Kicked Back to a Rich Family by the Real Eldest Daughter - Chapter 31
Chapter 31
The two left relatively late. They had refused the invitation to have lunch together earlier, so now both were hungry.
They decided to eat out.
Xie Xiangyi instructed the driver to take them directly to a restaurant not far from home.
After sitting down, Tang Jinzhi asked, “Did Zhang Yueqi say she wasn’t coming?”
It was only a ten-minute drive from home.
She was quite concerned about Zhang Yueqi’s state today.
Xie Xiangyi shook her head, pulling the main points from Zhang Yueqi’s messy torrent of tears and complaints: “She ordered her own takeout. Let’s eat. She said she didn’t want to delay our date.”
The sun shone through the glass window onto Tang Jinzhi’s cheek. She squinted slightly, raising a hand to shield her eyes. She didn’t refute the word “date” used by Xie Xiangyi, because a simple meal wouldn’t require coming to such a romantic place. Almost everyone around them was a couple, and the complimentary gifts the waiter provided were also couple-themed.
When Xie Xiangyi entered, she had specifically mentioned their relationship.
Tang Jinzhi knew the uniqueness of this floor the moment she followed her up.
She felt like Xie Xiangyi was aiming for a date with her.
Tang Jinzhi couldn’t help but ask, “Are we going straight home after eating?”
Xie Xiangyi adjusted the sunshade and asked softly, “Do you want to go see a movie?”
She was too shy to look at Tang Jinzhi and felt a little nervous. She had previously noticed that Tang Jinzhi liked watching movies and thought that since they were already out today, she probably wouldn’t refuse.
Tang Jinzhi looked up, a half-smile on her face, and met Xie Xiangyi’s eyes, “We can watch a movie at home too.”
She was rejected.
Xie Xiangyi opened her mouth, trying to persuade Tang Jinzhi, “The cinema isn’t far, and since we’re already out today, it’s no trouble to go.”
Besides, Zhang Yueqi wasn’t with them this time—it would just be the two of them.
Tang Jinzhi sighed softly, “No. You have your exam in twenty days. Go home and study.”
She had indeed delayed Xie Xiangyi today.
Although Xie Xiangyi hadn’t said anything, Tang Jinzhi had seen her holding her tablet and studying professional knowledge in the car, which made a sense of urgency rise in her heart.
Xie Xiangyi disagreed: “It’s not that urgent.”
Tang Jinzhi raised an eyebrow: “Our date isn’t lacking one day.”
Xie Xiangyi explained, her voice slightly muffled, “I just thought we could cultivate our feelings.”
Tang Jinzhi could see that.
Xie Xiangyi really did have that thought. She was preoccupied with the fact that Tang Jinzhi had said “they had no feelings” between them earlier today.
Tang Jinzhi laughed: “We can cultivate them at home just the same.”
She thought for a moment and added, “Before, you weren’t willing to talk to me much, your messages were only one or two words, and you didn’t even visit me when I was hospitalized.”
These were all plain facts.
Xie Xiangyi blushed at Tang Jinzhi’s words, her eyes drifting everywhere but at Tang Jinzhi.
Tang Jinzhi chuckled: “See? Isn’t it much better now?”
“So don’t rush. Who can say for sure about matters of the heart? Finish your studies first. I won’t run away.”
With Tang Jinzhi putting it so plainly, Xie Xiangyi no longer insisted.
Xie Xiangyi sighed lightly: “Alright, we’ll go home right after we eat.”
Tang Jinzhi rested her chin on her hand, looking at Xie Xiangyi, “But I’m genuinely curious, why exactly did you agree to the marriage alliance?”
This was the second time she had asked Xie Xiangyi this question. Xie Xiangyi hadn’t answered her directly before, but now she might hear the answer.
The flattering words she had used to comfort Xie Xiangyi back then did sound exaggerated, but they were true.
The fact that those two people didn’t dare say one bad word about Xie Xiangyi proved that Xie Xiangyi’s reputation was power.
She had power, money, and influence.
So, Tang Jinzhi didn’t think Xie Xiangyi would be forced into a marriage alliance. That kind of tragic fate belonged to her, not Xie Xiangyi.
Xie Xiangyi pondered for a long time, carefully considering how to explain it to Tang Jinzhi so she would understand.
Just when Tang Jinzhi thought she was unwilling to answer, she finally spoke, “You can understand it as, I enjoyed the resources provided by the family, and I should naturally make some contribution in return.”
“The dividends the family deposited into my account over the years are no less than what you earned today, and I didn’t have to do anything. This was a gift my mother prepared for me before she passed away.”
“Although no one said anything, people will always be jealous. Over the past few years, some people have asked me jokingly if I had a preferred partner. I understood—they want me to enter a marriage alliance to contribute to the family. Some elders in the family who treated me well privately helped me, but I know they were also in a difficult position.”
Xie Xiangyi smiled when she said this, her gaze resting on Tang Jinzhi’s face. She was quite satisfied with the marriage partner she had chosen to silence the idle chatter.
Tang Jinzhi clutched her chest. Although she could hear the helplessness in Xie Xiangyi’s tone, she felt she should first sympathize with herself.
“You don’t think my three hundred million demand was too low, do you?”
Xie Xiangyi belonged to a large family, a genuinely established wealthy family with decades of history. They might truly look down on three hundred million.
Xie Xiangyi didn’t hesitate; she nodded directly, “It’s a loss. It’s actually nothing to them.”
Tang Jinzhi let out a laugh after hearing that.
The fact that her family could meet the threshold for a marriage alliance with Xie Xiangyi proved her family wasn’t too poor. Three hundred million was indeed not much, but Tang Jinzhi needed it to be that way.
If she asked for too much, enough to make people feel the pain of the loss, once her identity was exposed, they would discover they had been cheated, and if they couldn’t get the money back, Tang Jinzhi would inevitably face trouble.
So, she only asked for three hundred million. Even if they realized they had been conned, they would only be able to resign themselves and swallow the loss. Three hundred million wouldn’t be enough to make them frantic and target her.
In a powerful family where even the slightest ripple could be detected, they still had to maintain appearances, especially since she and Xie Xiangyi were married and so many people were watching.
Unless they truly couldn’t afford the loss and were willing to disregard everything to ruin Tang Jinzhi.
Tang Jinzhi had already planned: if the other party really came after her just for this three hundred million, she would just take the large sum of money and run. She was the one with nothing to lose, so she had nothing to care about and nothing for them to ruin.
Xie Xiangyi asked, “What are you laughing about?”
Tang Jinzhi chuckled, “I’m just happy thinking about possibly running away with three hundred million.”
Xie Xiangyi frowned: “Why would you run?”
Why would she run away with three hundred million for no reason?
And without her.
Tang Jinzhi explained with an air of matter-of-factness: “Of course, I have to run. What if they target me after finding out I don’t have the right to inheritance at all?”
Xie Xiangyi tilted her head, trying to make sense of Tang Jinzhi’s words, “Why wouldn’t you have the right to inheritance?”
Then, realizing something, she widened her eyes, “Are you your birth mother’s child with someone else?”
Tang Jinzhi was drinking water and nearly spat it out.
She coughed violently twice and glared crossly at Xie Xiangyi, “Don’t jump to conclusions. I just don’t have it.”
Xie Xiangyi handed her a tissue. Seeing Tang Jinzhi’s reaction, she knew she had guessed wrong. She didn’t dare to guess again and instead said, “Even if they find out, they wouldn’t dare to target you. I’m here.”
Tang Jinzhi paused slightly, then looked up and smiled at Xie Xiangyi.
She hadn’t planned Xie Xiangyi into her scheme, nor had she considered relying on her.
Perhaps by that time, Xie Xiangyi would no longer be by her side, and she would be all alone.
Xie Xiangyi didn’t like Tang Jinzhi’s perfunctory smile, as it made her feel untrusted.
She didn’t make any further promises but asked Tang Jinzhi, “Is there something you haven’t been clear with me about?”
Tang Jinzhi smiled sweetly and met her gaze, “I’ve told you everything. You just haven’t understood it.”
The only thing she hadn’t told Xie Xiangyi was her identity as the “fake rich daughter.”
But in fact, she wasn’t even the fake rich daughter; she was the fake Tang Jinzhi.
Tang Jinzhi didn’t want to talk any further, so she handed the freshly cut steak to Xie Xiangyi, “Eat. We’ll go home when we’re done.”
Xie Xiangyi wanted to open her mouth to say something more, but the steak on Tang Jinzhi’s fork made a detour and rested by her lips.
Her words were thus blocked.
Xie Xiangyi looked down, opened her mouth, and took a bite.
If Tang Jinzhi didn’t want to continue the conversation, so be it. Time was on her side; she would figure it out eventually. She would do her best not to let Tang Jinzhi be bullied.
Back home.
Xie Xiangyi was coaxed back to the study by Tang Jinzhi. Recently, she had been frequently persuaded by Tang Jinzhi and basically followed her lead, doing whatever she was told.
In the living room, Zhang Yueqi was thinking she finally had a chance to properly air her grievances to Tang Jinzhi, but instead, she was assigned a pile of work.
Tang Jinzhi: “I’ve sent you a copy of each of these scripts. Receive them. You don’t need to open them; just forward them directly to the boss for printing. Remember to send each one separately.”
Zhang Yueqi asked, “Is this all done? Can I call people over to play now?”
Tang Jinzhi nodded: “Yes, all that’s missing are the people.”
It wasn’t that they couldn’t play online—it was just a matter of setting up a group chat and voice call, and she could send the files one by one—but that wouldn’t be as fun as everyone sitting together offline. Plus, if it was online, Tang Jinzhi wouldn’t be able to see everyone’s experience.
So, she had to trouble the players.
Tang Jinzhi thought for a moment and added specifically, “Find those who are willing to play. If anyone is busy or doesn’t feel like it, forget it. Don’t interfere with their own matters.”
She just wanted to find people to play and test the game; there was no need to make it feel like a job.
She wasn’t paying a salary. The only thing she could do was make sure everyone ate well, played well, and had a good time when they came over.
Zhang Yueqi confidently gave an OK sign, “Don’t worry, they’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. Everyone really wants to play, you’re just too slow.”
Tang Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. Judging by Zhang Yueqi’s attitude, the people she was calling over were definitely not the roommates she had fallen out with yesterday.
“Alright, then discuss the time they can come over with them.”
Zhang Yueqi nodded, “Got it.”
Having sent Zhang Yueqi off.
Tang Jinzhi went into the kitchen to wash a bunch of grapes and slice a plate of mangoes, then headed to the study to find Xie Xiangyi.
Hearing the door open, Xie Xiangyi looked up, her gaze fixed on the face that seemed to be constantly smiling when it was facing her, and she was captivated.
“Have some fruit,” Tang Jinzhi said with a smile on her lips. She placed the two plates of fruit next to Xie Xiangyi’s computer.
Xie Xiangyi looked down at the fruit, then fixed her gaze back on Tang Jinzhi, “Where is Zhang Yueqi?”
Tang Jinzhi sat down next to her, “She went out. I found her something to do.”
Otherwise, was she going to let her stay home and be melancholy all day?
Xie Xiangyi didn’t say much. She glanced at the computer and asked, “Do you need to use the computer?”
Tang Jinzhi shook her head without thinking, “No, I don’t need it. You can do the donkey work; I need rest.”
What was the point of being a freelancer at home? Wasn’t it for freedom?