Chapter 96 The Zhou Family of Hong Kong
There is no Qin Jiangnan in the mountain city, nor is there Jiang Xingyao.
When Jin Qingyu rushed back, it was already another morning.
The old man stayed in Xiyuan Garden, his face gloomy, looking at his grandson who had returned from who-knows-where, covered in dust.
"Grandpa, what brings you here?"
"Why am I here? Ask yourself, how many days have you been away from the company? What could possibly make you go on strike?" The old man's cane pounded against the ground, making a thumping sound.
He glanced around the room out of the corner of his eye, as if searching for something.
Jin Qingyu didn't answer directly, only giving a few casual replies. The old man asked, "Where's Yaoyao?"
"Mrs…"
"Yaoyao went out for a walk to clear her head, she'll be back in a couple of days."
Just as Lin's mother was about to speak, Jin Qingyu abruptly interrupted her.
"Went to relax? You bastard, you're the one who drove him away."
I heard that you left Yaoyao alone again at the Shen family's banquet?
"Fine, since you care so much about your secretary, why don't you just divorce Yao Yao and marry her? That would be perfect. You two can both get out of the Jin family, and I, this old man, won't want to see you anymore." The old man knew exactly what was going on and spoke sarcastically.
A shadow fell over Jin Qingyu's face.
He corrected him, "I will not divorce Yao Yao, nor will I marry Jiang Cancan. I will handle this matter. Grandpa, please go back if you have nothing else to do."
The old man snorted again: "Your approach is to keep getting entangled with that woman."
Ah Yu, I know that what happened to your mother back then was a big blow to you. I have no objection if you want to investigate, but do you really think that Secretary Jiang can provide you with anything?
Think about it carefully. How old was she when the accident happened? What could she possibly remember?
You keep saying she's been kind to you, but then you say you tolerated her for a month. What about Yao Yao?
Why should Yao Yao tolerate another woman just because of your kindness? Don't you understand this at all?
The old man's words struck Jin Qingyu's heart like a hammer blow.
Instead of a torrential downpour of scolding, it carried a heartfelt and earnest tone.
Jin Qingyu lowered his head.
Assistant Xu had said something similar to him.
But he felt that he had only given Jiang Cancan a position, and it didn't really affect Jiang Xingyao in any way.
Didn't Jiang Xingyao also not tolerate Jiang Cancan? She always beat and scolded Jiang Cancan.
The old man sighed heavily, stood up, and patted Jin Qingyu on the shoulder: "Ayu, you are very capable and the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Jin family. That is undeniable. But you should be more careful when it comes to matters of the heart."
Marriage is not a business transaction, and feelings cannot be obtained through calculation and control. I don't know how you get along with Yaoyao in private, but no woman can tolerate her husband being entangled with other women outside.
"Yaoyao is only good-natured because of her personality. If she were more forceful, she could easily have followed that madman's example. Your father's case is a perfect example; you should think it over carefully."
Jin Qingyu knew that the "madwoman" the old man was talking about was Han Hui, which involved a long-standing story from the Jin family's past.
Jin Qingyu returned to the Jin family late, some time after the incident, but everyone in the Jin family, including Jin Yanzhou, was quite wary of Han Hui.
Jin Qingyu had only heard rumors about it.
It is said that Jin Manchuan's infertility was caused by Han Hui.
"Don't worry, Grandpa, I'll take care of Jiang Cancan's situation." After a moment of silence, Jin Qingyu said.
The old man looked at him coldly: "This is the last time. If it's not cleaned up properly this time, not only Yaoyao, but I, this old man, won't be able to tolerate it either. I will stand up for Yaoyao and make you divorce her."
Jin Qingyu nodded silently. The old man was furious when he saw him like this: "Alright, hurry up and tidy yourself up. The cooperation with the Zhou family in Hong Kong is crucial to the company. You go and negotiate with them personally."
Don't forget how many people are eyeing your position. If you keep letting personal matters interfere with your work, this position should just be given to someone else.
This must be the harshest thing the old man ever said to Jin Qingyu. No matter how angry he was before, he never tried to shake Jin Qingyu's position.
And now…
Jin Qingyu responded again.
After the old man left, Jin Qingyu sat down on the sofa, looking somewhat dejected.
But Lin's mother seemed to lack any tact and added fuel to the fire: "Sir, it's been five days already, why hasn't Madam returned yet? Haven't you found her?"
Jin Qingyu felt a lump in his throat; he had never thought that Lin Ma was such an eyesore before.
"Help me pack my clothes for my business trip to Hong Kong," Jin Qingyu said casually.
Lin Ma quickly agreed, and a moment later she asked, "Sir, is Madam not coming back?"
...
The weather in the port city was excellent. Shen Mingsu's house was located in a quiet suburban area.
The yard wasn't planted with any exotic flowers or rare herbs, but rather with vast fields of sunflowers.
Jiang Xingyao opened the window and could see the flowers looking up at her. With no worries and no annoying people, her health recovered quickly.
On the third day after arriving in the port city, even my complexion became much rosier.
Shen Mingsu only stayed here for one day before leaving.
Before leaving, she even had someone deliver seasonal clothes and skincare products, showing great care and attention to detail.
Shen Mingsu said it was what a business partner should do, but Jiang Xingyao felt it had crossed the line of friendship, so she simply converted the gifts Shen Mingsu had given her into cash and returned them.
Shen Mingsu did not refuse, but simply said that she was too polite.
With the piano competition drawing ever closer, Jiang Xingyao had no time to think about anything else. During her time in Gangcheng, she spent her time practicing the piano and composing pieces to find her rhythm.
Aunt Yu is usually quiet and doesn't bother Jiang Xingyao. She only comes over to ask Jiang Xingyao what she wants to eat at mealtimes.
Time flies, and it feels like just yesterday that we were in late autumn.
With three days left before the competition, Shen Ying arrived in the port city.
By then, Jiang Xingyao had almost fully recovered. The melodious piano music floated in the room. After a month, when Shen Ying saw Jiang Xingyao again, she felt as if she had been reborn.
He exuded a cool and aloof air, and the weariness and sorrow that usually lingered between his brows were gone.
After playing a piece, Shen Ying said, "Xing Yao, I only thought you played the pieces well before, but I didn't know you were such a good pianist. Did you really not practice for many years? I feel like I'm just a name without substance in front of you."
Shen Ying became famous very early and now has some reputation in the international music scene. Hearing her being so modest, Jiang Xingyao smiled a little embarrassedly: "Oh, not at all, Sister Shen Ying. I've only just regained my previous feeling and I'm still far from being as good as you. I'd like to ask Sister Shen Ying for some advice."
Shen Ying sat down as well and asked Jiang Xingyao a few questions. Finally, she said, "Xingyao, you don't need to be so modest. I think with your level, even if you can't win the championship in this kind of small competition, you should be able to get into the top three."
Shen Ying originally wanted to help Jiang Xingyao relax and not put so much pressure on herself, but she met Jiang Xingyao's dark and determined eyes. Jiang Xingyao said, "Sister Shen Ying, I only have one goal this time, and that is to be number one."
You and Mingsu both trust me, but I've caused you so much trouble. This time, I will vindicate myself and Mingsu.
Shen Ying had never seen Jiang Xingyao with such determination. Even when she signed with the Shen family before, she was always hesitant and indecisive. It was Shen Mingsu who pushed her forward.
This is the only time.
She has changed.
She began to realize that she had fought for it.
Shen Ying said, "Okay, then I'll wait for Xingyao's good news. Asu might not be coming this time, so I'll stay in Gangcheng with you. Have you prepared your clothes for the competition?"
Jiang Xingyao shook her head. She had been busy practicing the piano whenever she felt better and hadn't thought about these things yet.
Shen Ying said, "You haven't gone out much since you came to Gangcheng, have you? Now that I'm here, I'll take you out for a stroll after we finish eating, and we can order your clothes and styling together."
Port City...
That was the place she had wanted to come to when she was fifteen or sixteen, and it was also her regret. Now it would become the place where her dreams took flight. Just thinking about it made Jiang Xingyao feel that it was quite a twist of fate.
"Sister Shen Ying, I don't think we need to pay too much attention to the styling. I'm just here to play the piano, not to compete in beauty," Jiang Xingyao said.
"How can that be, Xingyao? Do you know that the Zhou family is the one funding this piano competition? The Zhou family is an all-powerful force in Hong Kong. I heard that their eldest son will also be there. He's notoriously secretive, especially..."
Shen Ying paused, then leaned closer to Jiang Xingyao. Even though there were no outsiders present, she whispered as if she were telling a secret: "I heard that the young master has a very strange temperament. He is very lenient towards women who wear white dresses and have good manners. Believe it or not, there will definitely be a lot of people wearing white dresses at tomorrow's competition."
Jiang Xingyao hadn't expected that someone as dignified and elegant as Shen Ying would enjoy listening to such gossip. She was a little confused: "Even if the competition was funded by Young Master Zhou, weren't there judges? Young Master Zhou couldn't possibly interfere with the competition results, could he?"
“But aren’t the judges also influenced by Young Master Zhou’s wishes? And even if Young Master Zhou doesn’t interfere, given the Zhou family’s wealth and influence, there are plenty of people who want to use this opportunity to gain Young Master Zhou’s favor. In some people’s eyes, the competition result isn’t that important,” Shen Ying said.
She thought for a moment, then asked, "Xingyao, what about you? Do you want to...?"
"No, I only want to rely on my own strength, I don't need these strange boosts," Jiang Xingyao said.
Shen Ying smiled and said, "I knew it, but those are just rumors. We don't know if they're true or not. Let's go eat first, and I'll take you to see dresses later."
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