Chapter 018 Chapter 18
Chapter 18: The Phoenix Man's Conspiracy
Early morning, a large flat in the center of Haicheng.
Xie Liuzheng had a rare chance to rest, so he slept until he woke up naturally.
The outdoor sunlight shines through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating every corner of the room.
When she woke up, Duan Xing had already left the house, and there was a pink love note on the bedside.
Xie Liuzheng turned over, took down the note, and lay on his back on the bed to read the message.
“To my dear wife: I’m going to work. The sandwich is in the fridge. Remember to heat it up in the microwave before eating. I love you. — From my husband”
"PS: I have a lot of work to do at the company today. I will be home around 8pm. You don't have to wait for me for dinner."
There was warmth between the lines. Xie Liuzheng sat up, reached for his phone, took a photo of the note, and saved it in his phone album.
A beautiful day has begun again.
After Xie Liuzheng finished her loving breakfast, she drove to a nearby private Pilates studio.
I've been busy touring these past few months and haven't had any systematic training for a long time. I'm taking advantage of this time to improve my body shape.
After staying in the museum for an hour and a half, she went to Xie's house in high spirits. She and Shen Wan had agreed to have lunch together, so she couldn't be late.
In fact, when Xie Liuzheng first came into contact with Shen Wan, he wanted to test her brother's attitude through her.
As they spent these few days together, her impression of Shen Wan changed dramatically.
When Xie Liuzheng first met Shen Wan, he thought she was very pretty and gentle. Her beauty was unquestionable, as elegant as a lily, leaving a faint fragrance when the wind blew, and then he had no other impression of her.
Xie Chengyue has been single for so many years. He has met women who are prettier, more educated, and more elegant than Shen Wan, but he never gave them a cold shoulder. He has also dated many girlfriends but has never thought of marrying any of them.
Shen Wan is an exception.
She used to not understand why her brother remarried Shen Wan, but now she seemed to understand a little, because she also liked being with Shen Wan. It was very comfortable and relaxed, and every ordinary day was spent happily.
When Xie Liuzheng arrived at Xie's house, Shen Wan was sketching in the yard.
Shen Wan had neither money nor time to learn these things before, but now that she has the opportunity, she wants to seize it, so she studies very seriously.
Her basic painting courses and design courses are synchronized.
The yard was covered with green grass. Shen Wan was wearing a cotton home dress, with her long black hair tied behind her head with a plain hairpin. She sat cross-legged on a chair. Behind her were aster flowers in full bloom, swaying gently in the breeze.
She was painting, but she didn't know that in Xie Liuzheng's eyes, she was also a vivid painting integrated into the scenery.
Xie Liuzheng did not disturb them, but walked gently to the living room, leaned against the window and openly admired the beautiful scenery and beautiful women.
An hour passed in a flash.
Shen Wan put down the last stroke, stood up and stretched. She admired her work and was very satisfied.
She did not take the painting back immediately, but left it there to dry slowly.
Shen Wan returned to the living room with a cheerful pace, but suddenly her steps stopped.
There seemed to be a Sleeping Beauty on the sofa next to the floor-to-ceiling window... Oh no, that's her sister-in-law Xie Liuzheng.
When did she come?
Housekeeper Lin answered her doubts: "The eldest lady has been here for more than an hour. She saw the mistress painting in the yard, so she didn't disturb you."
Shen Wan looked at Xie Liuzheng: "Okay."
My sister-in-law looks cold, but she is actually very gentle at heart.
She tiptoed closer and covered Xie Liuzheng's belly with the small blanket that had slipped onto the carpet.
Xie Liuzheng's long eyelashes moved, and he opened his eyes hazily: "Sister-in-law?"
"You're awake." Shen Wan glanced at the clock in the corner: "It's almost twelve o'clock. The kitchen should have prepared lunch."
"Are you hungry?"
Xie Liuzheng blinked, she was still not fully awake: "A little bit."
"Then wash your hands and prepare for lunch. Your brother will be back soon." Shen Wan said with a smile.
"I'm back." Xie Chengyue walked over from the door.
Xie Liuzheng suddenly became nervous: "I'm going to wash my hands first."
Xie Chengyue looked at her hurried back and asked, "Why is she a little afraid of me today?"
"You have something to tell me." He looked at Shen Wan, who was vague: "You'll know after dinner."
Xie Chengyue didn't force himself.
***
Duan Xing left home early in the morning, but instead of going to the company, he went to a high-end residential area in the west of the city.
This is his other home.
He entered the password with familiarity. The house was quiet and he entered the children's room first.
On the big blue bed, a little boy fell asleep holding a stuffed doll. Duan Xing sat beside the bed and watched him quietly for a while, with a gentle smile on his face.
He left the room and opened another one.
Unlike the tidy and clean little boy's room, this room is very messy, with brand-name clothes and bags thrown randomly on the floor, and cosmetics scattered all over the table.
The movement of him coming in did not wake up the woman on the bed. Her long black curly hair was scattered on the bed. Her sexy silk nightgown was very revealing. The straps fell to her shoulders, revealing her white and soft breasts. The woman was unaware and slept soundly with her arms around the pillow.
Duan Xing had no expression on his face and ruthlessly pulled out the pillow.
The woman was disturbed by this big movement. She turned over and murmured, "Baby, the bread is in the refrigerator. Eat it yourself if you are hungry. Let mommy sleep a little longer."
Duan Xing did not give her a chance to fall asleep again. He pulled the woman up and said, "Wake up. I have something to tell you."
Qiao Yun woke up, and she leaned on Duan Xing's shoulder, as if she had no bones: "It turns out that another baby is here."
Duan Xing half-grabbed her and grabbed her messy hand: "Stop making trouble, I have something serious to tell you."
Qiao Yun bit his ear, felt his body tremble, and said with a coquettish smile: "Pretentious."
"I miss you so much. You haven't come to see us recently."
"Now that my wife is back, I've forgotten about my ex-lover." Qiao Yun's hands restlessly drew circles on his chest.
Duan Xing ignored her jealous words and said in a deep voice, "Liu Zheng has agreed to adopt the child."
"I will send Xiaosheng to an orphanage in a few days and plan to adopt him."
Qiao Yun's smile froze, and she sat up straight: "...Do you have to send it?"
"I can't bear to part with Xiaosheng. He was born after ten months of pregnancy. Can I..."
She said viciously, "Xie Liuzheng can't have children herself, yet she shamelessly steals someone else's precious son."
Duan Xing had already seen through what kind of person Qiao Yun was. He said coldly: "This is a notification, not a discussion."
"Do you want him to stay with you as a bastard?"
"Xiao Sheng was adopted by the Xie family and will inherit all of Xie Liuzheng's wealth. What about you? What do you have?"
His words were cold and cruel, piercing Qiao Yun's heart.
She lowered her eyes and gave up the struggle: "I understand, I will talk to Xiaosheng."
Duan Xing's big palm fell on her head, and his tone became gentle: "That's good."
"He is my only child, how can I not be nice to him?"
He was very good at giving a sweet treat after a beating. Qiao Yun leaned on his shoulder and said coquettishly, "W's recently launched a new necklace, it's very beautiful."
She looked at Duan Xing with expectation and admiration: "Husband, can you buy it for me?"
Duan Xing agreed readily: "Yes, buy a few more."
Qiao Yun cheered, hugged him and kissed him: "My husband is the best."
Duan Xing smiled and put his arms around her shoulders, and the two of them fell on the bed, making love.
This child is nothing more than a bargaining chip for Duan Xing and Qiao Yun. They only care about their own interests and don't care about Duan Sheng.
Neither of them noticed that the door was not closed tightly. The little boy was standing behind the door holding a doll, with a hint of disgust flashing in his innocent eyes.
***
Xie's house, study.
"What do you want to say to me?" Xie Chengyue looked at Xie Liuzheng who was hesitant and did not dare to speak.
He checked his watch: "I have a multinational meeting in an hour."
Time is running out, and Xie Liuzheng knows that if he misses this opportunity, he won't know when the next one will come.
She gritted her teeth and said, "I want to adopt a child."
Xie Chengyue paused, his eyes sharp, "Is it you who wants to do this, or is it Duan Xing who wants to do this?"
Xie Liuzheng: "We all want to."
The conversation had already begun, and she no longer hesitated.
"Brother, you know that I have difficulty conceiving, and Duan Xing is the only child in the family... We want to go to the welfare home to adopt a child that is compatible with us and raise him as our own."
Her eyes were full of longing.
Xie Chengyue glanced at her and said, "Okay."
Xie Liuzheng was still thinking of words to convince her brother, and she was shocked to hear him agree.
"Brother, do you agree?"
I've thought of a lot of excuses these days, but none of them are useful.
Xie Chengyue: "I have no reason to object."
"Brother, thank you!" Xie Liuzheng smiled happily, and her eyes, which looked very similar to Xie Chengyue's, were filled with smiles.
Xie Chengyue smiled and said, "When you sign the adoption agreement, remember to bring Xie's lawyer with you."
Xie Liuzheng: “Okay.”
"If you need anything, feel free to contact Assistant Lee."
Xie Liuzheng: "I will."
"Then I'll be out first, brother. You go ahead and do your work."
Having solved his biggest worry, Xie Liuzheng now feels relieved.
"Go ahead." Xie Chengyue nodded, and when she was about to reach the door, he stopped her.
"Xiao Zheng, go shopping with your sister-in-law when you have time."
Xie Liuzheng looked at him in surprise: "Got it."
There was something wrong with her nephew, there was something wrong with his brother, and there seemed to be something wrong with her herself, too.
…
Xie Liuzheng left the study and found Shen Wan in the flower room: "Sister-in-law, are you picking flowers?"
“The flowers here are so beautiful.”
Shen Wan looked at her and nodded, "I'm going to pick some flowers for flower arrangement. Do you want to join me?"
Xie Liuzheng did not take the initiative to talk about the conversation in the study, and Shen Wan did not ask.
Be less curious and pay more attention to yourself. This is the life rule Shen Wan learned.
"Okay." Xie Liuzheng agreed: "I want to wrap a bouquet of flowers, too."
Shen Wan heard her unfinished words: "Give it to your husband?"
Xie Liuzheng was a little embarrassed: "Yeah."
“My brother agreed.”
Shen Wan smiled slightly and said sincerely: "Congratulations."
“謝謝。”
“嫂子，你明天有時間嗎？”
“聽說最近很多大牌出了新品，我們一起去逛逛。”
沈婉：“好啊。”
“我也想出門逛逛。”
“那我明天開車來接你，到時候再把你送回來。”謝流筝主動提議。
“會不會麻煩你了？”沈婉猶豫。
“不會啊。”謝流筝想起什麽：“嫂子，你會開車嗎？”
沈婉搖頭：“我最近在學。”
謝流筝點頭：“等你考了駕照，自己開車兜風出去，可有意思了。”
沈婉：“我一定好好體驗。”
“等我拿到駕照。”
謝流筝和沈婉相視一笑。
……
謝流筝在謝宅吃了晚飯才回市中心，她興高采烈地抱着一束親手包裝的花兒，按響自家門鈴。
門鈴響了三聲，段行打開門，懷中就塞滿了一束香槟色玫瑰。
“送給最帥的老公。”謝流筝笑意盈盈。
段行非常驚喜：“好漂亮，今天是什麽好日子嗎？老婆大人給我送花了。”
謝流筝：“我在家裏花房摘的，然後親手包的，好看嗎？”
段行目不轉睛地盯着花：“很好看，色彩搭配絕美，老婆手藝真好。”
“我要把這束花擺在床頭，一睜眼就能看到它。”段行興致勃勃地安排着這束花的歸宿。
謝流筝：“好啊。”
“我們找個花瓶插着，它們可以開得更久。”
段行一手捧着花，一手抱着謝流筝：“老婆大人辛苦了。”
謝流筝：“插花挺有趣的，不辛苦。”
“我今天跟我哥說了我們的打算。”
段行眼眸一暗，語氣關心：“怎麽不叫我一起去？”
“領養小孩是我的主意，該由我跟大哥說的。”
謝流筝：“你不是忙工作嗎？”
“我們夫妻一體，我說就等于你說了。”
段行一臉感動：“我老婆真好……那大哥怎麽說？”
謝流筝：“大哥當然是同意了。”
“我明天和大嫂出門逛街，後天你有時間我們一起去福利院看看。”
段行：“好，我找了好幾家福利院的資料，過會人你篩選一下。”
謝流筝：“行。”
“我今天有點困了，明天逛街回來再選吧。”
段行：“好的，老婆你去拿衣服，我去浴室給你放水，好好泡個澡。”
謝流筝：“嗯嗯。”
段行看着謝流筝的背影，嘴角微微勾起，一切計劃都很順利。
***
第二天，晴空萬裏。
謝流筝昨晚特意定了一個鬧鐘，鬧鐘一響，立刻起床，簡單洗漱完後，從車庫裏挑了一輛悍馬。
這輛車很酷，而且空間很大。
姑嫂二人在家吃完早餐，便出發了。
“我們先去逛禮服，下個月有重要宴會。”謝流筝有意提醒。
雖然有生活助理幫忙挑選妝造，但她們也需要有自己的想法，不能被人牽着鼻子走。
謝流筝聽說沈婉在學服裝設計，正好趁着這個機會實踐一下。
沈婉：“我對禮服設計挺有興趣的。”
兩人剛踏進頂奢禮服店裏，店員熱情迎接：“客人您好，請問想看什麽類型的禮服呢？我們這兒的禮服都是頂級設計師專業定制，每一條都是獨一無二的……”
沈婉：“有十六歲女孩穿的禮服嗎？”
謝流筝：“給你……白梨看嗎？”
沈婉：“嗯，先看看有女孩子款式，再挑其他的……”
店員給她們帶路：“客人請往這邊走，這裏的裙子都是為青春期的女孩們設計的，各種風格都有……不知道您家的孩子平時喜歡什麽類型的？”
“如果能本人過來試穿就更好了……”
店員十分熱情介紹。
沈婉和謝流筝邊聽邊看，偶爾上手比劃一下款式。
沈婉覺得這些禮服都不是特別出衆，謝流筝同樣覺得如此，她直接問道：“沒有其他款式了嗎？”
店員愣住了，立刻反應過來：“還有一些設計感很強的禮服裙，比較挑人，最好本人來試一下。”
“可以帶我們看看嗎？”沈婉詢問道。
“當然可以。”店員打開了一扇門，一排排五顏六色的禮物引入眼簾。
沈婉和謝流筝：“……”
“這季的衣服都太特別了。”謝流筝感慨了一句。
“不好意思，我們不喜歡這些款式。”沈婉不想在這裏浪費時間。
謝流筝同樣如此，兩人來到了隔壁。
沈婉看中了一個包：“可以把那個包拿下來看看嗎？”
這家店店員沒有上家店熱情，她在門口聽完沈婉和謝流筝在隔壁的購買表現，語氣敷衍：“那層的包不方便拿下來，你們買不起的話，就這樣看看吧。”
謝流筝不經常在商場逛街，頭一次遭受到這樣的待遇：“你剛剛說什麽？我沒聽清。”
店員翻了個白眼。
面對她無理的态度，沈婉沒有生氣，語氣溫溫柔柔：“請問，看了就必須買是你定的規矩？還是店裏的規矩？”
“或者是品牌的規矩？”
沈婉的語氣沒有任何起伏，卻充滿攻擊力。
店員臉色當場就變了，她以為踢到了棉花，實則碰到了硬茬：“我……我……”
她額頭直冒冷汗，想要解釋，想要擺脫這樣的局面。
店長從倉庫出來，就看到了店內對峙的狀況，她心裏咯噔一下，立刻跑了過來。
“客人您好，請問發生了什麽事情？”
當她看到沈婉的臉後，大吃一驚，語氣恭敬又惶恐。
這家店也是WV旗下的品牌，之前老員工在謝家嘴主顧對他們品牌造成了非常惡劣的影響，全集團都重新進行了培訓，店長對沈婉的臉有深刻印象。
沒想到一波剛平，另一波又起。
“謝太太，歡迎光臨本店。”
“這個店員新來的不懂事，我讓她給您道歉。”
勢利眼店員看到店長恭敬的态度，心跳如鼓，她不會惹到大佬了吧？
她認錯非常利落，九十度鞠躬，大聲道：“對不起，是我有眼不識泰山，我的态度有問題，請您原諒。”
店長也連忙道歉，她也有責任。
“你知道她做了什麽事嗎？”謝流筝好奇。
店長一看勢利眼店員心虛的樣子，就知道對方的彎彎腸子了，她沒直接回答問題，而是巧妙地轉接給了店員。
勢利眼店員立刻就将事情的經過一五一十，說了出來。
店長臉色更差了，鞠躬還差一點就快一百八十度了。
沈婉沒有那麽生氣，以前工作的時候遇到過比這更難堪的事情。
她無意為難店長，但事情不能簡單這麽算了。
“你去拿那個包給我看看。”沈婉指向店員。
店長使了一個眼色，店員立刻搬了個凳子，将包包拿了下來，遞到沈婉的面前。
沈婉沒有接，淡淡道：“這包近看也就這樣，放回去吧。”
店員快吓死了，沈婉說什麽，她就幹什麽：“好的，謝太太。”
“流筝，我們走吧。”沈婉覺得挺沒意思的。
謝流筝全程都沒機會插手：“好。”
沈婉打算直接走的，然而謝流筝當着這家店店員和店長的面，直接進了她們競争對手的專櫃，除了幾個特別醜的，其餘的全都買了下來。
“刷卡。”謝流筝拿出黑卡付賬，然後全部讓隐藏的保镖出來提着。
原本她不想這麽矚目的，奈何有人作死。
勢利眼店員再次看完全程，嘴都吓白了，心裏可懊悔了。
“嫂子，這些包是送你的禮物，多謝你之前幫我。”謝流筝一眼看出了她想要拒絕：“不要拒絕哦這是我的心意。”
這麽貴重的禮物，讓沈婉有些惶恐：“我沒幫你什麽。”
謝流筝：“嫂子，你別推辭了。”
“我喜歡花，你包一束花送給我，可以嗎？”她主動要求道：“花的心意對我來說很重要。”
沈婉抿唇：“好。”
“我要紅玫瑰！”
段行偏愛香槟玫瑰，謝流筝鐘情紅玫瑰。
……
兩人逛完包包，又轉戰首飾店。
謝流筝挑中了最新款的項鏈，她戴在脖子上，店員一頓猛誇。
她轉過來，詢問沈婉的意見：“嫂子，這條項鏈好看嗎？”
謝流筝的肩頸線條很美，粉鑽搭配銀色網狀鏈條，襯得她膚白如玉。
“很美，顯白。”沈婉伸手将項鏈調整好：“特別美。”
謝流筝很高興，價格都不問，直接刷卡。
喬雲就是這時候進來的，她沒想到在這裏遇到謝流筝，她還戴着她心心念念的新款項鏈。
她很嫉妒謝流筝，擁有雄厚的家世、頂尖才華、漂亮臉蛋，她擁有一切。
在沒有勾搭上段行之前，喬雲面對謝流筝很自卑，後來心态發生了改變。
謝大小姐擁有那麽多，可卻還是留不住男人的心，她甚至生不出孩子。
喬雲詭異地覺得平衡了，想到謝流筝所有的財産都會由她的兒子繼承，她做夢都想笑，甚至看謝流筝的眼神都帶着一絲憐憫。
對方不再是高高在上的大小姐，被拉下了神壇。
謝流筝沒興趣觀察其他人，她正在結賬。
喬雲走了過來，指了指她脖子上的粉鑽項鏈：“我要這條新款項鏈。”
她有錢，買得起了。
The clerk looked embarrassed and said, "Excuse me, Miss, this is the last one we have left."
"Why don't you take a look at other styles, they were also released last month."
Qiao Yun suddenly felt unhappy: "I don't want it, I want this one."
The clerk was a little embarrassed, so she proposed a second solution: "If you really like this necklace, you can register it here, and we will notify you immediately when it is available. Do you think this is okay?"
Qiao Yun: “No.”
When she saw Xie Liuzheng was about to leave, she impulsively stopped him.
Shen Wan pulled Xie Liuzheng over, her eyes alert.
Qiao Yun also realized that her behavior was strange, and she tried to lower her posture: "Miss, I like this necklace very much, can you give it to me?"
"I can offer double the price." Qiao Yun estimated the budget given by Duan Xing in his mind and spoke.
Xie Liuzheng frowned and said, "I really like this necklace. I won't sell it to you."
After saying that, she pulled Shen Wan out of the store without even looking at Qiao Yun.
Qiao Yun was about to sneak up to Xie Liuzheng, but was pulled out of the way by the bodyguards.
Shen Wan saw what was happening behind her through the glass door: "This guy is weird, let's go quickly."
Xie Liuzheng: "I think so too. It's inexplicable."
Qiao Yun looked at their receding backs, her eyes becoming more and more resentful. Xie Liuzheng's men were all hers, and everything else would also belong to her.
When the clerks in the jewelry store saw Qiao Yun's strange behavior, they quietly moved away from her, thinking that she was insane.
***
When Shen Baili returned home from school, she was shocked by the army of bags in the living room.
"Mom, who did you go shopping with? Where did you go? Why didn't you take me with you?"
She also wants to go shopping with her mother.
"And your aunt. She bought all these bags." Shen Wan briefly explained what happened.
After listening to this, Shen Baili said: "You guys are so cool."
Shen Wan: "I'm a cool mom."
Shen Baili sat down next to Shen Wan: "You are a cool girl."
Shen Wan scratched her nose and said, "You just know how to make me happy."
Shen Baili: "To be honest, my mother is a cool girl~"
"Where is Aunt Xie? Why haven't I seen her?" Shen Baili has been thinking hard these days, and finally remembered the plot related to Xie Liuzheng last night.
Adopting a child is the evil plot of the Phoenix Man.
She was so angry that she almost couldn't sleep last night. She thought for a long time about how to tell Xie Liuzheng about this.
She is not familiar with Xie Liuzheng.
Moreover, Xie Liuzheng obviously trusts Duan Xing very much, and going there rashly would only cause trouble.
She had to think of a good solution, and if that didn't work, she could tell Xie Zhiyu?
The familiar message of trouble has come again.
But this matter cannot be ignored. Shen Baili cannot tolerate the girl's sincerity being betrayed.
The Phoenix Man is so disgusting, he is calculating every step. How dare he do that?
Shen Baili cursed Duan Xing eight hundred times in her mind, and then she met Xie Liuzheng to test the waters.
"Liu Zheng was tired from shopping today, so she went back after sending me back."
"What's wrong?" Shen Wan asked, seeing that she was curious.
Shen Baili was a little disappointed: "It's okay."
"I bought you a few skirts, please try them on." Shen Wan pointed at the dozen or so bags.
Shen Baili: "How many are these?"
"You will look beautiful in it." Shen Wan smiled gently.
"Then I'll go to the room and put it on for you to see."
"Then let's go upstairs now." Shen Wan was a little impatient.
"Mom, when will Aunt Xie come over again? Call me then, I..." Shen Baili thought of an excuse: "My classmate is very interested in piano, I want to consult him."
Shen Wan: "She's been a bit busy these days, maybe until next week."
"If it's urgent, I'll call her?"
Shen Baili thought for a moment and said, "Mom, give me my aunt's phone number and I'll call her myself."
Shen Wan agreed.
The mother and daughter played Miracle Years Old in the room for more than an hour.
**
What Shen Baili didn't expect was that she hadn't figured out how to remind her.
The next day, she ran into Xie Liuzheng in the mall.
When she was squatting in a public toilet and felt the most "desperate and helpless", she received help from the angel girl.
And this angel lady is Xie Liuzheng.