Chapter 135 The CEO’s Divorced Wife’s Gentle Knife (34)

Chapter 135: The Gentle Blade of the CEO’s Ex-Wife (34)

"Why are you setting Tang Qing up on dates?" Sheng Baihui gaped at her son, who had suddenly appeared before her. Wasn’t even quitting time yet—had he left early?

President Li, who was usually buried in work, leaving early? It felt unreal to Sheng Baihui, so she double-checked the time. Indeed, it wasn’t the end of the workday.

"You came home early for this?"

"This an interrogation?"

Li Zhou: "So you really did arrange dates for Tang Qing?"

He had already dropped hints to Sheng Baihui, yet Li Zhou never expected her to pull such a head-scratcher.

"I did it for you!" Seeing her son’s displeasure, Sheng Baihui huffed and rolled her eyes. "Over the past three days, I’ve pushed at least dozens of guys on Tang Qing, and I’ve come to one conclusion..."

"What?"

Not one to beat around the bush, Sheng Baihui said bluntly, "Tang Qing shot down every one."

"Either her standards are impossible, or she just doesn’t want to date."

"Either way, it’s not bad news for you."

If her standards were too high, Sheng Baihui knew her son’s qualifications well—few could surpass President Li in terms of credentials. If he didn’t stand a chance, other men had even less of one.

If she didn’t want to date at all, even better. Everyone would be back at the starting line, and with a few more years of effort, her son might still have a shot.

With this plan in mind, Sheng Baihui had spent three days playing matchmaker—only to bump into Zhong Jiaze today.

With a sigh, she added, "There’s also some bad news..."

After recounting the day’s events in detail, Li Zhou’s expression darkened.

"Son, I hate to say it..." Sheng Baihui lamented, "but why on earth did you pick Xiao Zhong as your litigation lawyer?"

A born rival, delivered straight to Tang Qing’s side.

Sheng Baihui could see it clearly—given Zhong Jiaze’s attitude today, he had no intention of backing off.

And when she thought about her son’s behavior over the past two years, Sheng Baihui felt his chances had just halved.

"I can tell—Xiao Zhong has a silver tongue compared to you..."

"He’s got lines for days. Compared to him, you might as well be mute!"

Replaying Zhong Jiaze’s words in her head, then contrasting them with her son’s cold demeanor, Sheng Baihui wanted to scream.

Her future daughter-in-law was about to be snatched up...

After listening to Sheng Baihui’s account, Li Zhou didn’t utter a word and stalked off to his study.

"Hey, that’s it? You’re bailing?"

"Xiao Zhong is working overtime—aren’t you going to do something?"

"You idiot! Don’t you want your wife back?"

Sheng Baihui ranted from the couch, eager to strategize, but Li Zhou didn’t spare her a glance...

"Hmph! I knew you were always at a loss for words!" Eager to give her son dating advice, Sheng Baihui was instead used like some information vending machine by Li Zhou, who took the information and left.

"No wonder you're still single!"

What Sheng Baihui didn’t know was...

Her usually cold and distant son had returned to his study to make a phone call.

At some point, Li Zhou had already changed his attitude. The aloofness that once kept others at bay had now turned into careful hesitation.

"Li Zhou?"

The call connected, and the familiar voice on the other end made Li Zhou’s already restless heart race even faster. A thousand emotions lumped in his throat, leaving him silent for a long moment.

"Li Zhou? Did you need something?"

Hearing no response, Tang Qing spoke again, "Wrong number?"

"No."

When President Li’s voice finally came through, Tang Qing stopped short—it was hoarse.

Nothing like the usual commanding CEO voice she knew. It seemed her "Gentle Knife" had been chipping away at his pride lately, wearing him down.

"Tang Qing, I just heard from my mom that she’s been playing matchmaker for you recently."

"No... Your mom might just be too enthusiastic..." Tang Qing jumped to explain on the other end of the line, "Li Zhou... about this..."

"So, can you consider me?"

Ignoring her explanation, Li Zhou spoke in that same strained voice, "Tang Qing, if you’re choosing to start over, could you..."

"Put me on the starting line too? Give me a chance too?"

"Tang Qing, I’m begging you here."

It was hard to imagine the usually so proud and distant Li Zhou stooping to beg like this.

Just like last time, he had said—he regretted it.

He’d been full of regrets for a long time.

Seeing how the love that was once his gradually turn into distance and fear, Li Zhou had regretted it countless times. If only he had realized sooner.

If only he had seen Tang Qing earlier, if only he had discovered Tang Qing’s pain earlier, would things...

Have been different?

Lately, Li Zhou kept wondering if this was possible, and countless times he recalled Tang Qing’s tear-streaked face... night after sleepless night.

"I heard about the matchmaking today. If you can consider Zhong Jiaze... can you consider me too?"

"Tang Qing, I really regret it..."

As he sighed, Tang Qing heard the system’s announcement: "Detected increase in Li Zhou’s Love Points. Current Love Points: 94."

"Li Zhou, you've got it all wrong... I don’t... have plans to start over."

Through the phone, Li Zhou heard Tang Qing’s answer, "Li Zhou, this... is making me uncomfortable," she added softly.

"We're already divorced, aren't we?"

Just two simple sentences, spoken in an airy tone, sent Li Zhou spiraling into despair.

A never-before-felt emptiness, sharp as a knife, plunged deep into his chest.

Li Zhou suddenly understood how his own harsh words must have felt to Tang Qing in the past...

So this was the pain.

In an instant, he felt like a fish stranded on the shore, choking under the weight of the overwhelming pressure around him. "I..."

"I'm sorry."

After a long pause, Tang Qing didn’t respond to his apology; he could only hear faint sobs on the other end.

Crying again.

His doing...

Realizing this, Li Zhou hung up himself.

"Wow, Tang Qing! After those two sentences, the Domineering CEO's Love Points went up again! Now at 96 points!"

As soon as the call ended, the system immediately detected the fluctuation in the Domineering CEO's Love Points and announced excitedly, "The higher the Love Points, the harder they are to increase. Tang Qing, it seems those two sentences of yours hit him hard."

The Domineering CEO's heartfelt confession had been rejected, and even the system, which loved watching the drama, felt a little sorry for Li Zhou today.

This man had long abandoned his dignity and pride, begging Tang Qing to change her mind...

Tang Qing had already collected herself, her earlier tearful tone vanished as she calmly said, "What’s the use of affection that comes too late?"

"Too bad, it’s still not enough."

The reflection in the mirror no longer resembled the gentle little white rabbit. The red tear mole beneath her eye now looked unnervingly bright...