"I……" Afraid that Qin Yinan might suddenly chase her out, Cheng Qingchong blurted out a single word. Then she bit on her lips and struggled for a long time before finally uttering in a soft voice, "……My mother is coming to visit Beijing next Tuesday……"

  Qin Yinan seemed to be stump by this sudden declaration. He held the cigarette in his hand for some time before saying, "What has that got to do with me?"

  What has that got to do with me? The question was like a knife shooting directly at Cheng Qingchong’s heart, causing the color to drain from her face instantly. He’s right…… We’re already divorced after all……

  Qin Yinan’s one question caused the rest of the things Cheng Qingchong wanted to say to get stuck in her throat.

  Qin Yinan stared at her for a while before the reality dawned on him. He frowned slightly before asking, "Don’t tell me, your parents still don’t know that you’re divorced?"

  Cheng Qingchong bit her lower lip even harder, and she lowered her head wordlessly.

  Seeing this, Qin Yinan knew that his guess was right. He looked at the top of her head for a while before realizing her purpose of being there. He narrowed his eyes to ask, "So, the reason you came to see me today is to want me to pretend in front of your mother that we’re still married, right?"

  Cheng Qingchong’s head lowered even more, and she softly replied,"Yeah……"

  Qin Yinan suddenly started scoffing. He chastised her with derision and condescension. "Woman, you’re still the same; you haven’t learned anything it seems. The first solution that comes to your mind is to lie and cheat."

  Cheng Qingchong’s body shivered slightly, and her fists tightened. Her fingernails pierced into the ball of her hands, but she had lost all sensation of pain.

  The way she was acting, for some reason, broke the strain of kindness and patience that Qin Yinan was born with. He pressed the cigarette against the bowl harshly and stood up from his chair. He picked up some document and walked toward the door as he hissed through gritted teeth, "I’m telling you, don’t even think about it. I will never lower myself to your level to maliciously lie to another human being. I advise you to come clean to your mother about the actual status of our relationship. I have a meeting to attend to, so make yourself scarce……"

  As Qin Yinan brushed past her, Cheng Qingchong, with an unusual surge of courage, reached out to grab his sleeve.

  Qin Yinan stopped moving and sternly warned, "Let go!"

  Cheng Qingchong’s hand shivered twice. Her grip loosened slightly before she tightened the grip on his shirt again.

  Qin Yinan turned around and was about to use the document in his hand to smack her away when he saw Cheng Qingchong’s tears fell on the back of her hand that held his shirt.

  Qin Yinan suddenly stopped moving as if petrified. He felt many needles poking his heart, causing it to quiver with pain. The pain incensed his already high temper, and he roared angrily at her, "Cheng Qingchong, stop acting all innocent in front of me. You’re making my stomach turn!"

  Cheng Qingchong, who had her head lowered, raised her eyes to look at him unconsciously, and there was such unfamiliarity in her eyes like she couldn’t recognize who she was looking at anymore.

  Her lips fell open, and her hand that held his shirt moved anxiously twice like she was about to let go, but she didn’t.