Chapter 36: Whose Love Nest

Li Mingye’s eagle-like eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Zhang Xiluo for several seconds, his expression unreadable. Zhou Yao’s gaze was fixed on Li Mingye’s face, expectation flickering in her eyes. Zhang Xiluo, however, remained calm—her heart had already settled on the answer. What she wanted was to hear it from Li Mingye himself. Only if he realized his feelings for Zhou Yao would he agree to divorce her quickly.

“It’s time to go,” Li Mingye said, offering no reply. Instead, he walked over to Zhou Yao’s side, glancing coldly at Zhuo Tongtong, annoyance etched between his brows.

Seeing this, Zhou Yao whispered a warning to Zhuo Tongtong, “Tongtong, if you really care about me, don’t make a scene.”

With that, she hurried after Li Mingye. Zhuo Tongtong, triumphant, lifted her chin at Zhang Xiluo, looking smug as she followed behind. Zhang Xiluo felt nothing but calm within; she had lost all hope in Li Mingye. Whatever he did or said now could hardly affect her anymore.

Soon, Xiao Zhao arrived, and Zhang Xiluo instructed him to take her to Milan International.

“Madam, Li’s car is just ahead,” Xiao Zhao informed her hastily when he spotted Li Mingye’s vehicle.

“Mm.” Zhang Xiluo was uninterested. “You don’t need to tell me that anymore.”

“Understood, Madam.”

Zhang Xiluo sighed. Even the driver could see her deep affection, feeling sorry for her, while that despicable man remained blind to it. Thinking back, Xiao Zhao was the closest person by her side; he had once driven her around the world searching for Li Mingye and had witnessed her humbling herself in front of him, pleading for his love.

“Thank you, Xiao Zhao.”

“Madam, you’re too kind. I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t let me drive home, I wouldn’t have saved two lives.” Xiao Zhao’s face was full of happiness—his marriage was settled and he even gained a nephew.

Zhang Xiluo smiled softly; she still had a chance to change her fate.

When the light turned green, Xiao Zhao floored the accelerator, overtaking Li Mingye’s car and even swerving playfully as he did so.

Upon returning to Milan International, Zhang Xiluo sent Xiao Zhao home to rest and collapsed onto her own bed.

Before long, the doorbell rang. Reluctantly, Zhang Xiluo went to open the door, only to find Li Mingye standing there. Instinctively, she tried to close the door, but Li Mingye had already stepped inside.

She gave up on closing it, but refused to let him enter further. “Mr. Li, you’ve got the wrong door.”

“So you really don’t want to see me?” Li Mingye couldn’t stand her cold sarcasm, his brows furrowed, clearly displeased.

“A little.” Zhang Xiluo was honest. “You told me not to appear in front of you anymore.”

Li Mingye forced his way into the room, slammed the door shut, and strode over to sit on the sofa without ceremony, surveying the furnishings.

“Whose love nest is this?”

He was insufferable—surely he could speak like a human being for once? He himself was entangled with Zhou Yao, assuming everyone else was as filthy as he was.

Zhang Xiluo picked up a glass of water and threw it at him. He dodged, catching only a few splashes on his clothes.

“Get out! I don’t want to see you.” Zhang Xiluo shouted, marching over to yank at his clothes.

Li Mingye remained unmoved, and with a sudden pull, he drew her into his arms.

“What am I supposed to do with you?” Li Mingye held her tightly, enduring her punches and kicks.

His trembling, deep voice struck something in Zhang Xiluo’s heart. She looked up and met his gaze.

Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but she thought she saw affection and reluctance in his eyes.

“Are you sure you know who I am?” Zhang Xiluo stopped struggling, suspecting he’d mistaken her for someone else.

Li Mingye looked back at her, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. “Zhang Xiluo, do you remember who you are?”

“Of course.” Zhang Xiluo tried to stand, but Li Mingye wouldn’t let go.

“You told me you’d love me for a lifetime. Was it all a lie?” Li Mingye’s pupils contracted, and for a fleeting moment, pain flashed across his cold face. “Zhang Xiluo, you’ve forgotten everything.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” Zhang Xiluo understood him now and felt foolish. “You’re not used to me refusing to be your lapdog, are you? Li Mingye, I always thought you had no heart, but I’ve come to realize you’re just heartless when it comes to me.”

“That’s what you think?” Li Mingye’s hand trembled; he wanted to deny it, but offered no explanation.

Zhang Xiluo struggled out of his embrace and pointed to the door, exhaustion showing in her face. “Please leave.”

Li Mingye stood up, gave her a long, searching look, and walked toward the door. Just as he was about to leave, he paused and his tone chilled as usual. “Mother wants us home for dinner tonight. Six o’clock, Liuzhou North Garden.”

After he left, Zhang Xiluo sank to the floor, finally voicing all the words she’d bottled up inside.

Yet, she didn’t feel the relief she had imagined; instead, a trace of sorrow lingered.

Having said so much, how would they get along in the future…

At six in the evening, Zhang Xiluo arrived punctually at Liuzhou North Garden. Li Mingye was already there.

He sat on the sofa, legs crossed, leisurely scrolling through his phone. It was as if nothing had happened before. Hearing footsteps, he slowly looked up.

“Luoluo, why didn’t you come home with Mingye?” Mother Li emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of fruit.

“Mom, this is a gift for you,” Zhang Xiluo said, as usual, having prepared a present.

There was no need to curry favor, so the gift was chosen casually.

“No need for gifts anymore—we’re all family. Mingye, come eat some fruit.”

Li Mingye came over and sat beside Zhang Xiluo, eating without a word.

Just then, Aunt Li walked in with gifts, followed by Uncle Li and Cousin Li Minglei.

“We’re late because Xiao Lei just got back,” Aunt Li said happily. Her son attended a prestigious foreign university, her pride and joy.

No matter how capable Li Mingye was, he was merely a graduate of Longcheng University.

“Aunt, cousin, cousin-in-law.” Li Minglei greeted Zhang Xiluo with a hint of disdain.

“Uncle, aunt, cousin.” Zhang Xiluo returned the greeting politely, while Li Mingye paid them no heed.

“When Li Zhan and the others arrive, we can start the meal,” Mother Li said, inviting everyone to sit and instructing the staff to serve tea.

“Mingye’s wife, I heard you argued with someone at the airport?” Aunt Li asked, her tone unfriendly. “Those young girls looked tough to deal with.”

This Aunt Li was once Zhang Xiluo’s ally, often giving her advice. When Zhang Xiluo was clear-headed, things were fine, but ever since Zhou Yao appeared, her judgment faltered and she was used as a pawn.

“Where did you hear that, Aunt?” She responded calmly, with a gentle smile.

“I happened to be at the airport then, saw everything,” Li Minglei interjected. “Cousin-in-law was fighting for cousin’s affection with a bunch of female university students.”

“Oh.” She glanced at the culprit who remained indifferent, then at Mother Li, whose face had darkened, and sighed deeply. “What could I possibly do?”

The trouble caused by that despicable man should be solved by him—she refused to be cannon fodder.

“Aunt, cousin, I hope you’ll stand up for me.”