Lily put on a smile for Qin Mo and Tang Lingyun as she entered the private room that they reserved for this meeting. She gracefully took a seat across the couple and propped her face on her palm.
“You came alone,” Qin Mo stated calmly. He knew he shouldn’t agitate this woman right now. “Where is your husband?”
“I told you he is a very busy man. Don’t worry, he will come soon,” she said before she opened the menu and read its contents. “Have you ordered anything?” she asked, ignoring Qin Mo’s indifferent gaze.
“I only ordered some tea. We were waiting for you,” Tang Lingyun said while giving her a gentle smile. “Jinghua, now that you are married, I hope that we can leave the past behind us and start a new chapter in our relationship. I know that it was wrong that your father and I have ignored you in the past. But I truly hope that you would find it in your heart to forgive us.”
“Hmmm… I am craving for some lobster. How about you?” Lily lifted her head to look at Qin Mo.
“Lobster is fine,” he answered, a little surprise at Lily’s amiable attitude. But he also did not miss the fact that Lily had ignored Tang Lingyun who seemed saddened by her blatant disrespect. It didn’t miss his eye when Tang Lingyun bit her lower lip and when she lowered her head in awkwardness.
“How about your husband?” Qin Mo asked, he really wanted to know what kind of man would like Qin Jinghua.
“He will be here soon,” she said before looking straight into her father’s eyes. “This meeting is a surprise. I wonder why you would ask to see me and my husband. Does this have to do with Grandfather’s inheritance?”
A flash of unfathomable emotion was seen in Qin Mo’s eyes. Lily’s bluntness was a surprise for him and Tang Lingyun. He watched as Lily calmly made her order. After making sure that the attendant was gone, he then answered, “I am surprised by your perceptiveness. I wanted to meet with you today for two reasons. First is because I truly want to meet your husband and second is because I want to buy over the properties from you. Don’t worry, I will give you a fair price.”
“Hmmm… how much are we talking about?” The gears in Lily’s head began to turn.
Lily’s question boosted Qin Mo’s confidence. This meant that his initial thoughts about Qin Jinghua was right – she really loved money. “We can talk about this after dinner. Let’s wait for you husband,” he said.
Qin Mo wanted to delay the conversation about money until Qin Jinghua’s husband arrived because he wanted him to see what a materialistic and money grabbing woman Qin Jinghua was. Moreover, he wanted him to witness her disrespect towards him and Tang Lingyun. Who would like a woman who was materialistic, greedy for money and disrespectful towards her parents? He was sure after seeing this ugly side of Qin Jinghua, he would have second thoughts about his marriage with Qin Jinghua and he might even divorce her if all goes to plan.
“Alright.” Lily shrugged while rolling her eyes inwardly. Did her father really think that she couldn’t see through his thoughts. She was not naive or stupid ah.
“Jinghua, I was wondering… Your husband, is he from Hong Kong as well? Is he familiar with the Qin family?”
“Of course he is,” she answered while eyeing the tea that had been brewing in the pot on the table. She would love to have some of it. But the thought that these people might drug her again was somewhat making her cautious. “I’m sure you know him as well. He is quite well-known in this place.”
Her statement made Qin Mo raised an eyebrow. “Is he from the entertainment industry?”
“No.”
“It’s okay honey… I’m sure that Jinghua’s husband is an excellent man. You don’t have to feel anxious anymore,” Tang Linghua said while stroking her husband’s hands. She then gave Lily a smile. “This makes me wonder, since you are already married, are you going to be settling in Hong Kong? Or will you go back to Europe?”
“I will be staying here,” she answered.
Tang Lingyun gave Lily a fake smile while inwardly cursing her. Her curt answers clearly showed that she had no interest in conversing with her. How disrespectful! However, she held her displeasure in and composed herself. “Alright… that is good. That is good. Do you need a job? Maybe your father can help you find something to do in the company?” She looked at Qin Mo, her face full of gentleness. “Honey, how about you asked Liwei to give Jinghua a job? Maybe she could start as his secretary? Or a trainee?”
“She is still a Qin after all,” she added. Tang Lingyun cared a lot about her image. She planned to make Lily work for the company to show how benevolent she was. After all, Lily had once brought shame to the Qin, and if the media get a hold of Tang Lingyun’s kind gesture, this would surely boost her career which she was trying to revive.
“It’s okay, I am not a charity case. I have a job that pays really well. I’m sure it is even better than what you are offering,” Lily snubbed Tang Lingyun.
“You- ” Qin Mo swallowed the words that he was about to say when he felt his wife’s hand on his back, calming him. It was a non-verbal reminder of their purpose for arranging this meeting in the first place.
“It’s okay, I always knew that you would decline my offer.” Tang Lingyun looked rueful. “Speaking of which… what is your job now? I mean… you just got back.”
“For a start, I am not working for anyone right now,” she answered before her eyes suddenly lit up. “Ah! I almost forgot. Since my husband would be late tonight, he asked me to give these to you,” she said as she fetched two boxes from her handbag. “Just some jewelry that I especially asked him to buy for you.”
Lily then gave the boxes to Qin Mo and Tang Lingyun before flashing them a brilliant smile. “It isn’t worth much, but it’s the thought that counts right?”
Tang Lingyun immediately opened the exquisite looking box and let out a gasp, “Jinghua? What is this?”
…
Editor: Swaning
