Seeing Song Qinian's distressed look, Shen Chiye's mood soured, and he smiled like a shrewd merchant.
"When you signed the employment contract, you should have read its contents. If you want to resign, you have to submit your resignation a month in advance. Isn't it irresponsible of you to suddenly quit?"
"But it's fine if you want to leave immediately. I'll ask Grandma to find me another secretary. After all, wasn't it she who forced you into Ding Sheng Group back then?"
Song Qinian: "..."
First, the employment contract, then Grandma. He used the law first, then sentiment. Shen Chiye's tactic was indeed quite clever.
Song Qinian could disregard the law; he could simply pay the one hundred million yuan Shen Chiye gave him as liquidated damages. However, he had to consider Grandma.
But it was only a month, which would pass in the blink of an eye.
And so, Song Qinian stayed.
Li Nanxun, with a rare holiday, handed over her work to Song Qinian that afternoon and immediately left Ding Sheng Group to enjoy her vacation, fearing that Shen Chiye would regret it if she delayed even a second.
Meanwhile, Lin Lanxing, while visiting Lin Qiutong on set, informed her of Shen Chiye and Song Qinian's divorce.
Lin Qiutong, who was drinking water from a cup, reacted so strongly upon hearing the news that she tightened her grip on the cup, and it fell directly from her hand.
The cup hit the ground with a clatter. She suddenly grabbed Lin Lanxing's shoulder, "Are you telling the truth? Have A'Yan and Song Qinian really divorced?"
"It's true! Someone saw them go to the Civil Affairs Bureau together. And the next day, Shen Keqin booked Xianting to help Song Qinian pick out a boyfriend. Shen Keqin is so stubborn, who would look for a man for their ex-sister-in-law the day after their divorce? It's hilarious."
Lin Qiutong was still reveling in the joy of Shen Chiye and Song Qinian's divorce, her excitement boundless. If the timing were more appropriate, she would have rushed to Shen Chiye, embraced him tightly, and told him she loved him!
"However... the current marriage law seems to have a cooling-off period, stating that both parties can only officially divorce after a month of reflection."
Lin Qiutong's previously smiling face instantly turned ugly. "What do you mean, 'can only officially divorce after a month of reflection'?"
Lin Lanxing: "This means that Shen Chiye and Song Qinian are still legally married."
Lin Qiutong furiously hurled the cup her assistant had just handed her to the ground again. She fumed, "If they want to divorce, then divorce! What's with this cooling-off period? So many variables can happen in a month. What if they get back together?"
"There's a possibility!"
Lin Qiutong glared at Lin Lanxing. "What did you say?"
"I heard that when they divorced, Shen Chiye gave Song Qinian one hundred million yuan and a house. Song Qinian is set for life and can live a luxurious life without doing anything. Didn't you say before that Shen Chiye detested Song Qinian? Is this something a person would do if they detested someone?"
Lin Lanxing didn't want to crush Lin Qiutong's spirits, but the facts were the facts. "Song Qinian is quite shameless. Not only did she take the money, but she also moved into the house as soon as she got it. Sister, can you guarantee 100% that after Shen Chiye is with you, he won't go to that house to see Song Qinian?"
A single sentence jolted Lin Qiutong awake. The mere thought of that house possibly becoming a secret rendezvous spot for Shen Chiye and Song Qinian made her feel incredibly nauseous.
Lin Qiutong clenched her fists, gritting her teeth in anger. "This damned Song Qinian! One hundred million wasn't enough; she still wanted a house? Where does she get the nerve!"
"No, I can't let Song Qinian live in that house. We must find a way to make her move out! I absolutely cannot leave such a potential threat for myself."
Lin Lanxing's eyes suddenly lit up. "Sister, I have an idea."
"Oh? Tell me."
Lin Lanxing leaned over and whispered a few words into Lin Qiutong's ear. Upon hearing this, a hint of a sinister smile appeared in Lin Qiutong's eyes. "Let's do as you say."
Lin Lanxing's phone suddenly rang. She looked at it and saw it was Shen Qiwen calling. Without thinking, she hung up.
Lin Qiutong, seeing this, her eyes flickered slightly. "Why aren't you answering?"
"It's that illegitimate son from the Shen family, Shen Qiwen. He's so annoying, keeps calling me and saying he likes me."
Recalling what Shen Qiwen had done to Lin Qiutong before, Lin Lanxing cautiously glanced at Lin Qiutong. "Sister, that night, did you really hear Shen Qiwen calling my name?"
Lin Qiutong stroked Lin Lanxing's head, smiling gently. "Of course. Would I lie to you? I didn't expect Shen Qiwen's feelings for you to be so deep."
"But I always thought he liked you."
"Didn't he say it himself? He's always bothering me because he's too shy to confess to you directly and wants to get close to you through me. Xingxing, although Shen Qiwen is an illegitimate son of the Shen family, he is still a member of the Shen family. If you can marry him, and I marry A'Yan, then we will be family. Our sisters will support each other, and no one in the Shen family will dare to bully us."
The phone rang again, as if Shen Qiwen would keep calling if Lin Lanxing didn't answer.
Lin Lanxing sighed irritably and finally picked up the phone. "What is it!"
Her tone was not pleasant, but Shen Qiwen didn't seem angry at all. He said with a smile, "I'm at the entrance of the film studio. Let's go grab dinner later."
Lin Lanxing glanced at Lin Qiutong. "I'm having dinner with my sister."
"Then let's eat together."
"I'll ask my sister first!"
After hanging up, before Lin Lanxing could speak, Lin Qiutong's voice came first. "Alright, you go ahead and eat. I won't be a third wheel."
"...Third wheel? I haven't even agreed to date him yet!"
"Really? Why do I feel like even though you complain about him, you don't really feel that way inside?"
Lin Lanxing leaped up like a startled cat. "How is that possible? I'm leaving then!"
"Mmm, go ahead!"
Watching Lin Lanxing leave, Lin Qiutong smiled faintly. Shen Qiwen was still quite useful at critical moments.
As soon as Lin Lanxing stepped outside, she saw Shen Qiwen leaning against his car, smoking. He was wearing a black leather jacket over a white t-shirt, looking both roguish and handsome.
Guan Mingxu also had that kind of roguish charm, but his was mixed with innocence and kindness, shining brightly wherever he went, making people feel like a gentle breeze when he smiled.
Shen Qiwen, on the other hand, gave off a feeling of suppressed darkness. Even when he smiled, it seemed like he was plotting something, making people uncomfortable.
But it had to be admitted, he was indeed quite charismatic.
She slowly walked towards Shen Qiwen. "How long have you been waiting here?"
Shen Qiwen glanced behind Lin Lanxing, and a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes when he didn't see Lin Qiutong. "Not long. Get in the car, I'll take you to dinner."
Lin Lanxing stood still. "Didn't I tell you I don't like you?"
"Yes, I know you like Guan Mingxu!"
"Then why are you..."
Shen Qiwen lifted Lin Lanxing's chin and, before she could react, kissed her on the lips. "I will prove to you that I am more suitable for you than Guan Mingxu."