Chapter 543: Ex-Husband, a Stranger

s, then put down his chopsticks, indicating he wouldn't eat anymore."Then, what does the young master actually want to eat!" Zhu Xiaowei was already angry.But the child looked at her with his pure eye..."What happened"

At 7 PM, it was time for their restaurant to wind down. Usually, the evening would be the most profitable period for a restaurant, but their boss lady, who was remarkably cool and composed, insisted that employees shouldn't work overtime. They operated from 9 AM to 5 PM, taking off holidays almost exactly like office workers in white-collar jobs.

The front door of the restaurant hung a sign that read "Closed," and only a few people were still bustling in the kitchen, preparing to close up shop and head home for the night as usual.

Just then, a new employee at their restaurant, Zhu Xiaowei from China, rushed back, being dragged along by an angry-looking man.

"For 20 euros, you're asking your employees to deliver food 20 kilometers away Is your boss crazy!"

Pei Haoran rushed in, slamming the door open and pushing past the "close" sign. He saw the cashier, a middle-aged woman he knew as Lao Jie, tidying up at the counter and immediately flew into a rage, unleashing a torrent of insults in fluent English.

The eldest sister who was in charge of the accounts didn't react immediately and wanted to ask what was going on.

"Sir..."

But Pei Haoran was enraged and lost all reason. He gritted his teeth and warned, “Your employee went to deliver food out of town, and she was almost dragged into a house by several men... Your actions violate the employment regulations. Immediately get your boss to come out and meet me, or else…”

The elder sister who was in charge of the accounts widened her eyes, just about to say something when Zhu Xiaowei's face also turned unpleasant. She angrily interrupted, "Pei Haoran, no matter what I do now, it's none of your business."

Pei Haoran could certainly hear the mockery in her words, that he wasn't qualified. The immense mental anxiety over this period, coupled with the burning anger now, made him furious, "...What power and obligations You just walked away, fled to a foreign country, thinking you're a good wife Do you know how I got through this time!"

"Your business is none of mine." Zhu Xiaowei made up her mind and retorted loudly.

Pei Haoran was stunned, speechless for a moment.

She would never have been so cruel to him before.

They were speaking Chinese, and the remaining staff in the restaurant all came over to hear the commotion. They didn't understand Chinese, but the well-dressed Asian man who had been here earlier seemed to be threatening them in English, saying something about suing the restaurant.

"... Xiaowei, what's going on"

The restaurant staff glanced at the furious Pei Haoran. Although they didn't recognize this Asian man, judging by his attire, he was definitely a wealthy person from the upper class. They quickly pulled Zhu Xiaowei aside to find out what had happened.

"It was just a misunderstanding." Zhu Xiaowei said lightly.

"I just went out to deliver food. The customer wanted to skip paying, and I had a bit of an argument with him. This gentleman walked by and saw what was happening. He just stepped in to help because he felt like it. I don't know him."

Zhu Xiao Wei's face was calm, and she bit down hard on the last phrase, 'I don't know him.'

Pei Haoran's expression instantly changed from anger to stiffness, his face devoid of any emotion.

"Thank you."

"Sir, thank you for helping our friend. Xiao Wei just arrived in Paris and she doesn't know her way around here."

The staff in the restaurant didn't doubt his explanation and immediately expressed their gratitude to Pei Haoran, because in their country, there were always many "righteous" people who would threaten legal action at the drop of a hat, especially idle rich people.

"I told you so, this online food ordering is unreliable."

"Yeah, it's all Camille's fault. She came up with this terrible idea."

A few of the restaurant's veteran employees quickly dispersed, each tidying up after themselves, and were also preparing to close. "Xiao Wei, this matter must be told to the proprietress tomorrow."

"...We might even get out an hour early." They laughed.

Pei Haoran watched Zhu Xiaowei smile and talk to these people. They seemed to get along very well with each other. Zhu Xiaowei was just that kind of person, appearing ordinary on the surface, yet able to quickly integrate into any group.

She always makes people around her feel at ease and comfortable.

That evening, he parted ways with her without a word of goodbye, as if they were truly just strangers to each other.

Pei Haoran returned to his hotel suite, took a quick shower, and had no appetite for food. He lay on the bed, his eyes vacant as he stared at the delicately decorated ceiling.

What is Zhu Xiaowei doing now

He really couldn't understand why she was so insistent on divorcing him.

He knew that at the Pei family, she had been wronged. She insisted on divorcing him after enduring so much hardship and would definitely have a better life afterward. However, the reality was that she was now living in a dilapidated "ramshackle building" with three women of unknown backgrounds, sharing a cramped space. The alleyway reeked of foul odors. She had even found a thankless kitchen cleaning job, where she toiled day after day.

Does she really prefer to suffer and toil here all alone, rather than return to live with him

"...Didn't I give her enough for living expenses before"

Pei Haoran frowned, trying hard to recall the small details of his past life.

"Because the child miscarried," this is definitely the main reason. He was heartbroken when he heard the news, but since it's a fact, the rational side of him would accept it and then find a way to handle it properly. "We're still young, we can have children later..."

Because of Guan Lei, Pei Yi

Pei Haoran suddenly broke out in large beads of cold sweat on his forehead, and he tightly pressed his right hand against his stomach. His stomach hurt again.

"...I can tell her, we can move out." He clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth against a wave of nausea churning in his stomach. A plan to reconcile with her came to mind, and it seemed to ease the pain instantly.

Zhu Xiaowei will definitely be happy, and she will definitely agree.

He also wanted to tell her that after some time, he realized that while the Pei family had its responsibilities, he truly hoped she could give him another chance. He would change, because he really wanted her by his side throughout his life.

He needed her more than he thought, even though she wasn't particularly exceptional. But being with her felt comfortable and relaxing for him.

Looking back a week ago, because of illness, negativity, and the pressure from Pei's family, he impulsively signed the divorce papers to give her freedom. He really regretted it now.

Pei Haoran looked at the clock on the wall, then out the window at the dark sky. He waited and waited, hoping that day would come soon. He wanted to go back to her place and explain everything clearly.

At 5 a.m., Pei Haoran purposely had breakfast because he didn't want to faint in front of her before he could explain himself clearly. He changed into a new set of casual blue and white striped clothes, and by the time the sun rose, he was already standing under the building where she lived.

Pei Haoran originally wanted to catch someone on the first floor, but he impatiently looked at his Swiss watch several times. He was particularly irritable today, so he decided to go upstairs himself and catch the person in the shared apartment.

This dilapidated building had lax management, allowing anyone to enter and exit at will. As Pei Haoran stepped onto the creaking wooden stairs, his brow furrowed even deeper.

"...to actually live in a place like this." The living conditions here are truly deplorable.

Pei Haoran was a clever man. As he walked up the stairs, his mind raced with ideas. For example, he could tell Zhu Xiaowei that his company had given him a month off and he could accompany her on a vacation to France and Europe. He could take her to famous landmarks, stay in the most luxurious hotels, eat the finest cuisine, and buy her diamond jewelry...

Women like these things, she should be happy.

However, in fact, Pei Haoran's thoughts were just daydreams.

He knocked on the door. A French woman with dark skin, about 5'7" tall, and weighing at least 485 pounds opened it. The people inside called her Emma, "Hello, I'm looking for Zhu Xiaowei," he said politely.

The other two tall, slender women in the room quickly walked to the door and blocked him, "Who are you"

"Where are you from, and what's your name" one of the women who was slightly more attractive asked with particular warmth, "Hello, my name is Lilya."

Pei Haoran only felt that these women were a little annoying, and continued to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor, "I'm looking for Zhu Xiaowei, is she here"

"Are you looking for Xiao Wei"

"Oh, I know! It must be the Armani guy who came to see us last time!" Camille exclaimed excitedly, gripping Emma's arm.

Lily looked at Pei Haoran with even more eagerness in her eyes, revealing her most charming smile, and her voice softened, "Sir, please come in and sit down. Would you like some South Mountain coffee"

"No, I'm looking for Zhu Xiaowei..."

Lila saw that he wasn't paying much attention to her, and her expression grew a little downcast. Nervously, she asked him, "What is your relationship with Xiaowei"

"I'm just friends with him."

Zhu Xiaowei came out of the room, afraid that Pei Haoran would bring up words like 'ex-husband' and 'ex-wife'. She eagerly took the lead in speaking to him in English to clear the relationship.

Immediately, she strode over and angrily spoke to Pei Haoran in Chinese, "What are you doing here!"

In Pei Haoran's various thoughts and her disdainful tone and expression, he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

In contrast to Pei Haoran's silence, Li Ya immediately burst into a brilliant smile when she heard the words 'ordinary friends'. She kindly took Zhu Xiaowei's hand, and with a slightly shy look, asked excitedly in a low voice.

"Xiaowei, can you ask him if he has a girlfriend... Quickly introduce him to me, I really like his type..."

These words, not only could Zhu Xiaowei hear clearly, but Pei Haoran outside the house could also hear them clearly.

He remained silent, his eyebrows deepening as he intently watched Zhu Xiaowei's facial expressions. He believed she would be jealous.

Mr. Pei is likely single at the moment. He has an adorable boy, and his family is well-off. His parents are both university professors, so they come from a scholarly background. ...

Zhu Xiaowei then calmly told Liya about his background, one by one. Liya listened attentively, as if she wanted to memorize everything.

Enough!

Her calmness shattered all of Pei Haoran's self-righteous fantasies. He glared fiercely at the woman before him, familiar yet strangely foreign.

"Zhu Xiaowei, I don't need you to try so hard to sell me... I've been divorced twice, both times by women."without the patience to spare.The big man was imposing, flexing his fists to intimidate her. "Like I said, I found the stone house first. You have no right—"Qiao Baoer glared fiercely at him, she didn...