Qi Li answered calmly. "But I asked you to come because there's something important I need to tell you. But first, promise me—you can't get angry no matter what we discuss."
"Okay," Jiang Hai agreed, understanding that some matters couldn't be resolved with anger. He also knew that, this time, he wasn't as easily fooled. Last time, his frustration stemmed from feeling tricked, but now, in his own domain, that wouldn't happen so easily.
"Let me ask you first," Qi Li began, stopping as she turned to face him. "Have I ever done anything to disappoint you?"
Jiang Hai stopped walking, thinking for a moment. "No…" he replied, after considering their past. While things had been tough for them in the past year, the truth was that, from the beginning, Qi Li had made it clear they weren't from the same world. If Jiang Hai hadn't been so fixated on the idea of their relationship or trying to overcome difficulties for the sake of the 400,000 yuan, things might have been different.
But the crux of the matter was that it wasn't just about the relationship. It was about the hopes given and then shattered, and that was what hurt the most.
"That's not easy to say," Jiang Hai continued. "Can you tell me why you're so determined to divorce me?"
Qi Li sighed, then turned her head and began walking again. "Because it was a mistake from the start. You don't love me. I kept hoping that you might come around, but more than a year has passed, and nothing has changed. I've realized that we're not from the same world. Since you don't love me and don't want to be with me, I don't want to be with you either. I don't like forcing myself into a relationship where I'm not wanted. Sorry, maybe that's not the best metaphor."
Jiang Hai was quiet for a moment. "So, you made the decision for both of us?"
"Who made the decision for whom is hard to say," Qi Li answered slowly. "The fact is, one of us had to take this step. We were together because of the Qi family's stability. Now that they're stable, I'm just a decoration. And I've been with you for the 400,000 yuan. If you want it back, I'll give it to you. You know what? If 400,000 isn't enough, I can offer 4 million, 40 million, or even 400 million. I'll pay for everything."
Jiang Hai kicked a pebble on the road as he spoke, his emotions getting the better of him for a moment. But then, he remembered the agreement with Qi Li and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"400 million?" Qi Li laughed softly. "You're really wealthy now."
Jiang Hai smiled slightly. "To be honest, if I go through with the sale of my bull tonight, I'll make almost a billion dollars, in U.S. dollars. After taxes, at least 600 million will be left. And I'm serious—I can give it all to you."
Qi Li looked at him in surprise. For a moment, she was silent. "I didn't expect you to be wealthier than me now. I see my mother's judgment was right when she picked you as my husband. But you might be wrong about something. We've known each other for over 20 years, though we've been apart for more than 10. You should know me well enough to understand that while everyone likes money, my love for it doesn't outweigh my principles."
Jiang Hai was taken aback. He couldn't deny that when a man is willing to offer his entire fortune to a woman, it signifies either deep love or profound disappointment.
"What do you want…" Jiang Hai asked, sensing that Qi Li wasn't as resolute in her desire for a divorce as he had thought. Frustration began to show in his voice.
But Qi Li, instead of being intimidated, looked at him and said calmly, "I want you."