Volume One, Chapter Five: If You Even Want to Give Up Being Mrs. Li, I'll Grant You That
Page 1/3
Cheng Qian turned around and gazed at his cold and merciless figure, biting her lip tightly. Her parents had raised her well—not to become a mere housewife. Cheng Qian made a momentous decision.
In the company’s headquarters lobby, Cheng Qian lowered her eyes and walked out. At that moment, a crowd of reporters gathered at the entrance, surrounding Cheng Yan and Cheng Zhifei as they gave interviews.
Watching the confident demeanor of that father and daughter, a painful ache spread within Cheng Qian’s heart. She bypassed the group and headed toward a small door on the other side.
Suddenly, an elegant figure quickly followed her footsteps. “Cousin, I haven’t even said it yet—pleasant working with you,” Cheng Yan said with a smile, sincerely extending her right hand.
Cheng Qian’s eyes flashed with resentment. Staring at the insincere hand, she simply turned and walked away. Cheng Yan’s lips curved into a smug smile; the most exquisite way to slap someone down was through silent mockery and expulsion.
Leaving the headquarters, Cheng Qian returned to the laboratory to find everyone had set aside their work, seemingly waiting just for her. “Director Cheng, are we joining Cheng Biotech now?” “I heard Cheng Biotech even built an entire building for research—so extravagant.” “Director Cheng, have you been promoted yet?”
Only a few insiders knew Cheng Yan had married Li Zhinan; none of the laboratory staff were aware she was Mrs. Li. Cheng Qian looked at these collaborative colleagues and quietly took off her badge, placing it gently on the desk. “I’m resigning,” she said.
Shock swept through the room. Several admiring subordinates hurried over, grabbing her arm. “Director Cheng, you were about to be promoted—why resign now?”
No one knew the bitterness in Cheng Qian’s heart. She said bitterly, “It’s for personal reasons. Keep working hard, and I wish you all a bright future.”
After speaking, Cheng Qian returned to her office, only to find that someone had tampered with her belongings. Alarmed, she turned to look out the glass window—who had come in? Were they looking for something?
Cheng Qian went straight to Human Resources to check the surveillance footage but was told, “Director Cheng, sorry, the cameras have been under maintenance for the past two days; no recordings are available.”
Suddenly, Cheng Qian understood—there must be many spies hidden in her lab. Thinking of the data losses, circuit failures, and sample contaminations over the years, it was clear someone had been secretly sabotaging her progress.
Every time she achieved a breakthrough, troubles arose. What they were after must be the precious notes left by her parents. She would never let them have it.
Cheng Qian was deeply attached to this lab—it was the place her parents had devoted themselves to. Once the lab moved to Cheng Biotech’s new building, this place would be vacated. Cheng Qian intended to buy it.
Three days later, per a notice from headquarters, Cheng Qian’s entire lab relocated to the Cheng Biotech building.
Under the night sky, Cheng Qian sat on the sofa, gazing out the window, waiting for the man’s return.
“Mom, catch!” Little Ye brought over a basketball. “Mom, catch it!”
Cheng Qian absentmindedly played basketball with her son in the living room.
Finally, a silver Bentley pulled into the courtyard. A tall, upright figure stepped out of the car.
Seeing the man’s slightly weary yet handsome face, Cheng Qian walked over. “Li Zhinan, can you clear out the old lab for me?”
Li Zhinan turned his head calmly. “Why do you want that rundown place? Still planning to continue your research career?”
Page 2/3
Cheng Qian replied, “That was where my parents once worked…”
“Sorry, I’ve already promised a friend to use it; he bought it,” Li Zhinan interrupted her before she could finish and then picked up their son.
“Little Ye, do you miss Daddy?” Li Zhinan smiled gently at the adorable little face.
Cheng Qian felt struck by lightning, frozen for a moment. She looked at him and said, “That property belongs to my parents.”
Li Zhinan didn’t look back. “When we acquired the lab three years ago, it became company property. Cheng Qian, what more do you want? Are you really going to argue with me at night over a broken building?”
His voice hid a dark mood, his displeasure palpable. “Learn from other wives and consider your husband’s feelings—it’s not that hard, is it?”
Cheng Qian was stunned, staring at his disappointed expression.
Li Zhinan sneered coldly. “Cheng Qian, if you want to give up even being Mrs. Li, I’ll grant you that.”
Cheng Qian couldn’t understand why his attitude was so harsh this time. Rumors said he had an affair and, upon returning home, found excuses to quarrel with his wife, then stood on moral high ground to scold her.
So, Li Zhinan’s inexplicable anger was because he was seeing someone else.
“Divorce is fine, but I will take the child,” Cheng Qian said firmly. She wasn’t one to argue much, but she knew how to make the right decisions.
This stunned Li Zhinan. He stared at her determined, beautiful face. “Say that again.”
Cheng Qian wasn’t eloquent, which was her weakness, but she was intelligent and rational—her strengths.
“You want a divorce? I agree, but I will take the child,” she said clearly, word by word.
Li Zhinan looked between her and the adorable son in his arms.
“No,” he said coldly after a moment of blankness.
Hearing this, Cheng Qian panicked, her face flushed red. “Li Zhinan, after divorce, your new lover can bear you another son. Please give me Little Ye.”
“Impossible,” Li Zhinan’s voice sank. “He’s a Li family child. Remember the prenuptial agreement.”
Cheng Qian was stunned, looking at her young, innocent son nestled in the man’s arms, her heart dull with pain.
Unable to bear such merciless blows, she turned and went upstairs.
That night, after showering, Cheng Qian lay on her side in bed, feeling low. The little one was already asleep in the nearby crib, sleeping soundly.
The warm-colored wall lamp illuminated his delicate, adorable face. Cheng Qian’s heart wavered between resolve and tenderness.
The child was the only blood relative she had in this world; she simply could not abandon him.
As Cheng Qian felt downhearted, the door opened.
Li Zhinan, freshly showered and wearing a gray bathrobe loosely tied, entered. His chest muscles subtly revealed beneath the dark fabric, exuding the mature charm of a man.
He said nothing, simply pulled back the covers and shifted behind Cheng Qian, then wrapped his hand around her slender waist.
She was petite, and his large hand gently pulling her made her back press tightly against his chest.
“Li Zhinan, what are you doing? Let go!” Cheng Qian was startled and embarrassed, struggling.
His lips had already reached the nape of her neck; she smelled sweet and fresh from the shower.
That sweet scent was his primal temptation for approaching her at night.
“Enough, Cheng Qian, can we stop fighting?” His large hand slid from her lower abdomen upward…
“We have Little Ye now. He needs his mother’s full love and care. After you resign, just focus on the family…”
His low murmur accompanied his movements as he nearly kissed her earlobe.
Suddenly, Cheng Qian found strength from somewhere, spun around fiercely, and pushed him away.
Caught off guard, Li Zhinan almost fell off the bed but managed to keep his balance thanks to his long limbs.
Cheng Qian’s resistance ignited his fury. He stood up, glaring, “Still making a scene?”
Page 3/3
Cheng Qian quickly got off the bed, hugged a pillow, and headed for the door.
Li Zhinan, who had not been intimate with her, immediately chased after her down the corridor, stretching out his long arm to block her path. “Cheng Qian, your behavior has gone too far lately. Have you forgotten you’re my wife?”
“Move aside,” Cheng Qian said coldly, her face resolute.
She refused to share a bed with a tainted man.
Li Zhinan studied her cold, determined expression and let out a slight, mocking laugh.
That night, Li Zhinan left the villa.
Cheng Qian returned to her son’s bedside, staring blankly at the little child.
How could she gain custody?
The Li family was wealthy and powerful, the richest in A City, and with a prenuptial agreement signed, taking the child seemed impossible.
The next morning, Cheng Qian sent Little Ye to school, watching him happily blend with his classmates, feeling somewhat comforted.
Afterward, she drove to the small laboratory building left by her parents.
Tall buildings surrounded the area, which was adjacent to the old city district, rumored to be slated for demolition soon.
Cheng Qian took out her phone and began taking pictures of the small building—if she couldn’t keep it, at least she could preserve memories.
“What are you photographing?”
As Cheng Qian circled to the other side of the building, she saw a handsome figure lazily leaning on the second-floor balcony railing, looking down at her.
His face was backlit, making it hard to see clearly.
“Mrs. Li!”
The man straightened, fingers tapping lightly on the weathered railing, then slowly walked toward the staircase.
Cheng Qian was stunned—did this man know her?
Yet she had no recollection of him.
He descended the stairs in a few strides, revealing a tall stature with clear, handsome features. His distinguished sideburns gave his face a noble, refined air.
“You are…”
He raised an eyebrow. “What? We just met recently—already forgotten?”
Cheng Qian thought carefully. Li Zhinan had said he gave the small building to a friend.
Could this be that man?
Was he present at the dinner that night?
“Did you buy this building?” Cheng Qian asked aloud.
“Yes,” the man replied, glancing back. “My father once worked here.”
“Your father is?” Cheng Qian was curious.
The man introduced himself. “My surname is Ji, Ji Yichen. My father is Ji Nan.”
“Uncle Ji?” Cheng Qian’s face brightened. “You’re Uncle Ji’s son? But… I never knew he had a son.”
Ji Yichen’s thin lips curled with a hint of bitter humor. “They divorced when I was very young.”
Cheng Qian said quickly, “I’m sorry.”
Ji Yichen’s gaze fell on her face. “Do you know my father?”
Cheng Qian nodded. “Not only do I know him, but very well…”
A photo suddenly flashed through Ji Yichen’s mind—a picture of his father holding the hand of a little girl with twin ponytails.
He superimposed that girl’s face with the fair, delicate one before him—there was some resemblance in their expressions.