novelThey Basically Do Not Consider Me As Human
| ← Ch.409 | Ch.411 → |
The members of the Qi Family knew, Yan Beicheng was helping the Qi Family, standing on the same line as them, and pressuring the Chang Family.
"All of you." Qi Zhongxun smiled, before saying sincerely, "thank you."
Yan Beicheng and the others did not feign modesty, especially since they did so specifically to support the Qi Family.
That was the reason the Eight Big Families were so well respected, besides the warmth and close ties in each individual family, it was also because all of the Eight Big Families stood together, prospering and suffering together, to insult one family, was to invite the wrath of the other seven.
If only one of the families were out to get you, one might be able to handle it, but if one family causes you loss here, and another causes you loss there, these losses would start to accumulate into a big loss, and nobody could bear that.
Yan Beicheng and the others went their separate ways, and the members of the Qi Family all got into their cars, but they didn't go their separate ways, but they all returned to the old residence of the Qi Family, to tell Grandfather Qi and Grandmother Qi what happened.
When Grandmother Qi heard what happened, she tutted, and sipped her tea, before saying, "that Grandmother Chang must have gone mad."
"Who said she hasn't! When I heard that old lady's words, I was so angry I could laugh, how could there be such an unreasonable person. Even though her grandson instigated this entire affair, it's fortunate that Youxuan didn't suffer any injury, and actually splashed ice on her grandson. If someone in the Chang Family had been reasonable, and talked reasonably, I would have told Youxuan to apologize to Chang Jianan, since he did use violence. But that attitude of Chang Jianan, as though it were always Youxuan's fault, why would I let our child be humiliated like that."
Grandmother Qi's heart ached too, thinking about how today the little boy went whole, but may have returned unwhole, it made her shudder to think about it.
She quickly gestured the little boy to come over, and carried him onto her lap, touching his little face, arms, and legs, "all of you rushed here, you haven't eaten have you?"
Having said that, she quickly told Aunt Liew to make something for them to eat.
While they ate, Grandmother Qi made her viewpoint clear.
In this matter, Grandmother Qi's intentions were that, since the Chang Family were unreasonable, then there was no reason for the Qi Family to be reasonable. If anything, they had all the right to be unreasonable.
If Qi Youxuan had really fallen on that broken plate, his life would have been in danger.
There was a news article once, a female star had installed an aquarium walkway in her house, and because of an accident she fell, and broke the aquarium in her fall. Unfortunately, her wrist had fallen on a shard of glass from the aquarium, and she died from the cut to her artery.
If Qi Youxuan had fallen on his head or wrist, what then?
After everyone had finished their meal at the old residence, they went their separate ways home.
In the car, Ruan Danchen sat in the back seat, and didn't put Qi Youxuan in the child's seat, holding him in her arms. She still felt afraid at the thought of what could have happened.
Qi Youxuan blinked, in the blackness of the car's interior, his eyes were especially bright and clear.
Knowing that Ruan Danchen was still worried, he shook Ruan Danchen's hand, and said reassuringly, "mommy, I'm fine."
Ruan Danchen looked down and looked at the little boy's angelic face, as he grew with each year, his appearance changed minutely, unnoticeably, until one day, one would realize he had grown up.
The small face was no longer round like a ball, it was still rotund, but it was starting to slim down, and the first signs of Qi Chenglin's attractive outlines were showing.
Ruan Danchen bemoaned the fact that her son was growing up, and she was not ready or willing for it, she wanted time to return to six years ago, and see the little boy's cuteness back then.
She could not help but squeeze his soft face, and kissed him enthusiastically.
Qi Youxuan was slightly bashful at Ruan Danchen's actions, and he blushed, in the past he would shy away bashfully, but thinking of the shock that everyone had tonight, he let his mother kiss him more.
Qi Chenglin drove into Prestige Residences, and arrived at the ground floor of the house, and just as he was about to drive into the garage, he saw a champagne colored Bentley parked to the left of the door.
Just as the Mercedes was about to drive past the Bentley, the door of the Bentley opened, and someone stepped out of it.
It was Chang Zhiyuan.
Qi Chenglin did not pretend he did not see him, and stopped the car, rolling down the window, and Chang Zhiyuan hurried over, standing next to the car door, saying, "Young Master Lin."
He wore a black trench coat, but it was still so cold he had huddled his shoulders, and his breath fogged in white puffs from his mouth.
Qi Chenglin nodded blankly, but did not speak, driving directly into the garage, and killing the engine.
He spoke to Ruan Danchen, "bring Youxuan up first."
Ruan Danchen nodded, and brought the little boy from the garage into the elevator.
Qi Chenglin put on his leather gloves, and walked out of the garage, stopping in front of Chang Zhiyuan.
"Young Master Lin, " Chang Zhiyuan greeted again, "I should have gone to your parent's home to apologize first, but I was worried it was late, and Mr and Mrs Qi would have gone to bed, so I didn't dare disturb them."
"Grandmother Chang's birthday banquet has ended?" Qi Chenglin asked lightly.
Chang Zhiyuan nodded awkwardly, if it had not ended, he would not leave early. If Grandmother Chang knew he came here just to apologize, there would be no peace.
Qi Chenglin smirked snidely, "if you really were sincere in apologizing, you'd have done so at the scene. At the worst, you could have chased after us as we were leaving to apologize. Not waiting for the end of the banquet, and apologizing to us while hiding it from Grandmother Chang."
"Young Master Lin, my mother is old, it's inevitable that she'd become a bit befuddled. The older one gets, the more defensive they are of their shortcomings, please don't take her seriouly. I did not want her kicking up a fuss at home, and that's why I came here secretly." Chang Zhiyuan said, rather awkwardly.
"Director Chang, do you speak for your entire family?" Qi Chenglin arched his eyebrows, "don't be apologizing here, and later Grandmother Chang throws slander at us. The Qi Family's grace isn't that cheap."
"I most definitely cannot represent my mother, Young Master Lin please just consider her as old and senile, and don't take her seriously." Chang Zhiyuan could only say, thinking of Grandmother Chang, he instantly felt powerless.
"Even if we don't take her seriously this time, what about next time? The next time she slanders us, and is unreasonable, and we still don't take her seriously, one time after another, wouldn't Grandmother Chang feel like reason is on her side?" Qi Chenglin's gloved hands slid into his pockets, wanting to take out a cigarette to smoke, his hand was already on the box, but he thought better of it and relaxed his hand. However, he kept his hands in his pocket.
Chang Zhiyuan remained silent, he had already prepared himself before he came, he knew Qi Chenglin would not easily forgive the Chang Family.
"As for our cooperation, we've already signed the agreement, I will not go back on it, but as for the future, it will depend on the circumstances at the time. As for the incident tonight, it's not a question of whether or not we can forgive the Chang Family, we are just disappointed." Qi Chenglin said deliberately, "we can always separate work and private life, and as for our working relationship, as long as you are not derelict in your obligations, I see no reason to change who I cooperate with. You can be assured of that, Director Chang."
At that point, Chang Zhiyuan could breathe a sigh of relief, at least Qi Chenglin was not so angry as to let it affect work related matters.
"As for private matters, the Qi Family never really had any interactions with the Chang Family, and in the future our ties will not be all too close as well. If Grandmother Chang acts unreasonably again, we will not be courteous as usual." Qi Chenglin said, a flash of impatience crossing his face.
He nodded curtly at Chang Zhiyuan, "my son has suffered quite a shock tonight, I should go back and check on him, so I will not be inviting you in Director Chang."
What else could Chang Zhiyuan say? He could only agree politely.
While Qi Chenglin opened the door and went in, Chang Zhiyuan could only sigh, and return to his Bentley, returning home instead of going to Grandmother Chang's house.
Ruan Danchen had just changed Qi Youxuan into his pajamas, and was just about to help him brush his teeth and wash his face, when she looked up to see Qi Chenglin standing at the door of Qi Youxuan's room.
He hadn't changed yet, and he brought in the cold from outside, his shoulder resting against the doorframe. Despite his easy, relaxed pose, his body posture was still fairly straight, and it made him look more natural than usual.
It was unknown for how long he had been standing there, their backs were to the door, and never noticed him.
This man always walked soundlessly.
The moment Qi Youxuan saw Qi Chenglin, he didn't feel comfortable being clingy to her anymore.
"Mommy, I can wash up myself." he immediately said.
He waddled off after finishing his sentence.
Ruan Danchen didn't go after him, and instead walked to Qi Chenglin. He took off his gloves, and put his hand on her face, his palms were warm.
"Chang Zhiyuan came to apologize." Qi Chenglin explained softly.
Ruan Danchen nodded, but said nothing, when it came to matters that involved two families, she did not get into it. With too many matters to be involved in, at the end of the day she'd follow Qi Chenglin's intentions.
She could guess the intention of Chang Zhiyuan's visit, but as Chang Zhiyuan came alone, it had little use.
"His apology is mostly meaningless, " Qi Chenglin said eventually, "in the future just do what we need to do, when it comes to Grandmother Chang, if she gets unreasonable, you don't need to be polite."
Ruan Danchen smiled, "I don't think I'd get many opportunities to see her in the future."
In a moment, the little boy had finished cleaning up, and after making sure he wasn't too affected, they turned off the lights for him to sleep.
The next day, Ruan Danchen received a call from Gao Xiaoyang while at work.
Gao Xiaoyang wanted to tell her what happened after the Qi Family left.
"Last night after you left, Chang Zhiyuan sent Grandmother Chang off to rest, before apologizing to the guests, I don't know what was in their minds, but they all smiled and looked as though it were no big deal. Grandmother Chang only showed her face again when it was just about time to start the banquet, and she still looked displeased. Chang Jingqiu came with her, but she looked so withered and didn't speak at all, this is the first time I've seen her so honest, throughout the entire time she didn't mix with the other heiresses in her age group." Gao Xiaoyang said.
"After the banquet, I intentionally took my time leaving, and could still hear Grandmother Chang kicking up a scene."
Ruan Danchen could imagine what Grandmother Chang was complaining about, it would be the same few things over and over again, if it wasn't the Qi Family using their position to bully people, it would be them making light of her position.
"Yesterday was a special circumstance, I didn't even get the chance to introduce you to them, one of these days I'll find the chance to invite you out to a gathering for you to get to know them." Ruan Danchen said.
"It's fine, it's fine. If it's too intentional I'd worry they'd think I had an agenda." Gao Xiaoyang said hurriedly, "these days I make a call to people in all Eight Great Families. In the morning once I clock in, I don't do anything else, I make over ten calls, from Qi Chengzhi's assistant to Gui Zhiqian's assistant, in a continuous circle, I don't believe that if I call daily, I won't get a lead?"
Ruan Danchen could not help but burst out laughing, as she imagined the sight of Gao Xiaoyang relentlessly making calls in the morning. She didn't know the other assistants, but she knew Cheng Dongge and Jiang Yuan very well, and when she thought about the two of them having to deal with Gao Xiaoyang first thing in the morning every day, she found it particularly funny.
Gao Xiaoyang's dogged professionalism, and she didn't have any ulterior motives, made Ruan Danchen admire her a lot, and she didn't say much more.
It wasn't good for them to chat too much while at work, so they both ended the call.
Gao Xiaoyang hung up the phone, and returned to the office, and met Chang Jingqiu's gaze.
Chang Jingqiu's eyes narrowed, and looked as though she had a score to settle with her, and she stood up and walked towards Gao Xiaoyang. Chang Jingqiu was halfway there when her phone rang on her desk.
Chang Jingqiu pursed her lips, and looked at Gao Xiaoyang unhappily, before turning back, when she saw who was calling, she was slightly surprised, and took her cellphone out of the office.
"Aunty." Chang Jingqiu said as she picked up the call.
Recently her and Liu Ronghua's relationship seemed to be getting pretty close, whenever Liu Ronghua had any problem she would call Chang Jinqiu, and complain to her.
A majority of what she had to say was to do with her mistreatment at the Shen family. How Shen Jialiang treated her harshly, how Shen Zhijing got on her nerves, and how she didn't respect her.
Whenever Chang Jingqiu came crying to her to complain, she felt that her ear would fall off, but for the sake of getting closer to Liu Ronghua, she had to endure it. Listening to her complaints, and still having to reply every once in a while, comforting her, and also sympathize with her in blaming Shen Jialiang and Shen Zhijing.
Everytime Liu Ronghua called, it was the same old thing every time. It made Chang Jingqiu's heart sink every time she saw a call from Liu Ronghua.
"Jingqiu." the sound of Liu Ronghua's crying came through the phone.
"Aunty, what happened?" Chang Jingqiu had a look of impatience on her face, but her voice sounded concerned and urgent, "Did Shen Jialiang and his daughter bully you again?"
Liu Ronghua sobbed, "Jingqiu, I can't take it anymore, I can't take that father and daughter pair of ungrateful animals. Are you free now? Can you come out? I feel really bad, and I don't know who to talk to, I've held this in for so long, if I don't vent it out, I'm going to go crazy."
"Aunty, don't panic, are you at the Shen residence?" Chang Jingqiu asked, feigning worry in her voice.
"I just left, I can't stay there for a moment more, but I don't know where to go." Liu Ronghua sobbed.
Chang Jingqiu thought for a moment, then said the name of a cafe, it was not near the office, as she did not want to be seen interacting with Liu Ronghua, and if someone did some digging based off of that sighting, she did not want her reputation to be spoiled by Liu Ronghua.
"That cafe, do you know it aunty?" Chang Jingqiu asked.
Liu Ronghua nodded, and held back a sob to say, "I do."
"Okay, let's meet there then." Chang Jingqiu said.
Knowing that someone was willing to listen to her vent, it didn't matter that the place was a little further away, Liu Ronghua was happy, and hung up.
Chang Jingqiu then returned to the office, and took her bag before leaving.
As a reporter it was normal to always run out for an interview, so for her to leave, she could just use the excuse of an interview.
Chang Jingqiu arrived at the cafe agreed upon by her and Liu Ronghua. This cafe had bookshelves lined along the walls, the shelves were full of books, for patrons to read while they drank their coffee, and the atmosphere was quite artistic.
Chang Jingqiu spied a few young women scattered in the cafe, some of them had an air of sophistication, some of them looking like white collar elites, with laptops in front of them, looking like they were working hard.
The cafe was very quiet, and Liu Ronghua had picked a small meeting room.
Chang Jingqiu was led by a service staff into the room, and Liu Ronghua sat there, looking unhappy, a glass of tea in front of her, there was a cat of unknown origin, which was in Liu Ronghua's arms.
Liu Ronghua's anguished face was lowered, petting the cat at times, stroking it's fur from front to back, the black and gray cat was closing its eyes in contents, occasionally letting out a meow.
Upon hearing the door open, Liu Ronghua looked up and saw Chang Jingqiu, and she suddenly stood up.
The cat was not at all ready for that, and meowed in surprise, as it saw that it was about to hit the floor, it quickly stretched out it's limbs, and ran out the open door.
"You're here!" Liu Ronghua sounded as though she had met a lover when she saw Chang Jingqiu.
"Aunty, have a seat." Chang Jingqiu said hurriedly. They sat down, and ordered a glass of tea from the waiter. When the waiter left, Chang Jingqiu asked, "aunty, what happened?"
"It's always Shen Jialiang and his daughter, they don't treat me like a human." Liu Ronghua took a napkin from the table and wiped her tears, "they treat me as though I'm invisible at home, as though I don't exist, they ignore me no matter what I say. Shen Zhijing always mocks me. I know, she wants to throw me out. The father and daughter are so ungrateful, and don't have any decency!"
"They always assume that I've got ulterior motives, but they never thought that just based on the current state of the Shen family, what could I possibly want from them? I'm not poor, even if it's not as much as the worth of the entire Shen family, but it's a lot more than what I currently get living with them, I shouldn't need to deal with them!"
As she spoke, the waiter returned with a pot of tea, and Liu Ronghua had to stop, waiting for the waiter to put the tea on the table, fill up Chang Jingqiu's glass, and refilled Liu Ronghua's glass, before leaving the room.
Chang Jingqiu use a pair of tongs to pick up a slice of lemon, and squeezed some juice out, mixing it into the tea, before asking with a worried face, "if that's the case aunty, why are you still staying at the Shen family? If you live alone, even if you're alone, nobody's there to make you angry through their attitude, you'd even feel better on your own, why should you continue to stay in the Shen family? In any case, you don't even need them now?"
Liu Ronghua sobbed again when she heard that, "I just can't. I've given so much for the two of them, wasn't it all just for their recognition? But I never thought that after all these years, without counting my time before I came to Shen Residences, just ever since I've been at Shen Residences, it's been 8 years. 8 years of living together, even complete strangers would develop some measure of a bond? But they still ignore me, no matter what I do for them, they still despise me."
"I see it now, from beginning till the end, Shen Jialiang has always just been using me, one promise after another, just like some form of transaction, if I do everything they asked of me, they'd give me some favor, but if I don't succeed, they will just ignore me. It's no wonder after all these years they don't give me any title, because in their eyes, I'm just their employee."
| ← Ch. 409 | Ch. 411 → |