C8 Leave the Ruan Corporation

The sound of high heels hitting the ground echoed in the hallway. Sounding crisp and urgent, a mixture of arrogance and conceit wafted from the noise.

Mu Qingzhu frowned slightly from the abrupt sound of high heels striking the ground.

The strong smell of imported expensive perfume filled Mu Qingzhu’s nostrils and made her look up.

The sight that filled her vision was the sexy and beautiful Qian Anrou standing before the doorway. Today, a red short Western dress adorned her graceful figure. The cut of the dress was so short that it ran close to the navel. In the dress, Qian Anrou appeared very sexy and alluring. Her thick golden wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her sexy, red lips fully displayed her charm.

In her high heels, she stood a foot taller than Mu Qingzhu. She stood before Mu Qingzhu, exuding arrogance. She was worthy of being the wife of the President of Ruan Group. After all, she was Ruan Hanyu’s woman. She lorded her height and status over Mu Qingzhu, feeling more than entitled.

Qian Anrou’s full arrogance was on display. Her eyes were stormy with gloom and she looked at Mu Qingzhu with cold and fearless eyes.

“Mu Qingzhu, state your purpose for coming to Ruan Group to work,” Qian Anrou’s tone was overbearing as she asked arrogantly. Her face had turned red out of extreme anger and her eyes flashed with a fierce, inextinguishable light.

Her face seemed to say if Mu Qingzhu were to say or do the wrong thing, she would devour her whole.

Mu Qingzhu avoided her eyes but smiled coldly. Taking the time to seat herself down on the sofa in front of the desk, she said in a casual tone, “Director Qian, what is the problem?”

Throughout the ranks of Ruan Group, everyone knew Qian Anrou had a special position within the company. It was widely known her relationship with Ruan Hanyu. Because of this, everyone went out of their way to avoid offending her openly.

Qian Anrou only had the audacity to act arrogant because of Ruan Hanyu’s backing. Without his support, she would have no means to claim her position as the woman by his side. But this didn’t mean that Qian Anrou did not contribute anything to Ruan family. Three years ago, when the Ruan Group was backed into a problematic situation, it was she who came to the rescue secretly using her father’s support to help Ruan Hanyu stabilize the declining stock of the Ruan family. It was because of her, the Ruan Group was still standing.

There was a reason why Ruan Hanyu cherished her and held her with such high esteem.

“You should know that Hanyu has always been indifferent towards you. He neither loved or even hated you. I know you still love him. But you need to give up. You are divorced. There is no hope for the two of you. Hanyu will never find it in his heart to fall in love with you. We have always loved each other and will be married soon. Don’t come back to work. I hope things become clearer for you and you leave immediately.” Qian Anrou tried to knock some sense into Mu Qingzhu’s stony facade. As if shouting this will get the words across better, this left Qian Anrou flustered by the time she finished her speech.

Mu Qingzhu’s face remained unmoved. Qian Anrou’s words pierced her heart. She felt like she had been cut by a knife and salt had been sprinkled on her wounds. Her body felt cold all over and her throat was blocked by emotion.

There was no denying the truth in her words. Ruan Hanyu had never loved her. It was Qian Anrou he loved.

Mu Qingzhu’s eyes were cold as she stared at Qian Anrou. Her features were touched by indifference. “It looks like I forgot to tell you. I am a designer hired by the Ruan family. They wasted no good effort negotiating me a high salary. I came here to work under the request of Ruan Hanyu. Only Director Ruan can fire me or ask me to leave.”

Her eyes were calm yet inside them shined a fiery light. She did not seem to have a care in the world, and the marriage between her and Ruan Hanyu did not seem to hurt her like it did before.

Out of emotion, Qian Anrou’s cheeks flushed redder. She pointed at Mu Qingzhu with an angry finger. “How dare you dangle Hanyu’s name to pressure me? Don’t think because we used to be classmates, you can hold this over me as well. My position and contributions to Ruan family are incomparable. Even Hanyu goes out of his way to be polite to me. My time and effort in this company are invaluable. And I’m warning you, if you think to destroy or claim my share in the company, you will be sorry. You are nothing but his ex-wife. Save your face and don’t come back. No one knows you were once the wife of the president. And everyone knows Hanyu loves and wishes to marry me. But stay if you’re not afraid of the humiliation.

After having her say, Qian Anrou dramatically turned and was about to leave. But after taking a few steps, she turned back with a face full of disdain and continued to ambush Mu Qingzhu with her words. She was obviously not finished.

“Are you really considered a car designer? With what little ability you have, you can’t even properly seduce Hanyu. I don’t believe you designed that car. I believe some man helped you. You can fool Hanyu, but nothing you do can fool me. Let me make it clear! Hanyu only thinks of you as a lowly woman. He wants nothing to do with you.”

In the past, these words would carry such a weight that she would be so angry that her entire body would tremble. But now her heart had hardened so much so that she was strong enough to bear its impact. Such words could no longer touch her.

Her face was calm and her bright eyes carried it with a bewitching light. Her long eyelashes playfully fluttered over her eyes, framing the secretive expression it held.

“Director Qian, so you haven’t forgotten that we were classmates! Who is actually more shameless? During my time in America three years ago, who was it that pestered my husband? Do people know how you came to Ruan Hanyu’s side?” After having said this, Mu Qingzhu stood up still facing Qian Anrou. Her gaze was razor-sharp and her whole body hovered over Qian Anrou in a threatening manner.

Qian Anrou’s face paled. Seeing the fierce look in Mu Qingzhu’s eyes, a trace of panic swept through her heart, but she quickly regained her composure.

Qian Anrou’s expression was arrogant like a queen presiding before her hated subjects. She said in a cold voice, “Mu Qingzhu, if you are capable, stay here. You better watch your steps. If any evidence falls into my hands, be prepared for my wrath. I’ll just have to wait and see how long you will last. If you can endure the humiliation, I will be with you every step of the way.”

Qian Anrou’s face held a gloomy expression as she twisted around and walked away at a leisurely pace.

“Hanyu.” With tears in her eyes, she greeted Ruan Hanyu in his office. He looked into her red eyes as she threw herself into his arms. She looked like a fragile butterfly who had been wronged.

Just moments before, Ruan Hanyu had been standing in his office with his phone in his hand, talking into the receiver. His face carried a serious expression. He frowned slightly when Qian Anrou fell into his arms. Her whiny presence caused a trace of displeasure to enter his heart.

“Anrou, haven’t I warned you before? Please pay more attention to your image in the office. Why do you continue to be so fickle?” Ruan Hanyu hung up the phone as he said this. His tone conveyed that he was unhappy with Qian Anrou.

Over and over again, he had told this woman to be more careful of her actions around others in the office and workplace, but it seemed that his words fell on deaf ears. The more he reminded her, the more she remained the same. As long as they were together in the same room, she would come over, ignoring the customs or occasion. It was like the more people there were, the more she acted out. It was as if she was afraid the world did not know about their relationship and she wanted everyone to get the message loud and clear.

“Hanyu, I miss you,” Qian Anrou said coyly. She moved her hands lovingly up and down his arm.

Ruan shook away her touch. Wanting to get to the bottom of things, he said lightly, “What’s wrong? Did anyone bother you?”

Qian Anrou’s watery almond eyes held tears in them. “Hanyu,” she said. “Why did that despicable woman come back to work in the Ruan family? Tell me why?”

Despicable woman? Ruan Hanyu was momentarily stunned but instantly recovered. She must mean Mu Qingzhu. His face held a dark expression and he walked straight to the sofa and sat right down. He said with a light tone in his voice, “Anrou, you can’t call her that in the future. She is a top talent hired by the Ruan family. Her status as a global car designer is recognized worldwide. Such talents are rare and we need her skills as a designer to reinforce our company's image. Her abilities have the potential to raise the Ruan Group to the top and as long as she brings in these benefits, the company will have to put her first. In that case in the future, be sure to pay more attention to how you word things.”

“Important position?” The words tightened a vise around Qian Anrou’s chest. Out of panic, she threw herself into Ruan Hanyu’s arms. “Hanyu,” she cried out in a piercing wail. “It was you who said you never loved her that you hated her. How could you give her such an important role?”

Qian Anrou was confused by how swiftly things were changing. She could not wrap her mind around what was going on. Ruan Hanyu had long made it known that he despised the woman and did not love her. Why was he in the position to speak up for her now?

“Anou.” For some reason when Mu Qingzhu was mentioned, Ruan Hanyu felt a strange sensation fill his heart. Feeling divided, he pushed the woman in his arms away and his voice suddenly carried with it a touch of frostiness. “Anrou, she is only a designer hired by the company. In this company, we keep things professional. As long as she displays real talent, the company will treat her accordingly. That is how I’ve always operated and this is also the rule of the Ruan family. You should know it by heart by now.”

Feeling pushed to the limit, Ruan Hanyu tried to convince her with a pleasant tone in his voice.

“Hanyu, it doesn’t matter if you hire ten women other than her, but she can’t be here. Fire her if you have to. Please think of this as if you’re firing her for me.” Qian Anrou’s large eyes filled with tears. She begged with a heart filled with entreaty. “Hanyu, don’t forget your father. He is still in the hospital because of that woman!”

The reminder struck thunder through Ruan Hanyu’s heart. His entire body shook from the excess emotions. He sat there stunned for a long time.

Sensitive to his every shift in mood, Qian Anrou clearly sensed the changes in his body. Her mouth curled up into a proud smile. Wanting to incite a reaction, she said, “Hanyu, this woman is filled with schemes. She is not someone to deal with a lax hand. Now that she has divorced you, she will be unwilling to leave things be. What she is after is revenge and she will tear apart Ruan Group limb from limb if she has to. Hanyu, before she succeeds, you must drive her away.”

Hearing her words, Ruan Hanyu’s stiff body eventually relaxed. The disgust in his eyes soon faded away. He shouted out decisively, “Enough! Anrou, remember where you are. We are in the office right now. Don’t let personal grudges overcome your relationships in the office. I, Ruan Hanyu, will make the final decisions. In the future, you must be on your best behavior and learn to respect others. I don’t want to hear anymore of this.”

After having said this, Ruan Hanyu stood up and walked outside with a gloomy expression on his face.

What a joke? As the president of Ruan family, could he be afraid of a woman?

Did he not see that if he fired her, there would be no harm done and he would be considered a shrewd businessman? How could he not weigh the pros and cons before making such a decision?