The CEO’s Cannon-Fodder Ex-Wife (3)
Less than three minutes after Assistant Chen left, Ning Xin’s phone began vibrating incessantly on the kitchen island.
She unlocked the screen and saw that a group chat called “Socialite Afternoon Tea” was overflowing with messages.
Zhou Xiaoxiao: @Ning Ning! Coming out for afternoon tea?
Lin Wei: Happy newlywed life, Ning Ning~
Zhao Yawen: Don’t tell me you were exhausted last night? After all, it was your wedding night…
Zhou Xiaoxiao: You should be awake by now, right?
Zhou Xiaoxiao: Hurry up! Same old place. Guojin Center, meet at the entrance of L at eleven!
A long string of frantic, pounding-the-floor, and come out and play stickers followed.
Ning Xin stared at the screen, lightly tapping her fingers against its edge.
This group had been created during the original owner’s university days. Zhou Xiaoxiao was the group owner and also the most active member.
The four women came from families of similar status. They could be considered a small social circle, and their regular gatherings maintained their superficial friendship.
Though they were really just fake best friends.
The system quietly reminded her:
【Host, according to the original owner’s personality, although she is rather indifferent, she usually doesn’t refuse invitations from these “best friends.”】
Ning Xin understood what that meant.
She replied:
“Sure. I’ll be there.”
Ning Xin didn’t bother reading the flood of messages that followed and exited the group chat.
There were also several unread private messages on her phone from other wealthy young ladies she knew in their social circle. Their wording varied, but the meaning was basically the same: congratulations on their marriage.
She didn’t reply to any of them.
She put down her phone and went upstairs to change.
…
At 10:40, Ning Xin drove her white sports coupe into the underground parking garage of Guojin Center.
Today, she had chosen an oatmeal-colored knitted outfit with a matching long cardigan over it. The soft fabric outlined her slender figure.
Her makeup was extremely light, with only her eyebrows and a touch of lip gloss done. Her long hair was loosely twisted behind her head and secured with a pearl hairpin.
Simple, yet refined in every detail.
Her pearl earrings were from a niche haute couture brand, while the delicate bracelet on her wrist was an antique she had acquired at an auction the previous year.
Her seemingly casual outfit quietly displayed her confidence and status.
As soon as she reached the floor the others had mentioned, she heard Zhou Xiaoxiao’s unmistakable voice.
“Ning Ning! Over here!”
Three elegantly dressed women were standing at the entrance of the store, waving at her.
Ning Xin quickly identified each of them.
Zhou Xiaoxiao wore a bright pink suit and carried the latest-season handbag.
Lin Wei wore a pale pink dress, looking gentle and graceful.
Zhao Yawen wore black trousers and had chosen a cool, confident style.
“Happy newlywed life!”
Zhou Xiaoxiao rushed forward and gave her a big hug. The strong scent of perfume made Ning Xin instinctively lean back slightly.
“Let me see, let me see.”
“Hmm, you look pretty good! Did President Jiang wear you out?”
Her words were deliberately suggestive.
Lin Wei lightly patted her and smiled at Ning Xin.
“Don’t mind her. She has no filter.”
Zhao Yawen looked Ning Xin up and down and raised an eyebrow.
“Dressed so plainly? Anyone who didn’t know better might think you fell on hard times after getting married.”
The comment made Ning Xin look at her for another moment.
“As long as I’m comfortable.”
Ning Xin answered indifferently, sweeping her gaze over the three of them.
“Let’s go inside. Don’t block the entrance.”
The sales assistants had already been waiting for them and smiled as they led the four women toward the VIP room.
Zhou Xiaoxiao chatted familiarly with the sales assistant as they walked, asking her to bring out all the newly arrived limited-edition items.
As soon as the VIP room door closed, Zhou Xiaoxiao immediately moved closer to Ning Xin and lowered her voice.
“Come on, confess! What is President Jiang like?”
Ning Xin sat down on the sofa and accepted the flower tea offered by the sales assistant.
“What do you mean, what is he like?”
“Oh, you know what I mean!”
Zhou Xiaoxiao winked mischievously.
“Everyone knows his looks and physique are top-tier, but what is he like in person? I heard he’s really cold. Is he boring? And your wedding night… hehe?”
Lin Wei’s face turned slightly red.
“Xiaoxiao!”
Zhao Yawen was much more direct.
“That’s a good question. I want to know too. A cold, domineering CEO like that—does he have an ice-cold face in private too?”
Three pairs of eyes stared straight at Ning Xin.
Ning Xin lifted her teacup and took a sip.
The temperature was just right, and the fragrance was delicate.
“He’s pretty good.”
She put down the cup, clearly unwilling to say more.
Zhou Xiaoxiao widened her eyes, dissatisfied with the answer.
“That’s it?”
“No romantic surprises?”
“I took a picture of the way he looked at you on your wedding day. There was definitely something going on!”
“It’s only a business marriage. You know how it is.”
Ning Xin spoke casually.
“As long as we respect each other and live peacefully, that’s enough.”
The three women reacted differently.
A complicated look flashed through Zhou Xiaoxiao’s eyes, as if she were both relieved and disappointed.
Lin Wei said gently,
“Feelings can develop slowly.”
Zhao Yawen let out a scoff.
“Come on. In our circle, a marriage where both parties can simply respect each other is already a pretty good arrangement.”
At that moment, the sales assistant pushed in a rack of clothes, naturally shifting the topic.
Zhou Xiaoxiao excitedly tried on the latest handbags.
Ning Xin quietly observed the three women.
She noticed that when Zhao Yawen picked up a light-colored handbag, she instinctively checked the price tag three times. When she finally put it back, she did so with almost excessive care.
So the rumors were true…
The Zhao family had been experiencing financial difficulties recently.
Lin Wei didn’t try on anything throughout the entire time. She occasionally picked up an accessory, looked at it, and then put it back.
Her family had built its fortune through traditional industry and had a relatively practical family style.
When Zhou Xiaoxiao paid for her purchases, she didn’t even blink.
She bought three handbags and two silk scarves in one go before turning to Ning Xin.
“Aren’t you going to pick something? There are a few pieces this season that would suit you particularly well.”
“Nothing I need for now.”
Ning Xin replied.
Zhou Xiaoxiao blinked.
“President Jiang must have given you a supplementary card, right?”
“Yes.”
Ning Xin brushed it aside.
“But I’m used to using my own.”
When the time was right, she would use his.
Zhou Xiaoxiao was stunned, then gave her a thumbs-up.
“Ning Ning, you’re still as strong-minded as ever.”
“But seriously, you should spend when you need to. Otherwise, people outside might think the Jiang family is treating you badly.”
“A wife’s beauty is her husband’s glory.”
Ning Xin neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, her gaze fell on a pair of cufflinks in the display case.
“Have those wrapped for me.”
She pointed toward the pair and spoke to the sales assistant.
“For someone?” Zhou Xiaoxiao leaned closer.
“Yes. They should look good with Jiang Xiao’s gray suit.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the VIP room fell silent for a moment.
Zhou Xiaoxiao’s mouth fell open in surprise.
Since when had Ning Xin ever cared this much about a man?
Lin Wei covered her lips and laughed softly.
Zhao Yawen raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? Starting to care about your husband already?”
“It’s just courtesy.”
Ning Xin answered calmly.
“He gave me a jewelry set yesterday.”
In reality, it was the “family heirloom” Jiang Xiao’s mother had given her, but Ning Xin didn’t mind letting them misunderstand.
Sure enough, Zhou Xiaoxiao immediately became excited.
“What jewelry? Let me see!”
“It’s in the safe at home.”
Ning Xin said indifferently.
“Next time.”
After leaving the VIP room, the four women visited several more stores.
Zhou Xiaoxiao’s desire to shop remained undiminished, and she kept entering delivery addresses.
Lin Wei only fell in love with one silk scarf.
Zhao Yawen continued to look without buying anything.
Ning Xin picked out several outfits from the latest season and had them delivered to the new home as well.
They chose a newly opened French restaurant on the third floor for lunch.
After taking their seats and ordering their food, the women began discussing gossip from their social circle.
“Did you hear? The younger son of the Zhang family lost eight figures investing in blockchain. His father supposedly beat him so badly he broke his leg.”
Zhou Xiaoxiao lowered her voice.
Lin Wei quietly added,
“The Wang family seems to be considering a marriage alliance with someone from Europe. They’re currently looking for a suitable candidate.”
Zhao Yawen cut into her steak.
“The Li family and the Zhao family have been fighting over that piece of land in the south of the city recently. Things are getting pretty intense.”
Ning Xin listened quietly, categorizing all these fragments of information in her mind.
“Oh, right.”
Zhou Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered something and looked at Ning Xin.
“You remember Jian Wei, right? Jian Heng’s younger sister.”
Ning Xin’s hand holding the knife and fork paused almost imperceptibly.
“I remember. What about her?”
“I heard she went to work as an assistant for your husband.”
Lin Wei spoke softly.
“Why didn’t she go work at her own family’s company?”
Zhao Yawen sneered.
“I’m afraid her intentions aren’t really about the job.”
She raised her chin toward Ning Xin.
“You’d better keep an eye on her.”
“Although the Jian family isn’t as influential as they used to be, I’ve heard Jian Wei is quite pretty. And she knows how to play the victim. Men usually fall for that kind of thing.”
Ning Xin put down her knife and fork and slowly wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin.
“Jiang Xiao knows where to draw the line.”
Ning Xin didn’t say anything else.
But she knew very well that according to the original timeline, Jian Wei would enter the Jiang Group under the guise of an internship.
But as his wife, she already had the advantage.
Didn’t she?
After lunch, the four women continued shopping for a while before going their separate ways around three in the afternoon.
*
The drive home from Guojin Center took only twenty minutes, yet Ning Xin felt more exhausted than she would have after handling an entire day of business negotiations.
“Madam is back.”
A gentle woman’s voice sounded as soon as she entered.
She was someone the Jiang family had arranged to work there. Her surname was Wu, and everyone called her Auntie Wu.
Ning Xin nodded and changed out of her high heels.
“Is there anything in particular you’d like for dinner?”
“I heard you prefer lighter flavors, so I’ve prepared coconut chicken soup and steamed sea bass.”
“Anything is fine. Thank you for your trouble.”
As she spoke, her gaze swept across the living room.
Fresh flowers had been placed on the coffee table. The floor-to-ceiling windows were spotless, and there was a faint scent of lemon cleaning solution in the air.
Everything was neat and orderly.
Very good.
“Oh, by the way, Madam.”
Auntie Wu suddenly remembered something.
“The room you mentioned earlier has been furnished today. All the furniture has arrived, and everything has been arranged.”
It was something the original owner had instructed the staff to prepare beforehand.
The room door opened.
It was even better furnished than Ning Xin had imagined.
An entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows faced south. An easel stood beside the window, with a paint cart next to it, the various metal paint tubes neatly arranged.
A row of storage cabinets stood against the wall, while a small sofa and coffee table occupied the other side.
By the time dinner was ready, Ning Xin finally came out of the room.
*
By the time the dinner engagement ended, it was already 1:37 in the morning.
Jiang Xiao walked out of the entrance of the private club. The late-autumn night wind carried a sharp chill as it hit his face.
He had been sitting in a warmly heated private room for four hours and had almost forgotten how cold it was outside.
“President Jiang, the car is ready.”
The driver opened the door. The heating inside the car was set to a comfortable temperature.
Jiang Xiao sat in the back seat and closed his eyes against the leather headrest.
The alcohol slowly burned through his bloodstream, and his temples throbbed.
Tonight’s client was a businessman from the north. He had an impressive tolerance for alcohol, and his negotiating style was equally rough and direct.
Although the contract had ultimately been signed, the process had been extremely draining.
The car drove through the quiet streets in the middle of the night.
Jiang Xiao turned on his phone.
The screen was completely empty.
No missed calls.
No unread messages.
He locked the screen and looked out at the streetlights rapidly disappearing behind the car.
Marriage had never been a necessity for him.
Choosing a marriage alliance had simply been the optimal solution after weighing the advantages and disadvantages.
But his little wife had given him a strange sense of anticipation.
Suddenly, he wanted to get home a little faster.
The car entered the garage.
Jiang Xiao opened the door, and the cold night air had cleared some of the alcohol from his head.
He entered the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.
When he opened the door to the apartment, he suddenly stopped.
Unlike usual, the apartment wasn’t completely dark.
The entrance light was on.
Soft, warm light illuminated a small area, lighting up the shoe cabinet, the decorative painting on the wall, and a pair of neatly arranged women’s slippers on the floor.
His slippers were beside them, with the toes pointing outward for easy access.
Jiang Xiao stood at the doorway for several seconds before bending down to change his shoes.
As he passed the kitchen, the corner of his eye caught sight of an insulated thermos on the kitchen island.
It had a warm white body, and a soft green indicator light showed that it was maintaining a temperature of 60°C.
He walked over.
A sticky note was placed beside the thermos, written in familiar handwriting:
“Hangover soup.”
He poured himself a bowl.
The temperature was just right—warm as it entered his mouth without being hot.
After the first sip, the burning sensation in his stomach eased noticeably.
Remembering her “rules” from that morning, he walked past the master bedroom with quieter footsteps.
The room beyond the narrow gap beneath the door was completely dark and silent.
He paused outside for several seconds.
Then, in the end, he walked toward the guest room.
