"Did you quarrel with your husband?" Shi Wenqian asked with raised brows.
"I can't come back here when I want because I'm not Zhang Liling?" Zhang Xiaoling retorted, giving her a raised brow.
She wasn't about to spill her problems to her. It's not like she had a way to help her.
The only thing she would be able to do, was to talk, and she didn't want to hear all of that.
"Don't twist my words. I am worried about you. I am your mother, you should talk to me if you are going through something."
"Mum, do I look like I'm going through something? If I can't even come here to get my thoughts together, I would rather lodge in a hotel next time." Zhang Xiaoling said as she adjusted her position on the bed and laid her back against the pillow.
Seeing that she wasn't ready to say anything, Shi Wenqian got tired and decided to state the main reason she wanted to talk to her in the first place
"When do you and Enlai plan to have a child? It's been almost a year, have you no plans?"
"I am not ready to have one." She replied without locking gazes with her.
It seems like child bearing talk had become the most asked about question since the last two days.
Zhang Xiaoling wished to have a break and escape from all of this.
Sensing the disinterest in her tone plus the fact that she didn't even bother to try to hide her feelings, a sigh escaped from her mother's lips.
"Xiaoling, it would be good if you think about having a child with Enlai soon. Your father will not tolerate you if your marriage is broken. You very well know the foundation of your marriage."
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I don't think you know men these days. Obviously, there would be other women outside, but if you want to maintain your position in the Tang family, you have to give birth your husband's heir."
Zhang Xiaoling would be as good as a goner if her marriage with the Tang family fell apart because that was the foundation to her stepfather's push in his political career.
Zhang Renshu would not spare her if she acted anyhow she wanted and broke the relationship between the two families.
This was the reason Shi Wenqian was trying to talk sense into her.
Not just that, if she wanted to be above a those women outside who were probably getting together with her husband, Enlai, then she had to bear him a child.
By all means, Shi Wenqian wanted her daughter to help her take the reins of the Tang family.
By becoming a good daughter-in-law and fulfilling her duties as a wife, she could easily have them in their good books.
Tang Enlai was the first son of his family, and he was the only one without a child.
That didn't sound right.
"I will think about it. Right now, I just want to rest. Can I?" Zhang Xiaoling asked.
Shi Wenqian was silent for a while before standing up to leave.
"Make sure to think about it. Your father hasn't given your brother Zhang Corp's reins. You can't do as you like. Wait till the power comes into Mingyu's hands, then you can do as you like."
Saying those last words, she disappeared from her sight.
'You only think about Mingyu.' Zhang Xiaoling thought to herself as she retracted her gaze from the door.
Was there no other way to help her without her brother becoming the President of Zhang Corp's?
One conclusion remained in her mind as her lashes fluttered close.
Her mother was indirectly using her to uplift her brother.
She wanted the power that would come from Zhang Mingyu's new position.
*******
"Find out the empty buildings around the most commercial streets in City S. It would be good if you can get two empty spaces in one." Fang Bingwen instructed while looking at the map in his tablet.
Bolin asked with his gaze in the tablet, "Boss, may I ask the kind of business that would be run there?"
He needed to know a bit about the business to enable him make a better choice on the building.
"It's for Liling's make-up brand. She wants a walk-in store and a warehouse. It would be best if they can be located in the same building." Mr. Fang revealed without reservation.
Bolin was his personal assistant, and he was almost like a family to him. Also, he knew about his relationship with Zhang Liling. There was nothing to hide from him.
"Miss Zhang is not coming to work here anymore?" Bolin asked as his gaze widened in surprise.
He had it at the back of his mind that Zhang Liling was going to come work at the company, probably after a long break to understand what it would take to work in Fang Group.
But who knew that she had another plans...
"She will be working for herself now. As soon as you get contact with the building agents, call my attention." Fang Bingwen instructed.
"Yes, Sir." Bolin nodded in understanding before leaving.
Fang Bingwen relaxed his back in the backrest of the chair as his thoughts wandered about.
He was currently in his office, was supposed to be all about his company work, but where he was thinking on behalf of Zhang Liling for her business.
Since he had agreed to help her, he was going to do it to the fullest.
*******
After breakfast the next morning, Zhang Liling followed her father to his study.
He didn't call her, but she decided to follow him there out of her own will to the irritation of her stepmother.
Shi Wenqian couldn't stand the father and daughter's reuniting and wished so badly for them to fall out soon.
Maybe she could make that happen instead of sitting idly and seething in rage all the time.
Zhang Liling's gaze darted around as soon as she stepped foot into her father's private work space.
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