Volume One, Chapter 13: The Promised Family Gathering, Yet an Outsider Becomes the Leading Lady
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The man was still his longtime friend from abroad.
Li Zhinan forcefully pulled off his tie and casually tossed it onto the sofa. He took off his suit jacket and entered the bathroom wearing only his shirt.
After showering, Li Zhinan changed into a set of loungewear and went downstairs for dinner. After a few bites, he returned upstairs.
His phone spun between his slender fingers. Finally, he drafted a message asking where Cheng Qian was but hesitated, deleted it, and threw the phone aside.
It was past eleven o’clock at night when Cheng Qian returned home with her son.
The little boy had fallen asleep in his high chair. As Cheng Qian carried him out of the car, she kept her head bowed, gently kissing his little forehead, her maternal tenderness overflowing.
She stepped lightly upstairs cradling her child but stopped in the corridor when she saw Li Zhinan holding a glass of water.
Li Zhinan took a sip and asked in a calm voice, “So late, where have you been?”
Cheng Qian replied evenly, “I had dinner with friends.”
Li Zhinan didn’t press further and came over. “Let me take the child.”
“No need,” Cheng Qian dodged his outstretched hand and put the child to bed directly.
Leaning against the door, Li Zhinan’s gaze grew colder.
Since returning from studying abroad, this woman’s temperament had changed drastically; even communication with him had dwindled.
Could it really be because there was another man?
...
On February 23, someone online announced a large fireworks show would take place at the central square at eight in the evening.
It would last half an hour, and the most anticipated part was the pink heart-shaped fireworks, which would linger in the sky for several seconds when blooming.
Cheng Qian wanted to see it, so she invited Lin Si, brought her son Xiao Ye, and went to the central square building.
They booked a window seat to enjoy dinner while watching the grand fireworks over the lake in the square’s center.
“It’s eight o’clock; it’s starting,” Lin Si said expectantly.
Cheng Qian hugged her son tightly, pointing toward the lake. “Xiao Ye, look…”
The little boy excitedly stretched out his tiny hand, pointing continuously, his dark eyes reflecting the fireworks, sparkling brightly.
“Lin Si, I’m going to the restroom. Can you hold Xiao Ye for me?” Cheng Qian whispered.
“Sure!” Lin Si loved holding the adorable little one.
Cheng Qian pushed the door open.
Just outside the restroom, she heard a familiar female voice.
She paused.
Cheng Yan, touching up her lipstick before the mirror, said, “Zhinan said the fireworks would last half an hour. Don’t worry, you’ll see them all.”
“I already told him not to spend too much, but he insisted—only once a year for a birthday…”
A sharp sting pierced Cheng Qian’s heart.
She suddenly remembered: January 23 was Cheng Yan’s birthday.
The grand fireworks outside were prepared by Li Zhinan to celebrate her birthday.
Cheng Qian turned back to the private room and said to Lin Si, “Maybe we should leave now.”
Lin Si, still watching the blooming fireworks outside, said, “They’ve only been going for a few minutes. I heard there are heart-shaped fireworks coming up. They’re supposed to be beautiful.”
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“Si, I want to leave,” Cheng Qian’s emotions suddenly broke down.
Lin Si perceptively asked, “What’s wrong?”
Cheng Qian bit her lip, bitterly saying, “Today is Cheng Yan’s birthday.”
Lin Si was shocked and pointed toward the window. “So? The fireworks—could it really be that Li Zhinan is putting on the show for her birthday?”
Cheng Qian nodded. “Yes. I overheard her say so outside the restroom.”
“That pair of scoundrels…” Lin Si was furious and cursed vehemently.
Cheng Qian and Lin Si hurriedly left the central square with Xiao Ye.
The fireworks exploding overhead seemed to announce the death of a relationship.
Cheng Qian closed her eyes, forcing back the tears.
She had grown used to Li Zhinan’s coldness, thinking that was just his nature.
Looking back now, it was ridiculous—when he truly loved someone, he could be passionate and fiery.
Cheng Qian did not return to the villa but stayed at Lin Si’s instead with her son.
Lin Si brought her a glass of red wine to help her sleep. “Xiao Qian, get a divorce. Don’t keep such a filthy man around for the new year.”
“If he agrees to give me custody of Xiao Ye, I’ll sign the divorce papers tomorrow. I don’t want anything else,” Cheng Qian’s resolve to divorce was unusually strong.
“That won’t do. He’s the one who cheated, the one who’s unfaithful and ungrateful.”
“Money is important. You have to fight for it, or how will you provide a good life for the child?” Lin Si refused to let her make an impulsive decision.
The divorce settlement was something to fight for.
Cheng Qian said bitterly, “We signed a prenuptial agreement. If I file for divorce, I won’t get much.”
“Still, you should fight. I’ll hire the best lawyer for you,” Lin Si encouraged, pressing on her shoulder.
That night, Cheng Qian did not return home, and Li Zhinan did not call.
This silent testing, Cheng Qian guessed, meant Li Zhinan was once again immersed in his pleasures, unable to extricate himself.
At dawn, Cheng Qian received a call from her mother-in-law, Jiang Meng.
She was asked to bring Xiao Ye to the hospital at noon to visit Li Zhiwei.
Cheng Qian agreed and drove straight to the private hospital.
All the Li family members were there. The sun shone on the lawn where the family sat chatting.
Cheng Qian carried Xiao Ye over. Li Zhinan’s gaze was dark and gloomy.
“Xiao Ye, come to Dad,” Li Zhinan said gently.
Cheng Qian’s arms ached from carrying her son from the parking lot, so she put him down.
The little one ran to the man’s embrace.
Li Zhinan glanced at Cheng Qian and said, “I’ll take Xiao Ye inside to get some food.”
Cheng Qian ignored him and walked toward her mother-in-law and the elderly lady.
“Xiao Wei, you look much better,” Cheng Qian observed her young brother-in-law’s complexion. It seemed that the drugs from Cheng Corp had taken effect.
Jiang Meng also noticed the improvement in her son’s condition and was relieved.
The elderly lady praised directly, “Cheng Corp is truly an industry leader, unlike some who only take money and do nothing.”
Her words pierced Cheng Qian’s spine, and her face flushed.
Jiang Meng comforted, “Mom, Xiao Qian is already very outstanding.”
“Outstanding is not just words; it must be proven with strength,” the elderly lady snapped.
Jiang Meng fell silent.
Beside them, the second daughter-in-law, Xia Mengjiao, rocked her child and amusedly watched Cheng Qian being snapped at.
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In the VIP ward’s living room, Li Zhinan was peeling a tangerine for his son while asking, “Xiao Ye, where did you go with Mom last night?”
“To Aunt Fierce’s house to sleep,” Xiao Ye answered, enjoying the sweet tangerine.
Just as Li Zhinan had guessed, Cheng Qian took their son to her friend Lin Si’s place and didn’t return all night.
After a short time basking in the sun, the group returned to the living room. It was time for Li Zhiwei to take his medicine.
Jiang Meng brought over several boxes of medicine and poured a glass of hot water.
Cheng Qian caught a glimpse of the drug names on the boxes and was startled.
She hurried over, took the medicine, and asked Jiang Meng, “Mom, is this the medicine from Cheng Corp?”
Jiang Meng nodded, “Yes, they’ve researched this drug for three years. It’s scheduled to be launched next month.”
Cheng Qian frowned and quietly asked, “Mom, can I take a few pills home to study?”
Jiang Meng immediately gave her several pills, which Cheng Qian packed into a small bag.
“Xiao Qian, don’t feel pressured. I believe in you,” Jiang Meng said, thinking Cheng Qian took the medicine for research.
Cheng Qian’s expression was grave. She glanced at Li Zhiwei’s face; though his complexion had improved, his body looked somewhat yellowed and abnormally swollen, more like edema—clearly signs of liver and kidney damage.
Cheng Qian felt the matter was serious and told Jiang Meng, “Mom, I have something to do, so I won’t stay for lunch.”
Jiang Meng stopped her, “If it’s important, you should eat first before leaving.”
Just then, Li Zhinan entered holding the child. “Cheng Qian, today is a family gathering.”
Before he finished, a gentle female voice came from outside the door: “Grandma, sorry I’m a bit late.”
Cheng Qian stepped past the man and saw Cheng Yan.
Today, Cheng Yan wore a branded outfit, clearly dressed up deliberately. Her exquisite makeup made her aura even more refined.
The elderly lady smiled warmly, “No matter, it means a lot that you made it.”
Cheng Qian sneered suddenly, “Is this what you call a family gathering?”
Li Zhinan explained indifferently, “She’s just here to check on Xiao Wei’s condition. Are you jealous?”
Jiang Meng bumped Li Zhinan’s arm, “Next time, don’t invite her to every occasion.”
At that moment, Cheng Yan smiled and walked into the ward. “Zhinan, cousin, where is Xiao Wei?”
Xiao Wei was just coming out of the restroom, looking tired and weak.
“Cheng Yan, you’re here,” Li Zhiwei seemed fond of Cheng Yan.
Cheng Qian immediately stepped forward with concern. “Xiao Wei, sister has been worried about you. Tell me how you’ve been lately. Sister will make sure you get better.”
“Thank you, sister. I feel much better,” Li Zhiwei’s face showed a faint blush.
Cheng Qian left with her son, her mood heavy.
She had just received the medication’s leaflet. Just a glance made her breath tighten.
Years ago, her parents had focused on researching this drug but discovered that while it effectively improved the condition, it had a side effect: it split immune cells and damaged the immune system. After a short period of improvement, it disrupted the body’s ecosystem, attacking the hematopoietic and filtration organs.
When her father found this flaw, he shut down the research completely and locked all the data in a safe.
Unexpectedly, the stolen data had become Cheng Corp’s patent and was now about to be marketed.
Cheng Qian took a deep breath. If she told Li Zhinan now, he would surely think she was just jealous of Cheng Yan’s academic achievements and wouldn’t believe her.
But this was a matter of life and death; she could not stand by.
“Cousin, sorry, Zhinan asked me to come. I’m also concerned about Xiao Wei’s condition,” Cheng Yan stood beside Cheng Qian, apologizing on the surface but inwardly triumphant.