Divorced from the Cold CEO Who Lived by the Rules (GL, ABO) - Chapter 6

The call ended abruptly, leaving Xu Zhen’s emotions in turmoil.

She both hoped Jiang Ruan would come and dreaded seeing him. The intense love she once felt had dwindled over the months, leaving only physical longing.

“Once she arrives, sit down and have a proper talk,” Bai Zhen said, careful not to pressure her daughter. “Decide today whether to divorce or maintain this facade of a marriage.”

As someone who’d been through it, Bai Zhen understood this dilemma all too well.

Too painful to separate, yet unbearable to stay together, sometimes a clean break was the only solution.

Xu Zhen didn’t argue. She’d been thinking the same thing.

A naive hope flickered perhaps divorce would improve her situation. The malicious targeting from Xing Yan, the inexplicable oppression to please the Xing family… maybe freedom from Jiang Ruan would bring rebirth.

Bai Zhen looked weary. After ensuring her mother finished dinner, Xu Zhen left.

As her daughter departed, Bai Zhen watched her retreating figure, all words dissolving into a long sigh.

Old Li and the workers had already positioned the statue under Xu Susu’s supervision. The foreman distributed cigarettes and water to the crew, earning grateful thanks.

“Zhenzhen, we placed it here,” Xu Susu turned, “Left the packaging untouched for you to unwrap.”

Xu Zhen nodded. “Thank you.”

“Why so formal?” Xu Susu smiled warmly, though worry soon creased her brow. “Zhenzhen, there’s something I need your help with.”

She hesitated before continuing: “Tingyuan’s started dating, I don’t oppose young love in principle…”

Xu Susu inhaled sharply, eyes closing as if bracing herself. “But this boy she’s chosen… he’s utterly disgraceful.”

“Middle school dropout, unemployed loafer with theft convictions, fresh out of jail.”

The words seemed to pain her physically. “I can’t fathom what she sees in him! That boyfriend of hers isn’t fit to touch a single strand of your hair!”

Xu Zhen’s eyebrow twitched. “Where is she now?”

“Home.” Xu Susu gestured toward Xu Tingyuan’s adjacent room. “Video calling that boy as we speak.”

“I’ll handle it.” Xu Zhen understood immediately.

“Thank you.” Grateful, Xu Susu saw her to the door but wisely stayed behind. Having witnessed Xu Zhen’s disciplinary methods since childhood, she knew better than to interfere.

Xu Zhen raised her hand to knock, but the sickly sweet voice inside changed her mind. She turned the knob and barged in.

“I told you not to disturb!” Mistaking the intruder for her mother, Xu Tingyuan whirled around ready to scream. The words died when she saw Xu Zhen, gaping like a throttled goose. “Sis? What are you?”

Two seconds of stunned silence before panic set in. She frantically stabbed at her phone screen to end the call.

“Who else were you expecting?” Xu Zhen leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, smiling without warmth.

“No… no one,” Xu Tingyuan frantically tapped at her screen as if trying to strike sparks from it, but her clumsy fingers only made things worse in this awkward moment. Soon, a voice came through the speaker, “Baby, who’s there?”

“Her voice sounds so familiar. Have I heard it somewhere before?”

Xu Tingyuan panicked even more. “No one, goodbye!”

She had never flaunted her identity as “Xun Zhen’s younger sister” around. In fact, she had kept this information extremely well hidden.

Deep down, she knew she was merely the product of her father’s affair, an illegitimate child who could never be openly acknowledged. She wasn’t pretty, nor was she as clever as her half-sister.

Years of Xu Susu’s constant reminders had instilled in Xu Tingyuan a mix of respect, awe, and deep-seated inferiority toward Xun Zhen.

Xun Zhen was like those dazzling diamonds displayed in boutique windows, while she was just an ordinary pebble by the roadside, not even worth a second glance.

“Sis, don’t you have work today? What brings you home without a word?” Xu Tingyuan stood up awkwardly, stealthily hiding her phone behind her back.

But Xun Zhen wasn’t about to let it go. “Who was that just now?”

“Just a friend.”

“Since when do friends openly call you ‘baby’?”

Xu Tingyuan brazenly replied, “Yeah.” She racked her brain for excuses. “It’s just playful banter, totally normal. Didn’t I used to call you that when we were kids?”

“So you’ve had improper thoughts about me since childhood,” Xun Zhen raised an eyebrow. “Are you into incest?”

Xu Tingyuan: “…”

She nearly lost her composure. “Of course not!”

“How could I possibly have romantic feelings for my own sister?” Xu Tingyuan surrendered. “Sis, please spare me. If Mom heard this, she’d beat me to death!”

Xun Zhen smiled. “Confession brings leniency, resistance brings severity. I’ll give you one last chance, who was that person?”

“It’s… my boyfriend,” Xu Tingyuan admitted helplessly.

“Pathetic. Dump him,” Xun Zhen said bluntly. “Wouldn’t you feel ashamed bringing him home to meet the family? And then having a few kids just as ugly, poor, and hopeless as him? Your life would be over before it even began.”

Xu Tingyuan defended her love. “He’s different! He’s really kind, passionate, bold, loyal…”

“But poor.”

Xu Tingyuan choked. “That’s just temporary! He said he’d find a job. It’s those small-time bosses who look down on people and don’t recognize talent…”

“And arrogant. And slick-tongued.”

“Sis, he’s really a good Alpha, believe me,” Xu Tingyuan pleaded.

Xun Zhen nodded. “I believe you.”

Xu Tingyuan sighed in relief, but before she could fully relax, she saw Xun Zhen slowly unbuckle the belt from her waist, smiling brightly. “I believe you need a spanking.”

Xu Tingyuan: “!”

Horrified, she immediately bolted. Xun Zhen gave chase, their slippers slapping loudly against the floor. “Sis, let’s talk this out! No violence!”

“Let me explain further!”

Xu Tingyuan sprinted with all her might, but Xun Zhen kept pace effortlessly. They raced from the bedroom to the hallway, down to the living room, and finally into the garden.

Xun Zhen, who exercised regularly, wasn’t winded at all, while Xu Tingyuan was already panting heavily.

Her lungs felt like they were about to burst. When she reached a parked car, without a second thought, she immediately cried out to the person inside, “Help! Someone’s hitting a child! Sis…? Sister-in-law?!”

“Sister-in-law?” Xu Zhen sneered. “Your sister-in-law is miles away. Do you think she can save you?”

“If she shows up, I’ll teach her a lesson along with you.”

As she spoke, the car door Xu Tingyuan was clinging to opened. First came a slender leg, followed by a beautifully curved waist and hips. Finally, lifting her gaze upward, she saw Jiang Ruan’s stunning face turning toward them.

Xu Zhen involuntarily halted, her expression instantly freezing, it really was Xu Tingyuan’s scumbag sister-in-law.

Jiang Ruan steadied herself on the ground, her gaze sweeping over Xu Tingyuan before finally settling on the belt gripped in Xu Zhen’s right hand. “Teach me a lesson? With this?”