Book One, Chapter 41: If I Give It to You, Take It

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Su Wanqing did not realize that her hands were trembling until after she hung up.

Ever since she had married Xie Yancheng five years ago, she had always maintained an image of quiet endurance. No matter whether it was Xie Yancheng, the Xie family, or his friends mocking her, she would merely smile calmly and pretend that nothing had happened.

Even the last time at the kindergarten, she had swallowed most of her grievances and only stated what she wanted.

But this was the first time in five years that she had cursed Xie Yancheng out—and the first time she had used her status as Mrs. Xie to assert the rights she was entitled to.

A flash of exhilaration swept through her heart, and she seized it tightly.

Perhaps this was who she really was supposed to be.

All these years, she had endured humiliation and swallowed her grievances, all for the sake of winning Xie Yancheng’s love.

But now, she no longer needed it.

Her phone rang again. It was the same number.

Without the slightest hesitation, she added the number to her blacklist. Out of sight, out of mind.

After eating a simple meal, Su Wanqing went alone to the medical examination center to find Doctor Li Shan.

After spending the entire previous night researching the matter, she now understood a great deal about Xie Kexin’s condition. Before long, she and the doctor had settled on a treatment plan.

She would undergo brain radiotherapy twice a week, and should recover in roughly six months.

Although Li Shan made it sound simple, Su Wanqing knew that prolonged radiotherapy to the brain could damage the scalp and skin. Her heart ached, but she had no choice. This was the only way her Kexin could get better.

By the time Su Wanqing left the hospital, the rain that had fallen all day had finally stopped.

The clouds parted, allowing slivers of sunlight to shine through. When Su Wanqing looked up, she saw a rainbow in the distance.

It hung high in the sky like a ray of hope.

Su Wanqing took out her new phone and photographed it. On a rare impulse, she posted the picture to her social feed:

“After a sudden downpour, the sky always hides an unexpected rainbow. (Happy)”

Yet she could not help hesitating. Even if she and Xie Yancheng were going to divorce, Xie Kexin was still his daughter. Should she tell him that their child was ill?

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Meanwhile.

Xie Yancheng stared incredulously at the phone after Su Wanqing had berated him, his eyes filled with astonishment and restrained fury.

Su Wanning stood beside him. She had seen everything and had heard every word Su Wanqing said with perfect clarity.

Although she was surprised that Su Wanqing had been so impulsive as to curse Xie Yancheng outright—a woman with no assets of her own, who depended on a man for food, clothing, and shelter while raising a daughter with autism—what gave her the nerve to be so defiant?

A moment later, however, a trace of contempt passed through her eyes.

As expected of a good-for-nothing who had not even finished elementary school. She did not even know how to coax a man. How could such an idiot possibly compete with her?

Su Wanning blinked rapidly and opened her mouth in shock.

“Brother Yancheng, do you two normally talk to each other like that? My goodness, how could she say such things to her own husband? Doesn’t she know that her food, clothing, and everything else are paid for with your money?”

She deliberately belittled Su Wanqing while elevating Xie Yancheng, reminding him that within this relationship, Su Wanqing was merely someone dependent on him. She had no right to be so insolent.

Although Xie Yancheng said nothing, Su Wanning could clearly see that the disgust in his eyes had deepened.

She carefully leaned closer and rubbed herself against his arm like a little cat.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Why did I even go to the mall today? If I hadn’t gone, none of this would have happened…”

Xie Yancheng suppressed his anger toward Su Wanqing, gently stroked Su Wanning’s hair, and comforted her in a soft voice.

“It was already bad luck that you ran into her at the mall. Next time you want to buy something, just tell me. I’ll have someone deliver it to you.”

As he spoke, he took out an additional black card and placed it in Su Wanning’s hand.

“Keep this. There’s no spending limit. Buy whatever you want from now on.”

Su Wanning had not expected such a huge surprise and nearly failed to keep herself from smiling. She hurriedly lowered her eyes and pushed the card back.

“Brother Yancheng, how could I take your card…”

Xie Yancheng’s manner was firm.

“If I’m giving it to you, then take it.”

After pretending to refuse a couple more times, Su Wanning accepted the card in the end. She bit her lip, then suddenly leaned forward and kissed Xie Yancheng on the cheek before quickly retreating.

“I only wanted to tell you that I’m not close to you because of your money…”

Her cheeks flushed red, making her look like an innocent young girl who knew nothing of the world.

She had no idea that this appearance was precisely what men found most irresistible. Xie Yancheng’s gaze was instantly drawn to her, and Su Wanqing was cast completely from his mind. With one sweeping motion, he pulled Su Wanning into his arms and murmured against her ear:

“I know… But it doesn’t matter even if money is part of the reason. The one thing I have more than enough of is money.”

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He gazed deeply at Su Wanning, the emotions in his eyes impossible to read. Slowly, he leaned closer.

Su Wanning’s lashes trembled violently, yet she pretended to remain calm. She lifted her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and kissed him on the lips.

After a long while, Su Wanning lay breathlessly in Xie Yancheng’s arms, her eyes glistening with moisture. Most striking of all, her lipstick had been smeared beyond recognition, and a few glistening traces of liquid clung to her lips, inviting the imagination to wander.

Xie Yancheng appeared equally composed, but the lipstick mark at the corner of his mouth and the rise and fall of his chest betrayed the intensity of what had just occurred.

“Yancheng… Why don’t we go inside…”

Su Wanning panted suggestively.

There was a private lounge in Xie Yancheng’s office, specially arranged for his rest. In the past, she had even helped him decorate it.

Yet Xie Yancheng merely loosened his collar and said indifferently, “No need. I still have work to finish. Entertain yourself for a while.”

With that, he rose and went to his desk, where he actually began working.

A trace of unwillingness flashed through Su Wanning’s eyes.

For more than a month, Xie Yancheng had held her hand, kissed her, and done all the things couples usually did together. He had even taken her to gatherings with his brothers and treated her exceptionally well.

But whenever the two of them grew intimate, he would always stop at the crucial moment and refuse to take their relationship any further.

Once or twice might have been understandable, but if this happened every time, she was beginning to wonder whether she lacked charm—or whether he was no longer capable.

She suddenly regretted maintaining her modest facade five years ago instead of finding out what Xie Yancheng was capable of.

Then another thought occurred to her. Xie Yancheng and Su Wanqing already had a child together, so surely he could not be impotent. Why, then, did he refuse to touch her?

While she was lost in thought, Wang Zhengzhen entered with a file.

“President Xie, here are the documents you requested.”

At a glance, he noticed the marks left by passionate kissing around Xie Yancheng’s lips. His footsteps faltered. Then he looked at Su Wanning, whose clothes were in disarray, and was so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped.

He quickly coughed and raised his voice.

“President Xie, your wife is waiting outside. She says she needs to speak with you.”

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