“Would you like someone to accompany you?” Their last encounter with Qin Hai had not been pleasant. Ye Luo thought it best if Qin Shu did not meet up with her father unaccompanied.
Qin Shu was not privy to Ye Luo’s thoughts. His face was a blank mask, giving most people the impression that he did not enjoy speaking. However, no one would think him dangerous – just anti-social.
She stifled a laugh. “There’s no need for anyone to accompany me this time.”
Though she had not said it in so many words, Ye Luo perceived its underlying meaning. Perhaps she did not need someone to escort her this time but what of the next?
Qin Villa, thirty minutes later…
Mu Lan was dressed impeccably, her clothes accentuating her natural beauty. Despite being middle-aged, she looked no older than a woman in her thirties. A strict diet and a good dose of healthy living helped.
Qin Ya noticed her mother’s unusual apparel and asked curiously, “Mom, what is the occasion? Why are you all dolled up?”
Mu Lan was checking herself in a compact mirror when she heard Qin Ya’s question as she walked down the stairs. “Why haven’t you gone to work? This is a critical period of time for us. You’re jeopardizing our plans.”
Ever since Shen Yaohui kidnapped her, Qin Ya’s mind was mired in constant flux. If only she owned shares in the company then nothing would have happened to her.
In order to persuade Qin Hai against leaving the company to Qin Shu, Mu Lan sent Qin Ya to a local university so that she could entrap the hearts of Qin Hai’s employees over time; with her scheme culminating in Qin Hai’s transfer of the company’s shares from him to them.
Qin Ya felt aggrieved. “I’ll head to the company later. Where are you going, Mom?”
Displeased with her daughter’s response, Mu Lan bit out a reply, “It’s none of your concern. You would do well to mind your own business. I’m going out for a while. I expect you to be at the company by the time I come back.”
Seeming as if she had thought of something, she continued, “By the way, how is the manager of the finance department doing?”
The manager of the finance department was a man in his forties. He was a painfully average man, whether it was his looks or temperament. Nonetheless, Qin Ya had spared no effort roping him in. There was only so much she could do by herself and he was a necessary addition to their plan.
Albeit, she felt nothing but disgust for him.
“He said he needs another two days. He’s worried that he’ll be discovered if he is not discreet.”
“Tell him to exercise caution. We can’t let the cat out of the bag. Not now when we’re so close to our objective.” Mu Lan instructed sternly.
“Madam, E-eldest… Eldest Miss has returned!” Aunt Rong exclaimed as she hurried into the living room.
At the mention of Qin Shu, Qin Ya shouted angrily, “What Eldest Miss? I’m the only daughter of the Qin family.”
“You’re just my father’s step-daughter.”
Qin Shu strolled in unhurriedly, carrying President Ba in her arms.
Qin Ya hated it the most when people reminded her that she was only Qin Hai’s step-daughter. That, coupled with her hatred for Qin Shu, fanned the flames of her anger to new heights. “Who are you calling a step-daughter? I’m the eldest daughter of this family.”
Before she could embarrass herself further, Mu Lan clamped onto her daughter’s arm in warning. Giving Qin Shu a frosty look, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
Ignoring Qin Ya who was on the verge of assaulting her, Qin Shu gave Mu Lan a once over. She looked much better now than she was before. The clothes she wore suited her and brought out her feminine charms.
“Father wanted to see me so I decided to pay him a visit since I’m on semester break. Nothing seems to have changed in the time I’ve been away.”
“You can’t honestly be thinking of moving back now, can you?” Mu Lan had a bad premonition. What was Qin Hai up to?
Qin Shu did not respond. She simply climbed up the stairs as if she had not heard Mu Lan speaking.
Ye Luo followed closely behind.
“Qin Shu, this is my house. How dare you trespass on private property! ”
Qin Ya never thought of Qin Shu as her elder sister. Watching Qin Shu traipse around her home, like she owned the place, left her feeling angry and violated. Rushing towards Qin Shu, Qin Ya tried to stop her.
Mu Lan shared her daughter’s sentiments and hoped to rid herself of the menace that was Qin Hai’s daughter.
Hearing the commotion being made in the living room, Ye Luo stopped in his tracks and blocked the stairs. He was not about to let either Qin Ya or Mu Lan pursue Qin Shu. If they wanted to harass the young madam, they would have to get through him first.
Ye Luo’s figure resembled a mountain, tall and unyielding. A thick cloud of killing intent emanated in the air as he cracked his knuckles menacingly.
The pair of mother and daughter stood rooted on the spot, not daring to take a step further.
Upon a closer inspection of Ye Luo’s features, Qin Ya noted how handsome he looked. Decrying indignantly, she shouted, “Qin Shu, you are already married! You should have no eyes for others.”
Mu Lan glared at Qin Ya, willing her into silence. Now was not the time for them to shed all pretence of cordiality.
Disgruntled, Qin Ya snorted.
Qin Shu swept an arm from one end of the villa to the other as she stared down at the two miscreants below. “Half of this villa belongs to my mother. The two of you are merely parasites. One is my father’s mistress while the other is the daughter of that said mistress.”
Mu Lan’s expression warped into an ugly grimace. Retorting with as much venom as she could muster, she growled, “Qin Hai and I are in love. We’re married and protected by the law.”
“The fact of the matter won’t change. You’re an ugly parasite whose only achievement is the destruction of yet another family.” Glancing at Qin Ya, she added, “Otherwise, where would this so-called ‘step-daughter’ have come from?”
Qin Shu sneered openly and handed President Ba over to Ye Luo who received him without a word.
Only then did Qin Shu make her way upstairs.
Ye Luo stood at the foot of the stairs, guarding it against Mu Lan and her daughter.
Qin Ya was infuriated by Qin Shu’s arrogance. “Mom, Qin Shu is climbing on top of your head!”
Mu Lan didn’t look any better.
“Mom, I’m calling dad. I’m going to demand an explanation from him!”
Just as Qin Ya was about to call Qin Hai, Mu Lan stopped her. “What are you thinking, calling your father at this time?” Mu Lan pulled her daughter away.
“Mom, you can’t allow Qin Shu to get away with this!” Qin Ya could not understand how her mother tolerated Qin Shu’s insolence.
When they were far enough from the stairs, Mu Lan turned on her daughter and reprimanded, “You’re playing into her hands! At such an important point in time as this, don’t you think she’d want you to call your father? Use your head for once!”
Realizing Qin Shu’s words were a trap meant to corral her into calling their father, Qin Ya blushed furiously.
“I can’t stand watching her strut around the house so pretentiously… It’s a slap in our faces and she knows it. That cat of hers is just as abominable. It scratched my face!”
Qin Ya wanted nothing more than to peel off the cat’s skin and dig out its tendons.
Meanwhile…
Qin Shu did not stop on the second floor. She climbed up to the third and passed several rooms that were empty. After her mother passed away, Qin Hai stowed all her belongings in one room. It was a room no one was allowed in.
It did not take long for her to locate which room it was. Grabbing a dagger from her bag, she slipped it around the lock and pried it open.
The door swung open easily. She braced herself for what she believed would be a musty room covered in dust. Her expectations were dashed, however, when no such cloud blew into her face. Taking a tentative breath, she found that the air was clean and free of any strange smells.
The room was in pristine condition. In a corner sat a table. On it was a photo framing the likeness of a beautiful woman.
It was her mother.
Her mother was not one for photos and practically never took any while she was alive. She had not left any photos of herself behind, that is, as far as she was aware.
This photo…
Qin Shu walked up to the table and traced the figure of her mother captured in the photo, losing herself in memories of the past.
She was a charming woman. Many would have claimed love at first sight upon meeting her for the first time.
She had a pair of limpid eyes that shone like the waters of a clear lake. The only puzzling feature being the colour of her mother’s eyes. Why were they blue?
