Anan

006 Completely defeated (2)

Work is not proceeding smoothly; there's a possibility of facing retrenchment. As for love, it's even more dismal. And now, even her closest family members are subjected to domestic violence and coercion, leaving her feeling powerless.

Despite having done nothing wrong.

Li Xinyuan lay there for quite some time, venting her frustrations by kicking her legs for a while before sitting up with a resolute expression on her face.

Enough with the breakdowns. Enough with the venting.

Tomorrow, she would work diligently, striving to excel and not giving up on fighting for her job until the very last moment.

Next, that scoundrel Xie Zhilu, she shouldn't even think about him from now on. It's time to cut her losses. After all, despite his good physique, character, and endurance, she was the class flower while he was just a w**d in the courtyard. Even if she had taken advantage of him, it wouldn't matter.

Lastly, her sister.

This weekend, she would return home, strategizing her moves, whether it be seeking legal advice, assessing injuries, or forcefully bringing her sister and niece back to Xiangcheng. Where there's a will, there's a way. She refused to believe there was no solution, willing to do whatever it takes to rescue her sister from distress.

The next day, the weather was overcast.

Throughout the day, Li Xinyuan went about her business calmly amidst the hustle and bustle of the office. While the storm brewed beneath the surface, everything seemed tranquil on the outside. During lunch, Aunt Zhou seemed visibly awkward, offering a few words of comfort to Li Xinyuan, saying that nothing was settled yet.

In the evening, instead of taking her work home as usual, Li Xinyuan deliberately stayed back at the office, working diligently under the watchful eyes of her colleagues.

It wasn't until after nine in the evening, when most of the staff had left, that Li Xinyuan dragged her weary body downstairs.

Heavy clouds loomed overhead, with a fine drizzle filling the air. In the quiet of the night, Li Xinyuan felt a sudden impulse to break free. She didn't want to go home, so she headed to the riverside promenade.

With few people around due to the unfavorable weather, Li Xinyuan walked slowly, tightly fastening the collar of her coat. As she gazed out, the lights of the bridge cast a soft glow amidst the misty rain, while several boats sailed leisurely on the Xiang River. On the other side, across the road, stood several high-rise buildings in the financial district, their lights shimmering. Li Xinyuan stared blankly, and suddenly, she noticed several figures emerging from a high-end restaurant not far away.

It's no wonder she noticed those individuals, for at the forefront was the former prince of the Fuming Group, who was equivalent to negative 10 billion. It was strange that Li Xinyuan recognized him at a glance, despite having only seen him once from a distance of several dozen meters. He stood out among the crowd, appearing distinct from others.

They headed towards the roadside to get into their parked cars.

Li Xinyuan withdrew her gaze.

As the rain grew heavier, Li Xinyuan put on her hood, still reluctant to return home. Ahead, there were several layers of damp wooden steps leading down to the water, with the Jiang River gently lapping against them. Despite the dampness of the wooden steps, Li Xinyuan walked over and sat down, just inches from the water's surface.

Lost in thought.

People passed by, some pausing, but Li Xinyuan paid them no mind.

It was then that her phone abruptly rang, her father calling.

Li Xinyuan answered languidly, "Hello?"

Her father's voice seemed muffled by the wind, silent for a few seconds before he said, "Xinyuan... your sister... your sister..." He burst into tears.

Li Xinyuan was stunned, her entire body feeling numb, including her tongue. She asked, "What happened to my sister?"

"She's dead! She's dead..." Her father couldn't continue, wailing bitterly.

Li Xinyuan's eyes blurred, her whole body stiffening like iron, her voice strangely calm, "How did she die? Was she killed by Zhou Zhihao? Has the doctor confirmed her death?"

"No, no... this morning, she sent Niuniu over... in the evening, we received a police notification saying that she... killed Zhou Zhihao with a knife, then jumped off the building herself... wuwuwu, my daughter jumped off a building, my Xiao Yi... I should have listened to you, shouldn't have trusted Zhou Zhihao, we should have brought her home yesterday... ah, her days were already numbered, why couldn't we see it..."

Li Xinyuan covered her mouth with her hand, tears streaming down her face. She looked at the boat on the water in front of her, why couldn't the boat ever come to her?

So, this was her sister's determination.

Her sister no longer wanted to live like a dog. By killing Zhou Zhihao, even at the cost of her own life, her child wouldn't fall into his hands. It's a win-win situation.

The phone had long been disconnected, the rain falling heavier. Not far away, someone stood quietly holding an umbrella, looking over. Li Xinyuan buried her head in her arms, crying silently.

She didn't know how long had passed, maybe a few minutes, maybe just a few tens of seconds, when her phone stubbornly rang again amidst the rain. Like a walking corpse, Li Xinyuan reached out with trembling hands and answered.

A voice filled with sorrow came from Aunt Zhou, "Xinyuan, I have to tell you, be mentally prepared, I received internal news, you... are on the list."

"Okay."

Aunt Zhou sensed something amiss in her tone, "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Aunt Zhou, thank you."

"It's nothing, we're in this together. Little sister, find a new job sooner rather than later, it sounds better than being laid off, and the company will still compensate..."

"Yeah, I have something to do, I'll hang up first."

Li Xinyuan stared ahead, but it seemed like she couldn't see anything. After a few minutes, she suddenly realized and grabbed her phone, opening a few apps. But it was too late in the day, there were no more high-speed trains or buses back to her hometown, and she could only book a bus ticket for early the next morning.

Putting down her phone, Li Xinyuan buried her face in her arms again, tears silently flowing.

Until, a large black umbrella appeared over her head, shielding her from the wind and rain. Along with it came the unfamiliar presence of someone approaching.

Li Xinyuan slowly raised her head, the man equivalent to negative 10 billion stood beside her, looking down at her with a slightly furrowed brow and dark eyes.