Volume One, Chapter 14: A Thousand Dollars in Divorce Alimony

Ji Yunxi looked at him in surprise. The astonishment in her eyes made Fu Mingyue’s heart tighten. He then recalled the first time he helped her silence those children; she had looked at him just like this—surprised and guarded.

Guarded...

This was the first time in over a decade since Ji Yunxi had been trailing behind him, softly calling "Brother Mingyue," that such an emotion had reappeared in her eyes.

Fu Mingyue’s heart grew restless again, yet no reproachful words came out.

Before his eyes appeared the image of Ji Yunxi in the hospital room when he had struck her—the fury and resentment etched across her face.

The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart became. His mood sank low. When the elevator arrived at the second floor and the doors opened, he stepped out immediately.

Li Susu, arm in arm with Fu Mingyue’s mother, also exited, leaving Ji Yunxi alone, seated in her wheelchair inside the elevator.

Her only intact hand still gripped her crutch. She was unable to push herself out, yet no one glanced back at her.

The elevator doors closed...

Ji Yunxi used her crutch to block the door. When the elevator reopened, she was already standing with the support of her crutch.

Ahead, the three had entered Fu senior’s study, and Fu senior’s voice drifted out: “Where is Yunxi?”

Fu Mingyue was momentarily stunned, then remembered he had left Ji Yunxi behind due to her mobility issues. He turned to look and saw Li Susu escorting his mother inside, but no sign of Ji Yunxi.

“I...” Fu Mingyue was about to say he would go get her.

Ji Yunxi had already arrived at the doorway on her crutch. “President Fu.”

Fu senior raised an eyebrow at the address, then glanced at her leg. “Sit down.”

Ji Yunxi nodded and, without making things difficult for herself, took a seat near the door.

Fu Mingyue’s mother seemed quite pleased with the form of address. “Yunxi, don’t harbor grudges. Even if you had a fraction of Susu’s virtues, I wouldn’t let Mingyue divorce you.”

“Everyone, take a seat,” Fu senior commanded again.

“Uncle Fu,” Li Susu called out obediently.

Fu senior glanced at her and nodded silently.

Fu Mingyue sat first on the sofa beside Ji Yunxi. “Dad called us back. What is it you want to say?”

“You’ve all seen the trending topics online, right? They are very damaging to our Fu Corporation,” Fu senior said bluntly. “Yunxi, you need to step forward on this matter.”

Ji Yunxi looked at Fu senior with clear, emotionless eyes. She knew this was not good news.

Though Fu senior had treated her well during her years as Fu Mingyue’s wife, he was the one who hid the deepest intentions.

As expected, Fu senior continued, “I’ve already had your Uncle Zhao rush to post a trending topic claiming you have a histrionic personality disorder. You will use your social media accounts to admit this, apologize to netizens, and explain that today’s events were all scripted, directed, and acted by yourself just to attract attention and gain traffic. Since you are no longer Mingyue’s wife, you want to use this opportunity to become popular and facilitate future product endorsements.”

What a masterful way to shift the blame!

Ji Yunxi’s eyes flashed with derision.

Fu Mingyue frowned. “Dad, it’s not like that.”

“How do you know it isn’t?” Fu senior retorted coldly, then looked at Ji Yunxi. “I may not know all your thoughts, but I’m pretty sure you want to stir up trouble to claim a larger share of Mingyue’s assets in the divorce, right?”

“Dad!”

“Silence!” Fu senior shot a glare at Fu Mingyue.

Fu Mingyue fell silent, then looked at Ji Yunxi.

In truth, he had thought the same, especially after Fu senior’s blunt exposure; he found himself believing it.

“The divorce agreement Mingyue gave you before—I’ve reviewed it, and it’s unsuitable.” Fu senior opened a drawer and took out a new divorce agreement. “For the sake of your grandfather, the Fu family has given you four years of luxury. You should be grateful. Sign this agreement to leave the Fu family with nothing. I will not pursue the troubles you caused today. Otherwise, the losses to Fu Corporation would be something you could never repay in your lifetime.”

These words struck like thunder from a clear sky, shocking everyone present!

Fu Mingyue looked at Fu senior in disbelief, mouth agape...

“You don’t need to explain. Your visits to the men’s clinic, your mother hitting you, pushing you out of the car, your jump from the building—so many incidents and stunts, all scripted and directed by you. I’m sure it won’t be hard to find proof,” Fu senior added.

Fu Mingyue remained silent. He had seen the trending topic about the men’s clinic too!

Before, he hadn’t thought much of it, assuming Ji Yunxi had just passed by and was photographed, and netizens were making a fuss.

But now, considering the men’s clinic was far from the surgical ward where Ji Yunxi had been treated, it was clear she went there deliberately—not by chance.

Guilt in his heart swiftly transformed into furious indignation. “No wonder you caused such a scene! I offered you half of my shares in the agreement, and you still think it’s not enough?”

Fu Mingyue found it ridiculous. He even felt a pang of pity, only to realize he had been led by the nose all along! The once pitiful girl was no longer merely capricious and reckless; she had become a calculating and venomous woman.

He looked at Ji Yunxi, overwhelmed with disappointment.

Ji Yunxi happened to meet his gaze, her eyes still so serene. “You think so too?”

Fu Mingyue’s expression turned cold and distant. “The facts are what they are. But I advise you to face reality and stop causing trouble.”

“Yunxi, you...” Li Susu covered her mouth in shock. “Was it really all scripted by you?”

“Aren’t you the one who knows best?” Ji Yunxi retorted.

Li Susu was stunned. “I...”

“Was your trip to the rooftop also part of my little play?” Ji Yunxi laughed bitterly. Did she really have that much control over Li Susu?

Such a simple truth, such an obvious trap, yet Fu senior pinned it down with righteous certainty, and Fu Mingyue accepted it without hesitation.

“Susu is kind-hearted and was used by you. That’s not impossible,” Fu senior insisted. “Stop wasting time. Are you going to sign or not?”

Ji Yunxi calmly looked at him, then at Fu mother and Li Susu—one with an air of entitlement, the other still feigning shock—and finally at Fu Mingyue.

When their eyes met again, Fu Mingyue’s gaze subtly avoided hers. “It’s not exactly a clean break. Out of past considerations, I’ll give you a monthly alimony of one thousand yuan, which is enough for you to live back in the village.”

Ji Yunxi burst out laughing.

One thousand yuan.

He actually said it aloud!

“Should I thank you for your generous monthly alimony of one thousand yuan?” Ji Yunxi mocked. “The vice president of Fu Corporation, with billions in assets, gives his ex-wife a thousand yuan a month after divorce. How kind of you.”

Fu Mingyue’s expression instantly hardened at her sarcastic tone, pride turning to disdain. “So, you really are scheming for my property! Half my shares still don’t satisfy your greed. Ji Yunxi, you truly have shattered my expectations. You never even finished high school, you’re from the countryside, and you dress so tackily. I’ve tolerated you for four years—that’s already more than enough. Don’t overstep.”