Chapter 41
Shen Ron didn’t come back to the bedroom until the next morning.
Cheng Lydia drifted off to sleep and woke up the next morning.
She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window looking across at Yang June’s bedroom and wondered if he was still in there? Had it been a sleepless night?
She sighed softly and turned into the bathroom to start washing up, changing and going downstairs and not seeing Shen Ron at the table.
The mood at the table was somewhat subdued, and even the ever-active Shen Belle was quite quiet.
Shen Belle claimed to be in a hurry and grabbed a sandwich and headed out the door, and Mrs. Shen claimed to have had enough and left the table.
When only Mrs. Shen and Cheng Lydia were left at the table, Cheng Lydia hesitated for a moment and asked the old lady with a smile, “Grandma, has Ron gone out?”
“Well, it’s gone early in the morning.” Old Mrs. Shen scowled at her, then spoke, “I heard all about the bid from LILY, Ron will be fine after being angry for a while, so don’t take it to heart.”
Cheng Lydia was a bit surprised that she had lost the ground, but why did the old lady not blame her at all? Instead, she was comforting her?
The old lady saw the doubts in her mind and smiled, “I still trust you as a person.”
“Thank you Grandma.” Cheng Lydia said gratefully, fearing that the old woman was the first and only person who would believe her.
“You shouldn’t blame Ron either,” the old lady hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Ron had promised Yang June that he would bid down the land for the playground, and now that he has lost the place, the playground is naturally out of the question, and it’s understandable that he would be so angry. ”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
Cheng Lydia’s grip on the cup tightened and she looked up at the older woman with a surprised look on her face.
It turns out Shen Ron bid the land down to build a playground for Yang June.
Spending such a huge amount of money just for a woman? Young Master Shen Guoshi has the aura of an ancient monarch!
No wonder Shen Ron was so angry and even had a big urge to kill her before he did, and no wonder he ran into Yang June’s room last night and stayed out all night, it turned out …
Hearing this news, Cheng Lydia heart vaguely some hard feelings, she knows she should not have such emotions, should not expect Shen Ron will fall in love with her, moreover, should not compete with Yang June favor, but her heart, but uncontrollably …
She took a deep breath and forced herself not to envy, not to care.
“Grandma, I wouldn’t blame him.” She smiled and took a sip from her milk, not letting the old woman gain insight into her tiny mind.
Old Mrs. Shen, however, said with some disappointment, “Actually, I’d rather see you get jealous and sad because of it.”
“Ron was originally in love with Yang June.” She smiled far-fetchedly, as if comforting the old woman, and as if comforting herself.
Cheng Lydia could not have expected to see Lim Edith in Shen, and inside the office at that.
“Why is this Miss Lin here again?” Alina glared at the door panel of Shen Ron’s office at the end of the shift without good grace.
“Talkative!” LILY glared down at her, then turned to Cheng Lydia, who was carrying the coffee, and said with a smile, “Why don’t … just let me bring it in?”
“No, you all go eat.” Cheng Lydia gave her a small smile.
Just now, Lim Edith paused in her tracks before walking into Shen Ron’s office, her gaze sweeping to Cheng Lydia said in a mocking voice, “Secretary Cheng, please make me a cup of coffee, freshly ground.”
That posture, that demeanor, like she, Lim Edith, was Shen Ron’s wife or girlfriend.
Of course she said yes in a heartbeat, it was her duty as a secretary.
She knocked on the door, got an answer and pushed her way in just in time to see behind the desk, Lim Edith was spooning around Shen Ron’s arm, “Let’s go to Western, you promised to treat me before.”
“No problem.” Shen Ron nodded with a smile.
Cheng Lydia’s eyes were slightly downcast as she wondered, “Aren’t these two cousins? How could they be so mushy?
“Miss Lim, your coffee.” She placed the tray of coffee in front of Lim Edith.
Lim Edith glanced at the coffee and frowned, “Didn’t I say I wanted freshly ground? Why did you give me instant?”
Cheng Lydia held the tray, her face still holding a polite smile, “Sorry Miss Lin, this is not a cafe or a leisure place, but an office space, so there is no freshly ground.”
“There’s always freshly cooked, right?” Lim Edith resented.
The ready-cooked ones were available, but Cheng Lydia wasn’t happy to cook them for her.
“There is, but I’m embarrassed that I can’t operate that thing.”
“You …!” Lim Edith gasped.
Shen Ron watched the two of them fight back and forth, and a playful light smile spread across his lips. He then grabbed Lim Edith’s small hand and softened his smile: “It’s just freshly ground coffee, isn’t the one in the western restaurant more fragrant and simple.”
“That’s right too, come on, let’s go for western food.” Lim Edith gave a cheerful laugh.
Together, the two rose from their chairs and walked around the desk toward the office door, with Lim Edith throwing her a smug smile as they passed Cheng Lydia.
Cheng Lydia froze in place, a small fire rising in her heart.
Lim Edith had bullied her from the day she married into The Lim Family, and now that she was divorced from Lim Toby, she still couldn’t get out of her shadow? On what grounds?
Last time, she tore her skirt at the banquet, making her lose face in front of countless princes and nobles, and today she came to Shen’s to embarrass her, do you really think that she, Cheng Lydia, is just a soft persimmon that can be pinched?
She turned abruptly and called out to the two men’s backs, “CEO Shen, wait a minute.”
Shen Ron’s footsteps stopped and he turned his head to look at her askance, “What is it?”
“CEO Shen did you forget that you have a lunch date with Mr. Ho of The Ho Family today to talk about the contract details.” She followed slowly out, looking at Shen Ron with a skeptical look on her face, as she pointed a jaw at Alina next to her, “What? Alina didn’t tell?”
“I … am sorry, I forgot.” Alina, who was named, said busily.
As soon as Alina heard Cheng Lydia’s name, her first thought was whether she had failed in her job, and although she wasn’t sure if Cheng Lydia had instructed her to pass on the CEO Shen’s meal, admitting her mistake right away was her only way out at this point.
Cheng Lydia returned to her seat and grabbed her bag and returned to Shen Ron: “CEO Shen, I have the information ready, can we go now?”
Cheng Lydia swept a glance at the grimacing Lim Edith and turned to Alina, “Alina, you accompany Miss Lim to the western restaurant for lunch, and remember to order Miss Lim a freshly brewed pot of coffee to hang the company’s tab.”
“Okay.” Alina was instantly pleased.
Great, there’s free western food and the main thing is to see this annoying Miss Lin roll away from CEO Shen.
“Miss Lim remember to eat and drink well, and never be polite.” Cheng Lydia turned to a grim-faced Lim Edith again and said with a smile.
“Honey, there’s no choice but to treat you another time.” Shen Ron patted Lim Edith’s shoulder, looking a little apologetic.
Lim Edith smiled stiffly, “It’s okay, sooner or later it’s all the same.”
“Yeah, sooner or later it’s all the same.” Cheng Lydia took Shen Ron’s arm, “But not the client, CEO Shen, we have ten minutes to get there.”
Shen Ron had to walk quickly with her in the direction of the elevator once he heard the time was short.
The two stepped into the elevator together as the doors slowly closed, gazing at an exasperated and hateful Lim Edith, Cheng Lydia’s lips curled and returned her cold and noble smile, following her example of what she had just done.
The two arrived inside an upscale Chinese restaurant downtown, where Cheng Lydia had already booked a table and ordered on the way.
Shen Ron took his seat and lifted his wristwatch to look at it, “I thought it said ten minutes left?”
Twenty minutes had passed by now, after another short traffic jam from the office, as the road wasn’t too close.
Perhaps it was because he hadn’t slept all night, but his eyes were red, and the look he gave her out of the corner of his eye was no longer angry, but it was as cold as an ice cellar.
The meticulously combed hair, the dark blue fur collar coat, the straight lines of casual trousers … even after the wretchedness, he was still the same charming man he had been on weekdays.
And what attracted Cheng Lydia the most was not his beautiful appearance or his status as a ferry gold, but … his dedication to Yang June.
Mrs. Shen is extremely right in saying that in today’s society, how many people can be as dedicated to loving someone as Shen Ron?
At the sight of Lim Edith smiling smugly at Shen Ron with his arm around her intimately, Cheng Lydia is not jealous, let alone worried, because she knows that Shen Ron does not love the outward-looking, inwardly superficial Lim Edith.
She fights back so that she can put a damper on Lim Edith’s arrogance and show her that she is no longer the pathetic wretch she once was who clung to The Lim Family.
The waiter placed two glasses of juice in front of each of them and politely asked, “Would you two like to be served now, please?”
“Now get on it.” Cheng Lydia grinned at him.
The waiter nodded and retreated.
“Is Mr. Ho coming or not?” Shen Ron’s original intention to take off his coat stopped, and the gaze that looked askance at Cheng Lydia was tinged with a few hints of suspicion.
“No way.” Cheng Lydia shook her head a little, “The appointment with Mr. Ho is tomorrow at noon.”
“You …!” Shen Ron put his half-removed coat back on and got up to glare at her indignantly, “Cheng Lydia, you tricked me into coming here just to fight for favor? Who gave you the nerve?”
Cheng Lydia saw that he was going to leave and was busy grabbing his palm with some emotion and said, “Shen Ron, it was me who wanted to invite you to dinner, in order to express my apologies. I know that land west of the city means a lot to you and I regret it, but I …”
“So you know all about it.” Shen Ron twisted his head around and sneered, “So that’s what you’re really after, but I told you …”
Shen Ron backhanded her small hand and closed it hard, gazing at her from close range, his palm as warm as spring, but the words that came out were as cold as winter:”… Even if you get rid of that land in the west of the city for me, but my feelings for Yang June won’t change because of it, the more you do this, the more my dislike for the more intense your disgust will be, I advise you to save your energy and stop making such unnecessary efforts.”
“I didn’t … ah …!” Cheng Lydia was just about to open her mouth to argue, when Shen Ron threw her back on the couch with a cold shrug.
“Like I said, you can have the land back if you want me to forgive you.” Shen Ron threw that down and took off.
Looking at his indignantly departing back, Cheng Lydia was speechless.
It seems she’s screwed up again and was going to invite him to lunch and apologize in a formal way, but instead she’s caused him a bigger misunderstanding.
How did she become the hateful villain who deliberately sabotaged him and Yang June and deliberately made the ground disappear? The charge was too much for her to accept.
Cheng Lydia sat up helplessly from the sofa, looking at the table with all of Shen Ron’s favorite dishes on it one after another, and her heart was lost.
Faced with such a kind of scene, she didn’t know how she should end up, should she eat in silence, or go away in gloom?
Just when she didn’t know where to go, a familiar voice rang in her ears, “Lydia, what are you doing here too?”
Cheng Lydia looked up and saw Aunt Helen standing to one side looking at herself with a look of delighted surprise.
“Godmother,” Cheng Lydia asked with a smile as she got up, trying hard to push down the loss in her heart, “What are you doing here too?”
“I had a dinner date with a friend who couldn’t make it through on short notice and was planning to leave.”
“As it happens, I’ve been cooled off too, so let’s eat together.” Cheng Lydia smiled and gestured with her finger to the table of food on the table.
Aunt Helen didn’t push back and took the seat that Shen Ron had just taken.
Cheng Lydia looked at Aunt Helen who was smiling with a kind face, remembering Chung Grace’s words yesterday, it was really hard to think of such a kind person as a bad person who did not have good intentions towards her.
“You’re too skinny, eat more meat.” Aunt Helen took a piece of beef into Cheng Lydia’s bowl and surveyed her with concern, “Why do you look like you have something on your mind? Is it because of your mother?”
Cheng Lydia touched her face, she was already hiding it deliberately, since she could still be seen in the mind at a glance?
She didn’t know what to tell Aunt Helen about her feud with Shen Ron, and didn’t want her to worry if she found out, saying as she did, “It did get a bit tangled.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Godmother,” Cheng Lydia squared up and stared at her as she spoke in a serious voice, “The hospital said they could operate on my mother, and that she might be able to wake up after the surgery, but it’s risky and there’s only a fifty-fifty chance. I’m worried that the surgery will fail, do you think I should accept or reject it?”
“Accept it, of course.” Aunt Helen thought nothing of it.
“Godmother thinks I should take it?” Cheng Lydia was surprised.
She expected Aunt Helen to give her ambiguous advice like everyone else, after all, failure is a human life and no one would be so decisive as to say yes, but instead Aunt Helen agreed without even thinking about it.
“This is a great opportunity and you should take it.” Aunt Helen sighed mid-sentence and continued, “I understand what’s on your mind, you’re afraid of losing your mom because of it, but have you ever thought about how your mom feels? She is lying there all day long, unable to get up, unable to see the world outside, unable to feel the sunlight outside, unable to even open her eyes to look at you, her dearest daughter, what is the difference between this and death? Perhaps she wants relief more than anyone else in her heart. Now there is a fifty percent chance before her, and I think if it were her choice, she would choose the operation too.”
“Is that so?” Cheng Lydia asked in a mumbled voice.
All this time, she had only thought about her own feelings, but never considered things from her mother’s point of view. As she heard Aunt Helen’s words today, she suddenly felt that she had been a bit selfish in her previous thoughts.
“Well, the shrimp here look delicious, I’ll peel them for you.” Aunt Helen smiled and wiped her hands on a damp towel, pinched a shrimp from the plate and peeled it.
Cheng Lydia was busy saying, “No, I’ll do it myself.”
“Godmother is not an outsider, when you were little you loved to ask Godmother to peel your shrimps.” Aunt Helen suddenly thought like, saw a glance at her hands and smiled again: “Lydia is afraid that Godmother’s hands are not clean? Then Godmother go wash them.”
“No. …” Before Cheng Lydia could finish her sentence, Aunt Helen had already gotten up and headed in the direction of the bathroom, and she took a light breath, feeling slightly uncomfortable inside. Maybe it was because there were so few people who usually cared about her, and suddenly she met a Godmother who cared so much about her, and couldn’t get used to it for a while.
There was a sudden ringing in her ears and Cheng Lydia woke up to find Aunt Helen’s phone ringing on her desk.
She scanned the direction of the bathroom; Aunt Helen hadn’t come out yet.
The phone rang continuously, as if it would not rest until the owner answered.
Cheng Lydia reached for the phone, hesitant to answer it, but the ringing stopped at that moment, and a moment later a text message leapt onto the screen: Mrs. Yang, I’ve arrived.
Mrs. Yang, Cheng Lydia knew for the first time that Aunt Helen had this title, and she put the phone back across the table and looked down to eat her bowl of food.
Not long after, Aunt Helen came out from washing her hands, and Cheng Lydia reminded her with a smile, “Godmother, your phone just rang.”
“Yeah?” Aunt Helen was stunned for a moment, picking up her phone and scanning it quickly, a flash of panic in her eyes when she saw the text message on the screen, then looked up to Cheng Lydia and smiled lightly, “That friend of mine is coming over.”
“Then Godmother you go and keep your friends company.”
“Are you okay with being alone? How about with Godmother?”
“No need.” Cheng Lydia watched as she pulled up her handbag and watched her leave.