"Please untie me first, it's so uncomfortable being cramped in the cabinet," Qiao Lin complained.
Qin Zhao swiftly took out scissors and cut the ropes, seeing how pitiful she looked.
Qiao Lin's hands and feet were purple due to blocked blood vessels from being tied up.
Stepping on the ground sent pain and numbness through her feet. She needed Qin Zhao's support just to walk.
The two sat down on the sofa.
Qin Zhao poured a glass of water for Qiao Lin.
After taking a sip, Qiao Lin started recounting what had happened.
"After taking a shower tonight around 10 pm, I went to bed to sleep.
In a half-awake state, I heard noises coming from the door and immediately woke up to check it out.
By then, it was already 12:30 am. I thought it was you returning at first, but quickly realized someone was trying to break in!
So I shouted at them with a boning knife from the kitchen, but it had no deterrent effect at all.
A few minutes later, three men broke in!
At first, I was able to fight back evenly, but I soon fell behind due to their greater numbers.
But their target wasn't me. After seeing my appearance, they tied me up and asked for information about you.
I didn't say anything, so they could only stash me in the closet to vent their anger.
As they left, they told me to pass along that they would be back again!"
After listening, Qin Zhao asked, "Did those three men have any identifiable characteristics?"
Qiao Lin thought for a moment and said, "Their Mandarin accents sounded strange, like foreigners, but their faces looked familiar to me."
Qin Zhao determined almost immediately that the men Qiao Lin described were Vietnamese!
That Ye Chenxi really is shameless!
Qin Zhao had originally planned to give him a mild tragic ending, like becoming destitute and down on his luck. After all, Ye Chenxi was the male lead and couldn't be allowed to die.
But now it seemed that if he wasn't pressed down into the mud, never to see daylight again, there'd be no peace!
After writing a new ending for Ye Chenxi in her mind, Qin Zhao said to Qiao Lin, "I'll give you some money. You should leave first and lie low in another city.
Come back after it's over."
This time it was people sent by Ye Chenxi. If it had been Nan Chenghui instead, Qiao Lin likely wouldn't have been so fortunate.
Nan Chenghui was capable of cruelly murdering his ex-wife after all!
How much affection could he have for the daughter they had together?
So having Qiao Lin leave was the best option.
However, Qiao Lin shook her head and refused, "I won't leave. Their target isn't me anyway, so I'll stay and help you out.
I was Qiao Qianrong's bodyguard for years and my combat skills are decent. Losing tonight was just because I was caught off guard."
"You really won't leave?"
Qiao Lin affirmed, "No, I won't leave. I want to protect you as repayment for you saving me from the abandoned factory."
Qin Zhao let out a resigned sigh, "If you've decided not to go, then I can only tell you some of the truth to prepare you, since you aren't as safe as you think."
Qiao Lin was puzzled, "What truth?"
502 interrupted: "Host, you promised Qiao Qianrong you wouldn't tell Qiao Lin!"
Qin Zhao: "Qiao Qianrong's original intention was to avoid damaging the harmonious relationship between Qiao Lin and Nan Chenghui.
But I don't think maintaining that superficial harmony is necessary after Nan Chenghui killed her.
Besides, Qiao Lin is already within Nan Chenghui's sniper scope. The beautiful fantasy Qiao Qianrong hoped for never existed to begin with!"
Looking into Qiao Lin's innocent eyes, Qin Zhao knew how cruel the words she was about to say would be.
It would be a devastating blow to Qiao Lin's world.
But faced with such a pure-hearted Qiao Lin, she had no other choice.
"Do you want to know who your father is?" Qin Zhao asked.
Qiao Lin shook her head, "When I was a teenager, I felt it was enough to just have my mom. After my mom abandoned me too, I decided just having myself was enough."
Qin Zhao nodded, "That's great. You really are an enlightened and independent good kid. Losing a daughter like you is the biggest loss in their lives."
Qiao Lin was confused, "Qin Zhao, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Qin Zhao replied, "Just some content that isn't very important to you. Treat it like listening to a story with nothing new."
Qiao Lin nodded blankly, "Alright, go ahead."
After that, Qin Zhao relayed Qiao Lin's background, not missing any key points, including how Nan Chenghui killed Qiao Qianrong and parts about her sister!
When she finished, Qiao Lin was stunned speechless.
Seeing she didn't cry, Qin Zhao felt a little better inside.
If she encountered parents like that in reality, perhaps she would... Actually, it didn't matter.
Parents could be anything, as long as they didn't affect her life.
After a full thirty minutes of silence, Qiao Lin finally spoke, "Qin Zhao, do you know what I was thinking just now?"
Qin Zhao asked interestedly, "What were you thinking about?"
Qiao Lin replied, "I imagined them in my life, thought through it once.
I realized that after getting used to freedom, I could no longer accept a life constrained by my parents.
So not having them isn't really a loss to me."
Qin Zhao really wanted to give Qiao Lin enthusiastic applause, but restrained herself considering the late hour.
"It's great that you can think this way, because next I need to deal with Nan Chenghui and Nan Group, and will need your participation."
Qiao Lin agreed without hesitation, "Okay, I'll fully support you. I want to settle scores with him for my mother's and aunt's grudges too!"
...
On April 1st, a piece of news simultaneously occupied the top entertainment and business headlines!
This was naturally anonymously leaked by Qin Zhao to the media.
The news mentioned an old incident from over twenty years ago involving Nan Group's Chairman Nan Chenghui.
To marry the noble daughter Li Shuyun at that time, he abandoned his original wife and daughter.
And formed a new family with Li Shuyun.
The biggest explosive point was the implication that the way he abandoned his wife and daughter was by murdering them!
But his original wife and daughter fortunately escaped, and have since lived in hiding and relied on trash picking to survive.
The news contained two accompanying pictures.
A photo of Nan Chenghui with Qiao Qianrong, and a photo of Qiao Qianrong fighting with someone over a cardboard box next to a trash can.
Nan Group's stock had already taken a major hit once due to bribery cases, using inferior materials, and other scandals.
Capital markets had yet to rebuild confidence in Nan Group, so its stock immediately became volatile when this news came out, hitting limit down that very day!
Qin Zhao, who was slacking off at work, saw the news and the stock market's reaction, the corners of her mouth turning up into a smile.
"What are you smiling about?" Shen Yixuan patted Qin Zhao's shoulder and asked.
Qin Zhao turned back and said, "The initial form of the financial plan I prepared for you is taking shape. How could I not be happy?"
Qin Zhao had discussed with Shen Yixuan about dealing with Nan Group.
After Ren Xiaoyao was targeted, presumably by Nan Chenghui and others, the two had formed an alliance.
Shen Yixuan exclaimed, "That news was provided by you?"
Qin Zhao readily nodded, "It was me. I went through a lot of effort to help you make money."
Shen Yixuan put her hands together piously, "You're my money god. I'll only worship you from now on!"
"Hahaha, you praise me too much."
"Should I buy in now then?
Looking at that stock, it's already fallen quite a bit.
If Nan Group reacts quickly, the price will bounce back soon."
Qin Zhao smiled and said, "Don't rush. No matter how fast they react, it won't be faster than me making trouble.
Wait a little longer, even better prices will come your way."
The mischievous smile on Qin Zhao's face dazzled Shen Yixuan's eyes, making her take two steps back. She thought to herself: From now on, don't ever provoke Qin Zhao!
