After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Parents

[Double Chapter] Biological Father and Biological Mother.

The charity event concluded, and the crowd began to disperse. Some business representatives moved to dinner venues to continue negotiations. The Rongke Group had people handling those matters, so neither Rong Zhao nor Tian Sumei needed to attend. Since the exit was at the back and they were in the first row, the three of them were in no rush to leave.

The event had lasted over two hours, and Grandma was a bit tired. The loud speakers had been grating on her ears, so she closed her eyes to rest in silence. Secretary Qian tactfully blocked executives trying to speak with the Chairwoman. Rong Zhao sat next to Mingzhu, and the two of them chatted idly, their hands intertwined.

“Your wrist seems a bit thinner than mine,” Mingzhu said, using her thumb and index finger to circle Rong Zhao’s wrist.

Rong Zhao held Mingzhu’s hand in return. “I can’t tell. They seem about the same.”

Mingzhu measured again and again, then took off her jade bangle and slid it onto Rong Zhao’s arm. She slid her finger into the gap to measure. “See? Yours is thinner. Even your waist is thinner than mine.”

Rong Zhao chuckled. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Mingzhu whispered. “I know the curve of your waist better than anyone.”

Rong Zhao suddenly gave Mingzhu a light kick. Both were wearing high heels, and the contact made a crisp clicking sound.

Mingzhu bit her tongue and hid her face, stealing a glance at Grandma. Tian Sumei’s lips curled into a faint smile. These two little girls.

After a moment, once the hall was mostly empty, Tian Sumei woke from her short nap, feeling refreshed. She stood up. “Let’s go.”

Mingzhu supported Grandma on her left, while Rong Zhao walked on her right, with Secretary Qian following behind. Grandma was actually quite fit from her work at the farm, but Mingzhu wanted to show her filial piety and was genuinely worried about Grandma tripping on the steps.

Rong Zhao had already asked; Grandma wouldn’t be joining them for dinner. They would drop her off first. Then Rong Zhao would take Mingzhu to wash her hair before they headed to the restaurant.

“Did Mingyue memorize the script?” Grandma asked, looking up at Rong Zhao.

Rong Zhao watched her footing. “No. But I did revise Manager Cheng’s draft three times.”

Mingzhu let out a laugh. Grandma shook her head helplessly. “Sometimes being too strict isn’t good. People work hard.”

Rong Zhao replied flatly, “If I’m not strict, the whole thing becomes a slapdash operation.” Manager Cheng’s literacy score back in the day was barely passing, and even Secretary Qian had struggled with higher math.

Grandma: “…” Fine. I’m old; I won’t meddle.

Mingzhu laughed, imagining if working under Rong Zhao would be painful. But then she thought she was smart enough to stay out of trouble—after all, she had always been the one right behind Rong Zhao in rank.

As they walked past a VIP lounge, a voice suddenly called out.

“Mingzhu.”

Mingzhu, still smiling, turned toward the lounge and froze. It was Qin Wei.

Qin Yining was in Nanyu for her thesis defense, accompanied by Mrs. Shao Simian. Only Mr. Bai Zhaolin was supposed to be here in Jiangyue for work. Why was Qin Wei here?

Qin Wei stood at the doorway, looking much thinner than their last meeting, with hollows beneath her eyes. Is she suffering from a broken heart? Mingzhu wondered.

Mingzhu let go of Grandma’s arm and stepped forward. “Why have you lost so much weight? Did something happen?”

Qin Wei nodded slightly to Mingzhu, then greeted the others politely. “Hello, Grandma. President Rong, Secretary Qian, good evening.”

Hearing Qin Wei call her “Grandma” made Mingzhu’s heart skip a sensitive beat. Rong Zhao leaned in to whisper to Grandma that this was Qin Wei, Qin Yining’s cousin. Grandma nodded, studying Qin Wei’s face—which resembled Mingzhu’s—and chatted kindly for a few moments.

Rong Zhao gestured for Secretary Qian to support Grandma and stepped to Mingzhu’s side. Mingzhu’s heart hammered harder as she stared at Qin Wei.

Qin Wei forced a gentle smile. “I went to the US recently. My mother went too. Mainly… we went to get a DNA test for Qin Mu. She’s my sister. She has the same birthday as you and Yining, and was born in the same hospital.”

In an instant, looking at Qin Wei’s familiar face and hearing her trembling voice, Mingzhu felt a sudden realization. She remembered Qin Yining’s hesitation when she had asked about Qin Mu’s birthday.

An arm wrapped around her waist, firm and supportive. It was Rong Zhao. The same Rong Zhao who had protected her when her parents went to Nanyu, and when Qin Duo and Cao Qiuyue came to Jiangyue. Warm, resilient, powerful Rong Zhao.

Mingzhu looked at Rong Zhao, who met her eyes with a tender, reassuring gaze, silently offering her strength. In that moment, Mingzhu knew.

Qin Wei spoke softly. “Mingzhu, after seeing what happened with you and Yining, I knew you might worry about whether a biological daughter would constantly contact her foster parents. I knew you were afraid of being disappointed. So, Mom and I went to speak with Qin Mu first… She couldn’t accept it at first, so it took some time. But everything is settled now. Nothing will happen that will disappoint or worry you again.”

She knew that by mentioning the DNA, a girl as smart as Mingzhu would understand. “Mingzhu… I am your biological older sister, Qin Wei.”

Mingzhu instinctively gripped Rong Zhao’s wrist. A biological sister. Not a cousin. I have a sister?

“Mingzhu,” Qin Wei choked out, her eyes pleading. “Our parents are here. I am so sorry—so sorry for the grievances you’ve suffered these past two months. We want to ask for your permission… they want to see you. Is that okay?”

As she spoke, Qin Wei’s eyes turned red, and her voice shook uncontrollably. Mingzhu remained silent, struggling for composure. When she finally spoke, her voice was steady.

“No need.” Mingzhu didn’t look at Qin Wei again. She turned back to Grandma. “Let’s go, Grandma.”

“Don’t go, Mingzhu!” Tao Xin stumbled out from the lounge, her face drenched in tears. “Mingzhu, I beg you, don’t go…”

Mingzhu felt nailed to the spot. Behind her was a heart-wrenching sob, calling her name over and over in a desperate plea.

“Mingzhu, don’t leave. Mom is begging you… let me look at you…”

Mingzhu’s vision blurred. Everything turned dark, making her feel faint, before she snapped back to reality and stood firm. Gradually, the person in front of her came into focus. It was Shao Simian—the Shao Simian in her imagination, calling out Yining’s name.

Yining. Mingzhu. The two names seemed to bleed together in the sound of a mother’s urgent, painful, and pleading cry. Tao Xin’s sobbing form in Mingzhu’s vision gradually faded, replaced by Grandma’s face. Grandma was looking at her with concern, and a warm hand was still holding her.

Behind her, voices were a jumble.

“Mom, calm down, don’t cry…”

“Xin, don’t cry, don’t scare the children…”

Mingzhu forced herself to stay upright, blinking back tears to keep her vision clear. She slowly turned to face the couple.

The man looked very much like Qin Duo—black hair swept back, a broad forehead—a very handsome man. He wore a white shirt and black trousers; his collar was open, no tie. He was holding the woman tightly, looking at her with worry, and then looking at Mingzhu with that same worry.

Is that my biological father?

Mingzhu looked at the woman in his arms. She wore a floral dress and a cardigan. Her wavy hair was a dark wine-red, flowing like a waterfall. Her heart-shaped face was covered in tears, and her phoenix eyes beneath crescent brows were streaming as she looked at Mingzhu with longing, fear, and love.

Is that my biological mother?

Yes. No blood test was needed. One look told her everything. They looked so much alike—it was like looking at a version of herself twenty years in the future. It was a completely different feeling from seeing Cao Qiuyue; it was a visceral, biological connection, the bond of someone who had carried her for ten months.

However…

Mingzhu turned and buried her face in Rong Zhao’s chest, her whole body shaking. “Take me away.” Her voice trembled. She pushed at Rong Zhao in a panic. “Rong Zhao, take me away.”

Rong Zhao stroked Mingzhu’s trembling back. Mingzhu suddenly remembered her hair and looked up; Rong Zhao’s face and clothes were stained with the black dye from her hair spray.

“I’m sorry.” Tears flooded Mingzhu’s eyes. She tried to wipe the black stains off Rong Zhao’s face, but she only seemed to make it worse. Her heart was in chaos. She sobbed, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. You don’t have to say sorry.” Rong Zhao knew Mingzhu wasn’t apologizing for the stains; she was crying for herself. She caught Mingzhu’s frantic hands.

Mingzhu’s gaze was frantic, like a lost fawn with nowhere to go. Behind her, the cries continued. People were calling her name, calling her “daughter.” The voices of a man and a woman—strangers, yet voices that stirred her blood and made her knees weak.

“Rong Zhao…” Mingzhu pleaded for help.

“It’s okay, Mingzhu. Look at me.” Rong Zhao cupped Mingzhu’s face, wiping the tears with her thumbs. “If you want to leave, I’ll take you away. If you aren’t sure, we can sit in the lounge for a while to calm down. It’s okay.”

Mingzhu looked at her blankly. Gentle Rong Zhao, who didn’t care about the stains on her clothes and wasn’t angry with her. She slowly remembered that she had a home now. She wasn’t someone with nowhere to go.

“Take me away, Rong Zhao. I want to go home. To our home.”

“Okay,” Rong Zhao said, taking Mingzhu’s wrist and leading her forward. “I’m taking you home. To our home.”

“Wait—” Tao Xin cried out. Qin Xian held his wife firmly, unable to take his eyes off his younger daughter’s back. The daughter they had lost for twenty-two years.

“Mingzhu,” Qin Xian said, tears falling. “Your parents are sorry. Please don’t go. Your mother… she’s not well, she has high blood pressure…”

“No, no!” Tao Xin shoved him. “Shut up!” She gasped for air, crying and smiling at the same time. “We won’t pressure you. We are the ones who are sorry. We were too impatient, coming here straight from the airport. It’s our fault. Go home with Rong Zhao first.”

Because she was sobbing, Tao Xin spoke in fragments. Qin Wei, fearing her mother might faint from the stress, kept rubbing her heart. They truly had been too hasty; her mother had rushed here the moment she landed from America.

Mingzhu’s eyes were red. She knew they weren’t at fault, just as she knew Bai Zhaolin and Shao Simian weren’t at fault. But she wasn’t at fault either. She didn’t know if their words were true; she didn’t know if they would love Qin Mu more. Qin Mu wasn’t married; her situation was different.

Mingzhu had her “lover,” Rong Zhao, which was why the Bais could feel at ease about her. How could this couple feel at ease about Qin Mu, who was studying in America? She didn’t want to be disappointed. She was afraid of it. Her first instinct was to run away—the essence of self-protection when one fears pain and harm.

Mingzhu shook her head and tried to keep walking. Grandma Rong sighed and stepped in front of her. “Child, if I may be so bold as to make a decision… why don’t we all go to your Second Uncle’s guesthouse for a while?”

Grandma Rong took Mingzhu’s cold hand. “You can wash your hair there, and Mingyue can change her clothes and wash up. It’ll be convenient for Mr. and Mrs. Qin to stay there as well. Since they are guests, I cannot be rude. I should host them properly, shouldn’t I?”

Before night had fully fallen, in the twilight between day and evening, the streetlights were dim and ineffective. The city was a hazy blur.

The two rear seats of the Rongke car had been adjusted to three. The soundproof projection screen between the front and back was lowered, and the windows were dimmed. Soft music flowed from the headrest speakers, blocking out all outside noise. The space was quiet and gentle.

Mingzhu leaned into Rong Zhao’s arms, her head on her shoulder. Her voice was weak and delicate after crying. “We didn’t even get our candlelight dinner. And I ruined your clothes and face.”

Rong Zhao patted her shoulder. “I’m fine.” Hearing that Mingzhu was still thinking about food made her feel a little better. “If you still want to eat, we can stop by the restaurant and get it to go?”

Mingzhu stared blankly into the air. “I want to eat. Okay.”

Rong Zhao held Mingzhu’s hand, gently rubbing her cold fingertips and palm, trying to warm her up. “I had something to show you. I should go pick it up, too.”

Mingzhu sniffed and blinked. “What is it? A gift?”

Rong Zhao let out a slow breath. “A gift. It’s a fairly large item. Once I get it, I can’t show it to you yet—not until tonight is over.”

“How mysterious.”

“Yes, a little.”

“Can you give me a hint? Is it a bag?”

Rong Zhao gave a silent laugh. Mingzhu hadn’t forgotten food or bags. Good. “I can’t tell you. You’re too smart; one hint and you’ll guess it.”

Mingzhu was bound to be exhausted tonight, and Rong Zhao didn’t want to pile on more emotions. She wasn’t sure how Mingzhu would react to the bunny plush, but she didn’t want her to be too tired.

“Fine.” Mingzhu pouted slightly, as if blaming the Qin family for coming at the wrong time and making her miss her gift. She redirected a bit of her frustration toward them. But when Rong Zhao called her smart, a small smile touched her lips.

“Sleep for a bit. When we get to the restaurant, Secretary Qian will go in to get the food. We won’t get out until we reach Second Uncle’s place,” Rong Zhao said, patting Mingzhu’s tense shoulder.

“Mhm.” Crying was exhausting. Mingzhu forced herself to relax and slowly closed her eyes.

As the car drove steadily, there was an inevitable slight swaying. It felt like the sensation of a fetus in the womb. In her daze, Mingzhu heard the sound of amniotic fluid—the sound of moving water, mixed with her mother’s steady heartbeat and the faint sound of blood flow. These were the most intimate and familiar sounds in the world. She curled up in the warm fluid; it felt like a place she knew well, a place that made her heart feel at peace.

She stayed in this corner for a long time. The corner that had once given her the warmest, safest world. It was Rong Zhao’s embrace, and also her mother’s.

In Room 3-11 of the Jiajia Guesthouse on Xishan Road, Mingzhu came out of the shower wearing a tracksuit borrowed from Rong Zhao’s second aunt. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring into space. After an unknown amount of time, there was a knock, followed by Rong Zhao’s voice asking if she could come in.

Both of them had needed to wash up. Rong Zhao had given Mingzhu time alone by using the guest bathroom while Mingzhu used the master one. Mingzhu stood up and opened the door.

“You haven’t dried your hair yet?” Rong Zhao walked in, smelling of a different fragrance, and looked at the towel wrapped around Mingzhu’s head.

Mingzhu shook her head.

“Go sit down. I’ll dry it for you.” Rong Zhao touched Mingzhu’s face. It should have been warm from the shower, but it was cold again. Mingzhu was also prone to swelling; her eyes were puffy and her gaze was blank, making her look pitiably obedient as she sat on the bed.

Second Aunt had sent over a hair dryer and some skincare products, along with an ice pack Rong Zhao had specifically requested. Mingzhu sat facing the bed with the ice pack over her eyes while Rong Zhao stood behind her to dry her hair.

The black spray had been washed away, restoring Mingzhu’s long red hair. Her red was bright, while Mrs. Qin’s was a darker wine-red. Despite the slight difference in shade, once their hair was the same color, they were undeniably mother and daughter.

“I’m sorry,” Rong Zhao said, turning the dryer down. “Qin Wei said she’d be back the day after tomorrow. I didn’t know they would return early.”

Mingzhu snapped out of her daze. She shook her head and bit her lip. She finally understood why Rong Zhao had been in contact with Qin Wei. She also understood why Grandma had suddenly wanted to attend the auction today. Rong Zhao hadn’t received the update in time; it had likely been intercepted by Grandma, or the three Qins had contacted Grandma first.

Just as Rong Zhao had taken the initiative to contact Qin Wei, she had sought a family member the other side would trust to mediate.

Mingzhu asked, “Are they waiting for us in the front yard?”

“Mhm. No rush. They’re staying here tonight.”

“…When did you and Grandma find out?”

Rong Zhao paused. “When I was looking into the Qin family, I saw a photo of Mrs. Qin. Grandma realized it later.” She held her breath slightly behind Mingzhu. “Do you blame me?”

Mingzhu took the ice pack off and turned around. Her eyes were blurry at first, but once they adjusted, she saw Rong Zhao’s face—her slightly furrowed brows and apologetic gaze.

Then, Mingzhu irritably pinched Rong Zhao’s waist.

Rong Zhao: “?”

Mingzhu glared at her. Rong Zhao understood. She chuckled and turned Mingzhu back around to finish drying her hair.

If this had happened two or three months ago, Mingzhu might have blamed Rong Zhao for meddling, just as she had resented Rong Zhao for telling her her skirts were too short back in middle school. Back then, she had an attitude toward Rong Zhao; even if she knew it was for her own good, she wanted to twist her intentions.

But now, they had been living together for over two months. She knew Rong Zhao well. She knew that Rong Zhao only acted after careful consideration, choosing the timing that was best for her.

For instance, Qin Wei had said they had already spoken with the sister in America, Qin Mu. Regardless of whether she believed it or not, the fact that they had that attitude gave her some peace of mind. If they had come to claim her two months ago—before the situation with the Bais and Yining was resolved—she would have been easily hurt. If the Qins had come before settling things with Qin Mu, she would have been hurt again.

Rong Zhao had helped her avoid all of that. She had protected her, ensuring she didn’t suffer a single scratch.

But what about Qin Mu? Qin Mu was innocent too. Even Mingzhu thought she was pitiful; surely the Qins wouldn’t be able to let her go. Perhaps it was better if she and Qin Mu never met. Perhaps things were better as they were.

“I remember you asked me once,” Mingzhu said suddenly.

“What?” Rong Zhao asked, brushing her hair.

“You asked me… what if three families were switched? What if my parents were elsewhere and were very good to me? Where would I stay?”

Rong Zhao’s hand faltered for a tiny fraction of a second. She asked as if casually, “Has anything changed?”

She remembered Mingzhu’s response then was “Isn’t it obvious?” The answer, logically, would be that she’d stay with her biological parents.

“Nothing has changed,” Mingzhu said.

Rong Zhao’s heart sank. It fell into a deep, dark place with no bottom—an endless, hollow descent. Like falling from a rooftop into freezing water and sinking into an underwater abyss.

As her heart sank, Rong Zhao’s expression became as calm as still water. She continued to brush Mingzhu’s hair. “As long as you’ve decided. Whatever you choose, I will support you.”

Mingzhu’s eyes shimmered with emotion. Tears began to gather.

Rong Zhao gave a small, sad smile. “One stroke to the end, and Student Bai will be wealthy and worry-free. Two strokes to the end, and Miss Bai will be free of sickness and disaster…”

“Rongrong!” Mingzhu suddenly turned and threw herself into her arms. She hugged Rong Zhao’s legs and sobbed softly. “Rongrong, thank you.”

She understood that Rong Zhao did all of this because she was wonderful and kind—because she saw her as a friend, not because she loved her. Mingzhu had self-awareness; she didn’t misunderstand.

“I’m so happy to have a friend like you,” Mingzhu cried. She didn’t know why she was crying, just as she didn’t know why she had cried when she saw her hair dye on Rong Zhao’s face. She pressed her cheek against Rong Zhao’s stomach, her tears falling like a sudden storm.

Rong Zhao held her hands out, hesitating to pull her close.

A friend.

Just a friend?