The divorce agreement

Qiao Hua realized Gu Wenze had seen Yan Yu bring her home and said casually, "He's my boss."

Gu Wenze narrowed his eyes slightly. "Your boss?"

Qiao Hua hummed in agreement, leaving out the fact that Yan Yu had also been her college classmate.

She had no reason to explain that much to Gu Wenze.

But Gu Wenze had no intention of dropping the subject. "Why did he bring you home?"

Qiao Hua answered dismissively, "Because I didn't have an umbrella."

"There are so many people at your company, and he drove you all this way just because you didn't have an umbrella?" The suspicion in Gu Wenze's voice was unmistakable.

Besides, the man was Qiao Hua's boss. Who would go to so much trouble for an employee after reaching a position like that?

His repeated questioning began to irritate Qiao Hua. "Everyone else had already left by the time he got off work. I was the only one still there. Are you satisfied with that explanation?"

That explanation softened Gu Wenze's expression considerably. Looking at Qiao Hua's faintly angry face, like a little wildcat with its claws out, he felt an inexplicable stirring. "Don't just get into cars with shady people like that again. If you need anything, contact the family driver and have him pick you up."

The original owner of this body had never received such treatment in her three years married into the Gu Family. Qiao Hua was surprised, but not touched.

For all she knew, Gu Wenze was only saying it casually.

After entering the house, Qiao Hua did not head straight into the kitchen as usual. For once, she asked Gu Wenze to sit down.

"President Gu, spare me a few minutes. I have something for you."

Gu Wenze had no idea what Qiao Hua was plotting now. After giving her an indifferent glance, he sat on the sofa and crossed his long, suit-clad legs, looking elegant and distinguished.

Qiao Hua took a document from her bag and set it in front of Gu Wenze. "Take a look."

Gu Wenze glanced at the document. "What's this?"

Qiao Hua explained offhandedly, "A divorce agreement."

The moment she said it, even the air around them seemed to freeze.

Gu Wenze's gaze instantly darkened. He picked up the document, and as he opened it, the large words "Divorce agreement" came into view.

"I've already signed it. Now you can't suspect me of playing tricks anymore, right?" Qiao Hua said frankly. "All you have to do is sign your name, and we won't have anything to do with each other anymore. You can be with whoever you want."

The last remark was clearly pointed. Gu Wenze tossed the divorce agreement onto the table, his voice suddenly as cold as ice. "Qiao Hua, what do you mean by this?"

Qiao Hua glanced at him. "Isn't it obvious? Exactly what it says."

Qiao Hua had never understood why Gu Wenze refused to divorce her. Only after his reminder yesterday had she realized that he was worried she was up to something.

So first thing that morning, Qiao Hua had found a lawyer to draft and print a divorce agreement for her. Even its terms ensured that the husband would benefit more.

Seeing Gu Wenze's gloomy expression, Qiao Hua assumed he was worried she had tampered with it and explained, "Don't worry. I'm definitely not taking advantage of you. I'll just take a little divorce settlement. You won't lose anything."

"If you don't believe me, you can read the terms."

Gu Wenze stared coldly at Qiao Hua's face, without sparing even a glance for the divorce agreement before him.

He had thought Qiao Hua was only talking casually yesterday, yet the very next day, a divorce agreement had appeared in front of him.

Was Qiao Hua really planning to divorce him?

Gu Wenze deliberately ignored the trace of disappointment deep inside him, his expression taut. "You're so eager to divorce me. Have you found yourself another powerful backer?"

He remembered what Gu Junxing had said yesterday. Qiao Hua's sudden, abnormal behavior might mean she had a lover on the side.

Qiao Hua was speechless. "?"

What kind of logic was that?

Asking for a divorce meant she was having an affair?

"President Gu, have you got this wrong?" Qiao Hua shot back without restraint. "You're the one tangled up with Jiang Nan. I'm kindly stepping aside for you two, and somehow I'm the one at fault?"

Besides, where could she find a backer with deeper pockets than Gu Wenze? Even if she turned the entire capital upside down, she probably could not find anyone as powerful or influential as him.

The depths of Gu Wenze's eyes were unreadable. "So you really are making this fuss because Jiang Nan came to our house yesterday."

Communicating with someone whose mind worked so differently really was exhausting. Qiao Hua sighed. "President Gu, you've got the wrong idea. I genuinely want you and Jiang Nan to be together. I wouldn't want to keep two people in love apart because of me. What a terrible sin that would be, right?"

Besides, only after she divorced Gu Wenze could the male and female leads legitimately be together.

Perhaps once they finally admitted their feelings, she could leave this damned novel.

At that thought, a sly glint accidentally slipped into Qiao Hua's eyes, and Gu Wenze caught it.

His eyes filled with a frightening hostility, and his clenched fists cracked beneath the dining table.

Was Qiao Hua really that desperate to divorce him?

Gu Wenze suddenly picked up the divorce agreement from the table. Qiao Hua thought he was finally going to sign it, and her bright eyes lit up.

Under Qiao Hua's expectant gaze, Gu Wenze tore the divorce agreement in half with a sharp rip.

"Qiao Hua, let me tell you this. I'm the only one who gets to ask for a divorce. If you think you can divorce me, forget it."

Qiao Hua did not understand why domineering CEOs in novels cared so much about who dumped whom. Wasn't future happiness more important than pride?

She could not be bothered to argue with Gu Wenze over something so trivial, so she conceded, "Fine, fine. Then we'll say you asked for the divorce. Happy now?"

For some reason, that only angered Gu Wenze further. His voice was unusually cold. "Do you think marriage and divorce are a game?"

Qiao Hua had been the one to force him into marriage, and now she was the one asking for a divorce.

Was he some object she could summon and discard at will?

"I'm telling you, I decide when we divorce. Don't bring this up again, or I won't let you off."

With that, Gu Wenze threw the scraps into the trash and strode upstairs, his tall figure seemingly shrouded in a heavy gloom.

Qiao Hua stared mournfully at the scraps in the trash. She had spent dozens of yuan printing those.

Did being a domineering CEO mean he could waste money however he pleased?

Over the next few days, Gu Wenze did not come home. Unable to see him, Qiao Hua had no choice but to send him messages.

"President Gu, surely we can talk this over. If necessary, I'll take a smaller divorce settlement."

"Besides, the sooner you divorce me, the sooner you can be with Jiang Nan. You don't want her branded a homewrecker, do you?"

"Once you've made up your mind, reply to me. I'll be waiting."

But every message vanished into the void, without even a ripple.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

A sexy, resonant voice suddenly sounded above her head, startling Qiao Hua. She looked up sharply and saw Yan Yu standing before her.

"Mr. Yan."

Qiao Hua immediately put her phone aside and stood.

Yan Yu glanced at the phone in front of Qiao Hua. The screen was still displaying the messages she had sent Gu Wenze.

Noticing Yan Yu's gaze, Qiao Hua hurriedly put her phone away and smiled awkwardly. "Mr. Yan, is there something you need me to do?"

Yan Yu caught a fleeting glimpse of words like "divorce" and "homewrecker." His expression grew thoughtful before he came back to himself and said, "You said you'd treat me to a meal the other day. Does that offer still stand?"

Qiao Hua paused, remembering that Yan Yu meant the day he had driven her home.

She had indeed offered to buy him a meal then.

"Of course it does." Qiao Hua sounded a little uncertain. "Today?"

The corners of Yan Yu's lips lifted slightly. "Would that be all right?"

Yan Yu had helped her, so thanking him was only right. She nodded and gave him a brilliant smile. "Of course. You can choose the place."

Looking at Qiao Hua's radiant, uninhibited face, Yan Yu felt his throat inexplicably tighten. He looked away, took out his phone, and called a restaurant he frequented to make a reservation.

Meanwhile, Gu Wenze returned to his office after a meeting and noticed several new messages on his silenced phone.

Every single one was from Qiao Hua.

Looking at the sender's name on the screen, Gu Wenze gave a cold scoff.

He had known Qiao Hua would not hold out for long. In the past, whenever she angered him, she would call and text him like this, begging for forgiveness.

Today would surely be no different.

With that thought, Gu Wenze opened the messages. But after reading them, his expression instantly turned cold, and his grip on the phone creaked.

Jiang Nan, who was beside him, noticed something was wrong and asked curiously, "Wenze, what's wrong?"

Gu Wenze put away his phone without answering Jiang Nan and strode into his office with a dark expression.

This was the first time Gu Wenze had ever ignored Jiang Nan. She froze, then bit her pink lip in resentment and returned to her desk, troubled.

Inside his office, Gu Wenze stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows and called Qiao Hua, irritation written all over his face.

Whether Qiao Hua was genuinely busy or getting back at him for ignoring her messages, the phone rang for a long time before she finally answered without any hurry.

"Hello?"

Qiao Hua's voice, as gentle as a flowing stream, soothed some of Gu Wenze's irritation. He said flatly, "You don't even know who this is?"

Qiao Hua paused at the familiar voice, pulled her phone away from her ear, and checked the caller ID on the screen.

Gu Dog.

Qiao Hua had changed it after transmigrating into this book. The original owner had saved him as "Hubby."

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Gu." Qiao Hua tucked the phone back against her ear. "What do you need? Have you decided to sign the divorce agreement?"

Gu Wenze simply ignored her last question and said coldly, "What did you mean by those messages?"

"Didn't you think I was asking for too much? I thought it over, and I can take less, as long as you're willing to divorce me."

"Surely you'll agree to sign the agreement now?"

There was no discernible emotion in Gu Wenze's voice. "You think I refused to sign because I wasn't satisfied with the agreement?"

Qiao Hua clearly thought exactly that. "Why else?"

Other than that, Qiao Hua could not think of any reason Gu Wenze would refuse a divorce.

Could Gu Wenze like her? Was that why he couldn't bear to let go?

That was far too ridiculous.

"I told you, I'm the only one who can ask for a divorce. You have no right to..."

Before he could finish, a resonant male voice suddenly came from the other end of the line. "Qiao Hua, I've booked the restaurant. It's a French place near the office."

At the unfamiliar man's voice, Gu Wenze's tone turned utterly dark. "Who's the man beside you?"