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Chapter 655: Side Story 068 Baby is Kicking Me (Second Update)
Chapter 655: Side Story 068 Baby is Kicking Me (Second Update)
Chapter 655: Side Story 068 Baby is Kicking Me (Second Update)
“I need some trust from all of you.” Xin Zaozao’s voice was loud.
“What trust? As long as you compensate us for our losses, we will trust you!” One villager yelled.
“In this case, the Xin family will certainly investigate thoroughly and give everyone an explanation. But until the truth has come out, the Xin family will not compensate you for your losses temporarily. Once the truth is revealed, regardless of whether He Jianguo has any money to repay you, the Xin family will fully compensate you.”
“No!” The villagers yelled in unison, “Isn’t this just an excuse you made up? What if He Jianguo is never found? Then all our money would have been washed away, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah, who knows if you’re in league with him, who knows if you’re putting on a show, making us look like fools?”
“No, absolutely not!”
The scene was once again thrown into chaos!
Xin Zaozao looked at the situation before her.
She took a deep breath, “Everyone, please be quiet. We’re here to solve the problem, not to create trouble! I swear that Xin Group won’t let you suffer any losses, but everything needs to be made clear! I’m doing this so that everyone can cooperate with us and the police in actively investigating the truth. If everybody only wants the Xin family to compensate and forget about everything afterward, wouldn’t He Jianguo get away scot-free? This is not the fundamental solution!”
“Then what do you consider the fundamental solution?!”
“I made it very clear. I promise to give you the money, but the premise is that we need to find out the truth. Whether or not He Jianguo absconded with the money and whether he had accomplices, who was making mischief, I don’t believe that a single contractor can dupe all of you out of your money!” Xin Zaozao said every word clearly, “So, all I need now is your cooperation. Once the truth is as clear as day, compensation will be made, not a penny less from the Xin family!”
“You’re being…”
“I’m doing this for the greater good! And taking responsibility for all of you! Now, the biggest loss is borne by the Xin Group. We are even more anxious to find out the reason.”
“Even though you say that, but what if nothing comes out after the investigation?”
“We give it a month. If there’s no progress within a month, I’ll compensate for your losses fully. During this month, I hope everyone can cooperate fully. If you refuse to cooperate in the investigation, I will consider whether to compensate.”
“That’s not acceptable…”
“That’s the only condition.” Xin Zaozao was assertive.
Despite her small frame and being pregnant, she had an aura that no one dared to counter.
She spoke again, “All the Xin family wants is to clear its name, and we ask that everyone understands.”
After saying that.
Xin Zaozao handed the megaphone to Chen Wenzhong. He said, “You maintain order next. As per what I just said, we must find out the truth before compensation can be made. I suspect there’s an inside job in this embezzlement case.”
“Why does Chairman Xin think so?”
“The Lei family village has been swindled like this before. It can’t keep falling for this again and again. There must be something fishy in the middle. If we quieten things down and compensate to get this over with this time, we can’t solve the root of the problem. I’m worried that this will happen again and again without end. I don’t want this to affect the reputation of the Xin family.”
“Alright, I understand.” Chen Wenzhong nodded respectfully, “I will proceed as per Chairman Xin’s direction.”
“I’ll leave first. Report to me when you’ve handled everything here.”
“Yes.”
Xin Zaozao left with her driver.
The driver was quite careful with Xin Zaozao, clearly worried that she would suddenly stumble.
If Xin Zaozao fell given her current physical condition, it would be very bad.
The two of them finally managed to leave the village.
The moment the driver opened the car door for Xin Zaozao to get in, both their eyes froze.
The driver squatted down quickly, “The tire’s busted?!”
It was apparent that Xin Zaozao saw it too.
“It’s man-made, definitely man-made!” The driver was a bit angry, and quite indignant, “How can the people here be so uncivilized, didn’t I just hear Chairman Zaozao say that she would compensate them for their losses? These people are simply not worthy of compensation.”
The driver grew angrier as he spoke.
Xin Zaozao managed to keep her emotions in check, she said, “Enough, stop arguing, just change the tire first.”
It’s not that she wasn’t angry, but that there’s no use being angry.
Sometimes it wasn’t about looking down on villagers, but that there was indeed a real need to improve civility.
Xin Zaozao just stood on the side, watching the driver struggle to change the tire.
She didn’t feel cold when she had just gotten out of the car because her focus was on solving the problem. Now that she was standing at the village entrance where the wind was blowing, she was starting to feel uncomfortable with the cold.
She shifted a little, breathing out to warm herself.
Suddenly, someone appeared beside her, “Aren’t you cold?”
Xin Zaozao turned her head abruptly.
She looked at Mu Cidian.
Mu Cidian was also looking at her.
They looked into each other’s eyes.
Xin Zaozao averted her gaze.
“Did the tire burst?” asked Mu Cidian.
“Yeah.”
“It was probably done by the village folks. I heard from Lei Qian’s father just now that your Xin family cheated the villagers’ money.”
Xin Zaozao didn’t answer.
Mu Cidian didn’t say anything else either, he just reached out and grabbed Xin Zaozao’s hand.
Xin Zaozao frowned.
She immediately shook him off.
The moment Mu Cidian touched her hand, he was startled by her icy coldness.
He said, “I’ll take you back first. Changing the tire’s going to take a while.”
“I don’t need it.”
“I’m heading the same way.”
“I don’t need it, I can wait.”
“Chairman Xin.” Upon hearing their conversation, the driver quickly dropped what he was doing and said, “Why don’t you go with him first. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to change the tire. It’s windy and raining now, and you’re not dressed warmly enough. It’s better if you go back first.”
Xin Zaozao pressed her lips together.
“Let’s go.” Mu Cidian spoke again.
Xin Zaozao hesitated for a moment and followed behind Mu Cidian.
Mu Cidian’s car was parked a little further inside the village.
Obviously, they were treated differently.
After all, Mu Cidian was the son-in-law of the village.
She followed quietly behind Mu Cidian.
Although Mu Cidian was walking very slowly, Xin Zaozao seemed to be having a hard time keeping up.
The road was too slippery, and it was raining.
Suddenly, Mu Cidian stopped.
Xin Zaozao frowned, “Why aren’t you walking?”
“If you don’t want to hold my hand, you can hold onto my clothes.” Mu Cidian stated straightforwardly.
Xin Zaozao closed her lips.
“You’re in your final months of pregnancy. You don’t need me to remind you that you can’t afford to fall, right?” Mu Cidian raised an eyebrow.
Xin Zaozao bit her lip.
She reached out, holding onto the hem of Mu Cidian’s down jacket.
Mu Cidian continued walking.
At that moment, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly in an almost imperceptible smile.
After walking for a while, they reached Mu Cidian’s car.
Mu Cidian opened the car door for her.
“Thank you.” Xin Zaozao was polite.
Xin Zaozao got in.
Mu Cidian returned to the driver’s seat.
Mu Cidian started the car, ready to leave.
“Isn’t Lei Qian coming with us?”
“She’s not going home tonight.” Mu Cidian replied.
Xin Zaozao didn’t ask further.
Mu Cidian didn’t elaborate either.
He drove away from the Lei Family village.
The air in the car was well heated, and the chilling body of Xin Zaozao gradually warmed up.
She leaned back in her seat, saying nothing.
Mu Cidian wasn’t someone of many words either, neither one of them spoke.
Xin Zaozao’s phone rang at this moment.
She checked the caller ID and answered, “Song Lifei.”
Mu Cidian glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
Song Lifei said, “I just got off the plane and saw that Chen Wenzhong had called me so many times. He said there were problems with the eco-project in the Lei Family village and you went to handle it personally?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you crazy? You are heavily pregnant and you’re going to the site, aren’t you afraid of potential violence?”
“The police were there, it’s not as bad as you think.”
“Can you not act so tough next time? Can you learn to protect yourself?”
“Alright, I get it. I’m on my way back now.” Xin Zaozao seemed not to want to carry on the conversation.
Song Lifei also refrained, he said, “Chen Wenzhong said you intend to get the bottom of this?”
“I think this matter is not simple, so I want to investigate it. It would be best to find the insider and get everything resolved.”
“So you suspect someone in Lei Family village is colluding with outside parties?”
“Just an initial guess. But I’m not sure yet, I will know after further investigation.”
“So you want everyone in the village to cooperate with you?”
“Hmm.”
“Chairman, you’re too smart. How are we underlings supposed to survive?”
“Cut it out.” Xin Zaozao chuckled.
Her eyes curved into a smile, she looked quite charming.
Mu Cidian tried to keep his gaze focused on the road.
She said, “Finish your work and come back soon. I’m over 8 months now, the doctor said it could happen at any time. I can only relax when you’re back at the company.”
“Alright, I will return as soon as my inspection is over. Can you stop sending me everywhere once I get back? I feel like I’m living on airplanes.”
“Don’t worry, I’m going to give birth soon, I won’t be sending you on frequent business trips.”
After all, there are many matters in the company that need Song Lifei to help her handle.
“I knew you can’t do without me.” Song Lifei joked.
Xin Zaozao chuckled again, “I’m ending the call now.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
Xin Zaozao ended the call.
Mu Cidian looked at her still smiling face and calmly asked, “Over 8 months?”
Xin Zaozao was taken aback.
She had blurted it out without much thought.
At that moment.
At that moment, she chose silence, or to pretend she hadn’t heard.
Mu Cidian didn’t press further.
The car fell silent again.
In the quietness, Xin Zaozao started to feel sleepy.
In such a warm space, she would doze off unknowingly.
This began after she got pregnant.
She closed her eyes, and before she knew it, she fell asleep.
She wasn’t sure how long it was.
All she knew was that she slept soundly.
When she opened her eyes, she had already returned to Jin City and reached her residential complex.
She intended to go to the company initially.
Never mind.
She didn’t want to make any demands of Mu Cidian.
She shifted her body.
At that moment, she noticed a men’s down jacket covering her. It was obvious it belonged to Mu Cidian.
She put the down jacket aside.
Mu Cidian, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, noticed that Xin Zaozao had woken up.
Xin Zaozao handed the down jacket back to him, “Thank you.”
“The consequences are serious if a pregnant woman catches a cold.” Mu Cidian suddenly spoke.
“I know.” Xin Zaozao was somewhat cold.
Mu Cidian pursed his lips.
He didn’t take the down jacket from Xin Zaozao, instead he opened the car door, walked over to her side, and opened her door.
Xin Zaozao set aside Mu Cidian’s down jacket.
The moment she prepared to get out of the car.
“Ah!” Xin Zaozao suddenly cried out.
“What’s wrong?” The worry on Mu Cidian’s face was undisguised.
“Nothing… Ah…” Xin Zaozao gritted her teeth, but was unable to hold back her cry.
“I’ll take you to the hospital!” Mu Cidian spun around, about to start the car.
Xin Zaozao grabbed his hand, her forehead was covered in sweat.
Mu Cidian looked at her.
“It’s okay, the baby just kicked me a few times, it will be fine in a while.” Xin Zaozao said with difficulty.
Because she was far along in her pregnancy, sometimes when the baby kicked, it would leave her short of breath.
This child was really strong.
She figured that the child might be a tomboy when she’s born.
She just sat in the back seat and endured.
Usually, this kind of situation would last for 2-3 minutes. Once it subsided, she would be fine.
She released Mu Cidian’s hand and leaned back in her seat.
Mu Cidian just watched her bloated, round belly. There was a moment where he thought he could see her stomach moving.
Mu Cidian’s throat bobbed.
He reached out his hand.
His long fingers rested gently on Xin Zaozao’s swollen belly.
A warmth that was hard to describe radiated in his heart…