"I bet he's into you."
If even Xiao Zhou could see through it, how could Jiang Xiao, the person involved, not? But since Zhao Kai hadn't come out and said it, she just played deaf and dumb, pretending not to know.
"Don't say such things in front of President Zhao."
"What shouldn't be said?" The office door suddenly opened, and someone walked in. He was dressed in a white suit, with immaculately styled hair, and a radiant light glimmered in his deep eyes.
It was Zhao Kai.
Xiao Zhou said "President Zhao," pursed her lips, and left.
Jiang Xiao stood up. "I thought you'd be busy right now?"
Zhao Kai sat down on the sofa, smiling lightly. "Just got back from a business trip. Thought I'd drop by to see you."
Jiang Xiao walked over and sat across from him. Every move exuded the aura of a strong woman. "Oh, do you have time tonight?"
Zhao Kai: "Something up?"
"You've helped me so much, senior. I should thank you," Jiang Xiao said. "I've booked a restaurant. If you have time, let's have dinner together."
"Sure." Zhao Kai gazed at her. "What time?"
"Seven." Jiang Xiao glanced at her watch. "I have a meeting this afternoon, but I can head over right after."
Zhao Kai noticed her tired expression and said gently, "Work is important, but so is your health."
"Mm, I know." Jiang Xiao handed him a teacup. "Please."
Zhao Kai took it.
The two sipped tea in the quiet office, a strange emotion growing wildly. Zhao Kai set down his cup. "Xiao Xiao, there's something I want to tell you."
As soon as he spoke, Jiang Xiao's phone rang. She said "Sorry," returned to her desk, and answered. Her expression darkened after a moment.
"I understand. I'll be right there."
Zhao Kai came over. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Xiao put away her phone. "Personal matter."
"Need my help?"
"No, I can handle it myself."
Seeing she was in a hurry, Zhao Kai instinctively grabbed her wrist and asked tentatively, "...Is it Cheng Yuan?"
Jiang Xiao didn't want to hide it. "Mm, it's him."
Before she left, Zhao Kai pressed again, "Are you sure you don't need me to go with you?"
Jiang Xiao: "No need."
Zhao Kai looked uneasy. "Xiao Xiao, you and Cheng Yuan..."
Jiang Xiao's phone rang again. This time it was from the Jiang family home. She answered while walking, and only after getting into the car did she remember—what about Zhao Kai?
Oh, he must have left.
Her mother said, "Even though you and Cheng Yuan are no longer husband and wife, you were together for years. Don't make things too ugly. He's kneeling in the yard right now. You should come and see."
"Mom isn't forcing you to make any decisions, but you still need to clarify things."
"Xiao Xiao, whatever you decide, your dad and I will support you."
Jiang Xiao's bad mood was precisely because of Cheng Yuan. Who knew what nerve was misfiring—he had actually gone to the Jiang family home in broad daylight.
He was even holding a knife.
He swore that if the Jiang family didn't forgive him, he would die there.
At first, everyone thought he was just saying it, but after half an hour, then an hour, he was still kneeling, and he actually showed signs of self-harm.
He'd already cut two wounds on his wrist. If this continued, he might actually die.
After calming her mother, Jiang Xiao called Cheng Yuan. The moment Cheng Yuan saw the caller ID, he seemed to come back to life. He answered excitedly, "Xiao Xiao, you finally responded to me."
"Cheng Yuan, are you fucking crazy?" Jiang Xiao cursed angrily. "Your company is in shambles and you don't care, yet you come to my house to throw a tantrum?"
"And you're threatening people, saying you won't live anymore? Fine, then don't live."
"Die right now."
Cheng Yuan was truly insane. He no longer begged Jiang Xiao to say nice things to him; as long as she acknowledged him, even if it was curses or insults.
"If I die, will you miss me?"
"Will you be sad?"
"Will you feel reluctant?"
"Xiao Xiao, it hurts so much. It hurts like hell."
"Cheng Yuan, don't be crazy. If you dare do anything, I will never forgive you in this life." Jiang Xiao urged the driver to go faster, then said into the phone, "Where's Jiang Yu? Where is Jiang Yu? Tell him to take you away."
"I'm not leaving," Cheng Yuan's voice was much weaker, quieter than the wind. "I'm waiting for you to come back."
He had waited five years for Jiang Xiao to come back, disappointed again and again. This time... he could finally wait for her to return.
So wonderful.
Jiang Xiao had a bad feeling. "Go to the hospital right now, immediately!"
"But I can't walk anymore." Cheng Yuan looked at the blood on the ground, a beautiful arc curving on his lips. The Jiang family servants moved to come over, but he signaled with his eyes for them to stay back. He continued in the gentlest voice, "Xiao Xiao, you like red, don't you? Red like blood."
"I used to dislike it, but recently I've grown to like it too."
"It's really, really beautiful."
He tightened his grip on the knife, and the blood flowed faster. In the distance, servants covered their mouths, watching in shock.
Only Jiang's mother was in the room; Jiang's father was out on business. She had never encountered such a situation and could only hope Jiang Xiao would return quickly.
After all, it wouldn't do to have a death on her hands.
"Red... so beautiful..." Jiang Xiao suddenly understood. She softened her voice. "Cheng Yuan, listen to me. I don't like red. Not at all."
"No, you said you liked it." Cheng Yuan's consciousness began to fade. His thoughts drifted back to years ago, when he and Jiang Xiao were together after lovemaking. He kissed her neck and asked what color she liked.
Trembling, she answered, red.
That night, he left even more red marks on her.
And her clothes were mostly red. She'd said red was festive.
See? She liked red.
He would give her more and more red.
Even if he bled dry, it didn't matter.
He would paint a crimson world just for her.
...
Jiang Xiao hadn't expected Cheng Yuan to be this crazy, to actually hurt himself. Seeing the wounds on his wrist, she slapped him without hesitation.
"If you want to die so much, why don't you go get hit by a car?"
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Author's note: Another day of CEO Cheng going crazy.