She left the Qiao Family, and the tears she had been holding back could no longer be contained.
She had to admit, every word from Jiang Wenying sliced her heart like a knife.
She couldn't blame anyone, there was no one to resent, only herself for not having the ability to take care of the person she wanted to take care of.
Now, all she could do was to temporarily accept this marriage and wait for Shi Jingzhou to bring up divorce on his own.
"Young Madam, I am Zhou Zheng, here to take you home." Zhou Zheng stood beside the car, straight-laced, ignoring Qiao Zhiyi's tear-reddened eyes.
Qiao Zhiyi had never been comfortable with this title; she was repelled by it.
Yet, she now had a home with that stranger.
Zhou Zheng opened the car door, inviting her to get in.
Qiao Zhiyi wiped away her tears and bent over to sit inside.
As she lifted her gaze, her body stiffened, and she instinctively wanted to get out.
Why was he here, too?
"Surprised to see me?" Shi Jingzhou pulled her in with one hand, pressing her against his chest, his fingers caressing her swollen eyes, hooking up the tears she hadn't wiped away, his gaze deep, "Qiao Shengli is scheming against you, want me to kill him?"
Qiao Zhiyi looked at him in astonishment.
Kill Qiao Shengli?
Shouldn't the real cause of all this be him?
Qiao Zhiyi knew very well she didn't yet have the power to confront him that way; she struggled out of his embrace and sat up, resisting the urge to look at his face, "No."
"So kind-hearted?" Shi Jingzhou's look held a profound meaning as he slanted a glance at her.
Her heart was filled with hatred, yet she wore an appearance of indifference; was it cowardice or restraint?
"Murder is against the law."
Shi Jingzhou was momentarily taken aback, having considered various responses, but he had not anticipated this one.
"Not what you wanted?"
Qiao Zhiyi's hands clenched slightly.
Yes, if he were to kill Qiao Shengli, he would definitely be arrested, and then she would be free.
But...
"I didn't mean that." Qiao Zhiyi had now clearly understood her own situation.
One must bow their head under another's roof.
Until her mother's and brother's issues were resolved, she had to know her place.
Shi Jingzhou chuckled lightly, "Regardless of what you mean, you and I are one. If I'm not happy, don't think you will be either."
Qiao Zhiyi lowered her eyes, the feeling of powerlessness weighing her down so heavily she felt suffocated.
"Mr. Shi, may I ask you a question?"
"Ask."
"Do you, not care at all who your wife is?"
She asked with a slight hope.
If he did care, then her divorce was imminent.
Shi Jingzhou's eyes narrowed slightly, and the attractive fingers resting on his thigh flicked slightly, "Yes."
All of Qiao Zhiyi's faint hopes were thus dashed.
She silently watched the scenery outside the car window.
The retreating landscape was moving so fast it couldn't be grasped, just like the hopes and light inside her heart, fading bit by bit.
The car stopped.
Qiao Zhiyi thought they had reached his place, but it turned out to be a very high-end private hospital.
Was he here to treat the wound on his face?
"Zhou Zheng, accompany her." Shi Jingzhou spoke up.
"Yes."
Zhou Zheng got out of the car, opening the rear door, "Young Madam, please."
Qiao Zhiyi looked at Shi Jingzhou in confusion, "What are you trying to do?"
"As husband and wife, I am giving you a gift." Shi Jingzhou touched his face, "To save you the embarrassment, I won't go."
Hospital, a gift?
This place could never be associated with gifts.
Qiao Zhiyi hesitated to get out of the car and followed Zhou Zheng into the hospital.
Zhou Zheng led her and pushed open the door of the ward, "Young Madam, please go in first."
Qiao Zhiyi was completely clueless and had no idea what they were actually doing.
Since she was already here, she walked inside.
This was no hospital room; it was clearly a hotel suite.
Seeing the person on the bed, Qiao Zhiyi was shocked, "Mom!"
"Zhiyi, what on earth is going on? The doctors here said this morning that I was being transferred to another hospital, and it was arranged by my son-in-law. Where did I get a son-in-law? I've asked around; staying here for one day costs tens of thousands."
Wang Shulan was extremely worried and feared that her daughter had taken the wrong path for her sake.
Qiao Zhiyi came back to her senses; so this was the gift Shi Jingzhou talked about.
"Zhiyi?" Wang Shulan took her hand anxiously, "Zhiyi, please don't do anything foolish!"
Qiao Zhiyi suppressed the strangeness in her heart and comforted her mother, "Mom, I'm sorry to have worried you. And I apologize for not telling you, but I'm married."
Her mother was clever; she couldn't be deceived by lies.
"Married? To whom? Where is he?" Wang Shulan was not pleased, "Call him over and let me take a look!"
Qiao Zhiyi bit her lip and explained, "He's very busy with work and doesn't have time right now. I'll bring him when he's free."
This Shi Jingzhou, she had no idea what he was up to. Couldn't he be more low-key? He just had to mention he was a son-in-law, how was she supposed to explain that?
Wang Shulan didn't believe her story, her eyes seeing right through her, "Zhiyi, I'm not afraid of death, and your brother has been sensible since he was a child. He could find a good job even if he doesn't go abroad. To each their own destiny. If you've done something that goes against your will for our sake, it's really not worth it."
Qiao Zhiyi couldn't hold back the grievances she had suffered over the past few days at this moment.
She tried to look relaxed, raised her face, and strove to hold back the tears that were about to flow, "Mom, it's nothing about being aggrieved or not. Everything I did, I did willingly. Look, I'm fine, aren't I?"
"Then bring him here and let me see him. Otherwise, I won't accept it!" Wang Shulan was equally stubborn.
Her daughter, whom she had worked hard to raise, always stood tall and upright no matter what difficulties she faced.
She definitely could not resort to underhanded methods.
Qiao Zhiyi started to panic; when it came to integrity, her mother had her own principles. Anything vague and unclear, she would not accept.
"Mom…"
"What? Is he someone shameful?" Wang Shulan meant the relationship between Qiao Zhiyi and that man.
Qiao Zhiyi lowered her head; wasn't it indeed shameful?
Seeing her silent, Wang Shulan lifted the covers and was about to get out of bed.
"Mom!"
Qiao Zhiyi became anxious.
The door was pushed open, and the crisp sound of leather shoes on the marble floor could be heard.
Qiao Zhiyi looked over and saw a strange, handsome man approaching. From his build and clothing, Qiao Zhiyi frowned.
It was the same outfit as Shi Jingzhou had worn.
But that face...
"Mom, I'm sorry, I had just gone to see the doctor and didn't come with Zhiyi." Shi Jingzhou wrapped his arm naturally around Qiao Zhiyi's waist.
The moment he pressed against her, Qiao Zhiyi stiffened as if she was electrically shocked.
Was he, really Shi Jingzhou?
That face was just too flawless.
With sharp features and exquisite facial structure beyond words, he was more handsome than any man she had ever seen.
"You are..." Wang Shulan faced the tall and handsome man before her, filled with confusion.
Shi Jingzhou cozied up to the bewildered Qiao Zhiyi, his tone ambiguous, "You haven't told mom about me? Am I really that embarrassing?"
His deep voice carried a hint of baffled grievance.
Qiao Zhiyi felt a tingling sensation on her scalp, a sense of suffocation enveloping her.
She remained motionless, afraid that any excessive movement would arouse Wang Shulan's suspicions.
With a forced smile, she braced herself and said, "Mom, this is Shi Jingzhou."