Dong Qing took out the room key, opened the door, and the three of them walked into the company. The company lobby was about 80 square meters, with desks and chairs.

There were two private rooms on the side of the office hall. Dong Qing and his ex-wife followed Gu Yurou into the private room. The office was furnished with a sofa and a desk.

The two offices were similar in size and layout, differing only in the signs above their doors: one read "General Manager's Office," and the other "Manager's Office." The General Manager's Office was Dong Qing's office.

Dong Qing said, "Our company is just starting out, so it's not right for you to work here. Our next step is to build an office building on the construction site, and we should be able to move in before the end of next year."

Gu Yurou said, "This place is nice too. My home is in the countryside, and it's not convenient for me to go back often. Can I stay here?"

"Of course you can. There's a meeting room in the backyard, and two other private rooms. You can stay there."

After Dong Qing finished speaking, he led Gu Yurou to the backyard, pushed open a door, and found that the room was about 10 square meters in size. There was a single bed and a set of table and chairs inside.

Gu Yurou said, "This room is quite nice, thank you."

"You're welcome. Take tomorrow off to go back to your hometown and settle in. Be back at work promptly at 8:00 AM the day after tomorrow. I sent out the job ad three days ago, and applications will begin the day after tomorrow. Salaries will vary depending on the individual; those with experience will be paid more, and those without will be paid less. The monthly salary will be between sixty and two hundred yuan, whichever you decide!"

Dong Qing paused for a moment and said, "The company doesn't have that much business right now, so don't hire a deputy manager for the time being. I have someone in mind for the deputy manager. I'm entrusting this company entirely to you, so you must make sure to select the right person for me."

Gu Yurou said, "Our company is just starting out and is not yet fully developed in all aspects. Don't worry, I will definitely help you to make sure it's in good condition."

After listening, Dong Qing nodded in satisfaction, took out a bankbook from his bag and handed it to Gu Yurou. He said, "There is 50,000 yuan in cash in this passbook as office expenses. You can withdraw it as needed. Hire a financial accountant and cashier as soon as possible. We'll leave these tasks to them from now on. We're going back now. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!" Gu Yurou said with a smile.

Back home, the two sat down on the sofa. Li Yuzhu asked, "Dongqing, you drive with me every day. Who helped you with all the work related to the company's storefront renovation?"

Dong Qing said, "Guess who helped me with that?"

Li Yuzhu said, "If I'm not mistaken, it must have been your second sister who helped you with it."

After her divorce, Li Yuzhu changed all the ways she addressed people. Although she still called Dong Ermei "Second Sister," she would only use "you" in front of Dong Qing and would never say "our Second Sister."

This is the difference between divorce and marriage. They are no longer a family, but at most business partners and the biological father of their son, Dongyu. If they didn't have a bond of love, they would have gone their separate ways long ago.

Dong Qing didn't care about titles; he only cared whether Li Yuzhu had feelings for him. He asked, "Do you and Sun Hao still see each other often?"

“Can I just not meet him? If I don’t, he’ll come knocking on my door looking for me. If I refuse, my mom will immediately start trying to set me up with someone else. This is going on and on, it’s giving me a headache!” Li Yuzhu paused for a moment and said, “I also have a selfish side. As long as Sun Hao doesn’t give up, I’m willing to drag this out. I just feel a little guilty towards him.”

"I'm really sorry to trouble you," Dong Qing said after a pause. "I'm already very grateful that you've been able to keep this up. It's enough that you care about me. Let's just let things take their course."

"Don't say any more. It doesn't matter what others say. I'm really afraid Sun Hao will come to my house. That wouldn't be fair to you, because I still love you, you know!" Li Yuzhu's eyes welled up with tears as she said this. After a pause, she said, "I'm going to the bus station tonight to meet Sun Hao. You don't object, do you?"

Dongqing said, "I never expected the divorce to cause you so much trouble. I know your parents won't accept me anytime soon, and if this investment fails, they'll never accept me for the rest of their lives. I understand that with anyone. Just let it drag on for now. I'll say it again: as long as you have me in your heart, that's enough."

Qing knew that Li Yuzhu's mother would not accept him until his investment was successful, let alone allow him to remarry her daughter. He could only wait, wait for the day when his career would be glorious.

If two people have no emotional or romantic attachments, they will not experience any psychological torment after a divorce. Even if they suffer, it will be temporary because the pain after a divorce is a kind of liberation from the marriage and will fade away with time.

Dong Qing and Li Yuzhu, however, were not like that. They still loved each other. After their divorce, their love deepened even more during the process of getting back together. The psychological torment in the world was nothing more than this.

Li Yuzhu suddenly threw herself into her ex-husband's arms and cried, "I really shouldn't have used such despicable means to divorce you. I truly regret it."

Several months after the divorce, Li Yuzhu threw herself into her ex-husband's arms and cried for the second time; the first time was right after the divorce.

Dong Qing hugged his ex-wife tightly and said, "What's the use of regretting it now? Let's wait patiently. As long as our hearts stay together, no one can separate us."

Li Yuzhu cried as she kissed her ex-husband. This kiss contained so much bitterness and sweetness, so much longing and helplessness, so much regret and resentment.

This kiss encapsulates their past, as complex as candy, sweet with sour, sour with bitter; it encapsulates their initial regrets and perseverance.

Everything changed after the divorce, except for their love, which remained as strong as iron. Their marriage, however, was unrecognizable. They could only wait for time to heal their broken marriage. She said, "I'll do anything to steal my household registration book from my parents' house. Once I do, I'll remarry you immediately. I'm willing to endure my mother's beatings and scoldings, even if it means getting back together with you as soon as possible!"

Dong Qing held his ex-wife's hand tightly, tears welling in his eyes, and said, "I'm so sorry you had to suffer like this."

Although they didn't say much, every word was filled with their sincere feelings and ambiguity, while also revealing his heartache and helplessness towards his ex-wife.

After dinner, Li Yuzhu said goodbye to her ex-husband, left the house, and walked downstairs to the bus station.

She walked to the county long-distance bus station, then to the men's dormitory building in the backyard, and started walking upstairs.

Li Yuzhu felt both familiar and unfamiliar with this place. She had been here many times, and many people knew that she was Sun Hao's girlfriend.

Just as Li Yuzhu reached the second floor, a young man carrying a tea bottle came down from the third floor. He said, "Sister, you're here. Sun Hao just got back from driving."

Li Yuzhu said thank you and continued walking upstairs.

When I arrived at Sun Hao's door, it was wide open. He was sitting in his dormitory washing his feet. He had just returned from a trip and hadn't changed out of his work clothes yet.