Qiao Xi's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare to argue further and resignedly opened the car door and got in.
She leaned tightly against the car window, far away from him.
Although the car's interior space was large, his presence filled it with a sense of oppression.
"Where do you feel unwell?" he asked first, breaking the silence.
"It's just that, my stomach hurts a bit," her voice carried a hint of exhaustion.
Shang Beichen's gaze deepened.
She had a history of menstrual cramps when she was studying. It was all her fault for being greedy back then, eating anything cold she pleased.
Later, when they were together, he forcefully made her quit that bad habit, strictly supervising her, and it took a lot to help her recover.
In the four years he was gone, she must have been greedy again.
"Stop by the side of the road up ahead," Shang Beichen suddenly said to the driver.
The car stopped in front of a 24-hour pharmacy.
He got out of the car briskly and strode into the pharmacy.
Before long, he returned.
In his hand was a hot water bottle, already filled with hot water, and a box of heat packs.
He sat back in the car and, without a word, directly tore open the packaging of a heat pack.
Then, his hand reached over and directly lifted the hem of her professional suit skirt's top.
"I can do it myself, President Shang."
Qiao Xi's whole body stiffened, and she quickly reached out to snatch it.
He shifted his wrist, avoiding her hand, and the warm patch was already being domineeringly placed on her lower abdomen by him.
The action was precise and skilled.
After doing all this, he then shoved the warm hot water bottle into her arms.
"Thank you," Qiao Xi said softly, holding the hot water bottle.
"Your current state is already affecting your work efficiency," his voice carried displeasure.
Qiao Xi's heart sank. So it was about work.
"Qiao Xi, in these four years, is this how you've been taking care of yourself?" He was very unhappy now.
"President Shang, you don't need to worry about how I'm living," she retorted.
The slight feeling of gratitude she had just felt vanished instantly.
"Do you have to speak to me like this?" His thin lips were tightly pursed.
"Should I kneel before you, kowtow three times, and then say thank you?"
Qiao Xi threw the hot water bottle onto the seat, so angry she wanted to tear off the heat pack right then and there.
"Qiao Xi!" he roared angrily.
The car suddenly stopped. They had arrived downstairs at her home, and the driver, Old Wang, had successfully prevented a storm.
Qiao Xi directly opened the door and slammed it shut forcefully.
Old Wang was startled.
Damn, Secretary Qiao really has a temper and is bold enough to give President Shang such a cold shoulder.
Fortunately, he had listened and gotten the car appraised.
President Shang really had foresight.
This is the second time!
..
As soon as she got home, Qiao Xi tore off the heat pack and threw it into the trash can.
She pointed at the trash can and cursed, "Shang Beichen, you stay in there and reflect properly."
That night, Qiao Xi slept very restlessly.
She had a long dream, in which she was intimate with Shang Beichen, argued with him, and there was that ginkgo tree...
Finally, she was woken up by a violent cramping pain in her lower abdomen.
The next two days of meetings progressed much faster.
Each night, they would finish around twelve o'clock, and everyone was finally less exhausted.
But Shang Beichen, with his icy expression and radiating an extremely cold aura, terrified the secretaries.
Qiao Xi mechanically completed her work, not saying a single extra word.
Shang Beichen also ignored her, treating her as if she were invisible.
Cold war?
Pfft!
She didn't care at all.
The three-day meeting ended smoothly, and Shang Beichen, uncharacteristically, gave the Chief Secretary's office a day off.
Su Xiaoke and Qin Yue praised President Shang for being humane.
Qiao Xi made no comment.
The next day, Qiao Xi got up very early.
She hadn't seen her Good Baby in three days.
She rushed to the kindergarten and found Xia Cheng just dropping off Little Bean at the entrance.
Qiao Xi ran over and scooped the little girl into her arms.
The little girl whispered softly into her ear, "Mommy, I miss you so much."
"Oh, my Good Baby," Qiao Xi kissed her little face twice before sending her into the kindergarten.
In the afternoon, she picked up the little girl at the first opportunity and headed straight to the hospital.
In the hospital room, Mother Qiao looked well. Upon seeing Little Bean, she smiled so broadly she couldn't close her mouth.
The hospital room door was pushed open, and Aunt Jiang entered carrying a fruit basket, followed by a tall and straight figure – it was Jiang Si.
"Oh, Xi Xi is here too," Aunt Jiang greeted warmly.
Qiao Xi was a little surprised but still smiled politely.
Before long, she and Jiang Si were ushered out of the room by Aunt Jiang and her own mother.
Before leaving, Mother Qiao was exceptionally firm.
"Xi Xi, you must treat Little Jiang to dinner to thank him properly."
"Mom..."
"Otherwise, don't acknowledge me as your mother anymore!"
Qiao Xi had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Little Bean seemed to like Jiang Si very much, reaching out her little hand for him to hold. Jiang Si naturally took the child, his movements skilled.
Finally, Jiang Si took them to a top revolving restaurant in Ningcheng.
Qiao Xi knew this place; she had been there once with Cheng Cheng before, and reservations usually required at least half a month's wait.
But Jiang Si just made a phone call, gave his name, and the waiter respectfully led them to a VIP private room with an excellent view.
Later, during their conversation, she learned that Jiang Si was one of the restaurant's shareholders.
He handed Qiao Xi a black and gold card.
"Take this. You'll always have a table whenever you want to come, and you'll get a 10% discount."
"Director Jiang, thank you. I got a free meal and a free card tonight, I've really hit the jackpot," Qiao Xi said with a smile.
After returning, she would invite Xia Cheng, Su Xiaoke, and Qin Yue over immediately; they would definitely be happy.
"Qiao Xi, just call me by my name, Jiang Si, or Ah Si, from now on," Jiang Si suddenly said.
"Okay."
The dinner ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
As they left, a sharp gaze from behind them seemed to burn through their backs.
Shang Beichen was walking out of a private room with some friends.
An abnormal flush colored his handsome face; he had clearly drunk quite a bit.
Yet, his eyes were terrifyingly clear.
Qiao Xi said something to Jiang Si, turning her head, and then smiled, looking like a happy family of three.
This scene made Shang Beichen's eyes instantly ignite.
Fine, Qiao Xi.
You ignore me for three days, but you're all smiles for another man.
I give you a day off, and you go on a date with another man?
Just you wait!
Qiao Xi returned home, bathed Little Bean, and finally coaxed her to sleep when the doorbell suddenly rang.
So late, who could it be?
She leaned over to the peephole and her heart skipped a beat.
It was Shang Beichen.
She called through the door, "President Shang, it's so late, is something wrong?"
"I'm here to get my underwear!" he said concisely.
Qiao Xi's face instantly darkened. Was it really necessary? Was he afraid she'd actually throw it away?
"Wait."
She turned and walked into the bedroom, took out the dry-cleaned suit from the wardrobe, and stuffed it, along with his "limited edition" black underwear, into a bag.
That dog man.
This pair of underwear wasn't bought by her four years ago.
Heaven knows where he wore it back from some vixen.
Those three days and three nights...
Pfft! Just thinking about it felt dirty!
The door opened again, and a slender arm extended the large bag out.
The next second, Shang Beichen's large hand braced against the door, and his tall body squeezed in.
The smell of alcohol mixed with a unique cool fragrance wafted towards her.
"Shang Beichen, what are you doing?" Qiao Xi was both anxious and angry. "Who allowed you in? Get out!"
"So nervous, is someone hiding here?" He pushed her aside and rushed straight into the bedroom.
He scanned the Master Bedroom, then pushed open the children's room door, checking inside and out.
"Shang Beichen, what madness is this! Get out!"
This action completely angered Qiao Xi, and she pointed at the door, yelling.
"Qiao Xi, who allowed you to go on a date with another man?"
Shang Beichen turned around, the aura around him so low it was terrifying.
Qiao Xi laughed in anger. "Shang Beichen, we're already divorced! Who I date is my freedom, it's none of your business!"
"Qiao Xi, don't provoke me," Shang Beichen said through gritted teeth, word by word. "Break it off with that Jiang Si immediately."
Qiao Xi walked directly to the door and pulled it wide open.
"Shang Beichen, if you want to throw a drunken tantrum, go do it somewhere else. Don't wake up my sister!"
"Your sister?" he sneered, his tone laced with venomous malice. "I think she's a bastard you secretly had with some wild man?"
That paternity test report clearly stated the child was not his.
This result infuriated him beyond measure.
"Slap!"
A crisp, loud slap landed unceremoniously on his handsome face.
Qiao Xi's hand was trembling.
He dared to call Little Bean a bastard?
That was her little angel, whom she had almost died to bring into the world, nearly costing her life twice.
"You dare to hit me?" Shang Beichen's rage was completely ignited.
He reached out, took off his expensive suit jacket, threw it carelessly on the ground, and then forcefully loosened his tie.
His black shirt clung to his heaving chest, his well-defined muscles full of tension.
"Get out!" Qiao Xi was furious.
The four years of waiting and longing, at this moment, she felt like she had fed to the dogs.
Shang Beichen, however, walked step by step to the door and, with a bang, shut it heavily from the inside and locked it.
He pulled her over, forcefully pinning her against the cold wall, restraining her hands behind her back with one hand.
The other hand directly lifted her silk nightgown.
"Shang Beichen, what are you doing?" Qiao Xi trembled all over in shock.
"Qiao Xi, you said you didn't love me anymore, that you were tired of me, and that I was poor," Shang Beichen's voice sounded in her ear, filled with deep hatred.
He took out a black card from his pocket and threw it forcefully on the ground.
"I'm rich now! Fifty million, to buy you for a year!"
"Shang Beichen, how dare you!" Qiao Xi struggled violently. "Let me go!"
Shang Beichen completely ignored her resistance, reaching to unbuckle his belt. With a "click," it was exceptionally clear...
✦✦✦