C3 Humiliated

“Miss, please state your business. Are you scheduled for an appointment?”

Mu Qingzhu had just set foot into Ruan Hanyu’s office when she was greeted coldly by the secretary at the front desk.

Seeing the way the secretary addressed her, Mu Qingzhu felt severe pangs in her chest. She had been married to Ruan Hanyu for many years and yet no one seemed to know about her. She was the wife of the president! But it was as if she never existed. This was the first time she had set foot in this place. But she was on a mission: her purpose was to retrieve the divorce certificate.

“Ruan Hanyu asked for me,” Mu Qingzhu said coldly. She would not mind these people who bullied the weak and feared the strong. These people did not deserve her sympathies. She fixed a cold smile on her face to show her resolve.

Once the secretary heard Ruan Hanyu’s name, she hurried to confirm the appointment over the phone. She did not want to displease her boss.

“Miss, please go in.” The secretary immediately shifted from impersonal to carrying a bit of warmth in her voice. She respectfully waved her hand for Mu Qingzhu to proceed.

Without further ado, Mu Qingzhu marched right past her and directly into the president’s office!

Once she entered the luxurious office, Mu Qingzhu’s eyes were right away drawn to the bright and clean windows. They were a very unique feature to the office!

The people all around him knew that Ruan Hanyu was a man with good taste. His life had always been filled with extravagance. His office portrayed this lifestyle but did not appear too gaudy. The setting was tasteful and elegant.

Walking further into the room, Mu Qingzhu was assaulted by the sight of Ruan Hanyu leaning on the beige leather sofa where he sat. None other than the sexy and beautiful Qian Anrou was sitting on his lap. They were embracing each other. Her hands were tied around his neck and she was pressed heatedly against his broad chest.

They were locked in a passionate kiss!

Shocked by the sight before her, Mu Qingzhu could only stand there quietly trembling. Her mind started to race with frantic thoughts. What is this? He knew she was coming for the divorce certificate. Taking in the scene in front of her, Mu Qingzhu knew he had orchestrated everything just to humiliate her.

Feeling uncomfortable, she turned to leave.

“Stop!” Ruan Hanyu shouted out coldly. Although he was continuing to kiss Qian Anrou as if the two were alone in the room, he was keeping an eye on Mu Qingzhu who was walking over to them with stiff legs.

Mu Qingzhu felt like her heart was bleeding. With heavy footsteps, she trudged over to the embracing pair, bracing herself for whatever was to come.

“Baby, you go out first.” They were finally done kissing. Ruan Hanyu moved away from Qian Anrou letting go of her waist.

“No! I want to stay!” Qian Anrou pouted cutely on the side.

“Be good now." Ruan Hanyu said with a frown on his face, a touch of coldness deliberate in his tone, “I have something I need to do. I will accompany you to pick a gift for your father later.”

“You mean it?” Qian Anrou’s eyes widened. She appeared to light up from this prospect and the joy on her face was palpable as she got up obediently.

Qian Anrou was feeling overjoyed. Ruan Hanyu had finally agreed to see her father. This could only mean one thing: he was agreeing to marry her! The thought brought a happy red flush to her beautiful face and her eyes glowed with many colors. The day had finally arrived!

Ruan Hanyu had a smile on his face, but his gaze was directed on Mu Qingzhu! He was making sure Mu Qingzhu heard every word!

Happy that Ruan Hanyu was keeping his word, Qian Anrou walked with a light step towards the door. Right before she left, she gave Mu Qingzhu a piercing look filled with the contempt and disdain she felt for her.

Soon, it was just the two of them in the office.

Mu Qingzhu’s heart was numb with pain after witnessing the sight of the two intensely kissing. The air still held the strong fragrance of Qian Anrou’s perfume and the heat from their intimacy!

Feeling very uncomfortable, the thoughts and images of what transpired just minutes ago left her lightheaded.

“Where is it?” Mu Qingzhu finally calmed herself enough to say out loud. She reached out for the invisible papers. She wanted to put an end to things right then and there without further humiliation. She couldn’t wait to get away from this place.

“Put away your worries!” Ruan Hanyu had an evil smile on his face. He stood up with the grace of a lion heading to his prey and approached her slowly. His handsome face held a mixture of questions, inquiry, and ridicule as his large frame hovered over her. “Why are you in such a hurry to get a divorce? Have you found your lover from long ago?”

Mu Qingzhu felt anger surge through her heart. But she had caught the hint of worry in his voice. Seeing the slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth, she suddenly wanted to slap that smile off his face. All along, even though it was he who forced the divorce onto her, it appeared it was actually because he was jealous.

“Young Master Ruan, we have cut ties. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please be considerate enough to respect me as your ex-wife.” Her face held no expression on it, her eyes were two frozen pools, and her voice was an icicle. This was the first time she spoke to him in such a way. Her speech reinforced her resolve to get through this.

Her words seemed to stun Ruan Hanyu, even if just for a moment. His eyes darkened and his mood became more smoldering. She dared speak to him this way? His throat felt clogged by emotion and a trace of disappointment awoke in his heart.

Ruan Hanyu stared down at her, his gaze furious. Suddenly, scenes from the night before flashed before his eyes and the edges of his mouth curled up slightly from the memory.

“How about I sell you the divorce papers for another night? Money, is it? How much more do you want? I’ll be sure to satisfy you.” His tall body leaned forward. Ruan Hanyu held his chin up with his delicate fingers and smiled sinisterly down at Mu Qingzhu.

“I have no need for it!” Mu Qingzhu deflected his enticement with agility. Feeling enraged by his offer, the little bit of blood in her face drained and it became as transparent as a piece of paper. Shaking from emotion, she said, “Hurry up and prove to me you have what it takes.”

The bastard! Even if they were divorced, he would go out of his way to humiliate her.

Falling in love with him was the great misfortune of her life!

Seeing the way she was avoiding him, made him uncomfortable. Ruan Hanyu shifted around in his seat as if suddenly feeling uneasy.

Women had always taken the initiative to seek him out, but the woman before him was doing the exact opposite. In front of him, she appeared calm and indifferent, so different from the gentle and weak personality she exhibited the entire time they were married. This made him feel regretful!

Taking his time, he walked slowly up to the desk and picked up the divorce certificate that he had prepared earlier. He passed the papers to Mu Qingzhu. He coldly reminded her, “Remember to not breathe a word of this to Grandma. I will not forgive you if you do otherwise. You should be well aware of my means.”

Was he threatening her? Mu Qingzhu felt gripped by terror. Grandma was the one person Ruan Hanyu respected the most. Back then, it was only under Grandma’s orders that Ruan Hanyu had married her.

She turned her head and blinked. Inside her eyes held an unyielding light that felt impenetrable. With a calm smile on her face, she raised her eyebrows, and said, “Young Master Ruan, you think too much of yourself. From this day forward, we are strangers, mere passers-by who have nothing more to do with each other. I no longer want to be involved in your family affairs.”

After having said that, she reached out her hand and snatched the divorce certificate from out of his hands. She made a move to turn around and leave him with the lasting impression of her determined back.

The elevator door had just closed when Mu Qingzhu’s strong resolve suddenly dissipated into nothing. She felt so weak that her legs could no longer carry her. She squatted down on the floor and covered her face with her palms, clearly exhausted. Tears poured from her eyes, like a torrent being released.

Pain seared her heart!

“If you do not lower your head to fate, you must face adversity head-on!” Her father, Mu Jinci’s, words reverberated in her ears.

Gradually, her numb heart began to regain life and feeling again.

The bright light flashed and the elevator door automatically opened.

Out of the corner of her eye, a tall figure rushed in. His familiar masculine scent lingered in the narrow space of the elevator. Panicking, she looked up.

The sight of Ruan Hanyu standing before her filled her eyes.

Mu Qingzhu was momentarily stunned. Feeling panicked, she wanted to get up and run away. But there was nowhere to hide in the claustrophobic confines of the elevator.

Ruan Hanyu then gripped her arm with his powerful hand. Her arm was very thin, as if too much strength would break it in two. The two of them were breathing heavily together, their chests filling with adrenaline. Their noses were intoxicated by her unique faint fragrance. He felt shaken but a strain of anger held him in place. She was a weak woman and her aloof and cold front couldn’t fool him.

“In about half a month, it will be Grandma’s 90th birthday. Grandma made it clear that she wants you there. I hope you can attend,” Ruan Hanyu said this with great hesitation in his voice. His stiff tone gave away his discomfort.

Was he lowering himself enough to beg this of her?

He did not know what method she used to convince his grandmother of her virtues. Today, his grandmother actually personally called in to say that it was her wishes that she sees her at the birthday banquet!

He held such high regard for his grandmother and did not want to disobey her. After all, his grandma was already ninety years old and he did not want to see her disappointed. That was the reason why he specifically asked her to come into the office to get the divorce papers. It was also to request this of her. After all, they were already divorced and had already cut ties!

“Let go of me.” Mu Qingzhu’s brows knitted with anxiety on her beautiful face. She turned away to avoid his breath on her face. She felt a deep pain grow in her heart. Throughout their years of marriage, he had never taken the initiative to approach her like this. Now that their divorce was finalized, for his grandmother, he would pull this stunt. Feeling betrayed, Mu Qingzhu said, “Bring Qian Anrou to see Grandma. The divorce is official.”

The woman’s beautiful face, though pale and thin, was backed by steely confidence. Inside her eyes, the light shining in them showed her despair. The words that left her mouth did not spare him her cold and hard decision.

Ruan Hanyu saw a sad and desperate woman before him. When the elevator door opened, he could feel her despair permeate the air around them. All these past years and he treated her like she was nothing. He had taken care to give her as little care and attention as possible, but suddenly, for no reason he could decipher, her sadness became really real to him.

Without putting much thought into it, he let go of her hand and took a step back.

Mu Qingzhu fled from him like she was running away from a monster!

He watched as she moved unsteadily on her feet, staggering away. Taking a wobbly step forward, she seemed about to collapse at any moment!

Waves of worry and concern filled Ruan Hanyu’s heart. Could something have happened to her?! Is this something he did?

But thinking things over, it served her right, the despicable woman! It was time to make her sad and miserable. Hatred and loathing overflowed from his heart, as the little bit of concern he had for her faded into nothing.