《From Runaway Bride to Global Queen》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Accidentally Fell For It Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Accidentally Fell For It ¡°Slap!¡± In the empty hotel suite, the sound of the high-footed glass shattering on the floor was especially jarring. Qiao Yi stared at Qiao Xin, her surprised eyes diffused with an unmistakable haze, ¡°This wine¡­ did you drug it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Seeing her fall for it, sitting on the ground with legs giving out, eyes vacant, and face flushed, Qiao Xin laughed heartily, ¡°Tomorrow is your grand wedding day, and as your sister, I must give you an impressive gift.¡± ¡°This is nothing; the main show is still to come!¡± Each word, as if squeezed through clenched teeth. The very next second, Qiao Xin clapped her hands lightly. The door was pushed open on cue, a few burly men stepping directly in front of Qiao Xin with an eager reverence, ¡°Miss Qiao, we¡¯ve long been ready, hehehe¡­¡± ¡°Very good!¡± Before her consciousness faded, Qiao Yi faintly heard their conversation. Straining to hold onto her senses, she saw several portly men at the door and asked with trembling and fearful voice, ¡°Sister¡­ why¡­ why are you doing this?¡± Qiao Xin, born from the same mother and grown up together with her, why would she do this to her? Upon hearing this, venom and malice filled Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes as she looked down from above, stomping fiercely on Qiao Yi¡¯s pale face, ¡°Because I hate you! I absolutely loathe you!¡± ¡°Even though I am the rightful Miss of the Qiao Family, throughout all these years, no matter in terms of physique, appearance, academic achievements, or abilities, you have always outshined me, all the glory belongs solely to you! Why?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s voice was sharp and filled with too much resentment. The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and at last she almost roared, ¡°The marriage agreement between the Qiao and Lu families was set twenty years ago! The chance to marry into the Lu Family should have been mine! It was you! It was you who stole everything that was supposed to be mine!¡± ¡°Now¡­ I want you to taste the pain of falling from the clouds into the abyss!¡± ¡°I want you to be utterly disgraced!¡± After speaking, she threw a final cold look at Qiao Yi, then walked proudly towards the doorway. Qiao Xin left. The vast room was left with only Qiao Yi and a few lecherous scoundrels. Watching them approach with sinister smiles, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even have the energy to plead for them to spare her, let alone think about running away. As the drug took effect, her vision grew increasingly blurry. Panic, fear, helplessness. Tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks as one by one, the obese faces kept enlarging before her eyes until Qiao Yi finally resigned to her fate and closed her eyes. ¡­ When Qiao Yi woke up again, it was already the next morning. The room, filled with an ambiguous scent, brought back all the memories before she fainted, and she suddenly sat up in a panic. ¡°Hiss~¡± The excruciating pain, like being crushed under a wheel, made her gasp sharply. It was real¡­ She had actually¡­ Qiao Yi didn¡¯t love Lu Ming. She agreed to marry him only because of the marriage agreement set between their families years ago, coupled with the fact that she was indeed at a marriageable age, and the elderly at home incessantly urged her on. After all, she and Lu Ming had known each other for many years, almost like family, better to marry this old friend who knew her completely than someone else. Now¡­ Qiao Yi vaguely remembered, someone suddenly burst in last night, and then there were those scoundrels¡¯ dissatisfied curses. As for what happened afterward, she could not clearly recall. Who was the person who violated her last night? Was it those scoundrels? Or¡­ Closing her eyes briefly, Qiao Yi knew she couldn¡¯t dwell on this matter any longer. Because she knew Qiao Xin. To painstakingly stage such a drama, just to ruin her innocence, it hardly seemed worth it. What exciting scenes had Qiao Xin arranged to happen next for her? ¡°Bang!¡± As she was thinking, the room door was suddenly slammed open, producing a heavy collision sound. Qiao Yi suddenly looked up, only to see a group of people rushing in, among them a few familiar faces, and many gossip reporters holding up their cameras. ¡°Miss Qiao, your wedding with Mr. Lu is in just two hours, why aren¡¯t you at the wedding venue preparing, but appear here instead?¡± ¡°Somebody saw you entering this hotel room with a young man last night, may I ask who he is? What is the relationship between you two?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The reporters were bombarding her with questions, and someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, ¡°Look! There are several used condoms in the trash can!¡± Upon these words, the corner where the Qiao and Lu families stood simply turned green. Especially Mrs. Lu. She had never liked Qiao Yi, this second daughter of the Qiao family, always feeling like they were mismatched, and even though Old Mr. Lu insisted, she had reluctantly agreed. Now, look at this. ¡°My son was busy with wedding arrangements all night, and you went behind his back and checked into a room with someone else? Have you no shame?¡± ¡°Our Lu Family will absolutely not accept such an indecent woman!¡± ¡°Since the press is here, I will announce in front of everyone, that the marriage between Lu Qiao and Qiao Lu is hereby called off! The wedding is canceled!¡± In the corner, the faces of Qiao Benqing and his wife were gloomy and ashen. Their daughter, whom they had cherished for years, had actually committed such an indecent act! Family disgrace! It truly is a family disgrace! Suppressing the raging anger in his heart, for the face of the Qiao Family, Qiao Benqing could only grit his teeth and try to mediate, ¡°Mrs. Lu, what exactly happened is still unknown, proposing to cancel the engagement now seems rather premature, doesn¡¯t it?¡± It would be no big deal for him to arrange for someone to come forward and confess to the matter. Just say he kindly sent Qiao Yi to the hotel and then left. There was still room to turn the situation around. ¡°Besides, canceling an engagement is a big decision, shouldn¡¯t Mrs. Lu discuss it with Old Mr. Lu and Mr. Lu first before making a decision?¡± Qiao Benqing spoke gravely. Aristocratic marriages are not as simple as they seem on the surface. The entangled interests involved are simply too numerous. But Mrs. Lu could hardly care about all that now, finally having an opportunity to shut out this annoying girl, Qiao Yi. She certainly wouldn¡¯t foolishly give up! ¡°Can¡¯t I, the mother, decide on my own son¡¯s marriage matters!?¡± ¡°Qiao Yi cheated before her wedding, the facts are right before your eyes, no need to speak in her favor anymore! Anyway¡­¡± Mrs. Lu had only said half of her piece when a tall, upright figure suddenly walked through the door. In an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze was uniformly drawn to him, surprised yet tinged with a hint of schadenfreude, waiting to see the drama unfold. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Wedding Cancelled Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Wedding Cancelled ¡°The person who checked into the hotel with Qiao Yi last night was me.¡± In front of everyone, Lu Ming enunciated each word distinctly and clearly. What? Him?? How is that possible!? A reporter from the crowd could not hold back and hurriedly asked, ¡°Young Master Lu, you and Miss Qiao are officially engaged, why would you still sneak into a hotel to check in anonymously in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Who said engaged couples can¡¯t have some special quirks?¡± Lu Ming coldly retorted. With that remark, the reporter was rendered speechless. Now that the person concerned has admitted it, naturally no one felt it appropriate to say much. However, they all felt something was odd. Not just the reporters. Even Qiao Yi herself was half in doubt. Before falling into a deep sleep, she clearly heard a crisp yet very magnetic voice. That voice¡­ it wasn¡¯t Lu Ming¡¯s. But if it wasn¡¯t him, why would he admit it? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t figure it out and simply chose not to think about it anymore. Scanning the faces with different expressions in front of her, she politely said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, please leave. I need to change my clothes.¡± This issue just passed lightly!? Mrs. Lu was not satisfied! ¡°Mingming, are you hiding some kind of unavoidable difficulties?¡± ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you go to the wedding venue first to prepare? Yi Yi and I have a few words to say, and then we¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything to you later in detail, please leave for now.¡± Lu Ming was adamant, Mrs. Lu could not say much, and left feeling discontent. Following her, the reporters also left with downcast expressions. Finally, it was Mr. and Mrs. Qiao Benqing. After everyone had left, Qiao Xin, who was hiding all this time in the room across, gritted her teeth and closed the door gap, wondering what exactly was up with Lu Ming? Having a field of green grass as his ceiling was one thing, but he was even hastily taking a green hat to wear. Was he not awake this morning or did he take the wrong medication? Meanwhile, in the spacious presidential suite, Qiao Yi, now changed, walked out of the room and sat opposite Lu Ming on the sofa, ¡°The person from last night, was it really you?¡± Qiao Yi urgently needed a definite answer. However, Lu Ming gave her an ambiguous response, ¡°Whether it was or wasn¡¯t me, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Early this morning, Keke was in a car accident on her way to Capital City, her kidney severely damaged. I¡¯ve checked, and the compatibility results between you two are 99%. I hope you will donate your kidney to her.¡± Donate her kidney? Qiao Yi almost thought she heard wrong. Why would she, a perfectly healthy person, go donate her kidney for no reason? Moreover. A kidney could fetch millions on the black market. Although she wasn¡¯t lacking money, she wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to give away her organs for free! ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Keke had the accident while she was on her way to my wedding. All of this started because of me; I owe her, and I should repay her!¡± Ha! Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Since it¡¯s you who owes her, you should be the one to repay her, why come to me?¡± Rolling her eyes, she stood up to leave. But she had only taken a few steps when her wrist was tightly grasped by a pair of strong hands: ¡°Soon you will be Mrs. Lu, you can live a life of luxury in the Lu Family, with everything provided for you. Even without a kidney, you won¡¯t die, but it¡¯s different for Keke! If we can¡¯t find a suitable kidney for her, she might not even survive a week!¡± A week? Lin Ke should just drop dead right now, that would save me the trouble! Coldly shaking off the hands of Lu Ming that held her, Qiao Yi¡¯s lips curved up slightly, her words full of mockery: ¡°If you¡¯re so reluctant to let her go, why not just go with her? I don¡¯t mind being a widow for the rest of my life!¡± After leaving the hotel, Qiao Yi went directly to the wedding venue. Of course, she wasn¡¯t going there to get married. From her recent conversation with Lu Ming, she had already gotten the answer she wanted. Qiao Yi had originally thought that, relying on their childhood friendship, even if Lu Ming didn¡¯t like her, he would at least not treat her too badly, but now¡­ He actually wanted to cruelly take her kidney for another woman? For this, he even dared to publicly accept such a great humiliation. What a terrifying man! ¡­ Outside the Imperial Hotel. Qiao Yi watched from a distance the constant stream of people at the entrance, her lips curling into a cold arc. What ¡®everything provided for her¡¯, what ¡®living in luxury¡¯. She never cared for these! At this moment, there were less than ten minutes left until the start of the wedding. The hotel was filled with guests, but the Qiao and Lu families were anxiously waiting for Qiao Yi and Lu Ming, looking completely flustered. Two minutes before ten. They finally saw the belated Qiao Yi. Seeing her, Qiao Benqing walked up to her first, looking behind at Qiao Yi with a worried expression: ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Ming? Why didn¡¯t he come with you?¡± How can the Qiao Family hold their heads up in the future if the groom is absent on the wedding day? ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry, please take a seat in the guest area,¡± Qiao Yi said with a light smile. Glancing at the burning gazes around him, Qiao Benqing could only nod silently and finally sat down quietly in the first row of the guest seats. Qiao Yi followed closely behind him, walking up to the stage. Looking at the puzzled crowd below, she, like an outsider, took the microphone from the host and said calmly: ¡°Thank you all friends and relatives, and media reporters for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend mine and Lu Ming¡¯s wedding, but¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to tell everyone that the wedding between me and Lu Ming is canceled, please return home.¡± What? Canceled!? Most of the guests present were prominent figures from the Capital City, and they had heard some explosive rumors this morning. How come it was Qiao Yi who was caught cheating, but now she¡¯s the one dumping Lu Ming? Among the crowd, Old Mr. Lu was the first to stand up and step forward to Qiao Yi, smiling kindly as always: ¡°Miss Qiao, you must be joking, right? Or did that rascal Lu Ming treat you badly? If you feel wronged, tell Grandpa, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson for you!¡± Old Mr. Lu¡¯s fondness for Qiao Yi was largely due to her family background. This, Qiao Yi knew very well. ¡°Grandpa Lu, Lu Ming hasn¡¯t treated me badly, it¡¯s just that I myself don¡¯t want to marry him,¡± she politely replied. She doesn¡¯t want to? How could such a big decision depend on her whims? Turning to look at Qiao Benqing behind him, who also appeared incredulous, Old Mr. Lu spoke sternly: ¡°In-law, Qiao Yi is still young, she doesn¡¯t understand the consequences, aren¡¯t you going to stop your daughter from being so willfully reckless?¡± Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Getting Beaten Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Getting Beaten ¡°Old Mr. Lu, I¡­¡± ¡°Lu and Qiao families have been partners for decades, surely you wouldn¡¯t want such a trivial matter to affect our relationship, right?¡± In Old Mr. Lu¡¯s simple words, there was a thick hint of threat. Indeed, nothing should disrupt the relationship between the Lu and Qiao families! Qiao Benqing has always doted on Qiao Yi, letting her have her own way in everything, but today¡­ ¡°Yiyi, no matter what, you must marry into the Lu Family, and we can talk about everything else later!¡± It was the first time he spoke to her in such a firm tone. Qiao Yi knew that her father was angry. At the same time, she was even more aware that her destiny was always to prioritize the interests of the family. But¡­ Is it worth sacrificing your own life for the family? At this moment, Qiao Yi suddenly fell silent. Because of her silence, the vast banquet hall also suddenly fell into an eerie quietness. Everyone anxiously awaited Qiao Yi¡¯s response, except for one person. That was Lu Yanchuan. He was the youngest son of Old Mr. Lu, and the younger uncle by relation to Lu Ming, currently sitting in the most cornered position in the room, His chiseled profile under the brilliant chandelier became even more distinct. And those deep, narrow black eyes seemed captivating enough to bewitch one¡¯s soul. From the beginning to the end, his gaze never shifted away from Qiao Yi. Is it her? That woman¡¯s slender waist last night, those eyes clear as spring water, and her moans sounding like copper bells still deeply etched in his heart. Most unforgettable was the smear of bright red he saw on the sheets when he left this morning. Unexpectedly, the woman with whom he had spent the whole night was going to be his nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Interesting. Since the marriage between Lu and Qiao families was inevitable¡­ Lu Yanchuan slowly stood up, walking nonchalantly to the front and meaningfully asked Qiao Yi, ¡°Since you must marry into the Lu family, why not consider marrying me?¡± Qiao Yi knew him. The eminent President of Lu Group, a man so wealthy and powerful in Capital City that he could overshadow others single-handedly, undoubtedly the favored son of heaven, and also the prince charming in the dreams of all high society ladies of Capital City. He wants to marry her? Intuition told her that things weren¡¯t so simple. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Yi reflexively asked. Hearing this, Lu Yanchuan just lightly chuckled, then leisurely replied, ¡°Because I¡¯m a responsible man.¡± Responsible? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t understand at all why, just because he was responsible, she would have to marry him? What a joke! There are plenty of responsible men in the world! Without even thinking, Qiao Yi directly refused: ¡°Mr. Lu should stop joking; if this gets out, people will laugh at you for stealing your nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Why should you care about what others think?¡± .4. Upon hearing that Lu Yanchuan wanted to marry Qiao Yi, the wedding venue instantly erupted. [Oh my god! What did I just hear!?] [Mr. Lu has dominated the business world for over a decade and has never taken any woman seriously! And now he actually wants to marry Miss Qiao? It¡¯s the end for me! My love has ended before it even started!] [Third Young Master Lu is way above Young Master Lu in every aspect! Miss Qiao, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, say yes quickly!] [¡­] The guests have begun to whisper and buzz impatiently. Some felt joy, others sorrow. Qiao Xin sat in the front row, her face pale and her eyes, shimmering with ripples, full of bitterness. She had loved Lu Yanchuan for a full ten years! From youthful naivety to now, she had never stopped imagining the day she would become Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife. For this, she endured in silence, striving hard, believing that if only she could remove Qiao Yi, all the glory would be hers alone, and then Lu Yanchuan would surely see her worth! But¡­ Despite all her calculations and efforts, she ended up pushing Qiao Yi right into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. No! It can¡¯t be! Forgetting where she was, Qiao Xin suddenly stood up and walked to the stage: ¡°Sister, why hasn¡¯t your husband arrived yet? Is he delayed by something? You should call him.¡± As long as Qiao Yi kept being with Lu Ming, Lu Yanchuan would eventually be hers. Hearing her, Qiao Yi frowned slightly without showing much reaction. Qiao Xin? She hadn¡¯t had the time to demand an explanation from her, and here she was, appearing on her own initiative. Ha! Qiao Yi sneered coldly and slapped Qiao Xin across the face without a word. ¡°Slap!¡± Qiao Yi used all her strength in that slap. Qiao Xin¡¯s originally fair and tender cheek visibly swelled up, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t react, staring at Qiao Yi in shock and anger: ¡°You hit me?¡± ¡°I was only concerned about you, and you actually¡­¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Not letting Qiao Xin finish her sentence, Qiao Yi raised her hand and fiercely slapped her again: ¡°You know exactly why I hit you!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Xin was at a loss for words. With relatives and friends around, she decided to play the victim, and large tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks: ¡°Yiyi, I know you¡¯ve never liked me, but it¡¯s too much to do this in front of so many people.¡± Qiao Benqing watched from the side. Blood is thicker than water. Although he favored Qiao Yi, he didn¡¯t want to leave an impression of partiality. Stepping between the two sisters, he spoke earnestly: ¡°Yes, Yiyi, Xin Xin is your elder sister, how could you treat her like this? Is there some misunderstanding?¡± ¡°There is no misunderstanding,¡± Qiao Yi replied calmly. She believed that if she made the cause public, her parents would undoubtedly take her side without hesitation. But she couldn¡¯t! She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to broadcast that she had a one-night stand with a stranger! With a cold laugh, Qiao Yi continued solemnly: ¡°I hit her because I felt like hitting her, and I will do so every time I see her, no special reason needed.¡± Since childhood, Qiao Yi excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and also learned jujutsu, Taekwondo, Tai Chi. On the other hand, Qiao Xin. Over the past decade, she had only indulged in the luxuries of the Qiao Family¡¯s wealthy lifestyle, with shopping as her biggest pastime; when it comes to fighting, ten of her couldn¡¯t match Qiao Yi. Now¡­ If she got hit, then so be it, as long as Qiao Yi didn¡¯t marry Lu Yanchuan, she could handle anything! The next second, Qiao Xin sniffled, and as if nothing had happened, forced a smile and said: ¡°Today is a joyous day for my sister, let¡¯s not talk about this now, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Mom, Dad, I suppose your son-in-law got held up by something on his way, I¡¯ll go make a call to him.¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Qiao Xin likes Lu Yanchuan Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Qiao Xin likes Lu Yanchuan ¡°` Qiao Xin is so eager to promote her marriage to Lu Ming? If she were sincere, she wouldn¡¯t have spent money hiring those people to disgust her! Then she¡­ Upon careful consideration, Qiao Yi suddenly realized. Qiao Xin likes Lu Yanchuan! The reason she did this was simply because she did not want her to snatch away the man she deeply loves! A glint swiftly flashed across Qiao Yi¡¯s beautiful eyes, the more Qiao Xin liked something, the more she didn¡¯t want her to have it! She wanted to see how Qiao Xin would watch her beloved man being snatched away! Then, she turned her head and met Lu Yanchuan¡¯s deep gaze, smilingly asking: ¡°Did Third Young Master just say he wanted to marry me, was that serious?¡± ¡°Absolutely serious.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Now.¡± Lu Yanchuan always did as he said. He slipped a platinum ring, encrusted with diamonds, off his left ring finger and presented it to Qiao Yi. In front of hundreds of guests present, he slowly got down on one knee: ¡°Yiyi, will you marry me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Qiao Yi readily nodded in agreement. As everyone said, Lu Yanchuan was indeed far superior to Lu Ming. Since both were marrying a man she did not love, why not choose to marry Lu Yanchuan, who was revered by thousands? It annoyed Lu Ming and could infuriate Qiao Xin to death. Two birds with one stone! She stretched her hand to Lu Yanchuan, watching as he put the ring on her, and then coldly glanced at the emcee who didn¡¯t know what to do next, sternly instructing: ¡°You may continue with your job now.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ alright, alright.¡± Receiving the cold hint from Lu Yanchuan, the emcee felt a chill down his spine. He forcibly calmed down and continued with his duty: ¡°The groom has put the ring on the bride, next, the groom may kiss the bride.¡± As the emcee¡¯s voice fell, Lu Yanchuan directly kissed Qiao Yi¡¯s lips. Almost instantly, Qiao Yi¡¯s brain went blank. This man¡­ The faint scent of tobacco between his lips mixed with the DN cologne on him lingered in her breath for a long time, so familiar, just like¡­ The man from last night! ¡°Is it you?¡± Qiao Yi coldly pushed him away, her eyes filled with surprise and caution. Hearing this, Lu Yanchuan smiled with a non-smiling expression, answering indirectly: ¡°The wedding has succeeded, Miss Qiao will be Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife from now on.¡± Qiao Yi said nothing. She just quietly looked at the handsome face in front of her, her intuition telling her that this man was far from being as simple as he seemed! Even, she felt a strong sense of danger from him. ¡°Since the wedding ceremony is over, I am a bit tired and would like to rest,¡± Qiao Yi said coldly. With those words, she walked straight out of the wedding hall without looking at Lu Yanchuan again. She needed time. She needed to think carefully about what all of this was about! In the resting room. Qiao Yi¡¯s brows remained tightly furrowed, fragments of the previous night continuously swept into her mind¡ªhis voice, his gaze, and his firm chest¡­ It was Lu Yanchuan! ¡°` He had recognized her early on, so was that why he suddenly stepped forward to marry her as his wife? Is it really necessary to involve his own marriage over a one-night stand? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t understand. Suddenly. The door was fiercely slammed open, and Lu Ming entered hurriedly with fury in his eyes, immediately questioning: ¡°What do you mean by this? To anger me, you actually turned around and married my uncle?¡± Anger him? To anger him by sacrificing her whole life? He does not deserve it! Facing Lu Ming¡¯s bloodshot eyes, Qiao Yi slowly stood up and nearly laughed as she retorted, ¡°Do you think you are that important? If I really wanted to anger you, I could simply marry your father and become your stepmother. Wouldn¡¯t that be even more satisfying?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Lu Ming almost ran out of breath. Originally, whether Qiao Yi married him wasn¡¯t important. What he couldn¡¯t accept was her current identity. She should have been his wife! But now, she had transformed into an elder of his. According to ancestral traditions, during each festival, he would have to bow and pay his respects to Qiao Yi! He couldn¡¯t accept it! Gritting his teeth, Lu Ming forcibly suppressed his anger and said, ¡°Keke is my childhood sweetheart, and now her life is in danger. I was just panicking, which is why I suggested you donate a kidney to her. If you don¡¯t want to, then forget it, I won¡¯t force you. I was just blocked on the road earlier, why didn¡¯t you wait for me? Yiyi, stop messing around, go find grandpa quickly, and clear things up with him! Tell him you agreed to marry my uncle just to spite me, tell him you¡¯ve changed your mind, and I¡¯ll prepare an even grander wedding for you right away.¡± Lu Ming spoke with urgency and haste. He must marry Qiao Yi! Not for any other reason but because she is the most favored daughter of the Qiao Family. Only by marrying Qiao Yi could the Qiao Family firmly stand by his side, and then he could easily take control of the Lu Group. Seeing Qiao Yi silent for a long time, Lu Ming¡¯s demeanor softened a bit: ¡°Yiyi, we¡¯ve known each other for so many years, you should know how I feel about you. Considering our many years of friendship, please don¡¯t be angry with me anymore, come back to me, will you?¡± The more Lu Ming pleaded abjectly, the more Qiao Yi felt that her choice was right. Men like him, full of schemes and willing to trample their own dignity, truly disgust her! ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Qiao Yi coldly smiled, advancing towards Lu Ming and bluntly said, ¡°The reason you chose to marry me is just for the Qiao Family behind me. Everyone knows, why bother putting on an act?¡± The next second, something suddenly came to Qiao Yi. Her smile intensified: ¡°You want the strong support of the Qiao Family, there are actually many ways.¡± ¡°What ways?¡± Lu Ming blurted out instinctively. ¡°Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, my parents seem to favor me more, but¡­ Qiao Xin is the cherished daughter of the Qiao Family, their first child, and at home, my parents still love her more.¡± Qiao Xin dreams of marrying Lu Yanchuan, and she deliberately thwarted her wishes. If one day she finds out she¡¯s nearly become Lu Yanchuan¡¯s niece-in-law, I wonder what kind of splendid change of expression she would have. Seeing Lu Ming still looking puzzled, Qiao Yi straightforwardly said: ¡°My sister entered the Lu Group for work two years ago, and my father even transferred 30% of the company¡¯s shares to my sister¡¯s name more than twenty years ago, so¡­ What you want, you cannot get from me.¡± At her words, Lu Ming suddenly fell silent. Qiao Xin has 30% of shares in the Lu Group? If he married Qiao Xin¡­ Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 To Marry or Not to Marry Chapter 5: Chapter 5 To Marry or Not to Marry No! That¡¯s not right! The Lu Group is a century-old enterprise, a 30% change in stock shares isn¡¯t a small matter. It wouldn¡¯t go unnoticed! ¡°You¡¯re lying! Mr. Lu is in good health, why would he distribute his assets so early?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? I¡¯ll make you believe.¡± Qiao Yi took out her phone slowly and decisively dialed a number in front of Lu Ming. As the call connected, an angry shout came from the speaker: ¡°Qiao Yi! Just tell me, what exactly do you want? As long as you¡¯re willing¡­¡± ¡°I want the 30% of Lu Group¡¯s shares under your name.¡± 30% of Lu Group¡¯s shares? Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care at all. If she really became Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife one day, what couldn¡¯t she have? What are these mere shares! ¡°No problem! I can go with you to transfer the shares any time, but¡­¡± Qiao Yi heard what she wanted to hear, and didn¡¯t care about what Qiao Xin was saying afterward. Hanging up the phone, she raised her eyebrows meaningfully and smiled, ¡°Do you believe it now? Qiao Xin is much more useful than I am. Instead of wasting time with me, you might as well find a way to marry Qiao Xin into the family soon.¡± Lu Ming left. Just moments after he left, Qiao Xin barged in. Her eyes were swollen red, the formerly proud princess was gone, replaced by a wretched and pitiful demeanor. ¡°Was it you who made Lu Ming run to our parents and say he wants to marry me, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Just minutes ago, Lu Ming suddenly declared he wanted to marry her. Qiao Benqing originally disagreed. But then he thought, since Qiao Yi had dumped the young master of Lu Family, he had to give the Lu Family an explanation somehow, and if he married Qiao Xin to them¡­ Adding kinship on top of kinship, is not a bad thing. Qiao Xin did try to resist! But¡­ Marriage is completely at the parents¡¯ command! Once Qiao Benqing made up his mind, unless she ceased to be a daughter of the Qiao Family, there was no room for resistance! ¡°Qiao Yi! After all, we are sisters of the same parents, do you find meaning in doing this?¡± ¡°You know I like Yanchuan, yet you insist on marrying him! That alone is regrettable, but you even try to pair me up with Lu Ming? I am your elder sister! Are you pushing me into a fire pit?¡± ¡°Please go now and make it clear to our parents, and the Lu Family. You marry your Lu Ming, let Yanchuan marry me, and let¡¯s all return to our original places!¡± Qiao Xin went on and on. But Qiao Yi didn¡¯t listen to a single word. She glanced at the time, waved her hand impatiently: ¡°Tonight is my wedding night with Yanchuan, I don¡¯t have time to waste with you, I need to go consummate the marriage!¡± ¡°Hey! Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! You come back here!¡± No matter how much Qiao Xin shouted and pleaded, Qiao Yi¡¯s steps never faltered. The moment she opened the room door, she suddenly saw Lu Yanchuan standing straight at the door, his eyes containing an indecipherable smile: ¡°So eager for our wedding night?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Yi had never expected that the words she had just said to provoke Qiao Xin were heard clearly by Lu Yanchuan. This¡­ A blush brushed her cheeks instantaneously; with eyes cast downward, she wished she could find a place to hide in her embarrassment. It took her a long time to finally retort resentfully, ¡°Mr. Lu, eavesdropping on others¡¯ conversations, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s beneath your dignity?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just listening in on my wife¡¯s conversation, it¡¯s merely a matter of caring about you. How can it be beneath my dignity?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thin lips slightly lifted, his hand reaching to Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder, not giving her a chance to react, he swiftly whisked her away: ¡°On such a night meant for wedding consummation, isn¡¯t spending it all on talking a waste?¡± ¡°Let go of me¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s disputing voices caught the attention of Qiao Xin inside the room. Without a second thought, she hurried out and the moment she saw Lu Yanchuan, the tears that accumulated in her heart for so long uncontrollably burst forth: ¡°Mr. Lu¡­ Mr. Lu.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Lu Yanchuan asked coldly. ¡°I am¡­¡± Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t accept that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t remember her. They had met more than once! So much had happened between them! How could he forget so suddenly¡­ ¡°I am Qiao Xin!¡± ¡°Mr. Lu, don¡¯t you remember? Three years ago, I applied for the position of CEO assistant at Lu Group, faced difficulties from the HR manager due to lack of experience, and you stepped in to help me close that chapter.¡± ¡°And last year, when I visited the Lu Family with my parents, I almost fell into the swimming pool, and you were there to save me just in time.¡± ¡°Remember! Last month when you came to Lu Group for a collaborative discussion! I made you a cup of tea, and you even complimented that I brewed it well.¡± Qiao Xin tried hard to remind, hoping to jog Lu Yanchuan¡¯s memory. As a matter of fact, Lu Yanchuan did recall. But it was just a faint impression. The next second, Lu Yanchuan slightly nodded, his words carrying a bit more politeness: ¡°Ah, Miss Qiao, I remember you.¡± Leaving just that brief remark, he was about to leave with Qiao Yi again. He remembers her? Nothing more? ¡°Mr. Lu, Mr. Lu¡­¡± Qiao Xin rushed forward in three quick steps, blocking their path. Lu Yanchuan was the most valued figure in the Lu Family, his words, perhaps could influence the Lu Family¡¯s decisions! Thinking so, she summoned the courage and said: ¡°Mr. Lu, you must have heard about the marriage between Lu Ming and me. You know, Lu Ming used to be my brother-in-law, now he¡­¡± ¡°I think, Mingming fits you quite well.¡± What kind of cunning plan was Lu Ming devising? Lu Yanchuan, who had been shrewd in the business world for many years, could not be ignorant of it. That boy, possesses a venom and ruthlessness unusual for his age. And Qiao Xin¡­ When Lu Yanchuan woke up and saw Qiao Yi, he thought she was like the other scheming women outside, trying every possible way to get into his bed, which would then lead to lengthy entanglements. But after some investigation, he realized that it was all orchestrated by her sister, Qiao Xin. Indeed, the two of them were truly a perfect match. ¡°Just now, I have proposed to our grandfather to expedite your and Mingming¡¯s wedding; tomorrow seems like a good day, why not just tomorrow?¡± Lu Yanchuan said with a smile. Tomorrow? Is Lu Yanchuan going to hold a wedding for her and Lu Ming tomorrow? For a moment, Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t believe her ears: ¡°The matter of my own marriage, I don¡¯t need others to intervene! I don¡¯t like Lu Ming! I will not marry him!¡± ¡°Whether you will marry or not, is it really up to you to decide?¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Clarify Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Clarify Qiao Xin sat on the sofa in pain and despair. She had always known her parents were partial, but she never thought they would be so blatantly biased! Just now, Qiao Benqing and Zhang Wenjing had come to tell her that her wedding with Lu Ming was set for three days later. Their tone was firm, with no intention of discussing it with her at all! Wasn¡¯t she Qiao Xin, their biological daughter? No matter how angrily or reluctantly Qiao Xin felt, the reality now laid before her eyes: marrying Lu Ming was her only choice. ¡°Impossible! I can¡¯t just accept my fate like this! Qiao Yi, I won¡¯t let you continue to be so smug!¡± Both daughters of the Qiao Family were married into the Lu Family, and although there was a generational gap, this was hardly an issue in such large families. Because of these two marriages, the Qiao Family¡¯s stock prices had been rising for several days, soaring red. Qiao Yi had stayed with the Lu Family for two days before returning to the Qiao Family. It wasn¡¯t because she suffered any discomfort at the Lu Family, but because the atmosphere there was just too odd and awkward. Qiao Yi was now sure that the man from that night was Lu Yanchuan, but it was exactly for this reason that she felt even more unable to face Lu Yanchuan. Every time Qiao Yi sat down to eat with Lu Yanchuan, she felt incredibly uncomfortable. Moreover, with Old Mr. Lu¡¯s strange comments, she found it unbearable. So, Qiao Yi took the opportunity when Lu Yanchuan and Old Mr. Lu were not at home to sneak back to the Qiao Family. Zhang Wenjing took Qiao Yi¡¯s hand and sat down on the sofa. Every glance at Qiao Yi made her sigh, and another glance would bring tears to her eyes. ¡°Mom, if you have something to say, please just say it. Don¡¯t cry, okay?¡± Zhang Wenjing glared at Qiao Yi annoyedly but held back her tears. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about whether you¡¯re being treated well at the Lu Family. If they treat you badly, you must come back and tell me!¡± Qiao Yi felt extremely helpless. She understood why Zhang Wenjing was acting like this. The relationship between the Qiao and Lu families couldn¡¯t be damaged. The best solution was to solidify the alliance with a marriage. Qiao Yi had to choose someone from the Lu Family to marry, and if it hadn¡¯t been for the last-minute switch to Lu Yanchuan, she would have had to marry Lu Ming no matter how unwilling she was. This was the conclusion Zhang Wenjing had reached regarding the marriage alliance. In her heart, the pampered and cherished Qiao Yi should marry someone she liked and live a good life. Not to trade her entire life for a marriage alliance. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry. I haven¡¯t been treated poorly at the Lu Family. Lu Yanchuan is very kind to me, Grandpa Lu is also very kind, you really don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± The incident where Qiao Xin drugged her was something Qiao Yi had no intention of telling Qiao Benqing and Zhang Wenjing. Firstly, because Lu Yanchuan had saved her in the end, and secondly, she had no concrete evidence. She could easily be counter-accused by Qiao Xin. Qiao Yi would not do something that was not worth the risk. Seeing that Qiao Yi¡¯s words were sincere, Zhang Wenjing felt much better. Although she knew that, given the relationship between the Qiao and Lu families, even if Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like Qiao Yi, he wouldn¡¯t treat her poorly. However, she didn¡¯t want her daughter to be unhappy. With her worries halved, Zhang Wenjing inquired why Qiao Yi had come back home. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. I just hadn¡¯t been home for several days after the wedding, and I missed home a little.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good for you to stay home for a few days. Your father is planning to host a reception in the next few days. You can help entertain the guests at home, and then you can go back after the reception ends.¡± The pre-wedding party was held the day before Qiao Xin¡¯s wedding. Qiao Yi was more than happy to see the expression of Qiao Xin reaping what she sowed, so she naturally agreed. During dinner, Qiao Xin noticed Qiao Yi at the table and her face immediately soured. ¡°How come, you¡¯ve only been married into the Lu Family for a few days and you¡¯re back already?¡± Due to the presence of her parents, Qiao Xin didn¡¯t say anything too harsh, but she sat down next to Qiao Yi with a sarcastic tone. ¡°Don¡¯t you like me coming home to see you guys? Yanchuan actually didn¡¯t want me to come back. But I missed mom and dad, so I¡¯m here for a few days before I have to return.¡± Lu Yanchuan really didn¡¯t care whether she came home or not. In fact, since the wedding, they had barely seen each other. There might be some issue with the Lu family company; Lu Yanchuan has been leaving early and returning late these past few days, and they don¡¯t sleep together at night. However, she couldn¡¯t tell Qiao Xin this, or else who knows how she would be mocked. Qiao Xin, looking at Qiao Yi¡¯s sweet expression, became infuriated. She should have been Mrs. Lu, Third Young Master¡¯s wife! How dare Qiao Yi steal her place and then flaunt it in front of her! ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± Qiao Xin dropped her chopsticks and left. Zhang Wenjing gave Qiao Xin a puzzled look, not understanding why she was upset. It was Qiao Benqing, however, who cast contemplative glances back and forth between Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi. The two days passed in a flash, and the day of the Qiao Family hosting the party quickly approached. During these two days, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t make a single phone call. Qiao Yi enjoyed the peace and even hoped that they could continue living quietly and stably like this. But it was Grandpa Lu who had called several times asking Qiao Yi when she would return, although she had been brushing him off. The Qiao Family has always been a well-respected family in Capital City, and now with two marriages connecting them to the Lu Family, they are doubly related by blood. Although this party was just a small gathering hosted by Qiao Benqing, everyone of note in Capital City attended without fail. Especially when Lu Yanchuan appeared, it caused quite a stir. Qiao Yi was changing clothes in the room when she heard Zhang Wenjing urging her outside. ¡°Yiyi! Yanchuan is here, waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up!¡± What? Lu Yanchuan is here? Wasn¡¯t he busy with the company¡¯s affairs? How does he have the time to come look for her at the Qiao Family¡¯s place? Qiao Yi finished changing into her party dress and descended the stairs, spotting Lu Yanchuan amidst the crowd at a glance. This man, standing there, was naturally the center of attention. Lu Yanchuan seemed to sense Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze and turned his head to look at her. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Qiao Yi¡¯s cheeks flushed as she unconsciously turned away from the lust-filled gaze of his eyes. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Lu Yanchuan shook off the several business partners clinging to him and strode to the bottom of the staircase, waiting for Qiao Yi to come down. Qiao Yi¡¯s heartbeat quickened under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze. ¡°If I don¡¯t come to pick you up personally, do you plan to not return to the Lu Family at all? Huh?¡± Qiao Yi felt inexplicably guilty at his pointed ¡°huh?¡± but then became annoyed. ¡°Mr. Lu, I think we should clear some things up between us. Although we have some¡­ memories from before, it does not affect the purely contractual nature of our marriage. I won¡¯t cling to the position of Mrs. Lu indefinitely, whenever you find someone you like, we can divorce at any time.¡± ¡°Of course, I also hope you won¡¯t use this marriage, which only exists in name, to restrict my freedom.¡± Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Rotting Peach Blossom Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Rotting Peach Blossom ¡°Finished speaking?¡± Qiao Yi had said a lot, but Lu Yanchuan seemed as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word, just staring straight at Qiao Yi. ¡°You, what do you mean? Have you been listening to me?¡± Qiao Yi frowned, not liking this man¡¯s arrogant attitude. Lu Yanchuan caught sight of Qiao Yi¡¯s knitted eyebrows and suddenly curved the corners of his lips, reaching out to pull Qiao Yi from the stairs to his side. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just about playing our own games without interfering with each other after marriage? I got it.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? How is that what I meant!¡± Qiao Yi exclaimed in shock, almost twisting her ankle, but thankfully Lu Yanchuan reached out to steady her. ¡°A lady shouldn¡¯t yell and scream at a banquet. According to what Miss Qiao said, you should still try to be a good Mrs. Lu in public.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s large hand encircled Qiao Yi¡¯s waist, its scorching heat making it impossible for Qiao Yi to ignore. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Qiao Yi lowered her voice and growled softly, both hands struggling to pry Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand away. But no matter how hard Qiao Yi struggled, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand seemed to be welded there, unmoving. Through the fabric, Lu Yanchuan could almost feel the softness of the slender waist beneath his palm. Unable to break free and seeing that Lu Yanchuan was behaving like a gentleman, just holding her without any further action, Qiao Yi let him lead her into the crowd. All along the way, the sounds of sincere or insincere congratulations were non-stop, and Qiao Yi¡¯s face was about to stiffen from smiling. Turning to look at the man beside her, he had a stern face and not even a hint of a smile. This was what people in the Capital City expected of Third Young Master Lu, not the owner of the wandering hand at her waist! Qiao Yi cursed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s rogue behavior in her heart as they walked towards Qiao Benqing. ¡°Father-in-law.¡± Hearing the voice at his side, Qiao Benqing turned around, and upon seeing that it was Lu Yanchuan greeting him, he hurriedly turned towards him. ¡°Yanchuan is here, Yiyi really is¡­ She just ran back saying she missed her mother. Don¡¯t make trouble today. Later, go home properly with Yanchuan.¡± Qiao Yi pursed her lips, reluctantly agreeing. Watching her back of the head carrying reluctance, a hint of a smile finally appeared on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. ¡°Yiyi has never been away from her parents; of course, she would miss home. It¡¯s only right to come back and stay for a few days.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s considerate words made Qiao Benqing feel even more favorably towards him, and the initial awkwardness about the abrupt change of groom subsided, as he and Lu Yanchuan together greeted the guests. Qiao Yi watched as Lu Yanchuan integrated himself as if he wasn¡¯t an outsider, standing next to Qiao Benqing with even more presence than herself, the Qiao Family¡¯s second daughter! The more Lu Yanchuan behaves like this, the more doubts and unease arose in Qiao Yi¡¯s heart. Just for that accidental one-night stand between them, is it worth for Lu Yanchuan to go to such lengths? Or is Lu Yanchuan really such a responsible person? ¡°Because I¡¯m a man with a sense of responsibility.¡± For some reason, Qiao Yi suddenly remembered this phrase said by Lu Yanchuan. Looking towards Lu Yanchuan again and catching his gaze, Qiao Yi swiftly turned her head away, taking a sip of wine to hide her embarrassment. Hopefully, Lu Yanchuan is truly as responsible as he claims to be. Qiao Xin stood on the second floor, watching the two people exchanging tender glances below, almost crushing the handrail! Qiao Yi! She will not let her off! ¡°Xinxin, why are you still here? The guests have all arrived downstairs, hurry down,¡± Zhang Wenjing¡¯s voice came from behind, and Qiao Xin hurriedly composed her emotions and face. When she turned around, she had already put on a smile. ¡°Mom, I was just standing here to get some fresh air. You know I really dislike the smell of alcohol down there.¡± Qiao Xin, arm in arm with Zhang Wenjing, coquettishly pouted, receiving a gentle tap on her forehead from Zhang Wenjing. ¡°Alright, hurry down now,¡± Zhang Wenjing withdrew her hand, leaving Qiao Xin to descend the stairs by herself. Qiao Xin clenched her empty embrace, a fleeting look of dissatisfaction crossing her face before she finally stepped forward to follow. The banquet passed by amid a sea of insincere flattery and clinking glasses. Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi both stood behind Qiao Benqing, who was relishing the endless compliments, feeling an indescribable delight in his heart. Although these flatteries were common in the past, now that both his daughters were married into the Lu Family, the bond between the Qiao Family and the Lu Family would only grow stronger. Prosperity was within reach! Just as the reception was drawing to a close, Qiao Yi¡¯s feet felt like they were breaking. She called an auntie to help her to the resting room. As they turned past a pillar and hadn¡¯t yet ascended the staircase, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of people. ¡°So you are Miss Qiao, Qiao Yi?¡± The leader, a girl, held her chin high with arrogance, scrutinized Qiao Yi from top to bottom, and snorted disdainfully. ¡°I really don¡¯t see what¡¯s so good about you. You had such an embarrassing scandal right before your big wedding day, yet you still managed to ensnare Third Young Master Lu¡¯s affection!¡± Is this¡­ one of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s unwanted suitors? Having never experienced something like this, Qiao Yi was momentarily stunned, not only surprised but also slightly amused. She never thought she would face a day when she¡¯d be cornered with threats; it was always her leading her underlings to corner others. ¡°So, what is it? What exactly do you want to say by stopping me here?¡± Qiao Yi, though finding these people laughable, felt a severe pain in her feet. Under normal circumstances, she might have entertained them, but now, Qiao Yi had no intention of entangling with them. ¡°If you have nothing important, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Having said that, Qiao Yi tried to walk past them, tiptoeing forward with difficulty. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking, and you want to leave? Stop right there!¡± A sudden force tugged on her arm, Qiao Yi lost her balance, and with a startled cry, she fell backward. The auntie couldn¡¯t catch her, and Qiao Yi closed her eyes, crying out in her heart, knowing the fall was inevitable! After what seemed an eternity, the expected pain and ridicule did not come. Instead, there were soft gasps around her. Qiao Yi opened her eyes slightly, and from behind the light, she could only see a man catching her. Lu Yanchuan! ¡°Are you injured?¡± Qiao Yi was half-craddled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, his deep, mellow voice close to her ear. She uncomfortably shifted her body and was just about to say she was fine when a sharp pain from her ankle made her cry out involuntarily. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Is it your foot that¡¯s injured?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s expression of pain, which did not seem faked. He immediately bent down to pick her up and quickly headed towards Qiao Yi¡¯s room upstairs. Behind them, a few girls looked at each other, their faces pale. With Lu Yanchuan showing such concern for Qiao Yi, could it be that their relationship was very good? They had offended Qiao Yi, and while several families combined would not fear the Qiao Family¡¯s revenge, the Lu Family was not one they could afford to provoke! Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Princess Carry Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Princess Carry ¡°Lu Yanchuan, I¡¯m fine, please put me down.¡± Qiao Yi tapped forcefully on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm several times, but he seemed insensible, his hands steadily carrying her upstairs to the room. If she couldn¡¯t break free, she might as well lie down and enjoy it. Qiao Yi found herself a comfortable position, making sure her legs weren¡¯t pinched by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. Lu Yanchuan felt a warm touch shifting back and forth on his arm. He wanted to warn the little woman not to wriggle around, but seeing her pouting and looking dissatisfied, Lu Yanchuan curled his lips into a smile. ¡°Ah!¡± The steady hands beneath her suddenly loosened, and the abrupt sensation of losing support made Qiao Yi subconsciously grab hold of what she thought was the most secure thing beside her. Lu Yanchuan was indifferent to the woman clinging onto him, shifting from a princess carry to a face-to-face hold like one would carry a child. Qiao Yi, feeling both annoyed and embarrassed, struggled to jump down, but Lu Yanchuan certainly wouldn¡¯t let her get her way, forcibly carrying her into the room by holding her thighs. ¡°That¡¯s enough! I¡¯ve arrived! You can go out now!¡± Looking at the furious Qiao Yi, Lu Yanchuan suddenly thought of the pets posted by some female employees in the company¡¯s group chat. She looked like a fluffy, anger-puffed kitten. ¡°Your foot is sprained. Rest at home for a couple of days and I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± Having escorted her back to her room, Lu Yanchuan reverted to that noble and proud Mr. Lu, acting as if none of what just happened was his doing. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, I¡¯m being very serious in telling you that I only married you considering our families¡¯ interests. I don¡¯t want you to meddle in my affairs like this in the future.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, no matter what you¡¯re thinking, right now you¡¯re the Lu Family¡¯s daughter-in-law, my wife. As long as we are not divorced, you should remember this firmly.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face darkened, his intense gaze almost too much for Qiao Yi to bear, yet she still bit her lip and refused to back down. After a long while, there was a knock at Qiao Yi¡¯s door. ¡°Yiyi, mom heard from the auntie that you sprained your foot, how bad is it?¡± Zhao Wenjing entered with a medical kit, unsurprised to see Lu Yanchuan there, and even greeted him with a smile. The auntie had told her everything just now, saying how Lu Yanchuan protected Qiao Yi, even personally carrying her back to her room! But why did both of them seem unhappy? Zhao Wenjing looked from Qiao Yi to Lu Yanchuan. Was it because of those provoking young ladies downstairs? ¡°Yanchuan, it seems that Yiyi¡¯s dad was looking for you just now, perhaps you should see him first. I¡¯ll take care of Yiyi here.¡± Lu Yanchuan gave Qiao Yi a deep look, nodded to Zhao Wenjing, and left the room. Once Lu Yanchuan was gone, Zhao Wenjing came over and started applying medicine to Qiao Yi¡¯s injury. ¡°Yiyi, you seem to be unhappy with Yanchuan. Is it because of those girls earlier? You well know how popular Yanchuan is in Capital City, why bother getting upset with him over such insignificant people?¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not about that, sigh, even if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Qiao Yi looked helpless, and Zhao Wenjing pouted, intentionally pressing down on Qiao Yi¡¯s instep, applying the medicine amidst her screams. ¡°Talk it out with Yanchuan later, you¡¯re married now, a grown woman; you can¡¯t afford to be so capricious!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, fine, with a son-in-law comes forgetting your daughter! Go on, I¡¯ll lie down by myself for a while.¡± Qiao Yi pushed Zhao Wenjing out, then hobbled back to the bed, lying down with her body resting, but her thoughts drifting far away. Lu Yanchuan was too dangerous; she couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts, let alone guess why he would be willing to marry her. Qiao Yi tossed and turned restlessly, while downstairs was already in an uproar. The day Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi got married, many of those present had attended the wedding and heard their conversation. It was originally thought that the marriage between the Qiao and Lu Families was merely a simple business alliance, but seeing Mr. Lu¡¯s attitude, it was clear he had taken a serious liking to the Second Miss Qiao! For a time, all the guests present had their own thoughts, and even Qiao Benqing himself was unclear about the true nature of the relationship between Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. After helping Qiao Benqing see off all the guests, Lu Yanchuan waited until only the Qiao Family members were left before he took his leave. ¡°Wait! Mr. Lu, wait!¡± ¡°Lu Yanchuan! Stop right there!¡± The sharp voice of the woman behind made Lu Yanchuan involuntarily frown, stopping his pace and turning around¡ªit was Qiao Xin who had followed. Lu Yanchuan did not speak, just silently looking at her, waiting for her to begin. Qiao Xin forced a smile. ¡°Won¡¯t you even talk to me? Do you like Qiao Yi so much that you¡¯re unwilling to speak with me?¡± ¡°What is it.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice was full of impatience, and Qiao Xin seemed to have taken a blow, her face instantly turning pale. ¡°I have liked you for so many years¡­¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, I don¡¯t wish to waste time.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice was cold as ice. After he spoke, he did not glance at Qiao Xin again, and turned to leave. Qiao Xin staggered back, tripping over something underfoot, and fell straight down. ¡°Ah!¡± Hearing the cry from behind, Lu Yanchuan pretended not to hear, got into the car, ordered the driver to drive away, and totally ignored Qiao Xin nearby who couldn¡¯t get up while holding her hand. Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes were venomous, her palms scraped by pebbles on the ground, and she was in severe pain from the fall, but the anger and jealousy in her heart almost made her forget the pain on her body. The scene of Lu Yanchuan carrying Qiao Yi upstairs was played over and over again in Qiao Xin¡¯s mind. Qiao Xin clenched the cloth over her chest, as if she was clenching Qiao Yi, the force so strong that the fabric nearly tore. Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! I want you to suffer a terrible fate! Curled up in the covers, Qiao Yi sneezed twice fiercely. The room was filled with the smell of medicinal alcohol, which made Qiao Yi nauseous. She thought she would not be able to sleep, but soon after lying down, she fell asleep. ¡°Yiyi, wake up!¡± Zhao Wenjing pushed open Qiao Yi¡¯s room and dug her out of the messy covers. ¡°Mom, what are you doing so early in the morning?¡± Qiao Yi grumbled discontentedly, her body kept sliding down. Zhao Wenjing rolled her eyes dramatically and pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s face several times. ¡°Sleeping like a pig! Get up quickly, Yanchuan has called a family doctor for you, and he¡¯s already waiting downstairs for you. Wash up and come downstairs quickly.¡± Lu Yanchuan is so considerate? Qiao Yi suddenly sat up, ignoring Zhao Wenjing¡¯s nagging, hopped out of bed and skipped into the bathroom. Yun Yi sat in the Qiao Family¡¯s living room, covertly glancing around. Yesterday, Lu Yanchuan actually took the time to attend a trivial banquet at the Qiao Family¡¯s place, and it was said that he did some things he wouldn¡¯t normally do. Today, Yun Yi was somewhat impatient, volunteering to see for himself who was so special that they could move Lu Yanchuan¡¯s stony heart. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Not Marrying Unless Its You Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Not Marrying Unless It¡¯s You Qiao Yi hopped onto the stairs and glanced downstairs, only to spot a handsome man seated on the sofa¡ªa very cultured one at that. Today was Qiao Xin¡¯s wedding. Although the ceremony was set for noon, Qiao Xin had been sent off to the venue early in the morning, leaving only Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Yi at home. Initially, Zhao Wenjing was worried Qiao Yi would feel awkward seeing Lu Ming marry Qiao Xin, but Qiao Yi herself didn¡¯t see it that way and was even somewhat looking forward to it. With her spirits high, Qiao Yi laboriously jumped down from the upper floor. ¡°Are you the personal doctor sent by Lu Yanchuan? It¡¯s just a sprained ankle, it¡¯ll heal in a couple of days. You can go back.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s kind intention had been so sudden that she didn¡¯t have the guts to accept it. ¡°Miss Qiao, please let me examine it; otherwise, I won¡¯t have a way to explain to Mr. Lu when I go back.¡± His words were indisputable. After thinking it over, Qiao Yi agreed and sat down on the sofa. ¡°Just have a quick look then.¡± Considering he was a professional in this field, she didn¡¯t want to accept Lu Yanchuan¡¯s kindness, but she also shouldn¡¯t make it difficult for the doctor. Ever since Qiao Yi came downstairs, Yun Qing had been sizing up Second Miss Qiao, but despite looking her over, he found her to be just a bit prettier and didn¡¯t notice anything else particularly striking about her. Could Qiao Yi possess some inner qualities he had yet to detect? When it came to his profession, Yun Qing immediately became serious. After thoroughly checking Qiao Yi¡¯s sprained ankle and determining the severity of the injury, Yun Qing took out a tube of ointment from his box. ¡°This ointment is specifically for treating sprains. Just apply it to the affected area before going to sleep each night.¡± The tube of ointment he handed her didn¡¯t even have a brand on it¡ªa plain, small tube that looked like it was only good for a few uses. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qiao Yi asked the auntie to take the ointment away, but when she turned around, she saw Yun Qing still staring at her. ¡°Is there anything else, Dr. Yun?¡± Why were the individuals sent by Lu Yanchuan so strange? What kind of doctor fixates on their patient like this? Uncomfortable under his gaze, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression naturally wasn¡¯t very pleasant. Yun Qing really wanted to ask Qiao Yi just how she came to be involved with Lu Yanchuan, to the point where he would publicly help her out and take her as his wife. However, the words reached his lips but were swallowed back down. ¡°Miss Qiao, you should pay attention to resting your injury. If you sprain it again, it could be more serious.¡± In the end, Yun Qing only said this much before he gathered his medical kit and left. Qiao Yi was utterly baffled, but Zhao Wenjing stood at the top of the stairs, her face filled with satisfaction. ¡°Yiyi, I think Yanchuan treats you quite well. Why don¡¯t you go back to the Lu Family for the next few days? It doesn¡¯t look good for you to always be staying at home.¡± Qiao Yi was very puzzled. Just yesterday, Lu Yanchuan had only attended a banquet, and somehow it seemed like he had completely won over her parents? When she first came back, her parents were still worried whether the Lu Family wasn¡¯t treating her well. How come they were suddenly so eager to send her away? ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not talk about this for now. Let¡¯s hurry and get ready for the wedding!¡± Vaguely steering away from the subject, Zhao Wenjing pat her but did not continue the conversation. Qiao Xin¡¯s wedding was being held at the same hotel as Qiao Yi¡¯s and even the venue and the master of ceremonies were the same. It¡¯s unclear whether this was the Qiao Family¡¯s idea or the Lu Family¡¯s. Qiao Yi looked at the wedding venue, decorated so similarly to her own wedding, and couldn¡¯t help but feel everything here was incredibly mocking. She truly had no idea what kind of mood Qiao Xin was in. Qiao Xin wasn¡¯t in any kind of mood; she was practically fuming with anger, even wanting to just walk away! In the dressing room, Lu Ming was chatting on his cell phone with someone, his face unable to hide his smiles. Who could he be talking to? Was this the man she was about to marry? A sense of bitterness and desolation surged in Qiao Xin¡¯s heart. Today was her wedding day! It was bad enough to marry a man she did not love, and worse yet, this man clearly did not care for her either! ¡°Mr. Lu, Miss Qiao, the wedding is about to start, all the guests have arrived.¡± The wedding MC knocked on the door, prompting Qiao Xin to gather her thoughts and respond, yet Lu Ming was reluctant to put down his phone, only lifting his head after being urged several times. ¡°Lu Ming, if you don¡¯t want to marry me, we can call off today¡¯s wedding. I won¡¯t marry into the Lu Family just for the sake of it!¡± Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t help but speak out, her suspicions already raised by the look on Lu Ming¡¯s face as he checked his phone, suspicions she had yet to openly confront! Startled by Qiao Xin¡¯s gaze, Lu Ming forced a smile and approached to adjust her veil. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I want to marry you? Just now, there was news from the company that a project under my supervision was successfully completed, which is why I exchanged a few more celebratory words with them. I apologize for my carelessness and neglecting you.¡± Lu Ming tenderly apologized, and Qiao Xin, half-believing and half-doubtful, ultimately chose to trust his words. Marrying Lu Ming was imperative, and no matter what the future held, today she absolutely could not let Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan sneer at her! The MC continued to hurry them outside, and the two inside resumed their false warmth, proceeding to the venue under the MC¡¯s lead. The wedding march began to play inside the venue, and Qiao Yi was eagerly gazing at Qiao Xin¡¯s face when suddenly someone appeared beside her. Lu Yanchuan? Why wasn¡¯t he sitting in the Lu Family¡¯s area but instead coming over here? Seemingly discerning Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts, Lu Yanchuan curved his lips slightly, intentionally leaning closer to Qiao Yi. ¡°You are my wife, the bride of the Lu Family. Shouldn¡¯t I sit beside you?¡± Okay, Qiao Yi had no response to that reasoning and rolled her eyes, ignoring him. After speaking, Lu Yanchuan himself was taken aback. Was this kind of teasing something he would say? Qiao Yi, engrossed in the bustle, did not notice the depth and inquiry in the eyes of the man behind her. All she thought about was that it was good for Lu Yanchuan to have come over so that Qiao Xin could clearly see Lu Yanchuan would rather chase after her than give Qiao Xin even a glance! ¡°The groom will now place the ring on the bride¡¯s finger.¡± Qiao Yi heard the MC¡¯s announcement and subconsciously looked down at her own hand. On the ring finger of her left hand was a ring that was obviously a size too large. This was the ring that Lu Yanchuan had taken off his hand and put on hers on their wedding day. Qiao Yi had intended to return it to him after the wedding but had never found the right opportunity. But now, she oddly didn¡¯t feel like returning it to Lu Yanchuan anymore. ¡°Where is the ring from our wedding day?¡± Lu Yanchuan next to her timely asked the question, and Qiao Yi was taken aback for a moment, mocking herself inwardly before slipping off the ring and placing it in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. ¡°I should have returned it to you earlier, just never found the right moment.¡± Lu Yanchuan took the ring and placed it back on his hand. ¡°This is a men¡¯s ring. After the wedding is over, I¡¯ll take you to pick out a new one.¡± Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 The Ring Chapter 10: Chapter 10 The Ring Qiao Yi suddenly turned her head to look at Lu Yanchuan. The lights at the scene weren¡¯t very bright. Although she was close, Qiao Yi still couldn¡¯t make out the expression on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. ¡°You¡­¡± Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from the venue, and Qiao Yi¡¯s words were blocked before she could speak them. Over there, Qiao Xin and Lu Ming kissed briefly like dragonflies skimming the water surface, then comfortably let go of each other. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t see Qiao Xin¡¯s expression change, which somewhat disappointed her, but soon she had no time to feel disappointed. The wedding was over, and what followed was a banquet, with nothing involving the newlyweds. Qiao Yi, with her mobility issues, had planned to wait until everyone left before leaving herself, but Lu Yanchuan, sitting next to her, simply picked her up and started walking out as soon as the wedding ceremony ended. ¡°Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I¡¯ll take Yiyi back first.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even bother to consult with Qiao Yi; he just bypassed the crowd and left. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t even reacted before she was already carried out of the venue. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, can you please consult with me next time before you do something?¡± Having been carried like this numerous times, Qiao Yi was still somewhat uncomfortable, but she forced herself to calm down and negotiated firmly with Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan just looked down at her briefly but didn¡¯t say a word. Qiao Yi was so irritated by his attitude that she couldn¡¯t break free from his embrace and simply rolled her eyes and found a comfortable position in his arms to rest with eyes closed. Anyway, since someone was carrying her, she didn¡¯t need to walk herself. If Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t mind the burden, then let him carry her forever! Lu Yanchuan walked very steadily, not at all like he was struggling, even managing to adjust when Qiao Yi slid down a bit. Being carried by him, Qiao Yi felt like an emotionless sack. ¡°Go to Xingbai.¡± Qiao Yi was stuffed into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. From the venue to the parking lot, carrying her such a long distance, Lu Yanchuan was neither red-faced nor out of breath. Even after putting her down, his clothes were still neat. Some not-so-pleasant memories surfaced, and Qiao Yi snorted through her nose, turning her head towards the window, but her cheeks were slightly flushed. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s assistant, Ma Yu, driving in front, glanced back once in the rearview mirror then shrank his neck and started the car without looking elsewhere. Xingbai was located in the eastern commercial district of the city, a commercial development planned by the Lu Family. The wedding hotel was in the southern outskirts, and the eastern commercial district was within the second ring road. It would take over an hour to drive there if there was no traffic. Qiao Yi looked at the fast-moving street scene outside the window and soon fell asleep. As the car turned a corner, Qiao Yi¡¯s body fell directly onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s. In her dreams, the little lady, perhaps dreaming of something delicious, murmured twice with her rosy little mouth and found a comfortable position on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body to sleep soundly. Lu Yanchuan moved his hand placed beside him, and Ma Yu, catching the gaze of his boss from the rearview mirror, very perceptively switched the car¡¯s air conditioning to warm air. When Qiao Yi woke up, she found herself lying in an unfamiliar bedroom. The cold decorative style of the bedroom made it clear it was likely Lu Yanchuan¡¯s. Where had Lu Yanchuan brought her? Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bedroom in the Lu Mansion wasn¡¯t like this. Qiao Yi sat up, and through the thick curtains, she could see it was still light outside. How long had she slept? She hadn¡¯t even called her mom and dad; they must be worried. Qiao Yi turned on the bedside lamp, but was drawn to a small box on the bedside table. A ring? Did Lu Yanchuan buy her a ring? Qiao Yi opened the box and inside was a small, delicate ring. She tried it on her finger and it fit perfectly. Suddenly, she felt strange and, as if her hand were burning, quickly put the ring back in the box and returned it to where it originally was. After getting out of bed, Qiao Yi discovered that at some point, her feet had been medicated and were now wrapped in two loops of gauze. ¡°Madam, you¡¯re awake. I just made chicken soup. Would you like me to bring it to your room, or will you come down to eat?¡± As Qiao Yi just pushed open the bedroom door, she saw an auntie holding a vacuum cleaner walking out of the next room. ¡°Hello, this is¡­¡± ¡°This is Emperor Garden. It¡¯s closest to the company, so Third Young Master often stays here. You¡¯ll get used to it once you come here more often.¡± The auntie put down the vacuum cleaner to assist Qiao Yi, her gaze falling on her hand with some surprise. ¡°Madam, aren¡¯t you wearing the ring? Third Young Master specifically had it delivered for you, didn¡¯t you see it? I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± ¡°No, no need, I don¡¯t like wearing rings.¡± Qiao Yi stopped her and let her continue cleaning the house, and she slowly walked downstairs. She knew about Emperor Garden. It was inhabited by senior white-collar workers from nearby office buildings. Though not particularly luxurious, the single-layer single-unit design was very convenient. Qiao Yi hopped into the kitchen, instantly feeling hungry from the rich scent of chicken soup. She just checked the time; it was already past five in the afternoon. She had slept for more than six hours, and her last meal was in the morning, no wonder she was hungry. ¡°Madam, Third Young Master said he¡¯ll be back for dinner in the evening. Have some chicken soup for now to hold you over. Let me know what you¡¯d like for dinner and I¡¯ll go buy groceries.¡± This auntie, surnamed Li, was specially sent by Old Mr. Lu to take care of Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I¡¯m not picky, I¡¯ll eat anything.¡± Qiao Yi settled on the couch, turned on the TV and instinctively looked at the table, only to find that it was covered with various snacks. Were these prepared by Lu Yanchuan? Qiao Yi rubbed her nose, always feeling that Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t possibly be such a thoughtful person. Of course, Lu Yanchuan was not that thoughtful. The mastermind behind all this was currently sprawled comfortably on the sofa in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office. ¡°Did you really do what I said? I didn¡¯t see it coming. Could it be that you¡¯ve really taken a liking to that girl?¡± Han Zizhen looked up at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face, and after a long look realized Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t listening to him, and swiftly got up. ¡°I heard from Yun Qing, Second Miss Qiao is a real beauty. If your heart sways because of a beauty, brother, I¡¯ll fully support you!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Han Zizhen seemed like he hadn¡¯t heard Lu Yanchuan¡¯s caution, pacing around the office with his arms crossed, turning back to say something else to Lu Yanchuan, when suddenly a file folder flew towards him. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just fulfilling a husband¡¯s duties. I used the suggestions you gave, keep the rest of the nonsense to yourself.¡± Han Zizhen pouted, rubbing his handsome face that had been painfully smacked, but quickly put on a serious expression and sat across Lu Yanchuan. ¡°The matter you asked me to look into, I¡¯ve found out about it. There¡¯s indeed a harbor development project in Tian City, but it¡¯s still in the planning stage and likely won¡¯t open for tender till next year. How did you know about this project?¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Car Accident Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Car Accident ¡°` Tian City borders Capital City and is one of the most important port cities in the north of China. Since the last century, Tian City has undergone rapid development, and after decades of expansion, there are very few large projects left in Tian City that count as significant. Han Zizhen had been puzzled for quite a while. Ever since Lu Yanchuan asked him to investigate the upcoming development projects in Binhai District of Tian City, he had wanted to ask questions. ¡°Half a month ago, a ship belonging to the Lu Group encountered problems at Tian City¡¯s port. Due to an issue with the port¡¯s sluice gates, seawater backflowed and flipped the entire ship into the sea. Although it wasn¡¯t carrying any valuable cargo, Lu Group couldn¡¯t find suitable replacements for a while and the losses far exceeded the value of the cargo on that ship.¡± Lu Yanchuan pointed to the folder he had just used to hit Han Zizhen, instructing him to look at the report inside. ¡°I remember the Lu Group wasn¡¯t too involved in shipping. Why did they put such important cargo on a sea voyage this time?¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t answer his question directly but continued to speak on his own. ¡°After the report was submitted, I felt something was wrong with this port. An old port that has been in use for decades and now this accident has occurred, it definitely needs repairs, and I also know that this port is actually a privately owned one.¡± Han Zizhen read through the report and said, ¡°So, the Lu Group plans to participate in the bidding for this project?¡± Finally, Lu Yanchuan revealed a meaningful smile and shook his head at Han Zizhen¡¯s surprised gaze. ¡°Lu Group won¡¯t compete.¡± ¡°Then you¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention had already returned to the documents in his hands, leaving Han Zizhen scratching his head in confusion. The most annoying kind of person is the one who doesn¡¯t finish what they¡¯re saying! Han Zizhen couldn¡¯t sit still and was about to leave, his hand already on the doorknob, when he suddenly heard Lu Yanchuan from behind him. ¡°Go back and tell Uncle Han that the Han Family must not touch this project.¡± Han Zizhen¡¯s expression finally turned serious, he turned around to see Lu Yanchuan still sitting there handling documents, as if the words just spoken were not his own. Lu Yanchuan never spoke untruths, Han Zizhen knew this, and hence couldn¡¯t fathom what Lu Yanchuan¡¯s actual intentions were. ¡°I¡¯ll pass the message to the old man, but if he doesn¡¯t listen, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Thinking of something, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened as he looked up seriously at Han Zizhen. ¡°This project is off-limits for both your family and the Lu Group.¡± It was rare for Han Zizhen to see such a serious Lu Yanchuan, and it felt like a stone was pressing on his heart, so he nodded forcefully. ¡°I understand.¡± Qiao Benqing was telling Qiao Xin the same thing, but what he said was the exact opposite of Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s been three years since you joined the company. This time, the Tian City project is a must-win for the Qiao Family. News of this project hasn¡¯t been leaked yet, so you have plenty of time to prepare. Think of this as a test from Dad. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Qiao Xin, clutching the documents in her hand, agreed very promptly, but once she left the office, her face instantly fell. What test was he talking about? She had been doing miscellaneous work ever since she joined the company three years ago. How was she the Qiao Family¡¯s young mistress? She was clearly just here for hard labor! Now they even wanted her to prepare for a project that wasn¡¯t settled, her father was clearly making things difficult for her! If Qiao Yi had taken over this project, their father would have assigned the best assistants to her and definitely wouldn¡¯t want her to suffer hardship! With a heart full of reluctance, Qiao Xin returned to her car, and her face turned even uglier at the sight of the document bag next to her. Thinking of spending her supposed wedding night with Lu Ming from the Lu Family later that evening, Qiao Xin felt even more upset. ¡°Xinxin, something came up at work, and I won¡¯t be returning home tonight. I am really sorry¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, you deal with your company matters first, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Qiao Xin could only wish that Lu Ming would stay at the company forever so she could have some peace. Turning the car stereo up to the maximum, she stepped on the accelerator and the car shot forward. Qiao Yi had watched TV at home for several hours, Aunt Li had finished cooking, but Lu Yanchuan still hadn¡¯t returned. ¡°Madam, if you are hungry, please eat first. I can make something fresh for the Third Young Master when he gets back.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no trouble, I¡¯m not hungry now, let¡¯s wait for him.¡± The snacks prepared on the table were all her favorites, Qiao Yi had been snacking all afternoon and wasn¡¯t hungry at all. Aunt Li took Qiao Yi¡¯s words to mean waiting for Lu Yanchuan to have dinner together, and after smilingly acknowledging it, she slipped into the kitchen, pulled out her phone, and sent a message to someone. When the clock struck ten, Aunt Li said Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t be coming back for dinner and told Qiao Yi not to wait and eat instead. Qiao Yi thought it made sense; although she wasn¡¯t hungry, Aunt Li had gone to the trouble of cooking, so it would not be polite to dismiss her efforts. With Aunt Li¡¯s help, Qiao Yi sat down at the dining table, but just as she picked up her chopsticks, her phone rang. The call was from Zhao Wenjing; it was late, why hadn¡¯t her mother gone to bed yet? ¡°Yiyi! Come to the Central Hospital quickly! Your sister has been in a car accident!¡± By the time Qiao Yi hurriedly arrived at the hospital, Qiao Xin had already been transferred back to the general ward, where Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing were present, with Lu Ming also there. ¡°Mom, how is sister doing?¡± Qiao Yi deeply loathed Qiao Xin for targeting her, but after more than twenty years as sisters, seeing Qiao Xin lying there between life and death, she couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat sad. ¡°There is no danger to her life. The doctor diagnosed it as a mild concussion, and she should be fine once she wakes up tomorrow.¡± Although Zhao Wenjing wasn¡¯t very fond of her elder daughter, she was still her own child, and couldn¡¯t help feeling pained by the accident. ¡°How did it happen? Was it a car accident?¡± ¡°It happened when she was getting off the freeway; someone deliberately rear-ended her. The driver responsible is being resuscitated and suspected of drunk driving.¡± Lu Yanchuan and Ma Yu walked in as Ma Yu explained to Qiao Yi. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I went home and Aunt Li told me you had left.¡± The booklet that Han Zizhen gave stated that a husband shouldn¡¯t allow his wife to walk alone at night. Qiao Yi nodded uncomfortably and made room for Lu Yanchuan. Ma Yu had already communicated with the police. The room fell silent, with only the machines next to the hospital bed beeping. ¡°Mom, Dad, we¡¯re here to watch over her; you two should head back first.¡± Seeing Zhao Wenjing yawn, Qiao Yi persuaded them to go home and herself moved a chair to sit by the hospital bed. ¡°I¡¯ll have Ma Yu watch over her, your foot hasn¡¯t healed yet.¡± The smell of the hospital wasn¡¯t pleasant, and Lu Yanchuan had been frowning ever since he entered. ¡°She¡¯s still my sister after all; I¡¯ll wait until she wakes up before leaving.¡± ¡°` Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Awakened Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Awakened Lu Ming was constantly on his phone in the hospital room, chatting with someone unknown. Qiao Yi probably knew who he was talking to, but since she no longer had any relationship with Lu Ming, she let him do as he pleased. Seeing that Qiao Yi truly did not want to leave, Lu Yanchuan had Ma Yu transfer Qiao Xin to the VIP ward, which had a resting area. At night, only Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin were left in the room. Qiao Yi lay on the narrow, hard bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She should hate Qiao Xin, but when it really came to returning tit for tat, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. It wasn¡¯t that she had a martyr complex, but she simply could not believe that the person who had stepped on her face that night could be her own sister. Her mind was a mess, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t figure it out and didn¡¯t want to think further, turning her back on Qiao Xin. When dawn broke, Qiao Yi woke up; Qiao Xin was still asleep on the bed, since things like concussions are fine once you wake up. Propping her chin, Qiao Yi sat up; the sunlight gradually became plentiful, just as Qiao Yi was about to fall asleep again, Qiao Xin finally let out some weak moans. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Qiao Yi pressed the bedside bell, and soon, a group of doctors and nurses rushed in. Qiao Xin, just awake, was still confused, vaguely hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s voice and thinking she had heard wrong. Qiao Yi must utterly hate her by now, she would rather wish her dead, how could she possibly be by her bedside. It didn¡¯t take long after they arrived in America for Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing to reach the hospital. Qiao Yi had messaged them that Qiao Xin had awoken, and they immediately came over. Doctors were still performing basic checks on Qiao Xin in the room as Qiao Yi and her parents sat down on the chairs waiting. ¡°As long as the person is awake, there shouldn¡¯t be any major problems. The rest is just resting and recuperating.¡± ¡°You had a tough night last night. There are caretakers during the day, you should go back and rest.¡± Zhao Wenjing saw the redness in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes and felt both distressed and relieved. ¡°I do nothing all day. You and dad should rest more, you definitely didn¡¯t sleep well last night. Now that sister is fine, you no longer need to worry.¡± As Qiao Yi spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but yawn, making Zhao Wenjing even more distressed. ¡°Family of the patient, please come in.¡± The hospital room was opened, and a young nurse stepped out and called the three of them in. ¡°The patient had only a minor concussion, requiring hospital observation for three days. During these three days, some post-concussion symptoms like headaches and nausea may appear, which are normal.¡± After giving some precautions, the doctor left, leaving the Qiao family of four in the room, where the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Qiao Xin watched from her bed as Qiao Yi and Zhao Wenjing held hands, with Qiao Benqing standing right behind them, looking happy and united¡ªa sight that seemed very glaring to her. It was always like this! When she was young, she thought her parents were just too busy, which was why they were colder to her, but only after her sister spoke up did Qiao Xin realize it wasn¡¯t that her parents were too busy, they simply didn¡¯t like her because she almost caused her mother¡¯s death! ¡°Xinxin, how do you feel? Is there anything specific you want to eat? I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡± ¡°Yes, Xinxin, the person who hit you, Yanchuan has already sent people to handle it; just focus on recovering.¡± Qiao Benqing spoke and glanced at Qiao Yi. He was surprised that Lu Yanchuan could come last night! I never expected Lu Yanchuan to care so much about Qiao Yi. Qiao Benqing was preoccupied, Zhao Wenjing was persuading Qiao Yi to go back and rest, and no one in the hospital room seemed to care about Qiao Xin lying on the bed. Qiao Xin had had enough of their pretense, acting as though they cared about her. Who were they trying to fool! ¡°Enough! All of you, go back. There¡¯s a caretaker here to look after me!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s sudden outburst left everyone stunned. Zhao Wenjing¡¯s face darkened, and she looked displeased at Qiao Xin. ¡°Why are you losing your temper? Last night you had an emergency and hurriedly called us to the hospital, your sister came all the way here while her leg injury hadn¡¯t healed to take care of you all night, and now you are making us deal with your mood!¡± ¡°Mom, my sister must be feeling unwell due to complications, you and dad go back first, I¡¯m enough here.¡± Qiao Yi pushed Zhao Wenjing out, Qiao Benqing looked at his pale eldest daughter on the bed, said to rest well and left with her. Everyone in the room went out, and Qiao Xin suddenly, like a madwoman, swept all the items from the bedside table onto the floor. Qiao Yi had sent Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing away and just reached the door when she heard the noises of Qiao Xin smashing things inside, she frowned and pushed the door open. ¡°What are you doing back here! Are you here to mock me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to mock you, if you weren¡¯t my sister, you should be in jail by now.¡± Qiao Yi went back to her bed, called the caretaker to clean up the mess in the room. ¡°Who needs your false goodwill! If you dare, go ahead and report me! You, a slut that everyone has used, who would believe you¡­¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Qiao Xin looked dazedly at Qiao Yi, seemingly unable to believe that Qiao Yi had actually hit her. Qiao Yi¡¯s hand felt numb, she clenched it lightly, and slapped Qiao Xin on the other cheek. ¡°Since childhood, mom and dad have favored me a bit more, I cared about you so I always treated you nicely, gave you everything you liked, all the best, yet what I got in return was your ruthless sabotage!¡± ¡°Qiao Xin, do you have a heart, are you even human!¡± Qiao Xin looked at the red-eyed Qiao Yi, even somewhat afraid to meet her gaze. ¡°It was clearly you who¡­¡± ¡°Qiao Xin, I want you to remember, whether our parents were biased or not, I never owed you anything, I told dad I didn¡¯t want to join the company just to ensure your smooth entry, I declined dad¡¯s idea of transferring his shares to me just so that you could have more assets.¡± ¡°Qiao Xin, if you have even a little bit of conscience, you should reflect on how I¡¯ve treated you over the years and how you¡¯ve treated me!¡± After Qiao Yi finished speaking, she turned around and left, afraid that if she stayed she would end up fighting with Qiao Xin. ¡°You, why are you here?¡± As Qiao Yi opened the door, she saw Lu Yanchuan standing there and quickly wiped the tears from her face. ¡°I came to bring you food, I¡¯m also here to take you home.¡± Lu Yanchuan was holding a pink rabbit lunch box, which clearly didn¡¯t suit his demeanor, from his expression, he probably didn¡¯t like the lunch box much either. Qiao Yi¡¯s mood immediately brightened, she took the lunch box from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hands and hugged it to her chest. ¡°Mr. Lu, please take me back to my house. I¡¯ll keep the lunch box.¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 What Are You Going to Do? Chapter 13: Chapter 13 What Are You Going to Do? Lu Yanchuan glanced at his empty hands and then at Qiao Yi¡¯s slightly staggering figure before following her. ¡°Dad asked us to come home for lunch. Are you going home to wait or going to wait at my company?¡± So, there¡¯s no chance for her to refuse, huh. Qiao Yi tightened her grip on the lunch box in her arms and suddenly smiled at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Please, Third Young Master¡­ take me home!¡± Lu Yanchuan had to admit one thing, that Qiao Yi was really beautiful. Back in the day, Zhao Wenjing was famously beautiful when she was young and has maintained herself well. Even among the circles of distinguished ladies, she stands out. Otherwise, Qiao Benqing wouldn¡¯t have devoted himself to Zhao Wenjing for so many years. In Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes and brows, there was a trace of Zhao Wenjing¡¯s features, but unlike Zhao Wenjing¡¯s delicate gentleness, she had a rare heroic spirit. Lu Yanchuan followed her, and Jiang Mian, holding the lunch box in the car, looked extremely well-behaved, not at all like someone who could get into a fight. But thinking about the information he had people find, she had been the school¡¯s dominant figure since she was young. Indeed, appearances can be deceiving. In the end, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t return to the Qiao Family but was taken by Lu Yanchuan to the Emperor Garden. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up at noon.¡± Qiao Yi heard it but pretended not to, planning to ignore Lu Yanchuan. This man is too domineering, giving no freedom to others! The freedom-seeking Qiao Yi, after waiting for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car to leave, sneakily slipped out of the residential area. ¡°Wenwen! I¡¯ve missed you!¡± Han Lewen, Qiao Yi¡¯s childhood friend and best friend from school. Qiao Yi¡¯s limping appearance made Han Lewen laugh for half an hour until Han Lewen finally stopped laughing and then looked at her resentfully. ¡°I got married and you didn¡¯t come¡­¡± ¡°Big sister, I was abroad at the time. Who knew you would get married so hastily?¡± Han Lewen rolled her eyes and pushed Qiao Yi away but, thinking of her being unwell, pulled her back again. ¡°Tell me, what kind of person is your husband?¡± ¡°You should know him, he¡¯s the Third Young Master of the Lu Family, Lu Yanchuan.¡± ¡°What! Lu Yanchuan! How did you end up marrying him!¡± Han Lewen suddenly jumped up, and Qiao Yi who was leaning on her shoulder fell over, rubbing her sore cheeks in pain. ¡°Calm down, it¡¯s just Lu Yanchuan, what¡¯s the big deal!¡± I slept with him before we got married! Qiao Yi dared not say this out loud, fearing Han Lewen would scream. Han Lewen inspected Qiao Yi up and down several times, and then flopped back lazily. ¡°You must be really sick to marry Lu Yanchuan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all tears when spoken about, let¡¯s not mention it. Sister, I can¡¯t move much today, so today you have the chance to take care of me. Take me out for a beauty treatment!¡± After Qiao Yi left the Emperor Garden, Lu Yanchuan was immediately informed and followed Qiao Yi to the Han Family. Lu Yanchuan sat in the car, watching Qiao Yi walk step by step into the Han Family. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face showed neither joy nor anger, and Ma Yu looked several times in the rearview mirror, unable to discern what his master was thinking. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll come back at noon to pick someone up from the Han Family.¡± Ma Yu sighed in relief; as long as the master spoke up, it¡¯s best not to make him guess. Qiao Yi spent the morning playing at Han Lewen¡¯s place, waiting for Han Lewen to make her a cake, when she heard her cellphone ring. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I¡¯m downstairs, you have ten minutes.¡± The voice on the phone made Qiao Yi sit up abruptly. What did Lu Yanchuan say? He¡¯s downstairs, he really came to pick her up? But she¡¯s not at Emperor Garden right now! ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at Han Family¡¯s place.¡± Qiao Yi was even more surprised, she got up from the sofa and went to the window to look down, and indeed she saw the black Phaeton parked outside the Han Family¡¯s gate. Did this man install a tracking device on her? Why is he everywhere she goes! Qiao Yi¡¯s head ached, but with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s stance, he probably wouldn¡¯t leave unless she went down; she really got to know Lu Yanchuan¡¯s character! ¡°The cake will be ready soon, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come back when I¡¯m free in the next few days, I have to go now!¡± Qiao Yi hurriedly ran outside, Han Lewen glanced down through the window and saw Qiao Yi getting into the car outside, then suddenly started smiling knowingly. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, what exactly are you trying to do!¡± Once in the car, Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan with displeasure, fury unhidden in her big eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve already made things clear to you, do you want me to say it again?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s long legs were crossed, with a file resting on them. Qiao Yi¡¯s words were completely ignored by Lu Yanchuan, like punching into cotton, not only did it not relieve her frustration, but it almost even hurt her back. ¡°Dad asked me to bring you back for dinner.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qiao Yi turned her head, but Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t speak anymore, focused entirely on the documents on his legs. This man should just marry his documents. Qiao Yi snorted coldly, since it was Old Mr. Lu¡¯s request, she had no choice but to go back. Just thinking about Old Mr. Lu¡¯s attitude made Qiao Yi uneasy. When they reached Lu Mansion, Qiao Yi realized it wasn¡¯t just her and Lu Yanchuan who were called back, but also Lu Yanchuan¡¯s two brothers and their children were all called back for dinner. The old house was crowded with people, livelier than usual. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t expect Qiao Xin to also be brought over, the bandage still on her head, sitting quietly on the side, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°What bad luck, married two, and both are invalids, are they placed in front to disgust whom!¡± A sarcastic female voice came, Qiao Yi looked over, it was Lu Ming¡¯s mom, Lu Family¡¯s second wife, whom Qiao Yi used to call Aunt Lu, now she should call her Second Sister-in-law. Aunt to Sister-in-law, Qiao Yi hesitated for a long time, still couldn¡¯t manage to change the title she¡¯d been using for over a decade. ¡°I told you to marry early, now look, you brought back such a useless one, making us a laughingstock!¡± ¡°Mom, please say less.¡± Lu Ming waved his hand impatiently and left Wang Zhen to go to his own room in the old house. Wang Zhen, angered by Lu Ming¡¯s attitude, had no one to vent on but glared sideways at the seated Qiao Xin. Contrary to Qiao Yi¡¯s expectation, Qiao Xin endured Wang Zhen¡¯s provocation without showing any sign of anger. Qiao Yi was astounded, thinking Qiao Xin must have been stunned by her slaps, showing no reaction at all. While she was thinking, she saw Qiao Xin slowly raising her head, giving her a cold look. Qiao Yi¡¯s face changed instantly, Qiao Xin had thoroughly resented her, their relationship could never go back. ¡°Yiyi, how did you end up twisting your foot after going back, come let me look at it, you look like you¡¯ve lost weight!¡± Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Major Supplement Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Major Supplement Qiao Yi slowly walked over and sat down next to Old Mr. Lu. The man she used to call Grandpa now had to be addressed as Father-in-law, a feeling that was really¡­ ¡°This stinker, Yanchuan, I told him to take good care of you, and look what you¡¯ve become. Wait until he comes down later; see if I don¡¯t give him a good talking-to!¡± Ever since she was young, Qiao Yi was watched over as she grew up by Old Mr. Lu. He had liked this little girl from before, and now that she had become his own daughter-in-law, of course, he cherished her even more. Qiao Xin had been sitting in the corner the whole time, clenching her fists in unwillingness and anger as she watched Qiao Yi, whose hand was intimately held by Old Mr. Lu. The two slaps from Qiao Yi had thoroughly awoken her, and also gave Qiao Xin a way to put Qiao Yi to death! As long as that night¡¯s incident was known to Lu Yanchuan, she wanted to see if he would still want a woman who had been played with! It was a pity that she forgot to have someone gather evidence that evening! Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes, filled with venom, were fixed on Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi noticed her gaze but didn¡¯t take it to heart. Every weekend at noon, Old Mr. Lu would call the Lu Family back for a meal. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know about this custom before, but today Old Mr. Lu explained it to her himself, and only then did she understand why Lu Yanchuan insisted on bringing her back. Why couldn¡¯t Yanchuan explain such a simple matter properly? He had to make her unhappy! The meal went by without any thrills. After eating, Qiao Xin was sent away by Lu Ming. Wang Zhen looked very unhappy but didn¡¯t say anything more in front of Old Mr. Lu. Qiao Yi was kept behind by Old Mr. Lu under the pretext that she was too thin and needed nourishment, personally instructing the kitchen to stew a nutritious soup for her. Looking at the bowl of thick chicken soup shimmering with oil, Qiao Yi felt that drinking this was asking for trouble. After she sweet-talked Old Mr. Lu into going out to play chess with old friends, she carried the soup bowl straight to the study and placed the bowl on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s desk. ¡°This is a nutritious soup personally ordered by Father. I can¡¯t finish it, so you can¡¯t disappoint Father¡¯s intention!¡± Lu Yanchuan found Qiao Yi¡¯s commanding attitude amusing but didn¡¯t laugh. After admiring her for a moment, he took the bowl from the desk and drank it without another word. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s action, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up. She seemed to have found a way to deal with the old gentleman! ¡°Father, Yiyi¡¯s health is fine; there¡¯s no need to keep nourishing her three meals a day.¡± That day, as Lu Yanchuan returned home, he smelled a familiar scent that instantly made his stomach uncomfortable. Indeed, when he found Old Mr. Lu in the kitchen, he was directing the auntie to add goji berries and astragalus to the chicken soup. Even good things, if consumed for three days straight, were enough to make one nauseated. Moreover, Lu Yanchuan had a nosebleed all morning at the company today, which he really couldn¡¯t bear any longer. Old Mr. Lu¡¯s eyes narrowed as he hustled Lu Yanchuan out. ¡°You¡¯re strong and healthy, you don¡¯t need to drink it. Look how thin Yiyi has become! If you don¡¯t nourish her properly now, how will she give me a big chubby grandson later?¡± I don¡¯t know how to get a big chubby grandson, but if you keep drinking like this, your handsome son might be gone. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s nose felt cold, as if something was flowing out of his nose again. ¡°Yo, why is there a nosebleed again? Is it because the air is too dry? Xiao Zhang, go turn on the humidifier!¡± Leaning on the staircase, Qiao Yi almost burst into laughter watching the commotion below. She was mindful of Old Mr. Lu¡¯s kindness towards her, but this kind of affection was a bit too enthusiastic for her to handle. When Lu Yanchuan came upstairs, Qiao Yi had already regained her composure. She demurely smiled at Lu Yanchuan and then turned to head back to her own room. Before Qiao Yi could run away, she was suddenly grabbed by the collar and pulled into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room. ¡°What are you doing¡­mmph¡­¡± The domineering and scorching kisses rained down like a deluge, Qiao Yi clutched Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shirt over his chest tightly, as if to push him away, yet as if to yearn for more. ¡°Let¡­let me go¡­¡± Qiao Yi moaned softly, then quickly covered her mouth, not believing she could make such a sound. ¡°This is to punish you for messing around.¡± Lu Yanchuan gasped unsteadily, Qiao Yi could feel the burning heat emanating from his body, scorching her into a frenzy of panic. Qiao Yi was held tightly, and it took a long time before Lu Yanchuan restrained himself and let her go. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°If you want to continue, you can stay!¡± Qiao Yi wrapped her arms around herself and ran out in a flurry, Lu Yanchuan irritably pulled open his collar and dove into the bathroom. He is a normal man, drinking such tonic soups three times a day without a way to release the fire is bound to drive a person crazy! Qiao Yi kept blushing all the way back to her own room. Old Mr. Lu brought another bowl of soup. This time, he didn¡¯t see Lu Yanchuan and instead placed the soup on the table for Qiao Yi. ¡°Drink this soup well, and when you¡¯ve recovered, you can give me a couple of grandkids while you¡¯re still young! With your foot still injured, you can¡¯t live with Yanchuan, so you better take your medicine and nurture your health!¡± Old Mr. Lu prattled on, watching Qiao Yi drink the soup. Qiao Yi really wanted to push the soup to Lu Yanchuan but, remembering his beast-like behavior just now, she felt a tremor in her heart, and decided it was better to obediently drink it herself. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room door finally opened, and he left for the hospital without eating, carrying a chill with him. He looked so pained; it made Qiao Yi feel a twinge of guilt toward Lu Yanchuan for the first time. Living in the Lu Family was quite nice except for occasionally dealing with Old Mr. Lu pushing them to have children, and a bunch of inexplicable herbal tonics; it could almost be called paradise. Happy times are always fleeting, and in a blink of an eye, the day for Qiao Xin to be discharged from the hospital arrived. Qiao Yi was reluctant to meet Qiao Xin but, thinking Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing might grow suspicious, she went to the hospital anyway. She didn¡¯t know how Qiao Xin managed it, but when Qiao Yi arrived at the hospital, she saw Lu Ming being extremely attentive, following her around, and carrying things for her. ¡°Sister, Ah Ming and I have discussed it, and we plan to move and live in the old house for a while. Only you are there to accompany Grandpa every day, and it¡¯s really too lonely.¡± Qiao Yi really wanted to laugh in her face; wasn¡¯t she herself the loneliest one in the old house? Old Mr. Lu had quite a few old friends, and every afternoon they would all disappear! ¡°Of course, that¡¯s great. Us sisters living together can take care of each other.¡± Qiao Yi agreed generously, even making a call in front of Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing to arrange rooms for the two people at the old house. After Qiao Yi hung up, she saw everyone looking at her and explained with a raised smiling face. ¡°Granddad doesn¡¯t pay much attention to these matters now, and since I am free anyway, helping him manage things is also a way of showing filial piety.¡± Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Sleep in My Room Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Sleep in My Room Zhao Wenjing was somewhat surprised upon hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words. She knew that Qiao Yi had grown up under the watchful eye of Old Mr. Lu and, given the close relationship between the two families, Old Mr. Lu would definitely take extra care of Qiao Yi. However, she hadn¡¯t expected that Old Mr. Lu would so readily entrust Qiao Yi with the housekeeping affairs. For families like the Qiao and Lu, management of the family business is essential, but maintaining relations and emotional ties with other families is even more important. Now, Qiao Yi was taking such a long-breathed role in the Lu Family; could it be that Old Mr. Lu truly valued her this much, to leave all these matters in her hands? Of course not. Although Old Mr. Lu had such intentions, Qiao Yi¡¯s ankle injury had just healed two days ago, and as a new bride of the Lu Family, it seemed improper for her to take over these duties so hastily. But these words could not be mentioned here; facing the astonished gazes of everyone in the room, Qiao Yi maintained an elegant and reserved smile. ¡°Since your father-in-law values you so much, you must get along well with Yanchuan and not cause trouble like you used to.¡± Zhao Wenjing was extremely pleased, but her happiness was inevitably followed by some worries. Qiao Yi spoke to Zhao Wenjing while quietly observing Qiao Xin¡¯s expression, and sure enough, she saw Qiao Xin looking as if she had swallowed a fly, her face no longer carrying the ease it had before. Qiao Yi hummed softly through her nose and, holding onto Zhao Wenjing¡¯s hand, was the first to leave the ward. Though humiliated by Qiao Yi¡¯s show of authority, Qiao Xin still moved into the Lu Mansion without delay, and at dinner that evening, two new faces appeared at the table¡ªQiao Xin and Lu Ming. Qiao Yi saw the bowl of chicken soup next to her, unchanged as always, and sipped it disconsolately, spoonful by spoonful. ¡°Today, I had them add ginseng to the soup. Try it and see how it tastes.¡± Old Mr. Lu looked at Qiao Yi with a smile. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Yi downed the chicken soup and wiped her mouth, praising Old Mr. Lu lavishly. Qiao Xin sat across from them, witnessing firsthand how drastically different Old Mr. Lu¡¯s attitudes were toward the two of them. Across from her, Qiao Yi was laughing and chatting with Old Mr. Lu, and Yanchuan occasionally chimed in. That was a picture of a happy family of three, whereas she and Lu Ming were merely sitting there like two spare parts. While Qiao Xin watched Qiao Yi, the latter was naturally also aware of her, and although not intentionally neglecting Qiao Xin, seeing her discomfort, Qiao Yi took pleasure in the situation. ¡°Grandpa, you can¡¯t be so biased, Qiao¡­ Auntie just twisted her ankle and needs nourishment, but Xinxin was in a car accident. You shouldn¡¯t play favorites.¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t speak, but it was Lu Ming who couldn¡¯t conceal his dissatisfaction with Old Mr. Lu¡¯s indifferent attitude towards him and Qiao Xin, and he took the initiative to speak out. Old Mr. Lu seemed to suddenly remember that there were two more people in the house, glancing at Qiao Xin and then at Lu Ming, and snorting through his nose. ¡°What, you can¡¯t pour chicken soup for your wife from the kitchen? Do I need to personally serve it to her?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s face stiffened, he wanted to argue, but Old Mr. Lu had already turned away, no longer paying him any heed. Qiao Yi kept her head down and continued eating, as the stares of Lu Ming and Qiao Xin settled on her, as if she were the reason Old Mr. Lu was ignoring them. The meal was tense, greatly affecting the appetite. Qiao Yi went upstairs after eating only half her meal; she really couldn¡¯t be bothered to watch Qiao Xin sucking up to Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Father said you didn¡¯t eat much tonight and asked me to bring this up to you.¡± After playing with her phone in her room for a while, Lu Yanchuan came in carrying a tray. ¡°Oh, thank him for me.¡± Qiao Yi acknowledged, eyes fixed on the mobile game interface without moving. After a long while without hearing the door, Qiao Yi looked up to see Lu Yanchuan sitting on the sofa, looking at her. Qiao Yi felt a tingling on her scalp under his gaze and uneasily crawled out of bed. ¡°What else do you want?¡± ¡°Sleep in my room tonight.¡± Qiao Yi almost spewed out blood! How could Lu Yanchuan say such a thing with a straight face? ¡°What do you want to do!¡± Involuntarily, Qiao Yi scooted back, staring at Lu Yanchuan warily as if he were some kind of lecherous ghost. Lu Yanchuan frowned in displeasure, stood up looking down at Qiao Yi who was also staring back, hugging her blanket. After a long stalemate, it was Lu Yanchuan who was first to retreat. ¡°Since you want us to play the part of a married couple, we have to do it convincingly. Once your foot is healed, sleep in my room.¡± Qiao Yi relaxed, realizing that was what he meant, she had thought¡­ Seeing the hint of red on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, the displeasure in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart seemed to dissipate in an instant, and he huffed and left. As soon as Lu Yanchuan left, Qiao Xin entered the room and saw the dinner plate on the table, her face turning frightfully cold. ¡°You must be very pleased with yourself, seducing your brother-in-law, now strutting around here at the Lu Family!¡± ¡°Brother-in-law? Are you out of your mind? My current brother-in-law is just downstairs, I wonder who I¡¯ve seduced?¡± Qiao Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, the earlier embarrassment gone from her face, leaving only mockery. The annoyance on Qiao Xin¡¯s face flickered and then calmed again. ¡°You know very well who I¡¯m talking about, don¡¯t think you can be so smug forever, Lu Yanchuan will be mine sooner or later!¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even know what to say to her, she must have damaged her brain in that car accident, otherwise, why would she act and talk so mindlessly now? ¡°Seduced your brother-in-law¡­ Lu Yanchuan will be mine sooner or later!¡± Qiao Xin stared at the smartphone in Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, her face a mix of panic and embarrassment. ¡°You recorded it! Delete that!¡± Qiao Xin lunged at Qiao Yi, but Qiao Yi swiftly dodged. ¡°You dare to come in my room and provoke me, why wouldn¡¯t I record it? Keep talking, be assured, I¡¯ll record everything you say.¡± Qiao Xin screamed in rage and frantically lunged at Qiao Yi to snatch the phone from her hand. Unable to combat a reckless lunatic, Qiao Yi¡¯s grip loosened, and the phone landed in Qiao Xin¡¯s hand. Qiao Xin snatched the phone and flung it to the ground, smashing it to pieces. Qiao Yi watched indifferently as Qiao Xin lost her composure. After Qiao Xin smashed the phone, she got off the bed and suddenly grabbed Qiao Xin by the throat, slamming her violently against the wall. ¡°Have you had enough? I¡¯ve been tolerating you over and over again because you¡¯re my sister. Our blood relation won¡¯t make me put up with you forever, if you keep this up, don¡¯t blame me for not holding back.¡± The hand on her throat felt as if it was made of iron; no matter how hard Qiao Xin tried, she couldn¡¯t push Qiao Yi away, forced to tilt her head back and look at her. Qiao Yi¡¯s tone was chilling, Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t help but shiver when she met her emotionless gaze. ¡°What are you trying to do!¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Unruly Sleeping Positions Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Unruly Sleeping Positions ¡°What am I supposed to do? You set traps for me everywhere, and now you ask me what I¡¯m going to do?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s grip tightened gradually, Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned purple under her hands, and she looked like she was about to suffocate when Qiao Yi suddenly let go, and Qiao Xin collapsed to the floor. ¡°Qiao Xin, this is the last time I warn you, stop bothering me.¡± Qiao Yi dropped those words, taking the meal that Lu Yanchuan brought and left the room. Qiao Xin sat on the floor coughing violently and trembling all over. The words Qiao Yi had just said echoed in her ears again and again, like little hammers striking her heart one after another. ¡°Xinxin? What¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you so pale?¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t come back for quite a while after she said she was going upstairs to see Qiao Yi. Lu Ming followed to check on her, and not seeing Qiao Yi, he found Qiao Xin sitting on the floor with a horrific expression. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I might have had low blood sugar just now. I¡¯ll be okay after sitting for a bit.¡± Qiao Xin avoided Lu Ming¡¯s hand which he extended to help her up and got up by herself to sit on the bed. A shadow passed quickly through Lu Ming¡¯s eyes but was soon replaced with concern as he sat beside Qiao Xin, asking if she needed to see a doctor. Qiao Xin still hadn¡¯t recovered from the fright Qiao Yi gave her, and Lu Ming¡¯s pestering made her want to erupt with anger, but she forcefully suppressed it. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Didn¡¯t grandpa say he wanted to move some flowers in the yard? Go and help him.¡± Seeing that Qiao Xin really didn¡¯t want to talk, Lu Ming didn¡¯t linger and left the room after agreeing. Suddenly, Lu Ming¡¯s phone rang. He checked it and his face changed immediately; he hurried back to his own room. Qiao Yi took the meal to the kitchen, ate a few bites, then asked the maid to clean up. She knew she had to sleep in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room tonight; even if he didn¡¯t say it, it was clear in her heart. She always tried to deceive herself. The thought of sharing a bed with Lu Yanchuan that night made Qiao Yi feel all the hairs on her body stand on end. Qiao Yi scratched her head irritably, paced around the living room a few times, and then walked toward Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room with a face as if she was bravely going off to war. Lu Yanchuan, hearing the noise at the door, slightly curved his lips and then continued to lower his gaze to the documents. Qiao Yi hovered outside Lu Yanchuan¡¯s door for a good ten minutes, unable to take that final step. ¡°Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! You¡¯re the best!¡± After psyching herself up, Qiao Yi gritted her teeth and pushed the door open. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room had always been decorated in a cool style, with only three colors: black, white, and gray, just like him. The person outside finally walked in, Lu Yanchuan lifted his eyes to give her a glance without making a sound, waiting until Qiao Yi moved haltingly to the side of the bed, then suddenly put down the documents in his hand and looked at Qiao Yi. ¡°Who¡¯s showering first, you or me?¡± Qiao Yi was like a startled rabbit, nowhere near as cold as she had been with Qiao Xin. ¡°You-you-you go first!¡± It¡¯s just showering, why say it in such a suggestive tone? It¡¯s really scary! After Lu Yanchuan entered the bathroom, Qiao Yi finally took a deep breath and quickly walked over to sit by the bed. Why is it that every time she sees Lu Yanchuan, her own presence seems to shrink by three points? Were she and Lu Yanchuan naturally at odds? As Qiao Yi pondered, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t take long before coming out of the bathroom. ¡°Your clothes! Where are they?¡± Seeing a handsome man fresh out of the shower late at night was truly an overwhelming experience. Qiao Yi instantly covered her eyes, while Lu Yanchuan gave her a baffled glare. If you¡¯re going to cover your eyes, then cover them properly. What¡¯s with the big gap between the fingers? Qiao Yi, feeling slighted, dropped her hand and openly admired Lu Yanchuan¡¯s nearly perfect figure. In a room with a man and a woman, the one who is undressed always has to concede first. Perhaps it was Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze that was too fiery, Lu Yanchuan took off the towel from around his waist and draped it over his body, blocking Qiao Yi¡¯s view. ¡°Go take a shower, and then sleep.¡± Why did he cover up so quickly, she hadn¡¯t even had her fill of looking! Qiao Yi rubbed her face and walked into the bathroom, and it wasn¡¯t until the shower water drenched her that she realized she hadn¡¯t brought anything with her! ¡°I¡­¡± Standing under the shower, water pouring over her head again and again, she just opened her mouth to ask Lu Yanchuan to help her fetch something, but then she immediately negated the idea herself. This was¡­ awkward¡­ Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door, and Qiao Yi, startled, turned off the water and embraced herself tightly. ¡°Third Madam, the Third Young Master asked me to bring you toiletries. I¡¯ve placed them outside the door.¡± Thank goodness, it¡¯s the auntie from home¡­ By the time Qiao Yi finally walked out of the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan had already turned off the lights and gone to bed, leaving only a small night light on for Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi tiptoed to turn off the light and climbed into bed. She thought she would definitely be sleepless all night tonight. This thought had only circled in Qiao Yi¡¯s mind for a moment before she fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Lu Yanchuan was awakened by a kick. His thigh was bearing a delicate little foot, and its owner was almost sprawled across the entire bed. Qiao Yi¡¯s blanket was thrown under the bed by herself, and her own blanket was now wrapped around Qiao Yi. How had he not noticed that Qiao Yi¡¯s sleeping posture was so¡­ free-spirited? Lu Yanchuan pressed his temples with a headache, moved away Qiao Yi¡¯s foot, and pulled at his own blanket. Somehow, Qiao Yi had wrapped the blanket so tightly around her that Lu Yanchuan tugged several times and it didn¡¯t budge. Lu Yanchuan resigned himself to picking up Qiao Yi¡¯s blanket, and in the blink of an eye, Qiao Yi had already rolled over to his spot. Due to Qiao Yi¡¯s ungraceful sleeping position, her pajama pants were rolled up on her thigh, and a small part of the hem of her shirt had flipped up, revealing a little bit of her white belly. It looked more like the pets that female employees often posted in the company group chat. When Qiao Yi woke up the next day, it was already past ten in the morning, she had an extremely restful sleep, something she hadn¡¯t done in over half a month. There was only her sleeping on the big bed, with two blankets pressed underneath her; by that time, Lu Yanchuan had long since gone to the company. ¡°Yiyi, are you up yet?¡± The voice of Old Mr. Lu rang out from outside the door, and Qiao Yi hurriedly scrambled off the bed, barefoot to open the door for Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Dad, were you looking for me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just came up to ask if you were hungry.¡± Old Mr. Lu seemed quite pleased with Qiao Yi¡¯s disheveled appearance, and Qiao Yi¡¯s face heated up, not knowing how to explain to Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Sis certainly did get a good sleep, Grandpa was thinking about sis and specifically told the kitchen to keep your meal warm!¡± Qiao Xin appeared from behind Old Mr. Lu, with a sarcastic remark. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to deal with her, but she couldn¡¯t refuse Old Mr. Lu¡¯s kindness. ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t you say Uncle Sun was coming to play chess at home today? You should go and get ready; I¡¯ll be right down!¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 A Room Chapter 17: Chapter 17 A Room Qiao Yi was called back to the Qiao Family by Qiao Benqing, saying that there was something he needed to discuss with her. Qiao Yi never interfered with the businesses of Qiao Group, and for some reason, Qiao Benqing suddenly wanted to discuss official business with her this time. Not just Qiao Yi, but Qiao Xin was also called back. As soon as the two arrived home, they were called straight into the study, where Qiao Benqing gave each of them a document to read. Qiao Xin read it carefully, while Qiao Yi flipped through it casually before tossing it aside. ¡°Father, if there¡¯s something you need to say, please do. Why the urgent call for me to return?¡± Qiao Xin withdrew a bit of her attention from the document, turning to look at Qiao Benqing along with her. ¡°This is the latest development plan issued by Tian City. This development plan includes not only the redevelopment of an old seaport but also the makeover of the Binhai old town area. I had previously received information about the old seaport¡¯s development, but I did not expect that this time the project would also include the old town area.¡± Qiao Benqing had discussed this with Qiao Xin, but it was the first time Qiao Yi had heard of it. However, whether it was the first time hearing it or not made no difference to Qiao Yi. She flipped impatiently through the document in her hand, quickly saying after Qiao Benqing had finished speaking. ¡°Dad, haven¡¯t we agreed that I don¡¯t need to join the company before I¡¯m twenty-five? You can¡¯t go back on your word!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about you joining the company, but another matter that I need you to handle.¡± As long as it wasn¡¯t about joining the company, everything was negotiable. Qiao Yi looked curiously at another document in Qiao Benqing¡¯s hand, ¡°Then why did you call me back? What is it that you want me to do?¡± ¡°This time, you will represent Qiao Family at the Tian City bidding.¡± ¡°Dad! I was the one who undertook this project firsthand. How can you let Qiao Yi take part in the bidding!¡± Qiao Xin suddenly stood up. She was unwilling to toil away in the company, but she was even more reluctant to allow Qiao Yi to reap the benefits and effortlessly score the success that should belong to her! This was unfair! Qiao Benqing frowned at Qiao Xin, his mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but his words took a turn at the last moment. ¡°Of course, you still have your task. This quarter, the contract between Qiao Family and Lu Group is expiring, and this project has always been managed by Lu Ming. This time, you take care of the liaison with Lu Ming.¡± Qiao Benqing made the final decision, leaving Qiao Xin with no choice but to comply. ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± ¡°Xinxin, you have to understand that the cooperation between Qiao Family and Lu Group is very important. Do not let down dad¡¯s expectations of you.¡± Qiao Xin bit her lip and nodded, but as she turned and walked out, she glared viciously at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi naturally returned the glare without backing down, and as their gazes crossed, it was filled with thunder and lightning. ¡°Yiyi, there are some details about this bid that you need to remember.¡± With the conversation going this far, Qiao Yi naturally had no choice but to accept, sitting next to Qiao Benqing with a resigned expression, waiting for his instructions. ¡°In this bidding, you must give it your all, but you absolutely must not succeed.¡± ¡°Not succeed?¡± What kind of requirement was this? Bidding has always been about succeeding at all costs, she had never heard of aiming to put in effort but fail. Qiao Benqing had anticipated Qiao Yi¡¯s question and prepared a response. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t let Xinxin go is precisely for this reason. If we let her give it a try, we would have a sixty percent chance of securing this project. However, the Qiao Group cannot take on this project; not only can we not take it, but we must also not appear too eager, and must instead give the impression that our Qiao Group has exerted all our effort but regrettably missed out.¡± Qiao Yi almost immediately understood what was meant and tentatively asked, ¡°Does this mean there is a problem with the project for the old port district redevelopment?¡± Qiao Benqing nodded but did not specify what the problem was. Qiao Yi realized that this kind of thing was not suitable for Qiao Xin. She simply couldn¡¯t keep things to herself, and if this were entrusted to her, it might ruin everything. ¡°Also, don¡¯t let Yanchuan know about this.¡± Confused, Qiao Yi still agreed and after having dinner with Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing at the Qiao Family¡¯s house, she returned to the Lu Family¡¯s. ¡°Mr. Lu, Tian City has already issued the redevelopment plan for the old port district. Shouldn¡¯t we also start preparing our bid?¡± Ma Yu pulled out the invitation from the email, but Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even glance at it, leaving Ma Yu unsure of what he was thinking. ¡°This noon, Ms. Qiao called her wife back home. When the lady came back, she had a copy of the plan. It¡¯s very likely that the lady will be the one going to the bidding¡­ What do you think we should do¡­¡± ¡°The Qiao Family has already given up this bid. Keep an eye on the moves in Tian City; we must not allow any chaos before the bidding.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words confused Ma Yu. Why did allowing Qiao Yi to participate in the auction mean giving up? However, there was always a reason for the boss¡¯s decisions, not something his assistant could fully grasp. The auction in Tian City would take place in just ten days. Even though Qiao Benqing had given the task to Qiao Yi, he still had Qiao Xin accompany them to Tian City, claiming it was to assist Qiao Yi with the bidding. Only Qiao Yi knew that Qiao Benqing did this to better distract others, concealing his intentions to give up the bid. Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin left for Tian City two days early, accompanied by Lu Ming and Lu Yanchuan. Old Mr. Lu was overjoyed to learn that Qiao Yi would be traveling with Yanchuan. It was only when Qiao Yi opened her suitcase at the hotel that she realized what Old Mr. Lu had packed for her. A whole ten cans of nourishing soup was one thing, but what on earth was that box of colorful stuff! Face flushed, Qiao Yi stuffed the items into a corner of her suitcase and glared up at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Are we supposed to live together even though we¡¯re on a business trip?¡± Over the past few days, she had been able to deal calmly with Yanchuan, but the thought of the two of them staying in the same room still enraged her. Even though they weren¡¯t at the old house anymore, why did Yanchuan only book one room for both of them? ¡°Qiao Xin and Lu Ming are just next door; do you want them to discover the nature of our relationship?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes widened. Yanchuan¡¯s words seemed to make some sense, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. No! There was no relationship between them at all! Nothing at all! Holding back a smile, Yanchuan packed up his things and, without waiting for Qiao Yi to finish her indignant packing, he pulled her out the door. ¡°It¡¯s time to go for lunch.¡± Qiao Yi screamed in protest, trying to shrug off Yanchuan¡¯s hand. She opened the door, and to her surprise, saw Lu Ming and Qiao Xin also coming out from the next door, apparently also heading out to lunch. ¡°What a coincidence! Shall we go together?¡± Upon seeing Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi instantly turned into a sweet, compliant darling, lovingly clinging to Yanchuan¡¯s arm with a blissful smile. ¡°Did I just see you and Mr. Lu having a little tiff, Yiyi?¡± ¡°Not at all. Just some playful affection between husband and wife, you and your husband have those moments too, right?¡± Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 You Did That on Purpose Chapter 18: Chapter 18 You Did That on Purpose Lu Yanchuan glanced at the human-shaped ornament that had suddenly appeared on his arm and didn¡¯t deny Qiao Yi¡¯s words. Qiao Yi let out a sigh of relief. Although Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t the best of people, he was reliable when it really mattered. Qiao Xin could practically burst with anger from the look in her eyes, and Qiao Yi felt that if looks could kill, she would have been hacked to pieces by now. However, unfortunately for Qiao Xin, all she could do was glare at her. Qiao Yi, holding on to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, strutted past Qiao Xin. But as soon as she entered the elevator, Qiao Yi quickly shook off Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, as if he was carrying some sort of virus. ¡°Thanks for playing along just now; consider it a debt I owe you.¡± With her back turned to Lu Yanchuan, he simply hummed noncommittally. Qiao Yi took it as agreement and, as soon as the elevator stopped, she bolted out without looking back. Lu Yanchuan looked at the ten-floor indicator on the elevator and then at Qiao Yi, who didn¡¯t look back. He gave up on the idea of calling her back and continued down in the elevator by himself. Qiao Yi felt she must have a problem; she wasn¡¯t paying attention to where she was going at all, and now she found herself wandering in the hotel, unable to find her way out. It took quite some effort to reach the first floor through the fire escape, and by the time Qiao Yi got to the restaurant, Lu Yanchuan had already ordered and started his meal. Grinding her teeth and fuming, Qiao Yi sat opposite Lu Yanchuan. No sooner had she sat down than the waiters began serving her food. Was Lu Yanchuan being kindhearted? Had he actually ordered her meal for her? Lu Yanchuan, who sat opposite her, was still dressed in that austere black suit, but because of the meal, he had placed his jacket on the chair next to him. Without his tie and with the top button of his shirt undone, it added an unexpectedly sexy touch to his appearance. His sleeves were rolled up over his forearms, and even his manner of eating was noble, making him look distinguished just by sitting there. Qiao Yi really wanted to know how he could pretend so well and so naturally! This was purely her own pettiness. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s discreet glances and subtly turned himself, offering her an even more perfect view. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to admit she was being seduced by this man, so she became annoyed once more. She angrily devoured a steak with her fork and then left Lu Yanchuan to go back to her room alone. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t care that she was running away. He finished his meal leisurely and by the time he got back to his room, it was pitch black. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t even left a small night light for him. Under the hazy moonlight, he could barely make out a small bulge on the bed. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze darkened slightly, and he lay down next to Qiao Yi. The bidding event was just two days away. Early in the morning, Lu Yanchuan left the hotel, claiming to be inspecting the Lu Group¡¯s branch office in Tian City. Qiao Yi had nothing to do, so she lounged around the hotel until noon before reluctantly getting up for lunch. Tian City is rather unique among many northern cities, rich in cultural heritage and traditional features. Thus, after eating, Qiao Yi went shopping in the city center. Qiao Yi was accompanied to the event with the Qiao sisters by one of Qiao Benqing¡¯s assistants, who hurriedly called her back when she knew Qiao Yi was out shopping. ¡°Second Miss, we are here for the auction. Even if you give up on the final outcome, you still need to put up an appearance. Do you want everyone to see that the Qiao Family has given up?¡± The assistant was earnest and well-meaning, but Qiao Yi just curled her lip and rolled her eyes. ¡°Mr. Feng, you worry too much. My sister is overly enthusiastic about preparing for the bid. With her around, no one will care about what I do.¡± Qiao Yi tossed off a sentence and ran away, leaving Mr. Feng pounding his thigh in frustration. It was clear that the second Miss¡¯s business talents far surpassed those of the eldest Miss. Why, then, did Ms. Qiao insist on keeping the second Miss out of the company and instead relentlessly groom the elder daughter? Qiao Yi knew the answer to this question; in fact, she was the one who had orchestrated the whole thing. Qiao Benqing had been busy with work when Qiao Xin was born and couldn¡¯t provide enough company. Thus, Qiao Benqing always felt a sense of guilt towards Qiao Xin. Knowing this, Qiao Yi had always given way to Qiao Xin, but Qiao Xin had been nothing but a disappointment to her. After wandering outside for an afternoon, Qiao Yi returned to the hotel laden with bags. While Qiao Xin focused on gathering bid information, Lu Yanchuan and Lu Ming inspected the companies, Qiao Yi was seriously splurging on shopping. For two whole days, until the day of the bidding conference, the group of four met again. ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve really taken it easy this time. Just a bit of shopping and you¡¯re done? It¡¯s impressive how you still remember that today is the bidding conference!¡± The four stood in the elevator, with Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin naturally side by side. Qiao Xin glanced at the new dress on Qiao Yi¡¯s body, her dissatisfaction and disdain evident as she rolled her eyes. Qiao Yi pushed her sunglasses up, treating Qiao Xin¡¯s comment as if it were nothing more than a fart in her ear, completely ignoring her. Qiao Xin, refusing to let it go, suddenly stepped forward as if to leave the elevator with Qiao Yi ¨C intent, in reality, on tripping her. Without a sideward glance, Qiao Yi lifted her foot and stamped down hard. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Xin screamed as she stumbled out of the elevator, the skin from her calf to the top of her foot pierced by Qiao Yi¡¯s sharp high heels, blood flowing out immediately. ¡°Oh dear, I am terribly sorry, sister. I didn¡¯t see your foot somehow found its way under mine, so sorry indeed.¡± Qiao Yi stepped back, flicked her skirt, and lifted her sunglasses slightly to glance down. Though her words apologized, her face showed no hint of remorse; instead, it was full of mockery. ¡°You! You did it on purpose!¡± Faced with Qiao Xin¡¯s roar, Qiao Yi laughed. ¡°I did it on purpose? Right, I intentionally let you stick your foot under mine, intentionally let you trip me. My wish to fall hasn¡¯t come true yet, what a disappointment indeed.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s mocking tone irritated even Lu Ming, who was crouching down to check on Qiao Xin¡¯s injury, causing him to look at her surprisingly. ¡°Sister, if you¡¯re hurt, why not have your brother-in-law take you to the hospital? If there¡¯s no serious problem, then stand up. Sitting here like this is an embarrassing spectacle.¡± Qiao Yi straightened up and walked over to Lu Yanchuan, linking her arm through his, as if the person who had just behaved so bizarrely wasn¡¯t her. Qiao Xin trembled with fury, her face turning green as she pushed Lu Ming¡¯s hand away and struggled to stand, watching the retreating figures of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan go side by side. Lu Ming, brushed aside, showed a fleeting grimace, but still wore a concerned expression as he helped Qiao Xin. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of blood on your leg. Let¡¯s take care of it first, be careful about an infection.¡± Qiao Xin took a few rapid breaths and finally nodded her head, allowing Lu Ming to support her toward the medical room. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Bidding Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Bidding Qiao Yi felt the occasional glances from Lu Yanchuan landing on her. Feeling uncomfortable, she turned her head and glared at him. ¡°Do you think I was too harsh on Qiao Xin?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mind was still dwelling on how Qiao Yi¡¯s little demeanor just now was somewhat tantalizing, when unexpectedly, the little woman next to him angrily questioned him. Receiving Lu Yanchuan¡¯s somewhat puzzled gaze, Qiao Yi felt a bit more at ease. ¡°Your grudges with her have nothing to do with me.¡± The implication was whether he was harsh or not, it didn¡¯t matter to her. Qiao Yi withdrew her gaze and looked out the window, and the two of them fell silent for the rest of the journey. Tian City¡¯s geographical location is advantageous, plus its long history, making it a city that can¡¯t be overlooked, whether politically, economically, or geographically. Since Tian City¡¯s development in the North has spanned decades, in recent years, the Tian City government has rarely opened new official projects. This time, the redevelopment of the old harbor district is the first in five years. Scarcity breeds value, and as soon as the project news went out, there were no fewer than ten companies from Capital City alone coming in for the bid, not to mention, the national companies coming to the bidding meeting totaled over fifty. The Qiao Family and Lu Family stood out among them, drawing innumerable gazes upon the two figures who entered the venue together. Could it be that the Qiao Family and Lu Group are joining forces? That was the thought running through most people¡¯s minds. But upon seeing the two people return to their respective seats, like complete strangers, their thoughts began to waver. If the Qiao Family and Lu Family joined forces, others wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, but now it seemed like there was still hope. Before the bid submissions, this was their last chance to modify the terms. People from well-acquainted enterprises gathered together, whispering, and from time to time glancing over at Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi, sitting there bored playing with her phone, ignored Mr. Feng who kept nagging her to review the documents. She was just going through the motions; why bother? However, Mr. Feng made a good point ¨C she still needed to keep up appearances in front of others, to avoid showing that the Qiao Family had given up. ¡°President, we¡¯ve obtained the bids from Longjia and Tengxin. However, their attitudes are ambiguous ¨C doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯ll compete fiercely.¡± Ma Yu¡¯s words drew Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention back from Qiao Yi. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely, even though the representatives from those companies aren¡¯t the chairmen, they are the high-level executives. They won¡¯t give up on the project that easily.¡± Ma Yu followed his gaze to look at the representatives of those two companies, seeing only two dark heads and couldn¡¯t figure out how Lu Yanchuan identified them. Lu Yanchuan, not wanting to deal with this assistant with questionable intellect, handed over the bid documents to Ma Yu and started to rest with his eyes closed. There were not a few who acted like him, yet not many could relax completely as he did. Qiao Xin, having treated her wounds, eventually made it to the bidding venue. After signing in, she didn¡¯t go to the Qiao Family¡¯s seat, but instead found a spot to sit in towards the back. ¡°Xinxin, why are you sitting here?¡± ¡°There are too many people inside, I¡¯ll sit here for a while to avoid bumping my foot.¡± Qiao Xin answered expressionlessly, and Lu Ming, sensing her perfunctory tone, reminded himself over and over not to get angry, and sat next to her with a forced smile. ¡°I¡¯ll keep you company here then.¡± Qiao Xin gave him an impatient, frowning glance but said nothing more. As the time for bidding approached, the venue gradually quieted down, everyone waiting for the host to announce the start of the meeting. Qiao Yi turned her head to look back and saw Qiao Xin sitting at the rear, puzzled. Since when could she stay so composed? Several leaders went on stage to give their speeches, and Qiao Yi, listening from below, began to feel sleepy, slowly dozing off in her chair. Qiao Xin, keeping watch over Qiao Yi¡¯s movements, saw her fall asleep and silently approached from behind. Seeing that Mr. Feng, on the other side of Qiao Yi, was completely unaware of her presence, Qiao Xin reached over to swap the bidding document next to Qiao Yi with another one swiftly. Seeing that Qiao Yi was oblivious, Qiao Xin retreated back to her original seat. As soon as she sat down, Qiao Xin saw Lu Ming beside her looking at the bidding document in her hand. Qiao Xin offered no explanation to Lu Ming about why she swapped the bidding documents, and surprisingly, Lu Ming didn¡¯t ask either, only giving a few extra glances before returning to his oblivious demeanor. His reaction puzzled Qiao Xin, but him being taciturn was for the best; with him being sensible, he might be of some help to her. The speeches went on for nearly an hour before they concluded. Qiao Yi was awakened by Mr. Feng, rubbing her eyes only to realize it was time for the bidding. The envelope for the bid documents was well-sealed. As soon as Qiao Yi took the envelope, her complexion seemed off. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mr. Feng, listening to the names on stage and keeping an eye on Qiao Yi, saw her change in complexion and quickly turned to ask. ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s go.¡± The bid document in her hand was definitely problematic ¨C it wasn¡¯t the same envelope as her bid document. However, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know who had swapped her bid. Her gaze swept across the faces of representatives from several companies nearby, finding no suspicious person, and walked up to the stage as if nothing had happened to submit the bid book in her hand. After descending from the stage, Qiao Yi brushed past Lu Yanchuan, neither giving the other a second glance, as if they didn¡¯t know each other at all. ¡°Did you and Mr. Lu have a fight?¡± Back at the seat, Mr. Feng couldn¡¯t help but ask. Qiao Yi gave him a sidelong glance ¨C such a gossip for a grown man. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why did you two act like strangers, not even greeting each other?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to greet for? We have to go back to the hotel together later. There will be plenty of time for greetings.¡± Mr. Feng was at a loss for words due to Qiao Yi¡¯s response and closed his mouth. After the bidding ended, the bid-calling session began, and unrelated people like Mr. Feng were cleared out, and Qiao Xin also returned to sit next to Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of Mr. Lu. This time, I¡¯ll show you the gap between us can¡¯t be bridged by mere parental favoritism.¡± Qiao Xin whispered threatening words in Qiao Yi¡¯s ear with a smile. Qiao Yi turned her head sharply to face her, a guess emerging in her mind. ¡°The bid book, you swapped it!¡± Qiao Xin was extremely satisfied with Qiao Yi¡¯s reaction. Her smiling face needn¡¯t be feigned as she arrogantly tilted her head, looking down on Qiao Yi with her chin. ¡°So what if I did. Do you think your bid document is perfect just because Mr. Feng is helping you? Such garbage, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not embarrassed bringing out something that would disgrace the Qiao Family.¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Winning the Bid Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Winning the Bid Qiao Yi simply wanted to crack open Qiao Xin¡¯s head and see if it¡¯s filled with water! She had put so much effort into perfecting a bid that was flawless in its generosity, only for it to be swapped by Qiao Xin! That document on the stage¡­ ¡°Exactly, the one you sent up is the bid I prepared! This project, I am determined to win it!¡± It¡¯s over, completely over now! Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned an iron shade of blue, she glared at Qiao Xin and then anxiously looked towards the auctioneer on the stage. She had thought that the bid document was sent by a competitor of the Qiao Family, intending to muddy the waters. Since the Qiao Family didn¡¯t want the project this time, Qiao Yi went with the flow and submitted the document. But now that she heard it was made by Qiao Xin, she didn¡¯t need to think to know that this bid document would definitely stand out, greatly increasing the chances of the Qiao Family winning the project. This was not what she wanted at all! It was like a death sentence! Full of anxiety, Qiao Yi watched Qiao Xin, who, thinking her pride was hurt by being overshadowed, wore a cold face. She had no idea that their little dispute had ruined a grand scheme! The bidding announcement was fast-paced, and in no time it was the Qiao Family¡¯s turn. Qiao Yi held her forehead, feeling a growing heaviness in her heart with each word the auctioneer spoke. This was indeed a very competitive bid; Qiao Xin must have put in a lot of effort. The gloomy faces of the representatives of the other enterprises spoke to the quality of the bid. But Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bring herself to smile! Next up after the Qiao Family was the Lu Group. After hearing just a couple of sentences, Qiao Yi¡¯s heart sank completely. The Lu Group¡¯s bid was identical to the one swapped by Qiao Xin; only those especially sensitive to industry changes could not tell that it was full of fluff! The Lu Group was also giving up, it seemed! Qiao Yi looked up towards Lu Yanchuan, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes carried an indescribable emotion, which weighed even more on her already heavy heart. Lu Yanchuan had known her intentions all along! There must be a big problem with this project, and someone was going to use it to set a trap; both Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan knew why, only Qiao Xin, like a fool, had walked right into it! ¡°It seems Mr. Lu isn¡¯t too fond of you either. Knowing you¡¯re representing the Qiao Family in the bidding, he still made the bid so perfect, with no intention of going easy on you at all.¡± Qiao Xin continued to jeer beside her, and hearing her words, Qiao Yi suddenly felt sad, even beginning to doubt whether her initial decision to refuse working at the company had been right. Although she hoped that Qiao Benqing would compensate Qiao Xin with the company, letting Qiao Xin continue like this would lead to the destruction of the Qiao Family! Qiao Yi was in utter disarray, pulling out her phone to send a message to Mr. Feng, hoping there was still some way to remedy the situation. The bidding ended, and during the intermission, the organizers took time to filter the submissions. Qiao Xin could hardly contain her triumph; the worse Qiao Yi looked, the happier she felt, even feeling an urge to burst into song. ¡°You knew all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lu Yanchuan came over, and Qiao Yi, pulling him aside, questioned him in a low voice. ¡°What do you think?¡± Lu Yanchuan neither confirmed nor denied, simply curving his lips faintly. Qiao Yi¡¯s heart turned to ice, and she began to think about how to change the situation. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Mr. Lu, but it seems this project will likely end up in the hands of the Qiao Family. I¡¯m really looking forward to another competitive opportunity with you next time.¡± Qiao Xin suddenly interjected between the two men, tilting her chin up as she looked at Lu Yanchuan, waiting for his praise. Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Xin, then at Qiao Yi, and suddenly asked, ¡°Was that proposal done by her?¡± The question was directed at Qiao Yi, but Qiao Xin grew even more smug. Not waiting for Qiao Yi to reply, she took the initiative to speak. ¡°Of course, my sister has never even been to the company. How could Dad possibly entrust her with such a task? Mr. Lu, just take a look at the proposal she worked on, it¡¯s utterly nonsensical!¡± Qiao Xin flaunted the proposal she had switched with Qiao Yi and handed it to Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan opened the document pouch, took a brief look at the proposal, and then looked at Qiao Yi with a somewhat strange expression. ¡°Is this one the work you did?¡± Qiao Yi nodded helplessly. She didn¡¯t even have the desire to call Qiao Xin stupid anymore. Lu Yanchuan meticulously read through that proposal once over and then put it into his briefcase, showing no intention of giving it back to Qiao Yi. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°What!¡± Qiao Xin screamed in disbelief, her smugness blending with astonishment to contort her face hideously. ¡°You actually say she did a good job on such a proposal! You! You!¡± ¡°There are still some flaws in this proposal. I¡¯ll help you fix them when we return.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even spare Qiao Xin a glance, and went back to his seat as soon as the host announced the end of the break. Qiao Xin was about to explode with rage! The proposal that dazzled everyone on stage was her work! Why did Lu Yanchuan only have eyes for the useless wretch Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi¡¯s expression had already returned to normal. Since she could no longer change the situation, all she could consider now was how to remedy it. There was no need for Qiao Yi to think about the remedial actions, she had already told Qiao Benqing everything, and it was now his matter to handle. Qiao Yi glanced at Qiao Xin again and heaved a deep sigh. The host began announcing the bidding results, and under the gaze of Qiao Yi, who was in utter despair, and an extremely nervous Qiao Xin, the Qiao Family unsurprisingly won the project. Each compliment, whether genuine or insincere, made Qiao Yi feel even more choked up. But she had to greet them with a smile, even pretending to be very honored, unable to let anyone see how sick to her stomach she really was! The bidding meeting ended smoothly, and there was a small-scale banquet the following evening, which was a celebration party. Qiao Xin was eager to try, while Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t even bring herself to think about it! ¡°You go to the celebration party. I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± ¡°Is it your body that¡¯s not feeling well, or is it your heart? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hide your credit from you, I will report it truthfully to Father!¡± Qiao Xin made a show of trying to grab Qiao Yi¡¯s hand but was impatiently shrugged off by her. Since it was a parking lot here with hardly anyone around, and the bidding meeting was over, there was no need to keep things from Qiao Xin anymore as per Qiao Benqing¡¯s instructions. Qiao Yi twisted her wrist, suddenly grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s collar, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear, ¡°I don¡¯t want to communicate with an idiot like you anymore. Dad said that the Qiao Family doesn¡¯t want this project. Now that you¡¯ve taken it upon yourself to grab this hot potato, prepare yourself to explain it to Dad!¡± After releasing the stunned Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi patted her cheek twice, turned around, and got into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Shameless Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Shameless Qiao Yi sat in the car with a cold expression on her face. Qiao Benqing had already replied to her. He was driven mad by Qiao Xin¡¯s unauthorized actions and told Qiao Yi to keep an eye on Qiao Xin and not to let slip a single word about the matter. Qiao Yi informed Qiao Benqing that Lu Yanchuan had long calculated that the Qiao Family would give up on this project. It took a while before Qiao Benqing replied, giving Qiao Yi the go-ahead to seek Lu Yanchuan¡¯s help. She originally thought this was just a simple development project, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to involve so many other issues. After suffering a headache for a while, Qiao Yi put the matter aside. After all, her dad was still bearing the burden in the company, so there was no way it would trouble her. Lu Yanchuan watched the changes in Qiao Yi¡¯s emotions and found it amusing. Such a significant matter was at hand, and yet this young lady seemed to be completely carefree. Qiao Yi leaned back and soon fell asleep, possibly because the weather was too hot, as she had been feeling sleepy recently. The car took a turn, and Qiao Yi, unable to keep her balance, fell onto Lu Yanchuan. Ma Yu¡¯s lips quivered as he was about to apologize, but in the rearview mirror, not only did his boss not seem unhappy, but there also seemed to be a hint of¡­ approval in his eyes? It must be his eyes playing tricks on him; his boss couldn¡¯t possibly be that kind of person¡­ Qiao Yi slept till they reached the hotel and groggily returned to her room, where she threw herself onto the bed and continued to sleep. It seemed like someone was making a phone call in her dream, which woke Qiao Yi up from her sleep. Rubbing her eyes, Qiao Yi climbed out of bed. It was already dark outside; she had slept for a very long time. As she regained her clarity, Qiao Yi realized it wasn¡¯t a phone call in her dream, but rather Lu Yanchuan making a call outside her door, which hadn¡¯t been properly closed, allowing her to overhear. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s call, but the content of his conversation made her change her mind, and she sat up on the bed to listen intently. ¡°Longjia can be ruled out. Contact Tengxin to see if they have any interest in meddling with this project.¡± ¡°I know that the project is with the Qiao Family. I¡¯ll communicate with the Qiao Family; you just need to focus on convincing the people from Tengxin. That will be enough.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it.¡± Longjia? Tengxin? Qiao Yi knew of these two companies; they were founded by a pair of brothers specializing in the real estate market. In just ten years, they had firmly established their footing in the industry. Although they couldn¡¯t compare to the longstanding groups like the Qiao and Lu Families, they were still well-known enterprises domestically. Was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s target these two companies this time? Lu Yanchuan hung up the call and heard the mutterings of Qiao Yi from inside the bedroom. The little woman didn¡¯t even know to keep her voice down; Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t know what to make of it. ¡°The CEOs of Longjia and Tengxin are biological brothers, and what very few people know is that these two brothers actually belong to Capital City¡¯s Sun Family.¡± Qiao Yi was stunned. When had Lu Yanchuan come in? He discovered her eavesdropping! Lu Yanchuan, seemingly oblivious to Qiao Yi¡¯s shock, turned on the light and found the bid document for Qiao Yi from his briefcase and handed it to her. ¡°Take a look, I¡¯ve made some modifications.¡± Qiao Yi dumbly received the bid document. The parts she hadn¡¯t noticed herself were all pointed out by Lu Yanchuan. If they went with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s proposed revisions, this bid document would be considered a perfect template for an intentional loss, making it seem like Qiao Family had given its all yet failed, which would be a pity. ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Dad want this project? I¡¯ve studied the project proposal and didn¡¯t find any problems.¡± This was the doubt that had been bothering Qiao Yi. Such a great project was rare in Tian City; why didn¡¯t the Qiao and Lu Families want it? ¡°Geology. The old seaport in Binhai District is not suitable for constructing a port. The geotechnical conditions within ten kilometers around it are too loose, failing to meet the requirements for building a seaport. To construct a port there, one must artificially change the geology, which would be like pouring money into a bottomless pit.¡± Now she understood, everything became clear. After the Lu Family¡¯s cargo ship capsized, Lu Yanchuan took it upon himself to investigate. Although it seemed that the incident was due to the aging of the port, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s line of inquiry was different, and eventually, he uncovered the hidden issue. Because the loose sandy layer was buried very deep, the government¡¯s exploration team did not detect this situation and proceeded with planning the tender directly. Lu Yanchuan could exploit this loophole to set a trap with the project. ¡°So you plan to use this project to drag the Sun Family down?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s frankness surprised Qiao Yi. Before she could ask further, she heard Lu Yanchuan continue. ¡°You can relay what I said verbatim to your father-in-law. The Qiao Family shouldn¡¯t get involved with the project. Look for an excuse to transfer it out as soon as possible. Once construction begins, it will be too late to transfer.¡± Qiao Yi nodded her head and quickly took out her phone to send a message to Qiao Benqing. It wasn¡¯t until after Qiao Yi put down her phone that it occurred to her: Why did Lu Yanchuan take the risk of the news leaking and ask her to pass the message to Qiao Benqing? Seeing the confusion on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, Lu Yanchuan spoke up proactively. ¡°I plan to collaborate with your father and take over the old seaport project.¡± ¡°But you said the project was a bottomless pit, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not about remaking it but changing the direction to develop a submarine tunnel.¡± Qiao Yi finally realized where the difference between herself and Lu Yanchuan lay¡ªit was his audacity! A good project was in question, and he intended to use it to deceive people, and then reclaim it afterward to work on another project! Without guessing, it was clear that once Lu Yanchuan¡¯s plan was completed, both the Lu and Qiao families would reap a windfall! ¡°This matter should be discussed with my dad, not me; it¡¯s useless to tell me. I don¡¯t handle company affairs.¡± Qiao Yi briefly became agitated then calmed down. Lu Yanchuan was surprised by Qiao Yi¡¯s composure and found himself somewhat admiring her. ¡°This cooperation will be credited to you, let¡¯s call it my dowry to you.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face flushed, she glared at Lu Yanchuan annoyedly, pushed past him, and walked out. The warmth on Qiao Yi¡¯s face lingered long after she left the room. The more she thought about Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, the hotter her cheeks felt. She had said it before; they were only a couple in name! Why does Lu Yanchuan always say these nonsensical things? Qiao Yi fled in panic, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s smile faded as he sat on the sofa, lost in thought for a moment before picking up his phone to make a call. ¡°Hello, Xiyu, it¡¯s me.¡± When Qiao Yi arrived at the restaurant and pushed the door to enter, she happened to run into Qiao Xin and Lu Ming, who had just finished dining. What bad timing! Qiao Yi wanted to pretend she didn¡¯t see them and walk past the two, but Qiao Xin was unlikely to just let her go. Suddenly stepping forward, she grabbed Qiao Yi¡¯s wrist and dragged her towards a more secluded area. ¡°Tell me! Was it intentional, what you did at today¡¯s bidding session?¡± Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Happiness is Dead Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Happiness is Dead Qiao Yi shook off her hand, but Qiao Xin¡¯s grip was too tight, she couldn¡¯t shake it off, and simply let her hold on. Hearing Qiao Xin¡¯s accusation, Qiao Yi just found it amusing. ¡°What do you mean I did it on purpose? Was it me who made you switch the proposals? Or was it me who made you steal the spotlight from me? At least use your brain when you speak, don¡¯t let people think the Qiao Family¡¯s young miss is an idiot!¡± ¡°You!¡± Qiao Xin raised her hand to slap Qiao Yi, but Qiao Yi lightly dodged it by turning her head. ¡°Getting furious and resorting to violence? Think about the gap between us before you act. I really don¡¯t understand why you always have to do such stupid things.¡± Taking advantage of Qiao Xin¡¯s extreme anger, Qiao Yi suddenly shook off her hand, retrieving her own wrist that was painfully pinched. This woman is really crazy, her wrist even turned blue from the pinch! ¡°How dare you say you didn¡¯t do it on purpose! If it hadn¡¯t been for your intentional concealing from me, not telling me Dad¡¯s real intentions, why would I have changed the proposal! If it wasn¡¯t for¡­¡± ¡°Stop! You¡¯re an adult, how can you be less reasonable than a child in speaking?¡± Qiao Yi directly interrupted Qiao Xin¡¯s accusation, impatiently pushed her aside, wanting to walk past her. ¡°Instead of bothering me, you might as well think about how to explain to Dad, I need to go to eat and have no time to be entangled with you.¡± ¡°Qiao Yi! I am your sister! Ah!¡± The savage look on Qiao Yi¡¯s face was unmistakable, and Qiao Xin¡¯s face was slapped so hard that one side of it swelled up in minutes, showing how much force Qiao Yi exerted. ¡°Qiao Xin, this is my last warning to you! Stop mentioning the word ¡®sister¡¯ in front of me, the sister I remember died the night you plotted against me! You should have known, the moment you acted, there was no sisterhood between us anymore!¡± It had been almost a month, and Qiao Yi never dared to think back to that night. She didn¡¯t know what she would have gone through if Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t shown up, she didn¡¯t dare to think about it, and had carefully avoided the topic this whole month. But today, Qiao Xin¡¯s pestering made Qiao Yi unable to hold back anymore, her whole body trembling, her eyes red with rage staring at Qiao Xin, her voice shrill from anger. ¡°When you drugged me, did you think about being my sister? When you brought a group of people to rape me, did you think about being my sister? I will never forgive you, never in my life!¡± Qiao Xin, her limbs cold, leaned against the glass window, not even having the courage to look directly at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi¡¯s icy gaze seemed to carry a murderous intent, harshly cutting into her flesh, making her whole body stiffen unable to move. ¡°I¡¯ve said all I could, cope with it yourself.¡± Qiao Yi dropped a sentence and turned around to leave. Not far, Lu Ming had been keeping an eye on the situation, and only when Qiao Yi left did he run over to help Qiao Xin up from the ground. ¡°Your face¡­? Did Qiao Yi hit you? But you are her sister, how could she do this to you!¡± Lu Ming felt indignant for Qiao Xin, but she impatiently pushed him away. ¡°This is between us, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Lu Ming looked displeased, but still clenched his teeth and followed Qiao Xin. ¡°I am concerned about you, after all, we¡¯re married, I can¡¯t just watch you being bullied.¡± ¡°Then I really thank you.¡± Qiao Xin said expressionlessly, speeding up her steps to walk ahead. Lu Ming wanted to catch up and say more, but suddenly his phone rang from his pocket. ¡°Ming, I will be back in the country in a month, do you miss me?¡± The handset emitted a delicate and naive voice, and Lu Ming¡¯s face immediately softened, his response gentle, ¡°Of course, I miss you the most. Take care of yourself overseas. I¡¯ll pick you up when you return.¡± Qiao Yi was so angered by Qiao Xin that she forgot about dinner until she reached her room door and remembered. However, she was too lazy to go downstairs for dinner and drank two canisters of chicken soup brought by Old Mr. Lu, cuddling with a pillow on the sofa in a daze. When Lu Yanchuan returned from outside, what he saw was a little dazed lump on the sofa. ¡°Eat less before bed, it¡¯s not good for your health.¡± Qiao Yi twitched her nose and her gaze landed on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, her eyes instantly lighting up. ¡°It¡¯s spicy hot pot!¡± The food box in his hand was snatched away, and Lu Yanchuan frowned as he looked at the messy, greasy things on the table, opening his mouth as if he wanted to stop Qiao Yi from eating these unhealthy foods. However, seeing Qiao Yi munching away like a little mouse, her cheeks bulging, made Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart melt, and he sat down silently across from her. Happiness is having a hot bowl of spicy hot pot when you¡¯re hungry at night! Qiao Yi was blissfully happy now, a big bowl of spicy hot pot had entered her stomach, making her lie on the sofa unable to move. After taking a shower, Lu Yanchuan came out to see Qiao Yi in such a disheveled state, hooked his lips in a smile, walked over to close the lid of the spicy hot pot box, and kicked Qiao Yi¡¯s legs lightly with his foot. ¡°Are you dead?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even open her eyes, just wiggled her little feet to show she¡¯s still alive. ¡°Go to the gym for a walk.¡± Qiao Yi opened her eyes slightly, tilting her head back to look up at Lu Yanchuan standing above her. The more time Qiao Yi spent with this man, the more she felt he was like an old cadre! Needing to drink hot water, sleep on time, meals must have balanced nutrition without snacks; hot pot like this probably never appeared in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s life! Although he was five, six, seven, eight years older than her, he was still not quite thirty years old, yet living like Old Mr. Lu! Qiao Yi closed her eyes pretending to sleep, while Lu Yanchuan quietly stood beside her for a while, then suddenly picked her up amidst her screams. ¡°You! You! Put me down!¡± Qiao Yi screamed and hit Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, but Lu Yanchuan seemed unfazed and carried her into the gym, propping her onto the treadmill. ¡°Walk for ten minutes, then go shower and sleep.¡± Qiao Yi was about to cry! ¡°I don¡¯t want you to control me! Why are you treating me like this!¡± Barefoot, Qiao Yi ran out, but in a twist, she was picked up by Lu Yanchuan and placed back on the treadmill, which he turned on for a slow walk. Unable to escape, Qiao Yi mournfully watched her feet on the treadmill, looking like mortal enemies. Glancing at Lu Yanchuan really admiring his patience, he watched her walk for ten minutes before letting her down from the treadmill! Lu Yanchuan then went to sleep, his daily routine so precise it made one¡¯s scalp tingle! If it were Qiao Yi, she probably couldn¡¯t stick to it for three days! Teary-eyed, Qiao Yi stood under the shower and pointed at the showerhead as she angrily cursed. ¡°Pervert!¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23: No Need to Go to the Office Anymore Chapter 23: Chapter 23: No Need to Go to the Office Anymore The Tian City bidding meeting ended, and after the celebration banquet, Qiao Yi and her group returned to Capital City. As soon as Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin landed, they were picked up by Qiao Benqing and taken back to the Qiao Family home. Lu Yanchuan did not object, saying he would come to pick up Qiao Yi in the evening before leaving, but Lu Ming wanted to go with Qiao Xin to the Qiao Family home, only to have his request rejected by Qiao Benqing with an excuse. Sitting in the back seat, Qiao Benqing had Qiao Xin sitting next to him, rigid all over. Qiao Yi, not wanting to sit with Qiao Xin, tossed the driver to the passenger seat and drove home herself. All the way, Qiao Benqing did not utter a word. In contrast, Qiao Yi asked a few questions about Zhao Wenjing and hence exchanged a few words with Qiao Benqing. Qiao Xin was extremely nervous, while Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have any psychological burden at all; she immediately took the gifts she brought back for Zhao Wenjing to find her upon getting out of the car. ¡°Come to the study with me.¡± Qiao Xin was about to leave too, but was called back by Qiao Benqing. Reluctantly, she shuffled her steps and followed him into the study. Zhao Wenjing looked a bit worriedly at Qiao Xin, but was dragged back to the room by Qiao Yi. ¡°Mom, look, this is the specialty from Tian City that I queued for a long time to buy! And I also bought you clothes and shoes, try them quickly!¡± Qiao Benqing entered the study and sat down behind the desk, waiting for Qiao Xin to come in and close the door. Suppressing his anger, he instructed her to sit beside him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the bidding meeting. Was it you who switched the bidding documents, helping the Qiao Family secure this project?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s heart thumped nervously, and she nodded, biting her lip. Qiao Benqing, who already knew the process, was just asking symbolically. Seeing Qiao Xin honestly admit it, some of his anger dissipated. ¡°This time, the fault is not entirely yours. However, why did you secretly switch the bidding documents that Yiyi prepared?¡± Qiao Benqing did not reveal his true thoughts to Qiao Xin; she could understand the reasons herself¡ªit was merely out of fear that she couldn¡¯t control her emotions and give the game away. This error was not entirely on Qiao Xin; both Qiao Benqing and Qiao Yi also bore some responsibility. However, no matter the reason, switching the bidding documents last minute is absolutely intolerable! ¡°I¡­ I reviewed Qiao Yi¡¯s bidding document and felt that it wouldn¡¯t win the project, so I switched it on my own.¡± There was nothing to deny now, the fact was right before her, and it was her who brought it up. There was no connection to Qiao Yi at all. Now that Qiao Benqing asked, her honest response might, at most, be criticized for trying to steal the limelight. If she dared to hide it or shirk the responsibility, then Qiao Benqing¡¯s fury would be more than she could bear! After hearing Qiao Xin¡¯s words, Qiao Benqing sighed, looking somewhat disappointed. ¡°You are impulsive and not steady. I thought placing you in a basic position for a few years could temper your personality, but it seems you haven¡¯t changed. Well, don¡¯t go to the company these few days, take a good rest for a while.¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care about going to the company or not; after all, she was a daughter of the Qiao Family. Even if she knew nothing, she still had a share in the family assets. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Qiao Benqing waved his hand, signaling Qiao Xin to leave and also asked her to call Qiao Yi in. Qiao Yi was trying on clothes with Zhao Wenjing, and hearing from Qiao Xin that Qiao Benqing was calling her, she quickly went to the study. Entering the study, she saw Qiao Benqing with his eyes closed, leaning on the chair in a very dejected manner. ¡°Dad¡­.¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Benqing worriedly. His mood was only low for a moment, and soon he regained composure, sitting straight up and looking at Qiao Yi. ¡°Yiyi, aren¡¯t you planning to join the company yet? With your sister like this, how can I be at ease in the future!¡± ¡°Dad, you are only in your forties this year, you still have decades ahead, and if things get worse, there is still your younger brother. Let him come back in a couple of years, and then you can teach him well.¡± Speaking of her younger brother, both Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Dad can still manage the company, but seeing your sister like this, it¡¯s inevitable to worry a bit more.¡± Having done something like changing the documents, Qiao Benqing had already dismissed any expectations for Qiao Xin in the company. But after all, she is his eldest daughter, and Qiao Benqing still hopes that she will get better. ¡°How about letting her join Lu Group? Maybe being in a different company might help her improve?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s suggestion tempted Qiao Benqing a bit, he thought for a while and then said, ¡°Let her stay at home for a while, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± After talking with Qiao Benqing for a while, Qiao Yi remembered what Lu Yanchuan had said, and mentioned the problematic project in Tian City to Qiao Benqing. ¡°Yanchuan said, we should act on this project sooner and it would be best to leave it to Longjia and Tengxin, these two companies.¡± Qiao Yi had mentioned it once over the phone before, but it was not clear, just enough for Qiao Benqing to take note of it. This time, Qiao Benqing perked up, carefully asked about Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughts. Upon knowing that Lu Yanchuan intended to share the profits with Qiao Family, the clouds that had been looming over Qiao Benqing¡¯s head these past few days finally cleared. ¡°Great, that¡¯s fantastic!¡± Qiao Benqing couldn¡¯t sit still, pacing around the study several times before calming down. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this, not even your mom and Xinxin, do you understand?¡± Qiao Yi nodded, seeing Qiao Benqing¡¯s reaction, he probably already knew some of it, just not as clearly as Yanchuan did. ¡°With Yanchuan cooperating with Qiao Family this time, it¡¯s all thanks to you, Yiyi. I notice you don¡¯t seem very enthusiastic about Yanchuan. No matter the reason for your marriage initially, now that you are husband and wife, you should get along well. If not loving, at least be respectful to each other.¡± Qiao Benqing spoke sincerely¡ªafter all, he and Zhao Wenjing also got together for a business marriage, and now after more than twenty years, they were still loving. Although Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t choose someone she liked, Qiao Benqing still hoped she could live a happier life within the limited choices. Qiao Yi felt a sourness in her nose, and gently hugged Qiao Benqing. ¡°I¡¯ll live well, Dad, no need to worry.¡± ¡°Have you two finished talking? Dinner is ready, come down quickly to eat.¡± Zhao Wenjing¡¯s voice sounded outside the study, and Qiao Yi walked downstairs arm in arm with Qiao Benqing. There was the sound of an engine outside the door, and just as Qiao Yi sat down at the dining table, she heard the aunt greeting Lu Yanchuan. ¡°How come you arrived so early?¡± ¡°I mentioned this afternoon that I would come pick you up to go home tonight.¡± Lu Yanchuan nonchalantly took a seat next to Qiao Yi, causing Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing to laugh together, prompting the aunt to add another set of chopsticks and bowl. Qiao Yi secretly rolled her eyes, thinking he came to freeload a meal, why make up so many excuses! Lu Yanchuan¡¯s unspoken bitterness. He was supposed to have dinner at the Lu Mansion tonight, but Old Mr. Lu, seeing only him returning without Qiao Yi, immediately sent him back out, not even allowing him to eat, stating that he didn¡¯t need to come back without bringing Qiao Yi. Literally gained a daughter-in-law and forgot his son! Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Ruffian Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Ruffian Qiao Yi was woken up by a series of phone calls, and as she sleepily opened her eyes to reach for the phone, an arm across her waist snapped her back to the bed. Huh? What¡¯s going on? Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t fully awake yet and had to use her not-so-sharp mind to figure out what was happening! She, she, she! When did she roll into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms! The owner of the arm around her waist was none other than Lu Yanchuan! Qiao Yi stiffened her neck as if her joints were rusted, slowly turning her head to see Lu Yanchuan, who was lying beside her and had seemingly opened his eyes at some point. ¡°You¡­I¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan squinted and slightly furrowed his brow, his arm tightened and pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Sleep well.¡± Sleep what sleep! Qiao Yi kicked her legs and struggled out of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace. Outside, the sky had already turned slightly white, and in a few hours, Lu Yanchuan would have to get up and go to work; now was the prime time to be sleeping soundly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lu Yanchuan sat up impatiently, and it was then that Qiao Yi noticed he wasn¡¯t wearing any clothes! He was only wearing a pair of shorts, and Qiao Yi subconsciously swallowed, then quickly turned away as if shocked by electricity. ¡°You! Why aren¡¯t you wearing clothes?¡± ¡°I am sleeping in my own bed.¡± Lu Yanchuan, now thoroughly woken up by Qiao Yi, looked at her and found the situation amusing, like a flustered rabbit. While Qiao Yi was turned away, he reached out and pulled her back into his arms again. ¡°You rolled into my arms and hugged me all night, and now you suddenly feel shy?¡± Qiao Yi really wanted to tear Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mouth apart! What is this man talking about! Saying she hugged him all night! It was clearly Lu Yanchuan who was holding her! Lu Yanchuan watched all the changes in Qiao Yi¡¯s expression, his eyes filled with laughter and even a warmth he didn¡¯t recognize. Since he was woken up by Qiao Yi¡¯s kicking at midnight, every night after Qiao Yi fell asleep, Lu Yanchuan would hold her in his arms. Initially, it was just to help her sleep more peacefully, but later he got used to it and would probably feel uncomfortable without this human pillow some nights. ¡°You hug me to sleep, don¡¯t you plan on taking responsibility?¡± Qiao Yi turned around abruptly, extremely surprised, staring at Lu Yanchuan, unable to believe he could say something so shameless! Lu Yanchuan remained unfazed, his gaze audaciously lingering on Qiao Yi¡¯s body. Following Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes landed on her slightly disheveled collar, and her face instantly flushed red! ¡°Like what you see?¡± Qiao Yi, clenching her back teeth, sinisterly squeezed out the words, expecting Lu Yanchuan to back off, but he instead looked her up even more brazenly, changing her position to get a better view. ¡°Not bad, maybe you should ask Auntie to make you more papaya milkshakes.¡± ¡­ Qiao Yi, holding her blanket, ran into the room next door. Lu Yanchuan is just a shameless rogue! Everyone out there says how ruthless, cunning, and vicious the Third Young Master Lu is, but all Qiao Yi has seen so far is his bad taste and rascality! Qiao Yi fiercely pounded the blanket as if the lump underneath her was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Ding ding ding¡ª¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s phone rang again, this time from the doorway. ¡°Your phone.¡± Qiao Yi leapt up, snatched the phone from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, and slammed the door shut with a bang. Outside, Lu Yanchuan touched his nose, wondering if he had teased her a little too harshly. ¡°My darling, why did it take you so long to answer my call? Don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± When Qiao Yi got back to bed, the call had already disconnected, and despite her chagrin, she couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly when she saw the missed call notification. She dialed back, and the call was picked up after just one ring. Qiao Yi held the phone away from her ear to avoid Feng Siyu¡¯s piercing scream. Once Feng Siyu finally calmed down, Qiao Yi brought the phone back. ¡°My darling, you really don¡¯t love me anymore after getting married, I¡¯m so heartbroken!¡± ¡°Stop it, you know exactly what kind of marriage I¡¯m in; get to the point, I need to sleep.¡± Qiao Yi ruthlessly cut off Feng Siyu¡¯s wailing, who muttered a bit before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m coming back to the country. I will arrive tomorrow at eleven in the noon. Remember to pick me up!¡± Qiao Yi sat up straight in surprise and asked, ¡°You¡¯re coming back? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± ¡°You know, the training base I went to was fully enclosed. I only got released this afternoon. As soon as I was free, I heard you¡¯d gotten married. I tried calling you, but you didn¡¯t answer!¡± Feng Siyu started a lengthy rant, but Qiao Yi felt warmed by his words. ¡°Alright, alright, go to sleep. As long as you¡¯re fine and still up for bickering with me, I can rest easy. To think I still wanted to comfort you.¡± Feng Siyu grunted a few times and decisively ended the call. Qiao Yi was genuinely happy; she and Feng Siyu had been classmates since elementary school, the Qiao Family and the Feng Family were good friends, just not as intimately involved as with the Lu Family. They had played together since childhood, and Qiao Yi¡¯s affection for him was even deeper than for her own sister Qiao Xin. This time Feng Siyu had gone abroad to participate in a program, only to find out it was a closed training camp, and he had only just been released. He had missed her wedding entirely over these three months. But for a marriage of convenience like hers, his attendance hardly mattered. Qiao Yi laid back onto the bed, and somehow Lu Yanchuan¡¯s smirking face popped into her mind. High attractiveness certainly had its perks; if it were anyone else making that expression, it would definitely be creepy. Qiao Yi buried her head in the blanket, her mind a cluttered mess, and somehow, she drifted back off to sleep, bottom up. After Qiao Yi fell asleep again, the door to her room silently opened. Lu Yanchuan walked in, saw the figure on the bed, and with a curl of his lips, picked her up and returned to his own room. In the morning, Qiao Yi was jolted awake by her alarm, and as she rubbed her eyes sitting up in bed, she realized she was inexplicably back in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room. Could she be sleepwalking? Unable to figure it out, she shook off the confusion. Glancing at the time and seeing it was running short, Qiao Yi hurriedly got ready, grabbed her keys, and dashed out. She rushed to catch her flight and managed to arrive at the airport just before the agreed time. As soon as Qiao Yi got out of the car, she heard a voice excitedly calling her from not too far. ¡°Qiao Qiao! Darling, I¡¯m over here!¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Everyone Else is a Light Bulb Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Everyone Else is a Light Bulb Not far away, a woman in a red long dress, her face tightly wrapped in a mask and sunglasses, was frantically waving at her. And a tall man beside her was pulling her suitcase, seeing Feng Siyu almost jumping up, he quickly pulled her and hurried towards Qiao Yi. ¡°Yuanyuan baby! I¡¯ve missed you so much¡­¡± ¡°Get in the car first, let¡¯s go quickly!¡± The tall man snatched the car keys from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, stuffed the two hugging women into the back seat together, and then drove off from the airport quickly. ¡°Who would have thought, just three months apart and little Tingting has grown more capable, she even knows how to touch me all over now!¡± The man is Feng Siyu¡¯s agent and fianc¨¦, driving with a straight face, completely ignoring Qiao Yi¡¯s dissatisfaction in the back seat. Feng Siyu covered her mouth and laughed heartily, Qiao Yi looked at her and pounced to tangle together with her. It wasn¡¯t until the two had enough fun that they embraced each other like conjoined twins and sprawled together on the back seat. ¡°How long can you stay this time?¡± ¡°About a month of vacation or so, you have no idea, I was so tired this time¡­¡± Qiao Yi hugged Feng Siyu with sympathy, kissing her cheek and comforting her quietly, which made Gu Ting, the driver in front, frustrated. After so many years, whenever these two got together, they made everyone feel like they were the couple and everyone else was a third wheel. Go to ????????????????????.co Qiao Yi teased Gu Ting with a glance and poked Feng Siyu with her finger. ¡°This won¡¯t do, you haven¡¯t trained her well!¡± Feng Siyu boldly told her to look, not at all embarrassed by the teasing. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you to train your Mr. Lu well and then bring him to me to see!¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and lay down on Feng Siyu¡¯s bouncy thigh. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about him; I¡¯m afraid before I can train him well, I¡¯ll be the one dying by his hands.¡± Feng Siyu bent down to come closer, and Qiao Yi quickly put up her hand to block, but Feng Siyu slapped away her little paw. ¡°I¡¯m asking you something important, does Mr. Lu treat you well? I heard he¡¯s very formidable, known as the Great White Shark in the business world!¡± Feng Siyu was somewhat worried about Qiao Yi, as the rumors about Lu Yanchuan were not so kind. Qiao Yi, with her eyes closed, seemed lost in thought and did not answer Feng Siyu. Feng Siyu thought Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t treating her well, quickly helping Qiao Yi to sit up. ¡°Qiao Qiao, if you¡¯ve suffered any grievances, you must tell me!¡± Qiao Yi felt a slight warmth in her heart, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lu Yanchuan treats me quite well, not quite like the rumors say.¡± Feng Siyu wanted to make sure numerous times that Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t lying to her, and then she could relax. ¡°As long as you feel it¡¯s okay, that¡¯s fine. If he dares to bully you, I definitely won¡¯t let him off!¡± ¡°You better worry about yourself first. There¡¯s a charity event tonight that you need to attend, and you have four hours to eat, sleep, and get over jet lag.¡± Feng Siyu let out a tragic cry and collapsed on Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder, pretending to be dead. Qiao Yi was about to tease her when her own phone rang. She took out her phone to look, and it was a call from Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Where are you now?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there something you need?¡± The tone of Lu Yanchuan on the other end of the phone was as annoying as ever, Qiao Yi wrinkled her nose and asked back irritably. ¡°` ¡°There¡¯s a charity gala tonight, where are you now? I¡¯ll come pick you up.¡± Qiao Yi instinctively glanced at Feng Siyu¡ªshe had just mentioned attending the charity gala, and now Lu Yanchuan was calling about the same event. What a coincidence? As soon as Lu Yanchuan got Qiao Yi¡¯s location, he hung up the phone, then turned around just to see Feng Siyu looking at Qiao Yi with a peculiar expression, while quietly making strange noises. ¡°What are you making noises for!¡± ¡°Alas, a young woman¡¯s heart is so difficult to keep¡ªyour husband calls once, and you¡¯re ready to ditch your precious treasure!¡± Feng Siyu teased her until she blushed, provoking Qiao Yi to pinch her several times before letting her go. The car stopped at the Feng Family¡¯s villa. It wasn¡¯t too far from the Qiao Family¡¯s house. Qiao Yi had simply told Lu Yanchuan she was at home and asked him to pick her up there. ¡°You go back and get some rest. I¡¯ll probably also attend the charity gala tonight, so I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Feng Siyu and Qiao Yi reluctantly parted ways under Gu Ting¡¯s ruthless intervention. Qiao Yi drove back to the Qiao Family to wait for Lu Yanchuan to pick her up. ¡°Why are you back at this time? Have you eaten yet?¡± Zhao Wenjing was about to leave the house and was surprised to see Qiao Yi returning. ¡°Yuanyuan came back, so I just had dinner with her. Yanchuan will come to pick me up later.¡± There is nowhere more comfortable than being at home! Qiao Yi slumped on the couch and shook her feet at Zhao Wenjing as a response to her question. Zhao Wenjing tapped Qiao Yi on the forehead and then left with her bag; her girlfriends were still waiting for her. Qiao Yi, who had collapsed on the couch, fell asleep shortly after, and by the time she woke up, she was already lying in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi sat up suddenly, but bumped her forehead against the car¡¯s roof and fell back into the seat. Lu Yanchuan suppressed his laughter, waiting for her to recover a bit before speaking. ¡°I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn¡¯t wake you up. I was planning to wake you when we arrived.¡± Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan through the rearview mirror resentfully. Just because she was sleeping soundly didn¡¯t mean he had to take her out! It took Qiao Yi a while to overcome the pain, and her forehead was now quite red¡ªa clear sign of just how hard she had hit it. Shortly after, the car stopped in front of a private club. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan got out, only then did she realize that this club was actually owned by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sister. Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze fell on the parking space next to them, and her expression changed subtly. ¡°I¡¯ve selected the evening gown you¡¯ll need for tonight.¡± Lu Yanchuan explained, and Qiao Yi didn¡¯t really mind, except that she saw Lu Ming¡¯s car parked there. Was Lu Ming here? Or had he come with Qiao Xin? Qiao Yi really didn¡¯t want to see Qiao Xin, but now that she was here, she didn¡¯t want to be the one backing out. Lu Yanchuan could swipe his face for entry at the club, bringing Qiao Yi directly to the top-floor office. Qiao Yi had met Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sister before, who was actually his cousin¡ªthe daughter of Old Mr. Lu¡¯s elder brother. When Old Mr. Lu was young, he had been married for several years without having children, so he adopted his brother¡¯s one-month-old daughter as his own. Less than a year after the girl joined their family, Old Madam Lu became pregnant with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eldest brother. After that, they had three more sons, which made Old Mr. Lu very fond of his nominal daughter and actual niece. As soon as the elevator opened, Qiao Yi heard a gentle voice tinged with laughter. ¡°You little rascal, if I hadn¡¯t called you to come over today, you probably wouldn¡¯t have planned to visit, right?¡± ¡°` Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Lu Yanchuans Eldest Sister Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Lu Yanchuan¡¯s Eldest Sister Stepping out of the elevator, this entire floor was Lu Xiaohua¡¯s office, and Lu Xiaohua was sitting right behind the desk facing the elevator. Without even turning around, Lu Xiaohua knew Lu Yanchuan was coming, which greatly surprised Qiao Yi. Could Lu Xiaohua predict the future? ¡°This level is mostly just me and two assistants. Only Yanchuan usually comes up here, you can also come by often when you¡¯re free.¡± Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s confusion, Lu Xiaohua explained while pouring water for the two of them. ¡°Is this Qiao Yi? You¡¯re really beautiful! My place is a bit messy, just find somewhere to sit, I¡¯ll be done here soon.¡± Lu Xiaohua glanced over, hurriedly gestured for them to sit, and then turned back to continue working on the mannequin¡­ with scraps of fabric on it. Qiao Yi curiously looked around, the office space was large but stuffed full, and the areas on both sides were exhibition rooms enclosed by glass, displaying various bizarre clothes. After waiting a while, Lu Xiaohua finally finished with the piece of clothing she was handling and stood up stretching mightily. Only then did Qiao Yi see what Lu Xiaohua was working on ¨C a Gothic Lolita costume, though it looked a bit odd with only half of it dressed on the mannequin. ¡°Big sister, I brought Yiyi here for tonight¡¯s charity gala, hoping you could help pick out a couple of dresses.¡± Lu Yanchuan stood up and followed Lu Xiaohua into the only room that was not made of glass walls, with Qiao Yi following closely behind. The three entered the room, which looked more like a sitting room, albeit there was also a bed placed to the side. ¡°What kind of gown does Yiyi like? I¡¯ll show you some downstairs.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co The three sat for a while before Lu Xiaohua led them down the stairs from there. If Lu Xiaohua¡¯s office had just surprised Qiao Yi, this floor left her speechless. The entire floor, aside from a few load-bearing walls, was completely open, divided into about a dozen workshops with glass partitions, with several people actively working inside and out. ¡°Qiao Deng, bring over the designs of the new gowns from this quarter.¡± Lu Xiaohua walked to one of the glass doors and called inside; a bearded man looked up, responded, and quickly fetched a few design books for Lu Xiaohua. ¡°Take a look, see if there¡¯s anything you like.¡± Holding four or five heavy books, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Lu Yanchuan, but then heard Lu Xiaohua laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t look at him. He¡¯s the last one who likes to pick clothes; I have to personally choose and send them to him. He¡¯s quite fussy.¡± Lu Xiaohua took Qiao Yi to a bench nearby and started flipping through the top book, explaining the features of each gown and some tips for regular dressing. Soon, the two were enthusiastically discussing. Lu Yanchuan deeply realized he shouldn¡¯t have brought Qiao Yi here today, or rather, he should never have let Qiao Yi meet Lu Xiaohua in the first place. Who could tell him why these two could discuss the color of just one dress for ten minutes and even ask for his opinion? Lu Yanchuan would rather go back to work on his documents than stay and be tormented by two women. When Qiao Yi and Lu Xiaohua were both completely satisfied, Lu Yanchuan was sitting nearby having just finished a telephone conference. ¡°Ready to go?¡± ¡°Not yet, big sister is taking me to do makeup and try on clothes, you go ahead if you¡¯ve got things to do, big sister will take me later.¡± With big sister, who needs a husband? Qiao Yi decisively abandoned Lu Yanchuan, led by Lu Xiaohua to the dressing rooms downstairs. So it¡¯s said that enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths. Qiao Yi, chatting and laughing with Lu Xiaohua, stepped out of the elevator, and right there in front of them were Qiao Xin, Lu Ming, and Wang Zhen. ¡°Why are there so many people today? You don¡¯t even see this many people when we go to dad¡¯s place to eat.¡± Wang Zhen really looks down on these two daughters of the Qiao Family. Originally, it was already settled that Qiao Yi was to marry Lu Ming due to the union between the two families. But what Qiao Yi did before the wedding, and then marrying Yanchuan, whom she had always disliked, on the wedding day itself, dramatically dropped Wang Zhen¡¯s impression of her. Wang Zhen thought that it was all settled once Qiao Yi married Yanchuan, but unexpectedly, Lu Ming then went on to marry Qiao Yi¡¯s sister! Now, both sisters had ended up marrying uncle and nephew, and she had heard plenty of gossip about it lately! Because of these matters, Wang Zhen disdained Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin even more, and today, when she went out to pick clothes with Qiao Xin, did not show her any kindness. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Ming continuously mediating, she would have not tolerated Qiao Xin long ago! But just Qiao Xin alone wasn¡¯t enough, now Qiao Yi also appeared, both sisters coming together to disgust her! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know where Wang Zhen¡¯s malice towards her stemmed from, but she did not want to cause trouble at Lu Xiaohua¡¯s place, so she followed Lu Xiaohua, ignoring Wang Zhen¡¯s snide remarks. She did not want to cause trouble, but that did not mean Wang Zhen was willing to let her go, stepping sideways to block Qiao Yi¡¯s path. Qiao Yi looked at Wang Zhen in front of her, frowning with impatience. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I just want to know what kind of family education does Qiao Family have, where one after another insists on clinging onto others?¡± ¡°Little Sister-in-law, this is my studio. If you want to choose clothes, go downstairs; if not, then please leave quickly.¡± Lu Xiaohua pulled Qiao Yi behind her, looking at Wang Zhen expressionlessly. Qiao Yi glanced quietly and felt that Lu Xiaohua¡¯s stern face looked exactly like Yanchuan. Wang Zhen never expected that the usually non-confrontational Lu Xiaohua would stand up for a newly married sister-in-law, which did not fit her usual style at all! Lu Xiaohua ignored whatever Wang Zhen was thinking, seeing that she did not respond, then led Qiao Yi around her. But before they could get away, they were stopped by someone else. ¡°Aunt, hello, I am Lu Ming¡¯s wife, Qiao Xin. Are you going to try on clothes? Could you please take me with you?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s smile was proper, warm but not overly ingratiating. However, Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t seem to like her much, looking back at Qiao Yi and seeing that Qiao Yi had no reaction, she then nodded. ¡°Follow if you want to.¡± Qiao Xin smiled gently and came over to link arms with Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡¯re also attending the Capital City charity gala tonight, right? We could go together.¡± So that was her plan! Qiao Yi finally understood Qiao Xin¡¯s intention; she just wanted to cling to her to get close to Yanchuan! But was Yanchuan someone she could approach just because she wanted to? Qiao Yi gripped Qiao Xin¡¯s hand in return, also looking very happy. ¡°Sure, we can share Yanchuan¡¯s car tonight!¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 This Outfit Looks Bad Chapter 27: Chapter 27 This Outfit Looks Bad Lu Xiaohua looked at Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin with suspicion, as they appeared very close and intimate. She had heard before that their relationship wasn¡¯t that good, and now they suddenly seemed like loving sisters. Qiao Yi noticed Lu Xiaohua looking at her and made a face at Lu Xiaohua, who instantly got the hint. This guy must be up to no good, probably just waiting for a chance to prank Qiao Xin. One¡¯s her younger sibling, the other her niece by marriage, Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment to take Qiao Yi¡¯s side and took her to try on the evening gowns. Three women make a drama; four women can destroy the world. What was supposed to be a simple dress fitting turned into an open yet covert struggle once Wang Zhen joined, leaving Lu Ming, who accompanied them, utterly confused. To say they got along well was an understatement, as every word and sentence was charged with tension. To say they couldn¡¯t bear each other also didn¡¯t fit, as they still managed to sit together and discuss clothes. The world of women is indeed incomprehensible. As dusk approached, the women finally left the dressing room, satisfied with their hearts. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up; the banquet is about to start.¡± The biggest difference between men and women lies here. Qiao Yi spent the whole afternoon trying on gowns, doing her makeup, and styling her hair until she was all set. Meanwhile, Lu Yanchuan just changed into a simple outfit and was ready to go. He even scrutinized Qiao Yi¡¯s carefully chosen pink, tight-fitting, long dress with a critical eye, as if to say she spent all afternoon for just this? Go to ????????????????????.co Qiao Yi felt the implication behind Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze and got furious. Suppressing her anger, Qiao Yi deliberately sashayed up to Lu Yanchuan with a snake-like twist of her waist, stretched an arm to rest on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, leaning in as if to snuggle into his embrace. ¡°Yanchuan~ Does my dress look good?¡± Even Lu Xiaohua felt a shiver hearing that voice, curious whether her brother, who had always been immune to women since childhood, could resist such an approach. Lu Yanchuan did not disappoint Lu Xiaohua¡¯s expectations, successfully resisting Qiao Yi¡¯s charm, and even discontentedly pulled up the fabric at the chest of Qiao Yi¡¯s dress. ¡°Dressed in such little clothing, not afraid of catching a cold?¡± Qiao Yi nearly spat blood; all this time Lu Yanchuan was looking at how little clothes she wore! Qiao Yi was infuriated, utterly dead with frustration! Insiders are often confused, while onlookers see the game clearly. Lu Xiaohua stood by with disbelief in her eyes. She knew Lu Yanchuan all too well. This man lacked any sense of concern for strangers! Let alone strangers, even amongst the Lu Family aside from Old Mr. Lu and Old Madam Lu, she was probably the only one who could have a proper conversation with Lu Yanchuan. The rest were like mice in front of a cat. And now he¡¯s concerned about her catching a cold? Lu Xiaohua could guarantee that if it were any woman other than Qiao Yi standing in front of Lu Yanchuan, even if that woman stripped naked, he probably wouldn¡¯t spare her a glance! However, saying she might catch a cold was a bit insincere. Although it wasn¡¯t the peak of summer yet, wearing an evening dress definitely wouldn¡¯t cause one to feel cold. Suddenly, Lu Xiaohua thought of something, noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s perfect figure outlined by the evening dress, then looked at her brother¡¯s gloomy face, and a sly aunt-like smile appeared on her face. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, are you deliberately picking a fight?¡± The bandeau dress was almost pulled up to the collarbone by Lu Yanchuan! Qiao Yi smacked away Lu Yanchuan¡¯s paws angrily, pulling her neckline back to where it was supposed to be. Lu Yanchuan furrowed his brows at the sight. ¡°This dress looks ugly, go change it.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t change it! If I think this dress looks good, then it looks good; it¡¯s none of your business!¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes, but the next moment her vision suddenly went dark. It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Yi struggled out of the clothes pulled down over her head that she realized Lu Yanchuan had taken off his coat to drape it over her. ¡°What on earth are you doing, Lu Yanchuan!¡± Qiao Yi got angry; not only did Lu Yanchuan never say anything nice, but he now even dared to grope around. Did he really think she was such a pushover that she wouldn¡¯t get mad! Lu Xiaohua, seeing Qiao Yi seemed really annoyed by Lu Yanchuan, was about to try and mediate, only to see Lu Yanchuan calmly and deliberately helping Qiao Yi put on the coat and even took the trouble to fasten the buttons for her. ¡°This piece of clothing looks unattractive; don¡¯t wear it again.¡± ¡°If you like it, just wear it at home; not outside.¡± Qiao Yi looked at her dress, now securely covered, and then at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s relaxed face, seeming to understand something. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Sister, why are you so slow? Didn¡¯t we agree to go to the venue together? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s voice interrupted what Qiao Yi was about to say. Qiao Yi looked towards the elevator, displeased, only to see Qiao Xin swaying her hips as she walked over. She was no longer wearing the gown she had initially chosen, but a nearly translucent dress which, under the flickering lights, made it crystal clear what kind of underwear she was wearing. Instinctively, Qiao Yi went to block Lu Yanchuan¡¯s line of sight, but before she could act, Lu Yanchuan had already turned away. ¡°Ah, brother-in-law is here too. Earlier Yiyi said that she wanted to ride with you to the banquet. I think it¡¯s about time; shall we go?¡± Qiao Xin seemed not to notice that Lu Yanchuan had turned away, bypassing Qiao Yi and walking straight to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side intending to link arms with him. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t expect her to remember that matter; wasn¡¯t it enough that she made a scene the whole afternoon? Now she¡¯s wearing such a revealing outfit in front of Yanchuan, has she no shame! ¡°It is indeed time to go; Yanchuan, let¡¯s go.¡± Qiao Yi stepped ahead and took Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm first, and Lu Yanchuan followed her, standing beside her without glancing aside, heading out together. Qiao Xin stamped her feet, ignoring Lu Xiaohua still there and immediately chased after them. ¡°Sister, you walk so fast; wait for me¡­ouch!¡± Qiao Xin hastened her steps, almost catching up to Lu Yanchuan, when her eyes rolled and she leaned onto him. ¡°Sister, how could you be so careless? If you had fallen, that would have been bad.¡± Qiao Xin opened her eyes, only to meet Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, which were filled with mirth. It was Qiao Yi who had caught her! And Lu Yanchuan had already moved several steps away! The smile on Qiao Xin¡¯s face was terribly ugly; Qiao Yi looked at her with unrestrained eyes, almost setting her ablaze! Qiao Yi sneered inwardly, after all, she was the eldest daughter who had been painstakingly raised by her father for over twenty years; how did it come to be that she was just a fool who only knew how to seduce men! ¡°Sister, if your clothes or shoes are uncomfortable, you should go change them quickly. It¡¯s still okay to fall down here at big sister¡¯s place, but if you fall like that at the banquet, that would be interesting.¡± Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Kissing My Own Husband Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Kissing My Own Husband Qiao Yi pushed Qiao Xin away, walked over, and delicately latched onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, joining Lu Xiaohua in the elevator. Qiao Xin stood there, nearly gritting her teeth to dust! Qiao Xin was too audacious! If it wasn¡¯t for her, it would be Qiao Xin, not Qiao Yi, being sheltered in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace! Just after being cursed by Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi parted ways with Lu Xiaohua, but she quickly stepped aside from Lu Yanchuan, though she didn¡¯t take off his coat to return it to him. They reached the parking lot one after another, and suddenly urgent footsteps followed from behind. Qiao Yi turned around only to find that it was Qiao Xin who had caught up again. Looks like she¡¯s dead set on bothering her today! Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan, who still maintained his stoic, expressionless demeanor, not sparing a glance toward Qiao Xin. As the three reached the side of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car, Qiao Xin forcefully squeezed past Qiao Yi and seated herself in the passenger seat, beaming through the window at Lu Yanchuan. Those eyes were dripping with affection, making Qiao Yi want to punch her right in the eye. Using such a gaze on someone else¡¯s husband, does Qiao Xin have no shame left at all! Qiao Yi just stood her ground watching Lu Yanchuan, waiting to see what he would do. Lu Yanchuan walked towards the driver-side door, but upon seeing Qiao Xin seated in the passenger seat, he changed direction, instead opening and seated himself in the rear passenger-side seat. Qiao Yi almost laughed out loud, seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s expression turn ugly in an instant, finding it immensely satisfying. Go to ????????????????????.co But¡­ with Lu Yanchuan hiding in the back seat, was he really going to make her drive in her eight-centimeter high heels? Just as Qiao Yi was hesitating, the window on the rear seat slowly rolled down, and Lu Yanchuan looked towards her impatiently. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you getting in?¡± Qiao Yi looked towards the driver¡¯s seat and then at Lu Yanchuan in the back, considering whether to voice her concerns. However, Lu Yanchuan seemingly read her thoughts and, without explaining anything, rolled up the window again. Qiao Yi thought that Lu Yanchuan really was going to let her drive, she pouted and walked to the driver¡¯s seat to pull open the door. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gotten in? You plan to drive wearing high heels?¡± Qiao Yi was stunned, and once again, footsteps echoed through the empty parking lot. ¡°Third Madam, please get in the car. I¡¯ll take Third Young Master and madam to the venue.¡± Turns out Lu Yanchuan had arranged for someone, and he hadn¡¯t even informed her, leaving her confused. Qiao Yi got into the car and sat next to Lu Yanchuan. In the rearview mirror, she could see Qiao Xin¡¯s displeased face constantly watching her and Lu Yanchuan. Let her watch; it¡¯s not like she¡¯s losing a piece of flesh by doing so! ¡°Yanchuan, I saw a beautiful bag yesterday, can you go shopping with me tomorrow?¡± Lu Yanchuan was wrapped up thinking about work matters when suddenly a warm body leaned against his arm followed by Qiao Yi¡¯s soft coquettish voice. In the rearview mirror, Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes turned fierce and furious, glaring at Qiao Yi, as if she wished she was the one cuddling next to Lu Yanchuan and acting spoiled! Lu Yanchuan was about to respond when he felt a small hand press against his ribs, poking his waist forcefully. With a blissfully cute expression, Qiao Yi¡¯s actions were far from cute¡ªrather, they were filled with threatening implications. ¡°How about it, Yanchuan~¡± That call nearly numbed half of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body, particularly the arm that Qiao Yi was holding, pressed against her, making him almost not want to pull away. So it¡¯s true that once you¡¯ve had a taste, you can¡¯t forget it. After years of abstinence, has he really become so susceptible to temptation? ¡°Fine.¡± Seeing that Qiao Yi was about to continue, Lu Yanchuan hurriedly replied. There¡¯s still Lu Xiaohua¡¯s driver in the car! He didn¡¯t want other people to hear Qiao Yi¡¯s voice. Lu Yanchuan regarded this as a possessiveness towards his wife, but of course, only he himself knew his true thoughts. Qiao Xin was almost driven mad by the two behind her. She never knew that Qiao Yi could be so manipulative¡ªasking Lu Yanchuan to fetch her water, complaining of shoulder pain and having Lu Yanchuan massage her. There was never a moment of peace! What made her even angrier was that Lu Yanchuan was actually willing to comply with her, doing whatever she asked him to do, making Qiao Xin want to tear Qiao Yi¡¯s face off! It was all because of her pretty face; if it wasn¡¯t for that, Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t even give her a second glance! Qiao Xin cursed Qiao Yi with the most venomous words in her heart, and eventually, she simply closed her eyes to avoid the infuriating scenes. Qiao Yi was closely watching Qiao Xin¡¯s actions, and seeing her face turn livid with anger, she silently laughed. ¡°My fee isn¡¯t cheap, are you prepared to pay for it?¡± Just as Qiao Yi was feeling smug, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice suddenly sounded very low next to her ear. The warmth close to her ear made Qiao Yi¡¯s body suddenly stiffen, and as she abruptly turned her head, she faced Lu Yanchuan. Their soft lips brushed against each other, and Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes widened, shocked and forgetting to pull away. Lu Yanchuan noticed her round eyes and for the first time discovered that her pupils were not pure black, but had a hint of grey-blue, which could only be seen from a very close distance. Qiao Xin, choosing neither earlier nor later, thought that Qiao Yi had finally calmed down when there was no more commotion behind, and so she opened her eyes to see what the two were doing. But who could have expected that the moment she opened her eyes, she saw the two kissing! ¡°What are you doing!¡± Qiao Xin erupted in a scream, startling the driver who was seriously driving without looking aside, almost causing him to drive onto the curb. Qiao Yi snapped back to reality, feeling as if she had been caught red-handed and was about to retreat, but Lu Yanchuan had already held the back of her head, giving her lips a firm peck before letting her go. ¡°Next time you want something, just tell me directly.¡± Him! Does he have no shame! Qiao Xin felt like she was about to explode, glaring furiously at Qiao Yi, as if a wife who had just seen her husband entangled with a mistress in front of her, shocked and heartbroken. Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t care less about Qiao Xin at this point. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Yi agreeing to leave with her today, Lu Yanchuan would have sent her away long ago. Qiao Yi stared blankly at the hint of red on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lips, hesitating whether or not to wipe it off for him. Qiao Xin was outrageously angry, not just the driver, but the two in the back also ignoring her! This is too much! ¡°Are you two going too far!¡± ¡°Sister, my legally wedded husband and I are kissing in our own car, do we still need your permission?¡± The word ¡°kiss¡± was spoken by Qiao Yi with extreme ambiguity, and she even licked her lips as if she was still longing for more. Lu Yanchuan was right beside her, seriously considering whether he should often engage in such activities with Qiao Yi. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Yun Luoluo Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Yun Luoluo Qiao Xin was provoked by the words ¡°lawful husband¡± and pointed at Qiao Yi, unable to utter a word. ¡°Big sister, you should sit tight. When we get off the elevated road, if you¡¯re not stable, don¡¯t topple over onto me!¡± Qiao Xin was so infuriated she couldn¡¯t respond, and just as she was about to curse, the car jolted, and her seatbelt pulled her back onto the seat, slamming her heavily into it. ¡°See, I told you to sit properly, sister. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Qiao Yi appeased Qiao Xin with good intentions, but the more she spoke, the angrier Qiao Xin got, wishing she would just shut up forever! Lu Ming saw the displeased expression on Qiao Xin¡¯s face when she got out of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car, especially when he saw that Lu Yanchuan was also in the car and Qiao Xin was wearing such a gown, it made his blood rush to his head. Luckily, Qiao Yi followed right after, getting out of the car, which eased his mind a bit. However, he still couldn¡¯t hide his mockery as he approached them, and pulled Qiao Xin behind him with a swift hand. ¡°While the young uncle is still on his honeymoon and has the energy, he should really spend it with his newly-wed wife, and not always set his sights on someone else¡¯s wife!¡± Qiao Xin really disliked hearing Lu Ming say that; she wished Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention was on her, hoping that Qiao Yi and Lu Ming would get back together soon! Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even spare Lu Ming a glance, as if there was just a gust of air beside him, waiting until Qiao Yi had straightened her dress before heading to the venue together. Qiao Xin wanted to catch up and walk with Lu Yanchuan, but her arm was tightly held by Lu Ming, forcing her to restrain herself. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your current situation! I don¡¯t care what you do in the old house, but if you cause trouble outside, I¡¯ll move out of the old house when we get back, and you¡¯ll never get to live there in this lifetime!¡± Go to ????????????????????.co Lu Ming accurately targeted Qiao Xin¡¯s weak spot ¨C Lu Yanchuan. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Qiao Xin immediately subdued, though still reluctantly, she no longer clung to Lu Yanchuan or Qiao Yi like before. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Xin¡¯s dress and frowned again. ¡°At such an important gala, how could you wear something like this! Do you intend to disgrace yourself?¡± Qiao Xin bit her lip without revealing why she didn¡¯t change her dress, and she and Lu Ming locked in a stare-off, until finally Lu Ming couldn¡¯t outlast her and had to take off his jacket and put it on her. Today¡¯s charity gala was officially organized by the Capital City, and all proceeds from the auctioned items would be donated to charity projects. In the afternoon, Qiao Yi asked Lu Yanchuan if there was anything special to be aware of at the charity gala, to which Lu Yanchuan simply replied with two words, ¡°Anything goes!¡± What does ¡°Anything goes¡± mean! Can you really be casual at such an official event! Qiao Yi, arm-in-arm with Lu Yanchuan, entered the venue, and when she checked the guest list earlier, she saw the names Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, as well as Feng Siyu¡¯s, and she started looking for them upon entry. Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing were easy to spot; they were always in one of the clusters of people together, and Qiao Yi could see them without specifically searching. It was just unknown if Feng Siyu had already arrived. Feng Siyu attended the gala not as the second young miss of the Feng Family but in the role of a popstar singer. A singer, such a status didn¡¯t really count for much in the eyes of the people at this venue. ¡°It¡¯s good you have a conscience, finding me first when you arrived. Wouldn¡¯t you introduce me?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder was suddenly tapped. When she turned her head, she didn¡¯t see anyone, but upon looking to the other side, she finally saw that the person who tapped her shoulder was none other than Feng Siyu, the very person she had been searching for. Today, Feng Siyu¡¯s outfit was intellectual and simple, which was completely opposite to her typically bold style. Feng Siyu used her eyes to inquire about the identity of Lu Yanchuan, who was standing behind Qiao Yi. Actually, she already had a guess, but Feng Siyun stubbornly refused to greet him herself and insisted that Qiao Yi introduce him. ¡°This is Lu Yanchuan, Third Young Master Lu.¡± ¡°This is Feng Siyu, my best friend.¡± Feng Siyu reached out her hand, and Lu Yanchuan glanced at her and then at Qiao Yi, finally extending his hand to lightly touch hers as a form of handshake and greeting. Qiao Yi caught this detail and shared a knowing look with Feng Siyu, then smiled like a sly fox. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Yuanyuan; you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± After saying this, Qiao Yi pulled Feng Siyu away, and they disappeared into the crowd before noticing that they had left Gu Ting behind. Inexplicably, the two of them felt a sense of shared sympathy. ¡°Wow, my dear, you are quite lucky to have found such a handsome husband!¡± Although she and Lu Yanchuan were nominally husband and wife, Qiao Yi was still very pleased to hear someone compliment her husband¡¯s good looks. After chatting with Feng Siyu for a while, Qiao Yi heard a small gasp of surprise coming from the entrance as if some remarkable person had arrived. When she and Lu Yanchuan had entered earlier, these people did not show such a loss of composure. Qiao Yi pulled Feng Siyu closer to see who it was. It was a very beautiful woman, whose beauty made others feel unworthy. Watching her walk in from outside, Qiao Yi felt as if she was witnessing a goddess descending to earth. When one woman can captivate another to the point of being unable to look away, it shows the immense charm of the person. Qiao Yi thought about this as she and Feng Siyu discussed the woman¡¯s identity. ¡°Do you know her? I know more about the young prodigals of the Capital City, but how come I have never heard of such a stunning beauty before?¡± Feng Siyu stared at the woman¡¯s back, frowning as if thinking about something. Suddenly, Feng Siyu slapped her thigh and exclaimed in surprise, causing Qiao Yi to wince in pain. ¡°It¡¯s her!¡± ¡°Who? There shouldn¡¯t be many people that you know but I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that one, the one who was supposed to get engaged to Third Young Master Lu a few years ago, but it didn¡¯t happen!¡± Feng Siyu pulled Qiao Yi back to the corner they were in before, and whispered a reminder, looking at Qiao Yi who still seemed to not recall, Feng Siyu urgently said, ¡°Yun Luoluo! That Yun Luoluo! The one you always said was pretentious!¡± Before Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes appeared an image of a petite and gentle girl, who in her memories was always crying, definitely not displaying the poised and elegant demeanor of now! ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken? Could Yun Luoluo really be this beautiful?¡± Qiao Yi was somewhat skeptical whether Feng Siyu had mistaken someone else as people don¡¯t usually change so tremendously in just a few years! ¡°I¡¯m not wrong! Remember the tattoo on her shoulder? I saw that tattoo!¡± Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Status and Identity Can Change Everything Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Status and Identity Can Change Everything Feng Siyu¡¯s words reminded Qiao Yi of the past events. As a child, Qiao Yi was practically a terror at school, fighting and dominating the whole school, with hardly anyone able to control her. Moreover, since she had decent grades, teachers turned a blind eye and didn¡¯t bother much with her. Due to the Qiao Family, Qiao Yi had always been in a prestigious school, surrounded by classmates who were wealthy second-generations and children of officials, and Yun Luoluo was naturally among them. However, unlike Qiao Yi and her unruly peers, Yun Luoluo was seen as a model student at school, not only excelling academically but also being very gentle in nature. Yet, this kind of gentleness seemed particularly irksome in the eyes of Qiao Yi and her crowd. Out of respect for the Yun Family, none dared to openly bully Yun Luoluo, but the private exclusion and isolation never stopped. At that time, Qiao Yi was solely focused on dominating the entire school through force and paid little attention to a timid Yun Luoluo. Although she looked down upon her, she never targeted her directly. Although the two knew each other, they were always from two different worlds. After high school, Yun Luoluo was sent abroad by her family. It had only been five or six years, and Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t believe Yun Luoluo had changed so much. If it weren¡¯t for Feng Siyu pointing out Yun Luoluo today, Qiao Yi probably wouldn¡¯t even remember who she was if Yun Luoluo had come over to greet her. ¡°Do you remember now? Back then, she was cornered by two hooligans, and it was you who helped her get away. Didn¡¯t you both get hurt? But the scar on Yun Luoluo¡¯s shoulder stayed, so afterwards she got a tattoo to cover it, remember?¡± Of course, Qiao Yi remembered that incident. When she found out Yun Luoluo had gotten a tattoo over a scar, she immediately felt she couldn¡¯t be outdone and also clamored for a tattoo. Go to ????????????????????.co As a result, Qiao Benqing cut off her allowance for a month, and that put an end to those thoughts. ¡°Of course I remember! If it wasn¡¯t for that incident, my dad wouldn¡¯t have cut off my allowance for a month!¡± Now, thinking back on it, Qiao Yi was still indignant. Qiao Benqing taking away her allowance had made her lose face as the boss at school, and made her followers laugh at her! Feng Siyu was laughing so hard, she held her stomach. Thinking back on the days when Qiao Yi was so commanding, she thought how silly yet blissful those times were. Now, those former followers still had to greet Qiao Yi respectfully as Ms. Qiao, but they were no longer the young fellows who would follow her orders to beat someone up with a stick. Ultimately, family status and position change everything. As Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu talked, they both became somewhat melancholic. Neither of them noticed the very Yun Luoluo they had been discussing was walking toward them. ¡°Long time no see! Do you still remember me, Ms. Qiao?¡± Qiao Yi looked up and saw Yun Luoluo standing opposite her, holding a glass of champagne and greeting her with a smile. ¡°I heard Siyu is now a famous international star. Before the event ends, you must leave me a few autographs, I have quite a few friends who are fans of yours!¡± Yun Luoluo was warm and generous, not showing a trace of awkwardness. Qiao Yi relaxed, started chatting with Yun Luoluo, and to her surprise, Yun Luoluo still remembered clearly about the old times at school, even mentioning the incident where they both escaped from the hooligans. ¡°I still remember, Uncle Qiao purposely cut off your allowance that month to prevent you from getting a tattoo. Your followers¡¯ wallets suffered greatly.¡± Qiao Yi laughed awkwardly. As the boss, not having any allowance meant her followers were incompetent, and how could Qiao Yi¡¯s followers be incompetent! ¡°It¡¯s all just foolishness from our younger days. Looking back now, I find it quite adorably silly.¡± Anyone would feel embarrassed having their dark history brought up in public, and Qiao Yi could practically sense a three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment being excavated with a toe, especially since the person digging up her dark history was another main character in it. ¡°I just returned to the country a few days ago. I heard that Yiyi is already married?¡± When it came to the topic of marriage, Yun Luoluo was extremely gossipy, curiously looking at Qiao Yi, wanting to know what kind of man could make the once adamant Qiao Yi, who vowed never to marry, fall. Upon hearing this, Qiao Yi instinctively glanced in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s direction, only to meet his gaze looking her way. ¡°Third Young Master Lu, did you really marry this big devil?¡± Yun Luoluo followed Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze and also saw Lu Yanchuan standing on the second floor. Some people just stand there and attract everyone¡¯s eyes, as if they were born to be the center of attention. Lu Yanchuan was one of those people. Qiao Yi awkwardly averted her gaze and nodded slightly. ¡°Yeah, we are indeed married.¡± Only the marriage was hasty and helpless, and even quite melodramatic, to the point that she couldn¡¯t shake it off now. Seeing that Qiao Yi didn¡¯t really want to talk about this matter, Yun Luoluo tactfully changed the subject to the charity auction happening that evening. ¡°These charity events happen several times a year, and there are even times when they¡¯re broadcasted live, but there probably won¡¯t be a broadcast this year.¡± Feng Siyu was all too familiar with these charity events. Because she not only attended the charity events in Capital City, but she knew about charity events all over the country. This was another perk of being a celebrity; she didn¡¯t have to figure out how to get an invitation to such events. Although she didn¡¯t actually want to attend any of them. ¡°When it¡¯s about time, they¡¯ll start the charity auction, which is the highlight of the evening. Getting these entrepreneurs to shell out money is the main purpose of these charity events.¡± Feng Siyu curled her lip, finding such a virtuous act somewhat distasteful. If you want to donate money, just donate directly. If you want to contribute supplies, then contribute directly, but setting up a charity auction, selling all sorts of random, worthless things for sky-high prices, and acting like you did some kind of incredible charity work. ¡°And yet, here you are, attending. Sooner or later, you¡¯ll have to shell out money.¡± ¡°I heard that today¡¯s auction will feature some unique items. I don¡¯t know what they are that makes it so secretive.¡± Yun Luoluo seemed eager to try, as if she was ready to bid already. Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu exchanged glances and shook their heads together. ¡°What does Mr. Lu think about the Tian City project? Such a big piece of cake, all falling into Qiao Family¡¯s hands, I really don¡¯t know how capable the Qiao Family is, being so greedy without fearing they¡¯ll burst.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I still think Mr. Lu¡¯s bid was better, how come it was snatched away by the Qiao Family!¡± ¡°Yeah, the Qiao Family and the Lu Family are old family friends, how could they eat meat without sparing a sip of soup for the Lu Family!¡± A crowd surrounded Lu Yanchuan; it seemed like they were communicating with each other, but all attention was focused on him. Such estranging words were said, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, standing there with a glass of champagne, it was unclear where he was looking. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Are You Crazy? Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Are You Crazy? A group had been talking for quite a while but noticed no response from Lu Yanchuan. Following Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, they saw several girls sitting in a corner of the sofa, huddled together discussing something. Someone recognized Qiao Yi among the girls and immediately understood Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughts. He had now married the most cherished daughter of the Qiao Family, and given how fond Qiao Benqing was of Qiao Yi, it was very likely that the Qiao Family¡¯s future would be in Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. By marrying Qiao Yi, Lu Yanchuan nearly had the entire Qiao Family in his grasp, so of course, he wouldn¡¯t care how much benefit the Qiao Family would gain. Possibly he was even contemplating how to help the Qiao Family secure more profits at this very moment! They were only half right; indeed, Lu Yanchuan was thinking about something that could earn the Qiao Family profits, but it surely wasn¡¯t about helping them. Instead, he didn¡¯t want the Qiao Family to fall into a trap. While they were talking, Qiao Benqing approached. Having just spoken ill of him behind his back, they weren¡¯t shameless enough to greet him calmly right after, so they all found excuses to leave. The crowd that had just been gathered suddenly dwindled to only Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Today is a good opportunity to release the news that Qiao Family intends to sell the Tian City project. I believe there will be interested parties very soon.¡± Qiao Benqing nodded his head; he had already had people working on it. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t need to say it; he would seize the opportunity himself. ¡°Yiyi has some thoughts about your marriage. If you don¡¯t have any fondness for this marriage either, after Old Mr. Lu calms down, you two should separate.¡± Qiao Benqing indeed still cared for Qiao Yi. A marriage alliance between the Lu Family and Qiao Family with Qiao Xin and Lu Ming was sufficient. If Qiao Yi truly didn¡¯t like Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Benqing still hoped she could choose her own path. Qiao Yi had given up a lot for the sake of her sister and brother; she couldn¡¯t be denied her last bit of freedom and the right to pursue happiness. Lu Yanchuan shifted his gaze back to Qiao Benqing. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°I will not divorce Qiao Yi.¡± Qiao Benqing furrowed his brows, looking at Lu Yanchuan, puzzled as to why he would say that. Lu Yanchuan seemed to think of something, his lips curving into a slight arc. ¡°Yiyi is wonderful, I won¡¯t divorce her.¡± At his words, Qiao Benqing was stunned before regaining his senses a while later, his look towards Lu Yanchuan now contained a hint of satisfaction. ¡°Although the Qiao Family and Lu Family are close, the Qiao Family cannot compare to the profound heritage of the Lu Family. But even so, I won¡¯t allow anyone from the Lu Family to bully my daughter. If you truly have feelings for Yiyi, then protect her within the Lu Family, and don¡¯t let her suffer any grievances.¡± After saying this, Qiao Benqing walked away, and Lu Yanchuan returned his gaze to Qiao Yi downstairs, then suddenly smiled helplessly. Who would bully her? She¡¯s the one who bullies others. Qiao Yi, unaware that her father had completely ¡®sold¡¯ her out, was excitedly discussing with Yun Luoluo and Feng Siyu about where they could go shopping tomorrow. ¡°I used to love going shopping the most, but now I can¡¯t even step out properly within the country. As soon as I go out, I¡¯m besieged, and every trip feels like sneaking around like a thief. It¡¯s so frustrating!¡± This was Feng Siyu¡¯s deepest grievance; now other than attending events, she was confined to her home, literally unable to step outside! Because as soon as she¡¯d leave, fans would block her door, waiting to track her itinerary. ¡°If you want to shop, why not find time to travel abroad for a change? Go and see those world wonders. I¡¯ve always wanted to go!¡± Feng Siyu expressed her yearning, and it was a wonder how a singer always fancied traveling. Several times, she was caught on her way to travel and brought back to attend to her engagements by Gu Ting. ¡°I¡¯m really envious of you, being able to do a job you like, that¡¯s so great. I was forced by my dad to study financial economics, and now after graduation, I¡¯m back in the country. It won¡¯t be many days before I start living a miserable nine-to-five life!¡± Yun Luoluo pouted and put on a pitiful act, causing Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu to laugh for a good while. As the group chattered and laughed, they didn¡¯t notice Qiao Xin standing near a column not too far away. ¡°Sister, what are you doing here? I¡¯ve been looking for you for a long time. Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me to her?¡± Qiao Xin, who was two years older than Qiao Yi and though they attended the same school, they were in different grades, so Qiao Xin did not know Yun Luoluo. ¡°Hello, my name is Yun Luoluo, an old classmate of Qiao Yi¡¯s.¡± ¡°Very old, from elementary school right up until high school.¡± Qiao Xin shook hands with Yun Luoluo awkwardly. As a child, she was the opposite of Qiao Yi ¡ª her academic performance was not great at school, and because of her personality, she was often bullied, always having to rely on her younger sister Qiao Yi to stand up for her. Most of Qiao Yi¡¯s fights at school were because of Qiao Xin, especially after Qiao Xin fell for Lu Yanchuan. Feng Siyu quietly nudged Qiao Yi¡¯s arm, making faces at her; only after receiving a glare from Qiao Yi did he settle down. ¡°You¡¯re too young to drink, you should have a soft drink. I¡¯ll take care of this champagne and such.¡± Qiao Xin reached out to take the cup from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, but as Qiao Yi looked at her smiling face, she subconsciously thought of the day before her wedding when she had been the one to step over Qiao Xin with a smile. ¡°Ah! Qiao Yi! What are you doing! Have you lost your mind!¡± Qiao Xin screamed as she was squarely doused with a cup of alcohol by Qiao Yi, completely taken aback by the splash. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even know how she ended up splashing the drink ¡ª was it perhaps because Qiao Xin¡¯s face just made her want to take action watching her drink? ¡°I haven¡¯t even agreed, why are you grabbing my cup? You¡¯re soaked in alcohol, go change!¡± Qiao Yi quickly stepped forward and grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s arm before she could speak again, her tone containing an implied threat. Where would Qiao Xin be willing to take this threat, she was ready to make a scene there and then. ¡°Lu Yanchuan is watching right over there, if you make a scene, what do you think he¡¯ll think of you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words instantly calmed Qiao Xin down, who was then assisted by Qiao Yi towards the resting room. ¡°I¡¯ll take my sister to change clothes first, you guys keep talking.¡± The two left the venue together and once in the resting room, Qiao Xin shook off Qiao Yi¡¯s hand and started yelling at her, pointing at her nose. ¡°Qiao Yi, are you sick or something? Splashing me with alcohol for no reason! Do you still care about the Qiao family¡¯s reputation?¡± ¡°Today you know it feels bad to be doused in alcohol, but did you ever consider how I felt when you hurt me back then? Have you ever thought about how much face you¡¯d lose for the Qiao family? Lecturing me? You don¡¯t have the right!¡± Qiao Yi slapped away Qiao Xin¡¯s hand and glanced at her before turning to leave. Suddenly, the sound of swishing air reached her ears; Qiao Yi twitched her ears, and before Qiao Xin¡¯s hand could reach her, she stepped aside to dodge and grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s hand, pressing her to the ground. A sharp pain flashed through Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, and she looked down to see the syringe in Qiao Xin¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡­¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Qiao Yi Runs Into Trouble Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Qiao Yi Runs Into Trouble Qiao Xin rubbed her shoulders as she climbed up from the ground, kicking Qiao Yi¡¯s body several times with her foot. She knew Qiao Yi was not easy to deal with, but luckily she had come prepared, using a sedative to knock Qiao Yi out. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yi lying on the ground and stepped on Qiao Yi¡¯s face with her foot, a sick pleasure showing on her face. No matter how arrogant she was, now she was trampled underfoot! Qiao Xin kicked and beat Qiao Yi until she was too tired to lift her hands, then took out her phone and made a call. ¡°Come over, room 3501.¡± After making the call, Qiao Xin left the room, only to return shortly after. She was carrying a black bag, taking out things one by one. Syringes, a bunch of white powder, and a bottle of clear liquid. Qiao Xin placed all these items next to Qiao Yi, and after arranging everything, she still felt uneasy. She turned around and messed up the items in the room, as if someone had gone crazy in there. After setting everything up, there was a knock on the door. Qiao Xin cautiously walked to the door and peeked before opening it. ¡°Why are you so slow? If someone finds out!¡± Qiao Xin displeasedly pulled the person outside the door into the room, and it was none other than Lu Ming. Go to ????????????????????.co Lu Ming was startled by everything in the room as he entered. He then saw Qiao Yi on the ground and the items on the table next to her and turned pale with shock. ¡°Drugs! Drugs, drugs, drugs¡­¡± ¡°Why are you so surprised, it¡¯s all fake? I only want Qiao Yi¡¯s reputation ruined. Work quickly according to my instructions. Whether you want to pretend or really go through with it, you must play your part well before the person I found arrives!¡± Lu Ming looked at the twisted expression on Qiao Xin¡¯s face, then at Qiao Yi lying on the ground, struggling internally. ¡°This isn¡¯t too good, is it? If I do this, your dad won¡¯t let me off the hook!¡± ¡°Do you still want those shares or not? I promise you, as soon as I marry Lu Yanchuan, I¡¯ll sign the share transfer document immediately. If you keep hesitating, I¡¯ll give the transfer to Lu Yanchuan instead!¡± Qiao Xin was burning with impatience, wishing she were a man so she could deal with Qiao Yi herself! Lu Ming¡¯s hesitation completely vanished upon hearing the word ¡®shares.¡¯ Although doing this would almost completely destroy Qiao Yi, after all, Qiao Yi still had the Qiao Family, and without those thirty percent of shares, he would have no status in the Lu Family! Seeing that Lu Ming had made up his mind, Qiao Xin turned and left, as it was no longer appropriate for her to stay here. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lu Ming said softly, bending down to pick up Qiao Yi from the ground and placing her on the bed. Feng Siyu and Yun Luoluo waited a long time without seeing Qiao Yi return. They asked the waiter who had left with Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin, and he said that the two had taken the elevator and got a room card and then asked him to leave; he didn¡¯t know where the two had gone. ¡°Nothing should have happened at the venue, right?¡± ¡°My heart has been racing. Qiao Xin and Yiyi have always been at odds; they wouldn¡¯t have started fighting, would they?¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s speculation received a roll of the eyes from Yun Luoluo. ¡°Even if they did get into a fight, you should be worried about Qiao Xin, not Yiyi. She might have been chatting with someone she knows. She¡¯ll be back for the auction in a little while.¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Siyu had no choice but to sit back down with Yun Luoluo and continue to wait for Qiao Yi¡¯s return. However, Qiao Yi did not return. Instead, many people in the venue were walking in one direction, especially some media personnel who were rushing towards the elevator with their cameras in tow. ¡°What¡¯s going on with them? Is some big shot about to show up? Why are they all so excited?¡± Feng Siyu looked puzzled in that direction, not seeing any remarkable figure, but saw Gu Ting walking towards her with a darkened face. ¡°It¡¯s bad, Qiao Yi is in trouble!¡± ¡°In trouble? What happened?¡± Feng Siyu looked at Gu Ting, nervous and puzzled, hands sweating with tension. Gu Ting nodded at Yun Luoluo, handed a cellphone to Feng Siyu, and pulled her to walk in the opposite direction of the crowd. As Feng Siyu walked, she checked the phone, and what caught her eye was the trending search that had just come out that evening. ¡°Second Miss Qiao meets privately with a man, both seen in a room doing¡­¡± ¡°Keep your voice down, this hot search has just come out. You were with Qiao Yi just now ¨C where has she gone to now?¡± Feng Siyu felt a chill in her limbs. As a celebrity, she understood all too well the power of public opinion and rumors, not to mention news that combines both gossip and criminal activity! The media would surely swarm over like flies drawn to a scent! ¡°Yiyi went with Qiao Xin, they left a while ago, probably to the lounge. Let¡¯s check the lounge first!¡± Gu Ting took Feng Siyu and ran through the fire exit, all the way to the third floor to the room mentioned by the waiter. There was already a crowd gathered outside the room, mostly reporters, who were persistently knocking on the door. Seeing this, Feng Siyu rushed forward, and Gu Ting couldn¡¯t catch her. She watched as Feng Siyu dashed into the crowd, and quickly followed after. ¡°What are you all doing gathered here? Don¡¯t you know this is the lounge? Or do you want to break the rules of the charity event?¡± Feng Siyu, protected by Gu Ting, made her way to the room¡¯s entrance, standing in front of the door like a protective mother hen. Moments ago, there was only a wealthy young lady, and now a popular star had appeared! The reporters on the scene were almost all stirred up, their cameras aimed at Feng Siyu, shouting their questions. ¡°Miss Feng! Why are you defending a rich young lady who has breached the stock price law? Is it because you want the support of the Qiao Family?¡± ¡°Miss Feng, are you aware of Miss Qiao¡¯s illegal activities, or have you participated in them yourself, fearing exposure and thus defending Miss Qiao?¡± ¡°Miss Feng! Please answer my question directly!¡± With Gu Ting standing firmly in front of her, not letting anyone touch Feng Siyu, she looked at the frantic reporters without saying a word. The commotion in the crowd grew bigger and bigger, and the corridor was almost completely blocked. Qiao Benqing, who heard the news and rushed over, was stopped outside and couldn¡¯t get in. Sweat dripped down Gu Ting¡¯s forehead, Feng Siyu looked at him with heartache, and with a cold face turned to the reporters surrounding her, lifting up the cellphone that she had been holding tightly. ¡°Just now, I¡¯ve recorded every word said by the reporters from each of your media outlets. Before the investigation is clear, you¡¯ve made rash judgments, and I will contact Ms. Qiao to pursue your legal responsibilities.¡± No one expected Feng Siyu to play this move. The people close to Feng Siyu suddenly quieted down, and they didn¡¯t dare to resist even when being pushed by those behind them. ¡°Now, does anyone else have questions?¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Reversal Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Reversal ¡°Miss Feng, although we can¡¯t produce evidence to prove Miss Qiao did these things, can you produce evidence to prove Miss Qiao didn¡¯t do these things?¡± Someone in the crowd raised their voice and asked, reigniting the emotions of the crowd once again. Gu Ting was nearly unable to hold back the frenzied crowd, and Feng Siyu¡¯s face was extraordinarily grim, her mind racing on how to resolve the pressing dilemma. Feng Siyu, of course, believed in Qiao Yi, but she dared not risk Qiao Yi¡¯s safety on her belief. Qiao Yi had just left with Qiao Xin, and if Qiao Xin had used some sort of trickery on Qiao Yi, it would be very difficult for Qiao Yi to escape by herself! Someone was already shouting for Feng Siyu to open the room door, claiming truth would be evident upon inspection. Feng Siyu and Gu Ting stubbornly refused to let them pass, but at that moment, Feng Siyu¡¯s cell phone went off. She glanced at it, and when she looked up again, she relented, stopping her resistance, and nudged Gu Ting¡¯s back to silently step aside. Gu Ting was still puzzled, but Feng Siyu shoved the phone into his hand, then pulled him out through a side entrance swiftly. The door was violently broken open by rabid reporters, and upon opening it, one could hear the ambiguous moans and heavy breaths inside. The first reporter to rush in almost had green eyes, his camera capturing every detail in the room steady as a rock. When he saw the scattered white powder and syringes on the table, he almost let out an ecstatic scream. Huge news! Absolutely huge! The reporter seemed to have foreseen himself reaching the pinnacle of his career with this news, hesitating no more, as he ran towards the deepest bedroom door. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Ah!!¡± ¡°Who are you people! Get out!¡± The two people huddled on the bed rapidly split apart upon the loud sound of the door being kicked open, with the man only managing to snatch a pillow to cover his vital parts, while the woman on the bed screamed, shrinking into the covers. Lu Ming¡¯s eyes were red as he glared at the room full of reporters who had barged in. He still hadn¡¯t fully realized what was going on. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to just lift Qiao Yi from the floor onto the bed? How could so many people have barged in so inexplicably? It didn¡¯t matter that Lu Ming couldn¡¯t figure it out; the reporters had enough to explode the news. ¡°Mr. Lu Ming, why are you having a private meeting with the Second Miss Qiao during the charity event?¡± ¡°Mr. Lu, it was said the person who was originally supposed to marry Miss Qiao was you, but in the end, Mr. Lu Yanchuan took that place. Are you doing this today as a deliberate act of revenge?¡± ¡°Mr. Lu! Have you actually been with Miss Qiao all along, and the marriage was merely a sham?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s head and ears were filled with these sharp questions. Some people even tried to grab him; he only managed to evade by grabbing a chair and holding it in front of him as a shield. Not only Lu Ming was under siege, but so was the person on the bed. Several reporters yanked at the corners of the blanket, trying to pull it away, while the person wrapped tightly in the blanket staunchly refused to show their face. The more the two on the bed struggled, the more excited the reporters became, their questions growing sharper. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Why is it so noisy?¡± Suddenly, the crowd was strongly parted, and a dozen black-suited bodyguards stormed into the room, forcibly clearing a path through the people with their presence. ¡°Isn¡¯t the charity auction about to start? Why is everyone gathered in the lounge instead of attending the auction?¡± Hearing this voice, everyone turned towards the entrance. Qiao Yi stood there in a red dress, with a bright, beautiful smile, walking in between the black-suited bodyguards as confidently and dazzlingly as on the red carpet at Fashion Week. ¡°Miss Qiao! How, how are you here!¡± Someone in the crowd recognized Qiao Yi and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. ¡°` ¡°Why am I not supposed to be here?¡± Qiao Yi retorted and walked all the way in, only to be shocked and cover her mouth when she saw the mess on and under the bed. ¡°Oh my God, what, what happened here!¡± Qiao Yi glanced at the lump on the bed and then at Lu Ming standing on the floor, as if she understood something, she pointed at Lu Ming and started scolding him. ¡°You¡¯re already married to my sister! How dare you betray her at this time! I¡¯m going to see who this slut is who seduced my sister¡¯s husband!¡± After cursing Lu Ming, Qiao Yi called two bodyguards over to the bed, her face filled with righteous indignation, pointing at the person on the bed and ordering the bodyguards to lift the blanket. ¡°Drag her out! Let everyone see who this slut really is! How dare she do such a shameless thing!¡± ¡°Wow¡ª¡± The crowd was shocked once again, including Lu Ming himself. The person on the bed, naked and with her arms crossed over her chest, was none other than Qiao Yi¡¯s sister, Qiao Xin! Qiao Xin, suddenly exposed by the pulled blanket, screamed and frantically grabbed a pillow to cover herself, then pulled the blood-stained sheets to wrap around her. ¡°How, how could this¡­¡± Qiao Yi looked totally stunned, pointing at Qiao Xin on the bed and unable to speak for a long time. ¡°This, this, this!¡± ¡°Get out! All of you, get out!¡± Finally, Qiao Xin on the bed broke down and screamed. But from Qiao Yi to the reporters in the room, not a single person intended to leave. Who would have thought that such a big news story would take so many twists and turns! It started with Second Miss Qiao being accused of drug use, cheating on her husband with her own ex-fianc¨¦, who is her husband¡¯s nephew. Then Second Miss Qiao entered from outside, accusing her brother-in-law of cheating and seeking to catch the lovers in the act. In the end, the mistress caught turned out to be none other than the Qiao family¡¯s eldest miss! A group of reporters looked at each other, completely unsure how to report today¡¯s story. Qiao Xin and Lu Ming are legally married after all, their being together doesn¡¯t concern anyone else at all. ¡°Qiao Yi! It¡¯s you! It¡¯s you who ruined me!¡± Qiao Xin looked up at Qiao Yi with hatred, but Qiao Yi fearlessly met her gaze, her lips curling into a playful smile. ¡°Sister, when you speak, you need evidence. How can you accuse me without proof? Besides, even if your tryst with your brother-in-law was disrupted, you shouldn¡¯t blame me, right? I did all this for your own good, out of fear that you might be cheated on!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face was full of innocence, but Qiao Xin didn¡¯t believe a word! It was supposed to be Qiao Yi and Lu Ming who were caught in the act, not her! Why has it turned out this way! ¡°The auction is about to start downstairs, time to go.¡± Qiao Yi was reveling in Qiao Xin¡¯s displeased expression when suddenly a coat was draped over her. She turned her head and saw Lu Yanchuan looking down at her. Just one look, and suddenly Qiao Yi¡¯s heartbeat became erratic. ¡°` Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Why Are You So Good to Me? Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Why Are You So Good to Me? The reporters in the room were all chased out after Qiao Benqing rushed in with his people. Lu Ming had taken the opportunity to get dressed, and now sat on the sofa outside with a steel-grey expression on his face. After Qiao Xin finished dressing inside, she walked out with her legs in an awkward stance, not daring to look at Qiao Benqing at all. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan stood together at the doorway, their expressions surprisingly uniform with a mix of indifference and a hint of mockery, like outsiders watching a play. ¡°Speak, what exactly happened!¡± Qiao Benqing¡¯s eyes bore into Qiao Xin, knowing that no matter the outcome today, the Qiao Family¡¯s reputation would definitely be ruined! Tears never stopped in Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes. Hearing Qiao Benqing¡¯s question, she abruptly looked up at Qiao Yi as if about to unleash a tirade. Qiao Yi spoke before Qiao Xin had the chance to. ¡°Dad, that question should be mine to ask. I¡¯d like to know why I and my sister would fall unconscious after entering the resting room, and if it wasn¡¯t for Yanchuan coming to look for me, the person caught in bed today might not have been my sister, right?¡± Qiao Yi boldly showed the needle marks on her arm to Qiao Benqing. Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Yi to expose the matter so directly, suddenly becoming somewhat guilty and hastily began to make excuses. ¡°What are you talking about nonsense? How could I possibly do something to you? I am¡­¡± ¡°Why are you nervous? I didn¡¯t say it was you who did this to me.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co With just an insouciante remark, Qiao Yi pushed back Qiao Xin¡¯s attempt, as Qiao Xin clenched her lip, her eyes almost ready to tear Qiao Yi apart. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s injury, Qiao Benqing immediately became anxious. ¡°How did this happen? Xinxin, is it really you trying to harm your sister!¡± ¡°Dad, how could I possibly do such a thing! What benefit would there be for me in doing such a thing! Moreover, it¡¯s clearly me who got hurt; why would you suspect me?¡± Qiao Xin seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown, her disheveled appearance like that of a crazed ghost. This appearance of hers, on the contrary, made Qiao Benqing dismiss his suspicions. Indeed, Qiao Xin had no reason to harm Qiao Yi, and moreover, Qiao Yi was unharmed, while the person caught with Lu Ming was Qiao Xin herself, why would she be so foolish to set herself up! Thinking this, Qiao Benqing looked towards Qiao Yi again. ¡°Yiyi, could it be a misunderstanding on your part?¡± Qiao Yi had no intention of taking down Qiao Xin just with this insufficient evidence, but she knew that once the seeds of suspicion are sown, they will eventually take root and grow. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m mistaken. But sister and brother-in-law are really irresistible to each other. And oh, you should find a way to explain these things sooner, sister, or there might be a big problem!¡± Qiao Yi raised her eyebrows and used her chin to nudged towards the table, where there were still some syringes and white powdery substances. Many reporters had just noticed these items, and if they got out, there would be no shortage of wild speculation. ¡°This, this is glucose, I have some hypoglycemia, I will explain it publicly.¡± Qiao Xin now understood what it meant to shoot herself in the foot, there were many things she couldn¡¯t say in front of Qiao Benqing, and could only take all the responsibility upon herself. ¡°Dad, the auction has started, we better go down first, let sister and brother-in-law deal with it themselves.¡± Qiao Yi walked over and linked her arm with Qiao Benqing¡¯s, pulling him up to leave the room. Before exiting, Qiao Yi turned back for a glance, meeting Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes filled with hatred. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± Qiao Yi silently said a word, then, holding Qiao Benqing¡¯s arm, left the room. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going to use the restroom first, you go ahead and take your seat.¡± Qiao Yi suddenly stopped in her tracks after walking with Qiao Benqing for a bit, said a few words to him, and then hurried off. Lu Yanchuan was a step behind her, gave Qiao Benqing a hasty greeting, and followed after her. Qiao Benqing was left utterly confused by the two of them, shook his head, and went on to the auction venue on his own. In a state of fluster, Qiao Yi pushed open the emergency exit door forcefully, entered the stairwell, and finally took a deep breath. Her body had been drenched in sweat, leaning against the wall like a fish out of water, breathing hard and greedily. Lu Yanchuan quickly caught up to her, saw the state she was in, bent down, and carried her out. ¡°Put me down¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan ignored her words. Qiao Yi pounded on him without any effect, helplessly letting him carry her not knowing where he intended to take her. ¡°Damn that Qiao Xin, I have no idea what kind of drug she used on me¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face rested against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, listening to her own heartbeat pounding like drums and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s steady and calm breathing. Heaven knows the relief and gratitude she felt when she woke up to see Lu Yanchuan. Especially after seeing the inexplicably trending topics about her online, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t dare to imagine what would have become of her if Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t shown up in time to knock out Qiao Xin and Lu Ming. Lu Yanchuan had saved her twice already¡­ ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ just a bit hot. Put me down please, I¡¯m okay.¡± Qiao Yi pushed at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, but he still held her steadily. Her weight was not an issue for Lu Yanchuan. They went up to the hotel¡¯s presidential suite, where Lu Yanchuan set her down in the bathtub following Qiao Yi¡¯s wishes, then he left the room. Qiao Yi, feeling weak in arms and legs, gave up the attempt to undress and turned on the shower directly, the cold water spraying out making her shiver all over. The water suddenly stopped, and looking up in confusion, Qiao Yi saw Lu Yanchuan standing expressionlessly above her, having just turned off the faucet. ¡°Change into clean clothes, I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Lu Yanchuan placed a paper bag on the nearby shelf and was about to leave, but his clothes were suddenly pulled by someone. ¡°Are you being so good to me because of what happened that day? When you said you would take responsibility, you weren¡¯t joking, were you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s tone was uncharacteristically serious. She thought long and hard but couldn¡¯t figure out why Lu Yanchuan, a man like him, would be so lenient with her because of a marriage that seemed like a child¡¯s play. The outside world¡¯s rumors about Lu Yanchuan were anything but kind: cold-blooded, ruthless, that was him; viciously scheming, that also was him; cunning and sinister, etc., all could be synonyms for Lu Yanchuan. The words caring and attentive, however, would definitely not be associated with Lu Yanchuan. Yet, the Lu Yanchuan before her was entirely different from his public persona. Although not to the extent of being overly attentive, his manner could already be considered very considerate, even indulgent. Qiao Yi had always thought it was because they were married, Lu Yanchuan had to take Old Mr. Lu into account. That is until today, when she woke up in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, Qiao Yi saw the sincere concern in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. Lu Yanchuan was genuinely worried about her. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 We Have Nothing Chapter 35: Chapter 35 We Have Nothing The bathroom was quiet, only the faint sound of running water persisted tirelessly. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes gradually reddened, while Lu Yanchuan across from her furrowed his brows tightly, only speaking after a long while. ¡°I¡¯ve said before, I¡¯m a responsible person.¡± ¡°So you married me not because of an arranged marriage?¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t quite describe the mixture of feelings inside her¡ªshe felt a bit relieved, a bit bitter, and a bit sad all at once, which only made her unsure of how to express herself. Seeing that Lu Yanchuan only furrowed his brows without speaking, Qiao Yi suddenly felt relieved. ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll go stay with Yuanyuan at her place later. Don¡¯t keep dad waiting anxiously.¡± Qiao Yi sank into the water, not wanting to talk anymore. It took a while before she couldn¡¯t hold on and emerged from the water, only to find that Lu Yanchuan had already left. Qiao Yi left before the auction ended, while Lu Yanchuan stayed at the venue to discuss some matters with Qiao Benqing. Qiao Yi slipped away by herself. No, not just Qiao Yi, but also Feng Siyu and a driver named Gu Ting. ¡°I¡¯m going to stay at your place tonight.¡± Feng Siyu did not object. After all, the two of them had spent plenty of nights together since they were young. But now Qiao Yi was married; didn¡¯t she need to inform her husband? It seemed as though Feng Siyu had guessed her thoughts, and Qiao Yi, embarrassed and angry, pinched Feng Siyu¡¯s arm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Don¡¯t you dare think nonsense, there¡¯s nothing between Lu Yanchuan and me¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, such a stubborn duck, come clean, how did you get that red mark on your neck? Don¡¯t tell me you were bitten by a mosquito. Was the mosquito¡¯s last name Lu?¡± Qiao Yi quickly covered her neck, and her entire face turned red as she glared at Feng Siyu, unable to speak out of embarrassment and annoyance. Feng Siyu laughed until she was out of breath, and it was only after a while that she regained her composure, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and leaned on Qiao Yi, mysteriously asking. ¡°Come on, tell me, what exactly happened today? Everything seems like it was all arranged by you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Thinking back to today¡¯s events, Feng Siyu was extremely frightened. She couldn¡¯t imagine what she would do if it had really been Qiao Yi in that room. The expression on Qiao Yi¡¯s face also faded, and there were some things she couldn¡¯t say to Qiao Benqing, but she could tell Feng Siyu. ¡°Today was indeed no accident, it was all plotted by Qiao Xin. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arrival, the reporters bursting in would¡¯ve caught me and Lu Ming together, and there were also some items in the room that Qiao Xin had specially prepared for me, just to ruin me.¡± ¡°Qiao Xin injected me with a sedative. If it weren¡¯t for Lu Yanchuan realizing that Qiao Xin and I had been gone for a long time without returning and coming to find me¡ªcoincidentally encountering Lu Ming sent by Qiao Xin¡ªthe plan would have succeeded.¡± Though it wasn¡¯t Qiao Yi¡¯s idea to put Qiao Xin and Lu Ming together, she was thoroughly satisfied with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s way of handling it. ¡°And those reporters, they were all pre-arranged by Qiao Xin. Even if I hadn¡¯t splashed her with that wine today, Qiao Xin would probably have found some excuse to take me away.¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi were siblings¡ªhow could she do this to Qiao Yi! ¡°She¡¯s shot herself in the foot, but why didn¡¯t you tell Uncle Qiao about this!¡± ¡°The moment this gets out, it will definitely affect the Qiao Family¡¯s reputation. No matter what the reason, my dad would never publicize the issue. At most, there would be some reprimands. Besides, I haven¡¯t suffered any substantial harm. On the contrary, Qiao Xin has made herself utterly miserable.¡± ¡°In this situation, my dad might not stay angry with Qiao Xin, and he might even cover up the whole incident. Instead of reacting now, I might as well bide my time until I gather enough evidence to expose Qiao Xin¡¯s true face in one fell swoop!¡± Qiao Yi clenched her fists. Seeing her like this, Feng Siyu also felt relieved. As long as Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t overly merciful, everything should be fine. No one would be happy about what happened, and the car fell silent, with all three losing the desire to talk. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s phone started ringing, it was a message from Lu Yanchuan asking where she went. After reading the message, Qiao Yi turned off her phone and tossed it aside. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to reply to the message?¡± ¡°Why should I reply to him? I already told you I¡¯m going to stay at your place tonight, it¡¯s none of his business.¡± Since Qiao Yi herself had no intention of dealing with Lu Yanchuan, Feng Siyu said nothing further. Changing the topic, he started to talk to Qiao Yi about his next appointment. ¡°She didn¡¯t answer the phone?¡± Qiao Benqing was so angry his stomach ached, both of his grown daughters were causing him nothing but worries! ¡°Yiyi said she was going to stay with friends tonight; they probably left early.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t seem to care too much. He often stayed late at the office and didn¡¯t go home, and going out with friends was perfectly normal. Even though Lu Yanchuan said that, Qiao Benqing was still dissatisfied and insisted that Qiao Yi come back. With such an important event today, Qiao Xin had already made a fool of herself, and Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t just leave as well. What would people think of the Qiao Family! Qiao Benqing used his phone to call Qiao Yi, but the call was met with a message that her phone was turned off. Qiao Yi was unaware of Qiao Benqing looking for her, but even if she did know, she wouldn¡¯t return now. Because Feng Siyu had already goaded Gu Ting to drive them into the famous entertainment district of Capital City. In the car, Qiao Yi changed out of her gown into clothes from Feng Siyu, put on his sunglasses, and the three of them merged into the crowd on the street after parking the car. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve missed this. Ever since graduating from college, I haven¡¯t had such free and happy times.¡± Qiao Yi was holding a beer in one hand and a skewer in the other, eating in a very forthright manner. Feng Siyu was no less enthusiastic, the two eating as boisterously as old men, with only Gu Ting sipping a drink elegantly. Giggling, eating, and drinking, it didn¡¯t take long for Qiao Yi to start seeing double. She grabbed Feng Siyu, who wanted to drink more, and they stumbled toward the car with the help of Gu Ting. ¡°Hey, look at these beauties. Why don¡¯t you hang out with us, brothers, before you go?¡± While Gu Ting went to bring the car, a few shady-looking thugs surrounded the two drunk girls. Seeing no one paying attention, the leader reached to grab Qiao Yi¡¯s arm. ¡°Who are you guys? Where¡¯s Gu Ting? Where did he run off to?¡± Qiao Yi squinted at the strange men and swatted away the hand reaching for her, still aware enough to help Feng Siyu as they tried to walk away together. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, forget about whatever Gu Ting. But I, your brother Zhao, am more than willing to keep you company, haha!¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Drunk Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Drunk A greasy, blackened hand reached for Qiao Yi¡¯s face, her vision blurred and subconsciously trying to dodge, but Feng Siyu, who was standing unsteadily beside her, pulled on her arm making it impossible for her to avoid. Under normal circumstances, Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t care about a few petty thugs. But now, she couldn¡¯t even keep her body upright, let alone fight back, so she could only watch helplessly as the hand drew nearer and nearer. Just as the hand was about to touch Qiao Yi¡¯s face, the chubby guy who reached out suddenly screamed, flying backward and hitting two people before falling down. Qiao Yi tried hard to keep her eyes open; she could only see that the person in front was handsome and seemed a bit familiar. With her brain feeling like mush, it took Qiao Yi a while to belatedly realize who the man in front of her was. ¡°Lu Yanchuan¡­ you came¡­ hehe¡­¡± Qiao Yi grinned oddly, Lu Yanchuan just about to say something, but the thugs he kicked away had already gotten up and charged towards him, roaring. A flash of impatience swept through Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes; turning around, he performed a sweeping kick, sending the fastest runner flying back, and seizing the moment when the others were still unreactive, he knocked out the remaining few with one punch each. They say a serious man is the most charming, but a man fighting is charming too, only the drunk Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t appreciate it. The few thugs lay on the ground, holding their arms and howling in pain, while Lu Yanchuan took out his phone to call the cops, then came over to check on Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was just swaying there, not injured. But she was so drunk, it was hard to tell how much she had imbibed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Gu Ting finally came back by car, seeing the thugs scattered on the ground, and Lu Yanchuan standing by Qiao Yi with a dark expression, he immediately understood what had happened. He thought that with so many people around at the night market, no incidents would occur, and he was just going to get the car, which would only take a few minutes. But who would have thought that such an incident would occur in such a crowded place! Luckily Lu Yanchuan appeared just in time, otherwise, Gu Ting couldn¡¯t even imagine what might have happened! If something terrible had really occurred, Gu Ting would have lived in regret for the rest of his life. ¡°Thank you.¡± Gu Ting bowed deeply and earnestly to Lu Yanchuan, who frowned, glanced at him, pushed Feng Siyu aside, took Qiao Yi in his arms, and walked away. ¡°Leave these people to you; I¡¯ve already called the police.¡± With the Gu Family¡¯s capabilities, handling these thugs was easy, there was no need for Lu Yanchuan to stay; taking Qiao Yi back to sober up was the priority. Lu Yanchuan carried her all the way to his car, and Ma Yu was surprised to see Qiao Yi being carried by Lu Yanchuan. He had a feeling that such surprises would not be scarce in the future. ¡°Go to Ting City.¡± Ting City Gardens, one of the most luxurious and high-end residential areas in the Capital City, known for its elegant environment and top-notch security. The community is located in the most luxurious area of Capital City, covers a large area, but only houses twenty residences ¨C all are detached villas, maintaining tranquility amid the bustling city. Developed by an unknown company, even the Lu Family couldn¡¯t secure a house in Ting City Gardens; only the most powerful, influential, and wealthy people live here. I heard that this area was originally planned to be developed into a private vacation resort, but the government did not approve, and after two years of back and forth, it had to be changed into a villa district. As the car drove into Ting City Gardens, it felt like entering a mini jungle, with only a road wide enough for vehicles to pass side by side, and tall greenery on both sides, walking here is just like walking in a forest. Beyond these trees, you can vaguely see some villas nestled in the woods. Each villa has a private road in front of its door, with a security scanner at the connection to the main road that determines whether the car can enter the premises of this household. Of course, if you want to get out of the car and enter the password, that¡¯s also not impossible. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s house is located near the middle; it took a while driving before turning onto the exclusive road of the villa. Qiao Yi was fidgeting uncomfortably in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, clutching at his clothes and mumbling something incomprehensible. Lu Yanchuan looked up unhappily; Ma Yu caught the signal from his boss from the rearview mirror and was instantly speechless. He was already driving the car as fast as he could, and yet he¡¯s still being accused of slow driving! You do it if you¡¯re so capable! If not, stop complaining! Ma Yu only dared to think this to himself lightly because he felt that Lu Yanchuan could tell what he was thinking just from the back of his head. Finally, they arrived in front of the villa; Lu Yanchuan helped Qiao Yi out of the car, and she seemed to completely let herself go, immediately pushing away Lu Yanchuan and running into the yard. In the large yard, Qiao Yi ran around twice, then unexpectedly ran back to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side, gasping for breath and stretching out her arms wanting to be held. ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Ma Yu covered his mouth, anxiously avoiding Lu Yanchuan¡¯s deadly glare. Lu Yanchuan bent down and without a single sign of displeasure picked up Qiao Yi, already deciding that she would never be allowed to touch a drop of alcohol again without him by her side. Qiao Yi fussed until she finally fell asleep, refusing to sleep alone, insisting on sleeping only if Lu Yanchuan held her. Lu Yanchuan always felt himself to be someone who dislikes disturbances, yet being tossed around by Qiao Yi tonight, aside from feeling resigned, surprisingly he felt not a bit of annoyance, truly astonishing. Even Lu Yanchuan himself was taken aback. Qiao Yi slept all the way to noon the next day, and upon awakening, her head was pounding painfully. Her memory stopped at the image from last night of her and Feng Siyu angrily cursing at Qiao Xin, what happened after? Qiao Yi sat dazedly on the bed, already dressed in pajamas, even her underwear had been changed! She had seen all the rooms she had slept in before and none matched the room she was now in, nor any room in any house she knew! Had she been kidnapped? What about Feng Siyu? Gu Ting? Had they been kidnapped too? When Lu Yanchuan entered the room, he saw Qiao Yi disheveled and bewildered, clutching the pillow, looking as though she had just woken up, yet still in a dream. Qiao Yi stiffly raised her head to look at Lu Yanchuan, seeing him in homewear and opened her mouth to ask, ¡°Yesterday, did you bring me home?¡± This was a blatantly brainless question; Lu Yanchuan, who never dignifies fools with a response, dropped a sentence and turned to leave. ¡°Your clothes are in the dressing room, car keys at the doorway.¡± Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Dont you remember? No content Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Get Out No content Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Death on the Spot No content Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Cant Live Anymore Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Can¡¯t Live Anymore Qiao Yi was forcefully embraced and carried upstairs by Lu Yanchuan. Nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, Qiao Yi could hear his strong and powerful heartbeat, which was escalating more and more rapidly. Step by step, Lu Yanchuan walked very steadily, but Qiao Yi felt as though every step he took was pressing down on her heart, making her desperately want to jump down and escape right then and there. However, Lu Yanchuan did not give her a chance to escape. With one kick, he opened the door of the room and quickly pressed down onto her the moment her body fell onto the bed. Qiao Yi was greatly alarmed and was about to struggle when she heard Lu Yanchuan say in a hoarse voice by her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me hold you for a while.¡± Those words had an inexplicable magic, making Qiao Yi, who knew she should be struggling to escape, obediently stay still and let Lu Yanchuan hold her tightly. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heavy breathing was right by her ear. Such a position should have been very uncomfortable to be held in, yet Qiao Yi, listening to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice by her ear, gradually felt herself become sleepy. It was not until Lu Yanchuan, with reddened eyes, propped himself up from the bed that he realized Qiao Yi had already fallen asleep in his arms at some unknown time, even making displeased hums when he got up to leave. The sleeping woman looked very much like a child, her hands clutched to her chest, her body slightly curled up, just like a child lying in their mother¡¯s embrace. Qiao Yi¡¯s face was flushed with sleep, and after Lu Yanchuan watched her for a few moments, he turned to go to the bathroom. But halfway there, he turned back, tucked her properly into the blankets, and hesitantly bent down to touch his lips against Qiao Yi¡¯s cheek. Lu Yanchuan left like a thief. In his twenty-some years of memory, he had never lost control as he had today, except for that one night. This sleep had replenished Qiao Yi¡¯s vitality. Awakened by hunger, Qiao Yi felt like she could devour an entire cow. Lu Yanchuan was nowhere to be found, likely either at the old mansion or at the company. Qiao Yi thought the latter was more probable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? After eating a satisfying meal, Qiao Yi finally summoned the courage to go to the surveillance room, wanting to see what kind of mess she had been last night that caused Lu Yanchuan to act so out of character. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear to continue watching halfway through the surveillance and fled from the room. Qiao Yi even felt that she would never come back to the Ting City neighborhood ever again. Feng Siyu watched Qiao Yi, who was lying on his sofa looking like her soul had left her body, and worriedly touched her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever, so what¡¯s made you like this?¡± Taking the juice offered by Gu Ting, Qiao Yi saw it and grabbed it without a second thought. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make it¡­¡± After chugging most of the juice in one gulp, Qiao Yi truly revived. ¡°I¡¯m never drinking alcohol again. Even if I do drink, I won¡¯t drink in front of Lu Yanchuan ever again. I¡¯ve completely lost all my dignity!¡± Qiao Yi, with a face full of sorrow and bitterness, was biting her lip, almost ready to cry herself to death right there. Feng Siyu could hardly suppress his laughter as he hugged Qiao Yi and listened to her rambling about all the things she had done. In the end, Qiao Yi suddenly stood up and looked at the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m not going back; I can¡¯t ever face Lu Yanchuan and Ma Yu again, otherwise, I¡¯m certain I won¡¯t survive!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, not that bad, come sit down and drink your juice. It¡¯s really not that bad!¡± Feng Siyu was terrified, afraid that Qiao Yi had been stirred into madness. He pulled her back to sit on the sofa and drove away the smirking Gu Ting, then proceeded to talk to Qiao Yi about serious matters. ¡°I¡¯ve found some leads on the issue you asked me to keep an eye on. Indeed, five months ago there was a mysterious transaction from the Qiao Family¡¯s account. However, the trail went cold at a farm in the country F. I was about to continue the investigation when Gu Ting dragged me off to a talent audition.¡± This talent show has become Feng Siyu¡¯s pet peeve, so Qiao Yi automatically ignored her nonsense and asked the main questions. ¡°So, are you saying that the lead has gone cold now?¡± ¡°Yes, because that batch of funds has been replenished, it¡¯s extremely difficult to look into now. You found out a step too late, so there¡¯s nowhere to start now.¡± Feng Siyu spread her hands helplessly, Qiao Yi nodded in understanding, but understanding doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s willing to accept this outcome. A company had a sum of money mysteriously transferred out; this matter could be seen as a major or minor issue. Qiao Yi had felt that something was off, which is why she had asked Feng Siyu to investigate, but who would have thought the lead would suddenly go cold. ¡°Forget it, send me the location of that farm, I¡¯ll go take a look in the next few days.¡± ¡°Also, these few days my father is handling the old harbor district project in Tian City, when you go back tell Uncle Feng and Uncle Gu to not get involved in this project.¡± Qiao Yi definitely didn¡¯t want anyone else to disrupt Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s plans, after all, if the plan fails, Qiao Benqing would be the one getting schemed against. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s seriousness, Feng Siyu solemnly promised to pass the message directly to the elders at home. As for whether the elders would heed the advice, that was not her worry. After getting the relevant information from Feng Siyu, Qiao Yi went straight back to the Qiao Family home. ¡°Why are you back again so suddenly? Without a word too, we don¡¯t even have your share for dinner.¡± Zhao Wenjing was somewhat surprised to see Qiao Yi, but then got worried when she didn¡¯t see Lu Yanchuan with her. ¡°I just came back to pick up some things, I¡¯m off to Country F tomorrow. Is there anything you want, Mom? I¡¯ll bring it back for you.¡± Qiao Yi cooed to Zhao Wenjing while packing her things. ¡°Why are you suddenly going to Country F? Is Yanchuan going with you? Or are you and Yuanyuan running some errands together?¡± Previously, Qiao Yi had kept Feng Siyu company on her visits to various places for engagements. However, after Gu Ting, Feng Siyu started neglecting her friends and didn¡¯t need Qiao Yi anymore. Mentioned by Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi seemed to think of something, her face reddened for a moment while she continued to pack her belongings and replied without stopping. ¡°I¡¯m going on my own. The Lu Family company is busy; I¡¯ll return in two or three days. Why worry?¡± Qiao Yi, unlike Qiao Xin, traveled for two years after graduating, visited many countries, and got used to traveling alone. Zhao Wenjing was still worried, ¡°How about Mom accompanies you? It¡¯s quite chaotic outside now, I¡¯m not at ease with you going alone.¡± ¡°I will be going with Yiyi, you don¡¯t have to worry, Mom.¡± Qiao Yi looked up, only to see Lu Yanchuan who apparently had been standing at the door of the room for a while. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Seeing Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi inexplicably felt guilty and hurriedly turned back to continue packing, trying to cover her panic. ¡°There¡¯s business in the company that just happens to require an inspection to Country F, so Yiyi and I will go together.¡± With Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, Zhao Wenjing immediately felt relieved and after giving several instructions, she left the room, leaving the space for the couple. Looking at Zhao Wenjing who had gone out, Qiao Yi then stood up to face Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I have some personal matters to attend to in Country F, isn¡¯t it inconvenient for you to follow?¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Business Trips and Travel Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Business Trips and Travel ¡°You¡¯re going for personal reasons, and I¡¯m going for work; we should have nothing to do with each other.¡± Qiao Yi met Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes, who seemed determined to go regardless. Qiao Yi shrugged indifferently, thinking if he wanted to follow so badly, let him, since she hadn¡¯t done anything shameful. After Qiao Yi gathered all the things she needed to take, Lu Yanchuan naturally took her back to the place of her nightmares. Qiao Yi was bitterly holding her small suitcase when suddenly it felt lighter; Lu Yanchuan had taken it from her. Watching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s back ahead of her, Qiao Yi suddenly felt that visiting Ting City might not be so bad after all. ¡­ ¡°What did you say? The people from F country have all withdrawn? How do you handle things! I invested eighty million, and now you tell me you¡¯ve withdrawn!¡± Lu Ming roared into his phone like an enraged lion, completely irrational. Whatever was said on the other end of the phone seemed to slightly soothe Lu Ming¡¯s anger, but he was still seething, gripping his phone as if he was about to crush it. ¡°Fine, I get it, if we¡¯re withdrawing then let¡¯s clean it up thoroughly, leave no doubts!¡± Lu Ming talked on the phone for a while before hanging up. He then turned and saw a shadow flash by the door; he quickly ran over and flung the door open. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Qiao Xin, startled by the sudden opening of the door, screamed and stumbled several steps back. ¡°I was just passing by.¡± Qiao Xin said, clutching her chest, seemingly still frightened by Lu Ming; her face showed nothing but horror. Lu Ming¡¯s expression flickered, and after a moment, he softened and let Qiao Xin come in. ¡°There¡¯s been some trouble with the company, and I need to go to F country. When I¡¯m not home, try to stay away from the old house, to avoid trouble from grandfather and Yanchuan.¡± ¡°I heard from my mom that Mr. Lu and Qiao Yi are also going to F country tomorrow, aren¡¯t you headed to the same destination?¡± Qiao Xin had just hung up with Zhao Wenjing, and from her, she learned about Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s trip to F country, which naturally piqued her interest. Not only to have fun traveling but more so to have more contact with Lu Yanchuan during the journey. However, she didn¡¯t expect Lu Ming to also be going to F country. With Lu Ming there, maybe she could use another method to push Qiao Yi back to where she originally belonged. Upon hearing that Qiao Yi was also going to F country, Lu Ming¡¯s pupils quickly contracted, but they returned to normal in an instant. ¡°Since they are also going, it¡¯s good that we¡¯ll have company on the way.¡± ¡­ Qiao Yi had no idea that Qiao Xin and Lu Ming were also going. Seeing them at the airport made her head spin. She had serious business there; Lu Ming¡¯s presence was explainable, but why on earth was Qiao Xin there too? Qiao Yi could see Qiao Xin, and of course, Qiao Xin could see Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. Upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Xin put on a big, welcoming smile and approached them. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how lucky we are to go on a trip together, this is just great¡­¡± ¡°Why are you joining us for a serious business trip? Just to add to the excitement?¡± Qiao Yi stepped forward to block Lu Yanchuan and rolled her eyes at Qiao Xin¡¯s displeasure. It was as if Qiao Xin didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi, she bypassed her and leaned closer to Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I¡¯m ready to have a good time in country F. If Mr. Lu finishes his business, would he be interested in touring around country F with me? Ah!¡± Qiao Xin exclaimed, but Qiao Yi grabbed her collar, pushed her away, and threw her into Lu Ming¡¯s arms, then Qiao Yi took out a wet wipe to clean her hands as if they were tainted with something unclean. ¡°Qiao Yi! You¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± Qiao Xin steadied herself, glaring furiously at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t care less, she hooked Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and moved even farther away from Qiao Xin, looking mockingly at Lu Ming. ¡°Listen, nephew, can¡¯t you handle your wife? Why does she flirt with someone else¡¯s husband at the sight of one? That¡¯s not how we do things in the Lu Family.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words were spiteful, Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned crimson with rage. If not for Lu Ming holding her back, she would have charged at Qiao Yi. ¡°Sharing a plane ride with you is truly bad luck, who knows if you¡¯d be handsy with someone else¡¯s husband? If you dare flirt in front of my husband again, I¡¯ll strip you naked and throw you out, see if I won¡¯t!¡± Qiao Yi sneered, pulling Lu Yanchuan away under Qiao Xin¡¯s shocked and angry gaze. Lu Yanchuan silently watched Qiao Yi scold Qiao Xin, and only after they walked far away did he speak. ¡°Are you jealous because Qiao Xin spoke to me?¡± Qiao Yi choked on her own saliva, staring incredulously at Lu Yanchuan, not understanding what kind of fit prompted him to say that. ¡°Me, jealous? Would I get jealous?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face was beautifully flushed, and Lu Yanchuan struggled to keep a straight face. ¡°Yes, aren¡¯t you? Maybe you¡¯ve fallen for me, playful about those marks from other women before, now getting violent because Qiao Xin spoke to me. If you¡¯ve fallen for me, just say it, no need to hide.¡± Qiao Yi almost rolled her eyes to the sky, stopped in her tracks, sized Lu Yanchuan up and down, finally meeting his gaze with a disdainful curl of her lips. ¡°Dream on! I just can¡¯t stand Qiao Xin, you are my lawful husband now, which means you are mine. Even if I don¡¯t want you, I won¡¯t allow her a glance!¡± Lu Yanchuan looked somewhat perplexed but didn¡¯t say anything, quietly moving aside. It seemed like Qiao Yi had just realized what she said, voicing such possessive words for the first time, but indeed, that was what she thought. Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi found seats near the boarding gate. Qiao Xin, after whispering something to Lu Ming, brought him over and sat directly across from Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t stand Qiao Xin¡¯s flirtatious demeanor. Seeing there was still time before boarding, she hooked Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and leaned her entire body on his shoulder. ¡°Yanchuan, it¡¯s all your fault, I didn¡¯t sleep well last night, let me sleep for a while, wake me up when it¡¯s boarding time!¡± Qiao Yi got goosebumps all over herself at her own words, but Lu Yanchuan just looked slightly stunned before quickly regaining composure, even draping his jacket over Qiao Yi. ¡°Rest well, I¡¯ll wake you when it¡¯s time.¡± Across from them, the two were openly showing affection, Lu Ming¡¯s eyes nearly popped out, unbelieving that this tender, soft-spoken man was his decisive and vigorous uncle! Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Lu Mings Purpose Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Lu Ming¡¯s Purpose The country of F is known for its romance, and from the moment Qiao Yi disembarked from the plane, she deeply sensed the uniqueness of this nation. ¡°Since both of you are here for the company¡¯s business, I won¡¯t join you. Let¡¯s meet again at the airport when we return.¡± Qiao Yi said this and then pulled her luggage to leave. Lu Yanchuan and Lu Ming were both on a business trip for Lu Group, so it wouldn¡¯t be right for her to delay Lu Yanchuan¡¯s schedule for her own affairs. Naturally, going their separate ways was the best option. However, Qiao Yi had only walked a short distance when someone caught up to her from behind. ¡°Why are you not going with Lu Ming?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already booked a hotel.¡± Lu Yanchuan reached out to take Qiao Yi¡¯s luggage and headed outside the airport. Was he being too overbearing? She didn¡¯t say she wanted to go with him! Qiao Yi stomped her feet and hurried after him. How could she not? All her belongings were in his hands! ¡°Are those two following us?¡± Qiao Yi checked the rearview mirror for the third time. The white SUV had been following their car ever since they left the airport. ¡°Are Lu Ming and Qiao Xin also staying at the hotel you booked?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it¡¯s a coincidence.¡± Lu Yanchuan was noncommittal, and Qiao Yi looked back at the pursuing car again, feeling that something was off. It took the car two hours to reach the hotel, and Qiao Yi got out feeling sick as a dog. Who would have thought that driving in the country of F could be so challenging, with all the turns and traffic jams, that even someone who didn¡¯t get carsick like her nearly met her demise in the car. ¡°Are you alright?¡± A piece of paper was handed to her side, and Qiao Yi wiped her mouth and shook her head disheveled. Lu Yanchuan walked in with a suitcase in one hand and Qiao Yi in the other, as if she were a little chick. The two had just entered the hotel when Lu Ming and Qiao Xin arrived shortly after, both looking a bit pale, especially Lu Ming, who even felt that Lu Yanchuan had chosen this hotel just to make him suffer from carsickness. Heavens know that Lu Yanchuan had no intention of staying with them¡ªclearly he had made them follow on purpose. Qiao Xin didn¡¯t get carsick, but sitting in the car for such a long time was very uncomfortable for her. Seeing Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi snuggling up ahead and then looking at Lu Ming with a pale face beside her, jealousy and resentment in her heart grew wildly like vines. ¡°Let¡¯s go, get inside quickly. It¡¯s about to rain.¡± Lu Ming tugged at Qiao Xin and entered the hotel with his small bag. Qiao Xin looked down at her suitcase at her feet, then at Lu Ming, grinding her teeth in frustration. She must make Qiao Yi return to where she belongs, Lu Yanchuan must become her man! ¡°Achoo!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly sneezed loudly, rubbing her nose and wondering who was cursing her. However, turning her head to see Qiao Xin dragging her luggage into the hotel behind her, Qiao Yi knew who was cursing her. As Qiao Xin approached the front desk, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes shifted, and she suddenly leaned against Lu Yanchuan with a soft and tender voice. ¡°Yanchuan, I just sneezed. Do you think I¡¯m going to catch a cold? Could you get me some medicine, please?¡± Qiao Yi was disgusted by her own voice, but keeping an eye on Qiao Xin, she noticed Qiao Xin had an expression as if she had swallowed a fly, looking extremely unpleasant. Lu Yanchuan understood Qiao Yi¡¯s intentions all too well. Listening to her affected voice, he inexplicably wanted her to keep talking. He must be sick. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you back to your room first.¡± Qiao Yi completely relaxed and leaned on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, feeling perfectly justified in being a human arm ornament in front of Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin looked at the intimate scene between the two, with jealousy written all over her face. ¡°Qiao Xin, remember your position, you are still my wife.¡± Lu Ming suddenly stepped in front of Qiao Xin, looking at her emotionlessly. Qiao Xin was startled, then sneered. ¡°Please make sure you remember our agreement, or don¡¯t blame me for turning heartless!¡± Qiao Xin pushed Lu Ming aside and chased after Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi, leaving Lu Ming standing there with a twisted expression. The receptionist watched Lu Ming¡¯s fierce expression carefully, fearing he might take his anger out on her at the slightest disagreement. Fortunately, Lu Ming¡¯s phone rang at that moment, interrupting his emotional state. ¡°I¡¯ve arrived in country F, and I will personally check this afternoon. You guys need to pull out this morning; anything that can¡¯t be taken must be burned on site.¡± A disbelieving gasp came from the other end of the phone. Lu Ming, with impatience creasing his brow, waited for the person on the other end to calm down before speaking. ¡°You should know what the consequences would be if these things are found out. Now, immediately, destroy anything that cannot be taken away! You know the consequences if you don¡¯t!¡± Lu Ming hung up after saying this but turned to see Qiao Yi looking at him thoughtfully. Did she hear? How much did she hear? Lu Ming was internally alarmed, almost unable to maintain his composure. ¡°Please send two dinners to my room, thanks.¡± Qiao Yi only glanced at Lu Ming, then no longer paid him any attention, instead giving instructions to the receptionist before turning away. Lu Ming¡¯s heartbeat thundered, the tension from just a moment ago nearly overwhelming him. Thankfully, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t seem to have heard what he said. Back in her room, thoughts of Lu Ming¡¯s words circled in Qiao Yi¡¯s mind. Destruction? What did he need to destroy? ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi bumped head-first into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s back, who then turned around. From his tranquil eyes, she saw an inexplicable innocence. How can this man walk so quietly! Lu Yanchuan looked completely innocent. It was Qiao Yi who had bumped into him; how could she blame him? ¡°By the way, what kind of business does Lu Group mainly run in country F? Do they need to destroy any materials recently?¡± Qiao Yi asked, rubbing her nose. Lu Yanchuan looked at her curiously for a moment before responding. ¡°Lu Group mainly operates IT technology development in country F. Over here we only have one electronic information company, with all work conducted online; there is no need for any physical materials.¡± This answer was unexpected, yet Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t surprised in her heart. Hesitating briefly, Qiao Yi recounted to Lu Yanchuan the conversation she had overheard downstairs. ¡°I heard Lu Ming talking about destroying something and fearing discovery; could it be some issue with his own business in country F?¡± Based on her impression of Lu Ming, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t think positively. Her mind was filled with the possibility of illegal activities. ¡°Lu Ming indeed has his own company, a fashion design company, but it¡¯s not located in country F, nor does it involve any materials that need to be kept secret.¡± Now that¡¯s interesting. Qiao Yi questioned Lu Yanchuan, and the only recent occurrence requiring a trip to country F for Lu Group was what he was handling. If Lu Ming¡¯s visit wasn¡¯t due to Lu Group or his own company, then why did he come to country F? Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Disappearing Farm Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Disappearing Farm ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to investigate this matter; you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about myself; I just don¡¯t want Lu Ming¡¯s wrongdoing to implicate Lu Group, especially since dad has been very good to me.¡± Qiao Yi fiddled with her fingers as she explained, but the explanation seemed overly defensive, which only made Lu Yanchuan chuckle. ¡°What are you laughing about! What¡¯s so funny! If Lu Ming does something illegal, it¡¯s your Lu Family that will be affected! And here you are laughing!¡± Qiao Yi, embarrassed and angry, decided not to bother with Lu Yanchuan anymore. However, holding back a smile, Lu Yanchuan seriously and earnestly admitted his mistake, coaxing Qiao Yi to talk to him again. ¡°I will thoroughly investigate the matter with Lu Ming, and I¡¯m certain he won¡¯t do anything that jeopardizes me¡­ and dad.¡± Lu Yanchuan deliberately elongated his tone, causing Qiao Yi to glare at him before he spoke properly. ¡°I¡¯ll go out this afternoon and probably won¡¯t be back very early. I¡¯ll get a separate room for myself; you don¡¯t have to wait for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Qiao Yi turned to him, frowning. She had serious business to handle; why would Lu Yanchuan come along! ¡°I know you came to F country to investigate the company¡¯s fund movements, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m here too.¡± Lu Yanchuan decided to lay his cards on the table and, under Qiao Yi¡¯s surprised and suspicious gaze, pulled out his investigation results. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Five months ago, there was a sum of money from Lu Group that mysteriously got transferred out. It was rapidly replaced, but the amount was substantial. It was moved without my approval, and whoever did it was meticulous with the accounts. By the time I found out, three months had already passed.¡± It¡¯s not just that this person was meticulous with the accounts; it¡¯s that they were highly skilled in manipulating people. If the money hadn¡¯t been replenished on time, the finance department would have had to report it early, as they wouldn¡¯t be able to shoulder the responsibility if things escalated. But the funds were replenished in time, the books balanced, and naturally, to avoid issues, the finance department wouldn¡¯t bring it up voluntarily until it came to light during the quarterly meeting. That¡¯s when Lu Yanchuan discovered the movement of the funds. After investigating for two months, the result was that the funds had once been transferred into an account in F country, then transferred back two days later. There are not many people in the company who can access liquid funds, but any executive level or above has the authority to move funds, and in special circumstances, it doesn¡¯t even require the CEO¡¯s approval. After hearing Lu Yanchuan speak, Qiao Yi also shared what she had entrusted Feng Siyu to investigate. Comparing both, the financial movements of the two companies were exactly the same, even ending up in the same account! ¡°There could be an internal mole in both of our companies.¡± And not just any mole, but one holding a high position! This was no small matter; Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan exchanged a look and left the room together. When Qiao Xin opened the door, she caught a glimpse of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hurried silhouettes and, after a moment of hesitation, decided to follow them. ¡°Yuanyuan found a farmstead, and the trail ends at that estate. The main reason I came to F country this time is to check out the farmstead.¡± There are too many farmsteads in F country; they had passed by dozens just on the way there. Following the address Feng Siyu had given, they arrived at a desolate field instead. ¡°How could this be? This is indeed the address Yuanyuan gave me; how can there be nothing here?¡± Qiao Yi pulled out a photo from her bag. The quality was poor, but it clearly depicted the farmstead location they were at. However, all Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan could see was a wasteland stretching before them. A barren piece of land, without even a few weeds. Lu Yanchuan took the photo to compare and then stepped out of the car to inspect the barren land. Following him, Qiao Yi alighted from the car too, both unaware of the white SUV parked around the corner of the nearby path. ¡°This place used to be a farmstead. The spots without grass are very regular in shape and likely were buildings or storage previously, and among the grass, there are some sheep droppings. It must have been a sheep farm before, but it¡¯s unclear when it was all moved out, so thoroughly and cleanly.¡± ¡°It must be that someone discovered Yuanyuan was investigating this! That¡¯s why they were prepared and moved out in advance!¡± Qiao Yi was both angry and regretful. She had asked Feng Siyu to investigate just so the person moving the funds wouldn¡¯t know she was on to them. But it wasn¡¯t just Qiao Family; they had also tampered with Lu Group. Aside from these two companies, who knows how many others had been affected by their fund movements! ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being so rash. If I had known, I would have investigated it myself and not let this culminate like a rabbit hiding away!¡± Qiao Yi was so angry she kicked the ground, while Lu Yanchuan shook his head and guided her back to the car. ¡°We definitely won¡¯t find what we¡¯re looking for here. Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Wait, I want to look around some more. Maybe we¡¯ve come to the wrong place?¡± Qiao Yi was hesitant and unwilling to get into the car. ¡°How about we ask around the nearby farmsteads? They might know something about this place.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled Lu Yanchuan towards the car. ¡°Hurry up, let¡¯s go ask at the farmstead we just passed by! They¡¯re so close; they must know something!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s sudden excitement made Lu Yanchuan unable to help but smile as he let her drag him into the car, urging the driver to head for the nearest farmstead to inquire. After Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car left, Qiao Xin slowly drove to where they had alighted from their vehicle. The sun cast a reflection on the ground and a flash of blinding light caught Qiao Xin¡¯s attention. She bent over in the dirt and picked up a cufflink. The exquisitely crafted sapphire cufflink was clearly valuable and not something just anyone could afford. Turning the cufflink over in her hand, Qiao Xin saw a small engraved letter on the back. ¡°L? Lu?¡± A single letter was insufficient to determine the owner of the cufflink, but Qiao Xin put it away carefully. From the way Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan were acting, perhaps this cufflink might prove useful to her in the future. Meanwhile, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan had arrived at the nearest farmstead. They explained their purpose and were warmly welcomed by the owner. The farm owner, an amiable F country gentleman, upon hearing about Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s request, began to talk about the neighboring farmstead. ¡°The owner of that farmstead is quite peculiar. He doesn¡¯t stay there usually, only coming occasionally with a group of people. I don¡¯t know what they do there, but there¡¯s always a strange smell. It doesn¡¯t disappear until after they¡¯ve left.¡± Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 We Go One-on-One Chapter 44: Chapter 44 We Go One-on-One ¡°Do you know when the neighboring farm moved away?¡± Qiao Yi asked the question and immediately saw the uncle visibly stunned, replying in astonishment. ¡°He moved? Three days ago when I went to the supermarket, I still saw the farm owner bringing a group of people to the farm. I was curious why that distinct odd smell from the farm was absent today. So he actually moved away?¡± After exchanging glances with Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi realized that they must have received the news three days ago and moved away early all at once. Thinking for a moment, Qiao Yi asked, ¡°Do you remember what the owner of the farm looks like?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t hold out much hope for this question; expecting a regular uncle to remember a neighbor he didn¡¯t see often was asking too much of him. But contrary to Qiao Yi¡¯s expectations, the uncle did remember what he looked like. ¡°The man had a small mustache, a limp in his left foot, and wasn¡¯t tall¡ªdidn¡¯t seem like a good person at first glance, and he was always carrying a black briefcase.¡± It wasn¡¯t that the uncle had a great memory; it was just that this neighbor had characteristics that were hard to forget, even if you¡¯d only met him once. Unable to tell if she was disappointed, Qiao Yi could find a whole bunch of mustachioed, limping men, but which one was it? Surely she couldn¡¯t have the uncle confirm each and every one she found, could she? After bidding farewell to the produce uncle, Qiao Yi listlessly got into the car heading back to the hotel. The trail was lost, and for such a deep-rooted cancer between the Qiao Family and Lu Group, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t think of a proper solution. If she couldn¡¯t figure it out, then don¡¯t think about it; when the sky falls, there will be taller people to hold it up. Qiao Yi decided to go back and just report the matter to Qiao Benqing and let him investigate further. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï By the time the car returned to the hotel, it was already dark. A very familiar car drove across from them, and Qiao Xin got out of the car. Qiao Xin walked past Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan with her head held high in arrogance. Qiao Yi gave her a puzzled glance, not quite understanding what this woman was up to now. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to shamelessly cling to Lu Yanchuan whenever she saw him? How come she¡¯s acting reserved now? Qiao Yi turned to look at Lu Yanchuan, no mistake¡ªstill very handsome and pleasing to the eye. So why was his charm not enough for Qiao Xin today? Before Qiao Yi could figure it out, another car arrived behind them, and out stepped Lu Ming. However, Lu Ming¡¯s appearance surprised both Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. Lu Ming was covered in layers of dust, looking as if there were still ashes remaining on him, appearing extremely disheveled. ¡°Did you go digging coal mines?¡± Qiao Yi looked at the black dust on Lu Ming. His face turned even uglier, ignoring Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan and heading into the hotel. Watching the irritable Lu Ming pushing past the security, she nudged Lu Yanchuan. ¡°He didn¡¯t really go and do something shady, did he?¡± Lu Yanchuan was cold as ice, completely disdainful of Lu Ming, and he dragged Qiao Yi past the Lu Ming who was entangled with the security guard, heading into the hotel. ¡°Qiao Qiao, when are you coming back? How is the investigation going? I¡¯m suffocating at home!¡± Feng Siyu was holding her phone and complaining. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to worry her with the news of the missing estate, and only after promising to return early and finally mollifying Feng Siyu did she hang up the phone. Qiao Yi put down the phone and immediately saw Lu Yanchuan looking at her with a strange expression, which made her feel tense all over and involuntarily shrink back. ¡°What are you doing, looking at me like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just wondering if it¡¯s because of Feng Siyu that you don¡¯t want to marry Lu Ming.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Qiao Yi asked reflexively, while Lu Yanchuan said it was nothing, but the eyes behind his newspaper still sneakily glanced at Qiao Yi. A good while passed before Qiao Yi finally understood what Lu Yanchuan meant! He suspected her of being a lesbian! This was outrageous! Did he forget about the incident that happened that day? Qiao Yi was surprisingly furious, grabbing a pillow nearby and smashing it towards Lu Yanchuan, her whole person also screamed and pounced to fight him to the death. ¡°How dare you think that way! You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s small frame was not enough for Lu Yanchuan to be bothered with one hand; he easily pinned her on the bed while she still glared at him with those big eyes. ¡°Come on, let me go! Let¡¯s go one on one!¡± Lu Yanchuan was finally amused by Qiao Yi¡¯s antics and laughed, the tremors in his laughter allowed Qiao Yi to distinctly feel the warmth of the man pressing down on her. Qiao Yi blushed, struggling hard to overturn Lu Yanchuan, to break free from his embrace. ¡°Ah! You two! You two!¡± Suddenly, a sharp scream came from the door. Before Qiao Yi could react, Lu Yanchuan had already pulled her tightly into the covers. Struggling out of the blanket, Qiao Yi looked towards the door, only to see a pale-faced Qiao Xin standing there, speechless and pointing at the two of them inside the room. ¡°Do you have something to say? If not, don¡¯t disturb our couple¡¯s private world, okay?¡± Qiao Yi wiggled and nudged towards Lu Yanchuan, who then held her along with the blanket into his arms. Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned from green to white and finally reddened, looking at Lu Yanchuan as if she was looking at a heartless man. ¡°How, how could you treat me this way!¡± Qiao Yi felt it was necessary to interrupt Qiao Xin¡¯s illusions, struggling out of the blanket and after tidying up her clothes, Qiao Yi then stood up and faced Qiao Xin. ¡°Look, can you not stare at someone else¡¯s man with those eyes? Can¡¯t your own man satisfy you? If you¡¯re unsatisfied, go out on the street to pick up, surely you can get the amount you want.¡± ¡°See, I even gave you such a good idea; shouldn¡¯t you be leaving now? If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll call security!¡± Qiao Yi caught the slap that Qiao Xin threw at her, pulling her towards the exit. ¡°Look at you, even if you like the suggestion I made, there¡¯s no need to be so excited, right? Move it, don¡¯t waste time.¡± Qiao Yi dragged Qiao Xin by the arm all the way, completely ignoring her struggles and screams, directly pushed her out, and with a bang, closed the door firmly. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, the hotel security you arranged seems not very effective, how can just anyone barge into the room?¡± Qiao Yi leaned against the wall with her arms folded, though it wasn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan¡¯s fault, it was still somewhat related to him, and Qiao Yi didn¡¯t mind mocking him about it. Lu Yanchuan did not agree or disagree, grabbing his coat and heading out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To deal with these guys who always like running into other people¡¯s rooms.¡± Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Childhood Sweethearts Qiao Yi swore that if anyone dared to tell her again that Lu Yanchuan was some kind of heroic, ruthless, decisive, and cold person, she would fight tooth and nail with them! This is clearly just a thug in wolf¡¯s clothing! What does he mean by saying letting others into his room would affect their marital nightlife? What does he mean by not wanting to see anyone outside his room at night, or else he would accuse the hotel of invading their privacy? Why does every word he says sound so righteous and justified, yet leads to such wild speculation! Qiao Yi could already feel the weird glances from the hotel staff, and some were even snickering! This is unbearable! Before Qiao Yi could drag Lu Yanchuan to their mutual doom, Lu Yanchuan finally concluded his complaint. After receiving a sincere apology and a stern assurance from the hotel, he then took Qiao Yi back to their room. Qiao Yi decided not to speak to this man because she didn¡¯t want to be angered to an early grave. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone had been ringing non-stop ever since they got back to the room, and Qiao Yi saw Lu Yanchuan busy replying to messages before she fell asleep. It was only during breakfast the next day that Qiao Yi learned that Lu Ming had left the country overnight, not even waiting until the flight in the next afternoon; he hastened to P Country the same night to catch the earliest flight back home. Lu Ming left in a hurry, but Qiao Yi recalled his appearance from the evening before and felt she might have overlooked something. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have the energy to ponder Lu Ming¡¯s affairs because she was approached by another trouble. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°So you¡¯re Yanchuan¡¯s wife?¡± Qiao Yi looked at the young girl in front of her with an unfriendly expression, and turned her eyes in confusion to Lu Yanchuan sitting beside her. Lu Yanchuan looked as if his eyes were fixed on his nose and his nose fixed on his heart, turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the commotion. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, didn¡¯t you hear me? How can you be so impolite!¡± The girl looked to be in her early twenties at most, her appearance naturally lively and cute, but her face was marred by an aura of arrogance and rudeness. Qiao Yi had no interest in reasoning with such a girl, and after taking another glance at Lu Yanchuan, she turned to walk away, intending to go shopping. ¡°Stop right there! Didn¡¯t your parents teach you how to speak to people? You¡­¡± ¡°If you say one more word, I¡¯ll throw you down from the thirtieth floor.¡± Qiao Yi turned around emotionlessly, her black eyes calm without a ripple, but it inexplicably sent chills down one¡¯s spine. The girl had been spoiled for over twenty years, never encountering such icy gazes, and was suddenly too scared to say another word, her eyes in a panic as she looked toward Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi disliked proud and impolite people, like Qiao Xin, and like this inexplicable young girl in front of her. ¡°Little girl, the next time you come out looking for trouble, you¡¯d better know if the person you¡¯re provoking is someone you can afford to mess with, otherwise you¡¯ll end up being thrown down from a building sometime.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s expression softened, but the girl no longer dared to look her in the eye, clenching her hands in a defiant manner. Disrupted by the girl¡¯s scene, Qiao Yi lost the mood to go out shopping. She rolled her eyes, walked over, and sat down on the solo sofa beside Lu Yanchuan, tilting her head up slightly to look at the girl. ¡°Speak up, who are you, and who told you about Lu Yanchuan and me coming to F Country?¡± ¡°Yanchuan, Brother¡­¡± The little girl seemed to be terrified by Qiao Yi, looking at Lu Yanchuan with a pitiful gaze, hoping he would speak up for her. Unfortunately, she should not have sought help from Lu Yanchuan¡ªdidn¡¯t she see that he didn¡¯t even glance her way? ¡°When I¡¯m talking to you, if you don¡¯t want to answer, then please leave my room, or else I¡¯ll call security.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s voice sounded like a death knell in the little girl¡¯s ears. Through their brief exchange, Qiao Yi came to understand who this little girl was. She was the daughter of Lu Xiaohua¡¯s best friend¡¯s family, named Bai Lingling. Because her mother and Lu Xiaohua were close, she often visited the Lu Family when she was young. By seniority, she should address Lu Yanchuan as Uncle, but ever since she first met him when she was in her teens, she never called him Uncle, always Brother instead. When they were little, Lu Xiaohua and Bai Lingling¡¯s mother tried to correct her, but as the children grew older, how could they not see Bai Lingling¡¯s hidden affection? With a bit of selfishness, they let Bai Lingling continue her ways. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s indifference didn¡¯t deter Bai Lingling; instead, she fought on with even more determination, not giving up even when she went abroad for studies. What she didn¡¯t expect was that after only two years abroad, her beloved Yanchuan already had a wife¡ªand this wife was so much more beautiful than her, with a much better family background, too! No one knew how hard she had worked to catch up to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s footsteps. But now all of that was impossible, because sitting by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side was his wife today! Struck by this revelation, Bai Lingling showed her resilience. After recovering from the shock of Qiao Yi¡¯s threat, she held back her feelings and sat down beside Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Yanchuan Brother, it¡¯s so rare for you to visit me, can¡¯t you stay a few more days before leaving? I¡¯ll take you around and have a good time here.¡± Oh my, Qiao Yi almost melted at the calling of ¡®Yanchuan Brother,¡¯ her gaze playfully turning to Lu Yanchuan, curious about his thoughts on this childhood friend. Qiao Yi absolutely refused to admit the slight discomfort in her heart! ¡°Bai Lingling, I¡¯m not here to see you, and I¡¯ve told you not to get so close to me. Otherwise, I really want to throw you off the 30th floor.¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Bai Lingling glared at her fiercely, but Qiao Yi just couldn¡¯t stop laughing, sliding down into the sofa. Lu Yanchuan propped up the helpless Qiao Yi, letting her lean on him, and only after a while did he manage to calm her down. Qiao Yi was impressed by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s ability to irritate people¡ªshe could not fathom how Bai Lingling had endured all these years, to actually fall for such a man. No doubt, Bai Lingling¡¯s perseverance was truly admirable. ¡°I still have things to do, I¡¯ll visit you some other time¡­¡± Bai Lingling ran off crying. Qiao Yi really wanted to see if she was actually crying, but just as she started to sit up, Lu Yanchuan pulled her back onto the sofa. ¡°Very funny?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡ª¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice carried a hint of a threat, and Qiao Yi immediately closed her mouth and shook her head vigorously, but laughter isn¡¯t something that can be contained just by closing one¡¯s mouth. Muffled sounds escaped through Qiao Yi¡¯s lips, as if releasing some kind of gas non-stop. ¡°I¡¯ve booked a flight for tomorrow afternoon. If you want to go shopping, better do it quickly.¡± Lu Yanchuan casually let go of Qiao Yi, acting as if nothing had happened. Qiao Yi, rubbing her face, stood up from the sofa and, still unable to suppress her laughter at the look of Lu Yanchuan, cheerfully left the room with her purse in hand. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Didnt Give You the Chance to Seduce Someone Elses Husband Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Didn¡¯t Give You the Chance to Seduce Someone Else¡¯s Husband Bai Lingling surprisingly hadn¡¯t left; she was waiting for Qiao Yi to come down in the lobby on the first floor. When Qiao Yi saw Bai Lingling, she was taken aback for a moment. Hadn¡¯t this girl left already? Why was she still here, lying in wait like a hunter? ¡°I know you married Yanchuan, but don¡¯t think that you can have Yanchuan completely. He will definitely be mine!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, you¡¯re also twenty-two this year; you should be an adult. I suggest you watch less of those senseless novels and stop living in a fantasy world! Oh, I forgot to tell you, our marriage was actually Yanchuan¡¯s own initiative!¡± Qiao Yi made a helpless expression, and under Bai Lingling¡¯s furious gaze, she turned and left. Bullying children truly brought no pleasure; Qiao Yi felt it was much more satisfying to have a showdown with Qiao Xin. Just thinking about Qiao Xin, she looked up to see Qiao Xin walking towards her. Without a word, Qiao Xin raised her hand to slap Qiao Yi. Her little prowess didn¡¯t even register in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. With a lift of her hand, she caught Qiao Xin¡¯s slap and flung her aside. ¡°What on earth did you do! Why did Dad call and scold me? Did you badmouth me to Dad!¡± Qiao Xin was furiously irate, ready to devour Qiao Yi in the next moment. ¡°Dad scolded you, and you don¡¯t ask him why, but instead, you come to me? Qiao Xin, is there something wrong with your brain?¡± First provoked by the brat, and then by Qiao Xin, it was exasperating. Qiao Xin, with an unscrupulous attitude, kept cursing at Qiao Yi, adamant that it was her doing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Qiao Yi, becoming impatient, rolled her eyes and was about to leave but was caught by Qiao Xin, who wouldn¡¯t let her go. ¡°Can you at least act like a human? Even if you accuse me of tattling to Dad, could you at least clearly state what I¡¯m supposed to have reported? If you keep making these dirty accusations, watch out¡ªI might just slap you!¡± Gentlemen speak and don¡¯t resort to violence. Qiao Yi never considered herself a gentleman; she preferred action rather than wasting words. It wasn¡¯t the first time Qiao Xin had been hit by Qiao Yi, and seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s hand raised, she instinctively dodged backward. After realizing what she had done, Qiao Xin became even more enraged. ¡°Qiao Yi! You well know that Lu Ming and I were forced to be together, and instead of repenting for stealing Lu Yanchuan from me, you¡¯re now using such despicable tactics to bind me and Lu Ming together! Give me back my Lu Yanchuan!¡± Qiao Yi understood, probably because of what Qiao Benqing said a few days ago about re-arranging Qiao Xin¡¯s job. He had already made up his mind. Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t refused before; she had counted on getting a job at the Lu Group to be in close contact with Lu Yanchuan. But Qiao Benqing¡¯s words shattered her fantasy, for he had arranged her to be Lu Ming¡¯s assistant! She wouldn¡¯t be able to see Lu Yanchuan at all! How could Qiao Xin be willing to accept this arrangement? But Qiao Benqing was very determined, and she didn¡¯t have the right to refuse. After receiving this news, Qiao Xin¡¯s first reaction was that Qiao Yi must have said something behind her back. It must be because she was afraid that if Xin entered Lu Group, she would be in frequent contact with Lu Yanchuan! That¡¯s why she wanted to use this method to prevent her from seeing Lu Yanchuan! Qiao Yi had almost completely guessed Qiao Xin¡¯s thoughts¡ªnot because she could foretell the future, but because what Qiao Xin was thinking was written all over her face. ¡°Qiao Xin, listen carefully. I have nothing to do with your job arrangement. Of course, if you are convinced that I¡¯m the one who sabotaged things, then continue to think that way. I don¡¯t care.¡± Qiao Yi crossed her arms and looked Qiao Xin up and down, ending with a disdainful curl of her lip. ¡°It¡¯s really funny, what makes you think you have the right to come after me with accusations? Is it because I didn¡¯t give you the chance to seduce someone else¡¯s husband? You¡¯ve lived for twenty-seven years, and all you¡¯ve learned is how to lure married men?¡± Qiao Xin was stung by Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze, opened her mouth to retort, but was left speechless by Qiao Yi¡¯s sharp words. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t finished speaking, clicking her tongue as if she were judging a product, scrutinizing Qiao Xin from her fashion taste to her looks, with every aspect attracting Qiao Yi¡¯s sarcastic remarks. In the end, Qiao Yi glanced at the time and let out a cold snort. ¡°With the likes of you, even if you stood naked in front of Yanchuan, he probably wouldn¡¯t spare you a glance. You really think too highly of yourself, it¡¯s hilarious!¡± Qiao Yi pulled sunglasses out of her purse, put them on, and forcefully bumped Qiao Xin¡¯s shoulder as she walked out. Qiao Xin glared at Qiao Yi¡¯s departing figure, debating whether to rush up and fight with her when suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk, shall we?¡± Without that annoying person around, Qiao Yi happily went on a shopping spree, returning to the hotel with her spoils and the setting sun behind her. In the room, the bed was piled high with items, and Qiao Yi was trying on a dress. ¡°How does it look, good or not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful! I love this one! I want it!¡± The bedside cabinet had Qiao Yi¡¯s phone video open, and Feng Siyu on the other end was practically glistening with excitement at the sight of the dress on Qiao Yi, as if he wished he could reach through the screen and strip her of it right then. ¡°I knew you would like this one! I got two!¡± Qiao Yi flipped another dress out from a pile of shopping bags, waving it in front of the camera, and packed the dress into the suitcase amidst Feng Siyu¡¯s continuous confessions of ¡°baby, I love you.¡± Lu Yanchuan was sitting on the sofa, the documents in his hand had gone quite some time without being turned. When Qiao Yi returned in the afternoon, Lu Yanchuan had already observed the twenty or so different-sized shopping bags in her hands, aware of the fruits of her shopping victories. Only after they finished dinner and darkness fell, did the hotel staff knock on the door, stating they had delivered all the items Qiao Yi bought, and had already brought them up. Lu Yanchuan looked at the entire cart of goods and was genuinely stunned by Qiao Yi¡¯s shopping prowess. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even glance at Lu Yanchuan, lovingly had the cart pushed in, then called Feng Siyu. For two whole hours, these two spent all their time just trying on and discussing clothes! The cartful of goods, now less than half had been dealt with! ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve got my eye on a perfume, the scent is simply heavenly, the kind that could take you to the sky with a single whiff!¡± Qiao Yi mysteriously dug out a small pouch from the pile, taking out a small box, which in turn had another small box inside. Wrapped layer by layer, it took five layers for Lu Yanchuan to finally see the true face of this miraculous perfume. This single perfume bottle, not even half the size of his hand, was more expensive than the entire haul of Qiao Yi¡¯s stuff. Lu Yanchuan, though not concerned about the money, genuinely couldn¡¯t understand what Qiao Yi needed all these things for, and felt a certain itch himself. Qiao Yi, discussing perfumes with Feng Siyu, turned her head to see Lu Yanchuan holding a pink box and immediately cried out. ¡°Put it down!¡± Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Flattery Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Flattery Qiao Yi¡¯s piercing scream sounded as if her tail had been stepped on; Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand trembled, and the box dropped to the ground, where two elliptical, very bouncy, and puffy little pads rolled out. Lu Yanchuan bent down to pick up the items, but Qiao Yi beat him to it, stuffing them back into the box and clutching it to her chest. ¡°You! What are you doing! Why are you messing with my stuff!¡± Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan defensively like a startled rabbit, her blush made Lu Yanchuan involuntarily swallow. ¡°What just fell out?¡± Those two little pads seemed to be nice to the touch, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t get a good look before Qiao Yi snatched them away, her nervousness made him very curious. Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned an even deeper shade of red as she shoved the box to the very bottom of her suitcase, calming down a bit. ¡°There was nothing! You saw it wrong! And stop riffling through my things without permission!¡± Qiao Yi bared her teeth, threatening Lu Yanchuan, who grew even more curious about what she was hiding. Perhaps afraid that Lu Yanchuan would dig through her stuff again, Qiao Yi rummaged through a shopping bag for a while, then sneakily took several pastel-colored boxes to the bathroom and finished packing them into her suitcase before coming out. This wasn¡¯t about thwarting thieves anymore; Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze at Lu Yanchuan was as if she were looking at a lascivious and starving wolf. Lu Yanchuan touched his nose, feeling his curiosity was justified, so why was Qiao Yi so tense? Feng Siyu didn¡¯t know what Qiao Yi had frantically done; after she returned, he messaged her, and upon reading her reply, he couldn¡¯t help but snicker lewdly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°You¡¯ve seen it anyway, is there really something left unseen?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth, or you¡¯ll be left without a single piece of clothing!¡± Qiao Yi was infuriated and embarrassed; if Feng Siyu had been there, a beating would have been inevitable. After a long video call with Feng Siyu and unpacking most of the parcels, Qiao Yi finally hung up the call. There were still some parcels left, all gifts for her parents and friends and relatives. Not something to be opened now. To pack everything, Qiao Yi had even bought several suitcases, which were now lined up at the doorway, awaiting their trip to the airport the next day. From evening till late into the night, she packed and repacked until only one last bag on the bed remained. Hesitating for a moment, Qiao Yi tossed the final bag into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. ¡°Next time you want to open something, open your own stuff, not someone else¡¯s.¡± Surprisingly, she had bought him something too. Lu Yanchuan raised an eyebrow, opened the box, and found a pair of glasses inside. ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing special, just that you always look at phones and computers, wearing this will protect your eyes.¡± Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t admit that she actually wanted to see if Lu Yanchuan, wearing glasses, would appear more like a graceful but degenerate man. Lu Yanchuan was always immaculately slicked back at the office, looking sharp and ruthless. But now, slouched on the sofa with his hair casually spread out, he seemed rather laid back. Lu Yanchuan put on the glasses, pulled at the frame with one hand, and suddenly heard a ¡°click¡±. Qiao Yi quickly put away her phone, pretending nothing had happened and looked at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°That thing, how¡¯s the frame? Is it comfortable? If it¡¯s not, I can go exchange it tomorrow before flying.¡± Lu Yanchuan pretended not to have noticed Qiao Yi taking a photo of him, looking around the room, then glanced at the documents in his hand and nodded. ¡°Not bad, pretty comfortable.¡± Qiao Yi let out a sigh of relief and ran off with a forced smile on her face. Lu Yanchuan picked up his phone and looked at his reflection on the phone screen, thinking for the first time that having a good-looking ¡°shell¡± wasn¡¯t so bad after all. Hiding in the bathroom, Qiao Yi filled the bathtub with water and lay down in it. She enlarged the photo of Lu Yanchuan she had just taken and gazed at it over and over. How can this guy be so handsome! Especially with those gold-rimmed glasses, he¡¯s like a devil in disguise! She really wanted to gobble him up! Not only was Qiao Yi drooling over his looks, but Feng Siyu was also bombarding her with messages that were too risqu¨¦ for Gu Ting to see. The two infatuated admirers drooled over him for a while, and under the urging of a certain infatuated Feng, Qiao Yi decided to sneak another photo of the sophisticated rogue sprawled on the couch. Wrapped in a large bath towel, Qiao Yi stealthily opened the bathroom door and found the perfect angle to snap countless shots with her camera¡¯s shutter before quickly retreating to check the photos she had taken. Indeed, a handsome person looks good in any photo! Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear to delete any of the images. After sending two pictures to Feng Siyu, she planned to hold onto the rest for her own leisurely enjoyment. ¡°Do you like them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re beautiful! So handsome! He¡¯s going to be the man of my dreams!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Qiao Yi stiffened, slowly lifting her gaze from her ¡°dream man¡¯s¡± chest all the way to his face. Lu Yanchuan was sporting a hint of a smile, and that subtle curve made Qiao Yi feel like she was the butt of an endless joke. He was mocking her, wasn¡¯t he? Right? Right! Qiao Yi was so embarrassed she nearly dug herself a Barbie Dreamhouse with her toes, and it was then that Lu Yanchuan finally spoke. ¡°If you like looking, then just look openly. You have every right to look at me, why act like you¡¯re sneaking around like a thief?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words suddenly made Qiao Yi realize something. Right! She was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lawful wife! They were officially married! With this thought, Qiao Yi lifted her head boldly and stared at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face without letting go, even feeling a strong urge to reach out and touch it. Lu Yanchuan was amused by her infatuated little expression and reached out to pinch Qiao Yi¡¯s chin, planting a kiss on her lips. Qiao Yi¡¯s entire body flushed, but she didn¡¯t hide away, just looked at Lu Yanchuan with a silly expression. As they had been so close, Qiao Yi¡¯s bath towel had loosened and slipped down a bit, revealing a generous view of her chest. A certain intense night flooded back into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s memory, making his eyes turn red. ¡°Get some rest early.¡± Lu Yanchuan tightened his hand that was hanging by his side but ended up letting it fall, walking past Qiao Yi and into the bathroom. Qiao Yi cradled her flushed face and curled up on the bed, her heart racing uncontrollably, and just like that, she drifted off to sleep. When Lu Yanchuan walked out of the bathroom with a chill about him, Qiao Yi was already snuggled under the covers, snoring softly. Lu Yanchuan, both amused and exasperated, lay down beside Qiao Yi. Perhaps sensing a familiar presence, Qiao Yi released the covers from her embrace, turned over, and nestled into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. ¡°Dirty rascal¡­¡± Just as Lu Yanchuan started to feel a bit of tender warmth, Qiao Yi¡¯s murmured protest broke the moment. He frowned and pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s cheek a few times before lying down with her in his arms. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Signing the Contract Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Signing the Contract Qiao Yi was called back to the Qiao Family the moment she returned to the country. ¡°What¡¯s this about the unusual capital movement? When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Qiao Yi had already mentioned this matter to Qiao Benqing while she was in country F. The last clue ended in country F, she had even gone to investigate in person but came up empty, and now she could only hand this troublesome matter over to Qiao Benqing to worry about himself. Qiao Yi reiterated everything she knew to Qiao Benqing, stressing that she had only become aware of the issue after the event occurred. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t tell you sooner was that I was afraid that investigating too publicly might tip them off. But it seems they¡¯ve caught wind of it now, which is why they pulled out of country F before I arrived.¡± Qiao Benqing naturally knew that Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t conceal something like this from him, and there was no need for her to hide anything, so he believed her. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have someone keep an eye on this matter, but it serves as a reminder to us that we must be more careful with financial expenditures to avoid such problems in the future!¡± Qiao Benqing had seasoned experience in business; a minor issue like this wouldn¡¯t disturb him, but what truly mattered was another concern. ¡°The old city harbor project in Tian City has already been bid on, and Longjia and Tengxin actually used other companies to press down the price! If it weren¡¯t for Yanchuan helping, this project would have failed!¡± As Qiao Benqing spoke, his anger flared. The Sun Family was truly despicable; though malicious competition wasn¡¯t uncommon in business, the Sun Family always tried to manipulate things from behind the scenes, pushing forward companies that couldn¡¯t stand on their own to cause trouble! Qiao Yi knew that Qiao Benqing wasn¡¯t asking for advice, so she simply sat there, listening to his complaints, waiting for him to assign her the tasks. ¡°Three days later is the formal contract signing ceremony. The harbor project was initially secured under your name, so you will be the one facing Longjia and Tengxin for the signing. I get angry just thinking about those two companies!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Of course, his current anger was to prepare for even more severe revenge later. Qiao Yi agreed; signing a contract wasn¡¯t difficult. The reason Qiao Benqing wanted her to represent them was clear: the position Qiao Family held was nominal, and anyone seeing her involvement would know it was a role that involved collecting money without working. Having Qiao Yi sign the contract was a way to repay the Sun Family for their attitude towards the Qiao Family. Since the Sun Family was not sincere in cooperating with the Qiao Family, there was no reason for the Qiao Family to treat them seriously; a prominent idler was the perfect response. After discussing the company affairs, Qiao Yi recalled what Qiao Xin had said during a dispute in country F. ¡°Dad, are you really planning to send Qiao Xin to work as Lu Ming¡¯s assistant at Lu Group?¡± ¡°Yes, is there a problem?¡± Qiao Yi bit her lip, not knowing how to respond. When Qiao Xin and Lu Ming get together, wouldn¡¯t that mean constant storms at Lu Group, potentially ruining it? Besides, Qiao Xin was never someone interested in working properly. She was initially reluctant to work, let alone work with Lu Ming. ¡°The Qiao Family and Lu Family have been allies for generations. You and Yanchuan are currently on good terms, but it¡¯s always good to be prepared for a change of fortune. Having Xinxin stay at Lu Group gives us a card to play anytime.¡± Qiao Yi found it amusing inside as she looked at Qiao Benqing; her father wasn¡¯t unaware of Qiao Xin¡¯s nature¡ªsending her to Lu Group was essentially introducing a calamity there, causing trouble for Lu Group without lifting a finger. ¡°What are you thinking¡ªam I that sort of person?¡± Qiao Benqing tapped her on the head, and Qiao Yi chuckled without a word, but her expression said everything. ¡°The more important reason I¡¯m sending her to Lu Group is to foster a relationship between Xinxin and Lu Ming; their relationship seems a bit odd.¡± Of course it¡¯s odd, they aren¡¯t like a couple living a married life. Lu Ming only cared about the Lu Group shares Qiao Xin held, while Qiao Xin wished to offload Lu Ming, hoping to marry Lu Yanchuan instead. With such intentions, how could the two of them live peacefully? After talking a while, Zhao Wenjing knocked on the door, inviting them to come downstairs for a meal. As soon as she descended the stairs, Qiao Yi saw Lu Yanchuan sitting on the sofa. ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t I say I wasn¡¯t going back tonight?¡± Sometimes this man was unexpectedly clingy, making him hard to endure. It wasn¡¯t that his manner was off, but the way Lu Yanchuan had to follow wherever Qiao Yi went left her speechless. ¡°Dad said to have you come back tonight.¡± ¡°Or else you wouldn¡¯t have?¡± If you missed me, just say so; why use an elder as your shield? I wouldn¡¯t refuse to go with you.¡± Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan half-smiling, as if seeing right through his heart. Lu Yanchuan frowned, hesitated a moment, but ultimately said nothing. Although indeed sent by Old Mr. Lu, a few words from the old man weren¡¯t enough to make Lu Yanchuan drop his pride and come to the Qiao Family to fetch someone. With nothing more to say, as everybody seemed pleased, they finished their meal and Qiao Yi was ushered into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just stay home instead of coming to fetch me?¡± Qiao Yi complained. She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to talk properly with Zhao Wenjing before she was whisked away. ¡°Did your father-in-law assign you to handle the signing ceremony?¡± ¡°Yes, dad just told me; how did you know?¡± Qiao Yi almost thought Lu Yanchuan was psychic¡ªbut then she remembered this project involved both Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan, so it wasn¡¯t strange he knew of the arrangements. ¡°Be extra cautious during the signing; I always feel the Sun Family isn¡¯t up to any good and won¡¯t easily sign the contract.¡± In fact, Qiao Benqing had been too hasty in handling this project. Or rather, Qiao Xin shouldn¡¯t have taken on this project, putting Qiao Family in its current predicament. Having nothing more to say, Qiao Yi nodded as an agreement. The car drove back to the Lu Mansion; by that time, Qiao Yi thought Old Mr. Lu would have already been resting. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s so late; why haven¡¯t you gone to sleep yet?¡± Qiao Yi welcomed him and helped Old Mr. Lu inside the house, and he laughed, holding her hand. However, Qiao Yi noticed Old Mr. Lu continually glanced at her stomach, making her very uncomfortable. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Kidnapping Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Kidnapping Qiao Yi felt that Old Mr. Lu was now so obsessed with having a grandson that he had nearly lost his mind. At this rate, if Old Mr. Lu doesn¡¯t go crazy, she will. How could a father-in-law stare at someone¡¯s belly every day? Qiao Yi felt so uneasy under Old Mr. Lu¡¯s gaze that her skin crawled. Unable to withstand such scrutiny, Qiao Yi hastily excused herself, claiming fatigue from flying, and dashed upstairs. Lu Yanchuan watched Qiao Yi flee in disarray with a smile, but he didn¡¯t expect that Old Mr. Lu, who hadn¡¯t managed to cling to Qiao Yi, had no intention of letting even him off the hook, ¡°Although I have always been asking Yiyi to nourish her body, having children is a matter for two people. Yiyi shouldn¡¯t always be the one to suffer. Shouldn¡¯t you also take some responsibility?¡± After being preached to by Old Mr. Lu for quite a while, Lu Yanchuan finally managed to escape back to his room. Now he finally understood how Qiao Yi felt whenever Old Mr. Lu stared at her, it really made one break out in a cold sweat! Qiao Yi snickered in the room, and only after being threatened by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze did she stop laughing and pretended to be busy. In the two days since Qiao Yi returned to the country, she had distributed all the souvenirs she brought back and took the opportunity to covertly gather quite a bit of information about the Sun Family. The Sun Family is a very special prominent family in Capital City. It wasn¡¯t until the arrival of the new century that the Sun Family gradually began to reveal their splendor. Although everyone knew the Sun Family was not a simple clan, no other family was willing to openly conflict with the Sun Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi asked many people, but they were all unfamiliar with the Sun Family, only aware that such a family existed, without knowing much else. The more the Sun Family kept to themselves, the more curious Qiao Yi became. In this era, making oneself so mysteriously low-key is not an easy task, one just doesn¡¯t know whether the Sun Family has other motives behind it. After inquiring from various sources without any results, Qiao Yi anxiously awaited the day of signing with a heart full of doubts. The bosses of Longjia and Tengxin are a pair of brothers, but their last name is not Sun, it¡¯s Shi. The boss of Longjia is the elder brother, named Shi Lei. The boss of Tengxin is the younger brother, named Shi Hui. Sitting between the two brothers, Qiao Yi looked like a beauty among two beasts. Nothing else, the Shi brothers have both put on weight and have beards, their plump figures sitting there like two bandits. However, these two bandits¡­ No, the Shi brothers, were quite cheerful, and their hearty laughter made them quite likable at first hearing. The signing ceremony was very successful, the brothers carefully inspected the contract brought by Qiao Yi, and after ensuring there were no issues, they happily signed their names. Qiao Yi smiled sweetly and the two burly men laughed heartily; the three of them, host and guests, seemed delighted, yet each harbored their own cunning plans. Qiao Yi silently mourned for these two men and the Sun Family thinking they had snagged a great bargain, but they had no idea they had taken a ticking time bomb from the hands of the Qiao Family. They couldn¡¯t know when the bomb would explode, obliterating them without a trace. Whereas the Shi brothers were secretly thrilled to have so easily secured the project from the Qiao Family¡¯s grasp, especially after seeing that the Qiao Family had only sent a newcomer like Qiao Yi to sign the contract, they were more convinced that the Qiao Family had truly given up on the project and had no ulterior motive to trap them. They had already appraised the project; once completed, the profits would far exceed the cost of acquisition. Although they had paid a very high price to snatch the project from other companies, the subsequent returns would definitely make them rich beyond measure! And perhaps through this project, they could finally break free from the Sun Family¡¯s control¡­ Qiao Yi had some drinks, recalling the incident where she went wild from drinking in front of Lu Yanchuan, she didn¡¯t dare to drink much, only pretending to be drunk after one glass before letting her assistant take her away. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car was parked outside, he saw Qiao Yi staggering out with assistance, he was about to drive over to pick her up when he saw her and the assistant get into a silver-white car, and as soon as they were in, the car drove off. Whose car was this? Did Qiao Benqing send someone to pick up Qiao Yi? Lu Yanchuan followed in his car, one hand steering while the other dialed Qiao Yi¡¯s number. The call was hung up after just one ring, Lu Yanchuan stared at the dark screen of his phone and dialed again. This time, the phone on the other end was powered off. Taking a corner, he suddenly saw a phone being thrown out from the car ahead, smashing into pieces on the ground as vehicles sped over it. Something happened to Qiao Yi! There was something wrong with the car ahead! Without a second thought, Lu Yanchuan grabbed his phone and made a call. The call was quickly answered, before the other party could speak, Lu Yanchuan said, ¡°I need an interception on a silver-white SUV eight-seater sedan, it is now on the middle section of Xihua Road, the license plate number is Capital ASB611.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yanchuan ended the call and floored the accelerator to continue the pursuit. Qiao Yi looked bewilderedly at the masked men around her, then at her assistant who was forcefully holding her down, not quite understanding what was happening. Didn¡¯t she make an excuse of being drunk to leave the restaurant? Wasn¡¯t it her assistant who was supposed to help her downstairs and take her home? How did she end up in this car? Who were all these people? Although Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts were sluggish due to the alcohol, it didn¡¯t mean that the others in the car were the same. When they heard her phone ring, they immediately snatched it and hung up. ¡°Throw it out, power it off and throw it out, there might be tracking on her phone.¡± Who knew her so well? Qiao Yi heard a woman¡¯s voice, looked toward the front passenger seat, but only saw a pair of slender legs and a blue pleated skirt. A young girl, who was she? Qiao Yi frowned, forcibly twisting her wrists, but was held down even more tightly by the assistant, forbidden to move. As she saw her own phone being thrown out of the window, Qiao Yi instantly protested, kicking and struggling. ¡°Who are you people! Why are you throwing my phone away!¡± A drunk person strangely possessed enormous strength, it took three seats and two people exerting force on either side to barely control Qiao Yi. If there hadn¡¯t been limited space in the car, they definitely wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold her down. ¡°Is she even a woman, how can she have such strength!¡± Nobody thought that comment was a joke, especially after seeing Qiao Yi free a hand and punch out one of the assistant¡¯s teeth. The three men sitting in the last row joined in, grabbing Qiao Yi¡¯s hands to prevent her from moving. ¡°Keep it down, the car is still moving!¡± The woman in front reprimanded the commotion while Qiao Yi had one hand covered over her face; yet, she still saw the woman. It was her! How could it be her! Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Interception Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Interception ¡°Enough, drop me off ahead and find a place to get it done quickly, remember to take a good video!¡± The woman got out of the car by the roadside and hurried into the nearby mall. Lu Yanchuan only saw that car stopping by a mall entrance, and it seemed like someone got out. By the time Lu Yanchuan got closer, that person had already disappeared into the crowd. Looking up at the surveillance camera at the entrance of the mall, Lu Yanchuan made a call to have the footage pulled for his review. Qiao Yi could no longer struggle. One arm was being grasped by three hands, and both her legs were forcefully pinned down. A hand covered her mouth ¨C she was literally bound as tightly as could be. Someone had just injected something into her arm, not knowing what drug it was, but right now, she couldn¡¯t feel anything. The hand on her face had touched something foul; it was stenching and nauseating. As the old saying goes, liquor emboldens the coward. Though Qiao Yi was no coward, under the influence of alcohol, her rationale was slipping away. Her eyes widened and she bit down hard onto the hand that was covering her mouth. ¡°Ah!!!!¡± After a shrill scream, Qiao Yi faintly tasted blood in her mouth. Perhaps the scream inside the car was too horrific; many passersby gave the vehicle puzzled looks. ¡°Shut up! Make him shut up!¡± Someone let go of Qiao Yi to cover the mouth of the man who had screamed, and at this moment, Qiao Yi started to make noise and struggle again. The car cabin became a chaos once more. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 ¡°Don¡¯t let her cause trouble! There¡¯s a police checkpoint up ahead!¡± The driver yelled angrily from the front seat, and the people in the back pressed down on Qiao Yi with even greater force. Out of nowhere, a roll of duct tape appeared and with a few quick moves, they sealed Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth. Qiao Yi was utterly bound and trapped in the car, unable to move or shout, only then did the others in the car take a breath of relief. This was their line of work and they thought themselves professionals, but they had never encountered such a tough nut. Thinking of the task given by their boss, a few men began to leer at Qiao Yi, some of the bolder ones even started to touch her inappropriately. ¡°Keep your paws to yourselves. Until we¡¯ve arrived at the spot, no one is allowed to fool around!¡± ¡°Big brother, we can¡¯t even have a little fun to tide us over? Aren¡¯t you being a little too strict?¡± ¡°Hey hey, Six, what¡¯s the rush? Once the drugs kick in, are you afraid you won¡¯t have your turn to enjoy?¡± The leader had more to say, but suddenly a traffic cop who had been checking vehicles up front walked towards their car. ¡°Routine check, please show me your driver¡¯s license and registration.¡± It wasn¡¯t just one traffic cop who walked over, but three, with a few more looking in their direction from a distance. The boss¡¯s heart was pounding; these traffic cops couldn¡¯t have come at a worse time! He composed himself and handed over the driver¡¯s license and registration. The cop, after looking at them, didn¡¯t hand them back immediately, but instead walked to the back and tapped on the side door window. ¡°Roll down the window.¡± ¡°Officer, officer, my wife is changing clothes in the back, it would be inappropriate to roll down the window, right?¡± The leader forced a laugh looking towards the cop, his heart nearly jumping into his throat. ¡°` The place they chose to make their move was not some remote suburb¡ªacting in such a location was the least safe, and they also tried to choose a secure escape route. This road was next to a shopping mall, and coupled with the dense traffic and the large number of people, it was rare for traffic police to perform spot checks in the vicinity. Even if traffic police were present, they were typically directing traffic, not inspecting cars one by one. They had thoroughly investigated beforehand, yet they had the misfortune of encountering such an incident today¡ªit was as if they were cursed! The traffic policeman glanced at the man in the driver¡¯s seat, then looked at the rear window and waved to someone not too far away. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we have female officers here¡ªit won¡¯t be inconvenient.¡± I¡¯ll fucking kill you, you son of a bitch! Inside, the boss cursed the other to hell, but his eyes were scanning the surroundings, looking for a way to escape. Now the mission was impossible to accomplish; all he wanted was to escape from these traffic police, flee the country immediately, and come back after this tumultuous period had passed. The boss¡¯s hair stood on end with nerves, his fingers were poised on the seatbelt, ready to get out and run at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The boss froze completely, the dark muzzle of a gun resting against his head prevented any movement. ¡°Let¡¯s talk it out, please, let¡¯s talk!¡± ¡°Raise your hands!¡± The traffic policeman lowered his voice, speaking at a volume audible only to the two of them, directing the boss¡¯s hands away from the steering wheel. One door on the passenger¡¯s side opened, and a traffic policeman got in. As soon as he entered, he turned around, holding a gun in each hand, pointing at the person in the back seat. Everyone was stunned by this sudden twist, afraid to even breathe. The boss was in utter despair. Forced out of the car at gunpoint, it was only then that he realized just how many police officers were around. Trembling, he crouched on the ground, and as he watched a traffic policeman board the vehicle and take complete control of the car, he felt utterly defeated. Their operation had barely begun and had already come to such an end; it was infuriating enough to make someone spew blood. No chance to spew blood though, the boss was shoved into a police car, and the silver sedan was also taken under police custody, escorted to the station by a circle of police cars. Lu Yanchuan followed from a distance, only getting out of the car when they reached the police station to check on Qiao Yi. Seeing Qiao Yi tightly bound and being lifted out of the car, Lu Yanchuan was uncharacteristically enraged. Qiao Yi¡¯s face was flushed unnaturally. Lu Yanchuan quickly walked over, snatched her from the hands of two police officers, and turned to leave, holding her tight. Just as a young officer was about to tell him to put her down, he was knocked on the head by an older police officer nearby. ¡°Shut it. Interrogating these people properly is what you should be doing. That¡¯s the victim¡¯s family. Mind your own business with those folks; you can¡¯t handle it, got it?¡± Lu Yanchuan carried Qiao Yi back to the car and tore off the tape wrapped around her, but the tape over her mouth stuck to her hair, leaving him at a loss. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± As Lu Yanchuan was removing the tape from Qiao Yi, she clung to him bonelessly, panting heavily into his chest. ¡°Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! Wake up!¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t hear Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice at all, she just rubbed against him instinctively. Veins on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s forehead throbbed, he suddenly stopped what he was doing, and after a long pause, he placed Qiao Yi onto the seat and returned to the driver¡¯s seat. With a press on the accelerator, he drove away. ¡°` Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 The One You Spend Your Life With Chapter 51: Chapter 51 The One You Spend Your Life With White bed sheets, white duvet cover, white pillows¡ªQiao Yi was certain this wasn¡¯t the Qiao Family home, nor was it any residence of Lu Yanchuan that she was familiar with. Qiao Yi abruptly sat up in bed, but no, it was just a twitch before she collapsed back down. An arm around her waist and severe pain all over her body prevented her from getting up. What¡¯s going on? How did she end up sleeping here? Qiao Yi foolishly stared at the ceiling for a good while before she gradually regained consciousness. Yesterday she had gone to sign a contract with people from Longjia and Teng and Xin families, then she used the excuse of being drunk to sneak out, and after that? A jumble of confused memories surged up one after another. Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned pale, and she trembled as she looked at the man beside her. Yesterday, she was taken onto a car, and then¡­ ¡°Why are you awake so early?¡± The arm around her waist tightened, and Qiao Yi was forced into a fiery embrace, the burning touch of skin leaving her completely rigid. Lu Yanchuan, eyes still closed, savored the silkiness beneath his hand, unwilling to let go, and gave in to himself, hugging her even tighter. ¡°Lu¡­ Lu Yanchuan! How could you¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean, how could I?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi was taken aback by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s retort and then was overwhelmed with uncontrollable anger. He still had the audacity to ask how? He, he! ¡°Sleep a bit longer, I¡¯ll take you to the Qiao Family soon.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s response was too nonchalant, it even made Qiao Yi wonder if she was overreacting. ¡°That¡¯s not right! How could you do this to me!¡± Qiao Yi struggled to sit up in the bed with her limbs, glaring angrily at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°What exactly have I done?¡± Lu Yanchuan propped himself up and looked down at Qiao Yi, while her gaze fell on the scratches across his chest¡ªenough to make Qiao Yi almost explode on the spot. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing clothes!¡± ¡°When I sleep with my wife, why do I need to wear clothes?¡± Choked by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s righteous attitude, Qiao Yi found herself unable to communicate normally with him. The discomfort in her body kept reminding her of the madness from last night. Qiao Yi really wanted to be as calm as Lu Yanchuan seemed to be, really wanted to blow him off with her nose, but the reality was that her face flushed red, she bit her lip and glared at Lu Yanchuan, unable to speak. ¡°Mmm!¡± Someone touched her lips. Qiao Yi quickly covered her mouth, staring at Lu Yanchuan in disbelief. ¡°Sleep a bit more, I¡¯m going to wash up.¡± Lu Yanchuan pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s face, then threw the duvet aside and got out of bed to freshen up, leaving Qiao Yi alone in bed, lost in thought. Qiao Yi really began to doubt if she was indeed overreacting. Perhaps Lu Yanchuan¡¯s reaction was the correct one? After all, whatever should have happened between them had happened, whatever shouldn¡¯t have also happened; they¡¯re still legally married. Doing this kind of thing¡ªit seems there really isn¡¯t anything surprising about it. Qiao Yi, wrapped in her quilt, was deep in thought. Lu Yanchuan emerged from the bathroom and upon seeing the little head poking out of a pile of quilts on the bed, he smiled quietly and left the room without a sound. Lu Yanchuan returned with breakfast, and by that time, Qiao Yi was soaking in the bathtub, from outside her humming could be heard, which sounded like she was in a pretty good mood. Qiao Yi indeed felt good, because she had come to understand something. That was the relationship between her and Lu Yanchuan. Although Qiao Yi really wanted to deny this inexplicable marriage between them, they represented not only themselves but also the families behind them. Whether considering the face of both families or their interests, it wasn¡¯t possible for her and Lu Yanchuan to divorce. Didn¡¯t they say life is like that thing ¨C if you can¡¯t resist, then just lie down and accept it. Qiao Yi thought carefully about her current situation and realized that as long as she learned to lie down and accept, there really wasn¡¯t anything for her to worry about. Putting emotional aspects aside, in terms of appearance and physique, Lu Yanchuan was definitely one of the top among all the people she had ever seen. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t someone who liked to dwell on things. After she had come to this realization, she let the matter go. Although thinking back to last night still made her blush, she was no longer embarrassed. When she came out of the bathroom and saw Lu Yanchuan outside, Qiao Yi just paused for a moment and didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Breakfast is here, eat up and I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Lu Yanchuan leaned on the sofa, holding a newspaper he had casually picked up from the shelf downstairs. Although there wasn¡¯t any important news, it was still something to read to pass the time. It seemed that Lu Yanchuan had already figured out their relationship early on, so regardless of what he thought about Qiao Yi, he treated her quite well both in public and in private. Qiao Yi ate her steamed bun absentmindedly. She would take a sip of porridge and look at Lu Yanchuan, then take a bite of pickles and glance at him again. Although she had already decided to spend her life with him, her heart somehow felt empty¡­ When she returned to the Qiao Family, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t tell Qiao Benqing about the near abduction from yesterday. She only mentioned that the contracts with Longjia and Teng and Xin families had been signed, and since she was drunk, Lu Yanchuan took her away early. Qiao Yi¡¯s neck had a Band-Aid on it like she was trying to cover something up, a mark that foundation couldn¡¯t hide, leaving her no choice but to stick something over it. ¡°I saw that Yanchuan brought you back today, why didn¡¯t you invite him to stay for a meal before leaving?¡± ¡°Ah, that, he has some matters in the company, he will come later to take me back.¡± Qiao Benqing gave Qiao Yi a strange look, feeling that she seemed different from before when she mentioned Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi felt tired, and after she reported on company matters to Qiao Benqing, she went back to her room and went to sleep. ¡°Yiyi! Yiyi!¡± It seemed like someone was calling her in her sleep. Qiao Yi struggled to open her eyes, but they felt as if they were glued shut and simply would not open. By the time Qiao Yi finally managed to open her eyes, she found herself lying in a hospital room. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Zhao Wenjing was sitting by the bed and quickly turned her head towards Qiao Yi upon hearing her voice, her tears following suit. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°You suddenly got a fever yesterday afternoon, and you¡¯ve only just woken up now. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?¡± Qiao Yi shook her head and sat up with Zhao Wenjing¡¯s support. According to Zhao Wenjing, she had been unconscious all night, which made her wonder why she suddenly fell ill. ¡°Yanchuan came to see you already, but he had matters to attend to at his company, so I let him leave first. The doctor said it was caused by excessive internal heat, Yiyi, you can¡¯t keep things from your mom if you¡¯re troubled. Do you know how worried I¡¯ve been about you¡­¡± Zhao Wenjing began to cry again, and it took a moment for Qiao Yi to manage to console her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, probably because I haven¡¯t rested properly these past few days. Now that I don¡¯t need to keep up with the company matters anymore, I¡¯ll get well after a good rest for a while.¡± Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Naturally Stupid Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Naturally Stupid Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday was at the end of May, and as one of the most prominent families in Capital City, Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday feast was naturally not to be taken lightly. Although Old Mr. Lu himself did not wish to make it ostentatious. Qiao Yi had been sick for over ten days, and Old Mr. Lu severely scolded Yanchuan, blaming him for not taking good care of Qiao Yi and letting her be sick for so long. Even though Qiao Yi herself explained that it had nothing to do with Yanchuan, Old Mr. Lu still stubbornly blamed Yanchuan for Qiao Yi¡¯s illness. Qiao Yi and Yanchuan both knew why she was sick this time, but neither of them had brought up the matter. After taking the last dose of medicine, Qiao Yi felt like she had finally come back to life. Anyone would be overwhelmed by eating so much bitter medicine every day, especially since Old Mr. Lu, in an attempt to speed up her recovery, forced her to drink various strange medicinal dishes daily. This stuff is simply not fit for human consumption. Yanchuan endured it twice but couldn¡¯t anymore; whenever he saw the medicinal dishes, he would hide until Qiao Yi finished eating and then come back. Qiao Yi felt she was soaked through with the smell of medicine. She took a quick hot shower with relief and wrapped herself in a bath towel, then sat on the sofa playing with her phone. Suddenly, the room door was pushed open. Qiao Yi was startled and sat up straight, but when she saw the person entering was Qiao Xin, she lazily slumped back down. ¡°If it¡¯s urgent, speak quickly; if it¡¯s not, then leave quickly.¡± ¡°Qiao Yi! I¡¯m your sister! Do you have even a shred of respect for me!¡± Qiao Xin was choked by Qiao Yi¡¯s words even before she spoke, pointing at Qiao Yi and yelling fiercely. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Qiao Yi nonchalantly cleared her ears, and after Qiao Xin had finished yelling, she disdainfully rolled her eyes. ¡°Qiao Xin, please, go look in a mirror and see what you look like right now. It¡¯s simply laughable. And here you are talking to me about sisterly bonds. Do you want a heartfelt hug right now? Doesn¡¯t that make you feel disgusted when you say such things?¡± Qiao Yi tossed her phone aside, and even though she remained seated, her gaze made Qiao Xin shiver. When had Qiao Yi become so inscrutable to her! ¡°Speak up, why are you here? I¡¯m busy!¡± Qiao Yi was really impatient to talk to Qiao Xin; this woman was beyond help, driven almost mad by a man. Qiao Xin didn¡¯t want to talk either, but for the sake of Old Mr. Lu¡¯s upcoming birthday feast, she had to come to Qiao Yi. ¡°Give me a copy of the guest list for Grandfather¡¯s birthday feast.¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Yi was puzzled as to why Qiao Xin was interested in these matters; back at the Qiao Family home, Zhao Wenjing had several times wanted her to help with banquets, but she had always dismissively declined. ¡°Qiao Yi! Don¡¯t go too far!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned livid as she gnashed her teeth, glaring at Qiao Yi. ¡°What can you do if I bully you? Now get out of my room immediately, or else don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± Qiao Yi clenched her fist and suddenly stared coldly at Qiao Xin, the chill in her eyes making Qiao Xin involuntarily retreat several steps. Shaken and humiliated by Qiao Yi, Qiao Xin surged forward to hit her. Qiao Yi sidestepped and stretched out a leg, kicking Qiao Xin in the shin and sending her sprawling on the couch, unable to get up for quite some time. ¡°Qiao Xin, don¡¯t assume I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. Go tell Lu Ming that he¡¯s got no place meddling in Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday feast!¡± Qiao Yi recalled how Qiao Xin had been lingering around Old Mr. Lu these past few days and considering Lu Ming¡¯s frequent visits to the old house, it was clear what they were plotting. Qiao Xin¡¯s face stiffened with outrage, staring at Qiao Yi in disbelief, having no idea why she would know that it was Lu Ming who wanted the list for the banquet. ¡°Qiao Xin, do you know what I admire most about you?¡± Qiao Yi squatted in front of Qiao Xin, presenting a full view of Spring scenery to a woman full of envy. Qiao Xin turned away, refusing to look at Qiao Yi, feeling frightened and intimidated by her demeanor, wishing to escape far away. ¡°What I admire most about you is how naturally you play the fool. Lu Ming himself didn¡¯t dare to ask for the banquet list, but you stepped in for him. Let me guess why? Could it be for a chance to interact with Lu Yanchuan? That would impress me even more!¡± Embarrassed and furious, Qiao Xin suddenly pushed Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulders, stumbled up from the sofa, and limped out. ¡°Boring.¡± Qiao Yi dusted off her hands, which weren¡¯t actually dusty, and leisurely moved to the bed, quickly falling asleep under the covers. When Lu Yanchuan came back, he saw Qiao Yi sound asleep. A towel wrapped around, leaving her slender white legs exposed outside, and her round pinkish toes occasionally twitched. Sick for these days, Qiao Yi¡¯s body was severely weakened, always feeling extremely sleepy. Hearing the sound of the door opening and footsteps, Qiao Yi mumbled under the covers and struggled to get up from the bed after a while. ¡°Why are you back so early today?¡± ¡°I came back to pick you up.¡± Qiao Yi sat up, looking up at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Pick me up, and take me where?¡± ¡°To the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tian City Old Port District project.¡± This was a major event, and Qiao Yi quickly changed clothes, excitedly dragging Lu Yanchuan out. ¡°Why are they starting the construction so early? They¡¯ve only had this project for about ten days, are they in such a rush, is the proposal even ready?¡± Qiao Yi was just asking; the earlier the project started, the better it was for both the Qiao Family and the Lu Family, as dragging it longer would mean more resources wasted eventually. As the two walked out, passing downstairs, Old Mr. Lu was deeply engaged in a game with his old friends. Hearing Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi leave, he merely responded with a few sound. ¡°They plan to demolish the port first while addressing the demolition issues in the old district.¡± By tackling both tasks simultaneously, they could save at least half a month in construction time, but this also means much larger initial investments. Qiao Yi was speechless; from Longjia and Tengxin¡¯s perspective, they were seeking speed to save construction period, but from Qiao Yi¡¯s view, they were just rushing towards their doom. ¡°Like this, won¡¯t it be just a couple of months before you and dad can make your move?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Lu Yanchuan was confident, and seeing him like this, Qiao Yi chose not to say more. The banquet was held at the same hotel where Qiao Yi had her wedding, bringing back unpleasant memories every time she was there, casting a shadow over her. Can¡¯t dwell on it; overthinking would just upset her. Qiao Yi followed Lu Yanchuan into the venue without looking sideways, and amid a crowd of compliments, they met the Shi brothers. Perhaps it was the lively spirit of happy occasions, the Shi brothers looked even healthier than on the day they signed the contract, and they came up laughing to greet Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ultimate Fool Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ultimate Fool Qiao Yi actually disliked this kind of social interaction. Another reason she didn¡¯t want to join the company was to avoid these meaningless social gatherings. Walking beside Lu Yanchuan, greeting people in a row, Qiao Yi already felt her face was going to freeze from the forced smiles. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go rest for a while. The resting room is on the second floor.¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan. Even though Lu Yanchuan always offered her timely and appropriate care, she was never used to it. But she was indeed tired, so she nodded and headed towards the stairs to the second floor. Passing the stairs was the restroom. Leaning on the bathroom partition, Qiao Yi pulled out the insoles from her high heels and threw them in the trash. The ¡°high-heeled shoe miracle¡± recommended by Feng Siyu, claiming that one wouldn¡¯t get tired even after a whole day in heels. That was a complete lie! Her feet were already chafed red! After fixing her shoes, Qiao Yi was about to push the door to leave when suddenly she heard someone burst through the door outside. ¡°You f*cking act all innocent in front of me? I¡¯m your fianc¨¦, you¡¯re f*cking destined to be my woman sooner or later. I¡¯m warning you, you better be obedient, or you should be careful!¡± ¡°Let go! Release me!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s hair stood on end with anger. How dare a man barge into the women¡¯s restroom in this kind of setting! The quarrel outside continued. Listening to their voices, they seemed on the brink of doing something indecent here! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï And she was still standing here! ¡°Ning Yuze! Stop it! I¡¯ll call the police if you continue!¡± Then came the sound of fabric tearing, followed by a woman¡¯s scream. ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha! Go ahead and call the police! I¡¯m waiting for you to call the police! Damn bitch, it¡¯s your parents begging me to be with you, and you think you¡¯re some Sun Family Miss? You¡¯re just sold out for money, pretending to be all lofty and virtuous! If you know what¡¯s good for you, start undressing yourself, or I¡¯ll have my dad pull out of Sun Family¡¯s business right now!¡± Qiao Yi laughed in anger. What kind of supreme idiot was this! ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare to call the police, but do you believe I will? A big man hitting a woman, do you think you¡¯re impressive? And you dare to do this in a women¡¯s restroom, you¡¯re shameless. I want to see how Ning Changfeng educates his son!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that! Come out here!¡± Ning Yuze roared and looked behind him, only to see Qiao Yi pushing the door of the partition open, walking out with a look of mockery. ¡°I¡¯m out here, what do you want to do?¡± Having Ning Yuze being arrogant, Qiao Yi was even more arrogant, folding her arms and giving Ning Yuze a thorough look up and down, snorting through her nose. ¡°I was wondering who had the audacity to bark here, turns out it¡¯s Ning Changfeng¡¯s eldest son who climbed up by selling out his brothers and his wife. Really just like your father, repulsive!¡± ¡°You bitch, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Ning Yuze¡¯s face unnaturally flushed with anger. Qiao Yi could tell he had drunk a lot; otherwise, people from the Ning Family, despite being arrogant and overbearing, wouldn¡¯t barge into a women¡¯s restroom to force themselves on someone. Facing Ning Yuze¡¯s ferocious expression, Qiao Yi was not only unafraid but even a bit excited. Ever since she graduated, it had been a long time since she had a proper fight; she was actually missing it a bit! ¡°Be careful!¡± Watching Ning Yuze rushing towards Qiao Yi with a roar, the woman hiding in the corner exclaimed, quickly calling out a warning. ¡°Ah!¡± Ning Yuze screamed as he charged forward, and screamed again as he was sent flying back. Qiao Yi was wearing high heels, and those sharp, thin heels could cause pain for a good while if they jabbed into someone¡¯s stomach. Qiao Yi rolled her eyes speechlessly. She had thought Ning Yuze would be a tough character to deal with, but it turned out he couldn¡¯t even get up after just one kick. Not interested in dealing with a dead dog, Qiao Yi stepped over the groaning Ning Yuze on the ground and walked over to the woman, draping her own shawl over her. The woman¡¯s arm was covered in torn fabric, and there was a large, fresh red handprint on her face, obviously the result of Ning Yuze¡¯s ruthless attack, which had swollen in just a short time. Seeing the marks on the woman¡¯s face made Qiao Yi furious. She turned around, intending to teach Ning Yuze another lesson, but before she could turn back, the woman in front of her hugged her tightly and spun her around. Qiao Yi watched in shock as Ning Yuze¡¯s fist landed on the woman, knocking her unconscious. Ning Yuze, still not satisfied, shouted again and swung his fist towards Qiao Yi¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a bastard, you¡¯re dead meat!¡± Qiao Yi caught Ning Yuze¡¯s hand with one move, reaching back without knowing what she touched, and swung it at Ning Yuze¡¯s head. The bottle filled with hand sanitizer didn¡¯t crack Ning Yuze¡¯s head open, and Qiao Yi was not pleased. She threw off her shoes, raised her leg, and kneed Ning Yuze in the stomach, knocking him onto his knees and then brutally smashed his head a few times until he was knocked out cold. The bathroom was a mess. Qiao Yi wiped the blood from the back of her hand, spat at Ning Yuze, and crouched down to help the woman up. ¡°Wake up, wake up. Are you alright?¡± If the punch that Ning Yuze had thrown had landed on her head instead of on the woman¡¯s body, she might have been the one lying on the ground. Knocking out Ning Yuze was not a big deal, neither the Qiao Family nor the Lu Family would take the Ning Family too seriously, but the woman in her arms seemed to be from the Sun Family. Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan were currently scheming against the Sun Family. By hitting the fiance of the Sun Family¡¯s daughter, she hoped it wouldn¡¯t affect their plans. The woman soon came to, and shocked to see Qiao Yi holding her, she turned and saw Ning Yuze lying beside her, her fright was palpable. ¡°Did you, did you kill him?¡± ¡°No, he just passed out. Are you from the Sun Family? How come I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡± Although the Sun Family kept a low profile, each of their children had made public appearances, and Qiao Yi was sure she had never seen this woman in the Sun Family before. ¡°My name is Sun Keke, I am from the Sun Family¡­¡± Sun Keke¡¯s face turned red and then white; Qiao Yi didn¡¯t need her to tell more to recognize her status. In royal families, who didn¡¯t have illegitimate sons or daughters outside. ¡°Let¡¯s get up. I¡¯ll have someone send you back to the Sun Family, pretend you don¡¯t know anything about tonight¡¯s incident. If anyone asks, you know nothing, do you hear me?¡± Qiao Yi was not having a surge of compassion; she simply didn¡¯t want the people from the Ning Family to trouble Sun Keke after she took a stand for her. Now that she had dealt with Ning Yuze in this way, it was better to cleanly separate Sun Keke from the situation to avoid future troubles. ¡°No, how can this be alright, this wasn¡¯t your concern¡­¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Taking Unreasonableness for Granted Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Taking Unreasonableness for Granted Sun Keke is quite daring and decided to take responsibility. She stood up, started pushing Qiao Yi to leave the place, and wanted to take on the incident alone. ¡°You don¡¯t need to say more. I¡¯ve already hit Ning Yuze, and that¡¯s that. If it was you who hit him, you¡¯d be in big trouble. If you don¡¯t want to cause me any trouble, then leave quickly. The biggest help you can give me is to insist that you had nothing to do with it.¡± Although Qiao Yi admired Sun Keke¡¯s willingness to take responsibility, the girl¡¯s stubbornness was also giving her a headache. After sizing up Sun Keke, Qiao Yi helplessly nodded her head. ¡°Fine, when the time comes, just tell the truth. But remember, never take the blame for yourself, otherwise I won¡¯t be able to save you.¡± Sun Keke nodded vigorously and stood up with Qiao Yi¡¯s support. After pushing open the bathroom door and walking out, Qiao Yi realized that people were already looking for Ning Yuze. Lu Yanchuan turned his head and immediately saw Qiao Yi emerging from the bathroom. He put down his glass and walked over to her quickly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go to the resting area?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now. I just punched Ning Yuze from the Ning Family in the bathroom.¡± Qiao Yi briefly recounted what had just happened and then took out her phone to send the same message to Qiao Benqing. Although it wasn¡¯t certain that the Ning Family would have the guts to cause her trouble, it was still good for Qiao Yi to report the incident in advance, as a precaution. Qiao Benqing replied quickly with a simple message of acknowledgment and no further follow-up. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï People Qiao Yi had fought were numerous; Ning Family¡¯s addition was inconsequential. Sun Keke was also injured and was pale, following behind Qiao Yi. She attempted to speak several times but couldn¡¯t find the right moment. Finally, after Qiao Yi finished speaking with Lu Yanchuan, Sun Keke gently tugged on Qiao Yi¡¯s clothes. ¡°Miss Qiao, you¡­¡± ¡°Oh, right, this is Sun Keke. She got hurt just now too. Have someone come and check on her.¡± Everyone outside was looking for Ning Yuze, but no one had thought to search the bathroom yet, so Qiao Yi still had some time to prepare. ¡°No need, no need, I¡¯m fine!¡± Regardless, Qiao Yi pushed Sun Keke into the rest area and had someone from the hotel find a doctor. Ning Yuze was eventually found. His father, Ning Changfeng, was holding his unconscious son, crying and shouting, determined to find the person who had hurt his child. Qiao Yi had made all the necessary preparations and explanations, and seeing Ning Changfeng holding Ning Yuze and throwing a fit downstairs, she walked straight out. ¡°Mr. Ning, it was I who beat Ning Yuze to this state. Do you have any objections?¡± Ning Changfeng¡¯s pupils contracted upon hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s voice, and he turned his head to look at her in disbelief. ¡°You, why would you harm my son! Even if you are from the Qiao Family, you can¡¯t just hit my son without a reason!¡± Hearing Ning Changfeng¡¯s words, Qiao Yi was a bit puzzled. After looking closely at Ning Changfeng again, her suspicion grew. ¡°Why I would lay hands on Ning Yuze, shouldn¡¯t Mr. Ning be very clear about that? Don¡¯t you know what kind of person your son is? Since he harbored inappropriate intentions, of course I wouldn¡¯t let him get away with nonsense!¡± Qiao Yi spoke ambiguously, without mentioning Sun Keke. If this issue were to be brought up in the future, she could claim that she never explicitly said Ning Yuze intended to attack her rather than Sun Keke, and that they just misunderstood her vague words. As expected, upon hearing her words, not only did Ning Changfeng¡¯s face undergo a drastic change, but even the onlookers who came for the excitement were extremely surprised. The Shi brothers were hosting a celebration banquet today, and the highest-ranking guest present was Lu Yanchuan. Below him, none of the others could be considered much when viewed alone in front of the Lu and Qiao Families. When these people saw Qiao Yi hitting Ning Yuze, they already knew the outcome. Although the Ning Family had some strength, it wasn¡¯t enough to oppose the Qiao Family. Even if Qiao Yi had hit someone for no reason, what the Ning Family should worry about was whether Ning Yuze¡¯s face had hurt Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, rather than what state Qiao Yi may have left Ning Yuze in. But now, Qiao Yi suddenly claimed that Ning Yuze harbored bad intentions towards her, which was why she had laid hands on him. This revelation immediately caused everyone to instinctively distance themselves from the Ning Family. Who was Qiao Yi, after all? She was the Qiao Family¡¯s beloved gem, the little tyrant of Capital City¡¯s wealthy second-generation, anyone who dared to provoke her should consider Ning Yuze lucky to be left uncrippled! Ning Changfeng couldn¡¯t even utter a word when he faced Qiao Yi. There was no need for Qiao Yi¡¯s words to be verified; just checking the surveillance would show that Ning Yuze had followed Qiao Yi into the restroom, and he was also discovered there¡ªwhat had happened inside didn¡¯t need to be explained by Qiao Yi! Ning Changfeng¡¯s face turned from pale to flush, caught under the gaze of the crowd, he didn¡¯t want to bow to a young lady like Qiao Yi, yet facing the formidable Qiao Family, he was truly in an awkward predicament between a rock and a hard place! Lu Yanchuan stepped out from the crowd and stood beside Qiao Yi, taking one of her hands and sweeping his gaze over the onlookers before resting it on Ning Changfeng. ¡°Yiyi, have you vented your anger? If not, just go and beat him up some more, that¡¯ll do.¡± Such unreasonable and yet seemingly rightful words could only be spoken by Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth twitched, pinching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand a few times, signaling that he should at least show some restraint. ¡°Mr. Ning, regarding Ning Yuze¡¯s behavior, I believe you wouldn¡¯t want it to blow up into a bigger issue either. As long as Yiyi has vented her anger, we won¡¯t pursue this matter further.¡± Shameless! Utterly shameless! After hearing those words, even Qiao Yi felt that Lu Yanchuan was being too overbearing! The son of the family was already half dead on the ground, and here was Lu Yanchuan still suggesting Qiao Yi should vent more anger on him! However, these were thoughts only Qiao Yi dared to entertain. Not only did others not feel that Lu Yanchuan was over the top, but they even thought he had already shown great kindness. Those who had offended Lu Yanchuan in the past were now few in number who could still stand intact. Ning Changfeng¡¯s face kept changing colors, and the veins on his forehead nearly burst with anger as he glared at Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan, unable to say a word. With today¡¯s incident escalating to this extent, whether Ning Yuze was beaten up had become irrelevant. What they were facing now was a matter of the Ning Family¡¯s dignity! If he refused to bow down, he might face the combined onslaught of the Qiao and Lu Families. But if he did bow down, how could the Ning Family hold any face in the Capital City in the future? ¡°Oh dear, oh dear, what¡¯s happening here? Why is everyone standing around? I was wondering why so many people were missing; it turns out they¡¯ve all come here!¡± Shi Lei squeezed his way through the crowd from behind, acting as if he had just learned of the incident, and even cried out in shock when he saw Ning Yuze lying on the ground and Qiao Yi standing opposite him. ¡°Whoa! Young Master Ning, what happened to you? Someone call an ambulance, quick, go, go!¡± With Shi Lei stirring things up, the previously tense and hostile atmosphere instantly dissipated. Qiao Yi did not stop them from taking Ning Yuze away, only watching Ningning and Changfeng thoughtfully. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Spectacle Turns to One of Our Own Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Spectacle Turns to One of Our Own Qiao Yi had intended to minimize the problem from the start, so she took on the issue, and when she saw someone smooth things over, she used the opportunity to make a quick exit, taking Lu Yanchuan with her. Once back in the resting room, Sun Keke had already applied medicine and changed into a new set of clothes, waiting anxiously inside. Seeing Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan come in, Sun Keke hurried over to greet them, but she hesitated slightly and then withdrew her hand, looking towards Qiao Yi cautiously and asking, ¡°How did it go? The situation didn¡¯t escalate, did it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s fine. But you should still break off this marriage arrangement with Ning Yuze first thing in the morning; he¡¯s not good news.¡± Sun Keke seemed a bit afraid of Lu Yanchuan, daring to speak only to Qiao Yi and not even glancing at Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi had never seen such a meek person before, like a scared little rabbit. Her social circle had always consisted of children from prominent clans, and while their personalities varied, none were as timorous. Even Yun Luoluo, who was always bullied, had her pride and never showed such an expression. Qiao Yi was surprised and couldn¡¯t help but want to tease her a little. ¡°I heard that Ning Yuze used to get into fights and brawls when he was still in school, indulged in drinking, whoring, gambling, and all sorts of vices. If it weren¡¯t for the Ning Family backing him, he¡¯d probably have been taken care of by others a long time ago!¡± Sun Keke trembled with fear at Qiao Yi¡¯s words, unable to imagine what kind of life she would lead if she really married Ning Yuze. However, although Qiao Yi was trying to scare her, the stories about Ning Yuze were not fabrications but actual events, just not as terrifying as she made them sound. ¡°But, but I have no way to break off the engagement¡­¡± Indeed, as an illegitimate daughter, being sent off for a political marriage seemed an inevitable fate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t in a position to judge whether such a situation was right or wrong. Her parents were also brought together by an arranged marriage, and so were she and Lu Yanchuan. They all seemed successful, but each had their own hardships. ¡°This is something you¡¯ll have to decide for yourself. If you¡¯re interested, I can introduce you to a self-defense instructor. At least you won¡¯t be completely powerless in such situations in the future.¡± This was the most Qiao Yi could do. She couldn¡¯t meddle in the affairs of the Sun Family and Ning Family. She left Sun Keke with a contact card before she and Lu Yanchuan took their leave. The Shi Family brothers¡¯ celebration had been overshadowed by such trouble and thus concluded abruptly and awkwardly. On the way back, Qiao Yi gazed out at the streetscape from the car window, lost in thought. ¡°Do you think, what would my life be like now if I had married Lu Ming instead?¡± Qiao Yi suddenly turned to look at Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan frowned slightly and pulled Qiao Yi closer to his side. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, rest for a while. I¡¯ll wake you when we get home.¡± Lu Yanchuan had a faint scent of cologne on him, the smell of DN cologne he often used. Actually, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t very fond of the smell of cologne, but the scent on Lu Yanchuan inexplicably made her feel at ease. After a while, just when Lu Yanchuan thought Qiao Yi might have fallen asleep, she sat up with her eyes sparkling and leaned over to whisper mysteriously. ¡°Is Ning Yuze not really Ning Changfeng¡¯s son at all?¡± ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± Lu Yanchuan was curious about why Qiao Yi would come up with such a question. Qiao Yi herself didn¡¯t know why she had such thoughts¡ªit was just that recalling Ning Changfeng¡¯s actions, she always felt they were strange. ¡°According to what a normal person would think, seeing their own son unconscious, they would definitely rush to the hospital immediately. But Ning Changfeng, he was holding Ning Yuze and crying and yelling, with no intention of taking Ning Yuze to the hospital at all.¡± He saw the blood on Ning Yuze¡¯s face but ignored it completely, which really isn¡¯t the reaction a normal father should have. The more Qiao Yi spoke, the more she felt she was making sense. Gossiping with Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t interesting, so Qiao Yi took out her phone and started sharing her heroic deeds of the night with Feng Siyu. A woman caught up in gossip is beyond reason. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand clenched in the air¡ªa warm and soft beauty had escaped from his arms, leaving him feeling somewhat disappointed. Feng Siyu happily accepted the gossip shared by Qiao Yi. She first harshly criticized Ning Yuze¡¯s inhuman actions, and then joined Qiao Yi in expressing sympathy for Sun Keke. Afterwards, she bootlickingly praised Qiao Yi¡¯s righteous actions, to the point that even Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear to listen anymore. In the end, Feng Siyu displayed her otherworldly gossiping skills and managed to concoct an elaborate high society melodrama out of the clues Qiao Yi provided. Lu Yanchuan watched Qiao Yi, who was shaking with laughter against the car door covering her mouth, and seriously wondered if she had been possessed by some filthy spirit. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t see Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze; she was happily chatting with Feng Siyu, absolutely thrilled by this astonishing piece of gossip. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, Ning Yuze could really not be Ning Changfeng¡¯s son? And could his extravagant and domineering behavior also be something Ning Changfeng purposefully allowed?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a high possibility. Isn¡¯t there a term called ¡®fatal indulgence¡¯? Think about how arrogant you were when you were in school. Uncle Qiao still educated you properly, not letting you go too far. But looking at Ning Changfeng, it seems he has never really disciplined Ning Yuze, even one might say he extremely indulged him!¡± This was big news, and Qiao Yi savored it with delight. However, Feng Siyu on the other end of the phone fell into an eerie silence, then replied after a long while. ¡°Gu Ting said, Ning Changfeng¡¯s wife is his cousin!¡± Now the gossip had unexpectedly landed on her own relatives! ¡°How come I¡¯ve never heard of that before? Doesn¡¯t Gu Ting only have a few uncles? When did a cousin appear?¡± The Gu Family¡¯s lineage was sparse, and she had met all of Old Mr. Gu¡¯s sons; she had also met a few other relatives from his family, but she had never heard of an aunt who married into the Ning Family. It was only after asking that she found out, this cousin was the niece of the late Old Madam Gu from her maternal family, and by seniority, indeed Gu Ting¡¯s aunt. This relative wasn¡¯t too distant, but after Old Madam Gu¡¯s death, the Gu Family hadn¡¯t really been in touch with her maternal family. Thus, not only was Qiao Yi uninformed, even Feng Siyu had not heard of it. ¡°Let Gu Ting talk to them about this matter. Since it¡¯s our own aunt, we can¡¯t let her be wronged.¡± Qiao Yi was the type of person who favors relatives over fairness. Even if her own people were wrong, it should be discussed behind closed doors, and no matter how justified outsiders were, it was useless. Feng Siyu took quite a while to reply with a sentence. Qiao Yi guessed she was discussing the matter with Gu Ting, so she didn¡¯t bother her anymore and settled back into her seat. Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Yi, who had finally quieted down, looked at the message he had just received on his phone, then turned to Qiao Yi and asked. ¡°In a few days, there will be a fireworks festival in Southern City District. Do you want to go?¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: 56 chapters Spanking Chapter 56: 56 chapters Spanking Han Zizhen¡¯s advice was bad. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t act any differently towards Lu Yanchuan because of the fireworks festival. Instead, after confirming the time of the party, she picked up her phone and started messaging someone. Qiao Yi was messaging Han Lewen and Feng Siyu. Since these two returned, the three of them hadn¡¯t had a proper chance to hang out. Hearing about the fireworks festival, of course she wanted to go have fun with her besties! The other two swiftly confirmed their plans, and Qiao Yi stressed that Feng Siyu was not allowed to bring her family, or else she¡¯d turn her family into fireworks! The car seemed split into two worlds: one was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gloomy, low-pressure world, and the other was Qiao Yi¡¯s world, excited and happy about going out. Ma Yu, driving in the front, was sweating bullets. Was Qiao Yi really not getting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hint, or was she pretending not to notice? Didn¡¯t she see his face turn dark! They finally arrived at the old house. Ma Yu waited for the two to get out of the car, then ran off as if escaping, leaving Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan to face each other. Did Ma Yu have diarrhea? Was he in such a hurry to rush home to use the bathroom? Old Mr. Lu was quite old and always went to sleep early. When Qiao Yi and he returned home, they quietly went upstairs to their rooms, afraid of disturbing the old man. ¡°The fireworks festival¡­¡± ¡°The fireworks festival is only held once a year. I last attended three years ago; I didn¡¯t expect I¡¯d get to go this year.¡± Qiao Yi really hadn¡¯t thought much about it. In her eyes, Lu Yanchuan simply wasn¡¯t suited for such purely recreational activities. With that time, he¡¯d definitely prefer to read some documents or attend meetings. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going with Yuanyuan and Wenwen; we won¡¯t have any issues!¡± Qiao Yi patted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder confidently, looking like a boss lady. Watching her, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s irritation inexplicably evaporated. If she wanted to go by herself, then let her go. It¡¯s better than moping at home. However¡­ ¡°What happened to your hand?¡± Lu Yanchuan grabbed Qiao Yi¡¯s arm and pulled her back. A three-inch-long gash on Qiao Yi¡¯s arm was still oozing blood. Initially, her arm was covered by her clothes, and although Lu Yanchuan had seen the blood on her, he thought it belonged to Ning Yuze. He hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Yi to be injured too! Qiao Yi, realizing later, suddenly felt the pain, hissing painfully as Lu Yanchuan pushed her onto the bed. Lu Yanchuan went downstairs to grab the first aid kit. By the time he returned with it, Qiao Yi was gone. The sound of water echoed from the bathroom. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face darkened as he threw down the kit and forcefully pushed open the bathroom door. ¡°Ah! You! What are you doing coming in here!¡± Qiao Yi screamed and crouched down, staring at Lu Yanchuan with a mix of shame and anger. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t wander, instead, it focused on Qiao Yi¡¯s injured arm. Upon seeing the grotesque wound fluffed up white by the water stream, his face darkened even more. Amid Qiao Yi¡¯s scream, Lu Yanchuan, disregarding her drenched body, picked her up from the bathroom, grabbed a towel, roughly wrapped her in it, and threw her onto the bed. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! Have you gone mad!¡± Qiao Yi struggled to sit up and saw Lu Yanchuan standing by the bed, unbuttoning his shirt. His designer shirt was crumpled up and thrown aside like a rag. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s presence was overwhelming. Qiao Yi swallowed and scooted back until she was against the headboard, alertly watching Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Um, I¡¯m fine! You should go wash up and sleep! I can take care of the wound myself!¡± Lu Yanchuan ignored Qiao Yi¡¯s words. With a long reach, he scooped her into his arms, a frightened girl now in his embrace. With her bare skin against his clothed body, Qiao Yi stiffened up in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, letting him dress her wound. Once Lu Yanchuan had wrapped the wound with gauze, Qiao Yi immediately tried to escape. ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°You! You hit me!¡± Qiao Yi was stunned, then her face turned beet red. She, she had been spanked! Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s mortified expression, Lu Yanchuan was slightly moved and gave her supple bottom another smack. ¡°Next time something like this happens, call me first. Don¡¯t let yourself get hurt again.¡± Tears were almost falling from Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. Though Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t hit her hard, it was extremely humiliating! She was now determined to fight back against Lu Yanchuan! The intent to fight back was easily subdued by Lu Yanchuan. After a few more spanks on her bottom, she was forced to promise not to be reckless before letting her go. Freed, Qiao Yi jumped off the bed, pointed at Lu Yanchuan, and cursed him. Before Lu Yanchuan realized what happened, she ran into the next room barefoot. At the hospital, Ning Changfeng and the anxiously arrived Wan Yulin were anxiously guarding outside the operation room. Ning Yuze had been beaten incoherently by Qiao Yi, and because he wasn¡¯t immediately brought to the hospital for emergency treatment, his condition was very critical; though there wasn¡¯t any imminent threat to his life, there was a possibility he might be left mentally incapacitated. After all, the injury was to his head. Wan Yulin had already cried three times, now brewing her fourth round of tears. Having heard the incident¡¯s course of events on the way here, she knew her son had caused the trouble, but seeing her son in such a condition, Wan Yulin was still heartbroken. She couldn¡¯t help but blame Qiao Yi a bit; Qiao Yi and Gu Ting had a good relationship, almost like her junior, how could she attack her son so severely! Ning Changfeng sat with a dark face on the bench, Wan Yulin¡¯s crying was driving him mad, yet he couldn¡¯t just leave at this time, so he had to sit there silently without a word. ¡°It¡¯s not right! Even if Xiaoze angered her, how could she strike him so harshly! If Xiaoze suffers irreversible damage, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live with myself either!¡± Wan Yulin¡¯s fourth bout of crying started, getting even more intense than before. Ning Changfeng had no mood to console her; after listening to her cry for a while he finally lost patience and grunted. ¡°Quiet down! You should be thankful that Qiao Yi didn¡¯t suffer any irreversible damage. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t just be your son suffering, the entire Ning Family would be implicated!¡± Ning Changfeng couldn¡¯t believe what would have happened if the person lying here was Qiao Yi. He would have faced a terrible predicament! Perhaps Wan Yulin could conceive of some of it, but her rationality was overwhelmed by anger and distress upon seeing Ning Yuze in such a miserable state. Seeing Ning Changfeng¡¯s demeanor, Wan Yulin pointed at him and screamed. ¡°Ning Changfeng! Do you even have a heart! The one lying inside is your biological son! Your son has been beaten like this, don¡¯t you feel any pain at all!¡± ¡°What good does my pain do! If it wasn¡¯t for his own improper actions, he wouldn¡¯t have been beaten like this!¡± Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Younger Brother is Coming Back Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Younger Brother is Coming Back Ning Changfeng slapped away Wan Yulin¡¯s hand and left her behind as he turned and walked away. Although today¡¯s incident seemed to have passed at the scene, it couldn¡¯t be guaranteed that the Qiao Family wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge, so he had to make some arrangements in advance. The next morning, Qiao Yi went back to the Qiao Family and recounted the incident to Qiao Benqing face-to-face. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, you weren¡¯t hurt, were you?¡± Qiao Benqing had cleaned up after Qiao Yi countless times, getting used to hearing how Qiao Yi had injured someone. Not hearing such news in the past two years and suddenly hearing it again, Qiao Benqing was somewhat unaccustomed to it. Qiao Yi shook her head. The injury on her arm was from swinging a bottle and accidentally hitting the sink on her own, it couldn¡¯t be considered an injury. Thinking about the wound on her arm made Qiao Yi¡¯s butt tingle with pain, and her face flushed. Lu Yanchuan, that stinky hoodlum, is like the ancestor of all hoodlums! ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re not hurt. Go check on your mom; she¡¯s a bit worried.¡± Zhao Wenjing was indeed worried, although Qiao Yi always got into fights, Zhao Wenjing always had to nag her for a while after each fight. ¡°Mom, this time it wasn¡¯t about me fighting for myself, I was protecting a girl. You should praise me!¡± Qiao Yi preempted Zhao Wenjing¡¯s nagging and explained the situation once again before Zhao Wenjing could be reassured. ¡°Even though you had good intentions, try to stay out of such matters in the future. I¡¯ve heard that the Sun Family are not good people. It¡¯s better if you stay away from them.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Qiao Yi obediently nodded her head, and after chatting a bit more, Qiao Yi suddenly remembered something. ¡°Right, Mom, my brother is coming back at the end of the month, and this time he might not leave again.¡± ¡°What? Qiaoqiao is coming back!¡± Sure enough, Zhao Wenjing forgot about her daughter fighting once she heard the news of Qiao Qiao¡¯s return, cheered, and then hurried to have someone prepare Qiao Qiao¡¯s room. Seeing how excited she was, Qiao Yi decided not to tell her that there was still half a month until the end of the month. ¡°My brother is coming back soon; I¡¯m going to stay at home for a while.¡± Actually, Qiao Yi really didn¡¯t want to talk to Lu Yanchuan, at least not these few days, she didn¡¯t want to see that stinky hoodlum at all. But if she didn¡¯t report to him, that stinky hoodlum would run over to the Qiao Family looking for her, and then she¡¯d be even more embarrassed. There was a pause on the phone before she heard Lu Yanchuan say, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll stay at the Qiao Family¡¯s place.¡± Qiao Yi: ¡°??? She was staying at home to avoid Lu Yanchuan! How could he still follow her here! ¡°There¡¯s no place for you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay in the same room as you.¡± Staying in the same room¡­ Qiao Yi was defeated, completely defeated. Lu Yanchuan is like a strong-willed bronze pea; you can¡¯t pound it, cook it, or throw it away! Qiao Yi hung up the phone in frustration, not wanting to anger herself over Lu Yanchuan anymore. After telling Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing that Lu Yanchuan was coming to stay, they both welcomed him warmly, which was another stab to Qiao Yi¡¯s heart. Qiao Xin was once again turned away at the Lu Mansion, being told that none of the homeowners were available, and to wait for them to come back before visiting. Old Mr. Lu¡¯s guard¡¯s words greatly angered Qiao Xin, she too was a daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, how could she not be considered a mistress of the Lu Family! Despite all the sweet-talking and scolding, the guard refused to let her in, infuriating Qiao Xin to the point she almost passed out! She had never seen such a stubborn person! With reluctance, Qiao Xin walked away, looking back every three steps, longing to enter the mansion. Why was it that both being daughter-in-laws of the Lu Family, Qiao Yi could become the mistress, and she could only live in discomfort under Wang Zhen¡¯s manipulation! Wang Zhen couldn¡¯t come to Lu Mansion either now because Old Mr. Lu found her annoying and forbid her from visiting the mansion without good reason. Yet, Wang Zhen blamed Qiao Xin for her inability to visit the mansion, believing she was implicated by Qiao Xin¡¯s actions, preventing her visitation! Qiao Xin and Wang Zhen were constantly at war, while Lu Qingshan was somewhat better, being at the company during the day and only home for a bit at night. But Lu Ming, for some reason, had all his tasks at the company taken over by others, ending up with only a few non-busy projects to handle, idling away his days. Wang Zhen hated to see her son underutilized like this and vented all her frustration on Qiao Xin. Of course, Qiao Xin wouldn¡¯t just be a scapegoat; relying on the shares she held in the Lu Family, she clashed with Wang Zhen head-on. Lu Ming bore it at home for two days, then simply stayed at the company and didn¡¯t return home. Up to today, Lu Ming hadn¡¯t been home for a full two days. Though Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care about her relationship with him, his constant absence from home was not acceptable. That¡¯s why Qiao Xin tried to visit the mansion, hoping that even if she could just talk to Old Mr. Lu, she could return with the power to suppress Wang Zhen and end this endless battle. However, it was inevitably disappointing; she couldn¡¯t even get a glimpse of Old Mr. Lu, let alone Qiao Yi. As Qiao Xin was walking out though, she suddenly saw Yanchuan¡¯s car driving into the villa area, heading her way. ¡°Mr. Lu! Mr. Lu! Yanchuan! Stop the car, it¡¯s me!¡± Her earlier frustration was immediately swept away, and Qiao Xin anxiously stood in the middle of the road, setting herself like she wouldn¡¯t let him pass. The car slowly stopped, the driver¡¯s window rolled down, revealing Ma Yu¡¯s head instead. ¡°Why is it you! Where¡¯s Yanchuan!¡± Qiao Xin widened her eyes, swiftly walked over, and yanked open the car door, only to see it was just Ma Yu by herself. ¡°Mrs. Little Lu, the boss is obviously at the company now, I just came to pick up some stuff for him.¡± Ma Yu helplessly watched as Qiao Xin thoroughly searched the car inside out, eventually shutting the door in disappointment. She had thought she might run into Yanchuan and was so preemptively excited. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes and walked away, while Ma Yu continued driving towards the Lu Mansion. There wasn¡¯t much of Yanchuan¡¯s stuff; Ma Yu just came to collect some documents he had left at home and his computer, while the rest would naturally be prepared by the Qiao Family. Although Qiao Yi had moved back to the Qiao Family¡¯s home, she still couldn¡¯t sit idle; she needed to prepare for Old Mr. Lu¡¯s upcoming birthday feast at the end of the month¡ª a whole array of messy duties awaited her. Qiao Yi had already worked on these with Zhao Wenjing previously, and she handled them quite proficiently this time around. Zhao Wenjing was overjoyed to see Qiao Yi receive such attention upon marrying into the Lu Family, and she spent her days busily helping Qiao Yi prepare for the birthday feast. As the days passed, Qiao Yi truly enjoyed this ordinary yet busy life. As for Qiao Xin, who knew that Yanchuan was staying at the Qiao Family¡¯s home and rushed back there daily to offer her attentions, she was merely a minor ripple in Qiao Yi¡¯s peaceful life. However, Qiao Yi forgot that sometimes, even small ripples can stir up massive waves. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: No Family Members Allowed Chapter 58: Chapter 58: No Family Members Allowed The fireworks festival in Capital City is famous across the nearby provinces. At the end of May or the beginning of June each year, there is a grand fireworks festival held in Capital City. The fireworks festival, also known as the Firework Exhibition, is an event where fireworks manufacturers from all over the world bring their innovative products to showcase and sell. Over the years, each fireworks festival has featured particularly outstanding fireworks, such as last year¡¯s ¡°Starry Sky¡± and the previous year¡¯s ¡°Magpie Bridge,¡± both of which were very creative designs. Qiao Yi was learning how to make fireworks, but she couldn¡¯t handle these tiny granules at all. She couldn¡¯t create many varieties and only knew how to make the simplest kind. ¡°Just look at what you¡¯ve made, my little grandson lost interest in such things when he was three years old!¡± Several people were sitting in the courtyard, with Qiao Yi having a pile of small paper tubes at her feet, filling them with materials in the correct proportions to make the simplest of firecrackers. Lu Yanchuan, who was sitting next to Qiao Yi, had several paper tubes at his feet that were many times larger. As soon as Lu Yanchuan sealed his tube, an old man with a white beard snatched it away to examine closely. ¡°Just look at Yanchuan, he learned in just one morning and already does it better than you have in years!¡± The old man with the white beard humphed through his nose, bluntly claiming Lu Yanchuan¡¯s freshly made firework for himself. Qiao Yi wrinkled her nose; she didn¡¯t understand why she couldn¡¯t manage this pile of sulfur and saltpeter. ¡°Grandpa Ding, you can¡¯t just favor the new and get bored with the old! Initially, you said I was exceptionally talented and that I could inherit your mantle!¡± Qiao Yi, unsatisfied, threw away the materials in her hand and piled all the small paper tubes at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s feet before running over to act coquettishly with the white-bearded old man. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The white-bearded old man laughed heartily as he pulled Qiao Yi towards the house. Ding Xingluo, the chairman of the Fireworks Association and a national inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of fireworks. Qiao Yi skipped class in middle school to watch the fireworks festival, where she got lost and happened to meet Ding Xingluo, who was making firecrackers. After chatting with the old man, they found they got along well, and the old and young acquaintances were made. Every year during the fireworks festival, Qiao Yi would come to keep Grandpa Ding¡¯s company. Initially, Grandpa Ding was astounded by her ability to learn how to make the simplest firecracker in less than half an hour. However, Grandpa Ding never expected that after more than a decade, Qiao Yi still only knew how to make that one type of firecracker, which disappointed him for quite some time. Feng Siyu and Han Lewen were making fireworks in the courtyard. According to Grandpa Ding, anyone would be more intelligent than Qiao Yi. They both successfully made firecrackers, which earned them Grandpa Ding¡¯s praise, causing Qiao Yi to roll her eyes even more. Qiao Yi originally did not plan to bring Lu Yanchuan along with her, but upon hearing that she was going to meet Ding Xingluo, he insisted on joining her. Who knew that Grandpa Ding and Old Mr. Lu were old friends and were familiar with Lu Yanchuan, and Grandpa Ding took the opportunity to scold Qiao Yi again using the topic of Lu Yanchuan making fireworks. Soon, only Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Xin remained in the courtyard, with Lu Yanchuan taking over the materials that Qiao Yi was working on, which caused them to waste more time. Qiao Xin had adamantly insisted on coming along; in front of Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to fall out with Qiao Xin so quickly, so she had to bring her along. As she watched everyone else finish their work, Qiao Xin noticed that Lu Yanchuan was focused on the task at hand and not paying her any attention. After looking around, she quietly packed all the leftover materials into her bag. When Qiao Xin finished sealing her own firework, she took it and sat down next to Lu Yanchuan with a plop. ¡°Yan¡­¡± Before Qiao Xin could finish calling his name, Lu Yanchuan stood up and walked into the house with a tray. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! You stop right there!¡± Qiao Xin threw the firecracker she held and ran over to grab Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm to stop him from walking away. Lu Yanchuan raised his hand to shake off Qiao Xin, then stepped back a few paces, distancing himself from her. Qiao Xin stumbled a few times from being pushed away, then turned back to look at Lu Yanchuan with a mix of grievance and disbelief. ¡°You, how could you treat me like this!¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t want to bother with this woman whose mind seemed troubled, and he walked around her to continue heading inside the house. Watching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s retreating figure, Qiao Xin¡¯s face reddened as if she had been slapped in the face. These past few days at the Qiao Family, no matter how hard she tried, Lu Yanchuan seemed completely blind to her presence, his heart only filled with that bitch Qiao Yi! She even stripped naked and lay in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s blankets, only for him to go call Qiao Yi over after seeing her! Is Qiao Yi really that great! What does she have that I don¡¯t! ¡°Bleh¡ª¡± Qiao Xin suddenly felt a wave of nausea, clutched her chest, and rushed to a large tree nearby, where she held onto the trunk and retched. Qiao Yi accompanied Old Mr. Ding to inspect the venue for the evening¡¯s fireworks display. More than a decade ago, Grandpa Ding was still able to personally host the fireworks display, but now as the Chairman, he was merely a figurehead, the infirmities of old age taking their toll. Along the way, many of Grandpa Ding¡¯s students and disciples greeted him, and upon arriving at the main venue, Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze was immediately captivated by the huge firework cannon in the center. ¡°Girl, we¡¯re short of someone to light the fireworks tonight, want to give it a try?¡± Ding Xingluo saw that Qiao Yi seemed quite interested and said with a chuckle while stroking his whiskers. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up. Since getting to know Grandpa Ding, she had been the one to light the big axel fireworks every year. She hadn¡¯t done it for the past two years, and she really missed that feeling! ¡°Can I? Xiaoding won¡¯t come over to fight me for it again, right?¡± Qiao Yi was already eager to try, wishing she could immediately set off that gigantic firework as tall as herself. After walking around the venue, Qiao Yi realized that someone seemed to be missing. ¡°Where¡¯s Qiao Xin? Didn¡¯t she follow?¡± Qiao Yi looked left and right, indeed there was no sign of Qiao Xin. Knowing that she came chasing after Lu Yanchuan, where on earth had she run off to in such a short time? After failing to find her despite a thorough search, and calls going unanswered, Qiao Yi simply stopped looking. After all, Qiao Xin was a grown person and was unlikely to get lost. Several people accompanied Old Mr. Ding back to the Ding Family home, where Grandpa Ding went to take an afternoon nap. Feng Siyu and Han Lewen dragged Qiao Yi into a corner to torment her. ¡°We agreed not to bring family members, how come you brought one! Believe it or not, I¡¯ll use your family member as a firework!¡± Feng Siyu pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s arm hard, thinking about how Gu Ting looked so reluctant when Qiao Yi left the house, now she really wanted Qiao Yi to taste that feeling! Han Lewen didn¡¯t have a family member, but she wasn¡¯t keen on being the third wheel, so she pinched the other arm of Qiao Yi, relentless until she could get a clear explanation for their sake. ¡°Let go, let go! I¡¯m dying here!¡± Yiyi screamed and flung off the two mischief-makers, then roared and charged at them, beginning her own revenge. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Fireworks Display Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Fireworks Display Three exhausted women had enough fun and returned to sit under the big tree to drink tea. ¡°Lu Yanchuan isn¡¯t someone I brought with me; he followed on his own, nothing to do with me.¡± Qiao Yi pouted her lips. She didn¡¯t want to bring Lu Yanchuan either, but he insisted on coming, and she couldn¡¯t just tie him up at home. Her reason wasn¡¯t accepted, so Feng Siyu prepared to call her own family over. The only one left without family to call upon, Han Lewen, loudly bemoaned the unfairness. ¡°If you find it unfair, go find a partner then!¡± Feng Siyu and Han Lewen would start bickering the moment they met; after a few words, the two of them were at it again. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t be bothered to break up the fight; after all, it would be over shortly. The three chatted and drank tea until later when, somehow, Gu Ting started playing a game of Go with Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi could play Go but didn¡¯t like it. Feng Siyu stood behind her partner, cheering non-stop, while Han Lewen, whom she clashed with, was jumping up and down cheering for Lu Yanchuan; the yard was as bustling as a food market. Qiao Xin, who had left for no apparent reason, returned just as mysteriously with Lu Ming. During the joyous times, some unwelcome people arrived, which really annoyed Qiao Yi. Although Qiao Yi was irritated, she had no reason to drive them away; the only option was to drag the party-breaking group to visit the night market. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Because of today¡¯s fireworks extravaganza, the southern suburbs had opened a special street as the night market, which was bustling with a variety of food and fun. Qiao Yi and the others were accustomed to such places, only Lu Yanchuan seemed out of place here. Dressed casually, Lu Yanchuan appeared significantly younger than when he¡¯s in his suit and shoes, but even in the crowd, he was still the center of attention. Gu Ting, next to him, seemed more approachable, but seeing Feng Siyu wanting to try this and that, he stayed stern-faced and didn¡¯t allow it. Walking along the snack street, the group looked like parents taking their three daughters out for fun. Startled by her own wild thoughts, Qiao Yi quickly shook her head to cast away the terrifying idea. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Headache?¡± The voice was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s. Qiao Yi turned her head abruptly, only to bump it right into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, causing tears to spring out from the pain. She was in such pain, yet Lu Yanchuan was actually laughing! Qiao Yi, holding her nose, grunted and moved forward, but after a few steps, her dangling hand was caught by a warm, large hand. ¡°It¡¯s crowded here, stick with me.¡± Qiao Yi struggled for a bit before letting Lu Yanchuan lead her, her cheeks unknowingly flushed, whether from the pain or some other reason. The night market was not too big or small. They took a round trip and by the time they came back, it was already dark. Seeing that it was about time, Qiao Yi took snacks meant for Old Mr. Ding back to the Ding Family courtyard. Although Old Mr. Ding didn¡¯t eat those outside snacks, it couldn¡¯t stop Qiao Yi¡¯s desire to share with him. She deliberately ate two skewers in front of the old man until he sent her out, then she felt relieved all over. Qiao Xin and Lu Ming were still waiting at the Ding Family¡¯s place, and no one knew what they were waiting for. When the last light of the day had faded, Qiao Yi and her group finally arrived at the venue. With Qiao Yi leading, they found the best spot to watch the fireworks. Having not attended the Fireworks Association¡¯s event in two years, they didn¡¯t even need an open flame to light the fireworks now; a small remote control was all it took. Old Mr. Ding handed the remote control to Qiao Yi and after telling her when to ignite, he left for his spot. He was supposed to sit on the podium, although Old Mr. Ding would have preferred to sit with these children. On the podium, Old Mr. Ding¡¯s successor was giving a passionate speech, while Qiao Yi and a few others had already started to study the remote controls in their hands. This remote had two buttons; the yellow button on top was for starting the fireworks show, and the black button below was for that huge firework Qiao Yi had seen. Qiao Yi timed it perfectly, pressing the button at the stroke of eight o¡¯clock. ¡°Bang¡ª¡± ¡°Bang¡ª¡± Two massive fireworks marked the opening of the fireworks extravaganza. With only the sound of fireworks exploding in her ears, Qiao Yi could faintly hear Feng Siyu¡¯s screams and Han Lewen¡¯s laughter. Above her, a myriad of fireworks burst into various shapes and colors in the sky, romantic and dazzling. Despite watching the show for many years, every time Qiao Yi watched the fireworks, she felt incredibly happy and romantic. Qiao Yi was watching the fireworks, while Lu Yanchuan was watching Qiao Yi. The small woman sitting in front of him had sparkling eyes and a blissful face as she supported her chin and gazed at the fireworks above. From her hair, one could discern her joy. Do you like fireworks that much? Fireworks are beautiful, but they are also fleeting; a fireworks show lasts only about half an hour. The show featured almost all of the new firework designs that appeared this year. Qiao Yi has been watching fireworks shows for over ten years and had never seen any repetition. After the final firework, in the shape of a rose, bloom, the fireworks show ended. The Fireworks Association organized this show; next up was the showcase time for these fireworks vendors. Qiao Yi intently watched the various fireworks exploding in the sky, sometimes being amused enough to laugh. ¡°We can set off our own fireworks later, let¡¯s go too!¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s face was flushed; she surely was up to no good while watching the fireworks! Looking at Gu Ting next to her, laughing with a mischievous air, Qiao Yi twisted Feng Siyu¡¯s arm in a reproachful manner¡ªfriends truly are like water that has been poured away once married! In contrast, Han Lewen was much better behaved, eagerly pulling Qiao Yi to go find something fun. ¡°No, we have to wait until I set off the final firework before we can go have fun; otherwise, even if you get the fireworks in your hands now, you can¡¯t set them off.¡± Only after the official program was over could visitors freely enjoy themselves. The square where the big fireworks were set was the place where they could set off fireworks. Only a few vendors were selected to display their products. Qiao Yi particularly liked a straight-barreled cannon that would shoot up into the sky and explode into a sky full of pink stars¡ªa rough yet girlish combination, bewildering and mesmerizing. After a patient twenty-minute wait, the final part arrived, and Qiao Yi even stood up on tiptoe to look towards where the large firework was placed. Lu Yanchuan reached out and pulled Qiao Yi into his embrace. Although there was a waist-high fence in front, given Qiao Yi¡¯s excitement, it was hard to ensure she wouldn¡¯t fall down. Despite the height was equal to that of a person, falling would likely not be fatal, but a broken arm or leg wasn¡¯t anything serious. Qiao Yi sat on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lap and squirmed, feeling uneasy trying to stand up from his embrace, but the arm around her waist held her tightly, making it impossible for her to break free. ¡°Let me go right now¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words were cut short by Lu Yanchuan, who took her hand and pressed it along with his onto the black button. ¡°The time¡¯s come, why not light the firework now?¡± Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Sudden Explosion Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Sudden Explosion Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. She had never seen fireworks that could bloom in the sky, and not just one, but five consecutive blooms, each changing colors. Qiao Yi shouted excitedly, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t understand why she was so thrilled; it was just a special kind of fireworks, pretty yes, but to get this excited? ¡°Ah ah ah!¡± Qiao Yi was frantically waving her arms, Lu Yanchuan held her even tighter, fearing she might accidentally fall over. Being held in someone¡¯s embrace, Qiao Yi turned and kissed Lu Yanchuan on the face, and it was only when he was stunned that he noticed tears in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Old Mr. Ding succeeded! Old Mr. Ding succeeded!¡± Qiao Yi hugged Lu Yanchuan tightly and screamed into his ear. Behind them was the magnificent fireworks, and in his arms was his closest companion. Lu Yanchuan too couldn¡¯t help but be infected by this enthusiasm and kissed the back of Qiao Yi¡¯s head. The huge fireworks lasted for ten minutes before it concluded, and Old Mr. Ding sitting on the main stage was already receiving everyone¡¯s congratulations and praises. He had spent his lifetime studying fireworks and had finally, in his sixties, created fireworks that could bloom five times, setting a world record! Besides the association members, perhaps only Qiao Yi knew what this fireworks meant to Old Mr. Ding. Though controlled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, Qiao Yi¡¯s mind was filled with gratitude and guilt. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 The fireworks should have been lit by Old Mr. Ding himself, but she stole this glorious moment. Old Mr. Ding indulging her like this, how could she not be moved? Lu Yanchuan realized that the little woman he was kissing had started to sob, thinking it was because he held her too tightly, he immediately loosened his grip. But while he loosened his arms, Qiao Yi hugged him tighter, biting his shoulder and crying out loudly. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡ª¡± Everything was fine, so why did she start crying? Qiao Yi¡¯s bite didn¡¯t hurt him, but letting her continue to cry like this was not a solution. Lu Yanchuan, not knowing how to comfort, could only gently pat her back, as if soothing a child. Even the most beautiful fireworks must come to an end. Qiao Yi¡¯s emotions had finally stabilized. Seeing her tears and saliva on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, her face heated up in waves. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore, your eyes will be uncomfortable.¡± Qiao Yi sniffled and sat up from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace, using the distant light to look at him, feeling a flicker of attraction towards this man for the first time. ¡°Yiyi, why are you crying!¡± Feng Siyu was sitting a bit away, so engrossed in watching the fireworks that he hadn¡¯t noticed what was happening here. Now seeing Qiao Yi sitting on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lap crying miserably, he thought Lu Yanchuan had bullied her, and rushed over to support Qiao Yi. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just couldn¡¯t hold back thinking of something just now; let¡¯s go check on Old Mr. Ding first, then I¡¯ll take you all to set off fireworks.¡± Qiao Yi, with a tearful voice, wiped her tears and went to find Old Mr. Ding first. Old Mr. Ding, seeing Qiao Yi looking tearful, felt extremely sympathetic and took quite a while to soothe her. He then had someone bring a basket of fireworks, claiming they were his private collection, and let Qiao Yi set them off. Qiao Yi, feeling somewhat embarrassed, carried the basket away. It was she who had stolen the moment to set off Old Mr. Ding¡¯s fireworks, and now he had to console her; it really shouldn¡¯t have been so. That large firework container was taken away by the association members, as it belonged to Old Mr. Ding¡¯s patent and could not be shown to others carelessly. Qiao Yi put down the basket of fireworks given by Old Mr. Ding, which was indeed rich in variety. Each person picked a few, and the rest were all left for Qiao Yi. The square was filled with the scent of fireworks after they had been set off. Qiao Yi rubbed her nose, feeling that the smell was perhaps too strong. When she squatted down to choose the fireworks she wanted to set off, suddenly a small spark flew from somewhere and landed right in front of Qiao Yi, falling into the basket of fireworks! ¡°Ah!¡± A loud explosion drowned out Qiao Yi¡¯s scream. Lu Yanchuan had just stabilized a firework launcher when he heard the explosion behind him and turned to see Qiao Yi, covered in blood, collapsed to the side. The basket of fireworks, which had been perfectly fine, was now blown to pieces, leaving nothing but a charred spot on the ground. ¡°Qiao Yi!¡± Lu Yanchuan rushed over and carefully picked Qiao Yi up, only to discover she was badly injured in many places, especially the wounds on the back of her hands, which were particularly shocking. Without a second thought, Lu Yanchuan carried Qiao Yi hurriedly out of the area. Feng Siyu and Han Lewen also heard the noise and saw Lu Yanchuan running out with Qiao Yi, quickly following behind. Gu Ting ran a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and went back to where Qiao Yi had been injured. He squatted down and began to examine the area carefully. The fireworks given by Old Mr. Ding definitely had no issues. This mysterious explosion must have been caused by an external force. Qiao Yi herself would never have blown herself up, so who deliberately ignited the fireworks inside? Only a few people knew about setting off the fireworks. At that time, Feng Siyu and Han Lewen were far away, Lu Yanchuan was arranging the firework launchers, which leaves only¡­ ¡°Qiao Xin!¡± Gu Ting looked around the square for a while but didn¡¯t see Qiao Xin or Lu Ming. He hesitated for a moment and then sent a message to Feng Siyu before heading towards the main stage. Qiao Yi was carried by Lu Yanchuan into the car, and he personally drove her to the hospital. Yun Qing had also received the news and was on his way to join them. Fortunately, it¡¯s common for people to get burns and injuries at fireworks festivals, so there was a temporary hospital nearby specially equipped to handle these wounds. However, the injuries brought in were usually minor, nothing as serious as Qiao Yi¡¯s. Had it not been for Qiao Yi quickly covering her head and turning away in the moment of the explosion, her face might have been ruined by now. Lu Yanchuan himself hadn¡¯t realized that after he set Qiao Yi down, both of his hands were shaking. The image of Qiao Yi in his arms, barely breathing, had truly frightened him. The person who had been laughing and smiling just a moment before was suddenly lying there, her life hanging by a thread! ¡°Family members, please step out for a moment, wait outside!¡± A nurse came over and ushered everyone out. While sitting in the hallway outside, they began to think about asking why Qiao Yi was blasted. ¡°Gu Ting sent me a message, said he¡¯s going to the association to find the surveillance and video footage from the event.¡± The fireworks festival was always recorded by cameras, and there were security cameras around the venue too. Hopefully, Gu Ting could find some useful information. ¡°The fireworks in the basket wouldn¡¯t explode on their own. It must have been done deliberately, and I think it was Qiao Xin¡¯s doing!¡± Feng Siyu gritted his teeth angrily. Qiao Yi was injured like this, and Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t even come to check on her. She was acting suspicious at the venue, definitely guilty of something! Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Lu Yanchuans Fury Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Lu Yanchuan¡¯s Fury Nobody knew where Qiao Xin had gone; Gu Ting rushed back only bringing with him a blurry video clip. In the video, Qiao Yi was squatting on the ground, rummaging through a basket, when a faint light seemed to fly from a distance and fall in front of Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi looked terrified, covered her face, and then collapsed to the ground. The next moment, all the fireworks and firecrackers in the basket exploded. Strangely, when the sparks from the basket reached Qiao Yi¡¯s body, several small bright lights also burst forth from her. Therefore, Qiao Yi¡¯s injuries were not only caused by the fireworks in the basket but also from small fireworks hidden on her person. But who could have hidden fireworks on Qiao Yi without her noticing? A group of people turned their gazes toward Lu Yanchuan, who remained composed, watching the video over and over again. ¡°Gu Ting, go back to the site, collect as many remnants of the exploded basket as possible, and ask Old Mr. Ding which fireworks he provided to Qiao Yi. Also, retrieve the complete video from the square and identify everyone who touched the basket after Qiao Yi took possession of it.¡± ¡°You suspect¡­¡± ¡°I glanced at the basket when I took it, and there were no fireworks inside with such explosive power. Moreover, the pyrotechnic that ignited the basket¡¯s fireworks flew in from outside the video¡¯s frame. Someone deliberately threw a spark into the basket.¡± Lu Yanchuan slowed down the video, pointing at an enlarged bright spot on the screen. There were more suspicious points, but Gu Ting needed to bring back the evidence. Gu Ting glanced at Feng Siyu, then stood up and left the hospital, bumping into Yun Qing who was hurriedly arriving at the entrance. ¡°Where is she?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°Inside.¡± Yun Qing answered and went inside. There was a burst of noise, but it soon quieted down. Lu Yanchuan watched the video repeatedly, each time seeing Qiao Yi collapse to the ground with explosions still occurring on her body, he felt waves of discomfort in his heart. He attributed this to the anger he felt because Qiao Yi had been injured by his side. As a husband, to have let his wife sustain such severe injuries at such close range was an utter dereliction of duty! Lu Yanchuan could not forgive this oversight. If anything serious had happened to Qiao Yi, he was not sure what he might do. ¡°Xiyu, look into something for me.¡± No matter who was behind this, he would not forgive them! The door to the ward opened, and Yun Qing came out with a look of relief and relaxation on his face. ¡°Fortunately, sister-in-law¡¯s injuries are not severe, mostly superficial wounds, but the injury on the back of her hand needs to be cared for properly. The weather is about to warm up, and burns or blast injuries like these can leave scars if not properly treated.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded and was about to enter to see Qiao Yi, but Yun Qing grabbed him. ¡°Boss, wait a moment. The nurse is helping the sister-in-law change clothes. You can go in afterward.¡± After saying this, Yun Qing regretted it. Indeed, Lu Yanchuan looked at him with lifeless eyes, as if looking at a corpse. ¡°Please, after you.¡± Yun Qing shrank his neck and stepped back, making way for Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi lay on the bed, pallid, with abrasions on her face and several wounds of varying sizes on her exposed arm; bandages almost completely wrapped around the entire arm. There were likely even more injuries unseen. The news of Qiao Yi¡¯s injuries had not been told to Qiao Benqing or Zhao Wenjing, nor to Old Mr. Lu. Lu Yanchuan planned to expose the person behind this himself. Everyone else was sent away by Lu Yanchuan, leaving only Yun Qing, the doctor, to take care of her. Qiao Yi woke up the next afternoon, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Lu Yanchuan, who seemed to have fallen asleep by the bedside. The scene of last night¡¯s explosion flashed before her eyes, and Qiao Yi lifted her hands to look at her two mummy-wrapped paws, letting out a wry smile. ¡°Awake? Want something to eat?¡± Qiao Yi shook her head, the stinging pain in various parts of her body telling her just how injured she was. Indeed, this time watching the fireworks had come at a great cost. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to investigate the fireworks explosion. Do you remember noticing anything unusual before the basket exploded last night?¡± Unusual? Qiao Yi thought long and hard but couldn¡¯t come up with anything unusual. The only thing that could be considered unusual was that Qiao Xin came over to glance at the fireworks and then kept her distance, as if there was something dirty nearby. Qiao Xin¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t particularly unusual, so Qiao Yi shook her head and didn¡¯t share it with Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I suspect that someone placed a kind of explosive firework in your basket, which was then ignited by a spark and caused that explosion.¡± Hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, Qiao Yi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If this guess was correct, then the only possible suspect was Qiao Xin! Qiao Xin actually wanted to kill her! No, that¡¯s not right! The amount of explosives wasn¡¯t enough to kill her. Could it be that she wanted to¡­ disfigure her? Indeed! If not for Qiao Yi¡¯s quick reaction last night, disfigurement would have been inevitable! ¡°I think I know who did this. There¡¯s no need for you to keep investigating.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s complexion turned even paler, and although the ward was as warm as spring, she felt as if she had fallen into an icy cave, with her fingers almost freezing stiff. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s abnormal reaction and, knowing her well, almost immediately guessed her suspect. ¡°Is it Qiao Xin?¡± Qiao Yi nodded and then shook her head. ¡°I suspect it¡¯s her, but there¡¯s no evidence, so¡­¡± ¡°I will find the evidence. How to use it will be up to you.¡± Qiao Yi suddenly turned toward Lu Yanchuan, not expecting him to say such a thing and for a moment didn¡¯t know what to say. Lu Yanchuan, he¡­ ¡°Yiyi, you¡¯re awake! That¡¯s great! You almost scared me to death!¡± Two tearful beauties rushed to the bedside, and Qiao Yi used her two pig trotters to wipe their tears, but their crying only intensified, making her wonder where all these tears were coming from. ¡°There¡¯s something I need your help with.¡± Once they had cried enough, Qiao Yi started talking about more serious matters. ¡°What is it? I¡¯ll definitely help you!¡± Qiao Yi smiled slyly, pointed at the bandages on her hands, then at her face, and said to the people in the room. ¡°From now on, I am disfigured, the kind that can¡¯t be fixed, the kind that would make Lu Yanchuan divorce me!¡± ¡°Are you crazy? You¡¯re perfectly fine. Why would you say that?¡± Han Lewen looked at Qiao Yi worryingly, afraid that the fireworks had damaged her brain. But the others seemed thoughtful, and Lu Yanchuan even smiled a little. ¡°You¡¯re planning to play a trick to lure out the person who wanted to harm you!¡± Feng Siyu received an admiring glance from Qiao Yi, ¡°Smart!¡± Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Disfigurement Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Disfigurement Seeing Han Lewen still looking confused, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but explain. ¡°I think the person who designed this wasn¡¯t aiming to kill me, but to disfigure and injure me, so I¡¯ll play right into their hands. In a few days, it¡¯ll be Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday feast, and that person will definitely show up eagerly to see my disfigured face, then¡­¡± ¡°Then whoever loses their composure is the person who plotted against you!¡± Han Lewen finally caught on, clapping her hands and praising the plan. ¡°Starting today, none of you should come to see me, just say I don¡¯t want to see anyone, I¡¯ll be discharged from the hospital this afternoon and go home to recover!¡± Qiao Yi looked like a cunning little fox who had stolen a treat, her eyes shining, twirling around, seemingly plotting something mischievous. This matter had to be arranged properly, everyone in the hospital room left, Lu Yanchuan seemed reluctant to go but was eventually called away by a phone call. Only Qiao Yi was left in the hospital room, the smile on her face gradually faded, her eyes emotionless as she stared into a void. Qiao Xin crossed the line this time, Qiao Yi had endured her over and over, each time wanting to teach her a harsh lesson, but thinking of Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi always held back. Although Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing didn¡¯t like this daughter very much, Qiao Xin was still their child, and if Qiao Xin was hurt, they would worry and be distressed. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to make her parents sad, so she endured Qiao Xin time and again, but this time, Qiao Xin really went too far! Yun Qing walked in, saw the distracted Qiao Yi, knocked on the door to bring her back to reality. ¡°The boss told me to wrap up your face too.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Since last night, after saying things she shouldn¡¯t have, Yun Qing has always been cautious around Qiao Yi, afraid of observing something inappropriate again. Qiao Yi responded, knowing that if you are going to act, you need to act fully, even if she was alone in the hospital room, she couldn¡¯t relax. In no time, Qiao Yi completely turned into a mummy, using her phone screen to check, even she was startled by her own image. It really looked like her face had suffered multiple injuries! Qiao Yi was very satisfied with her new look, but looking left and right, she felt something was missing. ¡°Do you have any blood? Add a few drops on the gauze, wouldn¡¯t that look more realistic?¡± Yun Qing was persuaded by Qiao Yi, and after repeated requests, went to mix some paint, dabbed it onto the gauze, and wrapped it up again. Now it looked more realistic, Qiao Yi felt that this was definitely the face of someone who had been disfigured! When Lu Yanchuan returned and saw Qiao Yi¡¯s new appearance, he too was startled, but remembering it was fake, he helped by providing some suggestions. With the efforts of the three of them, Qiao Yi successfully possessed a severely injured head. The injuries on Qiao Yi¡¯s body were not serious, but required daily dressing which was quite troublesome. Especially the wounds on Qiao Yi¡¯s back, which she couldn¡¯t reach by herself, and Lu Yanchuan had to help her with the dressing daily, wasn¡¯t it awkward? It could also be possible to have the aunt help with the dressing, but Qiao Yi compared the aunt and Lu Yanchuan, and inexplicably felt it was more acceptable to have Lu Yanchuan do it? She must have some serious illness! Qiao Yi was cooped up at home, browsing posts and watching the news every day, indeed the news of her disfigurement by the fireworks spread quickly, even the Qiao parents and Old Mr. Lu called to ask. However, Qiao Yi brushed them off vaguely. Zhao Wenjing strictly forbade Qiao Yi to play with fireworks again, but she also knew that she couldn¡¯t control Qiao Yi; this was just her way of showing her rejection of fireworks. On the fifth day of Qiao Yi recuperating, Qiao Xin finally came with a pile of gifts, claiming to visit Qiao Yi. Playing her part to the fullest, Qiao Yi naturally refused to see her, only letting her glimpse her thoroughly wrapped-up head through the window, then threw a loud and crazy tantrum, further solidifying the rumors of her disfigurement and drastic change in temperament. To cooperate with Qiao Yi¡¯s plan, Lu Yanchuan had been living in the Lu Mansion during this period, only showing up at night to change Qiao Yi¡¯s bandages; he was otherwise nowhere to be seen. Qiao Xin left Qiao Yi¡¯s place with a worried look, but internally, she was overjoyed. It¡¯s as if heaven was on her side, letting Qiao Yi ruin her face! What perfect karma! Feeling great, Qiao Xin left without seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s cold gaze watching her back from the window. Time flew by, and it was soon Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday. The invitations, handwritten by Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan, were sent out half a month in advance, with more than ten grams of gold powder used on them alone. On the day of the birthday feast, all of the Lu Family¡¯s younger members returned to the Lu Mansion, and Qiao Yi came back to the mansion a day in advance as well. Old Mr. Lu almost shouted out loud upon seeing the bandages on Qiao Yi¡¯s head. Only after Qiao Yi removed the bandages and declared she was healed did the old man beat Lu Yanchuan several times with his cane, making him take the punishment on behalf of the injured Qiao Yi. Lu Yanchuan thought to himself that the old man simply couldn¡¯t bear to hit his daughter-in-law! The younger generation of the Lu Family was responsible for welcoming guests, and Qiao Xin finally stepped into the Lu Mansion again, standing next to Lu Ming with a composed and polite smile, but with a hint of obvious pride. Now that Qiao Yi was disfigured, she was virtually out of the picture; dealing with a ¡®ruined¡¯ person like her would be a piece of cake! Thinking this, the smile on Qiao Xin¡¯s face deepened. Standing next to her, Lu Ming also smiled smugly, thinking that as long as he could get Qiao Xin into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bed, he would gain the Lu Family shares she controlled; why wouldn¡¯t he be pleased? The two of them, each with their own agendas, momentarily seemed quite a match! Qiao Xin walked around the guest hall of the mansion, didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi, but spotted Lu Yanchuan alone, further confirming her belief about Qiao Yi¡¯s disfigurement. She was so excited, she almost screamed. With great effort, Qiao Xin maintained her composure and walked up to Lu Yanchuan with a wine glass in hand. ¡°Mr. Lu, why haven¡¯t I seen my sister today? Is she feeling unwell? Why isn¡¯t she here with you?¡± Qiao Xin, feigning ignorance, was determined to hear exactly what she wanted from Lu Yanchuan before giving up. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t want to deal with her at all, acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard her and completely ignoring Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin¡¯s expression twisted for a while before she calmed down, persistently following him. ¡°Mr. Lu, I heard my sister got hurt on her face during the fireworks show, it¡¯s such a pity that when I went to see her, she shut me out.¡± Qiao Xin said with a face full of grievance, making it seem as if she was genuinely heartbroken by Qiao Yi¡¯s cold shoulder. Regardless of what Qiao Xin said, Lu Yanchuan treated it as if he heard nothing, infuriating Qiao Xin who stomped her feet in anger but was helpless against him. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 She Must Disappear Chapter 63: Chapter 63 She Must Disappear Someone approached Lu Yanchuan and whispered to him, prompting a smile and a nod from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. The person then quickly walked to the circular stage in the center and announced loudly. ¡°Thank you all for gracing us with your presence at Old Mr. Lu Hongyun¡¯s grand 60th birthday celebration. Let¡¯s welcome Old Mr. Lu with the warmest round of applause!¡± Old Mr. Lu has dominated the business world for over thirty years and has always been known as the ¡°Buddha Tiger¡± in the industry. No one, whether rivals or partners, has ever seen Old Mr. Lu lose his temper. Yet this amiable man¡¯s methods could be described as ruthlessly efficient. Before Lu Yanchuan took charge, almost everyone thought the Lu Family would decline after Lu Hongyun¡¯s time, given that the eldest and second sons of the family were rather inadequate. Although Lu Xiaohua had some skills, his heart was not in it and he was incapable of supporting such a huge entity like the Lu Family. However, these rumors were soon dispelled once Lu Yanchuan took the helm. After all, compared to the ¡°Buddha Tiger¡± Lu Hongyun, Lu Yanchuan, the ¡°Great White Shark,¡± was even more formidable to deal with. Just when everyone assumed the Lu Family would grow even stronger with Lu Hongyun and Lu Yanchuan working together, Lu Hongyun chose to retire from the spotlight early and handed over the entire family business to Lu Yanchuan, who was just twenty at the time. At that point, Lu Hongyun was just over fifty¡ªa time when a man is usually at his peak. Yet he opted to step back early and settle into retirement. His actions were seen as highly irrational by the outside world, and some even predicted that Lu Yanchuan simply lacked the ability to sustain the Lu Family, and it would inevitably be Lu Hongyun who would have to take over the reins again. But once more, the Lu Family proved them wrong. Under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s management, not only did the family not fall into decline, but it reached even greater heights. And under the brilliance of Lu Yanchuan, Lu Hongyun gradually became a legend. Everyone at the venue turned their eyes towards the staircase on the second floor. Some of the younger guests couldn¡¯t understand why their elders showed such respect for an old man with no real power in the Lu Family. These youngsters were quickly reprimanded and educated by their seniors. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Three figures appeared at the top of the staircase on the second floor. The one in the center, dressed in a black and red birthday suit, was none other than Lu Hongyun, flanked by two women in light pink gowns. ¡°Her! How could it be! Wasn¡¯t she disfigured?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s voice stood out in the crowd, and many people who heard it turned to look her way, while Lu Ming frowned disapprovingly at her side. ¡°What a fuss! Are you trying to kill yourself?¡± Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t listen to Lu Ming¡¯s words, her eyes fixed incredulously on the woman behind Lu Hongyun. Qiao Yi and Lu Xiaohua, on either side of Old Mr. Lu, gently supported him as he descended the stairs. Once Old Mr. Lu was on stage, they discreetly stepped aside. Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t hear what Lu Hongyun was saying on stage; she was fixated on Qiao Yi¡¯s unscathed face. Lu Ming was listening intently to Old Mr. Lu¡¯s speech and turned his head, only to find Qiao Xin missing from his side. After scanning the room, he saw her furiously heading towards Qiao Yi. That brainless woman! She¡¯s going to ruin everything! Without time to think, Lu Ming hurriedly followed her. Today was a significant day for the Lu Family. If Qiao Xin caused a scene now, it would not just be a matter of losing face! If Old Mr. Lu became unhappy with Qiao Xin over this and Lu Ming ended up being disliked by Old Mr. Lu as a consequence, that would be terrible! The more Lu Ming thought about it, the angrier he got. Carefully making his way through the crowd, he quickly followed after her. After coming down the stairs, Qiao Yi was keeping an eye on Qiao Xin. Seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s face change dramatically, Qiao Yi was already prepared to be hassled by her, so when Qiao Xin rushed over and pulled her arm, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t resist at all and was directly led outside the reception room. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you disfigured! Why are you¡­¡± ¡°Why am I fine? Such a pity, the explosives you secretly switched didn¡¯t disfigure me, are you disappointed?¡± Qiao Yi interrupted Qiao Xin with a light tone, casting a disdainful glance at her and snorted dismissively through her nose. ¡°Impossible! How could you not be disfigured! I had it all calculated! Even if you didn¡¯t die, you would be disfigured!¡± Qiao Xin glared at Qiao Yi¡¯s flawless face in a fit of rage, wishing she could rip off her skin and put it on her own face right there and then! A mocking smile played on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, coupled with an indescribably cold indifference. ¡°Qiao Xin, I used to think you were just a fool blinded by love, but now I see clearly, you¡¯re not just a fool, you¡¯re a ruthless one at that!¡± ¡°You! Qiao Yi! You deceived me!¡± Qiao Xin, seeing the recording pen in Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, immediately screamed and lunged to snatch it back. But how could she outmatch Qiao Yi? Even with one hand, Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t let her take anything she held. Qiao Xin was forcefully pushed aside by Qiao Yi, who flaunted the recording pen in front of her and then snatched it away right before Qiao Xin could grab it. ¡°Qiao Xin, I warn you to stop these petty tricks. I remember every little thing you¡¯ve done to me, and if you keep being dishonest, don¡¯t blame me for not showing any mercy!¡± Qiao Xin trembled all over; she could hardly imagine the consequences if everything she had done was revealed by Qiao Yi. No! She couldn¡¯t be threatened by Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi hated her so much, sooner or later she would release everything, and then not only Lu Yanchuan would despise her, but she would also have no place in the Qiao Family! No, this absolutely cannot happen! With bloodshot eyes, Qiao Xin¡¯s gaze towards Qiao Yi¡¯s back was not only filled with anger and jealousy but also a chilling murderous intent. Qiao Yi must disappear! The red in Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes gradually faded, and she calmed down. Just as she was about to return to the venue, a wave of nausea surged up in her stomach. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± ¡°Qiao Xin! What are you up to! Grandfather¡¯s birthday banquet isn¡¯t a place for your antics! If you keep this up, you¡¯ll never set foot in the Lu Mansion again!¡± Lu Ming had searched around and finally found Qiao Xin outside, leaning against a tree. Not seeing Qiao Yi nearby, Lu Ming felt relieved. Only when he approached did Lu Ming realize that Qiao Xin was retching. He impatiently waited for a moment and only when Qiao Xin stood up straight did he reach out to pull her arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go back quickly, if people notice I¡¯m not inside, who knows what rumors they will spread!¡± Qiao Xin stumbled as she was pulled by Lu Ming, but instead of shaking off his hand, she let Lu Ming lead her back into the hall. When Qiao Yi returned, Old Mr. Lu had already finished speaking and was coming down the stage looking for her. Qiao Yi hurried to meet him. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Her Identity Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Her Identity ¡°Where did you just run off to?¡± ¡°I just had uncomfortable shoes, so I went to change them.¡± Qiao Yi found an excuse to brush off Old Mr. Lu. She knew that Old Mr. Lu must be aware of the issues between her and Qiao Xin, but he never actively asked about them, and she herself didn¡¯t want to bring these matters up. Besides, no matter how loudly Qiao Xin and she argued, it was still a Qiao Family affair. Discussing such matters in the Lu Family would be quite inappropriate. Seeing that Qiao Yi was reluctant to elaborate, Old Mr. Lu didn¡¯t press further. He smiled, nodded, and then had Lu Xiaohua and Qiao Yi link arms with him to cut the cake. The cake was a towering nine layers, nearly as tall as Qiao Yi. It was a cake that Qiao Yi had made herself, spending a whole two hours just piping the cream. After finishing it last night, she kept it in the cold storage room and had it brought out just a moment ago. Old Mr. Lu took a long cake knife and sliced from the very top layer, keeping a piece for himself while giving most of the first layer to Qiao Yi and Lu Xiaohua. The surrounding guests were taken aback by Old Mr. Lu¡¯s action. In the past, other than Old Mr. Lu himself, the cake would always be given to his most favored daughter, Lu Xiaohua. As a child, Lu Yanchuan got a share, but ever since he came of age, he had not been given a piece by Old Mr. Lu. But now, Old Mr. Lu was actually sharing the cake with Qiao Yi, the new bride who had married into the Lu Family less than half a year ago. What did this signify? It indicated that Old Mr. Lu¡¯s regard and affection for Qiao Yi was no less than that for his daughter Lu Xiaohua! Everyone had thought the marriage between Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan was a result of an unavoidable compromise, but now it seemed that was not the case. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? After cutting the cake, Old Mr. Lu left. The birthday banquet was just a pretext, and the rest was no different from any ordinary party. After seeing Old Mr. Lu back, Qiao Yi changed into more casual clothes and hurried to eat the cake. She didn¡¯t really care whether the cake had been given to her by Old Mr. Lu or not. She had been craving it since finishing it the night before. She restrained the greedy worm in her belly by sadly nibbling on some leftover scraps for a fix. Having waited so long, she could finally eat the cake without restraint! Lu Xiaohua was very mindful of her figure, so she only cut a small piece for herself to claim she had eaten her share, and resignedly handed her portion over to Qiao Yi who was merrily indulging. Qiao Yi adored sweets; she could never refuse her own homemade cake. Taking a bit of cream, she put it in her mouth, feeling so blissful she was almost in heaven. ¡°Yiyi, you have eaten up all the good cake by yourself, that¡¯s so improper!¡± Zhao Wenjing playfully swatted Qiao Yi¡¯s arm and then smiled apologetically at Lu Xiaohua. She was only a few years older than Lu Xiaohua, but now they were separated by a generation. They had known each other before, but now sitting together felt somewhat awkward. ¡°You take your time eating; I¡¯ll go check on Dad.¡± Lu Xiaohua got up and left first. Qiao Yi nodded, thought for a moment, and then set down her cake. Mr. and Mrs. Qiao would naturally attend Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday celebration. After learning that Qiao Yi had been injured, Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing had tried to visit her several times but were always rejected by Qiao Yi¡¯s various excuses. The more Qiao Yi avoided them, the more they suspected that her injuries were too severe and she didn¡¯t want to be seen, or even that, as rumors suggested, her face might have been disfigured. Today, they came to the Lu Family with trepidation and didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi, which almost killed them with anxiety. This anxiety wasn¡¯t relieved until they saw Qiao Yi descend the stairs unharmed. Zhao Wenjing was both relieved and frightened. She clutched Qiao Yi and examined her closely several times before her mind was finally at ease. ¡°You child, your injury isn¡¯t serious, why didn¡¯t you tell Mom? And you were hiding and not seeing Mom, do you know that Mom was almost scared sick by you!¡± Zhao Wenjing was chattering nonstop to Qiao Yi, both distressed and complaining, while Qiao Yi obediently responded. ¡°It¡¯s alright now, isn¡¯t it? Besides, I did it for a reason, to surprise those who wanted to see my face ruined!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words had a double meaning, which Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing both picked up on. But since Qiao Yi didn¡¯t elaborate, they simply reminded her a few times and let the matter go. ¡°Your brother is coming back tomorrow, I¡¯ll go home with you guys and stay there for a while.¡± These past few days, Qiao Yi had been living outside because of acting in a play, but now that the play was over, of course, she would go back to her own home. Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing exchanged a glance and asked, ¡°And Yanchuan?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face inexplicably reddened, and she pouted unhappily with a hum. ¡°He can go or not, I don¡¯t want him to follow along.¡± Qiao Benqing wanted to say something but was pinched on the waist by Zhao Wenjing. ¡°The matters between you two are for you to decide, but there is one thing Mom wants to tell you. You¡¯re not just the little daughter of the Qiao Family now, you¡¯re also the daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, the one in charge of household affairs at the Lu Family. You can¡¯t be the same as before in all matters, understand?¡± Qiao Yi seemed to understand but also not quite, her heart somehow became chaotic. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Qiao Yi responded hurriedly, suddenly longing for a quiet place to sit for a while. Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing were called away by business partners, Lu Yanchuan was talking with someone not far away; everyone had their own things to do, leaving Qiao Yi sitting there, utterly bewildered. It seemed that she had never considered the change in her identity, always feeling that even after getting married there would be no difference from before, but is that really the truth¡­ While talking with someone, Lu Yanchuan noticed someone watching him, turning his head to meet Qiao Yi¡¯s piercing gaze. After excusing himself to the person he was speaking with, Lu Yanchuan walked over and sat down beside Qiao Yi. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, just suddenly feeling a bit tired.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want her sudden emotional decline to affect others. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go up and rest. It¡¯s still a while before this event ends.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like this kind of socializing either, but since today¡¯s event belonged to the Lu Family, he had no choice but to stay. Qiao Yi nodded and walked upstairs with a plate of cake. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Sorry sorry! Are you okay?¡± Someone behind suddenly bumped into Qiao Yi, and the cake she was holding smeared all over her chest. The person who bumped into her quickly apologized. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to make a fuss and said it didn¡¯t matter, planning to go back and change her clothes, but then someone grabbed her wrist. ¡°Are you okay? Oh no! With all this cake on you, let me help you clean it up!¡± Qiao Yi turned around being pulled by the person, the voice of the woman who bumped into her loud, and before Qiao Yi could break free from her grasp, a pair of hands with tissues pressed against her body. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Calling Sister-in-law Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Calling Sister-in-law Qiao Yi really disliked people who casually got touchy-feely, even if they did so with good intentions, but sometimes good intentions pave the way to bad outcomes! Just moments ago, only the cake that had bumped into her chest was being wiped by the woman, and now Qiao Yi¡¯s entire upper body was smeared with cake, making her look extremely disheveled. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just go back and change my clothes!¡± Qiao Yi was already getting impatient. She quickly turned her hand to shake off the person gripping her hand, but to her surprise, the grip was so strong that she couldn¡¯t shake the person off. ¡°You¡­ Bai Lingling?¡± Qiao Yi turned her head and to her shock, the person holding onto her was none other than Bai Lingling, whom she had just met a few days ago. Wasn¡¯t this person still studying abroad in France a few days ago? How could she have returned so soon? ¡°Ah! Miss Qiao, I¡¯m really sorry for dirtying your clothes!¡± Bai Lingling¡¯s expression was apologetic, but her eyes gleamed with delight. Even after Qiao Yi pushed her hand away, Bai Lingling didn¡¯t relent and tried to wipe cake on Qiao Yi¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s just a pity these cakes went to waste¡­ Ah!¡± Qiao Yi was stunned for a moment then laughed it off generously, stepping back. However, she forgot that her hand was still being held by Bai Lingling, and was abruptly pulled onto Bai Lingling. Bai Lingling was already shorter than Qiao Yi, and today Qiao Yi was wearing a pair of heels that were twelve centimeters high. Bai Lingling stood in front of her a whole half-head shorter. The sudden collision from Qiao Yi was no big deal, but she ended up pressing Bai Lingling¡¯s head against her chest. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï By the time Qiao Yi let out a cry and pushed Bai Lingling away while holding her chest, Bai Lingling¡¯s face and body were also covered with a layer of cream and cake debris. ¡°Oh dear, I am so sorry, Miss Bai, are you okay? Look, I forgot you were holding on to me, let¡¯s get a doctor to see if you are injured!¡± Qiao Yi bent down to help Bai Lingling with concern, but as Bai Lingling¡¯s eyes were caked with cake, hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s voice made her heart burn with rage. What does she mean by saying she was holding onto her? It was clearly Qiao Yi who bumped into her, yet her words twisted the blame onto Bai Lingling! Bai Lingling was internally vexed, and even more annoyed when her arm was touched, impulsively pushing away the person who dared to touch her. Qiao Yi screamed, propelled backwards by the force of Bai Lingling¡¯s shove. She had perfectly calculated her falling angle, making sure she would lean on the stair¡¯s railing, ensuring no injury and minimal pain. However, the anticipated result did not materialize, as Lu Yanchuan, appearing just in time, steadily caught her. Seeing Lu Yanchuan infuriated Qiao Yi! Look at the two of them who turned out tonight, wasn¡¯t each one looking to trouble her, all for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sake! Qiao Xin almost ruined her face, confining her to bed for several days to recover! Now here was Bai Lingling, trying to play the white lotus and green tea act, simply aiming to make her look ridiculous! The more Qiao Yi thought, the angrier she got, and she twisted a pinch of flesh around Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist. Lu Yanchuan just squinted from the pain, and seeing his expression hardly change, she was certain she had exerted strength, how could Lu Yanchuan remain so unfazed? Doubting the reality of it, Qiao Yi twisted again only to see that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even flinch this time. Biting her teeth, she tried the same on her own arm, nearly bursting into tears. Damn it hurts! Lu Yanchuan is a freak! The exchange between the two was merely a fleeting moment, as Lu Yanchuan draped his suit jacket over Qiao Yi to cover her dishevelment, and then turned to look at Bai Lingling with Qiao Yi in his arms. At that instance, Bai Lingling had finally wiped her face clean of the cake, and upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, she suddenly played the victim, pointing at Qiao Yi and beginning to accuse. ¡°Yanchuan! I just accidentally bumped into Miss Qiao, and she deliberately smeared the cake on herself all over me! It¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°Sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Bai Lingling was momentarily unable to follow Lu Yanchuan¡¯s train of thought and let out a bewildered noise. Lu Yanchuan frowned with impatience. ¡°I mean, you should call her sister-in-law, or aunt.¡± By seniority, she should call her aunt; following Bai Lingling¡¯s usual practice, she should call her sister-in-law. In any case, she shouldn¡¯t call her Miss Qiao. Qiao Yi suppressed a smile, thinking about how hard she had been on Lu Yanchuan just now, she suddenly felt a twinge of guilt and discreetly patted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist under his suit jacket as consolation. Bai Lingling¡¯s face was filled with disbelief, which, combined with the remnants of colorful cream on her face, looked extremely comical. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do anything about her treating me like this!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, I¡¯m sorry for accidentally bumping into you earlier, but to be bumped into in such a wide space, doesn¡¯t it prove that we are fated to cross paths?¡± Listening to Qiao Yi¡¯s nonsensical apology, Bai Lingling clenched her teeth in anger. What fate! Qiao Yi was clearly insinuating that it was Bai Lingling who had bumped into her first, suggesting she was the provocateur, and if Bai Lingling were to bring it up again, Qiao Yi certainly wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily! Of course, Qiao Yi did not plan to let it go so easily. What did these people take her for? No matter how little she liked Lu Yanchuan, he was still her man, Qiao Yi, and she couldn¡¯t let these people pry as they pleased! Qiao Yi looked at Bai Lingling¡¯s ashen face and, inexplicably, a flash of an image crossed her mind. In a car, someone was sitting in the passenger seat, but when she turned her head, it was Bai Lingling¡¯s face! Qiao Yi shivered all over, trying hard to grasp that fleeting image in her mind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Cold?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice interrupted Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts. Qiao Yi shook her head, but when she looked at Bai Lingling again, her mood was somewhat heavy. On the day she was kidnapped, because she had drunk alcohol and had been drugged after getting into the car, her memory of that day was very faint, with only some vague fragments remaining. She only began to remember these incidents after Lu Yanchuan talked to her about them later. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t sure if the image in her head was real or her own illusion. Could Bai Lingling really have done something as terrible as hiring someone to harm her? The more she looked at Bai Lingling, the less she seemed like someone capable of such a deed! Maybe Bai Lingling could talk back harshly in front of her or bump into her at a banquet, but for something this serious, Bai Lingling might not have the courage! Qiao Yi weighed her thoughts for a moment and patted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m tired, I¡¯m going upstairs to change clothes. I¡¯ll leave this to you.¡± Without waiting for Lu Yanchuan to nod, Qiao Yi wrapped herself in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s suit and headed up the stairs. The commotion here wasn¡¯t small, and many people had turned to look, Bai Lingling¡¯s face turned redder and redder under the gaze of the crowd, until finally, she couldn¡¯t help but cover her face and run away. Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t afraid of a young girl¡¯s tears, but he was more troubled by the aftermath of her crying. Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, the crowd dispersed, and Lu Xiaohua came over, pulling Lu Yanchuan into a quiet corner to demand answers. ¡°What happened here? Why is Lingling in such a state? Did you bully Lingling?¡± Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Decency Violation Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Decency Violation From a personal sentiment, Lu Xiaohua actually hoped more that Lu Yanchuan could end up with Bai Lingling, After all, one of them was the younger brother she had watched grow up since he was little, and the other was a girl from her best friend¡¯s family¡ªsomeone she knew inside out. Naturally, she wished the two could become even closer. Indeed, it seemed to be a case of unrequited affection from Bai Lingling¡¯s side, as Lu Xiaohua tried for many years in vain, and Qiao Yi¡¯s appearance later completely dispelled this thought. Though Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like Bai Lingling, Lu Xiaohua couldn¡¯t just watch him mistreating the young girl. ¡°Don¡¯t keep silent, if you¡¯ve provoked the young girl then hurry and apologize. A real man should be responsible!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke her.¡± Lu Yanchuan was extremely impatient, finding a woman who created problems out of nothing truly headache-inducing. Why couldn¡¯t she just keep calm? Especially since this woman was also protected by someone. Even him showing a cold face would lead to a long lecture. ¡°Really?¡± Lu Xiaohua looked at him skeptically, not believing what Lu Yanchuan said. Previously, Bai Lingling had been brought to tears by Lu Yanchuan many times. Although they were both young at the time, Lu Xiaohua remembered this and would bring it up occasionally. ¡°Really, she intentionally bumped into Qiao Yi causing the egg to hit Qiao Yi, and then she accidentally collided with Qiao Yi again, which is why she ended up like this. It has nothing to do with others.¡± Bai Lingling¡¯s little schemes couldn¡¯t be concealed from Qiao Yi, and of course, not from Lu Yanchuan either. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Lingling would never be that kind of girl! There must be some misunderstanding! I¡¯ll go and talk to Qiao Yi!¡± Lu Xiaohua would naturally trust the child she had watched grow up much more than Qiao Yi, who had only become her sister-in-law less than three months ago. After saying this, she left Lu Yanchuan behind and went upstairs to find Qiao Yi. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t stop her. There was surveillance in the living room; they would know the truth after checking the footage later. Just as Qiao Yi had finished changing her clothes and was half-done washing her face, Lu Xiaohua walked in, saw the dress Qiao Yi had thrown aside covered in cake, and her accusatory words turned gentle before she spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you downstairs just now, what happened? Why are you and Lingling both covered in cake?¡± Qiao Yi had learned about Bai Lingling¡¯s identity from Lu Yanchuan long ago, so when she saw Lu Xiaohua storming in angrily, she knew she was here to seek accountability. However, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t angry, knowing that Lu Xiaohua had always tried to bring Bai Lingling and Lu Yanchuan together, and certainly felt more sympathy for Bai Lingling. ¡°Nothing much, just bumped into Miss Bai downstairs.¡± ¡°But Yanchuan said it was you who deliberately bumped into Lingling?¡± Droplets of water hung on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, and as she turned her gaze to meet Lu Xiaohua¡¯s, it oddly reminded her of Lu Yanchuan. ¡°If Yanchuan said so, then let it be.¡± Without explaining or denying, Qiao Yi nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders, not taking the matter to heart at all. ¡°What are you¡­¡± ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your sister-in-law. Just consider it teaching a lesson to a girl who harbors ill intentions towards Lu Yanchuan. Why make a big fuss about it?¡± Ultimately, how Lu Yanchuan spoke to Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t matter, and Qiao Yi believed that although Lu Yanchuan was a bit harsh in front of her, he definitely wouldn¡¯t say such distortions of truth. Thus, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t plan to follow Lu Xiaohua¡¯s script. If she really got angry with Lu Yanchuan over a mere word, that would be foolish. Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t expect Qiao Yi to respond like this. Shouldn¡¯t she be defending herself a bit? She had prepared a whole set of excuses; no matter what Qiao Yi said, she would definitely insist that Qiao Yi apologize to Bai Lingling. But when Qiao Yi said that, she had no grounds to speak. Qiao Yi was right; even if she did intentionally bump into Bai Lingling, she was just taking revenge on a woman who had designs on her man. If it came out, it would be more embarrassing for Bai Lingling. Qiao Yi wiped her face dry; the cake was delicious, but once it got on her body, it really wasn¡¯t easy to clean off. She exerted a lot of effort to clean herself up; it was time to go downstairs, as staying upstairs would be rude. ¡°Big sister, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll go down first.¡± Qiao Yi smiled at Lu Xiaohua, bypassed her, and left the room. Downstairs, Lu Yanchuan still stood out in the crowd. From upstairs, Qiao Yi could see many ladies from prominent families sneaking glances at Lu Yanchuan. Such a man attracts bees and butterflies, not at all observant of fidelity. Qiao Yi pursed her lips and took another staircase down, walking over to Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing. ¡°Dad, Mom, the party is almost over, let¡¯s leave early.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad to leave early? Waiting a little while longer for it to end isn¡¯t an issue; it¡¯s not that much time.¡± Zhao Wenjing¡¯s face was slightly flushed, showing she had drunk quite a bit. Qiao Yi glanced at Qiao Benqing, and upon meeting his resigned gaze, she burst out laughing. The Qiao Family and Lu Family said they were joining forces, but the Qiao Family had shallow roots and only bonded with the Lu Family due to the previous relations between the Family Heads of both houses. Now with the Qiao Family¡¯s matrimonial alliance to the Lu Family, with both daughters marrying into the Lu Family, especially Qiao Yi becoming the Lu Family¡¯s housekeeper lady, the union was even tighter, bringing more benefits to the Qiao Family. Zhao Wenjing was always a low-key person; faced with so many compliments in such an occasion today, it wasn¡¯t strange to be a bit overwhelmed. ¡°Why are you coming down?¡± Lu Yanchuan appeared out of nowhere, quietly standing behind Qiao Yi and giving her a fright. ¡°Somebody went and complained to Big Sister, saying I collided with your childhood sweetheart. How could I dare to be in somebody¡¯s way!¡± Qiao Yi inexplicably blurted this out, but she regretted it as soon as she said it. She hadn¡¯t planned to tell Lu Yanchuan what happened between her and Lu Xiaohua, but upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, she felt so wronged; the words just slipped out without thinking. Lu Yanchuan furrowed his brows but said nothing; Qiao Yi saw his expression, humphed, and turned away to ignore him. The banquet ended shortly after, and Qiao Yi, accompanying Lu Yanchuan, sent off the guests and was about to leave with Mr. and Mrs. Qiao. But before Qiao Yi could get into the car, Lu Yanchuan pulled her into another car. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Qiao Yi twisted her wrist but couldn¡¯t free herself from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s grasp and could only glare at him annoyed. ¡°I never said those things to Big Sister.¡± ¡°Say it or not, it¡¯s no concern of mine!¡± Qiao Yi, feeling irked, certainly wouldn¡¯t let Lu Yanchuan feel good. Although her wrist was grabbed, she kept her distance, leaning far against the car door as if Lu Yanchuan had something unclean on him. ¡°Also, your childhood sweetheart is over there watching! Stop pulling and tugging at me; it¡¯s indecent!¡± Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Family Members Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Family Members Words that corrupt public morals were uttered, clearly showing just how irrational Qiao Yi is now. Through the car window, Bai Lingling stood in the darkness, watching Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan arm in arm getting into a car. Tears swirled in her eyes, finally falling after the car had driven off. She clearly liked Lu Yanchuan so much, why didn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan like her! Why did he like Qiao Yi, a woman who couldn¡¯t compare to her in any way! Bai Lingling stood there for a long time, and from a distance, Lu Xiaohua saw her, feeling a sudden pang of heartache. ¡°Lingling, it¡¯s so cold outside, why are you standing out here? Come inside quickly, Aunt Hua hasn¡¯t seen you for so long, don¡¯t you miss Aunt Hua!¡± Bai Lingling panicked and wiped her face, propping up a smile as she walked towards Lu Xiaohua. ¡°I missed Aunt Hua the most. Tonight, I¡¯m going to sleep with Aunt Hua, you can¡¯t find me annoying!¡± The more she saw how sensible and obedient Bai Lingling was, the more Lu Xiaohua felt sorry for her and, by extension, had an even worse impression of Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi sneezed fiercely, wrapping herself tighter in the suit jacket she was covered with. Seeing her red face and lips, one could tell that something unspeakable had happened in the car just now. Ma Yu was driving and though he really wanted to think of himself as a rock or a piece of wood, the sounds from the back seat uncontrollably pierced his ears. This was simply taking one¡¯s life! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Turn on the air conditioning.¡± Ma Yu shuddered, looking at the air conditioning already turned up to the max, almost in tears. How to deal with an unreasonable boss? ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± Qiao Yi clutched the suit jacket she was wearing and stubbornly held her ground, even with her neck stiffened. Lu Yanchuan saw through it but said nothing, reaching out to pull back Qiao Yi, who was avoiding him from afar, into his embrace. ¡°Next week I¡¯m going on a business trip to Tian City; you¡¯ll come with me.¡± ¡°Why do I need to go? You have a bunch of assistants and secretaries, why insist that I go with you?¡± Qiao Yi twisted her body, trying to break free from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s restraint, but her small struggle was completely suppressed by him, without the slightest bit of resistance. If she couldn¡¯t escape, she might as well accept it; Qiao Yi found the most comfortable position for herself, leaning on Lu Yanchuan, even pulling up her legs onto the car seat. Watching Qiao Yi audaciously press herself onto him, Lu Yanchuan simply used both hands forcefully and picked her up onto his lap. ¡°There¡¯s an auction there, you can bring family members.¡± The word ¡°family members¡± made Qiao Yi¡¯s face inexplicably blush. She humphed twice but said nothing more. When they reached the Qiao Family home, Qiao Yi was just about to put on her shoes to get out of the car when she wasn¡¯t able to reach the ground and was instead picked up by Lu Yanchuan, who carried her in the same position towards the house. ¡°My dad and mom are watching! Put me down quickly!¡± Qiao Yi knocked on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm; just now in the car, her pressing on him in a fit of pique led to her being picked up onto his lap, which already made her blush, and now to be so intimate with Lu Yanchuan in front of Mr. and Mrs. Qiao made her feel like she was about to explode. Lu Yanchuan did not give Qiao Yi a chance to struggle, directly carrying her over to Mr. and Mrs. Qiao and walking inside. Qiao Yi¡¯s head was buried in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chest, and the exposed soles of her feet curled up shyly. Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing, having been through this themselves, were naturally overjoyed to see the young couple so intimate and wisely said nothing more. It wasn¡¯t until they returned to the room that Qiao Yi finally came back to life, her face red like a cooked prawn, even her neck was flushed, as she stood on the bed pointing at Lu Yanchuan, unable to speak. ¡°Go to sleep early. We need to pick someone up from the airport tomorrow.¡± Lu Yanchuan maintained his composure, looking at Qiao Yi¡¯s flushed cheeks, which even had a hint of eagerness. Qiao Yi felt as though her dignity was destroyed by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. This man was not only unbeatable in a fight but also infuriating to argue with, enough to make someone vomit blood in frustration! The infuriated Qiao Yi fell asleep in a certain man¡¯s arms before long. The little woman in his embrace behaved so docilely after falling asleep, even snuggling into him with soft hums, causing Lu Yanchuan a great deal of torment. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone rang. Those who understood Lu Yanchuan knew that he didn¡¯t deal with work at night, so they wouldn¡¯t disturb him. Unless it was to report something very important. Lu Yanchuan grabbed the phone and skimmed through it, his expression growing increasingly unsightly. The next day, Qiao Yi was awakened by her alarm clock. She reached out instinctively, and suddenly woke up completely. The space beside her was empty; the bed was even cold, indicating that the person who had slept there had left a long time ago. Qiao Yi checked the time; it was only 6:30 am. Lu Yanchuan usually left for work at this time, so why did he leave so early today? And didn¡¯t he say yesterday that he would go with her to pick up her brother from the airport? While Qiao Yi was puzzled, her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Flight tickets? When did I book flight tickets?¡± Qiao Yi looked at the booking confirmation in her hand, about to check her phone, when Lu Yanchuan¡¯s call came through. ¡°You¡¯ll accompany me to Tian City this afternoon.¡± ¡°But my brother¡­¡± just arrived home today! Qiao Yi stared at the disconnected call, feeling annoyed. Was Lu Yanchuan sick in the head? Who hangs up before someone has finished talking? She was not going now! She dragged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s number into the blacklist and then quickly got ready to go to the airport with Mr. and Mrs. Qiao. Qiao Qiao¡¯s plane landed at nine. Having not seen her brother for so long, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree he¡¯d arrive at nine? Why hasn¡¯t he come yet?¡± Zhao Wenjing kept checking the time. Once it passed nine o¡¯clock, she just couldn¡¯t wait anymore and even wanted to barge in to pick up Qiao Qiao. Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing comforted Zhao Wenjing together. While they were talking, someone suddenly tapped Qiao Yi on the shoulder. ¡°Excuse me, are you my sister?¡± Qiao Yi whirled around and saw a man wrapped up tight standing behind her. Tears welled up instantly, and she embraced her brother who had grown taller, crying uncontrollably. Qiao Qiao clumsily hugged the two weeping women, turning to his father for help with a plea in his eyes. What to do? Both his sister and his mother are crying like this; he was completely overwhelmed! He had dressed up to surprise them, but instead of providing a surprise, he gave them a fright. After Qiao Yi had cried enough, she slapped Qiao Qiao on the head. ¡°Learn only the bad stuff! Why all this secrecy?¡± The hat, glasses, mask, and scarf were all removed. Qiao Qiao scratched his head sheepishly, hugged his father, then with one arm around his mother and the other carrying the suitcase, they headed out. ¡°So you won¡¯t leave again after this trip back?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave. The internship abroad is over, and I can directly join the company now that I¡¯m back.¡± Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Teachers Funeral Arrangements Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Teacher¡¯s Funeral Arrangements Hearing Qiao Qiao say she won¡¯t leave anymore, Zhao Wenjing was overjoyed, skipped the breakfast prepared early by the maid, and directly instructed Qiao Yi to go to the largest hotel in the city for a proper celebration. Halfway through the meal, Qiao Benqing¡¯s phone rang. After hanging up, Qiao Benqing looked at Qiao Yi. ¡°Why did you blacklisted Yanchuan? Hurry up and unblock him, I¡¯ve already told Yanchuan to pick you up, you can just go with him later.¡± The steak in Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth was only half chewed when she froze. How dare Lu Yanchuan tattle! Unbelievable! Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s reluctance, Qiao Benqing glared at her before speaking. ¡°Yanchuan¡¯s mentor has had an accident, Yanchuan wants to take you to meet the old man before he passes away. This is an honor for you, so don¡¯t throw a tantrum!¡± An accident like this happened? Why didn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan tell her? Qiao Yi hurriedly swallowed what was in her mouth, took out her phone to unblock Lu Yanchuan from the blacklist, and a stream of messages poured in. However, Lu Yanchuan was probably busy at that moment and did not reply to Qiao Yi¡¯s messages. Qiao Yi became somewhat restless, considering how she had impulsively blacklisted him that morning, she felt a rare sense of remorse. ¡°Yanchuan is Sister¡¯s fianc¨¦, right? I¡¯ve heard of his name before, is he good to Sister?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Qiao Qiao curiously looked at Qiao Benqing then at Qiao Yi, very curious about this brother-in-law she had never met. Before Qiao Yi could reply, Zhao Wenjing started to introduce Qiao Qiao to her two new brothers-in-law. With such an incident, even the joy of Qiao Qiao¡¯s return home dissipated, and with a distracted Qiao Yi barely finishing her meal, Lu Yanchuan was already waiting outside for her. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯m leaving first, I¡¯ll bring you a gift when I come back in a few days.¡± Qiao Yi patted her younger brother on the head and quickly left. Lu Yanchuan was meditating in the car, and only opened his eyes when Qiao Yi got in. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about such a big thing?¡± ¡°It was sudden.¡± It was indeed sudden. He received a message from his junior last night, and after arranging everything for the company overnight, he then thought to bring Qiao Yi with him. ¡°Alright, next time something like this happens, you must tell me. It was wrong of me to blacklist you, but you are not allowed to act so impulsively anymore, otherwise, I¡¯ll block you again, you hear!¡± Her irritated mood gradually calmed down amidst Qiao Yi¡¯s nagging. Qiao Yi was suddenly hugged and was a bit slow to react, but seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s exhausted face, she rather unusually complied. In a private hospital in the suburbs of Tian City, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan went through the nurse¡¯s thorough disinfection before entering the ward. A snow-white ward housed an old woman with white hair. On the way there, Lu Yanchuan had already told Qiao Yi her identity. Old Madam Gong, the close friend of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mother and his mentor, they have always shared strong feelings. After Old Madam Lu¡¯s passing, Lu Yanchuan has been treating her like his own mother. Now this old madam was also about to leave, one can imagine the grief in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart. He might come across as cold, but that doesn¡¯t mean he is unfeeling. Often, those who seem indifferent pour much more emotion into those they truly care about. Qiao Yi watched as Lu Yanchuan sat beside Old Madam Gong¡¯s bed, holding the old lady¡¯s hand. Despite his still indifferent expression, Qiao Yi felt that Lu Yanchuan was crying. ¡°The teacher has been sick for three years, and I¡¯ve always been busy, hardly able to visit more than a few times each year.¡± It took a while for Lu Yanchuan to utter that single sentence. Qiao Yi was shocked, and when she looked at him, she saw two tear streaks on his face that had not yet fully faded. ¡°If the teacher knew you were here, she would certainly be happy.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know how to comfort him, but Lu Yanchuan shook his head upon hearing her words. Lu Yanchuan seemed to have shed his usual cold exterior. At the old lady¡¯s bedside, he showed his softest side. ¡°The teacher wanted me to get married a long time ago. It¡¯s a bit late to bring you to meet her now.¡± The sickroom fell silent, the only sound being the regular beeping of the heart rate monitor by the bed. Lu Yanchuan was still Lu Yanchuan; he wouldn¡¯t be overwhelmed by temporary sorrow. After tucking Old Madam Gong in and leaving the sickroom, Lu Yanchuan reverted to his usual self. ¡°Senior Lu, you¡¯re here. The teacher might wake up around noon, but she¡¯s becoming less and less lucid now, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± More than a dozen people were standing outside the door, all of them Old Madam Gong¡¯s students. In her youth, Old Madam Gong married into the Gong Family, but her husband passed away in a car accident only a couple of years later, and she lost her child as well. After that, Old Madam Gong never remarried; it has always been her students and some distant relatives of the Gong Family who looked after her. ¡°All the arrangements for the teacher¡¯s funeral have been prepared, please take a look.¡± A junior brother passed over a tablet with all the arrangements for Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral. Lu Yanchuan glanced at it briefly before handing it back to him. ¡°You all handle these matters. I only have one request: no one will get any of the teacher¡¯s possessions after her death. I will turn the teacher¡¯s old residence into a museum, and I do not want anything there to be missing.¡± As soon as Lu Yanchuan finished speaking, some in the crowd changed their expressions, but under the pressure of his formidable presence, they dared not speak out. ¡°Xiao Luo, you handle this. If anyone dares to interfere, deal with them directly.¡± Lu Yanchuan took out a bunch of keys from his pocket and tossed them to the young man holding the tablet amidst various gazes from the crowd. The young man, Xiao Luo, was taken aback, holding the keys and muttering without being able to say anything. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, does anyone disagree?¡± ¡°Senior Lu, we¡¯ve been the ones taking care of the teacher while she¡¯s been bedridden. We should be the ones handling her possessions after she¡¯s gone. You¡¯ve ignored the teacher for years, so what gives you the right to come here and boss us around now!¡± A woman from the crowd stood up; she looked quite a bit older than Lu Yanchuan but still referred to him as Senior Lu. Lu Yanchuan merely glanced at her before looking at Xiao Luo, his gaze asking who she was. ¡°She¡¯s the youngest daughter of the current Family Head of the Gong Family, taken in by the teacher two years ago.¡± Xiao Luo explained quietly, clearly afraid to look at the woman. Lu Yanchuan nodded, then, after seeing the triumphant expression on the woman¡¯s face, repeated his previous statement. ¡°Handle the task I¡¯ve entrusted you with. If anyone dares to obstruct, deal with them immediately.¡± After finishing, he ignored the woman¡¯s displeased expression and prepared to leave with Qiao Yi. The woman couldn¡¯t simply let Lu Yanchuan walk away. She didn¡¯t dare to attack Lu Yanchuan, but that didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t target someone by his side. As Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were passing by her, she reached out and grabbed at Qiao Yi¡¯s arm! Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Using the Knife Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Using the Knife ¡°Ah!¡± A woman¡¯s scream echoed through the hospital corridor. Qiao Yi held Gong Ting¡¯s head with one hand through her hair, and with the other hand grabbed Gong Ting¡¯s arms firmly behind her back, pressing her against the wall of the corridor. ¡°You bitch! Let go of me! Do you know who I am! You¡¯re dead!¡± Gong Ting screamed and struggled, but Qiao Yi completely disregarded her efforts, simply tightening her grip and leaving Gong Ting with only enough strength to shriek in pain. Lu Yanchuan watched indifferently as Qiao Yi manhandled Gong Ting, and only after Gong Ting¡¯s voice had gone hoarse did he tap Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, signaling her to let go. ¡°Does anyone else have any objections now?¡± The corridor fell utterly silent, except for Gong Ting¡¯s painful moaning as she lay collapsed on a chair. Qiao Yi muttered to herself, feeling that Lu Yanchuan was treating her more like a bodyguard than paying her any attention! Though she grumbled internally, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression matched Lu Yanchuan¡¯s, appearing as if she had not been the one to rough up Gong Ting. No one else spoke in the corridor, and under the gaze of the crowd, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi walked out, with Qiao Yi even faintly hearing threats from Gong Ting behind her. The sudden incident with Old Madam Gong disrupted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s plans. After dealing with the affair, Lu Yanchuan took Qiao Yi to a hotel and then hurriedly left. Qiao Yi curled up on the sofa, sipping her milk tea, but her mind kept going back to Lu Yanchuan in the hospital room. Such an incident must have upset him, or he wouldn¡¯t have seemed so cold in the corridor. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi felt she understood Lu Yanchuan quite well. Although he seemed cold and heartless, she knew from their time together that he simply didn¡¯t bother with people unless necessary, generally preferring not to start conflicts. Whether it was intervening in the Gong Family matters or arranging Old Madam Gong¡¯s affairs, others perceived Lu Yanchuan as domineering and aggressive, but Qiao Yi felt that he was expressing his affection for Old Madam Gong in such a manner. He wanted Old Madam Gong to have a peaceful departure. He wanted to silence discordant voices and deter the troublemakers. Qiao Yi knew she probably couldn¡¯t help Lu Yanchuan much, the best she could do was probably to avoid causing him further trouble. ¡°Ding dong!¡± As Qiao Yi was lost in her thoughts, the room door suddenly knocked. She got up to open it, only to have a group of people burst in. Over a dozen burly men rushed in, pushing Qiao Yi further inside. A woman then came through the parted crowd, astonishingly it was Gong Ting whom she had just seen in the morning! Seeing Gong Ting here was unexpected for Qiao Yi, yet somehow it made sense. The Gong Family was a powerful local force in Tian City, and although they weren¡¯t as prominent as the Qiao or Lu Families, tracking down Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan in their territory wasn¡¯t too difficult. This bode ill. Qiao Yi stepped backward until she bumped into a coffee table and stopped. ¡°Are you Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife?¡± Gong Ting scrutinized Qiao Yi from top to bottom, and after clearly seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s face, jealousy surged uncontrollably within her. She had always been considered a favored child, adored and pursued by family and friends from the moment she was born. Today, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi, the two people she encountered, almost completely humiliated her, especially Qiao Yi. This woman even dared to lay hands on her in public, causing her such great embarrassment! Originally, Gong Ting thought Qiao Yi was something like Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bodyguard, but after investigating, she discovered that Qiao Yi was actually Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife! This revelation shocked and excited her! If she could control Qiao Yi, wouldn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan be right in the palm of her hand! With such a win-win situation, Gong Ting rushed to the hotel where Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were staying without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Qiao Yi was no fool. Upon hearing Gong Ting¡¯s words, she immediately understood her intentions, and her demeanor relaxed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Miss Gong, what wisdom do you wish to impart?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s calm response took Gong Ting aback. Upon closer inspection, she realized that Qiao Yi was truly composed, without a trace of nervousness, looking at her as if she were just an ordinary friend. Gong Ting even saw a hint of amusement in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes! ¡°Miss Qiao, I believe you understand my intentions. I dislike playing guessing games with clever people. Do you plan to come with me willingly, or should my men take you forcibly?¡± ¡°What a pity, Miss Gong. I find my stay here quite comfortable and have no intention of changing hotels. Thank you for your kind concern.¡± Qiao Yi shrugged her shoulders and then moved back a few steps, sitting down on the sofa as if she didn¡¯t take Gong Ting seriously at all. This attitude was truly disrespectful, making Gong Ting¡¯s face darken, and the black-clad men behind her stepped forward, ready to lay hands on Qiao Yi. ¡°Miss Gong, you must be aware of my background. I assume you would not want to trouble the Gong Family, would you?¡± Qiao Yi, unabashedly arrogant, sat there with her legs crossed, as if she wasn¡¯t the one surrounded. ¡°Whether the Gong Family faces trouble or not is not for you to decide! Take her away!¡± Gong Ting, never a patient person, infuriated by Qiao Yi¡¯s provocations, waved her hand and ordered her men to seize Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi shifted her wrist and suddenly leaned forward, pulling a fruit knife from the coffee table. The knife handle rotated in her hand, and without hesitation, she stabbed it into the palm of the first hulking man who charged at her. The room was too small and crowded with so many people rushing in; they couldn¡¯t coordinate their movements. Meanwhile, Qiao Yi, alone with a knife, managed effectively, quickly injuring several men. ¡°Hisss¡ª¡± Even as formidable as Qiao Yi was, one person could not overcome a dozen or more. After injuring another seven or eight men, she was finally subdued when someone kicked her wrist, causing the fruit knife to fall to the ground and her to be heavily pinned down on the coffee table. Gong Ting hadn¡¯t expected that coming to capture Qiao Yi would drive her to use a knife, and now things had gotten out of hand, definitely not something easy to settle! What to do! Qiao Yi belonged to the Qiao Family and was also Lu Family¡¯s daughter-in-law. Despite the Gong Family¡¯s influence in Tian City, they couldn¡¯t contend with both the Qiao and Lu Families! If Qiao Yi had not been harmed, even if they had taken her away, the Gong Family could simply offer some compensation to cover things up. But now, the situation escalated to the use of a knife, which was beyond what Gong Ting could handle! Qiao Yi, pinned on the coffee table, moved her fingers slightly and sighed regretfully. After all these years of not practicing, to think she¡¯d be subdued while armed, it was simply embarrassing! Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Pretending to Be Pitiful Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Pretending to Be Pitiful Just as Gong Ting was hesitating, the mobile phone that was still on the sofa suddenly rang. Gong Ting¡¯s subordinates glanced at it, and the caller ID displayed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s name! ¡°Miss, the call is from someone named Lu Yanchuan.¡± They didn¡¯t know who Lu Yanchuan was, but Gong Ting had just said that the person they had captured was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife, and their miss had kidnapped her to threaten Lu Yanchuan. Now that the person hadn¡¯t been taken away yet, how come Lu Yanchuan was calling? Gong Ting was panicked; she wasn¡¯t ready to confront Lu Yanchuan head-on, she wasn¡¯t even ready to use Qiao Yi to threaten him! How could Lu Yanchuan show up at this moment! The phone on the sofa kept ringing, but no one answered, and after a while, it hung up by itself. But before Gong Ting could breathe a sigh of relief, the phone rang once again! ¡°Hang up, hang up!¡± ¡°Miss Gong, if you hang up the call, maybe Lu Yanchuan will come back to the hotel to see me in person, you know.¡± Qiao Yi spoke cheerfully but her face was cold, a sight that made people really want to give her a beating. Gong Ting also really wanted to beat her, but the raised hand couldn¡¯t fall, and even under Qiao Yi¡¯s indifferent gaze, she couldn¡¯t help but step back several steps. ¡°Miss Gong, I¡¯m very curious. The inheritance from Old Madam Gong, no matter how rich, shouldn¡¯t matter so much to the most favored miss of the Gong family, right? To risk retaliation from both the Qiao and Lu families by kidnapping me? Can Miss Gong tell me why?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Just as Gong Ting was hesitating to pick up the call, Qiao Yi suddenly asked a question that made Gong Ting stunned. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Gong Ting glared at her impatiently, and when she was about to answer the call again, it had already been hung up once more. This time after the phone hung up, it didn¡¯t ring again, and Gong Ting let out a sigh of relief, but Qiao Yi quietly curled the corners of her lips. ¡°Actually, if Miss Gong wanted to threaten Lu Yanchuan, she totally shouldn¡¯t have kidnapped me. My marriage to Yanchuan is only a business arrangement. If the inheritance left by Old Madam Gong is valuable enough, do you think Lu Yanchuan would give up the benefits he¡¯s about to gain for a wife with whom he has no feelings, linked only by a business marriage?¡± Although pinned down, Qiao Yi was chatting as if with an old friend, without any sign of nervousness. Gong Ting looked at Qiao Yi, then at the mobile phone on the sofa, and suddenly felt uneasy. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Take her with us, leave now!¡± Without responding to Qiao Yi, Gong Ting pushed the black-clad person standing beside her and turned to leave. Qiao Yi watched Gong Ting¡¯s panicked retreating figure, her smile growing bigger and bigger until she couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. ¡°What are you laughing about!¡± Unable to stand it any longer, Gong Ting turned her head and looked at Qiao Yi angrily. Qiao Yi laughed and frowned, looking helpless, ¡°I¡¯m just thinking, this time the Gong family is going to be brought down by you.¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Miss! It¡¯s a call from the master!¡± Before she even left the hotel, Gong Ting received a call from her biological father, Gong Zhe. Who knows what was said on the phone, but after Gong Ting hung up, she looked very upset, especially when she saw Qiao Yi¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Slap!¡± Gong Ting finally couldn¡¯t hold back, turned around, and gave Qiao Yi a slap, the force almost causing fresh blood to ooze from the corner of Qiao Yi¡¯s lips. ¡°You wretch! I will not let you go!¡± Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow, licked the blood at the corner of her mouth, and was about to say something when her gaze fell behind Gong Ting and, with a turn of her eyes, began to cry pitifully. Gong Ting noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze and turned around, her face instantly turning deathly pale. Lu Yanchuan stood at the end of the hallway with an expression cold as frost. Although he was alone, his presence was such that he seemed to completely overshadow the dozen or so people in the hallway, intimidating them to the point where they dared not look him in the eye. The atmosphere instantly froze; Gong Ting even felt as if her blood was about to stop flowing under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s stare, and she was too cold and frightened to meet his gaze. ¡°Yanchuan¡­ save me¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s feeble cry for help shattered the frozen atmosphere of the hallway, and when Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes met hers past Gong Ting, his gaze grew even colder. Qiao Yi was held by the arms by two towering men, her body covered in fresh bloodstains, half her face swollen and red, with a trace of blood still at her lips, the very image of someone who had been abused. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that, I¡­¡± ¡°Hand her over to me.¡± Lu Yanchuan stepped forward, while the people on Gong Ting¡¯s side moved back step by step, dragging along Qiao Yi, who appeared utterly miserable. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, hand her over to me.¡± Qiao Yi could hear the hidden fury in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice and suddenly regretted, wondering if she had taken things too far. A real falling out with the Gong Family would not be good for either the Lu Family or the Qiao Family! Qiao Yi had guessed that Gong Ting wouldn¡¯t really do anything to her, which is why she brought out a knife and let herself be taken. After seeing Lu Yanchuan, she pretended to be pitiful. She just hadn¡¯t expected Lu Yanchuan to be so furious, it made Qiao Yi¡¯s heart tremble with fear. When a man gets angry, it¡¯s truly frightening. Gong Ting had no more room to retreat, and suddenly she took off a ring from her finger and pressed it against Qiao Yi¡¯s face, glaring viciously at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Give me the shares the teacher holds in the Gong Family! Otherwise, I¡¯ll ruin her face!¡± Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow, not expecting Gong Ting to make such a move. No wonder Gong Ting was willing to antagonize both the Qiao and Lu Families, even using her to threaten Lu Yanchuan; it turned out it was all about the shares in the Gong Family. Lu Yanchuan furrowed his brows but said nothing, causing Qiao Yi¡¯s heart to sink. What does he mean by this? Normal fear makes people shrink back, but excessive fear can ignite courage. Just like now, Gong Ting, pressed to the extreme by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s presence, had already offended both Qiao and Lu Families, so she decided to go all in and directly used Qiao Yi to threaten him in front of Lu Yanchuan. The longer Lu Yanchuan remained silent, the heavier the hearts of the two women opposite him became. Gong Ting was regretting and confused; could it be that Lu Yanchuan really had no feelings for Qiao Yi, as Qiao Yi had said, so he didn¡¯t care if she was hurt? And Qiao Yi felt cold; although the two were only nominally husband and wife, they got along quite well both in public and in private. Now, for the sake of some shares that didn¡¯t belong to Lu Yanchuan in the first place, was he really going to leave her to her fate? ¡°The teacher does not hold any shares in the Gong Family.¡± Both Qiao Yi and Gong Ting were taken aback, unsure if what Lu Yanchuan said was true or a lie made up to make Gong Ting release Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! The teacher obviously holds ten percent of the shares in the Gong Family, how could you say she doesn¡¯t!¡± ¡°This is the teacher¡¯s inheritance appraisal, and it clearly doesn¡¯t list any shares.¡± Saying this, Lu Yanchuan took a document out of his briefcase and tossed it to Gong Ting. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Unrelated to You Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Unrelated to You Gong Ting couldn¡¯t wait to pick up the document and flip through it, scanning it back and forth several times, yet she found no mention of share ownership at all. ¡°This can¡¯t be possible! How can this be?!¡± Gong Ting couldn¡¯t accept this outcome! To get the 10 percent of the shares held by Old Madam Gong, she had attended to the old lady like a maid for two whole years, and now she had even offended the Qiao Family and the Lu Family to get the shares! But the truth was telling her that Old Madam Gong had no shares at all! Her two years of slaving away, her painstaking plots¡ªall for naught! How could she accept this! She simply couldn¡¯t accept it! ¡°You lied to me! You must be lying to me! You did it just to save her! If I can¡¯t have peace, neither can you!¡± Gong Ting, her eyes bloodshot, ripped the document to shreds, and with the ring she clenched in her hand, slashed towards Qiao Yi¡¯s face. ¡°Ah!¡± The scream did not come from Qiao Yi, but from Gong Ting, who was kicked far away by Qiao Yi¡¯s sudden flying kick. Qiao Yi¡¯s leg almost reached her ear side, the whoosh of it connecting with the face of the person controlling her. The man in black recoiled in pain, releasing Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, and Qiao Yi took the opportunity to headbutt the other side, right onto another person¡¯s nose. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï As Qiao Yi made her move, Lu Yanchuan also charged over. The fight in the corridor erupted in an instant, and by the time Gong Ting finally managed to get back on her feet, Qiao Yi, alongside Lu Yanchuan, had taken down all the men in black in the hallway. Although Qiao Yi was dissatisfied with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s earlier hesitation, now was not the time to settle scores with him. Gong Ting, who had been heavily kicked by Qiao Yi just a moment ago, leaned against the wall with a pained, pale face, but Qiao Yi felt that her pallor was more because of the shares. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! Aren¡¯t you being too greedy? Having the Lu Group isn¡¯t enough for you, you want the Gong Family¡¯s shares too? Isn¡¯t this overstepping?!¡± Gong Ting seemed to have decided that the document Lu Yanchuan showed her was a forgery he concocted himself, she angrily pointed at Lu Yanchuan, completely forgetting her recent fear of him. Under the influence of desire, even the weakest person can muster desperate courage. Just like Gong Ting, she dared to look Lu Yanchuan in the eye and questioned him loudly. Qiao Yi admired Gong Ting¡¯s courage but had no confidence in her intelligence. Regardless of whether the document Lu Yanchuan gave her was real or fake, Gong Ting was destined to be the loser. Seeing that neither Qiao Yi nor Lu Yanchuan spoke, Gong Ting became more convinced she had guessed the truth, pointing at Lu Yanchuan and about to curse further, when suddenly a stern voice from the other end of the hallway scolded her. ¡°Gong Ting! Shut your mouth!¡± Qiao Yi looked towards the newcomer, only to see a middle-aged man about the same age as Qiao Benqing approach, who slapped Gong Ting across the face. ¡°Dad! You hit me!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth! Go back home now, and don¡¯t you dare step outside again!¡± Gong Zhe, followed by his assistant who was completely indifferent to Gong Ting¡¯s indignation and resentment, pulled Gong Ting away. Qiao Yi relaxed her guard; this man was likely the Gong Family Head, Gong Ting¡¯s father, Gong Zhe. Gong Zhe completely ignored the men in black who were strewn across the ground groaning and turned to Lu Yanchuan with a smile plastered on his face. ¡°Mr. Lu, your visit to Tian City this time¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you give a heads up so I could have made arrangements for you? Staying here is really improper!¡± ¡°No need.¡± Lu Yanchuan had no intention whatsoever to save face for him and turned to pull Qiao Yi back to their room. Just before stepping into their room, Lu Yanchuan paused. ¡°Mr. Gong, I do not want to see anyone from the Gong Family around the teacher again. Also, regarding today¡¯s incident, the Gong Family needs to give me an explanation.¡± After finishing his sentence, Lu Yanchuan closed the door with a backward motion. Qiao Yi, who had entered the room before Lu Yanchuan, heard what he said. However, she was still preoccupied with the recent events and didn¡¯t feel like paying any attention to Lu Yanchuan. Her face was swollen and uncomfortable. Qiao Yi looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and deeply regretted messing around for no reason ¨C that slap hurt like hell! Touching her face and wincing with pain, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp inhale. Gong Ting really hit hard; if there had been another slap, Qiao Yi reckoned she would have lost a molar! ¡°Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?!¡± Qiao Yi was dragged out of the bathroom by the arm and pushed onto the sofa. An ice pack was pressed against her face in a not-so-gentle manner, and Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan through her pain. Hadn¡¯t he just been hesitating whether to save her or not? Why was he now trying to tend to her wounds? Jerk! ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on not saving you just now.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qiao Yi snorted and still didn¡¯t want to speak. After examining her, Lu Yanchuan found that Qiao Yi only had a facial injury and then put away the medical kit. ¡°I was wondering whether the teacher had any shares in the Gong Family.¡± Qiao Yi was somewhat stunned. Was Lu Yanchuan explaining himself to her? Lu Yanchuan, squatting in front of her, directed his gaze to her face and furrowed his brows slightly. A hint of unpleasant emotion flickered through his dark eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain. It doesn¡¯t matter to me if you would choose shares over saving me; Gong Ting can¡¯t really hurt me.¡± After speaking those words, Qiao Yi immediately regretted them. That wasn¡¯t what she meant to say at all! The atmosphere became instantly tense. Qiao Yi tilted her head away, refusing to look at Lu Yanchuan, who was pursing his lips in thought, his gaze remaining fixed on Qiao Yi¡¯s face without moving. ¡°That¡¯s it, go on with your business.¡± Unable to bear the tension any longer, Qiao Yi pushed away Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand and stood up, heading towards the bathroom. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t not save you because of the shares.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know whether she should feel touched or angry. Maybe it was the pain in her face that caused the irritation, or perhaps it was something else that made her unable to suppress the sudden burst of anger. ¡°Listen up, Lu Yanchuan, I, Qiao Yi, do not need your rescue. Regardless of the reason, if I can save myself it¡¯s because of my good luck; if I can¡¯t, it¡¯s my own fault. Whether I live or die, it has nothing to do with you¡­ mmph¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s hands were pounding against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, unable to push his body away. Angered, she bit down on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s tongue hard, and immediately a metallic taste spread in both of their mouths. ¡°This won¡¯t happen again.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hands gently touched Qiao Yi¡¯s face, as if afraid of causing her more pain. Qiao Yi fell silent, her outburst leaving her with nothing but emptiness and fatigue. Listening to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s enigmatic words, she nonchalantly acknowledged with a hum and pushed away from his embrace, turning to walk into the bathroom. By the time Qiao Yi came out of the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan had already left. There was medicine and a note on the table, in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s typical tone. ¡°Remember to apply the medicine. The teacher is seriously ill, no need to wait for me.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s waiting for you¡­¡± Qiao Yi crumpled the note in her hand and threw it into the trash can, then aimlessly scrolled through her phone for a while. Suddenly, as if she had lost her mind, she retrieved the note from the trash, folded it neatly, and tucked it into the case of her phone. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Acquaintances Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Acquaintances Old Madam Gong had held on for two days, but eventually, she could no longer hold on and left this world. Qiao Yi stayed with Lu Yanchuan to handle Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral arrangements. During this time, the Gong Family also came to cause trouble twice, but they were all blocked by Lu Yanchuan outside. Following Old Madam Gong¡¯s last wishes, after all usable parts of Old Madam Gong¡¯s body were donated, Lu Yanchuan scattered her ashes into the sea. Even to a complete stranger, seeing a living person turn into a handful of ashes right before your eyes is unsettling. Qiao Yi was already feeling suppressed just by helping Lu Yanchuan with the funeral arrangements, let alone Lu Yanchuan who had deep feelings for Old Madam Gong. After sending off Old Madam Gong on her last journey, only Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were left in the car on the return journey. Qiao Yi wore a translucent and lustrous jade bracelet on her wrist, which Old Madam Gong had asked Lu Yanchuan to find and give to her when she was lucid. Actually, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t really like wearing jewelry, but she inexplicably didn¡¯t want to take off the bracelet that Old Madam Gong gave her. Lu Yanchuan sat beside her, eyes closed, resting, and Qiao Yi, touching the bracelet on her hand also felt somewhat restless, as if she was holding back an unexpressed anger. Something was off, very off, Qiao Yi felt her condition was wrong, even if it was because she was influenced by Old Madam Gong¡¯s passing, her emotions shouldn¡¯t be this strange. Maybe it¡¯s because these days have been too oppressive? The last time she came to Tian City was to attend the bidding for the harbor project, and this time unexpectedly she attended Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral; she also needed to go to Tian City¡¯s auction the next day. Speaking of Tian City¡¯s auction, it already gave Qiao Yi a headache. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It was just a simple auction, but many families in Capital City received invites. Qiao Xin somehow heard of it, and insisted on following Lu Ming to attend the auction. Lu Yanchuan was able to get an invitation, but that didn¡¯t mean Lu Ming could. Qiao Xin, of course, was not satisfied and upon finding out that Lu Ming couldn¡¯t get an invite, she went to Qiao Yi, shamelessly demanding Qiao Yi to give up her spot so she could go with Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi was shocked by Qiao Xin¡¯s cheekiness and righteousness and rejected her outright. However, she always felt a bit uneasy, Qiao Xin didn¡¯t seem like someone who would give up easily, and who knows what kind of trouble she would stir up. Returning to the hotel, Lu Yanchuan changed his clothes and went to Lu Group¡¯s branch in Tian City, leaving Qiao Yi in the hotel. After a while, she planned to go shopping. But just as Qiao Yi changed and was about to leave, someone knocked on her room door. After that incident caused by Gong Ting, Qiao Yi has already grown a bit wary of these unexpected knocks. Holding a fruit knife she picked up from the table in her hand, Qiao Yi then went to open the door. ¡°Qiao Xin?¡± When the door opened, standing outside were Lu Ming and Qiao Xin, with Wang Zhen following behind, looking puzzled. Qiao Yi did not plan to let these three people in. She stood blocking the doorway, scanning over the three people and finally resting her eyes on Qiao Xin. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Is this your attitude towards me? Move aside!¡± As she spoke, Qiao Xin reached out to push Qiao Yi aside, but Qiao Yi calmly deflected Qiao Xin¡¯s hand, only to see Qiao Xin exaggeratingly cried out, and Lu Ming also very nervously helped stabilize Qiao Xin. ¡°Qiao Yi! Don¡¯t go too far! Xinxin is pregnant now, how can you not be a bit more considerate of her!¡± Lu Ming made a deeply concerned and affectionate display, which made Qiao Yi feel revolted. Looking at Qiao Xin again, she was clutching her flat belly and yelling, as if she wanted to invite the whole hotel to watch her performance. Wang Zhen has never liked Qiao Xin or Qiao Yi, but right now, Qiao Xin is carrying her grandchild, so even if she dislikes Qiao Xin, she has no choice but to endure it. However, her dislike for Qiao Xin was her own business, but Qiao Yi¡¯s push nearly harmed her grandchild, and she immediately roared at Qiao Yi! ¡°Don¡¯t you have any manners or upbringing! Your sister is pregnant, and yet you dare to lay hands on her! If my grandson suffers any harm, you¡¯ll pay for it!¡± Qiao Yi remained unfazed but sceptically glanced at Qiao Xin¡¯s belly. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡± ¡°Of course! Xinxin has been pregnant for a month and a half now, let her sit down right away!¡± Lu Ming called out first, and Qiao Yi flicked her ears but did not move aside. ¡°Sorry, Qiao Xin¡¯s pregnancy has nothing to do with me; the child isn¡¯t mine! If you have nothing else, please leave; I don¡¯t have time to waste here with you.¡± Perhaps irritated by Qiao Yi¡¯s attitude, Lu Ming let go of Qiao Xin¡¯s hand and glared at Qiao Yi, ready to argue. Qiao Xin grabbed the angrily charging Lu Ming and stepped forward while holding her belly. ¡°Yiyi, I know you¡¯ve never liked me, but could you let me have the spot to attend the auction for the sake of my pregnancy? I just want to see it for myself, at home everything has always favored you, and I¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, so I should give my spot to you? Is the child in your belly mine? Or is it that the child you¡¯re carrying will be gifted to me?¡± Qiao Xin turned pale from Qiao Yi¡¯s retort, unable to save face. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t give her a chance to regain composure and argue back; she grabbed her bag from the shelf and walked out, closing the door behind her. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand your thinking; your pregnancy has nothing to do with me, how dare you use your own child as a bargaining chip to demand me to give way?¡± Qiao Yi patted Qiao Xin¡¯s face lightly twice, rolled her eyes, and walked away. Instead of wasting time here with Qiao Xin, it would be more relaxing to go shopping. Qiao Yi quickly shrugged off this minor incident with Qiao Xin and spent the afternoon wandering until she casually returned to the hotel before dark. Carrying many bags big and small, Qiao Yi struggled to hang them on both hands as she walked into the hotel, only to be run into by someone hurrying out. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry!¡± The bags in Qiao Yi¡¯s hands fell to the ground with a clatter. The person¡¯s strength was not small, and the collision made Qiao Yi stagger several steps and nearly fall. Qiao Yi, not caring for an altercation, casually waved her hand and bent down to pick up the bags scattered on the ground, but just as she bent down, she heard a voice tinged with a bit of surprise calling her. ¡°Miss Qiao?¡± Qiao Yi looked up only to realize that the person who had bumped into her was actually an acquaintance. ¡°Miss Sun? What are you doing here?¡± The person was none other than Sun Keke, with whom she had a brief encounter in Capital City; she was surprised to see her here in Tian City too. Sun Keke looked remorseful and quickly squatted down to help Qiao Yi pick up the items. ¡°I came to attend the auction with Mr. Ning, I¡¯m really sorry for bumping into you just now.¡± Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Most Afraid of the Sudden Silence of the Air Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Most Afraid of the Sudden Silence of the Air Mr. Ning? Ning Yuze? Sun Keke took her shopping bag from Qiao Yi with a slightly faded smile on her face. ¡°So it turns out we are staying at the same hotel; what a coincidence! I¡¯ll leave you alone then, and maybe I¡¯ll treat you to a meal sometime.¡± Qiao Yi smiled at Sun Keke, nodding her head and then turned to walk into the hotel. She had only taken a few steps when Sun Keke behind her called out to her. ¡°Miss Qiao, wait!¡± Qiao Yi paused, puzzled, and turned to look at Sun Keke, whose impression on Qiao Yi was neither particularly bad nor particularly good. It wasn¡¯t because of her illegitimate status, after all, she didn¡¯t choose that for herself. Qiao Yi mainly disliked Sun Keke¡¯s timorous demeanor. Indeed, she is powerless in front of the Sun Family and Ning Family, but a person who is carefree compared to someone who is timid handles situations differently and achieves different outcomes. If Sun Keke were in Qiao Yi¡¯s shoes, she would never just passively accept her circumstances, certainly not being bullied in the restroom! Nevertheless, while Qiao Yi did not like it, she did not show it outwardly. ¡°What is it, Miss Sun? Is there anything else?¡± Sun Keke hesitated, biting her lip, but finally walked up to Qiao Yi and whispered. ¡°Miss Qiao, could you do me a favor?¡± Hearing Sun Keke¡¯s request, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes brightened and a slightly strange smile appeared on her face. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Sure, leave it to me. I¡¯ll help you.¡± Qiao Yi wanted to kiss Sun Keke on the face, but with her hands full, she couldn¡¯t even pat her on the shoulder, so she just flapped her arms to show her sincerity. Sun Keke felt a great relief, took a kraft envelope from her bag, stuffed it into Qiao Yi¡¯s bag, took a few bags from Qiao Yi, and they walked towards the elevator together. So there is some truth to the saying ¡°narrow roads lead to enemies meeting,¡± especially when Qiao Yi saw Qiao Xin and Lu Ming standing outside the elevator. ¡°Here¡¯s your invitation, don¡¯t bother me again!¡± Qiao Yi quickly took a kraft envelope from her bag before Qiao Xin could speak and threw it into Qiao Xin¡¯s hands. Seeing how readily she handed it over made Qiao Xin somewhat skeptical of the invitation¡¯s authenticity. Earlier in the morning, Qiao Yi refused to agree to give her invitation, so why now did she so easily hand it over? Lu Ming took the invitation from the envelope, nodded after a quick glance ¨C it was a secondary invitation. The primary invite should be with Lu Yanchuan; since the secondary one could be handled by Lu Yanchuan, it wasn¡¯t signed and only bore the same number as the primary one. Having attended auctions before, Lu Ming could certainly verify the authenticity of primary and secondary invitations. Seeing that Lu Ming confirmed this invitation¡¯s authenticity, Qiao Xin was even more puzzled as she watched Qiao Yi walking away. When did she become so easy to talk to? Sun Keke¡¯s palms were sweating with nervousness; if not for Qiao Yi standing in front of her and Qiao Xin¡¯s attention not being on her, she might have already given herself away. Back in her room, Sun Keke leaned against the door, panting heavily. ¡°You, you mean your solution was to give her my invitation?¡± Sun Keke felt like going crazy. The invitation Qiao Yi had just passed to Qiao Xin was the one Sun Keke gave to Qiao Yi, and its primary invitee was Ning Yuze! If that were discovered¡­ Sun Keke could hardly imagine what would happen then. ¡°Yeah, what else did you think? From now on, your invitation is lost, and you never gave me any invitation, got it?¡± Sun Keke nodded stiffly, Qiao Yi looked at her helplessly and pursed her lips, communicating the matter to Lu Yanchuan with her phone. After all, they would need Lu Yanchuan¡¯s help for cover, so it was necessary to inform him in advance. Qiao Yi waited a while after sending the message, and only received an ¡°okay¡± from Lu Yanchuan, which made her feel uncertain. Does he have to be so casual? Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care about his casualness; she was eager to attend the auction, thinking about it was thrilling. Should she try to get an invitation for Lu Ming too? Sun Keke saw Qiao Yi standing by the window with a weird smile on her face, which scared her into continuously backing away. When Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel, it was already late at night, but when he got to his room, he found that Qiao Yi was still awake and seemed to be excitedly arguing with someone. ¡°Can¡¯t you play at all? Help, help, I¡¯m gonna die! Ah!!! I¡¯m dead!!!!!!¡± Strange noises came from the bedroom. Excited, Qiao Yi¡¯s voice was breaking. As Lu Yanchuan was about to go check on Qiao Yi, he heard her screaming again. ¡°Ahhh! Brother Li Bai! I love you!!!!¡± What¡¯s going on? He knew Li Bai, but who was Brother Li Bai? A flash of green went across Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. Without even taking off his coat, he walked into the bedroom, and the scene in front of him stunned him. Qiao Yi was lying on the bed in a very twisted posture, one leg under her head as a pillow and the other leg hanging off the bed in a position difficult for ordinary people. Qiao Yi had a greenish face mask on, a flashy hair clip on her head, and her silk pajamas were squeezed up because of her twisted posture, revealing a small section of her slender waist. This¡­ Hearing the noise at the door, Qiao Yi glanced at the door with squinting eyes and saw Lu Yanchuan silently watching her. The worst fear is the sudden silence. The sound of the game ending broke the awkward silence in the room, Qiao Yi screamed, quickly picked up her phone, saw the glaring ¡°defeat¡± on the screen, and like a frostbitten eggplant, dejected and disappointed, threw her phone aside. Kneeling for five rounds! Not happy at all! ¡°Cough!¡± Lu Yanchuan coughed softly and turned to leave the bedroom; Qiao Yi suddenly snapped back to reality and scrambled up from the bed into the bathroom. Why did he come back at this time! She was just applying a face mask, doing some yoga, playing a game, and just happened to be caught by Lu Yanchuan! Lu Yanchuan waited outside for a while but Qiao Yi did not come out, so he had to knock on the bathroom door. ¡°I¡¯ll be quick!¡± Something seemed to happen inside the bathroom, and after some chaos, the normal Qiao Yi finally opened the door and walked out, all the flashy items gone, Lu Yanchuan felt somewhat unused to seeing the prim and proper Qiao Yi in front of him. Maybe, that was her most relaxed self just now? Qiao Yi walked past Lu Yanchuan and dove into the blanket. Her phone kept ringing with notifications, it was Feng Siyu calling her to come online. ¡°What¡¯s the use of playing, I¡¯m already dead!¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Unreasonable Trouble Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Unreasonable Trouble Awkwardness is a suffocating emotion, and Qiao Yi took two minutes to console herself amidst that suffocation, then fell into a deep sleep within three minutes. By the time Lu Yanchuan came out after his shower, Qiao Yi was already hugging the quilt, deeply asleep, oblivious to the passage of time. Having lived nearly thirty years, it was the first time Lu Yanchuan experienced the feeling of helplessness. Qiao Yi slept comfortably, even dreaming about gobbling down pig¡¯s trotters, savoring the oily delight smeared across her face. However, the pig¡¯s trotters in the dream were strange, they even pinched people! Qiao Yi woke up abruptly, her eyes meeting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expressionless face. Looking down at the ¡°pig¡¯s trotters¡± she had been gnawing on unknowingly for how long¡­ The poor, pampered hands of Mr. Lu, nurtured for over twenty years, distinct in bone structure and pale in complexion, were now covered with gum marks, with a bite mark on the fleshier part of the palm even starting to ooze blood! Qiao Yi blinked her eyes, cautiously releasing the saliva-coated hand from her embrace, even guiltily wiping it a couple of times with her pajamas. Lu Yanchuan watched as Qiao Yi gradually tried to escape, he reached out with his long arm, enveloped her in his embrace, eyed her up and down to pick a suitable spot, and then bit down hard. Qiao Yi, covering her face, glared at Lu Yanchuan, both guilty and angry. Although it was wrong for her to mistake Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand for a pig¡¯s trotter and gnaw it all night, Lu Yanchuan had no right to bite her face! And to bite so hard! It hurt tremendously! An irate Qiao Yi got out of bed grumpily, grumpily waiting for the hotel staff to deliver breakfast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Upon seeing the breakfast brought up, Qiao Yi sensed the deepest malice from Lu Yanchuan. There were two large bowls on the table, both filled with steaming pig¡¯s trotters. Why must she face such an ordeal first thing in the morning! Qiao Yi tearfully gnawed on two pig¡¯s trotters, glancing up at Lu Yanchuan elegantly eating opposite her, her bravado fading instantly when her eyes landed on the still-fading bite marks on his hand. Fine, she would just gnaw them! Qiao Yi stuffed herself with pig¡¯s trotters, every burp flavoured with a hint of trotter, probably won¡¯t crave them again for at least half a year. The guests for the auction began to arrive at three in the afternoon, and it was already past eleven when Qiao Yi went for makeup and hairstyling, hurrying to the already booked venue, only to run into someone she hadn¡¯t wished to see. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t go to the auction so you come here for styling, enjoying it, huh?¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t understand the sense of superiority Qiao Xin exhibited upon seeing her. She was clearly jealous to death, yet she could act so arrogantly in front of her. Is this the world of a neurotic? Forgive her, she really didn¡¯t get it. ¡°I¡¯m accompanying my husband, any objections?¡± Qiao Yi deliberately clung to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, squeezing herself into his arms. With one hand entwined with Qiao Yi¡¯s and the other guarding her waist, the couple stood there, perfectly matched! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even realize that although she felt nothing for Lu Yanchuan, their togetherness always projected a harmonious vibe. The more they looked like a couple, the angrier Qiao Xin became, grinding her teeth as she walked by. She even bumped heavily into Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder as she passed. Before Qiao Yi could react, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand on her waist exerted a slight pressure pulling her to his other side. Qiao Xin¡¯s strength drained, and she almost toppled forward; if it weren¡¯t for Lu Ming by her side catching her in time, she would definitely have fallen. With a disdainful snort, Qiao Yi strutted into the clubhouse arrogantly like a peacock, nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace. To Lu Yanchuan, however, her demeanor resembled a smug kitten more than anything, and he even felt an urge to scratch her chin. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s fingers twitched; after walking into the clubhouse, and ensuring that Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t see them anymore, Qiao Yi stepped out of his embrace. The stylist, who had been arranged in advance, greeted Qiao Yi and led her to a special makeup room. Three hours for styling was quite pressing; Qiao Yi had to assist with the makeup personally, rushing along with two stylists to barely finish within the time limit. Lu Yanchuan had never before spent so much time watching a woman put on makeup, even at some compulsory occasions when he needed styling too, he had never been so patient. Watching Qiao Yi through the mirror, handling a small box and brush dabbing on her face, Lu Yanchuan incredibly found no hint of impatience. He even felt a bit of curiosity about those peculiar items in her hand. Unaware of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, Qiao Yi was busy drawing her eyeliner when she accidentally poked her eye with the eyeliner pencil, and now she was tilting her head back trying hard to keep the tears from falling. ¡°Qiao Yi! What tricks are you playing now!¡± The door to the makeup room was flung open, and Qiao Xin stood at the doorway, her sharp voice causing everyone in the room to frown. It was precisely because she barged in suddenly that caused the stylist¡¯s hand to shake and poke Qiao Yi. And she still dared to create a scene at the door! After easing the discomfort in her eyes, Qiao Yi lowered her head; fortunately, no tears had ruined her eye makeup. Turning to look at Qiao Xin at the door, why does this person always show up at the wrong time and place? ¡°Qiao Xin, haven¡¯t you had enough? Do you really think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± Qiao Yi looked calmly at Qiao Xin, but Qiao Xin seemed maddened by anger, bursting in and throwing an invitation card at her. ¡°You¡¯re so cunning! Giving me an invitation while stealing it back! If I hadn¡¯t glanced at it, I would have been completely deceived by you!¡± Qiao Xin intended to throw the invitation in Qiao Yi¡¯s face, but couldn¡¯t get close enough and had to point at her from a distance and yell. Qiao Yi glanced down at the red invitation card by her feet, picked it up, and inspected it, finding nothing unusual. ¡°Stop making unreasonable trouble! I gave you the invitation, and now you¡¯re accusing me of stealing yours, how amusing do you find this?¡± Qiao Xin laughed out of sheer rage, brushed past the people holding her back, and snatched the invitation from Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t stolen my invitation, why would you be here getting styled? You gave away your invitation, what would you use to attend the auction? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re scheming¡­¡± ¡°Yiyi¡¯s invitation was given by me, do you have a problem with that?¡± Qiao Xin froze, disbelievingly turned her head to the corner where Lu Yanchuan sat on the sofa, his expression as shocked as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± ¡°What, I need your permission to bring my wife to an auction? When did you become the boss of me?¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Diamond Card Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Diamond Card Lu Yanchuan sat in the corner of the makeup room, Qiao Xin entered the door and even took a special glance to make sure that Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t there before she dared to lash out at Qiao Yi. But now that she was caught in such a state by the very person she least wanted to see her, Qiao Xin felt like dying. Originally, Lu Yanchuan was quite indifferent towards her, and now, with her causing such a scene, she had given him even more reason to ignore her! Qiao Xin¡¯s facial expression changed back and forth and finally she looked aggrieved. ¡°Yanchuan¡­¡± ¡°According to seniority, you should call me uncle.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s laughter brought a furious stare from Qiao Xin, but Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care about her and turned around to finish the last part of the styling. Forgive her, she just couldn¡¯t hold back, who made Lu Yanchuan oppress people with seniority so easily! Qiao Xin glared at Qiao Yi¡¯s back, wishing she could rush over and beat her up right now. But with Lu Yanchuan here, she could only think about doing such things. ¡°Mr. Lu, yesterday Qiao Yi found me and said she didn¡¯t want to attend the auction, so she gave her auction invitation to me, but now the invitation I have has turned out to be a fake, and Qiao Yi is here all dressed up, if she didn¡¯t steal the invitation, then who did!¡± The title ¡°uncle¡± was something Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t bring herself to say, after enduring and enduring, she finally managed to voice her complaint properly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even glance at the invitation in Qiao Xin¡¯s hand, he just swept his eyes over her face and looked away. Qiao Xin was infuriated and felt even more wronged by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attitude, not daring to lose her temper at him, she turned her focus back to Qiao Yi. ¡°Qiao Yi! Aren¡¯t you being too excessive this time! If you didn¡¯t want to give me the invitation, you could have just said it straight, why create such a scene to embarrass me!¡± ¡°I suggest you go back and think clearly, your own invitation was well kept, how could I possibly steal it from you? Besides, who said I only have the invitation meant for you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s styling was finally done, and looking at the time, it was about right. She got up and took Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm preparing to leave. ¡°You stop right there! If you don¡¯t clear things up today, don¡¯t think about leaving!¡± Qiao Xin stubbornly blocked the path of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi felt helpless, thinking this person¡¯s mind must be seriously ill. ¡°That invitation, I gave it to you yesterday. You lost it yourself and you¡¯re troubling me after it got replaced? Besides, what¡¯s the problem even if I took the invitation back? I¡¯m just taking back what belongs to me! If you keep pestering, I¡¯ll have to call security!¡± Now, Qiao Yi was no longer the old Qiao Yi who used to accommodate Qiao Xin in every aspect. After tearing their faces apart, Qiao Xin had no fighting power in front of Qiao Yi. Qiao Xin gritted her teeth and watched Qiao Yi walk past her, but her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a spot of red on the sofa. Holding onto the tiniest hope, Qiao Xin walked over and picked up the red object, it was actually Qiao Yi¡¯s invitation! At the same time, having already boarded the car, Qiao Yi also began searching for her own invitation, but even after turning her small handbag inside out, she couldn¡¯t find a single piece of paper! Qiao Yi looked extremely upset, just now she was mocking Qiao Xin for not keeping an eye on her invitation, and now her own invitation had disappeared! Although the auction didn¡¯t matter much to Qiao Yi whether she attended or not, she would definitely feel incredibly frustrated if she really couldn¡¯t attend because of the lost invitation! ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°An invitation! My invitation has disappeared, I remember I had it when I left, how could it be gone?¡± Qiao Yi leaned back into her seat and muttered glumly. There wasn¡¯t much time left now. No matter where the invitation had fallen, it was already too late to look for it. It seemed that she was destined not to attend today¡¯s auction. Feeling a bit disappointed and regretful, Qiao Yi sighed and simply closed her eyes, no longer thinking about it. ¡°Your invitation, I took it out and threw it in the dressing room, now it should be in Qiao Xin¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°What! You, you gave it to Qiao Xin?¡± Qiao Yi looked incredulously at Lu Yanchuan, and although she was sure there was absolutely nothing between Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Xin, she couldn¡¯t understand why Lu Yanchuan would give her invitation to Qiao Xin. ¡°My invitation was also sent out, we¡¯ll use this to enter.¡± Lu Yanchuan did not explain why he did that, nor did he tell Qiao Yi to whom he had given his own invitation. He simply pulled out two white cards from his pocket and placed one of them into Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. Qiao Yi, holding the card with curiosity, bowed her head to look at it, and was instantly so shocked that she was speechless. ¡°Diamond Card! This is a Diamond Card!¡± Qiao Yi had only heard of such a thing before but had never seen it in person, and yet today she got one from Lu Yanchuan! The Diamond Card unlike bank or membership cards is a card representing the identity of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance¡¯s members; to date, only twenty cards have been issued nationwide. Those who possess the Diamond Card not only need to meet a certain financial standard, but more importantly, they must also meet the personal status requirements of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance. After a comprehensive ranking of overall strength, only the top ten individuals are granted a Diamond Card issued by the Chamber of Commerce Alliance. The Diamond Card seems to be a symbol of status, but at certain times it¡¯s very useful; holders have certain privileges during specific events, like today¡¯s auction. With this card, they can enter without an invitation. Such rankings are conducted only once every five years, and since the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, only two issuances have taken place to date. Lu Yanchuan actually has two Diamond Cards! And the most recent alliance ranking was conducted two years ago! This means that at least twelve years ago, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s personal strength was already among the top ten in the Chamber of Commerce Alliance! Qiao Yi heard all this accidentally mentioned by Qiao Benqing. Although the Qiao Family is also known as a significant clan, only Qiao Benqing among them had joined the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, and he was only ranked fifteenth two years ago. Since the rankings of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance are confidential, Qiao Benqing didn¡¯t know that Lu Yanchuan was among the top ten. ¡°Twelve years ago¡­ how old were you?¡± ¡°Sixteen.¡± Really, some people just make you despair! Qiao Yi thought for a moment that when she was sixteen, she was still swaggering through the streets with a bunch of henchmen! Meanwhile, Lu Yanchuan had already joined the Chamber of Commerce Alliance and even obtained a Diamond Card! There¡¯s no comparison, no comparison, Qiao Yi pinched herself and decided not to compare herself with this freak next to her anymore; otherwise, she would definitely shut down! To avoid shutting down, Qiao Yi decisively changed the subject. ¡°Why did you give my invitation to Qiao Xin?¡± Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76 The Old Cadre Who Doesnt Understand Romance Chapter 76: Chapter 76 The Old Cadre Who Doesn¡¯t Understand Romance Hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s question, Lu Yanchuan looked a bit puzzled, seemingly not expecting Qiao Yi to ask such a question. ¡°Don¡¯t you know the usage of the main and sub invitations for today¡¯s auction?¡± Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s clueless expression, Lu Yanchuan explained after making eye contact for a moment. ¡°This year marks the 20th wedding anniversary of the auction¡¯s organizers and his wife, and today happens to be their anniversary, so there are some special arrangements at the auction today. Although I don¡¯t know what these special arrangements are, they will definitely be related to the anniversary.¡± For this reason, this year, the holders of the main invitations mostly gave their sub invitations to their wives, girlfriends, or lovers, unlike previous years when they would bring business partners, friends, and family. Lu Yanchuan thought Qiao Yi knew about this, so he intentionally gave Sun Keke¡¯s invitation to Qiao Xin, but it turns out that Qiao Yi was unaware. Then why did she give Sun Keke¡¯s invitation to Qiao Xin? ¡°I thought it was just a simple auction, but there turns out to be such a reason behind it!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly exclaimed, her face showing a bit of regret as she frowned. ¡°It¡¯s such a pity, I was thinking about getting rid of Qiao Xin yesterday, and using Ning Yuze to annoy Qiao Xin and Lu Ming a bit. How could such a good invitation get switched!¡± If it hadn¡¯t been switched, there would have been quite a spectacle! Qiao Yi could not help but regret, even wanting to help Qiao Xin retrieve the previous invitation now. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes flickered strangely, as if he had something to say, but hesitated and then chose not to speak. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Qiao Yi was too caught up in her regrets about not letting Qiao Xin experience the harshness of society, and did not notice Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hesitation. Upon arriving at the auction venue, because Lu Yanchuan showed the Diamond Card, he and Qiao Yi were directly welcomed into the best booth on the upper floor. The first floor had seats similar to those in a cinema, and there was a layer of booths on the second floor. Among these booths, the one occupied by Lu Yanchuan was the largest, and even looked a bit too spacious for two people. They didn¡¯t arrive early, and some people were already seated below, with a few booths on the second floor lit up. But when the light in booth number one turned on, everyone simultaneously wondered if they were seeing things wrong! Even if the Tian City Mayor came here, he might not be able to enter booth number one. What kind of VIP, with an even higher status than the mayor, could it be? The Mayor was indeed there, right next door in booth number two. Upon hearing that someone had arrived next door, the Tian City Mayor couldn¡¯t sit still. He had just tried to get the position next door, but the auction staff insisted it was already reserved. Even his status as the mayor was useless; now that the person had finally arrived, the Tian City Mayor of course wanted to see who in Tian City dared to be more arrogant than him! Qiao Yi heard a knock at the door, and of course, Lu Yanchuan heard it too, or rather, from the moment Lu Yanchuan prepared to use the Diamond Card to enter the auction, he had anticipated that someone would come to inquire. ¡°Please come in.¡± As the door opened, the first thing the Tian City Mayor saw was the exquisitely luxurious decor of the booth. Although the two booths were right next to each other, the decor inside was worlds apart! He only has a sofa and a carpet over there, how come this VIP room is like a luxurious living room! ¡°Hello, I am the Mayor of Tian City, I wonder¡­ Mr. Lu?¡± Lu Yanchuan stood up from the sofa, and the Tian City Mayor, of course, knew Mr. Lu from Capital City. When he saw that Mr. Lu was the person in the room, everything became clear to him. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Lu, I¡¯m really sorry to disturb you!¡± Lu Yanchuan and the Tian City Mayor had met before during the bidding of the old harbor district project, so they were somewhat acquainted. The Tian City Mayor approached enthusiastically and chatted warmly with Lu Yanchuan. Not only the Tian City Mayor came, but also all the presentable people from the second-floor VIP rooms came. When they saw Lu Yanchuan was in VIP room No.1, they no longer felt it strange, and after exchanging pleasantries, they dispersed. Qiao Yi had been standing behind Lu Yanchuan as a decoration, but when she spotted the furiously twisted face of Gong Ting in the crowd, her smile faded a bit. Gong Ting came too? And it looks like she has a deep bone to pick with me and Lu Yanchuan! ¡°Did you just see Gong Ting? She was glaring at you all the time at the door! She is the first woman who met you and only wanted money instead of you, has your charm decreased?¡± Qiao Yi teasingly glanced at Lu Yanchuan. After getting to know Lu Yanchuan, the women who appeared beside him were either madly in love with him or terrified of him. There hadn¡¯t been anyone daring to glare at him with such a fierce expression. But now there was, and Qiao Yi was curious to see what Gong Ting would do to Lu Yanchuan. If there¡¯s going to be a good show, she doesn¡¯t mind giving Gong Ting a hand. After four o¡¯clock, the lights in the venue suddenly all turned on, then all went out, leaving only the lamp over the central auction podium. From behind the thick curtains, today¡¯s auctioneer walked out¡ªa gorgeous woman in a red dress. Even Qiao Yi felt tingles all over her body from the beauty, not to mention those wolfish fellows below. Thankfully, everyone was from a distinguished background. Even if they were howling inside, they still knew to maintain their elegance, only the applause was exceptionally enthusiastic. Qiao Yi sneaked a look at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression, but found that the man¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver at all, seeing the beauty on stage as if she was just a piece of wood. Tsk! What an unromantic old bureaucrat! Qiao Yi happily turned her head back, the gorgeous woman on stage had finished her opening speech and stepped down, and now the opening performance was underway. Thus the saying ¡°money makes the world go round¡± isn¡¯t for nothing. When Qiao Yi saw a young idol famously styled as a youthful girl dancing energetically on stage, she realized her understanding of money was still too shallow. With beauties, naturally there must be handsome men. But just as Qiao Yi was trying to count whether the handsome guys below had six-packs or eight-packs, suddenly her view darkened, and a large hand firmly blocked her sight. ¡°Hey hey hey! What are you doing?! You¡¯re blocking my view of the show!¡± Qiao Yi was anxious, using both hands to pull away Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. It was the highlight of the show; missing it would be a pity! However Qiao Yi¡¯s slender arms were no match for Lu Yanchuan. By the time Lu Yanchuan finally moved his hand away, the handsome guys below had already picked up their clothes and left the stage. Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan, this man was totally outrageous! When he was watching the beauty just now, she didn¡¯t stop him, so why did he block her from watching the handsome guys! ¡°Lu Yanchuan! You owe me handsome guys! You owe me pecs, abs, and long legs!¡± Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Wild Ginseng Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Wild Ginseng Qiao Yi was frightened, terribly frightened! What on earth was Lu Yanchuan doing?! How could he dare to pull her hand into his clothes! Has he no shame? Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned red with a glance at the one-way mirror in front of her, and once again reddened when she looked up at the two surveillance cameras above her head. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but the firm and resilient sensation beneath it made her reluctant to do so, and the strength around her wrist provided her with enough reason to keep taking advantage. Qiao Yi controlled her saliva and expression, sternly rejecting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attempt to seduce her! ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough!¡± Qiao Yi choked on her saliva, was that something Lu Yanchuan could say! She inexplicably felt like she was being teased; what should she do? Fortunately, the voice of the beautiful auctioneer below saved Qiao Yi from the awkward situation, and in a panic, Qiao Yi turned her head away, no longer looking at Lu Yanchuan, who seemed like a male goblin. ¡°Welcome to the Tian City Yongxing Auction. I am your host for today, Xing Yue!¡± Thunderous applause erupted from below once again, and as Qiao Yi saw the even shorter skirt of Xing Yue on the stage, she could even hear some people¡¯s internal howling. ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush, now please welcome our first auction item!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï A tray covered with a red cloth was brought out, and when the cloth was lifted, there lay a milky-white jade pendant on it. ¡°This is a sheep fat jade pendant from the Ming Dynasty, with carvings verified to be from the hands of a master¡­ The starting bid for this sheep fat jade pendant is 30,000 yuan, with each increment not less than 1,000 yuan!¡± Qiao Yi was uninterested in these jewels and jades, flipping through the auction catalog provided in the box, only to find that the first several items were all jewelry and the like. Flipping further, she noticed the auction had a variety of miscellaneous items. Apart from the most common antiques and jewelry, there were also artworks. The more Qiao Yi looked, the more bored she got; none of these items interested her, and she suddenly regretted attending this auction. ¡°Look further back, there¡¯s an estate auction you might consider.¡± Just as Qiao Yi was about to put the catalog down, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s comment prompted her to flip forward two more pages, finally coming across a consigned estate. ¡°Taikou Villa in Tian City? Isn¡¯t that a resort? Why is it up for auction?¡± Qiao Yi carefully read the description and confirmed that it was indeed the Taikou Villa she knew, not another one with the same name. ¡°I recall the business of this resort being quite good, why would the owner suddenly give up and sell it?¡± Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s idea of bidding for the villa, just curious. ¡°This villa belongs to my mentor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Old Madam Gong¡¯s property? Why is it up for auction?¡± Lu Yanchuan did not answer, indicating that the answer to this question wasn¡¯t so wonderful. Thinking about the Gong Family people she had learned about over the past few days, and considering that restless Gong Ting, it would be apparent that the Gong Family had a hand in putting this villa up for auction. The auctions below continued one after another, with the preceding items being small objects going for thirty to fifty thousand each, and more than a dozen were sold in a short time. There was no movement from box number one throughout, and Qiao Yi had seen Xing Yue on stage looking in this direction many times, but neither she nor Lu Yanchuan had any interest in the items previously auctioned. ¡°` ¡°The next lot is exceedingly rare, a wild century-old ginseng. After appraisal, this ginseng is over one hundred and eighty years old!¡± ¡°` As soon as Xing Yue finished speaking, the venue suddenly burst into a sensation. In this era, Wild Ginseng is already uncommon, let alone one that is one hundred and eighty years old or even older; its value as a collectible far exceeds its medicinal worth! ¡°The starting bid for the century-old ginseng is one million! Each bid must increase by no less than ten thousand!¡± Xing Yue hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when the venue exploded into a frenzy. ¡°Two million!¡± ¡°Three million!¡± ¡°Three million five hundred thousand!¡± The starting bid of one million was already quite high, but the bidders below didn¡¯t care about this at all. Within just a few minutes, the price had already been driven up to seven million. After the 5th private box on the second floor called out the sky-high price of seven million five hundred thousand, the crowd gradually quieted down. The occupant of private box number five is the vice-chairman of the China Medical Association, passionate about medicine and naturally excited upon seeing such a rare ginseng. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bidding?¡± Qiao Yi nudged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and rolled her eyes in exasperation upon seeing him without any reaction. ¡°This ginseng was consigned by me.¡± Qiao Yi turned to Lu Yanchuan in surprise. With such an item in hand, why would he not keep it but rather sell it? ¡°We have one at home that¡¯s over two hundred years old, I¡¯ll show it to you when we get back.¡± At this, Qiao Yi had nothing to say. His family¡¯s business and wealth were so vast that they didn¡¯t even care about a small ginseng! Qiao Yi sighed and turned back to watch the auction. After the person in private box number five made their bid, box number three began to compete. Increasing the bid by ten thousand each time, in no time the price of the ginseng surged past eight million and headed straight towards nine million. The vice-chairman in private box number five was clearly running out of steam. Though a lifetime of practicing medicine had given him some savings, he obviously couldn¡¯t throw his entire fortune at a single piece of ginseng! After private box number three called out a bid of eight million five hundred thousand, private box number five ceased to counter-bid. Xing Yue stood on the stage, smiling like a blooming flower. According to the auction house¡¯s commission rate, the auction house would take a fee of twenty percent of the final price as a handling charge, and she, as the auctioneer, would get five percent commission! With one fell swoop of the hammer, she would earn a commission of over four hundred thousand! With no further bids, the Wild Ginseng was finally taken by the person in private box number three for a price of eight million five hundred thousand. Qiao Yi knew the person in private box number three was from the Gong Family. Lu Yanchuan showed no signs of concern about the ginseng ending up in the hands of the Gong Family, but Qiao Yi felt that he seemed to be brewing up some major move, looking at his calm face. After two more lots were auctioned off, it was finally time for the auction of Taikou Villa that Lu Yanchuan had been interested in. ¡°I believe everyone is familiar with Taikou Villa, so I won¡¯t go into details. The opening bid for the villa is one million two hundred thousand, with each bid needing to increase by at least twenty thousand!¡± The heat from the Wild Ginseng auction had not yet subsided, and the people in the venue were not so interested in Taikou Villa. There were only a few bids, each just the basic increment. Xing Yue watched the lackluster crowd below, trying her best to heat up the atmosphere again, but ultimately, it was in vain ¨C the bidding stopped at one million three hundred thousand with no further increases. Although the lack of further bids was somewhat disappointing for Xing Yue, she still responsibly began the countdown. ¡°One million three hundred thousand for the first time!¡± Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Splash Sulfuric Acid Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Splash Sulfuric Acid ¡°1.5 million!¡± The light in Booth No. 3 flickered, and Qiao Yi recognized Gong Ting¡¯s voice. She looked puzzledly in that direction. ¡°Isn¡¯t Taikou Villa put up for auction by the Gong Family? Why are they bidding to buy it back?¡± ¡°Take another look at the description in the brochure.¡± Surprise flashed in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. It was only when his gaze fell on the brochure on the table that he began to understand. Qiao Yi took up the brochure again after hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words and scrutinized it carefully. Only after a long while did she put it down with a sigh of exasperation. ¡°They¡¯re actually playing word games like this? Isn¡¯t this blatantly exploiting a legal loophole? And they¡¯re deliberately scheming against you. They must have guessed that you would bid, so they intentionally set a trap for you!¡± Qiao Yi pointed at the word ¡®investment¡¯ on the brochure, the more she looked, the angrier she became. The brochure detailed the current status of Taikou Villa and its potential for future appreciation, but only a single, fleeting sentence mentioned the investment rights, which could have been easily overlooked without Qiao Yi¡¯s careful rereading! It turns out that the auction wasn¡¯t for the entire Taikou Villa, but for the investment rights to the villa! No wonder, after all, even if Taikou Villa was cashed out, it would be worth at least ten million. How could it possibly start at an auction price of one million! Xing Yue on stage did not clarify this point either. Could it be that someone had deliberately planned this to bait Lu Yanchuan? Instinctively, Qiao Yi thought of the Gong Family and turned to look at Lu Yanchuan, but his expression was so calm that one couldn¡¯t decipher his thoughts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Poker faces are the most annoying! Qiao Yi rolled her eyes. Since Lu Yanchuan was aware of this, he must have a countermeasure, so there was no need for her to worry. After Booth No. 3 placed their bid, no one else offered a higher price. Xing Yue on stage called for bids twice again, her large eyes eagerly looking towards Booth No. 1. It was evident that she was really anxious. However, neither Lu Yanchuan nor Qiao Yi had any desire to bid anymore. If it was Old Madam Gong¡¯s villa, let Lu Yanchuan win the bid; an investment right wasn¡¯t worth fighting for. Faced with this silence, Xing Yue on stage started to panic, hesitating whether to hammer down the final bid. Although the Gong Family had paid her to use some embellishing words during the auction of Taikou Villa, the Gong Family had also specifically instructed to make sure that Lu Yanchuan ended up with the lot! But now, with the Gong Family themselves placing the bid and snatching the lot, she was torn whether to hammer the sale down or not! Xing Yue was hesitating and struggling, while inside Booth No. 3, Gong Ting was close to being scolded to death by Gong Zhe. ¡°What are you doing! You¡¯ve ruined the whole plan! You go straight home now, and you¡¯re not allowed to step out of the door without my permission!¡± Gong Zhe was truly angry this time. He hadn¡¯t settled the score with Gong Ting for her last attempt at abducting Qiao Yi. Fortunately, afterwards Qiao Yi didn¡¯t turn to the Qiao Family or the Lu Family for retribution, so the incident had passed. But this time, Gong Zhe had everything planned out perfectly, to make Lu Yanchuan suffer a setback and buy the investment rights of Taikou Villa at the auction. Although it wouldn¡¯t cause Lu Yanchuan much loss, it would vex him, achieving Gong Zhe¡¯s purpose. However, Gong Ting was unaware of the plan. With her interference, not only did his plan not succeed, but he also had to incur additional costs of hundreds of thousands in handling fees and commissions! Even risk startling the snake and making Lu Yanchuan vigilant! If Gong Ting weren¡¯t his daughter, Gong Zhe would definitely teach her a severe lesson! Xing Yue on the stage dragged the time a bit too long, although some auctioneers deliberately prolong the auction to attract more bids, but now it seems that no one else is bidding, Xing Yue¡¯s behavior is a bit too contrived. Having no choice, when people started to discuss below, Xing Yue finally dropped the auction hammer in her hand. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± The door of the private room was suddenly knocked, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi exchanged glances, and Qiao Yi cleverly picked up a pillow from the sofa. With a serious face, she looked at the auction item brought up again, clearly indicating that she definitely did not want to answer the door. Lu Yanchuan hooked the corner of his mouth inconspicuously, and went to open the door when the knocking sounded again. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi screamed, dashed past Lu Yanchuan, ran out of the room, and chased after the flustered fleeing figure. The long corridor was carpeted with plush, Qiao Yi in high heels was about to lose sight of the person when she suddenly stopped, took off her high heels, and threw them at the person¡¯s silhouette. Qiao Yi was lucky; the sharp heel hit the person¡¯s head hard, causing him to stagger forward. As the person was about to regain his balance, another shoe flew over and hit his neck. Taking advantage of the momentum, Qiao Yi jumped up as she got close to the man and kicked him in the back, both of them tumbling to the ground in the corridor. There was a lot of commotion outside, and many people from the private rooms came out to watch. When their gaze fell here, they saw Qiao Yi clutching a hairpin, stabbing it forcefully into the thigh of the man on the ground amidst everyone¡¯s shocked stares. The man howled in agony, and Qiao Yi, ensuring that the injured man could no longer run away, quickly got up and walked back. Looking up at the shocked and surprised stares of the people in the corridor, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression was stern. After sweeping a glance through the crowd, she raised her head to locate the surveillance cameras. ¡°Keep an eye on this man for me. If anyone dares to let him go, that would be offending both the Capital City Lu Family and Capital City Qiao Family!¡± Qiao Yi left these words behind without paying any further attention to the wailing man on the ground and walked toward private room number one barefoot. The two hadn¡¯t run far, and Qiao Yi quickly returned to private room number one. The private room¡¯s bathroom light was on, and Lu Yanchuan was inside rinsing sulfuric acid off his arm. That¡¯s right, just as Qiao Yi turned her head to see who was knocking, she saw the man at the door holding a cup of sulfuric acid, splashing it straight at Lu Yanchuan! Had it not been for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s quick reflexes using the door to block, that cup of sulfuric acid would have splashed right onto his face! Although Lu Yanchuan does not rely on his face to make a living, still! Getting splashed with sulfuric acid is an extremely malicious act! Qiao Yi even felt that the sulfuric acid in that man¡¯s hand was very likely meant for her! After all, according to common logic, with both her and Lu Yanchuan in the private room, the person to answer the door when someone knocked would definitely not be Lu Yanchuan, it should have been her! However, this was just Qiao Yi¡¯s own speculation, not evidence. Hurriedly rushing back to the private room, Lu Yanchuan had also come out from the bathroom. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: He Didnt Want to Be Seen Chapter 79: Chapter 79: He Didn¡¯t Want to Be Seen Lu Yanchuan was bare-chested, and under the light, one could see a patch of redness on his arm, but luckily, it wasn¡¯t a large burn. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± Qiao Yi carefully examined Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, where the traces of acid corrosion near the door remained, still hissing and fizzling out. If Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t reacted in time just now, he would probably not be in much better shape than that door! Yet, even just a bit of sulfuric acid splashing on his arm had already burned a large red patch on it. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the situation here first.¡± Lu Yanchuan patted Qiao Yi¡¯s hand twice and was ready to walk out half-naked. ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Yi stopped Lu Yanchuan, looked around the private room, and finally set her eyes on the shawl hanging to one side. ¡°You are the distinguished Mr. Lu, how can you walk out so bare! Those women, hungry like wolves and tigers, if they saw you, they would devour you whole!¡± Qiao Yi just didn¡¯t want others to see Lu Yanchuan! In a few swift motions, she wrapped the pearly white shawl around Lu Yanchuan, avoiding the wounds. It looked somewhat indecent, but at least it covered all the necessary areas securely. In the corridor outside, one could faintly hear a man¡¯s wails. The news of Lu Yanchuan being splashed with acid in the No.1 private room spread quickly, and many people were sneakily glancing in that direction, curious about what had happened. When Lu Yanchuan wrapped in the shawl appeared, the onlookers outside quieted down simultaneously. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Some noticed the acid burn on his arm, but more people were focused on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s strange attire. Mr. Lu was indeed Mr. Lu; even under the gaze of so many curious eyes, he was still unfazed as ever. The person in charge of the auction house hurried over, and upon seeing the chaos at the doorway to the No.1 private room, Manager Wang¡¯s vision darkened. Regardless of who was inside the No.1 private room, they were people too significant for their auction house to provoke! Such an incident was practically a death sentence! When Manager Wang saw Lu Yanchuan walking out unscathed, he was so relieved he nearly fainted, having prepared himself for the worst-case scenario ¡ª thankfully, fortune favored him. ¡°Mr. Lu! Mr. Lu, are you alright? I¡¯ll call an ambulance right away!¡± Manager Wang rushed forward excitedly. Qiao Yi blocked the distance between Manager Wang and Lu Yanchuan, paying no heed to the agitated crowd around her, and took Lu Yanchuan over to the man lying motionless on the ground. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Ma Yu to bring people here, don¡¯t worry.¡± The man had bloodstains on his thighs, and on both sides were small silver hairpins. It was these hairpins that rendered him immobile. Lu Yanchuan looked at Qiao Yi¡¯s hair and saw that two hairpins were missing from behind her head, and two strands of hair were lightly falling down, as if something had struck his heart. Manager Wang cautiously followed behind, not daring to speak in front of Lu Yanchuan, especially seeing that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t seem to be in a good mood. More and more people gathered in the corridor, with Manager Wang anxiously rubbing his hands, worried the situation would escalate. ¡°Mr. Lu, this incident was an oversight on our auction house¡¯s part, we will surely provide a reasonable explanation to you. Do you think perhaps we should¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Wang, you indeed need to thoroughly investigate this matter. However, we will take this person with us for now. After you find any useful information, contact me then.¡± ¡ª Qiao Yi blocked Mr. Wang, her words sounded nice, but wasn¡¯t it just to shut them up, not wanting them to spread the incident! The patrons from the second floor who weren¡¯t just minor powers saw that there was no excitement here and went back to their private rooms. Qiao Yi actually wanted to go to the hospital with Lu Yanchuan, but Lu Yanchuan insisted on waiting for Ma Yu to arrive, and she didn¡¯t know what he was so adamant about. Gong Zhe stood behind the crowd with a face full of complex and entangled emotions. He had just sent Gong Ting away, and then this incident occurred; could it be that Gong Ting did it? If it were found out that it was indeed Gong Ting, even though his Gong Family could do as they pleased in Tian City, they would still be no match for a single hand of the Lu Family! Gong Zhe was anxious to get in touch with Gong Ting, but just at this time, she wouldn¡¯t answer her phone, which made his heart feel extremely uneasy. Finally, Gong Ting answered the call, yet from the other side of the phone blasted deafening music. ¡°Where are you! Why aren¡¯t you going home!¡± Gong Zhe roared into the phone, whether Gong Ting on the other end could hear him or not, she yelled a few times and then hung up the phone without caring whether Gong Zhe heard her clearly or not. Although Gong Ting not returning home made Gong Zhe very angry, he felt relieved in his heart; thankfully, she wasn¡¯t the one who did it, or else the trouble would be huge! When Ma Yu received the call and learned that Lu Yanchuan almost had his face ruined by sulphuric acid, he was so scared that he nearly had a breakdown. To attend an auction, how could someone bring sulphuric acid! On the way there, he didn¡¯t know how many red lights he ran through, but finally, he arrived at the auction house as fast as he could, and when he saw Lu Yanchuan, his heart, which had been wildly pounding, almost cried out in relief. Thank god he was alright! ¡°Take the person in the hallway outside back, investigate thoroughly who made him throw the sulphuric acid.¡± After such a long time had passed, Qiao Yi also calmed down, using the medical kit prepared by the auction house to give Lu Yanchuan a simple bandage, waiting for Ma Yu and his men to drag the man away, then she pulled Lu Yanchuan to go to the hospital for proper treatment. Such an incident occurred, forcing the auction to be suspended; those in the lower seats who didn¡¯t know what happened upstairs started to get restless after some well-informed people brought back news of the accident. ¡°Someone actually brought sulphuric acid to the auction! They definitely didn¡¯t have good intentions right from the start!¡± A few people beside were discussing this matter, and after Qiao Xin went to the restroom and came back, she found the auction inexplicably stopped. Upon hearing that Lu Yanchuan was injured, she immediately became worried. ¡°Lu Yanchuan is injured? What exactly happened?¡± Qiao Xin returned to Lu Ming¡¯s side, grabbing his hand and questioning. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, it seems someone threw sulphuric acid on Lu Yanchuan, but the person was caught, and now they are investigating who instigated it.¡± Lu Ming didn¡¯t care at all, even feeling somewhat regretful; why was that person so useless, even letting Lu Yanchuan dodge it! Qiao Xin breathed a sigh of relief; it was good as long as Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t in trouble. However, she lost interest in the auction and sat restlessly, wanting to go upstairs to see Lu Yanchuan¡¯s situation. Just as Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t bear it and was about to leave her seat, Xing Yue appeared once again on the auction stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for wasting your time, our auction will now continue!¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Wanting to Ruin Him Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Wanting to Ruin Him The auction may or may not have continued, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know for sure, but after much persuasion, she managed to take Lu Yanchuan to the hospital. Fortunately, the burn Lu Yanchuan suffered was treated promptly and did not result in more serious consequences. After the doctor treated his wound, Qiao Yi inquired about some precautions. Then, she and Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel. ¡°If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have gone to the auction today. I got hurt for no good reason!¡± Qiao Yi was mindlessly scrolling through her phone. Lu Yanchuan glanced at her phone screen, where she was searching online for treatment methods for acid burns. Knowing that only half of the online remedies could be trusted, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t stop Qiao Yi, even pretending to be weak, holding his arm and hissing as though it hurt tremendously. Ma Yu was shocked once again by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s behavior. Since when had the Third Young Master, who wouldn¡¯t utter a sound even with a broken bone, become so dramatic over a minor burn? Could it be¡­ Catching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze unintentionally through the rearview mirror, Ma Yu tightened up and immediately turned his head to focus on driving, ignoring everything behind him. His Third Young Master had finally shown some human feelings, how could he be so tactless! The tactless Ma Yu obediently delivered them back to the hotel and then hastily left this troublesome place. Qiao Yi found it odd, Ma Yu¡¯s behavior today was somewhat abnormal¡­ Snapped back to reality by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s pull, Qiao Yi quickly regained her senses. ¡°Let¡¯s head back soon, Tian City is really not agreeing with me!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi seriously nodded, and once back in the room, she began packing up. ¡°We can¡¯t leave yet, we need to visit Taikou Villa tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in this condition, and you still want to go to the villa!¡± Qiao Yi protested with a wrinkled nose, but she still put her things back in place. Lu Yanchuan did not respond to her but picked up a piece of clothing from his suitcase and entered the bathroom. Qiao Yi paused, then hurriedly walked over and pulled open the bathroom door. ¡°The doctor said you¡­¡± can¡¯t get the wound wet¡­ In the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t taken off his shirt, but was holding his belt in one hand and his pants in the other, turning his head to look at the stunned Qiao Yi. At such an awkward moment, Lu Yanchuan seemed oblivious, naturally turning around to continue undressing, this time removing his jacket. ¡°What? Want to stay and shower with me?¡± Lu Yanchuan tossed aside his jacket. With his belt undone, his pants hung loosely at his waist, perilously close to falling. Barefoot, Lu Yanchuan looked both dangerous and sexy. If it weren¡¯t for the bit of sanity remaining in Qiao Yi, she would have surely agreed! ¡°Cough, cough! No, no! You take your time!¡± Qiao Yi fled in panic, while Lu Yanchuan stroked his chin, lost in thought. The pants that had been dangling from his waist finally fell down, and Lu Yanchuan kicked off the encumbrance and comfortably sank into the bathtub. As for Qiao Yi, blushing to death outside, she now found the sound of water from the bathroom unbearable! Qiao Xin was almost black-faced when she stormed out from the auction house, followed by Lu Ming, who wore a mocking expression. ¡°Lu Ming! Even if you don¡¯t care about me, can you at least care about your identity! You and I are legally husband and wife! Even if you disregard the facade, can¡¯t you at least consider the marriage alliance between Lu Family and Qiao Family! What¡¯s the point of doing this!¡± ¡°How dare you accuse me? Aren¡¯t you clear about how you got this invitation in your hand? I have other things to handle, just go back by yourself!¡± Lu Ming didn¡¯t want to argue with her here, he disdainfully curled his lips and turned to leave. Qiao Xin stared dumbfounded at Lu Ming¡¯s retreating figure until he got into the car and left before she finally came to her senses. The hidden ¡®Easter egg¡¯ in the invitation was finally revealed after Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan left. Qiao Xin was not chosen to go on stage to participate in the event, but Lu Ming was, and the sub-invitation that Lu Ming got was for a flirtatious beauty! The two of them performed a series of ambiguous but not overly inappropriate acts on stage with a few other selected participants. However, the other pairs selected were either spouses or lovers, only Lu Ming and his partner were complete strangers! Some people recognized Lu Ming and naturally knew the identity of Qiao Xin, who was always sitting next to him. But look at the woman on the stage and then at Qiao Xin below with an unpleasant face, who couldn¡¯t guess the intrigue inside! Even if their guesses weren¡¯t true, that didn¡¯t prevent them from brewing up a melodramatic love triangle drama in their minds! Qiao Xin, scrutinized by strange glances several times from head to toe, was seething inside, but she couldn¡¯t make a scene. Finally, when the event ended, Qiao Xin could no longer hold back and left the auction directly. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± Just as Qiao Xin was about to explode in anger, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing who was calling on her phone, Qiao Yi¡¯s anger intensified, and she screamed into the phone as soon as she picked up. ¡°What exactly is your arrangement! Qiao Yi is still alright, but your people hurt Lu Yanchuan! If this is all you are capable of, there¡¯s no need to continue our cooperation!¡± The person on the other side of the phone said something, and Qiao Xin gradually calmed down, after a few more words, she hung up. Unbeknownst to Qiao Yi, as she was foolishly watching a half-naked Lu Yanchuan wandering around the room. ¡°Can you put on some clothes before coming out?¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t take it anymore, even if he had a good physique, he shouldn¡¯t tempt others so recklessly! Especially knowing she had little self-control! Lu Yanchuan innocently lifted his injured arm, indicating that he was a patient and couldn¡¯t wear clothes. Qiao Yi closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them, Lu Yanchuan still had that indifferent look, making one want to drag him over and ravage him! That was exactly what Qiao Yi was thinking, and she did just that. Lu Yanchuan felt a strong force from behind, and the next moment he was pressed down onto the couch, and the person pressing down on him was straddling him in a very provocative position. ¡°Hmph, Man! You just wanted to get my attention, didn¡¯t you! Well, you succeeded!¡± Qiao Yi, eyeing the abs she had been fixating on, began to feel them up, totally like a hooligan. Feeling two cool hands roaming over his stomach, Lu Yanchuan felt his scalp tingle, and he let his raised arms drop, adopting a much more comfortable posture, looking up at Qiao Yi who was on top of him. ¡°Do you even realize what you are doing?¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Sun Keke Has an Accident Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Sun Keke Has an Accident ¡°I am ruining you, huh!¡± Qiao Yi thought this in her mind and ended up saying it out loud. But after saying it, both of them were stunned. ¡°Ruining?¡± Lu Yanchuan chewed on the word with an unclear meaning, looking up with interest at Qiao Yi who was on top of him. ¡°How do you plan to ruin me?¡± Right now, Qiao Yi really wanted to take the so-called pill of regret. Her brain! Her mouth! How could she speak without thinking! ¡°Cough cough! I didn¡¯t, you heard wrong! It¡¯s getting late, you should rest, a patient shouldn¡¯t stay up late¡­ Ahhhh!!¡± Qiao Yi pretended to be nonchalant as she climbed off Lu Yanchuan, and then, under his meaningful gaze, she patted his belly twice before, just a second before she attempted to flee, she was pulled back by a sweeping motion of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. ¡°What what what! What are you doing!¡± Qiao Yi stared in panic at the man who was holding her down with one hand, involuntarily gulping a big mouthful of saliva. Lu Yanchuan stared at Qiao Yi, who appeared like a frightened rabbit beneath him, slowly revealing a smile, which grew wider as he watched Qiao Yi¡¯s increasingly flustered gaze. ¡°I¡¯m the one ruining you¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Lu Yanchuan got hit, or rather, was bitten forcefully on the arm by a certain little woman who was no match for him in strength. The biter scurried back to the bed, wrapped herself in the blanket, and pretended to sleep, while the bitten one looked at the near-bleeding bite mark on his arm with a full head of black lines. No longer entangled in the question of who was ruining whom, Lu Yanchuan took out his phone and dialed a number. The person who brought sulfuric acid to the auction had an unclear goal, but no matter how Lu Yanchuan thought about it, he couldn¡¯t see anyone wanting to ruin his face with sulfuric acid. And there were only him and Qiao Yi in that private room, could it be that the target was Qiao Yi? This also made no sense! If someone wanted to harm Qiao Yi, there were countless opportunities to do so elsewhere, why choose a place like the auction house, where it would be easiest to get caught? Lu Yanchuan had already sent people to carefully investigate the matter, and the man caught by Qiao Yi was taken away by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s men for questioning. Lu Yanchuan did not report to the police directly because he wanted to find out the truth himself, as going through the police would involve too many potential complications. It wouldn¡¯t be too late to hand the person over to the police station after securing firm evidence. Qiao Yi could vaguely hear Lu Yanchuan talking on the phone outside, and every time his voice rang out, her heart would tremble. The image of Lu Yanchuan pressing down on her with a wicked smile passed repeatedly before her eyes, and Qiao Yi subconsciously touched her own face, internally scolding herself for being so weak-willed! It¡¯s just a man with some good looks! Was it worth blushing this much about! Qiao Yi huddled in the blankets not knowing when she fell asleep, only to wake up in the middle of the night in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. Although she had long been used to waking up in his embrace, Qiao Yi was still momentarily awed when she looked up at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s calm sleeping face. Why would a man be so handsome! Qiao Yi stared blankly at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. Despite not wanting to admit that she was tempted by his looks, the infatuation on her face was not something she could hide just by willing it away. Lu Yanchuan, who had been awakened by Qiao Yi¡¯s turning over as soon as she woke up, pretended to be asleep with his eyes closed, actually wanting to find out what the little woman in his arms would do while he was asleep. Contrary to his expectations, Qiao Yi just stared at his face and did nothing else! ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Lu Yanchuan opened his eyes and quickly pulled Qiao Yi back into his embrace before she could escape in fright. Qiao Yi felt as if she was being hugged by Lu Yanchuan like a human-shaped pillow, completely stiffening up. ¡°Hmm?¡± Not getting a response, Lu Yanchuan let out a gentle hum. The deep voice by her ear made Qiao Yi tremble, involuntarily shrinking her neck. Qiao Yi hummed unclearly through her nose, which counted as an answer to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s question. With Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm around her waist, her face against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s firm and strong chest, and listening to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s strong heartbeat, Qiao Yi soon fell asleep again. It was almost noon when Qiao Yi woke up reluctantly. The spot beside her was already cold; Lu Yanchuan was never one to linger in bed. Rubbing her eyes, Qiao Yi sat up only to hear the cellphone on the nightstand ringing. ¡°Hello¡­ What! I¡¯m coming right now!¡± Qiao Yi sprang out of bed, hastily throwing on some clothes without even washing her face, and ran out the door. As soon as she left the room, she collided with Lu Yanchuan, who had just returned. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Sun Keke had an accident, she¡¯s at First Hospital!¡± Without further explanation, Qiao Yi hurriedly dashed out, and Lu Yanchuan, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, put down what he was doing and followed her. ¡°Why are you coming too? Weren¡¯t you supposed to go to Taikou Villa today?¡± Before Qiao Yi could get into her car, Lu Yanchuan pulled her into his and ordered Ma Yu to drive to First Hospital. Only after getting in the car did Qiao Yi gradually calm down. The news had come so suddenly that she didn¡¯t have any time to react. Plus, having just woken up, her mind hadn¡¯t fully cleared, which is why she ran out in such a panic. Now fully awake, Qiao Yi realized her behavior might have been excessively agitated. ¡°The villa can wait.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t inquire into what happened to Sun Keke. He was merely accompanying Qiao Yi to the hospital, not for Sun Keke¡¯s sake. The life or death of a stranger was of no concern to him. Qiao Yi nodded, unconsciously tightening her grip on her cellphone. In truth, she hardly qualified as a friend of Sun Keke¡¯s, having met her only twice. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even understand why the hospital would call her in the event of Sun Keke¡¯s accident. However, judging by the nurse¡¯s tone on the phone, it seemed Sun Keke¡¯s condition was quite serious, which warranted her to rush over as fast as she could. Regardless, since the call was made, Qiao Yi felt obliged to go, though with an uneasy heart. First Hospital wasn¡¯t far from the hotel they were staying in; it was just a ten-minute drive away. On the car ride over, Qiao Yi wiped her face with a wet wipe and straightened her clothes, making herself look more presentable. Upon arriving at the hospital and mentioning Sun Keke¡¯s name, someone immediately led them to the emergency room. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with my friend? What exactly happened to her? The call didn¡¯t explain clearly!¡± Seeing the nurse¡¯s serious expression, Qiao Yi grew nervous as well. The nurse glanced at Qiao Yi and then at Lu Yanchuan, who was following behind. Hesitating, she didn¡¯t disclose any details, only stating that they would find out once they went there. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Only Contact Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Only Contact Qiao Yi vaguely saw the situation inside the emergency room when the nurse went in. Several doctors and nurses were covered in blood, with a person lying on the operating table, but she couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s condition. The blood on those people pricked Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, making her suddenly anxious. Not long after, the nurse came out with a clipboard and walked over to Qiao Yi. ¡°Nurse, how is my friend doing?¡± The nurse was about to speak but then saw Lu Yanchuan standing beside Qiao Yi and inquired with her eyes about Lu Yanchuan¡¯s identity. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened to Sun Keke and was concerned whether others heard it, but upon receiving the nurse¡¯s gaze, she quickly explained. ¡°This is my husband, not an outsider!¡± Lu Yanchuan was visibly startled, giving Qiao Yi a deep look before suddenly speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll go buy you something to eat.¡± After saying this, Lu Yanchuan voluntarily left. Seeing Lu Yanchuan actively stepping aside, the nurse seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and talked to Qiao Yi about Sun Keke¡¯s situation. ¡°The patient was sexually assaulted and suffered a miscarriage due to the violent act. She¡¯s now stabilized. Here¡¯s the bill; please go make the payment first.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? After handing over the two bills to Qiao Yi, the nurse left with the clipboard. Qiao Yi stared blankly at the bills in her hand, the nurse¡¯s words echoing in her mind. Sun Keke¡­ was pregnant? Regardless, Qiao Yi went to pay for the surgery and hospitalization expenses first and, upon her return, the surgery had finished, and the unconscious Sun Keke was pushed out into the ward. Since Sun Keke¡¯s condition was critical and coupled with excessive blood loss, although the surgery was completed, she was still in danger and needed to completely stabilize before visits were allowed. Lu Yanchuan said he was going to buy food for Qiao Yi, and he indeed did. Returning with a food box, he saw Qiao Yi standing in front of the window and pulled her back to the chair to eat. Qiao Yi ate absentmindedly, her mind constantly pondering Sun Keke¡¯s situation. They had just met the day before yesterday, and Sun Keke didn¡¯t want to attend the auction, perhaps because she knew there would be ambiguous interactions between the holders of the main and secondary invitations. Qiao Yi had agreed to help Sun Keke dispose of her invitation reasonably, but after that, she hadn¡¯t paid any more attention to Sun Keke. When she got the news from Sun Keke just now, it was at the hotel. In just a short day, what exactly had Sun Keke encountered! ¡°Do you need help looking into it?¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t ask about Sun Keke¡¯s situation. Noticing that Qiao Yi looked very worried, he asked. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes brightened, but then she shook her head disheartedly. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until she wakes up.¡± If Lu Yanchuan helped, they could definitely investigate the matter thoroughly, but the incident that happened to Sun Keke was an unbearable blow for any girl¡­ So, the fewer people who knew about this, the better. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t realize that her moment of kindness would bring her so much trouble in the future. But that was a story for another time. Qiao Yi stood outside Sun Keke¡¯s ward for a while longer, and the nurse from before brought over the belongings Sun Keke had when she was admitted to the hospital. In fact, there weren¡¯t many things, just a handbag and a dress. The dress was a simple women¡¯s long gown with a lot of blood on it, and the bag contained some common items. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have the habit of rummaging through others¡¯ belongings and just glanced at them before setting the items aside. However, Lu Yanchuan looked over at the pile of belongings and said to Qiao Yi. ¡°Check her phone contacts. Why did she contact you when something happened to her?¡± Qiao Yi was startled, hesitating whether or not to look. After all, it¡¯s other people¡¯s property, and it doesn¡¯t seem right to pry¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find her family? Do you plan to stay here indefinitely?¡± That was true; she and Sun Keke were barely friends, and it wasn¡¯t her obligation to take care of her. Qiao Yi composed herself and then picked up Sun Keke¡¯s phone. Strangely, Sun Keke¡¯s phone had no password and opened right away. Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan and, seeing that he wasn¡¯t looking this way at all, pursed her lips before continuing to search for Sun Keke¡¯s contact list. Upon opening Sun Keke¡¯s address book, Qiao Yi was surprised again. This string of contact numbers, they all had no notes, just a series of digits! Among these numbers, only two or three had names attached, and the closest one was hers, noted simply as ¡°Qiao Yi.¡± Looking further down, the next number with a noted name read ¡°Landlord,¡± and the last time of contact was two months ago! Going through the string of numbers, Qiao Yi felt complicated and a sense of unclear sympathy for Sun Keke in the hospital ward. Apart from those past contacts that didn¡¯t mean much, the only new contact Sun Keke added in the past two months was her. No wonder the nurse didn¡¯t look for anyone else and directly called her¡ªit was because Sun Keke¡¯s phone had no one else! The unnoted numbers were plentiful, but without knowing the relationship between the numbers¡¯ holders and the patient, how were they supposed to make contact! ¡°What should I do, the only contacts of any note in Sun Keke¡¯s phone are just me, the rest have no remarks¡­¡± Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t bothered by Sun Keke being a burden, but she simply couldn¡¯t afford to stay in the hospital 24/7 to take care of Sun Keke. She couldn¡¯t just leave her alone here, could she! ¡°Why don¡¯t you hire a caretaker first, then come back when she wakes up.¡± Lu Yanchuan offered a good suggestion, and after thinking for a bit, Qiao Yi agreed that was the only option. ¡°You go ahead if you have things to do. I¡¯ll wait a bit longer, and leave after the caretaker arrives.¡± Qiao Yi shrugged; since she had taken on this matter, waiting a little longer was not an issue. Lu Yanchuan, however, didn¡¯t move after hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, simply pulling out his phone and silently messaging someone. Seeing that Lu Yanchuan had no intention of leaving, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t insist, taking out her own phone to pass the time. ¡°Family members of the patient in Room 26, please come to the nurse¡¯s station!¡± While Qiao Yi was engrossed in her phone, the broadcast suddenly came on. Room 26? Wasn¡¯t that Sun Keke¡¯s room? It took a moment for Qiao Yi to realize what was happening, then she put away her phone and went to the nurse¡¯s station at the end of the hallway. ¡°Are you the family member of the patient in Room 26? Here¡¯s the situation: since you and the patient are just friends and we¡¯re unable to reach the patient¡¯s immediate family, we¡¯re asking if you can contact the patient¡¯s immediate relatives?¡± Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Only by Living Is There Hope Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Only by Living Is There Hope Qiao Yi felt a bit helpless upon hearing this. The head nurse at the nurse station noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s expression and asked with concern, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not very familiar with the patient either. We¡¯ve only met twice, so I don¡¯t have any contact information for her family.¡± Feeling helpless, Qiao Yi left the head nurse even more so. How could it be that someone¡¯s phone only had the contact of a person they weren¡¯t very close to? Did she have no relatives? Perhaps sensing the head nurse¡¯s puzzlement, Qiao Yi hesitated before speaking. ¡°As far as I know, the patient¡¯s family situation¡­ is somewhat complicated, so¡­ But I can try to see if I can contact her family?¡± So far, all Qiao Yi knew was that Sun Keke was from the Sun Family, possibly an illegitimate daughter of someone from the Sun Family, and engaged to Ning Yuze. Other than that, she had no idea. The thought of reaching out to the Sun Family put Qiao Yi at a loss for words. After all, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Benqing were joining forces to set a trap for the Sun Family, and getting too entangled with the Sun Family now wouldn¡¯t be good for her either. After hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, the head nurse nodded, ¡°It¡¯s the only thing you can do now. If you can¡¯t contact her family, we¡¯ll have to wait for the patient to wake up and decide.¡± Returning to her former place, Qiao Yi was torn over whether or not to contact the Sun Family. Sun Keke¡¯s phone had no contact information for the Sun Family, which alone indicated Sun Keke¡¯s stance towards the Sun Family, or vice versa. What if her well-intentioned help ended up doing more harm than good? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Qiao Yi waited from noon until evening without Sun Keke waking up, leaving her no choice but to return to the hotel with Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital by myself tomorrow. You should go take care of the company¡¯s business.¡± Lu Yanchuan neither agreed nor disagreed, leaving Qiao Yi unsure of his stance and not in a position to ask further. She had to let him make his own decision. The next morning, Qiao Yi received a call from the caregiver she left at the hospital, who said Sun Keke had woken up. Hurrying to the hospital, Qiao Yi still didn¡¯t get a chance to see Sun Keke, as she was once again taken to the emergency room due to an excessively emotional response. Fortunately, this time Sun Keke had only suffered a brief shock caused by her emotional state and soon woke up. Sun Keke opened her eyes and immediately teared up upon seeing Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get agitated, don¡¯t get agitated, the doctor said you can¡¯t get worked up right now, lie down!¡± Qiao Yi and the caregiver helped Sun Keke sit up properly, and during this time, Sun Keke had enough of a chance to stabilize her emotions. ¡°I¡¯m alright, thank you for coming to¡­ help me¡­¡± Sun Keke¡¯s voice was hoarse, filled with indescribable emotion. Although Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know her very well, she felt deeply sorry for Sun Keke¡¯s current state. Rather than asking Sun Keke what she had been through, Qiao Yi expressed her concern by asking if she was uncomfortable anywhere and whether she wanted something to eat. It seemed that Qiao Yi¡¯s care had warmed Sun Keke, her complexion improved, and she was not as agitated as before. ¡°Do you¡­ want to contact your family?¡± Recalling what the head nurse had said the day before, Qiao Yi conveyed the message to Sun Keke. ¡°Some documents still need to be signed by a family member. I¡¯m not very familiar with people from the Sun Family, so I planned to wait for you to wake up before contacting them.¡± Sun Keke smiled gratefully at Qiao Yi, then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t contact the Sun Family. They probably don¡¯t care whether I live or die. You¡¯ve troubled yourself for me again, I really don¡¯t know how to¡­ repay you¡­¡± Tears welled up in Sun Keke¡¯s eyes as she spoke. Seeing this, Qiao Yi felt uncomfortable and quickly excused herself to buy some food, leaving the room temporarily. Before departing, Qiao Yi glanced back and saw Sun Keke clenching her fists and staring fixedly at a spot, her face distorted with anger. Far from being scared by that fierce expression, Qiao Yi felt even more sympathy. With an incident like this and no loved ones by her side, Sun Keke must still be filled with hate¡­ Qiao Yi quickly returned with food, and by the time she came back, Sun Keke had already regained her composure, though her face was still pale. Her emotions, however, had completely stabilized. ¡°Keke, you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything foolish. Those who hurt me have not yet paid the price, and I definitely will not let myself have an accident!¡± Seeing that Sun Keke¡¯s mood seemed a bit off again, Qiao Yi quickly changed the subject. It was better to have hatred in her heart; at least she wouldn¡¯t act recklessly for any other reason. After all, there¡¯s always hope as long as one is alive. Qiao Yi sat with Sun Keke for a while and, seeing that Sun Keke¡¯s spirits hadn¡¯t fully recovered, instructed her to rest well before leaving. The caregiver was dismissed by Sun Keke for not being used to being cared for, and the hospital nurses also said that as long as Sun Keke woke up, there wouldn¡¯t be any further danger, and she just needed to slowly recuperate. Although Qiao Yi was worried, she couldn¡¯t prevail over Sun Keke and had to let her make her own decisions. When Qiao Yi returned to check on Sun Keke in the afternoon, she was informed by the hospital nurse that Sun Keke had been discharged shortly after she left, taken away by a man. Sun Keke left? And she was taken away by a man? Her first thought was that Ning Yuze had taken her away. But Ning Yuze shouldn¡¯t know about Sun Keke¡¯s accident and, moreover, Sun Keke wouldn¡¯t contact Ning Yuze on her own. So, who was the man who took Sun Keke away? The head nurse mentioned that Sun Keke had voluntarily left with him, with no sign of coercion, indicating the man was someone Sun Keke knew. Could it be someone from the Sun Family? Racking her brain, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t think of a reasonable candidate, so she sent a message to Sun Keke¡¯s phone, telling her to take care of herself, then went back to the hotel. Since Sun Keke had no intention of letting her know she had been discharged, why should Qiao Yi bother to inquire about Sun Keke¡¯s whereabouts? With this mindset, Qiao Yi returned to the hotel with a light heart. Just as she arrived back at the hotel, Qiao Yi received a message from Lu Yanchuan saying he would come to pick her up and take her to Taikou Villa. Resigned, Qiao Yi began packing her things. If they were headed to Taikou Villa, they would surely be heading straight back to Capital City afterward. The belongings of both of them here had to be packed by her alone. When Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel, he found a resentful Qiao Yi and two neatly-packed suitcases. ¡°Why have you packed everything up?¡± ¡°Hmm? Aren¡¯t we going straight back to Capital City after the villa? Should I not pack up now and come back to pack later?¡± Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84 The Purpose of the Gong Family Chapter 84: Chapter 84 The Purpose of the Gong Family Lu Yanchuan did not refute Qiao Yi¡¯s words. Although the original plan wasn¡¯t to return to Capital City from Taikou Villa, since Qiao Yi had packed up, changing the plan was not out of the question. Taking along a little maid and two large trunks, they got into the car. Ma Yu cooled down a bit before slowly starting the car towards Taikou Villa. Taikou Villa originally belonged to the Old Madam Gong. After Old Madam Gong passed away, by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s order, her properties were donated or auctioned off, leaving behind only some items of sentimental value in her old residence. However, Taikou Villa was an exception since not only did Old Madam Gong have shares, but the Gong Family did too. Therefore, after Old Madam Gong¡¯s death, the Gong Family bought back her shares at market price. Such a transfer should not have posed any problems, but after the funeral for Old Madam Gong, Xiao Luo informed Lu Yanchuan that the Gong Family forbade him from taking away any relics Old Madam Gong left at the villa. Xiao Luo was an orphan Old Madam Gong met over a decade ago. For many years, though they were officially master and disciple, their relationship was no different from that of a mother and son. Now, without Old Madam Gong, and with Xiao Luo¡¯s naturally introverted and somewhat timid personality, he certainly couldn¡¯t compete with the pack of wolves and leopards of the Gong Family. Fortunately, Lu Yanchuan had given a heads-up, allowing Xiao Luo to seek help. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s visit to Taikou Villa was first to retrieve Old Madam Gong¡¯s relics and secondly to investigate why the Gong Family members cared so much about her relics. During his short stay in Tian City, he had no idea how many times the Gong Family had covertly sent people to steal Old Madam Gong¡¯s possessions. Lu Yanchuan was irked to no end, having asked Xiao Luo numerous times without getting any clear answers. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The people who had been sent and caught for interrogation knew nothing but their task to steal the relics, with success defined by obtaining anything at all. ¡°Could it be possible that among Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings, there is some rare treasure? Is that why the Gong Family is so desperate?¡± After hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s reasons for going to Taikou Villa, Qiao Yi pondered along. Lu Yanchuan neither denied nor confirmed. Qiao Yi pursed her lips, knowing from his look that she was mistaken. Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze landed outside the window, aimlessly observing the quickly passing buildings when she suddenly slapped her thigh and exclaimed. ¡°Right!¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face beside Qiao Yi twisted slightly but quickly returned to calm. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you remember what Gong Ting said to you the day she came looking for me and bumped into you?¡± Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Yi¡¯s small hand on his thigh, then silently shifted his gaze to her face. The words Gong Ting said when she came to kidnap Qiao Yi¡­ ¡°Do you mean, their target, the shares of the Gong Family in the teacher¡¯s hands?¡± Qiao Yi nodded vigorously, continuously patting on the thigh. ¡°Yes, exactly! Didn¡¯t she ask you to hand over some shares? You told them back then that Old Madam Gong didn¡¯t have any shares, but Gong Ting didn¡¯t believe it at all!¡± Indeed, he had said that, but Gong Ting was acting like a madwoman at the time, completely dismissive of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, making them futile. Silence fell in the car again. Qiao Yi rested her chin on her hand, her thoughts a tangled mess, and Lu Yanchuan was the same, except his gaze occasionally glanced at Qiao Yi in the rearview mirror. Taikou Villa was located at the boundary between Tian City and H Province, nestled halfway up a mountain, famed for its hot springs. When Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan arrived at Taikou Villa, Xiao Luo was already waiting for them at the entrance. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car approach, the child was so excited he was almost in tears. God knows how much humiliation he had suffered these past few days at the villa. When Old Madam Gong was alive, the people there doted on him, but now they were utterly indifferent. If it weren¡¯t for the people Lu Yanchuan left to protect him, he might have been driven out of the villa by now. ¡°Senior Brother¡­¡± The last time Qiao Yi saw Xiao Luo was at the funeral. Today, she finally had the chance to properly get to know this favorite little disciple of Old Madam Gong. According to what Lu Yanchuan said, the boy was still in university, and it would still be two more months until his twentieth birthday. With his chestnut-colored curly hair fluffy and soft, and his pale, baby-faced features, he could easily be mistaken for a high school student. If Lu Yanchuan was the untouchable and stern president, then Xiao Luo was the pure and sweet boy next door. His baby face, together with the bright eyes he had when he saw Lu Yanchuan, resembled a little dog excited to see its owner. Little dog¡­ Xiao Luo ran over, waving his arms. As soon as Lu Yanchuan got out of the car, Xiao Luo quickly updated him about the current situation in the villa. ¡°The Gong Family has taken over the villa completely. However, the shares aren¡¯t held by the same person. It seems internal conflicts have emerged, so the villa has been temporarily closed, claiming to be undergoing restructuring.¡± This ¡°restructuring¡± came at an inconvenient time. From June to before October was the villa¡¯s peak season, and even if it needed restructuring, there was no need for it during this period. ¡°Do you know the current distribution of the villa¡¯s shares?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure of the others. I only know Gong Ting holds thirty percent of the shares, Mr. Gong holds another thirty percent, and the rest I don¡¯t know.¡± Xiao Luo was somewhat embarrassed. Lu Yanchuan had given him so much help, and yet he couldn¡¯t even handle this much. He really didn¡¯t live up to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s trust. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t care about these things. After Qiao Yi also got out of the car, he led her and Xiao Luo towards the villa. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this villa is currently undergoing restructuring and is not open for business. Please leave, sir.¡± While they were walking, suddenly two security guards approached, blocking their path. Xiao Luo hurriedly stepped forward, explaining the identities of Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi to the guards. ¡°They¡¯re not tourists; I invited them to handle matters. You¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qu, but please don¡¯t make it difficult for us.¡± The two guards completely ignored Xiao Luo. With their hands behind their backs, they stood firm, determined not to let them enter the villa. ¡°You! You!¡± Xiao Luo choked in frustration, pointing at the guards but unable to speak, his face turning red without daring to look back at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Make way.¡± Lu Yanchuan extended his hand, pulling Xiao Luo behind him, and walked up to the guards, looking at them emotionlessly. The guards could ignore Xiao Luo, but they couldn¡¯t ignore Lu Yanchuan. Under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, cold sweat instantly beaded on their foreheads. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Sent-Away Relic Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Sent-Away Relic ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­ We¡¯re just following orders¡­¡± The two security guards looked as if they were about to cry. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze was too oppressive, especially considering that he was Old Madam Gong¡¯s eldest disciple and used to frequently visit Taikou Villa to accompany her. Even though he hadn¡¯t visited much in the past two years, these two security guards definitely recognized Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face! They were stopping Lu Yanchuan from entering because they were following orders from the Gong Family, but if they offended Lu Yanchuan, they wouldn¡¯t have a good outcome either! ¡°Let them in.¡± Just as the guards faced this dilemma, a voice from behind them came to the rescue, saving the two nearly kneeling guards. Gong Ting? Why was she here? The person speaking was indeed Gong Ting, who stood there smiling graciously, waiting for Lu Yanchuan and his companions to enter, while the people outside became more vigilant. Gong Ting was being so genial to them? Qiao Yi, frowning, took a careful look at Gong Ting inside the gate; when her gaze fell on her lips, Qiao Yi reached out and tugged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°That¡¯s not Gong Ting; Gong Ting has a mole on the corner of her mouth, she doesn¡¯t.¡± Not Gong Ting? Lu Yanchuan, looking at the woman inside who was nearly indistinguishable from Gong Ting, couldn¡¯t tell whether Qiao Yi¡¯s words were correct or not. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Heaven knows he never paid much attention to women. He could only remember Gong Ting because of Old Madam Gong and because she once tried to harm Qiao Yi. Otherwise, even if Gong Ting stood naked in front of Lu Yanchuan, he wouldn¡¯t bat an eyelid. The woman inside seeing they were hesitating to enter, smiled helplessly and took the initiative to come over. ¡°Hello, I am Gong Yan, Gong Ting¡¯s¡­ twin sister.¡± Gong Ting¡¯s twin sister? Why hadn¡¯t he heard about her before? Not only had Lu Yanchuan never heard of her, but even Qu Luo, who was close to the Gong Family, hadn¡¯t either. Qu Luo had been dealing with the Gong Family for many years and had never heard of Gong Ting having a sister! ¡°You must all be quite familiar with my sister. I grew up abroad, so it¡¯s understandable that you wouldn¡¯t know me. Don¡¯t just stand at the door, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Different from Gong Ting¡¯s arrogance, Gong Yan¡¯s words and actions gave a feeling like a refreshing spring breeze, making you feel very comfortable just by standing beside her. Even after just a few words with Gong Yan, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed a bit, not to mention Xiao Luo, who had no wits about him, he turned into Gong Yan¡¯s ¡®good little brother¡¯ in just a few sentences. Could it be that women naturally have opposing magnetic fields? No matter how Qiao Yi looked at Gong Yan¡¯s smiling face, something seemed off. If Qiao Yi had to describe it with an adjective, it would be ¡®fake¡¯, very fake. Seeing that Lu Yanchuan seemed to be bewitched by this woman¡¯s performance, Qiao Yi felt very displeased in her heart and slipped two fingers to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist, pinching and twisting a piece of flesh hard. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened, and if you looked closely, you could even see a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth. Such a dark move! Gong Yan led everyone through the villa, past a row of residential buildings, around the hot spring, and finally, arrived at a few small houses at the very top of the villa. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Gong Yan acted very much in a way a host would entertain guests, except these rooms were clearly Old Madam Gong¡¯s former residence. Technically, in this place, Lu Yanchuan and Xiao Luo should have been the hosts, while Gong Yan was the guest overstepping her bounds. However, both Lu Yanchuan and Xiao Luo, one expressionless and unconcerned about Gong Yan¡¯s actions, while the other was completely bought over by the gentle ¡®big sister¡¯, didn¡¯t pay attention to these details. Qiao Yi frowned and looked around the room, only to find that the decor here had completely changed into the style suited for a young girl¡¯s dwelling. Exquisite yet somewhat cramped, it completely lacked the composed and generous style of Old Madam Gong¡¯s other residences. ¡°I was thinking of making some changes before the tourist season hits, but I forgot to inform the security guards that Mr. Lu would also be visiting, my sincerest apologies for the offense.¡± Once seated, Gong Yan started with an apology; with her saying this, if Lu Yanchuan and the others had anything more to say, it would seem as if they were picking a quarrel. Xiao Luo didn¡¯t pick up on Gong Yan¡¯s insinuation and repeatedly assured her it was fine, but Gong Yan¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on him at all, she was focused on looking at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I wonder what brings Mr. Lu to the villa this time?¡± Pretending ignorance! Xiao Luo had visited the villa no less than five times, and each time he had made it clear that he wanted to retrieve Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings. Now, Gong Yan seemed completely unaware and asked for their purpose in visiting the villa, which was either feigned ignorance or deliberately provocative! Lu Yanchuan did not respond. Instead, Xiao Luo, slightly embarrassed, scratched his head and said. ¡°I asked my eldest apprentice-brother for help, we wanted to retrieve my teacher¡¯s belongings.¡± This naive kid. It was a righteous action, but his statement made it seem almost as if they were in the wrong. Gong Yan seemed surprised, looking at Xiao Luo, then at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings? I remember I already had them sorted out and sent to her old residence in Tian City. Why would you need to come and retrieve them yourselves?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The expression on Gong Yan¡¯s face didn¡¯t seem falsified, and indeed, when they had entered the room, they saw no traces of Old Madam Gong¡¯s possessions. But¡­ ¡°The Qu Mansion hasn¡¯t received the items.¡± ¡°Well, that is strange. My people brought back a receipt from the Qu Mansion, confirming that everything had been delivered, yet Mr. Lu says it wasn¡¯t received. I don¡¯t know whom to believe.¡± Gong Yan helplessly shrugged her shoulders, pulled out a box from under the coffee table, opened it, and placed the topmost document from inside in front of everyone. ¡°This is the receipt from Qu Mansion¡¯s butler.¡± She had the evidence right there, leaving no room for Lu Yanchuan to refute. The receipt detailed everything clearly: what Taikou Villa sent, when it was received on the other end, and who signed for it, every item was verifiable. ¡°But, but I really didn¡¯t receive any message from the butler, if something was sent back, the butler would definitely have notified me!¡± Xiao Luo could still maintain some sense when it came to matters involving Old Madam Gong and scrutinized the receipt carefully. He suddenly stood up, took out his phone, and made a call to the butler. The group waited silently for Xiao Luo to finish the call, but after a while, they only saw Xiao Luo return with a gloomy face. ¡°It¡¯s not good, eldest apprentice-brother, the butler¡¯s phone is unreachable. People at Qu Mansion say the butler has been missing for three days! Moreover, before I initiated the call to them, they hadn¡¯t been able to contact me at all!¡± Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86 The Servants of Qu Mansion Chapter 86: Chapter 86 The Servants of Qu Mansion ¡°The butler is missing? When did this happen?¡± Mr. Qu from the Qu Mansion, who is specially assigned by Old Madam Gong¡¯s family to take care of her, is extremely loyal to Old Madam Gong. How could he possibly leave Qu Mansion just right after Old Madam Gong¡¯s death? Xiao Luo¡¯s face was all scrunched up as if she was about to cry, holding her phone in a complete panic. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The people at the mansion just said that the butler went out three days ago for something and didn¡¯t know what he was up to, and then he never came back!¡± As Xiao Luo spoke, she was about to leave, but when she passed by Lu Yanchuan, he pulled her back. ¡°Go back and sit down.¡± ¡°Senior! The butler is missing, how can I sit down!¡± It was the first time Xiao Luo spoke to Lu Yanchuan in such a tone. As soon as she finished speaking, she herself was stunned and bit her lip as she lowered her head and sat back down. Lu Yanchuan frowned but said nothing to Xiao Luo. Instead, Qiao Yi, seeing how distraught Xiao Luo was, reassured him. ¡°The butler is no longer at the mansion now. You won¡¯t find anything even if you go now. Your senior will send people to look for the butler, you just wait and see.¡± Of course, Xiao Luo knew that Lu Yanchuan would send people to find the butler, but the death of Old Madam Gong had struck him so deeply that he couldn¡¯t remain as calm and considerate as usual. These days, the treatment Xiao Luo received outside was vastly different from before, and Qu Mansion was the only place that continued to treat him the same way even when Old Madam Gong could no longer protect him. In Xiao Luo¡¯s heart, Qu Mansion and the old butler were his last sanctuary. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï But now, this sole sanctuary had vanished, and the sudden onslaught of panic and helplessness threw Xiao Luo completely off balance. Fortunately, Lu Yanchuan did not take offense and immediately took out his phone to start making contacts. ¡°Three days ago¡­ check all the nearby surveillance¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan quickly arranged for the search for the old butler, then turned and saw Gong Yan smiling at him, her smile seemingly carrying a deeper meaning. But in the blink of an eye, Gong Yan¡¯s smile returned to its gentle demeanor, as if Lu Yanchuan¡¯s prior impression was just a misconception. ¡°Since Mr. Lu and Mr. Qu have other matters, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Feel free to visit the villa anytime.¡± Qiao Yi felt that if Gong Yan didn¡¯t smile so radiantly, maybe her impression of Gong Yan could have been even better. But now, looking at Gong Yan, Qiao Yi always felt like she was taking pleasure in others¡¯ misfortune. This woman is no good person! Having retrieved Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings, they obviously had no reason to stay longer. They declined Gong Yan¡¯s offer to have someone send them off and left the villa directly. ¡°Are we just leaving like this? Who knows whether Gong Yan harbored any good intentions?¡± Qiao Yi was very dissatisfied with how well Lu Yanchuan treated Gong Yan, wondering why the reputedly ruthless Mr. Lu maintained such a favorable attitude towards her. Just because the girl is pretty, his attitude is so nice! What a jerk! ¡°What did you say?¡± Suddenly, a warm breath came close to her ear. Qiao Yi hastily turned around, only to come face-to-face with Lu Yanchuan, and her face instantly flushed red. ¡°Nothing! I said nothing!¡± Qiao Yi closed her eyes, refusing to look at Lu Yanchuan, silently cursing herself for accidentally blurting out her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m a jerk, huh?¡± A very oppressive figure loomed next to her, and Qiao Yi, feeling stared down, dared not move. She tightly clutched the car door handle, ready to jump out and flee at any moment. After a long while, Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t heard anything else, and cautiously opened her eyes only to see Lu Yanchuan¡¯s handsome face enlarged in front of her. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Terrified, Qiao Yi screamed irrationally, but in the next moment, Lu Yanchuan silenced her with a kiss. ¡°Am I a rogue?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Qiao Yi completely gave up, she should never have spoken ill of this man! She was wrong¡­ Lu Yanchuan sat back in his seat, and Qiao Yi stealthily peered at him through the rearview mirror. After a while, noticing that Yanchuan showed no reaction, she became annoyed. Calling him a stinking rogue was not wrong at all! Who else could remain so composed after kissing someone! After leaving the villa, everyone returned to Tian City, bypassing most of it and heading to the Qu Mansion located at the boundary between Tian City and Capital City. This area was the affluent district of Tian City, not only the Qu Mansion, but also the Gong Family and other prominent families of Tian City had their mansions here. Having notified the mansion in advance, the personnel were ready at the entrance when they arrived. Lu Yanchuan ignored the people at the entrance and headed straight into the mansion after briefly greeting Xiao Luo. ¡°Bring the items from Taikou Villa here.¡± Lu Yanchuan walked around the living room and in the midst of everyone¡¯s trembling gaze, he uttered only that sentence. The remaining servants in the mansion seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and a young servant quickly called others to move the items. Lu Yanchuan casually flipped through the pile of items and then spoke again. ¡°Now that Mr. Qu is not here, the mansion cannot be without someone in charge, so¡­ you, until the butler returns, you are responsible for everything in the mansion.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s finger circled around, passing over a man with a gleeful expression, and landed on a timid-looking servant behind him. The man who had been calling others before froze, trying hard to control his expression to appear natural, but ultimately failed. With a sour face, the man looked at Lu Yanchuan and burst into questions. ¡°Mr. Lu, I have been working in the mansion for five years now, I was Mr. Qu¡¯s assistant when he was here, why should a newcomer take over as the butler now?¡± The man grew angrier as he spoke, by the end he couldn¡¯t control his voice, pointing very rudely at the servant Lu Yanchuan had singled out. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, simply waving his hand after the man finished speaking. ¡°You! What kind of people are you! What are you trying to do!¡± Two tall, burly men in black, guards of the mansion, emerged from the crowd. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gesture, they grabbed the shouting man by the arms and dragged him out. ¡°Anyone else have objections?¡± The group of servants inside the room stood timidly like quails, even if they were resentful, they dared not speak up at this moment. Of course, they felt resentful! Ever since Old Madam Gong fell ill, the whole Qu Mansion had been under these servants¡¯ control. Except for the occasional person coming to retrieve Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings, the entire mansion was under their control. Over three years, they had come to treat the Qu Mansion as their own property. If it weren¡¯t for the old butler keeping them in line, the Qu Mansion probably wouldn¡¯t bear the Qu name anymore! Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Father and Son at Odds Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Father and Son at Odds A group of servants dared to be angry but did not dare to speak, as Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd and ultimately settled on the person he had just called out. ¡°From now on, you will take over from Mr. Qu and manage Qu Mansion. If anyone disobeys, kick them out of the mansion immediately.¡± That person trembled slightly and bowed deeply after lowering his head for quite some time. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Xiao Luo had been watching all along. When he saw Lu Yanchuan expelling that man from the mansion, he did have something to say, but the chilling aura exuding from Lu Yanchuan made it impossible for him to voice any objections. Only after Lu Yanchuan ordered all the servants to retreat did Xiao Luo hesitantly speak up. ¡°Senior brother¡­ why did you send Lang Dong away?¡± ¡°He¡¯s from the Gong Family.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xiao Luo stood there with his mouth agape and eyes wide open, too stunned to blink as he gazed at Lu Yanchuan, unable to snap back to reality. ¡°Gong, from the Gong Family?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact Xiao Luo was entrusted to his care by his mentor, Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t bother wasting words on him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Xiao Luo, who seemed to have a few more questions, suddenly heard Lu Yanchuan continue. ¡°I will clear out some more people from the mansion in the next few days, and in a few days, I will send someone to take over the mansion management. You don¡¯t need to worry about these matters; you should return to school next Monday.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not okay! There are still many things left undone by the teacher¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan gave Xiao Luo a cold glance, successfully silencing the foolish child. Old Madam Gong really had foresight; she left most of her estate to Xiao Luo. If it were someone else taking care of Xiao Luo, they would definitely swindle the boy to his last underwear. That¡¯s also why Lu Yanchuan had no interest in Old Madam Gong¡¯s inheritance, which is why she entrusted Xiao Luo to him. Only by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side could Xiao Luo live safely without harm from the outside world. Though Xiao Luo stopped talking, he bit his lip and glared with his eyes, showing his determination through his gaze. The standstill between the tall and the young man was broken when Qiao Yi, who was sitting aside, suddenly felt that the two men in front of her were like a father and son having a falling out, and she was the miserable mother in the middle of it. Qiao Yi sighed softly, pulled the stubborn Xiao Luo away, half by force. ¡°Alright, alright, lead me around the mansion first, and leave the rest to your senior brother.¡± Qiao Yi dragged the reluctant Xiao Luo away. Knowing well that Lu Yanchuan would not explain or deign to explain, she of course would tell Xiao Luo, so the child wouldn¡¯t be exploited by others and then turn around to blame Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Xiao Luo, are you unwilling to let your senior brother change the staff of the mansion?¡± Perhaps because Qiao Yi was a woman, Xiao Luo blushed slightly when she pulled him along. On hearing her question, Xiao Luo pursed his lips and hesitated before nodding. ¡°Lang Dong has been here for many years, and although he is¡­ from the Gong Family, he has always taken good care of me, so¡­¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t want your senior brother to kick him out?¡± Xiao Luo hesitated once more before nodding again. Qiao Yi sighed and sat down with Xiao Luo in the garden. ¡°Do you think your senior brother would harm you?¡± Without a second thought, Xiao Luo shook his head. If there was anyone in the world who treated him the best, aside from Old Madam Gong, it would have to be Lu Yanchuan. Although Lu Yanchuan never spoke to him in soft or gentle tones, Xiao Luo knew how good Lu Yanchuan was to him from Old Madam Gong. In Xiao Luo¡¯s heart, if Old Madam Gong was the image of a mother, then Lu Yanchuan was that of a father¡­ or an elder brother. Xiao Luo looked at Qiao Yi with a puzzled expression, not knowing the purpose behind her question. ¡°Do you think Lang Dong is trustworthy, or do you think your senior brother is trustworthy?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s senior brother!¡± Xiao Luo answered Qiao Yi¡¯s question without hesitation again, and this time after he answered, a noticeable pause followed, as if he had realized something. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t rush him, allowing him to understand on his own. These principles always had to be understood personally to be useful; otherwise, no matter how much others said, it would be in vain. After waiting a good while, Xiao Luo finally lifted his head. ¡°Yiyi, I understand what you mean now; I was being too stubborn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand. Your senior brother has many unsaid words, but he definitely won¡¯t do anything to harm you! In a few days, just go back to school with peace of mind and study hard; your senior brother will take care of things here!¡± Xiao Luo¡¯s face still carried a hint of embarrassment, and after being tousled on the head by Qiao Yi like petting an animal, Xiao Luo became even more embarrassed, his blushing spreading all the way down his neck. ¡°I, I¡¯ll go apologize to senior brother¡­¡± ¡°Never mind, he¡¯s not one to hold a grudge. You should think about your return to school in the next few days instead.¡± Watching the now-enlightened Xiao Luo, Qiao Yi stood up refreshed, clapped her hands, and walked back. Now that the younger one was pacified, it was unknown whether the older one was still angry! Great, the older one was no longer angry; he was now taking off his jacket, standing in the storeroom, rummaging through a pile of things left by Old Madam Gong. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°My teacher¡¯s ledger.¡± Lu Yanchuan replied without raising his head, and after a creaking sound, the pile of stuff next to Lu Yanchuan suddenly shifted down a bit, startling Qiao Yi into rushing over to help support it. ¡°Without Mr. Qu here, these people don¡¯t do their jobs properly.¡± Lu Yanchuan was covered in dust; his pristine white shirt now had alternating stripes of black and white. Lu Yanchuan just frowned at it without another look, instead bending down to pull out a booklet from the pile of odds and ends. ¡°Did you find it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a stamp album.¡± Lu Yanchuan hesitantly threw the leather-bound album onto the sofa, ultimately deciding not to take off the dirty shirt on the spot. Qiao Yi picked up the stamp album and looked it over, not finding anything special about it, unsure why Lu Yanchuan went through such effort to take it out. ¡°Before the teacher passed away, he told me to take this stamp album back for dad. Once the person I arranged arrives, we will head back to Capital City.¡± Initially, Lu Yanchuan had planned to let Xiao Luo take over the affairs in Tian City, but now it seemed that Xiao Luo was still too naive; he¡¯d consider handing over responsibilities after a few more years of experience. Being able to return home was of course good, but Qiao Yi was still a bit worried about Xiao Luo. ¡°Xiao Luo, he¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s a man.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but Qiao Yi already understood what he meant. Xiao Luo was already an adult man. It was precisely because he had always been under Old Madam Gong¡¯s protection that he developed his current soft and easily-bullied character, which was not suitable for safeguarding Old Madam Gong¡¯s legacy. To have Xiao Luo grow up as quickly as possible, the only way was to let him face the storms himself, to confront and overcome difficulties. This was the best path to growth. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Disassembled Project Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Disassembled Project Qiao Yi stayed with Lu Yanchuan in Tian City for another two days before returning to Capital City, having received Xiao Luo¡¯s promise to attend school properly. Although she was unsure whether the kid really thought that way, at least verbally he agreed. However, seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughtful expression, she guessed that Xiao Luo wouldn¡¯t simply go back to school and behave. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you stopping Xiao Luo when you know he won¡¯t be obedient?¡± On the way, Qiao Yi finally couldn¡¯t help but ask. She had a favorable impression of Xiao Luo, finding the kid akin to a neighbor¡¯s younger brother, someone difficult to dislike. Qiao Yi¡¯s inquiry was ignored by Lu Yanchuan. Seeing that he didn¡¯t respond, Qiao Yi huffed, turned her back, and decided not to engage with Lu Yanchuan anymore. Upon returning to Tian City, Qiao Yi went straight back to the Qiao Family, and after dropping her off, Lu Yanchuan returned to the Lu Family. He also had to deliver the stamp album he had gotten from Qu Mansion. The timing of Qiao Yi¡¯s arrival at the Qiao Family was inconvenient, as Qiao Xin had also just returned with Lu Ming¡¯s company. As soon as Qiao Yi entered, she saw Qiao Xin sitting in the living room. It was indeed true that enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to speak with Qiao Xin and went straight up the stairs to look for Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing. ¡°Qiao Yi! Didn¡¯t you see me sitting here!¡± Qiao Yi frowned and glanced at Qiao Xin blocking her way. Why is this person so clueless? Always needing someone to snap at her before feeling good? Qiao Xin was tilting her chin, guarding her flat belly with one hand as if she carried some treasure. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t pass by as Qiao Xin was blocking the staircase entirely, so she withdrew her gaze and looked towards Qiao Xin. ¡°Don¡¯t be too arrogant! This is the Qiao Family, and in this house, I¡¯m your elder sister. You don¡¯t even greet me when you see me, this is your manner of upbringing¡­ Ah!¡± Qiao Yi shook off her hand, having slapped too hard just now; her palm was even numb. Qiao Xin, covering her face, looked up at Qiao Yi in disbelief. She actually dared to strike someone in the Qiao Family! ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, I¡¯ll hit you every time I see you. You haven¡¯t forgotten that, have you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze roamed over Qiao Xin¡¯s face, as if searching for the next place to strike. Intimidated by Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze, almost at a loss for words, Qiao Xin clenched her fists so hard her nails were nearly digging into her palms. She actually dared to! ¡°This is my final warning. If I¡¯m around, you better quiet down, or next time it won¡¯t be as simple as just a slap to settle it.¡± Qiao Yi suddenly raised her hand, and like someone frightened, Qiao Xin flinched and covered her face with her hands. However, Qiao Yi was just scaring her. After Qiao Xin¡¯s expression turned ugly and she lowered her hands, Qiao Yi calmly extended her hand and firmly grasped Qiao Xin¡¯s chin. ¡°Some people can be treated like humans, and I¡¯m willing to reason with such people. But some are only fit to be treated like training dogs. Without some use of force, how would a dog understand human speech, right?¡± The last few words, Qiao Yi whispered right into Qiao Xin¡¯s ear. Feeling the person under her grip trembling, Qiao Yi dryly curled her lips, wiping the hand that touched Qiao Xin on Qiao Xin¡¯s clothes a couple of times before pushing her aside and stepping onto the stairs. ¡°Are you okay¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Qiao Xin pushed Lu Ming¡¯s hand away angrily, covering her face as she furiously left the Qiao Family. With the troublesome presence out of sight, Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and went straight to Qiao Benqing¡¯s study. ¡°Dad, you wanted to see me.¡± ¡°Sit down and talk.¡± Qiao Benqing pointed to the chair beside him and let Qiao Yi sit down, then he took a document from the desk and handed it to her. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Qiao Yi took the document and skimmed through it, her expression gradually turning solemn. ¡°The Sun Family is splitting up and selling the old harbor district project? Why? Did they get wind of something?¡± The document in her hand was the contract for the sale of the Sun Family¡¯s harbor project. Such a contract would definitely not be sent voluntarily to the Qiao Family by the Sun Family; it was something Qiao Benqing had went to some lengths to obtain. ¡°That¡¯s correct. The actions of the Sun Family are very abnormal. I remember you know one of their illegitimate daughters; see if you can get some information from her.¡± The Sun Family had maintained a steady status in Capital City for so long primarily because of their profound mystery. The Sun Family was so secretive that even when they held banquets, they only invited their own relatives by marriage, and some newly arisen families couldn¡¯t even recognize all the members of the Sun Family. Being able to preserve such mystery for so many years in such a complex place like Capital City speaks to the skillfulness of the Sun Family. Qiao Benqing, certainly out of options, had resorted to scheming against someone like Sun Keke, with whom Qiao Yi had only a passing acquaintance. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t reluctant to help, but given Sun Keke¡¯s awkward status and the recent events, suddenly reaching out to her might not yield any useful information. ¡°I know it¡¯s difficult for you. In a month¡¯s time, it will be your birthday, and you could use the birthday banquet as an opportunity to get to know the people from the Sun Family.¡± Qiao Benqing, of course, knew the difficulty; after all, an illegitimate daughter might not know much about her own family¡¯s affairs. But the old harbor district project was too complicated; if it really was dismantled and sold by the Sun Family, it would be hard for the Qiao Family and Lu Family to proceed with their subsequent plans. Furthermore, once the Sun Family transferred the contract to someone else, the Qiao and Lu Families would have to pay a higher price to buy back the contract, and might even offend many people. Just thinking about it, Qiao Yi understood why Qiao Benqing was worried. If possible, she would certainly want to offer help within her means. Since Qiao Benqing already had a plan, Qiao Yi would not refuse. ¡°When the time comes, we¡¯ll do as you said, but there might be¡­ some issues on the Lu Family¡¯s end.¡± ¡°Talk to Yanchuan about it when you get back, so he¡¯s forewarned.¡± Qiao Benqing handed the document back to Qiao Yi, which she had brought back. The harbor project was no small undertaking; even if it began, it would take at least two to three years to finalize, leaving them plenty of time to prepare. ¡°Yiyi, Yanchuan is here; why don¡¯t you have dinner before you leave?¡± Zhao Wenjing¡¯s voice came from outside the door, Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing exchanged a glance and then stood up to walk out together. They had to inform Lu Yanchuan about the Sun Family¡¯s matter; after all, he was leading the project, and even Qiao Benqing did not want to risk offending Lu Yanchuan over such a minor issue. Lu Yanchuan was already waiting in the living room downstairs. Seeing Qiao Yi descending, he unexpectedly lifted the corners of his mouth, showing a hint of a smile. Qiao Yi ignored Lu Yanchuan, instead sitting down next to Zhao Wenjing. Even though it had only been a few days since they had seen each other, Zhao Wenjing missed Qiao Yi every day. ¡°I¡¯ve just told Yanchuan that after dinner you should leave. I made your favorite, sweet and sour fish, and cream of mushroom soup tonight!¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Sun Family Has Big Ambitions Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Sun Family Has Big Ambitions In the evening, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan did not return to the Lu Mansion but instead took a detour to Emperor Garden. On the way there, Qiao Yi told him everything that Qiao Benqing had asked her to tell Lu Yanchuan. However, unlike Qiao Benqing¡¯s tense vigilance, Lu Yanchuan appeared quite composed, even somewhat unsurprised. ¡°Did you already know that the Sun Family would split up this project for sale?¡± For a project with such huge profits, any family with the capability would definitely keep it to themselves. Why would they spit out the fat in their mouth and share it with others! Moreover, looking at the terms listed in the Sun Family¡¯s contract, they only kept a part of the development project in the old city district, releasing everything else. The most profitable part, the harbor renovation, wasn¡¯t kept at all! Lu Yanchuan neither denied nor agreed, only pulling the corners of his mouth in an ambiguous smile. Qiao Yi flipped through the contract in her hand several times, yet she couldn¡¯t figure out the Sun Family¡¯s intentions. ¡°The Sun Family isn¡¯t one of those nameless small families. Although the project is somewhat large, the Sun Family should be able to handle it. Could it be that the Sun Family Patriarch has lost his mind?¡± ¡°This is a piece of information intentionally released by the Sun Family.¡± Qiao Yi grew even more puzzled after hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words. The contract was already out, so how could it still be intentional misinformation from the Sun Family? Could it be that the Sun Family never intended to split up the project? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°If the Sun Family has any intention of deception, isn¡¯t it overdoing it? Now everyone in Capital City knows it was Longjia¡¯s two companies that secured the project. What does the Sun Family need to deceive anyone about¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s voice trailed off as she abruptly conceived the most significant possibility. Lu Yanchuan glanced at her sideways, ¡°Figured it out?¡± Qiao Yi bit her lip, nodding and then shaking her head. ¡°Perhaps the Sun Family does intend to confuse others. After all, we know about the relationship between Longjia and the Sun Family, but there are still many in Capital City who are unaware. With just these two companies¡¯ capabilities, they definitely can¡¯t handle such a large project, but¡­¡± But why would the Sun Family use these two companies as a facade? They weren¡¯t Capital City¡¯s most eminent family in need of any low-profile concealment, so why go through such troublesome lengths to hide? It seemed unnecessary! ¡°The Sun Family is quite ambitious¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan took the contract from Qiao Yi¡¯s lap and flipped through it a few times before uttering this statement. ¡°Ambitious? How so?¡± ¡°Take a closer look at the clauses the Sun Family has listed.¡± With just the profit part, the Sun Family splits 30 to 70 with their partners. The entire harbor project is split into more than a dozen parts, meaning the Sun Family would only pay a small price but reap the largest profit! Since getting her hands on the contract, Qiao Yi had focused on the issues of the Sun Family selling the project and had hardly paid attention to these hidden clauses. Only now did she realize that the Sun Family¡¯s contract was a blatantly unequal treaty! ¡°Who would sign such a contract? This is downright exploitation!¡± The project¡¯s gross profit of 30% would just barely cover the project costs, and the Sun Family¡¯s arrangements clearly intended to reap huge benefits without investing a dime! ¡°That¡¯s why I said the Sun Family is ambitious. This contract is obviously not meant for outsiders; any company that agrees to this contract must be inseparably linked to the Sun Family.¡± Lu Yanchuan pointed at the position of Party B, then suddenly picked up a signing pen and signed an English name on the contract. ¡°Hey! Why are you still scribbling on this!¡± Sun Keke couldn¡¯t stop him in time, and could only watch helplessly as Lu Yanchuan wrote his name, without even knowing whose name it was! ¡°The Sun Family brought it on themselves, it¡¯s not my fault for taking action.¡± For the first time, Qiao Yi discovered that Lu Yanchuan had a different kind of charm when he smiled. A gentle smile paired with a cold gaze was intoxicating, yet it made people more cautious, as if wavering between heaven and hell. ¡°Alright, you handle it as you see fit.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t understand what Lu Yanchuan was planning to do but wisely did not keep asking. As long as the contract didn¡¯t affect the Qiao Family, she didn¡¯t care how Lu Yanchuan wanted to deal with it. However, when she thought about the Sun Family, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but think of Sun Keke. Ever since that day when they left the hospital, Qiao Yi had not received a reply from Sun Keke, and her messages were like stones dropped into the ocean, not even causing a ripple. Qiao Benqing even wanted her to invite Sun Keke out during her birthday party, but now she couldn¡¯t even find the person, let alone invite her out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about your father-in-law; I¡¯ll explain to him,¡± Thinking that Qiao Yi had gone silent contemplating how to explain to Qiao Benqing, Lu Yanchuan took the initiative and comforted her. In reality, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t worried about how to explain things to Qiao Benqing. If she truly couldn¡¯t find any news, she could just repeat Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words to Qiao Benqing. But now that Lu Yanchuan had taken it upon himself to handle the matter, why bother with extra steps? She cheerfully agreed. The next morning, Qiao Yi was awakened by a call from Feng Siyu. ¡°My ancestor, why haven¡¯t you gotten up yet! Where are you now, I¡¯ll come pick you up!¡± ¡°You¡¯re my ancestor, what time is it even, why are you looking for me!¡± After cohabitating with Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi adjusted her standard for assessing the time in the morning based on when Lu Yanchuan would leave for work. If Lu Yanchuan had already left, that meant it was time to get up. If Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t gone to the company, that meant she could sleep a bit longer. This routine was always accurate unless something unexpected happened. Today, when Feng Siyu¡¯s call came through, Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t even gotten out of bed yet! Probably woken up by Qiao Yi¡¯s humming, she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist, followed by being pulled into a hot embrace. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even though she woke up in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms every morning, every time she got this close to Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but blush. Qiao Yi was still too embarrassed to speak, but Feng Siyu on the phone had already started screaming. ¡°Ah!!! Is that low voice Mr. Lu!!! Qiao Yi!!! Let him say a few more words!!!¡± The volume in the earpiece suddenly shot up eight octaves, and Qiao Yi held the phone away from her ear, sparing her ears from torture. But Feng Siyu, not getting a response on the other end, kept nagging Qiao Yi to let Lu Yanchuan say a few more words to satisfy her fangirl cravings. Qiao Yi buried her head in the blanket, not wanting to respond to Feng Siyu. The phone that was on the pillow suddenly went silent; Qiao Yi¡¯s ears twitched at the lack of sound and when she peeked out from under the blanket, she saw that Lu Yanchuan had hung up her call! Chapter 90 - 90: Reminiscence of Youthful Days Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Reminiscence of Youthful Days Feng Siyu finally gave up the idea of continuing to call after being hung up on three times by Lu Yanchuan, and instead started sending messages to Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was curled up in the comforter like an ostrich, surrounded by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s scent, which surprisingly gave her a sense of security. After Feng Siyu had completely quieted down, Qiao Yi no longer felt like sleeping and quietly nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, enjoying the hard-won peace. ¡°Ding ding ding¡ª¡± Qiao Yi, in the end, was defeated by the alarm clock, rolling around under the covers not wanting to get up. Lu Yanchuan watched her amusingly, only after getting dressed did he reach out and pull out¡­ a ruffled little beauty from the bed. Qiao Yi hummed discontentedly, and without any resistance, Lu Yanchuan helped her to sit up. Seeing that she seemed to have woken up, Lu Yanchuan turned and went to the bathroom to wash up, but by the time Lu Yanchuan came out, Qiao Yi had already burrowed back into the comforter. Giving up on the idea of getting Qiao Yi out of bed, Lu Yanchuan, as usual, left a note before departing. After Lu Yanchuan left, Qiao Yi laid in bed like a corpse until the phone by the bedside unwillingly rang again, only then did Qiao Yi climb up reluctantly. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°How is it, my dear treasure!! Did the nights of pleasure completely drain your little body?!¡± Feng Siyu just can¡¯t speak like a normal person! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and walked into the bathroom with the phone in tow. ¡°Spit it out, what do you want from me? Calling me early in the morning like summoning a ghost!¡± Qiao Yi harbored a deep grudge. As for the person who disrupted her sweet dreams so early, Qiao Yi really wanted to drag her out of the phone and stuff her into the toilet. Startled by Qiao Yi¡¯s grudge, Feng Siyu laughed even weirder, or perhaps ¡®lecherous¡¯ would be a more accurate description. ¡°I know you¡¯re addicted to beauty and can¡¯t extricate yourself, but young people must learn to restrain themselves. Look, I know a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, I¡¯ll get him to prescribe you a couple of remedies¡­¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and directly hung up, sitting on the toilet contemplating why she had ever thought she would get along well with Feng Siyu! The phone rang once more, and this time Feng Siyu finally stopped teasing her and spoke about serious matters. ¡°Tomorrow is Yun Luoluo¡¯s birthday, you¡¯re coming with me!¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t invite me, and we¡¯re not that close anyway, I¡¯d rather not go.¡± Qiao Yi mumbled unclearly with her mouth full of foam. ¡°She did invite you. It¡¯s just that you didn¡¯t exchange contact details when you last met, so she came to me asking to deliver the invitation to you! I¡¯ve done my part by bringing you the invitation. Whether you go is up to you!¡± Feng Siyu was completely irritated by the sound of Qiao Yi gurgling mouthwash. The moment Qiao Yi moved the phone away, a high-pitched scream from Feng Siyu suddenly burst out on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m telling you! You must go with me!!!!¡± Despite Feng Siyu¡¯s lethal scream, Qiao Yi remained calm, washing her face and brushing her teeth, even curling her hair. Only when Feng Siyu finally tired of yelling did Qiao Yi pick up the phone again. ¡°Alright, I got it, I¡¯ll send you the location, come pick me up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal, then!¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s temper flares up quickly and dissipates even faster; Qiao Yi managed to cheer her up in just a few sentences. If her fans, who crazily chant ¡°Yuan Goddess,¡± saw Feng Siyu like this, her impeccable image would probably shatter to pieces. Thus, the only reason Feng Siyu can maintain her cool goddess persona in public is all thanks to Gu Ting¡¯s exemplary work¡­ True to her word, before Qiao Yi could finish her meal, Feng Siyu burst in like a whirlwind. ¡°My ancestor! I¡¯ve booked the beauty salon for you, why are you still eating? How can a fairy be eating like this!¡± With a piece of egg pancake still in her mouth, Qiao Yi was bewilderedly dragged out of the restaurant by Feng Siyu and stuffed into a car. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten enough¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s muted protest was ignored by Feng Siyu, who seemingly conjured two thick albums from thin air and placed them on Qiao Yi¡¯s lap. ¡°Quickly pick one out, you must steal the show at the banquet tomorrow!¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Feng Siyu in surprise, ¡°Who¡¯s going to be at the banquet tomorrow?¡± ¡°Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng!¡± Seeing Feng Siyu¡¯s fierce expression, Qiao Yi thought, as expected. If there wasn¡¯t someone special involved, Feng Siyu wouldn¡¯t care so much about her appearance. Qiao Yi, of course, knew both Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng, especially Li Xuesi, with whom she had plenty of past grievances. Back when she was still in school, although Qiao Yi was the big sister there, not everyone liked her, and Li Xuesi was one of those who couldn¡¯t stand her the most. The Qiao Family and the Leng Family were competitors, which meant the relationship between Li Xuesi and Qiao Yi was already strained. Moreover, Qiao Yi was so flamboyant in school that Li Xuesi opposed her at every turn. The biggest point of contention between the two involved Jiang Zhuocheng. Initially, Jiang Zhuocheng was like a little henchman beside Qiao Yi, and though many knew he had a crush on her, Qiao Yi, who was then bent on dominating Capital City, had no interest in romance. Jiang Zhuocheng chased after Qiao Yi for two years until people thought they were a couple, but those who knew them were aware Qiao Yi consistently rejected him; it was just Jiang sticking to her relentlessly. Somehow, Li Xuesi, plagued by who-knows-what issue, took a fancy to Jiang Zhuocheng, and after various incidents, he defected to Li Xuesi¡¯s camp. Outsiders thought Li Xuesi had stolen Qiao Yi¡¯s man, and even Li Xuesi herself believed this, since Jiang Zhuocheng, to save face, willfully misrepresented his past relationship with Qiao Yi. Those in the know couldn¡¯t be bothered with Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng, so the misunderstanding perpetuated. Until graduation day, when Li Xuesi inadvertently overheard a conversation between Feng Siyu and Qiao Yi, she realized that she had been smug about stealing Qiao Yi¡¯s boyfriend for so long, which turned out to be a joke in their eyes! Li Xuesi couldn¡¯t tolerate this and confronted Qiao Yi right then, solidifying their feud from that point on. All in all, these were the antics of youthful ignorance, but even after so many years, meeting again would undoubtedly be awkward. ¡°Since they are going, maybe I should skip it¡­¡± Before Qiao Yi could finish, she saw Feng Siyu¡¯s eyes slant sharply, leaving no room for resistance. ¡°No way! You must go! And you must make them kneel down and sing ¡®Conquered¡¯ to you!¡± Seeing Feng Siyu¡¯s determination, Qiao Yi fell silent and began to quietly flip through the two albums on her lap. Chapter 91 03-25 - 91 I Have to Thank You Chapter 91: Chapter 91 I Have to Thank You ¡°` Either don¡¯t meet at all, or if you decide to meet, then it can¡¯t be done casually. After briefly grappling with her thoughts, Qiao Yi poured her full enthusiasm into the upcoming banquet. When Lu Yanchuan came home in the evening, he saw Qiao Yi twisting herself into a rather contorted posture, standing on a yoga mat, balancing on one foot. Lu Yanchuan worried that she might fall and injure herself as he watched her wobble uncertainly. ¡°Come help me out¡­¡± Qiao Yi squeezed out the words with difficulty, and upon hearing her, Lu Yanchuan walked over to her side, and as she instructed, slowly guided her other leg down from above her head. ¡°Phew¡ª¡± Qiao Yi hugged her chest and let out a long sigh of relief, then immediately jumped off the yoga mat, approaching Lu Yanchuan with a pleasing smile on her face. ¡°Hey hey, Third Young Master? Yanchuan? There¡¯s something I¡¯d like you to help with¡­¡± Having never seen Qiao Yi act so ingratiatingly before, Lu Yanchuan felt a mix of surprise and uncertainty, yet he managed to keep a poker face, neither agreeing nor declining. Biting her lip in secret, Qiao Yi thought, would she really need to be this agreeable to him if she didn¡¯t need Lu Yanchuan to help her make a presence at the event tomorrow! After hesitating for quite a while, seeing that Lu Yanchuan remained unmoved, Qiao Yi finally steeled herself, tenderly embraced his arm, and leaned most of her body against him. ¡°Husband~~~¡± ¡°Just, help me out~~~~¡± An electric current shot up Lu Yanchuan¡¯s spine as Qiao Yi¡¯s soft, delicate body pressed tightly against him, her coquettish and whining voice making his scalp tingle. ¡°Husband~~~~¡± Having already thrown her dignity to the wind, Qiao Yi turned up the heat, wrapping herself around him like a water snake, her arms scaling up to his shoulders, with her rosy lips puckering near his chin, humming a tune of undecided kisses. Who could resist this! Amidst Qiao Yi¡¯s surprised shrieks, Lu Yanchuan scooped her up in his arms, taking big strides upstairs. ¡°Husband~ you haven¡¯t agreed to me yet~¡± Though physically under threat, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t forget her original purpose, and continued to pester Lu Yanchuan with her soft, whiny inquiries. ¡°I agree with you.¡± A smile shone in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes that she couldn¡¯t hide, as she nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace like a little fox that had just snuck a taste. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s subtle expressions, but didn¡¯t take them to heart. Today, it was Qiao Yi who had thrown herself at him; even if she wanted to escape, he wouldn¡¯t give her the chance to run away. It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Yi was thrown onto the bed and Lu Yanchuan, casting aside his shirt, leaned in, that Qiao Yi was still laughing, even deliberately embracing his neck as if inviting a kiss. Their intense kissing was halted the moment Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand slid under Qiao Yi¡¯s clothes, whereupon she looked at his furrowed brow with a mischievous grin and clasped his wrist. ¡°I got my period today, so you¡¯ll just have to take care of yourself!¡± Qiao Yi giggled as she pushed the suddenly stiff Lu Yanchuan away and streaked into the bathroom, leaving Lu Yanchuan sitting alone on the bed, inexplicably despondent. This little rascal¡­ ¡°` Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Today, Qiao Yi still doesn¡¯t know what kind of ¡°retribution¡± she¡¯s going to face in the future because of her petty schemes. The Yun Family¡¯s heiress¡¯s birthday banquet invited nobility from all over Capital City; nearly all notable families received an invitation. Anyone with a discerning eye knew the intention behind the Yun Family¡¯s actions. It was said that Miss Yun only graduated this year, her marriage still undecided. Thus, it goes without saying that today¡¯s banquet also aims to find a suitable husband for Miss Yun. Of course, the invitations sent by the Yun Family and Yun Luoluo herself were different. Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu received the ones from Yun Luoluo, so their attendance at the birthday banquet merely represented themselves. When Feng Siyu saw Lu Yanchuan attending with Qiao Yi, she instantly became interested, making faces and gestures at Qiao Yi, which left Qiao Yi utterly speechless. Although she managed to dodge a situation yesterday by taking advantage of her period, she was still caught by him in the evening and forced to do some unspeakable things. Now seeing the suggestive look in Feng Siyu¡¯s eyes, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but blush. ¡°Yo! Isn¡¯t this our Ms. Qiao! Haven¡¯t seen you in years and you¡¯ve gotten even more womanly. If Ms. Qiao had looked like this back then, maybe Jiang Zhuocheng wouldn¡¯t have ended up with me, right, hubby?¡± said a voice that dampened the mood. Qiao Yi and the others turned around and saw a man and woman walking in arm in arm. The woman was quite attractive, but the mockery and sharpness on her face ruined her otherwise gentle beauty. ¡°Li Xuesi, after so many years we haven¡¯t seen each other, your mouth is still as foul as ever. Don¡¯t you know to brush your teeth before going out?¡± Feng Siyu stepped to the side, shielding Qiao Yi, and rolled her eyes dramatically at Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng. Li Xuesi¡¯s face changed color, but she quickly suppressed her anger, looking playfully at Feng Siyu. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t stand your master being insulted? What a loyal dog you are for Qiao Yi.¡± The few had hardly met when things already seemed confrontational. Qiao Yi frowned and reached out to pull back the enraged Feng Siyu. ¡°What¡¯s the use of arguing with such people? If a dog bites you, would you bite back? A mad dog that barks in ignorance should just be put down.¡± ¡°Qiao Yi! What do you mean by that!¡± Li Xuesi¡¯s shrill screams drew the attention of a group of people nearby, Qiao Yi remained unphased, her gaze still laced with disdain. ¡°Miss Li, be mindful of your status. Screaming and yelling in public is not something a lady should do.¡± Qiao Yi, with Lu Yanchuan on her arm, walked gracefully up to Li Xuesi. She was naturally taller than Li Xuesi, plus the ten-centimeter heels she wore today made her tower over Li Xuesi by a head. Qiao Yi looked down from her height at Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng, her lips slowly curving into a sneer. ¡°After all these years, I didn¡¯t expect you to still be¡­ so unambitious.¡± Li Xuesi¡¯s face turned bright red, barely able to control her emotions due to Qiao Yi¡¯s undisguised mockery. Seeing Li Xuesi¡¯s reaction, Qiao Yi¡¯s interest was piqued, deliberately holding Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand closely and laughing happily and sweetly. ¡°But I must thank you for one thing. If you hadn¡¯t taken Jiang Zhuocheng away from me back then, I might not have had the chance to meet such a good man as my husband. I¡¯ll definitely treat you to a meal someday to properly thank you!¡± A direct hit to the target, Li Xuesi¡¯s face turned from red to white and then quickly to a deep shade of purple. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care about how upset Li Xuesi was feeling. She squeezed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, and he cooperatively embraced Qiao Yi, following along with her words. ¡°It¡¯s my good fortune to be able to marry Yiyi.¡± Chapter 92 03-25 - 92: Inviting You to Dance the First Dance Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Inviting You to Dance the First Dance Who is Lu Yanchuan? Some say he¡¯s ruthless and cold, others say he¡¯s heartless and unfeeling, and some say he¡¯s no good¡­ But absolutely no one would say Lu Yanchuan is gentle! If you tell someone who has ever crossed paths with Lu Yanchuan such a thing, they¡¯d certainly think you¡¯ve lost your mind! Lu Yanchuan, gentle? Only if it rains red from the sky, the sun rises from the west, and the earth orbits the moon¡­ In short, no matter what, no one would believe that Lu Yanchuan, such an abnormal person, could ever exhibit tenderness. But! Right before everyone¡¯s eyes, just three seconds ago, right at the entrance of Baishan Hotel, Lu Yanchuan actually spoke in such a tender tone to the little lady beside him, uttering such a cheesy line! Those unfamiliar with Lu Yanchuan felt it cheesy, while those who know him were terrified. Could it be that the end of the world was coming, that Lu Yanchuan¡­ Not only did the onlookers harbor this thought, but so did the other protagonist of this scene, who was equally stunned. Qiao Yi¡¯s entire being felt unwell, her smile stiff on her face, as she turned her head in shock to look at Lu Yanchuan. She only wanted Lu Yanchuan to simply play along with her, and the best outcome she expected was merely to get his acknowledgement or a casual response, which would have sufficed. But she had not anticipated that Lu Yanchuan would go this far. Li Xuesi, obviously, was not familiar with Lu Yanchuan, so upon witnessing the slightly odd behavior of the two people in front of her, she immediately scoffed with sarcasm. ¡°Are you saying you just picked up some actor from god knows where? Wow, so affectionate!¡± Li Xuesi swept her gaze over Lu Yanchuan; despite his distinguished air, she certainly didn¡¯t believe he was anything remarkable. Jiang Zhuocheng, at her side, whether he remembered something or not, quietly tugged at Li Xuesi¡¯s sleeve. ¡°What? You feel sorry? You think I shouldn¡¯t speak about her like this?¡± Li Xuesi shook off Jiang Zhuocheng¡¯s hand angrily and hissed at him through clenched teeth. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± It made Jiang Zhuocheng rather uncomfortable to be scolded like this in public, but since the Jiang Family simply couldn¡¯t compare to the Leng Family, he didn¡¯t dare show even a hint of dissatisfaction to Li Xuesi. Li Xuesi seemed used to berating Jiang Zhuocheng with beatings and scoldings, utterly disregarding the surrounding gossip, focused only on venting her own fury. ¡°Don¡¯t I know what¡¯s going through your head! Seeing your former goddess, you¡¯re happy, aren¡¯t you! Now that she is another¡¯s wife, what delusions are you still harboring!¡± Qiao Yi had already pulled Lu Yanchuan aside to watch the drama unfold, knowing all too well that Li Xuesi wasn¡¯t clever. Now, it seemed that was indeed the case. With so many people watching, Li Xuesi shouting like that, it didn¡¯t take long for a wave of discussion to ensue. ¡°Qiao Yi! You¡­¡± ¡°Have you had enough of your tantrum!¡± Suddenly, a voice thundered from the crowd, a man emerged to stop her from continuing. ¡°Third Young Master, Xuesi is still young, please don¡¯t take her to heart!¡± The man turned around, his face ingratiating towards Lu Yanchuan, and Qiao Yi then clearly saw that this man was none other than Li Xuesi¡¯s father, the Leng Family Head, Li Yan. Although there was competition between the Leng and Qiao Families, the power of the Leng Family was nowhere near as profound as that of the Qiao Family; despite Li Xuesi daring to confront Qiao Yi, Li Yan would not dare to adopt such an attitude towards Qiao Benqing. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Leng Family couldn¡¯t even compare to the Qiao Family, let alone the Lu Family. If, because of Li Xuesi¡¯s thoughtless words, she angered Lu Yanchuan, he could easily make it so the Leng Family faced ruin! Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even spare Li Yan a glance. If it wasn¡¯t because Qiao Yi wanted him to play along, the Leng Family¡¯s people wouldn¡¯t even qualify to curry favor with him, let alone be brazen in his presence. If he were insulted or provoked by someone of equal strength, maybe Lu Yanchuan would find it interesting to play along. But do you care if an ant beneath your feet speaks rudely to you! ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to meet your friend?¡± Qiao Yi was thoroughly enjoying the drama and only snapped back to reality upon hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice. ¡°That¡¯s right, we still need to go see Yun Luoluo!¡± Qiao Yi gave a dry laugh, turned back, and her haughty, disdainful demeanor was restored. ¡°Today is Luoluo¡¯s birthday, I won¡¯t talk too much with you. I¡¯ll invite you out to eat another day, you wouldn¡¯t dare not to come, would you?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t ignore the three people over there, but compared to her blatant provocation, it was better to simply ignore them like Lu Yanchuan did! ¡°I would be scared of you? I¡­¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Li Yan stopped Li Xuesi once again, forbidding her from continuing to oppose Qiao Yi. Back in school, when Li Xuesi used to target Qiao Yi everywhere, it could be said to be child¡¯s play, nothing serious. But now that they were adults, if Li Xuesi continued to be so tactless and provoke further, that couldn¡¯t just be brushed off as a joke! Qiao Yi was now the wife of the Lu Family Head, and if she were truly angered, the Leng Family might suffer retaliation from both the Qiao Family and the Lu Family! Li Xuesi might not have thought of such consequences, but Li Yan did, and this was an outcome he could least afford to face. Li Xuesi¡¯s face was livid with rage, but she didn¡¯t dare go against Li Yan¡¯s wishes and could only pinch Jiang Zhuocheng¡¯s arm fiercely. ¡°Did you see that! Li Xuesi¡¯s face looks like she swallowed a fly! Let¡¯s see how she can be arrogant after this!¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s dislike of Li Xuesi didn¡¯t come from nowhere. Before Li Xuesi tried to hook up with Jiang Zhuocheng, she had attempted to entrap Gu Ting, and only after failing did she turn to Jiang Zhuocheng. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t harbor as much dislike for Li Xuesi, but it was always annoying to have such a person eyeing you, which was irritating. ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t provoke me, I can¡¯t be bothered to stoop to her level.¡± The two young ladies chattered on ahead, while Lu Yanchuan and Gu Ting were like disposable tools¡ªcast aside without mercy after their use had expired. Yun Luoluo was in the upstairs lounge, and Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu went straight up to look for her. Upon seeing Qiao Yi and her partner, Yun Luoluo appeared very happy, quickly pulling them to sit down and chat. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come!¡± ¡°It¡¯s your birthday, of course, I would come.¡± As the three chatted, the door to the lounge was suddenly pushed open again, and a figure entered, someone Qiao Yi found quite familiar. ¡°Miss Yun, may I have the honor of inviting you for the first dance later?¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Ning Yuze trying to act graceful at the doorway, then at Yun Luoluo beside her with a puzzled face, and she began to smile while raising an eyebrow. Ning Yuze was discharged from the hospital? It seems she was too lenient last time. How long has it been, and this guy is out causing trouble again? Unaware of Qiao Yi¡¯s displeased expression, Yun Luoluo looked curiously out the door, her gaze returning to Ning Yuze with a bit of hesitation as she stood up. ¡°Hello¡­ may I know who you are¡­?¡± Chapter 93 03-25 - 93: Have a Drink Together Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Have a Drink Together ¡°I am¡­¡± ¡°Ning Yuze, what are you doing here? Don¡¯t you have to keep your fianc¨¦e company?¡± Qiao Yi reached out to pull Yun Luoluo down to sit, knowing that once involved with Ning Yuze, one could never shake him off. She considered herself a friend of Yun Luoluo¡¯s and couldn¡¯t just watch her get entangled with Ning Yuze. ¡°Qiao Yi! You¡ªYou, you, you!¡± ¡°What about me? I¡¯m asking you a question, can¡¯t you understand?¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes impatiently and stood up, twisting her wrist. Even such a simple movement from Qiao Yi made Ning Yuze back off several steps as if facing a formidable enemy. ¡°You! What are you going to do now!¡± Qiao Yi almost laughed at his reaction. What was she going to do? Even though she had beaten him up before, did Ning Yuze have to be so afraid of her? ¡°What could I possibly do? You¡¯re a grown man; why are you acting like such a sissy?¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps Qiao Yi¡¯s voice was a bit loud, Ning Yuze¡¯s face turned pale all of a sudden; he looked like a victim, with his hands protecting his chest and vigilantly watching Qiao Yi like he was warding off a pervert. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, my people are all outside! If you dare to lay a hand on me again, I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t get away with it!¡± ¡°Oh no! I¡¯m so scared!¡± Qiao Yi snorted exaggeratedly, then looked at Ning Yuze seriously. ¡°Speak up if you have something to say, fart if you need to fart ¨C I don¡¯t have all day to waste with you!¡± Probably because of the beating from Qiao Yi last time, Ning Yuze trembled for a good while before he could muster his courage to speak. ¡°Then, promise you won¡¯t hit me!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t talk now, I assure you that you will be leaving horizontally today.¡± Ning Yuze¡¯s face wore an expression as if he was about to cry, lips pressed pitifully together as he glanced behind Qiao Yi before shuffling towards the door with his head lowered. ¡°I just came to see Miss Yun, no other intentions¡­¡± ¡°Just to see her?¡± ¡°Just to see her! I really didn¡¯t plan to do anything else!¡± After being caught in the women¡¯s bathroom last time, Ning Yuze suffered both physical punishment from Qiao Yi and mental torment from gossip all around. Under the dual pressure, a fine playboy has turned into a scaredy-cat. Right now, he was all bark and no bite. ¡°You¡¯ve seen her now, if there¡¯s nothing else, get lost ¨C just looking at you annoys me!¡± Qiao Yi sat back down on the sofa and huffed coldly. Scared by her tone, Ning Yuze trembled all over; though he was afraid of Qiao Yi, he still hesitated, unwilling to leave. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving yet?¡± ¡°I, I want Miss Yun¡¯s contact information¡­¡± Though frightened, Ning Yuze still spoke his mind, but judging by the way he clung to the door frame, it seemed he was ready to flee at any moment. This kid just doesn¡¯t give up! Qiao Yi slammed her hand on the table and stood up. She didn¡¯t really want to stand up for Yun Luoluo; she simply couldn¡¯t stand someone like Ning Yuze. ¡°I think you¡¯re asking for death! You have a fianc¨¦e and yet you dare to bother Luoluo!¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve already called off my engagement to Sun Keke, so¡­¡± Ning Yuze really felt like crying, his legs were incessantly weakening. Logically speaking, as a seasoned playboy he shouldn¡¯t be scared by a young girl like Qiao Yi; it¡¯s just that Qiao Yi¡¯s beatings were too vicious, and to this day, Ning Yuze felt a headache just seeing her. ¡°The engagement is canceled? When did this happen? I remember you attended the auction in Tian City with her just a few days ago.¡± ¡°That never happened! Right after that banquet, my engagement with Sun Keke was already dissolved!¡± Ning Yuze waved his hands frantically, terrified that Qiao Yi might misunderstand and give him another beating in her bad mood. ¡°Whether you have an engagement or not, Yun Luoluo is not someone you can aspire to. I¡¯ll let you off this time since you were well-behaved, but if I find out you¡¯ve been bothering people around me again, you better watch out!¡± Qiao Yi suppressed her doubts, frowned slightly, and gave Ning Yuze a glance, who then reluctantly left the rest room. ¡°Who is Sun Keke? And who is this man?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize him? He¡¯s that one from the Ning Family, Ning Yuze.¡± Mentioning this name, Feng Siyu immediately knew who this person was. After all, Ning Yuze¡¯s reputation was well-known, and there wasn¡¯t a lady from the high society of Capital City who hadn¡¯t heard of him. ¡°But why does he seem so afraid of you?¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s face was full of gossip, and even Yun Luoluo next to her perked up her ears, curiously leaning in. Qiao Yi helplessly tapped on the foreheads of the two, pushing their heads away from her face. ¡°Sun Keke is from the Sun Family, previously engaged to Ning Yuze. I once saw him being disgusting at a banquet, so I gave him a beatdown. He¡¯s probably scared of me because his dad must have lectured him.¡± If Ning Yuze knew that his nearly a month-long hospital stay had been made to sound so trivial by Qiao Yi, who knows if he would cry. Whether Ning Yuze would cry was unknown to Qiao Yi, but right now, she was somewhat worried about Sun Keke¡¯s situation. Ever since she left the hospital the last time, she hadn¡¯t been in contact with her, and had no idea how Sun Keke¡¯s recovery was going. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore, most of the guests have arrived outside, we should go down.¡± At a high society banquet, no matter what the theme is, it would ultimately evolve into a major social event; as for the main character, that person would at most draw some additional attention. But there are some people who, even if they are not the main characters, stand out in a crowd and inevitably become the center of attention. Lu Yanchuan was such a person, even though he was standing in a corner of the venue, the surrounding crowd was vaguely aware of his presence. A few girls gathered together nearby, whispering something, hesitating to approach and strike up a conversation. Third Young Master Lu getting married was no secret among the wealthy circles of Capital City, but there are plenty of couples who live their own lives outside their marriage. A marriage contract is just a token of alliance between two families. Previously Third Young Master Lu was notoriously indifferent to women, but now¡­ ¡°Mr. Lu, why are you standing alone here, how about going for a drink together?¡± There were many who wanted to come over and chat, but in the end, only a sultry and spicy beauty walked over, holding her glass of alcohol slightly close to Lu Yanchuan. Just from the side, one could tell how hot the beauty¡¯s figure was, and it¡¯s likely that Lu Yanchuan from his angle would see even more scenery. ¡°Mr. Lu probably doesn¡¯t know me yet, I am the CEO of Sihai Group, you can call me, Le Bai.¡± ¡°Sss©¤©¤¡± A sound of gasps came from around, not because of Lu Yanchuan, but because of this suddenly approaching Le Bai. This woman¡¯s fame in Capital City was not lesser than Lu Yanchuan¡¯s, she built her business from scratch, founded Sihai Entertainment in just five years, and with a few dark horse talents under her, she leaped to become one of the top entertainment companies nationally. Most importantly, this woman was just as ruthless and cold-hearted as Lu Yanchuan, any prey she set her sights on never managed to escape. That prey includes everything. Chapter 94 03-25 - 94 Call Bai Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Call Bai ¡°Yiyi, who is that woman with Third Young Master? By the looks of it, she doesn¡¯t seem to have good intentions!¡± Suddenly, Feng Siyu grabbed Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, directing her gaze towards Lu Yanchuan. Dressed in a red gown, Le Bai stood ambiguously close to Lu Yanchuan, the two contrasting with one cold and the other vibrant, oddly seeming well-matched together. Qiao Yi slightly furrowed her brows, feeling somewhat uncomfortable as she watched the two of them. Why is Lu Yanchuan standing so close to that woman? Meanwhile, Le Bai was actively trying to engage Lu Yanchuan in conversation, but her efforts were noticeably ineffective; regardless of what she said or did, Lu Yanchuan remained indifferent. Is he really that uninterested? sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Frustrated and helpless, Le Bai finally stood up straight after being ignored by Lu Yanchuan again, and positioned herself opposite him, arms crossed. ¡°Mr. Lu is really aloof, isn¡¯t he? I¡¯m truly curious how Miss Qiao managed to win over such an ice block!¡± This time, Lu Yanchuan no longer ignored Le Bai, but slowly shifted his gaze onto her face, barely curling the corner of his lips. ¡°By seduction.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Le Bai was momentarily taken aback, letting out a befuddled huff. But when she realized what he meant, even with her extraordinary composure, Le Bai¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but show a flicker of change due to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s taunting. What does he mean by seduction! Qiao Yi isn¡¯t unfamiliar, she admitted that she might be slightly less attractive, but how could Qiao Yi¡¯s petite frame compare to hers! Who doesn¡¯t like a substantial meal? Light porridge and side dishes might be a nice change of pace occasionally, but anyone would know what to choose for the long term! Lu Yanchuan stating that Qiao Yi won him over by seduction, how could Le Bai believe him! He must be mocking me! Instead of getting angry, Le Bai laughed and suddenly leaned towards Lu Yanchuan, whispering in his ear just before he could push her away. ¡°Your Miss Qiao is watching you.¡± Contentedly, Le Bai walked away, finding that observing this unemotional, unromantic man was sufficient; imagining him as a lover, she would definitely be bored to death! Lu Yanchuan slightly squinted his eyes, looking in the direction Le Bai had just gestured towards, and spotted Qiao Yi standing on the stairs looking their way, accompanied by Yun Luoluo and Feng Siyu. Although nothing had happened with Le Bai, Lu Yanchuan still felt inexplicably guilty. This feeling, foreign to his twenty-something years of life, made him instinctively resistant to this unfathomable emotion. Why did Le Bai tell him that Qiao Yi was watching? Nothing had transpired between them, so even if Qiao Yi saw, what could it change? Le Bai¡¯s extra effort seemed unnecessary. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s subconscious told him this was not as simple as he thought, yet that fleeting intuition of touching the truth always eluded him. Qiao Yi just looked their way a few times before walking away with Yun Luoluo, with no intention of looking back. Although Qiao Yi appeared unchanged, Lu Yanchuan felt she must be upset. Why? Because she saw him talking to Le Bai? Or was it something else? Lu Yanchuan vaguely had an idea, a thought that slightly itched at his heart, but he dismissed this among all possibilities. Perhaps it was just moments ago in the break room when someone upset her. Here, Feng Siyu was also incessantly questioning Qiao Yi. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and assert your dominance? That¡¯s your Third Young Master, why should anyone be able to flirt with him! Even if you don¡¯t assert your dominance, at least you should go and ask, right? If someone takes advantage of the situation, it¡¯ll be too late for tears!¡± Actually, Qiao Yi did take in what Feng Siyu was saying, but what she thought about were her own words from the past. If Lu Yanchuan really found someone he liked, she would choose to divorce amicably, and even if necessary, they could continue their marital status, just not interfering with each other¡¯s personal feelings. That woman just now¡­ pretty and great figure, she looked very compatible standing next to Lu Yanchuan¡­ Qiao Yi isn¡¯t attentive, Feng Siyu looks worried but can¡¯t make any decisions for her, only incessantly advising her in her ear that she must claim her rights¡­ Although today¡¯s banquet was to celebrate Yun Luoluo¡¯s birthday, Yun Luoluo only showed up briefly during the cake-cutting and blowing out the candles, afterwards, no one paid much attention to the birthday party theme. They were more concerned about who Yun Luoluo would get engaged to, and whether there would be any changes in their interest groups. Qiao Yi had no interest in these matters, and after greeting Yun Luoluo, she sat in a corner by herself. The scene she had just witnessed on the staircase made Qiao Yi not want to look for Lu Yanchuan at all. ¡°Miss Qiao, you and your husband really, both like being alone.¡± Qiao Yi looked up on hearing this, seeing the woman who was just with Lu Yanchuan, now standing in front of her. ¡°You are¡­¡± ¡°Sihai Entertainment, Le Bai, nice to meet you.¡± Qiao Yi glanced at the hand extended towards her, a bit puzzled about what Le Bai was playing at. Was she showing off? Or trying to provoke? Disturbed by her thoughts, Qiao Yi still reached out and touched her hand. But Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t retract her hand as it was suddenly held tightly by Le Bai. ¡°Miss Qiao, you use Pandy¡¯s foundation, right? I could recommend a suitable foundation for you. While Pandy¡¯s is good, it¡¯s ultimately a mass-market product, I have someone who customizes foundations based on skin type¡­¡± A voluptuous beauty squeezed into the small solo sofa next to her, Qiao Yi could smell Le Bai¡¯s subtle fragrance; the scent seemed laced with magic, making her feel weak at the knees. Now completely unable to withdraw her hand, Qiao Yi felt overwhelmed by Le Bai¡¯s warmth, dazedly unaware of when she was led away from the venue. When Qiao Yi finally came to her senses, she was already touring Sihai Entertainment with Le Bai. ¡°President Le¡­¡± ¡°Call me Bai, not President Le, tell me, what¡¯s up?¡± Enthusiastic affection from a beautiful woman is hard to resist, even from the same sex. Qiao Yi swallowed, struggled to divert her gaze away from Le Bai. ¡°That, us leaving like this, isn¡¯t it inappropriate? The banquet hasn¡¯t ended yet¡­¡± Before Qiao Yi could finish, Le Bai briskly waved her hand and pulled her along, changing direction towards the upstairs. As they walked, Le Bai smiled meaningfully. ¡°Why bother with a boring party? I¡¯ll show you around the company, and just so you know, we have two new trainees this year with quite the looks!¡± Chapter 95 03-25 - 95: Cherish Life, Stay Away from Men Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Cherish Life, Stay Away from Men Lu Yanchuan thought Qiao Yi was deliberately avoiding him, he didn¡¯t see her again until the party was over. However, Feng Siyu and Yun Luoluo were still in the hall, only Qiao Yi was missing. ¡°Where¡¯s Qiao Yi?¡± Feng Siyu was talking to Yun Luoluo, and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice suddenly coming from behind startled the girl almost to the point of screaming. ¡°Didn¡¯t Yiyi go to the resting room? She said she was tired and left on her own.¡± Feng Siyu knew Qiao Yi did not like such parties, and thought she was just slacking in the resting room as he hadn¡¯t seen her around, so he didn¡¯t really care. Now seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s grim expression, Feng Siyu started to take things seriously. ¡°She¡¯s not in the resting room.¡± ¡°Did you call her?¡± ¡°Her cell phone is in the car.¡± Lu Yanchuan had searched everywhere he could, but could not find Qiao Yi, that¡¯s why he came to ask Feng Siyu. ¡°It can¡¯t be, Yiyi wouldn¡¯t just leave on her own!¡± Feng Siyu felt a panic rising, instinctively thinking of that incident involving Qiao Xin at the previous party. Could it be that Qiao Yi also¡­ Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone suddenly rang, irritated and impatient, he picked it up only to see a unfamiliar number, and he hung up straight away. However, the number was persistent, after being hung up on three times, it called a fourth time. ¡°Hello? It¡¯s me¡­Qiao Yi¡­¡± A timid voice came from the other end, Qiao Yi, having been hung up on three times, was certain Lu Yanchuan was angry. Leaving without a word, not carrying her phone, not telling anyone she knew, if Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t find her anywhere, he would surely be livid! Feeling extremely anxious, Qiao Yi had to use Le Bai¡¯s phone to make the fourth call. Fortunately, this time Lu Yanchuan answered. However, from his tone, Qiao Yi could tell Lu Yanchuan was in a very bad mood. ¡°Where are you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Sihai Entertainment, with President Le¡­¡± ¡°Bai!¡± ¡°With Bai.¡± Qiao Yi completely submitted to this woman. After a round in the company, meeting who knows how many handsome men, Qiao Yi finally admitted defeat, strongly requesting Lu Yanchuan to pick her up and leave. After hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, Lu Yanchuan left the venue without another word. ¡°Mr. Lu! Where exactly is Yiyi!¡± Feng Siyu, concerned about Qiao Yi¡¯s safety, could not care about anything else and hastily followed. Upon finding out that Qiao Yi was actually taken away, Feng Siyu couldn¡¯t tell if she was surprised or resigned. Or maybe she should give Qiao Yi a lesson? Going to an entertainment company to see pretty girls and handsome boys, and she didn¡¯t even invite her! So it goes to show, everyone in the entertainment circle thinks the same way. Once knowing Qiao Yi was safe, Feng Siyu¡¯s focus shifted to the entertainment company. Although she was always surrounded by handsome men and beautiful women, even beauty can become boring after a while, you always need to change it up! Gu Ting saw the look on Feng Siyu¡¯s face and knew what she was thinking, his face immediately darkened and with a deep sigh, he said. ¡°We¡¯re not going in later, we¡¯ll wait for Qiao Yi outside.¡± ¡°Ah? Why? Why?¡± Feng Siyu pouted and flung herself into the driver¡¯s seat, almost strangling Gu Ting if he weren¡¯t driving. ¡°There is no why.¡± With a single sentence from Gu Ting, all of Feng Siyu¡¯s rebuttals were locked up, and she sulkily leaned back into the seat pouting. Despite all the handsome men and beautiful women around, Gu Ting wouldn¡¯t let her look! That was simply outrageous! The car arrived at Sihai Entertainment, and Qiao Yi and Le Bai were already waiting at the door. Especially Qiao Yi, she was almost choked up with excitement when she saw Lu Yanchuan. Beauty is hard to refuse! She no longer wanted to be alone with a deadly beauty like Le Bai! After warmly seeing off a few people, Le Bai¡¯s smile gradually faded, extracting her phone from her bag and dialed a number with no contact name noted. ¡°The person has left, but I think this move of yours is a bad one. Although she seems unfocused, she is utterly devoted to Lu Yanchuan.¡± The person on the other end said something unknown, Le Bai frowned for a moment but then relaxed again, even wearing a slight smile. ¡°These are not my concerns. I promised to help you with three things, and this was the last one. Do not contact me again.¡± After saying this, Le Bai completely ignored the sharp screams from the other end and hung up. Feeling unburdened, Le Bai stretched vigorously and with a hum of an unnamed tune, re-entered Sihai Entertainment. But thinking about the person she just hung up on, she was quite looking forward to something¡­ Gu Ting drove Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan back to Emperor Garden, Qiao Yi was preoccupied all the way, even being inattentive when Feng Siyu spoke to her. Once home, Qiao Yi went straight to her room and locked herself in, not saying a word to Lu Yanchuan during the whole process. What happened to her? Did she face some grievances at Sihai? Lu Yanchuan touched his nearly snapped nose, casually sending out a message to find out what happened at the event and at Sihai. In fact, the cooped-up Qiao Yi was just a bit annoyed. The events of this morning caught Qiao Yi off guard and she couldn¡¯t sort out her thoughts. Whether it was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s inexplicable tenderness, or Le Bai¡¯s sudden appearance, followed by Le Bai taking her to Sihai, each one confused Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts. What exactly does she feel towards Lu Yanchuan? Does she like Lu Yanchuan? Or does she hate him? It wasn¡¯t liking, but definitely not hate; it was more a bit of fondness. But even this slight fondness brought so many troubles to Qiao Yi, she couldn¡¯t help but worry, what if she truly fell in love with Lu Yanchuan in the future? Would there be even more troubles? ¡°Cherish life, stay away from men¡­¡± When Lu Yanchuan entered the room, what he heard was Qiao Yi murmuring this. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What had upset this girl? ¡°Dinner at the old house tonight, dad wants to see you.¡± The large lump inside the blanket moved a bit, acknowledging him. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s subdued mood brightened immediately, the swift change in his emotions even surprised him. The gaze behind seemed to penetrate through the blanket making Qiao Yi¡¯s body tense up more and more, until eventually, she felt the urge to flee utterly. ¡°I have nothing to do with that woman.¡± For some reason, Lu Yanchuan instinctively said this explanation, although Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t even asked him about it. Hearing this, Qiao Yi turned and sat up. Perhaps it was from being stifled under the blanket, but Qiao Yi¡¯s face was flushed; she glanced at Lu Yanchuan then quickly lowered her head. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t need to explain to me¡­¡± Chapter 96 03-25 - 96: The Small Courtyard that Wastes Natural Resources Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Small Courtyard that Wastes Natural Resources Ever since attending Yun Luoluo¡¯s birthday party, there had been an inexplicable change in the atmosphere between Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. For instance, Qiao Yi would always subconsciously avoid direct contact with Lu Yanchuan, and Lu Yanchuan would always deliberately or unintentionally loiter around Qiao Yi. In short, it was very abnormal. After observing Qiao Yi once again, Feng Siyu finally came to a conclusion. ¡°My dear, did you have a fight with Third Young Master? Between husband and wife, quarrels may happen but will end by bedtime. Just speak your mind, why do you have to fight?¡± Jing Se choked up but shook her head with a sigh. ¡°You don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Feng Siyu almost rolled her eyes to the sky, complaining that she didn¡¯t understand, when clearly Qiao Yi herself was being the most abnormal! However, seeing that Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to continue the topic, Feng Siyu immediately switched to another. ¡°This weekend, there¡¯s a jade exhibition and sale in Jiang City, and I heard there will be jade betting. Want to go with me?¡± ¡°Jade betting? Sure, I¡¯ve only heard about people betting on jade before, I¡¯ve never seen how it¡¯s done.¡± Qiao Yi was clearly interested and readily agreed to go to the exhibition and sale with Feng Siyu. Feng Siyu, with her back to Qiao Yi, snickered and began to quietly send out messages. It was only when leaving that Qiao Yi found out she had been deceived. She thought Feng Siyu had invited her to have fun, and at most Gu Ting would be joining them on the road. But it wasn¡¯t until they arrived at the airport and Qiao Yi saw the dozen or so heads opposite her, that she realized how naive her thoughts had been. Besides Gu Ting who she had initially expected, there were also the siblings Han Wenle and Han Zizhen, the cousins Yun Qing and Yun Luoluo, the ever-following Ma Yu behind Lu Yanchuan, and most importantly Lu Yanchuan, the Third Young Master! Originally, Qiao Yi thought these people were the limit, everyone being relatives and friends, it was too normal to travel together. But upon boarding the plane and seeing Lu Ming and the visibly pregnant Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi once again realized how naive her thoughts truly were¡­ ¡°Weren¡¯t we agreed to just have fun together? How did it turn into this!¡± Qiao Yi grabbed Feng Siyu, furiously whispering and questioning her. Feng Siyu shrank her neck, fearing to incite Qiao Yi¡¯s rage even further. ¡°I only called your Third Young Master and Han Wenle, who knew so many people would follow!¡± ¡°Where did you call them from?¡± ¡°From a group chat!¡± Qiao Yi felt uneasy, hurriedly took out her phone to find the group Feng Siyu mentioned. Good grief, Feng Siyu, not using her brain, directly invited people from the temporary group formed for the last fireworks event. No wonder even Lu Ming and Qiao Xin had tagged along! But these two really were stubborn, a trait Qiao Yi admired the most in them. To practice shamelessness to such an extent, these two really were a match made in heaven; letting Qiao Xin marry Lu Ming was indeed a wise choice. However, they probably also knew that they were not welcomed, so once they were on the plane, they just quietly sat there pretending to be air. Qiao Yi rolled her eyes, gave up on fussing with Feng Siyu over this matter; everyone had come already, they couldn¡¯t ask these people to go back, after all, it was a trip meant for fun, the more the merrier. Jiang City is located on the north side of the river mouth leading to the sea, sitting opposite Shanghai across the banks. After the group disembarked, there was a shuttle to take them directly to the specifically booked airplane for the exhibition and sale. Unlike those individual visitors, people like them who come with invitations are essentially considered honored guests, and naturally, their treatment is somewhat different. Those sent to the hotel went back to their rooms to rest one by one, and soon only Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan were left. ¡°Please follow me this way.¡± After registering them, the hotel attendant led the two into the elevator. They reached the room door, where the attendant opened it for them and then promptly left. Qiao Yi walked into the room and, seeing that conspicuously heart-shaped bed, suddenly felt a strong sense of malice from Feng Siyu. That damned girl! She definitely did it on purpose! Qiao Yi clenched her teeth in anger, while Lu Yanchuan merely paused briefly, then quickly regained his composure, changed his clothes, and laid directly on the bed. The worst part about a heart-shaped bed is that it¡¯s short on the sides and long in the middle, making it impossible to sleep on the sides and forcing people to squeeze towards the center. And this design, coincidentally, is also the most cunning aspect of a heart-shaped bed. To avoid falling off while asleep, those on the bed must move towards the middle, inevitably leading to some physical contact between them. And sometimes, it is through such contact that complications arise. When Qiao Yi woke up after such an encounter, she didn¡¯t even understand why that collision happened. The refreshed Lu Yanchuan was getting dressed, his firm back full of scratch marks, and seeing this, Qiao Yi instantly blushed and quickly turned her head away. ¡°I am your husband, you can just talk to me directly in the future, there¡¯s no need for this¡­¡± Qiao Yi froze, foolishly watching as Lu Yanchuan kissed her on the cheek and then turned to leave. It took a while for Qiao Yi to come back to her senses. Lu Yanchuan had misunderstood! She didn¡¯t choose this room! Feng Siyu, you have doomed me! Qiao Yi punched the pillows in her room to vent her frustrations, while the departed Lu Yanchuan took several turns and entered a small alley. At the very end of the alley was a household with a Chu red wooden door, very rare in modern times. Lu Yanchuan approached and knocked twice on the door; after a while, the door slowly opened a crack. ¡°Ah! Mr. Lu! It¡¯s you!¡± A head popped out from inside the door, and upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, the person immediately smiled and hurriedly welcomed him inside. ¡°Uncle Peng, how has the old master been feeling lately?¡± ¡°The old master¡¯s health isn¡¯t bad, but he often talks about you, always saying that you haven¡¯t visited him recently!¡± Walking in the courtyard, the path lined on either side with clumps of rare flowers and plants, would cause any expert on the subject to be heartbroken if they saw these seemingly indiscriminate plants. Look at those two clumps of hay-like plants under the tree, who would believe they were the famous Juliet Roses! After passing through this section of path which wasted nature¡¯s beauty, the two finally entered the courtyard. The courtyard was spacious yet arranged very cozily. Near dusk, a large tree thick enough for five people to embrace cast a swath of shade in the southeast corner of the yard, where an elderly, white-haired man leaned on a rocking chair, gently swaying with the evening breeze. Lu Yanchuan stopped two steps beside the elder, slightly bowed, and respectfully whispered a greeting. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Master Tao, how have you been lately? I¡¯ve come to see you.¡± Chapter 97 - 97 Fried Chicken Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Fried Chicken ¡°I can¡¯t believe you still remember this old man, I thought you had forgotten about me!¡± Under the big tree, the old man stirred, and Uncle Peng who had brought Lu Yanchuan in hurried to help him up. ¡°Sit down. I heard from Xiao Hong a couple days ago that you got married? Whose daughter is she?¡± Indeed, the first thing the elder asked upon seeing someone was invariably about marriage and children, Lu Yanchuan knew without thinking what he would ask next. ¡°You¡¯ve been married for a few months now, have you had any children? While you¡¯re young, you should have more. Otherwise, it will be harmful to your health to have children when you¡¯re older!¡± Once the old man started on this topic, he couldn¡¯t stop, talking from the benefits of having children to various folk remedies that could increase the chances of conception. Lu Yanchuan quickly interrupted the old man before he could speak about the positions that facilitate conception. ¡°Master Tao, having children depends on the right timing, location, and human harmony. It will happen when fate allows.¡± Lu Yanchuan narrowly preserved the old man¡¯s remaining dignity, and the old man, feeling unsatisfied as if he hadn¡¯t spoken his mind, grunted discontentedly and didn¡¯t linger on the topic. ¡°Tell me, what made you think of visiting me this time?¡± ¡°My teacher passed away, and left a letter for me to deliver to you.¡± Lu Yanchuan took out a thick envelope and placed it beside the old man. Mr. Tao was momentarily stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend what Lu Yanchuan was saying. After a while, Mr. Tao¡¯s gaze slowly fell upon the envelope. He lifted a skeletal hand and gently touched the envelope, trembling. ¡°It¡¯s for the best, it¡¯s for the best¡­ She was strong her whole life, definitely preferring to pass away rather than lingering like a bedridden invalid.¡± Though Mr. Tao said this, his spirit seemed to drain away, his gaze lingering on the envelope as if he were seeing someone through it. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t disturb the old man, and only spoke once Mr. Tao had regained his composure. ¡°This time I came to deliver the letter, and also to invite you to this year¡¯s Jade exhibition.¡± ¡°You know my rules.¡± Mr. Tao did not immediately reject the offer, but he didn¡¯t accept it outright either. Thirty years after Mr. Tao became famous, he set a rule that he would only create or appraise jade once a year, and he had never broken this rule over the years. This year¡¯s quota was auctioned off two months ago, and even though Lu Yanchuan was a favored junior, he couldn¡¯t break his own rule adhered to for over thirty years. Moreover, given his status and position, if he wanted any type of jade, there were plenty of people ready to offer it. There was no need to participate in an ordinary exhibition, unless there was something there that he absolutely had to see. ¡°This year¡¯s exhibition has a Mutton Fat Jade galloping horse that you gifted to my teacher as a birthday present twenty-five years ago.¡± ¡°What!¡± Mr. Tao suddenly leapt from his rocking chair, his limbs agile, not at all like a man in his sixties. ¡°How is this possible! The galloping horse¡­how could it appear at the exhibition!¡± Mr. Tao paced back and forth in the courtyard, constantly muttering to himself, appearing very anxious and uneasy. ¡°Could it be that someone stole it from Madam Gong!¡± Originally named Zheng Feiyan, had it not been for a twist of fate that led Madam Gong to marry into the Gong Family, she and Mr. Tao would have been husband and wife. But now it¡¯s too late to talk about all these. Mr. Tao just wants to know why the gift he gave to Old Madam Gong appeared at the exhibition sale! ¡°What is the time of the exhibition sale!¡± ¡°In three days, at the Yuanshun International Exhibition Center.¡± Even without Mr. Tao¡¯s involvement, Lu Yanchuan could obtain that handheld piece, but he wasn¡¯t sure if it was genuine, hence he wanted Mr. Tao to come with him for an authentication. When clearing Old Madam Gong¡¯s estate, Lu Yanchuan found that many of her belongings were missing. Since he didn¡¯t know how these items were taken out of the mansion, he asked Mr. Tao to step in, fearing that it would startle the snake by beating the grass. People in the circle were well aware of Mr. Tao¡¯s deep affection for Old Madam Gong; it¡¯s just everyone chose not to expose it. Now that Old Madam Gong¡¯s relics were being put up for sale, it was only natural for Mr. Tao to attend. Only by making the person behind this let their guard down could Lu Yanchuan get a chance to catch them. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel, it was completely dark. In the room, Qiao Yi was hugging a tablet watching a variety show, but upon hearing the sound of Lu Yanchuan opening the door, she shrunk back into the blanket immediately. ¡°Come and eat some supper.¡± Supper! Qiao Yi¡¯s nose twitched, keenly smelling a very tempting fragrance in the air. It was fried chicken! And it was from Yipinxiang! Eventually, hunger overpowered her reason, Qiao Yi tiptoed down from the bed, and seeing that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t seem to notice her, quickly sat down on the sofa and started unpacking the meal box Lu Yanchuan brought back. It really was fried chicken from Yipinxiang! Qiao Yi happily sniffed the spicy rich aroma of the fried chicken and couldn¡¯t wait to tear off a small piece of chicken and stuffed it into her mouth. ¡°Ah¡ªso delicious¡ª¡± It¡¯s not that Qiao Yi lacked perseverance, but the owner of this chain store, Yipinxiang, was very tricky. There¡¯s only one store in the same city, and each store only sells a hundred portions a day, does not accept reservations or phone orders, one has to queue up if they want to eat. One hundred portions of fried chicken in a city, how could that be enough! Even so, people would still travel distances to buy their fried chicken. Every time Qiao Yi wanted to eat Yipinxiang¡¯s fried chicken, she had to get up early, travel across half of Capital City to queue up at Yipinxiang¡¯s main store. And sometimes she couldn¡¯t even get any! However¡­ Qiao Yi looked at the dark sky out of the window, and then at the still hot fried chicken in her hands, how did Lu Yanchuan manage to buy freshly made fried chicken at this time? ¡°Where did you buy Yipinxiang¡¯s fried chicken? By this time, shouldn¡¯t Yipinxiang have sold out and closed already?¡± Qiao Yi asked vaguely with chicken in her mouth. Lu Yanchuan, who had been sneaking peeks at Qiao Yi eating chicken, turned around openly after hearing her words. ¡°I know the owner of Yipinxiang, he sent over a new batch.¡± ¡°You know them!?¡± Qiao Yi was stunned. She had tried to investigate who the owner was, but could find nothing, as if their information was intentionally hidden, with no other details available except for some officially displayed information. But now, Lu Yanchuan said he knows the owner! Does that mean she can always have fried chicken now!? Chapter 98 - 98 Water Fight Chapter 98: Chapter 98 Water Fight After staying three days in Jiang City, although she had a bunch of followers every time she went out, Qiao Yi was still very satisfied with this trip, especially after getting the phone number of the owner of Yipinxiang, Qiao Yi felt her life was complete! Her demands weren¡¯t much; just to occasionally get fried chicken without queuing up¡­ Having been completely overshadowed by fried chicken, Lu Yanchuan: ¡°¡­¡± He really shouldn¡¯t have interfered! But with fried chicken as a buffer, Qiao Yi finally stepped out from her previous strange state and regained her vitality and bounce. ¡°How about it?¡± In the hot spring, Feng Siyu playfully poked Qiao Yi¡¯s arm, his gaze resting on her and he smiled like a fox that had just stolen a taste. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room was specially arranged by her, so she certainly knew how the two could settle down. Seeing Feng Siyu¡¯s smile made Qiao Yi burst into anger! After seeing her room that day, Qiao Yi had tried to switch rooms, but the damn hotel claimed all rooms were booked and couldn¡¯t change it unless she changed the hotel. Just this damn hotel was the only one near the exhibition center, and the remaining small guesthouses were places Qiao Yi would never stay. No one came to kill Qiao Yi, so she could only continue to squeeze together with Lu Yanchuan in that eerie big bed. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! See how I¡¯m going to handle you!¡± Qiao Yi scooped up a handful of water and splashed it towards Feng Siyu¡¯s face, who of course didn¡¯t show weakness and quickly scooped water to retaliate. Han Wenle, who was leaning aside enjoying the show, was the first victim of the unintended water splashing, and after Feng Siyu splashed water on his face, Han Wenle also joined the water fight with a mischievous laugh. The water splashing battle ultimately ended with a complete defeat of the men. The girls exhibited formidable combat strength, and on the men¡¯s side, Lu Yanchuan, disdaining to strike at women, joined the women¡¯s team after being drenched and directed all his anger at Yun Qing and Han Zizhen. Gu Ting naturally unprincipledly helped his wife, following Feng Siyu and splashing whoever she splashed, acting as a troublemaker. As for Han Zizhen and Yun Qing, the two tall men had no choice but to fight alone, getting splashed like water-soaked chicks, pitiful enough to break one¡¯s heart. Yun Qing was tilting his head to get water out of his ears, when suddenly a towel appeared in front of him. Han Wenle¡¯s smiling face appeared behind the towel, and Yun Qing foolishly took the towel and wiped his face randomly, but his eyes kept following Han Wenle. ¡°Hey hey hey! What are you leering at!¡± The beauty vanished, and in front of him stood a wall of flesh, Han Zizhen glaring at Yun Qing with a hostile face, those eyes of his were too restless! Han Zizhen and Yun Qing had known each other through Lu Yanchuan before, but the two had never been very close, after all, a noble son and a doctor didn¡¯t have much in common. But this trip out had let the two of them get thoroughly acquainted, and there was even a sense of bonding over their shared quirks. Yun Qing¡¯s face suspiciously reddened for a moment, then he pretended to push Han Zizhen away. ¡°What nonsense! Who¡¯s leering!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know! Just looking at that look in your eyes shows you¡¯re not thinking anything good! Let me tell you, if you have any improper thoughts about my sister, watch out, I won¡¯t be polite to you!¡± Han Zizhen and Han Wenle, one grew up domestically and the other abroad, so they hardly had many chances to meet. Han Wenle mostly just knew that he had such a brother, to say he had strong feelings towards him wasn¡¯t really true. However, Han Wenle being indifferent towards Han Zizhen doesn¡¯t mean Han Zizhen felt the same. This invisible sister-obsessed guy truly liked his quiet sister from the bottom of his heart, but she was always not close to him! Thinking of his deep brotherly love, Han Zizhen suddenly became extremely sad and resentful, snatching the towel from Yun Qing¡¯s hand and holding it close to his chest as he walked aside. The towel from his sister could not be touched by other stinking men! This dead sister-obsessed fan completely ignored that the towel was actually provided by the Hot Spring Villa, also ignoring that two other girls were also helping with the towels. Qiao Xin, due to being pregnant, did not join them in the same pool but went to the next spring pool with Lu Ming. Lu Ming didn¡¯t really want to come with Qiao Xin; he was sent by Wang Zhen to take care of her precious grandson. Though the child was just over three months old and not even sure whether it¡¯s a boy or a girl, Wang Zhen just decided it¡¯s a son. Though she had various dislikes towards Qiao Xin in the past, her attitude had improved a lot compared to before. Also due to the pregnancy, Old Mr. Lu¡¯s attitude towards Qiao Xin also got a bit better, probably thinking that with a child, Qiao Xin would settle down and stop causing trouble. But Old Mr. Lu probably couldn¡¯t guess that the arrival of this child instead gave Qiao Xin many inappropriate ideas, like¡­ swapping wives! Qiao Xin¡¯s greedy eyes swept over Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body on the shore time and again, her gaze fixating on the fresh scratch marks on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s back, turning extremely sinister. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan actually did it! They really got together! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That bitch! Unintentionally turning around, Qiao Yi saw Qiao Xin staring at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist, her eyes almost glowing green. ¡°Hmph! Attracting bees and butterflies!¡± Qiao Yi quickly snatched the towel from Gu Ting¡¯s body, wrapping Lu Yanchuan completely, only exposing his excessively long legs. Feng Siyu didn¡¯t mind how many people looked at Gu Ting¡¯s physique but rather playfully rubbed his stomach, ending even with a hint of regret by patting it twice. ¡°You should work out, these two abdominal muscles are not even clearly defined.¡± Gu Ting twitched the corner of his mouth and directly pulled Feng Siyu to the changing room, unclear whether to change clothes or to exercise. Usually, everyone is dressed very conservatively, and even if they have good physiques, clothing covers them up and discounts the effect. But now everyone is not so much honest but barely covered, the differences in height, weight, and physique were immediately obvious. Feng Siyu of course had the best physique, followed by Qiao Yi, and then, surprisingly, the unassuming Han Wenle. Just as Yun Qing was passing the women¡¯s changing room, she suddenly heard a weird scream from inside. ¡°I never realized before, Lele, your physique is so good!¡± Chapter 99 - 99: Positioning Device Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Positioning Device Men will compare muscles and whatnot when they are together, girls compare too when they get together, and might even get physical. Han Wenle was cornered by Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu a few in the changing room, where they claimed they were just wiping her off! ¡°Ouch, look at this waist, look at these legs, who knows which bastard will get lucky in the future!¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking, before some stinky man gets lucky, why not let the sisters have a go!¡± Weird cries one after another were coming from the changing room, Yun Qing stood outside totally confused. So this is the world of girls? Why does he feel so enviously¡­ Qiao Xin came over accompanied by Lu Ming, Yun Qing snapped back to reality and quickly left from the front of the changing room. Watching Yun Qing¡¯s flustered figure, a calculating smile played on Qiao Xin¡¯s lips. Everyone returned to the hotel exhausted, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan fell behind, watching Lu Ming and Qiao Xin walking together not far ahead, full of confusion and vigilance. She didn¡¯t know why these two had followed them; their itinerary for these three days had not been shared with them at all, yet Lu Ming and Qiao Xin were always able to discover when they were about to leave and swiftly catch up. Qiao Yi had tried to shake them off, but Qiao Xin seemed to know her location no matter where she went, always able to find her. Could it be¡­ could it be that Qiao Xin had placed a tracking device on her? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but shiver. If Qiao Xin had really installed a tracker on her, where was it, and when had she put it there? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yanchuan turned his head to ask, but Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know how to respond, shaking her head and saying nothing was wrong. However, if she could think of this, there¡¯s no reason why Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t. After the two got back to their room, Lu Yanchuan magically pulled out a black stick from his bag. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°A scanner, for detecting tracking devices and surveillance bugs.¡± Lu Yanchuan pressed a button on the stick, and it extended a section. Holding one end, the other end, the scanner, started to flash a red light. Qiao Yi took the scanner from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hands, learned how to use it, and began to search around the whole room. After a full sweep, Qiao Yi took out all the clothes, shoes, accessories, and her phone that she had used that day and scanned everything with the device, indeed making some findings. The scanner reacted when it passed over Qiao Yi¡¯s bag and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoes. Frowning, Qiao Yi took these two items out separately and asked the hotel for scissors to start dismantling them. Sure enough, she found two black trackers, each the size of a pinky fingernail, hidden inside the items. ¡°Qiao Xin is really something! She dares to put a tracker on me!¡± Qiao Yi laughed angrily, holding the two devices with a fierce expression. ¡°Check if there¡¯s a tracker installed on your phone, if she was prepared, she wouldn¡¯t only install these two. If you didn¡¯t carry the bag and I didn¡¯t wear these shoes, it would¡¯ve been pointless for Qiao Xin.¡± This made sense; Qiao Yi agreed but didn¡¯t know how to check for a tracker on her phone. After taking out her phone, she sheepishly looked at Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan naturally took the phone from Qiao Yi¡¯s hands and soon let out a hum. ¡°Exactly, and there¡¯s more than one.¡± Qiao Yi was stunned. When did Qiao Xin become so capable, able to track her phone without her noticing! ¡°It wasn¡¯t Qiao Xin, she must have found an expert, or maybe Lu Ming found someone to do it.¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t have the brains or capability, but Lu Ming was different. He¡¯s as crafty as Qiao Xin, but his means are much more sophisticated. At least up until now, except for momentarily being tricked at the wedding, Lu Ming was still doing well, completely unaffected. ¡°I¡¯m puzzled too, how come Lu Ming is getting along with Qiao Xin so well, for the sake of the child in her stomach?¡± Lu Yanchuan shook his head, Lu Ming was definitely not someone who would compromise for the sake of a child, there must be other reasons. Qiao Yi pondered for a while before suddenly slapping her thigh. ¡°It¡¯s because of the shares! Qiao Xin must be using the 30% of shares she holds to blackmail Lu Ming into doing these things!¡± Lu Yanchuan heard for the first time that Qiao Xin held shares in the Lu Family. The Qiao Family holding 30% of the Lu Family¡¯s shares was something Yuanchuan was aware of, but he had never paid attention to whose name those shares were under in the Qiao Family. Originally, he had thought the same as Lu Ming, assuming Qiao Benqing loved his younger daughter so much he definitely would have transferred the shares to Qiao Xin¡¯s name. But now it seemed, the situation between the two daughters of the Qiao Family was not as simple as he had imagined. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush into dealing with these trackers. Since Qiao Xin likes to monitor me, let her enjoy watching!¡± Seeing Lu Yanchuan was about to remove the trackers from the phone, Qiao Yi hurriedly stopped him. ¡°You want to¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If Qiao Xin is so eager to pry into my life, wouldn¡¯t I be letting down the deep sisterly love if I didn¡¯t indulge her a little!¡± Qiao Yi spoke intimately, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of a smile in her eyes, only coldness and disgust. Having said that, Lu Yanchuan obviously wouldn¡¯t take any action himself and reverted the phone to its original state before giving it back to Qiao Yi. The Jade Exhibition came as scheduled, and this time the exhibition was claimed to be the grandest in the history of Jiang City, not only because the size of the jade gambling was doubled but also because Tao Qian, the prominent figure in the jade industry, was attending the event. Once the news was out, the exhibition tickets were instantly snatched up, and even to accommodate guests from all parts of the world, the exhibition opened up two additional halls, extending the event from three to five days. Even so, the number of people wanting to attend the exhibition was still endless. However, due to the size of the venue, those who came late could only look on with regret. The Qiao Yi¡¯s group naturally would not face this trouble. They were picked up early by the exhibition organizers, and while others were still queuing, waiting for the exhibition to start, they had already entered the venue through the green channel. Qiao Yi was not interested in the finished jade products; she was more interested in the gambling stones, heading to that section as soon as she entered the venue with Feng Siyu. Special guests naturally got special treatment; Qiao Yi¡¯s group was assigned a beautiful young lady as a guide, who took them to the gambling stones district, introducing them to the content of this exhibition. Chapter 100 - 100: Its His Lover Chapter 100: Chapter 100: It¡¯s His Lover Expo sales, an event that¡¯s both an exhibition and a sale, and of course, the main purpose is to sell. So-called gambling on stones is actually picking a stone that looks appealing and cutting it open; if you uncover something good, it means you¡¯re lucky, and if not, then it¡¯s just bad luck. Of course, some experts can tell what¡¯s inside a stone just by looking at its exterior, but for a newbie like Qiao Yi, it¡¯s purely for the fun of joining the crowd. ¡°Do these stones also have different prices? Among these stones that cost over a million each, could there also be duds?¡± The question made the guide choke a bit, but she still maintained a good attitude as she answered Qiao Yi¡¯s silly question. ¡°There¡¯s a certain chance of that, but our appraisers have assessed these stones and sorted them into basic categories, so while there¡¯s still a chance of getting a dud, it¡¯s very small.¡± In plain terms, gambling on stones is no different from gambling; the only difference is that those who know the industry have a greater advantage over those who don¡¯t. Qiao Yi, somewhat clueless, took the powerful flashlight the guide handed her and played around with it in her hand for a bit before using it as instructed, shining the flashlight directly on the stone. Through the thin skin, the stone faintly revealed some translucent purple. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it, but she thought the color was pretty nice. Glancing at the price, she saw that this stone, the size of a head, was only over twenty thousand, so she immediately had someone place it in her car. ¡°Miss Qiao, don¡¯t you want to look at a few more? This stone¡­¡± ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll try this stone first. I¡¯ll look at the others slowly!¡± Qiao Yi was like a kid with a new toy, starting to look around the piles of stones with a few girlfriends. Seeing the girls occasionally exclaim with surprise, vaguely discussing whether the color of the stone they were holding looked nice, the following gentlemen were all sheepish, fearing they might say something wrong and provoke anger. It wasn¡¯t long before several stones were loaded onto the cars behind the young ladies, ranging from a few thousand to as much as over eight hundred thousand, with the group excitedly pulling their carts, ready to go cut the stones. ¡°Young Master Lu!¡± From afar, an uncle walked over, and when Qiao Yi heard him calling for Lu Yanchuan, she paused and looked over. As the uncle approached, it turned out to be Uncle Peng, who was with Mr. Tao, and he had been looking for Lu Yanchuan around the venue for quite some time. ¡°The old gentleman invites you upstairs for a talk.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded but didn¡¯t go upstairs with Uncle Peng right away; instead, he walked over to Qiao Yi and took her with him. ¡°Come with me to meet an elder.¡± Qiao Yi was stunned for a moment; she hadn¡¯t heard anything about Lu Yanchuan having any elders here before coming, and now she was suddenly going to meet an elder! ¡°I, I¡¯m not dressed right to meet them, and I haven¡¯t brought any gifts¡­¡± ¡°This must be Young Mrs. Lu, right? The old gentleman was just saying a few days ago that he wanted the young master to bring you over for a visit, he will definitely like the young madam.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Uncle Peng¡¯s smile was filled with strong affability, and though it was all niceties, it made Qiao Yi feel exceedingly gratified. She instructed Feng Siyu not to go cut the stones before following Lu Yanchuan with Uncle Peng to meet Old Mr. Tao. On the way, Lu Yanchuan briefly introduced Old Mr. Tao¡¯s identity to Qiao Yi, turning out to be an old friend of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s teacher; no wonder Lu Yanchuan said it was an elder. Mr. Tao was friends with Old Mr. Lu in their younger days, but after Old Mr. Lu took over the Lu family, their interactions dwindled, and now it has been many years since they last met. However, when he learned that Lu Yanchuan was coming to Jiang City, Old Mr. Lu still had Lu Yanchuan bring a gift for Mr. Tao. After understanding the relationship between Mr. Tao and Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help feeling inexplicably nervous. According to Lu Yanchuan, Mr. Tao was no different from Old Mr. Lu in his eyes, and since Old Mr. Lu never married for the sake of Old Madam Gong, he had long regarded Lu Yanchuan as his own son. Isn¡¯t this just like meeting the parents! When she met Old Mr. Lu before, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t this nervous, and when she met Old Madam Gong because she was seriously ill, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t feel nervous either. But now, Qiao Yi was so nervous that her palms began to sweat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master Tao is a very nice person.¡± Lu Yanchuan could even feel the small hand in his palm tremble slightly. Why was Qiao Yi so nervous? Before meeting Mr. Tao again, Qiao Yi had made countless guesses, imagining what Mr. Tao would be like. Kindly? Stern? Would he like her? Would he give her a hard time? But when Qiao Yi saw this little old man squatting beside the stone cutting machine, with no semblance of dignity, she was stunned. This was the esteemed and renowned master of the jade industry, Mr. Tao? How could¡­ Lu Yanchuan was probably accustomed to Mr. Tao¡¯s occasionally puzzling behavior, and after seeing the situation inside the house, he just paused for a moment before naturally pulling Qiao Yi to sit down beside him, waiting for Mr. Tao to finish his work before talking to them. Finally, the stone cutting machine stopped, and Mr. Tao directed people to take out a half-cut piece of jade from the machine and joyfully patted the stone twice. ¡°Ah! You¡¯re here! I was so engrossed that I didn¡¯t notice you!¡± Mr. Tao placed the jade on the table next to him, and turned around to finally see Lu Yanchuan and an embarrassed Qiao Yi sitting on the sofa. ¡°This must be Xiao Chuan¡¯s wife, she¡¯s very beautiful! It¡¯s our first meeting, and I don¡¯t have much to give, but consider this stone as my meeting gift to you!¡± Without any hesitation, Mr. Tao stuffed the freshly cut stone into Qiao Yi¡¯s arms, its heavy weight almost causing her to fall if not for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s quick reflexes grabbing hold of it, preventing the piece of ice jade from flying away. ¡°Master Tao, my name is Qiao Yi, I am Yanchuan¡¯s¡­lover¡­¡± Qiao Yi inexplicably chose these words to introduce herself, and as soon as the words left her mouth, her heart began racing. Mr. Tao smiled and nodded; since Lu Yanchuan¡¯s visit the other day, Qiao Yi¡¯s profile had been on his desk, and the information indeed portrayed her as a good kid. Now it seemed that although the two were in a business marriage, this girl obviously had genuine feelings for Lu Yanchuan. Having feelings is a good thing. As long as the two can be happy together, that¡¯s what matters. Unlike him, who has lived a lifetime of regret¡­ Mr. Tao looked at Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi¡¯s clasped hands, a fleeting sadness flashing through his eyes, then gone in an instant. ¡°Come by more often with Xiao Chuan, and if he doesn¡¯t bring you, come by yourself; don¡¯t end up gloomy at such a young age like him!¡± Having wiped his hands, Mr. Tao then headed to the resting area with Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. Chapter 101 - 101: Gambling on Stones Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Gambling on Stones ¡°I¡¯ve seen it, the galloping horse jade pendant is not the one I gave to Feiyan, but if it weren¡¯t for the absence of my secret mark, even I couldn¡¯t distinguish the authenticity of this item!¡± Mr. Tao had someone bring over a brocade box, inside which lay a white jade pendant, its entirety milky white and emitting a gentle glow. This is a piece of Mutton Fat Jade of excellent quality, and with Mr. Tao¡¯s discerning eye, he couldn¡¯t spot any flaws in it. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t understand these intricacies; he had only seen the pendant Mr. Tao gave to Old Madam Gong and couldn¡¯t see any difference between it and the one before them. Mr. Tao didn¡¯t expect to explain it clearly to him but simply showed them the bottom of the pendant. ¡°The pendant I gave to Feiyan has my secret mark here, engraved with the characters ¡®Feiyan¡¯ in clerical script, but this one doesn¡¯t have it.¡± Mr. Tao felt an indescribable discomfort, whether it was because the item he gifted his former lover had been counterfeited, or something else. Listening to their conversation for a while, Qiao Yi finally understood what they were discussing. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen this pendant somewhere.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen it? Where?¡± ¡°In a photo¡­ on Sun Keke¡¯s phone, I saw this photo in her gallery!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly recalled where she had seen it. The name Sun Keke was unfamiliar to Mr. Tao, but Lu Yanchuan knew who she was. When Sun Keke was hospitalized due to injury, it was he and Qiao Yi who rushed to help Sun Keke with the formalities. ¡°Sun Keke is from the Sun Family, apparently an illegitimate daughter, I never inquired about her exact status. Initially, she was engaged to Ning Yuze, but after I beat up Ning Yuze at that banquet, their engagement was called off.¡± Speaking of Sun Keke, Qiao Yi also remembered what Ning Yuze had told her. According to Ning Yuze, he and Sun Keke had already broken off their engagement, so why did Sun Keke claim before the Tian City auction that Ning Yuze gave the supplementary card to her? Moreover, Sun Keke never mentioned to her what the main and supplementary cards were for. Could it be that Sun Keke did this on purpose? What could her motives be? Qiao Yi realized that this Sun Keke, whom she had inadvertently saved, was shrouded in mystery. ¡°People from the Sun Family?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed from the Sun Family, but I haven¡¯t been able to contact her for a long time. She had some accidents before, and I haven¡¯t seen her since.¡± Qiao Yi briefly shared her experience of meeting Sun Keke, and Mr. Tao, still confused, eventually waved his hand helplessly. ¡°Let Xiao Chuan handle this matter. You just inform me once there¡¯s any news.¡± Mr. Tao, who had devoted his life to jade, had no interest in these conspiracies and simply awaited a result. Lu Yanchuan agreed and without further ado, sent a message to investigate Sun Keke. After discussing the major issues, Mr. Tao noticed the high-powered flashlight Qiao Yi was holding, which piqued his interest. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yiyi also interested in stone gambling?¡± Qiao Yi smiled somewhat sheepishly, ¡°I don¡¯t really understand these matters; it was just some fun with friends.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t really say that, the fun of stone gambling is just for fun, as long as you¡¯re happy. Did you pick some stones? Bring them and I¡¯ll cut them for you!¡± Mr. Tao said generously, but Qiao Yi was hesitating and didn¡¯t know how to respond. ¡°Go bring them all up.¡± Without letting Qiao Yi make her own decision, Lu Yanchuan made the decision for her, directly asking Ma Yu to call everyone who was wandering below to come up. When Qiao Yi came up to meet Mr. Tao, the group below had chosen quite a few more stones to bring up, and compared to their car, the stones in Qiao Yi¡¯s car suddenly seemed exceptionally few. Mr. Tao could now confirm that this group of youngsters just had money to burn, bringing so many stones just for fun! ¡°Did you guys buy out all the stones below? Why bring so many up?¡± Qiao Yi was also surprised as she looked at everyone¡¯s cars, Feng Siyu¡¯s car had almost twice as many stones! Everyone greeted Mr. Tao and then gathered around excitedly waiting to cut the stones. Perhaps influenced by the girls¡¯ shopping desires, even the guys from Gu Ting each had one or two stones, just not as exaggerated as the girls. This group¡¯s silly, rich behavior had already caught the attention of many people; seeing them enter the VIP stone-cutting room, those who couldn¡¯t enter hurried to the big screen downstairs, waiting to see these silly kids cut worthless stones. With their buying method, it was inevitable to cut some good stones, but the chances of cutting worthless ones were also quite high. Many people were watching, some out of curiosity, and some purely out of jealousy towards the wealthy. Mr. Tao was stunned by the dozens of stones of various sizes, but he soon laughed and with a wave of his hand, let the stone-cutting specialists start cutting the stones. The thrill of stone gambling is in the heartbeat, whether the value goes up or down with each cut is all up to fate. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t maintain her composure either; she stood and walked to her car, choosing the largest stone to personally place into the stone-cutting machine. A large stone isn¡¯t necessarily a good stone. After two cuts, there was only a slight hint of green, making this stone basically a dud; the bit of green could at most make a ring, and only for someone with small hands. Qiao Yi pouted, not caring how much money she had spent on the stone, just a bit disappointed about not cutting anything good. This time, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t choose the stones herself, letting the stone-cutting specialist pick whatever looked good to him. All these stones had to be cut anyway, it didn¡¯t matter which was cut first. A stone the size of a head was placed into the stone-cutting machine, and as the machine started, Qiao Yi¡¯s heart also lifted. ¡°Green seen! Green seen! The value increased!¡± The stone-cutting specialist exclaimed, then leaned over the inspection window to look inside. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t see inside, she could only watch the screen in the stone-cutting room, showing a small piece of the stone¡¯s skin being cut away, and the stone finally revealing its true nature. ¡°The little girl has good luck, nice skin and floating patterns, this cut is pretty good.¡± Mr. Tao, while watching these people cut stones, commented with Lu Yanchuan on each piece as it came out, and the others also cut some jade, but so far the best skin belonged to the piece in Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. Having cut something good, Qiao Yi was overjoyed, hugging her stone and running to show it off to Feng Siyu, who was so jealous that he directly snatched her stone for himself. The stone-snatched Qiao Yi returned to her place very sulky, waving her hand grandly, swearing to cut a better stone to infuriate Feng Siyu even more! Chapter 102 - 102: Leaving Early Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Leaving Early The Jade Jewelry Exhibition has been held for many sessions, but only this session has seen such a bunch of quirky characters. Each person brought a heap of stones, and cutting stones is not much harder than cutting cakes. People don¡¯t care whether the stones they hold have increased or decreased in value; they just want one thing, and that¡¯s to have fun! Qiao Yi and her group were having a blast, but the onlookers were all dumbfounded. Where did these foolish, rich suckers come from? A perfectly good exhibition is now turning into a playful mess. Fortunately, these people only played for one morning and didn¡¯t cause too much commotion for these kids. You can tell how thick-skinned Qiao Yi is just by looking at what she¡¯s doing now. She¡¯s boasting to Feng Siyu and a few others with the stone that Mr. Tao gave her, making the others feel like robbing her in public. Mr. Tao and Lu Yanchuan were just watching from the side, Mr. Tao cheerfully commented on each stone, whether they were good or bad. If it were someone else playing with stones so recklessly in front of Mr. Tao, without any serious attitude, Mr. Tao would have definitely lost his temper and driven them away by now. But facing Qiao Yi and her group, Mr. Tao was unusually good-tempered. ¡°Mr. Tao really likes Young Madam. The young master should bring Young Madam to accompany Mr. Tao more often.¡± Mr. Tao, assisted by Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu, went to judge whose stone was better. Uncle Peng initially wanted to stop them but was stopped by a look from Mr. Tao. Realizing later, Uncle Peng then smiled. ¡°Yiyi and the teacher in her youth were very similar.¡± Both lived passionately and freely. On the way back to the hotel, Lu Yanchuan was distracted. Qiao Yi spoke to him several times, but Lu Yanchuan responded superficially each time. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you seem so preoccupied?¡± Back in the room, Qiao Yi finally couldn¡¯t hold back and asked. ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Yanchuan frowned slightly and silently pushed Qiao Yi into the bathroom. Unable to understand what was going on with the man, Qiao Yi pouted and pushed him out of her mind, starting to organize her own spoils from the wins. This exhibition was the best in terms of scale and duration among the several held in the country, lasting three days, with Qiao Yi soaking herself in the exhibition. Her goal was not the jade jewelry at the exhibition, but Mr. Tao. Perhaps because he hadn¡¯t been out for a long time, Mr. Tao was also infected by the enthusiasm of Qiao Yi¡¯s young group and picked a suitable piece from Qiao Yi¡¯s collection to personally make a small artifact to play with. Keep in mind, Mr. Tao works only once a year, and although he occasionally practices aside from the clearly priced work he sells, getting a piece crafted by Mr. Tao certainly spikes its value instantly. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t aware of these rumors, so the next day after coming back from the exhibition, her phone kept ringing with calls offering high prices to buy the piece made by Mr. Tao. ¡°Master Tao, you really got me into trouble¡­¡± Qiao Yi held her phone, looking pitifully as she sat next to Mr. Tao. Mr. Tao had a thick piece of leather spread on his lap, wore reading glasses, and was holding the first stone that Qiao Yi had carved. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± While Mr. Tao talked with Qiao Yi, his other hand continued working, and tiny jade shavings sprinkled from his fingertips onto the leather on his lap. Qiao Yi held her still buzzing phone up to Mr. Tao, pointing at the incoming call alert, almost ready to cry. ¡°It¡¯s been two days, these people somehow heard that you were going to start jade carving, and even more inexplicably, that you were going to use the jade I procured. Now they¡¯ve all swarmed to call me¡­¡± Faced with these densely packed calls, Qiao Yi initially answered a couple, but later on, seeing these unfamiliar incoming calls, she didn¡¯t even look and just ignored them. But this couldn¡¯t go on! It was severely affecting her normal life! ¡°Why don¡¯t you just turn on call blocking?¡± ¡°Master Tao, you don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Qiao Yi was utterly helpless. How could she explain to Mr. Tao that although activating call blocking was fine, it would also block other important unfamiliar numbers, causing even bigger problems! Mr. Tao quite enjoyed seeing Qiao Yi like this, he lightly huffed, clearly showing his absolute indifference. ¡°Sort out these trivial matters yourself; if you can¡¯t handle these little things, how will you take over the entire Qiao Family in the future?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s facial expression tightened, her eyes wary and solemn as she looked at Mr. Tao. Why would he say that¡­ ¡°Relax, I have no interest in the affairs of the Qiao Family. But keep a good eye on your sister, she is not a good girl.¡± Mr. Tao blew on the jade carving in his hand, very pleased, he nodded in satisfaction, then took off his glasses and handed them to Uncle Peng, and straightened up to look at Qiao Yi. ¡°Don¡¯t be so tense, I was acquainted with your grandfather, but he passed away too soon, otherwise, your family wouldn¡¯t be in such chaos now.¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Qiao Yi was somewhat unsure of Mr. Tao¡¯s intent. ¡°You¡¯re a good kid, and now that you¡¯re married to Xiao Chuan, just live a good life with Yanchuan. As a woman, don¡¯t wear yourself out.¡± Mr. Tao¡¯s eyes held sympathy and some emotions Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t quite understand, yet he indeed bore no ill will. His words left everyone but Qiao Yi confused. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, even though I married Lu Yanchuan, I am still a member of the Qiao Family; I can¡¯t just ignore the Qiao Family regardless, and as for being tired, who can go through life easily without hardships?¡± Qiao Yi smiled, shrugged her shoulders, and just like that, her earlier alertness vanished, and she and Mr. Tao shifted the topic with mutual understanding. After leaving Mr. Tao¡¯s place, Qiao Yi was somewhat distracted. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the Capital City in a couple of days; I have things to do when I return.¡± Back at the hotel, she greeted Lu Yanchuan and began booking their return flights. Feng Siyu, due to a schedule, was reluctantly taken away by Gu Ting the previous afternoon, and before leaving, she did not forget to ask Qiao Yi to bring back those two boxes of stones. The rest seemed not to have had enough fun yet; except for Han Zizhen whose company was busy and had to leave, the others had no intention of departing. Han Wenle looked reluctant; now that her brother was leaving too, among these remaining few people, Han Wenle was not very familiar with them. If Qiao Yi were to leave as well, that would leave her feeling quite lonely! ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to play until the end of the exhibition and sale? Why the hurry to leave?¡± Chapter 103 - 103 Will You Help Me? Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Will You Help Me? ¡°I have to go back home to handle some sudden matters, I¡¯ll hang out with you next time!¡± Before Qiao Yi left, she gave Han Wenle a small package, reminding her to bring it along when she goes out these days. ¡°Keep this safe, don¡¯t let anyone see it!¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know what about her words made this girl blush. Qiao Yi was baffled, she meant to say Qiao Xin, what¡¯s there for Han Wenle to blush about! Not sure what Han Wenle misunderstood, Qiao Yi thought about it and explained. ¡°When you go out, bring this with you and try to avoid Qiao Xin, don¡¯t tell her I¡¯ve already left!¡± The Qiao sisters¡¯ discord isn¡¯t new, it used to be just Qiao Xin picking on her, but now Qiao Yi is fighting back. Han Wenle felt awkward, realized she had misunderstood, and quickly coughed, nodding seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell Qiao Xin!¡± Qiao Yi was, of course, very relieved, whether Qiao Xin would be infuriated upon discovering she had been duped wasn¡¯t Qiao Yi¡¯s concern. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t leave with Qiao Yi; before Qiao Yi left, Lu Yanchuan vanished, only telling Qiao Yi to go back first and that he¡¯d return in a few days. Qiao Yi never planned to track Lu Yanchuan¡¯s whereabouts, and she was momentarily stunned when Lu Yanchuan reported his movements to her. ¡°Sister! I¡¯m here to pick you up!¡± This time, Qiao Yi only informed Qiao Qiao, she didn¡¯t even tell Qiao Benqing. ¡°Sis, why didn¡¯t you bring me along on your trip! Don¡¯t you care about me anymore?¡± The twenty-something big boy still overwhelmed people with his childishness, Qiao Yi forcefully pushed away Qiao Qiao¡¯s fluffy head and tousled his hair. ¡°Stop joking, I asked you to pick me up because there¡¯s serious business, you didn¡¯t tell mom and dad, did you?¡± ¡°No, I told them I was out to meet a friend, didn¡¯t tell them you¡¯re back.¡± Qiao Yi was very pleased and gave Qiao Qiao a smile, ¡°Sis will take you to meet someone, see if you can handle her.¡± Qiao Qiao suddenly widened his eyes, zipped to the other door of the car, crossed his arms as if he were a maiden encountering a pervert. ¡°Sis! What are you doing! You¡¯re not going to make me sell my charm, are you!¡± Qiao Yi scowled and slapped Qiao Qiao, what had this naughty guy learned abroad! Why did he turn into this mess! ¡°What are you thinking! Even if you¡¯d sacrifice your charm, others have to agree first. When we get there, keep quiet until I tell you to speak, got it?¡± Qiao Yi laid down the order, Qiao Qiao pouted and reluctantly nodded. But his arms protected his chest, a defensive posture, he probably still didn¡¯t trust Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi clenched her fists tightly but didn¡¯t hit Qiao Qiao, silently chanting ten times that this is her own little brother, she shouldn¡¯t beat him to stupidity, and she finally let out a snort sparing Qiao Qiao¡¯s life. The car reached Gela Hotel, the hardest place to book in the second ring of the Capital City. Qiao Yi was in such a rush to return mainly because she wanted to use the Qiao and Lu families¡¯ influence to silence those chasing after Mr. Tao¡¯s artworks. Another reason was the special message she received on her phone. Sun Keke had sent her an invitation, asking to meet at Gela Hotel. Qiao Qiao could only be considered an extra, the main reason Qiao Yi brought him was because of the message from Sun Keke, which stated that the Sun Family wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Qiao Family. Since Qiao Xin and her were both married, the only one in the Qiao Family who could form a marital alliance was Qiao Qiao, so Qiao Yi could only bring him along. After learning from Qiao Yi through soft persistence and hard bargains what his role in this was, Qiao Qiao was already preparing to escape. However, before he could even step out, he was already dragged into the hotel by Qiao Yi. A grown man, standing over one meter eighty, was carried by Qiao Yi as if he was a small chick, it was pitiful to see. ¡°Why are you running? I¡¯m not necessarily going to make you marry into the Sun Family, I¡¯m just bringing you along to take a look.¡± ¡°Besides, if you leave now, do you expect me, your older sister, to attend this ambiguous dinner alone? Aren¡¯t you scared that something dangerous might happen to me?¡± Qiao Qiao was on the verge of tears, could he dare to retort? Could he dare to argue! He didn¡¯t dare! What could he say? Did he expect him to say, ¡®Don¡¯t worry, sister, you won¡¯t encounter any dangers, you¡¯ll only bring dangers to others¡¯? It¡¯s not like he was tired of living! Wanting to continue living well, Qiao Qiao gave up on the possibility of communicating with Qiao Yi and was dragged into the hotel with Qiao Yi¡¯s firm grip. Fortunately, Qiao Yi still left Qiao Qiao some dignity; before entering the reserved private room, she let go of a disheartened Qiao Qiao. Sun Keke had already been waiting for a long time. To be exact, she had already been in Gela Hotel, waiting for Qiao Yi¡¯s arrival, when she sent the message to Qiao Yi. The private room was very spacious, but inside, there was only Sun Keke sitting alone. ¡°Keke¡­how¡­how did you end up like this!¡± Sun Keke was sitting with her back to the door. Qiao Yi circled around the half-person-high chair and finally got a clear view of Sun Keke¡¯s appearance. If not for seeing Sun Keke¡¯s face clearly, Qiao Yi almost couldn¡¯t believe that the emaciated, haggard, and frightening woman in front of her was the same shy and gentle girl from before! Sun Keke sat on the chair, expressionlessly looking at Qiao Yi, and motioning with a slight wave of her hand for her to sit down and talk. In less than a month, Sun Keke had lost a lot of weight, her cheekbones deeply sunken in, and her arms that stretched out were also terribly skinny. What caught Qiao Yi¡¯s attention the most were the scars visible all over her body. Burns, scalds, cuts ¨C on her face, hands, legs! Almost all visible areas were covered with scars. ¡°What¡­what exactly happened¡­¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t consider herself a good person; she had gotten into fights and even knife fights, but she had never seen or imagined such scars as those on Sun Keke¡¯s body in her entire life. Just looking at these scars, she was already terrified, not to mention the other marks on Sun Keke¡¯s skin that evoked many thoughts. ¡°Qiao Yi, are you willing to help me?¡± Sun Keke spoke, and Qiao Yi was even more shocked. ¡°Your voice¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m practically a wreck now.¡± Sun Keke shrugged nonchalantly, even taking the liberty to lift her clothing, showing Qiao Yi even more hidden scars beneath her clothes. Qiao Yi grabbed Sun Keke¡¯s hand, tears welling up as she looked into her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m willing to help you, as long as I¡¯m capable.¡± Chapter 104 - 104: Tool Man Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Tool Man Qiao Yi¡¯s words seemed to give Sun Keke a glimmer of hope. Sun Keke moved slightly, clasping Qiao Yi¡¯s hand in return as two lines of silent tears fell. Sitting beside Qiao Yi, Qiao Qiao was absolutely stunned. From the moment he saw Sun Keke, he had been in a state of confusion. Why does his sister know such a person? What has this person gone through to become what she is now? And most importantly, his sister isn¡¯t planning to make him take this woman down, right? Should he consider dying to prove his point now? Fortunately, Qiao Yi was completely oblivious to Qiao Qiao behind her, which saved him from another disaster. After hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, Sun Keke finally snapped out of her chilling state, although she still looked terrifying, at least she was no longer like a walking corpse. From her appearance, one could tell that her previous experiences were not pleasant. Qiao Yi wisely kept her mouth shut and did not ask further but instead inquired about how Sun Keke wanted her help. ¡°I want you to help me change my identity and appearance, I want to take over the Sun Family.¡± ¡°To take over the Sun Family!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s breath hitched, her mind raced with various chaotic thoughts. ¡°How¡­ how do you plan to take over the Sun Family?¡± ¡°I know your father and Lu Yanchuan are planning to trap the Sun Family with the Old City Harbor project, but the Sun Family has already learned about this and have prepared countermeasures. If the Sun Family succeeds, all the efforts your father and Lu Yanchuan made will be in vain, and they might even pay a price for it.¡± ¡°How do you know!¡± Qiao Yi was even more astonished, and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. A hint of hatred flashed in Sun Keke¡¯s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and said calmly, ¡°The Sun Family themselves told me these, you can choose not to believe me, just confirm the Sun Family¡¯s construction plans in the Old City Harbor and show them to Lu Yanchuan, and he will understand everything.¡± ¡°But, Yanchuan can investigate these himself, the Sun Family wouldn¡¯t leave such a big flaw.¡± Qiao Yi was mostly convinced, as there was no need for Sun Keke to deceive her. Even if Sun Keke was indeed lying, the worst that would happen is that the Lu Family and Qiao Family wouldn¡¯t strike against the Sun Family, with no real loss. Moreover, Sun Keke¡¯s tone was very certain, making Qiao Yi have to believe her words. Seemingly noticing Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts, Sun Keke took out her phone and showed a document to Qiao Yi. ¡°This is the Sun Family¡¯s plan for reorganizing and refurbishing the Old Harbor, they plan to use this to target the market operations of the Qiao and Lu Families in Tian City. Once they start, do you think the Qiao and Lu Families will not suffer any losses?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to inquire how the document came about anymore; she just wanted to verify its authenticity. If this document is real, then everything would be as Sun Keke said¡­ ¡°What do you want exactly!¡± ¡°Simple, help me change my appearance and help me enter the Sun Group.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Sun Keke mentioned the Sun Group, the hatred in her tone made Qiao Yi shudder. She couldn¡¯t comprehend why Sun Keke harbored such deep hatred towards the Sun Group. However, the matters between Sun Keke and the Sun Family weren¡¯t what Qiao Yi wanted to meddle with. She was helping Sun Keke partly because of the information Sun Keke brought and partly because of their acquaintance. Qiao Yi even felt that if she hadn¡¯t agreed to help Sun Keke today, this person couldn¡¯t continue living. ¡°Alright, I agree to help you, but there are two things I need to clarify.¡± Upon receiving Qiao Yi¡¯s commitment, Sun Keke relaxed, and a heavy fatigue emerged on her face. ¡°What is it, just tell me.¡± ¡°I hope you can meet with Lu Yanchuan and personally discuss the matters concerning the Sun Family. Of course, if you prefer not meeting Lu Yanchuan, you can record a video or an audio message, it¡¯s up to you.¡± ¡°Also, last time you were hospitalized, I saw a photo on your phone that had a Mutton Fat Jade pendant, do you still remember where that photo was taken?¡± Qiao Yi took out her phone, showing the photo of the galloping horse she had captured. ¡°I can meet with Lu Yanchuan, but as for this photo¡­ I seem to have some recollection¡­¡± Qiao Yi held her breath, afraid to disturb Sun Keke¡¯s thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s it! I remember now! I saw it in the study of the current Family Head of the Sun Family, I thought it was pretty so I took the photo. Is there something wrong with this jade carving?¡± Qiao Yi shook her head, ¡°Nothing, just that I saw an identical one at an elder¡¯s, so I asked.¡± Sun Keke could tell from Qiao Yi¡¯s expression that she didn¡¯t want to talk more, and wisely shut up. ¡°Right, this is my brother, if you can¡¯t find me in the future, you can contact him directly.¡± Qiao Yi pushed Qiao Qiao, who nearly dozed off sitting aside; startled by the push, he almost leaped up. ¡°Oh! Yes, just contact me!¡± After Qiao Yi sternly glared at him, Qiao Qiao came to his senses and smiled at Sun Keke. After exchanging contact information, Qiao Yi directly took Sun Keke to her small apartment outside the Fourth Ring. ¡°This place isn¡¯t big, but a maid cleans it every three days, so it¡¯s manageable to live in. You can stay here for now, and as for the cosmetic surgery¡­ your physical condition might need some time to recover¡­¡± ¡°I hope it can be as soon as possible. I will recover as quickly as I can, and I hope it won¡¯t take longer than two months.¡± Unable to dissuade her, Qiao Yi agreed and settled Sun Keke before leaving with a dumbfounded Qiao Qiao. ¡°What are you staring at!¡± Qiao Qiao got another thump on his head and quickly followed Qiao Yi. ¡°Sis, this woman¡­¡± ¡°In the future, you will be responsible for contacting her. You just returned to the country and not many people know you, so it should be more convenient for you.¡± Qiao Yi decreed with a single sentence the role of Qiao Qiao, the tool-man. After hesitating, he said, ¡°Sis, do we really need to inform dad about Miss Sun¡¯s matters?¡± No one likes their scars to be revealed; Sun Keke seeking help from Qin Yanyun, not exactly a friend, clearly indicates she is desperate. If Qiao Benqing also steps in, who knows how Sun Keke might react. ¡°It¡¯s not necessary, Yanchuan and dad will discuss when the time comes. As for Sun Keke, if dad learns about it, he¡¯ll certainly want to investigate her matters, which could lead to complications.¡± Chapter 105 - 105: To Annoy Qiao Yi Chapter 105: Chapter 105: To Annoy Qiao Yi Back at Emperor Garden, Qiao Yi called Lu Yanchuan to relay what had happened. ¡°I don¡¯t think Sun Keke had any reason to lie to me, and she certainly wouldn¡¯t get herself into her current state just to deceive me.¡± Qiao Yi sent Lu Yanchuan the documents Sun Keke had shown her. With both Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Benqing worrying about the Sun Family¡¯s affairs, she was merely passing on a message. ¡°I got it, I¡¯ll return in a couple of days.¡± Lu Yanchuan on the other end of the line didn¡¯t seem to be doing anything; his breathing was slightly unstable, as if he had just finished some intense exercise. The phone Qiao Yi had clamped to her ear suddenly fell. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice on the phone was practically lethal, causing Qiao Yi¡¯s ears to turn red. ¡°You¡ªyou come back whenever you want, nobody is controlling you!¡± Qiao Yi hung up with a snap, her face uncontrollably flushed. Having been hung up on, Lu Yanchuan thought about the annoyed tone of the person on the other end and felt his previously suppressed mood lighten somewhat. In an abandoned factory near the border between China and the Southern Country, Lu Yanchuan held his phone with a thoughtful expression while the dozens of people standing and kneeling below him dared not utter a sound. After a long time, Lu Yanchuan tossed aside the blood-stained baseball bat. At his feet lay two people whose conditions were uncertain; both were covered in blood, their limbs twisted unnaturally. ¡°I¡¯ve said it, my business will not tolerate smuggling or illegal activities. If there is a next time, this will be the outcome.¡± Lu Yanchuan lightly kicked one of the men with the tip of his shoe, causing a gush of blood to spill out of the man¡¯s mouth. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A droplet of blood fell onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoe, but before he could even frown, someone had already rushed over to wipe it clean. Everyone lying or kneeling on the ground were taken away, and not long after, there were a few faint screams from outside. ¡°Xiyu, go check if Lu Ming has been up to anything lately.¡± ¡°What, your little nephew can¡¯t sit still again?¡± A voice next to Lu Yanchuan emerged from the darkness, as a man shrouded in black silently sat there, playing with the cell phone Lu Yanchuan had just slipped into his pocket. ¡°Indeed, a married man really is different. You never used to talk so tenderly to anyone, and I am quite curious to know who has the power to subdue you?¡± Yan Xiyu asked intentionally, although he already knew the answer. His slender fingers tapped the phone screen a couple of times, and when the screen lit up, it displayed a joyful photo of Qiao Yi. If one did not know Yan Xiyu, they would be deceived by his aura of sophistication and elegance, but those familiar with him knew that this man had the face of an angel but the mind of a devil. Already accustomed to Yan Xiyu¡¯s eccentric behavior, Lu Yanchuan unceremoniously snatched his phone back. Noticing that Lu Yanchuan only briefly paused when he saw the changed screensaver and didn¡¯t bother to change it back, Yan Xiyu¡¯s smile grew slightly wider and even had a hint of malice. ¡°Smitten, are we? Do you want me to test if your little wife is smitten with you as well?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Lu Yanchuan thought of Qiao Yi¡¯s shy demeanor and looked at Yan Xiyu with disdain, calmly declining. Yan Xiyu, as if discovering some ultimate universal secret, suddenly widened his eyes and sat upright. ¡°You actually didn¡¯t deny having feelings? Look, look, tsk tsk tsk¡­¡± ¡°Stop being hysterical and hurry up with the investigation I asked for. Especially look into Lu Ming¡¯s financial transactions to see if there is any connection with Hendry Corp.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Hendry Corp the one that specializes in electronic products? I heard they recently developed a new tracking system, and it even comes with a matching locator¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan pulled out two broken pieces of a tracking device from his pocket and tossed them to Yan Xiyu. ¡°Someone hid these on me; I suspect it was Lu Ming¡¯s doing.¡± The two damaged components in Yan Xiyu¡¯s hands were treated like rare treasures, examined closely in his hands while ignoring what Lu Yanchuan was saying afterward. Knowing Yan Xiyu¡¯s obsession, Lu Yanchuan was not surprised and, after instructing his subordinates to pass on his words, left the warehouse. Meanwhile, in Jiang City, Lu Ming was still unaware that he was being investigated; he was busy accompanying Qiao Xin as they followed the tracker around the city in a frenzy. After the exhibition ended, the group that was supposed to leave ended up staying, playing around Jiang City and its surroundings instead. The most infuriating part was, this group split up, which meant Qiao Xin kept missing them every time she went out. She could only chase after the locator that had been hidden on Qiao Yi, running everywhere. Lu Ming had assured her when he gave her the device that if it was hidden on Qiao Yi, even a detector wouldn¡¯t be able to find it. Qiao Xin believed Lu Ming¡¯s words, hiding one each on Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan, which allowed her to always find them. It wasn¡¯t to encounter Lu Yanchuan by chance; it was solely to annoy Qiao Yi. But now Qiao Xin was starting to doubt Lu Ming¡¯s words¡ªcould Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan have discovered the device, otherwise why would they keep going around in circles? ¡°Impossible! This is the latest model from an overseas company. Apart from their own detectors, all other detectors are blocked from picking up its signal!¡± Lu Ming swore confidently; he couldn¡¯t believe that Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi would carry detectors with them. If they actually did, they¡¯d be truly unlucky! Qiao Xin was skeptical but seeing Lu Ming¡¯s certainty, she reluctantly believed him. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, if you fail to keep your promise, you won¡¯t get the child or the shares!¡± Qiao Xin caressed her bulging belly and threatened Lu Ming with a glare before continuing to focus on the locator, urging the driver to keep up. For an entire day, the two little red dots on the locator kept changing positions, and by the time they arrived, the location had changed again. With the discomfort of a pregnant body and being cooped up in a car for a whole day, not to mention her frustration, Qiao Xin stepped out of the car pale as a ghost. ¡°Why bother with all this chasing? It¡¯s just¡­¡± Han Wenle was not Feng Siyu; if Feng Siyu were here, he would have already started taunting Qiao Xin with his acerbic tongue. Although Han Wenle disapproved of Qiao Xin, he just frowned and muttered before turning to enter the hotel. Qiao Yi had informed Han Wenle of what was inside the package, and what Qiao Xin and Lu Ming had been following for an entire day was not Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan at all but a small bag containing a locator and a mobile phone! Chapter 106 - 106: Nothing Tastes Better Than Dumplings Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Nothing Tastes Better Than Dumplings Qiao Xin heard Han Wenle¡¯s mockery, but she felt so nauseous that she was between life and death, and had no intention to care about Han Wenle at all. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Wenle was not the kind who argues with people; frowned upon being stared at by Qiao Xin, and walked into the hotel hand in hand with Yun Luoluo. However, it was Yun Qing who trailed behind and looked at Qiao Xin with a hostile gaze. ¡°Being pregnant and using such strong perfume, if you don¡¯t want this child just get an abortion. Being so irresponsible while pregnant, this child is truly unlucky to have you as a mother.¡± Half because he wanted to vent for Han Wenle, and half due to occupational habit, Yun Qing approached Qiao Xin and immediately smelled the pungent perfume on her, did this woman pour half a bottle of perfume on herself! Qiao Xin, disgusted by these words, glared at Yun Qing and pushed away Lu Ming¡¯s hand, then walked into the hotel. But for Lu Ming, he gazed thoughtfully at the back of Qiao Xin. Yun Qing did not miss the expression on Lu Ming¡¯s face; that expression should not be on the face of a father of a child, without a hint of worry or annoyance, even somewhat eager? Unable to understand what this guy was thinking, Yun Qing secretly cursed his own professional habit. If Qiao Xin loves to use perfume, let her be! Whatever she gives birth to is none of his business! Lu Ming¡¯s phone rang suddenly, and his expression drastically changed as he picked up the phone, hastily leaving the front of the hotel. Yun Qing was curious who could cause such a reaction in Lu Ming, hesitated for a moment, then followed him. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to call me recently!¡± From afar, Yun Qing could hear Lu Ming suppressing his anger. Not knowing what the person on the other end said, Lu Ming¡¯s anger seemed to lessen a bit, but he was still very annoyed. ¡°I know you miss me, but I¡¯m busy right now, I don¡¯t have time to be with you all day¡­ What! You¡¯re in Jiang City!¡± Lu Ming¡¯s voice suddenly raised an octave, nearly causing Yun Qing to jump out from behind the tree. ¡°Where are you waiting, I¡¯ll come to pick you up!¡± Lu Ming frowned deeply, finally compromised, and hung up the phone before leaving the hotel. Who came to Jiang City at this time, and could make him show such an expression? After returning, Yun Qing thought about it and decided to send a message to Lu Yanchuan. Outsiders see the Lu Family as dominated by Lu Yanchuan, but those close to him know that the family of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s second brother is not calm. They always feel their current status is beneath them and are itching to oppose Lu Yanchuan. A lion facing the provocation of a mouse of course does not need to care, but facing a group of mice, that would be troublesome. Although in terms of combat power, the strength of the lion is not to be underestimated, too many mice can injure or even kill the lion. After a while, Lu Yanchuan just replied with ¡°Got it,¡± the cold and ruthless reply instantly poured cold water on Yun Qing. Yun Qing once again silently cursed himself for being foolish! What does he care if Lu Yanchuan dies! Even if the lion is killed by a group of mice, what does it have to do with him! After being struck twice in one day, a tearful Yun Qing silently returned to his own room, only to be surprised to find Han Wenle about to knock on his door. ¡°Uh, your backpack was left in my car, here¡­¡± ¡°Thank you! Why don¡¯t you come in and sit for a while, I¡¯ll make you a cup of coffee!¡± Yun Qing¡¯s gloom instantly dissipated upon receiving his backpack from Han Wenle, excitedly inviting her into his room. Han Wenle glanced at the completely darkened sky outside, puzzled why one would want to drink coffee late at night. Probably just expressing her gratitude¡­ Han Wenle, a genuinely sincere girl, simply shook her head and refused Yun Qing. ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m heading back tomorrow and still have things to pack, so I won¡¯t come in.¡± Han Wenle smiled, nodded, turned, and left, leaving Yun Qing standing there with a silly grin, savoring the smile Han Wenle had just given him. By the time Yun Qing snapped back to reality, there was no trace of the beauty left. Oh no! Did he act too eagerly just now and scare the beauty away? Yun Qing¡¯s mood quickly changed from clear to cloudy again, looking like it may stay cloudy or even turn to mixed rain and snow. Lu Yanchuan received Yun Qing¡¯s message while on a plane back to Capital City, sitting next to Yan Xiyu, who had stubbornly insisted on tagging along. Seriously, with your rich young master persona, why do you always do such crazy things? Sneaking onto the plane in the cargo hold¡ªis that something someone like you should do? Ignoring the aggrieved emotions of his younger brother, Yan Xiyu sat next to Lu Yanchuan, each crease on his clothes as if calculated with precision, a stranger would surely admire his elegance. But to someone like Lu Yanchuan, who knew him, he just wanted to throw Yan Xiyu out of the plane and feed him to the fish. ¡°They say nothing beats delicious dumplings and fun¡­ cough cough! I¡¯m here to see my sister-in-law, is there anything wrong with that?¡± When Yan Xiyu doesn¡¯t talk, he¡¯s the unparalleled gentleman; when he opens his mouth, he¡¯s nothing but a ruffian begging for a beating; Lu Yanchuan barely restrained himself from splashing the coffee in his hand on Yan Xiyu¡¯s innocent face. ¡°I¡¯ve found the information you wanted. Lu Ming has indeed been closely involved with Hendry Corp recently, and there have been several suspicious financial transactions, even I couldn¡¯t trace the sources.¡± ¡°It¡¯s as if the money appeared out of thin air.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded, Lu Ming¡¯s small maneuvers had been relentless but hadn¡¯t stirred up any major concerns, so Lu Yanchuan had been turning a blind eye. However, the unclear cash flow in the last few months from Lu Group really caught Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention; after much thought, Lu Yanchuan still pinned his suspicions on Lu Ming. ¡°Keep a close eye on him, we must find out the source of those funds.¡± Qiao Yi knew Lu Yanchuan was coming back tonight but didn¡¯t know he was bringing someone else. So when Lu Yanchuan saw Qiao Yi, dressed only in a thin camisole nightgown, unglamorously nestled on the couch eating chips and watching TV, his first reaction was to shove Yan Xiyu out the door and then firmly shut it behind him. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Qiao Yi, completely unaware that Lu Yanchuan had brought another person, lazily shifted her body without bothering to turn around. The long silence behind her made Qiao Yi curiously tilt her head, only to be suddenly covered head-to-toe with a jacket still warm with body heat. ¡°Ah! Lu Yanchuan, have you lost your mind? I still have a face mask on!¡± Qiao Yi struggled frantically, unaware that her movements had thoroughly exposed herself. ¡°Ah!¡± Amidst Qiao Yi¡¯s exclamation, Lu Yanchuan directly picked her up and headed upstairs. ¡°This nightgown doesn¡¯t look good, don¡¯t wear it again.¡± Chapter 107 - 107: Hoping Hes in a Good Mood Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Hoping He¡¯s in a Good Mood After a bout of chaos, Qiao Yi finally understood why Lu Yanchuan had gone mad. ¡°Isn¡¯t your friend still outside? Aren¡¯t you going to let him in?¡± ¡°He has his own place to sleep.¡± The phrase ¡®a friend forgotten as soon as a woman appears¡¯ seemed to describe someone perfectly. As Lu Yanchuan carried Qiao Yi upstairs, her slender legs swung over his arms, swaying and almost making them tumble onto the bed. Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and pulled off the messy facial mask that had been rubbed askew by his suit jacket, petulantly slapping it onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chest. All this scoundrel knows is how to undress quickly, what else is he good for! This thought had barely crossed her mind when she froze. Since when had she grown so accustomed to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s intimacy? Even if the timing hadn¡¯t been so inappropriate just now, Qiao Yi might have even gone along with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s next move¡­ Could this be the effect of resignation? She had resigned herself to her marriage with Lu Yanchuan, so she gave up struggling. Rather than fighting in vain, wouldn¡¯t it be better to simply lie down and enjoy it? But then why was Lu Yanchuan acting like this? Was it out of habit? Or just a simple physical impulse? The little woman below him had frozen, offering no reaction, so Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t continue his solo performance. He bit her shoulder and asked vaguely, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­ I¡¯m going to wash my face first.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s mood oddly calmed down; she calmly pushed Lu Yanchuan away, calmly walked into the bathroom, and calmly closed the door. It seemed she was still not that calm¡­ Qiao Yi knew she was stubbornly fixated, but her heart was in turmoil. She wanted to ask Lu Yanchuan directly, but did not know how to broach the subject. If she didn¡¯t ask, she would feel even worse. While she was conflicted, Lu Yanchuan suddenly knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Master Tao¡¯s calling.¡± The phone call provided a respite for both of them. When Qiao Yi stepped out after drying her face, her composure was fully restored. Mr. Tao¡¯s call was to inform Qiao Yi that her jade carving was finished and had already been sent to Capital City as her birthday present. Besides telling Qiao Yi about this, Mr. Tao also subtly expressed his desire to have a grandchild and asked her to pass the phone to Lu Yanchuan, though what they talked about was not clear. Qiao Yi felt both helpless and touched. After Lu Yanchuan hung up, she said, ¡°Master Tao gave us such a valuable gift. Shouldn¡¯t we express our thanks as well?¡± ¡°Express what? Have a child sooner?¡± If Lu Yanchuan said this as a joke, Qiao Yi would surely have retorted. But Lu Yanchuan was dead serious, leaving Qiao Yi feeling emotionally complex. ¡°Forget it¡­ His old man certainly doesn¡¯t care about any reciprocation!¡± Two things were currently making headlines in Capital City. The first was about the Lu Family¡¯s Third Young Master¡¯s new wife, the Qiao Family¡¯s most beloved second daughter, who would be celebrating her birthday. Mr. Lu decided to celebrate her birthday by booking the entire Capital City Hotel for the event. The second was even more sensational; YX International was expanding its business to the domestic market, starting with Capital City. Compared to Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday, this news truly shocked the whole Capital City. YX International might not be a household name to some, but many would definitely recognize its subsidiary. The simplified application system commonly used on the internet today was invented by YX Electronic Technology, a subsidiary of YX International! This shows just how formidable YX International really is. However, for some unknown reason, the owner of YX recently changed the company name to LQ, though nobody really knew what YX stood for, to begin with. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps the owner of LQ likes to mix and match letters at will? Regardless of the company¡¯s name change, its strength is evident. Anyone who could secure the first cooperation opportunity with LQ would be grasping a golden thigh! No one doubted LQ¡¯s ability to penetrate the domestic market. With absolute strength, all worries are unfounded. To compete for the opportunity to partner with LQ, Qiao Benqing called Qiao Yi back home. ¡°This opportunity for cooperation is very rare, and the Qiao Family must secure it! The Lu Family¡¯s influence in the country has peaked, so they could well turn from our biggest competitor to our assistant. The rest is to prepare adequately. Yiyi, you will be in charge of this project.¡± Even if the Lu Family were to break into new markets, they would only head abroad in the future, which is different from the Qiao Family; the Qiao Family still lagged far behind the Lu Family! Though both were super-class families of Capital City, there were differences in the strength of such families. The Qiao and Sun families might be at the same level, whereas the Lu Family stood firmly above them. In this light, the chance to collaborate with LQ was crucial for the Qiao Family. ¡°Dad, I haven¡¯t joined the company; isn¡¯t it a bit rash to make me responsible for such an important project?¡± Qiao Yi let out a wail, closing her eyes and sinking back. She didn¡¯t want to take on such a huge responsibility! Qiao Benqing glared at her irritatedly and had Qiao Qiao help her sit up again. ¡°Who said you¡¯d take on the project entirely? I¡¯m asking you to take the project to Yanchuan and work on it with his help!¡± The Qiao Family wasn¡¯t lacking talent, but no one in the Qiao Family could match Lu Yanchuan¡¯s business acumen and sharpness. Qiao Benqing asking Qiao Yi to seek Lu Yanchuan¡¯s assistance was a move of desperation, hoping that if Lu Yanchuan agreed to help, the success rate would skyrocket. ¡°Just say that then¡­¡± Qiao Yi muttered, glancing at the documents Qiao Benqing had given her and then pouting before tossing them aside. ¡°What if Lu Yanchuan doesn¡¯t lend a hand?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem! However, considering how Yanchuan treats you, he will definitely help. Besides, he¡¯s the son-in-law of the Qiao Family, isn¡¯t it right for him to do something for his father-in-law¡¯s family?¡± Even Qiao Benqing felt embarrassed saying this. Who in Capital City would dare to commandeer Third Young Master Lu, especially to drop such a troublesome issue on his head? Qiao Benqing rattled off a slew of instructions; in the end, they all boiled down to one core idea: Qiao Yi must, by all means, ensure that Lu Yanchuan agrees to help the Qiao Family secure the project. Qiao Yi was unceremoniously thrown out of the study, and thrown out along with her were her handbag and belongings. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Qiao Yi saw Zhao Wenjing, looking utterly pitiful. Zhao Wenjing hugged her tablet and glanced at Qiao Yi, pretending she saw nothing. How can they bully someone like this! Qiao Yi looked up at the sky speechlessly, and after a long time finally sighed and resignedly took the bag full of documents back to Emperor Garden. She hoped Lu Yanchuan was in a good mood today. Chapter 108 - 108: I Have Something Good for You Chapter 108: Chapter 108: I Have Something Good for You Unexpectedly, Lu Yanchuan readily agreed to help Qiao Yi, even without making any demands. ¡°You know, if it¡¯s too tough for you, I can talk to my dad about it.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± As Lu Yanchuan flipped through the documents, he responded. The calmer he seemed, the more uneasy Qiao Yi felt inside. The ancients said: no work, no pay; there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in the world; and also¡­ In any case, Qiao Yi simply couldn¡¯t believe that Lu Yanchuan had really just agreed like this, to help her clinch the project? Although she could handle it herself, she was¡­ well, lazy! ¡°The overall structure of this document is not bad, only some detail parts need to be modified, like here¡­¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t expect Lu Yanchuan to take this matter more seriously than herself, grabbing the file and starting the modifications right away. ¡°Lemme do this, you keep working on that, I¡¯ll go wash some fruits for you!¡± ¡°No need, work on it with me.¡± Lu Yanchuan swept his hand and pulled Qiao Yi back to his side, even pulling her directly into his arms. Qiao Yi felt very uncomfortable and shuffled a bit, sitting on his solid, springy thighs made her all the more flustered. The entire afternoon, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t remember what Lu Yanchuan said, only the scent of the perfume he wore today which was very pleasant¡­ Qiao Xin, though naive, realized after being played for two days. ¡°Damn! Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan must have found the tracker early on, keeping it on purpose just to tease me!¡± Qiao Xin, furious, flung the tracker. Thinking of how she na?vely followed those two red dots all over Jiang City, she was so angry she wanted to fly into Qiao Yi¡¯s face right there and then. How could she be so shameless! To use such a method to deal with her! Compared to Qiao Xin¡¯s anger, Lu Ming showed no signs of annoyance, instead, he kept consoling Qiao Xin calmly. ¡°Since they¡¯re no longer in Jiang City, there¡¯s no need for us to stay either. Let¡¯s go back to Capital City early; you¡¯ve been feeling unwell these days, haven¡¯t you.¡± If possible, Qiao Xin didn¡¯t want Lu Ming to talk at all, but at the moment, he was the only person beside her. If she angered him away, Qiao Xin would be in trouble alone in Jiang City. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I want to see where Qiao Yi learned such nasty tricks!¡± Qiao Xin had completely forgotten the tactics she used against Qiao Yi before, both physical and mental blows had somewhat driven her insane, maintaining clarity to return to Capital City was already quite good. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have time to worry whether Qiao Xin was coming to trouble her, she was sitting helplessly in the Lu Mansion, listening to Old Mr. Lu talk. ¡°When the time comes, you go with Yanchuan. Just meeting them is enough, the rest will be handled by Yanchuan!¡± Old Mr. Lu said boldly, but he knew too well what a disappointment his own son was, so his words were extremely insincere. Qiao Yi¡¯s face was twisted between tears and laughter, a last attempt to struggle. ¡°Dad¡­ Can I not go?¡± ¡°No, you must go!¡± Old Mr. Lu was adamant, totally unlike his previously hesitant demeanor. Persimmons should be selected soft, alright, Qiao Yi admits she¡¯s that soft persimmon! She just begs to be squeezed! ¡°Do I need to prepare some gifts or something, since they are all your old buddies, bringing something wouldn¡¯t be inappropriate.¡± ¡°You can prepare as you see fit, Lu Ming and Qiao Xin will also be back this afternoon, you can discuss it with them.¡± As for why not discuss it with Lu Yanchuan? Joking! With Mr. Lu spending tens of millions in a minute, who would dare bother him with trivial matters like preparing gifts! As for discussing with Lu Ming and Qiao Xin? Qiao Yi thought about it and decided to do it herself, at least she wouldn¡¯t have to withstand those two being nauseating in front of her! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three days later, Old Mr. Lu was invited to an old buddy¡¯s family banquet, which was originally a simple matter, but Old Mr. Lu heard from somewhere that his buddy¡¯s daughter-in-law got married, so he insisted on bringing Qiao Yi to the family banquet as well. Speaking of the family banquet, it¡¯s actually a grand showing off scene. However, the old buddies are not showing off who has more wealth, but rather showing off their children. Your son bought a premium tea set yesterday, my son sent a premium chess set today. Your younger son got married, my daughter-in-law is pregnant! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t understand the strangely competitive desire among these old men, but she had no ability to resist and could only accept her fate. From the stones brought back from Jiang City, apart from those already made into jewelry and those intended for making jewelry, the remaining stones were just enough to make some small items. Something novel and thoughtful, after all, jade is something that can be proudly presented anywhere. When Qiao Yi was about to make up her mind and go find someone to choose designs, she bumped into Lu Ming and Qiao Xin, who had just rushed back to the Capital City and were summoned by the old man. ¡°Qiao Yi! How dare you show up in front of me!¡± As soon as Qiao Xin saw Qiao Yi, her rage surged up, and she exploded with anger she had suppressed all the way, raising her hand to slap Qiao Yi¡¯s face. Qiao Yi lightly stepped back and dodged her slap. ¡°Qiao Xin, did your pregnancy make you lose your mind? This is the Lu Mansion, my home as well. As for you, dad only allowed you to enter the mansion, don¡¯t you know to keep it down!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s light comment enraged Qiao Xin, making her shake and point at Qiao Yi¡¯s nose. ¡°You clearly left Jiang City! And had people deceive me! Can you be any more shameless!¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if you¡¯re sick, you better see a doctor quickly, don¡¯t stick around acting like an idiot! I didn¡¯t call the police to catch you for planting a tracker on me, that was already merciful of me. Or do you prefer seeing me at the police station?¡± Qiao Yi swung Qiao Xin¡¯s hand away, and with a roll of her eyes, made it clear for Qiao Xin to see, then brushed past Qiao Xin¡¯s shoulder and walked away. ¡°Her!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about her for now, let¡¯s go see what grandpa called us back for.¡± Lu Ming held back Qiao Xin, not allowing her to entangle with Qiao Yi anymore. Qiao Yi deliberately slowed down, waiting for Qiao Xin, but unexpectedly, Qiao Xin was held back by Lu Ming. Qiao Yi snorted and stopped paying attention to the two behind her. Leaving the Lu Mansion, Qiao Yi went directly to the jade crafting place to prepare gifts for the family banquet in three days. When Lu Yanchuan came home that evening, he saw many exquisite small boxes next to Qiao Yi, with Qiao Yi busying herself putting things into them. Seeing Lu Yanchuan enter, Qiao Yi quickly waved at him. ¡°You¡¯re back! Come over, I have something great for you!¡± Chapter 109 - 109 I Regret It Chapter 109: Chapter 109 I Regret It Qiao Yi, holding a box as if presenting a treasure, handed it to Lu Yanchuan with an expectant look on her face. In all the time they had been married, Qiao Yi had never formally given Lu Yanchuan a gift. This time, she thought of preparing one for him because they needed to prepare return gifts for Old Mr. Lu¡¯s old friends. Lu Yanchuan was also somewhat surprised. He had received many gifts, but receiving a specially prepared gift from Qiao Yi was indeed something that had never happened before. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± A small box about the size of a fist was pushed into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. After pushing the box over, Qiao Yi seemed to be startled and hopped back to the sofa, pretending as if nothing had happened. Lu Yanchuan looked at Qiao Yi, who had retracted back, with amusement and curiously opened the box in his hand. Lying in the middle of the black velvet was a white jade ring, with a few streaks of green floating flowers mixed in, naturally forming a circle of wondrous patterns. It was only after Lu Yanchuan picked up the jade ring that he realized it was a thumb ring. However, compared to the thumb rings and rings on the table in front of Qiao Yi, this one was obviously a bit more rough. A small guess rose in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mind. He slipped the thumb ring onto his thumb and turned it around quite comfortably. ¡°Thank you, I really like it.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s ears turned red. She now really wanted to rush in front of Lu Yanchuan and snatch that thumb ring back. She regretted it¡ªwhy did she have to personally grind out a thumb ring! Feeling Lu Yanchuan¡¯s substantial gaze on her back, Qiao Yi grew so nervous that she almost froze up. ¡°As long as you like it¡­¡± Qiao Yi decided to be like an ostrich with its head in the sand; giving out the thumb ring was already her limit, and if she had to do anything else, she would probably explode on the spot! Fortunately, Lu Yanchuan seemed to realize her shyness and didn¡¯t say much else; instead, he inquired about the pile of items on Qiao Yi¡¯s table. ¡°Dad is taking us to join Old Mr. Zhou¡¯s banquet, right? I thought about bringing some gifts.¡± Qiao Yi picked up a jade carving from the table and shook it in front of Lu Yanchuan before putting it into a small box next to her. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the leftover materials from last time, I really wouldn¡¯t have known what to prepare.¡± Packing boxes is not an easy task after a while either. Having packed the final box, Qiao Yi stood up and stretched her back, with several joints in her body painfully groaning. ¡°Ah¡­ I¡¯m really exhausted¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan glanced at the pile of boxes next to Qiao Yi. Even for attending a family banquet, one wouldn¡¯t need to bring so many gifts, right? There must be thirty or forty of them? Noticing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, Qiao Yi touched her ear somewhat sheepishly. ¡°It might be a bit too much, but I thought this kind of thing is inevitable in the future, so it¡¯s better to prepare more at once. When it¡¯s needed later, you can just take them out directly, which is more convenient!¡± Preparing gifts for banquets was never something Lu Yanchuan had to consider since he was always on the receiving end of gifts. Even if gifts needed to be prepared, his assistants or secretaries would have them ready in advance. ¡°There¡¯s also one more thing, recently keep an eye on Lu Ming¡¯s movements, I feel there¡¯s something odd between him and Qiao Xin.¡± Although today was only a brief meeting with Lu Ming, Qiao Yi felt that Lu Ming¡¯s attitude towards Qiao Xin had changed since before they went to Jiang City. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t pinpoint what was off, but it just felt strange. This time, it was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s turn to be surprised. Yun Qing had told him about something that he hadn¡¯t yet mentioned to Qiao Yi, but Qiao Yi had already sensed something was wrong with Lu Ming. Should one say a woman¡¯s sixth sense is truly terrifying? ¡°Do you know Lin Ke?¡± ¡°What? Lin Ke?¡± Who is Lin Ke, Qiao Yi might not have known her six months ago, but now she knew her all too well! Wasn¡¯t Lu Ming demanding that she donate one of her kidneys to Lin Ke in an aboveboard manner, even going so far as to smear her own reputation in public¡­ If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arrival back then, she¡­ Lu Yanchuan caught Qiao Yi as she suddenly threw herself at him, and without time to wonder, she was already clinging to him. With a pair of small hands, she clumsily touched him twice before slipping them into his pants. Perhaps Qiao Yi thought she had moved on, but being betrayed by her own sister and fianc¨¦, one after another, would be too much for anyone to bear. Qiao Yi could act as if nothing had happened for so long, which meant she was quite resilient mentally. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t make any other moves, just held Qiao Yi by the waist to prevent her from falling. After writhing in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace for a while, Qiao Yi twisted her arms and legs around him, burying her face in his chest and humming with a muffled voice. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, I regret it¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Yi refused to speak further, instead, she clung to Lu Yanchuan more tightly. Like a drowning person, grasping at a life-saving straw. The next day, after getting out of bed, Qiao Yi, who had turned into a human-shaped pendant, decisively pushed Lu Yanchuan aside and made an appointment with Lu Xiaohua to do a beauty treatment. Since she had already agreed to attend the banquet, of course, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t let herself lose face among all the noble ladies and young misses! When Lu Yanchuan went to pick up Qiao Yi, she hadn¡¯t finished yet. Lu Yanchuan glanced at the door and was startled by Qiao Yi¡¯s new style. Indeed, women are a terrifying creature. Returning to the old residence with Lu Yanchuan, they just happened to meet Qiao Xin and Lu Ming who had just arrived. The four of them looked at each other with dislike and completely ignored each other as they walked inside. If possible, Qiao Yi really didn¡¯t want to breathe the same air as Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin was holding back anger from being played by Qiao Yi, and naturally, she didn¡¯t want to talk to Qiao Yi either. Both felt mutual dislike, and this situation continued until the next day when they went to the banquet. Although Old Mr. Lu had withdrawn from the management of Lu Group, his reputation was still intact, and his circle of brothers were all prominent figures from the Capital City. For a rising new family like the Qiao Family, which had only come to prominence in Qiao Benqing¡¯s generation, it was impossible to be part of such circles. If the elder Mr. Qiao hadn¡¯t helped Old Mr. Lu during his time of need, leading to the two families¡¯ favor with each other, the Lu Family would never have thought of the Qiao Family as a marriage partner. As soon as Qiao Yi sat down, she felt several special gazes on her. Some were curious, others surprised, and yet there were two lookings as sharp and resentful as knives. Having anticipated that this banquet would not be a peaceful affair, Qiao Yi completely ignored the gazes on her and sat quietly beside Lu Yanchuan, pretending to be a lady. Just when Qiao Yi was discreetly surveying her surroundings, an old man who looked about Old Mr. Lu¡¯s age stood up at the main seat, walked over to Old Mr. Lu with a big laugh. ¡°Arriving at this time! You¡¯ll have to be fined several drinks later!¡± Chapter 110 - 110: Vulnerable Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Vulnerable ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re always the most impatient one!¡± Old Mr. Lu and the guests patted each other¡¯s shoulders, exchanged pleasantries for a bit, and then he started to introduce Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin. ¡°This is Xiao Ming¡¯s wife Qiao Xin.¡± ¡°This is Yanchuan¡¯s wife Yiyi; she¡¯ll be joining the company next month, so you all must take good care of her!¡± Old Mr. Lu pulled Qiao Yi over from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side to his own, incessantly praising her for being sensible and obedient, which made Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth twitch. Although she behaved quite obediently in front of Old Mr. Lu, that didn¡¯t warrant him making such a big deal out of it! Qiao Xin, standing beside Lu Ming, her face turning a shade of green. Old Mr. Lu¡¯s blatant favoritism was simply too obvious. Although it¡¯s known that the elderly can be partial, this was happening in public! Wasn¡¯t this taking favoritism a bit too far? Qiao Yi also noticed Old Mr. Lu was favoring her, but since it frustrated Qiao Xin, she was naturally pleased to see it. She sweetly flattered the elders, causing them all to beam with joy. When Qiao Yi took out the prepared gifts, she received unanimous praise from the elders. ¡°Being obedient is good and all, but for a married woman, it¡¯s not just about obedience, having children is the most important!¡± Someone who didn¡¯t like seeing Old Mr. Lu heap praise on Qiao Yi grumbled in a sarcastic tone. Qiao Yi glanced over, and of course, it was one of the women who had been envious earlier. All of them were Lu Yanchuan¡¯s problematic admirers! Qiao Yi discreetly pinched Lu Yanchuan on the arm. To outsiders, it seemed like she shyly hid by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side, but only Lu Yanchuan himself knew this little lady was far from embarrassed! ¡°Indeed, little sister, you can¡¯t just be out and about all the time and neglect home. You should try to have a child soon!¡± Qiao Xin finally found a reason to put down Qiao Yi and immediately stood next to her with her belly sticking out, making sure everyone could see that she was visibly pregnant. Qiao Yi once again wondered if she and Qiao Xin were really sisters. How could their family have produced such a fool? The people around them clearly paused for a moment before their expressions turned to those anticipating a good show. Seeing that Old Mr. Lu¡¯s expression was turning sour, Qiao Yi hurriedly started to laugh. ¡°I, I¡¯m still young! Besides, even if I wanted children, it takes two to tango!¡± Qiao Yi coquettishly hugged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, half acting spoiled and half complaining. She shook his arm and quietly asked, ¡°Look, everyone else has kids now. When do you plan to have a child with me?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s quiet voice was heard by everyone around, and they all began to laugh understandingly. The light-hearted teasing of a young girl is always better than family discord. ¡°Anytime you want, as long as you¡¯re ready.¡± Lu Yanchuan affectionately pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s face, causing her to be startled and then shyly hide behind him even more. Qiao Xin had no idea what had happened in those few moments. As she was about to make another sarcastic remark at Qiao Yi, she was pulled back to her seat by Lu Ming. ¡°Shut your mouth! If you can¡¯t speak properly, just sit quietly!¡± ¡°Lu Ming! You! You¡¯re yelling at me!¡± ¡°If you continue to be so thoughtless and clueless about the bigger picture, just get the hell back to where you came from!¡± Lu Ming¡¯s face darkened as he flung Qiao Xin¡¯s hand away, leaving Qiao Yi staring in disbelief, her eyes wide. Ever since she married Lu Ming, even if he didn¡¯t like her, given the shares and the child in her womb, Lu Ming had never treated her with such a harsh attitude. But today, Lu Ming actually turned against her for Qiao Yi! ¡°You dare to speak to me like that for that whore! You¡­¡± ¡°The ¡®whore¡¯ you are talking about knows that outside, you are both wives of the Lu Family; she, as the younger sister, is aware that family¡¯s dishonor must not be publicized, yet you are there, basking in self-satisfaction!¡± Lu Ming glanced at Qiao Xin with disgust and huffed heavily. ¡°If you don¡¯t consider yourself a daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, then scram back to where you came from and stop embarrassing us in public!¡± Normally, Qiao Xin¡¯s antagonism towards Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t have angered Lu Ming. But today was different! Since Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin were both brought to this banquet, they already bore the label of the Lu Family¡¯s daughters-in-law; they were not just the Qiao sisters, but also the wives of him and Lu Yanchuan. The commotion just now showed his wife¡¯s lack of tact in someone else¡¯s home, taking sides against her own sister and aunt-in-law, while Qiao Yi actively diffused the situation, clearly distinguishing who was superior! S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Xin brought shame on the Qiao Family and the Lu Family, whereas Qiao Yi salvaged the dignity in a few words, even drawing the bad reputation upon herself ¡ª who would believe that Qiao Yi was a girl who couldn¡¯t discern the occasion? Not only did he, Lu Ming, fall short compared to Lu Yanchuan, but now his wife was also no match for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife! Calamitous from start to finish, that was the real root of Lu Ming¡¯s fury! Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t see all this and just felt wronged, but seeing Lu Ming truly angry, she didn¡¯t dare to provoke him further, considering she still needed Lu Ming¡¯s cooperation for her plan to get close to Lu Yanchuan. No one was paying attention to the commotion here; their eyes were dazzled by the display of tenderness and indulgence from Lu Yanchuan. Why was it that the feast hadn¡¯t even started, and yet they were already full? Why indeed! Old Mr. Lu¡¯s satisfaction with Qiao Yi grew in his heart, and his face regained its smile. ¡°Now that I have Yiyi by my side to accompany me at home, it¡¯s far more comfortable than those laborious efforts from you old men!¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re just too old!¡± ¡°Humph! If you have the guts, let¡¯s spar on the chessboard, and I¡¯ll let you see what ¡®an old sword isn¡¯t blunt¡¯ means!¡± Old Mr. Lu and a group of old men walked away with laughter, leaving the younger generation feeling much more relaxed. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan also returned to their seats. The blush on Qiao Yi¡¯s face had not faded away; it wasn¡¯t feigned but rather a result of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words ¡°whenever you want,¡± which unsettled her heart for a long time. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face grew redder, as if she were on the verge of exploding. Lu Yanchuan noticed her abnormal expression and leaned over to whisper and ask. Better left unasked, as Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words made Qiao Yi¡¯s face flush even more; she stammered, gripping Lu Yanchuan but unable to speak. While the two were wholly oblivious to the intimacy of their own actions, it irritated someone who had been paying attention, who couldn¡¯t stand it and huffed loudly on purpose. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand those vulnerable women, with no abilities of their own, relying on a pretty face to climb into a man¡¯s bed. Living like that, such women are just wasting the air!¡± That person¡¯s eyes were trained on this direction, and although not naming names, everyone knew exactly who she was referring to! ¡°If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have the face to live off a man! Truly shameless!¡± Chapter 111 - 111: Sense of Crisis Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Sense of Crisis Qin Yun poked Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and pursed her lips, motioning with her chin towards the person who was speaking. ¡°I don¡¯t know them.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even glance in that direction, his words alone comforting Qiao Yi. ¡°Isn¡¯t this one of your unwanted admirers? Aren¡¯t you going to handle it yourself? If I do it, it might not be pretty if I go too hard on such a beauty.¡± Qiao Yi whispered into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s ear, outsiders could only see her clinging to Lu Yanchuan, not knowing the content of their conversation. If that confrontational woman heard Qiao Yi, she would probably be driven to tears, wouldn¡¯t she? The closer Qiao Yi got to Lu Yanchuan, the angrier the woman looked. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s indifference to her sarcasm, even further flaunting her intimacy with Lu Yanchuan, the woman finally couldn¡¯t hold back and stormed over. ¡°Are you Second Miss Qiao?¡± Just as Qiao Yi had pulled back from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s ear, she raised her eyebrows and glanced at her, seemingly startled by the woman¡¯s aggressive demeanor, and quickly shrank back beside Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Hmph! Who am I? I¡¯m Wu Yingrui from the Wu Family, someone of your status indeed isn¡¯t worthy to know my name!¡± After Wu Yingrui finished speaking, she saw a deep concern emerge on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, feeling instantly triumphant. Just a petty daughter from a minor family. Even if she married into the Lu Family, she can¡¯t match their level. Before Wu Yingrui could continue, Qiao Yi suddenly interrupted her. ¡°Miss Wu, you better not speak carelessly like that in the future, or people might start believing that the Wu Family wants to declare war against the Lu Family!¡± ¡°War between Wu Family and Lu Family? What joke is that?¡± Wu Yingrui was bewildered by Qiao Yi¡¯s words, then realized she had been played, pointing at Qiao Yi¡¯s nose and snorting heavily. ¡°What position do you think you hold? The affairs between the Wu Family and Lu Family are also yours to meddle with? If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯d apologize right now, or else¡­¡± ¡°Or else what? I really didn¡¯t know where I, as the wife of Third Young Master Lu, stand in Miss Wu¡¯s eyes?¡± Qiao Yi hugged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, her tone innocent and naive, yet her words deflated Wu Yingrui immediately. ¡°You! Do you really think you¡¯re some kind of Young Master¡¯s wife? You¡¯re nothing but a political marriage tool, and Qingshan and Yue are the real couple! You¡¯re just a homewrecker!¡± Wu Yingrui was provoked by Qiao Yi¡¯s remarks, blurting out without thinking. And her words elicited no reaction from either Qiao Yi or Lu Yanchuan, but caused a long-haired woman not far from the banquet to change her face drastically. ¡°Yanchuan, I still didn¡¯t know you had such a close female friend in the past?¡± Qiao Yi turned with a giggle and bumped into Lu Yanchuan, completely ignoring his cold expression, thoroughly enjoying herself. Many onlookers were covertly watching this scene, thinking to themselves at Qiao Yi¡¯s reaction ¨C did this girl get so stirred up she lost her mind? What woman could react like Qiao Yi when faced with such a provocation! Lu Yanchuan caught the scent of gossip in Qiao Yi¡¯s tone, which made his teeth itch. Was it because he had been too gentle with her recently? Lu Yanchuan indeed knew Qiao Yi very well; her initial reaction after hearing Wu Yingrui¡¯s words was to gossip. She was very curious to know who this hero was who could be linked with Lu Yanchuan in a rumor! Even someone is stepping up to speak for her! ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, you know very well whether I have a close female friend or not.¡± Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Yi meaningfully, causing her to choke on her words. Don¡¯t think she doesn¡¯t know what Lu Yanchuan is talking about! Qiao Yi pinched Lu Yanchuan hard on the arm, warning him not to speak recklessly! Wu Yingrui, standing next to them, was completely ignored; her expression of anger and dissatisfaction froze on her face, slowly turning to disbelief. ¡°Yanchuan! How could you do this! You were about to marry Yue! If it weren¡¯t for this woman suddenly appearing, you and Yue would have been together a long time ago!¡± ¡°Before I married Yiyi, I never agreed to any marriage proposal, and as for you, I¡¯m not familiar enough with you to be called ¡®brother¡¯ by you.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attitude showed clear displeasure and disdain, not even giving Wu Yingrui any face. Qiao Yi shut her mouth and sat beside Lu Yanchuan like a vase, since Lu Yanchuan had already stood up for her, she certainly didn¡¯t need to say anything more. ¡°Yanchuan! For this woman who suddenly appeared, how could you change into what you are now!¡± Wu Yingrui, perhaps failing to detect Lu Yanchuan¡¯s impatience, continued relentlessly, even attempting furiously to pull Qiao Yi away from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side. But before Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan could stop her, a woman walked up behind her, grabbed Wu Yingrui¡¯s arm, and pulled her back. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, Rui is young and ignorant, please excuse the trouble she¡¯s caused.¡± ¡°Yue! How can you apologize to them! They clearly betrayed you!¡± Wu Yingrui revealed the identity of the woman; Lan Yue, the youngest daughter of the second generation of the Lan Family, with four elder brothers and one elder sister, she is the precious gem of the Lan Family. She is also the Yue that Wu Yingrui mentioned, the woman who was supposed to marry Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t feel overly jealous meeting a love rival; she just felt that Miss Lan¡¯s gaze towards Lu Yanchuan was a bit strange, calling it affection would seem quite disharmonious. Regardless of their past relationships, now, Lu Yanchuan is hers! Thinking this, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but snuggle closer into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm. This small gesture was noticed by Lu Yanchuan who then took Qiao Yi¡¯s hand and even pulled her closer into his embrace. The sweet interactions between the two did not escape Lan Yue¡¯s eyes; her pupils dimmed slightly, yet she still smiled gently and apologized to them. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, I¡¯ll take her away now.¡± Wu Yingrui was furious, yet Lan Yue decisively led her away without further discussion. Despite Wu Yingrui¡¯s dissatisfaction, she didn¡¯t dare directly confront Lan Yue and could only pout as she was pulled away. ¡°It¡¯s really fitting for the Third Young Master Lu, to have such a stunning beauty pining for you. Did you see the way that beauty looked just now? It melted my heart. Third Young Master, didn¡¯t it flutter your heart too?¡± Qiao Yi, like a ruffian, followed Lan Yue¡¯s departing figure with her gaze, speaking nonchalantly, but a strong sense of crisis was rising within her. Something was off about this woman, at least her attitude towards Lu Yanchuan was definitely not one of simple liking. The way she looked at Lu Yanchuan was not the look of an admirer! Lu Yanchuan did not realize the myriad thoughts going through Qiao Yi¡¯s mind; he just helplessly curved his lips. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 112 - 112: Did I Make Things Difficult for You? Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Did I Make Things Difficult for You? With Old Mr. Lu gone, the atmosphere of the banquet naturally relaxed, and several people who were eyeing Qiao Yi eagerly quieted down after Lu Yanchuan took the initiative to speak out in her defense. Lu Yanchuan is merely the steward of the Lu Family, but his ability to intimidate the high society of Capital City isn¡¯t solely because of his status; it¡¯s more so because of his unpredictable and ruthless methods. No one wants to create a powerful enemy for themselves, especially not someone as strong and ruthless as Lu Yanchuan. With Lu Yanchuan stepping forward, the number of eyes lurking around Qiao Yi decreased significantly. Having breezed through the evening banquet, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan went back to the old house with Old Mr. Lu. Qiao Xin and Lu Ming actually wanted to follow them to the old house but were deterred by a single glance from Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Can¡¯t you just behave? Now you¡¯ve done it, not only did you make Grandpa angry, but now I¡¯m in trouble with him because of you! Are you satisfied now?¡± ¡°How dare you blame me? You haven¡¯t fulfilled a single thing you promised me. Now I am despised by Old Mr. Lu, and isn¡¯t it because you are useless!¡± ¡°What did you say!¡± ¡°I said you are useless! In every aspect, you are no match for Lu Yanchuan!¡± The crisp sound of a slap echoed in the car, Qiao Xin covered her face, disbelieving as she looked at Lu Ming. ¡°You dare to hit me!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore!¡± Just as Qiao Yi finished washing up and was about to go to bed, she received a phone call from the hospital. ¡°I am, yes¡­ okay, I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Qiao Yi jumped out of bed in an instant, grabbed Lu Yanchuan who had just walked out of the bathroom, and headed towards the dressing room. ¡°There was an accident, Lu Ming and Qiao Xin flipped their car on the way back, and they have already been taken to the hospital. Come with me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t really like those two, do you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s hand paused for a moment, then she pursed her lips and squeezed a sentence out through the gap. ¡°I just feel¡­ the child in Qiao Xin¡¯s womb is innocent, and also¡­¡± Qiao Yi could not find another reason. She admits, she is soft-hearted! Even though she hated Qiao Xin to death in her heart, upon hearing that Qiao Xin¡¯s life was in danger, she couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll contact Yun Qing to come over.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s hand was held by Lu Yanchuan, and the warmth that passed between their palms gradually calmed her down. Together, they hurried to the hospital. By the time they arrived at the hospital, Lu Ming had already been transferred to a regular ward, and it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem as long as he woke up. However, Qiao Xin was still undergoing emergency treatment, the child could no longer be saved, and they could only hope to ensure the mother¡¯s life as much as possible. Qiao Yi¡¯s hands and feet were ice-cold, sitting outside the surgery room on a long bench, overwhelmed with anxiety. ¡°Just follow what you feel in your heart, don¡¯t think about anything else.¡± ¡°If you hate Qiao Xin, then don¡¯t bother with her. If you can¡¯t bear it, go buy some food; you haven¡¯t eaten much tonight.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s mind was a mess, and she didn¡¯t know whether she had taken in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words or not, just shook her head aimlessly, still seemingly in a daze. ¡°You wait here, I¡¯ll go check on Lu Ming.¡± Qiao Yi would likely not recover from this state for a while, so after sitting with her for some time, Lu Yanchuan left. Lu Ming¡¯s hospital room was downstairs. As Lu Yanchuan approached the door to push it open, he saw the door of the sickroom open. ¡°Who¡­ who are you¡­¡± A girl in a white dress stood at the door, holding a meal tray, apparently just having finished eating. However¡­ with October fast approaching, she still wore a skirt that barely reached her knees. Wasn¡¯t she cold? Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze was oppressively intense, and the girl, after being watched for just two seconds, had her eyes brimming with tears, as if she had been bullied by Lu Yanchuan in some way. ¡°Keke? Who is outside?¡± Lin Ke, frightened, quickly wiped her face and made way from the entrance of the hospital room. ¡°It seems your injury isn¡¯t too serious, given that you have the time to meet your lover here.¡± Lu Yanchuan implied with a glance at Lin Ke, who was standing at the door, caught in a quandary. Lin Ke¡¯s face, which had just paled, suddenly turned entirely red when addressed by Lu Yanchuan, and she bit her lip, fumbling with the food tray, unable to speak. This pitiable look of hers was particularly effective at arousing a man¡¯s protective instincts. Especially for Lu Ming, whose relationship with her was already not so innocent. ¡°What lover! This is Lin Ke, the university student I¡¯ve been sponsoring. She only came to visit me because she heard about my car accident!¡± Lu Ming¡¯s anger was simply interpreted by Lu Yanchuan as a fit of embarrassed rage, and seeing him so animated, Lu Yanchuan lost the inclination to enter. After all, he had come to take a look, solely to have a reason to shut Old Mr. Lu and Lu Qingshan up later on, to avoid more trouble down the line. Provoked by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s meaningful look, waves of anger surged in Lu Ming¡¯s chest, but Lu Yanchuan remained unusually calm, further infuriating Lu Ming. In fact, Lu Yanchuan would rather believe that he, Lu Ming, was feeling guilty. But that girl at the door just now¡­ After Lu Yanchuan left, Lu Ming¡¯s rage couldn¡¯t subside for a long time. Indeed, just as Lu Yanchuan guessed, Lu Ming felt guilty and was lashing out in mortified anger. Although his relationship with Qiao Xin was more of a partnership, if outsiders were to know about his relationship with Lin Ke, it would unquestionably lead to a great deal of trouble. ¡°Keke, there¡¯s no need for you to come over these next few days. We¡¯ll get in touch after I¡¯m discharged.¡± ¡°Ah Ming¡­ did I do something wrong?¡± Lin Ke¡¯s face fell, betraying her hurt, but she still managed a frail smile as she sat back down beside Lu Ming. ¡°Is it because I¡¯ve made things difficult for you?¡± Seeing that Lu Ming remained silent, a look of loss and sorrow appeared on Lin Ke¡¯s face. Yet, understanding as she was, she didn¡¯t say much more and simply gently took one of Lu Ming¡¯s hands and pressed it against her face. ¡°I understand, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Your wife is injured, and you should spend more time with her¡­ I¡­¡± Lu Ming felt a bit of moisture in the palm of his hand, and when he looked up at Lin Ke¡¯s face, she had already wiped away her tears and smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t come to see you for the next few days. You should take good care of yourself while you¡¯re in the hospital, remember to take your medicine on time. I¡­ I¡¯ll be going now¡­¡± Saying that, as if she couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, Lin Ke let go of Lu Ming¡¯s hand, covered her face, and ran out of the ward. Her departure seemed to take away Lu Ming¡¯s heart as well; his injuries bound him to the bed, unable to move, he could only call out anxiously for Lin Ke. ¡°Keke! Keke! Come back!¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Ke had long since run away. Lu Ming called out several times, but no one returned, and he pounded the hospital bed fiercely in frustration. Qiao Yi was still sitting on a bench when she saw Lu Yanchuan return so soon, and she was momentarily startled. ¡°Why are you back so quickly? Hasn¡¯t Lu Ming woken up yet?¡± ¡°He¡¯s awake, and seeing that he¡¯s alright, I came back.¡± Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t clarified or confirmed Lin Ke¡¯s identity yet, so he didn¡¯t bring it up with Qiao Yi. ¡°How are things over here?¡± Chapter 113 - 113: The Child is Gone Chapter 113: Chapter 113: The Child is Gone Qiao Yi shook her head; she had waited for such a long time, but there was not even a hint of noise from inside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yun Qing will be here soon.¡± Qiao Yi shook her head again; she was just a bit worried about how she was going to break Qiao Xin¡¯s situation to their parents. Although they favored her more, Qiao Xin was also their daughter. No matter how many complaints they had about Qiao Xin, they would not ignore her injuries and leave her be. Yun Qing soon rushed over, inquired about Qiao Xin¡¯s condition, and then entered the operating room. Although she did not know how skillful Yun Qing¡¯s medical abilities were, since Lu Yanchuan trusted him so much, Yun Qing must be capable. ¡°It¡¯s too late now, you should go back and rest.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll wait a bit longer. If you¡¯re tired, you can go ahead.¡± Lu Yanchuan neither agreed nor disagreed, but in the end, he did not leave. When Qiao Xin woke up, the world outside the window was bathed in bright sunlight. The warm sunlight shone on her, but Qiao Xin felt not a trace of warmth. A piercing pain came from her abdomen, and Qiao Xin instinctively touched her now flat belly, which was only wrapped with some gauze. ¡°My child¡­¡± ¡°How dare you still speak of the child! If it wasn¡¯t for your carelessness, how could my grandson just be gone like this! Give me back my grandson!¡± The shrill female voice made Qiao Xin frown, Wang Zhen pushed the door open and, upon seeing Qiao Xin who had just woken up, started berating her nonstop. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Wang Zhen¡¯s yelling stopped when Qiao Xin smashed a vase near her feet. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°You little slut! What did you say! You dare tell me to get out?¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Another shadow rushed toward the door, and Wang Zhen turned pale with fear. She was pulled aside by Lu Ming just in time to dodge another flying object. ¡°She¡¯s gone mad! She¡¯s really gone mad! How dare you lay a hand on me! Lu Ming! You must divorce her; you have to divorce her!¡± Lu Ming frowned, feeling just as dissatisfied with both Qiao Xin and Wang Zhen. ¡°Mom! This is my own issue, please go back for now.¡± Wang Zhen¡¯s expression froze, then she incredulously pointed at Lu Ming. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying I¡¯m superfluous? You didn¡¯t see how this slut bullied me! You¡¯re actually taking her side against me!¡± ¡°Both of you, get out!¡± The last two items on the table were also hurled by Qiao Xin toward Lu Ming and Wang Zhen, causing Lu Ming¡¯s face to darken before he promptly pushed Wang Zhen out and left the ward. Even Wang Zhen, unreasonable as she was, didn¡¯t dare to provoke the frenzied Qiao Xin. After throwing Qiao Xin a spiteful glance, she followed Lu Ming out. Qiao Xin tore off the IV needle on the back of her hand and tenderly placed her hands over her lower abdomen, curling herself up in the bedding. She hated Lu Ming, but she had never thought of getting rid of the child. Having grown up with her parents¡¯ favoritism, Qiao Xin swore countless times in her heart that if she were ever to have a child, she would give all her love to that child. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, Qiao Xin was looking forward to this child, but now, everything was gone¡­ Soft sobs emanated from the trembling bedding. When Qiao Yi arrived at the ward, what she saw was the room in disorder and a bulging shape under the covers on the bed. Had Qiao Xin lost her temper with someone again? Upon learning that Qiao Xin had only lost her child, and wasn¡¯t facing any serious issues, Qiao Yi finally relaxed. While despising herself for it, she didn¡¯t worry as much about Qiao Xin anymore. Qiao Benqing and his wife eventually found out about the situation and insisted on visiting Qiao Xin, so Qiao Yi went to bring them both to see her. ¡°What¡¯s going on inside?¡± Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing looked at Qiao Yi with confusion, wondering why she was hesitant to enter the hospital room. ¡°Well, Dad, Mom, let¡¯s come back this afternoon. I just saw that sister was asleep, so how about we wait for her to wake up before we visit?¡± Qiao Yi stood in front of the hospital room door, blocking Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing¡¯s line of sight of the messy room inside. It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Yi wanted to cover up for Qiao Xin; she simply didn¡¯t want to upset her parents further with Qiao Xin. Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing exchanged glances, clearly aware that Qiao Yi was intentionally keeping them from going in. ¡°Did something happen to Xinxin? If Xinxin¡¯s condition is serious, you can¡¯t keep it from us!¡± After all, Qiao Xin was also Zhao Wenjing¡¯s child; how could she not be worried? The more Qiao Yi refused to let her enter, the more Zhao Wenjing insisted. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t stop Zhao Wenjing and had to step aside to let her in. Stepping into the room, Zhao Wenjing was stunned. ¡°I already told you to come back in the afternoon¡­¡± Qiao Yi muttered softly and quickly pulled the stunned couple back out. ¡°How about I send you home first, and you can visit her after she stabilizes a bit.¡± Qiao Yi tugged at Zhao Wenjing¡¯s clothes, and Zhao Wenjing, snapping out of her daze, patted Qiao Yi on the head but still made her way toward the hospital room. ¡°Xinxin, are you awake?¡± The blanket seemed to move, but Qiao Xin didn¡¯t say a word, continuing to feign sleep. ¡°I and Dad came to see you; how is your injury?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad. You can always have children later. Just take care of yourself and don¡¯t keep it all bottled up.¡± Zhao Wenjing sat by the bed and tapped the raised blanket twice. Qiao Xin did not move. Zhao Wenjing, confused, tapped again and, seeing that Qiao Xin still didn¡¯t respond, grew anxious. ¡°Xinxin? Xinxin! Don¡¯t scare Mom!¡± Zhao Wenjing tossed aside the blanket, only to discover that Qiao Xin had at some point fallen into a coma. If they hadn¡¯t come to visit, who knows how long it would have taken to find her like this! ¡°Quick, call the doctor! Hurry!¡± Qiao Yi turned and ran off, her mother¡¯s cries echoing from the hospital room. The chaos lasted until evening before an exhausted Qiao Yi finally returned home. Lu Yanchuan did not accompany her to the hospital today, so he was surprised at her bedraggled state. ¡°What happened today?¡± Qiao Yi was struck by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sharpness and told him about Qiao Xin¡¯s sudden coma. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what kind of drama she¡¯s trying to stir up now. She¡¯s already had surgery; why can¡¯t she just stay calm? She had Mom and Dad so worried today.¡± Qiao Yi could be indifferent about Qiao Xin, but she couldn¡¯t ignore her concern for Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing. ¡°In that case, Mom and Dad don¡¯t have to visit her before Qiao Xin is discharged.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide. They have to make that decision themselves!¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the couch, appearing deeply deflated. ¡°The Sun Family has started to make their move, and I guess your father-in-law will be busy in the next few days. He probably won¡¯t have much time to visit Qiao Xin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s even better. Every time Mom and Dad visit, I have to go with them. If I could avoid seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s face, it would be such a relief for me.¡± Chapter 114 - 114 Brother Luo Chapter 114: Chapter 114 Brother Luo Qiao Xin¡¯s miscarriage didn¡¯t cause much of an uproar, with Wang Zhen making a fuss for two days before being severely scolded by Old Mr. Lu. Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing did feel some regret, they had more expectations and affection for this child than for Qiao Xin herself, so after the miscarriage, they were the ones who were truly sad for a long time. However, the turbulence caused by Qiao Xin¡¯s miscarriage was quickly suppressed by another event: Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday party. According to Qiao Yi¡¯s own wishes, she didn¡¯t want to make a big fuss; just having a meal with family would have been fine. But this idea of hers was jointly vetoed by Old Mr. Lu and Mr. and Mrs. Qiao. Old Mr. Lu and Zhao Wenjing simply didn¡¯t want Qiao Yi to feel slighted; the birthday party had to be held, and it had to be lively! Qiao Benqing, on the other hand, had more on his mind. Qiao Yi had married into the Lu Family for less than a year. Although it was widely rumored how much the Third Young Master Lu doted on his wife, Qiao Yi had always been too low-key, leading many to believe it was just a rumor. The news of the Qiao Family and the Lu Family¡¯s corporate alliance had long been known, and this birthday party held especially for Qiao Yi was primarily for Qiao Benqing to show everyone clearly what status Qiao Yi held in the Lu Family. There was no way Qiao Yi¡¯s little arm could twist these three big thighs. To make sure Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday party went well, Old Mr. Lu even personally got involved, discussing the details of the party with Zhao Wenjing. It was impossible not to feel touched; for the umpteenth time, Qiao Yi felt she was both lucky and fortunate. While basking in the warmth of being pampered for a few days, it was only after receiving a call from Sun Keke that Qiao Yi realized she had utterly forgotten about her. ¡°Qiao Qiao has already arranged plastic surgery for me, so I won¡¯t be able to attend your birthday. I will have Qiao Qiao deliver your gift, and I wish you happy birthday in advance.¡± Sun Keke¡¯s voice on the phone was calm and even had a touch of cheerfulness, belying the crazed appearance she had had in the hotel that day. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Thanks, but will your body recover in such a short time?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can hardly wait.¡± After hanging up with Sun Keke, Qiao Yi felt somewhat downcast. Those accustomed to seeing beauty probably can¡¯t accept the darkness; thinking about Sun Keke now made even her heart ache. Qiao Yi tried not to dwell on Sun Keke¡¯s matter and called Qiao Qiao to make sure he took good care of Sun Keke. With that, she dove back into another task. It was either a coincidence or a deliberate move by LQ, but LQ¡¯s partnership competition was scheduled for the day after Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday banquet, and in the same hotel, no less. Such an arrangement made everyone suspect that LQ had already decided to collaborate with either the Qiao Family or the Lu Family, but only Qiao Yi knew that was utter nonsense! If LQ had really prepared in advance to collaborate with both families, would she need to be burning the midnight oil revising documents! This was the third time Qiao Yi was revising the document. Each time, Lu Yanchuan would find different issues, causing Qiao Yi to wonder if he was intentionally making things difficult for her. However, although Qiao Yi didn¡¯t work in the company for certain reasons, it didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t understand the work, and she certainly knew how important Lu Yanchuan¡¯s revisions were. But she just wasn¡¯t happy about it! It was her document after all, one she had worked hard and toiled over again and again; why should Qiao Benqing give all the credit to Lu Yanchuan! She acknowledged that Lu Yanchuan did offer some help, but! But she had made sacrifices as well! Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face¡ªexpressionless yet clearly smug¡ªmade her want to punch him a few times. Might as well kill this stinky man! Nobody paid any attention to Qiao Yi¡¯s slight grievance and protest. After dinner, Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan went to the study to talk, and Zhao Wenjing left after answering Old Mr. Lu¡¯s phone call. In just a few minutes, Qiao Yi was the only one left at the dining table. ¡°Second Miss, there is a package for you outside, I¡¯m not sure who sent it. Only the recipient¡¯s name is written on it, not the shipper¡¯s.¡± Two aunts came in carrying a big box, and Qiao Yi hurriedly asked them to place the box aside. Qiao Yi walked around the box twice; she had sent all her recent online purchases to Emperor Garden and hadn¡¯t bought anything shipped to the Qiao Family¡¯s address. Not to mention something this big! Qiao Yi grabbed a fork from the table to slice open the tape and the moment she lifted the lid, she was hit in the face by something that suddenly popped out. ¡°Ah!!!¡± Qiao Yi was struck by a giant head and fell backward. And what hit Qiao Yi was no other than an enormous toy bear! Calling it enormous was absolutely correct; the bear that popped out of the box and fell to the ground was even taller than an adult man, not to mention the size of its body after being stuffed with cotton. How on earth did they manage to stuff something so huge into a box less than one-third its size?! Isn¡¯t this a setup?! Rubbing her face, Qiao Yi stood up and kicked gently at the bear¡¯s body with the tip of her foot. The bear¡¯s leg moved aside, revealing an envelope underneath it. After reading the letter, Qiao Yi was overjoyed. ¡°Auntie! Auntie! Get ready! Brother Luo will be here soon!¡± While calling for the aunts, Qiao Yi struggled to drag the giant bear onto the sofa. Lu Yanchuan was coming down the stairs when he unexpectedly heard Qiao Yi¡¯s excitement and became curious about this ¡°Brother Luo.¡± ¡°Xiao Luo is coming? When did he get back? He should¡¯ve told us earlier so that I could have sent someone to pick him up!¡± Following Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Benqing also heard Qiao Yi¡¯s voice and hurried down the stairs. On the other side, Qiao Yi was still happily hugging the big bear, and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart felt inexplicably uncomfortable. ¡°Do we have a guest coming over?¡± ¡°Not really a guest, Xiao Luo was our neighbor in the past. His parents were always abroad, so the kid often stayed at our place. Later, when his parents came back, they asked me to be his godfather straight away.¡± Qiao Benqing explained briefly, taking the letter from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand for a glance before returning it to her. ¡°Look at you and Xiao Luo, after so many years, he still remembers your birthday. When have you ever sent him a birthday gift?¡± ¡°Hehe, didn¡¯t I use to be little and not financially independent? I¡¯ve prepared a really big gift for Brother Luo this year!¡± Qiao Yi huffed defiantly, then turned and giggled, showing off her birthday present to Qiao Benqing. ¡°Look! Brother Luo knows what I like! Dad, if the gift you give me isn¡¯t as good as Brother Luo¡¯s¡­ hmph!¡± Standing behind Qiao Benqing, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart was already filled with extreme dissatisfaction towards this yet-to-appear Brother Luo. Chapter 115 - 115: Are You Jealous? Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Are You Jealous? ¡°Godfather! I¡¯m back!¡± During the conversation, a joyful voice came from the doorway. ¡°Xiao Luo is here! When did you get back? How come you didn¡¯t tell us in advance so we could pick you up?¡± Lu Xu bounded into the room, and several people behind him carried his suitcases upstairs with practiced ease. ¡°It¡¯s almost Yiyi¡¯s birthday, so I thought I¡¯d come back before her birthday to give you all a surprise!¡± Lu Xu walked in and hugged Qiao Benqing, then hugged Qiao Yi, before finally noticing Lu Yanchuan standing to the side. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°Let me introduce him; this is Lu Yanchuan, Yiyi¡¯s beloved.¡± Lu Xu looked at Lu Yanchuan, and when the two men¡¯s eyes met in the air, sparks flew instantly. ¡°I heard overseas that Yiyi got married; I didn¡¯t expect it was true. It seems the little girl has really grown up.¡± Lu Xu affectionately ruffled Qiao Yi¡¯s head, and seeing her irritably bare her teeth at him, he turned back toward Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Pleased to meet you. Thank you for taking care of Yiyi these past few months.¡± The two men shook hands, and Qiao Yi, looking at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expressionless face, felt an inexplicable chill down her spine. Is Yanchuan angry? What¡¯s got him so upset? Who provoked him? Qiao Yi was baffled, but a single glance at her puzzled eyes, and Yanchuan knew exactly what she was thinking, which only intensified his displeasure. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard Yiyi mention you before. Now that you¡¯re back in the country, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to show you around before you leave again.¡± The smile on Lu Xu¡¯s lips stiffened slightly, then he suddenly looked pitiful, hugging Qiao Yi¡¯s neck, both aggrieved and angry, trapping her under his arm. ¡°You ungrateful little thing! Not even a word to me about getting married! If I hadn¡¯t come back to the country this time, were you planning to keep it a secret forever? Do you even consider me your brother anymore!¡± ¡°Let go, let go! I¡¯m going to throw up the food I just ate!¡± Qiao Yi screamed, hitting Lu Xu¡¯s arm, and their unguarded frolicking was particularly irksome in the eyes of Lu Yanchuan. In his presence, Qiao Yi had never behaved like that before¡­ After the pleasantries, Lu Xu was taken away by Qiao Benqing; after all, he had several relatives in the country and couldn¡¯t just stay at the Qiao Family forever without making an appearance. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan sat together in the backseat in silence, the atmosphere so stiff on the ride home that she almost wanted to jump out of the car to escape. Finally, unable to endure the icy atmosphere any longer, Qiao Yi turned slowly, first warily observing the look on Yanchuan¡¯s face before cautiously tugging at his sleeve. ¡°Are¡­ Are you angry?¡± ¡°No.¡± Tsk! Why is this man so insincere! Qiao Yi choked on his rigid tone, shrinking her neck and muttering softly. ¡°He¡¯s clearly angry, yet claims he¡¯s not. Obviously he¡¯s annoyed¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡± A trace of reluctant compromise tinged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice. Perhaps just now at the Qiao house he was truly displeased, but once they left and he noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s trembling little expression, the slight irritation in his heart had vanished. Just seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s attitude towards Lu Xu was enough to know that she only regarded him as a brother and had no other feelings. As for Lu Xu¡¯s thoughts about Qiao Yi, they weren¡¯t within the realm of Yanchuan¡¯s concerns. Just like he also had many admirers, he couldn¡¯t possibly consider whether each one of them liked him or not. Although he wasn¡¯t angry, seeing Qiao Yi trying so hard to please him, Lu Yanchuan still decided not to let her off the hook so easily. Qiao Yi was about to cry. If you¡¯re not mad, just say so! Why be so fierce?! And so icy cold and rigid! It was a good thing Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t read minds, otherwise, he would definitely be vexed by her jumbled thoughts. ¡°Er¡­ Can you stop being angry, please?¡± Even though she didn¡¯t know why he was actually upset, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but try to coax him. After all, the document she had revised was still in his hands. If he became displeased, wouldn¡¯t her efforts be wasted? Lu Yanchuan suppressed the curve of his lips, not allowing himself to laugh out loud. His face still showed that unclear expression, he gave Qiao Yi a quick glance and then harrumphed lightly. Qiao Yi: ¡°???¡± She seemed not to have provoked him! What was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s deal? Not sure what Lu Yanchuan really meant, Qiao Yi shifted her bottom toward him, grabbing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sleeve with both hands. ¡°Are you angry with me? Please don¡¯t be angry, okay?¡± Qiao Yi was disgusted by her own cutesy and coquettish voice, but looking up at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face, the man showed no reaction except for pursing his lips tighter and a deeper gaze. Utterly useless, Qiao Yi felt depressed, leaning back and fiddling with her fingers, no longer wanting to deal with Lu Yanchuan. What the heck! She had already been so accommodating, yet Lu Yanchuan was still pushing it! She wasn¡¯t going to coax him anymore! Humph! ¡°Hey hey hey!¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Qiao Yi felt a sudden tightness around her waist, and the next moment, she was pulled into a familiar embrace. ¡°I¡¯m not angry, not angry with anyone.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qiao Yi turned her back to Lu Yanchuan, not wanting him to see her blushing cheeks. That¡¯s no fair! He was actually trying to seduce her! Listening to that deliberately deepened voice, Qiao Yi almost couldn¡¯t control herself! ¡°Really.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon receiving the reassuring answer, Qiao Yi then shifted around to face him, clutched the collar of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s jacket, pressing her whole body against his, and began to threaten fiercely. ¡°If you¡¯re ever angry in the future, you have to tell me! If you scare me like this again, I won¡¯t be polite to you!¡± The Qiao Yi in his arms was like an affronted little kitten, thinking she was fearsome when in fact she was just too adorable to resist. While Qiao Yi was threatening Lu Yanchuan, she didn¡¯t see the look in his eyes gradually change under her press. In the end, Qiao Yi was carried out of the car by Lu Yanchuan. Although both of them were dressed decently and it didn¡¯t seem like anything had happened, given the abnormal flush on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, if anyone said nothing had happened, nobody would believe it! Left alone in the car, Ma Yu started contemplating the possibility of resigning again. Even though the job was high paying and had good benefits, the boss just didn¡¯t care about protecting his employees¡¯ mental health! Uncle could bear this, but auntie couldn¡¯t! Qiao Yi was placed by Lu Yanchuan onto the sofa, and just as he was about to straighten up, Qiao Yi pulled him back down by his neck. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, were you jealous when you were at my house today?¡± Chapter 116 - 116: Theres No Most Awkward, Only More Awkward Chapter 116: Chapter 116: There¡¯s No Most Awkward, Only More Awkward ¡°No.¡± Lu Yanchuan replied crisply, causing Qiao Yi to roll her eyes in frustration. ¡°Hmph! Hurry up and go! Stop hanging around in front of me!¡± Lu Yanchuan was ruthlessly driven out of the house by Qiao Yi, who then ran back to her bedroom and buried herself in the blanket, blushing secretly. But in addition to being shy, Qiao Yi also felt some loss. She had made it so obvious, yet Lu Yanchuan did not show any hint of jealousy, even cutting it off decisively as if he afraid to be involved with her. Thinking of this, Qiao Yi suddenly sprang up from the bed, grabbed a pillow, and with a fierce look on her face, yelled at the air. ¡°You are already mine! Even if you want to leave now, you have to see if I agree!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She regretted it; what could be done! She had said that if Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like her, they could break up; what could be done! She wanted to go back on her word; what could be done! After venting her anger at the air, Qiao Yi threw herself back onto the bed. She needed to rest well today, for tomorrow is a big day; she needed to greet tomorrow in her best state! Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday banquet, under the joint effort of Zhao Wenjing and Old Mr. Lu, started flamboyantly and grandly. Qiao Yi was dragged out of bed by Zhao Wenjing early at five in the morning, and it took over five hours just for makeup and styling; they didn¡¯t reach the venue until almost eleven. After being fussed over by Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi herself became nervous. Greeting after greeting, yet Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t relax at all. ¡°Yiyi, do you feel unwell? Why do you look so pale?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, maybe I got up too early and didn¡¯t get enough sleep, I¡¯ll be better later.¡± Qiao Yi took several deep breaths and shook her head with a smile at Zhao Wenjing. Seeing her speak so lightly, Zhao Wenjing also felt relieved and told Qiao Yi not to overexert herself, then went off to take care of other things. Without Zhao Wenjing by her side, Qiao Yi felt much more relaxed and elegantly dealt with the guests coming and going at the venue. ¡°Ah! Miss Qiao! Long time no see! Haven¡¯t wished you a happy birthday yet!¡± A voice came from behind. Qiao Yi turned her head around, not yet having seen clearly who it was when she felt a chill on her chest; the entire cup of red wine the person was holding spattered all over her. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Bai Lingling frantically tried to wipe off the wine stains on Qiao Yi¡¯s body, but instead of cleaning the single spot, it spread all over after she was done wiping. ¡°It¡¯s okay, but Miss Bai, you really can hold your wine.¡± Qiao Yi pushed away Bai Lingling¡¯s hand, and despite being completely disheveled, she inexplicably made Bai Lingling feel oppressed. Bai Lingling clenched her hand and bit her lip, a face full of grievance and incomprehension. ¡°It¡¯s indeed my fault for spilling wine on Miss Qiao, but, but it wasn¡¯t on purpose¡­ Miss Qiao, why say such strange things!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Miss Bai nervous about, I just thought, carrying such a full cup of wine for so long, you must be able to hold more than one cup, right?¡± Bai Lingling opened and closed her mouth, under Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze that seemed to see through everything, yet she couldn¡¯t say a word. Yes, she did it on purpose, intentionally carrying a full cup of wine, intentionally splashing the red wine on Qiao Yi! Of course, Qiao Yi saw her intention; otherwise, who would fill their wine glass so full at a banquet! It¡¯s impossible to say she was not angry, but Qiao Yi simply glanced indifferently at Bai Lingling a few times before turning around and heading to the restroom to change her clothes. Thank goodness Zhao Wenjing had prepared a spare gown for her in advance, otherwise the embarrassment today would have been even greater. ¡°Let me see! Isn¡¯t this the grand Second Miss Qiao, Third Madam of the Lu Family! How did she become a drowned chicken now!¡± When things are at their worst, even worse things can happen. Like when you are rushing to change your clothes soaked in red wine, you always bump into the person you least want to meet. ¡°What? Just out of the hospital and already rushing to be an eyesore?¡± Qiao Yi glanced up and down at Qiao Xin disdainfully and snorted. Qiao Yi always knew how to provoke Qiao Xin. Noticing the slight change in Qiao Xin¡¯s expression, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes darted around, suddenly turning into a smile. ¡°Ah, I really don¡¯t have time to waste with you; I need to hurry and change and go find my husband! Although my husband loves me no matter what I look like, what woman doesn¡¯t want to show her most beautiful side to her loved one?¡± ¡°I guess you also dressed up so delicately to make Lu Ming love you more. I just saw Lu Ming, Sister, you should go quickly, he will definitely be charmed by you!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned from pale to green, from green to dark, Qiao Yi really knew how to make her both angry and disgusted. Seeing that Qiao Xin probably wouldn¡¯t recover any time soon, Qiao Yi pushed open the door of the dressing room with a triumphant posture and entered. ¡°Husband? Love you? Hmm?¡± Goodness gracious! Someone strike her with lightning! The most embarrassing life event is when you just borrowed someone else¡¯s power behind their back, and then you run into the actual person. Qiao Yi awkwardly carved out a three-bedroom one-living room apartment. ¡°Um¡­ I just¡­ cough cough, just joking!¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze was piercing; Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet his eyes and, with a forced smile, moved to the dressing room door, only to be grabbed by someone just as she was about to push it open. ¡°Um¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s lips were bitten, and the next moment, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice with a hint of laughter sounded in her ear. ¡°Feeling shy? Or feeling guilty?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m not!¡± Qiao Yi instinctively retorted, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s laughter deepened. ¡°Have you fallen in love with me?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± She should have immediately denied it, but somehow Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t utter the words of denial, her hands clutching at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s clothes as if she didn¡¯t want him to leave. ¡°Yiyi, I just heard someone say¡­ Ah!!!¡± The door to the dressing room was pushed open, and with a sharp scream, the door was slammed shut again. The slightly amorous atmosphere that had just been building instantly vanished, and Lu Yanchuan looked towards the door unhappily, only to see Feng Siyu covering his eyes and repeatedly saying he saw nothing. If you really don¡¯t want to see, please close up your fingers! The gaps between those fingers are wide enough to drive a carriage through! Qiao Yi pushed Lu Yanchuan away and turned to dive into the dressing room. Unable to withstand Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chilling air, Feng Siyu giggled and followed inside too. ¡°My dear sister! Why didn¡¯t you tell me this gentleman was also here!¡± Feng Siyu appeared frightened, clutching Qiao Yi and sobbing. The look of wanting to stab someone in the eye is hard to hide; Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze just now was already murderous! Qiao Yi forcefully pushed Feng Siyu away, shoving her away from her face with both hands. ¡°You suddenly barged in! And you blame me! Get out quickly, I need to change my clothes!¡± Chapter 117 - 117 Eternal Vigilance Chapter 117: Chapter 117 Eternal Vigilance ¡°Second Miss Qiao, Second Miss Qiao! Are you there?¡± Just as Qiao Yi had changed her clothes and come out, before she could return to the venue, an aunt from the Qiao Family came looking for her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Second Miss Qiao! The master and the lady are asking you to come down quickly; they said there¡¯s a special guest who has brought you a birthday gift, and they want you to come down in person!¡± The aunt¡¯s face was full of urgency; it was clear she had been looking for Qiao Yi for quite a while. What kind of guest could make Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing so anxious? Qiao Yi followed the aunt with curiosity, while Lu Yanchuan thoughtfully stroked his chin and hesitated for a moment before following. ¡°Yiyi, where did you run off to? You almost missed something important!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so urgent? I heard from Aunt Zhao that someone is bringing a gift, and that I¡¯m to personally receive it?¡± As soon as she came downstairs, Qiao Yi ran into an extremely anxious Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing. Upon seeing her, the two hurriedly came over and took her by the hand to lead her outside. Now Qiao Yi was even more curious. The Qiao Family, admittedly not as prestigious as the Lu Family, was still a notable family in Capital City. Besides those families that stood on equal footing with the Lu Family, there were few who could make Qiao Benqing so attentive. Moreover, even among the well-established families, if it weren¡¯t for a particularly important member of the family making an appearance, it wouldn¡¯t warrant such anxiety from Qiao Benqing. Who exactly was the visitor? ¡°Mr. Qiao, Mrs. Qiao.¡± It wasn¡¯t until they reached the entrance of the venue that Qiao Yi finally saw the appearance of the guest. Dressed in a black tailcoat, like a noble from the middle of the last century, he was composed and aristocratic. Although his face wore a gentle smile, the smile somehow felt thousands of miles away. This was a man inherently imbued with pride. Yan Xiyu quietly observed Qiao Yi. Was this the woman who had managed to move Lu Yanchuan, who they thought would remain indifferent? Although this woman was somewhat attractive, with a nice figure and decent poise¡­ But there were plenty of women with similar attributes, so why did Yanchuan fall for her of all people? Yan Xiyu mulled over this in her head but maintained a meticulously polite smile on her face. ¡°I am here on behalf of LQ International to deliver a birthday gift to Miss Qiao.¡± As soon as Yan Xiyu uttered these words, the entire room was shocked. Such a high-profile appearance and gift-giving had already attracted a lot of attention. Everyone had been speculating about the man¡¯s identity, wondering what made him so special that Qiao Benqing treated him with such regard. But now that Yan Xiyu had revealed her identity, they understood Qiao Benqing¡¯s attitude wasn¡¯t the least bit surprising. They figured that they would have probably reacted even more excessively than Qiao Benqing. LQ, that¡¯s LQ for you! Tomorrow is LQ¡¯s election meeting, and the Qiao Family is also one of the candidates. Now LQ is proactively giving a gift to the Second Miss Qiao; could this be LQ¡¯s way of making a public statement? Could it be that LQ has already decided to award the project to the Qiao Family! As for why no one thought LQ was giving the project to the Lu Family? One reason was that the Lu Family did not participate in the election at all; those with connections knew that the documents the Qiao Family submitted for the election were prepared with the help of Lu Yanchuan. The second reason was Yan Xiyu¡¯s address to Qiao Yi. She came to the birthday banquet and only sought out the Qiao trio and did not look for the Lu Family. This further proved that she was here for Second Miss Qiao, not for the Third Young Master of Lu¡¯s wife. For a time, the guests within the venue were abuzz with speculation, all trying to guess what LQ¡¯s gesture was all about. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qiao Yi took the box from Yan Xiyu¡¯s hands and passed it on to the aunt next to her, with no intention of opening it. Yan Xiyu¡¯s eyes flashed darkly, and suddenly her smile widened somewhat as she spoke to Qiao Yi. ¡°Miss Qiao, don¡¯t you want to have a look? This is a gift personally chosen by our president for Miss Qiao.¡± Qiao Yi was taken aback; it was highly impolite to open someone¡¯s gift in public unless they were a particularly close friend. Clearly, Yan Xiyu was not such a friend to Qiao Yi. So why would he say this? Perhaps because he had been abroad for so long and was too influenced by foreign customs? Since the giver himself had suggested it, Qiao Yi had to open it even if she didn¡¯t want to. The gift box wasn¡¯t too big. Qiao Yi unwrapped the exterior in a few moves, revealing a velvet-covered box inside. ¡°This¡­ this is too valuable! I can¡¯t accept it!¡± Under the lights of the venue, the necklace in the box Qiao Yi held refracted a dazzling light. A blue diamond, the size of an adult man¡¯s knuckle, was set on a necklace, with earrings and a ring made from the same blue diamonds beside it. It was not merely the blue diamond jewelry that surprised Qiao Yi. What surprised her was the provenance of this jewelry set! ¡°This is the unique creation of Master Karan Dai from Country Y, produced in the 1920s. A famous jewelry designer crafted this set especially for his wife to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, his wife passed away due to illness on their anniversary day. Heartbroken, the designer never released any work to the world after that.¡± ¡°This is the ¡®Eternal Vigil,¡¯ the masterpiece of Master Karan Dai!¡± Someone in the crowd recognized the origin of the jewelry set and explained to their bewildered companions. ¡°The last time ¡®Eternal Vigil¡¯ appeared was at an auction in the capital of Country D three years ago, where it was auctioned off for 180 million euros.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°180 million! Euros!¡± There were exclamations of astonishment. What did 180 million euros mean? Converted at today¡¯s exchange rate, some families present weren¡¯t even worth 180 million euros! The crowd¡¯s gaze towards the box of jewelry became complex and excited. Just how profound were LQ¡¯s resources, that they could give away 180 million just like that! The capital LQ spent on opening the domestic market certainly would not ignore this amount! Almost everyone looked at Qiao Yi with a different gaze. Just now, Yan Xiyu had said that this gift was personally chosen by their president; could it be that LQ¡¯s president had taken a fancy to Qiao Yi? This thought occurred not only in the minds of the guests at the scene but also in the minds of the Qiao Family trio. Qiao Yi, of course, didn¡¯t know what Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing thought; she only knew that she was feeling exasperated and embarrassed. She absolutely couldn¡¯t accept such a precious gift. But with the LQ election imminent, if she rejected this gift in public, and if the president of LQ felt that he lost face, wouldn¡¯t the Qiao Family be directly disqualified? But if she accepted¡­ The image of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face suddenly flashed before Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. If she accepted this gift, would Yanchuan¡­ would he be jealous? Qiao Yi was torn and exasperated, but Qiao Xin hiding behind a pillar at the venue was driven mad with jealousy. Why should Qiao Yi have such a showy birthday celebration! Chapter 118 - 118: The Gift Giver Chapter 118: Chapter 118: The Gift Giver Two months ago during her birthday, the Qiao Family simply celebrated for her at home! The Lu Family didn¡¯t even bother to fart, only Lu Ming came over reluctantly and left soon after sitting for a short while. At that time, she was carrying Lu Ming¡¯s child! Why was there such a huge gap between her and Qiao Yi! Qiao Xin grasped the pillar tightly with her hand, so much that even her nails broke without her noticing, staring at Qiao Yi with a hateful gaze. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know about the tumultuous feelings in Qiao Xin¡¯s heart, and after hesitating for a while, she finally made a decision. ¡°Please thank your president for the kind gesture, but this gift is too valuable, I cannot accept it.¡± Qiao Yi closed the jewelry box, handed it to the aunt, and asked her to send it back. A gift sent out should not be taken back, and of course, Yan Xiyu had no intention of taking it back, just smiled and shook his head. ¡°This is not the genuine article. The true Eternity¡¯s Watch is in the hands of a private collector. This one is merely an imitation, its value is less than one-tenth of the real deal, Miss Qiao can rest assured and accept it.¡± Even if it is an imitation, jewelry worth tens of millions is not something Qiao Yi can accept, not to mention that she was not so enthusiastic about jewelry. ¡°It¡¯s not about how much it¡¯s worth, please bring this set back and give it to your president. In the future, when you have a Mrs. President, it would be most appropriate for your president to give it to his lady.¡± Qiao Yi had made her point very clear. The monetary value was secondary; the important thing was the hidden meaning of this set of jewelry. Eternal, unchanging love. If this item was from Lu Yanchuan, maybe Qiao Yi would have been excited, but now that a stranger is gifting this, it made Qiao Yi politely decline. ¡°Well then, that¡¯s a pity. Our boss spent quite a lot of effort preparing a gift for Miss Qiao, it¡¯s unexpected that Miss Qiao doesn¡¯t like this gift.¡± Yan Xiyu feigned helplessness with a shrug, but Qiao Yi felt even more helpless than him. What does it mean she didn¡¯t like the gift? It¡¯s that she didn¡¯t dare to like the gift! Anyhow, as long as she doesn¡¯t have to accept this gift, to avoid straining relations between Qiao Family and LQ, so be it if Yan Xiyu¡¯s words weren¡¯t pleasant. Right as Qiao Yi was about to invite Yan Xiyu to enter, she heard another announcement from outside. ¡°Second young lady, the Fireworks Association has brought a gift.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Old Mr. Ding¡¯s people!¡± Qiao Yi was somewhat surprised and touched; the old gentleman actually made a point of sending a gift over, she should often visit to keep him company in the future. The visitor was Old Mr. Ding¡¯s eldest disciple and also his eldest son, who pragmatically brought two large boxes in with his men. ¡°These two are improved versions of the fireworks from the festival; the burning time has been shortened, but the size has been reduced to one-tenth. My dad specifically asked me to bring them to you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ding! I will definitely visit to express my thanks another day!¡± The smile on Qiao Yi¡¯s face was very sincere. The old gentleman always knew what she liked the most, and it was this friendship that moved her the most. ¡°Father always talks about you. When you want to visit, I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± Having known each other for over a decade, Old Mr. Ding¡¯s sons and she were like siblings, without any need for formalities. As the Association had other matters, the group left after dropping off the gifts. Qiao Yi greeted people to carry several large boxes inside, and when she turned her head and saw Yan Xiyu¡¯s curious face, she felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Yan, please.¡± Qiao Yi came over and gestured for Yan Xiyu to enter, and it was only after he glanced behind her that he stepped into the venue. Yan Xiyu had just walked into the venue when he heard the aunt he had just seen hurry to Qiao Yi¡¯s side and say another sentence. ¡°Second Miss, someone outside claiming to be Tao Qian¡¯s apprentice says they¡¯ve been sent to deliver a gift to you.¡± How come all these gifts are arriving at the same time, as if they had coordinated it. Qiao Yi immediately knew it was a gift from Mr. Tao and quickly turned to go out. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The people inside the venue were already too shocked to speak. What on earth is the status of this Second Miss of the Qiao Family? How come everyone she knows is extraordinary? First, it was a sky-high birthday present from the CEO of LQ International, followed by a gift from the always-mysterious Fireworks Association, and now there appeared an apprentice from the jewelry giant, Tao Qian! Tao Qian¡¯s name might not be recognized by many people in public, but in the presence of today¡¯s gathered elite, if someone said they didn¡¯t know Tao Qian, they would definitely be laughed at! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care what they thought, and after inviting the person inside, she discovered it was Uncle Peng himself who came to deliver the gift! ¡°It¡¯s just a birthday, and yet you went through the trouble to come all this way!¡± Qiao Yi was both touched and delighted, wondering what merit she had to be remembered and cherished by so many elders! ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, no trouble at all. The old master sent me here this time to see if we could move directly to the Capital City to settle down.¡± ¡°Master Tao wants to settle down in the Capital City? That¡¯s fantastic! Tell me whatever kind of place you¡¯d like to live, Master Tao, and I guarantee I¡¯ll arrange everything perfectly!¡± Qiao Yi had a sweet tongue, and her flattery made Uncle Peng laugh out loud. ¡°With arrangements by the Young Madam, the old master will surely be delighted!¡± The gift sent by Mr. Tao was a small jade carving, a translucent emerald Buddha statue sculpted with a smiling face, yet conveying a sense of compassion. Qiao Yi, who never really liked jewelry, found this Buddha statue adorable, not to mention those who heard Mr. Tao¡¯s name. Feeling several particularly intense gazes on her hand, Qiao Yi was at once bewildered, then resignedly amused. The nightmare of being harassed by phone calls in Jiang City seemed about to begin again¡ªshould she change her phone number? ¡°Hmph! How ridiculous! Some people really go to great lengths to save face! Does anyone really believe those of humble standing can have contact with Master Tao Qian? If you¡¯re going to hire an actor, at least get a professional one! This is absolutely ludicrous!¡± There¡¯s always one or two discordant voices in a harmonious environment, and this particular discordant voice was extraordinarily clear. Qiao Yi looked in the direction of the voice and saw Wu Yingrui and a few ladies from prominent families standing together, their faces filled with mockery and disdain, ranting loudly with sarcasm. Uncle Peng¡¯s expression also darkened; how many years had it been since he last saw someone so brazen in his presence? He and Tao Qian might be master and servant in name, but in fact, they were old brothers who had accompanied each other for decades, and in Tao Qian¡¯s heart, not even Lu Yanchuan could compare to Uncle Peng. Those who knew Tao Qian were aware of this, and with Uncle Peng¡¯s amiable nature, no one would want to provoke such a well-liked individual with an extraordinary status. However, this one here was an exception. Chapter 119 - 119: Astonishing Turnaround Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Astonishing Turnaround Wu Yingrui finished speaking, and seeing quite a few people looking her way, she became even more pleased with herself. ¡°Don¡¯t try to puff yourself up if you can¡¯t afford it, if it were me, I¡¯d just quietly shrink back and live my life! Otherwise, you¡¯re just asking to be struck by lightning for showing off!¡± Wu Yingrui laughed arrogantly, and the few girlfriends by her side, with similar dispositions, naturally joined in the mockery. The venue became suddenly quiet, and Wu Yingrui thought her mockery had taken effect, her disdain for Qiao Yi standing there deepening. Aside from Wu Yingrui, the other girls started noticing something amiss. Although the crowd had quieted down, they didn¡¯t seem to be looking at Qiao Yi with mockery or dissatisfaction, but rather with very strange gazes. One of the girls quietly tugged at Wu Yingrui¡¯s sleeve. Wu Yingrui, caught up in her excitement, was quite displeased at being interrupted, and glared at the girl who had tugged on her clothes with a disgruntled huff. ¡°Speak up if you have something to say!¡± ¡°Rui, I somehow feel something¡¯s not right¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s not right! If someone doesn¡¯t give herself some dignity, am I supposed to give it to her?¡± Wu Yingrui rolled her eyes and shook off the girl¡¯s hand. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girl stumbled back a bit, pursing her lips and stepping back two paces, distancing herself from Wu Yingrui. Wu Yingrui, completely oblivious to the girl¡¯s abnormal reaction, continued to provocatively stare at Qiao Yi. The commotion here wasn¡¯t small, and Qiao Benqing and his wife, alongside Old Mr. Lu, had originally come to meet Mr. Tao¡¯s disciple, but as soon as they walked over, they heard Wu Yingrui¡¯s arrogant and provocative words. ¡°Is this¡­ the youngest daughter of the Wu Family?¡± ¡°The Wu Family? The one that specializes in maritime shipping?¡± Seeing Old Mr. Lu nod, Qiao Benqing felt his heart sink. Any family involved in maritime shipping would have some inglorious background, and the Wu Family was no different. If the Lu Family in Capital City is a fierce tiger on land, then the Wu Family is an octopus lurking in the deep sea, with people preferring to fight the tiger to the death than being caught unawares and devoured by the octopus. The Lu Family and the Wu Family had no good or bad relations, as their business sectors were entirely different, without any disputes over interests, they naturally lived in peaceful coexistence. And the Qiao Family, in front of a family like the Wu¡¯s, truly couldn¡¯t hold a candle to them. ¡°Miss Wu, this isn¡¯t your house, where you can act with impunity. Hasn¡¯t your family head taught you to behave with manners in public?¡± A voice came from the crowd, and as everyone turned, they saw a woman in a white dress step forward from behind the crowd. ¡°Big sister!¡± The newcomer was none other than Lu Xiaohua, and Qiao Yi was overjoyed. Lu Xiaohua gave Qiao Yi a reassuring glance, then turned to look at Wu Yingrui with an expressionless face. ¡°Perhaps I should have a good talk with Mrs. Wu about how to educate children. Otherwise, for a family like the Wu¡¯s, if a foolish person without a sense of propriety were to emerge, wouldn¡¯t it cast shame upon the family?¡± ¡°You! How dare you speak to me like that!¡± Wu Yingrui, the youngest daughter of her generation in the Wu Family, having been spoiled since childhood, had never been publicly chided like this. She immediately shrieked at Lu Xiaohua. ¡°If Miss Wu continues to lack manners, I won¡¯t mind standing in for Mr. Wu and Mrs. Wu to discipline an unruly child at home.¡± Given Lu Xiaohua¡¯s status, she was entirely within her rights to say this. Even if the Wu Family Patriarch and the patriarch¡¯s wife were present, they would demand Wu Yingrui apologize to Lu Xiaohua, rather than side with Wu Yingrui against the Lu Family. ¡°The Wu Family, right?¡± ¡°I recall that this year¡¯s auction lot that Old Mr. Lu bid on was won by the Wu Family, but now it seems I might need to speak with Old Mr. Lu and consider whether the Wu Family qualifies to attend the auction.¡± Uncle Peng stepped out from beside Qiao Yi, smiled amiably at Lu Xiaohua, then turned to Wu Yingrui, his smile unwavering, yet his words made Wu Yingrui freeze in place. ¡°What do you mean by that!¡± ¡°It means nothing! I just wonder if Old Mr. Lu would permanently refuse Wu Family¡¯s business if he knew someone planned to make trouble at the Young Madam¡¯s birthday banquet.¡± Wu Yingrui turned pale, her eyes darting frantically at the seemingly ordinary old man in traditional attire. Could it be¡­ could he really have some connection to Master Tao Qian! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! What kind of status does Qiao Yi have that would allow Master Tao Qian to personally prepare a gift for her! Wu Yingrui repeatedly gave herself mental suggestions, trying to embolden herself. But the more she tried to convince herself, the more she found the people opposite her seemed too calm and composed. ¡°I assume Miss Wu probably doesn¡¯t want to continue attending the banquet any longer, someone please escort Miss Wu out.¡± Lu Xiaohua spoke, and of course, the security guards wouldn¡¯t dare not listen, but they equally didn¡¯t dare to lay hands on Wu Yingrui, which instantly put them at a loss. ¡°Miss Wu¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t until then that Wu Yingrui finally realized what she had done wrong. She frantically looked around, only to see a circle of people all scornfully watching her, even the girlfriends who had just stood with her hid away in the crowd, not daring to support her anymore. Qiao Yi stood unfazed, as if Wu Yingrui¡¯s provocations were just a child¡¯s joke. Wu Yingrui¡¯s face suddenly flushed crimson, then turned deathly pale. She had been sure that the person Qiao Yi brought with her couldn¡¯t possibly be Tao Qian¡¯s disciple, which was why she dared to ridicule. Because the recipients of the gifts were the Second Miss Qiao, not the Third Young Master Lu¡¯s wife. Such a discrepancy even more fortified Wu Yingrui¡¯s conviction that Qiao Yi was just puffing herself up, that the Qiao Family without the Lu Family was nothing more than a second-rate family, and these big shots couldn¡¯t possibly be within the Qiao Family¡¯s reach. If the gift from LQ International could still be understood as having their CEO¡¯s ulterior motives, then the two gifts that followed were just too coincidental. It should have been her who exposed Qiao Yi¡¯s facade and left her humiliated! Why did it turn out like this! Not only did she not expose Qiao Yi¡¯s true nature, but she also offended someone close to Master Tao Qian¡­ Wu Yingrui could almost imagine the punishment she would face upon returning to the Wu Family! ¡°How about it? Miss Wu, do you still need someone to escort you out?¡± Lu Xiaohua¡¯s tone had already taken on discontent, and those who knew her understood that this tone meant she was already getting angry. Wu Yingrui bit her lip, and after a long while, she glared bitterly at Qiao Yi as she walked out. Chapter 120 - 120 The Wicked Accuse First Chapter 120: Chapter 120 The Wicked Accuse First After Wu Yingrui left, the atmosphere at the venue once again became harmonious and joyous. However, today¡¯s banquet was destined to leave an indelible impression on them. By the time the banquet finally ended, Qiao Yi was so exhausted she practically collapsed. After seeing off the last guest, Qiao Yi could no longer hold herself up and slumped into a nearby chair. ¡°My ancestor, why are you still here? Everyone¡¯s waiting for you!¡± Feng Siyu hurried over. Seeing Qiao Yi slumped over in her chair like a dead dog, she immediately dragged her up and out of the chair. ¡°My dear sister, can I please go change my clothes? This dress is killing me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath, everything is prepared in the car. Tonight, you better be ready to not return until you¡¯re absolutely plastered!¡± The daytime birthday banquet was hosted for the prominent families of Capital City to see, but the wild evening party was specially arranged by Qiao Yi¡¯s friends for her. After informing her parents and Old Mr. Lu, Qiao Yi was half-dragged and half-carried by Feng Siyu into the car, and kidnapped away in that manner. Old Mr. Lu chuckled as he watched the playful figures of the brother and sister receding into the distance, a trace of nostalgia appearing in his eyes. ¡°Young people really have the energy. We older ones just end up being abandoned.¡± Old Mr. Lu laughed, leaning on his cane as he got into the Lu Family¡¯s car. Mr. and Mrs. Qiao, initially worried that Qiao Yi going out right after her party might upset Old Mr. Lu, relaxed seeing how indulgently and dotingly Old Mr. Lu treated Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was truly born under a lucky star. She was pampered by them at home, and now that she¡¯s married, her father-in-law dotes on her just the same; she¡¯ll probably end up spoiled rotten sooner or later. The Qiao couple was getting ready to leave when they turned around and saw Lu Yanchuan just finishing a phone call at the venue. ¡°Yanchuan, why aren¡¯t you going with Yiyi to her friends¡¯ gathering?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to take care of first; I¡¯ll join her once I¡¯m done.¡± With Lu Yanchuan¡¯s reassurance, Mr. and Mrs. Qiao left contentedly. Once nearly everyone had left, Lu Yanchuan was about to make arrangements for Uncle Peng¡¯s accommodation but was stopped by Lu Xiaohua. ¡°Yanchuan, although it¡¯s a matter of your personal feelings, I feel I must talk to you about it properly.¡± Lu Yanchuan respected this sister of his and nodded, indicating for her to continue. ¡°Sister knows you don¡¯t like Lingling. Although I once thought of pairing you two up, you¡¯re married now, and of course, I wouldn¡¯t let anyone disturb your relationship. But even if you don¡¯t like Lingling, you shouldn¡¯t just watch her get bullied without doing anything, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Lu Yanchuan frowned slightly, already feeling impatient at the mention of Bai Lingling¡¯s name. Had Bai Lingling not only splashed wine on Qiao Yi but now also gone running to Lu Xiaohua to play the victim first? Though Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t the most amicable person, and his temperament was frustrating to the point of grinding one¡¯s teeth, he was still trustworthy in one aspect¡ªhe never lied. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the expression on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face, it was clear to Lu Xiaohua how much he detested Bai Lingling. Although Lu Yanchuan never had much affection for Bai Lingling in the past, it had never reached this degree of loathing. Could it be that something she was unaware of had happened? ¡°Lingling was splashed with red wine by Yiyi, you didn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t Yiyi who splashed Bai Lingling with red wine, but Bai Lingling who splashed Yiyi with red wine. Yiyi¡¯s dirty clothes are still in the changing room, and there¡¯s surveillance footage in the venue.¡± Lu Yanchuan directly shut down any possibility of Lu Xiaohua¡¯s doubts and rebuttals. From Lu Xiaohua¡¯s incredulous expression, it was clear that Bai Lingling had definitely not told the story this way to her. Indeed, Bai Lingling didn¡¯t tell Lu Xiaohua exactly that; she didn¡¯t directly say it was Qiao Yi who spilled the wine on her. She vaguely mentioned that she had a conflict with Qiao Yi and accidentally stained her dress. She even said not to let Lu Xiaohua be angry with Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi, blaming herself for the whole issue, alleging her presence had caused misunderstandings and so on and so forth¡­ Bai Lingling couldn¡¯t have imagined that Lu Xiaohua would go directly to Lu Yanchuan with this matter. She intended for Lu Xiaohua to misunderstand Qiao Yi, thinking Qiao Yi was targeting her. Who would have thought that Lu Xiaohua would not only feel nothing wrong with Qiao Yi¡¯s actions but even confronted Wu Yingrui on Qiao Yi¡¯s behalf? That¡¯s because Bai Lingling didn¡¯t know what Lu Xiaohua and Lu Yanchuan had discussed. If she had known, she would have been furious. Even if Lu Xiaohua hadn¡¯t gone to Lu Yanchuan, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out the way Bai Lingling had anticipated. After all, in Lu Xiaohua¡¯s eyes, there was nothing wrong with what Qiao Yi had done. If another woman claimed to be her husband¡¯s childhood friend and still harbored unrequited feelings for him, Lu Xiaohua guaranteed she would have done something far worse than spilling red wine¡­ using sulfuric acid wouldn¡¯t have been out of the question. Which is why despite Bai Lingling having complained to her, Lu Xiaohua would still come forward to defend Qiao Yi. But in this matter, someone had to be in the wrong. If Qiao Yi was not at fault and Bai Lingling felt aggrieved, Lu Xiaohua eventually decided to pin the blame on Lu Yanchuan. If a grown man can¡¯t even maintain this little balance in and out of the house, what good is he! And so, the innocent Lu Yanchuan ended up shouldering the blame undeservedly. ¡°So, are you telling me that Lingling lied to me?¡± Lu Yanchuan did not confirm or deny, instead, he called the hotel manager to show Lu Xiaohua the surveillance footage, and then he promptly left the hotel. After settling matters with Uncle Peng, he still needed to find Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was completely unaware of the commotion at the hotel after he left; right now, she was enduring Han Zizhen¡¯s excruciating singing. Why would anyone who sings so horribly insist on being a karaoke hog! Almost everyone shared the same thought as Qiao Yi, and after reaching a consensus, they joined forces to snatch the microphone from Han Zizhen¡¯s hands, warning him not to touch the mic again. After reclaiming the microphone, Feng Siyu volunteered to provide some ¡®ear-cleansing¡¯ for the crowd. Having Han Zizhen as a benchmark, they found everything else sounded celestial in comparison! Originally, Han Zizhen wasn¡¯t even on the invitation list, but because Han Wenle was coming to celebrate Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday, he shamelessly tagged along. As for why he insisted on following? Well, that¡¯s a long story, which all began when they were at a hot spring resort in Jiang City¡­ Ahem! In short, Han Wenle found out that Yun Qing always had a lecherous gaze on his sister and didn¡¯t feel comfortable with his sister being alone where this guy was, hence the protective Han Zizhen accompanied her. Regarding why Yun Qing was even in Qiao Yi¡¯s circle of friends? Well, that¡¯s another long story¡­ Long story short, Yun Qing knew his cousin was going to Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday party, and since Han Wenle would be there, he shamelessly decided to tag along with his cousin. Chapter 121 - 121 Brother-in-Law Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Brother-in-Law ¡°Stop singing! How about we play something else?¡± ¡°How about Truth or Dare?¡± One person¡¯s suggestion won the support of the whole group, chaotic bottles of alcohol and snacks were shifted aside, and a spinning wheel twice the size of a human head was placed in the center of the table. ¡°Let¡¯s make it clear, you have to accept the bet and the loss. If anyone dares not to follow through, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yuan! If you lose, we¡¯ll make sure you get a kiss from Ting!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± The room was filled with laughter and teasing, until the next moment, when it suddenly quieted down. The kids with their backs to the door didn¡¯t know what had happened, still joking around, until they noticed the expressions on a few faces and cautiously turned their heads. ¡°Lu¡­ Third Young Master¡­ Why are you here?¡± It¡¯s not that they were timid; it¡¯s just that Lu Yanchuan had quite the reputation in Capital City. All of them were well-off rascals, but in the presence of the business elite Lu Yanchuan, it was like a group of little sheep had a big bad wolf among them. The big bad wolf¡­no, Lu Yanchuan glanced at the pile of bottles next to the table, and then moved his gaze away to sit down next to Qiao Yi. ¡°Continue.¡± Gosh! With this big shot around, who would dare to let loose and play! Are they trying to scare someone to death? ¡°Why are you here?¡± Qiao Yi was used to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s imposing presence and made room for him to sit down before asking. ¡°I¡¯m your husband, is there anything wrong with celebrating your birthday?¡± The word ¡°husband¡± unexpectedly hit Qiao Yi¡¯s sweet spot; she couldn¡¯t help wanting to laugh but pretended to snort disdainfully and slowly hooked her arm through Lu Yanchuan¡¯s in a gesture she thought was very discreet. ¡°Well, seeing as you¡¯re so considerate, I won¡¯t send you away.¡± Almost everyone in the room was stealing glances at Lu Yanchuan, noticing his softened expression and Qiao Yi¡¯s spring-in-her-step demeanor, they knew the purpose of the big shot¡¯s visit. It was for their endearing Yiyi! ¡°Eh~~~~¡± The crisis was averted, and a few off-key folks crowded together, chanting in a singsong manner, swinging their arms back and forth until one was hit in the face with a cushion thrown by Qiao Yi, settling them down. ¡°Are you going to play the game with us?¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded, and this time Qiao Yi was truly surprised¡ªhad this man changed his ways? Was he actually willing to join her group of friends in a game? Not just Qiao Yi showed that expression; the others were equally shocked to see Lu Yanchuan nod. ¡°Shall we start?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start, let¡¯s start right away!¡± Little Brother A nodded and bowed obsequiously. To prevent Lu Yanchuan from being unfamiliar with Truth or Dare, Little Brother A even took the time to explain the rules to him. ¡°After the spinning wheel stops, the person pointed at must accept a penalty. Choosing truth means answering a question, and choosing dare means accepting a challenge. After the penalty, the punished person will spin the wheel again. Do you understand, brother-in-law?¡± Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow at Little Brother A. Brother-in-law, what the heck is that? Regardless of Qiao Yi¡¯s complex emotions, at least Lu Yanchuan seemed quite pleased with the title, giving Little Brother A an approving look, then he was the first one to spin the wheel. Perhaps the birthday person has a unique aura, as the first one ¡°caught¡± was Qiao Yi. ¡°I choose dare!¡± Qiao Yi stood up, looking down at Lu Yanchuan with a threatening glint in her eyes. If this guy dares to make any excessive demands, he¡¯s in for it tonight! Lu Yanchuan hesitated for a moment before speaking. ¡°Kiss me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Ah ah ah! Ao ao ao! Oh oh oh!¡± Everyone except Qiao Yi, who was out of it, burst into a round of strange screams upon hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bold demand. ¡°Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!¡± Among the rambunctious crowd, Feng Siyu was the most enthusiastic, even ready with her phone to capture this unprecedented moment. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Yi snapped back to reality and looked at Lu Yanchuan with complicated eyes. Why would he make such a request? In front of her friends, first to celebrate her birthday, then to play games, and now to engage in such intimate behavior. Why do things that could lead to misunderstandings¡­ Qiao Yi¡¯s hesitation was mistaken for shyness, and without waiting for her to decide, Lu Yanchuan reached out and pulled her onto his lap, biting her lip with a clasp on the back of her head. ¡°If you don¡¯t take the game seriously, you should be punished.¡± ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah!!!!¡± Screams and cheers nearly flipped the private room upside down, Feng Siyu¡¯s camera shutter clicking nonstop, shamelessly capturing the couple¡¯s kiss, until Gu Ting reluctantly dragged them back to their seats. Qiao Yi, with blushing cheeks and red ears, extricated herself from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace, sitting back in her seat properly, her face still burning. ¡°Continue, Yiyi!¡± ¡°How was the kiss, Yiyi? Even if you want to savor it, you should wait until you get home to reminisce with your brother-in-law!¡± ¡°Hurry up, keep it going!¡± The crowd was shouting all sorts of things, and Qiao Yi glared fiercely at the loudest one, yet didn¡¯t refute their way of addressing Lu Yanchuan as ¡°brother-in-law.¡± Lu Yanchuan himself didn¡¯t refuse it either¡­ The second winner was Han Zizhen, who also opted for a dare. Qiao Yi thought for a moment, then opened her mouth with a mischievous smile. ¡°Go to the Zhang Family¡¯s private room next door and sing ¡®Good People Live a Safe Life¡¯.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Good People Live a Safe Life! Hahaha!¡± The private room burst into laughter, and Han Zizhen nearly cried. In front of his own people, Han Zizhen wouldn¡¯t care about a little embarrassment, but this was no longer just embarrassing in front of his own people! The young master of the Zhang Family was playing in the next room, and the Zhang and Han Families had collaborations, so they were somewhat acquainted. Even so, this was still a bit too awkward, wasn¡¯t it? Han Zizhen walked out of the private room with a look of tragic determination, and the room quieted down for a moment before Han Zizhen¡¯s ¡°deeply affectionate¡± voice started singing ¡®Good People Live a Safe Life¡¯. It completely killed them with laughter this time; Han Zizhen hurriedly finished the song, covered his face, and ran back, swearing never to choose dare again! He didn¡¯t dare to look at the Zhang Family young master¡¯s astonished face! His own face¡­ was totally lost¡­ Perhaps plagued by bad luck, Qiao Yi and Han Zizhen turned out to be the most frequently picked ones, mostly hurting each other. And whether it was because Lu Yanchuan¡¯s aura was too strong and affected some metaphysical factors, he wasn¡¯t chosen even once, which made the two constant winners feel terribly upset. It wasn¡¯t until Han Zizhen was forced to reveal the color of his underwear that fortune finally smiled on him once. This time, the spinner pointed steadily in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s direction! Chapter 122 - 122: Bathing, Sleeping, Together Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Bathing, Sleeping, Together Not sure if Han Zizhen is lucky or unlucky, but why does he have to face Lu Yanchuan of all people! ¡°I choose¡­ truth.¡± Han Zizhen really wanted to let Lu Yanchuan off easily, but asking something like ¡°What color socks are you wearing today?¡± would definitely provoke attacks from others. Yes, this bunch of daring brats wouldn¡¯t dare to give Lu Yanchuan the cold shoulder, but they dare to lay their hands on him! And they are relentless! After agonizing back and forth, Han Zizhen swallowed hard and then cautiously raised his head to look at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Um, I want to ask, boss¡­ have you ever watched a ¡®little movie¡¯?¡± ¡°¡­ Oh¡ª¡± A low murmur of surprise quietly spread, and a group of people, like mice wanting to cheer and scream but restraining themselves from getting too excited, all had their faces flushed red, looking like they were high on something! This question¡­ is too provocative! Even Qiao Yi covered her mouth and squinted at Lu Yanchuan, she wanted to know the answer to this question too! Han Zizhen was both excited and nervous, finally having caught an opportunity to grasp some leverage on Lu Yanchuan, he really didn¡¯t want to let go, but thinking about how the petty Lu Yanchuan might retaliate afterward, a faint pain began surfacing on Han Zizhen¡¯s body. No matter! Let him retaliate! The little handle on Lu Yanchuan is more important. ¡°I have, not only watched but also invested in making one.¡± ¡°Ao¡ª¡± Once this statement was made, everyone present erupted in excitement, even Qiao Yi widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°Invested in making¡­¡± ¡°Three years ago, the company invested in making a documentary movie, which you can still see on the company¡¯s official website.¡± ¡°Ha? Are you talking about that movie ¡®Dream Chaser¡¯?¡± Han Zizhen¡¯s voice shot up eight octaves, looking like he might faint at any moment. Lu Yanchuan looked at Han Zizhen, slowly revealing a smirk with unclear implications. ¡°What else did you think it was, a ¡®little movie¡¯?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s¡­ cough cough cough! Yes, that one!¡± Han Zizhen felt like a mute who has tasted gall, unable to voice his bitterness, how could he have never anticipated that Lu Yanchuan would twist the meaning! What he clearly meant was a pornographic film! What Lu Yanchuan referred to was a micro movie, though both are called ¡®little movie¡¯, but well¡­ Han Zizhen sank into endless gloom, Lu Yanchuan disdainfully curled his lips, then turned to look at Qiao Yi who was still surprised, leaned over to her ear and said, ¡°If you want to watch a ¡®little movie¡¯, I¡¯ll watch it with you when we go back.¡± Mommy! There¡¯s a hooligan here! A group of young people kept it lively until late at night before they all dispersed and went their separate ways, Qiao Yi stayed till the end, sent everyone off, and then stood up to go home. Lu Yanchuan was waiting for her. After the night¡¯s noise had subsided, what was left was a somewhat inexplicable awkwardness. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face still had a red lipstick mark, which was left from a time when Qiao Yi lost to Feng Siyu. ¡°The lipstick on your face, let me wipe it off for you.¡± Qiao Yi took out a tissue from her bag and just as she stepped close to Lu Yanchuan, she was suddenly hugged by him. In between her nose was the unique DN cologne fragrance from Lu Yanchuan, mixed with a faint scent of tobacco and alcohol, slowly making Qiao Yi¡¯s face flush. ¡°It¡¯s time to go home¡­ You still have to go to the company tomorrow¡­¡± Qiao Yi pushed against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chest with her hand, in the latter half of tonight the group got carried away completely forgetting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s status, one after the other kept pouring him drinks. Lu Yanchuan drank the drinks meant for both of them. Even with a good alcohol tolerance, he was somewhat tipsy now. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go home.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded, grabbed one of Qiao Yi¡¯s hands, and headed outside. ¡°Hey hey hey! I haven¡¯t taken my bag yet!¡± Qiao Yi called out twice, but Lu Yanchuan, as if he didn¡¯t hear, continued to walk forward until they reached the door, then he stopped and turned around, frowning. ¡°Go get your bag, let¡¯s go home.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression was unchanged, completely devoid of any drunken demeanor, and his footsteps were steady without any wobbling. Ignoring the smell of alcohol on him, no one would tell he was drunk. But! There¡¯s always a but! Looking at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s somewhat dazed eyes and his inexplicably well-behaved actions, Qiao Yi inwardly screamed. Oh my! Her Lu Yanchuan is so cute when he¡¯s drunk! No! What ¡°her¡± Lu Yanchuan! He¡¯s not hers! Qiao Yi¡¯s cheeks flushed, she picked up her bag and walked over, was just getting close to Lu Yanchuan when he suddenly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Lu Yanchuan?¡± Qiao Yi called out softly, but Lu Yanchuan, as if he didn¡¯t hear, kept walking forward, stopping after several steps and suddenly turning to look at Qiao Yi. ¡°Hmm?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s chest was hit hard, a scream reached her throat but she swallowed it back. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why is Lu Yanchuan so cute when he¡¯s drunk! This super delayed reaction is just too adorable! ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s go home, be good!¡± ¡°Uh-huh, go home, be good.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s heart was full to bursting, smiling foolishly as she held onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm all the way to the underground parking lot. Ma Yu was already waiting in the car, immediately overwhelmed by the strong smell of alcohol reeking from Lu Yanchuan as soon as he arrived. ¡°Boss, how much did you drink?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ I don¡¯t know, too much.¡± Lu Yanchuan drank double doses to shield Qiao Yi, and with these people intentionally binging, he himself at least drank a case of beer. Ma Yu was made speechless by Qiao Yi¡¯s response, helplessly started the car, and drove the two back to Emperor Garden. Qiao Yi, leading her well-behaved darling, felt like she had an extra human-sized accessory. Wherever Qiao Yi went, Lu Yanchuan followed. When Qiao Yi went to the bathroom to prepare for a bath and rest, Lu Yanchuan actually followed her in. Qiao Yi never knew Lu Yanchuan, when drunk, was such a clinger, slow-reacting, obedient, and well-behaved¡­ completely opposite to when he¡¯s sober! ¡°You need to behave, I¡¯m going to take a bath and sleep, you can¡¯t come in with me.¡± ¡°Bath, sleep, together.¡± Lu Yanchuan, with a serious expression, said the most unserious words, his brow slightly furrowed and face filled with earnestness. If not for his very confused gaze, he could really fool a lot of people. Qiao Yi felt helpless, pulling on Lu Yanchuan to get out, but Lu Yanchuan just wouldn¡¯t listen this time. ¡°Bath, sleep, together!¡± ¡°Eh eh eh? Are you pretending?!¡± Qiao Yi, pulled back into the bathroom, only managed to let out a brief cry of surprise before subsequent sounds were drowned in an overwhelming flurry of passionate kisses. Chapter 123 - 123 LQs Election Meeting Chapter 123: Chapter 123 LQ¡¯s Election Meeting When Qiao Yi woke up to the sound of the alarm the next day, she finally understood the choice of words by those novel authors. Like a broken toy doll played to tatters, Qiao Yi stared blankly at the ceiling, constantly pondering the significance of her own existence¡­ Who said that Lu Yanchuan would act as obedient as a little puppy when drunk! Does your little puppy use the strategy of a seductive trap? Clearly, this is an old wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! Furious, Qiao Yi kicked out at Lu Yanchuan sleeping beside her and was successfully dragged back into his embrace by her ankle. ¡°There¡¯s still time, we can sleep a bit more.¡± ¡°Lu Yanchuan, were you pretending to be drunk yesterday? Did you act it all out for me!¡± Qiao Yi stiffly turned her head, ignoring that her feet were under his control, stretched her hands out from under the blanket, and pinched Lu Yanchuan¡¯s neck like a vengeful ghost. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She really wants to strangle this man! ¡°I was drunk.¡± It¡¯s just that I sobered up after getting home. ¡°Really?¡± Qiao Yi was skeptical, but Lu Yanchuan nodded very sincerely. ¡°Really.¡± It¡¯s Qiao Yi¡¯s fault for trusting Lu Yanchuan too much, which led her to miss the only chance to know the truth, causing her to perceive every instance of Lu Yanchuan getting touchy when drunk as normal. In fact, to prevent Lu Yanchuan from getting handsy with other girls, she followed him to every drinking occasion, unwittingly becoming the bane of many hopefuls. But that¡¯s all to come later. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sincere face, Qiao Yi reluctantly believed him. ¡°Fine, but from now on¡­ you¡¯re not allowed to get drunk outside!¡± ¡°Hmm? Why?¡± ¡°Because, because when you¡¯re drunk, you¡¯re incredibly annoying! If others see that, your cool image will be completely gone!¡± As Qiao Yi spoke, she nodded firmly to herself, thinking that if Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t been so sober yesterday, he probably would have fallen for her bluff. ¡°Okay.¡± A smile flickered in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes, and with a slight exertion of his arms, he pulled Qiao Yi back into his embrace. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep a little longer, I¡¯ll wake you up when it¡¯s time.¡± Every time Lu Yanchuan held her, Qiao Yi had the illusion that she was actually a human-shaped pillow. Qiao Yi obediently nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, quietly wrapping her hands around his waist. Since Lu Yanchuan said there was still time, she might as well sleep a bit more¡­ Qiao Yi slept through a whirlwind in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, and by the time she woke up, the sun outside the window was already tilted to the west, and the person in her arms had turned into a big bear gifted by Luo Xu. What¡¯s happening! Why didn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan wake her up! In an instant, all kinds of conspiracy theories raced through Qiao Yi¡¯s mind. Qiao Yi hurriedly climbed out of bed, grabbed her clothes, and rushed into the bathroom. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi screamed, covering her eyes, then dashed out of the bathroom again. Lu Yanchuan washed his hands very calmly and only then did he come out. By the time he emerged, Qiao Yi had already calmed down somewhat, biting her lip and looking aggrievedly at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up! I was supposed to participate in the LQ election today! Now everything¡¯s ruined!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s sorrow came flooding out, and tears uncontrollably cascaded down her cheeks. Lu Yanchuan, having no experience in comforting others, was taken aback by her abrupt tears, but somehow he seemed to spontaneously grasp how to respond. ¡°LQ sent out a notification this morning, saying that there has been a last-minute change at the company, and the election will be moved to tomorrow. I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn¡¯t wake you up.¡± Please! That last part is really what you were truly thinking, right? If Yan Xiyu knew the real reason you made this last-minute decision was just to let Qiao Yi sleep in, he¡¯d definitely cry! Qiao Yi¡¯s crying paused, and she hurriedly looked for her cellphone. After seeing the notification from LQ, her heart finally settled back down. ¡°Good, hic, it¡¯s good that it¡¯s been, hic, postponed!¡± Qiao Yi said while hiccuping, barely finishing her sentence before she couldn¡¯t stop hiccupping. ¡°It¡¯s, hic, over! Hic! I can¡¯t, hic, stop hiccupping¡­¡± Qiao Yi covered her mouth, both annoyed and aggrieved, eventually directing a deep sense of resentment towards Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan moved his neck and walked step by step towards Qiao Yi. ¡°I heard that kissing can cure hiccups.¡± ¡°No! Hic! No need!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes went wide and she quickly ran off. Although LQ¡¯s election was postponed by a day, Qiao Yi had no time to rest; instead, she had to check her document proposal even more nervously, ensuring it was flawless before Qiao Benqing allowed her to return home. This time, Qiao Yi learned her lesson and didn¡¯t rely on Lu Yanchuan to wake her up; she set five alarms on her phone, convinced there wouldn¡¯t be any mishaps this time. Indeed, there were no issues with the five alarms. Still, after the first alarm rang, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t get back to sleep, begrudgingly staying awake from five in the morning until seven before finally getting up to wash and dress. Qiao Yi¡¯s birthday banquet was already considered an extensive invite to the elites of Capital City, but compared to the LQ election, her party was just a small affair. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Mr. Zhao! Long time no see!¡± ¡°President Wang is as charismatic as ever. I heard you went abroad for a trip a few months back; how come you returned so soon?¡± ¡°Nowhere abroad compares to home. I came back after just a few days! In a few days, I¡¯m planning a road trip; Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhang, how about joining me?¡± The same venue, but today it was split into an inner and outer area. The inner area would only be opened when the official start of the election commenced, while the outer area was to accommodate the candidates who came to participate. A group of people exchanged insincere pleasantries, while Qiao Yi stood to the side with Qiao Benqing¡¯s assistant, wearily getting through the time. The election manifestos had already been submitted, now it was just a matter of waiting for LQ¡¯s internal selection to pick a few suitable proposals for the final presentation. Of course, if someone¡¯s proposal was outstanding and their company¡¯s capability was on point, there was a possibility of being directly selected. Naturally, everyone hoped to be that unique lucky one, but everyone knew the chances were slim. Qiao Yi also hoped to be one of the lucky ones, but upon seeing some of the old family heads personally taking part, she still felt quite uneasy. Although Qiao Benqing called her that morning to say do your best, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help feeling increasingly nervous. ¡°Miss Qiao, don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯ll get you something to drink. What would you like?¡± ¡°Just water, thank you.¡± The closer the time came to announcing the results, the more nervous Qiao Yi became. She hadn¡¯t been this nervous even when waiting for her college entrance exam results, and now, just to compete for a project, look what it¡¯s driven her to! While the assistant was away and hadn¡¯t yet returned, the venue¡¯s speakers suddenly came to life. ¡°Please get ready, our election will begin shortly.¡± Chapter 124 - 124 This is Unfair Chapter 124: Chapter 124 This is Unfair The notification sounded three times. Clutching the documents in her hands, Qiao Yi followed the crowd towards the inner field. Nervousness reached its peak and transformed into composure. Qiao Yi took a deep breath, finally feeling somewhat reassured. Qiao Yi entered the inner field, which was arranged completely differently from two days ago, with rows of chairs forming a circle around the central platform. Qiao Yi found the Qiao Family¡¯s spot, very close to the inner circle. She had just sat down when she heard someone nearby quietly scoff. ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s the type of woman the president of LQ would favor. What a face saver!¡± ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve all come here for nothing this time. With certain people pulling the gown¡¯s strings, we¡¯re just here to make up the numbers!¡± There are two things in the world that spread the fastest: one is the secret you least want others to know, and the other is various kinds of scandalous news. If possible, Qiao Yi wished she could turn back time to the day of the birthday banquet; she would rather die in the break room than cause such a stir. However, since time travel isn¡¯t possible in this world, Qiao Yi had no choice but to face the consequences. As the discussions around her grew louder and more unrestrained, Qiao Yi kept her composure, focusing on the central platform as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything. These people were just green with envy! If their family member was favored by the president of LQ, they would probably wash and deliver them to the president¡¯s bed themselves! In this regard, Qiao Yi was quite satisfied with Qiao Benqing¡¯s approach. Although LQ¡¯s people were ambiguous, Qiao Benqing only advised her against straying from the path, without suggesting she curry favor with LQ. This time, Qiao Yi should truly adopt the attitude of being a mere participant in the election. Winning would be sheer luck, and losing would be fate. The representatives from LQ finally entered, and in the center was Yan Xiyu, who had sent her the gift the day before yesterday. Seeing Yan Xiyu take the central seat, Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow. Could Mr. Yan be the president of LQ, and he visited her purposefully the day before yesterday? This thought was too vain, making Qiao Yi herself blush. A busy president like him, how could he possibly make time just to see her! ¡°Hello everyone, my name is Yan Xiyu, I am the executive officer of LQ International.¡± Phew¡­ good, he¡¯s just an executive officer. It would have been embarrassing had he been the president. After Yan Xiyu finished his opening speech, he directly allowed the election meeting to commence. ¡°Let¡¯s announce the results of the first round.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were over two hundred attending companies and families, yet only ten were selected for the final round; only these ten candidates could participate in the final election. LQ¡¯s style might just be straightforward, as the list of selected names was promptly displayed on the projection screen behind the platform. ¡°Prepare, the ten listed enterprises. The election will formally start in half an hour, and other irrelevant individuals may orderly exit the venue.¡± With a selection rate of ten out of two hundred, aside from these ten enterprises, everyone else was just there to make up the numbers. All eyes were fixed on the projection screen, after scrolling through the list, there was cursing, cheering, and some remained silent. Holding a faint hope, Qiao Yi looked down from the top; at the bottom of the list, she spotted ¡®Qiao Group¡¯! ¡°We made it! We got selected!¡± Qiao Yi screamed quietly to her assistant beside her, trying to maintain her composure. When a small hope turns into reality, the whole world seems to light up. ¡°I knew it! This election is rigged! It¡¯s all about connection and nepotism in selecting partners. We don¡¯t need such a project or company!¡± A man closely situated to Qiao Yi stood up angrily, spat in their direction, slammed the documents he was holding onto the ground, and stormed out. The joy on Qiao Yi¡¯s face faded, the spit nearly landed on her, and she recognized the man ¨C he was the Zhou Family Patriarch, an old rival of the Qiao Family. ¡°Did I hear someone questioning the fairness of this list?¡± The sound of Yan Xiyu¡¯s voice came from the venue¡¯s speakers; the Zhou Family Patriarch, about to leave, paused, his expression instantly turning sour. He dared to act superior in front of Qiao Yi only because he relied on his standing as an elder and that the Zhou Family was a match for the Qiao Family in power. But to accuse LQ¡¯s people of being unfair? Even with ten times the courage, he wouldn¡¯t dare! The recent utterances of the Zhou Family Patriarch had been heard by many people around, and now everyone¡¯s gaze was on him. He was in a predicament as described by the saying ¡°caught riding a tiger¡±. If possible, he would love to take back his careless words. But sadly, there is no cure for regret available in this world, and despite his dissatisfaction, he could only wear a forced smile to placate those around him. ¡°How about¡­¡± ¡°Since the Zhou Family Patriarch is so doubtful of our judgement, let¡¯s have everyone assess it together.¡± Yan Xiyu gestured with his hand, causing the image on the backdrop screen to change into the format of the election documents. ¡°This is the election document of Creation Enterprises¡­¡± ¡°This is the election document of Tianhui Enterprises¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°This is the election document of Qiao Group. Everyone, please carefully review and judge for yourselves if your submitted documents can outperform these ten.¡± Seeing the first election document, the Zhou Family Patriarch¡¯s face turned pale. After seeing the Qiao Group¡¯s election document, he knew he was thoroughly defeated. Not just because Qiao Group had the backing of Lu Group, but solely on the strength of the election document, Qiao was far superior to him! Witnessing the Zhou Family Patriarch having nothing to say, it didn¡¯t require Yan Xiyu¡¯s intervention as security was already called by someone to escort the Zhou Family Patriarch out. ¡°Does anyone still doubt the fairness of LQ¡¯s election?¡± With all things considered to this extent, who would seek discomfort for themselves? Even those who were previously mocking Qiao Yi fell silent. After the results were announced, logically the others could have left, but until the preparation time ended, no one chose to leave except the Zhou Family Patriarch who was forced out earlier. Obviously, leaving at such a time would be idiotic, hopelessly so. Although they lost the qualification to compete, the opportunity to observe the campaigns of other outstanding companies was rare. Watching this election could also be a way to improve themselves. Qiao Yi was scheduled last, giving her a bit more time to prepare. Of course, she suspected that such an arrangement might have been deliberate. Chapter 125 - 125 Have You Had Enough Trouble? Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Have You Had Enough Trouble? Several people went up to the stage one by one, and soon it was Qiao Yi¡¯s turn to speak. Although she had reassured herself countless times, Qiao Yi still couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous once on stage. There were quite a few people paying attention to Qiao Yi; everyone wanted to know what made the president of LQ treat her specially, instead of their own daughters. In any case, regardless of their thoughts, they were all very curious about Qiao Yi, the legendary heroine. Scrutinizing gazes fell on Qiao Yi, the more nervous she was, the clearer her mind became. People say practice makes perfect, and Qiao Yi feels she had reached that stage now. Despite her mind being cluttered with all kinds of thoughts, after countless rehearsals, she managed to deliver the speech slowly and completely. Only after Qiao Yi left the stage did sparse applause break out in the venue. However, these were unimportant, what was important was that Qiao Yi had finally completed her task, what followed was not for her to worry about. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As to whether she would be chosen, Qiao Yi had done her best, and the rest was up to LQ. Relaxedly returning to her seat, Qiao Yi seemed very excited, even beginning to plan what special treat to have for lunch. ¡°Thank you all for coming, I now announce, the domestic partner chosen by LQ International is, Qiao Group!¡± Qiao Yi was still discussing where to go for lunch with her assistant when suddenly a spotlight caught her off guard. What¡¯s going on? It took half a minute for Qiao Yi to react with a reminder from her assistant, and quickly stood up smiling and nodding to the people around. Luckily, everyone took Qiao Yi¡¯s distraction as overwhelmed excitement, otherwise there would definitely be some children unable to accept it and crying on the spot. During their hard competition, Qiao Yi was thinking about what to eat for lunch, absolutely outrageous! This time, no one could say Qiao Group ascended by nepotism anymore, Qiao Yi¡¯s speech and Qiao Group¡¯s proposal clearly told them, Qiao Group earned this qualification through their own capabilities! The contract was signed on the spot, and after Qiao Yi signed her name, she looked up and met Yan Xiyu¡¯s meaningful gaze. Qiao Yi felt shivers down her spine from his strange look, is this man¡­ sick? Noticing the implication in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, Yan Xiyu¡¯s smile stiffened. This woman and Lu Yanchuan both really make one want to start a fight! After the signing ceremony, Qiao Yi and her assistant left the venue and returned to the Qiao Family. Qiao Benqing had already received the news of the successful signing earlier and laughed heartily when Qiao Yi returned. ¡°Great! That¡¯s fantastic! Let¡¯s go out to eat! To Du Yanxuan!¡± Qiao Benqing was in great spirits and directly gave all the house servants a half-day off, leading the whole family to the most luxurious private restaurant in Capital City. When Qiao Xin returned, she found an empty house; there was not a single person, even the maids were gone. After calling Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Xin found out they had all gone to celebrate! The whole family went, Luo Xu went, the assistant went, even Qiao Qiao, who was working at the company, had been called back to join, only she had not been informed! Qiao Xin could hardly suppress her anger, throwing her phone harshly. They really went too far! Way too far! When Qiao Family returned it was already past four in the afternoon, Qiao Xin stood at the doorway waiting, until Qiao Yi drove back home with the family. ¡°Xinxin? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°This is my home, why can¡¯t I be here? Am I not allowed to come home? Or do you no longer consider me part of the Qiao Family!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s face was expressionless as she looked at the few people getting out of the car, her face even carrying a hint of mockery. ¡°Qiao Yi! How can you talk to your mother like that!¡± ¡°Am I not speaking the truth!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s anger, accumulated over the entire afternoon, finally erupted as she glaringly reddened eyes stared at the people in front of her as if they were her enemies. ¡°You all go out having a great time together, am I just a spare part in this house!¡± ¡°You are willing to take Luo Xu out, even the special assistant and servants, just not me!¡± ¡°Am I not your child! Don¡¯t I have the Qiao surname!¡± Qiao Xin was crying and screaming, standing alone in front of the Qiao Mansion facing the neatly arranged family, her heart filled only with hatred at this moment. ¡°Qiao Xin, have you caused enough trouble.¡± Qiao Yi stepped forward, walked up to Qiao Xin, and when Qiao Xin angrily charged at her, Qiao Yi slapped her across the face. ¡°This slap is for your disrespect towards our parents!¡± ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°This slap is for your selfishness!¡± ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°This slap is for creating problems out of nothing!¡± After three slaps, one side of Qiao Xin¡¯s face was completely swollen. Qiao Yi moved her wrist, bent down, and grabbed Qiao Xin by the collar, pulling her up. ¡°Qiao Xin, think about it yourself, how often have you participated in the family activities from your childhood? It¡¯s either too childish or too boring for you. You would rather have afternoon tea with so-called famous friends than go on outings with mom and dad!¡± ¡°Now you come up with complaints that the family went out without you, what? Do we all have to beg you like dogs to be treated like a member of the Qiao Family!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to be a member of the Qiao Family!¡± Qiao Yi let go of Qiao Xin¡¯s collar, turned around, and helped Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing into the house, not even glancing at Qiao Xin as they passed by. Luo Xu, unable to stand by anymore, wanted to come over and help Qiao Xin up, but was stopped by Qiao Qiao. ¡°Xu, it is indeed the eldest sister¡¯s fault this time. You were abroad and didn¡¯t know what happened after. She¡­ she really was in the wrong.¡± ¡°But still, she and Yiyi are blood sisters!¡± Qiao Qiao didn¡¯t idle talk with Luo Xu; Qiao Yi didn¡¯t like him discussing past matters with others. Naturally, Qiao Qiao wouldn¡¯t be more talkative with Luo Xu, only saying that Qiao Xin brought it upon herself and dragged him into the house. ¡°Mom and Dad, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Qiao Yi poured water for the couple and it took a while to calm their mood. ¡°Back then¡­¡± ¡°Dad, I volunteered back then; it has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ you¡¯re a good child, dad always knew, but I didn¡¯t expect Xinxin to turn out like this.¡± Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing looked very disappointed, Qiao Yi coaxed them upstairs, and when Qiao Yi came down, she saw Luo Xu and Qiao Qiao sitting on the sofa downstairs, not looking at each other as if they had argued. Chapter 126 - 126: 126 I Make You Apologize Chapter 126: 126 Chapter I Make You Apologize ¡°You guys are¡­¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± The two people on the sofa spoke in unison, just like two grumpy kids in kindergarten. ¡°Alright, little Qiao Qiao and Xuxu, be good at home, Yiyi is leaving now.¡± Qiao Yi went straight back to the Lu Mansion, as Old Mr. Lu had just sent her a message asking her to come home for dinner. The dinner table conversation was the same old topic about when to have children, which Qiao Yi could now face calmly. She even managed to shift the topic onto Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Dad, having kids is ultimately a matter for two people¡­¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan pretending to be in a pickle, then awkwardly changed the subject. After catching Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze, Lu Yanchuan kept staring at her, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable. This man couldn¡¯t be that petty¡­ ¡°Yiyi, I see you¡¯ve been busy working on projects with Yanchuan recently, are you interested in trying out at the company?¡± After dinner, out of nowhere, Old Mr. Lu brought up the idea of Qiao Yi joining the company. Qiao Yi had never heard Old Mr. Lu mention this before, and was immediately stunned, gazing at Lu Yanchuan with a puzzled face. Lu Yanchuan slightly shook his head, indicating he also didn¡¯t know when Old Mr. Lu had this idea. ¡°Uh, Dad, actually, I¡¯m not really suited for the company. I only did this project because I couldn¡¯t escape it. If you really let me join the company, I¡¯m sure to mess things up!¡± She didn¡¯t want to lose her current carefree life, just being a cute little rice worm, isn¡¯t it wonderful? Old Mr. Lu realized Qiao Yi truly had no intention of joining the company, so he dropped the topic. On the way home, Qiao Yi still couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°Why did Dad suddenly think of having me join the company?¡± ¡°Qiao Xin reported to the company this morning, she¡¯ll officially start next Monday.¡± At first, Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t figure out why Old Mr. Lu had this idea, but recalling the message he received, he could roughly guess Old Mr. Lu¡¯s intentions. ¡°Ah¡­ What does her job have to do with me! Waking up early and staying out late, going to the office to sit around punctually, life would be so dull!¡± Qiao Yi stretched, leaning back in her chair, and murmured quietly. Although Qiao Yi rejected the idea of joining the company, the next day around noon, she still took a freshly packed lunchbox to the company. Not for any other reason, but to flaunt her love and to annoy Qiao Xin. She had reported to the Lu Group, hadn¡¯t she? If she was lucky, she might even run into Qiao Xin today. After putting on beautiful makeup and wearing a lovely dress, with a confident aura, Qiao Yi¡­ was stopped by the receptionist downstairs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss, we really can¡¯t let you go up without an appointment, please don¡¯t make it difficult for us.¡± How awkward! Qiao Yi¡¯s smile had already petrified on her face, she politely nodded to the receptionist, and elegantly pulled out her phone. Great! She meant to annoy Qiao Xin, but ended up annoying herself first! ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Uh? What¡¯s up?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s emotionless voice came through the phone, and Qiao Yi mentally prepared herself before speaking. ¡°Well, I¡¯m downstairs at your company, the receptionist says I can¡¯t go up without an appointment.¡± Listen to this, how much it sounds like a child tattling! Qiao Yi felt embarrassed by herself, as she could almost predict how Lu Yanchuan would mock her in his mind. If heaven still wants her to continue living on this planet, please don¡¯t let her run into anyone she shouldn¡¯t before Lu Yanchuan comes down to pick her up! ¡°Hey? Isn¡¯t this my dear sister?¡± Oh my God! Just let her leave this planet for good! Qiao Yi forced a smile and turned around, seeing Qiao Xin approaching her, thinking indeed, enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths! ¡°Yo! Carrying a lunchbox? Are you here to deliver food?¡± The sarcastic smile in Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes was utterly undisguised. She had been watching by the side for quite a while, knowing that Qiao Yi was stopped by the receptionist downstairs, and Qiao Xin hurried over to enjoy the spectacle. ¡°I remember now, your lunch probably wouldn¡¯t need to be sent upstairs, after all, you can¡¯t make it up there!¡± Qiao Xin covered her mouth with an exaggerated giggle, which made Qiao Yi frown deeply. ¡°Are you alright? You should watch less TV drama, look at that delicate and pretentious demeanor, thinking you are some TV drama heroine! It¡¯s really irritating!¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes conspicuously at Qiao Xin, was about to walk past her, but Qiao Xin blocked her path again. ¡°I¡¯m indeed delicate and pretentious, but what can I do? Some people want to be delicate and pretentious but also need to be in front of others, and someone has to see it to matter, after all, the pretentious ones are the ones held below!¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care about Qiao Yi¡¯s sarcasm at all, swinging her hips as she circled around Qiao Yi, then snatched the lunchbox from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand. ¡°Let me see, what delicious food do we have here?¡± ¡°Oh my! I¡¯m really sorry! I slipped a bit, you won¡¯t mind, right, sister?¡± The three-tiered lunchbox was filled with various dishes, but now all these carefully matched dishes had scattered on the ground. Qiao Xin spoke with an innocent tone, but anyone with eyes could see the smugness and provocation on her face. Qiao Yi was speechless, this woman is definitely not right in the head! ¡°Apologize.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qiao Xin was startled for a moment, then incredulously widened her eyes at Qiao Yi. ¡°Say that again? You want me to apologize? Qiao Yi, is your brain broken?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s finger was flicking in front of Qiao Yi¡¯s face, Qiao Yi¡¯s smile disappeared, and expressionless, she slapped Qiao Xin¡¯s hand away. ¡°I said apologize, did you **** not hear it!¡± Qiao Yi stepped forward, grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s hair and forced her down to the ground. ¡°Ah!!!!¡± ¡°Qiao Yi! You¡¯re crazy! Let me go!¡± ¡°Security! Call security! Are you all dead?¡± It was lunchtime, and there were quite a few people coming and going downstairs, all attracted by the commotion. They saw food scattered all over the place by the receptionist, and amid the mess, two women, one in champagne-colored small suit and the other in a light blue dress, the latter dragging the former by the hair and pressing her on the ground. The one in the dress they didn¡¯t recognize, but the one being pressed down, they were all too familiar with! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Is¡­isn¡¯t that Mr. Lu¡¯s wife, the Young Madam of the Lu Family!¡± ¡°How could she be being scraped on the ground by someone!¡± ¡°Call security! Go call the police!¡± Chapter 127 - 127 Who Are You? Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Who Are You? Qiao Yi had never been to the Lu Group¡¯s company, even though she and Lu Yanchuan often appeared at the same events, but those were mostly high-society parties. In the company, these basic employees only knew that President Lu Yanchuan was married, and his wife was the second daughter of the Qiao Family, but that didn¡¯t mean they were familiar with Qiao Yi, the second daughter of the Qiao Family. Some recognized Qiao Xin because, when Qiao Xin came to report yesterday, Lu Ming personally gave her a tour of the company and publicly announced her identity, making her memorable as the Young Madam of Lu Family! Now seeing the Young Madam of Lu Family getting beaten up, these people didn¡¯t rush to help! Some were hurrying to find security, while others took out their mobile phones to record videos, preparing to keep evidence for reporting to the police. Qiao Yi totally ignored the people around her; she was just annoyed by Qiao Xin, still holding onto the anger from yesterday, and let it all out today. Qiao Xin struggled, but having been pampered for many years, she was no match for Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi knelt on one knee, effortlessly pinning Qiao Xin down with one hand. ¡°Qiao Yi! Let go of me! I won¡¯t let you off for treating me like this!¡± Qiao Xin floundered like a stranded fish, her lower half thrashing, while her upper body was completely restrained by Qiao Yi. Although it seemed somewhat inappropriate to laugh at this moment, quite a few people were amused by Qiao Xin¡¯s current predicament. ¡°Miss, you, you should let go of Secretary Qiao, or it will be troublesome when the security arrives!¡± This sentence made Qiao Yi kind of like this receptionist. ¡°Alright, for your sake, I¡¯ll let her go for now.¡± Qiao Yi gave the receptionist a big smile and then got up with a clap of her hands. Qiao Xin was covered head to toe in soup remains, her makeup smeared, and she was in so much pain that she couldn¡¯t get up straight away. ¡°You just wait!¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting!¡± Qiao Xin got up from the ground, covered her face, and ran out through the crowd. Qiao Yi shrugged nonchalantly and picked up her phone to call Lu Yanchuan again. Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯d handle it right away? Why¡¯s there still no sign of him after so long? ¡°Miss, you¡­ maybe you should go back first? Leave your contact information, and I will inform the president for you¡­¡± The receptionist looked worriedly at Qiao Yi. Even though Qiao Xin had only been here one day, almost everyone in the company knew what kind of person she was. Now that she has been humiliated, how could Qiao Xin just let it go! This girl is really nice! Qiao Yi was touched and marveled at the high quality of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s staff. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine, she wouldn¡¯t dare to trouble me.¡± ¡°Who is trying to trouble you?¡± ¡°Why did you come down yourself? A phone call would have been enough!¡± Lu Yanchuan stood by Qiao Yi, glanced at the mess on the floor, then at the soup stains on Qiao Yi¡¯s skirt, and raised his eyebrows to ask again. ¡°Who is troubling you?¡± ¡°No one¡­ just, your lunch today is probably gone¡­¡± Even though Lu Yanchuan was well aware of the conflict between her and Qiao Xin, when asked by Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi still didn¡¯t want him to get involved. Of course, Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t eagerly press further, and seeing the situation now, he could guess why it had turned out this way. In the entire Lu Group, apart from Qiao Xin, no one else would make things difficult for Qiao Yi, this new face. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Qiao Yi, still out of sorts, stupidly asked. Lu Yanchuan seemed especially amused by Qiao Yi¡¯s question, as he smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. ¡°We¡¯re going to the cafeteria to eat. My lunch is gone, after all.¡± The realization made Qiao Yi blush, and she was led away by the man without any resistance. The onlooking crowd had not yet recovered from the shock of the president showing up in person when the two main characters had already left. ¡°Was that¡­ was that the boss just now? Not some alien in disguise, right?¡± ¡°Our boss, he actually smiled! He didn¡¯t even smile when he was signing the contract with Taylor Group last time!¡± ¡°Our boss, he actually got so close to a woman! That time Aya accidentally touched the boss¡¯s clothes, and he immediately transferred her away!¡± The onlookers were shocked! The onlookers were boiling over! The gossip fire among the onlookers blazed fiercely! At this time, who still remembered Qiao Xin, who they were all careful to please just moments ago? Everyone gossiped about the identity of the woman being led away by the boss. ¡°Do you think, is it possible that woman could be the boss¡¯s wife?¡± Among the many guesses, one brother¡¯s speculation stood out, and this idea suddenly silenced everyone. The boss¡¯s wife is the Qiao Family¡¯s second young lady, and the Young Madam of Lu Family who was just beaten up is the Qiao Family¡¯s eldest daughter, could the sisters¡­ At this moment, everyone¡¯s gossip enthusiasm grew even hotter. After a whole lunch break of discussion, the crowd finally came to a very sharp conclusion. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The world of the rich is not something we ordinary folks can figure out!¡± While gossip surged inside the company, on the other hand, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t actually take Qiao Yi to the staff cafeteria, but had lunch delivered instead. ¡°How did you think of bringing lunch today?¡± ¡°I was just bored. But there was a little mishap, what do you want to eat tomorrow, I¡¯ll deliver it to you again.¡± Qiao Yi had mentioned it casually, but didn¡¯t expect Lu Yanchuan to seriously consider it. ¡°I can¡¯t think of what I want to eat tomorrow yet, I¡¯ll tell you in advance.¡± So this guy doesn¡¯t do courtesy at all, huh! Qiao Yi resignedly nodded, knowing she had to bear the burden of her future commitments, teeth gritted! As Qiao Xin ran straight home from the company, after she had washed up and changed her clothes, she came out and saw a strange woman cleaning the house. ¡°Are you¡­ the new housekeeper?¡± The girl in front of her looked quite young, almost like she was still in school. The girl was overwhelmed by Qiao Xin¡¯s question, clutching her clothes and biting her lip, not knowing how to respond. The look of being bullied almost made Qiao Xin laugh. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, who are you exactly, and why are you in my house?¡± It would have been better not to ask; upon being questioned, the girl immediately burst into tears. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°What are you doing!¡± Suddenly, a strong force came from beside her, and in a blur, Qiao Xin was pushed aside by Lu Ming. Watching Lu Ming carefully protect the strange girl, Qiao Xin¡¯s anger couldn¡¯t be held back any longer, and she grabbed a vase nearby and threw it. Chapter 128 - 128: Break Your Legs Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Break Your Legs ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Lu Ming roared and hurled the vase back. The vase shattered at Qiao Xin¡¯s feet, scaring her into screaming. By the time she collected herself, she saw Lu Ming already dragging the girl, about to leave. ¡°Lu Ming! Stop right there!¡± ¡°Qiao Xin! Have you had enough trouble yet? You don¡¯t work properly at the company, and now you run back here causing a scene without reason. Can¡¯t you stay put?¡± Although Qiao Xin felt no affection for Lu Ming, there was still a marriage between them, and even if there were no marriage, there was still a business partnership. How could Lu Ming bring another woman home when she had just had a miscarriage less than a month ago! ¡°Lu Ming! You are shameless! You are disgusting!¡± ¡°If you still want to continue our partnership, right now! Immediately! Kick this woman out of my house! Otherwise, I assure you, you will gain nothing!¡± Qiao Xin pointed at Lin Ke, screaming hysterically while Lin Ke, standing behind Lu Ming, turned pale and grasped Lu Ming¡¯s sleeve fearfully. Lu Ming hated to admit it, but he was threatened by Qiao Xin. If he truly angered Qiao Xin, and if he didn¡¯t get the shares from her, he would sooner or later have no place in Lu Group! ¡°Ming¡­ maybe, maybe I should just leave. Sister might have misunderstood, you should explain to her, I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll leave first!¡± Lin Ke¡¯s voice was trembling with a cry, her eyes darting frantically between Lu Ming and Qiao Xin, she grabbed her purse and quickly ran out of the villa. ¡°Keke! Keke!¡± ¡°Stop right there! If you dare to leave today, you will absolutely gain nothing!¡± Lu Ming¡¯s footsteps halted, he took two deep breaths, turned around and glared at Qiao Xin with clenched teeth. ¡°What exactly do you want!¡± ¡°Keke is my childhood friend, I¡¯ve always treated her as a sister! Aren¡¯t the things you¡¯re saying today a bit too much!¡± ¡°Look at yourself now, you¡¯re just like a madwoman! You¡¯re just a madwoman!¡± Lu Ming cursed loudly, but Qiao Xin stood her ground unyieldingly. ¡°I¡¯m a madwoman! I was mad the moment when you came crying to my house, begging to marry me!¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, for you all, I would never have married you!¡± ¡°You can look for any woman you like, play however you want! Why should I sacrifice my happiness for your selfish goals?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you Lu Yanchuan!¡± Lu Ming was utterly infuriated and rushed over, grabbing Qiao Xin and pushing her to the ground. Qiao Yi received a call from the hospital while she and Lu Yanchuan were on their way home. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Central Hospital first, Qiao Xin was beaten and ended up in the hospital by Lu Ming.¡± Lu Yanchuan was bewildered, although there was no affection between Qiao Xin and Lu Ming, it shouldn¡¯t have escalated to physical violence! It was only when Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi arrived at the hospital that they finally understood how severe the fight was. Qiao Xin was asleep in the hospital room, and Lu Ming was also covered in injuries, receiving treatment outside. ¡°Slap!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Qiao Yi, are you sick!¡± Lu Ming jumped off the hospital bed and pointed at Qiao Yi, unable to contain his rage. ¡°Am I sick or are you sick! You really have some nerve! Having no ability other than to beat your wife! You like using your hands, huh! Come on, fight me! If I don¡¯t beat you to death, I¡¯ll take your last name!¡± Although Lu Ming could fight with Qiao Xin, he was no match for Qiao Yi. The doctors and nurses in the emergency room wanted to break up the fight, but the people brought by Lu Yanchuan blocked them all outside, not giving them a chance to intervene. Lu Ming fighting Qiao Yi was purely asking for a beating. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s my business how I view Qiao Xin, you Lu Ming have no right to lay a hand on her!¡± ¡°Let me make this clear today, don¡¯t let me find out that these two claws of yours touch Qiao Xin again, or I¡¯ll rip them off!¡± Qiao Yi kicked Lu Ming, sending him crashing into a nearby cabinet. The wound that had just been bandaged by the doctor burst open again, and this time no one bandaged it for him. Within two minutes, a few policemen came in and took Lu Ming away. Qiao Yi, with a fierce expression, sat outside in the hospital corridor, with no one daring to come near her except for Lu Yanchuan. ¡°When I was very young, Qiao Xin, being beautiful, often got bullied by other girls and boys too. Back then, I kept thinking that I would become very strong so that I could protect my sister.¡± ¡°But later on, I did become very strong, but she no longer needed my protection.¡± Tears silently slid down her cheeks, and Qiao Yi furrowed her brows, unable to put her feelings into words. ¡°I hate her, I¡¯m sure of that, but seeing her beaten like this by Lu Ming, I get so angry.¡± ¡°She looks so strong in front of me, why does she get bullied by Lu Ming!¡± ¡°And me, why do I feel sympathy for her! She¡¯s so unbearable, I really don¡¯t want to feel sorry for her!¡± Qiao Yi probably wanted to cry, but she tugged at the corners of her mouth, and no more tears flowed. ¡°Just do whatever makes you happy; these shouldn¡¯t be worries.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice was always calm and deep, bringing much comfort to anyone who heard it. ¡°Let Lu Ming stay in there for a few days, and don¡¯t allow anyone to get him out!¡± Qiao Yi wiped her tears and fiercely punched her thigh. With a caregiver at the hospital, Qiao Yi left without waiting for Qiao Xin to wake up. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan went straight back to the old house; they had to notify Old Mr. Lu about this matter. Even though Old Mr. Lu didn¡¯t like Lu Ming very much, Lu Ming was still his grandson, and he needed to be informed. However, to Qiao Yi¡¯s surprise, Old Mr. Lu fully approved of what Qiao Yi had done. She had prepared a lot of persuasive and apologetic words, but none of them were needed. ¡°Lu Ming was indeed wrong this time. Letting him reflect for a few days is necessary. But your sister, when she comes back, must receive a proper apology from Lu Ming!¡± ¡°In a marriage, disagreements are normal, but a man should never lay hands on a woman, that¡¯s a bottom line!¡± As he said this, Old Mr. Lu gave Lu Yanchuan a meaningful look. Lu Yanchuan turned his head, avoiding Old Mr. Lu¡¯s gaze, but Old Mr. Lu didn¡¯t intend to let him off, thumping his cane and starting to warn him. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you upfront!¡± ¡°If you dare lay hands on Yiyi, it won¡¯t be as simple as just a few days in detention¡ªI¡¯ll break your legs!¡± ¡°Do you hear me!¡± Qiao Yi, standing mischievously behind Old Mr. Lu, waved her fists at Lu Yanchuan with clear provocational intent. Lu Yanchuan hooked his lip corners, sometimes punishment wasn¡¯t just about getting physical. Chapter 129 - 129: She Doesnt Need an Appointment Chapter 129: Chapter 129: She Doesn¡¯t Need an Appointment Qiao Yi didn¡¯t tell Mr. and Mrs. Qiao about Qiao Xin being hospitalized, and of course, Qiao Xin wouldn¡¯t speak of it either. After staying in the hospital for two days, Qiao Xin went back home. It seemed that Lu Yanchuan had taken a liking to the activity of having Qiao Yi deliver meals for him, so every morning before going to the office, he would leave a note telling Qiao Yi what he wanted to eat for lunch. From begrudgingly delivering meals to gradually becoming proficient, it took Qiao Yi less than half a month to master the skill of meal delivery. The people in the office also got to know Qiao Yi, and they all knew that she was the president¡¯s dear wife. After Qiao Xin was discharged from the hospital, she returned to work at Lu Group low-key. Every day when Qiao Yi came to deliver meals, she would see Qiao Xin, but Qiao Xin no longer troubled her. That day, Old Mr. Lu asked Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan to return to the old house for dinner. Qiao Yi saw that it was not too early and decided to go directly to the office and then leave with Lu Yanchuan for the old house. As the old saying goes, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road, and there¡¯s some truth to this saying. As soon as Qiao Yi stepped out of the elevator, she heard some arguing noises coming from outside. Keep in mind, this floor was where the president¡¯s office was located. Who would be so bold as to argue at the door of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office? The closer she got, the clearer the arguing sounded, and eventually, Qiao Yi recognized one of the voices¡ªit was Qiao Xin! Qiao Xin was arguing with someone at the door of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office? ¡°What right do you have to stop me! In my hands are the Marketing Department¡¯s report for this quarter. If something goes wrong, can you afford the responsibility?¡± Qiao Xin was furious, clutching a stack of documents, trying to barge in, but was stopped by another person at the door. ¡°Mr. Lu did not tell me someone would be delivering the report today, and moreover, today is not the day for report submission. You should go back. Next time, have the Marketing Department Director deliver it personally.¡± The woman was dressed in a champagne-colored suit and was slender, yet standing at the office door she had an air of unshakable authority. Having been to the company so many times, Qiao Yi had never seen this woman. Who was she to be able to stop the unreasonable Qiao Xin on behalf of Lu Yanchuan? However, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t need to remain confused for long, as Qiao Xin¡¯s words promptly provided her with the answer. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xiao Ting! Don¡¯t think you can act arrogantly in front of me just because you¡¯re Yanchuan¡¯s assistant! Do you know who I am! Do you dare obstruct me because you no longer want to work here?¡± Qiao Xin tried several times but was stopped by Xiao Ting each time, her face turning steely with rage as she pointed at Xiao Ting and began to curse. Xiao Ting allowed her to be disrespectful, remaining composed, and continued to block the door, not allowing her to enter. ¡°The president¡¯s office is not a place anyone can just walk into, unless Mr. Lu himself says you can.¡± Unreasonable met with stubbornness, and Qiao Yi suddenly felt a full sense of goodwill towards this Xiao Ting. This lady was capable; when she said no one gets through, she meant it! Watching Qiao Xin unable to do anything about Xiao Ting, Qiao Yi having watched enough of the drama, straightened her clothes and stepped forward from behind. The sound of high heels made both women look over, and Qiao Xin¡¯s expression changed as she pointed at Qiao Yi and called out. ¡°Why are you here!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to see my husband. Is it any of your business?¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes, pushed Qiao Xin¡¯s hand away, nodded with a smile as she passed Xiao Ting, then reached out to push the door to the office. ¡°Wait!¡± Both women behind her spoke at the same time, startling Qiao Yi. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there anything wrong?¡± Qiao Yi did not pay attention to Qiao Xin, but looked at Xiao Ting with confusion. Xiao Ting frowned slightly, took a step forward, turned around, and stood in front of Qiao Yi. ¡°Miss, if you don¡¯t have an appointment, I can¡¯t let you enter Mr. Lu¡¯s office.¡± Although the tone was much nicer than when she spoke to Qiao Xin, the message was the same: she was not allowed to enter the office. Seeing Qiao Yi being stopped outside just like herself, Qiao Xin immediately felt smug and even mockingly jeered in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Wow, someone really thinks highly of themselves. Mr. Lu¡¯s office isn¡¯t for just anyone to enter. Even if you want to get into the office, you still have to rely on Assistant Xiao¡¯s mood. I advise you to recognize your status. In this company, you¡¯re no match for Assistant Xiao, who can win Mr. Lu¡¯s favor!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s words made both of their faces sour, particularly Xiao Ting, whose expression turned outraged. Qiao Yi glanced across Qiao Xin and Xiao Ting, calmed her emotions, then picked up her phone and called Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m at the door to your office, come out and meet me for a moment.¡± Everyone there knew who Qiao Yi¡¯s ¡°honey¡± referred to, but they didn¡¯t expect that Qiao Yi would be so shameless to directly call Lu Yanchuan out! Qiao Xin was very excited and proudly glared at Xiao Ting as if she were the one who had summoned Lu Yanchuan. Xiao Ting bit her lip with her complexion slightly pale. Qiao Yi curiously glanced at her, not quite understanding why she would react this way. In theory, there was nothing wrong with her stopping Qiao Xin from entering, and since she didn¡¯t recognize her, she also stopped herself. So why did she seem as nervous as if she had done something wrong and was afraid of being found out? Seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s smug expression, it was clear she knew why Xiao Ting was hiding something, but Qiao Yi had no intention to ask her about it. As long as Xiao Ting didn¡¯t interfere with herself, who cared what she was thinking. A couple of minutes after Qiao Yi hung up the phone, the office door opened. Lu Yanchuan came out, and before Qiao Yi could greet him, Qiao Xin squeezed past the other two and approached Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Mr. Lu, this is the marketing department¡¯s quarterly report. There are some details that might need my personal explanation, you see¡­¡± ¡°If the details that aren¡¯t written in the quarterly report are significant enough to require a special explanation, then this report is simply unacceptable. Go make a new one and have the marketing department director personally deliver it.¡± Lu Yanchuan cut off Qiao Xin, ignoring her instantly pale complexion, and turned to look at Qiao Yi. ¡°What¡¯s up? Why did you ask me to come out?¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Xiao Ting, noting her lips turning white with nerves, and sighed in her heart. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, dad asked us to come home for lunch, so I came to pick you up to go to the old house together. Now that you¡¯re out, I don¡¯t need to go in.¡± Xiao Ting¡¯s eyes widened in shock, not expecting Qiao Yi to not only refrain from complaining to Lu Yanchuan but to even cover up the fact that Xiao Ting had barred her from entering! Xiao Ting¡¯s thoughts churned inside her, but Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care about what she was thinking, and pulled Lu Yanchuan to leave. They had only taken a few steps when Lu Yanchuan stopped, turned around, and looked at Xiao Ting. ¡°The next time she comes, she doesn¡¯t need an appointment.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Qiao Yi, holding onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, smiled sweetly and muttered that they shouldn¡¯t keep Old Mr. Lu waiting too long, then dragged Lu Yanchuan off from the company. Chapter 130 - 130 Feng Siyu Has an Accident Chapter 130: Chapter 130 Feng Siyu Has an Accident S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How come I never knew you had such a beautiful assistant before? Mr. Lu¡¯s really lucky!¡± Once they got into the car, Qiao Yi suddenly started speaking in a mocking tone. Even though Lu Yanchuan had stood up for her just now, the thought of her husband being on the minds of two other women still irked Qiao Yi. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°Jealous? I am not jealous at all!¡± Qiao Yi stubbornly denied it, but her flushed cheeks completely betrayed her true feelings. ¡°Today, those two women looked at you like they wanted to swallow you whole. It¡¯s only because I left quickly, otherwise who knows what might have happened! I just think you shouldn¡¯t just welcome anyone who comes your way. Assistant Xiao is one thing, but if you¡¯re also interested in someone like Qiao Xin, then your taste is really too much!¡± Women always say one thing and mean another, claiming not to be jealous or not to care, all the while their hearts are already sour, yet they still put on an indifferent front. After saying all that, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t get a response from Lu Yanchuan for a good while, her bubbling jealousy suddenly turning into towering rage. Could it be that her own words struck at his heart? Could it be that he really was entangled with these two women? With tears in her eyes, Qiao Yi was just about to ask Ma Yu to stop the car when, in the next moment, she was pulled entirely into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace. ¡°Being so concerned about the women around me, could it be that you¡¯ve fallen in love with me?¡± ¡°I am not in love with you! Don¡¯t flatter yourself!¡± Qiao Yi struggled, but she couldn¡¯t escape Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hold and was securely embraced in his arms. Lu Yanchuan rested his chin on Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder and wrapped his arms around her waist, making her lean entirely against him. ¡°Not in love with me, and yet you get so jealous? Hmm?¡± ¡°I am not jealous! It¡¯s just¡­ you¡¯re married to me; you¡¯re my person, and nobody else can lay a finger on what¡¯s mine! You think I really care¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words were cut off by Lu Yanchuan. Ma Yu, with good sense, pressed the button for the middle partition, and suddenly the back seat became a sealed-off little space. Qiao Yi was certain that this partition had been added recently¡ªLu Yanchuan was really crafty! The car stopped in the old house¡¯s yard, and a blushing Qiao Yi was led out of the car by Lu Yanchuan. Looking at Qiao Yi, there was no sign of her previous fierceness; she was as docile as a kitten, obediently following behind Lu Yanchuan without daring to raise her head. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with Yiyi? Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?¡± Lu Xiaohua was coming out of the house and was surprised when she saw Qiao Yi. She quickly pulled her towards the house. ¡°I¡¯m fine, big sister, don¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s probably just too hot; I¡¯ll be fine after lying down for a while!¡± Watching the retreating figure of Qiao Yi running away in a panic, Lu Xiaohua touched the long-sleeved shirt she was wearing, puzzled. The weather in October¡­ shouldn¡¯t be hot enough to cause this, right? Qiao Yi had just run into the house when she came face to face with Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Yiyi, come here; Dad has something to talk to you about.¡± Qiao Yi wanted to leave but couldn¡¯t; Old Mr. Lu pulled her to sit down on the sofa. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been bringing Yanchuan meals lately? Have you considered what Dad said about going to work at Lu Group with Yanchuan? You could be Yanchuan¡¯s special assistant at Lu Group. Just let Yanchuan handle the tasks, how about it?¡± Qiao Yi had a small doubt in her heart. Why did Old Mr. Lu always want her to join the company? Not to mention her capabilities, there was simply no need for her to work at the company. Neither the Lu Family nor the Qiao Family were unable to support her, a small parasite. ¡°Actually, I was just thinking that if you and Yanchuan worked together, you could have more topics to talk about. You¡¯re young now and don¡¯t realize the helplessness when a couple has nothing to say to each other in old age.¡± Old Mr. Lu sighed and began to explain proactively, without waiting for Qiao Yi to ask. ¡°Back then, when Yanchuan¡¯s mom and I were young, we always had endless things to talk about. But after our second child was born, there was nothing left for us to say to each other. Every time I think about it now, I deeply regret not having her by my side¡­¡± Old Mr. Lu and Old Madam Lu had a very deep relationship. They had been married for more than twenty years, and Old Mr. Lu only had this one woman. While the Old Madam was alive, they were known as a match made in heaven to the outside world. However, not long after giving birth to Lu Yanchuan, Old Madam Lu passed away, and Old Mr. Lu never remarried. Seeing the old gentleman bringing up such a sad topic, Qiao Yi hurriedly changed the subject. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry about me and Yanchuan. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your health. As for working at the company, I¡¯ll think about it and discuss it with Yanchuan before making a decision.¡± Old Mr. Lu was about to say more, but the maid came over to say dinner was ready, so he had to let the matter rest for now. After dinner, Lu Yanchuan was summoned to the study by the old gentleman. Qiao Yi lounged boredly on the sofa watching TV and suddenly sat upright after switching channels. When Lu Yanchuan came out of the study, he didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi. After asking, he found out that Qiao Yi had just rushed out in a hurry, not knowing what she was going to do. The TV in the living room was still on, and drawn by the sound, Lu Yanchuan glanced at it and instantly knew where Qiao Yi had gone. Feng Siyu had an accident; Qiao Yi must have gone to find Feng Siyu! Indeed, Qiao Yi had gone to find Feng Siyu, and she didn¡¯t even have time to tell Lu Yanchuan. She booked the nearest flight and flew alone to the place where Feng Siyu was in trouble. Since parting in Jiang City, Qiao Yi knew only that Feng Siyu had gone to participate in a survival-themed reality show. Because it was a fully enclosed shoot, Qiao Yi had been unable to contact Feng Siyu. And just now, Qiao Yi had seen on TV that Feng Siyu was involved in an accident, injured, and hospitalized! Feng Siyu could not be reached, and neither could Gu Ting. How could Qiao Yi stay put under such circumstances! ¡°Where are you now?¡± Just having arrived at the airport, Qiao Yi received a call from Lu Yanchuan. After hesitating, she still told Lu Yanchuan the truth. ¡°I¡¯m at the airport. Yuanyuan had an accident, I need to go see.¡± ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll come with you.¡± ¡°Hello¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan said a word and then hung up the phone. When Qiao Yi called back, no one picked up, leaving her no choice but to anxiously wait at the airport. The TV report wasn¡¯t detailed, only mentioning that Feng Siyu had an accident during filming, without specifying how severely injured Feng Siyu was, or where the accident had happened. In her haste, Qiao Yi had only booked a ticket to country Z, and now sitting in the airport, she slowly realized that she wouldn¡¯t be able to find anyone even if she went to country Z! Lu Yanchuan quickly arrived, and upon seeing Qiao Yi, he immediately took her to cancel the ticket. ¡°What are you doing? Why are you canceling the ticket? Yuanyuan is in trouble, I must go!¡± Chapter 131 - 131: Not an Accident Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Not an Accident ¡°I had someone investigate. Feng Siyu is currently not in Country Z. There was a sudden change with the crew, and the accident occurred on a small island in Southeast Asia. He is now receiving treatment in Country T.¡± Qiao Yi was stunned for a moment, not expecting Lu Yanchuan to have gotten such detailed information in such a short time! After rebooking their flights, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan waited at the airport for a while, only to see Xiao Ting arriving at the airport too. Qiao Yi was very surprised and puzzled by Xiao Ting¡¯s appearance. They were going to see Feng Siyu; what was Xiao Ting doing there? ¡°The company just happens to have a project in Country T, she¡¯s going on a business trip.¡± Lu Yanchuan explained to Qiao Yi, who hummed through her nose, not sure if she believed him, and stopped looking at Xiao Ting. ¡°Mr. Lu, the project in Country T is quite tricky. The other party insists that they will only sign the contract if you personally appear, otherwise they feel insecure.¡± This reason sounded like nonsense, even someone like Qiao Yi, who didn¡¯t work at the company, could tell. ¡°Is that their attitude? If so, we can simply give up the project.¡± Lu Group wasn¡¯t concerned about giving up a small international project, Lu Yanchuan said casually, but Xiao Ting seemed somewhat reluctant. ¡°The attitude of the other party does have problems, but this project shouldn¡¯t be given up so easily. The business behind the project¡¯s partner is the largest distributor in Country T, and offending them could affect the entire Southeast Asian market!¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t say anything, just glanced indifferently at Xiao Ting. Xiao Ting didn¡¯t understand Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughts, but Qiao Yi understood very well. It was obvious that the other party was trying to use this as leverage on Lu Group; this time they want Lu Yanchuan to personally handle the negotiations, and the next time they might demand concessions. In the long run, Lu Group might as well give up their operations in Southeast Asia. Xiao Ting might have guessed this, but she was even more unwilling to give up the immediate benefits. ¡°Assistant Xiao, even though we can¡¯t easily abandon the entire Southeast Asian market, the other party also cannot easily give up us as a major partner. You must not boost their morale and undermine our own prestige!¡± As Qiao Yi spoke, she hinted at Xiao Ting with her eyes. Fortunately, Xiao Ting, being somewhat intelligent, didn¡¯t continue pushing for Lu Yanchuan to personally handle the project negotiations, but she still looked a bit unwilling, since no one likes to see their efforts go to waste. ¡°This issue is also easy to handle. Assistant Xiao just needs to tell them that Lu Group is not going to take on the project and go negotiate business with this company¡¯s competitor. Wouldn¡¯t the current predicament be resolved?¡± After learning that Feng Siyu¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t very serious, Qiao Yi could relax, and seeing Xiao Ting¡¯s indecisive expression, she even felt like giving her a suggestion. Xiao Ting fell silent; Qiao Yi¡¯s method, although simple, was indeed effective. After Qiao Yi finished speaking, Lu Yanchuan rubbed her head in approval, causing Qiao Yi to grimace and forbid him from messing up her hair. The three of them quieted down, but Qiao Yi¡¯s phone rang again. This time it was from Gu Ting. ¡°How is Yuanyuan now? Is the injury serious?¡± ¡°Not too serious; a fracture on the lower leg. He needs a good rest for some time.¡± According to Gu Ting, Feng Siyu was injured while climbing as there was an issue with his safety rope, causing him to fall from several meters and resulting in a fracture. ¡°A safety harness malfunction? The crew didn¡¯t provide a reasonable explanation? Just that it was a problem with the safety rope?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Usually, extreme sports like climbing require a safety harness. Now, there was an incident of an unreliable safety harness, and Qiao Yi¡¯s sixth sense told her that there was definitely more to the situation! ¡°Could someone have tampered with it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unlikely. Yuanyuan doesn¡¯t have any enemies in the industry, and today¡¯s safety ropes were randomly selected. Even if someone wanted to sabotage, they would have to damage all the ropes to specifically target Yuanyuan.¡± Gu Ting¡¯s initial reaction after the accident was also that someone had intentionally harmed Feng Siyu, but after much thought, he couldn¡¯t find any suspect worth considering, which forced him to abandon that idea. ¡°Take good care of Yuanyuan, I¡¯ll be there this afternoon. We¡¯ll talk more when we meet.¡± Qiao Yi quickly hung up the phone, thought it over, and decided to seek Lu Yanchuan¡¯s help. ¡°Yuanyuan¡¯s accident was due to the safety rope, but I suspect someone did it deliberately. Can you help me investigate this thoroughly? I want to know whether this was an accident or if someone did it on purpose!¡± Lu Yanchuan agreed immediately without a second word, which even surprised Qiao Yi. Country T is located in the tropics, and although it was already cooler in October back in their home country, Country T was still unbearably hot. Qiao Yi was sweating profusely by the time they disembarked from the plane. They rushed to the hospital where Feng Siyu was being treated, and when they saw him, he was already sitting up in bed eating. ¡°My treasure! How could you be so careless and get your leg hurt like this! Does it still hurt, is it serious? I was scared to death when I saw the news on TV this morning!¡± Qiao Yi squeezed past Gu Ting and sat beside Feng Siyu, touching the cast on his leg tenderly and scolding Gu Ting before insisting on taking Feng Siyu back home for recovery. Feng Siyu, seeming amused, waited for Qiao Yi to vent before pulling her back to sit down again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a fracture. The doctor said I¡¯m lucky.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you never need this kind of ¡®luck¡¯ in your life. I don¡¯t care; you¡¯re coming back with me today, and you¡¯re not allowed to participate in such dangerous shows anymore!¡± Feng Siyu had to soothe Qiao Yi for a while before she calmed down. ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t participate anymore. And you, why did you rush over in such hurry? I¡¯m fine, did you end up coming for nothing?¡± While the two girls were chatting amiably, Lu Yanchuan signalled to Gu Ting to step outside with him for a talk. ¡°Yiyi asked me to investigate, and it turns out Feng Siyu¡¯s injury was indeed no accident.¡± Gu Ting felt a sudden chill, ¡°What exactly happened!¡± ¡°After the accident with Feng Siyu¡¯s safety rope, someone quietly took it away. Following the surveillance, we found the rope in a trash can five kilometers from the accident site, showing clear signs of human tampering.¡± This alone was enough to prove that Feng Siyu¡¯s accident was no accident at all! Chapter 132 - 132: 132 chapters The target is me Chapter 132: 132 chapters The target is me ¡°Thank you.¡± Lu Yanchuan did not accept Gu Ting¡¯s thanks. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, I wouldn¡¯t care if it wasn¡¯t for Yiyi.¡± No matter what Lu Yanchuan said, Gu Ting still acknowledged the favor and hurriedly took over the investigation results that Lu Yanchuan had found, rushing off to investigate the person who tried to harm Feng Siyu. Several people tacitly did not tell Feng Siyu that someone had intentionally tried to harm her. Seeing Lu Yanchuan and Gu Ting finish talking and come back, Qiao Yi immediately pulled Lu Yanchuan to consult with the doctor about transferring hospitals. Transferring hospitals wasn¡¯t a troublesome matter, and it didn¡¯t take long for Qiao Yi to arrange for Feng Siyu to return to her country. However, Gu Ting still hadn¡¯t come back. ¡°Where did Gu Ting go? Does negotiating with the crew take that long?¡± Feng Siyu, puzzled, called Gu Ting once again, but no one answered the call. Hearing Feng Siyu¡¯s words, Qiao Yi also took out her phone and called Gu Ting, again without response. Feng Siyu didn¡¯t know what Gu Ting was up to, but Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan did. Gu Ting¡¯s prolonged absence started to worry Qiao Yi. ¡°Could something have happened to Gu Ting¡­?¡± Qiao Yi quietly asked Lu Yanchuan, who had no answers either and obviously couldn¡¯t reply to her. While they were discussing this, Gu Ting walked in from outside. ¡°How come you took so long to come back? I was about to come looking for you!¡± Feng Siyu waved at Gu Ting, who came to her but didn¡¯t sit down; instead, he quietly talked to her. ¡°The plane back home has been arranged; it¡¯s tomorrow morning. Rest well tonight. There¡¯s still some wrap-up work to be done with the crew, so I won¡¯t be going back with you.¡± Feng Siyu looked up at Gu Ting with confusion, but Gu Ting¡¯s expressionless face gave nothing away. However, Feng Siyu and Gu Ting had grown up together; how could she not see that Gu Ting was keeping something from her! ¡°You¡¯re not going back with me?¡± ¡°Yep, I¡¯ll go back in a few days.¡± After receiving the confirmation again, Feng Siyu¡¯s smile disappeared, and she silently stared at Gu Ting. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know what has happened to Gu Ting during the afternoon, but the odd behavior between him and Feng Siyu suggested there was some secret behind the attack. ¡°Yuanyuan, like this, you go back home first, and I¡¯ll stay behind to keep an eye on Gu Ting and make sure he doesn¡¯t do anything to betray you! Alright?¡± Seeing Feng Siyu was about to get angry, Qiao Yi quickly settled things, pulling Gu Ting to step aside. The moment Qiao Yi touched Gu Ting, his face turned pale as if he was enduring great pain. ¡°What happened to you!¡± Feng Siyu grabbed Gu Ting¡¯s hand and pulled open his clothes, then stood frozen. ¡°What¡­ how did you get these¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just fell down on the way back¡­¡± ¡°Do you think I am a fool! A fall couldn¡¯t have caused this! Don¡¯t lie to me, what really happened!¡± Feng Siyu cried out, and Qiao Yi also got scared seeing the wounds on Gu Ting¡¯s body, obviously caused by being hit with sticks! Gu Ting had fought with someone! ¡°Gu Ting, what happened? How did you get beaten?¡± ¡°Someone tampered with Yuanyuan¡¯s safety rope; they are domestic forces. I found them and confronted them, but they escaped.¡± Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, Gu Ting had to tell it. Both Gu Family¡¯s and Feng Family¡¯s influence are non-existent in this country; trying to find someone here is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, it was only a fight this time; if the perpetrators had worse intentions, Gu Ting might not have come back in one piece! ¡°Tampered? Safety rope? What are you talking about?¡± Feng Siyu was confused, pulling both Gu Ting and Qiao Yi, demanding answers. Having no choice, Qiao Yi had to reveal the truth she discovered. ¡°We just didn¡¯t want you to worry along with us. We didn¡¯t expect the people who wanted to harm you had such power; we underestimated them.¡± Qiao Yi felt very guilty. Feng Siyu was in trouble, and Gu Ting was almost harmed too. She knew there could be danger but still hadn¡¯t arranged for someone to accompany Gu Ting. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I want to see who dares to stab me in the back!¡± If it had just been her own injury, Feng Siyu might not have been so angry, but clearly, they had also targeted Gu Ting. If they didn¡¯t take some measures, there might be more victims! ¡°I¡¯ll send the surveillance to Wen Le to analyze these people¡¯s identities. If it¡¯s domestic forces, we can definitely track them down!¡± Feng Siyu, enraged by Gu Ting¡¯s injuries, didn¡¯t wait until the next day and hurried back to her country that very night. However, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t follow her back but stayed in this country. ¡°I suspect, it wasn¡¯t aimed at Yuanyuan but at me.¡± After sending off Feng Siyu, Qiao Yi showed her phone to Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Lele said that three days ago, she almost got hit by an out-of-control truck. If the driver hadn¡¯t reacted promptly, her injuries would have been more severe than Yuanyuan¡¯s.¡± ¡°And at my home, there was a gas leak last night. Thank goodness my aunt discovered it at midnight and turned off the gas, or there could¡¯ve been danger.¡± The messages on the phone were from Han Wenle. After she analyzed the surveillance footage and followed the leads, it was found that these people had appeared around Han Family¡¯s and Qiao Family¡¯s vicinity. Qiao Yi quickly sent messages asking about it after getting the information, only to receive these replies. ¡°If it were just Yuanyuan¡¯s case, I might have thought it was a coincidence, someone targeting Yuanyuan on purpose. But now that people I know well are also experiencing accidents, this can definitely not be explained just by the word ¡®coincidence¡¯.¡± Qiao Yi, thinking about it, felt terrified; she just couldn¡¯t imagine how to cope if so many people around her were involved in accidents! ¡°I don¡¯t know whom I¡¯ve offended to the extent they¡¯d use such means against me!¡± Qiao Yi grew more and more furious as she talked about it. Besides her, only Han Wenle knew some of it, and she even dared not tell Mr. and Mrs. Qiao for fear of their worry. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll investigate this thoroughly.¡± Qiao Yi wiped her tears, then flipped another message on her phone. ¡°This is an anonymous message sent half an hour ago, asking me to meet alone tonight at 10:30 at the warehouse on the docks.¡± The text message was accompanied by a photo, which Lu Yanchuan recognized as Xiao Ting. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 133 - 133: Preparation for Accepting Punishment Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Preparation for Accepting Punishment Xiao Ting had just stepped out of the partner company¡¯s office when she received Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone call. ¡°Xiao Ting, book a flight back home immediately. I¡¯ll have Ma Yu escort you back.¡± ¡°Return home? But the project here isn¡¯t finalized yet¡­¡± The sudden demand to return home baffled Xiao Ting, but Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t give her the opportunity to dwell in indecision and issued a direct command. ¡°Postpone the project, come back to the country as soon as possible.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arrangement never required any explanation, and Xiao Ting, albeit stunned for a moment, agreed and headed straight to the airport to book the earliest flight back home. Qiao Yi had been listening by the side the whole time, and only relaxed after knowing that Xiao Ting obediently decided to return home. Since Qiao Yi knew that she was the target, she naturally didn¡¯t want to implicate anyone else, not even a stranger claimed to be an employee under Lu Yanchuan. Since the other party had only sent a surreptitiously taken photo of Xiao Ting, it proved that they were only secretly watching Xiao Ting. The only way to completely prevent Xiao Ting from encountering danger was to have her leave this place as soon as possible. ¡°I¡¯m still a bit worried¡­¡± Qiao Yi sat beside Lu Yanchuan, her hands held by his, yet she was still fidgeting restlessly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already sent people to inspect the cargo warehouse at the pier.¡± A deserted warehouse at the pier, demanding Qiao Yi to come alone at half-past ten at night, all seemed like typical scenes played out in TV dramas. After Qiao Yi informed him of the message, Lu Yanchuan sent people to the appointed place for inspection, ensuring that anyone showing up at the pier warehouse could not escape from the palm of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. Hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, Qiao Yi felt somewhat reassured. However, what she was nervous about wasn¡¯t what she might encounter at the pier, but the fear of other people around her being harmed. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear the news of any friends or family encountering accidents. At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s men sent news that Xiao Ting had successfully boarded the plane, only then did a big stone in Qiao Yi¡¯s heart finally land on the ground. ¡°You can stop here, I¡¯ll walk the rest by myself¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Lu Yanchuan never intended to let Qiao Yi go to the meeting alone. If his men hadn¡¯t come back empty-handed from the pier warehouse, Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t even let Qiao Yi go there. Qiao Yi hesitated, ¡°What if they do something to someone else because I didn¡¯t do as they wanted?¡± ¡°If you do as they wish, the other party may also harm others, and you yourself might be in danger too.¡± Lu Yanchuan spoke the truth, leaving Qiao Yi with no room for rebuttal. But coming with so many people in such a high-profile manner, wasn¡¯t that a bit too conspicuous? As if perceiving Qiao Yi¡¯s concerns, Lu Yanchuan sneered softly. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t that time was pressing, I¡¯d bring even more people.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Alright, she lost. The car stopped outside the pier warehouse, and when getting out, Lu Yanchuan still firmly held Qiao Yi¡¯s hand. The pier was pitch-black, devoid of any light, and suddenly wind blew, stirring something that made a rustling sound in the dark night, eerily jarring. Qiao Yi was startled, almost clinging to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chest, yet he with a faint smile gently and irresistibly drew her waist close. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to be afraid, but she couldn¡¯t control her own terror, feeling almost petrified. They hadn¡¯t walked far when some footsteps were heard from behind the abandoned containers. The hair on Qiao Yi¡¯s skin stood on end, but Lu Yanchuan was as steady as Mount Tai, holding Qiao Yi and calmly waiting for those people to come out. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve already searched the whole pier, there¡¯s none here.¡± It turned out to be Lu Yanchuan¡¯s men. Qiao Yi let out a sigh of relief, her body also relaxing a bit. But in the next second, their location suddenly lit up. Containers were used as projection screens, and a light coming down from the highest container on the right was shining onto the containers on the left, displaying a pre-recorded video. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s men quickly split into two teams; one stayed behind to protect Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi, while the other headed toward the source of the light. Qiao Yi could not focus on anything else because the projector displayed the video of Feng Siyu being attacked! The footage showed a man carefully loosening the screws on the safety rope, evading everyone¡¯s sight, and, while putting the harness on Feng Siyu, subtly attached the tampered safety rope. And what horrified Qiao Yi the most was that after doing all this, the man didn¡¯t leave but stood in the crowd with a smile, watching as Feng Siyu climbed the rock wall, then fell heavily. Throughout, the man¡¯s smiling face never changed, even making a victorious gesture towards the camera as Feng Siyu fell. The subsequent footage was what Qiao Yi had already seen in the surveillance video; the man stowed away the safety rope and left the chaotic set openly. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the video ended, the final image froze on the man smiling provocatively at the camera before getting into a car. Qiao Yi was shaking with icy fingers and trembling body, unable to imagine what would have happened if Feng Siyu had fallen from a higher spot! ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t come alone, and of course, I don¡¯t plan to meet you just yet.¡± The projector screen darkened for a moment and then displayed a table and a person in a black cloak. ¡°Feng Siyu was lucky, but I wonder if others will also be so lucky?¡± The cloaked person turned on a voice changer, making it impossible to discern even the gender, let alone identify them! ¡°Who on earth are you! What exactly do you want to do!¡± Qiao Yi somewhat frantically yelled at the projector, she was quite sure she had not made such a deep enemy out of anyone in her twenty-something years of life. The only person who was at odds with her, Qiao Xin, would only face her as an enemy, not employing such insidious tactics! ¡°You must be very curious about my identity, but I can¡¯t let you know just yet¡ªafter all, our game is just beginning¡ª¡± The cloaked person laughed in a prolonged manner, with a tone that seemed rather deranged. After the initial panic, Qiao Yi had calmed down. No matter what, she was the Yiyi who had been in the game for so many years; now that she knew someone was aiming at her, it was better than being clueless. The cloaked person laughed maniacally for quite a while before slowly gesturing a shooting motion at the camera. ¡°Qiao Yi, are you ready to face the consequences?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 134 - 134: The Identity of the Man in the Black Robe Chapter 134: Chapter 134: The Identity of the Man in the Black Robe ¡°What kind of psycho is this? Did someone kick his brain in?¡± Qiao Yi burst into a rage, even wanting to rush into the projector and drag that robed figure out to tell him the Qing Dynasty is over! ¡°And what¡¯s this about accepting punishment? I¡¯d like to see between us, who is going to punish whom!¡± The warehouse was plunged back into darkness, and the team that went to find the projector also returned with it. On the way back to the hotel, the more Qiao Yi thought about it, the angrier she got¡ªnot just because of the ridiculous robed figure¡¯s threat, but also because she realized she actually had no way to deal with him! Anyone who went to a meeting full of caution, only to watch a lunatic¡¯s speech, would feel this sense of being played. Qiao Yi was so angry she found everything displeasing! ¡°I must find him! I have to!¡± Lu Yanchuan watched Qiao Yi pacing around in the room and, after much forbearance, finally pulled her down to sit on the sofa. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent people to investigate. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Qiao Yi spent a restless night and wanted to return to her country early the next morning, but before she even got to the airport, she received shocking news. ¡°What? They found the person who attacked Yuanyuan? Dead?¡± The word ¡®dead¡¯ caught the attention of a group of people at the airport. Qiao Yi frowned, took Lu Yanchuan to the VIP room before continuing. ¡°How did he die? When and where was the body found?¡± ¡°Early this morning, at the entrance of Emperor Garden Villa, discovered by a cleaning lady. The body was placed inside a gift box with a note attached with a heart drawn on it.¡± Han Wenle sent all the photos and videos to Qiao Yi. She carefully examined what Han Wenle had sent but couldn¡¯t find a single useful clue. The figure delivering the box wore similar robes, completely void of any distinctive physical features. The car driven by several people was the most common unlicensed Volkswagen, vanishing after turning into an alley. ¡°What is he trying to say? Delivering this person to me, is he showing off or trying to convey something?¡± After a night¡¯s time, Qiao Yi could keep her calm facing these events, unlike yesterday when she¡¯d become agitated upon hearing news. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just him putting pressure on you, trying to make you crumble mentally?¡± Even Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t understand the purpose behind this person¡¯s actions. But no matter what, the existence of the other party had already seriously affected Qiao Yi, so he wouldn¡¯t just let it go. Pulling out his phone, he sent a message to Yan Xiyu. After such a long incident, Yan Xiyu still hadn¡¯t reported back; was he paying Yan Xiyu too much? ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our country first. Since the action took place domestically, there must be some trace to follow.¡± The plane landed at Jing City Airport. As soon as Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan walked out, they received a message from Old Mr. Lu, asking them to return to the old house immediately. ¡°Tell me, what in the world happened in the past few days?¡± Old Mr. Lu asked directly as soon as they met. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan exchanged glances and were about to gloss over with some excuse when they saw Old Mr. Lu pick up an envelope from the table and throw it in front of them. ¡°This is what I received the morning before last. I haven¡¯t received such letters for over thirty years.¡± Puzzled, Qiao Yi picked up the envelope, took out the letter inside, and her expression changed after just a few glances. ¡°Dad¡­¡± ¡°Tell me, what exactly happened?¡± Qiao Yi clutched the letter in her hand, opened her mouth, but couldn¡¯t speak. It wasn¡¯t that she dared not be honest with Old Mr. Lu, she was just too moved to speak. The letter delivered to Old Mr. Lu contained one clear message: Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi must divorce, or the Lu Family would suffer joint retaliation from the business community. Under normal circumstances, receiving such a letter would be considered a prank. But Old Mr. Lu only realized it was not so simple after hearing from an old friend that recently someone was uniting several old noble families against the Lu Family. If it had been someone else, the first thought would definitely be that Qiao Yi had brought trouble upon the Lu Family. After all, even if the Lu Family was strong, even if they joined forces with the Qiao Family, they couldn¡¯t stand up to the collective targeting of many noble families. But Old Mr. Lu giving this letter to Qiao Yi clearly indicated his stance. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, now that you¡¯re married into the Lu Family, you¡¯re one of us. If anyone wants to bully a Lu, they¡¯ll have to ask if I agree!¡± Tears welled up in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, she took a while to compose herself before sadly telling Old Mr. Lu about the robed figure incident. ¡°There¡¯s actually such a thing?¡± Old Mr. Lu¡¯s gaze fell on Lu Yanchuan. After staring at him fiercely, he turned kindly and pulled Qiao Yi to sit beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared! Let Yanchuan handle this. How can he, a grown man, allow his woman to be threatened? Just wait¡ªI¡¯ll definitely teach him a lesson and take it out for you!¡± Qiao Yi laughed at what Old Mr. Lu said, wiping away her tears and holding onto him. ¡°Dad, Yanchuan didn¡¯t know about it beforehand, and the other party¡¯s methods were ruthless and efficient. We couldn¡¯t catch any clues at all¡­¡± ¡°If there are no clues, then create them!¡± Old Mr. Lu interrupted Qiao Yi, gazing sternly at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I give you one week to resolve this matter! Otherwise, you needn¡¯t come back to this house!¡± Qiao Yi watched dumbfounded as Old Mr. Lu sent Lu Yanchuan out of the house, even moving her things from Emperor Garden to stay at the old house until he found and dealt with the person. The old master truly was the old master, Qiao Yi felt an immense sense of safety, followed him back into the room, completely ignoring Lu Yanchuan¡¯s look of silent reproach. According to the old master, such dirty work should be left to men, and girls needed protection. Although she didn¡¯t completely agree with the old master¡¯s view, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t deny she really enjoyed this feeling of being protected. After being lectured by the old master, Qiao Yi returned to her room, flopped down onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling pondering the possible identity of the robed figure. Firstly, this person bore a serious grudge against her, a matter of life and death. Secondly, the person behind him must have a significant amount of power to support his so-called revenge on her. And most importantly, the person even threatened Old Mr. Lu, demanding that she and Lu Yanchuan get divorced! Without this condition, Qiao Yi might still be in the dark, but this one factor made the range of potential suspects much smaller. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 135 - 135 Ning Yuzes Twin Brother Chapter 135: Chapter 135 Ning Yuze¡¯s Twin Brother Qiao Yi lay on the bed lost in her thoughts when suddenly, someone knocked on her bedroom door. ¡°You were kicked out, weren¡¯t you? How did dad let you back in?¡± The one knocking was none other than Lu Yanchuan, who had just been ¡°thrown out of the house¡±. Qiao Yi stepped aside from the bedroom door, but instead of coming in, Lu Yanchuan pulled her out. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°To the hospital.¡± At this time, instead of investigating, you¡¯re going to the hospital? Who got hurt? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t figure out what Lu Yanchuan was up to and had no choice but to obediently follow him out. Upon reaching the hospital, Lu Yanchuan took Qiao Yi straight to the morgue underground. Qiao Yi felt her hair standing on end, and the questions at the tip of her tongue were left unspoken. Finally, when the elevator reached the basement, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and blurted out. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± ¡°To meet someone.¡± Meeting someone in the morgue? Who? A dead person? Indeed, they were there to see a dead person, someone Qiao Yi was somewhat familiar with. ¡°Ning Yuze? How could it be him?¡± Perhaps not to frighten Qiao Yi, only this one body was placed in the morgue, and several others followed them in, making it not as terrifying as Qiao Yi had imagined. Ning Yuze lay on the bed, pale and rigid, yet his face and hands showed none of the typical signs of death, such as livor mortis. ¡°I¡¯m not that familiar with him¡­¡± Regardless of familiarity, seeing someone die due to involvement with oneself, Qiao Yi¡¯s mood could not be good, and she hardly dared to let her gaze linger on Ning Yuze. ¡°He¡¯s not Ning Yuze, he¡¯s Ning Yuze¡¯s twin brother, Ning Yuhui.¡± Qiao Yi had never heard about Ning Yuze having a twin brother and looked at Lu Yanchuan with confusion, waiting for his explanation. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°He¡¯s the one who almost ran over Han Wenle with his car.¡± Qiao Yi was shocked. A young master of the Ning Family was involved in this matter and was even one of the attackers! ¡°I had someone investigate his phone and chat records over the past few months. Before he drove to hit Han Wenle, he had dealings with Lu Ming.¡± The shocking news kept coming, and Qiao Yi¡¯s mind was struggling to keep up. Ning Yuhui was Ning Yuze¡¯s never-before-seen twin brother, and he was the one who intended to drive into Han Wenle. Furthermore, Ning Yuhui had been in contact with Lu Ming before the act! ¡°Is the person targeting me Lu Ming?¡± ¡°No, it should be said that it¡¯s not just Lu Ming. With Lu Ming¡¯s capabilities, he couldn¡¯t extend his reach to T Country to harm Feng Siyu.¡± Lu Yanchuan did not deny Qiao Yi¡¯s guess, but he didn¡¯t fully admit it either. Qiao Yi looked at the face on the bed that looked nearly identical to Ning Yuze¡¯s and felt a chill rapidly spreading from the back of her head across her whole body. ¡°Regardless, let¡¯s have someone keep a close watch on Lu Ming for now. I¡¯m going to ask Ning Yuze out and see if he knows anything about this!¡± Although Ning Family isn¡¯t as prominent as Qiao Family, it is still a renowned family in Capital City. If the Ning Family showed hostility towards her as well, it would make matters even more complicated. Fortunately, Ning Yuze agreed quickly to meet with Qiao Yi and showed no signs of hostility or wariness towards her. ¡°Do you have a twin brother named Ning Yuhui?¡± Qiao Yi asked directly, which caught Ning Yuze off guard and he hesitated for a while before mumbling an acknowledgment. ¡°Yes, how do you know about him?¡± ¡°Why has the Ning Family never publicly disclosed that you are not an only child? Why conceal Ning Yuhui¡¯s existence?¡± Qiao Yi did not answer Ning Yuze¡¯s question but continued to press forward. Ning Yuze hesitated for a moment, glanced cautiously at Qiao Yi¡¯s expression, and then continued. ¡°Actually, at first, we didn¡¯t know I had a brother. When he was born, the opposing family bribed the midwife who then took him away. I only found out about him when I was in middle school.¡± From what Ning Yuze said, Qiao Yi learned a dramatic story. The hostile family planned to kidnap the child of the Ning Family. However, in the case of twins, only one was taken and was later sold by that family. Decades later, after going bankrupt, in a bid for revenge, they revealed the existence of the child who had been kidnapped at birth. By the time the Ning Family found the child, he was beyond redemption and even worse than Ning Yuze. ¡°Although I indulge in play sometimes, I never engage in criminal activities; however, that¡¯s not the case with Ning Yuhui, especially after he was brought back, my parents spoiled him trying to compensate for his lost childhood. I heard he even picked up a drug habit in the past two years!¡± Despite both being social pariahs, Ning Yuze held a disdainful view towards the likes of Ning Yuhui. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your father handle these issues?¡± ¡°How could he control him? Since he grew up wild outside, he doesn¡¯t stay at home unless he needs money. After he got into that stuff, my dad cut off his allowance, and these past few years he hardly came home at all.¡± Ning Yuze curled his lips and noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s displeased expression, then he restrained himself and sat properly. ¡°He¡¯s dead, did you know that?¡± Qiao Yi showed Ning Yuze the photo she had taken at the morgue. Ning Yuze was visibly shocked, and after confirming several times that the person in the pictures was Ning Yuhui, he seemed stupefied. ¡°This¡­how is this possible? He just came home asking for money a few days ago!¡± Qiao Yi carefully observed Ning Yuze¡¯s expression, which transitioned naturally from surprise to panic. If it wasn¡¯t genuine emotion, he must be a great actor. However, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t think Ning Yuze was the type to be a good actor. ¡°Yes, he tried to run over my friend with his car, but ended up killing himself. His body is now at the city hospital, but I can¡¯t let you take it away just yet.¡± The information overwhelmed Ning Yuze, leaving his mouth agape, clearly indicating his mind was racing. Anyone would likely react similarly; although it was his not so close brother, the sudden death of a family member coupled with accusations of intentional harm would not be easily accepted by anyone. ¡°You must be mistaken. Although he was a scoundrel, he wouldn¡¯t resort to murder, right? Plus, he was fine just a few days ago, how could he just suddenly die?¡± ¡°The body is at the city hospital. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can see for yourself. But I suggest you better go home and think about whether or not to tell your dad.¡± Having gotten the answers she wanted, Qiao Yi lost the desire to continue the conversation. She stood up and left with those final words. But just as Qiao Yi was leaving the coffee shop, a Hummer on the roadside suddenly veered out of control and sped towards her! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 136 - 136 The Only Survivor Chapter 136: Chapter 136 The Only Survivor A cry of alarm rose all around, and Qiao Yi only had time to see the car hurtling towards her; she had absolutely no chance to dodge it! Suddenly! Qiao Yi felt a strong pull from behind, and her body uncontrollably toppled sideways. A second before the Hummer crashed into the caf¨¦, Qiao Yi fell into a fiery embrace. ¡°Lu Yanchuan¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Qiao Yi looked up into the eyes of Lu Yanchuan, who was suppressing his rage, and felt a sense of calm wash over her. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡± Lu Yanchuan helped Qiao Yi up from the ground, and that was when she noticed that his arm was covered with wounds from the broken glass. ¡°You¡¯re injured! I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a superficial wound, let¡¯s first see if there are any survivors!¡± Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t during lunch break when the Hummer struck; otherwise, the casualties would have been severe. Still, several people in the coffee shop were affected by the crash. The driver of the Hummer was slumped over the steering wheel, life or death uncertain, and upon the arrival of the ambulance, was directly taken to Yun Qing¡¯s private hospital. Such a severe car accident was, of course, to be handled by professionals, so quietly, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan left the scene and followed the ambulance to Yun Qing¡¯s hospital. ¡°How is it, can the person be saved?¡± This person was their only clue to get information; if this person couldn¡¯t be saved, then the lead on the mysterious assailant would be lost again. The reason Qiao Yi suspected the Hummer¡¯s driver was sent by the mysterious assailant was simple: if it were a normal accident, why would the car cross three lanes just to hit her! If Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t pulled her aside, she would be lying in the hospital now, and that would have been a much more serious situation than for the driver! ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, the other party had no intention of making it back alive, aiming for death, and based on the current examination results, even if the person is saved, there¡¯s a high chance of ending up in a vegetative state.¡± ¡°Do your best, this person is extremely important!¡± Yun Qing looked at Lu Yanchuan, then at Qiao Yi, and reluctantly nodded, putting on his mask. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± With Yun Qing¡¯s promise, Qiao Yi felt much more at ease. Although Yun Qing sometimes acted indiscreetly, his medical skills were trustworthy! The injuries on Lu Yanchuan were all superficial except for a particularly severe glass cut on his lower arm. The rest would be fine with a couple of days¡¯ rest. Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wounds with an empathy and guilt that she hadn¡¯t even noticed herself. ¡°This time I dragged you into this mess. If it weren¡¯t for me, that person in the black robe wouldn¡¯t have done all this, and so many innocent people wouldn¡¯t have been hurt, including you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself, someone is deliberately picking a fight, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Lu Yanchuan was actually comforting someone; although it sounded cold and devoid of comfort, he was indeed trying to comfort her. Qiao Yi was both surprised and relieved, biting her lip and nodding her head. They waited from morning until dusk, and finally, before the sun set, Yun Qing came out of the operating room. Yun Qing, drenched in sweat, left the operating room and immediately took off his cap, waving at Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi to come with him to the office to talk. ¡°The patient has been saved, if they can wake up within 72 hours, then there won¡¯t be any issues. If not, they¡¯ll be in a vegetative state, and at that point, we can only leave it to fate.¡± Yun Qing had done his best; the rest was up to the heavens to decide if they were willing to lend their help. ¡°Thank you so much, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Yanchuan and I are friends. You¡¯re Yanchuan¡¯s wife, which makes you my friend too, helping out a friend with a little favor is nothing!¡± Perhaps because of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s usual sternness, Yun Qing felt unexpectedly unaccustomed when someone thanked him so earnestly! Qiao Yi was about to say something more when Yun Qing gestured with his hand to stop her. ¡°If you really want to thank me, just make sure to keep your man in line for me, don¡¯t let him always wear that mortuary face!¡± After just a brief chat with Qiao Yi, Yun Qing received a killing glare from someone and shuddered, scooting his butt further away. Qiao Yi turned to look at the expressionless Lu Yanchuan. Although he didn¡¯t show much expression, he surely wasn¡¯t as exaggerated as Yun Qing had described, right? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After chatting a bit more with them, Yun Qing left to get some food. ¡°Today I met with Ning Yuze to inquire about Ning Yuhui¡¯s situation. This person has never had any interactions with me, and you could even say he¡¯s not involved with the upper echelons of society at all. So I guess he must have been driven by money to run over Lele with his car!¡± ¡°For money?¡± Ning Yuhui is Ning Yuze¡¯s twin brother. He definitely wouldn¡¯t be lacking in funds, so why would he commit murder for money? Qiao Yi noticed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s confusion and recounted to him what Ning Yuze had told her. Then she said, ¡°Because of what Ning Yuhui has done, Ning Changfeng cut him off financially. And that thing he¡¯s addicted to can¡¯t be without a money supply, so¡­¡± ¡°So Ning Yuhui took the risk and made a deal with someone?¡± Just by checking the transactions in Ning Yuhui¡¯s bank account and whether the metabolites in his body are over the limit, it would confirm whether Qiao Yi¡¯s speculation was correct. If Qiao Yi¡¯s guess is true, then Ning Yuhui must have had a large financial demand recently. Tracing the transaction records would reveal who Ning Yuhui had dealings with. ¡°I¡¯ve already had people looking into it. As for the person involved today, if he wakes up, we will definitely get some useful information from him.¡± Qiao Yi was unfortunate yet fortunate; the Hummer¡¯s driver woke up the next afternoon. The man became agitated as soon as he saw the people sitting beside his bed. Although awake now, his body was fractured in multiple places, and at Qiao Yi¡¯s request, he was wrapped up tight like a zongzi, completely immobilized. Qiao Yi sat to the left of the man, watching him and even gently smiled at him when he stared back in terror. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are no longer in life-threatening danger.¡± The man¡¯s heartbeat on the monitor shot up rapidly, but his gaze gradually calmed from panic to a dead stillness. If it weren¡¯t for the intense heartbeat, one might think by his expression that he had lost the will to live. ¡°Mr. Wang, right? I suppose you recognize me by now. Let¡¯s talk about who sent you to run me over.¡± Wang Xu¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat; Qiao Yi already knew his identity! Of course, with someone like Qiao Yi, how could she not have found out who he was! Wang Xu¡¯s heart rate accelerated further, but a look of hopeless despair spread over his face. His fate was sealed ¨C regardless of what Qiao Yi intended to do to him, the Qiao Family and the Lu Family would definitely not let him off the hook. Chapter 137 - 137: The Real Culprit Chapter 137: Chapter 137: The Real Culprit ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. If I wanted your life, I could have easily not saved you. Rest assured, as long as you confess honestly who sent you to hit me, I absolutely won¡¯t let anything happen to you. How about that?¡± Qiao Yi stated her terms unhurriedly, while Wang Xu¡¯s eyeballs flickered, but he still maintained that lifeless look. Seeing him like this, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, she gently clapped her hands, signaling the person behind her to bring a tablet over to Wang Xu. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to talk, but I think there is someone who could make you speak. Don¡¯t you want to meet her?¡± Qiao Yi tapped the tablet a couple of times, and an image appeared on its screen. The photo showed a young girl sitting in a hospital room. She seemed to notice someone taking her picture, glanced shyly over, her pale face tinged with a flushed blush. ¡°Wang Xiao, diagnosed with leukemia three years ago, currently under treatment at a private hospital in the northern suburbs of Capitol City.¡± From the moment the photo appeared, Wang Xu could no longer keep calm, desperately attempting to struggle upright, but he couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her¡­ don¡¯t touch her¡­¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t do anything to her, but I¡¯m really curious, if an out-of-control Hummer suddenly appeared in Miss Wang¡¯s hospital room, I wonder if Miss Wang would also be lucky enough to escape unscathed? Mr. Wang, can you clear up my doubts?¡± Desperation filled Wang Xu¡¯s eyes. His arms banged against the hospital bed, and even the arm in a plaster cast stretched out strenuously towards Qiao Yi. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t hurt her¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Wang, you¡¯re being unreasonable. Are you saying it¡¯s okay for you to drive and hit me, but not for me to vent my anger?¡± As Qiao Yi finished speaking, the tablet in front of Wang Xu changed its display once more, showing a video this time. The main character of the video was the just-seen Wang Xiao, only now, outside her hospital room, stood several tall, burly men in black ¨C each holding different weapons and staring menacingly at the door, as if they could burst in at any moment. ¡°You! Despicable!¡± ¡°Look, Mr. Wang, I am the victim here, and I¡¯ve been speaking to you in a good tone the whole time. If you keep up this uncooperative attitude, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need for us to continue this chat.¡± Saying this, Qiao Yi took her phone out of her bag, making as if to make a call. ¡°Don¡¯t! I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll tell you everything! Just don¡¯t harm my daughter¡­¡± Wang Xu reluctantly gazed at the girl¡¯s image on the tablet, then with a hardened heart, he closed his eyes and forced himself to turn away. ¡°Speak up, what do you want to know!¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. I want to know the identity of the person you were dealing with, as well as evidence of your transaction.¡± Wang Xu hesitated, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know who I was dealing with. The person didn¡¯t contact me directly; they mailed a card and a letter to me, instructing me to use the car to hit you at the specified time and location mentioned in the letter.¡± ¡°Just because of a letter, you went?¡± Qiao Yi was astonished. Surely there can¡¯t really be someone that foolish in the world? ¡°No, at first I thought it was a prank and didn¡¯t take it seriously. But later the person called me and even sent a video threatening me. They said if I took the money and didn¡¯t do the job, they would kill my daughter! So I¡­¡± ¡°You are quite a good father!¡± Qiao Yi let out a snide remark, then, after asking for more details, instructed her subordinates to watch Wang Xu carefully before leaving the hospital room. ¡°The other party is too cautious. From what Wang Xu said, they contacted him using disposable phone numbers and anonymous delivery services, making it impossible to trace the source!¡± Qiao Yi was hugely disappointed. She had hoped that following Wang Xu¡¯s lead would yield something valuable, but it turned out the information was barely better than nothing! ¡°I¡¯ve already dispatched someone to trace the recent contacts on Wang Xu¡¯s phone and that bank card mailed to him. We should have news soon.¡± Qiao Yi was aware that Lu Yanchuan had the right talent for the job, and although Han Wenle was also a hacking expert, he was somewhat out of his depth with such a complex investigation. ¡°Anyway, stay indoors until we get that information.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, Lu Yanchuan was truly frightened. Had he arrived even a minute later, Qiao Yi would have been hit by the Hummer, and it would have been futile finding the culprit if something had happened to her! Thinking this, a deep murderous intent flashed in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. Qiao Yi obediently returned to the Lu Mansion, but Lu Yanchuan did not make her wait long. In just two days, Lu Yanchuan relayed useful information. ¡°The account that made the transfer to Ning Yuhui had one of the cards Wang Xu held, and after reviewing the bank¡¯s surveillance for the transaction date, we can confirm it was the same person who contacted Ning Yuhui and Wang Xu.¡± ¡°Lu Song? Who is this person? I¡¯ve never heard of him before!¡± Qiao Yi, looking at the man¡¯s information in the file, was utterly baffled. She was sure that she never encountered this man in her life prior to this point. Why would he target her? ¡°He is a department manager at the Bai Family¡¯s Lai Xing Group.¡± ¡°The Bai Family? When did I ever cross paths with the Bai Family? I had no clue.¡± A mere department manager certainly didn¡¯t have the power to go after her like this. There had to be someone else behind this Lu Song targeting her! ¡°Bai Lingling.¡± Lu Yanchuan uttered a name Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t expected, and as Bai Lingling¡¯s face flashed before her eyes, she couldn¡¯t fathom how such a brainless young lady could do such ruthless things! Not counting innocent people inadvertently involved by Wang Xu¡¯s driving, two people linked to the incident had already died, Feng Siyu was injured, Wang Xu narrowly escaped death, and Qiao Yi herself almost lost her life! ¡°How could it be Bai Lingling? Why her? I have no history of conflict with her¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words trailed off midway as her gaze slowly fell on Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s complexion turned pale, and Lu Yanchuan also looked extremely grim. If Qiao Yi was just shocked and incredulous, then Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart was a tumult of emotions. He and Bai Lingling grew up together, and although Lu Yanchuan had no particular feelings for Bai Lingling and only saw her as a naive younger sister, now, his so-called sister, who had always been like a tame bunny in front of him, had revealed such a shocking side to him, and the impact on Lu Yanchuan was no less significant than that on Qiao Yi! Chapter 138 - 138 Professional Team Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Professional Team ¡°Bai Lingling, just because she can¡¯t marry you, she¡¯s dragged so many lives into this! She, she¡¯s absolutely a lunatic!¡± Qiao Yi paced around the room, slapping her hand heavily on the table. ¡°This is just a guess, currently all the evidence points to Lu Song, there is no evidence that links these incidents to Bai Lingling.¡± This was the most troubling point for Lu Yanchuan. According to the evidence currently available, Lu Song is indeed the main culprit, but there are many suspicious factors about him too, such as how a mere department manager could possess such a large amount of money to bribe Wang Xu and Ning Yuze to work for him? Moreover, the first man who was killed, Lu Song definitely didn¡¯t have the power to place him in an international show team! This feeling of knowing who the potential real culprit could be yet suffering the lack of evidence was torturous for Qiao Yi. ¡°The urgent task is to keep looking for evidence. Since we have a suspect, we should keep a close watch on her. I just don¡¯t believe she can hide her fox tail so well!¡± Qiao Yi waved her fists and growled fiercely, turning her head and seeing Lu Yanchuan sulk again. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! If you weren¡¯t such a chick magnet, I wouldn¡¯t be targeted like this!¡± Lu Yanchuan, who was unjustly blamed, could only stay silent, probably his good attitude of acknowledging fault satisfied Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi even took the initiative to sit on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and gently blowing into his ear. ¡°I heard, when people are angry, their intelligence decreases. If we could totally infuriate Bai Lingling, do you think she might expose the evidence herself?¡± ¡°How do you plan to infuriate her?¡± Qiao Yi chuckled slyly, twisting out of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace, and smiling cunningly with her arms crossed. ¡°Of course, strike right at her heart!¡± Lu Yanchuan was confused, but Qiao Yi refused to explain further, instead just mysteriously smiled and went to the balcony to make a phone call. The next day, Lu Yanchuan found out about Qiao Yi¡¯s plan to infuriate Bai Lingling. He who usually paid no attention to entertainment news, unexpectedly received three news notifications on his phone¡ªall relating to him! ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Bai Lingling just jealous that I married you? Then I¡¯ll just show off our love in front of her, really flaunt it, and see if she can handle it without bursting!¡± Bai Lingling was indeed about to explode, especially when she was woken up by the news notifications on her phone in the morning, she was almost furious at first sight! ¡°Qiao Yi! I will never coexist under the same sky with you!¡± Seeing the happy and intimate photos of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan on the news interface, Bai Lingling furiously threw her phone away. This Qiao Yi, just a shameless woman clinging to Lu Yanchuan! How dare she flaunt her love with Lu Yanchuan so publicly! She is simply too outrageous! Just as Bai Lingling was about to call Lu Song, she remembered she had smashed her phone, and her mood worsened instantly! ¡°Lu Song! I want you now, to release all the dirt you can find on Qiao Yi online! Even if you can¡¯t find any, make some up! Do you understand!¡± As soon as the call connected, Bai Lingling unleashed a torrent of abuse, followed by an arrogant demand for Lu Song to manipulate the trend and spread negativity. ¡°Miss, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan are too hot right now, I¡¯m already trying to suppress their popularity, but it¡¯s completely unmanageable.¡± ¡°Useless! Useless! What am I feeding you for! You¡¯re just useless!¡± Bai Lingling roared and hung up the phone, while Lu Song, who was hung up on, had a face of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster. Only he knew how terrifying this crazy woman could be, and now he regretted why he had been greedy for that little compensation and chose to sell his soul to this ruthless crazy woman! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know what had happened here, but she could guess that Bai Lingling was definitely not calm, and she just waited for Bai Lingling to lose her composure and expose her own flaws! The tablet in front of Qiao Yi displayed the news that almost enraged Bai Lingling to death. At the very top and most conspicuous position was a close and ambiguous photo of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan, purposely taken by Qiao Yi dragging Lu Yanchuan last night. Then below, it exaggeratedly described the sweetness and happiness of the two¡¯s married life, and incidentally implied those women who had tried to seduce Lu Yanchuan unsuccessfully in the past. Of course, Bai Lingling was one of them, and even now, if there was a chance, Bai Lingling would still not let go of such an opportunity. How could Bai Lingling not be angry seeing such an article? Her not rushing to the Lu Family to desperately confront Qiao Yi was already a result of her trying her best to restrain herself! In this situation, Bai Lingling simply couldn¡¯t keep calm. Soon, during the time Qiao Yi was taunting and expecting, Bai Lingling couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and started buying troll comments to guide the public opinion. However, her subordinates¡¯ professionalism simply couldn¡¯t compare with Feng Siyu¡¯s team, and they barely made a splash before being suppressed. ¡°Are you all just eating for free! I spent so much money, and this is what you do for me!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, the other side is a professional team, you better hire someone more capable.¡± The other side didn¡¯t care about Bai Lingling¡¯s rage, just gave a perfunctory response and hung up. Bai Lingling swore, she was more enraged today than she had been in the past month combined! Ever since Qiao Yi came into the picture, her days had never gone smoothly! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After calming down her rage a bit, Bai Lingling dialed the troll farm head again. ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten times the price, you don¡¯t need to continue controlling comments, just stir up the news about Qiao Yi losing her chastity before marriage, and after it¡¯s done I¡¯ll give you ten times more!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± The troll farm head agreed right away, such a great deal, if he didn¡¯t eagerly accept, he would be a complete fool! If he couldn¡¯t control comments better than others, why couldn¡¯t he stir up the heat? It turned out, they really couldn¡¯t win, and they even almost got their IP traced! ¡°Big sister, we can¡¯t do this job, if you want to do it, find someone else. I¡¯m not taking this job anymore!¡± ¡°Wait! Do you think the money is too little? I can increase it!¡± The troll farm head was about to cry, he was doing online activities, but now he was almost tracked down by someone. If they succeeded, wouldn¡¯t that be deadly! ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of money! Even if you increase it tenfold, I can¡¯t take this job! I sincerely advise you, just give up your plan as soon as possible, their team is much stronger than ours!¡± Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Bai Lingling angrily smashed another phone. ¡°Qiao Yi! I just don¡¯t believe I have no way to deal with you!¡± Chapter 139 - 139: Lu Yanchuans Decision Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Lu Yanchuan¡¯s Decision ¡°We¡¯ve tracked the IP address of the other party, but there¡¯s an expert on their team, and we¡¯ve been discovered.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone never stopped, and the notification tone kept ringing; Qiao Yi, seeing the messages on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone, became anxious and frustrated. ¡°Since they have discovered us, there¡¯s no need to hide it. Directly lock onto the track, investigate their online activities and all consumption records.¡± Before Qiao Yi could speak, Lu Yanchuan had already issued the order. There was a response, and then silence, indicating they had gone to investigate. ¡°By doing this, won¡¯t we startle the snake? If we accidentally push them into a corner, it could get troublesome.¡± This was exactly what Qiao Yi was most worried about; she was not afraid of a direct confrontation, but if the other party became desperate and played their trump card. Whether it was anyone close to her getting dragged in or being in danger, these were outcomes Qiao Yi did not want to see. ¡°Now that my people have been discovered, they will definitely take action. If we miss this opportunity, who knows when we¡¯ll find evidence again.¡± Lu Yanchuan had his considerations, seeing that Qiao Yi was still full of concern, he helplessly set down the computer and pulled Qiao Yi out of the study. ¡°If you¡¯re worried, go call some of your girlfriends, I¡¯ve got this covered.¡± After being pushed out of the study, it took a moment for Qiao Yi to snap back to reality. Was she being pushed away? Regardless of whether she was being disliked or not, since Lu Yanchuan had taken over the matter, Qiao Yi decided not to add to the chaos. Listening to Qiao Yi mumbling to herself as she walked away from the study, the warmth on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face faded, and he returned to the computer, going back to the interface he was working on. Strings of code came into being under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s fingers, turning the massive database into a pouch that he could flip through at will. Although Yan Xiyu is always put to work by him, it was his technical skills that initially impressed Yan Xiyu. Even now, it would be very difficult for Yan Xiyu to defeat Lu Yanchuan. The news that had just exploded online truly angered Lu Yanchuan. There were claims that Qiao Yi was a woman of loose morals before her marriage, and others saying that Qiao Yi was rejected by Lu Ming and then shamelessly used her family¡¯s influence to marry Lu Yanchuan. Even though this news was suppressed by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s people as soon as it appeared, it still had some impact. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t been paying attention to this, so she was unaware of this small tempest. But Lu Yanchuan knew and even rarely felt a surge of intense anger because of it. The troll farm head thought his heavily fortified computer was secure, but under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hands, it was as fragile as paper. After leaving countless trash viruses, Lu Yanchuan brazenly took away all the useful things on the troll farm head¡¯s computer. He even didn¡¯t spare a certain ¡°study material¡± folder of over 150 gigabytes. Several sheets of paper were ejected from the printer, evidence of transactions between the troll farm head and Bai Lingling, including accounts with financial activities and their chat history. Certainly, the call logs between Bai Lingling and the troll farm head were also preserved in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s computer. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These only proved that Bai Lingling paid to tarnish Qiao Yi¡¯s reputation online and could not prove she was behind these crimes. But this was enough! Lu Yanchuan instructed his people to continue following Lu Song¡¯s leads, while he sent the materials he had gathered to Lu Xiaohua. Within three minutes, Lu Xiaohua¡¯s call came through. ¡°Yanchuan, those things you sent me¡­¡± ¡°They are real, personally verified by me.¡± There was silence on Lu Xiaohua¡¯s side, taking a while before speaking again. ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± Lu Xiaohua was reluctant to believe the data, but it was sent by Lu Yanchuan, whom she knew never lied. ¡°Since the Bai Family has chosen to declare war on the Lu Family, I will show no mercy.¡± Lu Yanchuan sent these pieces of evidence to Lu Xiaohua to inform her that he was acting against the Bai Family with justification, and even if Lu Xiaohua and the matriarch of the Bai Family were best friends, it couldn¡¯t interfere with matters involving both families. Lu Xiaohua knew that almost no one could change what Lu Yanchuan had decided. Her throat tightened as she clung to the faintest hope and asked again. ¡°Is there really no other solution?¡± ¡°There is, I could release this information online, and have Bai Lingling publicly apologize to Qiao Yi.¡± This was an impossible solution. Not to mention whether Bai Lingling and her family would agree, even if Bai Lingling did, would Qiao Yi forgive her? Moreover, if Lu Yanchuan really did that, even if the Bai Family didn¡¯t want to protect Bai Lingling, they would have to oppose the Lu Family for the sake of their family¡¯s reputation. They couldn¡¯t just let outsiders watch as the Bai Family pushes an ignorant child out to take the blame! It was an unsolvable situation, Lu Xiaohua had nothing to say, and hung up the phone in silence. Perhaps the only thing she could do now was to give the Bai Family a heads-up in advance. Having resolved the only person who might stop him, Lu Yanchuan gave direct orders to begin an all-out assault on the Bai Family¡¯s industry projects. Bai Lingling only learned of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s orders after rushing to the company. Between the Bai Family and Lu Family, there¡¯s no need to guess which side people would take. They might plot against the Lu Family in secret, but who would dare to openly stand against them! In just one afternoon, the Bai Family¡¯s shares shrunk by five percent, and before dusk, the Qiao Family also started to make their move. Although the Qiao Family¡¯s influence wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Lu Family¡¯s, they were in the same league as the Bai Family. If they couldn¡¯t confront the Bai Family directly, couldn¡¯t they join forces with other families to benefit themselves? Bai Lingling watched the group¡¯s shares plunge, and by dinner time, all projects involving the Bai Family and companies in collaboration with them were affected, the whole stock market was a sea of green. ¡°Speak! Why did you hire a troll army for no reason, and provoke the Lu Family!¡± Bai Lingling stood with her head lowered in the Bai Family¡¯s study. Across from her stood an enraged Bai Jing and Zhao Liting, who was busy trying to mediate. These two were Bai Lingling¡¯s parents as well as the current Family Head and the patriarch¡¯s wife of the Bai Family. That afternoon, when Zhao Liting received the message from Lu Xiaohua about Lu Yanchuan taking action against the Bai Family, she thought it was a joke. But when the Bai Family¡¯s stock market saw its first turning point, Zhao Liting knew it was real! Zhao Liting asked Lu Xiaohua for details, but Lu Xiaohua hesitated to explain. Only when pushed did she partially share the evidence sent by Lu Yanchuan with Zhao Liting. Once Zhao Liting got hold of the evidence, she got busy with Bai Jing confirming the validity of this data. After ascertaining that their always obedient and innocent Bai Lingling was behind it, the couple had to believe it. Their seemingly sweet daughter had such a face behind the scenes! Chapter 140 - 140 The Gong Family Comes Again Chapter 140: Chapter 140 The Gong Family Comes Again It¡¯s no wonder this couple was so shocked; Bai Lingling¡¯s performance had been too convincing, even someone like Lu Yanchuan had never noticed before. ¡°You¡¯re not going to give us a reasonable explanation?¡± After all, Bai Jing had doted on his daughter for over twenty years. Confronted by Bai Lingling¡¯s aggrieved expression, the anger in his heart had already dissipated by half. Bai Lingling bit her lip and said nothing. Seeing this, Bai Jing started to get angry again, but was held back by Zhao Liting. ¡°Lingling, did you do this because of Yanchuan? Is that right?¡± The mention of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s name broke through Bai Lingling¡¯s defenses, and she finally couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. ¡°I hate Qiao Yi! I hate that woman! Clearly, I am the one who should be marrying Yanchuan, why should she suddenly appear and steal Yanchuan away! Why does Yanchuan treat her so well! I can¡¯t accept this, I hate her!¡± Bai Lingling shouted agitatedly, her face contorted with rage. Zhao Liting did not expect that her tentative question would provoke such an intense reaction from Bai Lingling, and was momentarily stunned on the spot. ¡°Enough!¡± Bai Jing slammed the desk heavily, startling the other two women in the room. ¡°That¡¯s it for this matter. I will personally talk to Yanchuan and ask him to stop targeting the Bai Family.¡± Bai Jing sat back down in his chair, exhausted, and waved his hand at Bai Lingling, signalling her to leave. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Lingling, in a fit of temper, stood motionless. In her opinion, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s action against the Bai Family was solely because of Qiao Yi. If Bai Jing went to plead for mercy, wouldn¡¯t it make her look even worse in front of Qiao Yi! Bai Lingling already knew Lu Yanchuan¡¯s demands through Zhao Liting, but she would rather die than apologize to Qiao Yi! Seeing Bai Lingling still standing there, Bai Jing¡¯s face turned red with anger, and he hurled the teacup from his hand to the floor by Bai Lingling¡¯s feet. ¡°Get out! Go back to your room and don¡¯t come out without my permission!¡± ¡°Dad! I am your daughter, are you really going to treat me this way for that slut Qiao Yi!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Bai Lingling looked incredulously at Bai Jing; it was the first time she had been hit by someone in her memory. Bai Jing also gazed absently at his own hand, utterly unable to believe that he had just hit Bai Lingling. ¡°I hate you! I hate all of you! I will definitely kill that slut Qiao Yi!¡± Bai Lingling ran out crying, while Bai Jing leaned despondently against the desk. Zhao Liting looked worriedly at the retreating figure of Bai Lingling, taking a few steps to follow but ultimately returning to the study. ¡°How could you raise your hand against Lingling! If Lingling ran out and something happened, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live with myself!¡± ¡°What could happen to her! It would be a relief if something did; how can she be so shameless! Instead of being a proper young lady, she insists on being a homewrecker! Do you think it¡¯s for her sake that Lu Yanchuan targets Qiao Yi? That was a warning to us, telling Bai Lingling to stop bothering him!¡± With a sigh, Bai Jing¡¯s concern for Bai Lingling prevailed, and he sent someone to keep an eye on her to prevent any mishaps. Zhao Liting wanted to ask more questions but was impatiently dismissed from the study by Bai Jing. ¡°You have the time to waste here arguing with me; you might as well have a proper talk with her. If this continues, the Bai Family will be ruined by her!¡± Bai Jing closed the door of the study with a bang, his complexion darkening completely. Zhao Liting indeed had received some documents from Lu Xiaohua, but Bai Jing had even more information than Zhao Liting. The moment the Bai Family was attacked, Bai Jing immediately sought Lu Yanchuan, hoping for reconciliation. But Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even see him; he only tossed a document at him and left him hanging. The document not only detailed Bai Lingling¡¯s recent purchase of online trolls to smear Qiao Yi but also her use of his name to send out invitations, rallying several families against the Lu Family. Now recalling it, Bai Jing still feels a chill down his spine and even a sense of relief that this incident erupted sooner than later. Compared to others who were enraged seeing the Bai Family suppressed so, Bai Jing wasn¡¯t just unangry; he even felt grateful toward Lu Yanchuan. Had Lu Yanchuan not exposed this matter, if Bai Lingling had truly united a bunch of families under his banner to face the Lu Family, that would have been the Bai Family¡¯s downfall! ¡°Go and investigate for me, thoroughly look into who Lingling has been in close contact with lately.¡± Bai Jing understood his daughter quite well. She was capable of buying trolls, but as for blatantly doing something that would doom the Bai Family, Bai Jing refused to believe Bai Lingling was behind it! The person Lu Yanchuan stationed inside the Bai Family notified him of all the happenings here; Qiao Yi watched on the side, and only when she saw Bai Lingling running out of the villa did her face show a trace of change. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Bai Lingling to actually be quite sharp.¡± Indeed she was sharp, attributing her mistakes to a girl¡¯s jealousy. In the future, even if this became a big deal, at most people would say she was too young and naive. If someone was particularly short-sighted, they might even think Lu Yanchuan was making too much of a fuss. ¡°Does she think she can use this method to dispel Bai Jing¡¯s suspicions?¡± ¡°Looking at it now, she¡¯s quite successful; at least Bai Jing, even knowing those pieces of evidence, has completely no suspicion toward Bai Lingling.¡± Lu Yanchuan turned off the computer and Qiao Yi, disappointed, slouched into the chair, letting out an unsatisfied hum. ¡°I think, even if we find solid evidence, Bai Jing would not act against Bai Lingling. He might even feel that we are deliberately framing Bai Lingling!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother with him.¡± Bai Jing was a Family Head good at maintaining status yet lacking in initiative, but he was also a clever Family Head. As long as enough pressure is applied, he¡¯ll naturally know what to do. However, things weren¡¯t as simple as Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan had anticipated. After Lu Xiaohua¡¯s obstacle was removed, unexpectedly another person popped up to throw a spanner in the works! ¡°Has Lu Ming gone mad? Doesn¡¯t he know that you¡¯re going against the Bai Family? Why would he sign a project with the Bai Family at this time?¡± Not just Qiao Yi responding this way, even Lu Yanchuan had a similar thought when he received the news. ¡°Lu Ming hasn¡¯t really interacted with the Bai Family¡­¡± If it wasn¡¯t for friendship that made Lu Ming willing to help, then it must be for mutual benefit! ¡°Go check it out, see if there are any private assets under Lu Ming with collaborative projects with the Bai Family.¡± Just as Lu Yanchuan had ordered his subordinates to investigate, Ma Yu walked in. ¡°Mr. Lu, the Gong Family people have gone to the old house, saying they are looking for you.¡± ¡°The Gong Family people? What are they doing here again?¡± After Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral was handled, the Gong Family quieted down, and Lu Yanchuan was happy for the peace, gradually leaving all the matters of Old Madam Gong¡¯s possessions in Xiao Luo¡¯s hands. But now¡­ ¡°What¡¯s their purpose?¡± ¡°They say, it¡¯s about claiming Old Madam Gong¡¯s inheritance¡­¡± Chapter 141 - 141: Getting Something for Nothing Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Getting Something for Nothing The person from the Gong Family is Gong Yan, the woman who has the same face as Gong Ting, but a completely different personality. Old Mr. Lu was invited to visit an old friend¡¯s house, and Gong Yan had waited from the afternoon until dusk in the Lu Mansion for Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, long time no see.¡± Although she had waited for over four hours, there was not a hint of discontent on Gong Ting¡¯s face as she warmly greeted Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan upon their arrival. She acted as if she were the owner of the mansion. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such patience alone made this woman not to be underestimated. ¡°Miss Gong, you should really enjoy your time in Capital City. I¡¯ve heard Miss Gong has been living abroad for many years; you shouldn¡¯t miss out on the beauty of our homeland.¡± Gong Yan was enthusiastic, and Qiao Yi was even more so, affectionately taking Gong Yan¡¯s hand and sitting her down on the sofa together. ¡°Actually, I¡­¡± ¡°Oh, haven¡¯t Miss Gong had dinner yet? What a coincidence, today Aunt Zhang made cream of mushroom soup which is absolutely superb. Miss Gong, you must try it!¡± As Qiao Yi was calling the servants to start the meal, she pulled Gong Yan towards the dining room, not giving Gong Yan a chance to speak. Lu Yanchuan did not participate in the women¡¯s conversation, but how could Gong Yan let Lu Yanchuan off so easily? Seeing Qiao Yi divert the topic further and further, Gong Yan quickly spoke up. ¡°Mrs. Lu! I¡¯m not hungry yet. I think we should discuss the important matters first!¡± The conversation would definitely be led away by Qiao Yi if it continued. She never knew this woman could talk so much! ¡°Isn¡¯t eating important too? Does Miss Gong have something else to discuss?¡± The curiosity on Qiao Yi¡¯s face showed no trace of pretense, making even Gong Yan wonder if this woman was pretending to be foolish or was really foolish. ¡°Mr. Lu should know what I¡¯m referring to!¡± Gong Yan turned her gaze to Lu Yanchuan, ¡°Although Old Madam Gong mentioned on her deathbed that she wanted Mr. Lu to manage her entire inheritance, there remains ten percent of Gong Family¡¯s shares under Old Madam Gong¡¯s name, which are very important to the Gong Family. I am willing to purchase these shares from Mr. Lu at a price which is ten percent above the market rate.¡± ¡°May I ask Mr. Lu for your thoughts?¡± Gong Yan said everything in one breath, fearing that she would be interrupted by Qiao Yi again. If interrupted once more, she feared she might lose her composure. Gong Yan had already anticipated various reactions from Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi and had prepared responses for each. However, contrary to her expectations, both of them showed no reaction, as calm as if she¡¯d just mentioned wanting to drink cream of mushroom soup that evening! ¡°Mr. Lu!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hold any shares, and there were no shares in the teacher¡¯s inheritance. If the Gong Family continues to persist in this manner, I cannot guarantee what I might do.¡± Lu Yanchuan glanced at Gong Yan and then casually sat down beside Qiao Yi to wait for the meal. Gong Yan was choked up, and her expression finally changed. ¡°I think Mr. Lu doesn¡¯t really lack that 10% of shares. In Mr. Lu¡¯s hands, those shares are just passive income, but they are very important to me.¡± When being tough doesn¡¯t work, try the soft approach. Gong Yan¡¯s constantly maintained mask of elegance began to crumble bit by bit. When Gong Yan sat opposite them, she no longer looked like the perfect Gong family¡¯s daughter but a troubled, innocent girl. Qiao Yi was stunned by her tactic! If she doesn¡¯t go into acting, it would be a waste. Her acting skills could easily overshadow those young stars in the entertainment industry! ¡°That¡¯s Miss Gong¡¯s business, it has nothing to do with me.¡± Lu Yanchuan was as infuriatingly indifferent as always, prompting Qiao Yi to internally give him a thumbs-up. ¡°Mr. Lu might not be interested in the Gong Family¡¯s shares, but surely he would be interested in the old butler of Qu Mansion?¡± Gong Yan illustrated a lively lesson on coercion and temptation to Qiao Yi. Such strategies; she really couldn¡¯t compete! ¡°Mr. Lu must have found out that the butler died of a heart attack caused by fright on the street, right? But I have a report here that completely contradicts Mr. Lu¡¯s investigation findings.¡± The old butler is dead? Ever since leaving Tian City, Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the affairs between Old Madam Gong and the Gong Family, let alone news of the old butler. Facing Qiao Yi¡¯s surprised and puzzled gaze, Lu Yanchuan nodded. It wasn¡¯t a happy matter, so he hadn¡¯t told Qiao Yi. ¡°I can give this report to Mr. Lu, but I have a request¡­¡± ¡°If it¡¯s about the shares, don¡¯t bother asking.¡± Every time Lu Yanchuan spoke, it choked Gong Yan, making her struggle to not throw her soup bowl at his face. She composed herself before continuing. ¡°Since Mr. Lu is so sure the shares aren¡¯t with you, I can only ask Mr. Lu to help find where this 10% of the shares have gone.¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t let Mr. Lu act without compensation. Consider the autopsy report of the old butler as my deposit. Once the shares are recovered, I will gift Taikou Villa to Mrs. Lu as a belated birthday present.¡± Qiao Yi finally realized why Gong Yan and Gong Ting valued that 10% of shares so much. The Gong Family was using this method to decide the heir! Although Taikou Villa was just a leisure and vacation villa, it was still a significant asset for the Gong Family. Only the Family Head of the Gong Family had the power to decide its fate so easily! ¡°Okay.¡± While Qiao Yi was lost in her thoughts, Lu Yanchuan and Gong Yan had already reached an agreement. Just for a villa? Lu Yanchuan agreed to help just like that? That didn¡¯t seem like his usual style at all! Gong Yan got the answer she wanted, took a document from her bag, placed it in front of Lu Yanchuan, then stood up and left as if fleeing from something. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who hates trouble the most? Why did you agree to help her investigate the whereabouts of the shares?¡± Qiao Yi leaned over to glance at the document, saw the words ¡°autopsy report,¡± and immediately stopped looking further. Not even Lu Yanchuan had the mood to look at an autopsy report while eating, so he set the document aside and continued his meal. ¡°Teacher indeed had shares, but these shares weren¡¯t listed in the teacher¡¯s legacy. I¡¯ve been investigating this matter, but I didn¡¯t expect Gong Yan would come to me proposing cooperation.¡± Qiao Yi was shocked. Lu Yanchuan played his cards well, extracting information about the old butler from Gong Yan and even ended up with a villa! Chapter 142 - 142 Autopsy Report Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Autopsy Report After dinner, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan went to the study together, with Mr. Qu¡¯s autopsy report placed in front of them. ¡°Due to the medication, the heart failed to function in a short time? The apparent manifestation is similar to cardiac arrest?¡± This autopsy report was dated the day after the old housekeeper disappeared, and by the time Lu Yanchuan found the old housekeeper, five whole days had already passed since his death. According to the autopsy report, the old housekeeper died from taking the wrong medication, which had effects similar to stimulants, but an overdose could cause the heart to overwork and abruptly stop. The reason why the report Lu Yanchuan obtained did not contain this medication is that it naturally decomposes into normal trace elements within the human body within ten hours of entering, making it undetectable. Although the old housekeeper lost his life signs due to the medication, the body¡¯s activity did not affect the drug¡¯s decomposition, so it was not until Gong Yan produced this autopsy report that they finally learned the true cause of the old housekeeper¡¯s death. ¡°Overdosing on medication, Mr. Qu indeed was taking medication, but definitely not this kind of banned substance. Who could have mixed this drug into Mr. Qu¡¯s medication?¡± ¡°It might also be that someone deliberately took Mr. Qu away and fed him the medication.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s guess seemed more likely, Qiao Yi instinctively nodded, then immediately shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t think of such a thing; you go investigate it.¡± Qiao Yi waved her hand and left the study, while Lu Yanchuan held the autopsy report and repeatedly read it, his gaze landing on the unknown medication when suddenly he seemed to think of something and began searching on his computer. Old Madam Gong had stocks in a pharmaceutical company before her death¡­ This company mainly produces medication for treating mental illnesses! After a good while, Lu Yanchuan, looking at the screen at the company¡¯s partners, fell into deep thought. ¡°Lu Qingshan¡­ it turns out to be Lu Qingshan¡­¡± ¡°What about Lu Qingshan? Does he have any connection with Old Madam Gong?¡± As soon as she asked, Qiao Yi regretted it; wasn¡¯t her question just nonsense? Lu Yanchuan and Lu Qingshan are biological brothers, and Old Madam Gong was their mother¡¯s close friend; Lu Qingshan was obviously well-acquainted with Old Madam Gong! ¡°A pharmaceutical company¡¯s stocks that belonged to the teacher, now under Lu Qingshan¡¯s name!¡± Qiao Yi carrying a teacup, placed it beside Lu Yanchuan, then came around to look at the computer screen from behind him. ¡°Dianrui Pharmaceuticals¡­ this name sounds so familiar¡­¡± ¡°Dianrui Pharmaceuticals mainly focuses on mental health medications, and other than the stocks held by the teacher changing owners, no one else¡¯s shares have changed.¡± If it wasn¡¯t Lu Qingshan who bought the Dianrui stocks, then it could only have been stolen from the old lady! Seemingly seeing through Qiao Yi¡¯s suspicions, Lu Yanchuan added, ¡°This pharmaceutical company is the family business of the teacher¡¯s maternal family; no matter what, the teacher would never sell the stocks.¡± ¡°Then it was stolen by Lu Qingshan from the old lady!¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded gravely, although unaware of how Lu Qingshan had stealthily taken the stocks, now that Lu Yanchuan had found out, it was impossible to let him get away with it. ¡°Ah! I remember now! The Qiao Family and Dianrui have a collaboration project!¡± The Qiao Family is broadly engaged in business, including pharmaceuticals, and Dianrui Pharmaceuticals is indeed part of their collaborative scope. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s time to properly investigate this company.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have a good impression of Lu Qingshan¡¯s whole family¡ª with a Wang Zhen and a Lu Ming around, even if Lu Qingshan was meek, she doubted he would be any good! Qiao Yi helped Yanchuan gather all the documents, but when she raised her hand, a pink card fell out from the stack. Her eyes and hands were quick, and she grabbed the card before Yanchuan could. ¡°Ts ts ts, even managing to slip a perfume card within the documents, looks like our Third Young Master is really quite blessed with romance!¡± The pink card emitted a faint fragrance and only had a string of digits written on it¡ªclearly a phone number¡ªwith a little heart drawn on the back. Such childish tactics, one couldn¡¯t tell if this person was really that naive or purposely using such means to catch Yanchuan¡¯s attention. ¡°How does Third Young Master plan to deal with this little peach blossom?¡± Qiao Yi, sitting on the edge of the desk, waved the delicate card in front of Yanchuan with her slim, pale fingers, wearing a malicious smile on her face. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Throw it away.¡± Yanchuan¡¯s throat bobbed, his gaze following Qiao Yi¡¯s hand to where her skirt had flipped open due to her sitting posture. The greatest benefit of a silk nightgown is how it clings to the skin. Qiao Yi, twisting her body as she sat on the desk, let her perfect curves be fully exposed to Yanchuan. Who could withstand this! Like a siren, Qiao Yi twisted her waist, shifting to an even more comfortable yet enticing pose, slightly leaning forward allowing Yanchuan to catch glimpses of some enticing views. ¡°What a waste to throw it away, Third Master wouldn¡¯t mind if I play a little prank, right?¡± Yanchuan¡¯s mind was no longer on that little card, but filled with a stirring impulse, like pinning a certain siren down on the desk¡­ ¡°Since Third Master is so generous, then I will not be polite!¡± Qiao Yi leapt off the desk and ran out giggling before Yanchuan could collect himself. The provoked yet unquenched person cheerfully, found the most despicable subordinate from his contacts, and dialed the number. ¡°Dezi, I¡¯ve got a job for you¡­¡± Since the miscarriage, Qiao Xin¡¯s days had never been smooth. Lu Ming¡¯s homecoming became rarer and whenever he met her, they talked nothing but work. After her miscarriage, Wang Zhen¡¯s attitude had drastically changed for the worse, becoming much harsher than before, and they had nearly come to blows a couple of times. The discord at home was one thing, but at the office, it was even worse for Qiao Xin, to the point of being targeted! After the last time Qiao Yi caused a scene in the company linking her identity to Qiao Xin, wherever she went, Qiao Xin felt people pointing and muttering. Moreover, she used to seize the opportunity to chat with Yanchuan when delivering documents, but since that Xiao Ting came back to the company, she hadn¡¯t seen Yanchuan once! Every time she went to the office, Xiao Ting would find all sorts of excuses to keep her out! And this wasn¡¯t even the most infuriating part, the most infuriating part was that her documents would always be sent back to be redone for various similar reasons. Infuriated, Qiao Xin went to confront Xiao Ting, but always got the same response. If you don¡¯t like it, you can leave! Before, Qiao Xin would go to the company looking forward to running into Yanchuan, but now, going to the company had turned into a nightmare for Qiao Xin! Chapter 143 - 143: Confession After Drinking Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Confession After Drinking Xinxin was truly fed up with Xiao Ting¡¯s morose face! Filled with resentment, Xinxin got into her car like a wandering soul. Before the car even started, her phone rang. ¡°Hello? Treating athlete¡¯s foot? You¡¯ve got the wrong number!¡± Muttering, Xinxin hung up the phone and was about to start her car when it rang again. ¡°Treating hair loss? Are you sick?¡± Xinxin was bewildered, thinking someone was playing a prank on her. She glanced at her phone¡¯s caller ID to see an unfamiliar number from another province. When the third call came, Xinxin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She picked up the phone and without waiting for the other side to speak, she lashed out. ¡°Are you ****ing sick? I said I don¡¯t treat athlete¡¯s foot or hair loss! If you ****ing dare to call again, I¡¯ll kill your whole family!¡± ¡°Xinxin? What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s this about treating athlete¡¯s foot and hair loss?¡± Xinxin froze, moved the phone away a bit and saw that this call was from Zhao Wenjing! ¡°Mom¡­ there was a little incident here, someone is playing a joke on me¡­ What did you need?¡± Xinxin awkwardly explained, not sure if Zhao Wenjing was listening, and after a long silence, she finally said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just asking if you¡¯ll come home for lunch. If you¡¯re busy, go ahead with what you¡¯re doing.¡± Zhao Wenjing finished speaking and hung up before Xinxin could reply. Listening to the dial tone on her phone, Xinxin felt like she was going to explode! What is all this! In the most famous bar in Capital City, on the second floor in a colorful private room, Qiao Yi was sipping a drink, sitting opposite a few oddly-shaped men. No, it would be more appropriate to describe them as boys. These guys, ranging on average from eighteen and not older than twenty, were the last batch of minions Qiao Yi had under her before she left school. Despite their young age, they were quite competent. The task Qiao Yi had assigned last night was completed this morning, even better than she had expected. Qiao Yi looked at the stack of colorful small cards in her hand. Everything from locksmithing, plumbing, treating hair loss and athlete¡¯s foot, brother-seeking sister, special services¡­ anything you could think of in a small ad, it was there. She almost guessed what the owner of this mobile number was going through right now. ¡°Nicely done. Today¡¯s expenses are on me.¡± Qiao Yi kept a few cards for herself and tossed the rest back to Dezi. ¡°Yi, I haven¡¯t seen you out for a long time. Has your husband been keeping you too tied up since you got married?¡± Dezi winked teasingly and dodged the pillow Qiao Yi threw at him, darting out with a few underlings behind him. Leaning by the window, Qiao Yi watched the dance floor below, her mind filled with a jumble of thoughts. She thought about her life before marrying Lu Yanchuan, a life soaked in luxury and revelry, always in this state since she decided not to join the company for a regular role. Until she was framed by Xinxin, pressured by Lu Ming, and married Lu Yanchuan. She gave so much to protect her supposed sisters who ended up harming her; her childhood friends also wanted to harm her, and eventually, it was the distant Lu Yanchuan who saved her at the critical moment. Should she say how unpredictable life is? ¡°Drank too much?¡± Speaking of the devil? Qiao Yi squinted, thinking she heard Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice, looked around but saw no one, sighed deeply, and sank back into the sofa. ¡°Indeed, it was an illusion¡­ He¡¯s clearly at work; how could he possibly appear here¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t drink alone next time.¡± This time, Qiao Yi was sure she really heard Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice! A wave of warmth slowly approached, and Qiao Yi followed this temperature. As she raised her head, she bumped into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°How did you come?¡± Under the influence of alcohol, Qiao Yi¡¯s tongue was somewhat numb. Lu Yanchuan hugged her, who was reeking of alcohol, and glanced at the table before leaving. Aunt Roberta? No wonder she got drunk after just two drinks. Initially slightly tipsy, Qiao Yi completely got inebriated after the cold air hit her upon leaving the bar. She clung onto Lu Yanchuan, murmuring incoherently. Lu Yanchuan, holding Qiao Yi with one hand, went to open the car door but was dragged into the car by Qiao Yi, who clung to his neck. ¡°Mmm¡­ do you like me, Lu Yanchuan?¡± Lu Yanchuan paused for a moment, then nonchalantly stuffed Qiao Yi into the car, closed the door, and sat beside her from the other side. ¡°You do like me!¡± People who drink lose their rationality. Holding Qiao Yi, who clung to him like an octopus, Lu Yanchuan gave Ma Yu a meaningful look. The black sunshade slowly descended, creating a secluded small space in the back seat. Qiao Yi hugged Lu Yanchuan and babbled meaninglessly until Lu Yanchuan finally understood what she was saying. ¡°Let me tell you a little secret!¡± ¡°I kind of like you too, just a little! If it was too much, you¡¯d become arrogant! Hehe!¡± Like a small arrow, it swiftly struck the softest part of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart, causing his heart to throb intensely. The petite woman in his arms had already giggled herself to sleep, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t calm down. She likes him a bit? Unaware of what she had done while drunk, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t realize anything until she woke up the next morning. Her head was a bit uncomfortable, but it was within the range she could tolerate. Qiao Yi walked toward the bathroom, recalling what had happened yesterday. By the time Qiao Yi made it to the bathroom, her face had turned bright red. She, she had said so much while under the influence of alcohol! She had actually said she liked Lu Yanchuan! Crouching in the bathroom holding her head, Qiao Yi no longer wanted to leave the room. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Who was that little girl who hugged someone and confessed, and even wanted kisses and cuddles yesterday? It definitely wasn¡¯t her! ¡°Click!¡± The bathroom door made a light sound, and Qiao Yi instinctively looked up, only to see Lu Yanchuan entering from outside. Awkwardness was everywhere¡­ ¡°Um, you go first, I can wait a bit longer¡­¡± Qiao Yi gave a dry laugh and tried to run out, but before she could walk past Lu Yanchuan, he pulled her arm and dragged her back into the bathroom, pressing her against the washbasin. ¡°Sober now?¡± Qiao Yi, like a frightened rabbit, anxiously stared at Lu Yanchuan, constantly searching for a possible escape route. ¡°Sober, sober!¡± ¡°Good that you¡¯re sober. Let¡¯s talk about what you said to me yesterday.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s desire to flee intensified, she was regretting it, okay? She wouldn¡¯t drink anymore, okay! Just spare her life¡­ ¡°I was wrong, I said the wrong thing because I was drunk, please forgive me!¡± Chapter 144 - 144: We Were Wrong Chapter 144: Chapter 144: We Were Wrong ¡°I¡¯m allowing you to like me.¡± Just when Qiao Yi was so nervous that she thought Lu Yanchuan was about to decimate her humanity, her forehead was suddenly gently kissed. Lu Yanchuan left the bathroom with a smile, leaving Qiao Yi dumbfounded and touching her head in confusion. What, what does he mean? By the time Qiao Yi finally came out of the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan had already gone to the company, leaving only Old Mr. Lu in the dining room, who was drinking milk and reading the newspaper. ¡°Yiyi is here, come and eat, it¡¯s going to get cold soon.¡± Old Mr. Lu put away the newspaper and waved to Qiao Yi, waiting until she walked over before he spoke. ¡°Yiyi, I heard from Yanchuan that you have thoughts about joining the company? Have you finally come around?¡± A warmth filled Qiao Yi¡¯s heart, and the image of Lu Yanchuan kissing her in the bathroom involuntarily popped into her mind. Lu Yanchuan may seem cold and ruthless, but he¡¯s actually the most attentive one. Knowing that Qiao Yi had just declined Old Mr. Lu¡¯s offer a couple of days ago, and it wasn¡¯t good for her to bring it up herself, he spoke for her. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s face flush red, Old Mr. Lu, who had been through it all, instantly wore an uncle¡¯s smile. ¡°I do have that thought, but I don¡¯t plan on joining Lu Group. I want to join Qiao Family, starting from the ground up to get familiar with the complete operational process of the company.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Old Mr. Lu was not only not angry but asked with interest instead. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to join Lu Group and instead prefer Qiao Family? I remember a couple of years ago when you just graduated, little Qiao also suggested you join the company, but didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t want to join your own family¡¯s company?¡± Qiao Yi smiled shyly upon hearing Old Mr. Lu talk about the past, and although her heart felt a bit sour, she quickly covered it up. ¡°I was too young those years, and I used it as an excuse to prevent my dad from pushing me to work. But now I¡¯ve realized that I can¡¯t stay at home forever. I have to go out and see the world.¡± ¡°As for why I chose Qiao Family over Lu Group, you might have heard that I¡¯ve been going to Lu Group¡­ going there a bit too often recently. Too many people there recognize me, and that would prevent me from learning anything useful, which is why I thought of joining Qiao Family.¡± Although Qiao Yi¡¯s main purpose was to investigate Dianrui Pharmaceutical, the reason she gave now was indeed a result of her considerations. Everyone knows that the most favored in the Lu Family is the second young miss, but because of Qiao Yi¡¯s cheerful personality, Qiao Xin often ended up being more in the spotlight, with Qiao Yi seldom appearing in public. ¡°Since you¡¯ve made up your mind, go ahead and make your arrangements. If anyone dares to bully you, just bully them back. Dad will always stand behind you!¡± Old Mr. Lu nodded and patted Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder before leaving. Supported by her backup, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry; she was just going to work, not to war. Why did Old Mr. Lu¡¯s words make it sound like they were involved in some underworld business? After breakfast, Qiao Yi went back to the Qiao Family and told Mr. and Mrs. Qiao about her plans to work at Qiao Family. ¡°You previously¡­¡± ¡°I did indeed say before that I wasn¡¯t planning on joining the company, but now I have no choice but to do so; there¡¯s something very important I need to do within the company.¡± Qiao Yi had never mentioned the existence of the man in the black robe to Mr. and Mrs. Qiao, fearing they would worry. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t tell them now that she was entering the company for the sake of investigating a partner. She guaranteed that if she told the truth, Qiao Benqing would definitely take the initiative to investigate Dianrui Pharmaceutical. But this would certainly alarm the enemy and bring more trouble than benefits. Qiao Benqing looked deeply at Qiao Yi, a relieved smile appearing on his face. ¡°Among the three children, Dad has always had the most faith in you. Now that you¡¯ve come to understand this on your own, Dad is very comforted. Go on, do a good job in the company. If anyone dares to bully you, bully them back even harder!¡± Qiao Yi sweated, Qiao Benqing and Old Mr. Lu¡¯s brainwaves, could they not be so startlingly in unison? So is she going to work or going to war! After receiving the support of Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi joined the company without anyone noticing, it wasn¡¯t until the department supervisor introduced Qiao Yi the next day that the company learned there was a new colleague. ¡°The recruitment drive has ended, hasn¡¯t it? How come someone still parachuted in? And to join such an important team right away?¡± The breakroom is always where the company¡¯s employees take a break to chatter, and today their topic of discussion was Qiao Yi, who had been air-dropped into the Dianrui Pharmaceutical team. To be fair, the Dianrui Pharmaceutical project is just one among many at Qiao Family, but this year Dianrui Pharmaceutical launched a new antidepressant medication that has achieved very impressive results, and Qiao Family is preparing to strengthen their collaboration with Dianrui Pharmaceutical. At such a crucial moment, the insertion of newcomer Qiao Yi into the team naturally made those who were eager to join the team jealous. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that she was brought in by the director himself today? I tell you, this person must have some connections behind her!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of just having connections? I think as a newcomer, it won¡¯t take many days before she gets kicked out of the team!¡± ¡°Cough, cough! Here she comes!¡± When Qiao Yi appeared in the breakroom, it suddenly went quiet. People who have long held high positions have a certain quality about them that they themselves may not notice, a quality that sets them clearly apart from others. For instance, even though Qiao Yi was in the breakroom using the plainest thermos to get hot water, she still gave off the impression of someone holding a coffee cup and sitting in a high-end coffee shop. It¡¯s not that Qiao Yi wanted to be superior, but her upbringing meant that no matter how much she tried to disguise herself, she could not seem like an ordinary person. Qiao Yi actually heard what they were saying, but she didn¡¯t take it to heart. Her goal was the project, to focus on Dianrui. As for what others thought, sorry, it had nothing to do with her. Qiao Xin was the last to find out that Qiao Yi had joined the company. Upon learning the news, she ran straight back to the Qiao Family household. ¡°Why let Qiao Yi join the company! Wasn¡¯t it agreed that she would never work at Qiao Family!¡± Qiao Benqing was stunned for a moment; the angry and jealous face of Qiao Xin almost made him disbelieve that this was the same elegantly sophisticated older daughter he knew. ¡°Your sister joining the company, isn¡¯t that a good thing? Why would you¡­¡± ¡°She just wants to snatch what belongs to me! She swore she would never join the company before! Qiao Yi, that liar!¡± Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing didn¡¯t understand why Qiao Xin reacted so strongly, exchanging puzzled glances as Qiao Xin abruptly ran out again. Watching Qiao Xin¡¯s retreating figure, Zhao Wenjing couldn¡¯t help feeling saddened. ¡°Initially, Yiyi made a promise not to join the company to stabilize Xinxin¡¯s position, to let her feel more secure. Now it seems that we were actually wrong from the start¡­¡± Chapter 145 - 145 The Taste Isnt Bad Chapter 145: Chapter 145 The Taste Isn¡¯t Bad Qiao Yi was clueless about the scene Qiao Xin had made at home; if she had known, Qiao Xin would probably still get a good beating. Initially, Qiao Yi had given up so many opportunities to avoid competing with Qiao Xin; otherwise, there would be no chance for Qiao Xin to be so arrogant now! On her second day at the company, Qiao Yi began taking over the Dianrui project as arranged by Qiao Qiao. Perhaps because Qiao Yi viewed Dianrui with preconceived notions, after reviewing the contracts from the nearly three-year collaboration with Dianrui, she always felt something was off but couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on the issue. ¡°Xiao Ting?¡± Qiao Yi was called to the meeting room and told that someone from a company working with Dianrui was there to liaise with her. When Qiao Yi reached the meeting room and pushed the door open, she realized that Xiao Ting was the person she was to connect with. If possible, Qiao Yi had no desire to work with Xiao Ting. After all, no one likes to have a woman who covets their husband hanging around them all day long. However, since Xiao Ting showed up at the Qiao Family company, it must have been arranged by Lu Yanchuan, and Qiao Yi could not refuse. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and sit across from her. Privately, the two definitely disliked each other, but when it came to business matters, they couldn¡¯t help but adjust their attitude. ¡°Did Yanchuan tell you the details of this matter?¡± ¡°What details? Isn¡¯t it just coordinating with Dianrui Pharmaceutical? What other details are there?¡± Xiao Ting glanced at Qiao Yi with disdain, assuming that Qiao Yi was referring to the details in the collaboration process, even sneering inwardly that Qiao Yi needed someone to teach her even the simplest work coordination and was even worse than Qiao Xin, that good-for-nothing! Seeing Xiao Ting¡¯s response, Qiao Yi knew that Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t told her anything and immediately closed her mouth, starting to discuss the project with Xiao Ting. It wasn¡¯t until she fully engaged in the project that Xiao Ting realized she might have underestimated Second Miss Qiao. Her sharpness in financial projects far exceeded Xiao Ting¡¯s expectations, and her grasp of business knowledge was not much less than Xiao Ting¡¯s, who was seasoned in the industry. Although some of her suggestions were naive, with some experience, her ability could even catch up with Lu Yanchuan! Xiao Ting was shocked by her own conjecture, but she didn¡¯t know that Qiao Yi¡¯s head was about to explode reading all those documents. Her goal was to find the irregularities with Dianrui, and now the documents handed to her were filled with loopholes, practically resembling a honeycomb. How on earth did the company sign a contract with Dianrui! She spent an entire afternoon full of doubt about life, finally managing to organize the last document, and realized it was already more than three hours past closing time. ¡°Been tired all afternoon, let me treat you to some late-night snacks.¡± Qiao Yi picked up her coat to leave, Xiao Ting glanced at the scattered documents on the table and was about to remind her, but she saw Qiao Yi pulling out a set of keys from her pocket. ¡°Shall we go? The place is empty, and if we don¡¯t leave soon, the building is going to cut the power.¡± Well, it¡¯s her own family¡¯s company; what she says goes. Xiao Ting followed Qiao Yi out of the meeting room, and after waiting for Qiao Yi to lock the door, they turned around and saw a man standing at the end of the corridor, walking steadily towards them. Seeing such a man whose face can¡¯t be discerned appearing in the deserted corridor in the dead of night, Xiao Ting¡¯s hairs stood on end. Just as she was about to grab Qiao Yi and flee, she saw Qiao Yi excitedly waving at the man. ¡°It¡¯s so late, why are you here?¡± Qiao Qiao walked out from the shadows, reluctantly taking the bag and coat from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand with a look of a younger brother and followed her out. ¡°It¡¯s all because you said we mustn¡¯t reveal our identities, that¡¯s why I waited until now. Otherwise, I would have left long ago!¡± Qiao Yi slapped Qiao Qiao on the back and turned around to introduce him to Xiao Ting. ¡°This is my brother Qiao Qiao, and this is Lu Yanchuan¡¯s assistant Xiao Ting. You two will probably have the opportunity to work together in the future.¡± Qiao Qiao and Xiao Ting shook hands, and then he turned back and asked Qiao Yi if she wanted to eat something, his treat. However, Qiao Qiao¡¯s plan to treat them fell through when the three of them walked downstairs and found Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car already waiting. ¡°Erm, Qiao Qiao, why don¡¯t you take Miss Xiao back, and I¡¯ll be going first.¡± Qiao Yi felt a little sweet but also a little embarrassed inside, and after hesitating for a long time, she still chose to get into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. Watching the car drive farther and farther away, Xiao Ting felt very uncomfortable. Ever since she joined Lu Group, she had fallen for the young and famous boss. The more she interacted with him, the more Xiao Ting found herself unable to control her feelings, always fantasizing that if she was always by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side, as the only woman there, maybe one day he would notice her? But all these fantasies were shattered by the appearance of Qiao Yi. Lu Yanchuan got married. There was another woman by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side. After Lu Yanchuan¡¯s marriage, Xiao Ting went overseas for a business trip and only recently returned. She thought that leaving for a while would diminish her feelings for Lu Yanchuan, But she was terribly wrong, and her mental state even nearly affected a project of the company. ¡°Miss Xiao, let me take you home.¡± ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xiao Ting refused Qiao Qiao¡¯s offer to take her home; she needed some time to be alone at this moment. ¡°Miss Xiao, it¡¯s not safe for a girl to leave alone at this hour. If your home is far away, there¡¯s a Qiao Family hotel nearby where you can stay for the night.¡± Xiao Ting stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Qiao Qiao. There was only a polite smile on Qiao Qiao¡¯s face, but Xiao Ting felt the warmth of concern that she had not felt in a long time. ¡°Okay, thank you for the trouble.¡± Qiao Yi, who left with Lu Yanchuan, had no idea about what happened after her departure and was currently focused on devouring her late-night snack. Such thoughtful late-night snacks, she thought it was commendable that Lu Yanchuan had come up with the idea, with two plump, sticky trotters placed in front of her, Qiao Yi struggled a little before completely letting go of her reserve. A hand with distinct knuckles reached over. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t bother to admire it; after taking the water glass from Lu Yanchuan and drinking from it, she mumbled a thank-you, unclearly. You couldn¡¯t blame her lack of image; she had missed dinner due to being so busy, which caused her to be so unladylike. Perhaps influenced by Qiao Yi¡¯s eating, Lu Yanchuan suddenly leaned over, took a bite from the trotter that she had been nibbling on, and then sat back as if nothing had happened. Qiao Yi was stunned; someone dared to steal food from her hand! Unforgivable! Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s angry yet resentful gaze and subtly curled the corners of his mouth, glancing meaningfully toward Qiao Yi¡¯s lips. ¡°Tastes not bad.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Chapter 146 - 146: Pharmaceutical Factory Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Pharmaceutical Factory After Qiao Yi took over the Dianrui project, everything went smoothly except that Xiao Ting always looked at her coldly. Having fully grasped Dianrui¡¯s information, Qiao Yi planned to visit Dianrui¡¯s factory for an on-site investigation. This suggestion was reasonable, as the Qiao Family would send people to the factory for visits every year, and of course, Dianrui wouldn¡¯t refuse. However, the person in charge this time seemed quite troubled upon hearing this request. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there any inconvenience on the factory¡¯s side?¡± ¡°Indeed, there has been a small accident. A few days ago, a drug storage tank in the factory had an incident, and now the whole factory is undergoing repairs, which may affect the visit and inspection¡­¡± The words of the person in charge made Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes light up, ¡°The more this happens, the more we should visit. It¡¯s the perfect time to see how the factory¡¯s emergency system operates!¡± With the conversation having reached this point, even if the person in charge disagreed, Qiao Yi would probably find other ways to visit the factory, so the responsible person reluctantly agreed. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I will arrange a visit for your company. For timing¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set it for two days from now. The sooner we visit and inspect, the sooner we can start our projects!¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t give the person in charge a chance to argue, her smile radiant as if she was truly considering Dianrui¡¯s circumstances. Xiao Ting knew that Qiao Yi¡¯s purpose was definitely not as simple as a cooperative inspection with Dianrui. From the interfacing process over the past few days, Xiao Ting could feel that Qiao Yi was being overly critical. It could even be said that she was intentionally looking for faults with Dianrui. After sending away Dianrui¡¯s personnel, Xiao Ting blocked Qiao Yi¡¯s path. ¡°As a partner, I think I should have the right to know the purpose of what you¡¯ve been doing these days.¡± Qiao Yi originally had no intention of keeping Xiao Ting in the dark, but since Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t spoken about it, she didn¡¯t take the initiative to reveal the truth to Xiao Ting. Now that Xiao Ting had asked, she was of course free to speak her mind. ¡°There¡¯s a problem with Dianrui Pharmaceutical. Yanchuan and I suspect that the dosages of Dianrui Pharmaceutical¡¯s drugs are imbalanced, and there are also some issues with Dianrui¡¯s shareholder accounts. I am here to investigate their factory.¡± Qiao Yi said this openly, but Xiao Ting had a hard time grasping the implications of Qiao Yi¡¯s words. ¡°Problems with Dianrui?¡± Qiao Yi nodded, walking back with Xiao Ting while sharing the parts that she could tell Xiao Ting. ¡°We suspect that Dianrui¡¯s psychotropic drugs may be leaking outside, and there¡¯s even a possibility that Dianrui is using these banned substances to make a fortune!¡± Although these were just speculations, they were very plausible, and Xiao Ting was already halfway convinced. ¡°But even if they have banned drugs, they wouldn¡¯t appear in the factory. Besides, many psychotropic drugs contain banned components by nature, and as long as the dosage is correct, there wouldn¡¯t be problems. It¡¯s completely normal for a pharmaceutical plant to have them.¡± ¡°You also mentioned proper dosage. We are going to see if their dosages are indeed correct.¡± Qiao Yi deliberately suggested such a tight schedule and showed a strong desire to sign a contract with Dianrui to give the impression that her factory visit was just a formality, to let them lower their guard. With such large-scale pharmaceutical equipment, even if the factory intended to tamper with anything, it would need an opportunity to do so. The day for inspecting the factory was set for the morning two days later, with the factory¡¯s person in charge taking Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting for a tour. According to Xiao Ting¡¯s suggestion, such a risky action should involve bringing more people, but Qiao Yi, fearing to startle the quarry, didn¡¯t want to bring extra people. Actually, if Qiao Yi had it her way, she would have gone in alone; even Xiao Ting didn¡¯t need to follow. Upon entering the factory, they were met with a strong smell of disinfectant, which Qiao Yi didn¡¯t like, frowning deeply. ¡°This is the layout of our pharmaceutical equipment. Since it¡¯s a production line, everything is a sterile environment, and we can only do the tour from outside.¡± Inside the factory, everything was pristine white. After a few turns, the group entered the world of machinery. Various colors of medicinal liquids and powders tumbled inside the pharmaceutical machines, and as the conveyor belt machinery operated, boxes of pills gradually took shape. ¡°Each area here uses dedicated production equipment for a specific drug. What we are seeing now is the production line for Dianrui¡¯s newly released antidepressant.¡± The person in charge explained while leading Qiao Yi and another person on the tour. Xiao Ting was always serious, but it was Qiao Yi who was looking around and asking questions, like a naive girl fascinated by interesting things she saw. Before long, someone came to find the person in charge, reporting that the drug storage tank that had the accident still couldn¡¯t operate normally. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°If Master Sun is busy, just go ahead with your work. We¡¯ll just look around here.¡± Qiao Yi watched intently as the pills were transported by the conveyor belt, completely ignoring whether the person in charge was there or not. The person in charge was not fully reassured about leaving the two of them alone, but seeing Qiao Yi enjoying the sight of the production line, he could only leave temporarily. Only after confirming that the person in charge was far enough away did Qiao Yi follow the conveyor belt and slowly walk forward with Xiao Ting. If that person hadn¡¯t come to call away the person in charge, Qiao Yi had planned to find an excuse to send them away so that she could thoroughly investigate the factory. There were surveillance cameras everywhere in the factory, so Qiao Yi had to pretend to be intrigued, touching and looking around, making sure that the necklace around her neck was aimed at the labels. Indeed, before entering the factory, Qiao Yi had equipped the jewelry on her neck and wrists with miniature cameras, and the entire journey they had walked was recorded by Qiao Yi. Although Qiao Yi seemed to be wandering aimlessly, she was actually slowly approaching an area not marked on the large hall map. Just as they were about to reach the equipment in that area, a figure in a white lab coat appeared around the corner, nearly discovering Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting. Qiao Yi noticed that not only was this area not marked on the map, but there were also no cameras installed, and instead, there were noticeably more personnel. Such tight security meant there must be a secret hidden here! It looked like she had found the right place! ¡°Stay close to me. If anything happens, don¡¯t worry about me, just run out and get help from Lu Yanchuan!¡± Xiao Ting nodded and agreed. In this place, if she dared to disagree with Qiao Yi, she would be asking for trouble! Qiao Yi looked around and cautiously proceeded inward. ¡°Just this one drug tank, I¡¯ve said it many times, there should be people on watch even at night! Do you all take my words as a joke?¡± They could still hear the chastising voice of the person in charge from afar. Qiao Yi carefully avoided that direction and focused on recording the names and information on the various drug tanks. The further in she went, the darker Qiao Yi¡¯s expression became. These¡­ were all banned drugs! Dianrui was definitely finished this time! Chapter 147 - 147: Escape from Death Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Escape from Death The person in charge¡¯s scolding grew louder and louder. The further Qiao Yi walked in, the more illegal drugs she saw, some of which were even drugs explicitly banned by the state! If the situation here were to leak out, it¡¯s not just Dianrui as a company that would be affected, but everyone associated with Dianrui would be in trouble! Qiao Yi remained vigilant of her surroundings while trying to record as much of the internal situation of the factory as possible. Although Xiao Ting did not know much about these drugs, she still recognized some that the state had declared not to be used. After seeing these drug storage tanks, Xiao Ting immediately understood why Qiao Yi insisted on visiting the factory. If one did not witness this with their own eyes, probably no one would believe that a pharmaceutical company with such a good reputation would secretly produce illegal drugs! Xiao Ting was deeply moved as she watched Qiao Yi¡¯s agile figure. To think she would personally investigate such dangerous matters¡­ Xiao Ting closely followed Qiao Yi¡¯s pace, walking around one large piece of equipment after another, until they finally arrived at a spot only separated by a wall from the person in charge. Qiao Yi stopped, gave Xiao Ting a hand gesture to wait there, then like a large stealthy cat, she silently crept around the corner and disappeared from Xiao Ting¡¯s view. Not knowing where Qiao Yi had gone, Xiao Ting could only wait anxiously. The person in charge nearby had finished scolding and was arranging for people to keep watch again. Just as those people were about to disperse, Qiao Yi still had not returned. ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± A sudden shout roared from behind Xiao Ting. Xiao Ting shuddered and stood up, looking back. ¡°Go!¡± Suddenly, a hand landed on Xiao Ting¡¯s shoulder. Without the chance to turn her head to see, Xiao Ting was already being dragged into another corridor. ¡°You, what did you go do!¡± ¡°I found the records room and got some documents. It seems I¡¯ve alerted the factory guards. We need to hurry back to the place we were just at.¡± Qiao Yi hugged a few documents in her arms, concealing them on her person as she ran. Xiao Ting watched, wide-eyed, as Qiao Yi stuffed several documents into her pants and shirt, so well hidden they couldn¡¯t be seen from the outside at all! She actually had such skills! There was no time left for Xiao Ting to be surprised, and she didn¡¯t know how Qiao Yi knew all these routes in the factory, but she managed to lead Xiao Ting through twists and turns and quickly shook off the pursuers. ¡°This way!¡± After a chaotic run, Xiao Ting was completely disoriented, but Qiao Yi just looked around and found the right direction, pulling Xiao Ting to walk briskly over. ¡°We¡¯ve looked everywhere, there¡¯s no one here!¡± ¡°Nothing on this side either!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The person in charge, Master Sun, had a gloomy expression as he watched his employees running back. His gaze swept around and finally settled on the one who had raised the alarm first. ¡°You said you saw someone, where is the person?¡± The person trembled as he walked out from the crowd, keeping his head down, not daring to meet eyes with the person in charge. ¡°I, I saw a figure, but¡­¡± ¡°Could it be that the two visitors who came today accidentally wandered over here?¡± Someone stood out to provide this person with an explanation. The person in charge frowned deeply but didn¡¯t pursue the matter further, instead taking his subordinates to check the surveillance cameras. If those two really had discovered the factory¡¯s secret, then things would become troublesome¡­ A group of people headed towards the surveillance room. Not long after they left the restricted area, they saw Qiao Yi, her face brimming with excitement, pulling an impatient Xiao Ting as they bounced their way over. Perhaps because they had walked for a bit too long, Qiao Yi¡¯s cheeks were flushed, endlessly talking with Xiao Ting and pointing at the equipment around them. A glint of suspicion flashed in the eyes of the person in charge ¨C the timing of their appearance was a little too coincidental. If it wasn¡¯t just a coincidence, then these two were highly suspicious! Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting were momentarily stunned when they saw the group approaching, but Qiao Yi quickly approached with a smile. ¡°Master Sun, I¡¯ve finally found you!¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± ¡°Yes, I received a call from the company. There are some matters I need to handle, so I wanted to let you know!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face was filled with regret, her expression similar to that of a child, reluctantly called back home by their mother while playing outside ¨C both unwilling and helpless. The person in charge tried his best to spot a flaw on the face of the ¡®acting¡¯ girl. Perhaps his gaze was too intense, as Qiao Yi in turn seemed puzzled and touched her own face, asking. ¡°Did I accidentally smear something on my face?¡± ¡°Oh, no, it¡¯s just a pity that Miss Qiao and Miss Xiao didn¡¯t get a good chance to fully tour our factory.¡± When the subject turned to touring, Qiao Yi¡¯s interest was piqued again. She pulled out a small notebook from her bag and started asking several questions related to factory production. The person in charge responded, his suspicions of the two slowly diminishing. If those who were discovered earlier were really them, not to mention how two girls could avoid the surveillance and sneak into the restricted area, just looking at the situation now, they would presumably be in a hurry to leave the factory. However, observing Qiao Yi, she clearly seemed reluctant to leave, while Xiao Ting appeared very impatient, constantly urging Qiao Yi to return to the company. ¡°Miss Qiao, if we don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯ll have to go by myself.¡± Xiao Ting glanced at the time again impatiently and finally came over to interrupt Qiao Yi¡¯s questioning, pulling Qiao Yi behind her and then turning around to nod apologetically at the person in charge. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you this time, but there¡¯s indeed an emergency at the company. We¡¯ll visit again next time when there¡¯s a chance.¡± The person in charge was very amiable, smiling as he sent the reluctant Qiao Yi out of the factory. Once back, he ordered the factory to be completely sealed off and insisted on thoroughly searching every corner. As Xiao Ting stepped out of the factory, she was about to heave a sigh of relief but Qiao Yi grabbed her arm, walking out unhurriedly, even occasionally stopping to look at some equipment outside the factory. Only after the two got into the car and drove out of the factory¡¯s bounds did Qiao Yi finally relax her expression. ¡°We¡¯re safe now, Ma Yu, head straight to Lu Group!¡± Xiao Ting turned to look back at the factory, a chill running down her spine. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Yi¡¯s calm intervention, she might have already revealed a flaw! At that moment, they were still within the factory¡¯s bounds. If they had been surrounded by the factory¡¯s staff, while Qiao Yi might have escaped easily, she would have been left with no way out but death! Xiao Ting¡¯s gaze towards Qiao Yi became even more respectful, carrying an admiration she did not even realize. What Xiao Ting didn¡¯t know was that from the moment they left the factory, the surveillance had recorded all their actions, and it was only after watching the two leave unhurriedly that the person in charge in the surveillance room finally discarded his suspicions of them. Chapter 148 - 148 Dianrui Seals Up Chapter 148: Chapter 148 Dianrui Seals Up Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting returned to Lu Group together and went straight to find Lu Yanchuan waiting in the office. ¡°The evidence we needed has been acquired. I¡¯ve also got a hold of some written material, but there are still some documents hidden in the factory¡¯s secret office that I didn¡¯t take out.¡± As Qiao Yi spoke, she began removing the accessories from her wrist and neck. Watching Qiao Yi dismantle the cameras one by one, Xiao Ting realized just how much preparation Qiao Yi had done for this trip. Only when Qiao Yi was about to take out the documents hidden on her did she remember that it seemed there were extra people in the office. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing for me here; I¡¯ll head out first.¡± Xiao Ting tactfully left, and the moment she stepped out of the office, the shackles seemingly bound around her heart vanished. Perhaps admitting that Lu Yanchuan was married wasn¡¯t such a difficult thing after all. Watching Xiao Ting leave the office, Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned red. Undressing in front of Xiao Ting was no problem, but now in front of Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi felt inexplicably embarrassed. Although she and Lu Yanchuan had been open with each other in various situations in the past, this was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office, where people could come in at any time! How was she supposed to take off her clothes here! Lu Yanchuan seemed to notice Qiao Yi¡¯s dilemma. However, instead of offering help, he sat in his chair, not moving an inch, and watched Qiao Yi with enthusiasm. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is the air conditioning too low?¡± Lu Yanchuan deliberately changed the subject, not giving Qiao Yi any chance to escape. Qiao Yi, gritting her teeth in frustration, braced herself and directly yanked off her jacket. Lu Yanchuan was initially enjoying the spectacle, but when he saw the oddly shaped lining of Qiao Yi¡¯s clothes, he couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. Inside Qiao Yi¡¯s jacket were several small pockets, just large enough to fit A4 papers. They were sewn on in a way that they hugged Qiao Yi¡¯s body tightly and couldn¡¯t be noticed from the outside. Amidst Lu Yanchuan¡¯s surprised gaze, Qiao Yi fished out four or five thick files from her jacket and pants. Qiao Yi¡¯s face was so red it seemed it would bleed, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze felt tangible, touching every part of her as though she was being physically caressed by him. After changing into a new set of clothes, the heat on Qiao Yi¡¯s face subsided a little. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to check if these documents were useful, so I just took these out. Take a look to see if they are of any use.¡± Who was in the mood to look at documents now? Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes darted around, she wrapped her arms defensively across her chest and quickly backed away several steps, retreating directly to the office door. ¡°This is your office, you can¡¯t mess around!¡± Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, gesturing to Qiao Yi like he was calling over a small pet. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°No! I still have things to handle at my company! I¡¯m leaving now!¡± Watching Qiao Yi fleeing in panic, Lu Yanchuan suddenly had the illusion that he himself was a big bad wolf. Of course, at times, in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, there wasn¡¯t much difference between Lu Yanchuan and a big bad wolf. The little beauty ran off, so Lu Yanchuan could only turn his attention to the pile of documents on the table. Whether to say Qiao Yi is lucky or Dianrui is unlucky, among the documents chosen by Qiao Yi, there is Dianrui¡¯s unaltered quarterly report! ¡°Indeed a big fish.¡± Lu Yanchuan casually snapped a few photos of the documents and sent them to Yan Xiyu. ¡°Seal off this company with the utmost speed, seal their factories before tomorrow, and don¡¯t let any word leak out.¡± Yan Xiyu hadn¡¯t even had the chance to clearly see the message Lu Yanchuan sent her when he already hung up the phone, not even offering a word of explanation. This man is even less humane than he is! So why would he, living comfortably as the young lord, choose to run errands for Lu Yanchuan? ¡°Uncle! Why stop the cooperation with the Bai Family? We¡¯ve been working on this project for five years now. Halting it abruptly will not only mean our initial investments have been wasted, it will also affect our reputation in the industry! Isn¡¯t this decision too hasty?¡± Lu Ming burst into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office holding a document, with an anxious Xiao Ting following behind, who presumably failed to stop him from running in. ¡°Xiao Ting, you go out first.¡± Lu Ming¡¯s anger was ignored by Lu Yanchuan, who only looked at Lu Ming after Xiao Ting left. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What¡¯s your opinion, then?¡± Lu Ming was startled, not expecting such a response from Lu Yanchuan. ¡°This decision is unreasonable. Our cooperation with the Bai Family cannot be cut off just like this¡­¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t have a proper solution, then just follow orders and do your job.¡± Lu Yanchuan tired of his lengthy speech, waved his hand indicating that Lu Ming could leave. ¡°Uncle!¡± ¡°Please call me Mr. Lu in the company. Also, for intruding into the president¡¯s office, a fine of ten thousand.¡± Lu Ming was completely stunned, and Lu Yanchuan frowned impatiently. ¡°Are you waiting for me to call security to escort you out?¡± In the Lu Family, aside from Old Mr. Lu who could control Lu Yanchuan, no one else had any say in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s presence, not even his elder siblings, let alone Lu Ming, a nephew who was not closely favored. Lu Ming left with his heart filled with reluctance, while Lu Yanchuan began to contemplate deeply with a document in hand. This was a contract to unite other families to suppress the Bai Family, but according to the information collected by Yan Xiyu, it appeared that Lu Ming had been secretly helping the Bai Family, even privately warning many families as the heir of the Lu Family not to oppose the Bai Family. Why was Lu Ming so favorably disposed towards the Bai Family? Since when did he become so close to them? #Dianrui Pharmaceutical privately manufactured nationally banned drugs; Dianrui¡¯s headquarters and domestic subsidiaries have now been sealed, and relevant personnel are under investigation. A message that shocked the nation appeared online at ten past midnight. Perhaps many people have never heard of the name Dianrui Pharmaceutical, but the moment they heard a pharmaceutical company was involved, everyone was inevitably shocked and panicked. This is a pharmaceutical company; who doesn¡¯t get sick in life? What if one fell ill and consumed prohibited drugs from these unscrupulous companies? That would be a one-stop service to death! Once the news was out, it immediately spread across the internet; everyone was cursing Dianrui Pharmaceutical for their black-hearted ways, and within a short half-hour, the stock price of Dianrui Pharmaceutical fell and fell again, hitting rock bottom. The stock market was lively in the early morning hours; everyone holding Dianrui shares was selling them off, but it was already too late to sell now. What was a golden goose just yesterday had become a hot potato today! Chapter 149 - 149: Share Evaporation Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Share Evaporation In the early morning, Lu Yanchuan was uncommonly not sleeping, but instead staring unblinkingly at the computer screen. Qiao Yi walked in carrying tea, silently placed the cup next to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, then stood behind him, both staring at the data changing on the computer screen. ¡°This is Lu Qingshan¡¯s account, but the IP address used to log in isn¡¯t from Lu Qingshan¡¯s house, but from a villa in the suburbs owned by Lu Ming.¡± The computer was split into several small screens, the stock market and the capital account were understandable to Jing Se, but another screen filled with numbers and letters was beyond her comprehension. Lu Yanchuan entered several characters on another screen, and the next moment all other split screens on the desktop disappeared, leaving only the split screen of the capital account. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So the actual operator of the account Lu Qingshan left in Dianrui is actually Lu Ming! The person who acquired Dianrui shares is also Lu Ming! I suspect, the person who stole the Gong Family¡¯s shares is also Lu Ming!¡± A flash of coldness passed over Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face, so quickly that Qiao Yi did not notice. ¡°But why would Lu Ming do that? He has plenty of assets under him, there¡¯s no need for him to do these illegal and disorderly acts.¡± ¡°Greed is never satisfied, it¡¯s not surprising he would do such things.¡± It really is about greed not being satisfied, Lu Yanchuan was no longer focusing on the situation of Dianrui, instead he began to focus on the capital movements of the accounts of Lu Ming and Lu Qingshan. Other accounts of Lu Qingshan showed no abnormal activity, only the account tied to Dianrui showed continuous capital transactions. Lu Yanchuan traced one account after another, but most of these accounts were virtual accounts based overseas. This method felt oddly familiar to Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Eh? This location¡­ isn¡¯t this the coordinates of the farm we visited in country F that has already relocated?¡± Qiao Yi suddenly pointed to a coordinate that had just refreshed on the desktop. Lu Yanchuan straightened up, exchanged a look with Qiao Yi, and immediately gave up monitoring Lu Qingshan, instead starting to hack into all accounts under Lu Ming¡¯s name. ¡°Lu Qingshan most likely doesn¡¯t know anything about Dianrui. It has always been Lu Ming causing trouble behind the scenes!¡± Qiao Yi murmured softly, then turned and ran out of the study, soon returning with her own laptop. Although she couldn¡¯t monitor accounts, she could monitor the capital movements of the Qiao Family! While Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were busy investigating and monitoring, meanwhile, Lu Ming was so furious that he smashed everything he could lay his hands on. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that no one is allowed to visit the factory! Did you all take my words for nothing? Now look, the factory has been seized, the company has been seized, where the hell am I supposed to find fifteen billion to cover this gap!¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To say nothing of fifteen billion, he couldn¡¯t even muster a tenth of that! ¡°Before the final product was ready, who the hell authorized you to take new orders! Speak up! What the hell am I supposed to do now! What to do!¡± Lu Ming furiously smashed things around, if Qiao Yi were here, she would definitely recognize the man standing opposite Lu Ming, covered in disarray¡ªnone other than the person in charge of the Dianrui factory! At this moment he was trembling in fear while bearing the brunt of Lu Ming¡¯s rage, inwardly cursing Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting to death. If he hadn¡¯t let those two in, the company wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this mess! The manager had taken the opportunity to deliver a message to Lu Ming to avoid being caught by the police, now he is on the wanted list, the moment he dares to leave the villa, countless police are waiting outside to catch him in their net! ¡°Mr. Lu! You¡¯re the only one who can save Dianrui now!¡± The person in charge fell to his knees weakly, his head knocking against the floor with a bang, but Lu Ming remained unfazed. He even kicked the person in charge away brutally. ¡°I saved Dianrui, but who will save me? Ten billion in shares evaporated out of thin air, and now I even have to compensate for the breach of contract on your behalf! Who the hell will save me!¡± Lu Ming was on the brink of insanity. He could bear the scandal of Dianrui and accept the stocks turning into worthless paper; after all, he had prepared for such a day since he took the step, and he had already made enough money over the years. But when he saw the newly signed documents, Lu Ming really couldn¡¯t control his emotions. Money matters are one thing, but if he offended the clients of those orders, he wouldn¡¯t even know how he would die! ¡°Has Jenfors not answered the phone yet?¡± ¡°No, after the news from Dianrui broke, we¡¯ve been unable to contact Mr. Jenfors!¡± Despite the severe pain, the person in charge dared not ignore Lu Ming¡¯s questions. Lu Ming slammed his fist on the table again, his knuckles smeared with blood, but he stared into the air, eyes bloodshot as if he hadn¡¯t noticed. ¡°Go and assess all the assets under my name, auction everything except the house in Water City for cash, and sell all my shares except for Lu Group¡¯s. Keep a low profile, don¡¯t draw attention!¡± Lu Ming¡¯s voice began to tremble, his heart was bleeding; these assets were the efforts of his entire former life, now they are all ruined in an instant! Qiao Yi! He will definitely not let her off! ¡°Achoo!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly sneezed, rubbing her nose as she stood up from the sofa and stretched. Staring at the computer all night had made her stiff. Lu Yanchuan was still briskly typing on his keyboard, the coffee mug beside him replaced three times already. ¡°The situation has basically stabilized; go get some sleep, I¡¯ll keep watch here.¡± Seeing Qiao Yi start to doze off, Lu Yanchuan subconsciously curled up the corner of his lips, suggesting she rest. Qiao Yi shook her head; she was just monitoring the Qiao Family¡¯s fund movements, which wasn¡¯t particularly tiring. Lu Yanchuan, on the other hand, had been monitoring various changes and must be quite exhausted. Seeing Qiao Yi insisting, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t persist; he just handed over the still-warm coffee beside him to perk her up. Qiao Yi disdainfully refused Lu Yanchuan¡¯s kindness; that man drank coffee without sugar, she would not drink it! Just as Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan were talking, their computers suddenly emitted an alarm sound simultaneously. Qiao Yi hurriedly returned to her computer, only to see that the financial account which had been stable all night suddenly had someone applying for fund transfer. ¡°Li Ping?¡± A very unfamiliar name popped up, and Qiao Yi carefully recalled the senior executives she knew, none seemed to be named Li Ping. Now was not the time to think about this. Qiao Yi used a skill temporarily taught by Lu Yanchuan to capture evidence, then quickly blocked this Li Ping¡¯s fund application. After one unsuccessful application, ¡°Li Ping¡± was not disheartened, immediately initiating a second request through a special channel for emergency fund transfer. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up; this was the opportunity she had been waiting for! Chapter 150 - 150: Lu Group Collaboration Project Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Lu Group Collaboration Project Lu Ming¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the computer that was once again issuing an alarm. Finally, he could no longer contain himself and flipped the monitor over in a rage. At this point, if Lu Ming still didn¡¯t realize that he had been discovered, then he was an idiot! He had been siphoning cash through the executive accounts hidden within the Qiao Family company, hoping to rob Peter to pay Paul, but his applications had been inexplicably intercepted three times in a row; and the final time, when he used a special channel, even his account was locked! He had invested a seven-figure sum into this account yearly to maintain it! Now that someone had blocked his account, it meant that all the money he had invested over the years might as well have been thrown away! Even the assets worth tens of millions in the account itself had all been locked! Most importantly, he had no way to appeal at the moment, for if he dared to use this account to lodge a complaint, he could guarantee that the other party would surely trace it back to him! Lu Ming had long suspected this day would come, but he did not expect that Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi¡¯s blow would be so ferocious! Don¡¯t ask him why he knew that the people intercepting him were Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. The ones who could control the Qiao Family¡¯s assets and precisely lock his account when he most needed the funds were none other than Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi¡ªhe couldn¡¯t think of anyone else! The monitor fell to the ground and struggled with a few flickers before resignedly going dark. After the rage dissipated, all that remained was panic and despair. Qiao Yi did well! Lu Yanchuan did well! Like it was nothing to them, they had made his hundreds of millions in assets vanish into thin air! They were trying to drive him to his death! Lu Ming couldn¡¯t withdraw money from the Qiao side, and he didn¡¯t even need to think about getting a penny from the Lu Group! Lu Ming slumped despondently in the chair, his mind alternating between the billions in debt, his vanished efforts, and the despised smiling faces of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. After a while, Lu Ming suddenly screamed and kicked the desk in front of him, sending it flying. He couldn¡¯t just give up like this! So what if he was left with nothing now! As long as he could take over the Lu Group, as long as he could become the president of the Lu Group! Not to mention five billion, even fifty billion would be easy! An entire night of struggle finally came to a conclusion as daylight dawned. ¡°This time, Lu Ming should have suffered a huge loss, right?¡± ¡°By a conservative estimate, he¡¯s lost no less than ten billion in assets, excluding fines and compensation. Altogether, Lu Ming will face a minimum loss of fifteen billion.¡± Fifteen billion! This number truly stunned Qiao Yi! ¡°Fifteen billion! Does Lu Ming have that much money?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that he has that much money on hand, but rather a loss in valuation.¡± In fact, without Lu Yanchuan¡¯s explanation, Qiao Yi had already realized her mistake, her face flushing red as she tried to cover up her embarrassment. ¡°Ah¡­yeah, I know, it¡¯s just a valuation!¡± Qiao Yi was so embarrassed her toes were curling, but Lu Yanchuan was not in the mood to tease her. After shutting down the computer, he came over and pulled Qiao Yi to leave. ¡°We haven¡¯t slept all night; it¡¯s time to rest.¡± Although Qiao Yi wanted to say she wasn¡¯t tired yet, when Lu Yanchuan took her hand, she really didn¡¯t want to refuse his kindness. When Qiao Yi woke up, it was already past one in the afternoon, and Lu Yanchuan had long since gone to the office. By the time she got ready to go to the office after having taken a shower and dinner, the company was almost off work. ¡°Look at her, only been here a few days, and she already knows how to come in late and leave early!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been saying she definitely has a backer, otherwise how could she dare to be so rampant in the company!¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, you guys better be careful, I heard these people with backers hold grudges the most, watch out or she might whisper something to make you lose your jobs!¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Qiao Yi arrived at the office in the afternoon, she sensed something was off. Even though the staff hadn¡¯t been all that friendly to her, a newcomer, the past few days, it was nowhere near today¡¯s mockery and ridicule. Even the male staff who were quite friendly toward Jing Se a few days ago were deliberately avoiding Qiao Yi today. Though Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care much about what others thought of her, the attitude of the entire department¡¯s staff toward her was indeed strange. Just as Qiao Yi was about to find someone to ask what had happened, she was called away by the department supervisor. ¡°Miss Qiao, for this year¡¯s collaboration project with Lu Group, the other party hopes that you can take charge of the coordination.¡± The moment the department director entered the office, his demeanor changed, and he respectfully asked Qiao Yi to sit down with a fawning smile, causing her considerable discomfort. ¡°Mr. Zhao, I am just an employee under you at the company, there¡¯s no need to call me Miss Qiao.¡± After Qiao Yi finished speaking and seeing Mr. Zhao¡¯s reaction, she knew she couldn¡¯t change it and just sighed, letting him continue as he was. ¡°Do you know who the other party has appointed to liaise with our company?¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s the Chief Assistant to the President of Lu Group, named¡­¡± ¡°Xiao Ting?¡± Qiao Yi interjected, and Mr. Zhao hurriedly nodded. ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s Xiao Ting. I¡¯ve heard from Lu Group that it¡¯s precisely this Chief Assistant who requested for you to follow up on the coordination.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t say much, simply flipped through the documents for a bit, and then got ready to leave, but before she left the office, she turned back and looked toward Mr. Zhao. ¡°I noticed some rather unpleasant rumors in the company after I came in today?¡± Mr. Zhao clearly stalled for a moment before realizing what Qiao Yi was referring to. ¡°Well, it¡¯s like this¡ªsince you haven¡¯t signed a multi-year cooperation contract with Dianrui, and its trouble hasn¡¯t affected the company, the department decided to commend you for acting methodically and made an announcement¡­¡± Qiao Yi was speechless; she didn¡¯t need to guess that Mr. Zhao was behind this, willing to go to any extreme to ingratiate himself. She couldn¡¯t understand why, when Mr. Zhao was quite capable himself, he was so sycophantically obliging toward her? Although this wasn¡¯t done very well, she couldn¡¯t dampen the staff¡¯s enthusiasm, so Qiao Yi forced a smile, said it was a good job, and quickly left the office. From the moment Qiao Yi had been called away by Mr. Zhao, the office staff had been buzzing with chatter, which was either jealous of the recognition Qiao Yi received or envious of the better opportunities she got. The discussions halted the moment Qiao Yi stepped out of the office. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to dwell on these grievances; she needed to consider why Xiao Ting would want her to take over the Lu Group¡¯s collaboration project. Lu Group and Qiao Family had been cooperating since Mr. Qiao helped Old Mr. Lu back in the day. The project wasn¡¯t anything particularly important, but it symbolized the goodwill between the two families, so there couldn¡¯t be any slip-ups. Having to be in charge of such an important project so soon after joining the company, Qiao Yi felt somewhat nervous. Chapter 151 - 151: Rivals Meet Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Rivals Meet As evening approached quitting time, Qiao Yi was informed that the person in charge from Lu Group would be returning to the office tomorrow morning to work on project handover, and she absolutely must not be late. Okay, Qiao Yi admits she isn¡¯t really the punctual type, but she surely wouldn¡¯t let herself slip up on such an important occasion! With this on her mind, Qiao Yi leapt out of bed early the next morning under the surprised gaze of Lu Yanchuan, and rushed into the bathroom to start washing up. ¡°Are you wearing makeup today?¡± When Lu Yanchuan got up to wash, Qiao Yi was in front of the mirror applying eyeshadow. Seeing her sweeping a little brush back and forth over her eyes, Lu Yanchuan was worried she might poke herself in the eyeball. ¡°Um¡­¡± Qiao Yi hummed meaninglessly in response¡ªit¡¯s known that men should not disturb a woman when she¡¯s putting on makeup! By the time Lu Yanchuan finished washing up and came out of the bathroom, Qiao Yi was still drawing her eyes in front of the mirror, but this time with a fine, long pencil. This tool made Lu Yanchuan even more worried she might poke herself. Qiao Yi finally finished drawing her eyes, and just as she started applying lipstick, she noticed Lu Yanchuan had been watching her the whole time. ¡°Why are you still watching me? Is there something wrong with my face?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just I haven¡¯t seen you wear makeup much before.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was more than just not seeing her wear makeup often; ever since they met, Qiao Yi¡¯s makeup was either done by a makeup artist, or it was just a simple touch-up. Never had she spent so much time on makeup as she did today. Qiao Yi offered no comment, picked up a bottle of perfume from the table, thought about it, and put it back. Instead, she ran to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s drawers, picked out a bottle of perfume, and sprayed herself satisfiedly. Lu Yanchuan was completely baffled by Qiao Yi¡¯s actions. Normally, Qiao Yi never touched his perfume; she barely even used women¡¯s perfume. Why was she acting so out of the ordinary today? Of course, Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t tell Lu Yanchuan that today she isn¡¯t just meeting a project partner, but also a romantic rival! Although Xiao Ting hadn¡¯t shown any hostility towards her yet, the mere fact that Xiao Ting held Lu Yanchuan in her thoughts compelled Qiao Yi to remain vigilant. Unable to grasp the strange competitive desires of girls, and with no explanations received, Lu Yanchuan left the house first. Seeing that Qiao Yi might still be fussing for a while, he decided it was best to go ahead. Qiao Yi arrived at the office right on time, and immediately upon entering, the passing staff were stunned by her splendid attire. Not to mention the undoubtedly valuable jewelry on her head, hands, and neck, let alone the compelling makeup on her face, or even the tailored designer professional attire. But that distinct cold men¡¯s perfume alone that shouted ¡°keep your distance¡± was enough to turn all heads. Oh my! Is this still the same beautiful paratrooper? She was nothing less than a high-profile queen! Also stunned by Qiao Yi was Qiao Qiao, who followed her into the office. Qiao Qiao was frozen in his spot after just one glance. The last time he saw his older sister so fiercely prominent was when she had arranged a fight during her school days. Was his sister going to fight someone today? Qiao Qiao really wanted to run over and ask if Qiao Yi could avoid fighting, but he didn¡¯t have the courage to do so. Didn¡¯t he see she didn¡¯t even give him a glance? Her own brother was completely ignored! Qiao Yi made her way to the project-specific meeting room, and as she pushed open the door of the meeting room, Qiao Yi smiled. Xiao Ting was sitting in the conference room, and beside her sat another person Qiao Yi did not expect. ¡°Qiao Xin? What¡¯s going on, the Lu Group now needs you for running errands?¡± Wearing high heels, Qiao Yi entered the room with an imposing gait. Qiao Xin¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly upon seeing Qiao Yi like this ¡ª beautiful, elegant, glamorous, like a bright proud rose blooming under the sunlight, enticing people to draw closer yet also concealing danger. She¡¯s just a seductress! Qiao Yi was quite pleased with her appearance today when she saw Qiao Xin. Seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s unnatural expression, Qiao Yi felt extremely gratified. What could be more delightful than making a romantic rival feel jealous and angry? Compared to Qiao Xin, Xiao Ting kept her composure better, stood up, shook hands with Qiao Yi, and the two sat down together. Xiao Ting smelled the perfume on Qiao Yi, and even though she was well aware of her intimate relationship with Lu Yanchuan, her heart still ached momentarily. This perfume was custom-made by the chief perfumer of Divine Company for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s twenty-fifth birthday; there¡¯s only one bottle in the world, and it will never be produced again. But now, this scent was on Qiao Yi¡­ ¡°Can we start now?¡± Having successfully intimidated her love rivals, Qiao Yi smiled warmly and took out some documents from her bag and pushed them towards Xiao Ting. It¡¯s a routine for Qiao Family and Lu Family to cooperate to minimize the chances of mishaps, thus they select easy projects for collaboration. What matters between them is the process of collaboration, not the quality of the project. Switching to work mode, Xiao Ting did not let personal feelings interfere with her job and quickly began discussing with Qiao Yi. Previously, Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting had cooperated on a project for Dianrui Group, and now discussing another project, they surprisingly found themselves in sync. Compared to them, Qiao Xin, sitting on the side, seemed like an extraneous person, cluelessly unsure about what to do. ¡°All the important aspects are covered like this, I will go for a site visit tomorrow, shall we meet then?¡± ¡°Yes, see you tomorrow.¡± Two similarly slender and delicate hands touched lightly, and although they separated quickly, it still seemed as if invisible sparks flew between them. Qiao Yi left the conference room with a pile of documents, and Xiao Ting was also tidying up the documents on the table to take back to the company for further revision, only Qiao Xin sat in her chair, still lost in thought, unsure what she was pondering. ¡°Hey! Where are you going?¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, if this is your attitude towards the project, I will request Mr. Lu to revoke your participation rights.¡± Xiao Ting frowned in disgust. Both daughters of the Qiao Family, even blood sisters, yet why is Qiao Xin so different from Qiao Yi! This wasn¡¯t the first time Qiao Xin was scorned by Xiao Ting; she was used to Xiao Ting¡¯s disdainful attitude towards her and she even slightly nodded to Xiao Ting arrogantly. ¡°How I handle it is none of your business. You go back first, I still have work at the Qiao Family.¡± This woman must be out of her mind! Xiao Ting concluded about Qiao Xin and decided that she must talk to Lu Yanchuan after returning. Qiao Xin should not be allowed to participate in the project as she¡¯s clearly a freeloader! Chapter 152 - 152: Impossible to Guard Against Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Impossible to Guard Against Qiao Xin somehow managed to stay on this project. Qiao Yi asked Lu Yanchuan, but he said it was Old Mr. Lu¡¯s idea and he couldn¡¯t interfere, so Qiao Yi had no choice but to let it go. Initially, they thought Qiao Xin¡¯s involvement would be more of a hindrance than help, but surprisingly after a few days, she was merely skimming the surface and showed no intention of causing trouble, leading Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting to tacitly accept her presence. The more they worked together, the more Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting came to appreciate each other. Qiao Yi admired Xiao Ting¡¯s decisiveness and competence, as her position as Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chief assistant testified to her strong abilities. Meanwhile, Xiao Ting appreciated Qiao Yi¡¯s ingenuity. On top of the project¡¯s solid foundation, Qiao Yi always came up with brilliant ideas and even keenly spotted flaws that Xiao Ting herself hadn¡¯t noticed. Without comparison, there would be no hurt feelings. With Qiao Xin, who was always half-hearted and sometimes even disruptive, Qiao Yi¡¯s strengths were magnified manyfold. ¡°There are no problems with the construction site; we can start work at the end of this month.¡± Qiao Yi relaxed her body and stretched leisurely. On their first meeting, Qiao Yi still made sure she was well-dressed, but as the project proceeded and they became more familiar with each other, she stopped caring about her appearance. ¡°Tomorrow we can start procuring materials, this part should be handled by¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this part.¡± Xiao Ting was interrupted by Qiao Xin. Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting both turned to look at Qiao Xin, who unflinchingly took the documents from Xiao Ting¡¯s hand and repeated herself. ¡°The procurement of materials will be my responsibility; since I¡¯ve joined this project, I should contribute something.¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s words were righteous and plausible. If Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting didn¡¯t know her nature, they might have been fooled by her. However, since she put it that way, Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting couldn¡¯t just deny her proposal and had to agree for the time being. Qiao Xin walked away with the documents, satisfied, leaving Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting looking at each other before they let out a simultaneous sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s hope she genuinely wants to do something for the project.¡± Qiao Yi nodded perfunctorily, not truly believing that Qiao Xin would change her ways so easily, but she kept some thoughts to herself in front of Xiao Ting. That evening, Lu Yanchuan, as usual, came to the Qiao Family¡¯s headquarters to pick up Qiao Yi from work and immediately noticed her preoccupied look. ¡°Is the project proving to be troublesome?¡± ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s just that Qiao Xin¡¯s behavior today was really strange! Not just today, but since she inexplicably appeared on this project. She never wanted to be involved with any project before!¡± A person who was usually lazy suddenly becoming diligent must be keeping some dark secret. ¡°The procurement of materials¡­ Why does Qiao Xin insist on taking over that task?¡± The only doubtful point lay in the procurement of materials. Unable to come up with an answer herself, Qiao Yi leaned in closer to Lu Yanchuan, waiting for him to provide a reasonable explanation. ¡°Just have someone keep an eye on her.¡± Lu Yanchuan refrained from pondering and simply offered the most straightforward and brute-force solution. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Yi pouted. Alright, she conceded! ¡°Xiao Ting will monitor the situation on Lu Group¡¯s side. I¡¯ll have additional people watch Qiao Xin closely. We can¡¯t let her ruin the project between both families!¡± ¡°Do you really care about the partnership between the Qiao Family and the Lu Family?¡± Lu Yanchuan caught her off guard with the question, and it took Qiao Yi a moment before she nodded affirmatively. ¡°Of course, if it weren¡¯t for maintaining the relationship between the two families, I wouldn¡¯t have married Lu Ming, and that incident wouldn¡¯t have happened¡­¡± ¡°So, should I thank Qiao Xin?¡± Lu Yanchuan, with a long reach, pulled Qiao Yi into his arms. ¡°We agreed not to mention that!¡± Annoyed and embarrassed, Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan while holding on to his collar. Lu Yanchuan was unfazed and even wore a smile in his eyes. ¡°Do you regret marrying me?¡± ¡°Regret it! Regret it to death! You lousy rogue, let me go!¡± Qiao Yi blushed uncontrollably while struggling unsuccessfully to break free from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hold. Rather than a struggle, it was more like playful fighting between the two, completely ignoring their driver, Ma Yu. For the umpteenth time, Ma Yu regretted his decision to become Lu Yanchuan¡¯s personal assistant. Is there any way he could decline this dog food (display of affection)? As it turns out, one cannot simply decline the boss¡¯s dog food. When Lu Yanchuan finally got out of the car still holding a limply yielding Qiao Yi, Ma Yu had already ascended to a state of unflappable tranquility. He was still young and without a girlfriend; if things continued like this, he¡¯d either develop an illness or become a monk on the spot! He was surely going to be traumatized by these two show-offs! Qiao Xin returned home with the documents for material procurement, and when Lu Ming saw the documents in her hands, he excitedly hugged her. But the next moment, she pushed him away. ¡°I¡¯ve done what you asked for. Now it¡¯s your turn. If you can¡¯t make me Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife before the end of this month, I assure you that you won¡¯t get a penny of my share!¡± Qiao Xin coldly tossed the contract on the table and walked out of this so-called home. Perhaps for Lu Ming, this was home, but for Qiao Yi, it was merely a temporary shelter. Due to distrust in Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi ordered a thorough inspection of the materials handled by Qiao Xin every time they were delivered for the following five days, demanding that any non-compliant materials be immediately returned for reshipment. Yet, despite such precaution, there was still a problem with these materials! ¡°What happened!¡± The incident happened at dawn. Qiao Yi was woken up by a phone call at three in the morning, reporting a small-scale collapse at the newly begun construction site, suspected to be due to substandard building materials! ¡°Has Lu Group been notified?¡± While rushing to the construction site, Qiao Yi urgently called Xiao Ting and Qiao Xin. ¡°Xiao Ting! There¡¯s been a collapse at the construction site, possibly due to a problem with building materials. Please come to the site as soon as you can.¡± ¡°Building materials? Is it Qiao Xin?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know the specifics on their end yet; I¡¯m on my way to the site.¡± After exchanging a few words with Xiao Ting, Qiao Yi hung up, but couldn¡¯t get through to Qiao Xin. The first to arrive at the site was Qiao Yi, who inspected the point of the accident before Xiao Ting arrived. ¡°Fortunately, the collapsed area is a newly constructed part, so no one was injured, but this will delay the work by a few days.¡± ¡°No injuries, that¡¯s good. Have we found the exact cause of the collapse? Is it related to the quality of materials? Why hasn¡¯t Qiao Xin arrived yet?¡± Chapter 153 - 153: The Swapped Building Materials Chapter 153: Chapter 153: The Swapped Building Materials Qiao Xin not only didn¡¯t show up, she didn¡¯t even answer the phone! Qiao Yi helplessly shrugged her shoulders; she had been calling Qiao Xin since she received the message, but until now, Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t answered even one call. ¡°Forget about her for now, delaying the schedule is a minor issue. The most important thing now is to quickly investigate where the problem lies!¡± Due to the collapse, the entire construction site was awakened, and many workers gathered around. The person in charge arrived late, and from his sweaty appearance, it was clear he rushed over. With an accident occurring on the site, he had to bear the primary responsibility! ¡°Miss Qiao, Miss Xiao¡­¡± ¡°First, organize people to inspect the cause of the collapse and recheck all the materials that have been stored. I want to know the main cause of this accident before noon!¡± Qiao Yi issued the order without directly holding him accountable, allowing the person in charge to breathe a sigh of relief, and he hurriedly called the workers to get to it. ¡°I just went to take a look, and this level of collapse could be due to the quality of the materials, or another possibility could be a structural error in a certain part of the construction, which could cause a collapse after just two stories!¡± Xiao Ting and Qiao Yi walked out of the construction site; they couldn¡¯t help here, all they could do was wait for the workers to inspect and report the results. ¡°Qiao Xin still hasn¡¯t answered the phone. This time I will definitely make her leave this project!¡± As Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chief assistant, Xiao Ting¡¯s demeanor in some aspects is strikingly similar to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s, especially when she is angry, indeed carrying some of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s aura. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll personally go and speak to the old man; I won¡¯t allow such an irresponsible person like Qiao Xin to continue with this project.¡± If it was just a work mistake, that could still be forgivable, but since Qiao Xin joined this project, she¡¯s been slacking. Now the only part she handled has such a big flaw; if someone says it was an accident, Qiao Yi would never believe it! Anxiously waiting for an entire morning, Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting finally received a reply from the construction site. The main reason for this collapse was due to the workers¡¯ operational errors; during the foundation pouring, the consolidation work wasn¡¯t done properly, leading to a collapse after only two stories were built. ¡°We have already dealt with the workers who made the errors sternly, but while checking the construction materials, we discovered that aside from some of the top layer materials being okay, the materials below were all replaced with defective products!¡± ¡°What! Only the top ones are good? How is that possible!¡± The first one to disbelieve it was Qiao Yi; she had personally overseen and checked these materials before they were registered into storage, she was confident that the materials entering the warehouse were good. Now, the person in charge was stating there was a problem with the materials, Qiao Yi immediately went with the person in charge to reinspect the warehouse. ¡°These materials might look no different from standard construction materials, but their actual quality and lifespan is far inferior to professional construction materials. If these materials are used in construction, it wouldn¡¯t be five, ten years before this building would collapse thunderously!¡± These warnings aren¡¯t an exaggeration; how many exposed residential buildings were only discovered to have shoddy materials by the owners after several years! Qiao Yi checked these materials one by one and had to admit, as the person in charge said, only a very small part could be used. ¡°What about the warehouse surveillance?¡± Qiao Yi suddenly turned around and asked, causing the person in charge to open his mouth and lower his head. ¡°Since this construction site has just started, the warehouse is temporary, and we haven¡¯t had time to install a surveillance system yet¡­¡± Qiao Yi was speechless; she couldn¡¯t really blame the person in charge for being negligent in this regard, after all, she hadn¡¯t anticipated such a scenario at the outset. ¡°Are you suspecting someone switched the materials?¡± Qiao Yi nodded, ¡°Exactly. I checked these materials when they were stored, and now if there¡¯s an issue with the materials, aside from someone tampering, I can¡¯t think of another possibility! Even if my suspicion is correct, we still don¡¯t have evidence, nor can we catch the real culprit who switched the materials!¡± Qiao Yi was disappointed and frustrated, sighing as she walked out, but she suddenly exclaimed as an idea struck her upon reaching the door. ¡°Although the warehouse doesn¡¯t have surveillance, we can check the nearby road¡¯s surveillance! So much material, the culprit definitely needed a truck to move it! Just by retrieving the past few days¡¯ surveillance, we can find out who switched the materials!¡± As the words fell, the person in charge was already hastily running out in response. With a solution in mind, Xiao Ting also breathed a sigh of relief; after all, the project had just started, and if they let this incident delay the overall schedule, endless troubles would await them! ¡°You go back and rest, I¡¯ll stay here waiting for the results.¡± Xiao Ting originally didn¡¯t plan to leave at this time, but she wasn¡¯t only overseeing this project and couldn¡¯t afford to waste all her energy on this matter alone, so she apologized and smiled at Qiao Yi. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this in your hands. Inform me as soon as there are results, and I will come over as quickly as possible. As for Qiao Xin¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go find Qiao Xin myself, and I¡¯ll also speak with the old man about it. No matter what, Qiao Xin was in charge of the materials, and with such an incident, she must take responsibility.¡± Talking about Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi was filled with anger. Even though she had suspected that Qiao Xin wouldn¡¯t put much effort into the project, she never anticipated such a massive blunder! After Xiao Ting left, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t continue to wait at the construction site, but went directly to Qiao Xin¡¯s residence. After knocking on the door for five minutes, Qiao Xin finally, disheveled and disoriented, opened the door for Qiao Yi, apparently just woken up! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Qiao Xin! With such a big incident at the construction site, you¡¯re actually sleeping at home!¡± ¡°What happened? What are you yelling for! You woke me up from a great dream and I haven¡¯t even settled that with you!¡± Qiao Xin appeared impatient, blocking the doorway with no intention of letting Qiao Yi in. Of course, Qiao Yi had no intention of going in either; she simply pulled out all the photos of the construction site she had taken and showed them to Qiao Xin. ¡°I can overlook you not answering the phone, and I can also overlook you not taking this project seriously, but you chose to be responsible for the materials procurement yourself. Take a good look, this is the result of your responsibility!¡± Qiao Xin was very impatient at first, but as Qiao Yi flipped through each photo, Qiao Xin finally realized the seriousness of the situation. ¡°This¡­ How is this possible!¡± ¡°How could it not be possible! You should feel lucky that these substandard materials were discovered because of this accident. If these materials had all been used in the building, it wouldn¡¯t be me coming to find you, but the police!¡± Chapter 154 - 154 A Complete Makeover Chapter 154: Chapter 154 A Complete Makeover Qiao Yi¡¯s words were not a threat to intimidate Qiao Xin. As the project¡¯s materials supervisor, even if Qiao Xin was unaware of when these materials were substituted, she would be held responsible for any future accidents that could happen! ¡°Don¡¯t overdramatize the situation! I personally oversaw the materials being stocked, and if there¡¯s a problem, you can¡¯t pin it on me!¡± Trying to maintain composure, Qiao Xin threw the cell phone back to Qiao Yi, even attempting to turn the tables. ¡°Just because there was no problem at stocking doesn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t problems later. The most likely explanation is that someone secretly swapped the materials, and besides the set of warehouse keys I have, the only other set is in your hands!¡± When Qiao Yi was at the construction site, the situation was urgent and there was no time to think carefully, but after Xiao Ting left, Qiao Yi thoroughly reviewed everything and discovered an inconsistency. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was the warehouse doors and windows, which showed no signs of being tampered with! Qiao Yi was certain there were no issues when the materials were stocked; the only possibility was that someone secretly switched them. Now, with the warehouse intact, it clearly pointed to an inside job! Finally, Qiao Xin¡¯s face changed, and she avoided Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze, looking very uncomfortable. ¡°It might have been you who switched the materials! Why are you pinning the responsibility on me?¡± ¡°Do you even have a brain? The keys to the warehouse are locked in the company¡¯s communal storage, do you need me to pull up the surveillance for you? You¡¯d better take this chance while I¡¯m still patient, and replenish the material batch, or don¡¯t blame me for taking legal action!¡± Having said that, Qiao Yi no longer wished to speak with her and turned to leave Qiao Xin¡¯s place. Watching Qiao Yi¡¯s retreating figure, Qiao Xin could no longer hold her composure and ran back inside to pick up the phone and dial Lu Ming. ¡°Where are you now!¡± Qiao Xin had to dial three times before the call was answered, but the voice that answered was a woman¡¯s. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°And who are you? Let Lu Ming take the call!¡± The woman on the phone hesitated, as if guessing who Qiao Xin was, and tenderly offered an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Qiao, I didn¡¯t notice it was your call. Ming hasn¡¯t gotten up yet, would you like me to wake him up for you?¡± Such affectionate words coming from the woman on the other end were seamlessly natural, and even a bit shy, as if she and Lu Ming had just done something intimate. The moment she heard the term ¡®Ming¡¯, Qiao Xin recalled the woman who appeared at her house that day. ¡°Who are you! Why do you have Lu Ming¡¯s phone?¡± ¡°Whose phone?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s voice came through from the other end, followed by soft sounds, and then the phone was handed to Lu Ming. ¡°What madness are you on about now, Qiao Xin?¡± ¡°Me, crazy? I think you are the one going crazy! Who is that woman? Why is she with you?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s sharp voice caused Lu Ming to instinctively move the phone away. After a moment of silence on his end, he brought the phone back to his ear. ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, say it; otherwise, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Of course, Qiao Xin didn¡¯t want to let the matter slide so vaguely, but the issue at the construction site was evidently more pressing than the problem of the woman next to Lu Ming. ¡°The materials at the construction site, was it you who took my keys and swapped them out!¡± ¡°Yes, it was me¡­¡± ¡°Do you know there¡¯s been a collapse at the site, and Qiao Yi and Xiao Ting discovered the materials you swapped when they were inspecting the warehouse, and now the investigation has led to me!¡± Qiao Xin yelled in despair, and Lu Ming was also shocked by this news, urgently asking for details. Qiao Xin told Lu Ming about Qiao Yi coming to see her and especially stressed the words Qiao Yi warned her with. ¡°You better send all those materials back right now, or else I¡¯ll go tell Qiao Yi that you were the one who stole them!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s threat was only met with a disdainful snort from Lu Ming, it could even be called mockery. ¡°I¡¯ve already sold those materials. Now, because of you, our deal can¡¯t continue. You better figure it out on your own!¡± Lu Ming hung up the phone right away; Qiao Xin screamed into the phone crazily but got no response at all, anger drove her to throw her phone away. The initial investment for building materials was nearly a million, which wasn¡¯t a lot for the entire project, but it definitely wasn¡¯t easy for Qiao Xin to come up with that much money all at once! Qiao Yi knew those materials couldn¡¯t have been moved by Qiao Xin, but this incident was definitely related to her! The strong words she had just told Qiao Xin were just a warning, she would be lucky if she could replenish the materials, but even if she couldn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t let her off so easily! The company¡¯s investigation results had not yet come out, and the pressing issue was to contact the material suppliers to repurchase soon. The new funding requirement needed an application process, so Qiao Yi went directly with the contract to find Qiao Qiao, but she encountered a stunning beauty full of allure in Qiao Qiao¡¯s office. What¡¯s going on? Has her silly younger brother been struck by Cupid? ¡°Sister! This is Sun Keke!¡± ¡°Ah! Sun Keke! You, you¡¯ve recovered from plastic surgery?¡± The voluptuous beauty in front of her was actually Sun Keke. Although the old Sun Keke looked pretty good, she had a gentle aura, not at all like the bold and proud siren she seemed to be now! ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Yiyi, you should call me Andy now!¡± Sun Keke¡­ oh, no, Andy, slinked over with a seductive sway and coyly blew a kiss to Qiao Yi. Andy was the new identity that Qiao Yi had prepared for Sun Keke, an orphan with outstanding achievements and a graduate of a prestigious overseas university. After the surgery, Andy, who now bore some mixed-race features, had eyes that turned blue. When she looked at you seriously, it felt like you were her entire world. ¡°I heard from little Qiao Qiao that you¡¯re looking for a new supplier? Why not consider me and give me a big order?¡± Andy had joined Sun Group three days ago, and she was planning to find Qiao Yi today, but since Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t in the office, she had to meet Qiao Qiao first. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t miss the fleeting look of disappointment when Andy clarified her relationship with Qiao Qiao. Even though she¡¯s the older sister, and while she didn¡¯t mind Andy¡¯s past, Qiao Qiao¡¯s love life was for him to decide. Since Andy changed the topic, Qiao Xin also followed her lead and spoke about the accident. ¡°I don¡¯t need to find a new supplier, I just need to make up this batch of materials. The supplier I¡¯ve negotiated with doesn¡¯t have enough stock, and the next delivery won¡¯t arrive for another month.¡± Qiao Yi and Andy quickly signed the contract for the batch of materials, and by the time Xiao Ting called again to inquire about the situation, Andy had already arranged for the delivery to the construction site. Chapter 155 - 155: Blessing You Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Blessing You ¡°You directly found a new supplier? The investigation results aren¡¯t out yet¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a new supplier; it¡¯s just a temporary solution to fill in the missing materials, so it won¡¯t delay the construction schedule, and won¡¯t affect anything if the original materials are recovered.¡± After hearing what Qiao Yi said, Xiao Ting realized her own fixed thinking had limited her mind, focused only on finding the truth, forgetting about the most important matter. ¡°With these materials, the construction site can resume work, and there¡¯s no rush for the investigation of the truth now.¡± Xiao Ting greatly appreciated Qiao Yi¡¯s decision, feeling relieved as if a heavy stone had been lifted off her heart, and a smile finally appeared on her face. Watching Qiao Yi efficiently arranging the follow-up matters, Xiao Ting¡¯s admiration for her grew stronger. Compared to the useless Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi was nothing like what she seemed. Xiao Ting knew what Qiao Yi was like during their school days, so when she heard that Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were married and their relationship was very good, Xiao Ting felt more jealousy than thinking Qiao Yi was not worthy of Lu Yanchuan. However, after working with Qiao Yi, Xiao Ting¡¯s perception of her gradually changed. ¡°How about we go for a drink tonight? To celebrate our successful risk avoidance?¡± Xiao Ting didn¡¯t really want to dine with Qiao Yi, but facing Qiao Yi¡¯s kind gaze, she inexplicably agreed. Perhaps because she felt upset, Xiao Ting and Qiao Yi didn¡¯t talk much and silently finished a whole bottle of red wine. Initially, Qiao Yi thought Xiao Ting was worried about the project, but seeing Xiao Ting¡¯s state becoming increasingly unusual, Qiao Yi finally spoke up to stop her from drinking more. ¡°Miss Xiao, you¡¯ve had too much to drink, we should go back now. I can take you home; where do you live?¡± Xiao Ting shook her head and suddenly grabbed Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, looking up at her. ¡°You know, I fell in love with Lu Yanchuan when I was in college.¡± In her 23 years of life, Qiao Yi had never encountered such a situation¡ªhaving her husband¡¯s employee confide her secret love for her husband to her? Who could tell her, what should she do now? The words not only stunned Qiao Yi but left Xiao Ting herself shocked too. Actually, she wasn¡¯t really drunk. With her alcohol tolerance honed by years in the business world, one bottle of red wine was nothing. But even if it¡¯s minimal, the alcohol still coaxed Xiao Ting to reveal the secret she had hidden for many years. Once a secret is spoken, it¡¯s no longer so difficult to express thereafter. Qiao Yi sat back in her place, deciding to patiently listen to Xiao Ting¡¯s story. Xiao Ting and Lu Yanchuan were alumni from the same school; Xiao Ting was two grades above Lu Yanchuan. Although Lu Yanchuan rarely appeared in school, since his enrollment, Xiao Ting had always heard rumors about him. He was handsome, talented, wealthy, and a man of integrity¡ªthe dream prince of all the female students in the school. It wasn¡¯t until Lu Yanchuan graduated and took over Lu Group that the frenzy about him gradually settled in the school. Among all the little fans of Lu Yanchuan, Xiao Ting had never told anyone about her feelings but she was just as persistent. After graduation, Xiao Ting joined Lu Group, and her interactions with Lu Yanchuan increased. The closer she got to Lu Yanchuan, the more resolute her feelings became, driven by this love, Xiao Ting eventually became Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chief assistant. She never thought of marrying Lu Yanchuan; watching over him from behind was enough for her. But Lu Yanchuan actually got married! He married a woman notorious for being a debauchee out of nowhere! ¡°Do you know? When I found out Mr. Lu was marrying a debauchee, I couldn¡¯t accept it at all! I always thought that Mr. Lu, being such a perfect man, no one could match him!¡± Qiao Yi broke into a cold sweat listening to this, secretly thinking that the power of unrequited love was terrifying. Lu Yanchuan, a man seen as cold-blooded and perverse in the eyes of others, seemed unattainably perfect in Xiao Ting¡¯s eyes! Hearing what Xiao Ting said, it didn¡¯t feel like she was complimenting her! However, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t interrupt Xiao Ting, instead, she quietly continued listening. ¡°I¡¯ve always disliked you, and indeed you are just as I imagined, unworthy and unambitious.¡± Hey, hey, hey! She¡¯s already being selflessly giving by listening like a confidant, isn¡¯t Xiao Ting going a bit too far with her complaints! Qiao Yi¡¯s moodiness didn¡¯t affect Xiao Ting, who continued after sniffing her nose. ¡°Now I finally realize, Mr. Lu choosing you wasn¡¯t without reason. You are different from the rest, what others value you don¡¯t care about, and what you insist on is often unnoticed by others.¡± ¡°You are special. From the first time Mr. Lu personally stood up for you, I knew you held a unique place in Mr. Lu¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lost, but I wish you both well.¡± After saying the last line, Xiao Ting drained the glass of alcohol, pushed away Qiao Yi who came to support her, and walked out alone. She walked step by step, her bent back slowly straightening up, as if she had shed some burden. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Qiao Yi walked out of the restaurant, and immediately saw the low-profile black sedan across the street, and the man showing his profile in the back seat. Her heavy heart turned to joy upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, and she joyfully ran over and sat next to him. ¡°It¡¯s late, I came to take you home.¡± ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Qiao Yi got into the car, leaned on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body, and couldn¡¯t stop snickering. Lu Yanchuan felt uneasy from her laughter, placed his hand on Qiao Yi¡¯s head to try and restrain her, but she caught his arm and hugged it close. ¡°Let¡¯s go home! Hurry home!¡± Praised by a love rival, she couldn¡¯t possibly tell Lu Yanchuan. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blessed by a love rival, she definitely wouldn¡¯t tell Lu Yanchuan either! Thinking of Xiao Ting who just left in despair, and then looking at Qiao Yi who seemed as cheerful as if she ate a bird¡¯s joy, Lu Yanchuan guessed parts of the truth and couldn¡¯t help but laugh along. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go home.¡± Compared to Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi¡¯s sweet and tender affection, the Bai Family¡¯s situation could be described as gloomy and miserable. Initially, with Lu Ming¡¯s protection, the blow to the Bai Family had softened, but now Lu Ming himself was in peril, let alone provide any help to the Bai Family! ¡°Our deal is over! Don¡¯t call me again in the future, unless you want your scandals to be known by everyone!¡± Bai Lingling was hung up on by Lu Ming once again, furious to the point of almost smashing her phone, yet she had to make the call again. ¡°Lu Ming, I have another cooperation to discuss with you!¡± Chapter 156 - 156 Bai Lingling Apologizes Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Bai Lingling Apologizes Lu Yanchuan¡¯s assault on the Bai Family did not cease with their retreat but instead intensified. His intentions were clear; he wanted to get justice for Qiao Yi and compel Bai Lingling to apologize to her. Bai Lingling stubbornly resisted initially, but as she watched the Bai Family¡¯s assets being progressively squeezed, she could no longer hold her ground. If she continued to refuse, the only path left for the Bai family would be bankruptcy. To satisfy Lu Yanchuan further, the Bai Family specifically called a press conference. ¡°Due to personal reasons, I previously manipulated public opinion to spread false news about Miss Qiao Yi, causing severe damage to her reputation. For this, I sincerely apologize to Miss Qiao Yi here, hoping that she can forgive me¡­¡± By the end, Bai Lingling was sobbing uncontrollably, looking extremely aggrieved. It must be said that Bai Lingling knew how to utilize her strengths and maximize her advantages. Her innocent and blameless appearance, paired with a pitiful demeanor, indeed touched the hearts of many with her emotive performance. After Bai Lingling¡¯s video went viral online, surprisingly, not many people thought she got what she deserved; instead, there was a chorus of praises for her. ¡°Are these people brain-dead? Just because this woman sheds a couple of tears and acts in front of a camera, so many think she¡¯s innocent?¡± Feng Siyu scrolled through the comments online, nearly driven to fury. ¡°Look at these disgusting comments! Saying Bai Lingling is simply naive, made a mistake unintentionally, and now that she has apologized you still won¡¯t forgive her, lacking any compassion! It¡¯s hilariously absurd! Would he feel sympathy for a biting vicious dog?¡± Coarse in expression but not in logic, Qiao Yi wholeheartedly agreed with Feng Siyu¡¯s words and supported her vehement response. The more Feng Siyu read the comments, the angrier she became, wishing she could personally confront and thrash them. As Qiao Yi swallowed her last grape, she snatched Feng Siyu¡¯s phone away. ¡°If it makes you angry, then stop looking; no need to upset yourself. Look, I¡¯m not even angry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re heartless! You almost got publicly insulted, if I were you¡­¡± Qiao Yi pounced to cover Feng Siyu¡¯s mouth, dragging her up from the sofa and heading out. Today, her visit to Feng Siyu was not just about these online issues; she had some serious matters to discuss! ¡°I know you¡¯re capable, my ancestor, I have a job for you, are you interested?¡± ¡°What kind of job? Is it an ad for your company or endorsements? For those, you could have just told me directly, why bother coming to see me personally?¡± Grumbling, Feng Siyu was pulled out by Qiao Yi, stuffed into a car, and taken away. If it were a normal announcement from the Qiao Family, it wouldn¡¯t be this complicated, but the catch was that this announcement was from the Sun Group. To solidify Andy¡¯s standing within the Sun Group, he needed a continuous stream of achievements. Given Qiao Yi¡¯s current position within the Qiao Family, she could offer limited opportunities, hence she thought of Feng Siyu. ¡°So the person we¡¯re meeting today is Sun Keke?¡± ¡°Correct, but she¡¯s now reinvented herself as the person known as Andy.¡± Feng Siyu knew some details about Andy, and knowing she would be collaborating with her piqued her curiosity. ¡°Isn¡¯t your Third Young Master planning to undercut the Sun family? Why are you now helping the Sun family secure projects instead?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too complicated to explain all the reasons; just know everything I¡¯m doing has a purpose!¡± Feng Siyu was non-committal, following Qiao Yi to the restaurant where they had arranged to meet Andy. Regardless of the motive, when Qiao Yi made the request, Feng Siyu had no thoughts of refusal, knowing well that Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t harm her. Qiao Yi introduced Feng Siyu to Andy, and the two striking women quickly formed an inexplicable friendship. ¡°So, you see, Yiyi is just too timid! Even when challenged directly, she still acts as if nothing happened!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Miss Qiao is indeed kind-hearted, but I think she might have other plans for this situation, right Miss Qiao?¡± Faced with their combined gaze, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know how to respond. Timid? Kind-hearted? Are they even talking about her? ¡°Cough, cough! Aren¡¯t you two supposed to be discussing something important? I¡¯ll leave you to it, then!¡± Qiao Yi fled the scene. If she stayed any longer, there was no telling what they might do! After Qiao Yi left, Feng Siyu and Andy eventually calmed down. ¡°Yiyi told me about the endorsement deal you¡¯re handling, and I agree to take it on. Here¡¯s my agent¡¯s contact info; you can discuss the contract details with him.¡± Though not a high-profile product line, the Sun Group¡¯s brand was established enough to have a steady market presence in China. It was somewhat beneath Feng Siyu¡¯s celebrity status, but for Qiao Yi¡¯s sake, she agreed. ¡°We can put aside the endorsement for now; Miss Feng, wouldn¡¯t you like to know about Miss Bai¡¯s situation? As far as I know, she has certain ties with people from the Lu Family.¡± ¡°Since you have the information, why don¡¯t you tell Yiyi yourself?¡± Confronted with Feng Siyu¡¯s probing look, Andy did not feel at all guilty or awkward but instead smiled naturally. ¡°Bai Lingling¡¯s attention is all on Miss Qiao and Mr. Lu; sometimes things need to be done by us outsiders, don¡¯t you think, Miss Feng?¡± Andy was confident, not doubting for a moment that Feng Siyu would refuse, given her close relationship with Qiao Yi; she definitely wouldn¡¯t allow the online crowd to slander Qiao Yi. Indeed, Feng Siyu had no intention of refusing; she was actually curious to test Andy, to see her true intentions towards Qiao Yi. Their private plotting was unnoticed by any third party, leaving Bai Lingling, completely unaware of the looming disaster, still complacent. It was just a simple act, which had shifted the targeted situation for the Bai Family and even added trouble for Qiao Yi¡ªkilling two birds with one stone! ¡°You¡¯re only provoking Lu Yanchuan with this; do you want to doom the Bai family?¡± ¡°I apologize as I should! What else do you want from me! Even if Lu Yanchuan is the omnipotent president of the Lu Family, he can¡¯t be so relentless and unreasonable!¡± Bai Lingling snapped back at her father¡¯s accusations without hesitation and, not waiting for him to continue, grabbed her purse and stormed out. Upon leaving the Bai household, Bai Lingling received a call from Lu Ming. ¡°Bai Lingling, I¡¯ve bought the internet army you asked for to hype you up; when will you fulfill your promise?¡± Chapter 157 - 157: The Secret Is Out Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Secret Is Out ¡°What promise? What internet army? What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand what you mean?¡± Bai Lingling¡¯s tone was filled with confusion and disbelief, as if she genuinely didn¡¯t comprehend what Lu Ming had said. There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then Lu Ming¡¯s tone turned chilling and angry. ¡°You¡¯re playing this game with me now, Bai Lingling? I have evidence in my hands!¡± ¡°Lu Ming, are you being too naive? Do you think I would leave any evidence for you? Next time before you act, you should really use your brain more. This time, consider it a kind gesture from your sister, a little lesson for you!¡± Bai Lingling laughed wildly and hung up the phone. Lu Ming looked at his phone, baffled, unable to believe that Bai Lingling dared to be so brazen! Doesn¡¯t she fear that he might expose her true nature? Or does she think that with the support of the Bai Family, she has nothing to worry about? Lu Ming clenched his phone tightly, and after taking a deep breath, he pulled up a recording on his phone. This recording was none other than the conversation he had with Bai Lingling that day. Lu Ming clicked on the recording, and the next moment his confident expression turned to astonishment. The recording that was supposed to capture their conversation was now nothing but noise! Disbelief mounted on Lu Ming¡¯s face and eventually, he couldn¡¯t help but angrily smash his phone. It seems he had truly underestimated Bai Lingling; she had employed a jammer! No wonder she wasn¡¯t scared of him having evidence of their transaction! He now had no way to touch Bai Lingling! If he hires an internet army to backlash at Bai Lingling, it might be misunderstood as Qiao Yi¡¯s doing, and it could even earn Bai Lingling more sympathy. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But if he lets it go, he would be even more upset! What¡¯s worse, Bai Lingling¡¯s promised financial support turned out to be nothing but empty air, and debt collection calls have been bombarding his phone every day. If he doesn¡¯t fill this one billion hole soon, his troubles would become severe! These days, Lu Ming had sold everything he could, and after scraping everything together, he had barely managed to gather five billion, only one-third of what was needed! Of course, his shares in Lu Group were worth more than ten billion, but those were his last resort! Once he sells off his shares in Lu Group as well, he would truly have no chance of turning things around! ¡°It seems there is only one path left for me to take now¡­¡± Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan were both monitoring the stock market. When they noticed a sudden change in Gong Group¡¯s shares, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°How do you know that the ten percent of the shares were hidden in Lu Ming¡¯s hands? Lu Ming and Old Madam Gong have never even met!¡± ¡°They might not have met each other, but that doesn¡¯t mean Lu Ming can¡¯t get hold of the shares. We only need the results, not the process.¡± Lu Yanchuan was as succinct and decisive as ever, focusing on the new stocks. The moment they were put up for sale, Lu Yanchuan immediately intercepted them. Qiao Yi was thoroughly convinced; her judgment was nowhere near his level! ¡°But even so, how did you know Lu Ming would collaborate with Bai Lingling? And how did you come to think of forcing him to sell Gong Family¡¯s shares with that method?¡± ¡°The last time I monitored his account, I installed a listening device on his phone, similar to the tracking system Qiao Xin put on your phone previously.¡± ¡°So you eavesdropped on Lu Ming¡¯s conversation with Bai Lingling!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly realized; she thought so, Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t be clairvoyant, how could he possibly predict things so accurately! Lu Yanchuan remained noncommittal, still intercepting the sale of the stock in the market at his own pace. Under an anonymous identity but constantly being intercepted, Lu Ming was nearly driven mad. It was like the other party was a cat playing with a little mouse, clearly able to kill him in one fell swoop, yet always giving him a glimmer of hope before intercepting him again just as he was about to seal the deal! Is this person sick? Lu Ming cursed loudly at the computer screen, losing all patience with the successive setbacks and ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Despite the interception, Lu Ming, still not giving up, clenched his teeth and tried over and over again to break through the other party¡¯s defense. ¡°Lu Ming must be about to explode in anger now!¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t understand the reason behind Lu Yanchuan¡¯s actions, but every time she saw the success prompt on the computer, she couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh. She wondered if Lu Ming, after being messed with so many times, was on the verge of collapsing. Whether Lu Ming was collapsing or not, Lu Yanchuan had already unplugged a portable hard drive from the computer and started to corner Lu Ming for the final takedown. Encircling him hardly took any effort, easily freezing Lu Ming¡¯s account. Judging by Lu Ming¡¯s direct cessation of resistance, he was about to break down from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s manipulation. ¡°Is it enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough, let¡¯s go.¡± Lu Yanchuan, carrying the hard drive from the table, took Qiao Yi back to the Lu Mansion. He was toying with Lu Ming because he needed to remotely intercept the data from Lu Ming¡¯s computer. In order not to alert Lu Ming, he had to ensure that Lu Ming was occupied with something more important, thus the stock market ploy. The two soon arrived at the Lu Mansion, and Lu Yanchuan wasted no time in showing the results of his investigation to Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Lu Ming is not only involved with Dianrui Pharmaceutical Factory but also entangled with some overseas companies.¡± As Lu Yanchuan laid out the evidence before Old Mr. Lu, his face grew particularly ugly. ¡°Dad, the project between Lu Group and Qiao Family a few days ago that ended up with drunk personnel, wasn¡¯t it you who agreed to let Qiao Xin get involved?¡± Neither Qiao Yi nor Lu Yanchuan meant to blame Old Mr. Lu, but by the look on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, Old Mr. Lu knew there must be a problem with the project! Sure enough, in the hard drive that Lu Yanchuan brought, Old Mr. Lu found evidence of Lu Ming swapping construction materials! ¡°How dare he do something so outrageous!¡± Old Mr. Lu was irate and flung his arm, overturning the coffee table and scattering everything on it, creating a loud noise that startled Lu Ming who had just arrived at the mansion. ¡°Grandpa, why are you so angry? Who annoyed you¡­¡± ¡°Lu Ming! Roll over here!¡± Lu Ming wasn¡¯t even done speaking when Old Mr. Lu called him over. Seeing Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi standing next to Old Mr. Lu, a bad feeling welled up inside Lu Ming, which was confirmed as soon as Old Mr. Lu spoke again! Under Lu Ming¡¯s horrified gaze, Old Mr. Lu slammed the files and documents brought by Lu Yanchuan down in front of Lu Ming, cursing all the while. ¡°Look at the mess you¡¯ve made! Colluding with foreign companies to manufacture contraband drugs! Switching construction materials for company projects! Even stealing shares belonging to the Gong Family!¡± ¡°You tell me! Did you do all these things or not!¡± Chapter 158 - 158: Please Show Mercy Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Please Show Mercy Lu Ming was unable to refute; the evidence Lu Yanchuan presented plainly exposed everything he had done. No matter how Lu Ming tried to argue, it could not outweigh the credibility of the clear, written proof. ¡°Grandfather, I¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not aware of other matters, but a few days ago you came to me, claiming that there was a misunderstanding between Qiao Xin and Yiyi, and asked me to betray you to keep Qiao Xin in the Qiao Family¡¯s project. I was willing to accommodate your request and agreed to retain Qiao Xin, and this is how you repay me!¡± Of all the things Lu Ming had done, what angered Old Mr. Lu the most was this very matter. The other things could be put down to Lu Ming being blinded by greed, a momentary lapse of reason. But deceiving Old Mr. Lu had led him to a complete loss of faith in Lu Ming! ¡°From today on, you don¡¯t have to go to the company anymore!¡± With a single sentence, Old Mr. Lu shattered all of Lu Ming¡¯s hopes. He flung the files and reports in Lu Ming¡¯s face as Qiao Yi, supporting the furious Old Mr. Lu, went upstairs, turning her head to give Lu Yanchuan a look. The old man had been deceived by his own grandson and was certainly in a bad mood. With Qiao Yi consoling him, perhaps his mood could be somewhat alleviated, but Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t consoling Old Mr. Lu to plead for Lu Ming; she didn¡¯t want Old Mr. Lu to become ill with anger over him! ¡°Yiyi, this time it was your father who failed to see people¡¯s true colors, not knowing that those two had joined forces to target our own enterprise! Now that you¡¯ve also joined the company, in the future, you and Yanchuan must support each other. I¡¯m getting old, and the future of both families will depend on you!¡± This incident seemed to age Old Mr. Lu by a dozen years; anyone deceived by their closest kin would find it hard to accept. However, Old Mr. Lu was, after all, a person who once commanded great respect in Capital City. After a brief period of sorrow and heartache, he quickly regained his spirit. ¡°This matter with Lu Ming, tell Yanchuan to take full responsibility. As long as he doesn¡¯t kill him, let Yanchuan teach him a proper lesson!¡± After saying this, Old Mr. Lu waved his hand, signaling Qiao Yi to leave. Qiao Yi still wanted to say something, but seeing Old Mr. Lu had no desire to converse with her, she had no choice but to leave his room. Qiao Yi relayed Old Mr. Lu¡¯s message accurately to Lu Yanchuan. This time, Lu Ming had truly disappointed Old Mr. Lu; otherwise, Old Mr. Lu would not knowingly leave Lu Yanchuan to deal with him without interference. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t avoid Lu Ming when passing on the message, allowing him to hear it loud and clear. His grandfather had given up on him! Left him to Lu Yanchuan to deal with. Instead of enduring torturous suffering worse than death, it would be better to kill him directly! Lu Ming slumped despondently into a seat in the living room, while Lu Yanchuan, upon hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, furrowed his brows. ¡°Lu Ming, within three days, reimburse the construction site for its materials at market price. I can buy back the Gong Family¡¯s shares at market value. As for your other debts, you¡¯re on your own.¡± Qiao Yi was baffled upon hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words. She had imagined countless scenarios but never expected Lu Yanchuan to let Lu Ming off so lightly! Hadn¡¯t Old Mr. Lu given him full authority to handle the matter? How come Lu Yanchuan was dealing with it in this way? Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan left the Lu Mansion, and on the way back to the hospital, she couldn¡¯t suppress her curiosity and asked. ¡°Although Dad said to leave it to me, he also said not to take his life, meaning his intention was for me to show some leniency.¡± ¡°But, the things Lu Ming did are clearly criminal. Even if we don¡¯t take his life, he should serve a couple of years in prison!¡± Qiao Yi truly couldn¡¯t understand why Lu Yanchuan was so merciful this time, even describing it as giving a free pass. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze circled Qiao Yi¡¯s face with interest, seeing that she was indeed full of confusion, a slight curve emerged at the corner of his lips. ¡°Do you know what crime it is to be involved in the manufacturing and selling of illegal drugs, according to the law?¡± Qiao Yi nodded and then shook her head; she knew it was a crime, but did not know how the law of the nation judged it. ¡°According to the law, the drugs that Lu Ming handled are enough to sentence him to death ten times over, although he is only an investor. But if legal procedures were followed, it could make him suffer greatly.¡± ¡°So the Old Mr. Lu instructed this way, is to prevent you from sending him to prison?¡± After all, Lu Ming is still Old Mr. Lu¡¯s grandson; even if he has made a grave mistake, Old Mr. Lu still can¡¯t bear to see him walk the road to his death. And Lu Yanchuan caught the unspoken message from Old Mr. Lu, which is why he was lenient with Lu Ming. However, it appears that Lu Ming has escaped calamity this time, but is it really the case? At least right now, Lu Ming doesn¡¯t feel like Lu Yanchuan has given him a way out; on the contrary, he feels that Lu Yanchuan¡¯s not sending him to prison is for making him suffer outside! The Gong Family¡¯s 10 percent stake was fully purchased by Lu Yanchuan at a market price of thirty per share, and the money obtained barely covered most of the deficit, with the remaining two hundred million in debt still stifling Lu Ming. Although he still holds five percent of Lu Group shares, just selling one percent would be enough to pay off the debt, these shares are his last resort that he absolutely cannot touch unless there¡¯s no other way! Calls from the bank pressuring for payment kept coming over and over, and Lu Ming, unable to bear the frustration, finally made a move when the bank threatened to freeze all his accounts. Once again, he dialed Jenfors¡¯s number. This time Jenfors did not pretend to be dead but picked up Lu Ming¡¯s call. ¡°Where have you been these past days! I¡¯m about to be driven insane! If you don¡¯t help me out now, I can¡¯t guarantee that I¡¯ll continue to cooperate with you!¡± After the call connected, a huge weight lifted from Lu Ming¡¯s heart. Two hundred million was not a large sum for Jenfors, but clearly, he didn¡¯t want to fork out the money for nothing. ¡°Lu, you should know that you have nothing now, and our cooperation has already become unnecessary. What you should be doing right now is begging me to help you pay your debts, not ordering me around in that tone!¡± Jenfors spoke in a relaxed tone, and Lu Ming could even hear the sound of music from the other end of the phone. Lu Ming was fuming with anger from these words; he¡¯d been on edge for half a month, living in fear and unease, yet this bastard was enjoying life! ¡°If this is your attitude, then I don¡¯t see a need for us to continue cooperating! Jin Si has long been interested in this drug formula, and I think he would be willing to pay a billion for it. Isn¡¯t that right, Jenfors?¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The color drained from Jenfors¡¯s face, no longer as relaxed as before. ¡°Lu, you should know that Jin Si is not a good partner.¡± ¡°I have no other choice, do I!¡± Lu Ming was unyielding, with even a strong notion that if Jenfors didn¡¯t retract his words, he would immediately hang up the phone. After weighing the pros and cons, it was Jenfors who made concessions. ¡°Alright, alright! I will help you pay off your debts. However, Lu, I hope this is the last incident within the country, otherwise, even if you cooperate with Jin Si, I won¡¯t lift a finger again!¡± Chapter 159 - 159 Dirk Group Chapter 159: Chapter 159 Dirk Group Since that day at the Lu Family old mansion when Old Mr. Lu stripped Lu Ming of his duties, almost a month had passed. Qiao Yi never saw Lu Ming again, and even Qiao Xin, who often frequented Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office, barely appeared. Qiao Yi did not think the two of them were turning over a new leaf and preparing to start anew. Instead, she suspected that they might be harboring some malicious schemes. This suspicion was not unfounded. According to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s conjecture, even if Lu Ming sold the Gong Family¡¯s shares, he would still be left with a debt of over a hundred million that he could not repay. Without selling shares of Lu Group, there were no other ways for Lu Ming to resolve this. However, not only did Lu Ming not sell any shares, but he also seemed to be busy with something else over the past month, showing no signs of urgency typical of someone being pressured by creditors. Not only was Qiao Yi puzzled, but Lu Yanchuan was also closely monitoring Lu Ming¡¯s activities. Half a month ago, Yan Xiyu sent a message saying she had intercepted a contact between Lu Ming and a foreign number, but it was just a one-time contact that did not occur again. That number was traced to country F, which made Lu Yanchuan recall a mysteriously deserted farm he and Qiao Yi had once visited in country F. Lu Yanchuan knew Lu Ming had contacts with those foreign powers, but he couldn¡¯t figure out what, with nothing left to his name, he could possibly engage in trade or cooperation. Days passed by, and on this day, as soon as Lu Yanchuan left for Lu Group, he received a call from Yan Xiyu. ¡°It¡¯s confirmed. Those in contact with Lu Ming are from Dirk Group. We don¡¯t know yet what the specifics of their deal are, just that Lu Ming is developing the domestic market for Dirk Group.¡± Dirk Group was not well-known domestically, but internationally, it was a company with an infamous reputation that everyone detested. Especially notorious in Western Europe, Dirk Group was essentially a rogue company. Although no one wanted to do business with them, others had no choice because Dirk Group controlled nearly eighty percent of the pharmaceutical supplies circulating in Europe. No one is exempt from sickness and death, and thus everyone had to deal with Dirk Group. Before LQ Company emerged, Dirk Group was practically monopolizing the entire European market. After the rise of LQ Company, Dirk Group¡¯s power began to be restrained and compressed to the point where they were only flaunting their presence in country F. Three years ago, Dirk Group somehow gained support, snatching back some market share from LQ Company. Although still under LQ¡¯s firm grip, they were no longer gasping for survival as before. The feud between LQ and Dirk Group had lasted nearly a decade, and by now, it had reached a point of irreconcilable hostility. Knowing that Dirk Group was stretching its hands towards the domestic market, Lu Yanchuan certainly could not turn a blind eye. ¡°Block Dirk Group with all our might. Launch an all-out attack on Dirk Group. I want to prevent them from stepping a foot into our country!¡± Yan Xiyu knew what to do without Lu Yanchuan¡¯s orders. Unbeknownst to Lu Ming, his computer was like Yan Xiyu¡¯s backyard garden, where Yan could come and go as she pleased, taking whatever she wanted. Lu Ming had no idea about the grudge between Dirk and LQ. He didn¡¯t even know that Jenfors was a department manager for Dirk. The only thing he knew was that Jenfors was a leader of the underground forces in country F, whom he had met by chance on an overseas trip. The two encountered each other again at a pharmaceutical company in country F, and only then did they gradually become acquainted. Initially hesitant about manufacturing illicit drugs, Lu Ming eventually couldn¡¯t resist the lure of substantial profits and began to collaborate with Jenfors. Of course, he was unaware that Jenfors¡¯s approach was deliberately orchestrated by Dirk. Lu Ming¡¯s identity was easy to investigate. Lu Group held solid reputation and status domestically. When Lu Ming needed to rotate funds, Dirk took advantage and lured him in effortlessly. However, Dirk probably did not anticipate that Lu Ming¡¯s younger uncle, Lu Yanchuan, was the true owner of their mortal enemy, LQ Company. For an entire month, Lu Ming was busy aiding Jenfors in opening up the domestic market. But a month had passed, and he had still not completed the task, even facing numerous blows from various sides. ¡°Tonight at six, cargo arrives at the Tian City dock.¡± Lu Ming received a message from Jenfors on his phone. Checking the time, it was eleven in the morning; he still had time to get to Tian City. After getting in the car, Lu Ming began to grumble about Jenfors. The domestic market hadn¡¯t fully opened up, and here was Jenfors bringing in another batch of goods! Despite the long shelf life of these pharmaceuticals, leaving them without a sales channel was a waste of resources! Unable to explain this to Jenfors, he was taking the man¡¯s money and had to follow his lead. At the same time, having received news of Lu Ming heading towards Tian City, Lu Yanchuan took action, following Lu Ming there. Unknown to Lu Ming, an armed convoy was slowly following his car from a kilometer behind. From above, it looked like a small black dot followed by a string of smaller dots. Arriving at Tian City, Lu Ming went straight to the dock to await the delivery of goods. As the appointed time drew near, a growing sense of unease rose inside Lu Ming. Something felt off, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was, so he had his people stay alert to avoid any unexpected incidents. Finally, it was six o¡¯clock. Following the sound of a ship¡¯s horn, a huge cargo ship slowly entered the port. Workers swarmed onto the pier, with one substantial container after another being unloaded onto the wharf, and the cargo being moved onto trucks that were prepared outside. ¡°Boss, when do we make our move?¡± ¡°No rush, wait a bit more.¡± Lu Yanchuan watched his watch and signaled to move at the stroke of seven. Close to November, the sky was darkened by seven o¡¯clock. With only the pier¡¯s lights for visibility, one could only see shadows moving stealthily in the darkness. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s men dispersed silently, gradually encircling the entire dock. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream tore through the night air, followed by sudden silence across the dock, and then a wave of chaotic noise burst forth. ¡°What happened! Who was that shouting just now!¡± Lu Ming roared, with the workers looking at each other, all unsure of what had transpired. And while everyone was dumbfounded, a gunshot suddenly rang out from the darkness nearby. This was immediately followed by an even greater commotion! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 160 - 160 Lu Yanchuan Gets Injured Chapter 160: Chapter 160 Lu Yanchuan Gets Injured Combat was imminent, and under the horrified gaze of Lu Ming, a group of black-clothed, masked individuals suddenly charged out, beating the workers below without a word of explanation. The workers had no power to fight back and were all herded into two containers and locked up. The black-clothed figures swiftly took control of the harbor; Lu Ming had been so terrified by the sudden incident that he crouched on the spot, not daring to move an inch, even keeping his head down, shivering and huddled in a corner. Although he had committed many illegal deeds, a scene like one from a movie with bad elements in action was something he, as a pampered young master, couldn¡¯t bear. It seemed the black-clothed individuals had no intention of hurting anyone. After carefully inspecting the goods, the leader made a hand gesture, and like the tide receding, the black-clothed figures withdrew back into the darkness. Just as the leading black-clothed figure was about to retreat, suddenly a red dot appeared on his forehead. ¡°Sniper! There¡¯s a sniper! Be careful, boss!¡± A voice screamed, and instantly that black-clothed leader dropped his silhouette low to the ground and rolled behind two nearby containers. ¡°Can you pinpoint their location?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t determine the sniper¡¯s exact position; they¡¯re on the cargo ship, probably sent by Dirk Group to escort!¡± Lu Yanchuan glanced at the graze on his arm, completely disregarding the superficial wound, remembering the direction from which the bullets had come, he fired two shots with his backhand. Whether he hit anyone or not, at least he was able to cover his move to a safe area. ¡°Have the police been notified?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°They¡¯ve been called; they¡¯ll be here in three minutes.¡± Yan Xiyu noticed the injury on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and was about to request emergency treatment for him, but Lu Yanchuan gestured with his hand to stop them. ¡°Tell the men below to start retreating in batches in an orderly manner, making sure not to draw the police¡¯s attention.¡± Although he had a gun permit, not everyone among them did, and these people, used to being lawless abroad, always struggled to control themselves after returning to the country. This had to change. After issuing the order, Lu Yanchuan started searching through the shadows for Lu Ming. Although Old Mr. Lu had ordered him to go easy on Lu Ming, this time it wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t giving Lu Ming a way out; it was Lu Ming who was courting death, and the blame couldn¡¯t be laid on him. As the distant sound of police sirens approached, Lu Yanchuan quietly slipped away from the harbor. ¡°With such a simple operation, you got injured. It seems married men really are different.¡± Yan Xiyu mocked emotionlessly, while Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t be bothered with him; all he had on his mind was the headache of how to explain his injuries to Qiao Yi when he got back. Not one to be ignored, Yan Xiyu couldn¡¯t stand the solitude; he, a proper young master, was relegated to being a runner, and yet Lu Yanchuan, that damn man, still treated him this way! Utterly inhumane! These words, Yan Xiyu dared only to complain about in his mind; if he voiced them out loud, Lu Yanchuan would definitely show him the meaning of inhumanity. After a two-hour drive, Lu Yanchuan arrived back at Emperor Garden before ten o¡¯clock, somewhat later than usual but not excessively so. Before returning, Lu Yanchuan hesitated for a moment then found a railing pole and rubbed against it before heading back. Qiao Yi had come home early today, waiting a long time with no signs of Lu Yanchuan. When she called, he didn¡¯t answer, so she guessed he might be working overtime at the company. Without calling again, she went to the study room to review the new documents on hand. Hearing noise from downstairs, Qiao Yi knew Lu Yanchuan had come back. Stepping out of the study and seeing Lu Yanchuan in such a disheveled state, she was shocked stiff. ¡°What happened to you? Ah! Why is your arm injured!¡± Qiao Yi cried out in alarm and ran down the stairs, pulling Lu Yanchuan to sit on the sofa. She wanted to touch the wound on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm but didn¡¯t dare to. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a scrape from a car that lost control on my way back. It¡¯s just a superficial injury, not important.¡± Lu Yanchuan had already thought up an excuse on the road, and in front of Qiao Yi, he could lie without blinking an eye. ¡°How can a car just lose control like that! That¡¯s so irresponsible!¡± Qiao Yi muttered as she found the first aid kit in the house and carefully started dressing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wounds. Watching Qiao Yi, whose eyes were filled with urgency, Lu Yanchuan suddenly felt a calmness settle over him. Just looking at her eyes gave him a sense of peace. Could this be the feeling of home? When Lu Yanchuan was very young, his mother passed away, and Old Mr. Lu wasn¡¯t as good-tempered back then as he is now, especially towards Lu Yanchuan, demanding strictness. This kind of warm family atmosphere was something he had never experienced before. After Qiao Yi finished treating the wound on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, she looked up to find him staring at her intently. ¡°Is there something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Qiao Yi touched her face and tilted her head, puzzled. This movement struck Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart, even causing a ticklish feeling in his nose. Qiao Yi felt a bit shy under his gaze and busied herself with tidying up the medical kit to cover up her embarrassment. When she came back and saw Lu Yanchuan¡¯s dirty and disheveled clothes, she immediately forgot the slight awkwardness just now. ¡°The dignified Mr. Lu has now become Mr. Stinky. Go change your clothes quickly, and take off the ones you¡¯re wearing now. Remember not to get your wound wet when you wash up later!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s nagging didn¡¯t irritate Lu Yanchuan at all; on the contrary, he quite enjoyed the feeling of caring and even relished it. After being pushed into the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan finally snapped out of the warmth bestowed by Qiao Yi¡¯s care. The matter of the injury was glossed over by Lu Yanchuan, but Qiao Yi was bound to remind him to be more careful in walking and driving in the future. The next day after Qiao Yi went to the company, she received news of her promotion. Although Qiao Yi¡¯s promotion was indeed fast, the amount of work she had put into the cooperation between Qiao Family and Lu Group was evident to everyone, particularly those in her team, who felt that the reward was well-deserved. Where there¡¯s liking, there will be disliking; where there¡¯s happiness, there will be the unhappy. The office was in an uproar, with all sorts of talk, but as for these rumors, Qiao Yi always chose to ignore them. After all, with integrity, one does not fear the crooked shadow, and more often than not, Qiao Yi preferred to believe that the innocent would prove themselves clear. But this time, it was not an occasion for her to prove her innocence, as someone had leaked her identity within the company! ¡°I knew it! How could she achieve such great feats as soon as she arrived! The kind of fluke that Dianrui got was also stomped on by her!¡± ¡°And the relationship with the Lu Group cooperation! That¡¯s the benefit her husband gave her!¡± ¡°Exactly! Turns out she is a rich family¡¯s daughter and a lady of high society! She¡¯s not someone ordinary folks like us can compare with!¡± Chapter 161 - 161: Ten Million Level Project Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Ten Million Level Project Qiao Yi arrived at the company only to find almost everyone looking at her with an oddly hateful gaze, while the manager of her department was apologetic, waiting at the entrance of the office. ¡°So, has someone in the company exposed my identity?¡± ¡°Yes, we are investigating this issue and will give you a satisfactory answer as soon as possible.¡± Who would do such a boring thing, if not Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t think of anyone else. ¡°No need, just keep the investigation quiet, don¡¯t be too conspicuous. Also, call a general meeting in half an hour, I have something to announce.¡± Since Qiao Xin had already made her move, Qiao Yi would just follow suit. Walking from the main entrance to her department and on to the conference room, everyone¡¯s gaze at Qiao Yi varied, but jealousy and dissatisfaction constituted the majority. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know exactly what Qiao Xin had exposed among her colleagues, but the male colleagues were fine, almost all the female colleagues looked at Qiao Yi with resentment. It was as if Qiao Yi had stolen their boyfriends. Ignoring these thoughts, Qiao Yi gathered some materials and went straight to the meeting room to wait. As people received the meeting notice and arrived one by one, those who were joking or playing quieted down as soon as they entered the meeting room and saw Qiao Yi sitting in the head position. Time passed slowly, and the meeting room increasingly filled, leaving those who came later to stand at the back without places to sit. Qiao Yi ignored this, and just focused on her computer without looking up. Once the half-hour passed, Qiao Yi stood up under everyone¡¯s gaze and gave the department director a look to close the door of the meeting room. Qiao Yi scanned the room; those who were initially whispering and pointing at Qiao Yi immediately fell silent. ¡°Today, I have brought everyone here to discuss two matters. First, I am indeed the second daughter of President Qiao Benqing of Qiao Family, and the wife of President Lu Yanchuan of Lu Group, the so-called rich second-generation lady you speak of.¡± ¡°Second, this month I will form a team specifically to liaise with clients who bring in tens of millions, if anyone believes they are capable enough, feel free to come to me.¡± After delivering her speech, Qiao Yi waved to the department director and passed the materials in her hand to him. ¡°You host the rest of the meeting.¡± Qiao Yi returned to her original seat, completely indifferent to the shock her words caused among the attendants. What defines arrogance? What is pride? Qiao Yi had given them a vivid lesson. When there is an absolute gap in status and identity, any jealousy or animosity is a joke. Qiao Xin tried to trip Qiao Yi up with her identity, so Qiao Yi simply acknowledged it. She is a rich heiress, she is from a good family, she is indeed starting from a higher point than them ¨C so what? Don¡¯t talk about fairness; where is the fairness in this world? What exists is only reality. And now the reality is that Qiao Yi is indeed above them, and if they want to move up, they must pass through her. Frustrating? Unfair? This is society, this is life. Just like how Qiao Yi can act approachably when in a good mood, and use her status to crush them when she¡¯s not. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The content of the meeting that followed mattered to no one; they only cared about the two statements Qiao Yi had made. Or rather, they had forgotten the first statement right after hearing it, but the second statement concerned them significantly. Qiao Group isn¡¯t an old company in Capital City, but it still gets quite a few multimillion-dollar contracts, each of which is handled by a dedicated team. The company refers to these teams as ¡°elite groups,¡± and though the name may sound exaggerated, it¡¯s undeniable that being able to secure such projects did make one an elite in the company. Qiao Yi now had such a project in her hands, which Qiao Qiao left especially to support his sister. The other party is an international group entering the domestic market for the first time, establishing connections with Qiao Qiao through a college classmate of his. Typically, domestic companies vied to work on such international projects for two main reasons: foreign businesses are unfamiliar with the domestic market, giving local companies significant room for negotiation during collaborations. And secondly, companies looking to open new markets are generally generous, thus profits can be quite flexible. Understanding all this, Qiao Yi decisively decided to take on the project, and her first step was to create a liaison team. The team formation went smoothly; Qiao Group¡¯s employees were mostly under the age of thirty-five, enthusiastic about their work, and coupled with the lure of Qiao Yi¡¯s bonus, a ten-person team was assembled within two days. Maybe it was the effect of the words Qiao Yi spoke at the meeting, but in the days that followed, the company staff no longer stared at her like defensive hens. However, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have the time to care about their attitude towards her anymore, because the corporate partner had sent a message that their inspection team had arrived domestically, and a meeting had been scheduled for noon. ¡°I¡¯m so nervous!¡± ¡°Stop talking! You¡¯re making me nervous too! Look, Ms. Qiao isn¡¯t nervous, so you be quiet!¡± Qiao Yi brought the two youngest girls from the team; though it¡¯s not nice to say, but knowing the inspection team consisted entirely of grown men, it seemingly would be smoother with ¡°ladies¡¯ troops.¡± There were five members in the arriving inspection team, all handsome blonds and blued-eyed men. If Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t honed her aesthetic standards under Lu Yanchuan, she might have been just like these two tongue-tied young girls. Seems like the other party thought the same as she did, using such shameless tactics of sending handsome men! Qiao Yi sneered internally, quietly rolled her eyes at her two useless subordinates, staring them into nervous silence, then greeted the arriving with a cheerful smile. ¡°It¡¯s very nice to meet you, Mr. Jenfors.¡± Mr. Jenfors, the most handsome among the group, ignored the extended hand from Qiao Yi and came forward to give Qiao Yi a warm hug instead. ¡°What a pleasure to meet you, Miss Qiao, such a beautiful lady!¡± Chapter 162 - 162: Not a Good Person Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Not a Good Person Qiao Yi was surprised at how fluently Jenfors spoke Chinese, which increased her positive impression of this handsome guy, but also made her a bit more cautious. This foreign handsome guy might not be easy to deal with, and she might need to change her initial plan. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mr. Jenfors speaks Chinese so well, it seems our cooperation will go even more smoothly!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve loved Chinese culture since I was very young, and having the opportunity to come to China for business this time is truly an honor.¡± Jenfors¡¯s blue eyes were filled with sincerity, enhancing Qiao Yi¡¯s impression, but her wariness deepened. Qiao Yi always felt something odd about Jenfors; although he was handsome and his attitude was exceptionally sincere, she felt something was off about him, creating a sense of discordance. Both sides exchanged pleasantries and got into the car. After Qiao Yi arranged the hotel and sent the group to the hotel, she saw Lu Yanchuan at the entrance. ¡°What people were those just now?¡± ¡°They were clients from my company. Why are you here?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have time to ask more before being pulled into his car by Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Hey! I had two colleagues who came with me, they are still¡­¡± ¡°I will have someone send them back.¡± Lu Yanchuan took them and left without further discussion, leaving the two young ladies huddled together and whispering excitedly. ¡°Ah!!! Did you see that? That¡¯s the president of Lu Group, our team leader¡¯s husband! He¡¯s really handsome!!!¡± ¡°He really is handsome! Even more so than Mr. Jenfors! If my boyfriend were half as handsome as him, I¡¯d be completely satisfied!¡± Ma Yu listened to the two young ladies¡¯ uninhibited discussions with a headache, wondering whether he should follow Qiao Yi¡¯s instructions to send them back to the Qiao Family, or should he firmly defend his boss¡¯s dignity and leave these two talking about it? Qiao Yi, being forcefully taken away by Lu Yanchuan, was getting angry with him. She still had work in the afternoon, the project planning needed revising, and she had a pile of work to do; how could she just leave with Lu Yanchuan! ¡°Please take me back, I still have work this afternoon.¡± ¡°Take the day off.¡± Qiao Yi, infuriated by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s domineering attitude, turned away, not wanting to deal with him. But in her anger, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t realize how panicked Lu Yanchuan was when he saw her standing with Jenfors. He even nearly lost control and attacked Jenfors. Jenfors seemed harmless on the outside but was terrifying beneath the surface. Over the years, Lu Yanchuan had clashed with Jenfors countless times and knew this man even better than Jenfors knew himself. In that moment, Lu Yanchuan felt as if all the hair on his body stood on end. Even when a sniper aimed at his heart, he had never been so tense, but seeing Qiao Yi standing beside Jenfors, he was frightened. Yes, Lu Yanchuan was sure that his emotion just then was fear, extreme fear. He couldn¡¯t imagine how he would react if Qiao Yi was harmed. He would rather forcibly take Qiao Yi away and face her accusations than watch her stand beside this dangerous man. The air in the car seemed to freeze. Qiao Yi sneakily glanced at Lu Yanchuan through the rearview mirror and saw that his face was stern, his lips tightly pursed, looking very angry. She was the one being taken away, what¡¯s there for Lu Yanchuan to be mad about! ¡°This client, I¡¯ll join you in the discussion next time.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Yi let out a puzzled sound. Realizing what Lu Yanchuan had said, she immediately turned around discontentedly. ¡°This is my client, okay! If you want to talk to clients, go find those from your own company! Besides, it would be so awkward to have you sitting there when we discuss the collaboration!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be awkward, and remember, you absolutely cannot meet with him alone.¡± Actually, Lu Yanchuan wanted to say that he didn¡¯t allow Qiao Yi to meet with Jenfors, but there were many things Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know, so he had to phrase it differently. Qiao Yi froze, then leaned closer to Lu Yanchuan curiously, staring intently at his face, refusing to miss even a slight change in expression. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not jealous because Jenfors is handsome, are you?¡± The more Qiao Yi thought about it, the more she was convinced she had guessed the truth, and it even affected her image of Lu Yanchuan! Lu Yanchuan feeling jealous? That was truly shocking! No, it was terrifying! ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Seeing the silly smile on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s initial vigilance and worry dissipated, leaving only a hint of helplessness. ¡°Nothing, nothing, hehe!¡± Qiao Yi was no longer angry and even felt a little excited and surprised. She didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, and she could even smile silly at him. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, that Jenfors is not a good person. Be cautious when you deal with him.¡± ¡°Ah!?¡± Qiao Yi did not expect Lu Yanchuan to want to meet Jenfors with her for that reason. Although she felt a slight disappointment, curiosity and confusion followed. Someone Lu Yanchuan deemed dangerous must not be a simple character. Qiao Yi did find Jenfors a bit strange today, but she didn¡¯t feel any danger from him! ¡°Just a business partner, what danger could there be?¡± Lu Yanchuan did not answer Qiao Yi¡¯s question and instead turned to lean on the back of the chair with his eyes closed, resting. He couldn¡¯t discuss the grievances between Lu Group and Dirk with Qiao Yi. The only thing Lu Yanchuan could do was to force Qiao Yi to heed his warnings. Although Qiao Yi was a very decisive person, she knew when to take the sound advice of others. Since Lu Yanchuan said that the man was not a good person, of course, Qiao Yi would not meet Jenfors in private again. She even became more cautious when Jenfors invited her out. After escorting the inspection team for two days, Qiao Yi finally confirmed the time and place for both parties to discuss the cooperation. Lu Yanchuan insisted on joining, and Qiao Yi had no choice but to let him join, but she made him promise not to talk out of turn. Lu Yanchuan accepted these conditions one by one, which made Qiao Yi even more puzzled. Was Lu Yanchuan being too cautious about this Jenfors? The meeting place was a restaurant not far from the hotel. Because of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s warning, this time Qiao Yi didn¡¯t bring the girls from her team, but instead brought two of the strongest men to sign the contract. In a private room, eight or nine people were all in plain black suits, those who knew understood they were dressing formally for signing a contract, those who didn¡¯t would think they were gearing up for a fight! Chapter 163 - 163: Dont Want Her to Work Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Don¡¯t Want Her to Work Jenfors obviously didn¡¯t expect that the girl Qiao Yi brought with her a couple of days ago was pure and cute, and today she brought a bunch of burly men. However, he was a worldly man after all, and only paused slightly before greeting her with a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Miss Qiao. I¡¯ve been truly looking forward to meeting you!¡± That foreigner even trying to impress her with his words, but somehow, it sounded awkward. Qiao Yi kept her smile, took the initiative to shake Jenfors¡¯ hand firmly and did not give him a chance to hug her. Over these two days, although Lu Yanchuan verbally stated that he didn¡¯t want her to meet Jenfors because he is not a good person, Qiao Yi felt more like Lu Yanchuan was just jealous! Because Jenfors is handsome! But Qiao Yi was very self-aware, her husband was by her side, of course, she couldn¡¯t make her husband jealous! After the pleasantries, they seated themselves, and coincidentally, Jenfors and Lu Yanchuan were sitting on either side of Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi felt a headache seeing how the seating was arranged, putting Lu Yanchuan and Jenfors so close, could this really be no problem! She couldn¡¯t ask to change seats at this moment, so she just had to bear it. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, how have you been enjoying these two days? Have you had a fun time? If you like the Capital City, after signing the contract, Mr. Jenfors can stay a few more days in Capital City!¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, you are too kind. Capital City is really a nice place, but my ruthless boss probably wouldn¡¯t give me the chance to relax and sightsee!¡± Jenfors made a helpless face, shrugging his shoulders and curling his neck that made Qiao Yi chuckle lightly. The atmosphere at the dinner table was very relaxed, everyone was satisfied except for Lu Yanchuan who remained expressionless. ¡°Miss Qiao, won¡¯t you introduce us? This is¡­¡± ¡°He is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m her husband, and also her employee.¡± Qiao Yi choked, not expecting Lu Yanchuan to introduce himself like that. Husband is fine, but why say employee! As expected, after hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s self-introduction, Jenfors squeezed his eyes smiling mischievously at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help feeling embarrassed, pinching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm hard twice to tell him to stay quiet and behave decoratively without causing further trouble! After dinner came the formal business discussion, the Qiao Family had sent their cooperation proposal to Jenfors early on, but Jenfors had not made a clear decision yet. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, you should know that China is about to step into December, if we can¡¯t confirm the cooperation before the New Year, it might affect next year¡¯s schedule, so I hope Mr. Jenfors can respond to me as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, you should know, I also hope to sign the contract and start our cooperation sooner, but your company¡¯s proposal doesn¡¯t really meet our demands. I think we need some adjustments on some terms.¡± Jenfors said, taking out two documents from his briefcase and pushing them towards Qiao Yi. ¡°This one is the document Miss Qiao sent over, and this one is the version modified by my side.¡± Qiao Yi took the modified document and started flipping through, but her expression turned unpleasant after a few pages. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, are you seriously intending to cooperate with us? The terms in this document, I¡¯m afraid no domestic company would agree to.¡± Nonsense, who would agree to a treaty-like contract, unless they were a fool! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Since my side has already sent a survey team to your country, we are indeed sincere about cooperating with Qiao Family. These modified terms can surely be discussed, but we also need Miss Qiao to show some sincerity.¡± Sincerity? What sincerity do they still want? The expenses of the five people in Capital City these days have all been borne by Qiao Family, and they dare to talk about sincerity? Qiao Yi¡¯s face was unhappy, while Jenfors was confidently continuing on. ¡°Miss Qiao should know, our company has options other than Qiao Family in your country, and ultimately we chose Qiao Family, considering the face of Qiao Qiao from your company, I hope that our cooperation will not be abandoned halfway!¡± This was clearly a blatant threat, understandably as he said, there are many enterprises in China available for cooperation, but they also needed to realize that the Qiao Family didn¡¯t have to cooperate with them! Qiao Yi¡¯s lips moved as she was about to speak, she saw Lu Yanchuan suddenly stand up, pulling her arm to stand up as well. ¡°Since we can¡¯t agree on the contract today, perhaps we should each go back and consider whether it¡¯s necessary to continue this cooperation.¡± After saying that, Lu Yanchuan pulled Qiao Yi and headed out. The people brought by Qiao Yi saw their group leader leave, naturally they wouldn¡¯t stay either, and left together. This sudden change was something Jenfors hadn¡¯t expected, indeed leaving him momentarily at a loss for words. Seen stubborn people, but never such stubbornness! The negotiation had just begun, and one party left prematurely? Jenfors admitted that his demands were too much, but wasn¡¯t it a discussion? Why not even discuss a bit before everyone ran off! Not only Jenfors thought this, but Qiao Yi who was dragged out thought the same! ¡°Hey! Lu Yanchuan! Aren¡¯t you overdoing it! We agreed not to disturb my business talks, why did you just drag me out like this!¡± ¡°Jenfors is not a good person, he has no good intentions¡­¡± ¡°Even if he¡¯s not a good person! But what does that have to do with our business talks! I¡¯m not a policeman, there¡¯s no need to consider whether someone¡¯s character is good or not in a cooperation!¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and interrupted Lu Yanchuan, from the moment Jenfors appeared, Lu Yanchuan maintained vigilance and caution, even making Qiao Yi somewhat confused. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! What on earth are you trying to do!¡± Qiao Yi shook off Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, glaring at him angrily. The few people who came out after were stunned, they had all heard of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s prowess, could Qiao Yi really be this tough against him! Manager is mighty! Long live the manager! The few men stood on the side, their faces turning red, as if they were the ones quarreling. Lu Yanchuan with a deep gaze looked at Qiao Yi, making her fervor gradually subside, only managing to stubbornly glare back at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Lu Family and Qiao Family can afford to support you, I can support you, so¡­¡± ¡°So your purpose, is that you don¡¯t want me to work properly?¡± Qiao Yi widened her eyes incredulously staring at Lu Yanchuan. The turmoil in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart was unknown to Qiao Yi, and Lu Yanchuan did not intend to tell her. If Qiao Yi misunderstanding him would make her give up cooperating with Jenfors, then so be it! Chapter 164 - 164: Sneaky Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Sneaky Qiao Yi felt a chill in her heart, followed by a surge of violent anger. What did Lu Yanchuan mean by that! What did he mean when he said the Qiao Family and the Lu Family could afford to support her, and that he could afford it too! She had just decided to work hard at the company, was Lu Yanchuan looking down on her now? Watching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s silent demeanor, Qiao Yi¡¯s heart sank deeper and deeper. Was he tacitly agreeing with that attitude? ¡°Lu Yanchuan! You¡¯re going too far!¡± Qiao Yi pushed Lu Yanchuan away and turned to get into the car back to the company. Lu Yanchuan was still thinking about whether or not to confess Jenfors¡¯ identity to Qiao Yi, but by the time he snapped back to reality, Qiao Yi had already run off in anger, leaving him confused. It seemed like Qiao Yi had really misunderstood him, and she seemed quite angry, too. Having left the restaurant, Qiao Yi gradually calmed down as well, silently cursing herself for being impatient. She had been able to face Qiao Xin¡¯s provocations with composure, so why had she lost her stability after just a few words from Lu Yanchuan! Seeing that Qiao Yi¡¯s expression had eased a little, the other two in the car also relaxed a bit. ¡°Ms. Qiao, what should we do next¡­¡± ¡°What should we do? Do it right! Go back and get in touch with Jenfors again, find out their specific requirements, make targeted revisions according to their requirements, and absolutely secure this project!¡± The more Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t allow her to work properly, the more determined she was to win this project and show him whether she really had the ability to support herself or not! Although she was willing to be a freeloader, she could not be an unambitious one! To conquer the project, Qiao Yi simply moved into the temporary rest room provided by the company, working day and night on document revisions. Influenced by her, the entire interfacing team cultivated a strong working atmosphere, even drawing the attention of other employees at the company. Indeed, in the midst of everyone¡¯s friendly working environment, suddenly there was a group of employees working as if their lives depended on it, making it seem as if the others were merely slacking off. In order not to give the impression to company leaders that they were slacking off, others had no choice but to buck up and work diligently. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Yi had no idea that her momentary act of defiance out of spite towards Lu Yanchuan had such an impact on the company; she just felt that the deeper she got into the project, the more problems there seemed to be! ¡°I thought she was some bigshot. I heard this project was personally assigned to her by the vice president, but almost half a month has passed, and she¡¯s made no progress!¡± ¡°If I were her, I¡¯d be too ashamed to see anyone! Look at her, still posturing every day in the company!¡± ¡°Exactly, I have no idea who she¡¯s trying to impress!¡± Qiao Yi stood outside the tea room, the two people inside chattering away, completely unaware that the subject of their discussion was right outside, listening to every clear word they spoke. Hesitating about whether to go in or not, Qiao Yi heard the two stop talking and prepare to leave the room. Instinctively, Qiao Yi hid around the corner, preventing them from seeing her. However, realizing what she had just done, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression turned odd, and she walked out from behind with a frown on her face. The two who had left the tea room separated, and Qiao Yi, coming out, saw the woman in a beige suit looking around before heading outside the company without attracting attention. What was this person sneaking around for? Qiao Yi absentmindedly put down her cup and followed her. Following her led Qiao Yi straight to the hotel where Jenfors was staying. Hiding at a distance, Qiao Yi saw Jenfors and the woman leave the hotel together, and she hurriedly continued to follow them. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, our company really can¡¯t accept your requests. If your company insists on them, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to cooperate.¡± Qiao Yi recognized this woman; she was the deputy director of the HR department, and additionally, she had another identity ¨C she was Qiao Xin¡¯s college roommate! When Qiao Xin was still in school, Qiao Yi had visited and met this woman. Her fawning behavior towards Qiao Xin left a deep impression on Qiao Yi. Later, Qiao Yi only heard she had joined the Qiao Family company, not expecting to encounter her at this time. Clearly, Jenfors was not keen on giving up this cooperation, but he didn¡¯t want to submit to the Qiao Family¡¯s demands either, finding himself in a dilemma. Qiao Yi sat in a corner and quietly began to record, and just as she started recording, the woman spoke up again. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, to be honest, our Qiao Family doesn¡¯t lack this cooperation with your company. If you don¡¯t agree to our terms, there really is no need to continue this partnership!¡± The woman somehow produced a document and threw it in front of Jenfors. Jenfors¡¯ face was already looking displeased, he didn¡¯t even glance at the document on the table, instead glaring unpleasantly at the woman opposite him. ¡°Just by your attitude, I think we have no need to continue this partnership either¡­¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Just as Jenfors was about to leave, Qiao Yi finally stood up and stopped him. The appearance of Qiao Yi took the others by surprise. Jenfors¡¯ first reaction was to turn and look at the woman he had just been speaking with. Hadn¡¯t she said that Qiao Yi was handling other projects and that she had taken over this one? And that woman looked surprised, or rather, panicked. She hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Yi to appear at this time! She was so close to making Jenfors give up cooperating with the Qiao Family, why did she have to show up right now! ¡°Mr. Jenfors, I think there may be some misunderstandings between us.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, the Qiao Family is a company that my Taylor Group cannot afford to climb up to. I apologize for disturbing you these past days!¡± Jenfors was still a gentleman, not directly getting angry with Qiao Yi. He just stepped back, trying to bypass Qiao Yi and leave. ¡°Mr. Jenfors! This person is not the one from our company responsible for interfacing with your company! Please listen to my explanation!¡± After Qiao Yi appeared, the woman knew that her mission was over. Hearing Qiao Yi speak, she suddenly turned sly and began to cry, clutching at Qiao Yi. ¡°Ms. Qiao! You couldn¡¯t let go of your pride and didn¡¯t want to break off relations with Mr. Jenfors, so I followed your orders to communicate with Mr. Jenfors. How can you talk about me like that now!¡± ¡°You¡¯d be wasting your talent if you¡¯re not acting!¡± Qiao Yi shook off the woman¡¯s hand and turned to Jenfors, making a gesture for him to please follow her. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, in the past few days I¡¯ve re-evaluated our respective requirements and have a new planning proposal with me. Please take a look with me to see if there¡¯s anything else that needs to be modified.¡± Chapter 165 - 165 Qiao Yis Discovery Chapter 165: Chapter 165 Qiao Yi¡¯s Discovery Jenfors¡¯s gaze shifted between Qiao Yi and the woman before he finally softened his expression. ¡°It seems Miss Qiao has encountered some trouble. Let¡¯s discuss the plan another day. Miss Qiao, you should resolve your troubles first.¡± With a slight bow, Jenfors still departed, and Qiao Yi smiled as she saw him off. Once Jenfors had left, Qiao Yi turned coldly to face the woman. ¡°Li Feng? I remember your name, you always sucked up to Qiao Xin during school, and now after graduation, you¡¯re still a lapdog to Qiao Xin, aren¡¯t you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s mocking and stern gaze frightened Li Feng to the point where she dared not meet her eyes. Qiao Yi stepped forward forcefully, causing Li Feng to retreat step by step until her legs weakened and she sat down on a chair in terror. ¡°You dare to sabotage the company¡¯s projects secretly. You should be well aware of the consequences. In order to kiss up to Qiao Xin, have you completely lost your mind?¡± Qiao Yi sat down across Li Feng, rhythmically tapping her fingers on the table. Li Feng seemed like she had been fished out of water, covered in cold sweat despite the November weather. Looking at her state, Qiao Yi lost the desire to continue speaking. Just a puppet and a minion; eliminating her would only waste her own energy. ¡°I¡¯ll resign myself¡­¡± As Qiao Yi was about to stand up and leave, Li Feng suddenly spoke up with a trembling voice. ¡°No, no, no, you need to understand one thing, you are dismissed by the company due to violating company policies, not because you resigned voluntarily, got it?¡± Qiao Yi did not intend to leave Li Feng any way out. When she had been ready to help Qiao Xin against her, she should have foreseen this outcome. Everything was her own doing, and whether she could find a job after being dismissed was beyond Qiao Yi¡¯s concern. With Qiao Yi¡¯s final remark, Li Feng¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. Being dismissed by Qiao Family for such reasons practically ended her career; finding a similar job in the future would be impossible! The dismissal of an employee went unnoticed while the only change within Qiao Family was that no one dared discuss anything about Qiao Yi at the company. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t mind the attitudes of these people in the company, as long as they didn¡¯t bother her directly. What troubled Qiao Yi the most was the current project. Perhaps influenced by Li Feng, Jenfors¡¯ attitude became noticeably tougher the next time he met Qiao Yi, insisting on terms that were initially up for negotiation. ¡°This project has been delayed too long. By December, this project must be concluded. This year¡¯s bonuses depend on it; we absolutely cannot drag it into next year!¡± Qiao Yi and her team of ten sat solemnly in the meeting room. After another overnight meeting, someone unable to withstand the intense workload suggested a change in strategy. ¡°I will discuss the changes in the plan with Jenfors again. If there are no other suggestions today, let¡¯s end here. Take tomorrow off; everyone go home.¡± Though it was a holiday, the group didn¡¯t seem excited at all, looking as lifeless as frostbitten eggplants. Qiao Yi left the company first; these few days, she hadn¡¯t gone to see Lu Yanchuan and hadn¡¯t returned to Qiao Family, but stayed at Feng Siyu¡¯s place. ¡°My dear ancestor, how long do you plan to hash it out with Mr. Lu? Not returning home every day isn¡¯t right!¡± Feng Siyu and Qiao Yi lay side by side on the couch. Qiao Yi snorted with her nose, her face full of dissatisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m not going back, and he isn¡¯t coming to find me either. Might as well let it be. For all I know, he has already forgotten about me, and I¡¯d rather be left alone!¡± If at first Qiao Yi acted out of spite towards Lu Yanchuan, over the past few days, she was genuinely angry with him. She had moved out almost half a month ago, and Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t even made a peep, which nearly made Qiao Yi explode on the spot! The more Lu Yanchuan ignored her, the less Qiao Yi wanted to give in. She¡¯d rather cry under the blankets, feeling wronged, than let Lu Yanchuan look down on her. Feng Siyu rolled his eyes and kicked Qiao Yi¡¯s butt with his foot. ¡°Keep being stubborn then. If some vixen seduces your Mr. Lu, see how you¡¯ll cry then!¡± Qiao Yi hummed and didn¡¯t reply, stubbornly refusing to back down! Unable to reason with this stubborn girl, Feng Siyu suddenly thought of another idea. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Seeing how busy you¡¯ve been these past days, and since you have a day off tomorrow, why don¡¯t you come with me to this year¡¯s award ceremony?¡± Feng Siyu bounced up and lunged onto Qiao Yi, not caring whether she agreed or not, and began dragging Qiao Yi to pick a dress for her. With nothing to do on her rest day, Qiao Yi let Feng Siyu take her away. The award ceremony was actually more of a gathering for celebrities. Given Feng Siyu¡¯s status, he didn¡¯t need to attend, but he agreed just to get Qiao Yi out and cheer her up. Almost everyone present received an award; Feng Siyu alone went up to collect four trophies, all of which he stuffed into Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. Holding the four heavy glass trophies, Qiao Yi¡¯s smile almost couldn¡¯t hold, and she really wanted to smash them on Feng Siyu¡¯s face! The award ceremony lasted over three hours, followed by a so-called celebration banquet. It was essentially a more relaxed large-scale gathering. Fatefully, the venue for the celebration banquet was at the hotel where Jenfors was staying; rooms were above the fifth floor, while restaurants and large banquet halls were below. Feng Siyu took Qiao Yi along, and admiring the handsome men and beautiful women did indeed help her relax quite a bit. However, the consequence of relaxing was that she carelessly drank a couple more glasses than intended. She didn¡¯t care whether Feng Siyu heard her or not, hugged Feng Siyu¡¯s neck, and said something before staggering toward the restroom. After briefly washing her face in the restroom, Qiao Yi felt a bit more sober, though her limbs were still not entirely under her control. Qiao Yi touched up her makeup, packed up her things, then staggered outside. She had just reached the doorway when she heard voices outside, which sounded like two familiar people. ¡°Lu, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not helping you this time. When did you not know that LQ was watching you? I already did you a favor by getting you out of the dock, considering our friendship. Doesn¡¯t China have a saying, ¡®be content and you will always be happy¡¯?¡± ¡°Jenfors! It was you who insisted I go pick up the goods that day. Would I have been trapped in the seawater for so long otherwise? Now that things have gone wrong, you want to back out, isn¡¯t that too much!¡± Qiao Yi walked out of the restroom and leaned against the wall, not daring to make a sound. The ones talking nearby were none other than Lu Ming and Jenfors! Chapter 166 - 166 Jenforss Identity Chapter 166: Chapter 166 Jenfors¡¯s Identity Under the influence of alcohol, Qiao Yi¡¯s mind was not as quick as usual. She struggled to figure out why Lu Ming and Jenfors knew each other. The two people conversing were getting closer, and just as they were about to walk to the restroom, it was too late for Qiao Yi to realize she wanted to retreat back into the bathroom! ¡°Mmph!¡± Qiao Yi could already hear the footsteps of Jenfors and Lu Ming, when suddenly a hand reached out from the side, covered her mouth, and dragged her into the men¡¯s restroom close by. Behind her was a man¡¯s broad chest; aside from the faint scent of alcohol, there was also the smell of a cologne that was very familiar to Qiao Yi. It was Lu Yanchuan! How could he be here! Qiao Yi¡¯s hands grappled with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, but she stopped struggling and instead tried to turn around to see if the person holding her was indeed Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The man behind her deliberately lowered his voice, but even with just two words, Qiao Yi could still recognize him. It was Lu Yanchuan. It was Lu Yanchuan who had brought her into the restroom. The restroom door opened, and Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan were squeezed into a tiny stall, while Lu Ming and Jenfors continued talking outside. ¡°I don¡¯t care, just keep me out of your future business dealings. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re in talks with Qiao Family, and you must have investigated that Qiao Yi you¡¯re dealing with. It¡¯s definitely more convenient to go through her than through me!¡± ¡°I know that without you telling me. But this woman is not easy to deal with. I¡¯ve been trying to replace Taylor¡¯s contract with mine for days, but to no avail. Are all the people from China¡¯s great families this tough?¡± Lu Ming deeply sighed in agreement. Not to mention Lu Yanchuan, just Qiao Yi alone was enough to be a headache! Although it seemed that Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t targeted him explicitly, ever since she married into the Lu Family, his position in the family had invisibly decreased quite a bit. Previously, he was considered the heir of the third generation of the Lu Family. Because Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t interested in women, and the two children of the eldest of the Lu Family weren¡¯t up to the task, both outsiders and Lu Ming himself regarded him as the future heir of the Lu Family. But now, Lu Yanchuan was married. Lu Yanchuan was not even thirty yet; once Qiao Yi had a child, it was uncertain who the future heir of the Lu Family would be! Just the thought of this made Lu Ming furious, and he waved his hand, not wanting to continue this topic. Jenfors and Lu Ming finished up and left the restroom feeling relaxed, while Qiao Yi hidden in the stall was already flushed and at a loss for what to do. Lu Yanchuan looked at the bewildered Qiao Yi in his arms, having smelled the alcohol on her, and now she could not even stand steadily but had to lean on him to avoid sliding to the ground. The tension from just before had made her sweat, and now Qiao Yi was even more drunk, getting confused after being picked up by Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Lu¡­Lu Yanchuan? Why is it you?¡± The drunken little woman, with an adorable confusion she never showed usually, gently touched Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face and giggled. Lu Yanchuan left the hotel through the back door without changing his expression and carried Qiao Yi all the way to the underground car park. He stuffed her into the car, but suddenly, Qiao Yi woke up as if alarmed, jumping up from the back seat. ¡°I hate you! You¡¯re a bad person! Get away from me!¡± Lu Yanchuan held Qiao Yi down in the seat and gestured to Ma Yu to drive. As for Qiao Yi¡¯s struggles and mutterings, Lu Yanchuan utterly ignored them. Qiao Yi alone managed to give Lu Yanchuan a disheveled feeling, with arms wrapped and legs exposed, pressing down on her legs only to let go of her body again; in short, there was never a moment of stillness. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only was she fidgety, but Qiao Yi was also mumbling in her mouth about how much Lu Yanchuan had wronged her. After a chaotic night passed, Qiao Yi woke up the next day only to find herself lying in a very familiar room. Beside her was a scorching body pressed tightly against her back, with an arm also wrapped around her waist. It took a while for Qiao Yi to recover her senses, her head still hissing with pain; that was the price of drunkenness. ¡°How come you woke up so early, don¡¯t you want to sleep a bit longer?¡± The man behind her, whom Qiao Yi deliberately ignored, moved, and Qiao Yi finally couldn¡¯t ignore her current situation any longer and sat up with her head in her hands. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Qiao Yi stupidly shook her head, trying hard to recall the events of yesterday, with her memory halting at her being carried out of the men¡¯s restroom by Lu Yanchuan. ¡°You, yesterday¡­¡± The words she heard before her memory disappeared echoed in her ears; Qiao Yi no longer cared about arguing with Lu Yanchuan about why she was brought back but instead clutched Lu Yanchuan again with a solemn expression and asked. ¡°Who exactly is Jenfors? He¡¯s not with the Taylor Group, is he? Why does he know Lu Ming? Is there some relationship between them?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s barrage of questions didn¡¯t give Lu Yanchuan a chance to answer; or to be precise, just by looking at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression Qiao Yi already knew the answers to her questions. Indeed, the memories of yesterday weren¡¯t her hallucinations; they truly existed! ¡°So, who exactly is Jenfors, that he can make you so wary and tense, and even have a connection with Lu Ming!¡± By this time, even if Lu Yanchuan wanted to continue hiding the identity of Jenfors, he could not. Lu Yanchuan sat up from the bed, hesitated a moment, and then said. ¡°Do you know about the Dirk Group?¡± ¡°The Dirk Group¡­ I remember it¡¯s a very famous company, but their reputation isn¡¯t very good.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded, then continued speaking. ¡°The Dirk Group is a capital monopoly company from Western Europe, and before the Lu Family¡¯s company appeared, had always monopolized Western Europe¡¯s economy; internationally, it¡¯s also called the Western European rogue company! Jenfors is a high-ranking executive in this company, with a very high status, and is greatly trusted by the president of the Dirk Group.¡± Qiao Yi was already stunned, although she always felt that Jenfors gave off an odd vibe, she had never thought that Jenfors would have such an identity! ¡°But why would an executive of the Dirk Group become the leader of the Taylor Group¡¯s inspection team? Even going as far as to sign contracts on behalf of the Taylor Group?¡± ¡°In recent years, the Dirk Group has lost a lot of the Western European market due to the suppression from the Lu Family¡¯s company, and thus they have set their sights on China. Jenfors is ostensibly representing the Taylor Group to sign contracts, but in fact, he likely wants to substitute one thing for another and change the contract to favor the Dirk Group!¡± By then, as long as Jenfors uses some tricks, the contract will have legal effect, and the Qiao Family will have nothing to do but to swallow their own teeth! ¡°Jenfors actually had such a plan! No wonder every time it came to signing the contract, he would find excuses to delay; every time I looked at the contract, he wanted to revise it again, waiting right here for me!¡± Chapter 167 - 167: A Short Parting is Better than a New Marriage Chapter 167: Chapter 167: A Short Parting is Better than a New Marriage Qiao Yi was filled with righteous indignation, feeling both alarmed and angry, and even a bit relieved. Fortunately, Jenfors was a mess, and luckily she had truly confronted Jenfors without backing down! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, she might have already signed the contract and pushed the Qiao Family into a fire pit! Clutching her blanket, Qiao Yi had already mentally chopped Jenfors into eighty-one pieces in her mind, and only after venting did she belatedly think of a more important issue. ¡°Although Jenfors is from Dirk Group, we have no evidence. We have no proof that he intended to sabotage the cooperation between Qiao Family and Taylor, nor proof that he wanted to trap Qiao Family!¡± Qiao Yi fell into depression again, having results but no evidence was the most suffocating point! ¡°I¡¯ve found some leads, and I¡¯ll let you know once I have the results.¡± With Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, Qiao Yi immediately felt relieved. However¡­ Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze fell on Lu Yanchuan, slowly moved down a bit then quickly retracted like she got an electric shock. ¡°This time¡­ thank you, but it doesn¡¯t mean I came back by myself! I¡¯m leaving!¡± Qiao Yi clutched her blanket about to get out of bed and dress, but before her feet even touched the ground, Lu Yanchuan grabbed the blanket, pulling her back into bed along with the blanket. ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°Stop making trouble.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words made Qiao Yi even angrier, her hands forcefully pushing against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body, staring up at him obstinately. ¡°What do you mean stop making trouble! It was clearly you who looked down on me first! These days you¡¯ve also been ignoring me! Now you are saying I¡¯m causing trouble! Do you even make sense!¡± Qiao Yi was so angry that her nostrils flared, but her aggressive demeanor inexplicably made Lu Yanchuan want to laugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t ignore you. These past days I¡¯ve been tracking down Jenfors and his subordinates, worried that any action might startle them so I didn¡¯t come to see you.¡± Not only that, Lu Yanchuan took LQ¡¯s people and completely wiped out Dirk¡¯s newly established bases in the country, his chance encounter with Qiao Yi yesterday was also to follow Jenfors. Though such tasks could be handled by his subordinates, when it came to Qiao Yi¡¯s safety, Lu Yanchuan inexplicably didn¡¯t let others take action, instead, he personally stepped in. None of this was told to Qiao Yi by Lu Yanchuan, he just gently kissed her on the forehead. ¡°I won¡¯t look down on you, you are my lawful wife, sharing honor and disgrace with me, how could I look down on you.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face was already beet red, she covered her mouth silent, afraid she might inadvertently grunt, which would be utterly embarrassing. Lu Yanchuan seemed to have fallen in love with the kissing gesture, his lips moved down a bit and landed on Qiao Yi¡¯s nose tip. It¡¯s ill-advised to tease a man right after waking up in the morning, although it was the person himself stirring up his feelings. Qiao Yi was already back asleep when she was carried out of the bathroom, and after Lu Yanchuan placed her back on the bed, he went to the study to arrange the next move against Dirk Group. Qiao Yi slept for a total of ten hours, and by the time she woke up, it had already gotten dark outside. Thirsty, hungry, and exhausted ¨C that precisely described Qiao Yi¡¯s current state. Though she was so thirsty she could perish, Qiao Yi still didn¡¯t want to crawl out from under the covers, feeling as if she was sealed inside the blanket. ¡°Awake?¡± Just when Qiao Yi was about to die of thirst, Lu Yanchuan finally appeared, bringing the life-saving water and food. Qiao Yi was dug out from under the covers by Lu Yanchuan, who propped her up bonelessly and poured half a glass of water into her mouth before she finally came to life. ¡°I didn¡¯t go to the office today¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already asked for leave for you.¡± Anyway, everything that needed arranging was already arranged, and skipping work for one day wasn¡¯t a big deal. Qiao Yi comforted herself internally, then resolutely began to enjoy Mr. Lu¡¯s meticulous care. However, the joy was always short-lived, and soon after slumping down, Qiao Yi was awakened by the ringtone of her phone. When she picked up the phone, she saw it was from Feng Siyu. Only then did Qiao Yi remember that she had left Feng Siyu alone in the hotel! ¡°Yuanyuan¡­¡± ¡°How is it, my darling! Doesn¡¯t the thrill of a little separation taste just like a honeymoon?¡± The background was a bit noisy, but it didn¡¯t stop Feng Siyu¡¯s voice from coming through clearly. Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned red immediately, she took a guilty glance at Lu Yanchuan beside her, then tucked herself and the phone back under the covers. ¡°What are you saying! What honeymoon from a little separation! Be careful or I¡¯ll hang up!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s lightweight threat wasn¡¯t taken seriously by Feng Siyu, who screamed for a while before revealing the real purpose of the call. ¡°A few days ago, didn¡¯t you say you wanted some celebrities to perform at the annual meeting? I¡¯ve asked around for you; do you remember Le Bai from Sihai Entertainment? You can contact her for performers!¡± The moment she mentioned Le Bai, an enchanting and sensual figure appeared in Qiao Yi¡¯s mind. Shivering silently, Qiao Yi rubbed her arms and repeatedly declined. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. Just thinking about her gives me a headache! And I have some troublesome matters at hand, let¡¯s talk about this after a couple of days!¡± Qiao Yi quickly hung up and peeked out from under the covers only to meet Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughtful gaze. ¡°What, what are you looking at?¡± ¡°A little separation feels like a honeymoon?¡± All done! So embarrassing! Qiao Yi felt like murdering someone but was drowned in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s teasing look. Forced to discuss with Lu Yanchuan the true essence of ¡°a little separation feeling like a honeymoon,¡± the next morning, Qiao Yi hurriedly rushed to the office. ¡°Put a hold on the projects for now. Taylor Group is going to change the person in charge and will interface with us soon, so everyone can rest well these days, thanks for your hard work during this period.¡± The sudden vacation arrangement made the team feel unusual, and they quickly asked for more details. Of course, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t disclose Jenfors¡¯s true identity to them, merely saying that Taylor had its arrangements, and they should rest assured. Once this news came out, it unsurprisingly stirred up a storm inside the Qiao Family. Rumors of all kinds arose, mostly about how Qiao Yi had been so ostentatious about setting up the interfacing team, and now after such a long time, not being able to secure a single project was truly embarrassing¡­ Qiao Yi ignored these murmurs, focusing her attention on finding evidence of Jenfors¡¯s true identity and his plans to secretly switch the contract! Evidence was hard to find, or rather Jenfors was too cautious. Several times Qiao Yi¡¯s sent people nearly got caught, and later on, Jenfors even reduced his outings, making it even harder for Qiao Yi to act. However, just when Qiao Yi was at her wit¡¯s end, an opportunity quietly arrived; Jenfors unexpectedly took the initiative to call her, wanting to sign a contract with the Qiao Family! Chapter 168 - 168 Jenfors Takes the Initiative Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Jenfors Takes the Initiative Has Jenfors had a change of heart? Or did he discover something? Why is he suddenly taking the initiative to ask for a contract with the Qiao Family? Qiao Yi was not prepared yet, without any evidence proving Jenfors¡¯ identity, without having contacted the headquarters of Taylor Group. At such a time, it was impossible for Jenfors to sign a contract with her! Signing a contract was out of the question, but she couldn¡¯t afford to alarm Jenfors either. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, we haven¡¯t completed the latest version of the contract yet, and it might take some more time.¡± Previously, it was always Jenfors creating all sorts of trouble, now it was finally Qiao Yi¡¯s turn to use his excuses to shut him up! Evidently, this excuse successfully silenced Jenfors, and he was even somewhat at a loss for words. What could he say, that he was wrong? Shouldn¡¯t have been nitpicking everywhere? With some persuasion, it seemed Jenfors temporarily dropped the idea of signing the contract, but from his tone, it sounded like he was quite reluctant to give up, and Qiao Yi guessed this excuse wouldn¡¯t hold him off for long. Jenfors wasn¡¯t likely to let it go so easily! After ending the call with Jenfors, Qiao Yi received a message from the person she sent to tail Jenfors, saying Lu Ming had met with Jenfors again! ¡°Tell our people to watch them closely, and try to record their conversation if possible!¡± Not only were Qiao Yi¡¯s people monitoring Lu Ming, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s people were also watching him. Unbeknownst to Lu Ming, countless eyes were keeping tabs on him. In anxious anticipation, Qiao Yi finally received some contextually good news. ¡°Taylor Group finally responded; they agree to reconnect with us!¡± ¡°Great! Did they specify a time? The sooner the better if possible!¡± If she could establish contact with Taylor Group, Qiao Yi could ignore Jenfors and directly complete the contract with Taylor¡¯s headquarters. In that case, no matter how crafty Jenfors was, it would be in vain! ¡°Taylor didn¡¯t provide a time, but they¡¯ve asked us to present evidence of our dissatisfaction with Jenfors; otherwise, Taylor will end the partnership with us unilaterally!¡± Qiao Yi calmed down and reconfirmed the content of Taylor Group¡¯s response, then had her assistant leave. Truth be told, Taylor¡¯s request wasn¡¯t unreasonable. They sent a dedicated delegation to sign the contract and it had been delayed for over a half-month without resolution. Now, they allege that there is an issue with their delegation. Putting herself in Taylor¡¯s shoes, if Qiao Yi were them, she¡¯d definitely have run out of patience long ago. Everything is ready, save for the right opportunity. Jenfors, unaware that his identity was under suspicion, believed he was meeting with Lu Ming discretely at the hotel. ¡°So you¡¯re asking me to meet you because you want me to quickly expand your market in the country? Jenfors, are you out of your mind? You know my situation isn¡¯t clear, how could I possibly expand your market when my own position is uncertain?¡± The secretly surveilling group all shuddered at once, realizing that men¡¯s screams aren¡¯t necessarily worse than women¡¯s. ¡°Keep it down! Do you want the whole world to hear?¡± Jenfors covered Lu Ming¡¯s mouth with his hand and looked around cautiously before finally letting him go. They were currently in the back garden of the hotel, and luckily it was the staff¡¯s break time, otherwise, Lu Ming¡¯s loud shouts would definitely have attracted attention! ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m pressuring you, but that¡¯s the company¡¯s plan. If you still want to continue cooperating with us, then do as I say. Otherwise, there¡¯s no point in continuing our partnership.¡± His words were clearly a threat to Lu Ming, but he had no choice but to endure Jenfors¡¯ intimidation and couldn¡¯t even fight back. Lu Ming had been stripped of his position at Lu Group, and apart from his shares in Lu Group, all his other assets were closely linked to Jenfors. If he were to truly anger Jenfors, he could go bankrupt within minutes! The pain of losing what one has gained is far more unbearable than never having it at all. Lu Ming tried to catch his breath and finally calmed down after taking a few deep breaths. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to continue cooperating, but your request is simply something I can¡¯t do. Had I still been at Lu Group, I could have used Lu Group¡¯s resources to help you, but now, I¡¯m utterly helpless!¡± Jenfors¡¯ face immediately turned sour, not because Lu Ming had rejected his request again, but because what Lu Ming said was true, the most frustrating and helpless truth! ¡°I know that LQ is currently attacking Dirk Group¡¯s influence. If you can get the contract from Qiao Yi¡¯s hands, you¡¯ll surely be able to secure a foothold in the country.¡± Lu Ming¡¯s tone seemed seductive, but Jenfors only met it with a disdainful roll of his eyes. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t tried? What¡¯s wrong with this woman today? She even refused my signing request!¡± The more Jenfors spoke, the angrier he became, even feeling some regret. Had he been too overbearing in the past few days, causing Qiao Yi¡¯s dissatisfaction, hence her refusal to sign? For a moment, both Lu Ming and Jenfors fell silent. ¡°I¡¯ll try again with the contract, Lu. I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Jenfors uttered these words with deep meaning and patted Lu Ming¡¯s shoulder twice before turning and entering the hotel through the back door. ¡°What do we do now? Do we keep following that foreigner or keep an eye on this side?¡± Two surveillance teams pondered this question, and as they saw Lu Ming about to leave the hotel from the other side, both teams, as if having coordinated beforehand, split up and followed the two men. Qiao Yi, who was anxiously waiting in the company, was on the verge of wearing a hole through her desk, her anxiety palpably surrounding her. The team could see Qiao Yi¡¯s restless mood and carefully avoided her, fearing they might trigger her. ¡°Beep Beep Beep¡ª¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s phone rang, and everyone in the office looked towards the desk. Qiao Yi grabbed the phone and, seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s name, she sighed with disappointment. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got the evidence, wait for me at the company, I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± The call ended after just one sentence, and it took Qiao Yi a moment to realize what Lu Yanchuan meant. She suddenly jumped up. ¡°Ah, yes! That¡¯s great!!¡± With the storm clearing and Qiao Yi¡¯s low spirits dissipating, although the team didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Should one say it¡¯s characteristic of a team leader? When Qiao Yi had a stern face, they didn¡¯t even dare to breathe too heavily! A few minutes after the call, Qiao Yi¡¯s phone rang again, and this time it was a message from her own people. The message contained videos they had secretly filmed of Lu Ming¡¯s secret meetings with Jenfors. Although the video and audio quality weren¡¯t very clear, they could confirm the identities of the parties and the content of their conversation. Although she wasn¡¯t sure if these videos were the same evidence Lu Yanchuan was talking about, the footage she had in hand was enough to prove Jenfors¡¯ identity! Chapter 169 - 169 Jenfors Ran Away Chapter 169: Chapter 169 Jenfors Ran Away Lu Yanchuan rushed to the company, Qiao Yi was already waiting for him downstairs. After getting in the car, Qiao Yi realized Lu Yanchuan was driving her towards the outskirts. ¡°Where are we going? What evidence are you talking about? I still need to communicate with Taylor!¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to capture Jenfors. My people have found Dirk Group¡¯s storage warehouse in Capital City.¡± Lu Yanchuan explained to Qiao Yi while slamming on the accelerator. Qiao Yi had almost never ridden in a car driven by Lu Yanchuan himself; it had always been Ma Yu driving them before, so Qiao Yi never knew that Lu Yanchuan¡¯s driving was so terrifying. ¡°Blazing fast¡± doesn¡¯t suffice to describe Lu Yanchuan¡¯s driving skills; if Qiao Yi had to come up with a suitable phrase right now, there were only three words in her mind. Help me!!! ¡°Can we¡­ can we slow down a bit¡­¡± With one hand gripping the seatbelt and the other holding the handle above the car door, Qiao Yi was pressed tightly against the seat, even thinking about wedging herself into the backrest. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Another sharp turn, the tires screeching harshly against the ground. Qiao Yi was thrown against the door, luckily the seat belt pulled her back into the seat, or else she would have flown out of the window! Before Qiao Yi died of fright, they finally reached their destination. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± Qiao Yi turned pale, holding the car door and retching. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ Let¡¯s go inside¡­¡± Qiao Yi retched a few times but couldn¡¯t vomit anything; she weakly waved her hand and staggered towards the nearby warehouse. ¡°Ah!¡± Before she had walked a few steps, Qiao Yi was picked up and carried in the opposite direction of the warehouse. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the warehouse?¡± ¡°The warehouse has already been manned, we are going to the surveillance room.¡± Was it because her mind was affected by the motion sickness that she hadn¡¯t thought of something so simple? Qiao Yi internally reflected for a moment and then pushed on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Put me down, I can walk by myself.¡± Lu Yanchuan pretended not to hear her and continued to hold Qiao Yi, entering a nondescript small house nearby. The small house looked tiny from the outside but was fully equipped inside. Ma Yu was startled when he saw Lu Yanchuan carrying Qiao Yi in but guessed why she looked so pale after seeing her face. He remembered that the first time he experienced Lu Yanchuan¡¯s driving, he wasn¡¯t much better than Qiao Yi. ¡°How¡¯s the situation inside?¡± ¡°Jenfors has arrived, our people have contacted the police, and they should arrive in about ten minutes.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded and walked to the monitors; Qiao Yi was set on a nearby sofa, but she quickly got up and stood next to Lu Yanchuan. On the surveillance screen was the interior of the warehouse, Jenfors was on the phone with someone, not far from him were around a dozen workers unloading goods from a truck. From the exterior packaging it¡¯s impossible to deduce what these goods were, but considering how seriously Lu Yanchuan took them, even involving the police, they were definitely not good things. ¡°This place is somewhat remote, but there are several large factories nearby. Are they too bold, daring to station a warehouse here?¡± ¡°This warehouse isn¡¯t owned by Dirk Group, it was originally an abandoned government warehouse, rented out cheaply two months ago. Nobody from the authorities probably ever thought that they would dare to store such a huge amount of goods in a government-owned warehouse.¡± Indeed, no one could have guessed, even when they informed the police that someone was storing contraband in the abandoned government warehouse, the police thought it was a joke. Qiao Yi nodded deeply in agreement, Jenfors really perfected the notion of ¡®hiding in plain sight¡¯! In the video, Jenfors had finished his call, exchanged a few words with the head of the loading crew, and was about to leave. ¡°He¡¯s leaving! Aren¡¯t we going to act yet?¡± Qiao Yi was so anxious she almost rushed into the screen, but was pulled back by Lu Yanchuan who held her hand. ¡°Wait a bit longer.¡± But he¡¯s about to leave, what are we waiting for? It was unclear whether Lu Yanchuan had already made plans, or if Qiao Yi¡¯s inner thoughts were heard by the heavens, but Jenfors picked up the phone again and stood still. Just as Qiao Yi breathed a sigh of relief, the door of their small room was opened again, and two policemen entered. These two might know Lu Yanchuan; they came over and greeted him with somewhat obsequious smiles. ¡°Our people are all here now, we can start the arrest.¡± While they were talking, Qiao Yi turned her head to look at the surveillance monitor again, but this time she couldn¡¯t see Jenfors. ¡°Where is Jenfors? Why can¡¯t I see him?¡± No sooner had Qiao Yi asked the question than Lu Yanchuan and the two policemen looked over, the two policemen hurriedly ran out, but Lu Yanchuan just frowned and showed no other reaction. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Where is Jenfors?¡± ¡°He escaped.¡± ¡°What? Escaped?¡± Qiao Yi cried out incredulously, how could Jenfors escape in the blink of an eye? This was impossible! Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s unsurprised expression, Qiao Yi felt both anxious and angry, she grasped Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand and demanded answers. ¡°What do you mean he escaped? Weren¡¯t our people already surrounding him?¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t respond to Qiao Yi, instead, it was Ma Yu behind them who answered. Ma Yu hesitated, glanced at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression, and then explained to Qiao Yi. ¡°Somebody hacked our surveillance system, the part where Jenfors was on the phone was spliced in from earlier footage, Jenfors had left just a moment ago.¡± Such a scheme! Qiao Yi could hardly believe it! ¡°So what do we do now? If he managed to escape this time, won¡¯t it be even harder to catch him next time!¡± Through the past few days of investigation, Qiao Yi had come to know Jenfors well. As Dirk¡¯s most trusted lieutenant, Jenfors was far from simple, or else he wouldn¡¯t have managed to escape under such tight surveillance! ¡°Dirk has planted a lot of people in China, Jenfors will probably leave China very soon.¡± Leaving China might also be a solution, as long as he stops causing trouble and havoc, catching Jenfors is a matter for the police and Interpol, ordinary citizens like them should keep out of such dangerous activities! With Jenfors gone, the warehouse fell like an egg, easily breached. Although Dirk didn¡¯t lose Jenfors, the loss of the goods in this warehouse would be enough to strike a substantial blow to their market presence in China. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan walked into the warehouse together, watching box after box of goods being loaded onto the police truck, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. Was Lu Yanchuan deliberately making these workers and policemen struggle by not taking action sooner? Chapter 170: 170: Underestimated Her Shamelessness Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Underestimated Her Shamelessness To prevent the image of Lu Yanchuan from continuously crumbling in her heart, Qiao Yi immediately tossed the thought out of her mind. After obtaining the relevant video materials provided by Ma Yu, Qiao Yi went directly back to the Qiao Family and started to contact Taylor Group. Dirk Group¡¯s name is well-known internationally, and the people at Taylor Group are of course aware of Dirk, especially when they found out that Dirk¡¯s second-in-command had infiltrated their company, a huge uproar took over the entire company. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this was our company¡¯s mistake! We are very grateful to Miss Qiao for helping our company to timely identify this disgrace from Dirk Group, otherwise, our company would have been finished!¡± Taylor¡¯s CEO personally made a video call with Qiao Yi, as soon as the call connected, the CEO, who had a large beard, stood up and kept thanking and apologizing to Qiao Yi, making her feel a bit embarrassed. ¡°Dirk Group is indeed unpredictable. This time I was just lucky to spot his mistake. I hope this incident does not affect our cooperation.¡± ¡°Of course not! To cooperate with someone as beautiful and smart as Miss Qiao is an honor for our company!¡± Revealing Jenfors¡¯ identity might only be a way for Qiao Family to avoid a business disaster, but for Taylor Group, it was likely a lifesaver! Given that those sent to explore the local market in China are certainly trusted by the CEO. Sleeping next to such a dangerous sleeper, Taylor¡¯s CEO even suspected that if Jenfors¡¯ identity had not been revealed, he might have been eliminated anonymously at any moment, and his company might have become Dirk Group¡¯s next target! Shaken by his own conjectures, Taylor¡¯s CEO, filled with fear, treated Qiao Yi, the person who saved him from disaster, even better and immediately decided to personally handle this cooperation and come to China to sign the agreement with Qiao Family himself! After the video call ended, everyone in the meeting room breathed a sigh of relief, they looked at each other, and suddenly all jumped up, the screams of joy almost shattered the roof. This year¡¯s year-end bonus! It¡¯s secured! Generously, Qiao Yi granted a short vacation to the members of her team until Taylor¡¯s CEO arrived in China, during which they could all relax freely! Those who can be called elites are not fools. Just now during Qiao Yi¡¯s video call with Taylor¡¯s CEO, she mentioned Dirk Group. Although they were not very clear about what kind of company Dirk Group was, they assumed it was not comprised of good people. Qiao Yi gave them a vacation partly because everyone was tired and needed a good rest, and partly because she had to personally handle the mess left by Jenfors¡¯ escape! Walking out of the meeting room under the admiring gazes of the team members, she went straight to Qiao Qiao¡¯s office at the hospital. Qiao Yi did not reveal Jenfors¡¯ matter to anyone, even the fact that Taylor Group was changing representatives and re-signing the contract today was only known to the team members after it was confirmed, with the purpose of not involving more people. Now that the matter was settled, Qiao Yi came to inquire about some details from Qiao Qiao. ¡°Who introduced you to Taylor Group¡¯s project? Do you know the guy they sent named Jenfors?¡± Qiao Yi asked directly, and the answer relieved her. ¡°A classmate from my university works at Taylor Group. He introduced the project to me. As for Jenfors, I don¡¯t know him, maybe my classmate does?¡± It¡¯s good that he doesn¡¯t know him. If Jenfors knew Qiao Qiao, or say, Jenfors intentionally connected with Qiao Qiao to use him, then the matter would be serious. However, from Qiao Qiao¡¯s perspective, it really might just be a coincidence. Meeting Qiao Qiao¡¯s puzzled gaze, Qiao Yi explained the situation about Jenfors to him. ¡°So this person¡¯s intention was to ¡®mend the pen after the sheep are lost¡¯?¡± Qiao Qiao was shocked by Jenfors¡¯ plan, thinking that such ideas could only come from someone who was the deputy leader of Dirk Group, having the style of a rogue company! ¡°I¡¯m worried that Jenfors might seek revenge on Qiao Family before he leaves China. Be careful.¡± ¡°Sister, aren¡¯t you in more danger? Why don¡¯t you avoid coming to the company during this period? Wait until that Jenfors is confirmed to have left before you come out?¡± If possible, Qiao Yi also didn¡¯t want to come to the company, but now, whether for the projects she was handling or to not let Lu Yanchuan look down on her, she couldn¡¯t easily give up work. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen to your sister. Let¡¯s not tell parents about this, the fewer people who know, the safer.¡± Although it was she and Lu Yanchuan who together handled Jenfors, Qiao Yi had already decided that if Jenfors dared to approach her again, she would adamantly deny knowing anything, perhaps she could still trap Jenfors one more time! Thinking of going to do it, Qiao Yi left Qiao Qiao¡¯s office and immediately picked up her phone to call Jenfors. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The phone rang twice before being answered, and before Jenfors on the other side could speak, Qiao Yi took the initiative and said. ¡°Mr. Jenfors, our side has finished modifying the contract. When will it be convenient for us to discuss it face to face?¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, at this point, are you still planning to continue acting with me?¡± Jenfors¡¯ voice didn¡¯t reveal any emotion, but from his slightly labored breath, it seemed he was possibly running. Feigning innocence, Qiao Yi questioned back. ¡°What do you mean by that? What are you talking about?¡± Perhaps Qiao Yi¡¯s tone was too sincere, which led to Jenfors falling silent for a while before his voice was heard again. ¡°Regardless of whether you understand me or not, our cooperation talks have failed!¡± ¡°Mr. Jenfors, our side is very sincere about this cooperation. I¡¯ve ignored your previous deliberate difficulties towards us. If you don¡¯t want to cooperate, why didn¡¯t you clarify earlier? Or is this a sudden decision on your part?¡± ¡°If Mr. Jenfors you maintain this attitude, I think I need to directly contact your Taylor Group¡¯s CEO, to ask if he also holds the same attitude towards Qiao Family!¡± Jenfors finished his sentence, and Qiao Yi immediately got angry, bombarding Jenfors with words so rapidly that Jenfors couldn¡¯t respond in time. Qiao Yi then angrily hung up the phone, but Jenfors¡¯ suspicion towards Qiao Yi was greatly reduced because of this call. Surely no one would shamelessly call the person they just deceived to quarrel with them, right? It can be said that he underestimated the thick skin Qiao Yi had cultivated from controlling campuses for many years. After hanging up, Qiao Yi felt suddenly relieved, but she hadn¡¯t walked out of Qiao Tower yet when a sultry and beautiful woman approached her. ¡°Yiyi, long time no see!¡± Chapter 171: 171 Appointment Chapter 171: Chapter 171 Appointment The visitor was a familiar face, the president of Sihai Entertainment, Le Bai. Seeing this woman, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache, even with an impulse to run away. Le Bai, oblivious to Qiao Yi¡¯s reaction, naturally took her arm and pulled her out the door. ¡°A couple of days ago, I messaged you to come over and have a sit in the company, but I heard you were busy with a project. Now I¡¯ve finally caught you alive, haven¡¯t I?¡± A faint fragrance wafted from her side, and Le Bai¡¯s formidable ¡°weapon¡± was pressed upon Qiao Yi¡¯s arm; such a blessing was a bit too much for Qiao Yi to bear, even as a girl. ¡°Uh, Miss Le, I still have things to do at my company, shall we reschedule?¡± ¡°What could be so important? What¡¯s more important than seeing a handsome guy? Plus, I just asked your little assistant, and she said you¡¯ve just given your team a mini vacation. You think you can fool me with that?¡± Qiao Yi was dumbfounded, she had been betrayed by her own assistant! With no escape and no avoidance, Qiao Yi could only stiffly allow herself to be stuffed into the car by Le Bai and was pulled away from the Qiao Family premises. ¡°Miss Le, what is it that you really want from me? I¡¯ve indeed been quite busy these days, I didn¡¯t even notice your messages.¡± When it can¡¯t be avoided, just go with the flow. Knowing well that she couldn¡¯t escape, Qiao Yi stopped struggling. Actually, come to think of it, going with Le Bai to see some handsome young dudes at the company might indeed be a decent way to relax! Only¡­ The expressionless face of Lu Yanchuan flashed before Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s about what you mentioned before. You said your company¡¯s annual event wanted some performers. I checked the artists¡¯ schedules; there are a few who are available. Let¡¯s see whom you¡¯d like.¡± Qiao Yi thought about it, there really was such a matter. But, she had mentioned that in jest! She was just joking about wanting Miss Le to pick a few good-looking artists to perform for the annual event, she didn¡¯t expect Miss Le to actually arrange it! Qiao Yi felt a bit torn, Le Bai was almost her rival in love, and now she was so attentive for a mere word from Qiao Yi, is this really appropriate? Regardless of what was on Qiao Yi¡¯s mind, Le Bai had already pulled up the artists¡¯ profiles on her tablet, placed it on Qiao Yi¡¯s lap, and waited for her to choose. Oh my! Isn¡¯t this that recently popular boy band? And this one, isn¡¯t it that idol group known as legends! After flipping through four or five profiles, Qiao Yi stiffly lifted her head to look at Le Bai. ¡°Miss Le, actually our annual meeting is just a small one, we don¡¯t need to bring in such big-name artists¡­¡± Whether they are big-name or not is secondary; the main concern is whether her budget can cover their appearance fees! The others might be okay, but just this mainland male singer she¡¯s looking at, it¡¯s said that his appearance fee for one commercial performance is up to seven digits! If they negotiate at this rate, just the cost of hiring stars for this annual meeting could amount to tens of millions of yuan! ¡°What are you thinking? Since I¡¯ve brought you the information, feel free to pick anyone, sis absolutely won¡¯t let you suffer a loss!¡± Le Bai swung her fair and tender hand spiritedly. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s still hesitant expression, she took the tablet from Qiao Yi¡¯s lap, made choices for her without asking. ¡°Your company¡¯s employees are, on average, under thirty-five. They probably won¡¯t like too old-fashioned artists. Hmm¡­ let me think, these few are nice; they have a broad fan base. This one is not bad either¡­¡± Each of these stars would be a big deal with millions of fans out in the world, yet in Le Bai¡¯s hands, they were just a bunch of vegetables to be picked through, this one with a nice leaf, that one with a long root. Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth twitched as she watched, and even though she opened her mouth, she ultimately didn¡¯t stop Le Bai¡¯s actions. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had figured it out by now; it was better to just keep quiet and honest at this time, otherwise, she couldn¡¯t guarantee that if she tried to intervene, it wouldn¡¯t lead to more frustrating situations. Amidst Le Bai¡¯s fussy nagging, the car finally arrived at Sihai Tower. ¡°The list for the annual meeting is set! Come on, Yiyi, let your sister take you to see the new trainees who arrived these past two months!¡± Qiao Yi was dragged out of the car, grumbling inwardly about being called ¡°little Yiyi¡± ¨C okay fine to call her Yiyi, but why add ¡°little¡±? Was she small? In what way was she small? ¡°Little Yiyi, come on, what are you spacing out at the door for!¡± ¡°Oh, right, I¡¯m coming!¡± Qiao Yi followed with a sigh of resignation, unaware that just a few minutes after she and Le Bai left the Qiao Family, Lu Yanchuan had arrived. ¡°Has she left?¡± ¡°Yes, the team leader left with President Le of Sihai Entertainment. It sounded like President Le was taking the team leader to Sihai Entertainment.¡± Not everyone had the courage to face Lu Yanchuan¡¯s cold demeanor and still keep a straight face. The assistant reported Qiao Yi¡¯s whereabouts nervously, while internally screaming. Could this be Ms. Qiao¡¯s joy? Mr. Lu is just too handsome! Stare a bit longer and you¡¯ll get pregnant with a look!!! Lu Yanchuan was long accustomed to the various looks from people around him. After asking about Qiao Yi¡¯s whereabouts, he directly left the Qiao Family. Once Lu Yanchuan had left, the assistant couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and screamed while covering his face. ¡°Mom! Mr. Lu¡¯s cold snort, so sexy!!!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to Sihai Entertainment.¡± Lu Yanchuan got in the car and gave the instruction, but Ma Yu didn¡¯t start the car promptly, which made him impatiently lift his head and glance at the rearview mirror. Feeling a shiver, Ma Yu pretended to clear his throat and hurriedly drove. ¡°Mr. Lu, weren¡¯t we here to find Miss Qiao? Why are we going to Sihai Entertainment now?¡± Ma Yu¡¯s idiotic question went unanswered by Lu Yanchuan, who didn¡¯t even spare him an extra glance, as if he hadn¡¯t heard the question at all. Belatedly realizing his own foolishness, Ma Yu¡¯s face turned red with seriousness as he focused on driving, not daring to ask any more questions. After parking in front of Sihai Entertainment, Lu Yanchuan entered the Sihai Tower, where the receptionist immediately greeted him. ¡°Good day, sir. May I help you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for Le Bai. Did she bring someone to Sihai Entertainment?¡± The receptionist choked for a moment but still maintained a professional smile and service. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. Without an appointment, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to wait a bit. President Le has instructed that she is not to be disturbed during this time. We kindly ask for your understanding.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile, and his cold gaze made the receptionist¡¯s legs go weak, backing up two steps before regaining her balance. ¡°You should ask if Le Bai took away my wife, did she make an appointment with me?¡± Chapter 172: 172 Lu Yanchuan Didnt Go Home Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Lu Yanchuan Didn¡¯t Go Home President Le finally couldn¡¯t resist and made a move on a married woman! A shocking thought flashed through the mind of the receptionist, and she dearly wanted to scream to express her astonished reaction to the news, but her strong professional ethics kept her face stiff yet polite. ¡°Apologies sir, I will inform them of your arrival, please wait for a moment.¡± From the slightly trembling corners of the receptionist¡¯s lips, Lu Yanchuan could tell she was eager to share the news with others, but he did not respond and withdrew his gaze. The receptionist, taking his silence as consent, clacked away on her five-centimeter heels and seized another receptionist by the arm, excitedly and quietly discussing behind the desk. Lu Yanchuan regretted having such good hearing; he could always pick up words like ¡°abduction¡±, ¡°catching adulterers¡±¡­ Oblivious to the trouble he¡¯d caused, Lu Yanchuan received a response after waiting for half a minute. ¡°Sir, President Le and your wife are waiting for you on the thirteenth floor. The elevator is this way, please.¡± Led by the receptionist, Lu Yanchuan navigated several corridors, arriving at a large door. Faint music spilled from the room, and someone was counting out beats. The sign outside indicated this was the artists¡¯ training room. What was Le Bai doing, bringing Qiao Yi here? The receptionist bowed slightly and then left. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t hesitate before pushing open the door, only to be stunned by the scene inside. He saw Qiao Yi sitting on the ground in thin, tight exercise clothing, twisted into a sensual pose while Le Bai contorted alongside her. The man instructing Qiao Yi¡¯s movements was also a man, currently adjusting her hands and feet to correct her pose. From Lu Yanchuan¡¯s angle, it looked like Qiao Yi was being intimately embraced by the man, with the man¡¯s lips continuously nearing Qiao Yi¡¯s. Lu Yanchuan slammed the door as he left. The loud noise startled Qiao Yi, causing her to choke on the breath she had just inhaled and she began to cough violently. Le Bai had noticed Lu Yanchuan as soon as he opened the door, but before she could greet him, he had already stormed out. ¡°What just happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, probably someone bumped into something. Let¡¯s continue.¡± The truth that was on the tip of her tongue was swallowed by Le Bai. She hadn¡¯t missed the displeased expression on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face for even a second. Looking at Qiao Yi, who was oblivious to all this, and then at the coach who had been standing with her just before, Le Bai smirked mischievously. After the so-called express etiquette class by Le Bai, Qiao Yi was too tired to even speak. She regretted agreeing to try out a class with Le Bai and was in awe of the trainees who attend countless weird classes every day. They were not human! Despite the class being exhausting, the instructor was indeed good-looking, with a nice physique and sweet-talking skills that melted her heart every time he called her ¡°sister¡±. Qiao Yi¡¯s only defense against these temptations was to chant Lu Yanchuan¡¯s name in her heart. And it worked. With Lu Yanchuan in her thoughts, her mind became still as water, and the young idols couldn¡¯t catch her eye. As she left Sihai, Qiao Yi felt that Le Bai¡¯s smile was peculiar, an expression that seemed mischievous yet restrained from saying anything. Confused by Le Bai¡¯s look, and with the signed contract for the annual meeting attendance, Qiao Yi returned to Emperor Garden, tired to the bone. When she got home, Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t returned yet. Qiao Yi planned on waiting to have dinner with him, but she ended up waiting until eleven in the evening. Where is he? Even if he¡¯s busy with the company, shouldn¡¯t he at least make a phone call? Qiao Yi crawled up from the couch, her stomach growling a rumble, but as she looked at the cold food on the table, she had no appetite at all. Her phone was spotlessly clean, not a single message. Qiao Yi thought and thought, and eventually took the initiative to call Lu Yanchuan. However, the one who answered the call wasn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan, but Ma Yu. ¡°Why is it you answering the phone? Where is Lu Yanchuan?¡± ¡°Mr. Lu¡­ Mr. Lu went overboard, the clients he was entertaining tonight could really drink, so he had a bit too much, and he¡¯s now sleeping in the hotel¡­¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh, I see, take good care of him.¡± Qiao Yi hung up the phone noncommittally. On the other end of the line, Ma Yu cautiously observed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression and then glanced at the still-lit room. He had no idea what had happened to Lu Yanchuan at the Emperor Garden, as he had been inside for less than half an hour when he came out, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mood was terribly soured. He scolded and made three department heads cry that afternoon, rejected more than a dozen project proposals, and even Xiao Ting, who was always the most valued and understood Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mind, was picked on and berated by him. Lu Yanchuan might have been cold in the past, but he was never like today, nitpicking and fault-finding everywhere! Lu Yanchuan was provoked, and quite seriously at that. Ma Yu spent an afternoon with his heart in his throat, and finally learned the reason for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s irritation on his way home at night. It must be Qiao Yi! Otherwise, why would Lu Yanchuan rather sit in the car fuming alone than go home and face Qiao Yi¡¯s anger? Ma Yu held Qiao Yi in reverence like the relentless flow of a mighty river, even elevating her directly to a goddess on the altar! To have angered Lu Yanchuan and still make him brood, what kind of talent, what kind of hero is she! Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes were fixed on the window of their bedroom, the air conditioning in the car getting stronger and stronger, even with the heater on full blast, Ma Yu couldn¡¯t fend off this kind of mental oppression. ¡°Mr. Lu, don¡¯t you want to¡­¡± Ma Yu¡¯s latter words were forced back by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s glare, and he awkwardly withdrew his gaze. Why did he have to suffer when the boss and his wife were angry? He was so sleepy, he wanted to go home and get in bed! After hanging up Ma Yu¡¯s call, Qiao Yi stared at her phone screen, lost in thought. Ma Yu was lying, Qiao Yi could hear the nervousness and conflict in his tone. Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t come home, nor had he gone to entertain as he had claimed. Qiao Yi tried to reassure herself not to think negatively, but thoughts sometimes don¡¯t obey subjective control ¨C the more she didn¡¯t want to think negatively, the more she did. What exactly is Lu Yanchuan doing now? Who exactly is Lu Yanchuan with right now? Does he, could he have another woman outside? ¡°Ah! I don¡¯t want to think anymore! Whatever Lu Yanchuan is up to, what¡¯s it to me!¡± Qiao Yi rubbed her head vigorously, stormed into the bathroom, and then rushed out soaking wet to burrow into the covers, and with a snap, turned off the light. Seeing the lights go out in the house, Ma Yu¡¯s heart also trembled, and again he couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek at Lu Yanchuan from the rearview mirror. Damn! Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face, it¡¯s even darker now!