Chapter 35: Disappointment

After starting university, she returned home less often, and her visits to the study had become almost nonexistent. Now, called to the study once more, Qin Miaoyu no longer felt the rejection and fear of her childhood.

She sat across from her father, Qin Shengyi.

"Do you know why I've asked you here?" he said.

Qin Miaoyu shook her head. She didn't know, nor did she care to guess.

"Today, Tang Shuxun came by—Tang Shuxun, the young master from Liang City next door. His family is one of the top elite families there, far superior to that Lu fellow you're married to now."

Qin Miaoyu looked at the face before her, which seemed to have begun to bear the marks of age and hardship. "Superior in what way?"

Qin Shengyi slammed the table. "How can you not know what's better? Have all those years of teaching you amounted to nothing?"

"Perhaps so. But I've already registered my marriage with Lu Qi'an. If I were to marry Tang Shuxun now, that would be bigamy. And you would be the instigator of that crime, wouldn't you?"

"Bigamy, bigamy—stop talking nonsense. Just divorce that Lu man. Look at what you're wearing now. Your mother says your entire outfit costs only a few hundred yuan. What kind of life can he give you?"

"And look at Tang Shuxun. His family is wealthy, he'll take over the company one day. If you marry him, you'll never worry about food or clothes, and our business will rise to new heights. With our family backing you, his family wouldn't dare treat you badly."

Qin Shengyi was shrewd. Normally, these sons of elite families wouldn't take an interest in his small ventures, but today, Tang Shuxun had brought up business himself, mentioned being high school classmates with his daughter, and his behavior at the Qin house all but confirmed it: Tang Shuxun liked his eldest daughter.

This gave him a brilliant idea—if Qin Miaoyu would divorce and marry into the Tang family, with Tang Shuxun’s willingness to help, the Qin family business would surely grow and prosper much faster.

"What does the prosperity of the Qin family business have to do with me? If I'm not mistaken, Father, you've never considered letting me or my sister manage the family business in the future. Why should I waste my time and effort developing something that will never belong to me?"

There was a smile on Qin Miaoyu’s lips, but it carried a chill.

She had never thought about this issue before, but after starting university and losing touch with her family, she suddenly realized it. She still didn’t know what her father truly intended.

She had once suspected her father might have a mistress and an illegitimate child somewhere, but found no evidence. She couldn’t fathom how he planned to handle the matter. The only certainty was that he had never intended for her or her sister to inherit the Qin business.

After all, she studied in the arts, and her sister Qin Lianzhu’s major had nothing to do with business management.

"How is it irrelevant? Before your grandmother passed away, she said the Qin family’s assets would include your share. Her holdings will be transferred to you when you turn thirty. I’m merely holding them in trust for you now!"

"Are you sure it's a trust, Father?"

Her disappointment in her parents had built up bit by bit; this so-called trust was one of those disappointments.

At first, she truly believed her parents. Later, after talking to Uncle Gu, she learned that her grandmother’s shares had long ago been transferred to her father’s name when her health declined. There was no trust, just her parents using it as leverage to keep her concerned for the Qin family.

Qin Shengyi felt uneasy about this, and he did not continue along that line. Instead, he softened his tone, speaking of the hardships of the Qin family and his own, hoping Qin Miaoyu would show him more understanding.

"Father, if it’s so difficult, why not just let go? You have me and Lianzhu—just pick one to train at the company for a few years. Once she's capable, you won’t have to worry about the business anymore. Isn’t that better?"

How could Qin Shengyi agree? Her words infuriated him. He hurled a teacup, but his aim was poor—it missed Qin Miaoyu, hit the wall, and shattered on the floor with a crisp sound.

Outside the study, Lu Qi'an heard the commotion and immediately kicked open the door.

"Miaoyu, are you alright?"

Qin Miaoyu shook her head. "I’m fine."

"Father, I have something else to do. I’ll leave now."

"Go, go, get out! Once you leave, don’t come back!"

She was unmoved by his words. She packed her things and left the Qin house with Lu Qi'an.

The Qins lived in a small villa district. Although it couldn’t compare to the residences of the southern city's elite families, everyone in the neighborhood had some wealth.

As she passed one villa, a boy of about ten rushed out and almost collided with Qin Miaoyu. Lu Qi'an stepped in to block him, and the boy fell hard onto his backside, bursting into noisy tears.

His crying brought the villa’s mistress outside.

Seeing Qin Miaoyu opposite her son, the woman immediately assumed she had bullied the boy.

"Miss Qin, everyone says you’re a gentle young lady, but how could you be at odds with a child today? If anything happens to my Bao’er because of this, I won’t let it go!"

Qin Miaoyu recognized her.

Her name was Xu Xinrong, rumored to be the mistress of a wealthy businessman from Liang City. After giving birth, she was discovered by the man's wife and sent here, where she had lived for over ten years.

"This has nothing to do with Miaoyu," said Lu Qi'an. "Your child ran out and nearly crashed into her; I blocked him, and that’s why he fell. If you’re worried about him, take him to the hospital. If anything happens, you can contact me directly."

"And who are you?" Xu Xinrong asked hesitantly.

She had been so focused on blaming Qin Miaoyu that she hadn’t noticed the unusual man beside her.

"I am Miaoyu’s husband."

"Oh? Qin Miaoyu’s husband!" Xu Xinrong’s words were laden with meaning. "I heard she married an ordinary man—so it’s you!"

Now that she knew who he was, Xu Xinrong’s tone grew more condescending.

But Qin Miaoyu and Lu Qi'an had no intention of engaging further. After stressing that she could reach them if anything happened to the boy, they said nothing more.

Watching their departing backs, a look of satisfaction flashed in Xu Xinrong’s eyes.

After walking some distance, Qin Miaoyu suddenly stopped.

"What’s wrong?"

Her brows furrowed slightly. "Why did the scene of that boy bumping into me seem so familiar? Yet I can’t recall why."

"That’s normal. You probably dreamed of a similar scene before, so when it happened just now, it felt familiar."

Qin Miaoyu still felt puzzled. "Is that really it?"