Xiao Shuran felt a sudden tightness in her chest and a blur in front of her eyes.
How could she not understand what Chu Yan meant by those words?
There was no need for further confirmation.
What Ye Yanxi had said before was true, and so was that news report.
He was really determined to divorce her.
How could Xiao Shuran agree to such a thing? Immediately, she roared into the phone, "Chu! Don't think you can bully me so easily. Now that you think I'm incapacitated, you've started an affair with that vixen. Let me tell you, you'll never get that bastard into the Chu family."
"Shuran, what do you mean by that?"
"Don't you know what I mean?" Xiao Shuran sneered. "Anyway, I'm from the Xiao family. If you want to go back on your word and divorce me now, you have to get the Xiao family's approval!"
"The Xiao family?" Chu Yan scoffed. "Do you think the Xiao family will still care about you now? You poisoned your own mother out of sheer madness. Since you were hospitalized, has anyone from the Xiao family come to see you? Do you think they'll still acknowledge you as a member of the Xiao family?"
Xiao Shuran trembled with anger but was helpless.
"Even without the Xiao family's support, I'm still your lawfully wedded wife. As long as I don't sign the divorce papers, you can't divorce me."
"Do you think I have no way out if you don't sign? Legally, as long as a couple has been separated for a year, I can then file for divorce on the grounds of a broken marriage. By then, you'll be at your wit's end." Chu Yan calmly stated this cruel fact. "It's okay if you don't want to sign now. I can wait for another year. When the court grants the divorce, you won't even get the 100 - million - yuan compensation."
"Chu Yan, you're a bastard, despicable and shameless! How could I have fallen for a man like you!" Xiao Shuran cursed loudly. Her voice was hoarse after shouting for so long.
"I'll give you time to think it over. You can call me when you've made up your mind. After all, we were once husband and wife, and I won't be too harsh on you. I'll pay for your medical expenses during your hospitalization."
"I've taken more money from the Xiao family than what you're offering me now. You think you can force me to divorce you with just 100 million? Dream on!"
"Anyway, the compensation is 100 million. Whether you think it's too much or too little, that's the amount. I'll give you three days to think it over. Remember to call me after you've thought it through. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that the hospital you'll stay in later will be better than this one." Chu Yan still spoke in a calm tone.
Xiao Shuran gritted her teeth. "Chu Yan, you're taking advantage of my misfortune..."
Before she could finish scolding, Chu Yan hung up the phone first.
"Damn it, son of a..." Xiao Shuran still stared angrily at the phone.
Ye Yanxi picked up the phone. Xiao Shuran immediately got annoyed. "Ye Yanxi, if you call him again, I won't let this bastard get away with it."
By now, Xiao Shuran had long lost her overbearing aura, but she still maintained a haughty and self - unaware attitude.
This not only made Ye Yanxi feel a bit sorry for her but also made her seem more hateful. After all, she had brought all this upon herself.
"Uncle Chu has made himself very clear just now. You'd better take care of yourself."
After saying that, Ye Yanxi was about to leave the ward when Xiao Shuran called out to her.
"Wait... Ye Yanxi, you're my sister - in - law now. When your sister is in trouble, are you and Xiao Yu just going to stand by and do nothing? Tell Xiao Yu to teach Chu Yan a good lesson. It'd be best if he could make his company go bankrupt. I don't believe he'll still be so arrogant."
Even now, Xiao Shuran was still self - centered, thinking that everyone revolved around her.
Ye Yanxi didn't answer her but left the ward directly.
She had already wasted a lot of time here. She didn't know how things were going with Xiao Yu. She had to go downstairs to find him.
Hurrying downstairs all the way, Ye Yanxi rushed straight to the hospital entrance, looking around for Xiao Yu's figure. But accidentally, she bumped into someone coming towards her. The fruits in that person's hand scattered all over the ground and rolled to Ye Yanxi's feet.
Ye Yanxi knew she had caused trouble. She quickly apologized while helping the person pick up the fruits. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
The street - sprinkler had just passed by, and the ground was still wet. Each fruit picked up was covered with mud. Ye Yanxi walked up to the person with the fruits apologetically. "I'm really sorry. The fruits are dirty. How about this? I'll go to the supermarket next to the entrance and buy you a new bag."
The other person was wearing a big hat with the brim pulled very low. Ye Yanxi couldn't see the person's face at all. She could only see the thin chin that was exposed. Judging from the figure, it was a tall and thin man.
"No need." The man's voice was a bit hoarse. "The person I'm going to visit is about to be discharged from the hospital. I don't need these fruits anymore."
"But I bumped into you. I should compensate you for the loss!" Ye Yanxi thought for a while and then took out a 100 - yuan check from her bag and handed it to the man. "This money is for the loss. I'm really sorry."
After apologizing, Ye Yanxi left in a hurry without ever seeing the man's face.
The man still held the 100 - yuan bill in his hand. His eyes followed Ye Yanxi's direction. Under the brim of his hat, one could faintly see a cold and hard curve on the man's lips.
What a kind but stupid woman!
Ye Yanxi didn't find Xiao Yu at the entrance, so she went back to the hospital and walked around in the garden. She still didn't see him. Just as she was about to call him, Xiao Yu's voice came from behind her.
"Xiaoxi, I'm here."
Ye Yanxi turned around and sure enough saw Xiao Yu standing beside a pavilion looking at her.
It was already evening, and the twilight was approaching. Under the street lamp, Xiao Yu's handsome face looked hazy and a bit gentle. He was tall and slender, with one hand casually in his suit pocket. Every move of his exuded a noble aura, as if he had stepped out of a dream.
Ye Yanxi walked towards him with a smile. "I thought I'd find you first, but I didn't expect you to find me first."
Xiao Yu just stared fixedly at Ye Yanxi as she slowly approached. His deep eyes seemed to suck people in.
Just when Ye Yanxi couldn't help but want to break the silent atmosphere by speaking, Xiao Yu reached out and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tightly with both arms and then rested his head on her shoulder.
Ye Yanxi opened her eyes wide. There were patients and their families coming and going around. She blushed with embarrassment but still obediently let Xiao Yu hug her without pushing him away.
Suddenly, Ye Yanxi felt that even someone as powerful as Xiao Yu could have weak moments. This moment of his slight show of weakness was a sign that he trusted her completely, and it also showed that he was really feeling very unhappy.
Ye Yanxi sighed and comfortingly patted Xiao Yu's shoulder. Just like every time she was wronged and Xiao Yu would gently console her, she said, "Xiao Yu, it's okay. No matter what happens in the future, I won't leave you. We'll always be together until we're old."
After saying that, Ye Yanxi felt that Xiao Yu seemed a bit emotional and hugged her even tighter. She just obediently let Xiao Yu lean on her, giving him the strength of comfort.
She didn't accidentally overhear the conversation between the two at the ward door. She was just afraid that their tempers were both a bit impatient and they would quarrel at the slightest provocation, which would only make their relationship more tense and estranged.
She didn't expect to hear such a shocking truth. And she was really stunned when she stood at the door.
Not to mention that Xiao Yu had been hiding such a secret in his heart for so many years. No wonder he still harbored hatred until now.
Xiao Qingnian died right in front of him when he was less than ten years old. What a huge blow and cruelty it was for a child. And yet, Huo Lin chose to leave at that time.
The more desperate he was then, the more sad and resentful he was towards Huo Lin now.
Huo Lin always cared about her illegitimate child and didn't care about them at all. Xiao Yu probably had long given up hoping for Huo Lin's attention. Now that he heard this fact with his own ears, it was hard for him to accept.
Ye Yanxi knew that she couldn't really understand how he felt at this moment. So she could only offer her shoulder for him to lean on, to give him warmth, and to let him know that even if the whole world abandoned him, she would always be by his side.
She didn't know how long they maintained such an awkward posture. Anyway, Ye Yanxi felt that her legs were going numb when Xiao Yu finally gently let her go.
Xiao Yu's face had returned to normal. His eyes were once again full of his usual strength and calmness. On weekdays, he always hid all his emotions with such a cold and detached attitude. At this moment, Ye Yanxi felt that he might really be feeling better.
"Okay, it's getting late. The baby in your belly must be hungry. Let's go back." Xiao Yu took her hand and walked in front.
Seeing his rare relaxed tone, Ye Yanxi just let him pull her and followed behind. "You only care about the baby. I'm hungry too. Why don't you even ask about me?"
Xiao Yu glanced back at her. "Isn't the baby the same as you now?"
"How is it the same?" Ye Yanxi deliberately pouted and said unhappily, "He is him, and I am me. He hasn't been born yet, and you're already so partial. What will happen in the future?"
After saying that, Ye Yanxi pretended to be angry and deliberately stopped walking. No matter how hard Xiao Yu pulled her, she was determined to stay where she was.
Xiao Yu stared at her for a few seconds, then with a wave of his long arm, he directly picked her up by the waist and walked towards the car.
"Ah, put me down quickly!" With so many people watching, Ye Yanxi blushed with embarrassment and randomly slapped Xiao Yu's chest.
"Let's take the baby and you back for dinner."
"..."
On the way back, after much thought, Ye Yanxi decided to tell Xiao Yu about Xiao Shuran.
Anyway, Xiao Shuran was from the Xiao family. No matter what Xiao Yu planned to do, she thought it was necessary to tell him.
"Xiao Yu, I went to see your eldest sister before I came down today."
Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Shuran was mentioned, Xiao Yu's face darkened. "What does she want to do?"
"Mr. Chu wants to divorce her now. She wants to..."
"Right now, the only people I care about are Grandpa, you, and the baby. The rest... have nothing to do with me."