Married to the Cold CEO

“Reason for divorce?” “Infidelity.” Both the man and woman responded in unison. “Who was unfaithful?” “I was.” They maintained the same response, except the man added, “Both of them, simultaneously.” The staff member looked up, catching a glimpse of the man’s eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses—sharp and affectionate, as if encouraging her, just the kind of confidence she desired. Remaining expressionless, the staff member couldn’t help but internally scold, “So refined, yet such a scoundrel.” The woman beside the man wore sunglasses, hiding her expressions, but her tightly pressed lips conveyed a cold, oppressive aura. The staff member glanced down at the two documents in hand, the name fields filled with: Jason Chang and Fiona Ruan. These names frequently appeared in the public eye, whether in finance or gossip columns, and now they were both on a divorce application. “Have you made up your minds?” the staff member asked, following protocol. “Do I need to think about taking out the trash?” The female voice was aggressive. The staff member felt awkward, but Jason Chang remained indifferent. “As you can see, she’s temperamental, has a poor attitude, and above all, she’s extremely jealous.” Adhering to the principle of encouraging reconciliation rather than separation, the staff member replied, “Jealousy stems from having feelings for you.” Jason Chang smiled sarcastically. “She’s jealous because I have two.” The staff member’s expression shifted from hopeful to resigned in an instant, recognizing that some people were simply not meant to sustain a marriage. Without looking up, the staff member continued mechanically, “Do you have children?” Both answered, “No.” “Is there any property to divide?” “No.” “Are both parties willingly seeking a divorce?” “Yes.” Fiona Ruan and Jason Chang responded simultaneously. The difference was Fiona Ruan showed clear impatience, while Jason Chang remained nonchalant. The staff member handed them two forms. “Please fill out the application.” Fiona Ruan immediately scowled. “Is this endless? When both parties agree, why do we need to apply multiple times with strangers?” She was clearly angry. The staff member looked at Fiona Ruan, whose short hair barely revealed her ears, wearing a white shirt and black sunglasses. No matter how beautiful her face and lips appeared from the outside, they couldn’t mask the overwhelming sense of oppression she exuded. Panicking for a moment, the staff member quickly explained, “Previously, it was a divorce application. This time, it’s the ‘Divorce Registration Statement.’” Fearing she hadn’t been clear, she added, “It’s just part of the divorce process. Once you fill this out, you can be divorced today.” Fiona Ruan had been waiting for this clarification. She took the thin paper with a blank expression. The staff member, clearly uncomfortable, stood up and said, “Please fill these out first. I’ll prepare the other documents for you.” Jason Chang and Fiona Ruan sat side by side, both with straight backs and white shirts, giving the impression they had prepared specifically for a wedding photo shoot to the uninformed eye. The surroundings were quiet, only the faint sounds of their pens scratching the paper. At one moment, Jason Chang turned his head and called out, “Wife.” His voice was gentle, but Fiona Ruan didn’t even twitch her eyelids. Jason Chang caught a glimpse of her writing his name on the application without hesitation. A silent smile curved his lips. “This is the last time I’ll call you that.” With that, he decisively wrote “Jason Chang” on his own application. If there had been a “third party” present, they would have imagined Jason Chang still had lingering feelings for Fiona Ruan. But Fiona Ruan knew better—Jason was nothing but a sly fox, playing a superficial game with her. The better they performed, the longer their deceit would last. The staff member hadn’t lied; this was the final step. After collecting their marriage certificates and documents, she instructed them to return in a few minutes with two small red booklets. Fiona Ruan thought there was a complication and was about to lose her temper until she saw the words “Divorce Certificate” on the red book. Jason Chang, now fully aware, remarked, “So divorce certificates aren’t green after all.” Fiona Ruan instinctively retorted, “It’s fine as long as the cover is green.” Jason Chang lifted an eyebrow. “Mine aren’t as green as yours.” The corner of Fiona Ruan’s mouth visibly sank. The staff member had had enough. She couldn’t smile or cry, wishing she could somehow remove these two larger-than-life figures from the civil affairs office. As they walked out, a few other couples waited in the corridor for their divorces. Faces ranged from numb to glaringly red with anger, making Jason Chang stand out as if he were basking in the spring breeze. Jason Chang: “One less wife, multiple sisters. No matter how you calculate it, it’s not a loss.” Fiona Ruan suddenly stopped walking, took off her sunglasses. Jason Chang gazed at her eyes, which remained stunning no matter how many times he saw them, hoping to find even a trace of sadness. But Fiona Ruan had already spoken, “Brother Jason.” “After leaving this door, please take good care of yourself.” Jason Chang didn’t blink. Meeting Fiona Ruan’s contrived expression, he smiled softly after a few seconds. “Fourth Sister, rest assured, a wife is never as close as a sister.” As they appeared, the bodyguards waiting outside each held umbrella to greet them. Originally, they were to take separate paths, but suddenly a female voice emerged, “Brother Jason.” Fiona Ruan instinctively looked toward the sound. The entrance of the civil affairs office was elevated, and a graceful figure ascended the steps—a woman in a red dress, red lips, red high heels, her face mostly concealed by an umbrella. She held a bouquet of red roses, strikingly vivid. As the woman reached the final step, she moved her umbrella aside, revealing her meticulously made-up face. She approached Jason Chang, extending the roses forward. “Congratulations on escaping the sea of suffering.” Fiona Ruan, who had already taken a few steps forward, stopped and glanced sideways. She saw Jason Chang remain motionless, his hands also still. The woman holding the roses waited for more than three seconds before swiftly turning her wrist and walking over to Fiona Ruan with the flowers in hand, smiling as she said, “Miss Fiona, congratulations on regaining your single status.” Fiona Ruan: “Do I know you?” Woman: “Before you were Brother Jason’s wife, I already knew you… Oh, I mean before you were married.” Still holding the flowers, Fiona Ruan didn’t move, her exquisite face showing no emotion. Without reason, she said, “You’re not the umbrella vendor!” The woman laughed, “How could anyone not have heard of Miss Fiona?” Fiona Ruan remained expressionless. “Looks like you’ve only heard of me.” As soon as she finished speaking, a loud ‘swoosh’ echoed—more accurately, the same sound emitted simultaneously from everyone present. The woman felt the surroundings darken as the Fu family bodyguards, standing by the steps, uniformly raised their umbrellas, creating a dense black canopy that instantly split the space in two.