Chapter 9: And Yi Yi

Jinyun Pavilion was out of the way. Qin Huan walked a long time under the midday sun before hailing a taxi.  She was sweating by the time she got in.

She rushed home, took a shower, and only saw the courier package on the cabinet when she reached for her hairdryer. She’d left it there yesterday and completely forgotten about it after the video call with Yi Yi.

She shook the box, unable to guess what was inside.  She used scissors to open it and found a thick stack of photos.

Qin Huan flipped through them, realizing the main subject was Zou Shikai, with various women in different places. Each photo was extremely high-resolution.

She was astonished. Zou Shikai seemed so serious, yet he was so promiscuous.  But why were these photos sent to her?

Just as she wondered, her phone dinged. It was a WeChat message from Zou Shikai.

“Ms. Qin, I apologize for the intrusion, but do you know Mr. Jiang?”

Qin Huan’s heart skipped a beat, her face flushing.

“Which Mr. Jiang?”

Zou Shikai: The heir of Jiang Corporation, Jiang Jingchu.

Seeing the name, Qin Huan didn’t know how to reply. In North City, Jiang Jingchu’s name represented wealth and power. Everyone wanted to be associated with him except Qin Huan.

When she first met Jiang Jingchu, she had avoided him. She was just a college student from a small town. He was too dazzling; she felt they weren’t from the same world.

Now, she still didn’t want to be associated with him. Perhaps, to him, she was just a shameful and hateful memory.

Unsure why Zou Shikai was asking, she replied:

“I don’t know him.”

Zou Shikai stared at the three cold words on his phone, lost in thought. Qin Huan said she didn’t know Jiang Jingchu, but his reaction when he heard her name clearly indicated otherwise.

Desperate, he decided to tell Qin Huan about Jiang Jingchu inexplicably canceling the cooperation with Zou Corporation. He sent a final, sincere message:

“I’m telling you this because if you have a connection with Mr. Jiang and my actions caused a misunderstanding, I hope you can explain. If not, consider it a drunken rant.”

Qin Huan understood immediately. Jiang Jingchu had misunderstood her relationship with Zou Shikai at Hengfeng Jiayuan. Seeing Zou Shikai “cheating” at the business dinner, he canceled the cooperation.

Qin Huan didn’t think he was standing up for her. He just disliked cheating.  The photos and his words at Jinyun Pavilion were just mockery she had gotten what she deserved.

Qin Huan felt a mix of emotions.  She sat on the sofa for a long time before replying:

“Sorry, I can’t help you.”

The next day, Qin Huan and Song Yali went to Rongsheng Mansion to measure Ji Jingya and Jiang Jingchu’s wedding house.  It was a luxurious 500 square meter apartment. Ji Jingya was waiting for them.

She discussed her needs.

“I want a large study here for reading and working.”

Song Yali nodded.

“This location is good.  I’ll add a leisure area; you can relax and enjoy the view.”

Ji Jingya smiled, saying nothing.

Qin Huan silently took notes, thinking, Jiang Jingchu reading? She couldn’t imagine it.

His house had a study with a wall of books, but they were just decoration.  Only when Qin Huan visited would the study be used.

And every time Qin Huan read there, for no more than an hour, Jiang Jingchu would interrupt her saying he was hungry, wanting her to cook, cuddling her on the sofa while playing games, or directly making advances.

Qin Huan blushed involuntarily.

Ji Jingya continued, taking them to another area.

“I haven’t decided what to do here. Any suggestions?”

Qin Huan suggested,

“A home theater.”

Ji Jingya raised an eyebrow.

“A home theater?”

Qin Huan nodded.

“You can relax there after work.”

She deliberately avoided saying “you and your husband.”

Ji Jingya shook her head.

“He hates movies.”

Qin Huan remembered Jiang Jingchu loved watching movies with her, especially on rainy days when he was down. They often spent hours in the home theater.

“Then a nursery,”

Song Yali said, seizing the opportunity.

“Ms. Ji, you’ll be having a baby soon.”

Ji Jingya’s face showed discomfort.

“We haven’t considered that yet.”

Song Yali joked,

“You two are young. Enjoy your time as a couple.”

They discussed for another hour. Ji Jingya was enthusiastic, repeatedly asking when she could see the designs. She seemed to be full of anticipation.

Walking alone, Qin Huan felt empty.  Ignoring the time difference, she video called Ruiya.

Ruiya was sleepy.

“Madam, why are you calling at this hour?”

Qin Huan apologized.

“Can I see Yi Yi? I miss her.”

Ruiya agreed and went to Yi Yi’s room. Yi Yi was sleeping soundly. Qin Huan’s heart softened, looking at her chubby face and arms.

She remembered when Yi Yi was born, so small. Qin Huan didn’t have enough breast milk, and Yi Yi wouldn’t drink formula, crying from hunger at night. Qin Huan would cry with her.

Those days were tough.

Qin Huan smiled, relieved. Everything was okay now; Yi Yi would always be with her.