PB - Chapter 69
Chapter 69
After work, Qiao Qi first went to the Gu residence to have dinner with Gu Jianchu. When Mrs. Gu opened the door and saw her, her expression soured. She was still resentful about Qiao Qi taking her daughter away the day before. Qiao Qi understood the look in her eyes, a mix of helplessness and embarrassment.
Gu Jianchu was in her room on a conference call with Li Haoming and the others. Although Qiao Qi was invited in, Mrs. Gu never showed her a pleasant expression. So when Gu Jianchu came downstairs, she saw the two of them sitting in silence at opposite ends of the sofa.
Hearing the movement, Qiao Qi paused mid-sip of her tea and looked up at her. Gu Jianchu looked back and offered a smile, which looked slightly comical on her still-healing face. Qiao Qi pressed her lips together, her own smile deepening.
Mrs. Gu sat perfectly still, waiting for Gu Jianchu to approach. Seeing her mother's posture and the way she pretended not to look at her, Gu Jianchu knew her moment of trial had arrived. She walked over and sat down next to Mrs. Gu, calling out affectionately, “Mom.” Then she added, “Let me formally introduce you. This is Qiao Qi, my girlfriend. You've met her before.”
Qiao Qi, with poised demeanor, said softly, “Hello, Auntie.”
Mrs. Gu's attitude remained ambiguous, so Gu Jianchu played her trump card. “If she hadn't reacted so quickly yesterday, I'm afraid I'd be a corpse at the bottom of the lake right now.”
Mrs. Gu quickly cut her off. “What nonsense are you talking about?” Seeing the scrapes on her daughter's face had scabbed over, her eyes reddened again. “Don't say such things, do you hear me?” She sighed, her tone softening. “You sit with Miss Qiao. I'll go check on how dinner is coming along.”
After Mrs. Gu left, Qiao Qi asked her, “Any new developments from the police?”
Gu Jianchu replied, “Not yet.” She asked, “Are you leaving right after dinner?”
Qiao Qi cast a light glance at her, a smile hidden in her eyes, and asked, “Otherwise, what did you have in mind?”
Gu Jianchu cupped her face and kissed her on the lips. As a guest, Qiao Qi blushed as expected. A playful mood struck Gu Jianchu, and she leaned close to Qiao Qi's ear, teasing, “There's so much I want to do. Why don't you stay the night?”
Qiao Qi pulled back slightly and said, “I have to go back to the other place tonight.”
Gu Jianchu was only teasing and hadn't really expected her to stay. She nodded and let her go. Qiao Qi said her goodbyes and left after dinner. The wind blew fiercely that night, and the leaves, unable to withstand the gale, scattered all over the ground. As her car drove past, one or two drifted toward her windshield.
When Qiao Qi returned, Old Master Jin was watching television in the living room, accompanied by the elders from her first and second uncles' families. Jin Zhihuan and Jin Zhilan hadn't been back for the past two days, and Jin Zhiyu was away in Shenzhen on business. Her sudden arrival was like a giant stone dropped into a calm lake. She sat down beside Old Master Jin, turning slightly to meet his gaze.
The old master glanced at her and asked faintly, “How is the Gu family's girl?” The other four held their breath, listening intently to their conversation.
Qiao Qi looked directly at him. “She suffered some minor injuries and is resting at home.”
“You didn't come back just to tell me this, did you?” Old Master Jin swept his gaze over the others, who were pretending not to care, and added, “Come with me to the study.”
Qiao Qi's attitude tonight was perfectly clear. From the way her gaze didn't waver, the old master understood her intentions. The grandfather clock in the study ticked away. Qiao Qi sat across from him, composed, and placed a forensic photo of the watch on the desk, pushing it toward him. His eyes swept over it without a word, waiting for her to continue.
Qiao Qi's voice was devoid of emotion. “This watch has been in my bedroom since my last visit. Jianchu didn't know; she thought it was the one I always wore.”
Suddenly, a storm brewed in the old master's eyes. He looked at Qiao Qi with a profound gaze, and only after the tempest in his eyes subsided did he ask, “What do you plan to do?”
“As long as you promise not to interfere, I will abide by the judgment of the law.”
Old Master Jin considered this. After a moment, he said, as if compromising, “You must remember, the reason I'm agreeing to this is not because they hurt the Gu girl. It's because they were audacious enough to make a move on you.”
Qiao Qi's gaze was serene. “I know.”
The old master said irritably, “As long as you know.”
“I will protect Ruifeng for you and guide Zhiyu with all my heart.”
“Are you trying to anger me to death? I'm telling you to remember—remember that Grandpa treasures you the most.” The old master, annoyed by her perceived heartlessness, walked around the desk to pinch her ear. Qiao Qi dodged, and he gave up. “You remember this: for me, it has never been a transaction with you.” He stood beside her with his hands behind his back, looking at her. “Rest here tonight. Go on.”
Going back and forth was too much trouble, so Qiao Qi had intended to stay the night anyway. That evening, her second aunt came by as usual to deliver calming soup, but her eyes were evasive, and she seemed to have something to say but held back. Qiao Qi understood and took the initiative. “Second Aunt, it's alright. Please don't worry.”
This considerate gesture, however, made her second aunt even more apprehensive. She only said, “I heard about what happened. I'm relieved to see you're okay. You should get some rest. I won't disturb you.”
After seeing her second aunt out, Qiao Qi did indeed feel tired. She hadn't slept well for the past two nights. Unsurprisingly, she woke up again in the middle of the night. She checked the time—it was just past three in the morning. She had no choice but to find some sleeping pills in the drawer. Only after taking them did she sleep until dawn.
Early the next morning, Gu Yong was waiting to block her way downstairs at Ruifeng. She walked around him and straight into the building. Gu Yong's fierce eyes glared at her back as he shouted after her, “Where have you hidden Mingyi?”
A Ruifeng executive happened to be downstairs and quietly reminded Gu Yong, “Mr. Gu, this is Ruifeng. Please conduct yourself with dignity.”
Gu Yong shoved aside the person in front of him and tried to grab Qiao Qi, but before he could even touch her, he was pinned to the ground by her bodyguards. They had clearly agreed to an exchange. Gu Jianchu had been resting safely at home for three days, while he had been searching for Gu Mingyi for three days like a headless fly. And during those three days, Qiao Qi had not only blocked his number but also avoided seeing him.
For the first two days, he had held back, treading carefully. But in the last two days, Gu Fanchu had been tightening the screws at Rongfang, revoking his board seat and, through the board of directors, forcing him to compensate for the company's losses caused by Gu Mingyi's personal actions. Anxiety and panic tormented him, leading to the current scene. He wanted to blow the matter up to force the Jin family to intervene, hoping they would pressure Qiao Qi into submission to cover up the scandal. But things did not go as he wished.
“You, surnamed Qiao, are you insane? You went back on your word for a woman, disgracing your Jin family's name. This matter isn't as simple as you think. Let's see how long your grandfather will tolerate you.”
The strong bodyguards were very powerful. The more he twisted and struggled, the tighter their grip became. The fire in his heart burned hotter, and his words grew more reckless. “Release Mingyi at once, or I won't let the two of you have a good end, you shameless thing!”
Qiao Qi's brow twitched just once, but her steps toward the elevator never faltered. However, Jin Zhihuan, who happened to be downstairs, couldn't stand to listen anymore. He had been dejected and depressed for the past two days, and hearing the insinuations in Gu Yong's words made him even more agitated. He signaled to the bodyguards to quickly take the man away.
After Gu Yong's commotion at Ruifeng, Qiao Qi and Gu Jianchu's relationship began to surface somewhat. But for some reason, the reaction to this shocking piece of gossip was not particularly fervent. Anyone could see that Ruifeng would sooner or later belong to President Qiao. It was best to hear and spread as little gossip about her as possible.
Over these three days, Gu Yong had been selling off his shares at low prices to transfer his assets abroad, while also hiring people to tail Gu Fanchu and Qiao Qi. He hoped to find his son's whereabouts by tracking their movements, but because of the kidnapping case, both of them were very cautious. As for Lao He, he didn't dare to make contact. As long as there was no news from the police, it was good news. He had prepared for the worst.
On the fifth day after the incident, the police in the southwest region successfully captured Lao He. Due to the gravity of the case, Beijing sent an investigation team to conduct the trial on-site. In the interrogation room, Lao He was finally no longer smiling. At first, he stubbornly refused to talk, insisting that he had found his large sum of money on the street and denying the crime of kidnapping.
The interrogation lasted for three days. The police managed to break through with one of Lao He's subordinates. Within a single day, several of Lao He's men, hoping for lighter sentences, all pointed to Lao He as the mastermind who intended to kidnap and murder Gu Jianchu. They even described the process of Lao He's private meetings with Gu Mingyi. Just like that, Gu Mingyi logically became a target for arrest.
On the very day the Beijing police applied for Gu Mingyi's arrest warrant, he was delivered to the police station, completely intact. Gu Mingyi had been held somewhere for three days. He was haggard, and his will was not strong. Especially since Lao He had already confessed everything. Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance, and with what little reason he had left, he tried his best to distance himself from the matter.
The two locations compared their testimonies, and the origins of the money and the video all came to light. Due to the case's extensive implications, the district bureau handed it over to the municipal bureau for trial. The police went to Jin Zhihuan and Jin Zhilan's home to take their statements. Both of them vehemently denied everything, repeatedly claiming it was slander from Gu Mingyi. However, Gu Mingyi never implicated Gu Yong, and Gu Yong, in turn, chose to sacrifice the pawn to save the chariot.
The criminal investigation phase of the case was nearing its end. Lao He and his accomplices were on their way back to Beijing for trial. By the end of the month, the case was successfully transferred to the prosecutor's office. The Jin family had thought that once the police investigation phase was over, Jin Zhihuan and Jin Zhilan would be able to extricate themselves. They never expected that after the case reached the prosecutor's office, both of them would be charged with kidnapping. Jin Zhihuan immediately went to seek Old Master Jin's protection.
Old Master Jin had promised Qiao Qi beforehand not to interfere, but when Jin Zhihuan came begging, he couldn't bear it. So he agreed to find him the best defense lawyer but made no other promises. Jin Zhihuan, unaware of the full story, mistakenly believed the old master would protect him, and his heart was put at ease. Jin Zhilan, on the other hand, was experiencing something like this for the first time in her life. She threw tantrums at home, refusing to let anyone near her.
When Jin Zhiyu returned, he saw the living room had been completely trashed. The cleaning lady looked as if she had just been scolded by the young miss. He didn't spare it a second glance and quickly retreated to his room for some peace and quiet. Although he had been in Shenzhen, he was well aware of the major events in Beijing. After learning that Qiao Qi was safe, he hadn't been in a hurry to return, wanting to avoid being trapped by Jin Zhihuan and getting into trouble again.
His second aunt opened the door a crack to listen to the commotion outside. The atmosphere in the Jin household had been unbearably oppressive these past few days. His second uncle, though uncertain, could still pretend to be calm and watch the news, but his second aunt's nervousness was obvious.
“That Qiao Qi seems gentle on the surface, but she's ruthless in private. Logically, Zhihuan and Zhilan should be fine. But look at how anxious and restless First Uncle's family is all day—you can tell Qiao Qi has been pulling strings behind the scenes.”
Her words were not without reason, but Jin Zhiyu felt his mother's attitude was too fickle. “Mom, the way you say it makes it sound like Sister Qiqi is the one at fault. Jin Zhihuan has tried to harm us twice, and you still have the heart to sympathize with him.”
“That's not how it is. She's fine, isn't she? Besides, there's no proof that Zhihuan was involved.”
“He wasn't involved?” Jin Zhiyu raised his voice and sneered. “If he wasn't involved, where did the sixty million to hire the hitmen come from? Enough, Mom. In my opinion, Sister Qiqi just wants this to go through the legal process. She's already been more than benevolent.”
His second aunt chided, “I think she's cast a spell on you, making you listen to her and help her with everything.”
Jin Zhiyu just smiled and said no more. But then his second uncle suddenly spoke in a casual tone, “You can't always just follow her. You need to have your own opinions. Your mother is right that she's not simple. You must remember, caution is the parent of safety.”
Jin Zhiyu could see it clearly now. His parents had only mended their relationship with Qiao Qi recently because she was gaining power. But at a critical moment, they still treated her like an outsider. The old Jin Zhiyu might have shared their view. But he was the one who had been terrified and locked in a detention center for seven or eight days. He couldn't expect his parents, who hadn't gone through it, to empathize.
He glanced at the time. It was just past three in the afternoon. The atmosphere at home felt like the calm before a storm. It would be more comfortable to hide out somewhere else. He said, “I have plans to play ball with a friend tonight. I'm leaving.” His second aunt didn't try to stop him. He left the mansion and drove off. Halfway there, he turned the steering wheel and headed for Ruifeng.
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