What more could one ask for?
“He is the father of my child, Bill. You should know that when I trust someone, I am absolutely certain that there is no room for falsehood. I believe that Zhengwei will not let me down.”
-Song Qing
Yi Zhengwei's work gradually settled into a routine, and Fuhua was thriving, with numerous projects underway simultaneously. Song Qing couldn't be said to be completely idle either; she assisted Yi Zhengwei, frequently visiting the company to streamline work processes and systems. She was quite experienced in these areas, having neglected them since returning to China due to her busy schedule abroad. Thus, the two worked well together, one handling external affairs and the other internal matters. Since Yi Zhengwei spent most of his time at Fuhua headquarters, Yi Mantian was quite relieved that Song Qing was back at the company. With his mind at ease and everything at home in order, his health improved considerably, and he was cheerful all day, eagerly awaiting the birth of his grandson. He was also a restless old man; when no one at home kept him company, he would return to the bank to help out. Everything was smooth and perfect.
With Xu Zhihan handling the technical aspects and Yi Zhengwei coordinating the project, Hongshang's research progressed rapidly. Within a year, the momentum of the Power One test run had returned, and it was poised for unstoppable growth. Yi Zhengwei's social engagements increased, and he rarely stayed in his office. Xu Zhihan, ever diligent and responsible, remained by his side. He was now not only Zhenhua's chief engineer but also Fuhua's deputy general manager. Despite the major incident last time, he remained focused, shuttling between Zhenhua and Fuhua. On the surface, he appeared to be cooperating well with Yi Zhengwei, but inwardly, he harbored deep suspicion towards him.
Being able to leave and arrive at get off work on time meant Song Qing could also fulfill her duties as a host to Bill, something she had always neglected him for. When Song Keren called to ask what Bill was busy with in Linchuan, she jokingly replied that Bill would be bringing a Chinese wife back to see her later.
Song Keren smiled, showing no displeasure. The Song family was small, and now that those who were supposed to get married had already done so, it was time for her to rest.
After exchanging pleasantries, Song Qing thought for a moment and went straight to Zhuyuan after work. Bill was indeed there; he had practically become the Western chef at Zhuyuan and was almost forgetting about home. Although Shen Yang was straightforward, he was also easygoing. The two bickered and played together.
Her arrival was sudden; she had intended to surprise Bill, but unexpectedly, she was the one who was surprised. Because the one who came out to greet the guest was none other than Shen Xing. If outsiders saw her pregnant and meeting Shen Xing, they would think she was trying to intimidate Shen Xing, as could be seen from Shen Yang's expression.
She sighed inwardly. Since she was already here, she might as well go in and sit down.
Shen Yang was clearly unhappy. She was the kind of person who couldn't hide her emotions. Firstly, Shen Xing had lost her child with Yi Zhengwei because of her. Secondly, Bill still couldn't forget her, which was a knot in her heart. No matter how she looked at it, it was impossible for her and Song Qing to get along.
"Oh, Lianxin, you finally thought of coming to see me!" Bill rushed out and gave her a big hug while still wearing his apron.
"Be careful, you're still so clumsy, you'll scare the baby." Song Qing was both amused and exasperated, carefully protecting her belly, but still obediently letting Bill hold her.
Bill ignored her pleas and instead picked her up, spinning her around in the yard. Song Qing was terrified, her face turning deathly pale. She nearly screamed, clinging tightly to his neck, refusing to let go. Shen Yang was strongly displeased, but Shen Xing smiled faintly, a touch of emotion stirring within her. Every time she saw Song Qing, she noticed a change in her—a qualitative one. This time, though heavily pregnant and somewhat bloated, her expression was relaxed and happy. She had found her place and was progressing well with Yi Zhengwei. Such an excellent woman deserved her happiness. She realized her feelings weren't jealousy, though a slight sense of loss lingered—for herself, for Yi Zhengwei, and for their ill-fated relationship. But perhaps, the current situation was the most perfect.
Song Qing never imagined that she would have the opportunity and the mood to sit quietly with Shen Xing and have a meal together again.
The bamboo garden is the only physical object that Shen Xing can preserve her past memories with Yi Zhengwei, and she feels somewhat emotional about it.
“Miss Song, please don’t have any other thoughts about her because of Shen Yang’s temper. She has had a hard time too. On the one hand, because of me, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with the Song family; but on the other hand, she loves Bill very much. It’s just that this silly girl doesn’t know how to love. The two of them always have unpleasant arguments because of you and me.”
Song Qing smiled faintly, not caring much. "I'm so happy for you that you can let go of yourself and the past. Whether the past was right or wrong doesn't matter anymore. Zhengwei and I both hope that you can find happiness."
"Yes, Zhengwei and I are in the past. Miss Song, I had a feeling a long time ago that Zhengwei would be won over by you. You are so outstanding and considerate of the big picture. You have suffered just as much as I have. It is only right that Zhengwei feels sorry for you."
Song Qing breathed a sigh of relief and asked sincerely, "What are your plans for the future?"
"I've decided to leave Linchuan. Too much has happened here, and I think leaving will make me feel better. I plan to find a new path in another place."
The two fell silent, and Song Qing stopped talking, as it would be pretentious to say anything more.
Bill brought in dinner; the private room, meant for two, could barely seat four. Bill put his arm around Song Qing, and they sat facing each other, the Shen sisters, Shen Yang and Shen Xing. In Bill's heart, Song Qing was always family.
Song Qing didn't care about Shen Yang's glares; as long as Bill was happy, that was all that mattered. Bill, oblivious to the undercurrents between the women, continued to tenderly cut Song Qing's steak, knowing exactly how much sauce to add, how well-done, what to eat first, and what to eat last. That's how they'd spent those years together. So much so that while the parties involved didn't realize it, to outsiders it appeared infuriating.
"Bill, wouldn't it be better to let him eat it himself? Yours's getting cold!"
Just then, Yi Zhengwei called to ask his wife, "I just finished a meeting and wanted to come see you, but Secretary Liu said you had already left. I finally managed to find some time to have a meal with you."
The tone of her voice carried a hint of coquetry, which made Song Qing unconsciously cover her lips and smile. "Busy man, go home and rest early today. I'm with Bill, and he'll take me home later."
Yi Zhengwei was very relieved. "Okay, don't stay out too late. There are some things I want to talk to you about at the company."
"Okay, I'll be back." Song Qing smiled and hung up the phone.
Shen Xing couldn't help but ask, "Is it Zheng Wei?"
Shen Yang interrupted, "Why are you still thinking about this person? Your child isn't a child, but that person is truly pampered and precious."
Despite Shen Yang's repeated refrains, Song Qing pretended not to hear them. However, she was naturally upset. She couldn't argue with Shen Yang, and if it weren't for Bill, she really wouldn't want to come to Bamboo Garden again.
Shen Xing was worried about her younger sister. Although she was an outsider, she knew how important Song Qing was to Bill. But this stubborn Shen Yang insisted on going against her and didn't give her any face. If things got out of hand, Shen Yang would probably be the one who got hurt.
"Seriously, do you have to make everyone unhappy before you feel comfortable?" Shen Xing couldn't help but scold her sister in a low voice.
Yes, Shen Yang was genuinely unhappy, unhappy for her sister's sake, and unhappy for her own. She knew Bill would hate her for being like this, but she couldn't help but say what was on her mind. She couldn't control this self-destructive personality; was she destined to suffocate herself?
"Are you full? Lianxin, I'll take you home." Without saying a word, Bill pulled out a chair and stood up.
He had had enough of Shen Yang's prickly, petty attitude. Because of him, Song Qing had suffered such cold words several times. If he had to choose between Song Qing and Shen Yang, he would definitely choose Song Qing without hesitation. They were childhood sweethearts and family, supporting each other through ten years. He felt all of Song Qing's suffering, helplessness, and confusion. Even though she now had Yi Zhengwei to care for her, he still couldn't let her go and didn't want her to suffer even the slightest bit, especially because of him.
Song Qing didn't insist. She obediently got up, frowned, looked at Shen Yang who was still sulking with his neck stiff, shook her head slightly, and when she met Shen Xing's pleading eyes, she gave her a comforting smile.
Shen Yang is too strong-willed and rigid, which makes her easily broken. She and Bill still have a long way to go.
Perhaps she should find some time to have a good talk with her. She wanted Shen Yang to know that what she and Bill shared, though not romantic love, was a bond of kinship and friendship that was even more precious than romantic love.
"Bill, who's more important, her or me?" Just before leaving the house, Shen Yang finally couldn't hold back any longer and stood up, shouting loudly.
Bill turned around and said clearly, word by word, "Shen Yang, you are being unreasonable. I really don't know what I saw in you before. Now I can tell you, if you don't like Xiao Qing, I have no choice but to give you up!"
Song Qing gently shook his arm to show him not to be so resolute.
Shen Yang glared at them, his fists clenched tightly, tears streaming down his face. He shouted, "Bill, you're not a man! If you're so capable, take her back from Yi Zhengwei. What's the point of showing off in front of me? If you can really do it, you'll be helping me out by getting my sister and Yi Zhengwei together. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation? Go now! I'll grant your wish right away!"
Even Shen Xing thought she had gone too far. Shen Yang's personality was too much of a disadvantage. She was determined to forget and let go of her past with Yi Zhengwei, but Shen Yang was unwilling to give up. She was too stubborn.
Song Qing and Bill went downstairs, and Shen Xing followed them.
Song Qing comforted her, "After so much has happened, it must have been difficult for her to get along with me. I won't come to Zhuyuan anymore. If they can be together in the future, we will be separated by oceans and won't have any connection. But she should learn to be tolerant and forgiving towards Bill. My aunt and I are Bill's only family. If she really loves Bill, she shouldn't make him choose between family and love."
Shen Xing replied repeatedly, "I understand, I understand, I will try to persuade her."
What Song Qing didn't say was that, given Song Keren's temper, she and Shen Yang might clash like fire and water. How those two get along and how they argue is their own world, and she couldn't and didn't want to concern herself with it.
"If I had known she was Shen Xing's sister, I definitely wouldn't have messed with her." Bill still felt guilty and remained silent for a long time while driving.
Song Qing said understandingly, "Zhengwei and I also went through a lot to get to where we are today. Don't give up. If she truly loves you, she will naturally understand."
Bill turned the steering wheel and stopped the car on the side of the road. He said seriously, "Xiao Qing, are you really determined to open your heart to Yi Zhengwei?"
Song Qing smiled and asked, "What's wrong, Bill?"
“I’m just afraid you’ll be hurt. I don’t know if you can handle starting a new relationship so quickly.” Bill was initially at ease with Yi Zhengwei because he knew Song Qing hadn’t forgotten Yan Xunan. As for Yi Zhengwei, he was too cunning. He could abandon Shen Xing for profit in just one year. Who could guarantee that he would abandon profit for Song Qing?
“He is the father of my child, Bill. You should know that when I trust someone, I am absolutely certain that there is no room for falsehood. I believe that Zhengwei will not let me down.”
Bill shrugged. "Okay, I hope so. By the way, I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until the baby is born. The chairman has already called to urge me to go back."
What should we do about Shen Yang?
"Let me cool off for a bit. I need to think this over carefully. Xiaoqing, after what happened to you, all I want now is a relaxed and simple relationship. You should know that I really don't have that much energy left. It's too hard to abandon the past and start loving someone again."
Yes, she fell in love with Yi Zhengwei again, and the difficulty of this process is beyond what outsiders can understand. How much she endured, how long she struggled, how many times she wavered, and even how she and Yi Zhengwei hurt each other, to get to this point. Just as Bill said, she could no longer bear hurt and betrayal. This time, she staked everything on love and Fuhua, all her trust and everything she had.
The arrival of the child gave her a chance to make a new choice. When she got home, she was extremely tired, already breathless after climbing the stairs. Hearing the noise, Yi Zhengwei quickly got out of bed, his face full of concern. "I think we should send Bill away as soon as possible!"
Song Qing didn't laugh, but looked up and said, "Zhengwei, I ran into Shen Xing."
Yi Zhengwei's eyes flickered slightly. "Well, let's not talk about this anymore. Go take a shower and go to bed early."
"You knew she was leaving, didn't you?"
Song Qing was very serious, so he nodded in agreement. Shen Xing had indeed told her about it before.
"Are you blaming me for not telling you?"
Song Qing chuckled slightly, but ultimately shook her head. "It's alright, this is the result."
"Qing'er, everything is in the past. Now it's just the two of us. You can spend your whole life testing me."
"No, I'm not the kind of person who creates trouble for myself."
With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for? He watched her carefully and slowly support her belly as she entered the bathroom, and he let out a long sigh. A sense of peace emanating from within made him feel content. From then on, Song Qing and their child became his sole motivation.
"Zhengwei, didn't you say you had something to tell me about work?" Song Qing snuggled into Yi Zhengwei's arms, half-asleep and incredibly cute.
Yi Zhengwei embraced his wife, adjusting their sleeping position to be closer together, his chin gently rubbing against Song Qing's hair. "Hmm, it's not important. I'll tell you later. Now, let's just wait peacefully for the baby to be born."
Song Qing gave an "oh" and fell asleep peacefully, having a good night's sleep filled with dreams of him, her, and their child.
Trust crisis
"Power One has attracted covetous eyes, do you think Hong Shang isn't too? Don't you even think about why Yin Kong and Fu Hua formed a marriage alliance?! Is Song Qing really as beautiful as a fairy, capable of captivating a nation? If Power One failed because of my mistakes, then now, Song Qing herself has handed over control of Hong Shang to Yi Zhengwei, and if things go wrong, it's her own fault for shooting herself in the foot! She can't blame anyone else! Don't say I didn't warn you!"
-Song Ning
Song Qing had largely withdrawn from worldly affairs. In a few days, she would be admitted to the hospital to prepare for childbirth, and spent her days simply strolling around in her own garden. Now that it was autumn, the weather was exceptionally cool, and the birds in Yi Mantian's cages would start chirping early in the morning, waking her from her sleep. Waking up to the sound of birdsong was a very pleasant thing.
After taking a break from work, they felt completely relaxed and quickly gained weight. Yi Mantian and Yi Zhengwei worked even harder every day, leaving only Song Qing and Aunt Zhou at home during the day.
Madam Song finally returned to Linchuan. She was really worried about Song Qing, who had no experience, so she left Xiao Huainian behind, packed some luggage, and went to stay at the Yi family's house with Wang Ma. Zhou Sao greeted her warmly: "Mother-in-law, you've come just in time. The Yi family hasn't been this lively in a long time."
"Wait until the baby is born, running around the house, crying and making a fuss, and then let's see if you still say that!" Wang Ma joked. Although Song Qing wasn't very noisy when she was young, Song Ning was a difficult child to please, and she was filled with emotion at this moment.
The mother and daughters spent the morning chatting and drinking tea in the garden, and time flew by. Being mother and daughter, they quickly bonded over time, especially since they had time to spend with Madam Song. Madam Song would always watch Song Qing go back to her room to sleep with reluctance, then turn back to Wang Ma and sigh, "Qing'er is such a thoughtful child, always considerate. I used to think she was too capable and aloof, but now I realize I've been too hard on her."
"That's good. The old man was too harsh on her when he was alive. He wouldn't even let her play with a doll when she was little. Now, she has a loving husband, a doting father-in-law, and Zhihan is back at the company helping out. Good days have finally come her way. The Song family has always had a lot of troubles. I really hope things can stay peaceful like this forever." Wang Ma almost cried. This child has really had a tough time. She does so much, but few people know how good she is.
"Yes, yes, Fuhua is doing very well now with Zhengwei's help, isn't it? Xiaoning has mentioned to me more than a few times that she wants me to arrange a family get-together. In the past, I would have helped without hesitation, but now, sigh, let them handle things at the company and with the kids themselves. I can't manage it all."
Wang Ma was very pleased. "Madam, it's wonderful that you think this way. Everyone knows that the second son-in-law is now overshadowed by Fuhua. He just spent a huge sum of money to build the factory, such a huge investment, but Zhengwei got involved and the second-generation product is even better. How could the second young lady not be anxious? Although we are family, we should value harmony. But in the business world, there is no room for deception. It's either you or me. Otherwise, would the eldest young lady have been forced to marry Zhengwei? Fortunately, things were turned around. Otherwise, how could she have swallowed that insult!"
Madam Song wiped away her tears. "You're right. Ning'er went a bit too far back then. She hurt her sister ten years ago, and she's doing the same thing again ten years later. Sigh, Qing'er is much more forgiving. Oh well, never mind. The most important thing now is that the baby was born safely."
No wonder Song Ning was so anxious, constantly calling Madam Song and rushing to her home to ask her to act as a mediator. Yan Xunan hadn't had an easy time these past few days. Weisheng was in complete chaos, everyone was on edge. Before a single unit of the Power One had even been sold, Fuhua had already released a new product. Their current research and development was far from keeping up. After all, they were a latecomer to the game, and this rapid progress was already their limit. Previously, they had always held the initiative, keeping Fuhua firmly under their control, afraid to release their products. Now, Fuhua had made a huge comeback, and Yan Xunan could only hope that Hongshang wouldn't be launched so soon.
It was impossible for Yi Zhengwei to meet with Yan Xunan. Their relationship was based on old and new grudges that were irreconcilable, and Yan Xunan would naturally not do something like offering a warm face only to be met with a cold shoulder. Song Ning, however, was not idle. She called Xu Zhihan several times to arrange a meeting. Although she knew she wouldn't get anything in return, they were relatives after all, and meeting was better than doing nothing. Xu Zhihan actually agreed to meet her.
As the saying goes, times change. At this moment, Song Ning bowed her head and apologized, meekly and submissively. Xu Zhihan could understand her, but he could never agree with her. For Yan Xunan, she went too far, disregarding her family and being extremely selfish. At that time, she really wanted to drive Song Qing to a dead end. Song Ning's desire for revenge was too strong, which made even an outsider like him feel cold.
"You should know that inviting me out was just asking for humiliation. Miss Song, good and evil will eventually be rewarded. You should have realized long ago that what's yours will be yours, and what's not yours, you can't get no matter how hard you try. You and Yan Xunan are too ambitious. In the business world, you should have expected this day to come if you hadn't driven someone to their death. The Red Robe will be launched soon, and no one can change that. You should just give up." Xu Zhihan didn't give her any face. He didn't want to get entangled with her at all, and these words finally gave him the chance to throw back at her.
Song Ning's face turned pale and then flushed. She stood up, clenching her fists, but she was unwilling to admit defeat. She sneered, "Engineer Xu, don't be so complacent. Even if I can't have it, you won't be much better off. Power One and Red Robe are the same. I'm afraid that in the end, all your hard work will be for nothing!"
Xu Zhihan stopped talking and said coldly, "What do you mean by that?"
Song Ning raised her head. "Power One is coveted by many, do you think Hong Shang isn't too? Don't you even think about why Yin Kong and Fu Hua are arranging a marriage? Is it really because Song Qing is as beautiful as a fairy, capable of captivating a nation? If Power One failed because of my mistakes, then now, Song Qing herself handed over control of Hong Shang to Yi Zhengwei, and if something goes wrong, it's her own fault for shooting herself in the foot! She can't blame anyone else! Don't blame me for not warning you!"
Xu Zhihan resisted the urge to slap her. "Haven't you harmed enough people? It's a disgrace that the Song family produced someone like you!"
Song Ning laughed heartily, "Shame? Engineer Xu, don't tell me you don't have any doubts. Although we have different positions, I am still the second young lady of the Song family, and I don't want the Song family's assets to fall into the hands of outsiders. Look at this evidence, it's enough to prove the point! I advise you to be careful, always keep something in mind, lest you regret it later!"
Song Ning tossed down a large envelope, filled with photos of Yi Zhengwei's recent secret meetings with various investors and manufacturers, all of whom were involved in the power project. He broke out in a cold sweat. Hongshang had always been managed by him in charge of technology, while Yi Zhengwei handled external coordination. Although they held weekly meetings, Hongshang's progress hadn't yet reached the point of contacting investors and manufacturers. Moreover, Yi Zhengwei hadn't revealed any information about this during the meetings.
He staggered out of the coffee shop and didn't return to the company that afternoon. He repeatedly called Song Qing, but gave up halfway through each call, almost smashing his phone in frustration. His head was throbbing, and the alcohol he'd had at the bar made him feel incredibly agitated, almost to the point of paranoia. His mind was filled with thoughts of what to say and do, but he was afraid of misjudging or alerting the enemy. These surging emotions made him completely drunk, and in his dazed state, he even called Dong Haifeng, not even knowing what he said in his intoxication. When he regained some consciousness, he and Dong Haifeng were already sitting in a coffee shop, and looking outside, they realized it was past midnight.
“Nephew, I completely understand your feelings. To be honest, I didn’t trust Yi Zhengwei from the beginning. You younger generation don’t know, but I’ve been in the business world for decades and have some connections with the veterans of various companies. When my niece first came back, Bank of Communications had already planned to acquire Fuhua, but it was a secret. I only heard about it and had no evidence.”