Chapter 26: Insanity

Ning Chu immediately turned her gaze over, first looking at the Lin family’s steward, then glancing at Ruan Shiman’s accustomed expression. It seemed she hadn’t taken to heart what had been said to her earlier.

Just as Ruan Shiman was about to take a sip, Ning Chu called for a pause, “Wait a moment.”

Ruan Shiman looked at her, “What is it, Ning Chu?”

Ning Chu wore a puzzled expression. “What kind of medicine are you taking? It smells awful.”

Ruan Shiman smiled lightly. “Nothing much, just something to regulate my health.”

“Is that so? May I take a look? I’m a bit curious.”

“Of course.” She handed it over for Ning Chu to see.

Ning Chu took it, but her hand accidentally brushed against the medicine. “Sorry, I think my hand touched it.” She wiped her hand with a handkerchief.

Ruan Shiman didn’t mind. “It’s fine. I’ll have someone prepare a fresh bowl.”

“Apologies~”

“It’s nothing.”

This small mishap was quickly forgotten by everyone. Aside from Zhao Chunlan’s initial attempt to stir trouble, the gathering proceeded pleasantly. As for Ning Chu no longer being the lady of the Tantai family, no one seemed to care much.

Yet Ning Chu felt she gained a lot; these gatherings were useful for acquiring information. If she were to invest, some of these tidbits would prove valuable.

After returning home, Ning Chu summoned Zhang Yan and handed her a handkerchief. “Help me find Dr. Grete to analyze the components and effects of this liquid.”

Zhang Yan suddenly imagined something, “Did someone poison you?”

Ning Chu: “...No. Just ask Dr. Grete to examine it and tell me.”

“Oh, got it.”

Having taken care of this, Ning Chu went back to her room to rest; it had been a tiring day.

Unbeknownst to her, Zhao Chunlan began spreading rumors within their social circle, claiming that Ning Chu had gone mad after the divorce, that she was not only rude but even tried to attack Madam Qian.

“Don’t invite that crazy woman to any future gatherings; she might hit you,” warned Zhao Chunlan.

---

When Ruan Shiman called Ning Chu to relay this, Ning Chu could only think that she should have beaten Zhao Chunlan up back then. “Tell her to stay far away if she sees me again, or I really will give her a beating.”

Ruan Shiman was speechless.

Meanwhile, Tantai Chao was at the horse racing grounds discussing business after a run. As he and his partner strolled leisurely, they overheard some people chatting around the corner.

“Have you heard? Ning Chu, the former lady of the Tantai family, supposedly went crazy after the divorce and even tried to hit Madam Qian at Madam Lin’s gathering.”

“No way? I remember Ning Chu was once the top socialite when she joined the Tantai family. Now that she’s divorced, is she no longer a socialite? Did the Tantai family see her true colors and decide to divorce her?”

Tantai Chao was baffled.

He thought he must have misheard. Ning Chu hit someone? His partner, Yuchi Li, knew who Ning Chu was and had met her before; he recalled her as gentle and couldn’t believe she would resort to violence.

He was also surprised by the divorce, as the couple seemed quite happy before, but he had no right to interfere in their personal affairs.

The two gossips suddenly reached the corner where Tantai Chao and Yuchi Li were and immediately fell silent, startled by their presence.

Tantai Chao glanced at them coldly. They were strangers, likely spreading nonsense. “Talking behind others’ backs—perhaps you ladies need a refresher on etiquette.”

Their faces flushed, and they covered their faces as they fled.

Afterward, Tantai Chao got into his car and pondered for a moment before asking his companion Zheng Cheng, “Has something been going on in our circle lately?”

Zheng Cheng studied his expression, hesitated briefly, then spoke. “People are saying Miss Ning Chu went mad after the divorce and even hit Madam Qian. But of course, that’s just gossip. Miss Ning Chu wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Tantai Chao sensed something was off. “Went mad after the divorce?” But he was the one divorced.

Zheng Cheng said, “...That’s what everyone believes.”

Tantai Chao wondered if Ning Chu had been mistreated. For some reason, he recalled her remark that he was ‘living poorly,’ and clenched his fist involuntarily. He also remembered seeing her eating by the roadside earlier.

He took out his phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Hello?” Ning Chu was at a massage parlor when her phone rang.

“It’s me,” came Tantai Chao’s voice.

Ning Chu was somewhat surprised to hear his voice directly, not a call forwarded by Zheng Cheng.

---

“Something up?” Ning Chu waved the masseuse aside and sat up. She recalled the one hundred million she had already transferred to him; she owed him nothing.

Tantai Chao wasn’t used to her tone, which was now cold and distant, unlike before when she would say, “Husband, is something wrong?”

“Did someone hit you?” he asked, snapping back to the matter.

Ning Chu nearly choked on her saliva. “Though we’re divorced, I haven’t wronged you. No need to curse me. I think I only told you once that you were ‘living poorly.’ Surely you’re not still hung up on that?”

She couldn’t fathom what she had done to offend him so much that he’d open with such words. Was it because she had initiated the divorce, wounding his pride? Did he see himself as the one dumped?

“If not, then were you bullied?” Tantai Chao pressed. He’d heard her say three times now that he was ‘living poorly.’

Ning Chu frowned. “No, I’m fine. Is that why you called?”

Tantai Chao rubbed his forehead. “People are saying you hit Madam Qian.”

“That? Didn’t expect you to believe gossip. I didn’t hit her, but next time I see her, who knows? What, are you going to defend her?”

“No. If you’re being bullied, you can come to me.” Once married, Tantai Chao didn’t want Ning Chu to become someone everyone could trample on, especially since she had done nothing wrong.

Ning Chu immediately refused. “No need. We’re divorced. A proper ex should be like dead to the other... Oh, sorry, I don’t wish you dead—so many people depend on you. I hope you live a long life; I just feel...”

Tantai Chao realized anew that she had truly changed. “I see. Who taught you that line?”

“...The internet.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

They fell silent for a moment. Ning Chu blinked. “If there’s nothing else...”

Tantai Chao understood. “I won’t bother you then.”