Chapter 48: Going Back on One’s Word

Zhang Xiluo followed behind Li Mingye, anxiety gnawing at her, and saw neither of her parents inside the house. Li’s mother sat on the sofa, her complexion waxy and pale as if she hadn’t slept all night. When she saw Zhang Xiluo, she forced a smile.

“Luo Luo, you’re here. Come and sit.”

Still uncertain about what was happening, Zhang Xiluo sat beside Li’s mother. “Mingye, such a wonderful wife—how can you not cherish her?”

Li Mingye’s face remained expressionless as he stood across from them. “Mm.”

“What kind of attitude is that?” Li’s mother clutched her chest, clearly in distress. “Will you only be satisfied if you drive me to my grave? Have you forgotten your grandfather’s instructions?”

“I haven’t.” Li Mingye sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and replied, “I misunderstood you.”

The words seemed directed at Zhang Xiluo, yet she couldn’t decipher which act he was putting on now.

“Mom, I was too harsh yesterday. I apologize.” She took the initiative, seeing how ill Li’s mother seemed, likely from anger.

“Good child, I just want the two of you to nurture your marriage and let me hold a grandchild soon.” Li’s mother coughed, her body frail.

Zhang Xiluo sighed inwardly. Li Mingye had finally agreed to the divorce, and now Li’s mother was stirring up trouble again.

“You’ll stay here for a while, just to keep me company. And you’re not allowed to see Zhou Yao again—her fate is no concern of yours. She’s already taken five million from me; if she dares to pester you again, I won’t let her off.”

Li’s mother sent them upstairs. Zhang Xiluo closed the door and looked at Li Mingye in bewilderment.

He hardly seemed the obedient son who’d listen to his mother. When Li’s mother mentioned Zhou Yao, he didn’t even protest.

Something was definitely off.

Li Mingye lounged on the bed, took out his phone, and stared at it.

“You’re not really Li Mingye, are you? Where’s the real one? The hospital?” Zhang Xiluo scanned him up and down. His hand trembled as he held the phone, and a cold, menacing look swept across his face.

“I am. What’s going on? Where’s my mother?” Zhang Xiluo instinctively retreated, even more confused about what he was plotting.

“A mother-in-law is still a mother,” Li Mingye said coldly. Zhang Xiluo couldn’t refute him. “Stomach cancer.”

“Mother-in-law has stomach cancer?” Zhang Xiluo exclaimed. “Impossible!”

“Even if it’s not true, time will tell.” Li Mingye said he would investigate. “If you hadn’t loved to complain, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Don’t pin this on me.” Zhang Xiluo denied it, shooting him a glare. “Men in love are truly foolish. With Aunt Li living here, do I even need to complain?”

Li Mingye frowned, unwilling to argue. He took his phone to the balcony and began a hushed conversation.

Zhou Yao had already been discharged. Zhao Chengyi had arranged a new place for her, where she wouldn’t be disturbed for now.

His voice was low, but she heard every word—each was a reminder, each full of concern.

So, it was all for Zhou Yao. He was so obedient, playing along with Li’s mother just to buy Zhou Yao time.

Li Mingye truly loved her, willing to compromise so much for her. He even pretended to be affectionate with a woman he didn’t love in order to protect Zhou Yao.

A hollow ache gnawed at Zhang Xiluo’s heart, and the jealousy and resentment from her previous life surged again. She gazed at the vase on the cabinet, wishing she could smash it over Li Mingye’s head.

Did this bastard man insist on dancing on her heart just to please another woman?

Li Mingye hung up and turned, only to meet Zhang Xiluo’s murderous gaze—she was still holding the vase.

Forget it. Murder is a crime.

Zhang Xiluo set the vase down, her eyes cold as she looked at Li Mingye. “I didn’t bring any clothes. I need to change.”

“Aunt Li will bring them.” Li Mingye saw through her little ploy; neither of them would be leaving today.

“If you want me to play along, you’ll have to sign the divorce papers first,” Zhang Xiluo stated, laying out her terms to avoid any delay.

Li Mingye’s lips curled into a faint smile. “The divorce papers, or Zhang Group—you can choose only one.”

“Li Mingye, are you crazy? What does our divorce have to do with my family’s company?”

“Ask your mother-in-law.” Li Mingye couldn’t be bothered to explain, acting as if he didn’t want to stay with her.

Zhang Xiluo was speechless. She called her mother, and learned that Li Group was interested in collaborating with Zhang Group, though she and her father were reluctant.

Regardless of whether they worked closely or not, Zhang Group would always be influenced by Li Group. A solid partnership would provide Zhang Group with strong support for its development.

“Luo Luo, what’s going on between you and Mingye?” Her mother sounded worried. The proposal for collaboration came from Li’s mother, who was pressing them hard to make a decision soon.

“It’s nothing. We’re at Liuzhou North Garden now. Mother-in-law seems to be ill.” The words felt bitter, but she said them to ease her mother’s concern.

Her mother was silent for a few seconds, then sighed. “Getting old means illness is inevitable. What do you think about all this?”

“I don’t understand the company matters, but I don’t want us to get too entangled with their family.”

Their assets and businesses couldn’t compare with the Li family’s, and their ambitions would be limited. Besides, she preferred the two families to have nothing to do with each other.

“I understand. Take good care of your mother-in-law.” Her mother’s tone was odd, and before Zhang Xiluo could ask more, she hung up.

Zhang Xiluo had a nagging feeling something was amiss. Li Mingye spent the entire day in the room, glued to his phone. Presumably, he was having a good time chatting with Zhou Yao—the selfish man.

“Li Mingye, if I don’t divorce you, does that mean you won’t try to take over my family’s company?” Zhang Xiluo went up to him and asked, unwillingly.

“Perhaps temporarily.” Li Mingye didn’t look up, his tone cold. The smile vanished from his lips, clearly unwilling to speak to her.

Zhang Xiluo held back her anger. “What do you mean, temporarily? Perhaps?”

“Exactly what it says.”

She was exasperated with this family. In her past life, she must have been out of her mind to be so obsessed with this dog of a man.

That night, Zhang Xiluo and Li Mingye shared a bed; she took a quilt for herself and kept as far from him as possible.

She couldn’t sleep. In the early hours, she received a message from Lin Yiming, asking if she was awake and wanting to talk.

The café was close to Liuzhou North Garden. She dressed and went out. Snow was falling again, flakes swirling in the air. Walking alone, she felt a sense of release.

Lin Yiming had brewed a pot of milk tea. When Zhang Xiluo entered, he thoughtfully handed her a hand warmer.

“Sis, have some hot milk tea.”

“You’re quite attentive. Why did you suddenly ask to meet today?” Zhang Xiluo took the cup and sipped.

“I heard Zhou Yao tried to kill herself,” Lin Yiming said, his voice low and defeated. “How could she become like this?”

“Sis, if I were your husband, I’d definitely choose you.”

Just then, the café door swung open...