Rose Contract
The next morning, she put on lipstick to cover her swollen eyes and dialed Li Fuqiang's number.
In the hotel suite, she forced herself to remain calm and cut to the chase: "Mr. Li, I was honored by your previous favor. I wonder if that favor still applies?"
Being a young girl, even though she had thought it over and made up her mind, her words still trembled with a hint of shyness, her face flushed slightly, and she didn't dare to look directly at the other person.
Li Fuqiang gazed at the girl before him, as beautiful as a rosebud glistening with morning dew. "A fair maiden is the object of a gentleman's affections."
Zhiwei began, “When I was little, my father had an affair and we got divorced. My mother raised me. I made up my mind early on that I would never be a mistress or a lover.”
Li Fuqiang remembered that Zhiwei had said this before, so he leaned forward slightly to indicate that he was listening.
She paused for a moment, then clearly enunciated each word: "I accept financial independence, but a marriage contract is necessary."
Li Fuqiang paused slightly, then his face lit up with delight: "Zhiwei, this is exactly what I wanted. However," he leaned forward, his tone turning concerned, "what happened? Don't be afraid, tell me slowly."
These words were like a key, instantly unlocking Zhiwei's feigned composure. Her eyes immediately reddened, she put down her coffee cup, and covered her face with her hands.
Li Fuqiang silently handed her a tissue and waited patiently for her.
"Last night I received a call from my mother's best friend," Zhiwei's voice was still trembling with tears, "My mother has been diagnosed with mid-to-late stage lung cancer and is currently waiting for a bed at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai to prepare for surgery."
Li Fuqiang immediately understood the reason for her actions this morning. He made a quick decision, picking up the phone on the table: "Youlin? Could you please come to my room for a moment?"
Zhao Youlin arrived quickly. When she saw Zhiwei, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but her professionalism allowed her to regain her composure immediately.
"Mr. Li?"
"Youlin, Zhiwei's mother has been diagnosed with mid-to-late stage lung cancer at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai. Please contact us immediately in China to inquire about the best treatment options and medical resources."
"Okay, I understand." Youlin replied briskly, glancing at Zhiwei subtly before leaving.
Now only the two of them were left in the room. Li Fuqiang looked at Zhiwei's pale face and said, "Don't worry, Fumao has always funded top medical institutions in China. After Youlin finds out the situation, we'll think of a solution together."
Perhaps it was the tension finally releasing, or perhaps it was the exhaustion of the past few days all at once, but Zhiwei drifted off to sleep in the warm room. When she woke up, she found herself covered with a soft blanket, and the curtains had been carefully drawn.
She sat up.
"Awake?" Li Fuqiang asked gently. "Youlin has already found out what happened."
Youlin opened her tablet: "Ms. Shen, we consulted top experts in China. Currently, the most advanced radiotherapy equipment for mid-to-late stage lung cancer is the helical tomotherapy system, also known as Tomotherapy."
She skillfully retrieved the relevant information: "Currently, only the PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) in Beijing and Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai have this equipment in China. Among them, the PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) has the most extensive clinical experience in its application."
"What if it spreads after radiotherapy?" Zhiwei asked anxiously.
"Then we'll need to rely on targeted therapies. Our partner, the International Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, has a deep collaboration with 301 Hospital and can get priority access to the latest drugs and treatment plans."
Li Fuqiang looked at Zhiwei: "Zhiwei, if you need anything, I'll have Youlin arrange it immediately. However, you'll need to do your mother's work yourself."
"When can we arrange it at the earliest?"
Youlin replied, "If all goes well, I can be admitted to the hospital within three days."
Li Fuqiang nodded, and Youlin got up and left. The two were left in the room again. Zhiwei said softly, "Mr. Li, thank you."
"Silly child, it's nothing." Li Fuqiang patted her hand. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Zhiwei looked at him and suddenly asked, "Mr. Li, no matter what, I want to finish my studies first."
"Of course," Li Fuqiang said without hesitation, "You don't need to think about anything right now. Just settle your mother's affairs first. Youlin will accompany you back to China, and she will assist you with everything."
He paused, then his tone softened further: "You don't look too well. Shall we have the driver take you home to rest?"
Zhiwei nodded and stood up: "Mr. Li, thank you, I'm sorry."
Li Fuqiang smiled and shook his head: "Why are you apologizing now?"
Back home, Zhiwei fell into a deep sleep, seemingly dreaming of returning to her childhood, to the time right after her parents' divorce.
She was about ten years old at the time. She hadn't noticed anything amiss before, and she rarely heard them arguing. She just noticed that her father was coming home later and later at night, and then suddenly the two of them started talking about divorce.
The father was having an affair with a female colleague at work. The woman even called Zhiwei's mother, hoping she would allow them to be together because she was pregnant. When her husband came home that evening, her mother calmly confronted him about it. Her father simply said timidly, "Xiaolian is a very good girl; she can't bear to abort the child."
Ms. Xu Anyi immediately invited him to stay at a hotel, and the next day she contacted a lawyer, completing all the formalities within two weeks. The house they were living in at the time was left to the mother and daughter, and the cash and stocks were split equally between them. Afterwards, Zhiwei did not require him to pay any child support or alimony. If he wanted to see Zhiwei, Ms. Xu Anyi would not stop him, as long as it was in a public place with her consent.
Zhiwei met her father twice after that, and also met Xiaolian, who was heavily pregnant. She was indeed gentle and submissive to her husband, even accompanying him to see their daughter while heavily pregnant. At first, he would occasionally call, but then there was no news for a long time.
Xu Anyi never spoke ill of her father to Zhiwei, nor did she inquire about her meeting with her father, and she had no interest in the woman named Xiaolian.
Zhiwei didn't wake up until after 3 p.m., mainly because she was hungry. She said with a wry smile that no matter how she felt, if her stomach wasn't full, her body would rebel. She obediently got up and cooked herself a plate of spaghetti, and also took out a frozen steak from the refrigerator, thawed it, fried it, and ate it.
Your body is your own; the busier you are, the more you need to take care of it. Just like your mother back then, she lost seven or eight pounds, but she never got sick. Instead, she paid even more attention to her health, and a year later she got a promotion and a raise, and her life became more and more colorful. Zhiwei has always taken her mother as a role model since she was a child, and no matter what, she must love and take good care of herself.
After Zhiwei left, Li Fuqiang called Youlin over: "I'll be getting engaged soon, so please take good care of Zhiwei."
Although she was somewhat prepared, Youlin was still taken aback by how quickly things had progressed. She looked up and asked, "Have you made up your mind?"
"What? Haven't you all been telling me that Fu Mao needs a mistress? Don't think I don't know, don't you also hope that someone will take this position as soon as possible to avoid any trouble?"
"Getting engaged is fine, but if it's marriage, we need to be more careful."
"It's alright, we'll keep our finances separate after the marriage. You and the legal team can draft a contract. Have the legal team assign a lawyer to represent Ms. Shen, don't be too demanding."
Although Youlin and her team often handled contracts for Li Fuqiang's male and female confidantes, this was the first time Li Fuqiang had asked their legal department to send a lawyer to represent the other party. Youlin, realizing Miss Shen's high status, understood and made the arrangements herself.
Zhiwei started packing her luggage. She emailed Maggie at the studio and her professor at school to ask for leave, and also left a message for May.
After doing all this, she sat by the window, looking at the gray sky over New York.
There were still several missed calls from Zhou Xuanyu on her phone, which she immediately blocked. At this moment, she felt no resentment, only a cold, calm in her heart.
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