It was a fickle another Monday in June. One minute the sun was shining and the next, the sky became dark and gloomy.
Lily stared at the pitter and patter of raindrops against the window of her beetle. It was almost nine in the morning and Lily knew that she was running late for the reading of the Will at the Qin family estate.
“Still no word from the security company?” she asked Yang Mi who was driving.
“Oh… they said that they will be sending one security personnel over this afternoon,” Yang Mi answered. “Um President… I hope you don’t mind me asking but… why exactly did you bring this beetle with you to Hong Kong? The beetle is too small and cramped. I mean… we could have brought with us another car that is more luxurious and spacious for our commute.” Yang Mi asked curiously, eyeing Lily for a moment, before focusing her eyes on the road again.
In Yang Mi’s knowledge, Lily only had two cars – a low-key Bentley and an old Mercedes. Moreover, Lily had a peculiar habit. She would only ride in her own car. When she had to travel, she would bring along one of her cars with her. So Yang Mi was surprised to see that Lily had brought with her a beetle instead.
“This beetle may be small but it is more expensive than any other cars in this city,” Lily answered. Seeing the confusion on her assistant’s face, she let out a chuckle and explained, “Let’s just say, though I don’t know how to drive a car, I know a lot about them.”
“Oh, like a mechanic?” Yang Mi asked, confusion was shown on her face. Everyone knows that President Qin does not know how to drive. But, Yang Mi never thought that the latter would know anything about cars at all.
“Yes, like a mechanic.” Lily smiled. “In fact, I built this car from scratch. I love building my own cars. This beetle was my latest car project. In fact, I only finished building it last month. It had taken me almost a year to finish this project. So I am giving it a try in this city.” Her explanation was sufficient for Yang Mi and she stopped asking any further questions
“President, the traffic is bad in this area. I think there might be an accident in front of us. Do you think we should…”
“No… let’s wait,” Lily answered, interrupting her assistant’s words. She was not in a hurry. Why bother rerouting? Lily knew that the lawyer wouldn’t start the reading of the Will without her anyway, so there was really no point in rushing herself just to attend this meeting.
…
At the Qin Mansion.
Meanwhile, everyone inside Qin Mo’s study was getting agitated. They were all seated before a rectangular mahogany table, waiting for the lawyer to start. But to their surprise, Lawyer Yan refused to start without Qin Jinghua’s presence.
“How hateful!” Qin Fei crossed her arms over her chest. Her baby bump was showing because she was already seven months pregnant. “She already said that she would be here! How dare she act high and mighty just because she knew that the reading cannot start without her? What a prima donna [1]!?”
“Fei Fei… I already told you, you need to control your temper. This will affect your child,” Tang Lingyun coaxed Qin Fei immediately, stroking her daughter’s back to calm her down. She then shook her head and eyed her husband who was sitting across her. “It’s just the pregnancy hormones. I can’t help it sometimes.”
“However, I agree with you that Qin Jinghua is truly in the wrong this time,” Tang Lingyun sighed. “She knew that the reading cannot start without her, yet she still dare to be late. I think it’s because she hates me.”
“Mother, stop saying that. How could she hate you? You practically raised her since she was young!” Qin Fei’s younger brother, Qin Liwei sneered. “If she does, then she is truly ungrateful! The things that happened in the past were all her fault. She was too ambitious and selfish.”
“I agree with Liwei, Mother. You really should not blame yourself. You raised her into a proper lady but how did she repay your love and care? She only brought embarrassment to our family,” Qin Fei added.
“I heard that Qin Jinghua had an international number,” said Qin Mo. His face was stern and stoic, but the anger in his eyes was apparent. “Did anyone trace it? Did anyone of you find out where exactly she had been all these years?”
“Madam Ye wrote that she had been in Europe all these while,” Lawyer Yan answered.
“Europe? What was she doing in Europe?” Qin Liwei asked.
The lawyer only shrugged in response.
“What else? She must have found an old man to seduce. How else could she have survived all these years after leaving Hong Kong? She does not have any skills in business nor any notable talents. All she has is a beautiful face,” Qin Fei blurted.
“Fei Fei… you really should stop belittling about your elder sister. No matter what she had done to embarrass this family, she is still your sister. A Qin, by blood. She still deserves your respect,” Tang Lingyun righteously scolded.
“Hmp! Respect is earned! Not given!” Qin Fei uttered, feeling indignant. “It’s getting late. Where is she? Can you call her again Lawyer Yan?”
Lawyer Yan Xiao was about to pick up his phone to make a call when suddenly the door was opened from the outside and entered Xuan Hui’s bodyguard. Everyone watched as he approached Xuan Hui and leaned in to whisper something to him.
Xuan Hui’s complexion instantly darkened as he looked at everyone. “I think Qin Jinghua just arrived.”
….
[1] prima donna – a very temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent of importance.
Editor: Swaning
