CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 259: How Can You Deserve My Sincerity?

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: How Can You Deserve My Sincerity?

Qiao Xiang hadn’t seen Pei Liyan since she returned to Ludao and was very anxious.

She didn’t dare ask Fang Mo and Si Ran; after the previous experience, she knew that Fang Mo and Si Ran were quite cold to her.

Moreover, today’s kidnapping left her with nothing.

She could only seek a little consolation from He Zheng.

He Lan was still asleep, and He Zheng had nothing else to do. Seeing Qiao Xiang downhearted, he comforted her, but he never expected that the comforting would last for two hours.

Qiao Xiang alternated between silence and sobbing, and gradually, He Zheng also began to lose patience.

Seeing Qiao Xiang still crying, he said, "Xiangxiang, stop crying!"

Qiao Xiang was startled, clearly detecting He Zheng’s impatience.

He Zheng probably felt his mood shift too and awkwardly smiled. "Crying too much is bad for the health."

Qiao Xiang nodded. "I know, I have indeed become fragile."

She hid her self-pity and her eyes, clear as water, still swirled with vapors of tears, the pitiful expression fixed upon He Zheng by her side.

He Zheng sighed, "It’s not that, your reaction is quite normal."

"Ah Zheng, actually I’m crying not just because of being kidnapped today, but because I think of myself as too foolish. Why didn’t I come back earlier?"

As she spoke, her subsequent words turned to a choke, and tears began to gather again, threatening to fall.

But she pitifully lowered her head and lightly bit her red lip, tears plopping on her lap, indeed a sight that invoked immense pity.

However, seeing her like this, He Zheng felt as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly. He had just said no more crying, and here it was again.

Furthermore, not coming back before and now regretting it was utterly useless.

Pei Liyan had his reasons for not choosing her; tears wouldn’t solve this.

He also just today realized he did not understand Qiao Xiang at all.

So, He Zheng stood up, "Calm down, you haven’t slept all night. Take a rest. I’ll go see how He Lan is doing."

He stood up and left before Qiao Xiang could react.

Watching He Zheng leave, Qiao Xiang pursed her lips, her eyes reflecting a complex emotion.

Ah Zheng, even you dislike me now?

After He Zheng came out, he sighed deeply.

He Lan had been brought back and placed under Si Ran’s care.

Upon entering, He Zheng saw Si Ran sitting on the sofa, presuming He Lan had yet to wake up, and asked, "Secretary Si, He Lan hasn’t woken up, has she?"

"No, President He," Si Ran nodded, glanced at him, and said, "I just checked; Miss He Lan has just had a bit too much to drink, nothing serious."

He Zheng felt much reassured and nodded. "That’s good."

He went over to the sofa, sat down, and rubbed his aching brow, looking very tired.

Si Ran paused, hesitated, but still stood up to make him a cup of tea, brought it over, and placed it in front of him.

The green tea was beautiful in color, with leaves floating in the glass cup, quite striking.

He Zheng glanced at it, his dark eyes as deep as pools, "Thank you."

"Don’t mention it," Si Ran replied indifferently.

"Si Ran, sit down and chat with me for a bit!"

Si Ran stiffened momentarily but said nothing and sat down, "President He, you’re so tired, you should rest."

"Si Ran, tell me, what’s going on when someone who was once quite alright suddenly becomes difficult to read, and their personality turns sour?" He Zheng suddenly asked.

Si Ran froze for a moment before responding, "Are you referring to Qiao Xiang, President He?"

He Zheng understood that Si Ran was sharp-witted; there was no way she wouldn’t be talented in front of Pei Liyan.

He shook his head with a sigh as a smile curved at the corner of his lips, "It’s comfortable dealing with someone as smart as you."

At least she understood what he meant right away.

Si Ran, on the other hand, seemed indifferent, simply stating, "Maybe you don’t understand Secretary Qiao, or perhaps people change as they get older."

"Don’t give me platitudes, I want to know what you really think of her," He Zheng sought affirmation; he always felt that he shouldn’t think of Qiao Xiang this way.

"Secretary Qiao is very good," Si Ran said flatly.

He Zheng cast a sidelong glance at Si Ran’s calm demeanor, his lips suddenly revealing a mischievous smile.

The next second, his tall frame rose to his feet and strode over to where Si Ran sat, taking a seat beside her.

Si Ran jumped in surprise, immediately scooting over on the couch to avoid him, only to find He Zheng stretching out his long arms to pull her into his embrace.

"Secretary Si, I’m opening my heart to you, discussing serious matters, yet you dismiss me; how is that fair when I’m being so sincere to you?"

Si Ran was nearly stunned, speechlessly staring at He Zheng.

When she came to her senses, she immediately tried to struggle out of He Zheng’s embrace, "President He, please behave with dignity."

"Si Ran," He Zheng pressed, taking advantage of the situation to coerce her, "tell me honestly, what do you really think of Qiao Xiang?"

Si Ran frowned, locking eyes with He Zheng’s deep gaze, and said, "I don’t know Secretary Qiao, not the way you do, President He. You grew up together, whereas I’ve only worked with Secretary Qiao for a month; I have no particular impression of her."

"Ha, little liar!" He Zheng’s voice, low and magnetic, became exceptionally tender as he pulled Si Ran in tighter.

Feeling herself enclosed in his arms, Si Ran stiffened noticeably, prompting He Zheng to lean in close to her ear and whisper softly, "Is honesty so hard to come by?"

Si Ran tensed further, held in He Zheng’s embrace, especially with only the two of them in the living room.

He Lan was asleep inside.

She hadn’t expected He Zheng to act like this.

Si Ran said gravely, "President He, please behave with dignity."

"Si Ran, how am I behaving undignified?" He Zheng countered.

Si Ran pursed her lips, feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, but maintained a cold facade, "President He, save your hands and feet for those other women you entertain; I will not accompany you."

"Boring!" He Zheng, not one to push too hard, let go of her, but then leaned back lazily on the couch, eyeing Si Ran as he slowly articulated, "You don’t like Qiao Xiang, and you actually dislike her quite a bit!"

"There’s nothing of the sort, President He, you are mistaken," Si Ran replied coldly.

"Si Ran, you’re not cute at all when you lie," He Zheng remarked with a faint smile still on his handsome face, but his sharp gaze was keenly penetrating, "You can’t even admit it in front of me?"

"There’s nothing I can’t admit," Si Ran said, "I’m colleagues with Secretary Qiao, and we have no personal interaction beyond that, so I can’t really say."

"Liyan did tell me that you have a negative impression of Qiao Xiang," He Zheng raised an eyebrow.

Si Ran remained composed, "Our CEO isn’t that gossipy and wouldn’t talk behind someone’s back like President He."

He Zheng laughed silently, raising an eyebrow; he had not misjudged—this girl was indeed very guarded towards him. "Alright, you win."

Si Ran remained impassive, silent.

He Zheng leaned back on the couch, rubbing his temples, looking somewhat forlorn all of a sudden.

Seeing him like this, Si Ran hesitated; could he really be troubled over Qiao Xiang?

"I can’t help it, having grown up with her, naturally, there’s some sentiment—I can’t bear it, nor do I want to see her change into someone I don’t recognize," He Zheng spoke as if he had perceived Si Ran’s thoughts, without raising his head.

Si Ran was taken aback and whispered softly, "If Secretary Qiao knew how much President He cares, she would certainly be grateful."

"Si Ran, can’t you speak more earnestly to me?" He Zheng suddenly felt cold, frowning, "Don’t you trust me?"