After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Snatch

“Baby wifey, come pay the bill~”

The Rongke sports car roared out of Rongguang Villa, merging into the spring traffic on the main street. It glided over the Chunyue River Overpass, descended into Fuxue Road, passed through Longyuan Square, and finally pulled up in front of the Mingzhu International Building.

Today was Sunday. The company was closed, and the parking lot was empty, so Mingzhu parked directly in front of the main entrance.

“You shouldn’t have fed me that sandwich earlier,” Mingzhu said, pushing up her sunglasses and leaning against the steering wheel to complain to Rong Zhao.

Rong Zhao: “Didn’t you say you were starving?”

“Was I? I don’t remember.”

“…”

Mingzhu chuckled and sent a WeChat message to Madam Mianmian: “We’re here.”

Soon, the Bai couple emerged from the building with Qin Yining. Since Yining had just come home, the couple had taken her shopping yesterday and brought her to the company today to show her around. Given Yining’s introverted nature, a quiet office on a Sunday allowed her to explore more comfortably.

“Mom, Dad, Yining!” Mingzhu poked her head out of the car window and waved. “Are we going to lunch? I’ll follow your car.”

Bai Zhaolin and Shao Simian hadn’t seen Mingzhu in a month. After the tearful phone call the night before, their eyes were already misting over.

Rong Zhao, ever the poised one, opened the door and stepped out, greeting them warmly: “Dad, Mom, Yining.”

The spring sun was brilliant, and the flowers in the planters were swaying in the breeze. Mingzhu was radiant, Rong Zhao was elegant, and Yining was gentle.

Shao Simian suddenly smiled through her tears. Wiping her eyes, she laughed, “Look at that, Old Bai. We have three precious daughters now!”

In the restaurant’s private room, the dishes Bai Zhaolin ordered covered every flavor profile—sour, sweet, salty, and spicy. He kept getting up to use serving chopsticks to pile food onto the three girls’ plates. Despite the lazy Susan making everything accessible, he simply couldn’t sit still.

Shao Simian was the same; the couple was feverishly busy. Unfortunately, the three girls didn’t have large appetites. The food piled up like mountains on their plates, barely touched.

Mingzhu, usually a big eater, ate the least. Bai Zhaolin grew nervous. “Why are you eating so little? You look like you’ve gained a bit of weight—are you dieting?”

Shao Simian slapped his back with lightning speed. “Dieting for what? Girls look good whether they’re plump or thin. Mingzhu, are you feeling unwell?”

Mingzhu pouted pitifully. “No, it’s because Rong Zhao won’t let me eat.”

Shao Simian: “?”

Rong Zhao: “…” Yining looked back and forth between them.

Rong Zhao explained calmly: “She already ate. She woke up too hungry and had a sandwich, two slices of bacon, a boiled egg, half a bowl of sea cucumber porridge, half a plate of salad, and half a bowl of fruit sa—”

Mingzhu slapped a hand over Rong Zhao’s mouth. Everyone at the table laughed.

Mingzhu changed the subject, asking Yining, “Where’s Qin Wei? What is she doing for lunch?” Realizing she sounded a bit too concerned, she casually draped her arm over the back of Rong Zhao’s chair, twirling Rong Zhao’s hair as if she were just bored.

Yining spoke softly: “Sister said she has classmates here; she went to see them.”

Shao Simian, having heard from Yining that Mingzhu was being cold toward Qin Wei, said gently, “Xiao Wei is quite good. She helped Yining a lot when they were little, and she still does now.”

Mingzhu nodded. “There are many good people in this world.”

By “good person,” she meant she acknowledged Qin Wei’s character, but to her, she was just a person—she wasn’t ready to accept her as a cousin. After being ignored for a month, Mingzhu might act like she didn’t care, but how could she not?

Yining understood that some knots were hard to untie; the more others pushed, the tighter the knot became. She didn’t press further and instead asked with interest, “When are you two holding the wedding?”

The parents immediately looked at Mingzhu with anticipation. They had asked on WeChat, but Mingzhu hadn’t replied. Rong Zhao also turned to look at her.

Ever since Mingzhu learned that Lu Zi was returning at the end of May, she had completely pushed the idea out of her mind. “I’ve left it to Rong Zhao,” she said vaguely. “But I’m indecisive about everything. The location isn’t set, no photos have been taken… maybe the second half of the year.”

Rong Zhao lowered her eyes and sipped her tea. Mingzhu’s attitude had shifted from willing to reluctant. Why? Did she see the invitation to Lu Zi’s grandfather’s birthday banquet? Does she know Lu Zi is coming back?

Shao Simian smiled. “Overwhelmed by choices, are you? It’s true, there are so many styles now. If you’re stuck, Mom will help you choose.”

“Sure,” Mingzhu smiled, resting her chin on her hand and steering the conversation back to Yining. “By the way, Yining, have you seen Mom and Dad’s wedding video? It’s hilarious. Make them play it for you when you get home.”

Shao Simian shielded her face. “Oh, stop it!” She couldn’t stand the thought of her kids watching their younger selves.

Mingzhu didn’t mind stirring the pot. “Yining, you must watch it.” Her voice lilted with mischief. The room filled with laughter.

After lunch, the weather was perfect—marshmallow clouds floated in a turquoise sky. The family of five went for a stroll in Chunyue Park by the river.

Shao Simian walked a few paces behind with Rong Zhao, whispering: “That couple, Qin Duo and Cao Qiuyue, are very strange. If they wanted money, we offered it, yet they still caused a scene. In Nanyu, they wouldn’t even let their relatives show their faces. Now that we’re back, I suspect they’ll follow us here to cause trouble. Mingyue, it’s been hard on you. Please look after Mingzhu’s mood.”

Rong Zhao watched Mingzhu’s back as she walked ahead with Yining. “They’re already here. They showed up just before we left the house.”

“What?” Shao Simian turned pale. “We specifically arranged for a caregiver to watch them back in Nanyu! They didn’t tell us!” Did the caregiver take their money too?

“How did Mingzhu react? Did she cry?” Shao Simian asked anxiously.

Rong Zhao’s voice remained steady. She took over supporting Shao Simian. “She’s fine, Mom. Don’t worry. Mingzhu told them she only recognizes you and Dad, and that she’s staying with you. Then she went upstairs.”

Shao Simian felt her heart ache with warmth and then burn with anger. “Mingyue, do you know which hotel they’re in? I’m going there right now!”

Rong Zhao knew they were in Room 933 of the Shenglong Hotel, but she only smiled gently. “It’s a rare peaceful day, Mom. Cherish the moment. Let’s finish our walk first.”

Shao Simian realized she was right. “Yes, yes. Walk first.”

Ahead, Mingzhu and Yining were chatting about school. Yining mentioned she studied Chinese Language and Literature at a normal university and had planned to teach, but with her parents’ support now, she wanted to pursue a Master’s in pure literature. It was a difficult field for employment, but she loved it.

“What do you think?” Yining asked in a small voice.

Mingzhu smiled brightly. ” I support it! Why don’t you take the exam for a university in Jiangyue? You can study at home and be close to Mom and Dad. If Dad needs some beautiful copy for the company, you can write for him. But if you want to study elsewhere, or go abroad, that’s fine too. Whatever you want, tell them—they’ll support you.”

Yining thought of Qin Wei. If she stayed with her parents, she’d be far from her sister. She and Qin Wei… “I’ll think about it,” she said indecisively.

“Take your time,” Mingzhu nodded. “You have eight or nine months to decide.”

Mingzhu thought about Rong Zhao’s question from earlier: If her real parents were someone else and they were good to her, where would she stay? She knew her answer: she would stay with them. She would divorce Rong Zhao and give back the time she “stole” from Qin Wei. Her parents would always be her parents, but she would want to spend time with her biological ones.

But that was an impossible hypothetical. Her biological parents were trash, and even if they weren’t, they had ignored her for a month. If they didn’t care about her, she didn’t want them.

Mingzhu suddenly turned around. “Hold the umbrella higher! You’re blocking our view!”

Bai Zhaolin was dutifully holding an umbrella behind the two girls. Despite being a handsome boss in a suit, he looked quite simple and honest when he smiled. “Daughter, an umbrella in spring? Isn’t it good to get some sun?”

“No,” Mingzhu squeezed Yining’s arm. “Sun protection has no season. Do you want us to get tanned?” She whispered to Yining: “Watch and learn. The more you ‘bully’ Dad, the happier he is.”

Yining smiled. It was a look of envy, but not loneliness; her eyes held hope for the future. Mingzhu was doing this on purpose—she wanted Yining to feel close enough to the parents to act out a little. Throwing a tantrum was a sign of closer intimacy than being polite.

They reached a cultural merchandise stall. Mingzhu looked at the pretty trinkets. They weren’t cheap. She encouraged Yining: “You’re someone with ideas who doesn’t like to speak up. Literature is perfect for you. You could even create your own cultural brand later. Ask Dad for start-up capital; they’ll definitely support you.”

Yining nodded. She was actually very insecure, a fear rooted in her time with the Qins. Will I ever be as confident as Mingzhu? She thought of her aunt and Qin Wei—they both had that same outgoing confidence and sharp mind.

Mingzhu wanted to buy some souvenirs for Yining and some ice cream for everyone. The total came to about 1,000 yuan. She turned back and called out coquettishly, “Rongrong, come pay the bill.”

Bai Zhaolin fumbled for his phone. “Dad will do it! Dad will pay!” But he was still holding the umbrella, making his movements slow and clumsy.

“No,” Mingzhu waved him off, her voice sweet and her eyes playful. “Wifey, you do it.”

Shao Simian laughed at how shameless her daughter was. She let go of Rong Zhao, and Rong Zhao walked over with a privileged smile.

“Don’t you have a spending limit?” Rong Zhao asked teasingly.

Mingzhu pointed at herself. “I am ‘Stingy Mingzhu.’ Not a penny of my own.”

Rong Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. Mingzhu picked out five ice creams and a bunch of trinkets for Yining to give to her roommates. The total was 1,058 yuan. Mingzhu looked at Rong Zhao with puppy-dog eyes, resting her hands on Rong Zhao’s arm. “Babe, you’re the best.”

Rong Zhao: “…” She hadn’t heard “babe” once when Mingzhu bought the expensive bag, but for a thousand yuan, here it was. “Babe can be even better later. Want to praise me more?” Rong Zhao teased.

Mingzhu’s eyes widened. Seeing the melting, icy smile in Rong Zhao’s fox-like eyes, she unexpectedly blushed. “No more praise.”

“Fine, no more.” Rong Zhao slowly pulled out her phone to show her payment code.

But before she could lift it, another phone cut in. Beep. The payment went through.

Qin Wei was standing next to Rong Zhao, Birkin on her arm, sunglasses on her head, her red curls flowing. She waved her phone with a smile. “Don’t mention it.”

Rong Zhao: “…”

Qin Wei squeezed past Rong Zhao with familiarity and stood before Mingzhu. She lowered her sunglasses and asked coaxingly, “Anything else you want, Mingzhu? Sister will buy it for you.”

Mingzhu was shocked. “Where did you spring from?”

“Floating here with a vanishing spell,” Qin Wei said, projecting an even sharper, more stable aura than before. “Did you get drinks? Yining, what do you want? Sister will buy two more.”

Yining instinctively shook her head.

“We’re not drinking,” Rong Zhao interjected. She stepped behind Mingzhu, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her firmly into her chest.

Mingzhu looked back at Rong Zhao. Being held so dominantly by the “CEO” version of Rong Zhao made her heart skip a beat. It was like that time in the school hallway when she almost tripped and someone caught her; when she turned and saw it was Rong Zhao, her heart had fluttered just like this.

Qin Wei crossed her arms, her red lips curving into a smirk as she tilted her head at Rong Zhao. “President Rong, I was asking Mingzhu and Yining.”

The vein in Mingzhu’s temple throbbed. Qin Wei seemed both familiar with Rong Zhao and antagonistic toward her. Why? It was strange. Even if she acknowledged the kinship, Qin Wei was just a cousin. Why the tension?

Rong Zhao suddenly reached up and removed the gold fan pearl hairpin from her own hair. She gathered Mingzhu’s hair and began to pin it up for her. Her movements were gentle. Mingzhu smiled and glanced at her parents; they were standing under the umbrella, watching the two of them with smiles.

“Are you showing off our relationship?” Mingzhu whispered behind her hand.

“Mhm. Cooperate with me,” Rong Zhao replied.

So, Mingzhu stood still. Once finished, Rong Zhao lightly brushed Mingzhu’s pink sweater to ensure no stray hairs remained. “Do you want a drink?”

Mingzhu didn’t understand what Rong Zhao was playing at, but she was tactful. “Ice cream is enough.”

Rong Zhao looked up at Qin Wei. Qin Wei flashed a fake smile.

The air was thick with gunpowder. Mingzhu, instead of trying to mediate, grabbed Yining to hide to the side. “Rongrong, you wait here. We’ll wait for you over there.”

Rong Zhao nodded. As she waited for the staff to pack the items, Qin Wei bought two drinks—one for Yining, who loved mango.

As Qin Wei paid, she said casually, “Is President Rong afraid I’ll use Mingzhu’s straw to take a DNA sample?”

A gust of wind blew. Rong Zhao brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, her voice cold. “And after you take the sample? If there’s no blood relation, will you just disappear as if nothing happened?”

Qin Wei’s eyes turned cold. “I just want to be absolutely sure.”

Rong Zhao met her gaze. “But Mingzhu hates sneakiness. Even if you get a result, she will resent it. I don’t want her to be unhappy for even a second.”

Qin Wei fell silent. It was true—she and her mother shared that same personality. They couldn’t stand a grain of sand in their eyes. Rong Zhao wanted total transparency and honesty. But right now, that was incredibly difficult. She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Qin Wei’s aura softened slightly. “You protect her very well.”

“I love Mingzhu,” Rong Zhao said flatly. “Protecting her is my duty. Those who don’t love her naturally wouldn’t understand.”

Qin Wei: “…”

Mingzhu and Yining stood on a small bridge nearby, watching them. Rong Zhao, in her white embroidered shirt and smoke-gray trousers, looked cool and elegant. Qin Wei, with her shimmering curls and sunglasses, was smiling at Rong Zhao as if she were flirting or provoking her.

Mingzhu felt a jolt of alarm. She whispered to Yining, “Does your sister like guys or girls?”

Yining: “Girls. She came out in high school.”

Mingzhu was even more shocked. “My Rongrong is the same… does your sister have a girlfriend?”

Yining twisted her backpack straps. “I don’t think so.”

Mingzhu’s mind went blank. She looked at Qin Wei standing next to Rong Zhao. It was like looking at a more mature version of herself.

Qin Wei looks like me… does she share my taste in women too?