Chapter 16: So, are you trying to drive me away?

For the sake of her younger daughter, Lady Qin was willing to humble herself.

Qin Xingwan felt a burning pain deep in her heart.

She pulled her hand back bit by bit, her expression desolate; her heart was swept over by icy cold, completely drowning out any familial affection.

They were quite good at scheming; clearly, it was Qin Yunshu who had caused the trouble, yet they wanted to sacrifice her to resolve the matter.

Qin Yunshu's sobbing grew quieter: "Would it be too much trouble for Sister?"

"She is your sister, it's what she should do," Qin Shen said as if it were only natural.

Qin Yunshu came over to express her gratitude: "Thank you, Sister, for being willing to help me..."

"I didn't agree," Qin Xingwan said coldly.

Qin Yunshu's words of thanks stuck in her throat; she began to cry aggrievedly, throwing herself into Lady Qin's arms, "This matter was my fault to begin with; Sister shouldn't have to bear it."

Lady Qin felt heartbroken and patted her back, soothing her for a while.

Qin Shen also comforted her with exceptional patience.

The three of them were a deeply affectionate family, making Qin Xingwan look like an outsider.

She did not care.

After all, the familial affection that belonged to Qin Xingwan had died long ago.

She watched them coldly for a moment, then endured the sharp pain in her ankle and walked toward the elevator door.

She would not attend this press conference.

They could do whatever they liked.

The elevator door opened, and Guan Jing arrived.

A mocking smile slowly rose on the corners of Qin Xingwan's mouth as she turned her head, her gaze sweeping coldly over everyone in the conference room.

Finally, she said to Guan Jing: "I've changed my mind; I'm not attending the press conference."

Guan Jing was dumbfounded.

Qin Xingwan had already left.

Guan Jing took a deep breath and asked what had happened.

Qin Shen complained indignantly: "I just asked her to admit at the press conference that she had deliberately fabricated false facts to frame Yunshu, and then she just got angry."

Guan Jing looked at Qin Shen as if he were an idiot; where did this turncoat come from?

She couldn't help but say: "The Madam had already agreed to make a statement at the conference, announcing that she and all of you are a loving family, so that the matter of Chu Zong taking Director Qin out could be explained as help between family members."

"Besides, this is the venue prepared for the press conference; do you think she would come here for no reason?"

Qin Shen was instantly silenced; Qin Xingwan had already agreed?

If that was the case, why had she never said so?

It must be to seek attention; she had always been very calculating.

Lady Qin was also incomparably shocked: "This child, since everything was already discussed, why didn't she say so earlier?"

Guan Jing had no time to listen to them bicker here; she walked out while calling Chu Li, but Chu Li was currently attending an online meeting and did not answer her call.

In the conference room, Qin Yunshu cried with extreme grievance, blaming Qin Shen: "Brother, what on earth did you say to Sister? She clearly agreed to attend the press conference, so why did she go back on her word?"

Qin Shen felt a wave of bitterness in his heart, followed by even heavier anger: "You believe what she says?"

"But..."

"She just wants to watch us beg her," Qin Shen clenched his fists tightly, his chest heaving violently from rage, "If she were that kind-hearted, she should have told me just now."

She had always felt the Qin Family owed her, and she wouldn't miss a chance to show off her presence.

After going downstairs, Qin Xingwan immediately hailed a taxi and went to the Yiyuan.

Her ankle hurt so much she was about to faint.

After being examined at the Yiyuan, she was immediately ordered by the doctor to be hospitalized for treatment.

During this time, her phone kept ringing—there were calls from Chu Li, Qin Shen, Lady Qin...

She didn't answer a single one.

Finally, she simply put her phone on silent.

An hour later, Chu Li appeared in the hospital room, his expression somewhat gloomy: "Why did you leave?"

Qin Xingwan looked at him calmly.

"My foot hurts."

This was the truth.

But Chu Li clearly didn't believe her: "Isn't it because you wanted to go back on your word and not attend the press conference?"

He knew her foot injury; it wasn't serious enough to require hospitalization.

Qin Xingwan laughed in anger; once was not enough for him to doubt her, so he had to come and doubt her a second time.

Her suppressed emotions erupted.

She said coldly: "Why should I be the one to resolve the rotten mess you and Qin Yunshu made?"

Clearly, she was the biggest victim in this matter.

"Qin Xingwan, there should be a limit to your temper." Chu Li's air pressure was abnormally low.

After ending his meeting, he had rushed to the press conference, only to find out that Qin Xingwan had come and then left.

Before the press conference was held, the Chu Group had released news that Qin Xingwan would attend; if it continued, it would likely have the exact opposite effect.

Therefore, the press conference had to be canceled.

This was disadvantageous for the Chu Group.

Chu Li added coldly: "Things between Yunshu and me have always been clean and above board; it's not as sordid as you think."

Qin Xingwan listened calmly, her fingers resting on her knees slowly clenching.

"Oh, then why do you care about those rumors outside? Just continue being innocent and clean."

Chu Li pressed his thin lips together; he was truly angered.

She had clearly agreed to attend the press conference, only to back out at the critical moment.

She was deliberately toying with him.

The atmosphere in the hospital room turned oppressive.

Chu Li leaned down, his breath cool, his eyes covered with a layer of frost: "Qin Xingwan, do you really have to be like this?"

Qin Xingwan squeezed her fingers, "I already said it before, if you want to protect her and take care of her, then let's get a divorce."

Once divorced, even if he took care of Qin Yunshu all the way to bed, she wouldn't say a single extra word.

Chu Li sneered, his handsome and noble face full of harshness and indifference; in the surge of his emotions, he lost his reason.

"Since you are unwilling to be Mrs. Chu, why are you still lying here? Don't you know this floor is reserved for the Chu family?"

Since she didn't consider herself Mrs. Chu, she had no right to stay here.

Qin Xingwan looked at Chu Li in disbelief, her pale lips trembling slightly.

"So, are you going to kick me out?"

Chu Li did not speak, his pitch-black eyes devoid of any warmth.

Qin Xingwan lowered her eyes and lifted the blanket to get out of bed.

Although her ankle had been treated, it still throbbed with piercing pain, so her movements were exceptionally slow.

Chu Li stood with his arms crossed, looking down at her with a contemptuous sneer, "Moving so slowly, you don't think I'll ask you to stay, so you're deliberately dawdling, do you?"

Qin Xingwan gritted her teeth, sped up to put on her shoes, grabbed her phone, and left without looking back.

The sound of the door closing came, and Chu Li kicked a stool, unable to suppress the rage filling his body.

Even though it was a marriage of convenience, for these three years he had given her all the dignity and wealth of a Mrs. Chu, yet now she had this kind of attitude.

She couldn't tolerate Yun Shu, and even stood him up at the press conference.

She didn't consider herself his wife at all, let alone have the awareness that a husband and wife are one.

Qin Xingwan didn't get very far; her foot was truly hurting severely.

The doctor had repeatedly warned her to be extremely careful and that it was best to rest during this period, otherwise this foot would be ruined.

So she found a random safety door, went inside, and sat on the stairs.

Her heart felt sour and swollen with discomfort; she just wanted to be alone and quiet, so she simply turned off her phone and didn't contact anyone.

Chu Li stood in the hospital room for a few minutes, then walked out with a dark face.

The nurse who had come to give Qin Xingwan her second treatment happened to push the door open and enter.

"President Chu, eh, where is Mrs. Chu?" the nurse asked, looking alarmed.

Chu Li looked at the small cart in front of him, a strange feeling rising in his heart, and he finally asked, "What is wrong with her?"

Only at this moment did he realize that his wife might not have come to the Yiyuan to avoid the press conference, but was truly unwell.

The nurse said anxiously: "Mrs. Chu's ankle suffered extremely serious secondary injury; the doctor said she must not get out of bed and needs to rest. Why wouldn't she listen?"

An image of Qin Xingwan's posture when she got out of bed suddenly surfaced in Chu Li's mind.

Her movements were very slow, and she was clearly in great pain.

He had thought she wanted him to ask her to stay...