Divorcee O Finds Me Irresistible - Chapter 2

While waiting at a red light, Xu Qing glanced at a notification that popped up on her watch. The inexplicably long text message piqued her curiosity, but she didn’t have time to read it properly before the car behind her honked impatiently, urging her to move. Muttering an apology, Xu Qing twisted the throttle sharply, accelerating her motorcycle with a burst of speed.

In her hurried glance, Xu Qing had only caught snippets like “sorry” and “we’ll never meet again.” The sender’s profile picture looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place it. Maybe it’s a mass message? she thought.

Some mass messages deliberately use sensationalist language to grab attention. For example, they might start with: “I’m sorry! This is the last time I’ll contact you!”

Then continue with: “To be precise, this is the last time I’ll contact you in 2023.”

And conclude with: “Happy New Year! Let’s be inseparable in the new year! Please visit my shop often!”

Stringing these together creates a lengthy, attention-grabbing message.

With this analysis, Xu Qing’s mind cleared. She dismissed the text message and shifted her thoughts to the troubles awaiting her at home.

In a flash, she arrived at the foot of her parents’ apartment building.

Xu Qing usually lived alone in her suburban house during the workweek, only returning to her parents’ home on weekends or for special occasions. Today’s situation fell into the latter category—the latter of the latter.

At three in the afternoon, her mother, Madam Min Se, called with a solemn instruction: “Come straight home after work.”

“What’s this about?” Xu Qing suspected it had to do with her fiancé, perhaps a declaration that her single life was about to end.

“I’ll tell you when you get here,” Madam Min replied, her usual assertive tone brooking no argument.

“Can’t you just tell me over the phone?” Xu Qing tried one last desperate attempt to resist, but the line went dead as she spoke.

Madam Min always hung up abruptly after delivering her instructions, as if afraid of wasting phone charges.

Xu Qing felt increasingly like a puppet on a string, her parents relishing their control and taking her compliance for granted.

In truth, Xu Qing had originally planned to stay abroad after graduation, having secured a job offer from a multinational architectural design firm. But at the critical moment, Madam Min called urgently, demanding her immediate return to China.

Madam Min’s reason at the time was that she had a serious illness and little time left, insisting on seeing Xu Qing one last time.

Xu Qing was thus tricked into returning home, where she was immediately branded with various accusations of filial impiety. Relatives from all sides took turns lecturing her:

“You’re always thinking about the good things abroad, have you forgotten your own surname? Where your roots lie?”

“Your parents raised you all these years, and you’re so eager to abandon them?”

“How can you ever feel truly accepted abroad? Does being discriminated against feel good?”

“With your family’s connections, we can easily secure you a government position. Isn’t that better than working overseas?”

“And your fiancé—he’s been waiting for you all this time!”

Xu Qing never took any of this nonsense seriously. Fortunately, she had a naturally detached temperament and wasn’t particularly attached to staying abroad. She repeatedly yielded to her elders’ wishes and resigned herself to entering married life.

She heard that her fiancé was spoiled and willful, a difficult-to-please young miss.

Xu Qing found herself somewhat curious to see how the spoiled young miss would fare against the assertive and capable Madam Min. Who would come out on top?

Xu Qing hesitated before pressing the doorbell, suddenly wondering if the Young Miss might already be at her house.

She pulled out her phone to check her appearance: messy hair, bare face.

Perfect. Xu Qing decisively pressed the doorbell.

The housekeeper opened the door, and Xu Qing was stunned by the prominent yellow and white floral wreath in the living room. “Is someone dead?!”

Madam Min emerged in a black suit, glaring at her.

Xu Qing grinned. “Madam Min, you’re terrifying.”

“Why are you still smiling?” Min Se snapped coldly. “Go change, wash your face, and put on some makeup. You’re coming with me to the Fu Family in a bit.”

Xu Qing’s smile froze. “The Fu Family’s younger sister… her mother…?”

Min Se nodded. “She was buried yesterday.”

Xu Qing stood in shock. Min Se urged, “Hurry up! What are you waiting for?”

These few words conveyed a wealth of information, and Xu Qing needed a moment to process it all.

The burial had been yesterday, yet Madam Min was only now informing her about visiting the Fu Family. Knowing Madam Min’s character, she likely hadn’t learned of Mrs. Fu’s death until today.

In other words, the Fu Family didn’t hold a grand funeral and didn’t invite their prospective in-laws. They only notified the Xu Family after the burial. Doesn’t this suggest… that the Fu Family doesn’t value the Xu Family very much?

If that’s the case, is there still any hope of continuing with this marriage arrangement?

Xu Qing finished tidying up, picked up the wreath, and followed Madam Min, tentatively asking, “Why did the Fu Family wait until after the burial to inform us?”

After a long silence, Min Se replied, “The situation at the Fu Family is complicated. Chairman Fu’s relationship with his first wife had long deteriorated. Besides the one engaged to you, the Fu Family also has two illegitimate children. You’ll understand when you go there.”

Xu Qing: “…So Boss Fu deliberately kept the funeral quiet?”

Min Se sneered. “I heard he’s busy marrying his mistress.”

“It seems the Young Miss isn’t having an easy time either,” Xu Qing sighed.

Min Se narrowed her eyes, brimming with confidence. “Make a good impression later and bring the Young Miss back to stay with us.”

Xu Qing: “…I’ll do my best.”

Despite her own doubts about the plan’s feasibility—would an Omega woman who had just lost a loved one casually agree to stay with strangers?

Before the Fu Family’s villa, a fountain danced to music and light, its shimmering spray reflecting off the polished paint of several luxury cars parked in the courtyard, making them gleam even brighter. Laughter and chatter occasionally drifted from the opulent hall, creating an atmosphere that, at first glance, suggested the hosts were throwing a party.

Perhaps they were indeed celebrating—the departure of the original wife and the rise of her replacement.

Xu Qing stepped out of the car, carrying a wreath. Like a lost little ghost who had wandered into the underworld’s bustling capital, she glanced around, completely out of place in this lavish villa.

“Stop looking around,” Min Se reminded her. “Mind your posture.”

Xu Qing smiled faintly, her gaze settling on a young girl standing in the doorway, staring at her with a dazed expression.

Could it be her?

Impossible. How could a pampered young miss living in such a luxurious villa look so timid?

Perhaps the rumors were false. Maybe the young miss was just a Cinderella, bullied by her stepmother and sisters?

A slight frown creased Xu Qing’s brow, but she quickly composed herself, offering the girl a warm, spring-like smile.

The girl froze, staring blankly for a moment before snapping out of her daze. Her face flushed crimson as she fled in a panic.

“Was that her?” Xu Qing whispered to Madam Min.

“It’s too dark to see clearly,” Min Se coughed lightly. “I haven’t seen the child in a while. I can’t quite remember what she looks like.”

“Huh?” Xu Qing exclaimed.

Even the usually reliable Madam Min had moments of uncertainty?

Min Se remained composed. “Don’t worry. We’ll find out soon enough.”

The Fu Family was completely unprepared for their arrival.

“P-parents-in-law?” Real estate tycoon Fu Hengxi, who was lounging on the sofa, struggled to sit up. “What brings you here?”

Everyone in the room rose to their feet, except for two teenagers who were squabbling over a piece of cake, completely ignoring the guests and making a racket.

Fu Hengxi shot the teenagers an irritated glance. The beautiful woman in an evening gown beside him immediately stepped forward, snatched the cake away, and sternly reprimanded the youths in a low voice.

Min Se’s expression was grave, her tone measured. “I apologize for arriving at such an inconvenient time and disturbing you. I only received the news this afternoon.”

“Oh, no problem. Everything’s been taken care of,” Fu Hengxi said with a smile, sizing up Xu Qing. “Dr. Xu is back in the country?”

All eyes turned to Xu Qing, filled with curiosity and scrutiny. She maintained a calm demeanor, her eyes shining like stars, and replied warmly, “I only returned recently.”

Her words were few, but her poise was impeccable, a sight to behold.

A soft chuckle drifted from within the room.

Xu Qing followed the sound and saw a mischievous, short-haired girl staring at her with a knowing smile.

Could it be her?

Xu Qing returned the smile.

The girl pulled a silly face.

Definitely not.

What Young Miss, trapped in such a miserable situation, would have the leisure for such antics?

Clutching the wreath, Xu Qing scanned the room, but among the diverse expressions, she couldn’t detect a single trace of genuine sorrow.

Frowning, she recalled the disheveled girl she’d seen outside earlier.

Poor Cinderella, reduced to not even being allowed in the living room?

As her thoughts drifted, Fu Hengxi exchanged a few more pleasantries with Min Se, his accent thick with the crude arrogance of a nouveau riche from the countryside. One moment he was laughing, the next he barked at the woman scolding the teenagers, “What are you still standing there for? Don’t you know to serve tea to the guests?!”

The crowd stood awkwardly, their smiles tinged with amusement at the woman’s expense. Yet she remained unfazed. Instead of feeling humiliated, she swayed her hips, waved her hand, and replied with a smile, “Alright, if you’re ordering me around like that, does that mean you’re finally acknowledging me as the mistress of this house?”

Impressive.

No wonder she’d risen to the top, laughing last. Not only could she endure humiliation, but her mind also worked with lightning speed.

Xu Qing marveled inwardly.

Xu Qing wanted to drop the wreath and leave, but she couldn’t quite shake her concern for the poor fiancée.

Glancing sideways, she noticed Min Se’s expression shifting between dark fury and forced composure. Xu Qing thought:

Madam Min is about to blow her top.

The previous mistress had just been buried, and this shameless woman was already acting so brazenly?

At first glance, one might think the former mistress hadn’t died of cancer, but had been driven to her grave by this vile creature.

Slap her! Curse her! Smash the wreath into her face! Xu Qing watched Madam Min out of the corner of her eye, her heart racing with anticipation. She subtly nudged her own wreath closer to Madam Min, making it easier for her to grab and hurl it at the woman’s face.

She knew Madam Min’s moods all too well. With her face turning that shade of green, a full-blown world war was inevitable.

But the very next moment, Madam Min gave her a live demonstration of what it meant to “change faces” and swallow her anger. Smiling warmly at Fu Hengxi, she said, “There’s no need to serve tea, we’ll be leaving right away.”

Xu Qing: “……” Sigh, how boring!

Fu Hengxi: “You’ve come all this way, stay a while!”

Min Se declined politely, maintaining a facade of cordiality. Though she seethed inwardly, she knew this was someone else’s affair, and it wasn’t her place to intervene.

Noticing Xu Qing still standing rooted to the spot, Min Se tugged at her sleeve, urging her to leave.

Xu Qing placed the wreath down and rose, casting another sweeping glance at the crowd. Fu Hengxi beamed, his mistress gazed down at her manicured nails, and his two illegitimate sons happily devoured cake. Some guests watched the spectacle, while others offered her ingratiating smiles. Here, no one mourned the deceased; they were only concerned with the immediate benefits they could gain.

Xu Qing had no intention of making a scene. She had never met the rumored fiancée; their engagement was purely a business arrangement, devoid of any genuine affection. Moreover, the Xu Family’s guiding principle was: Better to do nothing than to make a mistake.

What utter nonsense! Even Madam Min, who claimed to have a deep connection with the deceased, ultimately didn’t dare utter a word!

In the end, the Xu and Fu Families were no different—both were composed of refined egoists.

Meeting their gazes, Xu Qing spoke, her clear, melodious voice echoing through the living room: “Where is Fu Shuang?”

Her words hung in the air as the crowd exchanged uneasy glances, each harboring their own hidden motives, their expressions shifting unpredictably.