Chapter 256 Xiao Ruis Birth Parents (2/2)

”I was on duty when it happened. I made it back just in time for the cremation.” Jiang Qianren's eyes now held a cold, steely glint, making him look like a wolf. There was a deep, faraway look in his eyes. ”The skin on my brother's body was peeled off. And according to the coroner, he had been alive when it happened. My brother was literally skinned alive.”

Xin Qing shuddered. ”What kind of monster is capable of something that cruel...”

”And my sister-in-law...” Jiang Qianren balled his fists. ”She was tortured to death. By men.”

Bang! Jiang Qianren's fist connected with the tabletop. ”I took all kinds of missions after that, no matter how risky and dangerous they are. I needed the merits so that I can rise up higher in the military ranks. Not once did I slack off all these years. I need to climb the military ranks, the higher the better. That's the only way I can re-open the case involving my brother's death. One of these days, I'll tear those bastards into a million pieces!”

Xin Qing rubbed her eyes and then patted his hand. ”You will!”

No wonder Song Chunli was so emotional when the topic of Xiao Rui's parents was brought up. Xin Qing could not begin to imagine how the woman had been able to get through the ordeal of seeing the devastated state of her son and daughter-in-law's corpses that year. No wonder the Jiang family cared so much about Xiao Rui; the kid's parents had given up their lives to ensure his survival!

Having thought things through, Xin Qing smiled and said, ”Qianren! I will find an opportunity to tell Xiao Rui the truth. I'll ask him to return to his family!”

Jiang Qianren had already calmed down from his earlier outburst. He raised his glass and emptied its contents in a single gulp, ”I thank you on behalf of the Jiang family!”

The two of them had arranged to meet at a membership-based restaurant. At first, they thought that it was safe for them to meet there without their privacy being violated. Neither of them had expected that they would end up having their pictures taken by the papparazzi. Those pictures appeared on the newspapers the next day.

”You know it's not right for you to be two-timing!” A loud rustle sounded as Monica shook the newspaper in her hand.

”What two-timing?” Zhang Mi said in a tone of disapproval. ”Xin Qing is single right now. She has the right to be with whomever she wants. I don't think Jiang Qianren is that bad at all!”

”It was just a meal, for God's sake. Aren't you guys overreacting?” Xin Qing said as she continued to pore over files and documents. ”If you two have time to engage in idle gossip like this, why don't you go check if the project plan for the underground hot springs is ready? The place will be officially open for business on the National Day.”

Xin Qing had yet to tell them about Xiao Rui and the Jiang family. She wanted to ask Ying Qingcang's opinion first, although she did not have the chance to see him lately. ”Then again...” Xin Qing thought, smiling inwardly. The news about her and Jiang Qianren in the gossip columns should be enough to spur a certain somebody into action!

Indeed, said somebody was, in the meantime, tossing the newspaper into the trash can. After that, he stomped into the meeting room and sat down with a scowl. The poor managers in the meeting room found themselves walking on eggshells; they had no idea what kind burr was up the boss' ass again this time. Well, to be fair, the boss usually had a glower on his face too, but today, aside from all the glowering, there was also some kind of cold aura radiating from the man.

When the meeting finally ended, nobody lingered in the room for even a moment longer. Only Ying Qingcang's poor secretary was left following behind Ying Qingcang with an anguished look on his face.

”Boss, Miss Rong called just now. She said she won't be coming home tonight. Poker night.”

Ying Qingcang's steps halted briefly. A cryptic smile tugged at the corner of his lips. ”Understood.”

Meanwhile, Rong Siman was lying naked on the bed inside a hotel room, listening to the sounds of running water coming from the bathroom. She had met this man two days ago at a bar. He was a male model who had just made his debut.

”What are you thinking about?” Somehow, the man had already joined her on the bed. His hands had already begun tracing along the curves of her body.

Rong Siman was momentarily distracted. The man had perfectly handsome features and exuded an air of aloofness from head to toe. Then again, that was precisely the thing that had drawn her towards him in the first place; because he looked very much like Ying Qingcang when he was 20!

”You really want to come with me to the island?” Rong Siman gasped and moaned, wrapping her arms around the man's neck. The man rolled over. ”Why, you don't want me to go with you?”

Rong Siman allowed the man to have his way with her body. Closing her eyes, she said, ”Of course I want you to! We'll go tomorrow!”

When Ying Qingcang came home that night, she saw Rong Siman packing her bags.

Rong Siman stopped packing the moment she saw Ying Qingcang's return. ”Ah Cang! A few madams invited me for a vacation trip at the Great Barrier Reef. Do you want to come with me?” There was a split second just now when she had regarded the man she had sex with this afternoon and Ying Qingcang as the same person.

Too bad he was not. Ying Qingcang would never sleep with her. He would never love her passionately, never call her baby...

Having a substitute would not be so bad. It was precisely that thought that had made Rong Siman agree to join that man for a vacation.

”Vacation?” Ying Qingcang stared at her. ”Out of the blue?”

”Oh, come on. We decided on a whim while playing poker!” Rong Siman swayed his arms. ”I won't go if you don't want me to go!”

Ying Qingcang laughed. ”Just go ahead. I'm so busy these days, and since it's so rare for you to have someone accompany you to outings, you might as well take advantage of it. Go enjoy yourself!”

”Then I'll go alone?”

Ying Qingcang nodded. ”Stay for a few more days if you like.”

Rong Siman packed her bags and left. Ying Qingcang stood in front of the French windows for a long time, stroking a ring that had somehow made its way to his finger. The ring looked exactly like the one Xin Qing was wearing on her finger.

An image of Boss Wan's head appeared in mid-air. Ying Qingcang nodded at him. The two men smiled at each before cutting off the feed.