When men can be trusted, pigs will climb trees

Yan Yu?

Qiao Hua remembered this character appearing in the original novel.

But that had been after the original Qiao Hua died. She had died all alone in the hospital, yet Gu Wenze refused to come claim her body. In the end, the hospital somehow got in touch with Yan Yu, and he was the one who arranged her cremation and funeral.

The original novel hadn't devoted much space to Yan Yu. All she knew was that he and Qiao Hua had studied in the same department.

Qiao Hua gave an awkward smile. "Oh, it's you. You've changed so much that I didn't recognize you at first."

A hint of amusement appeared in Yan Yu's eyes. "I thought you were deliberately pretending not to know me."

Qiao Hua waved a hand. "Of course not. It's just been so long since we last saw each other."

Yan Yu paused thoughtfully. "When I saw you in there earlier, I thought I had the wrong person."

His words reminded Qiao Hua of what had just happened, and she asked curiously, "You're an interviewer here?"

With an inscrutable look in his eyes, Yan Yu nodded.

"Oh," Qiao Hua said. It seemed this old classmate of hers was doing quite well.

"Are you free later?" Yan Yu asked gently. "It's been so long. Let's have a coffee together."

Qiao Hua instinctively resisted the idea. She wasn't the original Qiao Hua and knew only bits and pieces about her university years. What if she gave herself away during their conversation?

Seeing her hesitation, Yan Yu asked, "Is it a bad time?"

Perhaps she was imagining it, but Qiao Hua caught a trace of anticipation on his face.

It was only a cup of coffee, anyway. No big deal.

Qiao Hua didn't refuse again. "Let's go, then."

They went to a nearby café. When the server brought over two cups of coffee, Qiao Hua thanked them.

Yan Yu studied her face. "How have you been these past few years?"

Qiao Hua thought about the original Qiao Hua's life over the past three years. It could hardly be called good.

But there was no need to tell an outsider about that. She nodded. "Not bad."

There was something complicated in Yan Yu's gaze. "I heard you got married. I haven't had a chance to congratulate you."

"Thank you," Qiao Hua said politely.

Yan Yu sounded a little hesitant. "Does your husband treat you well?"

Qiao Hua wore a composed smile. "Very well."

"When I went to our class reunion three years ago, I heard you'd gotten married," Yan Yu said thoughtfully. "I was quite surprised."

In the original novel, Qiao Hua had joined a well-known company after graduating from university, with a bright future ahead of her.

But before long, she resigned and became a full-time housewife.

Qiao Hua played along. "I was quite surprised too."

Yan Yu assumed she meant that she hadn't expected to marry so soon. He changed the subject. "What made you suddenly decide to look for a job?"

Qiao Hua could hardly tell him she was planning to divorce Gu Wenze and wanted to secure a way out first.

She found an excuse. "I've been out of work so long that I feel out of touch with society, so I thought I'd find something to do."

Yan Yu smiled. "That's a good idea. During your interview earlier, I thought you spoke much more eloquently than you did at university."

There's a different soul in this body now. How could I not? Qiao Hua thought.

They chatted about their university days. Fortunately, the original novel had touched on the original Qiao Hua's university life, so she didn't give herself away.

By the time they left the café, it was already dark outside.

"Let's exchange numbers," Yan Yu said. "That way, we can keep in touch."

Qiao Hua nodded, but just as she was about to recite her number, she drew a blank.

She remembered only her own phone number, not the original Qiao Hua's.

Seeing her expression, Yan Yu guessed that she had forgotten her number and teased her with a smile. "Your memory is still as bad as ever."

In the end, Yan Yu took Qiao Hua's phone and called his own. A ringtone soon sounded in his pocket, and he hung up.

Yan Yu handed her phone back. "The first number in your call history is mine. We can keep in touch."

Qiao Hua smiled and nodded. "Sure."

They parted outside the café, and Qiao Hua took a taxi home, never noticing that Yan Yu remained where he was, staring in the direction she had gone with a deep, complicated gaze.

The villa was brightly lit. Qiao Hua stepped into the living room and saw a tall figure sitting on the sofa.

At the sight of her, Gu Wenze's brows drew together almost imperceptibly. "Where did you go? Why are you back so late?"

Qiao Hua took off her suit jacket, revealing the fitted white blouse and pencil skirt beneath, which accentuated her stunning figure. Though she hadn't exposed an inch of skin, she somehow exuded a restrained allure.

"Didn't I tell you I was going to a job interview?"

Gu Wenze's gaze settled on her, darkening slightly. He quickly looked away, his tone cold and hard. "Of course I know you went to an interview. Why did you come back so late?"

"I interviewed at a few more places, so it took a little longer," Qiao Hua said dismissively.

Gu Wenze could naturally hear the indifference in her voice. Lately, she seemed to be making less and less effort when speaking to him.

For some reason, an uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest.

After a moment of silence, Gu Wenze asked, "How did the interviews go?"

Qiao Hua found this rather strange. Gu Wenze had never asked about the original Qiao Hua's affairs before, yet today he was actually showing concern for her.

[Did the sun rise in the west today? Gu Wenze is actually showing concern for me.]

[Or did he catch Jiang Nan's cold and fry his brain with a fever?]

Gu Wenze pressed his lips into a thin line, as though holding something back.

Qiao Hua didn't notice and continued, "The interviewer told me to go home and wait to hear back. I don't know if I'll get hired yet."

Gu Wenze wasn't particularly surprised. With Qiao Hua's abilities, what decent job could she possibly find?

"If you can't find one, then you can't. It's not as though the Gu family can't afford to support you," Gu Wenze said indifferently, as casually as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

[He says that as though the Gu family has given me so much money during these three years of marriage.]

[Besides, who's going to support me once we get divorced?]

[Am I supposed to rely on you, my ex-husband? Jiang Nan probably wouldn't like that. She'd find some way to take the money back, and might even smear my name in the process.]

[They say that when men can be trusted, pigs will climb trees. I'd be better off relying on myself.]

Qiao Hua smiled faintly. "No need. I'm perfectly able-bodied. I can find a job."

Her refusal to budge darkened Gu Wenze's expression. He sneered. "I hope you can still talk so tough when you can't find a job."

Qiao Hua pursed her lips and stopped arguing with him. She went to the dining room and found the table completely bare.

Never mind dinner-there wasn't even a speck of dust.

Qiao Hua looked up at the housekeeper in confusion. "Where's dinner?"

"Mr. Gu told me not to make dinner tonight," the housekeeper replied.

Qiao Hua paused, then turned to look at Gu Wenze behind her.

[Is Gu Wenze deliberately punishing me because of what happened at the mall this afternoon?]

[The sales assistant already said Jiang Nan took off the necklace and gave it to me herself. How can he be so unreasonable?]

[If I'd known, I would have eaten out before coming home.]

[I wonder if it's too late to leave now.]

Seeing how many conclusions Qiao Hua had jumped to over nothing more than a missing dinner, Gu Wenze felt his eyelid twitch. "My mother asked us to come home for dinner tonight," he said in a low voice. "Gu Junxing is back in the country."