Chapter Eleven: The Divorce Trial

“Cheating blatantly, yet I twisted my ankle and need someone to carry me off the plane, and you can’t allow that. Gu Linzhou, don’t be so double-faced!” Fu Luoning gave him a cold glance, then looked toward the flight attendant, refusing to speak with Gu Linzhou any further.

From then until landing, the first-class cabin was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence.

When the cabin door opened, Gu Linzhou strode out with a woman, his face cold. A steward approached, looking uneasy and awkward as he glanced at Fu Luoning.

Fu Luoning looked at him and said, “Don’t worry, your job won’t be affected at all. I’ll call your company’s management to commend you.”

Hearing this, the steward visibly relaxed.

When Mo Xingchuan saw Fu Luoning, he was surprised to see her being pushed out in a wheelchair. “What happened to you?”

“I twisted my ankle during turbulence because I couldn’t stand steady. I need to go to the hospital first.”

Mo Xingchuan took her to the hospital, and after some fuss, they returned to the hotel; it was already late.

“Looks like you won’t be able to attend the investment conference tomorrow. What a wasted trip,” Mo Xingchuan said.

As Fu Luoning’s investment advisor, Mo Xingchuan knew her assets had multiplied several times at SN Capital, and the conference was a gathering of major investors from the firm.

At only twenty-five, her worth had skyrocketed, and her insight was sharp.

Mo Xingchuan was truly grateful to have been chosen by her.

“Not a wasted trip. Staying somewhere else for a while isn’t so bad,” Fu Luoning said, looking out at the night view through the floor-to-ceiling window. “What’s the current situation at SN Capital?”

“It’s originally under the Stellar Financial Group but has been revitalized in recent years. The newly appointed chairman is now focusing on venture capital.”

Judging by the trend, it will only get better.

Fu Luoning raised an eyebrow—after waiting so long, she was finally profiting.

“How did you decide to pour money into SN back then?” He recalled that when they talked in China, shortly after her marriage, the large sums were from her dowry and proceeds from selling shares.

“I wanted to make a big move.”

“That’s quite bold,” Mo Xingchuan summarized. “And you had to have money.”

Fu Luoning smiled silently.

With her injury, she couldn’t go out during her days in France, so she stayed at the hotel to handle work.

On the day they returned to Shengjing, she could walk, albeit slowly. Mo Xingchuan accompanied her to the airport, planning to escort her through security, but Fu Luoning stopped him.

“I’ll go in by myself.”

“I’ll send you. Your ankle is barely walkable, and the airport is crowded.”

“It’s fine—I have plenty of time. I’ll take it slow.” Fu Luoning pulled the suitcase from his hand. “By the way, I just remembered something I need your help with.”

Mo Xingchuan nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Help me find a lawyer—the best in the industry, someone who can handle international lawsuits.”

Mo Xingchuan asked, “What kind of lawsuit?”

“A divorce case.”

——

Shengjing, 2 a.m.

Shanyue knew about Fu Luoning twisting her ankle on the flight to France. Now, around ten past midnight, the airport exit was sparsely crowded. From afar, she saw Fu Luoning’s solitary figure slowly pulling her suitcase toward the exit.

Shanyue’s eyes darkened slightly; her heart ached a little.

Gu Linzhou had taken his mistress to France for vacation and fashion shows, and the paparazzi caught them, making it public knowledge on the internet. Even upon returning yesterday, they were photographed acting intimately, laughing and chatting.

Meanwhile, Fu Luoning’s husband, who had gone to France with her, came back alone after she twisted her ankle, while he returned arm in arm with another woman, chatting and laughing.

How ironic!

Marriages between wealthy families benefit both sides.

The husband can ignore everything, while she has to maintain the family’s reputation.

In this marriage, the only one treated unfairly was Fu Luoning.

“What are you thinking about?”

Fu Luoning’s voice came from nearby but not too close, pulling Shanyue back to reality.

“Boss.”

Fu Luoning came out, and Shanyue went to take the suitcase. She noticed Fu Luoning was wearing flat shoes. “How’s your ankle?”

“Better, much better.”

“Should I talk to Mrs. Xu? With your ankle, you won’t be able to go to the equestrian club tomorrow.”

“It’s okay. It won’t interfere.”

Shanyue hesitated but knew she couldn’t change Fu Luoning’s mind.

“Gu’s scandals have flared up again these past two days, but Gu Corporation’s PR has managed to suppress them.”

“I know.” While in France, the old man had called her, speaking bitterly about Gu Linzhou, hoping she could endure it.

Shanyue fell silent.

During the two years of marriage, Gu Linzhou’s affairs had only increased, but Fu Luoning seldom cared or questioned them unless it directly involved her.

“What are you thinking about?” Fu Luoning asked, turning her head to look at Shanyue after a long silence.

“Boss,” Shanyue, who had worked with Fu Luoning for nearly two years, asked for the first time, “Will you get a divorce?”

“Yes.”

Shanyue heard her answer without hesitation.

“It might be difficult,” Fu Luoning sighed deeply as they stepped out of the airport into a starry night, a hint of emotion in her voice. “But it’s alright. There’s a long road ahead.”

Shanyue pursed her lips and couldn’t help but smile.

A woman younger than her by a year, yet living with far more worldly wisdom—it was truly admirable.

Whether blessed by fate or not, the once clear morning sky quickly filled with dark clouds. Just as Fu Luoning changed into her equestrian outfit and stepped outside, she ran into the Xu couple returning.

“Mrs. Gu,” Mrs. Xu called out, “bad timing—it’s raining heavily outside.”

“What?” Fu Luoning was surprised. “Wasn’t it supposed to be clear?”

“Yes, but suddenly it started pouring. Let’s go to the indoor equestrian arena.”

Mrs. Xu walked alongside her, bringing her son over. “Wang Jia, say hello.”

The four-year-old Xu Wangjia, fair and adorable, glanced at Fu Luoning and shyly hid in his mother’s arms, turning to her and saying, “Hello, sister.”

His voice was sweet and clear.

“What a lovely child,” Fu Luoning complimented.

Mrs. Xu smiled helplessly. “He’s usually brave, but shy around pretty girls.”

Fu Luoning chuckled. “I heard boys who can ride horses are very handsome.”

Wangjia, still nestled in his mother’s arms, straightened up and proudly said, “I ride very well.”

“Is that so? I’ll have to see for myself.”

Mrs. Xu patted Wangjia’s back. “Just like your father.”

The three of them headed to the indoor arena, where Mr. Xu was already standing inside, holding a small pony.

Wangjia ran excitedly inside, calling, “Daddy.”

“Hey!”

Fu Luoning and Mrs. Xu sat in the resting area, watching the figures both big and small in the arena. Fu Luoning asked, “Does Director Xu always accompany the little one to his riding lessons?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Xu said. “Wangjia is here, so he comes with him.”

Xu Zhen had been married to Mrs. Xu for over twenty years before having this son, but as far as Fu Luoning knew, Xu Zhen also had an illegitimate child outside the marriage.