51. Meeting at the Rao Family Wedding (2)

Midway through the wedding, Wen Xueyan got up to go to the restroom. In front of the bright mirror, she bent down to wash her hands. When she looked up, she saw Xu Junxian's aloof figure reflected in the mirror. Xu Junxian walked to the sink next to her and slowly turned on the tap.

"Ms. Wen, what a coincidence." Xu Junxian saw her go to the restroom and followed her all the way. "I didn't expect to run into you here. Are you also a client of Raozheng Group?"

She was somewhat surprised to see Wen Xueyan here today.

Wen Xueyan turned off the tap, took out a tissue to wipe her fingers, and without responding, prepared to walk away.

In a moment of impulse, Xu Junxian blurted out her thoughts: "Cheng Boyan insists on divorce, and I suspect the root cause might be you."

Wen Xueyan remained silent, the icy layer in her eyes growing even thicker.

Xu Junxian looked at Wen Xueyan, her gaze scrutinizing and carrying a condescending assessment: "I can make concessions, even agree to him keeping you as a mistress. Could you help me persuade him not to divorce me?" She leaned forward slightly, "Otherwise, this lawsuit will only result in mutual destruction. I just want to retain my status as Mrs. Cheng. As long as you behave yourself, don't have children, and don't covet the property, I can remain silent about your existence for the time being. After all, I want you to know that Bo Yan actually loves me very much, but he's just temporarily bewitched by you."

Wen Xueyan's heart clenched suddenly. Hearing her say "I don't want to have children," she wondered if the safe delivery of this baby carried an extra risk.

Furthermore, a sense of vigilance instantly rose in Wen Xueyan's heart: Was the other party recording? Could this be a trap to try and extract evidence of Cheng Boyan's extramarital affair? Under no circumstances could she become someone else's handle to attack Boyan.

Wen Xueyan pursed her lips, suppressing all her turbulent emotions, and stared back at Xu Junxian with her increasingly cold eyes, without uttering a single word.

Xu Junxian looked at her impeccable reaction, a faint hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, before she turned and left.

Wen Xueyan stepped out of the restroom, her mind still unsettled, when a figure blocked her way in the corridor. It was Xu Junxian's older brother, Xu Junheng. His face was somber, and his sharp gaze scrutinized her.

“Ms. Wen, please wait.” Xu Junheng’s tone was low and questioning. “My brother-in-law’s divorce case is scheduled to go to court in three months. I would like to ask you, are you still entangled with my brother-in-law? You should know the consequences of being a mistress.”

She wanted to say, "We've already broken up." Because she had indeed initiated the breakup, and no matter how much she missed him these past few days, they hadn't seen each other again. But that would be tantamount to admitting that Cheng Boyan was having an affair.

Wen Xueyan felt a pang of pain in her heart. All the grievances, helplessness, and deeply buried emotions were about to burst forth.

Just then, a deep and authoritative voice intervened: "Mr. Xu, what can I do for you?"

Cheng Boyan had arrived nearby without anyone noticing. He stood slightly in front of Wen Xueyan, not looking at her, but focusing all his attention on Xu Junheng, his eyes sharp.

Xu Junheng was clearly wary, and his imposing manner instantly weakened. He said sheepishly, "It's nothing, just happened to run into a friend and said hello." After saying that, he turned and left.

President Xi also passed by, glanced at me with a gossipy look, and then left.

The crisis was over, but the desolation in Wen Xueyan's heart did not lessen in the slightest. She and Cheng Boyan were only a step apart, yet it felt as if they were separated by countless mountains and rivers.

Wen Xueyan had a thousand words she wanted to say to him, to let him know that he had become a father, to tell him that the longing she felt during these days apart was like vines entwining her heart, and to express her fear and strength in facing early pregnancy symptoms alone. But in the end, all these surging emotions turned into a single gaze.

Her eyes were like ink-black jade soaked in water, churning with love, understanding, grievances, and perseverance.

"Mr. Cheng, let's go in and have a few more drinks." Rao's father pulled Cheng Boyan away.

Back in her seat, Ning Zhiyi was anxiously answering the phone. After hanging up, she said apologetically, "Xueyan, I'm so sorry, my mom said Haohao suddenly developed a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius, and I have to go to the hospital immediately!"

"Go quickly, the child is the priority," Wen Xueyan said hurriedly.

"So how are you going to get back later? Should I let Muwen stay?"

"No need. The child has a fever. Dr. Qi, you can go with me. I'll just take a taxi later. Don't worry."

Ning Zhiyi and her boyfriend left in a hurry.

The lively banquet suddenly felt empty and desolate to Wen Xueyan.

Cheng Boyan was surrounded by customers.

Less than half an hour later, Cheng Boyan felt a strange heat rising from his body, his cheeks flushed, and his vision even began to blur slightly. He had only sipped two glasses of red wine tonight; given his alcohol tolerance, this was definitely not the case.

But at this moment, the intoxication was particularly strong, like thick ink, quickly spreading and soaking into his brain.

That intense, almost abnormal impulse, originating from deep within his body, roared wildly in his blood like a wild beast breaking free of its cage, shattering his proud self-control.

His gaze, almost uncontrollably, swept over the throng of people and precisely locked onto a figure at the table to the side.

Wen Xueyan.

He thought her porcelain-white cheeks were especially alluring in the soft lighting of the banquet hall.

That one glance was like lighting the final fuse.

A crazy idea spread like wildfire: he wanted to rush over, grab her hand without hesitation, and take her away from this noisy place to a quiet place where only the two of them could be.

He wanted to feel the warmth of Wen Xueyan's fingertips, to confirm that she was really within reach.

He recalled Xueyan's soft and gentle appearance in his arms.

A deeper longing surged forth, carrying with it the power to destroy everything.

He wanted to get closer to her, to press his lips to her fair neck and feel the pulse of her heart. He wanted to pull her tightly into his arms, so tightly that there wasn't a single gap, as if only in this way could he fill the agonizing longing and emptiness of these past days.

The faint, cool aura emanating from Wen Xueyan, like the crisp air after a snowfall, seemed to penetrate the noisy air and enter his nostrils, stirring up countless memories that had kept him tossing and turning in the dead of night.

When she broke up with him that time, all the intimate memories she had deliberately distanced herself from and concealed behind her calm mask became the most powerful catalyst, burning away what little rationality he had left.

The heat within him and the desire in his heart intertwined into a vast web, and he had to use all his strength to suppress the instinctive urge to get up immediately and pull her into his arms tightly.

Something's not right. This feeling is really off. He suddenly snapped back to reality, and while he still had some sense, he turned to his secretary, Qiao, who was standing right next to him, and whispered a few words. Qiao Lanyue's expression changed slightly, and she immediately nodded.

Cheng Boyan struggled to his feet, supported by Secretary Qiao, preparing to leave early. Seeing this, Xu Junxian immediately rose from another table to greet him, reaching out to help him.

"Bo Yan, what's wrong? I'll take you home. Secretary Qiao, let go of me, I'm Mrs. Cheng."

Cheng Boyan abruptly shoved her hand away, the force causing Xu Junxian to stumble. He glanced at her with cold disgust, said nothing, and continued walking out with the support of Secretary Qiao.

Xu Junxian wanted to follow, but Fang Xiyi, the vice president of Cheng's Group, stepped forward and politely but firmly blocked her way.

"Ms. Xu, Mr. Cheng needs to rest. Please wait here."

The wedding wasn't completely over yet. Wen Xueyan watched Cheng Boyan being escorted away by Secretary Qiao and Fang Xiyi, her heart filled with worry and doubt. What's wrong with him? Is he suddenly feeling unwell?

She gently stroked her still flat belly and whispered to the little life in her heart, "Baby, are you happy to see Daddy tonight? Daddy definitely didn't want to ignore us. He's busy, and he might have left early. Even if he's not by our side, we must take good care of ourselves."

The guests gradually dispersed. Wen Xueyan walked alone towards the hotel's revolving doors.

She looked down and took her phone out of her bag, ready to launch the ride-hailing app.

Just then, fine snowflakes began to fall from the inky black sky. At first, there were only a few scattered snowflakes, but soon they became denser, dancing in the beams of streetlights, adding to the desolation of the cold night.

"Wen Gong."

A gentle male voice sounded from her side. Wen Xueyan looked up and saw that President Xi had been standing there at some point. He was wearing an elegant cashmere coat and had no expression on his face.

"The snow is getting heavier outside, and it'll probably be hard to get a taxi in this weather." He glanced at the increasingly dense snow outside the window. "If you need a ride, I can give you one. Of course," he smiled slightly, with his usual stingy style, "this isn't a work setting today, so I won't offer free service. It'll be the market rate, starting at fifteen yuan, and I'll add more if the distance is long, how about that?"

Wen Xueyan looked at President Xi, quickly weighing her options. Her understanding of this man was limited to work-related matters, and his offer to pay for her rides made her feel an indescribable sense of uncertainty.

She gave a distant yet grateful smile: "Thank you, Mr. Xi. No need to trouble you, I'll just call a car."

Upon hearing this, President Xi turned and left.

Wen Xueyan opened the ride-hailing app. The number on the screen made her heart sink; there were still 57 people ahead of her in the queue, and the estimated wait time was more than an hour.

As she gazed at the increasingly heavy snow outside the window, a sense of helplessness quietly crept over her.

Just as she was gazing absently at the snow-covered landscape, another figure who had been waiting by the hotel's revolving door walked over.

It was Fang Jing. She had her down jacket draped over her arm, indicating she had been there for some time.

"Miss Wen, what a coincidence." Fang Jing's voice was as steady as ever, carrying a reassuring sense of sincerity. "I just happened to be passing by and ran into you. I see the snow is falling heavily. It's very inconvenient to take a taxi in this weather. Shall I drive you home?"

Wen Xueyan looked at Fang Jing with surprise.

How could it be such a coincidence to just happen to be passing by? A clear thought flashed through her mind like lightning: it was Cheng Boyan. It must have been him. Just now, when she watched him go on stage to speak, surrounded by everyone, in the gaps between his own inability to extricate himself from talking to her, he had already quietly arranged all of this.

Was that message he sent to Fang Jing?

A soft spot deep within Wen Xueyan's heart was touched.

She didn't refuse again, nodded, and said softly, "Okay, thank you, Fang Jing."

As you sit in the warm carriage and the door closes, it feels as if you are shut out from the cold, noisy, and helpless world outside.

Fine mist condensed on the car window, blurring the neon lights and flying snow outside into a chaotic blur of light and shadow.

As Wen Xueyan gazed at the city skyline rushing past the window, its sharp edges softened by the snowflakes, her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

She held back her tears, but finally, with a slight sob in her voice, she asked softly, "Mr. Cheng sent you to pick me up, didn't he? It wasn't really just a coincidence that we ran into each other, was it?"

Fang Jing gripped the steering wheel, her voice steady and honest: "Yes, it was Mr. Cheng who sent me the message, telling me to come to the InterContinental Hotel as soon as possible to ensure your safety." She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "I arrived at the hotel about half an hour ago. He told me to come early but not to disturb you. So, I initially stayed in an inconspicuous corner of the lobby, watching you from afar. Later, when you walked to the door, the snow gradually intensified, and I noticed you were alone, so I came over. Mr. Cheng said that since you've already broken up with me, he can't let you feel like you're not free after the separation. He seems to want you not to feel disturbed."

Fang Jing refocused her gaze on the road ahead: "I guess he's worried about you walking home alone on such a snowy night."

Wen Xueyan's tears slid silently down her cheeks and dripped onto the back of her hand, the warmth contrasting sharply with the coldness outside the car window.

Wen Xueyan found out. That man, even after she resolutely and helplessly proposed breaking up, even when she deliberately kept her distance, even when he was mired in business engagements and marital troubles, was still silently overcoming insurmountable obstacles and carefully protecting her.

Cheng Boyan respected her decision to "break up," so he refrained from getting close to her or talking to her, afraid of causing her the slightest trouble. However, he couldn't truly let go, so he arranged her way home in a place where she couldn't see him, protecting her from the cold and snow of the winter night.

"Baby, your father has always cared about us," Wen Xueyan thought to herself.

His deep affection was as silent as mountains and seas, vast yet unspoken, carrying an almost humble restraint.

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Great! President Cheng has always been very determined!

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It's so good, I've been following it this far and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's update.

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It's good, but please don't make it sad, otherwise I won't have the courage to keep watching.