After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Scheming

“Baby, I want a new car~”

The glass window where Rong Zhao stood was exactly the boarding area for Mingzhu’s flight, right next to Gate E35.

Mingzhu had booked a business class ticket and took the shuttle from the VIP lounge directly to the plane. Rong Zhao, however, had bought an economy ticket for a different flight; knowing Mingzhu’s gate, she came here after clearing security.

The passengers at the adjacent gates had already boarded. Only a few people remained scattered in the area, leaving it vast and quiet. Rong Zhao looked down at the WeChat message Mingzhu had sent.

Mingzhu: “I forgot to say, Rongrong, you have to take care of yourself too. (Heart emoji)”

The stormy rain in Rong Zhao’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a post-shower sunrise of a smile. Although Mingzhu was someone she couldn’t fully grasp, Mingzhu was sweet—sweet enough to reach her soul. No wonder Uncle Bai and Aunt Shao couldn’t bear to let her go.

Rong Zhao stayed in the terminal, watching the plane taxi to the runway and pierce through the sky. She didn’t leave until long after it had disappeared.

On the plane, Jiangjiang remarked: “…We’re only going for three or four days. Why do you look like you’re leaving for a month? Can’t bear to leave this soil?”

Mingzhu snapped out of it: “…”

True. She was only leaving for a few days. When she stayed at He Chan’s for five days or at a hotel with Jiangjiang for four, she hadn’t felt this lingering reluctance.

By evening, the rain in Jiangyue City hadn’t stopped. The high humidity made clothes feel damp and heavy.

The Shenglong Hotel lacked underground parking. As Rong Zhao stepped out of her car, her special assistant, Jiang Ling, held an umbrella for her. The wind blew slanted, and the surface of Rong Zhao’s shoes got wet. She looked down briefly.

Jiang Ling hurriedly said, “Secretary Qian reported that the Little Madam has landed safely.”

The frown that was about to form on Rong Zhao’s brow was smoothed over in the blink of an eye. “Let’s go.”

Entering the hotel, they left their umbrellas in the bin. Rong Zhao, accompanied by Jiang Ling and her lawyer, Sun Wushu, headed straight for the elevator. Guests in the lobby whispered as they watched the trio.

“That woman in the front is stunning. She looks so cold—is she the owner?”

“She’s so young, beautiful, and poised. She looks exactly like a CEO ‘Sister’ from a novel!”

The elevator doors closed. Arriving on the ninth floor, Jiang Ling led them to Room 933 and knocked. “Mr. Qin, Ms. Cao.”

They had people watching the room; despite the rain, they were certain the couple was inside. No one answered.

Jiang Ling knocked again: “Mr. Qin, Ms. Cao, Manager Gu—please open the door. This is Jiang Ling, Special Assistant to President Rong.”

“Manager Gu” referred to Rong Zhao’s third aunt, Gu Wenxiu. Inside the room, Gu Wenxiu panicked. “Did you tell her I was here?”

Qin Duo and Cao Qiuyue shook their heads blankly. “Who? No?”

As Gu Wenxiu paced in a frenzy, her phone buzzed with a two-word text from Rong Zhao: “Open up.”

Inside the suite, Rong Zhao stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, not touching anything, looking indifferently at Qin Duo and Cao Qiuyue.

The couple sat on the edge of the bed, listening as the lawyer detailed their history of tax evasion and past bribery in Nanyu City. Their faces grew paler with every word.

Lawyer Sun spoke: “Mr. Qin, when your property company went through bankruptcy liquidation years ago, some unsavory things were done. At worst, it constitutes obstruction of liquidation; at best… well, it won’t be pleasant.”

Assistant Jiang added: “Mr. Qin, Ms. Cao, we have already booked your flight tickets. Return to Nanyu now, and we can all live in peace.”

Qin Duo and Cao Qiuyue didn’t want to go. They wanted to drag this out, to make a scene. The more chaos they caused, the less Mingzhu would be valued, and the more pain and regret Qin Xian and Tao Xin would feel once they knew the truth. Money was secondary now; they wanted revenge.

But this girl, Rong Zhao, was too ruthless. Revenge was important, but they couldn’t afford to lose their freedom.

Cao Qiuyue looked at Rong Zhao, trying one last time to play the “loving mother” card: “Child, we just want to see Mingzhu. If you could just let us see—”

Rong Zhao interrupted coldly: “What about Qin Mu?”

The couple’s faces went ghost-white. Their legs turned to jelly. Rong Zhao stood there, elegant and devoid of emotion. “Pack now. Lawyer Sun will take you to the airport.”

The couple packed in a daze, glancing bitterly at the silent Gu Wenxiu before leaving. Once the door closed, Rong Zhao signaled Jiang Ling to show Gu Wenxiu the files.

“Manager Gu,” Jiang Ling said, “these are the expenditures you approved two years ago for piston rings from a new company. The quality was substandard, causing multiple engine failures. The amount you embezzled was not small. President Rong found out but kept it from the Chairman.”

The “Chairman” was Old Man Rong. Gu Wenxiu’s face was stiff. “You knew about the piston rings two years ago, and you kept it until today.”

Rong Zhao said calmly, “There’s more.”

Jiang Ling handed over photos of Rong Qingyan (the third uncle) shopping with a young woman.

Rong Zhao walked up to her aunt. “Third Aunt, handle your family matters first. I won’t tell Grandpa about the piston rings or Third Uncle’s affair.”

Gu Wenxiu’s laugh was raspy. “Rong Zhao, you are truly a calculating one!”

Rong Zhao remained serene. “You flatter me.”

Back home, Rong Zhao received a message from Mingzhu.

Mingzhu: “Rongrong, I’ve contacted Master Chen! He’s on break in his hometown. I’ve scheduled to meet him tomorrow.”

Mingzhu: “He hasn’t agreed to be on camera yet. I’ll ask him to show us around Xitang first and then convince him.”

Mingzhu: “Also, I’ll try to get some of his private stash of jasmine tea. Do you want some?”

Rong Zhao opened her safe, took out the bunny plushie, and hugged it with a smile while replying: “If I do, do I have to beg you?”

Mingzhu: “Let me think about it.”

Rong Zhao held her phone to her lips and sent a voice note: “Sure, take your time. I’ll also take my time thinking… about how to ‘beg’ Miss Mingzhu.”

Her voice was soft and melodic, carrying a hint of sultry charm. Mingzhu, listening via her earphones, felt the voice drill into her mind and vibrate through her body, leaving her face flushed.

At Jiahe Farm in the western suburbs, the sun was brilliant. Rong Zhao was dressed in simple white linen, her sleeves and pant legs rolled up as she helped her grandmother, Tian Sumei, feed chickens.

Grandmother smiled at her. “Really don’t find this repulsive?”

“Would I be here if I did?” Rong Zhao smiled back.

“I can never tell with you,” Grandmother shook her head. “Little Moon, your mind is so deep. How can I know everything?”

Rong Zhao stopped scattering the grain.

Grandmother said kindly, “Help me gather the eggs, then let’s talk inside.”

After washing up, they sat in the main hall. Rong Zhao took a sip of tea and finally responded to her grandmother’s comment. “If my mind weren’t ‘deep,’ you wouldn’t value me. Rongke Group would have been ruined by Third Uncle and my cousins. You might even be lying in a hospital bed from anger right now.”

Grandmother sighed. “Still resentful?”

“No. I understand the times you grew up in.” In the past, it was a given that the heir would be a male, like Rong Li. Rong Zhao hadn’t even been considered. She had to work harder, hide her weaknesses—even her period pain—to ensure no one could call her “weak.”

Fortunately, her grandparents were reasonable. Once they saw her talent, they looked past gender.

Rong Zhao continued, “My team does EVs; Rong Li’s does AI. We could have both won, but he took the easy path, embezzling funds while burning cash on bad investments. You need to stop him.”

She spoke gently. She knew that while her grandmother recognized her ability, the old-fashioned desire for a male heir to carry the name “Rong” was hard to kill. Grandmother sending Rong Li to Africa was a chance for him to redeem himself.

Grandmother sighed again. “Qin Wei was part of your plan too, wasn’t she? You’re pressuring her to handle her parents’ feelings for Qin Mu quickly.”

Rong Zhao didn’t deny it.

“I didn’t notice the Qins at first,” Grandmother said. “Not until I saw your behavior was ‘off.’ I investigated and saw Tao Xin’s face… You really do have deep schemes.” Sometimes, she found her granddaughter’s pragmatism a bit cold-blooded.

Rong Zhao didn’t argue. Her grandmother’s repeated mention of her “deep mind” meant she disliked her Machiavellian side.

“Little Moon,” Grandmother said, “I still prefer ‘family harmony in all things.’ At least let the family appear peaceful in our final years.”

Rong Zhao didn’t say yes or no. She just poured more tea for her grandmother with a faint smile.

At a private pool, Rong Zhao was swimming laps. Only when she was with Mingzhu did her clothes seem to disappear; here, she wore a full-coverage swimsuit.

After twenty minutes, she swam to the edge. Her watch vibrated—a call from Mingzhu. She signaled her assistant to leave.

“Wait a moment,” Rong Zhao said into the watch.

“Okay!” Mingzhu’s voice was cheerful.

Once the door was closed, Rong Zhao asked, “What is it?”

“Baby~ I want to buy a new car~”

Rong Zhao leaned against the edge of the pool and laughed softly. “Buy it.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“Is it because driving is more convenient for your trip?”

“No,” Mingzhu said. “I want to buy a school bus. I’m at a school with Master Chen. I just found out many schools merged; there are so many students but few buses. The kids have to stagger their release times to wait for a ride. It’s inconvenient.”

Rong Zhao climbed out of the pool and draped a towel over herself. “Mrs. Rong is so kindhearted.”

“Of course I am.”

“Then buy several and donate them in the name of Mingzhu International. It will help your family’s tourism development too. And use my card—no need to use your own money.”

In Xitang Town, Mingzhu sat on her bed, stunned. Rong Zhao was so smart; she hadn’t even thought about the branding aspect yet.

“What’s wrong?” Rong Zhao asked.

Mingzhu sat up, hugging her knee. Her cheeks were warm, and her voice carried a hint of shyness. “Um, Rong Zhao… I have one more thing I want to ask you.”