My Alleged Husband

Chapter 932: Chapter 832: Confessions_10

After waiting through several red lights, when it came to the tenth one, Zhang Zhentian couldn’t wait any longer. He decided to abandon his car and run on foot. He parked the car in the middle of the road, swung open the door, and dashed away. He ran as if his life depended on it, pouring every ounce of strength into each step, sweating profusely. His breaths came ragged and strained, but he didn’t stop. On his way, he broke through several red lights, nearly causing accidents multiple times. With so many red lights behind him, wasn’t he exhausted? No, though he was indeed tired, the thought of his beloved made him feel exhilarated. By the time he reached the third-to-last red light, his resolve faltered—he wanted so badly to stop, to rest, to catch his breath, to drink some water. But he couldn’t. He feared that if he stopped, Xia Jing wouldn’t wait for him. In those final heavy steps, each felt like his legs were weighted with thousands of pounds, but still, he pushed forward. After running for a full hour and a half, he finally arrived at the lakeside.

”Xia Jing, where are you?” Zhang Zhentian didn’t even pause to catch his breath before shouting her name. He called it out several times, but there was no answer. Panic began to set in.

He slumped to the ground in defeat, burying his head in his hands and crying. He blamed himself for being too slow, for failing to make it in time to see Xia Jing.

Xia Jing quietly emerged from behind Zhang Zhentian. Her footsteps were silent, so he didn’t hear her approach. She gently patted him on the shoulder from behind.

”Zhentian.” Xia Jing’s call was nothing short of a huge surprise for Zhang Zhentian.

Hearing someone call his name from behind, Zhang Zhentian turned to look. When he saw Xia Jing, his face lit up with joy—she hadn’t left!

”Xia Jing, you didn’t leave. That’s wonderful!” Zhang Zhentian exclaimed in excitement. He grabbed Xia Jing’s hand, pulled her into his embrace, and crushed her in a tight hug.

Xia Jing froze. In all this time, Zhang Zhentian had only ever held her hand but had never hugged her before. This moment marked their first embrace.

”Let go. Since you’re here, just say it. Are you here because of what happened with Li Jiayuan?” Xia Jing asked directly.

”Yes, I came because of Li Jiayuan. I also know about what my father said to you. I want to know what you plan to do.” Zhang Zhentian replied candidly, without beating around the bush.

”And what do you want me to do?” Xia Jing deflected his question with one of her own.

”Xia Jing, would you consider lowering your pride, apologizing to Li Jiayuan just once? That way, everything can be resolved.” Zhang Zhentian voiced his thoughts, thinking Xia Jing might agree, but he was met with disappointment.

”Oh? You want me to apologize? *Slap!* Zhang Zhentian, are you mistaken? You betrayed me! You hurt me! Because of you, I sent Xiao Wei to deal with Li Jiayuan, and yet you think you did nothing wrong? By what right are you demanding that I apologize?” Xia Jing exploded in anger as she heard Zhang Zhentian’s proposition. She slapped him across the face, leaving him stunned. Zhang Zhentian hadn’t anticipated Xia Jing would actually hit him.

”Xia Jing, have you gone mad? Why are you resorting to violence? Can’t we talk things out civilly?” Zhang Zhentian, furious from being slapped, yelled back at Xia Jing.

”Zhang Zhentian, let me tell you right here and now. It’s impossible for me to lower my pride over this matter. For you, I knelt before your father and begged, but what more do you want from me? Are you expecting me to kneel before Li Haixiao, that despicable old man? I’m telling you now—that will never happen! Over my dead body!” Xia Jing declared before storming off, leaving Zhang Zhentian standing there dumbfounded and frozen in place.

Old Master Zhang listened to Zhang Zhentian’s words and then went upstairs. This night was destined to be yet another sleepless one. While Old Master Zhang lay awake thinking about what Zhang Zhentian had said, Zhang Zhentian worried whether his father might change his stance.

Back in his bedroom, Old Master Zhang lay on the bed, his thoughts swirling over Zhang Zhentian’s plea. He acknowledged there was truth in what his son said. He understood that Zhang Zhentian had appealed to his weakness—his pride—in advocating for Xia Jing. Zhang Zhentian knew his father placed immense importance on appearances and had deliberately used that ”theory of face” to plead for Xia Jing’s case.

”Ah, agreeing isn’t right, but disagreeing isn’t right either. Although Zhentian’s argument is reasonable, changing my mind now would make others see me, Zhang Mo, as untrustworthy. It would be better to stick to my word and have Xia Jing apologize to settle the matter. But then, there’s Zhentian, deliberately pleading for her—what should I do about this?” the Old Master thought to himself. ”If I really force Xia Jing to apologize, there’s no telling what my unreliable son might do next.”