Ex-Husband

Early in the morning, Meng Baihan hadn't returned yet, but he didn't mind and got up to wash up.

When it was time for breakfast, he received a message from Meng Baihan.

"I just saw it. By the way, you still haven't told me if you have any plans recently," Meng Baihan asked.

Zhang Yang blinked.

No, Meng Baihan knows he has a girlfriend. Does he really think he could just abandon her and go on a trip with her? Where's his sense of boundaries?

"What, you want to go on a trip with me?" Zhang Yang replied casually. "Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"What are you thinking? You think it's just the two of us? Dream on!" Meng Baihan replied, "Forget it, I know you're a busy man, you should spend more time with your girlfriend."

She sent a yawning emoji with her hand covering her mouth.

Zhang Yang put down his phone and drank a bowl of pumpkin porridge that Song Wenqin had cooked for him early that morning, and his stomach immediately felt quite comfortable.

I had just finished breakfast when Manager Chen called.

"Um."

"Mr. Zhang, I spoke with the owner of Wind and Cloud Barbecue yesterday. He offered to double the rent, but he refused," Manager Chen said cautiously.

"If you don't accept it, then move out," Zhang Yang chuckled.

"Yes, that's what I meant too, so I've asked him to move out by the first of next month," Manager Chen reported.

Zhang Yang nodded, feeling greatly relieved.

Yes, the boss can start over by opening a new store.

However, there is no doubt that moving stores will cause a loss of customers, but how much that loss will be is not something he needs to consider.

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang suddenly remembered something.

"Wouldn't that leave the shop empty?" He suddenly thought of Li Xiaoxuan.

It's quite ironic, actually.

That night, Li Xiaoxuan pleaded with him so softly, but he refused her quite readily.

In the end, after going out for barbecue and getting inexplicably annoyed, didn't he still make the decision to kick them out himself?

"Forget it, I'd better not tell her." Zhang Yang shook his head, abandoning the idea of hinting at it.

He also cares about his image.

In the morning, having nothing to do, he went to Star City Plaza for a stroll as usual.

After all, it's my first real business, so its significance is ultimately different.

He didn't ask Manager Chen to accompany him; he just wandered around by himself, buying a fruit drink on the go and grabbing some snacks from shops that caught his eye.

He went to every nook and cranny, every single detail.

Walk from the first floor to the third floor, and then come down from the third floor.

Suddenly, at a corner of a staircase, he faintly heard what sounded like an argument not far away; the voices seemed somewhat familiar.

Zhang Yang stopped and looked over curiously.

"Hey, isn't this Li Xiaoxuan's shop?" he muttered to himself as he walked straight over.

Before noon, there were few customers in the shop.

Zhang Yang immediately noticed that Li Xiaoxuan was arguing angrily with a mature man in his thirties in front of her.

The man was dressed smartly, paying close attention to his appearance, and at that moment he had his hands in his pockets, looking quite assertive.

"Anyway, I'm determined to get custody of our daughter. It's your business if you disagree," the man said calmly.

"Impossible. Tongtong has to stay with me. Do you even have time to spend with your daughter? From the time she was little until now, how many diapers have you changed for her? How much effort have you put into her? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have some money?" Li Xiaoxuan retorted defiantly.

Occasionally, guests would want to come in for a meal, but upon seeing this, they would come in and then leave.

Zhang Yang stood outside the door and witnessed this scene, feeling a mix of emotions.

Oh, it's my ex-husband.

It's hard to believe that Li Xiaoxuan, with her great figure, is a single mother.

He didn't intend to meddle in other people's family affairs and planned to just walk straight past the door. However, he had only taken a couple of steps when a surprised voice called him back.

"Mr. Zhang!?"

Zhang Yang stopped and saw a figure jog out and stand in front of him.

"Mr. Zhang, what brings you here today?" Li Xiaoxuan looked at Zhang Yang, her eyes filled with a hint of expectation and pleading. "Won't you come in and sit down?"

"No, is it really convenient?" Zhang Yang looked around the store. After a brief moment of surprise, the man inside was staring intently at him.

"It's so convenient, it couldn't be more convenient." Li Xiaoxuan grabbed Zhang Yang's arm.

A short while later, inside the store.

The ex-husband looked at the tall, handsome figure before him, his eyes instantly turning cold. "Li Xiaoxuan, you've moved pretty fast, haven't you? You've already found someone new?"

"Speak more politely. What is your wealth compared to Mr. Zhang's? Every brick and tile in this square belongs to Mr. Zhang." Li Xiaoxuan grabbed Zhang Yang's arm.

Zhang Yang pondered for a moment. Was he being used as a shield for no reason?

Although being used as a shield is not a pleasant thing, sometimes it's okay to lend a helping hand when it's just a small favor, since he doesn't lose anything anyway.

With that thought in mind, Zhang Yang didn't hold back and put his arm around Li Xiaoxuan's shoulder, then slid it down to her waist.

Those soft, fragrant shoulders and slender waist were incredibly warm and tender to hold in my arms.

"Who's this? Your ex-husband?" Zhang Yang raised his chin and asked.

"Yes, my ex-husband." Li Xiaoxuan was being held by Zhang Yang, and her waist twitched slightly, but seeing the burning gaze in her ex-husband's eyes, she immediately became as obedient as possible in his embrace.

Upon hearing this, the ex-husband, who had been arrogant and domineering, suddenly became suspicious and uncertain, his pupils contracting.

"You... you're the owner of Star City World Commercial Street?"

"Yeah, your ex-wife, I've got her under my protection. Get to the point, stop arguing." Zhang Yang glanced at him and casually uttered a cliché line.

It may be melodramatic, but the effect is undeniable.

At least in Zhang Yang's eyes, her ex-husband's face was visibly pale.

"You think you're so great just because you've climbed the social ladder? You're something else!"

He uttered a harsh remark, turned around and left, not daring to linger for even a moment.

After everyone left, Li Xiaoxuan gently shifted in Zhang Yang's arms and whispered a reminder.

"Mr. Zhang, the person has left."

"You're trying to use someone as a shield, at least take a good look at the situation," Zhang Yang casually released Li Xiaoxuan, glancing at her indifferently. "You've got some nerve, using me as a shield?"

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Zhang," Li Xiaoxuan apologized repeatedly, afraid that Zhang Yang would be angry.

"Fine, this won't happen again." Zhang Yang wasn't one to hold grudges.

Li Xiaoxuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Zhang Yang to sit down in a chair, then ran to pour some tea.

"Mr. Zhang, please have some tea."

A moment later, Zhang Yang sipped his tea and looked at Li Xiaoxuan again, feeling a different way.

Single hot moms, young married women...

"So, you don't have custody of your daughter?" Zhang Yang asked casually.

"Yes, he's financially stronger, so it's temporarily with my ex-husband, but I'll definitely find a way to get it back," Li Xiaoxuan said without hesitation.

"So, did you successfully transfer the store?" Zhang Yang asked again.

"I've already found a new store, so I've been really anxious to find a new location and open another shop. That's why I've come to you, Mr. Zhang, for help," Li Xiaoxuan said softly, looking at Zhang Yang with a pleading and touching gaze.

"Well... actually..." Zhang Yang had originally planned to ask for some conditions in return.

It wasn't that Zhang Yang was too harsh on reality, but rather that this young woman was simply too much for people to imagine.

But suddenly, he changed his mind.

She's a single mother, and it's not easy for her to fight for custody of her daughter. Why take advantage of her situation?

Just as Zhang Yang was about to say something, he suddenly felt a heat on his hand.

Huh?

He looked with slight surprise at the pale hand covering his own.

"Mr. Zhang, what do you want to say?" Li Xiaoxuan bit her lip lightly and gently placed her hand on Zhang Yang's hand.

Zhang Yang cursed inwardly. Damn it, he really wanted to stick to his principles, but the reality didn't allow it.

"Xiaoxuan, I understand your difficulties." Zhang Yang covered her with his hand and patted her. "How about this, I'm a bit busy right now, I'll send you an address later, and we can sit down and talk in detail."

"Really?" Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoxuan's eyes lit up with joy, and then her face quickly flushed red.

"Then I'll wait for your letter."

After leaving the store, Zhang Yang circled around downstairs a few more times before turning directly into the hotel where he had stayed last time.

It's close by, after all.

After entering the room, he leisurely took out his phone and sent the room number to Li Xiaoxuan, then went into the bathroom to take a shower.

I had just finished showering and was walking out with a towel wrapped around my waist when there was a knock on the door.

"So fast?" Zhang Yang muttered to himself, then went to open the door.

Outside the door, Li Xiaoxuan twisted her hands together, looking anxious.

"Mr. Zhang." Li Xiaoxuan looked up and saw Zhang Yang's invincible figure, and immediately blushed.

Oh, Mr. Zhang, are you being so direct?

"Come in." Zhang Yang stepped aside to let Li Xiaoxuan in. "Please make yourself at home. I just took a shower. By the way, do you want to shower too?"

Li Xiaoxuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a blush.

A moment later, she came out dressed and stood by the bed, looking slightly bewildered.

Zhang Yang glanced at her and gently patted the spot next to him.

"What are you standing there for? Sit down."

Li Xiaoxuan nodded gently and sat down next to Zhang Yang on the edge of the bed.

"Let's chat a little longer. We didn't get enough of talking at the store. I'd like to hear more about your story," Zhang Yang said with a smile.

Li Xiaoxuan was slightly taken aback, and then began to talk about her past.

As the conversation progressed, it inevitably touched upon some past events that people were unwilling to recall.

"Mr. Zhang, you have no idea how hard it has been for me to run this shop all these years. I don't know who I can talk to about these frustrations." As she spoke, she pulled out a tissue.

"Alright, alright, it's all in the past." Zhang Yang patted Li Xiaoxuan on the back.

As he patted her, Li Xiaoxuan naturally leaned into his arms.

In broad daylight, with the curtains drawn, the two embraced each other without saying a word.

After noon.

Zhang Yang got out of bed feeling refreshed and casually drew back the floor-to-ceiling curtains.

Lying on the bed, Li Xiaoxuan couldn't help but shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight, yet she felt incredibly fulfilled.

It felt like a dream.

"Mr. Zhang, thank you." She looked at his perfectly sculpted figure, bathed in the midday sun, and couldn't help but express her gratitude.

"Thank me for what? It was nothing. Besides, you've done quite a bit too." Zhang Yang said with a smile, while looking at Li Xiaoxuan's long, fair legs exposed outside the sheet.

Recalling the feeling of almost being submerged, even he couldn't help but sigh.

No wonder everyone says married women are good.

It's both effective and excellent; the user experience is truly top-notch.

Feeling Zhang Yang's scrutinizing gaze, Li Xiaoxuan blushed, gave a soft rebuke, and began groping around the bed for clothes.

A moment later, the two of them, dressed neatly, walked out of the room together.

"I'm a little hungry, shall we find somewhere to eat?" Zhang Yang suggested casually, putting his arm around Li Xiaoxuan's slender waist without any hesitation.

"Me too, how about we go to the noodle shop downstairs?" Li Xiaoxuan mustered her courage and took the initiative to hug Zhang Yang's arm, instantly feeling a sense of security.

It was clearly just an exchange.

But for some reason, a sense of security arose in her heart.

Along the way, some shop owners who knew Li Xiaoxuan saw this scene and were all surprised and incredulous.

They certainly didn't know Zhang Yang.

But seeing Li Xiaoxuan nestled so affectionately against that tall figure, everyone knew about their relationship and immediately began to whisper among themselves.

"Isn't that the beautiful single landlady upstairs?"

"Who is this guy? He managed to win over the proprietress? He's got some impressive skills!"

"Judging from the man's appearance, he is tall and handsome, and the proprietress has a rosy complexion and looks like she's eighteen. I suppose her new lover must have some special talent."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Amid the chatter, Manager Chen from the property management company happened to pass by and immediately spotted the two walking together. He quickly ran over to greet them.

"Mr. Zhang! Hello, Mr. Zhang!" He practically bowed and scraped.

"Hmm," Zhang Yang greeted with a smile.

Manager Chen followed closely behind for several steps.

He looked at Li Xiaoxuan, who was now nestled beside his boss, and he immediately understood and admired her a thousand times over.

Ultimately, it has to be the boss.

It's only been a few days, and the stunningly beautiful single boss upstairs has already been won over.

"Oh, right, you can go ahead and get busy," Zhang Yang instructed.

Manager Chen quickly stopped and watched the two figures disappear into the distance.

"Manager Chen, who is this?" Finally, a curious merchant asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Who?" Manager Chen chuckled, glancing at the curious and inquiring looks around him. "Your landlord? Don't you know him?"

These words were met with immediate shock and disbelief.

"What, our landlord?"

"Wouldn't that mean he owns the entire commercial street?"

"Wow, such a big boss is so young and handsome. No wonder the proprietress on the second floor is so eager to get close to him. Who wouldn't be confused by such a young, handsome, and rich man?"

The news spread rapidly in all directions and gradually evolved into different versions.

Gradually, rumors spread that the new owner of the commercial street was a tall, handsome young man with a unique demeanor.