Chapter 431: Chapter 431 You Can’t Do This to Me!
The call was still connected, but Lin Zhiyi and Sang Ran had fallen into an eerie silence.
Sang Ran took a deep breath and said, “Lin Zhiyi, do you really have the heart to drag someone like him into the mud?”
She chuckled softly and continued, “Even if I die, as long as I am still his wife, the Sang Family will support him. Can you do that?”
“Are you going to keep him idling away with you in some small town? He clearly belongs at the top.”
“Lin Zhiyi, you are actually the most selfish person. He’s been compromising step by step for you, and all you ever do is force him to choose!”
“Meaningless choices!”
Finally, Sang Ran made sure to emphasize her words.
Lin Zhiyi’s body swayed unsteadily, and she could barely prop herself up against the sink to keep from collapsing. When she turned around, she saw her pallid reflection in the mirror.
She didn’t know.
She hunched over, desperately searching for something to hold onto.
But her arm gave way, and she ended up crumpled on the ground.
Pressing her hand to her chest, she tried to breathe deeply, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t catch her breath.
Sang Ran seemed to notice her odd condition and her tone softened.
“Zhiyi, let him go. I’m begging you.”
Lin Zhiyi felt a stabbing pain in her heart so intense that she sprawled across the cold tiles.
It took her a long time to muster even a shred of strength. With her head bowed, she said, “Then why won’t you let him go? You’re a smart woman; surely you know that if you use underhanded means to give birth to a child tied to both the Sang Family and the Gong Family, it will only tip the scale in the elders’ favor. Everyone wants to rise higher, but who truly wants to be perched above it all, controlled like a puppet?”
“So what? Are you flaunting how well you understand him? Well, I can still make one call and have him return to me immediately. Lin Zhiyi, you and he owe me this.”
After Sang Ran finished speaking, she hung up the call with emphasis.
Lin Zhiyi sat on the floor clutching her phone, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Right.
How could Gong Chen possibly be swayed by Song Wanqiu and Sang Ran?
She used to always think Gong Chen cared for and liked them.
It turned out he was just afraid they’d tell her the truth about the car accident.
But even if she knew, what would it change?
Lin Zhiyi pressed against the ground, lowered her head forcefully, and let her tears fall silently, one by one.
If, all those years ago, she hadn’t promised to meet with Gong Chen, would none of this have happened?
She was the one who ruined him.
Time passed, and eventually Lin Zhiyi dazedly returned to her bed.
She closed her eyes, and the nightmare came again.
In the dream, she walked through a very quiet place where the ground was paved with stone, solemn and austere.
Though people passed by her, she could never make out their faces.
She kept walking, crossed a small bridge, and saw Gong Chen sitting not far away.
He slowly opened his eyes and met her gaze from a distance.
Suddenly, she had countless questions she wanted to ask him and couldn’t help but quicken her pace towards him.
But just a few steps away, blood began to pour from his mouth and nose, and right before her eyes, his entire body shattered into pieces.
“Ah!”
Lin Zhiyi screamed and woke up.
The bedroom door was pushed open immediately.
Gong Chen walked up to her. “What’s wrong?”
As he spoke, he extended his hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
But she dodged him.
“I’m fine.”
Gong Chen’s hand froze for a moment before dropping back down.
“Get up and have breakfast. Xingxing is already eating.”
“Okay.”
Lin Zhiyi glanced at the empty space beside her, got up, and went into the bathroom.
She pressed her hands against the sink and looked at the mirror, feeling like her complexion was worse than a ghost’s.
She admitted that Sang Ran’s pointed words had hit their mark.
Lin Zhiyi quickly finished washing up, and by the time she left the room, she had regained her composure.
Gong Chen raised his eyes to look at her. “How are you feeling?”
“Things have been busy these past couple of days. I’m tired, so it’s easier to have nightmares.” Lin Zhiyi answered casually.
“Hurry up and eat. Li Huan is waiting for us downstairs.” Gong Chen didn’t press her further.
“Alright.”
After breakfast, Lin Zhiyi put a hat on Xingxing and carried her downstairs.
The ride was quiet; even Li Huan remained unusually silent.
They arrived at the best private hospital in Gang City, and after the expert team conducted their examination, they all entered the meeting room to discuss the treatment plan, Li Huan included.
Gong Chen held the sleeping Xingxing and stood next to Lin Zhiyi as they waited.
During that time, his phone screen kept lighting up and dimming, over and over again, at least twenty calls coming through.
After a brief pause, Chen Jin’s phone began to ring.
Chen Jin glanced at the incoming call, then instinctively looked at Gong Chen before directly rejecting it.
Soon after, both of their phones started ringing simultaneously.
Lin Zhiyi reached out to take Xingxing from Gong Chen and said softly, “Answer it. It might be something urgent.”
Gong Chen glanced at his phone and stepped aside to take the call.
Judging by his expression, the person on the other end seemed to be saying something serious.
Even after hanging up, his face remained grim.
Lin Zhiyi gently patted Xingxing’s back and looked towards his deep-set eyes. “Go back.”
After speaking, she turned and walked away, still holding Xingxing.
The next moment, Gong Chen reached out and grabbed her.
“Why?”
Lin Zhiyi’s heart clenched painfully, but her face remained calm.
“I really like it here. If nothing unexpected happens, I plan to stay here for good. But you won’t.”
“These past few days felt like a dream to me. You are you, I am me, and you are still just you, while I am still just me.”
“I’ve realized that we can get along well, but you don’t belong here. You have your own world.”
“I don’t want to make any more choices between two options. It’s time for everything to wake up.”
“It’s been such a good dream. Xingxing would be happy with it too.”
Upon hearing this, Gong Chen’s gaze turned deep and sharp.
He tightly grasped Lin Zhiyi’s wrist. “You’re telling me that you’ve been this compliant these past few days just for Xingxing? Answer me clearly.”
“Yes.” Lin Zhiyi met his gaze and replied word by word, “You barging into our lives—how am I supposed to explain our relationship to her? Instead of making her suffer, it’s better to leave her with the beautiful memories. At least when she thinks back, she won’t feel like a child who doesn’t have a father.”
“Lin Zhiyi!” Gong Chen called her name sharply, suppressing the metallic taste rising in his throat, “You can’t treat me like this!”
“You’ve treated me like this plenty of times. Consider us even.” Lin Zhiyi responded coldly.
Then, she shook off Gong Chen’s hand and walked towards the meeting room.
She didn’t look back, nor did she dare to.
In her heart, she urged herself repeatedly—faster, walk faster.
Behind her.
Gong Chen frowned, raising his hand to support himself against the wall.
Chen Jin quickly stepped forward to help him. “Third Young Master.”
“Book a flight.” Gong Chen stared at Lin Zhiyi’s retreating figure and let out a bitter laugh.
“Yes.”
…
Lin Zhiyi cradled Xingxing and sat outside the meeting room.
Xingxing woke up, glanced around, and noticed Gong Chen was gone. Her expression darkened slightly, though she seemed to understand the reason.
She looked up at Lin Zhiyi and wiped her cheek.
“Mom, I’ll stay with you.”
Lin Zhiyi touched her face, realizing it had long been ice-cold. She forced a smile at Xingxing.
“Alright, alright…”
She smiled, but tears still streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Until footsteps echoed from the meeting room, Lin Zhiyi quickly wiped away her tears and stood up.
Li Huan was the first to walk out.
He glanced at the empty corridor, his gaze full of silent pity.