Chapter 25#
The Phoenix Man (11)#
Over the following ten-plus days, Yu Zhao maintained this thrilling state whenever he contacted Qiao Yi. It wasn’t until the day before Qiao Yi’s business trip to City D ended that Wang Cheng finally achieved a major breakthrough.
He took out a bank card and handed it to Yu Zhao. “There’s a million yuan in here. Take it for your auntie’s use.”
Yu Zhao looked at the card, his emotions complicated.
He had no intention of betraying Qiao Yi, but he couldn’t help feeling guilty about deceiving Wang Cheng, especially seeing how hard the other man was working to help him.
As a normal person, it was impossible not to be moved. He didn’t take the savings card, making one last struggle: “Where did this money come from? Tell me. If it’s from an illegitimate source, I can’t accept it.”
Wang Cheng forcefully pressed the card back into his hand. “Just take it. My salary isn’t low. I’ve saved up by being frugal and borrowed a bit from my family. Do you think I’d lie to you?”
If Mr. Qiao hadn’t come to him, Yu Zhao might have been completely fooled by Wang Cheng. This remark felt like the last straw that broke the camel’s back, tipping the wavering scale in Yu Zhao’s heart once and for all.
He took the card, his spirits low. “I will definitely pay you back this money.”
Even though Qiao Yi had told him to get rid of the IOU and related documents afterward, Yu Zhao had no intention of keeping the money.
Yu Zhao didn’t seem particularly happy even after getting the money, which only deepened Wang Cheng’s admiration for him.
No one liked lending money to someone who couldn’t pay it back. The more he understood Yu Zhao’s character, the more Wang Cheng trusted him.
After comforting Yu Zhao a few words, Wang Cheng returned home and tore up the IOU.
Although Qiao Yi was a pampered young master, his obsessive-compulsive disorder and cleanliness were quite severe. Everything at home had to be neat and tidy. If he kept the IOU at home, it would definitely be discovered.
If he kept it at the office, with everything so messy, it might get lost or be found by someone—word would eventually get back to Qiao Yi, and things would be even worse.
With this money, Yu Zhao’s mother underwent a successful surgery.
On the day of the operation, Wang Cheng specially took leave, intending to accompany Yu Zhao.
But as soon as he arrived at the hospital, before he could even greet Yu Zhao, his phone rang. Irritated, he took it out and glanced at the screen. His expression shifted slightly. He stepped into a corner and spoke in a low voice: “Qiao Yi?”
Qiao Yi’s voice came through the phone: “I’m back. I was going to surprise you at your company, but Uncle said you took leave today. Where are you now?”
Qiao Yi’s voice was very magnetic, with his particular tone that always made one think of classical music—melodious, clear, and pleasant. But at this moment, it sounded like the voice of a death messenger, sending a cold shiver down Wang Cheng’s spine.
Yu Zhao was walking toward him just then. Wang Cheng quickly made a stop gesture, signaling the other man not to approach. “Just something with a friend. It’s almost done now. Wait for me at the company for a bit, have some tea or something. I’ll be right back to pick you up.”
These past days with Yu Zhao had been so comfortable that he had almost forgotten about Qiao Yi. Although accompanying Yu Zhao was important, the urgent matter now was to handle the money he had misappropriated, before Qiao Yi suddenly remembered.
After hanging up, Wang Cheng said to Yu Zhao, “Something urgent came up at the company. I’m really sorry, but I probably can’t stay with you.”
Both were adults, and Yu Zhao understood the importance of work. “Go ahead. I can manage on my own.”
After sending Wang Cheng off, he returned to the front of the operating room. As soon as he sat down, he received a text message.
Qiao Yi: I’m back. I wish Auntie a smooth surgery.
Yu Zhao replied: Thank you. After deleting the message, he no longer focused his thoughts on Wang Cheng. He was now thoroughly disappointed in Wang Cheng. Apart from helping Qiao Yi smoothly divorce him and effectively leaving Wang Cheng with nothing, he had no other thoughts.
After Qiao Yi hung up, he looked at the middle-aged man sitting across from him: “Uncle, how is Wang Cheng performing at the company?”
The man he called Uncle said, “He’s a decent person, does his work well, proactive and bold, but a bit impetuous.”
Qiao Yi said, “I want the truth. You don’t need to save face for me. Half a month from now, I plan to divorce him.”
The other man looked surprised. “Why so sudden?”
Qiao Yi was frank: “He cheated. You know, my parents originally agreed to the marriage because they thought he would treat me well.”
Back then, Qiao Yi had many suitors, some of whom were better than Wang Cheng. He chose Wang Cheng because the man was gentle, considerate, and willing to share most of the housework.
But at the wedding, the way he treated Wang Cheng’s father showed that Qiao Yi wasn’t that important to him. Good thing he was a man and wasn’t pregnant with Wang Cheng’s child—if he had been, the Wang family would definitely think they had him under their thumb.
“Did you hear some rumors or something?”
“I have evidence. Even though nothing physically happened between him and the other person, cheating is cheating.”
Emotional cheating is just as bad as physical cheating. If a boyfriend or girlfriend takes a lover, it doesn’t mean they have to sleep with that lover for it to count as cheating.
Legally, to prove cheating, one generally needs a recording of the spouse admitting to it, a written confession, or hotel check-in records, video evidence—something that confirms the spouse had an inappropriate relationship with another person during the marriage.
Otherwise, if the spouse denies it, some intimate photos or related communications can only be judged as flirting, not evidence of cheating.
That’s why Qiao Yi didn’t go after Wang Cheng for cheating, but instead planned to go after him for maliciously transferring marital assets. He didn’t have the patience to wait for Wang Cheng to actually sleep with someone else.
Qiao Yi said, “You’re my elder. There are many excellent employees, but Wang Cheng isn’t the only one. I hope you can help me going forward.”
The other man was silent for a moment, then said, “Don’t worry. If your uncle doesn’t help you, who would help an outsider?”
Having received the promise, Qiao Yi left the general manager’s office satisfied.
Just then, Wang Cheng called. Qiao Yi went down to the company building and got into Wang Cheng’s car. “Go to the 4S store. I’m going to pick up my car.”
Wang Cheng was surprised. “When did you buy a car?”
“Just before my business trip. I got my driver’s license.”
Wang Cheng said, “Why didn’t you tell me about such a big thing?”
“My parents bought it for me. They told me not to tell you.”
“But I’m your husband.” Wang Cheng was very unhappy. “You know all my money, don’t you?”
Qiao Yi felt ironic inside, but didn’t show it. “That’s different. Anyway, let’s go pick up the car.”
Qiao Yi’s new car cost two million yuan. He had earned the money from previous stock market investments—of course, using his parents’ principal. All the funds went through his father’s account, having nothing to do with their little family.
When Wang Cheng saw the two-million-yuan car, his eyes went wide. Qiao Yi generously let him test drive it.
A two-million-yuan ride felt completely different from his own half-million-yuan car.
While handling the paperwork, Wang Cheng asked, “Did you take out a big loan?”
Qiao Yi said nonchalantly, “No, bought it in full. My parents made some money recently.”
Wang Cheng looked at the name on the receipt. The car was registered under Qiao’s father’s name, but it was for Qiao Yi to drive.
He felt a chill. The Qiao family elders were being wary of him, their son-in-law. Otherwise, why would they register a car bought for their son under their own name?
His own car was already decent—a classic model worth over half a million yuan. With a prestigious brand, people often thought it was nearly a million, bringing him a lot of face.
But compared to Qiao Yi’s car, his sense of imbalance grew.
Back when they discussed marriage, every little thing was scrutinized. But now, clearly they were so rich, casually buying their son such an expensive car.
Clearly, they didn’t consider him one of their own. Thinking this way, Wang Cheng felt more and more dissatisfied.
He privately complained to his father. Listening to his father curse the Qiao family, he comforted his father on the surface but secretly felt a bit of satisfaction.
After Qiao Yi came back, his attitude toward Wang Cheng had become cold and distant, clearly as wary as his parents.
Compared with Yu Zhao’s constant care and warmth, Wang Cheng’s heart gradually drifted.
About ten days later, his supervisor called him in to attend a business dinner.
When everyone was well-fed and tipsy, the men started saying anything.
When talking about some powerful big shot, someone mentioned that the man had a mistress outside, and the mistress had a child. He wanted a divorce, and his wife was making a huge fuss.
Wang Cheng chimed in: “That man definitely doesn’t want to divorce, right? He’d have to split half his property, maybe even end up leaving with nothing.”
The man telling the story looked at him in surprise: “Little Wang, have you been watching too many TV dramas? ‘Leaving with nothing’? That man had already quietly transferred a huge amount of property. If his wife behaves, he’ll give her a house. If she doesn’t, he’ll leave her with a mountain of debt.”
“As they say, a real man is ruthless. Come on, have a drink.”
Wang Cheng quickly raised his glass and downed it. Listening to these men who dominated the business world, he felt a bit tipsy.
In his mind, a bold idea emerged: Since the Qiao family was so wary of him, why couldn’t he learn from that big shot and be ruthless too?