"That's not really my plans. I don't mind if he comes, hence the reason I will still invite him."
Zhang Liling cleared her throat, looking away toward another direction.
"Then why are you sending the invite late? You don't want him to be mad at you for not inviting him at all?" Fang Bingwen probed, trying to understand her reasoning.
Maybe she was scared of her father scolding her for not sending him nay invitation to her launch at all since she didn't want to invite him in the first place, so she had no choice but to do things this way.
"That's not it either." Looking back at him, Zhang Liling decided to make things clear.
"Actually, you are kind of right. I didn't want to invite him in the first place, but I changed my mind about it. But the reason I'm sending him the invitation late, is because I want to catch my enemies unaware. Imagine if Shi Wenqian gets a hold of this news..." She expressed with a bitter taste at the tip of her tongue.
She couldn't seem to hide her disdain for her stepmother.
"What are you afraid when she will still learn of the news either way?" Mr. Fang asked, spreading his palms out to her.
"I am not afraid of her finding out about my brand since it will spread in the news on the day of the launch." Zhang Liling confessed.
Taking a breather, she continued to lay out her concerns.
"I can handle anything she does after my brand has officially entered the market, but what I won't tolerate, is her, trying to sabotage me even before that."
"I see..." Mr. Fang trailed off while gazing at her, as silence followed.
A few moments later, her asked as his eyes squinted at her. "Is your stepmother your only enemy?"
Surely Shi Wenqian couldn't be her only enemy. If she was so worked up because of one person, and diverted all her attention to her, then what about the others?
That was his concern.
"Of course she is not. I still have my step siblings. Wait..." Zhang Liling suddenly stopped as she remembered something.
A subtle of smile appeared on her face. "I feel like laughing out loud now."
"What is it?"
"My situation is something else. My family is so messed up. Neither Zhang Xiulan nor Zhang Mingyu is related to the Zhang family by blood."
"Why did you remember it now? Why are you still surprised?" Mr. Fang asked as he picked up his ballpoint pen from his desk.
"I still can't get over this piece of shitty reality. Aww! My father is going to be so mad," She replied through gritted teeth while squeezing her fingers.
Fang Bingwen shook his head. Drumming the pen on his desk in a slow rhythm, he replied, "True. This information is a big deal, and it's hard to digest. I pray he doesn't end up in the hospital due to a heart attack."
He could already guess the state Zhang Renshu would slip into when he learns about this huge deal.
Imagine training a child that does not belong to you without your knowledge, giving him the care, treatment, guidance and finances...
Fang Bingwen had no doubt that he was capable of burning Shi Wenqian alive for having being filled by her for all these years.
Time that he would have used to start another family and train another successor, he wasted on it on a fake family.
"He might. His anger issues that baffles me." Recalling all his outbursts, Zhang Liling shuddered and quickly waved the topic away.
"Mr. Fang, I have to leave now. I am very hungry."
"Have you checked in with the caterer for the event?" He inquired.
"Yes, that part is settled. The order has been settled and a part payment has been made. Glint will complete the rest after the event on the same day."
"That's good. Don't forget to follow everyone up," he reminded as he quickly got to his feet, his eyes searching for something on his desk.
Seeing him standing up with his gaze flying all over his desk, Zhang Liling got to her feet instinctively.
"What are you looking for?" She asked.
"My car key." Mr. Fang replied without looking at her as he pulled open the first drawer.
"Where are you going to?"
"Let me drop you off." He said, finally fixing his gaze on her as he picked up his car key.
"No, there is no need," she said, waving her hands about. "I don't want to disrupt your work. Since I have a break from tomorrow, come and stay over at my place, starting from tonight."
Instead of him leaving his work half-way just to drop her off, she would prefer if he came to stay at her place for a few days, starting from the evening.
"No way." Fang Bingwen refused her immediately without even taking a moment to think about it.
"Why?"
Without wasting time, he started to explain things to her. "You said your mother is coming in two days."
"Yes..." Zhang Liling replied with creased brows. She was clearly confused at what he was getting at.
"She is going to find out that a man lived in her daughter's apartment. I will definitely leave some scent behind in the least."
Releasing a deep breath, he added,
"I don't want her to think that something is happening when nothing is happening. I don't want to leave her with that impression."
Instantly, a smile appeared at the corner of Zhang Liling's lips. "I see, you want to maintain the image of a good son-in-law. I'm glad seeing you making an effort to impress my mother."
"Bravo!" she added as she gave him two thumbs up.
"I will drop you already." Fang Bingwen said as he walked out from behind his desk to walk toward her, but she rejected his suggestion.
"Why don't we do it this way. I will come over to your place to stay for two days and move back when my mum arrives?"
"No. I will take you on long dates starting from tomorrow," He negotiated.
"Fine. I don't have the energy to continue making demands. I will call you as soon as I get home." Zhang Liling said as she lifted the box from the floor.
Taking a step forward, she reached him. Then without warning, she leaned in and brushed her lips on his cheek.
"Goodbye."
"Bye," Fang Bingwen replied as he watched her leave his office.
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