Xiao Bing smiled awkwardly, “Of course not. I can tell that you are a faithful woman.”

“Thanks for thinking of me that way. Ah…” Zhu Liya stared at the goblet in her hand. Her eyes were blurred with regret and sadness.

Xiao Bing knew she was an arrogant woman from the first time he saw her. Arrogant women had highs standards for men and usually they were very picky when it came to marriage. So Xiao Bing could imagine the sadness and regret she was feeling.

She was just like Madame Bovary. Though people had been criticizing her for a long time, few of them knew why this tragedy happened. They didn’t know how miserable and unreconciled she was.

Eventually, after being silent for quite a while, she said in a faint voice, “I know what you’re thinking of. I knew him since childhood. We lived in the same village. He was born in a rich family and my family was very poor. When I was in high school, my dad fell into a dry well. Then my mother got ill and unable to do anything. I felt like my family was cursed at that time. I had to drop out of school and take care of my brother.”

Xiao Bing was shocked. He had never thought that, in spite of her miserable marriage, this queenly lady would have had such a miserable childhood.

Zhu Liya continued, “Then my mother got worse and was sent to a hospital. But the treatment was expensive. So I had to borrow money from others. But my father was gone and my mother was near death. The relatives who once seemed nice all turned their backs on me. How ironic…”

Zhu Liya sounded sarcastic. “When you’re okay, even strangers can call you a friend. But when something bad happens to you, all these so-called friends do is leave. At that time, Zhang Gui’s father promised me that he would lend me money if I could marry his son.”

Feeling sorry for her, Zhang Gui asked, “You said yes?”

“I had to. Zhang Gui did not have a very good reputation back then, and I knew that he had tried to peep on me while bathing. But I had to marry him. I think this is what they call fate. God has planned it for you.”

“The latter part of the story is simple,” sighed Zhu Liya. Then she said, “His family nearly became broke because of a natural disaster. Zhang Gui and I came to this city to make a living. I was 24 when I came and now I’m 32. It took me 8 years to take root here while he was doing nothing but drinking and playing. I was a worker at first. Then I became an apprentice in a beauty salon, and then I had a small beauty saloon of my own. And now I’m going to run a restaurant.”

Xiao Bing said, “It’s an inspiring story.”

“In addition to drinking all day, Zhang Gui became addicted to gambling after my business got better… He even began whoring outside our home. I just pretended that I didn’t know… There’s no love between us at all. Why should I bother him about his cheating when I can have a good sleep without him?”

It made Xiao Bing feel sad. He believed that only an extremely hopeless woman could say it with such composure.

Xiao Bing suddenly asked, “You have never thought about a divorce?”

Zhu Liya shook her head, “I know this man. He knows that he will find no one better after the divorce. So he will never agree to it. I’m his cash cow. How can he still eat, drink, fuck, and gamble without me? And besides, it is his father’s money that kept my mother alive. So I didn’t think of it very often.”

“You’re a good woman. It’s a pity that didn’t find your own happiness.”

Zhu Liya smiled, “Thanks for listening to things that have nothing to do with you. Here’s to you for helping me yesterday.”

There was a tempting blush on her haughty face after she drank all of the wine in that goblet.

Xiao Bing’s head went blank for a few seconds. Noticing that, Zhu Liya grinned, “Brother Bing, you are not drunk, are you? It’s only two cups of wine.”

“No, of course not.” Then Xiao Bing thought to himself, “You’re just as seductive as Ayaka Tomoda from R country. But she doesn’t have that queen vibe of yours. How can I not be drunk in that. What the hell is Zhuang Gui thinking? How can he leave his beautiful wife home and mess with the whores outside…”

“I invited you today for two reasons. One is to thank you. And the other…” said Zhu Liya, with her eyes fixed on Xiao Bing’s, “I’ve been doing nothing but thinking of different ways to make money, so I barely made any real friends these years. I have so much to talk about and right now you are the only person I can talk to.”

“It’s okay. You can tell me these things whenever you want.”

“Really? You know I trust you with all my heart since last night. Now eat. You’re not here to drink.”

Though she said that they should eat, Zhu Liya would always find a topic to have a drink. Obviously, she became more depressed after what happened last night. She needed to vent her feelings.

After they finished eating, the bottle became empty after they finished eating and half of it was drank by Zhu Liya. Instead of looking arrogant and cold as usual, Zhu Liya was slightly flushed and her eyes became bewitching. Xiao Bing felt she was like a fox, who was luring him into her den.

The two stood up and Xiao Bing tried to help Zhu Liya stand. But Zhu Liya refused by gently patting his hand. She said, “I’m not drunk yet. Go seat yourself in the living room. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

Xiao Bing said ‘yes’ with a bitter smile on his face while staring at this slightly drunk woman. He went back to the living room and took a look at his watch. It was nearly 9. “I have to explain to Xiaoxaio again. Why is she like a meddlesome woman now? She is a tepid girl!”

While his mind was wandering, Zhu Liya approached with a cup of hot tea. When she bent down and put the tea on the table, Xiao Bing had a clear glimpse of her pink bra and white cleavage in the black lace dress. He was almost drowned in that deadly temptation.

Zhu Liya did not notice Xiao Bing’s greedy eyes. She sat down on the sofa in front of him. Xiao Bing swallowed and found that his throat was very dry. He could imagine how thirsty he could be if he kept staring at her.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Uh, let me have a taste of the tea.” Xiao Bing held it up and put it in front of his lips. But then he noticed that Zhu Liya opened her mouth wide. She seemed to have something to say. “Ouch, it’s so hot…”

Zhu Liya was intending to remind him but Xiao Bing had already taken a sip. He instantly put the cup down and kept gasping. Zhu Liya could not help laughing when she saw him like that.

“I almost have a blister on my tongue, and you’re still laughing…”

Zhu Liya laughed even louder upon hearing that. She managed to speak while laughing, “I’ve never been this happy in a long time. Thank you for making me so happy, Xiao Bing.”

Xiao Bing thought it was unfair. “Well, a beauty needs a fool to amuse her,” Xiao Bing thought to himself.

While Xiao Bing was still feeling sorry for his tongue, he suddenly noticed that Zhu Liya crossed her left leg over her right leg. The fascinating sound of the fabric of the black stockings was like an aphrodisiac spell, which made his blood pump.

Xiao Bing swallowed again and peeped at those beautiful legs in black lace. But he put on a usual smile and said, “It’s a pleasure for me to make Mrs. Zhu happy.”

“Don’t call me that. You can just call me Liya.”

As she spoke, she adjusted her sitting position again. The sound of it again drew his attention.

“You know what, Xiao Bing? I would definitely ask you for a date if I met you a few years ago. I don’t need a handsome and rich boyfriend. I just need a man who is diligent and able to make me feel safe. I was thinking of it last night when I was watching you protecting me in that casino.”

Xiao Bing rubbed his nose, “Can I take that as a compliment?”

Zhu Liya grinned, “It could be… But it’s impossible for me to do it now. What a pity… I’m already an old and married woman…”

Xiao Bing looked away reluctantly and spoke with seriousness, “You’re not old at all. You look like a girl of 17 or 18.”

Zhu Liya grinned again. Her face was still red. She laughed more frequently tonight. Perhaps it was because of the alcohol. And her eyes looked more seductive.

She adjusted her position again while laughing. “Please don’t do this anymore.” Xiao Bing inwardly begged.

Suddenly he stood up and decided to say goodbye. But Zhu Liya stood up instantly like it was a conditional reflex. But she seemed to be in a hurry when standing. Her legs twisted together and she was about to fall. Xiao Bing immediately rushed towards her and she fell in his arms.

Xiao Bing could clearly feel her soft and smooth skin through that black lace dress when he held her. At that moment, Xiao Bing could no longer resist and he kissed her on her sexy red lips…