“Based on my understanding, you can go see Qin Yanzhi directly. Why do you still need to do this in a roundabout way?” This was something Fu Chengyan was puzzled by.
Stunned by his words, Su Shaoqing responded with a wry smile. “Ling and Qin Xiaoxiao’s experiences were similar. She now sees Bai as her own flesh and blood. Hence, even when Bai has fully recovered, Ling is not going to return him to Qin Yanzhi. However, do you think the Qin family will stay silent once they find out Bai is a member of their family?”
There was more to the matter than meets the eye. Therefore, Su Shaoqing had to tread carefully when dealing with it. “Besides, Ling is…”
Fu Chengyan raised his eyebrow, “What about her?”
“Nothing!” Su Shaoqing shook his head. “All you need to do is help me to contact the Qin family. As for the rest, I’ll handle it myself.”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “That’s for the best. Only you and Ling can resolve the matters between both of you.”
“So, what did Jiang Hu call you for just now?”
“It’s about May. Anyway, since you have no other business, I need to go now.” He was worried about Shi Nuan going out alone, even if Jiang Hu was watching her.
“By the way, once Li Heng is back, let’s get together some time. It’s been such a long time since we saw each other. I wonder what Jingxiu is up to now as well. It has been ages since we last heard from him.”
Fu Chengyan gaped briefly before shaking his head. “Jingxiu has always acted on his own and doesn’t like others to meddle in his affairs.”
Su Shaoqing nodded. “I wonder what he’s up to that he always has to be so secretive. Ever since he came back after leaving for a few years, he seemed to have changed. And then there’s Ning Xi…” Su Shaoqing shook his head as he spoke. “Forget it, I have enough problems of my own. I better stop talking about him.”
“Mmm-hmm, well, I’m off then.”
…
The moment Shi Nuan left the Fu Residence, she received Shi Wei’s call. “I’ll wait for you at the cafe along West Avenue. If I don’t see you in one hour, the pictures will be made public.”
“Shi Wei, how dare you!” Gritting her teeth, Shi Nuan tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “I’m on my way.”
As she floored the accelerator, Shi Nuan sped towards West Avenue.
After more than forty minutes, Shi Nuan finally arrived. However, Shi Wei arrived more than an hour late. When she alighted from the car, she was delighted to see that Shi Nuan had been waiting there for a long time. She clicked her tongue before approaching Shi Nuan with Su Su following behind. “I didn’t expect the photos to be so important to you. If I had known earlier, I would have used it long ago.”
“You! You’re the one that did that to me back then, am I right?” Shi Nuan didn’t care about the photos. Instead, she was more focused on who was responsible.
Shi Nuan had always felt disturbed by the matter. She remembered fragments of what happened but mostly felt like she had forgotten about it. Nonetheless, she would still dream about it occasionally. Every time she awoke from the dream, however, she could no longer remember what happened.
The matter had been bugging her for a long time but she assumed that it would slowly fade away with time. Never would she expect Shi Wei to bring it up at all.
Looking at her sister’s reaction, Shi Wei assumed Shi Nuan was afraid. Shi Wei started to gloat. “Haha, why don’t you make a guess?”
Shi Nuan raised her eyebrows, “I have no time to play games with you. Give me the pictures.”
Shi Wei sneered at Shi Nuan. “Do you take me for a fool?” She then glared at Shi Nuan. “Where’s the thing that I asked for?”
“What thing?” Shi Nuan played dumb on purpose.
“The Huancheng shares. I asked you to bring the share transfer certificate, didn’t I?” When Shi Wei saw that Shi Nuan wasn’t being cooperative, her temper sparked. “Aren’t you worried that I will expose all your pictures?”
“Go ahead. I want to see if you have the guts to do so.” Shi Nuan snorted. “Didn’t I tell you that I have sold the shares?”
“You’re lying. It’s impossible!” Shi Wei didn’t believe Shi Nuan. “It was a gift from Granddad, there’s no way you would sell it.”
“I’m telling the truth. Half a year ago, I sold it off and told you about it. However, you chose not to believe me.” Shi Nuan shrugged, palms up, as she watched Shi Wei seethed. “Shi Wei, give me the photos!”
“You actually want me to give you the photos without the share transfer agreement? Do you think I’m an idiot?” Shi Wei took out an envelope and shook it in front of Shi Nuan. “See this? It’s filled with photos. Besides that, I have kept extras elsewhere. If you don’t give me the shares, I will destroy whatever reputation you have left. By then, the Fu clan and the Su family will see your true colors.”
Shi Nuan’s gaze narrowed while her expression darkened at the same time. However, it wasn’t out of fear. “Are you sure you want to threaten me with that?”
“How is this a threat? It’s only a fair exchange.” Shi Wei thrust her chin forward and looked at Shi Nuan gleefully. “You must be quivering in your boots by now. It wasn’t easy to get yourself married to Fu Chengyan and then reunite with your biological father. But now, it seems your world is going to collapse on you. Shi Nuan, are you terrified now?”
“Me? Terrified?” Shi Nuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Did you think I came because of the pictures?”
“What else could it be?” Shi Wei had no idea what Shi Nuan was up to. Nonetheless, she felt that Shi Nuan was just putting up a strong front. Whoever saw the photos would be afraid and it was impossible for Shi Nuan not to feel the same.
“I’m here just to confirm if that incident has something to do with you. It now appears that my suspicions are correct.”
“So what if it did? Do you have any proof?” Shi Wei glared coldly at Shi Nuan. “So much time has passed since then. Do you think you can still find any evidence to prove that I did it?”
“I don’t need to prove it!” A smug smile broke out on Shi Nuan’s face. “It seems that’s the only leverage you have for today’s negotiation?”
“That alone is all I need against you.” Shi Wei snarled. “Give me the share transfer agreement now and I will return the photos to you. After that, I’ll call all the enmity between us even.”
Shi Nuan suddenly burst into laughter and squinted her eyes at Shi Wei. Shi Wei was puzzled. “What’s so funny?”
Shi Nuan raised her eyebrows. Her gaze then fell upon Su Su who was standing behind Shi Wei. The moment she smiled faintly, she saw Su Su nodding discreetly. After that, she shifted her attention back to Shi Wei.
“Some time ago, I went to the hospital for a checkup as I am pregnant. I’m sure you know about that. The hospital I went to was the one owned by Shaoqing.” Shi Nuan casually glanced at Shi Wei while holding a glass of warm water in her hands. “Ms. Shi, don’t you want to have a seat?”
Shi Wei gritted her teeth. “What’s the big deal about getting pregnant? After you give birth, you’re just going to turn into an ugly, stay-at-home mom. Do you think a man like Fu Chengyan would still want you by then?”
Shi Nuan smirked. “Whether Yan still fancies me or not has nothing to do with you. I’m just curious to have bumped into you during my checkup.”
Shi Wei’s expression froze and she tightened her grip on her bag. “What are you trying to say?”
Shi Nuan frowned. “Nothing much. Did you know, the doctor I’m seeing is the best gynecologist in the city. What’s his name now… Oh! It’s Yu Qing!”
Shi Wei froze again at the mention of that name. However, she pretended not to be affected. “What has your doctor got anything to do with me? I’m amazed that you even remember the doctor’s name.”
“But of course. I have always had a very good memory, photographic in fact. After my checkup that day, I was resting in Dr. Yu’s office. There, I unexpectedly overheard something interesting. Do you want to know what I heard?”
“Shi Nuan, shut up now!” Shi Wei suddenly shrieked. She glared viciously at Shi Nuan. “Shut up!”
Shi Nuan smirked again. “Ms. Shi, why are you getting so worked up for? I only wanted to share something interesting that I heard with you.”
Shi Wei suddenly stood up, grabbed her cup of unfinished coffee, and was prepared to splash the content over Shi Nuan.
“Be careful!” Su Su jumped forward by reflex and managed to hold Shi Wei back.
The cup of hot coffee barely missed Shi Nuan and spilled all over the floor instead.
“Su Su, what are you doing?” Shi Wei looked at Su Su in disbelief. “Why are you protecting that despicable woman?”
Su Su was stunned for a brief moment. After which, she tugged at Shi Wei’s sleeve and whispered, “Are you crazy? Shi Nuan is pregnant. Are you trying to kill her with the hot coffee?”
“So what if I was?” Shi Wei was so furious that she didn’t care anymore.
Su Su frowned. “Don’t forget what you came here for. You’re here for the shares that you deserve and they are still in Shi Nuan’s hands. Getting on her bad side does no one any good. Moreover, Shi Nuan has the support of the Fu clan and Su family. If you hurt her, not only will you lose the shares, but the Shi family and even Huancheng may be destroyed!”
After hearing Su Su’s explanation, Shi Wei regained her senses and couldn’t help but feel that she almost made a grave mistake. She gulped. “What do we do now?”
“What else can we do? You have to apologize.”
“Apologize? You want me to apologize to her?” Shi Wei raised her voice. However, Su Su tugged at her again. “Do you still want the shares? Don’t forget you’re still working at Xinhuang. Fu Chengyan is your boss, and so is Shi Nuan.”
Shi Wei was stumped. The thought of how they were related professionally infuriated her further.
After the close call, Shi Nuan stood up and looked at Shi Wei calmly. “Ms. Shi, aren’t you worried about spraining your back with such a dramatic reaction?”
“You…” Su Su quickly restrained Shi Wei and signaled to her with her eyes. After that, she forced a laugh and look at Shi Nuan. “I’m sorry, Ms. Shi. It was an accident, Wei didn’t do it on purpose.”
Shi Nuan raised her eyebrows, “Is that so?”
Shi Wei clenched her teeth and muttered reluctantly, “I’m sorry.”
Shi Nuan smirked. “In that case, how are you going to make it up to me?” Shi Nuan extended her hand and tap her fingers on the table. “Do you still want the shares?”
“Shi Nuan, don’t get cocky now. The shares belong to the Shi family in the first place. Do you think that Granddad is still willing to give them to you after you change your surname?” Shi Wei couldn’t stand Shi Nuan’s smug expression.
Shi Nuan laughed in response. “Ms. Shi, how many times do I have to tell you that the shares are no longer in my hands because I have sold them. Oh, by the way, Granddad knows that too as I asked for his consent before doing so.”
