Chapter 76: Are You Not Afraid He’ll Discover the Truth?

“No need. I’ll handle my own affairs. Leave. I don’t want to see you again—let’s hope we never meet for the rest of our lives.” Zhang Xiluo’s heart shattered with a thunderous crash, pain flooding her veins. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back, staring upwards, refusing to let them fall.

She would not allow herself to shed another tear for that bastard.

She heard Li Mingye set something down. Zhang Xiluo let out a cold laugh. “Take your things with you. I find them filthy!”

“Zhang Xiluo!” Li Mingye clenched his jaw, struggling to control his anger. He gave her a long, searching look, then turned and left the hospital room.

From beginning to end, Zhang Xiluo never looked back. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to restrain herself and would slap him again.

Li Mingye had just left when Ouyang Chen arrived.

She was startled to see him. “Why are you here?”

“To have New Year’s Eve dinner with you.” Ouyang Chen carried a thermal container. Noticing the dumplings on the table, he paused. “Uncle Hu made plenty of dishes, and I helped wrap some dumplings. Would you like to try them?”

“Yes, New Year’s Eve dinner isn’t complete without dumplings.” Zhang Xiluo wiped away her tears, moved to the edge of the bed, and tossed the dumplings Li Mingye had brought into the trash.

“But I never eat dumplings.”

“Then have some other dishes.” Ouyang Chen, just about to serve her a dumpling, quickly set it aside and moved the other dishes before her.

“Li Mingye doesn’t know you don’t eat dumplings?” Ouyang Chen asked suddenly.

Zhang Xiluo shook her head. She had always been the one chasing after him, learning his preferences, observing his every move. How could that bastard possibly know anything about her?

She wasn’t Zhou Yao, nor Qin Xiaoxiao. She didn’t even qualify as a backup.

“Why did you come back?” Zhang Xiluo changed the subject. “What about your gallery?”

“There wasn’t much going on anyway.” Ouyang Chen looked guilty—he should never have gone to the airport that day. If only he’d stayed. “If I hadn’t left that day, none of this would have happened.”

“Zhou Yao was determined to kill my child. Even if it hadn’t happened that day, it would’ve been another time.” Zhang Xiluo suddenly looked up at Ouyang Chen. “Tell me, do you really believe me?”

“I do.” Ouyang Chen’s answer was unwavering. “It’s just that there’s no evidence. She can’t be convicted.”

It seemed that in this life, Ouyang Chen truly hadn’t fallen in love with Zhou Yao. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed to investigate the truth. Or perhaps, he was simply more rational than that bastard, with a greater sense of decency.

At least he wasn’t blinded by Zhou Yao.

“Thank you.” Zhang Xiluo thanked him sincerely. At least he considered her feelings.

After their meal, Ouyang Chen sent her a red envelope with the fortune-bringing number 888,888. Zhang Xiluo accepted it in front of him. “I’m not giving this back, and I won’t send one in return.”

“I never thought you’d be so greedy,” Ouyang Chen teased, pretending to be annoyed, and sent her another one.

Just then, fireworks boomed across the sky. In tacit understanding, they both turned to the window to admire the brilliant display.

They had planned to stay up all night, but Zhang Xiluo grew sleepy just past eleven and dozed off, never noticing when Ouyang Chen left.

The next morning, Zhang Xiluo’s mother called on video. She pretended not to hear it.

In a panic, Zhang Xiluo changed her clothes, washed her face, and called her mother back.

“Luoluo, your father and I will come visit in a few days.”

“Great! I’m really starting to like it here. When you and dad arrive, let’s go fishing by the sea—Uncle Hu has a boat.” Zhang Xiluo forced a smile, but the moment she saw her mother, the pain of losing her child surged up again.

“Mom, Uncle Hu’s calling me to an event. I’ll talk to you later—just let me know before you come.” Zhang Xiluo hastily ended the call, hugged her blanket, and took deep breaths to calm herself. Still, her tears slipped out, just as Li Mingye saw her from the hallway.

She glared fiercely at him, climbed out of bed, and shut the door.

“Get out.”

She never wanted to see him again.

Li Mingye appeared at her door almost every day. She ignored him, or shut the door in his face.

One day, Ouyang Chen arrived and ran into Li Mingye. The two men stared at each other in silence.

There was something unresolved between them. Zhang Xiluo suspected it was because of Zhou Yao. Other than women and money, and they certainly lacked for nothing in the latter.

She always felt the two were engaged in a silent battle of wills, their gazes crossing swords and chilling even the air in her hospital room.

“Ouyang Chen, come in. I need to collect a test report,” Zhang Xiluo called out, wanting to end the awkwardness.

Compared to Li Mingye, she now preferred Ouyang Chen’s company. At least he was willing to believe her.

Ouyang Chen stepped inside and closed the door behind him, and Zhang Xiluo caught a glimpse of the murderous look in Li Mingye’s eyes through the crack.

She couldn’t understand what was going through Li Mingye’s mind.

He already had Zhou Yao; he should just be with her.

Why did he have to appear before them again and again?

“Do you really not want to see him?” Ouyang Chen couldn’t help asking as he noticed her glance toward the door.

Zhang Xiluo shook her head. “There’s nothing left to say.”

Ouyang Chen gave her a long look, handed her a piece of fruit, and went to collect her report.

Everything was normal; she only needed to recuperate at home.

The day she was discharged, the weather was especially clear, and her spirits had lifted a little.

“Go get the car first. I’ll wait here,” Zhang Xiluo smiled at Ouyang Chen, who had come to pick her up. “I’m too lazy to walk.”

“Alright.” Ouyang Chen, expressionless, glanced at her before heading to the parking lot.

Zhang Xiluo sat on a bench nearby. Truthfully, she was still weak. Claiming laziness was just her way of keeping others from worrying.

At that moment, she saw Zhou Yao appear across the road, carrying a large bouquet of lilies, walking straight toward her.

“Sister, congratulations on your discharge.” Zhou Yao handed the flowers to Zhang Xiluo, then whispered, “Congratulations on severing all ties with Mr. Li.”

“Zhou Yao, aren’t you afraid Li Mingye will find out the truth?” Zhang Xiluo took the flowers, her eyes icy as she regarded Zhou Yao. “What do you think he’ll do when he sees how vicious you really are?”

Zhou Yao shook her head, all innocence. “What truth? I don’t understand what you’re saying, sister. And I’m not vicious.”

“Fine, then there’s nothing more to say.” Zhang Xiluo had expected this. Zhou Yao was shameless enough.

Zhou Yao blocked her as she tried to stand. Seeing Zhang Xiluo so calm made Zhou Yao uneasy. “Are you planning to slander me? Mr. Li loves me—he’ll never believe a word you say.”

“You’re right.” Hatred flashed in Zhang Xiluo’s eyes, but her face remained composed. “Li Mingye believes you’re innocent. However…”

Zhang Xiluo stopped speaking. Zhou Yao grew anxious, pressing her for an answer.

“However what?”

“I don’t feel like saying. I’m leaving now, but thank you for the flowers.” Spotting Ouyang Chen’s car, Zhang Xiluo waved the bouquet, said her goodbye to Zhou Yao, and walked away.