Chapter Thirteen
Early morning, at Qin’s company.
Since Qin Yun’s illness took a turn for the worst, Qin Song took temporary leave from Liang’s company and returned to look after Qin’s company. Qin Song’s secretary rarely seen Qin Song whistling and had a euphoric aura around him entering Qin’s company until the day he returned to take over Qin’s company.
The sudden return of Mr Qin junior to Qin’s company caused a media frenzy.
Qin Song’s trusted a.s.sistant gave Qin Song a stack of photos.
‘Yesterday afternoon when Miss Yuan left your home the paparazzi took photos of her. Miss Chen Yun had stopped them publishing the photos. These photos were just delivered here,’ Qin Song’s trusted a.s.sistant said.
The photos of Yuan Yi Yi showed off a trim figure in a skimpy school uniform outfit. Yuan Yi Yi confidently walked to her a.s.sistant’s car, looked directly at the paparazzi and smiled sweetly at them like being caught leaving a married man’s house in lingerie was an everyday occurrence.
‘Mr Qin junior, if you don’t need me for anything else I’ll take my leave,’ Qin Song’s trusted a.s.sistant said and left Qin’s company.
The moment Qin Song’s trusted a.s.sistant left, Qin Song looked over the photos. He couldn’t help smiling cheekily like a cat playing around with a dried fish. He rubbed his chin as he remembered his after school lessons with Ting Ting last night then he took out his phone.
Tu Tu was a beneficiary of Qin Song’s good mood. Tu Tu suddenly received a lump sum payment transferred to her bank account that was equivalent to what she earned from her online shop in a year. Tu Tu read the concise message attached to the mysterious transaction – ‘Buy all, thank you.’ Tu Tu laughed and figured out who her mysterious buyer was it was none other than her best friend Ting Ting’s husband, Mr Wild Boar Head.
A smiling Tu Tu selected all the lingerie sets in Ting Ting’s size, wrapped it up and express post it to Qin Song. Tu Tu didn’t forget to include the photo shopped pictures of the Han household darling daughter Ting Bao’s face attached to the lingerie models’ bodies. Tu Tu thought having a best friend marrying into a rich family was a good thing for her budding online business.
The hype of the Qin’s company public tender was a combination of the influential businessman Chen Yi Feng’s interest and the leaked photos of an opposing potential investor Yuan Yi Yi from Singapore arriving at the Qin’s company district.
Leaked photos of the married Mr Qin junior drenched in a car sitting cosily with the young, beautiful and successful Miss Yuan Yi Yi who was also drenched led to rumors about their shady relationship. It sparked interest of many companies to consider bidding for a stake in Qin’s company, because if Mr Qin junior had the ability to have Mr Yuan senior’s daughter Yuan Yi Yi under his thumb then investing in Mr Qin junior’s company would give them a back door connection with both Liang’s company and Yuan’s company.
It was speculated that the dragon strength of Chen Yi Feng’s company was weary of the combined phoenix strength of Liang’s company and the Zhang household. With the added backing of Yuan’s company under Qin Song’s belt, the chances of Chen Yi Feng successfully bidding for a stake in Qin’s company was slim.
Most of the shareholders of Qin’s company that were indecisive of who to support finally directed their support to Qin Song. The few stubborn elderly shareholders remaining bet their entire fortune to support Chen Yi Feng.
Finally the G.o.ddess of victory was in Qin Song’s corner. Unexpectedly Qin Song wasn’t thrilled to welcome the G.o.ddess of victory, he was livid and wanted to tear apart his office.
Chen Yun nonchalantly entered Qin’s company. Qin Song’s secretaries forewarned Chen Yun to be prepared for the dangerous temper that lurked behind Qin Song’s office door. Chen Yun took no heed of their warning and entered Qin Song’s office.
‘Qin Song, you wanted to see me?’ Chen Yun asked.
Qin Song threw the trashy news articles about his alleged affair with Yuan Yi Yi on his work desk and glared at Chen Yun. ‘Chen Yun, you have some explaining to do!’
Qin Song was particularly unimpressed by the publicised close up photos of him and Yuan Yi Yi in the same car driving to his and Ting Ting’s home. ‘I remembered I told you to stop all of these kinds of photos from being released!’
‘That’s right you did. That’s why I stopped all photos of Yuan Yi Yi leaving your house. If those photos were released… then I would be surprised,’ Chen Yun said.
‘Miss Chen Yun, you’re supposed to be a reputable PR manager. The preservation of my public image is your responsibility. But you allowed these sordid rumors about me to be circulated, don’t you feel any remorse?’ Qin Song asked coldly.
‘I take all my work responsibilities seriously. Not only am I responsible for protecting your public image but I’m also responsible for enhancing Qin’s company public reputation. If it weren’t for my a.s.sistance then those flaky shareholders wouldn’t be supporting you and there would be no garnered interest of many successful companies to partic.i.p.ate in Qin’s company public tender. You didn’t have to battle a b.l.o.o.d.y war to claim victory isn’t that the best form of attack? I came here thinking you were going to give me a raise,’ Chen Yun said.
Chen Yun was amused by Qin Song’s look of contempt. ‘Besides these photos are real but the rumors are baseless speculations. Qin Song if you’re innocent then you have no reason to worry about these trivial gossip articles.’
‘Hey! I only took Yuan Yi Yi home to change clothes, don’t look at me with that accusing look of yours!’ Qin Song said.
‘You should save your explanations for your wife, no need to explain the details to me,’ Chen Yun said.
‘My wife was home that day!’ Qin Song said.
‘Then everything’s good. The main thing is that your wife knows the truth. Why do you need to care what outsiders think?’ Chen Yun said.
‘Big sister Chen Yun…’ Qin Song said. He thumped his work desk. ‘Can you give me a little respect? I’m the one paying your salary. Before making important decisions like this you should at least ask me for my opinion!’
‘Mr Qin junior, I’m only here temporarily to help you during this critical time. Once I’ve trained a new PR to a.s.sist you, I’m heading back to Liang’s company,’ Chen Yun said and shrugged her shoulders. ‘Tomorrow I’ll hold a press conference to squash these rumors and give out a warning that we’ll take legal action against those who continue to spread false rumors. So Mr Qin junior, you can relax.’
Chen Yun felt she said enough and stood to leave. ‘If you don’t need me for anything else I’m heading back to work. Oh, right one more thing. I forgot to tell you, after this incident it really made people see you in a different light.’
Qin Song’s temper calmed a bit after hearing Chen Yun compliment him how he handled himself during a rough period. He’d never heard Chen Yun compliment anyone apart from Liang Fei Fang. ‘Thanks for the compliment.’
‘Oh, don’t misunderstand. I was talking about Yuan Yi Yi’s skimpy student outfit. Looking back, out of the Liang’s sworn brothers you were ranked first for being the most naive. Who would have thought you had a wild side?’ Chen Yun teased.
Qin Song gritted his teeth. ‘Chen-Yun!’
Mr Qin junior’s sudden scream travelled throughout Qin’s company building.
Qin Song was too busy working that he had to skip lunch. He was in a rush to finish his work schedule for the day to make it in time for dinner at his parents’ house.
When Qin Song arrived at his parents’ house and saw the servants bringing cooked dishes to the dining table and his parents were playing chess in the living room. He didn’t see his wife and became anxious. ‘Ting Ting isn’t here yet?’
‘Ting Ting’s here. She’s in the kitchen making stewed quail soup. Ting Ting’s mum had asked a friend to deliver wild quails from the country for your dad. It’s nutritious and will help your dad’s surgery scars heal,’ Zhang Yu explained. She saw her son’s worried look. Her eyes lit up, there was trouble in paradise. ‘What happened? Are you and Ting Ting fighting?’
Qin Song creased his forehead. What sort of a mother did he have that would be amused whenever their son and daughter-in-law were at odds? He wanted to wipe his mum’s teasing smile away, how could she be amused by his anxiety?
Qin Yun slowly opened his wife’s clenched hand, took out the chess piece she hid and turned to face his son. ‘Song Song, go see how Ting Ting is doing in the kitchen. It’s nearly dinner time.’
Qin Song went to the kitchen and saw Ting Ting in a daze looking at the pot of stewed quail soup. He silently gestured for the servants to leave the kitchen and tip toed to hug Ting Ting.
Qin Song kissed Ting Ting’s cheek and rested his chin on her shoulder.
Han Ting Ting was startled. She elbowed Song Song’s stomach. ‘You scared me!’
‘Honey, what were you thinking about?’ Qin Song asked. He hugged Ting Ting’s waist tighter. ‘Why didn’t you come to the door to welcome me back from work? When I came inside and didn’t see you, I thought you were angry at me.’
‘I’m not angry. I was home that day and you explained to me. Why would I be angry?’ Han Ting Ting said softly.
‘You mean it?’ Qin Song asked.
‘Um,’ Han Ting Ting said. She turned off the stove and pushed Song Song away. ‘Go outside, don’t bother me in the kitchen.’
Qin Song pulled Ting Ting close to him, kissed and bit her lips lightly. ‘My wife is the best!’
Song Song happily went outside to wait for dinner. But Han Ting Ting was feeling sad in the kitchen. She didn’t know if telling a white lie was the right thing to do… if she told Song Song the truth about how she felt then wouldn’t she come across as petty?
Han Ting Ting’s heart protested that she should have made a scene, cry and beat up her clueless husband. He didn’t have to put up with the pity looks from strangers at the supermarkets the way she had to because he brought a vixen to their home to change clothes.
After dinner Zhang Yu dragged Han Ting Ting upstairs to check out Zhang Yu’s new spring outfits. The father and son duo stayed downstairs to play chess in the living room.
‘When you and Ting Ting are home, make sure you explain properly to Ting Ting! I can tolerate what happened because it was necessary during this crucial time. But in the future when your position as head of Qin’s company is stable, avoid using such shady tactics,’ Qin Yun advised.
‘Ting Ting understands, I don’t need to explain,’ Qin Song bragged.
It was rare for Qin Song to brag in front of his wise and all-knowing guru dad. The one thing in Qin Song’s life that made him extremely proud was his wife. Ting Ting was a thousand times more understanding and gentle than his mum.
Qin Song felt prouder when he made a good chess move against his dad. ‘Dad, how’s your body condition lately?’
Qin Yun had waited patiently to trap his son. His wait wasn’t in vain, his son made the wrong move and within a couple of moves it was checkmate. Qin Yun won the chess game against his son.
‘Aren’t you the one that should know best about my body condition? Every second day you’ll ask my doctors to report to you about how my body’s coping after my second surgery,’ Qin Yun said.
Qin Yun understood his son well. He wanted to be a strong dad that seemed bullet proof in the eyes of his son. He didn’t like seeing his son worrying about him. But it was getting harder for him to put up a front that he was in control of his own fate, including the ability to extend his fragile lifespan.
‘Just worry about yourself first. Don’t worry, until you’re living a comfortable life both at home and at work, your dad will have your back,’ Qin Yun said to his son in a loving tone that he himself didn’t recognise.
Qin Song felt like it was a once in a lifetime experience to hear his dad talk to him in such a gentle and loving way. He scratched his head and smiled. ‘Yes, dad.’
Qin’s company public tender was a success according to plan, Yuan Yi Yi became a bigger stakeholder of Qin’s company than the almighty Chen Yi Feng. The flow on effect was that the power struggle at Qin’s company was finally put to rest.
Qin Song’s uncles that supported Chen Yi Feng had a revelation after their brutal defeat. Qin Song’s uncles had always viewed their nephew Qin Song as a kid who hadn’t wiped his nose clean was a mirror image of their dad that year that their dad smiled with them like nothing was wrong and the next moment before they realised it was too late, their dad had heartlessly cornered them at a dead end with no escape. Their dad secured Qin’s company for his favoured son Qin Yun the same way Qin Song took away their last opportunity to take back Qin’s company.
A banquet was held to commemorate the success of Qin’s company public tender and to congratulate Qin Song for securing his position at Qin’s company. That night all of the six Liang’s sworn brothers gathered at the banquet, it was a lively night.
Qin Song went around the banquet venue to accept congratulations and was forced to drink too much alcohol. When no one was paying attention to him, he fled to the balcony to get fresh air and clear his head.
Qin Song reflected what he had to go through to win his position. He had to work tirelessly, overcome his doubts and make sacrifices. But he thought that was life, because of going after their goals anyone would willingly do whatever it took to achieve it. It made him stronger and he was able to protect Ting Ting and his family whom he loved.
Qin Song’s thoughts were interrupted when he felt a presence at a corner of the balcony and turned around. ‘Who’s there?’
Yuan Yi Yi came out of the shadows from the balcony corner. She wore a long black off the shoulder dress that suited her tall frame. She smiled and lifted her champagne gla.s.s. ‘I was here first.’
Qin Song laughed. The dust settled and he didn’t need pretend anymore that he wasn’t in the loop. ‘Cheers to you, hope we’ll cooperate well in business.’ He clinked his gla.s.s with Yuan Yi Yi’s gla.s.s. ‘Pa.s.s on my thanks to him for helping me. He had to waste a lot of time and energy because of me.’
Yuan Yi Yi thought for a while and then laughed comfortably. ‘I told him that you knew a long time ago but he didn’t believe me… little Qin Song, it’s strange that you’re a lot smarter than what people gave credit to you.’
‘I’ve always been smart. It’s because those sworn brothers of mine are show offs and my intelligence was overlooked,’ Qin Song said and laughed.
Qin Song was in a happy and light mood, it felt like he was at his coming of age banquet.
‘Is that why… because you knew about my connection with him and you won’t seduced by me?’ Yuan Yi Yi asked out of curiosity. ‘I wasn’t completely acting, you do match my taste, why don’t…’
Qin Song rolled his eyes. ‘I told you already I’m married. I love my wife.’
‘Your wife… she’s the opposite type to me,’ Yuan Yi Yi said.
Yuan Yi Yi remembered Qin Song’s little wife who wore a loveable yellow dress a couple of nights ago. Qin Song had an arm wrapped protectively around his little wife’s shoulder. Yuan Yi Yi thought it didn’t matter what costumes she wore, it’d be hard for her to give off the same sweet and fresh vibe that Qin Song’s little wife had. Yuan Yi Yi’s good mood suddenly turned a little sour.
‘It has nothing to do with types. I only love Ting Ting,’ Qin Song said. The alcohol blurred his usual common sense and he bubbled on more than he usually would. ‘You’re not that bad. You’re just different a little.’
‘Oh, what does that mean?’ Yuan Yi Yi asked and smiled.
‘You give off the feeling that you can’t be caught. It could be because you do that on purpose. But love isn’t that way, there’s no escape, you should let it all go and have no regret,’ Qin Song said. He remembered Yuan Yi Yi’s miserable attempts to seduce him and laughed. ‘Who’s like you? You force yourself to seduce me then act indifferent afterward when it doesn’t work to give yourself a way out. That’s not one bit of a professional seductress.’
‘Hey!’ Yuan Yi Yi said and laughed loudly. She punched Qin Song’s chest. ‘I was testing you, teasing you for fun.’
Yuan Yi Yi’s punch made Qin Song stumble back a step but he was still smiling. They both took off their masks they wore since they knew each other. He preferred seeing the real playful Yuan Yi Yi than when Yuan Yi Yi was acting like a black widow.
When Qin Song stepped back he stood next to the balcony window. On the other side of the window he saw a stunned Ting Ting looking back at him.
Qin Song’s heart tightened… it was bad. He strode through the balcony door. Ting Ting saw him coming toward her, turned away from him and walked off without looking back at him.
‘Hey,’ Qin Song said. His longer legs helped him to catch up to Ting Ting within a few steps. ‘Won’t you spending time with Qin Sang and my other sworn brothers’ wives? How come you’re here?’
Qin Song wanted to slap his mouth the moment the wrong choice of words came out of his mouth. It made Ting Ting misunderstand him more.
Han Ting Ting pushed Qin Song back. Her whole body felt cold. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know you didn’t want me to come here. I’m leaving and let you two continue doing whatever you two want to do.’
‘I only said a few words with her. You said you believed me, why are you still angry? Of course I want you here. I was worried that you didn’t want to come to this kind of formal…’ Qin Song explained gently in Ting Ting’s ear.
Qin Song noticed the reporters’ attention was turned to him and Ting Ting. He pulled her closer to him and shielded her from the reporters’ camera lens.
Han Ting Ting felt like her fears were validated. She didn’t belong in Qin Song’s world. She was fooling herself that as long as she did her best to be understanding she could get pa.s.s her insecurities being around someone who was above her cla.s.s. Even his protective nature he reserved for her felt like a burden. It was best for her to escape his world.
Han Ting Ting pushed Qin Song harder and escaped his hold. She lifted the hem of her dress and ran from the banquet venue.
Qin Song never thought Ting Ting who was usually gentle and understanding was making a public scene in front of his guests and reporters. He was still surprised when she suddenly pushed him hard enough for him to nearly fall.
The reporters chose that moment to circle Qin Song. Their cameras flashed, competing with one another who’d get the best shot of him looking despondent after a public fight with his wife.
Qin Song was frustrated he couldn’t smash the cameras. He held up his hand in front of his face. ‘What’s so interesting? I’m not the first man to be embarra.s.sed by his wife.’
The reporters laughed. They were used to the Liang’s sworn brothers being under their wives’ thumbs.
Qin Song took his opportunity to leave the circle of reporters and chase after his wife.
The reporters let him go because they got what they needed to publicize that the youngest Liang’s sworn brother was also scared of his wife.
Qin Song was able to chase down Ting Ting at the parking lot. He grabbed her and hugged her. ‘Hey!’ He was breathless from the running. ‘Where are you going?’
‘You don’t need to care!’ Han Ting Ting said.
‘Of couse I need to care about my Ting Bao,’ Qin Song said.
Qin Song pulled Ting Ting up slightly off the ground with one arm gripped around her waist and his other arm supported her neck. He kissed her to be breathless as him.
Qin Song had to make final preparations before the tender so for the last week on average he got to sleep four hours a day. He’d neglected Ting Ting for four days and three nights. He was free to make up for lost time and wanted to love her on the spot.
‘Ah!’ Qin Song cried out.
Qin Song carefully put Ting Ting back on the ground. Then he touched his swollen lips, she had bit his lips too hard that blood trickled out.
Han Ting Ting was furious and her whole body was shaken. She bit Qin Song’s lips but it wasn’t enough to get rid of her anger so she lifted her leg to kick his leg calf. He avoided her kick, she lost her balance and her body leaned back.
Qin Song rushed to Ting Ting’s side and grabbed her before she fell.
‘Let go!’ Han Ting Ting ordered.
Han Ting Ting hated herself that she needed Qin Song’s help and it made her angrier. She glared at him.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ Qin Song asked.
Qin Song had no clue why Ting Ting was behaving unlike her usual self. He didn’t know why she was so angry.
‘Ting Bao,’ Qin Song called gently.
Qin Song lifted his hand to rub Ting Ting’s cheek but she slapped his arm away hard.
Han Ting Ting saw Qin Song braced the arm she hit and felt that she was too hot headed. She waited a while to calm down before opening her mouth. ‘Go back inside, don’t follow me. I want to go home on my own.’
‘No. Tell me what you want me to do so you won’t be angry anymore. Don’t bottle up your feelings. Think about it, if I let you go home by yourself then I would be too worried about you to mingle with the guests properly,’ Qin Song said.
‘You were mingling with your guests more than properly before. Wasn’t it you that I saw laughing and flirting with your special guest? I’ll just be intruding on your mingling style if I stay,’ Han Ting Ting said coldly.
Han Ting Ting was in no mood to be lectured. If Qin Song said anything else she’d be angry enough to scratch his handsome face off.
Qin Song took a deep breath. ‘Ting Ting, I’ve never had the patience to explain my actions to anyone before. You’re my only exception, because of you I’m always willing to explain to you anything you want and promise you anything you want to clear your misunderstandings about me. I’m not attracted to Yuan Yi Yi. I just think she’s a little interesting. It has nothing to do with whether she’s a male or female. I’m interested in comparing work styles of people in the same field as me.’
‘Don’t say anything else!’ Han Ting Ting said and took a deep breath of her own. ‘Qin Song, don’t say anything. I’m sorry I stepped over the line before. I don’t know why I’m like this tonight. Your work is complicated and I don’t understand that side of you. You need a kindred friend to share thoughts about your line of work, I get it. In the future I won’t cause another public scene.’ She didn’t want to look at him anymore and lowered her head. ‘Let me go home, I don’t want to go back inside.’
‘Let me take you home,’ Qin Song said.
‘You don’t have to,’ Han Ting Ting said.
‘I’ll take you home,’ Qin Song said.
‘I said you don’t have to take me home!’ Han Ting Ting yelled.
Han Ting Ting’s last shred of patience was gone. She hit Qin Song’s shoulders to get him to let her go. In the midst of their tug a war, his cufflink grazed her wrist and a red scratch line appeared on her grazed wrist.
Han Ting Ting’s wrist stung. She pulled her hand back and accidently scratched Qin Song’s forehead with one of her finger nails that were manicured for tonight. The surprise sting on his forehead made him loosen his hold on her. She used the opportunity when his guard was down and dashed into her car to drive home.
Qin Song touched his forehead and there was a bit of blood where Ting Ting’s nail sc.r.a.ped his forehead. By the time he recovered from the sting, he was standing alone with a trail of smoke left behind by the car exhaust. He gritted his teeth and had one deep regret – ‘d.a.m.n it! He shouldn’t have taught Ting Ting to drive!’
That night, Ting Ting locked the bedroom door. Qin Song picked up the pillow she left in front of the door and knocked on the door until he was too tired to breathe. There was nothing else he could do that night except spend a lonely night sleeping on the sofa in the living room.
Early morning Qin Song was awoken by the creak of a door. He sat up and ran upstairs to the bedroom. Ting Ting was gone.
Qin Song thought there was a slight chance Ting Ting was somewhere downstairs. He ran downstairs and looked for her in the kitchen. On the dining table was a steaming hot breakfast. Next to the breakfast she cooked for him was a note, her writing wasn’t her usual neat writing it looked like her hand was shaking when she wrote the note – ‘I’m going to my parents’ house, I’ll be back before dinner.’
Qin Song closed his eyes and sighed. He folded the note, showered and went to work.
Han Ting Ting sped to her parents’ house. But she stalled at her parents’ front door, she didn’t know if she should go in or go back to Qin Song’s house… she felt homeless.
After Han Ting Ting married Qin Song, last night was their first real fight. She didn’t know she had such a bad temper dormant in her heart. She just needed to have one thought about Qin Song and she’d want to really scratch his face to vent instead of an accidental scratch like last night.
‘Ting Bao?’ Ting’s mum asked. She went outside to throw rubbish into the bin but she was alarmed to see her daughter who looked soulless standing at the front door. ‘Why aren’t you coming inside but standing out here?’
‘Mum… is dad home?’ Han Ting Ting asked to evade her mum’s question.
‘Why would that old man be at home? He’s busy with work that he skips breakfast most mornings. Come inside. There’s still mung bean soup left, I’ll scoop you a bowl,’ Ting’s mum said and pulled her daughter inside.
Ting’s mum was plucking herbs and noticed her daughter ate two spoonfuls of mung beans and put the bowl down on the table. ‘What’s wrong? Does it taste off?’
‘It’s fine. I don’t want to eat anymore,’ Han Ting Ting said. She went to help her mum fry vegetables. ‘Mum, let’s cook the crabs for lunch. We can add lots of chili.’
Han Ting Ting poked the crabs that were crawling inside the bag.
‘This little girl, when did you start liking chili dishes?’ Ting’s mum asked. She wiped her hands and patted her daughter’s back. ‘Go outside and play, I’ll call you to taste test when I’m done.’
Han Ting Ting crawled onto her old bed and went online to chat with Tu Tu.
Tu Tu Is Not Mao Mao: ‘You overreacted, he only said a few words and you had an outburst. The more you live with that Mr Wild Boar Head the more you’re becoming like him, childish, petty and easy to go crazy.’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘(view pout CGI)’
Tu Tu Is Not Mao Mao: ‘Honestly, you’re in the wrong this time. Your Mr Wild Boar Head explained to you that what you imagined didn’t happen.’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘Tu Tu… why does it sound like you’re defending him too much?’
Tu Tu Is Not Mao Mao: ‘Ahem… am I that obvious?’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘Um.’
Tu Tu Is Not Mao Mao: ‘I give up.’
Afterward Tu Tu added Qin Song to their conversation and logged off.
Ting Bao’s Wild Husband: ‘Honey!’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘(view lol CGI)’
Ting Bao’s Wild Husband: ‘I didn’t eat breakfast. My stomach hurts (insert crying CGI)’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘Didn’t I make you breakfast and put it on the dining table for you? Why didn’t you eat breakfast?’
Ting Bao’s Wild Husband: ‘I’m punishing myself.’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘…’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘I’m eating lunch at my parents’ house then I’ll go home. Remember to come home early tonight. I’ll make you stewed chicken.’
Ting Bao’s Wild Husband: ‘Are you still angry at me?’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘It was me being petty.’
Ting Bao’s Wild Husband: ‘Honey, you’re becoming more reasonable by the day.’
Ting Bao Most Obedient: ‘Another way of putting it is that you-think-I’m-petty-too?’
Ting Bao’s Wild Husband: ‘Honey, I need to go to a meeting. Later when I’m free I’ll text you. Don’t be angry anymore. Believe me and believe in yourself too! I had a hard time waiting for you to come into my life. I love you like crazy but I still don’t feel I love you enough. I don’t have any room in my heart to even like anyone else. Tonight I’ll come over your parents’ house, we’ll all have dinner together and then I’ll drive us home. Honey, I love you! (view kiss CGI)’
Song Song logged off and Han Ting Ting logged off too. She felt both happy and troubled at the same time. She sighed… love was sweet torture.
Qin Song rushed to Ting Ting’s parents’ house after work. He brought gifts for her parents and gave her a fresh bouquet of red roses.
Han Ting Ting ran to the door to welcome Song Song back from work, she wore a serious expression but on the inside her heart bloomed because of his thoughtful gestures and willingness to meet her in the middle.
Earlier when Han Ting Ting woke up from a rare afternoon nap, she received a text message from Song Song.
‘The meeting just finish. I was tired but had to act alert in the meeting. My work plan was good and better than the plans others came up with. But there’s always a few creeps picking on my young age and criticise me if they get a chance. How hateful! I want time to fly faster. I want to get all the priority paperwork done that way I can take leave and we can go on our honeymoon that was postponed. We’ll go anywhere you want to visit. Honey, what you said last night made sense. I’ve never talked to you about my work before. It’s because I don’t have the heart to make you worry about me, not because I want to save my work troubles to share with some kindred friend. Honey, I willingly worked hard because of you but I didn’t want to tell you about my work struggles. I put myself in your shoes and realised from your perspective, a husband and wife should share their struggles together, lean on each other and that I shouldn’t hide what’s troubling me from you. In the future I’ll report to you daily about my work day. In return, Ting Bao remember to prepare rewards for me each day and night!’
When Han Ting Ting helped to take off Song Song’s jacket, she breathed in his natural body scent and thought about the ‘reward’ that Song Song loved most. She blushed about giving him rewards each day and night.
Qin Song hugged Ting Ting and sulked to gauge her mood. ‘Honey!’
Ting Ting fiddled with the roses to pretend she didn’t care about what Qin Song was doing. He felt it was safe and bravely kissed her cheek. She pouted and his heart felt relieved. He grabbed her free hand and bit her wrist.
‘Ahem…’ Ting’s dad coughed. He came home and found his son-in-law and his daughter wrapped around each other and their public display of affection was more than he expected to find at his front door. ‘Song Song, you’re back from work?’
Qin Song stiffly turned around and gave his dad-in-law an awkward smile. ‘Dad!’
Ting’s dad hung up his jacket inside the house and was happy to see his daughter held a bouquet of roses. ‘Song Song, you bought roses for Ting Ting?’
Ting’s mum put the cooked dishes on the dining table. She noticed her daughter’s roses too and wanted to tease her daughter. ‘Ting Bao is still a little girl.’
‘I didn’t ask Song Song to buy me roses,’ Han Ting Ting protested. She was framed. She turned to look at the sweet trouble maker Song Song. ‘Who told you to buy me roses?’
‘Hey, why are you talking like that? Look at you, Song Song had spoiled you rotten,’ Ting’s mum scolded teasingly.
Qin Song acted innocent in front of Ting Ting’s parents. He ‘accidently’ swept his hair to the side and it showed Ting Ting’s scratch mark on his forehead.
‘Oh!’ Ting’s mum cried out. She rushed to pull Song Song to sit on the sofa. ‘Who did this to you?’
‘Last night I was careless and hit my forehead against a door,’ Qin Song lied.
Ting’s mum pitied her son-in-law. That scratch mark on his forehead wasn’t from a door! She glanced at her daughter who fiddled with her sharp nails. She hit her daughter’s bottom.
Han Ting Ting couldn’t pretend she had nothing to do with Song Song’s forehead scratch. Unless she wanted another hit to her bottom she had no choice but to roll up a sleeve and showed the scratch on her wrist. ‘Mum, Song Song scratched me first.’
‘You’re still lying,’ Ting’s mum said. She pushed her daughter’s scratched wrist away. ‘Song Song doesn’t have sharp nails like you.’
‘Stop fighting. Let’s sit and eat dinner,’ Ting’s dad said.
At the dining table Ting’s mum picked up a chicken thigh and put it into Song Song’s bowl.
Qin Song innocently accepted his special treatment by his mum-in-law. He didn’t forget to smile like a good kid, it was his killer move he used on elders when he wanted them to dote on him.
Ting’s mum was blinded by her son-in-law’s charm and didn’t stop to put more food into his bowl during dinner.
Han Ting Ting was jealous her mum only cared about Song Song. She chewed her chicken wing and imagined she was chewing Song Song’s head off.
Ting’s dad was happy to have his favourite drinking partner and didn’t stop pouring wine for Song Song.
‘Ancient hubby, stop pouring wine for Song Song. You’re taking advantage of Song Song’s good nature, he wouldn’t dare to refuse wine from you. Later it won’t be safe for him to drive,’ Ting’s mum scolded her husband. She put more food into her son-in-law’s bowl. ‘Song Song, don’t pay attention to him and continue eating.’
Qin Song drank the wine, poured another gla.s.s of wine for him and his dad-in-law. He took advantage of being an obedient son-in-law. ‘It’s rare I get to pour wine for dad. I’m happy to serve dad. Later Ting Ting will be driving us home.’
Han Ting Ting had chewed her chicken wing to the bone. ‘Tonight I’m sleeping over. Later I’ll call a driver to take you home.’
‘Oh?’ Qin Song asked in his most disappointed tone.
‘You’re becoming more unreasonable by the day. Who said you can sleep over? Go home and sleep in your own bed,’ Ting’s mum said.
Han Ting Ting fiddled with her food in her bowl. ‘I’m not going home.’
Ting’s mum glared at her daughter. ‘You dare not to listen to me?’
Han Ting Ting bit her lips. Song Song stuck his tongue out to tease her.
‘Ahem…’ Ting’s dad coughed to clear the tensed mood. ‘Ting Ting you can sleep over.’
Han Ting Ting was deeply moved and her eyes were misty. In her world her dad was the best!
Qin Song felt betrayed by his favourite dad-in-law. He looked pitifully at his dad-in-law to trigger their precious memories of their drink bonding sessions.
Ting’s dad drank the gla.s.s of wine his pitiful son-in-law poured for him. ‘Song Song, tonight you sleep over too.’
Han Ting Ting stared in disbelief… dad! Her dad and Song Song happily drank wine together. Her mum gave Song Song the last chicken thigh… her misty eyes cried a little.
That night, Han Ting Ting and Song Song slept in her old bed. Her old bed was small and they had to squeeze tight together to fit on it.
Han Ting Ting faced the wall and her back faced Song Song. She closed her eyes and refused to talk to him.
It was a gentle warm spring night unlike a hot and sticky summer night. Han Ting Ting and Song Song shared a bed sheet and he kept breathing hot air onto the back of her neck so she couldn’t pretend he didn’t exist.
‘Ting Bao. My loveable Ting Bao,’ Qin Song whispered.
‘Don’t call me!’ Han Ting Ting said.
Ting Ting covered Qin Song’s mouth. He stared at her shiny round eyes that shone in the dim lit room and it kicked start his animal drive.
Qin Song slowly licked Ting Ting’s palm.
Han Ting Ting was ticklish and laughed. She wiped her wet palm on one of Song Song’s cheeks and pinched his dry cheek. ‘You’re bad.’ Her voice was like that of ‘a girl who said hate but meant love.’
‘I hate you,’ Han Ting Ting said sweetly.
‘I love you,’ Qin Song whispered. He bit Ting Ting’s lips gently and licked over his bite marks on her lips. ‘You’re a trouble maker, but I really love you.’
Han Ting Ting’s heart softened at Song Song’s sincere love declarations. It was a warm spring night but his sweet whispers gave her goose b.u.mps. She laid her head on his hard chest and kicked her petty jealousy from the bed they shared.
Qin Song’s breathing became hotter and heavier by the second. He whispered in Ting Ting’s ear. ‘The wall installations are they almost sound proof?’
‘Song Song, can you hear my parents snoring?’ Han Ting Ting asked.
‘Sound and clear,’ Qin Song whispered.
Qin Song took a deep breath. He noticed his discomfort made Ting Ting more triumphant and his heart cried out for the sweetest revenge.
‘There’s no other way,’ Qin Song said. He pretended to close his eyes. ‘Honey, you’ll need to endure your suffering. Remember to bite your tongue because the walls are thin.’
Han Ting Ting didn’t get to think deeply about what Song Song meant, his body ambushed her body and she remembered to bite her tongue throughout their sleepless night.
End of Chapter Thirteen