Pregnant After Healing the Alpha

Chapter 74: Chapter 69: Zhan Qipei Steps Forward to Shield Qiao Jing from Romantic Pursuits

Zhan Qipei had just walked over when he heard these words. His eyes narrowed as he looked into Deng Yunyi’s dark, deep gaze. After two seconds of silence, his gaze shifted and landed on Qiao Jing.

A few days ago at his grandfather’s banquet, Qiao Jing had said she approached Deng Yunyi just to get a contact for a friend. He had believed her at the time, but now, seeing this entangled scene, he couldn’t help but doubt.

Just then, Qiao Jing’s voice, cold to the extreme, rang out.

“Are you serious or just pretending? It has nothing to do with me. I have my career and can’t possibly give it up for you. That’s it, don’t bother me anymore.”

“Miss Qiao, I thought you didn’t have anything important going on. Now I know you’re no ordinary person, and I can’t ask you to immediately give up your career to have children with me. I can give you a year’s time, after we’re married for a year, there’s no rush to have children then,” Deng Yunyi thought by compromising, Qiao Jing would agree.

Little did he know—

“Who gave you the right to think I must marry you? While I am highly intelligent, I can’t figure out your thought process. How conceited must you be to think all women in the world want to marry you and have your children?” Qiao Jing had exhausted all her patience.

His face drained of all pride upon hearing her words, leaving him pale.

“Could it be, Miss Qiao, that you don’t like me?”

Qiao Jing took a breath, speechless.

“Do I look like I like you?”

Despite what Qiao Jing said, Deng Yunyi still believed she liked him.

In his opinion, the reason Qiao Jing was behaving this way, was because she, known globally as an agricultural mogul and professor, could not get over the public rejection.

If that was the case, it’d be easy to solve. He just needed to shamelessly continue pursuing her, let her regain her dignity, and then she would accept him.

“I think you like me, we’re a natural match.”

Qiao Jing’s fists clenched slightly.

What could she do? She felt like hitting someone.

At that moment, Zhan Qipei walked over and stood beside Qiao Jing, his gaze coldly fixed on Deng Yunyi.

“Then you’re mistaken. The person she likes is me.”

Uh?

Qiao Jing looked up at Zhan Qipei, her face showing surprise.

Zhan Qipei gave Qiao Jing a meaningful glance.

As smart as Qiao Jing was, she quickly understood the meaning in his eyes.

He was asking her to play along.

“You think I’d believe that?” Deng Yunyi knew that Qiao Jing and Zhan Qipei were together only because of their elders’ arrangement, merely holding the title of husband and wife while disliking each other as he understood it. Not to mention, a month ago at their wedding, Zhan Qipei, the groom, was absent, and even almost ran Qiao Jing over with his car.

Later, they said it was an accident, but those in the know, knew.

It was definitely because Zhan Qipei didn’t want to marry Qiao Jing, so he tried to kill her.

Their relationship being described as tumultuous was an understatement, so how could Qiao Jing possibly like Zhan Qipei?

Zhan Qipei looked down at Qiao Jing, “He says he doesn’t believe it.”

As Zhan Qipei said this, he looked at Qiao Jing with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

He didn’t know what he was expecting, just that he felt an irresistible urge in his heart.

As he looked, his gaze fell on the girl’s soft lips, and he thought of the day they accidentally fell to the ground together, him beneath her, their lips touching briefly.

His Adam’s apple moved up and down, slightly shifting his thin lips.

“Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with me.” As his words ended, Qiao Jing couldn’t be bothered to deal with Deng Yunyi anymore and turned to leave.

Zhan Qipei’s chest heaved, and his face did not look good.

However, Deng Yunyi did not care at all and continued to follow Qiao Jing, “Miss Qiao, you and I—”

“If you follow me again, believe it or not, I’ll have the security throw you out!” Qiao Jing turned her head and said coldly.

Zhan Nanqing, speechless, scoffed and said to Lou Xinrou beside her, “Listen to her, who does she think she is? If it weren’t for the shine of our Zhan Family, she wouldn’t even be fit to come to such a place. Facing the young master of the Deng Family, she actually says she will have him thrown out—who is she to throw out whom?”

Deng Yunyi did not believe a word of Qiao Jing’s threat; in his view, it was just talk. If she actually had him thrown out, it would embarrass him as a man, and then he would indeed completely lose any chance of seeing her.

“Miss Qiao, I am sincere. After the award ceremony, are you free? I’d like to take you out for a meal. If you’re busy today, then tomorrow—I will pick you up myself. Also, we don’t have each other’s contact details yet. Let’s add each other on WeChat, or phone numbers will do.”

Qiao Jing paused, looked towards the nearby security guards, and said, “Throw him out.”

After exchanging glances, the security guards quickly approached, each grabbing one of Deng Yunyi’s arms, and dragged him out.

This scene stunned everyone, especially Zhan Nanqing.

“Really, really dragged out?” Zhan Nanqing gaped in an O-shape, while Lou Xinrou rubbed her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Zhan Qipei’s gaze shifted from Deng Yunyi and settled on Qiao Jing.

Deng Yunyi’s status was not much lower than his own, yet Qiao Jing had managed to have the security drag Deng Yunyi out with just a word.

What exactly—

“Serves the kid right!” Xu Hongzu approached sternly, “He dared to target my Xiao Jing; this is what he gets.”

Hearing that, Zhan Qipei fell into contemplation.

So it was because of Xu Hongzu?

Zhan Qipei raised his hand to stroke his chin. Today was Professor Qiao’s award ceremony, and Xu Hongzu’s identity indeed had the power to easily have Deng Yunyi thrown out.

“I knew it,” Zhan Nanqing suddenly realized. “Qiao Jing just doesn’t have that kind of clout, it turned out to be Elder Professor Xu.”

The award ceremony began, and the president of the foundation walked onto the stage.

“It’s starting!” Zhan Nanqing exclaimed excitedly.

At this moment, all eyes were fixed on the podium.

They were all waiting for Professor Qiao to take the stage, to catch a glimpse of her grace.

“The successful research on new varieties of corn has pushed the agricultural development of our empire to a new height. For this, our foundation awards Professor Qiao the highest scientific award.”

As these passionate words concluded, applause erupted from the audience.

“But due to personal reasons, Professor Qiao cannot appear publicly, so Professor Xu will accept the award on her behalf.”

Upon hearing this, Zhan Nanqing was hugely disappointed.

“What, Professor Qiao didn’t show up? Did I come here for nothing today?”

Lou Xinrou was also incredibly disappointed because she had hoped to see Professor Qiao today, making her so excited that she couldn’t sleep last night.

Not only them, but disappointment and regret appeared on the faces of everyone present as they whispered to each other, the ferment growing more intense.

Seeing the situation, the foundation president subtly looked towards Qiao Jing’s direction. Qiao Jing nodded slightly, and the foundation president understood.

“Professor Qiao is a humble person, but today is her award ceremony. Many of you here have come from other cities or even other countries to congratulate her. Although Professor Qiao does not wish to appear on stage, rest assured, she is present at the venue!”