Chapter 59: Meeting Only to Quarrel

Li Mingye was utterly bewildered. Was it wrong for him to come see her?

“Zhang Xiluo, don’t be so ungrateful,” he said, his expression darkening. But seeing Zhang Xiluo’s pale face, his heart softened, and he poured a cup of hot water for her. “Drink some hot water.”

Zhang Xiluo took a few seconds to compose herself, accepted the cup from his hand, drank a sip, and regained her calm.

“Sorry, I had a nightmare.”

“Mm.” Li Mingye’s tone was indifferent, but his mind was far from settled. What had she dreamed of, to be so terrified?

After Zhang Xiluo set down the cup, she heard him speak again, “I told you to stay away from other men, but you treated it like nothing. You won’t always be this lucky.”

“Are you worried about me?” Zhang Xiluo asked for the second time. Li Mingye was silent for a moment, saying nothing.

Once again, she’d been foolishly sentimental.

“Thank you for saving me,” Zhang Xiluo said to ease the awkwardness, vowing never to ask such a foolish question again.

“Why did you go looking for Gao Sihai again? Don’t you know how dangerous he is?” Li Mingye suddenly flared up, his mood shifting so abruptly that Zhang Xiluo was at a loss—why was he angry?

She valued her life too much to seek out Gao Sihai.

Everything had been orchestrated by someone else.

“If I told you Zhou Yao planned it, would you believe me?” Zhang Xiluo raised her head and met Li Mingye’s gaze.

Li Mingye’s brows furrowed tightly as he once again chose silence.

Zhang Xiluo’s heart grew cold. She lowered her gaze, “I don’t have any solid evidence, so forget I said anything.”

She must have been frightened senseless, losing composure again in front of Li Mingye. Why would she ever think he’d believe her?

She lay down, turning her back to Li Mingye. She was exhausted and didn’t want to speak anymore.

Li Mingye sat quietly for a while, then got up and left. As he closed the door behind him, Zhang Xiluo shut her eyes, hiding the loneliness within them.

Early the next morning, Xu Xinyi came to check on her and, seeing her condition had improved, finally relaxed.

“Luoluo, forgive me for nagging, but you must rest well.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“I suggest you leave the hospital as soon as possible, or the medical records will be impossible to conceal.” Xu Xinyi wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing.

Zhang Xiluo nodded. She planned to be discharged that very day.

Xu Xinyi went to handle the discharge procedures, while Zhang Xiluo changed clothes and contacted Jiang Xueting to pick her up.

“Sis, you’re getting discharged?” Zhou Yao walked in holding a bouquet of flowers, her expression innocent though her eyes had lost their clarity.

Zhang Xiluo looked at her coldly. The nightmare still haunted her, and she spoke in a low voice, “I have to admire you. Knowing I dislike you, you still come.”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Zhou Yao’s face, yet she kept smiling. “If something happens to my sister, of course I have to visit. I even brought flowers.”

That single “sister” made Zhang Xiluo feel sick. She took the flowers and tossed them in the trash.

“Thank you for the chrysanthemums. You can leave now.”

To bring chrysanthemums—Zhou Yao’s heart was truly sinister, wishing for her death.

“You really are unpleasant.” Zhou Yao seemed oblivious to her own malice, and still had the nerve to criticize Zhang Xiluo. She moved closer, a hint of regret in her voice, “I didn’t expect him to be so greedy, otherwise you’d have had no chance to save yourself.”

So it really was her.

Zhang Xiluo remained outwardly calm, betraying no emotion, which surprised Zhou Yao.

“You’re not shocked? Not angry?”

Zhang Xiluo let out a cold laugh. “I expected as much. You even sacrificed Zhuo Tongtong, who was so loyal to you. I must admit, you’re ruthless.”

“It’s all because of you! You forced me. I told you, I want everything you have.” Zhou Yao’s face was twisted with malice, an angel turned demon. “If this plan fails, I’ll find another way, unless you disappear yourself.”

“Don’t waste your time on me. As soon as Li Mingye agrees to divorce, I’ll leave Longcheng at once.” The candidness of Zhou Yao’s words shocked Zhang Xiluo. She always wore a mask in front of others, but before Zhang Xiluo, she revealed her true nature.

“You won’t leave. You’ve loved him for so many years; you won’t let go. You’re deceiving yourself. If you wanted to leave, you’d do it now. Divorce is just your excuse to stay by his side.”

Zhang Xiluo took a deep breath, feeling shaken. Zhou Yao’s words struck right at her heart.

It was a problem she had never considered before.

“I was right, wasn’t I? You’re just pretending, hoping to attract Mr. Li’s attention.”

Zhang Xiluo didn’t refute her immediately, and Zhou Yao’s conviction in her own assumptions deepened, along with her resentment and hostility.

Xu Xinyi entered, instinctively sensing that Zhou Yao had come to cause trouble.

“Please leave and don’t disturb the patient’s rest,” Xu Xinyi said, displeased. Seeing the chrysanthemums in the trash, she picked them up and shoved them back into Zhou Yao’s hands.

Usually composed, Xu Xinyi couldn’t restrain her temper. “Take your filthy things away, or I’ll send a truckload to your home.”

Zhou Yao said nothing, bit her lip, and turned to leave.

“She came to provoke you?” Xu Xinyi saw Zhang Xiluo’s poor complexion and gently patted her shoulder. “Your mood matters most. She’s not worth your anger.”

“I’m fine.” Zhang Xiluo felt Zhou Yao made some valid points—she should seriously consider the matter.

Jiang Xueting took Zhang Xiluo to Milan International, bought her some snacks—mostly puffed food.

Jiang Xueting didn’t know she was pregnant and even thoughtfully brought her favorite coffee.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiluo felt she shouldn’t keep it a secret. She pulled Jiang Xueting close and whispered the news of her pregnancy.

“Damn.”

Jiang Xueting jumped up in excitement, paused for a few seconds, then quickly sat down and hugged Zhang Xiluo.

“This is great news, but you mustn’t let that bastard know. He mustn’t benefit from this.”

“I think so too.”

Jiang Xueting’s phone rang again, her expression uneasy. She went to the bathroom to take the call. When she came out, she said she had to leave.

Zhang Xiluo didn’t try to stop her. “Take care.”

Zhang Xiluo’s body was weak, her face still bearing wounds. She didn’t want her parents to worry, so she called her mother to say she’d stay with Jiang Xueting for a few days before coming home.

Yesterday at the hospital, she’d only had a basic wash; the smell still lingered. She decided to have a hot bath.

She’d barely started when the doorbell rang. Zhang Xiluo got up, feeling dizzy.

Afraid to move further, she quickly sat back in the water.

Her phone rang nearby. She answered, hearing Li Mingye’s icy voice, “Open the door.”

“I’m dizzy, I can’t get up.” Zhang Xiluo replied honestly. “Is fighting with me the only reason you ever visit? Just leave, I don’t have time for another argument today.”

“Zhang Xiluo, open the door!” Li Mingye was furious, provoked by her words. “Which argument wasn’t started by you?”

“….” Zhang Xiluo was speechless. Thinking of her situation, she managed to say, “Fine, fine, it’s all my fault. I just don’t want to argue today. Please go.”

“Are you going to open up or not?” Li Mingye threatened, “If you don’t, I’ll call a locksmith to open it.”

“Li Mingye, could you listen for once? I can’t get up, so how am I supposed to open the door for you?”