Chapter 20: Icy-Fire Pineapple Bun with Rich Milky Aroma…

Zhou Weihao was seven years older than Ming Jiayao.

But that didn’t prevent the two from becoming close friends.

Because when Zhou Weihao was very young, the Zhou family had once gone bankrupt. His parents had fought desperately to save the family business, exhausting almost all their energy and leaving them with little time to care for Zhou Weihao.

As for Ming Jiayao, although he came from an old money family, his situation was rather special—he belonged to the type who grew up wild, unloved by his father and mother.

Thus, in the elite circles, both Zhou Weihao and Ming Jiayao were looked down upon, isolated, and targeted by the scions of prominent families.

Zhou Weihao, being slightly older, would protect the younger Ming Jiayao,

and the bond between them was quite strong.

Before Zhou Weihao left home, the two were as close as brothers.

But ever since Zhou Weihao left, they had hardly seen each other.

Now, as soon as they met,

Zhou Weihao immediately got out of his car, and Ming Jiayao didn’t hesitate to do the same;

they shook hands, then gave each other a light hug, both happy and somewhat emotional.

“Shall we walk?” Zhou Weihao asked.

Ming Jiayao smiled, “Let’s walk!”

Zhou Weihao turned and signaled to his servant to drive his car back to the garage;

Ming Jiayao also instructed his driver to temporarily park his car at the Zhou residence for a while.

Then the two walked along the winding mountain road for a bit before turning into the coastal greenway.

Half Bay was a gathering place for luxury mansions, with beautiful and pleasant scenery.

Zhou Weihao and Ming Jiayao strolled slowly,

falling into a long silence, as if unsure what to say at first.

Zhou Weihao sighed and said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve walked here… The scenery I used to see every day didn’t seem special. But after being away for so long and seeing it again, I realize…”

He trailed off, at a loss for words.

Ming Jiayao smiled and finished for him, “What seemed ordinary at the time.”

—The meaning of this line of poetry is that things that once felt very ordinary can only exist in happy, sweet memories years later.

In a way, it can be understood as “time lost will never return”…

Zhou Weihao fell into a daze.

After a long while, he let out a bitter laugh.

“A Yao, I heard you accidentally fell into the sea some time ago. Are you alright?” Zhou Weihao asked.

Ming Jiayao curled the corner of his mouth into a faint, cold smile, “Anyway… as you can see, I didn’t die.”

Zhou Weihao knew about the dark secrets of the Ming Family and couldn’t help feeling heavy-hearted.

He patted Ming Jiayao’s shoulder, “A Yao, if there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”

Ming Jiayao nodded with a smile.

For some reason, Zhou Weihao felt that Ming Jiayao seemed different from before.

“A Yao, have you encountered something good recently?” Zhou Weihao asked with a smile, “Why do I feel… you’re in a very good mood?”

And it wasn’t just a good mood.

Because—

the old Ming Jiayao was gloomy, ruthless, and carried a strong sense of world-weariness;

but the current Ming Jiayao was bright, radiant, and shone like a dazzling little sun.

What had happened to him?

Zhou Weihao was truly curious.

Ming Jiayao laughed, “I am in a good mood! After all, now I do everything for myself every day.”

“For yourself?” Zhou Weihao murmured.

Ming Jiayao nodded, “Yes, just like you, Brother Hao, I’ve started doing things for myself.”

Zhou Weihao was taken aback for a moment before realizing that what Ming Jiayao was referring to was already old news—probably Ming Jiayao thought the trading company he and his friends were running was what he truly wanted to do?

Zhou Weihao felt utterly ashamed.

Because—

First, that trading company wasn’t what he truly wanted to do. He wasn’t managing the business at all now; it was all handled by his friends, and he just waited for his share of the profits.

Second, he hadn’t taken any action at all toward his dreams!

Ming Jiayao had already started talking. “Brother Hao, I’m currently pursuing three paths simultaneously.

First, I’ve applied to study in the UK for a dual degree.

Second, I’ve started building my own logistics network…

Third, I’ve begun gathering evidence—so that anyone who tries to take me down in the future, I’ll take them down first!” As he spoke, Ming Jiayao seemed to recall something and laughed.

Ming Jiayao’s words unexpectedly reminded Zhou Weihao of Bai Yuanzhi.

Because Bai Yuanzhi had also said more than once, “I have my own things I want to do,” “I want to attend night school,” “I have my own plans and goals, so I can’t spend too much time and energy on your love story”…

For no apparent reason,

Ming Jiayao’s smile was infectious.

It made Zhou Weihao grin foolishly too.

Ming Jiayao then asked Zhou Weihao, “Brother Hao, are you still… with that woman lately?”

Zhou Weihao opened his mouth.

He suddenly realized,

Even Ming Jiayao, whom he regarded as a brother, didn’t think highly of Duoluoxi!

Zhou Weihao, who had always been resolute, felt a flicker of doubt at this moment.

Although Ming Jiayao didn’t get a response from Zhou Weihao, seeing him remain silent told him the answer.

He didn’t press further but instead talked about what he’d been doing lately: the procedures and steps for applying to study abroad, how building a logistics network required a lot of capital, so he had to invest some money into U.S. and European stocks…

Finally, Ming Jiayao hesitantly asked Zhou Weihao, “Brother Hao, how do you tell if a girl likes you?”

Zhou Weihao was stunned.

Ming Jiayao, blushing, continued, “Brother Hao, has your partner… ever done anything that made you feel full of love?”

Zhou Weihao smiled and was about to speak—

But just as the words reached his lips, he suddenly realized he couldn’t answer either of Ming Jiayao’s questions!

—How could he tell if Duoluoxi liked him?

Could he say that Duoluoxi was gentle, very obedient, and never defied him?

She took good care of him, handled all the household chores, and cooked delicious meals…

But a small voice inside him said: Isn’t that what a Filipina domestic helper does?

Then,

—Had Duoluoxi ever done anything that made him feel full of love?

Could he say that Duoluoxi was gentle, very obedient, and never defied him?

She took good care of him, handled all the household chores, and…

Wait!

Wasn’t that still what a Filipina domestic helper should do?

Zhou Weihao opened his mouth, then closed it.

He couldn’t utter a single word.

After a long pause, Zhou Weihao suppressed his disappointment and said, “Jiayao, you…”

Ming Jiayao grinned. “We haven’t known each other for very long, so it’s not really about liking or not liking…”

“But she really is a wonderful girl.” Whenever Bai Yuanzhi was mentioned, Ming Jiayao couldn’t stop smiling.

Zhou Weihao followed along, “Really? What makes her so wonderful?”

Ming Jiayao laughed, “Her expression is especially adorable when she eats something delicious… so focused and protective of her food!”

Zhou Weihao was taken aback for a moment, inexplicably picturing Bai Yuanzhi eating French toast in his mind.

Ming Jiayao continued, “She’s a girl with clear plans for herself and her future, and her execution is incredibly strong!”

Zhou Weihao couldn’t help but think of Bai Yuanzhi again.

Finally, Ming Jiayao said somewhat sheepishly, “In front of her, I often feel inferior…”

This statement successfully snapped Zhou Weihao back to reality and left him utterly astonished!

—Only Zhou Weihao, who knew the inside story, understood that Ming Jiayao’s life in the Ming Family was not easy. But to outsiders, Ming Jiayao seemed like Hong Kong circle’s crown prince.

The Young master actually feels inferior???

This is truly unbelievable!

Unconsciously, Zhou Weihao murmured to himself, “Jiayao, you… feel inferior?”

Ming Jiayao nodded earnestly, “Her circumstances aren’t the best, but once she sets a feasible goal, she steadily follows through with her plan.

As for me… although I have my flaws, compared to her, my conditions in every aspect are still superior.

But before meeting her, I was constantly trapped in internal struggles like ‘Why do those closest to me treat me that way?’ and ‘Should I seek revenge or not?’

I had no goals, nor anything I truly wanted to do.

It was only after meeting her that I suddenly realized how much time I had wasted!”

After a pause, Ming Jiayao continued, “Brother Hao, I’ve only just come to understand that those rotten people around me and the disgusting things they’ve done—they didn’t become rotten because of me, but because they were rotten to begin with.

I was just unlucky to be related to them.

I don’t need to dwell on those rotten people; even if I did, it wouldn’t change anything—they won’t change.

I must let go.

If I can’t let go, then I’ll distance myself from them.

If a person stays in a cesspit for too long, they’ll eventually become dirty, foul, and disgusting too!”

“Brother Hao, tell me, in front of her, don’t I seem quite inferior?” After saying this, Ming Jiayao thought of Bai Yuanzhi and couldn’t help but beam with joy.

Zhou Weihao instinctively nodded.

Bai Yuanzhi’s determination and Ming Jiayao’s awakening suddenly filled him with a strong sense of crisis.

“Jiayao, where did you meet such a wonderful girl? You…” Zhou Weihao wanted to say, isn’t it a bit too early for you to be dating at just seventeen?

But then he reconsidered,

He himself had fallen in love with Duoluoxi at sixteen and even tasted forbidden fruit—how could he have the face to criticize Ming Jiayao!

As for Zhou Weihao’s inquiry, Ming Jiayao naturally wouldn’t tell the truth.

After all, his grandfather and biological mother both wished for his demise,

and until he had the ability to protect himself, he would never expose Ah Zhi’s existence!

So Ming Jiayao said, “We just met by chance…

We haven’t known each other for very long, and she probably doesn’t have those kinds of feelings for me yet.

As for how I feel about her…

The only two things I’m certain of are that since meeting her, I often think of her and care about her. Because of her existence, I’ve become a better person than before.

Brother Hao, a good relationship makes both people better, isn’t that right?” Ming Jiayao asked.

Zhou Weihao opened his mouth but still couldn’t utter a word.

At that moment, Ah Wu, the bodyguard beside Ming Jiayao, stood not far away and waved in their direction.

Understanding the signal, Ming Jiayao said to Zhou Weihao, “Ahao, I have to go now… Have you moved back for good, or are you just visiting? I’m heading to the UK next month, and I’d really like to find time for us to catch up properly!”

Zhou Weihao quickly arranged a time with Ming Jiayao.

After exchanging brief farewells, the two parted ways.

Zhou Weihao returned to the villa to fetch his car and drove back to the apartment he had rented for Duoluoxi.

Standing at the apartment door, Zhou Weihao suddenly froze.

The thought of facing Duoluoxi’s tearful eyes filled him with resistance.

For the first time in his life, he felt reluctant to confront Duoluoxi.

He stood at the door for a long, long time.

Finally, a neighbor returning late noticed him standing motionless at his own doorstep and asked curiously, “Mr. Zhou, did you forget your keys?”

Snapping back to reality, Zhou Weihao brushed off the neighbor’s question with a few casual words before finally taking out his keys and unlocking the door.

The room was pitch dark, with no lights on.

It was also eerily quiet, as if no one was there.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhou Weihao finally flipped the light switch. With a soft click, the small apartment was instantly illuminated.

Duoluoxi was sitting on the sofa, her back straight, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

She looked at Zhou Weihao with sorrow and resentment, choking back tears as she asked, “I already asked my sister. She said you left the hotel before your shift ended… Ahao, where did you go? Why didn’t you come home?”

At that moment, Zhou Weihao felt an overwhelming wave of annoyance.

But he restrained himself and explained as gently as possible, “I went home.”

Duoluoxi asked in surprise, “You came back?”

It took Zhou Weihao a moment to realize she had misunderstood.

“Duoluoxi, what I meant was—I went back to my parents’ house,” he quickly clarified.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Weihao realized something:

To him, the concept of “home” referred to his parents’ place.

But to Duoluoxi, “home” meant the apartment they shared.

Zhou Weihao took a deep breath.

Quickly regaining his composure, he walked over to Duoluoxi, knelt down, took her hands in his, and said gently, “My dad and mom are getting older, and they miss me a lot. So I went back to see them and had a meal with them.”

“Sorry, Duoluoxi, I didn’t let you know in time. Next time they ask me to go back, I’ll definitely take you with me,” Zhou Weihao said with gentle consideration.

“Really?” Duoluoxi asked, half-believing.

Zhou Weihao smiled reassuringly. “You can come back with me now and ask my dad and mom yourself if you’d like.”

Duoluoxi quickly waved her hands. “No, no, the master and mistress are always unhappy to see me… I don’t want to put you in a difficult position.”

Zhou Weihao gazed intently at Duoluoxi, remaining silent for a long time.

Once again, Bai Yuanzhi’s words echoed in his mind—Has your girlfriend ever made an effort to win your parents’ acceptance? And has she taken any concrete actions toward that goal?

“Duoluoxi,” Zhou Weihao softly called his beloved’s name, “find a suitable time and accompany me back home! Don’t worry about my dad and mom not liking you. As long as I love you, they will too.”

Duoluoxi resisted fiercely, shaking her head desperately, “No! No, no, no… I can’t bear it! Ahao, I beg you, please don’t force me, okay?”

Zhou Weihao couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly are you afraid of?”

Duoluoxi bit her lower lip, “Don’t you understand what I’m afraid of? Ahao, do you really have to make me say it… Are you trying to humiliate me?”

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but her expression turned resolute, “Fine, since you insist, I’ll say it—because I’m afraid Madam will look down on me. I’m afraid she’ll still see me as a servant!”

“But Ahao, I’m your girlfriend, your beloved, I… I…” At this point, Duoluoxi choked up and couldn’t continue.

Then, with tear-filled eyes, she looked at Zhou Weihao, “Ahao, you’re all I have left. You… please don’t abandon me.”

Zhou Weihao struggled to control his emotions, soothing his beloved gently, “Duoluoxi, if that’s what you’re worried about… then I can tell you, you have nothing to fear! I’ll stand by you. Believe me, no one will mock you for this!”

Duoluoxi still shook her head, “You’re not me. You can’t understand how I feel!”

Zhou Weihao closed his eyes briefly and said, “Then… should we just continue like this forever? Duoluoxi, I’m already twenty-four. I want to marry you, I want you to become my lawfully wedded wife, I want you to bear me two or three children…”

Duoluoxi quickly replied, “I don’t mind, Ahao. Even without a formal status, I’m willing to have children for you!”

Hearing this, Zhou Weihao stared at Duoluoxi as if he didn’t recognize her.

After a long while, he whispered, “Duoluoxi, what are you saying? You mean… you don’t care about status and would still bear children for me?”

Duoluoxi nodded repeatedly, “I’m willing, I truly am!”

Zhou Weihao was stunned for a very long time.

“You don’t care about status?” he murmured to himself. “If you don’t even care about status… then what am I fighting for?”

He felt deeply troubled.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly why,

But his head felt dizzy, and his vision seemed unable to focus…

Zhou Weihao said softly, “Duoluoxi, when you say you don’t care about status, do you mean—you could accept me marrying another woman?”

Duoluoxi’s face instantly turned pale.

“Duoluoxi, I’m willing to stand against the whole world for you,” Zhou Weihao looked up at her, “…Could you also be a little braver for me?”

Duoluoxi was taken aback, her eyes darting away.

Zhou Weihao gripped her hand even tighter, “Duoluoxi, I won’t look for another woman. I only love you… I’ll find a way to make my parents accept you. You… work toward that goal too, okay?”

By the end, Zhou Weihao’s voice carried a pleading tone.

Duoluoxi hesitated and asked in return, “Work… work toward what?”

Zhou Weihao patiently guided her, “That depends on what you want to do.”

Duoluoxi bit her lower lip and fell silent.

Zhou Weihao had no intention of letting it go lightly.

Today, he was determined to get an answer.

So he pressed further, “Duoluoxi, what do you want to do? Or rather, what kind of person do you want to become?”

Duoluoxi’s face flushed bright red. “I… I want to be like Mrs. Zhou, to become a very wealthy person, someone respected by everyone…”

“That’s wonderful!” Zhou Weihao nodded in approval.

—His mother had once been a well-bred young lady from the mainland. To escape the turmoil of war, she followed her young maternal grandparents to Southeast Asia at a tender age. After her grandparents were swindled out of all their property, the family relied on begging to make their way to Hong Kong City, where they started a small food stall business.

This was the precursor to the Fortune Cake Shop.

His mother’s childhood was spent attending school, looking after her younger siblings, and helping her parents sell pastries.

Later, as the cake shop business flourished and his mother excelled in her studies, she was admitted to a prestigious university. Following her parents’ wishes, she became engaged to Mr. Zhou, who was considered a suitable match (at the time, he was also running a small business). After several years of getting to know each other, they developed feelings and naturally married. From then on, they worked together in harmony to run a Western-style pastry business, which grew increasingly successful.

Even when the family business later encountered problems, his mother never gave up or backed down. She continued to manage the business tirelessly—she was a true powerhouse of a woman.

During his youth, Zhou Weihao had resented his parents for giving birth to him but not raising him.

As he grew older and started his own business, he came to understand the hardships his parents had faced.

Now, his beloved shared the same admiration for his mother as he did,

which filled him with joy.

“Duoluoxi, how do you plan to become someone like my mother?” Zhou Weihao asked again.

Pressed by his questioning, Duoluoxi found herself at a loss and blurted out, “By marrying a wealthy man like Mr. Zhou, wouldn’t I become Mrs. Zhou?”

Zhou Weihao was stunned.

He never expected to hear such an answer from Duoluoxi.

Duoluoxi probably realized her words didn’t sound very good, so she quickly changed the subject. “Ahao, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Go have something…”

Zhou Weihao couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Duoluoxi, I already told you, I ate at home with my parents.”

Duoluoxi insisted, “Have a little more! I worked hard to cook this.”

Zhou Weihao sighed. “Alright.”

However—

Seeing the black truffle steak, cream of mushroom soup, and sliced baguette laid out on the table, Zhou Weihao had no appetite.

He took a few bites of the steak, drank a few spoonfuls of soup, and then got up and went to the study.

Then—

He heard Duoluoxi humming as she cleared the table, happily heading to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Zhou Weihao sat in the study, lost in thought.

Truthfully, he wanted to say

that he didn’t want Duoluoxi to devote so much energy to household chores like cooking, bathing, and cleaning.

He wished she could engage more in meaningful conversations with him, connecting on a deeper level.

But she wasn’t Chinese, and her understanding of Chinese customs and traditions was superficial;

She hadn’t attended university and knew nothing about music or the arts;

She showed no interest in current affairs or business…

Zhou Weihao racked his brains for a long time but couldn’t find a topic that would resonate with Duoluoxi.

He let out a long sigh.

The next day, Zhou Weihao got up under Duoluoxi’s attentive care, enjoyed a lavish Western-style breakfast, and drove to work at the Bilanting Hotel.

As soon as Zhou Weihao left—

Duoluoxi headed out the door right after him.

She also arrived near the Bilanting Hotel, took out some small change to give to the doorman, asking him to pass a message to Marry, and then went to an upscale restaurant where she often met Marry for tea.

It was still early at this hour, and the restaurant had just opened. There weren’t many customers—aside from Duoluoxi, there were only two other tables.

Duoluoxi found a spacious seat and had just sat down when she noticed two young women at a nearby table ordering food.

The young, pretty, and fair-skinned girl ordered an Icy Fire Pineapple Bun with Butter and milk tea,

while the other short-haired woman ordered cart noodles with fish balls, along with a latte.

Due to the open space, Duoluoxi could even hear their conversation clearly:

“Sister Lily, order a bit more! The cart noodles are a small portion—will you be full?”

“Enough, enough, I’ll be full!”

“How about this, Sister Lily, I’ll order two more egg tarts, one for each of us…”

“No need, Ah Zhi, really, no need!”

“Yes, yes! Sister Lily, I said I’m treating, so don’t worry about saving money for me!”

Duoluoxi twitched the corner of her mouth.

She thought to herself, what pineapple buns, cart noodles, egg tarts…

Neither Western nor local, none of them taste good!

They’re truly not as good as the fried squid balls, fried green bananas, and onion vinegar rice from her hometown.

However, the rich, milky aroma of the pineapple buns wafting through the air made Duoluoxi swallow her saliva involuntarily. She also beckoned the waitress and ordered an Icy Fire Pineapple Bun with Butter and milk tea.

Soon, the waitress brought her order.

The name “Icy Fire Pineapple Bun with Butter” sounded… quite unique.

In reality, it was just bread with butter.

The “pineapple bun” was a type of bread—a round, fluffy, and soft baked bun with a crispy crust on the surface. The crust’s flaky texture resembled the bumpy skin of a pineapple, hence the name “pineapple bun.”

The warm pineapple bun was sliced horizontally but not all the way through;

then, a slice of frozen butter was cut and placed inside the bun.

The hot bun and the cold butter were the origin of the “icy fire” in its name.

Duoluoxi took a bite of the Icy Fire Pineapple Bun with Butter and felt the crispy, milky crust, the warm, soft, and slightly moist bread;

the butter was half-melted, and the melted butter seeped into the bread’s core, blending with the milky fragrance—the complex aroma was simply intoxicating!

The still-unmelted butter, cool and refreshing, added a layered texture to the warm, soft bread…

It was absolutely amazing!

Unconsciously, Duoluoxi finished the entire Icy Fire Pineapple Bun with Butter, and her anxious, gloomy mood was temporarily eased.

However—

After finishing, with nothing else to do, Duoluoxi recalled what Zhou Weihao had said to her last night and grew increasingly anxious.

Until Marry hurriedly arrived.

Duoluoxi couldn’t even wait for Marry to sit down before grabbing her hand and saying anxiously, “Sister Marry, he said he wants to marry me and that he wants me to have his child… What should I do?”

Hearing this, a flicker of jealousy flashed in Marry’s eyes, seemingly hiding a hint of disdain.

But Marry quickly composed herself and comforted Duoluoxi, “Don’t worry, sit down first and tell me everything properly.”

Duoluoxi calmed her emotions and recounted what had happened the previous night.

Then, with reddened eyes, she told Marry, “…He really loves me! He said he would stand against the whole world for me! Sister Marry, I…”

As Marry listened to Duoluoxi’s tearful complaints, a fire of jealousy slowly ignited in her heart, growing fiercer by the moment.

She sized up Duoluoxi:

—Duoluoxi was four years older than Zhou Weihao. Now that Zhou Weihao was a twenty-four-year-old talented young man, Duoluoxi was already twenty-eight, on the verge of becoming a middle-aged woman.

Moreover, Duoluoxi was short, plump, dark-skinned, and not particularly attractive.

To put it bluntly,

Duoluoxi looked every bit like a servant.

It was truly baffling whether Zhou Weihao had lost his mind—a handsome young man from a wealthy family, how could he fall for a woman like this?

However, even as Marry thought this, she dared not offend Duoluoxi.

After all, Duoluoxi was the cash cow for Marry’s entire family!

But then again, Zhou Weihao wanting to marry Duoluoxi…

This was not a good thing.

After all, Duoluoxi was Marry’s sister-in-law!

Marry began to admonish Duoluoxi, “…You can’t do this. Da’an and Emilio are still waiting for you back home!”

—Da’an was Marry’s brother and Duoluoxi’s original husband.

—Emilio was the son Duoluoxi had given birth to for her husband, Da’an.

Duoluoxi lowered her eyes and bit her lip.

After a long pause, she mustered the courage to say to Marry, “Actually… I have an idea.”

Marry’s eyebrows immediately twitched.

She had a feeling that what Duoluoxi was about to say might be her worst fear.

Duoluoxi spoke slowly, “Sister Marry, it’s been a long, long time since I left home… You know better than anyone the differences between Hong Kong City and our hometown. It’s only human nature to want to choose a better path. Sister Marry, I think if you were in my shoes and faced with such an opportunity… you’d make the same choice, wouldn’t you?”

Marry’s heart skipped a beat.

“But no matter what, Da’an and Emilio are my family,” Duoluoxi emphasized again, “Sister Marry, you’re a woman too, and you’re also my sister. I hope you can understand my predicament.”

“Of course, you must also believe me—no matter what happens, in my heart, Da’an and Emilio will always be my closest family.”

Duoluoxi had spoken so clearly,

that if Marry pretended not to understand, it would be downright rude.

Marry took a deep breath.

She quickly adjusted her stance, “Duoluoxi, we grew up together and left our hometown together to come here. What we’ve been striving for, and for whom we’ve been working so hard to earn money—you know better than anyone.”

“What’s more, you and Da’an were childhood sweethearts. Back then, you married him with joy and happily gave birth to Emilio… All of that was your own choice. No one forced you.”

“But after giving birth to Emilio, you left, and you’ve never gone back all these years.”

“Now that you’ve found a better future, as your family, I…”

As she spoke, Marry revealed a bitter smile.

She sighed softly and finished her sentence, “…Of course, I’d be happy for you.”

Duoluoxi pursed her lips, secretly gasping in shock.

She knew—

With the groundwork laid out between them, it was time to discuss the price.

“Sister Marry, thank you for understanding my position,” Duoluoxi said anxiously, “but this is just my own perspective. I… what do you think Da’an will say?”

Yes, the main event was about to begin.

It all depended on what price Marry would name.

At this moment, Marry carefully examined Duoluoxi once more.

How should she put it?

Duoluoxi looked very plain.

—She wasn’t beautiful, not slender, wore no delicate makeup, and didn’t dress in expensive clothes. She didn’t look at all like a woman pampered and cherished by a wealthy young man.

In fact, with her distinct Southeast Asian features, dark skin, slightly plump figure, and unkempt appearance… she really didn’t seem much different from an ordinary Filipina domestic helper.

Marry thought to herself: Zhou Weihao must have given Duoluoxi plenty of money over the years, but since Duoluoxi was so frugal, she must have saved quite a bit!

So, Marry said, “Duoluoxi, let’s lay our cards on the table!”

“Yes, I won’t deny that over the years, you’ve been sending money back home, allowing Da’an and Emilio, including the elderly in the family, to live a good life.”

“But Duoluoxi, you should know that as a wife, you have the responsibility to care for the elderly and look after the children…

“Ever since you married Da’an, and the year after you gave birth to Emilio… when the child was just three months old, you left home. All these years, you haven’t taken care of the child, the elderly, or your husband!”

“In other words, you’ve neglected that family for over a decade! And for the rest of their lives, they won’t receive your care either.”

“Now you want to leave… Duoluoxi, you should understand what I mean, right?” Marry asked.

Duoluoxi took a deep breath. “I understand what you mean. I, I… I’ve saved up 120,000. I’m willing…”

Marry laughed in disbelief. “120,000?”

—Zhou Weihao’s family might not be an old money family in Hong Kong City, but they were certainly nouveau riche.

They owned a mansion on Half-Bay Hill!

A property like that would cost at least 30 million.

Not to mention how wealthy Zhou Weihao’s parents were, even Zhou Weihao himself… his job at Bilanting was just to experience the hardships of life. At such a young age, he already owned a trading company, conservatively earning nearly a million in dividends every year. On top of that, he held shares in his family’s business and had a trust fund…

Even if Zhou Weihao didn’t involve his parents, he could easily come up with three million in assets!

And yet, Duoluoxi was only willing to offer 120,000?

Yes, 120,000 Hong Kong Dollars would be a fortune in their impoverished hometown.

But considering Zhou Weihao’s wealth,

Duoluoxi was practically treating him like a beggar!

Marry smiled coldly and said nothing.

Of course, Duoluoxi understood Marry’s expression.

She grew even more uneasy. “Sister Marry, you… do you think this money isn’t enough? But this is all the money I have!”

Marry was growing impatient. “Do you really think Da’an would accept such a small amount? Enough, just tell me the truth. How much can you actually offer?”

Duoluoxi bit her lower lip, hesitating for a long time before saying, “Then… I can only come up with ten thousand more at most.”

Marry let out a sharp laugh, too lazy to argue further with Duoluoxi. “Alright, how about this? I’ll have a fellow villager pass a message to Da’an, asking him to come to Hong Kong City. You two can talk things out face-to-face, okay?”

Duoluoxi panicked at once. “No! Absolutely not, no, no!”

—Zhou Weihao thought Duoluoxi was single. He had no idea about Da’an’s existence. If he found out she was already married and had a child…

She’d be finished!

But as Marry turned to leave, Duoluoxi anxiously grabbed her arm. “Don’t go! Let’s talk this through properly. If you think 120,000 isn’t enough, then tell me… tell me, how much do you want?”

Marry smiled. “One million!”

Duoluoxi gasped. “Are you insane?”

Marry chuckled. “Duoluoxi, you don’t have to divorce Da’an either. After all, Da’an still loves you deeply, and Emilio misses his mother every day…”

Duoluoxi went limp, collapsing back into her chair.

Marry said to her, “Alright, Duoluoxi, I have to get back to work! When you’ve made up your mind, come talk to me about this again! Oh, and don’t forget to transfer this month’s ten thousand for household expenses as soon as possible! I’m off now, bye!”

With that, Marry strode away.

Duoluoxi stood there with her mouth agape, utterly lost and helpless.

After Marry left,

Bai Yuanzhi and Lily finally emerged from a corner of the restaurant. Not daring to disturb Duoluoxi, they quietly slipped away.

Yes, Bai Yuanzhi had originally arranged to have breakfast here with Lily,

but they never expected to run into Marry and Duoluoxi!

Bai Yuanzhi and Lily didn’t know Duoluoxi at first,

but when Marry arrived, she kept calling Duoluoxi’s name during their conversation…

Bai Yuanzhi and Lily couldn’t have been more clear about the situation!

However, it was working hours. If Marry had caught Bai Yuanzhi and Lily sneaking out and witnessing this, given Marry’s petty nature, she would definitely make things difficult for them.

So Bai Yuanzhi and Lily had no choice but to hide until Marry left before making their escape.

Sister Lily sighed deeply. “I never imagined the taste of the wealthy could be like this…”

Bai Yuanzhi nearly burst out laughing but quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

Sister Lily murmured, “Isn’t that right? Mr. Zhou is so handsome, yet his girlfriend turns out to be that type!”

Bai Yuanzhi replied, “But from another perspective, it shows Mr. Zhou isn’t shallow at all! Maybe he just appreciates his girlfriend’s depth and soul?”

Sister Lily still couldn’t accept it. “Anyway, I can’t understand the aesthetics of the wealthy! Hah, looking at it this way, I guess I’m just not destined to be rich! I could never match Mr. Zhou’s taste…”

Bai Yuanzhi burst into laughter.

Sister Lily asked curiously again, “By the way, what on earth are they two muttering about? I only heard something like Da’an, Da’an, and something about Emilio… and also something about a million… It’s all because my English is so poor! Ah, even though I know eavesdropping is very impolite, I can’t even enjoy the gossip that’s right in front of me… Ah Zhi, did you hear clearly?”

Bai Yuanzhi’s eyes flickered slightly, “I don’t understand English either.”

Actually, she did,

and she had heard almost every word of the conversation between Duoluoxi and Marry clearly!

So—

Bai Yuanzhi didn’t even dare to imagine what would happen when Zhou Weihao discovered he was wearing a green hat…

No!

Zhou Weihao wasn’t even worthy of wearing a green hat,

because he was actually the third wheel…

So, what would happen if he found out he was the third wheel?

Bai Yuanzhi felt a little like enjoying the drama.