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

Wen Ruan couldn't help but glance at Jiang Yubai out of the corner of her eye; he wouldn't normally address her like that in front of outsiders.

But the words have already been spoken and cannot be taken back.

She composed herself and began to introduce him: "Director Shen, this is my husband, Jiang Yubai."

"Yu Bai, this is Shen Yicheng, the director of our Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation."

Jiang Yu's gaze, calmly resting behind his gold-rimmed glasses, fell on Shen Yicheng's face. He nodded slightly and said unhurriedly, "Director Shen, thank you for your hard work."

"Director Jiang, you're too kind." Shen Yicheng smiled in return. "Wen Ruan is a key translator under my command. Her professional competence is evident to all, so it's only natural that I should fulfill my responsibilities."

The two stared at each other for a moment, their gazes meeting silently in the air.

Jiang Yubai withdrew his gaze, his tone calm and steady: "Director Shen, you've gone to a lot of trouble. Next time, I'll arrange to pick her up in advance, so you won't have to make the trip at the last minute."

Shen Yicheng's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but his smile remained unchanged: "Director Jiang is very considerate, but it is my duty to work at the Institute of Translation and Interpretation, so there is no need for me to travel around."

After saying that, he looked at Wen Ruan and softened his tone: "You don't look well. Go home and rest tonight. I'll take care of Deschamps. Don't worry, there won't be any problems."

Wen Ruan thanked him in a hoarse voice. Shen Yicheng nodded slightly to Jiang Yubai, then turned and walked towards the banquet hall with a composed gait and a straight back.

"Let's go," Jiang Yubai said in a low voice.

"Um."

Wen Ruan followed him out the door. The night wind blew in her face, and she subconsciously pulled her coat tighter around herself.

The fabric still carried the cool, woody scent of his body, mingled with the chill of the autumn night.

The driver had already opened the back door, and Wen Ruan got in. The door closed, shutting out the warm yellow light and noisy voices from the hotel lobby.

Jiang Yubai turned to the side, reached out and pulled the seatbelt next to her, and the metal buckle clicked into place.

As his fingertips withdrew, they inadvertently brushed against her waist, and through the thin fabric, a fleeting, warm sensation passed by.

The moment he approached, Wen Ruan subconsciously held her breath, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

The black Rolls-Royce merged into the nighttime traffic, the streetlights casting shadows on her pale face.

Jiang Yubai's gaze swept over her and landed on her slightly clenched fingers. He asked in a low, gentle voice, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to the Wen family banquet tonight?"

Wen Ruan pursed her lips: "I didn't hide it from you, I had no idea this was a banquet hosted by the Wen family before I came... I thought it was just normal work."

She had done similar work many times before, so it was perfectly normal for a translator to attend a dinner party.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Yubai's eyes behind his glasses. "So, you were deliberately lured to this banquet?"

Wen Ruan nodded slowly.

"Why?" Jiang Yubai asked, puzzled, although he vaguely knew that Wen Ruan's relationship with the Wen family didn't seem to be very good.

But why would Wen Shaokang go to such lengths to lure her?

"What did he do to you?" Jiang Yubai had a feeling that something was wrong between Wen Ruan and Wen Shaokang.

Wen Ruan's lips trembled... What should she say?

She said her adoptive father had improper thoughts about her?

Wen Ruan glanced at his handsome profile, her gentle gaze behind his glasses filled with concern.

But it was precisely because of him that she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She was afraid she would see even the slightest pity in those eyes, and even more afraid... that he would think she was dirty...

When she was a child, she was spied on by Wen Shaokang for the first time. In a panic, she went to find Zhao Xiuyun, only to be met with an angry and hateful slap and curses blaming her for seducing her adoptive father...

In the end, Wen Ruan just shook her head. "He was drunk and tried to persuade me to go back to the Wen family. We argued... and then it escalated into a fight."

"So that's how it is..."

Jiang Yu's white glasses reflected glittering light like scattered gold, and his expression remained unreadable.

He could tell that Wen Ruan wasn't telling the truth, but he didn't want to pressure her.

After a long pause, he earnestly instructed, "Next time something like this happens, contact me first."

Wen Ruan paused slightly, "Okay..."

At least for now, he's protecting himself, and that's enough. She can't be too greedy.

As she relaxed, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, and Wen Ruan's head began to nod.

She could no longer hold on, closed her eyes, turned a corner, and smashed her head against the car window.

A large hand caught her head just in time and pressed it against his shoulder.

Jiang Yubai watched as her breathing became steady and her brows furrowed slightly, and a subtle pity welled up in his eyes.

Half an hour later, the black Rolls-Royce came to a stop in front of the apartment building.

Jiang Yubai stepped out of the car quietly, walked around to the other side, opened the car door, bent down, and steadily lifted her out.

Wen Ruan mumbled an "Mmm" in a daze.

Jiang Yubai stiffened and whispered soothingly, "Go to sleep."

As if hearing a familiar voice, Wen Ruan tilted her head into his shoulder and fell into a deep sleep again.

Jiang Yubai's eyes were gentle as he carried her into the apartment building.

The Wen family.

Wen Shaokang entered the room looking displeased and loosened his tie.

Zhao Xiuyun slammed the door shut, her eyes blazing with anger. "Wen Shaokang, what did you do to Wen Ruan today? She's already married!"

Wen Shaokang's cloudy, drunken eyes fell on her. "What? It's my birthday, my daughter's back to celebrate. What's the problem?"

"You tricked her into coming here!" Zhao Xiuyun gritted her teeth. "No matter what, Wen Ruan is a child raised by our Wen family, you..."

"So what if I raised her?" Wen Shaokang sneered, saying dismissively, "I've raised her for over ten years, can't I even ask for something in return?"

"Zhao Xiuyun, what are you pretending to be, this loving mother? Who was it that first threw her into the suburban villa? Was it me?"

Zhao Xiuyun's face turned deathly pale.

It was indeed she who personally arranged for Wen Ruan to be sent to a villa in the suburbs, where she lived for more than ten years...

But she was doing it for Wen Ruan's own good.

Wen Shaokang looked down at her, his voice low and full of warning, "Let me tell you, don't talk nonsense to me here, and stay out of my business."

"If you say another word, don't blame me for being impolite to the Zhao family!"

"Are you crazy?" Zhao Xiuyun's eyes suddenly reddened as she stared at him in disbelief. "You're a complete lunatic! A pervert! You..."

A crisp "snap" sound.

Before Zhao Xiuyun could finish speaking, she was slapped across the face. Her ears rang, and half of her cheek quickly became red and swollen.

"You hit me?!" Zhao Xiuyun's voice turned shrill.

Wen Shaokang's voice was hoarse and cold, "If you still want to be your Mrs. Wen, you'd better behave yourself. Ruan Ruan is my good daughter, and she will be mine sooner or later."

Zhao Xiuyun could hear the determination in his tone, and a mix of emotions churned within her: panic, anger, jealousy, hatred, pity...

She lowered her eyes, tears falling silently, and she barely slept a wink all night.

The next morning, Wen Ruan opened her eyes and found herself in her room.

She subconsciously recalled that she seemed to have fallen asleep in the car yesterday, so how did she get back?

Suddenly, the phone on the bedside table vibrated.