Chapter 42 - 2#
Zhang Yazhi understood better than anyone that this kidnapping was not only meant to threaten the Chi Corporation but also to cut off her cooperation and any backup plans.
“Madam Zhang, please don’t dwell on it. It has nothing to do with you.”
Jing Shun disliked the idea of dragging others into the blame. Instead, he was a bit worried. “But you publicly sided with us instead of speaking up for your biological father and brother…”
The former chairman of the Zhang Corporation had been arrested for a crime—this explosive news, once it spread, would inevitably severely impact the Zhang Corporation’s reputation and stock value.
“If this gets out, won’t it harm your reputation? You might face considerable pressure from the shareholders.”
Zhang Yazhi hadn’t expected Jing Shun to worry about her in return, and she was touched. “Mr. Jing, don’t worry. When Chairman Chi told me about this plan this morning, I already understood the consequences it would bring.”
She paused for two seconds, with no trace of regret in her eyes. “This was my own choice.”
Hearing this, Jing Shun felt slightly reassured.
But he still didn’t understand why the relationship between this father and daughter had deteriorated to such an extent.
Surely it wasn’t just because Zhang Aode had taken mistresses and lovers?
Zhang Yazhi was a perceptive person and sensed Jing Shun’s curiosity. “Mr. Jing, and Chairman Chi, you’re probably curious too, aren’t you? How can I be so cold toward my own biological father?”
“My mother, Zhang Xiuping, entered into a marriage alliance with him for the sake of family interests, and she was reluctant from the start.”
At that time, Zhang Xiuping’s family was just a modest small business in Macau, not even on the same level as Zhang Aode’s family. In fact, Zhang Xiuping already had a partner she was deeply in love with.
At a banquet, Zhang Aode became infatuated with Zhang Xiuping due to some twisted impulse and, taking advantage of his drunkenness, forced himself on her.
Afterward, to cover up his son’s despicable behavior, the old Mr. Zhang specially hired a matchmaker to go to the Zhang family, half-threatening and half-bribing them into pushing through this marriage alliance.
Of course, Zhang Yazhi didn’t go into such detail in front of Jing Shun and Chi Gui.
“My mother had no choice, but at that time she couldn’t defy my grandfather’s wishes. After the marriage, my mother felt no affection for Zhang Aode at all. Even my birth was nothing but another chain on her.”
As a young child, Zhang Yazhi had no idea of the pain her mother carried inside. She only thought her parents’ relationship was mediocre.
Zhang Aode was never a deeply devoted man. After growing tired of Zhang Xiuping’s perpetual coldness, he started fooling around outside again and even got Zhuang Qiu pregnant.
“That was when I, at just ten years old, first saw the true face of this father.”
And also learned of the suffering my mother had buried deep in her heart for years.
Zhuang Qiu gave birth to a son, Zhang Mingxuan, outside of marriage, and even brought the child to their doorstep—utterly arrogant!
“I was the one who urged my mother to divorce him. She shouldn’t have trapped herself in that filthy prison for my sake. From then on, I did everything I could to make myself more outstanding.”
In Zhang Yazhi’s heart, her surname was never Zhang from Zhang Aode; she took after her mother’s family name.
Zhang Yazhi knew that the old Mr. Zhang was not as kind and benevolent as he seemed, but she had to pretend she knew nothing and secretly fight—
Fight for the compensation and property that rightfully belonged to her mother! Fight for the status that should have been hers!
Zhang Yazhi’s act was a success.
Until his death, the old Mr. Zhang held this eldest granddaughter in high regard. It was this trust that earned her a place in the group.
“But deep down, the old man still clung to that patriarchal mindset.”
The current chairman’s position was still passed to Zhang Aode, and next in line would presumably be Zhang Mingxuan.
“As you can see, I’ve never been an easy pushover.”
“Over the years, I’ve tripped up this father-and-son duo in both obvious and subtle ways. Though I haven’t managed to bring them down yet, I’ve cost them the trust of several old shareholders.”
“Then Chairman Chi’s assistant contacted me. I knew—the moment I’d been waiting for had arrived.”
Zhang Yazhi took a sip of tea, making no effort to hide her ambition and intentions.
“Chairman Chi wanted to ‘use’ me to secure the 0202 project, but wasn’t I also hoping to ‘use’ the Chi Corporation’s resources to my own advantage?”
“…”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Chi Gui’s lips. There was no displeasure in his eyes—only admiration.
Jing Shun felt the same admiration. “Madam Zhang, you’re straightforward—and formidable.”
“So, you don’t need to worry about shareholders accusing me of being unfilial or unethical, or pressuring me over this.”
As long as Zhang Aode paid the price he deserved! She would welcome it a thousand times over!
Zhang Yazhi smiled, confident and composed. “I have my ways of handling it. Compared to that, I’m actually curious about something else.”
“What is it?”
“How did Chairman Chi foresee that I would be at a disadvantage in the group? How did he get my personal contact information, have his assistant reach out to me, and offer terms I simply couldn’t refuse?”
Macau and Haishi were ultimately too far apart.
No matter how capable a person was, it would be impossible to thoroughly investigate the Zhang Corporation and the private competition between father and daughter.
But every move Chi Gui made in their collaboration and every condition he offered hit the mark perfectly—neither too much nor too little. It felt like a carefully orchestrated design, or as if he had already made a clear prediction in advance.
Chi Gui said nothing. He simply raised his cup. “Let’s toast with tea instead of wine. I wish Chairman Zhang smooth sailing ahead, and success in all things.”
Zhang Yazhi understood he didn’t want to answer and didn’t press. “Alright. Then I wish Chairman Chi and Mr. Jing all the best. Mr. Jing, a toast?”
Jing Shun raised his cup generously. “The same to you.”
…
A day later, the soft glow of the setting sun scattered across the lawn.
Goubao had on a little protective vest to cover the wound, hopping around Eone.
Occasionally, it would deliberately swipe a paw at Eone’s head, incredibly bold.
“…”
Eone let the little brat show off in front of him.
But when Goubao got too cocky, Eone pinned it to the ground with one paw and loomed over it. “Woof!”
Goubao quickly backed down. “Whimper~”
Seeing that Eone wasn’t going to hold a grudge, it immediately scurried back to Jing Shun’s side, acting cute.
Jing Shun had witnessed the whole scene and teased it. “Serves you right. Who told you to be disobedient and provoke your big brother?”
Just then, the chef brought out a plate of grilled chicken.
Goubao caught the enticing aroma and bounced impatiently a couple of times, but still couldn’t see the food on the table.
Yu Zhen, sitting across from them, laughed. “Oh, Goubao is so cute!”
Qin Ye handed him a glass of juice and countered, “And Eone isn’t cute?”
Yu Zhen replied, “Eone was cute as a puppy, but now that it’s grown up, it’s more majestic.”
Qin Ye’s lips curled slightly as he pulled out a chair and sat down beside him.
Jing Shun had only met Qin Ye a few times, and this was the first time he’d seen such a gentle smile on that face—all because of Yu Zhen.
Driven by the tabloid reporter’s curiosity, he couldn’t help but ask, “Yu Zhen, how did you two meet? How long have you been together?”
Yu Zhen took a sip of juice and shook his head. “Oh, him and me? That’s a long story. At first, it was just a very simple transaction of money.”
Hearing this joke, Qin Ye quickly pinched his lover’s ear. “Come on, why do you have to spill everything?”
Yu Zhen was ticklish and shrank his neck. “Jing Shun isn’t an outsider. I trust him.”
The kidnapping two days ago had been a close call, but for them, it was enough to forge a bond that transcended life and death.
Jing Shun smiled faintly as he continued listening to his friend’s story.
“At that time, I was in a tight spot. Someone close to me was sick and needed money urgently. I’d heard that Macau was a place where money came fast, so I took a gamble and had an intermediary arrange for me to work as a trainee croupier at a casino.”
As it happened, that casino was under the Qin Group.
On Yu Zhen’s first day of work, he ran into Qin Ye, the head of the company, who was making a routine inspection.
Yu Zhen slurped up a strand of spaghetti and spoke without any filter. “This old man took one look at me and was attracted to my looks. He…”
Before he could finish, Qin Ye pinched the back of his neck again, like he was handling a kitten, helplessly. “What old man?”
“It’s only an eight-or-nine-year age difference.” Yu Zhen coaxed him deliberately. “I didn’t say old man was a bad thing. The subtext is that you know how to take care of someone~”
“…”
Jing Shun chuckled to himself.
Just then, Chi Gui returned after finishing a phone call.
Maybe because she wasn’t as familiar with Chi Gui, Yu Zhen didn’t dare joke around freely this time, only secretly whispering to Jing Shun, “I’ll tell you another time when we’re alone.”
Chi Gui asked, “What?”
Jing Shun replied, “I was just curious about how they met.”
Qin Ye, noticing that his little kitten was embarrassed, helped change the subject. “Was that the lawyer’s call?”
Chi Gui nodded and relayed it like an amusing story. “Zhang Aode and his son are ratting each other out in there. They’ve each requested separate lawyers to defend themselves. It’s quite the spectacle.”
Yu Zhen gave a quiet “pfft.” “Dogs eating dogs. Neither of them is any good.”
Jing Shun said, “No matter how they bite each other, the evidence is solid. They won’t escape prison time, right?”
Chi Gui nodded and passed the subject to Qin Ye. “For now, we’re still in Macau. I’ll have to trouble you, Master Qin, to keep an eye on the follow-up.”
“Of course.”
Thinking about how his lover had been so frightened that day that he almost had a heart attack, Qin Ye could barely contain his murderous intent. “I’ll make sure those two are well taken care of—especially Zhang Aode.”
Chi Gui and Qin Ye exchanged a glance, both unwilling to reveal their more ruthless side in front of Jing Shun and Yu Zhen.
Qin Ye asked, “Since things here are wrapping up, when are you planning to return to Haishi?”
Chi Gui replied, “The day after tomorrow, at noon. There’s a celebration banquet for the project launch tomorrow night that I need to attend.”
Yu Zhen only cared about the first part and immediately showed reluctance. “Ah? So soon? I thought you could stay a little longer!”
Jing Shun explained, “I still need a second surgery on my leg. The timing is about right.”
Staying in Macau for over half a month had already exceeded their plans.
Jing Shun took the opportunity to extend an invitation. “Yu Zhen, if you ever come to Haishi, be sure to look me up. I’ll treat you well.”
Yu Zhen raised his glass. “Definitely.”
Chi Gui and Qin Ye exchanged a look and raised their glasses to each other.
…
In the blink of an eye, another day passed. As night fell—
After washing up, Jing Shun quietly packed his personal belongings. They were set to return to Haishi at noon tomorrow.
Though he had been brought here empty-handed on short notice, Chi Gui had bought him quite a few things during this time, and with Goubao’s toys added in, it filled a whole suitcase.
Goubao was lying in its dog bed, indulging in its favorite pre-sleep activity.
That giant chew bone had already been gnawed open, showing more than just a few superficial teeth marks.
Goubao had its own little world—
It felt that its heroic performance two days ago, biting down on the bad guy and not letting go, was all thanks to the “training weapon” its big brother had given it!
After all, even Naguai had praised it!
“Gurgle gurgle!”
“…”
Jing Shun watched Goubao gnawing away happily and smiled fondly.
The little dog didn’t yet know it would soon be separated from its big brother. All it knew was that as long as Jing Shun was there, it was home.
The hands on the bedside clock ticked past eleven.
Jing Shun remembered that Chi Gui hadn’t come home yet and couldn’t help feeling a little worried—
He had left for the project launch banquet at six. Why wasn’t he back yet? Could something have happened again?
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a commotion rose from downstairs.
In less than thirty seconds, Wei Di called out for the butler, “Allen! Come give me a hand!”