The tense atmosphere made Leah, the only one who hadn’t been drinking, darken her face. The reason she appreciated Hua Zhao wasn’t just because of the variety show, but also because she had watched Hua Zhao work in the studio several times. Hua Zhao’s conditions were excellent. She was a very professional model. More importantly, she was able to give up her overseas work and choose to develop in China.
Leah saw the shadow of her younger self in Hua Zhao. Hua Zhao was straightforward, direct. Once, a photographer was late. Dozens of people in the studio waited nearly two hours. Because the photographer was high-profile, no one dared complain. Hua Zhao almost got into a fight with him. She had to re-examine her new friend she’d just met today.
“Fang Qin, is what Hua Zhao said true?”
“You really abandoned your child?”
Fang Qin waved her hand, smiling awkwardly. “No such thing. I’m not the Fang Qin Miss Hua mentioned.”
She was really good at playing innocent. Hua Zhao’s fists clenched. Thinking of how she first saw Qiqi, she wished she could tear apart her disguise. The reason Fang Qin said this was because she had prepared long ago. She and Pei Ye had only moved to Beicheng in the past two years. Pei Ye’s career in Beicheng had just started when he died in a car accident. After it happened, she immediately sent Pei Xu to the full-time kindergarten.
Before Pei Yi returned to China, the only people in Beicheng who knew she had been married and had a child were the Cen family. And the Cen family had always looked down on her status as a second marriage. They wouldn’t publicize it. She and Cen Zheping hadn’t even held a wedding. Hua Zhao wanted to say more, but saw the woman before her eyes redden and immediately cry.
Fuck.
What the hell are you crying for? I haven’t even lifted a finger yet!
Wang Shilan controlled Hua Zhao’s hand, which was about to swing up the next second. Her voice was cold. “What is Miss Fang crying about? Anyone would think we did something to you.”
The alcohol in her body seemed to ignite. Hua Zhao really wanted to use her drunkenness to beat Fang Qin and vent.
Fang Qin: “Sorry, I have a bit of a tear incontinence condition.”
Hua Zhao scoffed. “Stop pretending to be weak in front of me. Put away this pathetic act.”
Fang Qin sniffled. “Miss Hua, why are you so, so crude?”
“You fucking… mmph.”
Wang Shilan covered Hua Zhao’s mouth, not letting her say anything more crude.
Leah only thought for a moment before asking Fang Qin to leave.
“Fang Qin, you said you have a child. Is it a son or a daughter?” Leah suddenly asked as she walked her to the door.
Fang Qin said, “A son. My son’s name is Cen Yuankai.”
The name was familiar. It was the brat from the variety show. Leah remembered Cen Yuankai’s annoying behavior on the show, and her favorability toward Fang Qin dropped. She had seen the edited live stream video. Leah had a well-behaved granddaughter, as cute and good as Su Youli in the video. She had liked Su Youli when watching the show and was extremely worried when she saw him pushed to the ground by the brat.
“What kind of parents raise what kind of child.” The saying suddenly came to Leah’s mind.
Fang Qin clearly felt Leah’s attitude suddenly cool. She associated it with Cen Yuankai.
She immediately distanced herself. “Actually, I’m not Kai Kai’s biological mother. His father and I only got married this year.”
“I’ve told my husband many times that their education of Kai Kai has serious problems. But the child is already five. Correcting it isn’t easy. I’ve been trying…”
Leah was no longer interested in what she was saying. She didn’t waste more time, said a couple of polite words, and turned to leave. After returning home, Fang Qin sent Leah many messages. Leah inexplicably felt annoyed and deleted her. She had never liked complicated people. The party was nearing its end. When Leah returned, Hua Zhao, who had seemed drunk, had clear eyes. There was no trace of drunkenness.
“Sister Leah, I’m sorry.”
No matter what, this was Leah’s party. She shouldn’t have argued with Fang Qin here. Leah waved her hand, telling her to sit down. The sobering drinks on the table were almost gone. It seemed they had worked.
Hua Zhao smiled sheepishly. “Actually, I have a good tolerance. I was faking just now.”
Who told that woman, Fang Qin, to act weak and gain sympathy in front of her? As if she was the only one who could act. Leah didn’t blame her. Instead, she laughed. Wang Shilan, who had gone to get food, came over and put two small plates on the table. After drinking all night and confronting Fang Qin, Hua Zhao was indeed a bit hungry. She picked up a fork, stabbed a piece of steak, and handed a small cake to Leah.
The three ate and talked about Fang Qin. When Leah heard Fang Qin was Qiqi’s biological mother, she was also surprised. After all, Fang Qin had seemed very calm just now, not like she was lying. Hua Zhao hated Fang Qin to the bone. Whenever she saw her, she thought of the seven months Qiqi suffered in the full-time kindergarten. When talking about Fang Qin, she inevitably got emotional, more and more agitated.
Wang Shilan patted her back and said to Leah: “Sister Leah, I’ll take Hua Zhao home to rest first.”
Leah personally saw them to the parking lot and arranged a driver to drive them.
“Go home and rest early. Don’t think too much, okay?” Leah bent down by the window.
Hua Zhao nodded. “Sorry to trouble you today, Sister Leah.”
Leah smiled. “What trouble? I’m old. I don’t judge people as well as I used to. I should thank you.”
She was naturally referring to Fang Qin.
Hua Zhao said, “Eh.” “Old? When we first met, I thought you were younger than me.”
Leah was amused by her exaggeration. After saying goodbye, she told the driver to drive slowly. After Hua Zhao and the others left, Leah returned to the reception hall and happened to see the woman who had lent Fang Qin her shoes.
She invited the woman into a private room for tea and pretended to ask casually, “Has Mrs. Cheng known Fang Qin for a long time?”
Mrs. Cheng sipped her tea. “My husband and her husband are college classmates. We’ve had a few meals together, so we know each other.”
Leah smiled. “Today’s party. Fang Qin doesn’t seem to be on my invitation list.”
Mrs. Cheng paused. She thought, oh no, Leah was here to question her. The upper-class ladies’ circle was the most exclusive. Without the host’s consent, you couldn’t bring someone not on the list. Seeing Fang Qin and Leah so friendly just now, she thought Leah wouldn’t pursue it. Concealment would only bring the other’s disdain. If she didn’t tell the truth, next time she herself would be kicked off the list.
“Sister Leah, I’m not close to Fang Qin at all. She pesters me every day, asking me to bring her to see the world. My husband has a partnership with the Cen family. I, I had no choice. I couldn’t not give the Cen family face.”
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Chasingxiaoge On VAIP Chapter 5