Chapter 2

The moment she said it, Tang Ruan instantly regretted it.

Jianbing guozi in a wealthy household? What kind of nonsense was that? She should have asked for a lavish feast. But it was too late to take it back now.

An awkward silence filled the dining room.

Ji Jing showed no overt reaction. His eyelids twitched slightly, but he said nothing, as if he wasn’t at all fazed by his wife’s sudden change.

Butler Li, ever the consummate professional, nodded earnestly despite the peculiar request. “Understood. Anything else you’d like?”

Tang Ruan hesitated for a moment, then decided to fully commit. Waving her hand, she added, “A cup of soy milk too.”

“Got it.”

After Butler Li left, the dining room was left with just Tang Ruan and her nominal husband, Ji Jing. This was Tang Ruan’s first time seeing him in person since she’d been transported into this body. When she’d arrived, Ji Jing had just left for a business trip after an argument—or more accurately, after the original Tang Ruan’s one-sided tantrum.

That was five days ago.

So today——

It was their first meeting.

Tang Ruan studied the man sitting with his back half-turned to her. She had to admit that he was even more stunning in person than the novel had described. His refined features were sharply defined, with a chiseled jawline and a straight, prominent nose. His deep-set, amber eyes had left a lasting impression in their brief exchange.

Even sitting there casually, Ji Jing exuded an aura of sophistication and dominance—a natural elegance born of his elite upbringing. This was the kind of presence that only successful men possessed.

Lost in thought, Tang Ruan was startled when Butler Li’s voice snapped her back to reality. “Madam?”

She smiled confidently and nodded, composing herself as she walked over to sit diagonally across from Ji Jing.

Ji Jing glanced at her briefly before shifting his gaze elsewhere, as if uninterested.

From Tang Ruan’s perspective, it seemed Ji Jing genuinely felt nothing for the wife he had married.

–

Neither of them initiated conversation, and the suffocating silence soon became unbearable for Tang Ruan. Clearing her throat, she tried to get Ji Jing’s attention.

“Something on your mind?”

Tang Ruan nodded. “Yes.”

“Divorce?”

She froze, exasperated at the original Tang Ruan. In the novel, the heroine had been single-minded in her pursuit of divorce after falling for a young lover, to the point where “divorce” was practically the only word she ever said to Ji Jing.

But this time, divorce wasn’t what Tang Ruan wanted to discuss—not directly, at least. She still planned to divorce Ji Jing, but not until he became so fed up with her that he would initiate it himself. That way, she could secure a more generous settlement while preserving an amicable front. A win-win.

Shaking her head, she replied, “No, it’s not that.”

For the first time, Ji Jing gave her a proper glance, his eyes flashing briefly with surprise.

Since a month ago, his wife had been relentless about bringing up divorce. This sudden shift in attitude felt like a strange olive branch. To him, it seemed like she was playing some sort of game—offering a small act of kindness only to later demand something worse.

Tang Ruan rested her hands on the table and looked at her nominal husband with a calm expression. “I’d like to stay at my family’s house for a few days.”

She’d thought long and hard about this. Since she couldn’t return to her original world, she had no choice but to adapt to this one. Before diving into her new role, she wanted to visit the original Tang Ruan’s family home to better understand the situation.

Although the family business had been taken over, their old residence remained intact.

Her decision to temporarily leave was well-considered. While she had some knowledge of the novel and the original Tang Ruan’s memories, she didn’t fully understand Ji Jing, who would now be her closest companion. Tang Ruan worried that staying too close might give away her secret. A brief separation would give Ji Jing time to adjust to her subtle changes without suspicion.

After all—

Who would ever imagine that her soul and thoughts had completely transformed while her exterior remained the same?

…

Ji Jing raised his gaze slightly, finally taking a moment to scrutinize his wife. His brows furrowed as he fixed her with a sharp, probing look. His low voice carried a note of pressure. “Are you sure?”

The intensity of his gaze made Tang Ruan’s heart race with nerves, worried that her secret might already be exposed.

“Is that not okay?” she retorted, fully embracing the original heroine’s spoiled and self-centered demeanor. Her expression was one of entitlement as she added, “I’m merely informing you that I’ll be staying at my family home for a few days.”

Ji Jing listened, the corners of his lips curving slightly as he leaned lazily against the back of his chair, eyeing her with amusement. “Alright.”

Tang Ruan faltered, momentarily at a loss for words.

Indeed, being willful and hot-tempered was entirely in line with the original heroine’s character.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Ji Jing’s gaze just now had conveyed an unspoken approval, as if to say, This is exactly the attitude you should have toward me. As the eldest daughter of the Tang family, the original heroine never consulted anyone before making decisions—even her husband. She always acted on her own whims.

Tang Ruan pressed her lips together. This wasn’t her natural personality; behaving so bluntly and disregarding others’ feelings didn’t sit well with her.

As she wrestled with these thoughts, the butler, Mr. Li, arrived to defuse the tension. He brought over the jianbing guozi she had requested, placing them on a pristine white plate. The enticing aroma filled the room, carrying the charm of street food. However, the presentation was far more refined than anything you’d find at a roadside stand.

Tang Ruan smiled faintly and turned to the butler. “Thank you.”

The butler, taken aback, replied, “You’re welcome, ma’am. Please try it—this is my first attempt at making such a dish.” He chuckled nervously. “The young master typically doesn’t eat things like this.”

“Oh,” she replied, nonchalantly. She knew, of course. But it didn’t matter—she simply wanted to eat it.

Taking a bite, Tang Ruan’s eyes lit up, and she beamed. “It’s delicious. Thank you, Mr. Li.”

“It’s my duty, ma’am. I’m glad you enjoy it.”

Ji Jing glanced at his wife, then returned to his own breakfast, eating with his usual elegance.

–

After breakfast, Tang Ruan excused herself. Back in her room, she began packing her belongings for her stay at her family home. One thing she had to admit: while the original heroine had her faults, her taste was impeccable. The walk-in closet was filled with stunning designer pieces, each one more dazzling than the last—all from the latest collections.

Tang Ruan lingered in the closet for a while before choosing a long dress suitable for the early autumn weather. She added a hat and sunglasses, then carried her suitcase downstairs. What surprised her, however, was the presence of people waiting for her in the foyer.

“Are you ready, ma’am?” Mr. Li stepped forward, his tone as deferential as always. “The young master has arranged for Uncle Liu to drive you back.”

Tang Ruan hesitated, then nodded. “Thank you.”

She wasn’t entirely sure if her decision to distance herself from Ji Jing for a while was the right one. Regardless, she felt she needed more time to adjust to her new circumstances.

The Tang family’s house, though uninhabited, was still in excellent condition. Upon arriving, Tang Ruan found it spotless—someone had clearly been maintaining it.

She furrowed her brows as she took in her surroundings, struggling to understand why the original heroine had been so intent on divorcing Ji Jing.

While Ji Jing might not have loved her, he certainly didn’t neglect her. His care and consideration extended to even the smallest details of her life.

After unpacking her suitcase, Tang Ruan stood in the middle of the spacious living room, hands on her hips, and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! This enormous villa—it’s all mine! Just mine!”

In her previous life, Tang Ruan had worked tirelessly for over two years and couldn’t even afford a bathroom, let alone a place like this. Now, she had an entire villa to herself. The joy was indescribable.

She ran around the house like an excited child, eventually collapsing onto the plush sofa in exhaustion.

Ah, the perks of being part of a wealthy family. Even the sofa was softer and more luxurious than anything she’d ever experienced before.

Before she knew it, she’d fallen asleep on the couch.

Tang Ruan had a dream. In it, the original heroine appeared, lamenting her decision to divorce Ji Jing. She tearfully confessed that she didn’t care whether Ji Jing loved her or not—she regretted leaving. All she wanted was to stay in the Ji family’s protective bubble, living a stable and secure life.

If she could do it all over again, she wouldn’t have divorced Ji Jing, and she certainly wouldn’t have fallen for the man who only wanted to steal her fortune.

She pleaded with Tang Ruan to live well on her behalf and not repeat her mistakes. She warned that the outside world was far too dangerous and unforgiving.

–

Tang Ruan woke with a start, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

What a nightmare.

No way. She wasn’t going to stay married. She still wanted that divorce and the substantial settlement that would come with it. She had no intention of spending her life tied to a man who didn’t love her—and whom she didn’t love either. That would be like shackling herself in chains, sacrificing her freedom.

That said, she certainly wasn’t going to elope with the scam artist who had duped the original heroine.

After collecting her thoughts, Tang Ruan climbed off the sofa, stomach growling. It was already 2 p.m.—she’d napped for three hours.

Just as she was about to look for something to eat, her phone rang with a cheerful tune. Glancing at the unfamiliar number, she hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Hello?”

“Darling, it’s me,” a gentle male voice cooed from the other end of the line.

Tang Ruan shivered, goosebumps forming all over her skin. What kind of judgment had the original heroine possessed to fall for such a sickly sweet voice? She’d even divorced Ji Jing for this guy! What was she thinking? Was her brain completely fried?

“Darling, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you upset because I haven’t called in a few days?”

“No,” Tang Ruan replied, clearing her throat and forcing herself to play along. She pulled the phone away slightly, grimacing as she said, “Why are you calling?”

Still distracted by the call, Tang Ruan failed to notice someone quietly entering the house.

The voice on the other end continued to drone on, and Tang Ruan’s frown deepened. When the man suggested meeting up, she agreed without hesitation. It was better to deal with this mess sooner rather than later.

“When and where?”

“Tonight, at our usual spot.”

Tang Ruan thought for a moment about where “the usual place” was, and then softly replied, “Okay.”

“See you tonight, darling,” came the affectionate voice from the other end.

Tang Ruan listened to the sickeningly sweet tone and felt utterly repulsed. Still, to ensure tonight’s plan would go smoothly, she forced herself to play along. “See you tonight,” she responded.

After hanging up, Tang Ruan reached out to put the phone down, but the moment she extended her hand, she noticed someone standing near the coffee table. Startled, she looked up and found herself locking eyes with the man who had suddenly appeared in the room. In that instant, a string of curses flew through her mind.

What the hell?!

What does one do when caught sweet-talking a lover on the phone… by one’s husband?!