Chapter 2128: Grudges

She refused to admit to it? That did not mean anything since her father would not believe her anyway!

“Dad, believe me. It’s true. We were only discussing the matter of the refund. There was nothing else to it. Dad, you can’t always deny my change for the better just because of your groundless doubts, right? That’s unfair to me. I really didn’t do it. Dad, didn’t you say that you wouldn’t give up on me? I didn’t do anything wrong and I’m not plotting anything, but you’re treating me with this att.i.tude. Dad, you lied to me. You said that you would definitely teach me and help me as long as I was willing to change. You’re clearly biased against me and think that I can’t do anything right like your obedient daughter, Qiao Nan. Dad, you’re treating me unjustly!”

Qiao Zijin got worked up toward the end and her tone was filled with indignation. It sounded as though she truly had no ill intentions and it was Qiao Dongliang who was maligning her while she was innocent.

It did indeed seem as though Qiao Zijin was truly being maligned because of how emotional she had gotten. Qiao Dongliang could not help but second-guess himself and wonder if he had indeed misunderstood Qiao Zijin. But Qiao Dongliang calmed down very quickly. “You don’t have to feel aggrieved. I didn’t say anything. I’m sure you and I both know the truth. If you really didn’t, then so be it.”

Qiao Zijin was still a little uncertain about Qiao Dongliang’s att.i.tude. His words seemed to suggest that his att.i.tude had softened, but his expression made it seem as though he was still doubtful of her words. “Dad, I’m sorry that I got so worked up. You’re right. I know best whether I have done it or not. I went overboard and changed too quickly. It’s only right for you to suspect me and for Nan Nan not to accept me. That’s alright. I know just how sincere I am and I believe that I’ll eventually be able to change your minds about me.”

Qiao Zijin did not know what else she could possibly say.

Qiao Dongliang merely acknowledged Qiao Zijin with a nod. Because of that, Qiao Zijin felt guilty and could not really tell how Qiao Dongliang was feeling. Looking at Qiao Dongliang returning to his room, Qiao Zijin ran to Ding Jiayi’s side regretfully. “Mom, do you think Dad believes me?” If she had known that this would happen, she would have gone to a teahouse to discuss the matter before returning home.

There were some things that they truly could not discuss at home.

Ding Jiayi was worried too. “Recently, I’ve realized that I don’t really understand your dad, so I’m not too sure either.” If she understood him and could have him within her grasp like she had had in the past, there would be no need for her to be so depressed, even forcing Zijin to give her two hundred thousand yuan to coax Old Qiao.

“Mom, what shall we do? If my dad doesn’t believe me, I won’t have the chance to interact with Qiao Nan at all.” Her dad was the entire family’s hope and her only hope of getting close to Qiao Nan. If even her dad refused to help her, she would have no choice but to go along with her mom’s plan and depend on Qiao Nan’s mood as to whether she would agree to let her take her place in the Zhai family for her children’s sake.

That was quite a big bet to place, and Qiao Zijin was reluctant to place all her eggs in one basket.

Ding Jiayi patted Qiao Zijin on the shoulder. “Forget it. Don’t think about it anymore. Neither of us will ever be able to figure out what your dad has up his sleeves. You’re your dad’s daughter, after all. Your dad will always favor you. At the very most, just start again. Didn’t you succeed the last time? Maybe the situation isn’t as bad as we think. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Qiao Zijin answered curtly. “But Mom, we haven’t had our dinner. I’m hungry.” No matter how upset she was, she would still have to have her meal. Otherwise, where would she get the energy to marry Zhai Sheng and become the chief’s wife?

“Alright, I’ll go prepare dinner.” Although the two hundred thousand yuan had not appeased Qiao Dongliang and the relations.h.i.+p between the couple was still as tense, Ding Jiayi had returned to her previous att.i.tude toward Qiao Zijin. Now that Qiao Zijin had expressed her hunger, Ding Jiayi hurried into the kitchen to prepare dinner for Qiao Zijin even though she was not very hungry herself.

Even up until the moment she lay down on her bed, Qiao Zijin felt uneasy. The very next day, it was clear that her fears had not been unfounded.

Initially, Qiao Dongliang would mention Qiao Nan and the three unborn children in front of Qiao Zijin from time to time. However, after that unfortunate incident the previous day, Qiao Dongliang no longer did so. Even when Qiao Zijin took the initiative to bring them up, Qiao Dongliang refused to talk about them. Qiao Zijin knew that Qiao Dongliang tried to get in touch with Qiao Nan through various different means every day to learn about her situation. At least, he would send a text or call her once a day.

Today, Qiao Zijin had waited for Qiao Dongliang to contact Qiao Nan for the entire day but he had not done anything at all. Qiao Zijin had the urge to remind Qiao Dongliang that he had forgotten to do something.

It was just that Qiao Zijin knew that given Qiao Dongliang’s concern toward Qiao Nan, there was no way he would forget about Qiao Nan even if he forgot to have a meal himself. That could only mean that her dad had contacted Qiao Nan without her realizing it!

Since Qiao Dongliang did not speak of it, Qiao Zijin did not dare to ask about it either. But that did not mean that she had forgotten all about it. She was just waiting and hoping that Ding Jiayi’s hypothetical situation would play out, even if there was only a one percent chance of it happening. She felt that Qiao Nan would definitely be able to do something that she herself had been able to do.

As for her dad, she would do as much as she could. She did not dare to think about anything more.

After Qiao Dongliang had his suspicions toward Qiao Zijin, he would always avoid Qiao Zijin whenever he contacted Qiao Nan. That was nothing. Even after learning of Qiao Nan’s situation, Qiao Dongliang never mentioned it to Qiao Zijin anymore.

Qiao Dongliang’s words had not just been empty words. He could sense the plans that Qiao Zijin had in mind. He had almost believed Qiao Zijin that she had turned over a new lead and was intent on developing a good relations.h.i.+p with Qiao Nan. But now, Qiao Dongliang was no longer as gullible.

Qiao Zijin had never intended to do so and had even been plotting against Qiao Nan the whole time. In fact, what Qiao Zijin desired from Qiao Nan had to be something ridiculous and out of this world. After making sure of that, Qiao Dongliang could only try his best to minimize the interactions Qiao Zijin had with Qiao Nan.

Of course, if Qiao Zijin had the confidence to face Qiao Nan herself, Qiao Dongliang was not at all worried. That was because he knew that Qiao Nan had a deep grudge toward Qiao Zijin.