Chapter 14: Chu Li

The reporter, who had been clamoring just a moment ago, was now as silent as a cicada in winter.

He only dared to make a scene in front of a woman; with the principal party here, he was like a quail, not daring to ask another question.

Chu Li walked to Qin Xingwan's side, looked at the reporter with cold eyes, and said, "We do not accept any form of mediation; we will pursue this to the end."

On the way here, he had already learned what happened.

He would not let anyone who harmed his wife off the hook.

The reporter stood up abruptly, but not knowing what he thought of, he sat back down, his expression much more relaxed.

He did not defend himself.

But as if Chu Li knew what he wanted to say, he sneered, "Don't count on anyone being able to fish you out unless I let go."

There was nothing but indifference in the reporter's eyes.

He had been sent by someone else, which was why he had dared to be so brazen in front of Qin Xingwan; thinking of the person behind him, he did not take Chu Li's threat to heart.

Chu Li squatted down to check Qin Xingwan's ankle, then picked her up and walked outside.

Qin Xingwan remained silent, saying nothing at all.

Once outside at the car, she saw Qin Yunshu.

"Sister." Qin Yunshu trotted over. "Are you alright?"

Her expression was full of anxious concern. "A Li heard you had an accident and rushed right over."

Qin Xingwan said with calm sarcasm, "Then I really must trouble President Chu to take time out of his busy schedule to care for me."

Qin Yunshu was speechless, looking somewhat at a loss.

"Let's go to the Yiyuan," Chu Li said indifferently.

At the Yiyuan, after Qin Xingwan finished her examination and had just put one foot on the ground, she was picked up by Chu Li, who had just walked in.

As the two reached the door, Qin Yunshu bit her lip and came over, glancing at Chu Li before looking at Qin Xingwan. "Sister, how is your foot injury?"

Qin Xingwan's black-and-white eyes stared at her calmly, with no intention of speaking.

Qin Yunshu looked a bit aggrieved and forced herself to smile. "Sister, don't misunderstand. A Li and I were just on a business trip. I had a fever at the time, and A Li was just helping me."

Qin Xingwan tugged at Chu Li's clothes, her voice cold. "Can we go now? My foot hurts."

Chu Li gave a hum. "Yun Shu, I'll take Xingwan home first; a driver will take you later."

The elevator descended into the underground garage.

Chu Li helped her fasten her seatbelt.

Qin Xingwan turned her head to look out the window and did not speak again.

Back at Beicheng Villa, Qin Xingwan was carried into the living room by Chu Li.

He took out a pearl necklace and put it on her himself. "A gift."

Qin Xingwan touched it; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, clearly of great value.

She took the necklace off and placed it back into the box.

Chu Li asked in a flat voice, "You don't like it?"

"I like it," Qin Xingwan replied, with no expression of happiness.

Chu Li was silent for a moment, his black shirt carrying a hint of coldness. "Yun Shu is currently in charge of perfume research and development, and I took her to attend a project negotiation."

"As for the hotel matter, it was because she had a fever and was feeling unwell."

"I know; Qin Yunshu already said so at the Yiyuan." Qin Xingwan smiled faintly, just like a proper wealthy wife who does not pry into her husband's affairs outside.

Chu Li's dark eyes stared at the fake smile on her face, then looked at the necklace she had set aside, and anger surged from the bottom of his heart.

"Qin Xingwan, is it necessary to put on this act?"

Qin Xingwan blinked, not understanding what was wrong with her act.

She didn't pry or make a scene—wasn't that exactly what he expected?

One had to know that during the month Qin Yunshu returned to the country, she had cried and made scenes, and the final outcome was him refusing her calls and letting her be kidnapped, losing their child in a rainstorm.

He had despised her unreasonable behavior; now that she wasn't making a scene, why was he still angry?

After thinking for a moment, she said, "You said it yourself, you want to help her develop her career; I understand."

Chu Li felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out, feeling stifled.

Qin Xingwan did not want to spend her energy haggling over matters between him and Qin Yunshu; they had more important things to discuss.

"You promised me we would talk after you returned; let's start now." She softened her tone and looked up at her husband quietly.

Chu Li was in a bad mood, so his tone was harsh. "I already said, if you went to pick me up at the airport, we would talk. Did you go?"

Qin Xingwan's feigned good temper nearly broke. "I was at the Police Station at that time."

He knew that.

Chu Li's tall figure stood straight, and he said unhurriedly, "So?"

So?

Qin Xingwan looked at him expressionlessly. "I couldn't go."

"If you can't do it, then I have no need to keep my word." Chu Li turned and walked toward the door. "I'm going to the company to handle matters; you rest at home."

"Stop right there." Qin Xingwan stood up abruptly, wanting to chase after him, but her ankle hurt severely; she reddened her eyes and asked loudly at his back, "What exactly will it take for you to agree to a divorce?"

Chu Li didn't look back and said indifferently, "Depends on my mood."

He strode away.

"Chu Li." Qin Xingwan's voice was shrill as she chased after him.

With a sharp pain in her ankle, she fell by the door.

"Ma'am!" the servant exclaimed.

Chu Li's back stiffened, but he still drove away from the villa without looking back.

Qin Xingwan slumped onto the floor, no longer able to control her emotions, and burst into tears.

She only wanted an answer from him.

Why was he so cruel as to refuse to give it?

"Ma'am."

The servant carefully helped Qin Xingwan up, truly unable to understand in their heart: since the master loved the mistress so much, why did the mistress want a divorce?

No wonder the mistress hadn't been very happy lately...

Chu Li did not return all night.

Qin Xingwan did not sleep all night.

Her pillow grew wet and dried, then dried and grew wet again; she had no idea she could have so many tears.

When she got up the next day, her eyes were swollen like walnuts.

When Lin Qingya's call came, she was rolling a boiled egg over her eyes.

"Something happened." Lin Qingya's tone was very serious. "Chu Li's affair is trending."

The egg dropped onto the sofa, and Qin Xingwan asked in a hoarse voice, "What?"

"It's hard to explain in a few words, go look online." Lin Qingya sounded somewhat gloating at the end, "Anyway, he deserves it."

Qin Xingwan opened her phone and saw the trending topic.

A video of Chu Li carrying Qin Yunshu into a hotel had been posted online, accompanied by a caption about him cheating with his own sister-in-law, followed by a haggard photo of Qin Xingwan and a recording.

The recording was from when they were at the Police Station, containing the words that reporter had said, along with her own line, "Stop talking..."

The video, the photo, the recording, and the malicious marketing copy practically hammered home the fact that Chu Li had cheated with Qin Yunshu.

The internet was filled with curses.

Qin Xingwan was a low-profile person, but the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Series perfume she launched was very popular; after her identity as Mrs. Chu was exposed, the entire internet turned to berating Chu Li and Qin Yunshu.

This matter fermented extremely quickly, sweeping across the entire internet in a short amount of time.

Chu Li placed great importance on his private life and it was usually very difficult to catch him in any compromising position, but with Qin Yunshu's return to the country, Chu Li's almost doting way of acting toward Qin Yunshu had given the other party an opportunity.

Lin Qingya was not wrong when she said he deserved it.

Qin Xingwan did not want to get involved, but she was now a protagonist in this farce, and no matter how she looked at it, it was trouble.

Before she could decide what to do, the director of the public relations team at Chu Group called, hoping Qin Xingwan would go to the company to attend a press conference they were preparing to hold.

Qin Xingwan agreed.

She drove to the company, but there were many reporters blocking the entrance, so she had to turn to the underground garage and take the private elevator to Chu Li's office.

At this moment, the entire assistant's office was in a state of chaos.

But someone still noticed Qin Xingwan and hurried over: "Ma'am."

"Where is President Chu?"

"President Chu has gone to a meeting, would you like to..."

"I'll go wait in his office."

The person stopped her, "President Chu's office is locked."

Qin Xingwan didn't think too much about it and went to the guest room to wait.

This wait lasted for a full hour.

Just then, the director of the public relations department replied to her message, so Qin Xingwan planned to go find her.

Just as she stepped out, she saw the door to Chu Li's office was half-open.

Was his meeting over? Qin Xingwan walked over subconsciously.

But just as she reached the door, she heard Qin Yunshu's soft, weak sobbing.