Volume 1, Chapter 52: Have you gotten in touch with Zhiyi?

Break my stubbornness?

Only then did I remember that Bo Congnan was still dwelling on how the "me" in that previous video had given him the cold shoulder.

He must have assumed I was still throwing a tantrum, which meant his choice of Meng Xiangyi was not the result of a difficult dilemma at all—he had intentionally delayed his trip to M Country.

He was doing this simply to teach me a lesson.

He believed this would frighten me, so that when he finally went to M Country to bring me back, I would be entirely submissive and no longer dare to throw tantrums at will.

A win-win strategy in his eyes.

He was willing to leave me in mortal danger just to use this tactic to make me learn my lesson.

To him, human lives were far too insignificant.

"The longer this is dragged out, the more dangerous it becomes. Titan and his people are capable of anything for money, and Madam will be in grave danger if she stays there any longer."

In the past, Madam had treated him quite well, and Li Shuo truly could not bear to see a woman left entirely alone in M Country.

He had expected that once Miss Meng was out of danger, the boss would rush off to M Country.

Yet three full days had already passed, and the boss remained faithfully by Miss Meng's side, not leaving her for even a single step.

Li Shuo could not understand what was so special about this Miss Meng.

Back then, Madam had worked tirelessly day and night, dragging her sickly body through illness just to manage the racing team's affairs for the boss.

Furthermore, everyone knew back then that although the Second Young Master Bo was a stepson, he possessed extraordinary business talent, and the Elder Master Bo had more than once considered handing the company over to him.

Fortunately, Elder Master Bo adored Madam deeply, and Madam constantly spoke of the boss's virtues in front of the old man.

Even Li Shuo had witnessed this firsthand on several occasions.

Could the boss possibly be unaware of it?

Knowing this, he should have devoted himself entirely to Madam instead of carrying on a clandestine affair with her elder sister the moment Madam was away.

These were thoughts Li Shuo dared only harbor in his heart, never daring to voice them in front of the boss.

Suddenly, an exclamation of surprise echoed from inside the room.

Bo Congnan turned and hurried inside to check on her.

Gazing at Bo Congnan's retreating back, Li Shuo let out a heavy sigh.

I never expected that Li Shuo, a subordinate, would risk incurring Bo Congnan's wrath by repeatedly urging him to set off for M Country as soon as possible.

Over the past few years, Bo Congnan had frequently brought Meng Xiangyi to various work events, leading many members of the racing team to treat Meng Xiangyi with profound respect.

There were even numerous rumors circulating that Meng Xiangyi was the true mistress of the house.

Consequently, many of Bo Congnan's employees showed me little respect, and some even sneered and mocked me behind my back.

"Sister Xiangyi, are you alright?"

Meng Xiangyi furrowed her brows, pressing a hand against her calf as beads of sweat formed on her forehead from the pain.

"Didn't the doctor say everything was fine? Why is it still hurting so much? Sister Xiangyi, wait here, I'll go call the doctor."

Meng Xiangyi grabbed Bo Congnan's wrist. "W-wait a moment."

"What is it, Sister Xiangyi?"

Bo Congnan's eyes were filled with deep concern; had Meng Xiangyi not held him back, he would likely have already bolted out of sight.

"Don't make such a fuss, it's just a cramp in my calf."

Hearing that it was only a cramp, Bo Congnan finally set his mind at ease, the worry in his eyes receding significantly.

Meng Xiangyi pulled him down to sit at the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently stroke Bo Congnan's cheek. "Congnan, thank you."

"To be honest, I never wanted to return to the Shen family back then, and I couldn't even fathom that I would turn out to be a daughter of the Shens. The day Mother brought me home, I was terrified. Everything about the Shen family intimidated me; I was afraid my manners were too crude and that people would laugh at me."

"I remember the first time I attended a Shen family banquet, I was so nervous I didn't even dare touch my chopsticks. At that time, you were sitting beside Zhiyi, picking food for her and serving her soup. Do you know how envious I was?"

In the eyes of outsiders, Meng Xiangyi had always been an independent and resilient heroine, yet this was the first time she had ever spoken to Bo Congnan in such a desolate tone.

She must have noticed the sudden and drastic change in Bo Congnan's attitude over the past few days and felt uneasy in her heart.

That was why she was resorting to playing the emotional card.

Sure enough, the moment those words left her lips, the look Bo Congnan gave her changed entirely.

"Something else happened later on. When I stood up, I accidentally knocked over Grandmother's favorite porcelain bowl. I was terrified of being punished. But you stepped forward and claimed that you were the one who broke the bowl. Do you know how shocked I was? Back then, you clearly disliked me, feeling that I had stolen the position that rightfully belonged to Zhiyi, yet you still helped me."

Meng Xiangyi rested her cheek gently against Bo Congnan's shoulder. "If it weren't for you, I would have been scolded the moment I arrived at the Shen family. Congnan, from that moment on, you were the only light in my heart, illuminating my bleak life."

Meng Xiangyi's words flowed like a gentle stream into the depths of Bo Congnan's heart, gradually erasing the lingering guilt he had felt toward me due to the transfer of shares.

Men love the strong.

They also admire fiercely capable women, yet what truly captures and holds their hearts are women as fragile and helpless as dodder flowers—women who constantly look up to them and worship them.

Clearly, Meng Xiangyi understood this principle well. She intentionally brought up those past events for no other reason than to elicit Bo Congnan's sympathy and stir the lingering guilt within his heart.

Bo Congnan did not push Meng Xiangyi away; instead, he raised his hand to clasp her shoulder, pressing her firmly into his embrace. "Sister Xiangyi, don't be afraid. From now on, I will always stay by your side to protect you and never give anyone a chance to hurt you."

Deeply moved, Meng Xiangyi wrapped her arms around Bo Congnan in return, the two of them clinging to each other like devoted lovers.

In this regard, I could never compare to Meng Xiangyi.

My temperament was cold, and my nature was stubborn; time and again, I refused to lower my pride and yield to Bo Congnan.

Thinking about it now, this was undoubtedly one of the reasons why Bo Congnan and I reached this tragic impasse.

The two of them remained locked in an embrace, whispering to one another for a while longer.

It was not until Fang Lanru and Shen Yikang arrived that they finally, with evident reluctance, pulled apart.

The moment Fang Lanru stepped through the door and caught sight of Bo Congnan, she acted as though nothing was amiss, showing no trace of the resentment she had previously held toward him.

She walked over to the bedside and smoothed down Meng Xiangyi's hair, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You and Xiangyi practically grew up together. With her falling into this trouble, you've stayed guarding the hospital day in and day out—your bond as siblings is truly wonderful. Unlike Xiangyi and that ungrateful girl; although they aren't sisters born of the same mother, they share the same father. I simply cannot understand why she holds such deep jealousy toward Xiangyi, always seeking to frame her. Who knows if this accident of Xiangyi's was also..."

Fang Lanru left the sentence unfinished, but even without completing it, everyone present understood her implication.

I understood her all too well.

Since Meng Xiangyi's accident had occurred at the racing team's training grounds, Fang Lanru undoubtedly believed that I had secretly harmed Meng Xiangyi.

Yet, Mother, I am already dead.

A dead person can do nothing, and even if I wished to voice my grievance, I have no way to do so.

Just as I knew full well that Fang Lanru's words were sheer slander, I had no means of defending myself and could only bear it in silence.

Shen Yikang remained silent, his face taut as he stared at Meng Xiangyi, lost in thought.

After a long pause, he suddenly spoke, directly cutting off Fang Lanru's words. "Congnan, Zhiyi has been in M Country for so long now—have you managed to get in touch with her?"