Chapter 9: Agreeing to the Divorce

Pei Xuyun patted Song Linlang’s shoulder to soothe her emotions, then turned to Sang Ke, responding to Young Master Huo’s question, “Sang Ke, there must be some misunderstanding here. Mrs. Song was once your mentor; surely you don’t want her daughter to suffer a wrongful accusation? Please clarify things.”

Sang Ke looked at Pei Xuyun, somewhat admiring his tendency to meddle in everything despite knowing nothing. Still, having just accepted Liu Wanqin’s payment, she certainly wouldn’t betray Song Linlang at such a critical moment.

A faint smile curled at Sang Ke’s lips. “There is indeed a misunderstanding. I received much guidance from Mrs. Song, and my painting style is similar to Song Linlang’s. It’s only natural that Young Master Huo might have mistaken us.”

The crowd suddenly understood.

Huo Yanting, seeing Sang Ke brazenly lie, cut straight to the point, “So impersonating Song Linlang in France was also Mrs. Song’s idea?”

Song Linlang was enraged. “Sang Ke, why did you offend Young Master Huo and then try to blame me?”

Clearly, it was Sang Ke’s impersonation of Song Linlang that angered Young Master Huo, yet Song Linlang twisted it as if Sang Ke deliberately framed her.

Though Sang Ke felt wronged, she could not explain herself. She could only look at Huo Yanting. “Young Master Huo, for private reasons, I used Song Linlang’s name while working in Mr. Cornell’s studio. Meeting you was unexpected—I never meant to deceive you. Please, be magnanimous and don’t argue with a woman like me.”

Huo Yanting laughed coldly. When they first met, he was half a client; it was understandable she didn’t reveal her real name. But after spending a month together, she had countless opportunities to confess, yet continued to deceive him. Had he not uncovered the truth today, he would still be in the dark.

He looked at her with icy eyes. “The only thing you lied about was your name?”

Sang Ke feared that if he continued digging, all her actions abroad would be exposed. She wasn’t worried about Pei Xuyun discovering she’d slept with another man—compared to Song Linlang’s pregnancy, her own matter was trivial. But the fact that the man she slept with was the heir of the Huo family must never be revealed.

She raised her hand to her forehead, feigning weakness. “Young Master Huo, I suddenly feel dizzy. I’ll go back and rest. Let’s discuss things another time?”

Huo Yanting was unmoved. “There’s a doctor here. Let him take a look first.”

Sang Ke panicked. “No, no need. It’s just a dog bite; I can go to the hospital for an injection.”

“I’ll take you.”

“Huh?” Sang Ke was stunned, unable to understand how this aloof man suddenly became so attentive. She tried to refuse, “That’s not necessary. You must be busy, there’s no need for such a trivial—ah!”

Before she could finish, Huo Yanting seized her hand and pulled her forward.

Song Linlang watched their interlaced fingers and finally understood. She hadn’t considered this possibility before, simply because she didn’t believe a man like Young Master Huo could be interested in Sang Ke.

No. She couldn’t let Sang Ke succeed!

Song Linlang hurried after them. Seeing Young Master Huo open the car door and push Sang Ke into the passenger seat, she called out, “Young Master Huo, please take Sang Ke to City First Hospital. Her son is there—it’ll be convenient for her to care for him after her injection.”

Sang Ke hadn’t even told Young Master Huo her real name; of course, she’d hidden the fact that she was married with a child as well. Song Linlang didn’t believe Young Master Huo would want a used woman.

However, Huo Yanting only paused a few seconds before slamming the car door shut and getting into the driver’s seat.

Pei Xuyun came out just in time to see the exhaust from the departing car.

Sang Ke watched Pei Xuyun, who stood beside Song Linlang, his gaze never leaving her until their silhouettes grew smaller and finally faded to two dots. He hadn’t come to chase after her—even if she was taken away by another man, he wouldn’t care. None of this surprised her, but Sang Ke still couldn’t suppress her disappointment.

Suddenly, the car braked sharply. Sang Ke was thrown forward, only saved by the seatbelt from hitting the dashboard.

She instinctively turned to look at the man driving, her angry gaze meeting his cold, obsidian eyes.

Her words of protest died in her throat.

Noticing she finally acknowledged him, Huo Yanting sneered, lighting a cigarette as they waited at the red light.

“Nothing to explain?”

“What do you want to know?”

He blew a smoke ring, his tone unreadable. “Is there really a son?”

Sang Ke nodded. “When he fainted at summer camp, I mentioned it to you. You didn’t believe me.”

“So you’re blaming me?”

A hint of guilt flashed in Sang Ke’s eyes. “Not really. It was wrong of me not to tell you beforehand. I never expected you’d propose to me. I thought you just wanted to have fun with me. I was planning to explain everything that day, but then I got a sudden call and…”

Huo Yanting had no interest in her explanations and interrupted with two words. “Divorce.”

Sang Ke froze, then quickly recovered and nodded. “Fine.”

She’d already signed the papers, just waiting for the cooling-off period to end and for Pei Xuyun to arrange her visit to the Civil Affairs Bureau. There was no need to hide it or argue with him.

Her swift agreement caught Huo Yanting off guard.

He looked at the woman beside him, calm and unruffled, growing more perplexed.

The light turned green.

Suppressing his doubts, Huo Yanting resumed driving.

Evening rush hour meant congested roads. The car moved in fits and starts, time dragging slowly, especially with neither of them speaking.

He glanced at her, checking that she hadn’t fallen asleep.

“You were so talkative just now. Why are you silent when there’s no one else?”

“I only answer when asked,” Sang Ke replied, feeling powerless. If they hadn’t constantly cornered her, she wouldn’t have needed to say so much.

“In France, when no one talked to you, your mouth never stopped.” Huo Yanting recalled the time she had pestered him and couldn’t help but look Sang Ke over from head to toe.

Without her contact lenses, her pretty almond eyes were hidden behind thick black-framed glasses. Her heavy straight bangs made her seem dull and awkward.

It was a stark contrast to the clingy, lively little sprite he remembered. If he hadn’t spent so much intimate time with her, if he didn’t know every inch of her skin and every strand of her hair, he’d suspect he’d found the wrong person.

Sang Ke noticed the confusion and disappointment in his gaze regarding her transformation.

But so what? She and he belonged to different worlds. His satisfaction or disappointment meant nothing to her, and she needn’t care.

She looked ahead, speaking calmly. “Before was an exception. What you see now is the real me.”

Huo Yanting frowned. This woman had more secrets than he’d imagined.

“Why did you become Song Linlang’s ghost painter?”

Sang Ke was candid. “For money.”

“Can’t you hold your own exhibition and make money?”

“My paintings sell for a few hundred at most. If I give them to Song Linlang, they fetch tens of thousands.” Sang Ke couldn’t help but laugh.

Because Song Linlang was Liu Wanqin’s daughter, the same painting had two prices.

That’s reality.

For the rest of the drive, Huo Yanting asked no further questions. Sang Ke felt relieved.

If she could, she would rather avoid all interaction. Painting alone in her room was her most comfortable state.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the City First Hospital parking lot.

Sang Ke got out and, seeing Huo Yanting remove the car keys, quickly said, “Young Master Huo, thank you for bringing me here. I wasn’t bitten by a dog. You don’t need to get out.”

Huo Yanting raised his brow and, without insisting, handed a black bank card through the window.

Sang Ke hesitated.

Huo Yanting grew impatient and urged, “Aren’t you short on cash? There’s no limit on this card—use it as you please.”

Sang Ke recalled his demand for divorce in the car and suddenly understood.

“You want to keep me?”