Chapter 3: Testing the Dog's Heart

Zhang Xiluo took out her phone and snapped a photo, then turned to find Xu Xinyi. After a simple lunch together, she managed to get Zhou Yao’s contact address from her. Xu Xinyi didn’t forget to comfort her either, urging Zhang Xiluo to let things go and not do anything foolish.

After leaving the hospital, Zhang Xiluo drove toward her parents’ house, but halfway there, she received a call from Li Mingye.

“Come to Liuzhou North Garden tonight. I’ll pick you up at the villa at 4:30,” came Li Mingye’s cold command through the phone. Zhang Xiluo frowned.

“I want to go to my parents’ place.”

“Zhang Xiluo, don’t make me repeat myself.”

“…”

Zhang Xiluo was speechless. How had she never noticed how domineering this man was before?

Since she had to return to Liuzhou North Garden tonight, Zhang Xiluo remembered the custom-made pair of earrings she’d ordered before. On her way back to the villa, she picked them up.

As soon as she entered the house, she saw Li Mingye sitting on the sofa.

“Why are you home?” Zhang Xiluo asked in surprise. Had he been kicked out by his little boyfriend?

“Am I in your way?” Li Mingye retorted coolly, not even bothering to look up. He stared at his phone, the corners of his mouth occasionally lifting. Anyone could see he was under love’s spell—he was smitten with his first love.

The double standard was glaring!

Zhang Xiluo shot him a glare, then stood in front of him and asked curiously, “Li Mingye, do you have someone you’ve always loved?”

“What are you trying to say?” Li Mingye looked up, frowning at the sight of her.

“If you saw the person you liked being sweet with someone else, would you be sad?” Zhang Xiluo fixed her gaze on him. “If your first love was with someone else, would you try to steal them away, be the other man?”

It was obvious she was baiting him.

Hearing her words, Li Mingye narrowed his eyes. “Pointless.”

“…”

“In half an hour, we’re leaving for Liuzhou North Garden,” Li Mingye said, lowering his head to fiddle with his phone again.

Zhang Xiluo turned and went upstairs, filled with doubt. Something wasn’t right—shouldn’t he be jealous and furious at this?

Half an hour later, Zhang Xiluo appeared before Li Mingye right on time.

Li Mingye’s mother had liked Zhang Xiluo at first, but unfortunately, Zhang Xiluo’s difficult ways had exhausted the family’s goodwill. Now, she wasn’t sure how to face them.

After greeting the elders—most responded with little more than a cold nod—Zhang Xiluo couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. She had brought this on herself.

Seeing that no one paid her much attention, she slipped away to the backyard alone. She loved the flower corridor there; in its quiet, she could find a little peace.

“So you’re my cousin’s wife? I’m Li Zhan, the youngest uncle’s son.” Li Zhan, Li Mingye’s younger cousin, had been studying medicine abroad. When Zhang Xiluo and Li Mingye married, he happened to be away on a medical mission and couldn’t attend.

It was the first time Zhang Xiluo had met him.

He wore a white hoodie, athletic pants, and kept his hair cropped short. He bore a slight resemblance to Li Mingye, but unlike him, Li Zhan radiated warmth, not gloom.

“Hello,” Zhang Xiluo said with a gentle smile, extending her hand.

“You don’t look well, cousin-in-law. Are you feeling dizzy or short of breath?” Li Zhan took her hand and studied her face intently. The nearness made Zhang Xiluo cough awkwardly.

“Sorry, old habits from work,” he apologized.

“It’s fine. It’s almost time to eat,” Zhang Xiluo said, pulling her hand back and getting up to leave. But as she took a step, her foot slipped and she fell backward. “Ah—”

Li Zhan moved quickly, catching her, and Zhang Xiluo landed safely in his arms, clutching his arm for support.

Just then, the door opened, and a figure appeared before the two of them.