Chapter 428: Chapter 428: Make Him Pay for the Rest of His Life
After the meal, Lin Zhiyi originally planned to pay the bill while heading to the restroom.
After all, it wasn’t easy for Sister Zheng to run a business alone.
But the cashier said, “The gentleman who came with you has already paid.”
Lin Zhiyi was slightly taken aback and turned back toward the table, but Gong Chen was nowhere to be seen.
She looked around and walked over, just as everyone else was getting up.
She quickly said, “Let me send you all a little thank-you red envelope. Thanks for today.”
Liao Yi waved his phone. “No need, someone already gave it. The boss is generous, so… we’ll head out now. I’ll grab a cab back to the hotel myself later.”
As he spoke, Liao Yi didn’t even give Lin Zhiyi a chance to reply and pulled a staff member along before bolting.
Lin Zhiyi still didn’t see any sign of Gong Chen.
Sister Zheng pointed at a silhouette standing tall outside the window. “He said he’ll wait for you outside. Go on.”
Lin Zhiyi hesitated. “Sister Zheng, actually…”
“Zhiyi, life is too short. Look at my late husband; he used to say he’d save up to get us a big house. And what happened? He’s gone now, and everything we planned is gone too. The morning he left, I even had a spat with him.”
Sister Zheng’s husband had been hit by a bus while delivering food. He’d died on the spot.
How could there not be regrets?
Lin Zhiyi didn’t say anything more. She bid farewell and walked out of the restaurant.
Gong Chen stood under the streetlight, his tall figure lengthened by the glow. His black eyes gazed at the distant sea beneath his wind-tousled hair.
He stood as still as a painting.
He turned and looked at Lin Zhiyi, suddenly stepping closer to her, reaching out to take her hand.
Lin Zhiyi instinctively scanned the surroundings, struggling slightly. “You’re not wearing a mask. Let go. There might still be reporters around.”
Gong Chen said indifferently, “Let them take pictures if they want.”
Lin Zhiyi froze for a moment but ended up letting him hold her hand as they walked forward.
Along the way, they encountered many neighbors.
“Zhiyi, is this… your boyfriend? Not bad!”
“Zhiyi, I told you Du Qian couldn’t have you, so he just wanted to ruin you. Sending those two old folks to cause trouble at your house—what a mess! Now that you have a boyfriend, let’s see if he still dares mess around.”
After hearing this, Lin Zhiyi suddenly understood something. She turned to Gong Chen.
“You’re doing this to help me dispel the rumors about Du Qian?”
“Do I need to see him as an enemy? Can’t I just want some clarity for myself? As Lin Zhiyi’s… friend.” Gong Chen emphasized the word “friend.”
The night breeze lifted Lin Zhiyi’s long hair, exposing the blush she’d tried so hard to hide.
Flustered, she pretended to look down at her phone. “It’s late. Xingxing might be looking for me. Let’s go back.”
Saying this, she naturally withdrew her hand and quickened her pace toward the parking lot.
Gong Chen looked at her, the light in his eyes softening as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
…
Hotel room.
Li Huan was in a panic, sweating profusely as Xingxing refused to eat.
“Oh, ancestor, you’re even harder to take care of than your dad. Come on, open your mouth and eat something.”
Xingxing glared at him, then turned her head to the side.
Li Huan sighed and said to Chen Jin, “Should we just put her on an IV drip with glucose? That’ll keep her going too.”
Chen Jin raised an eyebrow and shot him a look. “I’m not looking to die anytime soon, thanks.”
Li Huan scratched his head anxiously. “What do we do? Why won’t she eat? She won’t drink milk either. I’ve already tried three different foods.”
Gazing at Xingxing’s pouting face, Chen Jin seemed to think of something.
“Call for someone who’s good at handling this.”
“Who?”
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Li Huan opened the door and immediately tried to shut it again, but the person outside blocked it with one hand.
Zhou Zhao stood at the doorway holding a fancy gift bag, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smile. “Heard you missed me?”
Li Huan let go of the door and turned to Chen Jin. “This is the person you said could help?”
Zhou Zhao took off his suit jacket and quipped, “What? Don’t I look the part? My words are sweet, you know.”
As he spoke, he even puckered his lips toward Li Huan.
Li Huan immediately grabbed Chen Jin and shoved him in front as a shield, shouting, “Get lost!”
Chen Jin raised two fingers and firmly poked Zhou Zhao on the forehead. “Do us a favor.”
Zhou Zhao swatted his hand away, clicked his tongue, and turned to look at Xingxing, who was propping up her chin, watching them at the dining table.
He walked over and glanced at the food on the table.
“This is what you’re feeding her?”
“Aren’t these all kids’ meals?” Li Huan replied. “My younger brother loved them when he was little.”
“She’s just a child. You’re feeding her fried chicken—why not toss in a beer while you’re at it?”
Li Huan pursed his lips. “I also ordered her noodles.”
Upon hearing this, Xingxing frowned and pointed at the noodles. “Hot.”
Li Huan explained, “She means soup. I even specially ordered soup for her.”
Zhou Zhao picked up the bowl, noticing it had a cloth wrapped around it for handling the heat. He laughed, “Li Huan, you know enough to use a cloth because it’s hot, but you think her tongue’s made of iron?”
“Huh? She meant it’s too hot?” Li Huan looked embarrassed, then glared at Chen Jin. “Why didn’t you remind me?”
“I thought she meant soup too,” Chen Jin said helplessly. “I even tried making her milk, and she wouldn’t drink that either?”
Zhou Zhao picked up a nearby baby bottle and peered at it, noticing clumps at the bottom.
“What is this, lumpy soup? Anyone would struggle to drink this. You’re lucky if she even touches it.”
Chen Jin leaned closer and saw the partially dissolved milk powder at the bottom.
“Good thing Third Young Master isn’t back yet. If he saw how you two were treating his precious daughter, ha…”
Li Huan put on a serious face. “What will it take to shut that mouth of yours?”
“Show me some sincerity.”
Li Huan and Chen Jin exchanged glances and simultaneously pulled out their phones to send Zhou Zhao red envelopes.
Zhou Zhao accepted the payment with satisfaction and opened the bag he’d brought.
He first took out an adorable children’s plate with compartments.
In each section, he placed different foods: broccoli with shrimp, steamed cod, a serving of lettuce and egg custard, and a small bowl of purple sweet potato rice.
It was all brightly colored, fragrant, and appealing.
He added a small spoon to the plate, and Xingxing immediately began to eat on her own, without any need for help.
Zhou Zhao smiled and said, “Good girl. There’s more if that’s not enough.”
Li Huan bit into a piece of fried chicken. “I feel like I’ve been duped.”
Watching the little ancestor finally eat, Chen Jin sighed in relief.
He looked at Zhou Zhao. “How’d you get here so fast? Nothing going on with Mr. Sang?”
Zhou Zhao unscrewed a bottle of water, chugged a couple of gulps, and sighed, “The young master and young miss are in the middle of a fight.”
As for why, they all knew.
The matter of Sang Ran’s divorce from Gong Chen.
…
Hospital ward.
“Brother, what did you just say?”
After hearing Sang Li’s words, Sang Ran’s already pale face turned even more bloodless.
“I told you to go home to Dad. You haven’t visited him in a year, and he misses you dearly,” Sang Li said.
“I’m not going back. I’m married now. Wherever my husband is, that’s where I belong,” Sang Ran said through gritted teeth.
“Xiao Ran, I’m not discussing this with you; I’m informing you. It’s time to come back so we can take proper care of you.”
In the end, Sang Li softened his tone.
He couldn’t bear to see his sister become a pawn in someone else’s game.
Sang Ran’s voice trembled. “You’re my brother. You promised me you’d fulfill my final wish.”
“I already did. You married him—are you happy? All these years, you’ve been secretly contacting illegal labs. You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?” Sang Li’s tone turned severe.
Sang Ran bit her lip, bowed her head, and took a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll agree to the divorce. But you’ll have to help me with one last thing.”
Sang Li paused but eventually replied, “What is it?”
“Before I die, I want to have a child with Third Young Master. He won’t let me get close to him anymore, but he’s still on good terms with you. Brother, I’m sure you can find a way. Doing this is perfectly legal overseas.”
“Sang Ran! You’ve gone too far! He’s already willing to stay with you for your final days, and now you want to tie him down for the rest of his life too?”