After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Calculation

“Divorce. Get a divorce from Rong Zhao immediately.”

April 7th, Jiangyue International Airport, Terminal 3. Travelers bustled by; voices, announcements, and the rhythmic clicking of suitcase wheels echoed through the cavernous space.

Jiangjiang, her hair styled in small dreadlocks intertwined with colorful threads, strode toward the exit while talking on the phone. Spotting the red-haired Mingzhu in sunglasses up ahead, she abandoned her suitcase and sprinted toward her. The moment she threw her arms around Mingzhu, Jiangjiang burst into a flood of tears.

Hearing the heartbreak in Jiangjiang’s sobs, Mingzhu’s own eyes stung with heat, and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

The two held each other tightly, weeping, until Mingzhu noticed people staring. Just as she moved to pull away, Jiangjiang beat her to it—then immediately reached out to pinch Mingzhu’s arm.

Mingzhu reacted instantly, spinning around to run.

“Bai Mingzhu, you stand right there!” Jiangjiang shouted, torn between chasing her friend and remembering her suitcase. She wiped her tears haphazardly and dragged her luggage back, yelling in frustration, “I should just kill you! So much happened and you didn’t tell me a single thing! We’re over! Friendships canceled, right now!”

Mingzhu laughed and doubled back to hug Jiangjiang’s arm, using her sleeve to wipe Jiangjiang’s face. “Laughing one second, crying the next. Keep your voice down. Want some Malatang?”

Jiangjiang: “Yes.”

Half an hour later, at a Malatang shop near the Fifth High School on Fuxue Road, Jiangjiang finally got the taste she’d been craving. This was their go-to spot during high school weekends—a taste of pure nostalgia.

Mingzhu had eaten a full breakfast and wasn’t hungry at 10:00 AM. She rested her chin on her hand, watching Jiangjiang eat. Occasionally, her eyes drifted to the beautiful red watch Rong Zhao had given her, a pleased smile playing on her lips.

Jiangjiang, her face flushed from the spicy heat, was still lecturing her: “Since when can’t I travel? How does that become an excuse not to call me? And how am I not a long-term solution? You’re a partner-up in my video studio; even if you don’t want to spend my parents’ money, the commercial deals from the studio are enough for you to live comfortably forever. Divorce. Get a divorce from Rong Zhao now.”

The truth about her birth, the marriage—Bai Mingzhu’s stubbornness was driving her crazy! Did she even consider her a friend?

Mingzhu ignored the lecture and focused only on the last sentence. “Why should I divorce?”

Jiangjiang bit through a noodle in frustration, nearly spitting. “Why?! Because it’s a fake marriage! You two aren’t the same kind of people. Your personalities and habits are opposites! And you’re asking me why?!”

Jiangjiang’s bond with Mingzhu was deeper than He Chan’s. She knew her better. The moment she’d turned on her phone and seen the news, she was 100% certain it was a fake marriage. Not a shred of doubt.

Mingzhu liking Rong Zhao? Impossible. Rong Zhao liking Mingzhu? Even more impossible.

Mingzhu reached out to wipe a dot of oil off Jiangjiang’s nose. “But Jiangjiang, Rong Zhao is actually quite good to me. She gives me money, she gave me this watch… see? A fake marriage isn’t so bad. When she doesn’t need me to play the part anymore, I’ll have saved up enough to live off the interest in my retirement.”

Jiangjiang had noticed the watch in the car. It was striking, matching Mingzhu’s temperament perfectly—radiant, luxurious, and bold. The fact that Rong Zhao had given such an expensive diamond watch so casually only made Jiangjiang more suspicious.

She worried that while Mingzhu was enjoying her “salted fish” lifestyle, the cold and calculating Rong Zhao would suddenly end the marriage. It’s hard to go back to a simple life once you’ve developed a taste for luxury. How could Mingzhu survive on mere interest then?

Jiangjiang swatted Mingzhu’s hand away. “You don’t want to divorce, do you?”

Mingzhu knew Jiangjiang cared, so she put it delicately: “Aside from our different habits, Rong Zhao really is a good person.”

“…”

Jiangjiang was a woman of action. After finishing her meal, she dragged Mingzhu to the Rong-Tech Group to find Rong Zhao. Mingzhu knew Jiangjiang wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted; it was better to be there than to let Jiangjiang talk to Rong Zhao alone.

Xiang茜, their driver, confirmed with Secretary Qian that CEO Rong was available and drove them over. She took them up the private elevator to the 27th floor. Since it was lunch hour, Secretary Qian was away. Mingzhu knocked, heard a cool “Come in,” and pushed the door open.

Before she even saw Rong Zhao, Mingzhu was struck by the room’s emptiness and whiteness—it was blindingly white. Then, she caught the wonderful aroma of Sichuan food.

She hadn’t been hungry at the Malatang shop, but the scent now made her stomach growl. She followed her nose to a white desk where three dishes and a soup were laid out. Looking up from the hand holding the chopsticks, she saw Rong Zhao in a frost-colored shirt, hair pinned with a jade hairpin, wearing her wedding ring.

“Rongrong, Jiangjiang is back. She came to see you,” Mingzhu said, her eyes fixed on the food.

Rong Zhao took a pair of chopsticks from the bag and set them on the desk, turning her head to look at the guest. “Welcome back. You’re a step late; He Chan just left.”

Jiangjiang: “…” Perfect timing, actually.

Mingzhu: “What was He Chan doing here?”

Rong Zhao: “Just chatting. She wanted to visit you at home, but I told her you were picking up Jiangjiang. She figured you’d have a lot to talk about, so she left.”

Mingzhu looked at Jiangjiang. “Should we invite He-He to dinner later?”

Jiangjiang: “…We’ll see. Business first.”

Jiangjiang hadn’t come empty-handed. She placed a handmade gift from abroad on the desk. Regardless of the reason, Rong Zhao had looked after Mingzhu and given her a place to stay when she was hurting. Jiangjiang wanted to say thank you.

“A small gift from overseas. Thank you for taking care of Mingzhu,” Jiangjiang said. “Go ahead and eat; we can talk when you’re done.”

Rong Zhao glanced at the gift. “Taking care of my Mrs. Rong is my duty; there’s no need for thanks. I’ll accept this as a wedding gift. Thank you, Jiangjiang.”

Jiangjiang: “…” Look at that. This woman is so good at passive-aggressive politeness. How could Mingzhu ever win? She must be infuriated by her daily.

Mingzhu, however, didn’t feel infuriated at all. She was already leaning over the desk, chopsticks in hand, nodding in approval at the food.

Rong Zhao stood up to give her the seat, pressing Mingzhu’s shoulders down into the office chair so she could eat comfortably. She pulled up a mystery movie on her monitor for Mingzhu to watch and said to Jiangjiang, “I’ve finished eating. Let’s talk over there.”

Jiangjiang looked at Mingzhu in disbelief. “…Bai Mingzhu, didn’t you say you weren’t hungry?”

Mingzhu looked up, used Rong Zhao’s hairpin to pin up her own hair, and said righteously, “I wasn’t hungry then, but I am now. You guys talk; I’m eating.”

“…”

While Mingzhu focused on her meal, Rong Zhao led Jiangjiang to the tea room. It had transparent, soundproof glass; Mingzhu could see them, but she couldn’t hear them.

Jiangjiang got straight to the point. “Rong Zhao, since you and Mingzhu are legally married, you must know the situation in Nanmuyu. Tell me, what’s going on over there?”

Rong Zhao calmly brewed tea. She asked first, “Where are you staying tonight? You’re welcome at our home; we have many guest rooms.”

Jiangjiang’s parents had immigrated, and their local house was rented out. Jiangjiang’s personality clashed with the elegant, cold CEO, so she declined. “I won’t disturb you. I’ll stay at a hotel, and Mingzhu will stay with me.”

“Very well,” Rong Zhao said. “If you need anything, let me know. I’ll have someone deliver it.” She then began to explain the situation in detail. She knew if she didn’t clarify things, Jiangjiang would likely try to persuade Mingzhu to get a divorce.

In Nanmuyu, Qin Yining’s parents were Qin Duo and Cao Yueqiu. Upon learning their daughter wasn’t their biological child, Cao Yueqiu had checked into a hospital—faking illness to squeeze money out of the Bai family.

In reality, the Qin grandfather was part of the first generation of wealthy real estate moguls. He had two sons: the elder, Qin Xian, and the younger, Qin Duo. The grandfather gave the development business to Qin Xian and the property management to Qin Duo.

Twenty years ago, Qin Duo felt slighted by this decision. His business had spiraled downward ever since. Embittered, the couple had cut ties with the elder brother’s family and now ran a struggling supermarket, often calling their only daughter, Qin Yining, a “jinx.”

In contrast, the elder brother, Qin Xian, had been acquiring steel companies for twenty years. While real estate was currently down, his steel business was thriving through deep cooperation with aviation and high-speed rail projects. His revenue last year rivaled that of Rong-Tech.

Qin Xian and his wife, Tao Xin, had two daughters. The elder, Qin Wei, was close with Qin Yining. The younger, Qin Mu, was the same age as Mingzhu and Qin Yining, and she was notoriously spoiled.

While Rong Zhao watched Nanmuyu for Mingzhu, Qin Wei was watching Jiangyue for Qin Yining.

Knowing Mingzhu had grown up pampered by the Bais, Qin Yining had been worried. Rong Zhao had reached out to the cousin, Qin Wei, to explain Mingzhu’s personality—making it clear that Mingzhu had no intention of “hoarding” their parents and truly wanted a reunion for everyone.

Rong Zhao had also contacted Qin Yining’s college roommate and learned that Qin Yining didn’t want Mingzhu to come “home” to Nanmuyu because she knew her parents were terrible people and didn’t want Mingzhu to fall into that fire pit.

Thus, Qin Yining was likely returning with the biological parents soon, and she wanted to contact Mingzhu to warn her not to return to the biological family.

Jiangjiang, hearing this long list of relationships: “…” My brain hurts.

She had come to the office ready to pick a fight, feeling Rong Zhao was taking advantage of a crisis. But after hearing this, she felt like she should undo her dreadlocks and give Rong Zhao a formal bow.

“Does Mingzhu know any of this?” Jiangjiang asked.

Rong Zhao looked through the glass. Mingzhu was still eating.

Jiangjiang: “…” That heartless, food-loving young lady.

Mingzhu was still in “escape mode,” unwilling to face the reality.

“Fine”, Jiangjiang said. “I get it. You’re waiting until Qin Yining’s stance is completely clear before telling Mingzhu.”

Rong Zhao poured more tea with an elegant gesture. “You’re welcome. Taking care of my Mrs. Rong is only right.”

Jiangjiang: “…” I didn’t even say thank you yet! And what’s with the ‘Mrs. Rong’ every five seconds!

Still, Jiangjiang offered a sincere thanks. “Rong Zhao, thank you. I know you’re only doing this because your family is watching and you have to, but I’m still grateful.”

Rong Zhao: “…” Truly, birds of a feather flock together. Jiangjiang’s logic was just as irritating as Mingzhu’s.

“You’re welcome. Let’s head out,” Rong Zhao said, rising coldly.

Mingzhu had finished and was playing with her phone. She asked casually, “By the way, Jiangjiang, do you have someone on WeChat called ‘Old Classmate from Class 3-2’? I found them on my list last month and have no idea who they are.”

Rong Zhao’s frame stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Jiangjiang: “No idea. Never heard of it. Why didn’t you just ask them who they are?”

Mingzhu: “I blocked them. Just remembered and wanted to ask.”

Jiangjiang laughed. “It was probably someone with a crush on you in school. Who else? Blocking was the right move, otherwise, they’d be stalking your Moments like a creep.”

Mingzhu shuddered.

Rong Zhao: “…Finished eating?”

Mingzhu grinned. “Yup. And Rongrong, I found a pair of good things in your office.” She held up a pair of beautiful red rose cufflinks. “These.”

Jiangjiang: “…Are you a thief? Never leave empty-handed?”

“If you like them, take them,” Rong Zhao said dismissively. She looked at Jiangjiang. “Do you want a pair?”

Jiangjiang wasn’t as thick-skinned as Mingzhu. “No, no, thank you.”

Mingzhu happened to be wearing a French-cuff shirt. She hadn’t picked out cufflinks this morning, so these were perfect. She put them on, making sure her watch was visible. Satisfied and full, she linked arms with Jiangjiang and waved. “We’re going! I won’t be home for a few days. Call me if anything happens.”

Rong Zhao saw them to the door, her cool demeanor returning to its usual refined grace. “Stay safe.”

“We will!”

Closing the door, Rong Zhao returned to her desk. Most of the meat was gone, leaving only the peppers. She let out a small laugh and messaged Auntie Guan: “Arrange for Chef Tang to go to the Sichuan restaurant on Fuan Road for two days of training. Mingzhu likes the food there.”

Outside, Mingzhu asked Jiangjiang, “Feeling better now?”

Jiangjiang smiled. “For now. We’ll see about the rest later.”

Mingzhu smiled too. She didn’t know exactly what Rong Zhao had done, but she knew the woman was thorough. She would handle everything for “Mrs. Rong” and settle Jiangjiang’s worries.

Inside the office, Rong Zhao took another pair of rose cufflinks from her drawer and casually put them on.

She was thorough. She had calculated that Jiangjiang would come to the office after landing; she’d calculated that Mingzhu wouldn’t be hungry at 10:00 but would be famished by lunch; and she’d calculated that Mingzhu would love those rose cufflinks.