Chapter 14 How Dare He Sleep with You for Free

When Zong Du came downstairs, it was just in time for lunch. As he entered the dining room, he saw Mrs. Zong sitting in front of a table, looking displeased.

He pulled out a chair and sat down. “What’s wrong?”

Mrs. Zong frowned. “Nothing but your father. He came back late last night and left again this morning without even eating.”

For the past few years, Zong Yuhai rarely came home. When he did, it was like clocking in—sleeping in the bedroom and leaving as soon as he woke up.

Mrs. Zong was very dissatisfied with this.

Zong Du smirked, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. “Huh, he’s quite busy.”

Mrs. Zong was unhappy. “Come on, he’s not a boy. Why does he still work so hard? Isn’t it enough that you’re here? He should spend more time with me.”

Zong Du didn’t respond.

Mrs. Zong sighed. “How are things progressing with Yanyan?”

Zong Du made a sound of acknowledgment. “Fine.”

Mrs. Zong’s eyes lit up. “Going okay? Can I start having more in-depth talks with the Lin family?”

“No need,” Zong Du said, taking a bite of steak. “There are many other choices.”

Mrs. Zong nodded. “Well...you got that right. The Lin family isn’t high enough in status. I’ll consider other families with daughters who can match you.”

Zong Du responded indifferently, but there was no sign of concern in his expression.

After lunch, Zong Du went back upstairs.

He took a document from the safe, glanced at it, put it into an envelope, and left.

Choosing an inconspicuous Phaeton, Zong Du drove to the Old Town.

...

At Vee Bar.

Xi Yue was supposed to dance for an hour, but because she accidentally skipped a part, she finished ten minutes early.

Back in the dressing room, as soon as she opened the door, her phone started ringing incessantly.

She quickly went to open her locker.

On the other end of the call was Zong Du’s assistant, Lu Rang.

“Miss Xi, if you have time, please come to Zong Group.”

Xi Yue was taken aback. “Zong Group?”

She had been with Zong Du for three years but had never set foot in Zong Group.

Lu Rang confirmed, “Something has come up at the company... it’s related to you. We hope you can come and address it.”

Lu Rang was Zong Du’s special assistant, known in the business world as a smiling assassin and his right-hand man.

Xi Yue dared not take his words lightly.

She hurriedly removed her makeup, grabbed her backpack, and rushed out.

It was just after lunch break ended when Xi Yue arrived at Zong Group. The entrance was bustling with people.

On the lawn to the right of the entrance, several security guards dressed in black were surrounding and restraining someone.

The person was struggling and shouting curses, unable to break free.

Xi Yue’s eyelid twitched, and she took out her phone to call Lu Rang.

Lu Rang soon came down.

Dressed in an elite outfit, his cold aura matched his stern expression as he approached. “Miss Xi.”

Xi Yue asked, “You called me here because...”

Lu Rang paused. “Please follow me.”

He led Xi Yue towards the lawn.

As they got closer, she gradually heard the voice of the restrained person.

“Let me go! My daughter is Zong Du’s girlfriend!”

“Hey, look! With one word, I can get you all fired! I’m the Zong family’s in-law. You’ll see!”

“Damn it, he’s been sleeping with my daughter for three years and thinks he can get away without paying? Does he think I’m easy to bully?”

“If he doesn’t pay up, I’ll go public and let all of Huai City know what kind of person Zong Du is and what kind of family the Zong family is!”

Xi Yue’s face turned deathly pale, all pretense of composure evaporating, leaving only anger and humiliation.

Lu Rang pinched the bridge of his nose. “Miss Xi, your father has been causing a scene here for an hour.”

Xi Yue dug her nails into her fingers, overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of shame and the urge to flee.

Lu Rang continued, “I won’t comment on your personal matters with the boss, but if you let your father continue causing a scene, affecting the company’s normal operations...don’t blame me for taking action.”

It was as if Xi Yue had been slapped and doused with a bucket of ice water.

In the scorching May afternoon, her face burned, but her heart felt as cold as the eighteenth level of hell.

Taking a deep breath, Xi Yue stepped forward.

The security guards, seeing Lu Rang approach, made way, revealing a disheveled Xi Kuoshan.

The image of her once tall and upright father was completely gone. The middle-aged man before her, with his dirty clothes, hunched figure, and muddled eyes, made Xi Yue close her eyes briefly. “What do you want?”

Xi Kuoshan hadn’t expected Xi Yue to appear and was momentarily stunned.

But recalling his purpose today, he shamelessly demanded, “I want money! If I don’t get money, I’ll lose my hand!”

Xi Yue looked at his left hand, missing two fingers. “I don’t have money.”

“You don’t, but Zong Du does.” Xi Kuoshan sneered. “How dare he sleep with you for free! Three years! Asking for three million isn’t too much!”

Xi Yue felt an unprecedented sense of mortification.

“What good does it do you to force my mother and me out of the Zong family? If she hadn’t stolen antiques for you, you wouldn’t even be able to pay the interest on your loans!”

Xi Kuoshan stood up and slapped Xi Yue hard. “It’s none of your business!”

Xi Yue’s head turned from the impact, and blood soon trickled from her mouth.

She wiped it away, looking at the blood on her fingertip, feeling an immense sense of helplessness suffocating her.

She heard her own voice say, “I advise you to behave. If there’s money, my mom will give it to you. If not, don’t come looking for me again.

If you provoke the wrong people, my mom and I can’t save you. We’ll only end up burying you.”

Xi Yue looked up and closed her eyes. “Mr. Lu, if it’s convenient, please call the police.”

“You!” Xi Kuoshan’s pupils constricted.

Seeing Lu Rang actually take out his phone to dial, Xi Kuoshan viciously spat out, “Let’s see,” and fled.

Xi Yue turned around and bowed to Lu Rang. “If possible... please don’t tell Zong Du about this?”

Lu Rang looked troubled.

Xi Yue bit her lip. “At least... tell him later.”

Lu Rang sighed. “I’ll try.”

...

Due to Xi Kuoshan’s commotion, Xi Yue was in no mood to study that afternoon and went straight home.

The sky was almost completely dark.

When Zong Du drove back, the first thing he saw upon entering was a white figure.

Xi Yue was quietly sitting beside Zhuang Yi, arranging flowers. The two were talking about something.

Her profile was so pale it seemed to glow, but the other side of her face was hidden in shadow, making it hard to see clearly.

But Zong Du noticed that her mouth seemed bruised.

He didn’t remember hurting her there.

Xi Yue had just finished discussing the cover of an ancient song with Zhuang Yi when her phone buzzed.

She read the message.

“Come up.”

Xi Yue quickly turned off the screen.

Zhuang Yi looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Xi Yue shook her head. “I need to go to my room. The class monitor sent a video for online learning.”

“Go ahead,” Zhuang Yi urged her. “I can handle this myself.”

Xi Yue walked through the living room to her room.

Seeing nobody outside, she went upstairs to the second floor.

As soon as she entered, Zong Du pulled her into his arms.