Chapter 54: Is He Concerned About Her?

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Xiluo went straight to the hospital; she felt a discomfort in her abdomen.

“Luoluo, during this special period, you must avoid too much activity. Try to rest as much as possible, and don’t let yourself get upset,” Xu Xinyi cautioned, worried that Zhang Xiluo’s pregnancy might be unstable. “Your body is very weak, and right now, you can’t take tonics. You have to be extra careful.”

“I will,” Zhang Xiluo replied, gently placing her hand on her belly. She had been emotionally agitated just now, but from now on she would do her best to remain calm.

Xu Xinyi insisted she rest a while before leaving, pouring her a cup of hot water. “Xueting told me about your situation. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

Zhang Xiluo was resolute about divorcing Li Mingye. She nodded; Li Mingye would never accept her child. He had once said that she was unworthy of bearing his child.

Li’s mother wanted a grandchild so desperately that, once she learned of the pregnancy, she would never allow Zhang Xiluo to divorce. Even if the divorce went through, they would stop at nothing to take the child from her.

Xu Xinyi saw Zhang Xiluo into the car, reminding her again and again to take care of herself.

Zhang Xiluo glanced at her phone. Li Mingye had called her over a dozen times and sent countless messages asking where she was.

It must have been Zhou Yao, successfully complaining and sending him after her.

Li Mingye sent another message, ordering her to return to the villa.

An hour later, Zhang Xiluo returned. Li Mingye stood at the entrance to the living room, cigarette in hand, eyes fixed on the door.

She got out of the car, instinctively tugging her clothes to cover her flat abdomen.

“Where have you been?” Li Mingye’s expression was cold the moment he saw her. He tossed away his cigarette and pulled her inside.

She took off her coat, but Li Mingye snatched it back and draped it over her shoulders. “The temperature difference is too great. Don’t take it off.”

Zhang Xiluo paused, staring at him intently. “Are you worried about me?”

“You’re overthinking it.” Li Mingye turned away, presenting her with his back as he walked toward the sofa.

“Of course, why would you care about me?” Zhang Xiluo replied nonchalantly, changing into slippers.

“Why?” Li Mingye asked, sitting down, his tone indifferent.

“You know perfectly well why.” She couldn’t be bothered to answer. All his concern was reserved for Zhou Yao. In front of everyone, he had rushed onto the stage to protect her, regardless of appearances.

Even if it hadn’t been Zhou Yao, it would never have been her.

Back when she was home alone and suffered a sudden bout of appendicitis, she called him countless times—he never picked up. Eventually, when he did answer, he told her to call an ambulance herself.

Love and indifference are as plain as day.

“You’re so eager to see me now, is it just to avenge Zhou Yao? Then hurry up—I have things to do,” Zhang Xiluo said, sitting across from him.

Li Mingye frowned, his voice growing colder. “Do you really mind her that much?”

“Why shouldn’t I? I’ve chased after you for so many years with nothing in return. She only had to appear, and she got your love.”

“Must you paint yourself in such a pitiful light?” His face darkened, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “Are you so sure I never responded?”

Zhang Xiluo suddenly laughed. The very man who caused her misery now had the nerve to question her.

People say men’s minds work in mysterious ways—she was starting to believe it.

Just then, Li Mingye’s phone rang.

“Brother Li, your situation with Zhou Yao is trending online. You should look—I'm investigating who started it,” Zhao Chengyi said anxiously over the phone.

Li Mingye glanced at Zhang Xiluo, his gaze strange. “Alright, I’ll call you back.”

He hung up, found the trending news, and placed his phone on the table, a cold smile on his lips. “Was this your doing?”

Zhang Xiluo glanced at the screen, her brows tightening as she fell silent.

“I’ll give you a chance to explain,” Li Mingye said, restraining his anger.

“There’s nothing to explain. It’s just as the headline says,” Zhang Xiluo replied, her expression light and unruffled.

The headline read: “The Domineering CEO Falls for the Schoolgirl; The Jealous Wife Ruthlessly Tears Them Apart.”

“Excellent!” Li Mingye got to his feet, his presence pressing down on her. “You’ll stop at nothing to get divorced.”

He’d seen through her intentions, but Zhang Xiluo wasn’t flustered—instead, she was surprised he understood her so well.

“You’re right. I don’t want to live like this anymore,” she said, standing as well and surveying the room, sorrow rising within her.

“Li Mingye, it’s time we let each other go.”

Li Mingye fell silent, lighting a cigarette. Zhang Xiluo quickly stepped back. Under his dark gaze, she hurried upstairs.

She packed her belongings and came back down. The living room was thick with smoke; the ashtray near Li Mingye was overflowing with cigarette butts.

Covering her nose, Zhang Xiluo walked to the door and opened it, signaling Xiao Zhao to fetch her things upstairs.

Li Mingye did not stop her, his eyes never leaving the cigarette in his hand. Only when the door closed behind her did he finally react.

He looked toward the door, sprang to his feet, and rushed out, grabbing Zhang Xiluo just as she was about to get into the car.

“Until this is resolved, you’re not going anywhere.”

“And why not?” Zhang Xiluo pulled her arm free, meeting his angry gaze. “We don’t need to keep up appearances—your mother doesn’t care whether we divorce.”

Since that day, Li’s mother hadn’t sought her out, nor asked her and Li Mingye to return to the Liyang Estate. Instead, she tacitly accepted Zhou Yao’s family.

From beginning to end, she had been nothing but a puppet, dancing to their strings.

All that talk of matching families, of being the only daughter-in-law worthy of the Lis—it was all nonsense!

Li Mingye was left speechless. His mother called, and he stepped aside to answer.

Zhang Xiluo got in the car and left the villa without a backward glance.

She would never return.

The commotion over Li Mingye and Zhou Yao’s relationship was everywhere. Her parents were furious and wanted to go to the Li family to demand an explanation.

Zhang Xiluo returned home in time to stop them. “Dad, Mom. This is what I want—I want a divorce.”

“Luoluo, why do you keep changing your mind? Last time something happened, you said everything was fine between you. Now, suddenly, there’s a college girl and you want a divorce? What’s really going on?” her mother asked, worried and unwilling to see her hurt.

“Mom, I’m fine. I just want out, to live my own life. Before, I worried about dragging the company down, so I didn’t make up my mind,” Zhang Xiluo said, unable to mention she’d lived this all before—she didn’t want to frighten her parents.

“If you really mean it, we’ll support you, even if it costs us the whole company. We just worry you’re acting on impulse and will regret it later.”

Zhang Xiluo’s eyes filled with tears. Her parents’ love moved her deeply. She would never regret this, nor let them lose everything.

“I won’t,” she promised, nodding firmly. She nestled into her mother’s embrace, one hand gently resting on her belly.

A wave of happiness unfurled in her heart. She was going to be a mother, and she would strive to be a good one.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Her father was about to answer, but Zhang Xiluo got up first. “Dad, let me.”

She walked toward the door with a smile.

“Ah!”