Mission Divorce: Pass or Fail?

That night, after dinner, Lu Jinchen went to his study to handle some documents. He had just picked up his pen when a knock echoed through the room. His hand paused, and a faint smile curled on his lips before vanishing just as quickly.

"Come in."

The door creaked open and Xia Yuqing stepped inside slowly. "I have something to discuss with you. Can we talk?" 

Lu Jinchen leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk, but she ignored it. Instead, she limped forward and slapped a stack of papers onto the polished wood as if making a declaration of war. 

"I've already signed them. Now it's your turn."

Lu Jinchen frowned, his gaze flickering to the papers, before taking them in his hands. As his eyes scanned the contents, his brows lifted slightly. Divorce papers?

His eyes narrowed slightly, his eyes dark and unreadable. So, she was this eager to leave him?

"Why?"

Xia Yuqing almost blurted out the first thing that was on her mind. "Because you're a perv—" But her survival instincts kicked in, and she quickly changed her words. "Because we're not compatible!"

Thankfully, she stopped in time. If she said something like that, considering his petty personality and hidden motives, he'd never agree. No, she needed to be strategic about this and say things that would want him to let her go. 

"Not compatible?" Lu Jinchen looked at her, slightly amused. 

"Yes!" She straightened, prepared to deliver the most convincing argument of her life. "Look at you! You're a rich, powerful CEO with status, connections, and....." she waved vaguely at his beautiful study, "this... ridiculous level of luxury. And me? I'm just an ordinary woman with no job and no special qualities. We come from two different worlds. This whole contract marriage was a mistake!"

"You're a big powerful CEO. You must have a long line of women to marry you, right? So, you should find someone who suits your status. Someone from a distinguished family and not," she gestured to herself, "....me. Let's just end this, alright?"

Lu Jinchen propped his elbow on the desk, resting his chin against his knuckles, his eyes never leaving her. "Oh? And you just realized this now?"

"Yes! And that's why we should end it immediately."

Lu Jinchen hummed in thought. "You make a valid point."

Hope flared in Xia Yuqing's chest. Was this it? Was she finally about to be set free? Ah… freedom, beautiful freedom here I come...

Lu Jinchen's gaze darkened. She was smiling, oh no, she was grinning as if divorcing him was the best thing that had ever happened to her. A flicker of irritation stirred within him.

Women would kill for a chance to marry him, yet this woman was delighted to leave? Heh. As if he'd let her.

"I know plenty of women who match my status," he mused, his voice smooth and unhurried. His gaze locked onto hers, a teasing look flashing through. "But why should I marry them? They are not as beautiful as you." 

Xia Yuqing froze, her heart skipping a beat. 

Wait. Was he… flirting with her?!

No. Impossible.

This man was manipulating her. Trying to sweet-talk her into giving up on the divorce. Well, she wasn't about to fall for his cheap tricks!

She narrowed her eyes, shaking off the brief moment of fluster. "You know what? I'll be blunt. This marriage is a cage. And I refuse to be trapped."

Lu Jinchen's smirk widened. There it is. The real her. He preferred this unfiltered, sharp-tongued version over the one who danced around him with fake sweet talk.

But divorce?

Not happening.

Not because he liked this troublesome woman. He wasn't that crazy yet. He'd had more than enough headaches from her in two days alone. He could already picture his life turning into complete chaos if he kept her around forever.

But what else could he do? This marriage wasn't about him. It was about his mother's wishes.

And if there was one thing Lu Jinchen wouldn't do, it was disappoint her.

"Then consider this a golden cage," he said lightly, amusement dancing in his voice. "At least you'll be comfortable."

Xia Yuqing: "…..."

"I don't love you. A marriage without love is pointless," she tried again, her voice firm.

He didn't even flinch. "Take your time. I can wait."

"I want my freedom!" She was getting desperate now.

"Unlike you, I have no hobby of tying people down. You're free to do whatever you want."

Xia Yuqing choked. "W-What?!"

Her face flushed bright red, mortified by the way he phrased that. Why did he always bring that up? Was he born a woman in his past life or something?

But this wouldn't stop her. She had a goal: divorce. And nothing was going to get in her way. "I don't want a rich, powerful husband! That's too much pressure!"

He leaned back in his chair, giving her a blank look "I can pretend to be poor if that helps."

"I don't even know you! Why would I stay married to a stranger?"

"Then let's get to know each other. We have a lifetime together."

Xia Yuqing: "...."

Her frustration reached a boiling point. Every argument, every excuse she tried to throw at him, he skillfully turned around with a smile. Was he even human?

"Are you going to divorce me or not?!" she finally snapped, her face puffing up like an angry pufferfish.

Lu Jinchen chuckled, leaning forward with that infuriating glint in his eyes. "You really want to divorce me that badly?"

She nodded aggressively.

"Well," he said smoothly, "if you want a divorce… it's not impossible."

Her eyes widened. "Really?! How?! What do I have to do?"

He opened a drawer and pulled out another document. Sliding it across the desk, he said, "Read it."

Xia Yuqing grabbed the papers, her fingers trembling. "What's this?"

"Our marriage contract," he said, voice silky.

Her fingers trembled slightly. "Why are you showing me this?"

"Page four. Last few lines."

Her heart started racing as she skimmed the papers, eyes darting quickly to the fourth page, the last few lines. And then, her soul nearly left her body. "Fifty million?!!" she yelled, her voice full of horror and shock. "I have to pay you fifty million to get out of this marriage?! Are you insane?!"