The moment Mei Wei got into the car, she deliberately leaned closer to Zain.
"Zain, where is that 'wife' of yours?" she said with a mocking smile. "I've heard she's terribly boring. You need a woman like me, not someone like her."
As she spoke, she placed her hand over Zain's hand.
Zain knew very well that Anya was sitting in the back seat and could hear every single word. He wanted to punish her—for attacking him with chopsticks and for refusing to accompany him. So, he decided to play along.
Zain (smiling):
"You're right, Mei Wei. Maybe I really should rethink my choices."
Sitting behind them, Anya's blood began to boil.
"Oh really? So I'm boring, and you like this walking makeup store?" she thought angrily.
"Just wait. I'll show you."
Part 2: Anya's "Bhaiyya-Style" Revenge
Anya decided to make Mei Wei suffer. Mei Wei was drunk, and Anya took full advantage of it.
Just as Mei Wei was about to rest her head on Zain's shoulder, Anya gently but firmly pulled her hair from behind.
Mei Wei:
"Ah! Zain… someone pulled my hair!"
Zain (suppressing his laughter):
"What are you talking about? There's no one here except the two of us."
Then Anya lightly tickled Mei Wei's neck with her fingers and softly blew a cold breath near her ear.
Mei Wei (shivering):
"Z–Zain! There's a ghost here! I can feel someone breathing near my ear!"
Part 3: Zain's Laughter and Anya's Wink
Zain glanced into the rear-view mirror. After scaring Mei Wei, Anya was now looking straight at him.
The moment their eyes met, Anya gave him a mischievous wink—as if saying,
"See what I'm doing to this witch?"
Zain couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.
Zain:
"Mei Wei, you've had way too much to drink. That's why you're hallucinating. There's no ghost here."
Part 4: Mei Wei's Disaster
Anya wasn't done yet. She quietly slid Mei Wei's purse under the seat and pinched her leg hard.
Mei Wei screamed and jumped in her seat.
Mei Wei:
"Help! Zain, this car is haunted! Take me home—right now!"
Zain was smiling openly now. He found Anya's antics unexpectedly adorable.
"This girl is crazy," he thought, "but she's my wife."
As soon as they reached Mei Wei's house, she stumbled out of the car in panic and ran inside without once looking back. She was convinced that Zain's car was possessed by a spirit.
As Mei Wei's screams faded into the distance, a heavy silence fell inside the car. Zain didn't turn off the engine. He simply looked at Anya through the rear-view mirror.
Anya was still sitting there, laughing softly in victory.
Chapter: The "Ghost" Gets Caught — and the Journey to the Front Seat
Part 1: Zain's Command
Zain cleared his throat, trying to make his voice stern again, though mischief still sparkled in his eyes.
Zain:
"So… Miss Ghost, if your game is over, would you kindly move to the front seat? Or are you planning to strangle me from the back?"
Anya stopped laughing and made a crooked face.
Anya:
"I'm fine here. At least I don't have to listen to someone's 'darling-darling' nonsense."
Zain (leaning back against his seat):
"Anya, I won't say it again. Come to the front. Otherwise, I'll come back there myself and carry you here. And you know—I always do what I say."
Part 2: The Heartbeat of Closeness
Muttering under her breath, Anya climbed into the front seat. As she tried to fasten her seatbelt, Zain suddenly leaned toward her.
Anya's breathing stopped. She thought he was about to scold her.
Instead, Zain simply took the seatbelt from her hand and buckled it himself.
Their faces were dangerously close. The scent of Zain's perfume made Anya feel dizzy.
Zain (in a low voice):
"That wink—who was it for? To tease me… or to make me your partner in crime?"
Part 3: Anya's Innocence and Zain's Realization
Anya's cheeks flushed pink. Avoiding his gaze, she said,
"That was just… to teach her a lesson. You weren't any better either—smiling so happily while saying 'darling, darling.'"
Zain drove forward, one hand on the steering wheel, the other gently holding Anya's hand. This time, he didn't squeeze—he simply held it.
Zain:
"Mei Wei means nothing to me. And about that birthday night…"
(his voice grew heavy)
"Maybe I was too harsh. But that doesn't mean you'll jump off balconies."
Anya looked out of the window. The bitterness in her heart eased slightly. Zain acknowledging his mistake—even indirectly—meant more to her than he realized.
His hand was still holding hers when suddenly there was a loud knock on the window.
Mei Wei was standing there, panting. Her makeup was ruined, and the fear in her eyes had turned into pure venom.
Anya instantly bent down so Mei Wei wouldn't see her. Zain immediately pulled his hand away and masked his expression with coldness.
Zain slowly lowered the window. Mei Wei stared straight into his eyes, her face burning with hatred.
Mei Wei:
"Zain! I ran away, but then I remembered something you said to me two months ago—when you were drunk."
She grabbed Zain's hand. Her eyes were hazy with alcohol, but her words were sharp with poison. She deliberately raised her voice so the 'ghost' in the back seat could hear everything.
Mei Wei (laughing):
"Zain… I remember exactly what you said at the club that day. You said you hated your wife. You said you married that ordinary girl out of compulsion, and that you would never accept her."
Mei Wei:
"Poor Mrs. Yan… she probably doesn't even know that her husband sees her as a burden. Isn't that right, Zain?"
Zain immediately pulled his hand out of her grip. His face turned to stone. He didn't dare look toward Anya.
Bent down in her seat, Anya's body went cold as ice. Mei Wei's words poured into her ears like molten lead. She remembered the night she had waited with food she cooked for Zain—while he was out with Mei Wei.
Anya shut her eyes tightly. She waited for Zain's answer. She hoped he would deny it—but his silence was suffocating her.
Zain glanced once at Anya, still hidden from Mei Wei's sight. He wanted to shout that it was all a lie, but showing weakness in front of Mei Wei would threaten his business image and reputation.
Zain:
"Mei Wei, you're not in your senses. Get out."
Mei Wei stumbled away, shouting,
"The truth is bitter, darling! You can never love her!"
She left—but not before killing the last remaining hope in Anya's heart.
Anya slowly straightened up. There were no tears in her eyes now—only a silence worse than death.
She didn't look at Zain. The mischief on her face was gone. Her heart was once again filled with the bitterness of that old birthday night.
Zain started the car, but Anya's silence pierced him.
Anya (in a cold voice, staring out of the window):
"So… you told everyone at the club that I'm the biggest burden of your life?"
Zain:
"Anya, that's old history. Mei Wei was talking nonsense while drunk."
Anya:
"Old history? Two months ago, when you screamed at me and threw my cake away, that was the same truth—and it's still the same today. You said this marriage was just a one-year contract… I forgot my place for a moment—but Mei Wei reminded me."