Chapter 22: Selling the News to Reporters

“What did you do to her!” Zhuo Tongtong squatted on the ground, shouting hysterically, “You actually dared to kill someone in public! If anything happens to Yaoyao, I will never forgive you.”

Zhang Xiluo was deeply annoyed by this brainless girl; anyone with eyes could see that Zhou Yao had collapsed on her own.

“It was Zhou Yao!”

Zhang Xiluo turned and saw Li Mingye and his group approaching. Zhao Chengyi immediately noticed Zhou Yao lying on the floor and rushed over to help.

Li Mingye frowned, walked over, took Zhou Yao from Zhao Chengyi, and hurried downstairs.

Throughout, he never glanced at Zhang Xiluo.

“If something happens to her, I won’t let you off!” Zhuo Tongtong and Zhao Chengyi quickly followed, leaving only Ouyang Chen standing there, staring at Zhang Xiluo.

Zhang Xiluo’s heart tightened; Li Mingye’s words felt like a thorn, piercing into her, strangely familiar.

“Do they all know Third Sister?” Jiang Xueting spoke up for Zhang Xiluo, “That bastard is too much. I’ll deal with him for you!”

“I think so.” Xu Xinyi let go of Jiang Xueting, holding Zhang Xiluo’s hand, her voice full of concern. “Luoluo, if you’re upset, just say it.”

“I’m fine. You should take her home.”

“I won’t leave. I’m staying with you.” Jiang Xueting put her hands on her waist, vowing to make things hard for Zhou Yao and Li Mingye.

Warmth surged in Zhang Xiluo’s heart; having them by her side was a blessing. As for Li Mingye and Zhou Yao, she didn’t care anymore—she just hoped for a swift divorce.

“Let’s go. I really am fine.” Zhang Xiluo signaled for Xu Xinyi to take Jiang Xueting away.

Worried, Xu Xinyi asked Ouyang Chen to look after Zhang Xiluo. Ouyang Chen nodded slightly before she finally left, dragging Jiang Xueting with her.

Zhang Xiluo sat down, resting her head in her hand, looking exhausted. She had tried her best to avoid trouble, yet still found herself entangled in it.

“Are you alright?” Ouyang Chen walked over, quietly inquiring. His expression was blank, but a flicker of something unusual shone in his eyes.

“Perfectly fine,” Zhang Xiluo replied without looking up. “Why aren’t you gone? Aren’t you worried about Zhou Yao’s condition?”

Both Ouyang Chen and Li Mingye had fallen for Zhou Yao, even turning against each other for her, creating a storm in the business world.

He had almost defeated Li Mingye.

Ouyang Chen sat opposite her, confused. “Why should I be worried about her?”

Zhang Xiluo lifted her head. How could he be so much like Li Mingye, oblivious to his own intense feelings?

“Because...” Zhang Xiluo paused, making up an excuse, “Because she’s cute.”

“I don’t see it.” Ouyang Chen pondered seriously. He didn’t find Zhou Yao particularly charming; honestly, she was no match for Zhang Xiluo. “Let’s go to the hospital together.”

“Wait a bit more.” Zhang Xiluo glanced at her phone; if she went now, it would only lead to arguments.

Ouyang Chen quietly kept her company, and after half an hour drove her to the hospital.

She still arrived too early; Zhuo Tongtong hadn’t left. As soon as she saw Zhang Xiluo, she charged over like a wild animal.

“How dare you show your face here! You killed Yaoyao!”

Ouyang Chen calmly shielded Zhang Xiluo behind him, his cold gaze fixed on Zhuo Tongtong.

“Shut up. You’re noisy.”

Zhuo Tongtong instantly fell silent, stepping aside, shooting a hateful glare at Zhang Xiluo.

Li Mingye noticed Ouyang Chen’s protective gesture and couldn’t help but frown, approaching them.

“How is she?”

“Waiting for the report,” Li Mingye replied, his gaze locked on Ouyang Chen, who met it openly.

“Is there any evidence that I hurt her?” Zhang Xiluo was unusually calm. She didn’t care what Li Mingye thought of her; she just wanted to stay out of it.

“There’s preliminary suspicion of a tumor—whether benign or malignant, we need to wait for the pathology report.” Li Zhan appeared with the examination results; the tense atmosphere in the corridor stunned him for a moment. “Cousin, cousin-in-law, you’re both here.”

Li Mingye anxiously took the report, listening to Li Zhan explain the diagnosis. Zhuo Tongtong burst into tears; Zhao Chengyi impatiently dragged her away.

Zhang Xiluo turned to leave; Ouyang Chen thought for a moment and followed.

Li Mingye looked back just in time to see them entering the elevator together, and unconsciously clenched the report in his hand.

Zhang Xiluo wanted to check in on Lin Yiming. Seeing Ouyang Chen also exit the elevator, she was puzzled. “Why do you keep following me?”

“I’m worried you might do something rash.”

“No need. I won’t. You should go upstairs to see Zhou Yao.” Right now, Zhou Yao hadn’t fully accepted Li Mingye—Ouyang Chen still had a chance.

Ouyang Chen acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing to follow her.

“I’m going to see Zhou Yao’s boyfriend. Coming?”

“Alright.”

“...”

Lin Yiming was resting in bed, looking much better, messaging Zhou Yao on his phone.

He happily greeted Zhang Xiluo as soon as he saw her.

“Sis.”

“When will you be discharged?” Zhang Xiluo sat beside his bed, glancing at his phone; he hadn’t closed the chat window.

Zhou Yao was awake, chatting with him, but hadn’t mentioned her own hospitalization.

“Yaoyao said she’ll visit me tonight and bring me some good food.” Lin Yiming was radiant with happiness, just as he had been when they first met.

For a moment, Zhang Xiluo wondered if Zhou Yao was really as innocent as she seemed.

“That’s nice.”

“Zhou Yao’s just upstairs.”

Zhang Xiluo shot Ouyang Chen a glare—he was clearly trying to sabotage Li Mingye and Zhou Yao, deliberately prompting Lin Yiming to go upstairs and stir things up.

He cared so much, yet pretended not to.

Men’s words—nothing but lies!

“What happened to Yaoyao? Why is she upstairs?” Lin Yiming grew anxious, getting out of bed to find Zhou Yao.

Zhang Xiluo sighed inwardly and briefly explained Zhou Yao’s situation. Lin Yiming rushed upstairs.

Unable to stop him, she simply let it go, planning to head home for some rest.

“I’ll drive you.” The instigator, intent on escape, stuck close to Zhang Xiluo.

“Alright.” She didn’t refuse; Xiao Zhao had already left, so hitching a ride was easier than calling a cab.

Ouyang Chen wasn’t much of a talker—he simply drove quietly while Zhang Xiluo leaned against the window, occasionally glancing at him.

His profile was striking; a serious man was always attractive. His looks were certainly on par with Li Mingye, and his family background wasn’t much worse. His greatest advantage was being single.

For that alone, he was more suitable for Zhou Yao than Li Mingye.

A sudden urge rose within her to help Ouyang Chen win over Zhou Yao. It had nothing to do with Li Mingye—she simply wanted to help him.

“We’re here.” Ouyang Chen turned his head, locking eyes with Zhang Xiluo. “Get some rest. Don’t worry about the hospital.”

“Alright.” Zhang Xiluo got out, walking around to Ouyang Chen’s side. “Don’t you think pushing a college student into the fray is cruel? He’s no match for Li Mingye!”

“You care about him a lot. Is the divorce for his sake?”

“Your focus is truly unique.” Zhang Xiluo didn’t want to continue the conversation; it was too exhausting.

After a quick meal, Zhang Xiluo returned to her room to rest. The group chat had exploded; Xu Xinyi had posted several photos of Li Mingye and Lin Yiming fighting.

“Damn, that bastard actually laid hands on Third Sister for Luoluo! I have to get justice for Luoluo—these photos need to go to the press!”