I just got divorced, and the female CEO is already clinging to me.

Chapter 26 Mutual Distrust

“If Ying Rou can’t do it, I can,” Ye Cheng suddenly said, breaking the deadlock.

Shen Qingrou, who hadn't allowed Ye Cheng to get involved in this matter yesterday, now looked at him with anticipation: "Do you really have a way to increase the hotel's revenue?"

Ye Cheng nodded: "Manager Zhou came to see me last night. I proposed a plan, but he did not agree."

So I thought about it all night and finally got some ideas.

But this matter must be kept secret and cannot be easily leaked, otherwise it won't work.

Shen Qingrou pleaded, "Stop being so mysterious. Tell my mom what your plan is all about."

Ye Cheng emphasized, "Things are accomplished in secrecy."

Shen Qingrou also emphasized, "My mother isn't an outsider!"

Ye Cheng remained adamant: "I'm sorry, but this concerns whether I can stay by your side, so I won't reveal my plans to anyone."

Shen Qingrou frowned and said unhappily, "Why are you so stubborn!"

Ling Suqiu gently patted Shen Qingrou's back, looked at Ye Cheng meaningfully, and said, "Since you are unwilling to reveal it, then I will wait and see the result."

Remember, you only have one month.

Ye Cheng nodded and said seriously, "If I can't do that, what face do I have to stay by Qingrou's side?"

Ling Suqiu gave Ye Cheng a deep look, then turned and walked away gracefully.

Zhou Chunhong hurried to catch up.

Shen Qingrou hesitated for a moment, but still pushed Ye Cheng to follow.

The two men respectfully escorted Ling Suqiu to the parking lot.

Ling Suqiu, who had just gotten into the car, suddenly rolled down the window and, after thinking it over, said to Shen Qingrou, "Qingrou, I originally planned to use the power of the Shen family to smooth things over for you regarding that trending video."

But then I thought about it again and realized your father was right; perhaps this is an opportunity for you to grow and mature.

Therefore, I will not get involved in trending topics.

"You two figure it out yourselves."

Shen Qingrou didn't care and nodded obediently.

At Ling Suqiu's command, the driver drove away.

Shen Qingrou pushed Ye Cheng back to the hotel only after the car was out of sight.

The two remained silent in tacit agreement until they arrived at the top-floor office. Shen Qingrou, abandoning her obedient girl image, suddenly adopted a cold and aloof demeanor, completely different from before.

To dispel his suspicions, Ye Cheng broke the silence and said, "President Shen..."

Shen Qingrou gave her a death stare: "I told you, call me wife!"

Ye Cheng looked embarrassed, and then said cautiously, "You seem to be very afraid of your stepmother."

Shen Qingrou's body suddenly tensed up: "Where did you get the idea that I'm afraid of my stepmother?"

Ye Cheng countered, "Don't you think I cooperated with you perfectly just now?"

Shen Qingrou remained silent, seemingly waiting for Ye Cheng to present his argument.

Ye Cheng calmly analyzed, "He holds a very important place in your heart, doesn't he?"

Because of this widespread affection, even I, as a substitute, received the same treatment.

When you saw the two bodyguards holding me hostage, the anger in your eyes was naturally evident.

But when you see your stepmother, you become hesitant and dare not speak out against her.

Even though he hated her behavior, he had to grovel and beg her.

Your acting was quite good; you knelt down and threatened suicide.

Your stepmother also doted on you very much, treating you like a precious gem.

But you two have both overlooked one point: a mother who dotes on her daughter would never go so far as to have her daughter kneel down and beg for mercy.

Even if a mother feels that her daughter has made the wrong choice, she should not resort to the most extreme methods to resolve matters related to marriage.

Unless the mother and daughter have a weak emotional bond.

But the feelings between you two are very deep.

If you truly felt that your stepmother loved and cared for you, you wouldn't have reacted so excessively.

Honey, you're overdoing it, you're going too far.

Those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things clearly. You two were so engrossed in your own performances that you failed to notice the underlying logic.

Regarding the hotel's revenue, you have already warned me not to interfere.

Moreover, you just acted very incompetent in front of your stepmother, trying your best to show that you couldn't solve the problem.

I don't know if she's testing you.

Because when we were in the room, I already told her that I had a solution, but I could only tell her.

Perhaps you also placed your hopes on me back then.

When I said I could solve it, the expectation and joy in your eyes were impossible to hide.

Although you tried your best to persuade me to reveal the plan, I could still see the reluctance in your eyes.

You've always been on guard against your...

Shen Qingrou suddenly reached out her soft hand and covered Ye Cheng's mouth, her eyes revealing a hint of madness, her voice carrying a touch of mockery: "Your eyes are really scary, you can notice so many details, you are really observant."

But do you know that knowing too much can be life-threatening?

Ye Cheng gently grasped Shen Qingrou's wrist and removed her hand from his mouth.

"I have shown my sincerity. Someone as smart as you wouldn't refuse a smart partner, would you?"

As your stepmother just said, the Shen Group was founded through the efforts of your biological mother.

As a top student at a university in Beijing, and also a top scorer in the college entrance examination, I don't believe you would willingly become despondent.

I doubt your stepmother would believe that either.

That's why you did so many unusual things and even acted weak.

Only today did I realize that the Shen family was not as simple as it seemed.

Every family has its own problems.

Shen Qingrou's mind raced, and she asked, "If I said I wasn't interested in the Shen family, would you believe me?"

Ye Cheng nodded: "Of course I believe it, but I'm afraid some people don't."

You also have a half-brother, right? That's where the contradiction comes in.

Your stepmother would never dare to gamble.

I just don't understand. Even if you are more outstanding than your brother and become the chairman of Shen's Group in the future, your father might not necessarily mistreat your stepmother and your brother.

Why is your stepmother so wary of you?

Seeing that Ye Cheng had spoken frankly about the issue without any reservations, Shen Qingrou hesitated for a moment but still did not fully reveal her true feelings.

Are you trying to sow discord between my daughter and me?

I've already said I'm not interested in the Shen family. Why should people live such a tiring life? Wouldn't it be better for me to be a carefree young lady?

You men just love power struggles, to the point that you see everyone as someone who loves power.

Honey, you should be thinking about the hotel's revenue right now.

Ye Cheng knew that Shen Qingrou didn't fully trust him yet, which also proved how much she feared her stepmother.

"Honey, how much money do you have free access to?"

Shen Qingrou suddenly looked at Ye Cheng warily: "What do you want to do?"

Ye Cheng didn't expect that mentioning money would elicit such a strong reaction from Shen Qingrou.

It made it seem like I was trying to scam her out of her money.

"Money may not be everything, but you can't do without it."

I need to see how much funding you can come up with so I can decide on the scale of the operation.

Shen Qingrou said, "Your ex-wife left you a lot of money, right? Use your money first if you need it, consider it my dowry."

Ye Cheng couldn't hold back any longer: "I'm marrying into the family, I'm marrying into the family, I'm marrying into the family!"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking for a bride price?"