The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Is There Really a Secret Deposit? (8…

The car wheels rolled over the wet ground. The snow, melted down, splashed streaks of mud and water. The tracks left by the wheels quickly disappeared.

The weather after the snow was damp and chilly. Although there was sun today, the sunlight held no warmth.

The car stopped at the cemetery gate. The door opened, and a pair of pure black, red-soled stiletto heels descended, stepping onto the granite pavement. She wore a black wool coat, her long, wavy brown hair flowing down. With an elegant and composed air, she adjusted her sleeves and walked forward.

The private cemetery was spotlessly clean, without any accumulated snow or water stains. The granite ground was immaculate, flanked by two rows of white chrysanthemums.

The woman paused and stood silently before the memorial tablet.

In front of the tablet, the person in the wheelchair lit three sticks of incense. With long, fair fingers, she held the incense, bowed, and then handed it to the person beside her.

Only after Xu Zhiyan had placed the three sticks of incense did the woman step forward and say, “Xiaojin, your health isn’t good. You should let Xiaoyan do this for you.”

“Why did you have to come personally?”

“Aunt is here,” Ming Jin nodded in greeting. “Go light a stick of incense. You’ve been abroad for so many years; it’s been a while since you’ve returned.”

“With you taking care of things domestically, of course I’m at ease,” Ming Ying said. She also stepped forward, lit three sticks of incense, bowed respectfully, and placed them in the censer.

She clasped her hands, silently praying for something, then turned and stepped back to Ming Jin’s side, reaching out to touch the back of Ming Jin’s hand: “Look how cold your hands are.”

As she spoke, she took off her own scarf and leaned in to wrap it around Ming Jin’s neck: “Those few unreliable ones don’t even know to come earlier.”

“The scheduled time is 9:30. It’s only 9:20 now.” Ming Jin was momentarily uncomfortable with the contact of another’s body heat and raised a hand to ward her off. “Thank you, Aunt, but there’s no need. I’m not cold.”

They were indeed unreliable. The agreed meeting time was 9:30, and the last person arrived practically right at 9:29.

Ming Jin didn’t speak, and they didn’t dare to speak much either, allowing Ming Jin’s gaze to scrutinize them, inch by inch.

“I know you live comfortably and don’t want to come here to freeze, but ancestor worship and grave relocation are major events, so I still need everyone to bear witness.”

“Yes, yes, yes, it’s all our duty,” Ming Ying said with a smile. “Xiaojin, you say what should be moved and how it should be moved. Aunt has no objections.”

“What about you all?” Ming Jin’s gaze went to the remaining few people.

“Whatever CEO Ming says, goes. We have nothing to say,” said a girl who looked around the same age as Xu Zhiyan.

The rest of them remained silent, indicating their agreement.

Ming Jin’s fingertips lightly tapped on her lap, and she frowned slightly. These few were indeed airheads, not people who seemed to have any ambition.

After her father died, Ming Jin had managed these illegitimate children respectfully and firmly, earning their compliance without forcing them into ruin.

As long as they were obedient and didn’t cause trouble, she generally gave them a livelihood.

They also knew they weren’t welcome and essentially never came near Ming Jin.

They had been very docile all these years.

As for the Aunt and Third Uncle… they had long been submissive and stood by her side, the kind who would even applaud the decision to disturb the ancestral graves.

Could it be… that she had guessed wrong…

Ming Jin didn’t show anything on her face, but slowly spoke: “Third Uncle, you’re overthinking it. I have no intention of overturning the table.”

“It’s just that due to the city’s land planning, this cemetery plot is being demolished. So, I asked everyone to come pay their respects before the earth is moved.”

“Since everyone has no objection, today’s business is very simple.”

Ming Jin turned her gaze to Xu Zhiyan. Xu Zhiyan waved her hand, and the surrounding staff came forward, hanging firecrackers and burning paper money, which served as a notification to the ancestors.

Then came the groundbreaking ceremony, where Xu Zhiyan, as the representative, would take the first scoop of earth, marking the completion of the ritual…

The few illegitimate children followed obediently behind Xu Zhiyan, not daring to speak.

Everyone turned to look. Song Xiangwan, dressed in a black coat with a white chrysanthemum pinned to her chest, walked over with an extraordinary aura, step by step.

Her chin was slightly raised, her eyes bright and intense, carrying a hint of aggressiveness. With every step, the movement of her coat hem created a sharp, imposing arc.

Ming Ying glanced at Ming Jin, quickly grabbed Ming Jin’s Third Uncle, Ming Jin, and shook her head, coughing softly, afraid that Ming Jin would say something foolish.

Although she was abroad, she generally kept up with matters in Haicheng… It was an open secret in the upper circle that Ming Jin and Song Xiangwan were involved.

But what was this about?

Song Xiangwan ignored everyone else, walking directly to Ming Jin, looking down at her: “What is the meaning of this? All the Ming family members are here, and you didn’t notify me?”

“Stop making a scene,” Ming Jin said, her voice faint, just those two words.

“Stop making a scene about what?” Song Xiangwan’s eyes instantly turned red with anger. “You don’t want to marry me, you won’t give me a title, fine, but you won’t even acknowledge your own daughter?”

“Ming Jin, you promised me that everything belonging to the Ming family would include a share for our mother and daughter. Now, on such a major occasion, you won’t even let me show my face?”

Her acting was superb. Her eyes instantly turned red, tears welling up.

“Don’t call her Mommy,” Song Xiangwan reached out to block Lele, glaring furiously at Ming Jin. “You must give me an explanation.”

“I’ve been with you for so many years, and you still won’t give me a proper title. What exactly do you mean?”

“Today, in front of your Ming family ancestors and family members, let’s make this clear.”

“Aunt, Third Uncle, you are the elders, say something.”

“Look, the child is already this old. Isn’t what she’s doing too much?”

Ming Ying retreated three steps in shock, her face showing horror. No, I don’t know you. Why are you asking me to uphold justice?

“Uh, Xiaojin…” Ming Jin’s Third Uncle, Ming Jin, was also awkward. “I think the ceremony is almost finished, right? If it’s done, I’ll be leaving first. I have things to do.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I have things to do too. I have a business meeting scheduled. We’re leaving now,” Ming Ying was so frightened she wanted to bolt.

But she didn’t dare to leave directly; she still had to wait for Ming Jin to look up.

Ming Jin’s fingertips lightly pinched her brow, as if letting out a soft sigh of resignation. She said helplessly, “Go, all of you.”

Whoosh. Everyone left quickly, including the staff.

Song Xiangwan wiped away the tears on her face, her lips curved up. She leaned in, blinking: “How was it? My acting was good, right?”

Ming Jin: “…”

Ming Jin’s helplessness wasn’t entirely acted: “I meant for you to pretend to have an argument with me, not…”

“Not what? Was my performance bad?” Song Xiangwan raised an eyebrow, looking smug. “Golden Rooster Award-winning acting is more than enough.”

“And Lele, Lele’s performance was so good! Crying on cue, so talented.” Song Xiangwan didn’t forget to praise Lele.

“Wasn’t it good?” Song Xiangwan leaned closer, looking at Ming Jin.

The cat was glaring, her phoenix eyes looking aggressively, but in Ming Jin’s eyes, it held no danger. The little cat was baring its claws, and Ming Jin couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“What are you laughing at?” Song Xiangwan used her knuckle to press against Ming Jin’s chin, pouting: “I specifically borrowed Lele for this scene.”

When her knuckle touched the coolness of Ming Jin’s chin, Song Xiangwan’s mischievous intentions instantly vanished: “You’re so cold.”

“Are you cold? Why did you choose such dreadful weather?” Song Xiangwan said, cupping Ming Jin’s hands, rubbing them in her palms, and breathing warm air onto them.

“It’s fine, I’m not cold,” Ming Jin said, but she didn’t stop Song Xiangwan’s actions.

“It just surprised me. I thought it should be one of them, but judging by their reaction today, it doesn’t seem like it…” Ming Jin said slowly.

“It’s not them?” Song Xiangwan blinked. “Not Aunt? I thought she seemed quite two-faced.”

“She has no brains… All she thinks about is going to the beauty parlor and sleeping with young, handsome men…” Ming Jin said. “She hasn’t married all these years. She has no motive to do it.”

“Third Uncle?” Song Xiangwan continued to guess.

“He did have a son who died early. He’s a romantic, intending to mourn his wife for life. You saw just now, he’s less decisive than Aunt.”

“As for the rest… I don’t know if they are just very good at hiding it…”

Ming Jin sighed: “Alright, alright, let’s go. Your performance was for a reason. Let’s see if anyone takes the bait.”

“Since I’m already here, should I light a stick of incense?” Song Xiangwan clicked her tongue. “Oh dear, causing such a scene the first time I meet the family, is that bad?”

“No need,” Ming Jin smiled and pinched her nose. “My mother isn’t here. As for the others… they don’t deserve it.”

“Forget causing a scene. If you wanted to, you could dig up the ancestral graves, and it would be fine.”

“They’re useless anyway.”

Song Xiangwan: “…” Tyrants usually just lit the warning fires for fun; she hadn’t heard of anyone so foolish as to dig up ancestral graves just to make a beauty smile.

“Then let’s go. It’s freezing,” Song Xiangwan shivered and urged her a few times.

She wasn’t that cold, but she didn’t want Ming Jin to stay there any longer. It was too cold, and she was worried about her health.

“Just in case, we shouldn’t leave together,” Ming Jin said. “You go first.”

Song Xiangwan didn’t hesitate. She took Lele and left. She was happily chatting with Lele about the scene just now, beaming, but when she saw the Aunt at the entrance, her smile immediately vanished, replaced by a grave and indignant expression.

An excellent actor can instantly switch emotions on and off.

Ming Ying was also cautious. She walked over and called out, “Miss Song.”

“Isn’t Aunt busy with things to do?” Song Xiangwan was still “angry,” so her tone wasn’t good.

“No matter how important the business, it’s not as important as Miss Song…” Ming Ying’s tone was gentle. “As an older person, I just want to offer some advice.”

“Xiaojin hasn’t had any messy people around her all these years, just Miss Song. Don’t you understand her feelings?”

“The matter of a title will happen sooner or later.”

“Don’t be so angry. Aunt will also try to talk to her when she has time. The child is so old; she should be given a title…”

“Is this child… Ah Jin’s?” she asked uncertainly.

“Of course. Her child, born by me,” Song Xiangwan said with great conviction. “Don’t we look alike?”

“You do, you do, you do…” Ming Ying said, looking closely at Lele. She certainly resembled Song Xiangwan, and if she tried hard, she could see a resemblance to Ming Jin…

“Aunt advises you again, take it slow, don’t rush, and don’t get angry. Think about how difficult things are for Xiaojin too,” Ming Ying quickly said.

Song Xiangwan didn’t pay much attention to the stream of words. She pulled Lele into the car, closed the door, and drove away.

In the car, Song Xiangwan relayed Ming Ying’s words to Ming Jin.

“She probably just wanted to butter me up…” Her throat felt slightly itchy. Ming Jin pressed her knuckles against her lips and coughed softly twice.

“Are you catching a cold? Go home immediately! Don’t worry about the grave relocation. Let Ah Yan oversee it.”

“I’m calling Sister Qiu now to make ginger soup. You need to drink it as soon as you get home to ward off the chill.”

Song Xiangwan was frantic, wishing she could jump through the phone.

“It’s fine,” Ming Jin said, smiling softly. “I’m just going to have to make you suffer. You can’t come home for a few days.”

Since they had a fight, they needed to pretend to live separately.

Ming Jin initially thought that living separately would be a punishment for the cat, but she waited all afternoon and heard nothing from the cat.

Instead, she herself checked her phone repeatedly, confirming two or three times that it was not on silent.

Finally, just before dinner, she couldn’t resist making a video call.

The call connected, showing a view of the ceiling.

“Tomatoes, tomatoes, quick, quick, quick, cut the tomatoes, we need two.”

“No more plates. I’ll go wash the dishes. You serve the finished one.”

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t squeeze me. I can’t get past.”

“Big Sister Wanwan, I think we… can’t get past…” Lele’s voice sounded a little frustrated.

“It’s okay. We need an indomitable spirit. Let’s review, we’ll definitely get it next time,” Song Xiangwan said, full of confidence.

“You’ve been playing all afternoon?” Ming Jin’s voice was faint, coming through the handset.

The phone was finally picked up, revealing Song Xiangwan’s smiling face. She seemed to realize something, her eyes blinking sweetly in an attempt to please: “Ah Jin~”

“Why did you call me?”

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I thought you would be busy this afternoon, so I didn’t dare to bother you.”

Didn’t dare to bother me? Ming Jin’s eyes darkened slightly. She didn’t believe it. This looked like someone who had lost herself in play.

Song Xiangwan finally checked the time: “Ah, the afternoon is over? Lele, hurry up and clean up. Your mother is coming to pick you up.”

Another moment of chaos. They had barely finished cleaning up when there was a knock on the door, and Lele’s mother took Lele away.

Song Xiangwan looked pitifully through the phone: “Ah Jin…”

“You remember me now?” The camera on Ming Jin’s side was also pointing at the ceiling.

Song Xiangwan: “…” Stingy bad woman.

“Can I look at you?”

“Please?”

“Did you catch a cold?”

“Did you drink the ginger soup?”

“Baby, Ah Jin, Mommy… Please point the camera at yourself?”

The cat’s coaxing tone only earned a flat reply from the other side: “You ignored me for twenty-eight minutes.”

Song Xiangwan slumped. Did that mean she was also being punished to look at the ceiling for twenty-eight minutes?

“Wuwuwu…” The other side was unmoved.

“Ah Jin, I’m sorry.” The other side was unmoved.

“I’m really sorry. I’m kneeling for you.” Still no movement from the other side.

Ming Jin’s fingertips pressed onto the book page, frozen for a long time. She didn’t move. After a while, there was no sound from the phone.

She turned to look. The person on the phone had disappeared, and there was no sound, only the ceiling view.

Throwing a tantrum?

Just as Ming Jin thought this, she heard a clinking sound from the other side. The camera lifted, focusing on a slender neck, pale with a flush of reddish pink.

The silver rings and chains were hanging on it. Watery, shimmering eyes were reflected on the phone screen. A sickly sweet voice said: “Ah Jin…”

Ming Jin’s breathing hitched slightly. Even though she was at home, in her own room, she still reached out and lowered the volume.

“What are you doing?” Ming Jin raised the phone, her light brown eyes reflecting into the screen.

“You’re finally looking at me.” The chain was wrapped around her neck over and over, then gently hung down to her collarbone.

Song Xiangwan’s fingers slipped through the chain and the silver ring, gripping it tightly, instantly constricting the space around her neck, leaving a slight, flushed redness.

Song Xiangwan’s voice: “Do you want to… lead me like this?”

Ming Jin’s eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes filled with turbulent emotion. This cat was so good at seduction. She knew exactly how to entice people.

“Let go,” Ming Jin said slowly.

Seeing that the hand in the video didn’t move, she repeated: “Let go. Don’t be reckless.”

She was careless with force. Last time she tied herself up with stockings, she left red marks everywhere.

“You forgive me?” Song Xiangwan’s eyes came closer, gently kissing the air through the screen: “Do you want to kiss me?”

Her phoenix eyes were bright with laughter. She always knew how to look the most seductive, and she always knew how to make Ming Jin unable to look away.

A knock sounded outside the door. Song Xiangwan paused slightly, made a shushing gesture, and called out: “Who is it?”

No sound.

Song Xiangwan’s heart tightened slightly. She was nervous, lowering her voice: “Ah Jin, is our guest here?”

“Be careful,” Ming Jin said. “Someone is watching downstairs. If they try to take you somewhere, don’t agree easily.”

She did not want Song Xiangwan to put herself at risk.

Song Xiangwan unclasped the chain on her body, kept the silver ring on her hand, waved it in front of the camera, and then lightly kissed it, her tongue gently licking it.

With an alluring look, Ming Jin’s fingers tightened slightly, hearing the cheerful, light laughter from the other side.

She had been teased by the cat.

Song Xiangwan tidied her clothes, looked out through the peephole, and saw a young girl, a stranger. She looked about twenty, like a college student, and there was no one else around. She didn’t look like much of a threat.

But then again, this person was here to “cooperate” with her, so she certainly wouldn’t appear too intimidating.

“Who is it?” Song Xiangwan didn’t open the door, asking again from behind it.

“I’m looking for Miss Song Xiangwan,” the girl said, without stating her purpose.

“She’s not here,” Song Xiangwan’s lips curved up, her tone impatient. “I’m not interested in playing games with you. Are you a sasaeng fan? I’m calling the police.”

Song Xiangwan opened the door, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, sizing her up and down: “Did they send you to apologize? You didn’t even bring a bouquet of flowers. No sincerity.”

“I am not CEO Ming’s person,” the girl gave an innocent smile. “May I come in and sit down?”

“Oh?” Song Xiangwan was intrigued and moved aside. “Come in.”

Song Xiangwan closed the door, using a lot of force, slamming it shut with a thud, then quietly let it spring open a crack.

“Sit. I don’t have tea. Get to the point,” Song Xiangwan sat down, subtly pulling a throw pillow to hide the pile of chains on the sofa.

“Miss Song is a smart person, so I won’t beat around the bush. I am CEO Xu’s person,” she said directly.

“Miss Song was wronged at the cemetery today.”

She took the bait, as expected. Still talking about being Xu Zhiyan’s person, trying to fool her. Song Xiangwan kept her face neutral and chuckled: “So?”

“Miss Song wants a proper title and a share of the profits. I can help Miss Song achieve both,” she said, looking at Song Xiangwan.

“Oh?” Song Xiangwan lightly lifted her eyelashes. “Then what is your objective?”

“Cooperation and sharing the benefits are my objectives.”

“Didn’t CEO Xu already take control of the Ming Corporation? What benefits are left to share?” Song Xiangwan was not in a hurry, slowly trying to get more information.

“There is a sum of money in a Swiss bank,” the girl said. “A very large sum of money.”

“The late CEO Ming secretly deposited it years ago. Not many people know about this.”

“However, to obtain this money, certain prerequisites are required.”

The girl paused, not continuing, only saying: “We only want this money. The Ming Corporation will give you and your daughter shares and dividends.”

“Of course, if you want a title, CEO Xu can arrange for you to be married in grand style.”

“That certainly sounds like a good deal,” Song Xiangwan said, looking interested.

“If you think everything is fine, you can come with me now.” The girl stood up.

“You still haven’t said what you need me to do,” Song Xiangwan didn’t stand up, leaning back on the sofa, watching her composedly.

“It’s not difficult,” the girl said. “We need you to copy a financial statement from the Ming Corporation’s finance department. The rest of the matters, leave them to us.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“Trying to take down Ming Jin with past financial statements?”

“You underestimate her.” Song Xiangwan put on a posture of not falling for the trick.

“Are you doing it or not?” She didn’t answer Song Xiangwan’s question, only repeating the inquiry.

Song Xiangwan’s fingers lightly tapped on the throw pillow, clicking her tongue, “You have to give me some time to consider, right?”

“I’ll give you three days. I’ll come back after three days.”

“Alright,” Song Xiangwan stood up and proactively opened the door for her. “Please.”

Watching the person leave, Song Xiangwan flipped over the phone on the sofa and asked, “Ah Jin, what exactly does she mean?”

“I don’t know,” Ming Jin shook her head. “But she is definitely not Ah Yan’s person. If Ah Yan wanted the financial statement, she could easily get it herself.”

Ming Jin has now completely handed over the authority to Xu Zhiyan. She wouldn’t need to go through all this trouble for a financial statement.

This financial statement is probably not the goal, just a distraction.

“It’s okay. Our people are already following her closely. We’ll see who is behind this,” Ming Jin said slowly.

“Is there really a secret deposit?” Song Xiangwan asked. “You don’t know?”

“I don’t know.” Ming Jin shook her head. She really didn’t know if this matter was a bluff.

Her father died suddenly that year. After his sudden death, the company was in chaos, and she was already exhausted just tidying up the company.

It took a long time to handle the complex estate affairs afterward, and she didn’t know if any deposits had been missed.

Especially in a Swiss bank, there could be an unnamed, confidential account, and it was indeed possible there was still a deposit there.

Of course, it was also possible there was nothing at all, and it was just a gimmick.

A ploy intended to sow discord between her and Xu Zhiyan.