After Breaking Up with the Stoic CEO - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: That Is the Only Difference

Lu Wu was weighing how to tell Tan Hangxue the truth in her mind, but her friend had already begun to guess on her own.

“Tell me honestly, are you working as a live-in housekeeper for Li Jin?”

Cough, cough… Lu Wu choked on her drink. Tan Hangxue, however, felt she had hit the nail on the head and became even more animated. “It must be it! You’re paying off your debts with labor, and that’s the only reason Li Jin agreed to let you off the hook for the damages. That’s why you asked me to pick up Rui-rui from school that day!”

At that moment, Ji Youyan walked over and sat down. “What are you talking about? The harassment packages?”

Tan Hangxue wagged a finger and leaned in close to her ear, whispering secretively, “We’re talking about how Lu Wu sold herself to Li Jin to be a housekeeper.”

Ji Youyan: “…” Her expression was subtle, as if she were looking at a fool. “I suggest… you listen to what the person involved has to say.”

Ji Youyan clearly didn’t believe it. Tan Hangxue turned back to the “person involved” across the table. “Lu Wu, did I guess perfectly?”

Urged on by Tan Hangxue, Lu Wu didn’t know how to answer. Both women were undoubtedly her good friends, and Lu Wu hadn’t intended to hide her relationship with Li Jin forever. But she didn’t know how to define their dynamic. More than ambiguous, less than lovers? Or… bed partners with no financial ties and absolutely no obligations?

Moreover, Tan Hangxue and Ji Youyan were both straight. As a lawyer, Ji Youyan dealt with both criminal and civil cases and had seen enough to perhaps be more accepting. Tan Hangxue, however, was different. Her parents were both professors, and she had grown up in an incredibly traditional environment. To ask her to accept that her long-time friend was a lesbian…

Lu Wu hesitated, weighed the pros and cons, and finally decided to be honest. “Actually… that’s not quite right.”

Tan Hangxue raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “How is it not right? You and Li Jin are clearly well-acquainted, you’ve spent the night at her place—don’t tell me it’s just a professional relationship for a book commission?”

Lu Wu explained, watching her expression closely: “If I told you I am pursuing her, would you believe me?”

Tan Hangxue found it absurd and let out a laugh. “I know you don’t want me to help you too much, but you don’t have to use such an excuse to fool me, right?”

Lu Wu shook her head. “It’s not an excuse.”

Tan Hangxue turned aggressively to the person beside her, demanding justice. “Ji Youyan, tell me—we’ve known each other for so many years, yet Lu Wu’s first reaction when something happens is to hide it. Does she even still treat us as friends?”

Ji Youyan looked at her with a deep gaze. She seemed to have much to say, but in the end, she replied with a flat, final tone: “Lu Wu isn’t hiding anything.”

Compared to Tan Hangxue’s dramatic reaction, Lu Wu was more surprised by Ji Youyan’s calmness. She chose her words carefully. “I haven’t found the right time until now, so… I’m sorry for telling you both about this so late.”

“How is that possible? Are you both messing with me? Lu Wu and Li Jin are both women, and Li Jin has a child—” Tan Hangxue’s “normal” worldview of love, upheld for over twenty years, had been hit hard. She wouldn’t concede in her heart, but as she muttered to herself, her mind suddenly flashed back to the scene from that morning.

Li Jin was the first to walk out of the house, wearing a semi-formal, semi-casual white long-sleeved shirt, with faint, suggestive marks visible near her collar. Lu Wu, who followed close behind, had dark circles under her eyes, and her lips seemed slightly swollen.

So, that night…

The raging fire was suddenly extinguished, and the air remained quiet for a long time. Tan Hangxue’s brain was still struggling to process the information, so Lu Wu didn’t continue the information dump, thoughtfully leaving Tan time to react.

Ji Youyan was the one to end the silence. “The person who posted the rumors online has been identified.”

Lu Wu gathered her composure to deal with the business at hand. “Is it Liu Xiang?”

Ji Youyan nodded slightly. “If you want an apology, we can file multiple charges against her, led by infringement of reputation rights.”

The public opinion online had already begun to subside. If Liu Xiang were to step forward now with an apology, it would undoubtedly thrust both Feiyan Literature Network and Lu Wu back into the spotlight of public discourse. Lu Wu pondered this and rejected the idea. “What does Feiyan have to say?”

Ji Youyan explained the situation briefly: “I’ve been in contact with Feiyan’s legal department. Based on initial discussions, they are much more interested in a settlement.”

Resolving the matter amicably was more beneficial for the current situation. Lu Wu asked about the key point: “What about the contract termination fee?”

Ji Youyan handed over the document. “This is the preliminary settlement agreement. They’ve agreed to pay according to the industry’s lowest standard.”

According to industry standards, the penalty for early termination typically does not exceed 30% of actual losses. Lu Wu scanned the black and white text. Most of what Feiyan had “invested” was marketing costs and website placement, so the penalty was ultimately set at 30,000 yuan. Furthermore, the withheld copyright revenue would be deposited into her bank account within three working days.

They seemed eager to play the part of law-abiding citizens. It was clear that while Hu Shuo and Liu Xiang were mindless, the person truly in charge of the website didn’t want to see Feiyan mired in negative PR.

Lu Wu looked up. “I can accept this.”

Ji Youyan nodded. “Good. I’ll revise the specific terms tonight and arrange a meeting with them tomorrow.”

Ji Youyan hadn’t had a proper rest in nearly a week, and now she was working overtime tonight because of her. Lu Wu felt guilty. “Youyan, thank you for your hard work these past two days. If not for you, the Feiyan matter wouldn’t have been resolved so quickly…”

Ji Youyan didn’t actually feel it was much of a burden, as Feiyan was easier to talk to than expected. Following the normal process, she had simply worked a few extra days because the cases piled up. Moreover, as a lawyer, since Lu Wu insisted on paying the firm’s standard fees, this was purely within the scope of her professional duties.

Ji Youyan raised an eyebrow. “If this counts as hard work, I’d wish for it every day. I’ve dealt with so many difficult clients; you’re the only one who’s this easy to deal with.”

Lu Wu was amused by the unexpected dry humor and couldn’t help but laugh. Once she finished laughing, she noticed Tan Hangxue was still dazed, her spoon having turned the cake into a mess. Lu Wu’s smile faded slightly, and she probed: “Hangxue… are you very repulsed by homosexuality?”

Suddenly called by name, Tan Hangxue, who had been miles away, seemed jolted. She looked up and denied it without hesitation: “No!”

Lu Wu saw her gaze shifting away and paused, not knowing what else to say. There are many sexual orientations in the world, and conversely, there are all sorts of perspectives on them. Chinese education had been conservative since ancient times, and people were prone to extreme thoughts when facing minority groups. Tan Hangxue was clearly restraining herself out of consideration for Lu Wu’s feelings.

Seeing Lu Wu silent, Tan Hangxue hesitated: “I know… I just need a little more time.”

Lu Wu smiled. “I understand.”

Tan Hangxue opened her mouth but said nothing more. Ji Youyan stepped in to lighten the mood: “Do you want to go get some barbecue tonight? There’s a place called ‘Xunwei’ nearby; my colleagues went last time and said it was good.”

Tan Hangxue remained silent.

Lu Wu hadn’t failed to anticipate this scene, but no matter how much she prepared, she still felt a sense of loss—after all, Tan Hangxue had been a friend she cherished for many years. She unlocked her phone with an easy expression: “Li Jin just sent me a message about some work matters we need to discuss. I’ll treat you both next time.”

Lu Wu left first, and Tan Hangxue and Ji Youyan stayed in the dessert shop for quite a while longer. Tan Hangxue didn’t move to leave, so Ji Youyan sat by her side in silence until her friend leaned over, burying her eyes and mouth into the crook of her neck.

She muttered, “Ji Youyan, am I being too much?”

Ji Youyan let her stiff limbs relax and steadied her heartbeat. “No.”

Tan Hangxue’s tone was irritable, as if she were angry at herself. “It’s clearly not some heinous act; I know that. But I just can’t imagine… how can two women be together?”

Ji Youyan fell silent for a moment, then asked a question: “If you had to compare, do you think men or women are more considerate, who has more capacity for empathy?”

Tan Hangxue looked at her, answering without hesitation: “That goes without saying, of course, it’s women.”

“The female teachers at school all have their own merits, while I can’t even be bothered to complain about some of the male teachers; you have no idea…”

Tan Hangxue had more to say, but Ji Youyan didn’t let her finish. “So, you’re just trapped in a conventional framework. Seeing each other’s emotions more meticulously, giving care more considerately, and being able to lean on each other to grow old without needing secular definitions of responsibility and relationship… If there is any difference between two women in love and a regular relationship, that is the only difference.”

It was the first time Tan Hangxue had heard someone describe a relationship between women this way. She was stunned, falling into deep thought.

When the time was right, Ji Youyan spoke again: “Forget it if you can’t wrap your head around it; take it slow.”

“What you said makes sense. I just…” Tan Hangxue trailed off, shook her head, and sighed.

Lu Wu used the cooperation meeting as a pretext, and her excuse for leaving was perfect. But in reality, she hadn’t received a message from Li Jin—she had received an unexpected contact from someone else.

It was Qu Wan.

She was asking if Lu Wu had time to meet. Lu Wu didn’t have much of an impression of Qu Wan, but the other woman’s tone was formal, as if there was something genuinely important to discuss, so she didn’t refuse.

They agreed to meet at a nearby cafe. By the time Lu Wu arrived, Qu Wan was already there.

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