Closing the door behind her, Zhang Liling giggled to herself.
There was a big smile plastered on her face as her eyes shone brightly.
She looked proud to have been able to steal a kiss she didn't plan from Mr. Fang, plus the shocked expression on his face.
Inside the study, there was still a hint of shock on Fang Bingwen's face as he could still feel
He was still surprised at her audacity to steal a kiss and vanish before he could even get over his shock and say anything to her.
She wasn't drunk unlike last time. Sometimes, he wondered what went through her remind.
Maybe, if he decides to get to know her, he would be able to tell what she is thinking at any moment but for now, he would have to manage.
Mr. Fang could clearly see the kind of person he was about to let into his life. She was one who didn't care about rules and she was very proactive in her actions.
He could see that clearly... the kind of person he would be dealing with.
*******
AT THE ZHANG MANSION...
Zhang Renshu had just gotten off the phone. Instead of calling Xiaoling to his study like last time, he left his study to meet her.
As he strode along the hallway, a smile flickered across his face like a hologram.
Everything he was working on was just falling into place except for Zhang Liling.
For now, he would have to make do with what he had, with the concept that his prodigal daughter would one day return to him.
As Zhang Renshu approached the large sitting area, he could hear the soft voices coming from Shi Wenqian and Zhang Mingyu.
Without much thought, he walked in proper.
In the large sitting area, there were more then six brown leather sofas.
Zhang Mingyu was sitting in a single sofa while Shi Wenqian sat alone in a two-sitter sofa.
They were both chatting over something that seemed amusing because he could see how the corner of their lips curled up, but immediately they saw him, the quietened down.
Zhang couldn't care less about what they were discussing. He immediate found a single sitter sofa and settled in.
"Where is Xiaoling?" He asked with his gaze looking toward Mingyu.
As soon as she heard that question, the subtle of smile on her face completely disappeared.
She could already guess what his intentions were, but she chose to remain calm.
Zhang Mingyu on the other hand was oblivious to the reason his father was asking for his sister, so he went ahead to respond. "She should probably be in her room."
"Go and call her," Zhang Renshu instructed and this was where Shi Wenqian interjected immediate.
Feigning a look of ignorance, she glanced at him and said, "Xiaoling is just returning from going to see a friend. Let her rest small."
Zhang Renshu's busy eyebrows wriggled like an ugly caterpillar. His mood was ruined immediately she decided to open her mouth and say something he wouldn't like.
"Am I calling for her to come out and do manual labor?" He queried with the corner of lips tugging downwards in slight irritation.
Without waiting to hear her response, he turned his gaze back to Mingyu and urged him to go immediately.
"Mingyu, tell Xiaoling it's urgent."
Zhang Mingyu was left with no choice but to go to Xiaoling's room to call her out.
In his absence, there was no exchange of words or gazes between his parents and he was surprised that an argument or a fight had not broken out between them by the time he returned with his sister.
"Dad you sent for me?" Zhang Xiaoling asked with a brief gaze on Zhang Renshu as she settled on the sofa next to Mingyu.
"Yes. I have spoken with my friend and a date has been arranged for you to meet his first son."
There and then, Zhang Xiaoling felt her heart skip a beat. Even though she had made up her mind to go with her stepfather's flow, she didn't expect it to be too soon.
'Oh... So this is what it's all about?' Zhang Mingyu thought while nodding his head in understanding.
"Who is this friend of yours you want my daughter to date?" Shi Wenqian asked with a narrowed gaze.
At least she wanted to know the family her daughter was entering into to study their backgrounds and see if it would be profitable otherwise, she would ruin his plans.
To her question, Zhang Renshu did her the honour of replying. At least she was interested in knowing the family he would be introducing to Xiaoling instead of trying to talk him out of it.
"Mr. Tan from the ministry of works."
'Mr. Tan? I will have to look into his family.' Shi Wenqian thought to herself.
Zhang Xiaoling who had been quiet, finally asked an important question that pleased her stepfather. "Dad, when am I meeting him?"
She wanted to at least know so she would do her homeowners and prepare herself before meeting with the person.
Zhang Renshu looked towards her way. "Tomorrow by 4 pm."
"What?! That's so soon!" Shi Wenqian said in shock.
How could he only be telling her about the date today of all times? Did he not know that things were not done that way?
Zhang Renshu understood the look of surprises and hurriedly explained, "I know it's too sudden, but the minister said it would be better if they met as soon as possible hence the reason the date is so close."
As silence took over the large sitting space, the three people fixed their gazes on him.
Shi Wenqian was more pissed about the whole situation than Xiiaoling was, but she couldn't even speak the way she wanted.
She was avoiding causing unnecessary drama now because if the great plans she has.
She wouldn't eyes to be on her and for fingers to be pointed at her direction by the time soemtjing happens.
To assure them, Zhang Renshu added, "Xiaoling, I will send you everything you need to know about Minister Tan's first son tonight."
Zhang Xiaoling did not say anything in response and only followed him with her gaze until he disappeared from their sight.
"I have not seen a selfish man like Zhang Renshu before!" Shi Wenqian spat with a fierce gaze at the spot he disappeared from.
The more anger swelled in her chest, the more it rose and fell.
Zhang Xiaoling turned her gaze to glance briefly at her before rising to her feet and leaving the sitting room.
Everyone suddenly disgusted her and she just wanted to be alone. Even her mother that was a pot calling the kettle black, she was the most selfish she has ever known in existence.
Seeing that she was about to leave, Shi Wenqian hurriedly called out to her, "Xiaoling, where are you going to?"
"Anywhere but here." Came her reply before she vanished in anger.
Shi Wenqian's gaze lingered at the entrance before a question from Mingyu drew her attention to him.
"Will my marriage be equally arranged?"
"Of course." She replied softly and then went on to assure him. "...but I will make it possible that you get married to the best candidate."
'Best candidate? Is this some kind of vanity fare?' Mingyu thought to himself.
Seeing how his brows knitted in a frown, Shi Wenqian said, "You can't marry the woman of your choice unless there will be a great benefit from her side, so mind who you fall in love with, otherwise, get ready for a heartbreak."
Shi Wenqian was so straight to the point because she didn't want to mince words with him.
She felt it would be better if she stated the consequences clearly for him, hence she said it the way it came to her heart.
At the end after mulling, Zhang Mingyu could only resign to his fate.
The same night, Zhang Renshu sent the information about Minister Tan's first son to Zhang Xiaoling.
Going through his profile on her phone, Zhang Xiaoling discovered that he seems to be of almost the same standard with Fang Bingwen in status, money and in influence.
She ticked those one as good points, and coming down to look, she could clearly see that he lost to a few points from Mr. Fang.
In terms of looks, Mr. Fang was more mature and more handsome than him, making her to release a deep sigh of regret.
Anyway, she wasn't going to conclude on the kind of personality her date for tomoueoukd have have until she met him.
As long as he had all the qualities she wanted for her own selfish plans, she wouldn't mind ending up with him even though there would be no love.
After going through his information, she out her phone away and climbed into her bed.
By tomorrow, she would know what to do with her current looks and what to say.
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