CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 404: THE STRONG SU JINZHI

"Let me tell you, girl, don’t try any tricks on me, and don’t even think about running away halfway!" Qi Shangjing sensed a conspiracy between the two.

"Oh, Dad, if I run, the monk can outrun the temple, right? Don’t waste time, let’s go quickly!" Qi Manlin tugged Qi Shangjing’s arm and started walking out. Before stepping out, Lin Mu gave Qi Manlin an "OK" hand gesture!

At this moment, in the East District, there was a forty-something woman elegantly sipping coffee on the couch in a mansion at the foot of Lotus Mountain.

Though in her forties, the woman’s skin had no wrinkles and exuded the glow of youth. Her skin and figure didn’t show the typical traits of a middle-aged woman; she looked at most thirty years old!

This middle-aged woman resembled Qi Manlin quite a bit. Indeed, this was Qi Manlin’s mother, Su Jinzhi. Unlike Lin Mu’s imagination of a fierce mother with a wrinkly face and a broad waist, she was a slender woman with fair skin, giving the impression of a refined lady of a wealthy family. Yet, her aura was not weak; it was similar to the aura that Sophie exuded, filled with authority, leaving no room for disrespect!

This time, Su Jinzhi had no choice but to agree to the Liu Family’s arranged marriage. Although Celestial One Pavilion Real Estate Company was considered a big company in Wancheng, the societal climate made it more challenging day by day, especially with the Liu family’s entry into the real estate industry, making things even harder for Su Jinzhi!

The Liu Family was a major clan in Guangdong, very strong in real estate. In recent years, they gradually introduced their real estate business into Wancheng, dominating Wancheng’s real estate market. With more wolves than meat, Su Jinzhi had to find a backing, otherwise Celestial One Pavilion would be devoured!

In fact, Su Jinzhi could seek help from Su’s Great Enterprise, but her personality was just like Qi Manlin, never relenting on what she believed. She would never turn back and seek help from the Su Family after breaking away from them!

Therefore, to safeguard her business, Su Jinzhi could only agree to the Liu Family’s marriage arrangement; this is what one calls, being unable to control one’s destiny in the rivers and lakes of life.

"President Su, Manlin is back!" Leng Mei, Su Jinzhi’s special assistant, said. Leng Mei was not only Su Jinzhi’s special assistant but also a skilled bodyguard, loyally watching over Su Jinzhi.

Su Jinzhi nodded in acknowledgment. Actually, Su Jinzhi didn’t want to interfere with Qi Manlin’s marriage, because she had gone through that stage herself. She once broke away from her family for love. Her choice wasn’t wrong; the family had deemed Qi Shangjing, a poor lad, with no prospects, but now he had become a high official in Wancheng. Achieving such heights without any special background was commendable.

"Mom, I’m back!" Qi Manlin pushed open the door, pouting as she walked in, with Qi Shangjing following behind her.

Along the way, Qi Shangjing had been persuading Qi Manlin not to argue with her mother upon returning home. He understood his wife and daughter’s temperaments very well; in this world, there were no two more similar people than them, both equally strong-willed and unwilling to give way to each other.

Su Jinzhi looked at her daughter, but instead of the soft tenderness of a mother, she sternly scolded, "You still remember where home is?"

"Hmph, if Dad hadn’t told me to return, I wouldn’t have come back." Qi Manlin, initially intending to show some familial affection, decided to be even more unyielding since her mother showed none, turning her head with defiance.

Seeing the atmosphere tense up immediately, Qi Shangjing quickly smiled to mediate, "Jinzhi, look, our daughter hardly comes home; let’s have dinner first and talk later, okay? Let’s not make things so tense."

"This has nothing to do with you. If you want to eat, go eat!" Su Jinzhi cut off Qi Shangjing’s words.

"Hmph, Dad, my issues with Mom, we’ll handle them ourselves, no need for you to butt in!" Qi Manlin pouted, showing no weakness.

Qi Shangjing looked at the mother and daughter helplessly and could only sigh and sit back on the couch again!

"I don’t understand, are you selling your daughter or marrying her off? My marriage is for me to decide, I don’t need you worrying needlessly!" Qi Manlin complained to Su Jinzhi.

"I gave birth to you, so I have the right to decide for you. I’ll arrange your marriage, and the Liu Family counts as a major family; I’m finding you a good match!" Su Jinzhi said.

"I don’t care about big or small families; I care about the person. Wasn’t Dad a poor lad, and you still went against Grandpa’s orders to marry him?" Qi Manlin rebutted sharply.

Slightly angered by her daughter hitting the mark, Su Jinzhi retorted, "I’m me, you’re you. No matter what, you must meet the eldest son of the Liu Family for a marriage meeting tomorrow; everything is settled!"

Su Jinzhi’s attitude was very strong, leaving no room for opposition. But Qi Manlin was only venting her emotions with her words; she had already thought of a plan!

"Hmph, fine, I’ll go, what’s the big deal!" Qi Manlin huffed, stood up, and headed to her room on the second floor.

"Manlin, aren’t you going to eat?" Qi Shangjing turned and asked.

Qi Manlin waved her hand, saying, "No, I’m going to sleep!"

Qi Shangjing watched Qi Manlin go upstairs and sighed. He said to Su Jinzhi, "Jinzhi, you’re her mother, so don’t be too harsh on Manlin."

"Harsh? Is this what you call harsh? And you, you could help me with the business; who knew you wouldn’t bother? Do you think it’s easy for me, a woman, to manage such a massive family business?" Su Jinzhi complained.

Su Jinzhi had her troubles. For a woman, it’s not easy to fight in the business world. In others’ eyes, having a husband as a high-ranking official in Wancheng meant he was her support. But in reality, Qi Shangjing did not help at all in Su Jinzhi’s business. Their relationship was distinctly divided between public and private matters, and few knew that Qi Shangjing’s wife was the major boss of Celestial One Pavilion. He maintained this privacy perfectly.

"Jinzhi, after all these years, you still don’t understand me? Precisely because I’m a high official, I cannot bend the rules; doing so would invite gossip. As a cadre, I must set an example!" Qi Shangjing also lamented.

Back when Su Jinzhi left her entire family to marry Qi Shangjing, it was obvious their love was strong. Otherwise, Su Jinzhi wouldn’t have done it, and of course, Qi Shangjing loved Su Jinzhi very deeply!

Seeing Su Jinzhi so troubled and unable to help, how could he not feel pained? If there’s anyone to blame, it’s Qi Shangjing’s excessive integrity!