Chapter Forty-Four: Tang Xin's Suitor

Chapter Forty-Four: Tang Xin’s Admirer!

“If you won’t tell me what’s going on, I’m not going back,” Tang Zhong said. He knew Hepburn Zhang’s temperament well—she was like a child who had never quite grown up. He assumed, as always, that this was just another of her pranks.

Hepburn Zhang was silent for two seconds before muttering quietly, “Someone’s here to see you.”

“Who?”

“Aunt Bai told me not to tell you. She was afraid you’d get angry.”

“Then why are you telling me?”

“I—well, you being angry doesn’t mean I’m angry, does it? I quite like watching you get all riled up.”

Tang Zhong felt the sudden urge to strangle her.

“Hee hee, are you mad now? That’s exactly what I was going for. Besides, I really want you to come back and visit. If you come, things will get much more interesting. I know you’re dying to know who’s here for you,” Hepburn Zhang chattered on, once again displaying her knack for endless talk.

“If you don’t tell me, I’m hanging up,” Tang Zhong warned her. ‘Guess who I am’—those childish games girls play weren’t for him. If someone tried that on the phone with him, his answer was simple: hang up immediately.

“Fine, fine. I’ll tell you,” Hepburn Zhang replied, her tone disgruntled and dissatisfied with Tang Zhong’s attitude. Stifling a giggle, she whispered, “It’s your admirer—”

“My admirer?” Tang Zhong’s mind sharpened. He immediately understood what Hepburn Zhang meant.

He was new to Mingzhu—how could he already have an admirer?

But his younger sister, Tang Xin, had been in Mingzhu for years. With her popularity and looks, it was hardly surprising that several men were taken with her—

News of Tang Xin’s illness hadn’t been made public, and few knew she had left Mingzhu.

Could it be that someone had gone to Ziyuan looking for her?

The thought made Tang Zhong’s scalp tingle. What a mess! For the first time, he felt some resentment toward the head of the family’s decision. She’s your daughter, but am I not your son? How could you send your own son to handle this kind of thing?

“Hee hee. Why so quiet? Are you excited?” Hepburn Zhang’s mischievous laughter echoed, as if she feared the world would ever know peace.

“Not excited. Proud.”

“Proud that a man came looking for you?”

“Proud that my sister is so outstanding—some women, on the other hand, are pitiful. No one even thinks of them as women. Everyone treats them like children.”

“Tang Zhong!” Hepburn Zhang practically ground her teeth as she yelled.

“Alright. I’m busy. I’m hanging up now,” Tang Zhong said, efficiently ending the call.

“Aaahhh—” Hepburn Zhang stared at the dial tone, then flung her phone aside, grabbed a pillow, and began pummeling her own legs with it, her shouts reminiscent of someone being harassed.

“Horrible. Absolutely horrible. How can anyone be so hateful? Tang Zhong is a big pig, a big oaf, a colossal idiot, a brute—” An endless stream of not-so-flattering nicknames tumbled from her rosy lips. “Who says I’m not a woman? Who says no one likes me? Plenty of people do! More than you, for sure. You narcissist, you silly fool, you have no gentlemanly manners—”

Lin Huiyin, facing the wall and absorbed in her painting, ignored both Hepburn Zhang’s outburst and her agitated gestures. This was the real Hepburn Zhang—if she ever sat quietly reading or painting all day, acting the demure lady, she must be seriously ill. Gravely so.

After venting for a while and realizing no one was paying her any mind, Hepburn Zhang grew bored. She hopped off the bed, her bare feet sinking into the thick carpet, and scampered over behind Lin Huiyin. “Sister Huiyin, is your painting still not finished?”

“No,” Lin Huiyin replied simply.

Hepburn Zhang glanced at her canvas. “Don’t you get bored painting the same picture all the time, Sister Huiyin?”

“No.”

“Why not paint something else? You could do a landscape, or an apple, or an egg—or even me—”

Lin Huiyin offered no answer, already beginning to feel irritated. She knew that if she kept responding, Hepburn Zhang could go on questioning her for three days and nights—heaven only knew how she enjoyed talking so much.

Is it really good to lay bare all your thoughts and feelings like that?

But Hepburn Zhang was used to Lin Huiyin’s indifference, and continued, “Sister Huiyin, shall we go downstairs and have a look? Do you think that Monkey King is still here? I bet he hasn’t left. He won’t go until he sees Tang Xin.”

“Not going.”

“Then I’ll go.”

“Go ahead.”

“Sister Huiyin, just come down with me—”

In the end, Hepburn Zhang failed to persuade Lin Huiyin to accompany her and had to settle for bringing along a giant teddy bear.

As Hepburn Zhang descended the stairs, a thin, almost skeletal young man sitting in the living room rose with a wide grin and greeted her, “Hepburn, we meet again. I thought I wouldn’t get to see you.”

“How could that be? If Young Master Sun wants to see us, it can happen anytime,” Hepburn Zhang replied cheerfully.

Bai Su had been sitting in the living room, keeping the guest company with tea and conversation. Seeing Hepburn Zhang come down, she grew nervous. Oh dear, please don’t say anything out of place, she thought anxiously.

If it were anyone else looking for Tang Xin, she could have dismissed them with a simple “she’s not in.” If they refused to leave, she’d call the police.

But the young man in front of her was not someone she had the right or authority to dismiss.

This was Sun Qing, and because of his frail build, everyone called him “Monkey Sun.”

Of course, that wasn’t why Bai Su treated him differently.

He was also the son of the company’s vice chairman.

His father, Sun Wenlin, was one of the company’s co-founders and main investors. In other words, the Sun family owned half the entertainment company.

Bai Su was just an employee of his father. What right did she have to throw him out?

Besides, the villa itself was leased by the company for the three members of the Butterfly group. Even if he wanted to move in, Bai Su couldn’t stop him—though if he really went that far, she’d certainly lodge a complaint with the company.

“Anytime, is it?” Sun Qing’s smile took on a sinister edge. “I’ve been sitting here half the day and still haven’t seen the person I came to see.”

“Who is it you want to see, Young Master Sun?” Hepburn Zhang asked with a look of naïve innocence.

“Tang Xin,” Sun Qing replied. His pursuit of Tang Xin was no secret at the company, so he didn’t mind Hepburn Zhang knowing.

“Oh, it’s Tang Xin,” Hepburn Zhang said in a wounded tone. “Here I was thinking Young Master Sun came to see me and Sister Huiyin.”

Sun Qing’s mouth fell open as he stared at Hepburn Zhang in surprise.

“Has the little witch changed her tune today? She never used to think much of me,” he wondered. “Wasn’t it her who came up with the nickname ‘Monkey King’ for me? Could it be she’s developed a liking for me?”

The thought excited Sun Qing. He studied Hepburn Zhang closely and realized she really was an adorable little loli—every part of her was sweet and appealing, like a ripe pink peach, promising a mouthful of sugary juice.

Sun Qing forced a laugh and said, “I have some business to discuss with Tang Xin, but unfortunately she hasn’t shown up yet. I’m worried she’ll miss something important for the company. Of course, it’s also been a while since I’ve seen you and Huiyin, so I thought I’d drop by. And seeing you now, Hepburn, you’re even cuter and prettier than before.”

“Really?” Hepburn Zhang asked happily, her big eyes bright and fixed on Sun Qing, two pink spots blooming on her cheeks—partly shy, but mostly delighted.

“Of course.” Sun Qing’s attention had shifted. He thought to himself that it wouldn’t be so bad to sink his teeth into this tender, sweet little loli first. He sat next to Hepburn Zhang and said, “I used to think of you as just a child, but today you seem completely different.”

“How so?” Hepburn Zhang looked up at him with innocent curiosity, the corners of her mouth twitching in a smile that seemed to say, Go on, praise me, I can take it all.

“A woman. A woman with charm,” Sun Qing replied, putting on the most solemn and sincere expression he could muster for credibility.

Pfft—

Unable to contain herself, Bai Su, who’d been sitting to the side, burst out laughing.

Sun Qing had planned to keep working on Hepburn Zhang, hoping to win over this “big-chested, empty-headed loli.” But Bai Su’s laughter spoiled the mood he’d so carefully set.

“Manager Bai, what’s so funny?” Sun Qing’s narrow eyes flashed with malice as he turned to Bai Su, his smile sharp and cold.

That wretched woman, she’s getting too full of herself just because she helped the Butterfly group get popular.

I’ve left you alone because my old man thinks you’re still useful. But if you cross me, I’ll deal with you too.

Sun Qing had come to see Tang Xin, only to be repeatedly blocked by Bai Su. After hours of waiting, his patience was gone, and now he deeply resented her.

“I’m not laughing at anything. Just watching TV. You two go on,” Bai Su replied, pointing to the comedy show playing on the television.

Sun Qing snorted and turned back to Hepburn Zhang, resuming his ingratiating smile. “Girls change a lot as they grow up—they just get prettier and prettier. You used to be all about cuteness, but maybe you should try a more mature style. I bet it would be a real eye-opener.”

“Really?” Hepburn Zhang asked uncertainly.

“Really,” Sun Qing nodded vigorously.

“Alright, then. I’m going to go upstairs for a nap—and think over your suggestion while I’m at it. Since you came to see me, and you’ve seen me now, you should head home,” Hepburn Zhang said, hugging her oversized teddy bear and heading upstairs.

Sun Qing’s smile froze on his lips, his eyes growing cold.

He knew then he’d been played by the “big-chested, empty-headed” little woman he’d so readily dismissed.

(P.S. Last night I spent the night with my wife and someone else’s wife. My wife was well-behaved, but the other wasn’t and kept me up all night. So I haven’t been at my best today, and the midday update has been delayed. My apologies…)