Chapter 38: Who’s the Father?

Chapter 38: Who’s the Father?

It was a bright, crisp autumn day, and the persimmon tree in the northwest corner of the garden was heavy with fruit, its branches drooping under the weight of ripe persimmons.

A sudden scream startled the birds pecking at the persimmons, sending them fluttering into the air.

Lin Yufan and Gui Xiang rushed toward the villa.

In the living room, a child’s sobbing echoed, as the nannies were trying to calm Kang Nian and Qi Yunxin’s children.

Passing through the living room and heading upstairs, the staircase was packed with nosy servants, who scattered the moment First Madam appeared.

Reaching the second floor, they made their way to the room at the far end, which was Zhao Yanhui's room.

Upon entering, they first saw Liu Fang sitting by the door, weeping into her hands, with Third Concubine gently comforting her.

Meanwhile, Wang Junyao was struggling to hold back the furious Kang Nian, urging him not to act impulsively.

Kang Nian was gripping a large knife, his hand shaking.

Zhao Yanhui stood by the bed, in boxer shorts and a shirt hanging open, holding a gun, his eyebrows arched as if daring, "Come on, come at me and I'll shoot you dead!"

Qi Yunxin, disheveled, wrapped in a blanket, turned her back, too ashamed to face anyone.

Their clothes lay trampled on the floor by Second Concubine and Fourth Concubine, who’d come to gawk at the scene.

Wang Junyao loudly pleaded, "Yanhui, put the gun down first. Guns are deadly, and you waving that thing around is terrifying."

"First Madam, tell him to leave first. He's holding a big knife!" Zhao Yanhui pointed at Kang Nian, caught red-handed, he’d thrown caution to the wind.

Kang Nian remained silent, but the rage in his eyes looked ready to kill.

Hearing the commotion, Wang Junyao turned around and saw Lin Yufan entering, like a lifeline had appeared: "Yufan, it's good that you're back. This is beyond shameful. Where's Zhi Ao?"

Lin Yufan thought that if she said Zhao Zhiao hadn't returned, Zhao Yanhui might not easily back down. In this family, Zhao Yanhui only feared Zhao Zhiao.

Lin Yufan couldn't bear to look at Zhao Yanhui, only addressing her mother-in-law: "He's behind me."

Upon hearing Lin Yufan's words, Zhao Yanhui gulped involuntarily, as he was somewhat afraid of his own nephew.

Seeing the situation easing, Lin Yufan instructed those behind her: "Disarm Second Master and the young master."

Ms. Guan, the housekeeper, quickly called in two bodyguards, one to take Kang Nian's knife and the other to confiscate Zhao Yanhui's gun.

As soon as the gun and knife were taken away, Kang Nian lunged forward, seizing the moment, "Zhao Yanhui, you son of a bitch!"

Everyone watched as Kang Nian tackled Zhao Yanhui to the ground, his fists raining down on Zhao Yanhui’s face and head.

Zhao Yanhui, who was all looks and no strength, was no match for Kang Nian's brute strength, especially with Kang Nian's rage burning hot, a force that even ten oxen couldn't hold back.

As it was a bare-handed brawl, everyone seemed to tacitly agree not to intervene, simply watching as Kang Nian beat Zhao Yanhui mercilessly.

Seeing Zhao Yanhui's nose bleeding, Liu Fang couldn't bear it and tried to intervene, but Qi Yunxin was quicker, wrapping herself in the blanket to shield Zhao Yanhui.

Out of control!

Kang Nian grabbed Qi Yunxin and slapped her twice across the face: "You shameless whore! Adulterers!"

After slapping her, he tried to kick her, but was finally restrained by others.

Qi Yunxin wiped away her tears and set her face in a determined expression. Since she had already been humiliated this much, she decided to throw all caution to the wind: "I’m shameless, and I don’t even care to look in the mirror. If it weren’t for my family forcing me back then, would I have married you?!"

"Bitch!" Kang Nian’s last shred of self-esteem was trampled and shattered. He cursed and wanted to hit her again but was held back.

Even though Zhao Yanhui was beaten black and blue, his vanity was thoroughly satisfied. Why did women choose him? Because he was good-looking, handsome!

Then, Qi Yunxin turned her sharp tongue towards Liu Fang: "Quit crying and playing the victim. You went to worship Buddha with the First Madam, saying you’d return in the afternoon, but suddenly came back and even dragged the First Madam to block the door. Isn’t it just to watch me get humiliated? Yes, you got your wish! A woman who can’t bear a son, no matter how much you pretend, can’t just conjure one up. If it weren’t for me stopping him, Zhao Yanhui would have had who knows how many women by now."

How shameless!

Wang Junyao couldn’t bear to listen anymore and said, "Yunxin, you can’t be this… this shameless. You were the one who made the mistake first. Liu Fang treated you as a good sister, but what about you? I didn’t come here today because Liu Fang called me. I came on my own."

Actually, the concubines had claimed that mice were scurrying towards the small villa. They chased after them and found Qi Yunxin’s personal maid keeping watch downstairs. The concubines suspected foul play, so they deliberately detained the maid and dragged Wang Junyao, who had just returned home, to catch the "mice." That’s how the scandal came to light.

The Fourth Concubine stepped on the clothes on the floor and sneered sarcastically, "If you don’t want people to find out, don’t do it in the first place. It was only a matter of time before your deeds were discovered."

Qi Yunxin glared at the Fourth Concubine: "Since when does a concubine have the right to speak here?"

The Fourth Concubine got angry, "The First Madam hasn’t scolded me, so when does it become your place, an outsider, to speak? Don’t think that just because you’re in charge, you’re really part of the Zhao family!"

The Second Concubine also said, "We may be concubines, but we’re legitimate, lawful concubines…"

The Fourth Concubine continued, "Unlike you, stealing someone else’s husband and then turning on the original wife. I say, the First Madam has been too lenient with you! It’s not that you made a mistake first; it’s that you stole someone first!"

Qi Yunxin laughed bitterly and snorted coldly, "Today, you set me up to humiliate me on purpose!"

"Yes, we stripped you and handed your clothes to the Second Master." After saying this, the Fourth Concubine added, "Shameless."

"Enough!" Lin Yufan, her head pounding from the arguing, ordered, "Separate them and let them get dressed before speaking."

Luckily, Zhao Jingxiu was away for tutoring and not at home today. Otherwise, seeing such a disgraceful scene would have left her with psychological scars.

Lin Yufan quickly walked out and ordered someone to call Zhao Zhiao back from the Luo Mansion.

After leaving the small villa, Lin Yufan retreated to her room to rest.

Gui Xiang followed and said, "The house has lost power. We didn’t even catch the horse racing broadcast at noon. When Tielong returns, I’ll have him go to the betting station to check the results."

After the uproar just now, Lin Yufan was surprisingly calm. At worst, she lost and wasted 5,000 Hong Kong dollars.

On second thought, the shift in her mindset was a little alarming. Did she really not care about 5,000 Hong Kong dollars anymore?

She had some assets, but she wasn’t at the point where she could waste 5,000 Hong Kong dollars without feeling it.

What a sin.

In less than twenty minutes, Zhao Zhiao returned.

*

In the living room of the main villa, the servants were sent away. Zhao Zhiao sat at the head, with Lin Yufan by his side, and the others scattered around sitting casually.

The women sat with Liu Fang, comforting her softly.

Kang Nian sat alone below Zhao Zhiao, his face grim, not looking at anyone.

Zhao Yanhui was bruised and swollen, his wounds slightly treated, while Qi Yunxin’s eyes were swollen from being hit. She sat not far from Zhao Yanhui, head down, silent.

If word of such a disgraceful incident got out, it would bring shame to the Zhao family.

Zhao Zhiao looked at his Second Uncle, "What’s your plan to settle this?"

Zhao Yanhui, who was sitting with his legs crossed, shifted his posture, "No plans. I don’t care."

Kang Nian wanted to speak several times but ultimately said nothing.

Wang Junyao suggested, "Let’s split up and not live together anymore."

The idea was to kick Kang Nian and Qi Yunxin out, separating the cheaters. This was the easiest way to handle it.

Zhao Zhiao had a few ideas and threw one out there to see how it would go.

"Nian, you take your wife and kids and move out—you pick where. Second Uncle, head to Nanyang and stay there for a few years. Second Aunt, it’s up to you whether you go with Second Uncle or stay here. Jingxiu stays in Hong Kong to keep studying."

Lin Yufan figured Zhao Zhiao had this all planned out.

No one spoke.

It was like dropping a stone in a pond—no reaction.

Then, slowly, people started reacting.

Qi Yunxin was the first to snap. She looked at Zhao Yanhui, "You’re not going to say anything?"

"What am I supposed to say?" Zhao Yanhui was clearly avoiding the issue.

Qi Yunxin shook her head in disappointment, "You’re just going to bail—what about me? Do you think Kang Nian’s going to let me off the hook? You want me to get beat up every day?! Just now, Kang Nian grabbed my hair and asked if the two children were his! Zhao Yanhui!!!"

That bombshell dropped hard!

Liu Fang widened her eyes and looked at Zhao Yanhui.

Zhao Yanhui just lowered his head and said nothing.

Kang Nian stood there, frozen for a moment, then bolted.

The Second Concubine reacted quickly, "Oh no, don’t let this get out of hand!"

Shen Te and the bodyguards nearby reacted even faster, they stopped Kang Nian.

Kang Nian roared, "I’m going to kill those little brats!!"

After roaring, two lines of hot tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.

The two kids he adored weren’t even his! How could he accept this?

Lin Yufan watched it all unfold like a drama. No wonder Qi Yunxin's two children didn’t resemble Kang Nian at all.

Liu Fang, who’d been crying quietly, now broke down. It hit her—her marriage was done for. They had been fooling around for so many years, even having two children.

Qi Yunxin had already stashed the kids, so she wasn’t worried about Kang Nian.

After Qi Yunxin's outburst, the two children could no longer expect Kang Nian to support them. Zhao Yanhui had no other choice.

"Fine, let’s get a divorce," Zhao Yanhui stood up and looked at Liu Fang.

Liu Fang had never been so firm, "As long as I’m alive, that whore will never set foot in the Zhao family!"

Qi Yunxin stood next to Zhao Yanhui, head down, silent. As long as Zhao Yanhui would take responsibility for her, she would take the children and go to Nanyang with him, regardless of whether they divorced or not.

Anyway, she was done with Kang Nian and had fulfilled her wish to be with Zhao Yanhui.

Zhao Zhiao’s face was hard and blank as he looked at Kang Nian, "What about you, Kang Nian?"

Kang Nian’s face was just as blank, like his heart had turned to stone, "We’ll divorce, but she’s not getting a dime of the family’s money."

Qi Yunxin had braced herself, "I don’t want your money. I’ll only take what’s mine... and the two children."

Yesterday’s sweet talk had turned to icy silence in a flash, even more terrifying than strangers.

At the thought of the kids, Kang Nian roared and went after Zhao Yanhui again.

Zhao Yanhui bolted, "What are you doing? You’ve already hit me! What more do you want?"

But the gate was blocked, trapping him. So he just stood there, helpless, as Kang Nian’s fists rained down.

Punch after punch—Kang Nian wanted to kill this bastard!

Everyone just stood there, watching Kang Nian beat Zhao Yanhui, with only Qi Yunxin rushing over to shield him. Kang Nian then struck Qi Yunxin as well.

Zhao Zhiao wanted to throw all decency aside and end these two, but he couldn’t do that now.

He shot a look at Brother Bing, his bodyguard, who then stepped forward with others to separate Kang Nian and Zhao Yanhui.

Zhao Zhiao looked at the disheveled Second Uncle, deciding it was best to turn a blind eye for now, "What I can’t stand are men who ditch their wives and kids. I never thought you’d end up just like my dad, Second Uncle. I won’t interfere in your affairs anymore. Second Uncle, you don’t need to go to Nanyang either. From now on, whether you live or die, I won’t get involved."

No more Nanyang?

Blood still smeared Zhao Yanhui’s face as he froze, his mouth opening in confusion.

Was Zhao Zhiao cutting him off? How was he supposed to survive?

He panicked.

Qi Yunxin panicked too.

Without Zhao Zhiao’s support, how would they get by? Just live off their savings?

Zhao Zhiao ordered, "Shen Te, buy them tickets back to Haicheng. Make them leave tomorrow."

Back to Haicheng? What was waiting for them there but shame?

Zhao Yanhui shook his head, trying to salvage the situation, "I won’t get a divorce."

This worthless coward!

Zhao Zhiao, "I don’t give a damn if you divorce or not. It’s done."

Qi Yunxin calmed down. At this point, they could scrape by on their savings. Zhao Yanhui had hands and feet; finding work in Haicheng with some money shouldn’t be too hard.

Going back would be nothing but shame.

She tugged Zhao Yanhui’s sleeve, whispering, "We’ll get by."

Zhao Yanhui knew she had quite a bit of private savings. Back in Haicheng, they still had property. They really wouldn’t starve.

He stopped resisting.

Lin Yufan observed the scene and had a pretty good idea of what Qi Yunxin was thinking.

After managing the Zhao family garden for so many years, it was impossible for Qi Yunxin not to have skimmed some profits.

If they let her go just like that, holding her accountable later would be tough.

With this in mind, Lin Yufan signaled Ms. Guan to come closer and whispered a few instructions.

*

Shen Te summoned a lawyer, and Kang Nian and Qi Yunxin got their divorce finalized that same day.

Liu Fang vowed she’d never agree to a divorce, and Zhao Yanhui was powerless to change her mind.

Zhao Jingxiu came back from her tutoring session to find her home turned upside down.

To everyone’s surprise, she didn’t cry or cause a fuss. It was like she’d matured overnight, simply comforting her mother and promising to earn money to take care of her when she was older.

This only made Liu Fang cry even harder.

That afternoon, Qi Yunxin and Zhao Yanhui prepared to move out, planning to stay at a hotel and catch the ship to Haicheng the next morning.

Just as Qi Yunxin and Kang Nian signed and stamped their fingerprints and were about to head back to pack, Ms. Guan had her room tightly guarded.

"Why are you surrounding me? I’m just packing my stuff."

Ms. Guan smiled, unfazed, "First Madam told us to keep an eye on you. Go ahead and pack."

Lin Yufan? Qi Yunxin hadn’t expected Lin Yufan, who usually seemed so friendly and easygoing, to flip on her so quickly—just like her husband, Zhao Zhiao!

"Then watch all you want!" Qi Yunxin snapped, but with everyone watching, she struggled to pack properly.

Finally, she managed to slip a package into an inconspicuous cloth bag when the maid wasn’t looking, and only then did her anxiety ease.

As they left, the two children, vaguely understanding what was happening, wailed for their father.

Kang Nian stayed hidden inside, his heart feeling like it was being ripped apart.

Just yesterday, they were a happy family of four, but now he was left all alone. Even the strongest heart couldn’t handle such a sudden change.

Zhao Yanhui didn’t have much to pack, but Qi Yunxin had filled over a dozen bags.

The car was ready, and they were about to load up when Ms. Guan stepped in.

"What’s going on? These are my things. If you don’t believe me, let Kang Nian come and check if there’s anything of his!"

Ms. Guan smiled, "Whether they’re your things or not, we’ll find out after we’ve searched. Madam, don’t make this harder for me."

She wasn’t the madam anymore, but Ms. Guan didn’t know how else to address her, so she stuck with the title.

With that, Ms. Guan had her people search the bags, and one by one, they were opened, spilling clothes and miscellaneous items onto the ground.

"Are you just going to let them bully us like this? Zhao Yanhui! Aren’t you going to do something?" Qi Yunxin shot Zhao Yanhui a pointed look.

Zhao Yanhui plopped down on a pile of luggage in the corner, "Let them search. They’re just vultures. Now that we’re down, they’ll jump at any chance to bully us!"

After searching several bags and finding nothing, only the pile of luggage Zhao Yanhui was sitting on was left.

Ms. Guan said, "Second Master, could you step aside, please?"

Zhao Yanhui's eyes were so swollen he could hardly keep them open. He fell back on his shameless ways: "Why should I move? Haven't I moved enough? Is this how you treat people?"

Zhao Yanhui refused to budge, and Ms. Guan's servants blocked them, not letting them leave.

They were deadlocked.

As the deadlock continued, the two children wailed beside them. Zhao Yanhui impatiently scolded, "Stop crying! Your father's still alive!"

The children, only three or four years old, didn't understand much. The slightly older boy cried loudly, "You're not my dad! Dad! Mom, I want Dad!"

Qi Yunxin quickly comforted them, "Don't cry, don't cry. Mom will take you out for some roast pigeon."

"Mom, they said Dad doesn't want us anymore, is that true?" The child's face was covered in tears, and his voice was hoarse from crying.

"No, don't listen to others' nonsense. Mom will take you out for some roast pigeon, okay?" Qi Yunxin softened her voice, "Ms. Guan, please, just let us go. It's getting dark, and the children are hungry."

Ms. Guan shook her head in distress, "Don't make it difficult for me. I'm only a servant. If you let me search, you can leave sooner, isn't that better?"

Zhao Yanhui: "I can't stomach this."

The commotion attracted Wang Junyao, who had someone bring some food for the two children.

Qi Yunxin knew Wang Junyao was soft-hearted and easily swayed. She pleaded with her, "First Madam, I was wrong, so very wrong, but what's done is done, and there's no turning back. Second Master is in a rage and won't let them search my luggage. As you can see, what could I possibly have taken? Just some clothes and jewelry. The money is all in my pocket, my life savings, totaling only two thousand Hong Kong dollars. This is the wages I've saved over the years managing the household. Can't I at least keep this little bit of money? I don't have a bank account, and Zhi Ao has connections to check. There's not a penny in my bank."

Seeing Wang Junyao waver, Qi Yunxin's tears rolled down, and her voice became even softer, "The children are so young, and Yanhui has lost his job. Our days will be hard. First Madam, please, take pity on the children and let us go."

Zhao Yanhui deliberately provoked, "Don't beg, it's useless. In this house, my sister-in-law doesn't call the shots."

This stung Wang Junyao, who looked at Ms. Guan, "Let it go. It's getting dark, and the children are suffering. Don't be so stubborn with them. The Zhao family, they're all so stubborn."

Ms. Guan quickly whispered to a maid beside her, telling her to call First Madam.

"See? Sister-in-law, you don't call the shots here. This isn't Hai Cheng, not your territory anymore," Zhao Yanhui sneered.

Wang Junyao awkwardly wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.

Seeing this, Zhao Yanhui stood up, picked up two old handbags from under him, and threw them into the car.

The servants rushed to grab the handbags but were stopped by Zhao Yanhui, "Sister-in-law! I can't hold back my temper anymore! Are they just bullying you like this?"

Wang Junyao felt embarrassed and waved her hand, "Let them go. I'll take responsibility for anything. Don't make it too ugly, or it'll be a joke if it gets out."

The servants stopped, and Zhao Yanhui quickly loaded the rest of the luggage into the trunk.

Before getting into the car, he noticed there was no driver and asked, "Where's the driver?!"

Ms. Guan repeated, "First Madam said you can't leave until the search is complete. I have no choice."

This completely disrespected Wang Junyao, and she felt uncomfortable, her face burning.

Her maid, Hui Lan, was clever and quickly whispered to comfort her, "Madam, don't worry. Don't let them get to you."

"Yes, don't let them get to you," Wang Junyao repeated to herself, reminding herself not to meddle.

At this moment, Tie Long, who had been observing from a distance, saw Zhao Zhiao and Lin Yufan coming out of the house and followed them over.

Ms. Guan quickly had her servants unload the luggage from the trunk.

Qi Yunxin said, "Stop the search."

She pulled a hefty little wooden box from her bag.

In the presence of Zhao Zhiao and his wife, Qi Yunxin opened the small wooden box and said, "Ten gold bars, all bought for me by Zhao Yanhui with his gambling winnings, saved up over the years."

Zhao Yanhui was momentarily stunned at the sight of the ten gold bars in the box. The gold bars weighed over three hundred grams, worth several thousand Hong Kong dollars.

Zhao Zhiao turned to his Second Uncle, "Did you win these in the casino?"

Zhao Yanhui quickly responded, "Yeah, I bought her gold bars with my winnings. She loves them."

Zhao Zhiao asked, "Then why didn’t you have Qi Yunxin use these gold bars to bail you out when you lost at the casino?"

Zhao Yanhui awkwardly smiled, "The losses were too huge; these gold bars wouldn’t have covered it."

"Since you’ve got money, let’s settle the accounts properly, Second Uncle. You owe me for bailing you out at the casino before, right?"

As Zhao Zhiao finished speaking, Brother Bing stepped forward and snatched the box from Qi Yunxin.

Qi Yunxin tried to grab it back but failed, shouting, "No, these are mine!"

Lin Yufan shot back, "Didn’t you say these gold bars were Zhao Yanhui’s?"

Qi Yunxin, tearfully, said, "He gave them to me, so they’re mine."

The Second Concubine, who’d come to watch the drama, laughed, "You’ve been raising kids together, living together, why split hairs over yours and mine?"

"I’ve got two kids to raise, and they’re Zhao family blood after all. Without this money, are we supposed to go back to Haicheng and starve?"

Zhao Zhiao said, "Isn’t this all your doing?"

Qi Yunxin tried to grab the box but was shoved away by Brother Bing. She stumbled and fell to the ground, sobbing loudly.

Lin Yufan shot Ms. Guan a look, and Ms. Guan barked, "Keep searching."

Hearing this, Qi Yunxin, who’d already fallen, scrambled to her feet, "What do you want? I already gave you a whole box of gold bars! These two tattered bags only have the kids’ stuff."

"If it’s for the kids, why are you so scared of us searching?"

As they spoke, a maid pulled out a thick stack of green—US dollars—from the tattered bag.

Qi Yunxin’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She lunged for them, and in the scuffle, the stack of bills flew up, scattering like confetti before raining down.

Everyone at the scene was shocked. With so many US dollars, how much money had Qi Yunxin embezzled during her time in charge?

No wonder she was willing to bring out the gold earlier to divert attention; it was to cover up the US dollars she really wanted to hide.

Qi Yunxin collapsed on the ground, instantly lifeless.

After years of hard work, would it all end in nothing?

Wang Junyao, looking at the money scattered all over the ground, was ashamed, "You really took advantage of my kindness, dragging me into this!"

Zhao Yanhui looked complex, he wanted to distance himself, "Zhi Ao, this has nothing to do with me. I never betrayed you."

Never betrayed?

Zhao Zhiao’s eyes turned cold, "Take them back, we’ll settle the accounts later."

*

They called in accountants from an accounting firm and had the family’s financial staff come to reconcile the accounts. Hong Yu and Gui Xiang pointed out all the suspicious areas they had noticed.

In fact, the accountants and financial staff all knew where the problems lay, but they had previously kept quiet.

Now that the matter was being pursued, auditing the accounts was a piece of cake. It only took a couple of hours to sort out the accounts.

Meanwhile, Shen Te and Brother Bing were responsible for interrogating Qi Yunxin and her personal maid. At first, Qi Yunxin clammed up, but when Brother Bing took out a knife and threatened to cut off her fingers, she was frightened into confessing.

Her maid, completely terrified, spilled everything she knew without hesitation.

The total amount of US dollars found in Qi Yunxin's bag was $27,000, equivalent to over 100,000 Hong Kong dollars. Aside from skimming off the top for daily expenses and home renovations, most of it came from bribes.

Zhao Zhiao's three companies had a large number of suppliers. Some suppliers, unable to get orders through normal channels, bribed Qi Yunxin.

After pocketing the cash, Qi Yunxin would sweet-talk Zhao Yanhui, persuading him to allocate some orders to the bribing suppliers.

This way, they lined their pockets nicely.

If this got out to the police, it would be a huge embarrassment for Zhao Zhiao.

Zhao Yanhui and Qi Yunxin would be sentenced for bribery and embezzlement, and Zhao Zhiao would still have to find a way to raise their two children. Besides complicating things, Ji Shukuan might wonder why Zhao Zhiao was coming down so hard on his Second Uncle.

Ji Shukuan would suspect whether Zhao Zhiao had become suspicious of Zhao Yanhui.

In the end, Zhao Zhiao decided to take back the money and banish them to Haicheng to face the music.

After handling Ji Shukuan and his crew, he’d deal with Zhao Yanhui, the traitor.

For now, he just wanted to clear the air.

Zhao Yanhui and Qi Yunxin never thought they’d lose everything but each other in just one day.

They figured even if they lost it all, they’d still have their big house. But back in Haicheng, they discovered even the house was gone. But that's another story.

The whole thing dragged on till midnight before it was finally settled.

When bedtime came, the couple just lay on their own sides of the bed, not saying a word.

Zhao Zhiao was already plotting his next move: taking down Ji Shukuan.

Lin Yufan was lost in her own thoughts. She suddenly wondered if she’d hit the jackpot today.

She had been too busy to remember.