Chapter 128: Time of Arrival

But Liang Suxuan’s words also made Qin Miaoyu realize something: the Liang household had written her off. In other words, to the Liangs, neither Liang Suxuan, whom they had raised for over twenty years, nor this unraised but biological daughter of theirs meant anything.

Qin Miaoyu felt relieved that she had never once harbored expectations of the Liang family. To have even a second brother who cared for her had become a rare blessing.
If she had once returned to the Liangs hoping to find true family ties, she might already have been used up completely.

“Enough. None of this has anything to do with me. If this is why you came, then please leave. I don’t have time to argue over your pointless talk.”

Qin Miaoyu checked the time. It was already eleven o’clock, and her plane would take off at 12:57. If she left now, she wouldn’t be in a rush.
“Qin Miaoyu, I only asked you to say a few words to my second brother as a favor. I’m not asking you to do nothing for nothing.”

Qin Miaoyu cut her off. “I’m not in the mood to listen to all this. If you have something, find my brother yourself or call him. I’m leaving for Jingcheng soon, and there’s a flight. Don’t waste my time. No farewell.”

She checked her phone once more.
At the mention of Jingcheng, Liang Suxuan suddenly remembered Qin Miaoyu’s husband, Lu Qian’an.
Even now she had never once told anyone directly that Qin Miaoyu’s husband was Lu Qian’an, the renowned figure of Jingcheng.
From the start she had been wary because of matters of blood and lineage; if the Liangs knew her husband’s identity, they would likely favor Qin Miaoyu even more. So she never volunteered the truth, and since everyone else simply assumed he was an ordinary man, nobody ever asked.

If Qin Miaoyu had returned to Jingcheng earlier, Liang Suxuan thought, she wouldn’t have had to watch her second brother dote on Qin Miaoyu so much, and there wouldn’t have been the Liang family banquet where she wasn’t invited at all.

With that in mind, Liang Suxuan did not delay Qin Miaoyu’s departure. She grabbed her bag and left.

Outside the villa, she got into Su Yikun’s car. Su Yikun was already in the driver’s seat, and, seeing her in good spirits, asked, “Has everything been arranged?”

“Heard what you said,” Liang Suxuan replied lightly. “Miaoyu is short on time with her flight back to Jingcheng, so I’m leaving on my own.”

“Back to Jingcheng? Why so early?” Su Yikun asked urgently.

She gave him a skeptical glance. “Why this much concern for Qin Miaoyu’s movements? Why do you keep thinking of her so much?”

Years ago, Su Yikun had once considered marrying Qin Miaoyu—Liang Suxuan learned this only after marrying into the Su family.
Because Mother Su liked to give her endless chores, and whenever she failed at something, Mother Su would compare her to women he had once had in mind. Once, she even brought up Qin Miaoyu:
“I wanted to find Yikun a gentle, capable wife. That Qin Miaoyu he once liked was quite a good match; everyone said she was perfect in every way. Why can’t you be like her?”
She had gone on like that, and Liang Suxuan no longer remembered what followed, only that Mother Su said Su Yikun once wanted to marry Qin Miaoyu and that Qin Miaoyu was gentle and virtuous.
Yet Liang Suxuan had no interest in Su Yikun, and what upset her most was hearing someone praise Qin Miaoyu.

When Su Yikun heard her mention it, he looked visibly impatient. Years ago he truly had entertained the idea of marrying Qin Miaoyu, but Qin’s family had high standards, and Qin Miaoyu’s standards were even higher. She had refused him outright.
So he had no desire for anyone to bring it up again. In his earlier meetings with her, he had pretended they were strangers.

“Fine, why dig up something from years ago?” he said. “I was only curious because you said she was in a hurry to return to Jingcheng. When we dined at the Liangs, didn’t she say she had over a week off? How can she be leaving so soon now?”

At that mention, Liang Suxuan remembered it too. Qin Miaoyu had indeed said she would stay for more than a week, and by her own timeline, she should have returned to Jingcheng in two or three days at least.
“Maybe she has business at the studio she opened in Jingcheng,” Liang Suxuan said. “So what? Why does her sudden return concern you? Just take me to the mall. I have a shopping plan with friends.”

Thinking of her extravagant spending, Su Yikun frowned. “Why is it always shopping, shopping—can’t you do something practical?”

Liang Suxuan gave a sharp laugh. “Do you think I’m the one avoiding practical work? Ask your mother!”

The two exchanged resentful words and parted in bad temper. Liang Suxuan got out and called a friend to pick her up.

Qin Miaoyu had planned to take what she needed and head straight to the airport, but when she saw that Liang Suxuan’s car had still not moved, she waited in the living room for a while, deciding to leave a bit later.

In his office, Lu Qian’an was listening to his assistant’s report on E Group.
“The team led by Louis and another senior executive has come to China,” the assistant said. “They are expected to stay for about a month and launch targeted investment projects. The Liang family companies were originally outside E Group’s investment scope; those were added only later.”

“When are they arriving at South City Airport?” Lu Qian’an asked.

“Director Lu, they are expected to land in South City tomorrow,” the assistant replied.

The assistant spoke of arrival tomorrow, but Lu Qian’an, knowing Louis well, understood that Louis would almost certainly come to South City earlier.
If the team lands tomorrow, Louis may very well already be in South City.
And perhaps the Liang family had already made contact with Louis’s side.

Lu Qian’an hoped it was not so. The thought of Qin Miaoyu possibly being drawn into danger made him feel as if he could barely breathe.
He picked up his phone and called Qin Miaoyu.

It rang twice before she answered. Her voice came through, soft and gentle as always.
His restless feelings seemed to settle at once; a smile curved his lips.
“Have you left yet?”

“No. Liang Suxuan came over and wanted me to say something to her second brother. It delayed me a bit.”

“Have you arranged transport, or should I ask my friend who lives near Dongshan Villa to send someone to take you partway?”

“Don’t, please don’t. I’m just catching a flight; it’s not that urgent. No need to trouble your friend.”
To have Lu Qian’an summon help just for her felt too grand for no reason.