Volume One, Chapter 4: After Resigning, Settle Down and Be Mrs. Li

Though deeply saddened, Cheng Qian still patiently led her son into the playroom. The little boy calmed down only when he saw the toys. Cheng Qian sat down, speaking gently to her son, “Xiao Ye, would you like Mommy to help you build a little house?” The boy blinked his dark eyes and wiped away his tears, “I want a really, really tall house.” At just over two years old, his moods shifted swiftly—sorrow came and went in a heartbeat. As long as someone was by his side, he could forget his sadness in an instant.

Over the past few days, Cheng Qian had diligently read several books about educating children between the ages of two and three, discovering many useful insights. Though sounds from downstairs still drifted up, she shut the door firmly, sealing off all the noise. Together, they built a tall tower. The little one clapped his hands and bounced with joy.

Just then, the door swung open. Li Zhinan stood in the doorway in a high-collared black sweater, arms crossed. “Come downstairs for dinner,” he said.

Cheng Qian began to rise, but a small hand tugged at her sleeve. “I want to build an even taller tower.” Cheng Qian lowered her gaze, softly stroking her son’s hair. “Alright, Mommy will play with you a little longer.”

Li Zhinan’s brow furrowed, his voice tinged with displeasure. “My friends are downstairs. As the lady of the house, shouldn’t you at least come greet them?” Without raising her head, Cheng Qian replied, “The lady you have in mind is already downstairs, entertaining them.”

A cold glint flashed in Li Zhinan’s eyes. “Cheng Qian, stop making trouble and remember your place.” The little boy, eager to keep playing, sensed his parents quarreling. He immediately walked over to Li Zhinan, arms outstretched. “Daddy, hug me.”

Li Zhinan bent down, scooped the child up, and walked out, heading downstairs. Cheng Qian pressed her fingers to her forehead and followed.

In the dining room below, a lavish dinner had already been set. Cheng Yan stood pouring drinks for several handsome men. “Hey, Zhinan doesn’t eat cilantro, don’t add any.” Before Cheng Qian descended the stairs, she heard Cheng Yan’s voice. Then a male voice, warm with laughter, chimed in, “Cheng Yan, you know all of Zhinan’s preferences. Come on, confess—are you hiding another identity?”

Cheng Yan playfully pointed at the teasing man. “Hey, Luo Sheng, don’t stir up trouble! Any more nonsense and I’ll make you drink as punishment.” “Alright, alright, I’ll keep quiet!” Luo Sheng feigned contrition, raising his glass and draining it dry.

When Cheng Qian came downstairs, she saw a group of men at the table, one of whom was unfamiliar to her. “Mrs. Li…” As she entered, all the men turned to greet her politely. Smiling, Cheng Qian replied, “Please, make yourselves at home.” Then she headed into the kitchen, where several aunts, busy with dinner preparations, gave her looks full of sympathy.

To be the lawful wife, yet less present than an outsider, was a humiliation everyone around could sense. Laughter and lively conversation drifted in from the dining room, where Cheng Yan, the center of attention, contributed her sweet charm to the gathering. Anyone with a shred of pride would find those sympathetic glances unbearable.

Cheng Qian turned and left, only to find her son, at some point, had been scooped up by Cheng Yan and was being entertained in her arms. No longer willing to tolerate it, Cheng Qian strode over, picked up a freshly baked slice of bread, and coaxed her son to her side. At this age, his appetite and curiosity were at their peak. He reached out eagerly. Seizing the moment, Cheng Qian took her son upstairs.

Since Li Zhinan had shown her no respect, she saw no reason to endure humiliation for his sake. That evening, Cheng Qian did not return downstairs. She devoted herself wholly to playing with her child in their room. The aunt thoughtfully brought their dinner upstairs.

Downstairs, the noise died away around half-past nine. Cheng Qian heard the sound of cars leaving the courtyard. She was about to take her son downstairs to hand him over to Li Zhinan so she could get some work done, but discovered Li Zhinan had also left the house. Seeing Cheng Qian looking for her husband, Aunt Liu quietly informed her, “Miss Cheng had too much to drink, so sir took her home.”

Cheng Qian nodded and asked Aunt Liu to help bathe her son, while she returned to her study to work. That night, Li Zhinan did not come home at all. Cheng Qian, with her son in her arms, slept until morning.

Half-awake, Cheng Qian felt something warm nuzzling her cheek. She opened her eyes to see her son’s small hands cupping her face, his big black eyes blinking. “Mommy, wake up! I need to go potty.” Hearing her son call her so earnestly filled Cheng Qian with a deep, honeyed sweetness. She quickly scooped him up, showered him with kisses, and took him to the bathroom.

“Are you really my mommy?” The little boy, as she washed his face in front of the mirror, winked at her mischievously. “Yes, I am!” Cheng Qian replied, kissing his soft cheek. “Mommy loves you, Xiao Ye.” “Mommy, don’t leave me.” He pressed his hands to her face and kissed her back. “I won’t. Mommy will always be by your side.” In that moment, Cheng Qian had long forgotten the existence of her husband—her whole world was her precious child.

Xiao Ye was already two and a half, inheriting his parents’ intelligence and showing signs of cleverness from early on. From the conversations around him, he had gradually understood that this gentle woman was truly his mother. The bond between mother and son ran deep; he would not mistake her again.

Li Zhinan did not return for three days, nor did he call Cheng Qian to explain his absence. Having learned where her son’s nursery class was held, Cheng Qian decided to take him to school herself. The little one, backpack bouncing, ran happily down the corridor. The teacher came to greet him, scooping him into her arms, then looked at Cheng Qian in surprise. “Why isn’t Mommy bringing Xiao Ye today?”

Cheng Qian immediately clarified the misunderstanding. “Teacher Wang, I am Xiao Ye’s biological mother.” Teacher Wang’s expression flickered with surprise. “Then the woman before…” “She’s just a friend of his father,” Cheng Qian replied coolly. Understanding dawned on Teacher Wang’s face, and she smiled. “Alright, from now on, will you be picking up and dropping off Xiao Ye?”

“I have work and might not be able to come on time every day,” Cheng Qian replied, then added, “But I’ll always notify you in advance if someone else will pick him up.” Teacher Wang nodded. “Of course. We’ll keep in touch by phone. Xiao Ye, say goodbye to Mommy.” The little boy waved at Cheng Qian, then happily followed his teacher into class.

Cheng Qian stood by the glass window for a while, watching as Xiao Ye settled in comfortably, before finally turning to leave.

Upon arriving at her lab, she received a call from headquarters. “Director Cheng, there’s an important meeting at headquarters. Please come attend.” After confirming the time—three o’clock in the afternoon—Cheng Qian made her way to the conference room.

As soon as she stepped inside, she recognized several faces—Cheng Yan and the uncle, Cheng Zhifei, who had stolen her father’s research. The father and daughter looked at her with the same lofty arrogance. Cheng Qian frowned, a sense of foreboding settling over her.

As expected, the general manager in charge of the XS Biotech division announced major news.

Cheng Qian’s research institute would be merged under Cheng Pharmaceuticals, becoming the Second Research Department, under Cheng Zhifei’s management.

The announcement struck Cheng Qian like a blow to the head. To have her enemy become her superior was like being cast into an abyss. “I do not agree with this decision,” she objected on the spot.

The general manager smiled at her. “Director Cheng, President Li said if you have any objections, you can take them up with him directly.”

Cheng Qian’s heart pounded. With this decision, Li Zhinan had disregarded any bond between them as husband and wife. She had told him before—most of her father’s research had been stolen and patented by Cheng Zhifei. Back then, Li Zhinan had stood by her side, condemning such theft. Yet it had only been a few years, and he had already forgotten, now moving to merge her lab under Cheng Pharmaceuticals.

Leaving the conference room, Cheng Qian went straight to the president’s office. “Come in!”

The low, cold voice inside carried not a trace of warmth. Cheng Qian entered to see five or six senior executives still inside, apparently discussing important business. She froze in the doorway, caught between advancing and retreating.

“You may leave,” Li Zhinan said, gesturing for the others to go. As they passed Cheng Qian, they each cast her a peculiar look.

Cheng Qian fixed her gaze on the man in the leather chair—a domineering king, his eyes sharp. “What is it?” he asked, arching his brow and glancing at his watch. “I only have ten minutes.”

Cheng Qian stepped forward, her voice icy. “Li Zhinan, I hope you will rescind that decision. I cannot join Cheng Pharmaceuticals.”

Li Zhinan merely raised his eyes to her. “If you refuse to cooperate with the company’s arrangements, we can let you go.”

Stunned, all her words caught in her throat. “You know what’s between me and the Cheng family…”

He looked at her expressionlessly, hands folded on the desk. “That’s your problem. The company has invested heavily in research. To cut costs and improve efficiency, merging the departments was a unanimous decision from the senior management—not just mine.”

Cheng Qian realized there was no point in arguing further. “Then I resign,” she said at once.

“You may,” Li Zhinan replied, “but the research results belong to the company. You may not take anything with you.”

All color drained from Cheng Qian’s face. The fruits of four years’ work—her painstaking achievements—would now, by all rights, be handed over to the Cheng family.

“I…” She wanted to say more, but pain rendered her mute.

Li Zhinan, impatient, glanced at his watch again. “That’s enough, time’s up. I have a meeting.”

Her hand clenched into a fist.

Li Zhinan, tall and elegant as a panther, stepped around his desk. As he passed Cheng Qian, he paused, smoothing his cuff. “If you resign, then focus on raising the child. Try being a full-time wife.”

“In fact, your lab hasn’t produced anything remarkable these past years. It only proves that even the children of dragons and phoenixes may not become dragons and phoenixes themselves. Stop clinging to your research.”

“As long as you take care of the home, that in itself is an accomplishment.”

With that, Li Zhinan strode away, long legs carrying him out the door.