“I didn't expect Yu He to keep a miniature pig as a pet. She used to hate pigs so much…”
Qin Beiting tapped on a recording on his phone, playing back what Qiao Qiao had said yesterday at the pet hospital!
Qiao Qiao’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment. She never imagined that Qin Beiting had actually recorded it!
Yu He glanced at Qin Beiting in surprise, suddenly unsure if this man was overly guarded or possessed an exceptionally strong survival instinct.
Qin Beiting returned her gaze with a look that said, "I'm innocent; she's framing me."
“…”
Yu He’s gaze shifted back to Qiao Qiao, her expression unreadable.
She had brought Qiao Qiao and her brother out based on over a decade of friendship and understanding. She hadn’t expected Qiao Qiao to develop feelings for Qin Beiting.
However, it was understandable. Qin Beiting possessed not only good looks and physique but also a powerful background. Even she was captivated by his appearance; it wasn’t surprising that Qiao Qiao would like him.
But…
“Yu He, I…” Qiao Qiao attempted to explain.
“You don’t need to explain,” Yu He interrupted coldly, warning her, “The money, the house, the fame, all you desire – I will give it to you as long as you remain loyal to me. If you cannot be loyal, then leave! But if you stay, only to use my trust to snatch things that do not rightfully belong to you, don’t blame me for being heartless! What I can give you, I can also take back!”
Her hidden intentions exposed in front of everyone, Qiao Qiao lowered her head in embarrassment, her cheeks burning. If Yu He hadn’t brought her and her brother out, she might still be farming, raising chickens and pigs in the mountains, making a living by preparing medicinal meals for the villagers. She certainly wouldn't be earning in a month what she hadn't earned in years, living in a high-end apartment with servants and a chef. But this happiness had come too easily, tempting her to desire more…
“I’m sorry…” Qiao Qiao choked out, sobbing.
Yu He’s eyes were clear and cold as she slid the meticulously written prescription on the table towards Qiao Qiao. “Go and decoct the medicine.”
Qiao Qiao, wiping away tears, took the prescription and left.
“Baby, you’re still too soft-hearted,” Qin Beiting said. If it were him, he would have eliminated her directly. He disliked people who were two-faced.
“She’s useful,” Yu He said as she carefully removed the golden needles from Qin Beiting’s face one by one. She explained, “After all, it’s difficult to find such a good medicinal meal chef in the entire capital to replace her. If I drive her away, she’ll have to find work at another TCM clinic, creating another competitor. It’s better to give her a chance to reform.”
Qin Beiting didn’t want to give Qiao Qiao another chance, but since Yu He had decided, he respected her decision. “If she doesn’t cherish this opportunity, I’ll help you deal with her.”
Yu He’s lips curved into a smile. “Okay.”
Qin Beiting watched as she leisurely disinfected the golden needles with alcohol, then skillfully found acupuncture points on the miniature pig with her other hand and inserted the needles.
Qin Beiting: !!!
Qin Beiting: “You!”
“What?” Yu He saw him staring at the golden needles she had just used on him and then inserted into the miniature pig. “Is there a problem?”
A huge problem!
“You’re using the needles I used on you for it. Do you not consider me human, or this thing not an animal?!”
Yu He: “I consider it your son.”
“…”
Qin Beiting looked at the miniature pig, which lay on Yu He’s lap, its eyes squinting in comfort as it received acupuncture. For the n+1 time, he felt the urge to roast it!
…
Qiao Wei, who was helping to monitor the medicine pot in the east wing, saw his sister return with red eyes, clearly having been crying. He immediately asked, “Qiao Qiao, what’s wrong?”
Seeing her brother, Qiao Qiao pouted, and the tears that had just stopped began to flow again. “Ge…”
At this, Qiao Wei panicked. This was his precious sister. Her tears softened his heart. “What is it? What happened?” he asked urgently. He had thought Qiao Qiao was going to find Yu He in the west wing, not come back crying.
“It’s nothing. Yu He didn’t bully me.” Qiao Qiao quickly wiped her tears, looking pitiful, and explained, “She just said a few words to me. I believe she only meant well for me; she didn’t mean anything else.”
Qiao Wei, who had just softened, immediately turned serious. “She must have meant well for you. Even if she scolded you, you should reflect on whether you did anything wrong. She and Grandma Yu have been so good to us; we cannot forget this kindness, do you understand?”
Qiao Qiao: “…” Who is your real sister?
—
At the Qin family’s old residence, in Qin Yonghao’s separate villa.
In the living room, Qin Yonghao, who had returned from work, asked Qin Xinhui, “Have you contacted Crow?”
“Not yet, but we’ve managed to get the contact information of Crow’s assistant, a pig. We’re having him help us make a connection,” Qin Xinhui replied.
Qin Yonghao frowned, displeased. “Why is the efficiency so low?”
“Crow is difficult to contact; it took some time,” Qin Xinhui explained.
“Don’t make excuses for me!” Qin Yonghao said sternly.
Madame Huang immediately chimed in, “Why are you yelling at your son? Xiao Hui is already trying his best. Didn’t he waste a day with a day of facing the wall?”
Mentioning this made Qin Yonghao feel unbalanced, even angry and jealous. That day, Qin Xinhui had merely teased Yu He and was punished to face the wall for a day. But Qin Beiting? He had disrespected his elders, spoken without restraint, and acted rudely. Qin Yongchao had turned a blind eye and let him leave without any repercussions afterward! The favoritism was excessive! Don't they know that Qin Yongchao, while appearing strict with Qin Beiting on the surface, was actually using outward strictness to conceal his private favoritism? Qin Yongchao, like his father, was biased towards Qin Beiting. Otherwise, given Qin Beiting’s past misdeeds, any other member of the Qin family would have been expelled long ago! And Qin Beiting, an illegitimate son, not only wasn’t expelled but his father also gave him all his shares! If this continued, the next Qin family patriarch would be Qin Beiting, with their fourth branch having no connection to it!
“Hurry up and make contact. Before Qin Beiting gets married, you must perform better than him! Win the patriarch’s recognition!” Qin Yonghao urged.
“Yes,” Qin Xinhui replied, rising and leaving.
“Alright, why get so angry? The position of the next patriarch will definitely belong to our fourth branch,” Madame Huang comforted Qin Yonghao.
Qin Yonghao took a sip of tea, calming himself. “How is the investigation into Hong’er’s matter progressing?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t lead back to me,” Madame Huang assured him. Such ugly family matters would not be publicized by Qin Yongchao and Madame Song for the sake of family reputation. Therefore, investigating Qin Xinhong’s medicine substitution could only be an internal investigation behind closed doors, and its efficiency was very low.
Qin Yonghao nodded. “That’s good.”
“Fourth Uncle, Auntie.” Just then, Ye Zisu knocked and entered. As soon as she came in, her eyes were red, and she began to play the victim. “Fourth Uncle, Auntie, you must give me justice! Eldest Uncle won’t help me and even wants to restore Yu He’s identity as the third young lady. I am in the Qin family with no parents and no support; I can only turn to you…”
Qin Yonghao and Madame Huang exchanged glances. They were both shrewd people and knew very well that Ye Zisu’s purpose in coming was to secure her position in the Qin family. A pawn offered freely was better than none.