Chapter 74: Beset by Emotions

  "I don't want my daughter to marry into a wealthy family..."

  Cheng's mother's words inexplicably brought a hint of sadness and annoyance to Xu Shaoyan's heart: Why did they, as mother and daughter, care so much about his family background? Why did they assume he was an ignorant man who didn't know anything? Was it his fault for having money? Did men with money necessarily have a roving eye?

  How ironic! The wealth that had always helped to advance his love affair has now become a stumbling block on the path of his romance!

  "An aristocratic family?" Xǔ Shǎo Yàn said painfully and helplessly, "What's an aristocratic family? I'm just an ordinary man! Is it because my family has money that you don't like me? Having money isn't my fault!"

  "It's not that I don't like you—" Seeing the displeasure on Xu Shaoyuan's face, Cheng Mama hastily explained, "It's just that you and Zhiyi have had different living environments since childhood, and your values are also different. You...you're not suitable for each other! Now you may like her, but later on, you'll find that there are many problems between you two—"

  "As long as I love her, that's enough!" Xǔ Shǎoyàn interrupted Chéng Māma with a tone of sadness, "Why do you all have to think so much?"

  Is that so, do all women like to think wildly? Why is Mrs. Cheng just like Cheng Zhiyi, worrying about everything and finding it difficult everywhere? Can't they just look at him as a person? Just look at his sincerity? Just look at his goodness?

  "If it's because of this, I'm willing to give up everything - the Tiancheng Group, I don't want it, money, I don't want it, all the glory and wealth, all the riches that can rival a nation, I don't want any of it... I only want Cheng Qiyue!"

  Is it because of the anger of being "despised" or because of the sadness of being "abandoned"? Xǔ Shǎoyàn actually said angrily, really without regard for anything!

  "Child, why are you being so stubborn?" Madam Cheng couldn't help but feel heartache for Xu Shao Yan and advised him with a bitter tone, "Our family's Zhi Yi is just an ordinary girl, I only hope she finds an ordinary man to live an ordinary life..."

  "Auntie! I swear, I'll definitely make Zhiyi happy! I can also give her an ordinary life... Please don't dislike me..." Xu Shaoyan pleaded bitterly to Cheng Mama.

  "It's not that Auntie doesn't like you, it's just —"

  "Mom!" Unbeknownst to them, Cheng Zhiyi had already come downstairs. She stood at the foot of the stairs, her face icy as she stared at them, loudly interrupting her mother's words, "How do you have so much to talk about?! It's late, let Shao Yan go home quickly!"

  "Zhī Yī——" Xǔ Shǎo Yàn heard the words and turned his head back, just wanting to say something, but Chéng Zhī Yī walked right up to him, stuffed a black umbrella into his hand, and coldly said: "It's very late, you should hurry home! My dad is almost back——he doesn't like you!"

  Upon hearing such a humiliating eviction order, Xu Shaoyan's expression froze instantly. He stared blankly at Cheng Zhiyi for a long time before finally speaking in a low, hoarse voice: "Alright then, I'll leave first...I'll come find you again tomorrow..."

  Then he silently turned around and left the Cheng's house without even taking that black umbrella.

  Watching Xu Shao Yan's tall back disappear behind the door, Cheng Zhi Yi's heart ached wave after wave, her eyes reddened, and she couldn't help but shed tears again...

  Watching her daughter's sad tears, Mrs. Cheng couldn't help but sigh silently in her heart - Alas, these two children have both fallen into it...

  In the dimly lit bar, Xu Shaoyan sat alone at the counter, sipping his whiskey with a gloomy expression. Many women's eyes lingered on him secretly, hoping he would notice them, and occasionally, beautiful and charming women would boldly approach him to strike up a conversation, only to be coldly rejected by him - if it were in the past, how could he possibly miss such a great opportunity that came knocking on his door? However, at this moment, he just couldn't muster up any interest!

  It's been five days, and Cheng Zhiyi still refuses to see him or answer his calls. He finally realizes the severity of the situation: this woman is not just playing hard to get, but actually wants to break up with him!

  His mood got worse day by day, his soul was not at peace during the day and he couldn't sleep all night. Was it retribution? In the past, he had always been carefree, flitting from one romance to another, without any worries. Women were like luxury clothes that could be bought with money, when had he ever experienced the taste of being exhausted physically and mentally for a woman?!

  But now, because of this woman named Cheng Zhiyi, he has finally experienced all the joys and sorrows, finally knows what it means to have no self-respect, what it means to be willing to sacrifice, what it means to be completely devoted, what it means to fight with all one's might!

  The thought of Cheng Zhiyi really breaking up with him, perhaps this life she would never care about him again! He will lose her, can't spend his life hand in hand with her... Xu Shao Yan couldn't help but feel a nameless fear, as if endless darkness was right in front of him, and he couldn't find a single ray of light...

  Yes, Jing Yi is his air, if he loses her, he will suffocate!

  "So late and yet you called me, is there something going on?" Mo Wei sat down beside Xu Shao Yan, then lightly knocked on the table to signal the waiter inside the bar to bring her a cup.

  "Find someone to drink with me!" Xu Shaoyan lightly swayed the heavy square glass in his hand and said bitterly.

  "A man troubled by love is really moving!" Mo Wei couldn't help but tease him, "How about it? Is Yihui still refusing to see you?"

  "How has she been doing these past few days?" Yes, calling Mo Wei over was just because he urgently wanted to know about Cheng Qi's recent situation.

  "It's just like that - eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, locking herself in the room to cry secretly, not saying a word..." Mo Wei's tone was not without worry.

  "Can you help me persuade her? Persuade her not to be sad, forgive me..." Xu Shaoyan looked at Mo Wei with utmost sincerity and begged.

  "This time, you've really gone too far!" Mo Wei couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. "If it were me, I wouldn't forgive you either! Since you already have a fiancée, how could you still keep it from Zhiyi and even take her to the dinner party? Don't you ever think about what kind of occasion that is?"

  Just thinking about it, Mo Wei couldn't help but get angry, and her tone unconsciously became much heavier: "In the first place, you should have divorced Bai Jie before pursuing Zhi Yi! Do you know how much she values her face and reputation?!"

  "I'm sorry... I didn't think things would be so serious either... But now that it's come to this, what can I do? You have to help me..." Xu Shaoyan was truly regretful, if he wasn't really at a loss for what to do, he wouldn't have humbly and quietly asked Mo Wei for help.