The emotions in Shen Lin's eyes collapsed. "Have you considered it?"
"Right, there's nothing to consider."
"Aren't you worried that your parents will find out the story behind the photo?"
Zhou Xia gritted her teeth and raised her head to look at him proudly. "So be it. You can say whatever you want. I'll bear the consequences myself. It's none of your business."
Shen Lin lowered his eyes. "Alright, you can set the time. When are we going to the Civil Affairs Bureau?"
Zhou Xia was stunned. Did he just agree so readily?
"I'll think of something to handle my mother's issue."
"We'll be strangers with nothing to do with each other after the divorce. I won't waste my time making things difficult for a stranger."
Zhou Xia's heart seemed to clench. Wasn't this the situation she had hoped for? Why did she feel so down when Shen Lin said that they would be strangers from now on?
Shen Lin stood up. He was calm. "I'll send you out."
"Alright," Zhou Xia agreed. This was the dignity that adults should maintain.
Shen Lin brought Zhou Xia to the elevator at the end of the corridor. She could get down from the elevator to the entrance of the underground parking lot. The subway station was accessible once they exit the elevator. There would be no need to take a detour.
He stood in front of her and pressed the elevator button for Zhou Xia. There was a distance between them, neither far nor near.
The elevator soon stopped at her destination. Zhou Xia heaved a sigh of relief and left.
In order to maintain the dignity that two adults should have, Zhou Xia had just practiced a perfect smile behind him and planned to say goodbye.
Before she could say anything, a pair of fair and well-defined hands reached out and stopped the elevator door from closing. Shen Lin's eyes were dark. She did not know what his expression meant. He stared at Zhou Xia and asked, "So, why did we break up last time? Is it because of your mysophobia?"
"Ah?" Zhou Xia did not react immediately.
"It's nothing," Shen Lin lowered his eyes. "You don't have to worry about it."
After speaking, Shen Lin moved his hand away from the elevator door and watched as it slowly closed.
Zhou Xia was confused by Shen Lin's weird attitude.
Time could really make people change dramatically. Shen Lin, who used to be so single-minded, was now so unpredictable.
But Shen Lin asked the reason why they broke up the last time.
It had been so long that Zhou Xia could not remember clearly.
At that time, she seemed to have said some nonsense to him. She reasoned that she couldn't stand him anymore and that she had a serious obsession with cleanliness.
However, the confusion and frustration didn't last long. Zhou Xia, who had always been carefree and indifferent to relationships, soon returned to normal.
How did that saying go again?
A woman without a man by her side was like a goldfish without a bicycle.
It didn't affect her at all. It was completely useless.
If it wasn't for the fact that she wanted to fool her parents, she wouldn't have agreed to Chen Xie's pursuit.
Zhou Xia's pursuit in this life was to make a lot of money and to study well. However, she had never been in a good relationship. There was no such thing as getting rich in love.
Especially when Chen Xie, the worst kind of scum, was placed in front of her. He constantly reminded her, 'Don't get close to men, or you'll become unlucky.'
Zhou Xia received a call from her mother, Wu Yanqing, as soon as she stepped out of the hospital.
"Xiaxia, have you talked to that Chen guy?"
"Not yet," Zhou Xia was a little dejected.
"I've already thought of it. He has evidence that your father beat him up, so he definitely won't let it go easily. This person is too evil." Wu Yanqing asked again, "Did he say how much compensation he wanted to receive?"
"He didn't say the exact number, but I think he'll be extorting a lot."
"Why don't I go to the hospital tomorrow and see what he wants? If it's not a lot of money, then just give it to him. It's so annoying to deal with people like him every day."
Zhou Xia sighed deeply. "No matter how much money it is, do you think dad can just let it go? Besides, I don't want to give him a single cent. He stole my ID to register his company and even owed me money. Now I have to take the blame for him. I don't want him to get what he wants."
Wu Yanqing sighed at the other end of the phone. "The police are asking your father to check on the situation from time to time. I'm worried."
Zhou Xia was also confused and could not solve it.
Wu Yanqing was a gentle and friendly person. She never had any conflicts with anyone, let alone in this kind of situation. She kept thinking about it and blamed herself for everything.
"It's all my fault. If I didn't force you to meet this Chen guy, you wouldn't be in this state today."