After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Ran Away

[Double Chapter Combined] Work hard, don’t worry about me, mwah =3=

At the Jiajia Guesthouse, the front courtyard of Building 3-11 served as the reception area for Rong Zhao’s second uncle, Rong Qingling, and his wife, Ji Qin.

Rong Qingling wasn’t home, so Ji Qin was hosting the group. She had ordered takeout for everyone. Usually, Qingling handled the cooking; she didn’t know how. He had left meals for her and their daughter, but with so many people arriving suddenly, there wasn’t enough food to go around.

Ji Qin ordered from several of her favorite places and some highly-rated restaurants. As the deliveries arrived, she set them out alongside the dishes Mingzhu and Rong Zhao had brought back from the restaurant.

But for the moment, no one sat down at the table.

Ji Qin patted the small head of her daughter, Rong Yi, and told her to go eat first. Rong Yi shook her head and said, “When the villagers were drinking wine, Confucius would not leave until the elders with canes had left.”

As soon as she said this, everyone—those crying and those not—looked at the five-year-old child.

Ji Qin: “…What does that mean?”

Rong Yi explained in a milky voice, “When Confucius finished eating with everyone, he let the old people with walking sticks go first before he left. It’s called manners.”

Ji Qin: “…I don’t think this is quite the same situation?”

Rong Yi: “The principle is the same.”

Grandma Rong laughed. “That’s for when the meal is finished. While eating, you’re the youngest, so you can eat first. Besides, what era is this? We don’t follow those old rules so strictly.”

Rong Yi shook her head. “Zilu said that the order between elders and juniors must not be abandoned. If I eat early today and eat early tomorrow, my elders will always treat me like a child and won’t give me important things to do. If I don’t respect my elders today or tomorrow, they’ll feel bad and won’t want to give me pocket money anymore.”

Qin Wei hadn’t expected the little girl to be so savvy. She looked at Second Aunt.

Second Aunt quickly said, “I didn’t teach her that.”

Grandma Rong asked with a smile, “Baby, who taught you that?”

Rong Yi covered her mouth. “Can’t say.” Sister Mingyue told me not to tell.

Everyone broke into laughter, and the heavy atmosphere finally lightened a bit.

Grandma Rong sat with Tao Xin. Having composed herself after her breakdown at the lounge, Tao Xin’s eyes were still red and swollen. She held ice packs, alternating them over her eyes. Qin Xian sat on the other side of his wife, constantly checking her mood while casting his gaze toward the door.

He was waiting for Mingzhu. He was terrified she wouldn’t come—terrified she wouldn’t want to see them. Tao Xin and Qin Wei felt the same, a mix of anticipation and dread.

They were late. Nearly two months later than when Bai Zhaolin and Shao Simian had gone to find Yining.

“Don’t worry,” Grandma Rong comforted the three of them. “Mingzhu is your child, after all. It’s just a matter of time. Even if you can’t claim her today, Rong Zhao will take good care of her.”

When Qin Duo and Cao Qiuyue had come, Grandma Rong hadn’t bothered to meet them. But for Qin Xian and Tao Xin, she not only showed up but helped mediate because she knew they were good parents. She wanted Mingzhu to have the protection of her biological parents’ love, and Rong Zhao felt the same.

Just as Rong Zhao had convinced Qin Wei and Qin Yining to ensure Mingzhu didn’t lose her foster parents, Rong Zhao would convince Mingzhu not to lose her biological ones. Grandma believed Rong Zhao could do it because she believed Rong Zhao loved Mingzhu.

Tao Xin said gratefully, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Grandma Rong studied Tao Xin’s features and patted her hand. “Mingzhu is truly carved from the same mold as you.” The difference was that Tao Xin had a motherly, gentle aura, while Mingzhu, in her prime, was lively and delicate.

Hearing this, Tao Xin’s nose turned red, and she looked ready to cry again. Grandma Rong laughed, “Alright, alright, I’ll stop.”

“Xiao Qin,” Grandma changed the subject, “let little Rong Yi eat.”

Rong Yi: “Little Rong Yi is not eating.” Grandma felt helpless.

Since Rong Yi wouldn’t eat, Ji Qin sat with her daughter next to Qin Wei, asking curiously, “I was wondering how the three children got switched. Is it convenient to say?”

Since Qin Wei had stayed here before, Ji Qin felt comfortable asking.

Qin Wei said with a mix of anger and helplessness, “It was my second uncle and aunt.”

Ji Qin: “My god. Are they actually blood relatives?”

Qin Wei sighed and nodded. “Initially, Grandpa gave the real estate development to my father and property management to my second uncle. They thought property management was far less profitable, so they decided Grandpa was biased. They harbored resentment for years, but my parents never noticed. Until two weeks ago, my father didn’t believe his own brother could hate him so much.”

Qin Xian lowered his head, his face pale. It was his own family. He could never forgive them, nor himself.

Qin Wei continued, “My second aunt wanted a C-section and contacted a private hospital in Hong Kong. Her due date was close to my mother’s, so she persuaded my mother to go with her. My mother had a natural birth on her due date, but the second aunt insisted on an early C-section even though her time hadn’t come. Mingzhu and Qin Mu happened to be born on the same night. The second aunt arranged for someone to switch them. My second uncle didn’t even know at the time.”

“Originally it was just a Qin family matter, but an accident happened with the nurses. They got it wrong again, switching Mingzhu and Yining. That’s how all three families got mixed up. When the second aunt realized, she told the uncle, but he didn’t fix it. He allowed it to happen.”

Qin Wei explained for both Ji Qin and Grandma: “And the two DNA tests done this year… my second uncle took my parents’ samples, used a private agency, and tampered with the results to show that Mingzhu was their child. That’s how this all started.”

Ji Qin sighed deeply. Both were “second uncles and aunts,” but the Qins were truly rotten. The Bais and Yining had suffered a disaster out of nowhere. As a guesthouse owner, she was used to chatting. “Did neither of your families notice that Qin Mu looks like the second uncle and aunt, while Yining didn’t look like your family?”

Qin Wei looked at the baby in Ji Qin’s arms, who looked like her cousin Rong Zhao. “People made jokes when we were kids, but no one took it to heart. I guess we were too close to see it.”

Ji Qin was fuming on behalf of the children, especially Yining. “Did you call the police?”

Qin Wei shook her head. “They are in the US visiting Qin Mu. We’ll wait until they return to see how Uncle Bai and Aunt Shao want to handle it.”

Ji Qin frowned. “If they left, will they even come back?”

Tao Xin finally spoke, her voice raspy. “They don’t have much savings. If they stay abroad and run, they’ll suffer. Domestic prison might actually be better than being homeless on the streets over there.”

Qin Xian silently stroked his wife’s back, knowing her resentment. Ji Qin asked, “What about Qin Mu? How did you arrange things?”

“My maternal aunt lives there and will look after her. We’ve told Qin Mu we won’t be in contact. If she returns to China, she can go to Grandpa. My parents and I will not actively care for her anymore. We only want to care for Mingzhu.”

May 10th.

Mingzhu and Rong Zhao stood at the door, having listened for a long time. The moon was nearly full, casting a watery light over Mingzhu. Rong Zhao touched Mingzhu’s pale, cold face. Mingzhu leaned into her hand, seeking warmth. When she was ready, she took Rong Zhao’s hand and pushed aside the screen door.

“Baby Rong Yi didn’t have school today?” Mingzhu asked with a bright smile.

The three Qins stood up simultaneously. Mingzhu and Rong Zhao entered hand-in-hand, like the sun and the moon emerging from the night. Mingzhu had changed into a tracksuit, her hair red again. Her eyes were puffy, but her smile was bright.

Tao Xin walked forward instinctively. Rong Yi jumped down from her mother’s lap and ran over. “Sister Mingzhu!”

Mingzhu caught her and laughed. “Everyone, why aren’t you eating? Grandma, Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin… it’s late, come eat.”

The formal address—”Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin”—stung.

“Uncle Qin, Aunt Tao, come eat,” Rong Zhao added.

“Okay, okay,” Tao Xin agreed immediately, pushing past Qin Xian. She stood before Mingzhu, nervous. “Mingzhu, you are so beautiful.”

Mingzhu looked up and saw Mrs. Qin’s red, teary eyes, so much like her own. Her heart softened. “Mrs. Qin, you are too.”

They sat down. Mingzhu sat between Rong Yi and Rong Zhao. Grandma chatted with the Qins. Mingzhu would occasionally respond, neither cold nor overly warm. Rong Zhao said they were good people, but would they be good parents? She didn’t know.

A phone rang. It was Qin Mu calling Tao Xin. Qin Wei stepped in and silenced it, putting it on airplane mode. “Now, Mingzhu is the most important.”

Tao Xin returned to the table, too guilty to look Mingzhu in the eye. Mingzhu understood and continued eating. A piece of fish, carefully deboned, was placed in her bowl.

“Dad deboned it for you,” Qin Xian said tentatively.

“Thank you, Mr. Qin,” Mingzhu said.

Suddenly, a voice came from the door. “Is Rong Zhao here?”

Mingzhu’s face lit up. “Dad, why are you here?”

Bai Zhaolin walked in. He reflexively reached out to hug Mingzhu, then pulled back awkwardly. He could no longer hug her as freely as a biological daughter. Mingzhu’s heart clenched. Without Shao Simian there, the gap between them felt immense. She realized she had lost her father, Bai Zhaolin.

Rong Zhao took Mingzhu’s hand. “Dad, come in and sit. I’m taking Mingzhu to buy some milk.”

As they walked down the steps, Mingzhu’s tears fell, staining the ground. At the gate, they ran into Rong Zhao’s parents.

“Oh, honey,” Mrs. Ji Yue hugged Mingzhu. “It’s okay. We’re all here.”

Mingzhu felt the warmth, but a voice in her head reminded her: Your marriage to Rong Zhao is fake. This warmth is stolen.

The dinner ended. The Qins stayed at the guesthouse, Grandma went to the farm, the Rongs went to their villa, and Bai Zhaolin went home.

Rong Zhao took Mingzhu back to the apartment. Once home, Mingzhu collapsed on the sofa, stuffed from eating too much to avoid talking. Rong Zhao had the housekeeper, Auntie Guan, bring some digestive tablets.

“You go wash up,” Mingzhu teased. “I’m fine. If you think about it, I have three dads and three moms now. Who’s as powerful as me?” She laughed.

Rong Zhao pulled her into a hug. “What are you laughing about?”

“They’re all rich! I never have to work a day in my life. I’m lucky, right?”

Rong Zhao leaned her forehead against Mingzhu’s. When Auntie Guan brought tea, she saw them whispering and smiling, so she slipped away.

“Why call them Mr. and Mrs. Qin?” Rong Zhao asked.

“I can’t bring myself to call them anything else. Did it hurt them?”

“Yes.”

“I knew it…” Mingzhu sighed. “But what child doesn’t hurt their parents?”

A message came from Jiangjiang. Mingzhu nudged Rong Zhao to go shower. She was used to Rong Zhao in her silk nightgown and the scent of roses. Once Rong Zhao was gone, Mingzhu sat alone, thinking.

Rong Zhao showered and put on her silk gown, thinking about giving Mingzhu the bunny plush tomorrow. But when she walked into the living room, the sofa was empty. A note lay on the coffee table.

Dearest Rongrong:

I’m still not feeling great and need a place to be quiet for a bit, so I’m heading out. Don’t worry, I won’t be gone long—I’ll be back in a couple of days!

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day; remember to tell your mom Happy Mother’s Day for me.

Work hard, don’t worry about me, mwah =3=

(P.S. I took my medicine with me, I’ll take it on time.)

— Mingzhu

Rong Zhao’s blood ran cold. Mingzhu’s habit of running away had struck again!

“Auntie Guan! Mingzhu left. Ask the guards which car she took!”

Rong Zhao rushed upstairs to change. She checked the GPS app on her phone.

“What happened?” Auntie Guan asked.

“She doesn’t want to burden me with her bad mood,” Rong Zhao said, entering the elevator. “I’ll go bring her back.”

She chased the GPS signal, calling Mingzhu repeatedly, but the phone was off. Half an hour later, she arrived at a hotel and saw Mingzhu’s car.

“Rong Zhao?”

Rong Zhao turned. It wasn’t Mingzhu, but He Chan.

“What are you doing here?” He Chan asked, looking exhausted.

“What are you doing here?”

He Chan sighed. “I’m looking for Jiangjiang. She disappeared. I found out she stayed here last night, but she checked out ten minutes ago. And you?”

Rong Zhao took a deep breath, her jaw tight. “I’m looking for Mingzhu.”