The small courtyard was unexpectedly filled with brand-new furniture sets and stacks of health supplements.
Lin Qingyun was directing the furniture installation, a fine sheen of perspiration covering her beautiful face. The golden evening sunset cast a soft glow on her, highlighting her exquisite features.
She looks like an angel, Zhao Dong thought, completely stunned.
Lin Qingyun gently wiped the sweat from her face. Spotting Zhao Dong, she said flatly, "What are you standing there for? Come and help."
For a moment, Zhao Dong was speechless. "What are you doing?" he finally mumbled.
"I'm buying some things for your parents to improve their living situation." Lin Qingyun shot Zhao Dong a displeased glance. "You're away in the military, but don't you care about your parents at all? They don't even have an air conditioner. How are they supposed to get through the summer?"
Just then, Zhao Kangyou and Zhang Cuimei came out. They had overheard the conversation, and Zhang Cuimei hurriedly explained, "Miss Lin, you've misunderstood. Dong is a very kind and filial boy. He sends us his pay every month. He cares a lot about us."
Lin Qingyun rolled her eyes at Zhao Dong before turning back to Zhang Cuimei. "Auntie, you don't need to make excuses for him. The proof is right here. If he really cared, how could they not have an air conditioner in this heat?"
With another glare at Zhao Dong, she made her displeasure clear. Zhao Dong remained silent. Though her words were blunt, he knew she was just concerned for his parents. Unwilling to argue, he sullenly returned to his room.
Zhao Kangyou sighed softly. "To be honest, Miss Lin, the money Dong sent us was all taken by his brother. Sigh."
"What?"
Lin Qingyun was stunned. After hearing the full story, she was shocked. How could something like that happen? Her face instantly flushed as she recalled her accusations, and a pang of guilt struck her. The poor guy… he's been through so much.
Just then, Zhao Dong came out. "Take all this furniture and everything else back," he said to Lin Qingyun. "I'll buy things for my parents myself. You don't need to worry about it."
"Do you have the money to buy furniture right now?" Lin Qingyun retorted coolly.
Zhao Dong fell silent.
Lin Qingyun avoided looking at Zhao Dong and turned to his parents with a smile. "Uncle, Auntie, please don't feel burdened. This is just a small gesture from me. Zhao Dong and I are good friends, so it's only right that I help. Besides, it's nothing to me."
After saying this, her smile vanished. She spoke to Zhao Dong in a cool, detached tone. "Zhao Dong, come outside with me. I have something to say to you."
With that, she turned and walked out of the courtyard, the scent of her perfume trailing behind as her high heels clicked against the ground.
Zhao Dong didn't want to go, but since she had bought all these things, he felt he owed her. Helpless, he could only follow.
Lin Qingyun didn't head to the small river nearby. Instead, she returned to her white Bentley Continental. Zhao Dong rubbed his nose and got into the car.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Lin Qingyun glanced at him. "Have you thought about what I asked you to consider?"
"What?"
"Marrying me."
Silence followed. Zhao Dong rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and furrowed his brow.
Seeing his silence, Lin Qingyun's eyes slowly reddened.
"Zhao Dong, there's something I just don't understand. I'm a woman, and you took the most precious thing a woman has! Not only do you refuse to take any responsibility, but you also make me take the initiative again and again... Am I that cheap in your eyes? Am I so unworthy of you?"
By the end, Lin Qingyun was nearly shouting, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
After saying this, she collapsed helplessly against the steering wheel, her heartbreaking sobs filling the car. Seeing her whole body tremble with tears, Zhao Dong's heart constricted painfully.
He couldn't stand to see a woman cry, especially a woman as beautiful as Lin Qingyun.
Lin Qingyun lifted her head, her face streaked with tears. "Zhao Dong, if you're a man, then answer my question!" she said coldly.
Zhao Dong sighed. "I have my reasons."
"I don't understand what reasons you could possibly have! If you're a man, just tell me."
Zhao Dong was at a loss for words. I can't tell anyone about my terminal illness.
Lin Qingyun's face turned completely pale, and a wave of weakness washed over her.
Finally, she gave a tragic smile. "Can you come with me to the company headquarters?"
"What for?"
"To do me a favor!"
Zhao Dong hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."
Lin Qingyun floored the accelerator, and the Bentley coupe shot forward.
They soon arrived at the Lin Corporation. Its headquarters was a skyscraper located in the city center, towering into the clouds as a testament to the company's power and status.
After parking, Lin Qingyun got out and walked toward the building with Zhao Dong following close behind.
Many employees stared at Zhao Dong, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion. Their famously cold and glamorous CEO rarely associated with men. Why had she suddenly brought one to the company today?
Ignoring the stares, Zhao Dong and Lin Qingyun went straight into an elevator.
Inside the elevator, Zhao Dong finally asked, "What do you need my help with?"
Staring blankly at the floor buttons, Lin Qingyun said, "I need you to back me up…"
Zhao Dong remained silent. He couldn't register their marriage, but he was willing to do everything in his power to help her.
The elevator doors opened, and they stepped out together.
Lin Qingyun walked straight to the conference room. At the door, she told Zhao Dong, "Wait out here for a bit."
"Okay."
She pushed open the door and walked inside.
Zhao Dong didn't leave. He leaned against the railing of a hallway balcony, looking down at the city below, lost in thought.
If only I didn't have this terminal illness. I would register my marriage with Lin Qingyun, become her man, and stand here with her, looking down on this bustling city... But there are no 'if onlys.'
The spacious conference room was full. As Lin Qingyun entered, the entire room fell silent. Everyone knew why today's meeting had been called.
Lin Qingyun, resuming her usual icy demeanor, walked directly to the head of the table. "Thank you for waiting, everyone," she said calmly. "I now declare this week's board meeting officially open. If you have any questions or reports, you may speak freely."
A man below let out a cold laugh and stood up.
"President Lin! We're all intelligent people here, so let's not play dumb. Do you have any idea what you've done wrong?"
Lin Qingyun arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Oh? Then please, Director Wang, enlighten me on what I've done wrong."
The speaker was Wang Wei, one of the corporation's directors.
"President Lin, you asked me to speak, so don't blame me for being blunt! You were photographed by reporters last night having a one-night stand with some nobody. This is a devastating blow to the corporation's reputation! Our market value has evaporated by nearly a billion in just two days. You must take responsibility for this!"
Lin Qingyun's expression didn't change in the slightest. "Regarding this matter, I need to clarify two things," she said calmly. "First, he is not some nobody; he's my boyfriend, and we are preparing to get our marriage license. Second, fluctuations in the stock market are normal. There's no need for alarm."
Wang Wei snorted. "Boyfriend? President Lin, do you take us for idiots? He's obviously just a fling! If you claim he's your boyfriend, then bring him here for us all to see!"
A cunning smile flashed in Wang Wei's eyes. She's just making up an excuse. I bet she doesn't have the guts to actually bring him here. If she can't produce him, we can latch onto that, destroy her credibility, turn the board against her, and maybe even force her to resign as CEO!
"What's the matter, President Lin? Can't bring your boy toy here? HAHAHA..." Wang Wei jeered.
A chorus of jeering laughter rose from the room.
Lin Qingyun bit her lip so hard it drew blood. The humiliation of being publicly accused of sleeping around with a nobody was immense for a woman. Anger, pain, shame, helplessness, and grievance churned within her. Her eyes began to well up with tears.
Just then, with a deafening crash, the conference room doors were kicked off their hinges!
Everyone jumped and screamed in fright. The next second, they saw Zhao Dong stride in, his face as dark as thunder.
Without a word, he marched up to Wang Wei, grabbed him by the hair, and brutally slammed his head against the conference table!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The corner of the table splintered. Wang Wei's face was instantly a bloody mess, his skin split open.
Everyone was stunned. Even Lin Qingyun was frozen in shock.
Kicking Wang Wei several meters away, Zhao Dong walked directly onto the stage. He pulled Lin Qingyun into his arms, scanned the crowd below, and said coolly, "A moment ago, who else was saying my woman was with some nobody? Step forward."
The entire conference room was dead silent.
Enveloped in Zhao Dong's embrace, Lin Qingyun looked up at him. Feeling the solid breadth of his chest, her mind went completely blank.