1 001 Want a Divorce, Seeking Freedom?_1

"Send a set of women's clothing to Binjiang International, measurements 80, 60, 90, immediately! Right now!"

When Jiang Xi received the text message from Gu Bichen, she was negotiating a one percent profit margin with a troublesome client, and the content of the message caused her to momentarily lose focus.

Her heart felt like it was being incessantly nibbled by ants, an indescribable pain made her usually calm face show a hint of fragility.

The golden measurements were Gu Bichen's favorite type.

The client, looking embarrassed, said, "Miss Jiang, it's not that I want to make things difficult for you, but business is tough these days. If we give you that one percent profit, our company's employees will have to tighten their belts and struggle through the second half of the year."

"Director Zhang, I understand your predicament. I remember you like '82 Lafite, right? I happen to have a bottle in my collection at home. I'll go get it for you, just wait for me for a moment," she said.

After saying this, without giving Director Zhang a chance to refuse, Jiang Xi grabbed her handbag, quickly stood up, and strode out of the café. She went upstairs to the women's clothing department to buy an appropriately sized outfit and drove to Binjiang International.

It was quite ironic really, Jiang Xi had been married to Gu Bichen for four years, had been sending clothes to his female companions for two and a half years, and had watched him change women as easily as changing clothes, without leaving a trace.

As she rang the doorbell, the door was opened by a glamorous female artist, slightly familiar; she seemed to be the lead actress in a popular drama airing these past days.

She wore a white shirt that just barely covered her thighs, showing off a pair of fair and straight long legs, even more vivid and alluring than on TV.

Jiang Xi's gaze lingered on the white shirt the woman was wearing; it was the same one she had personally prepared for Gu Bichen that morning, but now it was on this female artist.

She subconsciously examined the artist's facial features. The women Gu Bichen took to bed often had some similarity to his first love, Bai Wanwan.

Jiang Xi looked for a long time but couldn't see how the female artist resembled Bai Wanwan until she noticed the mole in her eyebrow was in the same spot as Bai Wanwan's.

Ha!

Gu Bichen knew exactly how to disgust her!

Jiang Xi handed over the bag and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "President Gu asked me to deliver this; I have other matters to attend to, so I won't bring it inside personally."

Watching the female artist take the bag, Jiang Xi turned to leave, but a cold voice came from behind her, "Stop right there, did I say you could go?"

Jiang Xi's spine stiffened.

Gu Bichen, her contract husband, they had grown up together since childhood. From the moment she understood what love meant, she had never moved her gaze from Gu Bichen.

They say a childhood friend can't compete with a stunning newcomer, and indeed, until Bai Wanwan appeared, her tender and shy smile, her delicate and gentle speech, could instantly calm the rowdy Gu Bichen.

No surprise, they fell in love, a fiery, undying love.

Possibly, this love story should have had nothing to do with her; she just needed to exit stage left. But that year, so much happened. The Gu Family was on the verge of bankruptcy, Bai Wanwan was diagnosed with thalassemia and urgently needed Rh-negative blood to save her life.

As it happened, she was Rh-negative blood.

She became Bai Wanwan's regular source of blood, and Gu Bichen became her contract husband. The relationship between the three of them reached a peculiar balance.

She thought this balance would continue indefinitely until Bai Wanwan, unable to endure the torment of her illness, leaped from the hospital building and died on the spot in front of Gu Bichen.

How could she not say that Bai Wanwan was heartless?

She had a thousand ways to end her life, yet she chose the most malicious one, like a thorny bramble, fiercely piercing the hearts of her and Gu Bichen, never to rest in peace.

Three months after Bai Wanwan's death, Gu Bichen completely transformed. As profoundly devoted and affectionate as he had been to Bai Wanwan before, now he was just as unrestrained and licentious.

Jiang Xi turned around and saw Gu Bichen approaching in his bathrobe, his drenched black hair framing a pair of deep, bright eyes. A handsome man fresh from a bath was undeniably a pleasing sight.

However.

When she caught sight of the scratch marks on his chest, a sharp pain clenched at Jiang Xi's heart. "Does President Gu have any other orders?"

Gu Bichen watched the flash of embarrassment cross her face with great satisfaction. Wrapping his arm around the waist of the actress, he leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Go change your clothes, darling."

The actress's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, sensing the subtle tension between them. With an astute understanding, she promptly returned to the bedroom to change.

As Jiang Xi watched the actress disappear behind the bedroom door, the pain in her heart felt suffocating. "Director Zhang is still waiting for me at the café, I..."

Suddenly, a strong force seized her wrist, pulling and pushing violently before Jiang Xi could react. Her back slammed against the wall by the entrance, causing her to wince in pain.

Gu Bichen's towering figure loomed over her, and he gripped her chin with a large hand. He suddenly leaned forward, as if intending to kiss her.

Jiang Xi, smelling the scent of shower gel on him that was identical to the actress's, felt nauseated and turned her head away.

"What, you thought I was going to kiss you? Jiang Xi, you should take a look in the mirror. Do you think you're worthy?" Gu Bichen's lips curled into a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Staring at the man with a cold smile, Jiang Xi felt a desolation in her heart. He was no longer the bright and cheerful Mr Gu from her memories.

Four years of marriage under duress, witnessing her lover leap to his death from a building in front of him, had honed him into a heartless devil.

Closing her eyes, Jiang Xi felt dead inside. "Gu Bichen, let's get a divorce. I'll talk to my mother about it, I won't make it difficult for you... Ah!"

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Bichen shoved her to the ground. Pain radiated from her buttocks throughout her body, and she shivered from the intensity of the pain.

Looking down at her, Gu Bichen's lips twisted into a cold sneer. "Want a divorce, want to be free?"

Jiang Xi bit her lower lip fiercely.

"Jiang Xi, it seems you think of this place as a hotel, coming and going as you please. Let me tell you, if you want a divorce, jump off the hospital rooftop. Otherwise, I will never be done with you for the rest of my life. Get out!"

*

The midsummer rains in Jing City come abruptly.

As Jiang Xi left Binjiang International, she was soaked to the bone by a torrential downpour. She walked along the street, unable to distinguish whether the wetness on her face was from rain or tears.

The echo of Gu Bichen's words, "Want a divorce, jump off the hospital rooftop," lingered in her ears, refusing to fade away.

She knew that Gu Bichen had always held Bai Wanwan's death against her.

In those days, Bai Wanwan's thalassemia had progressed to a severe stage, altering the structure of her facial bones. So vain, she couldn't bear becoming uglier in front of the man she loved.

During the time before her suicide, she refused to see Gu Bichen, yet she was willing to see her.

At the time, Jiang Xi didn't understand why, until Bai Wanwan called her to the rooftop and said something).

"Even in death, I will be rooted in Bichen's heart. Jiang Xi, you can't win against me. A living person can never compete with a dead one."

With those words, she leaped from the rooftop right before her eyes—