Chapter 113 The CEO’s Divorced Wife’s Gentle Knife (12)

Chapter 113 The Ex-Wife's Gentle Blade (12)

Zhong Jiaze had always been calm and disciplined, and in most cases, he avoided personal interactions with clients.

Perhaps it was Tang Qing's unusually gentle smile, or perhaps it was how radiant she looked tonight.

Zhong Jiaze, who was usually adept at maintaining distance, agreed to give her a ride.

The two returned to the banquet hall together, where Sheng Baihui was entertaining guests.

Tonight, as the birthday girl, Sheng Baihui was adorned from head to toe in glittering jewels, the picture of a high-society matron, beaming as she accepted well-wishes from the guests.

"Tang Qing, you're here!"

The second she saw her darling, Sheng Baihui immediately walked over. "Auntie Zhang called me today and said you looked beautiful today—and she was right."

She had noticed Tang Qing the moment she appeared.

Though Tang Qing's dress was subtle in color, the tiny diamonds offset the muted tones, adding a lively shimmer. As she moved, it shimmered elegantly without being flashy, making her stand out effortlessly in the crowd.

Noticing someone standing beside Tang Qing, Sheng Baihui asked curiously, "Lawyer Zhong is here too? Do you two know each other?"

"Yes, he handled the divorce agreement between me and Li Zhou," Tang Qing replied softly.

"That explains why you arrived together."

Hearing the word "divorce" again, Sheng Baihui's cheerful expression dimmed slightly as she muttered,

"Lawyer Zhong is very professional. It's good you went to him."

Zhong Jiaze was about the same age as her own good-for-nothing son. Despite his youth, he had already become a partner at a top-tier law firm, excelling in both legal and business acumen, making him a go-to expert in corporate financing and mergers.

Many high-profile cases in their circle were handled by Lawyer Zhong.

"Tang Qing, your little restaurant has already broken ground. It’ll be ready for opening next month," Sheng Baihui added. "Don’t worry about the renovation or the grand opening—I’ll arrange everything for you."

"It’s fine if the place is small. A bigger one might be too much for you to handle later."

As Sheng Baihui chattered away, Tang Qing listened with gentle warmth in her eyes.

"Oh, since both you and that brat are here today, let’s take a group photo," Sheng Baihui suddenly suggested, hurriedly calling Auntie Zhang to fetch Li Zhou.

"What a shame not to take a picture when you look this beautiful today."

Tang Qing immediately understood her intention and quickly interjected, "Mom… Li Zhou and I are already…"

"But you haven’t gotten the certificate yet!"

"Besides, you still call me Mom, don’t you?" Sheng Baihui glared at Tang Qing, insisting,

"Today’s my birthday, so you all have to listen to me!"

Li Zhou had just arrived when he heard his mother’s bossy decree.

President Li frowned, glancing at his mother.

Today, on her birthday, Sheng Baihui was decked out in gaudy jewels, grinning from ear to ear…

In the end, Li Zhou chose to bite his tongue.

At first, Tang Qing stood alone with Sheng Baihui, looking just like mother and daughter, their atmosphere harmonious.

The moment Li Zhou joined, the mood among the three instantly turned awkward.

Especially between Li Zhou and Tang Qing—though physically close, there was not a trace of intimacy between them.

Like two magnets with the same poles, forcibly bound together, it was awkward to watch.

"Sir and ma'am, move a little closer, yes, just a bit more."

Unaware of the true situation between the two, the photographer clearly thought they were married and kept urging them to pose more affectionately.

He kept urging, "Sir, smile, look at the camera..."

"Sir and ma'am, turn slightly to the side, a little closer..."

"Ma'am, rest your head against your husband's shoulder..."

At this, Li Zhou could no longer hold back. He took a step to the right, widening the distance between him and Tang Qing.

"You brat, what are you doing?!"

Sheng Baihui immediately turned around, glaring fiercely at her ungrateful brat. "Is one damn photo too much to ask for your old mother?"

This is ridiculous!

He and Tang Qing were about to divorce—why should they take such a photo?

Especially with the photographer spouting that "sir and ma'am" crap...

Li Zhou even suspected Sheng Baihui had deliberately hired this photographer. Clearly, she still refused to give up on his and Tang Qing's marriage.

"I have something to do. Di Shi is looking for me." Blurting out the first excuse he could think of, Li Zhou turned to leave.

Sheng Baihui snapped through clenched teeth. "If you dare take one step away now, I'll glue you to Tang Qing myself if I have to!"

"You little—! Today’s my damn birthday, and you’re ruining it for me? Fine, I’ll go tell your dad all about this!"

"And all that talk about taking good care of me—just empty promises you made to your dad on his deathbed..."

Her voice wavered, thick with resentment.

Tang Qing immediately stepped forward to support Sheng Baihui, asking gently, "Mom, are you okay?"

"Pfft, I’m *fine*. Some people just have no *heart*!"

Still hinting loud and clear, she glared at Li Zhou’s retreating figure—and sure enough, he stopped dead.

In the past ten years, Sheng Baihui had rarely mentioned her late husband. The last time she brought him up was to strong-arm her son into marrying Tang Qing.

Now, mentioning him again... Li Zhou’s footsteps finally halted.

Whatever. It was her birthday.

"Great! Ma’am, that smile’s perfect!" The photographer adjusted the tripod again. "Sir, put your hand on your wife’s shoulder..."

"Just leave it there..."

"Uh… can you two scoot closer?"

During the positioning, the photographer noticed that Li Zhou simply wouldn’t follow directions and even kept glaring at him.

The more they shot, the more the photographer felt a chill down his spine.

Especially every time he asked the gentleman to move closer to his wife—the guy’s stare turned downright scary.

Growing uneasy, the photographer suddenly found himself in a dilemma.

Sheng Baihui immediately saw what was happening and angrily turned around. Before Tang Qing and Li Zhou could react, she yanked her son’s hand.

“It’s just a shoulder hug! Why is it so difficult?”

But merely placing a hand on the shoulder wasn’t enough. Sheng Baihui also gave Tang Qing a push, shoving her halfway into Li Zhou’s embrace.

“This close! Got it?”

“Stay in this pose! Don’t move!”

Sheng Baihui was practically bossing them around, helping the two of them arrange their poses on the spot.

Frozen in place, Tang Qing could feel the warmth of Li Zhou’s hand and the tension in his entire body.

Li Zhou… he was nervous.

With her face pressed to Li Zhou’s chest, Tang Qing could even hear his heartbeat—it was indeed… too intimate.

Forced into such close proximity, the two of them pressed together seemed to create an unexpected tension.

The stiffness between them melted away as Tang Qing and Li Zhou followed the photographer’s instructions, breaking into simultaneous smiles at the camera…

All three in the frame, they looked like the picture-perfect happy family.

As an onlooker, Zhong Jiaze had been watching from the sidelines. But when he saw the three of them smiling together, Lawyer Zhong’s smile vanished.