60: Chapter 60 A Secret Meeting with an Ex-Lover

Wang Shuting said in a commanding tone, "Also, you have to pay child support."

"Hey, we agreed on twenty million, but you ended up giving me six million less. Let's just count that as child support. I won't ask for more," Zhang Huaijing said magnanimously.

"How is that enough? You have to leave ten million for your son. Don't let some vixen squander it all, do you hear me?!" Wang Shuting reverted to her usual aggressive state.

"We'll see."

"Also, check your email. I sent you my pregnancy photos and the ultrasound results. Your ex-wife really is carrying your child." Wang Shuting sounded somewhat gloating.

"Uh, I'm speechless."

"You should be happy. The Zhang family has an heir now."

Zhang Huaijing sighed and said, "True. I really did want a child. A girl or a boy, it doesn't matter. But you're all alone over there with a big belly—who's taking care of you?"

"My mom. Don't forget, my mom is a wealthy woman. She helped me hire a Puerto Rican maid."

"Your mother is no pushover either. Can you two even get along?"

His former mother-in-law was mean, pretentious, and hypocritical. Coupled with the matter of Lin Qianwei, Zhang Huaijing had never been kind to her, and she harbored a lot of resentment toward him as well.

"Don't mention her, okay?" Wang Shuting said crossly. After a while, she added with extreme tenderness, "Think about it, we have a child now. Isn't that wonderful? Huaijing, I actually miss home quite a bit. It's really not as good here as it is back in the motherland. So, I'm thinking of coming back."

Zhang Huaijing really didn't understand why Wang Shuting loved him so much. Even at this stage, she was still thinking about remarriage.

He didn't have the heart to hurt her and comforted her softly, "Shuting, you're carrying my child, and I, Zhang Huaijing, finally have an heir. I'm truly happy. However, it's going to be hard on you. Just focus on taking care of yourself and having the baby there. I'll visit when I get the chance."

"I knew it, you don't want me to come back. Hmph! Heartless man, ungrateful wolf!" she complained flirtatiously.

After hanging up, Zhang Huaijing let out a melancholy sigh.

Still, having a child was a blessing. More children meant more happiness.

***

In the evening, Zhang Huaijing dressed up nicely and went to the famous Australia steakhouse in Wanda Plaza for dinner with a beautiful woman.

The other person was Director Ning Caishu from the Planning Division of the Provincial Department of Transportation. Zhang Huaijing had made this appointment with her before the holiday.

Director Ning Caishu was a very disciplined person. She arrived ten minutes early and chose a corner seat. When Zhang Huaijing sat down across from her, she was listlessly flipping through the menu.

She looked up at him, stood slightly to nod, and then sat back down slowly. A faint smile touched the corners of her mouth. "It's been so long. You don't seem to have changed much."

"Is that so?" Zhang Huaijing looked at her with a smile. "But you have."

"How have I changed?"

"You have the aura of a devoted wife and mother now."

Director Ning Caishu smiled slightly and handed him the menu. "I've been married for almost four years. Isn't being a devoted wife and mother expected? I've already ordered. See if there's anything else you'd like to add."

Zhang Huaijing didn't even look and said, "No, I like everything you order."

"You really haven't changed a bit." She gave him a cold, aloof eye-roll and then recited the order to the waiter.

After the waiter left, Zhang Huaijing asked, "How's married life? Is the kid already in kindergarten?"

"It's alright. Just started nursery school. He went back to the hometown with his father and grandmother today."

"Why didn't you go?"

"Working overtime on a project. Besides, you asked me out. I just finished this afternoon and will join my family tomorrow morning," she said plainly and concisely.

Director Ning Caishu was 172 centimeters tall, slender and elegant, with an outstanding temperament, but she often gave off a vibe of keeping people at a distance.

Today, she had clearly dressed up to see Zhang Huaijing. She wore a dark blue silk slip dress with a light gray linen short cardigan, "no-makeup" makeup, a minimalist steel-strap quartz watch, thin silver hoop earrings, and a black minimalist clutch.

Her long, straight black hair draped loosely over her shoulders. Her eyebrows were sharp, and she wore a cool-toned lipstick. Her fair skin made the dark blue dress look even more elegant, exuding the restrained sophistication of an intellectual woman.

Zhang Huaijing said, "You're still such a workaholic and still so thin. You're a devoted wife and mother now; you should focus more on your family."

"The whole restaurant is filled with the smell of an uncle's preaching." Director Ning Caishu smiled faintly, poured two glasses of the decanted red wine, and pushed one toward him. "Have some wine and clear your head."

"I'm caring for you, not preaching," Zhang Huaijing said with a smile as he picked up the glass and took a small sip. "Good wine."

Director Ning Caishu took a sip and said, "This is the Bordeaux dry red you gave me back then. You brought it back from a business trip to Europe with Secretary Jian. If we don't drink it now, it might expire."

Zhang Huaijing looked at the bottle and said, "Some things never expire."

He recalled the year 2000 when she was immersed in her illicit affair with him. He had given her many gifts, but she ultimately chose to withdraw the following year and hurriedly married a university classmate, who was now a lecturer at South China University of Technology.

"Don't make this sound like Chungking Express, okay? You have a lovely wife at home, and I'm a devoted wife and mother. We aren't the tragic lovers from a movie." Her mouth was small and her lips were thin; when she spoke, they were like cold, flashing blades.

Zhang Huaijing sighed and said, "Wang Shuting and I are divorced. She immigrated to the United States. I'm a bachelor now."

Director Ning Caishu looked up, staring at him blankly. Complex emotions shifted in her eyes before finally turning into a cold laugh. "Fickle and heartless."

Back then, Zhang Huaijing had won her heart and body because she was moved by his lingering love for Lin Qianwei and his unhappy marriage.

At that time, she was in her prime—young, beautiful, and rising in her career—but her emotional life was a blank slate. Blinded by his tears and pain, she had confusedly given her first time to comfort his wounded soul.

Of course, the fact that he was the Secretary to the Provincial Party Committee Secretary was a key factor. Without the weight of that status, she would never have submitted to a married man. She was an extremely picky and self-important woman.

The two had been secretly in love for two years, but Director Ning Caishu saw no hope, and Zhang Huaijing had never thought of marrying her.

She was just one of his romantic conquests. Consequently, she decisively cut their ties and married the university classmate who had been pursuing her for years.

Zhang Huaijing's lover after Director Ning Caishu was the police beauty, Wen Di.

Even so, Zhang Huaijing had given Director Ning Caishu what she wanted. When they first started dating, he put in a word with the Department Head to get her promoted to Deputy Division Chief. Two years ago, he helped her become the Director of the Planning Division, one of the most core departments.

Regarding the promotion to Director, Director Ning Caishu had only treated him to a meal to show her thanks and nothing more.

Zhang Huaijing smiled bitterly and said, "Caishu, you don't care about me at all. You didn't even know about something this big? At least you know I was transferred to Haizhou as the Deputy Secretary."

Steak, salad, seafood, and thick soup were all served.

The steak was Australia M9, original flavor. Naturally, the price was high; the average cost per person at this restaurant exceeded 1,200 yuan.

Once the waiter left, Director Ning Caishu picked up her knife and fork, sliced the steak in half, and said calmly, "See, this is called a clean break. I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore, so I've proactively blocked out certain information. I just want to live my small life quietly and peacefully."