Divorced from the Cold CEO Who Lived by the Rules - Chapter 34

Jiang Ruan’s tone was resolute, as if convinced that Xue Long would interfere in her marriage.

Her deep eyes fixed intently on the phone screen, her expression instantly turning serious and wary. “I knew she was up to no good, scheming something all along.”

Xu Zhen neither confirmed nor denied it.

Seeing Xu Zhen remain silent, Jiang Ruan grew displeased. “…Say something.”

Prompted, Xu Zhen finally spoke, “I don’t have those kinds of feelings for her.” After a pause, she added, “And I don’t think she necessarily has those intentions toward me either.”

The Beta phrased it tactfully, but Jiang Ruan understood immediately. “She wants to use you for publicity.”

Xue Long had been doing well at Jiahua but suddenly terminated her contract and left. She must have needed a plausible excuse otherwise, she’d be labeled a “traitor” or “ungrateful wretch,” drawing scorn and condemnation from both inside and outside the industry.

But if she tied her departure to notions like unrequited love, secret longing, or sacrifice for love, not only would it elegantly resolve her awkward situation, but it would also perfectly craft a devoted persona for her.

Alphas were already favored by society. If she could also portray herself as a lovesick Alpha, countless people would rush to sympathize with and comfort her.

When Xue Long deceitfully spun this narrative, she never once considered the trouble and repercussions it would bring Xu Zhen.

Xu Zhen couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly. “If I’d known Alphas get praised just for breathing, I would’ve faked my secondary gender at some back-alley clinic back then.”

She meant it as a sarcastic remark, but Jiang Ruan took it seriously. “You want to become an Alpha? Being an Alpha isn’t good.”

Jiang Ruan spoke earnestly, “When an Omega’s pheromones drift your way, the first thing you’ll feel is your body losing control, deeply drawn to their scent. Then, your mind will grow hazier until you black out completely and end up making an irreversible mistake.”

“Every day, Alphas get arrested for forcibly marking Omegas.”

Xu Zhen didn’t like hearing that. A few days in detention wasn’t even that severe. “People die every day too. Should I stop living just because others lose their lives?”

Jiang Ruan fell silent after being rebutted, not daring to speak carelessly again.

Xu Zhen also realized she’d lost control, accidentally venting her emotions on Jiang Ruan, who was entirely blameless. “Sorry.”

Sometimes her mouth moved faster than her brain, and by the time she wanted to make amends, it was too late.

“It’s fine.” Jiang Ruan shook her head, unconcerned. “I actually like it when you scold people.”

Xu Zhen: “?”

Jiang Ruan didn’t elaborate. Instead, she casually excused herself to work on her laptop. Seeing this, Xu Zhen didn’t press further, setting her phone aside to quietly continue memorizing her script.

Yet Xu Zhen kept spacing out, her thoughts entirely hijacked by Jiang Ruan’s words.

Liked it when she scolded people?

Xu Zhen frowned, racking her memory until she finally recalled their first meeting, when Jiang Ruan had coincidentally witnessed her clashing with another celebrity.

That minor celebrity was a nepotism hire, not only butchering the script but also cutting Xu Zhen’s lead role down to almost nothing.

Unable to contain her anger, Xu Zhen directly got into an argument with the other party on set.

After the fight, Xu Zhen was absolutely certain she would be kicked out of the crew. After all, Jiahua had never backed her up in such matters, leaving her to fend for herself, struggling alone.

So when she returned to the dressing room, Xu Zhen felt both vindicated and frustrated. The filming was already more than halfway done if she had just endured a little longer, she could have wrapped up smoothly and received her final payment. But now, all her previous efforts had gone to waste.

That day, she waited in a complicated mood for the verdict from the production team. Instead of facing capital’s judgment, however, she was met with Jiang Ruan.

To this day, Xu Zhen still didn’t understand why she had fallen head over heels for an Alpha she had just met, her heart racing uncontrollably. It was as if Jiang Ruan had bewitched her, leaving her dazed and helplessly in love.

She would always remember that moment.

The sunlight was bright, the temperature just right. The crisp air carried the scent of green leaves, fresh grass, and an untamed, liberating aura, both magnificent and serene.

Xu Zhen couldn’t help but be drawn to such a woman. Jiang Ruan was everything she found attractive, perfectly aligned with her tastes.

Looking back now, though, the alluring scent Xu Zhen had detected back then was most likely Jiang Ruan’s pheromones.

Even though they had been far apart, Xu Zhen’s keen sense of smell had somehow picked her out from the crowd with uncanny precision.

They say love at first sight is nothing but a calamity. Thinking about this old saying, Xu Zhen couldn’t help but agree.

In the end, Xu Zhen wasn’t expelled from the crew. Instead, that minor celebrity was outright blacklisted. Shortly after, the production team changed investors, screenwriters, and a slew of other staff members.

Within just two or three days, the entire crew underwent a massive reshuffling.

It had to be Jiang Ruan’s doing, no one else would go to such lengths. The rest of the filming proceeded smoothly, and Xu Zhen’s performance in that drama became another hit.

So Jiang Ruan had stood up for her from the very beginning…

Xu Zhen stared blankly at the script. During the early days of their courtship, Jiang Ruan had indeed put in great effort, spending money like water. That period had been when Xu Zhen felt her affection most keenly.

“We’re here.” The Alpha’s voice pulled Xu Zhen out of her reverie. She looked up, her eyes taking a moment to refocus.

The hotel had been arranged by Assistant Lu, luxurious, of course. But when she saw how the staff treated Jiang Ruan after they got out of the car, Xu Zhen realized this was one of Jiang Ruan’s own properties.

Jiang Ruan owned too many things. What Xu Zhen knew of was merely the tip of the iceberg.

She never took the initiative to ask about Jiang Ruan’s assets, it would have made her seem greedy. If Jiang Ruan chose to share, Xu Zhen would listen. In wealthy families, overstepping boundaries was the gravest taboo.

Assistant Lu had booked them a luxury suite. After settling in, Xu Zhen went to freshen up first.

By the time she came out, Jiang Ruan was still working overtime.

Gazing at her profile, Xu Zhen couldn’t help but reminisce about the past back when there were no barriers between them, when they were in the honeymoon phase, and everything they did was sweet and blissful.

Even waiting for each other had carried its own unique thrill.

Recalling those happy moments, Xu Zhen couldn’t help but wonder, if not for the scandal, perhaps she would still be loving Jiang Ruan with the same naivety and wholehearted devotion.

Even though she now knew with absolute certainty that there was nothing between Xing Yan and Jiang Ruan, no hint of romance whatsoever, some things had still changed irreversibly.

A shattered mirror can never be made whole again, just like her relationship with Jiang Ruan.

Xu Zhen sighed softly in her heart, forcing herself not to dwell on it. The more she thought about it, the harder it became to deceive herself.

At least for now, she was still willing to continue living with Jiang Ruan.

The outcome of love was always the same, and compared to Xu Zhen’s unreliable, scoundrel of a father, Jiang Ruan could already be considered quite good.

Having successfully convinced herself, Xu Zhen turned her attention to work. Her body had mostly recovered, but the person who had pushed her into the water still hadn’t been found.

Xu Zhen had read plenty of detective novels and strongly suspected the culprit was someone close to her.

She left professional matters to the professionals. She had already been questioned, and now all she had to do was wait patiently for the results.

Around eleven at night, Xu Zhen finally finished her work. Seeing her free, Jiang Ruan promptly closed her laptop, her tone as casual as ever. “I’ll go wash up first.”

Xu Zhen’s heart stirred slightly, sensing an unspoken implication in Jiang Ruan’s words.

She nodded without saying much.

Jiang Ruan was quick. Before long, she emerged with damp, long hair. The Alpha casually towel-dried it, the dark strands no longer dripping once half-dry.

Jiang Ruan was strikingly beautiful tall, perfectly proportioned, with a healthy, symmetrical figure, like a flawless work of art. She had inherited Qin Liaoxing’s deep, sculpted bone structure and Lan Boyue’s soft, delicate features, surpassing both in sheer allure.

Xu Zhen adored Jiang Ruan’s appearance her forehead, her brows and eyes, her nose and lips. Every inch of her seemed coated in a bewitching poison, impossible to resist.

Jiang Ruan’s lips were pale but exquisitely shaped, carrying a unique charm.

Now, she approached silently and sat beside Xu Zhen, staring unblinkingly at the beta.Xu Zhen grew uneasy, stiffening slightly as she lowered her lashes to avoid eye contact. “What is it?”

Jiang Ruan didn’t answer immediately. Afraid the Alpha might bring up intimacy again, Xu Zhen spoke first. “I don’t want to tonight.”

“Okay.” Jiang Ruan finally replied, her tone calm, betraying no dissatisfaction.

The Alpha was being unusually accommodating. Xu Zhen looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes.

She studied Jiang Ruan’s composed expression, sensing something amiss. Normally, the Alpha would pout and persist a little, but today, Jiang Ruan didn’t.

Xu Zhen felt an inexplicable unease.

Before she could dwell on it, Jiang Ruan suddenly leaned in, her voice coaxing. “Then just one kiss.”

She moved too quickly for Xu Zhen to react. Soft lips pressed against hers, carrying the familiar scent and a faint sweetness. Before Xu Zhen could process the details, the Alpha had already invaded her space.

Trapped between Jiang Ruan’s arms against the headboard, Xu Zhen had no chance to retreat.

The kiss deepened slowly but remained gentle, as if laced with cautious hesitation.

It had been a long time since they’d been intimate ever since Jiang Ruan had started fixating on Xing Yan months ago, Xu Zhen had rejected her advances again and again.

Tonight was no exception.

When the lingering kiss finally ended, Xu Zhen’s gaze cleared. “Go dry your hair. It’s time to sleep.”

Alpha instincts had been stirred up, leaving Jiang Ruan feeling unbearably restless. She wanted to take things further, but seeing Xu Zhen’s clear-eyed indifference, she forcibly suppressed her desires and nodded obediently, “Alright, give me a few minutes.”

She couldn’t bring herself to behave like other Alphas who used their rut cycles as excuses to force themselves on others.

They were all just pretending to lose control.

If rut hormones were truly that overpowering, why didn’t they channel that energy into studying or working harder to get into top universities or Fortune 500 companies?

Other than taking advantage of weaker individuals under the pretense of rut cycles, they were utterly worthless.

Jiang Ruan had been raised well by Lan Boyue, she at least understood basic human decency. It was precisely this quality that Xu Zhen had sensed, prompting her to agree to their whirlwind marriage without hesitation.

Time had proven her judgment correct, and she had indeed enjoyed a period of genuine happiness.

After blow-drying her hair, Jiang Ruan returned to bed and struck up a conversation with Xu Zhen. “I know about Grandmother’s plans. Don’t be upset with her.” She explained, “Grandmother has always been strong-willed. All the family businesses are her life’s work. She thinks highly of your abilities, which is why she made that call.”

Pu Shuangquan was a formidable titan in the business world being acknowledged by her was truly an honor.

But Xu Zhen’s ambitions lay elsewhere, and there were too many complications involved, so she could only decline regretfully. “Alright.”

“Mom is unreliable, always doting on her wife. Grandmother is frustrated by her lack of ambition. On top of that, I’ve been swamped lately, always stretched too thin. Grandmother feels for me, so she turned to you.”

Qin Liaoxing was a hopeless romantic, and Pu Shuangquan was driven to exasperation by her own daughter every month.

With her daughter a lost cause, she pinned all her hopes on Jiang Ruan.

She poured everything into grooming Jiang Ruan, hoping she could flawlessly uphold her legacy after she was gone unknowingly, she had become overly strict.

Jiang Ruan, having grown up under Pu Shuangquan’s domineering guidance, harbored no resentment. In fact, she thrived under it.

Jiang Ruan bringing this up made Xu Zhen’s mind stir. Casually, she asked, “So what have you been busy with lately?”

“Can’t say.” Jiang Ruan shook her head. “Unless you join the company and get assigned to the relevant project team.”

Xu Zhen understood trade secrets weren’t to be divulged lightly. She let it drop with a smile. “Different trades, different worlds. I’ll stick to acting my part.”

“You’re not going to press further?” Xu Zhen had backed off, but Jiang Ruan wouldn’t let it go.

There was an indescribable complexity in Jiang Ruan’s eyes. “Ever since we met, you’ve always been so measured knowing exactly when to stop, never crossing lines, no matter the topic.”

“So you want me to pry?” Xu Zhen was puzzled.

Wasn’t her discretion something to be appreciated?

Jiang Ruan was already exhausted from work. If she came home only to be bombarded with endless questions, wouldn’t that just add to her fatigue?

“Yes.” Jiang Ruan nodded firmly. “I want you to take the initiative to understand me.”

Work kept them apart more often than not, leaving them with precious little time together. Yet even under these circumstances, Xu Zhen remained aloof like smoke that could drift away at any moment, impossible to grasp or contain.

Jiang Ruan felt deeply insecure.

Xu Zhen was momentarily at a loss for words. Finally, under Jiang Ruan’s slightly hopeful gaze, she could only say, “I’ll try my best.”

Those three simple words effortlessly soothed Jiang Ruan, who then began to confess, “A-Yan and I used to meet frequently because we were working on something extremely important something significant enough to overturn the current world and social order.”

If it was such a crucial matter, why had they kept it secret before, even at the cost of letting Xu Zhen misunderstand their relationship? And why was Jiang Ruan now revealing it so casually?

Xu Zhen frowned slightly.

The alpha was clearly oblivious, failing to notice the subtle shift in Xu Zhen’s mood as she continued, “Now, we’ve made initial progress on this matter. We’re just waiting for the right opportunity to expose and promote it.”

Unsure how to respond, Xu Zhen simply hummed in acknowledgment.

Once Jiang Ruan felt she had explained everything clearly, she abruptly changed the subject and asked, “So… are you still mad at me?”

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