《From Rejected Fake Heiress to Desired True Love》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Kicked Out of the House ?Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Kicked Out of the House Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Kicked Out of the House ¡°After this meal, hurry back to your birth parents and don¡¯t cling to our family anymore.¡± As soon as Nan Qiao sat down, she heard her mother, who was also her current foster mother, Liu Yanfang, urging her anxiously to leave. Half a month ago, Nan Qiao had a physical examination, and Liu Yanfang discovered that Nan Qiao¡¯s blood type did not match theirs as a couple. It was only after a paternity test that they found out the daughter they had raised for eighteen years wasn¡¯t their biological child. Liu Yanfang and her husband, Zhou Hongqi, investigated the matter and even hired a private detective. Only then did they find their biological daughter, Zhou Jingya. Liu Yanfang had always felt that Nan Qiao didn¡¯t resemble anyone in their family and hadn¡¯t treated her with much affection over the years. Even when naming her, Liu Yanfang chose Nan Qiao directly, not even wanting to give her the Zhou surname. The name came from the bridgehead near Liu Yanfang¡¯s hometown in the south, next to a chaotic burial mound. Now that they had found their biological daughter, Zhou Jingya, they adored her excessively. As for Nan Qiao, the Zhou family helped her locate her birth parents, who were coming to pick her up today. Nan Qiao looked at the table full of exotic delicacies; this was the most lavish meal she had ever eaten in this home, and it was also her last. Zhou Jingya sat on her chair, wearing a branded dress, and said with a smile, ¡°Sister, eat as much as you can. This is a token of affection from my parents. I¡¯ve heard your family is very poor. Living in the county town, the environment isn¡¯t as good as Jing City. I wonder if you¡¯ll be able to adjust.¡± Liu Yanfang looked at Zhou Jingya with loving eyes and said, ¡°Whether she can adjust, that¡¯s her home! Xiao Ya, you¡¯re just too kind.¡± Nan Qiao looked at Liu Yanfang, startled to see in her the image of a loving mother. The way Liu Yanfang used to coldly look at her, and now the way she coddled Zhou Jingya, as if she wished to cradle her in the palms of her hands. After Zhou Jingya arrived, Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang had her move out of her bedroom, redecorating it with many new accessories, and let Zhou Jingya move in. They bought her a piano; hearing she liked dancing, they even created a dance studio for Zhou Jingya. As for Nan Qiao, she was relegated to a small bedroom in the farthest north of the house. Nan Qiao stood up and caught the schadenfreude on Zhou Jingya¡¯s face. When Zhou Jingya saw her, she immediately adopted a frail and innocent appearance. Nan Qiao looked at Zhou Jingya coldly and distantly, ¡°You should eat more instead; after all, you haven¡¯t had such good food before.¡± Zhou Jingya choked, her heart burning with indignation, yet she put on a hurt and sad face, her voice trembling with caution, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m just worried you won¡¯t be able to eat as well at your birth parents¡¯ home. I have no other intention. If you don¡¯t want to leave, I can persuade my mom and dad to let you stay. How about that?¡± Liu Yanfang erupted with anger, ¡°Xiao Ya, you are just too kind! You mean well for her, but she might not appreciate it.¡± Zhou Hongqi interjected, ¡°Enough, say less.¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°Why should I say less? Xiao Ya is our child, not Nan Qiao! It¡¯s all because of her that our Xiao Ya had to grow up in an orphanage and suffer so much!¡± Zhou Jingya pulled Liu Yanfang¡¯s arm, troubled, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be angry, what if it harms your health?¡± Liu Yanfang held Zhou Jingya¡¯s hand, looking at her affectionately, ¡°It¡¯s our daughter Xiao Ya who cares about me, like mother like daughter, we are the true mother-and-daughter at heart.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes filled with frost as she strode upstairs, carrying her bag, ready to leave. Just as Nan Qiao was about to leave, Zhou Jingya thought of her marriage. She feigned understanding and said, ¡°Mom, let sister stay. She¡¯s still engaged to Mr. Li. If she leaves, who will marry Mr. Li?¡± Zhou Jingya¡¯s words reminded Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang of this issue. That was a marriage arrangement made by the old master for his daughter, a connection to the Li Family that their Zhou Family could never have hoped for in many lifetimes, and they weren¡¯t about to let Nan Qiao benefit from it. This fortune was meant for Zhou Jingya alone! Liu Yanfang clutched Nan Qiao¡¯s arm and said icily, ¡°You want to leave, fine, but first write down the letter renouncing your father-daughter relationship. State that you have no relationship with our Zhou Family, that your marriage arrangement belongs to Xiao Ya. It was the elder who arranged it for Xiao Ya, and you, Nan Qiao, have nothing to do with it.¡± Zhou Jingya spoke softly, ¡°Sister, our parents raised you for eighteen years. Even if they didn¡¯t merit praise, they still put in a lot of hard work. Don¡¯t make them angry, okay? If you¡¯re upset, take it out on me, but please, don¡¯t upset Mom. She¡¯s not in good health, and I¡¯m really worried about her.¡± Liu Yanfang looked at Zhou Jingya with affection, liking her more the more she looked. ¡°Xiao Ya, you¡¯re always the most caring towards me, unlike some people, ungrateful wretches!¡± Liu Yanfang continued, ¡°Hongqi, don¡¯t waste words on her! Ever since Xiao Ya returned this half month, our company¡¯s business has been booming. Didn¡¯t you just secure two big partnerships the other day? All of this good fortune is thanks to Xiao Ya!¡± Nan Qiao chuckled derisively. Were these two big partnerships really the result of Zhou Jingya¡¯s good fortune? Nan Qiao took out her phone and sent a message. Zhou Jingya said shyly, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s all thanks to you and Dad. You both have good judgment and invest wisely.¡± With a beaming face, Liu Yanfang said, ¡°Xiao Ya, stop being so modest. You¡¯re a child blessed with good fortune.¡± After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Hongqi said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, we were never unfair to you. The marriage was never meant to be yours. Xiao Ya is our biological daughter. No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s Xiao Ya who will become the bride of the Li Family.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes, clear-cut between black and white, brimmed with mockery as she looked at Zhou Hongqi and stated deliberately, ¡°Are you certain that these two partnerships are all thanks to Zhou Jingya?¡± Liu Yanfang roared dissatisfied, ¡°If not her, then who? You?¡± Just then, Zhou Hongqi¡¯s phone rang; his secretary was on the line. ¡°President Zhou, there¡¯s trouble! Those two bosses have withdrawn their investments; they say they won¡¯t collaborate with our company anymore!¡± Zhou Hongqi was nervously unsettled, ¡°What! What happened?¡± ¡°President Zhou, I¡¯m not clear about the specifics. The two bosses suddenly called, saying they¡¯ve encountered a disaster since your family¡¯s jinx returned half a month ago and refuse to work with you. The company was supposed to sign contracts with them this afternoon, and now it¡¯s all over!¡± The secretary¡¯s voice was loud and anxious, his words overheard by Nan Qiao and the others. Half a month? Disaster? Who else could this refer to if not Zhou Jingya? A moment ago they mentioned a star of fortune, and now it¡¯s turned into a star of disaster? Zhou Hongqi, slamming his thigh in anger, exclaimed, ¡°With these two partnerships, we could¡¯ve made ten billion! Ten billion, just gone down the drain like that!¡± Zhou Hongqi looked at Zhou Jingya with a complex gaze, and Liu Yanfang also felt uneasy, caring more about the ten billion than anything else. Now Zhou Jingya couldn¡¯t muster a smile; her earlier pride turned into current humiliation. Nan Qiao, with arms crossed, watched the spectacle with great interest as if enjoying a good show, as Zhou Jingya¡¯s moment of embarrassment unfolded. ¡°Mr. Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, let¡¯s wait and see who indeed is the star of fortune for your family.¡± With a look of disdain, Nan Qiao turned and strode away. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s phone rang again. ¡°President Zhou, there¡¯s more bad news. Our deal with Company Y is only due to expire next month, but they¡¯d rather pay the penalty and dissolve the partnership now!¡± Upon hearing this, Liu Yanfang felt completely devastated. Furious, she declared, ¡°I¡¯m going to find Nan Qiao right now and ask that wretched girl just what she¡¯s done!¡± As she approached the front gate, the scene before her stopped her in her tracks. Chapter 2 - 2 2 The Eldest Miss Arrives, Make Way for Her! ?Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Eldest Miss Arrives, Make Way for Her! Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Eldest Miss Arrives, Make Way for Her! A dilapidated electric tricycle with several cardboard boxes inside, as if collecting scrap, was parked at the entrance of the villa. The middle-aged man sitting in the driver¡¯s seat had dirty marks on his clothes, resembling engine oil. When the driver of the tricycle saw Nan Qiao standing at the door, he was stunned and blurted out, ¡°You must be the Fourth Miss.¡± The girl in front of him had eyebrows like a painting and eyes like stars, her moist eyes revealing a hint of cold pride amidst their purity. She was dressed in simple sportswear that somehow exuded an innate nobility. Nan Qiao¡¯s appearance bore some resemblance to the lady of the house and combined the strengths of both the lady and the gentleman, so the driver recognized her at first sight as the Fourth Miss he was meant to take home. Fourth Miss? Not only did Nan Qiao pause, but even Liu Yanfang, who had come out to settle scores with Nan Qiao, was taken aback. Liu Yanfang hadn¡¯t expected someone to address Nan Qiao as the Fourth Miss. She lives in a small county town, how could she be a Miss? Liu Yanfang snickered, ¡°The Fourth Miss? Ridiculous!¡± The driver didn¡¯t hear Liu Yanfang¡¯s words, seeing only her haughty demeanor, like a battle-ready hen. The driver approached Nan Qiao and respectfully said, ¡°Fourth Miss, I am the family driver here to take you home. I apologize for being late. The car broke down nearby, and though I called a mechanic, I had to borrow the mechanic¡¯s tricycle, afraid of missing the time to pick you up.¡± Zhou Hongqi and Zhou Jingya, who had come out of the villa, were dumbfounded and filled with mockery. Nan Qiao, with her upright posture, clearly a trained individual, was not just an ordinary uncle. But in Liu Yanfang¡¯s eyes, the man was in dirty clothes and riding a battered tricycle, pretending to be a driver. She chuckled disdainfully. Zhou Jingya walked over to Liu Yanfang and clasped her arm, ¡°Mom, is this sister¡¯s dad?¡± Uncle Wang frowned deeply, ¡°How could I possibly be the Fourth Miss¡¯s father? I am merely a driver for the Bai Family.¡± A mocking smile curled at the corner of Zhou Jingya¡¯s lips as she released Liu Yanfang and walked up to Nan Qiao, looking down on her with disdain, ¡°Sister, why don¡¯t you just go back with your scrap-collecting dad? Some people are so poor they can¡¯t handle wealth and can only live a lowly life, right Sister?¡± Nan Qiao turned her head; being five feet eight inches tall, she towered over five-foot-three-inch Zhou Jingya, looking down at her with slightly raised lips, ¡°Zhou Jingya, I didn¡¯t expect you had that much self-awareness. Your cheap life really can¡¯t bear wealth.¡± Zhou Jingya was stunned! She felt like tearing up Nan Qiao¡¯s mouth! Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t even bother to give her a glance, planning to ride in the tricycle to see what her biological parents were like. If they were like the Zhou Family, she wouldn¡¯t stay. Nan Qiao walked up to Uncle Wang and said in a cold voice, ¡°Uncle Wang, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Miss, please get in,¡± Uncle Wang said awkwardly, making a gesture of invitation. There was no choice; he couldn¡¯t borrow a car and had to ride in a tricycle. Uncle Wang awkwardly explained, ¡°Apologies for the inconvenience, Fourth Miss. I could only borrow a tricycle at the last minute. Once the car is fixed, the situation will be different.¡± The servants peeking at the doorway were dumbfounded. ¡°The Bais are so hypocritical. He¡¯s pretending to be a driver while he¡¯s Nan Qiao¡¯s biological father.¡± ¡°Yeah, how pretentious can they get, living at a garbage dump?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to pretend, at least show up in a proper vehicle, not some broken tricycle!¡± ¡°Such bad luck!¡± Uncle Wang: ... Hearing these crude words said so openly, especially with the Zhou Family not objecting, it seemed the Fourth Miss had a hard time in this house. Uncle Wang retorted unhappily, ¡°Times change every thirty years. How can you look down upon us? Our Fourth Miss is exceedingly noble, not someone you servants can judge!¡± Nan Qiao didn¡¯t expect Uncle Wang to stand up for her, moved by his gesture. Nan Qiao¡¯s icy gaze turned to the servants as a playful smile played on her lips, ¡°You should think about how long you can still work at Zhou Hongqi¡¯s house! He¡¯s about to go bankrupt, can he still afford to pay you?¡± Uncle Wang raised an eyebrow, loving the way the Fourth Miss spoke. ¡°Wow, going bankrupt, huh!¡± The servants, displeased, wanted to argue when Uncle Wang looked down on them with a fierce look, ¡°The Miss has arrived; move aside!¡± Uncle Wang pulled out the keys, started the vehicle, and drove off with Nan Qiao, leaving the servants eating dust. What¡¯s happening? Is the Zhou Family going bankrupt? Typically fake! ... The tricycle continued down the asphalt road for a while before suddenly stopping. Uncle Wang turned around, still respectful, ¡°Fourth Miss, please get off. Once the car is fixed, I will drive this vehicle to take you home.¡± Nan Qiao hopped down as Uncle Wang was transferring money to the mechanic. When Nan Qiao saw the car Uncle Wang was referring to, she was astonished. Wasn¡¯t this a Rolls Royce? Moreover, a custom edition, the only one in the world, and even the license plate was a series of eights. If Uncle Wang had driven this car to the Zhou Family, probably their eyeballs would have popped out, maybe even audaciously asking her biological parents for child support. Imagine what Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya would think once they knew! Uncle Wang, unaware of Nan Qiao¡¯s thoughts, smiled as he spoke to the mechanic, ¡°Thank you all for your help, and for lending me the tricycle.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite.¡± The mechanic realized, someone who could drive such a car, with a license plate full of eights, must be either rich or noble, a truly top-tier person! As the mechanic took back his tricycle keys, he watched Uncle Wang and Nan Qiao depart, then posted on his social media. Caption: The world of the wealthy is too lavish! Accompanied by a picture he took of the car getting fixed, and a blurred photo of Nan Qiao getting into the vehicle. This post was seen by Zhou Hongqi. He had his car repaired by this mechanic before, and they had added each other as friends for convenience. Just then, a servant came and said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, when Nan Qiao left, she didn¡¯t take any family money with her. Everything in her room, even her clothes, is still there.¡± Liu Yanfang scoffed, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. If she dared take anything from the house, I would definitely call the police to catch her! Throw away all the clothes she wore, they are an eyesore!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the servant replied. After the servant left, Zhou Hongqi handed his phone to Liu Yanfang, ¡°Yanfang, isn¡¯t this Qiaoqiao? That driver isn¡¯t driving a tricycle; he¡¯s driving a Rolls Royce!¡± Liu Yanfang scoffed dismissively, ¡°Impossible! How could Nan Qiao be the daughter of a wealthy family, a girl who rides in luxury cars; it must just be someone wearing the same clothes as Nan Qiao.¡± Zhou Jingya exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s too much of a coincidence.¡± Zhou Jingya felt upset inside. Liu Yanfang laughed coldly, ¡°Unless, she is the daughter of the richest man!¡± At the same time, Nan Qiao also learned about her parents¡¯ status, and was once again stunned. She was actually the daughter of the richest man?? Chapter 3 - 3 3 Do Not Help the Old Man by the Roadside ?Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Do Not Help the Old Man by the Roadside Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Do Not Help the Old Man by the Roadside Uncle Wang was driving while he told Nan Qiao about her identity. ¡°Fourth Miss, your father is Bai Zhenyang, and your mother is Chen Xinwan. You have three older brothers. In one sentence, Nan Qiao understood the fact that she was the daughter of the wealthiest man. Her friend Moli had once joked, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I wonder whose wealth is greater, yours or the richest man Bai Zhenyang¡¯s?¡± So, Nan Qiao knew the richest man was named Bai Zhenyang. There are indeed people in the world with the same names. Nan Qiao straightforwardly asked, ¡°Why do I remember the richest man¡¯s name is also Bai Zhenyang?¡± Uncle Wang smiled and said, ¡°Fourth Miss, you are indeed astute. You are exactly the daughter of the richest man Bai Zhenyang.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s watery big eyes froze as she blinked, and her long eyelashes cast a silhouette beneath her eyes. She was really the daughter of the wealthiest man! ¡°Uncle Wang, could you please go to the Agricultural Bank for me?¡± She had to cash the check Zhou Hongqi had given her into cash to avoid any prolonged complications in case Zhou Hongqi denied issuing it. ¡°Okay.¡± Uncle Wang didn¡¯t ask why, as long as the Fourth Miss was happy. The car soon reached the entrance of the bank; not waiting for Uncle Wang to help her, Nan Qiao had already pushed open the car door. ¡°Uncle Wang, please wait for me here for a while.¡± ¡°Okay, Fourth Miss. If you need anything, give me a call, I will find a place to park. Call me in advance once you¡¯ve finished your business, and I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± While in the car, Uncle Wang had given her his mobile number, which Nan Qiao had remembered. ... Nan Qiao walked into the bank and first exchanged the check for one billion in cash, which she deposited into her bank account. Money in hand, heart at peace. Thinking of the trouble she had caused Uncle Wang, she went to a nearby convenience store to buy him a bottle of water. As soon as she stepped out, she saw an old man collapsed on the ground, with a few pedestrians pointing and whispering nearby. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we help lift him up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid; this old man might bring us all down if we try to lift him. If we help him up, my whole family might fall.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t just watch him die, can we?¡± ¡°Since you say so, why don¡¯t you go and help?¡± The criticized person walked away sheepishly. As Nan Qiao passed by, she saw the old man¡¯s pale face, his life hanging by a thread. As a physician, she could not stand by and watch someone die, especially with cameras around, which would provide evidence in case of an incident. The young man who had just rebuked someone stepped forward, took out his mobile phone and said, ¡°Beautiful, are you a doctor? You go ahead and save him, and I¡¯ll record it. Who dares say you¡¯re helping in vain, I have the best evidence right here!¡± Nan Qiao smiled, ¡°Thank you.¡± Her luminous, moist eyes were strikingly vivid and full of spirit, her tall nose bridge and slightly lifted red lips made the passersby exclaim in awe, ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful!¡± Nan Qiao crouched down, her finger touching the old man¡¯s pulse. She then took out a cloth pouch from her bag, pulled out a silver needle, and was about to insert it into the old man¡¯s forehead, when a woman¡¯s voice scolded from above. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The woman pushed Nan Qiao away. Nan Qiao, with solid skills, dodged, and the woman fell flat on her face. The displeased young man with the camera said, ¡°Aunty, what are you doing! This beautiful lady is helping, and you are trying to hurt people. I¡¯ve got everything on camera!¡± Soon after, an elderly man arrived, knelt down anxiously, and shouted, ¡°Old Master, Old Master, wake up.¡± The woman got up and said, ¡°Uncle Fu, this woman is trying to harm the Old Master.¡± Nan Qiao, holding the silver needle, with a strikingly beautiful and serene face, firmly said, ¡°If you delay any longer, he will surely die.¡± Uncle Fu was taken aback, as the girl in front of him seemed underage yet radiated a confident aura, like a queen in control of the entire scene. The woman angrily said, ¡°Uncle Fu, I am the doctor, she¡¯s just a young girl. She has delayed the master¡¯s best treatment time. Who will bear this responsibility?¡± Uncle Fu found himself in a dilemma; the woman speaking was the family doctor. The master¡¯s health had been very poor these days, and every time he went out, he would bring this family doctor. Today the master decided to take a walk alone, seizing the opportunity when the family doctor went to buy medicine and he went to buy water, and he left the car. Fortunately, they found the master; otherwise, they would have been finished! The family doctor glared at Nan Qiao and mocked, ¡°Where did this young girl come from, trying to impersonate a doctor? I bet you haven¡¯t even graduated high school. If someone dies, will you take responsibility?¡± Uncle Fu hastily said, ¡°Dr. Dong, please save the master.¡± Dr. Dong raised an eyebrow, looked disdainfully at Nan Qiao, and said to Uncle Fu, ¡°First, get the old man to the hospital. This isn¡¯t a good place for treatment.¡± Nan Qiao clapped her hands, folded her arms across her chest, her beautiful eyes stirring, and confidently said, ¡°If you touch him, he will undoubtedly die.¡± This... Uncle Fu was torn and vacillated. Dr. Dong sneered, ¡°The old man has fallen into a coma; not taking him to the hospital, the repercussions are unimaginable. You audacious girl! Do you believe I will call the police and have you arrested right now?¡± Nan Qiao was unfazed, ¡°Call the police, let¡¯s see who gets arrested.¡± At that moment, an elderly passerby spoke up, ¡°The girl is right, taking the person away now, he will die before reaching the hospital. However, even if we don¡¯t go to the hospital, he¡¯s not going to survive; he will pass away within a minute.¡± Dr. Dong was about to retort when he saw who it was and was dumbfounded, ¡°Professor!¡± That¡¯s a retired professor! Uncle Fu said to the professor, ¡°Please, save our master.¡± The professor shook his head, troubled, ¡°Sorry, this gentleman¡¯s condition is beyond saving.¡± Nan Qiao frowned, her eyes full of self-assured elegance as she calmly said, ¡°Who says he cannot be saved!¡± Dr. Dong scoffed, ¡°Professor Liu is a retired professor from the Medical College; what do you know! If you can save the master, I¡¯ll kneel and call you ¡®grandma¡¯!¡± Nan Qiao smiled slightly, her bright eyes gleaming sharply, ¡°That¡¯s your own words!¡± Without hesitation, Nan Qiao knelt down and inserted the silver needle into the unconscious old man¡¯s acupoints. Quick, precise, and fierce; one needle after another until the last silver needle was placed, then Nan Qiao stopped her actions. Professor Liu was astonished, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Needle? Young lady, how do you know this long-lost technique! Could it be that you are from Tang...¡± ¡°Awake!¡± Uncle Fu exclaimed, interrupting Professor Liu. Dr. Dong was astonished upon witnessing this scene, his eyes nearly popping out of his sockets. This woman had awakened the old man? Nan Qiao did not remove the silver needles, but instead said to Uncle Fu, ¡°Take him to the hospital.¡± Uncle Fu nodded excitedly and then asked Nan Qiao, ¡°Could you please accompany us to the hospital, just in case something happens to the master again, only you can save him.¡± Dr. Dong said disdainfully, ¡°She definitely won¡¯t dare to go; who knows if she can really save the master!¡± Nan Qiao lifted her head, her eyes coldly settling on Dr. Dong, her gaze carrying a trace of chill, ¡°I will certainly follow, especially since there is someone who needs to kneel before me!¡± Dr. Dong: ... She didn¡¯t believe it! ... The old man was taken to the hospital. Shortly after, a man dressed in a business suit approached, followed by a formidable entourage of more than a dozen people. The man had a tall figure, with eyebrows like stars and tightly pursed thin lips, his face sharply chiseled, and his eyes proudly aloof. With long strides, his presence was both cold and commanding. Dr. Dong, taking advantage of the absence of Uncle Fu and Professor Liu, rushed up and exclaimed, ¡°Mr. Li, you¡¯ve come at the right time; this woman harbors sinister motives and nearly killed old Mr. Li!¡± The man¡¯s dark eyes fell on Nan Qiao, his entire demeanor exuded an unrivaled authority. Chapter 4 - 4 4 A Small Goal of One Hundred Million ?Chapter 4: Chapter 4 A Small Goal of One Hundred Million Chapter 4: Chapter 4 A Small Goal of One Hundred Million Nan Qiao looked at Dr. Dong in shock, the woman was actually twisting the truth. Dr. Dong then said, ¡°Mr. Li, you need to deal with her quickly! She is pretending to be a doctor and has sinister intentions!¡± Li Yehan¡¯s sharp and unlimited gaze glanced at Dr. Dong, ¡°Are you teaching me how to handle my affairs?¡± His low and cold voice carried a full penetrating force, making Dr. Dong tremble all over. Li Yehan took two steps forward, standing in front of Nan Qiao, the scent of masculine hormones hitting her face-on. His thin lips parted, his voice resonant and emphatic, ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Nan Qiao told the truth, ¡°I was the one who saved your grandfather. If we had gone by her method, your grandfather would¡¯ve certainly died.¡± Dr. Dong angrily said, ¡°Mr. Li, she¡¯s lying. She¡¯s trying to get close to you through your grandfather!¡± Nan Qiao retorted sharply, ¡°Are you sick? I don¡¯t even know who he is or what his name is, why would I want to get close to him?¡± Even if this man was handsome, so what? Was Nan Qiao supposed to approach him proactively? Nan Qiao¡¯s expression was cold and proud, like a snow lotus on top of a snowy mountain, mysterious and aloof. Nan Qiao¡¯s beautiful and cool demeanor seemed to say: Don¡¯t mess with me! Under Li Yehan¡¯s sword-like eyebrows, his peach blossom eyes flickered with a trace of a light smile. When he turned his head to look at Dong Xiaorong again, however, it was filled with intense coldness and murderous intent, ¡°Did I allow you to speak?¡± The pressure from all sides fell entirely on Dong Xiaorong, making her tremble and unable to speak. This... ¡°Mr. Li, I...¡± Dong Xiaorong didn¡¯t know what to say, she hadn¡¯t expected Mr. Li to believe Nan Qiao! Being beautiful is amazing, huh! At that moment, Uncle Fu arrived after completing the hospital admission procedures. ¡°Eldest Young Master, you¡¯re finally here. It¡¯s fortunate that this lady saved the old master, otherwise, I...¡± Uncle Fu¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, unable to finish his sentence. Uncle Fu¡¯s gaze towards Nan Qiao was clearly meaningful. Dong Xiaorong only felt a coldness in her body as if someone had slit her throat, leaving her speechless. Uncle Fu glared at Dong Xiaorong with anger, ¡°Eldest Young Master, Doctor Dong Xiaorong disagreed with this lady¡¯s treatment plan. If we had gone with what Dong Xiaorong suggested, you wouldn¡¯t be able to see the old master now!¡± To not deal with a quack like Dong Xiaorong, to let her stay in the hospital and harm people? Dong Xiaorong panicked, hurriedly pleading, ¡°Mr. Li, for the sake of my looking after the old master, please spare me...¡± Uncle Fu, ¡°Eldest Young Master, our old master has always been in good health. It is precisely because Dong Xiaorong came to care for him that the old master ended up in the hospital!¡± It¡¯s all Dong Xiaorong¡¯s fault! Dong Xiaorong thought, ¡®There¡¯s a curse, I¡¯m not sure if I should say it or not!¡¯ Dong Xiaorong¡¯s heart was filled with rage. Just then, the hospital director arrived in a hurry, accompanied by the retired Professor Liu. Li Yehan¡¯s piercing eyes turned to Mr. Lin, his words cold as ice, ¡°Mr. Lin, is this the reliable doctor you introduced to me? She almost killed my grandfather!¡± Mr. Lin was startled, looking at Dong Xiaorong with eyes full of anger and blame, ¡°Dr. Dong, is this how you took care of Elder Mr. Li?¡± Dong Xiaorong, frightened, argued with a trembling heart, ¡°Mr. Lin, I¡¯ve been very cautious in looking after Elder Mr. Li. Today, he heard his old friend had a great-grandson while in the car and, overcome with grief, insisted on going out alone for a walk. By the time we found him, he was unconscious. I suspect someone has harmed Elder Mr. Li!¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°You suspect me? Then call the police; luckily, there¡¯s a surveillance camera there, the truth will be clear at a glance.¡± Dong Xiaorong: ... Damn it, how could there be a surveillance camera so coincidentally! Li Yehan, ¡°Lack medical skills, yet you dare to shift the blame?¡± Uncle Fu said angrily, ¡°Indeed, the old master was depressed because he didn¡¯t have a great-grandchild from the Eldest Young Master, but the old master¡¯s health wasn¡¯t so fragile as to be unconscious because of this. It¡¯s you, Dong Xiaorong, with your lack of medical skills, who tried to harm the old master!¡± Nan Qiao folded her arms, her eyes sharply defined in black and white, shimmering with a mocking smile, ¡°The patient is comatose and you don¡¯t even know the most basic methods of treatment, having a doctor like you really is bad luck for the hospital.¡± Professor Liu furrowed his brows and said, ¡°The young lady isn¡¯t wrong. Old Lin, is the recruitment threshold for your hospital this low?¡± Professor Liu was very impressed by Nan Qiao, young yet accomplished, neither arrogant nor impetuous¡ªtruly a promising student of medicine. Plus, she knew the Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Needle, such an impressive background! Professor Liu had come along as well, wanting to see for himself. Mr. Lin couldn¡¯t save face being told off like this and glared at Dong Xiaorong fiercely, ¡°You¡¯ve completely disgraced me!¡± Dong Xiaorong wanted to cry without tears, ¡°Uncle-in-law, I...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me uncle-in-law. From today on, you¡¯re no longer a doctor at our hospital!¡± Dong Xiaorong was numbed, petrified. Her medical career was over, just like that. Dong Xiaorong wanted to argue her case, but Mr. Lin warned her ferociously, ¡°If you dare say another word, you¡¯ll regret it!¡± If she wasn¡¯t his niece by marriage, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered helping her! And now he had shot himself in the foot! Dismissed by the hospital, and with the incident involving the Li Family, no hospital would dare to hire her. Dong Xiaorong¡¯s gaze turned hollow, walking forward like a zombie. ... The room fell silent. With a look from Li Yehan, Secretary Gao handed over a check with both hands, ¡°This is a small token of appreciation from Mr. Li. Please accept it.¡± Nan Qiao glanced at it and was momentarily startled, but her expression remained as cool and unconcerned as ever. Wow, so many zeroes. The world of the wealthy is indeed extravagant; such generosity equals a small target for her. Nan Qiao accepted the check. Treating patients and collecting medical fees is only normal, so of course, she wouldn¡¯t be coy about it. Li Yehan¡¯s dark eyes settled on Nan Qiao, ¡°Thank you for saving my grandfather. May I know how to address you?¡± ¡°Nan Qiao.¡± Professor Liu was taken aback, ¡°You¡¯re a Nan? That¡¯s not right. The Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Needle is a Tang Family specialty...¡± Professor Liu fell into deep thought, the more he looked at Nan Qiao, the more he wanted to know her true identity. Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t anticipated that Professor Liu would also know about the Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Needle. Li Yehan had also heard Professor Liu¡¯s remark and became quite curious about Nan Qiao¡¯s identity. Just then, a nurse came in and said, ¡°Old Mr. Li has woken up.¡± Li Yehan looked at Nan Qiao, his eyes deep, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, could you please check on my grandfather¡¯s condition again?¡± At this time, Li Yehan trusted only Nan Qiao¡¯s medical skills. Mr. Lin touched his nose awkwardly but understood Li Yehan¡¯s insistence perfectly well. After all, he had no choice but to comply with the wishes of such a powerful man. ¡°Mr. Li is right, Miss Nan Qiao. Please, could you check on Old Mr. Li¡¯s condition?¡± Mr. Lin said awkwardly, his smile his only cover. Professor Liu said nothing, because he wanted to see Nan Qiao¡¯s needle technique again, wondering if he would have another chance. Nan Qiao pondered and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go have a look.¡± Old Mr. Li had been saved by her, and to save someone, you should save them completely. She had accepted a billion, naturally, she wouldn¡¯t abandon the task halfway. Nan Qiao followed Li Yehan into the ward, and the awakened Old Mr. Li, seeing this scene, was both shocked and delighted, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, you¡¯ve finally come.¡± Nan Qiao: ?? What¡¯s going on? Chapter 5 - 5 5 Is it Okay to Offer Myself to You ?Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Is it Okay to Offer Myself to You? Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Is it Okay to Offer Myself to You? Li Yehan sighed helplessly and said, ¡°Grandpa, this is Nan Qiao, the one who saved you.¡± Old Mr. Li¡¯s expression immediately collapsed. Looking at the gorgeously inexpressible Nan Qiao and then at his eldest grandson, Li Yehan, he felt more and more that the two were a perfect match. If she couldn¡¯t become his granddaughter-in-law now, who¡¯s to say she couldn¡¯t in the future? With that thought, Old Mr. Li¡¯s mood became as sweet and delightful as if he had drunk honey. The usually austere old man¡¯s face now bloomed into a smile. Nan Qiao: ?? The affable old man had her all confused. Nan Qiao felt like she was encountering a flatterer. Li Yehan¡¯s brows furrowed deeply; with just one look, he knew his grandfather was up to something. Old Mr. Li, full of charisma and beaming with joy, said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, thank you for saving me. My life was saved by you; I must properly express my gratitude.¡± Nan Qiao expressed graciously, ¡°Mr. Li has already paid me for the medical expenses. There¡¯s no need to be so polite; as a doctor, saving people is my duty.¡± Leaning against the headboard, Old Mr. Li looked at the generous and polite Nan Qiao with heartfelt satisfaction. ¡°That won¡¯t do. You saved my life; I must properly thank you. Qiaoqiao, do you have a partner?¡± Caught off guard by Old Mr. Li¡¯s question, Nan Qiao still answered under his expectant gaze, ¡°No.¡± Remembering her own master upon seeing Old Mr. Li, Nan Qiao felt a sudden longing. Li Yehan saw Nan Qiao¡¯s awkwardness and said coldly, ¡°Grandpa, it seems you¡¯re already fine.¡± Old Mr. Li glared at Li Yehan displeasedly but then said to Nan Qiao with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, what do you think of my grandson? Ye Han is twenty-five this year, with no bad habits. Since you saved me, why not have Ye Han repay you with himself?¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan: ... The two standing together looked so well-suited. Nan Qiao said with a mix of laughter and tears, ¡°Old Mr. Li, since you¡¯re alright now, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± She hadn¡¯t yet returned to her biological parents¡¯ home and had been held up on the road. Without another word, Nan Qiao left. Li Yehan followed quickly with his long, straight legs pacing rapidly, ¡°Nan Qiao.¡± Nan Qiao stopped and turned to meet the man¡¯s dark, piercing gaze. Li Yehan unlocked his phone, opened the dialer, and handed it to Nan Qiao, ¡°My grandpa¡¯s condition is somewhat dangerous. Could you leave your contact information? That way, I can reach you in a timely manner.¡± Nan Qiao took the phone, entered her mobile number, and walked away with long, brisk strides. Li Yehan held the phone in his hand, his sharp gaze following Nan Qiao¡¯s figure until she stopped beside a man. Watching Nan Qiao talk with driver Uncle Wang for a moment before they walked away together. Secretary Zhao glanced and then said to Li Yehan, ¡°Mr. Li, that man seems to be a driver for the Bai Family.¡± The driver for the Bai Family, how could he be with this impressive Divine Doctor? Moreover, she wasn¡¯t that Fourth Miss from the Bai Family. Li Yehan remained silent, watching Nan Qiao¡¯s figure disappear before his eyes. Looking at the number on the phone, he turned back to the hospital room. Old Mr. Li was in a foul mood, especially when he saw Li Yehan return alone, his mood darkened further. Old Mr. Li glared at Li Yehan, mumbling angrily, ¡°What are you looking at? Keep looking, and you¡¯ll be a single dog too.¡± Li Yehan, ¡°Grandpa, aren¡¯t you also alone?¡± Old Mr. Li, ... ¡°You little punk, now that you¡¯ve come into your own, you even dare to mock your Grandpa for being single!¡± ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m just telling it like it is.¡± Old Mr. Li, ¡°You little brat, are you really not planning to honor the marriage agreement with the Zhou Family?¡± Li Yehan, ¡°Grandpa, we¡¯re not in feudal times anymore. Was I asked for my consent for a finger-pointing marriage? That was something between you and Grandpa Zhou, it has nothing to do with me.¡± Old Mr. Li shook his head, ¡°You haven¡¯t even met the girl from the Zhou Family. How do you know she won¡¯t do?¡± Li Yehan, ¡°Even if she is outstanding, I don¡¯t agree.¡± Old Mr. Li¡¯s face turned ashen with anger, and he demanded, ¡°Could it be that you fancy that little girl who always used to chase after you?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s face was as cool and emotionless as a robot¡¯s, ¡°What is she to me?¡± Old Mr. Li, so angry he felt like hitting someone, saw Li Yehan¡¯s indifferent demeanor and pointed at him with trembling fingers, ¡°Then what the hell do you mean? You don¡¯t like the girl who chases after you, nor do you like the one from the Zhou Family you¡¯re meant to marry. So who do you like? Is it that girl from before? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re gay!¡± Li Yehan¡¯s sharp and unwavering gaze remained cold as ever, ¡°Grandpa, since you¡¯re fine, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Li Yehan strode away, leaving Old Mr. Li fuming in anger. He summoned Uncle Fu and instructed him to find out what kind of person Nan Qiao really was. Maybe he could still bring her back to be his granddaughter-in-law? ... Sitting back in the car, it made its way toward the Bai Family. The Bai Family¡¯s villa was located near Li Shui Bay, nestled against the mountains and waters, with fresh air and a tranquil environment. The car stopped in front of a villa, and Uncle Wang respectfully opened the door, ¡°Fourth Miss, we¡¯re home.¡± Nan Qiao, carrying her bag, stepped out of the car, somewhat surprised as she looked at the Gothic-style villa. Her biological parents were actually this wealthy? They were truly tycoons! Nan Qiao¡¯s gaze fell on the couple standing at the door, a middle-aged handsome uncle with an otherworldly charisma and a well-maintained beauty with tears in her eyes. Standing together, the couple was particularly pleasing to the eye. Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan also set their eyes on Nan Qiao, teary-eyed as they looked at their biological daughter. Nan Qiao exuded confidence that seemed to command success from miles away, her starry eyes shining like radiant gems. Her composure was as if she was accustomed to grand scenes. Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan, filled with excitement, walked toward Nan Qiao. Chen Xinwan hugged Nan Qiao, crying like rain, ¡°My poor daughter.¡± Bai Zhenyang¡¯s eyes reddened as he looked at Nan Qiao¡¯s face, his voice hoarse, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back, it¡¯s just good that you¡¯re back.¡± The emotional display on her biological parents¡¯ faces made Nan Qiao somewhat uncomfortable. She had never been embraced by her mother like this before... nor had she ever heard such a gentle voice. Chen Xinwan looked at Nan Qiao¡¯s delicate face, her eyes red. Nan Qiao inherited the best features of both Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang, surpassing her lineage with exquisite features, watery grapevine eyes, skin as fair as snow, and clear, spirited eyes that seemed brimming with starlight, shining brightly. ¡°Qiaoqiao, let¡¯s go home and rest a bit. Mom has prepared lunch for you. Let¡¯s have a good meal as a family.¡± Chen Xinwan, thrilled and happy, took Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, while Bai Zhenyang carried her bag, following them inside. Chapter 6 - 6 6 Showing Off Wealth, Who Cant ?Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Showing Off Wealth, Who Can¡¯t? Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Showing Off Wealth, Who Can¡¯t? The living room was opulent, with its decorations showcasing the owner¡¯s taste. Chen Xinwan held Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Qiaoqiao, your dad and mom never imagined that the nurse at the hospital would mix up the babies. If the Zhou Family hadn¡¯t contacted us, we wouldn¡¯t have known that Yu Rou wasn¡¯t our biological daughter. Now that we¡¯ve found you, it¡¯s truly wonderful.¡± Bai Zhenyang looked at her with a face filled with indulgence and tenderness, telling Nan Qiao, ¡°Daughter, don¡¯t be shy at home, do whatever you want. Our family isn¡¯t short on money; you can buy whatever you like.¡± Bai Zhenyang took out a black card and stuffed it into Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, ¡°This card is for you, you can buy anything you want, up to fifty billion.¡± Chen Xinwan also gave Nan Qiao a black card, ¡°This is a gift from mom, keep it and spend however you like, as long as it makes you happy.¡± Seeing the two black cards in Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, she placed the cards on the table, ¡°Thank you, no need, I have money.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan assumed Nan Qiao was just too shy to accept the gifts since she had just returned home, thinking, how could such a young child have money? Nan Qiao: I really do have money. SeriousFace.jpg Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan looked at their daughter with eyes full of spoiling love, and still stuffed the two black cards back into Nan Qiao¡¯s hands. ¡°My dear daughter, please accept them. These are just a little token of mom¡¯s affection, and mom would be so sad if you didn¡¯t accept them.¡± A beauty shedding tears is truly heart-wrenching. Nan Qiao had no choice but to accept the black cards. Seeing this, Bai Zhenyang clutched his heart, ¡°My dear daughter, accepting your mom¡¯s black card but not dad¡¯s, does it mean you don¡¯t like dad?¡± For Nan Qiao, it was the first time she had received gifts with such enthusiasm and she found it difficult to adapt. Although these were her biological parents, they hadn¡¯t spent eighteen years together, and naturally, there wasn¡¯t much emotional attachment. Faced with Bai Zhenyang¡¯s enthusiasm, Nan Qiao extended her hand and had no choice but to accept, ¡°Thank you.¡± However, for the time being, Nan Qiao wasn¡¯t able to call them mom and dad. Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan weren¡¯t concerned about this; having their daughter back with them was enough. Bai Zhenyang took out a shopping bag and pulled out a very thick stack of papers. ¡°Daughter, dad doesn¡¯t know what you like, so I just randomly bought you ten stores, ten villas, and a residential building.¡± Not only that, but Bai Zhenyang also took out a bunch of keys, grinning, ¡°Daughter, I also don¡¯t know what kind of car you like. I just randomly bought a dozen or so; you can drive whichever one you like.¡± Bai Zhenyang presented various papers in front of Nan Qiao: ¡°These are all already in your name; you can manage them however you want.¡± Nan Qiao was stunned; this was too extravagant! Nan Qiao was about to refuse when Chen Xinwan also took out a very thick stack of papers, ¡°Qiaoqiao, mom didn¡¯t know what you would like, so I bought you a resort, two companies, and your dad and I were competing who could give you more stores. I could only buy you ten villas abroad, a farm, and a vineyard.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Nan Qiao¡¯s expression appeared calm and composed, and she wasn¡¯t dazzled by these gifts. Nan Qiao spoke up, ¡°Thank you, these gifts are too valuable, please take them back.¡± Chen Xinwan held Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, making it hard for anyone to refuse her. ¡°Qiaoqiao, mom didn¡¯t protect you well, letting you be taken by mistake. You must have suffered a lot in these eighteen years, right? These gifts can¡¯t make up for the eighteen years we didn¡¯t spend together, but consider them a small token of mom¡¯s affection, okay?¡± Bai Zhenyang sighed, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯m sorry for making you suffer. These gifts are just a little token from us as your parents; please accept them.¡± Chen Xinwan said affectionately, ¡°My dear daughter, just accept them. Our family isn¡¯t in need of money; these gifts are just a small token, please accept them, okay?¡± The gentle tone and the doting gaze made it impossible for Nan Qiao to refuse; she simply nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Qiao accepted the gift, and the couple¡¯s mood became particularly content. Chen Xinwan said affectionately, ¡°My darling daughter, your three brothers are all busy outside, not in Jing City. Your grandfather went to Ling Yin Temple to pray for blessings for your grandmother. He won¡¯t be back until next month.¡± Pray for blessings? Nan Qiao asked, ¡°What happened to Grandma?¡± Chen Xinwan sighed and said, ¡°Your grandmother missed a step going downstairs at night and tumbled down the stairs. Fortunately, Yu Rou found her first and took her to the hospital. They saved her life, but she¡¯s become a vegetative person.¡± Bai Zhenyang, bringing up the matter, had eyes full of sorrow, ¡°Your grandfather has been staying in Ling Yin Temple to pray for blessings for your grandmother. He returns only to visit your grandmother in the hospital, unwilling to set foot in this house again.¡± Mentioning this incident, the couple¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t very good. Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Darling girl, let me take you to the third floor first; your room is on the third floor. I¡¯ve had it redecorated. Take a look and see if you like it.¡± Chen Xinwan led Nan Qiao to the elevator and to the third floor, pushing open her room¡¯s door. The interior decoration of the room was mainly cute, filled with adorable dolls. The 100 square meter room even had a dressing room, just waiting for Nan Qiao to fill it. ¡°Qiaoqiao, rest for a while. I¡¯m going to cook for you. You haven¡¯t eaten your mother¡¯s cooking yet. Today, I¡¯ll do the cooking myself, so you can taste my skills.¡± Bai Zhenyang said cheerfully, ¡°My darling girl, your dad can cook too. Later, you¡¯ll also get a taste of my culinary skills.¡± Nan Qiao felt somewhat moved by the couple¡¯s enthusiasm. She had never eaten a meal cooked by those two when she was with the Zhou Family. Nan Qiao said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Chen Xinwan looked at Nan Qiao with concern, ¡°My girl, there¡¯s no need to be so polite; we are family.¡± Bai Zhenyang added, ¡°Right, family doesn¡¯t need to be so formal. Qiaoqiao, you rest for now; we¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s time to eat.¡± The couple left, gently closing the door behind them. ... In the room, Nan Qiao stared at a row of jewelry in the cupboard, stunned as if turned to wood. Not just that, there were gold ornaments inside, and even more dazzlingly brilliant, large diamonds. Nan Qiao picked one up at random¡ªit must have been 10 carats, right? At this moment, Nan Qiao received a WeChat message from Zhou Jingya, a picture of Liu Yanfang taking her to a luxury store to buy a dress. ¡°Sister, what should I do? Mom insists on buying me a new dress. Oh, you must have already returned to the countryside, right? Can you adapt to life in the village?¡± Nan Qiao sneered and sent back a photo of the jewelry. Nan Qiao: Adapt? No way! Every day I open my eyes to see so much jewelry, I don¡¯t even know which one to wear. Nan Qiao continued her bombardment, taking a photo holding the Black Card against the backdrop of the window and sending it. Nan Qiao: Oh dear, which of the Black Cards dad and mom gave me should I use first today? Showing off wealth¡ªwho doesn¡¯t know how to do that? Zhou Jingya saw these pictures, her brain stupefied, flushed with anger, seething with resentment. Seeing Nan Qiao flaunting her wealth like this, should she just kill herself to help Nan Qiao cheer up! Chapter 7 - 7 7 Supporting My Daughter ?Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Supporting My Daughter Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Supporting My Daughter Zhou Jingya came up to Liu Yanfang with her phone in hand, ¡°Mom, take a look at the photos Nan Qiao sent me. She said these were gifts from her parents, and there¡¯s a Black Card too.¡± Liu Yanfang glanced at it and scoffed, ¡°Xiao Ya, you¡¯re just too naive. Who knows if Nan Qiao found these photos online. She¡¯s just trying to cover up the truth, pretending to be wealthy when she¡¯s actually more miserable than a beggar.¡± Zhou Jingya calmed down a bit but was about to send a message to confront Nan Qiao when she realized she had been blocked. Zhou Jingya was furious with no way to vent. When Liu Yanfang was paying, she was told the limit was not enough. Liu Yanfang called Zhou Hongqi and got scolded relentlessly, ¡°All you know is to buy! The company is going bankrupt, and you still have the nerve to shop for clothes, completely irresponsible. Get back home now, and stop embarrassing us outside!¡± Liu Yanfang clutched her phone, her face devoid of light. ¡°Xiao Ya, let¡¯s not buy anything today. The clothes here are just so-so, Mom will take you to another store.¡± Liu Yanfang dragged Zhou Jingya away gloomily, fearing they¡¯d be scolded if they lingered. ... In contrast to the disheveled appearance of Zhou Jingya and Liu Yanfang, Nan Qiao followed Chen Xinwan to the mall. Nan Qiao, looking at the dazzling array of products, said to Chen Xinwan beside her, ¡°I really don¡¯t need to buy clothes, I still have spare clothes in my bag.¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s gentle voice was like a spring breeze, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I missed out on eighteen years of your life, and though I can¡¯t make it all up, please give me a chance to do these tiny favors, alright?¡± Faced with Chen Xinwan¡¯s affectionate gaze, Nan Qiao could only nod her head. But as she sat in the store, watching Chen Xinwan taking charge, she was completely bewildered. This is doing tiny favors? It felt more like she wanted to clear out the store! Nan Qiao was shocked and walked up, tugging at Chen Xinwan¡¯s arm softly saying, ¡°There¡¯s no need to buy so many clothes, I can¡¯t wear them all.¡± The young girl, with rosy lips and white teeth and large expressive eyes, had an appealing simplicity. Chen Xinwan shook her head and said, ¡°We¡¯ll find use for them, you can change three times a day if you must. Later, I¡¯ll buy you some bags, shoes, and accessories too. Different outfits need different accessories to look even better. Although our Qiaoqiao is naturally beautiful, those things are just icing on the cake.¡± Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t expected Chen Xinwan to go this crazy. Was she planning to take over the entire store? Despite Nan Qiao¡¯s refusals, Chen Xinwan still swiped her card, ordering the clothes to be sent to the Bai family. ... After clothes shopping, Chen Xinwan took Nan Qiao to a bag store. Chen Xinwan¡¯s phone rang, and she said to Nan Qiao, ¡°Baby girl, I need to take this call, go on in and see. Pick whatever you like, and I¡¯ll pay later.¡± Chen Xinwan took a call and didn¡¯t enter, leaving Nan Qiao to browse alone. The bags were so appealing that Nan Qiao picked up an expensive one, thinking of buying gifts for Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang. After all, they had given her so many valuable presents, it was only right to give something in return. A sales associate quickly approached with a disdainful look and arrogant attitude, ¡°Miss, if you¡¯re not buying, don¡¯t touch. You can¡¯t afford it if you break it.¡± Nan Qiao looked up, her eyes limpid pools, ¡°How do you know I can¡¯t afford it?¡± The sales associate looked down on Nan Qiao, ¡°With your outfit, it must be all cheap stuff from Pinduoduo, right? Adding them together, they don¡¯t even cost hundred dollars, can¡¯t I tell?¡± Nan Qiao crossed her arms, her brows clear and her gaze disdainful as she looked at her, her red lips curved into a mocking smile, ¡°Then you really misjudged me; I¡¯m actually worth well over one hundred dollars.¡± The salesperson sneered dismissively, ¡°So what? You still can¡¯t afford the bags in our store, can you?¡± ¡°Who says she can¡¯t afford it!¡± A magnetic male voice came from outside, commanding with a powerful aura and a hint of coldness in his eyes. Everyone looked over to see a distinguished man walking in, his figure erect, and his thin lips curled into a contemptuous arc, supremely arrogant. Nan Qiao looked around in surprise upon hearing the voice, wondering, How is he here? Li Yehan approached with measured steps, standing before Nan Qiao, his thin lips slightly parting as he spoke in his magnetic voice, ¡°Secretary Zhao, buy all the bags here and give them to Miss Nan Qiao.¡± The salesperson who spoke earlier was utterly dumbfounded, What is happening here? How does this country bumpkin know such a wealthy and imposing man? Just then, Chen Xinwan finished her phone call and walked in, also spotting Li Yehan. In the crowd, Li Yehan¡¯s height and appearance were too striking, making him hard not to notice. Chen Xinwan, unaware of the situation, approached smiling, ¡°Ye Han, what a coincidence.¡± Chen Xinwan stood next to Nan Qiao, and before Li Yehan could speak, she cheerfully introduced, ¡°Ye Han, this is my daughter Nan Qiao. Qiaoqiao was switched at birth, we just found her.¡± Li Yehan looked at Nan Qiao with a passionate gaze, his eyes exceptionally deep, his thin lips lifting in a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve met Nan Qiao once before, she saved my grandfather; she¡¯s our family¡¯s lifesaver.¡± Chen Xinwan was startled, not knowing that Nan Qiao practiced medical skills, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you know medical skills too? Baby girl, you¡¯re truly amazing!¡± It must be said, her daughter really was exceptional! Just then, Secretary Zhao approached with the bill, ¡°Mr. Li, everything is taken care of, all the bags in the store are wrapped. Should they be sent directly to Miss Bai¡¯s home?¡± Chen Xinwan was once again astonished, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Secretary Zhao explained, ¡°This salesperson was spreading rumors she heard somewhere, mocking Miss Bai as a country bumpkin who couldn¡¯t afford these bags.¡± Chen Xinwan glared at the salesperson, defending Nan Qiao, ¡°You dare mock my baby girl? I¡¯ll have the manager fire you right now!¡± The salesperson was on the verge of tears, desperately trying to explain, ¡°Mrs. Bai, I was blind to your status, please, let me off just this once.¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s anger flared, ¡°Let you off? My daughter was humiliated here; who will bear that for her? You? Are you worthy? You look down on others, and you think you¡¯re in the right?¡± ¡°Mrs. Bai, please forgive my thoughtlessness, I beg you to spare me this once,¡± the salesperson was nearly kneeling. Chen Xinwan¡¯s stance remained unchanged, ¡°Whoever dares to wrong my daughter, I won¡¯t let them off easily! From now on, you¡¯re fired! Pack your things and leave!¡± The salesperson tried to speak but was dragged away by the manager who had rushed over. She never imagined the girl in cheap clothes could be of such noble status. As she was led away, being scolded, ¡°You still have the face to beg? Who gave you the audacity! Mrs. Bai and Mr. Li are here, even if you had ten lives, it wouldn¡¯t be enough!¡± From now on, she didn¡¯t want to see this salesperson in any malls! Chen Xinwan was very angry, somebody dared to let her precious daughter be mistreated, did they have a death wish? After finally finding her daughter, she was definitely going to support her dear Qiaoqiao! With no other options, the salesperson was dragged out by the manager who had come along. The manager broke out in a cold sweat; offending Mrs. Bai was bad enough, but offending Li Yehan too, she didn¡¯t have enough lives to make up for it! What should she do? Who could come to rescue her? Chapter 8 - 8 8 Shall We Kill Her to Cheer Up Nan Qiao ?Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Shall We Kill Her to Cheer Up Nan Qiao? Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Shall We Kill Her to Cheer Up Nan Qiao? The employee had been dragged away, and the scene quieted down, the other employees not daring to say a word. Chen Xinwan smiled and said to Li Yehan, ¡°Ye Han, you¡¯re too polite. Show me the bill for the bag, so I can transfer the money to you.¡± Nan Qiao also spoke up to refuse, ¡°Mr. Li, you¡¯re too kind. I accepted your money, and saving your grandfather had long been a settled matter. I can¡¯t accept these bags.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s voice, rich with magnetism, rose beside Nan Qiao, ¡°This is just a small token of my appreciation. Qiaoqiao saved my grandfather, these gifts are nothing. If Qiaoqiao doesn¡¯t accept them, grandfather will definitely say that I haven¡¯t handled this matter properly.¡± Later, he would have Secretary Zhao buy even more gifts to send to the Bai Family as his small token of appreciation. Chen Xinwan was taken aback again, why would Li Yehan say so much to her in one breath? Was this still the Li Yehan she knew? Nan Qiao was about to refuse again when Li Yehan said, ¡°Auntie, Qiaoqiao, I have other matters to attend to, I must go now.¡± Li Yehan walked away swiftly, Secretary Zhao following closely behind, fearing that the task had not been completed. Watching Li Yehan¡¯s hastily retreating figure, Nan Qiao still held the belief that one must not accept rewards without merits. Nan Qiao said to Chen Xinwan, ¡°Mom, please help me return these gifts to Li Yehan. I cannot accept rewards without merits.¡± With so many bags, she couldn¡¯t carry them all; she still preferred backpacks that could fit her secret weapons. Chen Xinwan smiled and said, ¡°No worries, consider this a gift from mom. I¡¯ll discuss with your dad about giving the money to Li Yehan. We, the Bai Family, won¡¯t just accept any gifts we shouldn¡¯t, rest assured. Whatever Qiaoqiao wants, mom will buy for you.¡± The first bag gifted to her daughter, how could she let a stranger do it? It had to be her, the mother! Chen Xinwan sent the message to Bai Zhenyang to transfer the money to Li Yehan according to the bill. Seeing this, Nan Qiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. As for the money, she planned to return it to Chen Xinwan in another way. ... When Nan Qiao and Chen Xinwan returned home, they were astonished to see the courtyard filled with splendid gifts. Chen Xinwan said, ¡°It must be your dad who sent these gifts.¡± Steward said, ¡°Madam, it wasn¡¯t sir, it was Mr. Li.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Nan Qiao, puzzled, said, ¡°Could he have sent them to the wrong person?¡± The steward, smiling, said, ¡°Fourth Miss, no mistake, these gifts are all for you. There¡¯s even a name on them, Nan Qiao, isn¡¯t that you?¡± Then, more people came in carrying gifts. ¡°These are the new autumn clothes Mr. Li sent for Fourth Miss.¡± ¡°These are the new shoes Mr. Li sent for Fourth Miss.¡± ¡°These are various accessories Mr. Li sent for Fourth Miss.¡± The people delivering the gifts said respectfully, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, please inspect them.¡± As he spoke, he looked at Nan Qiao. He had heard before coming that the real lady of the Bai Family looked like a fairy daughter. Without looking further, she knew that Nan Qiao was that fairy daughter. Nan Qiao looked at the courtyard full of gifts, wondering what exactly Li Yehan meant?? Her phone rang, and Nan Qiao took out her phone; it was an unfamiliar number. A man¡¯s voice, highly magnetic, came through, ¡°I am Li Yehan.¡± Nan Qiao then remembered, remembered that Li Yehan had stored her number. ¡°Why did you give me so many things?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a thank you gift.¡± Nan Qiao: ... ¡°You already gave me a check.¡± Li Yehan spoke in a low voice, his tone extremely charming, ¡°You know about my grandfather¡¯s health condition. I would like to trouble you to become his family doctor. You don¡¯t need to come every day, just when needed, would that be okay? These gifts are a small token from our family.¡± The male¡¯s voice was like a feather, stirring the heartstrings. Nan Qiao looked at the plethora of gifts, enough to open a supermarket. ¡°Okay.¡± It so happened that she had recently developed a new type of pill and wanted to see if it was suitable for Old Mr. Li. Nan Qiao hung up the phone, signed her name, and the delivery person left. Bai Zhenyang came back from outside, followed by his driver, who carried a lot of takeout food. Seeing the yard full of gifts, Bai Zhenyang was first astonished, then beamed with a smile, ¡°My girl, it seems you and your mom had a big haul shopping today. That¡¯s good, you should buy what you like, I work hard to earn money, you and your mother work hard to spend it.¡± Nan Qiao didn¡¯t expect Bai Zhenyang to think she had bought so many things and wasn¡¯t upset. If it were Zhou Hongqi, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to do this. Chen Xinwan explained with a smile, ¡°These things aren¡¯t bought by me, they are gifts from Li Yehan to Qiaoqiao.¡± ¡°What!¡± Bai Zhenyang¡¯s expression was startled. Nan Qiao explained, ¡°I saved Old Mr. Li, and these are his gifts of gratitude. He hopes I will look after his grandfather more in the future and help heal people.¡± Bai Zhenyang was astonished once again, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you know medical skills?¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s face filled with compassion, ¡°Qiaoqiao, my poor girl, what kind of life did you have at the Zhou family? So young and yet your medical skills are so exceptional, you must have endured much.¡± Chen Xinwan held Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, becoming increasingly distressed. Seeing her biological daughter having suffered so much filled her heart with guilt and pain. Chen Xinwan said, ¡°My dear daughter, let¡¯s return the gifts to the Li Family. We don¡¯t need you to earn money at home, just spend money. You don¡¯t need to do any of these exhausting things.¡± Bai Zhenyang felt the same way, saying seriously, ¡°Qiaoqiao, Dad agrees. You might have needed to rely on yourself at the Zhou family, but now that you¡¯re home, you don¡¯t need to. You have three older brothers, the whole family earns money for you to spend; you don¡¯t have to do anything, just be happy.¡± Nan Qiao felt deeply moved by her parents¡¯ love. Nan Qiao¡¯s nose tingled, her pale face softening, ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I¡¯m quite happy as it is. I¡¯ve come of age, I love medicine, and doing what I love isn¡¯t tiring at all.¡± Relying on heaven and earth isn¡¯t as good as relying on oneself. Nan Qiao¡¯s determination made Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan realize how difficult her past life must have been at the Zhou family; they surely mistreated their precious girl! Thus, Bai Zhenyang sent a text message, and misfortune befell the Zhou family. Zhou Hongqi was elegantly cutting a steak, a call came through, and he erupted in anger, ¡°How could this happen!¡± ¡°President Zhou, we don¡¯t know either, who exactly have you offended? They¡¯ve banded together against you, the company is almost bankrupt!¡± Offended who? Zhou Hongqi didn¡¯t even know who he had offended! ¡°President Zhou, you need to think of a solution fast...¡± he was just a secretary, he wanted to keep his job! Zhou Hongqi angrily hung up the phone, fury engulfing him, at that moment he was like a string of firecrackers, ready to explode any second. Zhou Jingya was too afraid to breathe heavily, she panicked, she feared, she worried she might be sent back to the orphanage. Zhou Jingya quickly thought and said, ¡°Dad, could it be that my sister wants to harm you?¡± Chapter 9 - 9 9 What to Do If You Fall Off a Horse ?Chapter 9: Chapter 9 What to Do If You Fall Off a Horse Chapter 9: Chapter 9 What to Do If You Fall Off a Horse Liu Yanfang cursed with fury, ¡°It must be that little bitch! I¡¯ve always said she doesn¡¯t belong to our family!¡± Zhou Hongqi said, ¡°You have the nerve to say that! When I wanted to do a paternity test, you threatened to divorce me. Liu Yanfang, why didn¡¯t you do a paternity test back then?¡± Liu Yanfang felt somewhat guilty. She had had another boyfriend back then, how could she dare to take a paternity test! Later, Liu Yanfang sent Nan Qiao back to live in the village, and as time passed, Liu Yanfang gave birth to a son, and the couple almost forgot they had another daughter. Stabbed in the wound, Liu Yanfang cursed, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, are you even a man? I married you and you suspect me. Let¡¯s get a divorce, right now!¡± Zhou Jingya was holding onto Liu Yanfang¡¯s arm, fearing that Zhou Hongqi, in his anger, would really divorce, as Zhou Jingya didn¡¯t want to lose her opportunity to be a lady of status. Compared to her previous life, she now preferred living in luxury. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be angry with dad. Blame me, it¡¯s all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t come back, my sister wouldn¡¯t have done something to hurt you both. I¡¯m useless, just blame me, it¡¯s all my fault, I¡¯m not capable enough to help you and dad.¡± Watching Zhou Jingya with tears in her eyes, Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang couldn¡¯t bear it. After all, she was their biological daughter who had suffered outside for many years; they naturally doted on her. Liu Yanfang said affectionately, ¡°Xiao Ya, it¡¯s not your fault, and I don¡¯t blame you. It¡¯s all Nan Qiao¡¯s fault; it¡¯s all hers!¡± Zhou Hongqi frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask an old friend for help.¡± Watching Zhou Hongqi¡¯s retreating figure, Zhou Jingya knew that her father still valued interests more. If she couldn¡¯t bring benefits to the company, she might very well be abandoned. Zhou Jingya thought of something, and she planned to seek help from that man tomorrow. ... Nan Qiao sat in the living room looking at the table full of various dishes, her appetite vastly stimulated. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, we didn¡¯t know what you like to eat, so I asked the kitchen to prepare a variety of dishes. Tell the kitchen your preferences, and they will cook according to your taste.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Nan Qiao said, touched. Chen Xinwan smiled and picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs for her with the serving chopsticks, ¡°Try the sweet and sour pork ribs I made.¡± Nan Qiao took a bite; it was sour and sweet, just to her liking. Nan Qiao did not skimp on her praise, sincerely saying, ¡°It¡¯s delicious, the best pork ribs I¡¯ve ever had.¡± Chen Xinwan couldn¡¯t contain her happiness, being praised by her daughter! Chen Xinwan looked at Bai Zhenyang with joy as if she were showing off. Bai Zhenyang grinned and said, ¡°Your mother¡¯s sweet and sour pork ribs are unparalleled; they are also the best I¡¯ve ever had.¡± Chen Xinwan got a little embarrassed, casting a mock-angry glare at Bai Zhenyang for showing off their affection in front of their daughter. Nan Qiao smiled without a word and took another piece of pork rib. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, accompany me to see your grandmother later. Perhaps your arrival could awaken her.¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Perfect, she wanted to see if she could wake up her grandmother. At the hospital. Nan Qiao¡¯s grandmother, Zheng Qin, lay on the hospital bed, her face pale and her lips colorless, looking chronically ill. Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan, with Nan Qiao, stood by the bed looking at the old lady. Nan Qiao sat on a chair, her fingertips on Zheng Qin¡¯s pulse. Seeing Nan Qiao¡¯s action, Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan did not ask; they trusted Nan Qiao¡¯s medical skills deeply but felt sorry that their daughter had suffered so much. Nan Qiao looked at her grandmother, her brow furrowed deeply. Not until Nan Qiao let go of his hand did Bai Zhenyang say in a soft voice, ¡°My girl, your grandma¡¯s illness hasn¡¯t been just a day or two. There¡¯s really nothing that can be done, and it¡¯s okay.¡± Bai Zhenyang was afraid Nan Qiao would blame herself, so he immediately comforted her. With so many experts at a loss, it was only normal that Nan Qiao, at just eighteen, was unable to revive the old lady. Chen Xinwan also said, ¡°The doctors also said there was nothing they could do. Yu Rou also told me that your grandma¡¯s condition is very critical and it¡¯s unlikely for her to wake up.¡± Nan Qiao slowly raised her head, ¡°Who is Yu Rou?¡± Chen Xinwan explained, ¡°The girl you were switched with at birth. We thought she was our biological daughter. Her name is Bai Yurou. She is studying abroad and hasn¡¯t returned.¡± Bai Zhenyang also said, ¡°Yu Rou is a doctor, and she has been taking care of your grandma¡¯s health.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s brows did not relax, and the perceptive Bai Zhenyang caught her mood, asking softly, ¡°Qiaoqiao, have you discovered something?¡± Nan Qiao didn¡¯t hide it and said bluntly, ¡°Grandma has been poisoned. The reason she hasn¡¯t woken up is because of this poison. The dosage is very small, a little each day, and over time it has come to this point.¡± ¡°What!¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan exclaimed in disbelief in unison. Bai Zhenyang could hardly believe his ears, ¡°Your grandma has been poisoned? How could she be poisoned while she has been in a coma, and who would poison her?¡± Chen Xinwan was at a complete loss, ¡°Zhenyang, quickly check who wants to harm our mom.¡± Bai Zhenyang was furious that someone could harm his mother, no wonder there had been no improvement in the old lady¡¯s condition for so long. Nan Qiao took out a silver needle and extracted a drop of the old lady¡¯s blood, which was black. Bai Zhenyang bent down and smelled it as Nan Qiao instructed, detecting a faint stench. Nan Qiao explained, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we came in time, otherwise grandma wouldn¡¯t have lasted another month.¡± Bai Zhenyang¡¯s eyes darkened, ¡°This person is really ruthless!¡± Nan Qiao said to the both of them, ¡°Let¡¯s not startle the snake for now. I know medical skills, and I¡¯ll prescribe a medicine for grandma to cleanse the toxins from her body.¡± Bai Zhenyang nodded, ¡°Okay, Qiaoqiao, thank you for your hard work.¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Qiaoqiao is really amazing, spotting Grandma¡¯s condition with just one look.¡± Being praised made Nan Qiao a bit shy, her fair face blushed, making her even more adorable. Chen Xinwan looked at her beloved daughter, growing more fond with each glance. Such a beautiful girl, and she¡¯s her daughter. Bai Zhenyang marveled at Nan Qiao¡¯s medical skills, having no defenses up and believing her words. Nan Qiao had no reason to harm the old lady, and he would also have another doctor come to check on the old lady; it couldn¡¯t always be a bother to Qiaoqiao alone. ¡°Qiaoqiao, let¡¯s not transfer your grandma to another hospital for now. I¡¯ll find someone to install cameras in the room. I want to see who¡¯s trying to harm your grandma!¡± Nan Qiao said, ¡°I know an expert in this area, I¡¯ll have her come to install the cameras without raising any alarms.¡± Bai Zhenyang nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do as Qiaoqiao suggests.¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Zhenyang, let¡¯s go find the lead doctor and ask about the situation, to see what they say.¡± Nan Qiao said, ¡°You two go ahead, I¡¯ll do the acupuncture for grandma.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan left, and Nan Qiao took out silver needles from her bag, inserting them into the old lady¡¯s acupuncture points to expel the toxins from her body. She then took out a mini camera, installed it in a suitable position, and switched on a specially made mini computer, operating it vigorously; Nan Qiao set up the camera very efficiently. When Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang gently pushed the door open, they saw Nan Qiao finishing the camera installation and rapidly typing something in front of a very small computer. Six eyes among the three of them, looking back and forth at each other. Nan Qiao: Caught off guard! Chapter 10 - 10 10 Please get in the carriage, Princess ?Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Please get in the carriage, Princess. Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Please get in the carriage, Princess. Nan Qiao, with an awkward face, closed her laptop, and Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan came back to their senses. Chen Xinwan quickly stepped forward, both shocked and delighted, ¡°Daughter, what did you get? This is too magical. Daughter, how many more surprises do you have that we don¡¯t know about? How come my daughter is so amazing!¡± Bai Zhenyang, ¡°Qiaoqiao, are you the expert?¡± Nan Qiao knew she couldn¡¯t hide it; she had not expected the two to come back so soon. Nan Qiao explained softly, ¡°I once studied with that expert for a while; these simple tasks, I can handle.¡± Chen Xinwan lamented again, ¡°My dear daughter, what kind of life have you been living before? My poor girl, you¡¯ve suffered so much...¡± Bai Zhenyang looked at Nan Qiao with a loving gaze, also full of tenderness: ¡°Qiaoqiao, from now on, dad and mom will definitely not let you suffer any more.¡± Nan Qiao, feeling the couple¡¯s goodwill, was touched in her heart. She had thought that the two would question and doubt her, but she hadn¡¯t expected that they would trust her so much. Nan Qiao said to Bai Zhenyang, ¡°Give me your phone for a moment, I¡¯m going to install an app on it so you can monitor the ward. If you spot any suspicious people, you can take necessary action immediately.¡± Bai Zhenyang quickly handed over his phone; Nan Qiao opened it, and after some operations, she discovered that someone had planted something on Bai Zhenyang¡¯s phone. Nan Qiao quickly cleaned the virus from Bai Zhenyang¡¯s phone and reinforced the firewall before setting up the monitoring display. Bai Zhenyang, watching his daughter¡¯s operations, committed them to memory. The three of them dealt with the situation in the hospital and left. No sooner had Nan Qiao left than someone at the hospital reported the matter. ... The message reached Bai Yurou¡¯s ears. The girl stood by the window, watching the morning sun rise bit by bit, just like her position, she too was climbing up little by little. ¡°Miss, the master and madam brought a girl here. They stayed in the ward for a long time, no idea what they were doing.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s regular features revealed a hint of ruthlessness, yet her tone was truly approachable, contrasting sharply with her appearance. ¡°I know.¡± Bai Yurou hung up the phone and took out another cell phone to turn on an app, attempting to eavesdrop on Bai Zhenyang¡¯s phone. Just as she opened it, she discovered that a virus had been planted. Bai Yurou: !! She immediately turned off the phone, feeling a chill all over. She paced back and forth in the room. ¡°They couldn¡¯t possibly know about Grandma¡¯s condition, could they?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible for them to know! No one in the Bai Family practices medicine, even if they did, they couldn¡¯t possibly know about the poison in the old lady¡¯s body.¡± While pacing, Bai Yurou muttered to herself, her heart anxious and uneasy, fearing that everything would be revealed. She took out her phone and called someone: ¡°It looks like we¡¯ve been exposed.¡± After sending the message, she quickly booked a flight back home. This time, she was determined to take back everything that belonged to her! ... The night sky was dotted with stars. After her bath, Nan Qiao sat on the sofa and sent out a message: ¡°Is the lab ready?¡± ¡°Boss, don¡¯t you trust me? Everything¡¯s ready, just waiting for you to come and check it out.¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°Okay, tomorrow at ten in the morning.¡± ¡°Got it, boss, don¡¯t be a stranger.¡± Nan Qiao sent another message to someone else: ¡°How is the preparation of the medicinal materials?¡± ¡°Boss, everything¡¯s prepped and I¡¯ll deliver them to Houzi tomorrow. Boss, shall we have lunch tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sure, you guys pick the time and place, my treat.¡± After giving her instructions, Nan Qiao finally lay down in bed. The comfortable bed, the soft quilt, and the pink puffy plush toys were all beside the pillow. Everything was so beautiful, everything was so unreal. She had never imagined that she could meet her birth parents, let alone that she wasn¡¯t Zhou Hongqi¡¯s child. Indeed, in a normal family, who would treat their own child like that? Nan Qiao lay in the comfortable bed and fell asleep. In the hospital ward, Old Mr. Li flew into a rage. ¡°Li Yehan, you¡¯re really useless! At your age, to not even have a partner, are you trying to kill me with anger?¡± Li Yehan sat in a chair, his long legs crossed over each other, with nowhere to rest his lanky limbs. Old Mr. Li was so angry because Zhou Hongqi had called the Li family to propose they continue with the arranged marriage, only for Li Yehan to take the call and coldly reject it. Old Mr. Li took a deep breath, still feeling his breath constricted. ¡°How am I supposed to face Brother Zhou in the netherworld after you do this?¡± Li Yehan replied, ¡°So you¡¯d trade my happiness for that? Didn¡¯t you even say you liked Miss Nan Qiao?¡± This... Old Mr. Li pondered and finally conceded that a forced union would not be sweet. Since Li Yehan had his own mind, how could he control him? ¡°Fine, since you don¡¯t want the marriage, we¡¯ll break it off. But you must give the Zhou Family some compensation. That way, a hundred years from now, I won¡¯t be too embarrassed when I meet Brother Zhou.¡± Li Yehan stood up and left without looking back. ¡°You little rascal, are you even listening to me!¡± Even as Old Mr. Li furiously scolded, Li Yehan didn¡¯t turn back. Uncle Fu brought Old Mr. Li a cup of tea and consoled him, ¡°Master, don¡¯t be angry with Young Mr. Ye Han. Look, Young Mr. Ye Han has already agreed to pursue Miss Nan Qiao, hasn¡¯t he?¡± Old Mr. Li: ?? ¡°Ah Fu, how can you tell?¡± ¡°Young Mr. Ye Han himself said it. Didn¡¯t you say you found Miss Nan Qiao a better choice? Master, who knows, by next year you might be cradling a great-grandchild. Maybe even twins? A grandson and a granddaughter both.¡± A smile spread across Old Mr. Li¡¯s face, ¡°Ah Fu, you¡¯re absolutely right. That blockhead Ye Han can scheme with the best of them in the business world, but when it comes to love, he¡¯s just hopeless.¡± Uncle Fu replied, ¡°Master, you needn¡¯t worry about Young Mr. Ye Han. When a man meets the woman he likes, he¡¯ll surely come around.¡± Comforted by these words, Old Mr. Li took out his phone and sent Li Yehan a list of pointers. At that moment, Li Yehan, sitting in his car, kept receiving notifications on his phone. Opening them, they were all messages from Old Mr. Li. ¡°Ye Han, according to what I¡¯ve read online, when inviting a girl into your car, you should say, ¡®Princess, please get in.''¡± ¡°When dealing with girls, be generous. We¡¯re so wealthy, you cannot afford to be stingy. Always respect the girl¡¯s wishes, never do anything coercive!¡± Old Mr. Li sent a whole list of rambling instructions, afraid that Li Yehan would fail to win over Nan Qiao. Li Yehan read it all but didn¡¯t reply to Old Mr. Li. ... The next morning, Nan Qiao woke at five o¡¯clock. She ran downstairs for half an hour, practiced a set of martial arts, then went back to her room to shower and change. When she took the elevator downstairs, Nan Qiao saw a lady standing by two rows of racks, who respectfully said, ¡°Good morning, Fourth Miss.¡± Nan Qiao: ? Nan Qiao walked down the stairs, her delicate face as though sculpted by a master artist. Her jewel-like eyes sparkled brilliantly, containing stardust. ¡°Who are you?¡± Nan Qiao asked. The woman replied, ¡°Good morning, Fourth Miss. I am the designer responsible for your outings. Tell me your schedule for the day, and I¡¯ll help you match outfits and do the styling.¡± As she spoke, Chen Xinwan also came out of the elevator, smiling brightly at Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, why are you up so early? Is the bed at home not comfortable? Mom will go with you today to pick out a new bed. Try them out and whichever you like, we¡¯ll buy.¡± Nan Qiao said with a smile, ¡°No need, I¡¯m used to getting up early.¡± Chen Xinwan was still not reassured, worried that Nan Qiao was too shy to speak up. It seemed necessary to get Qiaoqiao a comfortable new bed after all. Chen Xinwan continued, ¡°Qiaoqiao, this is the designer Mom found for you, to match your outfits according to your needs and even design the clothes you want.¡± Nan Qiao gently refused, ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s not necessary to go to such trouble. I¡¯m used to wearing sportswear.¡± Persistent as she was, Chen Xinwan eventually had to let the designer leave with the clothing. The exiting designer was still in shock, unable to believe it. This was the new found heiress of the Bai Family? What about Bai Yurou? She¡¯ll definitely be abandoned, right? But this beauty they¡¯ve found, there¡¯s no way you can tell she came from an obscure place. Just then, a servant came in and said, ¡°Madam, Miss Yurou has returned.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes turned towards the outside, she too was curious to see what this Bai Yurou was like. Chapter 11 - 11 11 The Truth of That Year ?Chapter 11: Chapter 11 The Truth of That Year Chapter 11: Chapter 11 The Truth of That Year Bai Yurou walked in, at a height of one meter sixty, dressed in a white dress, with long straight black hair. Her features were not strikingly beautiful, but she wore a smile that was extremely gentle, instantly making her seem like a delicate little sister. Bai Yurou pretended not to know Nan Qiao¡¯s identity and upon entering, she walked over to Chen Xinwan with a smile, taking her arm and acting coquettishly, ¡°Mom, did you have the designer send me some clothes again? Actually, I have a lot of clothes; you don¡¯t need to buy more.¡± Chen Xinwan looked at Bai Yurou affectionately and with some surprise, ¡°Yurou, why didn¡¯t you tell us you were coming back in advance, so I could have the driver pick you up?¡± ¡°I wanted to surprise you both. The food overseas is too awful, nowhere near as delicious as the meals at home. As soon as I finished the exchange event, I rushed back here, hoping to surprise you and dad before you woke up.¡± Chen Xinwan affectionately patted her arm, ¡°You child.¡± Bai Yurou looked at Nan Qiao with surprise, sizing her up with a scrutinizing gaze, ¡°Mom, who is this?¡± Chen Xinwan had Nan Qiao and Bai Yurou sit down and explained the situation to Bai Yurou. Bai Yurou felt like the sky was falling, panic-stricken and terrified. ¡°I¡¯m not the Bai Family¡¯s child? How can I not be the Bai Family¡¯s child...¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes filled with moisture, and tears streamed down her face. She was very adept at seizing this kind of emotion. Chen Xinwan held her hand, speaking in a gentle voice to soothe her agitated state, ¡°Yurou, we¡¯ve looked into your background, and your family is no longer around. From now on, you¡¯re still my daughter, you will continue to live in the Bai Family¡¯s home, and I will still treat you as my own.¡± Looking at Nan Qiao, her gaze was affectionate and indulgent. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve found Qiaoqiao, and she is a bit older than you, you¡¯ll have to call her ¡®sister¡¯ from now on.¡± When Chen Xinwan had both of them undergo DNA testing, it was also confirmed that Bai Yurou¡¯s birth came five minutes later than Nan Qiao¡¯s. Bai Yurou knew that everything had changed. Now that their biological daughter had been found, would Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang really treat her as their own? She didn¡¯t believe it! Although Bai Yurou¡¯s heart was full of tumult, her expression remained as pitiable as ever. Bai Yurou lowered her eyes, biting her red lips, overwhelmed by mixed emotions, unable to accept the current situation. How could this be? How could she not be the daughter of the wealthiest family? If this news got out, she would certainly be mocked by those rich young ladies! Bai Yurou used to be so haughty; she never paid any heed to these people, her innate pride always made her feel superior. But now, she felt as if a huge stone was pressing down on her, unable to breathe, at a dead end. No, she couldn¡¯t let others find out this news! Absolutely not! If that person found out, he would surely abandon her! Bai Yurou raised her head, her wet eyes as innocent and harmless as a deer¡¯s, ¡°Mom, how much I wish I were your daughter. But now you tell me that I¡¯m not a child of the Bai Family. Mom, I should leave, now that sister is back, you are the real family. Sister... needs you more than I do.¡± Nan Qiao: ?? She quietly watched Bai Yurou¡¯s performance, always feeling that her grandmother¡¯s situation couldn¡¯t be unrelated to her. Without evidence, Nan Qiao dared not jump to conclusions; she would wait for the results of the investigation. Nan Qiao¡¯s face was peach-like, her bright large eyes blinked, as pure as water, ¡°Little sister, what do you mean by this? I didn¡¯t say I don¡¯t welcome you. The family has raised you for so long; how can there be no affection? Even if we raised a kitten or puppy, there would be affection, so how could we kick you out? I¡¯m not such a heartless person.¡± Bai Yurou: ?? Wasn¡¯t it said that Nan Qiao was an unsophisticated country bumpkin? How could she know how to make tea?? Bai Yurou was taken aback by Nan Qiao¡¯s question and felt a bit angry. Chen Xinwan patted the back of Bai Yurou¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Qiaoqiao is right, why would we kick you out? You¡¯re the child I¡¯ve watched grow up; you will continue to live here, just like before.¡± Bai Yurou was put in her place, and could only agree tearfully, ¡°Thank you, Mom; thank you, Sister.¡± ¡°Poor thing,¡± her appearance was such that no one could find fault. The maid came over and said, ¡°Madam, is it time for dinner?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat, Qiaoqiao just woke up and must be hungry. Yurou just got back too, let¡¯s start the meal quickly.¡± Chen Xinwan evenly poured a bowl of water, yet it made Bai Yurou feel that Chen Xinwan, now with her own daughter, focused all her attention on her. But she forgot that Nan Qiao had spent eighteen years without the companionship of her parents, and she must be in even greater need of companionship and care now. Jealousy prevented Bai Yurou from eating. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m feeling a bit tired, I want to go to sleep first, you guys eat.¡± Chen Xinwan simply thought she was too tired from the flight and nodded affectionately: ¡°Then go to sleep, get some good rest.¡± Not long after Bai Yurou went upstairs, Bai Zhenyang got up. ¡°Qiaoqiao, Daddy woke up late. Luckily, you all haven¡¯t finished eating yet.¡± He almost missed the chance to have breakfast with his precious daughter! Chen Xinwan playfully glared at him: ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping in a lot lately. Qiaoqiao has been up for a long time, and you¡¯re just getting out of bed.¡± When she heard about Bai Zhenyang¡¯s excessive sleepiness, Nan Qiao unconsciously frowned. Bai Zhenyang sat down and Nan Qiao, lowering her voice, said, ¡°Let me take your pulse.¡± Bai Zhenyang sat up straight, positioning his arm to make it easy for Nan Qiao to take his pulse. Chen Xinwan also held her breath, afraid to disturb Nan Qiao¡¯s examination. After a moment, Nan Qiao¡¯s fingertips left the pulse point on Bai Zhenyang¡¯s wrist. Bai Zhenyang asked cautiously, ¡°Darling daughter, I¡¯m okay, right?¡± He had just found his daughter and wanted to spend more time with her. He really hoped nothing was wrong with him! Nan Qiao smiled and said, ¡°Do you trust me?¡± Bai Zhenyang replied seriously and meticulously, ¡°You¡¯re my daughter, of course, I trust you. Besides, with your excellent medical skills, I have no doubt.¡± Last night, Bai Zhenyang had an old traditional Chinese doctor check on the old lady, and sure enough, she had been poisoned. The old doctor couldn¡¯t cure her, which was chilling to Bai Zhenyang¡¯s heart. That¡¯s why he believed even more in his precious daughter, Nan Qiao. If Qiaoqiao said it, it must be true! Nan Qiao smiled slightly: ¡°Thank you for your trust. There is indeed a slight problem with your body, but don¡¯t worry. In a while, I¡¯ll go out and prepare a prescription for you. With the right medication and care, there should be no issues.¡± Bai Zhenyang praised her with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re amazing. They say a daughter is like a little padded jacket for her father, and that saying is certainly true.¡± Compared to his sons, Bai Zhenyang preferred his daughter, who knew how to care for her father, unlike those three brats! Chen Xinwan offered her arm as well: ¡°Darling daughter, can you take my pulse too, Qiaoqiao? I feel like my sleep hasn¡¯t been great lately.¡± She wanted her precious daughter¡¯s care, too. Watching her father and mother compete for affection, Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curved up involuntarily, making her look even more lively and charming. An eighteen-year-old girl, so tender she seemed like water might drip from her, her lips upturned, full of youthful vigor. Nan Qiao¡¯s fingertips fell on Chen Xinwan¡¯s wrist, her expression grave, causing Chen Xinwan to suddenly fear she had some terrible illness. Could it be? Surely she didn¡¯t actually have some terminal disease? Bai Zhenyang¡¯s face turned serious as well, mirroring Nan Qiao¡¯s, they truly looked like father and daughter. Chen Xinwan asked cautiously, ¡°Darling daughter, is my health in that bad of a shape?¡± Chapter 12 - 12 12 Another Identity of Nan Qiao ?Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Another Identity of Nan Qiao Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Another Identity of Nan Qiao Nan Qiao met Chen Xinwan¡¯s anxious expression, intending to conceal the truth, and smiled, ¡°Your body is very healthy, and you look younger than your actual age, well-maintained.¡± In fact, Chen Xinwan¡¯s body also contained toxins, just like the grandmother in the hospital. Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t expected that this person not only meant harm to the old lady but also wanted to harm other members of the Bai Family. She wondered if Bai Yurou had the same poison in her body. Nan Qiao didn¡¯t want to suspect Bai Yurou, but since Bai Yurou was a doctor, was it possible she was completely unaware of the grandmother¡¯s and the family¡¯s condition? It seemed that even the servants and security of the Bai Family would need to be checked. Flattered by the praise, Chen Xinwan was overjoyed, ¡°Qiaoqiao, thank you for your compliment. Mommy will focus more on self-care and spend more time with my darling daughter Qiaoqiao.¡± Nan Qiao gave a slight smile and continued eating. After the meal, Nan Qiao declined the company of Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang, planning to go out alone as she needed to check if the lab equipment was complete. Chen Xinwan took out her cellphone, and soon, a sweet voice rang next to Nan Qiao¡¯s ear: ¡°One million yuan received on Alipay.¡± Nan Qiao: ?? Chen Xinwan lovingly said to Nan Qiao, ¡°Since you want to go out alone, mommy will transfer some pocket money to you, buy whatever you like.¡± Nan Qiao: One million as pocket money? Following closely, Bai Zhenyang also transferred one million yuan to Nan Qiao. ¡°Qiaoqiao, this is a little something from daddy, keep it for your expenses.¡± The affectionate looks from her parents were almost too much for Nan Qiao to handle. Having grown accustomed to the indifferent looks at the Zhou Family, returning to her biological family and feeling her parents¡¯ love, a warm current passed through Nan Qiao¡¯s heart. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks flushed as she ran out. Watching his shy daughter, Bai Zhenyang¡¯s handsome and compose face revealed an indulgent smile, ¡°Wife, our girl is just as shy as you.¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s coquettishly responded, ¡°Qiaoqiao is so adorable, thinking about the hardships she¡¯s endured over the years still breaks my heart. Old Bai, don¡¯t forget to transfer the money for Li Yehan¡¯s gift today. Qiaoqiao is our daughter, whatever gift she wants we can buy; we don¡¯t need outsiders to do that.¡± ¡°The wife is right, I¡¯ll call the secretary right now and have him deliver the check to Li Yehan¡¯s office.¡± ... At that moment, Li Yehan was sitting in the car, his handsome face covered with a hint of coldness, as the secretary sitting in the passenger seat reported to him. ¡°Mr. Li, the Bai Family¡¯s secretary has brought a check, saying it¡¯s for the gift you intended to buy Miss Nan Qiao.¡± The secretary was nervous, afraid of Li Yehan¡¯s anger. He was also surprised that Miss Nan Qiao would refuse Mr. Li¡¯s gift. In the whole of Jing City, who would refuse a gift from Mr. Li? Miss Nan Qiao was indeed extraordinary. Li Yehan¡¯s thin lips slightly lifted, his voice magnetic, ¡°Tell Bai Family¡¯s secretary to give the check to the old master.¡± The secretary suddenly understood, giving it to the old master to see how Bai Zhenyang would handle it. As the car stopped at a red light, the secretary exclaimed, ¡°Mr. Li, isn¡¯t that Miss Nan Qiao? You and she are truly fated.¡± Li Yehan turned his head, his long eyelashes lifting, his dark eyes falling on the girl outside. The girl, dressed in a gray tracksuit with a bun, looked refreshing, clean, and stunningly cool. Two men approached her, dressed casually, appearing like delinquents. The man with an earring on his left ear put his arm over Nan Qiao¡¯s shoulder, about to speak, when he was suddenly thrown over the shoulder, harshly smashed onto the ground. Nan Qiao instinctively was about to retaliate, her arm already extending and catching Li Yehan¡¯s arm, smelling a familiar scent, ¡°Li Yehan?¡± Looking up, the morning sun enveloped the man¡¯s face, making him appear both clean-cut and devilishly charming. Lying on the ground, Hou Ze, clutching his behind, cursed, ¡°The damn nerve of throwing me! Beat his ass!¡± Standing beside Nan Qiao, Zheng Qinnian realized she hadn¡¯t struck back and wasn¡¯t sure what to say for a moment. Old Bai had many hidden identities, so he dared not speak too much. Having risen from the ground, Hou Ze looked at Nan Qiao with a face full of grievance, just about to say ¡°Old Bai, help me take revenge,¡± when Nan Qiao interrupted him. ¡°Mr. Li, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Protecting you,¡± the man¡¯s voice was magnetically full as his sharp gaze surveyed the entire scene. Hou Ze and Zheng Qinnian looked incredulously towards Li Yehan. The man stood proud, with ruthless methods and a fierce aura, clearly not someone to be trifled with. Hou Ze glanced at Li Yehan, his powerful presence making Hou Ze¡¯s own spirit unconsciously diminish significantly. Nan Qiao was somewhat startled, quickly regaining her composure, ¡°They are my friends, Mr. Li, you¡¯ve misunderstood, they are not bad people.¡± Li Yehan realized the situation was a bit awkward, his thin lips slightly cool, ¡°Sorry.¡± Hou Ze became upset, ¡°Can¡¯t you ask questions first before acting? What if you had damaged my brain?¡± Zheng Qinnian said, ¡°Say less.¡± With a mournful face, Hou Ze looked towards Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, he bullied me.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan: ? Immediately following, a panting Secretary Zhao: ?? What¡¯s going on? Wrong person? This is awkward... Acting as a divine supporter, Secretary Zhao explained, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, Mr. Li is very concerned about your safety. Fearing that you might be harmed, he rushed here at the first opportunity just to protect you.¡± Nan Qiao had not expected that Li Yehan would want to protect her, and she was quite surprised. ¡°Mr. Li, thank you for your kind intention, but I am quite safe now. These two are my friends, not bad people.¡± Nan Qiao signaled to Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze with a glance, and both men prudently shut their mouths. Nan Qiao continued, ¡°We have other things to attend to, so we¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Further conversation risked her falling from grace. Li Yehan watched as Nan Qiao left, then said to Secretary Zhao beside him, ¡°Investigate these two people.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Secretary Zhao immediately messaged his subordinates. Li Yehan had just reached his company when the information regarding Hou Ze and Zheng Qinnian was delivered to him. Secretary Zhao respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Li, although both individuals are orphans, they have exceptional skills. Zheng Qinnian is a doctor, currently not affiliated with any hospital. Hou Ze is a computer expert with outstanding abilities.¡± Secretary Zhao was quite curious. How could Nan Qiao know such people? Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze seemed to be quite afraid of Nan Qiao? Li Yehan skimmed through their profiles, his eyes landing on some particularly striking small print. ¡°They went to the Western Suburbs today? To a newly built farm?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Secretary Zhao replied. Suddenly, Li Yehan recalled a piece of news, ¡°I heard that Tang Family¡¯s heir has come to Jing City? Planning to set up a laboratory in the Western Suburbs?¡± Secretary Zhao nodded repeatedly, then incredulously asked, ¡°You don¡¯t suspect that Miss Nan Qiao is the Tang Family heir, do you?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes flickered thoughtfully, not responding. Li Yehan hadn¡¯t yet ordered an investigation on Nan Qiao, not wanting to get to know her in this way. Should it come to light, they might not even be able to remain friends. Was it all just a coincidence? Could it be that Nan Qiao was indeed the Tang Family heir? Chapter 13 - 13 13 The True Identity of Nan Qiao ?Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The True Identity of Nan Qiao Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The True Identity of Nan Qiao Nan Qiao arrived at the farm in the Western Suburbs, which seemed to be a farm, but in reality, it was her laboratory. Nan Qiao tinkered all afternoon and concocted the antidotes for Bai Zhenyang, Chen Xinwan, and her grandmother. Zheng Qinnian watched Nan Qiao¡¯s smooth and efficient drug-making process, lamenting endlessly, ¡°Boss, can¡¯t you leave me a way out? You¡¯re too amazing, not even a medical professor has medical skills as advanced as yours.¡± Nan Qiao finished packaging the antidote, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. Let me know after you produce the medicine, and I¡¯ll come over for the experiments.¡± Zheng Qinnian nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss. I¡¯ll inform you as soon as there¡¯s any news.¡± Hou Ze walked in and said, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve transferred last month¡¯s earnings to your bank card. If Zhou Hongqi knew he had mistaken trash for treasure, he¡¯d probably throw up.¡± Zheng Qinnian said disdainfully, ¡°Serves him right! If it weren¡¯t for the Boss constantly cleaning up his messes, his company would have gone bankrupt how many times? Now he¡¯s crossed the Boss, he deserves to go bankrupt!¡± Nan Qiao looked up, ¡°Zhou Hongqi is bankrupt?¡± Hou Ze, ¡°Soon, your biological father has made a move against him. Plus, with you pulling out your collaboration from his company, with his incompetence, how can he run a company well, let alone turn the situation around?¡± Zheng Qinnian, ¡°Just right, let Zhou Hongqi see who really is the Zhou Family¡¯s lucky charm!¡± Amused by their conversation, Nan Qiao laughed and put the medicine in her bag, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Nan Qiao drove off and returned home; by the time she got there, it was five in the afternoon. As soon as she arrived, she heard the laughter of Bai Yurou and Chen Xinwan coming from the living room. A picture of maternal affection and filial piety, how warm. Nan Qiao walked in with fair skin, delicate features, and a natural nobleness that betrayed her status as the Bai Family¡¯s young mistress. When the servant saw Nan Qiao, she greeted her respectfully, ¡°Good day, Miss.¡± Bai Yurou was slightly stunned at the term ¡°Miss,¡± feeling as if she had been pricked in her heart. Bai Yurou approached proactively, greeting with a pleasant demeanor, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re back.¡± Nan Qiao nodded and walked straight toward Chen Xinwan, ¡°I heard you liked chestnut crisps, so I brought some for you on my way.¡± Chen Xinwan was overjoyed, her eyes looked at Nan Qiao even more dotingly, ¡°Thank you, Qiaoqiao.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± Nan Qiao said with a gentle expression, sitting beside her. Bai Yurou clenched her fist, feeling as if Nan Qiao was slapping her face. She had rushed back from abroad in a panic without bringing any gifts for the family. Nan Qiao went out once and brought back chestnut crisps for Chen Xinwan. Bai Yurou walked over and sat down beside Chen Xinwan too. Phone in hand and full of smiles, Bai Yurou said, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m so sorry. In my eagerness to return, I didn¡¯t know you were back and didn¡¯t prepare a gift for you. Here¡¯s what, I¡¯ll send you a red envelope to welcome you home.¡± Nan Qiao opened the payment code on her phone and presented it to Bai Yurou, ¡°Thank you.¡± Bai Yurou: ... Nan Qiao actually accepts it? Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes filled with disdain and contempt, but her face maintained its usual cheer, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s lips slightly rose, her smile sweet, ¡°I just received a red envelope of two million, and now Yurou is going to send me another, how embarrassing.¡± Bai Yurou, who was about to send Nan Qiao a red envelope of ten thousand: ... She was furious! She regretted it! Why did she have to utter those words with such a loose tongue! Bai Yurou really wanted to slap herself; she hadn¡¯t sincerely intended to give Nan Qiao a red envelope. She said that, sure that Nan Qiao would be too embarrassed to accept. Who knew Nan Qiao would have such thick skin! Bai Yurou gritted her teeth and sent a red envelope of 500,000 yuan to Nan Qiao. It wasn¡¯t overly generous, but it wasn¡¯t stingy either. With Chen Xinwan sitting here, that 500,000 yuan made Bai Yurou¡¯s heart ache. Nan Qiao received the 500,000 yuan and raised her eyebrows slightly, with a bold and bright expression that made Bai Yurou feel a pang of jealousy. At this moment, the butler came in and said respectfully, ¡°Madam, Old Mr. Li and Mr. Li have arrived.¡± After Li Yehan¡¯s parents had handed the company over to him, the couple traveled around the world, which all the people in high society were aware of. Therefore, the Mr. Li the butler referred to must be Li Yehan. Hearing that Li Yehan had come, Bai Yurou stood up excitedly and said, ¡°Brother Ye Han must have heard that I¡¯m back and specially come to see me.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s face blushed like peach blossoms, shy yet expectant. Chen Xinwan told the butler, ¡°Please let them in.¡± The butler nodded, and soon, Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan walked in, followed by bodyguards holding bags of various luxury brands, with one bodyguard even carrying a sack on his shoulder. Bai Zhenyang, who had returned home from work, also entered with Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan. Chen Xinwan stood up to welcome them, and after exchanging pleasantries, they all took seats on the sofa. Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes sparkled as she stared at Li Yehan without blinking, ¡°Brother Ye Han, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± Li Yehan glanced at Bai Yurou and ignored her. Bai Yurou: !! Li Yehan was, as always, not giving her any face. Old Mr. Li looked at Nan Qiao with a chuckle, ¡°Qiaoqiao, the main reason for our visit today is to thank you for saving my life. If not for you, this old man would probably be long gone.¡± Nan Qiao replied politely, ¡°Grandpa Li, blessed people enjoy heavenly favor, and I¡¯m sure you will live a long and healthy life.¡± ¡°Thank you, Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ll take your auspicious words,¡± Old Mr. Li laughed heartily, his gaze on Nan Qiao was full of tenderness. Bai Yurou was stunned, ¡°You know medical skills?¡± If that were the case, did Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan take Nan Qiao to the hospital to see Grandma that day to treat her? Did Nan Qiao diagnose Grandma¡¯s illness? Bai Yurou¡¯s face turned even paler, and she felt restless. She looked at Old Mr. Li¡ªthis old man had never looked at her with such tenderness. Why could Nan Qiao gain Old Mr. Li¡¯s approval? Old Mr. Li answered Bai Yurou¡¯s question, narrating, ¡°I had fainted on the roadside, and it was Qiaoqiao who saved my life. Even my family doctor¡¯s medical skills aren¡¯t as good as Qiaoqiao¡¯s.¡± Li Yehan added, ¡°Qiaoqiao¡¯s medical skills are unmatched.¡± Bai Yurou: !! Li Yehan¡¯s words were like slapping her in the face! She was also a doctor, her medical skills weren¡¯t bad either, so why couldn¡¯t she compare to Nan Qiao, who came from such humble origins? Bai Yurou¡¯s inner anger surged, but she dared not express it. Her face still wore a gentle smile, and her voice was soft and sweet, ¡°Sister, under whom did you study?¡± Nan Qiao answered, ¡°A country doctor.¡± Bai Yurou breathed a sigh of relief, what could she possibly have learned from a countryside doctor? Certainly, nothing worth mentioning! Old Mr. Li said with a grin, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you are truly modest. I¡¯ve heard from the Dean that you also know the Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Needle. Even he can¡¯t do it, and when he talks about you, his eyes are full of admiration.¡± The moment Bai Yurou thought she could relax, her heart jumped again as she asked in shock, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a needle technique not taught outside the Tang Family? You¡¯re not a child of the Tang Family, how do you know this?¡± Bai Yurou was flabbergasted, just who exactly was Nan Qiao? Chapter 14 - 14 14 The Person You Broke Off the Engagement with Is Me ?Chapter 14: Chapter 14 The Person You Broke Off the Engagement with Is Me Chapter 14: Chapter 14 The Person You Broke Off the Engagement with Is Me Miss Nan Qiao faced a flustered Bai Yurou with a smile in her eyes, breathtakingly beautiful, ¡°Because my master is from the Tang Family.¡± Li Yehan sat on the sofa, exuding a strong aura, his eyes cold and stern, ¡°I heard that Old Mr. Tang has taken on a closed-door disciple, that would be you, right?¡± Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t expected Li Yehan to know even this, truly befitting the man in charge of the Li Family, nothing could escape his eyes. Since that was the case, had Li Yehan got his hands on the information about Hou Ze and Zheng Qinnian as well? Luckily, she was prepared, and Li Yehan couldn¡¯t possibly know the real situation of those two men. Nan Qiao¡¯s clear eyes met Li Yehan¡¯s, ¡°Mr. Li really is experienced and knowledgeable, nothing can escape your eyes, I am indeed that closed-door disciple.¡± Fine then, this facade couldn¡¯t be maintained any longer. Their eyes met, and Li Yehan¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver; instead, he raised a hint of a smile, ¡°To become Old Mr. Tang¡¯s closed-door disciple, Miss Nan Qiao really must be exceptionally talented.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s back teeth were nearly ground to dust; this was the first time she had heard Li Yehan praise anyone, and it was a woman at that. She had once visited Old Mr. Tang, and without even seeing his face, she had been gently rejected. The thing she had used all her scheming to not acquire, Nan Qiao had gotten effortlessly, how could she not hate her. She didn¡¯t believe Nan Qiao¡¯s medical skills could be better than hers! Bai Yurou bit her teeth and stayed silent, her downcast eyes filled with anger. Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan hadn¡¯t expected Nan Qiao to be Old Mr. Tang¡¯s closed-door disciple; they were happy for her, yet their hearts ached. The path to learning medicine is not easy; Nan Qiao had suffered so much along the way. The couple¡¯s eyes were filled with affection as they looked at Nan Qiao. Old Mr. Li broke the silence with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ve bought you some gifts, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll like them.¡± With a look from Old Mr. Li, the bodyguards brought out the gifts one by one, filling the table. A sapphire necklace worth fifty million, a pink diamond worth thirty million, and some other jewelry that dazzled Bai Yurou. Then, a bodyguard came over and opened a sack. Old Mr. Li said with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, this is the red envelope I¡¯ve wrapped for you, welcome home.¡± Nan Qiao looked over, a sack full of Chairman Mao banknotes. Nan Qiao: ... Old Mr. Li continued, ¡°Although it¡¯s quite popular to make transfers nowadays, cash is more tangible, and seeing it can also bring joy to the heart.¡± Li Yehan hadn¡¯t expected, the old man to be so good at giving gifts, he even thought of cash. Li Yehan had a bodyguard bring over a box, opened it in front of Nan Qiao, ¡°This is my gift, welcome home.¡± Upon opening the box, there lay a diamond crown worth one billion. Nan Qiao: ¡°Thank you for these gifts, but they are too valuable, I can¡¯t accept them, please take them back.¡± Following Nan Qiao, Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Uncle Li, Ye Han, thank you for the gifts for my daughter. However, please take them back, if Qiaoqiao likes something, I will buy it for her.¡± Why was the Li Family giving so many gifts? Bai Zhenyang suspected Li Yehan¡¯s intentions through his gaze. Could Li Yehan possibly be thinking of pursuing his precious daughter Qiaoqiao? What a joke! Qiaoqiao had just returned to the Bai Family, he didn¡¯t want her to marry a man like Li Yehan. According to rumors, Li Yehan had a violent temper and was unpredictable; how could his Qiaoqiao be with such a despicable man? Moreover, they shouldn¡¯t receive rewards without merit; the Bai Family could certainly afford to buy such extravagant gifts for Qiaoqiao! Bai Zhenyang spoke up, ¡°Uncle Li, Ye Han, thank you for the gifts to Qiaoqiao, but we shouldn¡¯t receive rewards without merit, please take these things back.¡± Miss Nan Qiao was very fond of Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan¡¯s approach. If it were Zhou Hongqi, upon seeing these valuable gifts, he would be so inclined as to sell her in an instant. The grateful look in Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes made Bai Zhenyang feel even more that Zhou Hongqi was no good, and that he must have treated Miss Nan Qiao terribly. The day was still bright, and it was about time for Zhou Hongqi to go bankrupt. As for these gifts, they would also have to be returned. However, how could Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan simply take the gifts back home unopened? Old Mr. Li sighed and began his painful self-disclosure, ¡°Zhenyang, giving gifts to Qiaoqiao is also a gesture of my goodwill. When I look at Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s like looking at my own granddaughter. My good-for-nothing son, he can¡¯t even produce a daughter, what a waste! Unlike you, who has such a bright and capable daughter, how wonderful.¡± Li Yehan nodded in agreement, ¡°Grandpa is absolutely right.¡± Bai Yurou: Do you even hear what you¡¯re saying? Is it just because Miss Nan Qiao is a bit pretty? Or because she saved Old Mr. Li¡¯s life? What¡¯s so great about her? Does she deserve such high praise from Old Mr. Li? Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan were indeed very happy; how could they not be, when their daughter was being praised? Li Yehan followed up with more praise, ¡°Qiaoqiao saved my grandpa¡¯s life; she¡¯s a lifesaver to the Li Family. These gifts are nothing compared to my grandfather¡¯s life.¡± Old Mr. Li: ¡°Ye Han can make money, and if it¡¯s spent, we can earn it back. Qiaoqiao, didn¡¯t you say I need to keep my spirits up? But now, I just can¡¯t feel at ease. If you don¡¯t accept these gifts, my heart will be in so much pain.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°For Grandpa¡¯s health, Qiaoqiao, please do us the favor and accept these gifts.¡± Bai Yurou: ... Accepting gifts needs to be this much of a struggle? She¡¯s really had enough! Then they looked at Miss Nan Qiao, who had a troubled expression, ¡°Grandpa Li, Li Yehan has already given me quite a few gifts on your behalf, like a bag from a store last time, and many other expensive items; really, it¡¯s too much.¡± Old Mr. Li waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°It¡¯s not too much, the more the better for a girl. Just take them, or my heart will start hurting again.¡± Old Mr. Li clutched his chest, appearing extremely distressed. Bai Zhenyang & Chen Xinwan & Miss Nan Qiao: ?? Struggling to give away expensive gifts? Li Yehan, sitting aside, was quite surprised; when had his grandpa learned to act so well? As for Bai Yurou, she was utterly astonished. Just as Miss Nan Qiao was about to refuse, the butler walked in and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Li, Mr. Zhou Hongqi is at the door looking for you. He wants to discuss the matter of his family¡¯s broken marriage engagement.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Tell him I¡¯ve already called off the engagement and there is no room for discussion.¡± The butler nodded and left. All that could be seen in Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes was joy. Li Yehan refused Zhou Family¡¯s marriage proposal, so wouldn¡¯t it be her turn next? Bai Yurou knew her opportunity had arrived. However, she then heard Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s surprised exclamation, ¡°Your family is the Li Family with a marriage arrangement with the Zhou Family?¡± Li Yehan frowned, ¡°How do you know?¡± Bai Zhenyang was taken aback, then said with a laugh, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a coincidence? Our Qiaoqiao was mixed up with a child from the Zhou Family. If Qiaoqiao had stayed in the Zhou Family, wouldn¡¯t she be engaged to Ye Han, my daughter Qiaoqiao?¡± Li Yehan: ... He suddenly felt that maybe this marriage didn¡¯t need to be called off after all. Old Mr. Li: !! What now? Was the granddaughter-in-law he had within his grasp about to fly away? Chapter 15 - 15 15 After the Canceled Engagement, Li Yehan Pursues His Wife Again ?Chapter 15: Chapter 15 After the Canceled Engagement, Li Yehan Pursues His Wife Again Chapter 15: Chapter 15 After the Canceled Engagement, Li Yehan Pursues His Wife Again Li Yehan¡¯s emotions were tangled as he looked at Nan Qiao with increasingly intense eyes. Old Mr. Li was momentarily disappointed, but then his mood lifted remarkably, ¡°Qiaoqiao, this is fate. When you were with the Zhou Family, your fiance? was Ye Han. Once you came to the Bai Family, Ye Han canceled that engagement. Isn¡¯t that a coincidence? Rounding it up, your fiance? is still Ye Han.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s lips curved into a doting smile, ¡°Grandpa makes a lot of sense.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Bai Zhenyang & Chen Xinwan: ... Bai Yurou: ? This shouldn¡¯t be considered a coincidence, right? Nan Qiao politely explained, ¡°Mr. Li has already called off the engagement, and I am not in any engagement with Mr. Li.¡± Old Mr. Li replied, ¡°That can be arranged, just look at how well-matched you two are, how fitting.¡± Old Mr. Li¡¯s words did not embarrass Li Yehan; rather, he felt it was necessary. With an unchanged expression and passionate eyes, Li Yehan said, ¡°My grandpa makes a lot of sense; I can continue with the engagement at the Bai Family. We younger generations must abide by our elders¡¯ arrangements.¡± Bai Zhenyang was utterly confounded, what was Old Mr. Li really up to? Thinking of his daughter¡¯s happiness, he, as a father, had to step up immediately! He had heard that Li Yehan was decisive and ruthless. His precious, fragile daughter, could she end up being abused if she married into that family? No, for his daughter¡¯s happiness, he had to break up this pairing! Bai Zhenyang straightforwardly said, ¡°Uncle Li, although this situation is coincidental, Qiaoqiao has just been found and she is still young. Let¡¯s talk about marriage later.¡± Chen Xinwan nodded in agreement, ¡°My daughter is still young, she¡¯s just preparing for her college exams this year. Let¡¯s discuss other matters later.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s opinion of Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan improved even more, proving indeed that biological and adoptive parents are completely different. If it had been Zhou Hongqi, he would have agreed obsequiously. But Bai Zhenyang respected her choices, allowing her to decide for herself. The stark contrast made it easier for Nan Qiao to accept Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan. Nan Qiao looked at them with particularly joyful eyes, which greatly pleased their hearts. Politely, Nan Qiao said, ¡°I am currently not interested in romantic relationships; moreover, I am young and need to prioritize my studies.¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t sway the situation, Old Mr. Li could only sigh, ¡°Qiaoqiao is the best girl I¡¯ve ever seen, considering marriage seriously is only right. If that¡¯s the case, let the two spend more time together, and may love eventually blossom.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Li Yehan was the first to agree. The atmosphere grew somewhat ambiguous and awkward. Bai Yurou¡¯s emotions were churning, and she felt like murdering Nan Qiao! Was Old Mr. Li¡¯s remark a slap to her face? Wasn¡¯t she good enough? Was Old Mr. Li deliberately trying to please Nan Qiao and embarrass her? She had always been chasing Li Yehan and trying to win Old Mr. Li¡¯s favor, and now she was just a joke? Bai Yurou took a deep breath and managed to speak, ¡°Sister, congratulations. Even though you were rejected by the Zhou Family, the engagement is still yours once you returned to the Bai Family.¡± Nan Qiao detected the resentment in Bai Yurou¡¯s words, was she blaming her? Confused, Nan Qiao thought that matters of the heart couldn¡¯t be forced, and she hadn¡¯t agreed to continue the engagement with Li Yehan. Nan Qiao responded, ¡°If you want it, take it.¡± Bai Yurou: !! She had never seen a woman who spoke so rudely! Could this country girl understand the underlying message in her words? Bai Yurou was somewhat panicked, unsure if Nan Qiao was an easy person to deal with. Just as she was about to speak, Li Yehan interjected and metaphorically slapped her, ¡°I don¡¯t want to give her away.¡± To put it bluntly, even Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xin felt embarrassed. However, the couple had always known that Bai Yurou liked Li Yehan, but Li Yehan had never given Bai Yurou any response over the years. They had also advised Bai Yurou that a forced melon isn¡¯t sweet, and given Li Yehan¡¯s violent temperament, they were even more opposed to Bai Yurou marrying Li Yehan. But today, they had discovered another side of Li Yehan that made them suspect for a moment whether Li Yehan had been possessed. In such an awkward situation, Old Mr. Li coughed lightly and explained, ¡°Yurou, I¡¯m really sorry, Yehan is just too blunt.¡± Bai Yurou: ... Great, Old Mr. Li knows how to twist the knife! What does being blunt mean? Is this Li Yehan¡¯s true feelings? Is it only Nan Qiao that he wants? ... Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan had dinner at the Bai Family¡¯s home. At the dinner table, Li Yehan¡¯s slender fingers picked up a shrimp, and even the motion of peeling it was elegant and composed. After peeling the shrimp, he placed it on the plate in front of Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao said, ¡°Thank you, I can peel it myself.¡± Li Yehan said, ¡°You eat, I¡¯ll peel. It¡¯s not good to get your hands dirty.¡± His voice, magnetic and exceptionally pleasant, made Nan Qiao, who was sensitive to voices, feel overwhelmed. Seeing Li Yehan being so attentive, Bai Zhenyang was worried, ¡°My dear, let daddy peel the shrimp for you.¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°I¡¯ll peel it for our daughter.¡± Only they could peel shrimp for their daughter! Chen Xinwan peeled two shrimps, gave one to Bai Yurou and one to Nan Qiao. Bai Zhenyang did the same, giving one shrimp to each daughter. Seeing Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan so resistant towards him, Li Yehan could understand their feelings, as Nan Qiao had just been found and they were afraid of someone taking her away. Old Mr. Li said cheerfully, ¡°I really envy Old Bai for having such sensible, clever, and adorable granddaughters. Not everyone is blessed with this.¡± Speaking of Old Bai, a worried expression covered Bai Zhenyang¡¯s face: ¡°Unfortunately, my dad refuses to come back.¡± ¡°Zhenyang, how is your mother doing? It¡¯s been a while, has there been any improvement?¡± Bai Zhenyang shook his head, ¡°The situation isn¡¯t very optimistic.¡± Old Mr. Li narrowed his eyes, ¡°Zhenyang, I think you need to transfer her to another hospital. Who is in charge of her case? That¡¯s just a quack doctor, you must change!¡± Bai Yurou: ... She felt her face burning with pain. Bai Yurou awkwardly said, ¡°Grandpa Li, the doctor in charge of grandma¡¯s case is me.¡± Old Mr. Li was startled, but showed no sign of embarrassment; instead, he calmly persuaded, ¡°Yurou, not everyone has a medical gift. Why hasn¡¯t there been any improvement in your grandma¡¯s condition at all? Is it because the responsible doctor isn¡¯t attentive? Lacks medical skills? If that¡¯s the case, you should change your grandma¡¯s doctor.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan hadn¡¯t considered this aspect before, since Zheng Qin¡¯s situation was indeed not optimistic. Since Nan Qiao¡¯s return and their discovery of the true situation, they hadn¡¯t dared to stir things up. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°We¡¯ve already planned to transfer my mother to another hospital, to have another doctor treat her.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s heart instantly panicked. Once they replaced the old lady¡¯s doctor with one who was highly skilled in medicine, the true condition of the old lady would surely be revealed. Bai Yurou blurted out, ¡°Dad, Grandpa Li is absolutely right. Let¡¯s change Grandma¡¯s doctor, perhaps there will be improvement.¡± Listening to Bai Yurou say this, Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t help but give her a glance. Could she have been wrong? Did this matter really have nothing to do with Bai Yurou? Was Bai Yurou unaware? Little did they know, at that moment, Bai Yurou had already thought of a solution to this issue. Chapter 16 - 16 16 Investigating Bai Yurou ?Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Investigating Bai Yurou Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Investigating Bai Yurou Old Mr. Li took Li Yehan back with him, while Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan, accompanied by Nan Qiao and Bai Yurou, saw the two off. Standing at the door, Old Mr. Li¡¯s face was full of kindness, ¡°Qiaoqiao, come over to our place tomorrow if you¡¯re free. The doctor suggested I need further medical examinations to make sure I¡¯m completely healthy. Qiaoqiao, do you have time tomorrow?¡± Given that Nan Qiao had received so many gifts from the Li Family, she naturally wouldn¡¯t decline. Nan Qiao sweetly replied, ¡°I have time tomorrow, Grandpa Li, I¡¯ll come over in the morning.¡± Old Mr. Li couldn¡¯t have been more delighted, ¡°Good, great, I¡¯ll arrange for a car to pick you up.¡± Li Yehan cast a deep glance at Nan Qiao, then left with Old Mr. Li. ... In the car. The same old gentleman who had just been smiling was now wearing a gloomy expression, speaking to Li Yehan, ¡°Li Yehan, from now on, put away your icy facade and smile more. Zhenyang clearly doesn¡¯t want to entrust his daughter to you, fearing you would mistreat her.¡± Li Yehan, ¡°Would I mistreat her?¡± Old Mr. Li, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what people say about you out there?¡± Old Mr. Li then said to the driver, ¡°Old Wang, you tell me, and make sure you tell the truth without leaving anything out.¡± Old Wang, trembling with fear, spoke the truth, ¡°People outside say... they say the young master is ruthless and merciless. He is uncompromising in his actions, killing someone is as easy for him as slaughtering a chick.¡± Li Yehan: ... Is his image really that terrible? Old Mr. Li cautioned him, ¡°You¡¯ve never even dated anyone before. I know you don¡¯t like Bai Yurou, so I haven¡¯t forced you two to be together. Qiaoqiao is a good girl. In the future, you can¡¯t treat her with the same cold attitude you have towards Bai Yurou. She¡¯s had a hard time before¡ªsmart and well-behaved, gentle and wise, she¡¯s as incapable of hurting a fly. You have to protect her well.¡± Old Mr. Li had looked into Nan Qiao¡¯s background and knew that she had not had an easy time at the Zhou Family, a simple and innocent victim. Li Yehan nodded slightly, not saying another word. The atmosphere in the car was as cold as an ice field. ... Zhou Hongqi staggered back to his home, pale as a sheet, as if he were a walking corpse. Zhou Jingya and Liu Yanfang were sitting next to him, asking with anxious expressions, ¡°Old Zhou, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Daddy, are you alright?¡± Zhou Hongqi lifted his head woodenly and slapped Liu Yanfang across the face. The crisp sound of the slap left Liu Yanfang¡¯s mouth bleeding at the corner, and Zhou Jingya was in a panic. ¡°Zhou Hongqi, why did you hit me!¡± Liu Yanfang yelled angrily. Zhou Hongqi was equally enraged, shouting back at her, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have treated Nan Qiao like that! I have a strong suspicion that Old Mr. Li¡¯s favorable opinion is for Nan Qiao, not Xiao Ya.¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, what are you talking about? How have I treated her? When I mistreated her, didn¡¯t you say nothing about it? You agreed to my treatment of her, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face was extremely ugly, even a bit guilty. Liu Yanfang had been mistreating Nan Qiao, and Zhou Hongqi knew all about it but had never defended Nan Qiao, tacitly accepting Liu Yanfang¡¯s actions. Zhou Jingya, watching her arguing parents, felt something was off, ¡°Dad, did big sister say something? Or... has she got herself a rich man?¡± Liu Yanfang let out a scoff, ¡°I knew she couldn¡¯t be content! A little tramp like her, not being a wealthy daughter, can only make money by finding old men.¡± Zhou Hongqi struggled to say, ¡°Mr. Li rejected the marital proposal. He also warned me not to come to him. Otherwise, he would beat me every time he sees me. Our company is doomed!¡± Liu Yanfang & Zhou Jingya: !! Both were completely stunned! Zhou Jingya, ¡°Dad, Mr. Li hasn¡¯t even met me. How could he dislike me?¡± Zhou Hongqi leaned against the sofa, exhausted, ¡°Do you think Mr. Li hadn¡¯t investigated our family before this? That he hadn¡¯t inquired about your situation? That he hadn¡¯t seen your photo?¡± Zhou Jingya: ... Am I really that ugly? Mr. Li will definitely fall in love with her when he sees her! Liu Yanfang sneered disdainfully, ¡°Where is our Xiao Ya lacking? Isn¡¯t she better and more likable than Nan Qiao, that fake rich girl? Xiao Ya¡¯s grades are also good, and as soon as the college entrance examination results come out, she¡¯ll surely get into a good university! Mr. Li hasn¡¯t seen our Xiao Ya. Naturally, he doesn¡¯t know how good Xiao Ya is.¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°Enough, what¡¯s the use of talking about this now? It would be better to think about how to secure investment!¡± Zhou Jingya felt bitter inside; she had thought that getting rid of Nan Qiao would have solved everything but now the marriage was lost too. Looking at Zhou Hongqi¡¯s worried face, Zhou Jingya bit her red lips. ¡°Dad, Mom, I should leave. If I¡¯m not here and you bring my sister back, the company¡¯s crisis might be averted. Mr. Li might prefer her and not me.¡± Zhou Jingya lowered her eyes and said in a choked voice. Liu Yanfang grabbed Zhou Jingya¡¯s arm and held her close, full of affection, ¡°Xiao Ya, you are Mom¡¯s daughter, how could I send you away!¡± Zhou Hongqi sighed, ¡°Ah, let me think of something else. Tomorrow I¡¯ll go find my old friends to scrounge up some investment!¡± Liu Yanfang burst out angrily, ¡°It¡¯s all that jinx Nan Qiao¡¯s fault! If it weren¡¯t for her in our family, would we have encountered these problems?!¡± ¡°If only we hadn¡¯t let Nan Qiao leave,¡± Zhou Hongqi sighed. Zhou Jingya was startled; what did Dad mean by that? Liu Yanfang asked angrily, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, what do you mean by that?¡± Zhou Hongqi revealed a wicked smile, ¡°If Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t left, I could have simply sold her off and made some money, right? And then find her a marriage and get a hefty bride price; wouldn¡¯t our company be able to weather the crisis?¡± Finally, Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya felt a bit better. Liu Yanfang spoke venomously, ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll go find Nan Qiao. We brought her up for so many years; her family should at least pay some support money!¡± ... Bai Family. Bai Yurou sat on the sofa, restless, ¡°Dad, Mom, I have a bit of a headache and won¡¯t eat dinner tonight. I want to go back to my room to sleep.¡± Chen Xinwan sat beside her, placing her hand on her forehead, ¡°Yurou, where do you feel unwell? You should go to the hospital. Even though you are a doctor, a healer cannot heal themselves, it¡¯s still better to get checked at the hospital.¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s just jet lag; I¡¯ll be fine after some sleep.¡± Chen Xinwan thought about it and agreed. The jet lag must be uncomfortable. ¡°Then go back to your room to rest, and if you still feel unwell, go to the hospital as soon as possible.¡± Bai Yurou nodded, took the elevator back to her room, and went to sleep. Once in her room, she locked the door and took out another cell phone to send a text message. Soon, a reply came, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Seeing the message, Bai Yurou breathed a long sigh of relief. ... After taking a shower, Nan Qiao, wearing her pajamas, sat on the couch and received a message from Hou Ze. ¡°Boss, there are a lot of people coming and going in the hospital; it¡¯s not easy to investigate Mrs. Li¡¯s poisoning. Bai Yurou is responsible for Mrs. Li, but she went out for learning, and another doctor is in charge of Mrs. Li¡¯s condition. I¡¯ve looked into this doctor¡¯s account and haven¡¯t found anything.¡± Nan Qiao frowned; she didn¡¯t believe that a deed done would leave no trace. Nan Qiao sent a message: Have you investigated Bai Yurou? Chapter 17 - 17 17 Forcing Nan Qiao ?Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Forcing Nan Qiao Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Forcing Nan Qiao Hou Ze: ¡°Checked it, Bai Yurou¡¯s account doesn¡¯t show any abnormalities.¡± Nan Qiao pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Keep investigating, and come tell me if there¡¯s anything new.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. As soon as there¡¯s news, I¡¯ll inform you immediately. You just wait and see.¡± Nan Qiao opened her laptop, dealt with some matters, and then bought a few stocks. Leaning against the couch, she thought about her days returning to the Bai Family and considered the situation of the Zhou Family before finally drifting off to sleep. ... The next morning, Nan Qiao was still half-asleep when she was woken up by a succession of phone ring tones. Worried about missing something important, she never muted her phone, even while asleep. She answered the phone, and Liu Yanfang¡¯s scolding voice came through, ¡°Nan Qiao, you damn girl, I¡¯ve called you 25 times, why did you only pick up now?¡± Nan Qiao sat up, groggy, ¡°Why should I answer your calls?¡± Liu Yanfang: ¡°Nan Qiao, after all, I raised you. Is this how you repay my kindness in bringing you up?¡± As Liu Yanfang was about to keep scolding, Nan Qiao hung up on her. Liu Yanfang¡¯s anger flared up. Just as she was about to call back, she realized she had been blocked. Liu Yanfang spoke angrily to Zhou Hongqi, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, look at her attitude for yourself! She deliberately didn¡¯t answer my calls. And after she did, she acted like this. She¡¯s doing it on purpose to target me!¡± Zhou Hongqi didn¡¯t respond to her, instead picking up his phone to call Nan Qiao. ¡°Daddy ¨C I mean, I...¡± ¡°My father¡¯s surname is Bai, did you change yours?¡± Nan Qiao retorted coldly and without emotion. Zhou Hongqi choked on her words. Though angry, he dared not confront her directly and could only say helplessly, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I know you¡¯re upset at us, I...¡± ¡°Since you know I¡¯m upset, you shouldn¡¯t have called. I have nothing to say to your family.¡± Nan Qiao decisively hung up and blocked the number. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s anger erupted again, and when he tried to call back, he realized he¡¯d been blocked too. Zhou Jingya handed over her phone, ¡°Dad, use my phone to call sister.¡± When Zhou Jingya¡¯s number appeared, Nan Qiao didn¡¯t hang up but sat up from the bed, asking impatiently, ¡°What is it you want!¡± Zhou Hongqi snatched the phone, made a silencing gesture towards Liu Yanfang, and then spoke to Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s like this. We called you because we want to have a meal with you. Qiaoqiao, ever since you left, we¡¯ve really missed you. We would like to have a meal together.¡± Zhou Hongqi winked, and Liu Yanfang suddenly understood, speaking with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, even though we don¡¯t live together, we were once a family, right? Let¡¯s have a meal together.¡± Zhou Jingya chimed in, ¡°Sister, mom and dad are lowering themselves to talk to you like this, just agree.¡± Nan Qiao laughed sarcastically; Zhou Jingya really knew how to apply eye ointment to these two. It seems they wouldn¡¯t leave her alone if she didn¡¯t go for this meal. Since that was the case, she would go and see what exactly they were up to! Nan Qiao: ¡°Fine.¡± Zhou Hongqi said excitedly and happily, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ve sent the address to your phone, see you at ten.¡± Nan Qiao hung up. She got out of bed, freshened up, and prepared to leave. ... As soon as Nan Qiao stepped out, Chen Xinwan pulled her aside, making a shushing gesture. Nan Qiao was startled, and before she could ask anything, Chen Xinwan had pulled her into her room. Bai Zhenyang was also in the room, the couple wearing mysteriously coy expressions, which made Nan Qiao smile. Bai Zhenyang handed over his phone to Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I suspect that the person who harmed your grandma was the caretaker, Sister Wang. I had someone investigate and found that Sister Wang¡¯s husband¡¯s bank account received one million dollars, and it came from an overseas account. Sister Wang¡¯s husband is a janitor; the one million is too suspicious.¡± Chen Xinwan added, ¡°The surveillance footage shows Aunt Wang giving your grandma the medicine.¡± Such obvious evidence, yet Nan Qiao had a feeling of ¡®protesting too much.¡¯ ¡°Is that really the case?¡± Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°With both testimonial and physical evidence at hand, I¡¯m ready to call the police and have them investigate this matter.¡± Nan Qiao nodded and asked with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ve already made up your mind, so why come to ask for my opinion?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re my daughter, and you¡¯re the one who discovered this, so naturally I need to discuss it with you,¡± Bai Zhenyang replied very directly. Chen Xinwan chuckled and nodded, ¡°My dear daughter, what your father says is also exactly what¡¯s in my heart.¡± Nan Qiao was quite moved, and compared to Zhou Hongqi¡¯s attitude in the morning, she felt even closer to her biological parents. Based on the current evidence, the only thing to do was to detain the caretaker for questioning to see if we could uncover the mastermind behind it all. After getting Nan Qiao¡¯s response, Bai Zhenyang called his assistant to ensure the matter was handled properly. Nan Qiao took out the medicine bag she had prepared and gave it to both of them. ¡°This is a medicine bag I made for strengthening the body,¡± which could also rid their bodies of toxins. However, they would still need to take some medication, and since Nan Qiao was in the experimental phase, she couldn¡¯t give it to them yet. Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan, upon receiving the gift from their daughter, had tears in their eyes, overwhelmed with emotion. Chen Xinwan picked up her phone and transferred five million dollars to Nan Qiao, ¡°Thank you, Qiaoqiao, for the gift.¡± Bai Zhenyang also proceeded to transfer five million dollars to Nan Qiao, ¡°My daughter, thank you for your gift, I am so happy.¡± Happy to the point of making a transfer? Nan Qiao said embarrassedly, ¡°You¡¯re being too polite. You¡¯ve already given me quite a bit of money, there¡¯s no need to transfer more.¡± Chen Xinwan replied, ¡°Qiaoqiao dear, we make money for you to spend, if not you, then who else will we give it to?¡± Bai Zhenyang added, ¡°Besides, your three brothers earn money too. Spend it without worries. Our family isn¡¯t short on money. Buy everything you¡¯ve wanted before, even ten times over is fine. If you need more, just let us know.¡± Chen Xinwan continued, ¡°Your mom and dad are always your strongest support. Just let us know if you need more money.¡± Faced with such generous parents, Nan Qiao was even more touched. These were her mom and dad, always taking her side, ensuring her safety and happiness. As the family of three headed out in high spirits, at the elevator they encountered Bai Yurou, who had gone downstairs after waking up. Bai Yurou, seeing her happy family, each with a content smile, felt a bitter taste in her heart. They were her dad and mom, and now Nan Qiao had taken them away! Bai Yurou smiled and greeted, ¡°Dad, mom, sister, good morning.¡± Chen Xinwan smiled and nodded, ¡°Yurou, good morning.¡± Bai Zhenyang smiled and also said good morning. A hand doesn¡¯t strike a smiling face, so naturally, Nan Qiao politely nodded and returned the greeting. The four of them entered the family elevator, and Bai Yurou curiously asked, ¡°Dad, mom, sister, how come you¡¯re coming from your room?¡± Nan Qiao took the initiative to answer, ¡°I made a handmade gift for them.¡± Indeed, Nan Qiao had prepared the medicine bags and took the opportunity in the morning to give them to Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan. Bai Yurou couldn¡¯t pry any information, so she had to let it go. After eating, Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang went upstairs to change clothes. Nan Qiao finished eating, grabbed her bag, and went outside to have the driver take her out. At least to a place where she could ride a bike-share to see the entire Zhou Hongqi family. She did not want her identity known to these people who were only capable of leeching off others. She wanted to see exactly what these people were up to! Chapter 18 - 18 18 Nan Qiao Is the Companys Financier ?Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Nan Qiao Is the Company¡¯s Financier Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Nan Qiao Is the Company¡¯s Financier Nan Qiao got out of the car by the roadside and said to Uncle Wang, ¡°Uncle Wang, I¡¯m going to meet an old friend. You can go home first.¡± ¡°Miss, let me drive you there.¡± Nan Qiao smiled and shook her head, ¡°No need, I can get there on my own.¡± Nan Qiao hailed a car from the roadside and cycled towards the address that Zhou Hongqi had sent her. ... Zhou Hongqi, along with Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya, also arrived at the cafe? that Nan Qiao mentioned. They had just arrived by car at the cafe? entrance when they saw Nan Qiao coming on a shared bike. Zhou Jingya instantly felt refreshed. Oh, what do you know, Nan Qiao isn¡¯t doing so well either. Not coming here by car or by taxi, but actually riding a bike. Zhou Jingya raised her head, her expression a mix of arrogance and disdain. Liu Yanfang looked disgusted, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, look at her, her family is so poor they can¡¯t even afford a car.¡± Zhou Hongqi glared at Liu Yanfang, ¡°Just shut up.¡± Liu Yanfang had no choice but to close her mouth, after all, they still had business to attend to. Zhou Hongqi walked towards Nan Qiao with a beaming smile that seemed kind and benevolent. ¡°Qiaoqiao, why did you come on a bike, why not take a taxi? If you don¡¯t have money, it¡¯s fine, let me pay for you once you get here.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s gaze fell on Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face, just watching him, she laughed. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curled up, ¡°I¡¯m wondering, what matter made you call me here today? Since you know I don¡¯t have money, why did you still want to see me? This doesn¡¯t seem like something you would do, after all, you always care about power and despise the poor while favoring the rich.¡± Zhou Hongqi¡¯s brow furrowed, but he quickly smiled again, ¡°Qiaoqiao, let¡¯s go inside first, there¡¯s something I want to talk to you about.¡± Nan Qiao walked straight into the cafe?, not even glancing at Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya. Liu Yanfang, stomping her foot, fumed, ¡°That damn girl, pretending she can¡¯t see me!¡± Zhou Jingya linked her arm, soothing her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t stoop to her level, she¡¯s not your dear daughter.¡± Liu Yanfang scoffed with a cold laugh, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I want to see how long this damn girl can stay so haughty.¡± The group entered the cafe? together. In the quiet cafe?, there were only the four of them. A cup of coffee was placed in front of Nan Qiao, emitting an aromatic fragrance. With just a sniff, Nan Qiao knew what was going on. She asked calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Zhou Hongqi said with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, ever since you left home, many of the company¡¯s partners have withdrawn their funding. Qiaoqiao, do you know these people?¡± Liu Yanfang¡¯s malicious gaze fell upon Nan Qiao, filled with a plethora of emotions, the clearest of which made Nan Qiao want to laugh. These people, in times of need, they seek Nan Qiao, but otherwise, they favor Zhou Jingya. Nan Qiao leaned back in her chair, and even without makeup, her beauty couldn¡¯t be concealed. ¡°I know them, so what?¡± Nan Qiao said carelessly. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s eyes burned with fervor and excitement, ¡°Really? Qiaoqiao, please help your father out. Talk to them, try to convince them to continue their partnership with our company, can you do that?¡± Liu Yanfang suppressed the contempt in her heart and spoke in an even tone, ¡°Qiaoqiao, we raised you for eighteen years, don¡¯t you think you should give us something in return?¡± Zhou Jingya also said, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re so capable and can win the favor of those bosses, so please help us out one more time.¡± Nan Qiao clearly saw the disdain in Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya¡¯s eyes. Nan Qiao laughed, ¡°You look down on me in your hearts, yet you come to me for help, how pathetic is that!¡± Liu Yanfang could no longer pretend and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Nan Qiao, you dare call us pathetic? What are you then! If it weren¡¯t for us raising you, you would have been dead a long time ago!¡± Nan Qiao spoke leisurely, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you kill me? Oh, if you killed me, you¡¯d be a murderer.¡± Liu Yanfang was so angry she bit her teeth, and only Zhou Hongqi pressing down on her arm kept her from cursing out loud in rage. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face still wore a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, have some coffee, cool down. Whatever it is, we can talk it over slowly.¡± Nan Qiao covered her mouth with her hand, coughed twice, then picked up the coffee and took a couple of sips. Only then did Zhou Hongqi say, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you know how your mother is; she¡¯s always been like this, don¡¯t be angry. I came to see you today because I want you to help out our family¡¯s company a bit.¡± Seeing that Nan Qiao remained silent, Zhou Hongqi continued, ¡°Qiaoqiao, our family¡¯s company is doing quite well, you know that, right? Even though your current parents are quite poor, when the time comes for you to discuss marriage, your mother and I can help you out, can¡¯t we?¡± Liu Yanfang raised her head, ¡°When the time comes, we can help you make a presence, so your in-laws see that you can¡¯t be bullied easily.¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Sister, helping out Dad now is the same as helping yourself, isn¡¯t it? As a girl, before getting married, you should let the other party know they can¡¯t just look down on you, right?¡± Nan Qiao: ?? What, these three have no issues at all? Nan Qiao found this amusing, ¡°Who says women must get married? Is it not okay to not marry? Besides, if you look down on me, why should I marry him? Am I not right in the head?¡± Liu Yanfang, looking at Nan Qiao¡¯s confident retort, scoffed with disdain, ¡°You sure talk light, Nan Qiao. You¡¯ve been played by those bosses already, so what¡¯s with the act of a chaste heroine? Should we build a chastity arch for you?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, her expression cold. ¡°Mr. Zhou, so you¡¯re telling me you wanted me to sell my body to help curry favor for you?¡± With the cat out of the bag, Zhou Hongqi naturally spoke the truth, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re sacrificing yourself for the family for now. When the company gets better, I will back you up, won¡¯t I?¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°With your birth parents, what kind of good life can you lead? They¡¯re not tycoons, and you¡¯re not a tycoon¡¯s daughter. In life, you shouldn¡¯t harbor illusions, you need to be more down-to-earth, right?¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Sister, if you help out Mom and Dad now, I promise not to say anything when they help you later.¡± Nan Qiao snorted with laughter, ¡°Are you here to joke with me? We¡¯re not even family anymore, you kicked me out, why should I help you? Who do you think you are, to be so confident?¡± Zhou Hongqi, seeing that Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t be swayed by soft words, went for the hard sell, ¡°If you help me close this deal, I¡¯ll give you one million, how about that?¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°One million is too much, give her five hundred thousand, and she¡¯ll be grateful!¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Let¡¯s just give Sister one million, after all, she is part of the Zhou Family. Mom, I am not upset at all; as long as it can help Mom and Dad, I can do whatever it takes.¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°If you can do whatever it takes, why don¡¯t you sell yourself?¡± The biological parents providing for her, Nan Qiao stood up, scoffing with contempt, ¡°One million? My pocket money is more than one million, what are you even worth!¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s vision doubled, and looking at the three people in front of her, she fainted. Zhou Hongqi caught her in time. Liu Yanfang cursed angrily, ¡°Why are you holding her, just let her fall and die!¡± Zhou Hongqi, ¡°Are you stupid? If she bashes her head, can she still help with business negotiations? Hurry and hold her, Mr. Ma is already waiting at the hotel.¡± The three of them supported Nan Qiao and took her to the hotel... Chapter 19 - 19 19 Finding a Match for Qiaoqiao ?Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Finding a Match for Qiaoqiao Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Finding a Match for Qiaoqiao Zhou Hongqi supported Nan Qiao and brought her to the hotel, to Mr. Ma¡¯s room. At this moment in the room, the pot-bellied Mr. Ma, seeing Nan Qiao unconscious, was very satisfied. ¡°Old Zhou, the goods you¡¯ve found are really nice,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame she¡¯s unconscious, how great it would be if she were awake.¡± Zhou Hongqi laughed obsequiously, ¡°Mr. Ma, my girl is too fierce. I was afraid she¡¯d ruin your mood.¡± ¡°I like them fierce,¡± Mr. Ma declared. ¡°I love to conquer such vehement women.¡± Zhou Hongqi placed Nan Qiao on the bed. ¡°Mr. Ma, about our partnership...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already signed it,¡± Mr. Ma assured. ¡°My secretary will bring it to you in a bit.¡± Zhou Hongqi was overjoyed. ¡°Mr. Ma, then I¡¯ll leave you to it. I won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡± Not long after Zhou Hongqi left, Mr. Ma approached Nan Qiao. But before he could make a move, there came a scream like that of a pig being slaughtered. Nan Qiao kicked Mr. Ma in the stomach, causing him to howl in pain. ¡°How dare you hit me! Do you believe I could make your Zhou Family bankrupt?¡± Nan Qiao stood over him, gazing down contemptuously. ¡°Really? I¡¯ll be waiting then! Zhou Hongqi sent me to beat you up! He said he¡¯s been wanting to kill you for a long time because he can¡¯t stand you!¡± Mr. Ma, furious, hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Hongqi to play him like this. Nan Qiao went on, ¡°Zhou Hongqi also said you¡¯re an idiot, and as soon as he gets the contract, he¡¯ll kick you to the curb.¡± Mr. Ma: !! He was very angry! And there would be severe consequences! Seeing Mr. Ma so enraged, Nan Qiao felt exceptionally good. She dusted off her hands and left the place. Meanwhile, Zhou Hongqi had taken Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya to a nearby cafe? to wait for Nan Qiao to emerge from the hotel in a sorry state. Instead, they saw Nan Qiao walking out unscathed and sweeping by on a bicycle. Zhou Jingya was confounded. ¡°Daddy, she¡¯s unharmed!¡± Liu Yanfang said, ¡°Was Mr. Ma that quick? That¡¯s way too fast!¡± Zhou Hongqi, his brows deeply furrowed, sensed that something was amiss and took out his phone to call Mr. Ma. But before he could dial, he received a call from Mr. Ma. ¡°Zhou Hongqi, you dare set a woman on me to plot against me! Zhou Hongqi, you¡¯re dead!¡± Zhou Hongqi hadn¡¯t a chance to explain before Mr. Ma hung up and blocked him. Then, Zhou Hongqi received a call from the secretary, ¡°President Zhou, it¡¯s bad news. Mr. Ma is refusing to cooperate; you need to find a solution fast, or our company is going under!¡± Zhou Hongqi¡¯s heart suddenly turned cold. He couldn¡¯t understand how Mr. Ma could have failed to handle Nan Qiao. What exactly had Nan Qiao said or done? Liu Yanfang, infuriated, kept cursing Nan Qiao, while Zhou Jingya kept her head down in silence, fearing that Zhou Hongqi would force her into prostitution. Zhou Hongqi furiously tried calling Nan Qiao, but couldn¡¯t get through. ... The Zhou Family couldn¡¯t find Nan Qiao, who was enjoying her freedom. She hadn¡¯t informed Zhou Hongqi, paying back one last time for his upbringing! If the Zhou Family dared to lay hands on her again, she wouldn¡¯t hold back! ... Nan Qiao decided to check on Old Mr. Li¡¯s health today after accepting so much money; it was the least she could do. After breakfast, Old Mr. Li sent a car for Nan Qiao. Chen Xinwan advised her, ¡°Darling Qiaoqiao, go early and come back early. I¡¯ve instructed the driver to follow the Li Family¡¯s car so you can come home whenever you wish.¡± Bai Zhenyang also reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t have lunch at the Li Family¡¯s house; I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare a seafood feast for you.¡± Nan Qiao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, they were so worried about her being abducted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll come home for lunch.¡± Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s words relieved the couple. They escorted Miss Nan Qiao to the door, watching her get into the Li Family¡¯s car, and filled with melancholy. ¡°Zhenyang, watching Qiaoqiao drive away makes my heart ache terribly, just like a daughter leaving for her in-laws and then returning home.¡± Bai Zhenyang let out a sigh, ¡°I feel the same way. In the future, it would be better if our Qiaoqiao marries an upstanding son-in-law who can live with us, so that she won¡¯t be separated from us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, we¡¯ll see what Qiaoqiao thinks when we bring it up.¡± The conversation between the couple reached Bai Yurou¡¯s ears, fueling her envy, jealousy, and resentment. Why does she have to get married off while Nan Qiao doesn¡¯t? And all the assets of the Bai Family, are they all going to Nan Qiao? Bai Yurou clenched her fists. While Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan went inside, she sent a message on her phone. After receiving a reply, her expression returned to normal. She quickly went inside and chatted with Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan, striving to make a good impression herself. ... As the car drove along, Miss Nan Qiao sat in the back, watching the trees on both sides of the road rush by, the car¡¯s speed too fast. More than that, she noticed that the direction the car was traveling in wasn¡¯t where Old Mr. Li lived. She had specifically asked the old gentleman to send her the address to avoid any mishaps. She didn¡¯t expect the mishap to come so quickly. Miss Nan Qiao spoke up, ¡°This isn¡¯t the way to the Li Family, is it?¡± Her voice was as calm as still water, without a hint of shock, as if she were a queen strategizing behind the scenes. The driver didn¡¯t notice Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s demeanor and instead sped up. The driver remained silent. Miss Nan Qiao took out her phone to send a message, but the car had a signal jammer installed; she couldn¡¯t send any distress messages or make phone calls. Miss Nan Qiao didn¡¯t bother trying to send messages anymore, she leaned back in the seat, her arms crossed, and with a chilling smile, she watched the direction in which the car was heading. The driver was surprised that, upon discovering something was wrong, Miss Nan Qiao didn¡¯t scream or shout. Was she scared silly? Miss Nan Qiao spoke again, ¡°Have you considered the consequences of betraying the Li Family?¡± The driver¡¯s body jerked, and suddenly realizing something, he took a deep breath and said, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, I am truly sorry, I had no choice. They just wanted to have a word with you, you can rest assured.¡± Rest assured my ass! Miss Nan Qiao didn¡¯t believe this was just a matter of having a word. Their intentions were obviously hostile. If they wanted to talk, there were other ways; there was no need for such extreme measures. The car kept driving and arrived at an abandoned factory. ¡°Get out.¡± The driver got out of the vehicle and opened the door for her. Miss Nan Qiao glanced at the driver and stepped out of the car calmly. Faced with the barrel of a gun, she cooperated fully, walking into the interior of the factory. Meanwhile, at the Li Family. Li Yehan had been waiting for some time and raised his wrist to check the time on his watch. ¡°Old Liu, check the surveillance along the way.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Old Liu immediately went to check. Old Mr. Li¡¯s expression faltered with worry, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°By this time, she should have almost arrived. Old Liu tried calling the driver, but he¡¯s unreachable.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s brief statement sent Old Mr. Li into panic. ¡°Check quickly, find out what exactly happened!¡± Old Mr. Li exclaimed angrily and worryingly. If something happened to Miss Nan Qiao on her way to the Li Family, how could the Bai Family feel secure about her coming over! Old Mr. Li, blazing with rage, said: ¡°Check the driver, if he dares to betray the Li Family, I¡¯ll make an example out of him for everyone to see!¡± They will see if they can bear the cost of betraying the Li Family! Li Yehan stood up, ¡°Grandfather, wait here at home, I will bring Qiaoqiao over.¡± Li Yehan followed Old Liu¡¯s investigative findings and dashed outside, racing against time! Old Mr. Li also arranged for his people to help, to save Miss Nan Qiao as soon as possible. The safety of Miss Nan Qiao was what mattered most! Chapter 20 - 20 20 Im Willing to Die for Her ?Chapter 20: Chapter 20 I¡¯m Willing to Die for Her Chapter 20: Chapter 20 I¡¯m Willing to Die for Her In the abandoned factory, a camera was set up with three lecherous-looking brutes standing beside it. The driver was nowhere to be found, and all the people here were thugs, as if they were afraid that Nan Qiao would escape. Several men eyed Nan Qiao, pleased expressions on their faces. ¡°This chick isn¡¯t bad, big where she needs to be big, perky where she needs to be perky, a real beauty.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start shooting quickly, I¡¯d die happy on her body!¡± ¡°Are we going all at once, or taking turns?¡± ¡°This woman¡¯s got flavor, probably can¡¯t handle us all at once, right? How about one at a time?¡± The three men discussed fervently, as if Nan Qiao was a helpless fish on a chopping board. Nan Qiao, clad in a t-shirt and jeans, her simple clothes unable to hide her stunning figure. Her cold brows and eyes scanned the crowd, her lightly pursed red lips parted, ¡°Who sent you?¡± The leader, holding a dagger, didn¡¯t take Nan Qiao seriously at all. ¡°The moment you die, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± The man thrust the sharp dagger into the table, then said to the three men, ¡°Hurry up.¡± The three men approached Nan Qiao, surrounding her, their heated gazes filled with greed. A group of five or six men stood aside, spectating the scene. Between the camera and the thugs, they were all just waiting to watch Nan Qiao be humiliated. One man¡¯s hand reached towards her, and Nan Qiao grabbed it, forcefully snapping it, the sound of fractured bones echoed. In the blink of an eye, Nan Qiao kicked the man in the groin, the pain causing him to fall to the ground and roll around in agony. As the others rushed at her, Nan Qiao grabbed the man closest to her, kicked him in the stomach, grabbed another man¡¯s arm with her right hand, and snatched the dagger from the leader¡¯s hand with her left, swiftly slashing across with it. In moments, several men were covered with wounds, blood flowing incessantly. Being a practitioner of traditional medicine, Nan Qiao precisely knew the human body¡¯s pressure points¡ªthe knife struck where it would cause unstoppable bleeding and where it could kill a person instantly. The leader pulled out a gun from his pocket and shot at Nan Qiao. Darting past, Nan Qiao used one of the men as a shield, threw him forward, and while the gunman was distracted, she snatched the gun from his hands and shot him in the legs twice. Just then, Nan Qiao heard urgent footsteps outside. She didn¡¯t linger to fight, grabbing the gun and running. With reinforcements arriving in number, she needed to leave the place first. A wise warrior picks his battles! Nan Qiao hurried out, her ears filled with the sounds of footsteps drawing closer. The abandoned factory dealt with fabrics, some of which hung tattered from the ceiling. Seeing a figure ahead and finding herself surrounded, Nan Qiao furrowed her brows and slowly moved forward. Gun in hand, Nan Qiao charged forward, aiming at the person ahead. And the person also quickly drew a gun, aiming at Nan Qiao. The fluttering fabric made their sight even clearer. ¡°Nan Qiao!¡± ¡°Li Yehan?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s gun was trained on Li Yehan, and Li Yehan¡¯s gun was also aiming at Nan Qiao, hair-trigger tense. If not for their exceptional reflexes, bullets would have pierced through their skulls by now. At that moment, Li Yehan pulled Nan Qiao into his embrace, his right hand firing the gun that pierced the enemy¡¯s forehead, striking dead-on. Li Yehan¡¯s precise shooting stunned Nan Qiao. Old Liu arrived with backup, respectfully addressing Li Yehan, ¡°Sir, the people who kidnapped the Miss have been subdued.¡± Only then did Li Yehan breathe a sigh of relief, ¡°Interrogate them thoroughly, but don¡¯t kill them.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Old Liu received the order and went to handle it. Nan Qiao still held the handgun in her trembling hands, her clear, watery eyes wide with shock. At that moment, her heart was in utter disarray. She was about to fall off her horse again! Nan Qiao awkwardly held the pistol and looked at Li Yehan¡¯s concerned gaze, stepping out of his embrace. She then handed him the pistol, ¡°It was so terrifying, I¡¯m really scared.¡± The tenderness in his eyes growing, Li Yehan took the gun from her and gently ruffled her hair, ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay.¡± His gentle voice gradually calmed her down. Nan Qiao was the first to speak, ¡°How did you come to be here?¡± ¡°I was at home waiting for you with Grandpa, and when you didn¡¯t show up, we called the driver, but he didn¡¯t answer his phone. So I had my people check the surveillance cameras along the way, and when I found out you were in trouble, I rushed to rescue you. Fortunately, I made it in time.¡± Nan Qiao was somewhat surprised, ¡°You weren¡¯t at work?¡± Their proximity was close, so close that Nan Qiao could see the delicacy of his skin and the impenetrable affection veiling his dark eyes. In a low voice brimming with magnetism, the man said, ¡°It¡¯s your first visit to our house; naturally, I had to wait for you.¡± Standing so close, the warm breath of the man brushed her face, causing Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks to blush as she stepped back to steady her emotions. ¡°Let¡¯s go outside.¡± Just as Nan Qiao was about to walk, she was suddenly swept up in Li Yehan¡¯s arms. Caught off guard, she instinctively clung to his neck. His voice resonated beside her ear, ¡°You¡¯ve injured your calf, I¡¯ll carry you out.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s words directed her gaze to her leg, remarking only then a pain. She had likely been slashed during the struggle, but she hadn¡¯t noticed it at the time, thankfully, it wasn¡¯t very painful. ¡°Li Yehan, put me down, I can walk.¡± The injury was minor, insignificant compared to the wounds she had suffered before. Li Yehan, however, did not comply with her request but firmly carried her out. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± With no other choice, she could only let him carry her. When Nan Qiao was brought into the hospital, it caused quite a stir. Coincidently, Bai Yurou was working at that hospital. She had just finished her rounds when she saw Li Yehan carrying Nan Qiao and instinctively approached, ¡°Brother Ye Han.¡± Yet, Li Yehan seemed not to see her, continuing to walk inside with Nan Qiao in his arms. Passing nurses who saw this scene were stunned. ¡°So this is the Brother Ye Han Dr. Bai was talking about?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Dr. Bai say they were almost getting married? Mr. Li didn¡¯t even acknowledge her!¡± ¡°It looks like Bai Yurou is just experiencing unrequited love.¡± ¡°No matter how well-matched they are, it doesn¡¯t matter if he isn¡¯t interested. I don¡¯t know why she acts so arrogant all the time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m free now; I¡¯ll go get the scoop.¡± A young nurse ran up, her face full of gossip. Bai Yurou was furious, knowing if it leaked that she wasn¡¯t the Bai Family¡¯s true daughter, it would be the end! Not wanting her secret to be exposed so soon, she marched over and grabbed the nurse¡¯s arm. ¡°Slacking off during work hours, believe me if I tell the director!¡± Flushed with embarrassment, the nurse slipped away hurriedly. Bai Yurou¡¯s rage seethed within her; her plan had failed! She had intended for Nan Qiao to be assaulted, and then to circulate the video. Even if the Bai Family liked Nan Qiao, they would never announce that Nan Qiao was the true daughter. What to do now? Chapter 21 - 21 21 Its easy for others to misunderstand you like this ?Chapter 21: Chapter 21 It¡¯s easy for others to misunderstand you like this Chapter 21: Chapter 21 It¡¯s easy for others to misunderstand you like this Bai Yurou stomped her feet in urgency, ran to the office to grab another cellphone, and sent a message before finally letting out a sigh of relief. After completing these tasks, she locked the spare cellphone in the safe and immediately rushed out again. She needed to be the first to get updates on Nan Qiao¡¯s condition and be ready to strike if necessary¡ªthis woman couldn¡¯t be left alive! Even in the presence of Li Yehan, she must carry out this deed. If Nan Qiao wanted to steal everything that belonged to her, how could Bai Yurou let Nan Qiao live and leave the hospital? What intrigued Bai Yurou even more was how Nan Qiao could be with Li Yehan. Was it Li Yehan who saved Nan Qiao? Impossible! How could Li Yehan, a man so cold-blooded and merciless, possibly take the initiative to save Nan Qiao? The less she dared to think about it, the more she felt the possibility was real. This message was something Bai Yurou couldn¡¯t accept. As she walked out, she saw Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan had also arrived. The couple seemed not to see her, striding forward with a quick pace without a sidelong glance. Husband and wife talked as they walked, and coincidentally, a few nurses overheard them. ¡°My dear Qiaoqiao, how could she get hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m calling the specialist right now, to come treat our daughter immediately.¡± ¡°My poor baby Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s so pitiful, just found her and now she¡¯s hurt again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the security company to arrange additional expert martial artists as bodyguards for our girl!¡± ¡°Right, our girl can¡¯t get hurt again.¡± Their girl? The nurses were shocked by this news, exchanging looks. ¡°Didn¡¯t Bai Yurou say she was the Bai Family¡¯s only young miss? How come there¡¯s another girl now?¡± The fact that Bai Yurou was the young miss of the Bai Family had been subtly boasted by her. Moreover, with Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan showing their affection for Bai Yurou, and having come to the hospital to pick her up before, the nurses had also seen photos of the wealthy couple in magazines and naturally recognized the people leaving as Bai Yurou¡¯s parents. ¡°Could it be that the person inside is the Bai Family¡¯s illegitimate daughter?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it, didn¡¯t you hear the urgency and concern in their words? If it were an illegitimate daughter, they wouldn¡¯t show such affection.¡± ¡°Xiaoqing, you¡¯re the smartest! How dare you say that, do you have a death wish?¡± Xiaoqing whispered, ¡°Aren¡¯t we just talking among ourselves? If Bai Yurou hears this, I¡¯m dead.¡± As they were speaking, Bai Yurou walked in. ¡°What are you all doing! Chatting during work hours?¡± With Bai Yurou speaking up, the others didn¡¯t dare to utter a sound. After all, who could stand up to someone with a powerful family background and connections like Bai Yurou? The nurses dispersed, and Bai Yurou continued towards the ward. ... Inside the hospital room. Nan Qiao¡¯s calf had been bandaged, and seeing Li Yehan¡¯s worried expression, the doctor called several other doctors, fearing they wouldn¡¯t be able to save the patient. Upon arriving... that¡¯s it? The calf was merely scratched, the wound was neither deep nor big, and the blood on the trouser leg wasn¡¯t solely hers; there was also the blood of the assailant. Wouldn¡¯t a plaster be enough? The doctors didn¡¯t dare to say a word, who didn¡¯t know about Li Yehan¡¯s temper? They diligently bandaged Nan Qiao¡¯s wound as if it were a severe injury. At this moment, Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan entered. Chen Xinwan took Nan Qiao¡¯s hand with a voice full of self-reproach, ¡°My dear Qiaoqiao, does it hurt? Mommy is late.¡± Following her, Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°My girl, daddy has already called the police, those criminals will definitely be brought to justice, and the person behind it all will be rooted out! Whoever dares to bully my girl is asking for trouble with me!¡± The doctors looked at each other, all shocked. This girl is the daughter of a wealthy tycoon? Then who is Bai Yurou? Was this earth-shattering gossip something they should be hearing? Nan Qiao was surrounded by a group of people, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m fine, the wound is small, I can get out of bed and walk now.¡± Nan Qiao said and then tried to stand up to walk a few steps to show everyone, to prove that her legs were fine. Chen Xinwan grabbed her, making her lie down on the bed to rest properly. ¡°Injury to the sinews or bones takes a hundred days to heal, Qiaoqiao, listen to me, just lie down and rest.¡± Bai Zhenyang also said, ¡°Your mother is right, just listen to her.¡± Chen Xinwan said with worry, ¡°Qiaoqiao, once you¡¯re home, you lie down and rest. I¡¯ll find you a personal nurse to take care of you around the clock.¡± Bai Zhenyang nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve ordered a lot of tonics for you, you should really nourish your body well after you get home.¡± The doctors: ... Isn¡¯t that a bit too much? They didn¡¯t dare to speak up, and could only talk in their hearts. Nan Qiao rolled up her trouser leg, ¡°Look, I really am not hurt.¡± Li Yehan lowered his eyes and saw a leg with delicate white skin, warmth flooding his eyes. He put Nan Qiao¡¯s trouser leg back down, ¡°You should still lie down and rest more.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Are these people overestimating how frail she was? Just then, Bai Yurou entered, ¡°Mom and dad, I¡¯m a doctor, let me examine my sister.¡± Nan Qiao decisively refused, ¡°The wound has already been bandaged, there¡¯s no need for an examination.¡± Chen Xinwan looked at the well-bandaged wound and said to Bai Yurou, ¡°Yurou, your sister¡¯s wound is already bandaged, no need to check it now.¡± Bai Yurou nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Xinwan nodded and said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, mom asked the kitchen to stew pig trotter soup, make sure you have a couple of bowls when you get home.¡± Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°I will find a wheelchair to take Qiaoqiao home to rest properly. Our family doctor is on call and will come over immediately if there¡¯s any issue.¡± Nan Qiao was afraid of troubling others, ¡°I can walk by myself...¡± Before she could finish speaking, she was lifted up by someone once more. Li Yehan held Nan Qiao, ¡°This is faster.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan held Nan Qiao and walked out, with Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan following him. Bai Zhenyang was fuming inside! His delicate little ¡°cabbage¡± was about to be spoiled by a ¡°pig¡±, how could he smile about this? Bai Zhenyang, with his long legs, walked over to Li Yehan, ¡°Ye Han, this is my daughter, let me carry Qiaoqiao home, I¡¯m her father!¡± Li Yehan nodded and continued holding Nan Qiao, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Bai Zhenyang: !! He got angry again, Li Yehan was really hard to persuade! ¡°Ye Han, she¡¯s my daughter, what if people see and misunderstand your relationship?¡± Nan Qiao also nodded, ¡°I should walk by myself.¡± Li Yehan, ¡°Let them misunderstand.¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°I don¡¯t want people to misunderstand!¡± The man¡¯s heated gaze fell on her, watching her panic, he smiled slightly, ¡°What are you afraid of them misunderstanding?¡± Nan Qiao was at a loss for words, her delicate little face flushed red, and Li Yehan continued forward, fearing Nan Qiao¡¯s refusal. Li Yehan kept walking, which made Bai Zhenyang even more furious! Chen Xinwan, holding his arm, said with a smile, ¡°Look at you, can¡¯t you see that Ye Han is trying to pursue our daughter?¡± ¡°I am worried exactly because I see it! Who is Li Yehan? With his cold and ruthless manner, what if he bullies our daughter? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to find a son-in-law who would join our family? Can Li Yehan be that son-in-law? Would the Li Family agree?¡± Chen Xinwan: ... The Li Family would certainly not agree. The couple quickened their pace to go out and try to stop Li Yehan! Bai Yurou watched everyone leave without saying goodbye to her, which made her very angry. Bai Yurou clenched her fists, unable to sit still any longer, and directly asked for leave to go back. She wanted to see for herself if Li Yehan really was trying to pursue Nan Qiao, as if she were a match for him! Chapter 22 - 22 22 Holding Her Tight ?Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Holding Her Tight Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Holding Her Tight Li Yehan carried Nan Qiao into his car and then drove her back to the Bai Family¡¯s residence. Upon reaching the Bai Family villa, Nan Qiao pushed open the car door, intending to get out, but Li Yehan grabbed her arm, ¡°You¡¯re injured, I¡¯ll carry you inside.¡± Nan Qiao: ... ¡°Li Yehan, I¡¯m not made of clay, I¡¯m not that fragile. My wound isn¡¯t deep, I can walk on my own.¡± Nan Qiao felt quite embarrassed; she had never been carried like this before. Every time she met Li Yehan¡¯s fiery gaze, her heart skipped a beat and undefined emotions unfurled within her. For instance, at this moment, Li Yehan¡¯s burning eyes met hers, his thin lips curving into a mischievously arched smile, his dark eyes brimming with indulgence, ¡°Are you afraid others will misunderstand our relationship?¡± Nan Qiao moved closer to the edge of the car, gripping the door handle, ¡°What kind of relationship could we possibly have?¡± ¡°So, what are you afraid of?¡± Nan Qiao turned around, only to find Li Yehan had moved closer to her. The distance between them was so small, Nan Qiao could clearly see the fine wheat color of his skin, and under those curly long eyelashes, a pair of peach blossom eyes shone brightly. Startled by the sudden closeness, Nan Qiao¡¯s hand jerked on the door handle. Uncontrollably, her body tumbled outside. In the emergency, Li Yehan¡¯s one hand wrapped around her shoulder, the other protecting her slender waist, drawing her into his embrace. Luckily, the car¡¯s interior space was large enough, so Nan Qiao found herself cradled in Li Yehan¡¯s arms, lying completely on top of him. The man¡¯s clear, crisp scent flooded into her nostrils and pervaded her whole body, causing all of Nan Qiao¡¯s blood to tremble. When Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang hurriedly got out of the car and came over, they saw Nan Qiao in Li Yehan¡¯s arms. Bai Yurou, stepping out of the car right after them, had a fleeting glint of murderous intent in her eyes. What on earth had she seen! How could Li Yehan be holding Nan Qiao! The driver, stunned like a wooden chicken, was baffled. Mr. Li was actually hugging a woman voluntarily? Worried about her getting hurt? Was this the same cold and ruthless tycoon they knew? The situation was so unbelievable that Nan Qiao quickly pushed away from Li Yehan, instinctively moving towards the outside of the car. Chen Xinwan grabbed Nan Qiao¡¯s arm, ¡°Qiaoqiao, let mommy help you.¡± Nan Qiao felt a bit awkward being helped and explained once more, ¡°I can walk on my own.¡± Bai Zhenyang said with concern, ¡°Qiaoqiao, let daddy help you as well.¡± At this moment, Li Yehan calmly got out of the car, his noble presence natural. Nan Qiao explained, ¡°I got out of the car in a rush and almost fell, luckily Mr. Li caught me in time.¡± She definitely did not want people to misunderstand her relationship with Li Yehan! Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang naturally believed their precious daughter; Qiaoqiao was so innocent, everything she said was true! Her words must be listened to and believed. Uncle Wang came over pushing a wheelchair, and Nan Qiao sit in it with embarrassment while Bai Zhenyang pushed her and Chen Xinwan stood beside her, guiding Nan Qiao inside. As Li Yehan was about to follow, Bai Yurou quickly caught up with a sense of urgency, ¡°Brother Ye Han!¡± Li Yehan stopped in his tracks, and Bai Yurou was delighted. Was Li Yehan finally willing to stop and talk to her? With a heart full of joy, Bai Yurou approached and looked up at the man of great presence. Li Yehan¡¯s facial expression suddenly changed, an icy bloodthirstiness surfacing, ¡°My mother only had me, I don¡¯t have a sister, don¡¯t use that term carelessly to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.¡± Having said that, Li Yehan left with a hurried pace, as if Bai Yurou was a flood beast, terribly frightening. Bai Yurou watched the man walk away, standing there dumbfounded, completely stunned. Her smile gradually disappeared, leaving only humiliation and hatred. It¡¯s all Nan Qiao¡¯s fault! It¡¯s all because of Nan Qiao! Bai Yurou clenched her fists, rage surging within her. Mrs. Fang, who had always taken care of Bai Yurou, stepped forward and said with great attentiveness, ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve been wronged.¡± Bai Yurou looked at Mrs. Fang with extra fondness, filled with a sense of grievance. ¡°Mrs. Fang, why don¡¯t my parents love me anymore? I was the first to meet Brother Ye Han, so why has everything changed since Nan Qiao came back? My parents don¡¯t care about me anymore, they only have eyes for Nan Qiao.¡± Mrs. Fang¡¯s eyes brimmed with sympathy, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t stoop to the level of a wild girl like Nan Qiao who can¡¯t show her face in public, it would lower your own status. Even if she is their biological daughter, so what? The master and madam have cherished you for eighteen years. It¡¯s only because they feel they have neglected that wild girl that they¡¯re showing her a bit more concern now. The daughter they love the most is still you.¡± Mrs. Fang¡¯s words successfully comforted Bai Yurou, lifting her spirits considerably. ¡°You¡¯re right, Brother Ye Han is only temporarily attracted to her. When he realizes she¡¯s worthless, he¡¯ll naturally lose interest in her.¡± Mrs. Fang nodded, ¡°Miss, you are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, having been nurtured by the master and madam for eighteen years. How could a wild girl possibly compare to you?¡± Bai Yurou felt extraordinarily at ease and looked at Mrs. Fang happily, ¡°Mrs. Fang, thank you.¡± ¡°Miss, you¡¯re too polite. We servants have watched you grow up and naturally favor you. That wild girl, what is she really worth!¡± Bai Yurou was overjoyed, convinced that the eyes of the masses were clear. Nan Qiao wouldn¡¯t be able to feel proud for long! ... Inside the living room, a servant brought in some tea, while another female servant presented Nan Qiao with a bowl of pig¡¯s trotter soup. Chen Xinwan said affectionately, ¡°Qiaoqiao, my dear, drink your pig¡¯s trotter soup, and then go rest for a while.¡± Nan Qiao would never have received such treatment at the Zhou Family, even if she was injured. Back at her own home, her shin had suffered only a minor scrape, yet she was treated as if she were being cradled in the palm of a hand. Nan Qiao looked up, her bright eyes glistening as she looked at Chen Xinwan, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Silly girl, why are you being so formal with your mother?¡± Nan Qiao beamed at Chen Xinwan; their eyes met, and Chen Xinwan¡¯s heart felt like it was melting. Was her daughter¡¯s gaze so different because she was too moved? It seemed her precious daughter had never been cherished at Zhou Hongqi¡¯s house, which was outrageously wrong! Bai Zhenyang watched Li Yehan, who was silently staring at Nan Qiao, and said to him, ¡°Ye Han, we owe you a great debt for saving Qiaoqiao.¡± ¡°Uncle Bai, you¡¯re too kind. We Li Family take responsibility for this incident. We¡¯ve captured the traitorous driver, and we will surely give Qiaoqiao a proper explanation.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan both knew the driver was targeting Nan Qiao. Even if he hadn¡¯t succeeded this time, he might try again. They clearly understood the reason behind the incident and naturally didn¡¯t put all the blame on Li Yehan. Nan Qiao nibbled on the pig¡¯s trotter, becoming more addicted the more she chewed. She also wanted to know, who exactly wanted her dead? Zhou Hongqi? No, he didn¡¯t have the nerve. Zhou Jingya and Liu Yanfang? No, they couldn¡¯t have influenced the Li Family¡¯s driver; they lacked the power. So, who could it be? Who was the one who tried to kill her? As Nan Qiao pondered, she looked up and saw Bai Yurou walking in. Their eyes met, and Bai Yurou¡¯s heart faltered slightly. Had she been found out? Chapter 23 - 23 23 Bringing Back to Life ?Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Bringing Back to Life Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Bringing Back to Life Bai Yurou took the initiative to greet her, walked in, and sat beside Chen Xinwan, looking at Nan Qiao with concern, ¡°Sister, are you alright? I am a doctor, you can tell me if there¡¯s any problem.¡± ¡°Thank you, I¡¯m fine now,¡± Nan Qiao smiled slightly. Her phone kept ringing, buzzing with vibrations, Nan Qiao hung up the call and then sent out a text message. Nan Qiao spoke, ¡°I¡¯m a little tired, I want to sleep, I¡¯ll head up now.¡± Chen Xinwan stood up and began to push Nan Qiao¡¯s wheelchair, ¡°I¡¯ll take you upstairs.¡± Thinking it over, Nan Qiao then said to Li Yehan, ¡°Mr. Li, goodbye.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s smile was very warm, ¡°See you next time.¡± Li Yehan watched as Nan Qiao entered the elevator, then said farewell to Bai Zhenyang without giving Bai Yurou a single glance. Li Yehan sat in the car all the way, surrounded by a chill that put people on edge. He took out his phone and his words were cold as ice, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± Old Liu said uneasily, ¡°The trail has gone cold.¡± Li Yehan frowned, his tone quite displeased, ¡°Keep looking!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Li Yehan hung up the phone, his icy gaze making the driver dare not breathe. ... Nan Qiao returned to her room, locked the door, and returned Hou Ze¡¯s phone call. ¡°Boss, Li Yehan is also investigating this matter, but the trail has gone cold, and neither of us has been able to find any results,¡± Hou Ze said, full of self-reproach. ¡°It¡¯s alright, they didn¡¯t succeed, so they must have a plan for another attempt on my life. Houzi, you and Qi Nian focus on your work,¡± Nan Qiao consoled. Hou Ze knew Nan Qiao¡¯s reassurance only made him feel more guilty ¨C he was so useless! The boss had given him a new lease on life, but he couldn¡¯t even uncover the person pulling the strings. Thinking of something important, Hou Ze added, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a new order from the cyber company; I checked, and it¡¯s from Li Yehan¡¯s company. They want to hire you to create a protective net for their company.¡± ¡°Li Yehan¡¯s company needs to hire someone for this? Shouldn¡¯t they have their own tech department?¡± Nan Qiao was puzzled. Hou Ze explained, ¡°Li Yehan¡¯s company¡¯s protective net was attacked. Hackers tried to steal their company¡¯s top-secret information. Last night, Li Yehan¡¯s tech department worked overtime in a battle of wits with the hackers, and finally won by a narrow margin.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s cyber company specialized in creating protective firewalls and had a very good reputation. Thinking of the life-saving grace Li Yehan had given her, Nan Qiao decided it would be alright to help out, but she would still charge them ¨C after all, she needed to protect her undercover identity. ¡°Tell them that I¡¯ll be there Saturday afternoon at three o¡¯clock. I don¡¯t like outsiders being around; no one from the tech department is allowed to be present.¡± ¡°Right away, Boss. I¡¯ll make sure to convey your requirements.¡± Nan Qiao hung up the phone and walked around for a bit. The wheelchair beside her was somewhat in the way. Nan Qiao turned on her computer, dealt with some tasks, and then lay down to rest a while. ... Li Yehan sat in his office, in front of him a computer screen displaying a video of Nan Qiao fighting off her attackers with skill and style. Secretary Zhao watched, wide-eyed, as in the video, Nan Qiao¡¯s movements flowed seamlessly, and her kicks landed quick and hard, especially one that hit a man where it hurt most. Secretary Zhao instinctively covered his own crotch. Li Yehan cast a glance his way, and Secretary Zhao scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°President, I¡¯m scared just watching. Miss Nan Qiao is so capable; why hide her skills?¡± Li Yehan gave him a warning look, ¡°Don¡¯t ask about things you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Secretary Zhao nodded repeatedly, ¡°You¡¯re right, President. I should mind my own business about Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s affairs.¡± Seeing Secretary Zhao so compliant, Li Yehan nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Now, how do you explain these guys getting beaten up so badly?¡± Faced with the question, Secretary Zhao racked his brains and came up with the best explanation, ¡°They must have been coveting Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s beauty, so they fought each other, trying to show off their skills to impress her. Little did they know that playing too rough would backfire on them.¡± Li Yehan couldn¡¯t help but give Secretary Zhao an extra look, his ability to (bluff) speak (nonsense so) convincingly was quite high. Indeed, this reason was acceptable. ¡°Double your salary for this month.¡± Secretary Zhao bowed excitedly, ¡°Thank you, President! May you obtain your heart¡¯s desire and have twins within three years!¡± Li Yehan: ... ¡°President, the tech person I contacted said they¡¯d come by Saturday afternoon at three o¡¯clock. However, he wishes to be alone as he has social anxiety.¡± ¡°Okay, make the arrangements.¡± Secretary Zhao nodded and left to take care of business. ... Nan Qiao took a shower and a nap, browsed her phone for a while, and saw a piece of news. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s company had bounced back, releasing a new design. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s family was in the fashion business, and with Nan Qiao¡¯s help, their business had flourished, making a good profit. After Nan Qiao left, various partners withdrew, and without a good designer, Zhou Hongqi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. But now, the newly released design won the consumers¡¯ favor, and sales skyrocketed. That design looked very familiar to Nan Qiao. Wasn¡¯t that her design? The designer behind the Zhou family was none other than Nan Qiao. Meanwhile, at the Zhou family¡¯s home. Zhou Jingya sat on the sofa while Zhou Hongqi looked at her with affection and indulgence, ¡°Xiao Ya, you are truly the lucky star of our family!¡± Liu Yanfang said with pride, ¡°I told you before; Xiao Ya is our family¡¯s lucky start. Now that disaster Nan Qiao is gone, our luck has turned, and our best days are ahead.¡± Hearing her parents¡¯ praise, Zhou Jingya, who had been nervous, finally felt relieved. ¡°Dad, Mom, thank you for trusting me. I just sketched that design casually when I had some free time; who knew it would be such a sensation. I¡¯m so happy to have helped the family.¡± ¡°Xiao Ya, keep drawing and strive for continuous success. Let our family¡¯s business thrive, and I¡¯ll buy you any gift you want,¡± Zhou Hongqi said. Liu Yanfang took Zhou Jingya¡¯s hand, filled with happiness, ¡°Xiao Ya, let¡¯s go for a beauty treatment later, and I¡¯ll dress you up beautifully for the party tonight.¡± Zhou Jingya was surprised, ¡°Mom, what party?¡± ¡°The Lu family¡¯s second young master¡¯s birthday party. I want to take you there; it¡¯s a good opportunity to introduce you to everyone.¡± Liu Yanfang¡¯s explanation excited Zhou Jingya even more. ¡°Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom!¡± Zhou Jingya hugged Liu Yanfang¡¯s arm, overjoyed. The family chatted happily, seeming like the most blissful trio. Zhou Jingya breathed a sigh of relief in secret, glad that the stolen design could be used. That was great! Although she had plagiarized Nan Qiao¡¯s work, she believed that with Nan Qiao¡¯s abilities, she couldn¡¯t have designed something so exceptional. After all, Nan Qiao had taken her place and lived as a member of the Zhou family for eighteen years; one design was just a bit of restitution. Little did she know that this design would be the beginning of her descent into the abyss. ... When Nan Qiao walked downstairs, Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang were discussing something. She was about to approach them when she saw Bai Yurou crying. What happened? Chapter 24 - 24 24 Spoiled Girl Mania ?Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Spoiled Girl Mania Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Spoiled Girl Mania Nan Qiao stood in the shadows, listening to Bai Yurou¡¯s crying from the living room. ¡°Mom and Dad, if you announce the news of finding my sister, what will others think of me? I don¡¯t want to be looked at differently. I am not your biological daughter after all. Are you planning to send me away?¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan planned to hold a welcome ceremony for Nan Qiao and at the same time, tell everyone that they had found their daughter. While discussing, Bai Yurou came out crying, expressing her inner insecurity and grievances. Yet, the couple still wanted to give Nan Qiao a welcome party. Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Yurou, mom understands your feelings, but your sister has also had a tough eighteen years. Our investigations found that her childhood was not happy; life was harsh. If the villagers were not kind to her, she might not have survived until the day we found her.¡± Bai Zhenyang also spoke, ¡°Qiaoqiao is our daughter, and you have been our child for eighteen years. We will not favor one over the other. Yurou, when you get married, we will definitely prepare a generous dowry for you and choose a good match. Likewise, Qiaoqiao is our daughter too, and we naturally want her identity to be known so that everyone knows she is Bai Zhenyang¡¯s daughter.¡± Chen Xinwan gently patted her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no matter what, you are our daughter; that won¡¯t change.¡± Bai Yurou looked up at Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan with teary eyes and finally asked, ¡°Are you really going to announce her identity?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s look was full of helplessness, as if she were the victim. Although Chen Xinwan was troubled, she did not want her beloved Qiaoqiao to remain someone of unknown identity. Just as Chen Xinwan was about to speak, Nan Qiao appeared. She came over and sat on the couch, her pure, sparkling eyes looking up at her parents, ¡°For now, let¡¯s not disclose my identity. Knowing too many people brings too many troubles. I¡¯m about to start university and I want to live a peaceful life.¡± Her identity being revealed would mean many eyes constantly watching every move she made, life would not be peaceful. Her vest would also be stripped off again, and she did not want such an event to occur. Nan Qiao¡¯s words left the three people present stunned. Especially Bai Yurou, she was delighted! With Nan Qiao¡¯s identity not disclosed, her status would also remain unknown, allowing her to continue living a life everyone envied. Bai Yurou¡¯s hanging heart finally settled. Chen Xinwan went over and sat beside Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, mom will hire a bodyguard for you, to ensure nobody disrupts your life.¡± Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°If it comes down to it, dad will send you overseas to study, and you can choose any school you want.¡± Having such wealth, their daughter¡¯s happiness was most important. ¡°I just want to live and study quietly and low-profile, not to be watched by so many eyes. I heard too much wealth can lead to kidnappings; I¡¯m scared,¡± Nan Qiao said, her head lowered as if truly frightened. The couple exchanged looks, today¡¯s incident had left her quite traumatized. Chen Xinwan held Nan Qiao¡¯s small hand, gently patting the back of her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Qiaoqiao. Your dad has already selected a bodyguard, who will protect you twenty-four hours a day.¡± Bai Zhenyang assured, ¡°These people are all retired special forces, highly skilled and experienced.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s pure eyes looked up at the two, softly thanked them, appearing as harmless as a little bunny. The couple felt heartbroken, if Qiaoqiao didn¡¯t want her identity revealed, then they would keep it concealed for now. ¡°Anything you say, Qiaoqiao, mom will follow,¡± Bai Yurou could only agree. Bai Zhenyang concurred, ¡°My girl, since you don¡¯t want it announced, then dad won¡¯t announce your identity for now. However, I have already called your Grandpa Li, and he will be back this afternoon.¡± Chen Xinwan added, ¡°Your grandparents have already settled abroad, and they will also fly back in a few days to see you. Your three uncles, always busy flying in and out for work, will come to see you whenever they have time.¡± Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t expected to have so many relatives. Bai Yurou watched the close-knit atmosphere among the trio, constantly feeling as if these people were deliberately excluding her, all intentional! Bai Yurou¡¯s resentment almost showed on her face. With tears welling up in her eyes, Bai Yurou looked at them and said softly, ¡°Sister, I will definitely join you in honoring our parents in the future.¡± Chen Xinwan smiled, ¡°As long as you are healthy and happy, that¡¯s good.¡± The warm atmosphere also greatly soothed Nan Qiao¡¯s mood. Every day spent back here was worth it. ¡°I plan to visit Grandpa Li¡¯s house later. I couldn¡¯t make it this morning, so I will take the chance to go this afternoon.¡± Nan Qiao shared her plans, but Bai Zhenyang objected, ¡°Darling, you should rest more at home. Isn¡¯t your leg injured? Better lie down.¡± Chen Xinwan quickly added, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you should rest more at home. Grandpa Li has a doctor, there¡¯s no need for you to go.¡± Their greatest worry was Nan Qiao going out, fearing another kidnapping incident. Nan Qiao smiled, ¡°I can¡¯t stay inside forever, right? You¡¯ve also found me experienced bodyguards, it will be fine this time.¡± Persuaded by Nan Qiao, both reluctantly agreed to let her go out. At this moment, Bai Yurou stepped forward to speak. ¡°Sister, let me accompany you to Grandpa Li¡¯s house. I¡¯ve heard your medical skills are superior. I am also a doctor and would like to learn from you, may I?¡± This was a great opportunity for her to make her presence felt at the Li Family. Bai Yurou¡¯s innocent image was endearing. Nan Qiao looked at her and made a decision immediately, ¡°I¡¯m just going to Grandpa Li¡¯s house to check on him. I practice traditional Chinese medicine, and you practice Western medicine; I can¡¯t teach you.¡± Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Yurou, didn¡¯t you take the day off because you were not feeling well? You better rest properly; health is most important.¡± Chen Xinwan added, ¡°Yurou, rest well at home. You can learn anytime. Besides, your sister practices traditional Chinese medicine, and you practice Western medicine. It¡¯s a different field; it¡¯s not easy to learn in a short time.¡± Bai Yurou had no choice but to give up, meekly nodding, ¡°Okay.¡± ... The two bodyguards were tall, one of them with a scar on his face. Seeing Nan Qiao come out, both respectfully greeted, ¡°Good day, Miss.¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°Hello.¡± She turned and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head out now.¡± One bodyguard drove, while the other helped Nan Qiao into the car and then got into the passenger seat. Watching the car driving away, both were still anxious. Seeing this, Bai Yurou stepped forward and said, ¡°Mom, Dad, it¡¯s been several days since Sister came back, why hasn¡¯t she started calling you mom and dad, not even any other terms, she seems like a stranger.¡± Chen Xinwan, gazing in the direction Nan Qiao had left, spoke somberly, ¡°This child, she¡¯s been through hardships. She can¡¯t open her heart so quickly, moreover, she doesn¡¯t care about money, naturally, she won¡¯t use a title to deliberately get close to us.¡± ¡°Yurou, your mom is right. Your sister has suffered a lot. From now on at home, you should take more care of her.¡± Bai Yurou: ... Were these two really not cursed? Chapter 25 - 25 25 Is she going to be exposed again ?Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Is she going to be exposed again? Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Is she going to be exposed again? Bai Yurou inwardly rolled her eyes, but on the surface, she still smiled and nodded: ¡°Mom and Dad, I will definitely take good care of my sister in the future, don¡¯t worry.¡± The couple nodded and walked toward the house together. Bai Yurou took a deep breath, turned around, and walked into the house as well, continuing her performance. At the same time. Inside the car, two bodyguards respectfully called out: ¡°Miss.¡± The driver, a man with a scar, respectfully said, ¡°Miss, we meet again.¡± The bodyguard sitting in the co-driver¡¯s seat spoke up, ¡°Miss, from now on we can openly protect you by your side. Your safety is our responsibility.¡± Nan Qiao nodded: ¡°Uncle Dao, Uncle Qin, have you found out who kidnapped me?¡± Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin simultaneously shook their heads. Uncle Dao, driving the car, said, ¡°This person has hidden themselves very well. Upon discovering they were exposed, they quickly severed all connections.¡± Uncle Qin said, ¡°All the contact methods were burner phones, and we couldn¡¯t trace any useful information.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s last hope also shattered. If she could find the person behind the kidnapping, she would definitely not let them off easily! Uncle Qin, sitting in the co-driver¡¯s seat, took out a small box of candy and handed it to Nan Qiao, ¡°Miss, your favorite candy.¡± Seeing the candy, Nan Qiao revealed a smile: ¡°Thank you, Uncle Qin.¡± ¡°The old master is thinking of you, saying that you should give him a call when you have time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Qiao ate a piece of candy. As soon as Old Mr. Li found out that Nan Qiao was coming over, he immediately called Li Yehan. The Li Family estate was too large; it took ten minutes to drive from the main gate to the living room. Nan Qiao¡¯s car drove in, parked under the guidance of the butler, and then she walked into the living room. In the spacious living room, the crystal chandelier shone with dazzling light. The design all around was ingenious, reflecting the homeowner¡¯s taste. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you¡¯ve arrived, please sit down.¡± Old Mr. Li¡¯s eyes were filled with love, and the table was laden with plenty of pastries and drinks. Old Mr. Li continued, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I heard from Ye Han that you were kidnapped, and I¡¯m sorry for that. I wanted to visit you, but he said you had already gone home. Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s Grandpa Li¡¯s fault. You came to see me with good intentions, only to end up kidnapped.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s face showed a smile, comforting him, ¡°Grandpa Li, this has nothing to do with you. The person was after me, and even if I hadn¡¯t gone to your house today, I would still have faced danger.¡± Old Mr. Li, comforted, felt even more embarrassed and guilt-ridden. ¡°Grandpa Li, how do you feel now? I have a bottle of medicine here; you should take one pill every day, and contact me whenever there¡¯s an issue.¡± Nan Qiao placed the white porcelain bottle in front of him, her eyes clear and sincere, making her words seem all the more trustworthy. Without a second thought, Old Mr. Li accepted the medicine bottle and asked cheerfully, ¡°So, when should I take this medicine?¡± ¡°In the evening, before going to bed.¡± Old Mr. Li nodded, ¡°Qiaoqiao, thank you for the medicine. What gift should Grandpa give you in return? How about this, I¡¯ll give you a card, and you can buy whatever you want without waste.¡± Old Mr. Li wanted to give a gift, unsure if his own offerings would please Nan Qiao, so he decided on money. After all, money is always practical. He took out a Black Card, and the butler respectfully presented it to Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao quickly refused: ¡°Grandpa Li, thank you for the gift, but it¡¯s too precious. I really can¡¯t accept it.¡± Old Mr. Li urged her, saying affectionately, ¡°Qiaoqiao, compared to money, my life is definitely more important.¡± At his age, Old Mr. Li naturally valued his life even more. He had more money than he could spend, and the only gift he could offer now was money. Nan Qiao took out two Black Cards from her bag, somewhat embarrassedly saying, ¡°My family already gave me two Black Cards, Grandpa Li, and Li Yehan has already paid for my treatment. I can¡¯t accept your money.¡± While Nan Qiao was refusing, Li Yehan came back. ¡°Grandpa, take the Black Card back. Qiaoqiao is the person I found. I should be the one to give her the Black Card.¡± Li Yehan was dressed in a tailor-made business suit, his peach-blossom eyes under his tousled hair carrying a meaningful smile. Even his expertly carved face carried a layer of gentle mirth, unlike his usual icy demeanour. Old Mr. Li rarely saw such a relaxed Li Yehan and couldn¡¯t help but take another look. Old Mr. Li said with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, if you won¡¯t accept my card, then you should at least accept Ye Han¡¯s, right?¡± Nan Qiao: ... She wouldn¡¯t accept anyone¡¯s card. ¡°Mr. Li, you¡¯re really too courteous. The money I received is enough to buy the medicine; no additional payment is necessary.¡± Nan Qiao was firm in her approach, and neither Old Mr. Li nor Li Yehan would force her to do something she didn¡¯t like. Old Mr. Li added, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you don¡¯t have to call him Mr. Li; it¡¯s too formal. Just call him Ye Han, or if you really can¡¯t, call him Li Yehan. Our two families are old acquaintances; there¡¯s no need to be so distant.¡± Nan Qiao nodded and sat on the sofa, her demeanor both well-behaved and lovely. ¡°Grandpa Li, I¡¯ve delivered the medicine, and it¡¯s getting late, so I should head home now,¡± Nan Qiao stood up to leave. Li Yehan also stood up: ¡°You came to bring medicine to my grandpa, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡± Old Mr. Li agreed: ¡°Yes, let Ye Han treat you to a meal on my behalf. I¡¯ve heard that your grandpa is coming back tomorrow, and if he knew I¡¯d been negligent to you, he definitely wouldn¡¯t be happy.¡± Nan Qiao smiled lightly: ¡°Is my grandpa so stern?¡± Old Mr. Li exaggeratedly said, ¡°Your grandpa is a sly fox; he¡¯s certainly not as kind as me. If he knows I¡¯ve been negligent to you, just wait and see, he¡¯ll definitely come looking for me. Qiaoqiao, at my age, I can¡¯t handle such trouble anymore.¡± Half-believing and half-doubting, thinking of her grandpa whom she had never met and seeing Old Mr. Li¡¯s helpless expression, she could only agree. In Li Yehan¡¯s car, Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin followed in another car behind them, ensuring her safety. Inside the car, the atmosphere was somewhat tense. The chauffeur drove diligently, trying to minimize his presence and even raised the partition to create a space for himself. Nan Qiao: !! In the back seat, only Nan Qiao and Li Yehan remained, sitting together, with Nan Qiao keeping as much distance from him as possible. Just as Nan Qiao was about to say she wanted to go home, Li Yehan spoke first. ¡°Your bodyguards...¡± Nan Qiao was startled; was she going to be exposed again? She sat up straight, turned her head, and looked at him with her large, watery eyes: ¡°Bodyguards? Those are the bodyguards my parents hired to ensure my safety.¡± Li Yehan appeared to have an epiphany, and just as Nan Qiao started to breathe a sigh of relief, he spoke again: ¡°My assistant tried to hire them too but was refused. Uncle and auntie, how did you manage to convince them to be your bodyguards?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s offers were unmatched. His piercing gaze landed on Nan Qiao, his eyes tilting up at the corners, emanating a sense of unrivaled dominance that set Nan Qiao¡¯s heart racing. Was she about to be uncovered? Chapter 26 - 26 26 You Were Not Invited ?Chapter 26: Chapter 26 You Were Not Invited Chapter 26: Chapter 26 You Were Not Invited Nan Qiao met Li Yehan¡¯s scrutinizing gaze and said without changing her expression, ¡°Perhaps the price offered by our family was too high.¡± Li Yehan said, ¡°I offered one billion.¡± Nan Qiao: ... How could Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin work as bodyguards for someone for just one billion, apart from her nobody else gets that kind of treatment. Nan Qiao said with a smile, ¡°Perhaps our family offered even more than that, or maybe protecting you is more challenging than protecting me. After all, you¡¯re a CEO who handles thousands of things every day, which involves too much danger.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s lips curved into a smile that held an ambiguous meaning, making Nan Qiao feel uneasy, as if this man knew some secret, particularly about her. Nan Qiao turned her head to look outside and changed the topic, ¡°Mr. Li, where are we going to eat later?¡± ¡°Jin Jiang Hotel.¡± His voice was magnetic, full of allure. Jin Jiang Hotel, Nan Qiao knew the place. It was not very easy to get in to dine there. There was even an annual membership fee, and even the regular one cost a million per year. With Li Yehan¡¯s status, he must be a VIP among VIPs. The last time she was invited, she didn¡¯t have time to go, missing the chance to eat there. She heard the food was delicious; Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t been there before, it was a good opportunity to try it. As they reached the entrance of the Jin Jiang Hotel, Li Yehan¡¯s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Li Yehan looked at Nan Qiao, ¡°Sorry, I need to take this call.¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll go in first.¡± Li Yehan nodded, answered the call, and accidentally activated the speakerphone, a girl¡¯s coquettish voice came through, ¡°Brother Ye Han~¡± Her charming and delightful voice made Nan Qiao involuntarily turn her head to look, but Li Yehan had already walked away, seeming to fear others hearing his conversation. As night fell, Li Yehan stood under a street lamp, light and shadow playing across his handsome face, giving his fine features an almost divine appearance. Nan Qiao turned and walked toward the hotel entrance, only to encounter Liu Yanfang and her daughter Zhou Jingya. The mother and daughter were dressed in extremely expensive clothes, complemented by Liu Yanfang¡¯s cherished jewelry. The three of them locked eyes, Liu Yanfang¡¯s gaze could kill. ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Liu Yanfang¡¯s tone was full of interrogation and disdain. Zhou Jingya held Liu Yanfang¡¯s arm, her voice ever so gentle, ¡°Mother, maybe sister knew we were here, so she deliberately waited for us here?¡± Liu Yanfang scoffed disdainfully, ¡°Is this even a place she can come to? Is she worthy?¡± Nan Qiao laughed, ¡°Whether I¡¯m worthy or not isn¡¯t for you to decide. Do you own this restaurant?¡± Liu Yanfang: ... Liu Yanfang was at a loss for words, boiling with rage. ¡°How dare you talk back to me! Do you think the incident where our family was suppressed by Mr. Ma because of you has been forgotten?¡± Nan Qiao came here alone, Liu Yanfang was delighted to take the opportunity to belittle her, feeling utterly pleased. Even a clay figure has a temper, there was no way Nan Qiao was going to let her off easily. ¡°You have the nerve to talk about me? Do you believe I will sue your Zhou Family right now for plotting against me? Did you think all three of you could get away with it? Just go to jail!¡± Zhou Jingya held Liu Yanfang¡¯s arm, gesturing for her to stop talking. What if Mr. Lu hears about it, what then! Liu Yanfang, infuriated but unable to make a sound, was severely frustrated. Zhou Jingya raised an eyebrow, her tone still gentle, ¡°Sister, if you also want to go to Jin Jiang Hotel, I can take you in. You weren¡¯t invited and you¡¯re not a member, it¡¯s hard to get in.¡± ¡°Xiao Ya, don¡¯t bother with her. You¡¯re just too kind, always thinking about others, you¡¯re bound to suffer losses.¡± Nan Qiao stood silently by, watching the spectacle created by Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya. Mother and daughter were still hilariously foolish¡ªhad they put any thought into what they were saying? At that moment, Lu Zhengyang, who had invited Zhou Jingya over, appeared. He was dressed in an expensive suit and walked out with a smile on his face. ¡°Mrs. Zhou, Miss Zhou, you¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Zhou Jingya brightened up at the sight of him and smiled at Lu Zhengyang, ¡°Brother Zhengyang, why did you come down?¡± After becoming the designer for the Zhou Family, Zhou Jingya had met Lu Zhengyang a few times, and the two had taken a liking to each other; they were currently in a flirtatious phase. Lu Zhengyang¡¯s gaze involuntarily drifted toward Nan Qiao, drawn to her striking features. Her perfectly proportioned figure and her pure, elegant aura stood out. Dressed in a knit sweater and slim-fit jeans, her long legs were particularly eye-catching. ¡°Who is this?¡± Lu Zhengyang¡¯s gaze stuck to Nan Qiao and never wavered. Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhengyang to be captivated by Nan Qiao. What was so captivating about Nan Qiao? Just because she was a bit pretty? Wasn¡¯t she just an empty vase? Zhou Jingya walked up to Lu Zhengyang, especially radiant today, and cooed, ¡°Brother Zhengyang, did you come out especially to meet us?¡± Lu Zhengyang¡¯s thoughts were pulled back by Zhou Jingya; he then remembered what his purpose for coming out was. Wasn¡¯t it to meet Zhou Jingya and win her over? Lu Zhengyang, being the less favored second young master of the Lu Family, was eager to prove himself to his family, showing he was no less capable than his elder brother. After coming into contact with the fashion industry and seeing Zhou Jingya¡¯s talented designs, he wanted to collaborate with her. Hence, he took advantage of the birthday banquet to invite Zhou Jingya over and curry favor. Lu Zhengyang¡¯s eyes involuntarily shifted back to Nan Qiao and he repeated, ¡°Miss Zhou, who is this?¡± Liu Yanfang quickly responded, ¡°She¡¯s the foster daughter who was swapped with our Xiao Ya. She probably came here trying to leech off our status to get into the Jin Jiang Hotel.¡± Hearing that the well-featured and refined Nan Qiao was merely a country bumpkin, Lu Zhengyang¡¯s view of her completely changed. Zhou Jingya, ever so magnanimous, said, ¡°Sister, if you also want to go in, I can speak to Brother Zhengyang for you.¡± Liu Yanfang snorted, ¡°Xiao Ya, you¡¯re too kind, and that¡¯s why you get used and bullied. Don¡¯t you remember how she used to bully you? Have you forgotten all that?¡± Lu Zhengyang¡¯s gaze towards Nan Qiao now contained only disdain and greed. Nan Qiao¡¯s lips slightly curled in a disdainful smile as she watched the mother and daughter¡¯s performance. ¡°Is the Jin Jiang Hotel your family¡¯s property? You allow yourselves entry but not me? And which eye of yours saw me following you? I¡¯m going to the Jin Jiang Hotel¡ªdo you own the hotel? Do I need your permission to enter? With all your capability, why don¡¯t you just ascend to heaven?¡± After speaking, Nan Qiao walked away, unwilling to let them spoil her mood. Nan Qiao headed inside and approached a staff member, reporting the private room number and Li Yehan¡¯s name, then went up with the staff in the elevator. At that moment, the three people at the entrance were stunned. Liu Yanfang & Zhou Jingya: She can go in? Lu Zhengyang: She can go in! The three exchanged looks, and Lu Zhengyang¡¯s eyes flickered. Liu Yanfang, lowering her voice, said, ¡°Zhengyang, you don¡¯t know, but this foster daughter of mine has no self-respect. I heard she recently latched onto an old man. She¡¯s always been restless, despising the poor and loving the rich. Her coming here to the Jin Jiang Hotel must be because some wealthy old man let her in.¡± Lu Zhengyang had an epiphany, ¡°Aunt, Miss Zhou, let¡¯s go in.¡± The three entered the Jin Jiang Hotel together. At that moment, Li Yehan, having finished a phone call, came over with a grim face. The anger gradually faded from his face, not wanting to frighten Nan Qiao. He walked forward, and Uncle Dao approached, ¡°Someone bullied the young mistress!¡± Li Yehan: ? Chapter 27 - 27 27 If We Really Confront Each Other, Ill Skin You ?Chapter 27: Chapter 27: If We Really Confront Each Other, I¡¯ll Skin You Chapter 27: Chapter 27: If We Really Confront Each Other, I¡¯ll Skin You Li Yehan listened to Uncle Dao¡¯s report, his eyes gradually sharpened, a hint of murderous intent rising in their depths. Li Yehan walked towards the inside, and Uncle Dao¡¯s gaze filled with anticipation. Uncle Qin came out from the side, his voice teasing as he laughed, ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± ¡°Of course, to give him a chance to show what he can do! It seems he¡¯s taken a liking to our young lady and wants to pursue her. Although I hope our young lady remains unmatched in beauty, having a romance is fine too.¡± Uncle Qin: ... ¡°So you¡¯re saying the young lady should thank you?¡± Uncle Dao chuckled, ¡°No need, as long as the young lady is happy.¡± Next, it would all depend on how Li Yehan proceeded. ... Lu Zhengyang entered his birthday party venue with Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya. True to the Jin Jiang Hotel, the party venue was opulent and imposing. While Lu Zhengyang¡¯s friends were drinking and making merry, the manager appeared. The manager approached Lu Zhengyang, ¡°Mr. Lu.¡± Lu Zhengyang assumed a lofty demeanor, ¡°What is it?¡± The manager spoke evenly, ¡°Mr. Lu, I apologize, but your group needs to leave. We cannot continue to host the birthday party in this venue.¡± Lu Zhengyang: ?? The guests had just arrived, and now they were being asked to leave? Was the manager out of his mind? Lu Zhengyang erupted in anger, ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯ve paid for this, yet you¡¯re kicking us out? Who do you think you are? Do you know who I am?¡± The manager continued calmly, ¡°It¡¯s the owner¡¯s orders, Jin Jiang Hotel does not welcome you here. As for the money, it will be refunded in full. And the drinks you¡¯ve had, we won¡¯t charge for them.¡± Even though the drinks cost more than renting the banquet hall, he still couldn¡¯t swallow his pride. To be humiliated in front of all his friends, proud as he was, how could he easily let this go. ¡°Call your boss here! I want an explanation from him for kicking us out!¡± The manager lifted his head, his gaze sharp as he enunciated, ¡°The face of our owner isn¡¯t something you can just demand to see.¡± Lu Zhengyang: !! Lu Zhengyang¡¯s friends stepped forward, defending him, ¡°Mr. Lu has paid! What right do you have to kick us out?¡± ¡°Get your boss out here, and have him bow and apologize to Mr. Lu, maybe Mr. Lu will consider showing mercy.¡± ¡°Mr. Lu, calm down, let the owner of Jin Jiang Hotel come and kowtow to you.¡± Lu Zhengyang arrogantly scoffed, ¡°Bring your boss here!¡± The manager responded unhurriedly, ¡°Are you sure you want to meet the owner of Jin Jiang Hotel?¡± That question made Lu Zhengyang¡¯s heart tremble; the owner of Jin Jiang Hotel was no ordinary person. He had heard his father mention that to this day, no one knew who the real owner of the Jin Jiang Hotel was. This person was always shrouded in mystery, never letting anyone know his identity. Lu Zhengyang couldn¡¯t help but feel intimidated; he really didn¡¯t dare. At that moment, someone shouted, ¡°Mr. Lu, you¡¯re not scared, are you?¡± Zhou Jingya saw what was happening and understood some of it. She walked over, her voice gentle, ¡°Brother Zhengyang, let¡¯s switch to another hotel for the birthday celebration. The most important thing on a birthday is to have a good mood. Since this place affects your mood, it¡¯s better to go somewhere else.¡± Zhou Jingya provided Lu Zhengyang with a way out, and he took it without a second thought. ¡°Brother Zhengyang, let¡¯s leave, it¡¯s too noisy here, and I¡¯m getting a headache.¡± After Zhou Jingya spoke again, Lu Zhengyang nodded, ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re not feeling well, let¡¯s leave.¡± Manager watched them leave and said, ¡°Starting today, Zhengyang, Yanfang, Jingya, and the dog are not allowed inside.¡± Lu Zhengyang & Zhou Jingya & Liu Yanfang: ?? Was the manager joking? Lu Zhengyang¡¯s suppressed anger exploded once again. ¡°Call your boss out here, I want him to see what¡¯s coming!¡± The manager smirked and said, ¡°See our boss? You¡¯re not worthy.¡± Lu Zhengyang: !! His anger could no longer be contained, and he smashed a bottle of red wine on the ground. Rage turned his face ashen, and he glared at the manager venomously, ¡°I want to see who is tougher, your boss or me, Lu Zhengyang! If it comes to blows, I will skin him alive!¡± The manager laughed at this sight, having never seen such an arrogant person. A disfavored second son dared to compare himself with the boss? Where was his face? Did he leave it at home? Just as Zhengyang was being tough, his phone rang¡ªit was his father. Zhengyang, not daring to act tough anymore, answered immediately with utter respect, ¡°Dad.¡± It was so quiet around that everyone could hear his father¡¯s furious yelling from the phone, ¡°Lu Zhengyang, you son of a bitch, what the hell are you doing! Do you know who the owner of Jin Jiang Hotel is? Get the hell out of there now!¡± Lu Zhengyang: ... ¡°Dad, do you know what¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Would I call you if I didn¡¯t know? Who allowed you to act under the Lu Family¡¯s name? Get out now!¡± Lu Zhengyang¡¯s father hung up angrily, leaving Zhengyang standing there as if petrified. Zhou Jingya looked at Zhengyang incredulously¡ªwas he so unfavorably treated at home? Even worse off than her! Liu Yanfang¡¯s eyes flickered, always feeling that Zhengyang could not be relied upon, unworthy of her precious Xiao Ya. Moreover, the other friends were also shocked by the deafening roar of Zhengyang¡¯s father. Wasn¡¯t Zhengyang supposed to take over the company? Why had he ended up so belittled? Jingya stepped in again to smooth the situation, ¡°Brother Zhengyang, my head really hurts, let¡¯s leave.¡± Yanfang also chimed in, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s so suffocating here, let¡¯s go somewhere else to celebrate the birthday.¡± Zhengyang could not regain his composure, his mood terribly sour, with no face left to stay. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhengyang left deflated. Their friends were stunned¡ªZhengyang just left? It appears that even Zhengyang couldn¡¯t handle the owner behind Jin Jiang Hotel. Those who were just enjoying the drama panicked and quickly scampered away. As Zhengyang, Jingya, and Yanfang left together, Yanfang was bitter¡ªwas Zhengyang really just a coward who looked good but was useless? The trio silently walked out and happened upon Nan Qiao, who was just returning from the restroom. Under their watchful eyes, Nan Qiao entered VIP Room 888. Zhengyang subconsciously said, ¡°Room 888 is a private room reserved by the owner and isn¡¯t open to the public.¡± Liu Yanfang & Zhou Jingya: ?? Was Nan Qiao really that beloved by the Bai Family? While they were discussing, an older man with slightly white hair entered the room, causing Yanfang to exhale in relief and snidely remark, ¡°Zhengyang, see, I told you she¡¯s just a gold-digger who can¡¯t show her face in public; she doesn¡¯t mind being with an old man who could be her father.¡± Jingya smirked but quickly suppressed her smile, ¡°Mom, maybe we should bring sister back, it¡¯s too hard for her, being around all these men outside.¡± ¡°Xiao Ya, have you forgotten how she bullied you? She deserves what she gets; we shouldn¡¯t bother about her.¡± Zhengyang glanced at the number on the room again and followed Jianying and Yanfang away. Zhengyang had been humiliated and couldn¡¯t swallow his pride. He was curious whether Nan Qiao was really dining with that old man. Chapter 28 - 28 28 Ate Nan Qiao ?Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Ate Nan Qiao Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Ate Nan Qiao At that moment, the elderly man, oh, it was Li Yehan, was having dinner with Nan Qiao across the table. The ostensible owner of Jin Jiang Hotel respectfully stood to the side and said attentively, ¡°Mr. Li, Miss Nan Qiao, the matter has been resolved. Lu Zhengyang and his group have all been driven out and won¡¯t be allowed to come to Jin Jiang Hotel anymore.¡± Nan Qiao: ? What¡¯s happening? How come she didn¡¯t know anything? Startled, Nan Qiao asked, ¡°What did you do?¡± Li Yehan looked at Nan Qiao but actually spoke to the man beside him, ¡°You may leave now.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the man left tremblingly. The two were not sitting at a long table but a round one, where Li Yehan sat next to Nan Qiao and considerately placed the steak he had just cut in front of her. ¡°Lu Zhengyang, Liu Yanfang, and Zhou Jingya were rude to you. I had them driven out so they wouldn¡¯t affect your mood.¡± Confused, Nan Qiao looked at him. ¡°How did you know?¡± Li Yehan poured her a glass of orange juice and looked at her with doting eyes, ¡°I know everything about you.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Nan Qiao almost thought that Li Yehan had discovered all her aliases. She ate a piece of steak, the flavor filling her mouth, then sipped some juice and said airily, ¡°Mr. Li, knowing too much might not be good.¡± Li Yehan laughed, holding a glass of red wine and gently swirling it, a smile in his peach blossom eyes. ¡°What¡¯s bad in knowing too much?¡± Nan Qiao really wanted to say, knowing too many of her secrets could be deadly. In the end, she just smiled without responding. After they finished eating, Nan Qiao suggested going home. Li Yehan joined her in the car, and when the driver started driving, Nan Qiao realized they were not heading home. The car traveled on sparsely populated roads, taking particularly secluded routes. Nan Qiao gripped her bracelet with great caution. ¡°Mr. Li, where are you taking me?¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Afraid I might sell you?¡± Nan Qiao: Who knows who will sell whom! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just want to give you a gift.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s voice was seductive, making Nan Qiao subconsciously believe he genuinely wanted to give her a gift. Just then, the car stopped, and the driver got out to open the door. As Li Yehan got out, Nan Qiao opened her door for herself and quickly stepped out. She was calculating how to launch an attack when she saw Li Yehan stretch out his hand. ¡°Look over there.¡± Under the silence, his seductive voice echoed again. Boom! Boom boom! Brilliant fireworks burst forth at that moment, one after another blossoming beautifully in the sky. Seeing this, Nan Qiao¡¯s clear eyes reflected the splendor of the fireworks, making her look even more stunning. Li Yehan¡¯s gaze fell on her face, unable to shift away. Nan Qiao looked toward the fireworks, her eyes only on the fireworks. Li Yehan looked toward Nan Qiao, his eyes only on Nan Qiao. As the fireworks bloomed midair, displaying the letters ¡°Qiaoqiao,¡± Nan Qiao was completely stunned. Turning to Li Yehan in surprise and delight, he too was watching her. ¡°Li Yehan, this gift is way too grand!¡± Li Yehan smiled affectionately, ¡°As long as you like it.¡± Nan Qiao liked it, very, very much! The dreamy fireworks exploded in the sky, the light reflecting on their faces, making them a perfect match. ... Nan Qiao had not completely calmed down when she was sent home, as the fireworks were just too beautiful. What did it mean that Li Yehan gave her such a dreamy gift? When Nan Qiao got out of the car and saw Li Yehan¡¯s passionate gaze, she felt slightly embarrassed. At that moment, Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang came out of the house, looking at Nan Qiao with affection. ¡°Qiaoqiao, your grandpa is back. Come on, go inside with mom and see him. Your grandpa knows you¡¯ve come back, and he¡¯s so happy.¡± Nan Qiao glanced at Li Yehan, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Nan Qiao went in with Chen Xinwan. ¡°Ye Han, then I won¡¯t keep you any longer. It¡¯s getting late, you should go back and rest too.¡± Bai Zhenyang hurried back, afraid that Li Yehan might want to go in with him. Li Yehan: ... Was he that afraid of him going inside? Was he a wolf? Was he going to devour Nan Qiao? Li Yehan helplessly shook his head and left in his car. ... At the Bai Family. Old Mr. Bai had returned, his white hair giving him a youthful face, smiling with great approachability. Bai Zhenyang¡¯s looks were similar to Old Mr. Bai¡¯s, and the father and son standing together were pleasing to the eye. Nan Qiao respectfully greeted, ¡°Hello, Grandpa.¡± Old Mr. Bai smiled and nodded, gesturing for her to sit down. ¡°Indeed a member of our family, look at this face, inheriting our good traits. Not bad, really good. Good girl, you¡¯ve been wronged.¡± The ties of blood were uncuttable, and Nan Qiao¡¯s nose felt a bit sour. She looked up at the old man, her eyes bright, and said with a smiling face, ¡°I¡¯m not wronged, Grandpa. Grandma¡¯s condition will stabilize gradually, and she will wake up soon.¡± Grandpa Bai nodded, sorrowfully said, ¡°I really hope your grandma wakes up soon so she can also see her own granddaughter.¡± Grandpa Bai took out a pair of jade bracelets from his pocket and handed them to Nan Qiao, ¡°This is a meeting gift from me and your grandma.¡± Nan Qiao did not refuse, naturally accepting what grandpa gave. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. You¡¯re my granddaughter, and you can always come to me if you face any difficulty or feel wronged. Grandpa will decide for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa. I am fine, really. Everything is great now that I¡¯m home,¡± Nan Qiao said sensibly. Seeing his granddaughter¡¯s delicate and lovely features in front of him, Grandpa Bai¡¯s smile grew even brighter. ¡°I heard from your father that you saved Old Li? Qiaoqiao, you even know medical skills, that is really unexpected.¡± ¡°I learned from my master in the village before, he was very kind and taught me everything he knew. Saving Grandpa Li was also fate.¡± Grandpa Bai said with a smile, ¡°That really is fate. Old Li is lucky to have met you. If it weren¡¯t for you, he would have passed away by now. Tomorrow I¡¯m going to see Old Li and boast about my granddaughter, since he has no granddaughters.¡± Nan Qiao almost laughed out loud, Grandpa was really a playful old man, very easy to get along with by the looks of it. This family made Nan Qiao feel an increasing sense of belonging. When the atmosphere was joyous, Bai Yurou came back. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re back.¡± Bai Yurou seemed to be afraid of Grandpa Bai, walking over hesitantly, seeming very uncomfortable. Grandpa Bai authoritatively said, ¡°Yu Rou, Qiaoqiao is back. You must take good care of her from now on.¡± Bai Yurou quickly nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa, I will take good care of my sister. If she needs anything, I¡¯ll do my best to help.¡± Grandpa Bai stood up, ¡°I¡¯m tired, I¡¯m going to sleep now. You should also rest early.¡± Grandpa Bai left, and Bai Yurou finally felt the air was a bit freer. ¡°Mom and Dad, I¡¯m a bit tired, I¡¯m going to rest too.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan nodded and expressed their concern, then Bai Yurou returned to her room. Bai Yurou opened the secret compartment and took out the cell phone. At that moment, the phone buzzed continuously, someone was calling her... Chapter 29 - 29 29 Even if she stands naked in front of me, I will not be moved ?Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Even if she stands naked in front of me, I will not be moved Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Even if she stands naked in front of me, I will not be moved ¡°If there¡¯s nothing important, this phone only receives messages, doesn¡¯t receive calls.¡± Bai Yurou, in a panic, grabbed her phone and ran to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and tried to drown out her conversation with the person on the other end with the sound of the water. Bai Yurou held her phone without making a sound, waiting cautiously for the voice from the other end. A mechanical voice came through, ¡°Why did the plan fail again!¡± The harsh, menacing, and frustrated tone made Bai Yurou¡¯s body uncontrollably tremble. ¡°Because of Li Yehan, he... he¡¯s different towards Nan Qiao. This time, it was Li Yehan who rescued her from the kidnapping. Otherwise, how could a defenseless woman escape, she would have been scared to death.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses!¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes filled with fear, and she gently coaxed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, don¡¯t be angry.¡± ¡°I will inform you of the next plan, if you can¡¯t complete it, I will replace you.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this.¡± The phone went silent, the call was disconnected, and Bai Yurou sat on the floor, the water from the sink overflowing and sliding to her feet. The icy water brought Bai Yurou back to her senses, she quickly turned off the tap, and gathered her thoughts. The woman in the mirror, her hair slightly disheveled, her eyes fierce, her complexion pale. Bai Yurou looked at herself in the mirror and viciously said, ¡°I will take back everything that belongs to me!¡± ... Early in the morning, Nan Qiao received an important task. She was to visit her properties. Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang had given her quite a few properties, both shops and companies. Chen Xinwan wanted to accompany Nan Qiao on the inspection to let these people know who their new boss was, but Nan Qiao refused. ¡°I¡¯d rather go alone, they don¡¯t know me, it will be easier for me to inspect.¡± Nan Qiao still preferred working alone, more able to pinpoint deficiencies. Chen Xinwan had no choice but to agree, whatever her daughter wanted. ¡°Qiaoqiao, contact me immediately if there¡¯s any problem.¡± Nan Qiao smiled and nodded, ¡°Will do.¡± These properties, Nan Qiao really hadn¡¯t planned to keep. Unable to refuse them initially, she had to temporarily take care of them until she decided what to do in the future. Once the properties were in her hands, she would manage them diligently. The car drove along and stopped in front of a shopping mall. The driver opened the door; Nan Qiao stepped out and walked toward the mall. ... Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya arrived at the mall to pick out jewelry. Lu Zhengyang, after being scolded upon his return, was even more eager to solidify his relationship with Zhou Jingya to strengthen his position in the Lu Family. ¡°Xiao Ya, look, whichever you like, I¡¯ll buy for you, pick any.¡± Lu Zhengyang said this, but internally he was reluctant to let Zhou Jingya choose something too expensive. His money had to be spent carefully, especially since he didn¡¯t have much. Zhou Jingya browsed for a while then her finger landed on a jade bracelet worth half a million, ¡°Brother Zhengyang, I like this one.¡± A gentle affection rose in Lu Zhengyang¡¯s eyes; he really liked her choice. Internally approving, his face showed a different expression, ¡°Xiao Ya, look again, this one is too cheap.¡± ¡°Brother Zhengyang, I am happy that you are giving me a gift. It¡¯s the thought that counts, and your thoughtfulness is what matters the most.¡± Zhou Jingya lowered her head, shy and gentle. Lu Zhengyang smiled lightly, ¡°Okay, since Xiao Ya likes it, then we¡¯ll buy this one.¡± Zhou Jingya slowly lifted her head and saw Nan Qiao walking towards them. Zhou Jingya was somewhat angry. Nan Qiao had already gone back, so why was she still coming here to ruin her love? Zhou Jingya clung to Lu Zhengyang¡¯s arm and said in a grievance-filled whisper, ¡°Brother Zhengyang, my sister is here again. Does she like you? Does she want to be with you and deliberately sabotaging us?¡± Lu Zhengyang looked toward Nan Qiao as she approached, seemingly coming straight for him. Lu Zhengyang raised his head, his expression proud and unrestrained. ¡°Xiao Ya, I don¡¯t like her. Even if she throws herself at me, I would never agree to be with her. Even if she stood naked in front of me, I wouldn¡¯t be moved.¡± Zhou Jingya whispered, ¡°Ah, why can¡¯t my sister just leave me alone? Is she jealous that I found such a handsome and capable man, envious and resentful?¡± Lu Zhengyang affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°Fool, I¡¯m not running a scrapyard, collecting every piece of trash.¡± While they were talking, Nan Qiao was aimlessly wandering nearby. Her strolling lacked any purpose or care. Today, Nan Qiao was wearing a white T-shirt paired with washed blue jeans, white shoes on her feet, and her hair casually clipped back, looking stylishly tousled and framing her face beautifully. The girl pursed her red lips, glancing left and right, her big watery eyes shining like brilliant stars. As Nan Qiao walked, someone blocked her path. Nan Qiao changed direction, but the person still obstructed her. Nan Qiao slowly lifted her head, her eyes calm as water. ¡°A good dog doesn¡¯t block the way.¡± Lu Zhengyang, ¡°Are you calling me a dog?¡± Nan Qiao gave a cold smile. ¡°If you are not a dog, why block the path?¡± Lu Zhengyang¡¯s anger flared up, and Zhou Jingya approached, looking like a wronged little wife. ¡°Sister, why are you always following us?¡± Nan Qiao looked incredulous. Did Zhou Jingya have paranoid delusions? ¡°Is the mall owned by your family? Is this jewelry store yours? Or is this road your property?¡± Lu Zhengyang & Zhou Jingya: ... Lu Zhengyang, ¡°If we¡¯re not following, why are you here? Is this jewelry store yours?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s laugh gave Lu Zhengyang the illusion that this was the truth. Zhou Jingya, her eyes filled with mockery, said, ¡°Nan Qiao, what exactly do you want? Are you also here to buy jewelry?¡± Seeing Nan Qiao always infuriated Zhou Jingya. If only she had agreed to attend to Mr. Ma, would the Zhou Family¡¯s company still be in jeopardy? If it hadn¡¯t been for her submitting the designs, the company would have gone bankrupt long ago! It was all Nan Qiao¡¯s fault. If she hadn¡¯t been so narrow-minded and unhelpful, their company would have recovered a long time ago! Right now, Zhou Jingya looked at Nan Qiao with eyes full of haughty arrogance. What could she do? After all, Nan Qiao was just a poor woman. Lu Zhengyang looked at Nan Qiao with mocking eyes. This woman was merely a vase, he didn¡¯t like women who threw themselves at him. ¡°She probably can¡¯t even afford the jewelry here,¡± Lu Zhengyang appraised Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao¡¯s clothes bore no visible brand, not looking like designer outfits. In fact, these clothes had been tailor-made for Nan Qiao by a designer hired by Chen Xinwan, and they were the only pieces of their kind in the world. Nan Qiao sat down and said to a nearby clerk, ¡°Call your manager over.¡± The clerk sized up Nan Qiao, ¡°Who are you?¡± Seeming like she couldn¡¯t afford the jewelry here, why the arrogance? Zhou Jingya stepped forward, ¡°Nan Qiao, you should just go back. Staying here will only bring you humiliation, won¡¯t it?¡± Sitting on the chair, Nan Qiao had a radiant face and her eyes slightly upturned, giving her a look of pure desire. She faced the woman in front of her and said again, ¡°I¡¯ll say it one more time, call the manager over!¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s aura suddenly shifted, causing the clerk to tremble subconsciously and she rushed to find the manager. Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya smirked, curious to see what tricks Nan Qiao would pull. Chapter 30 - 30 30 Supporting Qiaoqiao ?Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Supporting Qiaoqiao Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Supporting Qiaoqiao Zhou Jingya looked at the overly confident Nan Qiao and raised her voice slightly, ¡°Nan Qiao, stop making a scene. It will be so embarrassing when the manager arrives.¡± Lu Zhengyang: ¡°Xiao Ya, you don¡¯t need to worry about her. What can a fake heiress do, anyway? Is she pretending to be the boss who comes to collect the money?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curled up as she sized up Lu Zhengyang from head to toe. Lu Zhengyang took a step back: ¡°What are you looking at? You won¡¯t get me by staring!¡± Nan Qiao: ... At that moment, the manager approached. As everyone waited to see Nan Qiao mocked, they saw the manager bow respectfully and say, ¡°Miss, why didn¡¯t you tell me in advance that you were coming? I would have gone to the door to greet you.¡± What! Miss? Going to greet her? Who is the Miss? Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya looked left and right among the crowd, searching for someone, but they didn¡¯t look at Nan Qiao. The manager noticed their puzzled expressions and walked straight up to Nan Qiao, bowing again at ninety degrees: ¡°Miss, is there anything I can help you with?¡± Nan Qiao looked at the jewelry in the display case: ¡°Nothing much, just browsing.¡± Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya were dumbfounded. Was Nan Qiao actually the owner of this store? Lu Zhengyang, with his pride at stake, took Zhou Jingya¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Xiao Ya, let me take you to the nearby gold store. Gold suits beautiful women.¡± Zhou Jingya nodded, relieved to regain some face. Just as they were about to turn around, Nan Qiao casually said, ¡°The shop next door is mine, too.¡± Lu Zhengyang & Zhou Jingya: ?? Thinking of visiting the nearby watch store, Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya saw Nan Qiao guess their intention and she continued, ¡°That one¡¯s mine as well.¡± The bystanders were stunned. Zhou Jingya and Lu Zhengyang turned from pale to red, from red to blue, feeling dizzy. Lu Zhengyang had never seen Nan Qiao in high society circles, and Zhou Jingya told him she was a country girl hanging onto the coattails of the wealthy. His gaze fell on Nan Qiao, who exuded an innate dignity, and every move she made radiated confidence. Could such a person really be a gold-digging country girl? Suddenly, Lu Zhengyang felt that Zhou Jingya might have lied to him. Zhou Jingya also realized this and, taking a deep breath, calmly said to Nan Qiao, ¡°This is your store? You have enough money to buy everything in that gold store?¡± Onlookers had a sudden realization ¨C could this woman be putting on an act? Lu Zhengyang suddenly understood. A mistress could claim the stores were hers since they belonged to the wealthy man. As for money, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have any. The manager standing aside said, ¡°Since the Miss owns these stores, she naturally has enough money to purchase these items. But why should the Miss prove anything to you?¡± As a joke, the daughter of the wealthiest man could be short of money? These people were just waiting to get their faces slapped! Nan Qiao watched Zhou Jingya, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered softly, ¡°Zhou Jingya, are the things you stole being put to good use?¡± Zhou Jingya: !! Her heart was in turmoil, filled with trepidation. On second thought, they were just a few design sketches. Could she, Nan Qiao, have any evidence to prove that the designs were hers? Zhou Jingya clung to Lu Zhengyang, looking pitifully vulnerable: ¡°Brother Zhengyang, she insulted me.¡± Just as Lu Zhengyang was about to stand up for Zhou Jingya, someone appeared. ¡°Qiaoqiao.¡± The magnetic voice reached everyone¡¯s ears, the man¡¯s presence powerful, followed by four bodyguards and an assistant. Li Yehan walked over to Nan Qiao, his tall figure, upright posture, and handsome face declaring to everyone his noble status. Li Yehan stepped up to Nan Qiao, his noble demeanor letting anyone take one glance and know his status is neither ordinary nor poor. ¡°Qiaoqiao, how did you forget your card again?¡± Li Yehan took out a black card and handed it to Nan Qiao: ¡°Don¡¯t forget it next time.¡± Li Yehan didn¡¯t accept interviews, so the people here naturally didn¡¯t know his identity. The powerful presence of Li Yehan, placing the black card in Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, his gaze exceedingly indulgent. Among so many people, his eyes were fixed on Nan Qiao alone. In the crowd, whispers already began. ¡°My God! That¡¯s a Black Card!¡± ¡°These two were mocking her for not being able to afford anything, but with this card, you could buy whatever you want!¡± ¡°So, the clowns are actually this man and woman!¡± At this moment, Lu Zhengyang looked at Li Yehan. Li Yehan¡¯s face was one Lu Zhengyang had never seen before. He was not worthy to meet Li Yehan. The cold look in Li Yehan¡¯s eyes was like a poisoned arrow, directly targeting Lu Zhengyang. Lu Zhengyang¡¯s body went numb. Li Yehan¡¯s thin lips parted as he uttered a sentence that was chilling to the bone, ¡°Jin Jiang Hotel hasn¡¯t fixed you up yet.¡± Lu Zhengyang: !! He was completely dumbstruck! Was it this man who was behind what happened at the Jin Jiang Hotel? That incident was Lu Zhengyang¡¯s nightmare! He was severely scolded by his father, who even limited his credit card¡¯s quota, fearing he might create an even bigger mess. Zhou Jingya also heard this comment and suddenly remembered something. Mr. Li? Could it be that the man betrothed to her family was this imposing man before her eyes? While Zhou Jingya was pondering this, Lu Zhengyang grabbed her hand, attempting to take her away. ¡°Thinking of leaving?¡± said Li Yehan icily. The bodyguards blocked Lu Zhengyang¡¯s path, preventing him from leaving. Lu Zhengyang turned his head to look at Li Yehan: ¡°What do you want to do! This is a society governed by law!¡± With so many people watching, he didn¡¯t believe Li Yehan would kill him! Li Yehan¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°You bullied Qiaoqiao and don¡¯t need to apologize?¡± Nan Qiao looked up at the man beside her, greatly surprised; why was he also here? What a coincidence? Li Yehan felt Nan Qiao¡¯s gaze, turned his head, and their eyes met. Zhou Jingya gritted her back teeth and bravely asked, ¡°What is your relationship with Nan Qiao?¡± Nan Qiao replied, ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you our relationship. Who are you anyway! If you don¡¯t apologize, I¡¯ll sue you and Lu Zhengyang for defamation!¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, like an elegant leopard ready to tear into its enemies. Zhou Jingya held back her anger, daring not to speak out; she couldn¡¯t afford to offend this man. As she didn¡¯t know the identity of this master, Zhou Jingya, who tended to bully the weak and fear the strong, held her breath in silence. She was jealous! How could Nan Qiao be with such a handsome man! Lu Zhengyang¡¯s mind was flooded with visions of his father¡¯s scolding; who on earth was this master? Under the gaze of the onlookers, Lu Zhengyang lowered his proud head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± After apologizing, he didn¡¯t even hold Zhou Jingya¡¯s hand, but ran off without looking back. He accidentally fell into a cake 1.5 meters tall, becoming a ¡®cake person,¡¯ losing money and face. Zhou Jingya ran off covering her face; she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore! Ahh! How humiliating! Nan Qiao watched the two hurriedly fleeing figures, and giggled. Seeing her laugh, Li Yehan laughed too. ¡°How about a cup of coffee together?¡± Nan Qiao nodded; this was hardly the place to talk, surrounded by too many onlookers. Fortunately, there was no signal a moment ago, so no videos were taken and circulated online. It was definitely Li Yehan¡¯s doing. This scene was also witnessed by Bai Yurou lurking in the shadows. Her eyes, like arrows dipped in poison, glared fiercely and resentfully at the scene below. ¡°Why! Why does Li Yehan like Nan Qiao! Why!¡± Chapter 31 - 31 31 Shes Just in the Flesh Trade ?Chapter 31: Chapter 31 She¡¯s Just in the Flesh Trade Chapter 31: Chapter 31 She¡¯s Just in the Flesh Trade Bai Yurou was consumed by jealousy, her features twisted in resentment, her gaze venomous. Her friend, Du Qianqian, patted her arm, ¡°Yurou, what are you staring at?¡± Bai Yurou turned her head, expressing her sense of loss and grievance, ¡°I saw my sister with Brother Ye Han, and Brother Ye Han... he seems to really like my sister.¡± ¡°That foster daughter again? She is so annoying! Haven¡¯t you and Young Mr. Li known each other for a long time and developed feelings? How can she just swoop in and steal your love? Emotional precedence doesn¡¯t work that way, but isn¡¯t she being shameless by doing this?¡± Bai Yurou: ... She watched Du Qianqian, the so-called paragon of justice, and felt like her friend was implying something about her. Bai Yurou (??¤Ø??¨p) ¡°Yurou, you should talk to your parents about this, she¡¯s just a foster daughter after all. Why treat her so politely? Just taking her in and providing her a life of luxury is already more than enough, what more does she want?¡± Bai Yurou: !! She shouldn¡¯t have discussed this with the self-righteous Du Qianqian! ¡°Qianqian, my parents are quite fond of her, so it¡¯s not easy for me to speak ill of her. As long as she treats Brother Ye Han well, I can tolerate it.¡± Bai Yurou relied on the fact that the Bai Family wouldn¡¯t reveal Nan Qiao¡¯s identity, so she was unconcerned. Du Qianqian sneered, ¡°Hmph, we are not going to hang out with her. Even if she is now the miss of the Bai Family, she doesn¡¯t have any real skills; Young Mr. Li will realize that sooner or later.¡± Bai Yurou smiled and nodded, linking arms with Du Qianqian as they walked forward, ¡°Qianqian, let¡¯s go have lunch.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two ate together, but Bai Yurou was restless. She had thought that the Zhou Hongqi¡¯s family of three would succeed, but those three, not one of them was competent, leaving her speechless. ... Zhou Jingya returned home and told Liu Yanfang about how Nan Qiao had stolen her fiance?. Liu Yanfang hadn¡¯t expected that after Nan Qiao was driven out, she would retaliate against them. ¡°Well done, I¡¯ve raised a disaster at home! I helped her find her parents, and this is how she repays me!¡± ¡°Mom, the man who stood up for Nan Qiao today, he looked like someone with money. Nan Qiao is really something, finding one impressive man after another!¡± Liu Yanfang agreed without hesitation, ¡°That Nan Qiao is just trading on her looks; it¡¯s so embarrassing! Xiao Ya, how can she compare with you!¡± Mother and daughter conspired together and went to Zhou Hongqi to discuss this matter, but Zhou Hongqi scolded them. ¡°You two stop causing trouble! The business is just getting on track. If you provoke Nan Qiao again and she has any evidence, what will we do if our family of three gets sued!¡± Even so, Liu Yanfang didn¡¯t give up her plans because of his words. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your father. I¡¯ll make the decisions about your marriage.¡± Zhou Jingya happily hugged Liu Yanfang¡¯s arm, ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡± ... Nan Qiao and Li Yehan sat in a cafe?. Nan Qiao returned the Black Card to him, ¡°Mr. Li, with such a high-profile gesture, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± Even if Li Yehan hadn¡¯t appeared, she could have handled the situation on her own. Li Yehan¡¯s handsome face warmed with a smile, ¡°Isn¡¯t my intention clear enough?¡± Nan Qiao: ? ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pursuing you.¡± Nan Qiao looked incredulously at Li Yehan, sizing him up. The man¡¯s eyebrows were sharp and his gaze strong, even seemingly affectionate? Nan Qiao stood up, displeased, ¡°If you think I¡¯m different from the other women you¡¯ve met and want to toy with me, I advise you to abandon that thought! I suggest you stop while you¡¯re ahead!¡± Nan Qiao turned on her heel and walked away. Li Yehan: ?? Li Yehan stood up, intent on catching up with Nan Qiao¡¯s pace, but his phone rang¡ªit was a call from Grandpa. Li Yehan took the call, and Old Mr. Li on the other end spoke irritably, ¡°Ye Han, how are your pursuits with Qiaoqiao progressing? Have you won over Qiaoqiao yet?¡± Li Yehan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, ¡°She thinks I¡¯m a womanizer.¡± Old Mr. Li¡¯s tone was fiercely angry, ¡°What did you do? You didn¡¯t try to force yourself on her, did you? Li Yehan! You¡¯ve been restraining yourself for over twenty years, can¡¯t you hold back a bit longer? Qiaoqiao is such a fragile and socially anxious girl; how could you do something so shameless!!¡± Li Yehan pulled the phone away, far from his ear. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m not the person you think I am, I didn¡¯t do anything. She misunderstood, thinking that I¡¯m toying with her because I think she¡¯s special.¡± Old Mr. Li finally breathed a sigh of relief and continued to lecture, ¡°You¡¯re top-notch when it comes to being a dominating CEO, but when it comes to chasing girls, you¡¯re really hopeless.¡± Old Mr. Li hung up the phone. Li Yehan stepped outside, and Secretary Zhao approached with a smile, ¡°Mr. Li, Miss Nan Qiao left in such a hurry; was she too taken aback, maybe shy?¡± Li Yehan gave him a cold look, and Secretary Zhao took two steps back, alarmed, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Do you still have to ask? You told me that when chasing a girl, I need to be bold, attentive, and shameless, but I¡¯ve forgotten that you are still single; how dare you give me advice?¡± Secretary Zhao: ... That hit me right in the feels, bro! ¡°Mr. Li, that was the first rule I found online in an all-night search for guides on chasing girls. Could it be that you were too bold? You didn¡¯t do anything indescribable to Miss Nan Qiao, did you!¡± Li Yehan didn¡¯t want to bother with the idiot that was Secretary Zhao; he strode away with his long legs, moving briskly, while Secretary Zhao jogged ahead, realizing he had made a bad suggestion. What to do now? ... Nan Qiao sat in a bubble tea shop, growing a bit angry as she thought about the day¡¯s events. In high school, she had once been aggressively pursued by a guy for a while, but one day, she overheard that guy boasting to others that winning her over was a victory and even mentioned some sort of bet. Remembering this, along with Li Yehan¡¯s behavior today, Nan Qiao equated the two incidents. Moreover, Li Yehan had broken off an engagement and then saw her at the Bai Family. Grandpa Li had tried to convince them to fulfill the marriage arrangement at the Bai Family¡¯s place, which she rejected. Was Li Yehan upset because he had been rejected? Nan Qiao confided the matter to her best friend Wen Ruan, whose voice was excited and gossipy, ¡°Qiaoqiao, maybe Li Yehan really does want to pursue you. After all, you¡¯re beautiful, kind-hearted, medically skilled, and a martial arts expert; the Zhou Family¡¯s loss is their loss! With a beauty like you, who wouldn¡¯t want to be close?¡± Nan Qiao: ... ¡°When are you coming back?¡± ¡°In a few days, I should be able to return. I even got the Blood Grass you wanted, so once we¡¯re back, you can continue with your experiment.¡± Nan Qiao exhaled a sigh of relief, seeing hope. ¡°That¡¯s great, Ruanruan, you¡¯ve worked hard. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal when you get back.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Qiaoqiao, but I think you should observe Li Yehan a bit longer.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Nan Qiao hung up the phone, convinced there was no need for further observation. Nan Qiao took a ride back home. As soon as she got out of the car, Bai Yurou, who had returned from work, spotted her. Seeing Nan Qiao return alone, Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes lifted in a taunting arc, ¡°Sister, why did you come back by yourself today? Where¡¯s Brother Ye Han, how come he¡¯s not with you?¡± Although Bai Yurou tried her best to appear amiable, the smile lifting at the corners of her mouth was something even an AK48 couldn¡¯t suppress. Chapter 32 - 32 32 Childhood Regrets, Compensated for When Grown Up ?Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Childhood Regrets, Compensated for When Grown Up Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Childhood Regrets, Compensated for When Grown Up Nan Qiao was very calm and smiled as she asked, ¡°If you want to see him, why don¡¯t you go find him yourself?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s corners of her mouth drooped without any effort to conceal it: ¡°Sister, I¡¯m just kindly concerned about you, why are you speaking with such a sharp tongue?¡± ¡°What I said is the truth too. There¡¯s nothing between Li Yehan and me, so why should I come back with him? He¡¯s not a member of our family after all!¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s words were very straightforward, leaving Bai Yurou completely speechless. Nan Qiao smiled without a word. The car stopped, and she took the elevator directly from the garage to the living room. The Bai Family¡¯s villa was so large that, luckily, there was an elevator, which saved a lot of trouble. As soon as Nan Qiao arrived in the living room, Mrs. Fang came out with a tray of uniquely shaped fruits, her face full of smiles. Yet when she saw Nan Qiao, her smile quickly faded a bit. She had been expecting Bai Yurou to return and was surprised to see Nan Qiao instead. Mrs. Fang¡¯s eyes revealed her disgust as clearly as if she had swallowed a fly. Nan Qiao gave her a glance: ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Unhappy to see me?¡± Mrs. Fang: ... She had never seen someone speak out so bluntly about an awkward situation! Such a country girl has no manners at all! Not like Bai Yurou. Mrs. Fang, fully aware of her own position and that she couldn¡¯t talk back to Nan Qiao, said humbly, ¡°Miss, you¡¯re exaggerating, why would I be unhappy? I am very happy to see you back; we all are.¡± Nan Qiao looked at the fruit plate in her hand, ¡°Is this fruit prepared for me?¡± ¡°Yes, I prepared this fruit especially for you.¡± Nan Qiao took it over, her smile deepening: ¡°Since it¡¯s specially prepared for me, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± She placed the fruit boat on the table and started eating with a fork. Mrs. Fang: !! It was a fruit boat she had spent an hour creating! It was prepared for Bai Yurou! Just as Bai Yurou returned, she happened to witness this scene and wanted to vomit blood. Mrs. Fang approached Bai Yurou: ¡°Fourth Miss, you¡¯re back.¡± Bai Yurou didn¡¯t even want to give Mrs. Fang a glance and turned to take the elevator upstairs. She didn¡¯t come down for dinner. ... Nan Qiao looked at the table full of delicacies and ate to her heart¡¯s content, very satisfied. ¡°Qiaoqiao, how did your inspection go today? I heard from the manager there was a bit of an incident, and Ye Han also went?¡± Nan Qiao nodded. Even if she didn¡¯t say anything, they would naturally find out; it was easy to inquire about what had happened. Nan Qiao recounted what had occurred, leaving Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan fuming with rage. Bai Zhenyang angrily said, ¡°Lu Zhengyang actually dared to bully my daughter. I¡¯m going to call his father right now!¡± He picked up his cell phone and stepped aside to make the call, afraid that Nan Qiao would see him cursing and that it might affect his image in his precious daughter¡¯s heart. Chen Xinwan looked at her daughter with deep affection, her heart aching: ¡°Baby, tell your mother first thing if anything happens. And about Old Qin and Old Dao, they are your bodyguards; why didn¡¯t they protect you right away when trouble arose?¡± Chen Xinwan was somewhat angry. Had she spent so much money on bodyguards just for them to stand around like spectators? Old Qin & Old Dao: ... Nan Qiao quickly explained, as it had all been her idea. ¡°I was afraid they would scare away the customers, I wanted to keep a low profile and didn¡¯t let them come in. Who knew I¡¯d run into Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya. But rest assured, I can take care of myself and won¡¯t get hurt.¡± Chen Xinwan held Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, her words heartfelt and solemn: ¡°My daughter, remember this, no matter what the situation or object, nothing is more important than you. Money can be sacrificed, but my daughter must remain safe and sound.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s heart was deeply moved, and she took the initiative to call out, ¡°Mom, thank you.¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s eyes lit up with joy(#^.^#) Ah, her daughter called her Mom! Chen Xinwan was so happy that she wished she could tell everyone right then. Her daughter¡¯s first call was ¡°Mom¡± instead of ¡°Dad¡±! Hahaha, it seemed her position in her daughter¡¯s heart was the highest. Chen Xinwan excitedly held Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, then, fearing she had gripped too hard and hurt Nan Qiao, she let go, worried about a misunderstanding, ¡°Sweetheart, did Mom hurt you when she held your hand?¡± Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t help but find it both funny and embarrassing, she had only called out ¡°Mom,¡± why was Chen Xinwan so excited about it? Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t help but recall a memory from her childhood when she staggeringly went to call Liu Yanfang ¡°Mom,¡± only to be pushed to the ground. To this day, she still remembered the words Liu Yanfang said: ¡°Don¡¯t call me Mom, I don¡¯t have a daughter like you, you¡¯re just a little bastard!¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s nose tingled with soreness, and as she looked at Chen Xinwan, warm tears filled her eyes. The regrets of childhood were being made up for as she grew up. The once tender little girl nearly became a crybaby. Chen Xinwan, startled, awkwardly wiped away Nan Qiao¡¯s tears, ¡°Sweetie, why are you crying? Did Mom say something wrong? It¡¯s okay, if you don¡¯t want to call me Mom, you don¡¯t have to, Auntie is fine too. As long as you¡¯re happy, however, you want to call me is okay.¡± Bai Zhenyang hurried over and saw Nan Qiao¡¯s tears falling like pearls, one by one, which nearly broke the old father¡¯s heart. ¡°Daughter, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t worry, Dad will go tie up Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya and make them kneel to apologize to you right now!¡± Daughter sad, Dad gets mad! Nan Qiao laughed out loud. Unlike the helplessness and sorrow of her childhood, she now felt happiness and contentment. Wiping her tears, Nan Qiao said with a smile, ¡°Mom and Dad, I¡¯m fine; it¡¯s just that I feel too happy and fortunate.¡± Bai Zhenyang incredulously took Chen Xinwan¡¯s hand, ¡°Wife, pinch me and see. Did our daughter call me Dad? Did I hear that wrong?¡± Chen Xinwan pinched his thigh, and Bai Zhenyang yelped in pain. Chen Xinwan said with a laugh, ¡°Are you silly? She¡¯s our daughter, of course, she would call you Dad and me Mom. But Old Bai, just now our daughter called me Mom first, you¡¯re a step behind.¡± Bai Zhenyang said cheerfully, ¡°You¡¯ve worked the hardest; she should call you first.¡± The difficulties of a ten-month pregnancy are hardest on a woman. Chen Xinwan looked shyly at him; they always had a good relationship. Nan Qiao told Bai Zhenyang, ¡°You don¡¯t need to deal with Lu Zhengyang and Zhou Jingya. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Bai Zhenyang shook his head repeatedly, ¡°How can I let my daughter handle these things? With me here, you just need to be the joyful young mistress of the Bai Family.¡± Nan Qiao said with a broad smile, ¡°Listen to me; I¡¯m already on it.¡± Chen Xinwan patted Bai Zhenyang¡¯s hand, ¡°Qiaoqiao said she¡¯d handle it; why must you insist on doing the opposite? If you keep this up, I won¡¯t let Qiaoqiao call you Dad.¡± Bai Zhenyang quickly said, ¡°Daughter, then I won¡¯t interfere. It¡¯s all yours, you handle it, and if you can¡¯t, then let me know.¡± Nan Qiao smiled brightly and nodded vigorously, the family of three was happy and complete. At that moment, Bai Yurou, standing in a dark corner upstairs, also heard about this. She hid in the bathroom and sent Zhou Jingya a message with a spare phone: Nan Qiao is going after you! She said she¡¯s already dealing with it! When Zhou Jingya received the message, she sneered, ¡°If she could handle me, could she have waited until now?¡± Little did Zhou Jingya know that she would not be laughing the next day. Chapter 33 - 33 33 Qiaoqiao Wants a Job ?Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Qiaoqiao Wants a Job? Pick Any Company! Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Qiaoqiao Wants a Job? Pick Any Company! The next day early in the morning, when Bai Yurou heard that Nan Qiao was going to work at the company that day, she was somewhat shocked. ¡°You¡¯re going to work? Didn¡¯t you just finish your college entrance exams? Aren¡¯t you going to school?¡± Chen Xinwan laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s like this, Qiaoqiao said she wanted to find something to do, she feels uneasy without earning money. We just happened to have given her some properties, so she¡¯s going to check out the company under her name today.¡± After Nan Qiao finished the last bite of her fried egg, her beautiful eyes twinkled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to school? I remember you are the same age as me. Although I started school a year later, you should have just started university, right?¡± Bai Yurou lifted her chin, confidently said, ¡°Although I started school a year earlier than you, I am already in my second year of university. Plus, with my talent in medicine and attending the Medical College, I have already started interning at a hospital.¡± Bai Yurou still had to return to school after her internship period was over. Nan Qiao looked at her haughty expression and praised with a smile, ¡°You are really impressive.¡± Bai Zhenyang was filled with guilt, ¡°Qiaoqiao, if it weren¡¯t for being swapped at birth, you wouldn¡¯t have been delayed and only taking your college entrance exam this year. Sweetheart, do you have any preferred universities? Just tell Dad which school you want to go to, and I¡¯ll get you in.¡± According to the Bai Family¡¯s wealth, Nan Qiao could pick any school she desired. Parents love their daughter and naturally made plans for her. Upon hearing this, Bai Yurou discerned another implication. Nan Qiao wasn¡¯t favored in the Zhou Family, and her studies weren¡¯t great either, right? Tsk tsk, what does it matter if she is the daughter of the wealthiest man? She¡¯s still poor in her studies? But Bai Yurou forgot, it doesn¡¯t matter if someone is academically poor or a genius, Nan Qiao¡¯s birth status is a point she herself could never reach in a lifetime. Bai Yurou asked with a smile, ¡°Sister, if you have a favorite school you can tell Dad. Dad adores you so much, just donate a few buildings and it will be fine.¡± Nan Qiao had a gentle expression and a sweet smile, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the exam results.¡± Nan Qiao said this, but Bai Yurou didn¡¯t take it seriously. Was this too much pride? Having strong pride is a good thing; she looked forward to seeing Nan Qiao¡¯s exam results. After the meal, Nan Qiao took a car to the company. Chen Xinwan accompanied her, ¡°Qiaoqiao, let the driver take you. I¡¯m worried about you going by yourself. I¡¯ll accompany you to work, and just stay in the car with you.¡± Afraid that Nan Qiao would disagree, Chen Xinwan specifically mentioned that she would just watch her from afar in the car. Since Chen Xinwan said so, how could Nan Qiao disagree? Nan Qiao nodded. Bai Zhenyang, eager to try, also wanted to see if he could take Nan Qiao to work. Chen Xinwan glanced at him and knew what he wanted to do. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a meeting to attend to this morning? Hurry back to work, and by the way, call those three rascals and tell them to come home soon. Qiaoqiao has been back for several days now; as her brothers, they should be standing at the door with gifts to welcome Qiaoqiao home.¡± Bai Zhenyang mentioned his three sons and felt a headache. These three rascals only acknowledged Bai Yurou as their sister and were reluctant to come back. They always said they were busy, but who knows if it¡¯s true or not? ¡°I¡¯ll call them as soon as I get back to the office!¡± Bai Zhenyang¡¯s tone revealed his displeasure. Nan Qiao didn¡¯t mind; she didn¡¯t care how her three brothers felt. ¡°I¡¯m off to work then.¡± Nan Qiao smiled and waved goodbye to everyone, then left by car. Chen Xinwan sat beside her, her voice gentle as she repeatedly reminded her, ¡°Baby Qiaoqiao, remember what Mom said. Directly fire any disobedient employees, fire anyone who dares to show you attitude, and fire anyone who makes you unhappy. The company is yours to manage as you see fit.¡± Nan Qiao was amused and knew well of Chen Xinwan¡¯s excessive doting on her. ¡°Baby Qiaoqiao, don¡¯t feel embarrassed. You are the boss, and they are the employees. If employees dare to give the boss attitude frequently and don¡¯t obey management, then it¡¯s better not to have such employees.¡± Nan Qiao nodded with a smile, ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of myself.¡± Chen Xinwan nodded, but still had Uncle Qin and Uncle Dao wait nearby for Nan Qiao¡¯s orders. If someone bullied Nan Qiao, they would protect her safety with the utmost speed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll mismanage the company and cause losses?¡± Nan Qiao was curious; managing a company wasn¡¯t child¡¯s play, they were too confident in her? ¡°It¡¯s okay if you lose money, as long as our dear Qiaoqiao is happy.¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s words had about them the feeling that Nan Qiao¡¯s favorites were priceless. A mother who doted on her daughter naturally did everything she could to give her daughter the best! Nan Qiao was moved, she definitely wouldn¡¯t let the company lose money, she would make it continuously earn money! She could build the first Zhou Group, so she could build a second company. Nan Qiao had the driver stop on the side of the road nearby, fearing that someone would discover her identity. Chen Xinwan reluctantly said, ¡°Let Uncle Wang take you further, walking is so tiring.¡± ¡°No need, consider it as exercise.¡± Nan Qiao smiled as she opened the car door, got down, and turned to look at Chen Xinwan with a smile on her face. Nan Qiao¡¯s skin was very delicate, seemingly fragile to the touch. The sunlight shone on her face, making Nan Qiao amid the light and shadows stunningly beautiful. ¡°You finished work, so Mom came to pick you up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Qiao waved her hand with a smile and even greeted Uncle Wang before she left. Uncle Wang was thrilled and said in front of Chen Xinwan, ¡°Madam, the young miss truly is a credit to both you and sir, beautiful, polite, and brave, such girls are rare.¡± Chen Xinwan¡¯s face beamed with pride, ¡°Qiaoqiao has truly surpassed the master.¡± ... Nan Qiao took the elevator to the women¡¯s clothing department on the sixth floor. Chen Xinwan¡¯s company for her was women¡¯s clothing, established only a few years ago, Bai Zhenyang gave it to her, also wanting her to practice. When Nan Qiao walked in, the receptionist was painting her nails. Seeing Nan Qiao, her eyes brightened. The girl¡¯s refined beauty was flawless, and even her bare, fair skin was as smooth and delicate as a peeled egg. The receptionist, holding her nail polish, asked, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not looking for anyone.¡± The receptionist laughed, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the new manager, Nan Qiao.¡± Nan Qiao walked away and entered the company, frowning at the sight of the several lazy employees inside. Her arrival also drew their gaze. Nan Qiao took the initiative and said, ¡°Hello everyone, I am the new manager Nan Qiao. Everyone, stop what you are doing; we¡¯re meeting in the conference room in ten minutes.¡± Nan Qiao headed straight for the office, and by the time everyone reacted, Nan Qiao was already out of sight. ¡°Who is she? The manager? Has she even graduated?¡± ¡°Is this some kind of joke, letting a green girl manage?¡± ¡°Could she be clinging to some rich old man¡¯s coattails, sent here to play house?¡± ¡°A meeting? Does she even know what to hold a meeting about? She¡¯s out of her depth!¡± ¡°Manager Xu, should we just not attend the meeting?¡± Manager Xu smirked and nodded, ¡°Of course, what meeting? Does she even know how to manage a company? Don¡¯t bother with her!¡± As these people remained unresponsive, Nan Qiao looked at the time, pulled out her laptop from her bag, powered it on, and started typing. Soon after, the employees outside were stunned! Chapter 34 - 34 34 Clap Clap Clap ?Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Clap Clap Clap Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Clap Clap Clap Their computers were controlled and a line of red text appeared, ¡°You have two minutes, see you in the meeting room! Those who don¡¯t show up are considered to have resigned automatically!¡± Everyone: ?? ¡°Manager Xu, our computers have been taken over! The mouse doesn¡¯t respond at all.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°How can that young girl be so capable?¡± Manager Xu sneered, ¡°You really think she did it? With her looks, I doubt she even graduated from high school. How could she have such advanced computer skills?¡± ¡°Manager Xu, what should we do? Are we still going?¡± Manager Xu scoffed with a laugh, ¡°Go!¡± He wanted to meet this person and see what they were all about. When these unhappy people arrived at the meeting room, Nan Qiao was already sitting there, arms crossed, watching as people entered. Her presence was too intimidating, her sharp gaze made their scalps tingle; they had never seen such a commanding young girl before. Nan Qiao adjusted the computer and checked the list, ¡°How is one person missing? Did they resign?¡± Manager Xu answered discontentedly, ¡°Xiao Liu took a leave, and I have already approved it.¡± Nan Qiao laughed, ¡°He took leave after the notice was given two days ago? Don¡¯t bother, just fire him!¡± Manager Xu scoffed, ¡°Making an example as a warning to others, just don¡¯t know who you are trying to scare.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to scare people like you!¡± Everyone: ... They had never seen someone so straightforward. Nan Qiao continued bluntly, ¡°I¡¯ll say it one last time, if you don¡¯t want to work here, resign now; you¡¯ll get the severance you deserve. Those who want to stay, work diligently and don¡¯t slack off.¡± Manager Xu frowned unhappily, feeling subdued for the first time, which was uncomfortable. ¡°Manager Xu, I looked at your last quarter¡¯s performance. Frankly, it was terrible!¡± After a session of stern reprimanding, these people didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Nan Qiao cut to the chase, establishing her image. She knew that Manager Xu and a few others looked down on her and thought she was easy to bully. Without severely setting them straight, it simply wouldn¡¯t work. Manager Xu¡¯s face turned grim, his anger flaring up, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, then the company¡¯s future is in your hands. We want to see what you can achieve.¡± Nan Qiao smiled coyly, ¡°Then please wait and see, and comply with my work plans.¡± Nan Qiao stood up, ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡± She walked straight outside. When she reached her office, she turned on her computer and began tapping rapidly on the keyboard. The reason she came to the Bai Family¡¯s company was to earn more money for the Bai family. Having received so many precious gifts from her family, earning more money was her way of giving back. She really disliked owing favors to anyone, especially personal debts. ... Li Yehan¡¯s office. Secretary Zhao reported the gathered information to Li Yehan. ¡°Has she started working?¡± ¡°Yes, reliable sources confirm Miss Nan Qiao is managing a clothing company and today is her first day. I have investigated, and the people in the company do not respect her, especially Manager Xu who leads them.¡± Secretary Zhao waited for Li Yehan¡¯s command, ready to eliminate all obstacles for Nan Qiao at his word. Li Yehan picked up his coat and car keys and walked forward, Secretary Zhao, startled, followed close behind. ¡°Mr. Li, where are you going?¡± ¡°Handle the paperwork while I¡¯m gone.¡± Li Yehan left without turning back. ... Nan Qiao was busy until noon and hadn¡¯t eaten, her phone rang. Seeing the familiar number, Nan Qiao hesitated for a moment and didn¡¯t answer. Li Yehan hung up the phone and sent a message: ¡°I¡¯ve ordered lunch for you. Should I bring it up, or would you like to come to the cafe next door?¡± Nan Qiao: ... Why is this guy so clingy? After pondering for a moment, Nan Qiao decided to go over. Instead of letting Li Yehan come over, it was better for her to go out. Once Li Yehan arrived at the company, he would definitely cause quite a stir, affecting her work here. Nan Qiao made her way to the cafe? and saw Li Yehan sitting in a corner, waving at her as she entered. The man¡¯s face was filled with a doting smile, and his peach blossom eyes were incredibly charming. Nan Qiao sat down in front of him, and Li Yehan handed her a wet wipe, ¡°Wipe your hands and let¡¯s have lunch.¡± Li Yehan didn¡¯t give Nan Qiao an unpleasant feeling; on the contrary, being with such a gentleman who took care of everything was quite likable. It was just that one sentence he said that lingered in Nan Qiao¡¯s mind: ¡°Li Yehan, did you come looking for me because you need something?¡± Li Yehan nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. We can talk after that.¡± It was already noon, and Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t eaten yet. What if she was starving? Just as Nan Qiao was about to say she wasn¡¯t hungry, her stomach betrayed her with a loud rumble. Nan Qiao: ... So embarrassing! Nan Qiao looked at the table full of delicious food, which had been packed from Jin Jiang Hotel, and it looked very appetizing. Without being shy, Nan Qiao picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a piece of braised pork ribs, which left a delightful taste and wasn¡¯t dry at all. Li Yehan poured a glass of juice for Nan Qiao, considerately inserting a straw to make it easier for her to drink. After eating two bowls of rice, a bowl of soup, and a cup of juice, Nan Qiao paused. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± Nan Qiao felt a bit nervous¡ªcould it be that he was about to confess his feelings for her? While Nan Qiao was wildly guessing, Li Yehan dropped a surprising piece of news. ¡°You want to cooperate with me? Your company wants to partner with mine? Mr. Li, are you kidding?¡± The girl¡¯s round eyes widened even more, playful yet polite. Li Yehan spoke affectionately, ¡°Why, can¡¯t I cooperate with you?¡± Nan Qiao looked at him, ¡°As far as I know, your company doesn¡¯t do women¡¯s clothing.¡± Li Yehan raised an eyebrow, giving her a meaningful look, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you know me quite well.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks flushed suddenly, a bit embarrassed, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know about your company?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s deep eyes stared at her as he poured another glass of juice for her, ¡°Our company is expanding its business and planning to develop women¡¯s clothing.¡± Nan Qiao felt a mix of emotions¡ªhow could she refuse such an opportunity for cooperation that was presented to her on a silver platter? Li Yehan didn¡¯t mention any other business today, which lowered her guard considerably. Thinking about the current situation of her company, Nan Qiao still wanted to decline. Li Yehan spoke up, ¡°Qiaoqiao, our companies will benefit mutually from this cooperation. If you refuse me, please give me a reason.¡± Nan Qiao really couldn¡¯t find a reason. Since Li Yehan wanted to cooperate, then why not? Who could resist making more money? ¡°Okay, let¡¯s cooperate.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s lips curved into an elegant smile, and he extended his hand towards Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I look forward to a pleasant cooperation.¡± Nan Qiao looked at his long fingers, distinct and beautiful. ¡°Pleasant cooperation.¡± Nan Qiao also extended her hand, and as their hands clasped together, Nan Qiao felt an electric current travel all over her body. Li Yehan¡¯s gaze was too intense, his palm dry yet cool, which made Nan Qiao feel even more restless. She quickly let go of his hand, and Li Yehan watched her like a cute little rabbit scampering off in a hurry. While things on Nan Qiao¡¯s end were going smoothly, Zhou Jingya was like an ant on a hot pot, restless and anxious. Chapter 35 - 35 35 Taking Action Against Nan Qiao ?Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Taking Action Against Nan Qiao Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Taking Action Against Nan Qiao Zhou Jingya sat in Zhou Hongqi¡¯s office, feeling uneasy in front of his hopeful gaze. ¡°Xiao Ya, you know how to design clothes, right? While the fashion is selling well, hurry up and design some new clothes.¡± Designing clothes wasn¡¯t simple, and Zhou Jingya couldn¡¯t do it. She bit her lip and looked up with a smile, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve not been in a good mood recently, which affects my design work. Let me go home, calm my mood, and then I¡¯ll draw the design sketches.¡± Zhou Hongqi took out his phone and transferred one hundred thousand dollars to her, ¡°Take this money to buy some food you like, and a new outfit. Xiao Ya, our company is counting on you. In the future, I¡¯ll definitely give you shares in the company. If your brother can¡¯t manage the company, it¡¯ll be yours to run.¡± Zhou Jingya took the bait. She was terrified that Nan Qiao would come over and accuse her of plagiarism; she still had two sketches that she dared not reveal. It seemed like she had to bring them out now, didn¡¯t it? Zhou Jingya obediently said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll go home and work hard on the drawings, and I¡¯ll show them to you once I¡¯m done.¡± Zhou Hongqi was overjoyed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your design sketches.¡± After leaving Zhou Hongqi¡¯s office, Zhou Jingya took a selfie and posted an update visible only to her old high school classmates on social media, ¡°Visiting Dad¡¯s company. Dad said he¡¯ll hand over the company to me to manage.¡± After posting it, Zhou Jingya left in high spirits. ... Nan Qiao returned to her company to find that Manager Xu and a few others had not come back, leaving only one male colleague diligently at his desk drawing. Nan Qiao approached him and commented while he was still drawing, ¡°A slanted shoulder design would look better than a straight across one.¡± Startled by the voice above him, Rong Yan jumped. ¡°Boss.¡± Rong Yan stood up, unease in his eyes. Nan Qiao smiled, ¡°Do I look like a man-eating monster? Are you that scared of me?¡± Rong Yan shook his head, ¡°Boss, you are so beautiful that you are beyond description, the prettiest girl I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with a light smile, ¡°Are you scared of me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared of you; it¡¯s just that I¡¯m scared of Manager Xu...¡± Manager Xu had warned them earlier: anyone who got too close to the new person in charge would be looking for a new job. Having only recently graduated and finally able to intern here, Rong Yan naturally wanted to keep his job. Nan Qiao looked at Rong Yan¡¯s youthful face and said with a smile, ¡°I am the owner of this company; what authority does he, a mere manager, have to overrule me?¡± She pointed to his design sketch, ¡°Keep drawing and show me when you¡¯re finished.¡± Nan Qiao walked into her office and continued reviewing various company documents from over the years. She read until three o¡¯clock, but Manager Xu and the others had not returned. Nan Qiao pulled out her phone and called Manager Xu, who answered with a lazy voice, ¡°Who is it?¡± His annoyed tone sounded as if he¡¯d been woken up. Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes carried a coldness, ¡°Manager Xu, for being absent without a reason for an hour, you¡¯ve lost this month¡¯s perfect attendance! If you don¡¯t arrive at the company within ten minutes, you¡¯re all fired!¡± Ten minutes? Swearing angrily, Manager Xu hurriedly notified the others to rush back to the company. Nine minutes and fifty seconds later, Manager Xu, accompanied by six other employees, returned, sweaty and disheveled as though they had just finished a marathon. Manager Xu¡¯s hairstyle was a mess. He angrily headed towards Nan Qiao, trying to use his seniority to intimidate her: ¡°President Nan, what is the meaning of this? Even if you¡¯re the CEO, you can¡¯t target us, the old employees! When we were giving our all for the company, you were still learning aoe somewhere!¡± ¡°Yeah! We were eating; how can you threaten to fire us?¡± ¡°President Nan, we¡¯re all just workers; why make things difficult for our own people?¡± Nan Qiao sat in her chair, her powerful aura exuding a sense of cold arrogance. Her bright, star-like eyes looked coldly at Manager Xu as she spoke with fire in her words: ¡°Manager Xu still remembers he is a senior employee, impressive. Senior employees not showing up on time? Absent without a reason?¡± The employees¡¯ faces turned unsightly as Nan Qiao¡¯s blunt words left no room for them to save face. Manager Xu retorted defiantly: ¡°I invited everyone out to eat today, we just overstayed a little, is it just an hour?¡± ¡°If Manager Xu likes socializing so much, it might be better to resign¡ªthen no one will question you for drinking into the wee hours. If you¡¯re at work, you should act professionally. Tardiness and early leaving will be handled according to the rules and regulations, which are made to keep order, otherwise, what would become of the company?¡± Manager Xu, with furrowed brows and an ashen face, did not dare refute Nan Qiao. Offending Nan Qiao meant packing up and leaving; he was very angry and turned to return to his office. The other employees meekly went back to their desks without daring to lift their heads. Nan Qiao¡¯s cold gaze swept over everyone, her presence so strong that it kept them from even breathing heavily. ... Back in his office, Manager Xu was close to tearing the place apart. He had thought he could become the boss of the company, but Nan Qiao¡¯s arrival shattered that dream. He couldn¡¯t swallow this humiliation. Manager Xu picked up his phone and dialed, ¡°Miss, Nan Qiao is just too difficult to deal with; we can¡¯t handle her.¡± ¡°Just wait a bit longer,¡± a woman¡¯s voice responded over the phone. Manager Xu sighed persistently, ¡°She doesn¡¯t follow any standard procedures and shows no respect for us employees. Even a minute¡¯s tardiness gets criticized, not to mention that she wants to monopolize power and has established some very malicious rules.¡± After pouring out his grievances, Manager Xu asked, ¡°Can we get rid of her?¡± ¡°Not for the moment. Calm down and see what she does.¡± Manager Xu could only agree, ¡°Alright, but Nan Qiao is just a nobody, why can¡¯t we drive her out? You could squash her as easily as you would an ant, right?¡± The person on the other end of the line remained silent for a moment, then hung up without saying anything. Swearing, Manager Xu leaned back in his chair, restless. Just then, Nan Qiao knocked on the door to Manager Xu¡¯s office. ¡°Come in!¡± Manager Xu¡¯s tone was clearly hostile. Carrying a file, Nan Qiao walked in, facing Manager Xu¡¯s venomous glare. ¡°President Nan, what can I do for you?¡± Nan Qiao placed the file on the table, ¡°Manager Xu, I¡¯ve reviewed the company¡¯s recent contracts. These two contracts don¡¯t look right; they¡¯re with minor fabric suppliers, yet the prices are more expensive than the major factories?¡± Surprise at the bottom of his eyes, Manager Xu put on a domineering air, ¡°Are you questioning my ability and choices?¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°So?¡± Taking a deep breath, Manager Xu continued, ¡°Nan Qiao, you can¡¯t discriminate against them just because they¡¯re a smaller factory, can you? Small factories also have good fabric; if you don¡¯t understand, you shouldn¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Nan Qiao pulled out some fabric and placed it on the table, ¡°Do you call this good fabric?¡± Manager Xu: ... He looked into Nan Qiao¡¯s watery, big eyes and suddenly felt a bit guilty. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this fabric? Just do your job; what do previous contracts have to do with you? Are you a miss from the Bai Family? Mind your own business!¡± Chapter 36 - 36 36 Where to Touch ?Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Where to Touch? Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Where to Touch? Manager Xu, oblivious to the danger, ranted in front of Nan Qiao, his attitude extremely arrogant. ¡°So what if you¡¯re the appointed head from above? Do you understand design? Have you studied design and management? How much profit can you bring to the company? I guess you¡¯re just here to add a feather to your cap and you¡¯ll be gone soon, right? I advise you, better to mind less of others¡¯ business.¡± Nan Qiao coldly laughed, quietly listening to Manager Xu vent all his angry words. Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t expected such a small company to be so full of rot. Without clearing out the rot, how could one maintain and grow the company? Seeing Nan Qiao not speaking, Manager Xu¡¯s gaze gradually became greedy, smiling at Nan Qiao, ¡°As long as you know the ways of the office, you and I could cooperate, not stepping on each other¡¯s toes, prospering together, wouldn¡¯t that be good?¡± How ridiculous! Nan Qiao snorted sarcastically, standing up to loom over Manager Xu, ¡°Manager Xu, the company isn¡¯t owned by your family. You embezzle company funds like this, just wait for a lawsuit.¡± Nan Qiao got up to leave, and Manager Xu watched her leave, his eyes gleaming with a murderous intent. ¡°Since you refuse to appreciate my kindness, I won¡¯t be polite either!¡± ... Nan Qiao was busy until six in the evening, when Bai Zhenyang called. ¡°Darling, haven¡¯t you left work yet? Dad¡¯s car just happens to be passing by; how about I take you out for dinner? Your mom is here too, today¡¯s your first day at work, we should celebrate.¡± Nan Qiao felt warmth in her heart, touched that her parents were celebrating this occasion. Who wouldn¡¯t like being valued by their family? ¡°I¡¯ve just finished. Wait for me at the intersection; I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Okay, your mom and I are already at the intersection, you¡¯ll see our car when you get here.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Qiao hung up, packed up her things, and left the office. She left while Rong Yan was still there. Rong Yan seemed hesitant, as if he had something to tell her. Nan Qiao smiled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Rong Yan whispered, ¡°Boss, Manager Xu holds grudges; he probably won¡¯t let you off easily. Please be careful.¡± ¡°Thank you, I will be.¡± Nan Qiao smiled and left, a plan already forming in her heart. Let Manager Xu try to harm her; he¡¯d have to see if he had the ability! ... Nan Qiao walked to the intersection where Uncle Wang got out of the car and opened the door for her. This scene was precisely witnessed by Manager Xu and Dong Fei. He took out his phone and snapped a picture: ¡°Nan Qiao presenting herself as so righteous and dignified, isn¡¯t she just a promiscuous woman playing the other woman¡¯s role! That man could be her father, and yet isn¡¯t she still smiling and trying to please him?¡± Dong Fei nodded in agreement, ¡°Manager Xu is right, it¡¯s just her being the new boss throwing her weight around, too bad we¡¯re not buying it. The company isn¡¯t her family property; she wants to be the boss, but it all depends if you agree or not.¡± Listening to these remarks, Manager Xu felt extremely satisfied; these words struck a chord in his heart. ¡°Xiao Dong, you know how to speak. Once I drive this bratty girl out, I¡¯ll make you a manager.¡± Dong Fei beamed, flattering, ¡°Thank you, Manager Xu, oh, I mean, President Xu. Thank you for your nurturing, I will definitely support you wholeheartedly.¡± Manager Xu showed a smug expression and walked away with Dong Fei. ... Nan Qiao sat in the car, in her left hand a milk tea handed to her by Chen Xinwan, and in her right, a double beef cheeseburger handed to her by Bai Zhenyang. Chen Xinwan: ¡°Qiaoqiao, take a sip of milk tea to clear your throat. How was your first day at work? Did anyone bully you?¡± Bai Zhenyang: ¡°Baby girl, have a bite of the burger if you¡¯re hungry; it¡¯s freshly made, say the cheese is stretchy when eaten hot.¡± Nan Qiao took a sip of milk tea and then bit into the burger. Anything brought by her parents always tasted delightful. ¡°I¡¯m doing well at the company, there were some issues to handle, so I might get off work late. Mom, Dad, haven¡¯t you ever sent someone to manage this company before?¡± Bai Zhenyang: ¡°We sent Xiao Wang before, then when you went to the company, it was handed over to Xiao Xu.¡± Nan Qiao understood; having a large family business meant they couldn¡¯t cover everything. If that¡¯s the case, then she would handle this chaotic company. Chen Xinwan quickly picked up on something off, ¡°Qiaoqiao, darling, is there some problem at the company? You have to tell us immediately; we can find some management experts to help you.¡± Nan Qiao smiled and shook her head, ¡°No need, I can handle it. If I really can¡¯t, I¡¯ll ask for your help then.¡± Saying so, Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang naturally followed her lead. Nan Qiao would also need to manage other companies in the future; right now, she still needed to train alone. The car arrived at Jin Jiang Hotel¡¯s entrance, and Nan Qiao entered with her parents. As soon as they sat down in a private room, Li Yehan and Old Mr. Li knocked and came in. Old Mr. Li spoke jovially, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you and Yehan are truly fated. What a coincidence, isn¡¯t it just too coincidental?¡± Li Yehan politely nodded, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Qiaoqiao, good evening.¡± Nan Qiao, also quite surprised, responded, ¡°Good evening.¡± To think they¡¯d meet here? Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang were equally curious, how come Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan were also here? What a coincidence indeed! Old Mr. Li sat down, giving Li Yehan a look, who then sat next to Nan Qiao, Old Mr. Li grinning broadly. Li Yehan explained, ¡°Grandpa and I came to dine and happened to see you were here too; we wanted to stop by to say hello.¡± Old Mr. Li chuckled, ¡°Qiaoqiao, since it¡¯s such a coincidence, why don¡¯t we join our tables? It¡¯ll be a feast with more dishes.¡± What else could Bai Zhenyang say but nod in agreement, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do as Uncle Li suggests.¡± Li Yehan poured a glass of water for Nan Qiao, placing it in front of her, ¡°It¡¯s not hot, you can drink.¡± Nan Qiao, indeed thirsty from the busy day, eagerly needed water. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Qiao picked up the glass and gulped down half the water. Soon after, the dishes arrived, and Li Yehan reached over to peel shrimp for Nan Qiao. The man¡¯s fingers were slender, and his shrimp peeling was graceful, making Old Mr. Li smile until it hurt. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you and Yehan sitting together are like a match made in heaven, a perfect pair. Tonight, I discussed with your grandpa; we think it¡¯s time our families proceed with the marriage arrangement. Qiaoqiao, just look at Yehan, he can still make some money, just accept him already.¡± Nan Qiao: ... How eager is Grandpa Li for a great-grandchild? Chen Xinwan laughed, declining, ¡°Uncle Li, we¡¯ve just reunited with Qiaoqiao; we want her to stay with us for a few more years.¡± Old Mr. Li sternly added, ¡°You are absolutely right, which is why I plan to have Yehan marry into your family.¡± Nan Qiao spluttered, accidentally spitting water onto Li Yehan¡¯s legs. As she spat out the water, she inadvertently turned her head, and unfortunately, it all landed on his legs. Nan Qiao instinctively grabbed a napkin to help him, apologizing while wiping, but her hand touched something slightly hard. When she realized what it was, her face turned bright red. Li Yehan grabbed her hand, his voice very low, ¡°Where are you touching?¡± Chapter 37 - 37 37 What do you do about the fire youve started ?Chapter 37: Chapter 37 What do you do about the fire you¡¯ve started? Chapter 37: Chapter 37 What do you do about the fire you¡¯ve started? Nan Qiao¡¯s hand was still on that part of the man, creating an extremely awkward situation. Li Yehan wrapped Nan Qiao¡¯s hand within his own, enveloping her small hand in his palm, and didn¡¯t let go. Old Mr. Li sat beside Li Yehan, and saw the two holding hands! Old Mr. Li was overjoyed! He raised his glass, ¡°Zhenyang, Xinwan, come, let me toast to you.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan were startled and hastily stood up with their glasses, since when would elders toast to the younger ones? Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Uncle Li, Xinwan and I toast to you.¡± Chen Xinwan also said, ¡°Uncle Li, I toast to you.¡± Nan Qiao tried to pull away from Li Yehan¡¯s grip and stood up to drink, ¡°Grandpa Li, I toast to you as well.¡± The old man chuckled, ¡°No need, Qiaoqiao, a girl shouldn¡¯t drink. Just sit back down, I just wanted to drink with your mom and dad.¡± With all three elders drinking, Nan Qiao shot a glance at Li Yehan, ¡°Let go.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s lips moved to Nan Qiao¡¯s ear, whispering, ¡°You started the fire, how do you suggest we deal with it?¡± Out of nowhere, Nan Qiao produced a silver needle in her other hand, and coyly smiled, ¡°How about I put out the fire for good?¡± Li Yehan... You really shouldn¡¯t mess with doctors. Nan Qiao was like a feisty little chili pepper, yet Li Yehan still found himself longing for a taste. Holding her hand, Li Yehan softly said, ¡°I believe.¡± If he believed, then why didn¡¯t he let go of her hand? When Nan Qiao¡¯s silver needle neared Li Yehan, he finally released her hand. Nan Qiao¡¯s face was still a complete flush as she stood up and said, ¡°I have a phone call, I¡¯m going to take it outside.¡± She needed some air to cool down the heated situation. Nan Qiao went out, making her way to the balcony outside the corridor. The night wind carried a chill, dispersing the agitation in Nan Qiao¡¯s heart. When she turned to leave, passing by a private room, an intense quarrel erupted from within. ¡°Let go! Keep it up, and I¡¯ll call the police!¡± ¡°Go ahead and call, even if you scream your lungs out, no one will save you.¡± ¡°Du Qianqian, for someone like me to take a fancy to you is your good fortune, don¡¯t throw it back in my face.¡± ¡°Being fancied by you is my misfortune! Take this good fortune if you want it!¡± Du Qianqian tried to leave, but the man grabbed her wrist and pressed her down. Nan Qiao frowned and kicked the slightly ajar door wide open, pulling the man who was on top of the girl off and throwing him fiercely to the ground. Her hand was like a ruthless iron claw, lifting the man as if he were a mere chick, with utter ease. Du Qianqian, with tears welling in her eyes, saw a graceful figure through her tears, and hastily wiped them away. The man on the ground tried to get up, but Nan Qiao gave him another kick, ¡°Bullying a woman, do you even qualify as a man? Since you don¡¯t want to be a man, I don¡¯t mind helping you transition painlessly into a eunuch.¡± The man, terrified, clutched his vulnerable area as the woman before him was way too frightening! Pretty to look at, but fiercely aggressive, and the gleaming knife in her hand was all the more terrifying. Du Qianqian, wiping away tears, landed a kick on the man. Turning to Nan Qiao with endless gratitude, Du Qianqian said, ¡°Heroine, thank you for saving me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, girls have to protect themselves when they¡¯re out.¡± Nan Qiao put the fruit knife on the table and turned to leave the room. Du Qianqian landed another kick on the man, but when she went out looking for Nan Qiao, she was nowhere to be seen. By this time, Nan Qiao had returned to the private dining room where they had been eating. The atmosphere in the private room was as harmoniously as ever. When Nan Qiao sat down, Li Yehan noticed her hand was somewhat red, which definitely wasn¡¯t a result of making a phone call. Li Yehan took out his cellphone and sent a text message, then poured a glass of juice for Nan Qiao. ¡°Drink some juice to soothe your throat.¡± Nan Qiao nodded and took a few sips. Old Mr. Li spoke up, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I heard you started working? Why not enjoy yourself during the summer break? As a girl, you shouldn¡¯t wear yourself out too much.¡± Nan Qiao replied with a smile, ¡°Grandpa Li, I¡¯m not tired.¡± Hearing that Nan Qiao wasn¡¯t tired, Grandpa Li couldn¡¯t stop praising her, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I have a few companies on hand. You might as well play with those.¡± Bai Zhenyang & Chen Xinwan: ... This wasn¡¯t about letting Nan Qiao play; he clearly wanted to give the businesses to Nan Qiao. They couldn¡¯t possibly accept this gift. Nan Qiao declined directly, ¡°Grandpa Li, Li Yehan is so capable that he could manage not just a few companies, but hundreds of them.¡± Old Mr. Li glanced at Li Yehan and spoke helplessly, ¡°Ah, Qiaoqiao, you don¡¯t understand Grandpa Li¡¯s feelings. Ye Han can¡¯t keep managing companies anymore. He¡¯s not getting any younger. The most important thing now is to find a wife soon.¡± Li Yehan nodded without changing his expression, ¡°Grandfather is absolutely right.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan looked at each other, not wanting to pick up on this topic. They had just found their daughter, and as for suitors, they all can stay far away¡ªthey didn¡¯t want to agree to any. Nan Qiao was caught in the middle, which was quite difficult for her. If possible, Old Mr. Li might just move a bed in for her and Li Yehan, right? Old Mr. Li then said with a smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you know Ye Han. Just call him Ye Han.¡± Nan Qiao nodded with a smile, her cheeks aching from smiling all evening, ¡°Okay.¡± Everyone continued to dine, and after the meal, Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang quickly took their precious daughter and left the place. If they didn¡¯t leave now, they feared their daughter might be whisked away. Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan watched as Nan Qiao¡¯s car departed, with the old gentleman letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Ah, my granddaughter-in-law, when will you marry her?¡± Li Yehan couldn¡¯t help but feel amused, ¡°Grandpa, one cannot hurry in eating hot tofu.¡± ¡°Humph! I like eating cold tofu. If you can, marry Qiaoqiao right now.¡± Li Yehan held his forehead, frustrated. ¡°Grandpa, aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll scare Qiaoqiao away? Every other word from you is about marriage, and the Bai Family avoids you from a distance.¡± Old Mr. Li¡¯s expression stiffened, suddenly feeling he had been too hasty. ¡°Next time I see them, I won¡¯t bring it up. I¡¯ll go see Old Mr. Bai first thing tomorrow and sing your praises. Ye Han, the trouble I¡¯ve gone through for you is really heart-breaking.¡± Just as he turned to vent his frustration, Li Yehan¡¯s car departed from in front of him. Old Mr. Li: !! Where¡¯s his knife? He didn¡¯t want to scold someone now; he wanted to commit murder, could that be acceptable? ... Bai Yurou was sitting in the living room, looking around, but they hadn¡¯t returned yet. On the phone, Du Qianqian was chattering non-stop, ¡°Yurou, let me tell you, the scene was so epic! The heroine descended like a fairy from heaven, a rare sight in this world.¡± Bai Yurou responded perfunctorily, ¡°You¡¯ve said that eight hundred times already.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll stop. Yurou, has that foster daughter of yours come back? We have a gathering tomorrow; why not invite her too, so we can teach her a lesson together?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes lit up, that could work. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop talking now. I hear a car; my parents are back.¡± Bai Yurou hung up the phone and quickly ran towards the door. Chapter 38 - 38 38 Skinning ?Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Skinning Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Skinning At the door, Bai Yurou indeed saw Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang coming back with Nan Qiao. This scene deeply pierced her heart, sparking jealousy and anger. Why did they have to treat her this way? Despite her jealousy, Bai Yurou still put on a smiling face and ran to the door to greet them. ¡°Dad, Mom, sister, you¡¯re back, did you all have dinner together?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes conveyed her hurt feelings, and she was desperately trying to endure the pain. Anyone who saw her would feel heartbroken. Chen Xinwan was holding a bag and said affectionately, ¡°We called you to join us for dinner tonight, but you said you were busy and couldn¡¯t come, so we went ahead.¡± Bai Zhenyang also smiled and said, ¡°Yes, we even ran into Ye Han and your Grandpa Li at dinner.¡± Bai Yurou: !! What a miss! If only she had known, she would have gone! Chen Xinwan handed her the bag, ¡°This is the osmanthus cake you love. I packed some to bring back for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mom, you¡¯re the best to me.¡± Bai Yurou happily clung to Chen Xinwan¡¯s sleeve, talking affectionately to her, standing close, as if they were the real mother and daughter. Nan Qiao didn¡¯t mind this, after all, Bai Yurou had been raised by the Bai Family for eighteen years. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower first.¡± Chen Xinwan quickly replied, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you go take a shower and rest, you must be exhausted today.¡± Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to stew some soup for you tomorrow morning, you can take it to the office.¡± Nan Qiao nodded with a smile and walked in first. Bai Yurou: ?? Why isn¡¯t Nan Qiao angry? That¡¯s her mother after all! Bai Yurou let go of Chen Xinwan¡¯s arm, still smiling, ¡°Dad, Mom, you should also go in and rest.¡± The three of them went in to rest together. ... After Nan Qiao had taken her shower, the phone rang, and it was Li Yehan making the call. Nan Qiao thought for a few seconds, then answered. The man on the other end had an extremely magnetic voice, filled with lethal allure. ¡°Your bracelet fell off, it¡¯s with me.¡± Only then did Nan Qiao realize her bracelet was indeed missing. ¡°If you knew my bracelet was missing, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± she questioned, wondering why he had to call just to inform her. Li Yehan¡¯s laughter was rich, his mood palpable even over the phone. In a teasing tone, with a hint of coaxing, ¡°If I had told you earlier, how could I have continued to look for you?¡± Nan Qiao: ... Suddenly flustered, Nan Qiao blushed. Sitting on the couch, the girl bit her red lips, not making a sound. Li Yehan added, ¡°I¡¯ll meet you for lunch tomorrow to return your bracelet.¡± Nan Qiao tried to refuse, ¡°I¡¯m really busy tomorrow.¡± ¡°You have to eat no matter how busy you are, and I found your bracelet, aren¡¯t you going to treat me to a meal?¡± Alright, Nan Qiao agreed, ¡°It might be a bit late.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you no matter how late,¡± the man¡¯s magnetic voice, mesmerizing in the quiet night. Caught off guard, Nan Qiao hung up the phone, while Li Yehan laughed heartily on the other end, his joy as rich as the night. ... Old Liu knocked and entered, informing Li Yehan of something. ¡°Mr. Li, your father is coming back.¡± Hearing this, Li Yehan¡¯s face suddenly turned ice cold, his murderous intent fully revealed. ¡°Have someone watch his every move.¡± Old Liu nodded, ¡°Mr. Li, I¡¯ve already dispatched someone to keep an eye on him. He must have returned this time for that matter, Mr. Li, you should prepare early.¡± Li Yehan stood by the bed, pulling out a cigarette and putting it in his mouth. Click, the lighter sparked, igniting the cigarette. Li Yehan took a drag, his index and middle fingers holding the cigarette, rebellious and dangerously charismatic. ¡°Let him try if he dares.¡± At that moment, Li Yehan was like a wild beast, eyeing his long-preyed target, ready to strike at any moment! Li Yehan looked out the window, the night had already swallowed the city. The cigarette, glowing and dimming with Li Yehan¡¯s breaths, and his cold, stern profile, underscored his murderous intent at that moment. ... When Nan Qiao arrived at the company, Manager Xu followed her into the office. Manager Xu eyed Nan Qiao sharply, sitting in the chair, just staring at her. Nan Qiao disliked that look, finding it nauseating. She sat down, her beautiful face filled with displeasure, ¡°Manager Xu wanted to see me, what for?¡± Manager Xu looked at Nan Qiao and spoke in a threatening tone, ¡°President Nan, I know who your backer is. Given that, shouldn¡¯t we cooperate instead, wouldn¡¯t it be better to work together?¡± Nan Qiao: ? Knowing who her backer was, shouldn¡¯t he be more courteous? Nan Qiao was curious now, asking puzzled, ¡°Who is my backer?¡± Manager Xu took out his phone and placed it in front of Nan Qiao, displaying a photo of Uncle Wang opening the car door for her yesterday. Nan Qiao: ... So what? ¡°You think this person is my financier??¡± Nan Qiao was shocked. Manager Xu revealed a sinister smile, ¡°Nan Qiao, did you think you could fool me? This man is old enough to be your father. If he can, perhaps I could watch over you too?¡± Nan Qiao: !! Dammit! She had not expected Manager Xu to be so filthy in his thoughts! Nan Qiao¡¯s icy, disdainful gaze, a perfect ice queen. ¡°Xu Dayong, you have a dirty mind, everything you see is tainted! Who said that man is my financier? Does Nan Qiao need a financier? I am my own biggest financier!¡± Being called out by his full name, Xu Dayong was enraged and humiliated, ¡°Nan Qiao! Just because a young girl like you becomes the president of the company, do you really think we¡¯re fools?¡± Nan Qiao sneered coldly, ¡°Why can¡¯t I be the president? Who says a young age disqualifies me from being a president? Does one need to be old to qualify? Xu Dayong, you¡¯re old, why aren¡¯t you the president?¡± Xu Dayong, unable to save face, stood up furiously, eyes blazing, staring fixedly at Nan Qiao. ¡°If you won¡¯t drink a toast, you¡¯ll drink a forfeit! Fine, I want to see what kind of shape you manage to get this company into!¡± Xu Dayong, holding his phone, stormed out, Nan Qiao¡¯s anger boiling over. After Xu Dayong left, his lackey rushed over, asking concernedly, ¡°Manager Xu, what happened?¡± ¡°Hmph, what else could happen! The young lady refused a friendly toast and chose a punitive one instead. I caught her with her financier, and she lashed out at me in embarrassment.¡± ¡°I always said she¡¯s too young to be a president, only capable people like you, Manager Xu, should sit in that position.¡± Manager Xu glared venomously at Nan Qiao¡¯s office, his lips curling into a malevolent smile, ¡°I want to see what Nan Qiao can achieve!¡± ... Nan Qiao went to the fabric field with Manager Xu and Rong Yan. Today, they were mainly inspecting the site, and if it didn¡¯t meet standards, Nan Qiao would terminate the cooperation. Li Yehan called, and Nan Qiao answered, ¡°I can¡¯t have lunch with you today, I¡¯m going to inspect a factory.¡± ¡°Which factory?¡± ¡°Fu Xing Cloth Field, let¡¯s have dinner together tonight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Qiao ended the call, the car still on the road. Xu Dayong¡¯s eyes gleamed with deceitful laughter, but as he bowed his head, no one could see. At Fu Xing Cloth Field, he would strip Nan Qiao of a layer. Chapter 39 - 39 39 Splash Nan Qiao with Sulfuric Acid ?Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Splash Nan Qiao with Sulfuric Acid Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Splash Nan Qiao with Sulfuric Acid Nan Qiao walked into Fu Xing Cloth Factory, just at noon, when the employees had gone to eat, leaving only the factory manager standing at the entrance to receive her. Today, Nan Qiao wore a gray suit jacket with matching trousers and stepped in a pair of flat leather shoes. Getting out of the car, the factory manager saw her face and revealed a surprised expression. This image didn¡¯t seem like someone who could become a boss through their own abilities. The factory manager¡¯s attitude towards Nan Qiao suddenly became less respectful than what he had initially planned to offer. The factory manager walked up with a smile and took the initiative to shake hands with Xu Dayong, ¡°Manager Xu, long time no see.¡± Xu Dayong was very pleased, shaking hands with the factory manager, looking as if he was the boss of the company. Nan Qiao glanced at the factory manager and walked inside. Xu Dayong and the factory manager exchanged glances, ¡°Manager Xu, everything has been taken care of.¡± ¡°Not bad, you seem very promising.¡± The factory manager was ecstatic, he could already foresee opening several branches in his future! The two men followed Nan Qiao inside, watching her inspect the fabric seriously, and checked the machines as if she knew what she was doing. When they arrived at the dye vats, Nan Qiao¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Old Liu, are these your dye vats? The smell is a bit pungent!¡± Old Liu came over, neither servile nor overbearing, and said, ¡°President Nan, you clearly don¡¯t understand this area, so of course, you¡¯d find it somewhat pungent. Think about it, dyes, which ones would actually smell good?¡± Xu Dayong nodded in agreement, ¡°Old Liu is absolutely right. Different lines of work are different worlds. Don¡¯t speak without knowledge.¡± Nan Qiao raised her head to look at Xu Dayong, her eyes gleaming with irony, ¡°Manager Xu, you know about ¡®different lines of work are different worlds,¡¯ huh? I don¡¯t understand, so you do? How much do you know about dyes?¡± Xu Dayong was at a loss for words, and Old Liu also experienced Nan Qiao¡¯s sharp wit for himself, quickly adding, ¡°President Nan, these are all normal dyes, there¡¯s no problem at all. Our cloth factory has been a collaborative partner with your company for many years, I wouldn¡¯t cheat your company, rest assured.¡± Nan Qiao didn¡¯t speak and continued walking further inside. Old Liu tried to stop her, but couldn¡¯t keep up with Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao had trained in Martial Arts, and with quick speed, she came to the interior and looked at the dye canisters on the ground, frowning. ¡°President Nan, aren¡¯t you just here to visit? It seems like you¡¯re trying to pry into our factory¡¯s formulas!¡± A flicker of panic crossed Xu Dayong¡¯s eyes, ¡°President Nan, you came for inspection, not an investigation, what are you doing snooping around people¡¯s houses for?¡± Nan Qiao pointed to the dye buckets on the ground and asked, ¡°I have never heard of these brands.¡± ¡°There are plenty of brands you haven¡¯t heard of, and even the famous ones aren¡¯t necessarily better, right?¡± ¡°Old Liu is absolutely right, President Nan. You can¡¯t let your youth and lack of understanding make you think only what you recognize is right. That¡¯s not something a boss should say or do.¡± Nan Qiao calmly watched Old Liu and Xu Dayong team up to scold her, yet she remained silent. ¡°Are you finished?¡± As Nan Qiao spoke, Old Liu and Xu Dayong suddenly felt like they were being made fools of. Old Liu tried to smooth things over, ¡°President Nan, let me take you to our dye vats for a look.¡± Thinking of this, Xu Dayong didn¡¯t argue further. Nan Qiao nodded, Old Liu led the way, she walked in the middle, and Xu Dayong followed behind her. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the dye vats that the three stopped. Old Liu said with a smile, ¡°These dye vats are filled with colors we¡¯ve newly introduced. President Nan, take a closer look, the fabric colors are particularly attractive.¡± As Nan Qiao leaned in, Old Liu exchanged a look with Xu Dayong, and they both moved forward. Xu Dayong reached out his hand and pushed Nan Qiao into the dye vat. Xu Dayong¡¯s face turned ferocious, his eyes alight with the arrogance of a murderer. Old Liu reached out to hold Nan Qiao¡¯s arm, worrying she might escape. As the two men looked at each other, pushing Nan Qiao into the dye vat, there came a dramatic change in the situation. Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curled into a wicked smile as she stepped on Xu Dayong¡¯s foot and kicked backward, striking Manager Liu between his legs. ¡°Qiaoqiao!¡± Li Yehan arrived just in time to see someone about to harm her. He quickened his pace, leapt into the air, and delivered a kick to Xu Dayong¡¯s back, sending him tumbling into the dye vat. Manager Liu tried to seize the chance to push Nan Qiao in, but Li Yehan grabbed his hand. The sound of a snap accompanied by Manager Liu¡¯s howl of pain rang out as Li Yehan twisted his other hand, snap, breaking it. Nan Qiao was shocked by his swift, precise, and ruthless actions. Li Yehan, seeing Nan Qiao standing there stunned, thought she was scared and drew her into his embrace. The warmth of his embrace gradually calmed Nan Qiao¡¯s heart. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared.¡± His voice reached her ears, and Nan Qiao instinctively looked up at him, the first thing she saw was Li Yehan¡¯s chin. He lowered his gaze, their eyes met, and Nan Qiao felt a sudden surge of comfort. ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°I heard you were coming to the factory and wanted to take you out for a meal, so I came.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected to witness such a scene! ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt? Does your hand hurt?¡± Li Yehan took Nan Qiao¡¯s hand and inspected it closely. Nan Qiao took his large hand in hers, ¡°I¡¯m fine, your timing was perfect, you saved me.¡± Li Yehan probably didn¡¯t see her fight, did he? He probably didn¡¯t know she was skilled in martial arts. Li Yehan probably still thought of her as a fragile woman who couldn¡¯t fend for herself. Looking into Nan Qiao¡¯s bright, shiny black eyes, Li Yehan smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, my princess.¡± Nan Qiao bashfully lowered her head as the sound of water splashing came from behind. Manager Liu and Xu Dayong climbed out of the dye vat, their bodies dyed in every color of the rainbow, unrecognizable even by their own mothers. Both men sat on the ground, without the strength to retaliate. Li Yehan took Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ll take you back first and send Old Liu to handle this.¡± Nan Qiao nodded; she needed to call the police and assist with the investigation to get these two men behind bars! As the two turned to leave, Xu Dayong stood up, grabbed a bottle from the corner, and hurled it towards Nan Qiao. ¡°Qiaoqiao, be careful!¡± Without hesitation, Li Yehan pulled Nan Qiao into his arms, holding her tight against his chest. The bottle hit Li Yehan, and Nan Qiao detected a faint pungent smell, sulfuric acid! It was actually sulfuric acid! Old Liu came in just in time to stop Manager Liu and Xu Dayong. Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes reddened with terror, ¡°Li Yehan, let me see your back.¡± Li Yehan waved it off, ¡°No need, I don¡¯t want to scare you. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll just go to the hospital to get it treated.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t make it to the hospital in time!¡± Nan Qiao pulled Li Yehan to a water tap on the ground. Fortunately, there was a clean water pipe; Nan Qiao quickly connected it, ¡°Li Yehan, you need to take off your clothes quickly; we need to rinse with water to wash off the sulfuric acid.¡± Nan Qiao turned on the tap, and as the water sprayed out, she turned around and bumped into Li Yehan¡¯s strong chest. Nan Qiao lifted her head to see his exposed, muscular physique, and her heart pounded fiercely. Chapter 40 - 40 40 Sleeping Together ?Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Sleeping Together Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Sleeping Together Li Yehan could barely suppress his urge to laugh at her adorable awkwardness. ¡°I¡¯ll turn around, then you help me rinse off.¡± Li Yehan turned around and Nan Qiao frantically poured water on his back. Thankfully it was summer, so it wasn¡¯t too cold. After the cool water had been running for a while, Li Yehan¡¯s clothes were no longer wearable due to the sulfuric acid contamination. Once sufficiently rinsed, Nan Qiao helped Li Yehan into her car and took out the first aid kit she kept there. She disinfected a scalpel, then tore away Li Yehan¡¯s shirt from his back and tossed it aside. She stuffed a pill into Li Yehan¡¯s mouth, saying, ¡°Bear with it for a bit, I didn¡¯t bring any anesthetic.¡± ¡°I trust you,¡± Li Yehan said with a light chuckle. Nan Qiao ignored him, removing the necrotic flesh, pouring medicine over it, and then dressing his wound. Li Yehan endured the intense pain, feeling every movement of Nan Qiao¡¯s hands as he lay across the table without making a sound. Nan Qiao helped him up, frantic with worry, ¡°I am taking you to the hospital for a thorough check-up.¡± Li Yehan met her dark eyes and asked with a smile, ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Nan Qiao ignored Li Yehan and, along with his subordinates, hurriedly took him to the hospital. Zheng Qinnian was on duty at the hospital today and, having received a call from Nan Qiao, was already outside waiting. Relieved that it wasn¡¯t Nan Qiao who was injured, Zheng Qinnian sighed upon seeing Li Yehan¡¯s wounds. Due to the sulfuric acid, Li Yehan¡¯s back injuries were quite severe and required IV fluids as well as hospital observation. Secretary Zhao rushed to the hospital as soon as she heard the news. She completed Li Yehan¡¯s admission procedures, brought him several changes of clothes, and even bought milk tea and some snacks. Nan Qiao was surprised to see Secretary Zhao arrive with hands full, ¡°Secretary Zhao, why are you carrying so much junk food?¡± Li Yehan, who was receiving the IV treatment, turned his head to look at her, ¡°I bought it for you.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s heart fluttered, not expecting Li Yehan to still consider her needs. Nan Qiao stood up, ¡°Secretary Zhao, your timing is perfect. Stay with Li Yehan; I need to go back.¡± At a glance from Li Yehan, Secretary Zhao quickly backed away, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, I don¡¯t have the time. With Mr. Li hospitalized, all the company matters fall to me. Please, Miss Nan Qiao, don¡¯t let me die young; I don¡¯t even have a partner yet.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Secretary Zhao, seeing the approving look from Li Yehan, continued, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, as a doctor with excellent medical skills, you staying with Mr. Li is for the best. Should any issue arise, you can treat him right away. I won¡¯t disturb you both, I¡¯ll have someone deliver meals to you three times a day.¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°I need to go to the police station. Manager Liu and Manager Xu conspired against me; I must seek justice.¡± Secretary Zhao said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Nan Qiao, Mr. Li has already instructed us to handle the matter. He has hired the best lawyer for you; these murderers will get theirs soon enough.¡± Nan Qiao: ?? After finishing her piece, Secretary Zhao dashed off as if pursued by a flood or wild beast. Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan almost laughed, barely containing his amusement. Secretary Zhao had done well, her salary would be doubled this month. Li Yehan lay in bed, his upper body bare. ¡°Qiaoqiao, my back really hurts.¡± Nan Qiao approached, sat by the bed, and saw the wound on Li Yehan¡¯s back. Although it was already covered with gauze, blood was still seeping through the white fabric. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t the doctor tell you? You need to eat light food these days, and you can¡¯t get your back wet. It¡¯ll hurt at first, but it will get better in a few days.¡± A needle was inserted into the back of Li Yehan¡¯s hand, and medicine slowly traveled through the tube into his vein. ¡°Can you blow on it for me? It really hurts.¡± The normally imperious man spoke with an enthralling and coaxing voice. Nan Qiao sat beside him, looking at his back, which was devoid of any excess flesh. Broad shoulders and narrow hips, wheatish skin that led down to a lean waist¡ªit looked like he was full of strength... Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks flushed red, spreading to her ears, just like a fully ripe tomato that one couldn¡¯t resist wanting to bite into, to taste this juicy little tomato. ¡°It really hurts...¡± Li Yehan turned his head to look at her, and Nan Qiao pressed on his head, ¡°You first lay down properly.¡± She couldn¡¯t look directly into Li Yehan¡¯s eyes for fear that she would get lost in them. Li Yehan lay on the bed, feeling the warm breath on his back. Nan Qiao really blew on his wound, and it really didn¡¯t hurt anymore. After blowing on it for a while, she took out the medicine she had made and applied it to his wound. ¡°You lay still, I¡¯ll change the dressing for you.¡± Li Yehan obediently lay down and indeed did not move. Nan Qiao peeled off the gauze, applied the ointment, and after she had finished, it was cool and very comfortable. ¡°You sleep for a bit, I¡¯ll watch over you.¡± Li Yehan said, ¡°You eat some snacks, take a sip of the milk tea while it¡¯s still warm. You¡¯re taking care of me without eating or drinking, I can only repay you with my body.¡± ¡°Who wants you to repay with your body...¡± Nan Qiao lowered her head, picked up the milk tea, and took a sip. Deliberately sitting in a spot where Li Yehan couldn¡¯t see, she ate and drank. Nan Qiao¡¯s family didn¡¯t know what had happened to her, neither did her colleagues. Li Yehan intentionally kept the matter secret, wanting to spend more time with Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao took out her phone and sent a message to Hou Ze. She was surprised to learn that Li Yehan had really taken care of those two murderers. Li Yehan was a man who always kept his word; she shouldn¡¯t have doubted. The feeling of being protected, she had only experienced that with Li Yehan. Looking at the man lying on the bed sleeping, Nan Qiao felt a softness in her heart. While holding her phone, Nan Qiao sorted out some work matters and sent a message to Chen Xinwan, saying she would go home later as she was having dinner with a friend. As the sun set outside the window, Nan Qiao¡¯s eyelids grew heavy, and she fell asleep against the back of the chair. When Li Yehan turned his head to look at Nan Qiao, he caught the afterglow of the setting sun completely enveloping her frail figure. Nan Qiao was so beautiful it seemed unreal, making Li Yehan¡¯s throat tighten. He got up, bare-chested, and came to Nan Qiao¡¯s side, bending down to her lips. The bodies of the two merged together under the setting sun. Li Yehan picked up Nan Qiao, gently placed her on the bed, lay beside her, and wrapped his arms around her. Just like that, the two fell asleep. When they woke up, it was already six in the morning. Nan Qiao woke up in Li Yehan¡¯s embrace. The warm embrace inexplicably brought comfort, but Nan Qiao was startled and shivered. Why was she sleeping together with Li Yehan? What was happening? Nan Qiao pushed away Li Yehan¡¯s arm that was over her, slowly retreating backward. Li Yehan, half-asleep, thought the restless Nan Qiao was about to fall out of bed and subconsciously scooped her up, tightly holding her in his arms. Nan Qiao took a deep breath, struggled to push away Li Yehan, and finally broke free, getting out of bed. Just as Nan Qiao was about to leave, Li Yehan¡¯s voice sounded from behind, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nan Qiao subconsciously turned around, faced with the man¡¯s strong physique, she was so frightened that she stumbled backward. Li Yehan caught her slender waist, drawing her back into his embrace. The disparity in strength between men and women caused Nan Qiao to collide into his embrace once again. At that moment, the door to the sickroom was pushed open, and standing outside were Bai Zhenyang, Chen Xinwan, and Bai Yurou. The three looked at the two people embracing each other inside in disbelief. ¡°What are you two doing!¡± Chapter 41 - 41 41 Rolling in the Sheets ?Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Rolling in the Sheets? Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Rolling in the Sheets? Bai Yurou stood outside the door, completely dumbfounded. If they hadn¡¯t arrived early, would those two have ended up rolling in the sheets already? Bai Yurou: !! She couldn¡¯t accept it, she found it hard to accept. Inside Bai Yurou¡¯s heart, oh, the envy, jealousy, and hatred, it was painfully unbearable. Bai Yurou felt very uncomfortable; she carried the soup she had made herself, her eyes filled with gloom. Chen Xinwan stepped forward, and Nan Qiao pushed Li Yehan away, standing beside her. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ve heard all about it; Xu Dayong actually plotted to harm you. You child, why didn¡¯t you tell us? You sent a message saying you were dining with friends and would sleep at their house tonight, and I believed you. I¡¯m really not a qualified good mother.¡± Chen Xinwan was consumed with self-reproach; if she had realized sooner, she wouldn¡¯t have been absent when her daughter needed her the most. Bai Zhenyang also felt troubled; he was extremely remorseful. ¡°Daughter, those two people have been punished; daring to plot against you, I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯ll never think of leaving prison in their lifetimes!¡± Nan Qiao felt somewhat embarrassed at the moment, being caught in this situation felt like being caught doing that thing in bed. Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t sent Chen Xinwan a message saying she wouldn¡¯t come home that night; it must have been Li Yehan who sent it. Luckily, she had deleted her chat messages with those few people, so they wouldn¡¯t discover any secrets. ¡°I¡¯m fine, fortunately, Li Yehan arrived in time, but he got splashed with sulfuric acid trying to save me. I¡¯m a doctor, so I stayed to take care of him.¡± Li Yehan frowned; Nan Qiao¡¯s explanation seemed like an attempt to keep him out of it. ¡°Luckily, Qiaoqiao was here to take care of me, and even treated my wounds. Qiaoqiao truly has healing hands, taking very good care of me.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Bai Yurou brought over the stewed soup: ¡°Brother Ye Han, this is bone soup I made for you; let me serve you a bowl.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s expression changed suddenly, he said distantly, ¡°The doctor said I need to eat a light diet.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s hand paused, being rejected by Li Yehan in front of so many people left her without any face, and she was even less able to accept Li Yehan¡¯s indifference. Li Yehan¡¯s indifference was only towards her; he would never be like that with Nan Qiao. Li Yehan looked at the sleepy-eyed Nan Qiao, finding her cuteness made him want to gently rub her soft hair. Chen Xinwan, concerned about Nan Qiao¡¯s health, pulled her daughter to her side: ¡°Qiaoqiao, let mom take you home to rest. Look at you; your complexion is not very good; you surely didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± Nan Qiao also wanted to leave; she still had matters to attend to. ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Qiao agreed, and Chen Xinwan led her out by the hand, while Li Yehan watched her leave. Bai Zhenyang looked at Li Yehan and saw that his gaze stuck to Nan Qiao just as stickily; he was anything but pleased. This was his precious daughter! No one was going to be his son-in-law, no matter who they were! Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Yurou, let¡¯s go ahead and leave, let Ye Han get some good rest.¡± Bai Yurou carried the insulated container, walking out resentfully behind Bai Zhenyang, her heart filled with intense hatred. Nan Qiao leaves, and she had to leave too? Why should she? In fact, Bai Zhenyang didn¡¯t mean that at all; he just felt that Li Yehan¡¯s treatment of Bai Yurou was particularly cold, and he didn¡¯t want his daughter to stay by such a cold and distant CEO¡¯s side, seeking her own humiliation. His daughter was someone who needed to be cherished. Unfortunately, Bai Yurou misunderstood his intent. ... After returning home, Nan Qiao took a shower, changed clothes, ate some meal, and then heard Bai Zhenyang say that the two attempted murderers had been brought to justice by the police. With Xu Dayong embezzling and accepting bribes, his crime escalated a degree, and there was no escape for him now. The situation finally came to a close, and Nan Qiao went back to the company to continue working. Chen Xinwan was so worried she could hardly stand it. She tried to persuade with all her heart, ¡°Qiaoqiao, let¡¯s not go to work anymore. If you don¡¯t work, your mom and dad will support you. Your third brother is coming back tomorrow, so just stay at home, okay? It¡¯s too dangerous outside.¡± They couldn¡¯t bear the pain of losing their daughter once again! Bai Zhenyang agreed with Chen Xinwan¡¯s words and also spoke up with concern, ¡°Daughter, your mother makes a lot of sense. As a girl, you don¡¯t need to be so career-driven. It would be so nice for us to stay at home and enjoy eating, drinking, shopping, and traveling every day.¡± Grandpa Bai sat to the side, watching his son and daughter-in-law, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You two, why don¡¯t you listen to what Qiaoqiao thinks? As parents, you shouldn¡¯t always try to influence your child¡¯s thoughts.¡± Nan Qiao knew that whether it was Grandpa or her parents, they all loved her and didn¡¯t want her to get hurt while also wanting her to be happy. Nan Qiao smiled gently and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, I know you care about me and are afraid I¡¯ll get hurt. But since I¡¯ve chosen to work, then I must do my job well and not give up halfway.¡± Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan, although reluctant to agree, couldn¡¯t stand up against Nan Qiao¡¯s persuasion. Whatever their daughter wanted, they wished to give it to her. Nan Qiao added, ¡°I will pay attention to my safety. And once the college entrance exam results are out, I will go back to school. It¡¯s just working for this period of time, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± In the end, the couple still recognized Nan Qiao¡¯s words and let her continue going to work. Grandpa Bai said with a smile, ¡°Our Qiaoqiao is so outstanding; she even rooted out those two scumbags. I¡¯d say Qiaoqiao has rendered a great service by eliminating trouble for the company.¡± Bai Zhenyang nodded, ¡°Absolutely, Qiaoqiao is the best!¡± Chen Xinwan smiled, ¡°I¡¯m proud to have such an outstanding daughter.¡± Nan Qiao, slightly embarrassed, bid farewell to her family and took the car to the company. Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin were filled with guilt, both blaming themselves for the incident that day. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s our fault we couldn¡¯t protect you properly.¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°This has nothing to do with you; it was me who asked you to stop protecting me and go rest.¡± Uncle Dao, ¡°Miss, from now on, we will be sure to stay by your side to protect you. Even if you tell us to go back, we won¡¯t leave anymore.¡± Uncle Qin, ¡°Miss, please listen to us and let us stay with you at all times to protect you.¡± ¡°Uncle Qin, Uncle Dao, I¡¯ll listen to you then.¡± The two men finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt they could account for themselves. ... When Nan Qiao arrived at the company, everyone looked at her differently. Those who had been Xu Dayong¡¯s lackeys now carried themselves with tails tucked. Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t fired these people yet, which didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t; she was just looking for another miracle. Nan Qiao¡¯s gaze was particularly sharp, making the employees bow their heads. ¡°Meeting in five minutes.¡± Nan Qiao said and went into her office. She brought out the files and walked into the conference room where everyone was seated, silent and attentive to Nan Qiao¡¯s arrangements. Nan Qiao quite liked this atmosphere; it seemed that when it comes to discipline, it should indeed be enforced. As Nan Qiao was about to speak, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, it was Hou Ze. ¡°I¡¯m going out to take a call, you guys take a look at these documents first.¡± With one look from Nan Qiao, Rong Yan distributed the documents. Nan Qiao went to the doorway, took the call, and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Chapter 42 - 42 42 Unbuttoning the First Button ?Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Unbuttoning the First Button Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Unbuttoning the First Button Hou Ze on the other side anxiously said, ¡°Boss, why haven¡¯t you plucked Zhou Jingya, that white lotus yet? I saw the new design released by Zhou Hongqi, and it¡¯s obviously your work. Although your name isn¡¯t on it, the style clearly belongs to you!¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s tone was very calm, ¡°Let me see.¡± Nan Qiao searched for related news and quickly found the striking headline, Talented True Daughter. Below were all praises for the talent of Zhou Jingya, the true daughter, unparalleled by anyone. Although there was no photo of Zhou Jingya, her name was already a household name. ¡°Ah Ze, you need to stay calm, I will handle this.¡± Nan Qiao, with her usual calm, managed to soothe Hou Ze¡¯s impatient mood. ¡°Boss, I just knew you were the most capable,¡± Hou Ze said, his tone revealing excitement. Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curved slightly upward, ¡°I have to get back to work now.¡± Nan Qiao hung up the phone and reentered the conference room. ... When Secretary Zhao arrived at the hospital with breakfast in hand, Li Yehan was already dressed and ready to leave. Secretary Zhao: ?? ¡°Mr. Li, where is Miss Nan Qiao? Aren¡¯t you two together? I have even brought breakfast for both of you.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Going back to the company.¡± Secretary Zhao hastily followed behind him as they left the hospital. While in the car, Secretary Zhao said to Li Yehan, ¡°Mr. Li, your father has invited you to dinner tonight.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s expression turned exceptionally somber, as if he had heard some ominous news, restless at heart. ¡°I¡¯ve already made an excuse for you, but he insists on seeing you tonight. He also said if you don¡¯t go home by ten o¡¯clock, he will come to find you at the company.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, his face dark and troubling. He sat in the car, the air around him turning frigid, and Secretary Zhao didn¡¯t dare to breathe too loudly, unsure of what he should do. There was no helping it; Mr. Li¡¯s father was a madman. Such a madman made life really hard for Mr. Li. After a long moment, Li Yehan coldly said, ¡°I got it, back to the company.¡± Secretary Zhao did not dare to speak further, and the car continued to the company. Upon arriving at the company, Secretary Zhao heard the receptionist say that someone claiming to be Mr. Li¡¯s fiance?e, with whom he had an engagement, had been waiting. Li Yehan, who was walking, halted his steps and turned to look at the receptionist. The man¡¯s handsome, extraordinary face was overpowering, his gaze sharp, causing her to unconsciously lower her head, no longer daring to take another glance at Li Yehan. ... Zhou Jingya sat in the lounge, anxiously waiting. When footsteps came from behind, she stood up and turned abruptly, seeing a tall figure approaching, her heart almost jumping to her throat. Zhou Jingya watched the man walking towards her, forgetting for a moment how to speak. His willingness to come, could it mean that Mr. Li also had feelings for her? With this thought, her face lit up with a joyful smile, ¡°Mr. Li.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s assistant stopped one meter away from Zhou Jingya, his face cold, eyes sharp as they fixed on her, ¡°You don¡¯t even know what our Mr. Li looks like, and you have the nerve to claim to be his fiance?e?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not Mr. Li?¡± The assistant coldly said, ¡°I am Mr. Li¡¯s assistant. Mr. Li has said, let you hurry up and leave, not to sully his eyes by remaining here.¡± Zhou Jingya, with her head lowered, felt a chilling cold from above her head that made her body shiver. When Zhou Jingya slowly raised her head, she met the assistant¡¯s murderous gaze and listened as he said, ¡°Mr. Li mentioned, your family doesn¡¯t understand human language. He¡¯s already called off the engagement; stop bothering him, or else next time, he¡¯ll throw your entire family into jail.¡± Zhou Jingya¡¯s face was a picture of bewilderment. Why was Mr. Li so heartless? The assistant continued, ¡°Mr. Li also says that the matters of the previous generation have nothing to do with him. Dare to spread nonsense again, and you will face the consequences yourself!¡± Zhou Jingya was completely dumbfounded. How could Mr. Li be so heartless? After all, she had taken the initiative to speak with Mr. Li herself! She had been so proactive, yet why did Mr. Li have to be so merciless? Zhou Jingya refused to believe there was no hope and, as the assistant was about to leave, she shouted, ¡°Is it because Mr. Li has found someone he likes that he¡¯s rejecting me?¡± The assistant paused and thought of Nan Qiao, who was indeed a perfect match for Mr. Li. The assistant replied indifferently, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Feeling defeated, Zhou Jingya sat on the sofa, still unable to calm her agitated emotions. At that moment, the receptionist came over and said with an icy tone, ¡°Miss, please leave as soon as you can. You lied about your identity and got me in trouble with my boss; how could you do this!¡± Zhou Jingya wanted to argue but realized this was Mr. Li¡¯s territory; she had no right to speak and could only leave dejectedly. After Zhou Jingya left, she sat in her car, her eyes filled with malice, seething with anger: ¡°Hmph! I don¡¯t believe Mr. Li wouldn¡¯t like me after meeting me! Aren¡¯t all men the same!¡± Zhou Jingya took out her phone, and a message from her high school friend popped up: Jingya, I heard you found your biological parents and they are quite wealthy? With such wealth, don¡¯t forget us girlfriends. Zhou Jingya sent back a smiling emoji, followed by a reply: Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely not forget you all. Zhou Jingya gave a wicked smile, already thinking of how to ¡°repay¡± these ¡°good friends¡±! ... Nan Qiao was busy until noon when she received a call from Li Yehan. ¡°You¡¯ve been discharged? Li Yehan, how could you leave the hospital! Don¡¯t you know how serious your wounds are?¡± Despite this, Li Yehan¡¯s tone was still filled with laughter, ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at your company, brought you lunch. If you¡¯re worried, you can come down and check my wounds yourself.¡± In Nan Qiao¡¯s mind, the image of Li Yehan standing in front of her without a shirt involuntary appeared. His lean waist, the distinct eight-pack abs, the muscles on his arms, and his solid biceps... Nan Qiao¡¯s face turned red, not understanding why such indecent images would come to her mind. ¡°Li Yehan, I¡¯m not hungry, you eat it yourself.¡± ¡°Not eating is bad for your health. My wound is a bit painful, could you come down and take a look, please?¡± The man¡¯s voice was low and enticing, like a wounded puppy looking pitiable and hopeful. Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t reconcile this moment¡¯s image of Li Yehan with his usually stern appearance; it was just too different. Thinking that Li Yehan had been injured while saving her, Nan Qiao agreed to go down and take a look. Nan Qiao stepped out of the company and approached the conspicuous black car downstairs. The car window rolled down, and Nan Qiao saw the exceptionally handsome man inside. His dark peach blossom eyes shone brightly, his gaze landing on Nan Qiao, giving her a devilish smile. Seeing that there weren¡¯t many people around, Nan Qiao quickly entered the vehicle through the open door. The driver, knowing to give them space, went out to buy food, leaving the two alone in the car. Li Yehan¡¯s hand had already reached the first button of his white shirt, his beautiful fingers unfastening the first and then the second button... ¡°What are you doing!¡± Nan Qiao panicked and felt embarrassed as if Li Yehan was about to strip off her clothes. ¡°How can I show you my wound without undressing?¡± Nan Qiao: ... She murmured a flustered affirmation, Li Yehan could tell from her voice that she was unsettled and bashful. The shirt was quickly discarded, tossed carelessly on the seat, and Nan Qiao¡¯s temper flared when she saw it. ¡°Li Yehan, is this how you take care of yourself?¡± The wound was clearly festering miserably, a ghastly sight that heavily weighed on Nan Qiao¡¯s mind. Annoyed, Nan Qiao wanted to move closer to examine Li Yehan¡¯s wound, but as he turned around to comfort her¡ª He turned, and Nan Qiao, caught off guard by his sudden movement, lost her balance and crashed into him, her face pressing against his chest... Chapter 43 - 43 43 You Lie Down ?Chapter 43: Chapter 43: You Lie Down Chapter 43: Chapter 43: You Lie Down Nan Qiao felt her lips press against something protruding. As she came to her senses and realized what she had kissed, panic set in, and she moved backward to keep her distance from Li Yehan. Bare-chested, Li Yehan watched the distraught Nan Qiao as his body leaned forward, closing the distance between them. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± Nan Qiao panicked. Li Yehan whispered softly, ¡°What are you afraid of? You think I¡¯ll eat you?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks were flushed, sitting by the car door, her clear black and white eyes filled with turmoil. Just as she thought about opening the car door to flee, Li Yehan turned around. ¡°Help me apply the medicine.¡± Li Yehan turned his body, and Nan Qiao wasn¡¯t as panicked as before. ¡°Lie down, if you sit like that, the powder will fall off.¡± Behind him, Nan Qiao¡¯s pleasant voice rang out, and Li Yehan did as she said. He lay on the car seat, while Nan Qiao knelt, treating his wound. Li Yehan lay on the car, turning his head to see her drooping hair, her exposed ear white and cute. After treating the wound, Li Yehan sat up, stretched out his hand, and pulled Nan Qiao into his embrace. Being held so tightly that she couldn¡¯t move, Nan Qiao frowned. Was Li Yehan gripping her so firmly because he knew she practiced martial arts? Li Yehan circled her body, applying pressure at key points where she would try to escape. Nan Qiao sat on Li Yehan¡¯s legs, her back to him. Li Yehan¡¯s thin lips came close to Nan Qiao¡¯s ear, her clothes sticking to his hot chest, his warm breath spreading throughout her body, their posture incredibly intimate. ¡°You¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll eat you right here?¡± Nan Qiao twisted her body, trying to break free from his embrace. Li Yehan held her even tighter, ¡°Stop it, I¡¯ll take you to dinner.¡± Every move she made, he wanted to respond. Nan Qiao felt something growing beneath her and, red-faced, pushed Li Yehan away. Nan Qiao opened the car door, intending to leave, but Li Yehan said from behind her, ¡°Should I bring the food to your office?¡± Nan Qiao could only stay and went to a nearby restaurant with Li Yehan. Poking at her rice, Nan Qiao glared at Li Yehan with indignation, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Li Yehan served her a bowl of soup, ¡°Try this soup. Aunt Zhang stewed it for three hours.¡± This was a soup Aunt Zhang specially made for Nan Qiao, to help the Eldest Young Master court his wife. Hungry, Nan Qiao ignored Li Yehan, eating two bowls of rice and drinking two bowls of soup, her appetite excellent. Seeing this, Li Yehan also ended up eating two bowls of rice. Nan Qiao was his ¡°side dish.¡± ¡°I have things to do this afternoon, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Li Yehan didn¡¯t stop her but handed her a cut fruit box, ¡°Eat more fruit.¡± Nan Qiao paused, Li Yehan actually knew which fruits she liked? Nan Qiao accepted the fruit, ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Qiao left, and so did Li Yehan. Secretary Zhao, eating a sandwich, stood by the car door peering out. He saw Nan Qiao coming out and respectfully greeted, ¡°Good afternoon, Miss Nan Qiao.¡± Secretary Zhao, eating his sandwich and sipping coffee, looked a bit miserable. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you have lunch?¡± Secretary Zhao explained embarrassingly, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, Mr. Li came to join you for lunch, and I had to handle the company¡¯s affairs. There was an urgent document that needed Mr. Li¡¯s review, so I came to find him.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go in?¡± ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, you were dining with Mr. Li. I didn¡¯t want to be a third wheel, so I just stayed out here.¡± Nan Qiao knew the CEO was very busy; Li Yehan probably squeezed out time from his schedule just to have those two hours for lunch with her every day. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Li Yehan not to have lunch with me.¡± Secretary Zhao almost dropped his sandwich in shock, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, please don¡¯t say that! It¡¯s not easy for Mr. Li to have happy moments; let him have some joy.¡± Nan Qiao: ? How come Li Yehan never seems happy? Who has upset him? Just as Nan Qiao was about to ask Secretary Zhao, Li Yehan also came out. He walked quickly over, scrutinized Secretary Zhao with his gaze, causing him to hurriedly explain, ¡°Mr. Li, I didn¡¯t say anything!¡± Li Yehan & Nan Qiao: ... Wasn¡¯t this exactly like the saying ¡®protesting his innocence reveals his guilt¡¯? Nan Qiao chuckled lightly, her bright smile causing Li Yehan¡¯s expression to relax slightly, his eyes intensely fixed on her. With just a look from Li Yehan, Secretary Zhao opened the car door, and Li Yehan got in. ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, goodbye,¡± Secretary Zhao hurriedly got into the car. Li Yehan sat in the back seat, the window rolled down, revealing a face charming enough to captivate hearts. Li Yehan¡¯s gaze was intense; his face showed a rare sense of relaxation. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± The driver started the car, and Nan Qiao watched as Li Yehan¡¯s car gradually drove away. ... Zhou Jingya sent a message to Lu Zhengyang, tender and understanding. ¡°Brother Zhengyang, my dad said my designs are very popular. I want to buy you a watch, as a gift from me.¡± Lu Zhengyang had already given up on Zhou Jingya and wanted to pursue Nan Qiao. Although he didn¡¯t know Nan Qiao¡¯s background, he knew from his father¡¯s remarks that her status was certainly extraordinary. Seeing the text on his phone, and given that Zhou Jingya was willing to humbly initiate contact, he thought he might as well meet her. Lu Zhengyang dressed neatly and styled his hair before he headed out to meet Zhou Jingya. Zhou Jingya stood at the entrance of the restaurant, smiling widely as Lu Zhengyang¡¯s car stopped: ¡°Here comes my boyfriend, the young master of the Lu Family, Lu Zhengyang.¡± Her three friends couldn¡¯t help exclaiming in surprise when they saw Lu Zhengyang approaching. ¡°Xiao Ya, your boyfriend is so handsome!¡± ¡°Your boyfriend is really nice, knowing your background and still willing to be with you.¡± Zhou Jingya: ... One of them, Li Na, was pulled at the sleeve by a girl beside her and hastily explained, ¡°Xiao Ya, I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Zhou Jingya couldn¡¯t be bothered with her, quickly walking up to Lu Zhengyang: ¡°Brother Zhengyang, these three are my good friends. They heard that I found my birth parents and have come to see me.¡± Li Na: ¡°Mr. Lu, when we heard Xiao Ya found such a handsome boyfriend like you, we all wanted to meet. Truly, seeing is believing; you¡¯re the most handsome man I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Zhou Jingya: ... She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Li Na seemed interested in Lu Zhengyang. Zhou Jingya took Lu Zhengyang¡¯s arm: ¡°Let¡¯s go in first, Brother Zhengyang has already reserved a table.¡± Lu Zhengyang, flattered, wore a polite smile that bespoke his good upbringing. Once in the private room, Zhou Jingya cheerfully said, ¡°Eat, drink, and order whatever you like today, it¡¯s our treat.¡± Li Na, along with Wang Xiaotang and Liu Mei by her side, cheered and showered Lu Zhengyang with compliments. With wine in hand, Lu Zhengyang listened to the flattery and had one glass after another. After a hearty meal and plenty of drinks, Zhou Jingya¡¯s three friends were also tipsy. ¡°Go rest upstairs, I¡¯ve booked rooms for you. Head home when you¡¯re sober.¡± Zhou Jingya had the three women escorted to their rooms before she left with Lu Zhengyang. ¡°Brother Zhengyang, let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll buy you a watch. My dad just sent me a big red envelope because of my design.¡± Speaking of design, Lu Zhengyang¡¯s gaze turned more appreciative towards Zhou Jingya. ¡°Xiao Ya, you don¡¯t have to buy me a gift; I¡¯ll buy you something instead.¡± Zhou Jingya, affectionately linking her arm with his, smiled even sweeter: ¡°Who says a woman can¡¯t buy a man a gift? Brother Zhengyang, I want to buy it for you.¡± Lu Zhengyang thoroughly enjoyed the attention from Zhou Jingya, playfully smacked her bottom, and they left together. Zhou Jingya looked toward the direction of the hotel, a wicked smile playing on her lips. Chapter 44 - 44 44 Li Yehan Killed Nan Qiao ?Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Li Yehan Killed Nan Qiao Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Li Yehan Killed Nan Qiao The sun was setting in the west, and Nan Qiao had also finished her work. Under Nan Qiao¡¯s guidance, Rong Yan¡¯s several design drafts had pleased him to the utmost. ¡°President Nan, let me treat you to dinner,¡± he offered. Nan Qiao smiled, ¡°Next time, I have some things to take care of today.¡± Rong Yan nodded excitedly, ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Qiao wanted to give Li Yehan a bottle of medicine; he needed to change his dressing again in the evening. She had left in a hurry at noon and had forgotten to give it to him. She drove alone towards Li Yehan¡¯s company, tried to call him, but his phone was turned off. Just as she reached the building of Li Yehan¡¯s company, she saw through the window that Li Yehan was heading to the car with an indifferent expression. Judging by Li Yehan¡¯s expression, it seemed as if something major had happened. At that moment, her mobile phone sounded with a text message alert. Opening it, the message was from an unknown number: ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, this is Secretary Zhao. Do you have time now? Please come to Mr. Li¡¯s house immediately; there¡¯s an emergency! Mr. Li is going to commit murder! Miss Nan Qiao, I beg you, please help Mr. Li, we can¡¯t let him become a murderer!¡± Nan Qiao: ? What in the world had happened? Secretary Zhao didn¡¯t dare to call, only daring to send a text ¡ª was she afraid of being discovered by Li Yehan? Nan Qiao replied immediately: ¡°I¡¯m on my way now.¡± Secretary Zhao sent the address to Nan Qiao, who didn¡¯t even look at it; she was following Li Yehan¡¯s car, driving straight ahead. The roadside was lined with green trees and bright, colorful flowers. A gentle breeze brought waves of floral scent to her face. After forty minutes of driving, she finally arrived at the estate where Li Yehan lived. The estate was so vast that as far as the eye could see, it all belonged to Li Yehan¡¯s property. Nan Qiao sent a message to Secretary Zhao: ¡°Secretary Zhao, I can¡¯t get in.¡± Secretary Zhao: ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, please wait a moment, I¡¯ll come out to meet you.¡± Nan Qiao sat in the driver¡¯s seat, turned off the car, and was puzzled beyond measure ¡ª what could have happened to make Li Yehan so violent? In the meantime, Li Yehan got out of the car and entered the villa. Without driving the car to the front of the villa, walking from the main gate took half an hour. Secretary Zhao¡¯s eyes darted around, following behind Li Yehan she said, ¡°Mr. Li, I need to use the bathroom, I¡¯ll go use the public one outside.¡± Li Yehan didn¡¯t think much of it: ¡°Hmm.¡± Secretary Zhao scampered off then found a balance scooter to ride to meet Nan Qiao. ... Li Yehan strode into the house, changed into slippers, and headed to the living room. Sitting in the living room was a middle-aged man with a stern expression ¡ª this man was Li Yehan¡¯s father, Li Tianhong. Li Tianhong was dressed in a gray Sun Yat-sen suit, his eyes under his sword-like brows flickering with anger, his voice especially cold. ¡°Li Yehan, why didn¡¯t you answer my calls!¡± Li Yehan sat down, his face calm, ¡°My phone ran out of battery.¡± Li Tianhong scoffed with a sneer, ¡°You still want to play tricks in front of me? I¡¯ve eaten more rice than you¡¯ve eaten salt!¡± Li Yehan remained unruffled: ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Li Yehan, leave the company!¡± Li Yehan crossed his right leg over his left, pulled off his tie, leaned against the sofa, languid and self-indulgent. ¡°Impossible!¡± Li Yehan voiced coldly. Li Tianhong rebuked furiously, ¡°The company isn¡¯t yours alone! Hand over the company, give it to your brother!¡± Li Yehan let out a wicked smile, ¡°My mother only gave birth to me, I don¡¯t have a brother!¡± Li Tianhong¡¯s furious gaze was like a knife laced with poison, pressing relentlessly towards Li Tianhong. ¡°Li Yehan, if you don¡¯t hand over the company, I will take it back! You want to be the president, then go start your own company. You¡¯re not fit to sit in the shade of the trees planted by others!¡± Li Tianhong¡¯s piercing gaze seemed as if he wanted to murder his own son, Li Yehan. Li Yehan just sat on the sofa, his expression stern as he watched Li Tianhong, without any sign of backing down. The two men sat opposite each other, with a table between them. Li Yehan¡¯s indifferent demeanor seemed even more ruthless than Li Tianhong¡¯s. Li Tianhong sneered with a cold laugh, ¡°Li Yehan, how long has your mother been dead, and you still blame me for that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention my mother! You¡¯re not worthy of speaking her name!¡± Li Yehan¡¯s intense reaction elicited a victorious smile from Li Tianhong. ¡°Li Yehan, your mother always held herself above others, she didn¡¯t listen to my advice, she deserved it!¡± Li Yehan stood up, his rebuke violent, ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of mentioning my mother¡¯s name, shut your mouth!¡± ¡°Li Yehan, you dare tell me to shut up? Who do you think you are?¡± Li Tianhong¡¯s tone was full of self-satisfaction; a dismissive smile tugged at his lips as he approached Li Yehan, looking down at him from above, ¡°Li Yehan, if you have the guts, kill me. You really want me dead, don¡¯t you? Come on, hit me right here.¡± Li Tianhong, pointing to his temple, laughed even more wickedly. Li Yehan¡¯s mind replayed the images of his mother¡¯s death, his emotions uncontrollable, his eyes bloodshot as he reached out and grabbed Li Tianhong by the neck. He choked Li Tianhong fiercely, using all his strength. But as he was being choked, Li Tianhong revealed a smile, looking like a madman. When Li Tianhong couldn¡¯t breathe, Li Yehan threw him to the ground. Li Tianhong rubbed his throat, his voice hoarse, ¡°What, you want to let me go? No longer seeking revenge for your mother?¡± Starring at Li Yehan, Li Tianhong pulled out a handgun from his pocket and pressed it into Li Yehan¡¯s hand. Then, holding Li Yehan¡¯s hand, he aimed it at his own chest, ¡°Come on, shoot here! Li Yehan, if you have the guts, shoot right here!¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes, filled with hatred, were fixed unstintingly on Li Tianhong. Pull the trigger, and in the next moment the bullet would fly out, piercing Li Tianhong¡¯s heart. ¡°Li Yehan!¡± Just as Li Yehan was about to kill, Nan Qiao arrived in time. She rushed to Li Yehan¡¯s side, grabbing his icy hand, holding it tightly. ¡°Li Yehan, put down the gun.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s voice was very gentle, with a tinge of coaxing. Her warm gaze met Li Yehan¡¯s as she approached him, holding his hand, putting down the gun. Li Tianhong had not anticipated Nan Qiao¡¯s arrival, disrupting his plan, which ignited his rage. Li Tianhong, pointing at Nan Qiao, demanded aloud, ¡°Who the hell are you to barge in like this!¡± Li Yehan picked up the gun and shot Li Tianhong¡¯s hand without hesitation. The bullet struck Li Tianhong¡¯s palm, causing him to contort his face in pain. Seeing this, Nan Qiao embraced Li Yehan from behind, ¡°Li Yehan, don¡¯t, be calm, don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± Nan Qiao felt heartache and pity after hearing about Li Yehan¡¯s situation from Secretary Zhao. Such strength Li Yehan had inside! Anyone else might have already taken their own life. Ignoring the injured Li Tianhong, Nan Qiao grabbed Li Yehan¡¯s hand; seeing his expressionless face, she cupped his cheeks. ¡°Li Yehan, look at me, it¡¯s me, Nan Qiao.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes were a bloody red as he raised the gun, pointing it at Nan Qiao. Seeing this, Li Tianhong burst into laughter, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. Li Yehan, fire the gun!¡± Chapter 45 - 45 45 Approaching her red lips ?Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Approaching her red lips... Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Approaching her red lips... Li Tianhong stood to the side, the scene before him driving him mad as he kept shouting, ¡°Li Yehan, you¡¯re so capable, aren¡¯t you? You could kill your mother like this back then, so you can kill her now!¡± Nan Qiao: !! Li Yehan killed his own mother? Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t believe it, nor did she want to believe it was true. Although Li Yehan was cold and ruthless, he couldn¡¯t have committed the cruel act of killing his own mother, could he? With clear eyes, Nan Qiao looked at Li Yehan and took out a necklace, ¡°Li Yehan, put down the gun.¡± She was just about to hypnotize Li Yehan when, under Tianhong¡¯s horrified gaze, Li Yehan put down the gun. Tianhong shook his head, unable to believe the scene. He approached Nan Qiao and fiercely questioned her, ¡°What did you do? Why does he listen to you?¡± Nan Qiao, unyielding and full of presence, replied, ¡°He¡¯s doing the right thing. Why shouldn¡¯t he listen to me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible! Li Yehan has gone mad with killing. How could he listen to you? Who exactly are you?¡± Standing beside Li Yehan, Nan Qiao coldly responded, ¡°You are Li Yehan¡¯s father, yet you wish for his death! What right do you have to question anyone or anything around Li Yehan?¡± Li Yehan stood beside Nan Qiao, emanating a profound sense of brokenness. His indifferent demeanor was like a statue carved by a master, devoid of emotion. This was the first time Tianhong had been rebuked, especially by a woman, pushing his anger to its peak. He coldly looked at Nan Qiao, his lips curling into a smirk, revealing a hint of delight in the drama, ¡°Oh? Who are you to Li Yehan? Are you interested in him or his money? Do you really think Li Yehan could actually like you? He¡¯s a madman, and he¡¯s mentally ill. Did you know that?¡± Holding a gun, Li Yehan, with bloodshot eyes, stared intently at Tianhong and sneered lightly, ¡°I¡¯m a madman, what exactly are you?¡± Feeling the rage of the person beside her, Nan Qiao¡¯s attitude towards Tianhong grew colder, ¡°I think Li Yehan is just fine.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s heart trembled in disbelief as he looked at Nan Qiao. Like the icy bottom of his eyes slowly melting, within a second, it went from winter to spring. Standing together, Nan Qiao and Li Yehan looked like a perfect match. With a fierce look in his eyes and slightly upturned thin lips, Li Yehan seemed much better than before. ¡°Tianhong, I will never hand the company over to your illegitimate child. If you want the company, it¡¯s over my dead body!¡± Li Yehan took two steps forward, standing in front of Tianhong. He was taller than Tianhong, and his superior stance fueled Tianhong¡¯s raging anger. ¡°Li Yehan, I want you dead, it¡¯s that simple!¡± ¡°Oh, is it?¡± Li Yehan drawled with a raised tail in his eyes, his daunting aura intimidating. He sneered lightly, ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you killed me yet?¡± Tianhong: ... Choked by Li Yehan, Tianhong¡¯s face turned even uglier. With throbbing pain in his left hand, Tianhong glared at Li Yehan, powerless against him. ¡°Li Yehan, you only hold the CEO position because of the old man. You just rely on the old man! What else do you have!¡± Li Yehan flashed an unrestrained smile, turned to Nan Qiao, and proudly said, ¡°I can also rely on a woman.¡± Tianhong: !! Li Yehan¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief and pride. Nan Qiao burst out laughing, seeing for the first time someone so proud of being supported by a woman. Li Yehan being proud of being a kept man? Furious, Tianhong pointed at Li Yehan, ¡°You¡¯re beyond saving!¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Then let me stay sick like this.¡± The illness was on Nan Qiao, and he was willing; he was content. When Li Tianhong was grinding his teeth in anger, Old Mr. Li rushed over. ¡°Li Tianhong, you bastard, believe it or not, I will slaughter you!¡± With authority and fury, Old Mr. Li came in, and the moment he saw Nan Qiao there too, he was upset. How could he let his future daughter-in-law see him being violent? Absolutely not! The scolded Li Tianhong was full of grievances and reluctance, ¡°Dad, look at Li Yehan, he dared to shoot at my hand! This murderer, I am going to sue him! I want him in jail!¡± In a second, Old Mr. Li turned into a kind and benevolent grandpa, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you came to see Ye Han. I¡¯ll take this light bulb, Li Tianhong, out of here so you guys can talk.¡± With one look from Old Mr. Li, the two bodyguards who followed him escorted Li Tianhong away. Li Tianhong roared, ¡°Who is really my dad, him or you! Whose side are you on! He is a madman, why do you side with him? You don¡¯t only have one grandson!¡± Old Mr. Li gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Li Tianhong. Turning his head again, he faced Nan Qiao¡¯s shocked eyes and cheerfully said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, don¡¯t worry. I will lock up Li Tianhong, and by the time you marry into the family, you won¡¯t see him, and it won¡¯t affect your mood.¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°Grandpa Li, I...¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, you keep Ye Han company; I¡¯ve got some matters to handle.¡± With a look, Old Mr. Li left with his people. Outside the door, he saw Secretary Zhao¡¯s men pointing their guns at Li Tianhong¡¯s people. Both sides were aiming at each other, and no one was willing to back down. Li Tianhong was hurt, but nobody helped him, not because they didn¡¯t want to, but because these people didn¡¯t dare to move. Old Mr. Li sternly reprimanded, ¡°What are you all doing standing around here! Standing here like logs! Get lost!¡± Li Tianhong¡¯s bodyguards scurried away; after all, Li Tianhong had been taken away, and their staying was useless. Secretary Zhao watched Old Mr. Li take Li Tianhong away and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Secretary Zhao, you can go back too. Qiaoqiao is inside, she is more effective than anyone.¡± Secretary Zhao nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Secretary Zhao left as well, Mr. Li was fine. ... Everyone had left, and the servants quickly came in to clean up, swiftly bringing a pot of tea and some snacks before leaving. Nan Qiao looked at the tidy living room and then at Li Yehan¡¯s lonely expression, feeling like her timing was both right and wrong. ¡°Li Yehan, are you alright?¡± Li Yehan slowly lifted his head beside her, closing the distance, and Nan Qiao found herself lying on the sofa, under Li Yehan¡¯s intense gaze. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m alright?¡± Nan Qiao, looking into Li Yehan¡¯s burning eyes, averted her gaze, ¡°Get up first.¡± Li Yehan remained motionless, still looking at her, ¡°Do I look like a madman to you?¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°No.¡± The Li Yehan she met, how could he look like a madman? Not at all. Li Yehan, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill my mother.¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback, a hurt expression flickered in Li Yehan¡¯s eyes, was this his way of explaining, afraid she¡¯d misunderstand? Seeing Li Yehan¡¯s cautious demeanor, Nan Qiao felt a pang of pity. She softly said, ¡°I believe you.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s face drew closer bit by bit, and Nan Qiao¡¯s heart thumped wildly. Watching as his thin lips drew nearer, approaching her lips... Chapter 46 - 46 46 Undressing ?Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Undressing Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Undressing As Li Yehan¡¯s thin lips drew nearer, Nan Qiao placed her hand on his firm chest, just intending to push him away when Li Yehan¡¯s lips moved past hers towards her ear. ¡°Qiaoqiao, thank you.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s body visibly flinched, an electric current surging throughout her being, leaving her staring dazedly at Li Yehan. Li Yehan¡¯s face was just in front of hers, his handsome features pleasing to the eye. His eyes, no longer the fierce red from before, held a tender gaze, somewhat warm. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you believe in me, and that makes me very happy.¡± Li Yehan propped himself up on his arms, his eyes smiling. Nan Qiao¡¯s heart softened in an instant. Li Yehan looked like a little puppy that had been abandoned, his soft gaze truly captivating. ¡°Li Yehan, you should get up first.¡± Li Yehan still propped on his arms, his gaze intense as he stared at her. The room was as bright as day, allowing Nan Qiao to clearly see every expression on Li Yehan¡¯s face. Their position was ambiguous, with Nan Qiao pushing him, ¡°You should get up first, let¡¯s talk properly.¡± Li Yehan fixed his gaze on her and said, ¡°Do you want to know about my past?¡± Nan Qiao replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want to know, everyone has a past. We shouldn¡¯t always dwell on it but should look forward instead.¡± Li Yehan smiled, getting up from her. He found a pack of cigarettes, took one out, lit it up, and with a bloodthirsty smile at the corner of his lips said, ¡°He has an illegitimate child, and now he wants me to give up the company to him. How could I possibly hand over the company, I must safeguard my mom¡¯s belongings.¡± Li Yehan blew out a ring of smoke, sneered, and laughed, ¡°My mom died in front of me, I grabbed a knife and slashed him, slashed until he was hospitalized; everyone said I was a madman, that I was insane.¡± Li Yehan turned his head to look at Nan Qiao, smiled softly, and asked, ¡°What do you think, am I a madman?¡± Nan Qiao paused, softly saying, ¡°How could you be a madman, you¡¯re not.¡± Nan Qiao thought Li Tianhong was the scum, cheating in marriage, fathering an illegitimate child, and causing Li Yehan¡¯s mother¡¯s death. How could Li Yehan be a madman? He was merely provoked, seeking revenge for his mother. Li Yehan maliciously smiled, pressing the cigarette butt hard into the ashtray, ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Qiao watched him sitting alone in the vast living room, lonely and pitiful, like a child with no home to return to; suddenly, she wanted to reach out and pat his head. Nan Qiao thought so, and she did just that. Her soft hand touched Li Yehan¡¯s head, stunning Li Yehan. The scene was a bit awkward, with Nan Qiao¡¯s phone ringing, allowing her to push him aside. ¡°I need to answer this.¡± Li Yehan got up as Nan Qiao frantically took out her phone and answered the call. It was Chen Xinwan¡¯s concerned voice, ¡°Baby Qiaoqiao, haven¡¯t you come home yet? Work is too hard, let¡¯s not go to work anymore, okay?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s voice was tender, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come pick you up.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve driven myself, I¡¯ll be home soon.¡± After a few more words from Chen Xinwan, the call ended. Holding her phone, Nan Qiao told Li Yehan beside her, ¡°Li Yehan, I need to go home now.¡± Li Yehan frowned, ¡°My wound hurts a bit.¡± Only then did Nan Qiao remember, she had come to bring medicine for Li Yehan today. ¡°Where¡¯s your medicine box, let me help you check.¡± Li Yehan stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go to my room, you wouldn¡¯t want me to undress here, would you?¡± Nan Qiao: ... Going to his room felt a bit too intimate, didn¡¯t it? As Li Yehan attempted to move, Nan Qiao grasped his arm, ¡°The servants have left, it¡¯s okay to undress here.¡± Without Li Yehan¡¯s command, who would dare come over? Nan Qiao looked apprehensive, which made Li Yehan laugh, ¡°Are you afraid that I might harbor inappropriate intentions?¡± Li Yehan, amidst Nan Qiao¡¯s flustered gaze, had already stood up to look for the medicine box. Nan Qiao saw his pristine leather shoes and watched his long legs growing more distant. Soon, Li Yehan brought over the medical kit. He took off his suit jacket, then unbuttoned his white shirt, removing it. His robust physique had not an ounce of extra fat, and his arms looked powerful. He lay on the sofa, broad shoulders and narrow hips, his figure totally captivating. Nan Qiao: Hahaha! That body is too perfect! Nan Qiao¡¯s face turned red unconsciously. Li Yehan turned his head and, seeing Nan Qiao¡¯s shy expression, chuckled softly, ¡°Have you seen enough?¡± Nan Qiao ?(????¦Ø????)? In a flurry, Nan Qiao took out a cotton swab and, as she checked Li Yehan¡¯s back, found that his injury showed no signs of improvement. ¡°Li Yehan, do you even care about your body at all?¡± Nan Qiao, being a doctor, truly got angry when she saw patients neglecting their health. Nan Qiao, huffing with annoyance, still looked quite arresting¡ªa sight that kept Li Yehan¡¯s attention fixed on her: ¡°Don¡¯t be angry.¡± Ignoring Li Yehan, Nan Qiao said, ¡°Lie still.¡± Li Yehan obediently lay still, letting Nan Qiao treat his wound, apply medication, and wrap it up. After she had done all of this, Nan Qiao put away the medical kit. ¡°Li Yehan, I¡¯m going home now.¡± Li Yehan sat up, ¡°Have dinner before you go, I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± ¡°No need, I drove here.¡± Li Yehan, without a shirt, looked at her, ¡°Are you in such a hurry to leave?¡± ¡°My family called me, if I don¡¯t go back now, they¡¯ll worry.¡± Li Yehan knew the Bai Family valued Nan Qiao highly and could only put on his shirt, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home, I¡¯d be worried if you went back alone.¡± On this matter, Li Yehan was particularly firm and insistent. Having made concessions, Nan Qiao could only let him drive her home. At the door, Nan Qiao saw the bodyguard. ¡°Li Yehan, have him drive my car back to my place.¡± The bodyguard, catching one look at Li Yehan¡¯s expression, panicked: ¡°Madam, I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t drive!¡± Nan Qiao: ... Madam? She wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s madam. But Li Yehan actually cracked a smile, and seeing this, the bodyguard felt relieved, secure in his job. Nan Qiao turned to another bodyguard: ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Madam, I¡¯ve been drinking, I can¡¯t drive drunk.¡± ¡°Madam, my stomach hurts, driving could distract me and cause an accident.¡± ¡°Madam, I... my foot hurts, I can¡¯t drive.¡± ¡°Madam, I... I¡¯m thinking of my wife, I¡¯m lovesick, I can¡¯t drive.¡± ¡°Madam, I...¡± Nan Qiao: ... Did they plan this together? Having no more will to argue, Nan Qiao just let Li Yehan drive her home. While in the car, Nan Qiao received another call from Chen Xinwan. ¡°Qiaoqiao darling, are you back yet? Your third brother just got home and is waiting for you. He even brought a gift, welcoming you back.¡± Nan Qiao: ? Third brother is back? But how come she didn¡¯t remember this third brother being welcoming at all? Wouldn¡¯t meeting him be extremely awkward? Chapter 47 - 47 47 Third Brother is Back ?Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Third Brother is Back Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Third Brother is Back Bai Yurou arrived home and, upon seeing the person standing at the doorway, she rushed over excitedly. Bai Yurou happily ran to his side, emotionally clinging to his arm. ¡°Third Brother, you¡¯ve finally come back. It¡¯s great, you coming back is just wonderful.¡± Bai Jingrui noticed something off about Bai Yurou¡¯s expression, as if she had suffered a great injustice. ¡°Yurou, what¡¯s wrong? Why do I feel like you¡¯re not very happy, did someone bully you?¡± Bai Yurou shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at him: ¡°Third Brother, no one has bullied me. I... I¡¯m not your real sister, will you stop liking me in the future, stop treating me well. After all, sister is your real sister, and you¡¯re a family.¡± ¡°Yurou, why would you think that way? Even if you¡¯re not my real sister, we¡¯re still family, having lived together for eighteen years. Don¡¯t worry, now you¡¯re my sister, in the future you¡¯ll still be my sister, we¡¯re still a family.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s heart eased somewhat, but she still couldn¡¯t help but say to Bai Jingrui: ¡°Sister is really lucky, dad and mom are especially good to her, even better than to me. And Third Brother dotes on her, I¡¯m really envious.¡± ¡°What, mom and dad aren¡¯t good to you?¡± Bai Yurou hurriedly shook her head in explanation: ¡°Third Brother, mom and dad are good to me, very good.¡± There was something in Bai Yurou¡¯s tone that suggested ¡°the lady doth protest too much¡±, as if during Bai Jingrui¡¯s absence no one had cared for Bai Yurou. Bai Yurou was full of unspoken grievances. Seeing his dearly loved sister so wronged, Bai Jingrui was indignant: ¡°Yurou, rest assured, no one dares to bully you, I will stand up for you.¡± Bai Yurou was overjoyed: ¡°Thank you, Third Brother! You¡¯re really good to me!¡± As the two were talking, Nan Qiao returned. She walked over and saw Bai Yurou with Bai Jingrui. Bai Jingrui had a baby face and the image of a sunny big boy, and when he smiled, he had a dimple that made him seem even more youthful. ¡°Is that your boyfriend?¡± Nan Qiao asked. Bai Yurou responded displeased: ¡°This is Third Brother, how could he be my boyfriend, I don¡¯t even have one yet.¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°You¡¯re holding on so tightly, I thought you were a couple.¡± It was then that Bai Jingrui realized that Bai Yurou was pressing against his body. Bai Yurou didn¡¯t loosen her grip on Bai Jingrui¡¯s arm, wanting to assert her claim and let Nan Qiao know who the brothers truly adored! However, upon being teased by Nan Qiao, Bai Jingrui let her go. Bai Yurou thought Bai Jingrui would stand up for her, but she heard him exclaim in surprise and delight. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Bai Jingrui swiftly walked over to Nan Qiao, looking at her excitedly: ¡°Have you forgotten me?¡± Nan Qiao: ? ¡°I¡¯ve never met you before, how could I have forgotten you?¡± Nan Qiao truly didn¡¯t remember Bai Jingrui, having no recollection of him at all. Could he have mistaken her for someone else? Bai Jingrui smiled brightly, his clean-cut features making Nan Qiao feel like he was an easy-to-please pup. ¡°In Milan, someone stole my wallet, and you chased it down from the thief¡¯s hands and returned it to me.¡± Nan Qiao then remembered, she had indeed been to Milan for a fashion design contest. When she saw someone shouting about a robbery, she gave chase and beat up the thief, handed him over to the police, and returned the wallet to Bai Jingrui before leaving. Suddenly it dawned on Nan Qiao, and she said with a smile on her face: ¡°So it was you.¡± Nan Qiao was stunningly beautiful, and Bai Jingrui was handsome. Standing together, they looked somewhat alike ¨C the true siblings. Bai Yurou stood to the side, unable to join in the conversation. Bai Jingrui, the traitor! Hadn¡¯t he said he would stand up for her? Was this how he stood up for her?? ¡°These are the actions of a traitor defecting to the enemy!¡± Bai Yurou was extremely angry, watching Nan Qiao interact with Bai Jingrui, feeling utterly uncomfortable. This was her third brother! Her third brother, whom she had been with for eighteen years! Even if she wasn¡¯t the Bai Family¡¯s true daughter, she had still lived as part of the Bai Family for eighteen years! Why couldn¡¯t she continue to be the young mistress of the Bai Family? After agonizing internally for a long time, Bai Yurou smiled and walked forward to greet them, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re back. Mom made seafood noodles especially for you today.¡± Bai Jingrui happily grabbed Nan Qiao¡¯s wrist, ¡°Sister, come, I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you. Let¡¯s go see it.¡± Nan Qiao was pulled forward by Bai Jingrui, and Bai Yurou stood behind, feeling like she didn¡¯t fit in here at all. Wasn¡¯t Bai Jingrui her third brother? Just a moment ago, he was so adamant in taking her side, but now he was honestly dragging Nan Qiao along, what kind of man says one thing and does another!! Bai Yurou was choked with anger, carrying her purse and walking forward. Mrs. Fang quietly came over, lowering her voice, ¡°Fourth Miss, I saw the Third Young Master buy quite a few gifts. Before Nan Qiao came here, you were the family¡¯s darling. Once she arrived, she took away the affection meant for you. Fourth Miss, you should think of something quickly.¡± Bai Yurou walked forward, her pace slow, her expression grim. ¡°What can I do, everyone loves her and pities her, thinking they owe her. What can I do?¡± Mrs. Fang looked at Bai Yurou¡¯s distracted and dejected appearance, feeling unbearably heartbroken. ¡°Fourth Miss, isn¡¯t it your birthday in a few days? Why not bring Nan Qiao to your birthday party?¡± Bai Yurou had planned to do so before, but Nan Qiao refused to attend. No matter how she invited her, Nan Qiao just wouldn¡¯t go, as if she knew the consequences of attending. This time, maybe she could take advantage of her birthday party to get Nan Qiao to come? Bai Yurou thought of this, overjoyed, and walked quickly into the house. ... Bai Jingrui presented his prepared gifts to Nan Qiao like a peacock spreading its feathers. ¡°Sister, this is a dress I¡¯m giving you, the first one in the world.¡± Nan Qiao glanced at it, eh, the brand was all too familiar, seen every day. Bai Jingrui also took out a scroll, and after spreading it out, it was a landscape painting. How coincidental, it was also very familiar, the one she had painted just two days ago that Hou Ze took to the auction. She heard that in the end, a gentleman had bought it for ten million. It turned out that this person was Bai Jingrui. ¡°Sister, this is a painting by Master Shan Shui. I don¡¯t know if you like it, but I specially won it at auction to give to you.¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°Thank you, I really like it.¡± How could she not like her own painting? It just felt quite ironic that a family member had bought it to deliver into her hands. ¡°Sister, these are skincare products I¡¯m giving you, and I bought you a car too, I hope you like them.¡± Bai Jingrui, like a child being praised, looked at Nan Qiao with shining eyes, his face bursting with happiness, and he was actually rather cute. ¡°I really like them,¡± Nan Qiao said with a light, graceful smile, her voice pleasant to hear. Nan Qiao didn¡¯t know why Bai Jingrui would prepare so many gifts for her, whom he had never met before, truly unexpected. In fact... Bai Jingrui hadn¡¯t planned to come back, nor had he intended to prepare these gifts. It was Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan who had called him, saying those words... Chapter 48 - 48 48 Sister Spoiling Maniac ?Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Sister Spoiling Maniac Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Sister Spoiling Maniac Chen Xinwan said over the phone to him, emotionally and rationally, ¡°Your sister is so pitiful. She was raised by the wrong family and suffered cruelty from her adoptive parents. Poor child, she even had to do laundry, cook, and feed the pigs during the harsh winter. Curse that Zhou Hongqi! Tell me, if you don¡¯t treat your sister well, do you have a conscience?¡± Bai Zhenyang replied, ¡°As Qiaoqiao¡¯s third brother, Bai Jingrui, if you don¡¯t treat your sister well, get out of this house. I won¡¯t acknowledge you as my son! Think about it, if you were the one wrongly embraced and had to eat chaff, cook meals, and endure beatings since childhood, and then you found your family, what kind of treatment would you want?¡± Grandpa Bai also called Bai Jingrui, ¡°Qiaoqiao saved your grandmother¡¯s life. If she hadn¡¯t come back, your grandma might have passed away long ago. Bai Jingrui, if you¡¯re not good to Qiaoqiao, I won¡¯t acknowledge you as my grandson!¡± Bai Jingrui was silent. He was curious about what kind of girl could gain the love of three elders and continuously receive their praises. Now this girl was right in front of him, and he truly did like her! ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve suffered. From now on, your third brother will protect you, and you can spend all my money.¡± As he spoke, Bai Jingrui transferred five million dollars as spending money to Nan Qiao. ¡°Sister, I also have a few cars; if you like them, I¡¯ll give them all to you.¡± ¡°Sister, I have a collection of antiques too; I¡¯ll give those to you as well.¡± ¡°I own a few stores; I¡¯ll give those to you as well.¡± Bai Yurou had just walked in and heard all of Bai Jingrui¡¯s words. Her heart raced and her hands trembled. My dad, my mom, my house, my cars, my money! Bai Yurou excitedly burst out, ¡°Third brother, you are really good to me.¡± Bai Jingrui nodded, ¡°Yurou, you¡¯re my sister, of course I¡¯d treat you well.¡± Bai Yurou was about to ask when she would receive these things, when she heard Bai Jingrui speaking to Nan Qiao. ¡°Sister, whenever you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll bring all these gifts to your place. My parents said your place can¡¯t accommodate everything, so we¡¯ll clear out the villa on the east side for you to store your gifts.¡± Bai Yurou was stunned! That was the castle villa she had always wanted to live in! Why was it given to Nan Qiao!? Why, just why!? Bai Yurou angrily bit her tongue; the pain made her lower her head with tears. She was furious! Nan Qiao noticed Bai Yurou¡¯s emotion and said to Bai Jingrui, ¡°Thank you, but these gifts are too precious; I can¡¯t accept them.¡± Nan Qiao, holding her bag, pressed the elevator button, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to change clothes.¡± ¡°Alright, sister, go ahead, I¡¯ll cut some fruit for you.¡± Bai Jingrui hurried to the kitchen. Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang, one rolling dough and the other wrapping dumplings, even Grandpa Bai was cooking seafood porridge. Grandpa Bai remarked, ¡°Qiaoqiao will definitely want to drink the porridge I make.¡± Bai Zhenyang added, ¡°There¡¯s no better judge than a father. My daughter will definitely want to eat dumplings.¡± Chen Xinwan interjected, ¡°You¡¯re both wrong. This is my daughter; I know her best. She wants to eat the noodles I roll.¡± While they were talking, Bai Jingrui arrived. ¡°Make room, I¡¯m going to cut some fruit for my sister.¡± Grandpa Bai looked up, ¡°Which sister?¡± ¡°Of course, my Qiaoqiao sister, my poor sister. She¡¯s been wronged since she was little; I need to love her twice as much.¡± Grandpa Bai smiled warmly, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Bai Zhenyang remarked, ¡°Remember to transfer some pocket money to your sister; are you planning to let your money mold?¡± ¡°I just transferred some; I didn¡¯t want to scare sister, so I lightly transferred five million.¡± Chen Xinwan praised, ¡°Well done. As a reward, you¡¯ll take Qiaoqiao to work tomorrow.¡± Bai Jingrui was surprised and accidentally cut his finger with the fruit knife. ¡°Ouch, that hurts like hell.¡± Bai Jingrui covered his finger and went to find a Band-Aid. Outside, Bai Jingrui saw Nan Qiao in her loungewear, looking pitifully close, ¡°Sister, could you help me find a Band-Aid please?¡± Nan Qiao: ? ¡°You¡¯re injured.¡± Bai Jingrui nodded, ¡°I wanted to cut some fruit for my sister, but I accidentally cut my finger. It hurts like hell.¡± Nan Qiao, somewhat moved, said to Bai Jingrui, ¡°Wait here then; I have band-aids in my room.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait here for my sister.¡± Nan Qiao took the elevator up. Bai Yurou arrived. ¡°Third brother, I have band-aids too; let me help you put one on.¡± Bai Jingrui covered his wound and shook his head, ¡°Yurou, let Qiaoqiao do it. It will help me get closer to her. Qiaoqiao is so pitiful; we all need to protect and cherish her properly.¡± Bai Yurou was furious. She couldn¡¯t stand this life for another moment! Nan Qiao is pitiful, isn¡¯t she pitiful too? They were both equally pitiful; how come everyone cherished Nan Qiao! ¡°Yurou, why aren¡¯t you speaking? Do you think I¡¯m wrong?¡± ¡°No, Third Brother, you¡¯re right.¡± Bai Yurou awkwardly put the band-aids in her pocket, pretending she had never been there. When Nan Qiao came down, she treated Bai Jingrui¡¯s wound and gave him a few more band-aids. ¡°Little sister, the band-aids you gave me, I¡¯ve never seen them on the market.¡± Nan Qiao explained, ¡°I made these band-aids myself; the medicine inside targets bleeding wounds.¡± ¡°Little sister, you are incredible; you even know medical skills!¡± Bai Jingrui found his wound had stopped bleeding and wasn¡¯t as painful as before. He was amazed. His little sister was indeed incredible! Nan Qiao, flattered by the praise, stood up to pour herself a cup of water to drink. Soon, the family sat down to have dinner. Five servants served delicious dishes; aside from those prepared by Old Mr. Bai, Bai Zhenyang, and Chen Xinwan, there were ten other dishes on the table. Old Mr. Bai served Nan Qiao a bowl of porridge, ¡°Qiaoqiao, try the seafood porridge I cooked; it¡¯s my specialty.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡± Nan Qiao accepted with both hands. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, the dumplings in front of you were made by me. Try them and see if they are good.¡± Bai Zhenyang also said to Bai Yurou, ¡°Yurou, you try some too.¡± Chen Xinwan also asked Nan Qiao and Bai Yurou to try the noodles she made. Nan Qiao was very pleased with the dishes made by the three of them. Bai Yurou¡¯s appetite was non-existent, even though Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan had prepared dishes for her too, she still felt all the food was prepared for Nan Qiao, not for her. With her inner thoughts extremely distorted, Bai Yurou bitterly ate the dumplings as if they were bombs. Meanwhile, Nan Qiao, eating the dumplings, wore a blissful smile. ... When Tianhong returned home, his wife Jiang Linyu greeted him at the door. ¡°Tianhong, what happened to your hand? How did you get injured?¡± Tianhong sat on the sofa, angrily saying, ¡°Ye Han, that bastard, shot me!¡± Jiang Linyu gasped, sitting beside him, ¡°Tianhong, calm down. Ye Han has always been like this; alas, he just can¡¯t see through that you¡¯re his father. How can he disrespect you like this?¡± ¡°He has never respected me! The Li Family can function without him just fine.¡± Jiang Linyu echoed his words, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t hand over the company, let him be. I married you, not for these external things.¡± ¡°Hmph, he wants to control the entire Li Family? He should ask me first!¡± With a sharp glint in his eyes and a painful backhand, Li Tianhai said, ¡°I have already arranged everything; tomorrow he will know who really calls the shots!¡± Chapter 49 - 49 49 Nan Qiaos Waist, The Murderous Knife ?Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Nan Qiao¡¯s Waist, The Murderous Knife Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Nan Qiao¡¯s Waist, The Murderous Knife The next morning, just as Li Tianhong woke up, he was informed by the guard outside that the entire villa was surrounded, and no one here would be allowed to leave. Li Tianhong slapped the table and stood up, and his injured hand began to bleed again. ¡°How audacious! This unfilial son, he dares to imprison me! Does he wish to die!¡± Jiang Linyu comforted him, ¡°Tianhong, calm down a bit, your hand is bleeding again.¡± Jiang Linyu shouted, ¡°Quickly get the driver to prepare the car, can¡¯t you see the gentleman¡¯s hand is bleeding? Hurry, take him to the hospital.¡± Just as she finished speaking, a doctor holding a medical kit walked in from the door, ¡°I am a doctor, I can help treat the wound.¡± Li Tianhong snapped, ¡°Who do you think you are!¡± Doctor: ¡°I am a doctor, if you don¡¯t want to ruin your hand, let me bandage it for you.¡± At that moment, Li Yehan walked in from outside, wearing a gray business suit, his tousled hair making him look vigorous. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, just stay here! If you want to die, try breaking through. The men at the door are mercenaries, killing you would be as simple as killing a chicken. If you don¡¯t believe me, you¡¯re welcome to try.¡± Li Tianhong stood up, pointing at Li Yehan with his bloodied hand, ¡°Li Yehan, I am your father! How dare you treat me like this!¡± Li Yehan replied, ¡°I am here to tell you who truly runs the Li Family!¡± Li Yehan and Li Tianhong faced each other, one cold and ruthless, the other furious and fiery. Jiang Linyu stood aside, anxious, ¡°Yehan, he is your father after all. Can¡¯t you just sit down and talk things over?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes dark as he looked at her, ¡°And who do you think you are?¡± Jiang Linyu was startled but still continued to persuade him, ¡°Yehan, I know you don¡¯t like me, but he is still your father. Aren¡¯t you afraid of what others will say?¡± ¡°Others? Who dares to speak?¡± Jiang Linyu: ... Li Yehan was impervious to persuasion, leaving her speechless with his retorts. Li Tianhong, enraged, attempted to hit Li Yehan but ended up being grabbed by Li Yehan, who fiercely pushed him aside. Secretary Zhao tenderly handed over a wet towel, which Li Yehan took and wiped his hands as if Li Tianhong were something filthy. Seeing this, Jiang Linyu felt a deep hatred for Li Yehan in her heart. ¡°Yehan, your father and I got married only after your mother passed away, but your hostility towards me is too strong. You dislike me, I know. But by treating your father this way, aren¡¯t you afraid of what others will say?¡± Li Yehan looked at her coldly, as if looking at a dead thing, his face terrifyingly stern. Li Yehan sneered, ¡°Others? Who would dare to say?¡± Li Yehan coldly continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, who will? Jiang Linyu, you married my father after my mother passed away? Does that wash away the fact that you were the other woman? What right do you have to speak of my mother?¡± Li Yehan felt murderous, while Jiang Linyu, terrified and anxious, dared not meet Li Yehan¡¯s daunting gaze. The phone¡¯s ringtone interrupted the fearsome scene; Li Yehan pulled out his phone, his eyes softening at the familiar number and note. After answering the call, Li Yehan walked outside, his tone indulgent and gentle, ¡°Qiaoqiao.¡± Jiang Linyu & Li Tianhong: ?? They had never seen Li Yehan be so gentle before; clearly, this Qiaoqiao was very important to him. Jiang Linyu pulled Li Tianhong up, ¡°Tianhong, you should still talk properly with Yehan, continuing like this will hurt the father-son relationship.¡± ¡°I have no father-son relationship with this evil offspring!¡± Li Tianhong¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, murderous. And Li Yehan had already left. ... Li Yehan stepped outside the villa, spotting Nan Qiao arriving in another car. Li Yehan walked toward her, his eyes filled with adoration. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me know beforehand, I could have driven your car to pick you up.¡± Nan Qiao was not fooled, knowing that even if he picked her up in her car, they would still have to drive her car back. Men¡¯s hearts are as unfathomable as the deepest ocean. However, Nan Qiao was here not to retrieve her car, but because she was worried Li Yehan might kill someone. Li Yehan walked up to Nan Qiao, caught the concern in her eyes, took a step forward, and looked at her closely, ¡°Worried about me?¡± Nan Qiao lifted her head and saw his smiling face, quite handsome. ¡°Li Yehan, some things, once they are past, they¡¯re past, you really shouldn¡¯t throw yourself into them.¡± One should look forward, that way they can be a bit happier. That¡¯s how Nan Qiao was, if she dwelled on the past, life would be too exhausting. Li Yehan reached out his right hand, grabbed Nan Qiao¡¯s arm, pulled her into his embrace, and held her tightly. ¡°Let me hold you for a while.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s tired voice came from above her head, Nan Qiao stood still, letting him hold her. Secretary Zhao finished up his work and saw Li Yehan holding Nan Qiao. Secretary Zhao instructed the bodyguards and told the driver to drive him away. Nan Qiao watched as Li Yehan¡¯s car was driven off, pushing against Li Yehan¡¯s body, ¡°Your car has been taken away!¡± Secretary Zhao¡¯s face peered out from the car window, waving at Nan Qiao and Li Yehan. ¡°Miss Qiao, the company has an urgent matter, I need to go back for a while. You two keep hugging, no rush to get to work haha.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s face blushed red, and she glared at Li Yehan playfully, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault.¡± Li Yehan tenderly smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes, blame me.¡± Blaming him made him happy too. ¡°Qiaoqiao, my car has been taken, so you¡¯ll have to take me to work.¡± Nan Qiao turned to open the car door, but Li Yehan had already opened the passenger side door. ¡°Isn¡¯t it me taking you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason to let a lady drive.¡± When a man is there, naturally the man drives, and the woman simply enjoys the service. Nan Qiao, taken aback, sat in the passenger seat. She had come to find Li Yehan today for another reason as well ¨C the contract. Nan Qiao pulled out the drafted contract, ¡°This is the contract my assistant drafted, take it back, check it, and if there are no issues, sign it.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes crinkled happily, appreciating the speediness of Nan Qiao¡¯s work. ¡°Okay.¡± Li Yehan drove Nan Qiao to the entrance of her company, ¡°I¡¯ll come pick you up for lunch.¡± Just as Nan Qiao got out of the car, Li Yehan, as if afraid of being rejected, drove off. Nan Qiao made her way to the office, the employees who previously looked down on her, were all keeping low. Rong Yan stood up and spoke, ¡°President Nan, a gentleman came by saying he¡¯s your assistant, I¡¯ve asked him to wait in the lounge.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Qiao walked to the lounge door and saw a dark-skinned boy with clear eyes sitting inside. Nan Qiao beckoned, and he obediently stood up. ¡°Come to my office.¡± Nan Qiao was wearing a white blouse and a long skirt beneath, when she turned around, her slender waist was visible, incredibly thin. In Nan Qiao¡¯s office, the man bowed, ¡°Miss Qiao.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, from now on you¡¯re my assistant. You¡¯ve graduated this year, applying what you¡¯ve learned, understand?¡± The man nodded, ¡°I understand, I understand it all.¡± Nan Qiao chuckled, ¡°Fu Xingyao, you¡¯re now my assistant, no need to be so formal.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Qiao, I understand. From now on I am yours to command, ready to go through fire and water for you!¡± Nan Qiao handed him the files she was holding, ¡°First, go through these, then come and discuss your thoughts with me.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Qiao.¡± Fu Xingyao, dressed in the suit that Nan Qiao had prepared for him, was brimming with enthusiasm, ready to die for her if needed. Chapter 50 - 50 50 Where is My Sister ?Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Where is My Sister? Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Where is My Sister? Zhou Hongqi looked at Zhou Jingya¡¯s design and praised her with satisfaction. ¡°Xiao Ya, I never expected you to have a talent for design. It¡¯s really good. When you graduate, come work for Dad¡¯s company.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dad. I will work hard.¡± Zhou Hongqi said, ¡°Right now, the number of preorders at our company is continuing to increase. Once we produce the clothes and send out the first batch of preorders, our company will receive the payments. Xiao Ya, I will buy you a car when that happens. You¡¯re going to college soon; you can¡¯t do without a car.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dad!¡± Zhou Hongqi looked at the continuously growing order numbers, his excitement uncontrollable as if he saw heaps of money coming his way. But Zhou Jingya was not as happy; instead, she felt somewhat worried. She had given all the design drafts she¡¯d stolen from Nan Qiao to Zhou Hongqi. What would she do next without Nan Qiao¡¯s designs? ... When Bai Jingrui came downstairs, he saw Chen Xinwan drinking coffee and Bai Yurou chatting with her. Bai Yurou waved at Bai Jingrui, ¡°Third brother, good morning.¡± Bai Jingrui looked around, ¡°Where¡¯s my sister?¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Do you think your sister is as lazy as you? Qiaoqiao has already gone to work.¡± Bai Jingrui, yawning, said, ¡°Mom, I do have a career too, you know.¡± Chen Xinwan replied, ¡°You? What career? I¡¯m not aware of it.¡± Bai Jingrui was at a loss for words... He wished he had gotten up earlier to have breakfast with his sister! Now, he planned to secretly go have lunch with her! ... Nan Qiao finished drawing five design drafts and rubbed her shoulders. The phone rang; it was an unknown number. After she answered, Old Mr. Li¡¯s voice came from the other side. ¡°Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s Grandpa. I¡¯m at Zhongxing Restaurant across the street from your office. I¡¯ve prepared quite a few dishes; can I bring them to you?¡± Nan Qiao hesitated... She knew that if she refused, Grandpa Li would definitely deliver them. ¡°Grandpa Li, please wait there, I¡¯ll come over right now.¡± ¡°Great, great, Qiaoqiao, walk slowly, I¡¯ll wait for you here,¡± Old Mr. Li happily ended the call. Li Yehan was busy, and as a senior, he had to help him in his pursuit of marriage. How wonderful it would be to have a granddaughter-in-law at home early! ... Nan Qiao arrived at Zhongxing Restaurant where Uncle Fu was waiting at the entrance. ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, this way, please.¡± Nan Qiao nodded slightly and followed Uncle Fu to the private room. Old Mr. Li stood up and warmly welcomed Nan Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, come, sit down quickly.¡± ¡°Grandpa Li, why did you order so many dishes?¡± With a table of twenty dishes, they couldn¡¯t possibly finish them all, could they? Old Mr. Li happily explained, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I didn¡¯t know what dishes you like, and I asked around what the young people like these days, so I ordered them all for you.¡± Chinese and Western dishes, various styles, and as he was speaking, the waiter came in to serve more dishes. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you must be hungry, eat, please.¡± Nan Qiao, flattered, smiled and said, ¡°Grandpa Li, please eat as well.¡± The elderly and the young dined together; although Old Mr. Li wasn¡¯t very hungry initially, watching Nan Qiao eat so deliciously, he also ate a bowl of rice, drank a bowl of soup, and had half a bun. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you weren¡¯t scared yesterday, were you?¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback, finally understanding why Old Mr. Li had come. Was he worried about her overthinking because of yesterday¡¯s incident, or ignoring Li Yehan? Nan Qiao shook her head with a smile, ¡°Grandpa Li, I¡¯m not afraid. As the old saying goes, every family has its own problems, I can understand.¡± Old Mr. Li breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze at Nan Qiao even more affectionate. ¡°Qiaoqiao, actually Ye Han¡¯s dad, my unfilial son, really makes people angry. I won¡¯t let him appear in front of Ye Han anymore, and you won¡¯t see him again. Rest assured, if you are with Ye Han, I promise these messy situations won¡¯t occur in front of you, nor will they bother you.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°Grandpa Li, you misunderstood, I am not with Li Yehan.¡± She and Li Yehan had no relationship whatsoever. ¡°Qiaoqiao, just because there is no relationship now, doesn¡¯t mean there won¡¯t be one in the future, right?¡± The words of Grandpa Li made Nan Qiao somewhat embarrassed, and Li Yehan appeared. ¡°Grandpa, you came to see Qiaoqiao, why didn¡¯t you tell me in advance?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, is Qiaoqiao yours now, needing your permission to see her?¡± Grandpa Li glanced askance at Li Yehan as if silently saying, ¡°You haven¡¯t won Qiaoqiao over yet, you¡¯re really useless.¡± Li Yehan ignored Grandpa Li¡¯s glance, his eyes landing on Nan Qiao. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Nan Qiao nodded. Li Yehan handed her the contract, ¡°The contract, I¡¯ve signed it, take a look.¡± Li Yehan sat down to eat, Nan Qiao opened the contract, and saw the signature of Li Yehan. His handwriting was vigorous and powerful, very good-looking, just like him. Old Mr. Li noticed the contract and curiously asked, ¡°Are you guys cooperating?¡± Li Yehan was eating, Nan Qiao explained, ¡°Li Yehan is cooperating with our company, and we are about to launch our new autumn collection.¡± Old Mr. Li didn¡¯t know what the result of the cooperation would be, but that didn¡¯t stop him from praising Nan Qiao. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you are truly impressive, handling things so methodically, and managing the company so well, it¡¯s remarkable.¡± Nan Qiao felt slightly embarrassed being praised, as she had previously lived in the Zhou Family, where she had been oppressed. Then she met her master, and striving to learn various skills became her greatest motivation, with her master¡¯s praise as her biggest incentive. Besides her master, no one had praised her. Now back with her biological parents, everyone around her praised her. No matter what she did, the praise never stopped. Facing Grandpa Li¡¯s compliments, Nan Qiao smiled in recollection, ¡°Grandpa Li, thank you for your praise.¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, I have some things to attend to; I have to go now, you two have a good chat.¡± Grandpa Li winked at Uncle Fu, and the two left the private room together. In the private room, only Nan Qiao and Li Yehan were left, exchanging glances; Nan Qiao lowered her head. It was inevitable; Li Yehan¡¯s gaze was too intense, and she couldn¡¯t withstand it. ¡°You eat first, I have to get back to the company.¡± Nan Qiao stood up to leave when Li Yehan grabbed her arm, ¡°My wound hasn¡¯t been dressed yet.¡± Nan Qiao: ... She seriously suspected that Li Yehan had come to her on purpose to get his wound treated. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let Secretary Zhang help you at the office?¡± Li Yehan: ¡°I¡¯m not accustomed to it.¡± Li Yehan handed the medicine bottle to Nan Qiao and skillfully took off his white shirt. It was daytime, and the sunlight was just right; Nan Qiao watched Li Yehan¡¯s back, swallowing subconsciously. Her hand touched Li Yehan¡¯s back, the contact with his skin making Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks turn even redder. It wasn¡¯t until the ointment was well applied, and seeing his wound healing, that she felt relieved. Nan Qiao stood up, ¡°I have other things to attend to, I must go now.¡± Nan Qiao fled in a fluster, stepping out of the restaurant, she received a call from Fu Xingyao. ¡°Miss Qiao, you need to come back quickly, there¡¯s been an issue.¡± Chapter 51 - 51 51 Zhou Jingya is the Top Scholar in the College Entrance Exam ?Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Zhou Jingya is the Top Scholar in the College Entrance Exam? Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Zhou Jingya is the Top Scholar in the College Entrance Exam? The corridor echoed with a fierce argument. ¡°Rong Yan, you¡¯re just an intern. My putting my name on your design drawing is a favor to you. Don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± The speaker was the company¡¯s designer, Liu Hui, who at this moment, was glaring at Rong Yan with eyes full of mockery. Rong Yan stood in front of Liu Hui, his expression serious, ¡°Although you are the company¡¯s designer, I drew all these designs. They have nothing to do with you. What right do you have to claim my work as your own? My designs should only bear my name!¡± Liu Hui crossed her arms, speaking dismissively, ¡°Rong Yan, do you realize that I am mentoring you? As long as my name is on the designs, I will tell everyone you¡¯re my assistant. Your name will get known, and your reputation will gradually improve. Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡± Rong Yan refused. Youngsters fresh out of society are so unbending, quick to speak up about anything they find disagreeable. At this moment, Rong Yan was earnestly defending his own interests! Watching the intern Rong Yan, Liu Hui felt he was easy to manipulate. ¡°Rong Yan, you¡¯re just a newly graduated intern. Whether you can become a permanent staff member is still uncertain. Even if you make a fuss, who will speak up for you? You should know that I am the designer at the company.¡± Liu Hui continued to threaten and tempt him, ¡°Just give me the designs, and I¡¯ll promote you as a designer. What do you say?¡± Rong Yan was so angry that his eyes were red, but he still didn¡¯t want to compromise: ¡°I¡¯m going to tell the boss!¡± ¡°Nan Qiao? A woman who climbed up by relying on men? Do you think she¡¯ll help you, an intern, or me?¡± Rong Yan was extremely furious. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was a woman, he would have thrown a punch already! Just as Rong Yan was filled with grievances, Nan Qiao appeared. Nan Qiao opened the corridor door, standing at the entrance, her dark eyes glaring at Liu Hui, ¡°I stand with Rong Yan.¡± Rong Yan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Nan Qiao, as if he had seen a savior! Liu Hui too was looking at Nan Qiao in shock, unbelieving, was she an idiot? To support Rong Yan and not her? Liu Hui sneered, not taking Nan Qiao seriously at all, ¡°Rong Yan is just an intern.¡± Nan Qiao stepped down the stairs, her clear eyes settled on Liu Hui, and with a slight smile on her red lips, she said, ¡°So what? Can¡¯t I support an intern? Liu Hui, have you forgotten that I am the boss?¡± ¡°And so what if you are the boss?¡± ¡°What the boss values most naturally is ability! Whomever has more talent, I will naturally support.¡± Liu Hui frowned, ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m worse than an intern?¡± ¡°You are indeed worse than an intern.¡± Nan Qiao looked at her with a cold gaze, speaking harshly, ¡°The design drawings you gave me yesterday were based on designer Huai Xi¡¯s work from last year. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t realize? Using your design to produce clothes for sale would be our company¡¯s loss.¡± Liu Hui looked at Nan Qiao in shock; she hadn¡¯t expected that she would recognize Master Huai Xi¡¯s work. Nan Qiao, ¡°I am more familiar with Master Huai Xi¡¯s work than you.¡± After all, she herself was right here. When faced with the truth, Liu Hui¡¯s face turned ugly, and she angrily said, ¡°I¡¯m resigning!¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°Go to finance now; I approve your resignation.¡± Liu Hui glared at Nan Qiao with rage, ¡°Don¡¯t regret this!¡± Liu Hui left. Rong Yan stood to one side, admiringly looking at Nan Qiao, ¡°Boss, if you approve of Liu Hui¡¯s resignation, what about our company¡¯s designs?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we still have you?¡± Rong Yan was stunned, ¡°Boss, are you willing to use my designs?¡± ¡°If they are good, why not use them? Starting from now, you¡¯re a permanent staff member of our company.¡± Rong Yan (???) ¡°Thank you, boss! I will work hard, really hard. Boss, you¡¯re like a god to me!¡± Nan Qiao chuckled. The look in Rong Yan¡¯s eyes was as if she was the savior. And she had only retained talent out of consideration for the company. ... After Liu Hui left, Fu Xingyao told Nan Qiao about the incident. ¡°Miss Qiao, letting her go was a good thing. You are a designer yourself, completely capable of doing it on your own. Liu Hui¡¯s designs were so ugly! She couldn¡¯t even copy your work properly.¡± Nan Qiao laughed, ¡°I¡¯m going to start school soon; I¡¯ll be quite busy. The design work should be left to others.¡± Fu Xingyao didn¡¯t understand why Nan Qiao still wanted to go through the motions of attending school; she didn¡¯t need to continue her education. ¡°Ah Yao, I just want to live a simple life.¡± However, Fu Xingyao felt that Miss Qiao would never lead a simple life; her days were bound to be lively and meaningful. ¡°Miss Qiao, your college entrance examination results should be coming out soon. Old Mr. Tang said that he would be back in a few days to celebrate with you.¡± Speaking of her master, Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes were full of smiles, ¡°How does master know for sure that I did well? What if I messed up?¡± Fu Xingyao, ¡°Miss Qiao, there¡¯s nothing you do that isn¡¯t done well.¡± Nan Qiao smiled, her lips curling slightly. She was also looking forward to the college entrance examination results. ... Zhou Hongqi¡¯s family had just finished breakfast when the home phone rang. The servant picked up the call, her face showing shock, and she hurriedly called out, ¡°Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s a call from the teacher.¡± Teacher? Zhou Hongqi approached, baffled, and took the receiver, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Is this Mr. Zhou Hongqi?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, I am the principal of First Middle School. Congratulations! Zhou is this year¡¯s top science student in the college entrance examinations. I have received calls from various universities; all are vying for Zhou.¡± Zhou Hongqi looked at Zhou Jingya, his face beaming with joy, ¡°Really? But aren¡¯t the examination results not out yet?¡± The principal spoke excitedly, ¡°The scores haven¡¯t been released yet, but Zhou¡¯s performance is simply outstanding. By the time the results are published, how could prestigious schools snap up students if they didn¡¯t act in advance?¡± Zhou Hongqi was even more thrilled, ¡°Thank you, Principal, for your cultivation. On behalf of my daughter, I thank you; thank you to the school.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. We have organized a celebration banquet at the hotel tonight. Mr. Zhou, bring Zhou along to Jin Jiang Hotel.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you, Principal.¡± Zhou Hongqi hung up, unable to hide his excitement. ¡°Xiao Ya, you¡¯ve made our family proud! You¡¯ve actually become the top scorer in the college entrance exams!¡± Liu Yanfang was overwhelmed with excitement, ¡°Xiao Ya, I always knew you were the best!¡± Zhou Jingya was also stunned; she had worked hard but had not anticipated becoming the top scorer. Seeing the look of admiration from Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang, Zhou Jingya smiled. After all her efforts, wasn¡¯t it normal for her to be the top scorer? ¡°Dad, mom, I grew up in an orphanage and I know how knowledge can change fate. I¡¯ve always been studying hard. Persistence pays off.¡± Liu Yanfang spoke tenderly, ¡°Xiao Ya, the hard times are over; the good days ahead are all yours!¡± Zhou Jingya smiled and nodded, then spoke with a hint of concern, ¡°Dad, mom, I wonder how my sister did?¡± Chapter 52 - 52 52 Qiaoqiao Scored a Big Fat Zero ?Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Qiaoqiao Scored a Big Fat Zero? Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Qiaoqiao Scored a Big Fat Zero? Liu Yanfang: ¡°With her dullard appearance, it¡¯d be decent if she even passed a community college!¡± Mentioning Nan Qiao, Zhou Hongqi¡¯s expression turned quite ugly, ¡°With that dumb look, I remember the last time she took a test she barely scored over three hundred points.¡± ¡°Ah? Then this time, it must mean that sister scored poorly on her college entrance exam.¡± ¡°Forget about her, she¡¯s bad luck. Xiao Ya, let me take you to select a gift for the celebration banquet tonight.¡± Zhou Jingya felt refreshed and triumphant over having bested Nan Qiao! ¡°Mom and Dad, we should also invite sister to celebrate together. Even though she¡¯s not your biological child, she has lived in our home for some time. Inviting her would also serve as a way to celebrate for her.¡± Liu Yanfang said discontentedly: ¡°Why invite her? Xiao Ya, you¡¯re so kind to her, but does she deserve it? She doesn¡¯t deserve it at all. Let¡¯s not invite her.¡± Zhou Jingya: ¡°Mom, by inviting her, you can tell everyone that she¡¯s not a child of our family. You also know, after sister left our home, she has been mingling with different men. If she gets recognized, people might think you failed at raising daughters, how would you handle that?¡± Upon hearing this, both Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang thought Zhou Jingya made a great point. Liu Yanfang: ¡°Our Zhou Family cares about our reputation, unlike her family, who have no shame and freely sell their bodies.¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°Okay, let¡¯s invite her, and use this opportunity to tell everyone we have no relations with that Nan Qiao.¡± Zhou Jingya said hesitantly: ¡°But what if sister doesn¡¯t answer my calls?¡± Liu Yanfang: ¡°Let me handle this, I dare her not to show up!¡± Liu Yanfang¡¯s gaze was sinister; she had plenty of ways to make Nan Qiao attend! Chen Xinwan, Bai Zhenyang, and Bai Jingrui tiptoed into the study, prepared to secretly check Nan Qiao¡¯s college entrance exam results. Chen Xinwan: ¡°Let¡¯s quietly check Qiaoqiao¡¯s exam scores. If they¡¯re not ideal, we can arrange for her. Whatever school she wants to attend, we¡¯ll make it happen!¡± Bai Zhenyang: ¡°Our girl must have scored well!¡± Bai Jingrui: ¡°I also believe my sister is smart. Dad and Mom, you don¡¯t know. Back in Milan, she could handle three at a time, a single punch could send a cow flying!¡± Chen Xinwan: ¡°Okay, quiet down, so nobody else hears us.¡± The three of them sat in front of the computer, and Chen Xinwan opened the results page, entering Nan Qiao¡¯s exam registration number. Bai Zhenyang nervously held a piece of paper in front of the computer screen, trying to cover the score and ease the excitement. As the paper was slowly moved aside, a zero was revealed. Chen Xinwan, pressing a hand against her chest said, ¡°Qiaoqiao¡¯s score ends in a zero, Old Bai, move the paper up a bit more.¡± Bai Zhenyang shifted the paper forward a bit, then... The three of them were flabbergasted. Bai Jingrui rubbed his eyes: ¡°Am I blind? It seems I¡¯m hallucinating.¡± Bai Zhenyang also rubbed his eyes: ¡°Definitely something wrong with your eyes.¡± Once Bai Zhenyang had rubbed his eyes and looked again, he only wanted to wash his eyes out, hoping to see more clearly and not hallucinate. Chen Xinwan sat in the chair, staring at the computer screen, wishing she could bore a hole through it with her gaze. Chen Xinwan took a deep breath, looked left, then right, and said to the two, ¡°Remember, don¡¯t ever say Qiaoqiao scored zero. Qiaoqiao has her pride, we mustn¡¯t speak of it.¡± Bai Jingrui thought long and hard, wracking his brain but couldn¡¯t understand how his precious sister could have ended up with a big fat zero. Bai Zhenyang scratched his head: ¡°Damn that Zhou Hongqi! If it wasn¡¯t for their family sending our girl to the countryside, neglecting her education, she wouldn¡¯t have scored a goose egg!¡± Chen Xinwan indignantly said: ¡°Right! It¡¯s all Zhou Hongqi¡¯s doing! Even though Qiaoqiao isn¡¯t his daughter, he didn¡¯t realize it either, why treat our precious Qiaoqiao like that?¡± Once Bai Jingrui knew the full story, he also spoke angrily: ¡°It¡¯s their fault for ruining my sister¡¯s scores!¡± The three sitting at the computer reached a consensus, not to divulge Nan Qiao¡¯s scores, and even hid away the registration slip, fearing that Nan Qiao might look up her score and get upset. ... Nan Qiao sat at the dining table, having a sandwich, while Chen Xinwan, Bai Zhenyang, and Bai Jingrui continued to feed her a lot of tasty food. Nan Qiao: ¡°You guys eat too, I¡¯ve already had plenty.¡± Chen Xinwan said with a beaming smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, we¡¯ll go to the mall later. The gown I ordered for you has arrived; let¡¯s see if it fits.¡± Bai Zhenyang added, ¡°Right, your mother sought out Master Qiaoqiao himself for a private commission. It¡¯s the only one of its kind in the world!¡± Nan Qiao: ... She had made that dress herself. Chen Xinwan continued, ¡°I also bought a gift for myself. Let¡¯s go try them on together, how about it?¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ... Li Yehan was sitting in his office when Old Mr. Li¡¯s call came in. ¡°Ye Han, have you prepared a gift for Qiaoqiao?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s action of flipping through documents came to a halt. ¡°Today is the day the college entrance exam scores come out. Qiaoqiao¡¯s results must have been released by now. Since I haven¡¯t heard Old Mr. Bai bragging to me yet, I figure she must have done, well, you know. At a time like this, you should stick close to Qiaoqiao, give her some gifts to cheer her up, understand?¡± Li Yehan glanced at the date marked on the calendar, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Have you really prepared a gift?¡± ¡°I have. Picked up the gift and am taking them to dinner tonight.¡± Old Mr. Li sounded slightly dissatisfied, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be just the two of you?¡± Li Yehan replied, ¡°Qiaoqiao¡¯s family wants to celebrate with her more than I do. They¡¯ve just found Qiaoqiao and will certainly want to be with her on every significant occasion.¡± Old Mr. Li had an epiphany and praised endlessly over the phone, ¡°Ye Han, you have quite the way with courting girls. Not bad, really good. Seeing how well you¡¯re managing, I¡¯m at ease. I¡¯ll arrange to have dinner with Qiaoqiao¡¯s family tonight and say it¡¯s to thank Qiaoqiao for saving my life.¡± The old man hung up the phone with a laugh. ... Zhou Hongqi invited friends and business partners, all to the hotel to celebrate his daughter Zhou Jingya becoming the valedictorian of the college entrance exams. They booked a banquet hall at Jin Jiang Hotel, which was quite impressive. Zhou Jingya stood in the banquet hall, radiating in glory, mingling with the guests comfortably and proudly. Someone curiously asked, ¡°President Zhou, I remember your daughter didn¡¯t look like this.¡± Liu Yanfang said, ¡°Nan Qiao isn¡¯t our daughter. Xiao Ya is our biological child. She¡¯s the child that was switched at birth with another family and has gone back to her own home now.¡± ¡°How did she perform?¡± ¡°She is? Average, probably can¡¯t even get into a community college,¡± Liu Yanfang said, her expression turning sour. In the midst of this conversation, the banquet hall¡¯s door swung open. Everyone¡¯s gaze turned toward the sound. Standing at the entrance of the banquet hall was a girl with delicate features and a commanding presence. She wore a silver gown that sparkled with numerous beads and sequins that were dazzling to behold. Nan Qiao, with light makeup, bright eyes, and white teeth, looked as though she carried the brilliance of the stars in her eyes. The long-sleeved gown was conservative, yet because of Nan Qiao¡¯s excellent figure, it accentuated her curves exquisitely. Upon her entrance, she drew all eyes to her. The woman who was speaking with Liu Yanfang whispered, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Nan Qiao went back to the countryside? The outfit she¡¯s wearing is the latest masterpiece from designer Huai Xi, worth ten million. How can a poor girl afford to wear a ten million haute couture?¡± Liu Yanfang gritted her teeth; she too wanted to know how Nan Qiao could possibly be wearing such an expensive couture! Just then, an urgent voice sounded from behind. ¡°Zhou, hurry, Zhou is right here...¡± Chapter 53 - 53 53 Did I Get it Wrong ?Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Did I Get it Wrong? Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Did I Get it Wrong? The principal, accompanied by several teachers and holding a large prize plaque, walked in. Everyone who saw this scene understood what was happening. The principal and teachers were here to celebrate Zhou Jingya. Zhou Jingya looked at the teachers behind the principal and felt that something was amiss. She was the top scorer in the college entrance exam; why were the teachers who accompanied the principal not her own teachers? Although Zhou Jingya was suspicious, she didn¡¯t think too much about it; after all, she was the top scorer! Nan Qiao watched the principal excitedly shake hands with Zhou Hongqi and happily talk to him, ¡°Mr. Zhou, Zhou really brings honor to our school. Our school has produced a top science student who has become a role model for the other students.¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°Principal, my daughter¡¯s excellent results couldn¡¯t have been achieved without your school¡¯s dedicated nurturing.¡± The formal conversation continued, and Nan Qiao stood aside, feeling that something was off. Why was her homeroom teacher here? Zhou Jingya was the top science student; why wasn¡¯t her homeroom teacher here? The homeroom teacher walked up to Nan Qiao with a smile brighter than he would give his own child. ¡°Nan Qiao, you look beautiful today, very fitting for the occasion.¡± Nan Qiao: ? ¡°Teacher, why are you here?¡± The homeroom teacher frowned: ¡°Nan Qiao, why shouldn¡¯t I be here? Today is a celebration; if I don¡¯t come, then who will?¡± As Nan Qiao was puzzled, the principal continued excitedly: ¡°Today, I am truly happy. Our school has produced the top scorer in the college entrance exam, which is a great honor. Today, I would like to have a good chat with Zhou and arrange for her to come to our school to give a speech, to share her study experiences with the juniors.¡± Liu Yanfang pushed Zhou Jingya forward, smiling: ¡°Principal, our Xiao Ya has always been diligent in her studies; I will have her prepare her study experiences and arrange for her school presentation soon.¡± After Liu Yanfang finished speaking, the teachers looked at each other bewildered. Nan Qiao¡¯s homeroom teacher, looking puzzled, said: ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhou Jingya in Class 18? She shouldn¡¯t need to share her study experiences.¡± Liu Yanfang spoke displeasingly: ¡°Why can¡¯t our Xiao Ya share? She is the top scorer. If she doesn¡¯t share, should Nan Qiao do it?¡± She thinks Nan Qiao can only get into a no-name university! The homeroom teacher seriously said: ¡°Of course, it should be Nan Qiao who goes; she is this year¡¯s top scorer! Zhou Jingya is in a regular class, her name has never appeared on the school¡¯s rankings.¡± Mr. Zhou & Liu Yanfang: What! The couple was stunned. Zhou Jingya¡¯s cheeks burned; she felt doomed! The principal looked bemused: ¡°Yes, this year¡¯s top scorer is indeed Zhou Nanqiao.¡± Nan Qiao looked shocked: ¡°But I checked my score; I got zero points.¡± The homeroom teacher explained: ¡°That¡¯s because your score was so high, it was temporarily hidden. You didn¡¯t score zero; your score was just too good.¡± The principal looked at Nan Qiao, then at Zhou Jingya, still confused: ¡°Did I mistake the person?¡± Homeroom teacher: ¡°Principal, you didn¡¯t mistake the person. Nan Qiao is also a child of the Zhou family; just call Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s not a problem.¡± Nan Qiao explained with a smile: ¡°Principal, I was switched at birth with the Zhou family¡¯s child; I¡¯ve already broken ties with the Zhou family. I came today because Ms. Liu sent me a message saying she wanted to break ties with me today, otherwise she would accuse me of not supporting her financially. However, I¡¯ve long since had the papers drawn up to sever our parent-child relationship, and I came today also to ask Ms. Liu why she is pressing me this way.¡± What! The whole room erupted into an uproar. They were already surprised to see Nan Qiao as the top scorer. Now, to hear that the Zhou family had long since broken off ties with Nan Qiao was even more astonishing. Does Zhou Hongqi have some serious illness? To dismiss such an excellent daughter and instead throw a celebration for another daughter who scored only 250? Someone asked: ¡°How much did the true daughter, Zhou Jingya, score?¡± The homeroom teacher, checking his phone, said: ¡°I¡¯ve asked her homeroom teacher; she scored two hundred and fifty points.¡± Everyone: ... Mr. Zhou¡¯s face turned from dark to pale to livid with rage. Zhou Jingya¡¯s expression was also extremely unsightly. She had thought she was the top scorer, but she had never imagined that Nan Qiao would be the actual top scorer! How could Nan Qiao score so well? Liu Yanfang was also stunned; she had had Nan Qiao come over to humiliate her. To show Nan Qiao how excellent Zhou Jingya was, how proud she was of Zhou Jingya. But now, Zhou Jingya scored only 250?? Liu Yanfang found it hard to accept; she felt faint. The homeroom teacher, surprised, looked at Nan Qiao next to him: ¡°Isn¡¯t today your celebration?¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°Teacher, you misunderstood; today is not my celebration, it¡¯s Zhou Jingya¡¯s.¡± Homeroom teacher, dumbfounded: ¡°A celebration for scoring 250 points?¡± Does this family really have no problems? The homeroom teacher¡¯s words made the Zhou family¡¯s faces burn as if they had been slapped. The teachers were somewhat puzzled; no celebration for the top scorer, but a celebration for someone who scored 250? ¡°What¡¯s there to celebrate about 250 points? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed to even mention it?¡± murmured one teacher quietly. The principal awkwardly approached Nan Qiao: ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, student, I mistook the person.¡± Nan Qiao politely replied: ¡°Principal, it¡¯s not your fault; I also did not expect to be leaving the Zhou family.¡± Watching Nan Qiao being congratulated by the teachers, Zhou Jingya felt bitter. Zhou Jingya, full of grievances, asked pitifully: ¡°Sister, did you intend to make me look foolish?¡± This statement made Liu Yanfang blame everything on Nan Qiao. ¡°You did it on purpose! Your biological parents are penniless, and you just want to stay with our family, don¡¯t you? You dress so beautifully, isn¡¯t it just because you scored well, just to show off? Nan Qiao, I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a scheming person!¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°Qiaoqiao, even though you aren¡¯t our biological daughter, haven¡¯t I treated you well all these years? Why would you do such a thing? This is just revenge on us, isn¡¯t it?¡± Nan Qiao looked up, her eyes cold and distant as she spoke to Zhou Hongqi, ¡°Did I ask you to send me away? Did I ask you to never care about my studies, to never come to a parent-teacher meeting? Did I ask you to not look at my admission ticket number? Did I ask you to not check my scores in advance? Did I ask you to sever ties with me?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s questions overwhelmed the Zhou family. Nan Qiao then looked at Liu Yanfang: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who messaged me to come today? I dressed this way because my parents were celebrating for me, and they booked this venue too. Ms. Liu, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask the manager.¡± Nan Qiao turned to Zhou Jingya and said: ¡°Zhou Jingya, you know your admission ticket number better than anyone, right? Didn¡¯t you check your own score before organizing the banquet?¡± The crowd finally realized that Zhou Jingya had deliberately assumed the identity of the top scorer. Tsk tsk, what poor taste! Chapter 54 - 54 54 Youre Not Planning to Propose to My Sister, Are You ?Chapter 54: Chapter 54: You¡¯re Not Planning to Propose to My Sister, Are You? Chapter 54: Chapter 54: You¡¯re Not Planning to Propose to My Sister, Are You? The Zhou Family was in a state of chaos, especially Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang, who were immersed in the surprise Zhou Jingya had brought them. Now, they had finally come to their senses. Zhou Jingya, looking pitiful with tears, defended herself, ¡°I lost my exam admission ticket, and the school called home. I thought they were talking about me...¡± Liu Yanfang watched her daughter in tears, feeling uneasy. This wasn¡¯t her daughter¡¯s fault at all; it was all Nan Qiao¡¯s doing! ¡°Nan Qiao, you¡¯ve stolen the spotlight; are you satisfied now? Watching Xiao Ya being attacked by everyone, did your calculations work out? We don¡¯t welcome you here, leave right now!¡± In Liu Yanfang¡¯s eyes, Nan Qiao did it all on purpose! Knowing she had good grades, she just had to show off! Indeed, she was not a kind person! Nan Qiao scoffed lightly; she did not deign to explain herself. ¡°Please bear witness, I have no relationship with Zhou Hongqi¡¯s family. Bridges burnt and paths diverged, anything related to the Zhou Family has nothing to do with me from now on.¡± Nan Qiao looked at Zhou Hongqi, her gaze calm as she spoke, ¡°Dad, this is the last time I will call you that. I still remember the kite you bought me when I was little; even though mom tore it up, I kept it well because it was the first and only gift from you. I thought you didn¡¯t like me because I wasn¡¯t hard-working or excellent enough. I studied diligently and topped the exams, but you doubted me for cheating. Now I know, no matter what I do, you¡¯ll never like me.¡± ¡°Mom, this is also the last time I will call you that. You sent me to the countryside ever since I was little. I don¡¯t know why you disliked me so much. I tried so hard, hoping you would come to see me. Now I also understand that perhaps you knew long ago that I wasn¡¯t your child. Even today, when I am the top student of the college entrance exams, you still feel I don¡¯t deserve to be your daughter. If that¡¯s the case, even if I, Nan Qiao, become wealthy and powerful in the future, I hope the Zhou Family will not come to me with moral obligations.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s words were cold as ice: ¡°From now on, I, Nan Qiao, am severing all ties with the Zhou Family!¡± After saying this, Nan Qiao turned around and walked away. Liu Yanfang, hearing Nan Qiao¡¯s words, felt she knew something. Had she known all along she wasn¡¯t her biological daughter? Nan Qiao didn¡¯t seem to be talking nonsense. ¡°Nan Qiao, stop right there!¡± Liu Yanfang hurried towards Nan Qiao, bumping into a nearby table with high glasses stacked upon it. The expensive wine, along with Liu Yanfang¡¯s movements, shook and crashed down onto Liu Yanfang. Glass mixed with wine, causing Liu Yanfang to cry out in pain. Everyone watching this unfold thought Zhou Hongqi¡¯s family was truly embarrassing. What a disgrace this celebration had turned out to be! Liu Yanfang fell, and the place was a mess. The guests at the celebration showed expressions of disgust. ¡°Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang traded sesame for watermelon.¡± ¡°No wonder Zhou Hongqi and his wife never brought Nan Qiao to any parties; they must have known she wasn¡¯t their biological daughter?¡± ¡°If they knew all along, why didn¡¯t they find Nan Qiao¡¯s biological parents earlier?¡± ¡°Despite all this, Nan Qiao managing to top the college entrance exams is impressive!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go; staying any longer would only mean we¡¯re here for the gossip.¡± The principal and teachers looked at each other, stunned. Finally, they left. Were they supposed to stay and enjoy the drama? As for the guests, they left one after another. Zhou Jingya watched as Lu Zhengyang strode ahead, as if someone was chasing him. In the grand banquet hall, only Zhou Hongqi, Liu Yanfang, and Zhou Jingya were left. Liu Yanfang got up, her expensive gown stained with dust and wine, and its appearance was too painful to behold. Zhou Hongqi, furious, slapped Zhou Jingya across the face, ¡°You¡¯ve completely disgraced me!¡± Liu Yanfang raised her hand and slapped Zhou Hongqi, ¡°Why are you hitting Xiao Ya? This is a misunderstanding, a trap set up by that wretched girl, Nan Qiao!¡± ¡°Liu Yanfang, are you a fool? Can¡¯t you see? All of this embarrassment is because of Zhou Jingya! If she had checked the grades earlier, if she wasn¡¯t so vain, would we be humiliated in front of our family and friends?¡± Tears streamed down Zhou Jingya¡¯s face as she tried to explain to Zhou Hongqi. Furious, Liu Yanfang tried to hit Zhou Hongqi again, ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to talk about Xiao Ya like that!¡± The couple grappled with each other. Zhou Jingya tried to separate them but was accidentally struck in the nose by a punch from Zhou Hongqi. The scene was chaos. ... After leaving the Zhou Family¡¯s banquet hall, Nan Qiao entered Room 888. Room 888, the largest banquet hall at Jin Jiang Hotel, could accommodate 500 people. When Nan Qiao entered, with a bang, confetti flew and seeing her family and friends lined up in two rows, she was both shocked and delighted. Chen Xinwan was the first to approach, placing a crown worth 1.9 billion, adorned with pink diamonds, on Nan Qiao¡¯s head, ¡°Qiaoqiao, this is a gift from mom.¡± Bai Zhenyang stepped forward and placed a necklace, valued at one billion, around Nan Qiao¡¯s neck. Grandpa Bai stepped up and put a bracelet, also worth one billion, on Nan Qiao¡¯s wrist. Bai Jingrui approached, holding several paintings, ¡°Little sister, these are paintings I specially bought for you, from Master Shan Shui. I know you like them, so I got two more for you.¡± Bai Yurou, unable to hide her jealousy, approached with a smile, ¡°Sister, this is a watch I¡¯m giving you, hope you like it.¡± At that moment, Old Mr. Li pointed at several sacks on the ground, ¡°Qiaoqiao, these are red envelopes I¡¯ve packed for you.¡± Li Yehan also appeared, opening a red box containing a diamond ring, a 12-carat blue diamond, an 11-carat white diamond, and 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds. The diamonds were large and sparkling, evidently very valuable. Bai Jingrui stepped up and asked, ¡°You aren¡¯t planning to propose to my sister, are you?¡± Grandpa Bai, Bai Zhenyang, & Chen Xinwan stared fiercely at Li Yehan as if they would take Nan Qiao away and hide her if Li Yehan dared to nod. Holding the ring, Li Yehan¡¯s dark peach blossom eyes gazed at Nan Qiao, his lips curling into a doting smile, ¡°Qiaoqiao, this is a graduation gift I¡¯m giving you.¡± Old Mr. Li said cheerfully, ¡°Look at how nervous you all are. Ye Han is just giving a graduation gift to Qiaoqiao, no need to be nervous.¡± He was worried Li Yehan might nod indeed! He still wanted Li Yehan to court Nan Qiao, certainly not wanting to be thrown out just yet! With these words from Li Yehan, the Bai family breathed a sigh of relief. Nan Qiao looked at such a valuable gift, she was about to refuse when Li Yehan took her left hand and placed the ring on her middle finger. It fit perfectly, as if it were made just for Nan Qiao. ¡°The graduation banquet gift I sent, you wouldn¡¯t refuse it, right?¡± Li Yehan whispered with a gentle smile, his gaze fixed on Nan Qiao¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°Thank you,¡± Nan Qiao accepted the gift. Yet, she would find a chance to return the gift. It was too expensive. Old Mr. Li urged, ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and eat first, Qiaoqiao must be hungry.¡± As they just sat down, there was a knock on the door. Chapter 55 - 55 55 I Make Money Only to Spend on Qiaoqiao ?Chapter 55: Chapter 55 I Make Money Only to Spend on Qiaoqiao Chapter 55: Chapter 55 I Make Money Only to Spend on Qiaoqiao Bai Jingrui stood up, opened the door, and saw Nan Qiao¡¯s bodyguards, Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin, standing at the entrance. ¡°Miss Qiao, this is a gift from Old Mr. Tang for your school admission.¡± Nan Qiao showed a delighted expression and stood up to walk towards the door, ¡°Where is he?¡± Uncle Dao replied, ¡°Haven¡¯t seen him, just had the stuff delivered here.¡± Two large boxes, each over a meter tall, it was unknown what was inside. Before long, someone else arrived. ¡°Miss Qiao, this is a gift from Mr. Hou.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, this is a gift from Mr. Zheng.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, this is a gift from Mr. Gu.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, this is a gift from Ms. Ruan.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, this is...¡± Watching one gift after another being moved into the banquet hall, the Bai Family members were stunned, and both Ye Han and Old Mr. Li were somewhat astonished. How did Nan Qiao know so many people? The unloved young lady shouldn¡¯t know so many people, right? Bai Yurou looked at the numerous gifts; there were few people in the banquet hall, but there were many gifts, indeed, they drew attention. ¡°Sister, how many marks did you score in the college entrance exam this time?¡± Bai Yurou calmly looked at Nan Qiao with a smile in her eyes. Chen Xinwan said, ¡°The score isn¡¯t important, what¡¯s important is that Qiaoqiao is happy.¡± Bai Zhenyang added, ¡°Right, as long as Qiaoqiao is happy, nothing else matters.¡± Grandpa Bai also spoke up, ¡°Scores cannot judge a person¡¯s ability, our Qiaoqiao is outstanding, no need to mind the other things.¡± Bai Jingrui nodded, ¡°Yes, the score isn¡¯t important. Ye Rou also had poor results initially, Dad sent her abroad to gild her resume, and then she came back to attend university.¡± Bai Yurou thought silently, ¡®Are you being polite?¡¯ She didn¡¯t want to deal with Bai Jingrui and just internally criticized crazily. Old Mr. Li also said, ¡°Qiaoqiao is so clever, even if she doesn¡¯t study, taking over the family business is enough. Ye Han is so good at making money, she just needs to spend it every day.¡± Ye Han said, ¡°The most important thing is that Qiaoqiao is happy.¡± Seeing so many people supporting Nan Qiao, Bai Yurou pretended to suddenly realize, ¡°Sister, you don¡¯t need to feel pressured. We are wealthy, and mom and dad love you so much. If you want to go to school, even Qing University can accept you.¡± Nan Qiao, seeing Bai Yurou sitting across from her, enunciated each word, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t need my family to assist me into Qing University.¡± Bai Yurou was a bit surprised and continued, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t you want to attend Qing University? Or do you want to go to Bei Hua School?¡± Nan Qiao pondered for a moment, ¡°If I want, I could go to either.¡± Bai Yurou almost sneered, she had never seen such a braggart. Amid everyone¡¯s confusion, Nan Qiao announced, ¡°This year¡¯s top science candidate in the college entrance exam is me.¡± Everyone was dumbfounded! Shock.jpg Chen Xinwan, sitting next to Nan Qiao, excitedly gripped her arm, ¡°Qiaoqiao darling, is it true? You¡¯re actually the top exam scorer! My goodness, our family¡¯s ancestors must be producing green smoke!¡± Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°If our daughter says she¡¯s the top scorer, then she must be!¡± Bai Jingrui blurted out, ¡°But wasn¡¯t your score 0?¡± As soon as Bai Jingrui said this, it revealed that he had checked Nan Qiao¡¯s score before. Both Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan glared at him, Bai Jingrui covered his mouth awkwardly and chuckled toward Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao wasn¡¯t bothered by this at all, feeling instead that her family cared about her. Even knowing she had scored zero, everyone had still booked the banquet hall to celebrate her college entrance exam; she was truly touched. Nan Qiao explained, ¡°I only learned about this from my teacher; zero points because the high score was hidden. It will be displayed in a few days, and both Qing University and Bei Hua are accessible options.¡± Old Mr. Bai¡¯s happy smile never faded, ¡°Qiaoqiao did really well in the exam, made us all proud! Qiaoqiao, I have some fine jade at home, I¡¯ll give it to you when we go back, keep it to enjoy.¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, we should hold a banquet, let friends and relatives know about your identity. Mom wants to tell everyone that you are my precious daughter.¡± Bai Zhenyang exclaimed, ¡°Our Qiaoqiao is so smart, achieving such great scores despite an environment like the Zhou Family¡¯s, truly amazing! Excellent!¡± Bai Jingrui said, ¡°Sister, you are indeed the first scholar in our family. Although big brother is also a scholar, he¡¯s not a top exam scorer. I will message big brother and second brother right now, ask them to bring gifts back.¡± Old Mr. Li, excited, immediately transferred five million dollars to Nan Qiao. ¡°Qiaoqiao, spend this money on some school supplies, clothes you like, bags, anything. If it¡¯s not enough, there¡¯s still Ye Han. He¡¯s just a worker, only knows how to make money, not how to spend it. Spending money should be left to you young ladies.¡± Ye Han nodded, ¡°I only enjoy making money for Qiaoqiao to spend.¡± Bai Yurou: ? Bai Yurou: !! Bai Yurou(¦¸§¥¦¸) Furious! How did Nan Qiao become the top exam scorer? She had wanted to see Nan Qiao¡¯s embarrassment. Turns out, the joke was on her? Bai Yurou¡¯s scores were not ideal; she went abroad to gild her resume and returned transformed into a returned overseas student. Bai Yurou felt extremely upset. Looking at these gifts sent to Nan Qiao, she felt envious and jealous, yet doubtful. Nan Qiao was unloved at the Zhou Family, so why were there so many people giving her gifts? Something wasn¡¯t right. Curious, Bai Yurou asked, ¡°Sister, you didn¡¯t have a good time at the Zhou Family, but it seems you know quite a few capable people. Sister, you¡¯re really amazing to know so many people and receive such valuable gifts.¡± Nan Qiao just looked at Bai Yurou, listening to her complete her sentence, and lightly curled her lips in a smile. ¡°So, are you suspecting that I met these people through improper channels?¡± Bai Yurou hastily explained, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, I was just curiously asking. Sister, don¡¯t be mad, I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± Ye Han, with a profound look in his eyes, spoke coldly, ¡°Bai Yurou, if you can¡¯t speak properly, then say less!¡± Bai Jingrui furrowed his brows, thinking of Bai Yurou as his sister, the sister he had seen grow up, Bai Yurou not one to imply others, a good girl, he didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Yurou, Qiaoqiao is so outstanding, capable, and with a sense of justice, she definitely knows a lot of people. Her admission banquet, and these people bringing gifts, is more than normal.¡± Nan Qiao explained, ¡°My medical skills were learned from my master, plus I really do know quite a lot of people. The gift-givers include my master, my fellow disciples, and my friends.¡± With Nan Qiao¡¯s explanation, Bai Yurou had nothing else to say. She believed, if she dared to say another word, the stares from these people could kill her. Especially Ye Han, he sat next to Nan Qiao with a sharp look, a ¡®keep out¡¯ attitude, making her uneasy. She didn¡¯t understand, why did everyone dote on Nan Qiao so much, just because she was the top exam scorer? Chapter 56 - 56 56 Pamper, Pamper to the Extreme ?Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Pamper, Pamper to the Extreme Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Pamper, Pamper to the Extreme Liu Yanfang chased after them but couldn¡¯t see Nan Qiao¡¯s figure. Instead, she was left gasping from the exhaust of Lu Zhengyang¡¯s car, which infuriated her. Liu Yanfang returned to the banquet hall, where all the guests had already left, leaving only Zhou Hongqi and Zhou Jingya behind. Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face was an iron blue as he furiously glared at Zhou Jingya, ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done! You¡¯ve lost all of my, Zhou Hongqi¡¯s, face!¡± Zhou Jingya was on the verge of tears, ¡°Daddy, I didn¡¯t want this to happen...¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t want it? You didn¡¯t want it to turn out like this? You¡¯re vain! Zhou Jingya, you really can¡¯t compare to Nan Qiao at all!¡± Liu Yanfang quickly stepped forward, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, why are you still blaming Xiao Ya? She¡¯s also a victim! If it hadn¡¯t been for Nan Qiao¡¯s trap, would our Xiao Ya have jumped in?¡± Zhou Hongqi angrily retorted, ¡°If she hadn¡¯t scored 250, would it have come to this? She has no ability of her own, and yet she blames others?¡± Liu Yanfang stood beside Zhou Jingya, her eyes sharply on Zhou Hongqi, ¡°Xiao Ya is my daughter, I won¡¯t allow anyone to bully her!¡± Zhou Hongqi was so angry he was speechless, feeling that Liu Yanfang was beyond hope. Zhou Jingya was her daughter, not her ancestor; how could she be so steadfast in believing in Zhou Jingya? Zhou Hongqi couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, shook his head, and left. How disgraceful, too disgraceful! Was he wrong? Should he not have driven Nan Qiao out? If Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t been driven away, he would be the father of a top scorer in the college entrance examination! The more Zhou Hongqi thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt, until he got in his car and drove away, disappearing into the night. ... Nan Qiao raised her glass, celebrating with everyone. Bai Yurou was eating all kinds of delicacies, but it felt like chewing wax to her. When she looked up, she saw Li Yehan peeling a shrimp and placing it onto Nan Qiao¡¯s plate. He also served her quite a few dishes, kindly asking if she wanted some soup. Nan Qiao leaned closer to him and whispered, ¡°Stop serving me food, I can do it myself, you should eat.¡± The two of them were very close, and to accommodate Nan Qiao¡¯s whispers, Li Yehan turned his head slightly. From Bai Yurou¡¯s perspective, it almost looked like they were kissing. Li Yehan enjoyed the faint scent coming from Nan Qiao¡¯s body, not like the smell of perfume. Feeling her warm breath on his ear made him shudder, and he heard her voice, fine and soft. Li Yehan¡¯s lips curved, and in a magnetic tone, he said into Nan Qiao¡¯s ear, ¡°All right.¡± Just as Nan Qiao breathed a sigh of relief, Li Yehan served her a bowl of soup. He verbally agreed to let her be, but in actuality, he still attended to Nan Qiao, acting like a boyfriend with excessive attentiveness. Old Mr. Li sat next to Grandpa Bai, laughingly saying to him, ¡°Old Bai, look how well-matched my grandson and your granddaughter are. Our families know each other, so this marriage would be quite suitable, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Grandpa Bai: ... ¡°Old Li, you¡¯re as cunning as ever.¡± Old Mr. Li still had a chuckle on his face, appearing to be a benevolent and gentle old grandfather. Old Mr. Li elbowed Grandpa Bai, ¡°You¡¯ve watched Ye Han grow up too, tell me what you think of Ye Han.¡± Grandpa Bai: ... Although he thought highly of Li Yehan, his granddaughter Qiaoqiao was still young. ¡°Qiaoqiao is still young. We can talk about marriage later. Besides, our family doesn¡¯t need an alliance through marriage. We will agree to whoever Qiaoqiao likes and wants to be with.¡± Old Mr. Li leaned in close to Grandpa Bai, saying, ¡°How do you know Qiaoqiao doesn¡¯t like Ye Han?¡± Grandpa Bai: ... He no longer wanted to talk to Li Batian, not at all interested in dealing with him. Grandpa Bai turned to Bai Zhenyang and said, ¡°Zhenyang, we¡¯ve had enough to eat, let¡¯s go home.¡± Old Mr. Li: ... Now it was Old Mr. Li¡¯s turn to be at a loss for words, as he had never expected Old Bai to be so blunt and unfeeling! ¡°Old Bai, you have no honor!¡± Old Mr. Li almost couldn¡¯t hold back and was about to swear. Grandpa Bai smirked, infuriating Old Mr. Li to the point of snorting and glowering. Sitting to the side, Bai Yurou could hear the conversation between the two elders, and she suddenly felt that she didn¡¯t need to eat at all today; she was full just from the aggravation. The round table was large, and Nan Qiao sat together with Li Yehan. Old Mr. Li and Grandpa Bai sat opposite, and they did not hear their conversation. ¡°Li Yehan, aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s need for food was not great, ever since he took over the Li Family¡¯s company and got busy, he ended up eating only one meal a day. Nan Qiao ate with relish, and it was only when she dined with him that Li Yehan would eat a bit more. Thinking of these things, Li Yehan smiled knowingly, ¡°Not hungry.¡± Nan Qiao picked up a piece of sweet and sour spare rib for Li Yehan, ¡°Have some vegetables.¡± Li Yehan obediently ate. She served him soup, and he drank soup. She picked up vegetables for him, and he ate them. Nan Qiao picked up a crab for him. Li Yehan cracked the crab open, extracted the meat, and placed it on Nan Qiao¡¯s plate. Li Yehan peeled four crabs, and put all the meat and roe on the plate in front of Nan Qiao. ¡°Eat up.¡± The man¡¯s voice was gentle and pleasant. Faced with his burning gaze, Nan Qiao couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°I thought you wanted to eat it.¡± Dealing with crab was too troublesome, how could he let Nan Qiao do such laborious work. Bai Jingrui also placed peeled crab meat on Nan Qiao¡¯s plate, ¡°Sister, I peeled some crab for you too, eat mine.¡± Li Yehan was being solicitous for no good reason¡ªeither a scoundrel or a thief! Surely he must be aiming to steal away his sister! Bai Jingrui also peeled some shrimp for Bai Yurou, ¡°Yurou, you love shrimp, here you go.¡± Bai Yurou: ... Would it be alright if she wanted to eat crab now too? She did indeed like shrimp, but at the moment, she had no appetite whatsoever. She too wanted to eat crab!! But no one was peeling it for her. ... After finishing dinner, everyone left together. Nan Qiao asked them to go ahead first, and she arranged for Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin to call for a HuoLala truck to collect the gifts. Chen Xinwan wanted to stay with Nan Qiao, but Nan Qiao persuaded her to get in the car. ¡°You all go ahead, I¡¯ll be right behind.¡± Chen Xinwan could only nod and left in the car. Li Yehan stayed with Nan Qiao, while Bai Jingrui did not want to leave, but Old Mr. Li pushed him into the car. After all this, he settled into the car for the ride home, delightfully leaving. Creating an opportunity for Li Yehan, the old man left cheerfully. Nan Qiao and Li Yehan stood at the entrance of Jin Jiang Hotel just as the HuoLala truck arrived. Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya also came out at that moment. The sight of Nan Qiao and especially her dress turned Liu Yanfang¡¯s eyes red with envy. ¡°Nan Qiao!¡± Liu Yanfang strode toward Nan Qiao with eyes that seemed to shoot fire. Nan Qiao turned around, and as Liu Yanfang raised her arm to strike, Li Yehan moved quickly, delivering a kick to her knee with a fierce look in his eyes. Dare to touch Nan Qiao, was she tired of living? Liu Yanfang fell to the ground in pain. Li Yehan pulled Nan Qiao to him, shielding her behind his tall frame. His imposing figure loomed over her petite form. Li Yehan¡¯s gaze was sharp, his thin lips lightly pursed, his aura commanding and full of rising anger as he glared at Liu Yanfang. Today he stood here, and he was keen to see who would dare harm Nan Qiao! Chapter 57 - 57 57 The Mysterious Gift in the Box ?Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Mysterious Gift in the Box Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Mysterious Gift in the Box Liu Yanfang glared angrily at Nan Qiao, who was behind Li Yehan, as Zhou Jingya stepped forward to help her up. Liu Yanfang, grinding her back teeth, said, ¡°Nan Qiao, you¡¯ve ruined Xiao Ya¡¯s celebration banquet, you¡¯ve made a fool out of our family, and you still have the face to hide behind a man?¡± ¡°How about that? Jealous because you don¡¯t have a man to hide behind, envious of our Qiaoqiao?¡± Li Yehan asked coldly. While Liu Yanfang scolded Nan Qiao, Zhou Jingya¡¯s gaze fell on Li Yehan. The perfect face, the tall figure, thin lips pursed, a piercing gaze, he exuded an aura of nobility from head to toe. He was the handsomest man Zhou Jingya had ever seen by Nan Qiao¡¯s side. Her expression at the moment said: She was afraid her sister would do well and also afraid her sister would drive a Land Rover. ¡°Sister, in just a few days, you¡¯ve changed boyfriends again?¡± The emphasis on ¡°again¡± was perfect; she wanted to let the man in front of her know that Nan Qiao was a fickle woman, flitting from one man to the next. Nan Qiao knew exactly what Zhou Jingya was like, but she didn¡¯t mind; after all, Li Yehan wasn¡¯t an ordinary man¡ªhe knew Nan Qiao was a good girl. Seeing that Li Yehan was unmoved, Zhou Jingya added fuel to the fire and said, ¡°Sister, your private life is really indecent.¡± Li Yehan scoffed lightly, ¡°And who are you to judge Qiaoqiao?¡± Nan Qiao stepped out from behind Li Yehan, her almond eyes widened: ¡°Liu Yanfang, Zhou Jingya scored 250, what does that have to do with me? If the principal called your house, it wasn¡¯t me who asked him to do that, why blame me?¡± Liu Yanfang retorted, ¡°Who asked you to leave your number at our house!¡± Nan Qiao gave a self-deprecating laugh, ¡°Had I known, would I have left my number at all?¡± During the college entrance exam, Nan Qiao had worked very hard, only wanting to show her family her excellence, thinking this would make Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang pay her some attention. Li Yehan frowned, his face darkening as he coldly said, ¡°Blaming Qiaoqiao because you have no ability?¡± Liu Yanfang & Zhou Jingya: ... Was this puppy too protective of Nan Qiao? How could Nan Qiao deserve this? Li Yehan couldn¡¯t be bothered with these people and continued, ¡°Our family¡¯s Qiaoqiao is indeed highly capable and intelligent. What, you don¡¯t agree? Try becoming the top scholar yourself if you¡¯re so displeased.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile; Li Yehan really knew how to talk back. Nan Qiao pushed Li Yehan¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, the driver is waiting.¡± Li Yehan took Nan Qiao¡¯s hand and together they climbed into the Huolala truck. As Li Yehan¡¯s car drove away, he learned that Nan Qiao planned to go back with the Huolala and immediately told the driver to leave. How could he let Qiaoqiao go back alone in a Huolala truck¡ªit was too dangerous! Zhou Jingya and Liu Yanfang watched dumbfounded as the two climbed into the Huolala. Zhou Jingya said with disdain, ¡°Mom, I thought Sister had found a rich man and was living a wealthy life. It turns out they don¡¯t even have a car and have to ride in a Huolala?¡± Liu Yanfang said, ¡°With the way she looks, would a wealthy man want her? At most, it¡¯s good for a fling! With her looks, she can only support a useless young man!¡± The young man referred to Li Yehan. Zhou Jingya¡¯s gaze seemed to drift away in the direction Li Yehan had left. Speaking to Zhou Jingya, Liu Yanfang received no response. She turned her head to look at the stunned Zhou Jingya and pushed her: ¡°Xiao Ya, Xiao Ya, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Zhou Jingya snapped back to reality: ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, and you seem not to hear, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Jingya was taken aback, ¡°I was thinking, Sister really has no self-respect now.¡± ¡°She flits from man to man, she¡¯ll get sick sooner or later!¡± Liu Yanfang cursed angrily: ¡°That little bitch Nan Qiao, she won¡¯t let us live in peace, and I won¡¯t let her live in peace either!¡± Liu Yanfang left in a huff with Zhou Jingya. ... The Huo La La van drove into the villa, and the driver was stunned. This was the most luxurious area in Jing City! After unloading the items from the van, the delivery guy drove away. Nan Qiao politely offered, ¡°Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?¡± Nan Qiao thought Li Yehan would decline, but heard him say, ¡°Sure.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan smiled slyly and said, ¡°What? You don¡¯t welcome my visit?¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, ¡°Of course not.¡± Just like that, Nan Qiao led Li Yehan into the living room. The two talked as they walked; it was mostly Li Yehan speaking and Nan Qiao responding. The passing servants couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the sight. No one expected that Bai Yurou hadn¡¯t made her way into Li Yehan¡¯s heart, yet the newly returned true daughter had managed to captivate him. ¡°Have you heard? I heard Mr. Li previously had a marriage arrangement with Miss.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard that too. Mr. Li had a betrothal with Miss, but then Miss was taken back by the Bai Family, and Mr. Li broke off the engagement with them. Now I¡¯ve heard that since Miss arrived at the Bai Family, she brought gifts and went to pursue Miss.¡± ¡°Oh my god, Miss is so lucky! Mr. Li doesn¡¯t care about matching social status and only likes Miss.¡± A few maids whispered among themselves. Bai Yurou came by and happened to hear their conversation, her face darkened. ¡°What are you all gossiping about?¡± The maids bowed their heads: ¡°Greetings, Fourth Miss.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be working?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The maids quickly scurried away, fearing they might be scolded by Bai Yurou if they stayed. Bai Yurou watched Li Yehan and Nan Qiao leave, feeling as if her heart had been cut by a knife. In Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes, there was only disdain, devoid of admiration. Mrs. Fang came over and stood beside Bai Yurou, and respectfully said, ¡°Fourth Miss, what are all these people moving? Just plain cardboard boxes, they couldn¡¯t possibly be trash that Nan Qiao picked up, could they?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s lips curled into a scornful smile, ¡°Those are the graduation gifts her friends have sent her.¡± ¡°Ah? What gifts would be in such ordinary cardboard boxes? Couldn¡¯t it be that she deliberately had someone send them, just putting on a show. People from humble backgrounds can¡¯t have wealthy friends. How can she compare with you, Fourth Miss?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s mood improved unconsciously, and she smiled, ¡°Mrs. Fang, you make a good point. What kind of gifts could her friends possibly give her? Maybe it¡¯s all just for show, to save face?¡± Mrs. Fang got the hint: ¡°Fourth Miss, let me have a look, I must expose her fake lies. So vain!¡± And with that, Mrs. Fang stepped forward and casually opened a box, ¡°Let¡¯s see what priceless treasures are inside. I have to expose her lies! Such hypocrisy!¡± Mrs. Fang frivolously opened one of the inconspicuous boxes, the mocking words already organized in her mind. Just as she was about to scoff, Mrs. Fang saw the contents of the box, her eyes widened, and she was rendered speechless. Standing beside her, Bai Yurou saw this and frowned deeply, her footsteps moving towards the box. When Bai Yurou stood in front of the box and saw what was inside, she too was dumbfounded. Chapter 58 - 58 58 Why fixate on one when there are flowers everywhere ?Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Why fixate on one when there are flowers everywhere? Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Why fixate on one when there are flowers everywhere? Inside the inconspicuous cardboard box, there were several sets of jewelry. Even if they were fake, you wouldn¡¯t dare make the gems that big. The diamonds inlaid on them were especially dazzling under the night sky. Bai Yurou refused to believe it; she opened another box next to it containing various precious medicinal herbs, like ginseng, He Shou Wu... Bai Yurou took a deep breath, still skeptical, and went on to open another box. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s voice resounded from behind, startling Bai Yurou. She turned around, forcing a smile, ¡°I was just checking to see if anything inside was damaged.¡± Mrs. Fang stood dumbly to the side, overwhelmed by the contents of the box, now at a loss for words. Nan Qiao walked over step by step; she had changed out of her haute couture into a short-sleeve shirt and capris. Her legs were thin, white, and long, her slender waist almost too delicate to grasp, making it impossible to divert one¡¯s gaze. Bai Yurou cursed inwardly: Seductress! Nan Qiao, with a calm demeanor, nonchalantly said, ¡°I would appreciate it if you didn¡¯t bother yourself with my belongings.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s expression froze, unable to manage her face. ¡°Sister, what do you mean by that?¡± Bai Yurou asked, puzzled. Was she indicating not to touch the cardboard boxes, or not to interfere with Li Yehan? ¡°Exactly what it sounds like.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s formidable presence made one involuntarily shudder; she approached the bodyguard and said, ¡°Be careful with the move, don¡¯t damage what¡¯s inside.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± Nan Qiao then said to Uncle Wang who had accompanied her, ¡°Uncle Wang, could you help me check the contents?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss. I¡¯ll organize these gifts into a list and sort it into a document on your phone as soon as I get back.¡± Nan Qiao raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised, ¡°Uncle Wang, you know how to do the electronic version?¡± ¡°Miss, even we servants must keep up with the times to avoid being phased out.¡± Nan Qiao nodded in understanding. ¡°Keep up the good work, Uncle Wang.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss. I will do my best.¡± Nan Qiao left with a smile, trusting Uncle Wang with the matter. Uncle Wang directed on site, handling everything efficiently. Passing by Mrs. Fang, Uncle Wang said, ¡°Old Fang, the kitchen¡¯s busy and you¡¯re wandering here, believe it or not, I¡¯ll have the master fire you.¡± Mrs. Fang¡¯s face turned red, and she scampered away with her tail between her legs. Seeing Bai Yurou¡¯s gloomy face, Uncle Wang curiously asked, ¡°Miss, do you also have gifts that need moving?¡± Bai Yurou: ... She remained silent, causing Uncle Wang to exclaim, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, too many items? Worried about not enough hands?¡± Bai Yurou: !! Uncle Wang asked again, ¡°Tell me, how many gifts are there? I¡¯ll find people right now and make sure all your gifts are moved into your room!¡± Bai Yurou, clenching her back teeth, smiled very reluctantly, ¡°Uncle Wang, you seem hot; maybe find a cooler place to go.¡± Bai Yurou walked away fuming. Uncle Wang, rubbing his large scalp, looked puzzled, ¡°What does that mean? Was she caring for me or mocking me? What did I say wrong?¡± Uncle Wang touched his shiny head, still unable to figure it out. ... As Bai Yurou walked in from outside, she saw Li Yehan and the family chattering amiably, especially Grandpa Bai, whose eyes were full of praise when looking at Li Yehan. Bai Yurou took the opportunity to sit down, wanting to listen in on the conversation. Old Mr. Li said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, we¡¯re hosting a gathering at home tomorrow. I¡¯ll have a shopper buy you some clothes and bags in your size.¡± ¡°Grandpa Li, you¡¯re too kind. I already have too many clothes; really, there¡¯s no need to buy more.¡± Even if she wore a different outfit each day, she would still have leftovers by the end of summer. Any more purchases would just have to wait until next year. Old Mr. Li pondered for a moment before speaking, ¡°I heard you like paintings by Master Shan Shui? I¡¯ll buy you a few more then.¡± Nan Qiao: ... ¡°Grandpa Li, really, there¡¯s no need.¡± As soon as Old Mr. Li placed an order on one end, she felt obligated to paint on the other¡ªplease, give her a break. Bai Jingrui, worried that Grandpa Li might take over the gift-giving, hurriedly said, ¡°Grandpa Li, my sister likes the paintings I buy for her. If you take this over, what will I do? It¡¯s really tough for me.¡± Old Mr. Li chuckled, ¡°Jingrui, my boy, I won¡¯t take your task. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Li, you¡¯re really great.¡± The joyful family atmosphere upset Bai Yurou. Just then, Old Mr. Li¡¯s gaze landed on Bai Yurou, ¡°Yurou, you¡¯re not getting any younger. Didn¡¯t you find love at school? Should I introduce someone to you?¡± Hearing this, Bai Yurou wondered if Grandpa Li was planning to introduce her to Li Yehan? Blushing, Bai Yurou said, ¡°Grandpa Li, I... I already have someone I like...¡± Old Mr. Li was slightly surprised but then smiled and said, ¡°Good for you, Yurou, when you find someone you like, you should pursue them boldly. Just like Ye Han, he likes Qiaoqiao, and he¡¯s actively pursuing her!¡± Li Yehan: ¡°I will try my best.¡± Bai Yurou: ... Damn it, after all this time, was this old man tricking her? Bai Yurou¡¯s expression turned sour, she was angry and wanted to curse! Yet it seemed as though Old Mr. Li couldn¡¯t read her expression and continued, ¡°Yurou, you look upset. Is it that the man is ignoring you? Oh, let me tell you, the world is vast and full of opportunities, why fixate on only one?¡± Bai Yurou: !! She really didn¡¯t want to hear Old Mr. Li speak anymore. She felt that today¡¯s situation was orchestrated by Old Mr. Li to tease her in front of everyone. He prompted her to admit her feelings for someone and then mentioned Li Yehan pursuing Nan Qiao. In the end, the old man was just too cunning! Bai Yurou had a headache and didn¡¯t want to stay or say another word. Old Mr. Li knew when to stop and took the lead, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we should head back.¡± Li Yehan stood up with Old Mr. Li. Before leaving, Li Yehan asked Nan Qiao, ¡°What would you like to eat tomorrow at noon?¡± Feeling everyone¡¯s eyes on her, Nan Qiao bashfully replied, ¡°You should head back.¡± Li Yehan smiled, nodded, and left with Old Mr. Li. ... Old Mr. Li and Li Yehan were in the same car. Old Mr. Li proudly said, ¡°Ye Han, did you see? I¡¯ve cleared the obstacles for you, now when you¡¯re with Qiaoqiao, you won¡¯t have to worry too much.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡± Old Mr. Li was visibly pleased and advised further, ¡°You have to put in more effort, hurry and win Qiaoqiao over. Such a good granddaughter-in-law like Qiaoqiao shouldn¡¯t be missed.¡± Li Yehan nodded, ¡°I know.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s phone lit up, a message from Secretary Zhao. Li Yehan opened it, and though it contained only a sentence, it made Li Yehan tense up. ¡°Mr. Li, regarding Miss Nan Qiao...¡± Chapter 59 - 59 59 Meeting the Lover at Night ?Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Meeting the Lover at Night? Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Meeting the Lover at Night? Li Yehan looked at his phone, his brows deeply furrowed. ¡°Speak.¡± Secretary Zhao replied, ¡°Mr. Li, we found out that on that day, Miss Nan Qiao, along with Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze, indeed went to the laboratory.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s brow furrowed, and he then replied, ¡°Qiaoqiao has medical skills, and Zheng Qinnian is a doctor, so it¡¯s natural for her to be there for medical reasons.¡± Secretary Zhao: ¡°Mr. Li, is there a possibility that Miss Nan Qiao is the new successor of the Tang Family?¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Can¡¯t you remain silent?¡± The hand Secretary Zhao held the phone with couldn¡¯t stop trembling. So he had spoken of a fact that Mr. Li already knew? Secretary Zhao quickly retracted the message and added another one, ¡°Mr. Li, you¡¯re absolutely right. Miss Nan Qiao is frail and helpless; she must have gone there to help.¡± Li Yehan didn¡¯t reply to him, and Secretary Zhao felt as if he had just escaped death. Li Yehan put his phone in his pocket and then heard Old Mr. Li say, ¡°Ye Han, I heard during dinner today that Old Mr. Tang gave Qiaoqiao a gift. Could that Old Mr. Tang be Tang Helin from the Tang Family?¡± Li Yehan: ¡°...¡± ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Old Mr. Li made an acknowledging sound and said no more. Li Yehan did his best to hide Nan Qiao¡¯s secret identity, as he saw she didn¡¯t want it revealed, and so he helped conceal it. He absolutely wouldn¡¯t do anything Nan Qiao didn¡¯t want to do. ... Nan Qiao, exhausted from the day, went upstairs early to take a bath. When she came out, there were two men in the room. The two men looked around, left and right. Seeing Nan Qiao dressed in her pajamas, her hair wrapped in a towel, Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze chuckled. Hou Ze: ¡°Boss, your place is nice. It seems the Bai Family treats people better than the Zhou Family.¡± Zheng Qinnian handed a sleep coat to Nan Qiao, ¡°Put this on, don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Nan Qiao draped the coat over herself, her face fresh and simple like a lotus out of water, bewitching anyone who looked. Zheng Qinnian, watching Nan Qiao, slipped away unnoticed after a flicker of emotion in his eyes. Zheng Qinnian said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, Li Yehan¡¯s secretary checked who was at the laboratory. He might suspect your identity, be careful.¡± Hou Ze: ¡°Boss, although Li Yehan is formidable, we won¡¯t hold you back! If he dares bully you, all of us together will take him down!¡± Zheng Qinnian: ¡°...¡± Hou Ze¡¯s thinking was truly bizarre; can¡¯t he see that Li Yehan clearly likes Qiaoqiao and wouldn¡¯t hurt her? Zheng Qinnian had specifically investigated Li Yehan and knew that he hadn¡¯t been involved with anyone since birth, and rumors even circulated that Li Yehan liked men. Although he had two good male friends, both were definitely straight and had dated before, how could they be romantically involved with Li Yehan? It was clear and ordered; Li Yehan was chasing Qiaoqiao. A glint of sadness flashed through Zheng Qinnian¡¯s eyes, but his gaze turned normal when he looked at Nan Qiao again. Zheng Qinnian pushed Hou Ze aside: ¡°Houzi, if there¡¯s nothing urgent, step aside; I have something to discuss with Qiaoqiao.¡± Hou Ze: ... Fine, he felt like he was just air. Zheng Qinnian asked Nan Qiao, ¡°Are you planning on going back to the laboratory soon?¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°I have to take care of some company matters in the next few days, I¡¯ll go back there later. Keep an eye on the progress of the experiments for me, and call me if anything comes up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ... Bai Yurou was passing by Nan Qiao¡¯s room when she suddenly heard men¡¯s voices inside. Bai Yurou: ?? The security system in the house was quite advanced, yet there were people in Nan Qiao¡¯s room under such circumstances¡ªan affair? The voice did not sound like something Li Yehan would say. Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes darted around before she turned and headed to Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan¡¯s room. ¡°Yurou, it¡¯s late, is there something you need?¡± Chen Xinwan had removed her makeup and was wearing a silk nightgown. ¡°Mom and Dad, I heard a man¡¯s voice in my sister¡¯s room... she...¡± Bai Yurou thought Chen Xinwan and Bai Zhenyang would be angry about Nan Qiao¡¯s indecent private life, but she heard a different response. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Could it be that Li Yehan climbed in over the wall?¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°Hurry and check, our Qiaoqiao is timid and can¡¯t protect herself. Even if Li Yehan came over, it must have been him coercing Qiaoqiao.¡± The couple headed towards Nan Qiao¡¯s room, leaving Bai Yurou standing at the door, dumbfounded. What was going on? Were these two really that trusting of Nan Qiao? Bai Yurou gritted her teeth and followed them to Nan Qiao¡¯s door. Chen Xinwan rang the doorbell of Nan Qiao¡¯s room, and soon, the door was opened. Nan Qiao looked somewhat surprised to see the three of them standing at the door. ¡°Is there something going on?¡± Chen Xinwan said with a smile, ¡°Nothing much, I asked the kitchen to stew some bird¡¯s nest for you and forgot to bring it over.¡± Nan Qiao accepted it, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s getting late, you should sleep soon. If managing the company is too tiring, let¡¯s just overlook it and rest well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m managing alright, it¡¯s not too tiring.¡± As Nan Qiao was speaking, Bai Yurou walked in, ¡°Sister, there¡¯s this chair in your room that looks really nice. I heard mom say you bought it yourself; I want to see what brand it is so I can buy one too.¡± Bai Yurou walked in, glancing toward Nan Qiao¡¯s chair while looking around the room. Nan Qiao, observing her actions, knew what she was up to. Nan Qiao remained in place, watching Bai Yurou¡¯s movements. The room was large, and no matter where Bai Yurou looked, she didn¡¯t see anyone else inside. ¡°There¡¯s no need to look further, my friend made this chair and it¡¯s not sold on the market. Besides, he only had enough material for this one chair, so he won¡¯t make another.¡± With that, Bai Yurou¡¯s ulterior motive was thwarted. She only felt that Nan Qiao was really stingy¡ªhow much material would a single chair use, could it even cost hundreds of thousands? Bai Yurou inwardly grumbled, but maintained a cheerful tone on the surface, ¡°Alright then.¡± Unable to see any man¡¯s figure inside and not daring to search thoroughly, Bai Yurou could only walk to the door. Bai Zhenyang told Nan Qiao to sleep early before closing her room door. After pausing at the door for a minute without hearing any sound, Bai Zhenyang took out his phone to call Li Yehan, but no sound came from inside Nan Qiao¡¯s room. Li Yehan answered Bai Zhenyang¡¯s call, giving him a start. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°Ye Han, you¡¯re home, right?¡± ¡°Home now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Then I won¡¯t disturb you anymore; go to sleep early.¡± Bai Zhenyang hung up, then turned to Bai Yurou and said, ¡°Yurou, did you mishear? There¡¯s no one in your sister¡¯s room.¡± Chen Xinwan pressed the back of her hand against Bai Yurou¡¯s forehead, ¡°You¡¯re not feverish, so why the nonsense?¡± Bai Zhenyang, concerned, added, ¡°Yurou, have another look tomorrow, if it¡¯s still the same, maybe visit the ENT department at the hospital to see if you are experiencing auditory hallucinations?¡± Bai Yurou was shocked! Although Bai Zhenyang and Chen Xinwan were concerned about her, Bai Yurou was still very angry, feeling that it was intentional on their part! Once one¡¯s mindset changes, the meaning of what they hear changes, but Bai Yurou hadn¡¯t realized this. Meanwhile, Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze had not left Nan Qiao¡¯s room. Chapter 60 - 60 60 Raising Boys is Not the Same as Raising Girls ?Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Raising Boys is Not the Same as Raising Girls Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Raising Boys is Not the Same as Raising Girls Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze crouched outside the window, propping up their bodies with their arms. After everyone left, the two climbed back in. Hou Ze said, ¡°Damn, is Bai Yurou actually concerned for the boss, or is she deliberately messing with him?¡± Zheng Qinnian replied, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hurry and leave before we damage Qiaoqiao¡¯s reputation.¡± Hou Ze bitterly said, ¡°Boss, congratulations on your academic achievements. I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you, it¡¯s on that vanity over there, inside the pink box.¡± Zheng Qinnian also said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ve also prepared a gift for you, the blue box is what I¡¯ve left behind.¡± ¡°You guys are being overly courteous.¡± Zheng Qinnian said, ¡°You did so well on the exam, it¡¯s only right to celebrate for you.¡± Houzi chimed in, ¡°Old Zheng is right, boss, scoring so well on the exam is truly our pride!¡± Nan Qiao laughed at the two¡¯s teasing and urged them to leave quickly. Zheng Qinnian and Hou Ze had arrived through the window and left the same way. ... Bai Yurou sat in the room, growing angrier as she thought more about it. A gust of hot wind reminded her she had forgotten to close the window. As Bai Yurou walked to the window and was about to shut it, cockeyed Hou Ze came by from the side, startling her into screaming. Mrs. Fang happened to come in with fruits just in time to hear Bai Yurou¡¯s shriek. ¡°Fourth Miss, are you alright?¡± Bai Yurou, covering her face, only calmed down upon hearing the familiar voice. She grabbed Mrs. Fang¡¯s arm, pointing at the window in terror and said, ¡°Mrs. Fang, there are ghosts, ghosts!¡± Mrs. Fang looked toward the window dubiously, ¡°Fourth Miss, let me take a look.¡± Mrs. Fang went to check but saw nothing, feeling only the warm breeze on her face. She closed the window and said softly, ¡°Fourth Miss, you must have not rested well and had an illusion. There¡¯s nobody outside the window, you must have seen it wrong. Ghosts don¡¯t exist in this world.¡± Bai Yurou stood by the window, seeing nothing outside, as if she had indeed seen it wrong. Bai Yurou couldn¡¯t help but wonder, had she really seen it wrong? ... Nan Qiao had just gotten up when Fu Xingyao called her. ¡°Miss Qiao, there¡¯s trouble, you need to take a look. Our design has been plagiarized by Zhou Hongqi! And now he¡¯s even running presales with our design!¡± Nan Qiao sat up and rubbed her head, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the office now.¡± She hung up the call only for Rong Yan¡¯s call to come through, which Nan Qiao answered. Rong Yan¡¯s voice was filled with panic, on the verge of tears: ¡°Mr. Qiao, my design has been plagiarized. Mr. Qiao, I didn¡¯t do this; I couldn¡¯t possibly betray the company! Mr. Qiao, it really wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°Rong Yan, calm down first. I¡¯m on my way to the office, we¡¯ll talk when I get there.¡± ¡°Okay, Miss Qiao, I¡¯m already at the office.¡± After hanging up, Nan Qiao changed into a light blue shirt, paired with black trousers and high heels. Her hair fell loose, her smiling face charming and full of allure. Nan Qiao hurried down the stairs, and Chen Xinwan called her to eat. Carrying her bag, Nan Qiao hurried forward: ¡°I won¡¯t eat now, I have to go.¡± Everyone behind her looked at each other, worried about her, all except for Bai Yurou. Bai Zhenyang said, ¡°I¡¯ll check on her; something must have happened to Qiaoqiao.¡± Chen Xinwan added, ¡°I¡¯ll go too.¡± Grandpa Bai said, ¡°All of you, sit down. Qiaoqiao is decisive in her actions. This is a good opportunity for her to grow. If she needs you, then intervene. Qiaoqiao is starting college soon, and the company still needs her management, wait a moment.¡± To endure the preordainment of greatness, one must first suffer through hardships. That¡¯s how Bai Zhenyang had come up; he naturally understood Grandpa Bai¡¯s intentions. But with that in mind, he could only sit down, filled with concern. Once he was outside, he would still need to ask Qiaoqiao. Qiaoqiao was his daughter, after all, a girl. Raising a boy and a girl were not the same. His father never raised a girl, so how would he know that girls need a lot more care? ¡°Dad, Qiaoqiao is a girl, and girls need to be cherished, cared for more. She already lacked family love in her early years, so how can I not love her now?¡± Chen Xinwan also said, ¡°Dad, what Zhenyang said is also what¡¯s in my heart. Qiaoqiao is strong because she has no one to support and make decisions for her, and she definitely won¡¯t tell us if something¡¯s wrong.¡± Grandpa Bai remained silent... He wasn¡¯t a bad grandpa! He had simply forgotten, for a moment, that raising a boy is different from raising a girl. Embarrassed and irritated, Grandpa Bai protested, ¡°Bai Zhenyang, do you think I¡¯m such a bad grandpa that I wouldn¡¯t care for my own granddaughter?¡± Bai Zhenyang¡¯s face bore a forced smile, ¡°Dad, how could I think that about you? I was just reminding you, we must really cherish Qiaoqiao and dote on her.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Grandpa Bai took out his phone to call Nan Qiao, who was driving with an earpiece in, and answered the call. ¡°Qiaoqiao, what¡¯s happened at the company? Tell Grandpa, I¡¯ll help you fix it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa, it¡¯s just a little issue, I can handle it.¡± ¡°Let me deal with it; I¡¯ll send Ah Fu over.¡± ¡°Grandpa, I really don¡¯t need family help. It¡¯s just a minor issue and if I really need help, I¡¯ll tell you. Grandpa, if I can¡¯t handle such a small matter, how can I be worthy of the Bai Family?¡± Grandpa Bai liked people with lofty ambitions, and Nan Qiao was no different¡ªshe was his granddaughter. Then he looked at Bai Zhenyang, feeling the younger generation exceeded the older. ¡°Qiaoqiao, remember to tell your family if you need anything. You are the precious daughter of the Bai Family; we have your back.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa. I¡¯m driving now, goodbye.¡± After hanging up, Grandpa Bai¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curve up with pride. ¡°Did you hear that? My granddaughter is just that impressive.¡± Hearing Qiaoqiao saying so, although Bai Zhenyang remained silent, he still planned to head out and have his secretary look into the situation. ... Upon arriving at the company, the receptionist still couldn¡¯t help but admire Nan Qiao¡¯s stunning and cool demeanor, exclaiming, ¡°Mr. Qiao is really too beautiful!¡± Nan Qiao walked into her office where Rong Yan and Fu Xingyao were already waiting for her. Rong Yan, a fresh graduate encountering such an incident for the first time, was completely discomposed, sitting in his chair ashen-faced, out of energy as if the sky had fallen. Nan Qiao placed the coffee on the table: ¡°Drink some coffee, perk up.¡± Rong Yan looked down, saw Nan Qiao¡¯s slender, pale fingers, then at the coffee; his nose tingled, and his eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°Mr. Qiao, I¡¯m so sorry! I don¡¯t know what happened, but our design was stolen by those people. I don¡¯t even know anyone from the Zhou Group!¡± Fu Xingyao said, ¡°I checked¡ªLiu Hui went to the Zhou Group. The design became theirs after she left.¡± Nan Qiao let out a cold snort of laughter, ¡°Liu Hui sure has some nerve!¡± Rong Yan was angry, resentful, and anxious, ¡°Mr. Qiao, what should we do?¡± Nan Qiao flashed a confident smile, her eyes radiating self-assurance: ¡°I have a plan.¡± Chapter 61 - 61 61 Almost Stripped Off Xiao Mas Vest ?Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Almost Stripped Off Xiao Ma¡¯s Vest Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Almost Stripped Off Xiao Ma¡¯s Vest Rong Yan could no longer keep his composure when he heard Nan Qiao¡¯s voice brimming with confidence. ¡°Mr. Qiao, are you saying this just to comfort me? I know this situation isn¡¯t easy to resolve. The other party has copied all of my designs, not leaving a single one behind. Even if I start drawing now, it¡¯s too late, because I don¡¯t have that much inspiration either.¡± Rong Yan spoke the truth because he truly couldn¡¯t make it happen. In this clothing company, there were only two designers, Liu Hui and Rong Yan. Rong Yan racked his brains but couldn¡¯t come up with any solution. Fu Xingyao, standing aside, didn¡¯t question Nan Qiao¡¯s words. He knew that if Nan Qiao said she could do something, then she definitely would. She never made a decision she wasn¡¯t confident about, never did things she wasn¡¯t sure of. ¡°Rong Yan, go ahead and do your work. Don¡¯t worry about the design drafts; I¡¯ll handle them.¡± Rong Yan nervously shook his head, ¡°Mr. Qiao, you might as well fire me. You work for a living too, and even though you¡¯re the CEO, you still have to take responsibility. If you fire me, pushing all the blame onto me, it¡¯s my fault anyway, as I failed to protect the designs.¡± Nan Qiao was somewhat surprised; she hadn¡¯t expected Rong Yan to be willing to take on all the responsibility. Nowadays, men with such a sense of responsibility were rare. Nan Qiao¡¯s lips curved into a deeper smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you be the scapegoat. This issue can still be resolved. Go have some breakfast first to relax.¡± Fu Xingyao told him, ¡°You go ahead. If we need you, I¡¯ll notify you to come over.¡± Rong Yan asked suspiciously, ¡°Secretary Fu, why do I feel like you and Mr. Qiao knew each other from before?¡± How long had Fu Xingyao been in the company? His unconditional trust in Nan Qiao truly was astonishing. Fu Xingyao kept a straight face as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Qiao¡¯s secretary; naturally, I trust her without doubt.¡± Rong Yan, beyond being shocked, was impressed; Secretary Fu¡¯s awareness was too high. Plus, Nan Qiao¡¯s confident demeanor made her very difficult not to believe. Rong Yan left the office. Fu Xingyao asked, ¡°Miss Qiao, are you planning to draw the designs yourself? If you do, your secret identity will be exposed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made a small change to the design; it¡¯s the only way for now. I¡¯ve just taken over the company; how could I let those behind the scenes succeed and watch my company weep with laughter? My company will not lose!¡± The confident light in Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes made Fu Xingyao believe Miss Qiao was certain to win! ... After receiving guidance from a mentor, Liu Hui arrived at Zhou Hongqi¡¯s company. The designs she brought were very well-received. The secretary came in to report, ¡°President Zhou, our new designs have had great pre-sale numbers. The factory is working overtime to keep up with the schedule.¡± Zhou Hongqi stood up happily, his face glowing, ¡°This Liu Hui is really something!¡± The secretary continued, ¡°President Zhou, we need funds for the stock; the company¡¯s money is running out. You need to think of something quickly, otherwise we won¡¯t be able to meet the consumers¡¯ demands.¡± ¡°No need to rush about the money; I¡¯ll figure something out right now.¡± Zhou Hongqi seemed to see stacks of cash running towards him. With the pre-sales being so hot, he must quickly produce the garments and sell them in the stores. When Liu Hui learned of the situation, she wasn¡¯t too thrilled. These designs were drawn by an intern; how good could they be? Why did so many people like them? Liu Hui frowned as she stood in the restroom looking at herself in the mirror. Zhou Jingya walked up beside Liu Hui, looking at the reflection in the mirror, ¡°These clothes aren¡¯t your designs, are they?¡± Liu Hui jumped, but relaxed upon seeing Zhou Jingya. Liu Hui casually touched up her makeup, her voice tinged with disdain, ¡°Miss Zhou, aren¡¯t you afraid your father will cover your mouth with such talk?¡± Zhou Jingya pursued in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve never met me, so how do you know I¡¯m Miss Zhou?¡± Liu Hui snapped the lid of her makeup case shut, ¡°Though I haven¡¯t met you, I¡¯ve seen your photo on President Zhou¡¯s office desk. If you¡¯re not President Zhou¡¯s daughter, perhaps you¡¯re his little secretary?¡± Zhou Jingya¡¯s expression turned sour, feeling like Liu Hui had ulterior motives for joining the company. ... Zhou Jingya went to Zhou Hongqi¡¯s office and shared her suspicions with him. Zhou Hongqi reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Liu Hui won¡¯t cheat us.¡± ¡°Dad, how do you know?¡± ¡°Because the designs she gave me, I specifically had our company¡¯s designers verify, to see if there was any plagiarism. They compared them day and night for two days and didn¡¯t find any issues. They even said these drafts are very original and fit the current mainstream. Look, our pre-sale has already broken ten thousand!¡± Zhou Hongqi became more and more excited, turning to Zhou Jingya, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go to Qing Bei? Once I make money, I¡¯ll pull some strings for you. You can¡¯t be mediocre as my daughter.¡± Zhou Jingya felt her face burn with humiliation; what was the meaning of stabbing her in the heart with his words? Zhou Jingya decided not to care anymore. With Zhou Hongqi having said this, what right did she have to speak? ... Li Yehan was also aware of the situation on Nan Qiao¡¯s end. He had someone keep an eye on Nan Qiao¡¯s company, ensuring that whatever she needed, his people would provide. To put it not too dramatically, if Nan Qiao needed a plane to fly overseas for a show, a private jet would land on her company¡¯s building, ready to go at any moment. If Nan Qiao¡¯s company needed fabric, various textile markets were ready to supply whatever she needed. When Li Yehan learned about Liu Hui¡¯s betrayal of Nan Qiao¡¯s company and that Nan Qiao was caught in a situation of stolen designs and was unable to reveal her designs on time for pre-sale, his brow furrowed. ¡°Secretary Zhao, send a designer to Qiaoqiao¡¯s company. Whatever design Qiaoqiao wants, draw it for me on the spot!¡± Secretary Zhao looked at Li Yehan¡¯s expression, which was anything but joking; he was dead serious. ¡°Mr. Li, the designers might not be able to immediately produce drafts, right?¡± Li Yehan looked up, his expression stern, ¡°I want to see if these people can produce something!¡± Li Yehan got up, and Secretary Zhao hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Li, there¡¯s an important meeting in five minutes.¡± ¡°Cancel everything; I¡¯m going to see Qiaoqiao.¡± ... Li Yehan arrived at Nan Qiao¡¯s company. It was his first time coming here; he knew Qiaoqiao was low-key and didn¡¯t want people to recognize his identity. Li Yehan wore black sunglasses, hiding his peach blossom eyes that were glinting with a cold light. Step by step, he reached the door of Nan Qiao¡¯s office and knocked. Nan Qiao: ¡°Come in.¡± Li Yehan entered, and Nan Qiao didn¡¯t look up, appearing to be drawing something. ¡°Qiaoqiao.¡± Hearing Li Yehan¡¯s voice, Nan Qiao was startled and quickly used documents to cover the design drafts. Li Yehan stepped forward to the desk, rested his hands on it, and leaned forward. As he lifted his head, his eyes met Nan Qiao¡¯s tender gaze. The distance between the two was very close. As Nan Qiao felt a shadow looming over her head, she instinctively looked up. Their eyes met, their lips only a centimeter apart, the next moment they could be kissing... Chapter 62 - 62 62 Unexpected Incident ?Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Unexpected Incident Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Unexpected Incident Nan Qiao¡¯s expression was frantic as she lowered her head, leaning backward, her chair moving significantly behind her. Li Yehan grinned and sat down slowly. Though there was an office desk between them, Nan Qiao felt as if they were pressed together. Especially Li Yehan¡¯s eyes, they were too intense. ¡°Li Yehan, do you need something from me?¡± Li Yehan crossed his legs, his face devilishly handsome and full of indulgent smiles. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing, can¡¯t I find you?¡± Nan Qiao thought of the design draft and moved forward a bit, fearing that Li Yehan would see the design. ¡°I¡¯m a bit busy today. If there¡¯s nothing else, you should go back first.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°There is something.¡± Like a magic trick, Li Yehan placed a stack of business cards on Nan Qiao¡¯s desk. ¡°Take a look, see which designer you like, and I¡¯ll have her design clothes for your company.¡± Nan Qiao was startled, warmth in her eyes. She finally understood that Li Yehan had come to help her. Though Li Yehan didn¡¯t say it explicitly, Nan Qiao could still hear the real meaning in his words. Nan Qiao was stunned. She pointed at the thick stack of business cards and asked incredulously, ¡°I can pick any of them, and you can bring them over?¡± ¡°Mm, I can bring them all over as well,¡± said Li Yehan with a smile in his eyes. Nan Qiao looked so adorably dumfounded that he really wanted to pinch her soft little face. Nan Qiao was dumbstruck: ¡°Li Yehan, are you omnipotent?¡± ¡°You can think even bolder,¡± Li Yehan said with a curve of his lips and a shallow smile. Nan Qiao did think boldly: ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have all these people come near the company already, would you?¡± Li Yehan looked at Nan Qiao, his eyes smiling: ¡°You¡¯re really smart, you guessed right.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan really was omnipotent, able to do anything. ¡°Have you decided?¡± Li Yehan asked. Nan Qiao refused: ¡°Li Yehan, thank you for your kindness, but I don¡¯t need these designers¡¯ help. I¡¯ve already figured out a solution to this.¡± The image flashed through Li Yehan¡¯s mind, and he smiled and said to Nan Qiao, ¡°Who did you find?¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat because she didn¡¯t know what Li Yehan was smiling about. Nan Qiao countered: ¡°How do you know something happened at the company? Li Yehan, are you having me watched?¡± ¡°I am your business partner, and when the agreed upon time came, you didn¡¯t show the design. Should I not come over when you are thinking of shouldering this alone?¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°The time isn¡¯t up yet, is it? Don¡¯t worry, tomorrow¡¯s pre-sale will go off without a hitch.¡± ¡°The business cards on the table, you don¡¯t need any of them?¡± ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Nan Qiao sincerely thanked Li Yehan. ¡°How do you want to thank me?¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback; she didn¡¯t expect Li Yehan to say such a thing. Nan Qiao said earnestly: ¡°Let me treat you to a meal.¡± Li Yehan stood up, looking at Nan Qiao¡¯s fair skin, her eyes big and round, very endearing. Li Yehan met her shining eyes and gently pinched Nan Qiao¡¯s small face with his long fingers, whispering with a low laugh: ¡°Nice touch.¡± Nan Qiao, touching her own face, glared unhappily at Li Yehan: ¡°Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re willing, they can.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan left the business cards, not taking them with him. ¡°Keep these cards. If you need someone to come and help, give me a call.¡± Li Yehan got up and left. He could tell that Nan Qiao was very busy. Nan Qiao moved the files aside; underneath was an unfinished design drawing. Did Li Yehan see it or not? ... Li Yehan got in the car, and Secretary Zhao took out his phone and asked, ¡°Mr. Li, who shall I call?¡± Secretary Zhao¡¯s hand too held a stack of business cards, contact information for various designers. With one word from Li Yehan, he could have these designers go to Nan Qiao¡¯s company immediately, at her beck and call. Secretary Zhao had only one thought: Mr. Li was doting Miss Nan Qiao too much! He had already opened the dialing page but then heard Li Yehan say, ¡°Return to the company.¡± Secretary Zhao: ? What¡¯s going on? ¡°Mr. Li, are you not helping Miss Nan Qiao?¡± ¡°She¡¯s already found a solution.¡± Rejected Li Yehan, with no displeasure on his face, seemed somewhat proud instead. Secretary Zhao: ?? Is Mr. Li proud that Miss Nan Qiao can solve her own problems? Confused, Secretary Zhao still drove back to the company. ... Nan Qiao made a call home, saying she had to work late today, would not be back early, would not have dinner at home, and there was no need for her family to deliver food to her. Nan Qiao hurriedly hung up and continued drawing. Nan Qiao was busy until six o¡¯clock in the evening when Li Yehan brought food to her office. Everyone else in the office was gone, leaving only Nan Qiao bent over her drawings, laboring diligently. Li Yehan knocked on the door, and when Nan Qiao looked up and saw him again, she was somewhat shocked. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Li Yehan held a food container: ¡°I brought you dinner.¡± Before coming over, Li Yehan had sent Grandpa Bai a message; he was going to see Nan Qiao, telling the Bai family not to worry about her. Going as far as this, Grandpa Bai looked at Li Yehan anew with respect. Li Yehan opened the food container, revealing congee and dishes inside, the cuisine light but appetizing. ¡°Eat first. Without food, how can you have the strength to work?¡± Li Yehan set up the meal, gesturing for Nan Qiao to come and eat. Nan Qiao indeed was hungry and sat down to eat, looking at the food. Fu Xingyao came in with packed food and seeing that Nan Qiao and Li Yehan were already eating, he silently left. ... After finishing her meal, Nan Qiao told Li Yehan: ¡°You can go back first. I still have a bit left unfinished.¡± Li Yehan started tidying up the dishes: ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you. I also have documents to take care of. I¡¯ll just sit over there and won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Nan Qiao wanted to refuse, but she knew that when Li Yehan said something, it was hard to go against his will. Nan Qiao sat down to draw, while Li Yehan tidied up and then took a seat at the furthest spot to do his work. They did not disturb each other, yet they kept each other company. In the quiet environment, the only sounds were Nan Qiao drawing, the rustle of her pencil, and Li Yehan flipping through documents. Nan Qiao finished a drawing, and when she lifted her head, she saw Li Yehan¡¯s perfect jawline and his tall nose. His eyelashes were long and curled, envy-inducing. Nan Qiao¡¯s pen tapped on the white paper, drawing briskly. Only after she had finished did she realize that she had drawn Li Yehan. The man in the drawing was flipping through documents, his handsome brows occasionally furrowing. Nan Qiao¡¯s heart fluttered. Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°Are you drawing me?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s voice came from above her head, and Nan Qiao¡¯s heart raced even more. ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°You look over here from time to time, making it hard for me to concentrate on my documents,¡± said Li Yehan, his lips lifting slightly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to sneak glances; I allow you to look openly.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s face was so hot, she could feel it herself. Nan Qiao stood up, intending to leave the room instinctively when something unexpected occurred. Chapter 63 - 63 63 Alone in a Room ?Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Alone in a Room Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Alone in a Room The lights in the office suddenly went out, and Nan Qiao panicked, falling into a warm embrace. Li Yehan held Nan Qiao, his voice soothing, softly whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Nan Qiao indeed feared the darkness because she had been locked in a dark room as a child, and since then, she had been afraid of environments without light. Because it was summer, the temperature was very high. The air conditioning was on in the office, the curtains were drawn, and the streetlights outside couldn¡¯t shine in, making the room dark and chilling. Nan Qiao clutched Li Yehan¡¯s arm. Li Yehan could feel her frantic emotions accompanied by a certain fear. Li Yehan embraced her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll take you to draw the curtains. There will be light, and you won¡¯t have to fear.¡± Nan Qiao bit her teeth, trying her best to suppress the fear within her heart, slowly following Li Yehan to the window. The curtains were drawn, and the light from outside seeped in, slightly easing Nan Qiao¡¯s tense mood. Slowly raising her head, with the help of the streetlights, she saw Li Yehan¡¯s resolute chin. As she looked up, he looked down, their gazes collided, and Nan Qiao saw the full concern in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll go open the door, let¡¯s go back first.¡± Li Yehan, worried that Nan Qiao¡¯s emotions might collapse, took her hand and led her to the office door. ¡°The door has been locked.¡± Li Yehan frowned, surprisingly not noticing there was a problem with the door lock. Li Yehan took out his phone, ¡°There¡¯s a signal jammer here.¡± Nan Qiao frowned, glancing at Li Yehan. Without her saying anything, Li Yehan could feel Nan Qiao¡¯s cursing temper. Li Yehan gave a helpless smile, ¡°Do you think I would use such a low tactic to be alone with you? I may not be a good person, but I wouldn¡¯t do that to you.¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback, looking around, still pondering who could do such a shameless thing to her. Using the light from outside, Nan Qiao packed everything into her bag. ¡°Li Yehan, stand back.¡± Nan Qiao lifted her right foot, ready to kick the door. Li Yehan grabbed her arm, ¡°You stand aside, I¡¯ll do it.¡± How could a woman be the one to kick open a door when a man was present. Nan Qiao stood aside while Li Yehan¡¯s right foot violently kicked the door. Boom! The sound of collapsing filled the air as Nan Qiao watched the sturdy door fall to the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Li Yehan took Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, leading her to the entrance of the company. The door here, too, was locked. There was a smell of gasoline outside. Li Yehan knew that they must leave this place quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll take you out first.¡± Li Yehan made a move as if to kick the door. Nan Qiao, ¡°First, let go of my hand, I¡¯ll do it.¡± The door was made of glass; kicking it open would be too dangerous. Glass shards would scatter, surely injuring someone. Li Yehan stood aside as Nan Qiao took a hairpin from her hair and fiddled with the lock for a few moments, and the lock opened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to pick locks.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot I can do.¡± Nan Qiao stood up, re-clipping the hairpin in her hair as if it were a weapon she carried with her. Li Yehan, arms crossed and leaning against the wall, watched her with a devil-may-care demeanor. Even in the darkness, his handsomeness was evident. ¡°You do indeed know quite a lot, like... sneaking peeks at me.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s face flushed as she stepped forward and walked on. Li Yehan quickly grasped Nan Qiao¡¯s hand, walking in front of her, ensuring her safety. With such an incident occurring, who knew what more dangerous things might happen next? Li Yehan had to ensure Nan Qiao¡¯s safety! The two of them made their way down the stairs, arriving at the underground parking lot. The parking lot was quiet, with the two walking through it as if navigating an obstacle course. Even as they sat in the car, Li Yehan was still concerned for Nan Qiao¡¯s safety. ¡°Where¡¯s your bodyguard?¡± Nan Qiao: ... Uncle Dao and Uncle Qin had something to do today; Nan Qiao had sent them on an errand, and they hadn¡¯t returned yet. ¡°They took the day off,¡± Nan Qiao said, deadpanning. Li Yehan made an ¡°Oh¡± sound that was laden with meaning, giving Nan Qiao the illusion that he could see right through her. Nan Qiao quickly collected herself. She felt as if Li Yehan could see right through her. Li Yehan said, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± Nan Qiao nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Qiao sat in the passenger seat while Li Yehan drove. During the drive, Li Yehan noticed Nan Qiao had fallen asleep. He parked the car on the side, took off his coat, and draped it over Nan Qiao before he continued driving. When they reached the Bai Family¡¯s doorstep, Li Yehan did not get out of the car, waiting instead for Nan Qiao to wake up. ... Chen Xinwan came out of the kitchen with a food container in hand, intending to slip away when Bai Zhenyang came downstairs. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Chen Xinwan was startled. Bai Zhenyang: ¡°Qiaoqiao is my daughter; how could I not care for her? She didn¡¯t come home tonight, and I don¡¯t know if she had dinner. I was planning to bring her some food.¡± Chen Xinwan laughed, ¡°So was I. Let¡¯s go together.¡± The couple were about to leave when they heard the elevator arrive. They quickly hid behind a desk. Grandpa Bai came out of the elevator and headed to the kitchen. Shortly, he too emerged with a food container in hand. Just as Grandpa Bai was about to leave, he also heard the elevator, and after a quick look around, he hid behind the desk. And so, the three of them met. We looked at each other, eye to eye, in startled silence. At that moment, Bai Jingrui also came out of the elevator and headed to the kitchen. Soon after, Bai Jingrui came out with a food container as well. Since they were all bringing food for Qiaoqiao, there was no need for stealth. Grandpa Bai, Bai Zhenyang, and Chen Xinwan gave up the act and showed themselves. ¡°Grandpa, Mom, Dad, are you also bringing food for Qiaoqiao?¡± Grandpa Bai: ¡°Lao San, I didn¡¯t expect you to be this thoughtful.¡± Bai Jingrui: ¡°Grandpa, you underestimate me. Although Qiaoqiao had just come back and I haven¡¯t lived with her for long, she once saved my life and she¡¯s my sister. Of course, I want to treat her well.¡± Bai Zhenyang: ¡°Not bad, quite responsible, much better than your two brothers.¡± Chen Xinwan: ¡°Those two rascals haven¡¯t returned yet. When they do, we¡¯ll set them up with a full day of blind dates, followed by a day of shopping with Qiaoqiao!¡± What Chen Xinwan mentioned were all things that the two older brothers disliked doing. Bai Jingrui¡¯s eyes lit up at the thought: ¡°Mom, you¡¯re brilliant! This is great, really great! I¡¯m so looking forward to it!¡± Bai Zhenyang: ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and take the food to Qiaoqiao. My daughter must be hungry. And who knows whether the food outside suits her taste? This child can really endure hardship.¡± The family chatted noisily as they left, only thinking about bringing food to Nan Qiao right away. As they stepped out, the butler arrived. ¡°The young miss has returned.¡± ¡°What!¡± The group exclaimed in unison. Their faces were all alight with joyful smiles. ¡°Where is she? Where¡¯s Qiaoqiao?¡± Chen Xinwan: ¡°My daughter, where is she? She¡¯s back, so why hasn¡¯t she come in yet? Is she in the basement?¡± Butler: ¡°The young miss has returned, but she¡¯s still in the car and hasn¡¯t gotten out. Mr. Li brought her back, and the two have been sitting in the car, not getting out.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was thrown into a panic. Especially Bai Zhenyang, he certainly didn¡¯t want anyone poaching their family¡¯s precious cabbage! The group hastened to the doorway... Chapter 64 - 64 64 Counterkill ?Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Counterkill Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Counterkill The car didn¡¯t enter the underground garage; Li Yehan wanted to spend a bit more time with Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao opened her eyes and found that she was still in the car. Li Yehan¡¯s jacket, which smelled of his cool, refreshing scent, covered her. It smelled very nice. Nan Qiao took the jacket off and handed it to him, ¡°I¡¯m home now.¡± Li Yehan said, ¡°We arrived a while ago. I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn¡¯t wake you.¡± Nan Qiao looked outside the car window and sure enough, they were at her doorstep. ¡°Thank you for bringing me home. I¡¯m going to get out of the car now; you should head back and rest too.¡± Nan Qiao unfastened her seat belt, but as soon as she stepped out of the car, her feet weakened, and her body lurched forward. She fell right into Li Yehan¡¯s arms. He had gotten out of the car earlier, intending to help Nan Qiao with the door, only to have her fall towards him. Nan Qiao instinctively wrapped her arms around Li Yehan¡¯s neck, while he hugged her slender waist, which felt soft and limp. The Bai Family came outside and happened to witness this scene. Along with them, Bai Yurou also saw the usually unapproachable Li Yehan holding Nan Qiao¡¯s waist. ¡°Qiaoqiao,¡± Chen Xinwan called out. Nan Qiao steadied herself and pushed Li Yehan away. She had been asleep in the car for so long that her legs were weak, which caused her to lose her balance and fall. Nan Qiao quickly approached Chen Xinwan with an awkward smile on her face, ¡°My legs are a bit weak.¡± Chen Xinwan asked, ¡°Did you twist your ankle? I can have the family doctor come over and take a look.¡± Bai Zhenyang suggested, ¡°Maybe we should take you to the hospital. You know, injuries to tendons and bones take a long time to heal.¡± Bai Jingrui added, ¡°Sister, it¡¯s best to go to the hospital to get it checked out.¡± Nan Qiao assured them, ¡°It¡¯s not necessary, I just fell asleep in the car and wasn¡¯t steady on my feet when I got out.¡± Grandpa Bai asked, ¡°Qiaoqiao, have you eaten yet? We were about to bring you some food, hearing from the butler that you had come back.¡± They were holding three food containers, apparently ready to go out, and a warm current swept through Nan Qiao¡¯s heart. Nan Qiao smiled brightly, ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Li Yehan stepped forward, the thick nightfall behind him. Under the glow of the lights, his handsome face was even more enchanting. Bai Yurou glanced at him and silently lowered her head, unable to hide the admiration in her eyes. Grandpa Bai looked at Li Yehan with great satisfaction. ¡°Ye Han, thank you for driving Qiaoqiao home. It¡¯s getting late, so I won¡¯t keep you for tea,¡± mainly because he saw the fatigue in Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes. Since Qiaoqiao was tired, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t keep Li Yehan. If Li Yehan were to come over, Nan Qiao would have to fuss over a little longer. Li Yehan nodded, ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Grandpa Bai. It¡¯s only right that I brought Qiaoqiao back. I¡¯ll be leaving now. Qiaoqiao, you should rest early.¡± Li Yehan got back into the car and drove away from the Bai Family¡¯s doorstep. Nan Qiao got into a car in the yard; the house was too big. Without the car, walking to the main gate on foot was just too tiring. Nan Qiao passed through a quiet path, walked past a pond, reached a beautiful garden, and finally arrived at the building where she lived. ¡°Qiaoqiao, you go up and sleep first. I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to prepare some nourishing food, so eat more tomorrow when you get up, and replenish well. You¡¯re too skinny; tomorrow, Mommy will go to the store and pick out some ginseng and bird¡¯s nest for you to boost your health.¡± Nan Qiao replied, ¡°I have some ginseng that my master sent over at my place. We can all eat it together.¡± Chen Xinwan said, ¡°No need, that¡¯s all a token of your master¡¯s affection. You keep it.¡± Chen Xinwan naturally wouldn¡¯t touch Nan Qiao¡¯s gifts. Nan Qiao was too drained to chat with everyone; she just wanted to take a bath to refresh herself and continue drawing. ¡°I¡¯m going to go upstairs to rest now.¡± Nan Qiao entered the elevator, and her family also followed, heading back to their own rooms to rest. ... Nan Qiao took a shower and put on a dry hair cap before opening her computer. Li Yehan¡¯s video call came through, and after pondering for a moment, Nan Qiao chose to answer. In the camera view, Li Yehan was sitting on the sofa, a doting smile playing in his eyes. When he saw Nan Qiao, fresh from her bath, his throat tightened; his gaze fixed on her face, unable to look away for a long time. ¡°Li Yehan, do you need something?¡± Nan Qiao lowered her head to check her pajamas, which were conservative and not revealing; what was he staring at so intently? Li Yehan was still in that white shirt, wearing a pair of silver-framed glasses, with less of his usual coldness, the very image of a gentleman gone rogue. His narrow eyes focused directly on Nan Qiao in the lens, a hook at the corner of his lips, his voice seductive, ¡°Not finished with your work yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting ready to sleep.¡± Li Yehan looked at her innocent face and smirked, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really, Li Yehan, goodnight.¡± Nan Qiao hung up the phone. She opened the design drawings and continued working. Meanwhile, Li Yehan picked up his phone, dark eyes gleaming with malice, ¡°Secretary Zhao, first thing tomorrow morning, I do not want to see Liu Hui still in the position of a designer or working for any company.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Li.¡± After hanging up the phone, Secretary Zhao scrambled around, feeling that the money wasn¡¯t easy to earn! In the dead of night, he might as well drop dead. At this moment, Liu Hui was counting the latest transfer into her bank account. ¡°Five million dollars secured, who would work at Zhou Hongqi¡¯s tiny, shabby company! I¡¯m going to quit right now!¡± Liu Hui sat amidst her beautiful dreams, ready to live a carefree life. Her phone rang, and seeing the unfamiliar number, Liu Hui got as excited as if she had seen the God of Wealth, ¡°Hello, I¡¯ve completed the task you gave me. Now Nan Qiao¡¯s company must be in utter chaos, and I don¡¯t believe Rong Yan can draw the designs in such a short time. Without any other designers, that company can just go bankrupt! Unless Huai Xi, the master designer, is there. Only she can draw twenty design drawings overnight!¡± The person on the other end hummed, ¡°Take your money and keep your mouth shut.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve booked my ticket. I¡¯ll leave first thing tomorrow morning, and no one will be able to find me.¡± Only then did the caller relax and hang up. Liu Hui was overjoyed, dreaming of her new wealth until the break of dawn. The next morning, she was ready to leave with her suitcase in hand. As she opened the door, she saw public servants waiting for her. ¡°Liu Hui, you are suspected of tax evasion. Come with us.¡± Liu Hui was completely flustered; she had everything planned already, how could the police take her away now! ¡°Someone has framed me!¡± Liu Hui refused to go with them. ¡°Xu Dayong has already confessed in prison, and he has evidence. Come with us and you¡¯ll know if you¡¯ve been wronged or not!¡± The officials took Liu Hui away, leaving no room for resistance. At the same time, Liu Hui wasn¡¯t the only one in trouble; Zhou Hongqi was as well. Zhou Hongqi never imagined that his dreams would shatter, and his money-making schemes would go down the drain. Waiting for him were lawsuits. After Liu Hui¡¯s arrest, it became public knowledge that she plagiarized Rong Yan¡¯s work. All the designs she brought to Zhou Hongqi¡¯s company were copied. Zhou Hongqi found out the news as he arrived at his company. The secretary rushed in frantically, and Zhou Hongqi sat in his chair asking, ¡°What¡¯s got you so flustered, did pre-sales increase again?¡± Secretary: ¡°President Zhou, it¡¯s not about an increase in pre-sales, our company is facing a lawsuit! Liu Hui has been arrested, and she¡¯s claimed that all the designs she brought were plagiarized! President Zhou, you need to think of something fast!¡± Zhou Hongqi felt a darkness before his eyes and nearly passed out. He shook his head, in a complete panic. What to do now? Chapter 65 - 65 65 Are You the Boss Here ?Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Are You the Boss Here? Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Are You the Boss Here? Zhou Hongqi originally had little managerial ability, and if it wasn¡¯t for Nan Qiao helping him behind the scenes and making money with him all these years, how could he have had any income and be seated firmly in this position? Zhou Hongqi angrily said, ¡°Liu Hui plagiarized, and we didn¡¯t know, how can you put this blame on us?¡± Secretary: ¡°In order to shirk responsibility, Liu Hui claimed that you also knew about her plagiarism and continued to use those design drawings.¡± Zhou Hongqi: !! ¡°Damn it, this despicable woman, she actually schemed against me! Had I known she plagiarized the designs, would I still have used them?¡± The secretary helplessly said, ¡°Plus, the clients who purchased the designs heard about this and boycotted it, massively canceling their pre-orders. We¡¯ve suffered huge losses!¡± Zhou Hongqi, as agitated as an ant on a hot pan, heard a suggestion from the secretary, ¡°Mr. Zhou, if you don¡¯t come up with a plan soon, our company is truly finished.¡± Zhou Hongqi angrily threw his cup, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that? Do I need you, an idiot, to tell me?¡± The secretary bowed his head and dared not speak anymore. Wasn¡¯t it hard enough to hold onto a job these days? He didn¡¯t want to be unemployed! Zhou Hongqi, this fool! Ignoring Nan Qiao who is like the God of Wealth and instead driving her away, how stupid! The secretary¡¯s inner complaints went unheard, naturally, by Zhou Hongqi. Zhou Hongqi couldn¡¯t be bothered with the secretary and walked straight out. He must come up with a plan! Zhou Hongqi drove to the company where Nan Qiao was. As long as that company didn¡¯t sue Liu Hui for plagiarism and sold him those design drawings, his company could reduce the losses. ... Nan Qiao arrived at the reception, where the receptionist said, ¡°Mr. Qiao, please wait a moment, there¡¯s a parcel for you, I¡¯ll go fetch it.¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Nan Qiao stood at the reception, browsing through the records of this period. Just then, Zhou Hongqi arrived. Walking in with arrogance, seeing Nan Qiao at the reception, his eyes filled with surprise, disdain, and cunning. Zhou Hongqi approached step by step, ¡°Qiaoqiao, why are you working here? Don¡¯t you need to earn tuition money after returning to your parents?¡± Nan Qiao looked up to see Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face, cold as frost, as if seeing someone she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Qiaoqiao, are you working at this company?¡± Nan Qiao, unsure what Zhou Hongqi was up to, responded nonchalantly and said no more. Zhou Hongqi pulled out his phone and said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, look, you¡¯re working here, earning what, three thousand dollars a month? How about this, I¡¯ll give you ten thousand dollars, can you help me with something?¡± Zhou Hongqi then asked, ¡°Is your boss a man or a woman?¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°What do you want?¡± Zhou Hongqi cheerfully said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, seeing you work at the reception here, you must be living hand to mouth, right? Your biological parents are really something, how could they let a top scholar like you work a summer job, that¡¯s just too harsh!¡± Nan Qiao stared directly into his eyes: ¡°Are you even human?¡± How dare he speak about her parents that way ¡ª did Zhou Hongqi really think she had no temper? Zhou Hongqi, unable to maintain his face upon being rebutted, suddenly felt that Nan Qiao¡¯s words were too harsh! ¡°Qiaoqiao, I actually took care of you, how can you talk to me like that!¡± ¡°When the plank hits not your body, you can¡¯t feel the pain! You talk about my parents, why can¡¯t I talk about you?¡± Zhou Hongqi didn¡¯t expect Nan Qiao to dare speak to him with such an attitude. The old Nan Qiao was always all smiles, even if Liu Yanfang had said many unpleasant things, she would just laugh it off. But the Nan Qiao standing before him now was so assertive and fiery that Zhou Hongqi felt utterly alienated. Thinking of why he was there, Zhou Hongqi started, ¡°Qiaoqiao, since you work at this company, do you know the boss?¡± Nan Qiao: ? She was the owner of this company, unfortunately, Zhou Hongqi didn¡¯t know that. Nan Qiao hummed an acknowledgment, and Zhou Hongqi¡¯s eyes gleamed, ¡°Then do you have a good relationship with the boss?¡± Nan Qiao hummed again, and Zhou Hongqi grew excited, ¡°Qiaoqiao, since you¡¯re familiar with the boss, could you talk to him and get him to sell those design drawings to our company?¡± Nan Qiao looked at Zhou Hongqi in disbelief, ¡°You want to buy design drawings?¡± Zhou Hongqi nodded, ¡°Yes, you might not know, but your company¡¯s Liu Hui came to our company with design drawings that turned out to be copied from your company¡¯s designs! This woman has ruined me! The clothes designed from those drawings, I had the factory work overtime to produce them, and now due to Liu Hui¡¯s plagiarism incident, many customers who pre-ordered are all returning their purchases. If this continues, I¡¯ll be finished!¡± Nan Qiao hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Hongqi to plan on buying the design drawings. Nan Qiao curved her lips slightly, softly asking, ¡°What makes you so sure the company will sell the designs to you?¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°Whether they sell or not, I have to try first, don¡¯t I? This situation, isn¡¯t it better to give it a shot? Qiaoqiao, after all, we are family. Help me out, would you? Go and tell your boss to sell those design drawings to me.¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°How much are you willing to pay?¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°A million?¡± Nan Qiao laughed, her mocking gaze making Zhou Hongqi uneasy. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°I¡¯m laughing at your outrageous demand! A million for so many design drawings. Mr. Zhou, are you sure your brain is working properly?¡± Furious and wanting to lash out but remembering he needed Nan Qiao¡¯s help, Zhou Hongqi swallowed his anger. Zhou Hongqi in a low voice implored, ¡°Qiaoqiao, just help me out. Speak nicely with your boss for me. I promise you¡¯ll benefit from it. How? If your boss is happy, would he still let you just be the receptionist? Surely he would make you the secretary!¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes flashed fiercely, unblinkingly staring at Zhou Hongqi as if she could bore a hole through his body. Her gaze was like seeing an inanimate object, making Zhou Hongqi uncomfortable. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you!¡± Nan Qiao exploded in anger. ¡°You mean for me to seduce someone else to benefit you?¡± Nan Qiao angrily questioned. Zhou Hongqi looked around and in a low tone said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯m doing this for your own good. If my company doesn¡¯t go under, and later when you marry someone wealthy, won¡¯t your life be better too? Even if you were a top scholar and a good student, you might not necessarily land a good job, right?¡± If Zhou Hongqi were not her foster father, had not raised her once, Nan Qiao would have definitely kicked him out! His heart was too filthy! Nan Qiao¡¯s piercing gaze fixed on Zhou Hongqi, ¡°Not everyone¡¯s heart is as filthy as yours! Get out!¡± Zhou Hongqi, losing his temper due to the rebuttal, shouted at Nan Qiao, ¡°How dare you yell at me? Nan Qiao, you are just a receptionist, what right do you have to kick me out! Are you the boss here?¡± Just then, the receptionist returned, ¡°Mr. Qiao, what¡¯s the matter? Do you need me to call the police?¡± Chapter 66 - 66 66 A Complete Victory ?Chapter 66: Chapter 66: A Complete Victory Chapter 66: Chapter 66: A Complete Victory The receptionist¡¯s words left Zhou Hongqi dumbstruck as a wooden chicken. ¡°What did you call her? Mr. Qiao? She¡¯s the owner of this fashion company?¡± Zhou Hongqi struggled to calm himself; he wanted to hear the other person¡¯s answer. The receptionist walked over to Nan Qiao and spoke with some dissatisfaction, ¡°Who are you to speak rudely to our Mr. Qiao! I¡¯m going to call security right now and have an impolite person like you thrown out!¡± Zhou Hongqi still couldn¡¯t believe the reality he was hearing; how could Nan Qiao be the owner of this fashion company? Something occurred to Zhou Hongqi, and with a frown and an indescribable look in his eyes, he said, ¡°Is Liu Hui the mole you sent over? Nan Qiao, I didn¡¯t expect you to do such a thing, repaying kindness with resentment!¡± Nan Qiao laughed in anger and disdainfully said, ¡°Liu Hui stole our company¡¯s designs, causing us huge losses, and you have the gall to turn things around on us? We¡¯ll settle the account of her plagiarism with her!¡± Although the receptionist didn¡¯t understand the whole situation, she still defended Nan Qiao, ¡°Mr. Qiao has been nothing but good to her, and yet she ran off with our company¡¯s hard work to your company. Sir, are you in cahoots with Liu Hui to harm our company?¡± Zhou Hongqi was left speechless by the rebuke; he had originally come to discuss a collaboration with the company¡¯s owner, without expecting it to be Nan Qiao. Zhou Hongqi felt as if his head had been struck by lightning, it was that uncomfortable. His brain had stopped working; it had crashed. Nan Qiao gave a cold smile, ¡°President Zhou, we¡¯ll settle this account with your company. Liu Hui left our company and joined yours immediately after¡ªit¡¯s too much of a coincidence!¡± The receptionist suddenly realized, ¡°It seems Liu Hui had already found a place to go before decisively leaving our company! Such a disgrace, so wicked!¡± Zhou Hongqi left Nan Qiao¡¯s company dejected and wandered home, his spirit shattered. Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya also learned about the incident through the news, their hearts in turmoil. The company was finished, what would they do? Sitting on the sofa, Zhou Hongqi sighed deeply, ¡°Do you know who is suing our company?¡± Liu Yanfang asked, ¡°Who is it? You¡¯re not going to say it¡¯s Nan Qiao, are you?¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be, could it?¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°What difference does it make if Nan Qiao was a top scorer in the college entrance exam? Can she be a company owner? What is she worth!¡± Zhou Hongqi glared at her, ¡°Blame your own big mouth! What you say comes to be!¡± Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya looked at each other dumbfounded. Zhou Jingya, ¡°Is it really Nan Qiao? How could she be the owner of the company?¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°Who is she clinging to this time? I refuse to believe she could open a company on her own capabilities.¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Dad, since it¡¯s her company, why don¡¯t you just talk to her and ask her not to sue you, and to give you the designs?¡± ¡°Fat chance,¡± Zhou Hongqi cursed. ¡°If only she would actually give me those designs!¡± He wouldn¡¯t be in so much trouble then! Liu Yanfang: ¡°What? She won¡¯t do it? How does she have the face to deny it?¡± Zhou Jingya: ¡°Mom, Dad, you raised her after all. She¡¯s truly ungrateful for not wanting to help with such a small matter.¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°Ungrateful daughter! If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have raised her; she¡¯s completely useless!¡± Liu Yanfang: ¡°I¡¯m going to find her and have a good talk with her!¡± Zhou Jingya: ¡°Mom, what could you possibly do?¡± Liu Yanfang: ¡°I have something that can make her listen to me!¡± ... Nan Qiao¡¯s designs were released, and the presale began as scheduled. The presale opened with clothes that were eye-catching, sparking considerable discussion. It wasn¡¯t long before the presale sold out completely. Li Yehan called Nan Qiao, ¡°Congratulations.¡± Nan Qiao looked at the numbers, very satisfied, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Dinner together tonight?¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°I have a dinner with colleagues tonight to celebrate our success. Some other time, it will be my treat.¡± ¡°Where will the celebration be held?¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°At Jin Jiang Hotel.¡± Li Yehan chuckled, ¡°Okay.¡± Li Yehan hung up and then called Jin Jiang Hotel, giving some instructions. The manager promised respectfully to follow Li Yehan¡¯s instructions to the letter. Li Yehan¡¯s phone rang; it was a video call from his friend, Mo Shaolin. The video showed a face that was androgynous, and with a wicked smile, he teased, ¡°Ye Han, you¡¯re smiling so happily, are you in love?¡± ¡°Are you heading back?¡± Li Yehan avoided the question. Mo Shaolin nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few days, with someone joining me on the trip.¡± Li Yehan grunted, and Mo Shaolin said with a playful smile, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who it is?¡± ¡°I have no interest in meddling in affairs that have nothing to do with me,¡± Li Yehan responded crisply. ¡°This person is actually related to you, Xiaxia called me, saying you¡¯re not answering her calls.¡± Li Yehan frowned, ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s response made Mo Shaolin pause, ¡°Ye Han, why are you still so cold toward her?¡± ¡°What relationship do I have with her? Why should I be warm toward her? Mo Shaolin, are you my friend or hers?¡± Mo Shaolin was rendered speechless, and Li Yehan simply hung up the call. When Mo Shaolin tried calling back, he couldn¡¯t reach him; he had been blocked. ... Fu Xingyao came in and showed Nan Qiao the numbers, ¡°Mr. Qiao, the designs have received an exceptionally good response. Our bookings have already exceeded expectations.¡± Nan Qiao was composed and not overly excited. She had full confidence in her designs. ¡°Alright, follow up with the next steps. Bring Rong Yan with you to familiarize with the process, you must keep an eye on everything.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Qiao, you can rest assured that I will ensure there are no problems with anything that follows.¡± Nan Qiao gave a slight smile; she had no doubts about Fu Xingyao¡¯s ability to handle things. ¡°Ah Yao, I¡¯ve booked a table at Jin Jiang Hotel; tonight, everyone from the office is going to dine together to celebrate.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qiao; I¡¯ll go and let the others know right away.¡± Fu Xingyao left and shared the news, and the office exchanged looks of disbelief. ¡°Is it really Jin Jiang Hotel? Isn¡¯t that where a single table costs at least tens of thousands?¡± ¡°Even if you have the money, you might not be able to get in.¡± ¡°I heard there¡¯s also a membership fee. Without reserving in advance, there wouldn¡¯t even be a table available.¡± ¡°Mr. Qiao is really good to us, taking us to Jin Jiang Hotel for our first gathering, much better than Xu Dayong!¡± ¡°That stingy Xu Dayong, he¡¯s nothing compared to Mr. Qiao¡¯s generosity!¡± ¡°Mr. Qiao is so capable; she managed to get us through this crisis, it¡¯s amazing!¡± Everyone was looking forward to what it would be like at Jin Jiang Hotel. Some were touching up their makeup, others straightening their hair, all preparing for the evening feast. After work, the group arrived at Jin Jiang Hotel. As soon as they reached the entrance, they were personally greeted by the manager. ¡°Mr. Qiao, your reserved room is number 888, please let me take you there.¡± Nan Qiao looked at the manager skeptically; she could actually reserve room 888? They entered the room and were stunned by the scene before them... Chapter 67 - 67 67 Longer Than My Life ?Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Longer Than My Life Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Longer Than My Life The spacious room contained a large round table. It was set with various dishes as well as a variety of wines and drinks. ¡°Oh my God, that lobster is huge!¡± ¡°This plate of salmon is longer than my life.¡± ¡°Those bird¡¯s nests look delicious!¡± ¡°And these brands of red wine, I¡¯ve only ever seen them in novels.¡± A few people whispered among themselves. The manager pretended not to hear. Nan Qiao, ¡°I haven¡¯t ordered yet.¡± ¡°All these dishes have been ordered by Mr. Li for you. He said to serve a variety of dishes so that you and your friends can have a taste of everything.¡± The others sucked in a breath! What kind of pull is this! Mr. Li? Just from hearing that, one could tell he¡¯s Miss Qiao¡¯s boyfriend! ¡°Miss Qiao, I won¡¯t disturb you and your friends during your meal any longer. If you need anything, just press that button on the table, and I¡¯ll come in.¡± The manager considerately closed the door. Rong Yan looked around the vast private room and obsequiously pulled out a chair for Nan Qiao, ¡°Mr. Qiao, please sit here.¡± Nan Qiao smiled and nodded, ¡°Thank you, everyone please sit. You¡¯ve all worked hard recently, and we¡¯ll still need everyone¡¯s help in the next few days so the company can continue to thrive.¡± ¡°Mr. Qiao, you¡¯re too modest. Getting paid by the company, naturally we should dedicate ourselves fully to the company!¡± ¡°Mr. Qiao, I toast to you. The company¡¯s success today is all thanks to you!¡± ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s all Mr. Qiao¡¯s merit. If Xu Dayong were here, the company would have gone bankrupt already!¡± ¡°And Liu Hui, that traitor, not only did she harm the company, but she also caused you, Mr. Qiao, to worry.¡± ¡°Look at you, bringing up what should not be mentioned. Let¡¯s not talk about these depressing matters, let¡¯s all toast to Mr. Qiao.¡± Nan Qiao also stood up and had a drink with everyone. Looking at the table full of delicacies, these people were truly enlightened. ... After leaving Nan Qiao¡¯s side, the manager headed to the next private room. ¡°Mr. Li, everything has been arranged properly. Miss Qiao and the people she brought have started their meal.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Li Yehan swirled the wine in his glass, his lips slightly upturned. The manager, with utmost respect, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Secretary Zhao gave him a look and the manager obediently departed. Secretary Zhao placed the documents in front of Li Yehan, ¡°Mr. Li, I¡¯ve checked. Zhou Hongqi visited Miss Qiao¡¯s company wanting to purchase those designs. He¡¯s really too foolish, not even knowing that Miss Qiao is the daughter of the wealthiest man, and not aware that the clothing company is Miss Qiao¡¯s property as well.¡± Li Yehan smirked evilly, ¡°Zhou Hongqi will be the death of himself with his stupidity.¡± Secretary Zhao, ¡°One day, when he learns of Miss Qiao¡¯s identity, I wonder if he¡¯ll be so furious that he¡¯ll spit blood and die of regret.¡± Without much thought, one could imagine Zhou Hongqi would be filled with regret. At this moment, Zhou Hongqi was indeed full of regret. The company was on the brink of collapse, about to be finished. Liu Yanfang, holding the servant¡¯s phone, ceaselessly called Nan Qiao. After connecting and hearing her voice, Nan Qiao hung up. Calling again, she was blocked. In just a moment, all of the servant¡¯s phone numbers were blocked. Liu Yanfang, furious, threw the phone, ¡°This little bitch, she actually blocked me!¡± The servant stood to the side, and Liu Yanfang looked at her annoyance. ¡°What are you doing standing there?¡± Servant, ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve smashed my phone, I...¡± ¡°What about you? Can¡¯t I afford to compensate for your phone? Go to the housekeeper and get ten thousand cash, and buy a new phone.¡± The maid¡¯s face lit up with joy and immediately went to claim the money from the housekeeper. Zhou Jingya, ¡°Mom, I heard from my classmate that she saw Nan Qiao at the entrance of Jin Jiang Hotel. She¡¯s having a meal there.¡± Liu Yanfang grabbed her purse and headed out, ¡°I¡¯m going to find that little bitch right now!¡± Zhou Jingya, not feeling at ease, mostly out of interest in the impending drama, followed Liu Yanfang out. Zhou Hongqi didn¡¯t return home that evening; the company was in chaos, and he needed to stay and figure out a solution. ... After a satisfying meal, Nan Qiao said to Rong Yan, ¡°I¡¯ve settled the bill here. Rong Yan, I¡¯m heading home first after this. After you all finish eating, feel free to go sing karaoke. Just bring the receipt back to the company for reimbursement.¡± She had specifically asked around, since dining and karaoke typically went hand in hand. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qiao!¡± Her colleagues were both excited and happy. Nan Qiao thought without her being there, the others might enjoy themselves even more. Nan Qiao took her purse and left first. Just as Nan Qiao reached the downstairs, she ran into Liu Yanfang who was sweaty and standing at the entrance. The weather was hot, and Liu Yanfang, fearing she wouldn¡¯t catch Nan Qiao, chose not to sit in the car with the air conditioning but instead waited outside to block her. ¡°Nan Qiao, how dare you go against us! We raised you, and you repay kindness with enmity; you are heartless!¡± Liu Yanfang strode forward, spewing harsh and piercing words. Nan Qiao, holding her purse and dressed in a white shirt and long skirt, looked at Liu Yanfang with a cold gaze that made her a bit fearful. ¡°One reaps what one sows! If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Zhou and the collusion between Liu Yanfang and Liu Hui, how could they end up reaping the bitter fruits of their actions?¡± Zhou Jingya tugged at Liu Yanfang¡¯s sleeve, shaking her head at her. The previously aggressive Liu Yanfang suddenly fell silent. Zhou Jingya spoke softly to Nan Qiao, ¡°My parents raised you, and even though you are not related to our family, the kindness of being nurtured to adulthood, don¡¯t you plan to repay it?¡± Nan Qiao laughed mockingly, her cold eyes filled with disdain, ¡°Zhou Jingya, the orphanage raised you, so how do you plan to repay that kindness? Since you¡¯ve returned, have you visited the matron of the orphanage? Have you visited those who cared for you and helped you?¡± Zhou Jingya¡¯s face flushed with anger, ¡°This is moral coercion!¡± ¡°I¡¯m morally coercing you?¡± ¡°How could you not!¡± Zhou Jingya choked with fury. Nan Qiao crossed her arms, giving a cold laugh, ¡°You have no morals to coerce.¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°...¡± Liu Yanfang couldn¡¯t bear it any longer; no one could insult her precious daughter. ¡°Xiao Ya is right! I raised you into an adult, how will you repay this kindness? Isn¡¯t all the money I spent on you, all of this, our contribution?¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°I¡¯ve given back to the mountain village that raised me! As for your family, go ask Zhou Hongqi how that partnership ended! Who gave him those deals in the first place! What I¡¯ve given back to your family is a hundred times, a thousand times the amount of your supposed contributions! And yet you dare to show up here trying to morally coerce me with your audacity?¡± Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya were speechless from the rebuttal, and the manager who had come after hearing the commotion wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°Miss Qiao, do you need assistance? If you don¡¯t want to see these two, I can have someone throw them out for you!¡± Nan Qiao, with her otherworldly demeanor, looked as if Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya were her poor relatives who were not fit for public appearance, worlds apart from her stature. Nan Qiao haughtily looked at them, ¡°Don¡¯t show up in front of me again!¡± Nan Qiao walked forward, where a car was parked. Chapter 68 - 68 68 Lying on Li Yehans Bed ?Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Lying on Li Yehan¡¯s Bed Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Lying on Li Yehan¡¯s Bed Qiaoqiao watched as Li Yehan sat in the driver¡¯s seat of the car, his sword-like eyebrows framing his high-bridged nose. The thin lips that usually pressed together slightly lifted in a genuine smile when he saw her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Qiaoqiao asked, curious. Li Yehan replied, ¡°If I¡¯m not in the car, should I be outside it?¡± Li Yehan stepped out of the car, grasped Qiaoqiao¡¯s wrist, and pulled her into the seat beside him. Li Yehan looked at Qiaoqiao beside him and helped her tidy the stray hairs on her forehead. He had heard that Qiaoqiao had left the private room, so he had followed her out of Jin Jiang Hotel, planning to take her away. He had not expected that when the driver brought the car around, he would see Qiaoqiao leaving with a cold expression. Li Yehan¡¯s gaze shifted to the mother-daughter pair standing at the entrance of Jin Jiang Hotel, a fleeting murderous intent passing through his eyes. Qiaoqiao was in a very bad mood, and she did not want to return home carrying all her fatigue. ¡°Li Yehan, do you drink? I¡¯ll buy you a drink.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The car slowly drove away. Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya chased after it, only to be left eating exhaust fumes. Zhou Jingya couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°That¡¯s a Maybach that Qiaoqiao¡¯s riding in, the kind that sells for five million dollars.¡± How could Liu Yanfang not have noticed, ¡°Relying on her pretty face, she goes around seducing men, that little harlot really knows how to play the game.¡± Zhou Jingya said, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you say you had a way to deal with her?¡± Liu Yanfang felt somewhat embarrassed, seeing Qiaoqiao had riled her up, making her focus on insulting her and forgetting the important matter. Zhou Jingya asked, ¡°Mom, the plan you mentioned, it wouldn¡¯t be using the past fragile family connection to persuade her to turn back, would it?¡± ¡°We raised her for so many years, and she dares to ignore my words,¡± Liu Yanfang burst into anger. Zhou Jingya was really fed up with how foolish Liu Yanfang was; she had never seen someone so incompetent. ¡°I have a wooden token in my hand, and I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s very important to her. I haven¡¯t had a chance to say, and she left,¡± Liu Yanfang said, filled with regret. Zhou Jingya was taken aback, a wooden token? ¡°Mom, show me that wooden token.¡± Liu Yanfang took the token out of her bag and handed it to Zhou Jingya, who looked it over repeatedly but couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. There were no names on the token, and the pattern just looked like a forest. It seemed to be of no value, so Zhou Jingya put it in her bag. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go home first and think of another plan. Later, I¡¯ll talk to Brother Zhengyang and ask him to lend us some money.¡± ¡°Xiao Ya, you¡¯re the most obedient and understanding, so much better than that little harlot.¡± Zhou Jingya smiled without responding and went home with Liu Yanfang. ... At the bridge, Qiaoqiao opened a bottle of beer and drank it gulp after gulp. ¡°Li Yehan, how can they bully me over and over again! I appreciate that they raised me, and I¡¯ve really given them enough face.¡± Qiaoqiao finished a bottle in one go and reached for another. Li Yehan caught her hand, ¡°You can¡¯t drink anymore, you¡¯re drunk.¡± ¡°How could I be drunk, I can¡¯t be drunk. Mianmian, let go, let me do it,¡± Li Yehan gave a wry smile¡ªwhat were these words? Let go of whom? Let go of this bottle of beer? While Li Yehan was pondering, Qiaoqiao had already downed half another bottle. ¡°I¡¯ve already given them so much cooperation, I¡¯ve given them so much money, why can¡¯t they be satisfied? I told them to investigate, but these people won¡¯t investigate, they just come in front of me and shout, is it that they don¡¯t believe I have the ability?¡± Li Yehan replied, ¡°They just don¡¯t want to face their own incompetence.¡± Qiaoqiao had a sudden realization and let out a sly laugh, ¡°You¡¯re too smart, really smart.¡± Qiaoqiao reached out and draped her hand over Li Yehan¡¯s neck. Finding her arm a bit tired, she slurred, ¡°Bend down, you¡¯re too hard to hug.¡± The lofty Li Yehan lowered his head to make it easier for Nan Qiao to wrap her arms around his neck. Up close, looking at Li Yehan by her side, Nan Qiao giggled stupidly, ¡°Handsome, you¡¯re quite good-looking.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°...¡± ¡°So, do you like it?¡± Li Yehan seriously asked. Nan Qiao chuckled with a ¡°hehe¡±: ¡°I like, who wouldn¡¯t like such a handsome ¡®little puppy¡¯ like you.¡± Nan Qiao moved in closer to Li Yehan¡¯s thin lips, then followed his jawline and gradually shifted to his cheeks, gently planting a kiss. The missed kiss on the lips left a wet one on the cheek. Li Yehan¡¯s eyes, cold as winter, were slowly melting into pools of spring water. He turned to look at Nan Qiao beside him, the tipsy her, her eyes blurry, her cheeks flushed, cute enough to make one desire a kiss. Nan Qiao whispered to him, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Actually, I... my name is Huai Xi.¡± Li Yehan nodded: ¡°I know.¡± That day, Nan Qiao tried to cover up the design she was drawing, but Li Yehan saw it and pretended not to. Later, the design Nan Qiao launched had many saying it resembled Huai Xi¡¯s work. That day Li Yehan knew that Nan Qiao had another alias, Huai Xi. The drunken Nan Qiao frowned, ¡°Then you definitely don¡¯t know, I have another name.¡± Li Yehan: ¡°What is it?¡± Nan Qiao said with a giggle, ¡°It¡¯s called...¡± Li Yehan looked into Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes with burning intensity, but she had fallen asleep on him. Li Yehan looked at the can on the ground and asked the driver to take care of it. He took off his coat and covered Nan Qiao with it, then carried her into the car. The driver, having taken care of the can, sat in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Mr. Li, shall we go to your home or the Bai Family?¡± Li Yehan looked at the girl lying on his lap, his thin lips slightly upturned: ¡°To my home.¡± He believed that Nan Qiao certainly wouldn¡¯t want to return to the Bai Family in such a drunken state. ... The car arrived at the villa where Li Yehan lived, and the driver parked it smoothly. Li Yehan carried Nan Qiao out from the car, unsure if this position was comfortable for her. Li Yehan adjusted her in his arms, lifting her up a bit more; holding a person, yet Li Yehan felt that Nan Qiao was very light, she was too thin. The passing servants saw Li Yehan carrying a woman into the villa, more shocked than if they had seen a UFO. Mr. Li really does like women! Li Yehan carried Nan Qiao all the way to his room, he didn¡¯t like having people in his house. At nightfall, no servant was allowed to be within his sight. The villa he lived in was left to himself alone. Nan Qiao lay on the bed, her expression somewhat uncomfortable. Li Yehan bent down to undo the elastic from her hair. Nan Qiao reached out, hooking her arm around Li Yehan¡¯s neck. Her arm pulled down, managing to embrace Li Yehan tightly. The two were very close, close enough that if Li Yehan desired, he could lean in and kiss Nan Qiao¡¯s red lips. Li Yehan¡¯s voice was hoarse, exerting extreme restraint on his unrealistic thoughts. His hands gently pried off Nan Qiao¡¯s hands: ¡°Qiaoqiao, do you know that you¡¯re playing with fire?¡± The drunk Nan Qiao thought someone was challenging her strength. With a frown, she loved no one, pulled up Li Yehan¡¯s hand, and with a turn, she pressed him down beneath her... Chapter 69 - 69 69 A Moment in Spring Night Is Worth a Thousand Gold ?Chapter 69: Chapter 69: A Moment in Spring Night Is Worth a Thousand Gold Chapter 69: Chapter 69: A Moment in Spring Night Is Worth a Thousand Gold A drunken Nan Qiao displayed astonishing strength, ¡°You dare to defy me? Where¡¯s the little whip? I¡¯m going to show you who your real master is.¡± Li Yehan crossed his hands behind his head, the corners of his lips lifting, his attractive peach blossom eyes sparking with fire, ¡°And how do you plan to show me?¡± Nan Qiao chuckled, burped from the alcohol, then slowly collapsed downward, falling asleep. Li Yehan: ¡°...¡± He arranged Nan Qiao comfortably, then sent a message to the servant in charge of cooking, asking her to prepare a hangover soup early the next morning. Nan Qiao¡¯s phone rang, and Li Yehan saw it was a message from Chen Xinwan. He placed his finger on Nan Qiao¡¯s index finger, unlocked the phone, and replied to Chen Xinwan: Mom, I¡¯m staying at a friend¡¯s house tonight, won¡¯t be coming back. Upon typing the word ¡°Mom,¡± Li Yehan felt a strange emotion stirring within. Chen Xinwan replied instantly, telling Nan Qiao to be careful and to take care of her health. Li Yehan put Nan Qiao¡¯s phone back in place, then got up to shower in the bathroom. After the shower, Mo Shaolin¡¯s video call came through. Luckily, he had two phones, so he could still get in touch with Li Yehan. ¡°Ye Han, why did you block me on WeChat? We¡¯re brothers, aren¡¯t we? Have you become heartless because of a woman?¡± Li Yehan frowned, Mo Shaolin spoke with a grin, ¡°The bed behind you is all messed up, it looks like someone is lying on it. Don¡¯t tell me the person there is not a woman, but a man.¡± Li Yehan turned his head and saw Nan Qiao sleeping on her side. She was thin, but the profile of her body sleeping still stood higher than the smooth surface of the bed. It was lucky that Mo Shaolin had keen eyes to notice the figure on the bed. Li Yehan looked coolly at Mo Shaolin, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Mo Shaolin put on a bitter face, ¡°Ye Han, you really have become heartless. Have you forgotten your brothers because of a woman?¡± Li Yehan hung up on Mo Shaolin directly, with an attitude of indifference. Mo Shaolin, who got hung up on, actually breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Thank goodness Ye Han hasn¡¯t blocked this number too.¡± A cute-looking girl walked in from outside, her face full of hope, ¡°Brother Lin, did you get through to my brother? Did my brother take your call?¡± ¡°He did, and then he hung up,¡± Mo Shaolin said helplessly. Li Xia frowned, displeasure evident on her face, ¡°Why is my brother still so cold? You are his good friend, and he didn¡¯t even talk to you properly.¡± ¡°Xiaxia, you don¡¯t understand. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold. Your brother now has a girlfriend, where does he have time for me?¡± ¡°What!¡± Li Xia¡¯s face showed shock, her voice incredulous. ¡°No way, how can my brother have a girlfriend? I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Li Xia shook her head incessantly, as if she had received a great shock. Mo Shaolin stood up, looking at her with concern, his eyes filled with pity, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you happy about your brother dating someone?¡± Li Xia slowly came back to her senses, her head a whirl. When she looked up again, her demeanor was calm and collected. ¡°You know my brother; he¡¯s never dated anyone. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll be deceived.¡± Mo Shaolin nodded with understanding, chuckling, ¡°Who could deceive Ye Han? There are few who can share his bed.¡± Li Xia forced a smile, her complexion not looking so great. ¡°Your face doesn¡¯t look too good. Do you want to go to the hospital?¡± ¡°I probably got up too early this morning. Brother Lin, I¡¯m going to my room to rest.¡± Li Xia left as if she had something important to attend to. Watching Li Xia¡¯s emotions, Mo Shaolin frowned, feeling that something was off. ... Li Yehan had taken a shower, his hair wet and dripping. Droplets of water fell from the tips of his hair onto his collarbone, continuing to slide downwards... He went to the bedside, made sure the sleeping Nan Qiao was deeply asleep, then turned around to sleep in the adjoining guest room. Li Yehan sat on the sofa, processed some documents on his computer, then received a call from an unknown number. Li Yehan frowned as he answered the call. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s me,¡± Li Xia¡¯s voice rang in his ear. Li Yehan frowned, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± His tone was still so cold, as if he were a robot without a hint of warmth. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just...¡± Li Yehan hung up the phone directly, and Li Xia¡¯s face looked particularly ugly. She didn¡¯t expect Li Yehan to be so heartless. How could he be like this... Li Xia then called Jiang Linyu. Jiang Linyu, who was about to go to bed, saw that the call was from Li Xia and immediately answered. ¡°Mom, I heard from Mo Shaolin that my brother has a girlfriend? Do you know which family¡¯s daughter she is?¡± Mentioning Nan Qiao, Jiang Linyu got angry. ¡°It¡¯s the Bai Family¡¯s. Xiaxia, you don¡¯t know how audacious this girl is! Your dad had a slight friction with your brother, and she had the nerve to provoke your dad right off the bat. Now your dad and I have been put under house arrest, stuck in the villa all day, unable to go anywhere. I can¡¯t even go see you, it¡¯s driving me mad!¡± Li Xia frowned, Bai Yurou was actually that formidable? She just went abroad to study, and this little bitch Bai Yurou managed to succeed? ¡°My brother just listens to her like that, letting her do whatever she wants?¡± ¡°Li Yehan, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into him, he¡¯s so good to this girl, even better than to his own ancestors.¡± Li Xia¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, her face extremely ugly. ¡°Does my brother really like her that much?¡± ¡°Your dad is almost angry to death now! You know your dad¡¯s temper; he could die without those women outside, and now he can¡¯t even think of a way to climb over the wall.¡± ¡°Ah? So he¡¯s run away?¡± ¡°Run my ass! He was caught by Li Yehan¡¯s bodyguards and broke his leg. Now he¡¯s in good shape, his hands and feet are all messed up, crawling in the shadows every day, just wanting to escape this cage.¡± Li Xia looked even more upset, she had to return to the country as soon as possible to see for herself. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll come back to the country in a few days. I want to see for myself what kind of girl can make my brother place her at the top of his heart.¡± Jiang Linyu earnestly tried to persuade her for a long time, but Li Xia was not moved; she had to go back! Li Xia hung up the phone, leaned against the sofa, and looked at the breakfast in front of her, not feeling any appetite. Restless, she picked up her phone and sent messages to a few of her friends back home. ... The sun penetrated the glass and fell on Nan Qiao¡¯s eyes. Her curled and long eyelashes moved, and she slowly opened her eyes. Not knowing at first glance, she was startled by the second. What¡¯s going on? How did she fall asleep on Li Yehan¡¯s chest? Can someone tell her what¡¯s happening? Nan Qiao let out a sound and quickly got off Li Yehan. Li Yehan opened his eyes and looked at the weak and helpless Nan Qiao below him, feeling a bit of a desire to laugh. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯m the one getting taken advantage of, why are you panicking?¡± he teased. Nan Qiao: ? She took advantage of Li Yehan? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Chapter 70 - 70 70 Sleeping on Top of Him ?Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Sleeping on Top of Him Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Sleeping on Top of Him Nan Qiao looked around, her face filled with confusion. She blurted out, ¡°Li Yehan, how come I¡¯m at your house?¡± Li Yehan sat up from the bed, the silk duvet sliding down from his chest to his waist. He sat just like that, his torso strong and powerful, his abdomen clearly defined, exuding an intense sexual energy. A single thought filled Nan Qiao¡¯s mind: Li Yehan looks like he¡¯d be great at reproducing. Nan Qiao shook her head to dispel the terrible thought. Li Yehan caught the small, subtle movement and locked eyes with her, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Nan Qiao maintained her guarded mentality, ¡°I¡¯m thinking, you must have lured me here with ill intentions.¡± Li Yehan got off the bed, wearing gray sleep pants that accentuated his powerful waist. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, his muscles not overly bulging, clearly indicating strength. He approached step by step, and even as Nan Qiao¡¯s hand touched the doorknob, she was still caught by Li Yehan¡¯s long, pale arm. He raised her hands above her head, and in the midst of her startled gaze, he took control of her body. ¡°Hit and run?¡± Up close, Nan Qiao got an even better look at Li Yehan¡¯s wicked and wild face. Li Yehan¡¯s thin lips curved, forming an elegant arc. His peach blossom eyes shone brightly, sizing up Nan Qiao¡¯s little face, his voice magnetic, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what you did last night?¡± As his lips drew closer, just as Nan Qiao was about to knee his vulnerable lower parts, Li Yehan stopped. ¡°Last night you slept in my master bedroom, and I slept in the guest room. In the dead of night, you opened my door, got onto my bed, and lay on my chest to sleep. Qiaoqiao, are you sure you¡¯re not deliberately seducing me?¡± Nan Qiao: !! There¡¯s no way she could have done that! ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I always have good sleeping posture. Others have even complimented me for it, saying I don¡¯t move an inch in my sleep and don¡¯t hog the blankets.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes conveyed a frigid emotion as he stared into hers, asking word-by-word, ¡°Who said that!¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback, what was the meaning of Li Yehan¡¯s rapid emotional change? ¡°You¡¯re hurting me.¡± Her arms were still raised high, held by Li Yehan, unable to move. Li Yehan realized his action was too rough and released Nan Qiao¡¯s hands. Taking the opportunity, Nan Qiao pushed Li Yehan away and opened the door to leave. Although she was strong, Li Yehan¡¯s strength was surprisingly great. Nan Qiao returned to her room, wearing a set of men¡¯s pajamas that were both long and large. She looked at her clothes, her face reddening with embarrassment. Could it be that Li Yehan had changed her clothes last night? Nan Qiao sat on the sofa, a bit angry, when there was a knock on the door. ¡°Miss Qiao, Mr. Li asked me to bring you a change of clothes.¡± Nan Qiao walked to the door and opened it. A maid stood at the doorway, hands presenting the clothes, respectfully saying, ¡°All these arrangements were made by Mr. Li, the clothes have been washed, dried, and sterilized, just delivered last night.¡± The maid said this, also to prevent Nan Qiao from misunderstanding that there were other women¡¯s clothes at Li Yehan¡¯s place. These were Li Yehan¡¯s instructions. ¡°Thank you,¡± Nan Qiao took the clothes and closed the door. On inspection, she found they were her size, even the underwear was her exact fit. Nan Qiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat, how did Li Yehan know her size? Her mind in turmoil, Nan Qiao took a bath and changed into the clothes. ... Li Yehan sat downstairs, the sound of the elevator doors signaled someone¡¯s arrival, and he looked over. Nan Qiao wore the suit he had prepared, and it suited her very well. It was as if she were a walking clothes hanger; she looked good in anything she wore. Nan Qiao was dressed in a dark green long-sleeve shirt, paired with black slacks, her slender waist and brisk walk turning heads. The butler in the kitchen saw Nan Qiao come in and immediately instructed the servants to serve the dishes. ¡°Have breakfast first. If there¡¯s anything you want to ask, I can answer it all.¡± Nan Qiao got up and noticed the conversation on her phone with Chen Xinwan. That message was not sent by her. Nan Qiao sat down, to find an exceptionally lavish breakfast prepared. Chinese and Western dishes, everything was available. Nan Qiao stared at the full spread of breakfast and was stunned. ¡°Li Yehan, this is too much. The two of us can¡¯t possibly finish it all.¡± Li Yehan smiled and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if we can¡¯t finish. I just worry that there may not be anything you like to eat.¡± Nan Qiao was pampered just like this at the Bai Family¡¯s home. Here with him, he was obviously going to spoil her even more. Nan Qiao, ravenous, ate a good amount of breakfast. Li Yehan also ate some, happy to see that Nan Qiao enjoyed the breakfast here. After eating her fill, Nan Qiao was ready to settle the score with Li Yehan. ¡°Why did you use my phone to reply to messages? And you sent a message I didn¡¯t even know about.¡± Li Yehan explained, ¡°You drank too much last night. I thought you would not want your family to worry, so I took the liberty of replying on your behalf.¡± Nan Qiao was taken aback; Li Yehan¡¯s considerations matched her own. If she had returned home drunk, her family definitely would have been worried. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll drive you to work.¡± Li Yehan stood up, and Nan Qiao picked up her bag and walked out. The two of them walking together, just looking at their backs, you could tell they were a perfect match. The butler commented with envy, ¡°I really envy this lady, to be liked by Mr. Li.¡± ¡°I¡¯m rather envious of Mr. Li, to have such a beautiful Miss.¡± They exchanged a smile and began to clear the table. ... Nan Qiao had just returned to the office when she received a familiar phone call. Nan Qiao answered with a joyous tone, ¡°Grandpa, how come you have time to call me?¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, I heard from Old Tang that you went home to acknowledge your relatives? Are they good to you? Are they like Zhou Hongqi? If so, you might as well leave that family. Those people aren¡¯t worth it, and you don¡¯t need to waste your time on them.¡± Nan Qiao knew Zhou Yongshan was concerned about her and explained softly, ¡°They are very good to me, a thousand times better than the Zhou Family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, as long as you¡¯re happy. When will you come back to take over my business? My businesses are nearly growing mold, and I am still waiting to travel the world.¡± The mention of this gave Nan Qiao a headache; several grandparents hoped she would take over their enterprises, and she was stretched thin. ¡°Grandpa Zhou, I¡¯m currently working at the company given to me by my family. School is starting soon, and I really don¡¯t have much time.¡± Zhou Yongshan lamented, ¡°Qiaoqiao, when you¡¯re free, you must consider me first. Though Old Tang taught you medicine, I also taught you painting, didn¡¯t I? Painting is a lot simpler than healing people; as long as you want to paint, anywhere can be your stage.¡± ¡°Grandpa Zhou, did you take the medicine I sent you on time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve taken it, all of it. Thanks to your medicine, I can live a few more years.¡± ¡°Grandpa Zhou, you must take good care of your health.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I haven¡¯t seen you, Qiaoqiao, get married and have children yet, so I can¡¯t kick the bucket so quickly. I¡¯ll be visiting Jing City in a few days to attend an art exhibition. How about you accompany me?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Grandpa Zhou was overjoyed to get Nan Qiao¡¯s consent. Nan Qiao hung up the phone and turned on her computer. Fu Xingyao knocked and came in, ¡°Mr. Qiao, someone is looking for you.¡± Who could it be? Chapter 71 - 71 71 Call the Police ?Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Call the Police Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Call the Police Fu Xingyao said with a helpless expression, ¡°Mr. Qiao, it¡¯s Zhou Hongqi, he¡¯s here again. He¡¯s causing trouble downstairs. We could call the police or have security evict him. But what we do still depends on your wishes.¡± What Nan Qiao decided, he would do. Nan Qiao chuckled lightly, ¡°What wishes could I have? Am I close to him? Do I know him?¡± Fu Xingyao suddenly realized. Zhou Hongqi, this shameless man, really thought that just because you raised Mr. Qiao, he could act lawlessly? ¡°Mr. Qiao, I understand now!¡± Fu Xingyao then went to handle the situation, promising to take care of it cleanly! After Fu Xingyao left, he saw Zhou Hongqi still shouting about being Nan Qiao¡¯s father. ¡°Call the police, tell them a lunatic has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is causing a disturbance at our company¡¯s entrance.¡± Zhou Hongqi was stunned, disbelievingly asking, ¡°Did you go to see Nan Qiao? Does she know it¡¯s me who has come?¡± Fu Xingyao coldly replied, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because we know it¡¯s you that we¡¯re going straight to the police!¡± Zhou Hongqi, recalling the confrontations he¡¯d faced, shouted, ¡°Where is Nan Qiao? I need to see her. There¡¯s something I need to ask her!¡± ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± No one noticed when Nan Qiao had arrived. She emerged from behind Fu Xingyao, her aura imposing, exuding an overwhelming presence as if conquering the world. Her eyes darkened, her lips curling into a cold, indifferent smirk. For a moment, Zhou Hongqi couldn¡¯t believe that the person in front of him was the daughter he had raised for eighteen years. The old Nan Qiao was never this indifferent in front of him. ¡°Nan Qiao, I just want to ask, did you sabotage all my collaborations with those people who now refuse to continue working with me? They all said that I mistook rubbish for treasure in my love for you and that I drove away the God of Wealth!¡± Evidence suggested that it was Nan Qiao who was the real God of Wealth in his family. Nan Qiao¡¯s gaze was sharp, ¡°No comment.¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, come on, I raised you for eighteen years. Just help me out this once, talk to them so they continue our collaboration, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Nan Qiao firmly refused. She coldly looked at Zhou Hongqi, ¡°If you come again, I¡¯ll have someone call the police. If you don¡¯t believe me, try me.¡± Watching Nan Qiao about to leave, Zhou Hongqi yelled, ¡°Qiaoqiao, when you had a fever at age ten, I was the one who carried you to the hospital. Qiaoqiao, have you forgotten? Your mother didn¡¯t care; it was I who always gave you living expenses and visited you in the countryside.¡± Recalling the past, Nan Qiao¡¯s heart wrenched with sorrow. She turned around, grimly smiling, both desolate and resolute, ¡°Mr. Zhou, the year I was ten and had a fever, we had guests at home. You saw my condition and wanted to play the caring father, took me to the hospital to earn a reputation, which led to a partner who also loved his daughter choosing your company. You visited me in the countryside only that once. Later, I found out, on that visit, you were actually in the village to buy silk. Every step you took towards me had your calculations!¡± Zhou Hongqi, his face flushing with shame, glanced around awkwardly, seeing distain in the eyes of those watching, his expression grew even uglier. It was as if he had been stripped bare for all to criticize. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I did visit you, didn¡¯t I? You can¡¯t eradicate me completely! Qiaoqiao, can¡¯t you help me this one time, please?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Nan Qiao replied crisply. She told the people around her, ¡°Call the police!¡± Fu Xingyao picked up his phone to make the call, ¡°We¡¯ve got a lunatic here, probably escaped from an asylum, please come and detain him before he hurts someone.¡± Zhou Hongqi was speechless. Zhou Hongqi slinked away. ... After wrapping up her work, Nan Qiao was about to leave when she received a call from Chen Xinwan. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I heard from your dad that you¡¯ve been managing the company well, and even made a large profit for the garment company. We¡¯ve decided to take you out for dinner tonight to celebrate, my daughter. You¡¯re so capable, I am so proud of you.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s heart fluttered, warm and reassured. ¡°Qiaoqiao, we¡¯ll try a different restaurant this time, we always go to Jin Jiang Hotel, we¡¯ll pick you up later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, just send me the time and location, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± Chen Xinwan, knowing Nan Qiao preferred to keep a low profile, agreed, ¡°Alright, Qiaoqiao, don¡¯t overwork yourself. Money can¡¯t be earned in a day, but health comes first.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom, I¡¯ll take care of myself.¡± This endearment brought immense joy to Chen Xinwan. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I won¡¯t keep you from getting off work, see you later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up, Nan Qiao packed her things and headed out. Her phone rang again; it was Li Yehan. ¡°Dinner together?¡± Nan Qiao smiled slightly, ¡°My family called, I can¡¯t join you for dinner.¡± Li Yehan, an unmistakable note of disappointment in his voice, ¡°What time will you finish? Shall I come to find you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, I¡¯ll be going home after dinner with my family.¡± There was silence on Nan Qiao¡¯s end, thinking the call had ended. She looked at her phone, the call was still connected. Just as Nan Qiao was about to hang up, Li Yehan spoke, ¡°Where are you having dinner?¡± Nan Qiao replied, ¡°Dong Yuan Hotel.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s voice, deep and magnetic, revealed, ¡°What a coincidence, I¡¯m going there for dinner too.¡± Nan Qiao was skeptical about Li Yehan¡¯s claim, but she had no proof. ¡°I have to hang up now, I¡¯m driving.¡± Nan Qiao drove her Mercedes towards Dong Yuan Hotel. ... Bai Yurou arrived at Dong Yuan Hotel, her purse carrying an offer letter, over the moon with excitement. Entering the private room, seeing her family all seated inside, she exclaimed, ¡°Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Brother, did you know something beforehand and come to celebrate?¡± Chen Xinwan nodded, ¡°Yes, we already knew.¡± Bai Zhenyang, very excited, added, ¡°The staff already showed me the data, Qiaoqiao¡¯s capabilities are outstanding. With her own efforts, she¡¯s turned the situation around, creating immeasurable profits for the company.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s design drawings also gathered considerable attention. If she could continue to produce such excellent designs in the future, the profits would surely be astonishing. Grandpa °× beamed, ¡°Qiaoqiao¡¯s capabilities surpass all of yours.¡± Bai Yurou was puzzled, ¡°Was everyone not here to celebrate me?¡± It turned out the family didn¡¯t know she had been exceptionally hired by the hospital. Bai Yurou sat down, forcing a smile, ¡°My sister is really impressive.¡± As she was speaking, Nan Qiao came through the door. ¡°What am I impressive at?¡± Nan Qiao walked over, puzzled, and sat down next to Chen Xinwan. Chen Xinwan poured her a glass of water, ¡°Nan Qiao, have a drink first. We were praising how skillfully you handled the work. You dealt with the plagiarism issue this time single-handedly.¡± Nan Qiao, unfazed by praise or criticism, smiled appropriately, ¡°These are all my responsibilities.¡± Bai Yurou thought of something and slowly began to speak... Chapter 72 - 72 72 Nan Qiao Gets into a Luxury Car ?Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Nan Qiao Gets into a Luxury Car Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Nan Qiao Gets into a Luxury Car Bai Yurou took out an appointment letter from her bag, and noticing that everyone¡¯s gaze was on her, she smiled and said, ¡°Today is really a double celebration, I¡¯ve been accepted by the hospital. To avoid missing any classes, I can intern at the hospital every weekend, and after I graduate, I can work there.¡± Chen Xinwan was both startled and delighted, ¡°Yurou, congratulations.¡± Everyone burst into congratulations, and Bai Yurou¡¯s face was full of proud delight as she glanced occasionally towards Nan Qiao. Nan Qiao felt the challenging gaze and with a confident curve to her lips, she said, ¡°Yurou, this appointment letter only means you can intern at the hospital long-term. To work there, you still need to pass the assessments after your internship, right?¡± Everyone: ?? Bai Yurou: !! How did Nan Qiao know about this? She¡¯s not a professor at the hospital, nor a judge doctor, so how could she possibly know about this? Grandpa Bai furrowed his brow with a commanding look as he examined Bai Yurou, ¡°Yurou, you spoke too soon without understanding the whole situation. What if someone else finds out, wouldn¡¯t that be embarrassing for our Bai Family?¡± Tears welled up in Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes as if she had been bullied, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Grandpa, I...I didn¡¯t mean to. I got the appointment letter and came to share the news with family because I am confident that I can stay at the hospital.¡± Grandpa Bai suddenly understood, ¡°So what Qiaoqiao said was all true?¡± Bai Yurou was terribly flustered, hurriedly explaining, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve always been top-notch in the hospital evaluations, it¡¯s impossible for me to be eliminated.¡± Bai Zhenyang spoke, ¡°Yurou, you should only share news once results are finalized, understood?¡± Chen Xinwan added, ¡°Yurou, we all know you¡¯re excellent. Some things have to be considered carefully before you speak.¡± Bai Jingrui nodded, then said to Bai Yurou, ¡°Yurou, what would you like to eat? Order something first.¡± Bai Jingrui gave her a way out, and Bai Yurou wisely took it. The group then ordered their meals, chatting while waiting for the food. ... Zhou Hongqi, Liu Yanfang, and Zhou Jingya also came to this restaurant to dine. The three of them sat in a private room on the second floor, dressed in their most lavish clothes, as if to announce their wealth to everyone. Zhou Jingya wore a pink princess dress, her makeup delicate as she occasionally glanced towards the door. Zhou Hongqi checked his watch and frowned deeply, ¡°Xiao Ya, are you sure Lu Zhengyang is coming? Did you confirm the time with him?¡± Zhou Jingya was also anxious, ¡°Dad, he told me he¡¯d definitely be here by eight.¡± Liu Yanfang said, ¡°Old Zhou, just wait a bit more. There¡¯s a lot of traffic at this hour; maybe he¡¯s stuck in it.¡± ¡°If he knew there would be traffic, shouldn¡¯t he have left earlier?¡± Zhou Hongqi was dissatisfied. Liu Yanfang snapped, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, remember you¡¯re the one asking for a favor today, so adjust your attitude.¡± Zhou Hongqi knew what his purpose was, so he shut his mouth and didn¡¯t speak. The three waited and waited, and by eight-thirty, Lu Zhengyang still hadn¡¯t arrived. But then, Zhou Jingya received a call from Lu Zhengyang. Opening up the speaker function intentionally, Zhou Jingya wanted Zhou Hongqi to hear Lu Zhengyang speak. Just as Zhou Jingya was about to speak, Lu Zhengyang¡¯s icy voice came, ¡°Jingya, I don¡¯t have time and can¡¯t come to join you for dinner, please go ahead without me.¡± The icy tone was like a sword thrust directly into their hearts. The call ended, and Zhou Jingya, furious, immediately called back. Soon, a stern female voice was heard. ¡°Stop calling Zhengyang. Zhou Jingya, you¡¯re not worthy of our Lu Family.¡± Zhou Jingya knew it was Lu Zhengyang¡¯s mother who was speaking. She had met Lu Zhengyang¡¯s mother once, who looked down on her as if she was beneath her. The call ended once again. Zhou Jingya tried to call back, only to find she was blocked. This incident turned the atmosphere in the private room icy cold. Zhou Hongqi glared sternly at Zhou Jingya, stood up, and rebuked her, ¡°Zhou Jingya, what are you playing at? I went through a great deal of effort to book this private room, and now you¡¯re telling me Lu Zhengyang has blocked you? His mother forbids your relationship?¡± Liu Yanfang also lost her temper, ¡°Is Lu Zhengyang¡¯s mom sick or what? Our Xiao Ya is so much better, his son doesn¡¯t deserve her!¡± Zhou Hongqi: ¡°...¡± He seriously doubted if Liu Yanfang had suddenly become a different person. How could she not understand the situation now? Zhou Jingya sobbed, covering her face, ¡°Mom, Dad, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening. Brother Zhengyang was so good to me, even saying he¡¯d marry no one but me. He must have been coerced by his family. I¡¯ll go and talk to him tomorrow to clear things up.¡± Liu Yanfang responded, ¡°Right, I¡¯ll go with you tomorrow to see Lu Zhengyang!¡± If Zhou Hongqi¡¯s anger could be seen, it would probably have burned Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya to ashes. ¡°You two fools! Not a single one of you is smart!¡± Zhou Hongqi stormed out. He couldn¡¯t endure even a single day like this! Zhou Hongqi walked out of the private room and came to the first floor, spotting Nan Qiao coming out of the elevator, accompanied by several other people, who seemed like family. They conversed and laughed, looking at Nan Qiao with fond eyes as if she was a treasure. Nan Qiao also noticed Zhou Hongqi and said to her family, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the restroom, you guys go ahead to the car.¡± After her family left the restaurant, Zhou Hongqi approached Nan Qiao. ¡°Who are they?¡± Zhou Hongqi asked righteously, making Nan Qiao chuckle. ¡°Mr. Zhou, who are you? What right do you have to inquire about my business?¡± Zhou Hongqi stared intensely at Nan Qiao, ¡°Why are you determined to ruin me!¡± Nan Qiao laughed, ¡°When have I ever ruined you? Isn¡¯t it you who runs the company? If it¡¯s poorly managed, why blame me?¡± Zhou Hongqi was speechless and asked again, ¡°Who are those people really? Are they your family?¡± Zhou Hongqi was skeptical, especially seeing the watch worth five million dollars on Bai Zhenyang¡¯s wrist. ¡°Mr. Zhou, my matters are none of your business!¡± Tired, Nan Qiao wondered how she could encounter Zhou Hongqi even during a meal. Nan Qiao walked on, and Zhou Hongqi attempted to block her path. Unfortunately, Nan Qiao moved too quickly, and Zhou Hongqi, losing his balance, fell over. When he got up and ran outside, he saw Nan Qiao getting into a Maybach. Looking at the license plate, and then the two luxury cars following it, along with the last Mercedes, he doubted his own eyesight. ¡°If these people are Nan Qiao¡¯s family, then what kind of family are her biological parents?¡± Zhou Hongqi had doubts, and just then, his phone rang. ¡°Mr. Zhou, I¡¯ve found something out...¡± Chapter 73 - 73 73 Excitement ?Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Excitement Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Excitement When Zhou Hongqi heard the voice on the phone, he became utterly excited! Isn¡¯t this just like getting a pillow when you¡¯re sleepy? ¡°The company is saved! Really saved, heaven is truly helping us!¡± Zhou Hongqi danced with joy, waving his arms and legs. Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya walked out to see Zhou Hongqi dancing wildly, looking like he¡¯d had a stroke. Passersby gave Zhou Hongqi strange looks, pointing and whispering. ¡°Could he be mentally ill?¡± ¡°Take out ¡®could be¡¯; he is mentally ill.¡± ¡°Dear Lord! Someone call the psychiatric hospital to take him away!¡± Liu Yanfang stepped forward, grabbing Zhou Hongqi¡¯s arm, ¡°Zhou Hongqi, have you gone mad?¡± Zhou Jingya was also worried; if something happened to Zhou Hongqi, who would deal with the company¡¯s mess? Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face was full of excitement as he continued to dance, ¡°Do you know what? Our family is going to be rich!¡± Zhou Hongqi then grabbed Zhou Jingya¡¯s wrist, ¡°Xiao Ya, come, I¡¯ll take you to buy some new outfits.¡± Under the puzzled gazes of Zhou Jingya and Liu Yanfang, Zhou Hongqi took them to a women¡¯s clothing store. He bought three outfits and a handbag, the extravagance of which made Zhou Jingya unbelieving. Wasn¡¯t Zhou Hongqi known to be stingy? Now that he¡¯s spending freely, there must be an even more lucrative deal requiring her involvement. Zhou Jingya saw through these things very clearly. The three returned home, and Liu Yanfang felt as if countless ants were biting her inside; she was desperate to know what had gotten into Zhou Hongqi. ¡°Old Zhou, have you lost your mind? You¡¯re spending so much tonight; have the company¡¯s issues all been settled?¡± While it¡¯s right to treat Zhou Jingya well, Zhou Hongqi¡¯s behavior was truly baffling. Zhou Hongqi, sitting on the sofa, spoke with an excited tone, ¡°Do you remember the marriage arrangement with the Li Family?¡± Liu Yanfang nodded, ¡°I know, Grandpa Bai said the Li Family is quite wealthy, didn¡¯t he? Before he died, he also told us that the marriage arrangement was off. He didn¡¯t want his old friend to think he was seeking power and influence.¡± Zhou Hongqi said, ¡°The old man knew nothing; I¡¯ve found out that this Li Family is the richest in the world, that Li Family!¡± Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya grasped the key point; marrying into the Li Family would make Zhou Jingya a wealthy lady. Wealth and power within reach; whatever you want, you get! It would be a breeze to assist Zhou Hongqi. Zhou Jingya was pondering something as she sat excitedly on the sofa, ¡°Dad, shall we visit the Li Family tomorrow? If I can marry in, I will definitely help our family and expand the company!¡± Zhou Hongqi loved to hear these words from Zhou Jingya; they struck a chord with him. ¡°Xiao Ya, I haven¡¯t cared for you for nothing. Go to bed early tonight, dress up well tomorrow, and visit Mr. Li with me. As long as he agrees, then he¡¯ll take us to meet Li Yehan, and our fortune will follow.¡± Zhou Jingya nodded happily and went upstairs to sleep, aiming to present her best to the Li Family. ... Nan Qiao arrived home and found out that Li Yehan had come. The family walked in to see Li Yehan sitting and having tea in the living room. The chandelier above in the living room shone on Li Yehan, enveloping him in an aura of light. Hearing the sound of voices, Li Yehan slowly looked up, his gaze landing first on Nan Qiao and not moving away. His doting gaze made Nan Qiao somewhat embarrassed. As everyone entered, Li Yehan greeted the elders separately. Bai Yurou took the initiative to say, ¡°Brother Ye Han, good evening.¡± She didn¡¯t dare to call him ¡°Brother Ye Han¡± out of fear of being scolded. Li Yehan¡¯s gaze never veered toward Bai Yurou; it remained fixed on Nan Qiao. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I need to speak with you about something; how about we step outside to talk? Is that okay?¡± He was asking for Nan Qiao¡¯s opinion, his gaze so sincere that it was impossible to decline. Nan Qiao, seeing her family members still around, nodded her head. Li Yehan had asked her to step outside; the matter must be something he didn¡¯t want the family to know about. Nan Qiao followed Li Yehan outside, leaving Bai Jingrui dumbstruck. Just as he was about to move forward, Grandpa Bai grabbed his arm. ¡°Lao San, what are you planning to do?¡± Bai Jingrui, ¡°Grandpa, Li Yehan is clearly coveting my little sister!¡± Grandpa Bai, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that?¡± Bai Jingrui, ?? So, is Grandpa agreeing to let my sister be with Li Yehan? Bai Jingrui, ¡°Where¡¯s my three-meter-long broadsword! Grandpa, I do not approve of Li Yehan becoming my brother-in-law! Just look at Li Yehan¡¯s face, it¡¯s darker than the sky at dusk. His methods are even crueler than those of a gagger. My sister is as tender as a flower; can she withstand his torment?¡± Everyone: ... It¡¯s one thing to talk, but nonsense won¡¯t be tolerated. Chen Xinwan, ¡°Bai Jingrui, your sister is merely discussing business with Li Yehan. You speak as though your sister has fallen in love. Let me tell you, if you don¡¯t start taking your responsibilities seriously, you¡¯ll have to come back and take over the family business!¡± Bai Zhenyang, ¡°Your elder brothers are out there soaring; Bai Jingrui, it¡¯s time for you to come home and help too. Quit dreaming of being a painter. Do you think you¡¯re Master Shan Shui with an amazing talent for painting?¡± Grandpa Bai, ¡°Lao San, look at Qiaoqiao, she just took over the company and has already fought a beautiful battle to turn things around. As her third brother, can you afford not to put in some effort?¡± Bai Jingrui, feeling guilty and restless from the nagging, slipped away quietly. Bai Yurou stood aside, her hatred for Nan Qiao growing even stronger. Ever since Nan Qiao returned, her capability had overshadowed everyone else¡¯s, often making her feel as if she was about to be swept out the door! How could she leave the Bai Family easily, after years of crafting her persona? She had to keep the entire Bai Family in the palm of her hand! ... The Bai Family¡¯s estate. Nan Qiao and Li Yehan were walking along the path in the estate¡¯s garden. The even path was lined with an abundance of flowers and trees, their fragrance lightly perfuming the air. The hot summer¡¯s night was cooled by a gentle breeze. Nan Qiao was the first to speak up, ¡°What did you need to see me about?¡± Li Yehan spoke softly, ¡°My grandpa isn¡¯t feeling well and would like you to come by his house tomorrow to check his pulse.¡± Nan Qiao was puzzled, was this simple request really something that required Li Yehan to come in person? Nan Qiao asked in confusion, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have just called?¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t come in person, how would I have seen you?¡± Nan Qiao stopped walking, and Li Yehan did the same, standing in front of her. Li Yehan lowered his head, and Nan Qiao looked up, their gazes locking. A flower petal fell nearby, twirling in the wind, landing on Nan Qiao¡¯s head. Nan Qiao¡¯s face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, with delicate pink cheeks and clear, contrasting black and white eyes, which reflected the streetlights above, shining like the Milky Way. Li Yehan extended his hand; Nan Qiao¡¯s heart fluttered as if electricity surged through her body, making it impossible for her to look straight into Li Yehan¡¯s eyes. Feeling Li Yehan drawing closer, Nan Qiao¡¯s heart raced even faster. Li Yehan removed the flower petal from her head and whispered in her ear, ¡°What are you afraid of? Are you afraid I¡¯ll kiss you?¡± Chapter 74 - 74 74 Eat, I Eat ?Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Eat, I Eat Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Eat, I Eat Nan Qiao pushed Li Yehan away and quickly stepped back, ¡°Li Yehan, it¡¯s getting late, you should go back first.¡± Li Yehan looked at Nan Qiao fleeing and his thin lips curved into a sinister smile as he continued walking toward her. She ran and he chased, her escape seeming impossible. Until finally, Chen Xinwan came out to call for Nan Qiao. ¡°Qiaoqiao, we¡¯ve stewed bird¡¯s nest in the kitchen, do you want to have a bowl?¡± Nan Qiao quickly replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have it.¡± If she didn¡¯t eat the bird¡¯s nest, Li Yehan would have ¡®eaten¡¯ her. Chen Xinwan courteously invited Li Yehan, ¡°Yehan, would you like to have a bowl too?¡± Li Yehan was politely declined, ¡°Thank you, Aunt, Qiaoqiao said it¡¯s getting late, and I should go home.¡± Nan Qiao: ... Li Yehan gave people the impression that Nan Qiao made him feel neglected. ... After Li Yehan left, Chen Xinwan and Nan Qiao strolled on their way back. Nan Qiao under the streetlight looked pitiful and charming. Chen Xinwan looked at Nan Qiao, her eyes filled with guilt. How great it would have been if she had found Nan Qiao earlier. ¡°Qiaoqiao, these years have been hard on you. The mishap at the hospital separated us for eighteen years,¡± Chen Xinwan, thinking of the incident, wished she could give everything to Nan Qiao to make up for the lost eighteen years. ¡°How could our three children have been switched? What happened at the hospital back then? How could we have taken the wrong babies?¡± ¡°I was accompanying your father on a business trip when I had labor pains and we found a hospital. Just after I gave birth, there were rumors of someone abducting babies. In the turmoil, amidst reports of gunshots, the nurse handed the baby to your father, and we transferred to another hospital.¡± Nan Qiao felt something was off as she heard these words. ¡°The hospital¡¯s security shouldn¡¯t be that poor.¡± ¡°Ever since I discovered that we had taken the wrong child, I¡¯ve had someone looking into it. The doctor and nurses responsible retired or left the city, and they¡¯ve disappeared without a trace.¡± Nan Qiao frowned, what Chen Xinwan said matched Hou Ze¡¯s findings. Now they needed to locate those involved from back then to know the truth. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ll have your father continue the investigation. We must find those people from back then! My daughter has suffered outside, and no one can escape punishment!¡± Nan Qiao calmed her mother¡¯s excited emotions, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m getting a bit hungry.¡± Indeed, Chen Xinwan¡¯s attention immediately shifted, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re hungry, should I ask the kitchen to make you some noodles? Or do you want fried rice? We have fruits too, whatever you want.¡± Nan Qiao replied, ¡°Some fruit would be good. Isn¡¯t there still bird¡¯s nest? Eating too much at night can upset the stomach and disturb sleep.¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re absolutely right. Let¡¯s have some fruit, and if you get hungry in the middle of the night, I¡¯ll have the maid make you some snacks, eat little and often.¡± The two conversed as they entered the living room. Bai Yurou¡¯s eyes were fixed outside the door, curious why Li Yehan hadn¡¯t stayed. Did Nan Qiao not realize the advantage of clinging to Li Yehan? Bai Yurou smiled cunningly, ¡°Mom, sister, come and eat the bird¡¯s nest.¡± Nan Qiao remained silent, following Chen Xinwan over. ... The next morning, Zhou Hongqi began his endeavor to cling to the powerful. Zhou Jingya hired a professional makeup artist, wore an expensive, gorgeous dress, and joined Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang to visit the residence where Mr. Li lived. However... they were stopped right at the gate. The security diligently inquired, ¡°Who are you looking for? Do you have an appointment?¡± Zhou Hongqi: ?? An appointment was needed to visit someone here? Zhou Hongqi was bewildered, and the security added, ¡°We have an appointment service here, when, approximately what time, and who will come can be verified with the owner. It appears you don¡¯t have an appointment, sorry, but your vehicle cannot enter.¡± Zhou Hongqi didn¡¯t have Mr. Li¡¯s personal number and couldn¡¯t get inside, so he had to back the car out. Parking aside, Zhou Hongqi got out to negotiate with the security. He first took out a cigarette, which the security refused. Then he promised a bribe, which the security again refused, scolding him. ¡°Sir, what are you implying? Are you trying to bribe me? Are you encouraging me to commit a crime? I¡¯m calling the police!¡± Zhou Hongqi: ... He was very angry! This was a villa area, and the authority over the main gate blocked Zhou Hongqi¡¯s entry. The three sat in the car and discussed how to get in. Their final plan was for Zhou Hongqi to spend money to get Mr. Li¡¯s phone number. He dialed the number, and Mr. Li¡¯s robust voice answered, ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Mr. Li, it¡¯s me, Zhou An¡¯s son. My father often mentioned you and said if his health allowed, he definitely wanted to play another round with you.¡± Mr. Li suddenly realized and replied cheerfully, ¡°An¡¯s son! Why are you calling me, what¡¯s up?¡± Mr. Li¡¯s straightforwardness made Zhou Hongqi¡¯s face sour. He shamelessly continued, ¡°It¡¯s like this, my father often talked about a marriage arrangement with your grandson. I¡¯m calling to discuss this, my daughter is both beautiful and intelligent, has outstanding grades, and is sensible and well-behaved.¡± Mr. Li: ??? Mr. Li inwardly: Could she be as beautiful and intelligent as Qiaoqiao? Could she have grades as outstanding as Qiaoqiao¡¯s? Could she be as sensible and well-behaved as Qiaoqiao? Mr. Li was really curious about what kind of girl could be that excellent. ¡°Young Zhou, I¡¯ve discussed this with your grandfather, the kids are grown up, and we are not in favor of arranged marriages anymore. Your daughter being so outstanding, my good-for-nothing grandson wouldn¡¯t match up.¡± Zhou Hongqi was dumbfounded, Mr. Li spoke as if he didn¡¯t want to acknowledge it? Zhou Hongqi frowned and continued, ¡°Mr. Li, I heard Mr. Li is very outstanding, and it¡¯s us who are reaching for someone above our level. I have already reached your villa area, but the security won¡¯t let me enter, otherwise I would have already visited you.¡± Mr. Li: ?? He has arrived at the doorstep? Mr. Li¡¯s phone received a message, and he checked WeChat to see it was from Nan Qiao saying she had arrived at the gate. Mr. Li quickly replied to Nan Qiao: Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll send Ah Fu to welcome you at the gate. ¡°No need, I know the way, I¡¯ll just come by myself.¡± Nan Qiao drove by, and the Zhou family happened to see her. Zhou Hongqi was stunned, why was Nan Qiao here? Zhou Jingya paused, ¡°She¡¯s here to clean, right?¡± Liu Yanfang speculated, ¡°With her looks, could she be someone¡¯s mistress in this villa area?¡± Zhou Jingya frowned, ¡°Can she even cling to the rich people here? That seems impossible.¡± Mr. Li heard Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya¡¯s comments on the other end of the phone and frowned, ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Chapter 75 - 75 75 Tearing Off Nan Qiaos Hypocritical Mask ?Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Tearing Off Nan Qiao¡¯s Hypocritical Mask Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Tearing Off Nan Qiao¡¯s Hypocritical Mask Grandpa Li¡¯s response made Zhou Hongqi¡¯s heart tremble. He glared at Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya. What kind of occasion was this to be casually discussing others? Think before you speak, discuss it at home! Zhou Hongqi, smiling, said, ¡°We came across a servant from our family. She was lazy and gluttonous at home, and she even stole things. It¡¯s quite surprising to see her here, and we were all shocked.¡± Grandpa Li frowned. Qiaoqiao had just arrived and these three bumped into a servant? Wasn¡¯t that too coincidental? Grandpa Li didn¡¯t think much of it, after all, Qiaoqiao was not that kind of person. At this moment, Uncle Fu came in and said, ¡°Master, Miss Nan Qiao is here.¡± Grandpa Li said to the person on the phone, ¡°The engagement from years ago was nullified, as I told your father. I¡¯ll have someone contact you and provide compensation.¡± Grandpa Li hung up the phone, and Zhou Hongqi was stunned. Liu Yanfang frowned, disgruntled, and asked, ¡°Old Zhou, what¡¯s the situation? Has Grandpa Li refused our visit?¡± Zhou Jingya, anxious, said, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s going on? Doesn¡¯t Grandpa Li want to see me?¡± Zhou Hongqi was dumbfounded for a long while before regaining his senses, as he clearly heard the name Nan Qiao on the phone. Miss Nan Qiao? So, had Nan Qiao gone to visit Grandpa Li? Zhou Hongqi informed the other two, and Liu Yanfang¡¯s anger instantly ignited. ¡°Great! I knew that little bitch Nan Qiao wouldn¡¯t leave so easily. She must have learned about Grandpa Li¡¯s identity and descended with the marriage contract, claiming to be Li Yehan¡¯s fiance?e!¡± Zhou Jingya was also frantic, ¡°Mom, how could she do this! The marriage contract belongs to me, and the title of Mrs. Li is mine too!¡± Liu Yanfang consoled her, saying, ¡°Xiao Ya, don¡¯t worry yet. I will surely expose Nan Qiao¡¯s hypocritical mask and show the Li family what kind of person she really is!¡± Zhou Hongqi, frowning, said, ¡°Grandpa Li has recognized Nan Qiao, whatever we say won¡¯t help. Grandpa Li mentioned providing our family with financial compensation.¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Dad, are you not concerned about my marriage anymore?¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°Old Zhou, you can¡¯t just be swayed by money!¡± Zhou Hongqi, frowning, said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait and see. Once Nan Qiao comes out, we can ask her what¡¯s really going on. If she has indeed taken Xiao Ya¡¯s place, we¡¯ll try to persuade her. Both of you, patience. Let her be of use to me first.¡± Liu Yanfang was discontent, ¡°What? Do I have to speak nicely to her?¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Mom, please endure it. For the sake of Dad, for this family, as long as my parents are happy, I can endure anything.¡± Zhou Jingya¡¯s words deeply touched Liu Yanfang¡¯s heart. At that moment, they were powerless and could only wait. ... Nan Qiao drove to the front gate of Grandpa Li¡¯s mansion. Servants stood in two rows, with a red carpet rolled out between them, welcoming her. ¡°Welcome, Miss Nan Qiao, greetings to Miss Nan Qiao,¡± the servants said in unison. Nan Qiao, ¡°...¡± She was startled by the reception. What was Grandpa Li playing at? Nan Qiao felt awkward as Uncle Fu approached respectfully and said, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, please come in. The Master is inside waiting for you.¡± Nan Qiao stepped on the red carpet and walked into the villa. Inside, there was a pair of pink slippers, the very pair she wore last time. Clean and brand new slippers, solely for Nan Qiao. Grandpa Li, beaming, said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, come sit down. You must be tired from your journey. I¡¯ve asked the kitchen to make some iced drinks and some fruits and snacks that are not too heavy. Have something to eat, rest a bit, then you can help me with my symptoms.¡± Nan Qiao looked at the carefully prepared items on the table, all of which were her favorites. Grandpa Li was considerate, and Nan Qiao could see his special treatment towards her. ¡°Grandpa Li, there¡¯s no need to be so formal,¡± Nan Qiao said, flattered. Grandpa Li looked at her affectionately and invited her to sit down, ¡°Qiaoqiao, our families have known each other for a long time, and I treat you as my own granddaughter. Although it would be better if you were my granddaughter-in-law, I won¡¯t force you. Qiaoqiao, from now on, consider this your own home. Whatever you want to eat or drink, just tell the servants.¡± Uncle Fu also smiled and said, ¡°Miss Nan Qiao, you just let me know, and I will take care of it for you. Anything that flies in the sky, swims in the sea, or runs on land, we have it all. There¡¯s even a helicopter on standby at home, because the Master said, in case you wanted to go abroad for a show or travel, we could satisfy your needs at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°...¡± Although she knew the world of the wealthy was extravagant, this level of extravagance was new to her. No wonder Uncle Fu had told her upon arrival that there was a plane on the lawn. ¡°Grandpa Li, thank you. I think I¡¯ll take your pulse first,¡± she said. She was afraid to hear more, she felt it would be inappropriate not to even take a ride in the helicopter. Grandpa Li readily extended his wrist to let Nan Qiao check his pulse. Grandpa Li¡¯s health had improved a lot compared to before, thanks to the pills Nan Qiao had given him. ¡°Grandpa Li, your health has improved significantly. When you have time, practice the Eight Brocade exercises with the medicine I¡¯ve given you, and I guarantee you a worry-free health.¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, thank you so much. These days I¡¯ve been restless, a little anxious, and even experiencing some insomnia,¡± Grandpa Li said. Nan Qiao smiled, ¡°Grandpa Li, I¡¯ve brought you another bottle of medicine today to help you regulate your mood. Some things, you should take less to heart to avoid harming your health.¡± Grandpa Li shook his head helplessly, ¡°My concern is Ye Han¡¯s marriage. Without seeing him married and with children, I wouldn¡¯t rest easy even in death.¡± Nan Qiao was a bit embarrassed; she knew what Grandpa Li meant by these words¡ªwas he hoping she would marry Li Yehan? She¡¯d better not. She had been afraid of marriage since childhood. Seeing the marriage between Zhou Hongqi and Liu Yanfang, Nan Qiao was afraid. Afraid to end up with a scoundrel like Zhou Hongqi and worried about managing a family. She smiled, not responding, and Grandpa Li didn¡¯t bring up the matter again and changed the subject. After chatting for a while, Nan Qiao stood up to leave, ¡°Grandpa Li, I have to go back to the company for a bit, so I must leave now.¡± Grandpa Li immediately stood up, ¡°Qiaoqiao, wait a little longer, can¡¯t you stay and have a meal with this old man?¡± Otherwise, Li Yehan wouldn¡¯t make it in time! Grandpa Li had specifically called Li Yehan, asking him to come back soon, hoping for him to spend more time with Qiaoqiao. ¡°Grandpa Li, there really are things I need to take care of at the company,¡± said Nan Qiao, her expression not joking. Grandpa Li knew that Nan Qiao had scored a beautiful victory and had other matters to attend to, so he had to let her go. As soon as Nan Qiao¡¯s car left the main gate, Zhou Hongqi blocked her path. Liu Yanfang and Zhou Jingya stood in front of her car window, as if they were daring enough to be run over by her car. Zhou Hongqi came over, his voice low and soft, ¡°Qiaoqiao, could you please step out? I have something I¡¯d like to ask you.¡± Chapter 76 - 76 76 Why Does Everyone Stand Up for Nan Qiao ?Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Why Does Everyone Stand Up for Nan Qiao? Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Why Does Everyone Stand Up for Nan Qiao? Miss Nan Qiao had no intention of getting out of the car; she¡¯d rather be far away from this family. Seeing the trio with eyes red as if ready for a fight, Miss Nan Qiao still stopped the car. ¡°Speak, what is it?¡± Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s indifferent demeanor incensed Liu Yanfang. Liu Yanfang, ¡°Do you have the nerve to ask me? Why are you usurping Xiao Ya¡¯s marriage? Did you go in to find someone from the Li Family?¡± Miss Nan Qiao frowned, ¡°If you¡¯re suffering from paranoia, you should seek treatment sooner rather than later.¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°The marriage my grandfather arranged for me is with the Li Family! Nan Qiao, dare you say you haven¡¯t taken over my marriage?¡± Zhou Hongqi, ¡°I asked already, Grandpa Li rejected the marriage with Xiao Ya. He even said his grandson, Li Yehan, already has someone he likes, declaring the past marriage arrangement null and void!¡± Miss Nan Qiao scoffed lightly, ¡°If I remember correctly, your father also told you before he died that the marriage arrangement was null and void, right? It¡¯s you who shamelessly insist on pursuing this marriage, isn¡¯t it?¡± The three Zhou family members didn¡¯t look too pleased, as Miss Nan Qiao was indeed stating the facts. Now their main concern was what Miss Nan Qiao was doing at the Li Family¡¯s home and under what identity she went there! Zhou Jingya teased, ¡°Then what were you doing at Grandpa Li¡¯s house? Why would he meet with you if you weren¡¯t using the identity of the Zhou family¡¯s daughter?¡± Liu Yanfang, ¡°Xiao Ya is right, with your unsavory background, why would Elder Li agree to meet you?¡± Zhou Hongqi coldly looked at Miss Nan Qiao, ¡°Make it clear to Elder Li, our Xiao Ya is his future granddaughter-in-law!¡± Miss Nan Qiao sat in the car, still not getting out. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I did not have any contact with Elder Li using any identity of the Zhou family. I met him because he fainted by the roadside, and I saved him! Not everyone has intentions as dirty as yours!¡± Miss Nan Qiao started the car, ¡°Move!¡± Liu Yanfang clung to the car window without letting go, staring intensely at Miss Nan Qiao with anger, ¡°Nan Qiao! I won¡¯t let you hurt my Xiao Ya! She¡¯s so naive; she can¡¯t outplay you!¡± Miss Nan Qiao scoffed lightly, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in playing with her!¡± Just then, a car drove up, and a tall, burly man got out from the driver¡¯s seat, quickly pulling Liu Yanfang away from the window. Zhou Jingya¡¯s face paled, and the man dragged her aside. He picked up Zhou Hongqi like picking up a chicken and threw him aside as well. When Miss Nan Qiao saw someone getting out of the car, she froze. Li Yehan, with his long legs, walked hurriedly over, leaned on Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s car window, and showed a handsome face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Moved by the concern, Miss Nan Qiao shook her head. Li Yehan opened the passenger door and sat down, as if to protect Miss Nan Qiao. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Miss Nan Qiao asked in surprise. Li Yehan replied leisurely, ¡°I came back to get some documents.¡± Miss Nan Qiao responded with a sigh, and Li Yehan urged her, ¡°You drive, I¡¯ll go to your company and we¡¯ll discuss some finer details about the cooperation.¡± Watching the three disheveled figures sitting by the roadside, Miss Nan Qiao pressed the gas pedal and drove away. Zhou Hongqi watched Miss Nan Qiao drive off and wanted to stop her but didn¡¯t dare to stand up¡ªthe towering hulk in front of him frightened him! Zhou Hongqi spoke out, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? We live in a society governed by law! Do you believe I won¡¯t call the police to arrest you?¡± Li Yehan¡¯s driver scoffed lightly, ¡°You think we should arrest you instead? In broad daylight, you block Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s car, and you ask who else we should arrest?¡± Miss Nan Qiao? That title again! What kind of status does Miss Nan Qiao hold that makes everyone refer to her as ¡°Miss Nan Qiao¡±? Liu Yanfang angrily questioned, ¡°Who is she? Just a foster daughter of mine, and you still call her Miss Nan Qiao? Does she deserve it?¡± Driver, ¡°She definitely deserves it, unlike any of you!¡± Zhou Jingya clenched her teeth in fury, unable to utter another word. The driver warned with a stern look, ¡°If you dare to trouble Miss Nan Qiao again, plenty of people will let you know how to speak to her going forward!¡± The driver¡¯s fierce look stunned the trio. The security at the entrance of the gated community, seeing this, why aren¡¯t they helping? The driver answered their queries, ¡°You dare bully Miss Nan Qiao and still expect them to help you? Do you deserve it?¡± The driver didn¡¯t bother with more talk, went over to speak with the security for a moment and then walked away. The security expelled the Zhou family, the reason being they were tarnishing the gated community¡¯s image. Liu Yanfang cursed under her breath, ¡°Could all these men be Nan Qiao¡¯s lovers?¡± Zhou Jingya, ¡°Could Nan Qiao have another identity? Dad, did you ever investigate her background? Could she be a rich second generation?¡± Zhou Hongqi scoffed without a word, ¡°What rich second generation! If she were really rich, why didn¡¯t a helicopter come to pick her up and take her home? Didn¡¯t you see the person who came to get her? Riding on a broken tricycle, not even having a car, could that be a rich person?¡± The family of three were forced to leave this place, murmuring curses as they walked. Why weren¡¯t they cursing loudly? Because they didn¡¯t dare. They couldn¡¯t afford to offend the security of the gated community, fearing that Grandpa Li would find out what they had done; they could only hurry away. ... After returning to her company, Li Yehan followed Miss Nan Qiao upstairs but was stopped by her. ¡°If there¡¯s something you need, I think it¡¯s better we discuss it here. If you go up to the office, it will definitely cause a stir.¡± Li Yehan arched an eyebrow, sitting in the passenger seat looking at Miss Nan Qiao flustered expression, suddenly feeling the urge to laugh. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Li Yehan responded, ¡°I¡¯m laughing at you, are you so afraid that people know I¡¯m collaborating with you? Is my collaboration not presentable, or am I not presentable?¡± Miss Nan Qiao¡¯s face turned red, she forced out an explanation, ¡°Both are presentable, but I just want to avoid some unnecessary trouble.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s eyes deepened, ¡°Am I the trouble?¡± Miss Nan Qiao felt the distance between them closing slightly, making her all the more embarrassed. ¡°Li Yehan, I¡¯ll go up first. If there¡¯s anything, we can just contact each other by phone,¡± Miss Nan Qiao said, unbuckling her seatbelt. Li Yehan grabbed her hand, ¡°Can¡¯t we talk about it here?¡± His large hand enveloped hers, and as Miss Nan Qiao tried to pull away, he gripped her hand tighter. ¡°My grandfather had already clarified with Zhou Hongqi to not come over again; the marriage was already annulled¡ªit¡¯s their family who couldn¡¯t let go.¡± Miss Nan Qiao was surprised, was Li Yehan explaining to her? ¡°This is your issue.¡± She didn¡¯t need his explanation. Li Yehan pulled her closer, his heated gaze and magnetic voice revealing a hint of grievance, ¡°I clarified because I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t feel secure.¡± Just then, Li Yehan¡¯s phone rang. He glanced at the phone and chose to answer; Grandpa Li¡¯s voice came through anxiously, ¡°Ye Han, something has happened...¡± Chapter 77 - 77 77 Is Zhou Jingya Not His Child ?Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Is Zhou Jingya Not His Child? Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Is Zhou Jingya Not His Child? Li Yehan was still sitting in the car, the voice of Old Mr. Li also reached Nan Qiao¡¯s ears. The two of them exchanged a glance. Li Yehan did not get out of the car but asked from inside, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Today, people from the Zhou Family came to our door looking for me, but I didn¡¯t go out. I told them that your marriage arrangement with the Zhou Family is null and void, I had clarified this with Zhou Anquan a long time ago. But now, his son came with his daughter to the entrance of the neighborhood. I remember Qiaoqiao is their adopted daughter. You better handle this matter quickly.¡± Li Yehan frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will handle this personally.¡± ¡°Please handle it quickly. What if Qiaoqiao finds out they came? She¡¯s so naive and kind, what if they morally blackmail her?¡± Li Yehan smirked, ¡°Yes, Qiaoqiao is naive and kind, I will talk to her properly.¡± ¡°Alright, go find Qiaoqiao quickly.¡± Old Mr. Li hung up the phone, and Li Yehan¡¯s gaze fell on Nan Qiao. ¡°I need to go back to the office.¡± Nan Qiao opened the car door to leave. Li Yehan grabbed her hand and pulled her back, looking at her intently and said, ¡°Qiaoqiao, I belong only to you.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s face turned red immediately, and she wanted to leave quickly. She had never met a man like Li Yehan before, he was too good at flirting. ¡°I still have to go to work, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Nan Qiao pulled her hand away. Li Yehan added, ¡°I will handle the matter with the Zhou family, and there won¡¯t be any marriage arrangement with them at all.¡± Nan Qiao tried to leave, but Li Yehan grabbed her hand again, ¡°Give me the car keys, otherwise how can I get back to the office?¡± Nan Qiao, ¡°...¡± She almost forgot, Li Yehan¡¯s driver went to handle the trio from the Zhou family, leaving the car there. Nan Qiao handed the car keys to Li Yehan and ran off. She walked very quickly, as if the Li Yehan behind her was a man-eating demon. Holding Nan Qiao¡¯s car keys, Li Yehan went straight back to the office and had Secretary Zhao handle a matter. ... Zhou Hongqi, bringing his wife and child home, was shocked to see Secretary Zhao sitting on their sofa, with several bodyguards standing behind. ¡°Who are you? How dare you sit on our sofa! How did you get in?¡± Zhou Hongqi, full of anger, finally found a place to vent. Secretary Zhao introduced himself, ¡°I am Mr. Li¡¯s secretary.¡± Those words made Zhou Hongqi¡¯s rising anger simmer down again. He approached Secretary Zhao with a flattering smile and even offered a cigarette, which Secretary Zhao declined. ¡°Mr. Zhou Hongqi, I am here to tell you that our Mr. Li has already made it clear, during Old Mr. Zhou¡¯s lifetime, that children have the freedom to choose their spouses. What? Are you in a hurry to go to the Li Family, do you have a death wish?¡± Liu Yanfang angrily said, ¡°The older generation¡¯s arranged marriage must be upheld by the younger generation!¡± Secretary Zhao, ¡°That¡¯s your unilateral commitment?¡± Standing up, Secretary Zhao, having been by Li Yehan¡¯s side for many years, had adopted a bit of Li Yehan¡¯s intimidating air. ¡°Zhou Hongqi, Mr. Li asked me to relay a message to you. If you do not want to be kicked out of Jing City, keep a low profile and swallow the matter of the marriage arrangement. Otherwise, pack up and prepare to leave Jing City!¡± The bodyguards behind Secretary Zhao glared hostilely at the family of three, the warning in their gaze was very clear. What Li Yehan could do, they all knew. Otherwise, Li Yehan wouldn¡¯t have become the successor of the Li Family, defeating the Li Family¡¯s second young master. Secretary Zhao left with his men, Zhou Hongqi sat on the sofa, unable to direct his anger anywhere. Liu Yanfang¡¯s rage flared, ¡°I¡¯m going to find Li Yehan!¡± Zhou Hongqi roared, ¡°Who do you think you are, daring to approach Mr. Li? Do you really want me to die?¡± Zhou Jingya timidly asked, ¡°Is Mr. Li really that powerful?¡± Zhou Hongqi scoffed, seemingly mocking Zhou Jingya for asking such a foolish question. ¡°Mr. Li was able to pull down his own father from power and sent the second young master of the Li Family abroad forever. Do you really think he¡¯s easy to talk to? The words spoken by his secretary must also be Li Yehan¡¯s words.¡± Zhou Hongqi knew this marriage topic should end here and never be brought up again. Zhou Hongqi stood up, wanting to get a cold drink to calm down. Just as he reached the kitchen door, he heard a faint voice from the servants inside. ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange that the True daughter seems like she¡¯s cursed? In contrast, Nan Qiao, the fake daughter, seems to bring good fortune to the family.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noticed too ever since Zhou Jingya returned, it¡¯s been chaos at home, everything turned upside down, even the old master¡¯s fortune has declined.¡± ¡°I wonder if Zhou Jingya is really the old master¡¯s biological daughter. She¡¯s so unlucky for him. Although the madame doesn¡¯t cherish Nan Qiao, Nan Qiao has always been obedient. She even topped the college entrance exams, unlike Zhou Jingya who only scored 250.¡± ¡°Miss Nan Qiao is indeed better, even though she is the counterfeit daughter, she¡¯s kind to us servants. Unlike Zhou Jingya, I heard her on a call the other day, saying she didn¡¯t scheme against anyone, yet somehow her classmate got in trouble. Do you think, she could have sold out her classmate?¡± ¡°She¡¯s so calculating, I doubt she¡¯s the Zhou family¡¯s true daughter.¡± Zhou Hongqi felt like someone had pounded his brain upon hearing these words. He mulled it over, focusing on one aspect. Zhou Jingya is so foolish, absolutely nothing like him. ... Liu Hui faced a huge amount of compensation, and she couldn¡¯t afford such a high expense. Nan Qiao had thought Liu Hui would be stuck in prison forever, but then she came up with the compensation money, albeit still having to serve time. Nan Qiao was stunned as she visited Liu Hui in prison, trying to extract some clues from her. Liu Hui was disheveled, having lost her usual splendor. Liu Hui glared at Nan Qiao angrily: ¡°What are you here for? To laugh at me? Are you happy now?¡± Nan Qiao, dressed in a white short-sleeved knitted shirt, one white, one gray, made Liu Hui look even more wretched. Nan Qiao simply looked at her, ¡°Liu Hui, I have never wronged you, even when Xu Dayong was imprisoned, I didn¡¯t implicate you. But you, you stole my company¡¯s designs and took them to Zhou Group, and you still think I¡¯m here to laugh at you? If it weren¡¯t for your doings, would I have seen your misfortune?¡± Liu Hui was choked, her face turning even uglier. Nan Qiao leaned closer and said, ¡°Just tell me, who made you betray me, and I will choose not to sue you.¡± Liu Hui¡¯s expression was complicated, contemplating the heavy compensation, and looking at Nan Qiao¡¯s beautiful face. She gritted her teeth but still chose to reject Nan Qiao¡¯s request. ¡°No one made me do this, I did it because I dislike you. You¡¯re so young, how did you become a company president? Is it because you¡¯re delicate and weak?¡± Nan Qiao furrowed her brows, ¡°Didn¡¯t the people who bought you tell you who I am?¡± Chapter 78 - 78 78 The Wheels of Fate Turn ?Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The Wheels of Fate Turn Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The Wheels of Fate Turn ¡°Aren¡¯t you just Nan Qiao? A woman who climbed up the ladder with her body?¡± Nan Qiao lightly scoffed with a laugh, ¡°I was this year¡¯s top science student in the college entrance exams, and I am also the Bai Family¡¯s true daughter who was found and brought back home. Liu Hui, the reason I sit in this position is that my parents gave the company to me, I¡¯m managing my own company!¡± ¡°What!¡± Liu Hui stood still, dumbfounded like a wooden chicken. This was totally inconsistent with what she had heard. Nan Qiao continued, ¡°The person who bribed you just used you as a pawn. If you have any difficulties, I can help.¡± Liu Hui¡¯s heart stirred, and she was about to speak when something else crossed her mind, shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about; no one is instructing me. I just don¡¯t like the look of you! Sue me if you want, I have nothing to lose!¡± Liu Hui stood up and left as if staying one more second would reveal her secrets. Nan Qiao watched her leave with furrowed brows. Who exactly could have such great power, she hadn¡¯t offended someone so formidable, had she? Nan Qiao was perplexed and left the prison. ... She had just returned to the company when she received a call from Hou Ze. ¡°Boss, someone is offering a hundred million for you to draw a painting.¡± Nan Qiao: ?? ¡°What painting?¡± Hou Ze chuckled, ¡°Boss, this person must be your secret admirer because what she wants you to draw is yourself.¡± Hou Ze sent the photo to Nan Qiao, and with one glance, she recognized it as taken by Li Yehan. That was the dress she wore that day in her office with Li Yehan; Nan Qiao had a deep impression of it. ¡°Boss, your secret admirers could line up from here to the streets of France, right?¡± Nan Qiao ignored Hou Ze; she was pondering whether to paint. To paint would earn her a hundred million. To not paint, might that reveal her identity? ¡°Boss, if you don¡¯t paint, it will surely expose your identity, right? After all, the other party is paying a hundred million; it¡¯s foolish not to take the money.¡± Nan Qiao: ¡°...¡± She was the fool if she didn¡¯t take it? Nan Qiao laughed in exasperation; she took the job. ¡°Boss, then I¡¯ll go reply to the person. You are amazing, Boss, making a small target effortlessly.¡± Nan Qiao was amused by Hou Ze¡¯s words, ¡°How is your mother¡¯s health? Is she taking the medicine I gave her regularly?¡± ¡°Boss, my mom¡¯s much better now, and she said she¡¯d make her signature braised pork trotters for you. I told her you¡¯ve been busy recently and haven¡¯t had time to visit my place.¡± Nan Qiao wore a gentle smile, ¡°Finish up with the company¡¯s work in the next two days, and then go home with you over the weekend. Invite Ah Nian and Ah Yao too; we¡¯ll all go together.¡± ¡°Alright, my mom will be very happy to know you¡¯re coming.¡± After hanging up the call, Hou Ze immediately called his mother to inform her. Hou Ze¡¯s mother was both excited and happy, ¡°Is Qiaoqiao really coming? That¡¯s great! Houzi, remember to treat Qiaoqiao well, understand? My life was saved by Qiaoqiao, she has been gracious to our family!¡± Hou Ze had heard these words so much his ears could have grown calluses. Yet, he patiently spoke with his mother, ¡°Mom, I know. I¡¯m working for the Boss right now; I¡¯ll work even harder, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Houzi, does Qiaoqiao have someone?¡± ¡°Somebody has been chasing her,¡± Hou Ze said. Hou Ze¡¯s mother asked in surprise, ¡°What kind of man? Is he good to Qiaoqiao? Handsome? Capable?¡± ¡°Mom, don¡¯t act like you¡¯re Qiaoqiao¡¯s real mom.¡± ¡°You little rascal, what do you know? Qiaoqiao is so capable, I don¡¯t know who would be worthy of such a good girl.¡± Hou Ze: That struck a nerve, Mom! ¡°Mom, Qiaoqiao has a good eye for men, and she¡¯s not love-blind. A man she dislikes won¡¯t even get to hold her hand. Don¡¯t worry, Qiaoqiao is no pushover.¡± After hearing these words, Hou Ze¡¯s mother smiled and nodded, ¡°Houzi, come home tonight. Shop with me so I can make a lot of dishes Qiaoqiao likes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ... Nan Qiao entered the company and received a text message from Elder Li. [Qiaoqiao, are you free this weekend? I¡¯ll take you to the Li Family estate; would that be nice? You can also have roasted whole lamb; whatever you want to eat, I¡¯ll have people prepare it in advance.] [Qiaoqiao, do you have enough pocket money? I¡¯ll transfer you a hundred million, you can spend it to pass the time.] [Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ve been feeling a terrible headache recently, when you have time, come over and check on me again.] Elder Li sent a flurry of messages over; there was also the notification sound of a hundred million in pocket money. The words couldn¡¯t be heard by others, but the notification sound made everyone around open their mouths in shock, staring at Nan Qiao. Everyone: !! A hundred million! Everyone looked at one another, perceiving Nan Qiao anew. What kind of man was pursuing Mr. Qiao, to transfer a hundred million just for spending money! Nan Qiao ignored the inquiring glances of everyone and said to Rong Yan, ¡°Rong Yan, come to my office for a moment.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Qiao.¡± Rong Yan immediately stood up. The office had a large pane of transparent glass; without the curtains drawn, those outside could see every move Nan Qiao made. Rong Yan walked in, stood in front of the desk, and behaved respectfully, as if his life lay in Nan Qiao¡¯s hands. Nan Qiao smiled, ¡°Rong Yan, the matter of our design being plagiarised has been handled; you don¡¯t need to be too anxious. This time, I came to entrust next quarter¡¯s design to you, too.¡± Rong Yan was stunned; was such good fortune possible? ¡°Mr. Qiao, are you planning to skyrocket my career?¡± Rong Yan couldn¡¯t believe that his life might soar to new heights! Nan Qiao was amused by Rong Yan¡¯s reaction, ¡°I entrust the task to you, but you need to demonstrate your ability. If your skills don¡¯t meet my requirements, I won¡¯t use your designs, understand?¡± Rong Yan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qiao, I will devote all of my effort; I will certainly not disappoint you!¡± His destiny¡¯s wheel was also set to turn! ... After Hou Ze left, Nan Qiao sent a message in reply to Elder Li. [Grandfather, I have enough pocket money; I can¡¯t spend it all. I¡¯ll transfer this money back to you shortly. This weekend I have plans with friends, so I can¡¯t go to your place, sorry.] Elder Li saw Nan Qiao¡¯s reply and immediately asked Li Yehan about it, only to find out he had no plans with Nan Qiao for the weekend, and he was anxious. ¡°Ah Fu, quickly see what Qiaoqiao means by this?¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao says she has plans for the weekend, not with Ye Han; she couldn¡¯t possibly have a boyfriend now, could she?¡± Ah Fu saw the message content and hesitated, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± Both exchanged glances, clueless. At that moment, a servant said, ¡°Sir, Miss Bai Yurou is outside; she says she has something important to discuss with you.¡± Elder Li was taken aback; what was Bai Yurou doing here? ¡°Let her in.¡± He was curious to see what Bai Yurou wanted. Chapter 79 - 79 79 As long as youre not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else ?Chapter 79: Chapter 79: As long as you¡¯re not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else. Chapter 79: Chapter 79: As long as you¡¯re not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else. Bai Yurou was very happy to learn that Grandpa Li was willing to see her. She carried a gift bag and arrived at Grandpa Li¡¯s home. As she walked into the living room and saw a pair of pink slippers in the shoe-changing area, her brows furrowed. Grandpa Li lived alone, and she had never heard any rumors about him having a female companion. Li Yehan would visit Grandpa Li, but he didn¡¯t have a girlfriend, nor was there any gossip about him. Could these slippers belong to Nan Qiao? With this answer in mind, Bai Yurou¡¯s face darkened. Bai Yurou, struggling internally for a moment, slipped her feet into the pink slippers. Pretending to be unaware of anything, she walked into the living room with a gentle smile on her face. ¡°Good afternoon, Grandpa Li.¡± Grandpa Li nodded, ¡°Yurou, what brings you here today?¡± Bai Yurou placed the bag on the table and said cheerfully, ¡°Grandpa, try these medicines; they will definitely benefit your health. I also took some for my grandpa, and he said his body felt much better after taking them.¡± Grandpa Li didn¡¯t even look at the medicines and had no intentions of taking them. He had Nan Qiao to help regulate his health, so why would he trust the words of an outsider? ¡°It¡¯s the thought that counts, but my health is something Qiaoqiao is more familiar with. Since these medicines worked for your grandpa, you should leave them for him to use.¡± The supplements and medicine that Bai Yurou had brought were so mercilessly rejected by Grandpa Li. Bai Yurou¡¯s heart was not pleased. She was enduring the discomfort and kept her face as gentle as ever, ¡°Grandpa Li, my sister isn¡¯t a professional doctor after all; you should still go to the hospital for checkups, hospitals are more reliable.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying Qiao¡¯s medical skills are inadequate?¡± ¡°No, Grandpa Li, that¡¯s not what I meant. I was just thinking that since she isn¡¯t a professional doctor, she might not consider everything. It¡¯s definitely more reassuring to have a checkup at the hospital.¡± Grandpa Li¡¯s face was neither angry nor happy, as if he had no emotion, Bai Yurou couldn¡¯t read him and could only keep smiling despite feeling uncomfortable inside. The atmosphere was awkward, and Uncle Fu felt so uneasy that he wanted to leave. Since Grandpa Li wasn¡¯t speaking, Bai Yurou didn¡¯t know what else to say. She had a feeling, Grandpa Li didn¡¯t really want to talk to her. Could she be mistaken? Perhaps Grandpa Li was just very stern? With that thought, Bai Yurou gathered the courage to speak again, ¡°Grandpa Li, I am a doctor too. Perhaps I could give you a checkup.¡± Grandpa Li replied very sharply, ¡°Qiaoqiao just examined me.¡± Bai Yurou: ¡°...¡± She had never felt this awkward before! Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao; could it be that every sentence had to involve Nan Qiao? Was Nan Qiao really that important to the Li Family? Did Nan Qiao save Grandpa Li¡¯s life and thus deserved to save the entire family? Did they expect Li Yehan to repay with a marriage promise? Bai Yurou ranted in her heart, but sitting in front of Grandpa Li, in the Li Family¡¯s home, she could only force a smile and keep up the laughter. ¡°Since my sister has already examined you, let¡¯s leave it at that. I¡¯ll come check on you next time when I¡¯m free,¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s expression gradually became unnatural. Seeing that the atmosphere was not right for conversation, Uncle Fu chimed in, ¡°Master, weren¡¯t you going to the supermarket to buy some things? It¡¯s time, the car is waiting at the door.¡± Grandpa Li suddenly realized, ¡°That¡¯s right, I need to buy groceries. Qiaoqiao is coming for dinner this weekend, so I need to prepare in advance.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s face burned with embarrassment; although no one scolded her, she still felt as if the two old men were rejecting her. Bai Yurou stood up and took the initiative to leave, ¡°Grandpa Li, since you have things to do, I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± ¡°Alright, Yurou. When you have time, practice your medical skills well. I heard from your grandpa that your grandma, who stays in the hospital where you¡¯re interning and under your care, was poisoned. That¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Bai Yurou, holding back her anger, forced a smile, ¡°You¡¯re right, Grandpa Li. I¡¯ve already reported the situation to the hospital director; the hospital will deal with it.¡± ¡°If they can deal with it, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just afraid of mishandling,¡± Grandpa Li sighed. Bai Yurou couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and turned her head to leave. She was really furious! After leaving Grandpa Li¡¯s house, Bai Yurou drove to a deserted place, angrily pounding the steering wheel until her hands turned red. Her phone rang, and seeing the number on the display, she immediately answered. The person on the other end said, ¡°Miss Bai, Mr. Li¡¯s afternoon tea time is approaching. Today, he will be going to the Hua Kai cafe.¡± Bai Yurou finally felt a sense of relief, ¡°Okay.¡± She hung up the phone and drove to the restaurant, bought some afternoon tea, and arrived at Li Yehan¡¯s company. The receptionist had seen Bai Yurou before but didn¡¯t notice any appointment for her today. ¡°Miss Bai, do you have an appointment to see Mr. Li?¡± Bai Yurou, holding the box of afternoon treats, said, ¡°I¡¯m bringing afternoon tea to Brother Ye Han. As childhood friends, do I need to make an appointment? Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take responsibility if there are any issues.¡± Bai Yurou, pointing to a staff member behind her, said, ¡°This afternoon tea is what I bought for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss Bai!¡± When the receptionist saw the brand of the afternoon tea, she realized Bai Yurou¡¯s meal was the 1888 set. The receptionist watched as Bai Yurou got into the elevator and went up. However, as soon as Bai Yurou reached the elevator on his floor, she was stopped by a secretary. This floor was Li Yehan¡¯s office area, and it wasn¡¯t going to be so simple for Bai Yurou to sneak in. Bai Yurou, upon seeing Secretary Zhao, was very calm. ¡°Secretary Zhao, I bought this afternoon tea for Brother Ye Han; I¡¯ll take it to him,¡± said Bai Yurou as she moved forward. Secretary Zhao blocked her path, ¡°Miss Bai, I was not informed that Mr. Li asked you to bring afternoon tea.¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s brow creased; how could a mere secretary block her way? What significance did Secretary Zhao hold? Although Bai Yurou didn¡¯t speak, Secretary Zhao could tell from her eyes that Bai Yurou¡¯s thoughts were not clean. Secretary Zhao¡¯s expression remained indifferent, ¡°Miss Bai, without a prior appointment, you can¡¯t see Mr. Li. He is very busy every day. If everyone came to see him without an appointment, how would he get any work done?¡± Bai Yurou¡¯s face turned very ugly, and she replied discontentedly, ¡°Secretary Zhao, I have known Brother Ye Han since childhood, we grew up together. Do I still need your permission to bring him afternoon tea?¡± ¡°Miss Bai, you don¡¯t need my permission, but you do need Mr. Li¡¯s permission.¡± Bai Yurou was left speechless, holding the afternoon tea, heavy and tired; she really wanted to throw all of it right in Secretary Zhao¡¯s face. She clenched her teeth and said with a forced smile, ¡°Secretary Zhao, please go inform Brother Ye Han for me.¡± Secretary Zhao smiled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Mr. Li is busy and doesn¡¯t have time to receive anyone.¡± Bai Yurou: ¡°!!!¡± Chapter 80 - 80 80 Eat Meat ?Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Eat Meat Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Eat Meat Bai Yurou felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat as she watched Secretary Zhao¡¯s cold demeanor. She turned her eyes toward Li Yehan¡¯s office door. ¡°Secretary Zhao, can you deliver the afternoon tea I bought to Brother Ye Han for me?¡± She had already made the purchase, and if she were to walk downstairs carrying the afternoon tea and be seen by the receptionist, how could she maintain her dignity? What would others think of her? Bai Yurou looked at Secretary Zhao with pitiful eyes, as if she would burst into tears the second he dared to refuse. Considering it was already afternoon, Secretary Zhao accepted the tea. Bai Yurou left. She ran into the receptionist, who greeted her. Smiling, Bai Yurou said, ¡°Brother Ye Han is too busy, I¡¯ll come to deliver the afternoon tea some other time.¡± ¡°Miss Bai, you have such a good relationship with Mr. Li. You always think of him in everything you do, you and Mr. Li are truly a match made in heaven,¡± the receptionist commented. Bai Yurou chuckled lightly, ¡°I didn¡¯t buy you any honey today, yet your words are so sweet.¡± Another receptionist flattered her, ¡°Miss Bai, we are just telling the truth.¡± Just as Bai Yurou was being showered with compliments, Secretary Zhao appeared. He was relieved to see Bai Yurou was still there and handed her the afternoon tea. ¡°Miss Bai, Mr. Li said that you do not need to deliver afternoon tea anymore, he does not need it.¡± Bai Yurou: ¡°...¡± Everyone: ?? What¡¯s going on? Bai Yurou had always portrayed herself as Li Yehan¡¯s girlfriend; why did it suddenly change? The confident assurance that Bai Yurou had always displayed disappeared from her face. Secretary Zhao continued, ¡°Mr. Li said that by doing this, Miss Nan Qiao might misunderstand. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, please don¡¯t come again.¡± Secretary Zhao hadn¡¯t expected that Li Yehan wouldn¡¯t give Bai Yurou any face. When he found out that the afternoon tea had been sent by Bai Yurou, Li Yehan was livid, telling Secretary Zhao to return it the way it came. It was fortunate he caught up with Bai Yurou, or else he would have had to chase her down in his car to return this hot potato! Bai Yurou, looking at the tea and then at Secretary Zhao¡¯s displeased expression, and feeling the pointing and murmuring of the people around her, completely lost her composure. Her mouth twitched as she struggled to speak, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take it back for now. If Brother Ye Han wants anything else to eat, I¡¯ll deliver it.¡± Secretary Zhao: ¡°Mr. Li said, if he wants to eat anything, he will go find Miss Nan Qiao to eat with him.¡± Originally, Secretary Zhao had thought to be more tactful, but Li Yehan had instructed him to be cold, as that would be the only way to completely refuse Bai Yurou and make her give up. Not loving is simply not loving, there aren¡¯t so many whys. From the very beginning, he had never liked Bai Yurou. As for her claims of being childhood sweethearts, Li Yehan did not acknowledge them, nor did he want others to misunderstand their relationship. Secretary Zhao knew that Li Yehan was afraid that Miss Nan Qiao would hear the gossip and doubt his sincerity. The way everyone looked at Bai Yurou changed accordingly. Suddenly, they felt that Bai Yurou seemed to be lying, pretending to have a good relationship with Li Yehan? Bai Yurou stood there, and even without a sound, she could feel the contempt of those people around her, almost spewing from their mouths. Bai Yurou, feeling dejected, left with the afternoon tea in hand. Secretary Zhao watched her leave and turned to go, but the receptionist stopped him. ¡°Secretary Zhao, what¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t Miss Bai Mr. Li¡¯s girlfriend? Won¡¯t Mr. Li be angry if we let her in?¡± ¡°Yeah, won¡¯t Mr. Li fire us?¡± ¡°This Bai Yurou, really, if she¡¯s not Mr. Li¡¯s girlfriend, why does she always act like the lady of the house every time she comes? It made us misunderstand her relationship with Mr. Li.¡± They were also afraid of losing their jobs and hurriedly distanced themselves. Secretary Zhao was not a gossip and would not speak lightly of Li Yehan¡¯s affairs in front of others; that¡¯s the most basic principle of being a secretary. Thinking that Bai Yurou might come again in the future, he said, ¡°Mr. Li has only one girlfriend, named Nan Qiao. If Bai Yurou comes again, you must not let her in.¡± Everyone understood there wouldn¡¯t be a next time. After Secretary Zhao left, several people started gossiping about the matter. ¡°So it turns out Mr. Li isn¡¯t indifferent to women; he just hadn¡¯t met one he wanted to get close to!¡± ¡°I thought Bai Yurou had won over Mr. Li. Turns out, it¡¯s just her unrequited love?¡± ¡°Bai Yurou was so eager to deliver afternoon tea, but in the end, she was just met with cold indifference?¡± ¡°Look at what you¡¯re saying¡ªdo you mean to imply our CEO would be the one with a ¡®warm butt¡¯?¡± ¡°And how would you know? Sounds like you¡¯ve touched the CEO¡¯s butt before.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare; I¡¯m afraid Mr. Li would chop me to pieces.¡± ¡°Hahaha...¡± The group chuckled merrily as they discussed the matter. Bai Yurou, who had returned and was now standing around the corner, felt her face burn with embarrassment as she overheard them discuss her. She had intended to give the afternoon tea to the receptionists to keep them tight-lipped. Now, it seemed they were all ungrateful wretches! ... Nan Qiao received the afternoon tea sent by Li Yehan. It wasn¡¯t just for her, but for her colleagues as well. The pricey afternoon tea stunned everyone with its grandeur. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, isn¡¯t this shop the Herme?s of afternoon teas? Just one order is over a thousand bucks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Just this piece of pastry in your hand is worth five hundred.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯m not eating afternoon tea, but my own life.¡± A quick estimate suggested this afternoon tea cost in the five figures. ¡°Mr. Qiao truly spares no expense. There¡¯s meat on the table with Mr. Qiao! I want some meat!¡± ¡°I used to doubt Mr. Qiao¡¯s capabilities, but now he¡¯s my god!¡± ¡°Mr. Qiao¡¯s capabilities are beyond your doubts?¡± ... At that moment, sitting in her office, Nan Qiao looked at the afternoon tea meant for her. Her portion was the most exquisite, pricier than everyone else¡¯s combined. Nan Qiao made a call to Li Yehan, but he didn¡¯t pick up. Immediately after, Li Yehan called her back through video. On screen was Li Yehan¡¯s handsome face with his charming eyes gleaming. Nan Qiao said, ¡°Li Yehan, the afternoon tea you bought is too expensive. And you really didn¡¯t have to get it for me, really.¡± Li Yehan¡¯s lips curled into a doting smile, his gaze soft. ¡°Qiaoqiao, my money is yours to spend. However much it is, I never find it too expensive for you.¡± Nan Qiao¡¯s cheeks turned red, almost as if she could disappear from the camera. Watching her cute expression, Li Yehan couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. ¡°Qiaoqiao, are you blushing?¡± Nan Qiao tried to sound nonchalant as she addressed Li Yehan through the camera, ¡°Li Yehan, don¡¯t buy it next time.¡± Li Yehan nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Hearing his crisp agreement, Nan Qiao was somewhat surprised. Just as she was about to speak, Fu Xingyao knocked and came in. ¡°Mr. Qiao, there¡¯s a Miss Bai Yurou here to see you.¡± ¡°Let her in.¡± Nan Qiao, too, wanted to know why Bai Yurou was looking for her.