Chapter 73: Targeting Zhao Fuhe

Gu Pingsheng suddenly froze, as if struck on the head; his pupils contracted sharply. They had known and accompanied each other for so many years, and in that instant, his expression said everything.

“I have trusted you since long ago. I thought that after time passed and love faded, we would live like thousands upon thousands of other couples, becoming inseparable family. I imagined many outcomes, but I seem to have forgotten that sometimes what defeats a marriage isn’t the daily chaos, the trivialities of life, but simply another woman.” Wen Zhixia lifted her chin. “Gu Pingsheng, you lied to me.”

You lied to me—from joy and hope, to utter desolation.

You betrayed the love we built over all those years.

“Sign it. Gu Xia Group has just secured a major project with Far East Military. You’re the chief responsible party. If you get entangled in lawsuits, it won’t be good for the Group.” Your rivals are waiting for you to make a mistake, nothing would please them more.

Gu Pingsheng’s gaze was deep as he looked at her, and right before her eyes, he tore the divorce papers to shreds. “I won’t divorce you. You’d better give up the idea.”

With that, he went upstairs. As he left, Wen Zhixia saw him clutching something in his hand.

Only after he was gone did she snap back to herself, hurrying to her room to check—only to find her ID card and passport missing.

Gu Pingsheng had confiscated her documents!

Wen Zhixia’s feelings were difficult to put into words. She understood Gu Pingsheng’s ways; he would not easily agree to divorce. For ten years, the effort he had invested in her was not something a mere Zhao Fuhe could rival.

Yet… precisely because of this, she found it even harder to accept. A man who loved her so deeply, and yet—was intimate with another woman, kissed her, or perhaps, while she was unaware, slept with her.

“Ugh…”

Wen Zhixia rushed to the bathroom, retching, her body reacting with rejection.

Not long after Gu Pingsheng left, two women claiming to be housekeepers sent by him knocked on the door of Lanhu County.

“Madam, Mr. Gu sent us to take care of your daily needs.”

Both held signed employment contracts, with detailed information about themselves and their previous employers, covering every detail.

Wen Zhixia glanced at them but made no move to accept: “You can go back. I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

Once the divorce was finalized, she would leave Lanhu County.

“Madam, we signed contracts. Mr. Gu paid us three months’ wages in advance. We have families to support—the money’s already been spent on our children. If you won’t use us… what will we do?”

“Yes, Madam, maybe you could try us for three months, and if you’re not satisfied afterward, you can replace us…”

Faced with their pleading, Wen Zhixia frowned. As she hesitated, the two had already entered, saying they would cook a meal for her to try their skills.

Seeing this, Wen Zhixia said nothing more and turned to the media room to watch a film.

There were too many things she needed to consider in peace.

Gu Pingsheng refused to divorce, but negotiating was not her only option.

The film was an old classic.

There was a scene with dialogue that resonated with her current mood.

“Ten years ago, I would have been just like you. But now, I absolutely would not.”

“Why?”

“Time. Time teaches us a great many things. Some things we once believed didn’t exist, later we discover they really do. Some things we believed in utterly, only to realize they never existed.”

“Such as?”

“Love.”

“…”

She curled up on the sofa, sleepless through the night, having endured wounds both physical and emotional. Listening to the dialogue, she closed her eyes in exhaustion, and before she knew it, drifted off.

“Mr. Gu, Madam has fallen asleep,” Aunt Zhao gently closed the door to the media room and called Gu Pingsheng.

Gu Pingsheng spoke quietly, checking his watch: “Wake her in an hour for dinner.”

When Wen Zhixia was preparing to go out, Hua Qianjiao suddenly came looking for her.

Seeing two new housekeepers in Lanhu County, Hua Qianjiao paused. Wen Zhixia was not like others, preferring to handle things herself. The household only employed temporary workers for deep cleaning; ordinarily, there were no housekeepers.

“Sister Wen, who are they…?”

Wen Zhixia casually explained they were hired by Gu Pingsheng.

“Oh, oh, Sister Wen, are you heading out?” Hua Qianjiao noticed Wen Zhixia had changed from her home clothes and put on light makeup, looking different from her usual appearance at home.

Wen Zhixia nodded, “I have some things to take care of.”

Hua Qianjiao’s eyes lit up. “Can I come?”

Wen Zhixia paused, then nodded, “Let’s go.”

An hour later, at Chengya Residence.

“Ah! Who are you? Why are you in my house? Get out! Right now!”

“Help, mmph… Wen Zhixia, it’s you!”

As the door opened, Zhao Fuhe was immediately restrained; she glared at Wen Zhixia, hatred burning in her eyes, as if she wanted to take a bite out of her.

Wen Zhixia sat heavily on the living room sofa, her gaze calm. Hua Qianjiao followed like a little tail, obediently sitting next to her, remembering Wen Zhixia’s instructions to say nothing.

“Take inventory of the assets inside and pack Miss Zhao’s personal belongings for her,” Wen Zhixia commanded.

Zhao Fuhe tried to struggle, but the men holding her were professionally trained; it was futile. Seeing people enter her room, she cried out, “Wen Zhixia, what are you doing in my house?! This is my home, you’re trespassing, I’ll sue you!”

Sue her?

Wen Zhixia sneered, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor. Her slender fingers lifted Zhao Fuhe’s chin, “Does Miss Zhao understand the concept of marital property? Chengya Residence is under Gu Pingsheng’s name, which makes it mine. I am evicting an outsider from my home. What’s wrong with that?”

Zhao Fuhe’s anger cooled at her words. “You know everything?”

Wen Zhixia withdrew her hand, took a wet wipe and slowly cleaned her fingers, as if she’d touched something filthy.

She was always like this—appearing gentle and aloof, but the words ‘easy target’ had never applied to her. “So, I’m here to settle accounts, Miss Zhao. After jumping around in front of me for so long, you’ve really… become an eyesore.”

If Zhao Fuhe were merely an ambitious junior, Wen Zhixia could tolerate her coveting. But since she had intruded on Wen Zhixia’s relationship—even if Wen Zhixia no longer cared for it—she still needed a way to vent her anger.

“Where’s Senior? I want to see him! I want to see Senior!” Zhao Fuhe shouted as someone pushed out her suitcase. “This house was a gift from him—it’s mine! You can’t do this!”

“Miss Wen, everything’s packed. As you instructed, only a few items appropriate for Zhao Fuhe’s status and her documents were included. All property inside Chengya Residence remains.” Clothes appropriate for Zhao Fuhe’s status, naturally, meant the cheap ones. Wen Zhixia was not a philanthropist and had no intention of treating her kindly as she was being kicked out.

“If everything’s packed, then…”

“Sister Wen, are you planning to strip her and throw her into the city center?” Hua Qianjiao finally understood, recalling Wen Zhixia once said that if a mistress appeared in her marriage, she would strip her and toss her out on the street.

Zhao Fuhe screamed in terror, “Wen Zhixia, you—mmph mmph mmph.”

Before she could finish, Wen Zhixia frowned and motioned for someone to gag her.

“Mmm, mm mm mm mm!” Zhao Fuhe’s eyes widened, staring fiercely at Wen Zhixia.

Wen Zhixia’s expression remained tranquil, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Just a joke.”

Zhao Fuhe felt somewhat reassured, but Wen Zhixia’s next words sent a chill through her. “I hear Miss Zhao works at the Junyue Club. Give her a signboard, and during off hours, dump her in front of Gu Xia Group.”

Wen Zhixia stood and sneered, “Maybe Miss Zhao will run into an acquaintance. As for Chengya Residence, since it’s tainted… sell it within three days.”

There was no need to recover it.

Under Zhao Fuhe’s hateful gaze, Wen Zhixia stepped forward, took a few steps, and said, “But a house isn’t enough to compensate for the losses I suffered during my marriage. I’ll have someone compile your expense records. Miss Zhao, please return every cent. Otherwise, I’ll have my lawyer sue you for misappropriating marital assets.”

The amount meant nothing to Wen Zhixia; she simply wanted Zhao Fuhe to cough it up.

Gu Pingsheng wouldn’t divorce her, but that didn’t mean she was powerless. First and foremost, Zhao Fuhe was her target.

She had never lacked a temper.

Amid Zhao Fuhe’s violent struggles, she was bundled into a car.

An hour later, as Gu Xia Group employees were leaving work, at a bustling intersection, they witnessed an unusual scene: two men in sunglasses standing beside a sign. The other words might have been unclear, but the glaring words “mistress”—those would leave a lasting impression.

Next to the sign was Zhao Fuhe, hands bound, screaming.

Someone recorded a video and uploaded it to the company group chat. Li Yueting saw it, stunned, and hurried into the CEO’s office. “Mr. Gu, there’s trouble.”

Gu Pingsheng had already taken his coat, ready to leave since the housekeeper reported Wen Zhixia and Hua Qianjiao hadn’t returned.

Hearing Li Yueting, he lifted his deep-set eyes. “What is it?”

Li Yueting handed him her phone, which played a clear video of Zhao Fuhe’s humiliating predicament.

Meanwhile, a sedan window lowered just enough to observe the scene from a distance. Seconds later, two people walked out of Gu Xia Group. Wen Zhixia glanced over, then drove away.