Years ago, Meng Yanran was the Queen Bee of their school, yet, people only flocked around her either because of her pretty face or the fact that she came from a wealthy family. However, once her family's business went bankrupt and her father died from illness, the same people were the first ones to abandon and ignore her.

  When she divorced her husband and her mother continued to nag her over her unfilial attitude, Meng Yanran thought that there was no hope for her anymore. She truly felt that the world had taken everything from her— but that was before she met Tang Moyu. The latter was the first one to believe that she had the necessary skills to follow her father's path as a jewelry designer, giving her life direction.

  Months after she started working at Xiao Xing, Meng Yanran finally learned to stand on her own feet and provide for herself, proving that her mother was wrong. She didn't need to rely on a man to have a decent and comfortable life.

  Who would have thought this was where she'd end up with?

  For the first time since her father's death, Meng Yanran felt she would be okay. Although she had yet to prove to Li Yuanyi's parents that she was suitable for their son, she was not so anxious. She didn't plan to give up on her career. For her ex-husband and mother, her appearance had more value than any skills she could have. This was why she treasured her life now. She had learned so much about self-worth.

  As for her ex-husband, she didn't care about him anymore. She should have known that he wouldn't be able to stay faithful to their marriage. He loved women, and not even wedding vows could stop him from bed-hopping. But, thinking about it, Meng Yanran realized that their marriage didn't have any solid foundation in the first place— even the physical aspect of it. The rest of the years before their divorce, her ex barely touched her, and would rather shower her with money than spend time with her.

  Their marriage seemed perfect in the first year. However, that easily changed when she couldn't get pregnant. Meng Yanran suddenly became the epitome of a trophy wife— an eye candy that was expected to cling on her husband's arm and only had to be pretty and presentable when needed.

  Meng Yanran was aware that her marriage was falling apart. They were a perfect couple in public, but at home, they were worse than strangers. A neglected wife, it's what she had turned out when she couldn't produce an heir. She had forgotten how many times she waited late at night for his return from work. Her instincts were telling her he was cheating, but she didn't dare find out the truth until that illegitimate child of his showed up. It was the last straw.

  If her father hadn't made such a foolish decision with money, her mother wouldn't have been eager to sell her off to be married. Anyway, that was in the past. Meng Yanran wanted nothing but to live her life to the fullest without regret.

  Even though she and her mother didn't get along, at least their relationship was tolerable before. But after her divorce and refusal to be sold off again in a loveless marriage, she had cut ties with her. Meng Yanran only had Lin Qianrou left for family and that was enough. Also…


  Also, now, she had Li Yuanyi who was very supportive in her decision to pursue her passion for jewelry designing.

  "Don't allow my father to intimidate you, Miss Meng," she heard Li Meili say. "Just trust my brother. He would eventually find a way to convince them."

  "Thank you for reassurance, Meili. I trust him," she told Li Meili.

  When Li Yuanyi returned from sending off his parents, he was obviously pissed.

  "Dad tried to chew your head off again?" Li Meili questioned her older brother before piercing the sliced honeydew melon Zhang Jiren prepared for her.

  Li Yuanyi's jaws hardened and took a seat next to Meng Yanran.

  "He's thinking too much. I don't know why he always tries to meddle," he grumbled, annoyed that their father tried to convince him to leave Meng Yanran for another woman.

  Meng Yanran patted his hand and smiled weakly. "Don't be angry. He's just worried about you."

  Li Yuanyi looked at her and felt guilty. She was too kind to him and he really liked her a lot. But it was hard to convince his father that their business wouldn't suffer just because he chose to marry a divorcee.

  Zhang Jiren made coffee and distributed the steaming mugs to their guests.

  "Thanks," Meng Yanran murmured, wrapping her delicate hands around the mug. Her lips curled into a smile but it didn't reach her eyes much to Li Yuanyi's guilt. He knew his father intimidated his woman but at the moment, he was at a loss as to how to make the old man accept her.

  There were two reasons why women outside their "circle" would associate themselves with men like Li Yuanyi, according to Chairman Li: Fame and money. The method? Well, first was obviously s.e.x. It was the easiest, most especially when the man in question had already been charmed. The other was to be "helpful" at the right moment. Gratitude could make wonders on how one saw the person he's indebted to.

  Mentioning these things, there was no need for Li Yuanyi to think hard that his father was insinuating that he was into Meng Yanran because of these reasons and methods. This angered him greatly. Meng Yangran wasn't the kind of woman who'd whore herself out just to get something from him—and he was definitely not indebted to her, at least, not the kind of gratitude that his father insinuated.

  "Brother, I think you don't need to bring Miss Meng whenever Dad is around. Also, I'm afraid he would use his sickness to force you to break up with her," LI Meili said, continuing their conversation.

  "Meili, why do you say that?" Li Yuanyi lifted his head to look at her.

  She shot him with her best cut-the-bullshit look. He couldn't possibly be serious, right? He wasn't that dumb not to know what she meant.

  "Well, look at you, brother. Aren't you old enough to decide what to do with your life? We are not that young anymore. Anyway, enough of this already. Didn't you come here to see Leyan?" Li Meili reminded him, dispelling the awkwardness within the room.