Jiang Linye looked at her.
Jiang Linye stared at her without saying a word.
The expressionless mask on Jiang Linye’s face quietly cracked open a thin, fine seam.
He held it back with effort: “You… you really don’t care about the company’s equity at all?”
“What would I do with equity? I was never good at running a company anyway.”
“But that’s your father’s lifelong blood and sweat…”
“He’ll forgive me.”
“……” Jiang Linye choked.
Tang Ning was over the moon: “How much money will I get?”
Before he could answer, she started talking to herself again: “You’re so loaded—whatever amount I get, it’ll be enough for three round-the-world trips, plus long-term sugar-baby arrangements with ten security guards who look just like you.”
Jiang Linye: “?”
He genuinely couldn’t believe his ears: “Say that again. Who do you want to keep?”
“Security guards who look like you, duh. To be honest, I’ve been wanting to replace all the janitors at our company for ages.” Tang Ning was practically bouncing with excitement, already daydreaming about the future. “You can stay here slaving away as a corporate wage-slave. Tonight I’ll have Jian Wei book me a ticket on a ship to Antarctica—oh right, if we start the divorce process now, how long until it’s finalized? When will I get the money?”
Jiang Linye could no longer even force a smile. His thin lips pressed into a tight line as he reminded her: “Tang Ning, back then it was you who asked me to help hide the truth from Old Tang—to pretend to him that we got married because we genuinely liked each other. Now you want to just walk away. How are you going to explain it to him?”
One of the reasons Jiang Linye had once been so certain Tang Ning would never divorce him was precisely because he knew her weaknesses too well. He wasn’t exactly a righteous man to begin with—finding people’s weak spots was how he controlled them.
In essence, Tang Ning and Xia Fangjue were the same type: burdened with an overly heavy sense of morality, long nourished by elite education, with the spirit of contracts carved into their bones. Instead of forcing any clauses into the agreement, he deliberately piled on the moral debt.
Tang Ning always felt she owed him money, always thought she had to wait until the favor was repaid before divorcing—even though he never actually intended to make her pay anything back. On the other hand, she also needed him to play the role of loving husband in front of Old Tang.
—He collectively referred to this kind of noble character as “silly-sweet naive spirit.”
“Feelings broke down, obviously.” But twenty-year-old Tang Ning truly didn’t give a damn. “What explanation is needed?”
Jiang Linye: “?”
How could the old Tang Ning have been this morally flexible?! Then how the hell did she turn into the version she became later?!
He was starting to run out of words: “If Old Tang finds out what really happened back then…”
“So what if he finds out? My dad would be too heartbroken for me to even have time to get mad.” Tang Ning started muttering to herself as she spoke. “If he knew I married someone I had zero feelings for, he’d probably want me to divorce and fly far away even more than I do…”
Her voice trailed off toward the end, but Jiang Linye still sharply caught her choice of words.
His fist clenched, then slowly loosened. After a pause, he asked hoarsely: “We have no feelings?”
Tang Ning snapped her head up: “What feelings could we possibly have?”
Although she had no clear memory of what the past five years of married life had been like, judging from his behavior right now, even if there had been feelings, they were probably the bitter, resentful kind between a doomed couple.
“But.” Jiang Linye tried hard to restrain himself; the veins on the back of his hand bulged. “You used to say you liked—”
“Little Jiang, you’re a smart guy too. You shouldn’t need me to teach you these things.” Tang Ning sighed, genuinely puzzled why this man was acting like a broken record. “If you can talk money, don’t talk feelings. Property can be divided; love can’t be forwarded like a phone call. Me liking you was a thing from my past life. You’re not a jammed cassette tape—can you please stop replaying my dumb, ignorant teenage black history over and over?”
—Dumb, ignorant teenage black history.
That was how she described it.
Jiang Linye’s thumb curled inward, brushing against the wedding ring on his ring finger. He had worn it for so long, yet the metal still felt ice-cold against his skin.
He started speaking without thinking: “Technically speaking, Old Tang owes me money.”
Tang Ning hugged the fluffy little son in her arms and stared at him motionlessly for a very long time before sighing: “Jiang Linye, I’m not bringing this up on purpose, but my dad supported you for many years. If he knew you were this kind of person, he would be very disappointed.”
Jiang Linye said nothing. Hearing those words, the corner of his mouth actually curved into a faint, bitter smile.
Old Tang had known exactly what kind of person he was from the very beginning.
That’s exactly why he never allowed him to get close to his daughter.
“But if you insist on putting it that way.”
Tang Ning spent the last three minutes confirming the facts: the guy in front of her really had no conscience at all. She had nothing left to discuss.
She stood up, looking down at him, feeling this negotiation could finally wrap up.
“Then I can also say: the money and the favors were all owed by my dad. It has nothing to do with me. If you want to collect, go find him—don’t come looking for me.”
Jiang Linye lifted his head in shock: “?”
What the actual fuck—was this something Tang Ning could say?!
Jiang Linye couldn’t believe it: “You’re not afraid your dad will get so angry he has another stroke?”
Tang Ning smiled sweetly: “Then I’ll just beat you until you’re paralyzed and you can share a hospital room with him.”
Jiang Linye stared at her. The expressionless mask on his face began to shatter, piece by piece.
He zoned out for a second. It felt like a tiny person inside him jumped up and slapped him hard across the face—his ears were still ringing.
“I don’t agree.”
Having run out of every trick in the book, Jiang Linye mustered his last breath, lowered his voice, and played his final card:
“You’ve lost your memory right now. You probably don’t have a clear idea about asset division. I’m giving you a one-month cooling-off period. Go ask your lawyer and your financial advisor, then think it over carefully.”
What was there to think about?
Tang Ning was about to open her mouth and keep pushing— but when she turned back, she saw President Jiang sitting alone on the sofa.
In the bleak, slanting sunset light, he sat there all by himself, holding onto his lofty posture. The entire sofa was crammed with plush toys grinning idiotically, surrounding this lonely, miserable, utterly detestable man.
She fell silent for a moment, hugged the warm little cat tighter in her arms, and suddenly felt a surge of kindness. She called to him softly:
“Jiang Linye.”
Jiang Linye’s figure stiffened slightly. He looked up at her.
It was exactly dusk. Tang Ning stood in front of him, her whole body bathed in gentle golden light—still looking exactly like the girl she used to be: fair-skinned, clean smile, eyes curving upward with carefree innocence. She really was that untouchable, fairy-like young miss who never touched the dust of the mortal world.
He hadn’t seen such a warm, tender Tang Ning in far too long. Thinking she had finally come around, he subconsciously started to say:
“Ning—”
But he didn’t even finish her name.
The very next second, she looked at him with an obedient, expectant face and said brightly:
“If you’re really that afraid of being lonely, you could always keep ten hot girls, form your own girl group, and have them come to the house every day to dance thigh-high routines for you.”
Jiang Linye: “…?”
“Just imagining it sounds so lively. I’m genuinely happy for your future life.”
Before leaving, Tang Ning cheerfully tossed out one last line:
“From the bottom of my heart—best wishes, my ex-husband.”
Chen Liangjun sensitively noticed that the boss had been in a very off mood lately.
Monday morning meeting: the usually quiet President Jiang didn’t just reject every single proposal—he went down the line and tore into every manager personally.
Tuesday at lunch: the man who always finished meals in exactly thirty minutes not only ran over time, but stared blankly at a plate of braised beef and potatoes for a full ten minutes until it went stone cold—never touched a single bite.
Wednesday after work: Chen Liangjun turned back halfway to grab something from the office and, in the middle of the night, saw the boss sitting silently by the window, making phone calls. The other end seemed like a dead number—no one picked up. Yet he kept dialing, over and over, like he was possessed.
And most importantly of all— he hadn’t gone home for four full days.
Four. Whole. Days.
Sleeping alone, lonely and miserable, at the company!
Chen Liangjun really wanted to ask:
Boss, were you kicked out by Madam? Why are you so pitiful? Does she not let you come home?
“Chen Liangjun.”
The next second, his attention was yanked back by the boss’s cold voice.
“Mm… mm? President Jiang, I’m here!”
Jiang Linye kept his head down, pretending to read documents, asking in a very casual—yet extremely forced—tone:
“Have you ever fought with your girlfriend?”
Chen Liangjun answered on reflex:
“President Jiang, you just need to coax Madam a little.”
“……”
Jiang Linye’s entire body froze mid-motion.
Chen Liangjun closed his eyes.
He wanted to slap himself.
However, the very next second, he heard his boss’s cool, detached voice:
“How do you coax her?”
“I…” Chen Liangjun thought to himself—Boss, you’ve been married for five years, and you’re only asking this now? Is the timing really appropriate? “I usually… send… send gifts?”
Jiang Linye’s hand paused slightly as he turned the page.
As if something had occurred to him, he stopped for a moment, then let out a self-mocking laugh:
“Gifts.”
Had he ever given Tang Ning gifts?
Probably too many to count.
Among them, the one that left the deepest impression was probably their first wedding anniversary after marriage.
He had just wrapped up a major project, feeling on top of the world. At an auction, he bid an astronomical price for a pink diamond, then rushed to have a designer custom-make a bracelet before the anniversary arrived.
The bracelet turned out beautifully. He hid the jewelry box inside a bouquet of champagne roses, already picturing the expression on Tang Ning’s face when she received it.
But that night, he waited alone at home.
From twilight settling in to stars filling the sky, from burning anticipation to candles burning out, he waited until Tang Ning finally showed up—very late.
She seemed to have had a little to drink; her steps weren’t steady. Jiang Linye stepped forward to support her:
“Where were you? Why couldn’t I get through on your phone?”
Tang Ning swatted his hand away and lifted her eyes:
“If the phone doesn’t go through, you can’t find me? You hired so many assistants—aren’t they watching me every single day, reporting my every move to you?”
She asked:
“You’ve already taken everything you wanted from me. What more do you want, Jiang Linye?”
Jiang Linye frowned:
“What are you talking about?”
“Today I heard a little piece of gossip…” Tang Ning really wasn’t sober; she rubbed her eyes in a daze. “They said Jiang Linye didn’t actually start from nothing. His family wasn’t just rich—they had real power. If it weren’t for…”
“Ningning.” Jiang Linye cut her off, voice low and heavy. “Who told you that?”
“It was…” Tang Ning blinked in confusion, then looked up. Suddenly her gaze landed on the cake on the table. She turned back to him, dead serious:
“I forgot who. But Jiang Linye—if I were you, I wouldn’t be here pretending to celebrate this damn anniversary. I’d go to my parents’ graves today and tell them: after scheming for so many years, I’ve finally managed to comfort your souls in heaven… mmph…”
She didn’t finish. He gripped her chin and kissed her hard.
Tang Ning whimpered and struggled desperately:
“Jiang Linye, stay away from me—don’t touch me…”
Her hand reached back, grabbed something without looking, and swung it with all her strength at the back of his head.
The champagne-rose bouquet smashed against his skull, causing a brief wave of dizziness. The hidden jewelry box flew out, spun a few times, lid popping open. With a clatter, the dazzling pink diamond rolled free.
Jiang Linye pinned her against the dining table.
The last thought in his mind was: in the end, he never got to give it to her.
…It became something buried at the bottom of the box.
“…President Jiang?”
The boss had zoned out completely. Chen Liangjun couldn’t help but cautiously point at the wall clock:
“Um… it’s almost time for the meeting.”
Jiang Linye rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed the file:
“Let’s go.”
As he stood up and reached for his coat, something occurred to him:
“It’s been getting colder lately?”
“Yeah.” Chen Liangjun hurried to answer. “Are you feeling cold, sir? Do you want me to turn up the AC—”
“No need.” Jiang Linye switched topics with forced nonchalance:
“What’s Madam been up to lately?”
Another change of season, cold fronts moving in. He wondered if Tang Ning’s rhinitis would flare up again… especially since she’d been so disobedient lately, insisting on keeping that cat.
Chen Liangjun: “…”
Just ask directly if you want to know—why circle around it so awkwardly?
“Madam has also been staying at the company lately,” Chen Liangjun said, unsure if this would make the boss feel any better. “I heard from Jian Wei that she’s busy preparing the new-product launch for the third-generation smart collar. Looks like she’s aiming to go live before Double Eleven.”
“Mm. When?”
“You mean the launch event? Day after tomorrow.”
“Day after tomorrow?” Jiang Linye stopped walking, brows furrowing deeply. “I didn’t receive an invitation. What are you people doing?”
“Because…” Chen Liangjun hesitated and hesitated, then whispered:
“Because…”
“?”
Chen Liangjun gave an awkward laugh:
“Madam… didn’t send us one.”
“…”
Tang Ning, who had deliberately not sent an invitation to her ex-husband, had not actually been staying at the company lately.
She was living at Mingjun Residence.
That day when she left Rose Half Lane, Tang Ning only took her passport and ID. With those two things, she was set—everything else could be bought again.
But when she arrived at Mingjun Residence, she realized she didn’t need to buy anything at all. Although no one usually lived in this apartment, the walk-in closet was completely full—ready for her to move in with just her suitcase.
Tang Ning was extremely satisfied with everything.
Except for one thing.
Her rhinitis had flared up.
“I really never thought this day would come… seriously.”
Wrapped pitifully in a blanket, curled up in the corner of the sofa, Tang Ning’s eyes were red as she blew her nose, whining to Sheng Xinglai over the phone: “I must’ve been cursed by Jiang Linye. I used to be so healthy—how could my rhinitis flare up the moment the season changes? And didn’t he say I was already desensitized? Why is it coming back again? Wuwuwu…”
On the other end, Sheng Xinglai cooperated fully, cursing loudly: “Quack doctor! Scum man! Everything is his fault—every single thing!”
But…
She paused, then asked: “So… are you still keeping the cat?”
“Of course I’m keeping him! Why wouldn’t I!” Tang Ning wiped her nose fiercely. “He’s my son!”
Yingying-guai, squatting beside her, seemed to sense it. He lifted his head and rubbed affectionately against her.
The little cat had only had his neutering surgery a few days ago; he was still wearing the Elizabethan cone around his neck, yet he remained as sweet and clingy as ever.
Tang Ning’s heart melted. She whispered with a sigh: “Cats are so much easier to raise than people.”
At least you can actually build feelings with them.
“Then be careful—don’t let him into the bedroom, and clean up his fur often,” Sheng Xinglai reminded her. “And remember to drink lots of hot water.”
“Got it, got it.” Tang Ning’s smile returned full force. “I’m not a little kid anymore.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she froze.
Somewhere deep in her mind, there was an echo—like a familiar conversation from long ago.
She had been tormented by rhinitis, head tilted back, breathing in short little puffs through her mouth. Someone deliberately leaned in to kiss her, movements very gentle, like a big dog.
She pushed at him half-heartedly, voice muffled and whiny: “Are you doing this on purpose… you’re so annoying.”
He chuckled low, leaned closer, and pressed a warm towel over the bridge of her nose: “Can’t drag this out anymore. You’re seeing the doctor first thing tomorrow, okay?”
“It’s not that urgent… I’m not a little kid…”
“It is urgent. Only little kids get sick.” The man’s voice was deep and low, pressed right against her ear—somehow mysteriously sexy. “The ones who get sick are the babies.”
Tang Ning gripped the phone, frozen in place. It felt like a bolt of lightning had just split the room open.
The person in her memory… was… was that Jiang Linye?
Had something else gone wrong with her brain? Were her memories starting to mix up?
Seeing her go silent for so long, Sheng Xinglai couldn’t help calling: “Ningning?”
“Ah? Ah…” Tang Ning snapped back. “I’ll take good care of myself. Thanks for worrying.”
They chatted a bit more before hanging up.
Tang Ning still hadn’t fully recovered.
In her impression, Jiang Linye had mostly been cool and distant back in school. Later, when he started showing aggression, the two of them slowly drifted apart.
That aggression never fully disappeared, even after marriage—and from what she knew now, his trash-talking probably continued right into their married life… Had he gone crazy? How could they have had such strangely tender moments?
Tang Ning couldn’t figure it out, so she decided not to dwell.
She needed to sleep early. Tomorrow she had to go out… no, go to the new-product launch.
TJ was currently seeking a transformation. The third-generation smart collar project was a collaboration with another company that specialized in dried little fish cat treats. Their whole brand aesthetic was “deep-sea maiden” style—super fresh, cute, and clean. After discussion, the two companies decided to hold the launch event at the aquarium.
This was a project Tang Ning had already signed off on before losing her memory. She hadn’t been particularly interested at first, but the moment she heard it was at the aquarium, she instantly got excited: “Yes yes yes! I haven’t gone out to play in forever!”
So the next day, she got up bright and early.
The weather had been bad lately. Jian Wei, seeing her off, specially reminded her to dress warmly. But Tang Ning was buzzing with excitement, feeling like a blazing phoenix: “It’s fine, I won’t be cold—the aquarium is indoors.”
…She got thoroughly slapped by reality.
When Xia Fangjue saw Tang Ning, she was pitifully cradling a cup of hot water, sitting forlornly near the air-conditioning vent, red-eyed and sniffling.
He laughed: “Caught a cold?”
“It’s rhinitis… because of the season change.” Tang Ning rubbed her nose, a little embarrassed, and stood up. “The launch event won’t start for a while. How come you’re here so early too?”
Xia Fangjue thought for a second: “Work at school has been too busy. It’s been ages since I last visited the aquarium.”
Tang Ning’s eyes curved into crescents: “Same here! I haven’t come out to play in forever.”
“Then let’s walk around a bit first.” He smiled, naturally extending the invitation. “The event starts at ten-thirty. We can be back before ten.”
It was only a little past eight—plenty of time.
Tang Ning nodded happily. The two of them followed the exhibits downward.
It was a weekday, so there weren’t many visitors. Instead, TJ’s company logos were hung everywhere. The partner company had set up booths giving out free samples of the new cat treats. Tang Ning casually picked up a trial bag, saw tuna listed in the ingredients, and suddenly got an idea: “I heard some cat foods taste really good. I wonder if people can eat theirs.”
Xia Fangjue laughed: “Did you have breakfast?”
He glanced around and pointed: “Looks like the souvenir shop over there sells breakfast. Let’s go grab something to eat.”
Tang Ning wasn’t actually very hungry.
But it was freezing, and she really wanted something to chew on.
So she agreed demurely.
Ten minutes later, they were back at the same spot.
In her hands: hot milk, pan-fried buns, takoyaki, and two red-bean taiyaki.
Xia Fangjue was holding another box of oden, plus a small bag of salted crispy chicken popcorn.
Tang Ning felt a little shy: “…Did I scare you? I always eat a lot.”
Xia Fangjue shook his head with a smile: “Two people’s portion is just right. I should thank you for treating me.”
Tang Ning thought: oh my god, old classmate is so polite. “Then eat up! President Tang has plenty of money.”
Speaking of which, Xia Fangjue asked: “How’s work going for you?”
Tang Ning wasn’t sure how to define “good.” She might quit TJ very soon—her departure date depended entirely on when Jiang Linye agreed to the divorce.
But she was the type who would still finish every task seriously even if she was quitting tomorrow. So she answered in full boss mode, waving her hand grandly: “Everything is going great.”
When they left the souvenir shop earlier, Tang Ning had bought a cobalt-blue shark hat. The cartoon shark’s huge open mouth perched on the brim—exactly like the “just kill me.jpg” meme. Now perched on her head, paired with her serious little expression, the cuteness level had skyrocketed more than ten times.
Xia Fangjue thought she was unbearably adorable. So many years had passed, people had changed, yet only her cuteness remained intact. Just looking at her made him want to smile: “No matter what happens with the company, take care of your health first. That’s the real foundation of revolution.”
Tang Ning was about to say “okay” when a shadow suddenly fell over her head.
She: “?”
Why did the sky go dark?
She was about to look up when she felt her head lighten. Before the cold wind could rush in, another warmth enveloped her. A fluffy wool hat was pulled down all the way over her ears. She looked down instinctively and saw two big fluffy pom-poms dangling slowly in front of her chest.
“How many degrees is it today?” A cool male voice sounded above her. “You dare come out dressed like that?”
Tang Ning instantly knew who it was. She’d been betrayed again—she was sending Jian Wei to Africa when she got back.
His palm was still resting on her head. The little fox struggled to yank the hat off: “I don’t want this—it’s so ugly! Give me back my shark!”
“I’ll give it back later.” Jiang Linye sighed. “Be good.”
Tang Ning wanted her shark back, but she had to admit the wool hat was way warmer.
Xia Fangjue sat across from them, watching with an ambiguous smile. He greeted the cold-faced president: “Morning, Jiang classmate.”
“Not morning anymore.” Jiang Linye sat down beside Tang Ning, draped the coat he’d brought for her over her lap, and spoke with clear displeasure: “Why are you here again, old classmate?”
“Tang Ning treated me to food, so of course I came.”
Actually, Tang Ning had only invited him to buy things.
But the way he said it completely changed the meaning.
Jiang Linye looked at Tang Ning, then at him. Inside his head, a tiny version of himself suddenly leaped up in a rage, shaking his shoulders violently, roaring in Ma Jingtao’s voice:
Can you reflect for one second—why doesn’t Tang Ning treat YOU to food? Forget the pan-fried buns and oden—she won’t even come home or eat with you anymore! How are you sitting here so calmly? Shouldn’t you be sobbing and crying? You’re almost thirty—why are you still living with zero self-awareness? Huh? Don’t you ever think about the reason?!
Jiang Linye got a little sad from Ma Jingtao’s yelling.
But he couldn’t lose face. On the surface, he stayed perfectly calm, looking at Tang Ning with a “why is that?” expression, voice steady:
“Ningning, I haven’t had breakfast either.”
Ningning was lost in the oden world, completely unmoved.
He called again: “Ningning.”
Ningning suddenly pushed the table away, stood up, and sighed: “Fine. For the sake of our marriage, I’ll go buy you a portion too.”
The Ma Jingtao inside Jiang Linye instantly fell silent. He was just about to say, Great, then I’ll go with you—
The next second, Tang Ning turned back with a sweet smile and whispered devilishly, word by word:
“You don’t need to come along, ex-husband.”
Author’s Note:
President Jiang: We’re not divorced yet—why are you calling me that already??
Please don’t feel sorry for Jiang Zong’s pink diamond. He’s already secretly done the pink-diamond.avi behind our backs.
P.S. Little Xia will NOT end up with her. Tropes like “the leads are siblings,” “second male lead wins,” “this is a BE story”—those non-mainstream (??) plots—if they existed, I would definitely have warned about them in the synopsis upfront. Don’t worry [pushes glasses].
As for who Tangtang belongs to? Tangtang is mine.