90 Top-level restraint
“It was my cousin’s phone call,” Wen Xueyan replied. “I guess they still want to ask my cousin for money. My grandmother also called me yesterday, but I didn’t answer.”
Cheng Boyan leaned against the hospital bed, his gaze sweeping over her slender fingers gripping her phone tightly. "You were right not to answer. Family ties shouldn't be like a credit card with unlimited overdrafts."
At that moment, Secretary Qiao knocked on the door and entered carrying an elegantly packaged food box. Wen Xueyan retreated to the sofa.
"Mr. Cheng, Attorney Zhang has some preliminary findings from his investigation." Secretary Qiao's words were precise. "Xi Mingyuan was taken away urgently this time because of tax issues, and there is indeed someone behind it. All the clues point to his grandfather, Chairman Xi's, illegitimate son, Xi Yanzhi. Because Chairman Xi is currently in the late stages of his illness, Xi Yanzhi's intention is very clear: before the final distribution of assets, he will stop at nothing to bring down Xi Mingyuan, the legitimate heir. The tax whistleblowing is just the first wave of attacks; the evidence is very well concealed, and we are still working hard to reverse-engineer the evidence."
"Understood." Cheng Boyan's expression was serious.
Secretary Qiao continued, "Based on the information we have, Attorney Zhang speculates that the factory owner who attacked you last night was likely also instigated and manipulated by Xi Yanzhi. After going bankrupt, that man was desperate and easily swayed, becoming a tool in someone else's hands."
A cold glint flashed in Cheng Boyan's eyes: "Tell Attorney Zhang to hurry up. The chain of evidence must be closed. Before submitting the evidence, we must remain calm and collected."
"Understood." Secretary Qiao handed the bowl of porridge to President Cheng, then picked up her laptop and went to work in the outer room of the ward.
The room returned to silence, with only the faint chirping of birds outside the window.
Cheng Boyan looked down at the bowl of porridge in his hand, then suddenly hissed softly and frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?" Wen Xueyan quickly walked to the bedside.
"My arm suddenly feels a little weak." Cheng Boyan tried to lift his right hand. "It's probably because I pulled it when I was changing the dressing earlier."
Wen Xueyan quickly took the bowl from his hand. She carefully scooped up a spoonful of porridge, gently blew on it to cool it, and said, "Here, be careful, it's hot."
Cheng Boyan obediently opened her mouth, and the warm porridge slid down her throat, bringing a comforting warmth. After she finished feeding him this mouthful, Cheng Boyan slowly said, "The porridge that my Xueyan fed me seems to smell especially good."
"You're so cheeky. You were so serious just now, you switched roles so quickly." Wen Xueyan glared at him, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her eyes. "Do I have to sing you a song to coax you to eat?"
“No need for that.” Cheng Boyan blinked. “I have to say, your technique for feeding me porridge is quite good. You get the angle and temperature just right. You really deserve to be the technical director. I’m afraid my arm is going to be injured for life. I’ll have to rely on you for everything from now on, from eating to dressing.”
"Cheng Boyan!" Wen Xueyan was both amused and exasperated. She put down her bowl of porridge and pretended to hit him. "You were clearly injured in the abdomen yesterday, stop pretending!"
Cheng Boyan grasped her raised wrist, the playful expression on his face gradually fading, replaced by a deep, burning focus. He gently placed her hand against his right cheek, caressing its delicate softness.
Wen Xueyan said softly, "Hurry up and finish your porridge, it's not good for your stomach if it gets cold."
He obediently drank the porridge she fed him, spoonful by spoonful. Occasionally, a little bit of porridge would get on his lips from the rim of the spoon, and she would naturally take out a tissue and carefully wipe it off for him.
After finishing her bowl of porridge, Wen Xueyan put it down, wanting him to rest a little longer, but Cheng Boyan gently pulled her towards him.
"Don't move, be careful of your wound!" Wen Xueyan was startled and hurriedly steadied herself.
"Give me a hug," he buried his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair, his voice muffled, "Just for a moment. Secretary Qiao is outside and can't see. We don't spend enough time together."
Wen Xueyan reached out and gave him a very light hug, her fingertips carefully avoiding the bandage on his abdomen.
Then, Wen Xueyan's phone screen lit up again. This time, it was a message from Wen Haijing: "Sis, when do you have time? I have something I want to talk to you about."
*
When she sent this message, Wen Haijing was in her hospital room. That day, she received an offer from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. In fact, she had submitted her application more than a month earlier, but she had not told anyone.
This time, she plans to tell two people about receiving the job offer: her cousin Wen Xueyan and Xu Junheng.
While waiting for Wen Xueyan's reply, Wen Haijing recalled the moment when Xu Junheng came to visit her a few days ago.
After Wen Haijing asked him to sponsor her tuition fees.
"Why do you think I would help you?" Xu Junheng's voice carried its usual detachment.
Wen Haijing gently straightened the collar of her hospital gown, a subtle gesture that made her appear exceptionally vulnerable, yet remarkably determined: "Because this is what you owe me. Doesn't the cost of a baby deserve a chance to start over? I only need tuition and living expenses. After school starts, I can work part-time."
"I can consider giving you this money," Xu Junheng said.
"Thank you. And I hope that you can use your company's name to process a business visa or other legal visa for me as soon as possible, treating me as an intern. I want to go abroad as soon as I'm discharged, apply to schools overseas, and then switch to a student visa."
Wen Haijing has already checked; the study permit application process is slower, even when using the SDS (Study Direct Stream) program. The Canadian SDS program was cancelled at the end of 2024; it was previously a fast track for study permit applications. When Wen Haijing applied, it wasn't yet 2024.
She knew that if her parents found out about her idea of studying abroad, they would definitely try to stop her. Therefore, she needed to act quickly. She was even worried that Xu Junheng's guilt might expire.
She looked down at her flat stomach, where a life had once been growing. Although the child had come at an inopportune time, she had imagined what the baby would look like countless times during those lonely nights.
Does she have bright eyes like her, or does she have a cool and aloof temperament like Xu Junheng?
Xu Junheng scrutinized her. He remembered how innocent she seemed when they first met. Now, her composure beyond her years surprised him even more, and even made him somewhat wary.
Wen Haijing's hand, which was under the blanket, gently tightened its grip on her phone.
There was a recording stored there, which she had inadvertently made a month ago when Xu Junheng was discussing business at her apartment. The recording clearly documented a conversation between Xu Junheng and an official regarding commercial bribery, enough to plunge the Xu Group into crisis.
To prevent loss, she also sent an encrypted backup to her email address.
She didn't tell anyone about this recording.
But at this moment, Wen Haijing didn't want to reveal this trump card. After all, mutual destruction is never a wise choice.
In her heart, she hopes this recording will never be made public, just as she hopes she will never need to protect herself by hurting others.
She thought Xu Junheng didn't know that before him, almost no one in her life had given her such warmth. Her parents only knew how to take, her ex-boyfriend only had a controlling nature, but only Xu Junheng, although their relationship was not honorable, at least he gave her warmth and was willing to give her a chance to start over.
Xu Junheng looked at her in silence. This girl possessed a contradictory quality, being both resilient and fragile, both worldly and innocent.
After learning that Wen Haijing was pregnant, he had someone conduct a background check. He recalled the shocking details in the investigation report: in order to raise money for his younger brother's wedding dowry, her parents even wanted her to drop out of school and get married.
"You know what," her voice choked with emotion, "I just named my baby Nian'an a few days ago. I hope he can be safe and happy wherever he is. Although I have parents, I've always felt like I've lived a life of constant ups and downs."
"Hmm." Xu Junheng's eyes flickered slightly. This usually indifferent man also showed a hint of emotion at this moment.
"Can you hug me?" Wen Haijing suddenly asked, her voice trembling slightly. "I really can't bear to part with the baby... He hasn't even had a chance to see this world yet..."
This request stunned Xu Junheng.
He looked into Wen Haijing's clear eyes, took a step forward, and gently pulled her into his arms from the hospital bed.
Wen Haijing buried her face in his shoulder, tears quickly soaking his suit fabric, her long-suppressed emotions finally finding an outlet.
"I know this embrace isn't just for me," her voice muffled against his shoulder, "but I really need a hug, right now..."
Xu Junheng's heart softened. He gently stroked her back: "It will all pass." Even as he said it, he felt weak and powerless. What would pass? Was it the physical pain from the miscarriage, or the bewilderment in her eyes, the feeling of being abandoned by her family?
Wen Haijing straightened up slightly, picked up her water glass, and took a sip. The warm water moistened her lips, which looked crystal clear in the light of the ward, like flower petals covered in morning dew.
Wen Haijing leaned her head back on his shoulder, but suddenly felt his breath become hot.
Xu Junheng looked down at her glistening lips and also noticed his own instinctive physiological reaction. He felt a liking for this soft body, but at the moment when Wen Haijing's body was injured, he knew he absolutely could not do that. He had to suppress his impulse.
For a morally upright man, this is only natural, but for Xu Junheng, who has always been unruly, this is already the ultimate restraint.
Xu Junheng placed a light kiss on her forehead, then forced himself to push her away, his movements gentle yet firm. He then got up and sat on the sofa opposite her.
"I'm going to the company now. I've arranged for bodyguards to be on duty outside the ward, so even if your parents find out, they won't be able to get in. Send me your identification documents, and I'll have my assistant prepare the visa paperwork. Call me again if you need anything." Xu Junheng finished speaking and got up to leave.
At this moment, Wen Haijing looked up from her reverie. Sunlight streamed through the glass window and fell on her face, warm and comforting, just like the warmth of Xu Junheng's palm as he gently stroked her hair a few days ago.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Welcome all readers and fans to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.
I love reading this, please write more!
Okay, thank you for your message.
Could it be that Secretary Qiao's sister had someone do it, since she and Xu Junheng have an illegitimate child?
Thank you for your prediction; your reading is very thorough! This possibility certainly exists, and the next chapter will reveal the answer.
I hope Xuejing will have a better life after studying abroad and escape her old family!
Thank you for your message, it's very heartwarming. Jingjing will work hard.
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