His Beloved Treasure

Qin Haiming’s voice was very dull; Qin Mingzhu’s heart tightened unconsciously, and she immediately lowered her gaze, scared until her throat felt uncomfortable.

”What does this have to do with me?”

Qin Mingzhu asked in a very low voice.

”If it doesn’t, that’s for the best. If this matter is related to you...”

Qin Haiming stared at his precious daughter, hoping Qin Mingzhu didn’t have the guts.

Zhang Rujia also looked towards her daughter, a slight frown forming between her brows; when she lowered her eyelashes, her eyes already bore a complex expression.

Later, Zhang Rujia took Qin Mingzhu to her room and quietly asked her while Qin Haiming was on the phone: Is this matter really related to you?

”No!”

Qin Mingzhu shook her head vigorously, her voice light but somewhat impatient.

”Really not?”

Zhang Rujia asked again for confirmation.

”No means no, what’s with this ’really’ or ’not’? Don’t you trust your own daughter?”

Qin Mingzhu pushed away the hand Zhang Rujia was holding, turned her back to avoid eye contact, and her temper rose significantly.

”If it’s not, then it’s for the best. If there is..., Mingzhu, you had better not hide anything from mom. Mom won’t harm you; she’ll even think of a way to help you, if you...”

”Oh, isn’t my swearing to heaven enough?”

Qin Mingzhu’s eyes rolled, and then she turned back to her mother and earnestly raised her hand to swear.

Although Zhang Rujia didn’t specify what would happen, the manner of it made her trust her daughter for the moment.

”It’s good if there’s nothing. Why swear an oath? That woman is already dead; there’s really no need to hold any grudges against her anymore; otherwise, it truly would make things unpleasant for us. Just look at your father tonight; you can tell he feels guilty about that woman. He’s haunted by guilt...”

Thinking about Qin Haiming’s gloominess all night made Zhang Rujia feel somewhat resentful inside.

She truly didn’t want to hold a grudge against someone who was already dead. She only wanted to maintain her current status.

The events of those years, perhaps Qin Haiming only thought he had drunk a little too much. In truth, it wasn’t so.

What happened in the past was over; the woman’s death had indeed left a shadow in Qin Haiming’s heart. All these years she has been taking care of him cautiously and compliantly, striving to make him forget that woman.

But once Qin Mu returned...

She thought everything would be within her control, but Qin Mu’s appearance somehow made Qin Haiming waver. He was filled with guilt: guilt towards his deceased wife, guilt towards his eldest daughter; he seemed ready to forget his wife and children at home.

If the matter of the tombstone was related to Qin Mingzhu, then without a doubt, it would be the end of the road for both mother and daughter.

Qin Mingzhu, seeing Zhang Rujia’s nervousness, remained silent. She was, of course, aware of her father’s guilt towards Qin Mu and even allowed that girl to move in. Just the thought of a room in her house reserved for Qin Mu made Qin Mingzhu’s teeth itch with hatred.

Zhang Rujia went out again later, watching as Qin Haiming sat alone on the sofa, smoking and watching the Spring Festival Gala. She sat next to him, ”Your health isn’t good; smoke less.”

Qin Haiming turned his head to look at Zhang Rujia, then leaned over to place the cigarette in the ashtray on the table and snuffed it out.

Zhang Rujia was touched to see that he still listened to her and then suggested, ”When was Qin Mu’s mother’s tombstone damaged?”

”Probably in the morning, or last night,”

Qin Haiming spoke, lowering his head.

”These people are outrageous. You must investigate thoroughly and give Qin Mu’s mother an explanation.”

Zhang Rujia lightly touched his arm as she spoke, softening her tone.

”Rujia, what I fear most now is that Mingzhu is involved in this. Do you understand?”

”She won’t be; Mingzhu swore to me, she said it definitely wasn’t her.”

Zhang Rujia shook her head and explained again to him.

Qin Haiming nodded and slightly drew Zhang Rujia into his embrace.

He always felt unhappy before and after the New Year, and now this incident made him even more unhappy.

But Zhang Rujia’s comforting was not in vain. Zhang Rujia sighed softly, ”After the New Year, shall we go repair her grave together?”

”No need, Mumu wouldn’t want you to intervene. I’m already content with what you’ve done,”

Qin Haiming lowered his gaze, his mood visibly improved compared to before.

Qin Mingzhu, however, came down with a fever on the first day of the New Year, but because she had promised to hang out with her classmates, she sneaked out in the afternoon while Qin Haiming and Zhang Rujia were entertaining visiting guests.

The AM on the first day of the New Year was still crowded.

Qin Mu, Mu Qingxin, and Helian Hao made plans to meet here for tea; Helian Hao touched her belly and sighed, ”Ah, it just seems I’m not destined for children; otherwise, I should be the one with the bulging belly by now.”