Chapter 48：The smell of a trap

Caihong stopped. She smiled. "Well, then it's Chyou's cruel luck that she got a mother like me."

She turned and stared at her. "Just how it was my cruel luck that my Mom died and Mrs. An Meiying stepped into the An residence. A step-mother who showers love on the outside but has complete hatred for me on the inside. So typical."

Shuang said nothing.

Caihong looked towards the sky. "Strange, isn't it? You got your step-father's love but I couldn't get my step-mother's love."

"And so you hate me because of that."

"No. I don't hate either of you. But I don't want to have anything to do with you two either."

This was the relationship between them.

No love. No hate.

Only neutral.

Shuang yawned. "I already know my Mom is a lost cause. But if she hadn't been like that, even so, I don't think that it was about her loving you or not. You would have never accepted her either if she had genuinely loved you."

Caihong couldn't answer it.

Shuang folded her arms. "So, my Mom didn't accept you. You didn't accept her. We got a fair tie. But that doesn't concern Chyou. At least Mom got a reason to say that she is your step-mother. What reason do you have to say to your biological daughter?"

She narrowed her eyes and coldly smiled. "Reason? Do 'I' have to give a reason to her? Shouldn't it be Xiaosi answering her questions? Especially when...I always wanted to abort her."

Shuang squinted her gaze. She silently tapped her finger on her arm.

"But the arrogant Mr. Zhu Xiaosi didn't let me. He forced me to give birth to her just like he forced a lot of things on me. Chyou wouldn't have had to suffer all this if she hadn't been born in the first place. This suffering is all because of her father."

Before she left, Caihong chuckled and said, "At least me openly hating her is much better than Mrs. An Meiying wearing a two-faced mask."

Shuang scratched her chin as she saw her go.

She muttered. "Ah so complicated and all because of that Xiaosi."

---

The second evening on the cruise trip was planned so that all the involving corporations would give a short presentation. Xinyi was supposed to give on Han Corp's behalf.

But unfortunately, Xinyi got sick so it became difficult for her.

She got up from the bed, making Siying glare at her. "Mama! You are sick! You shouldn't get up." With his tiny hands, he was pushing her back to bed.

Zhiyuan nodded. "Don't be so stubborn and rest."

She hesitated. "But Zhiyuan, the presentation…"

"Your health is more important. The doctor has said to sleep and rest, so you will do just that. I will tell Mu Chuanli about the situation."

Xinyi shook her head. "No, no. I am fine. I will give the presentation. He invited me with you, so it wouldn't look good. I will-"

"No means no."

At first, Zhiyuan thought that he could give the presentation himself, but he didn't want to leave her alone when she was sick. Staying with her was more important than work.

Xinyi pursed her lips. "Please? Han Corps is an integral part of this project and if we miss this, then the other companies would start talking about it and all and I-I don't want any negative image for you…So, I will give the presentation."

Zhiyuan sighed.

"If you really care about it that much then I will do it."

"I will do it and that's it. I won't hear a word more," he sternly said.

Xinyi's shoulders slumped.

He gently patted her on her head and smiled. "I will immediately come back once I am done with the presentation. Don't move at all, okay?"

Xinyi sighed.

She thought maybe she got too much stage fright that she became sick because public speaking still intimidated her.

"I am sorry…"

Zhiyuan gently flicked her forehead. "Silly."

He looked at Siying and said, "Take care of Mama, okay?"

Siying nodded hard. "Dada. I will take care of Mama like Mama takes care of me!"

He chuckled. "Good. If there is any problem then call me."

"En!"

---

The presentation got smoothly over. As Zhiyuan stepped down, from the corner of his eye, he saw Caihong quickly leaving the hall.

As soon as Zhiyuan came down, he heard a familiar voice laughing at him.

"Yo Zhiyuan. I cannot see your wife anywhere," he heard Xiaosi's mocking tone. "What's wrong? Did she get disappointed to see you chasing after my wife last night?"

He stopped and narrowed his eyes.

Xiaosi smiled. "It's nothing new. After all, you have always disappointed everybody."

Zhiyuan calmly said, "You don't have to worry about Xinyi and neither about my limits. You should worry about Caihong who doesn't seem to be too interested and already left."

Xiaosi tilted his head. "I am just concerned for Xinyi as her friend. However, your concern for my wife is suspicious...after all you two had such a lovely history together. So, I hope you know where your concern should lie."

Zhiyuan smiled. "I don't need that reminder Xiaosi."

As he took one step, he stopped and said, "Know this, Xiaosi. I will find my answers at any cost no matter how much you or Caihong want to hide it."

Xiaosi silently watched him leave, looking at him expressionlessly. He twirled his phone in his hand and smiled as he typed something.

---

Zhiyuan was quickly walking towards his room to check on Xinyi.

I hope Xinyi is feeling better now.

He took out his phone and found a missed call at the time he was giving his presentation.

Isn't this-

Suddenly, his phone buzzed and he picked it up. "Siying?"

He heard him crying and sniffling on the other end. "D-Dada...Dada…"

Zhiyuan stopped. "Siying? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

He sniffled. "Dada...I-I am lost. I don't know... where I am…waaaaa. Dada, take me from here..."

Zhiyuan widened his eyes. "Weren't you in the room with Xinyi? Why did you leave?"