Secretary Qian couldn't come up with a good suggestion, nor was he in a position to accuse his boss of moral corruption.
All he could do was stay silent and listen to Xu Jianmin's complaints.
Finally, he sent the completely drunk Xu Jianmin home.
After that, Xu Jianmin never brought up the matter again.
Secretary Qian didn't know how he had settled the issue. Anyway, the matter of the illegitimate child had never leaked out.
A year later, Xu Group began to encounter some minor crises, but they could still manage to get through.
However, as time went by, the capital chain gradually had problems, and there was also more malicious competition.
At first, Xu Jianmin didn't take it seriously, but later he felt overwhelmed.
By the time the crisis fully broke out, Xu Group had already owed a huge debt.
After that, Xu Group went bankrupt, and Xu Jianmin jumped off a building.
"What about that child and that woman?"
Hearing this, Xu Tingyu finally couldn't help interrupting.
Her hands under the table were clasped together. Due to the force, her fingertips were trembling slightly.
Secretary Qian shook his head. "I don't know where they finally went. Mr. Xu had always concealed this very well."
He really didn't know.
When Xu Jianmin had the accident, Secretary Qian had been worried that if that woman came to make trouble with the child, it would be unbearable for Zhang Qiu and the others, and the public opinion would stir up a huge wave.
But the thing he was worried about didn't happen.
From the time Xu Jianmin's accident hit the news to his final burial, that woman and the child never showed up.
If it weren't for the fact that Secretary Qian had seen the paternity test between Xu Jianmin and that child, he would have suspected whether such two people really existed.
But since they didn't come to make trouble, it was a good thing.
Maybe seeing that Xu Group had gone bankrupt and there was nothing left in the family but debts, that's why the woman didn't come.
Otherwise, Zhang Qiu could still reclaim the property within the marriage.
For her, it would be a loss.
So Secretary Qian never mentioned this matter again. He intended to let this secret be buried along with Xu Jianmin.
Xu Tingyu was both angry and shocked. The intense impact made her temples throb.
Her face turned pale. She dug her nails into her palms to maintain her calm on the surface.
"Miss, Mrs. Xu has never known about this, so don't let it slip."
"Mr. Xu has been dead for so long. Let this matter pass."
Seeing her ugly face, the former secretary didn't know how to comfort her. He could only clumsily persuade her to let the past go.
The dead owed no debts. After so many years, it was meaningless to dwell on moral issues.
"I know, I know."
Xu Tingyu repeated difficultly. In fact, her mind was blank.
Secretary Qian had no choice but to say no more.
The two silently finished their coffee. Only then did Xu Tingyu adjust her mood.
She forced a smile and said to Secretary Qian, "Uncle Qian, thank you."
Secretary Qian's mood wasn't very good either, but he still comforted her, "Miss, don't be sad about this. It's all in the past."
"I know. I'm just a bit shocked for a moment. Let me digest it. Have dinner with me tonight, Uncle Qian. You haven't met my son yet, have you?"
Xu Tingyu cheered up and invited Secretary Qian to dinner.
After all, Secretary Qian had come specifically to see her this time. Of course, she had to treat him well.
After the Xu family's accident back then, Secretary Qian had been busy running around. She hadn't had the chance to repay him.
Secretary Qian didn't refuse the dinner invitation.
The hotel Xu Tingyu booked for him was also a hotel of the Qi Group.
After having coffee, they went back to the hotel together.
All the gifts in the trunk were sent to Secretary Qian's room. The two made an appointment for the time to meet in the evening.
When she got back to her own room and closed the door, she took off her disguise and stumbled into the sofa.
She never expected that the lofty image of her father in her heart would collapse so many years after his death.
An unfaithful father and an illegitimate son who was only a few years younger than Youyou...
It was really absurd and ridiculous.
She covered her face, not knowing what expression she should put on.
Just as she was immersed in the sad mood, the sofa beside her sank. Someone sat down and casually pulled her into his arms.
"What's wrong? Unhappy?"
Xu Tingyu looked up and was surprised to find that it was Qi Shifeng.
She stared blankly at him and subconsciously asked, "Why are you still here?"
"I haven't got my proper status yet. How can I leave?"
Qi Shifeng hugged her and casually grabbed her hand. There was a smile on his lips, but it froze the next second.
"Why is your hand so cold?"
It was quite hot outside today. She had just come back from outside, but her fingertips were ice-cold and she looked so dejected.
Something must have happened.
Xu Tingyu stared at him for a while and suddenly asked, "Qi Shifeng, if Youyou wasn't a boy, would you still love him so much?"
Qi Shifeng's movement of touching her hand paused. The smile on his lips disappeared and he became serious.
"Of course. Youyou is my child. Whether he's a boy or a girl, I'll love him."
"Tingyu, did someone say something to you? Don't listen to those nonsense. I won't discriminate against girls. Women hold up half the sky."
Qi Shifeng knew that in Zhang Qiu's eyes, she had always been inferior to Xu Jia.
She must have been scolded again when she went to see Zhang Qiu this time, which was why her mood was so low.
After saying this, he still felt it was not enough. He held Xu Tingyu's shoulders and looked at her seriously.
"Tingyu, you're very good, very excellent, and very worthy. If others say you're not good, especially those who judge you based on gender, they're just belittling and suppressing you."
"Don't even listen to those words, let alone doubt yourself because of those prejudices."
His tone was firm and powerful. The hand holding her shoulder tightened slightly, as if he wanted to pass this strength on to Xu Tingyu.
Xu Tingyu stared at him for a long time and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Qi Shifeng, is your current attitude towards me just out of unwillingness? There are many women who are prettier and younger than me.
"Didn't you meet anyone who made your heart flutter in these four years?"
Although Secretary Qian said that her father's affair was a trap set by others.
But if the first time was a calculation, what about later? Was it just because he couldn't bear to part with that child that he gave the other party the chance to have a child?
Even, it was questionable whether he was really calculated.
After all, people would subconsciously make excuses for themselves after making mistakes.
No matter how well Zhang Qiu maintained herself, the years had left their marks on her. She was definitely not as young as a just-graduated student.
Facing the young and beautiful girls throwing themselves at him, did Xu Jianmin really not feel tempted?
Hearing her say this, Qi Shifeng got a little anxious.
"Did she not only belittle you but also spread rumors about me? I'm definitely not just out of unwillingness towards you. I can swear to heaven."
"There are indeed many young girls in the world, but what does that have to do with me? I only want you."
He really should have let Zhang Qiu see a psychologist more often, so as to prevent her from talking nonsense all day long, hurting Xu Tingyu and sowing discord between them.
He had finally managed to ease the relationship between the two of them a bit. He didn't want it to go back to the way it was before all of a sudden!