My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 30

Tang Jinzhi slowly calmed down, loosening her grip on Jie Xiangyi’s cheek. The burning heat stained her fingertips, and Tang Jinzhi chuckled softly.

“Your face is so hot. You still say you’re not blushing?”

She had been wondering how someone as reserved as Jie Xiangyi could bring herself to do something so “out of character.” It must have been truly difficult for her.

Tang Jinzhi never imagined Jie Xiangyi would go to such lengths just to sleep with her, sacrificing so much for a night together.

When Tang Jinzhi bluntly called her out, Jie Xiangyi coughed lightly and patted her back with a hand that had been resting loosely there, immediately changing the subject. “If you’re uncomfortable, just take it off.”

Now that everything was out in the open, there was no need for awkwardness.

Tang Jinzhi certainly felt that way too, especially after Jie Xiangyi’s earlier efforts. She couldn’t possibly feel embarrassed now.

But!

Jie Xiangyi’s sudden kiss earlier had triggered a flicker of wariness in Tang Jinzhi. She pushed herself up, creating some distance, and stared down at Jie Xiangyi’s silhouette in the darkness.

“I’m not taking it off. What’s it to you whether I take my clothes off or not? Trying to take advantage of me again, aren’t you?”

The smile on Jie Xiangyi’s lips widened as she spoke in a gentle, persuasive tone, “Don’t worry, I’ll just turn around.”

Without waiting for Tang Jinzhi’s refusal, she turned her back and deliberately moved further away, her sincerity palpable.

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

Did I even say I was going to take it off…?

Still, the tightness was genuinely uncomfortable.

After a split-second of hesitation, Tang Jinzhi reached out and slipped off her pajamas, then her bra. Fearing Jie Xiangyi might brazenly turn around, she quickly pulled her pajamas back on.

The entire process took mere seconds. She burrowed back under the covers with a soft sigh of relief. Ah, this is so much more comfortable.

With her back to Tang Jinzhi, Jie Xiangyi clutched her wildly pounding heart. An indescribable excitement exploded in her chest. In truth, she had been on edge the entire time, each movement pushing her to her limit.

She felt she was now ready to become closer to Tang Jinzhi.

No further sounds came from behind her.

After a moment, Jie Xiangyi asked, “All done?”

Tang Jinzhi closed her eyes and remained silent.

Jie Xiangyi asked again, “Just fell asleep?”

Tang Jinzhi let out an impatient “hmph” and turned her back to Jie Xiangyi, determined to sleep now.

Jie Xiangyi turned closer to Tang Jinzhi and reached out to pull her into another embrace.

Tang Jinzhi’s body instantly tensed. “Didn’t we agree you’d turn around?” she asked urgently. “How dare you be so presumptuous!”

Jie Xiangyi replied innocently, “Yes, but it’s time to sleep now.”

Tang Jinzhi bit her tongue and snapped, “Don’t push your luck! If anyone else tried this, they’d be under the bed by now!”

She wasn’t some pushover!

Jie Xiangyi seized on the wrong point. “I’m not under the bed yet, so I must have some redeeming qualities.”

Tang Jinzhi didn’t argue.

That was true…

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have so easily accepted sharing a bed with a stranger, even if they were legally married.

Jie Xiangyi’s qualities had struck her heart deeply. Who could resist sharing a bed with a stunningly beautiful woman they admired, especially when that woman was their wife?

Tang Jinzhi felt like she was quite mature. Though she liked Jie Xiangyi, she had always maintained a proper distance, refraining from making any physical advances. But now…

“If you keep moving around like that, all your admirable qualities will become utterly worthless.”

Tang Jinzhi’s lips tightened as she broke free from Jie Xiangyi’s embrace and turned to face her.

Jie Xiangyi sighed softly. “What’s wrong with hugging my own wife?”

Tang Jinzhi poked Jie Xiangyi’s arm, asking irritably, “Why are you so insistent on hugging me?”

If Jie Xiangyi continued to tease her like this, even a ninja would lose their composure. It made no sense to refuse meat offered right to her lips, and Tang Jinzhi wasn’t the type to be ungrateful.

Instead of answering, Jie Xiangyi countered, “Is it not allowed?”

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

Saying no would make her seem petty, but saying yes…

Tang Jinzhi fell into deep thought.

Jie Xiangyi pressed, “Hmm?”

Tang Jinzhi felt that after the lights went out, Jie Xiangyi’s words and actions could choke a person to death.

Her eyes flickered as she thought of something, and a smile curled her lips. “You can hug me, but after we move, I still want to sleep alone.”

Jie Xiangyi frowned. “Why again?”

Tang Jinzhi smiled mischievously, deliberately teasing, “Actually, I prefer sleeping naked. So… you understand.”

Her voice was brimming with laughter after her prank.

She doubted Jie Xiangyi would dare to take off her last remaining pajamas now.

Jie Xiangyi remained silent for a long time, completely still.

Tang Jinzhi chuckled, the sound echoing clearly in the quiet room.

She didn’t urge Jie Xiangyi to respond, content to wait and see how she would react. After all, she wasn’t the one suffering.

After a long pause, Jie Xiangyi turned her back, as if retreating into herself. Her shoulders trembled with suppressed laughter.

“Aish~”

The room felt deliberately tense.

Tang Jinzhi tilted her head slightly, just about to wonder if she’d gone too far, when she heard Jie Xiangyi say, “It’s okay. You just want me to take off my clothes and sleep with you.”

Tang Jinzhi: ???

She wondered if she’d misheard. What was Jie Xiangyi saying?!

Had she really thought that?

Jie Xiangyi sounded almost like she was being bullied, her voice timid. “I’ll just take off my pajamas, then.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Jie Xiangyi moved, her hand reaching down to grip the hem of her nightgown, the fabric rising slightly with her movement.

Tang Jinzhi froze, her mind blank for a moment. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Jie Xiangyi’s hand, firmly pressing down on the hand clutching the fabric.

“What are you doing?! What are you doing?!”

Tang Jinzhi was frantic. Was Jie Xiangyi really going to strip?

“Are you possessed by a ghost tonight?”

But Jie Xiangyi ignored her completely. Instead, she gripped Tang Jinzhi’s wrist and yanked her forward, forcing Tang Jinzhi into a half-embrace.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Jie Xiangyi leaned back, settling comfortably into Tang Jinzhi’s arms.

Her voice returned to its usual icy calm. “Alright, let’s sleep.”

Realizing she’d been completely outmaneuvered, Tang Jinzhi’s face burned with panic.

Where had Jie Xiangyi gotten all this cunning?

She abandoned any thought of arguing further. Tonight, she couldn’t win against Jie Xiangyi.

Tang Jinzhi tugged uselessly at her wrist, which Jie Xiangyi held in a vise-like grip. As expected, it didn’t budge. She lowered her head and bumped Jie Xiangyi’s shoulder in frustration.

Her battle with Jie Xiangyi on the bed had ended in complete defeat.

Tang Jinzhi suddenly asked, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re actually quite clingy?”

Jie Xiangyi opened her eyes and replied matter-of-factly, “No. I only have one wife.”

Tang Jinzhi chuckled, shifted her head, and propped herself up on her arm. She patted Jie Xiangyi’s neck and said, “Lift your head.”

Jie Xiangyi obediently tilted her head back as Tang Jinzhi brushed her hair aside and slipped her arm beneath her neck.

As Jie Xiangyi rested her head on Tang Jinzhi’s arm, she thought, Zhang Yueqi was right after all. Tang Jinzhi is such a hypocrite.

She won’t let me hug her, but she can hug me?

Though Tang Jinzhi couldn’t hear Jie Xiangyi’s thoughts, she still felt compelled to offer a preemptive explanation: “You wouldn’t let go. I just didn’t want to argue.”

The moment she finished speaking, the grip on her wrist instantly loosened.

Tang Jinzhi choked on her words.

“Then… maybe you should just take it off.” Now that she’d calmed down, she realized Jie Xiangyi had merely been putting on a show.

Seriously, who’s afraid of whom? It’s not like I’m the one taking it off.

Jie Xiangyi paused, then tightened her grip on Tang Jinzhi’s wrist.

A silent refusal.

Tang Jinzhi huffed and let it go. “Let’s sleep.”

It was half past nine in the morning.

Tang Jinzhi groggily opened her eyes. Earlier, she had been awakened by birdsong outside the window, and she vaguely remembered Jie Xiangyi getting up.

She reached out beside her, but as expected, the bed was empty.

In the living room, Jie Xiangyi had just returned with breakfast. She had intended to wake Tang Jinzhi, but she ran into Zhang Yueqi, whose eyes were swollen like walnuts.

Before she could say a word, Zhang Yueqi’s lips trembled, and he looked like he was about to cry again.

Jie Xiangyi raised her hand to stop him. “Don’t cry. Aren’t your eyes hurting?”

Zhang Yueqi took a deep breath, forcing back his tears. “They hurt, but my heart hurts even more.” He thumped his chest dramatically, as if Jie Xiangyi couldn’t tell he had suffered a one-sided heartbreak.

Jie Xiangyi ignored him completely. She turned and pointed to the breakfast on the table. “Breakfast is on the table. Wash up first, then eat. I’m going back to my room.”

She left immediately, afraid that if she stayed another second, Zhang Yueqi would start sobbing and pouring out his woes.

Zhang Yueqi pouted, deciding to wash up first. He would wait for Tang Jinzhi to come out and then ask her to comfort him. Jie Xiangyi was such an emotionally clueless person.

Tang Jinzhi, still brushing her teeth, had no idea she was being relied upon so heavily.

Hearing the door open, she poked her head out of the bathroom. Seeing Jie Xiangyi enter, she mumbled through her toothbrush, “What were you doing up so early?”

Jie Xiangyi opened the wardrobe and casually replied, “I went to the hospital and picked up some breakfast on the way back. Hurry and wash up while I change. We’ll leave after we eat.”

Tang Jinzhi glanced at the half-open wardrobe, patted the doorframe with her hand, and quickly said, “Wait, let me choose.”

With that, she turned and rushed into the bathroom, quickly washing up and emerging.

Jie Xiangyi stood waiting with her arms crossed.

As Tang Jinzhi approached, droplets of water still clung to her face. Jie Xiangyi’s gaze sharpened slightly, her fingers twitched, and her lips pressed into a thin line before she looked away.

Turning her attention to the wardrobe, she said softly, “Go ahead and choose.”

Then she asked curiously, “Is there anything I should keep in mind? Should we wear matching outfits?”

Zhang Yueqi had selected several matching outfits for them during the fitting, and neither of them had objected.

Tang Jinzhi glanced sideways at Jie Xiangyi. “What are you thinking? Of course not. We need to act like we barely know each other, completely devoid of any affection.”

Jie Xiangyi looked puzzled. “Why?”

“Just trust me. Act as cold as you did the day we first met.”

“Was I cold to you that day?”

“No, no, you were like a goddess descending to earth, saving me from fire and water.”

“Hmph…”

Jie Xiangyi finally changed into a new black Chinese-style dress that Tang Jinzhi had picked out for her. The design appeared understated, but Jie Xiangyi wore it with an imposing presence. Paired with her expressionless face, it exuded an air of noble elegance and refinement. Even when silent, she radiated an intimidating aura.

Zhang Yueqi didn’t dare speak when she deliberately swept him with a cold glance.

Tang Jinzhi nodded in satisfaction. “Exactly! That’s the effect we want.”

Zhang Yueqi, who had unwittingly become a guinea pig in this experiment, stared blankly, completely failing to grasp the meaning.

Jie Xiangyi didn’t press the matter further. After all, they were going to demand money, and maintaining a strong, unyielding demeanor was crucial.

What puzzled her was Tang Jinzhi’s own choice of attire.

Tang Jinzhi had changed into a warm-toned, oil-painting-style long dress, radiating artistic flair. The overall effect made her appear gentle, approachable, and easy to talk to.

This was rather intriguing.

Jie Xiangyi glanced at her own dress, then at Tang Jinzhi’s. She began to suspect that Tang Jinzhi intended to play the “good cop” while she played the “bad cop.”

But reality soon revealed that she was overthinking things.

She had overestimated Tang Jinzhi’s complexity. Her actions were far simpler than Jie Xiangyi imagined—she was simply going to provoke people.

Sitting in Tang Jinzhi’s home, Jie Xiangyi barely spoke a word, her face frozen in a cold expression. This wasn’t because of Tang Jinzhi’s earlier warning; she simply couldn’t stand the family’s attitude.

She had already been upset that Tang Jinzhi wouldn’t hold her hand earlier. Now, having to listen to them rant about Tang Jinzhi’s ingratitude, their disdainful tone was truly infuriating.

Jie Xiangyi could easily imagine that if she weren’t present, their behavior would likely be even worse.

Tang Jinzhi glanced at her nominal stepmother and biological father, a flicker of amusement crossing her face as she thought about how she was about to swindle them out of their money.

She gave Jie Xiangyi a reassuring look before cutting to the chase: “Let’s get straight to the point. Jie Xiangyi doesn’t have time to waste here with you two.”

The room fell silent.

Jie Xiangyi turned to Tang Jinzhi, wondering if this was her sole purpose for being here today.

Tang Jinzhi avoided her gaze, her eyes darting between Jie Xiangyi’s father and stepmother before adopting a troubled expression. “Excuse me for asking, but who’s in charge here?”

Xu Shaozi frowned. “Of course it’s me!”

Tang Jinzhi feigned surprise, turning to Liu Wen. “What’s going on? You haven’t managed to dominate him after all these years?”

Is that all? Is that all? Is that all?

Liu Wen’s eyelids twitched involuntarily. She understood Tang Jinzhi’s intentions and what she was implying. Glancing at Xu Shaozi, she snorted coldly, too lazy to crush his worthless ego.

Tang Jinzhi was being deliberately provocative. She had researched the power dynamics within this world’s elite families and discovered that women often held the reins of power. Behind closed doors, power struggles and secret rivalries like the ones in her own family were surprisingly common.

Liu Wen picked up her coffee cup, took a measured sip, and asked calmly, “Are you certain you don’t want those resources? No entry into the entertainment industry? Just money?”

Tang Jinzhi nodded. “Yes.”

Liu Wen paused for a moment before asking, “How much?”

“Three hundred million,” Tang Jinzhi replied evenly.

Jie Xiangyi’s heart skipped a beat. Wasn’t it supposed to be fifty million? Why wasn’t I informed about the price increase?

Is she just trying to extort us on the spot?

Xu Shaozi’s brow furrowed deeply. Already in a foul mood, Tang Jinzhi’s outrageous demand only fueled his displeasure.

His voice dripped with disdain and anger. “You dare ask for that much? Do you even deserve such a price?”

Liu Wen nodded. “You’re not worth three hundred million.”

Jie Xiangyi’s fists clenched. Her eyes lifted, a cold glint flashing in their depths, her displeasure barely concealed.

Tang Jinzhi remained unfazed, pointing at the icy-faced Jie Xiangyi. “I may not be worth three hundred million, but Jie Xiangyi is. If you refuse to pay, we’ll divorce right now. Jie Xiangyi has other marriage prospects besides me.”

But Tang Jinzhi had only Jie Xiangyi.

A tense silence filled the room.

The air around Jie Xiangyi grew colder. No wonder Tang Jinzhi had insisted they act like strangers—she had planned this all along.

The phrase “commanding presence” took on tangible form.

Liu Wen and Xu Shaozi exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting the same complex emotions. They had never imagined Tang Jinzhi would suddenly backtrack at this critical moment.

Liu Wen turned to Jie Xiangyi. “Does your family approve of this farce?”

Jie Xiangyi was furious, especially at the mention of divorce. She had no idea Tang Jinzhi would resort to such dirty tactics.

She refused to answer.

Seeing Jie Xiangyi remain silent, Liu Wen grew irritated. They couldn’t easily blame Jie Xiangyi, and she couldn’t figure out what trick Tang Jinzhi had used to get Jie Xiangyi to cooperate, or what kind of deal they had struck.

Judging by Tang Jinzhi’s tone, if they didn’t pay her, her deal with Jie Xiangyi would fall through, and the two women would divorce.

Liu Wen frowned deeply, pondering whether the family marriage was truly worth three hundred million yuan. Losing money was out of the question, but she was unwilling to pay such a sum for someone as worthless as Tang Jinzhi.

After a long silence, she said, “Three hundred million is impossible.”

Tang Jinzhi sighed softly. “Then let’s do this: I’ll voluntarily relinquish my inheritance rights. From now on, I, Tang Jinzhi, will claim no part of your family’s estate. If you agree, the lawyer is here, and we can draft a contract right now.”

After all, she was a fake heiress with no legitimate claim to the inheritance. She might as well squeeze as much out of them as she could while she still had the chance.

Her words stunned everyone in the room.

Did Tang Jinzhi even realize what she was saying?

Xu Shaozi sneered, “Agreed.”

Liu Wen, however, turned her gaze to Jie Xiangyi, who had been staring at her intently ever since Tang Jinzhi spoke.

What conditions had Jie Xiangyi offered that could make Tang Jinzhi abandon such a massive temptation?

Fearing Tang Jinzhi might change her mind, they quickly concluded the negotiations.

The outcome was surprisingly smooth. After exploiting every loophole and obtaining repeated assurances from their lawyers that the 300 million yuan could never be recovered, Tang Jinzhi finally felt at ease.

Meanwhile, the couple repeatedly verified the contract Tang Jinzhi had signed in a moment of madness. Aside from a few procedural steps requiring her cooperation, everything was in order.

With both parties satisfied, everyone was pleased—except for Jie Xiangyi.

Tang Jinzhi began coaxing her the moment they left the building.

“Don’t be angry, okay? We exceeded our mission target! Once the money’s in my account, I’ll split it with you.”

Three hundred million yuan was no small sum and wouldn’t be transferred to Tang Jinzhi’s account immediately.

Jie Xiangyi remained stony-faced.

After a moment’s thought, Tang Jinzhi took Jie Xiangyi’s hand, squeezed it firmly, and shook it playfully. Leaning close, she grinned at Jie Xiangyi. “We’re holding hands now!”

Jie Xiangyi glanced down at their clasped hands, then frowned as Tang Jinzhi burst into laughter, turning her head away to ignore her.

Tang Jinzhi knew Jie Xiangyi was just being stubborn, so she straightened up, looked around, squeezed Jie Xiangyi’s palm, and sighed, “When I saw this massive estate, I knew my fifty million wouldn’t be enough. Fifty million? It probably wouldn’t even buy half of this place.”

Jie Xiangyi couldn’t resist glancing at her, but quickly averted her gaze when Tang Jinzhi looked back.

Tang Jinzhi chuckled. “I originally wanted to raise the price to a hundred million, but then I thought, ‘That’s still not enough.’ For all the suffering I endured over the past twenty years, a hundred million isn’t enough.”

Jie Xiangyi’s long lashes trembled slightly. Though Tang Jinzhi was speaking of injustice, Jie Xiangyi didn’t detect any self-pity in her voice—only accusation and heartache. Was she grieving for her former self?

Tang Jinzhi continued, “A family with so much wealth… why did she have to live such a miserable life?”

She never enjoyed the privileges she deserved, and in the end, she was forced to sacrifice herself in a political marriage. The resources she gained were merely what should have been hers from the start.

Jie Xiangyi’s gaze sharpened. Finally, she spoke the first words she’d uttered since their argument began: “You’ve truly separated your former self from who you are now, haven’t you?”

Tang Jinzhi replied matter-of-factly, “It always has been.”

Jie Xiangyi pondered for a moment before asking, “So, the contract you just signed with them was because of this?”

“But what if you regret it after your memories fully return?”

Tang Jinzhi patted their clasped hands, her palm landing on the back of Jie Xiangyi’s hand.

“I’ve told you this so many times. How can you still not understand?”

Jie Xiangyi pressed her lips together, remaining silent. She genuinely didn’t understand.

Tang Jinzhi asked, “What if I never had any inheritance rights to begin with?”

Jie Xiangyi, wanting to avoid further argument, followed Tang Jinzhi’s line of thought. “If that were the case, you wouldn’t be losing anything.”

If.

As things stood, Tang Jinzhi had clearly done something foolish.

Tang Jinzhi smiled, satisfied with the answer. “Exactly. I’m making a huge profit. You’ll understand later.”

Jie Xiangyi didn’t want to talk about the future right now.

“I think you owe me an explanation. When did we ever agree that we’d divorce if they didn’t pay?”

“I remember us saying we’d never divorce.”

Jie Xiangyi was seething with pent-up frustration.

Tang Jinzhi’s eye twitched. She had guessed many reasons for Jie Xiangyi’s anger, but this one had never crossed her mind.

“Didn’t you realize I was being sarcastic?”

Jie Xiangyi frowned. “I did, but I also sensed you were genuinely considering it.”

She could feel Tang Jinzhi’s decisiveness in abandoning the idea.

Tang Jinzhi fell silent.

After a moment of thought, she carefully organized her words, her tone earnest as she explained, “Don’t overthink it. I was just trying to provoke them. How could I have done something like that without discussing it with you first?”

“If I were serious about divorcing you, wouldn’t I have told you first?”

“Divorce is a decision for both of us. I would never disregard your opinion.”

As Tang Jinzhi spoke with such sincerity, the tension in Jie Xiangyi’s profile gradually eased. She turned to meet Tang Jinzhi’s earnest gaze, and the lingering dissatisfaction in her eyes slowly dissipated.

Squeezing their intertwined hands, Jie Xiangyi’s voice softened. “Don’t ever mention divorce again.”

She didn’t want to hear it.

Tang Jinzhi gave an okay sign, her smile radiant. “Alright, Doctor Xie. I’ll do whatever Doctor Xie says.”

Jie Xiangyi’s infectious smile filled her vision, and the last trace of her displeasure vanished completely.

“Next time you want to talk about something, let me know beforehand,” Jie Xiangyi said.

Tang Jinzhi’s smile turned ingratiating, her voice obedient. “Yes, Doctor Xie.”

“Don’t just leave me sitting there doing nothing,” Jie Xiangyi added. She felt like she hadn’t contributed anything at all.

Tang Jinzhi couldn’t disagree. “Why not? With you here, half the work is already done!”

Jie Xiangyi’s presence was invaluable. Hadn’t she noticed how no one dared to voice objections when faced with her stern expression?

In the hierarchical world of the wealthy, Jie Xiangyi’s family clearly belonged to the upper echelons.

Tang Jinzhi waved her hand dramatically. “Our Doctor Xie just needs to sit down, and her authority fills the room!”

Her words carried even more confidence than Jie Xiangyi herself possessed.

Jie Xiangyi couldn’t suppress the upward twitch of her lips. Her mood instantly brightened, like the sun breaking through the clouds.