Chapter 13: Impossible to Divorce

Yuan Xi looked at the three pieces of the jade bracelet lying on the marble floor and stepped forward to pick them up. "Chu Yan, what makes you think this jade bracelet is fake?"

Chu Yan gave a light scoff. "It’s fake because it’s fake. If this were a genuine Yang-green jade bracelet, the price would be over five hundred thousand. You have two of them? That would be over a million combined. How could you possibly afford that on your salary?"

Yuan Xi replied, "Between my salary, bonuses, and year-end incentives, my annual income after tax is six million. What makes you think I can't afford this bracelet?"

Chu Lin gasped. "Gu Hanchen is actually that generous with you? No wonder he doesn't even let you leave ten minutes early."

Bo Yan chimed in with a cold sneer, "Secretary Yuan, it just goes to show how little you know. While this is indeed Yang-green, the quality of this specific bracelet—if it were real—wouldn't be much cheaper than Imperial Green.

"Besides, these are two bracelets cut from the same slab of jade; the valuation should be around twenty million. You don't even know the price of the jade, yet you refuse to admit it's fake when called out."

Chu Yan added from the side, "Sister, Mom wouldn't mind if you bought cheaper jewelry as a gift. Why go out of your way to buy fakes?"

Yang Ying took the broken pieces from Yuan Xi’s hand and comforted her, "Whether it’s real or fake, it was a gift from Xin'er, so I love it. As for this broken bracelet, I’ll have to trouble Mrs. Bo to help find a craftsman to repair it."

Mrs. Bo gave a light scoff. "Mrs. Chu, we never repair fake jade."

Bo Fan spoke up, "Auntie Yang, give the broken pieces to me. I happen to know a master jade restorer who can fix it so well it will be invisible."

Bo Yan frowned. "Brother, that’s not a good idea. Our Bo family is in the jewelry business. If people find out you’re repairing fake jade, how are we supposed to do business?"

Yuan Xi had thought her good temper had been tempered by Gu Hanchen; at Michen, everyone said Secretary Yuan had a great temperament.

But this time, Yuan Xi didn't want to endure it. "Since Mrs. Bo and Miss Bo specialize in the jewelry and jade business, if you can't even tell the difference between real and fake jade, you’d better stop opening your doors for business."

Bo Fan examined the broken pieces in his hand carefully, then frowned at Chu Yan. "This jade bracelet is real."

"How is that possible? Such a high-end piece..." Mrs. Bo stepped forward to take a look. "Isn't this the piece that was just sold in Ping City not long ago? It sold for 3.6 million—this exact pair."

Yuan Xi looked at Chu Yan. "How do you intend to compensate me?"

Chu Yan hugged Yang Ying’s arm. "I was just worried about Mom’s health. I’m sorry, Sister. There’s no need to get angry over a bracelet."

Yang Ying said, "Xin'er, Yan-yan was indeed in the wrong, but she has already apologized, so let it go. Let’s all go inside and sit; it’s quite hot out here."

Mrs. Bo walked over to Yang Ying. "The 'Nothingness' plaque Yan-yan gave you is the best one I have..."

Watching the three of them—Chu Yan, Mrs. Bo, and Yang Ying—walk inside together, Yuan Xi clenched her hands into fists, then slowly relaxed them.

Chu Lin patted Yuan Xi on the shoulder. "Chu Yan was definitely in the wrong just now, but the Bo family is here today. Mom can't exactly scold Yan-yan in front of them, and besides, she apologized to you. Isn't there still one bracelet left intact? Don't talk about compensation among family."

Yuan Xi covered her mouth with the back of her hand, suppressing the urge to vomit. "Why can't we talk about it?"

Chu Lin said, "Yuan Xi, do you think it’s appropriate to make a scene about our family discord in front of the Bo family over twenty million? It’s not like Yan-yan didn't apologize. If you’re short on that twenty million, I’ll give it to you!"

Yuan Xi looked at Chu Lin. "Can I see the watch on your wrist?"

Chu Lin unbuckled the strap and handed it to Yuan Xi. "You like it too? I can have someone keep an eye out to see if there’s any stock."

Yuan Xi took the watch and threw it into the fountain pool in front of them. "Sorry. And you don't need to pay me back; keep the money to buy another watch!"

Seeing the watch tossed into the fountain, Chu Lin rushed over to fish it out, but it was already cracked.

"Yuan Xi! Do you know how much this watch is worth?"

Yuan Xi knew perfectly well. Gu Hanchen had asked her to help buy one before; the price of this watch had risen ridiculously, reaching nearly twenty million.

Yuan Xi smiled faintly. "We’re family, aren't we? Surely you wouldn't hold a grudge against your sister over a watch worth less than twenty million?"

"Heh."

Yuan Xi heard a cold laugh. She turned to see Bo Fan leaning against a pillar at the entrance, chuckling. "No wonder Hanchen is so thoroughly tamed by Secretary Yuan."

Yuan Xi replied, "I don't have such great ability. It’s Gu Hanchen who has me thoroughly tamed."

Bo Fan said, "So that’s why your salary at Gu Hanchen’s side is so high. No wonder you’ve never wanted to jump ship to Fan-Yan."

The most Bo Fan could offer Yuan Xi was a salary of two million before tax. He hadn't expected Gu Hanchen to pay so much. Michen had only been established for six years, and it was clearly already raking in the profits.

Yuan Xi said, "President Gu is indeed very generous when it comes to salaries."

Bo Fan said, "Yan-yan’s temper is just that of a spoiled young lady; she doesn't have any bad intentions. I apologize to you on her behalf for what happened today..."

Yuan Xi said, "It’s fine."

Inside the house, Chu Yan watched the two of them through the floor-to-ceiling glass, smiling and flattering Mrs. Bo, but her heart was filled with unease.

Seeing Yuan Xi and Bo Fan enter together, Chu Yan smiled at Yang Ying. "Mom, Bo Fan and I are getting married soon. Sister is the same age as me; I wonder if she has a boyfriend? She’s twenty-six, it’s about time she found someone to marry. How about I introduce her to a few people?"

Bo Yan said, "I actually have a good candidate. My driver is twenty-eight this year, two years older than Secretary Yuan. They would be a very good match."

Yuan Xi said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Bo, but I am already married."

"What?" Chu Lin, his pant legs soaked, walked in and frowned. "How come I didn't know you were married? When did you hold the wedding? Why haven't I heard Gu Hanchen mention it?"

Yuan Xi said, "I got married a few days ago. We aren't holding a wedding for the time being."

Hearing this, Chu Yan let out a long sigh of relief, her heart finally settling. "Congratulations on your marriage, Sister."

Yang Ying was also surprised. "Xin'er, you’re married? Who is your husband? Why didn't you say so earlier and bring him home? Call him and have him come over for dinner."

Yuan Xi said, "He lives far away, by Ruo Lake. With the evening rush hour, it would take nearly an hour to get here. Let’s forget it."

"Ruo Lake?" Chu Yan said. "Isn't that all countryside? Does your husband not even have a house in Jiangcheng city?"

"No," Yuan Xi said calmly. "He only has two houses by Ruo Lake."

"No matter how many houses you have by Ruo Lake, it’s still the countryside."

Chu Yan said, "Sister, how could you marry a country bumpkin? I feel so sorry for you. Originally, my marriage should have been yours..."

Bo Fan said, "I heard that the Shiyi Group is already evaluating the area around Ruo Lake. They want to build a high-end tourist resort there, complete with golf courses, horse tracks, and racing circuits. If your place is slated for demolition, the compensation from Shiyi Group won't be low."

Yuan Xi hadn't heard this news yet. "Is that so?"

Bo Fan nodded. "Didn't Gu Hanchen say Huo Shiyan is in Jiangcheng? Huo Shiyan, the young master of the Shiyi Group, coming to Jiangcheng must be for this major project at Ruo Lake."

Yang Ying said to Yuan Xi, "Yuan Xi, call your husband and have him come over. An hour’s drive isn't that far."

Yuan Xi said, "Let’s wait a few days. Isn't our family holding the homecoming banquet on the 22nd? I’ll bring him then."

Yang Ying said, "Xin'er, I think you should let us see what your husband is like. If he’s not good enough, you can get a divorce first. By the time the banquet comes around, you might even meet your true soulmate..."

Yuan Xi said, "Mom, I’m pregnant, so I can't possibly get a divorce."

Chu Yan looked at Yuan Xi in shock, but inside, she felt completely at ease. So what if Yuan Xi was the real daughter?

Her profession was a secretary, and she had married a country bumpkin. She would never be able to compare to her, Chu Yan, in this lifetime. Even if she wasn't the real daughter of the Chu family, at least her fiancé was Bo Fan.

"Sister, then we’ll wait for you to bring your husband to the homecoming banquet."

"Okay."