Chapter 113: The Sabotage
Xue Ting flew back to Wai Tao within the next few days to find an empty house. She instantly drove to the Auspicary's workhouse and after exchanging greetings with the couple, she finally found the trio asleep at their respective workstation. Looking at the time, a little past ten, she should be in bed herself too but she was there waking up her husband.
"Ting Ting!" He stood abruptly as Xue Ting put a finger to his lips to tell him not to wake the twins.
"Is it a lot of work? Can't you all at least head home and sleep? Have you eaten?" She asked worriedly while he enveloped her in his arms.
"The Ausipicary couple had been very hospitable. They in fact offered us two rooms upstairs but work is just overwhelming since the annual dinner is this weekend… Come, let me bring you up there to rest. You shouldn't be awake…" She stopped him.
"I'm not that sleepy… Come, sit. Tell me… I just wanted to know something but didn't have the chance to ask…" She pestered as he sat her down.
"Yes, what is it?" He asked as he sat in front of her.
"What are the plans after the launch? I'm very worried since Qiu Qiu is involved directly while Xin Xin is still behind the scenes…" She told him honestly which he appreciated.
He held her hands in his. "I will leave my position after the launch…"
"No, you shouldn't… Qiu Yeh still needs you." She tried convincing him as he chuckled.
"He had been so busy with his cruise ever since May joined… It's a matter of time…" He pointed out what reminded her of May's awkward situation when she called several times.
"Are they together?" She asked absentmindedly as Qiu Wen laughed.
"Don't you like the idea?" He teased as she finally giggled.
"Hmm… It's not too bad but your brother's heart is so stone cold that I doubt it's very easy to melt it…" Xue Ting said as Qiu Wen kissed the hand he was holding.
"That's cause of you partially but I am grateful you both came to an amicable ending…" He said as she smiled. So he decided to fill her in with more details.
"I intend to help Joy's online business to grow while since Matthew loves music, I could run a music store for him to teach lessons and when he has free time, he can make money by creating sites or apps… That boy has lots of talents." Qiu Wen praised.
"They need to study in college too Wen Wen…" Xue Ting laughed at his ambitious plans.
"Definitely! Our little girl will take up fashion design while our baby boy can take IT-related courses since he is already so talented with music. He doesn't need to even take any degree for it." Qiu Wen suggested as Xue Ting sighed in relief.
"Just let them decide… If they are happy to, I don't think I have an issue since this little one will soon be our headache…" He stood and let her into his arms before kissing her blissfully.
"I'm not too happy with our little girl being with Keith so soon…" Qiu Wen said with a frown as Xue Ting chuckled.
"What do you mean?" Xue Ting tried to clarify.
"Means, Keith is too good for her and she needs to grow more before I can agree to them dating…" Xue Ting laughed.
"That was exactly what I thought before she finished high school but the promise was to let her decide whatever she wanted after high school. So, I will leave it up to you to handle…" Xue Ting shrugged before Qiu Wen nodded and went to wake the twins to greet their mother as the family headed to their respective prepared rooms to rest.
As she was still in a sensitive trimester, she was supposed to be resting at home till after the annual dinner before she returned to the restaurant to help out. However, Xue Ting being all bored and cooped up at home had gone to the restaurant occasionally to prepare meals to not trouble the Auspicary couple so much.
One evening, she got a text from Qiu Wen telling her they were heading home to have dinner since work was almost done. That way she did not have to step out of the house but just prepare meals at home and wait for them instead.
However, Joy was stuck in a discussion with the supplier for her own online business for a while. So, she gestured for Matthew and Qiu Wen to drive home first. She wanted to call for a taxi later instead but Qiu Wen was worried so he left his car's keys with her and the father and son duo called for a cab instead.
What they all did not expect was Mrs. Tang who had initiated the crisis in the company had closely monitored them since they had arrived back in town. She was still hoping to secure the daughter-in-law position for Francesca but ever since the night when both Francesca and Qiu Wen did not arrive at their so-called engagement party, Mrs. Tang had not heard from Francesca.
Hence, Mrs. Tang had acted by herself to ask her hired hitman to injure the twins to prevent their backup plans which she knew were wrecking her plans to bring the Tang brothers to give in to her demands.
After a good half-hour discussion with the supplier, Joy finally came up with a compromised agreement and bid farewell to the Auspicary family before heading to Qiu Wen's car. As she drove to another street in the housing area, she was ambushed by a motorcycle, and in a state of panic, she accidentally banged into him.
She was worried about the motorcyclist being injured so, she got out of the car but to her surprise she was ambushed by him. He instantly pierced her with a sharp knife on her left thigh.
She was fortunate that the nearby neighbours rushed out when they heard the loud bang that the hitman was unable to send more pierce to her but instead, he quickly drove off leaving Joy injured by the roadside.
The kind samaritans quickly called for an ambulance and one of them had helped Joy to call home. Qiu Wen and Matthew were about to sit at the dining table when Matthew's phone rang.
As the trio rushed to the hospital the samaritan mentioned, Xue Ting could not help but worry that it was Mrs. Tang's action. A part of her was frightened that Mrs. Tang would eventually know about the twins' identity and by then, no one could guess what she would do.
She questioned her reconciliation with Qiu Wen and whether should she carry on loving him. Her heart knew the answer the best but her mind was telling her to act primarily as a mother first.
Qiu Wen had texted Qiu Yeh to alert him of this. Qiu Yeh was taking over from May some tasks on the cruise that he was about to sail but decided to change his mind and put his other shareholder to sail instead. He rushed back to check on May instead as they both discussed splitting their undercover surveillance. Qiu Yeh headed back to the family home to keep watch of Mrs. Tang while May headed to the hospital to stay with Xue Ting.
Matthew held onto Xue Ting's hand who was seated in between May and him to keep her at ease while waiting for their little princess of the family to be transferred into the normal ward. Only then was Qiu Wen at ease to attend to the admission procedures for Joy.
"Mummy, everything will be alright…" Matthew comforted her as Xue Ting nodded worriedly when they heard Joy complaining while being transferred to the ward.
"I told you it's just a small cut… You don't have to keep me here…" She protested to Qiu Wen who nodded absentmindedly, trying to ignore her complaints.
"I know… Just stay for the night… Uncle Xavier paid…So enjoy the hospitality…" Qiu Wen informed as Joy sighed in defeat but when she saw how worried was Xue Ting, she obediently let the nurse transfer her to the bed in the ward.
"Mummy… I'm fine… I wanna go home…" She slowly said to her in a sad tone as Xue Ting held her hand and hugged her tightly.
"Did you see who it was?" She asked Joy solemnly.
"It felt like I was targeted. He was ambushing me at first then cornered me to the roadside but I didn't want to stop. I don't know who bang into who first but I was so worried that he might be injured that I went down to check. That was when he attacked me…" Joy explained as Xue Ting nodded.
"Next time don't simply get down the car when an accident happens…" Xue Ting warned her seriously as she nodded.
"Daddy… Do you think it's the same people who want to stop the launch for the annual dinner?" Joy asked as Qiu Wen sighed.
"Uncle Xavier is looking into it. You should rest…" Qiu Wen gently stroked her head.
"No, I think I can still do 'cause it's just using my hands, not my thigh. The culprit is so stupid anyway… Find another place then. I guarantee I can finish it on time!" Joy pleaded with Qiu Wen as he met with Xue Ting and May's gaze. Xue Ting did not refute nor did she want to lecture her but she gestured for him to handle her instead as she sat back on the couch feeling still worried.
"I could offer you a place in my gallery. There are plenty of people walking in and out. She would not dare to cause chaos." May offered as Qiu Wen looked at Xue Ting who did not react. It meant she agreed as he nodded while May continued to fuss with Joy.