OBS Chapter 1562 Keeping Promises
Chapter 1562 Keeping Promises
After Zhao Mei confronted Li Dongming, she immediately packed her things and moved to a hotel she had rented in advance. She only brought a suitcase with a few changes of clothes and daily necessities. The room wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy, with a south-facing window that let in sunlight. She leaned her suitcase against the wall, sat on the edge of the bed, and stared blankly for a long time.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
"How are things on your end? Did Li Dongming do anything to you?" Liang Danning's voice was filled with tension and concern.
Hearing Liang Danning's concern, Zhao Mei felt a warmth in her heart. Leaning against the headboard, her voice was a little hoarse: "It's okay, I have something on him, he won't dare to do anything reckless."
"Did he agree to leave with nothing?"
Zhao Mei was silent for a few seconds, then said, "He will agree."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. A long while passed, and Liang Danning didn't respond. Zhao Mei sensed something was wrong and frowned.
"Denim, what's wrong?"
"Zhao Mei, I think I'm being followed." Liang Danning lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
Zhao Mei immediately tensed up, sitting up straight on the bed: "Following you? Could you be mistaken?"
"Maybe." Liang Danning's tone carried a hint of uncertainty. "Since you're alright, I'm relieved. Get some rest; you have to go to work tomorrow."
"Ah."
After hanging up the phone, Liang Danning clutched her phone in her hand and quickened her pace toward the gate of the residential compound.
Across from them, a man wearing a mask stood in the shade of a roadside tree. He held a portable camera, the lens pointed at Liang Danning's back, and pressed the shutter repeatedly. Click, click, the faint sound of the shutter being blown away by the night breeze.
Silkworm Cocoon Bar.
Inside the dance floor, young, energetic couples were unabashedly releasing the stress from work and life. The music was deafening, the lights were dazzling and flashing, and the air was filled with the mixed scent of alcohol and perfume.
The DJ was shouting something on stage, but no one could hear him clearly, yet everyone swayed to the rhythm.
The soundproofing in the private room on the second floor was excellent, keeping the outside noise out. Qin Hao sat on the sofa, a stack of photos spread out on the long coffee table in front of him. He flipped through them one by one, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
The scene in the photo is ordinary—a woman is holding a little boy's hand, shopping for groceries at a supermarket, strolling in a park, and swinging on a swing in the neighborhood playground. The woman's face is clearly visible; it's Liang Danning. The little boy looks about two or three years old, wearing a blue T-shirt and white shorts, with small sandals on his feet. His eyebrows, nose, lips, and even the curve of his smile bear a striking resemblance to Qin Hao.
"Are you sure this little boy calls Liang Danning 'Mom'?" Qin Hao looked up at the masked man standing next to him.
The man nodded repeatedly, took off his mask, revealing an unremarkable face: "I heard it clearly, there's no mistake. In the park, the child called 'Mom' several times, and Liang Danning responded each time."
Qin Hao took a thick envelope out of his bag and threw it on the table. The man's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take it.
"Boss, if you need any more work in the future, just let me know. I'll make sure you're satisfied." He said, stuffing the envelope into his pocket.
"Alright, let's go." Qin Hao waved his hand. "We'll find you if there's work. Also, keep today's incident to yourself. If I hear any rumors about it outside, you're no longer in this business."
The man immediately stopped smiling, bowed and scraped as he left the private room, gently closing the door behind him.
The private room fell silent. Shen Mo picked up the bottle and poured Qin Hao a glass of wine; the amber liquid shimmered under the light.
"This child is most likely yours." Shen Mo pushed his wine glass towards Qin Hao. "What do you plan to do?"
Qin Hao picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and leaned back on the sofa: "Since she likes children, let her raise them."
Shen Mo sighed upon hearing this. He put down his wine glass, leaned forward, and placed his hands crossed on his knees.
"President Qin, forgive my bluntness, but although Liang Danning gave birth to this child behind your back, if it's confirmed that he's your biological son, it's best to bring him to your side." His voice was low and sincere: "My biggest regret in this life is not having a son. What's the use of making so much money now? In the end, won't it all benefit Dong Yue?"
Qin Hao glanced at him and shook his head: "Old Shen, don't blame me for being pessimistic, Dong Yue isn't necessarily reliable either."
He picked up his glass and took another sip.
"Instead of placing your hopes on an outsider, why not take advantage of the energy you still have and set up a family trust?"
Shen Mo hesitated for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on his knee: "Hmm, that makes sense. But if Dong Yue finds out, won't he take his anger out on Shen Xing?"
Qin Hao put down his wine glass, sat up straight, and looked at Shen Mo.
"Old Shen, to put it bluntly, with Shen Xing's temper, why has Dong Yue been able to tolerate it for so long?"
"Because he needs your connections and resources to climb the ladder. Once he reaches a certain height, he won't feel that you nurtured him; he'll only feel that he traded his dignity for it."
He paused, then said, word by word, "By then, do you still expect him to be as considerate and tolerant of Shen Xing as he is now?"
Shen Mo fell completely silent. Qin Hao's words had awakened him: never gamble on human nature. He had seen too many examples of people who had crossed the river and then burned the bridge; those who had sworn to be "grateful for a lifetime" had turned their backs faster than turning the pages of a book.
"President Qin, thank goodness you reminded me." Shen Mo sat up straight, picked up his wine glass, and looked at Qin Hao solemnly: "I won't thank you enough. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."
Qin Hao smiled, raised his glass, clinked it with his, and drank it all in one gulp. Then he stood up and straightened his collar.
"If there's nothing else, I'll head out now."
Shen Mo escorted Qin Hao to the door. A cool night breeze blew by. Looking up, the U8 was parked on the side of the road, and the security guard had already opened the door. Qin Hao got in, started the engine, and the window slowly rolled down.
"See you later, Mr. Shen."
"See you."
Shen Mo stood at the door, watching the taillights of the U8 disappear around the street corner before turning around, taking out his phone, and dialing a number.
"Hey, book me a flight to Hong Kong for tomorrow."
On the other side, Qiao Hailun sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the door. The television was playing a currently popular drama, but she had absolutely no interest in the content. She was wearing a silk nightgown, her hair was loose, and she was holding a cushion in her arms, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the tassels of the cushion.
Hearing the fingerprint lock open, she didn't even bother to put on her slippers, stepping barefoot on the floor, and immediately went to greet it.
"Back so early?" She took the bag from Qin Hao and hung it on the coat rack in the entryway. "Why didn't you play a little longer?"
Qin Hao naturally sensed that Qiao Hailun was being insincere, so he pinched her nose and chuckled as he scolded her.
"If I hadn't come back, would you still be able to sit still?"
Qiao Hailun blushed slightly when her secret was exposed, and she clung to Qin Hao's arm, saying coquettishly, "I just care about you too much."
Qin Hao led her to the sofa and sat down. Qiao Hailun leaned against his shoulder, pulled her legs up onto the sofa, and snuggled into his arms. Qin Hao reached out and ruffled her hair, remaining silent for a few seconds.
"There's something I want to tell you." His tone became serious.
Seeing Qin Hao's serious tone, Qiao Hailun immediately stopped smiling, sat up straight, and placed her hands on her knees like a primary school student.
“Liang Danning has a child who is a little over two years old.” Qin Hao looked into her eyes. “It could be mine.”
Qiao Hailun froze. Her mind went blank, as if she had been hit hard by something. She didn't hear a word Qin Hao said after that. Tears immediately streamed down her face uncontrollably.
"Okay, I understand." She stood up, her voice trembling. "I'll give her my seat right away."
Qin Hao grabbed her. Qiao Hailun struggled, but couldn't break free. Qin Hao pulled her back onto the sofa and held her tightly in his arms.
"What kind of nonsense are you thinking about all day long?" His voice was both amused and exasperated. "When did I ever say I wanted to get back together with Liang Danning?"
Helen sobbed in his arms, looking at him with a pitiful expression: "But you both have children..."
Qin Hao was both amused and annoyed, and flicked her forehead: "The way you're talking makes it sound like I'm seventy or eighty years old and can't have any more children."
Qiao Hailun hissed as she was flicked, clutching her forehead. She paused for a second, then slapped her forehead. That's right! Qin Hao and she were still young. What was so special about Liang Danning having a child? She could have children too, and not only that, she would have more than Liang Danning—ideally ten or eight of them.
“But—” she suddenly thought of a question and looked at Qin Hao suspiciously: “We’ve been together for so long, how come I don’t have any signs of pregnancy? We haven’t taken any precautions.”
This was intolerable. Qin Hao hoisted Qiao Hailun onto his shoulder and strode towards the bedroom.
"How dare you question me? I'll teach you a lesson."
Qiao Hailun leaned on his shoulder, kicking her legs wildly in the air, and snorted, "Who's going to beat whom is still uncertain. I usually just let you have your way because I'm afraid you'll hurt your back."
Faced with Qiao Hailun's provocation, Qin Hao could no longer restrain himself and threw Qiao Hailun onto the bed.
"Today I'll show you the price of provoking me!"
Before he could finish speaking, Qiao Hailun had already wrapped herself around him. Her arms were around his neck, her legs were wrapped around his waist, and she clung to him like a vine.
For a moment, the bedroom was filled with an atmosphere of boundless spring...
The next day, at noon.
Liang Danning had just reported to Guster again that morning. The sales department was still staffed with the same old people; Guster was currently laying off staff, with only old employees leaving and no new ones coming in, so Liang Danning didn't have to adapt to new interpersonal relationships. The only difference was that her direct supervisor had become Dong Yue.
She received her employee badge and sat down at her workstation. The workstation was by the window, offering a view of the street below. She wiped the desk, placed her water cup and pen holder on it, turned on her computer, and entered her password. Everything went smoothly, like putting on an old pair of shoes.
Just as she was about to invite Zhao Mei to dinner, a video call popped up on WeChat.
She looked down—a familiar profile picture: Qin Hao.
Liang Danning took a deep breath and answered the video call. Qin Hao's face appeared on the screen, with a restaurant booth in the background, bathed in soft lighting.
"President Qin, what brings you here?" Her tone was tinged with sarcasm. "What made you think of calling me?"
"I'm at the Western restaurant downstairs from you," Qin Hao said calmly. "Do you have time to talk?"
Liang Danning's heart tightened, and her fingers gripped her phone slightly. She forced a calm expression and managed a smile.
"Sure, no problem. Do you mind if there's another person? I've already made plans to have lunch with Zhao Mei."
"There's no need to involve outsiders in our affairs." Qin Hao's tone left no room for argument: "If Zhao Mei wants to continue working in Guster, she'd better not show her face!"
Liang Danning pouted and muttered under her breath, "Still so domineering."
She hung up the phone, told her colleague next to her, picked up her bag, and left the office. She was alone in the elevator. She tidied her hair in front of the mirror on the elevator wall and took a deep breath.
In the Western restaurant on the third floor of the building where Gustéphane was located, the lighting was soft, and the tables, covered with white tablecloths, were set with exquisite tableware and a vase of flowers. After Liang Danning sat down, she didn't look at the menu and went straight to the point.
"Let's chat. We only have an hour for lunch break."
"It won't take that long, it can be explained in a few words." Qin Hao said, opening his phone's photo album and turning the screen towards her.
Liang Danning looked down at the photo—in it, she was holding a child's hand, bending down to pick something up from a supermarket shelf. The child's face was clearly visible, with smiling eyes and a happy expression.
"Do you have any explanation for this?"
When Liang Danning saw the photo, she panicked. Her fingers gripped the tablecloth tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"Did you send someone to follow me?"
Qin Hao nodded in agreement, his expression calm.
Liang Danning clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms: "What do you want?"
Qin Hao was both angry and amused. He put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms.
"You were the one who initiated the breakup, and then you ran off with my baby, and now you're asking me what I want?" His voice rose several octaves: "Sister, shouldn't I be asking you what you want?"
Liang Danning was speechless for a moment. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back. After a moment of silence, she gritted her teeth and said, "The child is mine, born after ten months of pregnancy. It has nothing to do with you."
"If it has nothing to do with me, then go find someone else to have a child with!" Qin Hao slammed his hand on the table, his voice not loud, but heavy: "The child has half my blood in it, and you're saying it has nothing to do with me?"
Liang Danning stiffened her neck, her eyes reddening: "Why are you being so fierce? I only found out later..." Her voice lowered: "Anyway, I raised the child from a baby, you can't take the child away from me."
Qin Hao was amused and annoyed. He stared at Liang Danning for a few seconds, then slowly spoke.
“Fine, since you say the child has nothing to do with me, then my will will not leave him any property.” He said, word by word, “If you agree, I’ll pretend I have nothing to do with him.”
Liang Danning felt a pang of inner turmoil. It wasn't that she coveted Qin Hao's wealth, but rather she worried that if she made this decision for her son now, would he resent her in the future? Would he question her one night, asking: "Mom, why are you making this decision for me? Why won't you let me acknowledge my wealthy father?"
She bit her lip and remained silent for a long time.
"I agree!" she finally said, her voice soft but firm.
"Okay, I'll keep my word!" Qin Hao said, getting up and leaving the restaurant.
Liang Danning sat in her seat, staring at the cup of coffee, lost in thought for a long time. She picked up her water glass, took a sip; the water was warm, but her fingers were cold.
She picked up the takeout box, packed the food on the table, then stood up and walked out of the restaurant.
Back in Guster, Liang Danning didn't return to her workstation but went straight to Zhao Mei's office. Zhao Mei was sitting behind her desk looking at documents when she saw Liang Danning enter.
Liang Danning placed the takeout box she was holding on the table.
Zhao Mei's eyes widened when she saw the logo on the takeout box: "Isn't this that super expensive French restaurant downstairs? What's the occasion? Why are you spending so much?"
"If someone's treating, I might as well eat it." Liang Danning casually laid out the lunchbox, opened the lid, and revealed the steak, salad, and dessert inside.
Zhao Mei leaned over, picked up a fork, and stuck a piece of steak into her mouth. As she chewed, she teased, "Who's so greedy? Could it be that you have a new suitor? You're ripping someone off like that right off the bat. Aren't you afraid of scaring them away?"
Liang Danning pouted: "What new suitor, Qin Hao?"
Upon hearing that it was Qin Hao, Zhao Mei's eyes lit up, and the fork in her hand froze in mid-air: "What does this mean? You two wouldn't be..."
"No, absolutely impossible." Liang Danning's words shattered Zhao Mei's illusions.
Zhao Mei's smile froze on her face. "Then what is he...?"
"You're trying to interrogate me." Liang Danning laughed self-deprecatingly, "We haven't seen each other for more than two years since the breakup, and suddenly a child appears."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mei's hope was rekindled. She leaned forward and lowered her voice, "Now that Qin Hao knows, is he going to fight you for custody?"
“You’re overthinking it.” Liang Danning picked up her fork and poked at the salad on her plate. “They’re very generous; they’re not fighting me for custody. It’s just that their will won’t leave my son a single penny.”
Instantly, Zhao Mei slumped into her chair, the fork in her hand falling onto the table with a crisp sound.
"Don't tell me you agreed?" Her voice changed.
"What else can I do? Let him fight me for custody. Do you think I can win?" Liang Danning tightened her grip on the knife and fork. "Just thinking about my son having to call that bitch 'Mom' makes me want to kill someone."
Zhao Mei sighed and covered her face with her hands: "It's all over, everything is over."
Liang Danning disagreed, forked a piece of steak, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed: "A simple life is fine too. I don't want my son to get involved in such complicated family relationships."
Zhao Mei lowered her hand, looked at Liang Danning, and said with a complicated expression, "Have you ever thought about whether your son will hate you for making such a hasty decision for him?"
Liang Danning paused, her fork hovering in mid-air, the steak falling back onto the plate. She stared at the steak, silent for a few seconds, then said casually, "If you don't tell, and I don't tell, how will he know?"
Zhao Mei opened her mouth, as if to say something, but when she met Liang Danning's slightly reddened eyes, she swallowed her words. She sighed, picked up her fork, and silently ate the food on her plate.
The office was so quiet you could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall. (End of Chapter)