Volume One, Chapter Two: An Elusive Desire
Su Yunjin widened her eyes, staring unblinkingly at Li Ya, shocked that he would speak to her in such a tone.
Before, Li Ya had always obeyed her without question—he never dared utter a harsh word. Now, he actually dared to speak to her like this.
After the initial shock, a surge of anger welled up in Su Yunjin’s heart.
“Li Ya, we’re already having our wedding ceremony. Why are you still making a fuss?”
“If you say another insulting word, then forget about this marriage!”
Su Yunjin sat on the wedding bed, her expression full of anger.
“That’s exactly what I want!” Li Ya said coldly.
A fleeting look of astonishment crossed Su Yunjin’s face. “Li Ya, did you hear what I just said? Do you think I’m bluffing about not marrying you?”
“I heard you loud and clear. Do you want me to applaud?” Li Ya replied.
Then, to her surprise, he actually raised his hand, as if to applaud.
Su Yunjin was taken aback by his action, frozen and uncertain.
Whenever she had suggested breaking up before, Li Ya would humble himself and beg her to stay. Now, she had even said she didn’t want to marry him, yet he remained indifferent.
What was going on?
Frustrated, Su Yunjin snapped, “Leave! I never want to see you again!”
She turned away, pouting in a sulky manner.
Yet the corner of her eye kept glancing at Li Ya, silently pleading for him to come comfort her.
But Li Ya strode straight to the door and casually prepared to leave.
“Li Ya, are you really going to walk out?”
Just as Li Ya placed one foot beyond the door, Su Yunjin’s voice rang out behind him, biting and threatening, “If you step out that door today, we’re done! Don’t ever think of seeing me again!”
Li Ya snorted coldly, smiling, “That’s exactly what I want!”
“Besides, Su Yunjin, have you forgotten? We only had a wedding ceremony; we never got the official marriage certificate. So technically, you’re not my wife.”
“I also don’t want to hear you claim you’re my wife in public anymore.”
“Anyway, since you’re planning to have a child, why not get married properly while you’re at it?”
With that, Li Ya strode out the door.
From now on, you walk your sunny path, and I’ll cross my narrow bridge alone.
“Li Ya! Who told you to really leave? Come back here!”
Seeing that Li Ya was truly going away for good, Su Yunjin panicked, springing up from the wedding bed and chasing after him.
Zhao Qi’an, who had been silently watching the drama unfold with a satisfied smile, was especially delighted when he saw Li Ya defy Su Yunjin’s wishes and leave.
But the moment he saw Su Yunjin get up and chase after Li Ya, Zhao Qi’an’s expression darkened.
He didn’t truly love Su Yunjin, but seeing her abandon him to run after a good-for-nothing made him feel humiliated.
In the next moment, Zhao Qi’an’s expression shifted back to that of a gentle gentleman, and he followed Su Yunjin out.
By the time Zhao Qi’an and Su Yunjin rushed out, they saw the elevator doors closing, and the elevator swiftly descended to the first floor.
The wedding suite was a high-end apartment Su Yunjin and Li Ya had bought together after starting their company—quite valuable, but its height meant the elevator was slow.
No matter how frantically Su Yunjin pressed the buttons, the elevator still hadn’t arrived.
---
Zhao Qi’an spoke in his gentlest tone, “Yunjin, don’t be anxious. We all know how much Li Ya loves you. How could he really just abandon you? He’s probably just venting some anger.”
Though it sounded like he was defending Li Ya, he was actually implying that Li Ya was being childish.
This tactic might not work on others, but Zhao Qi’an knew it was especially effective with Su Yunjin.
Sure enough, Su Yunjin, who had been a bit downhearted after Li Ya left, immediately flared up upon hearing this, shouting, “Why should he be angry? I haven’t done anything to betray him!”
Meanwhile, Li Ya had already stepped outside.
After just a moment, a customized Rolls-Royce pulled up precisely in front of him.
From the driver’s seat stepped a middle-aged man with graying hair but full of vigor—the very butler who had called the night before.
The butler hurried forward, opened the Rolls-Royce door, bowed respectfully, and said, “Young master, please get in.”
Without looking away, Li Ya slipped into the car and sat upright, only half his head visible through the window.
The butler also took his seat in the driver’s compartment, preparing to depart.
Arriving late, Su Yunjin and Zhao Qi’an witnessed this scene and stood there dumbfounded.
Especially Su Yunjin.
Since graduating from university, she and Li Ya had indeed started a company together. With their relentless effort, the company’s value soared.
Particularly Li Ya, whose handsome looks and impressive eloquence had secured many big contracts.
But Su Yunjin didn’t want Li Ya to be in the limelight, so he stayed home to be her strong support. She knew exactly how much money he had.
How could he possibly be riding in such an expensive, customized Rolls-Royce?
“Stop!”
“Li Ya, if you really leave today, then it’s truly over between us!”
Su Yunjin hurried forward, grabbing the car window and yelling at Li Ya in frustration.
“You said one thing wrong!”
“Since last night, it’s already impossible between us!”
Li Ya smiled coldly.
Stomping her foot in anger, Su Yunjin snapped, “Li Ya, can’t you be a bigger man? Uncle Zhao’s last wish was to hold a grandchild before he died—what’s wrong with me helping fulfill that?”
“And it’s not like anything really happened. Why are you so petty, still clutching at this issue?”
Li Ya didn’t even spare her a glance.
How had he never noticed that Su Yunjin was such a selfish person before?
Love truly can blind one’s eyes.
“I advise you, let go of the window,” Li Ya said coolly.
Su Yunjin took this as concern, as if he was worried about her hands, and softened her grip.
She put her hands on her hips, returning to her proud demeanor, calmly waiting to hear Li Ya’s apology.
But to her surprise, the next moment Li Ya spat out coldly one word: “Dirty.”
A buzz!
---
The moment he finished speaking, the car window rolled up, cutting off all outside sound.
Li Ya could only see Su Yunjin’s mouth opening and closing but could not hear what she was saying.
No need to guess—it was surely a stream of curses.
“Young master, shall we go now?” the butler’s voice came from the driver’s seat.
“Let’s go.”
Li Ya sat in the back seat, closing his eyes to rest.
Su Yunjin and Zhao Qi’an could only watch the luxurious Rolls-Royce speed away, powerless.
In the blink of an eye, not even the taillights were visible.
“Li Ya, you bastard!”
“Even if you knelt and begged me, I wouldn’t forgive you this time!”
Su Yunjin cursed furiously in the direction of the departing car.
Zhao Qi’an gently held Su Yunjin’s arm from behind, pulling her into his embrace to comfort her softly.
Biting her lip, Su Yunjin asked uncertainly, “Brother Zhao, was I being unreasonable this time?”
Zhao Qi’an was momentarily stunned. Seeing Su Yunjin about to lose control, he immediately began to twist the truth.
“Yunjin, there’s no need to be upset over someone so petty and narrow-minded.”
“Such a person’s heart is dirty, so everything looks dirty to him. He could never understand a pure spiritual connection like ours!”
“Our child is the sublime fruit of a love that transcends worldly views!”
Su Yunjin, who had been wavering, now leaned toward Zhao Qi’an once again.
“Yes, Brother Zhao and I have a spiritual love, beyond the physical and the mundane—that’s the purest kind of love!” Su Yunjin whispered.
No one else believed it, but Su Yunjin did.
---
Meanwhile, after leaving the wedding suite, the Rolls-Royce headed straight up the mountain.
There were few cars on this road, and by the end, none but the Rolls-Royce remained.
This was because the entire mountain ahead was private property.
Yunding Estate.
A private manor renowned throughout Luocheng and the whole Tianzhou.
What made this estate famous wasn’t its luxury or scenery but the fact that the mountain belonged to the Li family.
A millennium-old noble house, descendants of princes and dukes, owners of a trillion-dollar business empire—the Li family.
In the grand and spacious living room, Li Chengyang, head of the Li family and ruler of the trillion-dollar empire, sat on the sofa, exuding an imposing presence.
Creak—
The mansion’s grand door opened.
Li Ya strode in and sat across from Li Chengyang, sneering with a mocking tone, “Still alive?”