Chapter 9, Declaration of War

I am furious: "Zhang Yuny, if you want to cause trouble for them, go ahead. Anyway, once I leave, out of sight, out of mind. Besides, I am not leaving after all; I simply do not want you. If you push me further, I will immediately find someone to marry. It is illegal to disrupt someone else's family and marriage!"

In an instant, my heart blossomed: "Yi, you won't take me back, will you? Yi, I've been terrified these days; your movements are truly significant!"

Yi smiled again: "Ziqi, are your eyes wide open again? Yes, I apologize."

I sigh, the sea still does not speak the truth. Zhan Yunyi is not just a diamond-studded golden turtle; he is entirely a diamond turtle. Had I known about his family background earlier, I would have never gotten involved with him, no matter what. I am merely a woman who wishes to live a simple life. Shopping, dressing up, engaging in some design work, and having a few small interests and hobbies are more than enough for me.

I felt frustrated and began to plead with him: "Yi, could you please let me go? Could you not pressure me, please?"

The music from my phone started playing; it was a call from Yi. I stared at it for a long time, yet resignedly answered the call. Yi's voice was very magnetic, still as charming as ever. What was I thinking? I slapped myself lightly. Upon hearing the sound of the slap, Yi curiously asked, "Ziqi, what are you doing?"

How could someone from a prominent family like him come to my small town to study for a year? I suspect there might have been some issues within the family. Zhan Yunyis personal profile is quite simple; it merely states that he is a standout among the fourth generation of the Zhan family, holding dual master's degrees in mathematics and finance, and after completing his studies, he took charge of Asian affairs

I walked into the office feeling refreshed. Hai looked at me curiously and asked, "Ziqi, are you okay?" I struck a fighting pose and replied, "When soldiers come, we shall block them; when water comes, we shall drown it. This is a protracted battle, brother. Perform well, and I will definitely not treat you unfairly." After saying this, I smiled and got back to work.

The battle I anticipated did not commence as scheduled. For several consecutive days, there was calm. Instead, Ning Qing brought me a bouquet of flowers every day, constantly thinking of inviting me.

Yi laughed and said: "The little girl is finally angry. She still can't keep her composure!"

His various demands of me are probably to meet the needs of his family. I understand that. However, I cannot comply. No matter how much I love him, I cannot completely change my way of life. I am still selfish. Therefore, he should not seek me out. I am basically of no help to his career. We often see Cinderella finding her prince, yet stories typically only narrate how they began their happy life together, with few fairy tales delving into the various aspects of their married life.

Yi smiled and said: "You have indeed changed quite a bit. In the past, you would have jumped up like an agitated rabbit. I want to say, it would be best for you to stay in Lingnan and wait for me to come and get you. You should abandon any thoughts of resigning and running away. I am too lazy to deal with the troubles of Juanzi, Yuer, Hu Dahai, and Ningruo."

I said: "If you have time and are willing."

Yi chuckled and said: "Ziqi, why does your little head always come up with unexpected things? When I said I was sorry, I meant I was sorry for letting you stay outside for four years without properly taking care of you. You better quit smoking; by the time I help you quit, it will be too late for you to regret it. I won't hold past matters against you anymore, but from now on, keep your hands and feet to yourself. Don't be so familiar with other men, pretending to be brothers and putting your arms around them. If you dare to run away holding hands again, just try it in front of me!" His tone carried no hint of anger, yet I felt a chill from the north rushing in, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over me, freezing me from head to toe.

Sigh, why is it so exhausting to deal with Ning Qing? I look at my mother's photo on the desk and feel a pang of sadness, "Mom, what should I do to make the right choice?"

I discreetly said: "Swatting mosquitoes"

A light laugh came from the other end of the phone: "Are you hitting your own head again? As long as you let your mind wander, you'll inevitably end up hitting your own head. You can't even lie convincingly; where would the mosquitoes come from in the winter of Lingnan?"

Yi interrupted me and said slowly, "Ziqi, are you jealous of the plums?"

Ning Qing said: "Did you promise me, Zi Qi?"

I remained silent for a long time before finally calling out the familiar name: "Yi, um, we, you wouldn't, would you?"

I hung up the phone with a snap. I am truly foolish to think I could persuade a tiger that only eats meat to switch to a vegetarian diet. Zhan Yunyi is someone who follows through on his words. If I leave, he will definitely take it out on Juanzi and the others. Besides, where would I go? I am certain that he has known I have been in Lingnan for the past four years. As for why he has allowed me to roam freely for four years, there must be another reason.

Tang Ziqi is now not fighting unprepared battles. I opened my computer to check the information on Yuntian and the Zhan family.

Yi smiled: "Be good, Ziqi, I have been waiting for you to call my name for a long time. Well, of course we will get married, and I will definitely come to find my fiancée. Any questions?"

He repeated the same words: "Come back, and I won't force you anymore." His words ignited a strong fighting spirit within me. I called him by his full name: "Zhan Yunya, do you think I am still the Tang Ziqi of the past, that a single glance from you can leave me paralyzed with fear? Whatever you want to do, I will face it head-on. If you want me to return to that kind of life, without freedom and without self, there is no way!"

I am a selfish little woman. I would rather choose to be loved, especially since I have long realized that apart from Yi, I truly cannot love. When I first took the initiative to call Ning Qing, my heart ached for a moment. If Yi had any perception, would he also feel heartache? I chose to ignore this feeling. I cheerfully arranged to have a meal with Ning Qing.

I was dumbfounded and exclaimed, "You scoundrel!"

I said to myself, Tang Ziqi, you are truly contradictory and greedy. You wish to have your own life, yet you do not want him to find another woman. He is not a deity. Yu'er advised me that if I cannot let go, I should go find him. Can I go back? To live that kind of life? I shook my head. Should I not look for him? Right now, it is not a matter of whether I want to find him or not. From what I know of him, he will come looking for me. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel afraid. After contemplating it from all angles, I still felt that resigning and leaving would be best. I could go to a strange place and find a job that can support myself, starting anew. Right now, it is not a matter of whether I want to find him or not. From what I know of him, he will come looking for me. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel afraid. After contemplating it from all angles, I still felt that resigning and leaving would be best. I could go to a strange place and find a job that can support myself, starting anew.

Just the presence of Zhan Yuyi is enough to scare me into fleeing in panic; I lack the ability and energy to face the entire Zhan family. To be with him, I fear I will have to endure the pressures of a family marriage. Will someone come with a check and ask me to leave? I do not doubt the possibility, as it is written in books. Suddenly, I want to laugh; if such a thing were to happen, how many zeros would I request to be filled in? I can't help but shake my head. Tang Ziqi, what are you thinking about again? Suddenly, I want to laugh; if such a thing were to happen, how many zeros would I request to be filled in? I can't help but shake my head. Tang Ziqi, what are you thinking about again?

I am at a loss: "What will it take for you to relent?"

"Hehe, have you learned to threaten me now? It's quite impressive that you know how to bargain." Yi was not angry at all, as if he were just scratching an itch. "Even if you marry ninety-nine times, I will still marry you on the one hundredth time, Ziqi, please do not harm others."

What is meant by fate? There is an explanation that a male ape and a female ape coincidentally went to the same place to relieve themselves, and because of the shared odor of their "ape droppings," they came together. Zhan Yunyi and I encountered each other with fate, but there is no connection. There is none now, and there will be none in the future. In the past, I did not know and foolishly loved for the sake of love. Now, seeing this information, it is clear that we are completely from two different worlds.

Contrary to my expectations, Ning Qing appeared hesitant. He seemed somewhat incredulous, as if contemplating something. After a long pause, he said: "Zi Qi, did you invite me to dinner?"

I was astonished, this Tyrannosaurus can speak human language? I can't believe it: "Yi, are you apologizing to me?"

I will pick you up after work

It was only after my inquiry that I realized how little I knew about Zhan Yuny. Yuntian Group is merely a subsidiary of the Zhan family in the Chinese mainland. The Zhan family headquarters is located in the United Kingdom and is involved in numerous fields. According to reports, the Zhan family's ancestors settled in the UK during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. The family is large and has always operated discreetly. Zhan Yuny joined Yuntian precisely in my senior year of university.

Yi spoke slowly: "You should have thought clearly about the consequences when you ran away. You ran away on your own, and I want you to come back on your own. I have said that when I find you, you will no longer have any freedom to speak of." He laughed again: "If my words will give you nightmares, you can call me anytime, I am at your service all day long"

I surrender, he understands himself better than I do. Remembering what I wanted to say, I hurriedly spoke: "Zhan Dong." "What did you call me?" Yi's voice became dangerous, and I quickly corrected myself: "Zhan Yun Yi." Yi sighed lightly: "Zi Qi, when did you learn to use politeness to hurt others?"

If I cannot be with Yi, and if being with him does not bring happiness, then I will keep this love hidden in my heart. Life goes on; does not the marriage statistics in China say that more than 50% of marriages are devoid of love? Love is not necessarily required in marriage. Every couple, when they grow old, will refer to each other as companions. Companions, companions, partners in old age. It is merely about finding someone to share meals with, having a child to express emotions, so as to avoid an empty home devoid of warmth. Love is not necessarily required in marriage. Every couple, when they grow old, will refer to each other as companions. Companions, companions, partners in old age. It is merely about finding someone to share meals with, having a child to express emotions, so as to avoid an empty home devoid of warmth. If there is one person in this marriage who loves the other, then it is at least ten times better than a marriage that is completely devoid of love.

Go to sleep, the conclusion has been reached, no longer afraid of him. Perhaps he wants to cling on, but his family won't allow it. Someone is helping me deal with him. Scarlett said, tomorrow is a new day.

I need to calm down, I said to myself, steadying my mind, I said to him: "Is this all you called to say?"

I wish I could grow ten or eight tongues to prove my innocence: "Yi, you see, everything you dislike, I like. In these four years, I even smoked, and I smoked in public, and I called my male colleagues brothers. I don't want to make you angry, nor do I want to argue with you." I recall those days when he kept me locked up, the days when he yelled at me, and I couldn't help but choke up.

Yi smiled and said: "Interesting, Ziqi, being with you is endlessly enjoyable, and it will never be dull or boring. I have said before that the leopard is dangerous yet thrilling; just be ready to take on the challenge."

I only feel utterly exhausted. The past flashes before my eyes like a revolving lantern. The scene of meeting Yi in Beijing seems as if it just happened. His interest in me appears to be growing rather than diminishing. This playboy, judging by his situation with Mei Zi, seems to have had interactions with countless women. I secretly despise him. I think I still care. At least when he said he was coming to see his fiancée, I assumed it was Mei Zi, my heart sank for a moment, filled with a strong sense of loss. This playboy, judging by his situation with Mei Zi, seems to have had interactions with countless women. I secretly despise him. I think I still care. At least when he said he was coming to see his fiancée, I assumed it was Mei Zi, my heart sank for a moment, filled with a strong sense of loss. Ever since my mother passed away, he has been my only family in this world

I was busy correcting him: "That is not what I meant. What I am saying is, Yi, we are not suitable for each other. I cannot provide what you desire, and I enjoy the life I have now. Look, with your conditions, what kind of girl can't you find? Someone like Mei Zi, pure and obedient, who would drop everything just to come to you for a meal. I am just a person with nothing to my name; I have no beauty, no talent, and I can only go against you..." I am just a person with nothing to my name; I have no beauty, no talent, and I can only go against you..."

I am confused, what is this all about? Does having a meal together equate to agreeing to marry him? To be honest, I am not ready for that yet. I hurriedly said: "If you are unwilling, then forget it, just consider that I never said anything."

The other end of the phone fell silent. After a long while, Yi's voice came through, tinged with a hint of pain, as he said: "Ziqi, I am sorry"