Chapter 60 Refusing to Admit It to the Death

At six in the evening, Ning Yuanzhou arrived at the private dining room just as expected.

I immediately texted Liu Hanyue to let her know that since Ning Yuanzhou had invited me out, I wouldn't be going back.

Liu Hanyue scolded me for being cunning, but ultimately raised no further objections.

"Mr. Ning, I suppose this is the first time the two of us have sat down to share a proper meal?" I asked with a smile as I ordered the dishes I liked.

Meanwhile, he sat across from me with a face so dark it looked like it could wring out water, glaring at me venomously.

"Gu Yichen, I never realized you could be so shameless!"

"You always pose as an upright gentleman, but the underhanded tricks of a petty person really make me look down on you."

I burst into hearty laughter.

"Mr. Ning, is this your roundabout way of flattering me?"

"That is hardly how one goes about buttering someone up."

"When it comes to dealing with you, I have no shortage of methods; I simply choose not to make a huge fuss over it."

As a down-and-out scion of the Ning family, dealing with him would be effortless. My only concern was soiling my own hands.

Ning Yuanzhou sneered. "You have plenty of methods?"

"Gu Yichen, can you stop bluffing?"

"The only reason you haven't dealt with me is because of Ayin, isn't it? You're afraid of offending her and ruining any chance of repairing your relationship!"

"Though I don't know what trick you used to alter her attitude toward me recently, I can tell you clearly: this is merely the aftermath of your divorce. She feels a sense of indebtedness toward you, not love."

"Once this period passes, she will obediently return to my side."

This was the source of his unwavering confidence. It was the exact narrative he had maintained for the past five years.

"Heh, that is your personal affair, and it has nothing to do with me."

"My divorce from her is a settled matter, so we shall simply wait and see how this aftermath plays out."

"The issue at hand is this project. Do you intend to back down now, or do you... wish to continue playing this game with me?"

I couldn't care less about their romance. What did it have to do with me? I had already resolved to make a complete and permanent break with Liu Zhuyin. He was, after all, her cherished first love; there was nothing unacceptable about them being together. The dead have no need to trouble themselves with worldly affairs after they are gone. Having loved once was enough.

It was this project, however, that truly concerned me.

"Fine, I can drop it."

"But the condition is that liver source—you must give it to me!"

He was smart enough. When faced with a choice between his life and money, he chose the former.

Unfortunately for him, why on earth should I hand over my liver source to him?

"You can banish that thought from your mind. Find your own way out."

I refused him point-blank, and Ning Yuanzhou's expression shifted instantly.

"Gu Yichen, you aren't giving me any benefits at all. You just want to freeze me out."

"That is not how business is conducted!"

He finally caught on and fully grasped my intentions.

"Correct, that is precisely my style of doing things."

"If you are not satisfied, find a way to deal with it. I will be waiting."

Having finished my meal, I wiped my mouth, stood up, and prepared to leave.

***

To my surprise, he called out to me.

"Gu Yichen, do not push me too far."

"Otherwise, I will make sure you have no peace!"

I turned my head and cast a sideways glance at him. Slowly walking over to him, I raised my hand and delivered a sharp slap across his face.

"How the hell dare you hit me?!"

Enraged, he surged to his feet, attempting to retaliate.

Yet how could he possibly match me in a physical confrontation? With a single kick, I sent him crashing to the floor.

"Ning Yuanzhou, you are an intelligent man, so do not play the fool."

"Offend me... and you will be the first one crying."

Threatening me? My only hesitation was the fear of soiling my own hands. Did he really fail to understand that?

"You... you just wait!" he snarled, glaring at me with eyes ablaze with fury.

"Very well, go run and tell tales."

I picked up a wet wipe to clean my hands, turned around, and walked out.

If I hadn't been reluctant to return home tonight, I wouldn't have bothered to see him at all. Nor had I intended to strike him, but he had insisted on provoking me.

Still, a blow delivered was a blow delivered. At worst, he would simply complain to others. I had no fear of Liu Zhuyin finding out.

Only... I hadn't expected her to find out quite this fast!

I had just emerged from the restaurant and had yet to reach my car when Liu Hanyue's call came through.

"Brother-in-law, brilliant work!"

"Hitting him was entirely the right move!"

"Though my sister... is still a little displeased. Don't worry, I'll help talk some sense into her!"

Was this girl out of her mind? She was usually quite sharp; why was she acting as an informant for me at a time like this?

"Hit whom?"

"What was the right move?"

"What on earth are you talking about? I have no idea!"

Playing dumb was a skill I had mastered. It wasn't that I feared Liu Zhuyin; I simply wished to avoid wasting words on her.

"Uh... I understand!"

"You never received a call from me tonight."

*Beep, beep, beep.* She hung up in a flurry.

I got into my car and drove straight home. After taking a shower and settling onto the sofa with some documents, a sharp knock echoed at my front door.

"Gu Yichen!"

It was Liu Zhuyin's voice.

When I opened the door, she stormed in, seething with anger. Liu Hanyue followed right behind her, hands stuffed into her pockets, stealing a covert wink at me as she stepped inside.

"This is my home, and I certainly never said you were welcome here."

As soon as I delivered those cold words to Liu Zhuyin, she flew into a rage.

"Gu Yichen, why did you strike Ah-Zhou?"

"Did you not know his health is already frail?"

"And... and what does our personal business have to do with him?"

"I have already been trying to change! Today... today I even cut my hand while trying to cook dinner for you."

"Yet look at you! Not only do you refuse to come home, but you resort to violence!"

Liu Zhuyin's anger was laced with deep grievance. As she spoke, she held out her hand to reveal a band-aid affixed to her finger.

"Oh, how truly exhausting."

"If you hadn't rushed over here to show it to me tonight, I suppose the wound would have miraculously healed by tomorrow?"

I offered a sarcastic retort, then settled back onto the sofa with an expression of utter disdain.

It was merely cooking a meal! Why was she trying to claim credit with me?

"You..."

My biting response flushed Liu Zhuyin's pretty face a bright crimson.

"Setting aside whatever is between the two of us, I am asking you: why did you hit Ning Yuanzhou?"

"What did he tell you?" I glanced at her and asked calmly.

"He said you refused to give him the liver source, that an argument broke out, and that you struck him."

"He also said he was willing to cooperate with you and begged you in every way possible, yet you showed him no mercy whatsoever!"

That sounded precisely like something Ning Yuanzhou would say.

"Oh. Since you believe him so readily, why bother coming here to question me?"

"Coming to cross-examine me? By what right do you do so?"

I spread my hands, leaned back against the sofa, and crossed one leg over the other.

"You... I..."

Liu Zhuyin was utterly stumped, left with nothing to say.

"Cat got your tongue?"

"Then what if I told you I never laid a hand on him?"

"Would you believe me?"

My expression remained perfectly composed, without the slightest hint of a blush or a racing pulse.

Liu Zhuyin, however, furrowed her brow deeply.

"You... you didn't hit him? Then why did he claim that you did?"

I let out a cold chuckle and simply chose not to respond to her question.

Liu Hanyue, seizing the opening, immediately jumped into the conversation.

"Sis, you're going to believe that jerk Ning Yuanzhou instead of my brother-in-law?"

"My brother-in-law spent all this time with you, and he has such a gentle temperament—how could he possibly beat anyone?"

"I think you've completely lost your mind!"

"What kind of spell has that man cast on you?"

Liu Zhuyin was indeed thoroughly bewildered, and she continued to question me with an uncertain tone.

"Did you... did you really not hit him?"

"I hit him! There, are you satisfied? What, do you want me to pay with my life?"

I adopted a thoroughly unbothered attitude; there was no way I was going to admit to it. Not that I genuinely feared admitting it—Liu Zhuyin couldn't possibly do anything to me anyway.

My primary concern was avoiding her endless nagging. If any of her words displeased me, we would only end up arguing again.

It was far better to keep her guessing in the dark.