Chapter 23: A Shattered State of Mind

“Stop it, that won’t do Lolo any good,” Xu Xinyi hurriedly intervened. “Let’s just watch the drama, that boy got beaten up badly enough. He was already hurt, and they just carried him straight back.”

“That bastard was way too ruthless! Lolo, you have to divorce him.”

“Yes, I will,” Zhang Xiluo replied, closed WeChat, and turned back to the art studio files on her computer.

Suddenly, she noticed a photo of Ouyang Chen. Only then did she realize that the largest art museum in Dragon City belonged to him, and he held exhibitions nearly every month.

His gallery was also renowned—one painting could fetch seven figures.

All of this was a blind spot in her knowledge, for in the past, her eyes could see nothing but Li Mingye.

Time slipped by unnoticed. When she was about to shower and go to sleep, Li Mingye returned home.

She wanted to lock her bedroom door, but she was a step too late.

“Zhang Xiluo, you’re getting more and more outrageous,” Li Mingye stormed in, kicking the door open so forcefully that Zhang Xiluo was knocked to the ground.

She got up, rubbing the spot that hurt from the fall. “What’s wrong with you? The tumor isn’t something I put in her head!”

Li Mingye’s gaze was filled with undisguised disgust as he looked at her. “Ha. I thought you might have changed. Turns out you’re even more vicious!”

“Li Mingye, make yourself clear. What have I done to you?” She stared back into his cold eyes, utterly unafraid. This bastard only knew how to slap labels on her.

“As if you don’t know already?” Whatever fondness Li Mingye once had for her was gone. In his eyes, she was nothing but a scheming, venomous woman.

“What am I supposed to know?”

Li Mingye threw a stack of photographs on the ground and grabbed Zhang Xiluo’s arm. “Come for me if you must, but you’re not to touch her!”

Scattered on the floor were photos of him fighting with Lin Yiming, of him carrying Zhou Yao into the hospital, of Zhou Yao stumbling out of a room with her clothes disheveled, and sweet couple photos of Lin Yiming and Zhou Yao…

“You’re hurting me! Let go!” Zhang Xiluo struggled. What did any of this have to do with her?

She knew Jiang Xueting’s character well—she talked about exposing things, but unless Zhang Xiluo agreed, Jiang Xueting would almost never act recklessly.

Besides, the hotel photo was obviously a candid shot.

Why should all these messy things be pinned on her?

“So you do know what pain is?” Li Mingye’s eyes grew even colder.

“Li Mingye, use your brain for once! I’m about to divorce you—why would I stir up all this trouble?”

Seeing she couldn’t break free, Zhang Xiluo raised her foot and aimed a kick at his vital spot. If he dodged, he’d have to let go.

She took two steps back and continued, “I don’t love you anymore. There’s no need for any of this.”

Li Mingye was momentarily stunned. He’d considered everything she’d said—except for that last sentence.

He should have been glad to hear it.

But now, alongside his anger, there was an unshakable sense of unease.

“It was Ouyang Chen who sent Lin Yiming to look for you. Go settle the score with him,” Zhang Xiluo said, pulling a divorce agreement from the drawer and handing it to him, then quickly withdrawing—her arm was already red where he’d gripped it!

“I’ve had this ready for a while. If you’re worried about Zhou Yao getting hurt, then give her a proper place in your life.”

Apart from the money listed on the bill, she wanted nothing. She just wished to leave cleanly.

“This won’t do.” Li Mingye tore up the agreement. “Add your share transfer, and I’ll sign it immediately.”

Even now, Li Mingye was still coveting her shares. She wanted to curse him.

“In your dreams,” Zhang Xiluo refused to compromise. He would have to give Zhou Yao a title sooner or later. “I gave you a chance. The next time you want a divorce from me, it won’t be so easy.”

“Oh? I’ll beg you?” Li Mingye sneered, taking a step closer. “You’d better have nothing to do with this, or I’ll make everyone around you pay the price.”

Zhang Xiluo’s heart skipped a beat. This was a painfully familiar scene—his tone, his gaze, all exactly the same as before.

She was already struggling desperately to escape…

Somehow, she found the courage to shove him hard, nearly knocking him over.

“Li Mingye, I hate you.”

Without looking back, she ran out. Li Mingye stood there, listening to the roar of the engine downstairs, a strange taste in his heart.

Zhang Xiluo sped all the way to a bar.

She ordered a dozen beers and poured them down one by one, wanting to call Jiang Xueting but realized she hadn’t brought her phone.

As she grew hazy with drink, several men appeared, leering at her.

“Hey beautiful, have a drink with us?”

“Coming out in your pajamas—are you that desperate?”

“Need some help?”

They took turns spouting filthy words, brazenly ogling her, commenting on her figure.

“Too flat up top. Needs plenty of stimulation for a second chance at development.”

“We can help you with that!”

“Get lost!” Zhang Xiluo hurled a bottle at them. “Now!”

The men exchanged glances and moved in to drag her away.

She was too drunk to resist. Just as they were about to pull her off, Li Mingye burst in.

He punched one in the face, kicked another aside, and pulled Zhang Xiluo fiercely into his arms. When someone came at them with a broken bottle, he raised his arm to shield her.

His sleeve was slashed, blood soaking through his shirt.

The commotion drew the security and the manager, who, upon seeing Li Mingye’s face, were instantly terrified.

“Detain them and wait for my return,” Li Mingye ordered, then took off his jacket, wrapped it around Zhang Xiluo, and carried her out.

Zhang Xiluo woke in her own bed, with no memory of the night before. Seeing a fresh bruise on her arm, she cursed Li Mingye fiercely.

That bastard took the opportunity to abuse her!

Mother Li called, asking her to tell Li Mingye to come home for dinner. She used the excuse of not feeling well to refuse.

After yesterday’s chaos, she had no desire to see him.

Zhang Xiluo quickly packed some things, got the keys to Milan International from Jiang Xueting, and planned to stay there for a while.

Back in college, she and her friends had bought an apartment at Milan International—three bedrooms and a living room, just enough for the three of them.

After graduation, the place had stayed empty.

“Why are you moving out so suddenly?” Jiang Xueting asked as she drove her over. “But it’s good to get away—seeing that bastard only makes you angrier.”

She wouldn’t be seeing Li Mingye anyway, since Zhou Yao was still in the hospital and he had to stay with her. He’d also need to deal with those photos, so he probably wouldn’t have time to come back to the villa and pick a fight.

“I just want some peace. My mother-in-law planted a spy in the house.”

“There’s not a decent person in the Li family!” Jiang Xueting fumed.

Zhang Xiluo finished unpacking and sent Jiang Xueting away. “Apart from Xinyi, don’t tell anyone I’m here.”

“Don’t worry, I know. If you need anything, call me—I’m on standby twenty-four seven.”

Zhang Xiluo, her head aching, decided to sleep before tidying up further. She ended up sleeping right through till the next morning.

She was woken by a shrill, urgent phone call.

“Lolo, something’s happened—your mother’s in trouble.”