Chapter 140: Unable to Forget

He had no intention of staying, his expression cold.

Wen Liang felt the sense of detachment radiating from him, causing a slight panic in her heart. She had gone all out this time; being rejected would be truly humiliating.

In reality, Wen Liang’s palms were sweating. Whenever she was in front of him, she felt like a young girl experiencing her first love, all because the person she liked was him.

He Chuan paused, silently removing her arms from around him before turning to look at her. "Get some rest. I'm leaving now; I won't disturb you any further."

How could this be considered a disturbance? She longed for it; even if he were to disturb her, she would do so willingly.

But he was leaving.

Wen Liang couldn't hold him back. She said, "Senior, are you angry?"

He Chuan replied, "No. Don't overthink it. You just got back; get some rest."

He wasn't lying. If he didn't want to answer, he would have ignored her, let alone told her to rest.

Wen Liang gritted her teeth. "Senior, can't you tell?"

He Chuan: "..."

"For so long, you must know how I feel about you. Whatever you want me to do, I am willing. No matter what it is. As long as it is you, I am willing."

Wen Liang hardened her heart, bit her lip, and hugged him from behind again.

She was actually quite beautiful, appearing slender, but in this moment, the view she revealed was as alluring as it could be. If men are visual creatures, it is truly difficult to refuse a woman who offers herself so proactively.

Especially in the current ambiguous atmosphere.

Wen Liang pressed herself closer, her intentions couldn't be clearer.

He Chuan understood as well. She was superior in every way, a completely different type from Cheng Hui. The former was a flower that had already reached maturity, while the latter was still a bud waiting to bloom. To a man, the former was more attractive, while the latter was at most a little sister.

But the timing was wrong.

He Chuan had no such thoughts toward her; to be precise, he wasn't in the mood, and he didn't view Wen Liang in that light.

However, out of consideration for her diligence and loyalty, as she was a capable subordinate with no ulterior motives, he could not treat her the way he treated women on the outside.

He Chuan looked her straight in the eye, reached out, and pulled up the garment that had slipped off her shoulder, saying coldly, "Don't catch a cold."

Wen Liang felt a sense of embarrassment, looking at him at a loss.

He Chuan patted her shoulder, leaving it at that, and said nothing more.

After He Chuan left, Wen Liang took a deep breath, sitting on the sofa, exhausted in body and spirit.

She didn't know how long it had been since he left when she took out her phone and sent him a WeChat message. She didn't say much, just mentioned what had happened and hoped he would seriously consider it, adding that her feelings would never change.

By doing this, Wen Liang was making a desperate gamble, a last stand, leaving the choice to He Chuan.

...

He Chuan did not reply. He saw the message she sent while in his car, remaining silent, his gaze deep.

Several friends joked that Wen Liang was his "right-hand woman."

In truth, he was not unaware of the gossip circulating in the company. He had indeed heard it.

But the position of "boss's wife" was not one just anyone could hold.

There was one more thing he couldn't deny: he had his own selfish motives. He knew clearly that he wasn't a good man and couldn't provide Cheng Hui with a so-called stable life. Since Cheng Hui suffered after being with him, it was better to let go—long pain is worse than short pain. He wasn't even willing to make one last effort.

...

Wen Liang was determined to find out about He Chuan's previous relationship. She wanted to know who that woman was and what she looked like. She was curious, and the more curious she became, the more she couldn't help but want to know.

She found an opportunity to ask He Chuan’s former assistant, but the assistant was reluctant to talk. However, Wen Liang’s status was now sensitive—she might become the boss's wife in the future—so he couldn't speak carelessly. If there were repercussions later, he would be the one unlucky enough to lose his job.

Wen Liang said, "You don't need to worry. I'm just curious. If it's truly inconvenient to tell me, I understand."

The assistant hesitated for a while, then said, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, Director Wen. Actually, I don't know much either. We wouldn't dare ask about the boss's affairs." After struggling for a moment, he told her anyway.

"I only know that the girl was the younger sister of one of the boss's friends. They had a very good relationship, and the boss had known her for many years. Later, it seemed the girl's parents didn't approve; they opposed the relationship, and the girl went abroad, and then they broke up."

"Just like that? They didn't approve? Why wouldn't they approve?" He Chuan was not lacking in any way; how could they not approve?

The assistant said, "I don't know about that. We wouldn't dare ask about the boss's business."

Wen Liang smiled. "Thank you, I understand. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."

A friend's sister?

Wen Liang grew even more curious.

...

Later, Mrs. He came to the He residence to cause a scene again, but this time she wasn't even allowed through the entrance of the residential complex; security drove her away and blocked her outside.

Furious, Mrs. He called He Chuan. She had managed to find his number and finally got through to him. She immediately questioned him, "He Chuan, what is the meaning of this? Are you refusing to let me see He Wei now?"

"Dad is resting quietly; there is no need for you to see him." He Chuan was as cold and distant as ever.

"He Chuan, I am not divorced from your father yet. I am still the lady of the He family, and your mother in name."

"My mother died long ago. I have no mother." He Chuan stated the fact calmly, without a ripple of emotion.

"You ungrateful wolf! You are a wolf raised by the He family. If I hadn't told your father to bring you home back then, would you have what you have today? He Cheng is your brother. You are so ruthless, driving him into a corner and forcing him onto a dead end. I regret it—I never should have brought you back!"

No matter what Mrs. He said, He Chuan ignored it. Mrs. He was hopping mad, righteously demanding to see He Wei.

He Chuan said, "Where were you when Dad was hospitalized? You didn't come to see him then. Whether you can see him now is not for you to decide."

"He Chuan, are you going to be this excessive?! What right do you have to restrict He Wei's personal freedom? I'm going to call the police. You'd better be sensible and let me see He Wei."

He Chuan chuckled, his tone level. "I just said it, and I won't repeat myself."

With that, he hung up the call.

He Wei was conscious at that moment, sitting in his wheelchair. The caregiver pushed the chair downstairs and asked gently, "Mr. He, take your medicine before you sleep later. The weather is nice this afternoon, and I'll push you out to the courtyard for a walk."

He Wei heard, blinked, and signaled that he understood.

He Chuan had hired a caregiver to look after He Wei at home because He Wei had limited mobility. He needed constant care; at present, he had no ability to take care of himself and had to rely on the caregiver for everything.

He Chuan returned home. He Wei heard the car and the sound of him coming in. The caregiver was in the kitchen pouring water and wasn't watching He Wei. He Wei couldn't speak or move, but his eyes were fixed on the door. He only felt at ease when he saw He Chuan push the door open.

The caregiver walked out with a glass of water and He Wei's medicine. Seeing He Chuan return, she quickly called out, "Mr. He."

He Chuan loosened his shirt buttons as he walked over, pushing He Wei's wheelchair, and asked, "Has he taken his medicine today?"

"Not yet, I was just about to give it to Mr. He."

"Don't leave him alone here again. There must always be someone by his side to take care of him." He Chuan seemed unhappy; he had hired the caregiver specifically to ensure he was well cared for and to prevent any accidents.

Mrs. He had come to harass them yesterday, and He Chuan hadn't bothered to block her yet, so he could see her calling again.

He didn't answer and hung up directly.

He Wei couldn't speak normally, and He Chuan couldn't read what he wanted to say from his eyes.

He Chuan remembered the call from earlier and said to He Wei, "She called for you earlier. She has bad intentions. He Cheng can't make a living now, and she is selling her belongings to help him cover his debts. It seems she can't cover them anymore and came to ask you for money."

"I don't intend to give her money, and even if I did, it wouldn't be that easy. I will handle this matter. Just focus on your recovery."

He Wei's eyes looked complex, but due to his physical condition, he couldn't show any other expression. Finally, he closed his eyes, and there was nothing more to say.

...

Mrs. He tried every possible way to see He Wei, keeping watch near the residential complex. After waiting for a long time, she finally found an opportunity when He Wei appeared.

The caregiver was pushing He Wei in the garden for some fresh air. He Wei, now in his wheelchair, saw Mrs. He but couldn't react.

The gate wasn't closed properly, and Mrs. He walked straight into the garden, shouting, "Husband, I've finally seen you. You must stand up for me! He Chuan wants He Cheng and me to die. Regardless of anything, He Cheng and I are your family, and He Cheng is your biological son. You cannot let He Chuan run wild; he has gone too far this time!"

The caregiver blocked Mrs. He, preventing her from getting close, while saying, "Madam, please have some self-respect. Mr. He cannot be subjected to any stimulation. Please don't be so agitated. Please leave immediately, or I will call security!"

"Who dares to stop me? I am the lady of the He family! Little girl, this is not your place to speak, stay away from me!"

He Wei was driven frantic by this farce. He wanted to speak, but he couldn't. He could only frown and use all his strength to try and move the wheelchair. After struggling for a while, he tipped over and fell to the ground, hitting his head. He began to bleed quickly.

He Chuan received the news and rushed to the hospital immediately.

He Wei had a head injury and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. After they finished, they did a check-up to see if there were any other injuries.

Mrs. He was there too. She didn't feel it was her fault and was lecturing the caregiver with a sense of self-righteousness.

The young caregiver was also aggrieved. She was just doing as her boss ordered—she couldn't let this woman get close to the elder Mr. He, so she naturally blocked her. She hadn't expected that her negligence in keeping watch would cause the elder Mr. He to fall and get hurt.

The elderly man was old; he couldn't afford to be bumped or bruised. If he broke a bone, it would be a major problem.

When He Chuan arrived at the hospital, the young caregiver was crying in the hallway, and Mrs. He was still berating her without letting up.

Seeing He Chuan arrive, the young caregiver looked very apologetic. He Chuan glanced over and said, "I know what happened. Go back into the room and take care of my father."

"He Chuan, you've come just in time. This blind caregiver didn't take care of your father, causing him to fall and break his head. Fire her immediately; I never want to see her again."

Mrs. He’s attitude was as if she were still the lady of the He family, which amused He Chuan. He said, "That's enough. What time do you think it is to be joking with me? Whether or not I fire her is my decision. Who do you think you are?"

"How dare you speak to me like that! I've taken care of you for so many years; if nothing else, I've put in the hard work. I am still your mother in name—do I not even have the right to fire an employee?"

He Chuan did not hide the mockery on his face. "Enough, what kind of daydream are you having? Since you insist that you are still my mother in name, fine—find a time to go to the civil affairs bureau with my father and get the divorce finalized. If you don't, then we'll file for divorce in court."

"Whether your father and I divorce has nothing to do with you! What right do you have to decide?"

He Chuan sneered, his eyes sharp, boring into Mrs. He.

His expression clearly wasn't a joke. Mrs. He saw through his scheme and said, "He Chuan, don't go too far. I'm telling you, even if we divorce, I will get the property that is rightfully mine."

"Property? What do you have? Mrs. He, have you forgotten the things you did before? If you don't remember, I can help you recall."

Mrs. He was incensed, pointing at him, her face twisted: "Divorce? Don't even think about it! Just wait, I won't let this go. He Chuan, you just wait."

Mrs. He left after having her say, without looking back.

He Chuan entered the ward to see He Wei. The doctor walked over and explained the patient's condition: "It's just a minor head injury, nothing else. We'll keep him for observation for a day, and if there are no issues, he can be discharged."

After the doctor left, the young caregiver walked over tremblingly and said, "Mr. He, it's my fault for not looking after Mr. He well. I..."

"Forget it. It's fine. Don't make the same mistake next time."

He Chuan had intended to reprimand her, but seeing that she was young, still full of childishness, and had just graduated from school, and seeing that his father was okay, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh on a young girl.

He Chuan felt a moment of compassion.

In fact, he was vaguely reminded of Cheng Hui, who was about the same age.

When Cheng Hui made a mistake, she would be like this, crying and acting pitiful to win his favor.

Forget it.

...

In the evening, Wen Liang heard about what had happened with Mrs. He during the day. She bought a fruit basket on the way and came to visit He Wei.

As it happened, He Chuan hadn't left yet and was still at the hospital.

The two met in the ward. Wen Liang saw his expression remained the same as always and greeted him calmly.

He Chuan glanced at her and said nothing.

"Uncle He, how are you feeling?"

He Wei blinked, signaling he was fine.

"Uncle He, I'm sorry. I didn't know Mrs. He would be lurking nearby. When I go back, I'll talk to the property management and strengthen the security."

He Chuan said, "Property management can't stop that woman. It's fine, I'll find a security company to hire some bodyguards."

"That works too. After all, Uncle He's safety is more important."

After staying for a while, it was getting late, and He Chuan offered to drive her home.

On the way out of the hospital, Wen Liang tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Senior, are you still angry? You haven't spoken to me for several days."

Ever since that day, He Chuan hadn't looked at her properly. Even at the company, he had been busy, and Wen Liang hadn't found a chance to speak to him alone.

He Chuan said, "No."

"Senior, I was wrong... please don't be angry with me. You're acting like you are." She coaxed him, showing weakness, appearing intimate.

He Chuan seemed to sigh and said, "I'm not angry. Don't overthink it; it was just a small matter."

A small matter?

Wen Liang: "I thought you were angry with me, but I still have to apologize. That time was an accident. I... I didn't mean to; I just couldn't help myself."

What a "couldn't help myself."

The corners of He Chuan's mouth curved, but it didn't look like a smile. He didn't respond further.

...

After returning, Mrs. He went to He Cheng to cry and pour out her bitter tears.

"He Chuan is becoming more and more excessive. He actually wants your father and me to divorce. He said if I don't agree, he'll have the court judge it. What right does he have?"

He Cheng was also frustrated and didn't have a good expression, offering no response to Mrs. He.

"Son, we can't be this passive. He Chuan will eventually take action against us. Our situation is very dangerous now. We have to find a way."

"What other way is there?"

Mrs. He said, "How about I go back to my parents' home and ask my relatives for help, borrow some money to get through the current crisis, and then fight He Chuan? I won't let him swallow the He family's property all by himself."

What property did He Wei have left? The money was all with He Chuan. Trying to get money from He Chuan was not an easy task.

He Cheng laughed: "Parents' home? Forget it. That group of bloodsuckers—don't dream of them giving any money."

"Son, don't say that. If my parents' home can't help, what other way is there?"

He Cheng lit a cigarette, stared at the burning embers, and said, "There are plenty of ways. What's the hurry?"

Mrs. He said, "How can I not hurry? He Chuan is driving us to a dead end; he's not acting like a human being."

"If he doesn't act like a human, why should we be afraid? What's there to be afraid of? The barefoot aren't afraid of the ones wearing shoes." He Cheng took a deep drag of the cigarette, his gaze fierce. Since He Chuan was playing so dirty, he didn't need to show any mercy either.

...

London.

Liang Yang represented their school in an international debate competition. The teams participating came from major universities, all very famous schools. Of course, universities from Yongcheng also sent teams to compete.

Although Cheng Hui's school had been defeated, Liang Yang needed her to be at the scene to cheer for him, so she went.

Cheng Hui sat in the audience, watching Liang Yang, who was sitting with the affirmative team on stage. Debate competitions required formal attire. Liang Yang was no exception. The shirt he wore was one Cheng Hui had bought and given to him; she had just seen it while shopping and picked it up for him.

Liang Yang liked it quite a bit and wore it to the competition today.

In the end, it was no surprise that the team Liang Yang belonged to won. The first thing they did after winning was to go eat something delicious.

Cheng Hui was happy for him. When he walked over, he hugged her directly and said, "You really are my lucky star. With you here, I can win."

These words were just to please her; winning the competition depended on his own ability.

Cheng Hui understood and said, "It's your own strength that is strong. No wonder we lost to you guys back then."

"You guys just didn't have enough experience, and the negative stance is harder to argue. Losing is normal. If you had been on the affirmative side, the winner might not have been me."

"Don't comfort me; I know I'm bad."

"Alright, let's not talk about that. Let's go eat with my teammates later, and I'll introduce you to them."

Cheng Hui said that was fine.

Although she didn't really want to have contact with strangers, and there were so many people, she thought about how they were his teammates and classmates. She had to learn to adapt even if she felt uncomfortable.

Seeing the debate team from Yongcheng University, Cheng Hui looked a few extra times. Liang Yang noticed and asked, "Do you know them?"

"No, I just felt a sense of familiarity and couldn't help but look."

"Homesick?"

"It's okay."

"Speaking of which, you didn't go home for the New Year. Is your relationship with your family that strained?"

Cheng Hui blinked, her eyes flickering, and said, "Yes, very strained, especially with my mom."

"Still because of your last relationship?"

"Yes."

Liang Yang smiled and put his arm around her. "It's okay, it's all in the past. Besides, they are your family. Staying in conflict isn't good. Find an opportunity to make up with your mother; stop fighting."

Cheng Hui didn't want to delve into this topic and said somewhat coldly, "We'll see."

"You can't just 'see.' You need to do it as soon as possible. Otherwise, if your mother isn't happy and doesn't give you living expenses, you'll have no money for food, and what will you do if you rely on me? I can't afford to support you."

"..."

Liang Yang said this without thinking. After he finished, he froze and said, "I'm just joking. Don't take it to heart."

"I know." Cheng Hui withdrew her gaze.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Liang Yang rubbed his nose, observed her expression, and coaxed her for a while, saying, "Let's go. They are almost ready. Let's go eat."

Because of his words, Cheng Hui wasn't very happy.

She hadn't said she wanted him to support her. They were both students with limited resources, and she knew that, but he didn't need to say such things. Even if it was a joke, it was hurtful.

Especially since she was already sensitive.

Liang Yang introduced his teammates to her. Cheng Hui's expression was indifferent, keeping her distance and not being overly enthusiastic. It was Liang Yang who seemed to want Cheng Hui to integrate into his social circle immediately.

He was too eager, which caused a slight repulsion in Cheng Hui.

His social circle was completely different from hers. Besides, she had been in London for so long, and she had very few friends. Apart from Sister Julia and Dr. Ye, the only other person she was somewhat familiar with was him.

Her classmates had gossiped about her before, said bad things about her. Even though their relationship had eased up later and they could greet each other when they met, she wouldn't have any deep contact with them.

A gentleman's friendship is as indifferent as water.

It went only that far.

The dinner that night was tasteless for Cheng Hui. She could only look down at her phone, checking domestic news. Then she saw a piece of news about He Chuan.

To be precise, He Chuan's company had grown, and his fame had grown with it. Besides, he was handsome and attracted women's attention. Over time, more people paid attention to him, and gossip about him naturally increased.

"What are you looking at?" Liang Yang suddenly asked her.

Cheng Hui turned off her phone screen and said, "Nothing, just looking around."

"Are you unhappy?"

"No."

Liang Yang looked into her eyes. "Is it because of what I said earlier? Did I offend you?"

Cheng Hui subconsciously denied it and smiled. "No, don't overthink it. I'm not the type to hold a grudge. Besides, weren't you joking?"

"Yes, I was joking."

...

After the meal, Liang Yang said goodbye to his teammates. He wanted to take Cheng Hui back to school.

When they arrived at the school gate, there was no one around, it was dark, and a wind was blowing. The atmosphere was just right.

Liang Yang suddenly pulled her over and lowered his head to kiss her.

Cheng Hui turned her head and dodged it.

She dodged it almost subconsciously.

Liang Yang's face turned ugly. "What's wrong? Are you still unhappy?"

Cheng Hui thought for a moment. "No, I just wasn't prepared. I'm sorry."

They had been dating for several months, and their most intimate gesture was holding hands and hugging; there was nothing further.

Cheng Hui did not want to have intimate contact with him, subconsciously dodging.

It wasn't that Liang Yang didn't notice; he did. But after it happened so many times, his patience was running out. He really didn't know what she was pretending for.

"Cheng Hui, how long are you going to take to 'prepare'? You've been absent-minded since dinner. You make me feel insecure."

Cheng Hui was hesitant to speak, unable to explain.

So her absent-mindedness was that obvious.

"I'm sorry." She could only apologize.

Liang Yang stroked her cheek. "Don't say sorry. I want to hear what's in your heart. Do you not like me, or can't you forget your last relationship? Do you really like him that much?"