My life is ending, and my aloof CEO wife is taking revenge on me.

Chapter 85 Borrowing Money from Her

This isn't the first or second time Xie Wenyao has done this; I find it hard to believe she was just asking a couple of simple questions.

I didn't want to give her any false hope, not even a sliver of expectation, and I didn't want anyone to misunderstand.

Not wanting to get entangled with her, he said, "No, you misunderstood. There are many well-known people at the exhibition, and I was afraid that others would misunderstand, and also to avoid people thinking that I wanted to curry favor with the Xie family."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Xie Wenyao's face, but she quickly changed the subject, "I saw you lingering in front of that painting for a long time, wanting to buy it?"

I do want to buy it, but there's no need for me to tell her that, and I don't want her to know about my connection with this painting.

But maybe I'm overthinking it; he might just be asking a simple question.

However, seeing that I didn't answer, she continued, "If you want it, I can buy it and give it to you."

I replied coldly, "No need! If you want it, I can buy it myself."

Perhaps my repeated rejections angered her, or perhaps my cold attitude made her very unhappy.

Xie Wenyao snorted coldly, "That's true. You're not only the nominal husband of the president of the Song Group, but you also own shares in the Song Group. What can't you buy!"

In name only?

She was mocking my marriage to Song Yafei, which was in name only.

Her sarcastic remarks made me very unhappy.

Although what she said was true, it sounded particularly awkward and sarcastic coming from her.

It seems that ever since I said at Xie Wenyi's welcome banquet that I was willing to follow Song Yafei.

When Xie Wenyao saw me again, besides pestering me, her words seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm.

If I ignore her now, she'll become even more engrossed in her conversation.

"You look so calm and collected, as if you can always be this composed."

"I'm curious, when you witnessed Song Yafei being intimate with those men, even engaging in illicit affairs, could you still remain so calm?"

Xie Wenyao's words were so blunt that I was furious, and my eyes turned red.

"Song Yafei is your friend, is it appropriate for you to talk about her like that?"

"Besides, what does what I have to do with her? What's the point of you stirring things up here again and again!"

Xie Wenyao made things particularly difficult for me when we were in school.

But now, I don't want to argue with people about these things, but more importantly, I don't want to get entangled with her.

I calmly advised Zhong, "If you fall for someone you don't like, you should realize your mistake and turn back. Otherwise, you'll end up badly hurt after hitting a wall, and it's not worth it."

Xie Wenyao looked at me with a hurt expression, her eyes red and tears welling up.

She countered, "And what about you? Aren't you the same? Yafei and Yu Chengliang's affair has been all over the news, everyone knows about it, so why won't you leave?"

Why can't they understand?

It's not me who refuses to leave, it's never been me who refuses to get a divorce.

But I've said this over and over again, and no one believes me, so I don't want to bring it up again.

I turned away without saying another word.

I could sense Xie Wenyao's gaze remaining fixed on me as I left, but I didn't stop or look back.

As I walked out of the exhibition hall, a gust of cold wind blew, and I realized that I hadn't yet resolved the issue of the paintings left by my parents.

But I don't want to turn back. If I go back, I'm afraid Xie Wenyao will overthink things and might even think that I've changed my mind.

I couldn't think of what to do, so I ended up calling Song Yafei.

The phone rang twice but I didn't answer, and my heart started pounding with anxiety.

As soon as the third call started, I backed down and hung up the phone.

Just a second before the call ended, Song Yafei's voice came through, and all I heard was the word "you".

The phone rang again just two seconds after the call ended.

Song Yafei's name kept popping up. I gripped my phone, conflicted, my eyes constantly glancing at the exhibition venue.

The painting of my parents is imprinted in my mind, warmly guiding me.

The intense emotions stirred within me; nothing has ever made me so attached, so eager to possess it.

If I cannot obtain it, I may regret it for the rest of my life.

But I need to ask Song Yafei...

While I was struggling with this decision, Song Yafei's call ended automatically, and I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It seems I no longer have to struggle with this decision, even though I'm still reluctant to let go.

But just as I was about to give up, Song Yafei called again.

Perhaps this is fate, the best arrangement. Since things have come to this point, I might as well go with the flow.

That's how I convinced myself.

I answered the phone, and Song Yafei's voice came through with some anxiety, "Zhang Tian?"

I responded, but didn't know how to begin. It seemed she was in a meeting, and someone was giving a report.

"Are you in a meeting?"

"Hmm." Song Yafei responded softly, her voice surprisingly cheerful. "Is there something you need?"

I took the opportunity to hang up the phone, saying, "You're busy, so I'll hang up now."

“No need!” Song Yafei refused, and then she heard Assistant Luo’s voice.

"The meeting is paused for a ten-minute break."

Then came the intermittent rustling of footsteps and the sound of chairs being pushed.

After a short while, it became quiet over there, without a sound.

She would pause a meeting for me, which is unprecedented for Song Yafei, a workaholic.

As for me, I am truly flattered!

Several recent events have given me this feeling.

Such things only happened when we were deeply in love; for the years after we got married, I was ignored.

This treatment left me both puzzled and delighted.

"What are you thinking about?"

Song Yafei's voice is unusually gentle and tender.

As if bewitched, I asked her for help without hesitation.

"There's a painting I'd like to buy. Could you lend me the money?"

"How much do you need? Isn't the card I gave you enough?"

That's certainly not enough.

I gave her the numbers, and then I didn't hear her voice for a while.

Just when I thought she would refuse, I heard her instruct her assistant, Luo, to prepare the money.

After Assistant Luo left, she asked me, "Where?"

"I'm in Linshi. There's an exhibition here, so I came to take a look."

"Come back immediately!" she said without hesitation. "Assistant Luo will handle the painting. Come back right away, and we'll have dinner together tonight."

I'll agree to anything, let alone dinner, as long as my wish is fulfilled.

After hanging up the phone, my mood brightened, and I happily booked my return flight. I never expected it to go so smoothly.

Before making the call, I thought she might agree, but at the very least, I would get ridicule and mockery from her.

But there was none at all.

It's rare for us to treat each other so kindly.

I glanced one last time in the direction of the exhibition, and the thought of receiving my parents' paintings filled me with genuine joy.