Chapter Four: Apologize to Him?

“Divorce, it’s rare to hear that come from your mouth!”
“Isn’t she your everything?”
“And now, you’re ready to give up on both lives?”

Ji Leqing’s expression was full of disdain, his words like poisoned darts, stabbing straight into my heart.

“Are you here just to mock me?”
“If so, are you done now?”

“Heh, I’m not childish enough to come here just for that. Someone asked me to come today.”

“Who?”

Curious, I wondered who would ask Ji Leqing to see a dying man like me.

“Have you forgotten what I studied?”

At that moment, Ji Leqing looked at me coldly.

His words struck me like a thunderclap, and I immediately understood who had sent him.

Ji Leqing was a top student in clinical medicine at the medical school, specializing in oncology.

After leaving me, he had gone on to further his studies at Capital University.

The only person who knew about my condition and could persuade Ji Leqing to come was none other than Lin Xingfan.

“Where’s Lin Xingfan?”
“Tell him to show his face!”

I was angry. Lin Xingfan was my childhood friend; he knew about what happened between Ji Leqing and me.

Yet he still invited Ji Leqing here. It was enough to disturb my peace even in death.

“Why do you want him to come out?”

“Right now, you can’t even beat him, and you might not even stand a chance against me!”

Ji Leqing rolled up his sleeves, looking eager and almost excited.

Seeing her so eager, I quickly stopped her, “Don’t joke around. Why did Lin Xingfan ask you to come?”

“To help treat your illness!” Ji Leqing answered succinctly.

“Treat my illness?”

“Stomach cancer, can it be cured?”

“Barely, but why not try? What if a miracle happens?”

“Another miracle? Miracles are called miracles because…”

Before I could finish, Ji Leqing interrupted, “Because the chances are incredibly slim!”

“But back then, you were just a penniless kid chasing after a rich and beautiful girl like Xu Zhixia. Didn’t you consider that the odds were also incredibly slim?”

“Now you’re married to Xu Zhixia. Regardless of the outcome, you’ve already created a miracle!”

“And since Lin Xingfan asked me here, do you really think he’d use conventional methods to treat you?”

“There must be some new approach that improves your chances of survival!”

“Stop being so stubborn!” Ji Leqing said firmly.

I mulled over her words several times, and then a resolute gleam appeared in my eyes.

I was no child. I wouldn’t suddenly decide to fight for treatment just because Ji Leqing mentioned a slight chance of survival.

My life had been hard enough; leaving this world on my own terms was far better than being tortured to the bitter end.

“I appreciate the kindness, but I don’t want treatment.”

“Don’t try to persuade me anymore. You know that once I decide something, no one can change my mind!”

“You...”

Ji Leqing was frustrated but, knowing me well from university days when I was nicknamed the stubborn ox, she realized arguing further was pointless.

“This is the medicine Lin Xingfan gave you.”

“Don’t resist. It’ll make you feel better after you take it.”

“Thank you.”

I thanked her and reached out for the medicine, but at that moment, a sharp ringtone cut through the air.

I glanced at the caller ID—it was Xu Zhixia.

I quickly answered, but the voice on the other end was Xiao Zhu.

“Brother Jiang, hurry! The lady drank too much and vomited blood, a huge pool of it. She even fainted!”

I looked up at the blazing sun hanging high in the sky, my face darkening.

Drinking at a bar in broad daylight? What business was it of mine?

“You shouldn’t be calling me. You should call 911!”

I hung up immediately.

But no sooner had I done so than the phone rang again.

This time, when I answered, it was Xu Zhixia.

“I’m giving you one last chance. Come to the bar within half an hour!”

Sure enough, another trick to deceive me, this time with Xiao Zhu cooperating.

“Is this fun for you?”

“Of course. If you don’t come within half an hour, I’ll never forgive you for the rest of my life!”

Xu Zhixia hung up abruptly.

Her harsh and unreasonable tone left me strangely calm.

I was dying—did I really need anyone’s forgiveness?

But as I lifted my gaze, I saw the sign for Jianxia.

It seemed Jianxia still needed to reconcile with Xu Zhixia, and I had better bring up the matter of divorce.

Time was running out; I didn’t want to waste my remaining days on Xu Zhixia anymore.

I took the medicine from Ji Leqing’s hand, thanked her, and prepared to leave.

“Where are you going? To find your ‘life’?”

Ji Leqing crossed her arms, smiling warmly at me.

“Yes.” I answered honestly.

“But only to get a divorce!”

With that, I caught a taxi, heading to the bar amid Ji Leqing’s incredulous gaze.

Because of the morning’s events, the bar was nearly empty, and Xiao Zhu waited outside with an apologetic expression.

“Brother Jiang, I—I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay. I’m used to it.”

I didn’t want to waste words on Xiao Zhu. I just wanted to see Xu Zhixia and get the divorce over with.

Inside the private room, Xu Zhixia was leisurely drinking, surrounded by the same five male models from yesterday.

When she saw me, she glanced over with a smug look, as if my arrival meant she had me completely under her control.

“What did you call me here for?”

I didn’t want to get involved in her affairs anymore and asked casually.

“Oh, so you’re sulking these days?”

“You hit him yesterday. Now I want you to apologize to him!”

Xu Zhixia said, her tone commanding.

“Me? Apologize to him?”

I looked at her, bewildered.

“Yes.” Xu Zhixia nodded expressionlessly.

“How am I supposed to apologize?”

“Should I thank him for drinking and playing cards with my wife? Thank him for playing that cuckold game with her, for keeping her company in her loneliness? Yesterday, I should have happily joined in instead of hitting him.”

“Yesterday, even if he weren’t a mere male model but Pei Zhixing himself, I would have hit him anyway!”

I was utterly speechless. Xu Zhixia had Xiao Zhu set this up, and now she expected me to apologize to some male model? I wasn’t about to tolerate this. I shot straight at Xu Zhixia’s heart with my words.

“You, you even dare to mention Zhixing? Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

Hearing Zhixing’s name, Xu Zhixia suddenly stood up, glaring at me furiously and demanding again that I apologize.

“Brother Jiang, honestly, whether you apologize to me or not doesn’t matter.”

“But since Miss Xu has told you to apologize, you’d better do it properly.”

“You gave Miss Xu to us. If you don’t apologize to me, how else can I make things difficult for you?”

The male model stepped forward, a mocking smirk on his face.

“Brother Jiang, you wouldn’t dare disobey Miss Xu’s orders, would you?”

“If you do, it seems Miss Xu’s upbringing leaves much to be desired.”

I stared at that male model, a flicker of fierce determination in my eyes.

“Apologize, huh?”

“Yeah, I’m all ears.”

“I’ll apologize to your ass!”