Chapter 40

Three days later, the Qi family of three boarded a plane bound for Shen City.

"Why not take the family private jet?"

Sitting in the back row of first class, Qi Shaobai suddenly asked while looking at his dad and stepmom in the front row.

The private jet was not as crowded as a commercial plane, so the three of them didn't have to sit in rows.

"Becau—" Qi Mo turned his head and had just uttered a syllable when Sheng Mumu, who really couldn't hold back her sarcasm, cut him off.

"There are first class seats and you're still complaining? You're impossible."

Sheng Mumu glared at him.

Qi Shaobai was taken aback at first.

Then he slowly turned his head to look out the window and quietly stopped talking.

Hearing the two people's conversation, Qi Mo imperceptibly curved his lips and slowly closed his eyelids, leaning back to rest.

...

Shen City Airport. "Are you sure Mr. Qi is coming today?"

Qu Hui had her hands clasped together as she kept looking in the direction of the arrival gate and asked her assistant behind her.

"Yes, Ms. Qu. I've triple checked. Mr. Qi is indeed arriving today." The assistant looked at the time. "According to the information, the plane should land in less than ten minutes."

Qu Hui impatiently hmm'd and lifted her sunglasses to walk towards the seats in the arrivals hall.

Seeing her sit down, the assistant finally breathed a sigh of relief and subtly patted his chest.

Phew—

It was difficult to get information on Mr. Qi's flight time. If there were any changes to his schedule, Ms. Qu would definitely blame him. I hope there are no changes.

Come to think of it, it is strange.

Ms. Qu is thirty-two this year. She has looks and figure. There are many prestigious families in Shen City who want to marry her, not just a few.

But over the years, Ms. Qu's heart has been set on that man living far away in Jing City.

Back then, Ms. Qu's feelings were understandable. After all, Mr. Qi is a rare talented and handsome young man. His looks and temperament are extraordinary.

But now...

The man is married, yet Ms. Qu still...

Qu Hui stared at the people coming out from the arrival gate, hoping to see the man who had captivated her heart for many years, her gaze becoming more and more obstinate.

A few years ago, she accompanied her father to a banquet and met Qi Mo for the first time. It was love at first sight.

She begged her father to play matchmaker, but her father told her, "Don't be silly. He has a son. Do you want to be a stepmother?"

So what if she did? Rather than marrying a man she didn't like, she was willing to be a stepmother for the man she truly loved.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried to get close to that man, he always kept her at a distance.

In order to be a match for him, she worked hard to learn business and took over her father's industry, silently keeping up with Qi Mo's every news and development.

Just as she finally made the family business one of the best in Shen City and had the confidence to stand before him again to express her feelings, she received shocking news like a bolt from the blue—

He had a flash marriage.

The news said the woman who became Mrs. Qi came from an ordinary family and looked plain.

She was unwilling to accept this. She ordered people around her not to mention anything about Qi Mo's new wife in front of her.

She was waiting for a chance, a chance to stand before him in person.

She believed that as long as Qi Mo saw her now, he would understand that only she was fit to be Mrs. Qi.

Thinking of the past, Qu Hui's eyes narrowed.

This time, Qi Mo is personally coming to Shen City to inspect the resort. This is the chance she has been waiting for for a long time!

Suppressing the unwillingness in her heart, the only thing left in Qu Hui's eyes was anticipation.

At this moment, a tall figure appeared before her eyes.

The man was still tall and straight. Wearing a black overcoat, his silent and aloof temperament made him exude a majestic aura of a top dog.

Just like the first time she saw him, handsome beyond compare. His pitch-black eyes were like a deep pool, drawing people to sink deep within.

Qu Hui took off her sunglasses. She could no longer see anyone else. With a smile, she walked over to him.

"Mr. Qi! I've been waiting for you. Welcome to Shen City!"

The man turned his head and looked at her with an indifferent gaze, his brows slowly furrowing.

There seemed to be an immeasurable distance in his eyes. He said in a low voice,

"You are?"

Qu Hui's smile froze, as if doused from head to toe with a bucket of icy water on a snowy day, unable to move a muscle.

The assistant behind her was also at a loss, looking back and forth between them in surprise.

No way. Mr. Qi doesn't recognize Ms. Qu?

How could this be?

This...is so awkward.

Qu Hui pulled at the corners of her mouth and dug her nails into her palms to barely maintain composure.

"It's me, Qu Hui. We met many years ago. Don't you remember?"

The man's eyes were as cold as blades, searching for this name in his mind.

Qu Hui pursed her lips and prompted, "My father is Qu Tangxin."

Qi Mo raised his brow. "Oh, Tangxin Group's Qu?"

"Yes, Qu Hui."

"Nice to meet you."

"I know you're coming to Shen City recently, so I came to the airport specially to pick you up. I booked a room at the Qi Resort. I'm very happy to see you again. Let's catch up over the next few days."

... On the side witnessing everything, Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai exchanged a look.

Sheng Mumu lowered her voice and asked Qi Shaobai, "Has your dad's memory deteriorated after thirty? Should we ask the butler to prepare some health supplements for him?"

Qi Shaobai's mouth twitched. "Do you even hear yourself?"

It was also when Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai were whispering that Qu Hui noticed the two people beside Qi Mo.

A sense of astonishment arose in her heart as she looked at the woman standing just one fist away from the man. With a stiff smile, she asked,

"Mr. Qi, who is this?"

Qi Mo lightly tipped his chin. "My wife and son."

Qu Hui was stunned, disbelief in her eyes.

The woman before her was tall and fair. With a small, exquisite face and a pair of captivating fox-like eyes, she lightly smiled, seeming like a greeting, when Qi Mo introduced them. Her whole being was as enchanting as she was lively and cute.

Qu Hui instantly felt like a joke.

She had thought the rumors that Qi Mo's wife was plain-looking were true, arrogantly not bothering to find out anything about her.

Now, seeing with her own eyes, she couldn't find any words.

Qi Mo lightly tapped his chin, and said in a low voice that kept an unbridgeable distance,

"There's no need to catch up. This is a private trip. I don't want to see too many people. Ms. Qu, if there's nothing else, we'll be on our way."

Though this was said tactfully, Qu Hui heard the impassable distance behind it. Without waiting for her to say anything more, the man had already strode away in his long legs, disappearing in just a few steps.

"Mr. Qi—"

She swallowed back her last call.

Clenching her teeth tightly as she watched the man's receding figure and the woman beside him.

The assistant hesitantly walked over. "Ms. Qu...uh...the room at the resort, do you still want it booked?"

Qu Hui whipped her head around. "Idiot! Why didn't you tell me Mr. Qi was coming with his wife?"

The assistant furrowed his brows aggrievedly. "You told us not to mention anything about Mr. Qi's wife in front of you."

"You dare talk back? Do you want to quit?"

The assistant lowered his head regretfully. "I'm sorry Ms. Qu. I was incompetent."

"Keep the room booked for me! Bring the car around and follow Mr. Qi's car. Find out which room they're staying in."

"Yes, Ms. Qu."

Qu Hui felt awful and unwilling inside. Just thinking that Qi Mo didn't recognize her made her want to grind her teeth into powder.

In the black Porsche ahead, Qi Mo and his wife sat in the backseat.

Seeing his silhouette, Qu Hui clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She comforted herself in her heart.

It's nothing. Pursuing someone out of reach would definitely not be easy.

The car in front turned right into the resort's villa area. The car behind gradually slowed down.

Qu Hui was puzzled. "Why drive so slowly? Hurry and catch up!"

The driver looked back with an awkward expression. "Ms. Qu, those are exclusive parking spaces ahead. Other vehicles are prohibited..."