Beautiful Woman, You Have Another Express Delivery! (GL) - Chapter 13

“Why else would you avoid me?”

“Ye Jing.” Cheng Qiuyi faced her squarely, a cold smile playing on her lips. “You really aren’t afraid that I might kill you.”

She looked down at Ye Jing, her pupils dark and devoid of any warmth. Ye Jing leaned fully into the sofa, her hand draped over the back, legs crossed contemptuously. “Qiuyi, if you really had the guts, you would have taken my life five years ago.”

Cheng Qiuyi clenched her fists behind her back, her fingers digging into her palms. “What exactly do you want?”

Ye Jing stood up to face Cheng Qiuyi, reaching out to touch Cheng Qiuyi’s face. Cheng Qiuyi tilted her head to dodge and swung the fist behind her back toward Ye Jing’s face. Ye Jing stepped aside, seized Cheng Qiuyi’s wrist, twisted it behind her back, and pressed Cheng Qiuyi’s shoulder, forcing her down onto the sofa.

Ye Jing buried her head in Cheng Qiuyi’s neck, mocking in her ear, “Cheng Qiuyi, after all these years, you haven’t improved at all. Truly disappointing.”

Ye Jing’s loose hair brushed lightly against Cheng Qiuyi’s collar. Cheng Qiuyi felt on the verge of vomiting. Suppressing the nausea churning in her stomach, she immobilized her upper body, then suddenly exerted force with her lower body, bending her knee up into Ye Jing’s abdomen. Ye Jing cried out in pain, and her grip momentarily loosened. Cheng Qiuyi took the opportunity to break free.

The knee strike used all her strength, and even Ye Jing couldn’t withstand it. She clutched her abdomen, curled up, her face pale. Cheng Qiuyi didn’t dare be careless, retreating a few steps before saying, “Senior Sister, after all these years, you are still so arrogant.”

“Cheng Qiuyi…” Ye Jing barely managed to sit up, panting heavily. “You are talented. But unfortunately, your pathetic father has practically ruined the Cheng Family. You didn’t know, did you? Just for the sake of this little family business, Cheng Tianhong sold you to me.”

“What did you say?”

“I said Cheng Tianhong sold you. Why do you think those two retired old men came today? Cheng Qiuyi, they came to pimp us out.”

Although Cheng Qiuyi was not involved in Cheng Corp., she still knew a little about its current situation. She knew that Cheng Corp.’s performance was poor, especially the new projects it invested in, which had been losing money for years. She thought the large company could at least hold on for a while, but she didn’t expect it to fail so quickly, and she certainly didn’t expect Cheng Tianhong to be so heartless as to abandon his own flesh and bl00d for the sake of a struggling company.

“Ye Jing, we grew up together. I don’t want to make things ugly, but if you want to tear the mask off, I’ll play along to the end.”

Ye Jing’s abdomen was still throbbing with pain. She watched Cheng Qiuyi’s retreating back and let out a chilling laugh. “Cheng Qiuyi, who in this world is more suited for each other than us? You are mine eventually, and can only be mine.”

Leaving the Cheng residence, Cheng Qiuyi immediately contacted Ah Zhi, asking him to investigate Cheng Corp.’s recent movements. Ye Corp. and Cheng Corp. were initially cooperating partners. By Cheng Tianhong’s generation, there was a subtle hint of rivalry. After Ye Jing took over Ye Corp., she aggressively expanded it. Cheng Tianhong, on the other hand, was an incompetent person who clung to his small territory and didn’t know how to adapt. Cheng Corp. had long lagged behind Ye Corp., which Cheng Qiuyi already knew. But no matter how useless Cheng Tianhong was, Cheng Corp. shouldn’t have fallen so quickly. She suspected Cheng Tianhong was being manipulated, and this person was very likely Ye Jing.

Cheng Qiuyi never cared about the fate of Cheng Tianhong or the entire Cheng family, but the involvement of Ye Jing made it intriguing. That woman, Ye Jing, would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. God knows what crazed things she might do. Moreover, Cheng Qiuyi was no longer the lonely person she once was. She had Liu Shuhan. Liu Shuhan had nothing to do with the grudges and resentments of the Cheng family, and Cheng Qiuyi couldn’t let her be hurt in these dirty matters.

Thinking of Liu Shuhan, Cheng Qiuyi’s expression softened. Her current job was too demanding and not very safe, with her being exposed all the time. She needed to figure out a way to make her quit this job.

…

Liu Shuhan got off work early today. She was excitedly planning to ask Cheng Qiuyi what she wanted for dinner when she received a text message from Cheng Qiuyi, which dampened her spirits. Liu Shuhan was always curious about what Cheng Qiuyi did for a living. She was constantly appearing and disappearing. Sometimes, Cheng Qiuyi’s room light would still be on at three or four in the morning, and she would be babbling about something alone in the room.

Cheng Qiuyi wasn’t home, so eating alone was boring. Passing a convenience store, Liu Shuhan bought a package of noodles, intending to have that for dinner. When she went upstairs, she noticed that Cheng Qiuyi’s door was ajar. Alert, she tiptoed toward the security door, peeking through the gap to see what was happening inside.

There was no one in the living room directly facing the door. Liu Shuhan slowly pushed the door open to enter. Her pant leg was pulled. Startled, she abruptly turned around and saw a boy about ten years old standing beside her. The boy was delicately handsome, with long, narrow eyes and a high nose bridge. His facial features strongly resembled one particular person.

“Jie-jie, you are so pretty.” The boy looked innocent, yet his hand actually reached out to grope Liu Shuhan’s butt, squinting his eyes like an old hand. How could he look like a ten-year-old child?

It was only when he made that lecherous expression that Liu Shuhan remembered who the boy resembled. This, this, this… he was practically carved from the same mold as Cheng Qiuyi! Could this brat be Cheng Qiuyi’s son? Based on his age, it was possible… Liu Shuhan wanted to cry without tears. Cheng Qiuyi, I knew you were no good. Your son is already this old.

Liu Shuhan slapped away the little pervert’s hand and stepped back, trying to keep her expression from twitching. “Little friend, who are you and what’s your name?”

The little boy puffed out his chest to look more imposing, proudly saying, “My name is Cheng Boming. I am…” Before he could finish, a gentle female voice came from inside the house, interrupting him. “Boming, has your sister come back?”

The woman in the house walked out. She was stunned when she saw Liu Shuhan. Realizing her lapse, she quickly recovered and smiled at Liu Shuhan. “Hello, are you a friend of Qiuyi’s?”

The woman looked to be in her twenties. She wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but she was poised and graceful. Her smile made people feel comfortable.

“I’m a friend of Qiuyi’s, staying at her place for a few days.” Liu Shuhan replied. “May I ask who you are…?”

The woman’s voice and demeanor were gentle, but what she said next stunned Liu Shuhan. “I am Qiuyi’s mother.”

This woman, who looked about the same age as Cheng Qiuyi, was her mother? Liu Shuhan was caught off guard meeting a parent. She was so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands and stammered out a sentence after a long pause. “Auntie… you, you are so… young…”

The woman covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. “Qiuyi hates living with others. Since she agreed to let you stay, you must have a good relationship with her. What’s your name?”

“Auntie, my name is Liu Shuhan.”

The smile on the woman’s face froze. She gave Liu Shuhan a strange look, then quickly regained her composure and stepped aside, motioning for Liu Shuhan to enter the house. “We don’t know when Qiuyi will be back. Have you eaten? Come inside and eat with us.”

Liu Shuhan awkwardly entered the house and helped the woman carry the dishes into the dining room.

Cheng Boming seemed to really like Liu Shuhan. He insisted on sitting next to her during dinner, his fleshy little hand constantly reaching for Liu Shuhan’s thigh. Liu Shuhan covertly pinched the back of his hand hard, and only then did he settle down.

Liu Shuhan was tongue-tied around unfamiliar people, so she just focused on eating in silence. Suddenly, she heard the woman ask, “Miss Liu, how many years have you known Qiuyi?”

An elder was speaking to her, so Liu Shuhan quickly looked up and put down her chopsticks. “About ten years. We were high school classmates, but later she went abroad and we lost touch. We only recently reconnected.”

“I see…” The woman contemplated. “It seems Qiuyi truly cares about you. She hasn’t even been home since she returned to the country, yet she’s been living with you.”

Her words had an underlying meaning. Liu Shuhan couldn’t figure out her intentions and could only manage an awkward laugh. The woman then said, “Our Qiuyi is very particular about her life. Everything from clothing to food, housing, and transportation must meet her standards. She’s busy with work. Since you two live together, please be more mindful of her feelings.”

“Auntie, don’t worry, I will take good care of Qiuyi.”

The woman smiled again. “Don’t call me Auntie anymore. My name is Shen Wenqin. I’m only a few years older than you. If you don’t mind, you can call me Sister Shen.”

“No, no, Auntie. Wouldn’t that be confusing the seniority?”

Liu Shuhan was confused. Shen Wenqin had just said she was Cheng Qiuyi’s mother, so why was she saying she was only a few years older than herself now? Did she look that old?

“Sister Shuhan, you’re so pretty. When I grow up, can I marry you?” Cheng Boming, who had been quiet for a moment after Liu Shuhan pinched him, suddenly spoke up again.

“Uh…”

Liu Shuhan didn’t know how to answer. Instead, Shen Wenqin patted Cheng Boming’s head and scolded with a laugh, “Then eat more and grow up quickly. Sister Shuhan wouldn’t fancy a little kid like you.”

With Cheng Boming causing a stir, the atmosphere at the dinner table improved significantly. As they were talking and laughing, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from the entrance. Shen Wenqin’s expression immediately tensed. She nervously clutched the porcelain bowl in her hand, just as the door opened and Cheng Qiuyi walked in.

“Shuhan, I’m home…” Cheng Qiuyi’s voice stopped. With a cold face, she asked Shen Wenqin, “What are you doing here?”

Liu Shuhan had had an uncomfortable dinner. Relieved that Cheng Qiuyi was finally back, she put down her bowl and walked up to her. “Qiuyi, you’re finally back. Have you eaten?”

Cheng Boming had never met Cheng Qiuyi before, but he was a precocious little imp who knew his mother had something to ask of Cheng Qiuyi. He threw down his chopsticks and ran over, hugging Cheng Qiuyi’s leg. “Sister Qiuyi, I’m Cheng Boming. I’m your little brother.”

Cheng Qiuyi disgustedly kicked Cheng Boming away and said to Shen Wenqin, “Who told you to come here?”

Cheng Boming was young and had been spoiled by his parents since childhood. Although Cheng Qiuyi held back her strength in that kick, he still fell to the ground. He had been the little young master of the entire Cheng family, cherished in their hands all his life. He had never suffered such treatment. Sitting on the floor, he wailed, “You hit me! I’m going to tell Dad to teach you a lesson! To… to kick you out of the Cheng family!”

Liu Shuhan was also perplexed by Cheng Qiuyi hitting a small child. She couldn’t stand seeing a child cry, so she hugged Cheng Boming, comforting him. “Boming, be a good boy, don’t cry. Your sister didn’t mean it. Don’t cry, don’t cry…”

Then her body stiffened. She pushed Cheng Boming away speechlessly. That kid had just taken the opportunity to grope her chest! No wonder Cheng Qiuyi couldn’t stand him. Serves him right.

Cheng Boming was only nine years old. If an adult hadn’t told him, even if he were precocious, how would he know anything about being “kicked out of the Cheng family”? Cheng Qiuyi thought, I wonder how many years this family of three has been coveting the small share of Cheng Corp. stock I hold, even a child this small knows to talk about kicking me out of the Cheng family.

Cheng Qiuyi sneered, pointing to the open door. “Shen Wenqin, take your son and get out.”