This address instantly ignited the deep-seated anger and intense jealousy buried in Yan Yincheng's heart.
During the time he was away, had their relationship progressed so rapidly? Pei Mingyuan even used such an intimate address as "Xiaoxi". What else? Had they taken further steps?
Yan Yincheng knew that he had deceived her and deeply hurt her before. He knew he was not qualified to ask anything of her. He thought he could control himself. Just like the day when she slapped him hard and left, he was sure he could, and not annoy her anymore.
However, he found he couldn't control himself.
Maybe it was because he had finally realized his love for her, or maybe it was because he missed her so much after not seeing her for a few days. The beast locked in his heart broke out of its cage at this moment, roaring and shouting, urging him to rush forward, swallow her up, and never let other men have any thoughts about her!
"Zixi, don't go. I still have something to say to you!" As if competing with Pei Mingyuan, Yan Yincheng blurted out this name that only they knew.
Xu Zixi originally wanted to decline Pei Mingyuan's invitation, but when she heard Yan Yincheng's address, she snorted coldly in her heart and said with a smile to Pei Mingyuan, "Sure, Mingyuan. I haven't had Japanese food for a long time. Let's go."
Yan Yincheng's face instantly turned ugly, which made Pei Mingyuan feel extremely pleased.
He walked out with Xu Zixi, slightly lagging behind to form a posture of protecting her with his body. He silently counted in his heart: three, two, one...
Just then, there was a harsh sound of a chair being moved, and the man's deep and angry voice came from behind: "Zixi, I really have something very important to say to you!" He wanted to tell her about Guan Baocheng, to tell her that someone had deliberately wanted to harm her that night four years ago—
However, Xu Zixi not only didn't pause for a moment but also quickened her pace.
Yan Yincheng felt a sharp pain in his heart. He panicked and wanted to chase after her, but he stumbled over a chair. Hearing her footsteps getting farther and farther away, he subconsciously shouted, "Xu Zixi!"
This long-lost address finally made Xu Zixi stop.
Pei Mingyuan couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. He lowered his voice and urged, "Xiaoxi, don't pay attention to him. Have you forgotten what you told me? All he's done is just to snatch the two children from you. You have nothing to say to him. Let's go."
"Go and wait for me outside." Xu Zixi said.
Pei Mingyuan: "Xiaoxi!"
Xu Zixi said, "I don't want to repeat myself."
Seeing her determination, Pei Mingyuan had no choice but to say, "I'll be right outside. If he dares to do anything to you, just shout and I'll rush in to protect you."
Xu Zixi turned around expressionlessly and went back into the meeting room.
Hearing her returning footsteps, Yan Yincheng's expression changed from desolate to ecstatic: "Zixi! You... you're back!"
Xu Zixi casually closed the door of the meeting room. She flexed her wrists and said indifferently, "Mr. Yan, I remember I warned you that the relationship between us is over. A scumbag and a big liar like you is not qualified to call me by this name. Please call me Manager Yuan or Designer Yuan from now on."
"Zixi, this time when I returned to Fengcheng, I investigated for four years..." Yan Yincheng seemed not to hear her and stubbornly called her by that name. He was eager to say something to her, but was interrupted loudly by Xu Zixi.
"Yan Yincheng! Did you hear me?"
Yan Yincheng's voice suddenly stopped. He was silent for a while in place and then said, "I heard."
"Do you have to make me say things very clearly before you'll stop?" Xu Zixi nodded. "Fine, then I'll make it clear to you today."
"Do you think that by becoming a major shareholder of Pei's and changing the dividend from 2% to 20%, you can make up for my losses in the past?" Xu Zixi said. "No. Even if you buy Pei's and give all its wealth to me, the mistakes you've made are unforgivable."
"Because of you, I lost my originally beautiful life; because of you, I lost the opportunity to study that I should have had; and because of you, I lost my freedom and my vibrant life! No amount of money can make up for these."
"I know." Yan Yincheng said. "I know all the sufferings and grievances you've endured."
Xu Zixi got even angrier after hearing this: "Since you know, why did you still deceive me?! I've never seen such a shameless person like you! I have nothing to talk to you about! From now on, except for work-related matters, I won't even give you a single look! Get out of my sight, or I'll be rude to you!"
After saying that, she turned around and was about to open the door to leave when she heard him say:
"Don't you want your household registration anymore?"
She widened her eyes and turned around to look at him in disbelief. Had he returned to Fengcheng these days just to get her household registration from the Yuan family?!
"Yan Yincheng, you're so despicable!" she couldn't help but blurt out. She really regretted it now. She shouldn't have joined Pei's in the first place, and she definitely shouldn't have stayed in Haicheng. When she discovered the problem with her household registration, she should have immediately returned to Fengcheng!
A bitter taste filled Yan Yincheng's mouth. When he made this decision, he had already guessed how she might react.
Sure enough, she was very angry. Let her think he was despicable. Only in this way could he have a reason to keep her.
"I remember you said that because of the household registration issue, Yuan Xiaoxuan and Yuan Xiaoxu are still unregistered. You know that if I do a paternity test with them and have the evidence, I can directly make them formal legal citizens and they will naturally become my children. Even if you sue me, you won't have much chance of winning."
What he said was exactly what Xu Zixi had been worried about before.
"Don't think that I have no way just because of the lack of household registration." Xu Zixi said coldly. She tried her best to control herself and not punch him in the face. "As long as I marry Pei Mingyuan, the two children will immediately have legal status."
"You're not such a person. Otherwise, you would have been my... wife long ago." Yan Yincheng said firmly.
For some reason, when he said the word "wife" in his deep and magnetic voice, Xu Zixi's cheeks inexplicably flushed. She even didn't understand why she was blushing. She was clearly very angry at this moment!
"What do you want after saying all this?" she said impatiently, turning her head away and not wanting to look at his overly charming face.
The tense string in Yan Yincheng's heart relaxed. He was really scared just now, scared that she would really marry Pei Mingyuan as she said to get legal status for the two children. If that happened, he would never have a chance again.
"I want to make a bet with you." Yan Yincheng said.
"If you win, I'll not only return your household registration documents to you, but also help you regain the admission qualification to Fengcheng University. You can choose whatever major you like, and I'll cover all your expenses during your studies; as for the two children, I can also arrange for them to go to the best schools in Fengcheng, receive the best education, and bear all their expenses from kindergarten to university. But if you lose, you have to agree to three conditions of mine. Don't worry, these three conditions are all within your ability, neither illegal nor against moral ethics, and you have no right to refuse."
"So, dare you take the bet?"