Chapter 104 Whos Trying to Kill Me? (2/2)
Ah Che glanced at Ying Qingcang, who nodded.
Good thing Xin Qing bought a lot of food that day. There was even roast chicken, which she bought for a special price due to Christmas discount. Three adults and a child sat around the Christmas tree and ate their dinner. Ah Sha was the most excited among all of them. She could already stand and walked a few steps. She ran around the Christmas tree relentlessly. Out of fear of Ah Sha falling down and hurting herself, Ah Che followed her around like a mother hen. Xin Qing looked at the dancing flames in the fireplace, and then glanced at the man sitting on the couch drinking red wine. Right then, she felt so happy!
She knew that the happiness was temporary, just like Cinderella's crystal shoe, which would return to its dull form when the clock struck twelve. Nonetheless, it was still a good night for her, one that would undoubtedly give her a beautiful dream.
Ying Qingcang did not stay for long. Three days later, he brought Ah Sha back to the country. Before he left, he told Xin Qing something.
”I'd be very busy lately. I'm afraid I won't be able to visit until Chinese New Year. Give me a heads up if you're returning for Chinese New Year. I'll have Ah Che fetch you at the airport.” Ying Qingcang saw that Xin Qing was about to say something, so he quickly cut her off. ”It's better for you to stay at the house. You can spend more time with Ah Sha and Le Le that way.”
When he stepped into the car, Ying Qingcang said to her, ”Good luck in the competition!”
”Thank you!” Xin Qing kissed Ah Sha and waved to them.
One day before the competition, CK sent over her flight tickets. Xin Qing packed her bags, and deliberately filled them with Chinese style clothes. When she arrived at the airport the following morning, Dianne patiently awaited her. Much to her surprise, she saw William at the departure gates.
”Miss Xin! I knew I'd run into you here.” They had not seen each other for a few months, and William still had that same appearance of a wealthy prince. He made his way towards Xin Qing with a seemly smile on his face. Dianne whispered to her, ”I'm boarding first.” She left before William reached them.
”So this is what a woman from the nobility is like. They don't spare a single glance, not even at a man like William,” Xin Qing thought.
”Mr. William, don't tell me you're participating in the competition, too?” Xin Qing joked.
”Hehe. I wish I had that kind of talent,” William said, pulling out a paddle from inside his pocket. Xin Qing took the card. ”You're one of the special judges?” she asked, surprised.
William nodded enigmatically, which she was sure he did on purpose. ”Hm... Do you want to bribe me?”
”Fine. If you give me first place, then I'll make chinese dumplings for you!” Xin Qing joked.
The two of them could not help but laugh at the joke. Then William glanced at the time. ”Let's board the plane. We can chat after we land!”
”Okay!” Xin Qing nodded. She was sure that William would not be sitting in the same cabin as her. Indeed, when they boarded, she entered the business class cabin whereas William headed to the first class cabin. The two of them waved at each other before settling in their seats.
At the same time, Young Master Shen opened the door to Ying Qingcang's office.
”Nothing,” he said. He looked so much worse than before, as if he had not slept for days.
Ying Qingcang frowned. ”You mean you found the same thing as we did?”
”Yes,” Young Master Shen said, pouring himself a glass of red wine before sitting down on the couch. ”The man's squeaky clean. I even dug into stuff during his time in university. I'm telling you man, that William is the most brilliant successor of his family. He was a legend even in his schooling years. But he's very humble and low-key. Accordingly, he has an IQ of 180 and was the top student in his school every year.”
”Could it be that we're looking at this from the wrong angle...” Ying Qingcang thought for a moment. ”What about Dianne?”
Young Master Shen yawned. ”That woman is even cleaner.” He tossed a bag containing a bunch of folders at Ying Qingcang. ”Everything's in there. See for yourself.”
Ying Qingcang opened the folder. Once again, there was only a single sheet of paper. The daughter of a fallen nobility. She lived and attended school and behaved herself throughout. Her family expected her to marry another wealthy member of the nobility. From a young age, she possessed the upbringing of a lady.
”Are you suspecting William to be the person behind Xin Qing's abduction?”
Ying Qingcang shook his head. ”It wasn't him. I already looked into his immigration records. There are none.”
”What if he entered illegally?” Young Master Shen suggested. ”With a bit of cash, it's totally possible to get in.”
”That would be awkward,” Ying Qingcang said, raising his brows. ”Have you seen the guy? You think a man like him would stoop to such lows?”
”Surely not,” Young Master Shen said, instantly reminded of William's comportment. ”So, now we're back to the drawing board.”
Ying Qingcang looked at Young Master Shen all of a sudden. ”Do you think we've been looking at this from the wrong angle from the start? If I'm the one Xin Qing's kidnapper targeted, then isn't it likely that he isn't someone around Xin Qing at all?”
”You mean he's someone around you?”