"You are asking me what your son did? Let me tell you something you are being ignorant about. Get Mingyu to be serious with his studies if he even has the intention of landing a job in my Zhang Group, or else, he should better find a more sustainable table company to get into!"
Zhang Renshu was boiling mad while sparing a glance at the son he thought would be his disgrace.
Shi Wenqian looked angry as she asked, "What brought about his topic now, what did Mingyu do again?!"
She couldn't understand how everyone dispersed peacefully after dinner last night, and then he would wake up in the morning to start talking about these kind of thing.
Did someone speak to him or what?
"You are asking what brought about this topic? Fine! I will tell you! Apart from that fact that Mingyu is now consistent with his classes, what other changes has he made to prove that he would be a better leader in my Zhang Group?" Zhang Renshu asked.
Thinking about it, Shi Wenqian did not notice any note-worthy thing her son has done to get into his father's good books since the last time he was scolded.
Squeezing her fists under the table, she managed a smile and tried to placate Zhang Renshu.
"Honey I understand your worries, and I will take care of it! I will make sure Mingyu becomes responsible and fit to become your successor!"
As that last statement left her lips, Zhang Xiaoling paused for a moment while trying to use her cutlery, before going as if there was nothing to be concerned about.
Zhang Mingyu who was already angry and apprehensive as he did not know what entered his father that morning, seemed a little calm after his mother spoke on his behalf.
Zhang Renshu was not moved by her promise because this was not the first time she was doing so, with no aftermath at the end.
"Wenqian, have you seen how many opportunities that I have given to your son, but it looks like it is the reason he is so relaxed? Don't blame me for the next step I will take." Zhang Renshu said before leaving the dining room.
As soon as he disappeared from their view, Zhang Mingyu stated in annoyance, "What is wrong with Dad, did I do something wrong to him? I have been morning my business lately, did anyone make any force report to him?!"
Shi Wenqian shot him a glare, "Shut up!"
"Mum!" Zhang Mingyu called out grudgingly.
"Don't call me! I am also highly disappointed in you. I gave you time to buckle up, but it looks like you are already relaxing again. Did you hear what your father said? Who knows the kind of decision he wants to take!"
Zhang Mingyu hit his hands on the table and asked, "Mum, are you no longer going to support me?"
"I will still continue to support you, but when it comes to the last option which is to make you learn things the hard way, I will do it! You are the future successor of the Zhang Group, and no one can ever take that role away from you!"
Shi Wenqian said with determination rooted in her voice, then she added before Mingyu could smile about it. "This is what I can assure you. And whether you like it or not, you must be up and doing, you must come to a point where you become serious to lead your father's large conglomerate. But for that, you need to make sacrifices! Your sister would be there to help assist you soon."
Now shifting her gaze and attention to Zhang Xiaoling who has been quiet all this while, she said, "You too, work hard to attain a greater step in Zhang Group. You have to leave a way for your brother!"
Zhang Xiaoling did not say anything in response. She lost her appetite and abandoned her food.
"These days, we can no longer have breakfast in peace," She said after putting down her cutlery.
Shi Wenqian was unsure if she was referring to her, but she thought it must be toward Zhang Renshu and kept quiet about it.
"Just do as I have said and stop complaining. If we don't ace our games, then we would not be left with a lot of options to dominate soon!"
"I'm leaving!" Zhang Xiaoling said with a fake smile before picking up her bag and leaving their presence.
Zhang Mingyu was not in the mood to sit and finish his breakfast, so he got up to leave as well, but he was not too fast.
"Mingyu, put your car key on the table where I can see it!" Shi Wenqian ordered as she slowly fixed a streight gaze at him.
"Mum!" Zhang Mingyu called out while looking around. "I thought that has left already!"
"So what?!" Shi Wenqian asked with a not-so good expression on her face. "Do you think I'm cut out for eye-service? Mingyu, put your car key on the table and leave."
Mingyu wanted to protest, but saw no opportunity to do that based on his mother's current look. Left with no choice, he dipped his hand inside his trouser pockets and tool out the key to his sport car before putting it on the dining table.
"How do I go to school now that my car has been taken away from me?" He murmured.
"The same way you have been managing before I got that car for you, and when there is no driver to drive you to school." Shi Wenqian replied as she stretched her hand to reach out to the car key on the table.
Zhang Mingyu was so angry that he walked out from her presence immediately as he couldn't believe that he would be taking taxi to school until he graduates.
Shi Wenqian didn't care about his mood, as she was determined to push him to his limits this time around, if he leaves her only with that option.
'I can't let that girl join the Zhang company or she will take all the shine and be on the spotlight while my son, will be pushed to the side!'
Knowing fully well that Zhang Liling was far more intelligent than her son, Shi Wenqian would do anything in her power to stop her from joining the Zhang Group.
Now, she was beginning to think of a solution to that possibility.
On her way to the Zhang Group, Zhang Xiaoling was drumming her hands on the steering of her car. Her eyes were on the road, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Since everyone had their own plans, and was supporting only those they wanted to, she was going to stand up for herself and start acing her games just like her mother earlier stated.
She had a father who didn't put much thought to her simply because they were not biologically related, and a mother who only cared about the rising of her son into becoming Zhang Group's next leader.
With the circumstance she was in, she was beginning to brace up, in order to fend for herself.
*********************
While having her bath this morning, Shu Rushi continued to hiss from last night.
The fight with Zhang Liling at the departmental store left with her with scratch marks on her neck and hands, and she only noticed them when she was about having a shower the previous night.
She had taken off her clothes and gone to stand in front of the mirror in her washroom when she noticed those marks, and couldn't help cursing at Zhang Liling.
As water came down on her body through the shower head, she felt slight burning sensation from those scratch wounds, and it came again while having her bath that morning.
"Zhang Liling you witch!" Shu Rushi cursed out loud after hissing in pain.
Remembering the fight with Zhang Liling, and how the latter beat her in front of those shop attendants, she wanted nothing more than to shred her to pieces with her bare hands.
After dressing up for the day, she skipped breakfast and went straight to school, ignoring the calls of her parents who were worried about her.
*******************
At NYU...
Zhang Liling finished two classes in a roll at the same lecture theatre along with her course mates before she was finally able to move her butts.
"Finally! I almost thought my butts were going to become a part of the seat soon," Tungmei said with a frown while stretching her body immediately the professor left the room.
Zhang Liling was not in a better mood either. "I can't feel my butts. It's so numb that I need someone to rub it for me!"
Tungmei heard that and leaned in to say in a soft tone, "The do you want me to rub it for you in the presence of our course mates?!"
Zhang Liling knew she was teasing her and even added, "I would love that, but there is no place to lay comfortably and stick out my butts for you."
Tungmei chuckled hard and hit her on the arm gently, "You are truly very shameless. I pity the man that would want to get into a relationship with you."
"Why is that? What's wrong with me?!" Zhang Liling pushed with a slight frown.
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