The Wife From the Contract Marriage Does Not Want to Get Divorced - Chapter 11

On Saturdays and Sundays, the employees of the Lu Group start work an hour later than on weekdays.

All the results of Lu Yanqing’s physical examination had come back, showing she was in perfect health. Suddenly leaping across three years of time really felt like having had a long dream in a temporal rift.

The Inpatient Building of the Second Hospital.

Lu Yanqing arrived on the floor where the old man’s ward was located. The smell of disinfectant mixed with the bitterness of traditional Chinese medicine permeated the corridor. As she approached the ward door, she suddenly heard her second uncle, Lu Hongyi, speaking inside in a deliberately lowered voice: “Dad, do you really have the heart to watch the Lu Group change its surname to Xie?”

Lu Yanqing’s brows furrowed instantly.

Inside, Lu Hongyi stood respectfully by the bedside. Even though the old man lying in bed was as thin as a skeleton and his spirit didn’t look great, Hongyi still didn’t dare to be offensive. “Dad, back then you insisted on letting Yanqing inherit the group. Fine, as her uncle, I had no objection because blood is thicker than water we are all members of the Lu family.”

“Three years ago, Yanqing went abroad and disappeared without a word. Then you insisted on letting Xie Siyu take power. Where does that leave us, the board of directors? For the past few years, we’ve been the laughingstock of outsiders.”

“If it weren’t for the fact that Mom is still around, I’d truly think I was a child you picked up from the streets. Now that Yanqing is back, she must take back the executive power of the group from Xie Siyu’s hands!”

“Uncle has such elegant interests.”

Lu Yanqing pushed the door open and walked straight in. Her thermos hit the metal bedside table with a dull thud. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the sapphire ring on Lu Hongyi’s ring finger—the very piece of stolen goods purchased four years ago using embezzled public funds.

“Is Uncle getting old? Did you not hear clearly what I said at the meeting yesterday? Or did you just fail to remember it?”

Lu Hongyi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he feigned straightening the hem of his suit. “Yanqing, you’ve come at a good time. Your uncle is just afraid that you are young and lack the judgment to see people for who they are…”

Avoiding Lu Yanqing’s cold gaze, he lowered his head to hide the calculation and desire in his eyes, advising her with feigned earnestness: “It’s been three whole years. Aren’t you afraid of whetting Xie Siyu’s appetite too much? She is deep-scheming and her methods are brilliant; it would be easy for her to hollow out your power in the Lu Group. My silly niece, if you don’t listen to your uncle’s advice, there will come a day when you regret it.”

Lu Yanqing’s face grew increasingly dark. “Even if Xie Siyu truly hollows out my power in the Lu Group, it is none of your concern, Uncle. If you have the time, you should worry about my cousin instead; there are many people eyeing that position of Deputy Director of the Marketing Department.”

Lu Hongyi looked up at Lu Yanqing. Despite her nonchalant attitude, she was intimidating.

This niece of his was truly raised by the old man himself; if she really turned ruthless, Lu Yanzhao would lose a layer of skin even if he didn’t die.

Seeing that his attempt to sow discord had failed, and unwilling to continue the pretense, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

“Qinqin, don’t listen to your uncle’s instigations. Siyu will not betray the Lu Group, nor will she backstab you.”

The elder Lu didn’t want to hear any more of his son’s nonsense. He grabbed his granddaughter’s wrist, his voice solemn and serious. “She can be trusted.”

Lu Yanqing hurried forward, gently patting the old man’s back to soothe him. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I understand.”

On the other side.

In the underground parking lot on level B2, a black Porsche sports car was parked in space 102 of Section C.

The driver’s side door was open.

Lu Yanzhao had his legs propped up on the steering wheel, playing games while chewing betel nut. Having lost for the fourth time, he slammed his phone onto the leather seat, where it bounced. “F*ck! What trash teammates!”

“Keep it down!”

Lu Hongyi loosened his tie, his expression grim. “Your grandfather didn’t budge. He’s just playing dumb while knowing full well what’s happening.”

“Whatever. Since reasoning doesn’t work, don’t blame me for using dirty tricks behind the scenes.”

Lu Yanzhao slapped the steering wheel forcefully. Logically, since his father went to the inpatient department to visit his grandfather, he, as the grandson, should have gone too. But he didn’t want to go.

Because every time he saw his grandfather, he would be lectured and told where he was doing poorly or where he was lacking.

In short, it was annoying.

Of all the Lu siblings, only Lu Yanqing was raised by their grandfather, so their bond was naturally deep. One only had to look at the shares Lu Yanqing held to know that he was uniquely partial to her.

Xie Siyu was able to take power in the Lu Group only because Lu Yanqing went abroad three years ago and the group could not remain leaderless.

Now that Lu Yanqing was back, their grandfather surprisingly didn’t mention a word about asking Xie Siyu to relinquish her power.

Mentioning this made Lu Hongyi furious. “I just don’t get it. How can a man as shrewd and suspicious as your grandfather be so at ease handing the group over to an outsider?”

Lu Yanzhao analyzed: “Back then, Lu Yanqing broke up with her boyfriend and registered her marriage with Xie Siyu immediately after. It was clearly a commercial marriage; I don’t believe they have much deep affection for each other.”

Thinking of the Xie family, a glint flashed in Lu Hongyi’s eyes. “Since there’s no affection, she’s likely just unable to lose face by ‘killing the donkey once the grinding is done’.”

For the past three years, Xie Siyu had only listened to the old man’s words. Toward directors like them, she would occasionally give them a “warning.” Her style of handling things was exactly like the old man’s.

Even though she looked like a gentle and dignified lady, her methods behind the scenes were quite dirty.

Lu Yanzhao gripped the steering wheel tightly, his face dark. “Lu Yanqing is just as suspicious by nature as our grandfather. Believing her now doesn’t mean she will believe her forever.”

They had dealt with Xie Siyu for three years. That woman was a demon, and she was completely unyielding. Since they couldn’t win her over, there was no need for her to remain in the Lu Group.

“The shareholders’ meeting is next month.”

Lu Hongyi turned the ring on his finger, his eyes full of calculation. “Let President Xie show her face.”

He didn’t believe his niece would be willing to take over the mess that was the Xie family business.

Lu Yanqing stayed with her grandfather to chat, fabricating interesting stories about her years in Country W and mentioning “details” regarding the merger case, finally managing to coax him into a good mood.

It wasn’t until he fell into a deep sleep that she got up to leave the ward.

In the corridor, Lu Yanqing waited for the elevator while looking down at her phone.

As it happened, the elevator opposite hers opened first. Before she could see clearly who came out, she was pulled into a tight embrace.

“Sister! Waaaaa… You really came back to China.”

Lu Yanwei threw herself into Lu Yanqing’s arms with force. Her white doctor’s coat, smelling of disinfectant, rubbed against the other’s cashmere coat. The crisp sound of a stethoscope hitting the floor drew curious glances from the nurses’ station.

“I knew you hated me. You’ve been back for several days and didn’t even contact me. If I hadn’t just seen Uncle Li at the outpatient clinic, I’d still be in the dark.”

Lu Yanqing’s fingertips sank into the fabric of her younger sister’s back. The little girl who used to cry and follow her around now had a badge pinned to her white coat: Respiratory Internal Medicine Intern – Lu Yanwei.

“I don’t hate you…”

Seeing the girl’s eyes red from crying, she helplessly changed the subject: “When will you become a full-fledged doctor?”

Her sister had been timid since childhood and was a bit socially anxious. When her college entrance exam results came out, she secretly applied to medical school a decision that shocked everyone in the family.

“In two more months.”

Lu Yanwei sniffled and used her index finger to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes. She carefully grabbed Lu Yanqing’s sleeve. “Sister, is the reason you won’t come home because you’re still angry with Mom?”

Ms. Shen Ruohua.

The mother of both her and Lu Yanwei.

The mirrored surface of the elevator door reflected the sudden tightening of Lu Yanqing’s jawline. Childhood memories flooded back like a tide the empty living room of the old mansion, and international long-distance calls ringing at 3:00 AM, where Shen Ruohua would always say, “I’ll be back next time.”

Lu Yanqing pinched her sister’s nose, avoiding the main issue. “The group has been busy lately. Your Sister Siyu’s stomach hasn’t been well, so naturally, I have to take on the responsibility. It’s not that I’m intentionally avoiding home.”

Lu Yanwei bit her lower lip and lowered her head, unsure whether to believe Lu Yanqing’s excuse. After a moment of silence, she raised her small face, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of apprehension: “Then tonight, Sister, can you come home for dinner?”

Her fingernails pinched a crescent mark into her sister’s cuff before she pulled back as if she’d been electrocuted. “Bring Sister Siyu along. Dad misses you very much, and Mom also…”

The rumbling sound of a disinfection cart rolling across the floor interrupted their conversation.

Lu Yanqing picked up the stethoscope that had fallen to the ground and hung it back around her sister’s neck. The metal chest piece still retained the warmth of her body. “I’ll ask about Siyu’s schedule.”

Lu Yanwei wanted to say more, but meeting her sister’s now-indifferent gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and she didn’t dare push her luck further.

In the elevator.

Lu Yanqing toyed with her incessantly vibrating phone. A message from her mother, Shen Ruohua, popped up in the family WeChat group: Since you are back, come home for dinner with Siyu tonight.

Ms. Shen’s profile picture had been the same for years a photo of her giving a speech at the United Nations when she was young.

Valiant, heroic, and every bit the woman who outshines men.

Lu Yanqing turned off the screen, a faint, self-deprecating smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. When the elevator reached level B1, another message popped up on the lock screen.

But this time, it was a private message from Xie Siyu.

“If you don’t want to go, I will decline.”

Time was frozen for Lu Yanqing, but for her parents and friends, three years had truly passed.

At 6:00 PM, Lu Yanqing still brought Xie Siyu back to the Lu family home. Twenty years ago, this was a prime piece of real estate in Rongcheng where every inch was worth its weight in gold. Now, every old mansion in this area was worth over a hundred million.

It was evident that Ms. Shen had a unique eye for investment in her youth.

The iron gate of the courtyard slowly opened. Lu Yanqing looked at the double-petaled Juliet rose bush in front of the porch the one Shen Ruohua had planted with her own hands twenty years ago, saying, “Roses are the most punctual.”

But she was the one who was the least punctual.

Now, the flower buds bloomed as scheduled, but the rift between mother and daughter remained forever outside the flowering season.

“Sister!”

Lu Yanwei lifted her skirt and ran down the steps straight toward Lu Yanqing. With light steps, she reached her and pointed toward the kitchen. “Nanny Liu made your favorite fermented glutinous rice balls.”

In the living room.

Shen Ruohua sat upright on the sofa, wearing a dark green velvet cheongsam, looking dignified and elegant.

She held a teacup in her hand. Seeing her daughter truly standing before her, her slightly trembling hand betrayed her repressed emotions.

“Where is your upbringing? Have you forgotten how to call me ‘Mother’?”

Xie Siyu sensed Lu Yanqing’s tense body. Her fingertips lightly brushed across Yanqing’s palm before she took her hand and walked toward the living room. “Mom, this box contains a necklace that Yanqing personally picked out. I hope you like it.”

As she spoke, she placed the gift box on the coffee table.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

The velvet box was opened by Lu Yanwei, revealing a ruby necklace. Under the light, it looked increasingly dazzling.

Shen Ruohua’s eyes flickered as she remembered the brooch that had been shattered at Lu Yanqing’s sixth birthday party. A gem of the same color had once left a shallow scar below her collarbone, which was now completely hidden by the high collar of her cheongsam.

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