Chapter 111 - 21. An ambitious woman
Chapter 111: 21. An ambitious woman
He Yi went to pack some things and walked out holding Wan Wan’s hand. She said to Yi Liangze, “I’ll go with her. Let Xiao Chi come with me!”
She didn’t say that she would drive, nor did she say that Yi Liangze would drive her. Instead, she used a compromise method and asked that Xiao Chi drive her and Wan Wan.
Yi Liangze’s face was frighteningly gloomy. After a moment of silence, he coldly decided, “Let Xiao Chi send Wan Wan back!”
He Yi was a little embarrassed and explained in a low voice, “She cried so much, I’m not at ease!” After a pause, she asked him again, “Are you at ease to let her see Chu Tianyi alone?”
“I’m very at ease!” Yi Liangze raised his eyebrows. “Isn’t it because he raised this girl that he’s so indebted to her that he’ll never forget her?”
“No!” He Yi firmly disagreed. “I have to stay with her!” She was a little anxious, and some words were not convenient to say in front of Wan Wan. “She’ll be back soon!”
Yi Liangze did not speak anymore. His nostrils fluttered as if he was breathing heavily.
He Yi could not comfort him anymore, so she forced herself to lead Wan Wan out. Wan Wan had been dragging her and she could not stay even if she wanted to.
“If Wan Wan wants to stay, then let her stay!” Yi Liangze said from behind her. “Why bother? She’s crying like this as if I’m abusing her!”
“Mom, let’s go!” Want Wan tugged at He Yi again, looking very happy. This was because Yi Liangze said that she could stay in Xingyue bay, he did not force her to come back!
“...” He Yi was speechless.
How could the two of them fight? She was in a dilemma!
*
......
Xiao Chi was waiting there. She had received Yi Liangze’s order. Seeing her walking out with Wan Wan, he quickly got out of the car and opened the door for them.
He Yi and Wan Wan got into the car and said, “To Xingyue bay!”
Xiao Chi closed the car door and looked at He Yi’s expression through the rearview mirror. He wanted to say something but hesitated.
He Yi said indifferently, “Say what you want to say!”
Xiao Chi started the car and couldn’t help but say, “Young madam, I remember the first time I saw you!”
“...” He Yi was speechless. The first time she saw Xiao Chi was undoubtedly the most embarrassing moment in her life. When Xiao Chi mentioned this matter, it was definitely to remind her of Chu Tianyi’s ruthlessness toward her.
“Fortunately, you met young Master that day!” Xiao Chi drove while trying to brainwash He Yi. “Chu Tianyi is too ruthless! He didn’t even let you see the child, and he even chased you out of the house on a rainy day!” As he said that, he shook his head repeatedly with a very indignant expression.
He Yi finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Xiao Chi, you spoke a little too much today.”
He wasn’t usually a talkative person. Today’s abnormal reaction undoubtedly reflected a fact – He must have been ordered by someone!
She could bet with her life who the one was that ordered him!
Yi Liangze’s fate-choosing Xiao Chi had reminded He Yi of Chu Tianyi’s ruthlessness towards her, but was he afraid that she would take Wan Wan back to Chu Tianyi today to rekindle their old relationship? This was too ridiculous!
But for some reason, He Yi couldn’t get angry. She understood Yi Liangze’s feelings and thought of a way to comfort him.
She had to let Xiao Chi know that she wasn’t a fool, and he didn’t have to listen to his master’s arrangements.
“How could I forget something that you remember so clearly? It’s just one thing and another. I don’t want to talk about those unpleasant things in front of Wan Wan!” He Yi said indifferently.
Xiao Chi was a little embarrassed. He chuckled and said, “I’m talking too much!”
He Yi forced a smile. “I know you mean well! I want to say that I remember everything that happened in the past. I didn’t forget it!”
*
When they reached Xingyue bay, He Yi got out of the car with Wan Wan and walked to the door. She rang the doorbell, and Xiao Chi parked the car in the shade of a tree around the corner and waited.
The door opened. The smart electronic door opened automatically. The owner inside must have seen the mother and daughter.
When they walked in, the courtyard was a little empty and quiet. Other than the chirping of birds and the chirping of insects, there was no other sound.
The villa was quiet as if no one was living there.
He Yi paused for a moment, wondering if she should give Chu Tianyi a call. But she felt that it was unnecessary. If he didn’t see her, he probably wouldn’t have opened the electronic door.
After some hesitation, she took Wan Wan up the stairs.
Fortunately, Chu Tianyi came out to welcome her.
After not seeing him for a few days, Chu Tianyi seemed to have lost weight again, but his mental state was still good.
His footsteps were a little hurried, which was different from his usual steady pace. His expression also changed from his usual indifference, and he looked a little excited. “Wan Wan!”
Wan Wan stopped in her tracks and raised her small face. She met Chu Tianyi’s gaze for a few seconds before she broke away from He Yi’s hand and pounced on Chu Tianyi with joy. “Daddy!”
They ran towards each other at the fastest speed possible, so much so that He Yi couldn’t see till they were hugging each other.
Chu Tianyi hugged Wan Wan and kissed her impulsively. Then, he hugged her tightly in his arms, as if she was a treasure that had been lost and regained. “Do you miss Daddy?”
“Yes.” Wan Wan happily pressed herself against Chu Tianyi’s heart and announced sweetly, “Wan Wan misses Daddy!”
This should be a very touching scene of a father and daughter meeting, even though the father and daughter were not related by blood.
At this moment, He Yi also believed that Chu Tianyi truly loved Wan Wan. Because a child’s heart was the most sensitive. She knew best whether you were sincere or pretending. It was impossible to fool her.
“I’ve already done what I promised you!” Chu Tianyi slightly closed his eyes and emotionally said to the child in his arms, “We’re the only ones at home... the two of us!”
He Yi was slightly stunned. She vaguely heard that He and Su Anqi had agreed to a divorce, but she didn’t expect it to be true!
“It’s true!” Wan Wan was extremely happy. She had finally looked forward to this day. “Daddy is so good!”
After saying that, to express her satisfaction with this result and to praise Chu Tianyi, she kissed his cheek.
Chu Tianyi opened his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. He pinched her cute little nose affectionately. “Little Brat!”
The father and daughter got along well with each other. During the days when they were separated, they didn’t feel estranged at all. It was as if they had just parted yesterday.
“Father.” Wan Wan blinked her big watery eyes and mysteriously moved closer to Chu Tianyi’s ear as if she was offering him a most precious treasure as a greeting gift. “I brought my mother back!”
Chu Tianyi hugged Wan Wan, but his body could not help but tremble slightly. He seemed to have mustered up a lot of courage to cast his gaze toward He Yi.
He Yi had been looking at him and studying him. At this moment, their eyes met. Her gaze was as cold as usual, but he was suddenly shocked.
The two of them kept looking at each other. Neither of them said anything as if they had forgotten to exchange pleasantries.
That day at the law firm, Chu Tianyi had told Cheng Jinglin that he and He Yi were a married couple. He couldn’t even compare to Cheng Jinglin who could exchange pleasantries after a long separation. She and he were so estranged that they didn’t even want to say a word.
“Dad,” Wan Wan reminded him when she saw Chu Tianyi staring at He Yi in a daze without any intention of inviting her in. “Mom and I are thirsty!”
“Oh!” Chu Tianyi came back to his senses and said to He Yi “Come in!”
*
The house hadn’t been transferred yet, but it would be returned to He Yi.
Chu Tianyi did not seem to notice this. He still regarded himself as the owner of the house and invited her into the house to drink tea.
He Yi did not object because she had promised Wan Wan that the house would be free for Chu Tianyi to live in forever.
When she entered the house, she could feel the subtle changes.
The house was not as bright and clean as before because there were no servants to clean it.
Chu Tianyi was not good at housework, and he was not good at cleaning. Even so, overall, it was still acceptable. At least, the teacups and plates were clean.
He took some water from the water dispenser to make tea and then went to get some fresh fruits, dried fruits, and candied snacks. He was prepared to receive them today.
“Mom, eat this!” Wan Wan instantly became the little master here and warmly welcomed her mother. “I like to eat this the most!”
He Yi helped Wan Wan peel the osmanthus stem, melon seeds, and peanut flesh... occasionally, she would also eat some.
The room was very quiet. There was no background music playing.
Just as the mother and daughter were sitting and drinking tea and eating, Chu Tianyi moved the piano over.
Since he was the only one in the house, no one would care about the decorations. The piano was placed in the tea room. He skillfully tuned the tune and waved at Wan Wan. “Wan Wan, come here!”
He Yi was slightly stunned. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt that he was in a good mood!
Although he was still serious and unsmiling, the frost that had been frozen between his brows for years seemed to have melted. He was gentle and calm, without the aggressive and cruel coldness.
Even when Wan Wan skipped over to play the piano, the corners of his mouth were slightly curved.
However, he kept avoiding He Yi’s gaze, as if he was a little embarrassed.
He Yi continued to be in a daze. This Chu Tianyi reminded her of her university days. When they first got together, he was also like this. He always avoided her fiery gaze, appearing a little shy.
He was a man completely different from Yi Liangze. He didn’t seem to know how to flirt. When they were together, he never touched her.
He Yi would occasionally think about her and Chu Tianyi. If shehadn’t encountered that unlucky night on the cruise, and if she wasn’t pregnant, he kept a modest and gentlemanly distance from her, and he never crossed the line.
Later, she concluded that he did not like her!
He just did not like her! Otherwise... She had seen Yi Liangze’s shamelessness, and only then did she understand that men were not all as cold as Chu Tianyi.
Wan Wan played the familiar tune skillfully, singing as she played, “Gardenia Blossoms, so beautiful, so white, this season we will leave...”
He Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and she could not help but bite her lip. For a moment, she could not tell what she was feeling.
She thought Chu Tianyi would be angry and not want to hear this tune again, but the truth was that he was listening very seriously, focused, and seemed to enjoy it. There was even a certain light in his eyes.
“Your shy girl, who is hard to part with, is like a wave of fragrance lingering in my heart...”
Wan Wan was playing and singing attentively. Chu Tianyi was looking at Wan Wan attentively while He Yi was looking at Chu Tianyi.
He had indeed changed a lot. Some of his actions were even hard to understand.
He originally thought that Rong Yi’s bankruptcy would be a huge blow to him. That he would be unable to recover and drown his sorrows with alcohol.
When she first heard the news of Chu Tianyi’s divorce, she thought it was fake. But now, it seemed like it was true! But the strange thing was, even though both his career and marriage had failed, his entire person became bright. He was even filled with a kind of relaxed joy and warmth and peace that she had never felt before.
“Gardenia Blossoms, gardenia blossoms, it’s a faint youth, pure love!”
Unknowingly, the song ended. He Yi woke up from her shock and realized that she had been distracted by Chu Tianyi just now.
Chu Tianyi finally turned around and looked at her again.
He Yi could feel that every time he looked at her, there was a heavy and cautious feeling. Only when he looked at Wan Wan did he completely relax and let out a feeling of love and joy from the bottom of his heart.
When he looked at her, there was no smile in his eyes. Instead, there was an uneasy flicker that swept past her and she avoided it with a glance.
He Yi knew that he wanted to be alone with Wan Wan, but she could not give him this chance. It was not easy for her to get the child back. She could not allow him to brainwash her again, even though the child had been thoroughly brainwashed.
“Wan Wan, when you return to your mother’s side, do you practice the piano every day?” Chu Tianyi began to ask Wan Wan about her daily life.
“Sometimes I practice, sometimes I don’t.” Wan Wan felt a little guilty because she had to practice every day by Chu Tianyi’s side. He was extremely strict with her and never allowed her to slack off.
“Did your mother not teach you how to practice the piano?” Chu Tianyi frowned and asked.
Wan Wan shook her head and said truthfully, “Mom never practiced the piano!”
Chu Tianyi looked at He Yi again with obvious dissatisfaction. “Wan Wan is very talented in piano. I thought you would at least give her some pointers!”
He Yi couldn’t help but sneer in her heart. This man lived in her house and took care of her daughter. He had no right to question her about her lack of education. Had he not figured out who was Wan Wan’s guardian? He still did not seem to understand the situation and assumed the identity of the master and father. Now he still had the face to question her, complaining that she had not done her best in Wan Wan’s education.
He pursed his lips and was silent for a moment. He Yi suppressed her emotions and then said in a calm tone, “My left thumb tendon has been cut. I can’t play the piano anymore!”
Chu Tianyi was stunned. He could not help but touch the tendon of his right thumb. It was cut by a mysterious person when he was in the hospital. Until now, the murderer had not been found. It had become an unsolved case. He knew very well who the instigator was. It was just that he had not been able to figure out the reason.
Now he finally understood why Yi Liangze had taken revenge. Yi Liangze blamed Chu Tianyi for He Yi’s suffering in prison. He did the same thing, letting him experience the pain of being disabled. The difference was that He Yi was injured in her left hand, while he was injured in his right hand. He Yi could no longer play the piano, but he couldn’t even hold a pen.
It turned out that she had encountered such terrible things after being imprisoned! Chu Tianyi knew that she must have suffered a lot during her five years in prison. The disability of her left thumb should only be one of them.
“Yi Liangyi is quite good at standing up for you!” Chu Tianyi’s tone was a little sour and his smile was cold. “Congratulations on marrying a good man!”
He Yi said indifferently, “I heard that you and Su Anqi divorced!”
Chu Tianyi shut his mouth and refused to answer.
“Congratulations on your freedom!” He Yi fought back perfectly.
Chu Tianyi turned around and no longer looked at her. Instead, he focused on enjoying another piece of Wan Wan’s music.
At some point, she walked behind him and said, “Can I talk to you?”
*
Want Wan played a few pieces in a row. When she saw Chu Tianyi and He Yi sitting there talking about something in a low voice, she was so happy that she couldn’t help but smile.
Want Wan took a cup of hot coconut dew and drank it. After that, she continued to play the piano.
Amidst the melodious music, He Yi and Chu Tianyi were talking about how to restart Rong Yi.
Chu Tianyi didn’t expect her to think of restarting Rong Yi. He was startled and said, “Rong Yi has already declared bankruptcy!”
“Such a short period shouldn’t have much of an impact on it!” He Yi didn’t expect Chu Tianyi to be so heartless as to strangle Rong Yi. That was the hard work of his many years of operation. It was such a pity. “If you’re willing to help me, we can bring it back to life!”
Chu Tianyi looked at her, his chest heaving up and down.
“Rong Yi is your painstaking effort over the years. I believe you don’t want to see it disappear forever!” He Yi had made up her mind. “Bring it back to life, we’ll work hard together. If you’re willing, I can hire you to be the director of the group!”
“Clang!” Chu Tianyi almost knocked over the cup in his hand.
He Yi quickly stopped talking. She sized him up for a while and then softened a step. “I’m not forcing you, I just hope that you can consider it!”
Chu Tianyi lowered his eyes and did not say anything.
He Yi sized him up repeatedly. There was no cold hostility between his brows like in the past, but it had become silent and peaceful. She believed that he had completely let go of his hatred for her and the He family, which was why he was like this!
However, it didn’t seem to be just that. In the past, Chu Tianyi wasn’t only cold towards her, he was also cold towards others. There was always a sharp and ruthless look in his eyes. Now, his state of mind seemed to have returned to normal. His entire person had been polished to the point of being gentle.
This meant that he no longer had any hatred in his heart!
Her feelings weren’t wrong. After losing everything, he had changed from the hatred of the past. She believed that this kind of peaceful life was what he wanted. Of course, she would not agree to let Wan Wan live with him.
But he had another choice, and that was to do things for her. As long as he was willing to help her, she would not object to letting him meet Wan Wan.
After a long time, Chu Tianyi finally raised his eyes and looked at her with a strange gaze. “You changed!”
He Yi smiled slightly, not surprised at all. “People change! Especially people like me, who have experienced so much. If it’s still the same as before, then there’s a hole in my brain!”
Chu Tianyi’s eyes flashed, somewhat embarrassed. Most of her experiences were related to him, and the hardships she had experienced were all caused by him.
He Yi did not ignore the subtle change in his expression. He pressed on, “What do you think?”
“If you do this, Will Yi Liangze agree?” A provocative sarcasm flashed across Chu Tianyi’s eyes.
“This is my business!” He Yi seemed a little surprised. “Is it important whether he agrees or not?”
Chu Tianyi was stunned. He looked at her for a long time before nodding slightly. “Yes, I’ll think about it!”
This was already a good answer. He Yi was very satisfied. She looked at Wan Wan, who had finished playing another song, and waved her hand, “Wan Wan, take a rest!”
Wan Wan ran over and hugged her mother. Then, she jumped into Chu Tianyi’s arms and refused to come out.
She had never taken over Chu Tianyi’s arms like this before. She didn’t even dare to look at him and get too close to him. This was because Su Anqi would scold and hit her, and Chu Tianyi’s body was always emitting a coldness that kept others a thousand miles away. She didn’t dare to get too close to him.
It was different now. No one was competing with Wan Wan for Chu Tianyi’s embrace anymore. Moreover, he was so gentle and doting on her, which made her feel nostalgic and happy.
He Yi asked, “Are you hungry? I’ll get the restaurant to deliver food!”
Before Wan Wan could answer, Chu Tianyi said to her, “I’ll cook! At noon, I’ll cook for you guys!”
*
Chu Tianyi did know how to cook. Although he was the second generation of an official, he had never been spoiled. When he was in university, he worked hard and studied hard. He even rented a house outside the university for the convenience of working. He even learned how to cook.
He was very smart and skillful. He could cook the simplest dishes with great flavor according to the recipe. She often went to his rented house to taste the delicious food. It was a good memory for both of them.
In the afternoon, Chu Tianyi personally cooked four dishes and a soup. He served them hot on the table. Just as he sat down and was about to eat, Xiao Chi came in.
“Young madam,” Xiao Chi said to her, “Young master has a stomachache. Please call him back!”
He Yi had no choice but to put down her chopsticks, stand up, and go to the side to call Yi Liangze back.
The smile that had just appeared on Chu Tianyi’s face slowly disappeared, and he shot a cold glance at Xiao Chi. “You broke into a house illegally. I can call the police to arrest you right now!”
He had closed the main door, but this kid climbed the wall to get in.
Xiao Chi shrugged his shoulders innocently. “The situation is urgent. There’s nothing I can do. Please forgive me, Mr. Chu!”
He had a gentle personality and a sunny smile. He never spoke harshly, and he had rarely spoken loudly to anyone before.
“Oh, how urgent is it? Is he at the emergency room or the morgue?” Chu Tianyi could not help but mock him. “If that’s the case, I will personally send him a wreath and bow three times to congratulate him on his premature death!”
Xiao Chi was stunned. Then, he hesitated whether he should fight with Chu Tianyi or not. Otherwise, if Yi Liangze found out, wouldn’t he scold him for being useless and send him away? Wouldn’t that be terrible? He glanced at He Yi, but she was busy calling Yi Liangze.
“... Did you ask Doctor Zhang to come over and take a look? Maybe he ate something bad! ... I can’t go back now! You eat first... No, I can’t leave Wan Wan here by herself!” He Yi firmly disagreed.
“I’ll ask Xiao Chi to call Dr. Zhang Right now. You hang in there for a while!” He Yi coaxed and persuaded him, and finally hung up the phone. She ordered Xiao Chi, “Quickly find Dr. Zhang and let him take a look!”
Xiao Chi agreed, but he still stood there without moving. “Young Madam, do you plan to stay here and eat?”
He Yi was a little embarrassed, but she didn’t change her decision. “Yes! But I hope you don’t talk nonsense in front of him. Also... After dinner, I still have some business to discuss with Mr. Chu!”
Even though Yi Liangze called with a stomach ache and despite Xiao Chi’s warning, she still insisted on finishing the meal.
Chu Tianyi was very happy and expressed it immediately. “Although I can’t be hired by Rong Yi Group, if you want it, I can do my best to help you!”
That was exactly what she wanted! She smiled sweetly. “Thank you!”
*
It was already 3:30 pm when they returned to the car.
Xiao Chi was bored from waiting. When he saw her bringing Wan Wan into the car, he could not help but smile. “Fortunately, Little Miss is willing to go back with us!”
It seemed that Yi Liangze had already made preparations for Wan Wan to stay at Xingyue bay.
He Yi smiled and said, “Of course, she has to go back! I’m her biological mother, Yi Liangze is her biological father! However, Chu Tianyi has brought Wan Wan up, so it’s only right for him to come back occasionally to see her!”
Want Wan’s big eyes flickered as she retorted softly, “Mom, didn’t you say that he’s my enemy? Everything he has is taken from Grandpa, so he didn’t bring Wan Wan up?”
He Yi was a little embarrassed to be questioned like this in front of Xiao Chi. She realized that this little thing was becoming more and more difficult to deal with. “Wan Wan, Mom said this to take care of your emotions and feelings! If you don’t like him, of course, we don’t have to come and see him anymore!”
“Mom, if dad is willing to help you open a company, will you marry him?” Wan Wan asked.
He Yi was stunned and quickly said, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
This child, how could she know everything? Nothing could be hidden from her! What a brat!
Wan Wan looked at He Yi with a strange gaze.
He Yi looked at Xiao Chi who was listening attentively with his ears propped up, she sighed helplessly. “Mom is already married to Dad. Our family of four is a family! How can she marry another man? Don’t spout nonsense in the future!”
*
He Yi personally called Doctor Zhang to ask about Yi Liangze’s condition, but doctor Zhang said that he did not go to treat him.
By the time she returned to Jinxiu Hua Ting, Yi Liangze had already disappeared.
Xiao Chi called Yi Liangze’s number, but the other party’s phone was turned off.
He Yi personally dialed his number, the number that he had specially reserved for her. It was rumored that he would always be open to her. The last time she was in danger in Cangzhou, she had asked that number for help, and with his timely help, she had gotten out of the predicament.
Although there seemed to be some small grudges between them at the moment, He Yi was confident that they could resolve it again. Everything needed to be communicated. As long as she was sincere, she believed that she could make him understand.
She dialed several times in a row. Although she dialed, Yi Liangze did not answer.
He Yi hung up and sent him a message: I have decided to resurrect Rong Yi, and I need your help!
The message was sent, but there was no reply. She waited patiently until ten minutes later, she finally received a reply from Yi Liangze: Ambitious woman, this is our honeymoon!