Zhang Rong wanted to stop him. "Dad, Xiao Xiao isn't feeling well and is at home. If you have something to say, I can relay it to you."
Elder Master Cheng: "I want to see Xiao Yatou."
Zhang Rong called Jiang Xiao. "Grandpa is awake. He wants to see you."
Jiang Xiao rushed over hurriedly. Seeing the Elder Master on the hospital bed, tears streamed down her face. She choked up and said, "Grandpa, you're finally awake."
Elder Master Cheng gestured for the others to leave.
The door closed, and he said, "Did I scare you?"
Jiang Xiao nodded. "Yes."
"Grandpa's fine, don't worry." The Elder Master's voice was a little hoarse. "Your father talked to me that day. I've thought about it for a long time. It's A Yuan who has wronged you. If you truly want to separate from him, Grandpa won't stop you."
Jiang Xiao hadn't expected to hear such words; she was momentarily speechless.
"A Yuan is the one without good fortune for hurting your feelings." The Elder Master said earnestly, "Whether you separate or stay together, Grandpa only hopes you'll be happy."
He was the first person besides her parents to care about her feelings. Jiang Xiao was moved. "Grandpa…"
Elder Master Cheng patted her hand. "You're a good child. It's A Yuan who let you down."
Jiang Xiao shook her head. "No, it's all my fault. I wasn't good enough."
"No, Grandpa knows you've done your best." The Elder Master had known everything Jiang Xiao had done over the past three years. She had loved Cheng Yuan wholeheartedly; it was Cheng Yuan who was blinded by hatred and couldn't recognize his own heart. "Xiao Xiao, you've suffered since marrying into the Cheng family."
"…"
Jiang Xiao left the hospital in a daze. Only after getting into the car did she remember the thing in her hand. It was a gift from the Elder Master, compensation for the grievances she had endured during the three years in the Cheng family.
Jiang Xiao initially didn't want to accept it, but the Elder Master insisted, so she had no choice but to take it.
The car moved slowly. She opened the box, took out the paper inside, and unfolded it.
It was a share transfer agreement. The Elder Master had transferred ten percent of his shares to Jiang Xiao. This meant that even if she did nothing in the future, she could live comfortably and be financially free with the profits from the company.
Looking at the share transfer agreement, Jiang Xiao first laughed, then cried.
She cried the whole way.
*
"Cough, cough, what did you say?" Shen Yue suppressed the tickle in her throat and pressed on. "You said Elder Master Cheng gave you ten percent of the shares?"
Jiang Xiao took a light sip of tea. "Yes."
"Holy shit, ten percent of Cheng Group shares—that's an astronomical amount." Shen Yue put down her coffee cup. "The Elder Master is so good to you."
Jiang Xiao nodded. "Grandpa has always been good to me."
"Much better than Cheng Yuan." Shen Yue got angry again at the thought of Cheng Yuan. "You haven't been home for days, and he hasn't even called once. What does he mean?"
Wasn't it him who said no to divorce? And he's the one who vanished without a trace? That dog of a man is really not worth it.
"He's busy with company matters." Jiang Xiao explained instinctively. "He can't spare the time."
"Busy? There's always time to make a phone call." Shen Yue pouted. "I think he just doesn't want to call."
Jiang Xiao: "…"
"And besides not calling, why doesn't he let you visit the Elder Master at the hospital?" Shen Yue got even more upset at the mention of this. "There's not a single good person in the Cheng family."
Jiang Xiao didn't care anymore. Since they were going to separate anyway, there wouldn't be any future entanglements. "It's okay, I can sneak over."
"Sneaking around? What kind of behavior is that?" Shen Yue fumed. "You're not even divorced yet; you're still the president's wife of Cheng Group and the young mistress of the Cheng family."
"Treating you like this—it's just bullying."
The way the Cheng family treated her depended entirely on how Cheng Yuan treated her. If Cheng Yuan was good to her, others would be good to her.
Jiang Xiao swallowed half a cup of tea. "Forget it, let's not talk about these unhappy things. You asked me to come out because you said you had something to discuss, right? What's the matter?"
"Hehe, good news." Shen Yue winked and whispered, "This bar is owned by a senior from my college days. I met him a few days ago, and I heard he's still single. I wanted to introduce you."
"Me?" Jiang Xiao raised her hand, pointing at the wedding ring on her ring finger. "I'm married."
"You won't be for long." Shen Yue curled her lips. "I'm not asking you to do anything; just get to know him. Maybe you'll be interested."
All these years, Jiang Xiao's attention had been entirely on Cheng Yuan. There was no room for anyone else in her eyes or her heart.
Now that she was going to divorce, she could choose whoever she liked.
"Just take a look. It's nothing." Shen Yue acted coquettishly. "Meet him, okay? Pretty please?"
Jiang Xiao shook her head. "It's not appropriate for me in my current situation. Forget it."
"Don't say that. My senior is really good." Shen Yue tugged at Jiang Xiao. "Good looks, good physique, good personality. You'll definitely like him when you see him. Just chat for a bit."
Shen Yue saw that Jiang Xiao was still about to leave and continued persuading her. "Cheng Yuan has so many flirts and flings around him. You're just getting to know someone; it's not like anything is going to happen. Why can't you? Come on, meet him."
Jiang Xiao couldn't resist. "I can meet him, but it's not a blind date."
"Fine, not a blind date. Just making friends." Shen Yue pulled her to sit down, took out her phone, and sent a WeChat message.
Soon, a man in casual clothes walked over.
His features were sharply defined, without a single flaw.
As Shen Yue had said, he had good looks and a good figure—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a model's body.
He had a gentle personality and spoke humorously, the type that young girls really like.
Jiang Xiao stood up and greeted him.
"Hello, I'm Jiang Xiao."
"Hello, I'm Zhao Kai."
Shen Yue stood up. "Why be so formal? Let's all sit down."
"Senior, you look even more handsome tonight."
"Does that mean I wasn't handsome before, junior?"
"Of course not. You were handsome before too, just even more so now."
With Shen Yue acting as the intermediary, the atmosphere was very harmonious.
Zhao Kai: "Since we're friends, would it be convenient to exchange contact information?"
Jiang Xiao wanted to refuse, but Shen Yue spoke first. "Sure."
She winked. "Your phone."
Jiang Xiao took out her phone. Shen Yue said, "Senior, my friend is adding you."
Zhao Kai: "Okay."
As soon as the addition was successful, a voice came from above.
"So this is why I couldn't get in touch with you—you were out on a date."
"Mrs. Cheng, aren't you going to introduce me?"
Jiang Xiao's face changed drastically. Her fingers trembled, and the phone fell to the ground.
Author's note:
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Ah, please add to your collection. If the collection isn't enough, it won't be easy to get on the rankings. My dear readers, please show your love.