Chapter 8 Clean Dirt

"It's clearly written on the marriage certificate," Guan Haoyang couldn't deny it, even if he had once been unwilling, "Don't you even remember your own name?"

"I'm afraid it's you who has forgotten all about it," Qin Yucen took a deep breath, but it did nothing to ease the bitterness in her heart.

"I... haven't forgotten," Guan Haoyang had a moment of pause.

"If you hadn't forgotten, then how could you have put that thing in the file? How could you have pushed me toward another man?" Qin Yucen accused him, and lifted her right hand to show the ring finger, where the engagement ring glittered under the light, "This is the ring you put on my finger five years ago, you promised to be good to me. But five years later... what have you done to me! What am I to you, really? Surely I'm not just a public relations manager who keeps company in bed, as some people say!"

Stung by the glint from the ring, Guan Haoyang reached out and pulled down her hand to hold it in his palm: "This was my negligence, an accident, I assure you it won't happen a second time."

"I am no longer the Qin Yucen of five years ago who believed every word you said." Qin Yucen's heart had frozen over because of his non-denial, "Your assurances are worthless to me now."

She tried to pull her hand out of his palm, but he held on tightly, and suddenly pulled her into his embrace, holding her close as if afraid she would disappear, calling her by the nickname he used to say softly, "Cencen..."

Qin Yucen's heart was momentarily moved, but the deep hurt he had caused reminded her not to trust this man so easily.

She didn't struggle in his embrace, taking a light breath, all she could smell was his scent.

His fingertips traced her face, and his handsome face loomed large in her eyes as his lips were about to meet hers.

She had wished countless times to be treated tenderly by him like this, and as she closed her eyes tears welled up, her voice slightly choked, "I sought out other men last night, does that not bother you?"

Qin Yucen said it so softly, like a gentle breeze, but to Guan Haoyang it sounded extremely harsh.

His lips were only an inch away from hers when he stopped the motion to kiss her.

The air that was warm a moment ago turned icy cold, a chill rising from his feet.

Qin Yucen slowly lifted her trembling eyelashes to meet Guan Haoyang's face, which looked so cold it could devour someone. The grip of his large hands on her arms tightened, his eyes fierce: "What did you say! Say it again!"

Qin Yucen knew he had heard her clearly and so she did not want to repeat it.

When she woke up in Huo Jingtang's bed this morning, naked, and saw those red marks on her fair skin as she dressed, she hated. He had pushed her into a pit of fire, causing her unbearable pain. So she wanted him to know, even a cornered rabbit will bite!

She wanted to see if he truly didn't care at all, didn't feel any pain!

If that was true, it was really time for her to give up.

"The thing you prepared for me and him, I kept one, and then we used it, just like that." Qin Yucen looked at him provocatively, emphasizing the word "we".

Guan Haoyang found it hard to believe that Qin Yucen was a woman without self-respect, but as he stared into her eyes, he saw a flash of pain and hatred. His heart inexplicably started to panic.

"Don't believe it?" Qin Yucen let go of his hands, pulled at the collar of her blazer, and exposed it outward.

The questionable marks were like red plum blossoms on her fair skin, so striking they stabbed into the depths of Guan Haoyang's pupils. He just stared at the marks, unable to speak.

She definitely did it on purpose!

"That's how you cheapen yourself," Guan Haoyang finally found his voice, filled with deep anger.

"I did my best to win that contract, whether we can work with Tanghuang is up to fate," Qin Yucen didn't care, nor did she reply.

Guan Haoyang's lips pressed tightly: "They say in these five years you don't know how many men's beds you've collapsed into, that every important contract of Guanshan was earned with your body?"

"When you left, it was the most difficult time for Guanshan; I'm just a woman, I did everything I could for you, and I did it. If it were you, you might not have been able to, so perhaps you should thank me." She did not argue for herself, as being the subject of gossip wasn't a first-time experience. But being misunderstood by him... her heart felt wronged and humiliated.

She believed that the clear-sighted would clear themselves, and rumors stop at the wise.

And Guan Haoyang... are you that wise man?

"Good, very good," Guan Haoyang curled his lips into a smirk, the meaning behind his smile ambiguous, "Qin Yucen, you truly are my Guan Haoyang's virtuous wife, with such a wife, what more could a husband ask for!"

Qin Yucen didn't meet the accusation in his eyes and slightly turned her gaze away.

Why must they torment each other like this until they're satisfied?

"Guan Haoyang, is this really okay?" Qin Yucen's eyes were bright and dark with emotion.

Clearly tired, why is there still reluctance?

This marriage hasn't even truly started, and it's already coming to an end.

But before she could finish her sentence, Guan Haoyang cut her off, his voice hoarse: "Get out!"

Qin Yucen paused, yet persisted: "Does it make any sense for us to continue like this?"

"Whether it makes sense is not for you to say!" Guan Haoyang's emotions were somewhat out of control, he randomly grabbed a cup from the desk and hurled it at Qin Yucen's toes. The cup shattered on impact, its fragments bouncing onto her foot, creating a gash that spread a sharp pain, "Get out--"

Qin Yucen ignored the wound on her foot, straightened her spine, and without lingering any longer, walked towards the door.

At that moment, the door to the office was pushed open from outside, and Qin Yurong's anxious face appeared in Qin Yucen's line of sight: "President, what happened?"

Qin Yucen didn't give Qin Yurong a glance, passing by her shoulder and out of the office.

"Who let you in?" Guan Haoyang, looking at the uninvited Qin Yurong, felt even more irritated.

"I heard something being smashed, so I... I was worried about you," Qin Yurong glanced at the shattered cup on the floor, "I'll clean up the fragments, otherwise, you might get hurt."