Chapter Twenty-Three

As their conversation continued, Old Yu felt he had gained the upper hand. His expression was calm, but inside he was filled with smug satisfaction. He ordered another cup of coffee from the waiter, lifted it elegantly, and took a small sip. “Since we’ve spoken this much already, let me finish what I have to say in one breath. I don’t care how many years you and Xiao Yu have shared. Now, Xiao Yu belongs to me. We registered our marriage two years ago—he’s my partner for life. As for you, I sincerely hope that a prestigious designer like yourself will behave according to your status. If word gets out that you became a third party in someone else’s marriage, your reputation would be ruined.”

Wen Ming smiled, as though he had recovered from the sting of Yu’s earlier words. “I knew your purpose today wasn’t just to order custom rings, wasn’t it?”

Old Yu shrugged. “I must thank you, Designer Wen, for being so cooperative and showing up.”

“Heh…” Wen Ming chuckled softly. “That’s because I have something to say to you as well. I was going to be more tactful, but given the situation, it seems there’s no need to be polite with you, Mr. Yu.”

Old Yu raised his thick eyebrows. “Go ahead.”

“Actually, I’ve always been curious—how did you manage to lose so much weight?”

Old Yu was surprised. “How did you know I was dieting?”

Wen Ming lowered his gaze, leisurely lifted his coffee, and took a sip. “Two years ago, when Xiao Yu sent me your photo, you looked to be over two hundred pounds. Now, seeing you in person... heh, if Xiao Yu hadn’t told me, I’d never have guessed you were the same man as in that photo.”

“What photo?” Old Yu’s patience was thinning. “Can you stop beating around the bush?”

Wen Ming finished his coffee, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and spoke with a half-smile, “Two years ago, the day I left Xiao Yu, he sent me a message. He said if I dared to dump him, he’d immediately find someone to marry, so I’d never even have the chance to regret it.”

Old Yu stared at the table, frowning as if recalling something.

Wen Ming continued, “I dated Xiao Yu for seven years. He loved me deeply. Maybe you’ll think I’m being dramatic, but it’s the truth. The thing he said to me most was that after we got married, he’d take care of me. In fact, he didn’t know that was what I always wanted to tell him myself. From the very start, I’d been imagining what our life together would be like after marriage…”

“What are you trying to say?!”

“Later, two years ago, something happened in my life. I was forced to leave him. I thought we couldn’t go on, and I didn’t bother to explain the misunderstanding. After I left, Xiao Yu hated me to his core. The day I went abroad, he said he’d marry anyone, just to spite me. At first I thought he was bluffing, but then he sent me a brand-new marriage certificate photo, and several pictures with a fat man. He told me that was his spouse.”

Old Yu stared at Wen Ming, eyes unblinking, jaw twitching, his heart pounding faster without knowing why. It felt as though the man before him was about to shatter something he’d long believed in.

“At the time, Xiao Yu emphasized to me that he’d found a random thug at a bar—no education, no manners, lecherous and crude. He said if I didn’t come back for him right away, he’d spend his life with that thug. I always believed Xiao Yu was rational, that no matter how hurt he was, he wouldn’t gamble his happiness so recklessly.” Wen Ming’s words hit his own sore spot. He lowered his head, looked blankly at the table, his expression complicated. “I thought he was just trying to provoke me, staging a scene for the photos... If I’d known he meant it, I’d have rushed back, no matter what. In the end, he degraded himself like that only to get revenge…”

At this point, something snapped in Old Yu’s mind. He didn’t wait for Wen Ming to finish—he strode up, grabbed Wen Ming’s collar, and yanked him from his seat.

“So you’re telling me…” Old Yu squinted, his face pressed close to Wen Ming’s, “Xiao Yu married me to spite you?”

Wen Ming remained calm, gave a faint smile. “What else did you think? What would Xiao Yu see in you, two hundred pounds of fat? If he hadn’t been self-destructive at the time, someone like you would never have caught his eye.”

Old Yu’s face twisted with rage. He jerked Wen Ming’s collar, nearly choking him, yet Wen Ming still sneered. “Xiao Yu and you are like a cloud in the sky and mud at the bottom of a river—you’re not even in the same world. If it weren’t for my… oversight back then, you’d never have had a chance to be with him.”

“Wen, I know you can talk, but if you dare to stir up trouble between Xiao Yu and me, I won’t let you off.” Old Yu’s breathing was heavy, his glare murderous, as if he’d lose control and strangle Wen Ming at any moment.

Wen Ming was unfazed by Old Yu’s stormy face, his lips curled in a sinister smile. “You know perfectly well if I’m lying. How long did Xiao Yu know you before he married you? Aren’t you the least bit suspicious?”

“Even if you’re right, Xiao Yu loves me now…”

“Who do you think you are?” Wen Ming abruptly cut him off. “You’ve only been Xiao Yu’s husband for two years. You have no foundation, no real feelings. If you hadn’t pestered him, you’d have divorced long ago. Now I’m back, and you’re useless to him. The misunderstanding between Xiao Yu and me is resolved. The only thing standing in our way is you. You’d better be sensible and bow out…”

Old Yu’s patience snapped—his fist shot out, and several women screamed in the café!

Usually, Old Yu fought to solve problems; this time, he lashed out purely from rage. His strength was considerable, and Wen Ming was knocked to the ground, blood seeping from his mouth.

Wen Ming steadied himself with a hand on the table, slowly stood up, wiped the blood from his lips, and turned to the approaching manager and waiter with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, we had a bit of a disagreement. Please don’t interfere. If anything here is damaged, I’ll pay for it. And please don’t call the police—we’re friends.”

After Wen Ming finished speaking, the manager paused, forced a smile, and tried to calm them. “Please, both of you, take it easy. If there’s any problem—”

“Get out!” Old Yu shouted at the manager. “I’m furious right now; anyone who comes close will get hit too!”

Many customers had already hurriedly paid and left. The manager’s expression darkened, watching the two men face off. He finally turned and left, instructing the staff quietly to call the police if there was any more violence.

Once the people were gone, Wen Ming’s gaze at Old Yu shifted from courteous to mocking. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the familiar white car slowly stopping outside the café.

“Listen, Wen,” Old Yu pointed at Wen Ming, enunciating each word, “I don’t care who you are. After today, if you dare make a move on Xiao Yu, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“That’s not up to you,” Wen Ming said coldly. “I will never let Xiao Yu spend his life with a brute like you. Since you refuse to withdraw, just wait for Xiao Yu to slap the divorce papers in your face.”

Old Yu, burning with fury, didn’t hesitate—he rushed over and swung his fist at Wen Ming again. For a man to keep provoking after being beaten, he must either be stupid or asking for trouble!

Wen Ming raised his arm to block the punch, but Old Yu abruptly switched tactics and kicked him hard in the stomach.

“Stop!”

A familiar voice called from behind. Old Yu tried to halt, but his foot was already in motion. Wen Ming was kicked into a nearby table and then collapsed to the floor, his face twisted in pain.

“Wen Ming!” Yi Xiao Yu hurried over, crouched beside Wen Ming, and asked urgently, “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Old Yu’s blows were no joke—Wen Ming’s face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead as he struggled to speak, “I think… my rib is broken.”

Yi Xiao Yu, anxious and flustered, helped Wen Ming up. “My car’s outside, I’ll take you to the hospital. Hang in there.”

Yi Xiao Yu wrapped Wen Ming’s arm around his own neck and supported him toward the door.

Since Yi Xiao Yu entered, Old Yu had stood aside, suppressing his anger. But seeing his spouse holding an old lover, he couldn’t keep calm—he hurried forward. “Let me carry him, Xiao Yu, you don’t—”

Yi Xiao Yu said nothing, didn’t even look at Old Yu. He pushed Old Yu aside and helped Wen Ming out of the café.

That push left Old Yu cold inside, but in the end he followed, driving his car right behind his spouse’s.

The more muddled and unclear things were between him and Xiao Yu, the less he could let Wen Ming seize the opportunity!