The Eleventh Year of Secretly Loving Her - Chapter 5

She wasn’t lying.

The Zhong family was heavily in debt. Even with Qi Group’s support, most of the money they earned went straight to paying bank interest and loans.

Her family had grown accustomed to luxury, so finances were always tight. Zhong Xiran had been paying for all her sister’s expenses, only to raise an ungrateful little brat.

“You…” Zhong Wanzhi’s eyes widened, tears streaming like broken pearls. “The money belongs to Sinian, not you! Why are you acting so arrogant?”

Zhong Guangcai spoke up: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Zhong Wanzhi turned and threw herself into Yu Shulan’s arms. “Mom…”

Ever since having the obedient younger daughter, Yu Shulan had grown more partial to her and could hardly bring herself to like the rebellious Zhong Xiran.

Yu Shulan coddled the younger girl in her arms, then turned to Zhong Xiran in anger, “You’ve even learned to hit people?! Look at how spoiled you are. No wonder Sinian wants a divorce! I just don’t know why I gave birth to such a rebellious daughter. First you eloped, and now—”

“Enough. Why bring up old nonsense?” Zhong Guangcai interrupted, looking at Zhong Xiran. “I’m the one qualified to teach you a lesson.”

Zhong Xiran lowered her gaze and said nothing.

Zhong Guangcai frowned. “Let me ask you first, is Sinian really going to divorce you?”

“I don’t know,” Zhong Xiran’s voice was hoarse. “I can’t reach him.”

Uncle Zhong Guangli immediately stood up and said earnestly, “Xixi, you absolutely cannot divorce Sinian. You don’t know how difficult the business is right now. The Zhong family barely survives thanks to Qi Group. If they pull out, we’re finished…”

“If Zhong Group goes bankrupt, thousands of employees will lose their jobs… This is your father’s life’s work. Could you bear that?”

“Your father loved you so much. How much effort has he put into you? When you ran away, he drove all night to find you and even had an accident. His leg still aches when it rains…”

Zhong Xiran stood at the living room doorway, her lips dry. After listening for a while, she realized she had been inside for quite some time without even a glass of water.

Her body swayed slightly. Seeing this, Zhong Guangcai came over to steady her, a trace of concern in his voice, “Sit down first.”

Someone immediately made space.

Zhong Xiran was guided to sit down in the center of the sofa, hearing Zhong Guangcai say, “You can’t get divorced.”

“It’s not up to me,” said Zhong Xiran.

Zhong Guangcai thought for a moment, then said, “Send Sinian a WeChat message, apologize, ask for his forgiveness, and tell him you want to have his child.”

It was utterly humiliating.

Zhong Xiran scoffed, “Even if I did, he wouldn’t want a child—”

She was interrupted by Zhong Guangcai, “Just send it. I’ll watch you do it.”

Zhong Xiran clenched her hands into fists. Suddenly, her phone screen lit up with a call from an unknown number.

The room went silent.

Everyone present felt a spark of hope, wondering if it might be Qi Sinian calling from another phone. After all, whether they divorced or not, some explanation was necessary.

Zhong Guangcai said, “Answer it.”

Zhong Xiran picked up.

“It’s Huo Xin.”

Zhong Guangcai shouted angrily, “Hang up immediately.”

Zhong Xiran instantly ended the call.

Zhong Guangcai snapped, “Delete the number. Don’t keep it.”

Zhong Xiran suddenly felt like laughing.

Huo Xin already had her number. Did he really think he couldn’t reach her?

Zhong Guangcai had completely lost his mind in panic.

But she had no intention of contacting Huo Xin anyway, so she decisively deleted the number.

Just seconds later, a message from Huo Xin popped up on the screen.

“Xixi, I’ll wait for your divorce.”

Zhong Guangcai: “……”

Before Zhong Guangcai could even speak, Zhong Xiran deleted the message herself and asked him, “Should I change my number again?”

Zhong Guangcai was momentarily speechless.

At Yunhu Resort, a villa’s gates were tightly closed, with several black-clad bodyguards patrolling outside.

Inside, two neat rows of people sat at a long spruce table.

Qi Sinian placed his hand on a document, his voice calm, “4.9 billion. You have three minutes. Agree and sign the contract immediately, or the negotiation ends.”

After speaking, he crossed his legs leisurely, sipped his coffee, and glanced at his watch.

Exactly 6 p.m.

He had patience. After three days of negotiation, the other party couldn’t hold out.

Sure enough, as time ran out, the other side extended a hand, “President Qi, impressive. Pleasure doing business.”

Qi Sinian shook hands, had his team follow up, then stood and left.

This Qi Group acquisition involved the chip industry. To prevent leaks or hijacking, security was tight. Both teams were brought to Yunhu Resort, all electronic devices were collected, and signals were blocked. Until the negotiation ended, no one could contact the outside world.

The resort was in the northern suburbs, nearly two hours away.

The nonstop negotiations were exhausting. As soon as he got in the car, Qi Sinian closed his eyes to rest.

Less than two minutes later, Jiang Zheng called nervously, “President Qi.”

Qi Sinian didn’t move. “What is it?”

Jiang Zheng, “It’s my fault. The video of Madam with Huo Xin was leaked three days ago, and now the internet is saying she’s going to divorce you…”

Qi Sinian’s eyes snapped open.

In the rearview mirror, his long, dark eyes seemed coated with a layer of frost.

Zhong Xiran stared at the line “I want to have your child” in her WeChat chat for a moment, then suddenly put her phone away, “I won’t send it.”

Zhong Guangcai, “What did you say?”

Zhong Xiran’s throat went dry. “I don’t want to be this undignified.”

In truth, she had no dignity in front of Qi Sinian to begin with.

Where does dignity come from if you’re not independent?

Qi Sinian was always decisive. If he truly wanted a divorce, sending such a message would only make him look down on her more.

Zhong Guangcai’s lips pressed into a straight line. Just as he was about to speak, Yu Shulan jumped in.

Her voice sharp, “What dignity is there in talking about having children? When will you finally behave and listen once?”

Zhong Xiran looked up at her, coldly, “Haven’t I been sensible and obedient enough these past few years?”

Yu Shulan froze. This was the first time Zhong Xiran had looked at her with such coldness.

“And you? Are you sensible?” Zhong Xiran sneered. “How much did you spend on that crocodile bag last month? What have you contributed to the family? You drain me and then drag me through the mud. Is this how you act as a mother?”

“You…” Yu Shulan was too angry to speak.

Zhong Xiran looked at Zhong Guangcai. Because of the elopement incident, he had injured his leg, and she had always felt guilty toward him.

She could be harsh toward Yu Shulan, but not Zhong Guangcai.

She looked at Zhong Guangcai’s leg, her voice slightly choked, trying to be gentle, “Dad, if Qi Sinian wants to divorce me…”

At that moment, her phone rang.

The screen displayed three big characters, “Qi Sinian,” like a lifeline.

Zhong Guangcai motioned for her to answer quickly.

Zhong Xiran took a deep breath, swiped open the screen, and awaited judgment.

The call connected, and Zhong Guangcai put it on speaker.

Through the phone, Qi Sinian’s voice was unusually cold, “I will only ask you this, do you want to divorce me?”

Wait, isn’t he the one who wants a divorce? Why is he asking this?

Before she could speak, Zhong Guangcai’s gentle voice said, “Impossible, Sinian. Xixi—”

“Zhong Xiran.” Qi Sinian interrupted Zhong Guangcai, calling her full name. “I’m asking you.”

His voice was crisp and clean, yet the ending of her name carried a trace of huskiness, an almost ascetic kind of sexiness.

She had never known her name could sound so beautiful from his lips.

Zhong Guangcai didn’t dare say anything more, only kept shooting her meaningful glances.

In reality, it was only a few seconds, but to Qi Sinian, it felt like an eternity.

At last, he heard her answer, “I’ve never even thought about it.”

Qi Sinian flicked the ash from his cigarette. “At your family?”

Zhong Xiran, “Yes.”

“I’ll be there in two hours.”

After hanging up, Qi Sinian finally noticed the WeChat message Zhong Xiran had sent.

[I’m sorry, I can explain. Things aren’t the way you think.]

Because he’d been too agitated, he had actually forgotten to check his phone first.

Qi Sinian crushed out his cigarette and said coldly to Jiang Zheng, “Find out within two hours who leaked the divorce news, or don’t bother coming to work tomorrow.”

Sweat broke out on Jiang Zheng’s forehead. He immediately answered, “Yes, sir.”

Once they heard Qi Sinian was coming, the entire Zhong family grew tense and began making preparations.

Zhong Guangcai looked at the weary-faced Zhong Xiran and said gently, “From what I see, Sinian doesn’t seem to want a divorce. Later, just apologize properly.”

Zhong Xiran stared blankly at her phone screen for a moment.

A new reply from Qi Sinian had just popped up on WeChat.

Qi Sinian: No need.

Whether it was magnanimity or indifference, she felt it was the latter.

Yu Shulan, impatient with her silence, pressed, “Your father’s talking to you, did you hear him?”

Zhong Xiran gave a quiet “Mm.”

No matter what, she knew she should apologize.

Two hours later, the door swung open.

Qi Sinian entered, clad in a black cashmere coat.

Zhong Xiran looked up at him. Whether from overwork or the long drive, a faint weariness lingered between his brows.

Someone nudged her. “What are you sitting there for? Get up and greet Sinian!”

The moment he stepped inside, Qi Sinian’s gaze locked onto Zhong Xiran.

She sat in the middle of the sofa, fingers faintly curled, looking like a child who had done wrong, her gaze toward him filled with uncertainty.

With just a glance, he could tell that with all these people around, Zhong Xiran must have had a very rough day.

Seeing Zhong Xiran remain motionless, Yu Shulan hurriedly said, “Sinian, Xixi is young and foolish. I already scolded her just now. You’re a generous man, don’t lower yourself to her level.”

Then to Zhong Xiran, “Well? Aren’t you going to go apologize to Sinian?”

Zhong Xiran lowered her gaze, rose to her feet, and was about to speak.

But Qi Sinian’s icy gaze swept across Yu Shulan as he spoke in a low, chilling voice, “My wife, does she need you to discipline her?”