Chapter 42: A Single Step

Liu Zhuyin's eyes curved into crescent slits as she smiled.

That beaming expression was like an entirely different person compared to yesterday.

And then there were her words...

Just a little bit?

What was going on here?

How did she suddenly become so cute?

My mind went completely blank, feeling as though I were dreaming.

Liu Zhuyin, meanwhile, hurriedly took out a document.

"Yichen, just stamp it right here."

"This is the approval for an imported machine, with a budget of 3.4 million."

"Thirty thousand of that is the intermediary's commission, which doesn't have an invoice."

"But it doesn't matter, we've cooperated with this intermediary many times, and you've bought machines from them before, so you should know."

She explained the contents of the document in great detail.

Reporting everything to me down to the smallest matter...

I mechanically applied the seal, staring blankly at her with a frown.

This woman... did something wonderful happen to her?

Could it be that Ning Yuanzhou proposed to her?

Otherwise, how could she possibly be talking to me in this tone?

That was the only reason I could think of.

"You don't need to tell me all this."

"You are the Chairperson of the Liu Group."

Taking back the seal, I once again prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, she stopped me.

"Yichen, I booked a ticket for sketching tomorrow."

"It's at Mount Ajiang. I know that you art students love the scenery there more than anything."

"Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, it has a different charm in every season."

"And tomorrow will be even more special!"

"It's going to rain in the east tomorrow while the west remains dry—a rare split-sky weather pattern."

"An opportunity like this is exceedingly rare!"

"If you manage to paint a piece out of it, it will be of extraordinary significance!"

I froze for a moment, instantly startled.

"What did you say?"

"Mount Ajiang? Raining in the east! And a split-sky weather pattern!"

This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Mount Ajiang was also my favorite place to sketch. Just as Liu Zhuyin said, it held a different atmosphere in every season.

Looking close up, one could see the hustle and bustle of the city.

Looking far away, one could see where the sky met the mountains.

Every time I sketched there, I gained something new!

Especially with weather like tomorrow's, it was even scarcer.

Tickets for such weather probably wouldn't be easy to grab.

They would surely be snatched up instantly by all those sketching enthusiasts.

I immediately pulled out my phone and searched for tickets to Mount Ajiang.

As expected!

Sold out!

"Ah... This... such a rare opportunity!"

Filled with disappointment, I wore a deeply depressed expression.

Yet, who would have thought that Liu Zhuyin would immediately pull out a ticket and wave it right in front of my eyes?

"Are you too excited, or did you forget what I just said?"

"I managed to get a ticket."

"It's for you!"

Looking at that ticket, I was overwhelmingly excited and instinctively reached out to take it.

It wasn't until my fingers brushed against the ticket that I regained my senses.

This ticket...

She bought it for me!

She actually knew that I loved going to Mount Ajiang?

She had deliberately checked tomorrow's weather and secured a ticket in advance?

My hand stopped mid-air, hesitating.

"What's wrong?"

"Just take it. For someone like me with no artistic cells, it doesn't mean much."

"But for you, you're bound to love it!"

She looked at me with a smile, though her eyes carried a hint of nervousness.

She couldn't be sure whether I would accept it or not.

Just as I didn't know whether I should accept it.

I really wanted this ticket.

Yet I didn't want to accept anything from her.

We were divorced and had no relation to each other anymore.

"Sorry, I..."

"Oh, just take it, Xiaochen."

"It's just a ticket! What's the big deal?"

Before I could finish, Mrs. Liu hurriedly interrupted.

"Don't worry, the two of you are divorced."

"If you feel bad about it, just pay her back. Sweetheart... how much was this ticket?"

Mrs. Liu threw me a lifeline.

She was hoping I would accept it.

However, Liu Zhuyin seemed somewhat reluctant.

"Mom, I intended to give it..."

"Sell it! Sell it to my son-in-law. My son-in-law isn't going to take advantage of your little favors!"

"Just name a price, I'll buy it for my son-in-law!"

"Is one hundred thousand enough?"

Mrs. Liu snatched the ticket away and, right in front of me, pulled out a card and tossed it to Liu Zhuyin.

"Keep the money! Clean break, transaction complete!"

With that, she shoved the ticket directly into my hand.

"Don't have any psychological burden, Mom is giving this to you."

"It has nothing to do with her."

"Go on, go on, go take care of your work."

Wearing a smile, Mrs. Liu hurriedly pushed me out the door.

Fearing that I might turn back and change my mind, she even pressed the elevator button for me.

Not until she watched me descend to the first floor did she finally let out a sigh of relief and turn back inside.

"Mom! What are you doing?"

"I wanted to give it to him as a gift. If you make it a sale... then didn't all my preparation go to waste?"

"Besides, it didn't cost one hundred thousand!"

Liu Zhuyin was somewhat displeased, thinking to herself that her mother really knew how to meddle.

"Silly girl, at least you've finally figured things out."

"But why did your brain only open halfway!"

"Do you really think he would just take something from you directly?"

"What I did was specifically to ensure he would accept it!"

Mrs. Liu let out a huff, glaring disapprovingly at Liu Zhuyin.

"But... I wanted him to feel that I was being good to him."

Did Mrs. Liu not know that?

"I know, but nobody gets fat in a single bite."

"You have to take it slowly."

"Besides, do you think Xiaochen couldn't see through it?"

"Sure, I paid money, but who was the one who went through the trouble of securing this ticket in the first place? Wasn't it you?"

"Understanding his preferences and preparing this ticket for him—that thoughtfulness is what matters most!"

"I stepped in simply to give him a way out."

"Otherwise, if he genuinely refused, could you really have forced it on him?"

"Besides, aren't you going sketching tomorrow anyway?"

Mrs. Liu was an absolute master of manipulation. After her explanation, Liu Zhuyin instantly understood.

"Good girl, tell Mom, how did you suddenly come to your senses?"

Mrs. Liu was overjoyed.

Yet she was also curious as to why her foolish daughter had suddenly figured things out.

Liu Zhuyin told her everything that happened yesterday.

Word for word, including seeing Luo Mingzhu at my place.

"She's just a little girl, he won't be interested in her."

"The one he likes is still you!"

"Mom can guarantee it, but those things he said to you—you must remember them!"

"From now on, don't ever hurt him again because of some Ning Yuanzhou."

"Besides, why do you think he asked for the official company seal? It was actually for the foreign investment project!"

"If he didn't care about you, how could he possibly still help the Liu family?"

Mrs. Liu didn't hold anything back, leaving Liu Zhuyin pleasantly surprised.

"Really?"

"Of course! Would I lie to you?"

Liu Zhuyin felt even more at ease in her heart.

When she saw me together with Luo Mingzhu yesterday, even though she trusted me, she had still felt a bit uneasy.

Hearing her mother's words completely set her mind at ease.

...

Back in the car, I looked at the ticket.

My mind still couldn't quite process it.

Liu Zhuyin actually went to all that trouble and used her connections just to get this ticket for me?

What on earth was this woman playing at?

Wasn't what I said yesterday clear enough?

Trying to win me over? Or... making it up to me?

It must be making it up to me.

And perhaps only by making it up to me could she divorce me without any lingering regrets.

I really wanted to go sketching at Mount Ajiang.

At the same time, I suppose I could let her have this chance to make amends.

Even though I didn't need it, just to give her peace of mind and help us have a smoother divorce...

I decided to accept it after all.