After dinner, Xu Ke and Wong Qifu took their parents back to the Felice Grand Hotel. They planned to see them off at the high-speed rail station the next day.

Xu Ke had intended to walk his parents upstairs, but they insisted he go back with Wong Qifu, telling him not to let a young woman go home by herself.

Only then did Xu Ke leave.

He could tell... his mom seemed to have been completely won over by Wong Qifu!

***

Wang Wu, the only one who hadn't been drinking, drove Xu Ke and Wong Qifu. The other car was left at the Felice for someone else to drive back to the Wang Family estate.

"Your parents are really easygoing!" Wong Qifu said, looking at Xu Ke with a hazy smile. She was clearly a little drunk.

"Yeah, they're... they're alright!" Xu Ke replied, touching his nose.

Wong Qifu looked pretty good when she was drunk!

Just then, however, Wong Qifu suddenly blurted out, "Is it true what your second uncle said? That when you were a kid, you gave a girl a love letter and her father chased you down the entire street?"

Xu Ke broke out in a cold sweat. "When did my second uncle say that?"

"While you were in the restroom."

Xu Ke was speechless.

Second Uncle, you've really done me dirty this time.

"So, what girl was it that caught your eye like that?" Although tipsy and her gaze wavering, the danger in Wong Qifu's tone hadn't diminished one bit.

Xu Ke took a deep breath. "The follies of youth, the follies of youth!"

"Fine, I'll let you off the hook this time," Wong Qifu laughed.

Xu Ke finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, Wong Qifu suddenly and unexpectedly rested her head on his shoulder.

She felt warm, soft, and fragrant against him.

Xu Ke froze. "Are you drunk?"

Was Wong Qifu such a lightweight?

With her eyes still closed, Wong Qifu retorted in annoyance, "What are you talking about, drunk? I'm tired. Let me rest here for a bit."

When your fiancée leans on you, shouldn't you hold her properly? How can Xu Ke be so dense?

Xu Ke fell silent, quietly adjusting his posture to let her rest more comfortably.

"How many months until our engagement banquet?" Wong Qifu murmured, her eyes still closed.

"A little over two months, I think," Xu Ke calculated.

"Oh..."

"Why bring that up all of a sudden?" Xu Ke asked, a little taken aback.

Still with her eyes closed, Wong Qifu said, "No reason. Two months just feels a bit long. I want to get engaged to you sooner."

Xu Ke paused for a moment. Looking at her, her eyes peacefully shut, a smile crept onto his lips.

***

After taking Wong Qifu to her room, Xu Ke hurried back to the urban village.

His final dose of medicine was there; he would be fully cured after taking it. Besides that, Jiang Yi was waiting for his "antidote."

***

By the time Xu Ke returned to the Wang Family estate, having dealt with both Jiang Yi and his own medicine in the urban village, Wong Qifu was just answering a call from her aunt, Wang Yu.

"You're holding a meeting tomorrow to punish Li Qing?" Wang Yu demanded coldly the moment the call connected.

Having drunk the sobering soup Mai Qing had prepared, Wong Qifu, who hadn't been that drunk to begin with, was now quite clear-headed. She replied, "It's not about punishment. It's about discussing how to handle the situation."

"He's your father's cousin and a founding contributor to the Wang Family Corporation!" Wang Yu scolded. "You're holding a meeting to deal with him? That's tantamount to humiliating him in public!

"Do you have any idea how many of the company's veterans you'll alienate with this?"

When she received word from Wong Liqing, she could hardly believe it. Wong Qifu had actually reprimanded Wong Liqing in front of so many people... and all for that good-for-nothing Xu Ke?

"So according to you, Aunt, Uncle Qing can get away with murder and arson without facing any consequences?" Wong Qifu's tone was laced with mockery.

"Wong Qifu, what is that supposed to mean?! I am your aunt!" Wang Yu was furious. The sarcasm in Wong Qifu's voice was unmistakable.

"Aunt, I am being respectful to you. But as a leader of this company, I have an obligation to regulate the conduct of every member of the Wang Family," Wong Qifu said coolly.

"Nonsense! What has Wong Liqing done to warrant your regulation? You're obviously just using your position to settle a personal score and stand up for that boy toy of yours!" Wang Yu thundered.

Wong Qifu's expression remained unchanged. "Aunt, if Uncle Qing were truly innocent, he wouldn't have gone to you to put pressure on me. He would simply wait to refute me at tomorrow's meeting. Don't you think so?"

Wang Yu was at a loss for words, her face turning ashen. "You..."

Wong Qifu was right. Wong Liqing knew he was in the wrong, which was precisely why he had asked her to apply pressure.

Wong Qifu continued, "Aunt, business is business, and private matters are private. The truth of the matter will be clear once we review the hotel's security footage tomorrow. I understand that none of you like Xu Ke. I don't expect you to approve of the person I've chosen. But even if it hadn't been Xu Ke today, I would not stand for any member of the Wang Family being targeted like this."

At this, Wang Yu was completely speechless.

Wong Qifu, however, simply stared out the window with a somber expression.

In truth, with her usual personality, Wong Qifu would have dealt with the issue on the spot. She was not one to delay until tomorrow the revenge she could have tonight. She had dealt with Wang Conghu just as swiftly and decisively. But Wong Liqing's position was truly special. To move against him, she had to call a meeting.

That Wang Yu would call to plead his case was entirely within her expectations.

After a moment of silence, Wang Yu finally spoke through gritted teeth. "But Qi Fu, you have to understand, this position your father gave you isn't secure. Wang Tianlu and his faction are dreaming of taking your seat! As long as you don't make any major mistakes and the corporation continues to prosper, they have no reason to oust you.

"However, if you punish Liqing and alienate the veteran executives who support you, you will be in real danger once their loyalty wavers! And is it worth all that, just to stand up for Xu Ke?"

Her tone had softened; she even stopped calling Xu Ke a boy toy and a good-for-nothing. She was now trying to persuade Wong Qifu by appealing to the bigger picture.

When Wong Qifu remained silent, Wang Yu continued, "Your aunt respects your choice in love. I'm sure anyone Mai Qing approves of must be outstanding. But for the sake of the greater good, for your career, letting your man suffer a little injustice is no big deal! If he wants to be your man, he must be prepared to swallow his pride for the sake of the family! So he was blocked at a door? What's the big deal? If it's that important, you can have him block Liqing next time!"

Finally, Wong Qifu spoke, her voice devoid of emotion. "Aunt, are you finished?"

Wang Yu's pupils shrank. "Qi Fu, what do you mean by that?"

"Don't be late for the meeting tomorrow," Wong Qifu stated flatly.

At that, Wang Yu finally exploded. "Wong Qifu, are you determined to have your own way?! Do you have any idea how many people are already dissatisfied that the Wang Family has made an enemy of Wong Ting, all because you insist on being with Xu Ke?! And now you want to go after Wong Liqing on top of that? Wong Qifu, have you lost your mind!"

Wong Qifu said nothing more and simply hung up.

***

BEEP.

On the other end of the line, Wang Yu, who hadn't finished speaking, stared at her phone in disbelief.

Wong Qifu actually hung up on her?

Her expression darkened completely.

That good-for-nothing freeloader, Xu Ke, must be driven out of the Wang Family! As long as he stays, the family will never know a day of peace!

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