After the Divorce, the Cold CEO Begged for My Love”

Su Tong transmigrates into the body of the heroine from the angsty novel Submitting to Him, a woman who blindly loved the male lead, Shen Qi, despite his constant betrayal and emotional abuse. The original owner died by suicide after being driven to despair, leaving Su Tong to navigate a hostile world where her only goal is survival. She immediately seeks to divorce Shen Qi, who has treated her merely as a substitute for his true love, Jiang Yanyan. After catching Shen Qi in a hotel room with another woman, Su Tong obtains photographic evidence of his infidelity, which she believes will secure her divorce. However, Shen Qi, whose legal team is formidable, refuses to agree to the divorce, suspecting that Su Tong’s sudden change in demeanor is a manipulative tactic to gain his attention.

A critical turning point occurs when Su Tong discovers that she can hear Shen Qi’s thoughts, and he soon realizes he can hear hers as well. This telepathic connection complicates their interactions, as Shen Qi becomes increasingly confused and agitated by her inner monologues, which often contradict her outward words. Despite her efforts to leave, Su Tong discovers a marriage agreement she signed three years prior, which imposes a twenty-million-yuan penalty on whoever initiates the divorce within five years. Trapped by this clause and Shen Qi’s refusal to let her go, she attempts to ally with Jiang Yanyan, offering to disappear forever if the woman helps her divorce Shen Qi. Jiang Yanyan, however, interprets Su Tong’s behavior as jealousy and manipulation, reinforcing Shen Qi’s belief that Su Tong is merely playing games.

Shen Qi’s possessiveness intensifies as he monitors Su Tong’s every move, confiscating her phone and assigning bodyguards to follow her. He becomes visibly jealous when Su Tong reconnects with her childhood friend, Xie Wenchen, leading to a series of confrontations that blur the line between hostility and obsession. During a family banquet hosted by Shen Qi’s mother, Mu Lanxin, Su Tong negotiates a deal: she will leave Shen Qi in exchange for twenty million yuan. She leverages information about Shen Qi’s half-sister, Shen Yunshu, and a potential alliance with a rival family to force Mu Lanxin’s cooperation. Simultaneously, Su Tong uncovers that Shen Qi’s hatred stems from a past tragedy involving his mother’s death, for which he blames the Su family.

The story progresses as Su Tong attempts to navigate the complex web of Shen family politics and corporate intrigue. She attends high-society events, confronts Jiang Yanyan’s schemes, and deals with Shen Qi’s unpredictable mood swings. The telepathic link continues to serve as a double-edged sword, allowing Su Tong to anticipate Shen Qi’s reactions while also exposing her true intentions to him. As Shen Qi’s anger and confusion grow, he oscillates between punishing Su Tong and showing unexpected moments of care, such as comforting her during a thunderstorm. The narrative builds toward a climax where Su Tong must decide whether to pay the exorbitant divorce penalty or find another way to escape the toxic marriage, all while unraveling the deeper secrets connecting her to the Shen family.