Chapter One: Settling Accounts Before Divorce

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed as torrential rain poured down. Li Mingye, exuding a menacing aura, kicked open the bedroom door and threw the file folder in his hand onto the floor.

“Zhang Xiluo, what is the meaning of this?!”

With a faint, mocking smile, Zhang Xiluo bent down, picked up the folder, and casually flipped through it. Every entry was clear—her sycophant’s diary, a meticulous record of everything she’d ever done for Li Mingye, each deed thoughtfully tagged with a price.

Who would have thought that the very first thing she’d do after being reborn was to settle accounts with this scoundrel?

True love is priceless, but a sycophant’s devotion comes with a price tag.

Li Mingye’s face was ashen, his eyes filled with scorn and disgust as he looked at Zhang Xiluo. “Are you short of money?”

“No,” Zhang Xiluo answered seriously, gazing at him intently.

She had to admit, he was still as captivating as ever: tall, perfectly proportioned, clad in a sleek black suit that accentuated his strengths. His sharply defined features and sculpted face made him the very image of countless girls’ ideal man.

“Heh.” Li Mingye let out a cold laugh, his body trembling with rage. “So sending this to the editors of Today’s Finance was your way of seeking recognition for your efforts?”

Zhang Xiluo shook her head. She would have handed it to him directly, had he ever given her the chance.

Calmly, she replied, “Some accounts need to be settled before the divorce.”

“Divorce?!” Li Mingye’s expression darkened instantly, and the air around him seemed to chill. “All this scheming, just for this?”

He simply couldn’t believe her. After all she’d done, using every means to marry him, would she really be the one to bring up divorce?

“Yes,” Zhang Xiluo replied emphatically. “That’s right.”

Li Mingye’s gaze flickered; he stared at her, taken aback by her earnestness and resolve.

“Other than the money listed in those records, I want nothing else.”

A faint, mocking smile curved Li Mingye’s lips. She kept bringing up these accounts, as if reminding him not to disregard her sacrifices.

A dog will never change its ways.

“Zhang Xiluo, stop playing these pointless games,” Li Mingye said, then turned and strode out.

Zhang Xiluo was speechless. Had he really not understood her?

The sound of an engine came from downstairs. With a helpless sigh, Zhang Xiluo changed her clothes and left as well.

Tonight, Jiang Xueting and Xu Xinyi had invited her out for drinks.

“Lolo, you finally put friendship ahead of romance for once!” Jiang Xueting exclaimed, thrilled.

“I thought Xueting was joking—you really came,” Xu Xinyi said, staring at Zhang Xiluo in surprise.

These were her two best friends. In her previous life, they’d both suffered for her: Jiang Xueting’s family was ruined because of her, and Xu Xinyi lost her medical license all because of her involvement.

“Let’s go—I want to meet some handsome guys.” Zhang Xiluo silently vowed to herself that this time, she would protect them no matter what.

Jiang Xueting dragged her upstairs to the lounge to change. Zhang Xiluo let her do as she pleased, transforming from a housewife into a sultry queen of the night.

After a few shots of strong liquor, Jiang Xueting couldn’t help but ask about Li Mingye. “Lolo, what about that bastard?”

“Listen up, I’m divorcing him. I’ll never be Sycophant Lolo again!” Zhang Xiluo declared, raising her glass. “Come on, let’s dance!”

With that, she grabbed a handsome young man nearby and plunged into the crowd on the dance floor.

Tipsy, cheeks flushed, her black sequined bodycon dress sparkled as she swayed to the music. Dancing cheek to cheek with the handsome stranger, her allure drew admiring glances and applause from all around.

After a while, Zhang Xiluo pushed the young man away and danced by herself for a moment—when suddenly, she was shoved hard, nearly stumbling to the ground.

“Who’s the blind idiot?” The other party tried to play the victim first.

“Get your facts straight, you bumped into me. Not only are you blind, but you don’t brush your teeth either—your breath reeks!” Zhang Xiluo shot back ungraciously.

“You—!”

“You what? Move aside!” The moment Zhang Xiluo looked up, both of them froze.

She recognized him—Zhao Chengyi, Dragon City’s notorious playboy.

There was someone else behind him, lurking in the shadows with a face she couldn’t make out—but those eyes, burning bright and venomous, seemed to blaze with fire.