Few in the world of arranged marriages are happy, and Zhang Rong was no exception.
Before she met Cheng Yuan's father, he already had someone he loved. He had to break up for the sake of the company's interests. For the first two years, he restrained himself enough to come home on time. But as their marriage deteriorated, he stopped even pretending, openly keeping his mistress outside.
Zhang Rong became the laughingstock of their social circle. She tried to file for divorce many times, but her own family refused and even threatened her with death. So she had no choice but to endure.
Year after year, she hoped for happiness, only to learn that her husband planned to acknowledge his illegitimate son. Devastated, Zhang Rong slit her wrists, but was saved. From then on, her personality changed drastically, and she became extreme in her actions.
One night, after another quarrel, Cheng Yuan's father drove off and died in a car crash along with his mistress and child. The scandal that had spanned years finally ended.
But having been soaked in hatred for so long, Zhang Rong was no longer the innocent young heiress she once was. She especially despised love in this world. She didn't believe that Jiang Xiao truly loved Cheng Yuan as she claimed. She thought it was all a facade to secure her position as Mrs. Cheng. Deep down, she believed Jiang Xiao was just like her—filled with hatred.
"A Yuan, I told you, you two aren't suitable," Zhang Rong said coldly. "Since you can't bear to let go, I'll make the decision for you."
"My marriage, my decision," Cheng Yuan said fiercely. "No one else gets to interfere."
"That might be difficult," Zhang Rong laughed lightly. "I've already sent her away. Even if you wanted to stop it now, you probably couldn't."
"Try me."
Jiang Xiao frowned at this point, then heard Zhang Rong's angry shout.
"Cheng Yuan, you're just as stupid as your father!"
"Then you'd better not see this idiot anymore," Cheng Yuan said in a deep voice. "Send Madam to the villa in the suburbs. She's not allowed to leave without my permission."
Zhang Rong: "No—"
Cheng Yuan: "That's not up to you!"
Jiang Xiao only heard that much. A mechanical voice came through the earpiece: "The plane is about to take off..."
She turned her head to see the bodyguard had put away his phone and said coldly, "Miss Jiang, please take your seat."
Jiang Xiao had wanted to leave, but not this way. The crisis at Jiang Group hadn't been resolved yet, and she didn't know how her parents were doing. Leaving like this would make her very uneasy.
"I said I would leave. Could you give me some more time?"
The bodyguard replied, "Sorry, no."
Jiang Xiao: "I just want to say goodbye to my parents. Is that not allowed?"
The bodyguard shook his head.
Jiang Xiao: "Then let me make a phone call home. After that, I'll do whatever you say."
Appealing seemed like the best option for now. Jiang Xiao sized them up, hoping they would compromise.
But these people only obeyed Zhang Rong. No matter how she pleaded, it was useless. Seeing that the plane was about to take off, Jiang Xiao knew it was futile and was about to give up when there was a commotion outside.
Noisy voices rose.
"What's happening outside?"
"Someone seems to be stopping the plane."
"Stopping the plane? Are they crazy?"
"Who? Who's so reckless?"
"Cheng Group."
Everyone gasped at once. "Cheng Group—"
"Of course, the airline is owned by Cheng Group. Stopping a plane is nothing for them."
"Who are they stopping?"
"Mrs. Cheng."
"I heard the Cheng Group president and his wife are on bad terms."
"You said it yourself—you heard. How much of what's online is true?"
"..."
The chatter continued. Jiang Xiao looked out the window and saw someone running over.
It was Cheng Yuan.
But the usual proud and aloof President Cheng had lost all his arrogance. He wasn't wearing his suit jacket, only a black shirt with the top three buttons undone, revealing his long neck. There were marks on both sides of his neck, as if he'd been hit, more than once. His hair, usually immaculate, was now messily falling over his forehead.
He was rarely flustered. This was the first time.
Jiang Xiao looked at the man a few steps away, her brows slightly furrowed. She didn't stand up voluntarily.
Cheng Yuan walked in slowly, stopped, and reached out his hand. "Come with me."
Jiang Xiao did want to leave, but not with Cheng Yuan. She cast him a cold glance, stood up, and was about to walk away when the bodyguard beside her blocked her path.
Jiang Xiao glanced at Cheng Yuan and heard him say, "Get lost!"
The bodyguard hesitated for a moment, then withdrew his hand and stepped back.
Jiang Xiao turned and left.
Cheng Yuan followed behind.
Whispers continued.