THE CEO's LOVE 114 He's Trying To Snatch Her

After accepting the gift, Qingran wondered if her mother would be mad. As if Zhaolin read her thoughts, he pressed the message icon and typed in Xueyan's number. Asking what he should save it with.

"Is this my mother's number?" Qingran was surprised to know he has it in his head.

"Yes," 

She hesitated before saying. "Mom... No, mommy... Which is better?"

He smiled. "Mommy,"

"Click that!" 

"Now, type in your message."

She sent a message saying she was back from school and eating out with Uncle Zhao. She also had something to tell her. 

After that they left to go to KFC.

Uncle Zhao talked about her mom. How they had gone to the same highschool and how they became good friends.

"I thought you went to the same school as s.h.i.+ya?" Zhihao asked.

"Yes?"

"Qingran mother too? Even Aunty Jiu... So many of you."

"Yes," Zhaolin smiled.

After they were done eating, he drove Qingran back to their apartment. He got down to pull the car door open for her.

Qingran saw him following her and immediately waved him off. "No, you can leave now. I'll go in myself."

"Ran... Qing'er, I'll take you in."

"No, no uncle, I can go in myself. Don't worry, just take Zhihao back." She stood there with her hand on her waist and the other waving.

Once they were out of sight, she sprinted into the house and rested against the elevator wall.

Qingran was contemplating between showing the iPad to her grandparents first or informing her mother before that. Her mother wasn't reply her message.

She typed the telephone icon and dialled her Mommy's number.

It didn't connect with the first ring.

The same with the second ring.

And at the third ring, it finally did.

"Mommy!" She squeaked with excitement. 

"Yes?" There was doubt in Xueyan's tone. "Where are you?"

"Hold on," Qingran switched the call to video. She was resting against the elevator wall. "Almost home," she saw her mother's eyes widen. 

"Who owns the phone?"

Qingran giggled. "It isn't a phone. It's an iPad."

Xueyan hesitated, "An iPad? Where did you get it from?"

"Promise you won't scold me, please, please." Qingran pleaded.

Xueyan tried to make sense of the situation. "First you have to tell me how you got it, then maybe...just maybe I won't scold you. Wait, where's your Aunt Yuxi? Wasn't she meant to bring you back?"

"Uncle Zhao brought me back..."

"And left you down there?"

"No, no." Qingran shook her head. "I had told him to."

"Why did you go with him in the first place?"

"Aunty Jiu had said he was a good friend of yours and highly recommended him. You also had said Aunty Jiu was your friend. You also allowed her come to our house. Also, uncle Zhao..."

"Mr Zhao, Qingran. Mr Zhao," she corrected, trying not to yell.

"Un... Mr Zhao has been around you too. So I trust him. It was Zhihao that gave me the iPad. Look," she removed her backpack. "I have the carton, it's new."

Xueyan face palmed herself. "That's not what I'm talking about," her expression sad. "You shouldn't get involved with them... Wait, who's Zhihao?"

"Uncle Zhao's son."

His name is Zhihao? Almost the same as Zhaohao, is Zhaolin truly his father? The thought of that provoked her more.

"Mommy, I'm sorry...please don't be angry."

Xueyan could only heave a sigh. Zhaolin was really pus.h.i.+ng hard. "Go up, get changed and have something to eat."

"I'm not hungry. I already ate to my fill. Mommy?" Qingran smiled. "Does that mean you aren't angry?"

Xueyan smiled. "Do you really like it?" Without hesitating, Qingran bobbed her head. "Yes! I really do."

Xueyan felt her eyes mist up and she told Qingran bye before hanging up.

She looked up at the sky to clear her eyes. Then dialled Yuxi's number.

It connected with the first ring. "Don't bother going to pick Qingran..."

"Did you pick her? Are you back?" Yuxi interrupted.

"No,"

"Then? Or Jiuwen took her back?"

"No..."

"No what?"

"Can you let me speak?" Xueyan was frustrated.

"Ok,"

"Zhaolin picked her up. She's also had something to eat. Just that..." Xueyan trailed off.

"Just what? Xueyan talk to me."

"He bought her an iPad! And Qingran loves it! I was going to buy her that after I receive my pay, but he already beat me to it. Is he trying to s.n.a.t.c.h my child from me? If he keeps providing everything Ran'er never had, she will easily come to love him. And I don't want that..."

Yuxi was quiet for a while. "Just take it like he's paying for his sins."

"I don't want him paying for anything. It wasn't his fault!"

"Yes it was! Don't go forgetting that!" Yuxi voice was full of anger. "If it hadn't been for him stopping you from leaving... None of this! I repeat, none of this would have happened!"

Xueyan eyes misted up again and this time she let it fall. Yuxi said nothing again. Waiting for Xueyan to say something. She heard the soft sobs, the sniffling noise... It was heartbreaking, but sometimes it needed reminding. "It's okay, Xue. It's okay now. Believe me, with this drama, you'll come out stronger. I'll help you find them... Without charge. Just focus on making lots of cool cash, to give Qingran a better future. Remember, you're an actress because you derive fun in it and because you need to make Qingran happy too. And to make them pay and beg for their lives!"

Xueyan wiped her tears. "Sure! I'm not going to let them off easily!"

"That's the spirit. Call s.h.i.+huan when you have the time, he says he misses you a lot."

It made Xueyan smile. "Okay, I will. Let me know when you get home too!"

They said bye and hung up. Xueyan went to watch up. When she was done, she came out to see Xiujun heading towards the director area. And immediately changed direction when he saw her. A warm smile on his face. Behind his car was a new truck, serving food to the workers.

"Miss Bai, I'm sorry for being late."

Xueyan thought she heard wrong. He rarely referred to her as Miss and what did he mean by being late?

"Ah, you're confused. I heard from one of the employee you were facing trouble earlier."

"Oh," she smiled. "No, it was nothing. It wasn't any trouble, it was a lively moment to be sincere."

He stopped smiling and examined her. "Did you cry?"

Xueyan was astonished, unable to react. 

"Did they make you cry so much? Look, your eyes are red." He tried to touch her face and she dodged.

"No, I must have gotten something in my eyes."

"A bad lie, I must say. Your two eyes?"

Another shock. Xueyan said nothing.

"Tell me, you don't need to hide anything from me." He mouthed.

Xiujun was being very nice to her. She wondered why. "I'm alright!"

She saw him relax. "Okay. If in case you need my help, just say it. I'll be happy to help. No charges." He smiled.

She smiled too. 

He guided her back to the shade. The sun was setting. And everyone was eating.

"You haven't had anything to eat? We're quite far from the city and it would take time for orders to arrive," as he was saying that he served her a hot pot of broth-based soup. "Do you want chicken, pork or beef? Or maybe all." He pushed the three wrapped plates in front of her. After that he opened a bottle water for her.

All this while, she only sat there, unmoving and just watching him. 

"Eat! You're too thin,"

"I'm not!" She defended.

He put his hands up, a smile on his face. "Yes ma!" He stood up pointing at where Mei Han was munching on her food. "Send for her, if you need anything else. I'll be back," and he strode away.

She started eating and just when she had her head bent, he changed direction once again. 

At the back of the truck, they had brought along the first day, Huang Mingfe was resting with his eyes closed.

"You just stood there and watched Fangxi make a mess?"

Huang Mingfe said nothing.

"You shouldn't be making any mistakes, here!"

"I wasn't. I hate talking to her, so I just simply ignored them."

"Next time, you ignore them I won't be so quiet! I won't simply ignore them."

Huang Mingfe lazily opened his eyes, "I'll have that at the back of my mind."

"You better!"

He then folded his hands. "You like her?"

"None of your business!"

Huang Mingfe raised and dropped his brows. "Sure. But I must warn you. She's someone's..." He purposely trailed off and smirked.

"Like I care?"

"Oh you'll soon." He imagined Zhaolin and Xiujun entangled fists and couldn't help but smile. It'll be fun! 

Xiujun took out a brown box from his pocket. The length of a middle finger. Opened it and took a stick, placed it in between his lips. Searched for a lighter, it made a click sound and a faint blue light flickered before smoke twirled round the cigarette and away with the wind.

*****

Zhaolin's manor. 

Zhihao was giggling, "I won! Yes!"

"I just let you," Zhaolin mumbled.

"No, I really won you." He threw the game pad into the air and caught it. "Admit defeat,"

"Okay, I accept. You won. Just for tonight, though."

Zhaolin saw Zhihao scoff. He wanted to laugh. "I'll win tomorrow."

"Let tomorrow speak for itself! I might win again."

Zhaolin looked at the television in disbelief. They were playing a video game and Zhihao won three times against him.

"Now, where's my gift?"

"What do you want?" Zhaolin asked.

"It will be Summer holidays soon, I want to go on a vacation to Hawaii."

Zhaolin frowned. "Far."

Now it was Zhihao turn to frown. "Says? You can a.s.sign me a caretaker, babysitter, and security guards."

Zhaolin wanted to laugh. "So you agree you're still a baby."

"No!" Zhihao yowled. "That's what I want though."

Zhaolin hesitated. "Think of somewhere around the country."

"No," Zhihao refused. "Hawaii!" 

"I'll think about it," he stood up. "Doesn't mean I agreed."

Zhihao started dancing ignoring the look the man directed at him. Dancing and sticking his tongue out.

Zhaolin only shook his head. He went to go shower. 

Zhihao dashed out of his father's room and into his room. Checking the images he had seen online. Hana highway. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Haleakalā National Park. Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. Hanauma Bay. Diamond head.

A smile on his face as he kept swiping. So many interesting things to do. He checked on the extra images. He didn't want to spend the Summer holidays looking at s.h.i.+ya.