The Yandere Queen's Manual for Training Her Wife - Chapter 40

Xia Mingtang thought her words just now had been full of momentum, enough to leave Ji Xianglan looking utterly stunned.

Clack, clack, clack—

The sound of mid-heeled leather shoes striking the garage floor drew closer. Hearing it, Xia Mingtang turned her head and saw Qin Yin walking toward her, dressed in a custom-made silk outfit.

“You—”

Before Xia Mingtang could finish speaking, a firm hand wrapped tightly around her waist.

Qin Yin pulled her into her arms, her gaze locking possessively on the person in her embrace, though her words were directed at Ji Xianglan standing nearby.

“Do you have business with your little aunt?”

Suddenly demoted by a whole generation, Xia Mingtang couldn’t help but feel a burst of secret delight at the awkward expression plastered across Ji Xianglan’s face.

Ji Xianglan glanced once at the “aunt” who was several years younger than herself, then at her little aunt—who clearly looked ready to bite someone. Her expression was indescribably stiff.

“Nothing, I was just passing by. I’ve got something to do, so I’ll be going now.”

With that, she dove into her white Aston Martin, shut the door, and floored the gas—all in record speed.

Left choking on exhaust fumes, Xia Mingtang struggled with the iron-clamp grip still locked around her waist. Her tone was edged with impatience.

“Don’t hold me so tight. It’s hot.”

At her words, Qin Yin loosened her hand.

Xia Mingtang barely had time to catch her breath before she felt another force lift her by her back and the crook of her knees. The world spun, and suddenly she found herself cradled in Qin Yin’s arms.

Being princess-carried, Xia Mingtang immediately craned her neck to check her surroundings.

Thank goodness—no employees were around. Otherwise, if they saw this, how could she keep any shred of authority as their boss?

Qin Yin’s car was parked not far away. While Xia Mingtang was busy scouting for onlookers, she had already been placed into the passenger seat. Qin Yin deftly buckled her in, as if she were a delicate doll, smoothed the stray hair from her face, and dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Only after all that did Qin Yin return to the driver’s seat, her eyes sticky and adoring.

What is this, a daytime soap opera?

By now, Xia Mingtang had built up some immunity to Qin Yin’s antics.

Rubbing the arm Ji Xianglan had just squeezed red, she picked up her earlier unfinished question.

“So why are you here?”

Normally, Qin Yin would go to the Xia household to find her, where Grandma Xia was always around to back her up. This was the first time she had come to her company.

Qin Yin didn’t answer right away. Her eyes fell on the red mark on Xia Mingtang’s arm, her gaze darkening.

On pale skin, the flush stood out like cherry blossoms blooming in March—brilliant and fragile.

Xia Mingtang’s skin was so tender that even a little force left marks. Normally, no one dared leave any on her except Qin Yin. And yet Ji Xianglan had just added her own.

What’s with these Ji family people—so rough, every last one of them!

Inwardly cursing Ji Xianglan, Xia Mingtang lumped Qin Yin in with her by association.

The car fell silent. After a while of rubbing her arm, Xia Mingtang raised her head, annoyed at Qin Yin’s silence.

Qin Yin elegantly opened the glove compartment, retrieved a packet of disinfecting wipes, then took Xia Mingtang’s reddened arm and carefully, meticulously wiped the mark over and over.

Xia Mingtang: …

She doesn’t have to be this obsessive.

At first, she only thought the coolness felt soothing. But after a full minute of repeated wiping, she realized this was not normal.

“Enough already, you’re going to rub my skin off.”

She exaggerated a little—Qin Yin’s touch was gentle—but anyone would find it odd to be wiped for so long.

Qin Yin ignored her protests, continuing another solid minute before finally letting go.

Xia Mingtang looked at the now redder mark and felt utterly helpless. Is she insane?

Before she could complain further, Qin Yin reached into a nearby bag, pulled out a stack of bright red envelopes, and placed them in her hands.

“You haven’t forgotten our wedding is coming up, have you?”

“Of course not. It’s on the sixth—oh wait, the fifth.” Xia Mingtang quickly corrected herself after seeing the printed date on the invitation card.

The gilded cards bore hand-written calligraphy for each guest’s name.

“You even know exactly which employees I have here. Don’t tell me you planted a surveillance device on me?” she joked, flipping through the invitations.

“Not before.” Qin Yin’s eyes flickered with shadow.

“What do you mean ‘not before’? You can’t ever do that in the future either.” Xia Mingtang packed the invitations back into the bag.

“I’ve got them. I’ll hand them out this afternoon. If you’ve got anything else to give me, bring it out now.”

She added that last part because lately Qin Yin always came bearing gifts—food, clothes, jewelry, trinkets—everything, really. A clever way of blocking her from asking for pocket money.

“There’s one more gift.” Qin Yin retrieved a small, exquisite jewelry box, opening it to reveal a platinum necklace with a tiny birdcage pendant.

The cage was no bigger than a finger, intricately crafted with an openwork design, its base carved from solid blue jade. Inside stood a delicate bird, vivid and lifelike.

Intrigued, Xia Mingtang played with it in her hand. “Where do you even find all these little things? Can this cage open?”

“No.” Qin Yin took the necklace back and spread it out. “Let me put it on you.”

A pity—it would’ve been more fun if it opened. Still, she didn’t refuse. She bent her neck slightly so Qin Yin could fasten it.

The cool chain rested against her pale skin, soon warming with her body heat.

Looking down at it, Xia Mingtang nodded in satisfaction. “Not bad, it goes well with my outfit today. I’ll wear it for the day.”

“You must always wear it. Every day.” Qin Yin adjusted the pendant’s angle, repeating firmly.

Xia Mingtang frowned. “No way. Wearing the same thing 365 days a year? I’ll get sick of it.”

“You have to. Otherwise, no pocket money.” Qin Yin lowered her gaze, smiling sweetly as she met her eyes.

Xia Mingtang: …

Damn it!

Fine, I’ll wear it. It’s just a necklace. It’s not even heavy.

Resigned, she consoled herself.

After lunch with Qin Yin, Xia Mingtang went back to the office and distributed the invitations to her employees. Her tone was casual.

“I’m getting married on the fifth of this month. If you’re free, come and have fun. Just show up—no need to bring gifts. If you’re busy, you don’t have to come.”

Her employees were first shocked that their boss was suddenly marrying, then ecstatic when they saw the venue listed.

They all vowed to attend—no matter what.

This wasn’t just any wedding. It was at the Marquis Hotel, a VIP-only venue most people could never step foot in. A single crab there cost more than their yearly salary. And now they had the chance to feast for free. Who would dare miss it?

The invitations were soon snatched up, leaving only one. Xia Mingtang held it as she knocked on An Ran’s office door.

As expected, the workaholic was already back from lunch, typing away at her computer.

“Senior Sister.” Xia Mingtang handed her a cake she’d specially packed from the restaurant earlier.

An Ran smiled, accepting it—until she saw the red envelope in Xia Mingtang’s hand. Her expression faltered. “This is…”

“Oh, I was just coming to you.” Xia Mingtang solemnly placed the invitation with An Ran’s name into her hand. “I’m getting married on the fifth. You’ll be free, right?”

Having worked with An Ran for years, Xia Mingtang regarded her as both an elder sister and a comrade-in-arms. Even if this marriage was a hasty arrangement, she wanted her to be there.

An Ran opened the card and saw the gold-stamped words: Miss Qin Yin and Miss Xia Mingtang joyfully wed…

Escaped the Ji young lady, only for another Qin young lady to appear.

Within seconds, An Ran’s expression shifted several times, though she quickly masked it.

“Senior Sister?” Xia Mingtang probed when she didn’t respond.

“Oh, nothing.” An Ran snapped the card shut and forced a smile. “It’s just… a bit sudden.”

“It is sudden,” Xia Mingtang agreed.

If not for the company, if not for being broke, she wouldn’t be rushing into marriage.

Ridiculous, really—once the proud heiress of the Xia family, reduced to marrying for pocket money.

Seeing Xia Mingtang’s unconcerned face, An Ran hid the ache in her chest. “Tangtang, are you sure? Do you really want to marry this… Miss Qin?”

“Of course I’m sure.” Xia Mingtang nodded without hesitation.

It was just a temporary marriage in exchange for money. What was there to think hard about?

“You don’t think I should?” she asked, puzzled by An Ran’s reluctance.

“If I said no, would you not go through with it?” An Ran’s pale face lifted, her eyes searching.

Xia Mingtang: …

That… didn’t seem right.

Going back on her word wasn’t her style.

What’s with today? First Ji Xianglan, now Senior Sister—everyone’s telling me not to marry.

She stayed silent, but An Ran read the answer in her face. With a soft laugh, she said, “I was just joking. Anyway, I forgot to tell you something—about the Ji Corporation acquisition…”

She didn’t get to finish. Xia Mingtang’s phone rang with a cheerful tune.

Seeing the caller ID—“Blackhearted Ghost”—she answered.

“I’m at the office, where else would I be?”

“Huh? Why didn’t you say earlier? Fine, I’ll come over now.”

“At least half an hour, I need time to freshen up.”

Her words tumbled out rapid-fire, and within a minute she’d hung up. Looking apologetically at An Ran, she said, “Sorry, Senior Sister, I’ve got to head out. What were you saying about the Ji Corporation?”

“Nothing. Go on.”

Because the person who’d acquired 51% of Ji Corporation’s shares… was none other than Miss Qin.

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