"Uncle, happy birthday. I wish you good health and happiness," said Qin Cha.
At that moment, Qin Cha still hadn't fully recovered from the shock that Cheng Ming turned out to be Uncle Shang Jue.
She saw Shen Mingyue smiling and holding onto Shang Jue's arm like they were super close, greeting Cheng Ming like they were longtime friends.
Uncle? That word came out so naturally.
If they weren't still technically in the middle of their divorce cooling-off period, those two probably would've already rushed to get their marriage certificate.
The whole scene felt really peaceful and natural, which made Qin Cha feel a bit sad.
Even though she'd been married to Shang Jue for three years, he had never once introduced her to any of his friends or family. It was like he didn't even acknowledge her as his wife.
Qin Cha felt a bitterness rising in her chest. It wasn't because she still had feelings for Shang Jue—no, it wasn't like that.
It was just that those three years of her youth felt totally wasted. Even a dog would wag its tail for its owner, but Shang Jue… he was worse than a dog!
She raised her head proudly, trying to shake off that feeling in her heart, and turned to leave.
"Stop."
Shang Jue saw Qin Cha trying to walk away, frowned, and grabbed her arm. He hadn't said everything he needed to yet, and he wasn't about to let her just walk away and humiliate herself.
Qin Cha's eyes turned cold. She yanked her arm away from him, her voice icy and firm. "Mr. Shang, I think I've already made myself really clear. There's nothing left between us except going together to get the divorce certificate."
After saying that, Qin Cha pulled away, not wanting to waste even one more second with Shang Jue.
But Shang Jue gripped her wrist tightly, refusing to let go. He looked at his uncle and said in a deep voice, "Uncle, I have something I need to handle. I'll be back in a bit."
Cheng Ming had this look like I get it, with a knowing smile in his eyes. He understood his nephew well.
Shang Jue had always been cold to everyone, and there weren't many people who could make him show any kind of emotion, let alone act like this.
Shen Mingyue totally didn't expect Shang Jue to just leave her behind for Qin Cha.
She wanted to stop him, wanted to grab his hand, but she couldn't catch him in time.
She could only watch as he took Qin Cha into the garden.
Shen Mingyue clenched her fists, her face stiff. She could feel like everyone around her was silently laughing at her.
It was all because of that bitch Qin Cha!
Once they were in the garden, almost the second Shang Jue let go, Qin Cha turned around and walked away.
"Qin Cha, stop!" Shang Jue's expression darkened, and he ordered coldly.
Qin Cha frowned a little, clearly annoyed, and quickened her pace, wanting to shake off this clingy Shang Jue as fast as possible.
The person who used to always listen to him didn't just ignore him, she straight-up sped up.
Shang Jue's eyes filled with anger. He took a few big steps forward and suddenly grabbed her, forcefully pulling her into his arms.
"Shang Jue! What do you want?" Qin Cha glared at him, her eyes fierce and burning with rage.
"Ten million. Enough for you to live comfortably. As long as you leave the entertainment industry, I'll give it to you." Shang Jue's face was cold and serious.
He tugged at his tie with one hand, his voice commanding and leaving no room for discussion.
"Hah!" Qin Cha let out a cold laugh.
To Qin Cha, who had been in the industry for three years, ten million might've sounded like a lot.
After all, she used to work as a nanny and earned some income. But during the three years she was with Shang Jue, she hadn't made a single cent.
Still, that amount of money was nothing to her now. Even if she had to earn it herself, she totally could.
Did she really need his so-called "charity"?
"Sorry, I don't need it," Qin Cha sneered. "Shang Jue, you should save that ten million to spoil your little canary. If you've really got nowhere else to spend it, just hire a proper nanny. Don't make people think you can't even afford one and have to take advantage of women."
Shang Jue clearly heard the sarcasm in her words. He stared at her with his brown eyes. "Are you saying I mistreated you?"
Did he really not know deep down whether he did or not?
Qin Cha's face stayed cold and calm as she replied casually, "How could I dare say that? Being Shang Jue's pet dog is such an honor. How could I ever say you mistreated me? But sorry, I'm done playing that role now. Don't bother me again."
Shang Jue's chest tightened with frustration, and he even felt a dull headache.
Things were spiraling way beyond what he'd expected. How long did Qin Cha plan to keep defying him?
He looked at her sharply, clear irritation showing in his eyes. "Qin Cha, I'm warning you, my patience has limits. From now on, you must leave the dirty world of entertainment. Otherwise, don't blame me for doing something about it myself."
Qin Cha actually laughed out of anger.
During the three years they were married, no matter how wild or crazy her behavior was, just to get his attention, Shang Jue had ignored her completely.
But now that she was in the entertainment industry, he suddenly had a problem?
What does it even matter what Mr. Shang thinks now?
Just because he doesn't allow it, she's supposed to stop?
"Mr. Shang, first of all, once the cooling-off period is over, we'll officially be divorced. After that, you and I will have nothing to do with each other, and you'll have no right to control me.
Second, where I go and what I do are my own choices. No one, including you, gets to interfere.
And finally, do you seriously have nothing better to do than follow me around every day? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were my pet dog.
You're seriously annoying. I really hope we don't have to see each other ever again. And even if we do, just pretend you don't know me. Besides being ex-husband and ex-wife, we're complete strangers."
Every word and expression from Qin Cha showed just how done she was with Shang Jue. She didn't even bother hiding the disgust in her eyes anymore.
Her every emotion showed just how fed up she was with him.
Shang Jue frowned, completely annoyed now.
Although Qin Cha made her words super clear, in his eyes, she was just doing all this to get his attention and hit her goals.
She had a miscarriage because he messed up, and yeah, he got why she was mad—so he was fine with trying to comfort her.
But he seriously didn't have the patience or energy to deal with her acting like she was above it all.
"Qin Cha, I'm asking you one last time—how much longer are you gonna keep doing this?"
Qin Cha didn't say anything.
Right now, she honestly had no clue how she was ever that blind to like someone like him... Sure, he had some good sides, but his flaws were way worse, especially with how full of himself he was.
"Shang Jue, listen to me clearly one last time. I'm not the same Qin Cha who used to sit at home waiting for you. I don't care about you anymore. I don't love you anymore. And I don't want anything to do with you from now on. Got it?" Qin Cha said seriously again.