The news of Ning Yue staying on as an outsourced worker quickly reached the ears of relevant people.
After finishing their delivered takeout dinner and making their usual quiet complaints about Qin Can’s lack of humanity, Zhong Tianming stood up, tapped the cubicle partition, and asked Pan Jie in disbelief: “Is it true? Is she crazy?”
Pan Jie was equally puzzled but, while browsing her screen and handling some work, casually voiced her thoughts: “If it were someone else, I could understand, but she’s a lawyer herself. Even without a job, she could get money from the divorce!”
Zhong Tianming frowned: “What? Divorce? Ning Yue’s getting divorced? What does outsourcing have to do with her divorce?”
The last sentence successfully caught the attention of Qin Can, who was carrying coffee and about to enter his office to continue working overtime. However, Zhong Tianming had his back to the corridor and didn’t notice Qin Can turning to look at him. Lawyer Qian was also curious and was about to gossip when he looked up and saw Qin Can approaching. Being clever, he immediately coughed twice and shrank into his workstation. Though sitting next to Pan Jie, he could still hear everything.
Neither Zhong Tianming nor Pan Jie noticed their colleague’s warning signal. Pan Jie said impatiently: “Obviously! Don’t you find it strange? A well-off lady with nothing to do, who loves her child so much, why would she insist on working!”
Zhong Tianming scoffed: “Maybe she’s just being proactive, striving for progress, wanting to be an independent woman! What’s wrong with that?”
“She might not be idle, but you certainly are,” Pan Jie had complicated feelings about Ning Yue, and at that moment, a surge of bitterness rose silently within her, causing unintended words to slip out. “Her child is sick, her husband is vacationing with another woman, and the company wants to fire her. You call that idle? More like she’s in a complete mess! By the way, if I’m not mistaken, her layoff probably has something to do with her husband’s mistress.” At this point, Pan Jie smiled and continued while finishing her work, “Oh right, Zhong Tianming, you know that woman – she’s your dream girl.”
“My dream girl?” Zhong Tianming was confused, “You?”
When it came to dissing Pan Jie, Zhong Tianming could do it anytime, anywhere.
“Pah pah pah! Drop dead!” Pan Jie spat in disgust, then looked up and said, “Tian. Qiu. Zi!”
The “ah” sound stopped abruptly. Zhong Tianming followed Pan Jie’s stiff gaze and turned around to see Qin Can standing behind them with an ashen face.
“Who is Tian Qiuzi?” Qin Can asked, then seemed to remember something and added, “Is she the investment bank executive responsible for the group’s Hong Kong listing?”
Pan Jie nodded silently, thinking to herself: “Indeed, men never forget beautiful women.”
Qin Can thought for a moment and muttered to himself: “I knew this layoff seemed strange! If there’s this connection, it makes sense!” His brows furrowed into a pattern like the character ‘川’, and he snorted, “All sorts of messy people getting involved, that old woman is completely incompetent!”
Zhong Tianming and Pan Jie looked at each other in confusion – shouldn’t the focus be on Ning Yue’s outsourcing? Why was Director Qin taking the time to criticize President Luo?
After Qin Can had completely left, Zhong Tianming voiced his questions, but it was the previously silent Lawyer Qian who responded: “If that’s the case, even as an outsourced worker, it’s good for Lawyer Ning.”
Why? Both pairs of eyes looked at Lawyer Qian studiously.
Lawyer Qian waved his hand awkwardly: “You’ll understand when you get married. I only know a bit from handling divorce cases back at the firm.”
“But why is Director Qin so enthusiastic?” Zhong Tianming persisted.
Lawyer Qian glared: “How would I know! Director Qin just wants to help her!”
“Why does he want to help her?” Zhong Tianming continued asking. Suddenly, a dark object flew from the side and hit his forehead unceremoniously. Before he could even identify the projectile, he heard Pan Jie scold: “Get back to work! Have you finished the report?!”
His shoulder sank as Pan Jie pushed him into his seat from across the partition.
When Qin Can returned to his office after a meeting, he immediately called Pan Jie in: “Notify Ning Yue that the old woman wants to see her. Where is she? I don’t see her.”
“Director Qin, Ning Yue has already left for the day,” Pan Jie glanced helplessly at the wall clock.
“Oh, then just tell that old woman that!” Qin Can directly pass the buck.
Pan Jie nodded and was about to leave when Qin Can suddenly asked: “Is what you said about that Tian Qiuzi true?”
Pan Jie quickly explained how she had accidentally seen photos Tian Qiuzi sent on Ning Yue’s phone, how she investigated who Tian Qiuzi was, and how she got all the gossip, telling everything in detail. After finishing, she casually looked back and discovered the door was left slightly ajar! One, two dark heads quickly vanished.
Qin Can hadn’t noticed and was lost in thought: “If it’s true, she should just get divorced. She’s a lawyer, she knows how to protect her interests.”
Pan Jie immediately added: “That’s why I’ve been wondering why she won’t divorce! Her husband, many people know, he’s quite the playboy!” She quickly added, “Though he is quite capable! Runs his own company, reportedly quite wealthy.”
Qin Can snorted in disgust but didn’t respond.
Pan Jie could only continue with her speculation: “Unless Ning Yue has some weakness that makes divorce disadvantageous.”
Qin Can immediately denied this: “Impossible! Ning Yue isn’t that kind of person!” He remembered her face: the earnestness when seeking job opportunities, the forbearance when tired, and that faint smile… Yes, it was probably that familiar expression that first caught his attention. When those peaceful eyes looked at you, no matter how you schemed, there was a feeling of being seen through and forgiven at the same time. Just like when he was young and broke the family’s only porcelain basin, nervously stealing glances to see his mother’s expression.
Qin Can felt a twinge in his heart as his mother’s words echoed in his ears: “Although that thing was important, you’re already scared enough, how could I hit you!” When she said this, his mother had given up a good job to take care of him while he prepared for college entrance exams in the neighboring county. She followed him there and chose to work as a temporary worker. And his father? Qin Can’s facial muscles twitched. That was a past he didn’t want to remember, something he tried hard to forget, but now it all came rushing back. His father and another woman – everyone in their hometown said it was true love. Even his mother never spoke ill of them, so Qin Can has always told himself the same thing.
True love – which left his stubborn mother without true love in her family life ever since.
But just now, hearing about Ning Yue’s family situation, those deliberately forgotten memories surfaced chaotically. He forgot why it was true love, forgot how he had looked up to his father, forgot seeing those genuine father-son interactions. In that instant, he only remembered his mother.
She divorced cleanly, didn’t ask for any money, and raised Qin Can alone, arranging all life and work around him. Whether he was six or sixteen… And his father?
His father went to another city with his “most compatible ideal partner” as his career focus shifted. During those years, apart from regularly sending money, there was little interaction between father and son. He only heard from his mother about having a capable and great father, someone to admire, idolize, and eventually join!
Of the money his father sent, besides paying for his tuition, his mother didn’t touch a penny. Later, as his education changed, his mother moved with him to various places in the province. Even in difficult times, she never touched that money. If it weren’t for the shocking cost of studying abroad, that money would have been enough for him to complete his education domestically.
Back then, his mother always had that same look in her eyes. Faint, seeing through but not exposing, not explaining, not demanding. These eyes moved around him day and night, as familiar as the air he breathed. One day, they disappeared, and it took Qin Can a long time to struggle out of the feeling of near-death, yet still not knowing what had been lost from his life!
The night grew deep, and the skyscraper was bright with lights. Looking up, the wide floor-to-ceiling windows became small grids. The people in the building were like figures in a LEGO world, moving behind the windows. No one noticed that a person stood in front of one window. He stood motionless as if competing with time…
While Qin Can was lost in memories, Hu Ziyuan was clinging to Ning Yue, absolutely refusing to let go. Ning Yue had been holding him for two hours, and her arms were sore and numb. She sat on the edge of the bed, placing the child between her legs, raising one arm to support his head while the other arm loosely embraced him.
Hu Ziyuan strongly resisted this position: “Mom! I don’t want to sleep!”
“I’m not asking you to sleep! Mommy is really tired and can’t hold you anymore. This position lets me rest my arms!” Ning Yue didn’t force Hu Ziyuan to leave her.
She remembered clearly how much she had longed for her mother to come home from work when she was young. Back then, her mother was extremely busy, having to cook and clean after work, only able to give her a quick hug when coming through the door. Just that one embrace and Ning Yue knew the warmth within. So when Hu Ziyuan clung to her, she didn’t push him away. However, Hu Ziyuan’s reaction wasn’t quite right. It couldn’t just be about missing her, could it?
Ning Yue asked suspiciously: “Why aren’t you playing with Grandfather anymore?”
Hu Ziyuan lowered his head, and Ning Yue saw the shape of a small crown before her. Wide at the forehead, round at the back of the head. Reaching out her hand, massaging the child’s head in a certain direction, the once-soft yellow baby hair had been replaced by harder, darker hair, but the shape remained the same! This “same” could be traced back to when he was in his mother’s belly when she first saw the complete Hu Ziyuan in the ultrasound image – that dynamic little person’s head already had this shape!
Perhaps it was the scalp massage that relaxed Hu Ziyuan, or perhaps it pleased him, but his previously raised little shoulders sank slightly, and Ning Yue felt the pressure on her arm increase. Then Hu Ziyuan turned his head, still lying in Ning Yue’s arms, lifted his eyelids, opened his eyes wide, looked up at Ning Yue, and said seriously: “I don’t like Grandfather!” After speaking, his little mouth pouted, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
“Oh!” Ning Yue lifted her arm slightly, bringing the child almost level with her eyes, and asked in a normal tone, “What don’t you like about Grandfather?”
Hu Ziyuan said: “Grandfather made me choose between you and Daddy, I said I choose Mommy, but he said that’s wrong, I should choose Daddy!”
Ning Yue’s heart skipped a beat.
Hu Ziyuan waited for a moment, then lifted his head in confusion, reached out his little hand, palm against Ning Yue’s cheek, and said seriously: “I don’t want to! I choose Mommy! Grandfather is the wrong one!”
Ning Yue took a deep breath, intending to hug him gently, but realized she had used too much force when pulling him into her arms. She loosened her grip before saying: “Thank you! No matter how the baby chooses, Mommy will always love you. What happened then?”
Hu Ziyuan seemed to enjoy the feeling of being pressed against Ning Yue’s chest and nuzzled his face a bit before saying: “He said Daddy has money, can buy me lots of toys and books, and can send me to good schools and let me live in big houses. I said Mommy has those too. Grandfather said Mommy has no job, and can’t earn money. If I go with Mommy, I’ll only be able to drink northwest wind, live in broken houses, go to bad schools, and have no future! Grandfather said choosing Daddy is what smart children should do.”
“Hmm, then what happened?”
“I said, Daddy has money, but can he buy me a mommy? Grandfather said yes, he could buy me a prettier and gentler mommy who could stay with me all day. I said I don’t want that, I only want my current mommy. Then Grandfather got angry and said Mommy has no money. If I choose Mommy, Daddy won’t give Mommy a single penny!”
Ning Yue was furious, almost ready to rush outside and confront the old man!
At this moment, Hu Ziyuan suddenly seemed to remember something and timidly asked: “Mommy, Grandfather said this was our secret, he told me not to tell you! If I told you, he wouldn’t let me play games for three days!”
Ning Yue’s ears were buzzing, and her chest felt like it was being pounded by a hammer! She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. Even if she had objections, now wasn’t the time to confront anyone. Even though Hu Ziyuan was still a child, he had his dignity.
Ning Yue nodded and said: “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Grandfather. This is our secret.”
Hu Ziyuan smiled happily and hugged Ning Yue tightly again, probably wanting to express something like “Mommy, I didn’t misjudge you.” As for Ning Yue, if she hadn’t been holding Hu Ziyuan, she would have had only two choices: either rush to the old couple’s room and have a huge confrontation, or swallow this anger, though such anger would surely suffocate her over the night!
Ning Yue lowered her head, gently rocking the child in her arms. She seemed unable to hold on and pressed her cheek against Hu Ziyuan’s crown. His little hair was stiff but not as prickly as an adult’s. As it pressed against Ning Yue’s face, it brought a slightly numbing sensation that mysteriously dissipated her inner anger bit by bit. After some time, tears rolled from her eyes and dropped onto the child’s head. Ning Yue startled, lifted her head, and quickly turned away, using her free hand to wipe away the tears.
Hu Ziyuan lay in Ning Yue’s arms, following the rocking rhythm, and had fallen into deep sleep. Ning Yue carefully wiped away the tears that had fallen on the child’s head, ensuring not a single drop of water could cause an unpredictable cold.
After mechanically searching and wiping for an unknown time, Ning Yue stopped her movements, looking somewhat dazed. It was as if she had just had a brush with death – except she was holding her child and couldn’t keep that appointment.
At the same time, Ning Yue also understood the source of her anger.
All her efforts were for her child, for giving him a home. While she was willing to endure her husband’s repeated infidelities at any cost, maintaining harmony and completeness of this family in front of the child, someone had so easily torn through the facade and cruelly presented such a brutal question to the child!
This was simply intolerable!
However, after calming down, Ning Yue also admitted that besides this, Grandfather wasn’t wrong. That was what Hu Cheng, or what this family represented by Hu Cheng, would inevitably do when that moment came.
Ning Yue gently placed Ziyuan on the small bed adjacent to the large bed. Although the child wasn’t small anymore, Ning Yue could still carry him and set him down steadily, causing only a slight creak from the bed frame.
This was something only a mother could do. Any mother who raised her children might have a lot of fat, might have many “excess pounds,” looking quite bulky at first glance. But those few muscles related to handling their children were the most developed in the world and suited only for their children.
Standing straight at the child’s bedside, Ning Yue thought: So everyone knows now!
Tian Qiuzi lived in a high-end community in the CBD. Though the apartment wasn’t large, its location gave it a jaw-dropping price. Most importantly, she had bought it outright. Not only that, but her sharp sense of the investment market had also benefited her. She had invested in houses in both suburban areas and school districts. After housing market policies gradually tightened, Tian Qiuzi either liquidated or adjusted her direction, accumulating considerable assets.
In Ning Yue’s eyes, she was just a selfish, cowardly, and hateful mistress. But in the eyes of colleagues, subordinates, and clients, she was an astute, sharp, and uncompromising powerful woman.
And in Tian Qiuzi’s heart?
She loved pink; traces of pink could be seen everywhere in her home. She loved stuffed toys, even having a special shelf for her various cute plush toys. She loved oversized teddy bears most of all, one in each bedroom, each as tall as a person. When Hu Cheng wasn’t around, she would surround herself with these two big teddies, whether watching TV, writing, or sleeping, dragging these huge stuffed toys around.
Tonight, Hu Cheng had a business dinner with his own company. Tian Qiuzi had just hung up the phone with President Chen; that money had been delayed again. Before her plan was implemented, she didn’t intend to touch this money. Even though she loved Hu Cheng so much, she knew that when it came to money, Hu Cheng was not only petty but also cruel.
However, this wasn’t what she needed to consider tonight.
Tian Qiuzi lay on the chaise lounge, and although it was late spring approaching early summer, she still had a pure cashmere throw covering her legs below the knees. The two big teddies faithfully surrounded her, their thick, fluffy shoulders perfectly supporting Tian Qiuzi’s head.
News about Ning Yue had naturally reached her hands. To avoid the previous misunderstanding, she had even agreed to President Chen’s request, sacrificing dinner. Two days ago, she would have told Hu Cheng about this immediately. But since Hu Cheng had stormed out, Tian Qiuzi’s heart had undergone subtle changes. Watching Hu Cheng’s resolute departing figure, for a moment, she suddenly felt she was Ning Yue! This thought gave her cold sweats.
Tian Qiuzi lay languidly, repeatedly seeing Hu Cheng’s departing figure in her mind: “Could it be, he still loves Ning Yue a little? Impossible. He only loves that child.”
“Ning Yue is just like the child’s nanny, who would love a nanny?” These were Hu Cheng’s exact words. Thinking of this, Tian Qiuzi’s heart settled a bit.
In Tian Qiuzi’s mind, Ning Yue had always been the image of a disheveled, exhausted middle-aged woman. Such an image couldn’t possibly suggest intelligence. Even when threatened by Ning Yue, it was just a crude, impolite, and fierce appearance.
But today, after hearing this news, Tian Qiuzi first sneered, thinking she was just a housewife with no concept of workplace dynamics, willingly degrading herself! But after pondering at home, she felt she might have overlooked something. With her abilities, plus President Chen’s borrowed power, driving Ning Yue from her current position should have been as easy as crushing an ant! However, she was wrong. Ning Yue had stayed. Although undignified, staying was still staying, no matter how desperate.
Tian Qiuzi even recalled a saying: As long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood.
Why did Ning Yue need to keep this job?
Tian Qiuzi pondered absently. When Tian Qiuzi thought this way, she was no longer just Hu Cheng’s mistress, but purely a woman. Thinking this way, standing from a woman’s perspective, looking back at a marriage riddled with wounds, at a teetering reality, staying seemed like the only choice. No, it should be redemption.
Tian Qiuzi was lost in thought. If she were Ning Yue, perhaps she would be even more intense! She was so absorbed in her thoughts that when Hu Cheng called to say he was working late at the office and wouldn’t return, she only felt slightly disappointed, without much attachment. Most importantly, Tian Qiuzi had missed telling Hu Cheng about Ning Yue’s staying – she hadn’t immediately told him that Ning Yue had retained her position through outsourcing. By the time she remembered, Hu Cheng had already hung up. Picking up her phone, she casually typed:
“Ning Yue requested to stay through outsourcing, the company has already agr…”
Tian Qiuzi stopped. Hu Cheng wasn’t the type to check his phone constantly. If he saw this message after already knowing from others, how would he blame her? The longer she stayed with Hu Cheng, the more she discovered he was a hard man to satisfy. No matter what you did, he could always find fault. Even when he got a stiff neck from sleeping, he would blame you for buying the wrong pillow! Moreover, he was more critical of those close to him, while being tolerant and highly valuing the opinions of those less familiar. Speaking, Hu Cheng was the type who treated strangers like ancestors and close ones like enemies.
Tian Qiuzi took a deep breath, casually picking up the wine glass from the mobile table, and taking a small sip. She stared blankly at her phone until the screen suddenly went black, then she woke as if from a dream. After hesitating, she deleted what she had just typed. With a flick of her wrist, the phone fell into the arms of a beige teddy bear wearing a pink dress. Tian Qiuzi lay back against another dark brown teddy wearing a navy jacket, tilting her head to look at the phone in the beige teddy’s arms, as if flowers might bloom there any moment!
After a long while, Tian Qiuzi suddenly smiled, extending her slender finger to point in the air, saying with a smile: “I won’t tell you, let’s see what you’ll do!” Withdrawing her finger, she looked up, her expression becoming somewhat sad. Looking up at the backlit ceiling, she muttered: “Do I have to scheme against him too? No, this isn’t scheming. I want you to know you can’t leave me!”
Thinking of this, Tian Qiuzi suddenly sat up, crawling over without caring about her image, retrieved her phone from the teddy’s arms, and dialed a number: “Hello, President Chen? Working overtime again? Take care of yourself! Mm-hmm, yes, thank you… Oh right, about finding out who reported Director Han last time as you asked, I seem to have heard something. If you’re free, shall we meet tomorrow to discuss this? Now? You’re joking? Mm, see you tomorrow!”
Director Han was the person responsible for interfacing with procurement in the technology center. After he was reported, it implicated people above him, triggering an internal investigation storm. President Chen had been trying to find the whistleblower, but even as the case was nearing conclusion, there wasn’t a trace of the informant’s identity. This could only mean the whistleblower was still useful, and still being protected. So, the use of a whistleblower…
For President Chen, such people were terrifying! He didn’t dare inquire about the company, so he asked Tian Qiuzi, who was familiar with the company and had her channels. But with Tian Qiuzi’s shrewdness, how could she not understand the inner workings? Such matters were better avoided if possible. Tonight was the first time she had actively brought it up!
After hanging up, Tian Qiuzi muttered to herself: “You think I don’t know about your dealings with Qian Mingcheng? I just didn’t say anything!” Tian Qiuzi curled her lips, saying rather disdainfully, “Men shouldn’t be too arrogant! I’m so good to you, but you don’t cherish it, so I’ll have to let you suffer a bit. Sister will pamper you later!” At this point, Tian Qiuzi smiled coquettishly, as if Hu Cheng were standing before her. She reached out, gently stroking the teddy bear’s head.
Tian Qiuzi’s scheming had inadvertently benefited Ning Yue, allowing her to make arrangements at her own pace.
However, behind all coincidences lie inevitabilities, the only difference being when they appear. Given Hu Cheng’s character, the women around him would eventually develop such thoughts or “accidents.” Ning Yue was like this, Tian Qiuzi was too, and there would be more in the future!
Qin Can saw Ning Yue’s modified outsourcing contract and was dumbfounded: “Are you crazy? How could you sign like this?”
Ning Yue pressed the corner of her eye, smiling helplessly: “Just showing my sincerity, right? At least I won’t resign voluntarily.”
Ning Yue had modified one clause: “If Party B voluntarily resigns, they are willing to bear compensation of 3N (N = number of months worked since employment) and no less than 500,000 yuan. Party B fully understands the content listed in this clause and fully comprehends its consequences and risks.”
The outsourcing contract was signed between Ning Yue and the outsourcing company. But because the outsourcing company was designated by the group, to control risks, the Legal Department would also review the labor contracts from the outsourcing company. As a standard contract, they usually wouldn’t look at specific agreements signed with individuals, but after the outsourcing company saw Ning Yue’s, they proactively brought it to Qin Can for review.
Qin Can sighed: “Why do you have to do this?” He held back his words – after all, it was someone else’s family matter, and as an outsider, he really couldn’t say anything. But…
Who was Qin Can?
“By the way, did you see today’s news?”
Ning Yue was startled – why this sudden casual conversation?
Qin Can continue without waiting for her response: “Jin Fanqie Network’s stock price fell today, did you see why?”
Ning Yue shook her head; she hadn’t had time to check her phone.
“Because yesterday, the divorce ruling for Jin Fanqie Network’s founder came out. Cao Mingyang’s wife, a woman who barely knew a few characters and never participated in company operations, got nearly half of the family assets, plus 0.5% of the listed company’s shares.”
Ning Yue’s eyes flickered, watching Qin Can without speaking. Meeting her gaze, Qin Can continued: “Cao Mingyang’s wife’s lawyer, Mu Xiao, is a good friend of mine, very capable. She once told me that society should recognize the social value of housewives. Even if women don’t work outside the home, they create value within it.”
In the end, Qin Can’s expression became serious. Looking at Ning Yue, he was just short of directly saying “If you want to divorce, I can find someone to help you.”
After listening, Ning Yue lowered her eyes, avoiding Qin Can’s gaze: “I… I should go order meals.” Without waiting for Qin Can to speak, she hurriedly left.
Qin Can’s brows furrowed tightly. In his view, if his mother hadn’t left empty-handed back then, there wouldn’t have been later troubles, nor would she have had to face society’s cold stares. To him, Ning Yue’s problem wasn’t about work, but about economic foundation – about receiving recognition and compensation for the value created during her decade-plus marriage. However, Ning Yue’s refusal was something Qin Can couldn’t understand. Just as he still couldn’t understand why his mother had left that home back then without asking for anything!
Ning Yue had heard about the Cao family’s case in the mothers’ chat group. So, she’d heard many things about this case. It was a divorce battle that lasted nine years. Cao Mingyang wanted to protect his assets, while his wife vowed to make his life miserable. When they fought, it was earth-shattering – Cao Mingyang called the police directly, making it comparable to palace intrigue. People who had followed Cao Mingyang in his entrepreneurial journey resigned one after another. However, these were all matters between husband and wife.
What left a deep impression on Ning Yue were the isolated, almost unnoticed events amid all this drama: Cao Mingyang’s second daughter developed depression and attempted suicide three times, now under supervision. Their eldest son, after going abroad for high school, never returned. When interviewed by reporters, he said: “What does it have to do with me? Just give me the money.” And the third son was addicted to gambling, missing for three years.
Ning Yue had asked the group then: “Didn’t they think about the children?”
One mother’s reply got the most support: “Children are a weakness. If you want to win in a divorce battle, you can’t be soft-hearted!” A wave of agreement followed.
At that time, Ning Yue looked at Hu Ziyuan sleeping peacefully in his small bed and silently resolved: “I won’t divorce! If divorce becomes necessary, I’ll protect my child first, even if I lose everything myself!”
Yes, no matter what Hu Cheng did, she wouldn’t divorce easily. Unless Hu Ziyuan said to her: “Mom, let’s go! I don’t like you being together!”
Ning Yue wouldn’t tell these things to Qin Can, but if he heard them, perhaps they would trigger some memories: he once said to his mother: “Mom, let’s go, let’s not stay with Dad.” Or maybe he wouldn’t remember these words. But surely he would remember his mother’s tears?
If Hu Cheng had immediately known about Ning Yue staying through outsourcing, who knows what might have happened? But he didn’t know; no one told him.
Tian Qiuzi kept quiet. When President Chen got her hint that bringing down Director Han might be related to him blocking someone’s financial interests, and that person was connected to Sales Center’s Director Qian, he became wary of Director Qian. Director Qian was busy enough with his affairs, rarely contacting Hu Cheng normally, and certainly wouldn’t meet Hu Cheng separately just about an administrative assistant’s staying or leaving!
Hu Cheng rarely came home. Never mind Ning Yue working – he wasn’t even clear about what she did when she wasn’t working.
So, after Ning Yue signed the contract, she peacefully made it through a month before Qin Can efficiently convert her to regular status.
“Don’t you think Director Qin is quite rushed about this?” As the internal investigation neared its end, Qin Can began handling some of his affairs. Zhong Tianming and Pan Jie finally had some free time to chat occasionally. Ning Yue often stayed in the archives room, taking on almost all the basic document review work. Now, as the final wrap-up, all the details and facts mentioned in the reports needed to be verified again. This was the most tedious, boring, and error-prone work. When Ning Yue voluntarily took it on and promised a deadline, Zhong Tianming was so excited he almost hugged her!
Pan Jie shook her head, glaring at Zhong Tianming: “Stop gossiping! How can a grown man be such a chatterbox!”
Zhong Tianming became anxious, “I’m not just guessing!” He looked around mysteriously, “A friend of mine at Mu Xiao’s law firm said Qin Can have met with Mu Xiao several times recently. Could it be about Ning Yue’s marriage?”
Pan Jie paused, pushing the documents on her desk away as if annoyed: “Who knows! We can’t guess what rich people think!”
“You think Ning Yue is rich?” Zhong Tianming showed a contemptuous expression, “Though her husband’s company isn’t bad, it has high debt! My friend from an investment company said many investors ran away after seeing his balance sheet. However…” Zhong Tianming hesitated, “My friend also said this seemed a bit unusual.”
Pan Jie asked irritably: “How do you have so many friends? Gossiping about everyone’s business, you might as well become a detective!”
“I have a buddy who is a detective! Good one!” Zhong Tianming got excited, “Things that even famous paparazzi couldn’t capture, my buddy found a way to get them! Super professional, and just wants money, not fame. Nobody knows until now.”
“Nobody knows, yet you know? You’re not human!”
“That’s because we’re buddies!” Zhong Tianming scratched his head, “Oh right, he and Ning Yue were actually middle school classmates.”
Pan Jie suddenly began scrutinizing Zhong Tianming, “Why do I feel you’re also very concerned about Ning Yue? Everything you say revolves around her?” Pan Jie suddenly turned to ask Lawyer Qian, who was playing games nearby, “Lawyer Qian, come on, tell us, what news do you have about Ning Yue?”
“Ning Yue? Who’s Ning Yue?” Lawyer Qian, immersed in his match-three game, responded absently.
Pan Jie glared at Zhong Tianming with a “confess honestly” expression.
Zhong Tianming said sheepishly: “I just saw you were quite concerned, so I asked around…”
“Mind your own business!” Pan Jie snapped harshly before walking out.
Pan Jie, feeling irritated, first went downstairs to buy coffee from the café. Coming back up, she didn’t want to enter the office when she reached the door. After hesitating, she headed straight for the smokers’ gathering spot on the roof terrace. Though she didn’t smoke, she thought being smoke-hazed might give her an interesting dazed feeling.
Smoke swirled on the semi-open terrace, and Pan Jie coughed twice upon entering. She somewhat regretted coming to act as an air purifier, but as she turned to leave, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure near the edge.
She didn’t like Ning Yue, and even somewhat disliked her after learning certain things. But today, something inexplicably drew her closer.
She heard Ning Yue on the phone: “Thank you for helping with this matter… Oh, Zhong Tianming? I know him… It’s fine. Though I don’t know how they found out… Shows how frightening rumors can be… No, no, thanks, don’t investigate. They’re colleagues, it wouldn’t be right to do that. Thanks, don’t ask him. My situation is just a joke anyway, if it can amuse everyone, that has its value.” After a long silence, Ning Yue took a deep breath, looked into the distance, and said into the phone, “Maybe when Ziyuan can no longer find love in this family, I’ll take him away. But not now. Regardless of whether Hu Cheng loves me or how his parents treat me, they love Ziyuan, and he loves them. They’re Ziyuan’s family, I won’t separate them because of myself… In the future, if one-day Ziyuan thinks they’re more important and chooses to stay, I won’t force him.” Ning Yue paused, her voice suddenly choking, “Ziyuan is my everything. Even if this is wrong, let me be wrong till the end.”
After hanging up, Ning Yue remained standing quietly. Pan Jie slowly backed away, leaving silently.
Ning Yue wasn’t divorcing, actually for the child! Such an old-fashioned, outdated, laughable yet pitiful answer, happening right beside her! In this day and age, there was still such a woman and a lawyer at that.
Too absurd!
Pan Jie drained her coffee like taking a shot, angrily throwing it in the trash. Now, she was full of rage toward Ning Yue: How could you be so stupid! As a woman, it’s just embarrassing!
When Ning Yue turned around, she saw Pan Jie’s retreating figure. That high ponytail was too distinctive; Ning Yue recognized it immediately. Looking around, she figured that for Pan Jie, who never smoked, to stand here, she must have been either beside or – behind her.
Instead of returning to the office, Ning Yue went directly to the archives room. Among past contracts, she discovered some strange ones. Though she might not understand accounting, she could still do basic math, and she wasn’t completely ignorant of accounting, having studied basic accounting systematically. Most importantly, these original contracts told much more than just numbers. Ning Yue needed to investigate these companies to verify her thoughts.
Simply put, she suspected someone was using fake trade contracts with these companies to transfer money out temporarily, then routing it back through other companies. From the company’s books, there were no losses, but what did it mean when money left for a few days, made a round trip, and came back?
If investigated further, one could ask: what level of person was manipulating this?
Ning Yue didn’t want to be an anti-corruption warrior; she cared about these companies only because Hu Cheng was among them!
However, Ning Yue knew that once touched, such matters carried high risk and danger. Unless absolutely necessary, she didn’t want to get involved. Therefore, even her searches in the archives room were extremely careful. For safety, she had even asked Lawyer Qian and Zhong Tianming to help for several days.
Besides this, what other methods did she have to handle the “harassment” from Tian Qiuzi and Hu Cheng? Perhaps only by keeping them preoccupied could she have some peace.
Ning Yue thought for a moment and called the bank’s account manager; fortunately, she could get what she wanted before five today.
After taking her child home, Ning Yue hurried out, but Hu Ziyuan insisted on following her. Usually, Ning Yue would agree, but today she was meeting Tian Qiuzi!
Six-year-old Hu Ziyuan could clearly describe events!
Ning Yue had a thought: What if Hu Cheng learned through Hu Ziyuan about Tian Qiuzi’s harassment?
She immediately dismissed this idea. Compared to what she was planning, this random approach depending on Hu Cheng’s reaction was too risky with its uncontrollable nature!
Ning Yue thought for only a few seconds before messaging Tian Qiuzi to cancel.
When Tian Qiuzi received Ning Yue’s cancellation message, she was so angry she nearly smashed her phone! To her, such a last-minute cancellation was something only an immoral, tasteless person would do! Tian Qiuzi cursed Ning Yue in her heart. After venting, and catching her breath, her thoughts turned: Could it be that Ning Yue truly couldn’t handle it anymore and was coming to negotiate? But wasn’t quite ready, hence this back and forth!
With this perspective – Tian Qiuzi’s anger instantly dissipated. As the party was about to achieve complete victory, she could afford some patience and magnanimity!
Tian Qiuzi couldn’t help imagining how to completely defeat Ning Yue in this final battle, but also worried that after refusing her various unreasonable demands, this shrew might make another public scene! For a moment, Tian Qiuzi even thought about getting Hu Cheng involved, to witness Ning Yue’s ugly behavior, but she rationally sighed: compared to seeing Ning Yue make a scene, Hu Cheng might be more concerned about how Ning Yue knew about things.
Tian Qiuzi hugged her shoulders and exhaled a long breath at the fresh flowers on her desk: in the battle with Ning Yue, she was always in a passive, disadvantaged position. But this wasn’t her fault – it was Ning Yue’s fault for refusing to divorce!
Tian Qiuzi completely forgot that the boundary between her and Ning Yue wasn’t drawn by Ning Yue but by Hu Cheng! And Tian Qiuzi – without any awareness – had long been tightly controlled by Hu Cheng.
This was the real reason for her disadvantage!
The night deepened, and Hu Cheng hadn’t returned. The elderly couple’s room door was closed, light seeping from under it. When Ning Yue went to the living room for water, she heard a faint phone conversation and her mother-in-law’s happy laughter from the room. Tonight her father-in-law had business at the old house, leaving only her mother-in-law at home. However, her mood seemed unaffected by the “empty room.” If Hu Cheng couldn’t return, he would always call his parents before bedtime to chat and check-in. The old lady didn’t fear her husband traveling far but feared not receiving her son’s call at the usual time.
As a child, Hu Cheng did very well. He was undoubtedly a good son and father.
Ning Yue paused, then quietly entered the study. Hu Ziyuan was lying on the floor drawing. Seeing Ning Yue enter, he called for her help.
Ning Yue also sat on the floor, setting aside the day’s worries to focus on playing with her child.
The night grew deeper, time passing silently. The layered high-rises of the city were dotted with household lights, which gradually extinguished one by one, returning to darkness.
Ning Yue let out a long sigh, looking at the bedside clock – it was already 10:30. A mind full of worries and plans to arrange, all waiting until Hu Ziyuan fell asleep. But Hu Ziyuan seemed like he’d taken stimulants, finally getting into bed, finishing the story, and waiting for him to sleep, only for him to start humming songs!
Ning Yue’s fists were clenched, pressed hard against her sides without raising them. Her back was sweating layer by layer from irritation, and several deep breaths couldn’t suppress her urge to yell at him.
“Mom, what should I do if I can’t sleep?”
“Oh, Mom, I don’t want to sleep at all!”
When Hu Ziyuan jumped and rolled over, his whole body crashed onto the bed. The small bed shook, making Ning Yue sway back and forth, bringing that suppressed impatience closer to her lips…
“Mom, are you asleep?”
Don’t respond, don’t respond, don’t open your mouth!
Ning Yue’s mind was full of such warnings, her eyes tightly closed, not daring to move her mouth.
Getting no response, Hu Ziyuan reluctantly rolled over a few more times, playing by himself, gradually becoming less active, quieter… until soft snores began.
Ning Yue relaxed for barely three seconds after hearing the snoring before worrying again: “Could it be adenoid hypertrophy? Why else would such a small child snore? Or is he too fat? Could he have indigestion?”
All women became amateur doctors after becoming mothers, and Ning Yue was no exception. She worriedly felt her child’s forehead, and rubbed his belly, before returning to the study. She dared not close the door, needing to hear any movement from the adjacent bedroom. Despite the bed rails, Hu Ziyuan had once managed the bizarre feat of climbing over them in his sleep and falling to the floor.
Ning Yue opened her phone and pulled up a photo of a woman. Her eyes carried natural melancholy, with an inherent air of grace. Beside her was a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, their features similar – clearly mother and daughter. But comparing them: the daughter appeared more delicately beautiful, while the mother excelled in captivating charm.
Ning Yue dialed a number, and Tian Qiuzi’s voice came through: “I never thought you’d call me voluntarily. Aren’t you afraid Hu Cheng might answer?”
Ning Yue laughed: “He’s not with you.”
“Is he home?” Tian Qiuzi’s voice carried thick hostility and jealousy.
Ning Yue laughed: “He’s not here either. Tian Qiuzi, competing with me is useless. Even if Hu Cheng and I divorce as you wish, you’d just be making wedding clothes for others.”
“What do you mean? Who are you talking about? You…”
Ning Yue laughed softly and hung up.
While men’s warfare relies on strategy and alliances, what about women? The enemy of my enemy is my ally.
During the Tang Dynasty, when Emperor Gaozong favored Consort Xiao, Empress Wang brought Wu Zetian from Ganye Temple into the palace, beginning various future calamities. People often blamed Empress Wang for poor judgment, even getting herself harmed by Wu Zetian. But Ning Yue saw it differently – Empress Wang’s actions weren’t wrong; her only mistake was being unable to leave Gaozong.
Even if one couldn’t escape that cage, at least one could distance oneself from that man. She was a competitive woman, but in matters of love, she preferred natural simplicity. Regarding Hu Cheng, she had long let go!
All women are natural masters at emotional strategy.
After handling Tian Qiuzi’s trouble, Ning Yue studied for a while – judicial examination materials. Though she had passed long ago, after so many years without practice, her knowledge had dried up. These exam-cramming materials were perfect for reactivating memories. Immersed in the world of books, time flew by – looking up, it was already 12:30.
“Thud!” A dull sound came from outside, followed by silence.
Someone! Ning Yue’s hair stood on end! She stood to rush to her son’s bedroom. At the door, something felt wrong.
—It was too quiet!
Carefully closing the bedroom door, she tiptoed out.
This was a flat apartment of 170 square meters. The entrance had a feng shui wall, a living room on the left, a dining room and kitchen with a storage room, a maid’s room, and a utility room extending to the right wing. Around the feng shui wall was a small square space leading to a corridor, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a walk-in closet on both sides.
The elderly couple had chosen their room – the guest room closest to the dining room, saying it was convenient for cooking breakfast. They disliked having bathrooms in bedrooms, claiming it brought negative energy. So they used the bathroom next to the kitchen. Ning Yue and her son slept in the furthest guest room with an en-suite bathroom. A study separated the two bedrooms. The master bedroom and walk-in closet occupied the opposite side, where Hu Cheng stayed when he returned.
Ning Yue closed the bedroom door and looked down the corridor to the feng shui wall, seeing familiar furniture and walls in the shadows, with no sign of movement!
Had she misheard?
Ning Yue wanted to convince herself of this and return to hold her son while sleeping. But some inexplicable force pushed her forward step by step.
No one in the corridor, square hall, living room, kitchen, further ahead… Ning Yue suddenly stopped, her raised foot hesitating to step back. She paused slightly, and turned back to look down — Ning Yue almost screamed: what was that dark shape on the ground?
When Ning Yue realized someone was lying on the floor, she recognized who it was without even turning on the lights — her mother-in-law!
Why wasn’t she moving?
Ning Yue tightly covered her mouth, afraid of waking her sleeping son. Gathering herself, she turned on a wall light. In the dim light, her mother-in-law lay unconscious on the floor. Ning Yue quickly knelt, and checked for a pulse – there wasn’t one.
Dead? Ning Yue felt dizzy! Holding her phone, she couldn’t dial the numbers! Finally, 120 connected, the voice coming through like heavenly music.
Then came waiting for the ambulance, and Ning Yue calmed somewhat. Only five minutes had passed since hearing the sound. Her mother-in-law had always been very healthy, with normal blood pressure and lipids, and no known heart problems. Following emergency care knowledge, her mother-in-law’s symptoms suggested acute cardiac issues rather than a stroke. If so… a thought flashed through her mind: I only need to wait like this, and within ten minutes she’ll be completely gone. From now on…
“But you know first aid.”
“Hu Cheng doesn’t know you do! Nobody knows you do! 120 didn’t tell you to perform first aid!”
“She’s Hu Ziyuan’s grandmother! She cared for you during your confinement! She truly loves Hu Ziyuan!”
“But she would take Hu Ziyuan away! If there’s a divorce, she would unreasonably take and even hide the child!”
“Hu Ziyuan loves her!”
“Ning Yue, you are Ning Yue! Where is your conscience!”
Ning Yue’s trembling hands reached out, messily unbuttoning clothes. When her hands touched the cold chest, she suddenly became calm! Thinking of nothing else! Only first-aid knowledge flowed through her mind!
The house was completely quiet except for heavy breathing echoing in the space. When medical staff arrived, Ning Yue sat slumped on the floor, her arms hanging like they were broken. By then, her mother-in-law had a pulse.
The commotion woke Hu Ziyuan. Seeing her son walking barefoot from the bedroom, Ning Yue suddenly found strength, immediately springing up and flying to his side. She tried to lift him but couldn’t. Trying harder, she managed to carry him. She took him to the bedroom, briefly explaining that grandmother was unwell, and mom had to take her to the hospital immediately. Did he want to wait at home for Dad or go with Mom?
Hu Ziyuan burst into tears: “I want to go with mom!”
Ning Yue knew she had spoken too hastily, frightening the child. But this wasn’t the time to worry about such details. While the medical staff transferred the old lady, Ning Yue dressed her child, grabbed her wallet and phone, and followed them out.
When closing the door, she tried to lock it with her key but couldn’t manage to insert it into the keyhole, finally giving up. Seeing Hu Ziyuan’s confused look, Ning Yue smiled and said: “Looks like Dad was right, we should switch to a smart lock.”
Hu Ziyuan held his mother’s hand tightly, following her into the ambulance. Curling up in his mother’s arms, Hu Ziyuan said: “Mom, don’t be afraid, you have me!”
For some reason, Ning Yue, who should have felt relieved, heard her son’s words and felt her heart hit hard by something, bringing tears to her eyes.