37. Mr. Cheng's explanation

Cheng Boyan returned to the empty Crystal Blue Peninsula. The motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on, dispelling a corner of darkness, but failing to illuminate the chill of the entire room. He went straight to the study.

Outside the window, the city skyline was tinged with a blurry orange-red by the last rays of the setting sun, before quickly sinking into the cold indigo.

He turned on his computer and accessed the monitoring ports, which were hidden cameras he had installed in several rooms of Norsei Chemical out of absolute caution.

Ever since he started dating Wen Xueyan, he had anticipated that this day might come.

The video was clear, and the sound came through the microphone. He saw Xu Junheng's sudden visit and his seemingly casual inspection of the office area. Later, he saw Wen Xueyan being called into the meeting room.

Cheng Boyan's gaze lingered on her fair profile. Her neat and capable demeanor still stirred his heart, like a clear spring flowing through his soul, temporarily cleansing away the filth of the business world and the mire of marriage.

Then, he saw Xu Junheng take out that old internal publication.

The Xu family's reach was indeed longer than he had anticipated. However, when he heard Wen Xueyan steer the conversation back to work in that calm, almost detached tone, his tense jawline relaxed slightly.

He could see Xu Junheng's apprehension; Wen Xueyan should be out of danger for the time being.

But regarding that photo, and regarding his daughter Cheng Ximeng, he knew there had to be an explanation.

He picked up his phone.

How could he bring it up? Admit that the child wasn't his biological offspring? That would be tantamount to exposing the most unbearable secret of his failed marriage. No man in this world would willingly admit such a fact; it's a matter of dignity. Moreover, given the current inability to explain in person, would she believe him based solely on a written statement?

He thought of Wen Xueyan's ex-husband, the man named Song Tiancheng. From her occasional, sporadic mentions, he pieced together a vague image of him: evasive, irresponsible, and always silent or perfunctory when faced with problems.

Cheng Boyan tried to find the right words to clearly state the facts while also understanding any doubts she might have.

Ultimately, he chose the most direct way of expressing himself.

He wrote: "Xueyan, Xu Junheng came to see you today. The little girl in the photo he showed you is named Cheng Ximeng. She was raised by her maternal grandmother in Singapore since she was a child and has not been in China for the past few years. I didn't tell you before because a paternity test showed that she is not my biological daughter. The situation is complicated, so I hope you will keep it a secret for now."

At this moment, Wen Xueyan was at home. Outside the window, the sky was completely dark, just past eight o'clock. The lights from the distant high-rise buildings were clear and cold. She poured herself a glass of warm water, snuggled into the soft sofa, and then her phone screen lit up.

This is information about Cheng Boyan.

When she finished reading those few lines, what made her heart tremble was not the fact itself, but that he didn't wait for her to question him like her ex-husband Song Tiancheng had, nor did he passively explain only after she might have already harbored resentment. He took the initiative and told her the truth clearly and honestly.

Perhaps in the past, she had long been accustomed to processing her doubts and anxieties in relationships alone, and to not being proactively informed.

With Cheng Boyan, she felt something called "responsibility" for the first time so clearly. It was heavy and warm, like a thick coat that had been draped over her shoulders before she even felt the cold.

Growing up in a single-parent family, she lacked a father figure during her upbringing. Her understanding of the responsibilities and duties men should have in the family came more from books and observations than from personal experience. However, Cheng Boyan's actions at this moment seemed to quietly fill that deep-seated void in her heart regarding the reliable image of her "father."

This is not just the stirring of romantic feelings between a man and a woman, but a deeper satisfaction of being protected, respected, and treated with care.

She realized that no matter where her relationship with Cheng Boyan ultimately led, the respect, honesty, and care he showed her during the process itself were already precious enough.

Holding her phone, Wen Xueyan felt a strong urge deep inside, wanting to type a lot of words, wanting to follow the longing in her heart and type, "I want to lean in your arms."

This longing, during these days of deliberately avoiding each other, has grown even more quietly, like a plant in a dark room.

However, reason gently restrained the emotions that were about to leap out of her chest.

He is not yet divorced.

This fact stood like an invisible yet solid wall between her and him. Legally, he was still another woman's husband.

Xu Junxian has regained consciousness. Although their relationship has broken down, she still holds the identity of Mrs. Cheng. At this moment, any expression of emotion that crosses the line, whether it be gratitude or longing, could add pressure to him.

She deleted the long sentence she had already typed in the dialog box.

In the end, she only replied: "OK"

Two weeks passed by uneventfully, like a silent stream.

*

It was another weekday evening, and the sky was already dark. Wen Xueyan glanced at the calendar; in seven days, Cheng Boyan's divorce case would go to court.

She had just finished tidying up her desk when her phone rang.

On the other end of the phone, Ning Zhiyi, the best friend, sounded drunk: "Xueyan, I'm so dizzy. I drank too much at a social event. I called Qi Wenmu... but no one answered." Her words were broken and intermittent.

Wen Xueyan immediately asked, "Send me your location, I'll be there right away."

Based on the location, Wen Xueyan quickly arrived at the restaurant, found her, and struggled to help her up before heading straight to the nearest hospital.

In the emergency room, the doctor diagnosed her with acute alcohol poisoning. Seeing her friend lying in the hospital bed with an IV drip in her arm, Wen Xueyan was filled with worry; she knew how hard Ning Zhiyi had been working.

Just then, Ning Zhiyi's phone rang; it was Dr. Qi calling back. He had just finished a long surgery.

A few minutes later.

"Zhiyi!" He walked to the bedside in a few steps, his voice low and urgent, slightly panting as he rushed in from outside the operating room. He first leaned down, gently placing his warm palm on her forehead to check her temperature.

"How did it get like this..." Dr. Qi carefully examined the label on the IV bottle, then looked at her pale face. "Are you still feeling unwell? Does your stomach still hurt?"

Ning Zhiyi weakly opened her eyes and saw that his eyes were filled with worry for her. Her nose tingled, and a mixture of grievance and relief welled up inside her.

Before meeting Qi Wenmu, Ning Zhiyi had endured a long period of hardship alone, holding back her tears, but now her eyes were glistening with tears.

Qi Wenmu noticed immediately, turned around and poured a glass of warm water: "Drink slowly, moisten your throat first."

The warm water brought a little relief. Ning Zhiyi looked at his handsome profile so close to hers; even though he was tired, he was still breathtakingly beautiful.

"I'm fine now. I'm sorry for troubling you."

"Don't talk nonsense." Qi Wenmu sat down on the edge of the bed and naturally took her hand that wasn't receiving an IV, wrapping her slender fingers in his warm, dry palm. "Don't push yourself like this anymore. What kind of social engagements are worth getting this drunk?"

"It's necessary for work," Ning Zhiyi tried to explain, but she felt a little breathless under his gaze.

"Is work more important or your health?" Qi Wenmu's tone became serious, but his eyes remained gentle. "Seeing you like this, I..." He paused, swallowing back the second half of his sentence, "It breaks my heart," and instead said, "Wait for me."

He got up, went to the bathroom in the ward, wrung out a hot towel, and gently wiped her cheeks and neck, removing the remaining cold sweat.

A warm, damp towel against the skin provides immense comfort.

Ning Zhiyi closed her eyes, feeling his tenderness, and the gloom in her heart caused by alcohol and discomfort gradually dissipated.

This scene touched Wen Xueyan, who was standing to the side.

Dr. Qi then turned to Wen Xueyan, his face filled with gratitude: "Xueyan, thank you for bringing her here. It's getting late, you should go back and rest. I'll stay with her tonight."

Wen Xueyan nodded, told Ning Zhiyi to rest well, and then turned and left the ward.

The corridor was dimly lit. She had only taken a few steps when she saw a figure standing not far away, gazing absently in the direction of Dr. Qi's ward. It was Dr. Ji, Ji Wanting. Wen Xueyan's mother's former attending physician, and the one who had left early at the engagement banquet.

Ji Wanting seemed to notice her gaze as well: "What a coincidence."

"Dr. Ji," Wen Xueyan greeted politely, a sense of gratitude welling up inside her as she recalled the meticulous care her mother had received from her. Looking at Ji Wanting's focused yet complex gaze, she hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "Dr. Ji, are you Dr. Qi's...?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Wanting smiled knowingly, a smile tinged with relief: "He's just an old friend. Seeing that he's doing well and is happy now, I'm relieved."

"May I ask why you two broke up? If it's inconvenient for you to say, I won't ask anymore." Wen Xueyan was still worried and asked the question that Ning Zhiyi had been concerned about.

“There’s a convenience store downstairs with seats. Let’s sit there for a bit. I’ll tell you all the issues tonight, okay? Whether you tell Miss Ning or not is up to you. I have no intention of taking Dr. Qi back. I’m happy for them.” Dr. Ji’s eyes were clear.

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I'm so curious! What about Dr. Qi? Could it be a case of marriage fraud?

President Cheng has considered everything carefully.

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