Faced with Zhang Qiang's hostility, He Lingchuan curled his lip: "Zhang Qiang, I advise you not to go too far. Don't think that just because Uncle Cao is protecting you, I won't dare to touch you."
Zhang Qiang straightened his back and chuckled as he said, "Are you threatening me?"
Zhang Qiang put his hand on Cao Xue's shoulder and looked at him arrogantly: "He Lingchuan, Cao Xue is my woman now. You have no right to point fingers at me here. If you think it's unfair, go find President Cao. Don't swagger around here with me."
Cao Xue was forcibly pressed into Zhang Qiang's arms. Her cheeks were flushed, and she struggled fiercely, but Zhang Qiang's hands did not budge. Cao Xue looked up at the person beside her and said angrily, "Let me go."
Zhang Qiang raised an eyebrow, deliberately provoking Cao Xue: "Don't forget what your father told you, if you don't listen to me..."
He Lingchuan sensed the threat in Zhang Qiang's words, and he vaguely felt that something was wrong.
But with so many people in front of him, he didn't know how to ask, and his expression grew increasingly serious.
Under Zhang Qiang's threat, Cao Xue had no choice but to compromise.
Before leaving, she looked at He Lingchuan with reluctance, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Zhang Qiang forcibly led the person outside and was about to leave when Cao Xue turned back to He Lingchuan and shouted, "Brother Lingchuan, things aren't what you think. Give me some time, and I'll explain to you."
Cao Xue looked helpless and got into Zhang Qiang's car amidst He Lingchuan's puzzled gaze.
He Lingchuan's expression grew increasingly grave, his hands clenching into fists.
"No, something's not right."
He sensed something was wrong and instinctively went to find Cao Xue, but Shen Yanxi stopped him: "Are you going to leave Beichen alone?"
He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, his expression serious. He turned his head and met Bei Chen's aggrieved gaze.
He Lingchuan squatted down and gently patted Beichen's head, his eyes softening instantly: "Don't worry, Beichen, Daddy won't leave."
Hearing him say that, Bei Chen was finally relieved.
He breathed a sigh of relief, gripping He Lingchuan's clothes tightly with both hands: "Dad, I'm sleepy, will you sleep with me?"
He Lingchuan held Bei Chen in his arms and glanced at Shen Yanxi before leaving: "You, go back and keep an eye on Nan Chen, I'm a little worried about him."
"What about Beichen?"
Shen Yanxi looked at Bei Chen with a worried expression and reluctance.
Bei Chen pouted and hugged He Lingchuan's neck tightly: "I want to be with Daddy."
After saying this, Bei Chen buried her head in He Lingchuan's neck.
He Lingchuan gently patted Bei Chen's shoulder, soothing him tenderly: "Okay, you can be with whomever you want."
After saying that, He Lingchuan looked at Shen Yanxi with a serious expression: "Did you hear that? Beichen doesn't want to go back with you."
Shen Yanxi frowned, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping herself.
He Lingchuan didn't give him another chance to speak, and turned to leave with Bei Chen in his arms.
Shen Yanxi stared blankly in the direction He Lingchuan had left, her eyes filled with desolation.
...
After returning home, He Lingchuan was still worried about Cao Xue.
Judging from Zhang Qiang's actions today, he certainly won't treat Cao Xue well.
He sat in the study, head down, seemingly lost in thought.
When Bei Chen brought in the milk, he saw He Lingchuan sitting at the table, frowning and lost in thought. He tiptoed to put the milk on the table and asked in a childish voice, "Daddy, what are you thinking about?"
He Lingchuan snapped out of his daze, his eyes slightly unfocused: "Beichen, why aren't you asleep yet, it's so late?"
Beichen looked up innocently and asked, "Why isn't Daddy asleep yet?"
He Lingchuan gently pinched his cheek and coaxed him softly, "Sweetie, Daddy's thinking about something. Go to sleep by yourself, okay?"
Hearing his words, Bei Chen nodded obediently, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
He Lingchuan didn't raise his head until Bei Chen left.
He hesitated for a long time before finally calling Cao Xue.
The line was constantly busy on the other end, and He Lingchuan made three calls in a row but no one answered.
His expression grew increasingly somber. Thinking of the tone Zhang Qiang and Cao Xue had used when they spoke, he wished he could go find Cao Xue right now.
After waiting for almost half an hour, He Lingchuan was feeling drowsy. He was propping his head up with one hand when the phone suddenly rang, startling him.
He Lingchuan suddenly stood up, and upon seeing the two words on his phone screen, he instantly perked up.
"Xiaoxue? Are you alright?"
He Lingchuan sounded very nervous. He gripped his phone tighter and tighter, holding his breath as he waited for Cao Xue's reply.
He Lingchuan could clearly hear Cao Xue's breathing, but after a long silence, he asked anxiously, "Xiao Xue, what happened? I'm so worried about you."
"Brother Lingchuan."
Cao Xue suddenly spoke, and He Lingchuan straightened up nervously, afraid that he might have missed something.
Do you really care about me?
Cao Xue's voice trembled with a sob as she thought of He Lingchuan's attitude towards her, and her nose stung with tears.
She couldn't accept the fact that He Lingchuan had abandoned her. If even He Lingchuan treated her like this, she would rather never get married.
Upon hearing Cao Xue's words, He Lingchuan pursed his lips. He tried to explain, but just as he was about to speak, he heard a man's voice coming from the other end of the phone.
"Who are you talking to? Is it He Lingchuan?"
He Lingchuan recognized Cao's father's voice and became somewhat nervous, fearing that he would discover his conversation with Cao Xue.
He held his breath, worried that he might cause trouble for Cao Xue.
Cao Xue looked at her father and said softly, "Dad, I'm talking to a colleague. Is there something you need?"
Cao's father looked at Cao Xue with suspicion for a long time before finally speaking: "I just heard from Zhang Qiang that you met with He Lingchuan today. Let me tell you, stay away from that man. Gu Chengze has already been implicated by him. If you want your father to live a couple more years, then cut ties with him."
Cao's father warned Cao Xue with a cold and expressionless face.
Cao Xue agreed while glancing at her phone, worried that He Lingchuan would hang up, but thankfully he was waiting for her.
Cao Xue accused him with a wronged expression, her face turning pale: "Brother Lingchuan, have you made up with Sister Xixi? Is that why you don't want to be with me?"
He Lingchuan felt a lump in his throat, his eyes filled with helplessness: "You've misunderstood me. I just hope to find a good home."
"You are the one I want to be with."
Shen Yanxi shouted at the person on the other end of the phone, her face pale with sweat and her head turning blue with anxiety.
He Lingchuan took a deep breath and mustered his courage to ask her, "So, you and Zhang Qiang actually..."
"We have absolutely no relationship."
Cao Xue anxiously explained to the person opposite her, "Brother Lingchuan, believe me, I will never betray you. If I really have news about Zhang Qiang, it will be out of necessity."
Cao Xue looked anxious, worried that He Lingchuan might believe the rumors circulating outside.
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