Chapter 96: Time for Revenge  

Time passed quickly. Soon it was time for election of the Mayor of A City. The election process had reached its final, most critical stage.

Deputy-Mayor Shangguan, who was known to have no competitors earlier, received very little support. The representative of the opposition, who was comparatively less popular, seemed to have garnered a lot of support from the people who mattered.

Shangguan Zheng had been on the edge for the past one month. Any small issue that went against his wishes, would make him lose temper.

When Liyu Science & Technology was nothing but a bankrupt, loss making venture, he sold it. What made the sale a heavy cross to bear was, when he learnt that Shangguan Ning was the biggest shareholder in the company!

He was so furious that he smashed a set of porcelain vases.

What worried him further was that the man’s prophecy was coming true.

The Mayor’s position was slipping further and further away from his grasp. Now things were so bad that it seemed like he would not be able to hold on to the post of Deputy-Mayor for too long, as well. He had used numerous tactics to get to this stature. He wasn’t going to let it go so easily.

With no other available option, Shangguan Zheng asked all his friends and contacts for help, but to no avail. Jing Yiran, who was the most powerful amongst the people he knew, had also vanished into thin air. Shanguan Zheng couldn’t reach him, no matter how hard he tried.

He had wanted to check Jing Yichen’s background, but his subordinates had been unable to do that for him. He would have run a background check on Jing Yichen, by himself, but since he was the deputy mayor, he could do nothing without public scrutiny.

He finally realized what kind of man he had offended.

He now wondered if he and his family had failed to check in to the resort at N City because of this man’s handiwork.

Shangguan Zheng calmed down after a while.

He pacified himself with the knowledge that Shangguan Ning was very important to that man. If she were to plead to him to make her father the mayor, surely Jing Yichen would not refuse. He would definitely help.

Suddenly, he felt secure.

Shangguan Ning was his own daughter after all. The fact that her father was at his lowest level, professionally, would surely upset her. If he ever did become the Mayor, she would become the Mayor’s daughter, which was an honour. He believed that Shangguan Ning was not going to turn him down.

Shangguan Zheng couldn’t get over the humiliation meted out to him by Xie Dongfeng, when he had asked him for help. Xie Dongfeng had turned him down without any hesitation. He made some silly excuses which, in reality, were nothing but a facade. Shangguan Zheng saw through them and wondered what was the point of marrying his daughter into Family Xie. His daughter had got engaged with their son but even they refused to help – financially or otherwise.

Xie Dongfeng felt that their family had been duped. He was upset that Shangguan Zheng had conveniently forgotten their contribution. Shangguan Zheng had become Deputy Mayor only because of Family Xie’s timely assistance. Of course he knew the age old adage – The interest is always sweeter than the principle – they had convinced Shangguan Ning to marry their vegetative son. He had gotten out of his coma, thanks to Shangguan Ning. Well, Maybe Family Xie had benefited after all.

Yang Wenshu and Shangguan Rouxue didn’t dare come in the way of Shangguan Zheng. Both of them understood his state of mind, so they tried to be gentle with him every time. Shangguan Zheng was in an exceptionally bad mood today, so the two women left home early in the morning, on some pretext.

Xie Zhuojun was in a fix of his own. He hadn’t caught Shangguan Rouxue doing anything suspicious at the engagement party, yet his instincts told him otherwise. He had always been indecisive and conveniently remained in denial. He continued to treat Shangguan Rouxue with kid gloves and gave in to her every whim and fancy. He thought he saw deceit in her eyes.. or was it guilt..? He couldn’t tell. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him and so he ignored all the red flags.

Sitting in her make up room provided to her by the TV Station, Shangguan Rouxue stared at Xie Zhuojun, who seemed lost in a world of his own.

A touch of coldness arose in her beautiful eyes, which disappeared within a moment that Xie Zhuojun thought that he must have gotten so tired that he saw blurry things.

Xie Zhuojun reminded himself that she was still the fragile, kind-hearted and pure and tender Shangguan Rouxue.

At their engagement he didn’t see what Shangguan Rouxue held in her palm, but he had seen the impression of it, when he held her hand after that. He refused to give it much thought. He only hoped that Xue was still the kind person that he thought she was. She may be spoiled and jealous, but intrinsically she was still honest.

Although the engagement party didn’t go as well as he would’ve liked, they were engaged anyway. He couldn’t betray a girl who truly loved him.

Seeing Xie Zhuojun distracted again, Shangguan Rouxue was annoyed.

Xie Zhuojun belonged only to her. He would marry only her. She wouldn’t allow anyone to change that. She had loved this man for so many years and he was such a catch. She wanted them to be the happy couple whom everyone was envious of.

She was careful enough not to show her displeasure. Instead she asked in a tone full of concern, “Did you hear what I said, Zhuojun? Why are you so distracted? Are you tired?”

Xie Zhuojun snapped out of his thoughts. He played along with Shangguan Rouxue’s excuse. He massaged his temples and said with a smile, “Yes, I am a bit tired. Too many things at the company and I have been overly busy.”

“Is the Company not doing well? Can I be of any help?” Shangguan Rouxue asked,as if she could really take away Xie Zhuojun’s troubles.

Family Xie’s Enterprise was facing problems too. Either their suppliers faced difficulties in providing them with the required raw materials or their buyers defaulted in payments. Although these hadn’t posed to be a huge problem as yet, incessant small problems at work hindered the company’s progress.

Shangguan Zheng was actively involved in the political set ups of the city . He too, was unable to help their business. Besides, there wasn’t much he could do anyway. He himself was in such a soup.

If Xie Zhuojun ever did ask Shangguan Rouxue for help, it wouldn’t do them good. She was a pretty face, that was true. She spoke well and was presentable, but that didn’t account for much. She had no ability to carry out fierce negotiations with suppliers and buyers at the factory.

He had once tried to persuade her to switch careers. He had requested her to lend him a helping hand at Family Xie’s company and let go of her current job as a TV host. She had cried bitterly at this suggestion, saying that being a TV host was her dream and having to give it up would be like asking her to destroy her own soul.

Her tears had made him feel awful. He never brought this up ever again.

Xie Zhuojun thought of the time when he was engaged to Shangguan Ning. She was an avid tennis player and was very passionate about the game. She was naturally gifted at it too. She had put in countless hours of practice in order to better her game. His family was opposed to the idea of their to-be daughter-in law playing tennis. This was against Family Xie’s traditions. Shangguan Ning hadn’t stopped to think about it even for a minute. She let go of her dream without any hesitation and never played any tennis after that.

He looked at Shangguan Rouxue, who was carefully lining her eyebrows. He suddenly realized that she didn’t love him enough to want to give up anything for him. She knew that her tears were his weakness. As long as she cried, he would soften his stance and do exactly what she wanted. As long as she insisted, he would compromise.

Xie Zhuojun was filled with fury. He did not know what came over him. In a fit of rage, he stood up and tore her expensive Prada dress apart. Shangguan Rouxue screamed in surprise. In the TV station’s room, he started to vent out his desire and fury between her surprised screams.