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墨書 Inktalez
In a bedroom reminiscent of Ancient Europe’s courtly style, a vibrant spring scene subtly emerged from the raspberry-colored bed curtains. The warm sunlight streamed through the intricately designed stained glass windows, gently casting a warm glow on the pale purple carpet below.
Lying in the four-poster bed, a man remained deep in slumber, completely unaware of the adorable little face peeking through the slightly ajar door.
“Daddy!” the child called out, his brow already furrowed.
Why was this happening again? Why did Daddy never keep his promises?
“Daddyyyy—” he elongated the last syllable, but still, there was no response from the person hidden beneath the bed curtains. Frustrated, he pushed against the heavy steel door adorned with angel patterns and stomped across the carpet to the bedside, fueled by an anger he could no longer contain as he flung open the bed curtains.
“Daddy!”
This was infuriating. Daddy had clearly promised him, so why did he keep pulling the same trick? Did he think it was okay to disregard him just because he was young? Were his promises merely tools for deceiving children?
“Hmm?” The man on the bed responded casually, pulling up a pink silk quilt embroidered with roses over his head, completely oblivious to how his actions exposed his companion beside him.
“Daddy!” The child was nearly beside himself. “You lied to me again!”
He had promised that he would never mess around with those aunties again, yet who would have thought that upon returning from boarding school, he would witness such a scene?
“Xiao Fan?” The man lowered the quilt slightly, revealing his thick lashes and amber eyes that were deeply set in their sockets as they focused on him. “What are you doing here?”
Was this a dream? How could he open his eyes and see his beloved son right before him?
“School… is… out!” Zhong Li Fan gritted his teeth and glared at this foolish father who didn’t understand what it meant to keep promises or what contracts were meant to enforce. “Not only did you not come to pick me up, but you also let me walk in on this scene right when I got back. Don’t you care at all about how this might affect me?”
How can one deal with a father like this?
"How could that be? The more you interact, the better you'll handle it when the time comes, and you won't embarrass yourself in front of ladies." Zhong Li Ming Jie pulled his son into his embrace and kissed his cheek. "Good morning, dear son. You haven't given me a morning kiss yet."
Zhong Li Fan lowered his long eyelashes and raised an imposing eyebrow, displaying a maturity beyond his years. "Dear father, since it's already noon, I can't give you a morning kiss."
He pushed his father's face away and wiped it with the back of his hand in mock disgust.
"Noon already?" That made sense; he remembered he had just woken up in the morning.
"I'm not interested in learning your flirting techniques, but let me tell you, if you didn't plan to keep your promises from the start, then don't casually tease me." Zhong Li Fan pushed his father away and was about to climb out of bed when he was pulled back into an embrace, struggling furiously.
"Son, Daddy misses you! But you're not by my side, and I have to sleep alone. Daddy feels lonely..." Zhong Li Ming Jie held his son tightly, laughing and kissing him. Seeing his little face flush a light rose color from struggling only made him hold on tighter.
His adorable son looked so much like his mother; on that little face, there seemed to be no trace of paternal genes at all... Since he couldn't touch his mother, kissing his son would suffice to satisfy his cravings.
"Don't kiss me..." Zhong Li Fan struggled in vain. "If you want to kiss someone, go kiss her!" He pointed at the woman beside him.
"Daddy likes you more!" That woman beside him? Hmm, what was her name again? "When Xiao Fan gets angry, she reminds me so much of Mommy; it's really hard for Daddy to resist."
"Daddy!" No way! He would rather return to boarding school than stay here. He would prefer if unfamiliar aunts appeared in Daddy's bed than for Daddy to keep hugging and kissing him endlessly out of whim. It was so embarrassing!
"Hmm?" Zhong Li Ming Jie smiled happily, completely forgetting that there was a woman beside him.
"I just realized you have a thing for children, Zhong Li Ming Jie," the woman beside him said as she pulled the blanket around herself tightly.
Zhong Li Ming Jie soon regained his senses, tossing his son aside and pulling the woman beside him into his embrace, their foreheads touching intimately.
“Do you really think I’m a pedophile?” He raised his slightly thin lips in a smile that was particularly enticing, yet he still couldn’t recall who this Blonde Woman beside him was.
Ah! The name wasn’t the point; what mattered was that they were enjoying each other’s company.
“I don’t think you are, but you make me feel like you might be…” The Blonde Woman giggled in his arms.
“Are you trying to tongue-twist me? Or do you want to confirm my style of doing things?” Zhong Li Ming Jie’s low whisper was laced with a seductive allure. “After all, we’re not exactly well-acquainted.”
“That’s true!” She chuckled lightly.
The two were lost in a passionate embrace, completely oblivious to the fact that a child under eighteen was watching them from the side.
“Daddy, I’m getting angry.”
Zhong Li Fan clenched his tiny fists, but he received no response from his father.
It seemed he hadn’t spoken loudly enough; however, with his childish voice, how could it compete with that woman’s sharp and sultry tones?
He finally understood why he had been born without a mother.
His daddy was a good man and definitely a good father, but the issue lay in his attitude towards life and his sex life. If he were a mommy, he wouldn’t want such a man either; it was only natural for her to leave home. Yet here he was, feeling helpless as her son, unable to run away himself.
Sigh! It wasn’t entirely his daddy’s fault; young, wealthy, handsome, and charming—naturally, there were many women around him vying for his attention. It was no wonder he couldn’t resist.
But if it were him, he would never do such a thing, never repeat his father's mistakes. He could never let himself become so debauched that he wouldn't even remember to pick up his own son during the holidays.
“ Mingjie, call my name…”
Zhong Li Fan raised his eyes in anger, unable to believe that this young lady could so blatantly ignore his presence. However, he reassured himself that his father was just playing around; this lady would definitely not become his mother. So for his father's sake, he decided to turn a blind eye.
With a faint sigh, he resigned himself and started to walk out. Just as he was about to close the door and make his escape, he heard—
“Lisa, I love you!”
Sigh! Another one of his father's deceitful sweet nothings.
Forget it, forget it; he should just leave quickly. He still had a long way to go before turning eighteen.
“Who is Lisa?” The blonde woman suddenly shoved him aside.
Zhong Li Mingjie was taken aback but then flashed a charming smile. “Judy?”
“Who is Judy?” She was about to explode, her blue eyes blazing with fiery anger.
“Sandra? Kristin? Brenda? Melody? Jill? Lina?” Seeing her start to get out of bed and dress, Zhong Li Mingjie could only ask lightly, “Who exactly are you?”
He shouldn’t have asked; the moment he did, it only fueled her fury!
“You bastard!” A three-inch stiletto heel struck his handsome face with pinpoint accuracy. Then she elegantly picked up her shoe and slipped it back on, leaving the opulent house without looking back.
Zhong Li Fan, who had been hiding behind the door, let out a heavy sigh. "No wonder every time I ask him about Mommy's name, he never answers. It turns out he forgot... Forget it, if I stay here any longer, I'm going to go crazy. I might as well take advantage of the holiday and go to Taiwan to find Sister Xiao Fan."
It wasn't that he was heartless and didn't want to visit his father's injuries; it was just that this wasn't the first time such a situation had played out. He had gotten used to it—after all, he didn't really care. Perhaps he wouldn't care about anyone at all, which was why Mommy didn't want him.
He suddenly felt so pitiful—abandoned by Mommy and unloved by Daddy, he had no choice but to run away from home.
---
Taiwan Bei Heng Group President Office
"When are you going to take me out for a meal?"
The man asked with deep affection, his gaze fixed on the only woman in the office, but all he received in response was the loud clacking of the keyboard as she typed away.
"Xin En, is it too much to use someone and then just toss them aside?" Shang Xingshu leaned down, forcing his face into her line of sight on the glowing computer screen, compelling her to focus on his handsome face. "Xin En?"
Lan Xin'en raised an eyebrow, a charming smile gracing her lips as she looked at him. "Who exactly is using whom? Xingshu, it's you saying that which makes me sad."
"Don't give me that! You want me to help you make connections without considering how much effort I put in for you. It's one thing not to thank me, but after everything is done, you just ignore me. Xin En, isn't it a bit too quick to burn bridges?" Shang Xingshu grinned mischievously, his long fingers playfully hooking her delicate chin.
She subtly shifted her office chair back, trying to evade his almost teasing gesture but didn’t stop him. "I've been really busy lately; I think you should understand."
Men were all the same; once they helped with something, they couldn't wait for their reward.
If everyone treated her this way, how could she possibly handle it?
"Are you so busy that you can't even find time for a meal? I refuse to believe you don't have even a little time for that." He was a hundred percent convinced she wasn't that busy; of course, he knew she was doing everything she could to reject him—yet it didn't matter; he was slowly getting used to her refusals.
"If you don't mind sharing a Bento with me in the office, I can ask my secretary to help me out," Lan Xin'en said, spreading her hands with a playful yet helpless expression on her lively face.
"Just the two of us cramped up here eating Bento? That sounds so dull! No matter how you put it, you're just not interested." They had known each other for quite some time; there was no need for her to treat him like a thief. "I can't possibly act recklessly around you! Of course, saying I'm not interested in you would be a lie, but if you don't give me a nod, how could I dare to be bold? I'm not the kind of man who disrespects a lady."
Sigh! It seemed his worth was at an all-time low, which explained why he had been sleeping alone every night lately.
"We've known each other for so many years; how could I be afraid of you or feel the need to guard against you?" She smiled elegantly, her expression inscrutable. "It's just that I'm really swamped right now. Otherwise, I'd love to find some time to go out with you."
"Is that so?" Why not just organize a reunion then? If he believed her without question, he might as well take her last name.
That woman had a doll-like face that she used to deceive people. She appeared easygoing and spoke in a way that seemed considerate; in reality, she always used her smile to create distance between herself and others, blocking their concern with that same smile...
"How about having a meal together?" Now it was her turn to ask him back.
Shang Xingshu raised an eyebrow; no matter how reluctant he felt, he couldn't snap at her. After all, this woman would probably always be like this; it was foolish of him to think he could change her.
"Forget it. Besides Bento, I’m sure I have better options. Just don’t think I’ll let this go easily; consider this favor stored with you for now. I'm leaving." He waved his hand and walked out with a casual yet lazy stride, only to hear her softly call out to him. He turned abruptly. "Have you changed your mind?"
"No, I just wanted to tell you that I currently only have one secretary. Without her, things will get really complicated for me, so please don’t take her out for fun when I'm at my busiest."
Shang Xingshu rolled his eyes. "Fine!" That was enough.
Watching him leave her not-so-glamorous office, Lan Xin'en turned her attention back to the project proposal she needed to finalize.
She worked for Beiheng Group, which had always focused on the home appliance industry. However, recently, they aimed to combine home appliances with high-tech research to develop new crystals.
This was a significant new project, and she wanted to launch a series of products in succession, ensuring that no other company could seize this opportunity.
If successful, it would be her greatest achievement since taking office as president.
Ring, ring, ring...
She looked up at the phone, surprised that this call had come through without being screened by her secretary first.
There was only one person who would do such a thing. Could it be him? Thinking about the timing, it shouldn’t be time yet.
“Hello?” She raised an eyebrow as she answered the call, comfortably sinking into her office chair.
(Xin En, how have you been lately?)
A low, lazy voice came through the receiver, striking her heart like thunder and sending shivers down her spine. “It’s not time yet; why are you calling?”
She didn’t know how to talk to this man.
In the business world, she could navigate effortlessly, but for some reason, whenever she faced him, she found herself at a loss for words, unable even to manage the simplest small talk.
(Haha, you’re still the same; you’ll never answer my questions or even ask about me.) Zhong Li Ming Jie chuckled to himself. It would be a lie to say he didn’t care, but what did it matter? All he could do was smile wryly. (I have something I need your help with.)
“What is it?” She furrowed her brow slightly. “The annual Presidential Appointment Letter isn’t due for signing yet, is it?”
She and he, aside from this one matter, what else could they possibly talk about?
He let out a bitter laugh. Was there really nothing else worth discussing between them?
"Nothing."
On the other end of the phone, Zhong Li Ming Jie wearily slid down the white velvet sofa, his face filled with self-mocking smiles. While the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl reunited once a year on Qixi to express their longing for each other, he and she met annually at Beiheng merely to sign the Presidential Appointment Letter. Her coldness contrasted sharply with his warmth, a truly ironic situation.
Considering that he was the one who hired her, couldn’t she at least pretend to be cordial?
Or did she think even that was unnecessary?
"Forget it, I just need you to contact Xiao Fan for me and let her know…"
"She’s not in Taiwan." She paused before adding, "She went to find you. What, hasn’t she arrived yet?"
Strange. If he wasn’t in Manchester at this time, where could he possibly be?
Zhong Li Ming Jie raised an eyebrow, cursing inwardly. To deal with that woman whose name he couldn’t quite recall—was it Lina or Linda?—he had already made his way to Brussels; if Xiao Fan really went to Manchester to find him, she would surely be disappointed… but wait, where was Xiao Fan?
"Xin En, keep an eye out for me. If a child comes looking for me at Beiheng Group, just take him back to your place. I’ll pick him up in a few days."
Damn it! Now he had no idea where his son might have wandered off to.
That kid! He thought he had stormed back to school in a fit of anger, but it turned out no one could find him there. They had searched all over Manchester and still came up empty-handed. He assumed Xiao Fan had no one else to rely on except for the little princess of the Zhongli family, Zhong Li Fan; yet coincidentally, Xiao Fan had come looking for him… sigh, this was turning into quite a predicament.
He didn't want to return to Taiwan, nor did he want to see Xin En again; however, he was even more reluctant to let Xiao Fan know that his mother was such a heartless person.
Since Xiao Fan's birth, Xin En had only seen him once. She didn't even want to acknowledge Xiao Fan's existence. If Xiao Fan were to discover that the mother he longed to meet was this kind of person, it would be too cruel for him. He didn't want him to suffer any harm.
"What are you talking about? Get to the point." After rambling on for so long, what was he really saying?
(I'm trying to explain...) Just as he was about to clarify, he noticed that the woman had somehow moved beside him and was engaged in a tug-of-war over the phone.
(Don't play around, you... Linda? Lina? What is your name, anyway?)
(Go to hell!) The woman shouted angrily.
(Hey...)
This woman was infuriating; he wanted to curse her out, but he didn't even know her name. It was fine if she left; after all, he had to return to Taiwan.
Oh right, the call was still connected.
(Xin En?)
"Are you busy?" Lan Xin'en replied coldly.
She wanted to cover her ears, but he was just so remarkable that everything happened so suddenly she couldn't cut off the call in time.
(No, it's not what you think...)
Zhong Li Ming Jie furrowed her brows, lamenting that her fate had reached a truly tragic point.
She had already lost enough trust in him, and now with this incident, everything he had worked hard for seemed to be in vain.
"Goodbye!" What else was there to say? It was pointless to say more; after all, whatever he did was none of her business.
Lan Xinsi raised an eyebrow, her doll-like face filled with anger. She abruptly ended the call and then dialed the extension number: "Ying, no matter who calls, just say I'm not here." With that, she hung up.
She glared at the computer screen, staring at the numerical analyses and progress reports, but she no longer had the heart to continue her research.
That bastard! Why did he suddenly make such a nonsensical call at a time when it wasn't appropriate, forcing her to hear things she didn't want to?
Meanwhile, in Brussels, no matter how many times Zhong Li Ming Jie called, the response was always the same—she's not here.
Had she run away too quickly?
Sigh! That unromantic woman. He couldn't believe she would never feel his affection for her. Yet she remained resolutely blind to it. Even though he bound her in various ways and even asked her to bear him a child as a bargaining chip for his permanent position as CEO, she didn't even furrow her brow before complying.
However, the child was born, and the contract was established, but between them lay two parallel lines that would never intertwine.
What on earth was he supposed to do with this woman?
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