The Arrogant Weirdo

"Xiao Xue, do you know something? I liked you very, very much from the first time I saw you. And back then, you were still a virgin," Xu Mingxian suddenly said in a strange tone.

"Heh." Cheng Dongxue forced a smile. I'm not a virgin now, damn it, but that hasn't stopped you from trying, has it?

"I'm sorry, but I'm already married!" Cheng Dongxue said, hoping to put an end to whatever ideas he had.

"That doesn't matter. Zhang Yang is just a live-in son-in-law. After all these years, he hasn't helped the Cheng Family one bit. What use is a man like that to you? I'm different. I have my own company, and five million is nothing to me. I could take care of it with a wave of my hand."

Xu Mingxian ignored Cheng Dongxue's feelings and kept spouting nonsense.

"Besides, so what if you're married? You can get divorced. I promise I can make you happy."

Now Xu Mingxian was making promises about something that wasn't even remotely settled. His nerve was astonishing.

"Xu Mingxian, we've only just met. I don't know what you told my mother, and I don't want to know. But when you speak to me, please show some respect for my feelings. Whatever else you think, Zhang Yang is my husband."

Cheng Dongxue was truly angry. What kind of man Zhang Yang was wasn't for an outsider to judge.

"I'm sorry, but I'm telling the truth. Can Zhang Yang help the Cheng Family through its financial crisis? No!"

Xu Mingxian still spoke with an overwhelming sense of superiority.

"So if I marry you, you'll give the Cheng Family five million to get through its financial crisis?" Cheng Dongxue almost laughed. This went beyond an arranged marriage. It was practically selling a person.

"You could put it that way, but I really do like you!" Xu Mingxian was so busy talking nonsense that he had forgotten to order food so they could talk over lunch.

Cheng Dongxue gave a cold laugh and stood up abruptly.

"I'm sorry, I have to go home for lunch!" She couldn't bear to eat with a man as crude and ill-mannered as Xu Mingxian.

She had only taken a few steps when Xu Mingxian grabbed her arm. He sneered at her. "You can run away today, but sooner or later, you'll be mine. Plenty of women would strip naked and beg to get into my bed, and they still wouldn't get the chance. Do you know why I'm giving you one? Because I like you."

"Let go of me, please!" Cheng Dongxue shook her head. He was nothing but a thug.

A server started toward them, alert to the possibility of trouble.

Cheng Dongxue jerked her arm away. Xu Mingxian didn't dare make a scene there, and she broke free, snatched up her bag, and stormed toward the door.

"I'm sorry. That girl has a quick temper. I'll talk to her," Yang Su said. She had been watching from her hiding place and now hurried out to soothe the furious Xu Mingxian.

"Auntie Yang, didn't you say you could handle this? Then how did..." Xu Mingxian was annoyed. Yang Su had told him Cheng Dongxue was a good, reasonable woman, yet after only a few words from him, she had rudely walked out early.

Xu Mingxian's logic was peculiar. He couldn't even see who had ruined the date.

"Young Master Xu, don't be upset. Give it time!" Yang Su placated him with a servile smile.

Xu Mingxian shook his head, left Yang Su behind, and walked straight out.

"Young Master Xu..."

"Excuse me, please settle the bill..."

As Xu Mingxian headed for the door, Yang Su tried to follow him, but a server stopped her and asked her to pay.

"How much?"

"I'm sorry. Three hundred."

"What? But we only ordered two glasses of water, and I haven't even drunk mine!"

Yang Su was stunned. Ordinary people couldn't afford the prices here.

"I'm sorry. Either pay, or I'll call the police."

"Here! Buy yourself some medicine!"

Yang Su pulled out three hundred, tossed it to the server, and rushed out the door.

Outside, Cheng Dongxue was gone. So was Xu Mingxian.

"Where are you?" At that moment, Cheng Dongxue felt utterly defeated. She wanted a shoulder to lean on, and Zhang Yang's was the only one she wanted.

Cheng Dongxue had not gone to work that afternoon. She had stayed home to rest.

But Yang Su had spent most of the afternoon lecturing her, urging her to divorce Zhang Yang and accept Xu Mingxian. She insisted that only Xu Mingxian could help the Cheng Family.

Cheng Dongxue sent Zhang Yang a message.

Zhang Yang was relaxing in the courtyard. When Cheng Dongxue's message arrived, he replied at once.

"I'm in Long'ao."

"Wait for me. I'm coming to see you."

After sending the message, Cheng Dongxue left her nagging mother in the room.

"Hey, Cheng Dongxue! I'm talking to you. Are you listening? You have to divorce Zhang Yang and marry Xu Mingxian."

"Mom, I'm not getting divorced. Even if I did, I wouldn't marry again. And even if I did remarry, I'd rather die than marry that ill-mannered Xu Mingxian."

Cheng Dongxue didn't back down from Yang Su's ultimatum. She fired right back.

"Auntie, please stop. Xiao Xue and Zhang Yang are good together. What kind of mother urges her own daughter to get divorced?" Lin Xiaofei was shocked too.

The Cheng Family had brought up divorce countless times before, but she hadn't expected them to make a serious push for it this time.

"Where are you going? I'm talking to you! You have to listen to me, or you'll ruin your whole life."

When Cheng Dongxue picked up her bag and Lin Xiaofei moved to accompany her, Yang Su followed them, still shouting.

"Listening to you would ruin my life! I'm your daughter, not a hostage you can sell to whoever you like!"

Bang!

Cheng Dongxue slammed the door behind her, and Lin Xiaofei went with her to find Zhang Yang.

"Xiao Xue, let me drive." Seeing how upset Cheng Dongxue still was, Lin Xiaofei couldn't bear to let her drive and risk an accident. "I'm not as good a driver as you, but I'll be careful. Besides, with you beside me, I'm confident."

Lin Xiaofei took the keys and got into the driver's seat. Cheng Dongxue let out a breath and eased herself into the car.

"Try not to take it too hard, Xiao Xue. Your mother might be panicking and grasping at straws." Lin Xiaofei comforted Cheng Dongxue, then blamed Zhang Yang. "It's all Zhang Yang's fault. How could he let you suffer through this?"

"Zhang Yang hasn't done anything wrong. He just has limited means and hasn't had many opportunities." Cheng Dongxue sighed. Thinking about Zhang Yang gave her a headache too.

Lin Xiaofei smiled. Her family could come up with five million, though it would take some time. Otherwise, she could have helped. But Zhang Yang had said he didn't need it, so she respected his wishes.

The brown Volkswagen CC sped out of Gong City toward Long'ao.

"Mom, Xiao Xue is coming!" Zhang Yang told Liu Mei.

It was nothing new. This had happened often enough before: Zhang Yang would retreat to Long'ao, and Cheng Dongxue would drive over to bring him home, with his electric bike tucked into the car.

"Xiao Yang, don't be angry with the Cheng Family. You're not the Zhang Yang you used to be. Hold your head high, stand tall, and don't be afraid of anyone," Liu Mei encouraged him.

Zhang Yang felt comforted. His mother, Liu Mei, had always supported him and believed in him quietly from behind the scenes. That was what drove him most.