The Man Nobody Loves

Blurb:

At a family banquet in Rongcheng, Zhiyi's professor boyfriend brings her to meet his parents.

His family treats her wonderfully, and everyone offers their blessings to the happy couple.

The only exception is Xie Xingzhi, the head of the Xie family and her boyfriend's older brother. He watches Zhiyi with a refined air, his expression inscrutable and faintly amused.

After a few rounds of drinks, her boyfriend takes Zhiyi to the study to meet the head of the family. He leaves the room partway through, and in the dim old study, only Zhiyi and the head of the Xie family remain.

Dressed in an impeccable suit, Xie Xingzhi is an impressive sight. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he sits behind the desk and looks up at Zhiyi with a gentle air. "Miss Zhi, have we met somewhere before?"

Zhiyi quickly lowers her head. After a long pause, she addresses him as her boyfriend does, speaking softly:

"Big brother,"

"You must be mistaken."

*

Three years earlier, on a stormy night, the Xie Group was in turmoil, and Xie Xingzhi, its acting CEO, rushed to the company in the middle of the night.

The moment he got out of the car, he spotted a white figure kneeling outside the building.

The young woman wore a flimsy slip dress. Her knees were scraped raw against the concrete, and her long black hair was tied back. She pleaded piteously for the company not to fire her father, who had gotten into trouble.

Out of basic human decency, Xie Xingzhi had someone help her to the company's lounge.

At dawn the next day, the girl sat on the bed of the Xie Group's current acting CEO and watched as the man personally had her father removed from the blacklist.

Without a word, she got dressed, picked up her schoolbag, and stood by the redwood door. With her back to the disheveled bedroom, she asked softly,

"Mr. Xie, thank you."

"I hope you won't tell anyone about what happened last night. From now on, there must be no contact between us. I won't bother you again. Is that all right?"

"..."

Savoring the memory of the girl's dark hair from the night before, the man leisurely picked up the hair tie she had left behind. After a long moment, he leaned against the bed and curled his lips into a smile.

"All right. I promise."

I promise you.

The next time we meet,

will be when you come back to me of your own accord.

Theme: Peace, friendship, and growing together.