Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 646: Chapter 620: Secretly Making a Small New Resolution

Yu Minglang had the phone crooked in his neck, his hands busy. His beloved Mei’s sweet voice came through the receiver.

The two were casually chatting about everyday things, with no particular subject in mind. This was Minglang’s favorite way to relax. No matter how busy or tired he was, hearing her voice always lifted his spirits.

”Fugui came over?”

”Yeah, but sadly, he was a step too late. Watching him makes me want to play a tune: ’Too bad it wasn’t you, who kept me company till the end~’. Qian looked through the balcony glass at Comrade Liao Fugui, who was engrossed in watching Liumei arrange the sandbox.

Appearance-wise, these two actually give off a bit of a complementary couple vibe, but unfortunately, her stepbrother was a step too late.

”Qian, you better not be having a fling while I’m away. Since when did things reignite with Fugui?” Yu Minglang’s brush paused, and he felt completely out of sorts.

”What are you talking about? What reignite?”

Qian didn’t even know Comrade Liao Fugui had a tiny crush on her at one point; Erha was too cunning and crushed the fresh little bud of love before it had a chance to sprout.

”Ahem, I mean, what do you mean by being late?” Cunning Yu Xiaoqiang wasn’t going to remind Qian that she used to be on someone’s mind.

”I was going to introduce Liumei to him, but when did Liumei get a boyfriend?”

”Oh, that matter... Now that you mention it, Qian, the organization has a tough task for you. Can you handle it?”

Yu Minglang had been so busy with wedding plans that he almost forgot the family task they’d entrusted him with.

”What task?”

”Liumei’s dad, who is my uncle, said whoever can dissuade Liumei from marrying would be rewarded with a car. I think it’s about time you change that car of yours...”

Qian found it both funny and exasperating.

”Yu Xiaoqiang, what are you doing, turning me into a matchmaker?”

”No, no, no, a matchmaker promotes marriages, we’re breaking up unsuitable ones, doing good deeds. As a brother, it’s not suitable for me to do this, but you’re the sister-in-law. Talk to her about it quietly; this silly girl doesn’t even understand what marriage is. She’s just trying to spite her family by randomly marrying someone. It’s not right.”

”What’s the situation exactly?”

”In simple terms, Liumei has issues with her family. Her parents are government employees. When she was conceived, the one-child policy was in place, so she, the second child, was registered under my fourth uncle’s household. Liumei’s health wasn’t good since childhood. Someone told her parents that she was a temple boy in her previous life, bringing bad luck to her parents and herself, and needed to be sent away to learn martial arts. So, they sent her to the mountains, and she’s been holding a grudge against her family since then. Whatever they want her to do, she won’t do. Recently, she suddenly announced she was getting married, nearly driving my uncle insane.”

”Your uncle’s family is quite something, government workers yet superstitious? Sending off a little child like that?”

”I don’t know all the details. Anyway, Liumei insists on marrying someone she barely knows. My uncle and aunt are at their wits’ end. You should give this child some knowledge about marriage and family.”

”Oh, you planned this all along, didn’t you? Only told me now that I have feelings for Liumei. You’re really banking on my not refusing, huh?”

Yu Minglang gave a dry laugh, ”I’m just looking at the big picture here. If you get along with her, help me out. If not, I’ll think of something else. I can’t break down our wall to mend someone else’s house. Keeping my wife happy comes first, then we discuss other matters.”

Qian huffed, ”You really know how to talk—what are you doing? I hear strange noises on your end.”

Sounded like something was being rubbed?

”Oh, just a little task. Qian, what color do you like?”

”Anything’s fine. Lately, I’ve been into green.” Qian didn’t think much of it, she just felt green was refreshing in the heat.

Yu Minglang glanced at the paint bucket, showing a thoughtful expression. Green, eh...

”What are you up to?”

”Nothing~ I’ll surprise you in a few days.”

”Hehe...” Qian’s laugh was forced. Whenever Xiaoqiang mentioned surprises, they usually turned out to be shocks.

”By the way, Xiaoqiang, let me ask you a legal question. If I suspect a foster father of physically abusing a foster daughter, without catching him in the act, can he be convicted?”

”Is the girl over 14?”

”Yes.”

”When was the last alleged abuse?”

”It’s just a suspicion right now, no evidence, and not sure if it’s molestation or something worse. The last instance was probably just a few days ago.”

Qian was just speculating, but since Fugui mentioned it, her suspicions grew.

The foster father definitely had issues, but it’s unclear to what extent.

”Can the girl come forward to testify?”

”The girl’s emotionally unstable and can’t bring it up yet—Xiaoqiang, from a legal standpoint, it’s hard to prosecute, right?”

”It’s tricky. If the report comes long after the fact and evidence is insufficient, one side claims it was consensual—if over 14 and consensual, things get murky. Without strong evidence, it’s hard for judicial authorities to act. Qian, you encountered such a case?”

”It seems if the law doesn’t work, it has to be handled privately,” Qian muttered to herself.

”What did you say?” Xiaoqiang’s ears were sharp.

”Ahem, I said I’m a lady of status, always mindful of my actions, and wouldn’t go beyond the law, rest assured!”

Qian added mentally that if it couldn’t be proven, it wasn’t her problem.

”I’m hanging up now.”

”No way! Something’s missing!”

”Umm... sleep early?” Qian wasn’t sure what he wanted.

”No way! What do you call me?” His tone was like a kid not getting his candy.

”Xiaoqiang.”

”No, not right!”

”Oh, Xiaoqiang! Xiaoqiangzi? Little Steel Egg~”

It almost made him furious. Yu Minglang had marriage rings in his pocket, ready to take her to get a license. He just wanted to experience the feeling of being official, but why was it so hard to hear her sweetly call him ”husband”?

”Oh, you don’t like any of those, got it!”

Yu Minglang perked up, holding his breath, waiting for that joyous, exhilarating feeling to fill his heart.

”Hus~”

Yes, yes, that’s it! The little guy in Xiaoqiang’s heart started setting off fireworks, here it comes~

”Hus~banjo! Good night!” Her prank succeeded, and it sounded as if he could hear someone’s heart shattering. The little devil in her heart stood akimbo, laughing wildly, hahaha!

Boom! The happy little fireworks turned into little bombs, blasting Xiaoqiang’s ambition to become official into a pitch-black mess, pieces strewn everywhere.

Trying to speak to her again, the ruthless woman had hung up, leaving only the beeping sound on the other end.

”This little rascal, just see if I don’t get even with you next time we meet!” Yu Minglang mumbled to himself, putting his phone in his pocket, talking big about something that was never going to happen.

Qian not tearing into him was already good enough; he thinks he can handle Qian...just dreaming.