Divorced from the Cold CEO Who Lived by the Rules - Chapter 39

Xu Zhen nearly lost her composure.

She struggled to control her expression, pressing her lips tightly together to avoid revealing any unusual emotions.

Meanwhile, Xue Ling had already taken an interest in Xue Long and began investigating her background: “Hey, how old are you? Do you have a girlfriend or fiancée?”

“Where do you live? Are you a local, or did you come from a small town and settle here?”

“Have you been in any relationships before? How many people have you dated?”

Xue Ling was brimming with enthusiasm, finding Xue Long more and more aligned with her aesthetic preferences Xue Longher face, her figure, her aura, all radiant, like a dazzling flame.

Xue Long remained silent. In her over twenty years of life, she had never imagined being harassed in broad daylight by a young girl.

“You should leave. I don’t want to be involved in any more rumors with you,” Xu Zhen broke the tense silence. “And please don’t do anything that might cause misunderstandings in the future.”

Xu Zhen was just an ordinary beta, content with working hard to earn a living and carving out her own place in the entertainment industry, nothing more, nothing less.

She wasn’t one for drama, nor was she suited for the cutthroat battles of fame.

The emotions in Xue Long’s eyes grew even more pronounced upon hearing Xu Zhen’s words. She let out a bitter laugh. “I’m sorry.”

“…But I can’t do it.”

Xu Zhen instinctively looked stunned. “What?”

“I can’t forget you completely, and I can’t stop seeing you,” Xue Long said earnestly. “So even if you resent me, even if you hate me, I’ll still persist.”

Xue Ling’s eyes darted back and forth between Xu Zhen and Xue Long before she suddenly interjected, “I’m so jealous of you! Having Jiang Ruan-jie and two Alphas so deeply in love with you at the same time.”

She sighed dramatically. “Why don’t I have such good luck?”

“You want this kind of luck? Take it, then,” Xu Zhen retorted sharply. Xue Long instantly chuckled, her eyes softening, her lips curving into a smile her stunning, vibrant face outshining everything around her.

As a top-tier celebrity, Xue Long’s beauty was undeniable, and Xue Ling was utterly mesmerized.

Her small mouth fell open. “Holy moly, how can an Alpha be this good-looking?” After staring dazedly for a while, she suddenly turned back and grabbed Xu Zhen’s arm, her tone affectionate. “Zhen-jie, do you have any other suitors?”

Xu Zhen: “?”

Xue Ling was acting too strangely. Xu Zhen warily tried to pry her off, but Xue Ling only clung tighter. “Zhen-jie, do you know anyone else who looks like her.”

She pointed at Xue Long, then turned back to Xu Zhen. “—but is either broke or not yet famous?”

“I have money, and my family has influence. I can support them and make them famous,” Xue Ling said shyly. “As long as they’re available whenever I call and do whatever I say…”

“What kind of fantasy are you living in?” Xu Zhen said, exasperated. “No.”

Xue Ling immediately looked disappointed. “Fine, if not, then I’ll just have to settle for these two.”

She gazed greedily at Xue Long, successfully startling him into taking a large step back. “My heart already belongs to someone,” Xue Long declared firmly. “So don’t waste your time on me.”

“So what?” Xue Ling retorted dismissively. “Sister Jiang Ruan is already married.”

“Didn’t stop me from pestering her for three years.”

Xue Long: “…”

“Nothing’s impossible if you don’t give up. I refuse to believe this,” Xue Ling said, rolling up her sleeves and planting her hands on her hips. “I’ll make sure to win over at least one of you two.”

At this age, Omegas were completely love-obsessed, and Xu Zhen didn’t know what to say to her.

As the crowd around them grew denser and more eyes lingered on them, Xu Zhen simply bid Xue Long goodbye without looking back and headed straight for her private car.

Assistant Lu was still handling other matters, so only the driver was in the vehicle.

“Wait for me!” Although Xue Ling wanted to cling to Xue Long after Xu Zhen left, there would be plenty of time for that later. Besides, she was more interested in Xu Zhen’s every move.

Staying close to Xu Zhen might even give her chances to meet other high-quality Alphas.

Xue Ling swiftly slipped into the car and plopped down unceremoniously next to Xu Zhen. “Why do I always fall for the Alphas around you?” she mused. “Our tastes are way too similar.”

She couldn’t wrap her head around it. “You’re just a beta, while I’m an Omega. This shouldn’t be happening.”

In Xue Ling’s worldview, people were divided into hierarchies and she was at the very top, far superior to everyone else.

As the pampered jewel of her family, raised in privilege and indulgence, Xue Ling had always gotten everything she wanted except in matters of the heart. Jiang Ruan had been her first real setback.

The frustration of unrequited love had left Xue Ling both devastated and unwilling to concede, to the point where even she couldn’t tell whether her feelings for Jiang Ruan were more about love or sheer stubbornness.

But she didn’t care to dwell on such thoughts. What she wanted, she would eventually have.

Except… Xue Ling frowned. Today, she had added another Alpha to her list of desires. What was she supposed to do now? She wasn’t willing to give up on Jiang Ruan, nor was she ready to let go of Xue Long.

Why couldn’t she just split herself in two and claim them both?

The Omega sighed repeatedly beside her, the noise grating. Xu Zhen glanced sideways just in time to see Assistant Lu approaching.

Once in the car, Assistant Lu gave Xu Zhen a brief work update to keep her informed. “Jiahua’s been acting up these past two days,” she dropped bluntly. “Those rumors about you and Xue Long definitely trace back to them.”

Though the words were casually spoken, Xue Ling’s ears perked up immediately. “So you two really aren’t involved?”

Xu Zhen couldn’t be bothered to explain to the Omega and ignored her. “Better than I expected. Just some gossip, it won’t affect me much.”

She had thought Jiahua would secretly cut off her resources.

“Only two days left now. Not renewing the contract is set in stone, no amount of struggling will change that. They never treated you well before, so any attempts to make amends now are pointless.”

Especially since Jiahua hadn’t even made a proper effort to retain Xu Zhen in the first place.

Represented by agent Liu Lei, Jiahua’s treatment of Xu Zhen was nothing but threats and suppression. The various psychological manipulation tactics they employed were something only someone out of their mind would tolerate by renewing the contract.

Two days weren’t long for Xu Zhen, they passed in the blink of an eye.

Xue Ling quietly listened to Xu Zhen’s conversation with Assistant Lu, silently committing everything to memory. At the same time, she discreetly took out her phone and began searching for information about Xue Long.

Xu Zhen had no work in the evening. After arriving at the restaurant, Xue Ling shamelessly followed and generously picked up the tab.

Unable to shake her off, Xu Zhen had no choice but to let her be.

Determined to “monitor” Xu Zhen, Xue Ling checked into the same hotel and booked the room right next to hers. Assistant Lu was somewhat exasperated. “Do your parents know you’re clinging to a stranger like this?”

“How is she a stranger? She’s Jiang Ruan’s wife, albeit temporarily. But I’m close with Jiang Ruan, so by extension, I’m close with her wife too.”

“We’re practically family. It’s fine if I stick around for a bit.”

Assistant Lu was at a loss for words and eventually shook her head before walking away.

Xue Ling’s presence next door didn’t affect Xu Zhen in the slightest. Though she was somewhat domineering and haughty, aside from being talkative and a bit loud, she wasn’t particularly annoying.

For the next two days, Xue Ling shadowed Xu Zhen like a persistent shadow, even waiting outside the restroom to keep an eye on her. Xu Zhen found her behavior utterly baffling.

“You don’t get it,” Xue Ling said leisurely, sipping her milk tea. “I just love it when people can’t stand me but can’t do anything about it.”

“Besides, haven’t I been helping you shut people down these past few days? If anything, you owe me.”

Xue Ling had a terrible temper and was quick to anger. The moment she saw something she disliked, she’d lash out. If someone dared to talk back, she could fire off at least three more comebacks.

Eventually, staff familiar with her would steer clear, leaving Xu Zhen’s surroundings much quieter.

Xu Zhen quietly observed Xue Ling, her eyes thoughtful. She could actually use an assistant like this. But given Xue Ling’s status as a high-born Omega, there was no way she’d lower herself to work for Xu Zhen.

So, after a brief consideration, Xu Zhen dismissed the idea of even testing the waters.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Conquered by my charm?” Xue Ling lifted her chin proudly. “I know I’m stunning, an Omega among Omegas, a true lady among ladies.”

Xu Zhen: “…”

Sometimes, Xu Zhen really couldn’t stand this bratty girl. Her eyelid twitched, and she decisively averted her gaze, refusing to engage further. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Nope, nothing at all,” Xue Ling replied after some thought. “Shopping’s boring, traveling’s boring. Life’s just kinda dull.”

“I have everything I want except love.”

Material satisfaction often leads to spiritual emptiness, and Xue Ling was clearly a prime example.

Xu Zhen didn’t know the specifics of her situation. “So you came here looking for excitement?”

“Mm-hmm.” The moment Xu Zhen brought it up, Xue Ling perked up. “Is your industry full of weirdos or something? I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“Every workplace is like this. If you’re that bored, why not get a job at your family’s company?”

Xue Ling shook her head. “No way.”

She was persistent and never forgot her original intention. “I have to keep an eye on you.”

Omega crossed her arms. “I just don’t understand why Sister Jiang Ruan would take a liking to you. After spending two days together, I still don’t see anything particularly attractive about you.”

“Maybe because you’re not an Alpha,” Xu Zhen replied expressionlessly to Xue Ling’s belittlement. “Alphas are the ones who prefer my type.”

That actually made some sense. Xue Ling pondered seriously, “Maybe I should get surgery to become a beta… No, no way. I’m a noble Omega. I refuse to become some ordinary, mediocre beta.”

She shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum, as if betas were some inferior breed of humans.

Seeing they couldn’t see eye to eye, Xu Zhen simply stopped communicating with her.

Tonight marked the official end of Xu Zhen’s contract with Jiahua. Zhao Jue had already informed Xu Zhen in advance that she would come to celebrate. Xu Zhen had specially reserved a restaurant to meet up with her.

Naturally, Xue Ling shamelessly tagged along, regardless of whether she was welcome or not.

Shortly after arriving at the restaurant, Zhao Jue hurried in with a cake, looking travel-worn. “Thank goodness I made it.” Her voice abruptly cut off as she stared fixedly at Xue Ling. “And this is…?”

“Jiang Ruan’s admirer,” Xu Zhen said.

Zhao Jue: “Huh?”

Her eyes widened in astonishment. “Then why is she with you…”

“She’s bored.” After Xu Zhen briefly explained, Zhao Jue looked as if she’d seen a ghost. “I’m starting to develop a phobia of these delicate Omegas.”

Previously, Xing Yan had barged into the hospital room and pushed Zhao Jue. If not for her quick reflexes, she would have at least suffered minor injuries.

Although Xue Ling before her also appeared delicate, Zhao Jue didn’t dare underestimate her in the slightest, there were hardly any Omegas around Jiang Ruan who fit the public stereotype.

Zhao Jue’s words greatly displeased Xue Ling. She instinctively opened her mouth to retort, but Xu Zhen beat her to it. “Come sit, the food will be served soon.”

Xue Ling’s momentum was interrupted, forcing her to swallow her words.

Zhao Jue unwrapped the cake. “Seven years, a whole seven years! Zhen Zhen, you’ve finally made it through. No one understands the bitterness and hardship better than I do.”

“Congratulations on successfully escaping that living hell.”

Zhao Jue was genuinely happy for Xu Zhen and couldn’t help giving her a hug.

Xue Ling’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She reflexively wanted to criticize, but then reconsidered since they were both betas, it probably wasn’t a big deal…

Xu Zhen smiled faintly. The contract’s end had similarly lifted her spirits, making her feel light and carefree. “It’s all in the past now.”

“Yes, yes, all in the past. May your future be bright, your career flourish, and every drama you’re in be a hit!” Overjoyed, Zhao Jue picked up a wine glass from the table. “Come on, let’s toast.”

Xu Zhen, infected by her mood, unconsciously drank glass after glass.

Xue Ling finally couldn’t take it anymore and physically intervened. “Still drinking? How much have you two had already? Know when to stop!”

Zhao Jue: “…”

Sure enough, another terrifying, stereotype-defying Omega just like Xing Yan.

Zhao Jue set down her glass. “I have to take care of the kid tonight, so I really shouldn’t drink too much. Let’s switch to juice.” As she spoke, she poured Xu Zhen a glass of freshly squeezed juice. “Here.”

After serving Xu Zhen, she casually poured one for Xue Ling as well.

Xue Ling glanced at her. “Thank you.”

After all, she was Xu Zhen’s childhood friend, so Xue Ling maintained basic courtesy. Zhao Jue gave her a surprised look upon hearing this, but Xue Ling ignored her, elegantly picking up her cup.

The meal passed with casual conversation. Around nine in the evening, Zhao Jue checked the time. “I should head back. My little one is waiting for me.”

“Alright.” Xu Zhen stood up. “Let’s go together.”

Her words abruptly cut off as her gaze fixed through the window at something below. Zhao Jue and Xue Ling followed her line of sight in confusion. “Jiang Ruan?” Zhao Jue widened her eyes, leaning closer to the window. “Wait, she’s with someone else.”

Jiang Ruan walked side by side with a young woman. From Xu Zhen’s vantage point, she could clearly see the shy smile on the woman’s face and the furtive glances she stole.

Despite Jiang Ruan’s indifferent expression, it did nothing to deter the other woman’s quiet infatuation and subtle advances.

Xu Zhen’s fingers unconsciously clenched. Judging by the woman’s attire and accessories, Xu Zhen could easily discern her affluent background.

So, this was the new wife Pu Shuangquan had selected for Jiang Ruan, someone of equal social standing and matching pedigree.

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