Chapter 30: Divorce Comes First

Zhang Xiluo saw Zhou Lixun clutching her arm and shook him off with disgust. "Let go."

"I won't! You're trying to harm my daughter—I'm not letting this go!" Zhou Lixun switched to a helpless expression, desperately holding onto Zhang Xiluo. "You crashed into her on purpose, just to stop her from getting the backup blood. You want my daughter to die on the operating table!"

Zhang Xiluo couldn't understand what he was saying. That nurse had rushed over and fallen to the ground; she hadn't even touched her.

"Don't talk nonsense. Everyone saw it clearly—it was she who fell on her own," Zhang's mother shielded her daughter, signaling Xiao Zhao to pull Zhou Lixun away.

He refused to let go. "Of course you'd defend her, you're her mother!"

After saying this, Zhou Lixun dropped to his knees, playing the victim and pleading with Zhang Xiluo to spare Zhou Yao. "Please, let my daughter go. None of this is her fault—it's all because of Li..."

"Shut up!" Zhang Xiluo roared, unwilling for her mother to learn about her dealings with Li Mingye, especially in such a public place. "If you utter one more word, your daughter really will die, and your dreams will be shattered."

Just then, Li Mingye, Ouyang Chen, and Zhao Chengyi stepped out of the elevator. Seeing the crowd gathered in the lobby, Li Mingye frowned.

Zhang Xiluo caught sight of him and glared angrily. "Li Mingye, are you just going to stand there?"

Li Mingye's gaze cooled as he looked at Zhou Lixun on the floor. Zhao Chengyi, behind him, went over to pull Zhou Lixun up.

Zhou Lixun resisted, growing more belligerent now that he had someone backing him. "She harbors ill intentions—she wants to hurt Yao Yao," Zhou Lixun insisted, smearing Zhang Xiluo's name. "She knocked the nurse over, dirtied the list, and if the blood isn't procured in time, Yao Yao will be in danger!"

He watched Li Mingye's reaction as he spoke.

When he heard that Zhou Yao might be in trouble, Li Mingye's expression grew tense. He glanced at Zhang Xiluo.

"Did I push you?" Zhang Xiluo released her mother and approached the nurse on the ground. "Was it me who dirtied the list?"

Her face was grave as she studied the nurse's expression. The nurse stammered, unable to give a clear answer.

"If you won't say, that's fine. We can check the security footage. Just so you know, my husband is a director of this hospital."

Li Mingye looked at Zhang Xiluo, his expression unreadable. This woman was definitely doing this on purpose.

The nurse raised her head and whispered, "I fell by myself. It had nothing to do with you."

"So it was him who told you to slander me, then?" Zhang Xiluo pointed at Zhou Lixun, who was lying on the floor. The nurse was stunned, but did not deny it.

"What nonsense! I did nothing of the sort!" Zhou Lixun quickly denied it. "Mr. Li, you must believe me—I couldn't do such a thing. Yao Yao is my..."

"Take him upstairs," Li Mingye interrupted him in time, and Zhao Chengyi hauled him up.

"Stop making trouble. Li is getting angry."

Zhang Xiluo had little patience for these petty tricks. If Li Mingye hadn't shown up, she wouldn't even have bothered explaining. Since he was here, she could hardly resist taking a swing.

With a father-in-law like this, Li Mingye would have plenty to deal with in the future.

"Mom, why didn't you tell me you were being discharged?" Li Mingye walked up to Zhang Xiluo, supporting Zhang's mother on the other side.

He was surprisingly adept at putting on a facade. Zhang Xiluo shot him a quick glance, increasingly convinced he was a hypocrite.

"No need for so many people. Are you two fighting?" Zhang's mother asked.

"No," Zhang Xiluo denied it. Only normal couples would fight. "Let's go. My foot hurts."

Li Mingye's eyes flickered. "I'll come pick you up later."

She wanted to refuse but held her tongue.

Before getting in the car, Zhang Xiluo noticed Ouyang Chen watching her, his gaze shadowed—probably worried about Zhou Yao.

These two men guarded the operating room for Zhou Yao, ensuring her safety; it seemed even death wouldn't dare approach.

"What was that scoundrel's problem?" Upon arriving home, Zhang's mother called Zhang Xiluo over to the sofa, questioning her sternly.

Zhang Xiluo glossed over the details. "His daughter needs surgery. He came with money to try to settle things with me earlier, but I refused."

"And what about Li Mingye's connection to him? Xiluo, I'm your mother—you can't fool me."

"Mom, I don't want to concern myself with his affairs anymore," she answered truthfully. "You know what kind of person he is."

Zhang's mother was startled by her words, quickly grabbing her hand. "Xiluo, don't frighten me. Your father and I are getting old—we can't take any more shocks."

Guilt flooded Zhang Xiluo. She had never considered her parents' feelings, throwing herself wholly into Li Mingye. Her obsession with him had hurt everyone around her.

Tears welled in her eyes as she lowered her head to conceal her sorrow.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I was too willful before. I won’t be like that anymore." She buried herself in her mother's arms, hugging her tightly. "I won't hurt myself for him again. Trust me."

"That's my good girl."

When Zhang's father returned and saw his wife and daughter embracing, with Zhang's mother’s eyes red from crying, he was startled.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing," the mother and daughter replied in unison, then burst out laughing together.

"We’re both recuperating—we can’t cook. You’d better go," Zhang’s mother urged.

"Alright!" Zhang's father took off his jacket, tied on an apron, and was about to head to the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

Ouyang Chen stood at the door with groceries, politely greeting Zhang's father. "Uncle, Zhang Xiluo asked me to cook."

Zhang's father glanced back at Zhang Xiluo. Ouyang Chen had already entered, seemingly unaware of any impropriety.

"Aunt."

"Ouyang Chen, what are you doing?" Zhang Xiluo walked over and pulled him aside. "When did I ask you to cook?"

"You said my cooking was good. Isn't that a hint for me to come?"

Zhang Xiluo was speechless, surrendering to Ouyang Chen’s peculiar logic. "That’s not what I meant."

Ouyang Chen ignored her, carrying the groceries into the kitchen. "Uncle, let me handle it."

Zhang's parents exchanged confused glances, then looked at Zhang Xiluo, who shrugged innocently, indicating she had nothing to do with it.

Ouyang Chen cooked a full meal. Because of Zhang’s mother’s injury, most dishes were light and gentle.

During dinner, no one spoke; the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

After the meal, Zhang Xiluo offered to clear the dishes, but Ouyang Chen refused. "Your foot isn’t healed—I’ll do it."

"Thank you."

Ouyang Chen tidied up and, without lingering, took out the kitchen trash and left.

"Xiluo, what's going on between you two?" Zhang's father asked with concern, not wanting them to get too close.

"Dad, Mom, I know what you're worried about. I’m not like Li Mingye; I won't do anything dirty—don’t worry." She herself felt uncertain. "Even if I decide to be with someone else, I'd get a divorce first."

"Mingye's here—come sit down."

Just as Zhang Xiluo finished speaking, Li Mingye walked in, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot, his eyes fixed fiercely on her.