Chapter 257: Shi Youxuan Wants to Leave

"If you don't want to take over, you don't have to. Let's just end this matter here; let's not mention it again in the future." Zhu Yiwen also realized that what he had just said was inappropriate and prepared to pull it back in time.

Shi Youxuan looked at him with a serious attitude: "I'm being serious. This isn't a momentary impulse, nor am I acting out of spite against you. In fact, I had already decided on this before I discovered Alisha was... that person!"

"I have been here for five years, and I have had enough. I want to return to my hometown and live a free and easy life..."

The more she spoke, the darker Zhu Yiwen's face became.

Before Shi Youxuan could finish, Zhu Yiwen's complexion was already so gloomy it could wring out ink.

"Enough, say no more."

Zhu Yiwen said loudly to the outside: "Come in."

His subordinates pushed the door open and entered. Zhu Yiwen instructed them: "Escort the Madam back to her room to rest. The Madam has been in poor health lately and cannot have contact with electronic products or see guests. Go tell the servants attending to the Madam to watch her closely."

"Yes."

The two men agreed and asked Shi Youxuan to leave: "Madam, please."

It sounded nice, but in reality, was this putting her under house arrest?

"Zhu Yiwen, what do you mean by this?" Shi Youxuan did not leave and glared at him angrily.

The two men were so frightened that cold sweat broke out. The Madam was truly bold; she actually dared to call the Head of the Family by his name.

Zhu Yiwen was not annoyed and waved his hand to dismiss the two men.

He said to Shi Youxuan, enunciating every word: "You want to leave? I do not agree!"

Shi Youxuan had anticipated that he would not agree. After all, L Country was different from Jiangzhou; people here only married until death did them part, and divorce was rare.

Especially among people in the upper class, it was even less likely!

There was only one possibility for divorce—the man taking the initiative to propose a divorce to the woman.

Being asked for a divorce by a woman was a very shameful thing in L Country.

Therefore, Shi Youxuan had already thought through every possible situation, but Zhu Yiwen had turned hostile before she could even finish speaking just now.

She said: "Don't worry, I won't let everyone know. I will take Shi Ran and leave quietly. After a while, you can announce that I died of an illness. I guarantee that once I leave, I will never step foot in L Country again, and I won't speak of our relationship in the future."

"The money I earned here will all be left to you. I only want Shi Ran; you just need to give us mother and daughter a plane ticket."

Everything Shi Youxuan said was from the heart; she did not care about money and such things.

As long as she was around, making money was an easy thing!

She did not expect that after she finished speaking, Zhu Yiwen's expression did not improve; instead, it grew worse: "Don't dream. Shi Youxuan, from the moment you stepped into this mansion, you should have known that as long as you bear the name of Mrs. Zhu Yiwen, it is impossible for you to walk out for the rest of your life!"

"On what grounds?"

Shi Youxuan was also angry.

She had been patiently trying to reason with him, hoping for a clean break, but now it seemed she had thought too simply!

"Come in, escort the Madam back to her room."

Zhu Yiwen called people in again to escort Shi Youxuan back to her room, without giving her a reason.

As soon as Shi Youxuan returned to her room, she began a hunger strike.

She didn't eat a meal; the servants took the food out exactly as they had brought it in, then reported it to Zhu Yiwen, who indicated he knew.

She didn't eat the second meal either.

This time, Shi Youxuan didn't just refuse to eat; she also threw a huge tantrum, throwing the tray of food directly out the window, scattering food and broken porcelain shards of bowls and plates everywhere!

The servant reported the Madam's behavior to the Head of the Family. Zhu Yiwen remained indifferent: "It's fine. Having the energy to make a scene means she isn't hungry yet. Just keep an eye on her so nothing happens to her; don't worry about anything else."

Soon, Shi Youxuan discovered that the servants were installing protective netting outside the window!

Was this because they were afraid she would commit suicide?

What a joke.

If she wanted to die, she would have died eight hundred times over already.

Having finally returned to the present, Shi Youxuan cherished her life immensely and would absolutely not give up easily.

But she also knew that Zhu Yiwen would not let her leave easily, so she had to keep her spirits up and prepare for a protracted war.

Shi Youxuan had thrown a fit to express her dissatisfaction.

Then she closed all the doors and windows and took out a large teddy bear from a pile of dolls.

This bear looked very much like Zai Zai, whom she had hugged since she was a child, so she still called it Zai Zai.

Unzipping the back of Zai Zai, Shi Youxuan reached her hand inside and rummaged around... pulling out a compact laptop from within.

No one else in the mansion knew about this computer except for her, not even her daughter.

Without a backup plan, Shi Youxuan wouldn't dare to go head-to-head with Zhu Yiwen.

Opening the wardrobe, Shi Youxuan climbed inside with the laptop, sitting cross-legged and feeling quite good.

It was as if she had returned to the past, often hiding in the wardrobe to issue commands using the computer, sneaking snacks... Shi Youxuan reached out and rummaged in a hidden spot in the wardrobe!

After rummaging twice, she pulled out a file folder.

Just looking at the exterior, anyone would think it contained documents or similar things, but Shi Youxuan unsealed the folder and took out a bag of beef jerky instead!

Tearing off a piece and putting it in her mouth to chew vigorously, it was delicious!

She was starving; people are like iron and food is like steel—one feels famished if they miss a meal.

Especially since she hadn't eaten for two meals, she was already hungry enough to feel her chest sticking to her back.

While chewing the beef jerky, Shi Youxuan opened the computer. The desktop was clean with nothing on it. She typed a few lines of code at random, and QQ popped up.

She logged in and clicked on Jian Yining's avatar: Laomao, are you there?

This account was from back in Jiangzhou, a number she used when she and Jian Yining hadn't met yet.

Later, there were more and more ways to contact each other—WeChat, phone calls, Twitter... QQ hadn't been used for a long time, but Shi Youxuan believed Jian Yining would still use this account!

Sure enough, a reply came quickly.

First, there was a row of big smiley faces.

Seeing this pile of smiling faces, Shi Youxuan felt as if she saw Jian Yining's sunny face.

He was always so sunny and healing; seeing his face, no matter how much sorrow she had, it would all be scorched away, disappearing without a trace.

Then a row of text came from the other side: Of course I'm here, I've been waiting for you the whole time, waiting until the flowers have all withered.

Following it was a row of emojis—aggrieved!

Shi Youxuan first explained that Zhu Yiwen had tampered with her computer and phone, changing their contact information, which was why they couldn't get in touch.

Jian Yining knew that was the case, and he was so happy he nearly jumped up from his chair.

He was overjoyed; it really was Zhu Yiwen causing trouble here, and he had said that Yingzi would not ignore him.

He rekindled his hope once again.

Jian Yining asked her if she was doing well now.

Did the things they said to each other back then still count or not?

He also said that Alisha had problems; although he didn't know where the problems lay, she definitely had problems.

Shi Youxuan told Jian Yining that the things they had discussed back then no longer counted, and that the two of them should remain best friends for a lifetime.

Because she discovered she could only treat him as a confidant, as her best friend, and it was very difficult to transcend friendship.

Although Jian Yining was disappointed, he also expressed his understanding.

At the same time, he insisted: You have the right to reject me, and I have the right to continue pursuing you!

Shi Youxuan said: No, if you continue, I will feel guilty.

That was her personality; she hoped to tell him her most genuine inner feelings.

Yes is yes, and no is no.

One shouldn't feel it won't work, yet still drag it out in the name of fearing to hurt the other person; that would be the greatest harm to Jian Yining.

In her heart, Jian Yining was her best friend and a very important person, not a backup option.

She could not and would not use someone's feelings when she was in difficulty, only to kick them away once she was done using them; that kind of thing was the standard behavior of "green tea" types, and she could not do it.