Chapter 22: Unexpected Reluctance

He stepped forward and asked Qian Lili who the man was. Qian Lili told him that the man was her boyfriend, and she would be marrying him soon.

She told him not to look for them anymore, mother and son, so as not to burden them.

It was because of her words that he had wanted to jump into the river that day.

“Zhao Kun, you ungrateful, heartless thing! How much have I, Qian Lili, sacrificed for you over the years? Have you forgotten everything? I’ve suffered for you, given birth to your children, and you repay me like this?

Has your conscience been eaten by dogs? How can you be so cruel to this poor woman? My life is so hard!” Qian Lili wiped away her tears, as if she had been wronged.

Zhao Kun coldly snorted without any expression, “Qian Lili, don’t say these things to me. Look at your own conscience. How have I treated you since I married you?”

 After he married Qian Lili, he treated her almost like an empress. He gave her all the money and let her make all the decisions about the household.

But what about her? When she found out that his factory was in trouble, she not only didn’t help but also made things worse.

She eagerly filed for divorce, took the child back to her parents’ house, and took all the money from the house, leaving him in a desperate situation, helpless and isolated.

“Stop beating around the bush. Have you found a new lover and don’t want us anymore? Is this vixen the one who seduced you?” Qian Lili was furious. She pointed her finger directly at Ling Yao.

Ling Yao’s face turned cold. Her eyes fell on Qian Lili’s finger pointing at her, and she felt an urge to break it.

“What are you talking about? Get out!” Zhao Kun slammed his hand on the table in anger, stood up, and glared at Qian Lili.

“You’re caught red-handed, and you’re angry. Zhao Kun, you heartless thing, do you have a conscience?”

She glared at Ling Yao angrily, “I’ll teach this vixen a lesson today. I’ll let her know that my man is not someone she can covet.” Qian Lili quickly walked towards Ling Yao and was about to grab her hair.

Ling Yao stood there quietly. Her eyes were as cold as ice, without a ripple. When Qian Lili reached out, she grabbed her hand and twisted it.

“Ah!” Qian Lili cried out in pain. Her entire face contorted with pain, “Let me go…”

Ling Yao threw Qian Lili’s hand away, her face grim. She turned to Zhao Kun, “Solve your own problems. Don’t involve me.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll handle it.” Zhao Kun quickly apologized. He stepped forward and grabbed Qian Lili, who was still going crazy, “Have you had enough?”

Qian Lili sat down on the ground and cried loudly.

Ling Yao ignored them and walked out of the office.

Leaving the factory, Ling Yao held her umbrella and walked towards the bus stop.

“Beep beep!” She heard a car honking behind her. Ling Yao turned around and saw a familiar military vehicle.

The car stopped beside her. The window slowly rolled down, revealing Lu Qingyun’s sharp and handsome face, “Going home? I’ll take you.”

He had seen Ling Yao’s figure from afar and recognized her immediately. So, he told the driver to drive towards her.

 He was going to leave Yuncheng and return to the army tomorrow. He didn’t know if he would see her again.

“No need. I’ll just take the bus.” Ling Yao didn’t want to trouble Lu Qingyun.

“Get in. I have something to tell you.”

“Okay.” Ling Yao opened the car door, put down her umbrella, and got in.

As the car started, Lu Qingyun slowly spoke, “My cousin is out of the hospital. He’s doing well now.

He asked me to thank you, and this is a gift from him.” He took out a red envelope and handed it to Ling Yao.

Ling Yao glanced at the red envelope in Lu Qingyun’s hand and shook her head, “You’ve already repaid me.”

“That’s different. Take the money.” Lu Qingyun put the red envelope in Ling Yao’s hand.

“I won’t take it.” Ling Yao pushed the money back into Lu Qingyun’s hand.

As they were pushing back and forth, Xiao Liu suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Ling Yao lost her balance and fell into Lu Qingyun’s arms.

“Sorry, someone was crossing the road.” Xiao Liu was still shaken and drove more slowly.

Ling Yao came back to her senses and quickly pulled away from Lu Qingyun’s arms. Her face was flushed, like a ripe apple.

“I… I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay.” Lu Qingyun was also a little embarrassed. He didn’t like women getting close to him, but he didn’t seem to mind Ling Yao getting close. She had a faint, sweet fragrance that he liked.

Ling Yao blushed and turned her head, pretending to look at the rain outside.

Lu Qingyun sat up straight.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the journey. The atmosphere in the car was eerily quiet.

When they were almost at the village, Lu Qingyun turned to Ling Yao, “I’m going back to the army tomorrow.”

Ling Yao looked at Lu Qingyun in surprise.

Lu Qingyun smiled faintly, his eyes softening, “If you go to Beijing later or need any help, you can call me.” He felt a strange reluctance in his heart, but he quickly ignored it.

“Okay.” Ling Yao readily agreed.

“Write down my number again.”

Ling Yao nodded and wrote down the phone number.

“I’m here. Thank you for sending me back.” Ling Yao saw that the car had reached the village entrance and asked Xiao Liu to stop. It wasn’t easy to drive further in.

Gu Qingan walked out of the village with an umbrella. He saw a military vehicle stop at the village entrance and looked up in surprise, “Why is there a military vehicle here?”

He saw the car door open and a familiar figure get out. Gu Qingan was slightly stunned, “Why is it Ling Yao?”

Ling Yao waved goodbye to Lu Qingyun and Xiao Liu, then turned and walked towards the village.

Lu Qingyun looked at the figure in the rearview mirror as it faded into the distance, “Let’s go.”

“Ling Yao.”

Ling Yao heard someone calling her. She looked up and saw Gu Qingan. A look of disgust flashed in her eyes.

“Ling Yao, who was the one who sent you back just now?” Gu Qingan walked up to Ling Yao and questioned her.

People who could afford to ride in a military vehicle must be important. How could Ling Yao know such a big shot?

“What does it have to do with you?” Ling Yao didn’t even give Gu Qingan a look. She walked past him towards the village.

Gu Qingan caught up with Ling Yao and blocked her path,

 “Did you find a new target and that’s why you were willing to break off our engagement?” No wonder she agreed to the annulment so readily.

“Gu Qingan, if you’re crazy, go get treatment. Don’t go crazy in front of me. And we have nothing to do with each other anymore.

 From now on, when you see me, treat me like a stranger.” In her past life, she was really blind to have fallen for this man.