After Eight Years Of Marriage, You're Asking Me For A Divorce - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Lin Sinian barely ate a few bites during the dinner; his stomach space was mostly taken up by wine. Actually, he didn’t drink excessively—first, no one dared to pressure him to drink, and second, Xiao Yanxiu had switched his drink to tea midway—but he couldn’t sustain drinking without eating. Finally, when Xiao Yanxiu was pulled away by a friend, Lin Sinian returned to his seat. He ate some cold stewed bird’s nest and sighed internally, realizing hosting an event was more exhausting than going to work.

Even during the busiest time of year at the Procuratorate, when he worked seven days a week from 8 am to 11 pm to handle accumulated cases, often staying up two days and nights, he never felt physically strained.

Wealth is difficult to bear. The phrase appeared in his mind, surprising him.

Xiao Yanxiu’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Lin Sinian took it out and saw a text message from an unfamiliar number. He didn’t pay attention, intending to return the phone to Xiao Yanxiu when he returned. Just then, grilled beef tongue was served from the kitchen, and he indulged in a couple more bites of hot food.

Xiao Yanxiu sat next to him, still holding his hand, but his expression instantly changed when he read the text message, turning icy cold in the blink of an eye. Lin Sinian thought it was work-related, wondering how to ask. Xiao Yanxiu slammed the phone down in front of him.

The scandalous bedroom photo popped out on the screen, hitting Lin Sinian like a sudden blow to the head. He almost dropped the dinner knife in his hand.

“Is this you?” Xiao Yanxiu asked.

Lin Sinian pursed his lips in silence. Xiao Yanxiu suppressed his anger. How could he not recognize Lin Sinian sleeping? They had slept together for eight years! He was utterly disbelieving—he had just heard Lin Sinian speak of his commitment to a trustworthy marriage!

“I’ll tell you everything when the guests leave,” Lin Sinian gripped his hand as it pulled away: “Trust me.”

Xiao Yanxiu had always been gentle and affectionate toward him, rarely showing such a grim face. Even in his anger, he didn’t completely lose control. He tucked the phone back into his pocket and picked up his wine glass to deal with the guests first.

Lin Sinian’s expression, once Xiao Yanxiu turned away, was ferocious. He immediately called Zhao Xiaotong.

Zhao Xiaotong appeared before him fifteen minutes later: “The phone number is a newly registered number using an ID card named Zhang Yuhua. We are checking with the police station to verify if the ID card is real or fake. The registration location is at a telecom network branch in the Guojin Mall in the city center. Since it was only a text message, we can’t trace the signal’s origin.”

Lin Sinian didn’t want the details: “Call Lu Jingyao.”

Zhao Xiaotong dialed the number. Lin Sinian took the phone: “I received the photo. Say what you need to say.”

Lu Jingyao was arrogant: “Don’t stall with the bank. I want the environmental qualification!”

Lin Sinian said: “Lu Jingyao, you are now committing the crime of extortion. Think carefully.”

Lu Jingyao ignored him: “I’ll only give you one week. Otherwise, I’ll put the photo online and let everyone see that Mr. Xiao married damaged goods. Mr. Lin, if I were you, I’d rush to comfort my husband right now.”

Zhao Xiaotong couldn’t listen anymore and hung up the phone: “What kind of sin did Lu Jiancai commit to raise such a moronic son?”

Lu Jingyao was driven by resentment and deliberately tried to humiliate him. He felt Lin Sinian looked down on him. Of course, Lin Sinian was the Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and he was just the general manager of a subsidiary manufacturing company. Why should Lin Sinian pay him any attention? The young master was likely used to being dominant within the Lu family and had never experienced being looked down upon. By sending the photo on the wedding anniversary, there was an element of venting and retaliation.

But Zhao Xiaotong also heard something else in Lu Jingyao’s tone. If he had been apprehensive of Lin Sinian before, he now sounded extremely confident, as if he was certain Lin Sinian wouldn’t call the police. Of course, he felt confident; Lin Sinian personally went to the bank to negotiate a loan extension. That was a huge favor. Lu Jingyao must have thought the Deputy Chief Prosecutor did this out of fear and caution. Hence, his confidence soared, leading him to send the photo to Xiao Yanxiu and pressuring Lin Sinian harder. He believed he had Lin Sinian firmly in his grasp, and a Deputy Chief Prosecutor was nothing more than this.

Zhao Xiaotong thought, both amused and annoyed, With his IQ, if he were to manage the entire group, how many days would it take him to run it into the ground?

Any serious person who can’t get an environmental qualification should increase R&D investment, focus on tackling the technical problems, and meet the Environmental Protection Bureau’s standards. This young master not only refused to take the right path but genuinely believed the world revolved around him.

Lin Sinian was truly disgusted by Lu Jingyao.

“Call the police station. Submit the phone recording and the photo together. File a report immediately and arrest him at once,” Lin Sinian said.

Zhao Xiaotong was still worried: “Do you really want to submit the photo as well? Actually, just making a phone call…”

“Follow the normal procedure. Leave no handle for them to use,” Lin Sinian was resolute.

The earlier delay was due to concerns about the photo’s source and uncertainty about whether Lu Jingyao had other copies. Hence, he pretended to compromise and took the trouble to coordinate with the bank. Now that the other party had crossed the line, there was no need for him to endure the silent suffering any longer.

This was precisely the time to follow normal legal procedures: report the crime and provide evidence. Once the police filed the case, they would arrest Lu Jingyao. If the evidence was conclusive and the crime of extortion was established, the Procuratorate would immediately approve the arrest and proceed with public prosecution. Regardless of the future outcome, even if he was not publicly prosecuted, simply being criminally detained would result in a direct entry into his personal file, a lifelong stain that would be a fatal blow to his career prospects, making it difficult for Lu Jingyao to inherit Zhonglian.

Conversely, as the victim, the police had an obligation to protect Lin Sinian’s privacy. Even if the photo was submitted, it would not be made public. Keeping it in police custody was the safest way to ensure no one could tamper with it. After the case concluded and Lu Jingyao’s fate was decided, he could then contact the police to delete the photo and dispose of the storage device. Not providing the photo, however, could lead to accusations of insufficient evidence, which would be even more detrimental to Lin Sinian.

He didn’t need to worry about the Lu family, Zhao Xiaotong, or the police; the person truly worth worrying about was Xiao Yanxiu.

“Lin Sinian, are you cheating on my brother?”

Lin Sinian turned around. Xiao Yanping’s fist had already reached his face. He didn’t manage to dodge and took the punch full force. A strong, dull pain, accompanied by an ache in his gums, made him lean against the wall, his head spinning. Before his vision stabilized, he tasted a faint, sweet metallic tang in his mouth.

He had almost forgotten Xiao Yanping was here, the very person he had personally invited.

Xiao Yanping grabbed his collar and roared: “Isn’t my brother good enough for you, that you have to cheat on him? You have the nerve! All that pretense of deep affection. It’s truly fucking disgusting!”

The fist swung down hard toward Lin Sinian’s face. This time, it was blocked by Lin Sinian’s raised hand: “Have you made enough of a scene?”

His dominance was strong; he spoke with the tone of a Chief Prosecutor. Xiao Yanping was momentarily taken aback.

Lin Sinian said: “This is between me and your brother. If anyone should demand accountability, it should be your brother.”

“Say that again, you son of a b1tch!”

“I don’t know how much you overheard, but you don’t understand this matter, and it has nothing to do with you. I have already called the police, and they will handle it. But I’m telling you, I have not wronged Xiao Yanxiu. I can stake my life on this point.”

Xiao Yanping was not intimidated: “You’re a prosecutor; you can turn black into white. It’s easy to deceive my brother, isn’t it?”

This was simply being unreasonable. Lin Sinian didn’t want to deal with him, shook off his hand, and tried to leave. Xiao Yanping wouldn’t let him go, grabbing his clothes again to hit him. The two faced off in the corner of the wall. Lin Sinian had no foundation in combat and was neither as young nor as physically fit as Xiao Yanping. At this moment, he was only at a disadvantage. Xiao Yanping was merciless. Lin Sinian was punched in the stomach, the wine and food churning in his gut, causing cold sweat to break out from the pain, and he almost threw up on the spot. Instinctively, he raised his foot and kicked toward Xiao Yanping’s groin. Xiao Yanping dodged and slammed another punch at him against the wall!

Footsteps approached from behind, followed by a woman’s scream.

“What’s going on? Stop hitting him! Stop it!”

Lin Sinian’s heart tightened. He used all his strength to break free from Xiao Yanping. The bl00d at the corner of his mouth was clearly visible to the newcomer. It was Mrs. Li, the matriarch of a jewelry group, whose husband was a good friend of Lin Sinian’s father. Mrs. Li saw Xiao Yanping for the first time and didn’t recognize him. She wondered who was so brazen as to bully the respected Chief Prosecutor.

“Guards! Call the police! What are you all doing, standing there while the Chief Prosecutor is being assaulted? Someone help!” Her stout body squeezed past the startled Xiao Yanping. She helped Lin Sinian up, shouting about calling the police.

They were in the shaded area behind the floral arbor, but any commotion would be instantly noticed. Waiters, the housekeeper, and guests were drawn over. It was too late for Lin Sinian to leave now. Worried the situation would spiral out of control, he wiped the corner of his mouth to hide his injury: “I’m fine.” He then stopped Mrs. Li from calling the family doctor.

Xiao Yanping was forcibly restrained by two male waiters, his face blazing with anger directed at the disheveled Lin Sinian.

Mrs. Li continued to scold him: “You have no shame! Hitting someone is wrong. Who gave you the right?”

Her sharp, high-pitched voice seemed determined to let the whole world know. Lin Sinian was concerned that Xiao Yanping, in his rage, might attack her as well. Just as he was about to speak to calm things down, a camera flash flickered in the crowd of onlookers. Lin Sinian sharply turned his head, his face chilling as he met the reporter’s eyes. He could see the unconcealed greed and excitement in her gaze.

It wasn’t just her; curious eyes began to sweep back and forth between the elder sister-in-law and the younger brother-in-law. Lin Sinian couldn’t let the situation escalate. If any suspicions were raised, it would be detrimental to both him and the Xiao family. He signaled Xiao Yanping with his eyes to leave, indicating that he would handle the reporter. Although impulsive, Xiao Yanping wasn’t completely senseless. He broke free from the two waiters, ready to leave. Mrs. Li, however, grabbed him, still insisting on calling the police.

“What’s going on?” The host, Xiao Yanxiu, pushed through the crowd and instantly grasped the scene: “Aping, what are you doing?”

His older brother’s presence commanded respect without needing to be aggressive. Xiao Yanping dared not speak. Lin Sinian immediately shielded him: “It’s nothing. He drank too much.” Xiao Yanxiu’s suspicious gaze lingered on Lin Sinian’s pale, sweaty forehead, his eyes faintly burning with anger. Lin Sinian avoided his dangerous look.

The housekeeper began to disperse the crowd. Lin Sinian immediately held back the magazine reporter. The reporter seemed a little nervous being alone with him.

Lin Sinian asked the housekeeper for a cup of hot water for himself: “You’ve seen a sight.”

The reporter dared not ask too much: “Are you alright, sir?”

“I’m fine,” Lin Sinian repeated the word “fine” with obvious weariness: “Aping and I don’t have a great relationship. Sometimes I might be too strict with him, and I interfere too much. I can’t help it; he is my only brother. I don’t have siblings myself, so when I started dating Xiao Yanxiu and learned he had a brother, I was quite happy.”

“He’s almost thirty. Are you still worried about him?”

“That’s just the way my temper is. Some people outside know it, a habit formed from work. I tend to be very forceful when I speak.”

By saying this, he neither denied the obvious tension between himself and Xiao Yanping nor did he fail to immediately clear Xiao Yanping’s name, providing a suitable explanation. Lin Sinian’s reputation for being stern and demanding was known not only within the entire procuratorial system but also frequently heard in the media. It was perfectly normal and justifiable for such a person to have difficulties getting along with family members. The reporter couldn’t say much more.

She rarely had the opportunity to attend such private gatherings of the elite. Having finally managed to dig up some news, she had to suppress her immense curiosity. She knew that relations between members of a prominent family were not something to be gossiped about freely, even if Lin Sinian hadn’t explicitly said so. She couldn’t afford to offend either the Lin or the Xiao family.

Lin Sinian summoned the housekeeper, had two expensive bottles of red wine selected for her, and also paid her travel expenses: “My apologies for the poor hospitality. You are welcome to come again.” He personally escorted the reporter out the door, finally resolving the matter smoothly.

The housekeeper was already aware of the situation: “The doctor is on the way. Please return to your room for a check-up soon.”

He was Xiao Yanxiu’s man. Lin Sinian still felt uneasy but merely nodded without speaking.

He was terribly anxious, like a condemned prisoner who had been granted a temporary reprieve. Xiao Yanxiu’s tall, handsome back was still familiar to him, yet the cobalt blue Patek Philippe on his wrist seemed cold, like a merciless mockery.