Chapter 248

She had a mess of random thoughts; all night, Xia Xi's total sleep time didn't exceed four hours, and the next morning she woke up feeling as if she'd been beaten—her brain and body were uncomfortable everywhere.

Not bothering to consider whether her stomach could handle it, the first thing Xia Xi did upon arriving at the company was order an iced Americano.

Otherwise she wouldn't be able to work today.

The plan passed, but there's still a lot to do; because of family matters, she's already fallen behind schedule.

She dislikes exceeding expectations; her goal is to finish every project before the scheduled deadline.

After downing half a cup of iced coffee, Xia Xi's head barely calmed; before she could start work, someone knocked on the office door.

She arrived at the company very early today; Huang Shiyu probably wasn't there that early.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Lu Mingji was holding a courier document envelope.

"Your package arrived yesterday evening; you disappeared right after work, so I signed for it." Lu Mingji had noticed yesterday that the sender's address on the delivery slip was the Xu Clan Group office building.

He placed the envelope on Xia Xi's desk, saying uncertainly, "It should be work-related documents… right?"

Xia Xi glanced at the delivery slip, her brow furrowing slightly—what work documents would need courier delivery? She had just seen Xu Yanfeng that morning; if he had documents to give her, he would have handed them over then.

Without avoiding Lu Mingji, Xia Xi tore open the envelope's seal and pulled out its contents.

Indeed they were documents—two of them, unrelated to work: one was a custody lawsuit, the other a marriage agreement.

Lu Mingji also saw them, his heart jolted; he took the two documents from the stunned Xia Xi's hands, examined the details, and was even more surprised: "These were sent by Xu Yanfeng. What is he trying to do, seize custody of the child? Does he know the child is his?"

He didn't understand—if Xu Yanfeng wanted to fight for the child's custody, what did the marriage agreement mean?

Does he want both the child and the child's mother?

Is Xu Yanfeng dreaming too big?

How could Xia Xi possibly agree? He's trying to take the child—if she compromised, that would be insane. Is she really that easy to push around?

Lu Mingji set the documents down, looked at Xia Xi—she clearly hadn't recovered from the shock, staring blankly at the desk. He called her name, but she didn't respond.

Lu Mingji wanted to comfort Xia Xi, but as he spoke he felt his confidence wane; Xu Yanfeng's status and position meant his legal team would surely be top-notch—going up against him, how could they come out ahead?

Xia Xi grabbed the phone on the desk, found Xu Yanfeng's number, and dialed.

The ringtone sounded a few times then stopped; his voice came through, so familiar, as calm and steady as ever, even when saying her name: "Xia Xi."

Xia Xi pressed her lips together before speaking: "What do you mean?"

Xia Xi pressed her lips before speaking: "What do you mean?"

"What what meaning?"

"Documents! You want to sue me?"

The person on the phone hesitated for a few seconds, then asked: "Are you only seeing that Custody Lawsuit? I remember there's another one, you didn't see it?"

Xia Xi didn't answer; she just wanted to know what he was really up to!

"It's simple." Xu Yanfeng said calmly, "It's a multiple-choice question I gave you: two documents, you pick one. If you pick the Custody Lawsuit, we'll go to court to see who ultimately gets Zi Heng's custody. If you pick the Marriage Agreement, just sign the contract; we'll go to Minzhengju tomorrow to get our marriage certificate, and then the custody issue becomes moot."

"Are you sick?!" Xia Xi could no longer stay calm, she shouted into the phone: "I choose your head, I won't pick either!"

In order to get the child, he really went all out, even saying the words about marrying her.

Xu Yanfeng remained silent for a long time.

He thought she would at least hesitate a bit before rejecting his second option, even if only for a second. In fact, she rejected them outright without even thinking. She couldn't even try to think that maybe he genuinely wanted to marry her, not for the child.

"Not picking either is also fine." Xu Yanfeng had anticipated that answer early on.

Xia Xi: "???"

Since not picking either is allowed, what's he saying? He's really sick.

Xu Yanfeng took advantage of her lowered guard, shifted the topic, and said: "You still have a third option."

Xia Xi instinctively felt it wouldn't be that simple, but she still held a sliver of hope: "What?" She didn't realize she was being led by the nose.

"Live with me for a hundred days." Xu Yanfeng said confidently, "After a hundred days, I won't fight you for Zi Heng's custody, nor will I make any other demands. I keep my word."

One negotiation tactic is to first present two harsh options, when the other party is in a dilemma, then throw out an acceptable option, making them likely to choose the last one.

And that last one is exactly his original demand.

He never expected Xia Xi to choose either of the first two options.

"Xu Yanfeng, did you drink fake alcohol this morning?" Xia Xi almost laughed at a joke, she laughed out loud: "Do you want to hear how absurd your words are?"

Xu Yanfeng was quite serious: "I'm not joking with you, I don't find it absurd, I'm serious."

Xia Xi restrained her smile.

"Don't say I'm forcing you; I'm giving you time to think it over." Xu Yanfeng said, "If you need, we can also talk in person."

Lu Mingji didn't leave; he heard everything Xia Xi said, though he missed some of Xu Yanfeng's words, but he could piece together their conversation.

Men understand men better; Xu Yanfeng doing this is clearly not for the child but for Xia Xi.

Lu Mingji felt a sense of crisis. When Xia Xi invited him to a class reunion, he guessed that she and Xu Yanfeng had a deep, unforgettable past, but Xia Xi's firm attitude made him think their reconciliation was hopeless.

Afterwards, Xu Yanfeng repeatedly had dealings with Xia Xi, but she showed no sign of wavering, making him increasingly convinced they couldn't rekindle their past. Now Xu Yanfeng suddenly pulling this stunt, he dare not assert that Xia Xi won't waver; after all, they still have a child.

Isn't it said that a child is the bond between parents? Maybe the bond will eventually tie them together…

Lu Mingji couldn't accept such an ending; he clenched his fists secretly and asked Xia Xi: "What are you planning to do?"

Xia Xi threw her phone onto the table, sank into the chair, lifted her head to look at Lu Mingji, shaking her head left and right—don't ask her, she also doesn't know what to do; her already foggy brain from lack of sleep completely shut down.

Even the iced coffee couldn't perk her up.

If Xu Yanfeng were right in front of her now, she would probably couldn't help but give him two punches.

Lu Mingji really wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her hard, but he restrained himself: "Don't say you don't know; Xu Yanfeng has already served a challenge, you need to prepare—only with sufficient preparation do you have a chance to win. Don't you want to play his 'live together for a hundred days' game?"

Xia Xi: "……"

Just hearing it feels unreal; I don't know how Xu Yanfeng could say that.

Lu Mingji gave her a suggestion: "Otherwise, I'll still first find you a lawyer to consult, so you'll have some idea in mind; when that day comes, you won't be clueless like a headless fly, and maybe the situation won't be as bad as you think."

See Xu Yanfeng in court? That's the worst plan. Xia Xi never thought of that.

He was originally Zi Heng's father; the blood relation cannot be erased, and Zi Heng also knows that. She doesn't want the child to see the parents go to court. No matter how sensible Zi Heng is, in the end Zi Heng is still a child.

Furthermore, back then it was she who owed Xu Yanfeng; he was the most innocent one. Now, although she is angry with him, she didn't intend to hurt him.

Lu Mingji also meant well, so Xia Xi didn't refuse too firmly: "That's fine."