Xiang's voice carried a hint of fatigue.
Zhao Shuyao hadn't expected that Li Huiyun and Le Haitian would encounter such a situation, yet they had kept it from her.
"They were afraid you'd worry, so they didn't tell you. But now that things have settled down, you can contact them with peace of mind."
"Thank you so much, Dr. Xiang. If you hadn't gone back to help me resolve these issues, I wouldn't have known what to do. It's so good to have a friend like you."
Before Zhao Shuyao could finish her last sentence, Xiang smiled and interrupted her, "Your family is my family. We're all one family, why are you being so polite with me?"
Zhao Shuyao's small face flushed. "Dr. Xiang..."
She was grateful, but feelings couldn't be forced. She would repay Xiang, but not with her body!
"Get some rest early. I'm tired and heading back to the capital tomorrow."
Zhao Shuyao held her phone and stood for a moment before calling Li Huiyun.
As soon as the call connected, Li Huiyun on the other end praised Xiang profusely.
She could barely find enough superlative words in the world to describe the man.
After praising him for a full half hour, the phone was taken by Zhao Shuhui.
"Yaoyao, is Dr. Xiang single?"
Zhao Shuyao was taken aback. "Yes, he's single. Has been for many years."
Xiang hadn't dated since his ex-girlfriend incident.
Zhao Shuyao wondered how the man had managed all these years...
How did he handle his physical needs?
Random thoughts suddenly flooded Zhao Shuyao's mind.
Zhao Shuhui stammered for a long time before saying, "Do you have Dr. Xiang's phone number? Also, what does Dr. Xiang like to eat, where does he live, and how many people are in his family? Tell me everything. Dr. Xiang has been a great help to our family, he's our benefactor. This apartment was even bought and gifted to our family by Dr. Xiang..."
Zhao Shuyao hadn't paid attention to the earlier part of the conversation, but she heard that last sentence.
Dr. Xiang gifted them an apartment?!
An apartment?!
You know, apartments in Haicheng aren't cheap. Even in less desirable locations, they cost millions. This man just gave one away?!
Zhao Shuyao pinched the bridge of her nose, almost fainting.
She had initially thought Xiang had just found a place for her family to live, but she never imagined he would directly buy an apartment for them!
She could repay past favors, but how could she ever repay for this apartment?
Working at Shengshi for ten years might not even be enough to repay it.
Zhao Shuyao almost suffocated.
Zhao Shuhui, oblivious to Zhao Shuyao's distress on the other end of the line, continued speaking.
"Dr. Xiang is young, accomplished, and single. He's also so good to our family. Is he interested in you? Why don't you accept Dr. Xiang's pursuit? It's so hard to find a man who is both handsome and wealthy..."
Zhao Shuyao thought back to Xiang's face. "Heh, forget it. Xiang and I aren't compatible."
She didn't want to be anyone's substitute, especially not Xiang's first love.
Xiang was so good to her simply because she looked so much like his first love.
Zhao Shuhui on the other end sounded disbelieving when Zhao Shuyao said that, confirming it several times.
Only when she was certain that Zhao Shuyao truly didn't like Xiang did she seem to breathe a sigh of relief.
"It's such a shame you don't like Xiang. Dr. Xiang is so wonderful, he's so good to Mom and Dad, and he really likes our family. Mom and Dad are very satisfied. You just divorced Qin Yusheng, it would be great if you could be with Xiang. Such a good man, you can't let him go to outsiders..."
Zhao Shuyao didn't understand what Zhao Shuhui was saying.
"Sister, who Dr. Xiang likes is his prerogative. I can't inquire about it, nor can I control it. Dr. Xiang has been good to our family, and we owe him a debt of gratitude. We owe Dr. Xiang a lot."
"Is that so? Heh, Dr. Xiang also said we're family. He's truly a good person. It's a pity if you don't end up with him... Oh right, give my dad Dr. Xiang's contact information so I can personally thank Dr. Xiang."
Zhao Shuyao, naively believing Zhao Shuhui wanted to thank Xiang, read Xiang's phone number to Zhao Shuhui.
Afterward, she felt something was off. "Sister, are you interested in Xiang?"
Only now did Zhao Shuyao belatedly realize.
Because she had never been in a relationship, Zhao Shuyao was very slow when it came to matters of the heart.
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I be interested in him? I'm just grateful to Dr. Xiang. With my circumstances, what kind of man can't I find? Don't overthink things... I'm hanging up now, I have my own things to do!"
After speaking, Zhao Shuhui hurriedly hung up the phone.
It was as if she was rushing to do something.
Zhao Shuyao shrugged. Since Zhao Shuhui said so, she couldn't suspect anything. After all, Zhao Shuhui hadn't admitted it herself, and it wasn't good to speculate maliciously.
The next day, Xiang returned to the capital. Zhao Shuyao took time off in the afternoon specifically to pick him up.
The man stood outside the airport, particularly eye-catching, easily visible at a glance.
Once in the car, Zhao Shuyao incessantly thanked Xiang, her little mouth babbling non-stop. Xiang simply sat in the passenger seat, watching Zhao Shuyao speak, a smile on his face as he listened quietly.
Zhao Shuyao drove to Cui Jing Xuan.
Xiang had helped her family so much, she had to treat him to a good meal to replenish him.
Zhao Shuyao prayed in her heart that she wouldn't run into Qin Yusheng.
But as fate would have it, as soon as she walked in, she saw Qin Yusheng walking out.
The man was alone, accompanied by a few other men, seemingly clients. There was no sign of Huo Yanxue.
Well, everyone was saying the two were getting married, so the bride-to-be must be deliberately taking care of herself. What did it have to do with her...
Zhao Shuyao thought, then suddenly linked her arm with Xiang's, resting her head on his shoulder. "Honey, I'm hungry, I want to eat..."
She mimicked Huo Yanxue's tone, acting sweet and coquettish.
Xiang chuckled. "Mhm, you can eat whatever you want. Eat your fill."
"Honey, I want to eat you!"
Zhao Shuyao pouted, stomped her foot, and swayed her body, clearly acting spoiled.
The man not far away, seeing this scene, his already cold face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
The man's gaze made Zhao Shuyao feel as if she had been caught in an affair.
No, they were already divorced.
What was there to be afraid of?
Zhao Shuyao puffed out her chest, glared at Qin Yusheng not far away, and kept her hand linked with Xiang's.
However, fearing that Qin Yusheng might beat up Xiang, she shielded him.
If Qin Yusheng wanted to beat up Xiang, he would have to step over her dead body.
Xiang was their family's savior now, and he couldn't be bullied by Qin Yusheng anymore.
Zhao Shuyao thought this, her gaze towards Qin Yusheng like that of a bristling kitten.