Chapter 10: Ambition
1326 Words
Beep, beep, beep.
The busy tone from the other end of the line was the only response Xu Ting received, leaving her stomping the ground in fury.
That bastard actually had the audacity to hang up on her!
Fuming, she redialed Lin Xuan’s number.
This time, he picked up almost instantly.
However, his tone was distinctly impatient. “Are you done yet?”
“Lin Xuan, what’s with that attitude!”
Xu Ting's face flushed with anger. “You stole my mother’s jade bracelet, injured my brother, and now you dare hang up on me?”
“Stole your mother’s jade bracelet? That was originally my mother’s, meant to be passed down to my future wife. Since we’re divorced, I’m fully justified in taking it back.”
“Some cheap old bracelet, and you’re shameless enough to reclaim it? Clearly, poverty’s gotten the best of you!”
“Yes, I must be that poor,” Lin Xuan replied indifferently, no longer interested in arguing with her.
“So, you admit it? And I hear from my mother that you arrived in a Maybach? What, do you think renting a fancy car will somehow make me regret things and take you back? Keep dreaming, Lin Xuan!”
“I rented a Maybach? For you?”
Lin Xuan chuckled. “Xu Ting, please, don’t flatter yourself.”
“Then explain why you’re driving around in it.”
Xu Ting sneered.
“And why should I explain anything to you?” Lin Xuan replied calmly.
“You!” Xu Ting was livid. “Fine, Lin Xuan, I won’t argue. Just tell me, how do you plan to make up for hurting my brother?”
“I hit him because he deserved it,” Lin Xuan replied icily.
“You! Who do you think you are, laying a hand on my brother? Do you know he’s the Xu family’s only heir?” Xu Ting’s voice rose in fury.
“So your brother is a person, but I’m not? Am I just supposed to stand there, let him insult me and throw a vase at my head without defending myself?”
Lin Xuan’s voice grew cold, his patience waning.
“Yes, exactly!”
Xu Ting’s response was domineering.
“Oh, Xu Ting, you really are something else!” Lin Xuan laughed bitterly. “Since your whole family loves to act without reason, don’t blame me for warning you. Tell your mother and brother to stay out of my way, or next time, it won’t just be a broken arm.”
With that, he ended the call.
“That son of a...!”
Fuming, Xu Ting cursed, dialing him back immediately, only to be met with a “number blocked” notification.
That spineless fool not only had the gall to threaten her but also blocked her number!
Where did he find the nerve?
“Just you wait, Lin Xuan!”
She seethed, inhaling deeply to calm herself, then returned to the hospital room.
“Sweetheart, how did it go?”
Xu Ping asked anxiously as Xu Ting stepped in.
“That bastard actually hung up on me! And he claimed that you insulted him, saying Xiaotian tried to hit him with a vase. Is there any truth to that?”
Xu Ting demanded.
Xu Ping hesitated momentarily before quickly replying, “Don’t listen to his lies, darling. We didn’t say anything. He forced his way in, and Xiaotian acted in self-defense!”
“Hmph, I knew it. That man is full of nothing but lies! He even tried renting a car to deceive me into regretting our breakup. As if I wouldn’t see through such a lowly trick!” Xu Ting sneered.
“The car was rented?” Xu Ping’s eyes lit up, and she sighed in relief. “I thought he suddenly came into wealth somehow.”
“Mom, think about it. He’s so poor he even took back that worthless bracelet he gave me. How could he possibly have money?” Xu Ting mocked.
“Sweetheart, can we get the bracelet back?” Xu Ping asked, primarily concerned because it genuinely had health benefits.
“Oh, Mom, it’s just a cheap trinket. I’ll buy you a new one.” She handed her mother a bank card. “Here’s a million yuan. Go treat yourself to something nice, and buy Xiaotian some supplements.”
“Sweetheart, you’re so thoughtful!” Xu Ping’s concerns about the bracelet quickly faded at the sight of the card’s generous balance.
In her mind, what could be more valuable than money?
“We’re family, Mom.” Xu Ting smiled warmly.
“Ah…” Xu Ping feigned a heavy sigh. “I’m not really bothered by the bracelet. I’m just worried about you.”
“Worried about me?” Xu Ting raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Yes, I’m concerned Lin Xuan might still try to entangle you in his mess,” Xu Ping replied, adding theatrically, “Today, aside from taking that bracelet, he even said he would continue bothering you until you either agreed to remarry him or paid him a million yuan in compensation!”
“That piece of garbage! How dare he say such things!” Xu Ting’s face turned beet red with anger.
“Sweetheart, he already threatened me, and he even assaulted your brother. What else wouldn’t he do? That’s why I think you should hurry up and settle things with Young Master Zhang. That way, Lin Xuan will finally give up and stop harassing you.”
Xu Ping took the opportunity to press the matter. Conveniently, Zhang Wen was present to hear it all.
“Yes, sister,” Xu Qintian chimed in, hoping to speed things along.
If his sister could secure a match with Young Master Zhang and marry into the Zhang family, he’d have plenty to boast about in front of his friends.
“Mom, why would you bring this up in front of Young Master Zhang…” Xu Ting blushed.
“I’m only looking out for you, afraid you’ll miss out on such a good man,” Xu Ping remarked with mock sincerity, then turned to Zhang Wen, “Young Master Zhang, thank you for looking after Xu Ting. I’m sorry you had to witness today’s events.”
“It’s nothing, Auntie. The fault lies with Lin Xuan for his insolence,” Zhang Wen replied gracefully.
“Tell me, Young Master Zhang, what do you think of Xu Ting?” Xu Ping continued.
“I think she’s wonderful—gracious, talented, and capable.” Zhang Wen praised her with ease.
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Why not set a date soon so that Lin Xuan finally understands he has no chance? That way, he’ll stop harassing Xu Ting,” Xu Ping added with a pleased smile.
Zhang Wen suppressed a cold smirk.
He could see right through Xu Ping’s intentions.
The old woman simply hoped to secure a future for herself through the Zhang family’s status.
Still, Zhang Wen had his own motives.
Xu Ting’s beauty and potential had certainly caught his attention. In just five years, she had built her business from the ground up, amassing a company worth over a billion yuan and earning a spot among Su City’s top ten entrepreneurs.
Her company’s connections to major provincial enterprises were also something the Zhang family wanted to leverage.
Once married, Zhang Wen could easily merge her company with the Zhang family’s assets. After that, with the right alliances formed, she would be expendable—just another discarded stepping stone.
After all, his ambitions stretched far beyond a mere city like Su.
As a young master of a prestigious family, there was no way he’d truly marry a divorced woman.
His sights were set on the daughters of provincial and capital elites.
Xu Ting would simply serve as a stepping stone on his path to greatness. Otherwise, he would never have put in so much effort.
- Writer
