54: You like Xixi, and I like Xixi too, so we should be considered a group, right?

Shang Zhi stayed quietly in the apartment that Lu Ke had rented for her for a few days. She had basically settled down the matter of returning to school, found a place to live, and prepared the procedures for going abroad. Once everything was settled, she felt at ease.

Lu Ke would bring her food every night, even though she had told him many times that she didn't need it. He would still bring a bunch of things to her door after work every day.

The same applies today.

“Actually, I can go to America with you. I have a house there too. I won’t bother your Xixi. I just can’t stand how he bullies you and want to help you.” Lu Ke put the dinner he brought back on the table while watching Shang Zhi’s reaction.

"No need to trouble yourself, don't you still have a job in Hong Kong?"

"It's okay, I think I can go back and forth between the two places if I have enough time."

"This crab roe soup dumpling is really delicious." Shang Zhi took a bite of the dumpling, smiled, and didn't respond to Lu Ke's words.

"Xixi, I really want to help you," Lu Ke said earnestly, still determined not to give up.

“I’m not used to troubling others, Brother Lu. You have your things to do, and I have mine. I don’t want you to change anything because of me.”

"So, do you think my coming to Hong Kong has anything to do with you?"

Lu Ke's words made Shang Zhi pause, her hand holding the steamed bun.

“XiXi, you have to admit, our fate is quite special, isn’t it? To be honest, I could have chosen many jobs, but I came to Hong Kong just to see you. To use a very cliché line, you look a lot like the person in my dreams.”

"Anyway, your marriage is going to end soon, right? I hope you won't reject me so quickly, Xixi. At least give me a chance to see if we're compatible, okay?"

"Besides, with me by your side, he'll be less likely to have ulterior motives towards you, right? In extreme situations, I might even be able to help you."

"You're right, but right now, I really don't want to get into a relationship."

“It’s okay, even if we’re just friends, feelings can’t be forced. I just think we can at least give it a try.” As Lu Ke spoke, he leaned closer to Shang Zhi. Shang Zhi panicked a little, and at that moment, a knock sounded on the door.

"It's the milk tea I just ordered. I'll go open the door."

Upon opening the door, the scene before her eyes made Shang Zhi hold her breath instantly.

Standing outside the door was Pei Yanxiu.

Her heart was pounding, and the atmosphere in the room was incredibly oppressive. Shang Zhi was forced to retreat step by step by him.

"What's wrong? Are you so nervous seeing me? President Lu is here too, why didn't you invite him over?" Pei Yanxiu pretended to be nonchalant, looking at Shang Zhi with a gentle tone. When his fingertips brushed across her cheek, Shang Zhi felt like she was about to cry.

Why can't he just let her go? Why does he always haunt her like a ghost?

Why are you here?

"Can't I come? Don't forget, we're not divorced yet, you're still my wife."

"You are not welcome here, please leave." Lu Ke stepped forward and used his body to separate Shang Zhi and Pei Yanxiu.

“I’m talking to my legal wife, what right do you have to interrupt?” Pei Yanxiu emphasized the word “legal”.

"Legal wife? You dare to use the word 'legal'? Mr. Pei, after what you did to her, do you still think you're qualified to be her lover? Do you think she's a soulless shell that you can manipulate at will? Do you think you have any control over her? Do you even know how to spell the word 'respect'?"

"That's between her and me! Who are you?"

"Calm down, why are you so agitated? You like Xixi, and I like Xixi too. Shouldn't we be on the same side?" Lu Ke gently patted Pei Yanxiu's shoulder, his face turning green with anger upon hearing his words.

"Why don't we sit down and eat together?"

"I won't eat your food."

"If you won't eat it, I will."

"Xixi, I think there's been some misunderstanding between us. Please give me a chance, okay? Let me explain properly. I can explain. We can start over. We were happy together, weren't we?"

Pei Yanxiu looked like he was about to cry.

But this time, she was truly exhausted.

She knew his good qualities and her bad ones, believed in his sincerity and understood his helplessness; she understood all his hardships.

But she really didn't want to continue. She didn't want to slowly become a puppet to be manipulated, another "him" in this world.

She just wants to be herself, even if she's not the best version of herself.

The love was real, but she couldn't continue loving.

But looking at him, if she rejected him to his face now, he would definitely go crazy on the spot.

"Uncle Pei, give me some time. I need to calm down. Two days. I'll come back to you in two days, and we'll settle this matter, okay?"

"good."

He seemed relieved, but his expression was somewhat gloomy as he left. Shang Zhi didn't know that he sat in his car downstairs for a very long time that day.

"Are you really going back? Aren't you afraid he might do something to you again after you go back?"

"I'm not going back. I plan to go to the United States ahead of schedule. It seems I can't stay in Hong Kong any longer," Shang Zhi sighed softly.

"Sometimes I don't understand what he's thinking, why he has to do things this way."

"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it anymore, Xixi. I'll still go to America with you. Otherwise, I'm worried about you facing him alone."

Shang Zhi boarded a plane to Los Angeles the next day, accompanied by Lu Ke. Pei Yanxiu received the news rather late; he hadn't expected her to act so quickly, and by the time he found out, the plane had already departed.

Lu Ke helped Shang Zhi tidy up the house, and then they went to the supermarket to buy some household items. After finishing all this, they were both exhausted. Shang Zhi checked her phone and found that photos of the two of them at the airport had been taken at some point and even posted on the trending topics list.

"It's all over, it's all over, it's all over!" Shang Zhi almost jumped up from the sofa the moment she saw the message.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ke raised an eyebrow.

"We're finished!" Shang Zhi showed her phone to Lu Ke.

"It's alright, that's how the media is, they write nonsense all the time." Lu Ke smiled, his expression indifferent. Shang Zhi didn't know that he himself had revealed his whereabouts by plane, and that he had the photos taken.

He desperately wanted more people to know about it. After all, he'd been in the entertainment industry for years, and his public image was already ruined. As long as he could achieve his goal, he didn't care about the consequences.

Pei Yanxiu learned about this suddenly. After he came out of a hotel after attending an event, he was suddenly surrounded by a large group of reporters who asked him for his opinion on the matter.

Only then did he understand.

He remained calm in front of the camera, stating directly that Shang Zhi and Lu Ke were just friends, and that he knew about his trip to the United States with her, hoping that everyone would refrain from spreading rumors.

There was nothing he could do; for the sake of the company's reputation and stock price, he had to swallow his tears.

When Shang Zhi saw the news of his interview, she felt a pang of sadness, a feeling she couldn't quite describe.

She felt like she must have lost her mind; she actually felt a little sorry for him.