Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Affectionate Playacting
Once he finished speaking, Charles Quinn took out his phone: "I’ll call July right now and tell her to get back here immediately!"
"But honey, our relationship with July is so strained right now, do you think she’ll listen to you?"
Amanda Ford has always been clever, knowing how to use people as tools.
That’s why over the years, she’s maintained the image of a gentle and elegant lady in others’ eyes.
But look, under her seemingly gentle provocation, Charles Quinn revealed a vicious glare.
"No matter how strained, I’m still her father. If she refuses to give me money, then I’ll cut ties with her as my daughter."
After shouting, Charles Quinn called July Quinn.
But the mechanical, cold female voice on the other end of the line made Charles realize that July had already blacklisted the entire family’s numbers the last time she ran away from home.
"Did July blacklist you too? She’s really being immature!"
Charles didn’t respond, but his expression was gloomy.
"I heard from Nina that although July is participating in the ’Competition Dance’ show, she’s not training with the other contestants. Apparently, ’Creation Camp’ is in its finale season, so she took leave."
Charles’ eyes immediately lit up: "It’s even better that she’s at Wisteria TV. We’ll go see her first thing tomorrow morning."
*
The next day, as soon as July Quinn arrived at the company, the receptionist informed her that her parents were waiting for her in the reception room.
"My parents?"
Alright, if it weren’t for Charles Quinn and Amanda Ford showing up, July would have almost forgotten she wasn’t an orphan.
Even though she knew these two wouldn’t come unless they wanted something, July still went to the reception room to see them.
As soon as July arrived, Charles Quinn and Amanda Ford stood up in the reception room.
Just like before, they were both dressed from head to toe in high-end luxury brands, exuding an air of wealth.
The difference was that today, after seeing July, they were uncharacteristically warm and friendly.
"July, mom and dad have been waiting here for quite a while, just hoping to see you."
Charles Quinn’s gentle and loving tone instantly gave July goosebumps.
To be clear, July had never experienced such "care" from Charles Quinn throughout her life.
Amanda was even more dramatic.
As soon as she saw July, her eyes turned red.
"How come you look so skinny after just a few days? You really should take better care of yourself. We’ve been giving you advice for your own good, and yet you haven’t come home for so long, wearing yourself out like this."
After putting on the mother-daughter affection act, Amanda even took out some soup she had made.
"You probably haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? This is beauty-enhancing pork knuckle peanut soup that I made for you early this morning. Drink it while it’s hot."
While speaking, Amanda served the soup.
But at a glance, it didn’t look like any pork knuckle peanut soup.
Because the soup was green, probably just some mung bean soup that a servant made, and Amanda scooped it on her way out, pretending she had made it herself.
Seeing this, July didn’t bother to play along with them anymore.
"Alright, stop acting. What’s the real reason you came to see me, just say it directly."
For the sake of this bowl of fake mung bean soup, as long as Charles Quinn and Amanda Ford’s demands weren’t too excessive, July was still willing to agree.
But Charles Quinn and Amanda Ford, unaware of July’s thoughts, suspected that if July considered it an act, most likely their demands would not be met today.
So after exchanging a glance, the two of them spoke up one after the other.
"July, what nonsense are you talking about? Your parents specifically came to see you, how could this be an act?"
"Darling, don’t use that tone with July, it might scare her."
One with a stern face, the other with a smiling face, playing a warm scene in tandem, one in black, the other in white.
But July was not moved by this warm act, her expression remained incredibly cold.
"One last chance, just say what you mean."
She used to long for her parents’ affection and approval.
Now, it’s the same.
But when Charles Quinn and Amanda Ford actually put on this act in front of her, all she felt was goosebumps and... hypocrisy!
She didn’t know why the family affection she had longed for was so hard to digest when it finally presented itself.
It wasn’t until Charles realized she truly wasn’t interested in exchanging words, and stated their purpose.
"Actually, the reason we came to see you is that your cousin told us you bought an entire shopping street’s worth of shops with full payment. It’s very difficult to make a profit in retail these days, and you, not knowing business, can’t understand this. Instead of investing so much money in a sector that’s almost impossible to profit from, why not invest it in our family project instead..."
July finally realized why this hard-won family affection was so hard to bear.
Because they didn’t come to her out of love, but solely because they were eyeing her money.
"After saying so much, what you really want is just my money?"