Oops, I’m the Scumbag Ex in Her Storyline - Chapter 53

After leaving the sanatorium, Xin Yan went straight home.

Back when Lawyer Wang mailed her the divorce agreement, she hadn’t left it at the office for fear that Bei Lanlan might stumble upon it early. Instead, she’d hidden it in her bedroom.

While searching through her files, Xin Yan straightened up and suddenly realized something.

If she was going to live here long-term, she really ought to have the housekeeper tidy up a study for her. As things were, every document and personal item ended up shoved into her bedroom. This kind of careless storage felt unbearably messy to her.

She stood there, scanning the rooms and weighing which one would work best as a study. A moment later, she laughed softly and shook her head.

In the past, life had always felt uncertain. She had been perpetually bracing herself for a divorce from Bei Lanlan. She didn’t know whether Lanlan would move out of the house then, or if she herself would choose to stay.

But either way, Xin Yan had always assumed she would be the one to leave. This house had never felt like hers—it was just a temporary shelter. She might make a few small changes for comfort, but she had never once considered it a true, permanent home of her own.

Now, her outlook had changed. With it, her gaze on the house had changed too. Though the place had been freshly renovated not long ago, Xin Yan could already spot ten different flaws with just a cursory glance.

Forget it—she would take things slowly.

Lowering her head, she kept digging through the stack of documents until at last she found the divorce papers. She checked the contents carefully, then tucked the agreement into her bag.

She calculated her schedule.

These next few days were out—Lanlan had exams. Next week wouldn’t work either—she had several business dinners lined up, no full day free. But the week after… apart from the year-end summary, she had nothing pressing. And it was

New Year—the entire country would be on holiday. That would be the perfect time to take Lanlan out and really enjoy themselves.

…

Once she’d made up her mind, Xin Yan even highlighted New Year’s Day in her phone’s memo. A flicker of excitement rose in her chest, one she had no one to confide in, so she could only channel all that energy into work.

As a result, the company’s “little cogs” quickly noticed—President Xin had been in a remarkably good mood lately. She was all smiles with everyone, practically glowing.

Naturally, gossip bloomed. In the pantry, two employees whispered.

“Have you noticed? President Xin’s practically strutting these days. Did something good happen in the company?”

The other smirked knowingly. “Shows how green you are. This has nothing to do with us. I’d say something good’s about to happen in her personal life.”

“Huh? No way—didn’t President Xin and Bei—”

“Hmm…” The second tilted her head thoughtfully. “Could it be they’re getting married?”

“Possible! Hahaha, amazing! If they get married, that means we’ll get time off, right?”

“…Dream on. Knowing President Xin, the best we’ll get is a token red envelope. Vacation? That’s luxury you can only afford in your dreams.”

While the two gossiped about Lanlan’s “happy private life,” the subject of their talk happened to be standing outside the pantry—feeling anything but happy.

The more people misunderstood her relationship with Xin Yan as picture-perfect, the worse Lanlan’s mood grew—especially now.

When she asked Xin Yan directly, Xin Yan would evade. When she stayed silent, Xin Yan let down her guard, free to bask in her good mood.

Lanlan could feel something slipping out of her control, though she still didn’t know what it was.

She had only gone out to fetch water, but now she’d lost all interest and returned to the office. Inside, Xin Yan was speaking with An Zhiyuan.

An Zhiyuan, emboldened by her recent good temper, dared to say things he normally wouldn’t.

“You’re really childish.”

Xin Yan shot him a glare but wasn’t angry. “Song Xizi started it. She grabbed my land, so I grabbed her transport channel. Her company’s new product launches in a week. Without logistics, I’d love to see how she plans to get her goods into stores.”

An Zhiyuan was silent. There were only two ways Song Xizi could manage: bleed money on an emergency contract with a reliable logistics firm—at an exorbitant cost—or stall customers, claiming a stock delay. The latter would mean bigger losses and public ridicule for fake “scarcity marketing.”

Either way, President Song would have to swallow this one.

He asked cautiously, “And her invitation—are you going?”

The logistics theft had happened yesterday. Today, her secretary had sent over an invitation, claiming President Song had a ‘surprise’ prepared.

No need to guess—it’d be all shock, no joy.

Xin Yan sneered. “Not going. I’ve already won. If I show up, I risk letting her turn the tables. Better to keep things as they are.”

Then she turned toward Lanlan with a smile. “Right, Lanlan?”

Lanlan glanced at them and murmured an assent.

Strange—she had only stepped out for water, yet returned looking drained. Xin Yan rose, ready to check on her, but An Zhiyuan spoke up again.

“Still, I did some digging—the spring launch is attracting some important names. Even the mayor will be there.”

Xin Yan froze mid-step. “So it’s not just some event she threw together to spite me?”

He nodded. “Though, inviting you might’ve been a last-minute move to get under your skin.”

In other words, without that, she wouldn’t even be on the guest list.

Xin Yan: “…”

“When is it?” she asked.

“December twenty-second.”

Xin Yan repeated the date silently, suspicion prickling that even the timing had been picked to target her.

She had no desire to walk into a trap. But this event had apparently been held several times before, which meant it must hold real value—something Song Xizi didn’t want her to see, or something that gave her an advantage.

Might be worth a look. Song Xizi wouldn’t gather so many people just to let them stare at the winter wind. She’d have to put something substantial on the table.

Xin Yan nodded, and An Zhiyuan finally stopped nagging. After he left, she moved to Lanlan’s side. “Your exams are over now. Want to come with me? Song Xizi herself is awful, but her friends tend to be fairly normal. It won’t be like the Winter Gala—no endless parade of old men with trophy wives.”

Lanlan still hadn’t forgotten the impression Song Xizi left her at that gala. At the reminder, she quickly agreed: “Clothes and jewelry—you pick for me.”

Xin Yan smiled. “Isn’t that always the way?”

This time, she chose a white gown for Lanlan. She still loved white—last time, she’d avoided it deliberately, just to spite the host.

Lanlan wore white, Xin Yan wore black—timeless, classic. Both dresses were by the same designer, subtly echoing each other in detail.

Instead of extravagant jewels, Xin Yan had An Zhiyuan fetch a new release: a simple “Sun Goddess” necklace. Not as dazzling as before, but understated, elegant, and unique.

Lanlan barely glanced at the necklace. Lifting her head, she asked casually, “No ring this time?”

Xin Yan froze mid-motion, the earring in her hand suspended.

There was a ring.

But with such a minimalist set, the matching ring was a simple platinum band with a single cut diamond—too much like a wedding ring. That was why she hadn’t brought it out.

She finished fastening the earrings, stepped back, and gazed at the Lanlan she’d dressed so carefully. “Next time. Next time, I’ll be ready.”

Lanlan smiled faintly. “One more thing to wait for, then.”

Xin Yan caught the odd lilt in her words. After a pause, she said softly, “Maybe sooner than you think.”

Lanlan blinked in surprise. At that moment, Xin Yan reached out, fingertips barely grazing her cheek—light as air, careful not to smudge her makeup.

“So beautiful.”

Lanlan, so stunning, so precious in her heart. And not just beautiful, but someone who—Xin Yan was certain now—felt something for her too.

Xin Yan wasn’t stupid. She only liked to play dumb. From the moment Lanlan had leaned in for a kiss that day, she had known—Lanlan probably liked her. What she couldn’t fathom was why. With someone like her… how could Lanlan possibly?

Even now, she didn’t have the answer. But at least she understood one thing: liking was liking. Only a fool demanded reasons. What mattered wasn’t the why, but the result they could see with their own eyes.

When they left together for the car, Lanlan’s heart was pounding wildly. She had nearly blurted out the question—what that touch meant, why Xin Yan had done it—but she’d hesitated, and the moment slipped by.

It was fine. She could ask later. After all, if there was one thing she and Xin Yan weren’t lacking, it was time.

At the venue entrance, the host herself, Song Xizi, was greeting guests not far away. She spotted them immediately. Her smile faltered—then returned, sharper and more sincere.

After excusing herself from her companion, she strode straight toward them.

Xin Yan had just handed her coat to the attendant when she noticed Song’s purposeful approach. Instinctively, she tugged Lanlan behind her and asked warily, “What do you want?”

Song smirked at her defensiveness. “Welcoming you, of course. Saves me from being accused of poor hospitality later when you claim no one paid you any mind.”

Xin Yan’s face remained calm. “You give your own clout too much credit.”

Song chuckled. “No fighting tonight. For this spring launch, I invited plenty of friends—and one very special guest. She’s about to perform. One invitation to her is worth ten to celebrities. Look, over there—the crowd’s packed layers deep.

Isn’t it enviable?”

Xin Yan caught the taunt but couldn’t guess who she meant. Her eyes, almost against her will, followed the direction Song pointed.

Indeed, there was a crowd, though not impenetrable. Which was why Xin Yan so easily saw the woman at its center—Jing Chu.

Her mind went blank. Her heartbeat stopped. Blood froze. For a breathless instant, her entire body shut down at the sight. Then, in a violent rush, her heart thundered back to life, blood surging, emotions crashing over her in waves—nostalgia, comfort, relief. Too intense, too sudden.

It left her stunned, unable to pull free for several long seconds.

Song Xizi drank in the sight with relish. “Your old friend’s here. Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Xin Yan hadn’t expected her body to react so fiercely to the memory of Jing Chu. The feelings had come and gone in a flash, but the damage was done.

And when she finally turned, it was to Lanlan.

As she’d feared, Lanlan had seen it all. Her face was drained of color. Her eyes on Xin Yan burned with the same anger, numbness, and despair as the night they first met months ago.