Chapter 2 – In the End, It Just Wasn’t Love Enough

Ruan Liuzheng moved into a large flat in the city center with her son.

The apartment was under her name. Not huge, just 140 square meters, but she chose the location and the décor herself — all based on her own preferences.

The full-view balcony gave a sweeping look over half of Yun City’s nightscape the moment you stepped through the door.

She bought the place with her first bucket of gold. After a childhood of instability and hardship, her first dream as an adult had been simple — to have a place of her own.

So, as soon as she entered college, she began working every kind of job she could find. Fortunately, she was capable, and within two years, she achieved her dream.

Looking at the curiosity in her son’s eyes, Ruan Liuzheng felt immensely grateful that she had bought this apartment. Now that they had left the Fu family, at least they had a safe haven.

She tidied up the place a bit, then brought out the birthday cake she had taken from the Fu residence. After blowing out the candles with her son and finishing this special birthday together, the mother and son went to bed early — both exhausted from the day.

The next morning, Ruan Liuzheng dropped off her son and went to work, right on time.

Back when they were in university, Fu Yanci’s father passed away unexpectedly, putting Fu Yanci’s position as heir to the group in jeopardy.

Unable to bear seeing him downcast every day, Ruan Liuzheng gave up her beloved career in illustration and resolutely joined the Fu Group to support him.

Starting from the bottom, she worked her way up to become Fu Yanci’s most trusted aide.

Now, she was the deputy director of the finance department, just waiting for the old director to retire to officially be promoted.

The transition had already started a month ago. She had even moved into the director’s office in advance, awaiting the official appointment.

Even though she had decided to get divorced, Ruan Liuzheng had no intention of resigning.

She had earned this position through years of hard work. Why should she give it up for nothing?

But today, the finance department seemed particularly noisy.

Ruan Liuzheng frowned as she entered her office. Just as she sat down, her assistant Mi Le came in holding a cup of coffee, moving more gently than usual and wearing a concerned expression.

“Director Ruan, your coffee.”

A morning coffee had been Ruan Liuzheng’s habit for years — it started as a way to cater to Fu Yanci’s preferences, and eventually became something she couldn’t give up.

She took a small sip. The familiar aroma soothed her, and her furrowed brows slowly relaxed. Her mood lightened as she asked, “What’s going on out there? Why so much noise first thing in the morning?”

Mi Le hesitated, then said, “Director Ruan, HR just announced that Director Zhang officially resigned yesterday… but the new director isn’t you. President Fu personally appointed someone else — a woman named Bai Wanqing.”

Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes flickered. Her grip on the coffee cup tightened silently.

After a long pause, she spoke softly, “Got it. You can go now.”

Fu Yanci was always like this. If he wanted to spoil someone, he would go all out — treating them like delicate treasures he couldn’t bear to damage or let go.

He would use every resource at his disposal to elevate them.

But why did it always have to come at her expense? The director’s position was something she earned through her own ability.

Ruan Liuzheng felt a suffocating pressure in her chest. She didn’t want to hold back anymore.

Grabbing the files from her desk, she headed to the hospital to confront Fu Yanci.

But just as she left her office, she ran into Bai Wanqing — surrounded by a group of people, wearing a faint, confident smile. From her outfit to her makeup, she exuded the aura of a rich heiress.

When she saw Ruan Liuzheng, her smile deepened.

Bai Wanqing strode over, eyebrows raised smugly. “Deputy Director Ruan, I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

She deliberately emphasized the word “deputy”, her eyes full of disdain.

Ruan Liuzheng’s expression remained calm. Her dark eyes showed not even a ripple of emotion.

She looked at Bai Wanqing coldly, as if observing a clown, and said icily, “Move. You’re in my way.”

Bai Wanqing gritted her teeth. Looking at Ruan Liuzheng’s overly elegant features and that detached gaze that seemed not to care about anything, jealousy and resentment surged in her heart.

But when she spotted the documents in Ruan Liuzheng’s hands, Bai Wanqing smirked triumphantly.

She tossed her hair, her smile brightening. “Are you heading to see President Fu? Oh, I forgot to tell you — he was discharged this morning. If you’re looking for him, go to the top floor.”

She added with mock sincerity, “President Fu gave me special access to the executive elevator. I can take you up — save you the trouble of squeezing in with the regular employees.”

Ruan Liuzheng tightened her grip on the documents. A dense ache spread through her chest.

Back when Fu Yanci gained full control of the company, she had asked more than once for access to the executive elevator. But he always declined, citing company rules — watching coldly as she rushed every morning to squeeze into the employee elevators.

Now, he gave the privilege to Bai Wanqing without a second thought.

In the end, he just didn’t love her enough.

She took a deep breath and lifted her gaze. “No thanks. I don’t like noise.”

“You—!”

Bai Wanqing trembled with rage. She leaned in, biting her words: “Oh, my dear sister, stop pretending. Let me tell you the truth — Brother Yanci recovered from his injury long ago. He stayed in the hospital only to spend time alone with me. The moment you left yesterday, he arranged to be discharged.”

“See? You’re just like your mother — useless. No matter how much you sacrifice, you’re just making it easier for me and my mother to shine.”

A flash of cold light passed through Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes.

She and Bai Wanqing were actually half-sisters — same father, different mothers.

To put it nicely, they were sisters. In truth, they were enemies. And Bai Xunan, their father, didn’t even deserve that title.

When she was seven, after her grandfather died, Bai Xunan completely changed. Before the funeral was even over, he brought Bai Wanqing and her mother into the house, claiming that her mother was his true love and he wanted to give her a proper title.

He even seized her grandparents’ property and tried to kick her mother out with nothing.

Her gentle mother, who had never suffered hardship, had to swallow her pride for her daughter’s sake.

She raised Ruan Liuzheng with her frail body until she passed away from illness before Ruan Liuzheng could even start college.

Ruan Liuzheng would never forget the damp, moldy smell of that tiny basement they once lived in… or the shame of being evicted on New Year’s Eve… or her mother’s quiet sobs in the night.

And Bai Wanqing and her mother — they took her place, becoming the official noble wife and daughter, living in luxury.

Ruan Liuzheng changed her surname to her mother’s, wanting nothing more to do with the Bai family.

Yet, because of Fu Yanci, she met Bai Wanqing again.

She had once thought she could win, avenge her mother — but in the end, she lost completely.

Sure enough, people should never fall in love.

Ruan Liuzheng’s heart ached bitterly, but her eyes brimmed with cold sarcasm. “So what? All you two are good for is clinging to a man.”

“Still won’t admit defeat, huh?” Bai Wanqing sneered. “The two most important men in your life both chose me over you without hesitation. You may win for a moment, but in the end, I’m always the one who comes out on top.”

She checked the time on her luxury watch and smiled provocatively. “Well, I’ve got things to do. I’ll let you get back to clearing out my new office, Deputy Director Ruan!”

Once she left, the onlookers scattered quickly, leaving only Mi Le behind, looking worried. “Director Ruan, are you okay?”

Ruan Liuzheng’s fingers turned white from gripping the documents. Suddenly, it all felt pointless.

She rubbed her temples wearily, shook her head at Mi Le, and went back into her office.

She tossed the documents into the trash, then called the Beishan Villa and told the staff to mail the divorce papers to the company.

Then she sat down to write her resignation letter.

This job was never what she truly wanted. There was no point in clinging to it now.

Since she had decided to cut ties, she would do so cleanly. She had been foolish long enough.

Besides, it was time to reclaim her old self.

Half an hour later, with the divorce papers and resignation letter in hand, she headed to the CEO’s office on the top floor.

As she stepped out of the elevator, Fu Yanci’s secretary, Jiang Ze, approached respectfully. “Deputy Director Ruan, what brings you up here?”

He was one of the few people in the company who knew about her relationship with Fu Yanci.

Unlike the others, who looked down on her for being the wife left in the cold, Jiang Ze actually respected Ruan Liuzheng.

After all, she had climbed to her position with her own strength. She was no ordinary woman.

He also felt sorry for her — so talented, yet wasted by Fu Yanci’s cold indifference.

Today, Miss Bai officially joined the company.

Jiang Ze knew Fu Yanci’s temper. Ruan Liuzheng’s career at Fu Group was essentially over.

Would she resign? That had never occurred to him.

As Fu Yanci’s personal secretary, he had witnessed the couple’s story. He knew how much Ruan Liuzheng loved Fu Yanci — how humble that love was.

So, of all the people at Fu Group, she was the last one Jiang Ze thought would ever resign.

“Is Fu Yanci in? I need to speak with him,” she said, giving Jiang Ze a slight nod but keeping her eyes fixed on the CEO’s office door.

She could’ve handed the documents to Jiang Ze, but she still wanted to see Fu Yanci in person.

Some things… she needed to end herself.