ZHANG MANSION...
Shi Wenqian has been restless since the previous night that she had a bad night rest, and waking up this morning, she was not any better.
The first thing she did after she opened her eyes was to pick up her phone.
Going to her call log to check the recent calls she made, she tapped the first contact on the list and proceeded to dial it.
At the first ring, the call got connected. Without waiting to hear the sound of breathing from the other end, her questioning voice spoke.
"Are you all set?"
"Yes, Ma'am. We have already left for the location." The hoarse voice of a man replied immediately.
Still, his response was not able to assure the woman who was restless.
"Careful not to be caught loitering. Make sure you bring that girl with you, I won't accept any excuses!" She instructed as a wicked glint flashed across her eyes.
She already could see the vision of where Zhang Liling was being captured and thrown into the trunk of the car after her mouth must have been sealed, and her hands and feet bound tightly with ropes.
As that vision vanished from her sight, a smirk turned up at the corner of her lips.
"Yes, Ma'am!" The man replied in understanding. There was no room for failure on this mission.
Ending the conversation, Shi Wenqian placed her phone on the bed as she stared into the distance.
"Zhang Liling, since there is no use for you anymore, I have to cut off your wild wings before getting rid of you" she mumbled in a menacing tone.
All that was currently radiating from her was wickedness and the only thought in her head was on how to get rid of her step daughter.
Shi Wenqian would never forget all the times that young woman stood up for herself. She took note of them, and even went on to count them on her fingers.
"You thought I wouldn't get you? I just pity your poor mother. But I would love to see her cry, it's been a long time." She said as the corner of her lips curled.
More than anything, she would like to see tears in Song Jujing's eyes.
The first time she made her cry was more than twenty years ago.
It was that time Song Jujing found out that she was already pregnant with Zhang Renshu's side.
Shi Wenqian had made her fix the pieces of the puzzle she had deliberately hinted to her.
If she didn't do it this way and had openly confessed to her about it, Zhang Renshu wouldn't have ended up marrying her after their wedding broke off.
Going back to the memory of the last to see the tears brimming in Song Jujing's eyes as she scolded Zhang Renshu, Shi Wenqian felt her heart gladden a bit.
"Song Jujing, now just wait till I remove your child from this world. Then you will be left alone. No husband, no child, no family, just you... Hahahaha."
She Wenqian let out a hysterical laugh at the end before getting off the bed and turning to walk towards the inner room.
After freshening up, she left for the dining room to go and sit with the others for breakfast.
At the dining table, Zhang Renshu and Zhang Xiaoling were already dressed for work and Mingyu seemed to be the only one off because he was dressed so casually.
Seeing arrive with a happy ambiance surrounding her, her children rested their gazes on her before greeting her and shifting their gazes back to their food.
'Why does she look so happy?' Xiaoling thought to herself as she but into a slice of bread.
She could remember angering her mother late last night. Normally, she would still be carrying a scowl on her face from the previous night but today, seemed different.
'Well, it's not my business.'
Thinking that her mother's change in emotions wasn't her concern, she threw her face away and continued eating in silence.
Responding to her children's greeting, a soft smile graced Shi Wenqian's face as she took her seat.
Glancing at Zhang Renshu who hadn't spared her a glance yet, she acknowledged his presence.
"Do you have a meeting at the company this morning?" She inquired as she stretched her hands to reach out to the big bowl of soup at the center of the table.
Seeing that her hand couldn't reach it, Mingyu stretched his hand to push it to her side before retracting it.
Zhang Renshu briefly glanced at her with a narrowed gaze. "Did I ever mention anything like that to you?"
He looked annoyed for her actions. He disliked the small talks she was trying to make with him. He was not interested in any way.
He did not even have the time for her.
Feeling his irritated gaze on her, Shi Wenqian pretended not to notice it.
'I still need to teach you a lesson. But for now, let us enjoy our one happy family.'
Getting rid of Zhang Liling would accomplish her dark desires.
*******
At the International Airport...
It was already a few minutes past 8 when the Zhang Liling arrived with the trio who insisted on following her in.
"I know you want only Bingwen to follow you in, but unfortunately for you, Bolin and I are very much interested in seeing you off." Chuanli joked as he trailed behind the couple.
He was pulling one of the luggaes behind him just like Bolin.
Mr. Fang's brows arched as the corners of Zhang Liling's lips rose up.
"Dr. Li, if you want to be fed dog food, I won't stop you from tagging along."
A soft chuckled escaped Chuanli's lips as a smile that reached his eyes naturally turned up on his face.
"Is there any scene that I haven't witnessed in my life? You two can go ahead and do what you want, but don't forget that one of you is a public figure. If you would like to appear on the news in the next few minutes, I won't stop you." He teased.
Immediately, Mr. Fang turned his strict gaze to look at him. "Shut it."
"Dr. Li, you are thinking too much," Zhang Liling replied.
Bolin on the otherhand followed after then with a small smile playing on his lips. Because of his position, he couldn't joke like them.
Some minutes later, Mr. Fang was set to leave for work. He was already half an hour late and by the time he gets there, he would be almost an hour late.
Checking the time on his wristwatch, his gaze narrowed before putting his hand away. Then turning to glance at Zhang Liling, he annoyed.
"I have to leave now."
Instinctively, a slight frown appeared on her face as she immediately clasped his palm. "You can't stay for s few minutes more?" She asked her lips pushed forward in a pout.
Shaking his head, he refuted her request immediately, "No, I have meeting soon, and it is important for my presence to not be missed. Also, Dr. Li has a lot of work to do, inluding Bolin. You will have to release them as well."
"I don't need them, I want only you!" Zhang Liling retorted immediately with a visible from on her forehead as she the fingers clasping around his left hand tightened.
She didn't even bother to mince her words.
Taking the opportunity laid out before him, Chuanli clutched the material around his chest area as his lashes fluttered close.
His lips tugged downwards as straight lines appeared on his forehead.
"Miss Zhang, you are so mean. You just punctured my heart and hurt my feelings." He said in with an exaggerated painful tone.
Zhang Liling rolled her eyes at him and didn't even bother to feel pity on him.
"Dr. Li, it will be good if your heart hurts a lot so you will be eventually forced to leave."
"Pfftt... hahahaha..." Bolin chuckled out loud. He was unrestrained now, as he let his emotions out freely.
A smile that reached Mr. Fang's eyes instantly appeared on his face. 'Welldone!' he complimented in his head.
Chuanli on seeing how his plans failed woefully sighed and adjusted his shirt. "I can see how bad Miss Zhang perceives me."
Seeing him trying to act pitifulky, Zhang Liling scoffed.
"That's enough." Mr. Fang said, rising to his feet.
Zhang Liling hurriedly stood on seeing his long figure towering over her. "Mr. Fang," she called out softly as sadness became visible in her eyes.
Bolin and Chuanli rose to their feet as well as Fang Bingwen met her sad gaze head on.
"As soon as your flight is about to leave, text me. Also when you touch down in Paris, phone me." He said gently as his gaze softened.
He didn't want to give her any room to start crying and trying to hold him back.
But he was going to miss her though. Since she appeared, his heart has been gladdened, and the dull light in his heart has been replaced with a bright one.
Zhang Liling nodded in understanding as a soft sigh escaped her lips.
Seeing as it was time to leave, Chuanli and Bolin smiled and waved at her.
"Miss Zhang, see you soon. Don't forget, if you need anything or want to know something, don't hesitate to give me a call." Chuanli hinted as he winked at her.
Zhang Liling quickly caught unto what he meant and flashed him a smile of gratitude.
Mr. Fang and Bolin were oblivuto the secret conversation they both had before them.
"Have a safe flight, and my regards to your mother." Mr. Fang said to her before turning on his heels.
How could Zhang Liling let him go like that? She didn't know when last she would see him next.
'One more hug... I need to hug him, just one more time.'
And with that thought, she left her luggage and rushed forward.
"Mr. Fang!" She called out desperately.
Hearing the hurried steps rushing towards him and that familiar female voice, Mr. Fang and the duo, all paused in their steps and turned around.
The next thing they saw was the small figure running into Fang Bingwen's chest.
Instantly, a smile turned up in Chuanli and Bolin's face as they watched the couple. Retracting their gazes and exchanging glances, they turned on their heels to continue in their steps.
This was them silently giving the couple about to be separated by thousands of miles, a private time.