"Sister, sister! It's me, Xiaochen! Why are you so dazed?"
Compared to Qing Wu's heaviness, Duan Mingchen seemed heartless, calling her "old lady", as if the four years of separation did not exist at all.
Qingwu smiled helplessly, her voice still a bit harsh, "Xiaochen, why did you think of calling me?"
"How dare you say that! Why didn't you notify me that you changed your number?"
"sorry."
Qingwu immediately apologized, but she couldn't help but think that the email she used specifically to contact him was still there, but his last email was dated four years ago, the first month after arriving in the United States.
Qingwu listened to the voice of Xiaochen talking in English with others on the microphone, occasionally mixed with the charming and hoarse laughter of the woman next to her, and she had a repulsive feeling of pretending to be delicate.
Her heart suddenly twitched, Qingwu felt that the laughter sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she heard it.
"Okay, I don't remember the faults of others. Sister, I have some good news for you. I will return to China tomorrow!"
"real?"
Qingwu immediately asked back, but it was just a rhetorical question. She couldn't understand herself. This was obviously something worth being happy about, but she was not as happy as she expected.
"What's your reaction? After working in the mall for so many years, your tone has become indifferent? I'm your brother, please be a little more enthusiastic, otherwise I will be very sad!"
I think it's been a long time since I spoke Chinese. Duan Mingchen's Mandarin is a bit rap, like black rap music, very rhythmic, making Qing Wu laugh even if she doesn't want to.
"Time flies so fast. I don't even know what you have grown into. But I think that with good genes, Xiaochen will definitely grow more handsome!"
Qing Wu laughed, her laughter was very crisp, like ice cream. Although it was cold, it was sweet and stirred people's hearts. The same thing also stirred the luxurious woman next to Duan Mingchen, who was painted with bright red cinnamon and puffed up mist.
Bai Qin licked her plump red lips with her tongue and muttered something in an unknown language. Duan Mingchen frowned and looked back at her. Seeing her expressionless face, he was stunned.
Qingwu didn't know what was happening on the other end of the phone, "When will you get off the plane tomorrow?"
"Ten o'clock in the morning. Sister, I heard from dad that you are pregnant, so don't come to pick her up. Dad will definitely have a banquet in the evening. Then you just stay with my brother-in-law, who I have never met, so that I can meet him.
That’s all. I heard he’s a god-like figure.”
Qingwu was confused, the smile on her face dropped a little, and she just avoided the topic calmly, "What about Xiaochen, will you also bring a beautiful woman for me and my father to see?"
"Sister!" Duan Mingchen's aggravated voice gave people the feeling that there was definitely a ghost, "Okay, I know from your drowsy voice that you must be sleeping. I won't disturb your rest. See you tomorrow!"
"good!"
Qingwu agreed, looking out the window where the sun was shining brightly. The golden sunshine cast onto the solid wood floor, twinkling in her eyes, just like the sudden phone call that twinkled in her heart.
She didn't want to think about that, but she knew very well that her younger brother was originally scheduled to study abroad for at least five years. It was probably his father's wish to come back early. In other words, from now on, she and Duan would have to
Officially separated.
She should feel relaxed. Duan's affairs in the past two days have made her almost collapse, but the sadness in her heart is so obvious. After staying in Duan's for so many years, just like Manager Wu said, she will eventually have some feelings.
.
Putting all these aside, the most difficult thing at the moment is how to get Ling Yansen to attend the family dinner?
But until the afternoon of the next day, Qingwu still didn't call Ling Yansen.
She was afraid that he wouldn't answer, or that the secretary would use cold excuses. She didn't know why her courage had become so small. The slightest bit of sadness was enough to make her collapse.
Her father called her once in the morning and asked her to invite Ling Yansen to attend at any cost. The reason was very high-sounding. Xiaochen wanted to see her brother-in-law!
Qingwu listened and sneered coldly.
The reason why her father was so anxious to see Ling Yansen was simply because Ling Yansen's absence at the Duan's shareholder meeting a few days ago not only embarrassed his father, but also made the Duan's partners strengthen their suspicions that she and Ling Yansen
The relationship breaks down, and Duan will soon be kicked away by Jiayu.
That's why her father is so anxious for her to get Ling Yansen. As long as Ling Yansen attends the family dinner, the rumors will be broken and the Duan family's crisis will get better.
The wishful thinking was so loud! But she didn't care about the difficult situation she was in!
In a blink of an eye, the sun sets, it's five o'clock, and it's time for her to set off.
It is completely conceivable that she would attend the family banquet alone without Ling Yansen's company, and it would be indispensable for her father's cold stare, Zhang Shuzhen's sarcasm, Duan Miaomiao's acrimony, and her younger brother's disappointment.
Forget it! Just think of it as simply going to see your little brother whom you haven’t seen for four years.
Since it was a family dinner, it was not convenient for Sister-in-law Wu to accompany her, so she kept chasing the driver, Lao Zhang, to give him instructions.
Qingwu listened to Sister-in-law Wu's old voice in the back seat, and a warm current surged through her heart for no apparent reason.
It had only been a few months since she and Sister-in-law Wu disliked each other, but they had become like family members today. But she had lived in the Duan family villa for so many years, not to mention family affection, even the kindness equivalent to strangers.
She didn't get it. She served as a guide for her younger brother, and worked hard with her father in the Duan family for many years. In the end, it was her fault that something went wrong with the Duan family. The Duan family was prosperous, and she had no share of the credit!
The more she thought about it, the more chilled she became. She blinked and gave Mrs. Wu a big smile, "Don't worry, Mrs. Wu, I'll be back right away after dinner."
Sister-in-law Wu pointed at Qingwu's round belly, "Young Master, you have to be obedient. It's hard for your mother to ride in the car, and it's even harder to deal with that family! So, go to bed when you're full..."
Qingwu couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, Mother Wu, I'm leaving first."
When the car came out of the curve, Qingwu looked in the rearview mirror and saw that Mrs. Wu was still standing in front of the flower bed. She smiled and her heavy heart relaxed a little.
****
Ever since he missed the opportunity for Qingwu to surrender, Ling Yansen has been out of shape.
Not only Zhou Jirong, but all Jiayu employees saw this.
There were piles of documents in the office, and he just couldn't muster the energy to review them. The phone case was almost soaked with sweat from his palms, and he still couldn't press her number.
After much thought, he finally came up with an excuse that he thought was acceptable before dark.
So, when Mrs. Wu heard the long-lost kicking at the door, she opened the door with complicated emotions.
Outside the door, a man with an unnatural look on his face, clad in the clear moonlight, lowered his head slightly and said, "I'm just coming back to get some clothes."
"I don't care what you get!" Mrs. Wu rolled her eyes.