Xie Qian refused Zhang Hua a second time.
For Zhang Hua, who had just lost his mother, this was another heavy blow.
Even Zou Weijun felt that after surviving the near-fatal car accident, her son had become harder-hearted. The brush with death hadn’t made Xie Qian more carefree; he had become more cautious.
Having almost died himself and felt the terror of it, Xie Qian refused to let anyone he cared about be harmed even slightly.
“Besides, if my two refusals are enough to make Zhang Hua give up investigating the truth behind his mother’s ‘suicide’, then I didn’t refuse wrongly. It means Zhang Hua never truly had the determination to uncover the truth.”
Lu Meishu’s “suicide” was very likely a conspiracy orchestrated by Zhang Zhijun.
Xie Qian believed Zhang Hua dimly understood this.
But Zhang Hua was not yet twenty, a young man who might not have the courage to expose his own father’s ugly truth.
His mother was already gone. Digging further could cost him his father too.
Compared to accusing Zhang Zhijun of murder, it might be easier for Zhang Hua to blame Sara Zhuo.
He needed someone to hate.
Hating Sara Zhuo was far less painful than hating Zhang Zhijun.
Until Zhang Hua figured that out, Xie Qian would not help him.
After hanging up on Zhang Hua, Xie Qian continued dictating his reply to Wen Ying.
He pointed out that if she truly wanted to invest in He Zhen’s independent venture, three million was too little.
If she didn’t mind, Xie Qian was willing to contribute five million in her name.
He felt extremely magnanimous.
Compared to the past, he really was. Back then, if Wen Ying merely prepared a gift for their junior-high class monitor Song Shao, Xie Qian would get petty.
When Wen Ying arranged to meet Song Shao at the provincial library, Xie Qian made sure to go “borrow books” at exactly the same time.
Back then he hadn’t yet realised his own feelings.
But subconsciously he already wanted to monopolise Wen Ying; he wanted to be the closest male peer in her life.
Now that he fully understood his feelings for her, he was still willing to co-invest in He Zhen’s startup with her. Xie Qian couldn’t help confirming with the tool-person typing his email:
“I’m really being very generous, aren’t I?”
“Yes, super generous!”
Tool-person Jiang Youjia replied with a sour tone.
Someone who can casually throw out five million to invest in another guy’s business, yet docks my year-end bonus?!
We’re relatives too, you know!
The next day, Xie Qian received Wen Ying’s reply.
“No need for your money! Three million is plenty. I just want He Zhen to become independent faster. I don’t want to replace him as ‘boss’. Being a small shareholder is perfect; less hassle!”
Less hassle, huh?
The five million stayed unspent, yet Xie Qian felt anything but relaxed. He suspected the hospital had switched from disinfectant spray to boiling vinegar; the whole ward smelled sour!
Far away overseas, Wen Ying remained completely oblivious to Xie Qian’s jealousy.
In her own mind, aside from the fact she had been reborn, she had been perfectly open with Xie Qian about everything. She was utterly above-board.
…
The family European trip that Wen Dongrong had personally funded came to an end.
Wen Dongrong was reluctant to leave.
The tour package for three had cost tens of thousands, emptying his private savings completely.
Chen Ru noticed his reluctance and casually encouraged him. “It’s not like this is the only time we’ll ever travel abroad. When you’ve saved up enough royalties again, we can go overseas again.”
“Sigh. Saving royalties isn’t hard. The hard part is saving vacation days. This trip took over ten days including flights. Where will I find that much time in the future?”
Wen Dongrong pointed out the practical difficulty.
That was true.
This long holiday had only been possible because he had delayed reporting to his new post in Jinling and used the gap.
Getting another break this long in the future would be tough.
But Chen Ru immediately thought of a workaround. “If we split the holidays, we can visit one country at a time. Japan next year, Korea the year after; we can still see everywhere we want.”
Wen Dongrong broke into a cold sweat. “Uh… right. We’ll plan next year according to the situation.”
He said it with little confidence.
This year’s travel money had come from selling that special-numbered copy of *Xun Yong*. Where would he find another sucker next year?
To avoid being exposed in front of his wife and daughter, Wen Dongrong could only write more manuscripts.
Increasing quantity wasn’t enough; he had to improve quality too. Only high-quality work earned high royalties!
All he wanted was to maintain his position as head of the household. Why was it so hard?
Wen Dongrong fretted. Professor Shen, unaware of the truth, assumed he was worried about starting his new job in Jinling and admired him greatly. In private he told his wife Wu Chunqin, “No wonder Wen Ying is so outstanding. Her mother is bold and daring, her father is a doer; Wen Ying has inherited the best of both!”
After travelling Europe together, Professor Shen held Wen Dongrong in very high regard.
Wu Chunqin smiled and nodded. “Parents really are a child’s best role models.”
This trip also turned Shen Huan into Wen Ying’s little shadow.
Shen Huan still hated receiving exam papers as gifts.
But aside from that, Wen Ying had many shining qualities he couldn’t deny.
If she sent fewer papers in the future, Shen Huan felt he could genuinely accept her as a big sister.
The tour began and ended in Shanghai.
The two families had dinner together there. Then Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong had to head home.
Before leaving, Chen Ru hesitated, but finally couldn’t hold back. “You’re an adult now. Know your own temper. Don’t act rashly on every impulse.”
She wasn’t worried about Wen Ying getting hurt in a relationship. Xie Qian was clearly well-raised; if they ever argued, he probably wouldn’t even know how to quarrel properly!
Wen Ying was utterly confused. “Mum, what are you talking about? I have a great temper!”
Chen Ru shot her a look. “That’s not for you to decide.”
Then who decides?!
Mother and daughter playing riddles; truly baffling.
Wen Ying saw her parents off, then stared at her phone for a long while.
For the past ten-plus days she had kept in touch with Xie Qian only through “emails”.
Emails weren’t as immediate as texts.
But every reply was unmistakably in Xie Qian’s own voice; Wen Ying knew him too well. No one could imitate his tone in front of her.
So those emails really were from Xie Qian.
Being pen pals for over ten days had been a novel experience.
But counting everything, it had been more than twenty days since Xie Qian stood her up. She wondered if he could take phone calls now.
Wen Ying both wanted to call and feared disappointment.
While she hesitated, the phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and could hardly believe her eyes.
Fingers fumbling, she answered, voice trembling. “…Xie Qian? Are you better? I mean… has that overseas project finished?”
“It’s me.”
Xie Qian’s voice was quiet but steady.
On the other end, he could hear Wen Ying’s rapid breathing.
He could imagine her expression.
She must have been terrified, worried sick all this time.
Xie Qian chose his words carefully, trying to make something heavy sound light. “The project still has some issues. Actually, while you were in Europe I came back to the country for a bit, but I have to leave again soon. We probably can’t meet this time. Wait for me to come home, okay?”
He hadn’t been abroad before, but now he really was going overseas.
For treatment.
In the chaotic days right after the accident, Wen Ying hadn’t even been sure whether Xie Qian was alive or dead.
Once she knew he was alive, she began working backwards along the timeline.
That day, Xie Qian really had set out to meet her.
He had messaged her before leaving.
So the accident must have happened en route.
With that lead, she found the next day’s local newspaper: a fatal two-injury major traffic collision!
The location was only two intersections from the restaurant, and the time matched when Xie Qian should have arrived.
The report gave few details, but Wen Ying knew Xie Qian must have been one of the injured.
She also found news that Xie Yuping had been in Shanghai those exact days for an inspection; further confirmation.
Wen Ying took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. “I’m at the airport right now. Have you already boarded? Can we really not meet at all?”
