Transmigrating As The Scummy Ex-Wife Of The Cold And Aloof Tycoon - Chapter 12

“Xin Ning and Director Li went to Hua Wan together?”

So she’s really putting in the effort to get this divorce, huh? Ye Yichi hung up the video call and thought lazily: What’s the use of effort? She just forgot to set a time with me anyway.

So, what about tomorrow?

Should she call that “detestable” protagonist? Or just show up at the Civil Affairs Bureau at 8:00 AM sharp? As the car arrived at her apartment, Ye Yichi still hadn’t decided.

Forget it, I’ll deal with tomorrow when it comes.

The next day, Ye Yichi slept until she woke up naturally. Opening her eyes, she saw a sliver of sunlight slipping through the gap in the curtains.

In the dim space, a bright beam of light poured through the crack, illuminating the desolation. Wow, how poetic, Ye Yichi thought, poking her finger into the light and admiring the play of shadows before drawing the curtains wide.

Downstairs, a white Bentley was parked.

They don’t become protagonists for nothing; with this kind of initiative, she’d succeed at anything… After freshening up, Ye Yichi went downstairs and slid into the Bentley.

“Let’s go. Since you’re so sincere, we’ll definitely manage to divorce today.”

“It’s Saturday; the Civil Affairs Bureau is closed.” Xin Ning glanced at her, started the engine, and said, “I’m taking you somewhere.”

Where? To do what? Was it more important than the divorce?

Ye Yichi didn’t know, just as she didn’t know why Xin Ning had worn ruby earrings two days in a row.

The car slowly left the city and entered a winding mountain road.

Summer was coming to an end. While the city’s heatwaves hadn’t dissipated, the mountains had quietly begun to put on their autumn colors. Between the lush green leaves, hints of pale yellow and delicate red peeked through. Honestly, it was quite beautiful.

Ye Yichi watched for a while before asking lazily, “Where exactly are you taking me?”

“To sign a contract.” In Xin Ning’s eyes, the colors of the trees were reflected, adding a shimmer to their depth.

So pretty, Ye Yichi squinted slightly.

For this “ice sculpture beauty” to deign to wait for her, it must be an important contract. Signing an important contract in exchange for a drive with a beauty through these stunning mountains? A total win, she thought.

“Aren’t you going to ask what the contract is for?” Xin Ning spoke again, her voice seemingly colored by the forest, clear and cold, yet with a touch of vitality.

“If I ask, can I choose not to sign?”

“No.”

“Then why bother asking?” Ye Yichi smiled. The answer wasn’t surprising; Xin Ning had always been like this, cold, crisp, and direct. She was like a steady current; not as overwhelming as a tsunami, but still capable of pushing people in a predetermined direction.

Did she feel resentment? Regret? Indignation?

Ye Yichi looked down, gently fiddling with the fluffy trim of the seat cushion.

Who was it that said… if you love a cat, you must accept its claws; if you love a rose, you must accept its thorns? And she had loved a tree of ice-carved flowers that would never bloom for her. What right did she have to complain about its hardness and persistence?

My, my, how philosophical of me.

Ye Yichi silently gave herself a mental thumbs-up and went back to looking at the trees.

The further they drove into the mountains, the taller the trees became. Just as the branches began to blot out the sky, the car finally turned onto a side road. After another ten minutes of driving, they stopped in a large courtyard.

Deep in the yard stood an orange three-story building with a sign on the roof:

Orange Orphanage.

A remote forest, a half-old orphanage… for a moment, Ye Yichi suspected she was entering an “Infinite Flow” horror dungeon.

Fortunately, she was in a melodramatic romance novel.

Hmph, those cursed melodramas. Ye Yichi curled her lip and prepared to open the car door.

“I’m making a donation to this orphanage,” Xin Ning stopped her. “Since we aren’t divorced yet, the donation agreement requires the spouse’s signature.”

“Easy enough,” Ye Yichi said dismissively.

If she could sign divorce papers, a donation agreement was a piece of cake. But in three years of marriage, Ye Yichi didn’t remember Xin Ning ever doing charity. Why start now, right before the divorce? Did she think Ye Yichi wouldn’t have wanted to do it?

That would be a real sin, Ye Yichi clicked her tongue.

Xin Ning: “Aren’t you going to ask how much I’m donating?”

“How much?” Ye Yichi asked casually.

“As expected.” Xin Ning’s eyes darkened. “How much I donate has nothing to do with you. Don’t be like your aunt, coveting things you shouldn’t.”

Fine, I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. Ye Yichi slammed the car door open.

No, it wasn’t that she shouldn’t have spoken, it was that Xin Ning, that “ice tree,” shouldn’t have. When she was silent, she could be described as serene and cool, but once she spoke, she spat out shards of bone chilling ice.

“You’re the one who told me to ask, and you’re the one who told me not to. Xin Ning, what do you actually want?” Ye Yichi muttered under her breath amidst the crisp sound of the door closing.

“I want you out of my life.” From the driver’s side, Xin Ning also stepped out.

Her cold gaze swept past Ye Yichi as if she had never truly seen her, not three years ago, and not now.

Pfft, you want me gone?

I’ll go buy a coffin tomorrow; I don’t believe for a second I can’t leave then. Ye Yichi rolled her eyes at Xin Ning and walked into the building.

Only the exterior of the building was orange. Inside, the walls were plain white, decorated with some faded but cute drawings.

Ye Yichi lingered on them for a moment.

A little girl in a puffy dress approached her, looking at the drawings too. “I drew this. It’s pretty, right?”

“It’s beautiful.” Ye Yichi nodded, patting the child’s head. “You’re so talented, you’ll definitely be an artist one day.”

The little girl giggled.

After a few laughs, she suddenly pressed her hand to her chest. “Oh no, Mama Director said I’m not supposed to laugh. I almost forgot.”

“Tang Guoguo, you snuck out again.” Xin Ning stared quietly at the girl.

“Oops, I’m caught.” The girl stuck her tongue out and slowly walked back to her room. Ye Yichi looked up and saw the word “Ward” written on the door.

The contract was signed quickly.

Ye Yichi didn’t look at the amount, but she guessed it wasn’t small.

The Director’s eyes were practically crinkled into slits from smiling. She kept holding Xin Ning’s hand in gratitude. “Ningning, thanks to you, this orphanage can stay open. And before that, it was thanks to you that Weilan had the money for her surgery.”

“That child is smart and kind. It would have been a tragedy if she couldn’t have the surgery.”

“By the way, Weilan came back to the home yesterday. She said she’s been free lately and can come spend time with Guoguo and the others. They have the same condition, seeing Weilan doing so well makes Guoguo and the rest less afraid.”

“Lin Weilan used to be at this orphanage?” Ye Yichi was curious.

The book hadn’t detailed Lin Weilan’s background. Ye Yichi only knew she was an orphan, a childhood acquaintance of Xin Ning’s, and the “white moonlight” cherished in Xin Ning’s heart.

“Yes, didn’t Ningning tell you? Weilan grew up here. She and Ningning met while they were hospitalized and became incredibly close. Several teachers here thought they’d end up together. No one expected Ningning to marry the eldest miss of the Ye family…” The Director paused, correcting herself. “Oh, look at my big mouth. You and Ningning look very well-matched.”

“Well-matched in what way?” Ye Yichi’s interest was piqued.

She loved a good compliment.

“The Director and I have things to discuss. You go outside first.” Xin Ning swept a glance over Ye Yichi, her deep eyes flickering with a hidden sharpness.

Fine, I’m going. What are you glaring for?

Ye Yichi got up and wandered into the hallway, where she coincidentally ran into the little girl from before.

“You’re Tang Guoguo, right?” Ye Yichi stiffened her lips, imitating Xin Ning’s expression. “Tang Guoguo, you snuck out again.”

Tang Guoguo blinked, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

“What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you laugh?” Ye Yichi asked.

“Hey, how can you say it like that?” Tang Guoguo’s face crumpled like a steamed bun, her lips pouting, they were startlingly pale. “You’re the one with a problem. I just have a small heart issue, just like Sister Weilan. I’ll be fine after the surgery.”

“Be a painter when you’re better then,” Ye Yichi smiled. “Botanists have to go into the mountains; it’s too tiring.”

“You know Sister Weilan is a botanist? Are you her friend?” Tang Guoguo brightened up and pulled Ye Yichi toward the exit. “Sister Weilan’s friend is Guoguo’s friend! I forgive you for what you said. You like my drawings, right? Come, I’ll show you my secret base.”

Ye Yichi followed Tang Guoguo past the ward, up the stairs, and further up to a room at the end of the third floor.

Tang Guoguo looked left and right before gently pushing the door open.

The walls of the room were covered in graffiti.

“This was Sister Weilan’s room. When Sister Ningning used to come over, the two of them would sit here all day.” Tang Guoguo pushed Ye Yichi inside and expertly brought over two small stools. “They would sit right here and look out the window. When they were done, they’d change clothes and go to bars to sing. After Sister Weilan moved out, I turned this room into my secret base.”

“Wait, you said they went… where?” Ye Yichi couldn’t believe her ears.

Xin Ning and Lin Weilan? The “Ice Beauty” and the “Sunny Angel” going to bars to party? What kind of ridiculous plot twist was this?

“What’s wrong with going to sing? Don’t react like that.” Tang Guoguo pouted again. “Mama Director was very poor. If Sister Weilan didn’t go sing to make money, we would have all gone hungry.”

Oh, so it wasn’t for fun, it was for work. But…

Ye Yichi was confused. “Doesn’t Lin Weilan have a heart condition? She could sing for money?”

This plot was getting more and more absurd.

“It wasn’t Sister Weilan singing; it was Sister Ningning. Sister Weilan played the piano. She plays so beautifully.” Tang Guoguo explained with a huff. “It’s all the fault of those bad people named Ye. If they hadn’t stolen Sister Ningning’s money, Sister Ningning wouldn’t have had to sing, and Sister Weilan wouldn’t have had to play piano.”

“Really?” Ye Yichi was stunned. “Xin Ning… sang?”

That cold white plum blossom who wouldn’t even deign to bloom went to a bar to sing for money? This was beyond her common sense and expectations. Honestly, besides the shock, Ye Yichi felt a faint ache in her heart.

It must have been hard.

To be so proud and stubborn, yet forced to bow her head… but perhaps, with someone she loved by her side, it was a memory of mutual support during hard times?

One was a cold socialite fallen from her pedestal, the other was a resilient “little sun” emerging from the mud. Meeting, knowing each other, supporting each other, parting and reuniting… what a touching, melodramatic love story.

“They were… really close back then, weren’t they?” Ye Yichi asked.

“Of course.” Tang Guoguo tilted her head proudly. “If it weren’t for those villains named Ye, Sister Ningning and Sister Weilan would definitely be married by now.”

“Is that so?” Ye Yichi turned to look out the window.

Her gaze fell upon a lush tree, its green leaves streaked with yellow. The sunlight hitting them was dazzling and bright, so bright it made her eyes ache.

Those villains named Ye, huh.

Ye Yichi let out a soft sigh. She had thought she was just being greedy by trying to change the plot, but looking back, how was this any different from forcing herself between two people?

Damn it. The Ye family is full of loyal martyrs; how could they do something like this? If she could travel back three years, she’d give herself a hard slap. Even if she couldn’t go back, slapping herself now…

Actually, slapping herself now would hurt.

But this divorce… it absolutely had to happen as soon as possible.