The Female CEO Falls in Love with Me

Before marriage, Zhang Yurong had never even heard of Li Yan, and she didn't know he existed. As for this marriage, there is no doubt that it was led by her father, Zhang Tianyi, and arranged due to the relations between the parents' generation. He didn't even provide a detailed or convincing explanation.

But Zhang Yurong agreed anyway.

Because, for her, investments have successes and failures, businesses make money and lose money, and marriage is the same. Her second half of life wouldn't be ruined by one marriage, but her seriously ill father might not recover if he couldn't get his mind off it. Her father had put his heart and soul into establishing the Paradise Group's foundation, barely enjoying any of it before growing prematurely old and becoming ill; how many more years could he accompany them?

So, upon hearing Li Yan's words, Zhang Yurong felt a deep bitterness, and all her grievances and resentment were silently packed away in her heart's depths, masked by a forced smile.

Moreover, her father's health clearly improved within a month after the marriage, which relieved her considerably. At that time, she thought that as long as her father could get better, even if she sacrificed a year or two of her youth, it would be worth it. If they parted, she could give this cheap husband a sum of money that would be enough for his lifetime. So, for the past few months, even though there were many things bad about Li Yan—no, there were hardly any good things—but she managed to endure it.

He didn't force her to consummate, and every week he cooperated with visiting her family to show affection and make her parents feel at ease. Zhang Yurong survived on these points.

As time passed, unexpectedly, in just half a year, a slight affection began to develop between them. This was something she hadn't anticipated; she didn't expect that she would so easily adapt to the role of a wife.

...

"There's no grievance to speak of, if anything… you should be more aggrieved than me." Zhang Yurong sighed softly: "Whether it's keeping secrets or having a superficial marriage, both hurt a man's dignity, right? After getting married, I haven't been to your family's home. This house was bought by my dad, and you even had to work at Paradise Group; to a man, doesn't all of this seem like a live-in son-in-law, like joining the wife's family? And at the company, I am the president, while you are only an ordinary employee, which probably also gives you a lot of pressure…"

Li Yan was a bit surprised, as he undoubtedly had such thoughts; this was also the cost he paid for this marriage, from which he gained nothing.

"I know, actually you're also doing this for filial piety, right? It's not just for your father, but also for mine. Pretending to be happy and harmonious with me every week when going back, it's really been hard on you…"

At this point, Zhang Yurong turned her head to look at Li Yan beside her and revealed a hint of a smile, a bitter smile. "Heh… it's only recently, under Yue Yao's guidance, that I realized this. Previously, I only thought about my own grievances. Thinking about having to face disobedient, overbearing subordinates at the company; facing cunning, scheming clients; having to plan the company's future, prevent issues, be responsible to everyone in the group from top to bottom...

It felt like I was already suffering enough, as if a mountain was weighing on my shoulders, but when I got home, not only was there no one to talk to, you were being made a fool of and laughed at in the company, embarrassing me, making me feel ashamed to be associated with you. You often went out drinking and messing around… so I never had a good face for you."

Li Yan laughed, "It really is like Yue Yao said, we're both too proud, too concerned about who's more important, so the more we think, the more suffocated we feel, thinking we're enduring each other, but never considering things from each other's perspective."

"Are we really both too proud?…" Zhang Yurong was a bit bewildered for a moment, faintly hearing a song:

Whether loving or hating, chaotic or scattered, I just want to ask if I'm treating you well.

Whether coming or going, crazy or foolish, you've given me plenty already.

We're both too proud, too concerned about who's more important, comparing what's given, only adding to the torment; where could I find someone as good as you, love needs to be chewed on slowly, slowly chewed… as long as it's real...

"Yeah, it's better to talk things out. Back then, I just thought you always had a sour face, which was tolerable at the company, but you brought it home to me too, and I certainly wouldn't serve that. So during meals I'd watch TV, sometimes preferring to go out, anyway who cared about whom."

"So now… what do you want to say to me? Oh, did Yue Yao send you?" Zhang Yurong, regaining her senses after a moment of distraction, asked.

Li Yan, without hesitation, nodded, "Yes, Yue Yao, as an outsider, sees things clearly. She said we both care too much about our pride, and if we could let it go and communicate a bit, it would be better. So I took her advice…"

"Oh… So what else do you want to say?" Just a few words already brought Zhang Yurong back to half a year of emotional memories; however, at this special moment, she believed Li Yan was only here to talk about the past.

"What I want to say is… don't you feel you're getting a raw deal now? For instance, me acting ambiguously with other girls, eating and playing around, but you're not like that. And last night, Yu Xiaodi coming over, already brought you much harm…"

Zhang Yurong's beautiful eyes constricted slightly as she asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Yan frowned. There were some things he wanted to say but couldn't, just like with Yue Yao earlier. He didn't know whether saying it would result in something good or bad. To give himself some time to think carefully, he took out a cigarette and lit it.

Zhang Yurong didn't mind him smoking there. Instead, she observed his attitude tonight and his current demeanor, thinking more deeply. She calmly asked, "Do you want a divorce? Yes, actually, you're at a loss. You haven't gained anything but have restrictions. Originally a charming person, now a married man, you have to endure more moral pressure... Alright, if you really want a divorce..."

Li Yan suddenly interrupted her.

"Yurong!"

"Hmm?"

He inhaled a puff of smoke, exhaled heavily, and then turned to face her. "Yes, I originally had such thoughts. Because what we have is not much different from not being married, yet we have moral and legal constraints on each other. For example, accepting Little Yu would be a betrayal to you, and this is a loyalty that never even started; conversely, it's the same for you, treating me like a random passerby but having to endure pressure and embarrassment because of my absurdity. Perhaps if we divorce, we both can breathe a sigh of relief, and we can keep going when visiting your home on weekends..."

'Then let's divorce!' Zhang Yurong almost blurted this out. What kind of person was she? So many outstanding men didn't catch her eye, yet he brought up divorce first. Wasn't this being abandoned? It made her a bit annoyed. If she were to be abandoned, she might as well propose abandoning him first!

But reason held her back, because those previous words reminded her that pride and self-esteem on both sides often make things worse. Didn't he say 'originally'? Maybe she should hear him out.

"Hehe, you understand, at this point, there should be a twist." Li Yan tried to smile, trying to make himself more relaxed and casual, then continued: "But when you mentioned divorce first, I felt something indescribable..."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Yurong looked at him, puzzled.

"Just now when you brought up divorce first, in my heart... there was a fear of losing you. To be honest, there's a disparity between you and me, if it wasn't for some unintended obligations pulling us together, it's unlikely we would have gotten together. And if divorced, I wouldn't have much chance to pursue you, my 'ex-wife'. In that case, we would truly be at the end."

Li Yan candidly expressed his thoughts, which gave him a sense of relief. He then took another breath to muster a bit of courage. He couldn't help but feel: no wonder it's said the arena of love is like a battlefield, no wonder a master like Lian Nishang could turn into a White-haired Demoness in one night. Just speaking like this seemed to consume more energy than fighting with a group earlier!

Hearing his words, Zhang Yurong was momentarily stunned, 'ex-wife'? "If divorced, why would you still pursue your ex-wife?"

"Because only by possibly becoming the ex-wife will I realize her importance in my heart, and sincerely pursue her, but by then, it might be too late." Li Yan licked his lips, not in a lewd way, it's just that after saying so much, his mouth got dry.

This statement startled Zhang Yurong, and she avoided his gaze, continuing to ask, "But you like someone else, don't you? Why do it that way?"

Mentioning this made Li Yan a bit conflicted; it was also where his embarrassment lay.

With a wry smile, "Isn't that the issue? If I could make sure, or make up my mind early, or if there was only one choice, or only one target, there wouldn't have been problems yesterday."

By now, Zhang Yurong somewhat understood his mindset. Looking back at him, she said seriously, "Li Yan, you're not a child. Some things you should consider clearly and not be indecisive. With company matters, being indecisive just means missed opportunities and benefits. But with emotional matters, indecision will hurt others, do you understand?"

"I understand, the hurt has already happened..."

"Then you..." Zhang Yurong hesitated for a moment. It's obviously impossible to make him make a final choice now. And she didn't have enough confidence in herself, if he truly gave up on Little Yu and lived well with her. But if she couldn't fully accept him, couldn't love him like Little Yu did, wouldn't that be hurting him? Including Little Yu.

After all, so-called morality and law are nothing more than an unofficial piece of paper, a signature makes it, and a signature dissolves it all. For people, feelings are what's important!

"Forget it, let's live like this; you think about it slowly!" (Something came up today, a bit of time was delayed, so only two updates.) (To be continued, for details on what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)