Yet Gu Qingshuang remembered none of this. When they first married, she had intentionally kept her distance because Ming Li looked like a startled bird that would shiver if she got too close. So, Gu Qingshuang didn’t speak to her. Combined with their “no falling in love” clause, Gu Qingshuang had avoided contact.
She never expected that despite all her careful planning, her peaceful life would still be shattered by that single word: “love.”
Gu Qingshuang looked at Ming Li and, recalling what she had said before, asked, “Was falling in love with me… worth it?”
Ming Li froze again. She hadn’t expected such a question. She didn’t answer immediately, thinking for a moment before saying, “Yes, and no.”
Then, Ming Li pointed at the documents. “Are you sure you want me to sign this?”
“Sign it.” Gu Qingshuang pretended to watch her hand with indifference, though a sense of desolation washed over her.
When it had been her turn to sign, she had sat in the study for three hours before she could bring herself to do it. Now, Ming Li said she was signing, and she finished both copies in less than a minute.
Once the pen touched the paper, there was no turning back. The contract was in effect.
Gu Qingshuang stared fixedly at Ming Li’s hand. When Ming Li finished and looked up, she saw that Gu Qingshuang’s eyes were slightly red.
Feeling the heavy atmosphere, Ming Li teased, “Regretting it already?”
Gu Qingshuang didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “We’ve been together for so long. Are you so ready to let go?”
Ming Li was speechless.
Whether it was her imagination or not, there was a faint, imperceptible tremor in Gu Qingshuang’s voice. But by the time Ming Li spoke again, the other woman had already recovered her coldness.
“I was talking about the money and the assets,” Ming Li said.
Gu Qingshuang took a large gulp of the Americano. For some reason, even without sugar, it didn’t taste bitter. She couldn’t even taste the richness of the coffee.
Ah, now I know why business is so bad at this cafe.
Gu Qingshuang let out a soft breath. “They’re just worldly possessions.”
Even after meeting Gu Qingshuang and confirming the agreement, Ming Li still requested a meeting with Gu Xueqiang.
She was more nervous about seeing Gu Xueqiang than she had been about seeing Gu Qingshuang. She was afraid of displeasing the older woman, fearing the divorce might fall through.
To her surprise, Gu Xueqiang was unusually agreeable. Over drinks, she treated Ming Li like one of her own. This was a turn of events Ming Li hadn’t anticipated.
After much thought, Ming Li pointed out the unfairness of the contract. She offered to sign a separate agreement with Gu Xueqiang to convert the assets into cash and return them, along with Xingwan, to the Gu family.
Gu Xueqiang simply smirked. “Does my vast Gu family look like it’s lacking your pittance?”
“No,” Ming Li replied. “But I’m the one breaching the contract, and yet Gu Qingshuang gave me so much…”
“That was her choice,” Gu Xueqiang said. “In some matters, if one is willing to give and the other is willing to take, there’s nothing more to say. Don’t waste your energy feeling sorry for her.”
Ming Li was silent.
Later, she and Gu Xueqiang opened several bottles of expensive wine and drank until they were both intoxicated.
When Ming Li woke up, she was in a presidential suite at a luxury hotel owned by the Gu Group. Gu Xueqiang was already gone, leaving only a message: [I wish you a bright future.]
It was a simple blessing, but a practical one. Ming Li was moved. She sent a playful emoji back and then typed: [Can I still come to you if I have questions in the future, President Gu?]
Gu Xueqiang replied instantly: [Yes.]
Ming Li: [Heart-finger.jpg]
Ming Li and Gu Qingshuang had agreed to go to the civil affairs bureau on Monday to get their divorce certificate. On Sunday after work, at Gu Qingshuang’s request, Ming Li went back to the Gu Manor to pack her things.
She couldn’t take all the clothes and bags with her anyway. Some were limited editions that could fetch millions on the secondhand market. Ming Li simply packed two suitcases and planned to take only one of the cars.
As she packed, Gu Qingshuang stood to the side, watching. Feeling awkward, Ming Li didn’t chat. Once she was finished, Gu Qingshuang stood up. “Let’s have a meal together.”
Ming Li hesitated and was about to refuse when Gu Qingshuang said, “You’ve been staying at a hotel these past few days, haven’t you?”
“How did you know?” Ming Li asked.
“Little Xi doesn’t know about the divorce yet,” Gu Qingshuang said. “Zhu Hanxing is away filming. I guessed you hadn’t told anyone, so if you didn’t go home, you had to be at a hotel.”
Ming Li caught the keyword. “Little Xi contacted you?”
“Yes.” Gu Qingshuang paused, her voice low. “I got your birthday wrong. I’m sorry.”
“Oh.” Ming Li was momentarily flustered, but she quickly became composed. “It’s fine. It’s in the past.”
Gu Qingshuang had received Little Xi’s message on Saturday morning. Little Xi wanted to celebrate Ming Li’s birthday and asked if Gu Qingshuang wanted to show up as a surprise.
Gu Qingshuang had replied that Ming Li’s birthday had already passed.
Little Xi: [I know! It was the 26th! But I was in training then. Crying-cat.jpg]
Little Xi: [So our family is celebrating tomorrow!]
Gu Qingshuang had been stunned. [The 26th?]
Little Xi: [Of course!]
Gu Qingshuang checked her payment records; she had bought the gift on the 25th, assuming that was the date. She had been tempted to join Little Xi’s plan, but then she realized that seeing her might only give Ming Li a fright. So, she declined, citing work.
To Ming Li, the mistake truly didn’t matter. Seeing the apology in Gu Qingshuang’s eyes, she even comforted her. “We were just in a contract. It’s normal that you wouldn’t remember my birthday.”
Gu Qingshuang wanted to say that Ming Li remembered hers every year, but she realized there was no point. She simply said, “The food is ready. Let’s go down.”
Gu Xueqiang hadn’t returned. Only the two of them sat at the table, which was spread with ten different dishes.
Ming Li was startled. “Are there other guests?”
“No,” Gu Qingshuang sat opposite her. “This is your last meal at the Gu Manor. I hope it leaves you with a good impression.”
Ming Li sat down slowly. She hadn’t felt much until that moment, but those words made her feel a sudden pang of sadness. The meal was eaten in silence—though they usually ate in silence anyway.
Afterward, Ming Li went upstairs to grab her things. In the bedroom, Gu Qingshuang took a red velvet box from a drawer. It contained the only gift she had ever given Ming Li.
Ming Li smiled. “I almost forgot about this.”
As Gu Qingshuang handed it to her, she murmured, “I rarely give gifts to anyone.” It was almost like she was talking to herself.
Ming Li didn’t hear her clearly. “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Gu Qingshuang picked up one of the suitcases. “Let’s go. I’ll walk you out.”
Ming Li was about to decline, but Gu Qingshuang continued, “I was the one who brought you here. Let me be the one to see you off. A beginning and an end.”
Ming Li nodded. “Alright.”
But as they reached the door, Gu Qingshuang suddenly spoke.
“Ming Li… why don’t you stay the night?”
![Saving the Supporting Female Characters [Quick Transmigration]](https://dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sup.webp "Saving the Supporting Female Characters [Quick Transmigration]")
