On the other end of the receiver was only shallow breathing, no answer. It seemed the little friend had fallen asleep too. Cheng Jinlan was about to hang up when Cheng Jinchuan poked his head in from the door, “Did Xiaoliqi fall asleep?”
Cheng Jinlan hurriedly shushed him, telling him to keep his voice down. What was a drunk person who didn’t go home doing here causing a ruckus!
Shao Chengze heard the man’s voice on the other end of the phone and hung up in the next second. He leaned his hands on the railing, gave a mocking laugh, then turned and strode back into the house, leaving the heavy night behind.
After downing half a glass of ice-cold water, Cheng Jinchuan finally suppressed the alcohol smell on his body somewhat. He loosened his tie, “I've avenged you, didn't they, the Shaos, want that piece of land in Nancheng? I got it for you. Now without that land, how are they going to build their so-called technology industrial park?”
Cheng Jinlan couldn't help but sigh, “Why did you have to get involved? It was just about snatching a couple clients, I could have handled such a small matter myself.”
“You don't need to worry about it, don't get involved with anything concerning the Shaos. This is no small matter, does he think there's no one left in the Cheng family, that he dares to bully you? Things won't be resolved that easily now.” He finished the remaining half glass of water in one go, “Let's not talk about this. I originally wanted to tell Xiaoliqi a story to get her to sleep, but the little girl fell asleep too early.”
Cheng Jinlan scoffed at him, “With your whole body reeking of alcohol, you still want to tell her a story? She won't even let you in her room.”
Cheng Jinchuan laughed when he thought of his little niece wrinkling her nose in disgust at him.
Cheng Jinlan was afraid he would wake up her daughter, so she kicked and shoved him out to the front door. She seemed to recall something else, “Do you just have no intention of seeing Shi Ran again?”
Cheng Jinchuan was dissatisfied, “What do you mean I don't intend to see him, he's the one who doesn't want to see me. He wanted to steal my girlfriend and beat me up. I didn't do anything to him, I don't know what he's so prickly about.”
“Stop right there. What do you mean he wanted to steal your girlfriend? Did you even consider Jiang Jiang your girlfriend at that time? You just took advantage of the fact that she liked you to bully her. If you ask me, the beating Shi Ran gave you was too light. He should have at least put you in bed for three months to teach you a lesson.”
“Hey, Cheng Jinlan, who's sister are you? How can you say that about your brother?” The mention of Jiang Jiang made Cheng Jinchuan especially irritable. He waved his hand, “I'm leaving. I've discovered that I'm truly a pitiful man that my father doesn't love, my mother doesn't care for, my brother looks down on, my sister is biased, and my friend doesn't want to know either. I might as well just go home to my dog, at least it cares for me a little.”
Seeing that he was truly drunk, Cheng Jinlan slammed the door shut. She didn't want to bother with that drunken fool.
Cheng Liqi had been counting down the days with her fingers. The day after tomorrow, right now it was already Sunday night. After getting through Monday, on Tuesday night, she could call him again.
On that Saturday night call, she had fallen asleep without even saying goodbye to him. On Tuesday night, she must persist until she says goodnight before she can sleep.
Cheng Liqi was thinking about what other questions she could ask him to confirm whether or not he was her dad.
Shen Chuqi bounced into the classroom excitedly, school bag on his back. Before he even sat down, he couldn't wait to open his mouth, “Cheng Liqi, my mom drove me to school today. My mom drives really well, and she cooks super well too, making all sorts of yummy food that makes my tummy all round like a watermelon.”
As he spoke, he patted his little tummy to show Cheng Liqi.
Cheng Liqi was even happier than Shen Chuqi, “Isn't it really great to have a mom?”
Shen Chuqi nodded his head nonstop, “Super, super, super great!”
“Have you been with your mom these past two days?”
“Yup.”
“What about your dad?”
“Dad's at home. I'm at mom's place, mom has her own house. I've decided, I'm going to stay with mom forever and ever from now on. I thought about it, why didn't mom come looking for me for so long when mom is so nice. Mom must have left home because dad did something wrong. When grandpa makes grandma angry, grandma leaves home too, spending the whole day at the mall buying all sorts of stuff. Dad must have done something super wrong for mom to have not come home for so long.”
Cheng Liqi thought, maybe Aunt Shen didn't leave home, but got divorced from Uncle Li. Mom said when two adults are unhappy living together, they separate, which is divorce.
Cheng Liqi cupped her chin in her hands. Did mom and dad divorce because they were unhappy living together?
Her little brows furrowed. That's right, Shao Chengze couldn't even tell stories well, he really didn't seem like someone who could make a girl happy. Maybe she should have Uncle teach him a lesson. Uncle was great at making girls happy.
Shen Chuqi pulled on Cheng Liqi's clothes, “Xiaoliqi, my mom said Shao Chengze is amazing, super amazing, managing such a huge, massive company, the same as your grandpa and uncle.”
Compared to dad, Shen Chuqi believed his mom's words more. Cheng Liqi was so capable to have found his mom for him, so Cheng Liqi's dad must be even more capable.
Cheng Liqi sat up straight and shared her conundrum, “But I'm a little unsure if he's my dad or not.”
Shen Chuqi didn't understand, “Didn't you say your dad is called Shao Chengze? He is Shao Chengze.”
“But I had just woken up that day, I don't know if I heard wrong. And he doesn't even know my name. Your mom knows your name. If he was my dad, shouldn't he know my name? Also, Aunt Shen said he was close to me, so close, then why doesn't he come looking for me?”
Shen Chuqi scrutinized Cheng Liqi's face carefully.
Cheng Liqi asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Shen Chuqi said, “I'm looking to see if you have any moles, then we can go to that Shao Corporation place to find him and see if he has the same mole. That way we can confirm if he's your dad or not.”
“Do I?” Cheng Liqi asked.
Shen Chuqi looked for a long time but didn't find a single mole. “Nope, your face is cleaner than a freshly peeled egg.”
Yun Qi from the desk behind leaned over and whispered, “You can do a DNA test to confirm if he's your dad or not.”
Cheng Liqi and Shen Chuqi turned back at the same time, “What's a DNA test?”
Yun Qi's little face was a bit pale. “It means taking your hair and that Shao Chengze's hair together to the hospital for testing. Then the doctor will know if he's your dad or not.”
“Wow, sounds so amazing. Doctors really are the most amazing.” Shen Chuqi was in awe.
Cheng Liqi noticed something off about Yun Qi. “What's wrong, Yun Qi?”
Yun Qi's eyes were red. “My dad said he's not my dad, that my dad is someone else. He took my hair and his hair to do that DNA testing.”
Cheng Liqi grasped Yun Qi's hand, very angry. “He said he's not your dad, then don't call him dad anymore from now on, Yun Qi. You and your mom can come live at my place. Your mom can work at my mom's hotel. I'll tell my mom when I get home today.”
Yun Qi's eyes got even redder.
“Alright kids, no more whispering. Sit properly, we're going to start class now.” The teacher clapped her hands for everyone to quiet down.
Shen Chuqi quickly turned back around. Cheng Liqi did turn her body around, but her hand was still holding Yun Qi's hand. She couldn't let Yun Qi be sad alone.
Cheng Jinlan had something to do tonight, but Cheng Liqi had just called saying for her to come home early. She said she had something serious to discuss and wouldn't say what over the phone. Hearing her grave tone, Cheng Jinlan cancelled her evening plans.
When she got to the underground parking lot, she ran into an unexpected person. “Jiang Jiang, what are you doing here?” Cheng Jinlan's eyes were full of pleasant surprise.
The short-haired woman in a white suit flushed slightly. “Jinlan, I'm staying at your place. I just got back from overseas, and haven't gotten my place arranged yet, so I'm crashing at Lan Chuan for a few days.”
“When did you move in? Why didn't you come find me?”
Jiang Jiang brushed back her hair. “Jinlan...”
Cheng Jinlan walked up to her and looped their arms together. “It's fine, I know you. Let's not talk about anything else. It's good that you're back.”
Jiang Jiang's nose soured and she reached out to hug Cheng Jinlan tightly. “Jinlan, since I'm staying at your place, of course I wanted to see you. I just didn't know...”
“Come now, do you really think I'm that petty? Or are you the petty one, things that are over are over,” Cheng Jinlan patted her shoulder. “I think you shouldn't keep staying at Lan Chuan either. Come back with me. My daughter only knows she has an Aunt Jiang who sends her gifts every year, pretty clothes, but has never met you before.”
Jiang Jiang tidied her emotions a little. “I can't today, Jinlan. I have plans, I have to rush off now. Is tomorrow afternoon okay? I'll go see Uncle, Auntie, and Xiaoliqi.”
“That works. Mom will definitely be super happy. You know she likes you best.” Cheng Jinlan wiped the wetness from the corner of her eyes. “No more crying now. We said we'll have a good long chat overnight, right?”
“Mm.” Jiang Jiang took a deep breath to keep herself from crying.
Cheng Jinlan saw Jiang Jiang off before turning to her own parking spot. Seeing the person walking over from the opposite direction, she slowly stopped in her tracks.
Alex was texting his girlfriend and slammed right into the person in front of him when they suddenly stopped. He almost teared up from the impact. This broad back of his boss' was really too sturdy, even harder than a wooden bedboard.
“What are you guys doing at Lan Chuan?” Cheng Jinlan asked the person before her.
Shao ChengZe originally wanted to pretend not to see her and walk straight past, but the moment he saw her, the relaxation on her face was replaced by wariness and vigilance in an instant.
Does she despise him that much?
Seeing that his boss was just staring at her and not answering her question, Little A felt a little anxious for his boss. Staring at her like that, you should also be gentle. With such a fierce look, you will only scare the girl away.
Little A lightly coughed and said, since the boss didn't answer, he had to reply, "Our company is having a celebration banquet here."
Cheng Jinlan said, "I don't remember our Cheng Jinchuan taking any orders from the Shao's."
"It's not the Shao's, it's QiongMiao Capital," Little A explained, then reached out his hand and introduced himself to Cheng Jinlan, "Hello, I'm Alex from QiongMiao."
"You go in first," Shao ChengZe said to Little A.
Little A could only reluctantly withdraw his hand, cursing to himself that he was being petty by not even letting her shake his hand. Judging by his boss's expression, this beauty was likely the person who had called his boss last night. Could it be that the call last night did not go well, and now they were upset with each other?
But his boss was already in a very bad mood, so he would not get in the way. Little A led the people behind him and ran away quickly.
With her arms crossed over her chest, Cheng Jinlan said, "The Shao's own quite a few hotels, why can't Chairman Shao hold a celebration banquet in one of them? Why does Chairman Shao have to come to our Cheng Jinchuan, could it be that even the Shao's think their service is inferior to ours?"
Jiang Jiang's car happened to drive by then, interrupting the confrontation between the two. She rolled down the car window and greeted Cheng Jinlan, "Jinlan, I'm leaving first. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Okay, drive slowly," Cheng Jinlan said, waving to Jiang Jiang.
Seeing the softness on her face, Shao ChengZe sneered, "Shi Ran and his precious girlfriend have met secretly several times behind your back, yet you are still so intimate with him. Cheng Jinlan, I thought you were smart."
Cheng Jinlan was taken aback for a moment before resuming her composure, "I know about their meetings. But Chairman Shao, why do you keep following our matters when you have nothing to do?"
Shao ChengZe's eyes bore into her, "You like him that much even when you know he has someone in his heart."
Cheng Jinlan straightened her back, lightly lifting her chin, "Yes I like him. I don't care who he likes, you?"
Shao ChengZe was stung by the contempt in her eyes. He suddenly stepped forward, moving closer and closer to her.
Cheng Jinlan didn't dodge or avoid him, just looked at him coldly, "Shao ChengZe, do you dare?"
