章 43: Chapter 43 : To His Surprise

It was already 11:00 pm when Xiulan arrived in the penthouse. She had to go straight to the penthouse instead of going back to the hospital because of troublesome chores she completed today.

She wanted to take a good rest and sparkly clean herself. After all, the places she has gone to were covered by dusts, pollution and smell.

She met three different clients today and had to changed venues for each one of them. First in her office, next to a posh coffee shop that was so far away from her office and the last one was in a cemetery. Yes, she went to a meeting in a cemetery. Quite peculiar!

Apparently, her client from a respectful Chinese ornaments seller had to dutifully follow their lucky Feng Shui for a whole year. And according to them, the best way to have a successful, lucky and bountiful business was to have their meetings near a cemetery or in a cemetery for the whole year.

Since the ornaments seller wanted the whole shenanigans to completely be effective, the seller would meet up with her clients in the garden of a cemetery. Really disturbing and hassle.

Xiulan thought it was a huge joke but when she saw a picnic table, fancy flowers and tea cups inside the cemetery's garden pagoda, she knew no one was joking.

She had to obliged and follow them just to finish her agendas for today. She still have a lot of things to do after. She was hesitant but she had no choice but to follow.

The ornaments seller wanted a new POS and fast database server for her company. The seller contacted Xiulan's company when she found out that the company had a lot of "old money" companies and had a lot of positive reviews so she immediately contacted them.

The ornaments seller was really chatty and full of stories to tell. So their meeting end up like tea time with friends. Inevitably, their meeting was 30% about the business proposal and 70% gossip about being Xing Hongqi.

"How long have you been married with Xing Hongqi? It'll be a year soon, right? I wonder what's the delay with the Chinese wedding?" the ornaments seller asked and her eyes were full of curious questions.

Xiulan didn't like where this topic was going but she must kindly respond.

"Unfortunately, we are still both busy so we have to delay it." Xiulan bluffed. She doesn't know anything why Hongqi's not relieving the topic about the Chinese wedding. She thought it was a good thing but now it seems to be the reason of her stress. The socialites are anticipating the grand Chinese wedding and everyone has been obsessed with anything about them. Especially Hongqi's hospitalization due to the terrorists.

She shouldn't be bothered by anyone's negative comments but right now it is also affecting her family, the Songs. Of course she wanted the family to continue to have a positive image. She doesn't want to add more fire to the latest and hottest topic: 'the youngest Song to be part of the "cursed" daughter'.

There has been a running joke or more like a gossip that the Song daughters are cursed women. Their marriage would always end up either in a divorce or the husband will die. Whoever created that stupid gossip sure stressed out her mother so much.

Socialites sure has a funny way of creating stories but this certain topic does makes their family reputation tarnish in a certain way.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Chinese wedding is very important! You must get married again before it reaches a year. That's not good for the lucky and positive energy around you. There are a lot of women out there who wanted to be in your shoes. Not just women, but high class women! You must secure your position as Mrs. Xing!" the ornaments seller enthusiastically advised. Then suddenly she pulls out a huge hand fan and unfolded quite dramatically and fanned herself.

Xiulan knew the lady was just concerned but it sort of annoyed her too. This Chinese wedding issue will keep on dragging for months and she must prepare herself from such agony.

"Thank you for the concern, madam." Xiulan doesn't know what to say so she can only say her thanks and smile.

The last meeting finally finished after three hours of nonsense chatting and gossips. The ornaments seller sure knew a lot of gossips about Hongqi. Xiulan can't help but scratch her head.

While Xiulan was taking a bath, she can't help but remember the ornaments seller's shared stories about Hongqi. According to her, Hongqi used to have a long time girlfriend from college that he loved so much. They had to break up because the girl had a huge dream about being an actress in Hollywood and Hongqi's father didn't like the girl.

The ornaments seller sure has a lot of details about this old story. She said Hongqi was fine with his lover's dream. But the woman wanted to get married to Hongqi first. This was to secure her "lifetime wallet" and position as Mrs. Xing. Hongqi's father didn't like that idea or early marriage, they were too young and he has a lot of plans for Hongqi. It didn't add to the woman's favor that Hongqi's father didn't like her to be the future Mrs. Xing as well. There was a gossip lurking around before that Honqgi's long time girlfriend slept with a director so she could be get the main lead role.

The ornaments seller said they continue to date even though the girl has a bad reputation. They finally broke up when Hongqi had to succeed his father's company. There were a lot of stories and gossips running around during those times.

During that time, Xiulan remembered that she was busy being an intern turn to an employee to one of her father's friends who owns an IT company. She was so serious about her career that she didn't know such things happened.

Xiulan shouldn't be bothered by this but she was really curious who the woman was. She could easily find who it was from her sister's report but she was too lazy to check it. Also, she has long archived that report. For some reason, reading Hongqi's past was too dark for her and she doesn't like reading it at all. As possible, she would like to remain positive in everything right now.

Bringing up the past is not a good idea for the both of them. We shouldn't use a person's past on how to treat them. It's better that her impression towards Hongqi remains as annoying, a pervert, domineering, arrogant husband and someone who would take advantage and oppurtunity of someone's weakness. Handsome and hot, yeah but still annoying.

After four days of continuous grinding, hustle and bustle, and taking care of the baby Hongqi, he's finally discharged from the hospital. Xiulan was so happy about this that she wanted to celebrate and be festive. Finally she can rest peacefully on her bed and no more babying that damn Hongqi.

Juggling from her office to the hospital to take care of that naughty husband has given her too much stress and fatigue.

She's tired from working and when she comes back to the hospital, Hongqi will pester her. She was also so annoyed how he developed his naughtiness in some kind of new level. He's more courageous now and he can easily trap her to do anything. Of course if it's something sexual she would immediately hit him really hard.

She's not even sure if Hongqi was only using his PTSD as an alibi to score some kisses and hugs from her. How can she let him manipulate her like that? She must get her wits back together. It might have been the cause of her tired state.

But first she must report back and attend a meeting with the University council and her father. She's currently inside her father's luxurious office with the rest of the council of her alma mater and some honorable members of the military.

"We are so proud of our Xiulan. As always we are indebted to you." the head council said and clapped his hands. He was genuinely proud of her and happy that such a wonderful person existed for them to get help from.

"My daughter is always the best. I know she can do anything. But I hope the council and the military will not take advantage of her skills. She's still human." Xiulan's father, Song Yingpei, reprimanded the council. Her father almost fell sick when he found out that his daughter was in such a serious mission. He only found out about it a week ago. The terrorist mission was so secretly hidden that he managed to sniffed it too late.

"Hehe, we are sorry about that. For now we won't be giving her any missions. We want her to rest and enjoy her honeymoon with the great Xing Hongqi. I think we quite ruined their honeymoon phase because of this mission." the head council teased and garnered a huge laughter from the rest of the council.

Xiulan blushed from the teasing. She wanted to zip their mouth shut. "Why was Hongqi's name suddenly came up from this meeting? And a honeymoon too! The heck?!" she secretly grumbled.

"That brat Hongqi can wait. He seems to be busy as well from the award shows here and there. He was hospitalized too. The Chinese wedding was also delayed. How really distasteful." Song Yingpei commented and expressed his disappointment.

Though father Song was the reason the two got married but right now he was really disappointed in Hongqi. The Chinese wedding was really important and it's now delayed for quite a long time. People are commenting nasty things about his daughter that she's not being treasured by the Xing family.

Three of his daughters' marriage were now in abyss and he doesn't want her youngest child to be part of that abyss as well. He must at least save face that his daughters are not cursed.

Out of all the controversies the Song family encountered, cursed daughters were the craziest thing he ever heard of. Anyone can attack him personally but attacking his daughters were far in a different level. He can kill anyone he wants whenever he hears that but right now he can't add anymore problems for his family.

"Now now, General. Don't be like that to your son-in-law. He's a busy man and of course the current head of the Xing corp. He's also taking over your company right? Be easy on him. He even got tangled with the TERRO group because of his security company. Quite sad but at least he has his angel Xiulan with him." the head council tried to coaxed father Song and smiled generously at Xiulan.

Xiulan awkwardly smiled back at the head council. "Can they just move on from the topic?" She grumbled again. She doesn't want to talk about that man right now.

"Oh right. By the way, Xiulan. We will hold an official ceremony for your righteous and amazing contribution to this mission. I want everyone to respect you not because you are from the Song family or you were Xing Hongqi's lawful wife but I want everyone to know your amazing skills!" the head council enthusiastically announced. The others also agreed.

"Now this is good. Thank you, head council." Song Yingpei affirmed and held his daughter's hand. He was so proud of her. His eyes were twinkling like diamonds.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, everyone." Xiulan bashfully thanked everyone inside the office.

The council and the father-daughter changed venue. They arrived at the main barracks of the army to initiate a ceremony for Xiulan's contribution. The reporters and media were there already.

The media was supposed to be there to get the current general's words regarding the good news about the terrorists and also to get the university's great contribution to the success of the mission.

They were all surprised to see Xing Xiulan there with her father. They were more surprised and had their eyes gushing out when the general and the council started giving Xing Xiulan an amazing medal and title for contributing her hacking and IT skills to the mission.

They didn't expect for her to be part of this mission and on top of that receiving such title!

Xiulan wanted Zhu's team to be there but they declined since their team are always incognito and anonymous. They shouldn't be in the limelight and the money they gained from Xiulan were already a good catch. They didn't like the idea of having connection to the military too since their virtues are far different from them.

Xiulan can't help but agree to them and promised a very pleasant and generous meal waiting for them.

Dejiang didn't want any limelight as well since his reputation as the Macau casino heir was incompatible as one of the modern heroes in modern China. He also doesn't want to involve his name to any government related stuff.

While the ceremony was being held, Hongqi was at home in the penthouse busying himself. He had to sort out urgent paperwork and has to check each of the new endorsement contract deals for his artists.

He was only gone for a week yet the million yuan contracts for his artists keeps surging and it made him dizzy just by looking at the proposals and contracts. He must check them one by one since a huge money is involved. He must double check if there are uncertainties in the said proposals.

While he concentrates on his paperwork, he received an urgent message from Secretary Yang Bo. He was hesitant to read it but something urged him to read the message now. When he read the message, he was utterly surprised and he even stand up from his seat.

"Young master, please watch the news in channel 9. Your wife is currently receiving a honorable title from the military."

Hongqi immediately went outside his office and turn on the TV in the living room.

"Xing Hongqi's wife and former General Song Yingpei's daughter currently receiving a honorable heroic title from the military." was the headline of the live news.

Hongqi was absolutely dumbfounded how this happened. How? When? Why?

Hongqi quickly checked his phone to get more details. His wife is currently the number one trending topic and to his surprise the reason why she was getting a honorable title because of her contribution to a long list of past events and her major contribution was regarding the arrest and destruction of TERRO group.

"How in the world she managed to do this under my strict compliance and monitoring?!" Hongqi blurted while he reads each articles about Xiulan.