Tarik hadn't expected that something like this had happened.
This morning, Xia Qingyu had overslept, and Xi Fu hadn't woken up yet. Only he and Xiang Xueyuan, who had just returned from the laboratory, were having breakfast.
He remembered something Xia Qingyu had asked him before and thus asked Xiang Xueyuan, "Dad, you mentioned before that someone died in a crystal research project, how did that person die?"
"That person?" Xiang Xueyuan paused before saying, "She was a very outstanding crystal researcher. Her family was in the jewelry business, and she had been interested in crystals, jewelry, and minerals since childhood. During her school years, she published many papers and reports on crystal magnetic field research. I admired her greatly and invited her to join as soon as I found the crystal. She was very happy about it.
It's just a pity… we all underestimated the radiation of this crystal back then. Although we had protection, it… wasn't enough.
Not long after, her body couldn't take it anymore. She was hospitalized for a long time after returning to the country and eventually died of illness.
The laboratory was completely built the year after she died, and the protection was finally adequate.
She was so young… a pity."
Hearing Xiang Xueyuan's words, Tarik also felt it was a pity. He knew his adoptive father always valued talent, and he had been influenced by him, having a good impression of truly talented people.
"Oh, right," Xiang Xueyuan said with a smile, looking at Tarik. "You know her daughter too."
"Hmm?" Tarik was startled.
"It's Xia Qingtian…"
…
Tarik found it hard to describe his feelings at that moment when he heard his adoptive father's words.
In an instant, many things that he hadn't understood became clear.
Xia Qingtian… was here for revenge…
No wonder, no wonder Xia Qingtian's relationship with Xia Qingyu had suddenly improved.
No wonder Xia Qingyu had a mysterious admiration and closeness towards Xia Qingtian.
No wonder Xia Qingtian came to Finland at this time, to be with Xia Qingyu, and brought Liu Ru.
It was all for revenge, revenge against Xiang Xueyuan.
Then, her involvement with Mobius was evident.
How meticulous must someone be to plan all this step by step?
Tarik looked at Xia Qingtian sitting opposite him, feeling a chilling sense of dread for the first time.
Xia Qingtian also felt a shiver down her spine at this moment.
When she was young, she always found it strange why Yue Qiyan was hospitalized for so long and why her mother died at such a young age.
She had even believed rumors that Aunt Liu had poisoned her mother to get ahead.
But she had no evidence.
So… it was like this.
"I'll give you a day to consider," Tarik said to Xia Qingtian. "If you decide to abandon your hatred, I can pretend I don't know about this and help you conceal Mobius's identity, as long as you never tell Xia Qingyu about your schemes and manipulations and don't hurt her."
Tarik couldn't imagine how sad and desperate Xia Qingyu would be if she knew Xia Qingtian had been using her all along.
If Xia Qingtian insisted on her path, he would rather kill Xia Qingtian himself and make Xia Qingyu hate him for life, than let Xia Qingyu experience despair and collapse after knowing the truth.
Hearing this, Xia Qingtian looked up at Tarik, "Do you care a lot about Qingyu?"
"What? You want to use me too?" Tarik met Xia Qingtian's gaze with cold mockery. "I'm not that stupid, I won't be easily used by you.
I advise you to put away those thoughts. Those who tried to use me never had a good ending."
Standing up, Tarik looked down at Xia Qingtian. "I'll come back at this time tomorrow for your final answer."
Life or death, it was all in Xia Qingtian's hands.
"Don't play any tricks. This is Finland, not China."
With that, Tarik turned and left.
Xia Qingtian sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the tea set in front of her.
Until her phone rang, Xia Qingtian answered, "He's gone."
"Your voice sounds tired," Gu Yaoyang's voice came from the other end. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Xia Qingtian said, taking a deep breath. "I have good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?"
"Good news," Gu Yaoyang replied.
"The good news is that Tarik doesn't know about our escape plan. Tonight's route is still safe," Xia Qingtian replied.
"And the bad news?" Gu Yaoyang also let out a sigh of relief.
"I just found out that Qingyu is the daughter of my enemy," Xia Qingtian paused, and a tear rolled down her smiling cheek. "My mother… didn't die of natural causes, but an experimental accident. It was in Xiang Xueyuan's experiment… she died of illness due to improper protection."
When Xiang Xueyuan first met her, he said he had worked with her mother, and she hadn't thought of this possibility.
So… it was like this…
Many things she hadn't understood, she understood today.
Gu Yaoyang fell silent after hearing Xia Qingtian's words, clearly shocked by the news.
He only knew that Xia Qingtian had lost her mother at a young age, but he didn't know…
"Qingtian…" Gu Yaoyang asked after taking a deep breath, "Do you need me to come back and stay with you now?"
"No, proceed with the plan," Xia Qingtian's gaze deepened. "I just need some time alone, I can recover."
"Then… are you still going to save Qingyu tonight?" Gu Yaoyang asked.
This was the crucial point.
"…" Xia Qingtian was silent for a long time before saying, "Give me some time…"
"Okay," Gu Yaoyang heard this and didn't offer any random advice or ask further questions, simply hanging up the phone thoughtfully.
Some emotions had to be processed by Xia Qingtian herself.
No matter what their status, no one else could make any decisions for her.
After hanging up the phone, Xia Qingtian remained seated on the sofa, tears falling one by one.
Time passed by, minute by minute.
Xi Fu had people stake out Lei Xirui at home all day, but Lei Xirui never showed up.
This made Xi Fu very angry, only feeling that Xia Qingyu was becoming more and more of an eyesore.
She was enraged by Xia Qingyu's deep cunning and her own helplessness.
She wished she could stab Xia Qingyu twice to vent her anger, and shoot her twice. Even if she couldn't kill her directly, it would be a relief.
"Qingyu, after dinner, let's go to the laboratory together," Xiang Xueyuan said.
"What?" Xia Qingyu subconsciously glanced at her watch.
It was already seven o'clock, and there was only an hour left until Xia Qingtian said she would come to pick her up.
Although she had already asked Lei Xirui to deliver a message to her sister, telling her not to come find her.
But…
But what if her sister still came?
Even if she couldn't leave with her sister, it would be good to see her sister one more time.
And…
And if her sister came and couldn't find her, she would surely be very anxious, right?
What if there was other danger?
Xia Qingyu tightly gripped the cutlery in her hand.