Chapter 51: Merely a Temporary Refusal to Marry

Zhang Xiluo glared at him, cursing him a hundred times in her heart. This was not the time for her to answer.

“Lolo, tell him,” Jiang Xueting urged anxiously, “Let him give up!”

Li Mingye fixed his gaze on Zhang Xiluo. His expression was indifferent, but the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

“Zhou Yao was in a car accident.”

Lin Yiming suddenly called out, pointing outside the café.

Li Mingye immediately turned and rushed out at a brisk pace. Zhang Xiluo felt as if a knife had sliced through her heart, a sudden pang of pain.

In her previous life, she had died in a car accident, crying out Li Mingye’s name over and over before dying. He never stopped the car, never even glanced at her.

Now, hearing Zhou Yao had an accident, he ran out without a second thought, as if nothing else mattered.

Love or indifference—it was painfully clear.

Bitter anguish welled up inside her as she followed Jiang Xueting outside. The cold wind struck her face, turning her eyes red.

Zhou Yao was nestled in Li Mingye’s arms, her hands wrapped around his neck, still shaken by the ordeal.

She seemed to have no obvious injuries, only a slight dizziness. Li Mingye anxiously carried her into the car.

“Old woman, did you see that? President Li loves our Yao Yao,” Zhou Tongtong boasted as she strutted over. “If you know what’s good for you, hurry up and get a divorce.”

“I’ll tear your mouth off,” Jiang Xueting retorted, slapping Zhou Tongtong across the face. Zhou’s eyes reddened with fury as she tried to retaliate, but Jiang Xueting grabbed her by the hair.

“If you dare fight back, I’ll make sure your whole family suffers,” Jiang Xueting warned. “And don’t forget, even if Zhou Yao becomes the wife in name, she still won’t be able to save you.”

Zhou Tongtong, frightened, was pushed away by Jiang Xueting and glared back in anger.

“You just wait! I won’t let you off!” Zhou Tongtong ran to the roadside, but Li Mingye’s car was already long gone.

Zhang Xiluo kept her eyes fixed on the direction the car had disappeared, her heart hollowed out again and again.

She hated herself for being so weak, for still feeling pain because of Li Mingye.

“Sis… I’m sorry,” Lin Yiming apologized, guilt written all over his face. If not for him, none of this would have happened.

Zhang Xiluo withdrew her gaze and shook her head. “It’s not your fault. This place must be unlucky. We should get a feng shui master to find a better spot and move the shop.”

“Let’s go. Take me home,” Zhang Xiluo said to Lin Yiming after glancing at Jiang Xueting.

Jiang Xueting noticed her unhappiness and felt both distressed and angry. “Next time we see them, I’ll just start a fight!”

“Xueting, I was too naïve,” Zhang Xiluo sighed softly, looking out the window. “I thought that as long as I didn’t love him, I could escape him and change my fate.”

Thinking back on everything that had happened recently, she only felt increasingly useless. Not only had she failed to change her destiny, but she had dragged her family into trouble even earlier.

“Lolo, what are you talking about? I don’t understand—what fate?”

“It’s nothing.” Zhang Xiluo caught herself, nearly slipping up. “Just annoyed, and I want to get rid of that scumbag as soon as possible.”

“I have an idea—hold a press conference and expose him and Zhou the Mistress,” Jiang Xueting fumed, recalling how Zhou Yao’s scandals had been wiped from the internet and her suicide attempt covered up by Li Mingye. “I have all the evidence. Just say the word and I’ll get everything ready.”

It was a good plan, but not one she could use just yet.

“Let’s keep it for now,” Zhang Xiluo finally managed a faint smile. “Fortunately, I still have you all.”

When Zhang Xiluo returned to Madam Li’s side, she found Li Mingye and Zhou Yao already there. Zhou Lixun and Li Suying had also arrived, kneeling on the floor, weeping and wailing.

She stood at a distance, unwilling to get involved.

“President Li, please have mercy on us. This house is all we have left,” Zhou Lixun pleaded, his arm in a cast, his face and head bandaged.

“We’re Yao Yao’s family, you can’t treat us like this,” Li Suying sobbed loudly. “Yao Yao, kneel and beg President Li with us.”

Zhou Yao stood by their side, draped in Li Mingye’s coat, her eyes brimming with tears but refusing to speak.

Madam Li, face overcast, dismissed everyone except the Zhou family.

“I’ve done all I could. The rest is up to you,” Madam Li said hoarsely, coughing as she looked at Li Mingye.

Li Mingye frowned, responding coldly, “Contact Zhao Chengyi. He’ll make arrangements for you.”

Madam Li nearly choked with anger. “Are you determined to oppose me?”

“No,” Li Mingye denied. “This matter ends here. You may leave.”

He glanced at Zhou Yao, who understood and helped Li Suying to her feet. “Mom, Dad, let’s go. President Li will handle the house.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Li Suying and Zhou Lixun hurried to thank Li Mingye and left. Zhou Yao looked back at every step she took, her eyes full of gratitude and adoration.

On seeing Zhang Xiluo, she paused deliberately and flashed her a smile.

It had to be said—Zhou Yao was indeed formidable. Without saying a word, she could get Li Mingye to do anything for her.

“I will not marry Zhou Yao,”

After Zhou Yao had left, Li Mingye promised Madam Li, “There’s no need to drive them to ruin.”

Only now did Zhang Xiluo understand—her presence truly existed to protect Zhou Yao. She was the shield Li Mingye used to placate Madam Li; as long as she was there, Zhou Yao would be safe.

Madam Li had hoped to use today’s opportunity to drive Zhou Yao out of Dragon City once and for all.

But Li Mingye’s promise had thwarted her, allowing them to remain.

No wonder Li Mingye had said it was only temporary. Once he had arranged everything, he would kick both her and the Zhang family aside and marry his beloved.

What a meticulous mind.

How could she ever be his match?

“Lolo, when did you return?” Madam Li noticed Zhang Xiluo and probed gently.

Zhang Xiluo forced a smile. “Just now. Are you done here? I’m a bit tired and want to rest.”

“Almost. Let’s have lunch before we go home.” Madam Li walked over to her, and Zhang Xiluo took her arm.

“I want Cantonese food today,” she said.

Zhang Xiluo chose to sit with Madam Li in the back seat. The smile Zhou Yao gave as she left felt like a blade, stabbing deeper with every breath.

It had been a long time since she’d felt this way.

She had little appetite, ate only a little, and then went to the restroom to vomit. When she came out, she overheard Li Mingye and Madam Li discussing Zhou Yao.

She didn’t want to listen, so she didn’t return to the table. Instead, she stood by the window in the corridor, gazing at the half-frozen snow below, lost in thought.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before Li Mingye appeared behind her. “Let’s go.”

“All right.” She showed no emotion, and quietly helped Madam Li into the car.

She felt utterly exhausted, leaned her head against the window, her chest tightening and her head throbbing with pain. Sweat beaded on her forehead and palms.

“Lolo, what’s wrong?” Madam Li noticed her condition and called her several times, “Lolo.”

Zhang Xiluo struggled to open her mouth, “Mom, I’m… I’m fine.”

With that, she closed her eyes again, her body beginning to tremble. Cold seeped into her limbs and bones, and she lost consciousness.