Chapter 23: A Professional Manager Part 2

Ming Li paused. She realized that Gu Qingshuang truly viewed her through the lens of official business. For these past three years, her existence to Gu Qingshuang had been that of a “partner.” If she was gone, she would just be replaced. If Ming Li didn’t want the job, she could quit.

Gu Qingshuang’s posture was relaxed now, her hands crossed over her lap. Her eyes behind her plain glasses were cold enough to turn to ice. “However, I do not wish to divorce.”

Ming Li’s heart, which had been in her throat, sank slightly, though she couldn’t bring herself to smile. “Really?”

“It’s too much trouble,” Gu Qingshuang said. “If possible, I would like to renew our contract.”

Gu Qingshuang took this opportunity to bring up something she had been thinking about for a long time in Nanshi. She had originally planned to tell Ming Li a year before the contract expired. Ming Li did her job well, and Gu Qingshuang disliked social maneuvering and calculated business dealings.

It just so happened that Ming Li’s family had gone bankrupt, leaving her with no assets to inherit. Over these years, Ming Li had learned a lot while staying by Gu Xueqiang’s side. After the renewal, Gu Qingshuang would request that Gu Xueqiang let Ming Li enter the Gu family enterprises. If Gu Xueqiang was still uneasy, Gu Qingshuang was even willing to sign a lifetime agreement with Ming Li. It would be equivalent to hiring a professional manager to handle the Gu family business—provided Gu Qingshuang inherited the Gu Group.

This way, Gu Qingshuang could do what she loved, and Ming Li would no longer be harassed by Gu Xueqiang over being a temporary contract wife. It was a solution that killed three birds with one stone—beneficial for everyone.

But she hadn’t expected to be talking about divorce with Ming Li today. Since Ming Li said she didn’t want one, they might as well renew now.

Gu Qingshuang clicked a few keys on her laptop, and the printer beside her began to clatter. A new contract was printed out. After a quick scan, Gu Qingshuang stapled the pages together, signed her name on the last page, and handed it to Ming Li.

Ming Li only glanced at it. She didn’t take it. Her focus was entirely on those four words: Too much trouble.

Gu Qingshuang seemed to be someone who was terrified of trouble. To avoid it, she had hastily married Ming Li when Gu Xueqiang was pressuring her, and she hadn’t even blinked when paying off four or five hundred million in debt.

And yet, she wasn’t that afraid of “trouble” in the crowded, noisy hospital. Every day she was running around—consultations, shifts, surgeries, rounds—weren’t those things far more troublesome than her domestic life? But she enjoyed them. Likely because she loved what she did.

In just a few minutes, many fragments of the past flashed through Ming Li’s mind. Years ago, Gu Qingshuang had stood by a bench in a hospital hallway in her white coat, smelling of disinfectant, calmly checking her watch and saying, “I’ll wait for your answer.”

And during these three years, whenever Ming Li came home drunk, Gu Qingshuang would have the servants prepare hangover soup and leave it by the bed. Once Ming Li was sober, she would coolly remind her: “Drinking too much damages the stomach. Don’t drink so much in the future.”

The occasional warmth she showed was enough to make Ming Li fall for her. But at this moment, Ming Li realized that all the warmth she had been given was merely because Gu Qingshuang feared “trouble.”

“If you haven’t made up your mind, you can take the contract with you. Give it back to me once you’ve thought it over and signed it,” Gu Qingshuang said.

“Why do you want to renew?” Ming Li’s voice was hard.

“You have done very well these past three years,” Gu Qingshuang said. “And I am accustomed to this lifestyle. But I am not forcing you to choose. Even if you don’t renew, we can still end the contract in two years.” She added casually, “Business as usual until then.”

Gu Qingshuang was as calm as a robot, her voice steady and expressionless. When she finished, Ming Li stared directly at her, trying to find a single trace of reluctance or affection on her face.

There was none.

Ming Li took a deep breath. “I won’t sign the contract for now.”

Gu Qingshuang froze, seemingly surprised by the blunt refusal. “Why?”

“I’m preparing for some other things lately.” Ming Li smiled at her. “You don’t like running a company, so why do you assume I would?”

Sensing her words were a bit sharp, she added, “I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just… my heart isn’t in it.”

Ming Li didn’t want to argue about these things anymore. Even if they argued, there would be no result.

“Qingshuang, I have things I love too. I originally wanted to tell you once I had a result, but it fell through. Still, I’ll take this chance to tell you: I’ve thought about it, and I still prefer dancing. I haven’t found a theater yet, but there will be opportunities. I’ll keep trying until the day I can perform on stage again,” Ming Li said quietly. “As for Mother, I hope you can help me. I’ll work harder to learn what she wants from me, as long as I’m given a little time to do what I love.”

The atmosphere in the study turned stagnant after those words. Ming Li could clearly tell that Gu Qingshuang was unhappy. Her eyes didn’t show much when she was happy, but they were very obvious when she wasn’t.

Ming Li was nervous, but she had finally stated her needs. She hadn’t planned on saying it, but in this moment, she felt she had to fight for something. She couldn’t always be the one being driven passively.

She would eventually leave the Gu family. The family would carry on as usual without her, and Gu Qingshuang wouldn’t care either. But she mattered to herself. Ming Li realized she needed to change.

After a long silence, Gu Qingshuang looked down. “Fine.” It was calm and cold.

Since the relationship had already been cracked open, Ming Li decided to continue. “I’m not annoyed with you, and I don’t want a divorce. This is your home; you can come back to the room to sleep whenever you want. As for your messages, I’ll reply from now on.”

Ming Li decided she would never throw these little tantrums again. She was the one acting out, yet she was the one who ended up looking like a fool in the end. In a relationship, the first one to catch feelings is always the Joker.

Gu Qingshuang said nothing.

Ming Li continued, “Since I signed a contract, I will abide by it. I won’t fall in love with anyone else; you can rest assured. I know you’re worried that Mother will find out about Hanxing driving me home and misunderstand, which would be troublesome for you to explain. I’ll do my best to avoid those situations. If Mother asks, I’ll explain it myself. Hanxing and I have been friends for years; I shouldn’t have to distance myself just because I’m married, but I’ll be careful in the future.”