C2 They Said What They Wanted!

The voice on the other end of the line was his mother’s: “Yizhou, do you remember Mr. Deng’s granddaughter?”

“No, I don’t,” Zheng Yizhou replied, slightly frowning but showing no emotion.

“Oh, your memory is terrible,” his mother chided. “She was that really pretty girl you met when you were about seventeen or eighteen. She’s grown into—”

“Mom,” Zheng Yizhou interrupted calmly, “just get to the point.”

“Well, it’s nothing much. Mr. Deng’s granddaughter just got back from abroad today, and I was hoping you could pick her up from the airport.”

Zheng Yizhou pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to hold onto his patience. “Mom, the company is really busy. For people who aren’t that important, just send a driver.”

With that, Zheng Yizhou ended the call without hesitation.

A month later.

Curled up on the couch, Xia Nannan sneezed. She’d been sneezing more often lately, probably because someone was talking about her behind her back.

After blowing her nose, her eyes fell on the calendar on the wall.

April 6th was coming up again. It had been eighteen years since her parents passed away...

She took a deep breath, tilting her head back to hold back the tears.

This movement revealed the pale pink birthmark on the side of her neck. For eighteen years, she hadn’t gone a day without wishing she could get rid of it.

Xia Nannan inhaled deeply, forcing herself not to get lost in memories.

She turned to change clothes, fix her hair, and even applied a light touch of makeup before heading out.

The spring scenery outside was beautiful, and the sunlight gently touched her pale face as she smiled faintly.

“Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I’ll make sure justice is served for you.”

.

Huangfu Ping burst into Zheng Yizhou’s office without even knocking. The man behind the desk didn’t bother to look up, just shouted irritably, “Huangfu Ping, how many times have I told you to knock before coming into my office?”

Huangfu Ping excitedly rushed over to Yizhou, grabbing a glass of water from the table and downing it in one go. After over a month of searching, he had finally found the woman.

"Yizhou, I found her!"

Zheng Yizhou's eyes sharpened as he finally looked up at him. "Where is she?"

Huangfu Ping gave a sly smile. "Yizhou, you might be a father soon."

Yizhou's brow furrowed deeply. "What do you mean?"

"That girl is at the hospital's maternity ward getting checked out. My people followed her and confirmed she's pregnant."

Yizhou clenched his fists tightly. Just as he suspected! This kind of scheme—getting pregnant to force a marriage—was all too common in their circle. He couldn't believe he had been caught up in it by such a woman!

Huangfu Ping took a phone call, then glanced at Yizhou when he returned. "The girl ran off again. My people followed her to an apartment. Should we grab her?"

"No need." Yizhou tossed aside the documents, his voice cold. "I'll go myself."

With that, he strode out, and Huangfu Ping, sensing there would be a spectacle, followed him.

Xia Nannan was leisurely walking back to her apartment complex with her test results when a black Bentley sped up from behind, screeching to a halt just inches from her. The sharp, piercing sound of the brakes startled her, and she dropped the papers she was holding.

A man slowly stepped out of the Bentley. As Xia Nannan crouched to pick up the scattered test results, she reached for the last sheet, only for a large, well-manicured hand to snatch it first.

Her eyes traveled upward from the impeccably pressed trousers and polished black leather shoes to meet the ever-icy face of Zheng Yizhou.

She trembled all over and fell to the ground.

Zheng Yizhou glanced at her, then quickly scanned the test results. His lips curled into a mocking, disdainful smile. "So, you're pregnant."

Xia Nannan, unwilling to back down, snapped out of her shock, got up, and snatched the results from his hand. She then asked the line she had rehearsed in her mind countless times: "Who are you?"

Zheng Yizhou suddenly leaned in, grabbed her by the wrist, and whispered in her ear, "Stop pretending. This kind of act is outdated. Do I need to remind you of that night a month ago and the positions we used?"

Xia Nannan's cheeks flushed red. She glanced at him sideways, pressing her lips together, feigning confusion.

Zheng Yizhou looked down at her, his dark eyes hard to read, with a hint of hostility. His grip tightened, and his voice grew more intense. "What do you want?" His gaze swept over her young, cool face as he guessed, "Money? Or publicity?"

"I don't want money, and I don't want fame."

Since Zheng Yizhou had already laid it all out, she decided to be straightforward.

Xia Nannan slowly lifted her head, the breeze brushing through her bangs, the ends of her hair softly caressing her cheek, as if a thread of sorrow was tangled in her expression. She parted her lips and said, word by word, "I'm carrying your child. I want to marry you."

Zheng Yizhou laughed, as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke.

Xia Nannan wasn't upset. She waited patiently for him to finish laughing before calmly turning to go upstairs.

Just as she inserted the key into the lock, she heard footsteps behind her. She nonchalantly opened the door, and once inside, turned to see Zheng Yizhou standing at the entrance.

"So, have you decided to marry me?" she asked with a sweet smile.

Zheng Yizhou walked into the room, lifted Xia Nannan's chin, and pinned her against the waist-high cabinet by the door. "Has anyone ever told you that this playing hard to get act is way overdone?"

Xia Nannan kept her smile cool and steady, her mischievous eyes darting over the man. "Yet, some still fall for it."

Zheng Yizhou's grip tightened, turning Xia Nannan's fair chin a bright red. Her smile gradually faded, and her pink lips pressed into a firm line.

"Who are you, really?" Zheng Yizhou had pondered this question countless times, but now, none of the answers seemed likely.

Xia Nannan averted her gaze, her soft lips barely parting as she whispered, "Someone who wants to marry you."

Zheng Yizhou's expression grew more impatient, his voice deepening. "Tell the truth."

Xia Nannan blinked, her tone innocent. "I am telling the truth."

Zheng Yizhou tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. Xia Nannan had no choice but to turn her head slightly, breathing shallowly.

"I have countless ways to make you wish you were dead. Speak the truth."

Wish I were dead?