Yao Jing didn’t know where Lin Zhiming was going to take her, but under his strong insistence, they still went to buy a designer dress.

When Yao Jing walked out of the fitting room wearing the dress, Lin Zhiming felt as if he was about to suffocate.

The light blue low-cut long dress highlighted Yao Jing's subtle ethereal quality to perfection. Her fair skin looked delicate, and her long hair, casually draped over her shoulders, emitted a soft, smooth glow.

In the entire store, both men and women were drawn to Yao Jing's presence.

“How do I look?” Yao Jing gently tugged at the hem of her dress and spun around in front of Lin Zhiming.

“Beautiful!” Lin Zhiming nodded.

“Then it’s decided!” Yao Jing said.

“Don’t you want to try on something else?” Lin Zhiming asked.

“As long as you think it looks good, it’s fine!” Yao Jing replied.

Lin Zhiming smiled, then paid for the dress and took Yao Jing back home, arriving around 5:30 PM.

“We’ll leave at six, so you can do a light makeup, and I’ll go take a shower and change my clothes,” Lin Zhiming said.

“Is it a formal occasion?” Yao Jing asked.

“Pretty much!” Lin Zhiming nodded, then turned to walk into the bathroom.

At 5:45 PM, Lin Zhiming came into the living room wearing a pair of shorts. Yao Jing’s room door was still closed, so she was likely getting ready.

Lin Zhiming casually turned on the television, then sat on the sofa, picked up a cigarette, and hesitated for a moment before putting it back down.

The news was on TV.

“Just concluded at Christie’s summer auction, the most sought-after necklace, ‘Tears of the Goddess,’ was purchased by a mysterious buyer for $4.5 million, making it the highest price achieved at this auction…”

Lin Zhiming glanced at the news, then picked up his phone and made a call.

“Where’s the necklace?” Lin Zhiming asked.

“It just got loaded onto the truck and is being sent to the airport. It will be on your private plane to Haixia City in half an hour, expected to arrive around 7:30 PM,” the voice on the other end replied.

“7:30… that’s just about the right time!” Lin Zhiming nodded and hung up.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

Lin Zhiming walked to the door and opened it.

Standing outside was a burly man in a suit, holding a square box.

“Boss, your custom suit for the sports car has arrived,” the man said.

“Hmm!” Lin Zhiming nodded, accepted the box, closed the door, and returned to his room.

When Lin Zhiming emerged again, he was wearing a black suit.

This suit wasn’t too formal, but it wasn’t too casual either.

Lin Zhiming had a sturdy build, and this well-fitted suit showcased his physique perfectly.

He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar.

He rarely wore suits since he didn’t attend company meetings or social events. The last time he wore a suit was four years ago on his wedding day.

Just then, the door to Yao Jing’s room opened.

“How do I look?” Yao Jing asked from the doorway.

Lin Zhiming turned to look at Yao Jing.

At that moment, it felt as if time had stopped.

Yao Jing had put on light makeup. Her makeup was different from that of ordinary women. While most women might apply foundation, shape their eyebrows, and draw eyeliner, Yao Jing’s light makeup consisted only of a swipe of lipstick.

Her eyes, eyebrows, and skin tone were all perfect, making any additional enhancement seem unnecessary.

The slightly deeper red lipstick added a touch of elegance to Yao Jing’s cold demeanor.

Around her fair neck, she wore a gold necklace that Lin Zhiming had bought for her on their wedding day. The necklace wasn’t expensive; it was from Chow Tai Fook, costing only a few thousand yuan. Yet, even so, this gold necklace added an air of nobility when worn by Yao Jing.

Ordinary people use accessories to elevate themselves, but someone like Yao Jing was enough to elevate any accessory.

“What’s wrong?” Yao Jing asked, noticing Lin Zhiming’s silence and looking at him with confusion.

This gaze also stunned Yao Jing.

She had only seen Lin Zhiming in a suit once, on their wedding day. However, everything had been chaotic then, including her own emotions, so she hadn’t really taken a good look at Lin Zhiming in a suit.

Now, for the first time in such a quiet setting, she saw Lin Zhiming in a suit and discovered that her husband looked exceptionally handsome.

After staring at each other for about a second, Yao Jing broke the silence first.

“When did you buy this suit? It fits perfectly,” Yao Jing said.

“Really? As long as it fits,” Lin Zhiming nodded and then said, “You should take off that necklace.”

“What’s wrong?” Yao Jing asked.

“It doesn’t suit you,” Lin Zhiming said.

Yao Jing was a bit puzzled but still returned to her room to take off the necklace.

At six o’clock, Lin Zhiming and Yao Jing left their apartment together and went downstairs.

“Are we taking my car or yours?” Yao Jing asked.

“We’re not taking a car today,” Lin Zhiming said with a smile.

“Then I’ll call a ride,” Yao Jing said, taking out her phone.

Just then, a Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up in front of Lin Zhiming and Yao Jing, and the driver got out, opened the car door, and slightly bowed, saying, “Boss, madam, please get in.”

“What is this?” Yao Jing looked at Lin Zhiming in surprise.

“Get in, my lady,” Lin Zhiming gestured.

Yao Jing was puzzled but still climbed into the car, followed by Lin Zhiming.

The driver closed the door and started the car.

“Where are we going tonight? Do we really need to rent a Rolls-Royce?” Yao Jing whispered.

“Rent? This car belongs to one of my subordinates. I borrowed it to make an impression,” Lin Zhiming explained. The car belonged to Wang Hai, and he had requisitioned it for the day.

Yao Jing looked at Lin Zhiming, and after a few seconds of silence, she sighed, “Are you… taking me to my high school reunion?”

“You’re very clever,” Lin Zhiming praised.

“Buying bags, clothes, and renting such a nice car, I really can’t think of anywhere else you’d take me… Did that girl Song Siqing tell you?” Yao Jing asked.

“Yep!” Lin Zhiming nodded.

“There’s no need for all this. I don’t like pretending to be something I’m not, and I don’t like putting on a show because I know exactly what I’m worth,” Yao Jing said.

“This isn’t a show,” Lin Zhiming shook his head, speaking earnestly. “After four years of marriage, I know how much you’ve suffered. Everyone saw you marrying me as a joke; I even thought the same way. I assumed you would be eager to leave me, so I brought up divorce that day. But later, I realized you were even more determined about our marriage than I was... I don’t know what your reasons for that determination are, and I won’t mention divorce again. What I can do is give a solid slap in the face to all those who mocked you and laughed at you. I want them to know that you, Yao Jing, did not marry the wrong person!”

Upon hearing Lin Zhiming's words, Yao Jing was momentarily stunned. A few seconds later, her eyes turned slightly red.

Marrying Lin Zhiming had been a source of despair for her. She felt angry, sad, pained, and resentful of the unfairness of fate, but it all meant nothing; she ultimately still married him.

Over the four years, she had endured endless ridicule and had grown numb to life.

The reason she had held on and refused to divorce was not because of any feelings for Lin Zhiming, but because she viewed this persistence as a form of revenge against the Yao family. She wanted those family members who sought to sell her body for greater benefits to suffer and feel pain!

All of this had nothing to do with Lin Zhiming. Every day, she cooked for him merely to fulfill her only obligation as a wife, and she never expected Lin Zhiming to appreciate her kindness.

But now, everything Lin Zhiming did felt like a fist smashing down on her heart, which had long since turned to stone.

“Are you moved? Why don’t we act like a real couple tonight?” Lin Zhiming asked with a smile.

“Smooth talker,” Yao Jing playfully chided, then turned her head away to prevent Lin Zhiming from seeing the tears welling in her eyes.

Lin Zhiming chuckled and turned his gaze out the window.

This felt like what a couple should look like.

At the same time, in another nearby neighborhood, not far from Lin Zhiming’s apartment complex, Yao Jing's parents lived here.

At that moment, in Yao Jing's parents' home, a man in his thirties was sitting in the living room.

“Li Bin, you shouldn’t have brought so many things over; it’s too polite!” Zhou Yanqiu said with a bright smile as she looked at the large pile of gifts on the table.

“Aunt Zhou, you’re too kind. Once Jing Jing divorces and marries me, I’ll be your son-in-law, so I’m just showing my respect to you in advance!” said the man named Li Bin with a smile.

“Ah, Jing Jing must have accumulated good fortune from her previous life! Jian Yong, look at Li Bin; he doesn’t care that Jing Jing has been married before and treats us so well! Then look at that Lin Zhiming; what is he? He doesn’t even show respect to us! That kind of person, Jing Jing should have divorced him long ago!” Zhou Yanqiu said.

“Right, right!” Yao Jian Yong nodded eagerly.

“Aunt Zhou, when will Jing Jing be finalizing the divorce from Lin Zhiming?” Li Bin asked.

“Well… it should be very soon, really soon!” Zhou Yanqiu hesitated before responding.

“Very soon? Is there no specific date? Last time, you promised me that she would definitely divorce within these few days!” Li Bin frowned and asked.

“That’s true, but Jing Jing is quite stubborn; we can’t push her. Plus, recently, Lin Zhiming seems to have come into some money and bought the Lin Group. Jing Jing might have developed some expectations, so the divorce has been delayed,” Zhou Yanqiu explained.

“I know about that,” Li Bin said with a teasing smile. “He’s just a puppet; I don’t believe that someone who has been weak for so many years can pull this off. Besides, even if he’s not a puppet, there are plenty of others who can come up with ten billion.”

“Exactly! Young Master Li, you’re from the Li family, which is far superior to the Lin family! Just wait for good news on our side. Tomorrow, the penalty notice for the Lin Group will be issued. By then, Lin Zhiming will definitely go bankrupt, and without hope, Jing Jing will surely divorce him!” Zhou Yanqiu said.

“In that case, I’ll be waiting for your good news!” Li Bin smiled.

“Alright!”