Chapter 10 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 10

Ji Xiu stepped off the stage as soon as he finished speaking.

Shareholders, previously kept in the dark, surged forward in a rage to confront him. He responded to them one by one with unhurried composure, not showing a shred of guilt.

Announcing a divorce at a banquet was, admittedly, highly irresponsible.

However, since Song Ruyue was already preparing to "kill the donkey once the grinding is done," why should he remain responsible? Whether the company's stock price plummeted or the shareholders gathered to protest was now Song Ruyue's problem.

Furthermore, these shareholders were all members of the Song clan—Song’s father’s cousins and nephews. When the company was founded, the elder Song had granted them small stakes. Their abilities were limited and they were of no help; for twenty years, Ji Xiu had managed the company while they did nothing but scheme for power and drag their feet.

Now that he was handing the company over, wasn't this exactly what they wanted?

Sure enough, after a period of initial fury, and under Ji Xiu’s subtle reminders, the shareholders quickly calmed down. They exchanged looks and swarmed toward Song Ruyue, their eyes burning with ambition and greed.

Ji Xiu, abandoned by the crowd, wasn't bothered. He brushed off non-existent dust from his suit, took a sweeping glance at the room, and turned to leave the ballroom.

Ji Mingzhu, clutching her skirt, chased after him anxiously. "Dad, are you okay?"

Ji Xiu turned to see her, noting the look of concern on Ye Yiyang’s face behind her. He chuckled softly. "What could be wrong? I made this decision long ago. You go and enjoy the banquet. Spend time with your classmates and don't worry about me."

Mingzhu hesitated. "Then I'll go look after my friends. Dad, go back to your room and rest well."

Ji Xiu nodded. He wanted to reach out and ruffle her hair, but seeing the delicate fascinator on her head, he didn't want to mess it up. With a look of slight regret, he turned away.

The banquet was held for Mingzhu, so he had informed her of the separation in advance. Mingzhu didn't have a good relationship with Song Ruyue, and after some thought, she had fully supported his decision. Thus, he wasn't worried about the girl being shocked.

Tonight, the person with something to worry about was Song Ruyue.

…

Back in the third-floor study, Ji Xiu poured a glass of red wine and continued working on his computer.

Since he had decided to leave, he needed the means to establish himself. After careful consideration, he chose to run an investment firm specializing in Angel Fund investments.

In just half a month, his firm had begun to take shape. He had even shortlisted several R&D projects for consideration—all of them possessing massive potential. Angel investing offered high rewards but high risks; he had to choose carefully. With his company just starting, he had no time to waste.

He worked for two hours straight.

Two hours later, the banquet ended. The noise downstairs faded, and Song Ruyue entered the study, her face pale with terror.

"Ji Xiu, what kind of madness possessed you today?"

Ji Xiu closed his laptop and looked at her with a light smile, his expression nonchalant. "Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

Song Ruyue felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment, but she was even more incensed by what had just happened. Everyone had surged forward, demanding to place their children in management positions to prevent the company from being "stolen by outsiders." In her confusion, she had agreed to one person, which made the others even more eager. Amid the flattery and pressure, she had accidentally promised roles to over a dozen people.

Now that she had calmed down and realized what would happen if they truly entered the company, her heart skipped a beat.

Back when her father was alive, the extended family had been involved in the business, and they nearly drove it to bankruptcy. It was only after she married Ji Xiu that he spent two full years finding their mistakes and threatening them with police reports to drive them out. If they returned, what if the company went bankrupt?

She blamed all of this on Ji Xiu for not notifying her and talking nonsense at the banquet. Thinking of this, her anger suppressed her guilt.

"Even so, you couldn't have notified me? You said those things to outsiders without my permission!"

Ji Xiu glanced at her, feeling somewhat speechless. "Miss Song, have you misunderstood something? We are getting divorced. Why should an 'outsider' like me worry about your family's company?"

Song Ruyue froze.

Ji Xiu continued, "I made it very clear at the banquet that I will hand management over to the professional manager you hired. What else are you dissatisfied with?"

"No, it's not that!" Song Ruyue’s face turned white as she asked in a daze, "Ji Xiu... do you really want a divorce?"

Ji Xiu nodded. Seeing her look of disbelief, he stared at her blankly. "Why are you acting like this? I recall it was you who proactively threatened divorce."

Song Ruyue became agitated. "I was just threatening you! How could you take it seriously..."

During this time, she had made scenes, cried, harbored resentment, complained, and used it as a threat—but she had never truly imagined a day where they would actually divorce.

Didn't Ji Xiu love her most?

When they were young, Ji Xiu fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her devotedly for four years. That was why she revealed her background after graduation and chose to marry him. Since their wedding, Ji Xiu never refused her requests. She lived a leisurely life as a carefree rich wife while he fought and worked in the company day and night for the business under her name. Every Valentine's Day, he personally picked out a gift...

The memories she had forgotten during their recent fights came flooding back now that they were about to part. Song Ruyue felt a wave of panic, like a child who had been held in a parent's palm only to be suddenly abandoned. She was filled with disbelief and regret.

She couldn't help but soften her voice, pleading: "Husband, I don't want a divorce."

Ji Xiu was stunned. He scrutinized her expression. Seeing she was serious, he was quite surprised. What is she doing? In the original owner's memory, he truly loved and valued the wife he had worked so hard to marry. However, Ji Xiu couldn't find a single shred of evidence in those memories that Song Ruyue actually liked the original owner back.

Song Ruyue cared about her children, her friends, her "perfect" image, her afternoon tea, and the prosperity of the Song company—the only thing she didn't care about was the man himself.

The original owner’s burning youthful love had gradually faded through years of neglect, turning into mere responsibility. When Ji Xiu arrived and received those memories, he felt the same way. After observing her, he found that Song Ruyue had never once truly cared for him.

Emotions are mutual. Since Song Ruyue ignored him, he naturally felt nothing for her. Staying in the same house with her felt like a chore. Because her age grew but her brain didn't, she was always creating situations that left him speechless. Aside from work, he couldn't enjoy a moment of peace at home because he was busy cleaning up her messes.

He didn't want to spend his remaining time in this world being her janitor. That was why he chose to leave. He just didn't expect her to refuse the divorce.

Ji Xiu’s brow knitted with complex emotions—not out of pity, but out of confusion.

"I thought you’d be eager for it, as you seemed to dislike me quite a bit. If your heart were divided into pieces, I would likely be the smallest one—not even comparing to your afternoon tea."

Song Ruyue’s expression froze, Ji Xiu’s words hitting home. In the past, she truly hadn't cared for him. She appeared gentle, but deep down, she looked down on him. She felt that as long as she held the company, he wouldn't dare argue, so she didn't bother nurturing the relationship; she just enjoyed his flattery.

She truly never thought this man would one day leave her behind.

Song Ruyue lowered her voice in submission: "I regret it now, okay? I don't want to keep Ji Wu anymore, and I don't want a divorce... Husband, I can't do it without you."

This man had pampered and protected her, accompanying her through twenty years of her life. He had become an indispensable part of her world. Without him, facing the other Song shareholders, she would be a lamb in a den of wolves. From her daily life to the company, she was dependent on him.

But it was too late. Ji Xiu had no feelings for her and was unmoved by her tears. He shook his head. "The announcement has been made. My mind is set. Let me know when you're ready to divide the assets and collect the divorce certificate."

Song Ruyue shook her head. "No, I'm not going!"

A trace of ruthlessness appeared in Ji Xiu’s eyes. "What's the use of refusing now? Once we’ve lived apart for two years, I can take the divorce to court."

"I'm not divorcing regardless!" Song Ruyue grit her teeth, unable to accept the reality, and turned to flee the study.

Ji Xiu was speechless. Watching her run, he thought about chasing her but felt it was pointless. He decided to let her cool off. He didn't follow her; instead, he opened his laptop and went back to work.

…

After that day, the Ji house fell into a strange silence.

Ji Mingzhu, knowing the truth, wasn't panicked. She waited calmly to leave with her father.

Ji Ze, who hadn't known beforehand, was hit hard by the news and became sullen and silent.

Ji Wu was eager for the divorce but sensed Song Ruyue’s mood and had to suppress her joy until the dust settled.

As for Song Ruyue, she avoided Ji Xiu at all costs, fearing he would bring up the divorce again.

Ji Xiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He truly hadn't expected it to turn out this way. But his patience with Song Ruyue was exhausted. Seeing her avoidance, he didn't press her; he simply had the duplex apartment prepared and moved out with Ji Mingzhu.

The silence of the Ji house was finally broken.

Song Ruyue came home to find two people missing. Her son, Ji Ze, was listless. She had been worrying about how to keep the Song relatives out of the company, but upon hearing from the servants that Ji Xiu had moved out, she panicked.

Terrified and anxious, she dragged Ji Ze into the car and rushed to Ji Xiu’s residence to demand an explanation.