Chapter 99

 

If receiving Ming Yue’s message left Ming Xi furious enough to smash her phone…

Then Ming Yue, while typing that message, was equally filled with resentment and anger—

How could ending up with a father like Ming Decheng be her misfortune alone?

That’s right—He Yuan knew. Not only did he know that Ming Decheng owed a great deal of money in Yicheng, he also knew that her parents were undocumented in the United States, working illegally, and that they had fled there to escape debt. But wasn’t that normal? On what grounds did He Yuan, after learning Ming Decheng was a delinquent debtor, dare to lash out at her with harsh words?

Didn’t he have things he had concealed from her as well? For example, that most of the company’s assets were still under his ex-wife’s control?

It must be said that Ming Yue had grown up living boldly and self-righteously. That excellent “quality” of selfishness and self-preservation made her practically invincible in the face of He Yuan’s almost accusatory reproaches. She felt no shame whatsoever.

…In the end, it was He Yuan who backed down.

What shocked Ming Yue even more was that after calming down, He Yuan actually proposed discussing how to help repay the debts Ming Decheng had left in Yicheng.

Whether her father’s bankruptcy debts should be repaid was something Ming Yue had never seriously considered. She hadn’t been around when Ming Decheng ran his factory and signed those loan agreements—she had been studying abroad and didn’t know the details. But there was one debt she remembered clearly: the two hundred thousand yuan her father had borrowed from a local thug. It was this money that drove Ming Decheng and Yang Yumei to desperation, forcing them to take the risk of fleeing Yicheng to the United States…

Although that money had not revived Ming Decheng’s business, the one who ultimately benefited from it was Ming Yue. It had funded her education.

Not just Ming Xi—Ming Yue had always known her family was unreliable. Therefore, she believed one must always plan for oneself. She was certain Ming Xi was the same. Ever since Ming Xi had been brought back into the family, she appeared honest and meek on the surface, but in reality she was sharper than a honeycomb briquette. In her mother’s words, Ming Xi had always been an ungrateful wretch who sided with outsiders. If her mother hadn’t been soft-hearted and brought that “bastard child” back from the countryside to study, how would Ming Xi be living such a good life now?

And now look—she had made it big, was earning serious money, had even latched onto a wealthy young man, and could boldly bid for three parcels of land—yet she wouldn’t care at all whether her family lived or died?

If she could casually bid over ten million for a parcel of land, then Ming Decheng’s remaining debts in Yicheng would be nothing to her, wouldn’t they?

After the land auction, Ming Yue deeply realized she had severely underestimated Ming Xi’s strength. Someone so wealthy—even wealthier than her own older husband, He Yuan—why hadn’t she contacted their parents earlier and helped clear Ming Decheng’s debts? Then he wouldn’t have to hide overseas. Maybe he could have returned earlier and restarted his business. In this day and age, wasn’t making money easier if you had the right connections? Even a dog knows to wait for its owner’s return—how could a “bastard child” forget all sense of gratitude for being raised?

If not for her mother’s kindness back then, how could Boss Ming be so successful now!

Those were Ming Yue’s truest thoughts—perhaps half an excuse to justify herself, half pure resentment at Ming Xi’s polished, successful life. Especially after returning from the auction, when He Yuan showed her a cold face and analyzed how Ming Xi had deliberately driven up prices during bidding—causing Haiou to spend an extra three hundred thousand to secure that small parcel.

Naturally, that three hundred thousand had to be blamed on Ming Xi.

Compared to Ming Yue’s righteous resentment, He Yuan’s resentment toward Ming Xi seemed more hypocritical and performative.

The truth about Ming Decheng had been deliberately revealed to He Yuan by a former supplier in Yicheng. That person had learned He Yuan married Ming Decheng’s elder daughter and wanted, indirectly, to pressure Ming Yue into helping repay the debt. Asking Ming Yue to repay it was the same as asking him, He Yuan, to repay it—how could that be possible!

But He Yuan cared about face. He feigned ignorance, claiming he knew nothing about his in-laws’ situation, and even deliberately mentioned that Ming Yue had a younger sister. That sister had been earning well these past few years—surely she had more capability and qualification to repay their parents’ debts. The supplier just smiled and didn’t say anything more.

Everyone knew that Ming Decheng, that deadbeat, had two beautiful daughters. But one must have a conscience. Anyone who knew even a little about Ming Decheng’s family situation, and how he raised his two daughters, wouldn’t have the face to ask Ming Xi for money. Of course, there was another reason they didn’t ask Ming Xi for the debt: they still wanted a long-term partnership with Mingzhou!

In a society built on personal ties, if there is no sentiment, then loyalty follows profit. Between Haiou and Mingzhou, at least in Yicheng’s reputation, Mingzhou far outshone Haiou. No one cared if Haiou had once been an industry leader. In business, what matters is the future, not the past.

So that supplier’s deliberate revelation to He Yuan was less about doing him a favor and more about deliberately irritating him—just as He Yuan irritated them by delaying payments.

In short… He Yuan’s mood these past few days had been absolutely terrible.

After turning everything over repeatedly in his mind, he could only accept it. He Yuan had married the daughter of a delinquent debtor. Fortunately, that debtor had more than one daughter.

The idea of proactively helping his father-in-law repay debts—that was He Yuan’s own proposal.

Haiou funds were tight, and they had just overpaid for land. At such a juncture, He Yuan had no intention of actually repaying Ming Decheng’s debts. He simply couldn’t stand seeing Ming Xi’s life go so smoothly. Whether it was the way she had once trampled on his feelings, or how she had calculated against him at the auction, his emotions toward her had evolved from unwillingness to let go into a psychological obsession—one where he felt compelled to fight her to the bitter end.

Especially when he learned that Ming Decheng’s former creditors were actually coming to him to collect debts!

They couldn’t possibly be unaware that Ming Xi was also Ming Decheng’s daughter…

If that wasn’t deliberate provocation, what was?

Businesspeople are the most pragmatic. They used to flatter Haiou; now they flattered Mingzhou.

Fortune turns, everyone understood that principle. But when fortune turned to his former employee, He Yuan felt as though countless ants were gnawing at his heart. Remembering the look of faint contempt in Ming Xi’s eyes that night at the villa, he would wake in the middle of the night, unable to sleep.

When he woke, he would turn over and vent his frustration on Ming Yue.

Ming Yue was no submissive woman. Annoyed by his behavior, she would simply close her eyes and reveal a look of disgust. That only bruised He Yuan’s pride further. He felt as though he had been utterly trapped by Ming Decheng’s two daughters.

Completely unaware of the situation, he’d been respectfully receiving Ming Decheng and Yang Yumei at the airport just two days prior. That day, the two were impeccably dressed and exuded elegance, especially Ming Decheng, whose mannerisms were incredibly sophisticated. He Yuan genuinely believed they were overseas Chinese returning home in glory, and even specially booked the top five-star hotel in Haigang, Scully, to warmly host them.

But…!

He hadn’t been entertaining some glamorous overseas Chinese businessman at all; they were clearly two despicable scoundrels who ran away to escape their debts!

He Yuan was furious, and upon learning the truth, he almost hit Ming Yue.

Ming Yue, however, was no pushover, and her retort left He Yuan utterly defenseless.

Last year, what attracted him to Ming Yue was the same upward ambition he had once seen in Ming Xi. He liked women like that—like his ex-wife. Compared to delicate women who only sought to drain men, He Yuan preferred intelligent women with ambition in their eyes—women who could generate profit for him yet still smile obediently in front of him. He had believed Ming Yue to be a more refined substitute for Ming Xi. But within a few months, he realized Ming Yue had ambition without the capability to match. Despite a higher degree and broader overseas experience, in the DG deal, if Xinghai hadn’t stepped in, Ming Yue still wouldn’t have beaten Ming Xi.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became—angry at Ming Xi, angry at Ming Yue, and angry at Ming Decheng for producing these two troublesome daughters.

Sigh…

Ming Decheng was currently enjoying a luxurious suite at the Scully Hotel, feeling utterly amazed by the incredible twists and turns of his life!

Smoking was prohibited in the five-star hotel rooms, so every day he would go downstairs for a few strolls, taking the opportunity to smoke a few cigarettes… Thinking about the days of hiding out in the United States, constantly looking over his shoulder, who could have imagined that after returning to China he would be living such a high-class life?

Back then, he had truly been foolish. Why had he been so obsessed with having a son? Now he had two daughters. Ming Yue had married Boss He, and as for Ming Xi—although he hadn’t seen her yet—according to what Ming Yue had said earlier, Xi’er not only ran her own company but was also dating an even wealthier man.

Tsk tsk… Ming Decheng drew on his cigarette with deep satisfaction. Looking back, he had once been quite a prominent figure in Yicheng, then he had thought his life would end in total ruin. Who would have expected that he could rise again by relying on his daughters?

There was no need to mention Ming Yue. Over the years, all the hopes he and his wife Yang Yumei had were pinned on her. Back then, it was precisely because they hoped Ming Yue would succeed that they took the risk of running away with the money.

As for Ming Xi, he did feel some guilt. The child had lost her biological mother early and had always longed to treat Yang Yumei as her real mother. She was a pitiful child. In the future, as long as Ming Xi was willing, Yang Yumei would surely treat her as her own. On this point, Ming Decheng had already seriously demanded a change of attitude from Yang Yumei—

They could finally return openly and honorably. It was time to properly make up for the emotional debt they owed Ming Xi all these years.

When Ming Decheng said this to Yang Yumei, she was far less optimistic and coldly replied, “Heh, Ming Decheng. Even though Ming Xi is your daughter, you really don’t understand her very well. I know her better.”

“Isn’t that normal? You’ve been her mother for so many years. Even if you were a little biased before, it was understandable, but you can’t do that anymore! Look at how capable the daughter I fathered is—such strong genes! Hahaha!”

“What do you mean by that? You’re saying Ming Yue is inferior to Ming Xi?” Yang Yumei’s face instantly darkened.

Ming Yue was always Yang Yumei’s weak spot. She would not allow anyone to say anything bad about Ming Yue, especially not compare her to Ming Xi.

So what if Ming Xi was doing so well back in the country? They hadn’t even seen her in person. Who bought their plane tickets? Who picked them up at the airport? Who arranged their food and lodging? It was all her precious daughter Ming Yue!

“Ming Decheng, I advise you not to think too beautifully of things. Ming Xi’s heart is harder than you imagine. Even if she didn’t know when we were coming back, Ming Yue has been in contact with her for a while. And what happened? She didn’t even inquire about us. I suggest you give up that idea. From the moment we decided to run away together five years ago, you only had one daughter.”

Yang Yumei’s words were like a sharp knife, ruthlessly shattering Ming Decheng’s fantasies.

…So even if Ming Xi did not show up, Ming Decheng would not be angry with her. It was normal for her to have some resentment after all these years. She needed time to accept things.

As he slowly finished a cigarette, standing in the open-air parking area of the Scully Hotel, his gaze casually swept over the luxury cars. His thoughts drifted, and for the first time he recalled the moments he had shared with Ming Xi. He remembered the first time she called him “Dad,” the pleading look in her eyes when she wanted money to buy a book, the cleverness she displayed when helping at the factory…

In Yicheng, the preference for sons over daughters was deeply ingrained. Many girls there were treated worse than Ming Xi, a child without a mother. As a grown man, being able to take care of her to that extent could be considered doing his utmost. When he thought carefully, many things could only be blamed on the fact that the two children had different mothers. But from another perspective, hadn’t hardship also tempered Ming Xi’s character?

Ming Decheng stubbed out his cigarette and prepared to go upstairs when an Alphard business van drove past him and stopped in the designated parking area not far away. From another direction, several men in business suits came out of the hotel’s back entrance and waited in front of the van.

Ming Decheng watched curiously, wondering which important figure was about to appear. To his surprise, the person who stepped out of the van was a woman with extraordinary presence. Facing the group waiting for her, she reached out and lightly shook hands with the man who stepped forward first, then walked at the front with her head held high as people flanked her on both sides in welcome.

Tsk tsk. Ming Decheng stared in amazement. Haigang truly was a big city—even women could live with such grandeur.

Watching the leading woman enter through the exclusive passage, he shook his head again and sighed. Money and power really did make all the difference…

So how capable was Ming Xi now? How big was her company?

He called Ming Yue. If he felt a bit guilty toward Ming Xi, toward Ming Yue he felt perfectly at ease.

“Find a way to contact Ming Xi for me. Make sure she comes to the family dinner. She’s right here in Haigang. If she doesn’t come to see us, what kind of behavior is that?”

…

“Sunday night, Scully Hotel…”

Some things, once destined to happen, have their own logic and reason.

After work, Ming Xi did not return to her own residence but went to Liang Jiancheng’s place. Standing by the living room window, she picked up her phone and called Liu Xinjun in Yicheng.”

“Brother Liu, it’s been a long time… Are you free on Sunday? If it’s convenient, could I trouble you to come to Haigang… Of course it’s because I need your help!”

“Yes, I really don’t know how to handle it… What? You’ll take care of them for me? Hahaha! Don’t joke—we can’t break the law…”

Ming Xi and Liu Xinjun chatted on the phone for more than ten minutes. During this time, Liang Jiancheng’s call came in, but she didn’t answer. Since she was at his place, once he got home, he’d see her anyway.

Today, Liang Jiancheng had been in a conference at the Scully Hotel and drove back afterward. He parked, took the elevator upstairs, entered the code, and pushed open the door.

The room was dim, with no lights on.

By the faint light from outside, he saw Miss Ming standing gracefully by the floor-to-ceiling window, holding her phone, talking.

“…With Brother Liu stepping in, I’m relieved. I’ll be waiting for you in Haigang tomorrow.”

“Honored that you’re thinking of me.”

“Brother Liu, please don’t tease me. When it comes to dealing with people, I’m nowhere near as experienced as you!”

“Alright, see you on Sunday.”

Ming Xi hung up the phone, and just then, Liang Jiancheng turned on the living room light. The perfunctory smile on her lips disappeared instantly. Her gaze flattened as she glanced at the conference badge clipped to his suit jacket.

Liang Jiancheng looked down; he had spent most of the day in a conference at the Scully Hotel, driving straight back afterward, forgetting even to remove his badge. He reached for his badge and placed his briefcase on the bar opposite the entrance.

Ming Xi, not being involved in the electronics industry, was unaware that Haigang was hosting an electronics industry conference these past two days. Liang Jiancheng had attended the conference today with his mother, Director Gu, at the Scully Hotel.

Although they were mother and son, they didn’t exchange a single word before the conference, nor did they communicate much afterward. Only during the discussion session did they formally share their views on issues related to the electronics industry. This conference was the first time Liang Jiancheng had seen his mother since New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t that he was still angry with her, nor was Gu Shuangyang the type to dwell on grudges; they were both genuinely too busy with work. Since that day, their normal conversations had only revolved around work matters.

Liang Jiancheng and Ming Xi sat at the bar counter between the dining and living areas, each on a high stool. Liang Jiancheng’s long legs rested steadily on the floor; Ming Xi curled her legs on the stool’s footrest. Because of Ming Decheng’s matter, she leaned on the counter, deep in thought.

Liang Jiancheng chuckled softly and asked, “So, who offended Boss Ming? Why are you asking Brother Liu for help?”

Ming Xi smiled faintly. “A few rotten people.”

Liang Jiancheng had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on. He had never met her eccentric parents but knew her past well. Given her recent interactions with Ming Yue, it was only logical that her parents would show up once they learned their daughter had succeeded.

Liang Jiancheng reached out to Ming Xi and gently placed his hand on the back of hers: “If Boss Ming needs help, Brother Liang can help too. Brother Liang has ways of dealing with people.”

Ming Xi’s smile was no longer a smile, but a clearly wicked grin. She licked her lower lip and said with a beaming smile, “Boss Liang, have you been watching too many gangster movies? It’s one thing for Liu Xinjun to say such things, but why are you echoing him?”

Liang Jiancheng hummed in agreement, thought for a moment, and then said seriously with a hint of competitiveness, “Because the pretty boy can’t lose to the street guy.”

What?! Liang Jiancheng still remembered that “pretty boy” comment from years ago. Ming Xi bent down, resting her hands on the marble countertop, and chuckled softly.

Liang Jiancheng noticed that Ming Xi didn’t seem to be in a bad mood because of those people’s appearance. On the contrary, he felt she was full of energy, as if she had a solution. Was that right?

Of course! Ming Xi was never one to sit idly by.

Ming Yue’s message had initially angered her—anger born of helplessness because she hadn’t yet found a countermeasure.

But during her drive back, she calmly pieced everything together. If Ming Yue suddenly brought up old debts, someone must have pressed He Yuan for repayment. After the two of them clashed, they likely wanted to shift both old and new debts onto her. They wouldn’t openly rob her—moral blackmail was their best tactic. That was why Ming Yue used a “sisters helping father repay debts together” tone in her message.

The purpose was obvious: force her to face Ming Decheng and use blood ties to entangle her.

Evil people need other evil people to deal with them. If she had to face the whole group by herself, even if she laid everything in the open, it wouldn’t work. Since they wanted to pay their debts, she could help them bring their creditors over!

Her reconciliation with Liu Xinjun back then was truly a wise choice!

“Dealing with shameless people, reasoning is useless. You have to be even more shameless. Boss Liang, don’t you think so?” Ming Xi smiled like a cunning fox.

Despite the mess, she wasn’t troubled. Instead, she had efficiently devised a plan. Liang Jiancheng could only wait for the show to unfold.

“Boss Ming, you really don’t need my help?” Liang Jiancheng pressed again.

Ming Xi shook her head. She went to Liu Xinjun precisely to prevent Liang Jiancheng from appearing in front of those people.

“I’ll also be at Scully on Sunday night. If Boss Liang and Director Gu are dining there that evening, don’t come to watch the show—” she paused before finishing, “I’m afraid things might get out of control and innocent people might get hurt.”

Liang Jiancheng: “…”

Was she now being a little unkind? Ming Xi looked up at Liang Jiancheng with clear eyes, posed the question silently

Liang Jiancheng shook his head slightly.

Kindness is the most difficult concept to define in this world. In most people’s eyes, kindness often means softness or forgiveness. Liang Jiancheng’s definition of kindness was: “Letting everyone take responsibility for their own actions—compared to forgiveness without principles, I think that kind of goodness is more powerful.”

In his heart, Ming Xi had always been kind. It was just that Miss Ming’s kindness was not weak or helpless—it was intelligent kindness, powerful kindness.

A weak woman might evoke a man’s pity. But the softness within Ming Xi’s strength was what truly moved him.

As a man, he could honestly express his thoughts—it was because he admired Miss Ming’s strength that he was drawn to the softness beneath it.

On Sunday, the China Electronics Industry Conference entered its final day at the Scully Hotel.

After the main conference concluded, various smaller meetings followed one after another. Compared to the formal official sessions, these smaller meetings offered more practical exchanges.

At noon, after the meetings ended, Liang Jiancheng and Gu Shuangyang dined together at the hotel. During the meal, Gu Shuangyang casually brought up a topic: “Miss Ming shouldn’t be angry with you anymore, right?”

What? Had Ming Xi ever been angry with him? Who exactly had done something wrong? And since when did anger get inherited like a mother’s debt repaid by the son?

Liang Jiancheng lifted his eyelids slightly and stated calmly, “She hasn’t been angry for a long time. But she also won’t marry me.”

Gu Shuangyang made two soft “oh” sounds. “That’s fine. After thirty, men are all about the same anyway. Mr. Liang should just keep focusing on his career.”

Liang Jiancheng wisely let the topic drop. Then he thought of something and asked, “Are you dining here tonight with Director Sheng and the others?”

“Yes.” Gu Shuangyang nodded.

Liang Jiancheng asked again, “Which private room?”

Gu Shuangyang shrugged. She didn’t know.

Liang Jiancheng leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze turning to the bright midday sun outside the window. After so many days of rain, this kind of spring sunshine made the entire Haigang seem washed in a warm, fresh glow.

For the first time, he unexpectedly asked about his grandfather. “Mom, was Grandpa not very good to you back then?”

Gu Shuangyang’s brows immediately knitted together. She looked incredulous—and slightly amused.

Liang Jiancheng pursed his lips, gazing intently at Gu Shuangyang’s strikingly similar features for the first time, and said earnestly, “In this world, some men truly don’t deserve to be fathers.”

Gu Shuangyang shook her head slightly, “Liang Jiancheng, I wouldn’t call myself a good mother either.”

Liang Jiancheng said coolly, “If I ever get the chance, I’ll be a good father.”

Gu Shuangyang blinked and folded her hands. As a mother, she gave an optimistic answer: “As long as Mr. Liang stays healthy, there will always be a chance.”

He was about to laugh, but she laughed first. It was the first relaxed conversation the mother and son had shared since New Year’s Eve.

…

At six o’clock in the evening, Ming Xi drove to the parking lot of the Scully Hotel.

Because she frequently hosted foreign clients, she was very familiar with the place. After getting out of the car, she made her way to the private dining rooms on the second floor. Guided by a server, she raised her hand and pushed open the heavy door of the “Fengming” private room.

The private room was brightly lit. Ming Xi wore short boots, tight jeans, and a pure black shirt on top. Her trench coat, which she had taken off earlier, was draped over her wrist. She had deliberately dressed simply and neatly—just in case things turned physical later, she would be able to move more decisively.

After so many years apart, there was no natural swell of emotion—only stiff and hypocritical eye contact.

Entering the private room, Ming Xi walked step by step towards her “family” sitting around the round table.

She didn’t rush to sit down. Instead, she turned her head slightly and let her gaze sweep playfully across He Yuan in the main seat, Ming Yue beside him, and below them Ming Decheng and Yang Yumei…

She looked at them, and they all focused their gaze on her.

“Ming Xi, you’re finally here. We’ve been waiting for quite a while!” He Yuan said grandly.

Ming Xi seemed not to hear him. Her expression sharpened slightly as she stared directly at Ming Decheng, her gaze blunt and faintly amused.

Ming Decheng felt a chill under her stare and blinked innocently.

Ming Xi remained standing, one hand resting on the table, her posture casual and relaxed, yet her imposing presence was undeniable.

Then she extended her other hand toward Ming Decheng and lifted it slightly, signaling for him to stand up.

Receiving his daughter’s cue, Ming Decheng inhaled deeply, moved with emotion, and stood.

“Walk a few steps for me,” she said.

Confused, Ming Decheng still left his seat, took a few steps, and then looked at his now-glorious daughter with a fawning expression, asking, “What’s wrong, Xi’er?”

“Nothing.” Ming Xi waved a hand, handed her trench coat to the server, and sat down cheerfully. Then she turned toward Ming Yue and made no attempt to hide her mockery. “It’s been so many years since anyone’s seen you. I thought creditors might’ve broken your legs. Luckily, they didn’t! Seems you’ve got good luck.”

As she spoke, a dazzling smile spread across her face. She gave Ming Decheng a thumbs-up.

For the fact that someone hadn’t had their legs broken after all these years, Miss Ming gave a very sincere assessment—

Outstanding!

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