Chapter 11 Old Master Zhang Meets with Xia Jing_1

Old Master Zhang listened to Xia Jing's words and pondered thoughtfully. Could it be that I really made a mistake before? Xia Jing is actually with Zhentian because she truly likes him and not for my wealth, but she's a mercenary, after all. My Zhang Family has been pure for generations, how could we allow a mercenary to become a daughter-in-law of the Zhang Family? However, she spared no previous grievances and spent all her savings to save the company for me. Should I still continue to doubt her as before? Now, Old Master Zhang began to doubt his previous actions. After much thought, he still decided to observe for a while longer, to see whether Xia Jing's willingness to help save the company was genuine or if she had ulterior motives.

Seeing Xia Jing at the press conference, using up all her savings from the years to save the Zhang Corporation without bearing any previous grievance, Zhentian felt very happy, "With this, Father should no longer oppose me and Xia Jing, right?" Zhentian thought to himself, a smile unwittingly forming on his lips.

The next day, Old Master Zhang went to the company early in the morning for a meeting. Thanks to Xia Jing's timely investment, the company resumed normal operations. After the meeting, Old Master Zhang had his secretary invite Xia Jing to meet, wanting to talk to her.

"Chairman, did you call for me?" The secretary came in and asked Old Master Zhang.

"Go and arrange a meeting with Xia Jing for me," Old Master Zhang said, waving his hand to indicate, "just say I would like to have a talk with her. Hurry up."

"Alright."

Once the secretary had left, Old Master Zhang began to think to himself about the situation between Xia Jing and Zhentian.

"Xia Jing, oh Xia Jing, what are you really thinking? You do not hold my attitude against you, but instead, you rescued me from danger. What am I to do with you?" Old Master Zhang muttered to himself, so immersed in his own conversation that he didn't notice Zhentian had entered the office. Seeing his father so engrossed in thought, Zhentian grew curious about what he was pondering.

"Dad, Dad, Dad!" Zhentian called Old Master Zhang a few times, but Old Master Zhang didn't react at all, as if he were a puppet, which made Zhentian even more curious.

"Dad, what are you thinking about?" Zhentian tapped Old Master Zhang's shoulder, and with a start, Old Master Zhang suddenly turned to look at Zhentian, who jumped at his father's abrupt movement.

"Dad, why are you looking at me like that? Do you suddenly think your son is very handsome? ［Grin/Grin］" Zhentian teased Old Master Zhang.

"Hmph, you rascal, still asking your old man how handsome you are? You're born to me, so how could you not be handsome?" Old Master Zhang said, patting Zhentian's shoulder.

"Alright, Dad, back to the matter at hand. What were you thinking about just now? You were so absorbed in thought that you didn't respond even after I called you several times?" Zhentian retorted, "Really now, good thing I'm not a robber, or you would have been out of luck today."

"You rascal! Are you cursing your old man? The company just went through a dreadful ordeal. Can't you say something nice for a change? Honestly." Old Master Zhang glared at Zhentian angrily.

"Dad, look, I'm not a jinx. Surely, what I say doesn't necessarily come true, so relax. Now that Xia Jing has resolved the company's funding issues, why don't you just focus on managing the company and not interfere with me and Xia Jing?" Zhentian tentatively asked Old Master Zhang, curious to see if his father would approve of him being with Xia Jing since she invested money to save the company.

Zhentian saw that Old Master Zhang did not respond immediately and observed his father's face shifting between light and dark, uncertain. Finally, Old Master Zhang decided to ask for his father's opinion.

"Zhentian, Dad has a question for you, and I want you to answer me honestly," Old Master Zhang asked Zhentian to sit with him and said.

"Dad, please ask."

"All right. Dad asks you, has Xia Jing ever killed anyone? Where did she get all that money from? Don't tell your dad that the money she has is her savings over the years. She used such a large sum of money; is it really just to help us through tough times, or does she have other motives?" Old Master Zhang voiced the doubts he had kept in his heart to Zhentian.

Zhentian was taken aback. Why would Dad ask about Xia Jing? And even about whether she had killed someone? Did Dad really not believe Xia Jing sincerely wanted to help the Zhang Corporation through its crisis?

Seeing Zhentian space out, Old Master Zhang asked, "Zhentian, what are you thinking about? Why aren't you answering me? Does she really have ulterior motives? Has she actually killed someone?" Old Master Zhang hastily asked, afraid of missing any expression of Zhentian, staring at him without blinking.

"Dad, what are you talking about? How could Xia Jing have killed someone? She's been a mercenary, yes, but she has never killed anyone," Zhentian hurriedly responded when he heard Old Master Zhang ask this way. He feared that being with Xia Jing would become even more difficult and that his father would deepen his misunderstanding of her.

"Zhentian, you haven't answered me where Xia Jing got so much money to help the company through its difficulties. Does she have other motives? I want the truth," Old Master Zhang asked with a stern face.

"Dad, originally, Xia Jing didn't want me to tell you. She wanted you to see her good side on your own, wanted you to genuinely approve of her, wanted you to sincerely agree to her being your daughter-in-law, but since you've asked like this, I'll tell you the truth," Zhentian started.

"Hurry up and say it!" Old Master Zhang looked at Zhentian with impatience.

"Dad, Xia Jing really hasn't killed anyone, and you know she is a mercenary; mercenaries have principles. The money she used to save the company wasn't indeed her savings over the years, but the majority of it was earned by herself. Plus, she sold every valuable thing she owned and cobbled together the rest with her subordinates. As you mentioned, Xia Jing had warned me before about the unusual relationship between Shen Yang, Deng Chao, and Li Haixiao. She had said as long as you don't cross Li Haixiao's bottom line, he wouldn't let Shen Yang and Deng Chao withdraw their investments, and the company wouldn't face problems. But to my surprise, you actually exploited the man's dearly beloved daughter and even fantastically thought about having his precious pearl marry me? Dad, be honest, when you did that, besides the Nanxi project collaboration, was it also to separate me and Xia Jing?" Zhentian looked at Elder Zhang and asked, hoping his father would deny it because he couldn't believe his father would heartlessly sabotage his son's happiness for his own selfish desires. Yet his father admitted it. So, the money Xia Jing used to save the Zhang Family was indeed scraped together.

"That's right, I admit I had such thoughts before, but I don't think that way anymore..." Old Master Zhang tried to explain to Zhentian, but Zhentian cut him off: "Dad, are you saying you've changed your mind not because Xia Jing put money into saving the company, but because you truly recognized Xia Jing's goodness?" Zhentian shouted angrily at Old Master Zhang.

"No, it's not like that. I'm genuinely starting to accept Xia Jing as my daughter-in-law. Not for any other reason but because she could look past my previous attitude toward her and still offered help when I opposed your marriage to her. Her generosity is something I have to admire. I've decided to observe her for a while longer, and if I'm satisfied with her performance, I'll agree to you two being together. Of course, she won't know I'm observing her. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I understand what you mean, Dad. I won't tell Xia Jing, and I believe you will be satisfied with her performance. I trust the woman I have chosen!" Zhentian said and was about to leave when Old Master Zhang suddenly stopped him.

"Oh, one more thing. I've arranged to meet Xia Jing. So, you don't need to go."

"Dad, you arranged to meet with Xia Jing? Why didn't you tell me beforehand or discuss it with me?"

"Tell you in advance? So that you could warn Xia Jing about me wanting to see her and have her put on a good show? You really think your dad doesn't know what you're thinking," said Old Master Zhang before walking away.