“What you did was indeed very inappropriate. The loss to the Qi Group’s interests is substantial; in fact, your actions were predicated entirely on harming Qi Group’s interests. I assume you fully considered the consequences before making this decision.” Mother Qi did not scold him; instead, she began to analyze the situation over the phone. “First, serious loss of company profit. Second, offending a group of partners for no reason. Third, damage to the company’s overall image; a decision-maker deploying brainless strategies could affect future development.”
Qi Zhongjing listened quietly without rebutting.
“Mom, are you interrogating me or just chatting? If it’s an interrogation, I am willing to accept punishment under the company’s rules. Unfortunately, I do not believe there was any error in my decision.”
“Just a few words between mother and son. Why, are you busy? It seems you already have a solution.” Mother Qi chuckled, looking at her rigid son. Her pride and joy of an heir was also a stubborn mule; once he set his mind on something, ten horses couldn’t pull him back. He was obstinate to the extreme.
“The Qi Group needs to give the outside world the impression that its decision-maker isn’t all that shrewd. A young man occasionally making impulsive, reckless decisions out of youthful arrogance is enough to mislead certain people. I am a human, not a machine—isn’t that a good thing?”
Mother Qi ignored Qi Zhongjing’s twisted logic. “The essence of the matter is that you helped the Meng Group regardless of the cost, which has made the Qi Group’s shareholders very dissatisfied. So, did helping the Meng Group get you the result you wanted?”
“Yes, I got it.”
Hearing this, Qi Zhongjing’s originally solemn expression suddenly softened. His gaze drifted, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly upward. Although he still looked expressionless and serious, the tone of his reply became much more cheerful. How could Qi Zheng not understand? Her son was showing off his achievements to her.
She knew her son very well. This behavior was undoubtedly like a child showing off a trophy to their parents after winning a prize.
“What did he promise you?” Qi Zheng arched an eyebrow, taking a warm towel from her husband to wipe her face, feeling a bit gossipy.
That pampered and arrogant little young master of the Meng family had suffered quite a bit over the past six months. But for a young master raised in luxury, his personality wouldn’t change too much, even when surrounded by wolves.
Furthermore, given the old grudges with her son—or rather, the events triggered by the things her son did to drag that person to his side—those two kids had treated each other like sworn enemies who never wished to meet again.
What condition would that child agree to? What would her son use as leverage?
“I’m getting married.”
Qi Zhongjing had no intention of hiding it from Mother Qi, though as he spoke, the hand holding his fountain pen couldn’t help but twirl it.
This caused Mother Qi’s hand to pause. She had been enjoying a cozy morning with her husband, but upon hearing this, she turned her head to look at the tablet, seeing a Qi Zhongjing who was joyful yet extremely restrained.
Mother Qi felt a bit speechless. Her gaze toward her son became strange and complex. “You used the Qi Group’s assistance to the Meng Group as a reason to force that little pampered master of the Meng family to marry you.”
Being called out on the essence of the matter by his mother, Qi Zhongjing felt a bit awkward and let out a hum of affirmation through his nose.
Qi Zhongjing didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he did; in fact, he felt proud of his decision. It was the most correct decision he had ever made.
Qi Zheng felt a headache coming on, her beautiful face turning odd. She glanced at her husband, at a loss for words, unable to squeeze out a single sentence for a moment.
Receiving his wife’s signal, Zheng Ying’an sighed and spoke earnestly to his son across the ocean: “A normal relationship shouldn’t be like this. A romance mixed with too many interests will run into trouble sooner or later, Xiao Jing.”
Zheng Ying’an didn’t want to be too blunt, but in his eyes, his son’s actions were almost malicious. It wasn’t even a fair exchange of interests; it was Qi Zhongjing kicking someone while they were down. The other party was at a dead end, and his son was acting like this—this wasn’t falling in love; it was starting a feud.
“If you like him, pursue him openly. That is better than forcing him to be with you while his company is in trouble. This is not a normal romantic relationship.” Zheng Ying’an rubbed the bridge of his nose. “This will only end up hurting both of you. This isn’t the result your mother and I wanted to see. When you vowed to us back then, it wasn’t so you could use unscrupulous means to force him.”
“He is willing to marry, and I am happy to wed. That is enough.”
Qi Zhongjing heard him, but he didn’t listen. He didn’t want to communicate further with his parents regarding his feelings.
“I will handle the company matters. I won’t let the Qi Group fall into crisis.”
How could Qi Zheng not see that Qi Zhongjing’s eyes were wandering? He looked like he was sincerely accepting advice, but in reality, he wasn’t taking in a word. She could only sigh helplessly, stopping Zheng Ying’an, who was about to continue rambling about how to conduct a proper relationship.
When a father teaches and the son won’t listen, teaching more is useless.
“Since you’re getting married, your father and I will book tickets to return home tomorrow.”
“No need. For now, we have no intention of letting the public know. Given the current state of the Meng Group, it’s not suitable to announce this.” Qi Zhongjing gave a rare explanation. “We’ll announce it when the time is right.”
“So you plan to keep everyone in the dark.” Now, even Qi Zheng frowned deeply, clearly disapproving of this decision.
Qi Zhongjing’s intention to hide it from everyone meant preventing them from meeting the Meng family to discuss the wedding arrangements. This clearly did not give the Meng child enough respect.
Moreover, it seemed the Meng child didn’t even intend for them to meet.
Qi Zhongjing explained: “I am not hiding it from everyone, as I have already informed you. It’s just not the right time to announce it to the public.”
“Marriage is a major life event; this is not the right way to do things. You are undoubtedly damaging the Meng family’s face,” Zheng Ying’an analyzed for his son.
“He doesn’t want anyone to know either.” Judging by how quickly Meng Lingyao agreed, he likely supported this request immensely.
“Since you have your own ideas, I won’t interfere. Xiao Jing, you must remember that every decision requires careful thought. Don’t let yourself regret it,” Qi Zheng said.
Children and grandchildren have their own destinies; young people’s romantic paths are bound to have twists and turns. She knew the stubborn streak in her son’s bones, and as a mother, she had no right to interfere.
She couldn’t control this boy when he was a teenager, let alone now that he had taken over the Qi Group; she could no longer sway his opinions.
From the moment he took advantage of the crisis to force the Meng boy to marry him, even though he knew it was wrong, he had done it without looking back.
“I know, Mom,” Qi Zhongjing responded.
…
After hanging up, Qi Zheng sighed. Even with her strong personality, she couldn’t help but have a headache. “I don’t know who this boy takes after.”
“He’s like you—a carbon copy. Have you forgotten that stubborn streak of yours when you were young that no one could pull back?” Zheng Ying’an shook his head with a light laugh beside her.
“I only hope the Meng boy can eventually accept this blockhead of ours who is as hard as a rock. I hope they don’t cause a major disaster,” Qi Zheng murmured, shaking her slightly groggy morning head.
“Perhaps back then we were too strict. To make Xiao Jing accept the family business, we raised him poorly, and our words toward the Meng child were also wrong…”
“It’s too late to say those things now. Don’t worry, it will be fine.”
“Besides, Xiao Jing has his own plans. Rest assured.” Zheng Ying’an didn’t actually feel very confident, especially given Qi Zhongjing’s questionable maneuvers, but he still comforted his wife. “If you had such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you would have made the same decision as him.”
“…” Although Qi Zheng didn’t want to admit it, based on her personality, she truly would have made the same choice as Qi Zhongjing.
“So, the child takes after you,” Zheng Ying’an concluded.
“…” Though she didn’t want to admit it, Qi Zheng knew her husband was right.
Qi Zhongjing had been interested in the Meng family’s little master since childhood. Perhaps they were just friends when they were young, but their interference made that affection change its flavor. He even made an agreement with them starting in middle school that they had no right to interfere in his future marriage, his taking over of the family business, and so on. He had done many ridiculous things for that child.
Before, he was blocked by the eldest Meng brother. Now that the obstacle was gone and he was faced with this once-in-a-lifetime chance to pull the person into his bowl, it was the best choice to simply seize him while he was down rather than pursue him slowly toward an uncertain future.
…
After the call with his parents, Qi Zhongjing was not affected at all; he was clearly the type to set his mind and never change it. He was even pondering what excuse to use to have dinner with Meng Lingyao. After all, they were getting married; they were a fiancé couple… legally… right?
The meeting between his Second Uncle, his Aunt’s husband, and the Qi family didn’t affect Meng Lingyao. After Qi Zhongjing left, he began to consolidate the bonds between the few confidants his father and elder brother had left behind.
He was mediocre at corporate affairs, but he was a natural at giving “rainbow farts” (flattery) to his confidants. Especially when both internal and external troubles needed solving, it was vital to affirm their work and provide positive feedback.
“Uncle Feng, you watched me grow up. I don’t trust many people in this company right now, but you are definitely the person I trust most. You must help me keep a close eye on the company. Don’t let those ill-intentioned guys ruin this only chance for the Meng Group to stand up again.” Meng Lingyao tugged at Sun Feng’s sleeve, his tone incredibly sincere. His beautiful appearance made every word ten times more pleasant to the ear, especially when he stared at you with a serious and trusting gaze.
That expression and tone were practically soaked in honey; how could anyone refuse? Sun Feng immediately nodded and patted Meng Lingyao’s shoulder. “Young President Meng, rest assured. With me watching the company, no one—not even those fishing in troubled waters or the ‘Little Meng Group’—will get past me to strike a low blow.”
“That’s great! With those words from Uncle Feng, I feel much more at ease!” Meng Lingyao smiled brightly. “Uncle Feng truly is the most capable assistant my father left me. Without you, I wouldn’t know what to do.”