Xin Qing would not be overthinking things as long as she did not see Ying Qingcang. She knew deep down that it was impossible for her and Ying Qingcang to be together. So when Ying Qingcang was not around, she would try to make herself forget him. Too bad her resolve would waver every time Ying Qingcang showed up. When he did, Xin Qing could feel nothing but suffering. Her heart would struggle endlessly, and she would be pushed to the brink of losing control of her own emotions. Unlike Xin Qing, Ying Qingcang felt no confusion at all regarding his own heart.
Ying Qingcang knew that he would always love Xin Qing. He did not believe he would fall for another woman. To a man like Ying Qingcang, everything was about control, including control over his own feelings and emotions. In this life, he would only ever love Xin Qing. As such, Xin Qing"s own choices regarding the matter were not even within the realm of his consideration. If he found out one day that Xin Qing no longer loved him, the first thing he would do would be to imprison her and trap her by his side. Ying Qingcang"s feelings were like blazing flames; if you accept willingly, they could be as warm as silk; if you are unwilling, they would incinerate and turn you and him both into nothing but ashes.
"You look to be in a good mood!" Young Master Shen said as he looked at the man whose lips were constantly lifting at the corners. "Xiao Qingqing did something to make you happy?"
The arc on Ying Qingcang"s lips grew wider. "She needs to be provoked from time to time. Otherwise, it"ll be easy for her to lose herself in her new surroundings and forget about everything she used to be."
"Tsk, tsk. Poor Xiao Qingqing, to be loved by a psycho maniac like you." Young Master Shen rapped his knuckles on the table. "I also have some middling news for you." Young Master Shen stood up and poured himself a gla.s.s of red wine. "Rong Siman"s been acting strangely these days."
"What the h.e.l.l did she do again?" Ying Qingcang was hardly interested in any news regarding that woman.
Young Master Shen took a sip of wine and rolled the liquid in his mouth twice. "Recently, she"s been pretty chummy with one of Ying Enterprises founding members." Young Master Shen tossed a few photos onto the desk. The photos were taken in various locations and they all showed Rong Siman having dates with a refined, highbrow-looking man.
"Elder Li... This is one of the guys that the old man had trained and nurtured." Ying Qingcang released a mocking laugh. "I still remember back then when the old man kept pushing me to learn from the guy."
Young Master Shen suddenly moved closer to Ying Qingcang. "Didn"t you say that Rong Siman"s son doesn"t belong to Uncle Ying? Could it be this guy"s?"
"Not sure. That year when we found out she was pregnant, the old man had looked into it. But he didn"t manage to find the guy. They"ve covered it up for so many years. Why suddenly come out now?" Ying Qingcang went silent in thought. "Keep following her. It seems like this woman can no longer keep up her pretence."
Young Master Shen chuckled. "If you don"t mind being the sacrificial lamb and roll in her bed once, I guarantee you that she"s going to spill."
"Why don"t you go do such a disgusting thing instead." Ying Qingcang sent Young Master Shen a scathing look. Young Master Shen only shook his head and said, "People had no eyes for me! I don"t get it, though. What do you think is going on in that loopy head of hers? Who does she think she is to even a.s.sume that you and your father both love her and that it was because of her that you two have a bad relationship with each other? She"s even h.e.l.l-bent on thinking that you left England because you couldn"t stand living in that house because of your broken heart."
Ying Qingcang leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. "She was mentally ill when young, and a complete nutcase once she got older."
"So don"t go around blaming Uncle Ying. It"s tough on him too, you know. You up and left back then, but he had to stay and face that woman for so many years."
"Serves him right!" Ying Qingcang scoffed. "He"s so obsessed with keeping a promise to a dead person. If that lunatic woman decides to get rid of him in the future, don"t expect any kind of intervention from me."
Young Master Shen patted Ying Qingcang"s shoulder. "Alright, enough. You threw out those words as if you meant them."
"Ah Cang!" Monica rushed in. "Lend Ah Nan to me!"
Ah Nan, who was trailing after Monica, kept blinking at Ying Qingcang imploringly. Ying Qingcang"s eyes flicked towards Ah Nan, and then he asked Monica, "Why do you need him?"
"A friend of mine from university is a Chinese, and she"s coming to S City to see me in two days."
"So?" All three men stared at her.
Monica pressed a hand to her head. "Look, you guys don"t understand that woman, okay? She"s a psychopathic b*tch with a serious case of princess syndrome and a priggish, holier-than-thou att.i.tude. In school, she would compare herself to me in everything. Grades, makeup, boyfriends, everything."
"You"ll keep a friend like that around?" Just hearing about it had already made Young Master Shen feel disgust.
"I want nothing more than to hide myself from her," Monica said stomping her foot. "Haven"t I mentioned that she"s a psychopath? She took the initiative to track me down. What else can I do?"
Ying Qingcang was still looking at her. "But what does that have anything to do with Ah Nan?"
"Tsk! Ah Nan needs to play my boyfriend, of course!" Monica turned and made eyes at Ah Nan, causing the latter to shudder.
Monica went on, "Right now, I have a good job and a nice place. All I lack is a man. When the time comes, she"ll use that to mock me!" Monica looked fired up all of a sudden. "I can"t give her that opportunity. I"ll appear before her perfectly. I"ll make her feel so sorry for herself that she won"t ever come looking for me again!"
"Young Master, I"m very busy these days. I don"t have time." Ah Nan would be d.a.m.ned if he was going to involve himself in the petty war between two women.
Young Master Shen laughed. "How nice. Now you can skip work while having a woman to spend time with. Hurry up and go!"
"Then I shall relinquish this opportunity to you," Ah Nan said in a sinister tone.
Monica glared at Young Master Shen before he could even open his mouth. "I don"t want Young Master Shen!"
"Why?"
"Why?"
Ah Nan and Young Master Shen had asked the same question at the exact same time.
"He"s that madwoman Zhang Mi"s man. I don"t want him!"
Young Master Shen nearly spit out the red wine in his mouth. "When the h.e.l.l did I become Zhang Mi"s man?"
"Those lackeys of yours told me." Nowadays, Monica had been hanging out in Young Master Shen"s bar everyday. "They said Zhang Mi will become their young madam in the future."
Ying Qingcang spoke out all of a sudden. "I think you"re quite a good match for each other. She even carried your child once. Sounds fine if you marry her."
"Good Lord!" Monica exclaimed, pointing her finger at Young Master Shen. "You animal! So you"ve already defiled her a long time ago."
Rolling his eyes, Young Master Shen let his head fall back. "Whatever. I"m too lazy to explain anything to you people." He waved and then left the room.
"How about we leave too?" Monica tugged at Ah Nan. "There are things we need to discuss and set straight. It would be bad if we reveal any loopholes when the time comes."
"Young Master!" Ah Nan looked at Ying Qingcang pleadingly.
Ying Qingcang waved him off. "Just go!"
Ah Nan resigned himself to play along with Monica in this farce. That friend of hers had even brought a foreign boyfriend. When Ah Nan saw that boyfriend, he went back to Ying Enterprises on the same day to report his findings.
"Randa?" Ying Qingcang remembered the guy. "He"s the boyfriend of Monica"s cla.s.smate?"
Ah Nan nodded. "I was surprised also when I saw him. The world is small indeed."
"Don"t let him find out about your ident.i.ties. The other stuff has nothing to do with us." Ying Qing made a brief pause, and then he went on, "Look into Monica"s cla.s.smate."
Ah Nan understood what his young master was insinuating. "I was thinking along the same lines too. That Randa enjoys playing with women. But he had never publicly declared his relationships before this. And to date a Chinese? I don"t think Monica"s friend has a simple background at all."
"For those with prominent status, that much is inevitable," Ying Qingcang said, flicking a glance at Ah Nan. "Monica went to a n.o.bility school too. But she"s very good and had never been corrupted by those bad habits."
"What on earth did Young Master mean by that?" Ah Nan thought before he cleared his throat twice and walked out.
After a week of filming, Xin Qing and Ah Sha had wrapped up the job. William had even organized a party specially for them. No one was happier than Ah Che regarding the fact that the filming had ended. Now Ah Che could finally be spared from having to watch William every day like a hawk, as if he was trying to prevent some kind of theft. After that, Xin Qing received an a.s.signment from CK, which she thought was rather opportune, since she could work on the design while resting at home in the meantime. Meyer had also returned from his trip. Xin Qing invited him over to the house after he claimed that he had some gifts for her and Ah sha. She figured she could treat him to some Chinese cuisine along the way.
Meyer had brought back a photo alb.u.m, which he gave to Xin Qing as a gift. The alb.u.m contained close-up shots of a variety of Afican flora and fauna. The photos were absolutely beautiful. Ah Sha received an ostrich egg whose contents had been emptied and replaced with a special material. The sh.e.l.l of the egg was adorned with beautiful patterns and motifs. Ah Sha had apparently regarded it as a real egg. She hugged the egg against her chest before she went on a screaming spree, "Birdie! Birdie!"
After the meal, Meyer and Xin Qing were sitting on the couch to catch up. At first Meyer gave Xin Qing a hesitant look. A while later, he asked, "There"s something I don"t know if I should ask."
Xin Qing nodded. "It"s okay. Just ask!"
"Have you separated from Mr. Ying?"
Xin Qing was taken aback by his sudden question. When Meyer saw that she had gone quiet for a long time, he hurriedly said, "If you don"t feel like saying anything, just forget that I asked."
"No, it"s not that. I was just trying to figure out how to tell you." Xin Qing was hesitating because she had no idea how to explain the complicated nature of her relationship with Ying Qingcang. After sorting things through in her mind, she decided to go with the simplest.
"Yes. We"ve separated."
"Ah," Meyer said. "That"s too bad."
"It"s alright. If we"re not suited for each other, then it"s best to split up! What about you? I saw Ailey once some time ago. She was complaining that she was now the one being forced into marriage," Xin Qing said in an attempt to change the subject. "Your family really doesn"t let any opportunity slip past them!"
Meyer shook his head a little helplessly. "The protests from our generation have been gaining traction. It isn"t just me, even my cousins are unwilling to go through the arrange marriages."
"That"s very normal. I mean, what era are we in?" Xin Qing said. "I feel like you should go out and look for someone suitable instead of waiting for your family to make arrangements. You"ll be doing your family some good too." Something flashed in Meyer"s eyes upon hearing her words. "Xin Qing, you"re single now. Will I have a chance if I pursue you?" He asked, trying to test the water.
Xin Qing looked at him in shock. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No. I"m very serious about this," Meyer said in a serious tone. "Will I have a chance?"
Noticing Meyer"s sombre and serious att.i.tude, Xin Qing no longer find it appropriate to respond with jests and laughter. She answered with equal earnestness, "No. I only see you as a friend."
Meyer did not give any kind of reaction at all. He only shrugged instead. "Thanks for telling me. I understand now!"
"Hm." Xin Qing smiled and said, "Are we still friends?"
Meyer returned her smile. "Of course! I"m still waiting for you to bring me on a tour of China!"
Ailey had been awaiting Meyer"s return the entire time. When Meyer walked through the door, she rushed over. "Bro! How did it go? Did you ask her?"
"Yes, I did. It"s true that she had separated from Mr. Ying."
Ailey pumped her fist happily. "Then? Did you confess?"
Meyer shot Ailey a helpless look. She had forced him to confess to Xin Qing. In truth, he had already expected Xin Qing"s rejection even before he asked.
"She rejected me."