Xie Qian had no interest in reasoning with enemies.
Even if he wrongly accused someone once… well, with all the sneaky things Zhao Dong had done, one more or less wouldn’t change his guilt.
Seeing Xie Qian was convinced Zhao Dong was behind it, Jiang Youjia pressed, “This guy’s too thick-skinned. Without evidence, he won’t admit anything. With evidence, he’ll weasel out. You can’t touch him!”
Plus, Zhao Dong had linked up with Xie Jinghu. If anything happened, Xie Jinghu would back Zhao Dong. What could Xie Qian, a high schooler, do against him?
Unless the Xie family helped.
“I can’t touch Zhao Dong, but he’s no saint. He has desires and ambitions, so he has weaknesses!”
Zhao Dong was good at finding others’ weak spots.
He had his own too.
Zhao Dong had been preparing to bid for the amusement park licence, laying cultural groundwork for so long. How badly he must want to win that bid!
“Brother-in-law, I need another favour, or maybe Uncle Jiang’s help, to look into something else.”
Xie Qian explained, and Jiang Youjia’s heart skipped a beat.
Jiang Youjia had a hunch about Xie Qian’s plan. If Xie Qian pulled this off, it’d be a devastating blow to Zhao Dong, as bad as digging up his ancestral grave!
“Xie Qian, think carefully. This is making a mortal enemy of Zhao Dong. As they say, better offend a gentleman than a petty man!”
“Brother-in-law, I’ve thought it through.”
Zhao Dong was cozying up to Xie Jinghu, who wanted Zhao Dong to help that mother and son trio abroad. They never planned to leave any room for Xie Qian or his mother, Zou Weijun.
Exactly, that’s the reason.
It definitely wasn’t because Zhao Dong kept targeting Hamster!
Was Hamster okay with her parents?
She should be fine.
When there’s an external conflict, internal ones are easiest to resolve. Facing external threats strengthens family bonds!
“I can’t stay here, I want to go up.”
Wen Ying was restless in the car, worried about Chen Ru and Zou Weijun’s meeting. Chen Ru had been up there so long with no news. Then Zheng Zhihe arrived. What were they talking about for so long? Were they tearing the café apart?
Wen Ying wanted to go up, and Wen Dongrong didn’t stop her. Their father-daughter bond was flimsy, and Old Wen half-wanted her to scout.
Only Deng Shangwei firmly refused, “Leave it to your mum. She’s the adult, you’re a minor. If she can’t handle it, you think you can?”
What a true uncle!
Wen Dongrong said sourly, “Your uncle cares so much about you.”
As the three were at a standoff, there was movement at the stairs.
Zou Weijun came down with Chen Ru!
Zheng Zhihe followed.
Wen Dongrong scrambled out of the car. Zou Weijun repeated to him what she told Chen Ru, making Old Wen want to wag his tail.
Chen Ru didn’t like writing; Wen Ying’s talent was 100% inherited from him!
“We’ve explained everything to Ms. Chen. Just ignore their lawyer, they can’t touch you, and it won’t affect Wen Ying’s studies. School’s starting soon, let Wen Ying focus on classes, and leave the rest to us adults.”
Zou Weijun’s words hit right at Chen Ru’s heart.
Chen Ru’s expression was completely different, even smiling at Zou Weijun.
Wen Ying looked at her mum, then at Xie Qian’s mum.
One was like fire, the other like water, yet they got along harmoniously, which was quite magical!
Wen Ying had come with an angry Chen Ru to confront someone, only to take home a calmed-down Manager Chen.
On the way back, Chen Ru suddenly asked Wen Ying, “Do you know how many copies your book has sold?”
Wen Ying, unsure of her mum’s thoughts, sat upright, “Last I heard, it was 120,000 copies.”
“The data’s updated. It’s about 170,000 now.”
Chen Ru thought of 170,000 copies, then the 500,000-plus in royalties.
No, if royalties were settled every three months, the sales would exceed 170,000, and the royalties would surpass 500,000.
Maybe a million, or even more?
Chen Ru wanted to ask Wen Ying how she’d spend the royalties.
A high school girl managing a million in cash felt surreal.
Their family was never wealthy. Wen Ying’s pocket money was modest, though Deng Shangwei and his wife, with their business earnings, secretly gave her some… still far from a true rich kid.
With a million in royalties, would Wen Ying think studying was pointless and focus only on writing?
Chen Ru struggled to find a way to broach the topic.
To talk money with Wen Ying, she needed a stance.
Chen Ru was used to asserting authority by dismissing her child, her natural advantage as a mother.
Parents typically outmatch children in status, experience, wisdom, and finances.
If a child acted up, “You’ve never earned money” would shut it down.
But now, Wen Ying had earned money, more than the Shrimp King dividends, more than Chen Ru’s annual salary by multiples!
Of course, Chen Ru could still dominate by pulling the “mother” card.
For some reason, she didn’t want to.
Maybe Wu Chunqin’s subtle influence.
Maybe Zou Weijun’s genuine praise for Wen Ying today.
Or perhaps Wen Ying’s tearful, vulnerable hug in the office.
How long had it been since her child was that close?
Talking about unpleasant topics now would ruin the moment and push her daughter further away!
“…Mum?”
Why start and then stop? Wen Ying felt uneasy.
Chen Ru shook her head, “It’s nothing. I meant to say your book’s publication is worth celebrating. We didn’t know before, but now we do. Tonight, let’s treat your aunt’s family to dinner to celebrate!”
Wen Ying’s mouth fell open.
Deng Shangwei sat up straight, nearly putting his hands on his knees like a good boy.
Wen Dongrong instinctively hit the brakes.
At that moment, the three cowards were on the same wavelength: What’s going on?!
My mum’s tone doesn’t sound like her, it’s a bit like… Auntie Zou.
Did Big Sis eat the wrong medicine?
The wife’s so kind and generous, I won’t have to sleep in the car tonight, right?
The three exchanged glances, sharing the same unspoken understanding, fearing Chen Ru might change her mind, and nodded in unison, “Great, we should have a dinner.”
“I’ll treat this one…”
“What should we eat?”
Their chatter couldn’t settle it, so Chen Ru decided, “We’ll eat at Shrimp King tonight.”
Wen Ying felt today was too blissful, almost unreal.
Did crying really work that well?
