1
Over three months ago.
Qin Guan's ailing father-in-law passed away suddenly. Qi Min attended the funeral as a colleague.
The Xu family's wealth ensured a dignified ceremony. Numerous guests attended. Qi Min followed the crowd, bowing before the smiling elderly man's portrait in the black-and-white frame, offering wreaths.
She'd previously cared for Xu's father at the hospital under Qin Guan's orders. The elegant, knowledgeable old gentleman left a good impression. But Qi Min never liked Qin Guan's frail wife – what did Xu Ruyi have besides family wealth?
That day, Xu Ruyi appeared devastated, slumped in a chair weeping while relatives attended to her. All funeral arrangements fell to Qin Guan – as the only son-in-law, he became the pillar of support.
2
Watching Qin Guan's exhausted efforts pained Qi Min.
But she couldn't approach him – his ironclad rule demanded maintaining colleague boundaries in public. She dared not even glance at him too long.
Instead, she discreetly assisted Xu family members with logistical tasks – becoming the capable "senior assistant" everyone recognized.
Xu Ruyi noticed her help. Pale-faced, she weakly thanked Qi Min: "Thank you for your kindness."
For their assistance, Qin Guan and Xu Ruyi invited Qi Min and several colleagues to stay for a simple lunch.
For months afterward, Qi Min wrestled with whether to appreciate or resent that meal. Had she left with others, subsequent events might never have occurred. But staying revealed the truth she'd otherwise never have known.
3
After lunch, Qi Min bid farewell and hitched a ride with a Xu relative. Two minutes into the journey, she remembered forgetting her power bank. Embarrassed to delay others, she disembarked to retrieve it alone, calling another ride.
Returning, she overheard an unbelievable truth.
Qin Guan was professing love to Xu Ruyi.
Kneeling before his wife, cradling her face, he murmured: "Darling, you're my everything. I'll love you forever, till death..."
Qi Min had heard these saccharine phrases countless times – during office work breaks, before meetings, whenever Qin Guan called his wife. The whole firm knew his "devoted husband" act.
If he truly loved his wife, why sleep with Qi Min? Why whisper promises in bed?
Usually, Qi Min endured this hypocrisy. But today, nausea overwhelmed her.
Hypocrite! Disgusting!
She turned to leave, but froze as Qin Guan mentioned "Xinda Law Firm."
4
"Xinda" was the word that mattered most to Qi Min after Qin Guan himself.
This was the name of the law firm Qin Guan obsessively planned to establish independently – his capabilities had long yearned for autonomy. Ambitious men always hungered for more.
Qin Guan paired ambition with meticulous planning, already taking concrete steps. Qi Min pressed against the door, eavesdropping.
She watched Qin Guan hand Xu Ruyi a printed document.
"Darling, this is my blueprint," he declared passionately. "Xinda Law Firm is moving forward. Trust me – with your father gone, I'll be your and Little Pear's rock. I'll build this career step by step, giving you both the best life."
"Four partners total. They've all agreed. Adding you makes five equal shares. You needn't lift a finger – I'll handle everything..."
5
Qi Min stopped listening.
Numbness engulfed her.
The world thought Xinda was Qin Guan's brainchild, his achievement. But this was her creation!
She'd encouraged him. She'd recruited the other three partners – while Qin Guan excelled legally, her social finesse bridged connections. She drafted the blueprint. Made the impossible possible!
She'd even emptied her savings – 300,000 yuan – handing it directly to him!
Qin Guan promised her a 20% stake. The four lawyers would practice law. She'd liaise with authorities, manage clients, handle operations.
All four partners, including Qin Guan, had vowed: "We need someone like you."
They'd signed contracts.
Qi Min kept her copy in her shabby rental, dreaming nightly of becoming a firm partner.
Now this man – her tender lover, her promised husband – was sweeping her off the board?!