Chapter 3: "Get out. Now."

"Wen Zhixia, you wretched woman!"

Wen Zhixia gripped her wrist, her gaze cold and distant as she looked at the aggressive woman. "Shall I call security to escort you out?"

Jiang Wanwan jerked her hand free. "Did you tell Gu Pingsheng to drive me away? Do you think you can have him all to yourself? Let me tell you, you’re deluding yourself. What man in his position doesn’t have a few women on the side? Why must you make things difficult for me?"

"So you’re the woman who called and sent me those photos yesterday morning." Wen Zhixia seemed to have guessed her identity.

Jiang Wanwan sneered, "How pretentious."

Unperturbed, Wen Zhixia stepped aside and gestured toward the room. "Come in and have a seat."

She wore a faint smile as she invited her in, but Jiang Wanwan didn’t dare take a step forward. When faced with the unpredictable, instinct dictates wariness.

"What do you want?" Jiang Wanwan demanded.

Wen Zhixia turned and sat down on the living room sofa, taking out her phone and dialing Gu Pingsheng. "There’s a woman here claiming to be your mistress..."

Gu Pingsheng was just about to enter a meeting when he heard her words. His expression grew dark.

"Mr. Gu—" the secretary began anxiously as he grabbed his coat and headed out, "the meeting is about to start."

"Postpone it for two hours."

Gu Pingsheng returned to Lanhu Residence half an hour later. Wen Zhixia, having anticipated his arrival, had already brewed tea.

"Miss Jiang, have a taste. This is Meiziqing, Pingsheng’s favorite tea."

Jiang Wanwan pushed it aside. "I won’t drink it. Who knows what you’ve put in there? You know why I’m here. Gu and I are in love. If you had any sense, you’d step aside gracefully."

Tea sloshed from the cup, scalding Wen Zhixia’s hand. She set the cup down and flicked the droplets away, as if nothing had happened. "The lipstick on his shirt—was that your doing as well?"

"So what if it was?" Jiang Wanwan retorted scornfully.

Wen Zhixia sipped her tea. "Did he touch you?"

"Of cou—"

Bang!

The door was flung open with a thunderous crash, and Gu Pingsheng appeared, face clouded with anger.

Jiang Wanwan stopped mid-sentence and stood, walking toward him. "Pingsheng, you’re back. Today I—"

Smack.

Gu Pingsheng raised his hand and struck her with such force that she fell to the floor. Clutching her face, she stared up at him in disbelief.

"Get out!" he spat, offering no further words, his tone icy.

Under his menacing, stormy gaze, Jiang Wanwan’s body trembled uncontrollably. In that moment, she sensed his murderous intent.

The pain on her face reminded her of his first warning—never covet what does not belong to you.

Gu Pingsheng might indulge in affairs and seek excitement, but he had one inviolable rule: never let any woman from outside cause trouble for Wen Zhixia.

Jiang Wanwan had clearly crossed the line.

"Get out. Now."

Jiang Wanwan fled, face in hands. As she reached the door, she heard that cold, unyielding man lower his voice, as if explaining, "Just a hostess I met twice..."

She heard no more. The moment she stepped outside, men waiting there covered her mouth and nose and bundled her into a car.

Wen Zhixia avoided Gu Pingsheng’s outstretched hand, her eyes clear and striking. "Gu Pingsheng, I told you before—if you ever fall for another woman, I hope you’ll tell me yourself, not let me hear it from someone else."

Gu Pingsheng’s fingers stroked her cheek, his gaze deep and unreadable. "My Xiaxia is always so calm." He glanced at the three teacups on the table. "If I hadn’t come early, would you have sat here, sipping tea and chatting with her?"

Any other wife, confronted by a brazen mistress, would hardly remain as detached as an outsider.