Gold Digger, but Forced to Marry the Big Boss Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The sunlight in the Old Town is also old, with a pale tomorrow hanging high in the gray-blue sky, casting a thin layer of warmth. On the streets of late autumn, leaves fall and the flow of cars and people rush by.

Wang Zhi is wearing a coat, with half of his face wrapped in a scarf, only his dark eyes exposed. He looks a bit tired as he hurriedly crosses the street and turns into an alley.

Someone recognizes him: "Xiao Wang?"

He turns his head, thinks for a moment, and then recognizes: "Aunt Zhang."

"It really is you," Aunt Zhang says in surprise. "Why did you suddenly come back? Weren't you studying in the big city?"

Wang Zhi smiles: "I came back to see my mom."

Aunt Zhang says, "Oh, oh, you should come back to see her. You, child, didn't even say a word when you came back. Come to Auntie's house for a meal later."

"No need, Auntie." Wang Zhi raises his hand, showing the daily necessities he's carrying to Aunt Zhang, and says with an embarrassed smile, "I still need to tidy up the house."

Only then does Aunt Zhang relent. Wang Zhi exchanges a few more pleasantries and continues walking forward, burying his head even lower.

The buildings on both sides aren't tall. In the towering urban forest, they seem like an old depression. The houses here are over twenty years old, and time slows down here. Everything seems frozen in the past, making Wang Zhi recall many old memories as soon as he steps in.

And those aren't particularly pleasant memories.

His phone vibrates. Even though both hands are full, he still takes out his phone to check immediately.

…It wasn't a message from Gao Bochong.

It was an advertisement asking if he needed to take the adult college entrance exam.

Wang Zhi chuckles.

In this city, his greatest fear used to be not having money and not getting into university. After leaving, he realized these two things weren't that scary. But now, coming back, that fear seems like rekindled ashes, waiting to drag him back into the shadows.

But he's no longer the Wang Zhi of the past.

Wang Zhi just glances at it and casually deletes the message. He switches back to WeChat, staring at the chat with Gao Bochong for a while. Below that chat, a message from Xu Youyi from a few hours ago catches his eye.

[Senior]: "Xiao Zhi, I saw the news online about you and Mr. Gao. I shouldn't interfere, but I have inside information that the board is pressuring Gao Bochong to either relinquish power or divorce you."

[Senior]: "The Gao family is too wealthy. In such a wealthy family, there's no true sincerity. Xiao Zhi, even if he wants to divorce you, don't be too sad."

[Senior]: "Actually… I liked you since high school. I was waiting for you at Peking University, hoping to confess when you grew up, but I missed the chance. If you divorce Gao Bochong, I'm willing to take care of you."

Wang Zhi didn't reply to the messages above, but when he saw the last one, he couldn't help but send a brief response.

[He Zhi]: "We won't divorce."

Perhaps this sentence provoked Xu Youyi, as he sent many more messages, starting gentle and then becoming forceful, questioning if Wang Zhi knew how notorious Gao Bochong was in the circle, known for being ruthless and unscrupulous for profit. Did Wang Zhi really think he could stand against that?

…

Feeling stifled, Wang Zhi didn't really want to argue with Xu Youyi.

The matters between him and Gao Bochong had nothing to do with others. What they said or thought was their business. Although Wang Zhi responded decisively, he wasn't entirely confident inside.

If he really conflicted with Gao Bochong's career, what would Gao Bochong choose? He couldn't be sure.

After all… their marriage wasn't based on love.

Wang Zhi felt a bit disheartened. He pursed his lips, his fingers hovering over the screen for a long time, but in the end, he didn't send a message to Gao Bochong.

He must be busy now, so… he shouldn't disturb him.

Whether it was self-deception or wanting to delay hearing bad news, Wang Zhi put his phone back in his pocket and continued walking towards home.

He had walked this path many times, and even with his eyes closed, he knew the way. His home was on the sixth floor, a welfare house allocated by the old factory. Only the best workers could live there, and even after his father passed away, it wasn't taken back.

Wang Zhi spent his childhood and teenage years here. Now, returning, he found the corridor a bit older, the walls covered with small advertisements, and the stairs felt unusually smooth underfoot.

Spring couplets were pasted on the doors on both sides, welcoming the new year. Over time, they had faded. Wang Zhi, deep in thought, reached the fifth floor, searching for his keys while continuing to walk up.

In the stairwell, the voice-activated lights were somewhat broken, flickering from a distance. When Wang Zhi looked up, he suddenly stopped.

In the dim corridor, a figure was half-sitting on the steps. Even sitting, the tall stature was evident, with broad shoulders and a long shadow stretching to Wang Zhi's feet.

His heart pounded fiercely, and Wang Zhi was speechless, staring at him in shock.

How could Gao Bochong be here?!

Hearing the sound, Gao Bochong looked up. In the dim light, a spark ignited in his eyes. He picked up the cane beside him and slowly stood up, but staggered and almost fell.

Instinctively, Wang Zhi dropped what he was holding and rushed to support him. Gao Bochong was too tall and big, and in the rush, Wang Zhi couldn't hold him up, half-kneeling on the ground. His knee hit the floor with a dull pain, but it brought him back to his senses. In disbelief, he asked, "What are you doing here?!"

Gao Bochong's arm wrapped around his back, his head buried in Wang Zhi's neck, and he answered in a low voice, "I went to the hospital, and the nurse said you left."

Wang Zhi "oh"ed: "My mom had something come up, so I rushed back."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I called you, but couldn't get through."

He could still recall the mood at that time. He saw his scandal break out, received Xu Youyi's instigating messages, and then got a call saying his mother had an issue and he needed to return immediately.

He booked a ticket right away, told the nurse briefly, and rushed to the airport. On the way, he called Gao Bochong, wanting to tell him he was going back home and to ask if everything was okay with work…

But that wasn't what he most wanted to ask.

What he most wanted to ask… what he most wanted to ask…

Wang Zhi heard himself speak, using a light and nonchalant tone, as if casually asking Gao Bochong, "Is work giving you trouble? I heard they want you to divorce me. If we really divorce, how much alimony will you pay me each month?"

That wasn't what he wanted to ask.

But the words had already been spoken.

Wang Zhi closed his mouth, thinking self-deprecatingly that it was all the same. If Gao Bochong wanted a divorce, he would definitely need alimony. After all, divorcing so soon after being together would be bad for his image, and some compensation for emotional distress was necessary…

"Zhi Zhi." After a long silence, he heard Gao Bochong speak, "…Let's not divorce, okay?"

The tone was very light, as if afraid of scaring him, but the arms holding him were very tight. The voice was very low, but because they were so close, Wang Zhi could even hear the tremor in that short sentence from Gao Bochong.

Wang Zhi didn't speak because he didn't know what to say.

But Gao Bochong misunderstood his silence, hurriedly explaining, "I didn't get your call. I was in a meeting… I'm sorry. Next time, I'll have my assistant notify me of your calls immediately. I've dealt with those who tried to threaten me with you, so no one will dare bother you again. So, Zhi Zhi…"

He paused, long yet brief, as if in that moment, he was offering his heart, asking for Wang Zhi's acceptance, "It's my fault, I was wrong."

He was wrong.

The moment he realized Wang Zhi had left, countless regrets surged in his heart.

He should have told Wang Zhi long ago, told him how much he liked him, told him that he had fallen in love with him at first sight.

There are so many moments in life. For thirty years, he despised love, scorned love. He thought he would always be rational, always above it all, able to judge any emotion with a critical eye. But it turned out, that was only because he hadn't met Wang Zhi.

Long ago, when his emotions fluctuated for Wang Zhi, when he was displeased because Wang Zhi was with Gao Fengming, he had already lost to Wang Zhi.

Those words of denial were just the last stand of resistance. He tried to define their relationship with money, to salvage his pride. But when he realized the cost might be losing Wang Zhi, he felt fear for the first time.

He feared Wang Zhi's departure, couldn't accept it, couldn't imagine it.

Sitting in the stairwell, waiting for Wang Zhi, that time was fleeting yet long enough to squander a lifetime of arrogance.

And now, he lowered his head, kneeling at Wang Zhi's feet, trembling as he pleaded with his lover, his wife, his deity, for an answer.

"I love you, please… don't leave me."

The emotion in his words was so intense and fiery that Wang Zhi couldn't bear it at first, instinctively wanting to avoid it.

But the arms that usually held him tightly were so gentle this time that with just a little effort, he could break free.

Wang Zhi stepped back, easily escaping from Gao Bochong's grasp for the first time.

Gao Bochong felt his retreat. In that moment, he wanted to hold Wang Zhi tightly, to embrace him so he could never leave.

But he obediently let go, letting his fingertips slide off that sweet, slender body.

Was he about to lose Wang Zhi?

A loud voice echoed in his heart. Gao Bochong knelt there like a frozen statue, still handsome and tall, but so lost and broken, as if he would shatter with Wang Zhi's simple action.

This was a side of Gao Bochong Wang Zhi had never seen, not even in his imagination.

In the old corridor, under the light, dust flew everywhere, but at this moment, it was like shooting stars and diamonds, sparkling with a white glow. Wang Zhi's face also shone with a snowy light, his features dark and elegant, quietly watching Gao Bochong, his brows slightly furrowed, as if troubled by how to respond to Gao Bochong's sudden confession.

Gao Bochong's heart ached with a delayed realization.

He had gotten the order wrong.

The confession should have come first, but he had deliberately ignored it due to useless pride.

In this relationship, Wang Zhi had endured a lot of grievances.

Wanting to leave was only natural.

After all… he wasn't a qualified husband.

Gao Bochong lowered his eyes. For the first time in his life, he was defeated so thoroughly. No matter how successful his career was, no matter how many times he had turned the tide, he realized what he most wanted to save was his wife's heart.

Even AI had recognized his feelings before he did, and he had woken up too late, perhaps with no chance to make amends…

"I never thought about leaving you."

Gao Bochong looked sharply at Wang Zhi.

In the light, Wang Zhi was still in front of him: "I thought I was causing you trouble, that you wanted to divorce me, so I asked that…"

Gao Bochong didn't move, looking at him strangely. Facing Gao Bochong's gaze, Wang Zhi smiled a bit sheepishly, "Did I scare you?"

The next moment, he was pulled into a fiery embrace.

Gao Bochong hugged him tightly, so tight it felt like if he let go, Wang Zhi would disappear.

Wang Zhi grunted, feeling like his waist was about to break, just about to struggle when he suddenly stopped.

Something hot fell on his neck, burning intensely, making even his soul tremble.

It was like the dust had settled, the slight pain in his knee, the tightly embracing arms, the words of confession, the sound of someone cooking nearby, the aroma of food wafting out, the flickering light above, the small universe of dust still spinning, and his floating soul settled into his body. Wang Zhi suddenly felt a sense of reality.

Gao Bochong was confessing to him.

Gao Bochong said he loved him.

Wang Zhi already possessed the diamond Gao Bochong had given him, so dazzling and brilliant, a tear left by the universe after a star exploded. But it turned out, such an expensive and transparent treasure couldn't compare to a real, boiling tear.

That was a tear Gao Bochong shed for him.

A wave of happy pain rose in his heart, and Wang Zhi slowly raised his hand, hugging Gao Bochong back.

"I never thought about divorcing you," he said softly, suddenly feeling a bit aggrieved, "I thought you didn't answer my call because you didn't want me anymore."

All the way, his heart was heavy, worried about his mother, worried about Gao Bochong. Only in a very small moment would a trace of sadness flash in his mind.

Did Gao Bochong not want him anymore?

He was going to divorce, leave the home he hadn't lived in for long.

He was going to be without a home again.

But now, those secret sad thoughts vanished. He felt a bit relieved, a bit angry, and said, "Why didn't you call me when you came to find me?"

Gao Bochong was silent for a moment: "…I didn't dare."

Wang Zhi didn't hear clearly, "Huh?" he said, and Gao Bochong repeated, "I didn't dare… Zhi Zhi, I received a message from Xu Youyi. He said… he told you about what happened at the board meeting. He said you were very disappointed in me, so you left without saying goodbye. He also said… that no matter what, he would never abandon you, and I could only regret it for the rest of my life."

These words, in hindsight, were simply nonsense, nothing more than Xu Youyi's impotent rage after his plan failed.

But at that time, Gao Bochong suddenly felt fear.

What if it was true?

There was a 99% chance it was false, but there was still a one in a million chance it was true.

Wang Zhi said incredulously, "How could you believe him?"

Gao Bochong smiled bitterly, "Probably because… I also know I've done a lot of things that disappointed you."

He had pushed Wang Zhi far away with arrogance, appearing in a superior posture, using money and power to buy Wang Zhi's compliance.

Good was fleeting, but bad was plentiful.

"If I were you… Zhi Zhi, maybe I would have left long ago."

"But you're not me." He didn't expect Wang Zhi to refute him. The next moment, Wang Zhi's soft hands were cupping his face, and Gao Bochong looked up to see Wang Zhi smiling brightly at him, "And I don't think you're that bad to me."

Their eyes met, and Wang Zhi lowered his head.

Countless lights surrounded him, like the moonlight Gao Bochong had personally plucked, illuminating his eyes countless times.

And at this moment, he was like a deity, with thousands of roses blooming between his brows.

"If you were really that bad, how could I possibly fall for you?"

Wang Zhi gazed into Gao Bochong's eyes and placed a kiss on his lips.

Those restless nights, those anxious denials, all melted away at this moment.

A lover's kiss was like the highest sun and moon, and he, willingly surrendered.

Gao Bochong closed his eyes, devoutly accepting the kiss his wife bestowed upon him.