Chapter 120 Chapter 120 What Do You Truly Care About?! (Bonus Chapter For A Little Breeze)
Chapter 120 What Do You Truly Care About?! (Bonus Chapter For A Little Breeze)
Stepping into the hotel, Dongfang Yang walked ahead of Su Tao, rarely displaying such a proud and assertive expression in front of others.
He had learned about Su Tao’s father and the engagement three days ago.
But this was his first time meeting Xiao Ming.
It was impossible for him to be entirely without emotion.
Not only did he harbor a slight fondness for Su Tao, but even as a friend, he couldn't stand someone who appeared out of nowhere and used it to threaten her.
Entering the elevator, Dongfang Yang glanced at Su Tao, who was still agitated, and said assertively, "Later, you will tell this Xiao Ming clearly that you don't want to marry him. Demand to know your father's whereabouts. I've got your back, so be firm, understand?"
Su Tao recoiled slightly, offering no reply.
Dongfang Yang clicked his tongue but did not press Su Tao further.
The elevator stopped on the 15th floor.
After the doors opened, two men in black stood by the elevator, their presence quite imposing.
Dongfang Yang didn't humor them and walked in with his two bodyguards.
Stepping into the lobby, Dongfang Yang finally saw a man in a worn jacket, looking somewhat thuggish, sitting on a sofa and playing with a few poker cards in his hands.
A stark contrast to Dongfang Yang's flamboyant red mink coat.
And the somewhat worn marriage contract lay on the thuggish man's table.
Seeing Su Tao enter the lobby, Xiao Ming's eyes lit up.
Su Tao, exhausted from a long day, had then experienced a life-or-death dash, rushing here from the police station because of Xiao Ming's text message.
She had barely tidied herself up, only briefly tending to the wound on her forehead and tying her hair back.
Her wool coat was stained with dust in several places.
Even so, Su Tao, though fatigued, wore a determined expression and remained incredibly striking and charming.
Dongfang Yang frowned, stepped sideways to block Su Tao, and asked, "You're Xiao Ming?"
Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow. "And who are you?"
"Dongfang Yang."
"Oh, so you're Young Master Dongfang," Xiao Ming said. "This is between Su Tao and me. What business is it of an outsider like you?"
Su Tao tugged Dongfang Yang's sleeve, signaling him not to be impulsive. She then turned to Xiao Ming and said directly, "Last time you said you knew my father, and in your text message, you also told me that you could give me some information about my father, is that right?"
"Of course," Xiao Ming chuckled. "You are my fiancée, after all. This time, I was entrusted by your father, my future father-in-law, to return from abroad, to find and protect you."
Su Tao frowned. "You're still not getting to the point."
Just after exiting the elevator, she had sent two more messages to Chi Xiaocheng, even nudging her chat window.
But Chi Xiaocheng still hadn't replied, making her anxious.
The unease in her heart grew stronger.
Xiao Ming, however, showed no signs of hurry. "I do have the information you need, Miss Su Tao," he said, "but the main reason I called you here is to discuss our engagement again."
Dongfang Yang immediately retorted, "What's there to discuss? Su Tao obviously doesn't want to! And who are you, some nobody? You think you can marry Su Tao with just a piece of paper?"
Xiao Ming sneered back, "Is the famous Young Master Dongfang a simp too? What does my family matter have to do with you? As a scion of a prominent family, don't you understand the importance of contracts?"
"What's more!"
Xiao Ming stood up and slapped the marriage contract. "This is an engagement arranged by Miss Su Tao's grandfather!" he declared. "Miss Su Tao and I are childhood sweethearts, betrothed for generations!"
Su Tao let out a breath. She had already seen the marriage contract.
The jade pendant that had always brought her luck had been checked against it, and both were indeed the same item.
Xiao Ming snorted. "Miss Su Tao, state your position. Do you want to leave now, or sit down and talk?"
Dongfang Yang also said from the side, "Su Tao, ignore him!"
Su Tao bit her lip and finally said to Dongfang Yang, "Dongfang Yang, let's hear what Xiao Ming has to say first. After all, that's... my father."
She hesitated again.
Having been an orphan since childhood, it was this yearning for family that made her cherish her childhood memories with Chi Xiaocheng so much.
Every night, when holding the jade pendant, she would occasionally dream that her family would find her somewhere.
Living alone was ultimately too lonely.
"Listen, Su Tao," Dongfang Yang said, exasperated to the point of laughter. "I've told you before, haven't I? I actually quite like you."
Su Tao stared at Dongfang Yang in bewilderment, not understanding why he was saying this.
Dongfang Yang said bluntly, "The Su Tao I knew back then was outstanding, decisive, confident. She could remain rational and calm in the face of anything. She wouldn't bow to money. A firm belief like 'I am who I am' resided within you, influencing everyone around you like moonlight."
"So at that time, Ye Liang, Si Chen, and I all made a rule that we wouldn't resort to excessive means to force you. If we liked you, we'd pursue you with our own abilities."
"Now, Ye Liang crossed the line. He deserves a terrible end."
"You came to me for help this time instead of Si Chen. You must have sensed that Si Chen is starting to distance himself from you."
"Even I feel that you've changed."
Dongfang Yang slammed his palm onto the marriage contract, in a tone of exasperated disappointment. "You're worried about Chi Xiaocheng, afraid she might do something foolish alone at home because of your argument!"
"But what are you doing now?"
"A father who ignored you for 19 years."
"A fiancé who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, acting like some yellow-haired hooligan."
"And now, you're still hesitating whether they're more important or Chi Xiaocheng is?"
"What are you running from?!"
Dongfang Yang's voice was practically a roar directed at Su Tao.
He truly couldn't stand what was unfolding, neither with Su Tao nor with this pretentious Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming glared coldly at Dongfang Yang. "That's Su Tao's biological father! What do you mean by saying that?!"
"Biological father?" Dongfang Yang scoffed, and looked indifferently at Su Tao, "I don't believe he cares about you more than that ridiculously foolish Chi Xiaocheng."
"Or are you saying you don't care about Chi Xiaocheng at all?"
Dongfang Yang's words were like a great bell, striking Su Tao's heart with a resounding 'dong'.
What am I running from again?
Is a marriage contract and a father truly more important than Xiaocheng?
The memory of the phone messages flashed in her mind. The vivid red rain from the rooftop seemed to drip outside the window.
Su Tao clenched her fists and shouted out the anxiety that had been building all night, "Of course, I care more about Xiaocheng!"
"Then what the hell are you still doing here?!" Dongfang Yang roared. "If you know she's going to do something foolish, and you care about her, then go watch over her!"
With that, he reached out and picked up the marriage contract from the table.
Xiao Ming immediately felt a bad premonition. "Hey, what are you doing, you bastard!"
He reached out to snatch it back, but Dongfang Yang wasn't about to humor someone who had long annoyed him.
"Who do you think you are?!"
He swung a long leg out, and with a muffled thud, actually sent Xiao Ming flying!
Immediately after.
Tear—tear—
The marriage contract was torn to shreds, piece by piece, and cleared the haze from Su Tao's eyes.
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