Chapter 5: Taking the Initiative

“What do you think you’re doing?” Zhang Xiluo was startled, lifting her knee to block Li Mingye. Her movement was so abrupt that she hit a sensitive spot. “Don’t do anything reckless. We’re about to get divorced—it’s not appropriate for us to be intimate.”

Li Mingye suddenly regained his composure, the flicker of desire in his eyes gradually fading. He released Zhang Xiluo’s hand. He must have lost his mind to have kissed her so recklessly.

“We’re not suitable for each other, but you think you’re suitable with someone else?”

“You must be insane!” Zhang Xiluo snapped in anger, kicking him away. “An amicable divorce is best for both of us.”

“Your reasons? Your terms?”

“Because I don’t love you anymore.”

Li Mingye’s gaze darkened, his voice cold and mocking. “There’s never been love in our marriage. If you want a divorce, fine—hand over your shares in the Zhang family. Without that, you have no right to end this marriage.”

Zhang Xiluo held thirty-two percent of the Zhang family’s shares. If she handed them to Li Mingye, he would have absolute authority within the Zhang Group.

Even if she agreed, her parents never would. It would be tantamount to handing the Zhang Group to Li Mingye on a silver platter.

He was such a cunning wolf!

It seemed that getting an early divorce was out of the question. Zhang Xiluo compromised for now. “Fine, let’s not talk about it anymore. I’m tired.”

She couldn’t understand what went wrong with this man—why was he so unwilling to agree to a divorce?

Did she really have to wait until Li Mingye and Zhou Yao were madly in love before she could be free?

Zhang Xiluo didn’t want to wait any longer, nor did she have the patience to.

The next morning, Zhang Xiluo got up early and returned home.

Her parents were in the kitchen preparing breakfast together. They were both startled to see her return.

“Luo Luo, why are you back? Did you argue with Li Mingye again?” Her mother came out to greet her, and Zhang Xiluo immediately buried herself in her mother’s embrace.

“No argument. I just wanted to come home.”

“I told you, that Li Mingye is no good, but you just wouldn’t listen.” Her father’s words were laced with anger and concern as he came over.

Letting go of her mother, Zhang Xiluo threw herself into her father’s arms as well. “Dad, I’ll listen to you from now on.”

Her parents exchanged worried glances at her unusual behavior.

“Luo Luo, tell Dad what’s really going on.”

Zhang Xiluo wanted to tell them about her decision to get divorced, but the words caught in her throat. Nothing had been settled yet. If she told them now, it would only add to their worries.

Left with no choice, Zhang Xiluo said instead that Li Mingye hadn’t spent her birthday with her and she was upset.

Hearing this, her parents finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After breakfast, Zhang Xiluo returned to her room to catch up on sleep. She’d barely slept the night before, fuming over that infuriating man.

By the time she woke up, it was already past lunchtime. Her mother had set aside some food for her. The familiar warmth and flavors reinforced her resolve to protect her family and leave Li Mingye behind.

Through Xu Xinyi, she learned that Zhou Yao had been discharged from the hospital and her contact address was Longcheng University.

Zhang Xiluo called the driver to take her to Longcheng University, hoping to try her luck.

Li Mingye was an honorary director at Longcheng University, so she had the driver use his car, which made campus access much easier.

As luck would have it, she’d just entered the campus when she ran into Zhou Yao with her boyfriend. The two were laughing and chatting, open and full of youthful energy—a perfect match.

Seeing Zhou Yao immediately brought Li Mingye to mind. Zhang Xiluo resolved to bring the two of them together as quickly as possible, so that Li Mingye would take the initiative to ask for a divorce.

At that moment, a bicycle sped toward Zhou Yao and her boyfriend. They stepped back to avoid it, bumping right into Zhang Xiluo’s car. The keychain on Zhou Yao’s backpack scratched off a patch of paint.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Zhou Yao apologized at the car window. “How much is it? I’ll pay for the damage.”

Zhang Xiluo rolled down the window. Zhou Yao’s boyfriend recognized her at once. “It’s you! Last time you gave me too much money—I should return it to you.”

“No need. Take it as a tip for your trouble,” Zhang Xiluo replied graciously. “About the car…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it right. Please get the car fixed and let me know the cost.” Zhou Yao was still pale from the scare. “Here’s my number. Once it’s repaired, just call me and I’ll pay you back.”

Zhang Xiluo considered this and nodded. “Alright, it’s settled.”

With that, she rolled up the window and instructed the driver to leave.

Looking at Zhou Yao’s number in her hand, she smiled to herself. The plan was set in motion. Let the cunning man try to keep up!