Even if we were to deal with the Li family, we should start with him.
“Brother Qi, the Li family,” Wen Cheng said with difficulty, “I challenged the Li family at the auction, I’m sorry.”
I'm sorry to have troubled you.
My father's words swirled in my mind like a curse: Even if you feel good, what about the consequences? Won't the people you care about still bear the burden?
Are you happy?
Wen Cheng was taken aback, and looked up in a daze, clearly not understanding Wen Qi's meaning at all.
Wen Qi lowered his head and gently kissed Wen Cheng's lower lip, leaving an ambiguous watery mark. "Are you happy?" Wen Qi asked again.
Wen Cheng couldn't break the rules she had set for herself, so she answered honestly: "I'm happy that the Li family abandoned you and made them unhappy."
"And what about you?" Wen Cheng asked cautiously.
Wen Qi smiled slightly, brushed a stray hair from Wen Cheng's forehead with his index finger, and then traced Wen Cheng's outline downwards. "I'm very happy that you made the Li family unhappy. Chengcheng, well done."
Wen Cheng's nose tingled, and despite Wen Qi's shirtless body, she hugged him without hesitation. "Did I cause you any trouble?" Wen Cheng asked with a slightly nasal tone.
"What trouble? Even if you don't want to do it, I'll still do it." Wen Qi gently patted Wen Cheng's back, feeling sorry for Wen Cheng's cautiousness. He really wanted to tell Wen Cheng that he could make mistakes and do many willful things because he could tolerate him and clean up all the messes. But even though he was venting his anger, he still cautiously asked himself if he was troubling him.
A pang of heartache flashed in Wen Qi's eyes, but he also understood that many things had to be changed gradually and subtly. First of all, he couldn't let him appear carefree on the surface, but he also had to be the same in his heart.
Wen Cheng suddenly stood up, stunned. "The person who went up the price with Liu Liangpeng at the auction?"
Wen Qi's smile answered everything.
Wen Cheng suddenly became very happy and excitedly asked, "Brother Qi, are you going to start taking revenge?!" The excitement in her tone was something Wen Qi had not expected.
In fact, Wen Qi didn't want Wen Cheng to know about this at first, but he never expected that Wen Cheng would join his original plan by mistake and accept it so easily.
"Chengcheng, that person is my maternal grandmother. Do you think that's going too far?" Wen Qi could disregard everyone's opinion, but not Wen Cheng's. He didn't want Wen Cheng to see his less-than-ideal side, and if she accidentally found out, he didn't want to see her looking like she didn't want to accept it.
"What's there to pity about an old woman who abandoned you?" Wen Cheng said shrewdly, her eyes revealing a desire for him to bring down the Li family.
After speaking, Wen Cheng realized that her tone was a bit inappropriate, "Shouldn't I call her an old woman?"
Wen Qi smiled indulgently, "To me, you are the family. As for the others, judging by age, she is indeed a vicious old woman!"
With the big shot's backing, Wen Cheng readily called the old lady of the Li family "old woman" and "old witch" a few more times!
Finally, Wen Cheng clung tightly to Wen Qi, "Brother Qi, just call me if you need anything. Even though I'm not very strong, I'll do my best to help you."
"Um,"
"Did you really understand?" Wen Cheng asked repeatedly to confirm.
"Yes, I understand."
That night, after venting his anger, Wen Cheng finally felt much better. He felt no pressure at all while sleeping in bed. Because of the excessive use of a certain area last night, Wen Qi finally let Wen Cheng off the hook tonight and carefully applied medicine to him. Although Wen Cheng was so embarrassed that he almost died of embarrassment, he still couldn't escape Wen Qi's domineering rule and could only groan and endure it.
The two went to work again the next day, but this time they never expected that their peaceful life would be shattered from the moment they got on the bus.
Wen Cheng sat comfortably in the IT department as usual. After a few days apart, he could clearly feel that everyone's enthusiasm for him had increased significantly; he hadn't had a break all morning.
"I mean, am I just a tool in this department?" Wen Cheng collapsed into her chair, exhausted, after finishing with the last colleague's problem.
A group of people quickly came over to offer their warmth, treating her to South African chocolate, French desserts, and all sorts of trendy international snacks. Wen Cheng's melancholy vanished instantly, and she even let them touch and hug her while they ate.
Minister Zhang's hand, holding the goji berry and red date water, trembled slightly. "You bunch of big brothers, do you think Premier Wen's girlfriend is someone you can pet like this? Do you think this is a cat cafe?"
At 10 a.m., it is the normal rest time for the Information Department. Those who have nothing to do will take out their phones, lie on their chairs and browse their phones for 15 minutes, or go out to find something to eat.
Wen Cheng was playing a game with Shen Feimo and his friends, during which Shen Feimo showered Wen Cheng with various traditional Chinese cultural greetings and endless praise for her playful teasing.
"Cheng, if you were five years younger, I would definitely recommend you for youth training. You're a genius, a genius!" Shen Feimo exclaimed.
Wen Cheng glanced at Shen Feimo, and the word "heh" was enough to express his feelings at that moment.
"Holy crap, my girlfriend said a domineering old lady came to the front desk. She came in saying she wanted to see President Wen, and even said she was President Wen's grandmother. Are all old ladies this arrogant these days? She even brought six bodyguards to see her grandson, and they were all foreigners!" Relying on the powerful advantage of Wen Cheng being the mascot of the Information Department, the first colleague in the Information Department to find a girlfriend exclaimed in surprise.
Wen Cheng's hand trembled, and she was accidentally ambushed by the opposing mage.
"Hey, Chengcheng, don't get distracted!" Shen Feimo knew Wen Cheng quite well.
Wen Cheng casually handed her phone to a colleague who was looking at strategy documents.
Are you sure you mean your maternal grandmother?
"Yes, that's right. President Wen's grandmother is Chengcheng's grandmother. Chengcheng, do you want to go up and take a look?"
Wen Cheng nodded and was about to get up when her colleague shoved the phone back into Wen Cheng's hand, her voice trembling with nervousness, clearly showing her apprehension towards the fox.
Wen Cheng answered the phone.
"Hello, is this Mr. Wen Cheng? Please don't go upstairs for now. Madam Li is here and is talking to Mr. Wen. He just told me to tell you this."
"How dare she come here?" Wen Cheng gritted her teeth.
The atmosphere in the conference room had reached freezing point. Wen Qi, sitting coldly in the head seat, clasped his hands together and looked at the uninvited guest. There wasn't even a glass of water on the clean table.
The old lady sitting to the side was wearing a dark cheongsam. Despite her efforts to maintain her appearance, she looked only ten years younger than her eighty years. She had triangular eyes, a drooping mouth, and eyebrows that were so light they were almost negligible. Most importantly, there was disdain and impatience in her eyes. If she had lost any value in Wen Qi's eyes, she would not have appeared at the company desk.
"You don't even need to pour a glass of water for your grandmother? Back then, your mother was desperate to return to the Li family."
Author's Note:
La la la la, I'm back~
Chapter 149 Packaged and Given Away
The old lady had grown accustomed to the life of a superior over the years. With a large number of younger relatives in her family, she could command their respect with just a glance or a slightly biased remark. They would listen to her lectures with pale faces and submissive manner. This time, she came with absolute confidence. Even though she hadn't returned to the country for decades, she maintained a high degree of self-confidence in her family's status.
Unfortunately, Wen Qi did not fly into a rage as she had expected. His calm expression made it seem as if he had never met the old lady before, so no matter how harsh her words were, he did not take them to heart.
"There are only two kinds of people who come here to drink water: family members and people who can bring commercial benefits. Old lady, which category do you think you belong to?" Wen Qi asked coldly. His seemingly plain words carried an innate pressure. His slender fingertips lightly touched the table, forming a unique aura.
The old woman's drooping lips almost reached her chin. "Although you have half inferior genes in your bones, I have to admit that you are one of the more outstanding among my juniors. It's just that you didn't choose your career well. Instead of honestly pursuing real industry, how long can those virtual games last?" The old woman's usual method of suppression didn't require answering the other person's words. She only needed to lure out the other person's weakness and then crush it underfoot, and then leave a window for them to breathe. That's how she won their heart.
Wen Qi suddenly smiled, and her already exquisite features seemed to be enhanced with a filter, giving her a glow. The old lady was stunned for a moment. Looking at her like this, she seemed to be her former daughter. Back then, among the eight children, she favored Wen Qi's mother the most. Unfortunately, she was too disobedient, and the Li family did not need disobedient children.
"If you're here today to crouch in a narrow well and criticize the outside world, then I don't need to talk to you anymore. Don't disturb the cleaners when they come to clean up the bad luck." Wen Qi's mouth never relaxes when facing an enemy.
"You!" The old lady's face grew increasingly grim with anger. This was the first time in her life that she had heard such a negative comment about her from her grandson!
That wasn't all. Wen Qi continued, "I heard you spent a fortune at the auction, old lady? That amount of money is a huge sum for you."
"You, you! Don't forget your roots! I'm your grandmother! What do you mean by calling me 'old woman'? Your mother would be happy to see you now, even down there! Don't be so ungrateful!" The old lady's hand trembled as she pointed at Wen Qi.
Wen Qi gave her a cold look. "If my mother knew how she died, she probably wouldn't be happy at all."
"What do you mean, how did they die? The couple was driving in the pouring rain, who can they blame?" The old lady slammed her hand on the table, stubbornly playing the role of an innocent victim.
Wen Qi lowered his eyes, concealing the darkness within them.
Seeing that Wen Qi remained silent, the old lady's tone became even more smug. "I didn't come here today to hear you dredge up those old grievances. You are, after all, a member of the Li family. Whatever happened before is in the past. If your mother were alive, she certainly wouldn't want you to have such a deep rift with the main family. I have more than a dozen grandchildren under my care, and each of them has found a good partner according to my wishes. Now, only you are missing. Considering that your mother was still somewhat filial to me before she died, I am still willing to acknowledge you back. Your marriage partner is the granddaughter of your maternal grandfather's best friend. Her background and appearance are impeccable. You will come home with me now. The Li family will take care of your household registration and nationality. You've been out there for so long; it's time to come back."
"Brother Qi!" The door to the conference room was pushed open, and the little furball peeked out from the crack in the door, only to meet a pair of anxious dog eyes.
Wen Qi immediately stood up and walked over, completely ignoring the old lady.
"What are you doing here? Didn't Secretary Zhao just tell you?" Wen Qi walked up to Wen Cheng and asked, looking down at her.
Wen Cheng was still in shock. He had overheard this conversation outside and couldn't hold back any longer. "You're about to be sold off, how can I protect my legal rights if I don't come in!" It sounded just like his own doll being snatched away by an old witch.
Secretary Zhao stood not far away, looking helpless.
Wen Qi's gloomy mood brightened considerably at this moment. A sense of helplessness, coupled with the feeling of being loved, instantly lifted his spirits.
"Then come in." Wen Qi pulled out a seat for Wen Cheng, and only then did Wen Cheng meet the old witch's gaze. Her pale face was painted with pink lipstick, and the downward curve of her lips was exactly the same as the old witch's! Wen Cheng's flat eyebrows immediately furrowed, and she met the old lady's gaze without any fear.
"Go get some food. I remember there's a box of red grape ice cream in the small refrigerator," Wen Qi instructed.
Secretary Zhao nodded immediately, then looked at the six bodyguards standing outside. "President Wen, should we call our security guards up?"
Wen Qi smiled and said, "No need. Have Uncle Zhao come up first and keep an eye on them. Call the police if there are any problems."
The old lady heard every word clearly. "What do you mean?"
“Does it mean self-defense?” she asked, and Wen Qi “kindly” replied, all his actions tantamount to treating her as a harmful object.
Secretary Zhao was quick; the snacks were on the table three minutes later, and Uncle Zhao came up five minutes later.
"President Wen, Chengcheng, let's talk this over. My phone just fully charged, I can call the police anytime! If they hit me, I'll stage an accident to extort money from them!" Uncle Zhao looked incredibly confident and full of energy.
Wen Cheng was slightly amused and exasperated. "Uncle Zhao, they're still here. Let's be more tactful."
"It's alright, they're a bunch of foreigners and they don't understand anyway. I'll close the door for now, you can continue talking!" Uncle Zhao quickly closed the door behind them.
By this time, the old lady's momentum had diminished by half. She had come with the people she was supposed to take back, but now she didn't know if she would be able to go back.
“Wen Qi, no, you should be surnamed Li. As a member of the Li family, you must act from the perspective of the family!” The old lady was so ordinary, yet she was still so confident.
"Brother Qi's surname is Wen, what does that have to do with your Li family?" Wen Cheng was about to unleash her full power at this point.
Don't underestimate the power of a salted fish turning over a new leaf!
Author's Note:
I have something to do today, I'll update tomorrow!
Chapter 150 You probably didn't do it by writing letters, did you?
The old lady disliked Wen Cheng from the very beginning. "You're the child the Wen family just recognized, right? Since you're both returning to the family, you can go back to the Wen family and enjoy your life. Why are you stopping Wen Qi from settling down in the Li family? Don't you think his life here is better than back in the Li family? He's just running a virtual company all day, without doing anything of substance."
"Grandma, judging from how much you look down on the information age, you must usually rely on letters, right? How did you know I was just reunited with my family? Did my parents write to you specifically to let you know, so you hired six bodyguards and rowed back to China in a rubber boat to find your long-lost grandson?" Wen Cheng unreservedly unleashed her吐槽 (tu cao, a form of sarcastic commentary/roasting) skills.
Wen Qi sat to the side and laughed without reservation, casually reaching out to stroke Wen Cheng's curly hair as a reward. The old lady was too angry to notice the subtle atmosphere between the two.
The old lady was so angry that her heart was pounding. "How long do you think you can keep up your sweet talk?"
"Really? So your so-called marriage alliance is quite prestigious? Our bargaining chips are so weak that we have to rely on our children to keep the business afloat. We can't compare to that. At least Brother Qi is in our Wen family; he doesn't have to be beholden to the family's interests like in a feudal society, marrying a woman he doesn't like at all according to his parents' wishes. You don't mean that because you married according to your parents' wishes, your children and grandchildren will suffer along with you, do you? Your grandchildren, well, they cost you money, so they can't really resist. But you've made a mistake coming here. Look, every brick and tile you're sitting on belongs to the Wen family."
"Although we didn't become famous as early as your Li family, the Wen family still managed to climb the ranks of the major families through our own strength. We, the information industry, don't look down on you nouveau riche miners who are brainless, and you shouldn't think we information professionals are unreliable. We're all ordinary people eating rice; who's more noble than whom? Why this hierarchy of contempt!" Wen Cheng finished speaking in one breath.
The old lady never imagined that one day she would be silenced by the words of a rich young man, her face turning a deep purplish-red. Wen Cheng had seen far too many people like this in her previous life.
"You feel uncomfortable hearing these blunt truths now because those hypocritical people around you dare not speak up to you, so you've developed an illusion that you've done nothing wrong. Using your own child as a bargaining chip in a business deal has made you proud? If you're so capable, earn our respect with your own abilities. Don't rely on your seniority and carry the huge joke of 150 million!" Wen Cheng was truly enraged this time. For him, Brother Qi was the bottom line, a line that not just anyone could cross.