Vice President Wen, who had never once missed work without reason, astonishingly took a leave of absence. She drove straight back to Xingjia Royal Mansion, kicked off her shoes at the door, tossed her phone and handbag aside, and stormed into the bedroom. Still in bed, Li Jinhe tilted her head to gaze at her precious daughter, only to be suddenly embraced by her.
"Mom, Han Qian and I are getting a divorce."
At eleven o'clock, the Wen household.
Wen Nuan sat reluctantly on a low stool, subjected to the interrogation of her parents. Though Old Wen usually doted on his daughter, today he offered her no shelter, allowing the reprimand to proceed unimpeded.
"Little Wen Nuan, you really don't know what's good for you. You've always bullied Han Qian—fine, I used to bully your father too—but how could you even think of divorce? For three years, your career has been smooth sailing. Who do you think was supporting you from behind the scenes?"
At this, Old Wen hurriedly exchanged glances with Li Jinhe, but she ignored him. A former soldier with a commanding presence, Li Jinhe slammed her palm on the coffee table, startling both father and daughter, and shouted furiously:
"You actually believe your computer is intelligent? You think you can handle all your work in your sleep? Every single one of your tasks—Han Qian stayed up late at night calling your father to figure out how to help you! He's been wasting his talents tending to your every need—cooking your breakfast, drawing your bath, washing even your underwear. Weren't you the one who beamed and told me how wonderful it was to have a man in the house? And now you come here saying you divorced him? Han Qian must have suffered lifetimes of bad karma to end up with someone like you!"
Wen Nuan, flushed with shame and anger, straightened her back and snapped:
"Am I your daughter or is Han Qian your son? Let me tell you—it was Han Qian who asked for the divorce! Your daughter was the one who got dumped!"
Han Qian initiated the divorce? Old Wen was livid, fumbling for his phone to call the boy and demand an explanation—how could his beloved daughter not be good enough? But before he could dial, Li Jinhe roared again:
"And you still have the nerve to call Han Qian? Aren't you afraid he'll say Wen Nuan has another man in her heart? Isn't she just waiting for that brat from the Lin family to return? Do you think I'm blind—or that Han Qian is? Listen here, Wen Nuan: if you so much as think of being with that Lin brat, I'll strip you of every last share and asset in your name. And we'll see how long he sticks around once you're penniless!"
"The shares are in Dad's name," Wen Nuan retorted.
"You think your dad dares hand them over? Old Wen, do you want to practice some military combat drills?"
Old Wen cast a wary glance at his wife and this time sided with her. Frowning, he turned to Wen Nuan and gently asked:
"Did you tell Han Qian that Lin Zongheng is coming back? Is that why he divorced you? Wen Nuan, I know men—Han Qian is a man of duty. Lin Zongheng has been abroad, and people overseas are more liberal. You think a man in a foreign land stays faithful? Your mother and I are of one mind: we will never approve of you and Lin Zongheng."
Wen Nuan lifted her gaze, her eyes brimming with fury, and snarled through clenched teeth:
"Right now it's Han Qian who doesn't want your daughter—not the other way around! Yes, Lin Zongheng called last night to say he's coming back and wants to marry me. Han Qian answered the phone. This morning, he asked for a divorce. So tell me, how is this my fault? If Han Qian's so great, go and take him for yourselves!"
Faced with Wen Nuan's defiance, Li Jinhe looked utterly unimpressed. With a mocking gaze, she sneered:
"You think I can't see through your little tricks? Lin Zongheng's return is real, isn't it? Fine. The house you live in is under my name. Tomorrow, I'm selling it at half price. Since you're divorced, come home. If you're not back by nine every night, I'll break your legs. You want to date? Date whoever you want—but not Lin Zongheng. Mark my words. You're not going anywhere today either. I'm going to see Han Qian myself, and you'd better pray he doesn't tell me the truth."
With that, Li Jinhe stood, throwing a threatening glance at Old Wen. If he dared let Wen Nuan out of the house, he could forget about peace.
A soldier through and through, Li Jinhe never minced words nor bothered with gentle persuasion—that role belonged to Old Wen. If she didn't assert authority, no one in the family could rein Wen Nuan in.
She returned to her room, retrieved the property deed, and shot Wen Nuan a warning glare.
"If you don't want your second uncle to come haul you in, stay put. I'm selling the house today and going to find Han Qian."
"Do whatever you want. I must've been picked up off the street. Go find your darling son-in-law. Old Wen, I feel so wronged."
"Sweetheart, even I am powerless. Your mom's combat skills are unmatched—I'm just a humble foot soldier."
Father and daughter exchanged a long, helpless sigh before Wen Nuan turned and walked back to her room.
Meanwhile, Han Qian, with nowhere to go, wandered the streets aimlessly. Suddenly, the antique phone in his pocket rang. Seeing the caller ID flash "Mother-in-law," cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead. His mother-in-law was a force to be reckoned with.
He picked up the phone with trembling hands and a shaky voice.
"H-Hello?"
"Hello? You think I'm giving you a friendly smile, brat? Say 'hello' one more time and I'll call the army to blow your sorry little *ss to pieces."
"M-Mom! Mom! I was wrong!"
"Hmm, that's better. Haven't had lunch yet, have you? Meet me at the People's Kitchen. I want a word about your divorce from Wen Nuan. If you dare not show up…"
"If I don't show, you'll send a unit to arrest me! Ten minutes—I'll be there if it kills me!"
"Eight."
That was her style. It wasn't just Wen Nuan and Old Wen who feared her—even Han Qian trembled at her name. Lin Zongheng, thousands of miles away, wasn't exempt either—after all, Li Jinhe had once brought in the army to beat up her husband.
The noonday sun blazed. Unable to find a cab, Han Qian sprinted all the way. As he entered the private dining room, breathless and soaked in sweat, Li Jinhe had just picked up her phone to make a call.
"Mom… You wanted to see me in such a hurry…"
He didn't even dare sit. Li Jinhe gave him a cold once-over and nodded.
"Not bad. Even after the divorce, you still show some respect. Now tell me why you divorced Wen Nuan. Think carefully before you answer—because I really might kill you."
Han Qian fidgeted, scratched his head and chin nervously, and finally bowed his head in defeat and whispered:
"Mom… I can't… I'm not a real man…"