"Xiao Xia is young and a bit impulsive, but you're so old already; why are you still fighting with her?" Ellen sighed.
Tang Yan was offended by his words.
"..Did you just say that I'm old?! We're the freaking same age! So, doesn't that mean that an old cow like you is eating tender grass?"
"...!!"
Song Xia silently lit a candle for Tang Yan.
She admired his bravery to say that. Even if God gave her thousand guts, she wouldn't say something like that.
As expected, the atmosphere turned more chilly.
"What did you just say?" Ellen asked with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Tang Yan noticed what he said and truly regretted it but he puffed up his chest as he loudly said, "Isn't that true?"
'Rest in peace. You were a great comrade..' Song Xia sent him her heartfelt condolences.
'Alas, you were dumb and dug your own grave.'
"You don't want the project C anymore, huh?" Ellen smirked at Tang Yan.
The latter was stupefied at the mention of Project C. "That.."
"I see. Since you're no longer interested, I'll have to pause all the project activities. Be prepared to compensate us, Young Master Tang."
Ellen stood up.
Tang Yan didn't think that he'd actually go to such an extent.
Project C had been going on for several years; yet just because of his words, he..
"Ellen! Xiao Zai!!! Zai Ge!!! Wait!!" Tang Yan chased after him. His initial arrogance instantly disappeared.
Song Xia watched the both of them leaving and then smiled. She then lowered her head to look at the brush in her hand.
She couldn't help but purse her lips tightly. Even that dog, Tang Yan could tell that she had no talent for painting.
But Master Jiang had insisted for her to give them a painting personally painted by her, in exchange for their help.
It was a weird request but she agreed because she didn't have to do much and the profits were good too.
Whatever. She was just going to fulfill their request and let them be even, no matter how unreasonable the exchange was.
But the main issue was that they wanted her to deliver it herself too! How is she supposed to do that?
So she had to talk to Ellen about this.
---
Zhang Residence, China;
There was a tension brewing inside the house.
Zhang Qian Mi pinched her arm before she asked, "Why.. did you call me her, Father?"
She had a bad feeling about this, which made her panicked and nervous. 'Did that person really.. No, it can't be.. I hope so..'
Father Zhang, with a solemn expression on his face, coldly threw a document over. "Do you still want to know?! Then, look at this! This was sent to the Zhang Headquarters!"
Zhang Qian Mi picked the document and read it through. Halfway through it, the document from her hand fell down.
She trembled, "No, this can't be.. How.."
Before she could say anything else, she heard a soft sigh.
She turned her head to look at the elegant-looking Zhang Qiao.
The latter also glanced at her before setting down the cup on her hand on the table.
She then spoke, "To be truthful, I also got information on this.. I tried to inquire from the anonymous person but to no avail.. I was confused whether this is true or not.. Alas.."
Though she sounded like a worried elder sister, Zhang Qianmi could feel the hidden mocking behind her words.
She couldn't help but wonder. Was she the one who did this? Thinking of this, the hatred and anger in her heart increased.
She whimpered, "No, Father.. This.. This isn't true.. This is fake.."
"Enough!"
Zhang Hua looked at her angrily. "You must've offended someone really powerful this time! I already told you not to be so high profile and provoke Wang Yuju continuously!.."
"..But you don't listen to me at all! If the Wang Family gets their hands on this, not only would your engagement with Li Ming be over, the Zhang Family will also become a laughingstock!"
Tears brimmed in Zhang Qianmi's eyes as she opened her mouth to refute him but under his icy glare, she closed it again.
Zhang Hua stood up, "You know what to do. No matter what happens, don't let the other party spread the news; otherwise we'll be doomed.
"Either by hook or by crook, you mustn't let anybody find out about this! I don't want to see this in the headlines tomorrow! I'll try to track down the other party till then.."
He then left, wearing a deep frown in his face.
Silence overwhelmed the whole room.
Zhang Qianmi clenched her fists tightly. 'It's so easy for him to say this!' She cursed in her heart.
Zhang Qiao glanced at her lightly as she also stood up gracefully.
"Little sister, I hope you stop being so reckless. After all, the Wang Family is much more powerful than you think.. Wang Yuju might be kind-hearted, but she's very smart too.."
Zhang Qian Mi gritted her teeth, "Don't act like you're any better! You were the reason why Song Xia died! Since you did so, why can't I do that too?"
Zhang Qiao was taken aback as she laughed, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up? And do you really believe that I killed her?"
"Even if you didn't kill her, you indirectly drove her to death! You teamed up with others to make her life plummet from heaven to hell! You're a murderer! The Long Company is suffering because of your bad karma!"
Zhang Qiao's face turned slightly pale.
"Stop talking crap! Song Xia, that bish, she was dumb and took things for granted.. Wang Yuju is much smarter than her.. You can't even make a single scratch on her.."
Her words hit the sore spot on Zhang Qian Mi's heart. She suddenly screamed loudly, "Were you behind this all?!"
Zhang Qiao was stunned at the change of the topic. She took a few seconds to realize what she was referring to.
"You think I'd do this? If I wanted to, I'd rather make it public than wait for you to explode and tear me apart! I'd also publish this to all the medias! But do you think.."
"..That I'd shoot myself on my own foot and ruin my reputation, just to destroy you? Are you even worthy?"
Zhang Qianmi's face was dark but her previous suspicions vanished. What she said was indeed true.
Zhang Qiao was a pretentious bitch, who cared about her image the most. If she was behind it, she'd have secretly used it to blackmail her or something like that.
She wouldn't blatantly let others know about the dirt on the Zhang family, because she was one of Zhang's after all.
The dirt will be splashed at her too if she did this..
The other party must be someone whom she provoked. But she didn't know which one it was! She had offended so many people!
Her suspicion shifted from Zhang Qiao to Wang Yuju.
As if her thoughts had been seen through, Zhang Qiao laughed mockingly.
"You think Wang Yuju will secretly use it against you? Why? For you to obediently give Li Ming to her?"
"Hah, if it was her, she'd have already exposed the truth and taken Li Ming from you.. But she didn't, because she's still clueless."
Zhang Qiao-> SX's best friend from earlier chapters; eldest miss of Zhang family.
Zhang Qianmi-> LM's said fiancé; Second Young Miss of Zhang Family (illegitimate).