Chapter 28: You Won

Daughter, congratulations—you finally divorced President Gu, Meng Shutang.

Bai Lianyue walked to Bai Cixian's side, gently placing her hand on her shoulder.

Bai Cixian couldn't feel happy: "So what if we're divorced? He still refuses to touch me."

Bai Lianyue thought it was no big deal: "President Gu's character is valuable; during the marriage his unwillingness to touch you was perfectly normal.

But now the filing is done; that string in his heart, Mom thinks, should loosen."

As she spoke, she covered Bai Cixian's ear and whispered a few words.

Bai Cixian's cheeks flushed pink: "Mom, could this be… too forward?"

"Men approach a woman only for her body.

Do you think President Gu is after you to spite Meng Shutang?"

"But…" Bai Cixian hesitated.

She couldn't help but wonder secretly what kind of woman a man like Gu Yunci would actually like.

Does he prefer gentle and obedient, sweet‑mouthed and feigning weakness, or a woman full of charm and savvy?

As for that cold‑as‑ice Meng Shutang… probably never the type he likes!

Before leaving, Bai Lianyue gently tugged at Bai Cixian's slipped shoulder strap, her fingertip lingering on her shoulder for a moment; when she lifted her gaze, the corners of her eyes rose, and in a softened voice she said, "That's how I lured your father—men are like kittens, constantly craving, so you need a bit more courage."

…….

Meng Shutang and Gu Yunci completed the divorce filing; Bai Cixian no longer had any reservations. She was harsh and obstructive toward Meng Shutang, only hoping she would finish the plan quickly and disappear from her sight, no longer an eyesore.

Meng Shutang pressed on, enduring Bai Cixian's obstruction and revised the plan.

One week later, Bai Cixian placed the plan on Gu Yunci's desk.

The man was very satisfied.

The plan debuted at an internal Culture and Tourism Department meeting, and everyone found it stunning.

Having completed her task, Meng Shutang left the Gu Clan building that day, carrying a storage box.

In front of the vast floor‑to‑ceiling windows on the 28th floor, the man lowered his gaze, watching her tiny figure exit the revolving door and merge into the crowd below.

His slender fingertips rested on the windowsill, surrounded by an impenetrable gloom.

On the desk beside him, the crabapple plant, after the master's tutelage, had recovered and no longer looked sickly.

Yet his relationship with Meng Shutang had grown even more withered.

Meng Shutang put the storage box in her studio, told Ruan An, and then drove to the Palace Museum.

The Palace Museum is Hua Guo's largest, national‑level museum.

In the second‑floor administration area, she met Lu Shenyang.

The cultural‑creative series with ancient bead patterns that Meng Shutang turned down three years ago was exactly the one he headed.

Lu Shenyang wore a well‑pressed dark jacket, a pair of gold‑rimmed glasses perched on his nose, looking scholarly, noble and upright—a clear cultural elite within the system.

"Shutang."

Lu Shenyang poured her a cup of tea, "How have you been lately?"

Meng Shutang stood, took the cup with both hands, "I'm fine, just… about to get divorced."

Lu Shenyang seemed to have guessed, and was not particularly surprised.

He lifted his eyes and gave her a faint glance, not lingering on the topic, maintaining a proper decorum.

"This cultural‑creative project is led by the National Culture and Tourism Administration, collaborating with twenty universities on ancient bead restoration; when the event launches, the national culture and tourism body will report on it throughout."

Meng Shutang's dark eyebrows twitched, "In our last phone call, didn't we agree it was just simple design of cultural‑creative accessories?"

Lu Shenyang handed her a document, "The situation has changed; I just received the notice as well."

As Meng Shutang read, Lu Shenyang continued, "The theme remains designing cultural‑creative accessories, but exclusive licensing is not allowed; you must win a bid to secure the project."

Meng Shutang's expression turned uneasy.

For a project this big, many large firms will undoubtedly compete.

"Senior, does a small studio like ours even need to take part?"

She currently has two million in her account.

The Wenlüxiaozhen project still has time before completion; even then the final payment would be only around four hundred thousand.

Zhou Xingfan's medical expenses are bottomless; she must keep earning nonstop.

Besides this, she couldn't think of a better project that could bring a multi‑million‑yuan influx.

Lu Shenyang was not as certain as on the phone: "I've never doubted your ability, but to win this project you'll still need to put in some effort."

He heard that Gu Group and several other medium‑to‑large companies also want the project.

When it was only simple cultural‑creative accessories, they weren't interested.

But now that it's such a big piece of cake, who wouldn't be envious?

Fan Xing Ge, compared with those medium‑to‑large firms, is indeed at a disadvantage.

Wuling Motors is the path that led to Mercedes; likewise, these small enterprises and workshops are also the path to becoming medium‑to‑large companies!

Lu Shenyang knows well that Meng Shutang's talent is rare in the industry.

But he suddenly recalled Meng Shutang's recent busyness: "Shutang, you once told me you took on a big project from a group company—are you finished with it?"

Meng Shutang replied, "I was handling a Wenlüxiaozhen design project and some follow‑up work, but Chen Man is coordinating it, so I hardly need to manage it."

The plan headed by Bai Cixian in the Culture and Tourism Department was finished today; she taught Ruan An the provenance of the West City Cangpinge collection, she doesn't want to meet Gu Yunci, and will let Ruan An handle it from now on.

Now she can devote herself entirely to the Palace Museum project.

Lu Shenyang: "Then that's good."

The two talked until late, and Lu Shenyang gave her a series of documents and materials.

The items were heavy; he was reluctant to have Meng Shutang move them, so he asked Officer Wang and himself to carry them to the car.

The two of them were sweating profusely, and Meng Shutang took out the drink she had bought in advance.

The officer shook his head, "Matters within your duties, General Meng, you need not be courteous; I won't accept the item, it would violate regulations."

After speaking, he turned to Lu Shenyang and said, "Minister Lu, I'll be heading back now."

Lu Shenyang stood facing Meng Shutang; the autumn wind brought a chill that brushed her, and she shivered slightly, like a camellia brushed by frost—cool and strikingly beautiful.

He took off his coat and draped it over Meng Shutang.

Meng Shutang politely declined, "No need, Brother Shenyang."

"Put it on; keep warm."

He spoke in a businesslike manner, like an older brother caring for a sister he'd watched grow up; if Meng Shutang refused, it would only create distance.

She smiled as she put it on, "Thank you, Brother Shenyang."

In the distance, a Rolls‑Royce window lowered a few inches, and Bai Cixian pointed at Meng Shutang, "Brother Gu, look, Miss Meng and… a man."

The man turned his steady gaze, catching the intimate scene of Meng Shutang with someone.

She showed no sign of refusal, gladly accepting.

"This man is Lu Shenyang, the project head of the Palace Museum Cultural Innovation Department and also a cultural‑relic restoration consultant."

Gu Yunci said, "You know him well!"

Bai Cixian was startled for a moment, then realized the man was jealous.

She propped her chin with one hand, her innocent large eyes looking at Gu Yunci, "Minister Lu and I only have normal professional contact, unlike Miss Meng and him."

The man reached to undo his tie and sneered, "We'll eventually get divorced; this relationship has long been rotten."

Bai Cixian felt very pleased upon hearing that.

She slowly lifted the skirt on her thigh.

She would let Gu Yunci know that she understands him better than Meng Shutang, is more considerate, gentler, and more feminine.

He will eventually realize that Bai Cixian is the one truly suited for him.

She was about to reach her hand toward the man's waist.

In the next second, the cramped space echoed the man's voice, "Yan Chen is returning to the country; tomorrow night we'll give him a welcome. You accompany me; as for the clothes and shoes, I'll have Qin Zheng deliver them to your house."

From the other end of the phone, Meng Shutang's clear voice said, "I'm not going home tonight; I'll send him an address and have him deliver it there!"

The man's voice deepened, "It's late at night; if you're not going home, where will you sleep?"