Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 153

As soon as Shen Zhibing got off the plane, she received a call from Qi Zheng: “My dear wife, thank you for your hard work on the business trip. I’m here to pick you up.”

The sense of fatigue instantly reduced by half because of this simple sentence. Shen Zhibing softened her voice: “You’re skipping work, aren’t you afraid of what the people at the company will say about you?”

Qi Zheng dismissed it: “I’m clearly setting an example, you have to know how to balance life and work. I never force employees to dedicate all their time to the company.”

Shen Zhibing chuckled: “You’re all talk. Alright, I’m about to deplane, see you later.”

After dropping Yun Fei off at home, Qi Zheng said: “The day after tomorrow is Grandpa’s birthday. I’ve already prepared the gift.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Because of a sudden situation with the branch company, Shen Zhibing had to rush to deal with it. They had originally planned to go together to choose a gift last weekend, but Qi Zheng had to handle it herself.

“Then reward me,” the car stopped at a red light. Qi Zheng pointed to her face, soliciting a kiss.

Shen Zhibing glared at her: “You are really less and less reserved now.”

After saying that, she leaned over, cupped Qi Zheng’s face with both hands, and left a gentle kiss and a shallow lip print on her cheek.

Qi Zheng’s smile widened: “Kissing my wife has nothing to do with being reserved or not.”

The lip print on her face was not wiped off, and Qi Zheng didn’t care. After getting out of the car, Shen Zhibing took out a tissue, saying she wanted to clean it for her.

“We’ll be home soon, it doesn’t matter.”

Only Aunt Xin and other servants were at home, and everyone was long accustomed to their sweet affection; a lip print was nothing at all.

Shen Zhibing watched her take the suitcase out of the car, then walk around to take her hand. The series of actions was very natural and smooth, indicating she truly didn’t care.

“If the shareholders saw you like this, I wonder what the stock price would be tomorrow.”

Even though she said that, Shen Zhibing put the tissue away and obediently let herself be led into the elevator.

“If the shareholders knew that my family life is so stable and happy, and my wife’s strength is so strong, they would definitely increase their holdings, buy, buy, buy.”

Qi Zheng’s company successfully went public three years ago and is now a star company on the ChiNext board, highly sought after by the market. However, Qi Zheng herself has become more and more low-key, choosing to be elusive except for some necessary company-related interviews.

As soon as they got home, just as the suitcase was set down, a milky voice came from the living room: “Auntie, you’re back!”

Then, a wobbling little ball of flesh rushed over. Perhaps because she was walking too fast, she kept muttering. The little ball of flesh couldn’t stand steadily a few steps away from them, swaying left and right, clearly about to fall.

Qi Zheng took two long strides forward and immediately hugged the little ball of flesh into her arms: “Su Su, why are you here?”

“Auntie Zheng Zheng, Mommy brought me over and said Auntie was coming home today.”

After speaking, the little ball of flesh spread her arms and struggled desperately towards Shen Zhibing, begging for a hug.

Qi Zheng pretended to be sad: “I was the one who hugged you, yet you only have eyes for your Auntie.”

Su Su scrunched up her chubby little face, crossed her plump hands, looking a bit troubled, but she didn’t hesitate, planting a flurry of kisses on Qi Zheng’s face.

“Auntie Zheng Zheng don’t be unhappy, Su Su likes you too.”

A child’s innocence is far more heartwarming than adult calculations. Shen Zhibing took off her coat, and gently clapped her hands twice towards Su Su: “Come here to Auntie.”

The little ball of flesh wriggled free from Qi Zheng’s arms and rushed with all her might towards the beautiful Auntie.

Qi Zheng stood up and nodded to Shen Zhilan, who had followed them from the living room.

“I took her to the dentist today and happened to pass by, so I came up to see you.”

Actually, Su Su was making a fuss about seeing her Auntie. Shen Zhilan tried to coax her by saying she would see her tomorrow, but she wouldn’t agree and insisted on coming today.

Qi Zheng expressed understanding and invited her to sit back down: “It must be because she didn’t see her last weekend on her birthday. Was she very upset?”

Shen Zhilan looked at her daughter twisting and turning in Shen Zhibing’s arms, and sighed helplessly: “I really don’t know what to do with this child. I already explained that Auntie had an emergency business trip, but she’s still sulking.”

“Kids have short memories, they forget after they’ve been angry.”

Aunt Xin brought a hot towel for Qi Zheng to wipe her face and hands, and brewed her a cup of Osmanthus Oolong tea.

In the past, Yunlu Garden was Shen Zhibing’s private residence, and outsiders were not allowed without special circumstances. Two years ago, because of Qi Zheng’s efforts, Shen Zhibing’s parents came, and her elder brother and sister also came. Now, Su Su is the most frequent visitor.

Shen Zhilan was no longer as reserved as she was two years ago, but still apologized for the sudden interruption: “I sent you a message, but I guess you were driving and didn’t see it.”

Qi Zheng had indeed just seen the message. She comforted her: “It’s perfectly normal to stop by on the way. Sister, you don’t need to feel like you’re intruding.”

For many years, Shen Zhibing’s relationship with her family was neither good nor bad, but there was a faint sense of detachment. Qi Zheng initially thought it was because her family was too demanding and put too much pressure on her, but after gradually opening up, she realized that the truth was not entirely so.

Shen Zhibing’s elder brother had a leg injury, naturally taking up most of her parents’ energy. Shen Zhilan, with her easygoing and free-spirited nature, didn’t pay much attention to her sister’s emotional changes. As time went on, Shen Zhibing felt ignored by her family, like an dispensable presence.

Her biggest sense of presence probably came from being chosen by her grandfather as the heir, thus starting a devilish period of training. She hid her inner loss and loneliness, wrapping herself up with increasing strength, becoming the strong person in the eyes of others. But no one could see the once vulnerable and genuine little girl who just longed for a little more care and attention from her family.

Su Su stayed until after dinner, reluctantly following her mother home. Before leaving, she had already yawned several times, but was still trying to stay awake and insisted: “Auntie, please come over early tomorrow with Auntie Zheng Zheng.”

Shen Zhibing touched her head and saw them off at the door: “Okay, we’ll come right after breakfast tomorrow.”

The next day, they indeed arrived very early, as they had promised last night. Now, the Shen family very much hoped for them to come back more often, especially Shen mother. Having missed those years of her daughter’s growth, she felt regret later but didn’t know how to make up for it.

Shen Zhibing was called to the study by the old man, while Qi Zheng stayed in the living room to chat with Shen father and Shen mother. At her own home, Su Su was more lively and knew how to greet people.

She would put an apple into Qi Zheng’s hand one moment, and then hand her a poorly peeled orange the next, constantly saying: “Auntie Zheng Zheng, eat this.”

Qi Zheng didn’t brush her off, instead sharing it with her, one half each, and finishing it.

Only then did Su Su lean contentedly in her mother’s arms, occasionally popping her head out to smile at Qi Zheng.

Shen father didn’t speak much, but he wasn’t as formal as in the past. He asked about work and then went to read the newspaper on the side. Shen mother pulled Qi Zheng and asked many details: “Xiao Qi, you recently accompanied Xiao Bing for her follow-up visit. What did the doctor say?”

“Mom, she is completely, completely well. Starting next month, she won’t even need follow-up visits.”

Shen Zhibing’s follow-up frequency is already very low, but they still adhere to it on time, without the slightest neglect.

Only then did Shen mother completely relax: “That’s good. It’s finally complete. Otherwise, her father and I would feel guilty for a lifetime.”

The child who seemed the strongest and most capable since childhood turned out to be the one who was the most seriously ill. How could they, as parents, be indifferent after learning about Shen Zhibing’s illness? It’s just that their years of interaction made it difficult for them to approach their daughter and figure out how to face it with her.

Shen Zhibing also did not want to show her vulnerability to her family. Healing in Qi Zheng’s arms was enough for her. However, Qi Zheng advised her: “If that home can still become a harbor after patching it up, why not give yourself another chance?”

Shen Zhibing shook her head pessimistically: “Even if it’s repaired, it’s no longer the way I originally wanted it to be. I’ve passed the age when I most craved their support and care, and I can’t handle their concern.”

Qi Zheng understood their respective difficulties. She didn’t force Shen Zhibing, nor did she distance herself from her family. She was like a bridge, slowly connecting them who were once separated by a river.

Qi Zheng accompanied Shen Zhibing back to the manor on every important holiday and always found opportunities to invite Shen father and Shen mother to Yunlu Garden for dinner, sometimes even to the suburban villa. As they interacted more, the awkwardness between them lessened. Shen Zhibing saw the concern in their eyes and couldn’t help but respond a little.

But she also admitted: “I can’t be as close to them as my elder brother and sister. I feel it’s very strange.”

She was used to independence and resilience, used to resolving sadness and disappointment by herself. Her vulnerability and truth only showed in front of Qi Zheng. Even with her own parents, she felt a distance, but the long-hidden resentment was dissolving little by little.

Whenever this happened, Qi Zheng would hug her, giving her the gentlest care and support, never refuting her thoughts, and certainly never accusing her of being heartless: “Only by making peace with the past can you truly make peace with yourself.”

The pain that occurred during the growth process will become an indelible mark, accompanying one throughout life. However, some wounds will become a scar, while others will repeatedly fester and never heal, constantly disrupting the new life.

Qi Zheng hoped that in Shen Zhibing’s future life, she would no longer be constrained by the past. She hoped that the regrets of the past would stay in the past.

Shen Zhibing understood her intention and knew that Qi Zheng’s own family could not be reconciled. Treating it as fulfilling a dream for her loved one, and also giving herself and her family a chance, Shen Zhibing tried to interact with them more.

After a long time, it was not as difficult as she had imagined.

It wasn’t until Su Su was born that a vibrant new life gave everyone new hope. Shen Zhibing watched the little ball of flesh grow little by little, clinging to her and Qi Zheng, acting spoiled, and falling asleep on them unknowingly, with drool still on her lips when she was carried away.

Only then did Shen Zhibing look at her once-estranged family from another perspective: her parents were starting to age, and mostly just hoped they would come home for dinner more often; her elder brother had trouble with his legs, but took on the role of constantly accompanying their parents; the free-spirited Shen Zhilan, who gave birth shortly after marriage, had to reduce the frequency of her outdoor sketching trips.

It was also because of Su Su that Shen Zhibing and Qi Zheng did not have to bear the pressure of having children. They had discussed this issue but agreed that they were currently too busy with work and were not suitable or capable of taking good care of a new life.

If they decided to bring a child into this world, they must give her all their love. They were not ready yet and did not want to be so hasty and irresponsible.

When Shen Zhibing came down from upstairs, what she saw was a scene of harmonious joy, no different from any other ordinary family.

Everyone was making sacrifices and efforts for this family. Shen Zhibing no longer dwelled on what she had lost in the past, because she had gained so much more from Qi Zheng.

She truly faced herself and truly learned to reconcile with the past.