After the Divorce, I Ended Up with My Ex-Husband’s "White Moonlight" [Transmigration] - Chapter 10

It was early summer. The cicadas in the trees had already begun their rhythmic drone, their chorus drifting clearly into the living room of the Lu estate.

Zhang Sao stood with one hand behind her back, restlessly twisting the hem of her apron, while her other hand hovered awkwardly in front of her. Her eyes remained fixed on Ning Qi.

No one in the Lu household knew better than Zhang Sao just how much “Madam” had once adored the Young Master.

All through the previous day, Zhang Sao had agonized over whether to call Ning Qi. She knew the Young Master intended to discuss a divorce, but she hadn’t expected him to be so cold as to send a lawyer in his stead, refusing even to show his face. Zhang Sao’s heart was a tangled mess of worry for how Ning Qi would react.

Butler Lu was equally unsettled. His primary concern was what would happen if the Madam refused to cooperate. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly; the Young Master was being far too clinical. If it was a divorce, shouldn’t the two of them at least sit down and speak face-to-face?

Ning Qi’s gaze swept over the large, bold characters on the cover of the document. It was impossible to miss.

“President Lu is truly a busy man,” she remarked dryly. “I doubt there are many people in the world more occupied than he is.”

She tapped her finger lightly against the folder. “Busy enough, it seems, that he hasn’t even the time to discuss his own divorce?”

Yang Rui did not answer. Before he arrived, President Lu’s special assistant had warned him that the process might be difficult and told him to prepare himself mentally.

As a lawyer, Yang Rui had seen it all. In divorce cases alone, he had dealt with unwilling wives, stubborn husbands, and frantic parents threatening life and limb to stop the split. Having witnessed so much drama, he remained relatively unphased.

“Tell me,” Ning Qi said, her voice laced with irony, “when the time actually comes to divorce, will we even need to visit the Civil Affairs Bureau?”

In the web novels she had read, characters often just signed a piece of paper and called it a day. Ning Qi found the notion hilarious. With her basic understanding of the law, she highly doubted Lu Mingze had the power to move a government bureau into his living room. Did he think he was a god?

“Miss Ning, you’re joking,” Yang Rui replied, well-versed in the legalities. “Since this isn’t a litigated divorce, a trip to the Civil Affairs Bureau is mandatory.”

“Please, feel free to look over the agreement,” he added, adopting a conciliatory tone. “If there is anything you find unsatisfactory, we can make adjustments.” He was merely a messenger and had no desire to offend either party.

In truth, Ning Qi had no interest in whether Lu Mingze showed up or not. Much like him, she didn’t particularly want to see his face.

However, having read the original novel, she knew this “ambush” was coming. Had she been the original character, this sudden demand would have been incredibly insulting. To be discarded without even a face-to-face meeting was a total erasure of her personhood.

Of course, as the male lead, it was his “right” to ignore a minor cannon fodder like her. Ning Qi was merely playing a part; she wasn’t truly angry, but she needed this lawyer to understand that she wasn’t a pushover. For her, the real battle of this divorce was about to begin.

A heavy silence filled the room. Yang Rui was at a loss—was she willing to divorce or not? If she wasn’t, she seemed remarkably calm for someone just receiving the news. Had the President told her yesterday? But if she was willing, he certainly couldn’t see any signs of enthusiasm.

Yang Rui wasn’t the only one confused; Zhang Sao and Butler Lu were stunned. They expected that even if the Madam didn’t burst into tears in front of a stranger, she wouldn’t openly criticize the Young Master.

It wasn’t that the Young Master didn’t deserve it—they both thought he was being excessive—but in the past, no matter how poorly he behaved, the Madam would never utter a word against him. She wouldn’t even let them complain! Even when the Old Madam was alive and scolded him, Ning Qi would always jump to his defense.

While the staff brooded, Ning Qi and Yang Rui remained at a stalemate. After another moment of silence, Ning Qi spoke, a smile actually touching her lips.

“I realize, Mr. Yang, that this is simply your job. I have no intention of making things difficult for you.”

Yang Rui’s professional smile began to form, but it froze when Ning Qi continued:

“However, Lawyer Yang, you are a man of experience. For me to walk away from this marriage with absolutely nothing… that doesn’t seem right, does it?”

Ning Qi had just flipped to the section on asset distribution. As expected, it was identical to the novel: the “dog of a man” wanted her to leave with nothing but the clothes on her back.

Yang Rui had known this would be an issue. He had drafted the agreement exactly as President Lu had instructed. As a man himself, he felt a twinge of shame that a powerful CEO would leave his wife penniless. Even in the bitterest divorces, most people offered something just to ensure a clean break.

Regardless of his personal feelings, his job was to find a legal way to make this happen. “Miss Ning, it is my understanding that you signed a prenuptial agreement when you married Mr. Lu Mingze.”

Ah, that one-sided contract, Ning Qi thought. She remembered it well.

“I’m sorry, but I think I was a bit foolish back then. I’m no longer willing to abide by it.”

Her blunt admission left Yang Rui momentarily speechless.

“I’m sure you understand, Mr. Yang,” Ning Qi continued. “When I married him, I was only interested in the man himself. I was willing to walk away without a cent. But now that he is being so heartless—leaving me with neither love nor money—what would you do if you were in my shoes?”

Yang Rui had no answer. Divorces were complicated webs of assets, children, and emotions. President Lu’s assistant had told him the biggest hurdle would be Ning Qi’s deep obsession with the President. He had prepared a whole repertoire of “sympathetic listener” lines, only to be told the issue was actually about the money.

His unused scripts for emotional consolation suddenly felt very heavy in his mind.

Seeing Yang Rui’s silence, Ning Qi didn’t rush him. She turned to the kitchen with a smile. “Zhang Sao, is there any dessert? I only had a light breakfast, and I’m starting to get hungry.”

“Yes, yes!” Zhang Sao snapped out of her daze. She hadn’t realized the Young Master could be so cruel as to demand a “clean break” (leaving with nothing). She had prepared lunch and sweets, but the shock of the situation had paralyzed her. She had hoped that if the Young Master came home, they could talk it out—perhaps for the sake of the late Old Madam. Instead, he had sent a lawyer.

Looking at Ning Qi’s expression, Yang Rui was certain of one thing: if the financial settlement was right, Ning Qi would sign her name without a second thought, likely eager to sever all ties with Lu Mingze instantly.

“Miss Ning,” Yang Rui said, his mind racing. “Regarding the assets, I can go back and speak with Mr. Lu again. May I ask what your expectations are?”

“I think that’s for the best,” Ning Qi said, waving the agreement in the air. “I wonder what the media would say if they found out the President of the Lu Group left his wife with nothing upon their divorce?”

Ning Qi kept smiling throughout, but Yang Rui couldn’t find it in himself to join her. If the media got wind of this, even with a prenup, the public would never take the President’s side.

Yang Rui picked up his briefcase and walked out of the Lu estate.

Zhang Sao watched him leave. Seeing that he hadn’t left the contract behind, she assumed there was a chance for a reconciliation. She was still convinced that Ning Qi didn’t truly want the divorce. “Madam truly has a way! Now the Young Master surely won’t dare to go through with it!”

Ning Qi smiled but said nothing. She couldn’t very well tell Zhang Sao that the only reason she was “unwilling” was because Lu Mingze was a stingy miser. Even if she explained it, the woman wouldn’t believe her.

After lunch, Ning Qi returned to her apartment at Nanyuan. This time, she spent the afternoon packing everything that belonged to her. The moment the divorce was final, she was taking it all.

That evening, after practicing the piano for a while, Ning Qi took a break and sent a message to Qin Shi.

“What are you doing?”

Ten minutes passed without a response. Ning Qi set her phone aside and returned to her sheet music.

“I haven’t played in so long; I’m definitely rusty,” she chuckled to herself.

On the other side of the city, Qin Shi was buried in work. As the only daughter of the Qin family, her parents had made it clear since middle school that the company would eventually be hers—provided she proved herself a capable leader. Through four years of university and two years abroad, she had never slacked off, but she knew she still lacked practical experience.

It was nearly an hour before Qin Shi saw the message.

“I was busy just now. Sorry.”

“I know,” Ning Qi replied instantly. “Just reply whenever you see my messages!”

“Mmh,” Qin Shi added quickly. “I’ll definitely reply whenever I see them.”

Was she promising to always get back to her? Ning Qi felt a surge of happiness. Waiting an hour had resulted in a promise—it was a trade she’d make any day.

“Qin Shi, I’ll have you know, I actually quite like waiting for people.”

“Why?” Qin Shi didn’t understand. Wasn’t waiting supposed to be agonizing?

“Because it means there’s a ‘later’!” Ning Qi replied without hesitation.

“Later…” Qin Shi murmured the word to herself. Upon reflection, it was a lovely thought.

“So, you were working just now?” Ning Qi typed.

“Yes. And what are you doing?”

“Me? Playing the piano.” There was a brief silence on the other end. Thinking Qin Shi might have been pulled away again, Ning Qi turned a page of her music.

“You like playing the piano?”

“I do.” Growing up, Ning Qi hadn’t been able to learn much due to her frail health. Her parents had been protective, but she had fought for the piano. The doctors had even said it would be beneficial, so her parents finally relented.

“Qin Shi, do you like the piano?” As the eldest daughter of the Qin family, Ning Qi had no doubt Qin Shi had been taught the basics.

“It’s alright.” In truth, she didn’t enjoy it, but she didn’t say that directly.

“Fair enough.” Sensing Qin Shi didn’t want to dwell on the topic, Ning Qi shifted gears and began rambling about her day.

“Qin Shi, I have to tell you—I had a dessert today that was incredible. I didn’t make it, but it was so delicious. You have to try it if you ever get the chance!”

Based on their two meetings, Qin Shi imagined Ning Qi sitting across from her, wearing a brilliant smile as she described the sweet.

“But then again, Qin Shi, I realized you’ve probably eaten way more fancy things than I have. You might have even seen it before!”

“No,” Qin Shi replied. “I haven’t.”

Maybe it’s a regional specialty from Zhang Sao’s hometown? Ning Qi thought. Then she realized something. “Well, if you want to try it, I guess we’re out of luck.” She sent a crying emoji. “I don’t know how to make it.”

“I suppose I need to speed up my plan to learn how to cook.”

“You don’t know how to cook?” Qin Shi asked.