MY VERY BRAVE WIFE
Chapter 2

Zhao Lifei suddenly sat on his bed, his heart pounding fiercely on his ribs.

She combed her hair with trembling hands and closed her eyes. Her lips trembled as tears welled up behind her eyelids. No matter how much he tried to erase that haunting past, the pain would always follow.

Immediately, salty teardrops fell from his eyes. He struggled to breathe properly, hiccups to breathe air.

In a cold, dark, quiet room, she cried. He wished it was just a nightmare and not a memory from the past.

His heart ached with painful memories from two years ago. Surrounded by the country's top socialites, she was utterly humiliated and embarrassed. His heart was torn to shreds, trampled, and thrown into the sea like disposable trash.

Zhao Lifei still remembers the pain of witnessing the love of his life choosing a woman he knew less than a year above him. He had been standing by his side for twenty-one years, wasting his youth in vain chasing after a man who had never glanced at him.

When he was too tired to be bothered with work, he took the position of Vice President of his company and laid his body to the ground. He expanded the company to its full potential.

Zhao Lifei did everything she could to support her, and she countered him by cheating and ripping off their marriage certificate.

He had naively fallen in love with Zheng Tianyi and dedicated his entire life to her. He was willing to run to the opposite side of the world for her, but she was unwilling. She was willing to sacrifice her limbs, health, and uterus for him, but she would sacrifice everything for others.

Falling onto his bed, Zhao Lifei stared at the gloomy and endless darkness.

He swore he would forget the past and move on. To some extent, he did. But a nightmare, like the one he just experienced, forces him to realize a painful past that will haunt him forever.

Xia Mengxi.even her name sounded plain and beautiful. Just like the character [1] from her name, she is the untouchable dream of real-life Cinderella. Growing up in a miserable family her father left at a young age, forcing her mother to raise her alone, she has a very sad story. Her mother used to be a janitor at Zheng Company and after successfully doing some things, Xia Mengxi was able to get a job as Zheng Tianyi's personal secretary.

By becoming her personal secretary, she was with him 24/7.

Zheng Tianyi's interest in him began with a naive and timid smile that seemed to illuminate the room. Xia Mengxi was unaware of her beauty and potential, which sparked her curiosity. Then the spark became a flame that ignited Zheng Tianyi's heart, and soon, Xia Mengxi found herself with a priceless diamond ring.

As the darkness allowed Zhao Lifei to reminisce without interruption, she did not hear a knock from her door.

Light beats become harder and harder. It echoed throughout the empty and empty room. One beat turns into two, then three, then four, until it gets really fast. Without warning, the door was slammed open.

A beautiful woman paced into the room, her hips naturally swaying from side to side. Long and slender legs, seductive eyes, perfect body, it is not difficult to see she is a world famous supermodel

Yang Ruqin stopped in front of Zhao Lifei's bed with a frown. She crossed her arms and looked at him like a mother waking her daughter up for school. "It's two o'clock in the afternoon, and you're still in bed ?!" He pulled and pulled Zhao Lifei's blanket.

"Qinqin, let me sleep a little longer .." murmured Zhao Lifei, snuggling into his blanket.

Yang Ruqin was the only friend standing by Zhao Lifei's side when Zheng Tianyi practically blacklisted her.

When Zhao Lifei's "friend" found out that she had no power, benefits, or title as Madame Zheng, everyone left her. After many socialites realized Xia Mengxi's importance to Zheng Tianyi, they instantly flooded her side.

Zhao Lifei was not surprised as her friends left her for Xia Mengxi's sake. Two years ago, she was supposed to be the vengeful antagonist in Xia Mengxi's life. She was supposed to be the woman who tried to frame Xia Mengxi for cheating and the horrible person who tried to separate the loving couple.

Zhao Lifei would not deny the fact that she used to be a horrible woman whose name was considered a sin. He can't change the past, but he knows he can change his future, which is why he works hard to become a better person.

"Are you daydreaming again? Did you hear what I just said?" Yang Ruqin was angry when Zhao Lifei did not reply to her.

"No, it's cold ..." Zhao Lifei groaned, curled up into a ball.

Ugh, why are your curtains so thick and dark? There is no natural lighting in this room!" Yang Ruqin walked over to the long curtain that covered the tall window.

"No, wait! I'm not ready with Light—" Late. Yang Ruqin had already opened the curtains.

Immediately, the bright rays of the afternoon sun seeped into the room, erasing all the melancholic darkness.

Since Zhao Lifei condominium was on the fifth highest floor of the tall apartment complex, the sunlight was stronger than before.

Groaning due to the intrusion of light, Zhao Lifei buried his head into his pillow. She refused to get up, but she knew Yang Ruqin would force her out of bed. "Can't you just leave me here to wallow in my grief?" His voice muffled.

"A high-class woman like you shouldn't sleep until sunset. Now wake!" The Ruqin chided, adjusting the curtain ropes.

"High-class women with no friends, good reputations, and amazing connections are just simple women with money." Zhao Lifei grunted.

Yang Ruqin sat on the bed and sighed, gently rubbing Zhao Lifei's hair. "Are you having the same dream again?" He gently asked, caressing the air of his friend.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhao Lifei said softly, "Yes."

Yang Ruqin's expression became soft. "Originally, I didn't like Zheng Tianyi from the start; he was really trash."

Zhao Lifei had a small smile on her face. "You just didn't like it at first because he stole your pudding on the first day of Kindergarten."

I have a million more reasons to hate him. He's a real jerk." Yang Ruqin replied. "And for the record, I'm still holding him accountable for that!" He pouted, crossing his arms like a stubborn child.

Zhao Lifei let out a light laugh, the pain in his heart for a moment disappeared.

"Thank you, Qinqin.I don't know what I would do without you." Zhao Lifei softly whispered. His voice was calm and broken, like a lonely child left behind by the world.

Yang Ruqin's face became soft. He reached out his hand and pulled his best friend into a very tight embrace. Together, they had experienced so many hardships in this world, nothing could separate them.

"My dear, I should have said that, not you." Yang Ruqin muttered on Zhao Lifei's shoulder.

When Yang Ruqin faced any crisis, Zhao Lifei was always there for her. From the blame of punching a boy in Kindergarten to the high school days where Zhao Lifei consistently covered up Yang Ruqin's mischievous deeds. They've seen each other in the worst, best of circumstances, and everything in between.

"We think too much about the past when we should focus on the present and the future. Now come on, get up." Yang Ruqin patted Zhao Lifei on the head and saw her finally sitting on her bed.

"Hurry up and get dressed, so we can go to lunch." Yang Ruqin brought Zhao Lifei down from the bed. With every step Yang Ruqin took, her silk red dress waved behind her.

"It's two o'clock, lunch is over." Zhao Lifei, the pessimist, grumbled at his laughing friend.

"Alright, party-wasters, then we can have lunch." Yang Ruqin pondered, pushing Zhao Lifei into the bathroom.

When Zhao Lifei started her morning routine, Yang Ruqin sat in the corner with a mischievous and hidden smile.