Ex-Husband Comes Crawling Back After Divorce

"Seeing through things without pointing them out is the most basic etiquette of a gentleman, Mr. Wen. By poking straight through, you make yourself seem rather petty. Divorce is a new beginning for a woman, and I want to start over and change. So, please bear with me, Mr. Wen!" Qiao Ran replied with a radiant smile.

"Some people are innately quaint, and changing their hairstyle won't bring them rebirth or transformation, let alone wearing such a tacky red outfit. Are you planning on jumping off a building after the divorce and becoming the most evil female ghost?"

Despite his disdainful, vitriolic words, Wen Shimo had to admit that Qiao Ran suited red very well. The color perfectly brought out her beauty and aura without making her appear vulgar.

"Mr. Wen is absolutely right. I heard that the most malicious spirits come out at twelve noon. We'd better hurry up with the procedures, so I don't miss my chance to become one." Qiao Ran said as she walked over to the staff counter and sat down.

The divorce process was extremely quick thanks to the pre-signed divorce agreement; it took only five minutes to complete.

"Mr. Wen, enjoy your divorce and may the rest of your life be blessed with happiness. Goodbye, or rather, never see you again." Qiao Ran said cheerfully, waving her divorce certificate at Wen Shimo and then turned to leave with poise.

Watching Qiao Ran's graceful figure disappear, Wen Shimo's dark eyes shimmered. He tossed the divorce certificate behind him in disdain, and it conveniently landed in the arms of his assistant, Zhou Yu.

"Get rid of it, I don't want to see such an ominous thing."

"In case you get back together..." Zhou Yu quickly slapped his own mouth, "I spoke out of turn. Don't be mad, Mr. President. After finally getting a divorce, how could you possibly get back together with her? Even if you do, it'll be with Miss Song... Ah, my mouth slipped again. I meant marriage, marrying Miss Song."

Watching Zhou Yu, who is usually so steady, blabbering nonsensically today, Wen Shimo gave him a death stare before turning to walk away.

Zhou Yu slapped his own mouth again: "Today this mouth really deserves a smack!"

...

No sooner had Qiao Ran walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau than she saw a crowd of male and female journalists surrounding a handsome and radiant man, incessantly taking photos and asking questions.

"Mr. Lu, you said you were waiting for someone you love. Are you here to register your marriage today?"

"Mr. Lu, may I ask if the woman you love is from the Entertainment Circle?"

"Mr. Lu, can you reveal who she is in advance?"

"..."

Lu Huaiyang, the Entertainment Circle's youngest and most sought-after actor, won the prestigious Flying Gold award at the age of 22, and was a long-time friend of Qiao Ran.

She had told him numerous times not to come this morning, yet he still showed up.

And in such a high profile manner, too.

Qiao Ran used her bag to cover her head, trying to sneak away from the side when Lu Huaiyang's clear and pleasant voice called out.

"Ranran!"

The reporters turned their heads, saw Qiao Ran on the steps, and raced toward her at top speed. A chubby one, running too fast, tripped on the steps, got his hand stepped on by a colleague, and let out a painful squeal like that of a pig.

"Miss Qiao, we heard that you're getting a divorce from Mr. Wen, is that true?"

"We heard that three years ago, you were so determined to marry Mr. Wen that you even plotted a car accident for your own sister, turning her into a vegetable. Why have you agreed to divorce Mr. Wen now?"

"..."

Due to Wen Shimo's frequent flings with celebrities and models over the years, Qiao Ran often faced reporters bombarding her with questions about her marriage.

Now, she had gone from initial embarrassment to handling these reporters with ease.

"Thank you all for your concern over my private life these past few years. Mr. Wen Shimo and I indeed came here to divorce today, officially ending our three-year marriage."

"From now on, Mr. Wen Shimo and I are the most familiar strangers. Please don't ask me about him anymore." Qiao Ran said with a relaxed and broad smile to the journalists, marking the end of her three years of marriage in front of the public.

"Ranran, happy divorce!" Lu Huaiyang handed her a big bouquet of roses with a playful smile. "It's been three years; my heart has practically shattered waiting for you to come to this decision. Congratulations on escaping the bitter sea and being reborn. Ninety-nine roses to wish you a long-lasting and joyous life."

"Mr. Lu, may I ask what your relationship with Miss Qiao is?"

"Just now, you said you were waiting for someone you like. Is that person Miss Qiao?"

"..."

"You are all correct; the person I like is Qiao Ran," Lu Huaiyang said as he pulled Qiao Ran into his arms, his voice powerful and commanding. "From today on, Qiao Ran is my woman."

Wen Shimo, walking out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, saw the scene before him. His hands instantly clenched into fists, his teeth gritting audibly.

Yesterday it was the business magnate Shen Mubai, today it's the popular young actor Lu Huaiyang.

How had he not known that his unremarkable ex-wife had become so sought after, so irresistibly charming?

"Bringing your new love to the divorce? Qiao Ran, you really have some nerve. Are you that promiscuous, that desperate to move on without skipping a beat?" Wen Shimo took several steps forward, pulled Qiao Ran out of Lu Huaiyang's embrace, and glared at her with fiery eyes as he interrogated her.

Qiao Ran had already been speechless at Lu Huaiyang's ostentation, guilty that it might bring negative attention to the Wen Family, but hearing Wen Shimo's harsh and unpleasant words, any guilt she had felt dissipated.

"So you're allowed to be embroiled in affairs during our marriage, but I'm not allowed to bring a new love when getting divorced? Besides, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. How many men I find is completely reasonable and legal. What's it to you?"

Qiao Ran said, hooking her arm through Lu Huaiyang's, and with a bright, tender smile she said, "Dear, let's celebrate properly today. I want to go to Zuixunlou for the most expensive feast."

"Sure, Ranran can eat whatever she wants," Lu Huaiyang said, taking Qiao Ran's hand and walking away.

"Lu Huaiyang, your glory in the Entertainment Circle hasn't been easily earned. I advise you to tread carefully, otherwise, if you fall into a pit, it'll be impossible to recover, and there won't be a path for a new beginning."

Wen Shimo's voice, devoid of warmth, rose from behind them.

Lu Huaiyang turned around, his smile bright and charming, "President Wen, are you trying to blacklist me? That depends on whether you have the capacity to do so."

Watching the red sports car blend into the traffic and disappear, Wen Shimo's face was cold as ice. A small-time actor from the Entertainment Circle dared to challenge him; it really was overestimating himself.

"Zhou Yu, now, immediately, blacklist Lu Huaiyang completely," Wen Shimo turned back, saw the two divorce certificates in Zhou Yu's hands, and his eyebrows lifted, "Why are there two divorce certificates?"

"I was just throwing away trash, and I saw them in the bin, so I picked them up!" Zhou Yu said, unfolding the certificates.

There on the certificate was Qiao Ran's beaming divorce photo, with the witness written—Qiao Ran.

Wen Shimo instantly felt his self-respect being trampled and rubbed raw underfoot.

Damn Qiao Ran, not only did she bring her new love to slap him in the face during the divorce, but she also tossed the newly acquired divorce certificate into the trash can.

Good, very good.

Qiao Ran, you're done for!

…

Inside the exquisitely luxurious and comfortable RV, Qiao Ran angrily glared at Lu Huaiyang, who was sitting in a massage chair, peeling an orange.

"Didn't I tell you hundreds of times not to come? If you had to come, fine, but why so publicly? Do you want the whole country to know that I have gloriously become a divorced cast-off?"

"I wasn't that bored. I was secretly waiting near the Civil Affairs Bureau. When I saw a group of reporters arriving, that's when I made my entrance. Even without me, the news of your divorce and being a cast-off wife would still have made the headlines."

"My appearance was to regain some dignity for you. Since Wen Shimo can't even leave you a bit of face on the day of the divorce, then I will strike hard at his face and let him taste the humiliation," Lu Huaiyang said.

Although she had decided to let go, Qiao Ran's heart still ached uncontrollably upon hearing Lu Huaiyang's words.

To provide Song Wanqing with a perfect answer, to let the whole country ridicule her, Qiao Ran, as an unwanted cast-off wife, he really didn't leave her a shred of dignity.

Three years of sincere effort, all for nothing.

"Thanks. From today on, I'll cherish my life, stay away from men, and be a woman who seriously pursues her career!" Qiao Ran said, removing the sunglasses slung on her head, so Lu Huaiyang couldn't see the desolation in her eyes.

"Wen Shimo, who never took a break in three years, will surely be moved to tears of joy hearing this," Lu Huaiyang knew the weight Wen Shimo held in Qiao Ran's heart but didn't expose it, pretending to be happy instead.

"I'm not going to work at Chenhuo."

"Then come to Huohuai. Let's set the Entertainment Circle ablaze together."

"No."

"Ah, you want to pursue your career but don't want to make money for your own company. Who are you making money for?"

Qiao Ran's gaze turned toward the window, where a streak of golden sunlight slowly peeked out from beneath the dark clouds. Her red lips parted, her voice cool and detached, "It's time for the truth behind those dust-covered, age-old secrets to come to light."