Her reasons for ending it were twofold. First, she’d told Ye Chen that if she were deceived, she’d choose divorce. But the second reason was more significant.
Xiao Churan knew the gap between her and Ye Chen was immense. If he returned to the Ye family and stayed married to her, she’d become the envy of women worldwide, who’d see her as a lucky, ordinary girl married to one of the world’s top heirs.
Xiao Churan was a strong-willed woman. She didn’t want to be labelled as a wealthy man’s wife or a real-life Cinderella.
Rather than being a rich family’s accessory, she preferred a simple, relaxed life.
Moreover, Gu Qiuyi was clearly more suitable for Ye Chen, having sacrificed so much to find him over the years.
Both emotionally and logically, she was a respectable woman who deserved to be fulfilled.
Ending her marriage with Ye Chen would pave the way for them, a beautiful outcome.
So, she replied to Ye Chen: “Then on the second day of the second month, let’s go to Yanjing for a romantic getaway and see Miss Gu’s concert. After it’s over, I might need to go on a business trip. You can head home, and I’ll fly from Yanjing to Rongcheng.”
Ye Chen, curious, asked, “Why the sudden business trip to Rongcheng?”
Xiao Churan thought for a moment and used the excuse she’d just crafted: “A client referred her close friend to me. Her friend has a large detached villa in Rongcheng that needs renovating. She wants me to provide a design plan, so I need to visit for an on-site inspection.”
She felt nervous and guilty saying this.
Nervous, wondering if Ye Chen would see through her lie. Guilty, because this was likely her first time lying to him.
But she soon realised that for years, Ye Chen had claimed he was going around reading feng shui. Perhaps his mindset and motives were similar to her lie about a business trip.
This thought made her sigh inwardly. Their marriage was truly flawed, maintained by countless lies for stability.
Ye Chen, she imagined, must have been exhausted, coming up with excuses and enlisting others to act at home whenever he needed to handle his secret affairs.
Ye Chen trusted Xiao Churan completely. Hearing about her business trip, he had no doubts and asked, “Sweetheart, want me to come with you? I’ll be free then.”
Xiao Churan replied, “No need to trouble you. It’s work, not a holiday. Bringing my husband to a project discussion might make the client think I’m unprofessional. It won’t be long—just a site visit to take photos and measurements. I’ll do the design plan back in Jinling and send it online.”
Ye Chen didn’t think much of it and smiled, “Alright, after the concert, you head to Rongcheng, and I’ll go back to Jinling.”
Xiao Churan breathed a sigh of relief. With the plan set, she intended to visit Qixia Temple later to inform Tang Sihai of the details.
Once she and Ye Chen left for Yanjing, she’d find an excuse for Tang Sihai to take her parents away.
After parting with Ye Chen in Yanjing, she’d have Tang Sihai quietly take her out of Huaxia too.
Their family of three had little to tie them down. Relatives like her grandmother had long been estranged. As long as they were together, anywhere would do.
For years, they’d relied on Ye Chen’s care. Now, it was time for her to consider his needs.
