Director Jiang, don't let the divorce get out of control.

Jiang Wanxing's expression stiffened slightly, but she smiled brightly again in an instant, "You're welcome. If you're ever unsure about Yu Bai's habits, you can always come and ask me."

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Jiang." Wen Ruan tightened her grip on her handbag, but her expression remained unchanged. "I'm going to have lunch now; I have a meeting this afternoon."

She had been trying her best to calm herself down, but today she simply didn't have the patience to deal with Jiang Wanxing, and even less interest in hearing about her past with Jiang Yubai.

"Okay, goodbye." Jiang Wanxing stood there watching her walk away, the tenderness in her eyes fading little by little, leaving only a deep calculation.

She could never accept that after more than a decade of being together with Jiang Yubai, she had ultimately lost to Wen Ruan, who appeared halfway through their relationship.

This time, she's going to take back the place that's rightfully hers!

……

It wasn't until she entered the noodle shop that Wen Ruan's tense nerves relaxed slightly, but the pent-up frustration in her chest didn't dissipate at all, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Jiang Yubai and Jiang Wanxing grew up together. He had applied ointment for her a few times when they were young, which was nothing serious.

But Jiang Wanxing's casual "more than ten years" felt like a tight band around her mind, binding her thoughts and making it impossible for her to shake it off.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

It was news from Jiang Yubai.

【Have you got a meal yet】

His concise and to-the-point style, even sparing with punctuation, is consistent with his aloof approach.

Just then, the waiter brought over the tomato and beef brisket noodles, and Wen Ruan casually snapped a photo of the plate and sent it over.

[Eating, what about you?]

A moment later, Jiang Yubai also sent a picture of a work meal, followed by a line of text.

Let's have dinner together tonight.

Wen Ruan paused for a moment, then typed: 【OK】

The conversation abruptly ended, and Wen Ruan looked at the pointless and somewhat distant dialogue, a hint of confusion flashing across her eyes.

He's been stationed in the country with Jiang Wanxing, and the old lady is even trying to bring them together, so why hasn't Jiang Yubai mentioned divorce yet?

Is it out of politeness that you're waiting for her to bring it up first?

When I returned to my residence in the evening, Jiang Yubai had not yet come back.

Wen Ruan knew he was busy, so she simply sat on the sofa and looked at her work documents while waiting for him, but she couldn't concentrate at all.

She spent the whole afternoon trying to figure out why Wen Shaokang would suddenly do this!

Was he giving her a warning or a reprimand?

But isn't he afraid that she'll turn around and tell Jiang Yubai, thus ruining the Wen family's reputation?

Suddenly, the door lock clicked softly.

Wen Ruan was startled, but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Jiang Yubai.

Jiang Yubai placed two exquisite food boxes on the coffee table.

"Sorry I'm late."

Wen Ruan shook her head, "It's nothing, I just got back too."

"I just happened to be passing by your favorite restaurant, so I got a few dishes to go." After saying that, Jiang Yubai walked to her side and pushed a new box of ointment into her hand. "This one is much more effective than the previous one."

Wen Ruan blurted out, "Did Miss Jiang recommend it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she was filled with remorse.

She had told herself countless times that they were just a contractual couple and that she needed to be clear about her role.

The things Wen Shaokang sent, and the past that Jiang Wanxing told her... were like fine needles, piercing the most hidden corner of her heart, a corner she dared not even delve into herself, making it impossible for her to control her emotions.

"Did you run into her at noon?" Jiang Yubai asked.

"Yes, she said you used to apply medicine for her often."

Jiang Yubai's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "That's all in the past."

She seems a bit off today.

Was it because of what Jiang Wanxing said, or... because of him?

"I know, I was just asking casually." Wen Ruan lowered her eyes to hide her thoughts.

"Wen Ruan, you asked me because her words made you uncomfortable?" Jiang Yubai slowly leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"No," Wen Ruan denied instinctively.

She was unwilling to admit that she had indeed taken it to heart.

The man's gaze was too intense, and Wen Ruan inexplicably felt a sense of danger, wanting to escape.

"I just remembered I have a document I haven't finished processing. I'll go to the study first..."

She got up to leave, but someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her.

Wen Ruan lost her footing and unexpectedly bumped into his warm embrace.

The document in his hand fell to the ground, and the papers scattered.

She instinctively braced herself against his chest, her eyes revealing surprise, panic, and a hint of... embarrassment and anger that she herself was unaware of.

"Jiang Yubai, what are you doing?"

He lowered his eyes, his dark, deep pupils visible behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

"You asked if she recommended the ointment, Wen Ruan, but what are you really asking?"

Wen Ruan's heart skipped a beat. She looked away from him and said, "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just saying it casually. Let go of me. I'm going to the study."

"Wen Ruan."

Jiang Yubai called her name softly, and the next moment, he gently pinched her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

"Look at me."

Wen Ruan's heart pounded like a drum as she was forced to meet his gaze.

She didn't dare look at the turbulent emotions in his eyes.

"You're jealous because of what she said, aren't you?"

This was the first time Jiang Yubai had pressed her like this, leaving her no way out.

"I don't……"

Seeing that she still wanted to deny it, Jiang Yubai applied a little force with his fingers, and slowly brought his thin lips close to her cheek, his breath lingering on her.

"Do you think the past is more important than us in the present?"

A single sentence precisely struck a chord with me, bringing back memories of my heart.

She stared blankly at the man so close to her, not understanding what he meant by those words.

Just as the atmosphere reached its most ambiguous point, Jiang Yubai's phone rang, interrupting the conversation.

It was Jiang Wanxing calling.

The last-minute changes to the itinerary of the foreign missions were quite tricky.

He had no choice but to give up.

Before leaving, Jiang Yubai gave her a deep look and said, "Think it over carefully. I'll settle things with you when I get back."

Wen Ruan tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Jiang Yubai never returned after leaving.

The next day.

Wen Ruan put on some simple makeup before going to the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation.

As soon as I sat down, my colleague Huahua from the next workstation leaned over and whispered, "Ruanruan, there's been a big change at the institute today, have you heard? A new director was parachuted in from headquarters, he just arrived this morning, and it seems he was transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"Airdropped?" Wen Ruan asked in surprise. "There wasn't a hint of it beforehand."

"It was a completely confidential transfer, decided directly by the higher-ups, and nobody in the entire hospital knew about it. I just passed by and caught a glimpse of the new director from afar; his looks and demeanor are absolutely stunning, he's incredibly handsome." Hua Hua cupped her face in her hands, her eyes sparkling.

"Focus on your work first." Wen Ruan smiled faintly, her eyes showing no interest whatsoever, but the image of that dignified figure in formal attire flashed through her mind.

The thought vanished in an instant; she quickly suppressed the slight ripples in her heart and threw herself into her work.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Wen Ruan got up and got a glass of water, but before she could sit down, Hua Hua hurriedly grabbed her.

"Ruan Ruan, could you do me a favor and deliver this meeting minutes to the new director's office? I have to pick up some foreign guests and I really can't get away."

Wen Ruan flipped through it; it was an archived document of meeting minutes. "Okay."

"Thank you so much, Ruan Ruan!"

After receiving the documents, Wen Ruan went to the door of the new director's office.

Just as he was about to raise his hand to knock on the door, a man's clear, cold voice came out.

It looks somewhat familiar.

"I understand your concerns, but the delegation has already arrived, and the airport reception arrangements cannot be delayed any longer. If you cannot send a suitable candidate, our Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation can make its own arrangements."

Wen Ruan paused for a moment, then raised her hand to knock on the door.

"Enter."

She pushed open the door and went in. The man was talking on the phone with his back to her. He was tall and had an extraordinary air about him.