Shen Xinglan received Ji Zeming's phone call when he was about to get off work.
"Come and see me. Bring A Miao with you." Ji Zeming sounded like he was in a terrible mood. He was obviously furious.
"Some other day. I'm not free today," Shen Xinglan answered, all while wondering what the woman had done. It seemed like the effect was quite good.
Ji Zeming replied furiously, "Come tonight. If you don't come, I'll bring them over."
The phone call ended. Shen Xinglan raised an eyebrow. Naturally, he knew who Ji Zeming was referring to.
"Shen II."
"Boss?" Shen II pushed the door open and entered. He looked dumbfounded after seeing Shen Xinglan's expression.
The corner of Shen Xinglan's mouth was curved. Mirth filled his eyes as he asked, "What did that woman do today?"
"You mean Miss? I'll call Shen I now."
"Call him on the way home." Shen Xinglan stood up. "We're going home."
A Miao's courage in the face of Bai Yongwei and her daughter quelled after seeing Shen Xinglan returning earlier than usual. She smiled at him from the top of the stairs.
"Why... Why are you home so early?"
"Pfft!" Shen I burst into laughter. Even Shen II was smirking.
He and his boss had watched the CCTV footage on their way home and realized that A Miao's fighting power was at least five-starred. However, why did she turn into a foolish girl in front of the boss?
"I'm back to bring you to the Ji family house." Shen Xinglan sat on the sofa with a relaxed expression. "What's wrong... You have the guts to push them into the water but not to face them?"
A Miao swallowed. "Didn't I do as you wished?"
"Since when did I tell you to push them into the water?" Shen Xinglan smirked, showing a rare smile on his face.
"Seems like he's not angry?" A Miao thought. "Then this has become much easier to deal with!"
"Even if you didn't say that, Bai Yongwei was the one who framed me and Ji Xue was the one who first tried to push me into the water. I won't have the chance to push them otherwise."
A Miao sounded more self-righteous as she continued. "If I don't retaliate, don't tell me you want me to get pushed into the water?"
"You can repeat those words in front of that old man." Shen Xinglan stood up. "Let's go."
A Miao glanced at him before frantically running upstairs. "I'm not going!"
"Come down," Shen Xinglan said warningly. "Or I'll tie you up before we go."
"Dream on!" A Miao looked down on him from the first floor. "Hypocrite! You obviously hate them. Don't even dream of making me your scapegoat!"
Shen Xinglan sneered. "So what? Even if I'd love to see them drown, I'm not the one responsible for it. Of course, you should go since you're the main culprit."
"But..." He paused. "If you want me to rectify this matter, it's not like impossible."
A Miao glared at him impatiently. "No need. Let me get this straight today. Unless you kill me, don't dream of making me go to the Ji family house."
"Oh? Then I'll kill you," Shen Xinglan said serenely. He then gave Shen II a look.
The quick-witted Shen II took a step back and pointed at Shen I, who was enjoying the show.
"Since you've volunteered yourself, go and catch her for me."
"What?" When Shen I recovered his senses, he noticed that Shen I had escaped to the back without his knowledge. He immediately widened his eyes.
"You dare!" A Miao yelled. She ran inside her room and locked the door.
Moments later, when she heard no commotion outside, she opened her door ever so slightly to see what was going on.
"There's no one?" There wasn't even a shadow in the corridor.
A Miao cautiously walked out of her room and looked downstairs while leaning against the railing. She found no one inside the living room.
"Boss, I think it's better if I follow you in!"
Outside the main entrance of the Ji family house, Shen II looked ill at ease.
"No need." Shen Xinglan shot him a look of disdain. "I know very well what that woman is trying to do. She's just pushing the boat with the current. Otherwise... why would she expose her tail?"
When Shen Xinglan entered the house, Ji Xue was hugging Ji Zeming while sobbing. Beside her, a pale-faced Bai Yongwei was sipping from a cup of hot tea.
"Where's A Miao?" Ji Zeming asked furiously after seeing him. "Is she afraid to come after doing something wrong?"
Shen Xinglan sat down on the sofa opposite him and loosened his necktie. "She has university matters to attend to. I ordered someone to send her back."
"Insolent!" Ji Zeming slammed the table with his hand. "She's not coming to apologize after pushing your Auntie Bai and Xiaoxue into the swimming pool? She's insolent against her elders!"
Ji Xue snorted and then lamented with a face full of grievances, "All I did was say a few words about how thoughtless she was in getting photographed dating another man. But she flew into a rage and pushed me and Mom into the water."
"Dad, if such a woman marries into our family, she'll trample all over you one day!" Ji Xue said persistently. "Never mind me, but Mom is still her elder. How can she do that?"
Ji Zeming glared at Shen Xinglan when he saw how quiet the latter was. "Did you hear all that? Tell me how should we deal with this matter. I'm telling you, I don't agree with this marriage!"
"What does your disagreement have to do with me?" Shen Xinglan smiled but there was no mirth in his eyes.
"You're my son!" Ji Zeming bellowed. "If you still think of me as your dad, break up with that woman at once!"
Shen Xinglan glanced at Bai Yongwei. That woman looked like she was half dead yet was still as beautiful and alluring as ever. Noticing Shen Xinglan's eyes on her, she squeezed out a smile on her face.
"Xinglan, your father is merely angry. A Miao is still a child; we can slowly educate her. Don't blame her."
Ji Zeming embraced Bai Yongwei after hearing her words. "You're still speaking up for her. The doctor said you nearly contracted pneumonia."
"I believe A Miao didn't do it on purpose." Bai Yongwei coughed twice and looked as if she was about to faint any time. "The only issue is that we're supposed to fly over to meet Ji Yan tomorrow. I don't know when can we do that now."
Seeing how unwell she looked, Ji Zeming looked at Shen Xinglan hesitantly. His heart sank when he saw that his son looked absolutely unconcerned. He opened his mouth and said,
"Then let's have A Yan come back!"
Ji Xue pretentiously made a cry of surprise. "Then Elder Brother..."
"No need." Bai Yongwei looked at Ji Zeming emotionally. "Xinglan will be unhappy if A Yan starts working at the company."
Ji Zeming glared hatefully at Shen Xinglan. "They're both my sons! No one will dislike the other!"
"Zeming..." Bai Yongwei tried to advise him.
"Save it." Ji Zeming lifted his hand. "A Yan did a good job of managing the subsidiary company. It's time for him to return." He turned his head to look at Shen Xinglan.
"Prepare a position in the company for your younger brother." Ji Zeming added warningly, "Don't let others think that you brothers aren't on good terms."
Shen Xinglan sneered. "If you're that ill at ease, you can arrange the position yourself. I won't oppose any position you give him. You can even give him my CEO position."
"Insolent!" Ji Zeming nearly died of fury over this son of his. "Don't say things like that in the future. The company belongs to you. It belongs to you whether I'm dead or alive!"
Ji Zeming didn't detect the resentment that flitted across Bai Yongwei's pupils yet Shen Xinglan saw it as clear as day. In particular, Ji Xue beside her glared at him without hiding the envy she felt.
"Is that all?" Shen Xinglan stood up. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
Ji Zeming's anger would flare up even with another look at him. He waved his hand weakly.
Shen Xinglan turned around when he reached the door. "A Miao is my fiancee. You might not like her but don't disturb her in the future, and especially don't try to take advantage of her."
Bai Yongwei's heart squeezed after meeting Shen Xinglan's eyes.
"If I really retaliate..." His gaze swept Bai Yongwei's face. "You know the consequences."
"You're really an unfilial son!" Ji Zeming was trembling all over as he pointed at Shen Xinglan's back but said nothing even after a long time had passed.
Finally, he seemed to have recalled something and he lowered his head with a pained and guilty expression.
Over on the campus, A Miao had just entered the dormitory building when someone stopped her.
"A Miao, are you okay?" Bai Lu looked at her anxiously.
"What could happen to me?" A Miao retorted.
Bai Lu hemmed and hawed before saying, "I saw the news. They're writing nonsense without knowing what's going on. I can be your witness. Did President Shen blame you?"
"Okay." A Miao suddenly smiled. "I'll ask him to come to the campus. You can help prove my innocence."
Bai Lu stared blankly at her. When she recovered her senses, she happily nodded. "Okay! It's just a simple matter. I'm very happy to help you."
"Hehe." A Miao took out her phone and called Shen Xinglan's number.
"Hello." Over the phone, the man's voice was dull. She couldn't hear any emotion in his voice.
A Miao was grinning so hard that her cheeks were hurting. "My dear Xinglan, are you still angry?"
"Hiss..."
Shen II, who sat in the car with Shen Xinglan, took a sharp intake of breath. Even Shen Xinglan was provoked.
"A Miao?" he asked uncertainly.
"Xinglan, I told you it's a misunderstanding, didn't I? Don't be angry anymore!" A Miao's voice was saccharine. She even winked at Bai Lu. "I have a classmate who was with me yesterday. Come over and listen to what she has to say, won't you?"
Shen Xinglan didn't reply for a long time. A Miao's heart thumped wildly as she wondered if that man could tell that she was being deliberate.
"I'll be there right away."
"Tut, tut, tut..."
"He hung up? He'll be here right away?"
A Miao was stunned. She thought that Shen Xinglan would hang up mercilessly. Then, she would be able to tell Bai Lu that he trusted her and didn't need to listen to the latter's nonsense.
But what was this situation now?
"Rest assured, A Miao! I'll definitely be your witness later!" Bai Lu thought A Miao was worrying after seeing the latter staring blankly without saying a word. She suppressed the smugness she felt and tried to comfort A Miao.
"I believe President Shen will definitely listen to our explanation."
A Miao didn't even spare her a glance before running toward the university gate. She mustn't let Shen Xinglan come directly to the university. That would be too ostentatious.
"A Miao!" Bai Lu followed closely after her.
A Miao only stopped when she arrived at the junction where Shen I typically picked her up from.
"What are you doing?" Bai Lu asked, panting.
A Miao stood by the road and looked around. "Waiting for him."
Bai Lu forced a smile. She then stood in another side, not wanting to talk to her anymore. Thinking that this woman was trying to flee, she had run hard after the former. She was tired to death.
After about half an hour, Shen Xinglan's car slowly drew near.
"Miss." Shen II pushed the car door open and got down. "It's hot outside. Come in and talk!"
A Miao entered the car and met Shen Xinglan's eyes. She was surprised to find the man looking away from her. What was going on? They just met a short while ago but she could now use her gaze to force this lunatic to retreat?
"President Shen!"
Before she could think too deeply about this, Bai Lu who stood behind her also entered the car.