Divorced from the Cold CEO Who Lived by the Rules - Chapter 49

To outsiders, Xu Zhen’s career was a resounding success, no female celebrity worked harder or more relentlessly than she did.

Her fans, the Little Hazelnut Mushrooms, were overjoyed and proud of her. Even when news of Xu Zhen’s divorce broke, they unconditionally supported her decision.

To them, it didn’t matter whether Jiang Ruan remained their “sister-in-law” or not as long as their idol was happy, that was all that mattered.

Moreover, the scandalous rumors between Jiang Ruan and Xing Yan had been explosive back then, and most of them still held a grudge, convinced that Xu Zhen had been deeply hurt.

So, they were more than pleased with the current situation.

No matter how attentive Jiang Ruan was now, it couldn’t make up for past mistakes at least, that was their perspective, given they didn’t know the full story.

Regardless, the Little Hazelnut Mushrooms had a poor opinion of both Jiang Ruan and Xing Yan, even though Xing Yan had since become a formidable figure thriving in politics.

Xing Yan had won her election by a landslide, and shortly after, she publicly revealed that she had undergone Omega-related surgery, causing an uproar.

Her noble Omega status had once granted her privileges and admiration far beyond what Betas received, so when the news broke, Alphas were baffled.

They had adored Xing Yan, striving tirelessly to marry her and make her their wife.

But before their efforts bore fruit, their dream woman had gone ahead with the surgery, shattering their fantasies. Furious and resentful, they demanded an explanation from her on the spot.

Not only that, influenced by Xing Yan, more and more Omegas followed suit, paying for the surgery themselves. They freed themselves from the troubles of heat cycles, living normal lives without dependence on Alphas.

This was something Alphas simply couldn’t accept.

They began protesting, clamoring for Xing Yan to step down, but the far larger Beta population opposed them, wholeheartedly supporting her instead.

It was under these circumstances that Xu Zhen ran into Xing Yan again.

No longer an Omega, Xing Yan seemed much more assertive. Her political success had sharpened her gaze and refined her demeanor into something seasoned and unshakable.

Though not particularly tall, the woman carried an undeniable presence, impossible to ignore. Xu Zhen found herself pausing without realizing it.

“Long time no see,” Xing Yan spoke first.

Xu Zhen hesitated before replying, “Long time no see. Congratulations.”

Her tone lacked its former warmth, and Xing Yan, perceptive as ever, smiled faintly. “Are you still angry with me?”

“No,” Xu Zhen shook her head. “You did nothing wrong. We’re just not the same kind of people.”

Her words were polite but distant, clearly signaling she wanted no further entanglement. The curve of Xing Yan’s lips faded slightly.

“You know, when I first decided to use my own body for the experiment, I struggled for a long time.”

“I was terrified, terrified of failing, terrified of ending up neither human nor ghost.”

“Back then, my family despised me, thinking I had disrupted their plans and brought them unnecessary trouble.” Xing Yan’s words carried an indescribable pain whether real or imagined by Xu Zhen. “They only wanted me to become the perfect, obedient wife of an Alpha.”

Xing Yan slowly raised her eyes to meet Xu Zhen’s gaze. “You know how it is, an Omega’s fate has always been this way.”

Xu Zhen remained silent for a moment before nodding.

“But I refused to accept it, I absolutely refused. Jiang Ruan and I were equals, if not better in some aspects. Why was it that just because she presented as an Alpha, she received everyone’s support to openly pursue her dreams, while my ambitions were dismissed as frivolous?”

“I was forced to learn flower arrangement, painting, and piano useless, ornamental skills that held no interest for me.”

“I wanted to fight my own battles and make a name for myself, just like Jiang Ruan. Isn’t that a normal aspiration for anyone?”

Xu Zhen was well aware of Xing Yan’s fierce ambition and grand aspirations.

This was precisely why she could deeply empathize with Xing Yan’s suffering.

Xing Yan was exceptional in every way brilliant, talented, and outstanding. Yet simply because she was an Omega, she was forced onto a predetermined path of becoming a domesticated, virtuous wife and mother.

No one would willingly accept such a fate.

Xing Yan wasn’t wrong, she had simply chosen to defy destiny, struggling and stumbling as she fought to pull herself out of the mire.

Xu Zhen pressed her lips together, the resentment she had harbored toward Xing Yan quietly dissipating. “You’ve succeeded now. Your efforts weren’t in vain.”

The journey had been arduous, but the outcome was worth it.

“Thank you.” Xing Yan smiled, then abruptly changed the subject to Jiang Ruan. “Has Jiang Ruan ever told you about the details of her experiments?”

Xu Zhen froze. Xing Yan nodded in understanding. “I see she hasn’t.”

“If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then I won’t either.” Xing Yan stepped closer and gave Xu Zhen a brief, gentle hug before quickly pulling away. “Xu Zhen, I’m really glad to have met you.”

“Let’s meet again sometime.”

Xing Yan soon disappeared from view. Xu Zhen stood rooted to the spot, her mind inevitably wandering: Had Jiang Ruan suffered during her experiments?

How much hardship had she endured over these past two years without telling Xu Zhen?

Had she kept it all secret because she didn’t want Xu Zhen to worry?

Jiang Ruan rarely confided her struggles to Xu Zhen, and with Xu Zhen’s busy schedule, she seldom asked. If they were keeping score, Xu Zhen hadn’t been the perfect wife either.

Work had blinded her to her partner’s distress and the pain Jiang Ruan had silently borne. Of course, that was a separate matter…

Xu Zhen found it increasingly difficult to justify her own actions.

She had fallen short in many ways, yet Jiang Ruan had quietly shouldered it all without ever making unreasonable demands.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Zhen’s gaze was complex when she saw Jiang Ruan again.

Jiang Ruan immediately noticed something was amiss and grew tense. “…Did I do something wrong?” She glanced down at the lavish dinner spread before them. “Did I forget about your food allergies?”

“No,” Xu Zhen chuckled lightly at her words. “I saw Xing Yan today.”

Jiang Ruan paused while pulling out her chair, her tone tinged with uncertainty. “What did she talk to you about?”

“We had a brief chat,” Xu Zhen said leisurely, picking up her chopsticks. “About certain things like how you secretly conducted experiments behind my back and all the details surrounding that.”

Xu Zhen locked eyes with Jiang Ruan. “Last chance.”

“I want you to come clean, honestly and thoroughly.”

Xu Zhen had issued her ultimatum, and Jiang Ruan knew this was her only opportunity to make amends. She didn’t dare hide anything, recounting the entire process truthfully.

As she spoke, Xu Zhen listened quietly without interruption.

Only when Jiang Ruan finished did Xu Zhen set down her chopsticks. “You made this decision for me?”

“Yes, but not entirely. Claiming it was all for you would be hypocritical, and I don’t want you to feel morally indebted because of it.”

Jiang Ruan spoke calmly, “Part of it was my own unwillingness to be influenced by anyone else.”

“I have my own opinions and thoughts. I don’t want to be swayed by external factors, I despise losing control of my own consciousness.”

This was entirely in line with Jiang Ruan’s character.

She was decisive, making countless decisions daily, and hated having her plans disrupted. To her, an Omega’s pheromones were like opium robbing her of reason, turning her into someone unfamiliar and detestable.

Xu Zhen nodded slightly, accepting the explanation.

Jiang Ruan didn’t dare ask whether she had been forgiven. Actions spoke louder than words if she consistently proved her resolve day after day, Xu Zhen would eventually be moved.

Xing Yan had a point too. Jiang Ruan hadn’t considered things carefully enough before, nor had she handled them well.

Sacrificing her wife’s well-being for short-term gains, even if Xu Zhen raised a hand to slap her, she’d have to take it.

She had brought this upon herself.

Jiang Ruan’s earnest attitude had already softened Xu Zhen’s anger. Previously, Xu Zhen had believed their backgrounds were mismatched, their statuses worlds apart. But now, the divide between Alpha and Beta was gradually fading, and with Pu Shuangquan no longer meddling, the obstacles between them seemed fewer.

Both were ordinary people in their own right, Jiang Ruan, the exceptional heir and leader of a prominent family, and Xu Zhen, a superstar at the peak of her career. In the eyes of the world, they were already a well-matched pair.

So, despite the rampant divorce rumors online, many still refused to believe it, dismissing it as yet another publicity stunt by Xu Zhen.

Pu Shuangquan had also caught wind of the news. Realizing she had misunderstood her lover and missed a lifetime with her, she was desperate for the truth.

That day, when Xu Zhen returned to the family estate for a reunion, Pu Shuangquan, for once, lowered her proud head. “I was wrong before. I apologize.”

“As compensation, I’ll give you 1% of my company’s dividends.”

Pu Shuangquan’s wealth was vast, and 1% was no small sum. Xu Zhen fell silent for a moment. “Jiang Ruan and I are already divorced.”

The air grew heavy with silence. “Because of Xing Yan? I know about her, I—”

“No,” Xu Zhen shook her head. “It was something else.”

She didn’t want to say too much. “In any case, I can’t accept this compensation from you.”

Xu Zhen was no longer Jiang Ruan’s wife, yet Pu Shuangquan had only been willing to offer such a generous apology because he saw her as Jiang Ruan’s spouse.

The truth would come out eventually, so Xu Zhen might as well make things clear now.

“I know. I raised Jiang Ruan myself her strengths are obvious, but so are her flaws,” Pu Shuangquan sighed. “In the past, I kept her under strict control, shielding her from outside influences, so her mind was filled only with the tasks I assigned.”

“But I’ve trained her well over the years. She’s straightforward, she only follows orders. So from now on, all you need to do is give her commands like a master.”

“She’ll carry them out perfectly.”

With the tone of someone who had seen it all, Pu Shuangquan asked in confusion, “Isn’t this the kind of partner young people like you adore?”

Xu Zhen: “?”

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