Chapter 9: Qi Yu Xuan's Extra Story

  My name is Qi Yuxuan, I am the boss of Qishi Group, a father of a boy over 20 years old and a husband of a woman.

  Yesterday was my forty-fifth birthday.

  Today is her memorial day.

  Time flies so fast, Qilin has grown up, and I have also become old. In the blink of an eye, it's been more than seven years since Zheng Ke married me, and she has also left for eight whole years.

  In these two thousand nine hundred and twenty-two days, I haven't had a single day when I wasn't thinking of my little daughter. Thinking of her smile as bright as flowers, thinking of her mischievous cleverness, thinking of the various dishes she carefully prepared for us father and son to eat...

  When I first met her, my impression was that she was young and beautiful, which fit my ideal of a lover. Later on, it naturally progressed to me supporting her financially. To say that we had a proper romantic relationship, however, only truly began after I broke up with her.

  That night, I heard about her from someone else's mouth, completely different from my impression. With my personality, of course, I wouldn't just believe it, but as more and more people said the same thing, I started to get curious and wanted to investigate further. Later, under everyone's encouragement, she really came, bringing a young man who looked quite good, and I suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable, maybe it was my male inferiority complex at work. However, looking at her behavior and mannerisms, they were still as frivolous as before, and the little good feeling that had just sprouted in me disappeared instantly.

  After three rounds of drinks, she and the man left the room and went to the balcony. For some reason, seeing that they didn't come back for a long time, I inexplicably followed them.

  Later, I heard a conversation that completely changed the fate of her and me.

  She had actually appeared in my life long ago, but I had forgotten about her.

  It turned out she loved me so much.

  Originally, in a place I didn't know, there was someone who had been silently paying out for me, sorrowing for me, and being sad for me.

  It turns out...

  The cigarette butt in hand had unknowingly almost burned out, and the scorching temperature directly seared into his heart.

  That young man actually suggested that she go abroad to study with him. No way, how can that be! He said he loved me and successfully piqued my curiosity, thinking of just walking away, but it's not that easy.

  I didn't care about my dignity, I cut off all relationships with women involved as quickly as possible, and then went to find her with great expectation.

  As expected, it's really my silly girl, just a little bit of kindness can make her return to my arms again.

  The days that followed were the most relaxing and happiest in my memory, and even now when I think back on them, I can't help but burst out laughing. But after those sweet memories came a more lasting pain that gnawed at my heart like a corrosive poison.

  At that time, I always had a showy attitude, wanting to let the whole world know that there was such a good girl, and more importantly, this girl loved me with all her heart. So I told those friends about what I overheard that night. At first, several people who had prejudices against her were still skeptical, but after seeing her a few times, they all sighed that I had picked up a bargain.

  Yes, I'm almost at the age of not being perplexed yet I got the true heart of such a young and beautiful girl. How can it be said that it's not heaven's favor, picking up a bargain! Moreover, with her disguise removed and her pure and beautiful nature revealed, she is indeed worthy of being cherished by any man in the world, but she chose me alone.

  Zhi Yuxuan, what virtue and ability do you have!

  So after that incident, many of my past friends more or less distanced themselves from me, they all took her side.

  In this regard, Xiao Yatou is still quite impressive, effortlessly capturing the hearts of almost everyone around me.

  After the funeral, Linda, my trusted secretary who had been with me for many years, handed in her resignation letter. The usually stoic and expressionless her surprisingly burst into tears.

  It turned out that the lie I casually told to take in Zheng Ke had been exposed long ago. My silly girl, she still thought I was trapped in the earthquake disaster area and anxiously asked around everywhere. Now thinking about it, how stupid and despicable I was to deceive her like this. When she heard that I was with another woman, she must have been heartbroken and definitely cried secretly alone.

  Zi Yu Xuan, you're really a piece of trash!

  Later, Zhao Weiguo's mistress, whose name is Minmin, also came to find me. She can be indirectly considered as the matchmaker for both of us.

  She said, Xiao Yao Tou gave up her first leading role in the ballet because of me and even got punished by the school. My god, I didn't know any of this! Yes, in places I didn't know about, she was always foolishly sacrificing for me, while I only knew how to hurt her again and again.

  Thinking of this, I feel like giving myself a slap in the face.

  To say that my love for Xiao Yu is earned by her little by little, but my feelings for Zheng Ke are overwhelming and unreasonable.

  Up until today, I still can't deny that I indeed fell in love with Zheng Ke. As a man, I shouldn't shirk my responsibility by blaming the woman or the temptation of alcohol.

  The first time I met her, she poured coconut milk all over me.

  The second time I saw her, she was yelling loudly at the bottom of my company building.

  To be honest, Zheng Ke is not beautiful, at most she's just cute and lovely. Not to mention comparing her to Xiao Yatou, even my past girlfriends were more attractive than her. But it's that kind of quirky personality and fearless daringness that has got me, a seasoned player, completely entangled.

  Later, I found out that she had a childhood sweetheart who had been secretly in love with her since they were young. It turned out to be the guy who came to our company for an interview and got rejected by us. I also found out that this childhood sweetheart had taken a liking to one of her colleagues and foolishly asked her to help set them up... The childhood sweetheart and her colleague kissed, leaving her heartbroken and wandering the streets on a rainy day... The childhood sweetheart and her colleague were getting married, and she drowned her sorrows in a bar, drinking alone...

  Later on, it was the scene that I feared to recall but couldn't forget for a moment in my life. My little girl fell into the pool of blood and never got up again.

  My heart has also stayed in winter since then.

  That year, this matter was quite a big deal. People who didn't know the inside story were all scolding me, saying I had married the mistress I caught cheating with before my girlfriend's bones were even cold; people who knew the inside story came to advise me, why make things difficult for myself, obviously unable to let go of her after she passed away.

  But I have no other choice. Having wronged one person already, I couldn't bear to hurt another.

  Besides me, Qilin was the most grieved by her departure. When she was around, they got along like brothers.

  I remember one time, those two little rascals got into a fight with some thugs and even ended up at the police station. After I brought her back home and was applying medicine to her wounds, I asked her why she was so good to Qilin. To be honest, I didn't want to admit it, but I was a bit jealous of my son. She looked at me with big, wet eyes, wincing in pain: "I used to think that you valued money the most, so I tried my best to get it from you, to prove that I'm important to you. Now I know that Qilin is your precious darling, so... can I be his stepmom? I'll take good care of him." When I heard this, I was both amused and touched. How could there be such a silly yet lovely girl? But I have to admit, her proposal moved me. A home with my son, me, and her - the three of us - actually sounds pretty good!

  But this family... was completely ruined by me.

  Zi Lin has always thought that I and Zheng Ke killed her, but after all, I am his father, he can't do anything to me, so he can only vent all his resentment on Zheng Ke.

  He rushed to Zheng Ke's class with a portrait during the parent-teacher conference, saying that Teacher Zheng had seduced his father and caused his mother's death. How could parents tolerate such a problematic teacher, especially those mothers of female students, who were worried that their children would be corrupted or their husbands would be unfaithful? They were all furious and collectively protested to the school.

  I underestimated the boy's appeal, not just parents, but also school kids, especially his "female fans", all came up with various tactics to deal with Zheng Ke. They may be young, but they are quite organized, neither violating laws nor rules, yet able to hit people where it hurts, leaving them helpless. They even found out where her parents lived and spread the news around the neighborhood under the slogan of "eliminating evil and promoting goodness, eradicating the mistress", with predictable results.

  At that time, Zheng Ke couldn't go up either. Her parents' home was also too afraid to return, and she could only stay in the hotel I arranged for her. I knew she regretted it and felt that she shouldn't have let her emotions get the better of her that night, feeling like she had wasted all those years guarding herself like jade just to end up on my bed. What could I say? I could only comfort her, telling her it wasn't her fault, but mine, that I was no good and couldn't resist temptation.

  Later, the school still couldn't withstand the pressure from outside and expelled her. Fortunately, she was an optimist who thought it was great to be able to stay at home and do nothing.

  Her parents proposed that I marry her and said that if this matter gets out, it will ruin her reputation. If I don't marry her, no one else will dare to want her in the future.

  Although I was so sad that I wanted to follow my little daughter, as the head of the family, I couldn't be so weak. I have a son to raise and many employees relying on me for their livelihood, so I agreed to take responsibility.

  Zheng Ke actually didn't love me either, she was still thinking of her childhood sweetheart, but couldn't withstand the pressure from her parents and had no choice but to agree.

  Originally, we two agreed that just getting the certificate would be enough, but her family disagreed, saying that they had to have a grand wedding in order to give her a good name. At this point, I just went along with them. In short, if they wanted money, I gave it; if they wanted me to cooperate with something, I did as told. My heart was already gone, and I was just going through the motions, so what's the use of being particular about these things? The only thing I'm worried about is that if Little Swallow finds out I've married someone else, she probably won't forgive me even more.

  The wedding was quite lively, although there were only a few relatives and friends on my side, the bride's guests had dozens of tables. I originally thought that Qilin would come to make trouble, but he didn't, he just quietly packed up his things and moved out by himself.

  Zheng Ke ignored him and later tried to ease their relationship several times, asking him to move back home. He either ignored him or responded coldly with a sentence: "No way, I'd rather live outside. My stepmom cries so pitifully every night, it makes my heart ache and I couldn't sleep. Why don't you go comfort her?"

  This stinky little brat!

  I wish he was telling the truth, if she has a soul, even just let me take another look.

  Zheng was so scared that he was trembling all over and said that I had to move out. It's good, this place is left for the three of us as a home.

  I didn't expect that after what happened, the lazy kid actually worked hard and got good grades, which shocked me. He said, in case I have another child with Zheng Ke, he can't be a loser and be surpassed by his younger sibling, or else his stepmom will get angry.

  Actually, he was overthinking, after marriage we never shared a bed, where would the child come from? However, I didn't tell him that.

  Although he moved out, he was still angry with me, but my money didn't decrease. He said he wanted to help his stepmother manage the household. After going to college, he asked for a large sum of money, saying it was an entrepreneurial fund. Later, the company he founded turned out to be quite impressive, and I must say, it's really worthy of being my son.

  I don't have to worry about his studies or work, the only thing I'm worried about is his relationships with women. Over the years, he's had one girlfriend after another, but he won't settle down with anyone. When I talk to him in a gentle tone, all he says is "I learned it from Dad" to shut me up. What scares me even more is that I see a shadow of her in those girls. No! It can't be like that! I must be thinking too much, it's just that my son and I have similar tastes.

  There is still one person who can't forget her, and that's Wei Lan, who was originally going to take her abroad.

  Two years ago, he quit his job at a well-known law firm abroad and returned to China to inherit the family business. After hearing about her, he started crazily suppressing the Qi family using the Wei family, which caused me significant losses during that period. Just when I was about to collapse, he suddenly stopped.

  He came to me and said he couldn't forgive himself for not being more forceful at the time and taking her away directly, so that she could still be living well now.

  Yes, it would be great if she were still alive, even if she weren't by my side.

  Wei Lan said he withdrew because he dreamed of her, and in his dream she was pleading for me.

  Baby, if you have the ability to bring dreams, please, please let me see you again! I can give up my company, I just want to see you again, would you come into my dream?

  Isn't it... you still won't forgive me?

  But I miss you so much! Really miss you.

  ……

  Days have been passing by in a muddle, but recently there are two things that can be considered good.

  One thing is that Zheng Ke's bamboo horse and his wife divorced due to incompatible personalities, and he and Zheng Ke, who had been at odds for over thirty years, finally showed signs of wanting to fall in love.

  These, Zheng Ke didn't hide from me, sometimes she would even ask for my help to come up with ideas. Seeing her so happy also relieved one of my worries, it's better that two people can be happy rather than everyone being miserable.

  We've already discussed it and we'll go through with the divorce procedures next week.

  By then, I was truly free. I could proudly think of my little girl, visit the campus where she used to study, and chat with her at the place where she slept... No longer having to consider others. I could freely shout her name, tell her that I miss her, and say those words that I had never said before - I love her!

  Baby, baby, Luo Luo, my Luo Luo...

  Another thing is that Zilong came back yesterday and brought me a cake and gifts. After all these years, my son and I can finally sit down together to have a meal in peace.

  I didn't expect him to give me a Barbie doll. But it doesn't matter what he gave, as long as he's back. He said that this was something he had promised to give me on the day Lolo left, and he had been putting it off all these years.

  Later, we both got drunk and chatted a lot. He said, old man, I'll take good care of you from now on, including her share. I said, okay, we'll all be fine, that way she'll smile when she sees us.