Chapter 8: A Life Hard to Live

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Dantai Chao returned in the afternoon. Ning Chu was lying on the bed watching TV; she had been watching for days and honestly wasn’t tired of it. When Dantai Chao came back, he didn’t see Ning Chu waiting at the door to greet him. “Where is the lady of the house?” he wondered if she had gone to the Ning family’s home. But he clearly remembered saying yesterday that he would return today, and usually Ning Chu would wait for him at the door when he came back from a business trip.

The housekeeper Gu had noticed the changes in the lady of the house these past few days but since she hadn’t done anything inappropriate, he chose to stay silent.

“She should be in her room right now.”

Dantai Chao frowned in confusion. “In her room? Not at the Ning residence? If she’s at home, why hasn’t she come down?”

The housekeeper replied, “The lady has stayed at home without going out these past few days.”

Dantai Chao’s brows knitted tighter—could she be too upset?

“I understand.” He handed his things to a servant and headed upstairs. At the door, assistant Zheng Cheng entered carrying several bags. “Where is the lady? These are gifts the boss instructed me to prepare for her.”

Gu asked Ah Hua to take the gifts. “She’s upstairs.”

Zheng Cheng was puzzled. The lady hadn’t even come to greet the boss?

Inside the room, Ning Chu already knew Dantai Chao would return today. So what if he was back? Did she have to wait for him? She simply didn’t want to serve him right now, so she refused to come down.

The neighboring room’s door opened and Dantai Chao entered but didn’t see her. The bathroom was empty, and the bed was neatly made with no sign of anyone.

Downstairs, Ah Hua suddenly said, “Ah! Housekeeper Gu, I forgot to tell the master—the lady has moved to the next room to sleep.”

Gu was surprised. “What? How come I didn’t know? Quickly, go upstairs and tell the master.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ah Hua hurried upstairs and knocked on the door. “Master, the lady is in the next room.”

Dantai Chao was unbuttoning his clothes, preparing to freshen up. He heard the knock and said, “I know.”

Ah Hua sighed in relief and knocked again. “Lady, the master is back.”

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After a moment, Ning Chu’s somewhat lazy voice came from inside. “I know.”

Ah Hua thought to herself, the lady really is acting strange lately, unlike before.

Dantai Chao didn’t ponder why Ning Chu had suddenly moved rooms. He went to wash up first. Wearing only a towel around his waist, his muscular arms, broad shoulders, and narrow waist exuded raw vitality. After changing, he appeared composed and restrained.

He suddenly noticed a drawer left slightly open. Being mildly obsessive-compulsive, he reached to close it but his sharp eyes caught two characters inside that piqued his curiosity.

He opened it and saw the bold title: “Divorce Agreement.”

Dantai Chao was stunned. He picked it up and flipped through it. The woman’s name was plainly Ning Chu’s. The man’s section was blank—obviously for him to fill in.

He didn’t bother reading the property division but all he knew was Ning Chu wanted a divorce. But why?

He was utterly baffled. His hand tightened around the document as he walked to the next room, about to knock, when the door suddenly opened.

Ning Chu came out, apparently heading for dinner. She looked hungry. Dantai Chao was momentarily stunned, then studied her complexion. “Your health hasn’t fully recovered?” He thought her collapse earlier meant she hadn’t gotten better.

Ning Chu muttered internally. Did he think she was still unwell because of the spicy food upsetting her stomach? But she had recovered long ago. She shook her head. “No, I’m fine now.”

Her eyes fell on the divorce agreement in his hand. No wonder she felt she’d forgotten something—it was this, left in the master bedroom and forgotten.

She didn’t deny it. “Since you’ve seen it, if there’s no problem, you can sign. If you have objections, you can have your lawyer draft a new one.”

Dantai Chao looked at her, then back at the agreement. “Why? If it’s because of issues with your family, I can help resolve them.”

Ning Chu was puzzled. “My family? What issues?” Then suddenly understood. “Do you think I want a divorce because of that mother and daughter pair?” She hadn’t really cared about the female lead’s affairs lately.

She shook her head. “It’s nothing to do with them.”

Dantai Chao asked, “Then what is it because of?”

Ning Chu suddenly stared at his face. Honestly, Dantai Chao was genuinely exceptional—handsome and exactly to her taste. But…

“Maybe because you’re not good in bed.” She came up with this reason, not as a joke. Despite his great physique, Dantai Chao lacked skill.

“What?” He misheard. He never imagined the wife he loved would say such words—words that felt like an insult.

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Ning Chu shrugged. “You heard me. Think it over.” She bypassed him and went downstairs.

Dantai Chao’s mind was consumed by those three words: “not good in bed.” He had considered all sorts of reasons but never this one.

Recalling their nights together, he never thought he was lacking. What he didn’t know was that sometimes women could pretend, even in bed.

Ning Chu sat at the dining table, expecting Dantai Chao to take a long time to come down, but he appeared within minutes, no longer holding the divorce agreement.

The chef, seeing the master come down, quickly brought out the dishes.

Dantai Chao glanced at Ning Chu and took his seat at the head of the table. Ning Chu sat beside him.

The dishes were soon served. Among the mostly bland dishes was one slightly red one—spicy chicken.

Dantai Chao was puzzled. Why was there a spicy dish? Neither he nor Ning Chu ate spicy food at home.

But he didn’t raise the question. Instead, he suddenly saw Ning Chu move the spicy dish in front of her and take a bite.

Dantai Chao thought: Why is Ning Chu suddenly eating spicy food?

Thinking of the divorce agreement she had someone draft and now this sudden change in her eating habits, he grabbed her hand suddenly. “Who are you?” Ning Chu couldn’t be like this. She was always beautiful, gentle, and gracious, always eating bland food. Divorce was never something she would initiate.

Ning Chu blinked, looked at him, then smiled. “I’m not. I’m a ghost~ Also, you’re hurting me.”

Ghosts feel pain? That flashed through Dantai Chao’s mind. “You’re not a ghost.” He let go of her hand.

Ning Chu wiped her mouth, her expression instantly turning cold. Usually, she smiled gently and graciously, never showing such a face. Even with people she disliked, she could fake softness.

This sudden chill made her seem noble and untouchable. Something flickered in Dantai Chao’s mind…

No, he thought he’d seen this side of her before but couldn’t remember when.