C2 Chapter 2

At the thought of it, Anan’s heart felt like it was being pricked with needles. She took a deep breath and decided to let go of the man she’d once held so close. Pressing her lips together, she waited for Yubai’s answer.

But unlike what Anan expected, Yubai didn’t agree right away. Instead, he stared at her in silence for a long moment...

“I’m not doing it.”

“Yubai, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Anan’s eyes widened in disbelief. The old man had made it clear: unless she asked for a divorce, Yubai would be tied to her for the rest of his life.

And yet now, Yubai was turning down her proposal.

Anan clicked her tongue. Looking at the man in front of her—quiet, intense, and hard to read—she muttered under her breath, then said, “Yubai, you don’t have to worry about me pulling something. This time, I already signed the divorce papers.”

She kept talking as she pulled out the agreement she’d prepared in advance—each of them free to move on, no strings attached. But Yubai didn’t even glance at it. His dark eyes were icy as he looked her over for a long beat, irritation flashing across his face.

With that, Yubai strode out of the room. Even after the door slammed, Anan stood there, frozen, taking a long time to process what had just happened.

What is his problem?

The first round of divorce talks: failed.

Anan shrugged. She didn’t understand what he meant, but she’d already made up her mind to end this pointless marriage for good. After quickly tidying herself up, she got up to go pay her respects to the old man.

She didn’t expect Mrs. Luh to be there too.

Anan’s expression tightened. When it came to her mother-in-law in name only, she couldn’t help but be wary. Yubai’s mother had always believed Anan was nothing but a nobody who’d lucked her way into the family, and she’d never bothered to hide her contempt—rolling her eyes the second Anan walked in.

“As the Luh family’s daughter-in-law, is it really appropriate to show up this late?”

Sure enough, the moment she appeared, Mrs. Luh was the first to find fault. Qiu Anan paused, then lowered her eyes and said obediently, “Yubai came back last night. I slept in.”

Those few words instantly darkened Mrs. Luh’s expression. She gave a cold snort and, pretending not to care, said, “It’s been this long and you still haven’t gotten pregnant. Makes you wonder if you even can.”

“Mom, listen to yourself. If my sister-in-law couldn’t have kids, why would Grandpa have my brother marry her? Besides, my brother barely comes home after getting married—how’s she supposed to get pregnant like that?”

Suddenly, a sweet, cutting voice jumped in. Off to the side, Luh Ningying sneered, looking at Qiu Anan’s bland, quiet demeanor with open disgust. “It’s because my brother doesn’t even like her.”

Even if it was true, having it thrown in her face still stung. No matter how much Qiu Anan wanted to tune it out, a knot formed in her chest. The Luh family might not like her, but that didn’t mean she was a pushover.

“Ningying’s all grown up,” Qiu Anan let out a light laugh, her casual tone making Luh Ningying stiffen with embarrassment. Before she could snap back, Qiu Anan continued evenly, “Marrying Luh Yubai was Grandpa’s decision—not mine.”

That mild, measured sentence swallowed up the rest of Mrs. Luh and Luh Ningying’s barbs. And then, the elderly man who hadn’t said a word finally spoke.

Old Master Luh had spent his life in the military. Now, well into his later years, he wasn’t as strong as he used to be, but his voice still carried like a command. His cloudy eyes were sharp as ever. He swept a cold look around the room, then fixed it on Mrs. Luh and suddenly raised his voice.