Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

After Du Xiaomei took the property deed, she didn't return for two consecutive days, and Qin Jian made no attempt to look for her.

The gas company had already paid the compensation, but he still had a mortgage to pay off, not to mention the unknown cost of repairing Shui Qingying's car. He needed to find a job as soon as possible.

For thirteen years, Qin Jian had worked exclusively on installing pipeline gas at Xinxing Gas Company. Beyond this skill, he possessed no other expertise.

In Bin City, there were only two gas companies: Xinxing Gas Company and Dongrun Gas Company. If Qin Jian wanted to continue working in his field, his only option was Dongrun Gas Company.

Dongrun Gas Company's headquarters were located in the southern district. It took Qin Jian an hour and a half by subway, with two transfers along the way.

However, when he handed over his resume, the HR representative at Dongrun Gas Company rejected him outright after merely glancing at his name.

"You're that project manager from Xinxing Gas Company who installed all the pipelines in the wrong locations? With your track record, forget about applying for a managerial position—even as a regular technician, we wouldn't dare hire you."

"I accepted full responsibility for the incorrect installations," Qin Jian instinctively defended himself. "I instructed my team based on the blueprints. The drawings must have been wrong—I wasn't unable to read them or anything…"

"Who would believe that excuse?"

The HR representative cut him off impatiently. "We deal with facts here. Everyone tries to justify themselves. By taking responsibility, you've essentially admitted the mistake was yours. If it weren't your fault, why would you take the blame? You're not stupid, are you?"

Qin Jian: "…."

The HR representative tossed his resume back at him. "Leave now. Our company will not hire you."

Qin Jian felt so disheartened he nearly broke into tears. "There are only two gas companies in Bin City. I came from Xinxing, and if you won't take me, I'll never find another job."

The HR representative gave him a sympathetic glance before adding, "With your situation, getting hired by any gas company is impossible—not just in Bin City, but even in nearby cities. No one will touch you."

Qin Jian: "…."

Xinxing Gas Company had promised not to publicly notify the industry about the incident last Saturday, but it seemed they had quietly spread the word privately instead.

Seeing his defeated expression, the HR representative finally offered some advice. "Consider switching industries. Finding work in this field again will be extremely difficult for you."

Switching industries? But how easy was it to change careers?

He had started working at eighteen and spent the past thirteen years at Xinxing Gas Company. Besides installing gas pipelines, he knew nothing else.

Qin Jian trudged down the street, utterly dejected. The midday sun blazed mercilessly overhead, its glare making it hard to keep his eyes open.

It was then that Du Xiaomei called.

His wife, who had been absent for two days, was reaching out. Qin Jian felt a flicker of excitement as he answered, "Xiaomei?"

Her voice came through, laced with impatience. "Qin Jian, where have you been?"

Qin Jian replied, "I've been out looking for a job. Are you back?"

"Of course I'm back. This is my home. Where else would I go?"

Du Xiaomei's tone sharpened. "Qin Jian, hurry back. I've prepared the divorce papers. We'll sign them, and then head to the Civil Affairs Bureau this afternoon to finalize everything."

Qin Jian was stunned. "Du Xiaomei, you disappeared for two days without a word, and now you come back demanding a divorce?"

"I'm doing this for your own good!"

Du Xiaomei's voice grew sharp and insistent. "You owe the gas company five hundred thousand yuan. Divorcing you and leaving you with nothing is the only way I can escape this mess. Qin Jian, I've consulted lawyers—"

Before she could finish, Qin Jian hung up the phone.

He stared up at the blazing sun, took a deep breath, and clenched his fists, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

If she wants a divorce, fine. But leaving me with absolutely nothing? Not a chance.

I may not be highly educated, but I'm not stupid either!

By the time Qin Jian rushed home, it was already past noon.

He had hurried back, enduring an hour and a half on the subway, and hadn't eaten lunch yet.

But the moment Du Xiaomei saw him, she thrust the divorce papers into his hands.

"Qin Jian, I've drafted the agreement. Don't worry—it was prepared by a lawyer. As long as you leave with nothing, the gas company won't come after me…"

Du Xiaomei continued talking nonstop, holding the papers up. "Look, the date on the agreement is from two weeks ago, before the incident at the gas company…"

"That's enough! It's just a divorce. Why are you going on and on?"

Annoyed, Qin Jian pushed the papers away. "I haven't had lunch yet. Let me cook some noodles first."

Du Xiaomei followed him into the kitchen.

"Hurry up. We need to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau this afternoon to get the divorce certificate. Once we have it…"

"I'll get the divorce certificate—but not today!"

Qin Jian found her incessant chatter irritating. "Go away. Don't bother me while I'm cooking."

Though the kitchen mostly belonged to Du Xiaomei after their marriage, it didn't mean he couldn't cook. In fact, before they married, he had lived alone and was quite skilled in the kitchen.

His cooking might not rival a professional chef's, but it was at least decent.

Du Xiaomei wanted to say more but noticed Qin Jian's dark expression. Knowing he'd been worrying about the five hundred thousand yuan debt, she wisely held her tongue.

Half an hour later, after Qin Jian finished eating, Du Xiaomei approached him with her bag.

"Qin Jian, let's go. It's already two o'clock, and the Civil Affairs Bureau is open. Let's get the divorce certificate and put this behind us…"

"I'm not going!"

Qin Jian interrupted her firmly.

Du Xiaomei frowned. "What do you mean, Qin Jian? If you don't go, are you waiting for the gas company to sue us and for the court to seize the house?"

"Let them seize it!"

Qin Jian shrugged indifferently. "So what if the bank takes it? After the auction, they'll take their money, and whatever's left will still belong to me, right?"

"How can you think like that? Do you know how cheap seized houses sell for?"

Du Xiaomei raised her voice. "Besides, we can solve this with a simple divorce. Why wait for the bank to seize the house?"

"Qin Jian, are you insane? Can't you understand such a simple concept?"

Qin Jian thought to himself—he probably *was* insane.

When they first got together, Du Xiaomei insisted on adding her name to the property deed. His aunt and cousin had warned him against agreeing, saying it could lead to significant losses if anything went wrong.

But back then, he believed marriage was forever. How could anything possibly go wrong?

Now, he wondered if his brain had been filled with nonsense.