Chapter Twenty: Could It Be That You’ve Also Been Divorced?

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Wen Ganan picked at her food symbolically; she didn’t really enjoy Western cuisine. It was Liang Yuxiu who liked Western food. When he used to take her out to eat, it was always to places like this. Back then, Wen Ganan felt out of place and often made a fool of herself.

During the meal, Wen Ganan was quiet, but Cheng He noticed and chatted with her to lighten the mood. Eventually, Wen Ganan couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Liang Yuxiu and Ma Xiaorong left the restaurant parking lot, and through the car window, they happened to see the scene by the window. Liang Yuxiu’s expression stiffened abruptly; his brows furrowed slightly, a complex feeling he couldn’t quite explain crossing his face. Ma Xiaorong caught the change, quietly accelerated, and drove away.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere between Wen Ganan and Cheng He had become much more pleasant. She found Cheng He to be an interesting person, and after some interaction, it wasn’t so bad.

Wen Ganan had been deeply hurt in her previous relationship and had mostly avoided contact with men over the years. Even blind dates arranged by Tan Fang were met with mere perfunctory compliance. This was the first time she had engaged like this with someone like Cheng He.

Throughout the meal, Cheng He led most of the conversation. Perhaps because of the chance encounter with Liang Yuxiu and Ma Xiaorong, Wen Ganan momentarily forgot what she intended to discuss with Cheng He. It wasn’t until after the meal, when Cheng He offered to see her off, that she remembered.

“By the way, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

Cheng He was driving, and Wen Ganan sat in the passenger seat. He looked fully attentive.

Wen Ganan gathered her words and straightforwardly told him about her divorce. She wasn’t nervous; in fact, she was prepared for him to be upset.

But to her surprise, Cheng He only glanced at her in astonishment and then admitted, “I know.”

It turned out Tan Fang hadn’t lied—they really had informed the Cheng family about it.

Now it was Wen Ganan’s turn to be surprised.

She looked puzzled, prompting Cheng He to smile. “What are you trying to say?”

Wen Ganan thought for a moment. “Nothing. I just find it strange that your family background and looks are both excellent, making you a prime catch in the dating market. Why choose someone like me, a divorcee? Have you been divorced too?”

She spoke jokingly, unaware of the fleeting deep emotion in Cheng He’s eyes.

“You’re different from other women. Besides, I don’t think a woman being divorced is a big deal. Don’t you know? Divorced women are quite sought after these days.”

This was the truth, Cheng He’s honest feeling.

“Of course, I haven’t been divorced.”

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The car stopped at a traffic light. His expression was serious. Wen Ganan met his gaze briefly, feeling as if she had been scalded, then quickly looked away toward the window.

The rest of the journey was silent until they reached Wen Ganan’s apartment building.

“I brought you a gift from my business trip. I forgot to take it out of my suitcase. Are you free tomorrow? I’ll bring it to you.”

Wen Ganan hadn’t expected him to be serious and was surprised for a while. But when accepting favors, one must be gracious.

“If not, maybe you should keep it. It’s too much.”

“It’s just a little gift. I’ll bring it tomorrow.” Cheng He didn’t argue further and made the decision.

Wen Ganan stood at the community gate, watching him leave, but she couldn’t feel happy.

She felt as if she had walked into a trap.

Cheng He came at noon the next day. He called Wen Ganan from downstairs, and when she came down, he invited her to lunch.

However, Wen Ganan declined, saying she had just eaten and had plans in the afternoon.

“Can I help with anything?” Cheng He asked proactively.

Wen Ganan shook her head. “It’s nothing major.”

Cheng He acknowledged this and said no more. He handed her an exquisite handbag.

As if afraid she would refuse, he pressed it into her hand. “Take it. I have some things to do. I’ll go first.”

Wen Ganan almost dropped it—it was heavy!

She opened it and saw not only several boxes of chocolates but also two bottles of wine from a famous German vineyard, quite expensive. She had encountered such gifts in her socializing over the past two years.

She had only joked about it casually with Cheng He last time, but he had actually taken it to heart?

The gift was quite valuable. She wanted to return it, but Cheng He was already gone.

Wen Ganan could only carry the bag home, already feeling burdened. She was pondering what to give in return when she walked in, unaware that Chen Ling and Xiao Jiang were watching her.

Only when Xiao Jiang spoke did she realize: “Wow, Sister Nan, Director Cheng is really generous!”

Wen Ganan instantly understood—they must have been watching from the balcony. Their apartment balconies overlooked the community entrance.

She rolled her eyes. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“Am I lying? Can this gift be a lie? Sister Nan, when did you and Director Cheng get so close?”

Xiao Jiang’s gossip instincts were fully ignited, leaving Wen Ganan both amused and exasperated.

To silence them, Wen Ganan took out some chocolates and offered them, adding, “We’re having hotpot tonight, with some wine.”

“Sister Nan, you’re so generous!”

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Xiao Jiang exclaimed, and everyone echoed in agreement.

Wen Ganan smiled. She always believed in one principle: if you want the horse to run, you have to feed the horse.

Though she was a horse herself, Wei Ming had never treated her unfairly, so she wouldn’t neglect her subordinates either.

After a while, Wen Ganan went out.

She arrived at Yancheng People’s Hospital and found the inpatient building. Following the room numbers, she found the person she wanted to see.

“Director.”

The woman in the hospital bed opened her eyes at the sound and, upon seeing Wen Ganan, her aged but kind eyes lit up.

“Ganan, why have you come back?”

Wen Ganan hurried forward, taking the other’s outstretched hand. “Work. I came on a business trip.”

The old director’s smile deepened, filled with concern. “Have you been well these years?”

“All is well. And you and the children?”

The old director nodded repeatedly, saying everything was fine. Wen Ganan couldn’t help but sigh.

She was the director of the Yancheng Star Children’s Welfare Home, a position she had devoted herself to for decades, caring for those children with all her heart. Now old and ill, she didn’t dare let others know.

If it weren’t for the deputy director calling Wen Ganan that morning, she might not have known the old director had been ill for some time and was visibly deteriorating.

Wen Ganan had only come into contact with this group four years ago, after divorcing Liang Yuxiu.

At that time, she had a large sum of alimony from Liang Yuxiu, but her heart was broken and she was despondent.

She didn’t want the money and ended up donating it all to hope schools and the welfare home.

The Star Children’s Welfare Home was one of the beneficiaries.

The old director was very happy to see Wen Ganan, holding her hand and talking for a long time. She praised Wen Ganan’s improved condition, saying she looked much better than before when she seemed soul-worn.

Wen Ganan smiled.

They talked for over an hour until the old director’s eyelids drooped with sleepiness. Wen Ganan helped her lie down, covered her with a blanket, and only left after she fell asleep.

Just as she stepped out of the old director’s room, Wen Ganan saw a familiar figure emerging from a nearby room, heading toward the nurses’ station.

She immediately recognized him—it was Cheng He.