"Brother-in-law, are you inside?"
A sweet, delicate voice called out. Jiang Dongchen, who was in the middle of a shower, replied casually, "I'm in here!"
The bathroom door was pushed open, and his sister-in-law, Li Ruoxue, appeared at the threshold. Li Ruoxue, the second daughter of the Li family, was the campus belle of Tianhai University, with countless suitors trailing after her.
At this moment, Li Ruoxue was wearing nothing but a white shirt and a black miniskirt. Not only did this outfit showcase her youthful vitality to the fullest, but because she had developed into a very mature young woman, she carried a unique, alluring charm.
Jiang Dongchen instinctively covered himself. "Ruoxue... what are you doing?"
A flash of cunning crossed Li Ruoxue’s eyes as she darted into the bathroom. She was already dressed scantily, and the water splashing onto her clothes made them cling to her body, outlining an almost perfect silhouette. Combined with the semi-transparent effect of the wet fabric... Jiang Dongchen stared, stunned.
Li Ruoxue threw herself into his arms. "Brother-in-law, I like you!"
The young girl’s body was not only fragrant but filled with temptation. Jiang Dongchen’s gaze turned cold.
*Something is wrong.* Li Ruoxue had always treated him with nothing but insults and beatings; when had she ever given him a kind look?
Before he could react, Li Ruoxue ripped open her own collar and shouted with a look of fury, "Brother-in-law, what are you doing?!"
Jiang Dongchen stared at her, dumbfounded. The bathroom door was shoved open again. An enraged Li Ruolin burst into the room. "Jiang Dongchen, what do you think you're doing?!"
Li Ruolin was Jiang Dongchen’s wife; for the past few years, they had lived together like polite strangers.
Li Ruoxue began to sob. "Brother-in-law said he forgot his clothes, so I brought them to him! He... he actually dragged me into the bathroom... Wuu wuu wuu!"
Li Ruolin’s face turned ghastly. "I never imagined you were this kind of man!"
A gleam of malice flickered in Li Ruoxue’s eyes. "Sister, he’s a beast in human clothing! We have to divorce him!"
Li Ruolin gritted her teeth and pulled out a pre-prepared divorce agreement. "Sign this."
Jiang Dongchen realized what was happening. "You did all of this just for this... didn't you?"
Li Ruolin’s gaze wavered noticeably. Three years ago, she had married Jiang Dongchen to provide "good luck" for the ailing Matriarch. At that time, the Li family was an obscure, small family in Tianhai. Through her three years of effort, the Li family now possessed assets worth over a billion and had officially entered the top social circles of Tianhai.
But having a "useless" husband had become a stain on her reputation and a target for criticism. It had become the greatest bottleneck to the growth of the Li family. Many people mocked her, saying she was blind. A blind CEO could never lead the Li family to glory! If she didn't divorce Jiang Dongchen, the Li family would stagnate or even regress.
Furthermore, she had always viewed herself as a swan and Jiang Chen as a lowly ant; she had resisted him, and they had even slept in separate rooms to this day. A normal divorce would require a hefty settlement, which was why she had orchestrated this scene.
Jiang Dongchen looked at her coldly. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Li Ruolin grew annoyed and snorted. "You should have some self-awareness! The gap between us is widening; you are simply not good enough for me!"
Jiang Dongchen frowned. All these years, he had served her without complaint, treating her as if she were made of glass, fearing she might break or melt—yet his wife’s attitude had always been distant. Even an iceberg should have melted after all this time, right? He had wanted a simple, peaceful life, but in the end, it couldn't compete with money. Perhaps it was time to let go.
Jiang Dongchen was expressionless. "Are you sure you won't regret this?"
Without waiting for Li Ruolin to respond, Jiang Dongchen added calmly, "Go wait for me in the living room. I’ll come out once I’m dressed."
Divorcing this loser was something she had dreamed of. Regret? What a joke! Sneering inwardly, Li Ruolin replied with disgust, "I’ll give you five minutes!"
Jiang Dongchen smiled and closed the bathroom door. As he dressed, a lingering doubt remained in his mind. *Li Ruolin! Are you really the little girl who saved me ten years ago?*
To repay the favor, he had abandoned his own illustrious status and married her. Under his secret patronage, the Li family had transformed from an obscure family into an elite one in Tianhai. He had intended to reveal his true identity at the Matriarch’s birthday banquet tomorrow, allowing the Li family to reach unprecedented heights. But he hadn't expected this. Since his repayment was unappreciated, there was no need to stay.
He walked into the living room and signed the divorce papers.
Li Ruolin let out a long sigh of relief. "Jiang Dongchen, when shall we finalize the formalities?" The agreement was just the first step; they had to register at the Civil Affairs Bureau for the divorce to be official.
Jiang Dongchen gave a playful look. "Is it necessary to be in such a hurry?"
Li Ruolin snorted. "This is something I have thought through carefully; it won't change with time. There's no need for you to stall! Besides... we are from two different worlds. I don't want to spend even a second longer with you."
Jiang Dongchen nodded. "Two o'clock this afternoon, then."
It was only 11:30 AM; the bureau was closed for lunch and wouldn't open until two. Without waiting for her reply, Jiang Dongchen left.
Watching his retreating figure, Li Ruoxue laughed dismissively. "Finally kicked that loser out!"
Li Ruolin nodded. "I thought he would try to blackmail me. At least he knows his place."
Li Ruoxue asked excitedly, "Sister, now that you’ve divorced that loser, you can marry Zhao Ming! With the combined strength of the Zhao and Li families, the Li family will definitely become one of the top families in Tianhai! Under your leadership, we will be a family that all of Tianhai looks up to!"
A glimmer of anticipation crossed Li Ruolin’s eyes. "The Matriarch said she would announce my engagement to Zhao Ming at her birthday banquet tomorrow. Once that good news spreads, the liquidity problems the Li family is currently facing will be solved, and we will enter a period of high-speed growth."
Li Ruoxue reminded her, "Sister, what if that loser tries to go back on his word?"
A cold light flashed in Li Ruolin’s eyes. "He wouldn't dare!"
Li Ruoxue added uncertainly, "What about Dad...?"
Li Ruolin looked disdainful. "I don't know what’s wrong with him, thinking that loser has the 'aura of a true dragon' that could protect our family for generations! But the Matriarch always calls the shots, and given what Jiang Dongchen did today... Dad shouldn't have anything to say."
She stood up abruptly. "To be safe, let’s go find Dad and tell him what just happened. Let him see exactly what kind of person his 'precious' son-in-law really is. We need to nip this in the bud so there are no complications later."
At the Li estate, Li Tianming, her father, was just about to leave. Li Ruoxue and Li Ruolin rushed over and recounted what had happened.
Li Tianming’s face darkened. "Jiang Dongchen isn't that kind of person!"
Li Ruoxue acted aggrieved. "Sister was right there! She saw it all! If you don't believe me, surely you trust your own daughter?"
Li Tianming looked at Li Ruolin, appearing serious. "Ruolin, is that how it happened?"
Before she could speak, a frail, elderly voice rang out. "I told you that beast was a useless good-for-nothing! Do you believe me now? Li Tianming, do you still think Jiang Dongchen has the 'aura of a true dragon' and insist that Ruolin stay married to him?"