“President Ruan said she’s coming right away.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Xiubai’s expression improved slightly.
Sure enough, if he didn’t let her come to the company, she couldn’t sit still.
Back then, she had shamelessly barged into the company just to get closer to him—wasn’t it all for more time with him?
She used to love dropping by the president’s office whenever she had nothing to do. But to maintain his image as a devoted husband, he had reluctantly tolerated her behavior.
He waved his hand. “You may go. When she arrives, have her come see me.”
Zhang Qian didn’t dare breathe too loudly and quickly nodded before slipping out.
Ruan Mi arrived quickly. She went to her own office first.
When Zhang Qian saw Ruan Mi, she hurried over. “President Ruan, President Mu said to go to his office immediately when you arrive.”
Then, somewhat curiously, she asked, “Did something unpleasant happen between you two?”
In the company, the two had always been the model couple, and everyone envied them.
Something like today genuinely startled her.
Ruan Mi curled her lips. “It’s nothing. Go do your work.”
Ruan Mi didn’t want to elaborate, and Zhang Qian tactfully didn’t press further.
Back at her workstation, she typed up a resignation letter, then headed straight for the president’s office.
She knocked on the door, and a clearly displeased voice came from inside. “Enter.”
Ruan Mi pushed the door open and walked in. Mu Xiubai was leaning back in his swivel chair with his eyes closed.
His tightly shut eyes suddenly flew open, and upon seeing her, he narrowed them slightly.
A well-tailored red dress hugged her figure, paired with exquisite, striking makeup that made her radiate brilliance.
The perfectly cinched waist design made Ruan Mi’s waist appear even more delicate—as if it could be encircled with a single hand.
Having known Ruan Mi for five years, he had never seen her dressed like this.
He knew Ruan Mi was beautiful, but he hadn’t expected she could be beautiful to this extent.
Bold yet elegant.
Looking at Ruan Mi’s eyes and brows, her expression was very calm, her cold gaze flat and distant.
This look? Was she still throwing a little tantrum at him?
Mu Xiubai sneered inwardly. Who did she think she was? Did she think he would coax her just because she threw a tantrum?
And today’s outfit—was she planning to continue seducing him?
What a delusion.
“Since you’re unwilling to come to the company, you don’t need to keep your position as vice president. After all, you haven’t accomplished anything during your time here anyway. I’ll have Zhou Mei take over your position. You can handle the handover then.”
After speaking, Mu Xiubai looked at Ruan Mi with a mocking gaze. He wanted to see her regretful expression. He wanted to see her bow her head to him again.
Ruan Mi didn’t avoid Mu Xiubai’s scrutiny. She had come to submit her resignation anyway, so she didn’t care who he wanted to replace her.
But Mu Xiubai actually denied the five years of tireless dedication she had given day and night.
She had thought she wouldn’t feel anything from Mu Xiubai’s words anymore, but that numb spot in her heart still ached faintly.
She composed herself, curled her lips into a light smile, and spoke as if it were nothing, handing over the resignation letter.
“No need to trouble yourself, President Mu. I’ve already written my resignation letter.”
Mu Xiubai looked at the resignation letter before him, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes, followed by a surge of inexplicable anger rising in his chest.
“You’re resigning? Are you serious, Ruan Mi?”
Ruan Mi sneered coldly. “Isn’t this what President Mu wanted?”
President Mu? Hah, fine. She was calling him President Mu now.
Was she planning to play the cold war game with him?
Mu Xiubai snorted. “Fine. At least you have some self-awareness.”
He yanked the resignation letter over forcefully, flipped to the back, and signed his name with a flourish.
Then he hurled it back at Ruan Mi.
“Zhou Mei will come tomorrow for the handover. Make sure you do your part in the transition.”
Ruan Mi didn’t care about Mu Xiubai’s hostile attitude. Letting someone who knew nothing become the company’s vice president—
Mu Xiubai could disregard the company’s future if he wanted. She was happy to watch the show. She picked up the resignation letter with a brilliant smile.
“Don’t worry, President Mu. But while we’re at it, let’s sign the divorce papers. We can set a time to go handle the procedures.”
Mu Xiubai’s face suddenly darkened. Seeing the brilliant smile on Ruan Mi’s face, he found it utterly dazzling, his fists clenching until his knuckles cracked.
Looking at the divorce agreement before him, it reminded him of Ruan Mi’s resoluteness that night.
“Divorce? Who gave you the audacity to bring that up with me? The marriage was something you begged for. Whether it ends is for me to decide.”
The divorce agreement was thrown into the paper shredder.
Ruan Mi watched with no visible emotional fluctuation.
“Why won’t you agree to the divorce? Zhou Mei has been wanting the position of Mrs. Mu all along.”
Mu Xiubai leaned back in his chair, saying nonchalantly, “That’s between me and Mei’er. You have no right to inquire. Besides, I’m not the kind of ungrateful man who abandons his wife in hard times. You’ve been with me for five years after all—even if there’s no love, there’s still affection.”
Ruan Mi sneered coldly. “So I don’t even have the right to decide over my own marriage, is that it?
Mu Xiubai, don’t paint yourself as so noble. Is the reason you won’t divorce me really because of that insignificant bit of affection?
Isn’t it because of my status as the young miss of the Ruan family?”
Ruan Mi swept a cold gaze over Mu Xiubai, wanting to see if he had the backbone to directly admit his hypocrisy.
Hearing these words, Mu Xiubai’s face turned extremely ugly—whether from humiliation or from having the dark side of his heart exposed.
He abruptly stood up, rounded the desk, and seized Ruan Mi’s chin, his gaze as cold as ice.
“The status of the Ruan family’s daughter? When did Ruan Chengyi ever acknowledge my existence? You have the nerve to say that.”
Mu Xiubai was thoroughly enraged. In the two years of their marriage, Ruan Mi had never once been willing to bring him back to her family.
All she needed to do was soften her stance—with Ruan Chengyi’s doting on her, the Mu Corporation would have long secured a place in Didu.
Why would he have needed to painstakingly seek connections?
Forced to tilt her head up to meet his gaze, Ruan Mi’s brows knitted into a tight knot.
He was hurting her with his grip. She raised her leg and stomped hard on the floor.
A muffled grunt escaped him as Mu Xiubai’s face turned ashen. Ruan Mi shoved him hard with both hands, finally putting distance between them.
“Mu Xiubai, you really are a hypocrite.”
Ruan Mi’s eyes brimmed with contempt.
If not for love, why would she have endured Mu Xiubai’s arrogance, his condescension, his heart as small as a microorganism?
Ruan Mi said, “Further words are pointless. If you agree to the divorce now, I won’t take anything—only my personal belongings.
If you still refuse to sign, then we’ll meet in court.”
Mu Xiubai studied Ruan Mi. He didn’t believe she would walk away with nothing in a divorce.
If she wanted nothing, that meant she wasn’t truly seeking a divorce.
Mu Xiubai was already convinced that Ruan Mi was just playing hard to get.
Speaking so high-mindedly, claiming she’d only take what belonged to her—before the marriage, Ruan Mi had owned nothing.
Mu Xiubai’s eyes darkened as he gradually closed in on Ruan Mi, speaking word by word, “What belongs to you? As I recall, since our marriage, everything you’ve used, everything you’ve eaten—it’s all been mine!”
Ruan Mi instinctively stepped back until her lower back pressed against the edge of the office desk.
She hadn’t expected Mu Xiubai to be so shameless as to say something like “she had nothing.”
Given the contributions she’d made to the company over these years, she would have been treated as an honored guest at any firm.
But she no longer cared. As long as Mu Xiubai would agree to the divorce, she could let it go.
She raised a hand to block Mu Xiubai’s approach—his very scent made her nauseous.
“As long as you return the jade pendant around your neck, I’ll keep my promise and take nothing.”
The jade pendant was the love she had given him. Now she was taking it back.