Chapter 6: I Bought It for My Fiancée
Cheng Xingyang's face was pale as he found a seat and sat down, regretting last night's overindulgence.
Cheng Lang threw a file—filled with countless invoices for private expenses ranging from luxury cars and villas to furniture and carpets, and more—on the table. These were all from the directors who had misappropriated company funds for their private expenses.
"Explanation?" Cheng Lang raised his eyes and scanned the conference room. Finally, his gaze landed on Cheng Xingyang who turned even paler. "President Cheng, I…" He regretted his hedonism and intemperance with Xing Linlin last night, causing him to be late today and become the focus of Cheng Lang's attention. His heart beating like a drum, Cheng Xingyang gritted his teeth and said, "It was a moment of folly." He was the one who bought the villa in the suburbs for Xing Linlin with company funds.
Cheng Lang snorted as he tapped his fingers on the table. He asked casually, "Who did you buy it for?" Those words were like a slap to Cheng Xingyang's face, making his face burn. With so many members of the Cheng family in the conference room, he of course dared not admit that he had cheated on Xing Shu and bought a house for another woman.
Cheng Xingyang finally said, "I bought it for my fiancée."
Standing behind Cheng Xingyang, Xing Shu secretly rolled her eyes—she had been scapegoated again.
Cheng Lang looked up lackadaisically. "Is that so? Then consider it as my gift to my future niece-in-law." He leaned back and lowered his eyes. "There won't be a next time." Those words were not only meant for Cheng Xingyang. The atmosphere in the conference room became even heavier. Bearing in mind Cheng Lang's notoriety, no one dared to challenge him head-on.
The meeting ended two hours later, with the directors leaving with long faces. Xing Shu knew that Cheng Xingyang had never paid attention to her, so she silently moved to the back of the crowd. After the senior management left, she decisively closed the door and turned to walk towards Cheng Lang. "Young Uncle, you're so awesome."
Cheng Lang dusted a glance on Xing Shu's face and said softly, "Get out."
Xing Shu did not get angry. Cheng Lang's words against Cheng Xingyang just now were just to make an example out of him; and not to stand up for her. Nonetheless, she was very happy to see Cheng Xingyang suffer!
Just as Xing Shu was about to say a few more words to cajole Cheng Lang, the conference room door was pushed open. Cheng Xingyang stared darkly at her. "What are you still doing here?"
Xing Shu did not expect Cheng Xingyang to return. He had not cared about her in the past! Xing Shu pretended to gather the documents on the table—and bowed respectfully to Cheng Lang—before leaving the conference room.
Cheng Xingyang met Cheng Lang's gaze and said, "Young Uncle, Please forgive Xing Shu's imprudence."
Cheng Lang gave a faint acknowledgment and looked away.
After closing the door of the conference room, Cheng Xingyang grabbed Xing Shu's wrist. "You told on me? Xing Shu, you're the daughter of the Xing family after all. Are you that hard up?" The disgust in his eyes was evident, stabbing Xing Shu's heart like a sharp knife. Xing Shu looked at Cheng Xingyang with mirth. She did not know where he heard—and believed—the rumors that she was a promiscuous money-grubber. She surmised that he looked down on her—and felt that she had an impecunious vibe—because she had only joined the Xing family when she was 10 years old.
"Cheng Xingyang, we've known each other for 13 years. I don't think you've ever given me anything, right?" Xing Shu's words were meant to emphasize that she did not covet a single cent from Cheng Xingyang.
Cheng Xingyang was furious. "Do you think you're worthy of my gifts?! Xing Shu! Come on, your family is hankering after our Cheng family's power. Let me tell you, I don't like you at all; don't try any tricks. Be obedient and we can still part on good terms when I explain it to my family one day,
Xing Shu's wrist was hurting—an impending bruise, no doubt—from Cheng Xingyang's grip.
"Cheng Xingyang, you were the one who wanted this marriage back then. Now, you're also the one who wants to break off the engagement. What do you and your Cheng family take me for?" It was indeed Cheng Xingyang who had asked the Xing family for Xing Shu's hand when he was a teenager. The young Xing Shu was pretty and had good grades. The two of them were classmates. Spoiled brat that he was, Cheng Xingyang felt that only a girl like Xing Shu was worthy of him and insisted on getting engaged to Xing Shu. The Xing family readily agreed to this marriage. Xing Shu was not given the choice or right to refuse. As for the Cheng family, they probably thought that Cheng Xingyang did it in jest, so they did not refuse.