“Su Ran, you’ve been fired.”

The icy words, uttered by her husband of five years – Lu Yu – struck Su Ran like a powerful punch to the eardrums, leaving her ears ringing.

She stood in the dean’s office – the very office she had helped design – and looked at the familiar face behind the desk, which now seemed frighteningly unfamiliar.

“What did you say?”

Lu Yu gently pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose; there wasn’t a hint of warmth in his eyes behind the lenses.

“For the center to develop, it needs professional management. Lately, you’ve been making mistakes repeatedly at work and are no longer suitable to stay here.”

He pushed a stack of documents in front of her.

“This is the contract termination and compensation agreement, sign it.”

Su Ran’s gaze swept over the documents, then settled on the girl standing next to Lu Yu.

Lam Vi Vi is a new intern who has been at the center for two months.

At that moment, she bowed her head, her eyes red and swollen, her shoulders trembling slightly as if she had just suffered an extreme injustice.

She was truly a delicate white lotus flower, making one want to protect her.

Tô Nhiễm just felt nauseous.

The so-called “mistake at work” wasn’t just about Lin Weiwei unilaterally adjusting the appointment time yesterday, causing two clients to clash?

Ultimately, the instructor was the one who had to clean up the mess, and even then, one of the two customers complained.

“Lu Yu, you know perfectly well that it was absolutely not my fault.”

Su Ran’s voice trembled, not from fear, but from overwhelming rage and a heart filled with icy coldness.

“It was Lin Weiwei who acted on her own initiative—”

“Enough!”

Lu Yu impatiently interrupted her.

“Su Ran, I don’t want to hear your excuses. Vivi is new, it’s normal for her to make mistakes. You’re the senior, you should be understanding and guide her, not blame her here.”

When he turned to look at Lin Weiwei, his gaze immediately softened.

“Vi Vi, don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Lin Weiwei looked up, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at Lu Yu, her voice soft and gentle.

“Director Lu, it’s all my fault… it’s because I was so stupid that I caused Miss Su so much trouble. Miss Su, please don’t blame Director Lu; if anyone is to blame, it’s me.”

As she spoke, she bowed to Su Ran.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Tô.”

This attitude of taking one step back to take three steps forward is truly a masterful display of acting.

Tô Nhiễm was so angry that her whole body went cold, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain was so intense she couldn’t breathe.

She and Lu Yu fell in love during their university years, and after graduating, they started a business together, founding the Yu Ran Psychological Counseling Center.

“Desire” refers to Lu Yu, and “Contamination” refers to Su Contamination.

This place once stood as a testament to their love and their careers.

Over the past five years, she has poured her heart and soul into transforming an unknown center into a renowned gold brand in the city.

And now, her husband, because of an intern who’s only been here two months, wants to kick her out.

“Lu Yu, look into my eyes.”

Tô Nhiễm tried to force herself to stay calm.

“Because of her, you really want to do this?”

Lu Yu avoided her gaze, his tone becoming even colder.

“Let me repeat it again, this is a company decision, not related to personal feelings. You’re my wife, you should understand and support me.”

“Do you support him?”

Tô Nhiễm burst into laughter, a bitter and mocking laugh.

“Do you support him kicking out his legitimate wife (me) to replace her with a mistress?”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

Lu Yu reacted as if his tail had been stepped on, immediately jumping to his feet, his face turning pale.

“Su Ran, watch your words! Vivi is just an intern!”

“An intern?” Su Ran took a step closer to him, her eyes sharp as knives. “Is she the intern you drove to pick up in the middle of the night? Is she the intern you personally made red sugar water for? Is she the intern you fired me today?”

Those stories were all whispered to her by her colleagues at the center.

She initially refused to believe it, always thinking it was just a misunderstanding.

Looking back now, she was the most foolish person of all.

Lu Yu’s face alternated between red and white; he was completely speechless at the question.

Seeing this, Lin Weiwei’s tears flowed even more profusely.

“Ms. Co To, you’ve misunderstood… Director Luc and I had a pure relationship. That day I had a high fever and was very scared being alone in my rented room, so I asked the director for help…”

She weakly explained, as if Su Ran were the one being unreasonable and causing trouble.

Lu Yu immediately embraced Lin Weiwei with great sorrow, completely tearing away her last remaining mask.

“Su Ran, I never imagined you’d become such an unreasonably jealous woman! You’ve disappointed me so much!”

Disappointed?

Tô Nhiễm watched the nauseating scene of the hero rescuing the damsel in distress before her eyes, feeling as if five years of her youth had been thrown to the dogs.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the agonizing pain in her chest.

“Okay, I’ll sign.”

She picked up the pen, without even looking at the humiliating contract, and signed her name directly at the end.

The calligraphy, flowing like a dragon and dancing phoenix, carries an unwavering determination.

“Lu Yu, you will regret this.”

Lu Yu sneered, his face full of contempt.

“Brother, Lu Yu, I’ve never regretted any decision. Now that you’re gone, all your work, including our most important client – ​​General Manager Chen – will be taken over by Vivi.”

His voice carried a hint of condescending pity.

“Su Ran, don’t think the center can’t do without you. You’re just a psychological counselor; there are countless people who could replace you. But Vivi is different. She’s young, has great potential, and is easy to train – she’s the future of the center.”

When Tô Nhiễm heard the words “General Manager Trần,” a complex expression flickered in her eyes.

General Manager Tran is the center’s biggest and most mysterious client.

He was very generous, with consulting fees accounting for a third of the center’s total annual revenue.

But he was also extremely demanding and sensitive, specifically requesting that Su Ran serve him.

Apart from Su Ran, no one in the entire center knew his true identity, and no one had ever met him.

Lu Yu had always wanted to approach this person, but he never had the opportunity.

Now, he naively thinks that handing over the CEO position to an inexperienced intern is sufficient?

He didn’t know that what General Manager Tran valued was never the name “Yu Ran”.

It was her – Su Ran.

“Okay.”

2

Tô Nhiễm’s lips curved slightly, forming a cold, sinister smile.

“Just wait and see. Let’s see how you guys plan to take over my job.”

After saying that, she threw the signed contract onto the table, turned around, and walked away.

Without a single regret.

When she reached the door, she stopped and turned her head to look back one last time.

Lu Yu was bending down to comfort Lin Weiwei in his arms, his movements gentle, his eyes filled with affection—a side of him she hadn’t seen in the past five years.

At that moment, Su Ran’s heart turned completely cold.

Without looking back, she left the place that had once held all her love and dreams.

In the office.

Lin Weiwei lifted her head from Lu Yu’s embrace, her face devoid of any trace of tears, only a triumphant smile remained.

“Director Lu, Miss Su… did she just leave like that?”

Lu Yu frowned slightly, a nameless feeling of annoyance flashing through his heart.

But he quickly suppressed those feelings.

“It’s good that he’s gone. From now on, this center is our territory.”

He placed his hand on Lin Weiwei’s shoulder, his eyes filled with ambition and lust.

“Vi Vi, the mission to win over CEO Tran is yours. If we can secure his services, our center will take a huge step forward.”

Lin Weiwei smiled confidently.

“Don’t worry, Director Lu. It’s just a client, if Su Ran can handle it, why can’t I?”

She had already investigated thoroughly and found that although CEO Tran was mysterious, he was just a wealthy man suffering from a mental illness.

But what she’s best at is manipulating people’s minds.

Tô Nhiễm, just you wait.

Her husband, her career, her clients — from today onwards, they will all be mine, Lin Weiwei!

Tô Nhiễm stepped out of the counseling center’s gate, the harsh summer sun stinging her eyes.

She didn’t go home.

That once warm home now bears only the traces of Lu Yu and another woman, making her feel dirty.

She rented a hotel room nearby, threw herself onto the soft bed, her mind blank.

The phone in my pocket kept vibrating intensely.

She took it out and saw it was a message from Lu Yu.

[Out of respect for our past marriage, I’ll give you one week to move out. I bought this house before we got married; you have no right to a share.]

[Also, remember to clean up your belongings and don’t leave any trash behind.]

Cruel, heartless.

This is the man she has loved for five years.

Tô Nhiễm laughed mockingly, then immediately cut off all contact with Lục Dục.

Then, she opened another chat window and sent a short message:

I quit my job.

The message was sent, and the recipient responded immediately.

【Address.】

Just two simple words, yet they carry an undeniable authority.

Tô Nhiễm stared at those two words, her emotions, which had been tense all day, suddenly bursting forth.

She sent the hotel address.

Less than half an hour later, there was a knock on the door.

Tô Nhiễm walked to the door and opened it; standing before her was a tall, sturdy man.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, had a handsome appearance, and an air of nobility, though his complexion was a little too pale.

Seeing Su Ran’s swollen, red eyes, his eyebrows immediately furrowed.

“Who bullied you?”

His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a subtle hint of anxiety.

The person who just arrived is General Manager Tran — Tran Canh Tham.

Tô Nhiễm’s secret client, and also the person Lục Dục has been dreaming of befriending day and night.

What Lu Yu didn’t know was that this CEO always disguised himself, wearing a hat and a mask to completely conceal his identity whenever he came for a consultation.

Therefore, throughout the entire center, apart from Su Ran, no one knew his true face.

“Why did you come?” Su Ran leaned aside to let him in, her voice slightly hoarse.

Tran Canh Tham entered the room, his gaze sweeping over the messy luggage and her face, swollen and red from crying, his expression darkening.

“She messaged me saying she quit her job.”

His voice sounded like he was stating a fact, but Su Ran detected a hint of reproach in it.

“Yeah.” Su Ran closed the door, leaning against it as if all her strength had drained away. “I got fired.”

Tran Canh Tham turned around, his deep eyes intently gazing at her.

“Why?”

“A conflict with an intern. My husband… no, my ex-husband, chose to trust her.”

Tô Nhiễm spoke very softly, as if she were telling someone else’s story.

But her trembling fingers betrayed the unease within her.

Tran Canh Tham remained silent.

In those deep eyes, there seemed to be an undercurrent surging that Su Ran could not understand.

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly:

“Lu Yu?”

Tô Nhiễm nodded.

The center was named after the couple, so it wasn’t surprising that Tran Canh Tham knew Luc Duc was her husband.

Chen Jingtham’s expression grew even colder, and the aura around him became terrifyingly low.

“Because of an intern?”

“YES.”

“He’s blind.”

Those three words burst out, filled with undisguised contempt.

Tô Nhiễm was stunned, then let out a bitter laugh.

Yes, Lu Yu is indeed blind.

To abandon a precious gem like her, and instead regard an ordinary stone as a treasure.

“Let’s not talk about him anymore, it’s all over.” Su Ran didn’t want to mention that disgusting man again. “From now on… I probably won’t be able to continue treating you.”

This is what she regrets the most.

Tran Canh Tham is a very special case, suffering from “severe contact phobia” and “difficulty trusting others,” always remaining wary of everything around him.

It took Tô Nhiễm more than a year to gradually break down his defenses and get him to open up.

The treatment had just entered a crucial stage, and now it’s been interrupted.

“Who says it can’t continue?”

Tran Canh Tham took a step forward, his tall figure instantly enveloping her.

The subtle scent of cedar wood wafts through the air, unconsciously evoking a sense of peace and tranquility.

“I’m just leaving that place, it doesn’t mean I’m giving up my profession.”

He stared at her intently.

“Su Ran, I only need you. Wherever you are, I’ll follow.”

His words were like a warm stream flowing into her icy heart.

Just you.

Those four words are worth more than a thousand flowery words in the world.

Tô Nhiễm’s nose stung, and the corners of her eyes welled up with tears.

She tried to hold back her tears, lifted her head, and forced a smile that was even uglier than crying.

“Thank you, General Manager Tran.”

“Call me Tran Canh Tham,” the man corrected.

Tô Nhiễm paused.

For over a year, he never allowed her to call him by his name.

She always thought that was his way of keeping his distance.

“Chen Jingchen…” She softly tried calling out his name.

“Hmm.”

The man replied in a low voice, his gaze focused and serious, as if the name uttered from her lips was a rare and priceless gift.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat magical.

Tô Nhiễm awkwardly turned her face away.

“Please sit down first, I’ll pour you a glass of water.”

As she turned to leave, a cold hand grasped her wrist.

Tran Canh Tham didn’t use much force, but he carried an unwavering determination.

“No need to be busy anymore.”

He pulled her to sit down on the sofa next to him, then took a small bottle of pills from his jacket pocket and poured out a pill.

“Take your medicine first.”

Tô Nhiễm realized it was a fast-acting anxiety reliever.

Whenever she experienced chest pain and shortness of breath due to work stress, he would always appear out of thin air and retrieve this bottle of medicine for her.

She still thought it was medicine he brought along for himself, since she was the one seeking advice.

So… it was for her?

Tim Tô Nhiễm’s heart skipped a beat.

She took the pill and swallowed it along with the bottle of mineral water on the table.

The bitter taste spread across her tongue, and strangely enough, it gradually calmed her feelings of unease and anxiety.

“Thank you.”

“And there’s this too.”

Tran Canh Tham then handed her a black card.

The card felt icy cold in my hand, made of extremely high-quality material, with the phone number and text embossed in dark gold ink on its surface.

“This is my private psychology office. The environment is great, and the equipment is complete.”

He looked at her, his voice leaving no room for refusal.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be working there. The salary will be ten times higher than at ‘Dục Nhiễm’.”

Tô Nhiễm was completely stunned.

Is the salary ten times higher than “Dục Nhiễm”?

And they even gave her her own private office?

What is this concept?

“This… this is too expensive, I can’t accept it.” Su Ran quickly refused.

She’s just a psychological consultant; how could she possibly accept such generous treatment?

“This isn’t for you.”

Tran Canh Tham insisted on shoving the card into her hand.

“These are the necessary working conditions that I set for my consultants.”

His reasoning was so strong that it was impossible to refute it.

Tô Nhiễm clutched the thin card tightly, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

She knew that Chen Jingtham was using his own way—to support and protect her.

“Why… are you being so kind to me?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Tran Canh Tham gazed deeply into her eyes, his gaze seemingly concealing a bottomless ocean.

“Because you deserve it.”

…

The next day.

At the Dục Nhiễm Psychological Counseling Center.

Early in the morning, Lu Yu summoned all staff for a meeting, officially announcing the decision to dismiss Su Ran and appointing Lin Weiwei to take over all of her duties.

The entire meeting room immediately erupted in commotion.

“What? Fire Ms. Tô? Director Lục, are you mistaken?”

“That’s right, Ms. Tô is a pillar of the center, how can you just dismiss her like that?”

“To replace Ms. Tô with an intern? And a VIP client like CEO Trần at that? Is this a joke?!”

Long-time employees all spoke up in defense of Tô Nhiễm.

They all knew how much effort she had put into the center, and they also understood how strong her professional skills were.

Lu Yu’s face was expressionless as he slammed his hand on the table.

“Shut up, all of you!”

“This is a decision made by the center, not a marketplace; it’s not your place to bargain!”

He snarled, his sharp gaze sweeping across everyone in the room.

“Anyone who has an opinion should pack their bags and leave with Su Ran!”

The whole room fell silent.

Everyone is just an employee; no one would dare sacrifice their own job for the sake of others.

Lu Yu looked at the scene before him with satisfaction, then turned to Lin Weiwei.

“Vi Vi, say a few words to everyone.”

Lin Weiwei stood up, flashing a sweet smile.

“Hello senior colleagues, I’m Lin Weiwei. I know you may still doubt my abilities, but that’s okay, I will prove myself through my actions. I will definitely not let down Director Lu’s trust, and I will serve each client well, especially General Manager Chen.”

She deliberately emphasized the three words “General Manager Tran,” her eyes filled with confidence, as if victory was already in her grasp.

After the meeting, Lu Yu called Lin Weiwei into his office.

“How do you plan to follow up on the matter concerning CEO Tran?”

Lin Weiwei took out her phone and opened General Manager Chen’s appointment booking file.

“General Manager Tran comes every Wednesday at 3 PM. Today happens to be Wednesday, so I sent a message on behalf of the center, saying that I will be in charge of his therapy from now on. He hasn’t responded yet, but I assume he’s agreed.”

Lu Yu nodded, very pleased with her quick thinking and handling of the situation.

“Good. Remember, General Manager Tran is extremely important to the center. You must make him happy. As long as you can keep him, I can give you whatever you want.”

He gazed at Lin Weiwei’s youthful and beautiful face, a hint of lust flashing in his eyes.

Lin Weiwei bowed her head shyly.

“Director Lu, you’re so kind…”

The two were being sweet and intimate in the office, completely unaware that a storm was silently brewing.

Two fifty in the afternoon.

Lin Weiwei deliberately changed into a brand-new, pristine white dress, applied light makeup, and sat in the consultation room that used to belong to Su Ran, eagerly awaiting CEO Chen’s arrival.

She was both nervous and excited.

If she could just “win over” CEO Tran, she would officially establish herself firmly at the center, while Su Ran – that old hag – would forever be trampled under her feet.

Time passed by minute by minute, second by second.

Three o’clock sharp.

General Director Tran was not seen.

Three fifteen.

Still no sign of activity.

The smile on Lin Weiwei’s face gradually faded, and a feeling of unease welled up in her heart.

She took out her phone and sent another message to CEO Tran:

[Hello, General Manager Tran, I’m Lam Vi Vi, the new consultant at the Infection Control Center. It’s time for your appointment, where are you?]

The message was like a stone sinking to the bottom of the sea; there wasn’t a single reply.

Lin Weiwei’s eyebrows furrowed.

Elsewhere, Lu Yu was also sitting restlessly in the dean’s office.

He kept glancing at his watch, his heart burning with anxiety as he awaited news from General Manager Tran.

Three thirty.

Lu Yu finally lost his patience and picked up the internal phone to call the reception desk.

“Has General Manager Tran arrived?”

“Reporting to Director Lu, he hasn’t arrived yet.”

Lu Yu’s expression immediately darkened.

General Manager Tran has always been punctual and has never been late for an appointment.

What’s going on today?

Could it be that Su Ran—that woman—is behind this?

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

The words “You’ll regret it” that Su Ran said when she left yesterday still echoed in my ears.

That damned woman is definitely trying to sabotage things!

Just then, his cell phone rang.

That’s a strange number.

Lu Yu irritably answered the phone.

“Who is that?”

A young, cold, icy male voice came from the other end of the line:

“I am Trần Cảnh Thâm’s assistant. I’m informing you that—from now on, CEO Trần will terminate all cooperation with the Dục Nhiễm Psychological Counseling Center.”

“Furthermore, regarding the breach of contract penalty, our legal team will contact you within three business days.”

Beep… beep… beep…

The call was abruptly cut off.

Lu Yu clutched the phone tightly, his whole body stiff.

Tran Canh Tham?

Which… Trần Cảnh Thâm are you referring to?

Terminate all cooperation?

Is there also a penalty for breach of contract?

What does that mean?!

Chapter 3

Lu Yu’s mind went blank for half a minute before he suddenly came to his senses.

Tran Canh Tham!

Could it be that mysterious CEO?!

Is his real name Tran Canh Tham?

A wave of cold air rose from his feet straight to the top of his head, leaving his limbs numb and ice-cold.

He immediately called the number back, but only heard the message: “The phone number you just called does not exist.”

Why is it that the number doesn’t exist?

It was clearly working just a moment ago!

Lu Yu was unwilling to give up, so he called a few more times, but the result was still the same.

He went berserk, stormed out of the office, and ran straight to Su Ran’s former counseling room.

Bang! — the door was pushed open with such force that it made a loud bang.

Lin Weiwei was sitting in her room, anxiously scrolling through her phone, when a noise startled her.

“Director Lu…? What’s wrong with you?”

Lu Yu’s eyes were bloodshot as he lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he wanted to crush her bones.

“Where is General Manager Tran? Has he arrived yet? Have you been able to contact him?!”

Lin Weiwei was in so much pain that tears almost welled up in her eyes.

“Not yet… not yet… I sent him a text message, but he didn’t reply… I couldn’t reach him by phone either…”

“Useless!”

Lu Yu waved his hand, pushing her away, his eyes filled with anger and disappointment, as if wanting to burn her to ashes.

“If I can’t even keep the customers, what use would I be to keeping you?!”

Lin Weiwei stumbled backward, hitting her head hard against the corner of the table, the pain making her gasp.

She looked at Lu Yu with resentment, tears welling up in her eyes.