The Wife From the Contract Marriage Does Not Want to Get Divorced - Chapter 22

Morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting shifting shadows across the room. After entering the apartment, Xie Siyu placed a bouquet of Diana roses on the coffee table. She first removed the withered chamomiles from the glass vase one by one, replaced the water with fresh, clean liquid, and only then inserted the roses into the vase.

The sound of a closing door echoed from the entryway.

Lu Yanqing was still looking down, changing her shoes. While adjusting the angle of the flower stems, Xie Siyu said, “Go ahead and eat breakfast first. I’m going to the study to make a phone call.”

Lu Yanqing offered a brief “Mm” in response.

She placed the bag bearing the Yunshan Room logo on the dining table, taking out the delicious and exquisite soup dumplings one by one, along with two servings of seafood porridge.

There shouldn’t be any misunderstanding, right?

Pulling out a chair to sit down, Lu Yanqing rested her chin on her hand, glancing toward the study from time to time. She had barely run into Su Man and hadn’t even had a chance to speak when Xie Siyu returned from her morning run.

Back in the elevator, she had wanted to find an opportunity to explain, but Xie Siyu kept talking about things she encountered during her run, seemingly unwilling to listen to her.

She truly felt wronged.

When she first discovered Su Man’s infidelity, she had initiated the breakup and completely severed all ties. Regardless of why Su Man chose someone else, there was no possibility of a future between them.

Meanwhile, downstairs outside the apartment building.

Su Man curled up in the back seat of the nanny van, staring blankly at her phone’s lock screen it was a photo taken with Zou Xiao at the wrap party for First Snow last year, capturing a moment under a crystal chandelier where the other woman was brushing a stray ribbon off her shoulder.

Huang Ling took a phone call and grabbed Su Man’s wrist in excitement.

“Sister Man, I told you there was just a misunderstanding between you and President Zou! President Zou returned to Rong City last night and started handling your situation as soon as she heard. The screenwriter from the God’s Fall crew just called; they want you to return to Tong City to film.”

Su Man froze for a moment, pinching the bridge of her swollen nose. “What do you mean?”

“The screenwriter said they’re filming according to the original script!”

Huang Ling waved her phone, showing a document the screenwriter had just sent, her eyes filled with unconcealed surprise.

“Su Man, Director Li sincerely apologizes to you. I’m sorry. You are still the female lead of God’s Fall. I have already asked the newcomer, Li Miao, who joined a few days ago, to leave the crew.”

“Since you’re back in Rong City, take a couple of days to rest. We’ll wait for you to come back before we resume work.”

Su Man reached out to block the sunlight streaming through the car window. Seeing Director Li Yue who had looked so loathsome just a few days ago personally apologizing to her on WeChat, a mocking smile touched the corners of her lips.

“They really want me back to film.”

Bending her legs and hugging her knees, Su Man began to laugh, but as she laughed, tears started to fall.

It seemed it really took Zou Xiao “discovering” she was being bullied to step in and demand justice for her.

“Manman, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were going through this recently. Didn’t you say you liked Cartier jewelry? I bought some specifically for you during my business trip. Let’s have dinner at Zhuxiang Pavilion tonight.”

Su Man’s fingertip hovered over the chat box with Zou Xiao.

The latest message was a photo of a Cartier jewelry box. Resting on the blue velvet lining was the sapphire necklace they had once stopped to admire in a window in Milan.

Two years ago, she had declined with a smile, saying it was “too precious.” Now, the card attached to the box read: Tonight at eight, be there or be square.

Lu Yanqing drove to the office that morning. In the passenger seat, Xie Siyu wore a white knit base, a black A-line skirt, and an oat-colored double-breasted cashmere blazer.

With her hair in a low ponytail and light makeup, she looked truly gentle and elegant.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Lu Yanqing turned on the music. Soon, a melodious and soothing piano piece flowed through the car speakers. Noticing a safety talisman hanging from the rearview mirror, she asked casually, “Did you get that safety talisman from Qingshan Temple in the west of the city?”

“I’ve accompanied Grandmother there a few times. The elderly go to the temple every year on the second day of the lunar new year to burn incense and pray.”

As the car turned, the leather seat pressed slightly against her. The faint scent of cedar on Lu Yanqing was carried to Xie Siyu’s nose by the air conditioner, mixing with the tart sweetness of a peeled orange candy, brewing a dangerous sweetness in the enclosed space.

“I wasn’t angry about this morning.”

Seeing that Lu Yanqing was deliberately searching for a topic, Xie Siyu curved her lips into a gentle smile and handed over a candy. “It’s orange flavored. Do you want one?”

At the intersection ahead, the red light timer showed a 90-second countdown.

Lu Yanqing stepped on the brake, bringing the car to a slow stop. Hearing this, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing at the candy in Xie Siyu’s hand, she nodded. “Sure.”

Xie Siyu leaned over, the hem of her clothes brushing past the gear shift. The orange candy held between her fingers hovered where their breaths met, the candy wrapper making a rustling sound.

Lu Yanqing had originally intended to reach out for it, but since Xie Siyu had already brought it to her lips, she could only follow the motion. She opened her mouth slightly to take the candy, and Xie Siyu’s fingertips whether intentionally or not brushed against her lips.

Lu Yanqing’s lowered lashes fluttered violently. “Thanks.”

“I prayed for that safety talisman at the temple while accompanying Grandma Lu.”

A gentle smile played on Xie Siyu’s bright face. The softness of someone’s lips seemed to linger on her fingertip.

She lowered her head to smooth out the wrinkles in the candy wrapper, saying very softly, “I don’t believe in gods or ghosts, but I hope the Bodhisattva can protect you and keep you safe.”

What started as a casual question had yielded such an answer.

As the tart citrus flavor spread across her tongue, Lu Yanqing’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Inexplicably, she felt that this orange candy was sweeter than any she had ever tasted before.

“Perhaps the Bodhisattva really did show her power and protected your safe return,” Xie Siyu said, suddenly twining the tassel of the talisman around her finger. Noticing the other’s slight frown, she joked, “But President Lu, could you please not frown while driving?”

She tapped her finger toward the space between Lu Yanqing’s brows, stopping half an inch away before withdrawing. The lingering scent of orange suspended in the air, blending with the cedar notes of the car fragrance, seemed to weave an inescapable web.

Today was Friday. At ten in the morning, the group was holding a high-level meeting attended by directors, managers, and supervisors from various departments.

“President Lu, this is the list of personnel transfers across all departments over the last three years. Among them, the Director of Human Resources, Shen Yanqing, was personally recruited and appointed by President Xie. Additionally, in the Marketing Department, the Deputy Director, Lu, was promoted by Director Chen.”

In Lu Yanqing’s office on the 32nd floor, Wei Jie placed the transfer list on the desk and detailed the movements in key positions.

Xie Siyu personally recruited and directly appointed Shen Yanqing as HR Director?

Lu Yanqing flipped through Shen Yanqing’s resume: a PhD in Labor Relations from Renmin University, former HR Director at a Global 500 state-owned enterprise, and creator of the “Tricolor File” management system (Red for core talent, Blue for observation, Grey for optimization targets).

He was indeed exceptional.

Her gaze fell on the name of the Finance Director: Jiang Lingyue.

This person had been mentored by her grandfather; she was not only highly capable but also trustworthy.

“Alright, I understand.”

Lu Yanqing had been back for nearly a month and had gained a basic understanding of Xie Siyu’s way of doing things. Despite her gentle and quiet appearance, President Xie was absolute in her professional conduct and decisive in her judgments.

No wonder she earned her grandfather’s appreciation and was feared by her second uncle and Lu Yanzhao.

At ten o’clock, the staff meeting commenced on time in the large conference hall on the 19th floor.

First, Chen Congsheng, the Director of the Marketing Department, gave a monthly summary, barely meeting the target requirements.

Next was the Sales Department. Zhou Yue was a veteran of the group, and it was common for his team to exceed their targets.

Finally, Shen Yanqing reported directly to Xie Siyu.

Beside them, the pen Lu Yanzhao was spinning dropped onto the solid wood tabletop with a loud clack. The sound was startling enough that even the blue light of the projector seemed to flicker, and Shen Yanqing’s reporting stopped abruptly.

The tip of his leather shoe pressed against the axis of the swivel chair as he spun the pen again, creating an afterimage between his fingers. “Director Shen’s PPT is certainly pretty, but your eyesight isn’t very good.”

He deliberately held the red dot of a laser pointer on Lu Yanqing’s nameplate. “Can’t you see such a large title as Chief Executive Officer?”

Shen Yanqing adjusted her silver-rimmed glasses, her knuckles pressing white marks into her folder. “The South City plot handled by Deputy Director Lu last year is still caught in a dispute with the Environmental Protection Bureau.”

She pulled up a screenshot of an email. The red official seal on the withdrawal letter stung Lu Yanzhao’s eyes. “Do I need to read the Legal Department’s risk assessment aloud in front of President Lu?”

“You—”

Lu Yanzhao stood up abruptly, the casters of his office chair screeching against the floor. He pointed at Shen Yanqing in a fit of rage. “You really are a good dog raised by Xie Siyu.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned frigid and solemn.

Everyone in the meeting room lowered their heads and sat up straight, fearing the fire would suddenly spread to them.

Xie Siyu’s gaze turned cold, and just as she was about to speak, Lu Yanqing threw her pen toward the center of the table. Amidst the held breath of the room, she tapped her finger on the Marketing Department’s KPI curve.

“Can we have some silence? All I can hear is you barking.”

“I’ve been away from the company for three years, and I’m also particularly curious about what outstanding contributions you’ve made to the Marketing Department to earn an exceptional promotion to Deputy Director in such a short time.”

The sunlight leaking through the gaps in the blinds cut through the dead silence of the room. Lu Yanzhao’s face turned ashen, and beside him, Chen Congsheng adjusted his glasses several times, remaining silent.

Jiang Lingyue timely pushed forward the financial reports. Amidst the rustling of turning pages, she said warmly, “President Zhang from ‘Laurel Fragrance’ has already transferred the renovation fee for the mall’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Tea Gallery to the company account.”

The reflection on her lenses hid the cold look she darted at Lu Yanzhao.

The staff meeting lasted for two hours.

As the elevator doors on the 19th floor slowly opened, Liu Yao was carrying the lunch she had just picked up downstairs. Lu Yanqing turned to Xie Siyu beside her and said, “You go up first. I’m going to the Finance Department to look for Jiang Lingyue.”

Xie Siyu didn’t ask why. As she stepped into the elevator, she said softly, “I’ll wait for you to eat together.”

Lu Yanqing nodded slightly. As the downward elevator across from her arrived, she turned toward the elevator bay.

In the 13th-floor pantry, the coffee machine was roaring as it ground beans. Two employees with worn ID badges were huddled behind a wall of greenery, whispering.

“I heard Director Shen’s new apartment is in Jianghai Lanyuan the same place as President Xie. Isn’t that a coincidence?”

“They even sat in the same car during the team-building event two months ago. Who would believe they don’t have a private relationship? The fact that Deputy Director Lu said that at the meeting suggests he probably found something out.”

“There’s no smoke without fire. If President Xie really has a private relationship with Director Shen, how can President Lu still… ah!”

A suddenly dropped file box crashed down, scattering the whispers. Lu Yanqing had intended to step forward to stop them, but someone else beat her to it.

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