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墨書 Inktalez
Cheng Qiuyi stepped out and immediately encountered two men. The two men stood straight at her doorstep, one on each side, impeccably dressed in three-piece suits despite the July weather. Upon seeing their attire, Cheng Qiuyi couldn't help but find it amusing.
Leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, she looked at them with a half-smile, "Did Cheng Tianhong send you?"
It had taken Cheng Tianhong so many days to come looking for her, which showed remarkable patience, yet he chose such a day to do so, clearly intending to make things difficult for Cheng Qiuyi.
"Yes, Miss. The master sent us to escort you home," the man on the left bowed slightly to Cheng Qiuyi.
Cheng Qiuyi's expression darkened as she coldly laughed, "Your young lady has been buried in the grave for ten years. What home are you talking about?"
After saying that, she lifted her leg to step outside but was stopped by the two men reaching out their hands. "Miss, please don’t make it hard for us servants."
"Miss, the master said if you don’t want to go back, that’s fine. He just wants to find your friend for tea and a chat."
Cheng Qiuyi narrowed her eyes. "Are you threatening me?"
……
Liu Shuhan sat in a milk tea shop next to the cinema, yawning out of boredom.
Today was the day Cheng Qiuyi had invited her to watch a movie. Before leaving home, Liu Shuhan had carefully prepared herself, applying light makeup and putting on a dress and high heels that she hadn't worn in a long time.
With her good looks, Liu Shuhan became an outstanding beauty with just a bit of effort. Her long hair was styled into a bun at the back of her head, and her curled eyelashes fluttered innocently, making her look like an ungraduated student.
With two hours left until the movie started, Liu Shuhan stared longingly at the cinema entrance, afraid of missing Cheng Qiuyi's arrival.
Cheng Qiuyi had said she would pick her up at eight in the morning, but by ten o'clock, she still hadn’t shown up. Instead, she sent a text message informing Liu Shuhan that something had come up and they would meet at the cinema entrance later.
The waiting time was the hardest to endure. Feeling restless alone in her small rental apartment, Liu Shuhan decided to leave early.
An hour, two hours. Liu Shuhan finished her third cup of milk tea, and as the movie had already started for ten minutes, she still hadn't seen a trace of Cheng Qiuyi.
Could it be traffic? Cheng Qiuyi was always punctual. Liu Shuhan was worried that something might have happened to her on the way, and she had called several times, but there was no answer.
This is bad, really bad. What if something has happened? Liu Shuhan couldn't reach Cheng Qiuyi and didn't know any of her other friends. With no news from Cheng Qiuyi, she grew increasingly anxious, pacing back and forth at the cinema entrance. Fortunately, after refreshing her phone's web page repeatedly, she found no news of any accidents in C City today, which eased her mind a little.
Maybe she got held up? Liu Shuhan had spent a few days living with Cheng Qiuyi and knew that when she got busy, she wouldn't even have time to drink water. There were times when she returned home at midnight. But then Liu Shuhan thought to herself, if something came up, why couldn't she at least let her know in advance? What kind of silence is this?
Liu Shuhan leaned against a large pillar next to the cinema and waited foolishly. Thirty minutes into the movie, Cheng Qiuyi still hadn't arrived. The movie ended, and Cheng Qiuyi still hadn't come; the next screening began, and Cheng Qiuyi was still nowhere to be seen...
Crowds came and went in waves, time passed little by little, and eventually, the once bustling cinema entrance quieted down, leaving only Liu Shuhan and the popcorn vendor exchanging glances.
Cheng Qiuyi, if you don't come soon, I'm leaving. I... I'm really going to leave...
Liu Shuhan wearily rubbed her eyes. After rubbing them, she noticed her arm had gotten something black on it; then she remembered that she had applied eyeliner and mascara. Rubbing her eyes ruined her carefully done makeup; now her eye area was smudged black as if she had been punched. Even the popcorn vendor couldn't help but turn away with a chuckle.
Feeling dejected, Liu Shuhan slid down against the pillar. The wall clock pointed to midnight; she had been standing for nearly six hours. Her rarely worn high heels were starting to hurt her feet; her heels were sore and bloody, and two large blisters had formed on her toes.
In frustration, she kicked off her high heels and sat barefoot on the ground as she watched her phone run out of battery and shut down. She buried her head deep into her knees.
It's time to go home. A voice in Liu Shuhan's mind urged her; Cheng Qiuyi wasn't coming today—she should just go home.
But Liu Shuhan couldn't move her feet. She knew she should go back; if she didn't leave now, she'd miss the last bus. But what if? What if Cheng Qiuyi came and found out she wasn't there? What if Cheng Qiuyi thought she stood her up?
Cheng Qiuyi, why aren't you here yet?
...
At ten o'clock in the evening, at the Cheng Residence.
In the spacious study, only Cheng Qiuyi and a middle-aged man were present. The man had gray hair, yet his face looked youthful, with a few fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, making him appear no older than forty. He leaned on the desk, his thin lips pressed tightly together, forming a sharp line like a sword.
His gaze was piercing; an ordinary person would likely tremble in fear at his stare. However, Cheng Qiuyi met his gaze directly, her own eyes equally fierce, locked in a silent confrontation.
"When are you going to let me go?" Cheng Qiuyi asked impatiently. She had been glaring at the man all day, her mind occupied with thoughts of Liu Shuhan. She was eager to leave and had no time to waste with him.
This man was Cheng Tianhong.
Cheng Tianhong was Cheng Qiuyi's father. Regardless of her acknowledgment, they shared a biological connection.
In his youth, Cheng Tianhong was quite the charmer and had many women outside of marriage, which ultimately drove Cheng Qiuyi's mother to her grave. Within two months, he brought home a woman who was less than ten years older than Cheng Qiuyi and even had a son who was less than a month old.
At that time, Cheng Qiuyi was only seventeen, at an age filled with fiery emotions. Just as her mother's body was still warm, Cheng Tianhong introduced another woman into their home. She could not tolerate it and caused a scene. This incident became a widely circulated joke in C City and is still mentioned today as a topic of conversation.
Cheng Tianhong had no choice but to call upon all the relatives from the family—uncles, brothers, aunts, and cousins—to persuade Cheng Qiuyi. They said things like "Your father is a man; men will be men," and "You are the only daughter in the Cheng family; the lineage cannot end with your father."
At that time, Cheng Qiuyi was still young and had not learned to hold back her emotions. She pointed her finger at those uncles and cursed loudly, "Are you men even human? Do you see women as nothing? You are so skilled at this; how many mistresses do you have outside? How many fat sons have you fathered? You look down on women so much; did you come from men's rear ends?"
Madam Cheng was still alive then and had raised Cheng Qiuyi strictly. From a young age, she had private tutors for both academics and martial arts. Cheng Qiuyi was well-mannered and always spoke politely; no one had ever heard her use such vulgar language before. The uncles' faces changed instantly, and one by one they hurriedly took their leave.
Among the younger generation in various families, Cheng Qiuyi stood out as the most remarkable one. Yet when others spoke of her, it was always with a sense of regret.
"What's the name of Cheng Tianhong's daughter again? Her talent is quite impressive, but inheriting the entire Cheng Family is a different story; it's a pity she's just a girl."
"To achieve what Cheng Tianhong has is truly remarkable, but it's a shame he has no sons."
Perhaps it was due to the outsiders' comments or some other reason, but Cheng Tianhong became increasingly flamboyant, eventually causing such a stir.
Cheng Qiuyi looked at the faces of these uncles and felt fortunate that she wasn't a man. What was so good about being a man? One by one, they were heartless; weren't they all under the thumb of their wives while keeping mistresses? They called it enjoying the blessings of many.
Pah.
Later, in a fit of anger, Cheng Qiuyi left for another country, and she was gone for many years.
"Cheng Tianhong, I told you long ago that your daughter died long ago, buried alongside your wife. Is this how you find meaning now?" Cheng Qiuyi slammed her hand on the table and shouted. Thinking back to those years made her laugh. She had always thought her father was a man of great stature, but after this incident, she realized he was just a coward. Otherwise, how could he remain silent while that woman he brought home was humiliated by others?
"I still remember you as a child, Qiu Yi." Cheng Tianhong sighed, gesturing towards the edge of the table. "You were this small then; when the teacher was strict with you, you'd come here to complain. Now look at you, all grown up."
Cheng Qiuyi sneered. With Cheng Tianhong acting like this, anyone who didn't know would think they were a loving father and daughter; it was truly pathetic.
"Enough nonsense. When can I leave?"
She wondered how Liu Shuhan was doing. That girl was so stubborn; she probably was still waiting foolishly outside the cinema. Cheng Qiuyi sighed; her phone had been confiscated, and she couldn't even call to tell Liu Shuhan not to wait anymore.
"Qiu Yi, I'm getting old. The Cheng Family needs an heir."
"Heir?" Cheng Qiuyi scoffed as if she had heard the biggest joke. "The heir to the Cheng Family is the one you brought back ten years ago, Cheng Tianhong. Don't say I'm not your daughter; even if I were, look closely—I'm a woman, the kind you all despise most. I can't aspire to your family's legacy."
"Boming is still too young; he needs someone to help him."
Cheng Qiuyi laughed in anger. Cheng Tianhong had not developed any other skills over the years, but his shamelessness had become as solid as a wall. How could he utter such disgraceful words?
"I see what you want is that eleven percent of the shares."
Cheng Qiuyi held the throat of the Cheng Family in her hands, which represented that eleven percent of the shares.
Eleven percent may not seem like much, but one must know that Cheng Tianhong only held forty percent of the Cheng Family's shares. Together with Cheng Qiuyi's, they barely reached a majority. If someone with ill intentions manipulated the situation, the Cheng Family could change hands at any time. With someone as scheming as Cheng Tianhong, how could he dare to leave that eleven percent hanging outside?
"Cheng Tianhong, that eleven percent of the shares was left to me by my mother. Even if I throw it away, I won't give it to you."
Cheng Tianhong suddenly looked up and said to Cheng Qiuyi across the desk, "Qiu Yi, that girl named Liu Shuhan is quite good; she is simple-minded and devoted to you." After all, Cheng Tianhong was getting old, and the family business would eventually be handed over to his son, Cheng Boming. Since Cheng Boming was still young, having Cheng Qiuyi by his side would allow Cheng Tianhong to feel at ease.
Hearing Liu Shuhan's name made Cheng Qiuyi's heart race. Acting faster than her mind, she suddenly crossed the desk and grabbed Cheng Tianhong by the collar. Veins bulged on her hands, and her eyes were filled with bloodshot fury: "Cheng Tianhong, if you dare to touch her, I will drag the entire Cheng Family down with me." Cheng Tianhong had already caused her to lose her closest relatives in this life; how could he dare to threaten her beloved?
Cheng Tianhong allowed Cheng Qiuyi to vent her anger by gripping his collar without showing any anger or resistance. Their eyes met, and Cheng Qiuyi felt as though he could see through all her thoughts. After all, he had watched her grow up; how could he not understand her?
Cheng Qiuyi released Cheng Tianhong and left the Cheng Family's main gate without looking back.
If in the past she had some expectations for Cheng Tianhong, now she was truly in despair.
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