Zhao Yunzhou, standing nearby, showed an expression of utter astonishment.
He never expected Yan Hechuan to act so decisively. In just these few short hours, he had already made up his mind to completely sever ties with Tang Yinyao.
But before Assistant Chen could call Tang Yinyao, a plea for help from Tang Yinyao's father came through first.
After answering, Assistant Chen frowned with difficulty and replied to the person on the other end:
"Mhmm, mhmm... Okay, I will relay that to Mr. Yan... Yes, that's right..."
"Alright, once Mr. Yan responds, I will convey it to you..."
Just as he was about to hang up, Yan Hechuan suddenly looked up, his eyes misty and his emotions unreadable.
He interrupted:
"Don't hang up. Tell me directly what happened and convey my response to him right now."
Assistant Chen looked troubled, but he relayed the message verbatim nonetheless:
"According to Mr. Tang, it seems Young Mrs. Du had some friction with Miss Tang, so she got an overseas Chinese businessman from Canada to target the Tang family's businesses."
Hearing this, Yan Hechuan's lips couldn't help but curve into a slight smile.
The scene from that day flashed in his mind.
Those two resolute slaps, and the warm hand that held his.
She had said, 'I'll collect interest.'
His Yueyue, his wonderful Yueyue.
Assistant Chen was dumbfounded.
The Tang family was in trouble, so why did his boss look so gleeful about it?
He continued:
"Mr. Yan, Miss Tang's father is asking for help, hoping our Yan family will intervene. What is your intention..."
Without a second thought, Yan Hechuan stated directly, "I can help them, but the condition is to terminate the engagement."
Assistant Chen hesitated, "So, should I reply to Miss Tang's father with that?"
Yan Hechuan nodded firmly, "Yes!"
Zhao Yunzhou, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes.
It seemed this good show was finally reaching its climax.
He really looked forward to seeing Tang Yinyao's expression then.
...
Xia Liuyue opened her door, bag in hand, and was caught off guard, falling into a broad embrace.
Just thinking for a second, she knew whose it was.
So immediately, she disgustedly swung her bag at him, and her high heels mercilessly stomped on his leather shoes.
The other person grimaced in pain, taking half a step back.
Du Jiashu looked hurt and upset.
"Xia Liuyue, do you hate me that much?"
Tsk.
Xia Liuyue showed a look of disgust and nodded emphatically, "Wouldn't anyone feel disgusted after being hugged by a pig?"
"I'm a pig?" Du Jiashu pointed at himself, furious.
"Oh, no! More like a dog, Tang Yinyao's stinky lapdog." Xia Liuyue bent down to take off her high heels.
Seeing Du Jiashu about to step forward again, she picked up one of the removed heels and threw it at him.
"Get away! Did I say you could come closer?"
A surge of anger and irritation rose in Du Jiashu's heart.
"I am not Tang Yinyao's lapdog! Today, her father called asking for my help, and I refused."
Xia Liuyue took off her other high heel, changed into soft slippers, walked past him, and gave him a meaningful glance.
"What? Not a lapdog anymore? Want me to praise you for that?"
Just as Du Jiashu was about to speak, Xia Liuyue quickly cut him off:
"Stop! Let me guess. You refused Tang Yinyao's father because of Yan Hechuan."
"At the banquet today, Yan Hechuan warned you to stay away from his fiancée."
The other man was stunned.
"How do you know that?" Du Jiashu remembered his wife had left at the time, so the conversation should have been only between him and Yan Hechuan.
Could it be that Yan Hechuan told her!?
Remembering the call from his wife that he had just missed, Du Jiashu couldn't help but suspect, "You weren't just with Yan Hechuan, were you?"
Xia Liuyue smiled and nodded, "Yes, I was."
People can be so confident, and so self-defeating sometimes.
If Xia Liuyue had vehemently denied it, Du Jiashu would have been even more convinced they were together. But precisely because she admitted it so cheerfully,
Du Jiashu thought she was just saying it on purpose to provoke him.
He couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Alright! Although I haven't interacted deeply with Yan Hechuan, I know he's an upright person."
"Even if he found out about my feelings for Yinyao, he wouldn't deliberately get together with you just for revenge."
Xia Liuyue smiled without saying a word.
The facts proved Du Jiashu had only guessed half right.
Yan Hechuan was indeed an old-fashioned type who wouldn't do such a thing for revenge.
But, she would!
Seeing her fall silent, Du Jiashu became even more convinced his guess was correct. His tone softened a bit.
"Liuyue, we are husband and wife after all. There's no need to be so hostile."
"Actually, my mother has talked to me a lot. Even in arranged marriages among wealthy families, couples can respect and support each other. Even if we aren't each other's greatest love, we can still be family."
"I did have some prejudices against you before, but... I'm willing to let go of those issues now."
By 'those issues,' Du Jiashu was referring to Xia Liuyue's many past relationships and ex-boyfriends.
Pfft.
It was just too ridiculous!
Xia Liuyue couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Du Jiashu was somewhat displeased.
Buzz, buzz, buzz. His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Xia Liuyue said slowly, even with a hint of teasing, "Alright, I'm going upstairs to rest. You can deal with your dear Yinyao."
Du Jiashu was just about to retort that the call might not be from Tang Yinyao.
But when he checked, it really was her.
He wanted to say something, but saw Xia Liuyue had already started up the stairs.
He thought for a moment and answered the call first.
From the other end of the line came Tang Yinyao's voice, choked with tears.
Crying again.
After so many times, besides the initial heartache, Du Jiashu now felt a trace of annoyance.
Xia Liuyue never seemed to cry in front of him. She was like a hedgehog, always showing her toughest side to others.
She didn't need saving, like a female warrior who could handle everything herself.
Du Jiashu thought this unconsciously as Tang Yinyao's voice came through the phone.
"Brother Jiashu, wu wu... What should I do? Hechuan wants to break off our engagement..."
Du Jiashu didn't catch it at first.
After Tang Yinyao repeated it, he showed an incredulous expression.
"How is that possible?!"
Just tonight, he had been asserting his claim in front of him, warning him to stay away from Yinyao, and now he was turning around and saying he wanted to break off the engagement?
Was he having a split personality or something?
Tang Yinyao also thought it was impossible when she first heard the message relayed by her father, so she called Assistant Chen herself to confirm.
What came from the other side was Yan Hechuan's icy voice.
"Tang Yinyao, I can solve this problem for you, on the condition that we terminate our engagement."
