Xu Lei dressed herself in a flurry of activity at home, changing into a pretty dress, spritzing on perfume, grabbing her bag and car keys, and then she left.
Fantastizing about everything that would happen next, she sped to the hotel entrance.
Handing her car keys to the valet, she walked towards the lobby while texting Wen Ruxu.
"I've arrived."
Wen Ruxu was staring at his phone screen when he received the message and hurriedly replied, "Where are you?"
"The lobby on the first floor."
"Okay, I'll come down to pick you up right away."
Xu Lei looked at the message with a smile on her face and quickened her pace towards the elevator.
Just as she thought everything was going smoothly, a familiar voice suddenly came from the side of the lobby.
"Xu Lei."
Isn't that her husband, Old Yang?
Why is he here at this time?
Xu Lei's body tensed, and she turned her head to look in the direction of the voice.
She saw Old Yang, dressed impeccably, approaching from the lounge area with a serious expression.
"Husband, why are you here too?"
Old Yang had been waiting for this moment since he received the photos last night.
Honestly, he was quite happy.
He had long wanted to divorce Xu Lei but couldn't find any leverage, nor did he want her to take his vast fortune.
Now, with this incident, he would absolutely not continue living with her.
Seeing some panic on Xu Lei's face, he sneered.
"What do you think?"
Xu Lei forced herself to remain calm, "What do I think? What are you talking about? You didn't come home all night yesterday, nor did you send me a message. How would I know where you would be?"
"If I had come home, or sent you a message, wouldn't that have ruined your good deed?"
Accompanying Old Yang's sarcastic tone, she became nervous again.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? Xu Lei, don't think I don't know what you've been up to. Let me tell you, even though I wasn't home, I know all about your disgraceful behavior."
Xu Lei thought to herself that she hadn't done anything disgraceful. She had only gotten a little closer to Wen Ruxu these past couple of days, but nothing major.
She didn't believe Old Yang could know anything, so she planned to bluff her way through.
"What disgraceful behavior have I done? Yang, stop bullying me and explain yourself clearly."
"Fine. You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin, and you won't give up until you reach the Yellow River, is that it?"
Old Yang took the photos out of his pocket and threw them in front of her.
"Look at this yourself."
Xu Lei never expected him to throw photos at her. She felt guilty and hesitant to pick them up.
Old Yang pointed at her nose aggressively.
"I work hard outside to earn money and support the family, and this is what you do? Huh? If you don't want to be together anymore, just say it. I won't stop you from climbing to a higher branch! There's no need to do something so disgusting!"
"Since you are unrighteous, don't blame me for being unrighteous. I've already instructed my lawyer to file for divorce, and we'll meet in court!"
Only then did Xu Lei understand what was in the photos. She bent down in disbelief to pick them up.
Upon seeing it was indeed her and Wen Ruxu, but only her face was clear, she was so angry that her features and hands trembled.
"Who took this? Someone deliberately framed me, this is all a misunderstanding! Old Yang, listen to me!"
Old Yang sneered, "Misunderstanding? A misunderstanding that you dressed up like this early in the morning to come to a hotel? If the photos are a misunderstanding, then what are you doing now? Don't tell me you didn't sleep well at home and are here to catch up on sleep after putting on makeup."
"..."
"Don't say anything else. You disgust me. See you in court!"
With that, he turned to leave. Xu Lei grabbed him, unwilling.
"Don't be in such a hurry, let me finish speaking! I can explain, this is really a misunderstanding!"
Old Yang only felt disgusted by her now, and he fiercely shook off her arm.
"I don't want to hear your nonsense, nor do I intend to escalate things. We were husband and wife, let's leave some dignity for each other. Let go of me. That's all."
"Xu Lei, you wouldn't want everyone in your company to know about this, would you?"
Seeing his utter ruthlessness and coldness, as if everything was prepared, Xu Lei suddenly realized.
"I understand. So all of this was your setup."
"Yang, you'll do anything to force me to divorce, won't you!"
"I'm not that bored. What man would give himself a cuckold? I told you, I intended to give you dignity, so don't cause trouble that you can't handle in the end. You'll be the one regretting it!"
After saying that, he shook her off fiercely and strode out.
Xu Lei held the photos and watched his heartless departing back, feeling a pain in her liver, lungs, and spleen.
It wasn't that she was particularly reluctant to end this marriage.
Adult marriages were originally an exchange of interests, a partnership for life.
Old Yang was always immersed in work, neglected his appearance as he aged, had neither looks nor physique, and didn't like to help at home. She had long since stopped needing him emotionally.
It was just the reluctance to part with the huge financial benefits.
But she, Xu Lei, was not someone to be trifled with.
Over the years, she had accumulated considerable connections.
If they were to divorce, she would also reclaim what belonged to her.
It was good that he found out now; from now on, she could openly be with Wen Ruxu.
A young stud was so much more appealing than an old man like him.
Thinking this, Xu Lei's mood quickly shifted.
She stuffed the photos into her bag, walked towards the elevator, and sent a message to Wen Ruxu.
"Have you come down yet? Actually, it's not necessary, I can go up myself."
However, when she sent the message, a glaring red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.
He had blocked her!
Xu Lei's head spun, and she couldn't believe her eyes.
She typed furiously back, but no matter what she sent, it was a red exclamation mark.
She hadn't called Wen Ruxu. This was her only contact method, and once blocked, she couldn't reach him.
She felt extremely flustered, looked around the lobby, didn't see Wen Ruxu's shadow, and hurriedly pressed the elevator button with trembling hands.
She went upstairs and frantically rang the doorbell of the room number Wen Ruxu had sent, but no matter how she rang, there was no response from inside.
Even with her love-struck mind, Xu Lei realized at this moment that she had been tricked.
As soon as Old Yang proposed divorce, Wen Ruxu disappeared. Could she not see through such a simple scheme?
Heh. After years of being pillow talk, to be schemed against like this by her husband, Xu Lei's fighting spirit was ignited.
Good for you, Yang, to dare to scheme against me, just you wait!
Her family was gone, her love was gone, but her career couldn't be lost.
Using her position, Xu Lei could be an hour or so late for work without needing to ask for leave.
She left the hotel and went straight to the company.
She suppressed the anger in her heart, all the way calculating how to sue Old Yang and how to find leverage against him. By the time the elevator reached the first floor from the underground parking lot, a delivery guy came from the lobby holding a bouquet of flowers and stood with her.
The delivery guy pressed the button for the marketing department floor.