Chapter 18 Chapter 18: To Me, She'S More Important Than You
Chapter 18: To Me, She'S More Important Than You
Under normal circumstances, if Su Tao displayed such steadfastness and refused him on some unreasonable matters, Ye Liang would have been quite pleased. It would have made him feel that Su Tao was truly different from other girls.
But now!
She was defying him because of Chi Xiaocheng, and Ye Liang was thoroughly displeased. Yet, since the person in question was Su Tao, whom he cherished, he suppressed his anger, his voice growing progressively colder. “Su Tao, do you know what you’re saying? I invited my parents from the capital for this banquet. Countless family businesses are focusing their attention here. Why do you think I asked you to wear such formal attire? It’s because I want them to meet you, I want to pave the way for you, to elevate you beyond your commoner status, so you’ll never again be scorned for your background! Time, effort, connections, money—resources beyond measure—yet now you’re telling me that because of Chi Xiaocheng, you’re choosing to leave just as the event is officially commencing?”
Each word he spoke was heavier than the last. He wanted to see Su Tao back down.
However, the scene he envisioned did not unfold. Su Tao’s gaze remained utterly calm, completely unmoved by his words. Her tone was very earnest. “Ye Liang, I’m very grateful for everything you’ve prepared for me, and I appreciate your efforts. But have you ever considered if I truly like these things? I told you long ago that I don’t care about your money or power. Now, Xiaocheng is in danger, and I must go back!”
“Heh!” Ye Liang covered his forehead with one hand and chuckled, “You know perfectly well how much I detest Chi Xiaocheng, yet you want me to drive you back?”
“Heh...heh hahahahaha!”
Ye Liang burst into raucous laughter, then abruptly pressed closer to Su Tao, his presence looming over her like a mountain. “Have you forgotten how Chi Xiaocheng has treated you these past few months!” He suppressed his voice, yet it sounded like a roar. “For these past few months, haven’t I treated you perfectly? I’ve given you everything you desired, devoted myself entirely to you. In your eyes, am I truly less important than Chi Xiaocheng?!”
Su Tao met Ye Liang’s gaze, without a hint of fear. After closing her eyes and taking a soft breath, she seemed to have made a decision. She gently took a step back. Holding the hem of her gown with one hand and covering the neckline of her dress with the other, she bowed to Ye Liang. “Ye Liang, I am very grateful for your devotion to me. I don’t know what the future holds, but right now—”
She raised her head, her magnificent eyes shining with unwavering resolve. “To me, Xiaocheng is more important than you. I truly apologize for embarrassing you today. I will formally apologize and compensate you later, so I won’t trouble you further.”
Having said this, Su Tao turned without hesitation, her skirt swaying and twirling in the light. She simultaneously took out her phone, praying that she could still hail a car in such a heavy downpour.
But just as she took a single step, Ye Liang suddenly gripped her right hand. She turned her head to see Ye Liang’s face dark as he questioned, “Why... why is she more important than me in your eyes?!”
She’s merely a wretched woman. She targeted her, spread rumors about her, publicly humiliated her, even incited others to harm her, and ultimately even resorted to kidnapping. Who could possibly forgive that? By what right?
If it were Dongfang Yang or Si Chen, it would be understandable. Though they are rivals, Ye Liang would acknowledge them as formidable opponents. But Chi Xiaocheng, just a woman, by what right does she command such concern from Su Tao!
Ye Liang’s eyes widened, fixating intently on Su Tao’s, trying to discern what she was truly thinking. Underneath his question, a gentle, reminiscent look softened Su Tao’s eyes. She said faintly, “You’ve been by my side for a few months, and I’m very grateful. But Xiaocheng has been with me for over ten years.”
In her heart, she still firmly believed that Chi Xiaocheng’s recent rebelliousness could be rectified.
With that, she shook off Ye Liang’s hand. She hurried towards the hall exit. She dialed Chi Xiaocheng’s number again; it still indicated the phone was off.
Just then, a whistle sounded nearby. “You’re not just going to head straight back like that, are you?”
Su Tao glanced sideways, seeing Dongfang Yang approaching, a keychain dangling from his fingertips, which he swung as he walked. “I don’t know what happened, but a car would be much better, wouldn’t it?”
Su Tao pursed her lips, her taut, pretty face relaxing slightly. “Thank you.”
“It’s no trouble. This banquet is quite dull anyway. There are umbrellas by the door; you can go wait for me outside the yacht. I’ll go retrieve the car from the garage.”
“Alright!”
Su Tao said no more, Dongfang Yang’s assistance put her considerably more at ease. She walked straight out of the hall, without a single backward glance of lingering attachment. She didn’t notice that after his surge of anger, Ye Liang remained standing, as though his soul had been taken from him.
Soon, she was inside the car, the heavy rain falling around them. There was some standing water on the road, but it didn’t impede their progress.
Dongfang Yang, in the driver’s seat, asked, “Where to?”
“Back to school.”
Rumble—
The roar of the sports car mingled with the thunder as they swiftly drove away.
“Speaking of which, what exactly happened? Is Chi Xiaocheng in trouble?”
At this moment, Dongfang Yang’s thoughts were quite similar to Ye Liang’s. Chi Xiaocheng had done so many outrageous things, yet Su Tao still cared for her so deeply. Now, whatever had happened was making her so anxious she wished she could fly back.
Su Tao sat silently in the passenger seat. She wondered whether to tell Dongfang Yang the truth. The idea that Chi Xiaocheng had waited for her on the school rooftop in the rain for an hour, and now might have jumped, was truly appalling. She seemed so normal during the afternoon basketball game; saying she was acting strangely might make people think she had a mental illness, wouldn’t it?
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Dongfang Yang, what kind of situation do you think would cause a person’s temperament to change so drastically and become extremely unstable?”
Dongfang Yang cast another glance at Su Tao. Wisely, he didn’t press further, and after a moment of thought, he replied, “It must be something that could utterly devastate a person, something they can’t possibly accept. Or perhaps it’s an underlying mental illness, or something along the lines of a second personality.”
Su Tao nodded at his words. She said no more. She took out her phone, simultaneously contacting people she knew, to see who was still at school and if they could go to the rooftop to check. She simultaneously scrolled through the school’s online forum; the fact that there was no news of anyone jumping so far eased her mind considerably.
Along with her mounting inner anxiety, ten minutes later, the car came to a halt. Horns blared from all directions, and outside the car window, all she could see were flashing car lights. Dongfang Yang frowned and slammed a fist on the steering wheel’s horn, saying helplessly, “Traffic jam. No idea what’s happening up ahead, but in this downpour, a car accident is highly probable.”
Despite the road not being flooded, an accident had still occurred. Su Tao’s first instinct was to turn around and take an alternate route, but a glance in the rearview mirror revealed that the hazy mist behind them was also filled with car lights. They were completely trapped in the middle of the road.
Dongfang Yang let out a breath, looked at Su Tao, and asked, “Are you very anxious?”
Su Tao nodded earnestly, “If I’m late getting back, I’m afraid Xiaocheng’s life might be in danger!” Perhaps, it already is. She simply dared not consider that possibility.
As soon as these words left her lips, Dongfang Yang couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. He glanced sideways at Su Tao. “Can you drive?”
Su Tao was momentarily startled. “I didn’t pass the practical driving test.”
“That’s enough. As long as you can get it moving. No one would dare hit this car or its license plate. You wait here; I’ll bike back first.”
The situation was urgent. Unable to reach Chi Xiaocheng, this was the only way. Su Tao followed his gaze outward, noticing several shared bicycles parked by the roadside. She pursed her lips, opened the passenger door, and stepped out into the rain. “I’ll ride back.”
“In this downpour, you’re going to bike back? Are you insane?!”
Su Tao, of course, wasn’t insane. She understood that if Chi Xiaocheng was still on the rooftop, she would definitely only want to see her. Seeing he couldn’t stop Su Tao, Dongfang Yang anxiously called out, “Hey, there’s a raincoat in the trunk!”
“No need. Putting on a raincoat wastes time.”
Su Tao reached up, brushing the damp strands of hair from her forehead, her delicate face calm and earnest.
Scan the code, unlock, and ride.
Xiaocheng, please, nothing must happen to you!
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