Chapter Fourteen: Failing to Recognize True Worth

Lan Ruoxue’s expression changed. She said in a low voice, “Ye Wushang, I just want to talk to you. What’s with this attitude?”

“What attitude?” Ye Wushang replied coldly. “Just because you want to talk, I’m obligated to listen?”

“You—” Lan Ruoxue almost spoke, then stopped herself.

It had only been two days since the divorce, yet he had changed so much. She had felt somewhat guilty for misunderstanding him twice before. She merely wanted to talk, not to become friends, but at least not to part as enemies. But now, why was he so completely unreceptive?

“Wushang, I hope you can calm down.” Forcing herself to rein in her temper, Lan Ruoxue spoke earnestly, “I know that divorcing me has left you resentful. You feel wronged.”

“But you must understand, once my group is listed, my future will only get brighter. This marriage, which doesn’t match me at all, would only become a stumbling block on my way up. Do you understand?”

“You’re a man. A man should know how to pick up and let go—rather than wasting words with me here!”

Ye Wushang couldn’t help but laugh.

He hadn’t expected her self-regard to be so high.

He had been brooding over the divorce. But now, he felt utterly relieved.

“You’re right. I have indeed let go,” he said. “So, there’s nothing more for us to discuss.”

With that, he shot An Lan a look, signaling her to leave.

“Don’t go!” Lan Ruoxue panicked.

She instinctively grabbed Ye Wushang’s arm, deliberately positioning herself between him and An Lan. For reasons she couldn’t explain, even after the divorce, seeing him with another woman left her deeply unsettled. Was it anger or jealousy? She couldn’t say.

“Ye Wushang, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to,” she snapped. “You want to show off your masculinity in front of another woman?”

“I’m telling you, this is the behavior of a weakling! Only the weak use such means to maintain their pitiful self-esteem!”

Lan Ruoxue lost her composure, actually shouting at Ye Wushang.

Seeing this, Sun Chuanzi hurried forward, murmured a few words to soothe her, then glanced at Ye Wushang with a mocking sneer. “Listen well, you loser. Ruoxue is the president of a listed group, and you’re nothing but a useless wretch. She’s giving you face by trying to talk to you. Don’t overestimate yourself!”

“If you annoy me, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

Then he turned to An Lan, reminding her, “Miss, if you’ll forgive my bluntness, you’re quite pretty, but your taste is really questionable. This Ye Wushang—apart from cooking and laundry, he’s got nothing. If you’re interested in him, that’s just—”

“I like it. What’s it to you?” An Lan cut him off.

She tightened her grip on Ye Wushang’s arm, her face radiant with affection. “In my eyes, Wushang is the best man in the world. Some people can’t recognize gold even if it’s inlaid with jade, but can’t I treasure my precious one?”

Xu Wei pursed her lips, muttering, “Forget it, Young Master Sun. You tried to warn her, but she won’t listen. Let her learn the hard way. A pretty face without brains is just a vase!”

“Ah.” Sun Chuanzi sighed and shook his head. “A good intention mistaken for malice.”

“You two are acting, aren’t you?” Lan Ruoxue said darkly, watching the two of them arm in arm. “You’ve been together for a while, haven’t you?”

“Ye Wushang, I never thought you’d cheat during our marriage! When I asked for a divorce, you acted so wounded, but this is exactly what you wanted, isn’t it? You must be thrilled!”

Ye Wushang gave a bitter laugh. He’d never imagined she would see him this way.

“Think what you want. My conscience is clear. But you—flirting with Sun Chuanzi every day—now that you’re divorced, you can openly attend charity banquets with him, can’t you?”

His words were full of irony.

Lan Ruoxue was about to defend herself, but Sun Chuanzi raised his head and said proudly, “So what if we are? Look at yourself. Are you even worth comparing to me? Ruoxue divorcing you was her turning back to the right path. From now on, I’ll take care of her. It’s none of your business!”

He instinctively tried to put his arm around Lan Ruoxue’s shoulder, but she dodged him, composed herself, and said calmly, “Ye Wushang, don’t think these little tricks will make me change my mind. I’ve said it before: if you can’t improve yourself, there will never be anything between us.”

“Improve himself?” An Lan scoffed. “He’s already at his peak. How much more do you want him to improve?”

“Frankly, your decision to divorce Wushang was wise. Because you’re not worthy of him.”

Lan Ruoxue frowned.

She hadn’t expected Ye Wushang to deliberately find another woman to provoke her. He’d said they should part amicably, yet now he was set on confrontation. For someone as strong-willed as her, this was intolerable.

“It only took me three years to bring my company to the stock market. And him? Aside from being a better cook and faster at laundry, what else can he do? Yet you say I’m not worthy?”

An Lan chuckled softly, nestled against Ye Wushang’s shoulder, and said solemnly, “You’ve been married to Wushang for three years and still don’t know that your husband excels in both medicine and martial arts.”

“If you don’t even know his abilities, how can you claim you’re worthy of him?”

“The more you talk, the more you embarrass yourself.”

Then she glanced at Sun Chuanzi with derision. “And you dare say Wushang is incompetent in front of me? You’re clueless and have terrible taste. To compare that kind of person to Wushang—there’s simply no contest.”

Lan Ruoxue was stunned.

She hadn’t expected this woman to be so sharp-tongued. Medicine and martial arts? What a joke!

“Watch your mouth,” Sun Chuanzi growled, infuriated by the unexpected insult. “Listen carefully—I am Sun Chuanzi, the future head of the Sun family, a second-tier family with power and influence! And he’s just a useless nobody—he—”

An Lan sneered, “A mere second-tier family, and you dare boast? If the Sun family really falls into your hands, it won’t even be third-tier in a few days!”

She then turned to Ye Wushang, her face full of hope. “And soon, Wushang will be someone you can only look up to.”

“His achievements are beyond the imagination of people like you!”

She held up a suit jacket, sizing it against Ye Wushang, and said gently, “Wushang, let me dress you myself.”

“Alright,” Ye Wushang replied, not refusing, and allowed An Lan to help him into the suit jacket before everyone’s eyes.

Hand in hand, the two of them walked lovingly into the hall.

“Bah! Homewrecker!” Xu Wei spat.

Sun Chuanzi was beside himself with rage. “That loser is disgusting! Not only did he cheat during the marriage, but now he brings his mistress to flaunt in front of his ex-wife! I’ll make sure to deal with him later…”

“Let it go, Chuanzi.” Lan Ruoxue waved her hand, sighing, “Let’s just say I owed him, and now we’re even. From now on, I have nothing more to do with him.”

She was exhausted, unwilling to have anything more to do with Ye Wushang. She found him repulsive.

As for her grandfather’s demands, she would put them aside for now. There were still two days left; the most urgent matter was securing the An family agency rights!

“President Lan!”

Just then, a panicked voice called out.

A balding man hurried over—it was the deputy manager Lan Ruoxue had paid earlier to help secure a spot in the auction.

“Deputy Guo!” she called, hurrying over. “How did it go? The auction spot—”

“No luck!” Deputy Guo shook his head. “There were only thirty slots, and they’ve all just been sold.”

“Other people want the An family agency rights too. I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do.”

He stuffed the bank card back into Lan Ruoxue’s hand and quickly left.

“What now?” Xu Wei said, crestfallen. “If we can’t even get into the auction, how can we win the agency rights? It’s all that loser’s fault—every time we run into him, nothing goes right!”

“What’s the panic?” Sun Chuanzi remained calm, turning to Lan Ruoxue to reassure her. “Ruoxue, don’t worry. I’ll call the secretary-general right now. I guarantee you’ll get what you want.”

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