After Divorce, My Ex-Wife Became My Creditor

Wen Nuan had left, and Han Qian returned to Gucci to see if he could get a refund. Unfortunately, the store required the receipt, and even if they agreed to a refund, the money would go back to the card used for the purchase. Han Qian sighed helplessly, leaning on the counter, and asked if they could throw in a few pairs of socks since he hadn’t bargained for the expensive clothes.

To his surprise, this request wasn’t denied. Even with the socks in hand, Han Qian still felt he’d been ripped off. Brand or no brand, clothes were clothes, as long as they covered you, right? Why did they have to be so pricey? The store clerk noticed Han Qian’s distress and approached him with a gentle smile.

“Sir, having a girlfriend like that must make you very happy.”

Happy? Thinking about Wen Nuan’s antics, Han Qian shivered. She’d been quite well-behaved recently, but when she wasn’t, she was a real handful. Han Qian turned his head, scratching it shyly, and chuckled.

“Just friends… we’re just friends. Your clothes are so expensive, I wonder if you have many customers. Can you even cover the rent for this month?”

The clerk was momentarily taken aback before laughing.

“Sir, you’re quite the joker. Gucci doesn’t need high sales volumes. We aim for the highest-end brand, targeting high-spending customers. I don’t know about profits, but I do know that if we weren’t making money, our boss wouldn’t mind the annual rent of two hundred thousand.”

“You’re not employees of Rongyao Group?”

“No, but we have to go through Rongyao’s training before starting. Anything else, sir?”

“No, that’s all.”

Feeling awkward, Han Qian scratched his head and turned to leave, his mind chewing over the clerk’s words, which were quite enlightening for him.

Stepping out of Rongyao Department Store, the sunlight was blinding. Looking up at the sun high in the sky, Han Qian felt a warmth wash over him, then smacked his forehead-he’d forgotten to go to work. All Wen Nuan’s fault!

After three years as a househusband, Han Qian momentarily forgot he had to clock in at work every day. He flagged down a taxi, instructing the driver to take a slightly longer route to avoid traffic, as he couldn’t afford the extra fare for delays.

He was even poorer now.

With a mix of anxiety and nervousness, he walked through Rongyao’s doors. The round-faced receptionist jumped up upon seeing Han Qian, grabbing the phone to call the general manager’s secretary, but no one answered. Han Qian noticed her unusual behavior and flashed a bright, sunny smile.

The receptionist stood there, dumbfounded. Who exactly was this Han Qian, who’d only been here two days? Coming to her senses, she turned and ran to the fourteenth floor to inform General Manager Yan that Han Qian had returned.

Han Qian took the elevator to the eleventh floor, where he found his colleagues in the General Affairs Department either mopping the floor, cleaning windows, or watering plants.

Wow? Han Qian chuckled. Rongyao Group’s work was great, even encouraging employees to stretch their muscles. With curiosity, he approached Liu Jiulong, smiling.

“Deputy Supervisor Liu, you’re really hands-on. Knowing the General Affairs Department is too idle, you brought them out to stretch their muscles?”

“Pah! You think I want to? It’s all because that Han guy angered General Manager Yan… Han Qian? Han Qian! Someone, don’t let Han Qian get away!”

Initially bent over mopping, Liu Jiulong hadn’t realized it was Han Qian standing before him. Halfway through his sentence, he recognized the familiar voice, and upon confirming it was Han Qian, he dropped the mop and embraced him tightly.

For a moment, Han Qian was stunned. This… couldn’t be so enthusiastic, right? Then he noticed all the General Affairs Department employees rushing toward him, armed with mops, brooms, watering cans, and even basins, faces twisted in anger, eyes blazing with fury, a palpable murderous intent directed at him.

Han Qian was frightened, unable to break free from Liu Jiulong’s embrace. He closed his eyes, resigned to silently endure the care from his colleagues, knowing it might hurt.

“Did you find Han Qian? Where is he?”

Yang Lan’s voice was like music to Han Qian’s ears. He felt Liu Jiulong release him, but the next moment, a sharp pain shot through his ear. Opening his eyes, he saw Yang Lan looking at him with worry and slightly reddened eyes. He quickly grinned and said, “Yang-Jie, it hurts, it hurts, let’s talk this out.”

“Talk this out? You didn’t come to work and didn’t even call. Your phone was off. Do you know you almost got Su Liang and me fired? If I lose my job, my family will fall apart. Han Qian, you…”

Yang Lan started crying again. Han Qian hurriedly took out his antique phone, realizing it was out of battery. Had it broken last night? It seemed like it hadn’t been charged for half a month. Seeing Yang Lan cry made Liu Jiulong’s heart ache. He kicked Han Qian’s backside.

“You little rascal, can’t you be more aware? General Manager Yan was waiting for you in the General Affairs Department early this morning. If you don’t want to come to work, just quit. You got Lan scolded by General Manager Yan. Pulling your ear? I feel like killing you right now. Lan, don’t cry, don’t cry, let me hug you.”

As Liu Jiulong, with his greasy demeanor, was about to hug Yang Lan, Han Qian quickly stepped forward, pushing the older man aside, and sincerely apologized with a face full of regret.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Yang-Jie. Last night, a friend of mine got hit by a car and was discharged from the hospital. I rushed over… I was so scared, I forgot about the phone. Her parents weren’t around, and the poor girl was all alone.”

Wen Nuan, please take the blame for this. You just had to go shopping…

“Han Qian, you changed your clothes? They look pretty good. Did you buy them at the hospital?”

Liu Jiulong, having been pushed aside, glared at Han Qian, trying to undermine him. Yang Lan had no patience for their bickering. She pulled Han Qian by the ear towards the General Affairs Department, saying as she walked, “General Manager Yan needs you to do something urgent. How do you have the time to buy clothes? If you don’t have anything to wear, tell me, and I’ll buy it for you! You can’t just disappear like that. Right now, you’re important to General Manager Yan, or you’d have been fired already.”

With his ear being tugged, Han Qian grimaced and looked at Yang Lan with confusion, whispering, “Why is she in such a hurry? Didn’t I say I’d give her the results by tomorrow morning? Yang-Jie, don’t feel bad. This is my fault. I’ll go argue with her.”

Yang Lan tossed Han Qian onto the chair, her eyes red with frustration as she gritted her teeth and scolded him.

“Why did you take on this hot potato?”

“Hot potato? My ear sure feels like one, Yang-Jie, you were a bit too harsh! Wait, don’t tell me our General Affairs Department had to go out and clean because of me…”

Liu Jiulong clenched his fists, glaring at Han Qian as he spoke through gritted teeth.

“What did you think? That we were just feeling sorry for the auntie cleaner?”

“Uncle Liu, we call her ‘Auntie,’ you should call her ‘Sister.'”

“You little brat, are you looking for a beating? I’m only thirty-nine!”

Liu Jiulong, how to describe him? Not exactly a good guy, but not entirely bad either. Whatever he likes or dislikes, he shows it openly and says it out loud. Han Qian awkwardly scratched his head, choosing to ignore the greasy old man, and turned to Yang Lan with a grin.

“Yang-Jie, calm down. After this is over, I’ll pay, and you can treat everyone to a good time. After all, it’s my fault you got dragged into this. Where’s Su Liang? Did he go looking for me?”

Yang Lan took a deep breath, her presence so overwhelming that Han Qian felt embarrassed and lowered his head. Just as Yang Lan was about to speak, Yang Jia rushed over, followed by Su Liang in an apron. Seeing Han Qian, Yang Jia breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the door.

“Go see General Manager Yan now, if you want to leave in one piece!”

As Yang Jia dragged Han Qian away, he looked at Su Liang and smiled slightly.

“Bank card or cash?”

Su Liang returned the smile.

“Cash, it’s more satisfying to see that thick wad. Impress the ladies… Qian-Ge, you know.”

“Alright, I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

As Han Qian was pulled away, the entire General Affairs Department breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, Liu Jiulong wrapped an arm around Su Liang’s shoulder, quietly threatening him to reveal what Han Qian was planning. Seeing Han Qian’s smile, Su Liang felt reassured and shrugged lightly.

“I don’t know the specifics. All I know is Qian-Ge’s got me covered, and I’ll be getting a thick wad…”

“Su Liang, didn’t you enjoy cleaning the toilets enough?”

Yang Lan’s stern rebuke silenced Su Liang. Success was still uncertain, and if everyone found out and Han Qian failed, he wouldn’t be able to continue working in the General Affairs Department. Liu Jiulong released Su Liang and turned, ingratiatingly approaching Yang Lan.

“Lan, I’ve got two tickets…”

Bang!

The office door slammed shut, nearly hitting Liu Jiulong’s nose.

Ah, love, such a long and arduous journey.