Wen Ying only received Zhong Yong’s call a full week later.
He began by thanking her profusely for the suggestions she had given, then dropped the bombshell: one hour ago, Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu had collected their divorce certificate at the civil affairs bureau.
Zhong Yong thought to himself that Wen Ying must have suffered terribly during this week.
The entire Xie family had suffered alongside her.
Several times, when the situation was at its most critical, Zhong Yong had almost suggested abandoning Xie Qian’s instructions and calling Wen Ying to the hospital. Perhaps seeing her would awaken Xie Qian’s will to live.
Xie Yuping had wavered.
Yet under unimaginable pressure, he refused.
Xie Yuping wanted Xie Qian to live.
He told the ICU doctors to keep reminding Xie Qian of his responsibilities.
As a son, how could he abandon his mother alone in this world?
After three years of constant companionship, he had led a girl on. Now he wanted to leave without a word?
And the Xie family.
So many people cared about Xie Qian.
The old lady had collapsed from the shock and still hadn’t been discharged.
If Xie Qian closed his eyes, she would follow right after.
Xie Yuping deliberately withheld news of Xie Jinghu signing the divorce agreement. He knew what his nephew cared about; he wanted Xie Qian to remain anxious.
The more ties a person has in this world, the stronger their will to live.
Xie Yuping did not believe in gods or Buddhas, but he firmly believed that when medical science had reached its limit, the patient’s own desire to survive was crucial.
Many things the Xie family could do for Xie Qian.
But many things only Xie Qian could do himself.
Xie Yuping could not stay in Shanghai forever. He had his own duties. The people guarding outside the ICU were Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu.
It was bitterly ironic.
Xie Jinghu had not been alone with Zou Weijun in a long time.
Before the affair was exposed, his body was beside her, but his heart was with someone else.
After the affair was exposed, he could not face her and avoided her.
Then came the separation.
Finally, Zou Weijun returned to Beijing and treated him as an enemy.
Now their only son lay in the ICU. Apart from divorce, Zou Weijun had asked nothing of him. Yet Xie Jinghu suddenly remembered his duty as a father and stayed by her side.
When the doctor announced the condition had stabilised for now, Xie Jinghu felt as if he had personally passed through death.
He saw Zou Weijun’s tears again, but this time they were of joy, not despair.
Xie Jinghu did not know if he had cried, but his eyes were wet, probably sweat.
He had so much he wanted to say to her, but she spoke first, asking when he would go through the formalities.
He had already signed the divorce agreement.
With both of them outside the ICU, they could not go to the civil affairs bureau.
Not until Xie Qian was stable, they could not leave.
Until then, there was still a chance he could change his mind.
Zou Weijun could wait no longer. Compared to the property she would receive, she valued the four additional clauses far more. Once divorced, Xie Qian would have a “protective talisman”.
Zou Weijun was frantic, Xie Jinghu was unwilling, with different emotions, the couple formally ended their twenty-year marriage.
Zhong Yong did not mention the details of the tug-of-war, he only told her the result.
Zou Weijun had successfully divorced!
Wen Ying could not help confirming: “They signed according to the terms I suggested?”
“Yes.”
Wen Ying burst into tears of joy.
“It’s really too good… Don’t misunderstand, I’m just so happy for Aunt Zou, I couldn’t help crying!”
When Zhong Yong had been silent, she had been anxious.
When he finally called, she had been afraid.
She had been afraid he would bring bad news!
Xie Jinghu had signed the agreement based on her suggestions, and those suggestions were to protect Xie Qian.
The fact that he still needed such protection meant he was safe, he was still alive!
Wen Ying thought, Xie Qian should be “back from abroad” soon?
Maybe in half a month.
Or a month.
Or a few months, half a year… even longer would be fine.
Nothing but death could stop them from reuniting!
With that thought, boundless energy suddenly surged through her body.
“I still have so much to do, Secretary Zhong, bye~”
Zhong Yong stared at the disconnected call, then laughed.
Before, he had not understood why Xie Qian valued Wen Ying so much. Now he understood. She had so many beautiful qualities that money and power could not buy. She was simply too full of life!
Wen Ying threw open her long-closed office door.
These days her stress had been immense. Li Mengjiao had suspected she had suffered a heartbreak.
Unable to find Xie Qian anywhere, Li Mengjiao had cursed him to death in private.
Heartbroken people should not be provoked. The entire Tianjiao had been on edge.
Wen Ying did not scold anyone, but she had become extremely strict about work standards.
Everyone at Tianjiao both admired and feared her and secretly prayed for “Manager Dong” to come soon.
If not him, even Director Yuan would do!
If they kept working under Little Wen’s current mode, the company’s performance would soar, but the employees might drop dead from overwork.
Little Wen had not forced overtime, but she had practically been living at the company. When the boss rolled up her sleeves, how could they not roll up theirs?
When she suddenly opened the door, everyone in the open-plan office instantly lowered their heads.
Wen Ying spotted Xiao Mei, Li Mengjiao’s assistant.
“Xiao Mei, come in for a moment.”
Xiao Mei smiled, but walked slowly, as if to delay the inevitable.
When she entered the office, the rest of the floor silently prayed.
When she came out, several people instantly surrounded her.
“How was it? Is Little Wen sleeping at the company again tonight?”
“Is she leaving?”
“Is she going to chase us for the analysis reports?”
Xiao Mei looked dazed, still not recovered. “No, no, no. Little Wen is not sleeping here tonight. She said she has an event tomorrow and needs proper rest at the hotel. Also, after 7 p.m. the office air-conditioning will be turned off. No one is allowed to stay and work overtime…”
The surprise came too suddenly.
Little Wen had suddenly turned back from a work robot into a normal human?
No one knew if she would revert tomorrow, but today’s happiness had to be enjoyed first!
A few people crowded around Xiao Mei, chattering about afternoon tea to celebrate, asking what she wanted.
Xiao Mei waved frantically. “Don’t order, don’t! Little Wen has already ordered for everyone. She said she’s treating the whole company to afternoon tea today! And she told finance to double this month’s bonuses for everyone’s recent hard work… Hey, why are you all frozen? It’s such a good thing, why aren’t you smiling?”
Smile?
They couldn’t.
The office fell into terrified silence. Everyone suspected Wen Ying was about to drop a bombshell.
You know, death-row prisoners get one last good meal before the guillotine, a tradition in China since ancient times.
That afternoon, not a soul idled in Tianjiao’s office. Everyone worked with frantic diligence. Even the afternoon tea Wen Ying had personally paid for was gulped down hastily before returning to work.
When Wen Ying left for the day, she was puzzled. “Didn’t I say no overtime? Why hasn’t everyone gone home?”
Xiao Mei’s eyes glistened with tears. “You’ve been too good to us. We’re so touched. We’re staying voluntarily.”
Wen Ying waved her hand. “Touched is touched, but labor laws still apply. Tell them all to go home now!”
“Oh…”
It seemed they really had to leave.
Xiao Mei felt today’s Little Wen was somehow different.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but if you looked closely… her eyes seemed brighter?
…
Wen Ying did indeed have an event.
A small book club meet-up hosted by Shanghai Literature Publishing House.
A few lucky readers who had won the 《Xun Yong》 contest could meet her up close before boarding the luxury cruise ship.
Yuan Fenghui had been worried about her state, but the event had been scheduled long ago. If Wen Ying cancelled, the winners would be heartbroken.
She not only had to attend, she had to attend in good spirits.
Life is never smooth sailing for anyone, rich or poor. Letting personal emotions affect work is irresponsible.
Yuan Fenghui had planned to talk heart-to-heart, but unexpectedly, Wen Ying’s mood had suddenly lifted.
She proactively discussed tomorrow’s event, asked about Zhang Guangzhen’s new drama ratings and the lawsuit against Blue Whale for plagiarism.
Yuan Fenghui laughed over the phone. “You’ve finally come back to life!”
Wen Ying didn’t mind the teasing.
She wasn’t the one who had come back to life.
It was Xie Qian who had come back to life.
She was genuinely overjoyed.
Treating the whole company to afternoon tea and double bonuses were just some ways to express it.
Wen Ying finally understood Li Mengjiao’s urge to do the splits whenever she was happy, because right now, she wanted to do one too!
