Wang Qiqi was completely stunned upon hearing this, never imagining that Li Qian's divorce from Li Xiangdong actually ended up without her taking a loss. “Sister Qian, you might be happy, but the other side certainly isn't.” After all, there was a life growing inside her, and seeing so much money just vanish like that—it was impossible for that person to be happy. It wouldn't be surprising if they conjured a little straw doll and started sticking sewing needles into it.

Li Qian stopped drinking upon hearing this, placing her wine glass firmly on the dining table, her eyebrows shooting up. “If it weren't for my generosity, my good nature, how would she get half the assets? Hmph, I’ve already been magnanimous enough. Besides, no matter how much she gloats, what she’s carrying is only a girl.” Pfft. Li Xiangdong that fool actually thought the second child would be a boy; he didn't even bother to investigate. However, Li Qian did grudgingly admire that mistress; to achieve her goal, she actually managed to pull off this trick. Didn't she worry that things would become exponentially messier once the baby was born?

“A girl?” Wang Qiqi suddenly recalled what Ye Ruizhi had told her a few days ago. Those words weren't meant to be spoken in front of Li Qian, but she let it slip without paying attention. “Weren't they saying it was a boy?” Ye Ruizhi had said mockingly that when there was already a son ready to take over, why bother trying for a second boy? Didn't they realize whether he even had the good fortune to enjoy the blessings of this son? But unexpectedly, Ye Ruizhi had actually been wrong this time; the mistress was clearly not carrying a son, but a daughter. After all, a daughter is a parent’s close little padded jacket—though perhaps this daughter wouldn't be born into a warm welcome from her parents.

Li Qian was surprised that Qiqi had even heard these bits of gossip circulating within certain circles. However, she didn’t suspect Ye Ruizhi. She reasoned that Qiqi occasionally helped Li Xiangdong with work, and many people at the company knew about the mistress; perhaps one of them had mentioned it to Qiqi. “Yes, they kept saying the fortune teller predicted she was destined to have a son, and that her pregnancy signs also indicated a son.” The reason Li Qian knew the mistress was carrying a girl was that she discovered the doctor handling the prenatal checks was someone Li Qian knew. A little probing, and she learned about the situation. Li Qian could have divorced much earlier, but she deliberately stalled until after New Year’s Day because by then the baby's condition was stable. If she had forced an abortion, her chances of conceiving again would have been slim. Li Qian wanted to see what that woman intended to do.

If the mistress aborted the child, she’d have to rely on fate to be kind enough for her to get pregnant again—and it must be a boy, otherwise, Li Xiangdong’s fortune would ultimately go to his son, Li Zhe. Li Qian knew that the years she spent painstakingly maneuvering to marry Li Xiangdong were not something she wanted to see undone. If the mistress kept the girl, Li Qian could guarantee the former in-laws would be displeased. Those old people were classic adherents of favoring sons over daughters. The only reasons they sided with the mistress were her sweet talk that pleased them, and the fortune teller’s prediction that she was fated to bear sons and was a person blessed with prosperity that benefited her husband and children. Little did those old folks know that the so-called master fortune teller, after receiving a hundred thousand yuan in red envelopes, had spouted nothing but lies, all based on information the mistress had supplied. In short, great expectations lead to great disappointment. Even if Li Xiangdong wouldn't divorce her due to appearances, a man who has cheated once is unlikely to stop; her time to cry would come later. Even if she decided to divorce, the second daughter-in-law, who was deemed a money-losing burden by the former in-laws, could dream if she thought she’d enjoy the same treatment she currently received.

Wang Qiqi was left utterly dumbfounded upon hearing the lengths the mistress went to in order to secure the divorce from Li Xiangdong. She had only one thought: this woman was truly talented; it was a waste for her to be a receptionist. “Don’t worry. Since she climbed up from being a mistress, she will naturally be wary of other mistresses.” However, this official promotion might turn out worse for her. As a mistress, all she needed to do was dress beautifully and please her benefactor. But once she became a wife, she had to worry about many things, and much of her energy would be consumed elsewhere. How could she possibly care for her husband as thoroughly and comfortably as before? The slightest lapse could displease him. When comparing the two situations, plus the abundance of beautiful, sweet-tempered young women available outside, she might find the reality disappointing. “But CEO Li isn't a generous person either; he’s a typical capitalist.” Having dealt with Li Xiangdong so often, Wang Qiqi knew he looked like a refined, generous person, but in truth, he was stingy. “I plan to discuss this with CEO Li in a couple of weeks. I’m quite tired lately, and Han Tao is also busy with work, so I need to take care of him. Therefore, I don’t plan to continue working part-time for him anymore.”

Wang Qiqi had long been fed up with the orders from Li Xiangdong’s side—they were always urgent, always difficult jobs; if a job wasn't hard, he wouldn't give it to her. So, while her income looked higher on the surface, a careful calculation showed she was actually losing out. She felt awkward bringing it up because of Li Qian, but now that Li Qian was divorced, Wang Qiqi wanted to settle down and focus on things she enjoyed. Furthermore, Wang Qiqi suspected that since she hadn't gotten along with the mistress before, things might become difficult once the mistress officially took over. So, she decided to just quit outright.

Li Qian knew Wang Qiqi harbored resentment toward Li Xiangdong regarding his side of the business. She had mentioned it to Li Xiangdong before, but he insisted he would handle his own business affairs. “Qiqi, that…”

“It’s fine. With her stirring things up in the background, and considering how reluctant he was to give me that raise back then—I only got it because I was forceful—I’d rather just stop now to avoid future unhappiness.” Wang Qiqi understood why Li Qian felt hesitant. Perhaps in the past, Wang Qiqi might have felt Li Qian wasn't helping enough, but looking back, they were husband and wife; why would she side with an outsider like her? Now she realized that even if Li Qian wanted to help, if someone else disliked her, any attempt to help would only make things worse.

The two women didn’t finish their meal until past eleven o’clock, the dishes growing cold and being reheated. After dinner and a late-night snack, they moved to the sofa to sip red wine and chat. As for the dishes, Li Qian declared they were for the cleaning lady to handle, and Wang Qiqi was perfectly content not to lift a finger.

Having cleared the air with Li Qian, Wang Qiqi didn’t want to drag out her departure from Li Xiangdong’s side any longer. A couple of days later, she headed straight to the company while Li Xiangdong was there.

When Wang Qiqi walked into the company, she noticed the receptionist had been replaced by a middle-aged auntie. She remembered the previous receptionist was a refined, bespectacled recent graduate. How had things changed so quickly, replacing her with a middle-aged woman? This must have been the mistress’s idea, probably worried her sugar daddy would be snatched away.

After going through the necessary announcements, Wang Qiqi entered the office area. Even though it was working hours, she noticed fewer familiar faces with a quick glance. Wang Qiqi sighed inwardly. This must be the so-called "clean-up." She was already this aggressive before officially taking the top spot; she couldn't imagine what it would be like once she became "Mrs. Li." This observation only solidified her resolve to leave.

“CEO Li,” Wang Qiqi knocked lightly on the office door. Hearing the prompt to enter, she turned the handle and walked in. The first thing she saw was the mistress, heavily pregnant, sitting on the sofa flipping through a fashion magazine. Wang Qiqi had no intention of acknowledging her.

The mistress waited for a long time, noticing Wang Qiqi hadn't even offered a greeting, treating her like thin air. “Oh, who is this? Someone walks in without a single greeting.” Hmph. If it weren't for this woman, she wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state. She had initially planned how to deal with her, never expecting her to walk right into the trap.

Wang Qiqi knew she was looking for a fight, and she really wanted to retort, Who are you? I don't know you. But she thought better of it; there was no need to provoke her. What if the mistress became enraged and triggered signs of premature labor? Qiqi would inadvertently become a great sinner in the Li family, essentially benefiting her rival.

“CEO Li, I’m planning to stop my part-time work,” Wang Qiqi said without sitting down, getting straight to the point. “Although sending an email or making a call would suffice, I felt it was best to tell you in person. Thank you for your care over the past two years.”

Li Xiangdong knew Wang Qiqi was dissatisfied with his actions, and he knew Li Qian’s divorce would prompt Qiqi to consider leaving. But he hadn't expected her to show up so quickly. He had been grooming a few promising replacements, so there would be people to step up if Qiqi left. The problem was that, recently, he seemed to be experiencing one setback after another; one person after another was resigning, leaving Li Xiangdong frantic. Before he could devise a plan, Wang Qiqi was already standing there. “Qiqi, you’re… Is this about salary? That’s easy to discuss.” Even if the final result was Qiqi’s departure, he still hoped to delay it by a few months until he found someone suitable.

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “It’s not about salary; it’s because I’m tired. I used to work myself ragged because I needed more money for the mortgage. But now, the company where Han Tao is interning has started treating him as a formal employee. His monthly income is quite good, but he’s much busier than before, so I need to take care of him.”

Li Xiangdong had initially planned to use money, his best ally, to keep Wang Qiqi, but he hadn’t expected that even money couldn't hold her now. “Alright, if you ever want to come back to earn some extra pocket money in the future, you can return anytime.” Since he couldn't keep her, he might as well say something flattering. Besides, the so-called contract they signed only stipulated their respective rights and obligations. For a part-timer like Qiqi, there was virtually no service period. She could simply send an email or make a call to notify him, and Li Xiangdong wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

“Leaving, and then coming back for what? Hmph, what kind of company would hire a university student…” the mistress sneered sarcastically from the side. Although she couldn't get back at Wang Qiqi, the departure of someone clearly aligned with Li Qian was good news for her. She could place her own people in the company now and show everyone who had looked down on and mocked her just how capable she was.

【Worth a Thousand Gold to Marry】Author: San Tan Who says a salted fish turning over can only be pan-fried both sides? This little lady insists on “fighting” her way to the top! 【First Arrival as Wife】Author: San Tan Reborn girl makes a powerful comeback: "A fierce life needs no explanation" (To be continued)