But Cheng Yuan's heart and eyes were full of Jiang Xiao. Even if she called the police, he didn't care. 'Fine, call them.'
Jiang Xiao did call the police, reporting him for sexual harassment. The police lectured them for a long time.
His trip to the station didn't escape Zhang Rong's notice. She went berserk, smashing things and screaming, 'Get Cheng Yuan home! I want to see him!'
Every meeting between mother and son was unpleasant, and this was no different. Zhang Rong threw whatever she could grab. This time, it was an ashtray. Cheng Yuan didn't dodge; he took the hit. His forehead split open, blood pouring out.
Zhang Rong said, 'Don't ever see Jiang Xiao again.'
Hearing that name, Cheng Yuan's expression changed slightly. Coldly, he said, 'Impossible.'
'I forbid you to see her.'
'You can't stop me.'
'You're forcing me to kill you.'
'Fine, go ahead and kill me,' Cheng Yuan said. He had long since stopped caring about living.
When the old man returned and heard their conversation, he nearly had a heart attack. 'You're mother and son, not enemies.'
'She never treated me like a son,' Cheng Yuan said. 'She only wanted to control my life. But sorry, I'll live my own life.'
Zhang Rong thought of Cheng Lin again, the man who had ruined her life. She grabbed a flowerpot and hurled it. 'Die! You—go die!'
The pot hit Cheng Yuan's chest, then fell onto the carpet, spilling dirt everywhere.
Cheng Yuan didn't stay. He turned and left.
Even far away, he could still hear Zhang Rong's screams. 'Cheng Lin, you—you let me down! You liar! You should die! Your son should die too!'
Such undisguised hatred was painful, but Cheng Yuan was used to it. Didn't she want him dead? That day would come—but not now. Right now, what he had to do was win Jiang Xiao back.
*
Before Cheng Yuan could do anything, he heard something that made him want to vomit blood.
Tonight, Jiang Xiao was meeting a man for a blind date. The venue was a luxurious Western restaurant in Jingbei. As soon as he got the news, he ran out halfway through a meeting. He sped all the way, scenes of Jiang Xiao with other men flashing through his mind. The more he thought, the more his heart ached. It felt like something was grinding against his heart, hurting so much he could barely breathe. Xiao Xiao, you can't...
Tonight's meeting wasn't a blind date; it was a class reunion. Yesterday, Jiang Xiao had run into an old senior, and they had agreed to have dinner together. The senior knew she liked steak, so he specifically booked a Western restaurant. The man was as gentlemanly as she remembered. Jiang Xiao smiled. 'Senior, you haven't changed a bit.'
Zhao Kai said, 'Neither have you. Still so beautiful.'
Everyone likes compliments. 'Senior, if you keep saying that, I'll get big-headed.'
'You have the right to be proud.'
For the past five years, Zhao Kai had been looking for Jiang Xiao but hadn't found her. 'Where have you been these five years...'
'I went abroad,' Jiang Xiao said.
'When did you come back?'
'Just a while ago.'
'Are you leaving again?'
'Not sure.' Jiang Xiao took a sip of water. 'I won't leave for now.'
Zhao Kai's eyes lit up. 'If you have time, can I invite you out often?'
'Of course, if you're free.' Jiang Xiao smiled. 'You helped me a lot in school. I never had a chance to thank you properly.'
'It was nothing,' Zhao Kai said. 'You deserved it.'
'Are you staying?' Jiang Xiao asked.
'Yes.' Originally he was going to leave, but now Zhao Kai changed his mind. 'Teacher was sick recently. We should visit him together when we have time.'
'Sure,' Jiang Xiao agreed. 'I'll call you then.'
'Mm.'
Zhao Kai was very gentlemanly. When the steak arrived, he cut it himself and handed it to Jiang Xiao. She accepted with a smile, chatting about funny things from their school days. Some jam got on her lips.
Zhao Kai pointed. 'Right there.'
Jiang Xiao wiped with a napkin. 'Still there?'
'A little.' Seeing that she couldn't get it off, Zhao Kai took a napkin and reached out. 'Hold still. Let me do it.'
He slowly, slowly leaned in. Just as he was about to touch, someone shoved his hand away.
'What are you doing?' A cold voice sent chills down the spine.
Jiang Xiao and Zhao Kai both looked at the newcomer. Under the bright lights, his handsome features were sharp, his eyes dark and deep. He was frowning, clearly in a bad mood—a very bad one.
Cheng Yuan grabbed Jiang Xiao without explanation. 'Come with me.'
It happened so suddenly that Jiang Xiao was dragged away before she could react. 'Cheng Yuan, what the hell are you doing?'
'I'm going crazy,' Cheng Yuan said. 'You're driving me crazy. Xiao Xiao, can you bear to let me go mad?'
Jiang Xiao had never seen anyone so shameless. She wrenched her hand free. 'Don't touch me!'
'If I can't touch you, who can?' Cheng Yuans eyes flicked to the man approaching. 'Him?' Without waiting for an answer, he pulled her into his arms and forcibly led her away. The elevator doors closed just as Zhao Kai reached them, his calls cut off.
Cheng Yuan pulled Jiang Xiao out of the elevator and to his car. Ignoring the stares, she raised her hand and slapped him.
Cheng Yuan turned his head in silence for a few seconds, then looked back, voicing the doubt in his heart. 'Were you and Zhao Kai on a blind date?'
Originally, they weren't, but Jiang Xiao didn't want to say that. 'Yes, we were.'
'Do you like him?'
'Yes, I like him.'
Cheng Yuan panicked. He stepped forward and hugged Jiang Xiao, pleading, 'Xiao Xiao, don't like him. Like me instead, okay?'
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Author's note: President Cheng: I'm dead. Daughter: Good, die quickly. Comments get red envelopes.