"Didn't you already have plans with your colleagues?" Chu Yi said without any hesitation. Asking her to have dinner with those prosecutors was practically asking her to perform a dramatic suffocation act!
“…Alright.” Qiao Anchen didn’t try to stop him any further, and Chu Yi waved to him.
"Then you should go now, I'm going home too, bye-bye."
"Be careful on the road," Qiao Anchen said, watching Chu Yi quickly skip and hop to the side of the road and flag down a car. Her back view was like that of a little girl who hadn't grown up.
He shook his head and went to meet up with his colleagues.
Chu Yi is the kind of person who would instinctively hide behind her parents whenever she saw a police officer since she was little. She has a natural awe for public officials who are involved in national laws.
So when I first met Qiao Anchen, my heart was racing beyond what I usually felt.
Chu Yi thought that this might be destiny, which made her mistake this fear and tension for love, and that's why she eventually married Qiao Anchen.
She would never admit that she had such poor judgment and misjudged people back then!
Author's Note: I feel like every chapter is so sweet. Am I getting old...?
Stop pressuring for a divorce; it's not quite time yet. Sending out 80 red envelopes to wish everyone a prosperous New Year! ^_^
22. Chapter 22
As soon as the teacher announced the end of get out of class, Chu Yi took off his white chef's hat and packed his things to go home. The man from yesterday approached him again.
Are you going home?
"Hmm." Chu Yi didn't really want to talk to him and replied coldly.
She had been doing well in the training class, but a few days ago a new student appeared out of nowhere. He kept trying to talk to her, even though Chu Yi had already reminded her that she was married. The man was still persistent.
Chu Yi didn't quite understand what he was thinking either.
As she walked downstairs with her bag, the man followed her into the elevator. He had been doing this for the past two days, seizing every opportunity to get close to Chu Yi, and talking so much that it was the kind of bland talk that made her not want to respond at all.
For example, today.
"Are you going to cook for yourself when you get back?"
First Year: "Hmm..."
"Haha, that's great! Cooking for yourself is healthy and hygienic. These days, very few young people cook for themselves!"
"Hmm..." followed by a nod.
“I cook for myself at home every day. Actually, I’m very interested in cooking. That’s why I even signed up for a dessert class.”
Chu Yi felt it was a bit impolite to ignore them, but she really didn't know what to say, so she could only give an awkward smile.
The man continued to chatter on, which gave Chu Yi a very familiar feeling, as if she saw another version of Gaoshan Liushui standing in front of her.
The elevator reached the first floor. The torture was over, and Chu Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief. She quickly walked towards the door.
She specially asked Qiao Anchen to pick her up today. It happened to be Saturday, and he rarely had a day off. She figured she might as well use free labor since there was no harm in it. Besides, she had been really annoyed by him lately, so she had to bring Qiao Anchen along.
As soon as Chu Yi stepped out the door, the man beside her followed her like an inseparable piece of chewing gum, relentlessly pressing her for answers.
"Where do you live? Let me see if it's on my way, I can give you a ride." He pressed the key in his hand, and a slightly worn gray Santana parked not far away turned on its lights.
Chu Yi patiently refused again.
"No need, my husband is picking me up today."
She looked around but didn't see Qiao Anchen. Chu Yi then looked down and took out her phone from her bag to call him.
"Your husband? Really?" The man looked incredulous.
He didn't believe at all that Chu Yi was really married. He had seen plenty of girls who deliberately claimed to be married and have boyfriends. Besides, Chu Yi looked like a young girl in her early twenties. How could she be married so young?
This is such a misunderstanding of Chu Yi. Although she always dresses in simple, girly outfits for class, and her hair is tied in a small bun for easy handling, her face is fair and rosy with plenty of collagen.
But she really is, and will soon be turning twenty-seven.
She is a married woman approaching thirty.
"I told you from the very beginning that I'm already married," Chu Yi emphasized again, speaking to him very seriously. The man's expression changed several times, as if he had been greatly shocked, and he stood there without moving.
Chu Yi ignored him and walked straight ahead, glancing around as she dialed Qiao Anchen's number.
"Stop right there!" A furious shout suddenly came from behind. Chu Yi was confused and was about to turn around when a force pulled him around.
The man held her arm tightly, refusing to let go.
"Why are you flirting with me when you have a husband?! How can you women be so shameless?! Isn't this deceiving my feelings?!"
"..." Chu Yi felt like the whole world had become a fantasy.
She had a gentle temper and still tried to reason with him in a kind and gentle manner.
"What behavior of mine led you to have this absurd misconception that I was 'flirting with you'? Furthermore, when you kept trying to awkwardly chat with me, I clearly and explicitly told you that I was married."
"Then why did you smile at me the first time we met! If you don't like someone, why would you smile at them like that? Is this how you women use deceiving other people's feelings to show your charm?!" the man said angrily.
Chu Yi's patience snapped. She simply couldn't understand what this person was thinking. Chu Yi was furious, her anger unusually stirred, and she decided to break off all pretense of civility.
"Smiling politely when meeting someone for the first time is a matter of social etiquette. Besides, I have absolutely no memory of our first meeting. Sir, are you aware of a condition called delusional disorder? If not, I suggest you take some time to consult a doctor."
Chu Yi finished speaking in one breath without stopping, feeling very relieved, and twisted her hands, trying to break free from his restraints.
"Now, please let me go, or I'll call the police!"
The man was so angry he couldn't speak. His wide eyes seemed bloodshot, and he was breathing heavily. He even uncontrollably raised his other hand as if to hit her.
Chu Yi was truly terrified this time. He wasn't afraid of encountering thugs, but he was afraid of meeting an unreasonable lunatic. If he were to be beaten up on the street for no reason, he would have no choice but to suffer in silence.
Her mind raced, but it was all a jumbled mess; she was so frightened that she was completely blank.
Chu Yi thought blankly that she should change her yoga class to Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) next time...
"What are you doing?" A furious question suddenly rang in her ears. Chu Yi looked up and saw Qiao Anchen with a cold face.
He appeared out of nowhere, standing there with a menacing aura. He grabbed the man's hand that was holding Chu Yi, twisted it backward, and forcefully turned it in the opposite direction. The man was immediately forced back several steps by the force, lost his balance, and clutched his wrist in pain, unable to straighten up.
"Ah! Who are you?!" he shouted, his face flushed. Qiao Anchen replied coldly, his eyes dark and expressionless.
“I am her husband.”
After he finished speaking, he looked at Chu Yi, his gaze fixed on her wrist. Her fair skin turned red, and Qiao Anchen's face darkened even more.
Article 237 of the Criminal Law stipulates that anyone who forcibly molests another person or insults a woman by violence, coercion or other means shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention.
Qiao Anchen stared at the man, his voice devoid of any emotion. Despite being dressed in plain clothes, he seemed to have more intimidating presence than the police officers handling the case.
“There should be surveillance cameras on this road. You, come with me to the police station.”
"Are you crazy?!" The man's expression immediately became tense, but he quickly suppressed it. His eyes flickered as he looked around, and then, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he ran away with his arms crossed.
"Sigh—" Chu Yi stomped her foot in anger, looking at his back with resentment, then turned to look at Qiao Anchen.
He ran away!
"If she ran away, so be it," Qiao Anchen said casually, his gaze falling to her wrist as he pressed his fingertips against it and rubbed it.
"How are you? Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt, I'm just so angry," Chu Yi said fumingly. "Why don't they arrest him and send him to the police station!"
“He’s not that bad, he’ll just get a lecture at most.” Qiao Anchen looked at her hands, his dark eyes scrutinizing her.
"What happened?"
"So you were just scaring him?" The legally illiterate Chu Yi asked in surprise, and Qiao Anchen hummed in response, his gaze falling on her face.
Who is that person?
“One of my classmates is really annoying. He just signed up for the class a few days ago, but he talks to me every day. I suspect he has some mental issues.”
Chu Yi complained endlessly, recounting the whole story. Qiao Anchen listened with a frown and remained silent. After a while, he said something indifferently.
"Then you shouldn't go to class for the time being."
"Why?" Chu Yi asked, her eyes wide with grievance.
"But it's not my fault."
“I know,” Qiao Anchen said, “but for the time being, there is no better way. We can only report this situation to the person in charge of the training institution, and the final result may not be what we want.”
"I think that man has some psychological issues. I can't guarantee that he won't do anything even more extreme after today."
Qiao Anchen has seen far too many tragedies caused by negligence, and there are countless cases of men with strange and obsessive minds like the one today, some of whom have even gone so far as to commit psychopathic murders.
Such a hidden danger can only be avoided as much as possible by remaining vigilant.
"Okay..." Chu Yi knew he was right, but she still couldn't get over it in her heart, and she lowered her head sullenly.
“Let’s go upstairs and see if we can resolve this.” Qiao Anchen looked down at her for a while, then led Chu Yi into the building. Chu Yi managed to perk up a bit and followed behind him, her emotions calming down slightly.
After reporting the situation to the person in charge of the training institution, as expected, the other party looked embarrassed.
“Ms. Chu, I understand and sympathize with your situation, but we cannot use this as a reason to refuse someone's enrollment in the class, otherwise we will be subject to complaints.”
"However, we can provide you with the other person's class schedule. You can try to avoid meeting each other by scheduling your time off. What do you think?"
"...Never mind then, thank you." Chu Yi lowered her head sadly, extremely heartbroken. No one could accept such a thing, especially since she had lost one of her favorite activities because of it.
"Why am I so unlucky? Waaaaah!"
As the two walked down the street, Chu Yi uncontrollably cried out. It was originally just an emotional outburst, but perhaps because Qiao Anchen was beside her, she became exceptionally vulnerable and sentimental. After only a few words, her nose started to sting, her eyes welled up with tears, and her vision blurred.
She secretly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Crying?" Qiao Anchen noticed her little action, frowned, and asked in disbelief. Chu Yi felt embarrassed and turned her head away.
"Don't cry." Her cheek was suddenly cupped in someone's hand, and Qiao Anchen used his thumb to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eye, speaking softly.
"I'm so angry! Why?... I'm the victim here, sob sob sob..." Chu Yi said between sobs.
"I can't even remember smiling at him. How can someone be like that? He's a complete lunatic. I'm so unlucky, so incredibly unlucky—"
Chu Yi became increasingly upset as she spoke, grief welling up within her. Thinking about her life over the past few decades, her recent married life, and all sorts of things, she cried even more bitterly.
His vision was blurred by tears, making it difficult to even walk while being led by Qiao Anchen. Seeing the stares from those around him, Qiao Anchen had no choice but to stop.
"It's okay, it'll be fine in a couple of days." He pulled Chu Yi into his arms and patted her head to comfort her. In an inconspicuous corner by the roadside, the petite girl sobbed loudly in the man's arms.