"Xia Qingtian, you've always been very courageous," Xiang Xueyuan said, chuckling after a moment of annoyance. "I must admit, I do have thoughts of recruiting you."
After saying this, Xiang Xueyuan's gaze shifted to Xia Qingyu.
His patient conversation with Xia Qingtian was all for his daughter's sake.
If it weren't for Xia Qingyu, he would have gotten rid of this Xia Qingtian countless times already!
Hearing Xiang Xueyuan's words, Xia Qingyu bit her lower lip, looking at Xia Qingtian with worry.
This Xiang Xueyuan was cunning and treacherous; her sister must not be deceived by him!
"What a coincidence," Xia Qingtian smiled. "My project also needs a technical consultant, and I was thinking of recruiting you. I've even prepared the terms.
A monthly salary of 7,000, five social insurances and one housing fund, meal and housing subsidies, and weekends off.
If you perform well, there will be additional profit sharing at the end of the year.
What do you say? Professor Xiang, won't you consider it?"
"Xia Qingtian, do you even know who you're talking to!" Xi Fu was almost exploding with anger at Xia Qingtian's flippant attitude.
How dare she speak to her adoptive father like that!
Who gave her the guts!
"What? Not satisfied with the offer?" Xia Qingtian said, blinking. "Normally, we don't discuss salary with new employees. For Qingyu's sake, how about an extra 200 per month?"
"It seems there's nothing to discuss then?" Xiang Xueyuan understood Xia Qingtian's implication.
"Why would there be nothing to discuss?" Xia Qingtian smiled. "You haven't returned my sister yet. I can talk to you slowly."
"Return her to you?" Xiang Xueyuan scoffed. "Get it straight, Qingyu is my daughter!"
"I know. Your effort was indeed part of Qingyu's birth. So... how about I settle with you based on the price quoted by a high-IQ human sperm bank?" Xia Qingtian said, crossing her arms and glancing up and down at Xiang Xueyuan. "Although you're a bit older, you know my Aunt Liu always had a thing for you when she was young. But it's okay, who hasn't had a blind moment in their youth~"
"Xia Qingtian!" Even the usually gentle and amiable Xiang Xueyuan couldn't quite keep his composure upon hearing Xia Qingtian's words. "You—"
"Think it's too little?" Xia Qingtian's smile didn't falter. "It's not a small amount. If you had been more ruthless back then and set a fire, you might not have even gotten this sperm fee~"
Xia Qingtian's words completely silenced Xiang Xueyuan.
When he decided to leave back then, he had indeed harbored killing intent. Although he hadn't been able to go through with it, the trap had already been set.
"Sister, they've also captured Doctor Li and his wife!" Xia Qingyu said to Xia Qingtian. "They're upstairs!"
"I know. Don't worry, I'll bring you all back safely," Xia Qingtian made an "OK" gesture.
"Don't be so blindly confident when you can't even guarantee your own safe return," Xi Fu said with a sneer in her imperfectly spoken Mandarin.
"If I couldn't ensure my safe return, I wouldn't have come," Xia Qingtian said, tucking a strand of hair behind her shoulder. "You went to all this trouble, didn't you, just for the treasure map of the Lu, Miao, and Tang families? The map has always been kept by the Lu family. If you wanted it, you could have bought it from me. Perhaps, for Qingyu's sake, I might even have given you a discount.
Why resort to snatching people and kidnapping?"
"Would you really hand it over so easily?" Xi Fu raised an eyebrow slightly, she didn't trust this woman, Xia Qingtian.
What good could come from someone associated with Xia Qingyu?
In the words of China, they were birds of a feather!
"Here, it's right here~" Xia Qingtian directly produced the treasure map, and along with it, a metal lighter.
In everyone's sight, Xia Qingtian flicked the lighter twice, and a flame shot out, scorching a wisp of smoke from the corner of the treasure map.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Xia Qingtian blew hard, shaking it a few times. Confirming that only a small black patch appeared on the edge of the treasure map, Xia Qingtian grinned at the wide-eyed crowd. "Heh heh, when I watched treasure-hunting movies as a kid, I always wondered what an ancient treasure map would feel like burning.
Heh heh, it's really fun~"
"Xia Qingtian! Are you sick!" Xi Fu unleashed a torrent of Finnish insults, her voice cracking. "Is your brain not working properly!"
That was what Xiang Xueyuan wanted!
What was wrong with Xia Qingtian, to actually burn the treasure map with fire!
"Yes, I'm extremely crazy and very conflicted. I'm afraid of death, yet I risk my life~" Xia Qingtian's smile remained unchanged. "Professor Xiang, what do you say? Will you return the people I want and let me leave safely? Or will you join me in fulfilling my childhood dream and burning treasure maps for fun~"
Xiang Xueyuan's eyelid twitched. He had never met anyone crazier than himself before, but today, he had.
This Xia Qingtian was sick! Severely sick!
"Xi Fu, take Doctor and Mrs. Li downstairs," Xiang Xueyuan clenched his fist by his side.
"Yes, Father." Xi Fu cast a resentful glance at Xia Qingtian. Seeing the treasure map in her hand, she gritted her teeth and went upstairs.
With Xi Fu's obstruction gone, Xia Qingyu immediately ran to Xia Qingtian's side. "Sister!"
"Good girl," Xia Qingtian handed both the treasure map and the lighter to Xia Qingyu. "Qingyu, you hold this, I still have something to do."
"Ah?" Xia Qingyu took the treasure map and lighter with a look of stunned disbelief, never expecting her sister to hand over such an important item so casually.
What Xia Qingtian did next made Xia Qingyu even more dumbfounded.
"Professor Xiang, don't glare at me like that~ Give me one of your usual, extremely fake smiles." Xia Qingtian said, pulling out her phone and walking towards Xiang Xueyuan. "Before I came, I posted a message on my social media account saying I was visiting the renowned Professor Xiang today. My hundreds of thousands of fans are all eagerly awaiting~
I always dote on my fans, so I definitely have to take a photo with you to report my safety... oh, no, it's to give back to my fans."
Xia Qingtian switched her phone to selfie mode and raised it. "Professor Xiang, smile, cheese~"
"Xia Qingtian, do you think this way you can't do anything to me?" Xiang Xueyuan detested being threatened. "It's easy for me to kill you!"
"It's just a photo, don't act like I'm eager to take it with you," Xia Qingtian said, holding up her phone and smiling. "It is indeed easy for you to kill me, Xia Qingtian, but those who know I'm here aren't just the hundreds of thousands of fans on social media.
The Lu, Miao, and Tang families, the Wen family, the Yue family, the Bai family, and the Yu family.
How about it?
Try me?"