Having been subjected to family discipline countless times since childhood and arguing with Qin Ruhui, Qin Yusheng later discovered that the angrier Qin Ruhui became, the more he would smile. The angrier Qin Ruhui got, the more he argued, and the more Qin Ruhui’s anger subsided.
Thinking of this, Qin Ruhui’s smile grew even wider. "Dad, what nonsense are you saying? Who else is my father besides you? Could it be someone else? But you should ask Mom about this. Only you two know, right?"
"You..."
Qin Ruhui's face darkened, his eyes churning with anger. "You are truly my good son. The older you get, the sharper your tongue becomes. You even dare to mock your father!"
"Father, you speak too highly of me. I don't dare. I just want to marry the woman I love. Why make such a fuss, turning the entire household into a state of high alert?"
Qin Yusheng lowered his gaze, rubbing the white jade thumb ring on his wrist.
He was lost in thought.
For no apparent reason, Huo Tingyun appeared in the capital before the wedding date and dined with the Qin family. The implication was self-evident.
He didn't know what Huo Tingyun was thinking, but it was certainly not with good intentions.
Qin Yusheng had a vague premonition of something bad. Just as he was about to say something, the door behind him was suddenly knocked open. The aunt came in with tea, placed it on the table, and withdrew.
After a few words, Qin Yusheng also felt thirsty. Without any suspicion, he picked up the teacup and took a shallow sip.
Only after seeing Qin Yusheng drink the tea did Qin Ruhui take a sip of his own and say, "Su Qi is Huo Tingyun's ex-wife. You can marry anyone you want, but not Su Qi. That woman, Su Qi, is cunning and manipulative. Even a man like Huo Tingyun was used by her for publicity. Huo Tingyun treated her poorly all these years, and there are reasons for that. I do not agree to you marrying Su Qi."
"Father... Su Qi is not like what you say. She is not that kind of woman. You haven't even met Su Qi, nor do you understand her, so how can you call her a bad woman? Even if you disagree, Su Qi is the woman I will marry."
Qin Yusheng put down the teacup. After saying this, he turned to leave. He took two steps and suddenly his footing faltered. His mind felt hazy, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. "What was in the tea..."
Qin Yusheng clutched the back of the chair but couldn't steady himself. He stumbled and fell to the ground.
Qin Ruhui crushed his cigar. "Don't blame me for being heartless. Su Qi is a woman I forbid you to marry, and you cannot marry her. Guards, carry the third young master back to his room and confine him. He is not to leave without my permission!"
"Father, you are so cruel..."
Before the last few words could be uttered, Qin Yusheng's head throbbed, and his last shred of consciousness was pulled away.
Shencheng.
Su Qi waited all night, but Qin Yusheng's call never came. Usually, Qin Yusheng would call her around this time, no matter how busy he was.
Perhaps he was in the capital and had many things to attend to.
Su Qi told herself not to overthink it. The next morning, she saw a message from Li Caiyi.
"Sister Su Qi, Tingyun went to the capital. Do you know? I heard that Qin Yusheng has also returned to the Qin family. I also heard that someone saw Huo Tingyun dining with members of the Qin family. After Qin Yusheng returned home, he hasn't been seen leaving the Qin family for a whole day. I can't reach Tingyun either. What's going on?"
Su Qi's heart skipped a beat. She had been feeling sleepy, but after seeing this message, her drowsiness vanished instantly, and her mind became clear. She held her phone, staring at it for a long time before finally understanding.
With the wedding date approaching, Huo Tingyun inexplicably appeared in the capital and his schedule coincided with Qin Yusheng's. If anyone claimed it was a coincidence and that Huo Tingyun had no ulterior motives, she wouldn't believe them.
That man definitely had other plans!
Qin Yusheng entered the Qin family's mansion and was unable to leave all night. It was definitely related to Huo Tingyun.
That man, besides being sharp-tongued, was also quite despicable in his actions!
Su Qi gritted her teeth fiercely. As long as something was even remotely connected to Huo Tingyun, she felt that nothing good would come of it.
But at this point, there was no other way.
The Qin family parents had also initially opposed the marriage.
After all, her reputation was notorious, and affluent families were most wary of such things. Especially for a woman like her, if she were to enter the Qin family, wouldn't it be a laughingstock?
Moreover, with Huo Tingyun's interference, the Qin family would be even less likely to agree to Qin Yusheng marrying her.
Perhaps Qin Yusheng would be out of contact for a while, but that was for the best. Both in terms of sentiment and reason, Qin Yusheng should not have been too close to him.
Qin Yusheng had already given her thirty million. The Qin family controlled Qin Yusheng, and they were his biological parents, so they likely wouldn't do anything drastic to him. This way, when Qin Yusheng was released, she could also repay this sum.
Su Qi quickly composed herself, got up, washed, and went to the company.
The company was not far, but as she was pregnant, she had been taking a car. She always arrived half an hour late.
Upon arriving at the company this time, her colleagues' faces were devoid of their usual cheerfulness. Seeing Su Qi arrive, they all looked at her with concern.
Su Qi couldn't help but smile wryly. "It's just one man, you don't have to look at me like that."
Yang Tianhao walked up. "You scared us to death! We all heard. The Qin family released news saying it was all rumors, that you were seeking attention by bringing up Qin Yusheng, and that Qin Yusheng had no intention of marrying you. They clarified the rumors about your marriage and engagement."
He paused, clenched his fist, and hit it into his other palm. "This Qin family is too much! Even if they want to draw a line, they don't have to slander us, making it seem like everything is our fault."
Yang Tianhao was truly indignant. The ways of affluent families were indeed overbearing. They were truly capitalists, able to sway public opinion and distort the truth. What did they mean by their own publicity and rumors? Did they not know whether Qin Yusheng was pursuing Su Qi? Was all of this orchestrated by Su Qi herself?
"There's no need to get angry. The Qin family is powerful and influential, with connections in the capital. However, we don't need to offend them and create more trouble. Our company is still in its growth phase, and there's no need to clash head-on. We would be the ones to suffer in the end. Patience is a virtue; a moment's impatience can ruin a great plan!"
Su Qi comforted Yang Tianhao, pondered for a moment, and then said.
"Go and issue a press release stating that it's a rumor. Take down all the gossip and speculative news about engagement."
Su Qi was not very clear about the Qin family's power and status.
She had heard before that the Qin family's position was not to be underestimated. With a flick of their fingers, they could probably make her disappear.
Going against the Qin family was truly unwise.
"Sister Su Qi, you are truly patient. If it were me, I would have jumped up and cursed by now." Yang Tianhao gave her a thumbs-up, utterly impressed.
No wonder Sister Huang Ying had said before that Su Qi was no ordinary person. By following Su Qi, he would surely benefit greatly in the future.