My whirlwind marriage partner is a wealthy CEO

Chapter 287 I hate people who gossip behind people's backs

Xiao Qingqing's heart-wrenching cries continued unabated.

Zhu Ziqing was extremely anxious upon hearing this. She shook off Tan Haoyu's hand and rushed to Xiao Qingqing's side, trying to hug her.

"Xiao Qingqing, what's wrong?" Zhu Ziqing's voice was full of concern.

But Xiao Qingqing struggled violently, waving her little hands wildly, crying her heart out: "No! No sister!" Tears streamed down her red cheeks like a burst dam, making her look extremely pitiful, as if the whole world was against her.

Zhu Ziqing stood frozen in place, looking at Xiao Qingqing's heartbroken expression. Her heart felt like it was being pierced by countless needles, aching terribly. She was at a loss, her hands hanging in mid-air, not knowing what to do.

Tan Haoyu strode over, sat down next to Xiao Qingqing, gently pulled her into his arms, and tenderly patted her back: "Baby, tell Daddy, why are you crying so sadly?"

Little Qingqing sobbed, crying out, "I don't want my sister... I want my mom..." Her face turned bright red, and her little body convulsed from crying.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ziqing silently withdrew her hand, which had been about to touch Xiao Qingqing, a bitter feeling welling up inside her. Xiao Qingqing had happily waved goodbye to her on her way to school that morning, but unexpectedly, she came home crying and demanding to leave her that evening.

"Little Qingqing is still a child, and her mind is unsettled," Zhu Ziqing thought. "What she needs is her mother. I, her older sister Qingqing, can't give her what she wants in the end." With that thought, Zhu Ziqing turned around, intending to leave quietly, not wanting to make little Qingqing even more upset.

Tan Haoyu reacted quickly, grabbing Zhu Ziqing's arm and pulling her to sit down beside him. His tone was a mix of domineering and helpless: "Where are you going? Sit down!" Strangely, Zhu Ziqing didn't seem to mind Tan Haoyu's forcefulness and obediently sat down.

Tan Haoyu took out a tissue and gently wiped away Xiao Qingqing's tears, patiently saying, "Qingqing, your older sister Qingqing loves you very much too. Saying things like that will make your sister sad."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingqing cried even harder, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls: "I don't want to make my sister sad... but Qingqing is so sad, I don't know what to do..."

Tan Haoyu gently stroked Xiao Qingqing's head and asked softly, "Baby, why are you crying?"

Little Qingqing sniffled, her voice trembling with tears, and said, "Sister Lanlan said that after Daddy marries Sister Daqing, he'll have a little brother with her, and then Daddy will only love Sister Daqing and her little brother, and won't love Qingqing anymore... I want Mommy..."

Tan Haoyu understood immediately; someone must have whispered those words in Xiao Qingqing's ear. He gently stroked Xiao Qingqing's head, his tone gentle yet stern: "Qingqing, you did something wrong."

Little Qingqing froze, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, her eyes filled with confusion. Then, tears streamed down her face again: "Daddy, do you not want Qingqing anymore...?"

Tan Haoyu tenderly placed Xiao Qingqing in Zhu Ziqing's arms and said firmly, "How could that be? Dad and Sister Qingqing will always love Qingqing."

Little Qingqing blinked her big, watery eyes at Zhu Ziqing, who was holding her, and asked cautiously, "Sister, will you always love Qingqing?"

Zhu Ziqing was torn. Her relationship with Tan Haoyu was still unclear, and if she were to be with him, it would inevitably take away some of the affection Tan Haoyu had for Xiao Qingqing. She didn't want to deceive Xiao Qingqing, but looking at the expectant look in Xiao Qingqing's eyes, she couldn't bear to do it.

At this moment, Tan Haoyu said with a smile, "Qingqing, don't hit your sister Qingqing just now, she's angry. If you apologize to your sister obediently, she will forgive you."

Little Qingqing nodded quickly, and said in a tearful voice, "Sister, Qingqing was wrong. Qingqing should love sister."

Zhu Ziqing's eyes reddened, and she hugged Xiao Qingqing tightly in her arms, choking up and unable to speak for a moment.

Tan Haoyu opened his strong arms and hugged the mother and daughter tightly, saying, "Okay, Qingqing and Daqing are back to normal. Let's go eat first, and after we eat, Xiao Qingqing will take Da Qingqing out to play."

Little Qingqing nodded vigorously, hugged Zhu Ziqing's face and kissed her: "Sister loves Qingqing, and Qingqing loves sister too!"

Zhu Ziqing picked up Xiao Qingqing and kissed her rosy cheeks. Then, she and Tan Haoyu walked towards the restaurant.

……

As dusk settles, the garden is bathed in soft light, and the exquisite dishes on the tables still retain a wisp of steam.

After dinner, Tan Haoyu put down his cutlery, turned his gaze to Xiao Qingqing, and said in a gentle but firm voice, "Qingqing, take Da Qingqing outside for a walk."

"Yay!" Xiao Qingqing's eyes lit up. She grabbed Zhu Ziqing's hand and skipped and jumped, ready to set off.

Tan Haoyu watched the two figures leave, his expression instantly turning cold. He turned to the butler and ordered, "Gather all the servants."

Before long, a dozen or so servants from Jiayuan stood neatly in front of Tan Haoyu. They all looked nervous, exchanging cautious glances, unsure of what had happened. Zhang Lanhua, who was taking care of Xiao Qingqing, was especially frightened, her face pale and her body trembling slightly. She silently prayed that Tan Haoyu hadn't discovered what she had said to Xiao Qingqing.

Tan Haoyu's gaze swept over the servants one by one, finally settling on Zhang Lanhua. "Aunt Liu, give her some money and let her get as far away as possible." Tan Haoyu's voice was low and cold. "I hate people who gossip behind people's backs the most, especially since she provoked my wife. This has crossed my bottom line. No matter how loyal she was in the past, she can't be allowed to stay."

Zhang Lanhua's legs went weak, and she stammered, "Sir, I...I..."

"Enough!" Tan Haoyu coldly interrupted her, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he loudly declared, "I'm telling you now, Zhu Ziqing is the sole mistress of this house, and her words are law. Anyone who dares to disrespect her shouldn't blame me for being impolite!"

Normally, Tan Haoyu, due to his aloof personality, rarely interacted with the servants, but he was always polite and courteous to his subordinates, never mistreating them. Those who had worked for him for years had never seen him so angry. This was the first and only time. These servants were all transferred from the United States by Tan Haoyu after Zhu Ziqing's disappearance, and they knew nothing about the previous Zhu Ziqing or Xiao Qingqing's mother. But at this moment, they deeply realized that this Zhu Ziqing was incredibly important to Tan Haoyu.

On the other side, Xiao Qingqing was strolling in the garden with Zhu Ziqing in hand. Although children's emotions come and go quickly, all the other children in the kindergarten had their mothers, but her own mother was nowhere to be found, which filled Xiao Qingqing with doubt. She blinked her big, watery eyes and innocently asked, "Sister, do you know where Qingqing's mother flew off to?"