Just as Zhang Rujia was about to go to the kitchen, she was called to a halt.
Qin Mingzhu stood by, her heart unintentionally climbing to her throat. Why did she feel her father was somewhat terrifying?
As if he were about to lose his temper?
Qin Mingzhu immediately thought of Qin Mu. Could it be that little wretch had spoken ill of her to her father again?
"Who have you been associating with recently?"
The Mayor of Qin City looked up at her while asking, his gaze carrying a hint of indifference and authority.
"Who else could I be with? You know all my friends, and the rest are just clients."
"Oh? So Mrs. Yang is also one of your clients?"
He asked, his eyes not blinking as he stared at her, as if intending to gather all her little schemes and slowly dissect them.
"Mrs. Yang? Ah, you mean her. She said she wanted to introduce more clients to me, so we’ve indeed become quite close recently."
Zhang Rujia had already guessed he knew something before she spoke, so she didn’t hide the fact that they had coffee together today.
The Mayor of Qin City let out a cold snort, then stood up and went upstairs. As he passed by his daughter, he glanced at her: "You’d better behave yourself, or you’ll be sent out of the country just like your elder sister was back then."
Qin Mingzhu was so frightened that her back turned cold, and she stood rigidly in place, not daring to move until the Mayor of Qin City went upstairs, entered his room, and closed the door.
"Mom, does Dad know?"
Qin Mingzhu went to her mother’s side and took her hand as she asked.
"He probably doesn’t."
Zhang Rujia was also puzzled, but she didn’t think she had given anything away.
After all, the Mayor of Qin City had been very busy lately. Why would he have time to meddle in such trivial matters?
However, Mrs. Yang had also mentioned that her husband had been looking unwell these past few days, so Zhang Rujia decided to pick up her cellphone to call Mrs. Yang and have a talk with her again.
"Go call Jing Qing and tell her we need to keep a low profile for a while."
Qin Mingzhu nodded and agreed, then hurried back to her room to call Jing Qing.
Jing Qing was at home talking with the old master. After hearing Qin Mingzhu’s message, she wasn’t very pleased and placed her cellphone gently aside. The old master, noticing his granddaughter’s downcast expression, asked, "What’s wrong?"
"It’s Mingzhu. She told me to keep a low profile recently."
"Hmph, that girl is trying to boss you around now?"
The old master was not pleased.
"Not exactly. It seems to be because of Qin Mu. Uncle Qin got angry at her and Auntie."
Jing Qing replied cautiously, yet her gaze remained fixed on her grandfather.
After listening, the old master sighed deeply, "What is Qin Haiming thinking? He was the one who drove that girl away before, and now he wants to legitimize her?"
"Maybe. Uncle Qin seems to have always felt guilty about Qin Mu. Ever since she returned, it seems like he’s been taking special care of her."
"Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? I’ll call him tomorrow and invite him over. Anyway, I can’t attend your and your brother’s birthday banquet."
As the old master spoke the last part, he sounded somewhat displeased, to which Jing Qing immediately sat down next to him, "Grandpa, don’t be upset. You have to give us young people some private space, and besides, everyone won’t be able to enjoy themselves with you there."
"Hmph, only you, you cunning girl, can’t seem to hold onto Mu Yichen, can you?"
"His heart changes too quickly, and he even told me at lunch today..."
"He said he’s willing to bankrupt himself and go through fire and water for Qin Mu."
"That rascal really said that?"
The old master grew angry upon hearing this.
"Then let me call him and ask him myself. Is he trying to annoy me to death by challenging me for that girl’s sake?"
"Grandfather, please don’t."
"Yes, he doesn’t like being forced into doing things. Perhaps he’s been resisting marrying me all these years precisely because you all keep pushing him."
"What kind of talk is that?"
The old master didn’t understand, but Jing Qing slowly started to explain. In her view, Mu Yichen wouldn’t succumb to any threats.
Moreover, she had other plans for tomorrow night’s birthday banquet.