Beautiful Woman, You Have Another Express Delivery! (GL) - Chapter 6

As soon as Cheng Qiuyi stepped out, she ran into two men. The two men stood rigidly on either side of her door in three-piece suits, impeccably dressed despite the July heat. When Cheng Qiuyi opened the door and saw their attire, she found it utterly ridiculous.

She leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms, and looked at them with a half-smile. “Did Cheng Tianhong send you?” It was quite patient of Cheng Tianhong to finally come looking for her after all these days, but choosing this particular day was clearly meant to annoy Cheng Qiuyi.

“Yes, Miss, the Master asked us to escort you home,” the man on the left bowed to Cheng Qiuyi.

Cheng Qiuyi’s expression darkened, and she sneered, “Your Miss has been buried in the grave for ten years. What home are you talking about returning to?”

She then started to walk away but was blocked by the two men. “Miss, please don’t make it difficult for us subordinates.”

“Miss, the Master said if you don’t want to go back, that’s fine. He just wants to have tea and a chat with your friend.”

Cheng Qiuyi narrowed her eyes. “Are you threatening me?”

…

Liu Shuhan sat bored in a bubble tea shop next to the cinema, yawning.

Today was the day Cheng Qiuyi had invited her to watch a movie. Liu Shuhan had specially dressed up before leaving, putting on light makeup and changing into a skirt and high heels she hadn’t worn in a long time.

Liu Shuhan had good features, and when slightly dressed up, she was a standout beauty. Her long hair was tied into a bun at the back of her head, and her curled eyelashes fluttered, giving her a very innocent look, making her appear like a student who hadn’t graduated yet.

There were still two hours until the movie started. Liu Shuhan gazed eagerly at the cinema entrance, afraid of missing Cheng Qiuyi’s figure.

Cheng Qiuyi had said she would pick her up at eight in the morning, but by ten o’clock, she hadn’t appeared. She only sent a text message informing her that she had an urgent matter and would meet her at the cinema entrance later.

The waiting time was the most excruciating. Liu Shuhan was restless in her small rented room and simply left early.

One hour, two hours. Liu Shuhan finished her third cup of bubble tea, and saw that the movie had already started ten minutes ago, yet she still hadn’t seen a glimpse of Cheng Qiuyi.

Was there a traffic jam on the road? Cheng Qiuyi was always punctual. Liu Shuhan was worried that something might have happened to her on the way and called her several times, but no one answered.

Oh no, oh no, did something really happen? Liu Shuhan couldn’t get through to Cheng Qiuyi and didn’t know any of her other friends. Losing contact with Cheng Qiuyi all of a sudden made her increasingly anxious, and she paced frantically outside the cinema entrance. Fortunately, she kept refreshing her phone and didn’t find any news of a car accident in City C today, which somewhat eased her mind.

Maybe she was delayed by something? Liu Shuhan had lived with Cheng Qiuyi for a few days and knew that when she got busy, she didn’t even have time to drink water, and it wasn’t uncommon for her to get home past midnight. But then Liu Shuhan thought to herself, getting annoyed, couldn’t she have at least informed her in advance if something came up? What was with the silence?

Liu Shuhan leaned against the large pillar next to the cinema, waiting foolishly. Thirty minutes into the movie, Cheng Qiuyi didn’t show up. The movie ended, and Cheng Qiuyi still hadn’t arrived. The next movie started, and Cheng Qiuyi was still a no-show…

Crowds came and went, wave after wave. Time passed by little by little. Finally, the bustling cinema entrance gradually quieted down, leaving only Liu Shuhan and the popcorn vendor looking at each other.

Cheng Qiuyi, if you don’t come soon, I’m leaving, I… I’m really leaving…

Liu Shuhan tiredly rubbed her eyes. After rubbing, she noticed some black residue on her arm. Only then did she remember she had put on eyeliner and mascara. Rubbing her eyes had completely ruined her carefully applied eye makeup. The area around her eyes was black and smudged, as if she had been punched, and even the popcorn vendor couldn’t help but turn around and chuckle.

Liu Shuhan slid down, slumping against the pillar in frustration. The clock on the wall pointed to midnight. She had been standing for nearly six hours. The high heels she hadn’t worn for a long time were rubbing her feet. Liu Shuhan’s heels were bloody and raw, and she had two large blisters on her toes.

She angrily kicked off her high heels and sat on the ground barefoot, watching her phone drain its last bit of battery and automatically shut down, burying her head deep in her knees.

Go home. A voice screamed in Liu Shuhan’s mind. Cheng Qiuyi won’t come today, go home.

But Liu Shuhan just couldn’t move her feet. She knew she should go back; if she didn’t, she would miss the last bus. But what if, what if Cheng Qiuyi came and found she wasn’t there? What if Cheng Qiuyi thought she had stood her up?

Cheng Qiuyi, why aren’t you here yet?

…

Ten o’clock at night, the Cheng residence.

In the huge study, there were only Cheng Qiuyi and a middle-aged man. The man’s hair was gray, but his face looked very young. A few fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes made him look only about forty. The man rested his hand on the desk, his thin lips tightly pressed, leaving only a sharp line, like a drawn sword.

His eyes were stern; an ordinary person would probably be scared and tremble. But Cheng Qiuyi stared directly back at him with equally stern eyes, in direct confrontation.

“When exactly are you going to let me leave?” Cheng Qiuyi asked impatiently. She had been glaring at the man all day. Now, all she could think about was Liu Shuhan, desperate to leave immediately, with no time to waste on him.

This man was Cheng Tianhong.

Cheng Tianhong was Cheng Qiuyi’s father. Whether she admitted it or not, they were at least biologically related.

Cheng Tianhong was a womanizer in his youth and had many women outside, which literally angered Cheng Qiuyi’s mother to death. In less than two months, he brought home a woman less than ten years older than Cheng Qiuyi, along with a son who hadn’t reached his full term.

Cheng Qiuyi was only seventeen that year, at her most rebellious age. Her mother’s body was barely cold, and Cheng Tianhong brought another woman into the house. How could she tolerate it? She caused a scene on the spot, and the incident became a widely circulated joke in City C at the time, still a popular topic of conversation on the streets and alleys to this day.

She made such a fuss that Cheng Tianhong had no choice but to mobilize all the relatives from the main family and collateral branches—uncles, cousins, aunts, and sisters—to take turns persuading Cheng Qiuyi, saying things like, “Your father is a man, and men just do those kinds of things,” and “You are the only daughter of the Cheng family; the family line cannot be broken by your father’s generation.”

Cheng Qiuyi was still young then and hadn’t learned to hold back. She pointed at those uncles’ noses and cursed, “Are you men the only human beings? Are women just farts in your eyes? Since you’re so skilled, how many concubines do you have outside? How many fat boys have you given birth to? You look down on women so much; could it be that you were born from a man’s butt?”

When Madam Cheng was alive, she disciplined Cheng Qiuyi strictly, hiring specialized tutors to teach her literature and martial arts from a young age. Cheng Qiuyi was also well-mannered and always spoke politely. Where had anyone heard such vulgar language from her mouth before? The uncles’ faces instantly changed color, and they rushed to take their leave.

Cheng Qiuyi was the most outstanding among the younger generation of all the families, but people always spoke of her with a sigh.

“What’s the name of Cheng Tianhong’s daughter again? Her aptitude is truly remarkable; she could even inherit the entire Cheng family, but it’s a pity she’s a girl.”

“To be a man like Cheng Tianhong is truly glorious, but what a pity, his family has no son.”

Perhaps it was because outsiders said it too often, or for some other reason, but Cheng Tianhong became increasingly promiscuous, finally resulting in this scandal.

Cheng Qiuyi looked at the faces of these uncles and was glad that she was not a man. What was so good about being a man? Every single one of them was heartless and shameless. Which of these men didn’t have a wife managing the household while being served by a mistress outside? They called it enjoying the blessings of a balanced life.

Ptooey.

Later, in a fit of rage, Cheng Qiuyi left the country and stayed away for all these years.

“Cheng Tianhong, I told you back then that your daughter died a long time ago and was buried with your wife in the grave. Is what you’re doing now meaningful?” Cheng Qiuyi slammed the table and shouted. She found it ridiculous when she thought about those years. She used to think her father was a man of integrity, but only after this incident did she realize he was just a coward. Otherwise, how could he have remained silent when that woman he brought into the house was humiliated by others? Cheng Tianhong probably just wanted that woman or perhaps only the cheap son she was carrying.

“Qiuyi, I still remember when you were little.” Cheng Tianhong sighed, gesturing with his hand along the edge of the desk. “You were only this tall then. When your teacher disciplined you strictly, you would run to me to complain. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big.”

Cheng Qiuyi sneered. With Cheng Tianhong’s expression, anyone who didn’t know them would genuinely believe they were a loving father and daughter. It was truly ugly to witness.

“Cut the nonsense. When can I leave?”

She wondered how Liu Shuhan was doing. That girl was single-minded and was probably still waiting foolishly outside the cinema. Cheng Qiuyi sighed; her phone had been confiscated, and she couldn’t even make a call to tell Liu Shuhan not to wait.

“Qiuyi, I’m old. The Cheng Corporation needs an heir.”

“An heir?” Cheng Qiuyi sounded as if she had heard the biggest joke. “The heir to the Cheng Corporation was brought back by you personally ten years ago, Cheng Tianhong. Let’s not say I’m not your daughter, but even if I were, look closely. I’m a woman, the kind of woman you despise the most. I cannot afford the Cheng family’s business.”

“Bo Ming is still too young. He needs someone to help him.”

Cheng Qiuyi was so angry that she laughed instead. Cheng Tianhong hadn’t gained any other skills these years, but his shamelessness had become an impenetrable fortress. How could he possibly utter such shameless words?

“I see that all you want is that eleven percent of the shares.”

Cheng Qiuyi held the throat of the Cheng Corporation with that eleven percent of the shares.

Eleven percent wasn’t much, but it was important to know that Cheng Tianhong only held forty percent of the Cheng Corporation’s shares. With Cheng Qiuyi’s shares, he could barely reach just over fifty percent. If someone with malicious intent manipulated things, the Cheng Corporation could change hands at any time. How could a cautious man like Cheng Tianhong leave that eleven percent hanging out there?

“Cheng Tianhong, that eleven percent of the shares was left to me by my mother. I would rather throw it away than give it to you.”

Cheng Tianhong suddenly looked up at Cheng Qiuyi across the desk and said, “Qiuyi, that girl named Liu Shuhan is very nice. She’s simple-minded and devoted to you.” Cheng Tianhong was old after all. The Cheng family’s business would eventually be handed over to his son, Cheng Boming. Cheng Tianhong could only rest assured if Cheng Qiuyi helped and supported the still-young Cheng Boming.

Hearing Liu Shuhan’s name, Cheng Qiuyi was instantly alert. Her body moved faster than her mind; she lunged over the desk, grabbed Cheng Tianhong’s collar, her veins popping out on her hands, and her eyes bloodshot. “Cheng Tianhong, if you dare to touch her, I will drag the entire Cheng family down with me.” Cheng Tianhong had already made her lose her dearest relative in this lifetime. How dare he not spare her beloved as well?

Cheng Tianhong let Cheng Qiuyi grab his collar and vent her anger, without anger or resistance. Just by locking eyes, Cheng Qiuyi felt that her every thought was seen through by him. He was the one who watched her grow up; how could he not understand her?

Cheng Qiuyi let go of Cheng Tianhong and walked out of the Cheng family’s door without looking back.

If Cheng Qiuyi had held any expectation for Cheng Tianhong before, she was truly desperate now.