"Second brother, you're in no condition for a long - distance journey right now. And once you're in the UK, it'll be big brother's home turf. You'll be in even greater danger," Qi Ruixi was the first to object.
Not only did she oppose it, but even Zou Yu, who was usually taciturn and steady, thought it was ill - advised.
"Otherwise, I'll go first," he said. After all, he wasn't a Qi family member, so he wouldn't attract much attention.
But precisely because he wasn't a Qi, his going there would be of no use.
"Xixi is pregnant. You can't leave the capital. How's the thing I asked you to do last time?" Qi Shifeng flat - out refused. This was his "war" with Qi Ye. Others were of no help.
Zou Yu knew he couldn't persuade him, so he nodded. "It's all arranged."
Qi Ruixi beside them looked puzzled. She glanced at Qi Shifeng and then at Zou Yu.
"Are you two hiding something from me? Let me tell you, we're on the same side. You can't leave me out," she said. Just because she was pregnant didn't mean she was completely defenseless. After all, she'd studied abroad for years and had some connections. More importantly, she was a Qi. She was the most suitable one to mediate, wasn't she?
Qi Shifeng seemed not to hear her. He said to Zou Yu, "Okay. Leave in two days. Now, both of you go out."
Qi Ruixi wanted to say more, but Zou Yu half - dragged and half - carried her out.
"Hey! What secret do you and my second brother have? Why are you hiding it from me?" As soon as they were out, she grabbed Zou Yu's arm, looking a bit fierce.
But Zou Yu had his own principles. "It's not a secret, but he's still my employer for now."
What he meant was that it was part of his work confidentiality, and he couldn't tell even her.
Qi Ruixi was relentless and kept pressing him. But he was a man of principle. If he said he wouldn't tell, he wouldn't.
When she finally stopped asking, he asked her, "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I'll make it."
Qi Ruixi was tired from arguing. Huffily, she said, "I want a Man - Han banquet. Can you make that?"
Zou Yu didn't argue. He just smiled and comforted her. "Then I'll make shredded pork with green peppers noodles. CEO Qi should eat something too."
"Eat what? Are you on the best of terms with him now? Shredded pork with green peppers noodles is my specialty. Don't make it for him!" Qi Ruixi was so angry that she bit his arm.
He just relaxed and let her bite.
These days, Qi Ruixi was under a lot of pressure.
On the one hand, at the old mansion, the old master was in the hospital, and Liu Ning just complained all day long. It was a complete mess.
On the other hand, she was caught in the middle of all these people. She didn't know whose side to take, and her mind was in a complete turmoil. She often woke up in the middle of the night.
Moreover, she couldn't let anyone know about her pregnancy for now. Otherwise, it might enrage the old master and Liu Ning. Since they couldn't do anything to Qi Shifeng and Qi Ye, they might use her as an example.
So she was anxious and irritable and needed an outlet.
But in the end, she still felt sorry for her man. After leaving a faint tooth mark, she let go.
Zou Yu went into the kitchen to cook. Qi Ruixi received a call from home. Liu Ning was sobbing on the other end, saying she wanted to come and visit Qi Shifeng.
Qi Ruixi was annoyed by her crying and had no mood to comfort her. "Come on, stop crying. Second brother's already in a bad mood. Your coming will only make it worse."
It was true. All she would do when she came was say bad things about Xu Tingyu. Even Qi Ruixi found it hard to bear, let alone Qi Shifeng.
As soon as Liu Ning heard this, she was about to start her old - fashioned rant. But Qi Ruixi interrupted her in time.
"Okay, okay. Stop crying. Crying all day long will drive away your good fortune. I never noticed you were so child - loving before."
She was really fed up.
Especially after becoming a mother herself, she realized how big Liu Ning's problems were. It seemed that all of Liu Ning's energy in life was focused on the Qi family. But unfortunately, she always focused on others and neglected her own three children. That's why none of the three children was close to her.
Now she suddenly showed concern, but all she did was cry and scold others. She really didn't know what Liu Ning was thinking.
Liu Ning was so rebuked that she even stopped crying. After a while, she suddenly said, "Qi Ruixi, tell me the truth. Are you also in a special situation?"
During this period, her focus had been on Qi Shifeng, but she wasn't blind. Qi Ruixi was always with that bodyguard. Any sensible person could tell that something was off.
She'd been holding back because she wanted to deal with Qi Shifeng's matter first and hadn't had the time to settle the score with her. But it seemed that Qi Ruixi thought she'd gotten away with it and even dared to lecture her mother.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Qi Ruixi said, her hand unconsciously resting on her lower abdomen. But there was not a hint of hesitation in her words.
"Don't play dumb with me. I'm telling you, get rid of that bodyguard around you as soon as possible. It's not proper for a young girl like you to be followed by a man all day long," Liu Ning didn't care about her pretense.
After all, she'd held the position of Mrs. Qi for so many years. Qi Ruixi's little tricks couldn't fool her.
Qi Ruixi couldn't stand this. "What do you mean it's not proper for a girl to be followed by a man? There are so many men with female secretaries around them. Why don't you say anything?"
Back then, her father had more than one female secretary around him. One of the secretaries was even a nightmare for Qi Ruixi.
Why didn't Liu Ning protest back then? Why didn't she say it wasn't proper? Did she only make demands on women?
Liu Ning was stunned again by her rebuke. "Are you taking pills of gunpowder? Am I not saying this for your own good? You're at the age to get married. Who would dare to marry you like this?"
Seeing that she still said such things, Qi Ruixi simply let herself go.
"For my own good? Back then, when my father was having an affair and let his secretary intimidate a little kid like me, where was your concern for my well - being?"
"And the age to get married? It's ridiculous. Is there anything that one must do at a certain age?"
"When my two elder brothers got their shares after they became adults, why didn't you fight for me?"
"Moreover, I can support myself. I'm also very outstanding. Why wouldn't anyone dare to marry me?"
"Of course, even if no one marries me, I can still live a good life."
After her outburst, she was really angry.
Facts proved that her family was a family of madmen.
There was the old master with absolute control, the father who couldn't control his desires, and the mother who always focused on others.
The three children they gave birth to were also more and more abnormal.
Qi Ye had no morals, Qi Shifeng was slow to realize things, and she was even better. She was extremely rebellious. The more her family didn't want her to do something, the more she would do it.
It wouldn't have been a big deal for such a group of madmen to live in one family. But it was a disaster for everyone who got close to the Qi family.
For example, Xu Tingyu, who lost her family and home.
For example, Zou Yu. Being with her, he was destined to face a lot of criticism and obstruction.