"Why did you put the property ownership certificate in the company? Are you trying to prevent me from getting it?" Li Man continued to ask.
There was a flash of annoyance in Huang Dehan's eyes. "What's wrong with you today? Are you looking to pick a fight?"
"Don't change the subject. I'm asking you a question. Answer me first."
"I had the property certificate with me while running some errands and I left it at the company. There, are you satisfied?" Huang Dehan was very angry as he yelled, "The way you're talking, it's like you don't trust me? I work myself to exhaustion outside and this is how you treat me as soon as I get home?"
Huang Dehan was trying to divert the topic and make Li Man feel guilty so that she would give up questioning him.
He knew Li Man all too well. Her heart was too soft.
But today, Li Man seemed determined to get to the bottom of this. "What errand required you to bring the property certificate?"
Huang Dehan was somewhat exasperated. Angrily he said, "What's wrong with you today? As soon as I get home, all you ask about is the property certificate. Could it be you believed some nonsense you heard?"
"How could I think someone was spouting nonsense to me?" Li Man asked. "Could it be you've done something to wrong me?"
Huang Dehan was visibly flustered. He quickly said, "Nonsense. How could I ever do anything to wrong you?"
Li Man looked meaningfully at Huang Dehan and said slowly, "I hope you don't do anything to wrong me, or else..."
She deliberately drew out the last word, wanting to see Huang Dehan's reaction.
"Or else what?" Huang Dehan exploded in anger. Loudly he said, "All these years, have I ever shortchanged you on food or clothing? And this is how you treat me? Do you still have a conscience? I work outside, enduring all kinds of grievances, while you stay home imagining things all day. Do you even want a good life anymore?"
After he finished, Huang Dehan looked at her sympathetically, as if a thought had just occurred to him. "Manman, what's happened to you recently? Is it because mom's passing has impacted you too much? If so, I can go with you to see a psychologist tomorrow?"
Li Man watched Huang Dehan's performance, suddenly feeling like the man before her was a stranger, someone disgusting.
"No need." Li Man had no mood to waste time chatting with him further. She got right to the point, "Bring the property certificate back to me tomorrow."
Huang Dehan had tried so hard to steer the conversation away from the property certificate topic, but didn't expect Li Man to cling to it so stubbornly.
Huang Dehan was so angry he stomped his feet. "What's wrong with you today? Looking to pick a fight, huh? I can't be bothered with you!"
After saying this, he walked into the bedroom and slammed the door shut with a "bang".
Staring at the closed door, Li Man felt chilled to the bone. Her twelve years of dedication had been so worthless.
From age 26 to 37, she had given the most beautiful years of her youth to this man. To be with him, she'd broken off ties with her family without hesitation. To care for his paralyzed mother, she had worked herself into illness, yet he had betrayed her and transferred their joint marital assets.
Humph!
Could he be any more heartless to her?
She really regretted not listening to her mother and insisting on marrying Huang Dehan. She truly regretted it now.
Tears flowed unchecked down her face. Li Man picked up her phone, wanting to call her parents and say sorry, that she was wrong. But though she input their number several times, she didn't have the courage to press the call button.
Huang Dehan had locked the bedroom door, so Li Man had no choice but to sleep in their daughter's room.