Chairman Husband, Too Boorish - 152

Chapter 152 : Yan Liang, this is our daughter!

"Dr. Zhang, are you mistaken? I promised that if you helped me with that matter, I would make you the dean of the First Hospital. But now you're facing your own problems, and you expect me to clean up this mess for you?" Ye Qing sneered, her tone already impatient. "Don't worry, I, Ye Qing, will definitely fulfill my promise to you. It's just a matter of time. Your hospital's dean is currently in perfect condition. Tell me, how will he step down? He covered up Bai Yan Liang's affair perfectly this time, didn't he? Dr. Zhang, you've already done so much, one more won't hurt, right? Whether you ascend to heaven or not depends on your own courage. Of course, I'll give you a push, but if you ask me for help with women's affairs again, isn't that a bit greedy? I'm not your problem consultant."

Zhang Zi Yue was speechless for a moment, caught off guard by Ye Qing's seemingly casual words. It was easy to imagine the shock and frustration. The man on the other end of the line looked extremely displeased, but dared not show any dissatisfaction, still having to flatter her, "... Miss Ye, you know, that's not what I meant ..."

"I don't care what you mean, I've given you a suggestion. You start things off, and I'll handle the cleanup. As for women ..." Ye Qing held up her brightly painted nails and flicked them lightly, "Dr. Zhang, not to criticize you, but you're not getting any younger. Some women you've played around with outside are one thing, but do you really expect to marry them? An older man with a younger woman ... especially a divorced woman, do you think even if you become the hospital director, people will not talk behind your back? Think about it carefully. I have an appointment. Don't contact me again without my instructions, understand?"

"... Yes, Miss Ye."

Ye Qing hung up the phone with a mocking expression, straightened her clothes in front of the mirror, and then left with a smile.

Ye Qing ran into Ye Sheng Ming in the garage as he returned. She lifted her skirt and greeted him sweetly, "Daddy!"

"Oh, my darling daughter, you look so beautiful today?"

Ye Sheng Ming doted on this daughter. A while ago, because of Liang Xi Cheng, Ye Qing was practically begging for her life. He had no choice but to set a trap for the Liang family. Fortunately, he had harbored this intention for over 20 years; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to trap Liang Xi Cheng this time.

Looking at his daughter's radiant face, Ye Sheng ming felt that everything he had done was worthwhile. Even though Liang Xi Cheng had annoyed him quite a bit before, as long as he behaved himself and stayed with his precious daughter, he could generously forgive and forget everything from the past.

"Dad, I have an appointment with Xi Cheng today." Ye Qing acted like a spoiled princess in front of her father, twirling in front of him while holding up her skirt, tilting her head and asking, "Do I look good? This long dress is the latest style from SJ, it just arrived, but I've never worn a dress before, I don't know if it suits me."

"You look great, my darling, what doesn't look good on you?" Ye Sheng Ming chuckled, "Since you have an appointment with Xi Cheng, let's go quickly. Shall I have A-Liang drive you there?"

"No need, I want to drive myself."

"Okay, then be careful. Call Dad if anything happens." Ye Qing got into the red sports car. As soon as the car drove away, Ye Sheng Ming's kind smile turned completely cold. His assistant cautiously stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, "... Chairman Ye, regarding Liang's Group ... did they really complete those projects according to the previous schedule?"

"Otherwise, do you think Liang Xi Cheng is someone who can be easily fooled?" Ye Sheng Ming snorted coldly, reaching out to irritably loosen his tie. "That kid Liang Xi Cheng is much more ... difficult than his father to deal with. I have evidence against him now, so he doesn't dare to act rashly. Otherwise, do you think I could catch him so easily this time? Although he's obediently surrendering now, we can't let our guard down. A slight misstep could lead to a counterattack."

"No, you, find a way to plant some spies within the Liang family." Ye Sheng Ming glanced at his watch. His heart had never been very good, and now that he was older, he had to take medication daily. It was almost time for his dose. He strode into the front door and whispered to his assistant, "... From now on, I need to know Liang Xi Cheng's every move, and of course, all of their company's business operations. In short, I need to keep track of all of that kid's activities. Those projects, keep them on the same schedule as before. Have the people below sign off and start construction."

"Yes."

***

Yan Liang opened her eyes, looking at the white ceiling above her. A feeling of helplessness rose again. How many days had she been isolated in this room? Propped herself up on with both hands and sat up. The clock on the opposite wall showed 9:30.

It was evening.

She reached up and pinched her temples, her fingers touching her forehead, but she paused unexpectedly.

As if something was wrong, her slightly trembling fingers slowly returned to her forehead, her fingertips gently covering it—it lacked the familiar warmth.

For the past few days, the doctor had been coming in to take her temperature daily. Sometimes she had even gotten used to it, touching her head with her hand; it was always about the same temperature, so hot it felt uncomfortable. But today … it seemed the temperature wasn't like before.

Yan Liang's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at the IV bottle on her bedside table; most of the medicine was gone. She thought she was dreaming, so she touched her forehead again, uncertainly. It really wasn't hot anymore. She remembered what Director Wu had told her before: if anything happened, just press the bedside lamp. She took a deep breath and finally reached out, pressing the lamp—the one she never thought she would ever press.

… Five minutes later, Director Wu came in.

Looking at Yan Liang sitting there, he approached with a thermometer. "Miss Bai, how are you feeling today?"

"Dean Wu, does that mean that once my fever breaks, I won't need to be isolated anymore?" Yan Liang looked at the thermometer in his hand, offering her ear, her voice still a little hoarse, "... I think my fever has subsided."

Dean Wu pressed the thermometer, and a number quickly appeared—37°C.

A relieved smile finally appeared on his face, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Miss Bai, congratulations, your fever has subsided."

"... Really, my fever has really subsided?" Yan Liang jumped up from the bed. She had been isolated for so long that she was almost unsure if she could even leave this ward. Overwhelmed with excitement, she stammered, "... My fever has subsided, my fever has really subsided ... I ... My fever really has subsided ... Dean Wu, I'm alright, right? Can I ... can I be discharged? I ..."

"Miss Bai, Miss Bai, please calm down. Your fever has subsided, but you still need to undergo a series of tests. You no longer need to be isolated, but you can't be discharged yet. Don't worry, as I said, I will definitely save you. So, you still need to rest well now."

"No, I want to see my mother." Yan Liang shook her head, tugging at Dean Wu's sleeve, her face resolute. "I feel great now, but I need to see my mother. Is she still in the ICU? Or has she already been discharged? Dean Wu, please take me to see her. I really miss her."

Qin Mu Hua's condition was not good.

Dean Wu, of course, dared not say it aloud. In fact, Liang Xi Cheng had already brought some internationally renowned experts during this time, but her condition was rather special; brain surgery was difficult to perform. She seemed to have no signs of waking up, which was also related to her own will. It was always felt that Qin Mu Hua wanted to give up on life, so she remained unconscious. But if she didn't wake up, the surgery couldn't proceed.

"... Miss Bai, your mother's condition is currently ... stable, and she has several tests to do today." Dean Wu considered his words carefully. He shouldn't have burdened her with such a difficult problem. After thinking for a moment, he decided to downplay it, saying, "You can see her anytime, but you need to get your health in order first. How about this, I'll have the doctors do your tests first. Besides your mother, you probably have someone else you want to see, right?"

His pointed remark made Yan Liang pause in surprise.

Yes, didn't she also want to see—Liang Xi Cheng?

"I'll have someone bring you your phone, but this saline solution needs to be finished. After that, I'll arrange for some tests, and then I'll help you move to a different room."

Shortly after, someone came in, returned her phone, and then began a series of tests ...

Actually, she didn't feel much anxiety. Perhaps it was because her previous situation had been so bad—SARS, miscarriage—that nothing could frighten her anymore. So, during the tests, Yan Liang appeared calm.

The test results came back two hours later. In those two hours, Yan Liang had been moved to a different room, and her hospital gown had been changed. She was still somewhat weak because she had previously contracted a respiratory illness, and she felt weak and short of breath. Of course, Director Wu had previously reminded her that if everything was normal, after discharge, she should learn yoga and practice it consistently for a period of time to fully recover.

Yan Liang didn't have time to think about yoga right now. Having just come out of the isolation room, she felt like she'd escaped from prison. So after the checkup, she took a shower and washed her hair, then sat cross-legged on the sofa, staring blankly at her phone screen.

Should she call this number?

Shouldn't she?

But why, at this moment, did a sense of fear rise within her?

What was he doing now? No, she really wanted to know what he had been doing all this time.

While she was in that despairing little room, was he also desperately missing her?

Yan Liang's fingers swiped up and down several times, her clear eyes revealing a hint of longing, yet something seemed to hold her back, preventing her from dialing the number.

Actually, she couldn't remember exactly how many days she had been in quarantine, but Dean Wu had said it had been eight days. Eight days! Since she and Liang Xi Cheng got together, they had never seemed to be separated for eight days at a time. But in those eight days, the first few were tormented by illness, and the latter few by despair. Perhaps it was only when she saw the letter he had written to her that she regained some confidence. Now that she was out, she was shocked to realize how intense the longing that had accumulated over these days was.

She sighed and put down her phone. She felt a little tired, and now that she was completely relaxed, she wanted to sleep.

There were still some … indescribable emotions in her heart, something like—awkward.

Yan Liang climbed into bed, pulled the blanket over her face, and closed her eyes.

***

8:30 PM.

In a five-star hotel in City A, a man and a woman sat opposite each other by the window. The woman watched the man skillfully cut his steak, her red lips slightly pursed. She reached out and pushed her plate of steak towards him, her voice tinged with a hint of coquettishness, "Xi Cheng, I want the steak you cut for me."

Liang Xi Cheng paused, raising his eyes, his gaze indifferent. His knife and fork rested unconsciously on the edge of the plate. He gently pushed the plate of steak towards Ye Qing, chuckling, "Didn't you used to not need me to do this?" Picking up a glass of red wine, Liang Xi Cheng took a small sip, his eyes lowered impassively. His words, seemingly gentle, clearly showed no mercy. "Don't do such childish things. Didn't you say you were hungry? Hurry up and eat."

Ye Qing's face flushed red and then paled, her hands gripping her knife and fork tightly. Turning around, she saw other couples at the tables opposite, but none of them looked like them. They seemed like the perfect couple, yet an insurmountable chasm separated them.

Ye Qing was filled with resentment. Over the past week, she felt like she was the woman beside Liang Xi Cheng, finally back in her old position. But she also felt that beneath his seemingly gentle exterior lay a heart that was difficult to touch.

She could feel it, very clearly, his resistance towards her still lingered. Staring intently at the plate of steak in front of her, as if she couldn't bear it any longer, she pushed it back towards him, frowning at the indifferent man. "But I want you to cut it for me today, Xi Cheng, don't you want to?"

Liang Xi Cheng's movements paused slightly, a flicker of light appearing in the depths of his lowered eyes, before he slowly raised his head. A faint smile curved his thin, sensual lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. He reached out, raised his glass of red wine, and gently swirled it. "Ye Qing, when did you become so delicate? Or do you think that if I don't cut your steak, it means I don't value you?"

He frowned, his expression instantly turning cold. "You know I don't like doing this kind of thing."

Ye Qing's expression changed upon seeing him; she was still somewhat wary of him.

"... I ... I just wanted you to do some things that normal lovers do for me ... Xi Cheng, I'm a woman too ..."

"You should know that neither you nor I are ordinary people." Liang Xi Cheng's words, though seemingly casual, shattered all of Ye Qing's thoughts. "Alright, don't be like this. You know I've been very tired lately and haven't been in a good mood. If you're unhappy, I apologize, sorry, Ye Qing."

Even though he said "sorry," his actions were so cruel.

Ye Qing truly didn't feel valued by him, but she loved him, loved him so much. So even if he was indifferent to her, as long as he was by her side, she felt content.

To put it another way, he and Bai Yan Liang had only been apart for about a week, and she couldn't expect him to move on so quickly. But later, she had plenty of time to slowly change him and integrate into his life.

Looking at the steak in front of her, she had already made up her mind—one day, she would make him willingly cut it for her.

"I'm going to the restroom." Needing to calm herself, Ye Qing gracefully stood up, took her handbag, and Liang Xi Cheng nodded without looking up. She quickly walked towards the restroom.

Liang Xi Cheng listened as the sound of high heels faded into the distance before letting go, tossing down his knife and fork, and forcefully tugging at his collar, his brows furrowed in a cold, stern expression.

Just then, his phone rang in his pocket. Liang Xi Cheng glanced at the caller ID—it was Dean Wu. He figured something must have happened with Yan Liang, and quickly answered.

"Uncle Wu, why are you calling me so late? Is there something wrong with Yan Liang?"

Dean Wu was taken aback for a moment, then asked with some surprise, "Oh, you didn't know?" He paused, then chuckled softly, "Looks like Miss Bai hasn't told you yet?"

His tone was somewhat relaxed, but Liang Xi Cheng's heart tightened. However, hearing Dean Wu's words, he quickly realized something. "... Uncle Wu, is Yan Liang's condition improving?"

"Not exactly improving ..." Dean Wu kept him in suspense, and Liang Xi Cheng frowned, but soon heard a cheerful voice on the other end. The voice said, "Hehe, Xi Cheng, don't be nervous. Miss Bai has fully recovered today. I've done all the tests for her, and she's out of the isolation room now. She's in good spirits. However, she said she would contact you, so I haven't told you. I went to her ward just now, but I didn't see you, so I called you."

Liang Xi Cheng suddenly stood up from his seat. His usually handsome face was now filled with excitement. The fierceness in his eyes and brows had long been overshadowed by other emotions. He barely had time to think about anything else, not even to pay the bill, before turning and striding out of the restaurant.

...When Ye Qing came out of the restroom, she found that her seat was empty.

Where was Liang Xi Cheng?

She frowned slightly and beckoned a waiter.

"Miss Ye." She was a VIP here; the waiters all knew her.

Ye Qing pointed to the spot where Liang Xi Cheng had just been sitting. "Where is Mr. Liang?"

"Liang Xi Cheng just left."

"Left?"

"Yes, Miss Ye. I noticed Mr. Liang left in a hurry; he probably had something important to attend to."

***

As soon as the waiter left, Ye Qing took out her phone with a somber expression and dialed Liang Xi Cheng's number. It rang twice, but no one answered. Biting her lip, she dialed again, and this time, the call went through.

"Xi Cheng, why didn't you say anything before leaving? Where did you go?"

Liang Xi Cheng gripped the steering wheel, eyes fixed ahead, his foot already on the accelerator, but he still felt it wasn't fast enough. "I had something urgent. I'm sorry about today, Ye Qing. I'll have the driver take you home later."

"I'll drove myself!" Ye Qing's voice came from the other end of the phone, sounding somewhat angry. "Xi Cheng, how important is it? I haven't even finished eating!"

"Then order some more food."

Liang Xi Cheng watched the green light turn in the last few seconds, then swerved the steering wheel, overtook the car in front, and sped across. Two more intersections to the hospital.

"Ye Qing, I have something very important to do, I'll leave now."

He abruptly hung up the phone, tossing it onto the dashboard. He felt his heart pounding, as fast as the car's speed, almost boiling …

Yan Liang thought she might be dreaming, but the feeling was so clear. It was as if a pair of eyes were constantly watching her, and a pair of hands were tightly holding her. She felt uncomfortable, short of breath, and instinctively struggled, but couldn't push them away. She groaned twice, then realized something was wrong. The scent she inhaled was too familiar, a scent familiar to her very soul.

Finally, she opened her eyes. Only eight days had passed, but Yan Liang felt as if she had been transported to another world.

Her fingers trembled slightly, then slowly reached out—sharp brows, deep eyes, a straight nose, and those sensual thin lips—all familiar. Was she dreaming? But would the man in her dream have any warmth?

“… Xi Cheng.” She called out, her voice hoarse, tinged with uncertain panic.

Liang Xi Cheng felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if an invisible hand was tearing at his internal organs, a pain that had lingered day and night for the past few days. And now, she was in his arms, and he felt a sense of rebirth.

Thank goodness, thank goodness … thank goodness she was back. She was by his side. They had lost a child, but they could have more in the future. As long as she was there, everything would be alright.

“Yan Liang, it’s me.”

Liang Xi Cheng gently stroked her brow with his thumb. Her face, already small as a palm, seemed even thinner these past few days due to her illness. Her delicate body felt almost devoid of flesh when held in his arms. Liang Xi Cheng felt an overwhelming pang of heartache. He reached back and cupped the back of her neck, then, with all his intense emotions and unspoken guilt, kissed her deeply.

Yan Liang let out a soft moan. This time, she truly felt everything about him—his warmth, his breath, it really was him.

Her fingers twitched, then slowly reached out and wrapped around his neck. Liang Xi Cheng's body stiffened for a moment, then he deepened the kiss.

His nimble tongue first lightly traced her lips, making Yan Liang feel a tingling sensation. She instinctively opened her lips, and Liang Xi Cheng immediately hooked her tongue in his, careful not to hurt her, yet unable to resist sucking on it. Perhaps due to the numerous IV drips over the past few days, her tongue was somewhat thick, and tasted bitter. Liang Xi Cheng felt her breath grow weaker and realized he had been kissing her lips for too long, quickly releasing his hold.

The air around him finally became smoother, and Yan Liang's arms, which had been wrapped around his neck, loosened slightly as she inhaled and exhaled deeply.

Liang Xi Cheng's brows furrowed with heartache. His voice was hoarse as he gently asked, "I'm sorry. How are you? Are you feeling better?" Yan Liang frowned, her once fair face now sallow, her whole appearance haggard. Liang Xicheng, however, held her tightly in his arms, unwilling to let go. "Hmm? Why aren't you saying anything? Are you feeling unwell? I'll go call the director ..."

"It's nothing." Yan Liang's small hand clutched the corner of his shirt, shaking her head. "... I'm fine. Let me catch my breath."

Liang Xi Cheng nodded, stroking her back to help her breathe. Her face quickly regained some color. Her hands still clutched his shirt. Liang Xicheng moved forward slightly, knowing the room was temperature-controlled, and simply lifted her from under the covers, letting her sit on his lap, supporting her back. Their position was somewhat intimate, his forehead pressed against hers, his voice still soft.

"Why didn't you call me right away?"

Actually, he was a little afraid that she would push him away again. When she was in quarantine, he was powerless to help; even seeing her became a luxury. He knew before that his feelings for this woman were more intense than ever before; she was the one who made him believe that love still existed in this world. But he never knew that having something and then suddenly losing it was the most painful and tormenting thing.

These days, thinking of her had become a bittersweet romance.

"... Now you know, don't you?"

Yan Liang awkwardly struggled in his arms for a moment. Actually, this position wasn't particularly awkward for either of them; they were husband and wife, and when they were truly affectionate, they'd done much more intimate things. But now, Yan Liang felt a little uncomfortable, not out of repulsion or resistance, but … she felt a deep uncertainty, as if even their feelings for each other had changed slightly.

“Xi Cheng, let me sit back down.” Liang Xi Cheng’s gaze, illuminated by the orange light, flickered slightly. He reached out and placed his hand directly on her hip, frowning. “Don’t move.”

“…”

“Yan Liang, it’s been so long since I’ve held you, so long since I’ve kissed you, so long since … Do you know how much I’ve missed you?”

Yan Liang’s face changed slightly, then she quickly lowered her eyes shyly. “… I … I’m not completely recovered yet. I’m afraid you might catch it too. You should be careful.”

“No, no …” Liang Xi Cheng’s thin lips drew close to hers, his breath hot as he spoke, his movements a series of kisses, wanting to kiss her, but not deeply. A tingling sensation ran through Yan Liang's body. She let out a soft moan and pushed against his chest. Liang Xi Cheng couldn't resist and kissed her lips again. When he spoke again, his tone was clearly tinged with desire, "I'm sorry. It's not that I didn't want to come see you these past few days, it's just that I really couldn't. Leaving you alone inside for eight days was torture for you, and for me too."

He knew there were some things he shouldn't say, but he also knew that Yan Liang was always strong-willed. Some things, even if you try to hide them or not mention them, won't simply fade from her memory. It was better to let her face them bravely; that way, her wounds would heal faster.

He pulled her into his arms, took a deep breath, and said, "... I'm so sorry about the child. I should take full responsibility for all of this, my wife. I don't expect you to forgive me, but from now on, I will protect you and stay by your side. This will never happen again."

The mention of the child was still a wound in her heart. She instinctively gripped the back of his shirt, tears welling up and falling, landing on the back of her hand before sliding down his back. Her voice choked with sobs, she said, "It's my fault ... it's all my fault ... I was careless. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, baby ... I'm so sorry, my child ..."

"Shh, don't cry, be good. You did nothing wrong. You were very brave." Liang Xi Cheng reached out to wipe away the tears that were making his heart ache, then took a piece of paper from his pocket. He turned her around, letting her sit on his lap again, and handed her the paper. It was an ultrasound image.

Yan Liang blinked in surprise, tears welling up and falling onto the ultrasound paper. She frantically wiped them away, but the tears only increased. "...

Is this ... is this our child?"

"Yes." Seeing her tears welling up, Liang Xi Cheng gently pulled out his scarf to wipe them away. "... The day you were about to be taken to the operating room, I asked Dean Wu to arrange for an ultrasound. Dean Wu told me that this—" He pointed with his long finger to a small, dark dot on the paper, his voice a mixture of pain and relief, "This is our ... child, because it's not yet the time. Dean Wu said we could tell the gender in three months, so he checked for us. It's a girl … Yan Liang, our daughter. I think she'll grow up to be as beautiful as you, captivating everyone."

Yan Liang's tears finally overflowed. She gripped the ultrasound paper tightly, her ten fingers trembling. She felt a dull, throbbing pain in her lower abdomen. She felt nauseous; her throat felt like it was blocked by a huge rock, and her stomach felt hard and full, but she couldn't get it out. So she could only cry.

Her vision blurred, and the small black dot on the ultrasound paper became indistinct, yet something seemed to gradually become clearer.

Slowly, that small black dot transformed into a face—large eyebrows and eyes, a small mouth, bright red lips, and a straight nose like her father's.

—That was her angel, her daughter.

But it's gone. She brought her into this world, but didn't give her a chance to experience it, not even to meet her parents before she left.

"Don't cry." Liang Xi Cheng felt a pang of heartache seeing her like this; her tears wouldn't stop no matter how much he wiped them away. He sighed, "Don't cry. It hurts me to see you crying like this. Yan Liang, don't cry. We can have more children in the future, we can have many children ..."

"But ... it's not her anymore, not this child."

"Yan Liang ..."

"Xi Cheng, give her a name." Yan Liang pressed her face against his chest, her slender white fingers gently tracing a spot on the ultrasound image, and then said, "Our love was deep, but our fate was shallow. I tried desperately to keep her, but I still couldn't."

"Let's call her Yuan Qian (meaning 'Shallow Fate'), okay?"

"Okay, whatever you say." Yan Liang sniffed, carefully folded the ultrasound image, and put it in her pocket.

Seeing that she had finally calmed down from crying, Liang Xi Cheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said seriously, "I hope you can get through this. Yan Liang, this time, it hurt you too much. I know you can't accept it right away, so after you recover, I still hope you can go to SGA." Seeing her expression change again, Liang Xi Cheng quickly reached out and cupped her cheeks, leaning down to gently kiss her. He patiently said, "Listen to me, sending you away is a last resort, but I promise, it's just for you to go to school there. When you come back, I will resolve everything here. Give me some time, okay?"

She has recovered now. Although she lost her child, as long as she is in A City, he is certain that Ye's family parents will not let this go!

 

Chapter 151        |        TOC        |        Chapter 153