Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 674: Chapter 677: Hand Me the Pen

Yang Chen didn't hesitate, and with swift strokes, he began writing lines of text on the paper, his handwriting clear and concise. Lin Ruoxi watched silently as the man in front of her penned the words that would separate them, as if he was building a wall between them, one brick at a time. Despite being so close, a person she saw every day would, after this paper took effect, become a stranger.

Roughly ten minutes passed, though to Lin Ruoxi it felt like an eternity. When Yang Chen finally lifted the completed agreement and placed it in front of her, she hastily wiped away her tears. She hadn't realized when she started crying; she had already shed countless tears that day.

Yang Chen, unfazed, acted as if he hadn't noticed anything and said solemnly, "You can carefully review the terms on this document. I believe there should be no issues. I've already signed it. You only need to sign your name, and this document will take effect."

Lin Ruoxi stabilized her emotions and gathered her spirits, carefully examining the dense clauses on the agreement. It was quite fair, without any entanglements of interest, truly a peaceful separation. At the bottom, where Yang Chen had signed his name, there was a blank line for hers.

Lin Ruoxi, lost in thought for a moment, then looked up with a cold expression and said, "Hand me the pen."

Yang Chen suddenly smiled and said, "Before I give you the pen to sign, I need to clarify a few things. Only then can I feel at ease about this divorce."

Lin Ruoxi was silent for a moment and then said, "Speak." She placed the agreement back in the center.

Yang Chen crossed his legs and took a sip of coffee, saying, "The reason we have come to this point boils down to two main issues. First, I'm not the only woman in your life. In fact, several are your close friends. Second, today, I misunderstood you, or rather, I suspected you. But I think the second reason is more of a trigger. After all, I'm not a robot; I have my own emotions and impulses. So, I don't see it as a big issue. Of course, I apologize for my foolishness and recklessness."

Lin Ruoxi sneered, "No need. Since we are getting a divorce, there's no point in apologizing."

Yang Chen shrugged and smiled, "Alright, then I'll get to the point. I believe your biggest dissatisfaction since I returned from Yanjing is finding out from Aunt Jiang that I have a relationship with Ning and Yan. Although I'm not sure how she told you, I'm sure it wasn't pleasant. You probably think I'm just someone who falls for any beautiful woman, disregarding you completely to be with your close friends. But I want to tell you that although I like beautiful women, I'm not a complete pig who falls for every one I see without considering your feelings."

Lin Ruoxi snorted, "Say what you want to say directly. No need to beat around the bush. I only know that a certain man said he was going to Yanjing to help a woman solve some problems, but within a few days, there was news that he had relationships with two other women, even involving his parents. Everything happened so quickly that I saw no honesty, no sincerity, none of the consideration you claimed. I endured Qian Ni because of what happened in Hong Kong, feeling guilty for putting you both in danger. Ms. Rose was someone you knew before we met, and she saved our family, so I had no right to ask you to erase the past. But whether it's Mingyu or Anxin, I can't believe you couldn't refuse them. Even if they had pitiable reasons, if they arose because I failed in my duties as a wife, I accepted that. But how can I understand that Yan Yan, who grew up with me, also got involved? Even worse, Sister Cai Ning, who is like an elder sister to me. The closer the person, the more it hurts. This isn't a competition but a betrayal!"

Exhausted, Lin Ruoxi panted heavily, her eyes glistening as she stared at Yang Chen.

Yang Chen took a deep breath and said seriously, "Alright, I'll explain why Ning and Yan 'betrayed' you."

Lin Ruoxi remained silent, coldly watching Yang Chen.

"Do you remember the first time you pulled me out of the West District police station? From that moment, Yan Yan had interactions with me. She thought I was some bank robber or a bad person in general. She constantly opposed me, causing trouble, and once even provoked me to the point of anger. Later, I met Zhenxiu, who told me that Yan Yan, the police captain, helped her get on the right path and run a small business. That made me change my view of her since her heart wasn't bad, but I didn't like her. I'm not sure why Yan Yan fell for me. Maybe it was because I saved her during a shooting incident, or maybe for other reasons. In any case, I didn't intend to pursue her.

Do you remember when she left her white handbag on our sofa on purpose to have an excuse to meet me? It was clichéd but fitting for her simple, cute personality. That day, she told me she liked me, and she knew about our contractual marriage from you. I was stunned, Lin Ruoxi. Why did you even mention our contractual marriage to her? If she hadn't known that, maybe she wouldn't have confessed."

Lin Ruoxi's face showed slight embarrassment as she realized she had indeed told Cai Yan about their contractual marriage, indirectly contributing to the situation.

Yang Chen continued, "However, despite Cai Yan's words making me feel ashamed and touched, I refused her that day. I thought of her as your close friend and didn't want to disregard your feelings. But I didn't expect Cai Yan to be so fierce, thinking I rejected her because she wasn't strong enough. Do you remember the night her sister Ning came to our house, accusing me of being cruel to Cai Yan, saying she wouldn't let me go if anything happened to her?"

Lin Ruoxi nodded silently. She still hadn't understood what had happened that night.

Yang Chen said, "Yan Yan wanted to become stronger, so as a female police officer, she participated in a special forces selection, a training that could lead to accidental death during the process."

This time, Lin Ruoxi could no longer remain calm. She opened her lips, moved, and asked, "Is that true?"

Yang Chen smiled bitterly, "Otherwise, what did you think? During those few months, why do you think Yan Yan suddenly resigned from the police station and disappeared without a trace?"

Recalling that period, Lin Ruoxi indeed couldn't get in touch with Cai Yan. Just thinking about what had happened made her sweat for Cai Yan.

Yang Chen sighed deeply, "You know, when I saw Cai Yan again, surviving the training, standing among a group of men, her face tanned dark, trying to stay serious and pretending not to know me, I couldn't deceive myself. How could I ignore all the efforts she had made?! A woman who risked her life based on her mere imagination that I might like her, a woman who made such a decision without any hope—what have I ever done for her? What have I sacrificed for her? If I ignored her existence, would I still be human?

After all, we had quite a few interactions before. To say I had no feelings for her at all would be self-deception. That incident made me acknowledge all of it."

Lin Ruoxi bit her lip, her eyes misty, and asked, "Alright, I can understand Yan Yan's situation, but what about Sister Cai Ning?"

Yang Chen replied weakly, "Ning'er's situation involves you too."

Lin Ruoxi frowned, "Why is it about me again? I know Sister Cai Ning, but we're not close."

Yang Chen smiled bitterly, "Wasn't the downfall of Zeng Xinlin's Changlin Media your doing? If it weren't for your major move, which directly brought down Zeng Xinlin's media empire, there wouldn't have been his revenge with Xu Zhihong. If they hadn't gone mad and hysterically tried to kill you, I wouldn't have had to kill Zeng Xinlin. If Zeng Xinlin hadn't died, Zeng Mao, the old man from the Zeng family in Yanjing, wouldn't have come to Zhonghai to avenge his grandson. If Zeng Mao hadn't been determined to destroy Yu Lei International, hurt you, and kill me, I wouldn't have had to take the risk to kill Zeng Mao."

Lin Ruoxi listened to the chain of events and said, confused, "Even if I have a lot of responsibility for all this, I was just doing what a businessperson would do. I couldn't have predicted everything. But what does this have to do with Sister Cai Ning?"

Yang Chen gave her a look, "Do you think it's that easy to clean up after the death of Zeng Mao, the head of the Zeng family? Do you know who killed him? It wasn't me. Ning'er did it to protect me from the repercussions and to ensure that you and those around us could live in peace. She killed Zeng Mao and took on all the responsibility."

"What?" Lin Ruoxi's eyes widened, unable to believe it.

Yang Chen sighed, "Actually, you should find a chance to thank Ning'er. If she hadn't risked facing a military court to protect me, you and Yu Lei might not be safe from external threats. Whether we'd still be living peacefully in Yanxia would be uncertain."

Lin Ruoxi closed her eyes and calmed herself before asking, "Has Sister Cai Ning's issue been resolved?"

Yang Chen nodded, "Fortunately, this time I built good relations with the Li family in Yanjing, which helped resolve it. If I hadn't gone, Ning'er would have ended up marrying a useless man, following her mother's orders. A woman who had nothing to do with me, who was willing to face trial, ruin her reputation, and almost marry someone she didn't love—how foolish must she be? She got nothing in return and almost ruined her entire life. If I were stupid enough not to recognize her feelings and let her marry someone who wanted to take advantage of her, I'd be worse than that fool."

Lin Ruoxi said nothing, listening in a daze, holding her coffee cup, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

To sacrifice everything, even life and future, without expecting anything in return—such a heart was incomparable. Compared to that, her efforts for Yang Chen seemed trivial.

Yang Chen laughed self-mockingly, "Sometimes, I really feel like I always stumble upon blessings falling from the sky. It seems like all the good things happen to me. Of course, I'm not saying you're not good, Ruoxi. I just want to make it clear that I won't let go of anyone who loves me deeply and whom I deeply love. Because they all deserve it."

Lin Ruoxi looked up, her gaze meeting Yang Chen's.

"Lin Ruoxi, I am very grateful for your companionship over the past year. Although it didn't end up very well, these memories are really warm," Yang Chen said with a faint smile.

Lin Ruoxi's eyes reddened slightly as a flood of memories surged through her mind like a film reel.

"Miss Lin, you wouldn't make me repay you for bailing me out, would you? I have no money, just a worthless life."

"Marry me."

"Miss Lin, make yourself clear. I think I might be hallucinating."

"You're not hallucinating. I said, marry me! Marry me immediately!"

"A marriage without love, will it end up like them?"

"No, at least not us. If you, Ruoxi baby, want to go to nightclubs or bars, just call me. I'm very open-minded. We can have fun together."

"Get lost—"

"Three choices for you: watch a movie, go shopping, or visit the aquarium. Where do you want to go?"

"Let's go to the aquarium. I like those tropical fish; they are very beautiful."

"The aquarium will close soon. Pick another one."

"Then shopping is fine too."

"Shopping would exhaust me."

"Then where do you want to go?"

"To the movies."

"Then why did you ask me to choose?! You could have just said we were going to the movies!"

"Democracy, democracy, hehe..."

"Darling, how much longer does our contract have?"

"One and a half years."

"How about we shorten it to six months? Let's be two scorpions for another six months. By then, even if we are the same kind, there's still a difference in class, and we should be tired of each other."

"I accept."

"Are you mocking me? Mocking me that it doesn't matter who raised me, mocking me that I'm an unwanted child?"

"You're wrong. Where you come from doesn't matter. Who's daughter you were in the past doesn't matter either. What matters is where you are now. Now, you are my wife."

Scene after scene of heart-wrenching memories made Lin Ruoxi shed two lines of uncontrollable tears. After struggling to stay calm, she wiped her cheeks.

Yang Chen saw this and maintained a calm smile.

"Give it to me," Lin Ruoxi extended her hand.

Yang Chen was puzzled, "What?"

"Pen," Lin Ruoxi said softly, "Aren't we supposed to sign it? The divorce agreement?"

Yang Chen was stunned for a moment and asked softly, "Ruoxi, didn't you just cry? Why do you still want to sign?"

Lin Ruoxi, somewhat dazed, said, "What do you mean?"

"I've said so much. Weren't you touched?" Yang Chen asked, smiling awkwardly.

Lin Ruoxi's gaze gradually cleared as she replied, "Does it matter? Didn't you say you wanted a divorce?"

Yang Chen swallowed and coughed twice, saying seriously, "Actually, it hasn't been easy for us to come this far. Look, you were so moved by your memories that you cried. It would be such a pity to give up now..."

At this point, Lin Ruoxi finally sorted out her thoughts. The tears in her eyes receded, revealing a hint of understanding.

With a light laugh, Lin Ruoxi said, "Really? I don't feel it's a pity. Hand me the pen." She reached out again.

Yang Chen quickly put the pen behind his back, shaking his head, "Think carefully. This is not a joke!"

"Yang Chen, you were the one who proposed the divorce. You wrote the divorce agreement. Now you want to go back on it?!" Lin Ruoxi glared at him.

Yang Chen's face turned bitter. In the end, he slowly took out the pen and handed it to Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi snatched the pen, glared at Yang Chen, and aimed at the signature line, ready to sign.

But before she could put pen to paper, Yang Chen swiftly snatched the agreement away again!

"Oh my God! Lin Ruoxi! Are you really that heartless?! I told you to sign, and you really signed?! I said divorce, and you really want to divorce?! Do you have any conscience? After hearing such a touching story, don't you think your husband is very responsible? Don't you think the woman is very pitiful? Can't you say something like, 'Dear husband, I understand completely, I support you'?! How are Yanyan and Ning'er supposed to live like this?! You still want to sign the divorce agreement?!" Yang Chen shouted, almost in tears.

Lin Ruoxi smirked, as if she had anticipated this outcome. She brushed her hair back and said, "I never had such thoughts. Since you want a divorce, I'm just cooperating. You humiliated me in front of so many people at the company. Why would I hesitate? Come on, give me the agreement."

Yang Chen's eyes twitched. Without thinking, he tore the paper into pieces, crumpled them into a ball, and threw it aside!

"Why did you tear it?!" Lin Ruoxi asked furiously.

Yang Chen, with an innocent look, dumbly responded, "What did I tear? I didn't do anything. Aren't we here to have coffee? Ahem..."

Lin Ruoxi took a deep breath, furrowing her brows, with an exasperated expression, "I can't believe I met such a shameless man like you. Even after a year, you're still such a scoundrel, just a rascal!"

Yang Chen held his coffee, looking out the window at the fountain, smacking his lips, pretending, "Haha, my lady, today's fountain is really beautiful. The water seems to be more than usual, haha..."

Lin Ruoxi glared at the shameless Yang Chen, gritting her teeth, feeling like both laughing and cursing. Finally, she stood up abruptly and called out loudly, "Waiter! Check, please!"

"Hey! What check?! I haven't finished drinking!" Yang Chen turned around and shouted.

"Drink up, and die for all I care!"

Lin Ruoxi didn't even wait for the waiter, she directly pulled out a few hundred-yuan bills and stormed out.

Yang Chen couldn't sit still, gulped down his coffee, and wanted to follow her out. But seeing Lin Ruoxi's unfinished cup of Blue Mountain coffee, he took a big sip and finished it too before trotting after her.

Chasing her out of the café, Yang Chen blocked Lin Ruoxi's path, smiling cheekily, "Darling Ruoxi, don't be mad. I really have no choice. I'm wholeheartedly, for a lifetime, walking this path with you!"

Lin Ruoxi's anger had mostly subsided. Regarding Cai Ning and Cai Yan, she no longer felt as aggrieved, but was more dissatisfied with Yang Chen's tricks. She looked up, pouting, "Forget it. With a faithless rogue like you, I can't trust anything you say."

"Don't say that. Besides, everyone in the company knows about our relationship now. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if we got divorced right after announcing we were married? My embarrassment is minor, but as the president, your embarrassment would be major!" Yang Chen said righteously.

"You have the nerve to bring that up?!" Lin Ruoxi was on the verge of a breakdown just thinking about the company's current gossip about her and Yang Chen's relationship.

"Don't be impulsive! Since that's the case..." Yang Chen suddenly showed a serious expression and grabbed Lin Ruoxi's hand, saying, "Wife, come with me to another place. This time, I really won't play any tricks."