The difference was, he wouldn't force Tang Wanxing.
"I...!"
Tang Wanxing was speechless, truly unable to retort.
Yes, Meng Jingwei couldn't give Qing Muye everything, but as long as she could give him love, it was worth more than anything.
"What if she dies!"
Suddenly, a ruthless glint shot from the woman's pupils, her gaze becoming ferocious and terrifying.
"Are you crazy?"
Qiao Ziqian's expression darkened slightly. "You were just reflecting on yourself, and now you're confused again? If you dare to lay a hand on Meng Jingwei, Big Brother will kill you once he finds out. And me, what choice would you leave me with?"
Although he hadn't lived with Qing Muye, Qiao Ziqian had learned about Qing Muye from his father, Qing Kangyu.
Qiao Ziqian was not a person who resorted to unscrupulous means; he cherished family ties.
"Ziqian, you don't need to persuade me. I have my own choices."
Saying this, Tang Wanxing got up, shuffled in her slippers, and went into the bedroom. "I'm tired, I want to sleep." She entered the bedroom and closed the door.
In the living room, Qiao Ziqian's brows were tightly furrowed. He irritably picked up a cigarette and sat alone in the living room, smoking.
He hadn't expected things to turn into this situation.
Qing Kangyu sought out Qing Muye to arrange for Qing Muye to marry Tang Wanxing and smoothly become the son-in-law of the Tang family.
His own presence was not to foster the relationship between Tang Wanxing and Qing Muye, but rather... selfishly speaking, he hoped Qing Muye would not end up with Tang Wanxing.
Firstly, if the two married, his own hopes would be dashed. Secondly, Qing Muye didn't love Tang Wanxing, and even if they married, they were destined to be unhappy.
Just then, Qiao Ziqian's phone rang.
He took out his phone and saw Qing Kangyu's number displayed on the screen.
Qiao Ziqian ran a hand through his hair irritably, thinking, "Speak of the devil."
He got up, walked out of the living room, closed the door, and returned to his own room to answer the call.
"Father."
"How have Wanxing and Qing Muye's relationship progressed recently?" On the other end of the line, Qing Kangyu got straight to the point. Perhaps this was the only matter he cared about.
What he valued was only profit.
Qiao Ziqian walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and stood there, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other holding his phone. He said coldly, "Qing Muye loves Meng Jingwei very much. He and Xingxing have no future."
"Hmph, what did I send you there for?" Qing Kangyu sounded displeased. "If you don't properly facilitate their marriage, how will our Qing family prosper?"
"Father, the Qing family already has a place in the capital. One should be content."
"What, are you telling me what to do?" Qing Kangyu's tone lacked any fatherly affection towards Qiao Ziqian.
Qiao Ziqian nudged his cheek with his tongue, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is it right to exchange your eldest son's lifelong happiness for the profits you desire?"
His words were met with silence for a while. Qiao Ziqian continued, "Money cannot be brought to the grave nor taken away. Pursuing it too much will only make you weary. My mother has worked hard with you for most of her life. I think it would be better for you to travel the world in your remaining years."
Half of his words were genuine, the other half was a hope that Qing Kangyu would give up his current pursuits and stop interfering with Tang Wanxing and Qing Muye's matters.
"My affairs are not for you to decide," Qing Kangyu snorted coldly. "Isn't it just Meng Jingwei? A mere woman, she's no big deal."
"What do you want to do?" Qiao Ziqian's voice rose as he questioned.
But all he received was the sound of "Doo doo doo..." – a busy signal.
The other party had hung up. Qiao Ziqian was furious and slammed his phone to the floor.
The phone landed on the carpet, bounced a few times, and lay still on the ground.