292 Gratitude Requires Sincerity

"You believe him?" Zhuo Jingren asked. His thoughts were unfathomable as he stared at the road ahead.

"I will see," Lily answered. "I'll spend the rest of my day at home as I sort through things. I've already contacted Yang Mi.  She will bring any files requiring my signature later in the day."

"I don't like what your grandmother did," Zhuo Jingren blurted out as he turned his gaze towards Lily. "How could she not do a thing to the Qins? If I were in her place, I would have hired some people to burn them alive. Bec was her only daughter and because of the Qin family, Lilian missed more than twenty years of her daughter's life. Why did she not do a thing about it?" This was his honest opinion and he wanted his wife to know how he really felt.

"If I were Lilian…" Lily paused deliberately to make sure that she had his full attention. She looked deeply into his eyes before she said clearly, "I would have done the same thing."

"Why?" he asked, his face showing his unmasked confusion. Zhuo Jingren did not understand why Lilian didn't do anything to avenge her daughter and granddaughter when she had enough money to pay some people to kill the Qin Family. What was she afraid of?

"You see? This is where we are different," Lily answered. "If Lilian became impulsive and did everything that suggested, then… the Facci Group would have already fallen. Back then… I was not ready to manage the company. Back then… our influence was not great enough to breach the protective walls that Mainland China erects against foreigners. Even George, who had been working with the Mafia, found it hard to integrate himself with the Triad. The Qin Family's mining company is a Triad favorite.

At that time… if she confronted the Qin Family… I am almost a hundred percent sure that she would have lost. Compared to our company, the Qin Family's underground connections with Chinese Triad are stronger. What do you think would have happened to my grandmother if they decided to retaliate?" she asked. "What do you think would have happened to me? At that time, the only thing I did was stare blankly at the wall all day long. You think I would have survived?"

"My grandmother was not afraid for herself, Jingren. She was afraid for me," Lily continued as she raised her chin. "I am not mad at her because I understand the logic behind her actions. In fact, I applaud her ability to foresee my future plans. She knew I would be coming for the Qin Family and she did her best to pave a way for me to do that." Lily was proud of her grandmother. No matter what she did, Lily knew that her grandmother only thought of her well being and nothing more.

"After I took over the company, she asked me to focus on extending our influence internationally. Our goal was to become global. She did her best to prepare me for what was to come. And well... here I am today," she said with a smile. "Moreover… this fight is not my grandmother's. It is mine."

"Ours," he corrected. "This fight is ours."

Lily instantly beamed at her husband, "Ours. This fight is indeed ours," she said as she felt her fingers being intertwined with his.

….

After Lily and Zhuo Jingren arrived at Sky City, Lily did not immediately check the contents of the case that was given to her by Mr. Rossi. She didn't know what she would see in the case and she didn't want her mood to be negatively affected all day by what she might see in its contents. Instead, Lily buried herself in routine paperwork. She wanted to finish most of her work so she could focus on Zhang Yifei's arrival.

"It's done," Zhuo Jingren said the moment he entered the room.

"What is?" Lily asked.

"Qin Mo. He got into an accident a few minutes ago. Impact should be enough to cripple him. This could affect Zhang Yifei's visit too," Zhuo Jingren casually slid into the chair opposite Lily and positioned his laptop across hers.

"That fast?" Lily was naturally surprised. A day hadn't passed yet and Zhuo Jingren had already done what she'd asked.

"Oh… would you have preferred the accident to happen tomorrow?"

"That wasn't my point," she countered before asking, "You have people in the Qin Family?"

"Lots… lots of people."

"And the Xuan's?" Lily wanted to know the extent of Zhuo Jingren's capabilities.

"Same," he answered. "I could have them killed if you like."

Lily nodded as if any of this was ordinary. Qin Mo's accident would actually result in one of the two things: First, Zhang Yifei will visit and try to kill Qin Mo. Zhang Yifei should know by now that Lily was targeting her, and well… Qin Mo was a loose end. Or… she might cancel her trip entirely and just have her people kill Qin Mo. Either way… the end result will be Qin Mo's death.

"I don't want Qin Mo to die," Lily answered. "Dying is too easy."

"I can assure you that he won't die. I've already asked Bei Tian to assign more people to the hospital. We can also go and see him once he regains consciousness."

"Good. Then I will go and see him soon," Lily said. Actually there was one more possibility: Zhang Yifei could try to sabotage Lily's business. She would want Lily to be occupied, very occupied. This would give Zhang Yifei the chance to enact her plans.

"I only have one question right now," Zhuo Jingren said. "According to Mr. Rossi, the Qin Family in Mainland China was unaware that you were alive back then. However, he was not sure if Zhang Yifei already knew of your existence before you arrived in Hong Kong. She probably did. I still don't understand why she didn't do anything back then. Was it because she was confident that you wouldn't discover the events surrounding your mother's death?"

"She probably was. After all, I never showed any interest in branching out in the east before. But… let's not forget that she already took some measures to mislead us from the start. The doctor was already dead but… she still lead us to believe that he was alive. She must have done this in case I decided to go after the people who hurt me back then," Lily explained to Zhuo Jingren. "The only possible explanation is that… she underestimated me. I mean… back then I was really clueless and stupid. She had enough reason to think that I would be the same as I was before the accident."

"True… underestimating you… should be her greatest mistake."

"Wrong," Lily shook her head. "Her greatest mistake is not knowing that I married you." She gave him a smug smile. Sure, Lily could accomplish all her plans without Zhuo Jingren, but his support was a great boost.

"Hmmm… I don't think you are sincere enough. Gratitude requires sincerity, my dear wife," he smiled slyly.

"Does it?" Lily countered while raising an eyebrow. "Well then… how do you want me to show my... sincerity?"

"Aren't you smart enough to know how?" his lips lifted into a beautiful smirk as his eyes sweep the length of her neck, lingering on her lips, only to settle back on her eyes.