Volume 1, Chapter 28: She Left the Child with Him to Go Chase Men

"Perhaps it is better not to mention it." After saying this, Cheng Yan felt she shouldn't have spoken, so she added softly, "Zhinan, forgive me. I didn't mean to sow discord; everything I do is for the sake of our work."

Li Zhinan expressed his understanding, "It's fine. Since it is a work requirement, then let's leave it unsaid."

Cheng Yan continued, "She attended your company's banquet before the New Year. Although reporters were not allowed to film at the event, I believe it won't be long before the news that she is your wife spreads."

Li Zhinan knitted his brows, "Regardless, let's keep it under wraps for now."

The corners of Cheng Yan’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. Was Li Zhinan also growing weary of this marriage?

Inside a well-known local restaurant, Cheng Yan and Li Zhinan had reserved a private room. Cheng Yan glanced out the window and saw a tall man in a casual jacket walking up the stairs.

"That's him, Qiao Silin, the second young master of the Qiao Group," Cheng Yan whispered as she introduced him. "The Qiao Group's main operations are all overseas. I truly cannot understand how a golden boy like Qiao Silin persists in developing a career in the field of physical medicine."

Li Zhinan frowned and said, "So young? And he looks quite decent."

Cheng Yan laughed, "Indeed, he is not even thirty yet, and he has already achieved such remarkable accomplishments. He belongs to the same category as your cousin—both are exceptionally gifted talents."

Li Zhinan suddenly asked, "Did he and Cheng Qian study in the same place for the past ten months?"

Cheng Yan’s gaze shifted subtly; this move was already showing initial results.

"Yes, I heard that for this round of recruitment, the school required all students to have at least five years of research experience, to have published over ten medical papers in authoritative journals, and to hold master's degrees. They even had to pass an entrance exam. It was incredibly difficult; it seems only thirteen people were accepted this time."

"It's that difficult?" Li Zhinan was startled. No wonder Cheng Qian was so insistent on going. Out of all the countries in the world, only thirteen people made it in.

"Yes, only three from our country went. It’s quite a surprise that Qiao Silin and your cousin met in a foreign land only to end up in a dispute over academic exchanges." Cheng Yan chuckled softly at this. "Logically speaking, people in the same industry, especially those at the pinnacle of their field, should feel a sense of mutual appreciation."

Hearing this, Li Zhinan’s handsome face turned grim.

"Zhinan, sit here for a moment. I will go over and invite him," Cheng Yan said, immediately rising to leave.

Li Zhinan looked down at his sleeping son in his arms, then back out the window. A sense of irritation rose within him for no apparent reason.

When the door of the private room was pushed open again, Cheng Yan led Qiao Silin inside.

"Dr. Qiao, this is Mr. Li Zhinan, the CEO of the Li Group. We sincerely wish to discuss matters with you," Cheng Yan said with a smile.

Qiao Silin reached out politely, "Qiao Silin. It is an honor."

Li Zhinan scanned him from head to toe. He was young, tall, and appeared to be of mixed heritage—possessing Western bone structure and Eastern features, giving him a complex, handsome appearance.

"Hello, I have long heard of your reputation," Li Zhinan said, shaking his hand before letting go.

Cheng Yan looked at Qiao Silin with an expression of honor and said, "Dr. Qiao, please have a seat. We won't take up too much of your time."

Qiao Silin, however, did not sit down. He said coolly, "I have reviewed the materials for your Cheng’s Biotechnology. I do not like to collaborate with profit-driven companies. My apologies."

Qiao Silin gave them no face at all, refusing quite bluntly.

Cheng Yan was shocked, "Dr. Qiao, how could you think our company is purely profit-driven? That must be a misunderstanding. I wonder who leaked such false information to you."

Qiao Silin smiled politely, "Matters within this circle are rarely fresh; there is no need to be so explicit. Miss Cheng, you are an excellent woman, and I admire you. If there is a real opportunity for cooperation in the future, we can discuss it in detail then. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

With that, Qiao Silin turned and pushed the door open to leave.

Cheng Yan stood frozen in place, staring at the closed door with disappointment before letting out a helpless, bitter laugh. "Zhinan, this Dr. Qiao truly has a strong personality, taking false rumors as a reason to refuse."

Li Zhinan’s handsome face was clouded with gloom, and his voice sounded icy, "Who exactly told him these lies?"

Cheng Yan furrowed her delicate brows and sighed, "I don't know. Dr. Qiao is obsessed with his research; he usually wouldn't take the words of ordinary people to heart, unless it was someone very close to him."

A flash of anger crossed Li Zhinan's face, "Don't tell me it was Cheng Qian."

Cheng Yan looked startled and immediately shook her head, "It wouldn't be my cousin. She wouldn't slander others so casually."

Li Zhinan held a different view. He let out a cold hum, "Cheng Qian claims your father founded this biotech company by forcibly seizing her father’s research. She must be filled with resentment toward your company."

Cheng Yan froze, instantly becoming nervous and uneasy. Her fair face turned pale as she whispered in explanation, "Actually, there is a misunderstanding there. When my uncle’s laboratory was just starting, my father provided some of the funding. We were only taking back the research results we were entitled to, but in the eyes of outsiders, we became thieves."

Li Zhinan was uninterested in these details. He said coldly, "So, it is possible that it was Cheng Qian, isn't it?"

Cheng Yan looked helpless, "I hope it isn't my cousin, but it cannot be denied that she and Dr. Qiao spent nearly ten months in a closed-off campus abroad. We have no idea how they got along during those ten months, or if they were truly at odds as the rumors suggest."

The depths of Li Zhinan’s eyes turned cold, as if frozen.

"Zhinan, don't worry. I will find another opportunity to explain this to Dr. Qiao personally. There is surely still hope," Cheng Yan said, offering gentle comfort.

Li Zhinan instantly lost his appetite. Seeing his son sleeping in his arms, he stood up. "I will take Xiaoye home. I'll leave this matter to you."

"Zhinan, stay and eat before you go," Cheng Yan said with gentle concern. "You shouldn't skip a meal; your stomach won't handle it."

Li Zhinan sat back down, reluctantly. If he had known Cheng Qian would be such an irresponsible mother, he never should have had a child with her back then. She had boarded a plane to go abroad the moment the child was weaned.

Thinking of this, the coldness between Li Zhinan’s brows deepened. That night at the banquet years ago, had she really stumbled into his room by mistake? Was she really drunk? Or had she deliberately offered herself to him just to secure the Li family's investment to save her father’s laboratory? Perhaps she had planned it all along, waiting for the perfect moment to conceive the child.

Hmph, a cunning woman.

"Zhinan, stop thinking about it and eat," Cheng Yan said, picking up her chopsticks and placing a piece of meat in his bowl. "If this matter really does involve my cousin, please talk to her properly. Don't quarrel."

Li Zhinan let out a soft, cold hum, "I don't want to talk to her anymore."

Cheng Yan appeared anxious on the surface, but inwardly, she felt triumphant. Cheng Qian, if you don't vacate your position soon, you will lose all your dignity.

Halfway through the meal, Cheng Yan suddenly picked up her phone to check it.

"Zhinan, did my cousin go to the Ji family for dinner today?" Cheng Yan asked, opening a friend's social media post. In one of the photos, Cheng Qian was sitting next to Ji Nan. Behind her, Ji Yichen was holding a glass of wine, seemingly shielding her from a drink.

Seeing this, a surge of anger flared within Li Zhinan. She dumped the child on him to take care of, and she went out to dine and flirt with men?

Noticing the dark expression on Li Zhinan’s face, Cheng Yan quickly put her phone away. "Zhinan, I have actually always wanted to discuss academic matters with Dr. Qiao, but alas, we are competitors now; I fear there will be no such opportunity."

Li Zhinan said coldly, "Your Cheng’s company is no worse than his. I have decided to headhunt a group of technical personnel from abroad to return and support your company."

"Really?" Cheng Yan was overjoyed to hear this. "Thank you, Zhinan. With your help, I can finally rest easy."

After lunch, Li Zhinan took his son back to the villa. It was already 2:30 PM, and Cheng Qian had not yet returned. The irritation in Li Zhinan’s heart grew even stronger.

"When will Mommy be back?" Xiaoye had grown bored and kept running to the door to look out.

"She probably doesn't want to come back," Li Zhinan thought with resentment.

"Mommy isn't coming back? Waaah... I don't want that. I want Mommy!" Xiaoye slumped sadly against the door, his eyes welling up with tears that wouldn't stop falling.