After Divorce, My Ex-Wife Became My Creditor

“How am I supposed to know what Gao Lvxing wants? The General Affairs Department has a big issue with me, as if I’ve somehow implicated them. I ran into him while going downstairs for a smoke. I can’t just tell him I don’t smoke, can I?”

“I don’t even know what kind of grudge you have with Gao Lvxing. I’m just an employee here. What use is it for Mr. Gao to try and win me over? It’s not like I have a say in the executive meetings or anything.”

“No, he just mentioned that if I like smoking, I could grab some from his office. As for leaving early, he suggested it himself. Was I supposed to refuse and say I love working overtime? Wen Nuan is waiting for me downstairs. What am I supposed to do? Let’s talk about this on Monday. I suddenly got dragged into your conflict, and I feel quite wronged.”

“This isn’t about money!”

Han Qian, sitting in the passenger seat, was venting his frustrations to Yan Qingqing over the phone, showing none of the usual deference between an employee and a boss. After hanging up, he tossed his phone onto the back seat, muttering under his breath.

“Seems like everyone’s got issues.”

Wen Nuan, driving beside him, chuckled softly. “Are you throwing a tantrum? Shouldn’t I have come to pick you up?”

Han Qian shook his head and sighed. “It’s not really about you. Yan Qingqing and Gao Lvxing seem to be at odds. Yan Qingqing said something about betraying her to side with Gao Lvxing, and I…”

“Qian-Ge, calm down first. Rongyao is much more chaotic internally than Changxiang. Gao Lvxing is the brother-in-law of Liu Shengge, the largest shareholder, practically royalty. Yan Qingqing is a professional manager who appeared out of nowhere, supposedly brought in by Liu Shengge too. The shareholders of Rongyao don’t interfere with company management. Gao Lvxing wants to push Yan Qingqing out. When I called my second uncle about the airport recently, he told me Rongyao had already been in contact with them. Now, think from Yan Qingqing’s perspective, the sly fox. Wait, have you been making waves at Rongyao recently?”

Wen Nuan pulled the car over, handing a bottle of water to Han Qian. He took it, frowning. “Making waves? Me? It was just about the airport land. I attended Rongyao’s executive meeting this morning. What position do I have as an employee?”

Wen Nuan reached out and pinched Han Qian’s cheek, forcing him to look at her. “Think carefully. Are you sure it has nothing to do with you? I actually hope you don’t figure it out and leave Rongyao to help me instead. You really don’t have to put up with this nonsense. With your standing with Li Jinhe and Mr. Wen, getting them to set up a company for you is just a matter of saying the word.”

“Did you take your medicine? I forgot to ask you yesterday.”

At this, Wen Nuan released Han Qian’s face and changed the subject, saying she needed to buy groceries. But as soon as she got out of the car, Han Qian grabbed her by the collar and pushed her back into the passenger seat, taking over the wheel.

“Getting you to take medicine is harder than climbing a mountain. Take it or leave it. If you get sick, it’s not my problem. Don’t take it, not even one pill. I shouldn’t have bought you any medicine. It’s not even bitter, just swallow it. Is it that hard? Really?”

“Okay, okay, stop nagging. I’ll take it! Right now, let’s go buy it!”

The brief moment of seriousness in the car quickly dissolved into discord as Wen Nuan refused to take her medicine, and Han Qian’s nagging filled the air. They drove to the supermarket where the landlady worked, Wen Nuan storming off to grab a shopping cart while Han Qian jogged to the nearby pharmacy.

When Wen Nuan saw Han Qian holding two pills and a bottle of mineral water, her mood soured even further. After taking the medicine, she pushed the cart straight to the seafood section. As they shopped for crabs, Han Qian kept advising her on which ones were plump and how to cook them deliciously.

Irritated, Wen Nuan playfully punched Han Qian, who didn’t feel a thing. Frustrated, she tossed the cart to him and walked away, tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn’t intended to buy seafood; she liked it, but Han Qian, being soft-hearted, wouldn’t eat it. She just wanted to scare him a bit, but his insistence made her feel wronged, leaving her on the verge of tears.

Han Qian panicked. In all their time together, he had rarely seen Wen Nuan cry, especially out of anger. He worried she might call his mom, and if she knew Wen Nuan was upset, she’d be over in a heartbeat to set things straight.

Qian’s mom adored Wen Nuan deeply. From the moment she heard Wen Nuan was to be her daughter-in-law, she visited nearby temples to give thanks, feeling blessed to have such a considerate daughter-in-law.

Han Qian gently poked Wen Nuan’s shoulder, but she didn’t respond, walking with her head down. Without apologizing, he caught up and held her hand. Wen Nuan struggled briefly, then tried to bite his hand, prompting Han Qian to quickly pop a tomato into her mouth. She pouted as she ate, while he held her hand with one hand and pushed the cart with the other.

In the household goods section, they ran into the landlady, a warm-hearted woman. Before Han Qian could speak, she tossed a black plastic bag into the cart, smiling.

“Don’t look so surprised. It’s just a few towels. A young man like you can’t expect a girl to have only two towels. You’re lucky to have such a beautiful girlfriend.”

Han Qian grinned silently and replied, “You must have been a beauty in your youth too, sis. How about coming over for dinner tomorrow after work? I should treat my landlady well, right? I promise my cooking skills are top-notch.”

“Oh, such confidence! I won’t argue with you, but the groceries are on me. It’s not easy for you two to save money, so no refusing.”

“Heh, too late! I’ve already bought everything. It’s settled then. Bring the kids over tomorrow, and if they have any homework questions, they can ask me.”

As Han Qian and the landlady exchanged playful banter, Wen Nuan stood silently, munching on her tomato. Han Qian nudged her several times to speak, but she remained silent.

Her timid nature wasn’t new; she’d been like this with her family too.

Once outside and back in the car, Han Qian frowned at Wen Nuan, who was sipping yogurt, and said, “Why didn’t you say anything? The toothbrush and towels you use were all prepared by her. Where’s that little bit of boldness you have with me? She complimented your beauty, and you didn’t even say thank you.”

Wen Nuan, holding her yogurt with both hands, replied softly, “I didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t complimenting me, just stating a fact. I am indeed very beautiful.”

Han Qian smirked and muttered, “Should I compliment your… other assets next time?”

“You’re asking for it!”

Wen Nuan exploded, then unconsciously squeezed herself, looking utterly defeated.