Chapter Twenty-nine

Before Su Xiaobai could bask in her excitement for too long, Fang Cheng interrupted her imagination. Unnoticeably, he moved a few steps forward, his body blocking the space between her and Qiao Nan, separating their gazes and cutting off any hopes she had of getting a divorce.

Even Fang Cheng himself felt uncomfortable. After all the effort, he had thought that Qiao Nan was mediating between the couple, but unexpectedly, he was being used to support her in the divorce plan.

If it were the old days, Fang Cheng wasn't the type of person who couldn't let go. For example, his relationship with Zhang Tingting, which had lasted several years, wasn't something he had never liked. But when it ended, it ended cleanly, without dragging on. There was no hesitation, no room for a second chance. He made sure to block every path for both himself and the other party.

But now, Su Xiaobai saying she wanted a divorce didn't surprise him too much. Since he first saw Su Bai in the ancient forest, Fang Cheng had guessed that Su Bai might have known about his relationship with Zhang Tingting. Given Su Bai's personality, she might endure for a while for the sake of family, but she wouldn't let it drag on too long. Since Fang Cheng respected her, he thought it would be best to discuss it when the time came. If it really didn't work out, he wouldn't beg for a woman.

What truly bothered Fang Cheng, however, was Su Xiaobai's attitude. The way she looked at Qiao Nan, with hope and some selfish desire in her eyes, made it seem as though Qiao Nan was the one she relied on to make decisions for her. She trusted him so much, a man who had no connection to her, and placed all her hopes on him. How could that not make Fang Cheng feel uncomfortable?

At this moment, Fang Cheng had completely forgotten what was wrong with Su Xiaobai's behavior, and he hadn't even noticed his own discomfort. Deep down, he didn't realize that something called "sourness" was quietly festering inside him.

"Uncle Qiao, this is between Su Bai and me. We are adults, and we can solve it ourselves. There's no need to trouble you today. I'll take Su Bai back, and we'll visit you another time."

Fang Cheng said this while looking Qiao Nan in the eye. His tone was firm, and the implication was clear: no matter whether you're an elder or a superior, this is a matter for our couple. As an outsider, you shouldn't get involved. Whether we divorce or not is not something you have a say in, so please rest.

Qiao Nan could easily tell that this was Fang Cheng's meaning. He had only been testing Su Xiaobai earlier and hadn't expected her response to be so interesting. It seemed that she was really determined to divorce Fang Cheng.

However, Fang Cheng was right; this was indeed their matter. Qiao Nan's initial purpose had been to help them calm down and avoid making a spectacle of their personal matters. Since that goal had been achieved, he didn't see the need to interfere any further.

"Go back, and talk things over. If you need to argue, at least do it behind closed doors. It's not suitable to air your private matters in public," Qiao Nan said, giving them a nod, signaling that his involvement was done.

"Thank you, Uncle Qiao. We'll be on our way," Fang Cheng replied politely, but this only made Su Xiaobai angrier. She felt as though her hopes had been dashed and could only turn on her high heels and walk away.

The sound of her high heels clicking against the carpet echoed in the hallway, with each step sinking slightly into the fabric. Her pace wasn't fast, but Fang Cheng quickly caught up with her.

"Su Bai, we need to talk," Fang Cheng's tone was cold, far from the pleading or coaxing kind. If it weren't for the slight furrow in his brow, it might have sounded like he was simply asking what to have for dinner.

"I don't think there's anything to talk about. I'll prepare the divorce papers when we get back to Mingzhu in a few days. Just wait for them, and sign them when the time comes."

Su Xiaobai was already frustrated and didn't want to linger on the matter any longer. The sooner she could resolve things with Fang Cheng, the freer she would feel. As for Su Bai, whether she was willing or not, it wasn't up to her anymore. There was no point in asking for her opinion. Su Bai was a woman who would always endure for the sake of both families.

Besides, it was pointless to ask. Su Bai would only suppress her feelings for the sake of both sides.

Fang Cheng didn't press her too hard and instead spoke again, "Let's talk about this again when we get back. I still hope we can handle this calmly, at least when both of us are at peace. These few days will be a good chance for us to cool off. Alright, you should go back and rest now. I won't disturb you." He was a man of his word. Once he said he wouldn't disturb her, he really didn't, and left without further entanglement, leaving Su Xiaobai behind, deep in thought.

Su Xiaobai went back and took a hot shower, but she couldn't really rest. She still had to go back to the branch factory to reassure her colleagues who had been worried about her all night. Even though she had already called to report that she was safe, nothing could compare to the impact of her standing in front of them in person. It was like a reassurance, calming them down.

She changed into a white chiffon shirt with pink floral prints, paired with simple black trousers. The shirt was tucked into her pants, showing off her waist, and she wore a silver-gray Gucci belt with rhinestone studs, simple and elegant. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, making her look much more refreshed and neat.

As she exited the hotel, she unexpectedly saw Qiao Nan waiting for the valet to bring his car. It was obvious that he had seen her too, but there was no surprise on his face.

Su Xiaobai felt a little agitated. This man had clearly been playing with her, especially when he had that half-smile on his face while saying he would help her with the divorce. His playful attitude, his scheming, made Su Xiaobai feel like a clay doll in his hands, unable to resist.

She slowly walked over but still greeted him with a smile. "Uncle Qiao."

She still addressed him as a junior, no matter how dissatisfied she was, because Qiao Nan was indeed an elder in her and Fang Cheng's relationship, and she kept that in mind.

Qiao Nan's expression only slightly shifted at this, and he gave a brief nod before shifting his gaze away. This made Su Xiaobai pause. What did he mean by that?

Thinking he hadn't heard her, Su Xiaobai called out again. This time, Qiao Nan turned to look at her. After a flash of confusion in his eyes, he coldly spoke, "It's Su Bai, right?"

Su Bai raised her eyebrows, feeling that something was strange about Qiao Nan. His tone sounded as if he was speaking to her for the first time, and his attitude was much colder than before.

However, suppressing her doubts, Su Bai kept smiling on the outside. "Yes, Uncle Qiao. Are you going out?" She asked, noticing the briefcase in his hand.

It felt like Qiao Nan had turned into a different person. Even his demeanor had become cold. If the previous Qiao Nan had been calm but with a sharp edge, like a great demon playing with people's hearts—subtle yet flamboyant, venomous yet distant—this Qiao Nan felt like an untouchable deity, forever out of reach. He was now low-key, indifferent, and detached.

He merely nodded in acknowledgment and didn't seem inclined to continue the conversation. Su Xiaobai didn't want to make herself uncomfortable, so after a brief exchange, she turned and walked away to catch a taxi.

Coincidentally, as soon as she returned to the branch factory, she was surrounded by various leaders, all expressing their concern for her, worried about how she had spent the night. Su Xiaobai wasn't sure how she had gotten to the ancient forest, feeling like parts of the journey were a blur. She quickly made up a story, saying that they had left her halfway and she had to walk all night before someone finally gave her a ride.

She told the story naturally enough, and no one questioned it further. They also informed her that the cooperation with Jincheng Company had been suspended. It turned out that this morning, Jincheng had been exposed for a serious business scandal, and the CEO had been reported for improper conduct. He had already been taken in for questioning by the police.

After staying in Huaijiang for another day, she received a call from the headquarters, instructing her to visit the newly built branch factory site in Gudu City since the cooperation with Jincheng had fallen through.

The next morning, Su Xiaobai packed a small suitcase and boarded a plane to Gudu City.