Chapter Ch102.3 - Extra 7: Little Overlord Shao SiJia (3)
“YanQing, there you are!” Tong SuHong briskly walked towards Liang YanQing and took his arm. “Let’s go and see my father first.”
Liang YanQing nodded and walked through the crowd with Tong SuHong.
Tong SuHong had dressed carefully today. She chose a classy evening dress with luminous color and elegant design. Watching her, Liang YanQing felt a little moved. He couldn’t help but say: “You look magnificent today.”
Tong SuHong looked at him triumphantly. “Of course. This is the difference between a phoenix and a pheasant.”
At the thought of Shao SiJia, Liang YanQing’s eyes darkened.
Tonight’s banquet wasn’t small. While most of the participants were familiar with each other, there were some new people in the circle. Therefore, the party could be half-considered a social occasion for friends and acquaintances.
Many of the people attending were already familiar with Liang YanQing and gave him casual greetings as he passed. After a while, they finally arrived at where Tong SuHong’s father, Tong De, and Tong SuHong’s brother, Tong ShuShan, was.
“Dad, YanQing is here to say hello.” Tong SuHong said.
“Hello, Uncle.” Liang YanQing nodded.
Tong De looked at Liang YanQing and gave him a satisfied smile. “Yes, hello. YanQing, you look lively today.”
Liang YanQing was tall and quite handsome. With the three-piece suit he was wearing tonight, he made for a very striking figure.
Tong SuHong took her father’s hand and happily told him: “Right? Even when you compare YanQing to Zheng BuLu’s son, he isn’t’ lacking at all.”
Tong De nodded. “Yes, certainly.”
Tong ShuShan also chimed in: “Isn’t Zheng PingQing the one worse in this comparison? After all, isn’t he gay? He can’t compare to YanQing at all, ah.”
Tong De glared at his son. “Don’t say such nonsense. Zheng PingQing being gay is just a rumor. Who knows if such words can be trusted?”
Tong ShuShan was unconcerned. He replied: “Didn’t Zheng PingQing say it himself?”
Tong De told him: “Who knows if Zheng PingQing was serious when he said such things, ah.”
As soon as Zheng Pingqing was mentioned, several people switched topics and started talking about him.
Zheng PingQing could be considered the most influential person in their social circle these past two years. Although his father Zheng BuLu was already quite rich, his base of operations had always been in the south, so his presence in the imperial capital wasn’t high. Therefore, despite doing business together several times, there wasn’t much intersection between Zheng BuLu and high society circles in the capital. Nobody expected Zheng PingQing, a young boy who just started university here, to take over the business world in only two years. At first, people either bullied or didn’t pay attention to the young man. As a result, they all suffered. Before they could even react, Zheng PingQing had already made a fortune here in the capital.
Many people had received the news that Zheng BuLu was attending this banquet, so he could be considered the main character of tonight’s party.
However, different from these people who were planning on doing their best to get close to Zheng BuLu, Tong De was much calmer. He had been the very first one in the capital to do business with Zheng BuLu, and they have more than ten years of friendship between them. It would be easy for him to have a conversation with the Zheng father and son pair. In fact, many people would probably ask Tong De to introduce them to Zheng BuLu.
Liang YanQing took the opportunity to say: “Speaking of, I had always wanted to meet Zheng PingQing but never had the opportunity.”
“It's because you joined us late.” Tong De told him: “Ignore Zheng PingQing’s age; despite his youth, he isn’t easy to deal with, ah.”
Liang YanQing laughed. “I’ve heard of his deeds. He’s quite the character.”
Tong De laughed. “Both the Zheng father and son are memorable individuals. I admit that I can’t compare to Zheng BuLu, but…”
Tong De looked at the three young people around him and felt satisfied. “I have such an excellent son, daughter, and son-in-law. In this aspect, even someone like Zheng BuLu can’t compare. So overall, I consider us tied.”
Liang YanQing: “…”
Tong SuHong quickly told him: “Dad, don’t mention such things later on, alright? Don’t make Zheng BuLu angry. Didn’t you promise to help introduce YanQing to Zheng BuLu?”
As the Tong De and Tong SuHong chatted, Tong ShuShan brought Liang YanQing aside and warned him: “I heard that you went to find Shao SiJia again?”
Although Liang YanQing was close enough with the Tong family to be able to ask for favors, he wasn’t close enough to just do whatever he wanted. So Liang YanQing told Tong ShuShan the truth. “Yes, I did.”
Tong ShuShan sneered. “It seems that you don’t know how to have foresight, ah.”
Liang YanQing took a sip of his champagne. “It’s not your place to intervene in my personal life.”
Tong ShuShan replied: “I advise you to grow up. Being unable to differentiate the good from the bad will hurt your future. If you keep hanging around with people that are better kept under the table, you’ll soon be unable to move a single step.”
Liang YanQing was starting to become a little angry. First, it was the sister, and now the brother was scolding him too. Liang YanQing was about to walk off in a huff when there was a sudden commotion in the direction of the entrance.
At first, the chatter was still quite mild, but then, the whispers gradually spread, and soon, almost all eyes were trained towards the doors. Some people gasped in exclamation.
Someone whispered: “Zheng BuLu has arrived.”
“Zheng PingQing’s here.”
“Hey, who’s that girl?”
Liang YanQing and Tong SuHong also stopped talking and followed the eyes of the crowd.
At a glance, everyone knew who the protagonist of tonight’s party was.
Although Zheng BuLu was getting old, he maintained his handsome features. His good looks were a rarity in the business world. And his son, Zheng PingQing, was even more outstanding. It was rumored that Zheng PingQing’s overwhelming success in the business world was half-due to his colleagues being fascinated by his beauty.
And now, there was a young girl beside the dazzling father and son pair. The young woman’s appearance was gorgeous, and her white evening dress made her stand out from the crowd. She walked next to the impressive Zheng BuLu and Zheng PingQing, but her presence wasn’t suppressed one bit.
While everyone’s gazes were focused on the trio, most of them were following the young woman. Compared to the familiar Zheng father and son, the mysterious unknown woman following them was obviously more intriguing.
“Who is that? So pretty.”
Everyone began to whisper amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, Liang YanQing and Tong SuHong were in a daze.
The clearly knew who the young girl was, but they still doubted themselves.
Why did that woman…look exactly like Shao SiJia?
Zheng BuLu had gotten his wish as he had now obtained everyone’s envy and admiration (?). With countless eyes trained on him, he led Zheng PingQing and Shao SiJia straight to his old rival for a decisive battle.
“Tong De, long time no see!” Zheng BuLu and Tong De shook hands, then Zheng PingQing and Shao SiJia said their hellos.
Liang YanQing and Tong SuHong were standing beside Tong De, staring at Shao SiJia in utter disbelief. They so desperately wanted to ask, but they didn’t dare speak.
Shao SiJia also didn’t expect to meet the couple here. For a moment, she felt that the world truly was small and that it really liked melodrama.
Sigh, one can only hope that these two guys don’t start performing their screenplay again.
In his heart, Tong De was also somewhat surprised. He turned to Shao SiJia and asked: “Old Zheng, this is?”
Zheng BuLu had been waiting for this question the moment they arrived. With a big smile on his face, he calmly replied: “Oh, this is PingQing’s older sister, Shao SiJia.”
Tong De: “???”
Tong De’s son and daughter: “???”
Liang YanQing: “???”
Tong SuHong and Liang YanQing thought: The name was right, but…how can Shao SiJia be Zheng PingQing’s sister? When did he ever have a sister? Isn’t being Zheng PingQing’s sister mean that she has to be Zheng BuLu’s daughter?
Tong De also had the same questions. He asked: “Little Zheng had a sister? Then why haven’t you ever brought her out?”
Zheng BuLu’s expression turned profound. “She lived with ShiYi and took ShiYi’s surname, so it was a bit inconvenient.”
He then sighed. “But she’s grown up. It’s time for her to meet new people and experience new things, so I plan to take her around and meet my old friends.”
Zheng BuLu’s words sounded logical, but for some reason, his audience just couldn’t comprehend it.
It’s common knowledge in the business industry that Zheng BuLu divorced early. No one knew much about his ex-wife, just that Zheng BuLu had gotten custody of his son. It wasn’t entirely impossible for Zheng BuLu to have a daughter that had been taken away by his ex-wife.
It was also not too strange that Zheng BuLu hadn’t mentioned his daughter before. After all, he barely mentioned his son until quite recently. It was only when Zheng PingQing took over the capital branch of Zheng BuLu’s company two years ago that he became a frequent topic of discussion. If his daughter had indeed been with his ex-wife, it’s plausible that Zheng BuLu deliberately didn’t mention her before.
Everyone reached this conclusion in their minds, but their faces remained impassive, and they didn’t dare ask further.
Zheng BuLu had already explained the situation, so if they asked him again, wouldn’t that be questioning his previous actions and motives? Nobody wanted to offend someone as powerful as Zheng BuLu, ah.
So everyone casually laughed things off like the seasoned high-society people that they are, and began focusing on praising Zheng BuLu’s children.
And it turned out that this move was the correct strategy. Zheng BuLu seemed to be extremely proud of his daughter, and he boldly challenged his old friend Tong De: “How about it, Tong De. My SiJia is no worse than your daughter.”
Zheng BuLu’s words were not bad, but his tone obviously said: She’s much better, ah!
Tong De: “…”
Tong SuHong: “…”
Tong De was infuriated. In the past, he was the one who usually said such things, ah!
Zheng BuLu talked and laughed with the people around him, accepting all the praise from everyone.
Zheng PingQing: “….”
Shao SiJia: “….”
A speechless Shao SiJia looked at Zheng PingQing and asked: “This is what you meant when you said he’s resourceful??”
Zheng PingQing replied, deadpan: “I just found out too.”
Shao SiJia asked: “…also, did I just become a rich man’s daughter?”
Zheng PingQing turned towards her with blank eyes. “You might become even more than that.”
Shao SiJia: “…?”
Afraid that his father’s antics would eventually cause Shao SiJia to vent her anger on him, Zheng PingQing quickly made up some random excuse and escaped elsewhere.
As soon as Zheng PingQing left, someone immediately seized the opportunity to talk to Shao SiJia. She was already the brightest and most brilliant firefly in the entire party.
Shao SiJia socialized for a little bit, but she soon found the small talk unbearable. Afraid that she would eventually end up killing someone, Shao SiJia waited for a gap in the conversation and ran away.
“Shao SiJia, is it really you?” A completely bewildered Tong SuHong stopped her and asked.
Shao SiJia replied: “…yes.”
“You…you…”
Tong SuHong mumbled ‘you’ for a long time, but she was unable to complete her sentence. She felt like she was free-falling, with the way her stomach tightened uncomfortably. Tong ShuShan, who was next to his sister, managed to fare a little better than her. With wide eyes trained on Shao SiJia, he asked her: “You’re Zheng’s…”
Zheng BuLu hadn’t explicitly stated that Shao SiJia was his biological daughter. Still, according to what he’s said so far, Shao SiJia could already be considered as a part of the Zheng family- whether as a daughter or stepdaughter, that didn’t matter.
Therefore, everyone had already gained a tacit understanding with each other and had enthusiastically tried to flatter Shao SiJia. They were sensible enough not to say what shouldn’t be said.
Tong ShuShan, having suddenly realized this, abruptly stopped himself from continuing.
Shao SiJia could only try to continue playing her role well. Shao SiJia slightly smiled at him, her elegance and dignified figure making Tong ShuShan’s breath stutter.
Shao SiJia softly said: “I’m Zheng PingQing’s older sister.”
Tong ShuShan received a full frontal blow of Shao SiJia’s beautiful looks and finally realized why Liang YanQing had pined for her all these years.
But Shao SiJia was now an unattainable target.
Tong ShuShan heard all the speculations of the people around him. Zheng BuLu bringing out his daughter after living separately for several years might not be a simple matter.
It wasn’t a secret that Zheng PingQing was gay. Zheng BuLu owns a colossal family business that needed to be inherited by his descendants, so in other words, Shao SiJia is likely…
Tong ShuShan felt his breath stop.
Why, why did he meet Shao SiJia so late?
“I’ll go first.” Shao SiJia gently smiled and then left, leaving Tong ShuShan to look at her with hungry, dazzled eyes.
Tong ShuShan thought: It was like she was under a clear moon, a light breeze drifting underneath her hair.
Finally away from the crowd, Shao SiJia turned a corner, only to be met with Liang YanQing.
Shao SiJia: “…”
This party is like a game of minesweeper, ah. Can she please just get through this without exploding?
“SiJia…are you really?” Even if everyone else ended up imagining their own conclusions, Liang YanQing still found it too incredible to be true.
Shao SiJia had no strength left to explain, and blankly replied: “I am.”
“I…I…” Liang YanQing didn’t know what else to say.
“It seems you’ve developed a stutter.” Shao SiJia directly passed him and left.
This time, Liang YanQing couldn’t even call out.
……
……
“Your father…” After listening to Zheng PingQing recount Zheng BuLu’s performance at the party, Lin Qian was entirely shocked.
“He’s crazy.” Zheng PingQing one-sidedly diagnosed his father. “He dragged Shao SiJia around the room all night. Now half the people in the city believe that Shao SiJia will inherit his property in the future.”
Lin Qian: “….”
Lin Qian soon became calm. He said: “That’s not a bad thing. I guess it just means that the Lin family is the biggest winner in this situation.”
Zheng PingQing leaned down and began to pull off his boyfriend’s pants as he replied: “I’m also part of the Zheng family property, and I happily give myself to you.”
Lin Qian lifted a hand and caressed Zheng PingQing’s neck. “Nonsense. You’re clearly my property, ah. Always have been.”
Zheng PingQing readily agreed. “Yes, of course.”
Zheng PingQing had just managed to pull off Lin Qian’s pants when suddenly, Lin Qian’s phone rang. Lin Qian grabbed it and saw that Shao SiJia had sent him a message.
‘I’m going abroad, so don’t expect to see me anytime soon.’
Lin Qian: “???”
Zheng PingQing glanced at the message and wondered: “Wasn’t she going abroad next month? Why is she suddenly leaving?”
This time, it was Zheng PingQing’s phone that buzzed. Zheng BuLu was calling him.
When Zheng PingQing answered the call, he heard Zheng BuLu’s anxiously say: “PingQing, is Ah Qian there? Can you ask him to call Shao SiJia? She isn’t answering my calls.”
Zheng PingQing tilted his head. “Why are you looking for Shao SiJia?”
Zheng BuLu replied: “I’m attending another party next week. I want her to go with me…”
Zheng PingQing: Ah, she’s ghosting him.
Lin Qian: She’s ghosting.
Zheng PingQing ended the call and turned to Lin Qian: “I’ve solved the case.”
Lin Qian nodded. “If I were Shao SiJia, I’d run away too.”
They silently looked at each other for a minute, then took out their driver’s license.The author has something to say:_(:з」∠)_ Shao SiJia, you might not be able to hide from your hardcore fans…Alas, we didn’t get the big face slap we were all waiting for. Oh well. Shao SiJia will have a happy, incredibly rich future, and at the end of the day, isn’t that the most important thing?Two more chapters, guys.