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

Wen Ruan was slightly taken aback, not expecting Jiang Yubai to say this, but she did not hide anything from him.

"Well, the colleague who was in charge of translating Reinhardt and the others got into a car accident, and everyone else in the institute was on assignment abroad, so I had to fill in temporarily."

She paused, her gaze falling on the man's taut jawline, and continued, "I didn't know that Reinhardt was working with the Ji family. If I had known, I would have tried my best to avoid any appearance of impropriety."

Perhaps it was because her gaze was too open, Jiang Yubai loosened his grip on the cigarette a little, then he extinguished the sparks, looked at her, and spoke in his usual indifferent tone.

Aren't you curious how I knew?

Wen Ruan nodded.

She was curious!

Jiang Yubai unlocked his phone and handed it to her.

Wen Ruan reached out and took it. The moment she saw the photo on the screen, her brows furrowed and her face gradually paled.

Someone deliberately took a picture of her and Ji Shiyan staring at each other closely in the bathroom corridor, at a very tricky angle.

Anyone with a discerning eye would only conclude that the two have a very close relationship.

In fact, they are the ones who are fighting head-on.

This is clearly the work of professionals secretly taking photos.

But there were many staff members coming and going around at the time, so who could it be?

What is the purpose of doing this?

And there was that trending topic last time!

Suppressing her anger, Wen Ruan asked with a focused gaze, "Can you find out who posted it?"

Jiang Yubai half-closed his eyes, his expression unreadable. "We're still investigating."

Wen Ruan returned the phone.

Unable to fathom Jiang Yubai's thoughts, she hesitated, then tentatively asked the question that had been lingering in her heart for a long time.

Did you remove the trending topic?

"Um."

"Thank you, I'm sorry to have troubled you," Wen Ruan said apologetically. "I have a feeling that someone did this on purpose both times."

Jiang Yubai nodded. "The purpose is self-evident."

"They want to sow discord between us," Wen Ruan pointed out.

Jiang Yubai neither confirmed nor denied it, but turned and stared at her intently.

Wen Ruan felt a pang of anxiety under his gaze and retorted, "You don't believe me?"

Jiang Yubai leaned slightly closer to Wen Ruan, "It's more like you don't believe me."

The man's fresh and pleasant scent wafted into her nostrils, and Wen Ruan instinctively wanted to back away, but her back was firmly pressed against the sofa.

"I don't……"

"You went to the Ji family without telling me," Jiang Yubai interrupted her, then silently leaned closer.

"Even if it's a last-minute assignment, you could have informed me with a phone call or a text message. Why didn't you tell me? Did you think it was unnecessary?"

The man's deep voice carried a sense of pressure, and Wen Ruan felt guilty. "I... you're quite busy with work too, and besides, this isn't a big deal."

Jiang Yubai remained silent with a sullen face, his intense gaze fixed on her.

Wen Ruan felt inexplicably flustered.

The next instant, the man's handsome face suddenly pressed closer, and his soft, warm lips unexpectedly covered hers.

Wen Ruan's pupils dilated suddenly, her breath hitched, and she instinctively reached out to grab his arm.

Jiang Yubai gave her no chance to dodge or push her away, reaching out to pinch her chin and deepening the possessive kiss.

Wen Ruan was forced to tilt her head back and endure it, only his cool breath seeping into her mouth little by little, making her mind go blank.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Yubai stepped back slightly, her voice hoarse: "If anything happens in the future, tell me immediately. Especially in situations where you will meet Ji Shiyan."

Wen Ruan's breathing became rapid, her head felt oxygen-deprived, and her thoughts were in turmoil. She couldn't quite understand Jiang Yubai's ideas.

He usually maintains a dignified, reserved, and aloof demeanor, but his recent loss of control...

Was it a punishment born of anger, or something else?

She couldn't tell.

In a moment of mental blank, all she could do was nod, her voice weak: "Okay."

Even after three days, during breaks at work, Jiang Yubai's words and the kiss on the sofa would uncontrollably intrude into her mind, causing her to be in turmoil.

Before they knew it, it was time for Reinhardt and his party to return home.

In the morning, Wen Ruan took them to the airport.

After checking in, Reinhardt extended his hand to her, his blue eyes filled with a sincere smile: "Ms. Wen, thank you for your hard work this week. It was a pleasure working with you, and I hope you can be my translator again next time."

Wen Ruan returned the handshake with a polite smile: "I'm ready to go at any time, as long as the hospital makes the arrangements. I wish you a safe journey."

The other representatives of the delegation also came over to shake hands and say goodbye. After watching them pass through the security checkpoint, Wen Ruan let out a long sigh of relief.

I've been working non-stop every day this week, with my mind highly focused, and now I can finally relax.

I had just taken out my phone to hail a taxi when a call came in.

Upon seeing the note on the screen, Wen Ruan paused.

She only answered the call after the other party kept calling.

"Ruan Ruan? How have you been lately? Why haven't you called home?"

Wen Shaokang's voice on the other end of the phone was sticky and mushy, like a snake's tongue coated in syrup. Even through the receiver, Wen Ruan felt nauseous.

Wen Ruan's face paled slightly, her fingers gripping the phone case tightly as she coldly asked, "Why is it you?"

Wen Shaokang chuckled, his words carrying an unsettling lewdness: "What, can't Dad contact you using your mom's phone? Don't you miss Dad?"

Wen Ruan tried hard to suppress the familiar nausea in her chest and remain calm: "Is something wrong?"

"The Wen family is hosting a family banquet in a few days. Come back when you have some free time," Wen Shaokang said. "You haven't seen your mother and brother in a long time. Come back and see them."

"I'm busy!" Wen Ruan replied without hesitation.

"Ruan Ruan, Daddy kindly invited you back for dinner. Don't you miss your mother? Daddy has so much to say to you. By the way, did you receive and wear that dress?"

Wen Shaokang's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, and his hidden, sordid thoughts came rushing through the receiver.

The thought of that nightgown brought back the pent-up fear and nausea from the past. Wen Ruan could no longer bear it and hung up the phone.

"vomit……"

She leaned against the street railing, suddenly bent over and dry heaved, her back already soaked with cold sweat.

Although she was far away, her body still remembered that voice and the chills and discomfort it brought to the voice's owner.

Only when her fingertips dug deep into her palms did Wen Ruan regain some of her senses.

She put her phone back in her bag and took several deep breaths to slowly calm the churning in her stomach.

Back at the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, Wen Ruan went straight to Shen Yicheng's office to report on the progress of her work.

Seeing that it was her, Shen Yicheng smiled slightly: "You're back?"

Wen Ruan stood in front of her desk and gave a concise report on her work over the past week.

After she finished speaking, Shen Yicheng nodded in satisfaction. "The mission has already sent feedback to the institute, and they have a very high opinion of you. Mr. Reinhardt also hopes that you will continue to be in charge of the translation work next time."

"We will follow the instructions of the hospital."

Shen Yicheng's eyes inadvertently fell on her pale face, and he politely asked with concern, "You don't look well. Have you been too tired this week?"

Wen Ruan was stunned for a moment, then said, "It's probably because he's not getting enough sleep."