The sea breeze, carrying a faint scent of fish and grass, swept through Jiang Hai's manor.
On the narrow path inside the manor, Jiang Hai and Qi Li stood facing each other. Jiang Hai, stunned by Qi Li's words, found his eyes widening in surprise. His mouth hung open so wide that a fist could easily fit inside. He never expected her to say something like that.
'What does she mean by that? Doesn't she realize how it might sound? No, I'm overthinking it. She doesn't mean it like that.' Looking at Qi Li, Jiang Hai swallowed, attempting to regain his composure, and whispered to himself, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
Qi Li looked as impeccable as always, dressed in a formal outfit. She wore a slim-waisted women's suit, a well-known brand that Jiang Hai couldn't recognize. Beneath it, she had a white blouse with a floral pattern. Her short plaid skirt was purely for decoration, paired with tight leather pants underneath. Black high-heeled boots completed the outfit, blending both fashion and authority.
"Believe me or not, I never intended to give up on you. Although, as you mentioned, my primary reason for marrying you was to stabilize the Qi family, I never wanted a second marriage. You are my husband, and that's all there is to it." Her voice held a mixture of sincerity and hesitation. Realizing her words might have surprised Jiang Hai, Qi Li turned away and continued walking, as though trying to explain herself.
Jiang Hai followed her, but this time, he purposely lagged behind by half a step, unsure how to face her. He was used to women approaching him, accepting whatever came his way, but with Qi Li, he had to be more careful. His instincts told him that he was no match for her, and caution was warranted.
"I did have some resistance to marrying you, but it wasn't because I didn't like you as a person. The real reason was that my heart was filled with hatred. After the wedding, I returned to the capital to focus on integrating the Qi family. I couldn't let the family fall apart in my hands. I wanted revenge, to show the An family that the Qi family wasn't done yet." Qi Li spoke quietly, not looking at Jiang Hai, lost in her thoughts as she shared her past intentions.
Jiang Hai wasn't sure if she was telling the truth, so he remained silent, walking beside her.
"I'm not a woman who likes to take credit, but there are some things I feel I need to make clear. I may have tried to forget you, but I never gave up on you. I never let you down. In fact, when I first called you, I was planning to invite you to the capital. I wasn't trying to make you profess your love to me; I wanted to give you a chance to prove yourself. If you proved yourself, we could have been the perfect match. Even if you don't, I'm not going to divorce you. I'll never betray you." Qi Li kept speaking, sharing her thoughts without hesitation. Some of her words were comforting, others harsh. But Jiang Hai could tell she wasn't lying—lies were never so mixed with truth.
Jiang Hai listened, unsure of what to make of it, but willing to hear her out.
"I don't understand why you want a divorce. I get that you're rich now, but you don't have to shut me out. You don't have to give up on me or stop relying on me. When I was in Ice City, I saw you in a difficult situation, and I didn't judge you. In the States, despite your connections—Pra Walton, Selena Gomez, your two daughters—even the eight women in the manor, they might not seem important to you, but they clearly care for you. But forget it, these are your personal matters." Qi Li's tone grew slightly bitter as she spoke.
Jiang Hai was taken aback by the emotion in her voice. Was this really the strong Qi Li he knew? Or was she pretending?
"It's pointless to dwell on this. I came here for two reasons: first, to relax because the air in China isn't great lately, and I need to recuperate. Second, and most importantly, I think we need to sort out our relationship," Qi Li continued, now looking at him with serious intent.
"Since you don't want me to give you a chance and you're unwilling to change your mind, let's find a compromise. Divorce isn't an option for me yet. Things in China are complicated, and the title of 'married woman' still holds weight. It helps me when negotiating contracts, and fewer people try to embarrass me because of it. So, I won't divorce you. But don't worry, I don't want your manor or money. I'll have a lawyer draft a statement saying I won't claim any money from you in the future, and I won't interfere in your life. But this marriage can't end." She paused for a deep breath, looking at Jiang Hai seriously.
She knew that their relationship was delicate. She couldn't approach him pleadingly, but if she didn't make things clear, Jiang Hai might push for a divorce out of sheer frustration.
Jiang Hai seemed to hesitate, torn. He didn't want a new relationship; it wasn't about starting over with someone else. The only woman he considered seriously right now was Cindy Clive, and even that was uncertain. As for others, he felt no real connection.
He had wanted to divorce Qi Li, not because of another woman, but because of lingering anger and disappointment. However, as Qi Li pointed out, she hadn't wronged him. She wasn't after his money or his manor. As long as she didn't push for a divorce, he was willing to maintain the status quo.
Jiang Hai sighed, realizing that sometimes he was too soft-hearted.
"If we really sign the contract, I'll consider it. But I have to be clear: I'm planning to marry, though I don't have a partner yet. I'm not getting any younger, and I'm thinking about my future," he said slowly, his hesitation evident.
Despite his stubbornness, Jiang Hai couldn't help but soften. After all, Qi Li hadn't been entirely unreasonable, and it seemed like she was trying to negotiate a compromise. He didn't know if she was telling the whole truth, but for now, he decided to move forward with caution.
"I didn't expect you to be so considerate. Thank you," Qi Li replied with a smile. Her once stern expression melted away, and Jiang Hai was taken aback by her warmth. Under the dim light, her smile was beautiful, like the first snow of winter.
"What do you think you're going to have to pay?" Jiang Hai asked jokingly, only to regret it immediately. It was clearly a teasing remark, and Qi Li didn't answer. She merely snorted and quickly walked ahead. However, as she did, a low sob reached Jiang Hai's ears.
(To be continued.)