The president's wife wants to run away

Chapter 18 Pain

I forced myself to calm down. Qin Xue was right. It would be useless to panic now. The most urgent thing was to find the traitor first! We sorted out the names of all the people in the company who had been involved in the project and eliminated the suspects one by one. However, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. We could not find any clues.

What's worse is that the stock price of Zhong's Group is still falling. I saw from the news that several banks have begun to collect debts from Zhong's Group. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy. My heart seems to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and I can hardly breathe. Yuxuan, where are you? Do you know how bad the company's situation is now?

That night, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. A deep voice came from the other end of the line: "Ms. Li, the chairman wants to see you."

I was shocked. Chairman? Could it be Yuxuan's father, Zhong Shuhao? What did he want to see me for?

I arrived at the Zhong family villa with a nervous mood. Zhong Shuhao was sitting on the sofa in the living room, his face solemn, with a powerful aura between his eyebrows. Seeing me come in, he motioned me to sit down, and then said straight to the point: "Ms. Li, I know you and Yuxuan have a good relationship, but you have seen the current situation of the company. We are desperate."

His tone was calm, but it was like a heavy hammer hitting my heart. I opened my mouth and wanted to say something, but he raised his hand to interrupt me.

"I have decided," Zhong Shuhao's voice was resolute, "In order to save the company, Yuxuan must divorce you and marry Li Luoyao."

I was struck by lightning and froze in place. Divorce? Marry Li Luoyao? Why did you do this to me? Why?

"No, it's impossible!" I stood up suddenly and looked at the majestic old man in front of me in disbelief. "Uncle Zhong, why are you doing this? Yuxuan and I are truly in love!"

Zhong Shuhao looked at me coldly, without a trace of emotion in his eyes: "Love? Can love be eaten? Now the company is about to go bankrupt, what do you want Yuxuan to do? Li Luoxue, I know you have a kind heart, you don't want to see Yuxuan lose everything, right?"

Every word he said was like a sharp knife, stabbing my heart. I staggered back a few steps, fell weakly on the sofa, and tears blurred my eyes.

At this moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Zhong Yuxuan walked in angrily. He protected me behind him and yelled at Zhong Shuhao: "Dad, what nonsense are you talking about? I will never divorce Luo Xue. I love her and I want to marry her!"

Zhong Shuhao stood up suddenly, pointed at Zhong Yuxuan's nose and cursed: "Asshole! Do you know what you are talking about? The company is about to go bankrupt, and you are still here saying such nonsense!"

"Company? Is the company more important than Luo Xue?" Zhong Yuxuan's eyes were red as he loudly retorted, "Dad, I have always listened to you and I have tried my best to do the company's work, but I will never allow you to hurt Luo Xue! I love her and I want to be with her for the rest of my life!"

Zhong Shuhao was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at the door and shouted, "Get out! Get out! I don't have a son like you!"

Zhong Yuxuan held my hand tightly, his palm was full of sweat, and I felt his body trembling slightly. I knew that he must be in more pain than me at this moment.

"Yuxuan..." I called his name softly, my heart aching. I didn't want to be a burden to him, and I didn't want to see him turn against his father because of me.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the emotions surging in my heart, raised my head, looked into Zhong Yuxuan's eyes, and said word by word: "Yuxuan, let's...get a divorce."

"What?" Zhong Yuxuan looked at me in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"I'm sorry, Yuxuan, I can't..." My voice became smaller and smaller, and finally turned into almost silent sobs. I pushed him away, turned around and ran out of the Zhong family villa, letting the tears flow freely.

I don't want to see his painful eyes anymore, and I don't want to be a burden in his life. If my leaving can bring him happiness, then I am willing to let go, even if my heart will be broken into thousands of pieces.

I walked aimlessly on the street, replaying every moment that Zhong Yuxuan and I had spent together in my mind. Those once sweet memories have now turned into heart-wrenching pain.

What should I do? Where is my future?

As night fell and the lights came on, the whole city seemed to be covered with a golden veil. I walked aimlessly on the street, the neon lights shining on my face, but they could not dispel the haze in my heart. Tears blurred my vision, I didn't know where to go, and I didn't know what else I could do.

"Luo Xue!" A familiar voice came from behind me. I stopped and turned slowly, and saw Zhong Yuxuan running towards me. His face was full of anxiety and worry, and the moment he saw me, these emotions turned into deep pain.

He grabbed my arm and said in a hurried and flustered tone: "Luo Xue, why are you leaving? Why are you talking about divorce? What's wrong with you?"

I bit my lips hard to stop myself from crying, but I couldn't help sobbing, "Yuxuan, I'm sorry... I can't..."

"Can't what? Explain yourself clearly!" Zhong Yuxuan suddenly became emotional and shook my shoulders vigorously. "Did my dad say something? Tell me, I will help you convince him. We can definitely be together!"

I shook my head in pain, tears rolling down my cheeks like pearls from a broken string: "Yuxuan, calm down, this isn't your dad's problem, it's me... I'm not worthy of being with you..."

"Not worthy? Why not!" Zhong Yuxuan's voice suddenly rose, attracting the attention of passers-by, but he didn't care. There was only me in his eyes, full of hurt and anger. "We have been through so much, why don't you believe my feelings for you?"

I closed my eyes helplessly, letting the tears flow freely: "Yuxuan, I love you, I really love you, but..."

"But what? Say something!" Zhong Yuxuan's voice was almost a roar, his emotions were completely out of control.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my surging emotions, then raised my head, looked him straight in the eye, and said word by word: "But there are too many things between us, your family, your career, your future... I don't want to be a burden to you, and I don't want to see you and your father become enemies because of me..."

"You're talking nonsense!" Zhong Yuxuan interrupted me abruptly, his voice trembling, full of pain and despair, "You have never been a burden to me. I love you because you are you, and nothing else has anything to do with it! I will not let you leave me, absolutely not!"

He held me tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to rub me into his bones and blood. I felt his body trembling, and his heart was beating so fast and hard, as if it would stop beating in the next second.

I leaned weakly in his arms, my tears soaking his clothes. I knew that he must be more painful and desperate than me at this moment.

"Luo Xue, don't leave me... please..." His voice was hoarse and low, like the howl of a wounded beast, which broke my heart.

Just then, a taxi stopped in front of us, and Qin Xue got out of the car. She was stunned when she saw us hugging each other, and then she seemed to understand something, walked quickly to my side, patted my shoulder gently, and then looked at Zhong Yuxuan, and said calmly: "Yuxuan, let her go first, give her some time, let her think it over carefully."

Zhong Yuxuan's body visibly stiffened for a moment, he slowly let go of me, and looked at me with complicated eyes, full of pain and reluctance.

I took a deep breath, suppressed the pain in my heart, turned around, opened the door, and got into the taxi.

"Luo Xue..." Zhong Yuxuan's voice sounded behind me, but I didn't dare to look back. I was afraid that I would not be able to help but fall into his arms again, and then I would never have the courage to leave.

The taxi started slowly, and I saw from the rearview mirror that Zhong Yuxuan was still standing there, his figure looking particularly lonely in the night.

My heart ached as if it was cut by a knife, and tears blurred my vision again.

I'm sorry, Yuxuan... The taxi disappeared into the night, and my tears finally burst. Qin Xue patted my back gently and comforted me softly, but I couldn't hear anything. My mind was full of Zhong Yuxuan's painful and desperate eyes.

I know that I must be in a mess at this moment, but I can't care about that anymore. I wandered in the street like a wandering soul, letting the night wind mess up my hair and dry the tears on my face.

I hate my weakness and my inability to do anything. I love Zhong Yuxuan so much, but I have to push him away again and again. I don't want to be a burden to him, and I don't want to see him suffer because of me.

But can I really let go completely?

After I left, Li Luoyao appeared in front of Zhong Yuxuan several times, trying to melt his cold heart with tenderness and consideration. She would bring him a cup of hot coffee when he was tired, and comfort and encourage him when he was lost.

However, Zhong Yuxuan always kept his distance from her approach. I was the only one in his eyes and in his heart. He knew that I left him not out of my own will, but to protect him and this hard-earned relationship.

I walked aimlessly, and before I knew it, a drizzle began to fall from the sky. The rain wet my hair and clothes, but I didn't notice it at all and continued to walk forward numbly.

I began to doubt my own life value and the meaning of my existence. I was like a rootless duckweed, drifting with the current and unable to find my own direction.

Just when I was about to despair, my cell phone suddenly rang. I answered the call with trembling hands, and Qin Xue's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone: "Luo Xue, where are you? Are you okay?"

"Qin Xue, I..." I choked, but didn't know what to say.

"Luo Xue, don't worry, Yuxuan is fine now. He is in the company now, please come over quickly."

I hung up the phone, hailed a taxi, and headed straight to Zhong Group.

It was already late at night when I arrived at the company building. I looked up at the towering building, feeling mixed emotions.

Just then, I felt something poking at my pocket. I reached out and took it out, and it turned out to be a letter.

There was no signature on the envelope, only a few beautiful words: To Li Luoxue.

I opened the envelope with doubt in my heart. In the dim light of the street lamp, lines of shocking words came into my eyes. My heart suddenly shrank and a chill instantly spread throughout my body.

This letter actually revealed a shocking secret about the crisis of the Zhong Group...

The raindrops fell like beads from a broken string, hitting the car window with a crackling sound, and also beating my flustered heart. The driver looked at me from the rearview mirror from time to time, wanting to say something but stopping himself, perhaps because he thought that I, a girl soaked all over and with my makeup ruined, looked too embarrassed.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my frantic thoughts. Qin Xue said Zhong Yuxuan was fine, but was he really fine? The painful and desperate look in his eyes and the hand that was tightly holding me all told me what kind of torment he was going through at the moment.

The taxi stopped in front of the Zhong Group Building. I paid the fare and stumbled into the heavy rain. The cold rain hit my face, but I didn't feel the slightest bit of chill, because my heart was even colder than the rain.

I rushed into the company lobby and stood there, soaking wet, attracting the attention of passing employees. I ignored their surprised looks and walked straight to the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.

I want to see Zhong Yuxuan, now, right now!

With a "ding" sound, the elevator door slowly opened, and I almost stumbled out of the elevator. The door of the president's office was ajar, and Zhong Yuxuan's suppressed voice could be faintly heard from inside. I took a deep breath, mustered up the courage to push the door open and walked in.

Zhong Yuxuan sat at his desk with his back to me, his broad shoulders slightly hunched, as if he was suppressing something. Hearing my footsteps, he turned his head sharply, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by deep worry.

"Luo Xue, why are you here? You..." He stood up suddenly, walked to me, and saw that I was soaked, his eyes were full of heartache and self-blame, "Why are you so stupid? It's raining so hard, why don't you hold an umbrella?"

I didn't say anything, just looked at him steadily. My gaze fell on his tired, bloodshot eyes, and my heart ached.

"Luo Xue, I'm sorry for making you worry." He reached out to wipe the rain off my face, but I subconsciously dodged him.

I avoided his gaze, not daring to meet his gaze. His hands froze in mid-air, and a look of hurt flashed across his face.

"Luo Xue, are you still angry with me? I know I..."

"What's the matter with this letter?" I took out the anonymous letter from my pocket and handed it to him. My voice was trembling and it was almost unrecognizable as the original voice.

Zhong Yuxuan was stunned for a moment, then he took the envelope, opened the letter, and read it quickly. His face became uglier and uglier, and his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

"Where did you get this letter?" After reading the letter, he raised his head, stared at me sharply, with a hint of nervousness in his tone that was hard to conceal.

I was startled by his sharp eyes, and subconsciously took a step back, hesitating, "I... I picked it up on the road."

"You picked it up on the road?" He obviously didn't believe me, his eyes were full of suspicion, "Luo Xue, tell me, who gave you this letter?"

He pressed my questioning into a corner and left me with no way out. I could only lower my head, not daring to look at him.

"Luo Xue, look at me!" He suddenly grabbed my shoulders and said sternly, "Tell me, what happened?"

I was shocked by his strong aura. I looked up and met his deep eyes. I felt mixed emotions, but I didn't know how to start...