A Loyal Scumbag-A Who Became the Wife of the Goddess - Chapter 5

The takeout meal arrived, but Chi Lengzhao had little appetite. After eating a piece of steak and a bowl of matsutake chicken soup, she wiped her mouth with a tissue and asked Butler Zhou to deliver the unopened packages of imperial crab, large shrimp, and giant scallops to the nurses looking after her. Then, slipping on her slippers, she knocked on Shen Zhixi’s door once more.

In the nurses’ station, three nurses were enjoying the meal Chi Lengzhao had generously provided. Seeing her knock on Shen Zhixi’s door, they exchanged flushed glances and stifled giggles.

“Come in.”

Shen Zhixi, who had been looking down at her phone, put it aside when she saw Chi Lengzhao enter. Her gaze turned icy, like a cat on high alert, bristling at the sight of a weasel invading its territory, ready to strike with a claw at any sign of danger.

Chi Lengzhao felt uneasy under this stare. Searching for something to say, she asked, “Where’s your mom? Did she leave?”

Shen Zhixi raised an eyebrow. “Chi Lengzhao, stop acting. My mother isn’t here. No matter how much you pretend to be good, she won’t see it.”

Chi Lengzhao forced a smile. “Don’t be like that. I really am a good person. I don’t need to pretend.”

Shen Zhixi scoffed, as if hearing a ridiculous joke. “You’re a good person?!”

“Whether you believe it or not, I, Chi Lengzhao, am a good person.”

A chair stood beside the hospital bed, and a sofa was placed against the wall. Chi Lengzhao, considerate as always, didn’t sit in the chair but took a seat on the sofa, keeping a distance from Shen Zhixi.

After being rushed to a nearby hospital by ambulance last night, Butler Zhou had arranged for a transfer to a private hospital with superior medical facilities, equipment, and comfort—albeit at a much higher cost.

“I’ve given the divorce matter careful thought,” Chi Lengzhao said, casually picking up an orange from the coffee table and beginning to peel it. She worked slowly and meticulously, as if performing a task as monumental as the Apollo moon landing.

Shen Zhixi stared intently at her, studying that all-too-familiar face now wearing an expression of calm detachment, as if no one else were present. This demeanor was unfamiliar; Shen Zhixi had never seen it before, and she found herself growing nervous.

Would she agree?

“I’m sorry, but I can’t agree to the divorce right now.”

Shen Zhixi’s tense nerves instantly relaxed, as expected.

As expected, Chi Lengzhao refused.

“I’m only temporarily refusing to divorce you. I know you hate me—even despise me. After all, I’m a despicable person with a terrible reputation, a scumbag and a pervert. If it weren’t for Meixi, you would never have married me in the first place.”

Chi Lengzhao spoke calmly, as if none of this concerned her.

“It’s good that you understand,” Shen Zhixi said, keeping her gaze fixed on her, unwilling to lower her guard. She couldn’t fathom why Chi Lengzhao was being so unusually objective about herself, but she suspected this might be another one of her schemes.

“But we’ve just married. Divorcing so soon would damage the reputations of both our families and harm our businesses.”

“So, what are you suggesting?” Shen Zhixi crossed her arms, watching her coldly, eager to hear her proposal.

“I mean, I promised to help Meixi, and I will keep that promise. But you must play the role of my devoted wife. Let’s put off the divorce for three years.”

“Three years?!” Shen Zhixi’s gaze hardened. She didn’t want to spend even a second longer with this demon, let alone three years.

She fell silent, contemplating whether to make another deal with this devil.

“After all,” Chi Lengzhao continued, “a three-year marriage without children is a plausible reason for divorce that society will accept. It maintains some dignity for both our families.”

“And you must clarify that the lack of children is not my fault, but yours,” Shen Zhixi added.

Chi Lengzhao smiled. “Alright, I admit I’m terrible at marking.” She paused before adding, “Three years isn’t that long. They’ll fly by quickly, one after another. Just think of it as going back to high school for another round.”

Shen Zhixi frowned, her arms crossing more tightly as she fell into deep thought.

After a long moment, Shen Zhixi finally said, “One year. That’s the absolute maximum.”

By then, she could divorce Chi Lengzhao, completely escape this creep and this marriage. To outsiders, it wouldn’t seem like an outrageous joke, and her parents would find it more acceptable.

If Chi Lengzhao still refused to help Meixi in this lifetime, Shen Zhixi would take matters into her own hands and help her father turn the situation around.

Chi Lengzhao’s hand froze mid-peel, her head dipping slightly as she pondered. “A year might be a bit tight. Raising funds and improving the company’s financial situation both take time…”

Hmph! Trying to sweet-talk me again?

Shen Zhixi insisted, “One year!”

Chi Lengzhao sighed, relenting. “Fine, one year it is. By then, Meixi will have overcome her difficulties, and we can divorce amicably.”

Shen Zhixi didn’t trust such an easy concession. “Let me remind you, I’m only pretending to be your wife. You have no right to demand I fulfill a wife’s duties.” To ensure she understood, Shen Zhixi made it clearer: “You can’t touch me, and you absolutely can’t forcibly mark me.”

To her surprise, Chi Lengzhao nodded readily. “Agreed. I won’t touch you. As I’ve said, I’m incapable of marking you.”

“Furthermore, during this year, you must not interfere with my life or restrict my freedom.”

“Understood.” Chi Lengzhao wasn’t like the original’s perverse self; she had no interest in controlling Shen Zhixi’s freedom. “However, there’s one condition: if you have lovers, I won’t interfere—no matter how many you have. But it must remain secret. Publicly, you’re still my wife, and as your lawful wife, I ask you to show me some respect.”

Shen Zhixi scoffed. “I’m not you. I’m not as despicable.”

Chi Lengzhao smiled. “I believe that. There are few who could be more despicable and heartless than the original Chi Lengzhao.”

Shen Zhixi couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Chi Lengzhao today. The usual violent and aggressive aura had vanished, replaced by an aura of calm composure. Her mannerisms and speech were refined, even elegant.

She couldn’t help but steal another glance at Chi Lengzhao.

Chi Lengzhao had just finished peeling an orange and looked up, meeting her gaze.

Their eyes met in mid-air. Shen Zhixi was startled to see a gentle light in those eyes.

For a moment, she was bewildered, unable to understand Chi Lengzhao anymore.

“Have an orange. I remember you like them.”

Chi Lengzhao placed the peeled orange on a plate and walked over to her. “If you’re not convinced, we can sign a written agreement.”

Shen Zhixi scoffed inwardly. Here we go again.

Before proposing to her, Chi Lengzhao had said the same thing—a written gentleman’s agreement, complete with signatures and thumbprints, promising not to force herself.

But reality proved that once a righteous gentleman turns into a treacherous villain, that piece of paper is utterly useless.

“No need. Just give me something to keep safe. If you honor the agreement, I’ll return it to you on the day of our divorce.”

Chi Lengzhao’s interest was piqued. “What do you want?”

“The sapphire necklace.”

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