LOVE FRAGMENTS

Untitled The Knife Behind the Smile

Jiang Nuan couldn’t say a word. Gu Antong had said she only wanted to “test her character,” and if Jiang Nuan protested, it would imply she had a guilty conscience and couldn’t withstand scrutiny.

Jiang Nuan clenched her teeth and tightened her fingers.

Seeing Si Hanxiang’s agreement, Gu Antong said calmly, “I know Yue Yun has always relied on the family’s resources. Even without working, he has plenty of money to enjoy life. My idea is to cut off his financial support and let him experience what it means to start from nothing. If his wife still chooses not to leave him after that, then his character would be unquestionable.”

Jiang Nuan’s eyes instantly turned cold. Gu Antong’s move was ruthless—using the parents’ authority like a knife to cut off their income.

Gu Antong smiled gently. Leaning on Si Zhenxuan’s shoulder, she looked calm and elegant. She understood Jiang Nuan’s intentions too well. She knew exactly what Jiang Nuan was after.

A woman can have ambition, but stepping on a friend to climb up is not ambition—it’s shamelessness.

But Jiang Nuan was indeed that shameless. She was targeting the Si family’s only heir, Si Yueyun, who would one day inherit the Si family’s business empire. Meanwhile, the man Gu Antong was with—though raised by the Si family—was only their adopted son.

Even so, Jiang Nuan still failed. The man she tried to cling to didn’t want her back, and now she was about to lose everything.

Wei Yulan was the first to object. “How can that work? Yue Yun…”

“All right.” Si Hanxiang raised a tired hand. “I agree to Antong’s request. Yue Yun, go and get the divorce certificate with Antong. After that, Zhenxuan—you know what you need to do. That concludes the family matter.”

Gu Antong nodded and stood up. “Thank you, Dad. I’m satisfied with this arrangement.”

“Go out first. We still have something else to discuss.”

……

After the four people left the study, Wei Yulan said anxiously, “Don’t you understand what Antong means? This girl only cares about Zhenxuan now. If Yue Yun loses his income, how is he supposed to survive? Will he really be kicked out of the family?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Si Hanxiang frowned. “Antong is understandably upset after what happened. What’s worse is that your son, Si Yueyun, got Jiang Nuan pregnant. How is he supposed to recover from that? Antong only said she wants Yue Yun to experience hardship. She never said anything about kicking him out.”

“Then what are we going to do?” Wei Yulan asked in frustration.

Si Hanxiang leaned toward her and explained a few things quietly. Only then did Wei Yulan’s expression soften.

In truth, Si Zhenxuan—the adopted son—had already done his best for this family. He never expected to be the heir. He had served as the executive director of the Si enterprise for many years, handling everything personally. Under his leadership, the company continued to flourish.

Si Hanxiang trusted Si Zhenxuan’s capabilities completely.

But Wei Yulan had always struggled with it. Back when she believed she couldn’t have children and Si Hanxiang suddenly brought home a boy, calling him his adopted son, she reluctantly accepted it.

Later, after she became pregnant with Si Yueyun, she grew increasingly resentful of Si Zhenxuan, always suspecting he was Si Hanxiang’s illegitimate son. The pressure of that belief consumed her, and she desperately wanted her own son to control the Si enterprise.

The Si and Gu families’ marriage was meant to strengthen both sides, but Yue Yun had been too careless, pushing Gu Antong straight toward Si Zhenxuan.

Judging from the past two days, Gu Antong was no pushover. Wei Yulan was furious but could only urge Hanxiang to find a solution.

At the Civil Affairs Bureau, Gu Antong divorced Si Yueyun and immediately went to register her marriage with Si Zhenxuan.

Because of Gu Antong’s words earlier, Jiang Nuan had no hope of getting a marriage certificate with Si Yueyun. Her expression was extremely sour.

She told Gu Antong coldly, “Your goal is achieved. I hope you’re satisfied. But it doesn’t matter—Yue Yun and I will still be happy.”

She stroked her stomach proudly. She had thought Gu Antong and Si Zhenxuan were genuinely in love, but on their way to the Civil Affairs Bureau, she realized the gentle, submissive act Gu Antong put on in the study was nothing but an act.