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

Wen Ruan reached for the phone, glanced at the screen, and was immediately stunned.

It was Zhao Xiuyun calling... Did she want to scold her?

Wen Ruan pursed her lips, but still swiped to answer the call, only to find silence on the other end.

"Mom?" Wen Ruan called out hesitantly.

Why didn't she say anything when she called?

Zhao Xiuyun's voice was hoarse: "Ruan Ruan, are you... and Yu Bai about to get a divorce?"

Wen Ruan was stunned, and asked in surprise, "Mom, why are you suddenly asking this?"

Zhao Xiuyun was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If it really comes to that... then resign and leave Beijing, go somewhere far away. Mom has saved up some money for you, enough for you to go to any country you want..."

"Mom." Wen Ruan's eyelashes trembled, her heart aching. "Why are you suddenly saying this?"

She never expected that Zhao Xiuyun would actually... deposit money for her.

Why?

Is it... that she's afraid Wen Shaokang will find her if she loses her backer?

But clearly... she hates herself, she resents herself, doesn't she?

"Don't worry about it, I just hope you...take good care of yourself."

After saying that, Zhao Xiuyun hung up the phone.

Hearing the busy tone from her phone, Wen Ruan's mind went blank.

What exactly happened to Zhao Xiuyun?

Wen Ruan suddenly remembered the past, after Wen Shaokang revealed his feelings for her, they had argued a lot.

Is it...

Wen Ruan frowned slightly, thinking that she should go see her after get off work.

Otherwise, she really couldn't rest easy.

When Wen Ruan changed her clothes and went out, it was already completely bright outside.

In the afternoon, Wen Ruan had just finished an internal meeting and was coming out of the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation building when she saw Jiang Wanxing walking in with a relaxed demeanor.

Upon seeing Wen Ruan, Jiang Wanxing smiled and said, "Ruan Ruan, what a coincidence! I just happened to run into you."

Wen Ruan paused slightly, then greeted her casually, "Miss Jiang, are you here at the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation on business?"

"Yes, send over a letter of cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Jiang Wanxing waved the manila envelope in her hand. "Do you have a moment? I happen to have a few words I'd like to say to you."

Wen Ruan glanced at her and agreed, "Okay."

What did she want to say to herself?

Jiang Wanxing came to her side and lowered her voice, saying, "Ruan Ruan, I didn't just come here to deliver documents today; I came specifically to see you."

"Looking for me?" Wen Ruan was quite surprised.

Is she about to say something about Jiang Yubai again?

Wen Ruan began to hesitate, wondering if she should find an excuse to leave first.

Jiang Wanxing whispered mysteriously, "There's something I think I should remind you of."

Wen Ruan: "Go ahead."

Jiang Wanxing leaned slightly closer to her ear and said, "I've heard some rumors lately. Someone is investigating your past engagement with the Ji family and your past... You'd better be careful and not let anyone with ulterior motives use it against you."

"I haven't found out exactly who's spreading this information yet, but I'm worried it might affect your work and even implicate Yu Bai. You should be careful lately."

Wen Ruan was startled, and understood after hearing the second half of Jiang Wanxing's sentence.

It turns out they were worried that Jiang Yubai would be affected.

Wen Ruan remained calm and composed, saying, "Thank you, Miss Jiang, for reminding me. I really admire how quickly you receive information."

Jiang Wanxing's smile remained unchanged as she deftly picked up the conversation: "In the journalist profession, there's no shortage of sources. I was just concerned, afraid you'd be caught off guard."

"I understand." Wen Ruan nodded and did not delve further into the topic.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Wen Ruan glanced at her phone and said, "I have work to do this afternoon, so I'll go now."

Jiang Wanxing smiled and waved, "Let's chat again next time."

"it is good."

As Wen Ruan walked out of the gate of the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, the smile on her face vanished instantly.

Jiang Wanxing's words were probably not unfounded.

However... her engagement to the Ji family is indeed something that people can easily use to make a fuss.

The afternoon flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to leave work.

Wen Ruan got up to go to the restroom, and after much hesitation, she decided to ask Zhao Xiuyun to come out with her.

She didn't want to go to the Wen family villa; if she ran into Wen Shaokang, wouldn't that be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?

After thinking it over, Wen Ruan quickly sent Zhao Xiuyun a message: "Mom, are you free tonight? We haven't had dinner together in ages."

After sending the message, Wen Ruan put her phone on the table and washed her hands.

She had just dried her hands when her phone vibrated.

Wen Ruan answered the phone, but before she could speak, Zhao Xiuyun's excited voice came through: "Ruan Ruan? You...you want to ask me out?"

"Well, well..." Wen Ruan considered how to explain it to her.

"No need, no need," Zhao Xiuyun quickly refused. "You don't need to make a special trip. I'm fine. You're busy with work, so go home and rest early after get off work. Don't go through all that trouble."

Wen Ruan frowned slightly. Zhao Xiuyun had a quirk: the more guilty and flustered she was, the more she would talk and the more rambling she would become.

She's invited to dinner, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she definitely won't refuse.

Wen Ruan suddenly realized something, "Mom, did Wen Shaokang hit you again?"

Zhao Xiuyun subconsciously held her breath. "No...no, don't overthink it."

"Mom," Wen Ruan said, her voice hoarse, "is it because of me that he's taking his anger out on you?"

Zhao Xiuyun's breath hitched, and a soft sob escaped her lips. "I'm so sorry, Ruan Ruan... I'm your mother, yet I couldn't protect you..."

Wen Ruan felt a tightness in her throat and her eyes welled up with tears.

Just as she was about to speak, Wen Bowen's shocked voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone.

"Mom! What happened to your face? Who slapped you? Holy shit! I'll go chop that bastard up!"

Zhao Xiuyun was startled and cried out in a panic, "Bowen, it's not you...!"

Wen Ruan bit her lower lip hard, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the phone tightly.

"Ruan Ruan, you should get some rest."

Zhao Xiuyun said those words and hung up the phone.

A surge of anger suddenly ignited within Wen Ruan. She remembered that when Zhao Xiuyun was young, protecting her, Wen Shaokang had laid hands on her several times...

At this moment, the Wen family villa was in an uproar.

Wen Bowen's face was flushed red from a hangover.

"Mom, don't stop me!" Wen Bowen's voice boomed so loudly it shook the entire villa. "Who dares to lay a hand on you?!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wen Shaokang's impatient voice came from the stairwell.

His face was sallow and his hair was pale from a hangover; his tone was extremely harsh: "What are you howling about so early in the morning? Go back to your room and go to sleep!"

Looking at his self-righteous attitude, Wen Bowen's anger flared up. "Was it you who slapped my mother across the face?"

Wen Shaokang was being questioned by his own son, even though he was his own flesh and blood. The hangover headache and the feeling of embarrassment surged up at the same time.

He slapped Wen Bowen's hand away and cursed hoarsely, "You fucking behave yourself! You think you're so tough? Dare to question your own father?"