Chapter 105: Falling into a Cold War

This story is purely fictional.

Chi Zhaoming returned home quietly. Du Juan and Xiyu had already gone to bed early. He tiptoed, careful not to wake Du Juan. Placing a ten-thousand-yuan cash note by her pillow, he prepared to sleep.

In her drowsiness, Du Juan sensed Chi Zhaoming’s return. “Why did you come home so late?”

He whispered, “After the station’s busy work, my colleagues and I had a late-night snack. That’s why I’m late.”

“Go to sleep quickly. Don’t wake Xiyu,” Du Juan said before drifting off again.

At the Zhizhen Hotel, Yun Jiu and Gao Yating continued their conversation.

“Go on,” Gao Yating gestured for him to continue.

“To be honest, your beauty is the most captivating I’ve ever seen in a woman. During the MC event, I was drawn by your sensuality and charm. When you asked me to come to your place that day, I was overjoyed. But when I arrived, a call interrupted us, and you asked me to leave. You have no idea how disappointed I was. I feared that opportunity would never come again, that it would vanish entirely. But it was just hormones playing tricks on me,” Yun Jiu confided to Gao Yating about some details from MC that she did not know.

Gao Yating looked at the man before her, feeling that he was speaking sincerely.

“Don’t laugh at me, but since my divorce, I haven’t been with any woman at MC. At that time, I swore that unless I earned enough to support my family, I wouldn’t fall in love or marry again. The shadow of my ex-wife haunts me relentlessly; it never fades. She has become an eternal pain in my life.” Yun Jiu’s eyes grew moist as he spoke.

Gao Yating listened intently, silently nodding in understanding.

“When I came to Dahe, you cared for me deeply, helped elevate my status in the company. Your actions stirred discontent among the higher-ups, especially Vice President Leng Junfeng, who schemed behind the scenes, causing significant losses to the company’s business. You always stood by me, and for that, I am deeply grateful. As for whether I love you, I must be honest: saying I love you would be a lie. But I find myself gradually growing fond of you.” Yun Jiu paused.

“Before Weier came to Dahe, I never refused being with you. But after his arrival, you disappeared for several nights. I knew what was happening. I also found out that you and Weier were living together. That didn’t matter. But once our relationship became practically a marriage, your continued entanglement with him felt like a betrayal. So now, I resist being intimate with you. I hope you can understand my pain.” Yun Jiu’s voice was low and heavy.

After hearing Yun Jiu, Gao Yating seemed to fully comprehend the concerns buried in his heart. She had already learned from Leng Junfeng about some matters concerning Yun Jiu’s ex-wife. Approaching him, she comforted, “I understand the pain and fears you carry. All I can say now is, I’m sorry.”

“You say you understand my pain, but I’m not so sure. We have different views on openness in sexuality, so our perceptions of betrayal differ greatly. Perhaps you think a few indulgences mean nothing, but I don’t. So you don’t need to offer comforting words to persuade me; they won’t work. Besides my refusal of an open sexual relationship, there is something else that worries me more deeply—something only I can truly feel. That worry keeps me awake at night. During MC, I relied on melatonin every day just to sleep. Coming to Dahe, you gave me hope; my insomnia improved fundamentally, and for that, I thank you. But since you spent nights away with Weier, my troubles have returned. You will never understand my worries.” Yun Jiu looked at her with suspicion.

Gao Yating then searched her bag and took out a slip of paper, handing it to Yun Jiu.

He took it and found it was Gao Yating’s HIV test report from Dahe Hospital, showing a negative result.

Yun Jiu was surprised. He thought, by giving me this now, she must know that my reluctance to be close stems from fear of that virus. He murmured, “How did you know that was why?”

“Do you think I’m that naive? A man who used to cling to me suddenly avoiding physical contact must have a reason. So, through someone who knows you, I learned about your ex-wife. Your fear is about that disease, isn’t it?” Gao Yating glanced at the report.

At that moment, Yun Jiu couldn’t hide anything from Gao Yating’s sharp eyes. For his pride, he tried to conceal his fear of the virus, feigning calm. “You’re right, but there are other reasons too. I don’t want physical intimacy with you because I feel you’re betraying a kind man. I’ve faced such betrayal before and hate it deeply. Maybe you don’t understand me, but I just can’t overcome this barrier in my heart. Please forgive me.” Yun Jiu didn’t want to cause Gao Yating excessive pain.

“You should be the one asking forgiveness. What you said makes me feel even more ashamed. I know I was wrong—terribly wrong. I should have been honest about Weier, but I was afraid of losing you, so I hid my past. When Weier came to Dahe, I should have told him the truth too. I am different now—I am a wife. Sexual matters are no longer just about the act but about a commitment reserved for spouses. Gratitude and reciprocation aren’t solely expressed through sex,” Gao Yating spoke earnestly.

“I agree with your view. Because of love’s selfishness, I believe loyalty in marriage is foremost shown through exclusivity in sexual relations. Each partner belongs solely to the other—no deceit or infidelity allowed. Otherwise, love suffers greatly. Like now, your actions are not the result of innocent relations but conscious emotional harm.” Yun Jiu deliberately distinguished harm into intentional and unintentional, as just an hour ago, he had inadvertently hurt the woman before him.

Yun Jiu’s words were fair. In truth, Gao Yating was also a victim of betrayal. Understanding that pain deeply, she wished to comfort him. A strong impulse surged; she embraced him tightly and kissed him passionately.

Yun Jiu’s lips were drawn into hers, but he neither resisted nor responded. Perhaps the barrier in his heart hadn’t fully dissolved; he couldn’t open up and pretend nothing had happened.

Seeing his lukewarm response, Gao Yating felt her ardor met coldness. She pressed him, “You say your feelings for me haven’t changed, but I don’t feel any sincerity. I have given myself to you wholeheartedly, yet you offer no response. If your feelings have changed, just tell me frankly—that you no longer like or love me.” Gao Yating doubted his emotions.

“Please give me more time. You must believe in my sincerity,” Yun Jiu’s voice lacked conviction.

Hearing this, Gao Yating looked bewildered. She sensed the chill in his heart. Gazing at him, her pride seemed to fade. “I believe your heart is true. We are both sincere, but people change. Once that happens, love’s beauty fades, revealing its cruel nature. Maybe you are intoxicated by new happiness now. Is this your way of delivering a fatal blow, turning your vows at MC into a joke?” Her tone grew angry midway.

Seeing her fierce expression, Yun Jiu felt it wasn’t the time to let things spiral out of control. He calmed himself, persuading himself to stay composed and act as if nothing had happened.

After steadying himself, he reached out to gently stroke her cheek. “You worry too much. We both need to calm down.”

“Yes, we must calm down. You say you haven’t betrayed me, but I’m not convinced. When I stepped into the elevator earlier, I saw that girl—whether she spent the night with you or not, I won’t ask. But when a woman entrusts her body and soul to a man, both may think it’s happiness at the time. Yet all happiness is fleeting, and after it comes the seeds of pain. We women know there are no princes charming in this world. There are only men with insatiable desires, most of whom never cherish what they have and are forever hypocritical. They can whisper sweet words in your ear one minute and be drinking and embracing another woman the next. I hope you’re not that kind of man.” With that, Gao Yating slammed the door and left.

Yun Jiu stared after her, feeling confused and torn.

The next morning, Chi Zhaoming rose to find Du Juan sleeping soundly. Because she had worked overtime the previous day, she didn’t need to go to work and planned to rest at home. Chi Zhaoming left a note: “Don’t want to disturb your rest, I’ve gone to work. The ten thousand is the year-end bonus from work. You have many expenses; if Xiyu wants anything, buy it for him. Your husband.”

When Du Juan woke and saw the note and the money, her face showed no expression, only a faint sadness.

She woke Xiyu. “Hurry, we’re going to be late, Xiyu. Your dad had to leave early for something. You and I will take the same car. I’ll drop you at school’s entrance, then handle some errands.”

“Okay, I’m ready now.” Xiyu moved quickly, soon prepared, sitting with his backpack waiting for Du Juan.

After washing up and applying a simple makeup, Du Juan dressed and left with Xiyu.

(To be continued.)