Chapter 122: Not Understanding His Intentions

Zhang Xiluo subconsciously glanced back at Zhao Chengyi. Zhao Chengyi merely shrugged with an expression of feigned innocence; he had tried to stop them, but it hadn’t worked.

Zhang Xiluo was speechless. Her relationship with Zhao Chengyi was indifferent at best, so how could she possibly discern his true intentions?

Li Mingye and Ouyang Chen sat on opposite sofas, both watching Zhang Xiluo with a tacit understanding.

"Brother Li, Ouyang, it’s about time. Let’s go," Zhao Chengyi said, stepping in to relieve the tension for Zhang Xiluo. "We’ll take one car. Roger said we should have a drink tonight, and we can find someone to drive us home later."

"I have things to attend to; I’m not going." Li Mingye cast a glance at Zhao Chengyi, took a thick red envelope from his pocket, and tossed it casually onto the coffee table. "Take this for me. Treat them to tea when you have time."

"Brother Li, this isn’t right. We already promised them..." Zhao Chengyi said, looking troubled.

Zhang Xiluo took the opportunity to head upstairs, wanting no further entanglement with anyone.

She didn't hear what Li Mingye said afterward. She only knew that as soon as she entered Jiang Xueting’s room, she heard the sound of the door closing downstairs. They must have left.

"Luoluo, I sent you a message. Did you not see it?" Jiang Xueting shook her phone. Zhang Xiluo looked down; the timestamp of the message was exactly when she had stepped out of her car.

She had already encountered Zhao Chengyi by then. She felt she might have some prejudice against him; he had vehemently opposed Li Mingye being with her in the past, which made it hard for her to take his words seriously now.

But fortunately, Li Mingye and Ouyang Chen hadn't stayed long, nor had they embarrassed her in public.

"I didn't see it. I was in such a rush to get to you," Zhang Xiluo smiled and walked over to Jiang Xueting. The baby was with the nanny in the next room, and Jiang Xueting was leaning against the bed, eating fruit.

"Luoluo, I heard you were injured. Let me see."

"Just a minor scrape, nothing to worry about. I should be asking you—how did Li Mingye end up there?"

Jiang Xueting handed her a piece of durian and took one for herself. After finishing it, she wiped her mouth. "Li Mingye was on the phone with Zhao Chengyi, and Zhao Chengyi had it on speaker. Li Mingye heard what I said and insisted on forcing out what had happened."

"I think that scoundrel has changed; he seems incredibly concerned about your affairs. During the three years you were abroad, he kept finding ways to have Zhao Chengyi probe me, trying to pry your whereabouts out of me. The Li family introduced him to several partners, but he refused them all."

"Once, that man was drinking at my place, and Ouyang Chen was there too. While I was in the kitchen getting a dish, they started fighting. Zhao Chengyi said it was because of you. Since that day, the two of them have been in a cold war; it’s rare to see them in the same place anymore."

Jiang Xueting spoke with such conviction that she even pressed Zhang Xiluo, "Luoluo, both of these men want to be with you. Who would you choose? I think Ouyang Chen is better than Li Mingye. At the very least, he doesn't have all those scandals, and he treats you well."

"Don't talk nonsense. How could Li Mingye possibly have feelings for me? As for Ouyang Chen, that’s even more impossible. If you’re really concerned about me, hurry up and find me a reliable man. My parents are waiting for a grandchild."

Jiang Xueting fell into thought, remained silent for a few seconds, and then nodded firmly. "You're right. Neither of them is suitable for you. Once I'm done with my confinement, I’ll definitely find a good man for you."

Zhang Xiluo’s heart was in turmoil. First, there was Ouyang Chen’s confession, then Li Mingye’s absurd behavior.

She didn’t know what kind of freak luck she had that had caused these two men to develop feelings for her.

Jiang Xueting rarely left the house and knew little about the outside world. Like a curious child, she kept pestering Zhang Xiluo with questions.

She was particularly concerned about yesterday’s incident with Xu Xinyi, fearing that Xinyi was being deceived, as Li Linhao's circumstances were even worse than they had imagined.

"Luoluo, I tried to warn Xinyi, but Li Linhao isn't good enough for her. She seems to have caught your 'lovesick' bug and thinks that Li Linhao is wonderful. I don’t believe for a second that yesterday’s events had nothing to do with him." Jiang Xueting sometimes had a unique perspective, seeing things others missed.

Zhang Xiluo had been suspicious at first, but after Xu Xinyi and Li Linhao helped send the culprit away, her doubts had faded. With Jiang Xueting putting it this way, she felt it was worth investigating.

"Leave this to me. I’ll look into Li Linhao’s character. You just focus on your recovery, and you can help me later."

"It won't be long now. The date for the full-month celebration is already set. I was thinking, if it's too much, just don't come. That way you won't have to see Li Mingye."

As they spoke, Jiang Xueting’s son woke up, crying for his mother.

Jiang Xueting held her son, her eyes instantly softening, radiating the warmth of motherhood.

Zhang Xiluo felt a pang of envy, wondering if she would ever have the chance to be a mother again.

The baby, less than a month old, was incredibly soft. Jiang Xueting tried to get Zhang Xiluo to hold him, but Zhang Xiluo didn't know where to put her hands and waved her off repeatedly.

"He's too small, I’m afraid."

"I was the same at first. You'll be fine once you hold him. Just try."

With Jiang Xueting's help, Zhang Xiluo cradled the baby. A warmth spread through her, chasing away all her negative emotions.

She finished dinner at Jiang Xueting's and planned to take a taxi to Milan International. It wasn't convenient to go to Xu Xinyi's house with Li Linhao there, and she didn't want to return to Qinyuan yet, as her mother might spot her injuries.

Jiang Xueting, still worried, had her driver take her and packed her plenty of food.

Back at Milan International, Zhang Xiluo took off her coat, boiled a kettle of water, and brewed tea, intending to watch a movie to kill time. Ten minutes in, her phone rang.

"Zhang Xiluo, help! Save us!" Zhao Chengyi was shouting on the other end, accompanied by the sound of things crashing. "Zhang Xiluo, get to the hospital! Brother Li is hurt!"

"Why call me if he's hurt? I'm not a doctor." Zhang Xiluo frowned, not wanting to involve herself in their affairs.

"Brother Li won't cooperate with the doctors, and the wound won't stop bleeding! If you don't come, he's going to die!" Zhao Chengyi was stomping his feet in desperation, his voice thick with tears. "I’m begging you, please, just come! He keeps calling your name. He won't let them treat him unless you're here."

Zhang Xiluo didn't want to go and hung up.

A second later, Jiang Xueting called.

"Luoluo, please, go and help Zhao Chengyi. That man has gone insane; he doesn't want to live, and he's dragging Zhao Chengyi down with him." Had she been able to leave the house, she wouldn't have asked Zhang Xiluo to go to the hospital. "I'm sorry, Luoluo. It's not that I care more for them than for you, it's just..."

"Enough, I understand. I'll go take a look. Don't worry."

Zhang Xiluo reassured Jiang Xueting and hailed a taxi to the hospital.

As soon as she entered the emergency department, she saw a crowd gathered, whispering. Another doctor was just being chased out.

"Get out!"

Li Mingye roared with rage, scaring Zhao Chengyi into ducking out as well. Zhao Chengyi’s hands were stained with fresh blood, and there was gauze pressed against his arm...