CFAIACTH Chapter 85 - Destroy everything your dad has

The day chosen for the trip to the cemetery was a Sunday—the brightest and sunniest day before the New Year.

Jing Guangyao and Lin Chanjuan specially ordered two bouquets of flowers.

Zhong Mingxue saw the two bouquets: one was sunflowers, and the other was her mother's favorite, aster.

Jing Qingxia also picked two branches of red plum blossoms in the courtyard, narrowly avoiding a scolding from Aunt Zhang, who meticulously tended to the plants.

However, when she learned they were for Zhong Mingxue's parents, Aunt Zhang even helped select the best branches, trimmed them with scissors, and tied them with white ribbons as a gesture of goodwill.

Knowing her parents were so cherished by them moved Zhong Mingxue deeply. She and Jing Qingxia each took a branch of red plum blossoms and sat in the back seat of the car.

Throughout the journey, Jing Guangyao and Lin Chanjuan tried their best to lighten the mood.

Zhong Mingxue responded politely but remained subdued.

Jing Qingxia gently held her hand.

Zhong Mingxue turned and smiled reassuringly, indicating she was alright.

But in truth, her heart ached.

Since her parents' passing, she had been trapped in the messy dispute over her two aunts' inheritance, leaving her no time to properly mend the wounds in her heart.

She had thought that with time, she would gradually forget some of it.

Even as she boarded the bus to the cemetery, a faint sadness clung to her chest.

It was an indelible sense of suffocation.

Even if the Jing family now offered her the same warmth, it could never replace the genuine care of her own parents.

Even if Jing Qingxia's affection for her was unique, a partner and parents were fundamentally different.

A void remained in her heart, impossible to fill with anything else.

In fact, the betrayal of her two aunts and other relatives had only widened this gap.

Deep in the mire, she hadn't noticed it.

Only when she escaped the mire and found happiness again did she realize, under the sunlight of joy, that a piece of her heart—belonging to her parents—was missing.

For a long time, she had lost the ability to feel happiness.

She always felt that even if happiness flowed towards her like a river, the emptiness in her heart would drain it all away.

Until.

Someone took her hand.

Jing Qingxia gripped Zhong Mingxue's hand tightly.

"Your hands are so cold! Did you dress lightly because the weather was nice today? Style over warmth? Here, take my scarf." Jing Qingxia removed the scarf from around her neck and handed it to Zhong Mingxue.

Zhong Mingxue clutched the crocheted scarf, its uneven edges twisting and turning.

Oh, right! she remembered. Lin Chanjuan had personally made these scarves a few days ago, giving one to her and one to Jing Qingxia.

From the passenger seat, Lin Chanjuan spoke up, "Xiaxia, if you're worried Xiaoxue is cold, why not take off your jacket and give it to her? What's the point of giving her this scarf? Are you trying to say the one I made isn't good enough and you don't want to wear it yourself?"

"How could that be, Mother?! You must have misunderstood something!" Jing Qingxia replied dramatically, her voice exaggerated like a stage actor's.

Lin Chanjuan hmphed and turned to Jing Guangyao. "Old Jing, look at this! Your daughter is bullying me!"

"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on? I was just driving and didn't notice anything happening," Jing Guangyao replied, his excuses as smooth as a seasoned politician's.

"You're in on it too, aren't you? I see how it is! My scarf for you is almost finished. You better wear it to work on Monday, or else!" Lin Chanjuan said, feigning indignation.

"Ah!" Jing Guangyao acknowledged, too intimidated to protest.

Jing Qingxia burst into triumphant laughter, reveling in their misfortune.

Zhong Mingxue chuckled at the scene and quickly wrapped her warm scarf around her neck.

Lin Chanjuan was immediately cheered up. "Xiaoxue, you're the best! From now on, if I can't be nice to them, I'll just be nice to you!"

Zhong Mingxue's eyes crinkled with laughter as she pressed the scarf closer to her face.

The thought that "happiness would leak out of the hollow in my heart" had proven to be entirely false.

Mom, Dad, you can rest assured in heaven. I'm truly happy now.

Standing before the gravestone, Zhong Mingxue still wore a smile.

The tightness in her chest, which she had expected to surge forth, failed to materialize.

Instead, it seemed to have been smoothed away by the warmth around her.

Jing Guangyao placed the flowers down and chatted about trivial matters with his old friend.

"Hongbo, you wouldn't believe it— that virtual currency project you recommended has skyrocketed! I wish I'd been braver and invested more. We could have made a killing!"

"Don't be greedy, and stop rambling about nonsense. Let's talk about something serious," Lin Chanjuan reminded him.

Then, the two of them gazed at her with gentle eyes, promising their departed friend that they would definitely take good care of her.

"Ahem, Hongbo, I have some good news for you. Remember how we arranged a fake engagement between Xiaoxue and Xiaxia to help Xiaoxue and give the Jing Group leverage to help you reclaim the project? Well, those two unexpectedly developed genuine feelings for each other and became truly engaged. Don't you think our joking remark back then turned out to be prophetic?"

Lin Chanjuan patted Jing Guangyao's arm. "A prophetic remark usually refers to ominous events. If you don't understand the idiom, it's best not to misuse it."

"Aiya, I'm just too excited! I misspoke. Let me calm down for a moment. Xiaoxue, Xiaxia, come talk to your parents yourselves." Jing Guangyao stepped aside.

Jing Qingxia was currently hugging Zhong Mingxue's shoulders, silently demonstrating her unwavering support now and in the future.

Hearing Jing Guangyao's gesture, she glanced at Zhong Mingxue.

Zhong Mingxue nodded.

The two stepped forward.

They respectfully placed two branches of red plum blossoms before the gravestone.

"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry it took us so long to visit you." Zhong Mingxue paused, taking a deep breath.

The turmoil in Zhong Mingxue's chest made her voice tremble, and her eyes were still slightly red.

There were some things she couldn't bring herself to say outright.

She wanted to complain, to slowly unburden her heart of all the grievances she'd endured during this time.

But then she thought, if her parents truly watched from above, they must have already seen everything and were worried about her.

It was because of their worry that she'd finally met Jing Qingxia.

And because she'd met Jing Qingxia, everything had changed for the better.

Zhong Mingxue took a deep breath, transforming her intended complaint into a smile. "Mom, Dad, I'm doing well now. I'd like to introduce you to my fiancée, Jing Qingxia."

Because she's different from the person you knew, I need to properly introduce her again.

Jing Qingxia stepped forward solemnly, bowing deeply. "Hello, Uncle and Aunt. I'm Jing Qingxia. I love her, and I'll treat Xiaoxue well—very well. I'll protect her with my life, cherish her, and never let her suffer any injustice. Please rest assured."

Zhong Mingxue suddenly bit her lip.

The overwhelming happiness in her heart inexplicably welled up in her eyes.

Her eyes, which hadn't even glistened during moments of perceived injustice, now welled with tears.

Zhong Mingxue gripped Jing Qingxia's hand tightly. "Why are you saying all this?!"

"Isn't this just a basic promise? How did you turn into such a little crybaby?" Jing Qingxia smiled brightly, finding Zhong Mingxue's tearful reaction to her "bullying" utterly adorable. She gently wiped away the tears as they slid down Zhong Mingxue's cheeks.

"What do you mean 'protect her with my life' and 'love... love her'? 'With my life' sounds so ominous," Zhong Mingxue retorted stubbornly.

"I just wanted to emphasize the weight of my commitment. It's not a jinx, anyway. Even if it were, you just disarmed it for me, didn't you?" Jing Qingxia gave Zhong Mingxue a gentle hug, right in front of their parents.

Jing Guangyao and Lin Chanjuan smiled warmly.

On the gravestone, Zhong Hongbo and Wan Jiao also displayed their brightest smiles.

"Is that all you have to say?" Jing Guangyao clearly had more to add.

Jing Qingxia stopped him. "Dad, let me say a few more words to Uncle and Aunt."

Jing Guangyao hadn't expected Jing Qingxia to have so much to say, but he nodded. "Alright."

Jing Qingxia gazed at the photo of Zhong Hongbo and Wan Jiao with a solemn expression.

She had always been an atheist.

But if something as fantastical as transmigration could happen, then perhaps there really were spirits watching from above.

She hoped that Zhong Mingxue's closest loved ones would fully understand her.

Zhong Mingxue was the only person in this world who knew her secret, so her parents must be the only ones in heaven who knew it too.

In her heart, she explained that she wasn't the Jing Qingxia they knew, that she was from another world. She promised that the original protagonist's fate—being manipulated, consumed by hatred, and used as a tool—would never befall Zhong Mingxue.

From now on, she would be Zhong Mingxue's guardian, companion, the one who understood her best, and the one who loved her most. She vowed to always be by her side, hoping they would bless her and rest assured.

After finishing her thoughts, she bowed again to signify her conclusion.

Jing Guangyao and Lin Chanjuan couldn't hear what Jing Qingxia was saying to Zhong Mingxue, but they were pleased to see her so earnest and attentive.

Noticing that Zhong Mingxue still seemed unsettled, they suggested the two children go down the mountain to wander and clear their minds, while the adults took the opportunity to catch up with their old friend.

Hand in hand, Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue walked in the sunlight, descending the central steps of the cemetery. The neatly trimmed, pyramid-shaped cypresses lining both sides of the path stood like two ranks of guards in perfect formation.

The two girls descended the steps in perfect rhythm, their footsteps synchronized.

In a daze, it felt as if they were traveling through a time machine, walking endlessly.

Until the woman who shattered all the beauty appeared at the bottom of the steps, her high heels clicking against the stone.

"What a coincidence, Xiaoxue! You're here to pay respects to your parents today too?" Zhong Xiaoling said with a saccharine smile.

Zhong Mingxue's brow furrowed. "What are you doing here?"

Zhong Xiaoling's smile widened. "You've become quite rude since staying with the Jing family, haven't you, child? Did you learn it from them?"

Jing Qingxia couldn't help but marvel at Zhong Xiaoling's unshakable persona—arrogant, sardine, and unrelentingly harsh. It was as steady as an old dog.

She chuckled aloud.

Zhong Xiaoling heard the laughter and gritted her teeth.

She had deliberately come here knowing Zhong Mingxue was accompanying the Jing family to pay their respects to Zhong Hongbo. She had resolved to ignore Jing Qingxia completely.

This girl, though young, was a master at finding ways to infuriate her.

Zhong Xiaoling needed to focus on dealing with Zhong Mingxue.

But she hadn't anticipated that even hearing Jing Qingxia's laughter, without engaging with her at all, would still make her seethe with displeasure.

Jing Qingxia, on the other hand, didn't mind at all. Since Zhong Xiaoling wouldn't engage, she simply continued laughing. Such a delightful amusement was too good to miss.

Zhong Mingxue's nervousness around Zhong Xiaoling had completely evaporated thanks to Jing Qingxia's mood-destroying laughter. In her hands was the warmth Jing Qingxia had provided, and in her eyes remained only Jing Qingxia's smile, nothing else.

Zhong Xiaoling frowned.

Her words hadn't been wrong.

As Zhong Mingxue spent more time with the Jing family and their bond grew stronger, her confidence had gradually returned.

And controlling her was becoming increasingly difficult.

Zhong Xiaoling reluctantly turned back to Jing Qingxia. "Miss Jing, could you please step aside for a moment? I have something to discuss with Xiaoxue."

"Oh, Aunt Zhong, you know me? If you know me, you should know I'm Xiaoxue's fiancée. Why should I avoid an outsider?" Jing Qingxia retorted.

Zhong Xiaoling scoffed. "Just because you know my surname doesn't mean you're family. Xiaoxue and I are family—you're the outsider. You know that as well as I do."

"Stop! If you want to dig your own grave, that's your business, but don't drag our Xiaoxue into it."

Fortunately, before Uncle Zhong left, he had arranged for Zhong Mingxue to stay with the Jing family and transferred her household registration to another property, removing it from Zhong Xiaoling's control.

As she spoke, Jing Qingxia pulled Zhong Mingxue closer, shifting her body to shield the girl from Zhong Xiaoling.

She then earnestly advised Zhong Mingxue, "In the future, stay far away from people like her. When lightning strikes, you might not even have a chance to dodge."

"Pfft." Zhong Mingxue didn't even need to speak. Watching Jing Qingxia and Zhong Xiaoling exchange such pointless barbs, and seeing Zhong Xiaoling's nose twitch with anger, was amusing in itself.

Zhong Xiaoling's fury boiled over.

She couldn't understand why this Jing family heiress was so skilled with her silver tongue.

Is this the result of years as a little tyrant?

Zhong Xiaoling realized that she couldn't shake Zhong Mingxue's resolve with words alone. Deciding to be blunt, she said, "Xiaoxue, Auntie knows we went too far in controlling the company. But I hope you can understand our position. A leaderless company is dangerous, especially when surrounded by powerful clans eager to prey on our newly risen family. You weren't even of age at the time, and handing the company over to you would have been disastrous. It was a desperate measure. Now that you've come of age, we can step back and let you take over."

"I was expecting something more dramatic," Jing Qingxia interjected, leaning her head against Zhong Mingxue's shoulder. "Still just 'step back'? No way! Please, just return the company to Xiaoxue already! I want to enjoy my life as the CEO's wife, living off her success."

Zhong Mingxue, who had been feeling nauseous from Zhong Xiaoling's earlier words, was now amused by Jing Qingxia's antics. She patted Jing Qingxia's head and teased, "If you're this impatient, you'll need to work harder."

"Then why don't I just take over our family company now? Let me get a head start," Jing Qingxia said, nuzzling Zhong Mingxue's neck like a puppy, right in front of Zhong Xiaoling.

Zhong Xiaoling's entire body tensed with anger, her hands clenching into fists in an instant.

If not for her awareness of the vast gap between her and Jing Qingxia's martial prowess, she would have already struck.

Jing Qingxia deliberately raised an eyebrow at her, deliberately provoking her with such a childish gesture.

Zhong Xiaoling gritted her teeth but forced herself to remain calm, continuing to ignore Jing Qingxia as she spoke to Zhong Mingxue: "Xiaoxue, the Jing Family is just dishing out empty promises. They only want your patent. Don't listen to them; you'll regret it."

"You won't even draw me a simple flatbread, yet you dare criticize the flatbread I've already cooked? Let me tell you, I'm the Jing Family's most favored young lady. Even if they don't hand the company directly to me, who would dare challenge me if I decided to seize it? Right now, Xiaoxue has me completely under her thumb. Even if the company isn't transferred to her name, she's the one in actual control. Isn't that better than listening to you?" Jing Qingxia retorted.

Zhong Xiaoling took a deep breath.

Suddenly, she understood why Jing Qingxia was so infuriating.

How could an alpha like her constantly act like an Omega? Willingly submitting to Omegas, protecting them, even willing to live off their charity?

Is this woman sick in the head?!

Zhong Xiaoling, her Alpha pride stung, turned to Zhong Mingxue. "Xiaoxue, do you really believe what an Alpha says? These are just lies spun by Alphas, easily believed by naive, inexperienced Omegas."

"Pfft, sorry, I couldn't hold it in!" Zhong Mingxue had managed to suppress her laughter earlier, but now she couldn't contain herself. Zhong Xiaoling's forced resort to Alpha rhetoric was simply too funny.

Zhong Xiaoling watched Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue laughing uncontrollably, finding their behavior utterly incomprehensible.

It's not just Jing Qingxia who's crazy.

Both of them are insane!

Regaining her composure, Zhong Xiaoling pressed on, "Xiaoxue, so you still refuse to return to the Zhong family and collaborate with us?"

Zhong Mingxue wiped away tears of laughter, her expression challenging Zhong Xiaoling to explain why she thought this offer might be appealing.

Before arriving, Zhong Xiaoling had believed there was still a sliver of hope. She had planned to exploit Zhong Mingxue's fear of her, leveraging the overwhelming pressure the Jing Family's massive influence could exert.

But now, her efforts had utterly failed.

"Very well. Don't blame me for what happens next. With this choice, you'll destroy your father's reputation, his life's work, everything he built," Zhong Xiaoling declared.

At that moment, Jing Guangyao and Lin Chanjuan hurried down the steps, quickening their pace to catch up.

"Zhong Xiaoling, what brings you here?" Jing Guangyao asked.

"To witness your final smiles," Zhong Xiaoling replied. "I'll cherish this memory." With that, she turned away, laughing heartily, and left without even glancing at Zhong Hongbo.

"Has she lost her mind from trauma?" Jing Guangyao frowned, his face twisting with disgust.

Lin Chanjuan, more composed than her husband, turned to the two young girls. "What did she say to you?"

Jing Qingxia stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Just a lot of nonsense. The only useful information was that she plans to destroy Uncle Zhong and Aunt Wan's reputation and life's work. Is she trying to take everyone down with her?"

Jing Guangyao's eyes widened. "Not good..." he muttered under his breath. He reluctantly looked at Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue, deciding not to hide the information. "A few days ago, I heard she contacted your parents' former research team."

Zhong Mingxue froze, then shook her head. "That can't be right. I remember Professor Chen, the core team leader, died of a heart attack. The day of the car accident—the day my parents died—they were on their way to his funeral. After they passed, the core team lost its foundation. They managed to stay together for two or three months before being forced to disband."

"Hmm, but before the core team began developing the latest patent, some members split off due to disagreements over the experimental approach," Jing Guangyao explained, deep in thought.

"So what are they planning to do?" Jing Qingxia frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over her. She couldn't figure out how their underhanded tactics would be used.

Jing Guangyao gritted his teeth and turned to Zhong Mingxue. "Xiaoxue, it's right for you to refuse to bow to Zhong Xiaoling. If they try to smear your parents' reputations, it won't be because of your decision."

Although Zhong Mingxue was young, her parents often discussed these matters during meals, even delving into the murky world of academic misconduct.

When she heard Zhong Xiaoling's threat, she already had a vague suspicion. Now, with Jing Guangyao's vague reassurance instead of a direct explanation, everything clicked into place.

"They're planning to use the split-off team to accuse my parents of academic fraud?"

Zhong Mingxue's blunt statement was met with a nod from Jing Guangyao. "That's likely their scheme. I don't know how much evidence your parents retained, but I'll immediately track down the core members who used to work with your parents and Professor Chen. I was too careless. I should have been suspicious when I noticed Zhong Xiaoling reaching out to the split-off team."

Lin Chanjuan, knowing Jing Guangyao was emotionally vulnerable, patted him on the shoulder. "Calm down. There's still time to act."

Zhong Mingxue bit her lip, pondering for a moment before saying, "Some of my parents' core data is likely backed up with my Uncle Zhong. I can contact him and have him submit it to you."

"Good. Just send us a copy of the backup," Lin Chanjuan replied, patting Zhong Mingxue reassuringly. "Everything will be alright. Xiaxia, you'll need to be there for Xiaoxue during this time."

"I will," Jing Qingxia said. Unable to contribute academically, she simply hugged Zhong Mingxue tightly, offering her strength.

Zhong Mingxue felt that this strength was exactly what she needed right now.

Her heart was racing with panic.

The suffocating feeling she'd experienced when her parents first died, surrounded by her two aunts and other relatives, had returned.

But she had to stay calm.

This time, Jing Qingxia was by her side.

The pleasant Sunday weather was shattered by a sudden cold wind.

By afternoon, dark clouds had completely covered the sky, blocking out all sunlight.

A torrential rainstorm descended.

The weather forecast explained it as persistent, widespread rainfall caused by unusual atmospheric convection movements.

As expected, the rain continued from the afternoon into the next day, accompanied by unrelenting thunder.

Such a Monday was bound to be detested by all overworked employees.

Even the elites from the Executive Assistant Department were drenched and disheveled, their mood gloomy under the combined influence of Monday morning blues and the misery of the downpour.

When Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue entered the department with Jing Guangyao, they immediately sensed a more terrifying tension brewing.

Sure enough, someone soon approached Jing Guangyao and handed him a tablet.

The tablet displayed an official announcement from Zhongshi Technology's website.

They claimed they would go live in half an hour to denounce the Jing Group's crimes and simultaneously send a legal notice.

The Jing Group, a large family conglomerate, usually maintained a low profile. Yet their business interests spanned across all industries, making them a household name.

Recently, their high-profile projects in collaboration with the government had drawn significant attention, frequently trending on social media.

When Zhongshi Technology simultaneously posted this announcement across all social media platforms, it immediately sparked a viral sensation, its impact as overwhelming as the torrential rain. 

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