Hearing Wang Chengxiang mention Xu Qingqing to her, Wang Chengxiang felt utterly confused. "Why are you asking about this?"
"You want to appraise a treasure? You can find someone else. Xu Qingqing's skills are abysmal."
The stepmother thought Wang Chengxiang was going to Xu Qingqing to appraise a treasure and started spouting nonsense about her.
If I hadn't just gone to Xu Qingqing for an appraisal and known her professionalism, I would have really been deceived by you! Wang Chengxiang grumbled inwardly. "I've already had her appraise it, but something unexpected happened. The website people found out."
"According to the website's rules, it's not allowed to appraise treasures after obtaining them. But I just couldn't resist... So the website is going to cancel my betting qualification, and they won't refund the money."
"What did you say!"
The stepmother's voice was like a whistling kettle. She let out a shriek and felt heart - broken.
She and Wang Chengxiang were in the same group, and they both used the same account to place bets!
If Wang Chengxiang's betting qualification was cancelled and the money wasn't refunded, then her money would be gone too!
"Why didn't you read the rules carefully back then!"
The stepmother angrily accused, thinking about her money with a pang in her heart.
She wished she could reach through the phone and grab this fatso Wang Chengxiang and slap him hard to vent her anger.
Wang Chengxiang knew he was in the wrong and quickly added, "Don't be in a hurry. The website is quite considerate. Since they know you're Xu Qingqing's mother - in - law, they want you to do something for them."
Hearing that there was still a chance for redemption, the stepmother immediately wiped away the heart - broken tears in her eyes.
She sat down and listened to Wang Chengxiang. "What should I do then?"
"The website wants you to reveal this secret to Xu Qingqing on your own initiative, and then follow their arrangements." Wang Chengxiang relayed the message.
"That's all?"
The stepmother's mind raced. She was a bit confused as to why she had to tell Xu Qingqing this news on purpose.
According to normal thinking, shouldn't they try their best to conceal this matter?
But if they did this, there was only one possibility - Xu Qingqing's identity was also extraordinary, and the people from the website were wary of her.
Thinking of this, a strange sense of joy welled up in the stepmother's heart.
Doing this could not only save her own money but also teach Xu Qingqing a lesson. It was a win - win situation.
"Okay, I got it."
After the stepmother agreed, she hung up the phone. She got up, went into the kitchen, turned off the stove, and poured the soup in the casserole into a thermos.
Anyway, she still had to go to apologize to Xu Qingqing. She might as well do both things at once.
When Xu Qingqing got home, there was an unexpected guest.
The stepmother was sitting upright on the sofa. Xu's mother was protecting the two children and trying to drive her out.
"What are you doing here? You're not welcome. Get out quickly!"
Xu's mother hated the stepmother for using the children. If the latter wasn't her in - law, she would have resorted to force.
The two children were also peeping out with their little heads, looking impatiently at the stepmother.
"You'd better leave quickly. Otherwise, when my dad comes back, he'll throw you out!"
"That's right! You're a lying old witch!" Xu An'an made a face at the stepmother after she said this.
She still remembered the maliciously edited video the stepmother had posted online last time.
Although Lu Chuanbai and Xu Qingqing had never mentioned it to her.
But she and Xu Yiyi were smart kids. With a little thought, they could figure out who the beneficiary behind this was.
Just as Xu's mother was about to say something else to drive her out, Xu Qingqing walked over with a cold and pretty face and gently patted Xu's mother on the back.
"Mom, take the kids out first. I'll talk to her."
Seeing Xu Qingqing coming, Xu's mother didn't want to leave a bad impression on the two children. Muttering to herself, she took the kids away.
Xu Qingqing closed the door, slowly hung her bag on the hanger, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked down at the stepmother.
"Don't even think about the money from the charity auction. I'm not going to give it to you."
Unexpectedly, the stepmother smiled slightly and showed no sign of anger. She patted the sofa beside her and spoke very sincerely.
"Qingqing, come and sit down."
"I know I was wrong for taking the two kids out without your permission and then losing them."
"I'm here this time to apologize."
Xu Qingqing snorted and sat opposite the stepmother.
She didn't see any sign of apology from the stepmother. The latter was sitting upright and didn't even stand up.
"Oh." Xu Qingqing's tone was extremely perfunctory.
The stepmother was furious inside. She had lowered her pride to apologize, but Xu Qingqing only replied with an "oh"!
"I've received your apology. Do you have anything else? If not, just leave."
Xu Qingqing wasn't going to indulge her. She poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and raised her eyebrows at the stepmother, her eyes full of dislike.
The stepmother felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze.
She even suspected that Xu Qingqing had killed someone when she was abroad. Otherwise, how could a young girl have such a sharp look in her eyes.
"To show my apology, I have a good money - making project and I want you to join. Do you want to give it a try?"
"What project?" Xu Qingqing put down the teacup and half - reclined on the sofa backrest.
The stepmother pursed her lips. Since Xu Qingqing didn't sit beside her, she could sit beside Xu Qingqing.
After sitting down, the stepmother reached out and motioned for Xu Qingqing to come closer.
Although Xu Qingqing was impatient, she still cooperated and slightly lowered her head.
"Have you ever heard of betting on tombs?"
Xu Qingqing's eyes turned cold. She didn't expect the stepmother to be involved in this. She immediately changed her expression and showed a look of confusion.
"What is betting on tombs?"
The stepmother explained it seriously, just like her sister had explained it to her last time.
"Are you interested?"
"No, I'm not."
Xu Qingqing refused with a smile, but in her heart, she planned to ask Lu Chuanbai to send someone to keep an eye on the stepmother's movements.
This scheming woman was really something. She was so good at deceiving people.
Seeing that her task was completed and not wanting Xu Qingqing to join the project, the stepmother made an excuse that there was still chicken soup stewing at home and couldn't stay long. She picked up her bag and left.
When Lu Chuanbai came back from the company and heard that the stepmother had been to their house, he immediately rushed to the study.
Xu Qingqing was looking through materials about the Warring States period. Hearing the hasty footsteps, she looked up towards the outside of the study.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Did that woman give you any trouble?"
Lu Chuanbai gasped and asked.
"What trouble can she give me? I'm not easy to bully."
Xu Qingqing turned a page of the ancient book in her hand.
"She came to apologize, but I didn't accept it."
"And she also told me about the tomb - betting thing on her own initiative. She must have invested a lot of money in it."
"She also invested money."
Lu Chuanbai fell into deep thought. His handsome face showed an expression of "I knew it".
Wang Chengxiang was her brother - in - law. How could he not drag her into such a thing?
"I can't figure out why she would tell me about this out of the blue. For something like this, shouldn't the fewer people who know about it, the better?"