Chapter 023 Chapter 23
Chapter 23 (Exclusively published by Jinjiang)
Duan Xing has two major goals to accomplish this month.
The first was to complete the adoption of Duan Sheng, turning him from an illegitimate child into his and Xie Liuzheng's child.
The second is to transfer the property through the auction at the end of the month.
According to Duan Xing's cautious character, these two things would not be done at the same time.
However, the plan could not keep up with the changes, the date of the auction could not be changed according to his will, and Xie Liuzheng's agreement to adopt the child came at an unexpected time.
After some thought, Duan Xing decided to implement his plan more carefully.
Fortunately, the god of luck always descends on him, and everything goes in an orderly manner.
As for Xie Liuzheng's abnormal behavior these days, Duan Xing monitored her schedule and call records and found nothing unusual. He interpreted her abnormality as her anxiety about adopting a child.
After all, with the addition of a child in the family, the things they need to bear will change accordingly. Duan Xing can understand and look forward to this change.
He believed that once Xiaosheng actually came to their home, everything would be solved.
Duan Xing is looking forward to a happy life for his family of three. After having a child, Xie Liuzheng's life focus will be more on the family, and their family positioning will gradually change.
He loves Xie Liuzheng, but he loves money and power more, and loves himself more.
As for Qiao Yun, he completely ignored him.
After comparing the important details one by one, Duan Xing prepared to go to the auction this afternoon.
Before leaving, he did not forget to report his whereabouts to Xie Liuzheng.
Xie Liuzheng was not interested in calligraphy and painting, so Duan Xing attended the auction alone.
At the auction, he successfully bought the collection. Although he raised the price several times, it was all within the normal range.
The auction has officially ended, and the large amount of money in his hands will flow smoothly into his own pocket.
During the auction, my phone kept vibrating.
After the trip, Duan checked his phone and found several missed calls from the welfare home employees whom he had secretly contacted.
Duan Xing called him back, and the other party said that Duan Sheng suddenly had a high fever tonight and had been sent to the hospital. He gave him the address of the hospital.
Duan Xing felt nervous because he had feelings for Duan Sheng. After all, he was his first child.
He walked out, but stopped after just a few steps.
The auction transaction was over, but his transaction was not.
On one side is an eight-figure transaction, and on the other side is his biological son Duan Sheng. Duan Xing is faced with a major choice in his life.
The balance tilted back and forth.
Duan Xing did not hesitate for too long. He quickly thought of a solution and sent a message to Qiao Yun, asking her to go to the hospital.
After all, she is the biological mother of the child. As long as she is careful, it will not be noticed.
There are not so many important decisions in the world that Duan Xing can have the best of both worlds.
After Qiao Yun replied "OK", Duan Xing put away his phone with peace of mind and went to the transaction location.
…
Xie Zhiyu had already arranged everything, waiting for Duan Xing to be arrested.
The moment Duan Xing appeared, when he saw the man whom he had called uncle for more than ten years being arrested, Xie Zhiyu's calm heart finally began to ripple.
Xie Zhiyu still remembers the day when he first met Duan Xing. His aunt Xie Liuzheng was holding the man's hand with a bright smile, while Duan Xing was smiling shyly, his eyes sparkling when he looked at his aunt.
If it weren't for Xie Liuzheng's determination and Duan Xing's unreserved love for his aunt, his grandfather would not have agreed to this marriage.
At least his father Xie Chengyue was not optimistic about it, but when Xie Liuzheng himself and the head of the family both agreed, his objection was rejected.
Many years have passed, love has been worn away by time and eroded by the desire for power.
Xie Zhiyu was glad that his aunt did not see the scene.
Duan Xing always felt that the Xie family had not given him anything, but without the tacit approval of Xie Chengyue and Xie Zhiyu, how could he have started his own business so smoothly and naturally?
Duan Xing's career success is inseparable from his hard work and Xie's protection.
…
Until he was arrested by the police, Duan Xing thought he was unlucky and had gotten caught in a police crackdown on illegal money laundering.
***
In the spacious and luxurious room, Qiao Yun was playing mahjong with the "rich ladies", most of whom were mistresses, concubines, etc. kept by wealthy men.
They often play together, but they don't know the details. Everyone tries to pry into other people's privacy and hide their own secrets.
Qiao Yun learned a lot of gossip about wealthy families from them.
"If you ask me, the one with the best luck is the ordinary woman who married into the Xie family. She was extremely lucky and made the leap from a commoner to a top-class wealthy family... It is said that she was married for the second time."
"It must be a case of a larva. The larvae I raised are useless and cost me so much money!"
Qiao Yun was very interested: "Is it her second marriage? How did she get to know the boss? Has she always been a mistress?"
"It's very likely that Mrs. Xie brought a teenage child with her when she married into the family. Maybe this child is the boss's illegitimate daughter..."
"Don't talk nonsense. If she is really an illegitimate daughter, can the two eldest sons of the Xie family tolerate it? They are not the type to swallow their anger. The elder one already controls half of the Xie Group."
"…So the boss really met his true love in his later years???"
"Maybe Mrs. Xie is gifted."
"I'm so jealous. I may not be able to become a regular employee even after I die, right?"
"The one I raised is really useful. My wife has cancer... The doctor said she only has a few months to live. I, your sister, will soon be able to become a permanent resident~"
When this was said, many people were moved.
"Which one do you raise? I'll give you an introduction fee."
"I want one too."
…
Qiao Yun was not interested in raising such things. She had once visited a person who raised such a thing by chance. It was so creepy that it scared her so much that she couldn't sleep well for a week.
It was at this time that Duan Xing called.
After Qiao Yun finished the call, she wanted to leave, but was persuaded by her plastic sisters.
"That won't do. You want to leave in the middle of the fight."
"Yeah, yeah, if you suddenly left, where would we find you? You wouldn't just win the money and leave, would you?"
"If the child is sick, just ask the nanny to take care of him. Your good luck only lasts for this one day. Look, you've already won nearly half a million from us..."
Qiao Yun was persuaded. If she continued to fight for a while, she might be able to win a million.
"Then I'll send a message to the babysitter."
She sat back at the card table, and the fake sisters around her were satisfied.
"You've given birth to a boy for your sponsor, why can't you become his permanent employee?"
Qiao Yun forced a smile: "It's almost there."
"Tell the sisters who your sponsor is. The sponsor you follow is the most stingy among us."
"Yes, yes, tell us and we will give you some advice."
Qiao Yun was not smart, but she knew what was important and was not easily deceived by their words: "No more talking, let's play mahjong."
"I'm waiting for the winning hand. You guys just wait and see what money you can give me."
The room was once again filled with the sounds of mahjong and women's laughter.
***
Duan Xing stayed in the police station for a whole night and was not released on bail until the next day by Xie Liuzheng.
He was lucky because the previous transaction records were damaged and the calligraphy and paintings he sold "actually" all complied with the procedures.
When the police said this, Duan Xing himself couldn't believe it.
After clearing the suspect, the police contacted Xie Liuzheng and got him released on bail.
Duan Xing thought the person who bailed him out was his assistant. He walked out of the police station with a stern face. His neatly-groomed suit was now wrinkled and his hair was messy like sea urchin.
There is no trace of the elite image of yesterday.
Duan Xing was only thinking about his money. Although he was released, but... his funds for nearly a month were missing. A middleman swallowed up all his money.
But now this money laundering chain has been completely uncovered by the police, and he has no idea where to start the investigation.
Duan Xing was in a gloomy mood and he opened the car door.
"Wife, why are you here?"
His expression was unnatural, but he adjusted it reflexively.
"I'm sorry to have worried you."
"I didn't expect this to happen at an auction."
"Honey, did you come specially to pick me up? I am the happiest man in the world."
"Are you tired? Your husband will give you a massage."
As soon as he approached Xie Liuzheng, she dodged him.
Duan Xing suddenly realized: "I forgot that I didn't take a shower all night. My clothes and hair are smelly."
He found an excuse for both parties and automatically explained away Xie Liuzheng's behavior.
Xie Liuzheng watched him acting with cold eyes. He was very good at sensing people's emotions and handled every unexpected scene with ease.
Now the expression on his face as he tried to comfort her not to be angry, was it his true face or a false mask?
Xie Liuzheng just looked at him quietly, feeling bitter in his heart.
"Fasten your seat belt first, and let's talk."
Duan Xing sensed that the atmosphere was not right. He fastened his seat belt and asked carefully, "Wife, are you angry?"
"Is it because I went to the auction?" Duan Xing explained in panic.
"The auction employee said that if I contacted him, I would get an employee discount. I wanted to buy at a lower price... I didn't expect that he was a money laundering gang..."
"I didn't expect to be deceived. I brought shame to you and the Xie family."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
Duan Xing admitted his mistake with a sincere attitude, as if he cared more about Xie Liuzheng's feelings than his face.
Xie Liuzheng glanced at him coldly.
No words, but better than a thousand words.
Duan Xing was shocked by her eyes.
Over the past decade, no matter how angry Xie Liuzheng was, he would never look at him like that, never.
Such disappointed, indifferent, hateful, cold... eyes.
He realized that things were not simple, and frantically searched his mind to find out what had been exposed.
Money laundering? Transfer of property? Infidelity? Illegitimate child? Contact with the top management of Xie family...
He filtered through the information one by one, but couldn't find a definite answer.
…
Xie Liuzheng drove the car to a nearby coffee shop. Shortly after they entered the coffee shop, the SUV that had been following them stopped.
A few people got off the SUV and entered the cafe.
Xie Liuzheng wanted to talk to Duan Xing alone and rejected Xie Zhiyu's suggestion to accompany him. He had no choice but to adopt plan B and let the bodyguard protect him secretly.
Xie Liuzheng believes that Duan Xing will not hurt her, but Xie Zhiyu understands human nature better than her.
You can't predict how a deranged person will react when he is at his wits' end.
Even at this stage, the industry is not at its wits' end.
"Wife, aren't we going home? Why..." Duan Xing observed the surrounding environment and asked in confusion.
"Let's go inside and talk." After saying that, Xie Liuzheng walked straight into the cafe.
This evil fate was started by her, and she wants to end it herself.
Duan Xing realized that some things were out of control.
What did Xie Liuzheng know? What did the Xie family know?
Stay calm, stay cool, Duan Xing told himself. He forced himself to stay calm and stepped into the most critical test of his life.
He had a premonition of what was about to happen, and fate challenged him again.
Xie Liuzheng found a quiet box and said, "Duan Xing, please sit down."
Hearing this address, Duan Xing's heart sank: "Wife, what's wrong with you?"
Until now, Duan Xing has been pretending.
Xie Liuzheng suppressed the surging emotions in her heart. She looked at the familiar person beside her as if she were looking at a stranger.
Things and people have changed beyond recognition.
"What's Xiaosheng's real name? Duan Sheng?" Xie Liuzheng was frighteningly calm.
With a "clang", Duan Xing's disguise was torn off. When Xie Liuzheng said this name, Duan Xing knew that he could not be vague.
He fell straight to his knees, his knees hitting the floor with a loud thumping sound.
Duan Xing couldn't control the painful expression on his face, and his tone was so sincere that it seemed as if he was about to cut his heart out for the other person to see.
"Honey, I'm sorry!"
"I deserve to die. I was possessed by the devil! I shouldn't have gotten drunk and mistook another woman for you... I was afraid that you didn't want me, so I didn't dare to tell you..."
The corners of Duan Xing's eyes turned red and tears welled up in his eyes, filled with deep affection and apology.
Xie Liuzheng liked Duan Xing's eyes very much. His eyelids were very thin, and the tails of his eyes were slightly upturned. When he smiled, he looked like a treasured gem. Occasionally, when he was emotionally excited, his eyelids would turn red and wet, just like a little deer.
He cried beautifully, so beautifully, and he looked like a porcelain doll that would break in the next second.
Xie Liuzheng liked to deliberately make people cry, and then patiently coax them, and the two of them never got tired of it.
Duan Xing knelt on the ground, explaining while crying, and Xie Liuzheng just watched him numbly, wanting to see what kind of words he would come out of his mouth that would soften her heart.
Duan Xing slapped himself hard several times, leaving bright red slap marks on his fair face, showing how much strength he had used.
Xie Liuzheng didn't say anything, just watched him confess.
"...She took the money and left. A few months later, she showed me a pregnancy test with a big belly and said she was pregnant with my child...I was obsessed with it. You know, my family has been a one-man family for generations. My parents dreamed of having a grandson...I even got sick during that time because of this..."
"The baby in her belly was already formed and there was no way to abort it. My parents got the news from somewhere and told me to keep the baby in order to sever the mother-child relationship..."
Duan Xing almost burst into tears: "I don't want that child anymore, wife, please don't abandon me."
Xie Liuzheng's heart was cut into pieces bit by bit and soaked in sour water, which tasted sour and bitter.
Every word in Duan Xing was like a deadly mold that penetrated every pore, and the sour smell almost suffocated her.
Xie Liuzheng looked at Duan Xing who was crying like a child in front of her. She felt sorry for him, and even more sorry for Xie Liuzheng who once longed for love.
"It's a lie," she said.
"I'm not lying. I really want to raise Xiao Sheng with you. Don't you like him very much?"
"He is our child if you wish."
"He will treat you as his real mother."
Xie Liuzheng couldn't hold back her tears anymore: "You are still testing my limits."
She was so disappointed.
"I didn't, why don't you believe me?"
Duan Xing slapped himself in the face, almost as if to torture himself: "Do you want me to cut open my heart?"
"That's enough."
Xie Liuzheng's voice was tired and calm.
A large pile of documents and photos hit Duan Xing's face, and at some point it seemed to shatter his false mask.
"You are not inseparable from me, but you are inseparable from the power behind me."
She had heard enough of his temptations and lies and didn't want to continue making their past love even more ridiculous.
"Let's get a divorce. My lawyer will contact you."
"I don't want to see you again."
Xie Liuzheng is tired.
Duan Xing's heart sank suddenly. He knelt down and hugged Xie Liuzheng's thighs, preventing her from leaving.
"Honey, please forgive me just this once."
"Please give me a chance. I can't live without you."
"Wife, please don't leave me, don't abandon me."
Xie Liuzheng stood there, looking down at that hideous face: "Do you really love me?"
Duan Xing looked at her firmly, and the thousands of words in his eyes were gathered into one sentence: "Xie Liuzheng, I love you."
"I love you more than I love myself."
Xie Liuzheng shook his head: "No, you don't love me."
She knew the answer.
Loving someone is not like this.
She had seen Duan Xing glow purely when he loved her, so... when he no longer loved her, his eyes told it all.
He said he loved her, but she was no longer in his eyes.
Duan Xing's heart sank to the bottom, and he held Xie Liuzheng's waist tightly, as if a drowning person was holding on to the last straw.
"I love you, I just... I just want to keep you by my side." He showed weakness while releasing his trump card.
"The eldest daughter of the Xie Group fell in love with a poor boy like me. The poor boy had nothing, but was hammered by the eldest daughter."
"To me, you are the moon that is out of reach. It shines on me, but can leave at any time..."
"If I don't stay by your side, there will always be great stars around you, children of noble families of the same level as you, successful entrepreneurs, cellists who are in harmony with you... There are countless outstanding men around you, your male confidants and your friends all look down on me. As long as you pull away, you can leave at any time..."
Duan Xinge said fiercely: "I don't want you to leave. As long as I don't let go, you can't leave... I want the child to tie you down, but you can't have children..."
"It doesn't matter if you can't have children. I'm glad that you're no longer perfect. Then you'll stay by my side... But... But your white moonlight is back... I can't do it. I really can't do it..."
"Even if you want me to die, I won't hesitate. I just beg you." Duan Xing choked up and said, "Xie Liuzheng, I just beg you, don't leave me."
He sobbed like a puppy trying to keep his master, revealing his soft belly and his most fatal weakness.
Xie Liuzheng was silent, and for a moment she hesitated.
But when she thought about the conspiracy between Duan Xing and the top executives of the Xie family to force Xie Zhiyu to step down, she pinched her palms, and the pain calmed her down.
She didn't say anything, didn't struggle, just let Duan Xing hold her like that, silently bidding farewell to the past.
"Have you hugged enough?" Xie Liuzheng's throat hurt, as if he had swallowed hundreds of needles.
She was the one whose sincerity was betrayed, so why was she so miserable and sad?
Shouldn't Duan Xing be the one who should swallow ten thousand needles?
Xie Liuzheng suddenly came to her senses. She looked at Duan Xing, who was crying bitterly, and felt terrified.
Did he just try to make her feel guilty? Did he bring up the topic of the child?
Duan Xing knew all her weaknesses and pain points, and understood what words to use to impress her, make her hesitate, soften her heart, and make her forgive.
She couldn't stay any longer.
"Duan Xing, please let me go." She said, "It hurts a little."
Duan Xing hesitated. He didn't let her go, but just loosened his grip a little.
"Does it still hurt?"
Xie Liuzheng frowned: "It hurts, let go."
Duan Xing shook his head firmly: "If I let go, you will never see me again."
Xie Liuzheng closed his eyes, feeling exhausted: "If it was before, you would let me go if I said it hurts."
"You don't love me anymore."
This time it is an affirmative sentence.
Duan Xing's eyes flickered: "Then you must promise not to miss me..."
Xie Liuzheng: "I promise."
Duan Xing let her go, and Xie Liuzheng was free.
"Let's all calm down."
Before Duan Xing went berserk, Xie Liuzheng sat down and said, "Right here."
While Duan Xing was not paying attention, Xie Liuzheng pressed the hidden help button on the watch.
In less than five seconds, the door was broken open.
"Miss." Several sturdy bodyguards, like the most loyal guardian angels, ran to Xie Liuzheng's side, separating Duan Xing and Xie Liuzheng.
Duan Xing saw the change and laughed: "Wife, you can lie too."
Xie Liuzheng looked at him with a smile: "I am not you. We will meet again at the Civil Affairs Bureau."
"You're so dirty and disgusting."
After saying that, she turned around without any regrets and left the cafe.
From beginning to end, there is no turning back.
Xie Liuzheng, even if she was deceived, let down, and betrayed, she would always be the proud young lady.
“Ding Ding!”
Shen Baili, who was sitting in the classroom, received an energy bonus reminder from A Deng.
"Energy replenishment +1% +1% +1%"
"Total Energy 16%"
Shen Baili's hand that was doing the test suddenly stopped, leaving a heavy black dot on the notebook.
"What happened? The system energy bar moved again."
At this time, Deng Qin walked in from the classroom door with a happy look on her face.
"Students, the midterm exam results are out."
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