Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Venting for Her

After looking through the menu, Jiang Chumian casually added a few items and asked Shen Qingye if she wanted anything else. Shen Qingye said they should eat first and could add more later if it wasn’t enough.

She called out to a nearby waitress: “Miss.”

“Hello, are you ready to order?”

Jiang Chumian nodded: “Yes, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

After handing over the menu, Jiang Chumian went back to holding her milk tea with both hands.

Shen Qingye watched her drink and took a sip of her own; it was warm and very sweet. Perhaps doing certain things with a specific person was what made them interesting.

“You really do love hotpot and milk tea,” Shen Qingye said, looking at her with a smile.

“They’re alright, though I don’t eat them that often,” Jiang Chumian replied, watching the hotpot base begin to bubble.

“If you like them, why don’t you eat them often?” Shen Qingye asked.

Jiang Chumian rested one hand on the table, propping her chin on the back of her hand. “In the past, I didn’t have the money.”

A flash of an emotion Jiang Chumian couldn’t quite decipher crossed Shen Qingye’s eyes. She whispered a soft, “I’m sorry.”

Jiang Chumian smiled. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Later, after moving back to the Jiang house, I had the money for hotpot, but I had no one to go with and no time. After all, I was a boarder during high school. But fortunately, I didn’t stay at the Jiang house for many days in total, so Luo Wan didn’t hate me or guard against me quite as much.”

“Then I went abroad for the exchange program and didn’t have the chance. Many friends abroad can’t handle spicy food well.”

As Jiang Chumian spoke, the waitress arrived to serve the dishes.

Actually, the first time she ever had hotpot was when Yu Xuan took her. Back then, she had received her first paycheck from a part-time job and treated Yu Xuan to a meal.

Jiang Chumian reached for the tongs to put ingredients into the pot. Shen Qingye couldn’t handle spicy food well, whereas Jiang Chumian could, but because Jiang Chumian had a weak stomach, Shen Qingye wouldn’t allow her to order anything too spicy.

Jiang Chumian was a bit reluctant about this, but she obeyed nonetheless.

Thinking about it, in all the years she had lived, this was the first time someone had cared for her in such a controlling way. Shen Qingye was truly the most different from everyone else.

The hotpot restaurant was very different from the places they usually went with clients. Usually, the restaurants they visited for business were high-end and never noisy. Otherwise, the two of them would eat quietly at home, which wasn’t very lively either.

A hotpot restaurant, however, was always bustling. Jiang Chumian poached some tripe for Shen Qingye and dipped it in a bit of chili powder: “It’s delicious this way, give it a try.”

She rarely used modal particles in her speech, but now she trailed off with a soft lilt, making her feel soft and gentle. Jiang Chumian didn’t even realize that she was slowly shedding her disguises in front of Shen Qingye, even showing a hint of dependence.

“Okay.” Shen Qingye accepted it, tasted it, and found the flavor quite good: “It is delicious.”

“Right?” Jiang Chumian felt the joy of being validated. Her eyes crinkled as she poached another piece for herself.

She ate with a look of pure contentment, like a child who had been given candy. Actually, Jiang Chumian is just a girl who is very easy to satisfy, Shen Qingye thought inexplicably.

After the hotpot, they felt warm all over. Even at 8:00 PM, the area was quite lively, with a snack street and a shopping mall; there were plenty of people out at night.

“Shall we walk for a bit or head back?” Jiang Chumian asked Shen Qingye.

Shen Qingye noticed she wasn’t wearing much, yet she was someone who was particularly afraid of the cold. She suddenly stopped and wrapped her own scarf around Jiang Chumian: “Let’s go back.”

“Why didn’t you wear more today?”

Jiang Chumian reached up to touch the scarf, which still carried Shen Qingye’s body heat.

“I had a meeting with AZ today; wearing too much would have ruined my aura,” Jiang Chumian answered truthfully.

Shen Qingye’s lips curled up, and her eyes crinkled. “Believe in yourself; you’d have an aura even if you wore a lot. Next time, keep a longer down jacket in the office and just throw it on when you head out. You’re an adult; do I have to teach you everything?”

Meeting Shen Qingye’s eyes, Jiang Chumian felt a bit self-conscious. It felt as if she were a child who needed to be looked after by Shen Qingye.

“Let’s go to the parking lot,” Jiang Chumian said, changing the subject and tucking her hands into her pockets.

“Mhm.”

Just as they were about to leave, someone clutching a bunch of flowers ran up to Jiang Chumian: “Miss, why don’t you buy some flowers for the pretty lady?”

She held a bunch of roses, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jiang Chumian. Jiang Chumian felt a bit embarrassed by the gaze.

“They’re not expensive,” the girl added.

“How much for a bunch?” Jiang Chumian found it hard to refuse.

“You can come into the flower shop and look. There are many varieties; you can pick them yourself,” the girl enthusiastically invited them inside.

Jiang Chumian turned to look at Shen Qingye, who nodded: “Go ahead. We have time tonight anyway.”

“Mhm.”

The two followed the girl into the flower shop. There were indeed many fresh flowers. It looked like a new shop, run by only two girls. The other girl in the shop was much more mature than the one who invited them in. She greeted them warmly when they entered.

Jiang Chumian asked Shen Qingye if she wanted to pick them herself. Shen Qingye’s lips curled up, and she looked at her with a trace of confusion: “Since you’re buying me flowers, how could I pick them myself?”

Actually, Jiang Chumian meant that Shen Qingye might prefer something she chose herself, but hearing Shen Qingye say that, she didn’t know how to argue. In the end, Jiang Chumian chose a bunch of blue roses paired with baby’s breath—simple, but quite nice to look at.

The owner wrapped them up, and Jiang Chumian paid and handed them to Shen Qingye: “I think they’re okay.”

Shen Qingye reached out to take them, treating them very carefully: “They’re very beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Jiang Chumian said goodbye to the owner and the girl, then left with Shen Qingye, who instinctively took her hand.

Just as they closed the door, they heard the girl say: “I told you they were a couple, but you didn’t believe me, Sister.”

“I believe you now… you’re the best.”

Jiang Chumian and Shen Qingye fell silent for a moment. Neither said anything, but Shen Qingye still didn’t let go of her hand. Once winter arrived, Jiang Chumian’s hands were always very cold, as if they had no warmth of their own.

Back home, Shen Qingye found a vase and arranged the flowers on the bar in the living room. The simple bar was instantly brightened by the splash of color. She took a photo and posted it on her social feed: “Very beautiful.”

Jiang Chumian felt a bit of a blush seeing it. She truly just thought it was fine to support someone’s business.

Both of them smelled like hotpot, so they went upstairs to shower together. Neither mentioned what the girl had said. After they showered, they said goodnight and went to sleep.

Shen Qingye remained as busy as ever, and Jiang Chumian didn’t have much free time either. But the two seemed to have developed a tacit understanding, replacing the flowers in the house every few days. The house, which had once been cold and empty, suddenly felt a bit warm.

Shen Qingye sat in her office reviewing Assistant Lin’s report, which stated that someone in the project team had leaked information. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the leak came from someone in the Shen Group.

Since Zhao Kaiguo was personally in charge of the project, he was exceptionally angry and wanted to reorganize the entire team. This was a move to push out Shen Qingye’s people.

Just as Shen Qingye finished reading the report, she received a call from Zhao Kaiguo. Sure enough, his words were full of implications that the Shen Group must provide an explanation.

“Qingye, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but you can’t see into a person’s heart. At a time like this, a leak is a blow to the entire project team.” Zhao Kaiguo’s words sounded very high-minded.

“Uncle, don’t worry. The Shen Group will not shield anyone with impure intentions,” Shen Qingye replied quickly.

Satisfied with her answer, Zhao Kaiguo was pleased.

The next day, the Shen Group announced the dismissal of the individual responsible for the leak and decided to file a lawsuit against them. Zhao Kaiguo was very pleased with this result. After all, the leaked information wasn’t anything critically important.

Now, on the surface, the project was being led by Shanyu under the Shen Group and Hesheng under the Zhao Group. But in reality, it was now staffed by Zhao Group’s people. Shen Qingye didn’t interfere much, handing full authority to Zhao Kaiguo, acting as if she trusted him implicitly.

Seeing the project in his own hands, Zhao Kaiguo finally felt at ease.

“Assistant Lin, get ready.”

Shen Qingye narrowed her eyes. She predicted that Zhao Kaiguo would soon try to bite back. Sure enough, a few days later, Hesheng accused the person in charge on Shanyu’s side of misappropriating project funds. They also alleged that the investment funds previously agreed upon by the Shen Group had not been delivered.

Shen Qingye wasn’t in a hurry. When Zhao Kaiguo approached her, she said she would investigate and acted as if she were overwhelmed with problems. She knew Zhao Kaiguo wasn’t afraid, as his methods weren’t exactly low-level; the financial transactions went through the Shen Group or private accounts.

After all, although the person doing the books was from the Shen Group, they had long since been bought by Zhao Kaiguo. Zhao Kaiguo wasn’t worried; he had his own people overseeing the accounts, and the one he bought was just the one doing the final entries.

In addition, Zhao Kaiguo continued to pressure Shen Qingye through the board of directors, wanting to lower her authority within the board. However, Shen Qingye wasn’t actually worried at all. She humored Zhao Kaiguo but didn’t take any swift action. On the surface, she looked stressed, but in reality, she hadn’t found a single thing of substance. When the board pressured her, she simply dodged the questions.

Shen Qingye wanted to string Zhao Kaiguo along, letting him blow things out of proportion, so that her counter-attack would be more interesting.

Sure enough, a few days later, some “dirt” on Shanyu began to leak. No company can guarantee their products are perfect. Regarding the online rumors, Shen Qingye simply told Shanyu’s GM to handle it properly, maintain a good attitude, and offer more benefits.

However, to her surprise, before she had even officially made a move, the Zhao Group was hit by scandals first. A makeup product of theirs failed quality inspections, and an executive was accused of molesting an employee and attempting rape after a night of drinking.

With the two scandals breaking, the Zhao Group’s stock plummeted, and they faced multiple investigations.

Zhao Chengxu sat in his office as GM of Hesheng, on the phone with his father: “Dad, it must be that woman Shen Qingye’s doing.”

“We haven’t found out who it is yet, so don’t jump to conclusions.”

“Who else could it be but her?” Zhao Chengxu was certain it was Shen Qingye. “Just as the Shen Group has problems, we have problems too. If it’s not her, who is it?”

Zhao Kaiguo sighed. “You’re still too impatient. Think about it: Shen Qingye hasn’t even handled her own problems yet; how would she have time for us? That’s a matter of economic crime. Compared to our little scandals, handling the Shen Group’s internal issues is much more important.”

Hearing his father’s words, Zhao Chengxu frowned. “Then who could it be? We haven’t offended anyone else lately, and we haven’t had any particular conflicts with other large companies.”

“I don’t know. Investigate this matter properly. I’ll handle Shen Qingye.”

“By the way, how are things in South China? You still need to keep an eye on them. Only if the company there grows will the board believe in your ability,” Zhao Kaiguo reminded him again.

“Don’t worry, Dad. The people I recruited there are all top-tier; there won’t be any issues,” Zhao Chengxu said confidently.

Zhao Kaiguo gave a few more instructions and hung up.

As for the person who leaked the dirt on the Zhao Group, Shen Qingye didn’t know who it was, but she felt it was someone she could trust. It was highly likely the same person who had emailed her before.

But this was indeed a perfect time for a counter-attack. Shen Qingye called for Assistant Lin and the legal team, telling them to prepare the documents to sue Hesheng. She rubbed her fingertips, unsure if it was the person she suspected in her heart.

At this time, Jiang Chumian received a WeChat message from Wen Chan.

Wen Chan: “Oh, so this is the ‘other account’ you mentioned?”

“Mhm.”

Jiang Chumian replied simply, without much explanation. Then she opened WeChat to ask Shen Qingye when she was getting off work.

Shen Qingye: “It might be a bit late.”

Jiang Chumian: “Then I’ll go buy flowers today. It’s been four days; it’s time for a new bunch.”

Shen Qingye: “Okay.”

Jiang Chumian: “Should I buy some succulents or potted plants for the balcony?”

Shen Qingye: “Sure. Buy whatever you like.”

Jiang Chumian: “Let’s pick them together.”

Shen Qingye: “But I’ll be very busy lately.”

Jiang Chumian: “Then I’ll send you pictures.”

Shen Qingye looked at her reply, her lips curling up. She replied with a “Good.”

Over there, Wen Chan was still persistently asking Jiang Chumian if she really had no other feelings for Shen Qingye. Jiang Chumian couldn’t answer that question and could only avoid it. What kind of feelings she had for Shen Qingye, she didn’t even know herself.

But she knew that she enjoyed her current life, and being around Shen Qingye was very comfortable. If they could keep living like this, it seemed quite nice.

“Keep living like this?” Jiang Chumian murmured to herself, then shook her head, feeling it was likely impossible.

After work, Jiang Chumian went to the flower shop as planned, bought a bunch of flowers, and sent Shen Qingye pictures of some succulents. Later, she found sending pictures too troublesome and simply started a video call.

It was still the same shop where she bought flowers the first time. The owner and the girl were already familiar with her. After buying everything, Jiang Chumian asked Shen Qingye again when she was getting off work.

“I’m not sure yet. You know it’s very busy lately; Zhao Kaiguo is being quite troublesome,” Shen Qingye’s tone was a bit helpless. She also wanted to finish work and go back early; no one likes staying late.

When Shen Qingye returned that night, Jiang Chumian had already arranged everything. Looking at the much warmer home, Shen Qingye felt a sense of clarity as if this was exactly how they should be.

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