Xin Qing brought up the incident when they went out for dinner that night. After turning it over in his mind, Ying Qingcang found that he was not reassured.
"It's better to have someone keep tabs on them," Ying Qingcang said.
Xin Qing sighed. "Even if no outsider knew the truth about the Xin family, there have to be at least some rumors in the wind, right? How can that Mr. Li be so clueless? Running into some random woman on the streets and then marrying her? Seriously? He'd invited a wolf into his house and he didn't even know it. He won't even have time to cry over it by the time something happens."
Ying Qingcang cut up the steak and then shoved a piece into her mouth. "Don't think about these things when you're eating. Come on. Let's eat!"
"Okay!" Xin Qing swallowed another piece of meat. "I don't have any classes this afternoon. Drop me off at Xin Yudie's house when you go to work later."
Xin Yudie was nearing her fourth month now. Upon closer scrutiny, a tiny bump was discernible on her tummy. Xin Qing touched the bump. "The skin of your belly seems to have no wrinkles at all! Geez, where did the twins even come from?"
"Haha!" Xin Yudie laughed mirthfully. "I have a secret weapon. I won't tell you now. But I'll tell you when you're pregnant."
The twins ran over and tugged each of Xin Qing's arms. "Aunty, little sister! Little sister!"
The three children went to the same parent-child workshop. Xin Qing did not bring Ah Sha along this time, though the twins seemed to remember that they had a little sister.
"We have to get our children to bond well since a young age so that they won't up like us," Xin Yudie said.
Xin Yudie paused and then touched the head of her twins. She went on, "Maybe it's because of my pregnancy, I don't know. But I've been feeling emotional and sentimental lately. I keep thinking about the past. Like, if I was the way I am now from the start, all the tragic things involving the Xin family wouldn't even have happened."
"That won't change anything," Xin Qing said flatly, "You know your own parents. They won't listen to you. Also, they had indirectly caused my mom's death. It's impossible to disregard something like that."
"That's why I said it's just me being overly sentimental!" Xin Yudie caressed her own stomach. "They say that mothers will be especially emotional if she's pregnant with a girl!"
Xin Qing nodded quickly. "I think having a girl is great! I hope it's a girl."
"I prefer girls too!" Xin Yudie glanced at her twins who were still staring at Xin Qing expectantly, waiting for her to somehow make Ah Sha appear as if by magic. Amused, Xin Yudie ordered the nanny to take the twins away. Xin Qing said, "Let's take the kids out for a meal this weekend!"
"Sounds good. Yesterday I found a toy-themed restaurant online. Let's go there, then," Xin Yudie served out a glass of fruit juice to Xin Qing. "You're here because of Zhao Jiali, aren't you?"
Xin Qing stared at the other woman. "How did you know? She..."
"She already came to me," Xin Yudie said. When Xin Yudie mentioned Zhao Jiali, it sounded as if she was talking about a stranger.
Apparently, Zhao Jiali had visited Xin Yudie once around the time she married Li Guihai. When she was here, Zhao Jiali showed off and flaunted her newfound wealth to Xin Yudie. She even had the audacity to ask Xin Yudie whether Xin Yudie felt any regrets after cutting ties with her. After that, Zhao Jiali told Xin Yudie that she would forgive her if she started addressing her as "mom" again. Also, she told Xin Yudie that Li Guihai did not have much time left to live; she would own all of the Li family's assets once he was gone.
Xin Yudie responded to Zhao Jiali's exuberance and complacency with a cold stare. Then she shut the door in Zhao Jiali's face without saying a single word.
"Old habits die hard," Xin Qing said, shaking her head, "She still hasn't learned her lesson."
Xin Yudie sneered. "I already told you last time that I know too well what type of person she is. She's just scared that I'll reveal the truth about her. She's even more afraid of you."
"Then I'm afraid she's going to be on tenterhooks now that Li Xiaoru has entered our school," said Xin Qing.
"Regardless, you still need to watch out." Xin Yudie reminded. "Zhao Jiali might seem like she has her wits about her. But in truth, she's just an idiot. Who knows what that retarded brain of hers will drive her to do." Xin Yudie paused in thought. "I suggest you leave the matter to Ying Qingcang. You're too soft to handle it."
It turned out that Zhao Jiali was exactly as the two women had claimed. In Zhao Jiali's eyes, Xin Qing was like a ticking time bomb, one that threatened her life of wealth and affluence. She was worried that the bomb would go off one day and blow her current life into smithereens. Zhao Jiali told herself that she would not just sit around and wait for that to happen; she had to find a way to dig out that time bomb and deal with it before it destroyed her.
That was why when Fang Qingping brought Fang Lu here, a plan had already formed in Zhao Jiali's mind!
"Fang Lu, everything is in the past. You need to keep an open mind," Zhao Jiali said. Zhao Jiali had brought Fang Lu out for a shopping trip. Fang Lu still dressed herself up wealthily; she had even put on heavy makeup on her face, though that did nothing to conceal her emotional turmoil. Fang Qingping had introduced Fang Lu to Zhao Jiali when he returned to Malaysia. Fang Lu knew that this forty-year-old woman was also one of Fang Qingping's bedmates, though she had no idea why the woman was being so nice to her.
"Sister Jiali, thanks for accompanying me for the past few days. Otherwise, I might die inside my hotel room out of boredom and no one would even find out." Fang Lu gave a pair of hairclips that she had just bought to Zhao Jiali. "I think this one suits you very much!"
Zhao Jiali took the gift courteously. "The hairclips cost over a thousand bucks!" she thought. After that, she grinned and ordered two cups of coffee. "Let's take a break before we continue shopping. You can tell me whatever you're feeling. You'll feel better once you let it all out!"
Fang Lu waited while the waiter served their coffee. After taking a sip, Fang Lu watched Zhao Jiali lazily. "Sister Jiali, I think you're the one who has something to say to me!"
Zhao Jiali was caught off guard for a brief moment. She recovered quickly and soon a smile formed on her lips. "Fang Lu, you're a clever person. So I won't beat around the bush, then."
"I know about your situation. Ying Enterprises is not the only one you can collaborate with, and I'll be able to help you too!"
Something flashed in Fang Lu's eyes. "You think you can convince your husband to collaborate with me?"
"Of course!" Zhao Jiali said, "We have a common enemy here. We're not a match for Ying Qingcang when it comes to underhanded means, of course. But in the business world, everything can be done out in the open. By collaborating with the Li family, you can establish yourself as one of the biggest development firms out there."
"If you can convince your husband to work with me, then I won't let your efforts go unrewarded," Fang Lu said, feeling her passion going ablaze once again. As long as she managed to take care of the investment deal, she could then smooth everything out with her stepfather. That way, she could still retain her status as the daughter of the Fang family.
"Come to the company with the contract papers tomorrow!" Zhao Jiali lifted her coffee cup elegantly. As she did so, the glint emanating from the diamond ring on her finger was so bright that it could hurt the eye.
Ying Enterprises.
"Young master, as expected, those two women have indeed joined forces."
Ying Qingcang was engaged in a discussion with Young Master Shen regarding the Pacific investment plan that Smith had given them. When he heard Ah Nan, Ying Qingcang barked out a cold laugh; he had anticipated such a manoeuver.
"Who reached out first?"
"Zhao Jiali did."
Young Master Shen raised his brows. "Aren't they supposed to be love rivals?"
Both Zhao Jiali and Fang Lu had bedded Fang Qingping; one was a sister while the other was a mistress.
"To them, sleeping with men is just like using the bathroom. There're so many bathrooms around. Have you ever seen someone fighting over a bathroom?" Ying Qingcang said, causing Young Master Shen to stare at him in stupor. "Since when did you know how to wisecrack?"
Ying Qingcang ignored the remark. He continued to address Ah Nan, "I bet their collaboration will be all over the media soon. And if I'm not mistaken, they will target the hotel that Ying Enterprises is investing."
"Hah! Don't worry!" Young Master Shen waved his hand. "I've got Zhao Jiali's premium sex tape in my hands. I'll just send it to the Li dude when the time comes. That should solve the problem."
Ying Qingcang shook his head. "There's no need to resort to that just yet. I'm interested to see how they are planning to fight with Ying Enterprises!"
It would be Ah Sha's second birthday on the 18th of September. Xin Qing rather enjoyed the toy-themed restaurant that she had visited with Xin Yudie last time. Because of that Ying Qingcang had now booked the entire restaurant where they could use the space to throw a small birthday party for Ah Sha.
Xin Qing had invited Xin Yudie and her twins. Zhang Mi, Young Master Shen, Ah Che, Ah Nan, and even Monica were in attendance too. Much to her surprise, someone else came, someone completely unexpected. Even Ying Qingcang had not expected this new guest to make an appearance.
One day before Ah Sha's birthday, Ying Hao had appeared at the front door of Ying's residence. He did not call beforehand, so his arrival had given Uncle Fu quite a scare.
"What are you doing here?" Ying Qingcang asked coldly as he brought his father into the house. He did not even invite his father to take a seat; the two men were standing there like two sticks.
Ying Hao ignored Ying Qingcang's question and turned to Xin Qing instead.
"Mr. Ying, please have a seat!" Xin Qing greeted hurriedly. Then she took it upon herself to pour and serve out tea for their guest.
Ying Qingcang pulled her into his arms. "Why are you asking her to serve you drinks? Don't you have your own hands?"
"He's your father..." Xin Qing said exasperatedly, "How long are you planning to keep hating him?!"
Ever since the incident last time, Ying Qingcang had never spoken or got in touch with Ying Hao again. He hated Ying Hao; if it were not for Ying Hao's actions, he would not have been forced to split up with Xin Qing and Xin Qing would not end up having to endure that much suffering too.
After the incident, he had ordered someone to have Molly placed into a burlap sack before throwing her back to England. He had even sent Molly's family a message: I don't like this woman, you people know what to do! Ying Qingcang owned 40 percent of the Molly family's shares, so his threat was very effective; now, Molly was no doubt leading a tough life.
Ying Hao waved at Xin Qing. "It's okay. He has every right to hate me. But I don't regret what I did. As long as the Ancestral Behest forbids you to be together, I won't agree too. That will never change."
"You're coming here just to say this?" A scowled form on Ying Qingcang's face. Xin Qing could feel all the muscles in his body going taut. She quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. Then she reached behind to give his back a series of light, comforting pats.
Ying Hao broke into a grin. "I'm here to celebrate my granddaughter's birthday!"
"You don't have a granddaughter here. You don't even have a son, how can you have a granddaughter?" Ying Qingcang mocked. "Just spend the rest of your days worshiping the Ancestral Behest."
"Indeed, I'm here to talk about the behest as well," Ying Hao said, turning serious all of a sudden, "Those lines which claimed your incompatibility had vanished. There are new lines now."
Xin Qing instantly became anxious when she heard Ying Hao's comment. Ying Qingcang wrapped an arm around her and prompted her to sit down. Then he glared at Ying Hao coldly. "I don't want to hear anything about the behest. That's your own behest and has nothing to do with us."
"Xin Qing and I have already gotten our marriage licence. All my assets are now hers. You have a right to disagree, but that's your business. Just take the remaining money and go back to England."
"What are you getting so worked up for?" Ying Hao returned Ying Qingcang's glare. "What, you think I don't read the newspaper? If I don't agree with it would I have waited until now to act? I would've come here on the day itself if I didn't agree."
Xin Qing tugged at Ying Qingcang's sleeve. Ying Qingcang pinched her hand in response.
"Oh, Xin Qing!" Ying Hao said guiltily, "I'm so sorry. I've caused you so much trouble and brought so much suffering to your doorsteps. I won't stop Ah Cang from giving Ying enterprises to you. Consider it as a form of reimbursement for all the trouble I've caused!"
Xin Qing nodded. "Uncle Ying, please do not worry. Ying Enterprises will forever belong to the Ying family."
"Father!" Ying Hao said, "You should call me father!"
"What right do you have to demand her to call you father?" Ying Qingcang covered Xin Qing's lips. "I forbid you from speaking to him!"