Chapter 10: Qin Xingwan, if you are willing to bow your head and soften your stance

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Series perfume was developed by Qin Yunshu bit by bit with her own hands; like her own child, she would not hand it over to anyone else.

Moreover, that person was the one she detested the most.

"I am not discussing this with you, merely informing you," Chu Li said, ice swirling in his deep eyes. "If you are unwilling to go, then just stay home and rest."

After he finished speaking, he went straight upstairs.

Qin Xingwan watched his back, the crack in her heart slowly widening until it became a wasteland.

She sat back down, feeling disheartened; the dinner on the table was sumptuous and delicious, yet it could no longer stir her appetite.

Not knowing how long she had been sitting there, she rubbed her arms.

It was June, yet it was still so cold.

"Ma'am," the servant brought over a blanket. "Sir said your body must not catch a chill."

Qin Xingwan lowered her eyes, the corners of her eyes moist.

For the sake of Qin Yunshu, Chu Li had driven her out of the company.

He had made her lose her child, and now he wanted to give away another piece of her life's work.

He was truly cruel.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" The servant was startled to see the tears on Qin Xingwan's face. She did not understand why, if Sir cared for Ma'am so much, Ma'am was still unhappy.

"I'm fine, you all can clean up." Qin Xingwan wrapped the blanket tightly around herself and dragged her exhausted body back to her room.

Over an hour later, her phone chimed incessantly as countless messages flooded in.

They were all asking about Qin Yunshu joining the research and development team.

Qin Xingwan looked through them and finally understood; it turned out Chu Li had directly announced that Qin Yunshu would temporarily take over research and development.

With a leader suddenly parachuted into research and development, the employees were all surprised, one after another speculating whether the company had some new policy.

Qin Xingwan sent a message in the group chat: 【Resigning soon.】

In any case, she was going to divorce him; naturally, she would resign after the divorce, so this was just moving everything forward.

After she drafted her resignation letter on her phone and sent it to Human Resources, she set her phone to silent to avoid all disturbances.

The next day.

The Chu Group building.

The top-floor office.

The Human Resources Director wiped sweat from his forehead as he presented the resignation letter Qin Xingwan had sent last night for Chu Li to review.

No emotion could be read on Chu Li's deep face, yet anger welled up in his heart; was she using a resignation letter to threaten him?

Did she think the perfume research and development sector couldn't function without her?

A childish trick.

The Human Resources Director asked cautiously, "What do you think?"

Everyone in the company knew that Qin Xingwan was President Chu's wife and also the pillar of research and development.

Now that the pillar was leaving, he dared not make the decision himself.

"Process her paperwork," Chu Li said with a cold tone.

He simply would not indulge her temper.

"And the position of Research and Development Director?" the Human Resources Director asked.

"Give it to Qin Yunshu."

"Yes."

Qin Xingwan woke up from a nap and saw the notification that her resignation had been approved.

She held her phone and hugged her quilt, sitting on the bed for a long while before she finally came to her senses.

Chu Li had agreed to her resignation.

Very well.

Yet, her heart felt a coldness she had never experienced before.

She sent a message to her subordinates, asking them to help pack her things, and that she would come to get them when she had time.

The result was that they told her Chu Li would not allow anyone to pack her things; she had to go in person.

Qin Xingwan had no choice but to change her clothes, put on makeup, and drive to the company.

The entire Chu Group covered many business sectors, among which the perfume division had been lukewarm for years, until Qin Xingwan joined and launched the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Series, which finally brought new vitality to the entire perfume division.

Now that Qin Xingwan was leaving, the research and development employees were all very confused.

They did not understand why President Chu wanted to replace a dedicated, meritorious employee with a newcomer who had no reputation whatsoever.

The atmosphere in the entire research and development department was very gloomy.

Qin Xingwan revealed a faint smile: "I wish you all a bright future."

"Director Qin," someone called out with reluctance, "are you really leaving?"

Qin Xingwan nodded gently, "Yes."

"But your perfume series isn't finished yet."

Such a good series—if the person changed, they didn't know if it could even continue.

Qin Xingwan finished packing her things and suddenly raised her eyes to look across the room.

There, Qin Yunshu and Chu Li stood side by side, one in a white dress and one in a suit; they were quite a sight.

Qin Xingwan, however, had no heart to admire them.

She closed the cardboard box.

"Sister," Qin Yunshu walked over, her eyes red, "I didn't mean to steal your position."

Qin Xingwan picked up the box, her gaze indifferent: "Whether you stole it or not, it is yours now."

Just like Chu Li; whether he snatched her away or not, she always had a place in his heart.

"A Li, please persuade my sister to stay." Qin Yunshu turned to look at Chu Li, pleading softly, "If it is because of me, I can go work somewhere else."

She bit her lip, "Besides, my sister has more experience."

Chu Li's expression was indifferent; he had originally intended to suppress Qin Xingwan's temper, so how could he possibly want to keep her?

"Yun Shu, you have studied perfumery under Master Katherine for three years, which is enough to qualify you for the position of Research and Development Director."

His gaze shifted, landing on Qin Xingwan, "And she has never systematically studied how to blend perfume; how could she shoulder the responsibilities of this position?"

The light, heavy-handed mockery struck Qin Xingwan's face in front of so many people.

Qin Xingwan's face turned pale; it felt as if someone had sliced her heart open, the pain sinking into her bones.

She knew that in Chu Li's heart, she could not compare to Qin Yunshu, but she did not know he placed her position so low.

Low enough to be trampled upon in public.

"A Li, don't say that; my sister is very excellent." Qin Yunshu was a little angry, her delicate brows furrowing.

Chu Li sneered, "You are wholeheartedly worried about her, but she doesn't appreciate it."

Qin Xingwan raised a smiling face again: "If you are finished, I can go now, right?"

She carried her cardboard box and left.

Walking to the elevator entrance, Chu Li's deep voice came from behind: "Qin Xingwan, if you are willing to bow your head and soften your stance, I can give you the position of Deputy Director."

Like a bestowal.

Qin Xingwan turned back, looking at Chu Li across the not-so-long corridor, and said coldly and clearly: "No need."

She entered the elevator.

The elevator doors closed, descending.

Chu Li looked at the empty corridor, feeling as if he had inexplicably lost something very important.

He felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Qin Xingwan returned to Beicheng Villa; she packed up her things, planning to move out of here as soon as possible.

Her divorce from Chu Li was only a matter of time.

Rather than staying here and being driven out, it was better to leave with dignity.

At dinnertime, Chu Li returned.

He looked around and didn't see Qin Xingwan, so he asked the servant.

The servant quickly said: "The Madam is in the study."

Chu Li went to the study upstairs.

He pushed open the door and saw Qin Xingwan curled up in a rattan chair by the window.

She was holding a book, her long hair draped softly over her shoulders, and the sunset fell upon her through the window, coating her in a layer of orange light and shadow.

It made one's heart ripple with layers of warmth.

Qin Xingwan was reading a book on perfumery when, caught off guard, a shadow loomed over her, and the man's breath landed on her lips.

After a slight daze, she calmly turned her head to avoid the kiss.

Chu Li was not annoyed; his palm passed under his wife's knees, and he lifted her up to shift her to the side, squeezing himself into the rattan chair.

The rattan chair was not particularly spacious; it was more than enough for Qin Xingwan alone, but it was exceptionally crowded for two people.