Seeing He Zinian’s emotions growing more agitated, Mother He raised an eyebrow, then reached out and rapped him hard on the back of his head, saying through gritted teeth, “What are you babbling about, you incorrigible brat? Don’t you know he’s your father?
He doesn’t know the truth of the matter yet, which is why he’s being lenient with Meng Lei. I know that in his heart, family is the most important thing. If he knew the truth, he would definitely adhere strictly to his principles in handling this.
What we need to discuss now is how to expose Meng Lei’s true colors. I’ve been thinking carefully, and I have a plan. If the three of us – mother and sons – cooperate, we can get the answers we want.”
Looking at Mother He’s mysterious demeanor, Chen Lishu chuckled softly, “Godmother, you just said Godfather is like a child, but I think you’re like a child too. But it’s good this way; the younger you are, the younger you look! You said you have a way to make Meng Lei reveal his true self. Stop playing coy and tell us quickly what it is!”
Hearing Chen Lishu complimenting her youth, Mother He grinned, becoming as animated as a child. It wasn’t until He Zinian could no longer stand it that he said, “Mom, Dad is waiting for you outside. You’re still stalling here, aren’t you afraid Dad will get angry and throw a tantrum?”
“Let him throw a tantrum if he wants!” Mother He wasn’t afraid of Old Master He; she was more worried that getting too angry with her age might affect her cardiovascular health. So, she put on a show of not wanting to deal with Old Master He, but her tone became much more cheerful. “Son, I think you’re quite handsome and you’re the CEO of He’s Group. You must be quite popular with girls, right?”
Facing Mother He’s sudden remark, He Zinian felt a chill down his spine, a bad premonition creeping into his heart. He had a feeling his mother was plotting something mischievous. He stammered, “Um, so Mom, what exactly do you want to do? I’m telling you, I already have someone I like. You can’t break up a loving couple!”
Mother He raised an eyebrow at He Zinian, her tone laced with calculation. “How could I possibly break up a loving couple? I just want to give Qin Yue a false impression. I’ll have the servants spread rumors that Meng Lei might be going on blind dates soon, creating a sense of urgency for Qin Yue, so she knows Meng Lei isn’t her destined partner.
And you, during this time, will be responsible for flirting a little with Qin Yue, shifting her attention to you. Women, you know, always want to find a safe haven. But she’s a smart woman; she should know that doing so comes with a price. We can then casually coax her, and she’ll reveal the truth!”
Hearing Mother He’s terrible idea, a wry smile appeared on He Zinian’s face. “Mom, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to invite a wolf into the house? I investigated this woman named Qin Yue earlier. I heard she used to like Gu Xingdong. Why don’t you let Gu Xingdong be the bait?
If Gu Xingdong could make a sacrifice of his appearance, I believe women will soften. You don’t need to resort to so many convoluted schemes; it’s too troublesome. Qin Yue will always reveal the truth in her quest to get closer to the person she likes!”
Unexpectedly, after hearing his suggestion, Mother He not only did not support it but also spat on the ground several times. “Look at your appearance, you look like a playboy. It’s most appropriate for you to do this!
If Gu Xingdong were to approach Qin Yue first, haven’t you heard the saying? ‘When something is unusual, there must be a demon.’ Such a strange situation would definitely make Meng Lei or Qin Yue notice something is wrong. Wouldn’t that be like startling the snake by beating the grass?
Remember when Mom was sick, and some brat said he would do anything I wanted, that he was good to me! Just a few hours have passed, and you, you brat, have completely forgotten what you said?”
Seeing Mother He’s eyes turn red, He Zinian felt his scalp tingle. Under immense pressure, he said, “Alright, alright, Mom, I promise, okay? Anyway, Chen Lishu is your biological daughter, and I’m your adopted son. Since you’ve put it this way, if I don’t agree, I’ll seem ungrateful!”
Seeing that He Zinian had agreed, Old Mrs. He couldn’t be bothered to act anymore. She elegantly reached up and wiped away the tears from her eyes, regaining her image as a noble lady. She said gracefully,
“It’s good that you’re sensible. Your father is still waiting for me outside, so I’m leaving. Behave yourself! I’ve noted everything you’ve done today. Don’t think you’ve done a good deed. You scared me then, and I will get revenge for this!”
With that, Mother He left the basement without looking back, leaving only He Zinian and Chen Lishu inside. They exchanged glances. Chen Lishu gave He Zinian a sympathetic look, then patted his shoulder, her actions conveying all she wanted to say.
“Little sister…”
Before He Zinian could speak, Chen Lishu nodded at him, acting as if she completely trusted him. “Second Brother, thank you for your hard work on this matter!”
After saying that, she also left the basement, leaving He Zinian slumped powerlessly in his chair, wondering if it was really necessary for him to come back. Could he still leave now?
----
Time flew by quickly. The next day, at the dining table, Qin Yue kept observing the atmosphere between the family members, finding that the usually harmonious family had become extremely cold.
After finishing their meal, Chen Lishu and the elder He couple left the dining table directly and returned to their respective rooms. Qin Yue watched Chen Lishu’s dispirited back, the corners of her mouth curling upwards, a hint of triumph flashing in her eyes.
As long as Chen Lishu lost the protection of the He family, Meng Lei would seize the opportunity to distribute his influence throughout every important unit of He’s Group. Once they gained momentum, they would surely ensure Chen Lishu had no place to be buried, preferably making her experience the feeling of a shattered family, just like her! Thinking of this, a ruthless glint flashed in Qin Yue’s eyes.
After eating, she unhurriedly got up from the table, arrogantly ordering the servants to clean up the mess on her stomach. She also threatened them not to reveal what had happened. She had to claim this merit for herself. Only by gaining the favor of the He family could she make Chen Lishu incredibly jealous. If Chen Lishu was unhappy, she would be happy!