After Divorcing the Beautiful Richest Woman, She Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 2

Lin Feiruo felt a distinct chill sweep across her face, brushing past every pore and even her neck. Luckily, it didn’t last long, or she might have actually shuddered.

Even though the air conditioning vents were on the ceiling, Lin Feiruo was certain that the chill had come directly from a lower level. Habitually, she quirked an eyebrow and shifted her eyes around nimbly, as if checking to see if her bangs had been blown out of place.

She hadn’t fully adjusted to her new role yet. These small, unconscious habits were relics of her past life—back in the lab, she often did this to relax after a long shift.

Jian Xiyan had never seen Lin Feiruo act like this—at least, not during such a formal discussion. For a moment, she couldn’t guess the intent behind this unusual reaction. However, she was used to holding the reins in this partnership, so she wasn’t about to lose her composure by asking.

Lin Feiruo, for her part, welcomed the divorce with open arms. She had no intention of stalling or trying to squeeze out extra benefits. Although she often joked about getting rich overnight, living with a high-net-worth stranger—no matter how beautiful—was no walk in the park. If Jian Xiyan discovered she was an impostor, the consequences would be dire.

Getting “bankrupt overnight” was a real possibility.

Or even worse… “dead overnight.”

Thinking of this, Lin Feiruo breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness they were divorcing today.

Her eyes sparkled and her lips curled into a faint smile, her sense of urgency becoming more apparent. However, she knew better than to sign a legal document without reading it thoroughly first. She looked at Jian Xiyan with a serious expression, mixed with a hint of subconscious nervousness.

This was her first time interacting with someone this beautiful and wealthy at such close range; she needed a little time to adjust.

Jian Xiyan remained stoic, but she secretly observed every shift in Lin Feiruo’s expression. Is she really planning to back out?

During the two-year contract period, Lin Feiruo had never overstepped. Aside from the necessary public displays of intimacy for their “act,” they had maintained a tacit distance in private. Only a few people close to them knew about this gap, but only the two of them understood the real reason behind it.

Lin Feiruo had someone else in her heart. Jian Xiyan had known this from the start. In fact, that had been the deciding factor that helped Lin Feiruo win the “role” over other candidates.

Jian Xiyan didn’t believe in “falling in love over time”; she was actually wary of it. She had sought a fake marriage solely to meet the inheritance requirements for a massive fortune, not to find someone to split her assets with. She had seen too many wealthy families torn apart by inheritance scandals; even the deepest feelings could turn sour over money. What did a “spouse” matter? Human nature rarely survives such tests.

Over the past two years, Lin Feiruo had spent almost all her money on that minor starlet, Yan Shan. Jian Xiyan knew this perfectly well. Not only did she stay out of it, but she also tacitly allowed it—it was much better than having Lin Feiruo’s attention focused on her.

But seeing Lin Feiruo hesitate over the divorce agreement now, Jian Xiyan was no longer as calm as before. She wasn’t worried about emotional attachment, but as for the money…

Last month, she had officially taken over the family’s core industries. Although it was still a transition period, the wealth she actually controlled was on a completely different level than before. It wasn’t impossible that Lin Feiruo wanted a bigger piece of the pie at the last minute.

Jian Xiyan felt a surge of irritation—unsure if it was disappointment in the woman or frustration that her plans were being disrupted. She suppressed it, waiting for Lin Feiruo to speak first.

Lin Feiruo licked her lips, speaking with a student’s characteristic politeness and sincerity: “Can I read the contents of the agreement first?”

Jian Xiyan blinked, surprised, and slowly lifted her hand.

Lin Feiruo picked up the agreement and began reading it line by line. The clauses were detailed and the terminology professional; she needed to focus to ensure she understood everything. Feeling a bit tired from standing, she reflexively pulled out a chair and sat down.

Jian Xiyan hadn’t expected her to be so meticulous. She looked like… a college student focused on an exam in the library, or perhaps a classmate painstakingly revising an assignment after a professor had returned it.

With Lin Feiruo sitting, they were now at eye level. Jian Xiyan felt a momentary sense of displacement; she realized they rarely had the chance to sit together quietly like this. Usually, they were either rushing through a business discussion or navigating a noisy social event.

Furthermore, she noticed that today’s Lin Feiruo felt different—more lively and relaxed, yet more rigorous while reading the contract. She looked at the person across the desk with a feeling that was both familiar and strange.

“This clause says…” Lin Feiruo suddenly looked up, a frown of confusion between her brows.

Jian Xiyan’s mind snapped back, and she quickly averted her gaze, her eyes returning to their usual coldness. “What is it?”

Lin Feiruo leaned forward, pointing at a specific clause. “It says here that I can’t enter a new relationship for three months after the divorce…”

Jian Xiyan narrowed her eyes. As expected, she wants to change the terms.

She’s endured for two years; she can’t wait three more months? Does Yan Shan really have that much power over her?

Suppressing her annoyance, Jian Xiyan flashed a perfectly professional smile. “We agreed on this. We need to navigate the transition period smoothly and wait until I successfully complete my first major project before officially announcing the divorce. This minimizes the impact on the stock price.”

The Jian Group was massive with many listed subsidiaries. Any news of Jian Xiyan’s marriage or divorce could cause significant market fluctuations if handled poorly.

Lin Feiruo didn’t have this specific memory, so she hadn’t known. Now that Jian Xiyan explained it, it seemed reasonable and fair. Since the original owner had already agreed, she saw no reason to back out now.

Jian Xiyan expected her to search for another excuse, but after a moment, she realized Lin Feiruo had simply gone back to reading. Jian Xiyan took a silent breath and crossed her arms.

Though Lin Feiruo hadn’t proposed any outrageous conditions yet, Jian Xiyan was already on the defensive. Looking at Lin Feiruo’s serious face, she recalled the fleeting emotion that had just crossed her mind. Any long-term project involving time and energy eventually becomes a habit; it’s natural to feel a sense of loss when it ends.

Reluctance to let go?

Jian Xiyan paused, immediately rejecting the thought. How could there be “reluctance” in a contract marriage? She stole a casual glance at Lin Feiruo, who was still focused on the paper, and told herself: It’s just a bit of stress.

After all, once the papers were signed, she would have to deal with everyone else’s reaction to her divorce.

Lin Feiruo finished the agreement from beginning to end. She found no linguistic traps, and the terms were actually quite fair. She placed the document back on the desk, her hand resting lightly on top. Her eyes were still bright, and a sense of anticipation returned to her gaze.

Jian Xiyan curled her lip. “Finished?”

“Yes.”

“Are there any—”

“No problems.”

Jian Xiyan stared at her for a moment. Lin Feiruo nodded and repeated, “No problems at all.”

A fountain pen was sitting in a holder on the desk. Lin Feiruo reached for it. As she unscrewed the cap, she heard Jian Xiyan say suddenly, “Before you sign, I want to remind you of one more thing.”

“Hmm?”

“The agreement takes effect today, but you need to accompany me back to the Main Residence for three more days.”

Lin Feiruo frowned. That wasn’t in the contract.

Jian Xiyan added “thoughtfully”: “I negotiated this before my business trip. The price was a role in a production.”

A role?

Lin Feiruo’s memory was hazy, but she vaguely recalled something. She wouldn’t dream of questioning Jian Xiyan about it now; she’d either look like she’d lost her mind or like she was trying to renege on a deal. Neither was an option.

Three days it is. The “Main Residence” sounded a bit mysterious, but it was no big deal. They were divorced anyway—it’s not like Jian Xiyan was going to lock her up in the basement, right?

No need to be afraid.

Lin Feiruo nodded calmly. “Understood.”

With that, she officially signed her name on the agreement. As Jian Xiyan watched her finish the signature stroke by stroke, the walls of her defense began to dissolve, bit by bit.

The two of them walked out of the study one after the other, and Aunt Shu greeted them.

“Young Mistress, what would you like for dinner? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it.”

Jian Xiyan had her suit jacket draped over her arm, her shirt sleeves now rolled down. “No need. I have to go back to the office for a meeting. Don’t wait up for me tonight.”

She addressed Aunt Shu, then gave a slight nod toward Lin Feiruo as a generic goodbye before getting into her car and leaving.

Aunt Shu watched Jian Xiyan’s brisk departure and then looked at Lin Feiruo, who was standing there with her hands in her pockets. She shook her head helplessly.

This couple… their relationship is getting worse and worse lately.

People say a short absence makes the heart grow fonder. The Young Mistress had been away for so long and rushed back straight from the airport to see Lin Feiruo; Aunt Shu had thought there might be a breakthrough.

Who would have thought…

Sigh!

Seeing Aunt Shu’s troubled expression and remembering the book’s description of her health, Lin Feiruo said caringly, “Aunt Shu, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s mentally exhausting. Also, even though it’s summer, you don’t have to wear the full uniform at home. Keeping your knees warm is more important.”

Shu Wanxia did indeed suffer from rheumatism, and the air conditioning made it flare up. She held herself to high standards and worried about everything, keeping her nerves taut; lately, her headaches had become more frequent.

While they usually looked out for each other tacitly, Lin Feiruo had never been this direct.

Touched, Shu Wanxia couldn’t help but coach her: “You should say these sweet things to the Young Mistress more often.”

“Huh?”

“The Young Mistress has had a cold personality since she was a child. Plus, she took over the company business very early and got used to being serious, but that doesn’t mean she’s a machine. She needs care, warmth, and love too.”

“Uh…”

Lin Feiruo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Looking at Aunt Shu’s stance, did she think Lin Feiruo wasn’t being considerate or “sweet-talky” enough?

“A couple needs to spend time together and work through things for their feelings to grow. You two…” Aunt Shu hesitated, then lowered her voice. “You don’t even sleep in the same room anymore. This is bound to cause problems sooner or later.”

Lin Feiruo just smiled. She didn’t know if the plot she remembered was complete, so it was better to listen more and talk less.

“Actually, the Young Mistress cares for you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have let you decorate this place according to your tastes.”

…What?

Lin Feiruo looked up. A massive crystal chandelier hung directly over the living room, nearly blinding her. Her lip twitched. “My… tastes?”

“The Young Mistress has always preferred simple elegance. In the Main Residence, her room and study never have more than three colors,” Aunt Shu said earnestly, advising her to cherish what she had. “If the Young Mistress didn’t care for you deeply, she would never have agreed to this decor style.”

Lin Feiruo felt like burying her face in her hands. This isn’t my taste either, okay?! I love minimalism and elegance too! I want to go to Jian Xiyan’s three-color-limit Main Residence right now!