CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: QIN SHI GOT BLACKED! WAITING FOR GU ANXI’S MOMENT TO SHINE

Wang Keru was upset and stayed in the kitchen for a while before she managed to compose herself. She forced a smile and announced, "Dinner is ready."

The servants filed in, setting a lavish dinner on the elegant dining table. The men of the Qin family took their seats one after another, while Gu Anxi remained seated.

Wang Keru, displeased with her, suppressed her anger and said, "Anxi, it’s time to eat. Are you waiting for our guest, Wanqing, to invite you?"

Her words were quite artful.

Shen Wanqing smiled and was about to say something when Qin Han received a phone call. His expression immediately soured.

He stood up hurriedly. "The company’s main server has been hacked! All our business information could be stolen at any moment. I need to go to the office right away."

Old Master Qin frowned. "Are the Qin family’s programmers just freeloaders? Didn’t you hire a top expert, ranked fourth in the country? And someone can still hack what he built?"

Qin Han forced a smile. "Dad, there’s always someone better. It’s clear someone is targeting us. Enough said, I need to go immediately. Siyuan, you understand this stuff; come with me. You might be able to help."

It sounded quite serious. Old Master Qin couldn’t sit still any longer. "I’ll go too. I want to see who’s audacious enough to cross our Qin family."

The three men left in a hurry, without even having time to say a proper goodbye, let alone acknowledge the guest. In the vast dining room, only three women remained.

One hostess, one burden, and one guest.

The atmosphere was pretty odd.

Ordinarily, Wang Keru should have been worried about the Qin family’s crisis. But now, seeing the painting Shen Wanqing had brought discarded, and Old Master Qin not even staying for dinner with her, she felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

After all, coming from a humble background meant one wasn’t highly regarded.

Wang Keru sounded quite polite, but her words dripped with condescension. "Wanqing, eat more. You suffered so much in your childhood; Auntie feels terribly for you. Here, this soup is great for beauty and nourishes the skin. Your complexion is a bit dark; this will be perfect for it. Oh, and I have some skincare products upstairs that would suit you..."

Shen Wanqing hadn’t married into the family yet, so she couldn’t openly clash with Wang Keru. She had to play along, though her expression was incredibly strained.

Gu Anxi couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She picked up her bag beside her and stood up. "I’m leaving."

Wang Keru’s voice instantly rose. "Leaving? Why are you leaving? The guest hasn’t left yet; how can you, the host, leave?"

Gu Anxi was quite speechless. If Shen Wanqing married into the Qin family, things at their residence would certainly become lively.

"You all go ahead and eat." She shrugged. "I’m going to the hospital to relieve Granny Chen. She’s getting on in years."

"Granny Chen, Granny Chen! Is there anyone in your heart besides the servants?" Wang Keru said, dissatisfied. Her words weren’t necessarily aimed at Shen Wanqing, but as the saying goes: the speaker may be careless, but the listener takes it to heart.

Shen Wanqing’s expression turned utterly unsightly, her lips trembling with anger.

Gu Anxi didn’t bother with Wang Keru; she simply slung her bag over her shoulder and left. Wang Keru hurried outside to catch up, lowering her voice. "Anxi, you probably look down on me, but what choice do I have? I need to survive. I can’t live like... like Shen Wanqing’s mother. That would be more agonizing than death itself."

Under the streetlight, Gu Anxi quietly regarded her mother and said calmly, "Why couldn’t you wait for me to come back?"

If you had waited for me, you could have had anything you wanted. If you wanted your old life back, you could have had it. If you didn’t want to see Shen Wanqing, you wouldn’t have to. If you didn’t want to have to read others’ expressions or curry favor with anyone, you wouldn’t have to. But why, oh why, couldn’t you wait for me to come back!