Chapter 109 The CEO’s Divorced Wife’s Gentle Knife (8)

Chapter 109 The Divorced CEO's Wife's Gentle Blade (8)

It finally dawned on him that he had eaten Tang Qing's share. The two of them stared at the remaining third of the dessert, falling into an awkward silence.

Tang Qing's stomach betrayed her at the worst possible moment, rumbling loudly—"grrrowl, grrrowl"—amid the strange hush.

"You were hungry too, so why did you give yours to me?" Li Zhou sighed and finally spoke.

"I... saw your message, and you seemed really eager to eat it."

Ducking her head, Tang Qing's voice was laced with hesitation. "I just thought... I'd save it for you..."

There it was again.

The little white rabbit's way of socializing—always timid and overly careful, never refusing others.

Staring at the flustered Tang Qing before him, Li Zhou was silent for a while.

He took out his phone and sent her 1,000 yuan. "Payment."

"Tonight's dessert—consider it my treat."

Holding her phone, Tang Qing hesitated to confirm the payment. "Li Zhou, you gave too much."

"It's not that expensive."

The CEO remained expressionless. "Get yourself some takeout with the rest."

With that, he turned to leave the dining room, but after just two steps, he doubled back.

He cleared his throat, picked up the dessert plate, and spoke a little awkwardly, "This is what I bought, so the leftovers should be mine too."

"You don’t mind, do you?"

Tang Qing quickly shook her head. "I don’t mind... take it..."

Satisfied, Li Zhou sauntered out of the dining room.

Tang Qing could tell—this picky CEO, having secured what he wanted, had even quickened his steps.

What kind of secret foodie side was this?

That aloof, cold-hearted CEO had a hidden flaw—being a tsundere (acting cold but secretly caring) foodie.

"Hahaha, Tang Qing, you wouldn’t believe it—Li Zhou just got back to his room, and the dessert is already gone!" The system suddenly popped up in Tang Qing’s mind.

"This is hilarious! I thought he’d eat with perfect elegance, but in private, he devoured it so fast! Like he was afraid someone would snatch it from him..."

Suppressed laughter filled its voice. No one could’ve expected such a charmingly contradictory side from Li Zhou. Even the system found it unbelievable. "Li Zhou’s Love Points for you have increased! It’s now at 21."

"Just from a bite of food? The Love Points shot up." Tang Qing was stunned. Some people act all cold on the surface, but behind the scenes, they’re like this?

After that night, Li Zhou seemed to deliberately avoid Tang Qing. For several days, he claimed he was working late to stay elsewhere.

"Tch, whether that brat comes back or not doesn’t matter."

Sheng Baihui was helping Tang Qing pack her luggage. The thought of Tang Qing moving out soon made Sheng Baihui’s gaze grow more and more upset.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Especially when she thought about no longer having midnight snacks, xiaolongbao, or steamed dumplings in the future, Sheng Baihui's sadness grew even more obvious.

"Li Zhou isn't even coming home. Why do you have to move out?"

Clutching Tang Qing's jacket, Sheng Baihui hesitated to pack it into the suitcase, even wanting to unpack all the neatly folded clothes.

"Mom, we already agreed I'd come visit you often during the day."

Sheng Baihui was still unhappy, pouting like a child denied candy. "Hmph, as if I don't know... Once your little restaurant opens, you won't have time to visit me during the day."

Tang Qing smiled gently. "Then you can come sit at my restaurant anytime, Mom. You're always welcome."

"Mom, you know Li Zhou and I have already submitted our divorce papers."

It was a done deal. Sheng Baihui knew no amount of complaining would change things, so she silently let go of the clothes.

"Did you find a good place? How's the neighborhood?"

Naturally, it was good—especially since she'd get to live in the same building as Lawyer Zhong Jiaze. Almost like she was planning something, Tang Qing beamed. "The neighborhood is really nice. Once I'm settled, I'll invite you over."

In her two years with the Li family, Tang Qing hardly had any clothes to call her own. The piles Sheng Baihui had given her, she'd never worn out of some hidden insecurity, leaving them all behind.

Under Sheng Baihui's wistful gaze, Tang Qing arrived at her new home.

The neighborhood was indeed lovely—lush greenery, a grand entrance with high ceilings, exuding elegance.

Even more satisfying was that Zhong Jiaze was now her neighbor across the hall.

"Tang Qing, Lawyer Zhong just entered the garage!" the smart home system suddenly reminded her. "Heh, do you think he'll be surprised to see you at his doorstep?"

"What a coincidence?" she thought. Luck was on her side today—she'd actually run into Zhong Jiaze.

"Then... let's wait for Lawyer Zhong."

With a smirk, Tang Qing closed her front door.

This was the scene Zhong Jiaze encountered when he got home: a new neighbor in white pajamas, huddled pathetically on the floor.

"You—"

The moment he spoke, he recognized her face and froze.

It was Tang Qing.

What was she doing here?

"Lawyer Zhong, it's you..." Dressed in white pajamas, her already pale complexion looked even more bloodless as she gazed at him with pleading eyes.

"What a coincidence. I just moved in today. So you're my neighbor."

With a look like a helpless little animal, Tang Qing awkwardly pointed at her fingerprint lock and mumbled,

"Lawyer Zhong... I think... I'm locked out."

"This door—I can't open it."

Realizing her situation, Zhong Jiaze frowned slightly. "You didn't register your fingerprint?"

Little White Rabbit grew even more flustered, her face slightly flushed. "I did, but it won't open."

With Zhong Jiaze watching, Tang Qing tried several times to open her fingerprint door lock, only to be met with the same "Fingerprint input error" message each time.

"I... I don’t know what’s wrong. Maybe it’s my hand?"

"Maybe I’m not pressing it right?"

With an utterly innocent look, she extended her pale, soft hand.

Faced with Tang Qing’s soft, pleading expression, Zhong Jiaze suddenly felt awkward. He averted his gaze, shifted his briefcase, and gave a light cough.

"It might just be a temporary recognition issue. Try pressing harder."

Following his advice, Tang Qing tried again, but the lock still wouldn't open.

Glumly staring at the lock, her expression turned woeful.

"Zhong Jiaze... You’ve lived here longer. Do you know any locksmiths?"

Grumbling to herself, she persistently tried a few more times.

"Fingerprint input error."

"Error."

"Error."

Just as she was about to give up, Tang Qing heard a sigh—it was Zhong Jiaze.

Before she noticed, he had stepped behind her and reached out, his hand covering hers.

His finger gently pressed down on her index finger as his low, magnetic voice sounded by her ear. "Press the middle part of your index finger firmly against it."

The lawyer’s deep voice, so close to her, was unusually comforting.

Their hands pressed together, and Tang Qing could distinctly feel the warmth coming from Zhong Jiaze’s palm.