Only deathly silence answered her.
No one knew how much time passed—it felt as long as a century.
Qi Yanli pressed out the cigarette between his fingers in the ashtray and said in a low voice, “You should have just killed me earlier.”
!!!
Wen Lanyue’s eyes widened in shock.
It was simply unbelievable.
“You’d rather die than break up with me?”
“I don’t want to. And I can’t.”
The man was unnaturally calm, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
Wen Lanyue parted her lips, wanting to speak but stopping herself.
Seeing the blood seeping from Qi Yanli’s forehead, she couldn’t help frowning. “Go to the hospital and get that wound treated.”
“It’s fine. No need.”
“What if it needs stitches? An infected wound is a real hassle.”
Qi Yanli picked up a tissue and pressed it to his forehead, then stood up. ”If you’re squeamish, don’t look. I’ll sleep in the next room.”
He had only taken two steps when Wen Lanyue snapped, “Stop right there!”
Then she got up from the bed and hurried out of the bedroom.
Less than a minute later, she returned carrying a first-aid kit.
“Sit down.”
Qi Yanli’s cold, handsome face stared at her for a few seconds before he sat back down.
Wen Lanyue walked up to him, took out medical cotton swabs and disinfectant alcohol from the kit, and carefully and attentively treated his wound.
The atmosphere eased a little.
Qi Yanli’s jet-black eyes were fixed on the woman’s delicate face, a deep, unreadable look in their depths.
Wen Lanyue examined it carefully. Fortunately, it was only a small cut.
No stitches needed—it wasn’t that serious.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief. “There, all done… Ah!”
The words had barely left her mouth when Qi Yanli pulled her straight into his arms.
“Qi Yanli, what are you doing! Do you want to bleed again?!”
The man let out a disdainful cold laugh. “So this is what you call not loving me anymore? It’s just a few drops of blood—is there any need to be this worked up?”
Wen Lanyue feigned indifference. “I’d do the same for any man. It has nothing to do with love—it’s just that I’m the one who caused the wound.”
“Wen Lanyue, the only tough thing on your entire body is that mouth of yours.”
“And let me tell you something, Qi Yanli. If you don’t agree to break up, I’ll cheat on you. Just you wait and see.”
“Go ahead and try.”
Qi Yanli would like to see who had the gall to lay a hand on his woman.
…
The night was anything but peaceful.
In the end, Qi Yanli insisted on sleeping in the same bed as her.
But nothing happened—he simply held her as they slept.
Wen Lanyue’s struggling was useless. She wore herself out with all the fussing and eventually fell asleep.
The next morning.
When she woke, the man beside her was already gone.
Wen Lanyue got up, washed up, and went down to the living room of the villa.
Hearing her, the housekeeper came over. “Miss Wen, what would you like for breakfast?”
“Anything’s fine. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“Very well.”
She went to the dining room and sat down.
After only half a month away, she was already starting to feel a little out of place here.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Wen Lanyue picked it up and froze for a moment.
She almost didn’t dare answer—it was a call from Uncle Qi.
Could her father have already expressed his wish to call off the engagement?
After a moment’s hesitation, she answered. “Uncle Qi.”
“Lanyue, meet with me at noon. I’d like to talk to you about something.”
“Okay. You pick the place, and I’ll be there on time.”
“Mm. I’ll have my secretary come pick you up.”
After hanging up the phone, she felt inexplicably nervous.
For families like hers and Qi Yanli’s, breaking up and dissolving an engagement was truly a troublesome matter.
……
Soon, it was noon.
Qi Changqing’s secretary picked her up and took her to a private club.
When she entered the private room, she saw Uncle Qi sitting alone at the tea table.
“Lanyue, have a seat.”
Qi Changqing personally poured her a cup of tea and set it in front of her.
There were few people for whom Qi Changqing would pour tea himself.
It was enough to show how much he valued her.
“Thank you, Uncle Qi.”
Facing Qi Yanli’s father, Wen Lanyue still felt a bit tense.
After all, he was an elder.
Finally, Qi Changqing got straight to the point: “Your father has already conveyed your intentions to me. Today, Uncle Qi is willing to swallow his pride and fight for one more chance for Qi Yanli. Can’t you give Uncle Qi some face?”
This left her not knowing how to respond.
“Uncle Qi, please don’t say that. How could I dare……”
Qi Changqing said, “Just one month. If you still insist on separating after that, I won’t interfere again.”
“……”
Since he had already put it that way, if she continued to be stubborn, she really would be failing to appreciate his kindness.
He was, after all, the owner of one of the top three companies in the world.
For him to bow his head to a junior like her was already outrageous.
Wen Lanyue nodded. “All right. But I hope that in one month, you won’t block my decision again.”
Her mind was made up anyway.
She would absolutely never return to Qi Yanli’s side.
Qi Changqing picked up his tea and drained it in one gulp, saying with a smile, “It’s a deal. But you’ll have to work as his secretary for one month.”
She seemed to understand Uncle Qi’s intention.
“Uncle Qi, I want to break up not because he’s too busy to spend time with me, but because I don’t love him anymore.”
“Lanyue, love may arise in an instant, but it doesn’t vanish in an instant. I want you to see Qi Yanli’s true face clearly.”
Wen Lanyue’s eyes were somewhat dazed, as if she half understood.
Qi Changqing continued, “I’ve lived decades longer than you two, after all, and I’ve seen how unpredictable life can be. Mutual love is hard to come by, and missing your true love will leave you with lifelong regret. If, after seeing him clearly, you still decide to leave, I’ll support you. After all, a melon forced off the vine isn’t sweet.”
“All right……”
“Lanyue, don’t tell Qi Yanli about what Uncle Qi discussed with you today.”
She was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
It was common knowledge in their circle that father and son didn’t get along.
……
Zhongheng Group, CEO’s office.
“President Qi, these are the résumés of three intern secretaries personally selected by the Chairman.”
Qi Yanli was staring at his computer screen and gave a faint sound of acknowledgment.
He casually picked them up and glanced over them, but when he saw Wen Lanyue’s name, his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Are you sure these were personally selected by the Chairman?”
“Yes.” Assistant Wang answered truthfully.
The corner of his lips curved into an arc.
She said she didn’t love him anymore and wanted to break up, yet she had come running to be his secretary.
She just wanted to keep him under surveillance twenty-four hours a day, nothing more.
Were all women this duplicitous?