Chapter 69 - Two Families Meeting
After talking about contacting the Lin family, Zheng BuLu took his son to the study.
The father and son pair sat across from each other with the desk between them. They looked at each other for some time, with neither speaking to each other. The atmosphere was subtle for a while.
After who knows how long, Zheng BuLu sighed and spoke first. “YuJin’s reaction was a bit strange.”
Zheng PingQing replied with a slight smile: “Just a bit?”
Zheng BuLu had already gone through He YiJun’s past actions and was now very doubtful of her behavior. But He YiJun usually used soft knives, so despite the recent scrutiny, there was no new information that Zheng BuLu could use against her.
Many of her words could be interpreted in many different ways, and this made it very difficult for them to distinguish whether she did things deliberately, or just casually.
In the end, He YiJun had been with him for many years. In the absence of any practical evidence, Zheng BuLu was unwilling to speculate and deny all her hard-earned achievements.
But once the seeds of doubt were planted, they were difficult to remove.
Ever since that incident, Zheng BuLu began to overthink every sentence He YiJun said that involved Zheng PingQing. Of course, He Fei would inevitably be tortured at the same time.
He YiJun’s words were too vague and had no apparent meaning. It made Zheng BuLu uncertain.
But this time, things were different.
Zheng BuLu looked at his son with obvious meaning in his eyes.
Zheng PingQing looked back as he leaned on his chair, indifference in his posture.
He was waiting for Zheng BuLu to make up his mind.
The two eyed each other for a long while. In the end, it was Zheng BuLu who lost. He tapped his index finger on the table and asked: “YiJun, what did she do?”
Truthfully, even before He YiJun proposed that they invite Lin Qian’s family for the New Year, Zheng PingQing had already told Zheng BuLu about Lin Qian and Chen ShiYi. The two had already reached a consensus without He YiJun noticing.
Zheng PingQing had told Zheng BuLu not to tell He YiJun about Lin Qian and Chen ShiYi.
Zheng PingQing didn’t tell him why and instead told his father to simply wait and see.
It was only now that Zheng BuLu understood what his son wanted him to see.
“Now you know. I don’t care if you believe it or not, just don’t tell my mother any of this.”
Zheng PingQing stood up and left the study, leaving Zheng BuLu still a little confused.
Before today, Zheng BuLu had thought about the many different plans He YiJun might’ve imagined. Women had always been a little more cunning that the opposite s.e.x, but Zheng BuLu was someone that dealt with all sorts of people in the business world. He thought himself a tolerant man.
Of course, as long as they didn’t touch his bottom line.
Unfortunately, his son was his most important bottom line.
After a long silence, Zheng BuLu picked up his phone and called a number. “h.e.l.lo, He Fei?”
Meanwhile, He YiJun was running around the Zheng family home, frantically thinking about the measures she could take to deal with Chen ShiYi’s upcoming visit. Just as she was about to spiral, He YiJun turned and suddenly saw that her brother was back.
He YiJun was stunned. “Why did you come back?”
A despondent He Fei shuffled towards her and handed her some car keys. “Brother Zheng said that he needed the car, so I drove all the way back….”
He YiJun was still confused. “The Zheng family has so many cars, ah. Why would he miss this one car?”
He Fei’s expression was bleak as he replied: “Brother Zheng said that he was inviting some important people for Chinese New Year, and that…more cars would be needed…I didn’t dare ask for details…”
He YiJun: “…..”
She had been Zheng BuLu’s secretary for so many years, yet she couldn’t fathom what Zheng BuLu’s intentions were. Why would the Zheng family need so many cars to celebrate? It was obviously just an excuse.
As they talked, Zheng BuLu came down the stairs and looked at the two. His expression was blank as he said: “Oh, you’re back? Just leave the car keys in the usual place. You should quickly buy some bus tickets. You don’t want to be stuck here for the New Year.”
Then he said very generously: “The company will reimburse your bus ticket.”
He Fei: “….” A bus ticket from Rong City to his house is only 50 yuan!
He YiJun’s eyes quivered a little, but her face remained unchanged. She summoned up a smile and asked: “Old Zheng, what kind of guests have you invited? Why haven’t you told me? I would’ve helped you arrange things ahead of time.”
Zheng BuLu replied with a smile of his own. “Alright. I’ll send you a guest list later. Please arrange things.”
Seeing that Zheng BuLu’s att.i.tude was the same as always, He YiJun grew a bit confused. So the car He Fei used really was somehow necessary? He wasn’t deliberately giving He Fei a hard time?
He YiJun was becoming more and more worried. Nothing seemed to be wrong, but she kept feeling that something was amiss. In the end, He YiJun momentarily ceased worrying about personal gains and losses and instead became preoccupied with whether she was second-guessing herself or not.
……
It seems that Rong City’s no firework policy was fated to fail today. On the morning of the New Year, firecrackers could be heard blasting one after the other. The air was filled with the faint smell of gunpowder, completing the New Year’s atmosphere.
Zheng PingQing got up early to prepare. He changed into a tasteful white sweater, and after Zheng PingQing determined that he was presentable enough, he left his room.
But when he arrived downstairs, Zheng PingQing found that someone had gotten up even earlier than him.
A busy He YiJun was in the kitchen, making preparations. When she saw Zheng PingQing, she greeted him with a smile. “PingQing, happy New Year. You quite early?”
Zheng PingQing looked her over. He YiJun’s hair was up in a simple bun, and her clothes were plain and unadorned. It was the same style she always wore whenever she was to meet Chen ShiYi.
“Yeah.” Zheng PingQing chuckled. “We have guests coming after all.”
“Ah, I guess we had the same thought. I specifically woke up a little earlier than usual to prepare.” He YiJun said.
With a light tone, Zheng PingQing said: “Why go all through this trouble? Don’t we have housekeepers to take care of this?”
“I like being busy.” He YiJun neatly arranged some set pieces and said: “Besides, housekeeping won’t’ arrive till 8:00. You and your mother hadn’t seen each other for a long time, so I wanted to be fully prepared…”
Her tone was full of love as she said: “Your father’s been so busy these past few years, and he’s neglected you. I hope you won’t make trouble for your mother…we’d both be more a.s.sured if you have her while we’re not around.”
Zheng PingQing silently looked at her. He YiJun’s eyes had a tinge of blue underneath, the makeup not quite able to cover it. She probably tossed and turned all night.
With an ‘ah,’ Zheng PingQing waited for her to continue speaking.
Sure enough, He YiJun felt restless by his lack of feedback and continued to say: “Speaking of your mother, I’m quite surprised. You usually get angry whenever someone mentions your mother. I never would’ve thought that you would let her and her new husband come…”
Zheng PingQing replied: “Didn’t you always say that I should make up with my mother? You’ve been so kind to me that I feel like I shouldn’t keep letting you down.”
He YiJun: “…..”
He YiJun used all her strength to paste a bright smile on her face. “I’m delighted that you think this way.”
Without blinking, Zheng PingQing continued: “To be honest, I was also surprised. I didn’t think my dad would agree to let my mother and her husband come so easily. Tell me, why is my father’s heart so big, ah?”
He YiJun:”……”
He YiJun forced her smile to stay in place. “What’s so strange about it? Lao Zheng has always been a very magnanimous man.”
He YiJun hadn’t directly told Zheng PingQing all those lies about Chen ShiYi. Instead, she let him ‘unintentionally’ hear her while she was talking on the phone.
So in front of Zheng PingQing, He YiJun could still pretend like nothing had happened and that Zheng PingQing was ignorant about Chen ShiYi’s so-called promiscuity.
Zheng PingQing gave her a deep look and uttered another noncommittal ‘ah.’
At present, He YiJun had no idea how things would develop. Zheng PingQing’s vague words that were riddled with unclear meanings certainly didn’t help. It made her overly fearful and anxious.
This particular conversation was no different.
After a while, Zheng BuLu came downstairs. He walked up to the two and asked: “Can you check if the clothes I’m wearing are appropriate?”
Zheng PingQing was in the middle of drinking some water, and when he looked towards Zheng BuLu, he couldn’t help but choke on some water and cough.
He YiJun was obviously just as shocked, but her years of professionalism helped her respond quickly. “Yes, it’s very appropriate.”
Zheng PingQing managed to stop coughing and asked through his tears: “Dad, did you plan on seeing the mayor today?”
What Zheng BuLu was currently wearing could no longer be described as merely ‘appropriate.’ Instead, the word ‘grand’ must be used, with a ‘very’ added in the front.
Even He YiJun, who had always been generous with her compliments, couldn’t help the sour look on her face. “Are these clothes something Old Zheng specially prepared for Sister ShiYi’s visit?”
“No way.” Zheng BuLu gave He YiJun a look of disapproval. “This is for meeting her husband.”
He YiJun: “……??”
Zheng PingQing: “…”
Zheng PingQing had an indescribable expression on his face. “Excuse me, may I ask what you thought when you decided on these clothes? Did you want to do battle with him?”
Zheng BuLu snorted. “This is the first time I’m meeting him, of course I want to go in guns blazing. Let him see just how dazzling ShiYi’s ex-husband is, let him see that he’s an extremely lucky person to find such a great treasure. Then, he wouldn’t dare be bad to ShiYi in the future.
He YiJun: “……”
Zheng PingQing couldn’t help but complain. “When did mother become so good and worthy in your eyes? If she really is a treasure, why’d you divorce her?”
He YiJun: +1!
But Zheng BuLu actually responded with a great comeback: “She’s a treasure, yes, but she’s a piece of jade. I like diamonds, ah. In the end, it’s a matter of preference.”
Zheng BuLu also didn’t forget to speak for his son’s mother. “Marriage, well, it’s like those gambling stones. You don’t know what you’re going to get until you actually split the rock.”
Zheng PingQing poured himself another gla.s.s of water to help calm down. After gulping the gla.s.s down, he said with a blank expression: “Do your business dealings properly, ah. Keep away from dirty and poisonous things like gambling.”
Zheng BuLu: “….”
……
Lin Qian led his family towards the Zheng family home, attracting many pa.s.ser-by’s gazes on the way.
Lin YaZhi proudly said: “Ah Qian and Si Jia are so excellent, ah. Crowds always seem to form whenever they go out.”
Chen ShiYi: “…”
Lin Qian: “….”
Shao SiJia couldn’t help but gave the man a deadpan look. “Why don’t you look carefully. Aren’t these people looking at you?”
Lin YaZhi was puzzled. “Why would people look at me?”
Chen ShiYi couldn’t help but say: “To look at your clothes.”
Lin YaZhi looked down and studied his clothes. “But my clothes are normal.”
The others: “…….”
On this New Year’s day, I’m wearing clothes that a first-cla.s.s leader would wear. Wasn’t that normal?
Lin YaZhi, as usual, completely lacked any *beep*
“Here we are.” Lin Qian stopped.
Chen ShiYi also stopped and looked up at the familiar but unfamiliar house. For a while, she felt some mixed feelings.
But then Lin YaZhi turned towards her with an eager look in his face. “ShiYi, your ex-husband is so rich, ah…please don’t reignite old affections with him…”
The corner of Chen ShiYi’s mouth twitched. “…you don’t need to worry.”
“Happy New Year.” Zheng PingQing opened the front door and stepped out, with Zheng BuLu and He YiJun close behind.
“Happy New Year, Little Zheng.” Lin YaZhi greeted him with a smile. Then, his eyes lit up. “Oh, you’re wearing matching outfits with Ah Qian again?”
Lin Qian was wearing the same white sweater that Zheng PingQing was wearing, but because he had gone outside, he was wearing a khaki coat along with the sweater. When the two men stood side by side, their handsome features-one charming and one gentle-naturally became the focus of the crowd.
Shao SiJia cooly looked at the pair, and with a ‘haha,’ said: “Dad, don’t think so deeply. Their clothes are just too basic.”
Chen ShiYi was glad to see her son and stepson stand close together and greet each other during the New Year. She felt a warmth envelop her heart.
“ShiYi, long time no see.” Zheng BuLu took the lead in greeting Chen ShiYi.
“Long time no…” Chen ShiYi reluctantly looked away from the two children and was about to say h.e.l.lo to her ex-husband, but when she saw what he was wearing, she became speechless.
She looked at her ex-husband in horror, then turned to look at her current husband. The two images…matched up?!
Lin YaZhi, this big-hearted man, stepped forward on his own accord and said: “You must be Little Zheng’s father. h.e.l.lo, I’m Ah Qian’s dad.”
The Lin family genes are quite deceptive, ah. They all looked refined and gentle, without any signs of violence.
As expected, Zheng BuLu took Lin YaZhi’s outstretched hand and said: “h.e.l.lo, nice to meet you.”
They both looked at each other’s outfits, and in an instant, the two felt like they were meeting an old friend in a foreign place.
Lin YaZhi smiled. “My child has been coming to your home to study recently. Thank you for your care.”
Zheng BuLu smiled back. “No, no, I should be the thankful one. Thanks to Little Lin’s efforts in tutoring PingQing…”
This scene of two middle-aged men shaking hands and greeting each other was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with socialism.
So much so that the other people around them couldn’t help but feel dazed.
Chen ShiYi stood to the side in a trance. She felt like she wouldn’t be able to get in between the two men who were still shaking hands.
Worrying about reigniting old affections with her ex-husband? How could she, when her current husband was happily chatting with her ex?
Bah, men are all pig trotters!
Chen Shiyi: …..