The more Yu Jing thought about Wang Cheng’s words after returning home, the more something seemed wrong. She had not done anything to Wang Ning’an herself. Why had Zhou Cheng spoken as though she had mistreated him? Li Xin noticed her daughter’s sour expression from the moment she came in and casually asked what was wrong.
Seeing that her father was home too, Yu Jing told them about meeting Wang Cheng outside the restaurant. Before Li Xin could respond, she saw her husband’s expression change.
“Jingjing, did Zhou Cheng really say that?” Yu Hongming had been worried sick about his son and the company for days. With the business in trouble and Wang Ning’an coincidentally on leave, everything had fallen to him as chairman. Worse, the lawyer they had hired had told him that very day the odds of winning the case were extremely low. Someone seemed determined to bring Yu Hongzhi down; every piece of evidence worked against them, and because he had fled the accident scene, a reduced sentence was apparently out of the question. His daughter’s story brought another incident to mind.
“He definitely said it. Dad, is something wrong?” Yu Jing asked in confusion.
Something was very wrong indeed.
Yu Hongming sank back into his chair, drained of strength. “If my guess is right, the person who’s been working against Hongzhi is very likely Zhou Cheng.”
“What do you mean?”
Both women were startled.
Yu Hongming told them what Yu Hongzhi had done to Wang Ning’an. He had not expected much to come of it at the time. Afterward, he had even called Wang Ning’an to express concern, but Wang Ning’an said nothing, so Yu Hongming dismissed the matter. He had not imagined the man would still be holding a grudge.
“Dad, why would Hongzhi target Ning’an?” Yu Jing could not understand. In the past, Hongzhi had harassed Wang Ning’an because she liked him. Now she no longer pursued him so persistently, so why would her brother still refuse to leave him alone?
“Hongzhi has always suspected Wang Ning’an of scheming to take over the company.” Yu Hongming knew what his son thought. He had turned a blind eye because he believed nothing serious would happen. How could he have imagined Zhou Cheng would retaliate so fiercely for a brother who was not even related to him by blood? Had he known, he would have stopped his son at any cost.
Yu Jing gave a cold laugh. “I think he’s afraid I might give the shares Dad gave me to Ning’an.”
She knew perfectly well what her younger brother was thinking. On the surface, he seemed protective of her, but in truth he was worried the family’s shares might pass into an outsider’s hands. He had never genuinely had her interests at heart.
“Your brother is about to go to prison. As his older sister, you could at least stop saying things like that,” Li Xin scolded. She turned to her husband. “Hongming, what should we do now? If Zhou Cheng is behind all this, is there still any way to save Hongzhi?”
Yu Hongming’s expression darkened. “Now that we know why this happened, there may be a way. Zhou Cheng was willing to go this far for his big brother. That means Wang Ning’an’s words must carry a lot of weight with him. If we can convince Wang Ning’an to plead for Hongzhi, our son might still be saved.”
“But Hongzhi treated Wang Ning’an so badly. Do you really think he’ll help him?” Yu Jing asked.
“It’s still a chance. Are we supposed to stand here and watch your brother go to prison? Wang Ning’an is Shenghui’s vice president, after all. If I go personally to beg him, surely he’ll show the chairman’s wife some respect.”
Li Xin was already calculating her next move.
Yu Hongming frowned, however. He had a feeling things would not be so simple.
The next day, Li Xin took her handbag and prepared to visit Wang Ning’an. Yu Jing insisted on coming along. She knew where his apartment was, so before long the two arrived and rang his doorbell. The person who answered was a middle-aged woman.
“Whom are you looking for?” Guan Meifang studied them in surprise.
Li Xin looked her up and down, assuming she was a maid Wang Ning’an had hired. Lifting her chin slightly, she asked, “Is Wang Ning’an here?”
“He is, but what do you need?” Guan Meifang regarded them warily. With an attitude that unpleasant, perhaps they were here to cause trouble.
“Eldest Aunt, who is it?” Wang Ning’an came over. Seeing the two women, he lifted an eyebrow but showed little surprise. He already had a good idea why they had come. “Eldest Aunt, let them in.” Guan Meifang opened the door and stepped aside.
Li Xin and Yu Jing entered at once. Although Yu Jing had always known his address, this was her first time inside. She looked around curiously and noticed a handsome young man sitting in the living room. He rose in apparent surprise when they approached. “Ning’an, who are these two?”
It was He Ping speaking.
“The chairman of Shenghui’s wife and her daughter,” Wang Ning’an introduced them briefly.
He Ping nodded. “Do you need to discuss something privately? Should we give you some space?”
“No.”
Guan Meifang brought the two visitors glasses of water. Wang Ning’an invited her to sit as well, then turned to Li Xin, who sat opposite him. “What brings you here, Madam Chairman?”
Li Xin had originally wanted to throw money at Wang Ning’an to make him persuade his brother to stop. Yu Hongming had warned her against it. Wang Ning’an was not short of money. He was capable of earning plenty himself, and with Zhou Cheng so protective of him, he could probably have whatever he wanted simply by asking. Offering cash would accomplish nothing. Their only option was to humble themselves and beg, looking as pitiful as possible. That was Li Xin’s specialty.
The moment Wang Ning’an spoke, Li Xin arranged her expression into one of deep regret and guilt. “Vice President Wang, I’ve heard about the dreadful things Hongzhi did to you. I came today to apologize on his behalf. I had no idea he could behave that way. As his parent, I bear responsibility. I know we’ve wronged you. Hongzhi knows he was wrong too. Once he gets out, I’ll give him a proper lesson. Please be magnanimous and forgive him. I’m begging you. He’s my only son.”
“What Yu Hongzhi did was indeed despicable. I’ve devoted myself wholeheartedly to Shenghui, yet he repeatedly went out of his way to oppose me, even setting traps for me. I don’t think a simple apology can erase that. But I don’t understand what you mean by the last part,” Wang Ning’an said calmly.
Li Xin had expected Wang Ning’an to evade the matter, but she still disliked his response. No matter how highly her husband valued him, she saw him as nothing more than an employee the company could dismiss whenever it pleased. She possessed an overwhelming sense of superiority.
Still, she remembered that her son’s future was effectively in Wang Ning’an’s hands. Before she came, Yu Hongming had warned her repeatedly that Wang Ning’an was no ordinary person and could not be treated the way she treated everyone else.
“If you insist on pretending you don’t know, then I’ll be direct. We know the person secretly attacking Shenghui is your brother, Zhou Cheng. He’s also the one who’s sending Hongzhi to prison. I came to ask you to persuade your brother to show mercy and let Hongzhi go. Whatever conditions you have, I’ll agree to them.”
Wang Ning’an shook his head. “Madam Chairman, I think you’ve misunderstood something. Yu Hongzhi is going to prison because he struck someone with his car and fled the scene.”
“If your brother hadn’t interfered, Hongzhi wouldn’t have to go to prison!” Li Xin blurted out.
Guan Meifang finally could not hold back. “Madam, are you saying someone who runs over another person shouldn’t have to answer for it? I haven’t had much schooling, but even I know that much. If you kill someone, you have to pay for it. Your son hit someone, and if he goes to prison, that’s the punishment he deserves. What does any of that have to do with our Chengcheng?”
“You!” Li Xin was so thoroughly rebutted that she nearly lost control and snapped back. Fortunately, she remembered in time that she had come to beg a favor. She forced herself to ignore Guan Meifang and turned back to Wang Ning’an. “Vice President Wang, I know Hongzhi brought this on himself, but for the chairman’s sake, please…”
“Madam Chairman,” Wang Ning’an interrupted, “I don’t know why you’re convinced my younger brother is responsible, but I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do, and nothing he can do either. Just as my aunt said, people should answer for the harm they cause. This isn’t a question of someone choosing to forgive someone else. My brother doesn’t have the power to control a case where the evidence has already been established.”
Li Xin’s face fell. “If you don’t want to bother with pleasantries, then let’s be straightforward. What are your conditions?”
“It seems you haven’t understood me, Madam Chairman. We cannot help you with this,” Wang Ning’an replied.
“Ning’an, don’t misunderstand. My mother doesn’t really mean it that way. She’s just terribly worried about Hongzhi,” Yu Jing said. She still had feelings for Wang Ning’an and did not want to see relations between them break down.
But neither of the other two appeared inclined to pay her any attention.
Li Xin rose abruptly and glared down at Wang Ning’an. “If you’re determined to be this ungrateful, then pretend we never came. But you’d better watch yourself.”
With that threat, she left, taking the equally dissatisfied Yu Jing with her.
“Ning’an, those two don’t look like good people. Will it be all right that you offended them?” Guan Meifang asked anxiously. Beside her, He Ping smiled. “Mom, don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
“My cousin is right,” Wang Ning’an said. “Shenghui may be powerful, but even in a metropolis like the capital, it can’t simply do whatever it pleases. All they can manage now is a little posturing.”