《My Identities Were All Exposed After I Was Pampered by Everyone at My Grandfather's House!》 Chapter 1 Reunion C-City, Nanshan Vige It was early in the morning, and the countryside air was extraordinarily fresh. Qiao Yue brought a small stool and a bucket and sat by the stream. She casually nced at the water and saw a fat koi swimming happily. Qiao Yue took a deep breath and got into a fishing position. It wasnt that she didnt want to catch it, but the water in the morning was too cold and she had to wait. Suddenly, Qiao Yues phone vibrated in her pocket and a message popped up on the screen. More and more messages followed. Boss, its been a month and youre still not back! @Qiaoyue Boss must have been having so much fun that shes forgotten about us. Has the boss really gone to inherit the Qiao familys business? Just that little bit of inheritance? I just spoke with the top entertainmentpany in A-Country yesterday and their boss would like to meet with ours. They asked me if I could make an appointment and I told them that our boss is not in A-Country currently. They said they would wait. I felt quite bad. Dont you mention your frustration. Its the same on my end! Im so stressed! Qiao Yue was watching themin about her with interest when she received a private message. Boss, when are youing back? Youre not lying to us when you say youre going to the Qiao family home for a vacation, right? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and replied, No. I dont believe you! You are doing this on purpose, right? Why do you have so much work? I want to apply for leave! Not approved! You make the decisions at KA now. I dont agree! Boss, youre too much! Hurry up ande back! Qiao Yue stopped replying to messages after she settled business matters and concentrated on her fishing endeavor. KA was a multinational conglomerate with businesses in entertainment, clothing, beauty, F&B, electronics, and other hot industries. Everyone had always been curious about the decision maker behind it. Who would have thought that the person they were so curious about was hiding in a ravine fishing? Yo! Xiao Yue is here to fish again? Youre up so early! A mans voice sounded. Qiao Yue turned around and saw that it was her neighbor. Yup! Uncle Wu, the fish here is delicious! I still havent had enough of it after eating it for half a month. Ha-ha, this fish is delicious but your aunt is toozy to cook it. Shell only cook it when our kid is on vacation. Uncle Wu then patted Qiao Yues shoulder twice and said with a mysterious expression, Many girls in our vige have taken a fancy to you. Which one do you like? Tell Uncle. Qiao Yue replied helplessly, Uncle, Im only 18. Its still too early for me to go on blind dates and get married! But more importantly, shes a girl. Was Uncle Wu trying to get her on an unusual path? After she was finally alone, the sun had gradually risen, and the temperature followed. There were now two big fat fish in Qiao Yues bucket. After testing the water temperature, Qiao Yue was prepared to catch two more fish. She would go home and sleep at one or two oclock in the afternoon when the sun was too hot. Just as Qiao Yue was enjoying her life, something big happened in the vige. A Lexus LM was parked at the entrance of the vige, attracting the attention of the passing vigers. The driver rolled down the window and asked a woman who was passing by where Qiao Yue was staying. The woman was wary at first, but after finding out the identity of the driver, she told him Qiao Yues whereabouts. As soon as he started the car, the driver said, Master Jing, are we really going to get him? If he doesnt want to go back with us or something happened to him, I dont think the old master would me us too much. After all, his mother did that kind of thing back then. Qiao Jing didnt answer. He looked down at the person in the photo, which he had found when Grandpa mentioned that he wanted to find his aunt and her family. He was still young back then and had only heard things from his elders. They said that his aunt was a silly woman who had severed ties with her family because she wanted to marry a scumbag. The old master knew back then that the man was not a good person. He tried to bring his daughter back by giving the man money and asking him to leave. Who knew that Qiao Yues mother was so stubborn that she didnte home even after she was dumped by the man? After that, the old master forbade everyone from mentioning her. It was only now that the old masters health was deteriorating and his longing for his daughter deepened that he let his descendantse out to look for her. Master Jing, is that him? The driver said suddenly as he signaled Qiao Jing to look at the man by the river not far away who was bending over to catch fish. Should we... Before the driver could finish his sentence, Qiao Jing shot him a cold look and said, I will bring him back safely. Qiao Jings words were cold, and his heart was cold. Other than the things he was interested in and his grandfathers requests, he turned a deaf ear to everyone elses requests. However, once this master decided, he would not allow others to question him. Thinking of his jabbering just now, the drivers cold sweat soaked his shirt. He answered softly, Yes, young master. Qiao Jing strode over to Qiao Yue. Seeing that he was about to reach the river, Qiao Jing refused to take another step forward. Looking at the disheveled young man in front of him with his pants rolled up and his body drenched in water, a trace of disgust shed across Qiao Jings eyes. Qiao Yue? Qiao Jing was the first to speak. Yes. Qiao Yue raised her head and responded. Chapter 2 A Bad Taste Qiao Yue had already guessed the purpose of the visit when she saw their car. She had also returned to Nanshan Vige because of it. Grandpa asked me to take you home. Get in the car. Without giving Qiao Yue any time to think, he turned and left. I havent agreed to it yet. Qiao Yue chuckled and said in an even voice. Qiao Jings expression was cold as he turned around to look at the young man standing under the sun. The young mans face was delicate and pretty, and his eyes were bright. The corners of his mouth were curled into a frivolous arc, making people feel as if they were looking at a young master walking out of an ancient painting. Why? Qiao Jing didnt want to waste time with Qiao Yue and asked with a single word. Qiao Yue looked at the man and said, Maybe because Im in a rebellious phase? She had no objections to go back to the Qiao residence. After all, her mother has instructed her to do so in herst words. But she had the urge to tease her second brother when she saw his ice-cold face. Qiao Jing frowned at the mischievous smile on Qiao Yues face and said, What do you want? I want to... Before Qiao Yue finished, Qiao Jing saw something flying towards him. Qiao Jing dodged the attack, but the driver behind him was not as agile and was hit in the face by a fat carp. To express its dissatisfaction at being caught and thrown around, the carp pped the drivers face with its tail a few times. Qiao Yue! Qiao Jings face was frosty. If he had not been so agile, he would have been the one in a sorry state. At the thought of this, Qiao Jings voice became even colder. Qiao Yue was not afraid of him. She raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, Whats wrong? Is second brother angry? Hearing Qiao Yues address, Qiao Jings brows furrowed even more. He hadnt even revealed his identity, but Qiao Yue had already known. After pranking the two people, Qiao Yue slowly walked out of the river. She picked up her shoes and bucket in a carefree manner and walked towards her house. When Qiao Yue passed by, Qiao Jing asked, Where are you going? Qiao Yue turned to look at him. As the two of them stood closer, Qiao Yue realized that Qiao Jing was indeed a beauty with exquisite facial features. Just like Prince Lan Ling, if he didnt wear a mask, his enemies would look down on him because of his appearance. It was the same for Qiao Jing. If he didnt maintain that cold aura that could freeze people to death, he would probably be surrounded by old and young girls as soon as he appeared. Didnt you ask me to go home? Ill go and pack my things. Qiao Jing didnt expect that Qiao Yue would agree to go home after making things difficult for him for a little while. He looked at Qiao Yue deeply and turned to get into the car. Qiao Yue wanted to tease Qiao Jing, so she walked slowly and let the car follow her. This was a tough situation for the driver. A Lexus LM could not keep up with the pace of an old cow. After about 20 minutes, they finally arrived at Qiao Yues house. The driver got out of the car and was ready to help Qiao Yue with his things. Although he didnt like this young master, he had to be polite since Master Jing had said that he wanted to bring him back safely. The driver was just about to follow Qiao Yue into the house when he heard the door banged close from the inside, followed by Qiao Yues voice, Dont put on an act. I had no intention to get cozy with you. The driver was startled by either the sound of the door banging close or Qiao Yues words and turned to look at Qiao Jing in a daze. He couldnt have offended the fifth young master, right? Qiao Jing rolled down the car window and looked at the teenagers residence with a deep gaze. Master Jing, what does the fifth young master mean? The driver probed. That was meant for me. Ignore him. The drivers eyes widened in surprise. Other than Master Ze, this was the first time someone had spoken to Master Jing so rudely. It was really bizarre! Compared to the driver, who was surprised at Qiao Jings nonchnce, Qiao Jing himself was thinking much more. Before he even mentioned his identity, Qiao Yue was able to determine his background and seniority, and clearly showed him that he wasnt friendly and had no intention to interfere. It seemed that his fifth brother was not simple. Qiao Jing pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose and lowered his eyes to hide the coldness in them. Qiao Yues house was simple and crude. Other than some clothes and daily necessities, there was nothing else. Suddenly, the wind chimes by the window that Qiao Yue had casually weaved made a crisp sound. As Qiao Yue tidied her clothes, she said, Come in. The next second, a girl in a short skirt and ponytail walked up to Qiao Yue and picked up a piece of her clothing with a look of disgust. Boss, do you still want these shabby clothes? You didnt even prepare anything when the Qiao family invited you back? The girl was not the only one who came. There was a muscr man beside her, and the height and figure of the two formed a sharp contrast. The man ced a bag of things next to Qiao Yue and didnt say anything; he waited for the girl to exin. Boss, these are from the Godfather. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and opened the bag. Px4Storm, VP9, FN57, AK47, AUG assault rifles... The more Qiao Yue looked, the more her forehead twitched. Was she going home or going to war? Qiao Yues gaze shifted to the tall and short duo, and said with a fake smile, Is Godfather asking me to go back and destroy the Qiao family? No, why would he? Godfather just... The girl lost her voice halfway through her sentence. Her eyes darted around the bag of guns, and she coughed dryly before continuing, Well... Boss, the Godfather is just worried that youll be in danger. Chapter 3 Going to War? After searching the bag inside out, Qiao Yue found a less conspicuous Walther PPS. She checked the magazine and then kept it at her waist. Take the rest away. Yes, boss. After the two of them left, Qiao Yue took out a simple-looking dagger from under her pillow. Just a gentle wave of this weapon produced a cold light, which showed how sharp the dagger was. In the car, Qiao Jing was looking through the information he got on Qiao Yue. The information showed that he was born and raised in Nanshan Vige before he went to school in town. He went on to study at an ordinary high school and there were no special circumstances during this period. Suddenly, the car door was pulled open. Qiao Jing only heard lets go! before two bags were squeezed into the backseat. Scram. Put your luggage in the trunk and sit in the front. Qiao Jings voice seemed to contain ice shards, and his eyes were throwing knives at Qiao Yue. When the driver saw this, he quickly trembled out of the car and ran to Qiao Yue. Fifth young master, give me your things. Ill help you put them away. Qiao Yue didnt answer. She stacked her two bags and was about to get into the car. She didnt know why, but she really wanted to oppose Qiao Jing. Perhaps its because she couldnt stand his ostentatious attitude. Just as Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing were in a stalemate, a sudden cry of surprise sounded in the vige. As the sound drew closer, Qiao Yue saw a red limited edition sports car driving towards her. She felt that the color was way too eye-catching. Get in the car, lets go. Qiao Yue could hear the impatience in Qiao Jings voice and looked at him in surprise. Who was it that could make this block of ice disy other emotions? Hearing Qiao Jings order, the driver ignored Qiao Yues luggage and quickly said to Qiao Yue, Fifth young master, lets go! Second brother, why are you leaving the moment you saw me? As soon as the man opened his mouth, Qiao Yues heart stirred. Everyone had a voice they liked, and Qiao Yue was no exception. To her, Qiao Jings voice was like a spring in cold winter, while this persons voice was like the best wine on summer nights. Just listening to it made her intoxicated. The man took off his sunsses and looked at Qiao Yue with a smile in his dreamy eyes. So, you are my fifth brother Qiao Yue? Yes. Qiao Yue shed a smile at the man, causing the man to raise his eyebrows and size Qiao Yue up with interest. The soft skin and tender flesh make you look like a girl. Kid, whats wrong with your neck? Although the man was sitting in a car, his aura wasnt diminished at all. His gaze did not feel frivolous. Overall, Qiao Yue had a pretty good impression of this man. Qiao Ze, only good things will make you wake up so early, sneered Qiao Jing before Qiao Yue could answer Qiao Ze. Same. When he was talking to Qiao Yue, Qiao Ze was still kind, but when it came to Qiao Jing, not only his words but even his attitude was provocative. Qiao Ze got out of his car, walked to Qiao Yues side, and looked inside Qiao Jings car. I cantpare with second brothers business style. When I heard that grandfather wanted to find aunt, I couldnt wait to grow wings so I could bring Qiao Yue back quickly. Qiao Yue understood the enmity between the brothers of the Qiao family. The old master of the Qiao family had three sons. The eldest and second son had two sons each, and the third son had two daughters. It could be said that the Qiao family was prosperous. Because they both had sons, the eldest and second sons were courteous to each other but fought fiercely in private. They both wanted to please the old master so that when the old master passed, they could have a bigger share of the inheritance. However, in Qiao Yues opinion, all the grandchildren of the Qiao family were quite outstanding. Why would they need to fight tooth and nail for that bit of inheritance? Just as Qiao Yue was watching the drama before her in a daze, the mes of war reached her unknowingly. Qiao Yue, get in the car. Fifth brother, look at how ugly your second brothers car is. Come with third brother. Third brother will take you for a ride and have some fun. Were not in a hurry to go home. The two of them spoke at the same time. Their eyes met and sparks flew. If the drama didnt involve her, Qiao Yue would happily watch it from the sidelines with a te of fruit. Seeing that they were both waiting for her answer, Qiao Yue beamed and said, I really dont know how to choose between 2nd and 3rd brothers invitation, so in order to not disappoint you, I... Qiao Yue said as she took her bags out of Qiao Jings car. Qiao Zes eyes lit up when he saw this while Qiao Jing stared coldly at Qiao Yues face. Chapter 4 A Warm Invitation Qiao Yue walked around Qiao Zes limited edition sports car to the passenger seats side. Just as Qiao Ze was about to gloat, the two of them saw Qiao Yue stretch out her legs and mounted a motorcycle next to the car. With a loud vroom, the motorcycle drove off, leaving a trail of dust behind it. Ahem! Qiao Zes face was covered in dust as he coughed a few times and stared nkly at Qiao Yues departing figure. He, he left just like that? On a motorcycle? Qiao Ze muttered in disbelief. Qiao Jing lowered his eyes behind his sses, casting a shadow over his face. Drive, ordered Qiao Jing. The car started moving slowly and Qiao Jings fingers ran across the photo of the young man on his tablet. A Dodge Tomahawk? He was wondering just now why there was such vehicle in this small vige, and it was casually parked outdoors. He really didnt expect it. It seemed that the boy they were bringing home to the Qiao residence would bring them a lot of surprises. Qiao Jing adjusted his sses and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a subtle smile. Qiao Yue rode the Tomahawk and sped on the road, wind whooshing past her ears. She remembered that it was a few years ago that she was forced to learn how to drive. She almost broke a leg when she learned how to ride this. After she learned it, she fell in love with the feeling of being in sync with the wind, soaring freely. About two hourster, Qiao Yues Tomahawk stopped in front of the Qiao familys manor. Qiao Yue looked at the grounds in front of her and secretlypared it to her own residence. Yes, its bigger than mine but not as big as Godfathers manor. Not long after Qiao Yue stopped in front of the manor, a servant came to wee her. The servant sized up the travelworn young man suspiciously. The second and third young masters said that they were going to pick up the fifth young master today but why was the fifth young master like this? Also, the second and third young masters were nowhere to be seen yet. Although the servant was suspicious, he stillpleted his job and brought Qiao Yue into the vi. Qiao Yue didnt care about direct or indirect gazes that came her way. She was here toplete her mothersst wish and would leave as soon as it was done. As Qiao Yues arrival was too peculiar, the servant did not report her arrival to the old master. Instead, he asked the third Madam, who was at home. In the servants eyes, the third Madam was a good-tempered person. After all, she didnt birth a son in such a big family and couldnt say much. So, this Madam had always been a person whos notpetitive. My health hasnt been goodtely. Let Xiner and Yinger go and entertain the guest! Well discuss the other things when big brother and the others are home! Yes, Madam, The servant then went to look for the two young misses. At the same time, he sighed for the fifth young master. Miss Yinger had a good temper like her mother, but Miss Xiner... Sigh! In the living room, Qiao Yue was sitting on the sofa drinking coffee. The servant had asked her to wait here just now but she didnt know what or whom for. For old master Qiao? But thats impossible. Shouldnt the servant bring her to the elder instead of letting the old mastere over? Just as Qiao Yue mind wondered, a female voice sounded, Yo! Where did this country bumpkine from? Is he here to take advantage of our family? The Qiao family doesnt have any family member or friend with such disheveled clothes and body... The girl stopped talking the moment Qiao Yue turned around. When the girl saw Qiao Yues back just now, she only saw Qiao Yues clothes and thought that he was a sloppy-looking boy. She didnt expect Qiao Yue to look so sunny and handsome when he turned around. But Qiao Xin was dazed for only a second before she said, Oh, its the boy from a remote vige who says that hes my aunts son. Who knows if its true? There are many people who want to be instantly rich these days. Qiao Ying didnt expect Qiao Xins words to be so sarcastic. She quickly pulled on her sisters sleeve, motioning her to stop. Qiao Yue smiled, her expression unchanged in the face of Qiao Xins ridicule, but her eyes vaguely revealed the kind of care that one had for the mentally disabled. Qiao Ying didnt know if she was wrong, but she felt that her fifth brother seemed to be disdainful of Qiao Xins behavior. I was invited back by Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze. If Miss Qiao is unhappy with the results, why dont you go and ask your second and third brothers? Qiao Yue replied politely, her expression unchanged. Qiao Yue had absolutely no interest in childish arguments. You! Your mom had embarrassed the Qiao family by eloping with someone back then! If you still have any self-esteem, you should leave the Qiao residence on your own ord! Dont even think about taking advantage of us! Chapter 5 Trouble from Ones Mouth Qiao Xin saw Qiao Yues smile and felt even angrier. Even if Qiao Yues return would make Grandpa happy, her family would gain nothing. Knowing Grandpa, he might even give Qiao Yue an extra portion of his assets. Qiao Xin wasnt going to be so stupid as to share the pie with more people. Qiao Yues face turned cold when she heard Qiao Xin mention her mother. Qiao Ying saw that something was wrong and quickly tried to smooth things over, Fifth brother, dont be angry. Qiao Xin just doesnt know how to talk properly. Fifth brother, dont lower yourself to her level. Qiao Yue sneered and said, I wonder if Miss Qiao has ever heard of the phrase trouble from ones mouth? Qiao Xin was frightened by Qiao Yues cold eyes, but she still mored, Are you trying to scare me? Who do you think you are to scare me? Suddenly, Qiao Xin had an idea and smiled as she said, You said that youre a member of the Qiao family. You must have some proof, right? I have something here that can prove that youre not a member of the Qiao family. When this girls eyes rolled, Qiao Yue knew that she had thought of a devious idea to harm her. However, she wasnt afraid. For someone who had climbed out dire straits, she wasnt afraid of anything. I dont need any proof. If old master Qiao says that Im not a member of the Qiao family, Ill leave, Qiao Yue replied indifferently. Are you afraid? Imposter! When uncle and the others return, they will kill you. Get out of here right now! Men, beat her up and throw her out! A few servants immediately appeared after Qiao Xin said that. They looked at each other, not daring to disobey Qiao Xin or to attack the person who might be the fifth young master. Seeing that Qiao Xin wasnt going to stop until she got what she wanted, Qiao Yue sighed and said, Alright, tell me how youre going to prove it! You want me to do a DNA test with my mom? My mom passed away a long time ago and didnt leave anything for me. Do you have her hair? I can do the test. We dont need to go through so much trouble. Just follow me. Qiao Xin then walked out of the vi. Qiao Yue yawned but had no choice but to follow. It was time for her to sleep. She was so sleepy! Qiao Xin led Qiao Yue to a remote corner of the manor. Qiao Ying also followed because she was worried; there were also two servants behind her. This is the ce. The snow wolves wont attack members of the Qiao family. Go and try it out. If they attack you, it means that youre not a member of the Qiao family. Qiao Xinughed wildly, not hiding her thoughts of killing Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue nced at her indifferently. The snow wolf didnt bite its master because it recognized its master after a long period of interaction. The so-called snow wolf recognizing the Qiao family members was just an excuse that Qiao Xin used to fool people. Not wanting to y such a dumb game with Qiao Xin, Qiao Yue turned around and left. But as soon as she took a step, she heard a rustling sound behind her. Rayan, bite him. Qiao Yue dodged the snow wolfs sneak attack with a roll. Her eyes swept over Qiao Xin, who was watching the drama with excitement. This crazy woman had actually released all the snow wolves that they kept locked up. Rayan, go! Quickly kill him! There were six snow wolves in total, and the one in the middle was very obedient to Qiao Xin. As soon as Qiao Xin opened her mouth, it immediately rushed towards Qiao Yue. The two servants who followed them out were scared out of their wits. They hid behind Qiao Ying and shivered. In the past, the snow wolves werent so scary when theres a fence separating them. Now that the gate was opened, they knew how scary these wolves were, especially the one Qiao Xin kept. Qiao Xin would usually feed it lots of bloody meat, even live animals. And now it was following Qiao Xins order and was going to bite Qiao Yue to death. Hurry, hurry and call second brother, Qiao Ying shivered as she ordered the servants. She was also afraid of Qiao Xins snow wolf. It was too fierce. Looking at Qiao Xin and Qiao Yings appearance, Qiao Yue understood somewhat in her heart. These six snow wolves were probably raised by Qiao Jing and the others, and each of them had one. Now that the other owners of the wolves were not around, Qiao Xins wolf was leading the pack, causing the other wolves to attack her. After dodging sneak attacks from the other wolves, Qiao Xins snow wolf attacked Qiao Yue again, opening its mouth to bite the artery on her neck. Qiao Ying and the servants closed their eyes in fear. With the snow wolfs speed and strength, no one would be able to survive its attack. They dared not look at the bloody scene and could only pray that Qiao Jing would hurry back and end this farce. Chapter 6 Bite Him to Death Qiao Yues eyes were locked on the snow wolf. She unsheathed the sharp dagger in her left hand and shed the snow wolfs eyes. The snow wolf howled in pain. The loss of sight had caused it to lose controlpletely. It waved its sharp ws wildly, hoping to kill the people who hurt it. As the snow wolf waved its ws, Qiao Yue rolled to the left to avoid the attack. She jumped and kicked the snow wolfs abdomen, bringing it to the ground. Although the snow wolf couldnt see, its sense of smell was still strong. It immediately located Qiao Yue and rushed towards her. The other snow wolves were intimidated by Qiao Yues powerful aura and dared not go forward; they just paced back and forth in the surrounding area. Qiao Yue jumped back and stabbed the snow wolf with her dagger. Blood sttered all over her. Argh! You actually dare to hurt Rayan! You b*tch! Qiao Xin was so scared that she lost her voice, and only reacted now. In less than three minutes, Qiao Yue had severely injured a snow wolf. Hurry! Call the vet! Rayan,e back! When the snow wolf heard Qiao Xins words, it retreated and ran towards Qiao Xin. Qiao Yues eyes were still cold. If it wasnt for the blood on her body, no one would believe that she had just experienced a fierce battle. Qiao Yue took out her pistol with her right hand and slowly raised it. Bang! Qiao Xins snow wolf fell to the ground from the gunshot, and Qiao Yues expression returned to normal. Rayan... Rayan! Come, men! Call the vet! Quickly get someone to arrest this b*tch! He actually killed my Rayan! Im going to kill him! Aargh C kill him! Holding the snow wolfs body, Qiao Xin was like a demon. Qiao Ying also fainted when Qiao Yue fired the gun. Themotion here was not small, and it attracted many servants. When they saw that one of the two young misses had gone crazy and the other had fainted, the entire courtyard was in chaos. Some went to find the butler, some went to find the doctor, and some locked the remaining snow wolves behind an iron gate. Perhaps the other snow wolves knew how terrifying Qiao Yue was, they did not make a fuss when they were locked up. When everyone was moving, they deliberately avoided Qiao Yue. They had all seen how Qiao Yue had killed the wolf just now, so how could anyone underestimate this terrifying trouble maker? A momentter, two women rushed over with a group of servants. Qiao Yue looked at them and knew who was in the lead. The woman who looked very capable was Qiao Jings mother, Tao Xi, the first Madam of the Qiao family who managed the household. Behind her was Qiao Xins mother, the third Madam of the Qiao family. Qiao Yues memory was pretty good. With just one look, she remembered the faces of all the Qiao family members. When Qiao Xin saw her mother and aunt, it was as if she had found her pir of support as she stumbled over to her mother. Mom, Mom, Auntie, you have to help me. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Xins performance indifferently, and listened to her convoluted sob story. The capable-looking woman frowned and said, Nonsense! How could you let the snow wolf do that? Youve scared your sister to the point of fainting! Luckily, the doctor said that she was just too shocked, and she would be fine. Otherwise, what are you going to do? After being scolded by the woman, Qiao Xin couldnt stop crying in her mothers arms. She sobbed, Auntie, I just wanted to test him, but he killed Rayan. I raised Rayan since he was a pup and treated him like family. How could he kill Rayan? I want him to pay for Rayans life. The womans brows furrowed even more. She turned to look at Qiao Yue as she said, Youre Qiao Yue? Yes, Qiao Yue replied inly. This is your first day here and youve already caused so much trouble. You are really something! The woman frowned as she scolded. She then said, Butler, send him into the dark room for three days and let him reflect on his actions. By the way, I remember that theres a Yuzhang Academy in D-City, where people are taught etiquette. Go and ask them how long it will take to train him. Qiao Yues expression darkened when she heard this. Although she had long guessed that the Qiao family were not easy to deal with, she did not expect them to be so vicious. Qiao Xin released the snow wolves to kill her, but this woman was even more ruthless. She had investigated the so-called Yuzhang Academy when it was in the limelight two years ago. It was a ce that abused and beat children in the name of teaching etiquette and helping them walk the right path. The children from there were all particrly obedient. She thought that it had been seized the year beforest; she didnt expect it to rise from the ashes. The first Madam Qiao wanted to send her there. She really had unfathomable motives! Chapter 7 Self-defense From the looks of it, her mother might not have eloped just to be with a man, but also to escape from this ce. With the order from the first Madam, the controller of the Qiao household, several servants including the butler were ready to take Qiao Yue down. Qiao Yues wrist turned, and a dagger that was still stained with the snow wolfs blood was in her hand. Want to catch me? Lets see if you are able to do so. Although Qiao Yues words were directed at the servants and butler, her eyes were locked on the first Madam of the Qiao family. Tao Qian gasped from the stare; she never thought that she would be frightened by a little brat. She flew into a rage and roared, What are you afraid of? Go find some rope and tie him up. Get a few more people to help. I dont believe that he can take down seven or eight of you. Today, Im going to set things straight in the Qiao family! Qiao Yues face was filled with ridicule. She looked at the woman as if she was a clown. Qiao Xin threw Qiao Yue a smug look. No one in the Qiao family would wee Qiao Yue now. Everyone wanted Qiao Yue dead, or that he never existed. A few servants surrounded Qiao Yue with ropes. Just as they were about to act, a few voices suddenly broke the tense atmosphere. Stop. Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice and saw that it was Qiao Jing. As soon as Qiao Xin saw Qiao Jing, she thought that another person hade to support her, so she ran up to Qiao Jing and cried to him about Qiao Yues evil deeds. Qiao Yues ears were tired from listening to Qiao Xinsints over and over again. She nced at Qiao Jing, who was letting Qiao Xin make up stories about her, and sneered in her heart, The Qiao family members are really one kind. Qiao Jing didnt interrupt Qiao Xin. Instead, he guessed what had happened based on what she said. Looking at the bloodied but calm young man, Qiao Jings brows furrowed deeply. How could he still be so calm when he had encountered such a bad situation? Shaking off Qiao Xins hand, Qiao Jing walked over to Qiao Yue and asked, Qiao Yue, are you alright? As you can see, Im very well. Qiao Yue chuckled, just like when they first met. Her smile was still bright, but it made Qiao Jing a little ufortable. When did Qiao Yue started smiling like this? Although Qiao Yue was smiling, she was curious why Qiao Jing was so concerned about her. What about the blood? Qiao Jing asked hesitantly. This? Qiao Yue pointed at the blood on her and asked in return. Seeing Qiao Jing nod, she replied, Wolf blood. Your sister released the wolves to bite me to death, so I had no choice but to kill the wolf in self-defense. No! You did it on purpose! You deliberately killed my wolf! Qiao Xin pointed at Qiao Yue and screamed as she burst into tears. Qiao Yue was annoyed by Qiao Xins crying and the dagger in her hand spun faster and faster. Qiao Jing stepped forward and held Qiao Yues wrist as he said, Youre not injured? Qiao Yue gave Qiao Jing an inquisitive look, put away her dagger and shook her head. Second brother, Rayan is dead! Why are you so concerned about an outsider? Qiao Xin said to Qiao Jing with tears in her eyes. Because of the attitude the third family had always shown, the other two families always treated them rather well. Qiao Xin naturally grew up as a little princess of the Qiao family. Now that she saw that her second brother didnt even look at her, Qiao Xin felt her chest tighten as she turned green with envy. Qiao Xin, everyone has to take responsibility for their decisions. You ordered Rayan to kill, did you not think that he would be killed? Qiao Jing said coldly as he took a tissue from the servant and wiped the blood off Qiao Yues face. Qiao Yue didnt move and allowed Qiao Jing to do as he pleased. She looked curiously into Qiao Jings cold ck eyes and suddenly wanted to know why this man was cozying up to her. Qiao Xins heart ached from Qiao Jings reprimand. She covered her face and ran into her mothers arms, sobbing. Seeing her daughter being wronged before her eyes, the third Madam no longer kept silent and said, Mr. Qiao, today is your first day at the Qiao residence and you acted so recklessly at the hosts home before your identity is confirmed. Is this how you behave as a guest? After the third Madam finished speaking to Qiao Yue, she turned her attention to Qiao Jing. Xiao Jing, your sister Xiners thoughts were in a mess just now and she didnt exin the sequence of events properly. I heard from the servants that Mr. Qiao was disrespectful to Xiner first, so Xiner wanted to teach him a lesson. It wasnt premeditated murder. Chapter 8 Protection Qiao Yue nced at the third Madam indifferently. It seemed that this third Madam wasnt as harmless as the information had shown. This third Madam was quite smart. First, she emphasized her identity, saying that Qiao Yue was not yet a member of the Qiao family, and then she distorted the truth and indirectly reminded Qiao Jing that he should help his sister Qiao Xin. Wow! Even at a time like this, she did not forget to extend goodwill to the first family. It made sense too because if the third Madam scolded Qiao Jing, the first Madam might not be happy. Third aunt, Ive already checked Qiao Yues identity and only brought him back after Grandpas confirmation. If third aunt has any objections, you can take it up with Grandpa. Also, I cant really agree with third aunts so-called lesson that takes ones life. Qiao Jing said to the third Madam with a mocking expression. The third Madams face turned ashen when she was exposed by Qiao Jing. Seeing that her son wasnt giving face to the third family, Tao Xi quickly rebuked, Xiao Jing, go back to your room! Mom, I dont want to hear what you just said a second time. Tao Xi was stunned at first, but when she saw Qiao Jings cold face, she immediately understood that he was referring to the matter of Yuzhang Academy. She couldnt help but feel embarrassed and didnt speak again. Mom, Im tired. Lets talk tomorrow. Qiao Jing turned to leave as soon as he finished speaking, but Qiao Yue didnt follow him. Qiao Yue was busy watching the show. Her eyes inadvertently met Qiao Jings and she pursed her lips like she had been caught. But it felt good to have someone protect her. Her second brother was very interesting! What are you waiting for? Keep up, Qiao Jing said coldly to Qiao Yue. Alright, Qiao Yue replied with a smile. Qiao Yue didnt look at anyone else when she left; she only threw Qiao Xin a happy nce. Qiao Xin, who was buried in her mothers arms, was also peeking at them. Her eyes widened instantly in anger, and she panted like a dog. When the two figures disappeared from her view, Qiao Xin couldnt help but shout, Has second brother gone crazy? Why is he protecting an outsider? Im his sister! Although Qiao Xin wasining about Qiao Jing, Tao Xi didnt refute her. She didnt understand her sons thoughts. No matter how she looked at it, it would do more harm than good for Qiao Yue to rejoin the Qiao family. Tao Xi nced at Qiao Xin and the third Madam, then turned around and told the servants to take care of the snow wolf carcass. She didnt mention Qiao Yue again. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue followed Qiao Jing to a room on the third floor that was arranged for her. The room was ck and white-themed, and the decorations were minimalist, much like Qiao Jings style. Qiao Yue walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down. The room faced argewn and had an excellent view. This will be your room from now on. If you want to change anything, you can tell the butler. Alright, Qiao Yue answered before she continued with a smile, Many thanks, second brother. As Qiao Yue spoke, Qiao Jing also walked into the room and stood in front of her. Qiao Yue raised an eyebrow and nced at the closed door. Is there anything else, second brother? Qiao Yue, let me take care of the dangerous items on you, Qiao Jing said after hesitating for a moment. Qiao Yue looked straight into Qiao Jings eyes. Although he was smiling, his eyes were frighteningly cold. Why? Qiao Jing frowned as he answered, No need. Qiao Yuepleted Qiao Jings sentence in her heart, We dont need these things at the Qiao residence. Qiao Yue smiled mockingly as she said, Second brother, I have to thank these things. If it werent for them, I dont know what would have happened to me today. Qiao Jing fell silent at the mention of Qiao Xins incident. He looked at the teenager in front of him, who was arrogant and roguish, and frowned even more. Qiao Yue was only 18 years old, but his aura was no weaker than his, a person whos scheming and fighting all year round. Qiao Jing was curious about Qiao Yue, but if this person got out of his control, he would be in trouble instead of having fun. In that awkward moment, a knock on the door suddenly sounded. Little Five, are you there? It was Qiao Zes voice outside the door. Qiao Jing didnt speak. He nced at the slight bulge at the teenagers waist and said, Keep it well. Dont take it out unless you have to. Alright, Qiao Yue agreed readily. Although she didnt care about what the Qiao family thought of her and how they ndered her, Qiao Jings protection of her made her think the better of him. For whatever reason Qiao Jing protected her, since he had already done it, she would remember this favor. Chapter 9 Third Brother After getting Qiao Yues concurrence, Qiao Jing left her room without looking back. When Qiao Jing opened the door, he bumped right into Qiao Ze. Qiao Ze looked a little confused, while Qiao Jing looked at him expressionlessly and walked past him. Little Five! Why are you with him again? Qiao Ze asked gloomily. Is there something you need? Qiao Yue said as she unpacked the clothes she had brought with her. Qiao Ze chuckled and said, Xiao Yue! I heard that you have a Walther PPS, let me have a look! What for? Its not like you havent seen one before., Qiao Yue answered with raised eyebrows. Ive seen one before, but the family doesnt allow us too much exposure to firearms. Ill return it to you after I look at it. Qiao Ze was telling the truth, but from what the servants told him, Qiao Yues Walther PPS seemed a little different from normal. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Ze and threw him the gun at her waist. Qiao Zes eyes brightened as he fiddled with the exquisite weapon in his hand. It was indeed different from the normal PPS. The grip of the gun was smaller, and the barrel also seemed to be smaller. Were the bullets inside also specially made? At the thought of this, Qiao Ze was about to open the magazine to check, but Qiao Yue grabbed his wrist. You said you would only look. As soon as Qiao Yue finished speaking, he flipped Qiao Zes wrist and the gun was back in her hand. Qiao Zes eyes followed the gun as he said, Xiao Yue, where did you get this gun? Firearms were dangerous items to begin with, and most people only dared to use the original. There were only two kinds of people who would modify their guns like Qiao Yue. First group consisted ofymen who werent aware of the danger, and the second group were people extremely proficient in firearms and very confident that the modified weapon wouldnt go off by ident. From the looks of Qiao Yue, he seemed to be in the second group. From where? Qiao Yue smiled and repeated Qiao Zes question. I picked it up, Qiao Yue said smilingly, obvious that she was trying to fool Qiao Ze. Qiao Jing had long been suspicious of her identity, but he knew that he would not get an answer from her, so he did not even ask. Qiao Ze was unhappy as he said, Xiao Yue, youre not a good boy. How dare you lie to your third brother. Third brother, since you want to know, why dont you go and find out? Ive shown quite a few things, you can check them out as you see fit, Qiao Yue teased with smiling eyes. The nting rays from the setting sun filtered into the ck and white room, adding warmth to the room. The teenager stood in the orange tinge, smiling warmly and wantonly. Qiao Ze was dazzled for a moment and stared at Qiao Yue, unable to look away. Third brother, its gettingte. Ill tidy up first. Qiao Yue was ready to drive him away. Qiao Ze blinked in response and then immediately reacted. Xiao Yue, what do you need to tidy up? Do you need my help? Qiao Ze said as he winked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Ze was indeed born with good looks. Such a childish action still made him look handsome. Theres no need to trouble third brother, Qiao Yue said as she dusted her clothes, indicating that she was going to tidy up the bloodstained clothes she was wearing. Understanding Qiao Yues signal, Qiao Ze did not continue to stay in Qiao Yues room. He turned back several times as he left the room, thinking about things he could talk to Qiao Yue about. His fifth brother was too mysterious, and he would very much like to hang around him. Qiao Ze had just dawdled to the door and turned to talk to Qiao Yue when he heard a bang and the door was closed. Qiao Ze touched his elegantly straight nose that was almost hit. He felt even more depressed. His fifth brother said one thing but did another. He felt like he had met a smiling tiger. After Qiao Ze left, Qiao Yue checked the room and made sure there were no surveince cameras. She then took out a change of clothes and a chest wrap from her bag. Her phone beeped and a message appeared on the screen. Boss, information about you, including Nanshan Vige, have all been changed. Okay. Qiao Yue replied with a single word before she picked up her clothes and walked into the bathroom. After removing the bandages around her neck, a long scar was revealed at the back of her neck. When Qiao Yue took off her shirt, the scar could be seen extending from her neck to her back. Qiao Yue quickly took a cold shower to wash away the bloody smell on her body. She had to go downstairs for dinnerter. This had always been a routine in the Qiao family, and she did not want anything bad to happen. Chapter 10 The First Family Meal As expected, Qiao Yue heard a knock on her bedroom door as she stepped out of the bathroom. Fifth young master, Madam would like to invite you down for dinner. Ill be there. Qiao Yue moved the hair dryer quickly over her head a few times and lifted her slightly wet fringe, revealing her smooth forehead. She put a new bandage around her neck, put on a ck T-shirt, and went downstairs. The dining table that could amodate more than a dozen people was currently upied by six people. They were the Madams of the first and third families, Qiao Jing, Qiao Ze, Qiao Xin, and Qiao Ying. There was an empty seat between Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze, probably reserved for her. However, this seat... Everyone looked at Qiao Yue when they heard hering downstairs. Qiao Ze waved his hands happily as soon as he saw her. Qiao Yue instantly figured out the seating arrangement. It seemed that Qiao Ze had deliberately kept the seat next to him unupied. Other than the few people she had met before, the rest of the Qiao family did not appear, probably to give her a show of authority. As Qiao Yue took her seat between Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze, the first Madam put down the financial magazine she was reading, looked at Qiao Yue and said, Lets eat! The servants who were waiting by the side got busy when they heard the first Madams order. He hasnt even rejoined the Qiao family and hes already acting like a young master. Thats quite a sense of entitlement! Qiao Xin spoke first. Qiao Yue nced at her indifferently and ignored her. Im going to send Qiao Yue to Harvey Academy. What? Qiao Xin and the first Madam said in unison. Qiao Jings words shocked everyone. As the controller of the Qiao household, the first Madam only lost herposure for a minute before retracting her expression. She knew that her son had his reasons for doing things, so she did not enquire further. However, Qiao Xin couldnt ept it. She looked at Qiao Yue with disdain and said, Second brother, I dont want to say this but Harvey is one of the top aristocratic schools in Z-Country. Not only are the school fees exorbitant, but the students also need to be outstanding. My sister and I both have special skills. What skills does he have? Qiao Yue was in no mood to pay attention to Qiao Xin, but everyone at the table, including Qiao Jing, was looking at her with probing eyes. She was not about to have a pleasant dinner. Qiao Yue smiled politely as she put down her cutlery and said, My family is poor. Im the only one left. I didnt learn any special skills. Qiao Xin raised her chin proudly when she heard this. How would you get into Harvey without any special skills? Even if you got it, youll embarrass the Qiao family bying inst in ss. Second brother, dont think about this anymore. Qiao Xin pped her wings and unted her victory like a cock that had just won a cockfight. Qiao Yue stared at her but did not refute. In order toplete her Godfathers order, Qiao Yue had skipped several grades in junior high school, high school, and college. She had studied day and night just to finish her studies as soon as possible. Later, she had been so eager in her studies that she obtained multiple degrees in different majors. After studying for such a long time, Qiao Yue had no interest in re-learning the things that she had learned. The third Madam spoke up at this time, Xiao Jing, Xiner is right. Even if Qiao Yue goes to Harvey, hell be at the bottom of the ss. Why dont we spare ourselves the pain? Although this matter was rted to Qiao Yue, she couldnt make any decision here, so she just stood back and watched the Qiao family drama unfold. Third aunt, this is my decision. Qiao Jings words made Qiao Xin and her mother feel as if someone had strangled them. Everyone in the Qiao family knew that no one could change Qiao Jings decision. Im done, you guys continue. With that, Qiao Jing got up and left unhurriedly. Qiao Xins eyes seemed to shooting poison darts at Qiao Yue. She didnt understand what kind of magic Qiao Yue had to make a cold-hearted person like second brother protect him and third brother revolve around him. What made him so special? Qiao Xin, youre a girl. How can you look at people like that? Qiao Ze couldnt be med for reprimanding her. Her gaze was so venomous that she looked like a lunatic. Third brother, even you are criticizing me for an outsider! Qiao Xin roared before she threw her cutlery and ran upstairs crying. The third Madam sighed and followed her daughter upstairs. When Qiao Ying saw her mother and sister leaving, she also excused herself and left. The already uncrowded table was even emptier now. Only the first Madam, Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze sat there looking at each other. The first Madam wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue and went upstairs without a word. The only ones who had a good meal were Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze. Chapter 11 Investigative Findings After everyone left, Qiao Ze picked up a piece of steak with his fork and put it on Qiao Yues te as he asked mysteriously, Little Five, you really have no special skills? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows as she replied, Uh-huh. Seeing that Qiao Yue was still not saying anything, Qiao Ze shook his head and sighed, Come on, Little Five! Its not good to be so secretive! The corners of Qiao Yues mouth curved into a beautiful arc. Only people with secrets are pursued. Meanwhile, in Qiao Jings office on the fourth floor of the Qiao residence... Qiao Jing read information about Qiao Yue repeatedly and frowned heavily. Fighting and skipping sses in primary school, loitering at all kinds of inte cafes in junior high at the age of 13, and hanging out with bad friends every day after barely entering high school. And finally admitted to a lousy university. Master Jing, are you really going to let Master Yue attend Harvey Academy? When the assistant read Qiao Yues information, he waspletely speechless. He never thought that the Qiao family would have such a family member. Ever since he started working as Master Jings assistant, his perception of a genius had been altered. Who could have imagined that Master Jing could create a business empire at such a young age? Not only Master Jing, but everyone in this generation of the Qiao family, including the young misses, were so outstanding that he dared not look them in the eye. But now that Qiao Yue had appeared, it was as if he single-handedly pulled the Qiao family down from the heavens. Not only was he good at nothing, but he also skipped sses, caused trouble, and fought. Compared to the assistants belittling of Qiao Yue in his heart, Qiao Jings opinion was theplete opposite. Based on Qiao Yues behavior today, Qiao Jing didnt think that he was anything like what the findings suggested. Youll help him with the admission procedures tomorrow, Qiao Jing said evenly. The assistants face stiffened as he asked dubiously, Master Jing, are you going to enroll him in junior high or high school? The only way he could think of for Qiao Yue to keep up with the ss was to let him re-learn everything. If Qiao Yue went to college directly, Master Jing would not be helping but harming him. Handle it as per normal. Oh? The assistant had a nk expression on his face but he returned to normal under Qiao Jings cold re. Yes, Master Jing, At this moment, Qiao Jings phone rang, and out came a female voice. Master Jing, we have the test results of the DNA samples you sent over. The two samples are rted. Got it. After ending the call, Qiao Jing saw that his assistant was still in a daze. He said, You can leave now! When you pass by Qiao Yues room, tell him toe see me. Yes, Master Jing. Qiao Jings special treatment made the assistant very curious about Qiao Yue. He also heard that this new young master killed Miss Qiao Xins snow wolf in the afternoon and escaped unscathed. Could this be the result of the young masters skipped sses and fights? Before the assistant could satisfy his curiosity, he saw Qiao Ze standing at Qiao Yues door. The assistant could only hear their conversation when he got closer. Qiao Ze said, Xiao Yue! Just let third brother in! Third brother has so many questions for you. Third brother, you have an early night, said the young man in the room who was about to close the door. Mr. Qiao Yue? The assistant hurriedly called out. Yes? Qiao Yue stopped closing the door and looked at the assistant in confusion. Mr. Qiao Yue, Master Jing wants you to go over. Okay! Qiao Yue then closed the door to go to Qiao Jings office but he was blocked by Qiao Ze. Qiao Ze lit a cigarette. The smoke was a little pungent and caused Qiao Yue to frown slightly. Are you close with second brother? Qiao Yue didnt understand what Qiao Ze meant. She had just met Qiao Jing, so she didnt know if they were close. But since Qiao Jing was protective of her, it wasnt a bad thing to be close with him. Dont be fooled by him. Youre just a tool for him to please Grandpa. Be careful that you dont fall for him and end up being cast out by him. What about you? Why are you cozying up to me? Qiao Yue asked indifferently. She didnt care about the people here anyway. It didnt matter if they were being genuine with her. After she fulfilled her mothersst wish, they would part ways and never see each other again. Me? Im just curious about you. Im a curious person, and I always like to get to the bottom of things. Qiao Yue chuckled. Thats all? You are not cozying up to me to please the old master? Chapter 12 I Want to Pursue Second Brother Maybe at the beginning. Qiao Ze said as he grabbed his short chestnut brown hair, his dreamy eyes somewhat conflicted. My dad asked me to pick you up, but from the moment you jumped on the motorcycle and sped off without regard for us, I thought that this kid was f*cking cool! Then, I was curious about you. Qiao Yues temples twitched. What was wrong with this person? She sped off without regard for them, and he thought she was cool? Seeing that Qiao Yue was looking at him as if he was retarded, Qiao Ze quickly exined, I like people who love cars. Besides, youre my brother. Qiao Yue was utterly convinced now. She didnt expect this guy to have such a devilish face but such an innocent heart. Qiao Yue rubbed the space between her eyebrows as she replied, Third brother, are there girls who hit on you by using their love for cars as an excuse? Um... Without Qiao Ze saying anything, Qiao Yue already knew the answer. She patted Qiao Zes shoulder, made a hopeless face, shook her head and left. It wasnt until Qiao Yue went upstairs that she heard Qiao Zes dyed reaction, Little Five, what did you mean by that? At this time, Qiao Yue was already on the fourth floor and asked Qiao Jing, Second brother, you were looking for me? Look at this. Qiao Jing threw a few document pages in front of Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue skimmed through the pages and raised her eyebrows slightly. Heibao and all did a good job forging her information. It seemed wless. Second brother, why are you showing me this? Qiao Jing massaged his forehead as he said, Qiao Yue, starting tomorrow, youll attend Harvey. Dont make any trouble. Qiao Yue didnt expect Qiao Jing to say this. She thought that he mmed the documents at her to give her a scolding. Thats all second brother wanted to say? asked Qiao Yue. What did you expect? That Ill ask you to memorize the Three Character ssic, so youll get rid of all your bad habits? Qiao Jing nced at Qiao Yue coldly. Qiao Yue was a little stunned by Qiao Jings gaze. She thought that Qiao Jing was already very good looking with sses on, but when he took them off, he had a different kind of look. His sparkly upturned eyes found their way into Qiao Yues heart. Qiao Yue licked her slightly dry lips and asked, Second brother, are you very tired? Not too bad. Qiao Jing didnt know why Qiao Yue would ask this; he looked at Qiao Yue with a little suspicion. Ive learned some massage techniques before. I can let you try. Without giving Qiao Jing a chance to refuse, Qiao Yue walked behind him and gently massaged his temples with both hands. At first, Qiao Jing was a little tense, but as Qiao Yue moved her hands, his brows gradually rxed and he let out a rxed sigh. Qiao Yue had a strong learning ability. When she was young, she had spent a lot of time and effort to please her Godfather, and massage was one of them. Qiao Yues gaze fell on Qiao Jings closed eyes. His long eyshes trembled slightly, like the wings of a butterfly. There was a little child in Qiao Yues heart urging her to touch it. The burning gaze on his face made Qiao Jing open his eyes. His Adams apple bobbed up and down as he asked in a hoarse voice, What are you looking at? Qiao Yue chuckled. Second brother is very good-looking. If second brother was a girl and not a rtive, I would probably want to second brother. In response to Qiao Yues teasing, Qiao Jing nced at her briefly before closing his eyes again. If I wasnt your second brother, we wouldnt have crossed paths. Qiao Yueughed and didnt continue the conversation topic. There seemed to be a warm atmosphere between the two of them in therge office. The next day, Qiao Yue went downstairs and bumped into Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes at Qiao Yue and quickly got into the car. Qiao Ying stopped and greeted Qiao Yue. Good morning, fifth brother. Qiao Yue smiled at her and replied, Morning. Sister, why are you talking to him? Hurry up and get in the car or well bete. After saying this to Qiao Ying, Qiao Xin turned to the butler standing at the side and said, Well leave after my sister gets in the car. I dont want to be in the same car as the country bumpkin. Qiao Ying knew her younger sisters temperament and smiled apologetically at Qiao Yue before getting into the car. The moment Qiao Ying got into the car, the door was closed. Qiao Yue only saw a tender arm reach out from Qiao Yings left. It must have been Qiao Xin who couldnt wait to close the car door. The car started, leaving Qiao Yue on the spot. The butler walked over to Qiao Yue apologetically and said, Im sorry, fifth young master. The next shift driver will take some time to get here. Chapter 13 nning to Skip Work? Its fine, replied Qiao Yue before she walked back to the dining table for some breakfast. She didnt want to cause any trouble and tried to follow the Qiao family rules. She didnt expect Qiao Xin to cause trouble for her so early in the morning. Uncle Fu, wheres the bike I rode here yesterday? Qiao Yue asked. When the butler heard this, he thought for a moment before he replied, Fifth young master, your bike has been parked in the garage yesterday. Alright. Seeing Qiao Yue nod, the butler asked a servant to bring Qiao Yues bike to the main entrance. The Dodge Tomahawk wasnt some expensive car to the Qiao family, but it was ridden here by the young master who was born and raised in the countryside, which said a lot. The butler thought that he should pay more attention to the young master when he was parking the bike yesterday. Just as the butler was carefully observing Qiao Yue, the sound of a car stopping came from outside the door. Xiao Yue,e out quickly. Ill send you to school. The butler stepped out first and was stunned for a second when he saw Qiao Ze. Third young master, dont you have work today? How can work be more important than Xiao Yue? Isnt that right, Xiao Yue? When the butler heard this, he quickly made way for Qiao Yue. Third brother, theres no need to trouble you. Ill go by myself. Qiao Ze nced at Qiao Yues Tomahawk and said, Hurry up and get in the car. Ill send you there so we can give you a grand entrance. Qiao Yues heart said there was no need, but in the face of Qiao Zes good intentions, she got into his car. We are leaving now. Just as Qiao Ze said that, the butler picked up a call. No one knew if the butler pressed the speaker button by mistake, but just a second before Qiao Ze stepped on the gas, a howl came from the phone, Uncle Fu, has the little devil left yet? Were still waiting to interview him! The three of them looked at each other. Without waiting for the butler to speak, Qiao Ze stepped on the elerator and the car sped away, leaving the butler to chase after the third young master. In the speeding sports car, Qiao Yue casually asked, Are you nning to skip work? Qiao Ze tutted, Interviews are so annoying. They always ask all sorts of random questions. Qiao Yue nodded in understanding. Hes a celebrity after all! People would always be concerned about his personal life. Just as Qiao Yue was about to end the conversation, Qiao Ze spoke again, Also, how can an interview be more important than my brother? Isnt that right, Xiao Yue? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ze who was focusing on the road ahead. He had a smile on his face, dreamy eyes that shine, an elegantly straight nose and thin pink lips. Qiao Yue couldnt help but wonder how a man could be so handsome. Third brother, youre very popr with the opposite sex, right? So flirtatious! Qiao Yue teased casually. Qiao Ze pretended to sigh as he said, Sigh, being too charming is also a problem. In fact, your third brother is not only popr with the opposite sex, but also with the same sex. Ill take you out to have fun some time. Thanks to Qiao Zes expensive sports car, all the other cars avoided him along the way and Qiao Yue arrived at school on time. The moment this shy red sports car stopped at the entrance of Harvey Academy, it attracted a crowd of onlookers. Other than its eye-catching color, the brand and model of the car were also eye-catching. It was a limited edition Koenigsegg F70, with only 50 units made. Before Qiao Yue could get out of the car, she heard a shout outside, Ah! Isnt this Qiao Zes car? After the girl shouted, Qiao Zes car was instantly surrounded by people. Who was Qiao Ze? He was known as the nations husband. Every TV drama he acted in was a hit. In addition to his super good looks and family background, he could also act, sing, and fight. It was rumored that he almost never used a stunt substitute when he acted. How could such a person, who was close to perfection on screen, not be crazily pursued by people? Qiao Ze! Im your fan! Can you please give me an autograph! Qiao Ze! Look at me! Ive been chasing you for a long time! Ive watched every one of your TV series! Aaaah! How can Qiao Ze be so handsome! Qiao Yues face darkened with every scream outside the window. She stared at Qiao Ze with her dark eyes. Qiao Ze was a little embarrassed from being stared at. He didnt expect to cause such a bigmotion before he even got out of the car. What do we do? Qiao Yue asked coldly. Um, how about I call my manager first? Qiao Yue didnt answer, but her eyes were telling Qiao Ze to call quickly. Qiao Ze briefly exined the situation to his manager. Even from a distance, Qiao Yue could hear his managers mockingughter. Not long after, the manager arrived with bodyguards and rescued Qiao Ze and Qiao Yue from the siege. Qiao Yue got out of the car with a dark face and headed to school without a word. Qiao Ze shouted after her, Xiao Yue, slow down. Ill walk you in. No, thanks. Qiao Yue threw these two words expressionlessly at Qiao Ze. As soon as she finished, she turned around slightly and saw Qiao Ze being dragged mercilessly into the car by his manager. Chapter 14 Gossip Never Goes Out of Style As Qiao Yue walked, she vaguely heard the studentsments about her. It was mostly about her appearance. It seemed that her identity as the fifth young master of the Qiao family had not been publicized yet. Is he a student here? Hes so handsome! I dont think so. Hes so good-looking. If he was from our school, he would have been found out long ago. With his face, he can even be a celebrity. No, hes more handsome than many celebrities. Eh! Who do you think is more handsome, him or our school hunk Qiao Yu? Qiao Yu, I guess! I can love his gentle and refined temperament for an entire year. I still think this one is more handsome! A handsome bad boy, my cup of tea! Although the girls werent loud, Qiao Yue hearing was excellent from years of practicing martial arts and she heard every word. When she finally heard a girl say that she liked her more, Qiao Yue turned her head and shed the girl a handsome smile. Argh! Im dead! Did he smile at me just now? I saw that too! As Qiao Yue walked further away, she could no longer hear the girls conversation. But she still heard people talk about her along the way. When she arrived at the school building, the bell rang. Qiao Jings assistant, whom she had metst night, ran up to her. Master Yue, Master Jing has asked me to help you with the admission procedures. Due to the special circumstances of Qiao Yues transfer, when the assistant called the schoolst night and promised arge donation, the principal said that he needed to see Qiao Yue before making a decision. As Qiao Yue followed Qiao Jings assistant to the principals office, the assistant briefly exined the situation to her. The briefing stopped only when they arrived at the principals office. The assistants eyes were filled with worry when he saw the shut door. He came to school early in the morning and worked hard the whole morning, but the principal told him that he wanted to talk to Qiao Yue alone. What was he going to talk about? About how Qiao Yue used to fight? The assistant sighed as he watched Qiao Yue walk in. If he didnt handle this well, he would be very worried about his year-end bonus! Meanwhile in the principals office, the principal looked at Qiao Yue with inquisitive eyes. You know Deputy Mayor Wang? Hearing the principals question, Qiao Yue tried to recall and replied that she didnt. The principal frowned. The admission requirements for students at Harvey Academy were extremely tough, especially for transfer students like Qiao Yue. Not only did they have toe from good families, but they must also show their value. That was why the principal didnt want to ept Qiao Yue after receiving her information yesterday. He only agreed to meet with Qiao Yue because of the Qiao family and their huge donation. To his surprise, an hour after he ended the call with Qiao Jings assistant, he received a call from Deputy Mayor Wang, who rmended Qiao Yues admission to the academy. The principal was very curious about Qiao Yue; what was so special about this child that the Qiao family and Deputy Mayor Wang took so much trouble to send him here. The principal stared at Qiao Yue for a long time, and spoke only when he saw Qiao Yue frown, Qiao Yue, Ive approved your application to attend Harvey Academy, first year, ss three. I hope youll study hard here. The principal emphasized the words study hard. He had probably never epted a student like Qiao Yue before. Thank you, principal. Qiao Yue thanked him and left the principals office after getting a nod from the principal. The assistant had been waiting anxiously outside the office. When he saw Qiao Yuee out, he quickly went up and asked, How is it? What did he ask you? Nothing much. The principal said that he has approved my application and I should study hard. Thats all? The assistants mouth was so wide open that one could stuff a duck egg in it. What else? Qiao Yue was confused by the assistants question. What else would the principal do? Ask her to do a song and dance? The assistant was puzzled by her response. He didnt understand. If Qiao Yue was admitted so easily, why didnt the principal tell himst night? He worried for so long. After the matter was settled, Qiao Yue and the assistant prepared to leave. As soon as they turned a corner on the second floor, they were surrounded by a group of people. It was a group of seven led by Qiao Xin. The assistant saw that the visitors seemed unfriendly and quickly stepped forward to defend Qiao Yue. Seventh young miss, this is a school. What do you want to do? Qiao Xins eyes burned with anger when she heard her assistant call her that. What seventh young miss? There are only six children in the Qiao family. You cant even count. How are you my brothers assistant? The assistant had never liked this arrogant and domineering youngdy of the Qiao family, so he continued to snide, Master Yue is the fifth young master, so you are naturally the seventh young miss. Even if you dont admit it, the Qiao family does. You! How dare you talk back to me? When we get home, Ill ask my brother to fire you. It doesnt matter how long youve work for him. As long as first aunt says the word, my brother will fire you! Hes going to listen to his mother, right? The assistant criticized in his heart, He never does. Chapter 15 Teaching Her a Lesson Just as the assistant was about to argue further, Qiao Yue said, Why dont you go back first? Ill take care of this myself. You cant follow me around all the time, right? Qiao Jings assistant didnt say anything. He only turned his head to look at Qiao Yue. Seeing the determination in Qiao Yues eyes, he thought for a moment and said, Then Ill take my leave first, fifth young master. The assistant couldnt help but mock Qiao Xin before he left when he changed his address from Master Yue to fifth young master. Qiao Yue coughed lightly to suppress herugh. Qiao Xin had brought a group of people to stop her. If sheughed, it would seem disrespectful of Qiao Xins ostentatiousness. But Qiao Jings assistants temperament was quite simr to Qiao Jings, except Qiao Jing was a man of few words while his assistant would trade insult for insult. As the assistant left, Qiao Xin vented all her anger on Qiao Yue. You country bumpkin, you really came here? Without any special skills, youre daydreaming abouting to Harvey! Did the principal ask you to leave? Hehe, thats really asking for humiliation. Arent you aware of your status, you b*stard with no parents to teach you? Qiao Yues eyes gradually turned cold. Qiao Xin could scold her but not her mother! She slowly raised her hand and touched the dagger at her waist. Suddenly, a cold voice rang out in Qiao Yues mind, Qiao Yue, starting tomorrow, youll attend Harvey. Dont make any trouble. She lowered her hand slowly. She had promised Qiao Jing yesterday, there was no reason to go back on her word the moment she started at Harvey. Qiao Yue got ready to leave. Since she couldnt fight, it was a waste of time to talk to this group of people. Humans couldntmunicate with brainless animals. But just because Qiao Yue didnt want to cause trouble didnt mean that Qiao Xin didnt. She had two people block Qiao Yues way. The road ahead was blocked so Qiao Yue retracted her foot and stood on the spot. She stared coldly at Qiao Xin and said word by word, Compared to me, dont you think you look more like an unruly b*stard? How can you say that? A grown man who is actually scolding a girl! A girl close with Qiao Xin chimed in when she heard Qiao Yues retort. Thats right! Whats wrong with what Qiao Xin said? You are an uneducated wild child, and you wont let others speak the truth? Seeing that someone had spoken, Qiao Xins otherckeys also started to chime in, all wanting to show off in front of Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin was emboldened when she saw everyone chiming in. A smug smile appeared on her face. Qiao Yue, youre nothing but a poor country bumpkin. How dare youe to the Qiao family to take advantage of us? I think you and your b*tch mother should have disappeared more than ten years ago and stayed gone forever! When Qiao Yue heard this, she stared at Qiao Xin with eyes as dark as coal. Qiao Xin was startled but her mouth didnt stop, You ignorant b*stard. I dont know what youve done to second and third brother to make them protect you. Now that youre alone, lets see what you can do. When Qiao Xin said this, she had probably forgotten that Qiao Yue killed her snow wolf single-handedly yesterday. If she wanted to kill her group of school bullies, it would be a piece of cake. Sure enough, the second Qiao Xin was about to say more, Qiao Yue, with murderous eyes, took a step forward to grab her neck. Qiao Xins survival instinct kicked in as she suddenly leaned back and sat on the floor, avoiding Qiao Yues attack unexpectedly. Aaaah! Qiao Xins scream woke up the others in her group. Three boys among her group of seven saw what happened and started throwing punches at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue took a step back and raised her leg to kick a boy in the stomach. One kick at a time, she kicked them in ces that hurt but did not leave any mark. All three boys were wailing on the ground after being hit by her. As for herself, if she let these people touch her, she would have wasted her nearly ten years of bloody work. After the thugs were knocked out, Qiao Yue walked towards Qiao Xin. Looking at the Hades-like Qiao Yue, Qiao Xins legs went soft from fear. She was helped back by her twockeys. Anotherckey, who was slightly smarter, ran to find the teacher when Qiao Yue fought back. Qiao Xin, this is your brothersst warning to you. Stay away from people you cant afford to offend. Qiao Yues smile was like a demons to Qiao Xin. She screamed in fear, Dont, donte near me. As Qiao Yue closed in on her, Qiao Xin was so scared that she couldnt make a sound. Just as Qiao Xins nerves were stretched to the limit, she saw Qiao Yue change direction to go downstairs. Qiao Yue had gone through hell and back all these years. She wouldnt take Qiao Xins life over such a small matter. But Qiao Xins every word crossed Qiao Yues line. Qiao Yue would feel depressed if she didnt teach Qiao Xin a lesson. Chapter 16 Incident Involving an Ancient Painting The teachers office and the ssrooms were not in the same building, so on her way to ss, Qiao Yue heard a lot of gossip about her. When she reached the ssroom, the bell for the second period rang. Qiao Yues eyes scanned the ssroom before she picked a corner seat by the window. She sat there and waited for the first ss of her college life to begin. But for some reason, the teacher waste. After the first period, news about Qiao Yue being sent to school by Qiao Ze had spread like wildfire. Added to that was Qiao Yues good looks. It didnt take long for people to find out more about Qiao Yue; her photo went viral on the school forum. When the students in the ssroom saw that their new ssmate was Qiao Yue, everyone began to discuss. Look, thats Qiao Yue! Did he transfer to our ss? I think hes even more handsome in person than in photos! A girl nced at Qiao Yue secretly and muttered like a fangirl. Another girl who sounded cold and aloof replied, Hes good-looking, but his family background isnt that great. Fifth young master Qiao! Such a background is not good enough? A male voice feigning amazement interrupted the girls conversation. What fifth young master Qiao? Didnt the Qiao family have only four? Theres no fifth young master, the fifth child is Qiao Ying! Is your wi-fi 2G? Its all over the school forum. This morning, Qiao Ze personally sent his brother to school and was even prepared to walk him in! Wow! Did Qiao Zee to our school? Yes, yes. I saw him but there were too many people, so I couldnt squeeze in. We are going off topic. What do you mean by Qiao Yues family background isnt good? Its just that he was born out of wedlock when his mother eloped with a man and he grew up in the countryside. I heard that someone dug up Qiao Yues past. Hes not a good person. Tell us the details. Gossip was always something people were interested in. It didnt matter if one was an ordinary folk or a so-called rich and powerful person, once there was gossip, no one cared about etiquette. Meanwhile, the person at the center of the gossip was ying Tetris on her phone with a bored expression. Suddenly, a message popped up on the screen. Qiao Yue was distracted only for a moment, and the sound of game over came from the game. Boss, we have an emergency! Tell me. As soon as Qiao Yue sent the message, a call came in. The moment Qiao Yue walked out, the discussion in the ssroom became louder. What happened? Qiao Yue asked. Boss, Im going to die, Im really going to die. A server in my shop identally spilled tea on a customers ancient painting. From the moment the person on the other end of the phone said the first word, Qiao Yues right eye started to twitch. Oh? You can just buy the painting. Qiao Yue believed that anything that could be solved with money was not a big deal. No, I cant! The customer wont sell it. He even said that he only wanted the painting. If it isnt fixed, he would smash the shop and spread the word that we intentionally destroyed his painting. Qiao Yue rubbed her temples when she heard the sobbing voice on the phone. Give me the address. 117 Guang Hua Street, Yayi Club. ... When Qiao Yue arrived, Chu Jia was already waiting for her at the door. This girl named Chu Jia was the one who delivered the guns to Qiao Yue together with the big guy. Whats the situation? This customer came to our shop to discuss long-term maintenance of his painting. When he got up, he knocked into a waitress who was serving tea and then tea spilled on his painting. Is it arge area? Yes, because the painting was rolled up, there are many ces that got wet. How much is it worth? The customer said that he bought the painting at an auction abroad for 190 million yuan. After understanding the situation in general, Qiao Yue formted the basics of how they could restore the painting. The moment Chu Jia pushed open the door, they could hear the discussion among a few conservator-restorers. After all, this was an expensive painting, and no one dared to repair it without a definite n. A bald man was anxiously pacing around the table, urging the conservator-restorers to repair the painting. Qiao Yue casually looked around the room and saw a crying girl kneeling beside the big guy who was inseparable from Chu Jia. Hurry up! I bought this painting for 190 million yuan! If you guys dont do anything, the tea will seep even more! Boss Li, we can only try our best to repair it. What do you mean by try your best? I want my original painting back! Are you deaf? And you, you who have no eyes, of all ces, why did you have to stand beside me! The bald man raised his hand as he spoke, ready to p the waitress. Chapter 17 Saving the Damsel in Distress The waitress was bracing herself to be pped but it didnt happen. She carefully opened her eyes and was met with a pair of eyes that were as bright as stars. Dont cry. Girls dont look good when they cry. Qiao Yue wasnt trying to be nice, but the waitress was not at fault. She knew Chu Jia well. Since Chu Jia said that it was the guest who knocked into the waitress, that was probably what happened. The man referred to as Boss Li had his wrist held tightly by Qiao Yue. He couldnt pull it back and shouted with a red face, Where did this meddlesome b*tche from? The room fell silent as soon as Boss Li said that. All eyes were on Qiao Yue, especially Chu Jias, along with a frightened expression on her face. She was aware that those who had provoked her boss before were either fed to the fish or killed on the spot. The room was dead silent. Everyone was observing Qiao Yues expression, waiting for her next move. Qiao Yue slowly let go of Mr. Lis wrist and said with a smile, Were all in business, and harmony begets wealth. Dont be so angry, Boss Li. Since Im here, Ill return the painting to you as it was. Boss Li sized up Qiao Yue. This young boy who looked to be only 18 or 19 could repair an ancient painting? You? Qiao Yue smiled but did not answer. The few conservator-restorers were also sizing up Qiao Yue. Although they figured that a person who was personally received by the boss of Yayi Club wasnt simple, but the kids sloppy appearance did not suggest that he could repair ancient paintings. One of them who had been in the industry for three years was the first to speak up, The restoration of ancient paintings is not that simple. The background, history, materials, style, and condition of the painting must be understood in detail before it can be restored. Another conservator-restorer chimed in, Thats right. Painting restoration takes a lot of time and effort. Although some of us have five years of experience but after some discussion, we concluded that itll still take five to six days for us to restore this painting to about 70 to 80 percent of its original state. He didnt finish his sentence, but what his intent was clear. We are only confident of restoring it to about 70 to 80 percent in five to six days, and you dare to say 100%? Qiao Yue ignored their mockery and said to Boss Li with the same smile, Boss Li, I cant prove it with my words. Ill show you my credentials. After Qiao Yue agreed toe, Chu Jia had sent someone to retrieve Qiao Yues credentials which had been left with her. A qualification certificate for the restoration of movable relics was put in front of Boss Li, and he could not help but believe it. Boss Li was even more dumbfounded when he saw the scope in the middle of the certificate; it listed everything from ancient documents to jade artifacts. The few conservator-restorers looked at Qiao Yue in disbelief. One of them muttered, It cant be fake, right? After hearing what he said, several people, including Boss Li, looked at Qiao Yue suspiciously. This time, before Qiao Yue could say anything, Chu Jia had already spoken for her. If you dont believe, you can verify the certificate number on the official website. Upon hearing this, Boss Li quickly went online to check. He didnt expect to really find it. But Boss Li was still doubtful. His small eyes looked up and down Qiao Yue, who was still smiling, again. I can let you fix it, but what happens if you fail? Boss Li, what would you like if I fail? Qiao Yue asked. If you fail, youll have to pay me double inpensation. Even Chu Jias expression turned dark when she heard this. Wasnt that just extortion? Boss Li, be reasonable. Qiao Yue stopped smiling and said coldly. This was caused by you waitress who had no eyes. If youre not confident in your skills, its fine. Ill ask them to fix it for me and then give me the blind waitress. The reason why Boss Li didnt mention this before was that the waitress knew that she had caused a big trouble and had been kowtowing in apology. Boss Li didnt see her face until just now when she raised her head to look at Qiao Yue. She turned out to be a beauty, and Boss Li was immediately attracted to her. He wanted a 70-80% restored painting and a woman. This Boss Li was indeed greedy. Chu Jias face was red with anger. Indeed, her servers here were all good-looking, men or women. But that did not mean that Boss Li could like them as he pleased. If the big guy had not been physically holding her back, she would have kicked Boss Li, threw money at his face and kick him out of Yayi Club. Boss Li, are you betting on my craftsmanship? If I fail, Ill have to pay you double inpensation. What if I seed? This time, Qiao Yues smile was no longer bright and sunny like before but dark and cold. Chapter 18 Formalizing the Bet Fix it, fix it, thats what you should do, shouted Boss Li guiltily when faced with the no longer friendly Qiao Yue. Forget it. Since Boss Li doesnt want to talk, then well go through the judicial process! When Boss Li heard that Qiao Yue talk about judicial process involving the police, his expression changed instantly and he quickly said, Theres no need to go through the legal process. Just do as you said before. If you fail to fix it, youll have to pay me double inpensation. If you seed... Boss Li was fat and bald to begin with, and his facial features were small. His frown made his entire face scrunched up, making him look like a bun with wrinkles. Qiao Yue couldnt bear to look at his face. She replied quickly, If I seed, then please apologize to our waitress and boss in front of all the guests at the club event this Saturday. ncing at Chu Jia who was holding her phone, Boss Li gritted his teeth and said, Alright! This would be our bet. We need a notary. Boss Li still didnt believe that Qiao Yue could restore his painting. He wanted to be paid double inpensation, so he asked for a notary to witness their bet. Ill be the witness. Chu Jia stepped forward and said. No, youre in the same gang. Maybe youll deny everything when he cant fix it. Chu Jia hated Boss Li to the core. If not for the fact that Yayi Club was one of their unblemished businesses, she would have tied him up, put him in a sack and give him a good beating. What if Im the witness? A cold voice suddenly sounded from outside the door. Qiao Yues ears felt slightly itchy; the voice sounded familiar. The person then appeared from behind the half-closed door; it was Qiao Jing. There was another man next to Qiao Jing, who was looking at Qiao Yue with a smile. Qiao Yue was about to speak when Boss Li unexpectedly walked up to both men and extended his hand, President Qiao, President Shen, youre here too! The smiling man shifted his gaze to Boss Li and said, Boss Li, its a pleasure to meet you. The man said that but did not shake hands with Boss Li, let alone Qiao Jing. He did not even look at Boss Li. Boss Li could only put down his hand awkwardly. Ill be the witness to your bet. Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yue as he spoke. I have no objection to President Qiao being the witness, said Boss Li quickly in order to please Qiao Jing. I agree too. Qiao Yue looked at Boss Li with a smile. Ill bring the restored painting back here in two days. Alright! Boss Li nodded. After the bet was made, Qiao Yue didnt waste more time talking nonsense. She went straight to the studio where they restore relics at the club. The few conservator-restorers followed. Boss Li wanted to follow but was stopped by Chu Jia. Chu Jia fake smiled as she said, Boss Li, relic restoration requires a quiet environment. If Boss Li is worried, why dont you stay here for two days? Since you have made the bet with our club, we will waive the amodation fees for these two days. Good, good. Boss Lis chubby face was grinning so widely that his eyes couldnt be seen. Then, President Qiao, President Shen, Ill go up first. Please go ahead, Boss Li. Chu Jia was worried about Qiao Yues situation, but she could not leave because she had guests. The man referred to as President Shen probably saw Chu Jias anxiety and said to her with a smile, Qiao Jing and I are leaving too. Miss Chu, see you in two days. Alright. Take care, you two. After getting into the car, Qiao Jing nced at the person beside him and asked, Why did you follow me in? Qiao Jing, thats your fifth brother? Qiao Jing lowered his eyes and hummed in agreement. Interesting! Didnt you say that your fifth brother is not good at anything? I saw the certificate on the table just now. Its a first-grade certificate! Qiao Jing didnt answer. He couldnt see through his fifth brother either. That Boss Li is really stupid. One is Qiao Jing, and the other is Qiao Yue. You even helped Qiao Yue notarize the bet. What made him think that youre someone who would meddle in other peoples business? The manughed so hard that he rocked back and forth. There were stupid people in the business world, but there were few who were so stupid as to think that Qiao Jing would meddle in other peoples business. Help me investigate Qiao Yue. What? The man clutched his stomach and wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes as he asked. Check overseas. Contact me if theres anything. Sure, no problem. The man was also curious about Qiao Yue. Even Qiao Jing couldnt find out who his fifth brother was. This person definitely deserved to be looked into. Chapter 19 Executing the Bet Qiao Yue was busy at work despite her disgust at gasping in studio she heard from time to time. This was the workce for all the conservator-restorers at Yayi Club after all. Given the same environment and the same equipment, if Qiao Yue could restore the painting 100% while other conservator-restorers only 70 to 80%, it all came down to skill. Gradually, Qiao Yue got into her zone where she could no longer hear any sound around her. When a few conservator-restorers saw Chu Jia enter, they were about to greet her when she stopped them with a gesture. Chu Jia walked up to Qiao Yue and saw that her hands were moving in a way that she didnt understand. This was not the first time she had seen Qiao Yue work, but every time she saw her work, she was amazed and felt assured. Qiao Yue would probably remain tense until she finished the restoration. Chu Jia waved her hand to ask the other conservator-restorers out. Two of them still wanted to watch Qiao Yue work; Chu Jia had to urge them repeatedly before they followed her out. I think you all know Qiao Yues skill level now. The moment Chu Jia said this, the few people who were still discussing Qiao Yues craftsmanship instantly fell silent. Qiao Yue is the conservator-restorer I invited here. Hes here to protect our clubs reputation, but youre always picking on him. I didnt expect that my men would side with an outsider; you didnt work together to let Boss Li know how challenging it was to repair his painting, but questioned Qiao Yues craftsmanship and credibility instead. I, I was just afraid that if we didnt restore it properly, the club would have to take the me. Then tell me, could you fix it? I... Alright, Ill let you guys think about it! If you insist that youre right, I wont keep you. With that, Chu Jia turned and left. She trusted Qiao Yue. Although she was young, she had be their pir of support all these years. Hence, she would believe whatever Qiao Yue said. Chu Jias guess was right. Qiao Yue was in a tense state for two days. It wasnt until she finished thest stroke when she heaved a sigh of relief. A few of the conservator-restorers hurried to examine the painting when they saw Qiao Yue take off her gloves. Amazing, it can actually be restored to this extent. Even when they stuck their faces to the painting, they couldnt see any traces of tea on it. Qiao Yue, who had been tense for a long time, felt exhausted and irritable. She walked around them, rolled up the painting and walked out of the studio with two dark circles under her eyes. Restoring a painting could take anywhere from a few days to a few years. There were very few people who could repair a painting that was soaked in tea in two days. Qiao Yue, how are you? The first thing Chu Jia asked when Qiao Yue left the studio was not about the ancient painting but Qiao Yues wellbeing. Has everyone arrived? Yes. President Qiao and President Shen are here too. Alright, Qiao Yue said before she walked towards room 107. When Qiao Yue pushed the door open and entered, Boss Li was chatting with the smiling man about family matters. Qiao Jings eyes had been fixed on the door; as soon as Qiao Yue opened the door, their eyes met. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yues dispirited appearance and stepped forward with a frown, You didnt sleep for two days? Im fine, Qiao Yue replied before she looked at Boss Li and asked, Boss Li, do you still remember our bet? Boss Li was looking at Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue suspiciously when he heard Qiao Yues question. He replied absentmindedly, Yes. Thats good. Boss Li, please take a look at the painting! The painting was unrolled on a long table. Boss Li looked at the painting carefully, wishing that he could stick his entire body to it. If the painting was not restored as promised, he would get double the amount he paid inpensation. But after a long examination, Boss Li still didnt find any tea stains. He walked around again and suddenly shouted, Here, theres something here! Qiao Yue stepped forward to look. She raised her eyebrows slightly as she said, Boss Li, are you sure this is it? Theres no problem anywhere else? No, this is it! You failed to restore it! Hearing the conviction in Boss Lis answer, Qiao Jing and the smiling man also went up to check. Their expressions were a little strange after they looked. Qiao Yue asked again, Boss Li, are you sure? Yes! Im very sure! Since Qiao Yue asked again, Boss Li thought that he wasnt convincing enough, so he howled with even more conviction. Qiao Yues lips curved into a smile as she handed a before-restoration photo of the painting to Boss Li. Boss Li, why dont youpare it yourself? Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yues smile, dazed for a moment before he snapped back to reality when someone touched his arm. Why? When he saw Qiao Yues smile just now, his heart seemed to have skipped a beat. Chapter 20 You are the First Boss Lis face turned darker as he checked. Even after theparison, he still couldnt see any traces of restoration. However, for the sake of the doublepensation, Boss Li acted shameless and pointed at the spot from just now as he said, This was added by you. Qiao Yue face-palmed. She had already given him the photo, how could he still be so shameless and spew such nonsense? Boss Li, you are probably not very familiar with ancient paintings, are you? This painting is a Gu Wei. Gu Wei is good at paintingndscapes, and before thest stroke of every painting, he would paint things perfectly. Hisst stroke was always a spot of ink in the corner, to mean imperfection. His ink was mixed with special pigments, so when evaluating Gu Weis paintings, experts would always start with this spot of ink. Congrattions, Boss Li. Youve bought an authentic piece of art, but its a pity that such a good painting has fallen into the hands of someone who doesnt know how to appreciate it. Qiao Yue shook her head as she spoke, and her words made Boss Lis face turn green, white, and red. The man with the surname Shen coughed lightly to suppress hisughter. Qiao Jing, on the other hand, looked at Qiao Yue quietly with a faint smile on his face. Alright, thats it for this matter! Boss Li collected the painting and threw a few red notes at Qiao Yue, indicating that he would no longer pursue this matter. At the same time, he was trying to cover up his bad behavior and the bet. This time, not only Qiao Yue, but Qiao Jing and the other mans face also darkened. Boss Li tried to leave this embarrassing ce as quickly as possible without looking at them, but he was stopped at the door. Boss Li, you must keep your word. Do you think you can deny the bet just because you want to? Moreover, President Qiao and President Shen are here as witnesses, Chu Jia said in a soft voice. Boss Li looked up at the big guy blocking the door and then at Qiao Jing. In that instant, his eyes filled with fear. He wiped his sweat and stuttered, I, I wasnt going to deny the bet. Its just that its not yet Saturday, right? I, Ill go home first. You can go home, but if you donte here on Saturday night, then youll have to carefully consider how many times I can mess with your familys assets. Qiao Jings voice was so cold that ice could fall from it. He walked over to the exhausted young man and helped him out. Boss Li was dragged to the side by the big guy as he watched the two people held close to each other walk away. Shortly after, President Shen gave Boss Li a mocking smile as he walked past him. Youre the first person who dared to throw money at fifth young master Qiao! Brave warrior! What? Fifth young master? Boss Li was bewildered. Dont you know his name? Qiao Yue, Qiao as in Qiao Jing. Boss Li felt as if he had been struck by lightning; he stood stunned on the spot. Chu Jia was toozy to mock him and dragged the big guy back to work. After everyone left, only the 100-yuan bills on the ground wereughing at Boss Lis stupidity. In the car, Qiao Jings assistant drove while Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing sat in the back. The assistants driving skills were good. He drove steadily all the way, making Qiao Yue drowsy. She was able to maintain a high state of concentration when she was working but once she let go, she couldnt hold on. Once, she was left on a deserted ind full of beasts by her Godfather to survive. She did not sleep for almost a week, afraid that the beasts would prey on her. Later when Chu Jia came to pick her up, she fell asleep on the ne. She heard that it was the big guy who carried her back to her residence, where she slept for three days straight. Thinking of the past, Qiao Yues eyelids grew heavier, and her head gradually leaned against the car window. Come sleep here. In a half-awake state, Qiao Yue heard a stiff but gentle voice. Her head was covered by a warm hand, and she slept solidly supported. Qiao Yue slept all the way until the next morning. She stretchedzily and felt alive again. It had been too long since she pulled an all-nighter; shes not used to it. She felt her age catching up to her. When Qiao Yue went downstairs to eat, she saw Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying preparing to get into the car. Since Qiao Yue had been confirmed at Harvey, Qiao Xin had brought forward her departure time. Qiao Yue didnt know if it was her imagination, but she seemed to have seen Qiao Xin give her an inexplicable smile before she got into the car. Qiao Yue shuddered, goosebumps all over her body. She felt like sh*t was about to hit the fan. Chapter 21 Parents Have Been Informed It seemed that from the moment Qiao Yue entered Harvey, she had be the center of gossip. She didnt know how the rumors started, but some people said that she was the son of a mistress, that her father already had a family, so he abandoned both mother and son, and so on. Qiao Yue wanted tough when she heard these rumors. Would her life experience be a clich TV drama in the next few days? Probably because the rumors were so outrageous, Qiao Yue didnt even bother to care. Qiao Yues sses were all in the morning today, four periods in a row. The second period had just started. Qiao Yue was staring nkly at the field outside, thinking about what to eat for lunch when the public announcement system sounded. Computer Science and Technology Department, first year, ss three, student Qiao Yue, pleasee to the Academic Affairs Office. Qiao Yue was startled when she heard her name. It seemed that her leisurely college life was going to be ruined. Qiao Yue stagged out the backdoor. From the moment she stood up, she could feel everyones eyes on her; their gazes followed her all the way to the door. She felt that if there were no walls separating them, they would continue to watch her. Five minutester, there was a knock on the door of the deans office. Enter. Qiao Yue pushed the door open and entered. All she saw were eyes like hungry wolves seeing meat staring at her. Youre Qiao Yue? Qiao Yue followed the voice and saw a middle-aged woman with ck-rimmed sses sitting behind the desk. Yes. Qiao Yue responded. ording to feedback from the parents, Qiao Yue, you beat up your ssmates on your first day of school. The parents would like you to apologize to their children. Oh... Qiao Yue dragged out the word and continued, So, the parents have been informed. Qiao Yues expression and tone implied that the students were a bunch of primary school kids who only knew how toin to their mothers after being beaten. The girls were fine, but the few sturdy-looking boys faces turned green and red. They didnt ask for this but Qiao Xin said that they should tell their parents after receiving such treatment. Moreover, the ces where they were hit were still hurting. They went to the doctor, but the doctor couldnt find anything wrong, so they could only tell their parents. One of the boys mother didnt care about her sons feelings and shouted at Qiao Yue when she saw her frivolous attitude, You damn brat, you just got into this school and you already started bullying your ssmates! What did your family teach you? Sister, have you forgotten? The children said that he grew up in the countryside and was brought back only recently by the Qiao family. A middle-aged woman in her forties said. No wonder! You have no manners at all, you damn brat from the poor countryside. Qiao Yue ignored the shrew. After ridiculing the students who were beaten up, she turned to the dean and told her what happened that day. She added at the very end, If you dont believe me, you can check the surveince footage that day. The dean shook her head. That was a blind spot for the surveince cameras. Theres no footage. Qiao Yue was stunned at first. She didnt expect that there would be blind spots for surveince cameras in such an elite school. But after thinking about it, since Qiao Xin brought people to find trouble with her, she must have nned it. However, Qiao Yues words still reached everyones ears. The parent who scolded Qiao Yue for having no manners was the first to make a fuss. Bullsh*t, why would my son hit you? Like his ssmates said, they just wanted to meet you after they found out that you are Qiao Xins brother. Who knew that you would hit them without saying anything? Qiao Yue raised her brows slightly and smiled. If its as your son said, that I made the first move and they retaliated, then shouldnt the three of them hammer me? Why are theyining now that theyve been beaten? You, youve learned martial arts! Seeing that the mothers were losing the battle, the girl who had run to find reinforcements the other day said in a weak voice, Oh, just because Ive learned martial arts, I can randomly grab a few strangers, throw them to the ground, and hammer them? Qiao Yue looked at the few sturdy-looking boys with contempt. She had described how she had to beat them up that day, but who would believe that with her small body, she could hammer these three boys who would make up six Qiao Yues in terms of width? Not only did the dean not believe it, but even some of the parents expressions became more guarded. The boys were so agitated by Qiao Yues taunting that their faces and necks turned red. They couldnt say anything. They also had pride, so how could they say those words? Some girls wanted to say that it was like that the other day, but the boys red at them and stopped them. Chapter 22 Guilty of nder You! Youre being unreasonable! My child has been in pain for days. How can it be fake? A boys mother continued to argue. Qiao Yueughed arrogantly, her eyes full of ridicule. Hes in pain and its my fault? Youre so interesting! With that, Qiao Yue turned to the teacher and said, Teacher, you can check the surveince footages from the first and third floors. You can analyze my movementspared to theirs to see if I caused trouble for them, or if I had other help. At this moment, Qiao Yues smile was a sign of unrepentance to these parent. Some parents were so angry that they wanted to hit Qiao Yue, but they were scared away by her bone-chilling gaze. Since they couldnt attack her physically, they attacked her with their words. The mothers who initially cared about her face were now like runaway horses. They said anything and everything that was unpleasant to the ears, making the office look and sound like a dirty and messy wet market. Just as the two sides were arguing, or more urately, a group of aunties making a ruckus forcing Qiao Yue to apologize to their children while Qiao Yue ignored their words, there was a knock on the door. It was the boy whom the teacher had asked to retrieve the surveince footages. The boy was handsome and had a charming smile on his face. He was pleasing to the eyes and there were two other people behind him. What a coincidence, Qiao Yue knew these two people. Mom! Qiao Xin shouted and quickly ran to her moms side. She pretended to cry and said, Mom, Qiao Yue bullied me at home and wanted to hit me at school. My ssmates tried to protect me but was hit by him! As soon as Qiao Xin finished crying, the two women instantly turned their hard eyes on Qiao Yue. Whats wrong with you, Qiao Yue? Youve only been in school for a few days and youre already causing trouble! The first madam of the Qiao family scolded. Why did Qiao Xin only told on Qiao Yue two days after the incident? It was because she couldnt get hold of Qiao Yue for two days. She had asked her second brother but he told her not to disturb Qiao Yue for two days, which made her very angry. After waiting for two days, she finally managed to catch Qiao Yue at school. She immediately got her ssmates to call their parents. Qiao Yue nced at the first madam indifferently and didnt take her words to heart. Teacher, the surveince footage should show that they were there to block me, right? Based on the way Qiao Xin did things, she was vicious and stupid. If she wanted to stop anyone, she would just get a group of people to show up. So, anyone who saw the video of them walking into the office building aggressively would think that they were up to no good. The teacher took off her sses and massaged her eyebrows. Dear parents, the surveince footage shows that Qiao Xin was the one who brought people to find Qiao Yue first. As there isnt any concrete evidence, its hard to prove everything that happened. We cant conclude that Qiao Yue is in the wrong. What? He beat up my child and youre just going to let it go? A mother screamed. Qiao Xins mother also frowned and said, Teacher, this matter must be dealt with seriously. Although there is no surveince footage, I feel bad that the children were beaten up because of Xiner. Although Qiao Yue is a member of the Qiao family, we will not side with him. Hes just started school and hes already caused so much trouble. If we dont teach him a lesson, hell probably be a school bully in future. So, I hope that you would handle this in a fair and just manner. The faces of the parents softened when they heard Qiao Xins mothers words. It was just the third madams words that made them morefortable, but it was also on ount of the first madams face. Otherwise, they would bear a grudge against Qiao Xin for what she had incited their children to do. Third Madam Qiao. Qiao Yue opened her eyes and saidzily. The teacher had already said that Im not at fault. Are you deaf? Insults after insults had been hurled at Qiao Yue that she had long been impatient. Her entire being exuded an irritated aura. Qiao Yue, how can you speak to your aunt like that! The first madam frowned and red at Qiao Yue. So, there is somewhere here who know that the third madam and I are rted! Qiao Yues words were sarcastic. Qiao Xin and I were just having a family feud, but she incited outsiders to pick on me. Im impressed that Third Madam Qiao still had the cheek to show up here today. Qiao Yue started pping as she spoke, as if she really admired her aunt. But the indifference and contempt in her eyes were like an invisible p that ruthlessly pped her aunts face. Third Madam Qiaos face turned green and white in anger. Finally, she retorted with a sullen face, You were the one who started it first. Her ssmates were just helping her and speaking up for her. Qiao Yueughed and waved her hand. Never mind what they were thinking! If you want to pronounce me guilty, show me the evidence first. Ive only spoken with you for so long to see if theres anyone clear-minded enough apologize to me, but now it seems that theres no one. Chapter 23 Fourth Brother Qiao Yu Apologize to you? One of the parents instantly flew into a rage and roared when they heard Qiao Yues words. Qiao Yue gently rubbed her ears, which were ringing from the outrage, and said impassively, Since the school couldnt handle this, lets call the police! Well just follow legal procedure. Get an injury report if you are injured and bring all the evidence. If you dont have any of these, then dont me me for suing you for defamation. What? What are you talking about, you little brat! Qiao Yue couldnt be bothered with theirints. She said goodbye to the teacher and left the Academic Affairs Office. Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue had only walked a few steps out of the Academic Affairs Office when she heard someone call her from behind. Qiao Yue turned around and saw that it was the boy she had seen at the Academic Affairs Office. Although she had noticed the boy when he first came, she had not thought about him when the others started pestering her. Whats the matter? Qiao Yue turned around, looking a little dispirited. She had been through plenty of hardship but she rarely fought using her words. In the past, when she met people who wanted her to kill her or make her suffer, she would either let her fists do the talking or send them to meet God. Shed never been like she was now,pletely driven up the wall. Hello, Qiao Yue. Im your fourth brother, Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu extended his hand to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu? Qiao Yue looked at his hand and frowned. If this person was her fourth brother, why didnt the Qiao family greet him just now? As if he had seen through Qiao Yues confusion, Qiao Yu smiled and said, I met first aunt and third aunt downstairs just now. That made sense. As for Qiao Xin, she probably didnt have the chance to greet him. Qiao Yue shook Qiao Yus hand. Hello, fourth brother. After meeting each other, the two of them walked side by side toward the ssrooms. Youre very good at fighting, Qiao Yu started a conversation topic. Not too bad. I used to fight a lot in the past, Qiao Yue responded with a faint smile. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue and said after a moment, Why? Qiao Yue knew that Qiao Yu was asking about why she fought but she answered obliquely, Without the protection of others, one needs to be stronger. True, Qiao Yu agreed. Qiao Yue realized that from the moment Qiao Yu started talking to her, the smile on his face didnt change a bit, like he was wearing a mask. Fourth brother, your punches are good. What? Qiao Yu stopped in his tracks and looked at Qiao Yue, his smile less wide than before. Qiao Yue didnt think much of it and said indifferently, Doesnt fourth brother like boxing? I also didnt think that fourth brother, who looks as gentle as amb, likes boxing. The curve at the corners of Qiao Yus mouth seemed to change slightly, and his eyes shifted. He looked at Qiao Yue and swallowed the words of denial he had wanted to say. Youre quite observant. I heard that youre good at fighting. Lets spar sometime. After being exposed by Qiao Yue, Qiao Yu didnt hide it anymore and invited Qiao Yue. Youre in no mood to go back to ss now, right? Qiao Yu clearly read Qiao Yues expression just now and knew how frustrated she was in the office. Model student nning to skip ss? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and teased. Were in university now. It doesnt matter if we skip a ss or two. They are not going to call our parents. Although Qiao Yus expression didnt change much, the eagerness to battle in his eyes were obvious. Alright, Qiao Yue replied. Walking out of the campus, Qiao Yu led Qiao Yue into an alley. Qiao Yue was stunned when she saw the row of expensive and colorful motorcycles in the garage. What are you looking at? Pick one. Any one? Yes. You dont expect me to bring you there, right? I dont take pillion riders. At that moment, Qiao Yu was no longer a model student. He pushed back his bangs, revealing his bright forehead. His eyes were no longer calm and peaceful but filled with unrestrained wildness. Qiao Yu stopped in front of a Confederate B12 Wraith, touched the bike and said, Im taking this one. Qiao Yues eyes were fixed on Qiao Yu, watching his every move. After a while, she asked, Fourth brother, youre so good at pretending in school. Arent you tired? Mom and dad like it. Qiao Yu didnt continue the topic. Instead, he asked Qiao Yue, Are you sure about this bike? Yeah. Qiao Yue picked a Dodge Tomahawk, which she was used to riding. Uncle Qian, well be taking these two bikes. Okay. Be careful on the road. Qiao Yu just shouted into the garage, and in the next second, a middle-aged mans voice answered. Does fourth brother alwayse here? Qiao Yue asked. Whenever I want to y. This ce is opened by third brother. You cane and y here too if you have nothing to do. Third brother... Qiao Yue was stunned for a moment, then she remembered Qiao Ze say that he liked people who loved cars. The two of them headed to the Xicheng District at the edge of A-City. There were not many people on the road at this time, so traffic was rtively smooth. Chapter 24 I Dont Hate You As they walked, Qiao Yu asked Qiao Yue how she knew that he liked boxing. Qiao Yue answered that she guessed it from the outline of his arm muscles. What Qiao Yue didnt mention was that she not only guessed that he liked boxing, she also noticed when she first saw him that he wasnt the gentle and elegant person in the rumors, but was much more extroverted . About 40 minutester, they arrived at the boxing club. The people inside saw Qiao Yu and greeted him familiarly. But when they saw Qiao Yue, they couldnt help but be stunned. Qiao Yu, is this your brother? Yes, my fifth brother rted by blood, Qiao Yue. After Qiao Yu finished introducing her, Qiao Yue said hi to everyone. A woman who looked older than Qiao Yu stepped forward and put her arm around Qiao Yus shoulder. You look so young. Is this your first time boxing? Do you want big sister to teach you? The woman said as she threw a pair of boxing gloves to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu, who had already put on his gear while they were chatting. Qiao Yus eyes met Qiao Yues, and he gave her a bright smile. Lets spar. The smile on Qiao Yus face was unbridled, unlike when he was in school at all. Okay. Qiao Yue didnt hesitate. She put on her gloves and followed Qiao Yu into the boxing ring. The woman next to Qiao Yu just now whistled and said in surprise, So youve practiced it before. Come,e,e, show us. As the woman spoke, people gathered around the boxing ring. Some cheered for Qiao Yu, some asked about Qiao Yue. The two people in the boxing ring were warming up. Boxing was an intense exercise; it would not be good if they pulled a muscle because they werent prepared. Turning his wrists, Qiao Yu smiled at Qiao Yue and said, Fifth brother, do you want me to go easy on you? If you call me big brother twice, fourth brother will be gentler. Hearing Qiao Yu goad his brother, the spectators also got excited. Its boxing, man! A hot-blooded sport! The atmosphere had to be right for them to fight to their hearts content. Qiao Yue also smiled and gave Qiao Yu a provocative look. Fourth brother, how about it you call me good little brother twice and Ill let you hold on for five minutes before I beat you off stage? Attaboy. Qiao Yu cursed in his heart. As the boxing coach gestured to start, Qiao Yu made the first move. Qiao Yu wasnt serious at the beginning. Although he had heard in the Academic Affairs Office that Qiao Yue fought three people at once, he had never seen it with his own eyes. He didnt know Qiao Yues ability and was afraid that he would hurt Qiao Yue. However, after two punches, Qiao Yu didnt think so anymore. Qiao Yues punches were fast, urate, and fierce. Qiao Yu could see that Qiao Yue was holding back, or he would have been beaten down the moment he got on stage. Using all his might, Qiao Yu countered Qiao Yues attacks... At the end of the match, Qiao Yu was so tired that he copsed in the boxing ring. Qiao Yue alsoy down. Surrounding them were people cheering loudly. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu were both young, but thepetition was exciting. Even if they didnt hit each other all the time, they sparred beautifully and excited the spectators. Xiao Yu, your little brother is not bad! He can fight you to a draw. Yup! Xiao Yu has been with our boxing club for so long and very few people could beat him. His younger brother actually tied with him. Qiao Yu regained his strength, sat up, and patted Qiao Yues shoulder with a smile. Lets go, lets rest over there and make room for others. Qiao Yue nodded and stretched out her hand, waiting for Qiao Yu to pull her up. Qiao Yu had no choice but to go along with Qiao Yues wishes. He pulled her up and the two of them walked to the side to drink water and rest. Qiao Yue, youre too light. You need to eat more and nourish yourself when you get home. Qiao Yu took a sip of water and said to Qiao Yue. Youre no better than me. Qiao Yue retorted jokingly. For the time being, she had no ns to develop into a Muscle Barbie. The two of them rested for a while, and then Qiao Yue asked what she was curious about. Fourth brother, your appearance at school must have deceived many people! Why didnt you continue to lie to me? Qiao Yu turned to look at Qiao Yue, a rxed smile on his face. I feel like were quite simr, so I dont have to lie to you. Qiao Yue thought for a bit when she heard this. They were indeed quite simr, whether it was in terms of temperament or preferences. It was just that Qiao Yus mask was more different from his actual self. So, you dont hate me? Why would I hate you? Qiao Yu asked. Qiao Yue chuckled. Hate me foring back to split the family assets with you. Youre talking about this? I dont hate you. On the contrary, I think its good that youre back. Not just me, but Brother Xuan and the rest probably wont have any objections either. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows and looked at Qiao Yu doubtfully. Brother Xuan hates family disputes and thats why he lives outside of the family residence. As for Brother Jing and Brother Ze, they are annoyed but not as direct as Brother Xuan. To put it bluntly, the three of them all have their own careers, so why would they think about inheritance from Grandpa every day? Chapter 25 Qiao Jing Going Overboard What Qiao Yu didnt say was that with Qiao Yues return, the disputes between other members of the Qiao family would lessen as everyone would direct their enmity towards Qiao Yue. How could he hate Qiao Yue? Qiao Yue noticed the sh of darkness in Qiao Yus eyes and chuckled. At 4 pm, Qiao Yue received a text message on her phone, asking her where she was. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Yu and showed him the text massage. Brother Jing? Yeah. Tell Brother Jing that you are out with me. Tell him that you brought me to box? Eh, you little brat! Do you want to get beaten up? Qiao Yu stepped forward as he said this and tighten his arm around Qiao Yues neck to threaten her. Fourth brother, I was just joking. After the afternoon, the two of them had gotten to know each other better. Didnt people say friendship among men was forged through fist fights? This was probably how it felt for the two of them. Qiao Yue leaned against the bike and typed on her phone. Qiao Yu put his arm around her shoulder and watched. Shortly after, Qiao Yu suddenly sniffed Qiao Yues neck and said in surprise, Qiao Yue, theres a fragrance on you. Fragrance? Qiao Yue raised her sleeve and sniffed, but she didnt smell anything. But Qiao Yu didnt let Qiao Yue go as he continued to sniff her neck. Qiao Yue knew that things werent going well, so she pushed Qiao Yu away with her elbow. Dont you feel ufortable when two men are so close to each other? Qiao Yu sniffing Qiao Yues neck just now could look a little perverted if it were between ordinary persons. However, it happened between Qiao Yu, the school hunk, and Qiao Yue, who was so sunny and handsome. The two of them standing together looked like stills from an idol drama. However, this drama didnt have a female protagonist, only two ambiguous male protagonists. In a corner that the two of them didnt notice, a girl was smiling at their photo like an old bat. By the time Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu got home, the sky was already dark. Qiao Yue said goodbye to Qiao Yu and went straight to Qiao Jings study. Second brother, Im back. Enter. Qiao Jing answered from inside the study. Just like the first time, Qiao Yue sat across from Qiao Jing, who stared at her coldly. I heard that you beat up your ssmate, Qiao Jing asked. Yeah, I did. Three of them. Qiao Xin brought them along to intimidate me. They didnt seed and were beaten up by me instead. After Qiao Yue said this, the coldness in Qiao Jings eyes slowly diminished. Youre not hurt anywhere? Qiao Yue shook her head. Im fine. Well just see if theyre fine. The fight was two days ago and theyre stillining. Qiao Yues voice got softer as she spoke. Perhaps it was because she had promised not to cause trouble before; Qiao Yue was only mumbling to herself towards the end. It had been a long time since someone had disciplined her; she was not used to Qiao Jings attempt to control her. Seeing that Qiao Jing didnt speak, Qiao Yue carefully raised her head to look at his expression. But when her eyes met Qiao Jings, she quickly lowered her head again. Qiao Jing sighed and threw a ck card in front of Qiao Yue. Second brother, what is this? Qiao Yue didnt understand. I forgot to give it to you earlier. Go and get some new clothes. I didnt buy any for you in case you didnt like them. Go pick out some clothes for yourself when you have time. Qiao Jing got up and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the night. Qiao Yue walked to his side. Second brother, I got into a fight. Arent you going to scold me? Youre even buying me clothes? Qiao Yues eyes were filled with curiosity as she twirled the ck card between her fingers. You want me to scold you? Qiao Jing turned around, his eyes reflecting Qiao Yues figure. No, I just feel a little guilty. Qiao Yue smiled like a mischievous child tempting passersby to go up and pinch her delicate cheeks. In Qiao Jing and Qiao Yues situation, if one followed the overbearing CEOs plot, after Qiao Yue said that she didnt deserve it, Qiao Jing would tell her to just ept it. But Qiao Jing was different. As he walked back to the desk, he took the ck card from Qiao Yues hand. Dont ept it if you feel ashamed. Qiao Jings reactionpletely stunned Qiao Yue. This time, she wasnt going easy on him, but she couldnt find an appropriate response. The corner of Qiao Yues mouth twitched, Brother, is there any reason for taking back something youve given away? You said youre guilty, Qiao Jing replied indifferently. Qiao Jing didnt know what was wrong with him, but he suddenly wanted to tease Qiao Yue. I was just saying, you really took it back! Qiao Yueined with a depressed expression. Then do you want it or not? I want it! Qiao Yue chuckled and ran over to Qiao Jing to take the ck card. Qiao Yue didntck money, but it wasnt her style not to take it. Besides, she felt that it wasnt a bad idea to have this kind of interaction with Qiao Jing. It had been years since she was cared for and disciplined by her family. When Qiao Jing saw Qiao Yue acting like a puppy dog, a hint of smile shed across his eyes. Chapter 26 Formal Apology with Tea Qiao Yue returned to her room and was nning to take a shower and then go to bed. When she walked past the floor-to-ceiling window, she saw Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying taking a walk in the courtyard. Qiao Xin seemed to have felt something and looked up to meet Qiao Yues eyes. Qiao Yue wanted to die. Why did she have to look downstairs? Qiao Yue rubbed her temples and sighed. Qiao Xin was now like a mosquito to Qiao Yue. Its bite didnt hurt much but its very annoying. That was just great. Now it looked like Qiao Yue wouldnt be able to rest early. As expected, there was a knock on her door three minutester. Qiao Yue, Im here to apologize to you. Open the door. They had just looked each other in the eye, so Qiao Yue couldnt pretend to be asleep. She opened the door with a cold face. When Qiao Xin saw Qiao Yue open the door, she first heaved a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, Qiao Yue, I was wrong in the past. I shouldnt have been jealous of you. I made this tea for you. I hope you wont be angry with me anymore after you drink it. Qiao Yue looked at the pale yellow tea and raised her eyebrows slightly. You are admitting that you were wrong? Yes. Qiao Xin nodded her head fiercely as she pushed the teacup in her hands towards Qiao Yue. Then where did you go wrong? Tell me. Qiao Yue crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame as she said indifferently. Qiao Xin was very angry at Qiao Yues attitude but she had to pretend to admit her mistake. I, I shouldnt have picked on you. I shouldnt have ordered my snow wolf to kill you, and I shouldnt have asked people to intimidate you. Just these? Qiao Yue continued to ask. Qiao Xin racked her brains for a long time before finally answering yes. But Qiao Yues cold voice supplemented Qiao Xins crimes. In addition, you shouldnt have made up stories about my past at school to ruin my reputation. You also shouldnt have acted like you knew a lot about me on the forum, and you shouldnt have spread rumors that my mother had eloped with a married man. Qiao Xin, do you think all of us are idiots? And you can just defame anyone as you like? Qiao Xin was stunned for a moment before she retorted on reflex, I didnt do that. I didnt do any of it. There are so many powerful people at school. What makes you say that I said all those things? Maybe they found out themselves. Qiao Xin, do you think I would sue you for nder without proof? Qiao Yue! Qiao Xin roared and was about to smash the tea she was offering to Qiao Yue as her formal apology. However, Qiao Yue suddenly reached out and stopped Qiao Xin, taking the cup of tea from her. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yues actions in shock, clueless about what she was going to do. How about this? If you dont want me to sue you or want me to forgive you, Ill agree after you drink this cup of tea. What? How dare... Halfway through her sentence, Qiao Xin suddenly realized that she had lost herposure. She forced a smile and looked at Qiao Yue. This, this tea is my apology to you. How can I drink it? Qiao Xin, you probably inherited your mothers deafness. Didnt you hear what I just said? Qiao Yue stared daggers at Qiao Xin as she closed in on her. Qiao Xin was so scared that she took a few steps back. See, this girl never learnt. Every time Qiao Yue scared her, she would be afraid, but every time, she woulde back and harm her. Do you want to drink it yourself or do you want me force it down your throat? Qiao Yue said impatiently. Qiao Xin shook her head and kept retreating. When she saw Qiao Yue stop, she turned around suddenly and ran away. Qiao Xin ran away crying. Qiao Yue took the cup of tea and went downstairs to find out what Qiao Xin had added. Just as she reached downstairs, she bumped into Qiao Yu, who had juste back. Qiao Yus forehead was covered in sweat. When he saw the tea in Qiao Yues hand, his eyes lit up. He said as he took the cup away from Qiao Yue, Xiao Yue, go and make another cup of tea! Ill have this one. Seeing that Qiao Yu was about to bring the cup to his mouth, Qiao Yue said slowly, Id advise you not to drink it. Theres something in it. The teacup stopped five centimeters away from Qiao Yus lips. With a stiff face, Qiao Yu turned and asked, What? This tea was offered to me by Qiao Xin as an apology. Do you want to drink it? Qiao Yue emphasized the word apology. As soon as he heard the story, Qiao Yu immediately returned the tea to Qiao Yue. The corners of his mouth twitched to express his fear of the tea. Youre going to throw it away? Qiao Yu asked. No, Im taking it to ask around. Id like to find out if anyone knows what Qiao Xin has put in it. Chapter 27 Taking Responsibility for You Qiao Yu raised his eyebrows and followed Qiao Yue into the kitchen. There was a chef and two servants inside. Qiao Yue didnt say much and bluffed. With Qiao Yu supporting her, the servant who saw Qiao Xin put something in the tea quickly confessed. When Qiao Yu heard the servants confession, his face darkened visibly. Youre saying that Qiao Xin put dirty dish water in there? She even spat in the tea? Qiao Yus fake gentle expression disappeared as he confirmed with the servant again with a cold face. Ever since Qiao Yue discovered Qiao Yus hidden side, Qiao Yu no longer put on an act in front of her. However, Qiao Yu was still as gentle and elegant to the others, so the servant was even more afraid when he sensed Qiao Yus anger. The servant trembled and lowered his head. If not for his stiff limbs, he would have knelt on the ground. Meanwhile, the butler saw Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu from the kitchen entrance. He quickly walked in and said, Fifth young master, second young master would like to see you. Qiao Yue nced at the butlers expression, then turned to Qiao Yu and asked, Fourth brother, do you want toe with me? No, Ill go find Qiao Xin. Qiao Yues lips curved into a smile. Maybe Qiao Xin is already with second brother now. What? Before Qiao Yu could figure out what was going on, the butler nced keenly at Qiao Yue. He felt that the fifth young master was no fool. He hadnt even mentioned anything, and fifth young master had figured out that Miss Qiao Xin had already filed aint. Qiao Yue didnt only guess that Qiao Xin would file aint, but she would also drag her mother along toin as well. It wasnt that she could predict the future, but the process had always been the same the past few times. Qiao Xin was humiliated by her. She wouldin to her mother and then her mother would find a person with authority in the Qiao family to suppress her. Fourth brother, shall we go together? Qiao Yue extended the invitation to Qiao Yu again. Qiao Yu and Qiao Jing were not close, and the way Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yu sometimes gave him the illusion that he had been seen through. Just as Qiao Yu was hesitating, Qiao Yue walked up to him and whispered, Fourth brother, theres going to be a show! Still dont want to go? Okay, Ill go with you! In Qiao Jings study... Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu had just followed the butler to the fourth floor when they heard a woman crying. Qiao Yue hadnt met everyone at the Qiao residence in the past few days, but she was very familiar with Qiao Xins crying. Qiao Yu gave Qiao Yue a look that said you are up, and then braced himself to watch the show. Third aunt, we still need to hear Qiao Yues exnation. Qiao Yue had just reached the door when he heard Qiao Jings cold voice. Hear his exnation? Xiao Jing! Your sister is already being bullied so badly and you still want to hear him out? Were your real family who have lived together for so many years! Are you only going to send Qiao Yue away after he sued your sister? Third aunt, I was the one who brought Qiao Yue home. Qiao Jings words were loud and clear. Since he was the one who brought Qiao Yue home, how could he send him away? The third madam of the Qiao family was at a loss for words. She took a deep breath and said, Does that mean that youll be responsible for Qiao Yue? Yes, hes one of my people. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yus eyes widened at the same time when they heard this. Qiao Yue frowned deeply while Qiao Yu looked at Qiao her confused eyes. Qiao Xin sobbed, Second brother, how can you do this? Im your sister! Weve lived together for such a long time! That Qiao Yue is just an outsider! Not only did he bully me at school, but he also threatened to sue me. I apologized to him for what happened before, but he made me drink tea that had spit in it. Why are you still helping him when hes like this? Xiao Jing, since you said that youll be responsible for Qiao Yue, what should we do about Xiner? You have to do something. I wont let my child be bullied like this even if this gets to Grandpa Qiao. Qiao Yue stood outside the door and sneered. Qiao Xin and her mother reallyplemented each other, one acting pitiful while the other threatened. They had such good chemistry! Before Qiao Jing could speak, Qiao Yue said disdainfully, Sure, lets go and see Grandpa! Lets each present our evidence and let Grandpa judge. She hadnt seen her grandfather in the four days she had been here, so this was a good opportunity to meet him. Qiao Yue,e here. Hearing Qiao Yues confidence, Qiao Jings voice became gentler. Qiao Yue obediently walked over to Qiao Jing and said, Third Madam Qiao, arent you tired of finding ways to smear me every day? Qiao Xins mother was furious when she saw the ridicule in Qiao Yues eyes. Although the servants had said that she had a good temper, who knew if its true? The third madam of the Qiao family couldnt pretend to be a Buddha anymore when she thought about how Qiao Yue bullied her daughter. She rushed to Qiao Yues side and raised her hand to p Qiao Yue. Chapter 28 The Unlikeable Qiao Yu The sound of a p that she had anticipated was not heard. Third Madam Qiaos raised arm was held tightly by arge hand, and Qiao Yue quietly lowered her slightly lifted leg and looked at Qiao Jing. Third aunt, didnt you hear what I said? Qiao Jing said as he shook off Qiao Xins mothers hand. Third Madam Qiao fell a few steps back before she was supported by Qiao Xin. Second brother, how can you speak to mother like that! Qiao Jing ignored Qiao Xin and asked Qiao Yue to recount the incident. Qiao Xin tried to interrupt Qiao Yue several times but was stopped by Qiao Jing. After Qiao Yue finished speaking, the entire room fell into a dead silence. A momentter, Qiao Jing, who had been unsmiling the whole time, smiled slightly. He ruffled Qiao Yues hair and said, Well done. Second brother, I didnt hit anyone. Qiao Yue smiled at Qiao Jing. Yes. For some reason, Qiao Yue could hear the pampering tone in Qiao Jings voice. Third Madam Qiao, if you still have questions about what your daughter did, why dont you ask Qiao Yu? He almost became a victim too. Before this, the third madam and Qiao Xin didnt even notice that there was someone else besides Qiao Yue. With this reminder, they suddenly looked out the door. Qiao Yu had to stop watching the show when Qiao Yue mentioned him. He walked into the study with a warm smile on his face. Third aunt, Xiner was indeed a little naughty. Qiao Yu then turned to Qiao Xin and said, Xiner, if you continue to be so naughty, your future boyfriend will be rather troubled. Qiao Yus arrival eased the tension in the room. Qiao Xin, who had been crying and throwing a tantrum, also blushed at Qiao Yus teasing. After Qiao Yus words, the incident had instantly be a mischievous small matter. So, this was what Qiao Yu was like when hes pretending. Thats quite unlikeable! Qiao Yue secretly pouted. Qiao Yu then turned to Qiao Yue and said, Xiao Yue, you are a member of the Qiao family. Its not good for the family reputation if you really sued Xiner. You are her brother after all. You wont do that, right? Qiao Yue nced at him indifferently, void of her previous warmth and familiarity with Qiao Yu. That depends on my mood. Qiao Yue didnt care much about the family reputation as Qiao Yu said, but if she sued Qiao Xin, she wouldnt only have to face harassment from Qiao Xin but the entire Qiao family. But if she didnt sue Qiao Xin, this matter would hang over Qiao Xins head and she would keep finding trouble with her. Seeing that Qiao Yu had given her a way out, the third madam left quickly with her daughter after leaving a harsh final word with Qiao Jing. Xiao Jing, youre so protective of Qiao Yue. Dont regret it if he causes any more trouble in the future! After the mother and daughter left, Qiao Jing asked Qiao Yue to stay. Qiao Yu nced at Qiao Yue but was ignored, so, he left too. After everyone left, Qiao Jing received a phone call and started to review the documents sent by his subordinates. Since Qiao Jing didnt let Qiao Yue go, she picked up a book from Qiao Jings bookshelf and started reading. Qiao Jings study was full of books about business and finance. Qiao Yue had read these kinds of books when she was calling the shots at KA, so she didnt find them difficult to understand. By the time Qiao Jing finished work, it was already nine oclock. Qiao Jing looked up and saw Qiao Yue leaning back on the sofa and reading a book. The scene made Qiao Jing a little lost in thought. Since very young, Qiao Jings parents had not been by his side, and he had been living with his grandfather. In the past, he often lost track of time when he read. His grandfather always apanied him and would cough to remind him when its time to sleep. How long had it been since someone had apanied him like this? Qiao Yue sensed Qiao Jings gaze on her and looked up. Their eyes met and Qiao Yue smiled. Second brother, what are you looking at? Nothing. You should go to bed. Qiao Jing replied. Qiao Yue ignored him. Second brother, are you done with work? Yes. Second brother, I have something to ask you. Ask away. Qiao Yue got up, walked behind Qiao Jing and started to massage his temples. Qiao Jing raised his eyes and nced at her. Without saying a word, he put his sses on the table and began to enjoy Qiao Yues massage. After a while when Qiao Yue saw that Qiao Jings brows had rxed, she asked, Why is second brother so protective of me? Because I was the person who brought you home. Just this? Yes. If I really sued Qiao Xin, who would you help? Qiao Yue asked curiously. No one. You wouldnt help Qiao Xin? Shes a member of the Qiao family after all. It would affect the Qiao family reputation. Youre also a member of the Qiao family. Qiao Jings tone was t, as if they were talking about the weather. Youre so protective of me, but you wont consider helping me? Qiao Jing held Qiao Yues hands and slowly opened his eyes to look at her. Qiao Jings eyes were mesmerizing as he replied, Do you even need my help? Chapter 29 Girl With a Crush Because she slept tootest night, Qiao Yue went to school the next day with two dark circles under her eyes. In order not to attract too much attention, Qiao Yue politely declined Qiao Zes offer to send her to school. She ignored Qiao Zes disappointed look and got into the Qiao family car. Then, she realized that Qiao Yu was also in the car. Qiao Yue looked away and was going to close her eyes to take a nap when she heard Qiao Yus voice. Xiao Yue, are you still angry? As long as there were outsiders around, Qiao Yu would put on his mask. Qiao Yue had no problem with that but could he not talk to her? Fourth brother, Im not angry. I just want to take a nap. She thought that since she had made it so clear, a smart person like Qiao Yu would know what to do. However, Qiao Yu spoke again. Ive already reprimanded Qiao Xin for what happenedst night. Xiao Yue, please forgive me! Qiao Yue cursed in her heart. She wanted to pick up an AK-47 and shoot Qiao Yu in the head. As the car drove on, Qiao Yue was tortured all the way to school. The moment they arrived at school, Qiao Yue ran to the ssroom as if she was running for her life. It was seven plus in the morning and lessons hadnt started yet. The ssroom was buzzing. There were all sorts of discussion topics and Qiao Yue was the most talked about topic. An innocent looking, and probably well behaved girl walked to Qiao Yues desk. She blushed as she put an exquisitely wrapped paper bag on Qiao Yues desk. A boy beside her shouted, Xiaoxiao, do you like the new kid too? The girls face turned even redder; she red at the boy without answering. Xiaoxiao, there are many rumors about Qiao Yue. Are you sure you like him? One of Xiao Xiaos girl friend asked. Yes, I do. From the moment I saw him. Xiaoxiaos voice was not loud, but her words were clearly heard by the boys who had a crush on her. Whats so good about that kid? He looks like a sissy. I heard that hes from the countryside and got into a lousy university. He only managed to study here because of the Qiao family. One of the boys suddenly interjected, belittling Qiao Yue as if he was worthless. The girl ignored him and started to discuss other topics with her friends. However, the boy continued to speak. That Qiao Yue used to fight a lot in the countryside. His mother was a mistress and ran away with a man. She abandoned him right after giving birth to him. How can he be a good person when he has no parents since young? The boy spoke very loudly, as if he was saying it especially for Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiaos eyes turned red, and she couldnt argue. After all, she didnt know much about Qiao Yues past. The boys friend chimed in, Yeah! That Qiao Yue looks like a pretty boy. Xiaoxiao, you might as well like our school hunk than him. Or consider our Brother Sun; he has the height and the body. It wasnt unreasonable for the boy to attack Qiao Yue with her height. Qiao Yue was 175 centimeters tall, which was considered tall among girls, but not tall enough among boys. The girl red angrily at the boy and the brothers around him and said, I just like him, okay? And it was love at first sight! At the very least, he wouldnt speak ill of people behind their backs. How do you know he doesnt? Another boy muttered. Xiaoxiao felt that she couldnt win the argument against the boys and tears welled up in her eyes. This made the boys feel bad; they were so embarrassed that they didnt speak again. Qiao Yue also didnt expect that she was the star of such a big show when she had just arrived at the ssroom. She touched her nose and let out a long sigh. As soon as Qiao Yue entered the ssroom, she saw the love letters and gifts on her desk. After hesitating for a second, Qiao Yue leaned against the wall and started ying with her phone. Even though she knew that it was hurtful to do so, she was helpless. The girls who had given Qiao Yue gifts were all guessing which one she would open first and what her reaction would be, but Qiao Yues attitude of turning a blind eye to the gifts disappointed all the girls. Some of the girls sighed and shook their heads, some talked softly with their friends while Xiaoxiao stared at Qiao Yue with bright eyes. Qiao Yue felt ufortable under her stare. She looked up at her and subconsciously smiled. However, it was this smile that caused Qiao Yue a lot of troubleter, but this was a story for another time... Chapter 30 A Leaked Video My God, have you been on the school forum? Theres a new post. Halfway through a ss, Qiao Yues sharp ears suddenly heard a girl in the back row eximing softly. What? Go to the school forum and look. Theres a video of a fight. Although its pixted, the person who fought looked super cool! Qiao Yue frowned. Could the fight they were talking about be... She tapped a few times on her phone quickly and found the post which had floated to the top of the Harvey Academy Online Forum. The video in the post was very blurry, and the faces couldnt be seen clearly. However, people could more or less tell that it was a video where three people were attacking one person, but were beaten by that person instead. That looks like the teachers building in our school. I didnt know that we have such an incredible fighter in our school! Eh! Do you think those are the clothes Qiao Yue wore on his first day here? You dont say, it does look a little like it. At this point, the conversation ended. Qiao Yue only felt hot gazes staring at the back of her head. Qiao Yues eyebrows twitched. She quickly swiped on her phone to KAs internal group chat and found Chu Jia. Delete the post with the fighting video on the Harvey forum. Qiao Yue received three question marks in reply as soon as she sent the message. Also, delete the original video. Boss, cant you do it yourself? It will be faster. Noputer. Oh, okay. Ill contact QY now. After ten minutes, Qiao Yue refreshed the school forum page, and the video was gone. But another post about Qiao Yue had floated to the top. The title was School hunkpetition! Qiao Yue vs. Qiao Yu, whos your type?] If the online sticker with three ck lines down a persons face could materialize, Qiao Yue would probably p it on her face. Why werent these students paying attention in ss? What were they doing every day? In fact, Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu werent the only names mentioned in the post. Other popr boys at Harvey were also mentioned. In the post, the boys daily tests, final exam results and various awards werepared. The results were divided into cultural sses, electives, and physical fitness sses. Those who were in thepetition had all their information posted, including a photo at the end. The photo was what made Qiao Yue stand out. Qiao Yues photo was one that was secretly taken. The school field, the sun, the breeze, the mineral water, and the desire. It was as if a girls expectations of her first love had all been printed in this photo. The boy in the photo looked arrogant and reckless. This secretly taken photo of Qiao Yue is too good! This time, Qiao Yue heard the girls in the front and back rows exim in unison. Its just a pretty boy. The angle is so good, maybe someone was hired to take the photo. Qiao Yue looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was also looking at her. It was the voice of that Brother Sun from before? Sigh! The reasons she was hated were totally unjustified. However, she couldnt ask someone to take down another post. It would be strange if two posts rted to her were deleted in a row. Ahem, please discuss other things after ss. Its still lesson time. The teacher listened to the whispers in his ss for a long time before he couldnt stand it and lectured. Unexpectedly, the bell rang at this moment, causing the students to roar withughter. The teacher didnt mind. He knocked on the ckboard and said, Well be doing a test in the next period. Please be prepared. Huh? Still have test? For a little while, the studentsined and forgot about Qiao Yue. When Qiao Yue saw that the teacher had deliberately nced in her direction while speaking, she knew that the test was 80% prepared for her. The principal had approved her application to Harvey, but had not actually assessed her ability. During the break, most students were talking about thest-minute test, but a few of them were still focusing on Qiao Yue. The girl named Xiaoxiao walked up to Qiao Yue and asked, Qiao Yue, dont, dont you like cookies? Qiao Yue didnt expect that after she had made it so obvious, this girl would still approach her; she was stunned. Not too bad. Qiao Yue replied inly after she recovered from her surprise. Then do you want to try the cookies I made? Chapter 31 A Heartfelt Gift to the Person You Cherish Qiao Yue followed the girls line of sight and stared at the cookies for a long time. After a while, she smiled and said, Im sorry, but Im not hungry yet. I dont feel like eating. Thank you. The girls eyes turned red but she pressed on, Can I make them for you when you want to eat them in future? Qiao Yue looked at the girl kindly and replied, Desserts should be made for those who cherish them. Its not made to fill stomachs, but to convey the makers feelings, right? Many people had noticed whats happening at Qiao Yues end; they couldnt help but prick up their ears to eavesdrop. After Qiao Yue said this in a gentle tone, many people in the ssroom gasped. Then, the school forum was updated rapidly. How can Qiao Yue reject someone so gently? I love him, I love him! I also want to tell him that, even if I am rejected. The sister above + 1, see that? Qiao Yue actually has such a gentle side; I thought he was just a handsome bad boy. What day is it today? Why are there so many posts about Qiao Yue? Can I ask you something? Did any of you see the video? Why do I feel that the person in the video looks like Qiao Yue? Oh, oh! So, theres someone who agree with me. But the image is too blurry to be certain. Oh right, did the person who post it delete the video? Why cant I find it? Me too! I cant find it anymore. I wanted to save his cool moves but the video is gone! Just as the forum was filled withments, the bell for the second period rang. The teacher from the previous period entered the ssroom with test papers. The time given to answer the questions was 40 minutes, and the test consists of knowledge points students had learned since entering Harvey. Qiao Yue opened the paper and nced through it. The questions were very simple. For her, getting a perfect score was not a problem but Qiao Yue didnt want to be in the limelight again. After writing all the correct answers on rough paper, Qiao Yue began to write the wrong answers on the actual test paper. She didnt want a high score, just something around the 60-point passing mark. What Qiao Yue didnt notice was that someone was watching her through the window. When the period ended, Qiao Yue turned in her test paper and walked out. She only had two sses in the morning and the rest were in the afternoon. As there was still some time before noon, Qiao Yue decided to visit the library at Harvey Academy. She didnt expect to run into Qiao Yu, who hade out of nowhere. Qiao Yue wanted to run away as soon as she saw him. How could a man be so long-winded? Or was being long-winded part of Qiao Yus personality? Qiao Yue didnt stop for him, but Qiao Yu caught up. Qiao Yue, why are you walking so fast? Hearing his tone, Qiao Yue knew that Qiao Yu was no longer pretending. Fourth brother, if theres anything you need, just say it. Nothing new. I just wanted to exin to you why I didnt scold Qiao Xinst night. As if he knew that Qiao Yue wanted to keep a distance from him, he said without giving Qiao Yue a chance to refuse, You know, in the Qiao family, I cant not care about the feelings of the third family like second brother. My parents are not liked by grandfather. If the third family turns to the first family, my parents will be angry. Then why do you care if Im angry? Qiao Yue didnt care about the disputes between the various branches of the Qiao family; she only wondered why Qiao Yu was chasing her down to exin. I dont want you to misunderstand me, and I dont want to lose a brother like you. Seeing that she couldnt get rid of Qiao Yu, Qiao Yue could only patiently wait for him to finish. It was basically a story about the neighbors child, but the person in Quai Yus family that the Qiao family oftenpared to was his older brother, Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuans appearance, character, and grades were all top-notch, unlike Qiao Yus fiery temper and troublemaker appearance. So, Qiao Yu often imitated Qiao Xuan subconsciously, and turned into a two-faced person. And it was Qiao Yus parents who asked him to be nice to the third family. He could only do as they asked. After Qiao Yu finished, Qiao Yue had one thought in her heart C perhaps this was the real Qiao Yu. She patted Qiao Yus shoulder and asked, Want to go to the library? Seeing that Qiao Yues attitude towards him had improved, Qiao Yu took things further and said to Qiao Yue pitifully, I want to go to the boxing club. Then you can go! With that, Qiao Yue left without looking back. Chapter 32 The Person Qiao Jing Hated In the end, Qiao Yue didnt make it to the library. Instead, she was dragged by Qiao Yu to y basketball. To be honest, Qiao Yu truly deserved his title as the school hunk. He was good looking, good at his studies, and good at sports. If one only saw Qiao Yus fa?ade, one would say that he was perfect. This made Qiao Yue wonder about the older brother Qiao Xuan whom Qiao Yu imitated; she was even more curious about the big brother she hadnt met. After a game of basketball, Qiao Yue went to the rest area to drink some water, and Qiao Yu followed. Qiao Yue nced at the arrogant-looking Qiao Yu and asked, Dont you want to be yourself? I feel tired for you, doing and saying things against your true self. Qiao Yu chuckled, his eyes shing with mockery. Be myself? Then Id be a piece of trash in future. Qiao Yue could feel that Qiao Yu was conflicted. He wanted to live a free life but he was bound by the chains of his family. The breeze brought a refreshing coolness, along with the girls exmations from the basketball court. Qiao Yue looked at the time, it was already noon and time for lunch. Youre always talking about me, what about you? What were your days like before? Qiao Yu didnt notice Qiao Yues thoughts and asked. Qiao Yues smile froze. Well, they were just days! After my mother died, I was sent to an orphanage. I returned to the vige after I grew up and lived there with the neighbors support. I could also catch fish and cook simple dishes. I just went with the flow and lived. Qiao Yue repeated the information to Qiao Yu, but for some reason, she couldnt tell if Qiao Yus face showed sympathy or heartache. When did your mother, my aunt, pass away? I cant remember. Ive been in an orphanage since very young. Sigh, my aunt is so stubborn. If she was willing to return the things and admit her mistake, maybe you wouldnt have suffered so much. And my aunt wouldnt have died so young. Qiao Yu sighed as he spoke. Return the things? Qiao Yue frowned. How did she not know that her mother had taken things from the Qiao family? All she had found out about her mother was that she had eloped with a scumbag and waster abandoned. Qiao Yu saw Qiao Yues unknowing look and asked in surprise, Didnt my aunt tell you? I dont know, I have no impression. I overheard my parents talking about this a long time ago. They said that they had to get back the things that aunt took, but I might have remembered wrong. Perhaps the person they were talking about wasnt aunt, Qiao Yu said, scratching his head in embarrassment. Qiao Yus casual words made Qiao Yue suspicious. After she parted with Qiao Yu, she would call Chu Jia and asked her to re-investigate her mothers past. She suspected that her mothers departure from the Qiao family was not as simple as it seemed. As Qiao Yue kept recalling the bits and pieces of her mothers life, she spent the entire afternoon in a daze. Just as Qiao Yue was thinking of a reason to leave the Qiao family for a few days, a Lexus LM stopped in front of her. Get in the car. Qiao Jings cold voice rang in her ears, his tonemanding. It wasnt until Qiao Yue sat down that she realized that sses had already ended and she was waiting for the Qiao family chauffeur to pick her up. She just got into Qiao Jings car naturally. Qiao Yue was puzzled. Why is second brother here? Its Saturday today, Qiao Jing replied expressionlessly. Saturday... Qiao Yue smacked her forehead when she suddenly remembered that today was the day Boss Li would apologize. She didnt expect Qiao Jing to remember it better than her. Qiao Yues eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. Second brother, you hate that Boss Li too? Yes. Qiao Jing responded lightly. Unexpectedly, the assistant spoke at this time, Not just hate. He hates him very much! That night, Master Jing even told me to mark this Saturday on his calendar and not schedule any work. Yong Master Yue, you have no idea how busy Master Jing is. Because this Saturday was blocked, his work had to be rescheduled to the next avable day. He will be busy all of Sunday. The assistant looked pained as he spoke. He had a good rtionship with Qiao Jing and could tell that Qiao Jing treated Qiao Yue in a special way. He couldnt help butin to Qiao Yue. He really didnt want to do more overtime with his boss. Qiao Jing red at his assistant coldly. His assistant immediately shut up and shifted in the drivers seat when he saw Qiao Jing in the rearview mirror. Qiao Yue didnt expect Qiao Jing to have such strong emotions. He hated someone to the point of clearing his schedule for this person... Chapter 33 A Special Mission So, second brother hates evil like sin. I thought that second brother never cared about such things. Qiao Jing didnt answer and just looked out the window. Qiao Yue noticed that Qiao Jings assistant was looking at her in the rearview mirror and raised an eyebrow. Master Jing only cares about it because of Master Yue! The assistant muttered under his breath. Qiao Yues eyebrows were raised even higher, but the assistants seat was kicked hard. Chu Jia was waiting to wee Qiao Yue in front of the Yayi Club. She had been very happy in the past two days. Not only did the club sign a big contract, but she also heard that Boss Li was not doing well. Theres an auction at the club tonight, followed by a masquerade ball. Just as Chu Jia had said, Yayi Club was one of KAs untainted businesses. Therefore, even though it was a masquerade ball, people would only get to know each other after they removed their masks; the club would not provide any illegal services. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing were escorted to a VIP waiting room when they got out of the car. The auction was scheduled to start at 6 pm. The two of them did their own things in the waiting room; things were harmonious if one ignored Qiao Jings probing eyes from time to time. When it was time, Qiao Yue was ready to go to the auction hall with Qiao Jing. But as she casually looked around, she saw Qiao Xin walking into the club holding a mans arm. Qiao Yue immediately pulled back and closed the door. Qiao Jing was suddenly knocked into by Qiao Yue; he lost his bnce and pressed Qiao Yue against the other side of the door. Whats wrong? As soon as Qiao Jing opened his mouth, Qiao Yue covered it with her hand. The door didnt close tightly, it was left ajar. Qiao Yue looked out through the gap. Indeed, she wasnt wrong. That person really was Qiao Xin. Qiao Yue seemed to have seen the man next to Qiao Xin somewhere before, and her sixth sense told her that the man wasnt a good person. Just as Qiao Yue was trying to recall who this person was, Qiao Jings eyes were fixed on her. The two of them were so close that Qiao Jing seemed to be able to smell the faint fragrance on Qiao Yue. His lips were covered by Qiao Yues warm but slightly rough palm, and his eyes reflected a lovers appearance. Qiao Yues skin was delicate, her figure slender, giving off the vibe that shes as weak as water. However, after spending a few days with her, Qiao Jings impression of Qiao Yue had changed. Having been in the business world for many years, Qiao Jing had long known how to read people, but he couldnt understand Qiao Yue. Qiao Yues entire being seemed to be shrouded in fog. She seemed to be smiling at everyone, but in reality, she didnt care about anyone. Qiao Jings lips suddenly let out a hot breath whichnded in Qiao Yues palm. Qiao Yues eyes widened. The close distance between them stopped her breathing for a second. Looking into Qiao Jings mesmerizing eyes, Qiao Yues heart skipped a beat and she looked away. I saw Qiao Xin. Qiao Yue spoke only after she closed the door tight. Qiao Xin? With third uncle and third aunt? Qiao Jing also looked away and asked. No, shes with a man I dont know. Qiao Jing frowned slightly when he heard this. When he looked at Qiao Yue again, he noticed that her strange expression, so he called the waiter to bring them to their seats. The two of them arrived at a private room on the second floor. Qiao Jings eyes scanned the floor below but he didnt see Qiao Xin. You didnt see wrong? Qiao Jing was a little confused. He couldnt figure out why Qiao Xin woulde to this ce. I didnt see wrong. Qiao Yue saw Qiao Xins face clearly when she walked in with the man. She kept thinking about the man and felt like she had seen him somewhere before. Forget it, lets watch the auction first and look for her at the ball. Despite Qiao Jings words, his hands werent idle. He quickly sent a text message to his assistant. Qiao Yue wasnt idle either. Although she agreed with Qiao Jing, she turned around and asked Chu Jia to meet her. A few minutes before the auction began, Qiao Yue used the excuse of going to the bathroom and sneaked into Chu Jias office. Chu Jias office was under strict surveince. Nothing discussed in this room could be leaked. Boss, why did you ask to see me in such a hurry? Chu Jia asked as soon as she arrived at the office. Qiao Yue, who was sitting in the office chair, slowly raised her eyes. The smile on her face was no longer there. What mission did Godfather give you? Boss, what are you saying? Chu Jiaughed. I am not going to repeat myself. Actually, Qiao Yue was just testing her, but from Chu Jias reaction, she knew that something would happen tonight. Chapter 34 For a Different Purpose Chu Jia was a little dazed when she saw Qiao Yues cold face. She hesitated for a few seconds before she said, Find Ben Trand and kill him. The moment Ben Trand was mentioned, Qiao Yue remembered who this person was. He was one of the most famous drug dealers in D-Country and ran all sorts of illegal businesses. Qiao Yue had met this person at Godfathers ce before. Godfatherter cut off ties with this person because Qiao Yue disliked such people. Why would Godfather give Chu Jia such a mission now? Also, didnt Godfather put her in charge of all affairs in Z-Country? Why didnt she know about this? I didnt receive Godfathers orders. Qiao Yues tone was calm, but Chu Jia shuddered. Although her boss was usually friendly, she was really scary when she was cold, especially when she was angry. Boss, Godfather said that youre back with the Qiao family for a break and to fulfill your filial duties, so he asked us not to disturb you. Chu Jia only hesitated for two seconds before telling Qiao Yue. Just like this? Yes, boss. If you dont believe me, you can ask Godfather. Qiao Yue fell into deep thought after hearing Chu Jias words. She felt that her return to the Qiao family this time was not as easy as she had imagined. If the Qiao family disliked her because she might take away some of their inheritance, then what about the things that Qiao Yu said her mother took away and the third familys involvement with drug dealers? Qiao Yue massaged her temples as she said, Whats the rtionship between Qiao Xin and Trand? Chu Jia had always been thorough in her work, and she quickly gave an answer to Qiao Yues question. ording to our investigation, the third Qiao family purposely got close to Trand. Trand is one of the richest person in the country. He was attracted to Qiao Xin when they met at a banquet a month ago, and the two have been in contact since. International drug lord attracted to Qiao Xin? Qiao Yue wanted tough when she heard this. As a notorious drug lord in Country-D, what kind of woman had Trand not toyed with? Given Qiao Xins intelligence, she probably wouldnt evenst one round. Based on this, Qiao Yue guessed that Trand didnt fancy Qiao Xin but the Qiao family. Although the Qiao family was one of the top families in Country-Z, there were many simr families internationally. What did Trand see in the Qiao family? When was the order given? When do you n to take action? Qiao Yue asked. The assassination order was issued a week ago. Well attempt tonight. Alright, Qiao Yue responded and left the office. Qiao Yue pinched her eyebrows. It was probably a coincidence! The Godfathers order came before her bet. On the way back to the room, Qiao Yue ran into Qiao Jings assistant, who bade her farewell and then left in a hurry. When Qiao Yue returned to her seat, the auction had already begun. Most of the items in this auction were paintings, porcin, renowned tea and wine, jade, and other antiques. But theres always a pice de rsistance in every auction. It wasnt until the auction wasing to an end that Qiao Yue heard a winning bid from Private Room 7. That person had bought two diamond nes and an ancient painting. Finally, the pice de rsistance C a 45% stake in Ruiding! Ruiding wasnt a toppany, but they owned a 4D holographic projection technology that many people coveted. If anyone won this auction, they would own a piece of the holographic projection market in future. Just as Qiao Yue was thinking about whether she should get someone to put in a bid, Private Room 7 had already started bidding. It seemed that Trand wanted to use this technology to break into the Z-Country market. The price was getting higher and higher, from 50 million to 200 million yuan in just a few minutes. At this time, Qiao Jing also pressed the button beside him, and the voice of the host came from below. Room 6, 300 million yuan. The crowd did not expect the price to increase by 100 million, and mutterings were heard from the hall. From eight or nine people bidding, it quickly became a bidding war between Qiao Jing and Trand. Fortunately, Qiao Jing managed to win the bid and bought the shares at 630 million yuan. Qiao Yue drummed her fingers on the armrest of the sofa and chuckled, So second brother did note here because of me, but for a different purpose. Qiao Jing nced at Qiao Yue and lowered his eyes. I heard that Ruidings shares may be auctioned at Yayi, so I came to take a look. Ohhhh! Qiao Yues dragged out her reply, clearly not believing Qiao Jings words. However, Qiao Yue wasnt one to get to the bottom of things. She quickly changed the subject and asked, Are we going to find Qiao Xin or continue to the ball? Chapter 35 The Apology Find Qiao Xin for what? Qiao Jing asked. Eh? Isnt she your sister? Arent you afraid that something might happen to her when shes out with a strange man? Qiao Jing looked around the auction hall calmly. Its none of my business. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing, her eyes filled with interest. Although Qiao Jing sided with her when Qiao Xin provoked her, he did not reprimanded Qiao Xin. She thought that it was because Qiao Jing cared about Qiao Xin. She didnt expect Qiao Jing to say such things. Qiao Yues focused gaze made Qiao Jing turn around and asked in confusion, What are you looking at? Nothing. I just feel that second brother is getting more and more good-looking. Qiao Yues eyes were smiling. Qiao Yue had a problem. No matter the time and ce, she would say whatever that came to her mind when she wanted to tease. For most people, this mighte across as being frivolous, even rowdy. But Qiao Yue was good-looking and always smiling, which made it difficult for people to hate her. But even if it was a convenient excuse, Qiao Jing was indeed the charming handsome type. Compared to Qiao Zes mboyance and Qiao Yus gentleness, Qiao Jing was more like a rare flower in the mountains, making people yearn for him. Compared to the auction, the ball was more important to Qiao Yue. When the time came, everyone gathered at the ballroom. The lights in the ballroom dimmed, leaving a single bright beam on the stage. The emcee went on stage to warm up the crowd. People below stage were all dressed in gorgeous evening attires and exquisite masks; their faces could not be seen. Qiao Yue scanned the ballroom and found Qiao Xin and that man. At this moment, the emcee announced that Boss Li had a few words to say to Boss Chu. The guests who had heard the rumors instantlyughed and put on their masks. All the usual politeness went out the window as they said whatever they wanted to say. Oh! Is Boss Li going to apologize? Just do it already! Everyoneughed even louder when they heard this. Those who were well-informed already knew what had happened the other day. Boss Li wanted to take advantage of the club in the name of a painting, but in the end, he didnt only fail but was also pped in the face. Those who didnt know found out what had happened and then joined in to wait for Boss Li make a fool of himself. Under the spotlight, Boss Lis bald head shone and his chubby face was covered in sweat. Although he didnt know whos who, he knew that the people standing below stage were all famous from different walks of life. How would he survive in the business world after today? Boss Li wiped his sweat, stammered for a long time before he said, I was too rash a few days ago. Im taking this opportunity to apologize to Boss Chu today. Please forgive me. Boss Li was nning to slip away after he said that, but he was stopped by a voice. Whats the hurry, Boss Li? You didnt even exin the reason; Boss Lis apology was insincere! Also, I heard that Boss Li has also agreed to apologize to the waitress. Howe I didnt hear that? These words came fast, seemingly from a corner of the ballroom. But when everyone looked over, they didnt see anyone. Thats right! Boss Li, an apology must be sincere, and to my staff too. Boss Li, you wont go back on your word, right? Chu Jia walked up the stage and refocused everyones attention. On stage, Chu Jia looked alluring in a ck fishtail evening dress. Her figure was graceful, and she had a smile on her face. Boss Li stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Chu Jia. His smile froze. He walked to Chu Jias side and whispered, Boss Chu, were all businesspeople. If this turned too ugly, we wont be able to do business in future. To his surprise, Chu Jia did not fall for his trick as she said loudly, Boss Li knocked into my waitress that day and spilled tea all over his painting, but he med my waitress for it and demandedpensation. Later, my conservator-restorer made a bet with Boss Li that if the painting was not repaired, we would pay him double inpensation. If the painting was repaired, Boss Li would apologize to me and the waitress. Are you going back on your word, Boss Li? Chu Jia exined everything in a few sentences, sealing off Boss Lis escape routepletely. Boss Lis chubby face was the color of pork liver. He looked at everyone, on and off stage, who were all watching him make a fool of himself, and wished that he could find a hole to hide in. After a long while, he finally said, Boss Chu, it was my fault the other day. Im sorry, and to the youngdy, Im sorry! Boss Li quickly finished his words and fled the stage. Chapter 36 Who are You? However, Chu Jia did not let him go. She took the microphone and continued, We heard Boss Lis apology. However, if we encounter such a situation again in future, Boss Li, please dont say things like if the painting cant bepletely repaired, youll take the person away. Our poor girl was really scared back then. Everyone suddenly understood. No wonder Boss Chu had such an aggressive aura today. It was Boss Li who had set his eyes on the young waitress. This was also a warning to those with bad intentions towards the club, so that they didnt misbehave. With tonights incident, Yayi Club first established its power in front of everyone and made clear that that the clubs employees would not engage in illegal activities. It also made those with bad intentions towards Yayi know how capable they were. Finally, it won the hearts of the people who worked here. It could be said that Yayi had killed four birds with one stone. Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yue and said in a low voice, Youre thinking very far ahead. Qiao Yue turned to him and smiled. Second brother, what did you just say? I didnt hear you clearly. Werent you the one who nned for the oue today? I remember you specifically asked for the apology to be made during a club event. Qiao Jings tone was calm. He was a little surprised when he first thought of this. But as he recalled Qiao Yues past performance, he wasnt surprised that Qiao Yue would do something like this. He even had a hunch that the club was owned by Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes and said with a smile, Second brother, you think too highly of me. As soon as Qiao Yue finished speaking, Chu Jia announced the start of the ball. The crowd dispersed, and Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing ended their fruitless conversation. As the music started, Qiao Jing walked to the side to answer a call while Qiao Yue strolled around aimlessly holding a ss of wine. After a few steps, Qiao Yue saw Qiao Xin and the man. The two were talking happily. The man had his arm around Qiao Xins waist, and Qiao Xin was leaning coquettishly into his arms. Qiao Yue had goosebumps. The Qiao Xin she knew always looked overbearing; Qiao Yue wasnt used to seeing her dressed like a social butterfly. But, if Qiao Xin stayed by the mans side, it would be hard to make a move. At this moment, Qiao Jing walked over and frowned heavily after he saw Qiao Xin and the man. Qiao Yue cocked her eyebrow and looked at Qiao Jing. Second brother, whats wrong? Care about Qiao Xin now? Shall we bring her back? No need, Qiao Jing replied coldly. He thought that the Qiao family members were all on the up and up. He didnt expect Qiao Xin to still use her looks to seduce men. Seeing Qiao Jings expression, Qiao Yue pulled him aside and took two sses of wine from a waiter. Qiao Yue took a sip of red wine and said, Second brother, do you know who Qiao Xins friend is? Who is he? Qiao Jing frowned. Ben Trand. Qiao Yues eyes darkened. For the time being, she didnt have any ill intentions towards the Qiao family except for Qiao Xin. Reminding Qiao Jing would make him more mindful of the third family; she also wanted to do him a favor. At the very least, she wanted him to feel that she wouldnt harm him despite her many secrets. The drug lord wanted by the police in D-Country? Qiao Jings eyebrows were tightly knitted. Although the Qiao family business was notpletely taintless, the old master had forbidden them from getting involved in such immoral businesses. Anyone who vited the family rules would be punished, so he couldnt figure out why Qiao Xin got involved with such a person. Yes. Qiao Yue nodded. How do you know that he is Trand? Qiao Jings eyes were fixed on Qiao Yue with a bone-chilling coldness that made people look away. Qiao Yue wasnt afraid of it though. Qiao Jing was at most wary of her but had no intention to kill her. She knew that Qiao Jing was suspicious of her, so she didnt mind adding a few more suspicions to his list. I heard it by chance, after I saw Qiao Xin. Qiao Jing looked at the teenager under the dim light. His face was covered by a mask, leaving only a pair of bright eyes. His entire being looked like a mirage. When you thought you were close to him, you suddenly realized that you were thousands of miles away from him. Qiao Jing subconsciously tugged Qiao Yues bangs behind one ear. The pair of eyes that he loved looked at him in confusion. He heard his own voice. You, who are you? Chapter 37 The Drunken Qiao Jing The ball went on as usual. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue sat in a corner drinking. asionally, some women would notice them and try to chat them up, but they were all turned away. Qiao Yues eyes were locked on Trand, while Qiao Jing was staring at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue suddenly regretted telling Qiao Jing about Trand. Although she could escape from Qiao Jing, she felt ufortable under his stare. Turning her head, Qiao Yue said helplessly, Second brother, if you keep looking at me like that, I will think that youve fallen in love with me. Qiao Jing didnt seem to hear what Qiao Yue said, his eyes still fixed on her face. Second brother? Qiao Yue called out again. Yes... Qiao Jings reply was slow, and his eyes gradually moved from Qiao Yues face to her lips. Seeing Qiao Jings unusual behavior, Qiao Yue suddenly had an idea. Second brother, are you drunk? No, Im not. Qiao Jing quickly answered this time but his eyes started to wander, looking left and right, but not at Qiao Yue. She had never expected Qiao Jing to have such low alcohol tolerance. Did he never drink when he was doing business? Second brother, youre drunk. Let me help you get to bed. Yayi was Qiao Yues property. Even if the rooms were full tonight, Chu Jia would still keep her room. Qiao Yue put down her wine ss to help Qiao Jing upstairs, but Qiao Jing dodged her. Im not drunk. Qiao Jings eyes, which were usually filled with indifference, were now filled with tears as he stared straight at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue had no choice but to coax him in a child-like tone, Okay, okay. Youre not drunk. Im drunk. Can we go to bed, please? In all eighteen years of her life, this was the first time she had coaxed a drunkard. No. You are leaving? Qiao Jings words made Qiao Yue freeze on the spot. The smile on her face disappeared. She didnt know how Qiao Jing figured that out. I wont leave if you follow me upstairs. Really? Yes. After much coaxing, Qiao Yue finally managed to get Qiao Jing upstairs. She told Chu Jia to contact her if anything happened. In the room, the two of them looked at each other. Qiao Yue discovered that Qiao Jings drunken identity wasnt too bad. He would keep looking at you when hes drunk, and he wouldnt speak unless spoken to. If you asked him simple questions, he would answer you, but if the question was difficult or he was unwilling to answer, he would not say a word, just like now. Qiao Yue asked Qiao Jing, What do you think of me? Qiao Jing seemed to have thought for a while before he answered, Youre not a good person. You have too many secrets. I cant read you. Qiao Yues mouth twitched for a good five seconds when she heard this. She seriously suspected that Qiao Jing used his alcohol courage to say what was in his heart. Then do you hate me? No. Why? You know how to be close with me. Qiao Yue was stunned. Qiao Jing said that she knew how to get close with him. Did he mean that she would give him massages or that she was not afraid of his cold face? He didnt hate her just because of this? Qiao Yue got up and walked over to Qiao Jing. She bent down and looked Qiao Jing in the eye. Qiao Jings hazy eyes were filled with confusion, as if he didnt understand why Qiao Yue was so close to him. Qiao Yue looked at him and suddenly broke into an evil smile. She reached out and pinched Qiao Jings cheek. The delicate and warm touch made Qiao Yue unable to let go. Ive wanted to do this since I gave you a massage. How can a person maintain the same expression all year round? Poker face? Facial muscles are dead? Qiao Yue said as she pinched his cheek. She looked like she was going to pounce on him to take a bite. Qiao Jing didnt p her hand away even after several pinches. He just frowned andined about Qiao Yues evil behavior with a dissatisfied look. How can a man have such good skin? Qiao Yue felt guilty under Qiao Jings stare and rxed her grip, turning from pinching to touching. This was a rare opportunity, and if she didnt rub his face to her hearts content, she would regret it. Gradually, Qiao Yue realized that something was wrong. Why did it seem like she was getting closer and closer to Qiao Jing? And when did he ce his hands at the small of her back? You smell good. Qiao Jing leaned close to Qiao Yue and sniffed her neck. His hot breath on her skin made her feel very ufortable. What did they smell on her? Did the people of the Qiao family all have dog noses? Chapter 38 Molestation Suddenly, something came over Qiao Jing and he licked the side of Qiao Yues neck. Qiao Yues legs gave way and she lost her bnce, pushing Qiao Jing down with her. Staring at Qiao Jing below her, Qiao Yues heart was racing. What kind of monster was this drunken Qiao Jing? He was like apletely different person! Qiao Yue wanted to get up but was held down by Qiao Jings hands on the small her back. Second brother, its me, Qiao Yue! Your fifth brother! Wake up, I dont have any homosexual tendency! She felt like she was trapped. She couldnt break free from Qiao Jings grip no matter how hard she tried, but if she used too much force, she might break his arm. After weighing the pros and cons, Qiao Yue had no choice but to negotiate with the drunkard. Unlike Qiao Yue, Qiao Jing felt veryfortable and giddy at this time. He knew that the person he was holding was Qiao Yue, but he didnt think anything was wrong. Qiao Yues body was soft and smelled fruity. He also liked Qiao Yues eyes, like the starry night sky, bright and beautiful. Qiao Yues lips were moving. He knew she was talking. He could still hear what she said at first, but now he couldnt. Forget it! He wasnt interested in listening anyway. Smack! The sudden warm and moist touch on her lips made Qiao Yues eyes widen. Had she been taken advantage of? The person who took advantage of her was Qiao Jing? Although Qiao Yues mind was in a mess, her actions werent. She pulled out a hand in the next second and hit Qiao Jing hard on the back of his neck. Qiao Jing followed Qiao Yues movements and fell onto the bed. She could finally get up. Oh my god! His drunkenness wasnt just madness, he had escted to be a pervert. Qiao Yue wiped her lips as her forehead twitched. She shouldnt have knocked him out so quickly. She should have taken a photo as a memento. It would be quite amusing if Qiao Jing could see his expression. He had molested someone after getting drunk, and it was his fifth brother, Qiao Yue, who was also a man. This would be earth-shattering news. It should be worth a lot of money if it was sold! Of course, Qiao Yue was just thinking about it. She wasnt stupid enough to sell gossip where she was the central character for money. Just after she moved Qiao Jing to the middle of the bed, Qiao Yue received a call from Chu Jia. Boss, Trand is about to leave. Were going to make our move on the way. Do you want to go? Yes. Prepare a bike for me. Yes. After hanging up the phone, Qiao Yue turned off the lights and left. When she reached the first floor, she bumped into Chu Jia, who was on her way up to find her. Stone and the others are on his tail. Trand have many bodyguards around him tonight, so it may be difficult to make a move tonight. Actually, Qiao Yue had noticed that earlier. Just at the ball, Trand had six subordinates around him who were disguised as guests. He was really well-protected. Well kill him on the road first, and if it doesnt work, well assassinate him. She had her reservations when she said this. If Trand valued his safety so much, his residence must be full of traps, which would make assassination even more difficult. Then Ill inform Stone first. Qiao Yue and Chu Jia split up. As they shared their locations, Qiao Yue found out where Trand was when she mounted her motorcycle. With a sniper rifle on her back, Qiao Yue set off first. Based on Stones location, she could meet up with the rest quickly by taking a short cut. Qiao Yues motorcycle sped on the road. Because the sniper rifle on her back was inside a mini golf bag, no one noticed. After passing through the busy city, the motorcycle entered a narrow side road. As her speed increased, the scenery around Qiao Yue kept changing. It was only when they reached the suburbs that Qiao Yue saw Stones car in the distance. By the time Qiao Yues motorcycle and the car ran parallel to each other, Stone and the others had already rolled down the car windows. How many people did Trand bring with him tonight? Eight. That f*cking old bastard is really afraid of death. He brings bodyguards everywhere he goes. Ha! When ones rich, one bes afraid of death. I heard from Godfather that he only got to where he is today because he almost died saving his masters life. Qiao Yue sneered. Tsk! Still saved him with his life! Why didnt he just let him die back then? At least he would have gotten rid of a threat. Hearing Stones indignant tone, Qiao Yue asked, You hate him that much? Boss, you dont know what I found out when I was investigating this guy in China. Other than trafficking drugs into China, they also sell Chinese girls abroad. After the girls were kidnapped, they would first rape them and sell them after they had enough fun. If the girls had been tortured too badly, they would cut off and sell their organs instead. Chapter 39 Hello, Scumbag Boss, you didnt see those photos. Those girls were tortured and humiliated. Im a man and my heart sank when I looked at them. Stones tone was serious. He almost didnt dare to recall those photos. Animal. Qiao Yues voice seemed to be immersed in ice, making people shudder. Not many people in the organization knew Qiao Yues true gender. They only knew that their boss was very protective of women and was very gentle to the girls in the organization. Therefore, Stone said all that in the hope that Qiao Yue would seek justice for those girls. Chu Jia is here. You guys go and crash the car. Ill do the sniping. Stone and the others were driving cars that were modified from military off-road vehicles. They were wear- and collision-resistant; the front of the cars were reinforced and the windows were made of bulletproof materials. Ordinary vehicles would not be able to withstand being rear-ended by these off-road vehicles; two bumps would render the vehicles scrap metal. Yes. After receiving the order, Stone and Chu Jias two off-road vehicles quickly approached Trand. Qiao Yue rushed down the road and rode straight up a slope where Trand was about to pass by. Stones off-road vehicle quickly caught up with Trands cars; he mmed into the back of the second ck Shepherd. Trand operated within the gray areas of thew on a daily basis; needless to say, he was extremely vignt. The first time Stones car hit them, they didnt stop or fight back. Instead, they sped up to escape from the attack. Seeing that his target was running away, Stone was so angry that he stepped on the elerator again. Fire! Hearing the voice on the phone, Stones eyes lit up. It was boss. She had found a sniping spot. Roger. As soon as he finished speaking, the rest of Stones crew in his car picked up their weapons and opened fire at the vehicle in front of them. After two rounds of rapid fire, the car in front could not dodge anymore when one of its rear tires was shot by Chu Jia. Perhaps Trand had realized that if he didnt fight back, he might die here tonight. The first car suddenly lit up, and bullets flew straight at Stone, Chu Jia and the others. Trand had eight bodyguards. There were four people in Stones car, including Stone, and two in Chu Jias car. Their firepower was slightly weaker than Trands. After killing two of the bodyguards, the two off-road vehicles rolled up their windows at the same time and closed in on the first car. At this moment, the front wheel of the first car that Trand was in suddenly exploded and the car skidded. The second car couldnt stop in time and hit the first car, knocking it a few meters away. The bodyguards in the first car quickly got out of the car with Trand and fired at Chu Jia and the others. The two sides were firing across the vehicles. As a drug lord, Trand owned many things, including good firearms. If the battle dragged on, it could be disadvantageous to Chu Jia and the others. While they were fighting hard, something seemed to have happened on Trands end; the number of bullets they fired had decreased. Stone gestured to Chu Jia, and under the cover of bullets and the night, he carefully approached Trand and his bodyguards. Protect the boss. Theres a sniper. There was a ng, like a corpse hitting the car door, as Stone touched the left side of the ck Shepherd. F*ck, find the snipers position and retreat. Locating the direction of the sound, Stone moved out quickly and shot the man, and then retreated behind the car. Retreat! Retreat! A man shouted, his voice filled with fear. One zero, Trands reinforcements are rapidly approaching your position. If you cant finish the battle in ten minutes, retreat as soon as possible. A warning from the organizations monitoring personnel came from Stones headphones. Sh*t. Stone cursed under his breath and was ready to trade his life for Trands. When he saw the photos of the girls, he had already killed Trand 10,000 times in his heart. If he let Trand go this time, the next assassination attempt would be way more difficult. Just as Stone made up his mind to rush out, he suddenly heard a motorcycle. He looked up and saw a pure ck Tomahawk cutting through the night sky. After killing a bodyguard with one shot, Qiao Yue jumped up before the other bodyguards bullet could reach her. She dropped the Tomahawk to the ground and rushed toward the bodyguards. Trands bodyguard had been injured to some degree and had no time to dodge. He was hit directly by the Tomahawk. With the obstacles cleared, Trand, who had been hiding behind the bodyguards, finally showed his panic and fear. With the gun pointed at Trands head, Qiao Yues eyes were dead silent as she said coldly, Hello, scumbag. Chapter 40 Speeding Between Life and Death You! Who are you? Dont kill me, I have money, Ill give you all my money, please dont kill me. Trand said to Qiao Yue in a trembling voice. Boss, our time is up. Stone limped to Qiao Yues side. He was identally grazed by a stray bullet during the gunfight just now. He didnt feel anything at first, but now he started to feel a burning pain. Qiao Yues eyes were cold, and Trand begged even louder for mercy. Just when Stone thought that it was over, something happened. Trand suddenly jumped up and stabbed Qiao Yues left arm with a sharp dagger. At the same time, Qiao Yues gunshot was heard, and Trand closed his eyes. Ah! A scream sounded, followed by two more gunshots. Trands cry of pain startled a flock of birds. Boss! Stone looked at the dagger in Qiao Yues left arm in horror. He was fooled by the weakness shown by Trand and did not expect him to fight back. Cold sweat dripped down Qiao Yues forehead as she kicked the crippled Trand to the ground. I wont let you die so easily. Ill let you experience all the pain those children suffered. Trand looked at the dagger in Qiao Yues arm andughed eerily,pletely unlike his previous cowardly look. Take him away. Qiao Yue said to the few people who had rushed over. Xiao Yue! Chu Jia eximed when she saw Qiao Yue. Hurry up. Chu Jia helped Qiao Yue while the two colleagues behind her helped Stone. The remaining two people stuffed a piece of rag into Trands mouth and dragged him back to the car. Although the two off-road vehicles had their windshields cracked and exteriors seriously damaged, they could still drive. Otherwise, they would have to hide in the bushes. After the injured had been put into cars, Chu Jia poured gasoline on Trands two cars. A lighter fell in a parab, and fire soared to the sky with a bang. The two off-road vehicles then sped away. When they entered the city, their colleagues woulde to pick them up. Boss, in front. The driver said quickly. Qiao Yue was in so much pain that she broke out in a cold sweat. She was a little dizzy, but she forced herself to look up. It was Trands reinforcement. Step on the gas and meet them. Stone, knock him out. Qiao Yue gave two orders in one sentence, one to the driver and the other to Stone. Judging from Stones way of doing things just now, he would definitely cause them trouble. After receiving Qiao Yues order, Stone hit the back of Trands neck with a knifehand strike. Stone was afraid that Trand would put on an act again, so he struck him again. The two off-road vehicles drove at their top speed and passed by the convoy that came to rescue Trand. As if they had sensed something, the enemy convoy began to split into two groups, one rushing towards the fire while the other chased after them. The people who could participate in tonights mission were all first-ss experts. Even with broken windshields, they could still drive fast and avoid the impact of the vehicles behind them. But every time the car shook, Qiao Yues face turned paler. Suddenly, gunshots rang out from behind. Qiao Yue frowned. Chu Jia had said just now that she would cover them, so she followed behind them. She wondered how Chu Jia was doing. Boss, how are you? Stones anxious question was filled with self-me. If he had not been careless with Trand, his boss would not have been injured. Its fine. This has nothing to do with you. I was too careless. Qiao Yue knew what Stone was thinking just by looking at him. Stone had always been like this. Every time someone was injured during his mission, he would me it on himself. With a bang, the back of Qiao Yues vehicle was rear-ended hard. Chu Jia! Qiao Yues heart eximed as she had a moment of rity. But just as she was about to look behind her, Stone pulled her back. Sanzi, keep stepping on the gas, dont stop. Stone gritted his teeth as he spoke. They could not stop now. If they stopped, not only would they not be able to save Chu Jia, but they would also die. Qiao Yue clenched her fists and bit her lower lip until it bled. She knew that Stone was right, but she felt like she was suffocating. The sound of bullets hitting the car was frightening. Sanzi calmly dodged the car shooting at them from behind while great sadness permeated the inside of their vehicle. Suddenly, Qiao Yues phone rang... Chapter 41 - A Failed Mission

Chapter 41: A Failed Mission

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue picked up the call and a familiar female voice came through. Boss, were fine. Chu jias voice was weak, but the fact that she was still alive was a greatfort to Qiao Yue. Are you badly injured? Qiao Yue said calmly, through her own pain. A sudden explosion sounded on the other end of the phone, and Qiao Yues heart was in her throat. Chu Jia! Qiao Yues called out in a trembling voice. After a period of ambient noise, Chu Jias voice came out of the miniature walkie-talkie, Boss, those b*stards are closing in on us. Xiaosi and I are about to enter the mountains. See you back at the base. Their walkie-talkies were modified from military micro walkie-talkies. In addition to being small enough to wear around the neck, they were sturdy and durable. Even if they were hit by ordinary weapons, only their outer shells would be scratched. They would still work. Chu Jias situation was critical, but Qiao Ques situation wasnt any better. While she was talking to Chu Jia, their vehicle had been rear-ended a few times despite Sanzis excellent driving. Seeing that they were about to reach the west of the city, Trands men seemed to have been ordered to kill. The car behind them elerated and rear-ended them again while another car hit them from the side. Boss, their car has been behind us on the right. Theres a gentle slope at the bend ahead. Jumping off the car there would reduce the impact. Stones expression was unusually serious as his face flickered in the light. Although the simple bandage around Qiao Yues shoulder wound had slowed the bleeding, the knife was still in her. The prolonged pain had drained Qiao Yue, and her face was as white as a sheet. Dont even think about having me jump off the car while you guys go all out with them. Lets not talk about whether you can kill them. Just my situation alone, Ill probably bleed to death. Qiao Yues speech was choppy, her breath uneven. Stone knew that his boss didnt want to run away alone leaving them behind, but her words were really Stone, how much longer before our reinforcements arrive? Less than twenty minutes, replied Stone after checking the time. Which meant that they would still need to drive a few minutes more after the bend, Qiao Yue calcted silently. After continuous gunshots from the car behind, a crack appeared on the window next to Stone. Qiao Yues eyes darkened as she said, Throw him out. What? Stone didnt understand for a moment. Qiao Yue spoke again, Throw Trand out at the bend. Boss, he is the target of our mission, and were just going to throw him out? Stone said with a conflicted expression. Ruthlessness shed in Qiao Yues eyes as she said, Were going to die soon, so why bother with the target? Although being hit by a car is too easy on him, we shouldnt sacrifice our lives for a scum. But Godfather As soon as Stone opened his mouth, Qiao Yues sharp gaze stopped him. Godfather has given me full authority to handle matters in Z-Country. Yes, boss, answered Stone respectfully. The two cars behind them followed closely, and everyone, including Qiao Yue, focused their attention on the bend ahead. After they turned, Stone pushed open the door and threw the immobilized Trand off the car. Qiao Yue had broken all of Trands limbs and his body rolled as soon as it touched the ground. Qiao Yue looked behind through the rearview mirror and saw that as soon as Trand was thrown out of the car, the two cars behind them stopped immediately. Stones eyes were also fixed on the rearview mirror, and he couldnt help but suck in a cold breath. Boss, did they do this on purposes? Didnt you cripple him? How could it be? This was also the question Qiao Yue was thinking about. If they reacted after seeing Trand being thrown out, they wouldnt have stopped so quickly. So, they must have known in advance that Trand would be thrown out. But how did Trand sent the message to the two cars behind them? Boss As soon as Sanzi, who was driving, opened his mouth, Qiao Yue stopped him. Continue driving, back to the base. Yes, boss. Without the frequent gunshots behind them, Qiao Yue leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She kept feeling that it was highly unusual for Trand to be able tomunicate with the outside world. Chapter 42 - A Pretty Doctor

Chapter 42: A Pretty Doctor

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As estimated by Qiao Yue, a few minutes after they exited the bend, they saw their reinforcement team. 12 people in 3 cars came to support them. The car that Sanzi was driving could be scrapped; it was already a miracle that itsted until now. The two teams switched ces. Two cars drove to the previous location to check things out while the other two took Qiao Yue and the rest back to the base. Inside the modified Regius Ace, a bespectacled and gentle-looking female doctor treated Qiao Yues wound. The knife in Qiao Yues shoulder was plunged deep, and she would need stitches when they arrived at the base. Gasp! Qiao Yue sucked cold air through her teeth at the female doctors not-so-gentle technique. Yun, are you trying to kill me? Qiao Yues beautiful eyebrows furrowed. She felt that Yun didnt want to save her but wanted to kill her. The female doctor called Yun sneered. Youre always skating on thin ice. Youll die sooner orter. Instead of letting you die in the hands of others, why not let me kill you. Although she said that, her hands were a little gentler. Qiao Yuey on a stretcher in the modified van as she smiled weakly at Yun. You have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Ow! As soon as Qiao Yue finished speaking, another monosyble came out of her mouth. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. This time, Qiao Yue really didnt have the mood to speak anymore. The interaction between Qiao Yue and Yun made the others in the vanugh. Stone was the first to speak. Boss, you always tease Doctor Zhou. You always make her angry, and then you suffer. Yup! Boss, you look like a young man trying to get his goddess attention. Dont tell me you like Doctor Zhou! Sanzi said. Qiao Yue and Zhou Yuns lips twitched when they heard Sanzis words. The others might not know, but as Qiao Yues personal doctor, Zhou Yun knew Qiao Yues gender. She wasnt bold enough to start an unusual rtionship. Seeing that Stone and Sanzi were still making sarcastic remarks, Qiao Yue cast them a faint nce and said, Are you two very free? When you two feel better, go and catch Trand again. The twosughter stopped instantly. Stone turned to Qiao Yue in a daze. Boss, me and Sanzi go and catch Trand? Yes. Qiao Yue replied monosybically without even opening her eyes. Sanzi gulped. Boss, are you joking? Sanzi didnt get a reply from Qiao Yue. Instead, he got a burst ofughter from the people around him. Hahaha! You two deserve it for teasing the boss. The person who ridiculed him the most was Zhou Yuns assistant, who was treating Stones wound. Under the rxed atmosphere, Qiao Yue fell asleep on the stretcher. Its probably not appropriate to describe her as asleep but unconscious. When Qiao Yue opened her eyes again, she was lying on arge bed and Zhou Yun was reading a book beside her bed. Youre awake? Zhou Yun asked in a calm tone. Qiao Yue took a moment toe to and then looked around. She was in her room at the base. I As soon as she opened her mouth, Qiao Yue heard her extremely hoarse voice. Zhou Yun got up and went to the table to pour a ss of water for Qiao Yue. Youve been sleeping the whole day. Its three in the afternoon now. Even without Qiao Yue saying anything, Zhou Yun knew what she wanted to say and told her everything she wanted to know. Wheres Chu Jia? Is she back? Qiao Yue had always trusted Chu Jia. When Chu Jia said she would meet her back at the base, she would never go back on her word. She was shot once in the leg and once in the arm. The bullets have been removed and shes fine now. The person with Chu Jia, his life is not in any danger, but he has some serious abrasions and will need a long time to recuperate. Qiao Yues tense nerves finally rxed when she heard that everyone was fine. You have time to care about others, what about yourself? Zhou Yun sat by Qiao Yues bed and asked. Qiao Yue frowned in confusion. What happened to her? I heard from Stone yesterday that Trand stabbed you because of his carelessness. Zhou Yun raised her eyebrows slightly and scrutinized Qiao Yue with her eyes. Qiao Yues scalp tightened under her gaze. Stone was such a big mouth. If he wanted to say anything, he could have said that Trand was too capable. Why did he say that he was careless? Chapter 43 - Conjecture

Chapter 43: Conjecture

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue sighed. I underestimated him. I thought Trand had lost his will to fight and let my guard down. Zhou Yun stared at Qiao Yue in silence. The two of them were speechless for a moment. In the end, it was Qiao Yue who couldnt stand the awkward silence and said, Stone found out that Trand was trafficking people from Z-Country and also human organs, so I After hearing Qiao Yues words, Zhou Yun lowered her eyes and her entire being seemed to be shrouded in a shadow. Qiao Yue patted her head and said, I already said that I was careless and let my guard down. I wouldnt have been injured otherwise. Im sorry. I know that you did it because of me, said Zhou Yun in a low voice. Zhou Yun was a child who had been trafficked overseas. She was just lucky to have met Qiao Yue. When she was first saved, Zhou Yun would wake up from nightmares every night and needed Qiao Yuespany before she could fall asleep again. The trauma of being trafficked was like a nightmare that had followed her for five or six years. Qiao Yue hated human traffickers even more after she saw Zhou Yuns pain. Its all in the past. What Trand did was unforgivable. He engaged in drug trafficking and human trafficking. If I killed him, I would have done a good deed. Its just a pity. When Qiao Yue said this, she couldnt help but think about how Trand was rescued. Based on the angle at which they threw Trand out of the vehicle and the speed at which they were travelling, Trand would have been dragged under the wheels and killed. But from what they saw, the convoy chasing them had obviously slowed down and that was how they were able to stop as soon as they saw Trand being thrown out. Zhou Yun looked up and saw Qiao Yue in deep thought again. She took a deep breath and adjusted her expression. After all, it was all in the past. If she continued to fixate on it, Qiao Yue would worry about her. Zhou Yuns phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw that it was a message from her assistant, telling her that Chu Jia was awake and asking her to go over to examine Chu Jia. Zhou Yun told Qiao Yue about the message, and Qiao Yue indicated that she would go with her. Chu Jia started wailing the moment she saw Qiao Yue. Boss, they were such bullies. So many of them were chasing us to kill us! They chased us for half a mountain, were so tired. Chu Jias rapid-fireint hadpletely shattered Qiao Yues impression of her being a vulnerable beauty. Qiao Yues lips twitched, regretting how worried she was about Chu Jia. She did not expect Chu Jia to be so lively. As Qiao Yue sat by her bed, Chu Jia started to recount their nerve-wracking journey. That was until Chu Jia said something that caught Qiao Yues attention. You said that there were a few times they almost caught up to you? Qiao Yue asked. Yup! We were both hiding in the water, and they used shlights to find us. Some of them even went into the water to look for us. Later, when we were running, we misstepped, fell into a ravine and escaped. Chu Jia replied, her heart still filled with fear. Qiao Yue frowned deeply. After connecting the dots, a conjecture formed in her mind. Seeing that Qiao Yue did not speak, Chu Jia also fell silent. In fact, when she first woke up, she was filled with lingering fear. This was because Qiao Yue had often asked her to manage the clean businesses and work behind the scenes. She had always followed behind Qiao Yue in everything she did. This was the first time that she had to face a life-and-death situation. She anxiously asked Qiao Yue about her teammates situation. She was relieved to know that everyone was fine. When she recalled how Qiao Yue, with her knife wound, had asked her about her condition yesterday, she knew how worried Qiao Yue was about her. The reason she was so lively was to alleviate Qiao Yues worry. Seeing that Chu Jia was full of energy, Qiao Yue went to visit the others. Fortunately, everyones injuries would not leave any after-effects. It was just a matter of how long it would take for everyone to recuperate. After everything was settled, Qiao Yue finally remembered the person she had left behind at the club. She rubbed her temples. She didnt know what people would think of her when they learned that she left him there the whole night. Get the car ready, Im going back to the Qiao residence, said Qiao Yue to the person beside her. The man was about to get the car when Zhou Yun stopped him. You havent recovered from your injuries yet. Youre going back so soon? Zhou Yun looked at Qiao Yue disapprovingly. After all, Im staying at the Qiao residence now. Its not right for me to disappear for too long. Qiao Yues words displeased Zhou Yun even more. Well talk about it after you recover. The Qiao family cant wait for you to never return. ?? Chapter 44 - Please Don’t Say It

Chapter 44: Please Dont Say It

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue knew that Zhou Yun was saying that for her own good, but she was going back to fulfill her mothers wish of being filial to the old master. She must stay there until she fulfilled that wish. However, Qiao Yue had yet to meet the old master. Qiao Yue rarely saw Zhou Yun angry. Zhou Yun was usually cold and indifferent, very much like a medical researcher. She couldnt help but tease, You know very well! Watching Qiao Yue act roguish again, Zhou Yun rolled her eyes and said unhappily, I cant help it either. Your eldest brother Qiao Xuan is an influential figure at the research institute. Its impossible for me not to pay attention to him. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. Really? Qiao Xuan? The eldest brother that Ive never met? He would mention the Qiao family at the research institute? He didnt bring it up. Its through the grapevine. Almost everything about Qiao Xuan had been dug out. Qiao Yue chuckled. I didnt expect people at the research institute to be so gossipy. I thought they were all nerds. As soon as Qiao Yue finished, she saw Zhou Yun shooting a death stare at her. She quickly corrected, Except for our Yun. Zhou Yun ignored Qiao Yue and continued to insist, Youll only go back after your injuries heal. Although Qiao Yue wavered for a moment at Zhou Yuns insistence, when she thought about Qiao Jings stoic face being left behind at the club for a day and a night, she felt that she needed to exin herself. Its a minor injury. Im okay. I still have things to deal with. Ille and find you when Im done. After Qiao Yue finished, she contemted and decided not to ask anyone to send her home. Instead, she hailed a taxi. Although she felt that Qiao Jing had left the club long ago, she still went there to try her luck. Perhaps Qiao Jing was still waiting for her? The truth was that Qiao Jing had indeed left. As Chu Jia would be recuperating at the base for a while, Qiao Yue handed over running of the club to Chu Jias confidant at Yayi. That person was capable and honest. When Qiao Yue was leaving the club, she bumped into the waitress she saved the other day. At first, Qiao Yue didnt notice, but the girl kept following her in the hallways, her intense gaze almost burning a hole in Qiao Yues back. Is there something? Qiao Yue turned around and shouted at the girl. The girl was standing behind a door at that moment. When she heard Qiao Yues question, she looked around and saw that she was the only one there, so she was sure that Qiao Yue was talking to her. She dawdled for a long time beforeing out from behind the door. Mr., Mr. Qiao. Hello, Im Wei Xiao. Hi. Qiao Yue nodded lightly. It wasnt that Qiao Yue was deliberately acting cold. It was just that this girls cheeks were red, and she looked shy when she looked at her. Qiao Yue could only think of one possibility C this girl had taken a fancy to her. It wasnt a good sign, so she had to quickly stop this persons thoughts. Mr. Qiao, I, Im here to thank you for your help. Imagine a handsome boy saving you from a wretched old man in front of everyone, and then making this old man apologize to you in public. How many girls wouldnt be tempted? Especially since this guy had good family background and was capable. He was any girls first choice for a boyfriend! It was a pity that Qiao Yue was born in the wrong gender. Youre wee, Qiao Yue said in a calm voice. Its nothing. I just wanted to help Boss Chu regain face. Its not because of you. The girls face turned pale because of Qiao Yues emotionless words. She was very beautiful and had never been rejected so ruthlessly by a boy. Her eyes quickly welled up with tears that were about to fall. Qiao Yue was most afraid of girls crying and she had to coax them. She quickly said, I still have things to do. If theres nothing else, Ill take my leave. After saying that, Qiao Yue turned to leave, without giving the girl a chance to speak. But he heard the girl shouting behind him, Mr. Qiao, Im really grateful for what you have done. Even if you didnt do it for me, you still saved me. I want to express my gratitude to you. Qiao Yues heart was like a herd of alpacas galloping. There was only one thought in her mind, Please dont say it. Just as the girl was about to speak and Qiao Yue ready with an outright rejection, a heavenly voice rang in Qiao Yues ears. Why are you standing here? And not going home? Chapter 45 - A Dog’s Nose

Chapter 45: A Dogs Nose

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Second brother! Qiao Yue shouted in surprise. Qiao Jing raised his eyebrows at Qiao Yues delight to see him. Where did you gost night? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yue nced at the beautiful girl who was on the verge of tears and quickly pulled Qiao Jing along. Why are you walking so fast? Qiao Jings gaze fell on Qiao Yues hand that was holding his arm. If we dont hurry up and let her catch up, Ill get a love confession. Qiao Yue muttered under her breath. But she couldnt tell Qiao Jing that, so she changed the subject. Second brother, I thought you have left. Why are you here? Not going to work? Qiao Yue let go of Qiao Jings arm and walked out of the club with him. Its after hours, said Qiao Jing. Only then did Qiao Yue realized that it was already past six o clock. She scratched her head in embarrassment and smiled as she said, Its already sote. Lets hurry home for dinner. It was not until they got into the car when Qiao Jing finally asked the question that had bothering him since he woke up. Where did you gost night? Qiao Yue paused in the middle of fastening her seat belt, thinking about how she should answer Qiao Jings question. In her mind, she wasnt that close with Qiao Jing; she thought that perhaps he wouldnt ask her why shed disappeared. But things were obviously different from what she expected. But what answer did Qiao Jing want from her? It seemed like she didnt need to say much. Nowhere in particr. I just went out with my friend. Qiao Yue answered with fake indifference. Qiao Jing blinked while his assistant peeked at the two of them through the rearview mirror. This morning when Master Jing noticed that Master Yue was missing, he thought that he had gone to school and called his phone, but all he got was a cold female voice. The number you have dialed is temporarily unavable He then called home but there was no news of Master Yue returning home either. Master Jing was a very responsible man. He was the one who brought Master Yue home, so when Master Yue went missing, he had to find him. But he saw no sign of Master Yue after checking the ces he frequented. Then, there was an emergency at the office and Master Jing had no choice but to go back to the office. And he, Master Jings assistant, was tasked with finding Master Yue. He thought that it would be an easy task. After all, the less information there was about someone, the easier it was to find them. However, after looking through Master Yues file, he found that something was wrong. His inter-personal rtionships were uplicated, and he had a small social circle. After searching through the ces that Master Yue frequented, he still hadnt found him. He was clueless even after Master Jing finished work. He only came back to Yayi Club on Master Jings suggestion. He didnt expect that they would run into Master Yue here. Which friend? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yue didnt expect Qiao Jing to ask such a detailed question and was stunned for a moment. She hesitated for a moment before saying, Just an ordinary friend. You wouldnt know him even if I told you. How would I know if you dont tell me? Qiao Jings words confused Qiao Yue. Did Qiao Jing take the wrong medication today? Why did he ask in such detail? Its not like he was conducting a background check. Qiao Yue tried to gloss it over. Second brother, Im already so old. You cant always control me. I have the right to keep my own secrets, right? Seeing Qiao Yues clear refusal, Qiao Jing didnt push further. He just looked deeply at Qiao Yue. Feeling awkward from being stared at, Qiao Yue opened her mouth and said, Second brother, why are you staring at me like that? I just went out with my friend. You dont have to be angry! Qiao Jing didnt answer Qiao Yues question. Instead, he said, You smell like blood. In an instant, everything was silent. Qiao Yues forehead twitched. She was right before. Her second brother had a dogs nose! The wound on her shoulder had been treated very carefully by Zhou Yun. She had made sure that it was dressed wlessly before letting her go home. She did not expect that such a great disguise would be defeated by a dogs nose. The assistant who in the drivers seat perked up his ears. What did he hear? The smell of blood? Had Master Yue sneaked outst night to fight? And he was injured, so there was the smell of blood? The assistant twitched his nose as he thought about it. Why couldnt he smell any blood? Sniff again? The assistant was so focused on sniffing that he didnt notice that he made a sound, which attracted the attention of the two people in the back seat. Chapter 46 - A Heated Argument

Chapter 46: A Heated Argument

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue was thoroughly convinced. Her second brother was such a serious and cold person. Why did he have such a funny assistant? And he was still sniffing? Didnt he notice that the two of them were staring at him? Focus on driving. Qiao Jing said to his assistant to stop him from acting stupid. Yes, Master Jing. As if he was grabbed by the neck, the assistant quickly reverted to his usual appearance. But because of this interruption from the assistant, the two of them did not continue their previous conversation. As soon as they arrived at the Qiao residence, Qiao Yue followed Qiao Jing to the study. She didnt want to, but the look in Qiao Jings eyes told her to follow him. After closing the door to the study, Qiao Jing sat on the sofa, took off his sses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Qiao Yue wanted to massage Qiao Jings temples likest time, but she was stopped by Qiao Jings gaze. It wasnt convenient to say too much in the car just now. Shouldnt you tell me now what you were up tost night? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue sharply. Qiao Yue was taken aback by Qiao Jings stare, and she frowned. She felt close to Qiao Jing because he gave her the feeling of family, but she was not that close to him. Wasnt he being too controlling by questioning her like this? Qiao Yue lowered her eyes to avoid eye contact with Qiao Jing as she sat obediently across from him. But her words werent as obedient. Second brother, you knew from the start that I have a lot of secrets, why ask so much? Qiao Jing thought that Qiao Yue was close to him since he came back to the Qiao residence. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to not give him face by not answering him. Qiao Jings expression turned colder. Qiao Yue, I wont ask you too much about your past, but since youve joined the Qiao family, youre a part of us. Im responsible for your safety. Qiao Jings eyes fell on Qiao Yues bandaged neck as he said this. Qiao Yue felt strange in her heart when she heard Qiao Jings words. It made her feel very ufortable. Ill be responsible for my own safety. There are some things that I hope you wont ask too much about. The Qiao family has not epted me yet, so Im not a part of the family yet. Qiao Jings face was frosty. This was the first time someone defied him in his face. Qiao Yue! Qiao Jings voice suddenly rose two pitches. Qiao Yue raised her head and looked into his eyes. The two of them were like two wild beasts defending their territory from the other partys invasion. Qiao Yue, since you said so, I wont care about you anymore. Dont bring home the troubles you caused outside. Get someone else to help you solve them. Since Qiao Jing had said that, Qiao Yue felt that there was no need to continue the conversation. She gave Qiao Jing a mocking smile and turned to leave. As soon as the door to the study opened, Qiao Yue came face to face with Qiao Jings assistant who was standing outside, about to knock on the door. Qiao Yue nced at him indifferently and left. The assistant outside the door was confused. Werent they fine in the car just now? Why did the two of them fall out within ten minutes of entering the study? After knocking on the door twice, the assistant said, Master Jing, Im here to deliver the documents for the coboration. Enter. Back in her room, Qiao Yue felt irritated everywhere she looked. How worried was Qiao Jing that she would cause trouble for the Qiao family that he had to keep asking? She had foolishly thought that Qiao Jing was on her side in the Qiao family. Once Qiao Yue got angry, she felt the wound on her shoulder hurt even more. No one would get used to pain. Even though she had suffered countless injuries since young and had walked on the edge of life and death many times, she wanted to talk about the pain, but no one let her. Qiao Yue went into the bathroom and took off her clothes. Blood was already leaking out of the bandage. Zhou Yun had told her that if there were any blood stains, she would need to remove the bandage and redress her wound. Zhou Yun had changed the bandage before she left, which by right shouldst her until the next morning. But Qiao Jing had upset her and sped up her blood cirction. Now she had to change the bandage before nightfall, and she couldnt even ask for help. Its indeed troublesome. Just as Qiao Yue pushed open the bathroom door to get the first aid kit, there was a sudden knock on the door. Qiao Yue frowned slightly. Whos looking for her now? Third brother? Fourth brother? Coming. Qiao Yue called out and put on her clothes before opening the door. But she didnt expect the person outside the door at all. Master Yue, can we have a chat? Chapter 47 - Misunderstanding Explained

Chapter 47: Misunderstanding Exined

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue raised her eyebrow looking at the assistant standing outside her door. Why did Quai Jings assistant look for her at this time? Seeing that Qiao Jings assistant seemed to have something to say, Qiao Yue spoke first. Do you want to talk outside or inside? If its convenient, can Master Yue talk outside, please? The assistant said in a gentle voice. Qiao Yue nodded, closed the door, and went downstairs with Qiao Jings assistant. You wanted to talk to me about second brother. Other than Qiao Jing, Qiao Yue couldnt think of anything else that the assistant would want to talk to her about. At seven o clock in the evening, the sun had already set, and the night sky was full of stars. The breeze that wasnt scorched by the sun felt much cooler. Walking on the pebble path beside thewn, Qiao Yue recalled her life in the mountain vige. Those were the precious days when she couldpletely rx. After a day of hard work, the vigers would chat after dinner under the banyan tree at the entrance of the vige. asionally, when she returnedte, she could hear the chatter andughter from afar. Her neighbors at that time knew that she lived alone and would send her home-cooked food from time to time. They took great care of her. Master Yue? The assistants voice interrupted Qiao Yues reminiscence. Qiao Yue replied, Since youve already guessed the reason for the argument I had with second brother, why are you still asking me? She had guessed that the assistant came to her to ask her to give in, apologize to Qiao Jing, and repair her rtionship with Qiao Jing. But she didnt feel that she had done anything wrong, and she didnt want to be too close to the Qiao family. Why would she care if Qiao Jing was angry? The assistant didnt expect Qiao Yue to be so direct. He was stumped and didnt know what to say. After a moment of silence, the assistant said carefully, Master Yue, Master Jing actually cares very much about you. Qiao Yue almostughed out loud when she heard this. Cared about her? Qiao Jing only cared about the reputation of the Qiao family; he had specifically warned her not to cause any trouble. Did Qiao Jing tell you that he cares about me very much? Qiao Yue sneered. Although she asked, she knew that Qiao Jing would never say anything like that. As expected, the assistant shook his head. Qiao Yue chuckled. I think you shouldnt second guess my second brothers feelings. Its good if you guessed correctly, but if you are wrong, arent you just asking for trouble? The young mans nonchnt words entered the assistants ears, making him curious about the speakers expression. From the first time they met, this young man had always been smiling. It was not until today when he quarreled with Master Jing that he saw the young mans thorny face. Perhaps even Master Yue himself did not realize that he was different. I went to Yayi this morning to find Master Jing and saw him calling you on the phone. He called you three times in a row, but you didnt pick up. Upon the assistants reminder, Qiao Yue remembered that she had identally dropped her phone when she was changing carsst night and the phone had been crushed by car wheels. Her current phone was a new one that Zhou Yun had prepared for her, with her SIM card reced. Seeing that Qiao Yue was silent, the assistant added, Master Jing then called the school and found out that you werent there. The assistant paused for a moment before he finished what he wanted to say. Master Yue, you are the first person other than the old master who make Master Jing worry. Qiao Yue was shocked by the assistants words. She had never imagined that she would be so special in Qiao Jings eyes. Suddenly, the anger in her heart dissipated like smoke, but Qiao Yue remained stubborn and retorted, Im afraid youre overthinking. Second brother told me himself that I should not involve the Qiao family if I get into trouble. Why would he care about me? Qiao Yues obvious soft tone made the assistant speechless. These two brothers had barks worse than their bites. Master Yue, you can speak directly with Master Jing about this. I still have some things to deal with and I shall take my leave. The assistant then looked up at Qiao Jings study. Qiao Yue followed his gaze inadvertently and saw the cold-faced man standing by the window. Qiao Jing lowered his head slightly and met Qiao Yues eyes. Qiao Yue was, in fact, a little embarrassed to see Qiao Jing now. She had just thrown a tantrum at him, but in less than two hours, she realized that it was all a misunderstanding. It was really agonizing. Seeing this, the assistant tactfully took his leave, leaving Qiao Yue alone to face the still angry Qiao Jing. Chapter 48 - Gender Revealed?

Chapter 48: Gender Revealed?

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Since their eyes met, Qiao Yue couldnt pretend that she didnt see Qiao Jing. Qiao Jings thin lips opened and closed as he mouthed the words e up to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue sighed in resignation because she was in the wrong. This time, Qiao Yue didnt go to the study but went straight to Qiao Jings bedroom. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Qiao Jing sitting on the single seat sofa waiting for her. Second brother, Qiao Yue called out in a low voice. Qiao Jings face was still gloomy; anyone who had been misunderstood would not be in a good mood. But his anger subsided a little when he heard Qiao Yues low and gentle voice. Qiao Jing asked Qiao Yue to sit across from him as his dark eyes stared at the young man who lowered his head to avoid eye contact. Admit your mistake now? Qiao Jing asked calmly. Qiao Yue pouted with her head lowered so Qiao Jing couldnt see her expression. She muttered under her breath, Its all because of what you said that I misunderstood, thinking that you only cared about the Qiao family and not me. It wasnt that Qiao Yue was unreasonable, but that a person who had been favored would want to hold on tightly to that favoritism. Since Qiao Yue came to the Qiao residence, Qiao Jing had favored her without reason and that made Qiao Yue want to see him as a brother. Although Qiao Yue was mumbling to herself, there were only the two of them in the room. Also, Qiao Jing was always attentive towards her, so how could he not hear what she said? Qiao Jing was annoyed yet amused. Even if Qiao Jing didnt like the infighting within the Qiao family, he was still a member of the Qiao family. Was it wrong for him to care about the Qiao family? What was strange for him was that he cared so much about this younger brother who had just returned home. When Qiao Yue left after their argument, he even thought about sending Qiao Yue back to the mountain vige or moving out himself. Because he realized that Qiao Yues actions stir up his emotions, which was not a good thing for him. As for the reason Qiao Jing gave up on the idea, it was because of the way Qiao Yue looked at him just now. The young man was standing between the starry sky and the grass. His eyes were bright, and his wind-blown white shirt revealed a slender figure. Qiao Jing suddenly recalled the scene of his mother and third aunt scolding Qiao Yue. Second brother, Im sorry. I shouldnt have made you worry. Now that things hade to this, Qiao Yue admitting her mistake showed that shes flexible. Since she learned the truth, she was willing to admit her mistake. Qiao Yue looked up as she was apologizing, and her eyes met Qiao Jings focused gaze. Qiao Jing was stunned for a moment. He turned his head ufortably and coughed. Although Qiao Yue didnt feel anything, in Qiao Jings eyes, her guilty and aggrieved eyes were like those of a puppy afraid of being abandoned by its owner. This made Qiao Jing want to pat her head. Qiao Yues sudden apology made Qiao Jing forget what he wanted to say, so he could only say dryly, Its good that you know youre wrong. The two of them were speechless for a moment, and the room fell into a dead silence. Are your injuries serious? Qiao Jing asked suddenly with a frown. Take off your shirt. Let me see your wound. Qiao Jing said as he got up and walked over to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yues forehead twitched as she subconsciously grabbed her cor, looking like a little girl who was about to be molested. Qiao Jing frowned at the sight. S-second brother, its fine. My injuries arent serious, and I can manage by myself. Qiao Jings frown deepened. Were both men, he replied coldly. Theres no need to be shy. Man, my ass! Qiao Yue cursed madly in her heart. She didnt want to reveal her gender so early. The reason Qiao Jing thought that Qiao Yue was a man was because of a DNA test report that Qiao Yue had tempered with before she returned to the Qiao family. As she had anticipated that the Qiao family would suspect her identity when she came back, she had sent people to watch the Qiao family. When Qiao Jings assistant called the hospital for a DNA test, she had asked Zhou Lan to change her gender to male on the report and with that, she managed to deceive Qiao Jing. She had made so many pre-arrangements, theres no way she would expose herself over such a small matter! Just as Qiao Jing was about to touch her neck, Qiao Yue suddenly stood up, causing a confused look on Qiao Jings face. Brother, Im not used to letting people see my body. Ill take care of the wound myself. Its gettingte. Second brother, you should rest early. Good night. With that, Qiao Yue wriggled away like a slippery eel. She walked to the door, opened it, left, and closed the door, all in one breath. Before Qiao Jing could react, Qiao Yue had already disappeared. Chapter 49 - Genuine Concern

Chapter 49: Genuine Concern

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue didnt hear Qiao Jing say anything until she left, and she couldnt help but let out a sigh of relief. Eh? Xiao Yue? Youre back? As soon as Qiao Yue descended the stairs, she ran into Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu who had just returned home. Third brother, fourth brother. Qiao Yue greeted them and was about to go back upstairs when Qiao Ze rushed up the stairs and put his arm around her shoulders. Where did you go today? Why didnt you tell Qiao Jing? He called us so early in the morning. First, Qiao Yues face turned pale when Qiao Ze touched her wound. And when she heard Qiao Ze say that Qiao Jing had called him to find out her whereabouts, she felt her temples throb. Third brother, did second brother call you too? Qiao Yue endured the pain and spoke as calmly as she could. Yes. Not only did he call me, but he also called Xiao Yu. Its the first time Ive seen him so anxious. Xiao Yue, tell me, did you do something to let the stoic face down? And thats why hes looking for you all over? Qiao Yues face darkened, and she removed Qiao Zes hand from her shoulders. What could I have done? Second brother was looking for me only because hes worried about me. Although she had heard from the assistant that Qiao Jing had been looking for her everywhere, she didnt expect him to go to this extent. If he was worried that she would cause trouble for the Qiao family, he would have been more than happy that she was gone. Qiao Yue was still thinking when Qiao Ze unexpectedly put his hand around her shoulders again, hurting her causing her pain yet again. Xiao Yue, dont talk nonsense in broad daylight. What else would he be worried about other than his own interests? Qiao Ze said in disdain. Qiao Yue turned to look at Qiao Ze. Since she first met Qiao Ze, he had been very hostile to Qiao Jing. She didnt know why there was such deep hatred between these two brothers. Qiao Yue was still wondering about this when the weight on her shoulder suddenly lightened. Brother, dont crush him. Qiao Yu couldnt be med for saying that. Qiao Yues height of 173 cm was considered tall among girls, but it was nothing among boys. Especially in a family like the Qiao family, where the average height of the male members was above 185 cm. She looked very petite next to the Qiao men. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief after being rescued by Qiao Yu. She wasnt used to being held so close to someone all of a sudden. Qiao Ze rolled his eyes unhappily at Qiao Yu. He had quite a few younger siblings, but other than Qiao Yue, he had no one else to hug. But he was stopped by his own younger brother. So, Xiao Yue, where did you go today? We couldnt find you anywhere. Qiao Ze asked again. Nowhere in particr. I just went out with my friend. Qiao Yue cited the same reason as before. Qiao Ze was surprised. Xiao Yue, you have friends here? Thats strange. Introduce us one of these days. Yes, sure. When we have time. Qiao Yue really didnt want to continue giving Qiao Ze perfunctory answers, but when she turned her head, she saw Qiao Yus inquisitive eyes. Obviously, he, like Qiao Jing, wouldnt be easily deceived by her. Qiao Yue thought to herself that among the Qiao brothers, Qiao Ze was the most attractive. His dreamy eyes made him look like a handsome devil who had descended on earth. But she soon realized that he was the one who lived the simplest life and did not worry much. Qiao Zes tone changed as he changed the subject, Xiao Yue, are you going back to your room to do something? Qiao Yue thought for a moment. Stone and the rest of the team were more or less injured in this operation, and Trands side probably wouldnt make another move so soon. There shouldnt be any incidents tonight, so she shook her head. Thats good. If you are free,e watch mytest movie with me tonight. As soon as Qiao Ze opened his mouth, Qiao Yue wanted to retract her earlier answer. She could count with one hand the number of times she had watched a movie in her 18 years. It wasnt that she didnt watch movies on purposes. Firstly, she didnt have the time. Secondly, some movies had really stupid plots. She remembered that once, Chu Jia dragged her to watch a new year blockbuster starring her most recent favorite star, in the name of showing support. And what was the result? Qiao Yue slept through the movie, and Chu Jia turned from a fan to a hater after the movie, which also made her afraid. However, before Qiao Yue could refuse, Qiao Ze turned to look at Qiao Yu. You too, dont even think about running. Qiao Zes timing was impable, saying this just as Qiao Yu was about to slip away. Chapter 50 - Qiao Ze’s Movie

Chapter 50: Qiao Zes Movie

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yu turned to face the two, his usual gentle expression was reced by a look as if he had nothing left to live for. Brother, my dear brother, please spare me! You little brat! Xiao Yue didnt even say anything! And you are ruining my n. Qiao Ze took a few steps forward and rapped Qiao Yu on the head. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with bitterness. For some reason, Qiao Yue actually understood what he meant. He was basically saying Dont drag me along if you want to die. When Qiao Yue saw Qiao Yus reaction, her curiosity was piqued. Was Qiao Zes movie that bad? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows and smirked. Come on, fourth brother, lets watch it together! Itll be more fun with more people. Qiao Yus eyes widened as he looked at Qiao Yue. Didnt he know this kids personality? How could he like that kind of romantic movie? It was obvious that Qiao Yue wanted to see him make a fool of himself. Qiao Yues smile was harmless, but her heart was racing. If she watched the movie alone with Qiao Ze, she wouldnt be able to escape even if she wanted to. Qiao Yue is right. Its more fun to watch movies with more people. Qiao Ze nodded in agreement. Then you should also invite second brother, Qiao Xin, and Qiao Ying! Xiao Yue, why dont youe with me to my room now? Qiao Ze faced Qiao Yue, ignoring Qiao Yupletely. Qiao Yu tutted and mumbled, Youre always picking on the weak. Qiao Yue saw that Qiao Ze was ready to pull her to his room the moment she nodded. She quickly shook her head and said, Third brother, let me go back to my room to wash up. If we watch the movie tillte, Ill sleep in your room. That was what she said, but how could Qiao Yue spend the night with him? She just wanted to put Qiao Ze at ease. Okay. Quickly wash up ande. At Qiao Yus angry gaze, Qiao Yue threw him a look that said good luck to you and quickly sneaked back to her room. She had noticed that Qiao Yu had been staring at her shoulder, so he must have noticed that something was wrong. Qiao Yue went into her bathroom and removed the gauze that was already soaked in blood. A scar as long as her finger appeared in sight. She took off her shirt and sleeveless undershirt, a body full of scars appeared in the mirror. To a normal girl, such a body was ugly, but to Qiao Yue, these scars were proof that she had lived through years of suffering. She cleaned blood off her wound with saline, and then applied an ointment to stop the bleeding. Finally, she wrapped the wound with gauze. Because she had suffered many injuries, she was very skilled in treating wounds and finished changing her dressing in less than 20 minutes. As Qiao Yue finished putting on her clothes, she heard a knock on the door. Qiao Yue was ready to ridicule Qiao Ze, but she didnt expect to see Qiao Yu when she opened the door. Qiao Yus smile was gentle, but his gaze on her was sinister. Fifth brother, are you done washing up? Its movie time. Qiao Yus every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. Qiao Yue cleared her throat and said tentatively, Im done. lets go! There is a room at the Qiao residence dedicated to watching movies. Qiao Ze had asked for the room to be tidied up and stocked with drinks, tea, and snacks. A big screen that covered half a wall and the dim lights made the ce look like a theater. When Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue arrived, Qiao Ze was already waiting for them in the room. Qiao Ze patted the seat next to him, motioning for Qiao Yue to sit. What kind of movie is third brother in? Qiao Yue asked as she walked to Qiao Ze and took the popcorn he offered. A Story Sadder Than Sadness, Qiao Yu said before Qiao Ze could speak. What? Qiao Yues mind was filled with question marks when she heard this. The title of the movie Brother Ze acted in. Qiao Yu then sat down on a single seat sofa and yawned. A romance movie? Qiao Yue asked unsurely. The movie title was cryptic. Yes, you may not pay much attention to the entertainment industry, but our Brother Ze is metaphysical. His TV series and foreign blockbusters are all excellent, and his acting skills have been praised countless times. But every movie he makes in China is bad, without exception. Qiao Yu picked up a piece of preserved fruit and threw it into his mouth and chewed slowly. It was probably because of the dark environment and the people he was familiar with, that Qiao Yu didnt weld a mask on his face like he usually did. Talking too much. Watch the movie. Qiao Yu cried out in pain after being hit by Qiao Zes apple, but he quieted down when the movie started. Chapter 51 - A Somniferous Movie

Chapter 51: A Somniferous Movie

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

An hour into the movie, Qiao Yue felt that the saddest thing was that she couldnt go to sleep even when watching such a somniferous movie. Hearing Qiao Yus snoring, Qiao Yue also wanted to yawn but she didnt want to go too far since Qiao Ze was so focused. Go to sleep if youre tired, said Qiao Ze suddenly. You dont have to keep mepany. Qiao Ze touched Qiao Yues head gently. His hand was big and warm, and his touch made Qiao Yue feel at ease. Qiao Yue turned to look at Qiao Ze. It was said that men who were focused were the most attractive. As expected, the current Qiao Ze made Qiao Yue forget how he usually looked. Whats wrong? Qiao Ze asked when Qiao Yue didnt answer. Qiao Zes voice was a little deeper and hoarser than usual, like notes from a cello flowing through the air. It was a pleasure to listen to him speak. Third brother, youll take on all kinds of movies? It had to be said that uncultured people like Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu couldnt appreciate arthouse films. Qiao Yu fell into a deep sleep less than half an hour into the movie, but Qiao Yue forced herself to watch it with Qiao Ze for an hour, which was all that she could bear. At first, she was curious about what was sadder than sadness. But now, she felt like she was at the verge of a breakdown. To sum it up, the sad story in this movie was about the protagonists tough life, death of family, the male protagonists terminal illness, the female protagonists car ident, the male protagonist finding a husband for the female protagonist, and the female protagonist getting engaged to someone else for his sake even when she was unwilling. At the wedding, the female protagonist suddenly realized that she wanted to be with the male protagonist until hisst moment, so she resolutely became a runaway-bride. Qiao Yue expressed that she didnt get the logic. What bad things did the male protagonist do in his previous life to have met these two people? Qiao Ze chuckled. Not really. Its just a contract. A contract? With Qiao Zes status, he wouldnt care about contracting with apany, right? Although Qiao Yue didnt understand, she still replied with an oh. KA owned two entertainmentpanies, but Qiao Yue was never interested in this field, so she left thesepanies in the hands of her subordinates. After thinking for a moment, Qiao Yue said tentatively, Brother, I dont think you should take on such movies anymore. They are a bit Just as Qiao Yue was constructing her sentence, Qiao Ze finished her sentence. Not portraying the right values? Qiao Yue didnt say it directly out of consideration for Qiao Zes face, but Qiao Ze said it himself. Qiao Yue nodded awkwardly. In fact, the reason Qiao Ze did not reject thepanys request to shoot this movie was to repay the kindness of his manager when he ran away from home during his rebellious time and met him under a different name. Secondly, many of the female leads and supporting actresses in the movies he made in China invested in those movies to get close to him. He could get a lot of information about other families from these people. The room quieted down, and after a moment, Qiao Zeughed and said, Xiao Yue doesnt like me acting in this kind of movie? Actually, it wasnt a case of like or dislike. Qiao Yue just felt that this kind of movies would make people stupid. With Qiao Zes influence, if young kids believed in this kind of plot, it would affect the next generation. In order to stop Qiao Ze from making such movies, Qiao Yue expressed her thoughts directly, The logic doesnt make sense, the backstory is weak and the feelings between the protagonists are inexplicable. They want an earth-shattering love but expect the other person to give. They readily ept others sympathy but still hurt the people around them. I dont understand. And until now I cant figure out what the movie is trying to convey to the audience. Qiao Yues serious analysis almost made Qiao Ze spit out the soda in his mouth. His fifth brother was really not suited for arthouse films. To put it bluntly, what was the purpose of a romance genre arthouse film? Its just three words C love above all. In the face of love, family, friends, courtesy, honor, shame, morality, and ethics were all ranked after love. If Qiao Yues analysis was true, almost 90% of the arthouse films would be thrown into the garbage can. Qiao Ze wiped his mouth with a tissue and cleared his throat. You cant watch movies with your brain. Chapter 52 - One-on-one

Chapter 52: One-on-one

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue gave Qiao Ze a strange look and asked sincerely, Why are you still so serious when youre not watching with your brain? I was just watching Qiao Ze stopped mid-sentence and paused before changing the subject. Since you dont like it, I wont make them anymore. Ive more or less repaid thepanys favor. Qiao Yue hummed in agreement and yawned again with tears in her eyes. Seeing that Qiao Yue was really sleepy, Qiao Ze urged her to go back to her room and sleep. Its fine. Its almost over anyway. Ill watch with you till the end. Qiao Yue said listlessly. It was Qiao Ze who did not agree this time. He threatened, Go back and sleep. If you dont, Ill carry you back. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes at Qiao Ze. He was the one who dragged her to watch a movie and now the one who urged her to sleep. She just couldnt figure men out. The next day, as soon as Qiao Yue arrived at school, she noticed that there was something else on her desk besides a pile of gifts. It was the test papers from her previous test. Qiao Yue flipped through the paper. Other than the multiple-choice questions, there was basically nothing written on it. It was as if it was new. Yo! As expected of someone who transferred school halfway, skipping sses as he liked without even saying a word. I really dont know how he got into Harvey. A mocking male voice rang from the other side of the ssroom. Qiao Yue raised her eyes indifferently and looked in the direction of the voice. It was still the boy many admired and called Brother Sun. People who could still be admired in this kind of noble academy were more or less from families with real power. It was probably this bit of power that gave him the courage to provoke others at will. Qiao Yue chuckled and ignored him. She took out the milk that Qiao Yu forced on her this morning and started drinking it. Qiao Yu said it was to replenish Qiao Yues energy, but in reality, he felt that she was too short and wanted her to grow taller. Brother Sun is right. Some people have neither good grades nor special talent. Other than their pretty faces, theyre trash. The fact that Harvey epted such a student really lowers our standard. The most infuriating thing is that there are so many girls who like him. What kind of taste do these girls have? The boys words didnt do anything to Qiao Yue, but they immediately attracted murderous gazes from the girls. How many girls who attended Harvey were not princesses in their families? How could they allow others to mock them like this? It was true that they didnt have much contact with Qiao Yue and only liked his face, but so what if they were shallow? Even if they had to support Qiao Yue, they could very well afford it. Huh! How much sour grapes did you eat to say such sour words? A girl with long, straight ck hair retorted. The curly-haired girl next her chimed in with a mocking smile, Having a good face is also a skill. Others cant be envious of it. Besides, no matter what, he doesnt gossip. A man like you nagged and gossiped all day long without the guts to name anyone. Huh! Thats not disgusting at all. The boys face turned red after being ridiculed by the two beauties, and he kept saying how shallow they were. In the end, the boy looked to Brother Sun for help, hoping that he would help him get back at them. Who knew that Brother Suns face had also turned red? The boy followed Brother Suns gaze and saw the ss goddess, Sun Xiaozheng, talking to people around her and frowning at Brother Sun from time to time. Probably because his goddess had seen through his anger, Brother Sun felt a wave of anger rush to his brain. He instantly lost his mind and walked straight in Qiao Yues direction. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue was rocking her chair and drinking milk. She was engrossed in reading and did not notice that the mes of war had spread to her. Suddenly, the light in front of Qiao Yue dimmed and the boy was standing in front of her. With a bang, the boy pped both hands on Qiao Yues desk. Hey! Good-for-nothing, lets fight one-on-one. Qiao Yues hand that was holding the milk packet suddenly tightened, and she almost choked. After coughing twice, Qiao Yue looked up, dug her ears and said, What did you say? Say it again. I didnt hear you clearly. Chapter 53 - The Tigress

Chapter 53: The Tigress

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

mes of anger rushed to Brother Suns head as he watched Qiao Yues reaction. He shouted, I said, lets fight one-on-one, you piece of trash! Before this, their voices werent that loud, but with this shout, the entire ss heard Brother Sun. The ssroom fell silent instantly, and everyones eyes were on Qiao Yue and Brother Sun. Qiao Yue smiled and looked at the Sun boy. Brother, if youre sick, go and seek treatment. Im not responsible for treating mental illnesses. Youre the one whos f*cking sick in the head. Just tell me, do you dare to fight me one-on-one? Whoever loses will drop out of school. The boy continued to roar at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yues eyes mocked the Sun boy. You speak as if you dont have to drop out of school if you win. Do you think the school rules are just for show? Brother, dont drag me down with you if you want to die. You! Sun Bins eyes widened in anger, as if they were about to breathe fire. His face was being stepped on and rubbed against the ground. Sun Bin didnt care that he was in the ssroom and went on to flip Qiao Yues desk. Sun Bins heart skipped a beat when the desk didnt budge. He tried to flip it again with all his might, but the desk didnt move at all, as if it was welded to the ground. Sun Bin immediately looked up at Qiao Yue, only to see that the smile on his face had disappeared, and he was only looking at him coldly. Suddenly, the school bell rang. It was as if someone had pressed the pause button in the ssroom. In the next second, everyone who had nothing to do with the matter quickly returned to their seats, leaving only Sun Bin and Qiao Yue in their confrontation. Brother Sun,e back quickly. Its the tigress ss now. Be careful that shell demerit your points. Sun Bins expression changed when he heard this. He quickly returned to his seat after telling Qiao Yue to meet him at the field after ss. Qiao Yue nonchntly retracted her feet from her desk and continued reading. As the ssroom door was pushed open, the ssroom became quieter. Qiao Yues curiosity was piqued by her ssmates attitude, and she stuck her head out of the pile of gifts on her desk. Who knew that she would be called the moment she stuck her head out? The student with a pile of things on his desk, please stand up. Qiao Yue couldnt pretend she didnt hear the teacher since she had made it so clear. She could only stand up helplessly. As their eyes met, Qiao Yue saw the shock in the other partys eyes turn into disdain, and she suddenly felt like she had lost all hope in life. What was a social death? She was at the first scene of her social death. The other students were either worried about Qiao Yue or were there to watch her being humiliated. No one had expected the tigress to give Qiao Yue a few nces before she cleared her throat and asked Qiao Yue to sit. In future, dont put anything unrted to your studies on your desk, said the person on the podium as she pushed up her sses. Yes, teacher. Qiao Yue answered with her head lowered. Although their question and answer were normal, the tigress behavior was strange in the eyes of the other students. She didnt even reprimand Qiao Yue? It was too abnormal! The ss was extremely torturous for Qiao Yue. Every time she looked up, she would meet the gaze of the person on the podium. She could guess what this person was thinking. When the two of them were doing research together, this person had asked her why she didnt stay in school for a few more years and experience campus life. She didnt know what she was thinking at that time, but she said, How can I experience life with those idiots? Because of this, she was made fun of by the people in the organization for a long time, and now shes experiencing another social death. Qiao Yue bent down and rubbed her tight chest. She just wanted to find a hole to hide in. As soon as the school bell rang, Qiao Yue wanted to sneak out, but she was called by the person on the podium. Qiao Yue,e with me to the office. Under the sympathetic or gloating gazes of many students, Qiao Yue followed the tigress. Perhaps it was because the tigress was very famous in school, the two of them were surrounded by people on the way. It was only after they left the ssroom building that the gazes on them lessened. How can I experience life with those idiots? The familiar words drifted into Qiao Yues ears and almost tore her head open. Did she have to hurt her like this? Qiao Yue looked helplessly at the person beside her. Tigress, is it meaningful to hurt each other? She had thought that this nickname would at least make this person restrain herself, but it didnt hurt at all. Instead, the mockery in the tigress eyes deepened. You brat, you actually came back to school. Should I go and have a good chat with them? Chapter 54 - The Four Great Instincts

Chapter 54: The Four Great Instincts

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Sister Lin, keep to your researcher character and dont gossip. Seeing that she failed to threaten the tigress, Qiao Yue could only change her strategy. Gossip is the fourth instinct of human beings. It propagates human consciousness, and it doesnt break any character setting. The fourth instinct? What are the first three? Qiao Yue asked helplessly. She had never heard of any great instinct. The first is intuition, which y a huge part in our development and is hard to replicate. The second is conformity. Human beings are social animals and need to live together. Only by pursuing consensus can we continue to develop. The third is fear of death. We understand our own existence through the death of ourpanions and find a way to survive. Qiao Yue was stunned by Sister Lins words. She couldnt help but ask, Sister Lin, youre researching this thing? Im not studying it. Sister Lin answered readily. Then how do you know? Sister Lins words made Qiao Yue even more confused. Web browser. The modern way of searching the inte is highly valuable. Qiao Yues forehead twitched as she met Sister Lins teasing gaze. She hadnt seen Sister Lin for so long and she was still so mischievous. Qiao Yue couldnt figure out how she was nicknamed the tigress at school. Why did you suddenly return to school? Did you miss school life? Sister Lin asked as the two of them walked side by side around the field. Not really. Its just that Qiao Jing wanted to send me to school, and I didnt have a reason to reject him, so here I am. Sister Lin chuckled. Its easy for you, but its hard for the people at KA! Qiao Yue alsoughed out loud when she thought of theints in the chat group. KA was a smallpany under godfather that was on the verge of bankruptcy. He handed thepany to her in the name of testing her ability not long after she got his approval. However, godfather probably didnt care much about it at the time because he never asked her about it again after he handed her thepany. Therefore, it was Qiao Yue who had been nning KAs development all this while. In the early days, Qiao Yue was running between KA and the organization, and slept for at most five hours a day. It was not until she met a professional manager in a smallpany that she was released from this high-intensity work. The professional manager she met was named Chen Qing. He graduated from a renowned university with a major in business administration. It wasnt difficult for him to find a job with his qualifications, but he settled down in a smallpany after two years of hard work. At that time, KA had just started expanding its domestic business, and thepanies that approached them for coboration were notrge. Thepany that employed Chen Qing was picked out by Qiao Yue from a bunch of smallpanies, and that was how the two of them met. Chen Qing gave Qiao Yue the feeling that he was a man of great talent but failed to reach his potential. He was very far-sighted and had the drive to act. However, his progressive thinking was not useful in a smallpany. She heard that he was transferred from his position after speaking twice at thepanys big meetings and was gradually marginalized by thepany. She poached Chen Qing with the mindset of experimentation, but she didnt expect to find a treasure. For example, Chen Qing was the first to discover business opportunities in the entertainment and dining industries. He then moved the business from offline to online, entering the live streaming industry. She was able to fulfil her mothersst wish now because Chen Qing was here. She had the confidence to leave the business in his hands. Im giving them the chance to show off their skills. They should be happy. Qiao Yues tone wasnt without a hint of ridicule. They couldnt just ask her about everything, right? They also had to work at things themselves. Sister Lin tutted and said, I heard from the organization that you were injured on a mission with Chu Jia and the others. How is it? Is it serious? Its not serious. Ill be fine after a few days of rest. I just dont know if godfather will be angry with the failed assassination. Qiao Yue sighed as she spoke. Godfathersck of questioning and scolding made her uneasy. Didnt you hear that godfather went to B-Country recently? Sister Lin asked. B-Country? Qiao Yue frowned and asked. Not long after you left, godfather also left. Sister Lin was surprised, and she mumbled, Its weird that godfather didnt tell you. Its not weird. Godfather has his own things to do. He wouldnt tell me everything. Qiao Yue replied casually. Chapter 55 - Modern-day Gossiping

Chapter 55: Modern-day Gossiping

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Just as Sister Lin was about to ask more questions, the school bell rang and interrupted their conversation. Qiao Yue had ss to attend, so Sister Lin didnt keep her. When the ss saw Qiao Yuee back, they were all curious if the tigress had scolded him. But the bell had already sounded, so they could only leave their questions until after ss. Just when Qiao Yue thought that she could nap peacefully after the matter, a set of photos was posted on the school forum and became a trending thread in less than two minutes. People! Does anyone know whats going on between the transfer student and the tigress? Expanding on the post revealed a series of photos shot secretly by students, showing Qiao Yue and the tigress walking side by side on the field. The intimidating tigress, who was usually straight-faced, made people forget that she was only 1.62 meters tall. She looked like a petite girlfriend walking next to Qiao Yue. If one ignored the tigresss age and clothing, the two of them looked like an ordinary young couple on campus. Is that the tigress? You dont say. I didnt even notice it when I saw the first picture. Previousment +1, I couldnt tell from the first picture either. Is the tigress so short? I always thought she was 1.7 meters tall! Also, how tall is the tigress? You guys are off topic! Didnt you read the question the original poster asked? Im also curious! What is the rtionship between the tigress and the transfer student? Ive never seen such a gentle side of the tigress. Right, right, right. Can students from the same ss as the transfer student exin, please? Whats the rtionship between the transfer student and the tigress? Raised hand emoji. Im Qiao Yues ssmate, but I also dont know whats going on. The tigress saw clutter on Qiao Yues desk and asked him to clear his desk without saying much. After ss, the tigress asked Qiao Yue to leave with her. All of us thought that Qiao Yue would be reprimanded, but who knew that he came back looking fine. As soon as the paragraph was refreshed, a row of question marks appeared on the screen. Obviously, it was amazing to be able to survive the tigress. At this moment, the original postermented. The tigress seemed to be in a good mood when I saw her just now. Could it be that she and the transfer student Following the original postersment, the audience went into a frenzy of wild guesses. I also saw the tigress kind face Did the previousmenter learned Chinese from the P.E teacher? Kind? Why dont you just praise her to the heavens? The conversation between the two was like a cross talk, and it amused the people whomented after, until someone remembered what they were discussing. Could the tigress and the transfer student be in that kind of rtionship? No way! The age gap is too big! With this random guess, the nextments went off track. Some said that she was Qiao Yues sister, some said that the tigress was Qiao Yues private tutor, and some even said that Qiao Yue was the tigresss lover before he was brought back to the Qiao family. Until onement appeared, which instantly stopped all conjectures. Jiang Chao from year three ss six of the journalism school, pleasee to the office after ss. The students who were browsing the forum were still in the mood for gossip, but when they saw the profile picture of the person who posted thement, they instantly turned off their phones. What did they just see? The tigress! The tigress herself had joined the battle! It was too terrifying! Some of the students who didnt believe it felt that it was a prank. They were instantly dumbfounded when they clicked into thementers information page. It was really the person in question who had joined the discussion. The discussion thread disappeared within the minute, quicker than how it became a trending topic. The ssroom, which was initially filled with the teachers voice, suddenly filled with a wave of gasps. Many students turned their heads at the same time and saw the fear in the others eyes. The original poster who was in the same ss as Qiao Yue was on the verge of tears. Why was he so nosy? Why did he reply? Qiao Yue napped in peace and rode through this storm in a teacup. As for what happened to the other student after that, there was no need to say more! It was probably because of this incident that Qiao Yue didnt get into more trouble for the rest of the day. Instead, her ssmates peeked at her somewhat fearfully. Chapter 56 - Drop the Idea

Chapter 56: Drop the Idea

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Just as expected by Qiao Yue, everyone in the organization knew about what she said after Sister Lin found out. Only a few people knew before this, and no one had thought about her past mistakes. Now, everyone knew, especially with Sister Lins publicity. Qiao Yue felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown. She had just finished school when she received a barrage of text messages. Some who were close to her resent her previous messages. More than one person did that, causing the flood of messages on her phone. Qiao Yue opened the group chat with a helpless look. You guys are very free? Yo! Our young master who has gone missing has finally appeared! Its a one in a million urrence! What are you going to talk to us idiots about? The moment Qiao Yue responded, many people who were secretly having fun joined in. Haha! Xiao Yues adolescence is perpetual. More and more messages appeared on the group chat. Qiao Yue wanted to go back to the headquarters and kick these people to the sky. No one is watching you guys now that godfather is away? Qiao Yue had one hand in her pocket and typed with the other. She wasnt in a hurry anyway, so she was prepared to go home after chatting. Hey! Good-for-nothing, youre quite self-aware. You knew youd be beaten up, but you didnt run away. Qiao Yue recognized the voice without having to look up. Was this person not done with her? Talking to such an abnormal person could easily lower ones IQ, so Qiao Yue turned and left without even looking up. Who would have thought that this persons brain had gone haywire that he started to follow her? Seeing that Sun Bin and hisckeys were about to leave the ssroom with her, Qiao Yue stopped and asked expressionlessly, Whats the matter? Sun Bin was stunned. Was Qiao Yue not going to let him follow him out to fight one-on-one? Im going home. Are youing with me? Qiao Yue asked. After hearing this, Sun Bin realized that he had been tricked by Qiao Yue and became even more furious. Im telling you! Youll have to fight me today even if you dont want to. This time, Sun Bin didnt give Qiao Yue a chance to speak and directly punched at his face. Qiao Yue dodged sideways and blocked Sun Bins fist with one hand. Everyone in the ssroom was shocked by this sudden turn of events, even Sun Binsckeys. Because of the school rules, their n was to wait for Qiao Yue to leave school and then trick him into a small alley before they beat him up. They had even decided on the ce, but who knew that Sun Bin would attack him ahead of time? Qiao Yue remained expressionless as she replied, If you want to drop out of school, go find the teacher yourself. Dont cause trouble for me for no reason. You piece of trash! I cant let someone like you sully Harveys reputation even if they expelled me. Sun Bin didnt forget to look at his goddess as he said this. Perhaps in his mind, he was the embodiment of justice. Sun Bins underhanded moves naturally didnt escape Qiao Yues eyes. After repeated provocations from Sun Bin, even a person made of y would be enraged. Hence, Qiao Yue exposed the secret that Sun Bin had hidden in his heart. If you like a girl, you should just go after her. If you have no guts to go after her and cause trouble for her friend instead, youre a coward. Qiao Yue was smiling when she said this, but her eyes were cold. She was not doing this to help Sun Bin rify his intentions, but to force him to drop the idea. As soon as he saw that Qiao Yue knew his secret, Sun Bin became angrier out of embarrassment. He punched at Qiao Yue even more fiercely. Qiao Yue pressed him down on the table with ease and waved at Xiaoxiao, who was hiding behind her friend in fear. Beauty, can youe over for a moment? Qiao Yue said as she gave the girl a gentle smile. The girl named Xiaoxiao was fond of Qiao Yue. When she saw that Qiao Yue seemed to be calling her, she couldnt help but ask boldly, Qiao Yue, are you calling me? Yes. Qiao Yue nodded. The girl saw Sun Bins expression and was a little scared, but she still walked over with her friend. When Sun Bin, who was being held down by Qiao Yue on a desk, saw the girl walk over, he couldnt help but struggle with all his might. He was so strong that Qiao Yue almost couldnt hold him down. Qiao Yue couldnt help but sigh. Men really cared about their face in front of the person they fancied. Qiao Yue, why did you call me over? The girl asked Qiao Yue. Chapter 57 - Not a Good Person

Chapter 57: Not a Good Person

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue didnt beat around the bush and said directly, Beauty, this person likes you, so he often finds trouble with me. I like to solve problems once and for all. Since this is his cause, then beauty, give him an answer! Let me do everyone this favor. Qiao Yues smile was gentle, but in the eyes of some people, it was demonic. Her words were even more like a demons curse. The girls eyes widened in surprise. She didnt understand how Qiao Yue could do this to her. She had just given him cookies a few days ago and he had said such gentle words to her. But in the blink of an eye, he had put her on the spot. The girl stepped back subconsciously but was held by her friend. Her friend threw Qiao Yue a disapproving look. She wanted to say something but was frozen by Qiao Yues gaze. Qiao Yue, mumbled the girl. Her beautiful eyes lost focus as she looked at Qiao Yue. One could imagine how hard Qiao Yues actions had hit the girl. Qiao Yue didnt give the girl a chance to escape as she continued, Im sorry to put you in such a difficult position, but his behavior has really harassed me. I dont want to be expelled because I couldnt hold back my anger, so please, can you help me? The girl looked at Qiao Yue helplessly. Qiao Yues exquisite features were reflected in the girls eyes, his smile as gentle as before. A momentter, the girls eyes turned from confusion to determination. Her gaze moved from Qiao Yue to Sun Bin. Im sorry, but I dont like you. Please dont hurt others for my sake in future. Sun Bin stopped struggling the moment the girl spoke. The fire in his eyes gradually extinguished, reced by a nk stare. Even so, Sun Bin still wanted to preserve thest bit of his dignity, so he said firmly, I didnt do it for you. I just felt that it was a shame for Harvey to have such a student, so I want him to drop out of school. This time, the girl didnt look at Qiao Yue but at Sun Bin. I dont care why youre doing this. I just want to make my feelings clear. Thank you for your admiration, but I dont need any admiration that is built on someone elses pain. Please dont pin such a crime on me. I dont deserve it. The girl looked at Qiao Yue when she said herst sentence, which made Qiao Yue raise her eyebrows. She suddenly felt that she had gone a little too far this time. The girl turned around and left after she finished speaking, but Sun Bin suddenly asked her to stop. Do you like Qiao Yue? The girl didnt even turn her head. With her back to both, she replied firmly, No, I dont. The girl then left the ssroom without hesitation. The ssroom was silent as everyone reminisced about the drama they had just witnessed. Brother, youve heard her answer. Take care of yourself! Qiao Yue released Sun Bin and said in a mocking tone. Qiao Yue admitted that she wasnt a good person. Since she already embarrassed Sun Bin, if she didnt add insult to injury now, should she beforting him like a saint? Therefore, when Qiao Yue walked past Sun Bin, she said deliberately in a low voice that only both of them could hear, If you want to win the heart of a beauty in future, dont do such childish things. No matter how you pick on me, others will only see one word for you: stupidity. Qiao Yue then left the ssroom. She even heard the sound of Sun Bins knuckles cracking as she walked out. Young man! You must experience some things in order to grow up! Just as she walked out of the ssroom, Qiao Yue received a call from Chu Jia. Boss, why are you picking up only now? Something happened. Whats the matter? Qiao Yue asked. Its about what you asked mest time. YQ found something and asked me to let you know. Asked her? Qiao Yue frowned slightly. Did she ask Chu Jia to do something? As if she sensed Qiao Yues forgetfulness, Chu Jia added, Its the matter about your mother. You asked us to investigate her. After Chu Jia finished speaking, Qiao Yue remembered that she had indeed said something to that effect. But she had only mentioned it in passing. After all, all her mother told her before she passed away was to take care of her father on her behalf. So, although Qiao Yue had her suspicions, she felt that she was just overthinking. Unexpectedly, YQ had discovered something. Chapter 58 - A Bad Guy

Chapter 58: A Bad Guy

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

What did you find out? Qiao Yue asked. Boss, I dont think I can exin it clearly over the phone. You should go home and check your email. YQ has already emailed you the information. Alright, replied Qiao Yue. Xiao Yue? A voice suddenly rang from behind Qiao Yue, causing her to quickly end the call. Fourth brother. Qiao Yue turned around to face the person. What are you doing here? Why arent you going home? Qiao Yu asked, puzzled. I was just about to go home. Why are you sote, fourth brother? Qiao Yue changed the subject subtly. Qiao Yu nced at Qiao Yues phone and said, We had a student union meeting to discuss work arrangements for an off-campus social event. Qiao Yue nodded. She had already heard about Qiao Yus position as the president of the student union on her first day of school. But she didnt expect that there would be so much work that they had meetings tillte. Where are you headed? If youre not going out, lets go home together. If youre going out, Ill give you a ride. Qiao Yu said. Qiao Yue shook her head. She was in a hurry to go home and check her email. Both of them were fiddling with their phones after they got into the car. Qiao Yus fingers suddenly stopped when he saw a message, and he only resumed after a few seconds. Xiao Yue, how do you feel about attending Harvey? Qiao Yue thought that Qiao Yu was just asking casually and didnt take it seriously, so she said, Its alright. Its alright? When Qiao Yu repeated himself, Qiao Yue finally noticed that something was off and looked up at Qiao Yu. Take a look at the school forum. There are two threads about you on the schools trending search. Qiao Yu handed his phone to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was about to decline when she heard Qiao Yu say that one of the threads had been removed and could only be seen in the backend. Qiao Yue took Qiao Yus phone and scanned the discussion threads. She didnt feel good. Shes probably not on a school forum but a gossip site, right? Just like Sister Lin said, gossip was one of the four instincts of human beings. Lets not talk about the post she had with Sister Lin in the morning. The incident after school had been posted in totality on the forum less than an hour after it happened. The girl named Xiaoxiao was put on the throne of the goddess of flowers because she dared to speak her mind. As for Qiao Yue, who roasted the goddess on an open fire, she was a scumbag. However, this scumbag had both looks and might. Although he was scumbag, he received many love confessions from young girls. The most tragic person was the one who was pressed on the desk and rejected by the goddess. However, after reading the whole story, very few people pointed out that Qiao Yue was in the wrong. Seeing that Qiao Yue had finished reading, Qiao Yu smiled and said, Not bad, kid! Your university life is even more exciting than mine. Qiao Yue threw Qiao Yu a helpless look. Fourth brother, Ill give you the excitement. Do you want it? Qiao Yu quickly shook his head. No, thanks. Its better not to be embroiled in these girl troubles. Qiao Yue sighed and leaned back in her seat, looking out the window with a dead expression. She felt that she had been a little unluckytely. She should go to the temple and pray to the gods when she had time. The two of them returned home just in time for the office workers to get off work. Traffic was really bad. Even a luxury car could not squeeze through the traffic and had to wait in line with everyone else. Qiao Yue dozed off looking out the window at the crowd outside. She vaguely felt her head that was leaning against the window being put on a shoulder. When Qiao Yu saw that Qiao Yue was asleep, he helped her into a morefortable position. At this speed, no one knew when they would arrive at home. Ones neck would hurt if one slept against the window. Qiao Yu touched Qiao Yues hair as he held her head. The soft and smooth touch surprised him. He hadnt noticed before, but Qiao Yues hair was very different from theirs. For example, Brother Zes hair was so hard that it pricked peoples hands. He had seen the stylist style his brother and use an entire bottle of hair gel to match his clothes. Although Qiao Zes hair looked better, it was not like Qiao Yues. After touching Qiao Yues hair a few more times, Qiao Yu stopped and picked up his phone to send a message. Move Qiao Yue to a different ss. Same ss as me. Chapter 59 - A Qiao Family Tradition

Chapter 59: A Qiao Family Tradition

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

This time, it was not only Qiao Yues ss that had a test. Qiao Yu, Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying had also received their test results. So, as soon as Qiao Yue got out of the car, Qiao Yu took her to Qiao Jings study. Qiao Yue was still groggy from sleeping like a log in the car. She looked at Qiao Yu with confusion. Its a Qiao family tradition to let second brother review our test papers after every test. The Qiao family had six children, seven including Qiao Yue. Parents of the first and second families were out of the country most of the time. Although parents of the third family was around, they pretended to be living Buddhas in front of outsiders and rarely cared about the kids. So, the task of disciplining the younger siblings fell to Qiao Jing, who worked from home at night. When the two of them entered Qiao Jings study, Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying were already waiting inside. Fourth brother, fifth brother, Qiao Ying greeted with a sweet smile as soon as she saw the two of them. Qiao Xin greeted her fourth brother but not Qiao Yue. Instead, she threw Qiao Yue a mean re. Qiao Yue didnt care about it and sat with Qiao Yu on a side sofa and yed with her phone. Qiao Jing hadnt returned yet, and the study was a little quiet. Qiao Yu was bored and leaned closer to Qiao Yue to see what she was ying. Tetris? Xiao Yue, you have pretty fast hands! Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yues phone and eximed. Qiao Yus words attracted Qiao Xin and Qiao Yings attention. Is fifth brother ying games? I want to look too. Qiao Ying asked curiously before she walked over next to Qiao Yu and started watching. Qiao Yue was ying a high-speed version of Tetris, and she had set it to three times the normal speed, so the blocks were falling so fast that it was dizzying. Fifth brother, youre amazing! You can even get rid of this! Qiao Ying eximed. Ha! Youre so bad in your studies and you dont have any special talent, so you probably can only y games! Qiao Xins sudden insult broke the harmonious atmosphere in the study. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Xin indifferently, and the game over sound effect rang on her phone. Are you ying some more? If you are not, Id like to have a go. Qiao Yu said with great interest. He had been itching to try it out when he saw Qiao Yue y just now, so he couldnt wait to try it out. Seeing that Qiao Yu and Qiao Ying didnt agree with Qiao Xin, Qiao Yue ignored her and threw her phone to Qiao Yu and became a spectator. Qiao Xin was infuriated by their attitude. She red at Qiao Ying and then at Qiao Yue. She didnt understand why everyone sided with Qiao Yue when she had lived with them for so long. Its too difficult, I cant y it. Qiao Yu smiled and returned the phone to Qiao Yue. Even though his eyes were filled with reluctance, he still maintained his image. Qiao Yue saw the curiosity in Qiao Yings eyes and handed her the phone. Qiao Ying quickly waved her hand and said, I cant. I cant y this. Give it a try, encouraged Qiao Yue. With Qiao Yues encouragement, Qiao Ying took the phone and started ying. The moment Qiao Ying started the game, Qiao Yue couldnt help but be a little surprised. It seemed that Qiao Ying was just being modest. Qiao Ying was quite good at the game, even better than Qiao Yu. Before the game was over, Qiao Jing came back and sat behind his desk, waiting for Qiao Yu and the rest to report their test results. Qiao Yue was shocked by Qiao Yus three consecutive perfect scores. Well, Qiao Yu was the president of the student council. Qiao Xin and Qiao Yings results were also good. So, she was the only clown? Qiao Yue, wheres your test paper? Qiao Jings voice was t, but his attractive eyes looked straight at Qiao Yue from behind his sses. I didnt bring it home. I didnt know that test papers will be reviewed. Tell me your results. Qiao Jings words were brief and to-the-point, not giving Qiao Yue a chance to escape. 60, Qiao Yue said after some hesitation. She had answered the test papers to score around the passing mark. Although her results were not as good as the others, she should not be scolded, right? Qiao Jing didnt say anything, but his gaze on Qiao Yue was somewhat sharp. Qiao Yue felt a little guilty under Qiao Jings stare. Her eyes darted around as she avoided looking at Qiao Jing. Seeing that the atmosphere was a little awkward, Qiao Yu stepped up to smooth things over. Second brother, Qiao Yues score of 60 points means that he still got the foundation. Ill help him with some tuition. His next test results will be better. Qiao Jing didnt agree immediately. Instead, he asked Qiao Yue, Do you need tuition? From Qiao Yu or another tutor, you can choose. Chapter 60 - Vacation

Chapter 60: Vacation

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Jings question surprised Qiao Yue. Did he detect something? Ill study on my own How about it? Qiao Yue really didnt want to spend more time listening to others teach her what she already knew. She would rather spend that time sleeping. Yo! Study by yourself? If youre that good, how did you get only 60 marks and embarrass our family? Qiao Xin then nced at Qiao Yue with ridicule. Qiao Yue didnt want to talk to her, so she looked only at Qiao Jing. Their eyes met for a moment before Qiao Jing broke the eye contact. You do as you see fit. Hearing Qiao Jings words, Qiao Xins face darkened, and she turned to leave without a word. Qiao Ying watched Qiao Xin as she left and then turned to Qiao Jing with a troubled expression. Go! Qiao Jing said lightly. After Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying left, only Qiao Yue and the other two remained in the study. Through the open door, one could tell how angry Qiao Xin was, and even hear the angry scolding in her heart. Qiao Jing nced at the two of them and flipped through the documents he had brought back from the office. Anything else? Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue, but she didnt look back. No. After Qiao Yu left, Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing thoughtfully. She was now a little curious about what Qiao Jing had found out about her. Is there anything else? Qiao Jing looked up from the pile of documents. No, I just wanted to ask about the old master. Qiao Yue had always referred to the head of Qiao family as old master instead of grandfather. The reason was that she hadnt seen him since she arrived at the Qiao residence, let alone received the approval from the old master. It was better to keep her distance. Grandpa is your maternal grandfather, Qiao Jing reminded Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue chuckled and said, After all, we havent met yet. Its not good to address him so intimately. Qiao Jing frowned in disagreement when he heard this but didnt say more. Qiao Jing felt that it was inappropriate that Qiao Yue hadnt met Grandpa since he came back to the Qiao residence, so he said, Grandpas condition hasnt been too goodtely. Hes often in a state of deep sleep. Ill take you to see him when youre off school. Qiao Yue nodded. Just as she was about to leave, Qiao Jing continued, I wont interfere if you want to study on your own, but if your results dont improve, Ill make the arrangements. Ever since Qiao Xuan moved out, Qiao Jing had been in charge of all matters in the family, including the childrens education. For example, Qiao Jing had hired private tutors to help Qiao Xin and Qiao Yu with their worse subjects. Qiao Yue replied with an okay and quickly left the study. She went back to her room and turned on herptop. YQ hadnt send through many documents, but Qiao Yue still spent half an hour reading them carefully. The documents described most of her mothers life but there was a small part where the information was very vague. That was the one year when her mother was still living with the Qiaos and the two years after she left. After that, Qiao Yue was born, and her mother took her to a remote vige. She knew what happened after that. What puzzled Qiao Yue the most was her father. There was no information about her father at all in the findings. It was as if she was born out of thin air. And during that vague period, her mother had also disappeared without a trace, just like her father. So, someone had deliberately erased their information. Qiao Yue couldnt figure out what secrets her parents had, but since it was something that needed to be hidden, the investigation couldnt be delegated to others. She had to investigate herself. She dialed Chu Jias phone. It was a little noisy on the other end, and Qiao Yue frowned. What are you guys doing? Qiao Yue asked. Sine Chu Jia and the rest of the team were injured, and godfather was in B-County, Qiao Yue decided to give them a vacation. It seemed like they were having fun now. Boss, were ying rock-paper-scissors! Are youing? Stone can pick you up. Qiao Yue felt like she could smell the alcohol on Chu Jia and the rest through her phone. Your injuries healed pretty quickly. Youre already drinking? If everyones so free now, go back to the organization and work! Qiao Yue teased. Boss, you are a demon! Dont be like this! Qiao Yue heard Stones wailing through the phone. Are you serious? Boss! Chu Jia asked, her voice trembling. Chapter 61 - A Beautiful Thing

Chapter 61: A Beautiful Thing

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue chuckled. Im just kidding. Have fun. Its rare to get a break, so have fun for a few days. Oh right, stop the investigation I asked before. Take YQ along for a holiday and have Chen Qing reimburse you. A sudden scream came through the phone. Boss! Are you serious? Youre giving us vacation and asking us to go for a holiday? Hearing that Chu Jias side had quieted down, Qiao Yue suddenly had an evil thought but did not reply immediately. As time passed, it felt as if Chu Jia and the others hearts were already in their throats. Qiao Yue then said, Yes. Ill cover the expenses for the entire trip. This time, there were even more ear-piercing screams, and it was not just one person. People on the other end of the phone were all overjoyed except Chu Jia, who remained a little sober. Boss, what about the Trand mission? Godfather will be angry at our failed mission, right? Qiao Yue was calm as she replied, Its fine. After thest assassination attempt, Trand will be even more vignt. Even if we try again soon, we will not seed. So dont worry and go have fun! After getting Qiao Yues affirmation, Chu Jia sent Qiao Yue a loud flying kiss through the phone, causing the others to burst intoughter. After hanging up, Qiao Yue looked at the photo on theptop and fell into a daze. It was a photo of her mother, a very beautiful woman. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her face was like a hibiscus, and stars seemed to be shining in her eyes. Qiao Yue really hadnt seen her mother for a long time. She still remembered that before her mother passed, she held her hand and told her to live well. If she had a chance, she should go back to the Qiao family to fulfill her filial duties. Memories flooded her mind when she saw her mothers photo. Qiao Yue only felt that her eyes were burning. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Yue saved the photo on her phone and set it as wallpaper. Her mother had so many secrets. She probably had more than one unfulfilled wish! As her daughter, she must help her fulfill these wishes. The matter about her mother made Qiao Yues heart heavy. She went for a walk alone in the garden within the Qiao property. When she was in the organization, morning run, night run and boxing werepulsory training every day. But ever since she went to the mountain vige andter to the Qiao residence, she gradually stopped doing these things. When she stopped doing these things, she realized that it was really a blessing to not be so tense! Qiao Jing finished his work and was looking out the window to rest his eyes when he identally saw Qiao Yue taking a walk. The young mans slender figure seemed particrly thin in the night. The night wind ruffled his hair, revealing his delicate side profile. His steps were leisurely, rhythmically stepping on the cobblestone, making it a pleasure just to watch him. After watching Qiao Yue for a while, Qiao Jing also had the urge to go down for a walk. Qiao Yue was about to go upstairs when she saw Qiao Jing standing at the back door. It looked like he had juste down. Second brother? Why are your downstairs? Have you finished your work? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Jing was a really busy man. Other than the day he took her to the club, he was always at work, so Qiao Yue was very surprised to see him in the garden. Qiao Jing nodded and walked up to Qiao Yue, looking like he wanted to go for a walk with him. Qiao Yue nced at the person next to her and swallowed her words about going to bed. Since she arrived at the Qiao residence, Qiao Jing had taken care of her. She should also take care of his health and walk with him or something. Neither of them spoke; they just walked quietly until the sudden sound of fireworks broke the silence. The fireworks lit up the entire night sky. Qiao Yue stopped and asked, Is it some festival today? Qiao Jing also stopped in his tracks and looked up at the night sky. After a few seconds of contemtion, he replied, Its not a special day. Its probably because someone wanted to set off fireworks! Qiao Yue chuckled before he continued, When I was young, I looked forward to fireworks the most. Not only were they beautiful, but they also signified that a festival was near. Its not like now when people could just set them off whenever they like. Its not so special anymore. Qiao Jing turned to Qiao Yue and asked, Do you like fireworks? Qiao Yue grunted but didnt say more. It wasnt her who liked fireworks but her mother. Her mother said that she liked all the beautiful things in life, so she often told her to face life with eyes that appreciated beauty. Chapter 62 - A Promise

Chapter 62: A Promise

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Jing turned his head to look at Qiao Yue. He had heard from Shen Yi today, but there wasnt much information about Qiao Yue. He had investigated and found out that theres a 60% chance Qiao Yue was connected to the internationally renowned KA group. However, the source of the information wasnt reliable. He tried to find out more, but he couldnt. Sensing Qiao Jings gaze, Qiao Yue turned and looked into his eyes. Second brother, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong? Qiao Yue asked with a chuckle. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue, his eyes serious. Qiao Yue was surprised by the stare. A person like Qiao Jing, who always appeared cold, would give you the illusion that he cared a lot about you when he looked at you warmly. Qiao Yue felt ufortable being stared at. She blinked. Second brother? How have you been all these years? Seeing that Qiao Yue was no longer looking at him, Qiao Jing also turned his head. The two of them walked side by side, their shadows cast by the moonlight long. Qiao Yue was silent at first, then she asked, Second brother, why did you suddenly ask me this? Qiao Jings answer was as headstrong as ever. I asked because I wanted to. Qiao Yue chuckled. Not too bad. At least Im still well and alive. Qiao Yue gave an ambiguous answer. Whether it was the fake experience she made up or the real life experience she had, this answer was correct. However, what Qiao Yue didnt pay attention to was the weariness in her eyes when she said this. Qiao Jing noticed the weariness on her face. Qiao Jing was stunned for a moment. He suppressed the emotions in his eyes and gently ced his hand on Qiao Yues head. You are home now. Just stay here in peace. Qiao Yue turned to look at Qiao Jing. Seeing the concern in his eyes, Qiao Yue couldnt help but burst intoughter. She had already survived those hard days, and her second brothers worry came a little toote. However, its always nice to know that someone cared about her. Qiao Yue put her hand on Qiao Jings. Because he was not used to physical contact, Qiao Jings hand stiffened for a moment. Second brother, youre so good to me. Arent you afraid that Ill cling to you? The young mans clear voice had a hint of frivolity. Will you? Qiao Jing looked into Qiao Yues eyes and asked. Qiao Yues beautiful eyes curved as she smiled. Why wouldnt I? Ive been on my own for so many years and now I have a family member who dotes on me. Who wouldnt cling to that? With her positions at the organization and KA, there were many people who care about her, but they always had motives. Chu Jia, Stone, and the others had turned from subordinates to friends, and they were also part of the organization. Their rtionship was extremelyplicated. As for Zhou Lan and Chen Qing, one had saved her life, and the other had helped her in her time of need. Their concern for her was sincere, but it was different from Qiao Jings. So, among these people, she liked to hang out with Qiao Jing the most. He wouldnt ask her for anything, and he wouldnt let her feel responsible for his life. Qiao Jing slowly withdrew his hand. Not taking it back immediately was already giving Qiao Yue face. Cling to me if you want to. Ill protect you. Qiao Jing stared into Qiao Yues eyes and said seriously. Qiao Yue blinked a few times and doubted her own ears when she heard this. Was Qiao Jing someone who would allow others to get close and rely on him? In fact, Qiao Jing was a little surprised himself at what he said, but he would not go back on his word. From the first time they met when they disliked each other to Qiao Yues unscrupulous approach Although Qiao Jing was not used to this younger brother at first, Qiao Yue didnt avoid him like the others. Qiao Yue was silent for a moment before sheughed out loud. Brother, why are you so serious? Perhaps Qiao Jings attitude really tickled Qiao Yue, for she couldnt help butugh so hard that she couldnt stand straight. Amid Qiao Yuesughter, Qiao Jings handsome face blushed. Just as Qiao Jing was about to leave, Qiao Yue said in a low voice, If only I had met you earlier. Qiao Jing frowned slightly and looked at Qiao Yue in confusion. This brother of his had way too many secrets. So many that he wanted to peel hisyers of disguise and see what the real person looked like. The fireworks in the sky had stopped at some point and the night was quiet again. The chirping of insects rang out on thewn and the night wind blew, making Qiao Jing feel a little warm for some reason. Brother, then Ill rely on you in future. The young man said in a clear voice. Alright. In the quiet night, Qiao Yue heard the answer from the person opposite her. Chapter 63 - Changing Classes

Chapter 63: Changing sses

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The next day, Qiao Yue was called to the teachers office as soon as she arrived in ss. Qiao Yue, the higher-ups have decided to change your ss after some consideration. Change ss? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly. Could it be because of what happened on the forum? However, she didnt really care if she changed sses. It didnt matter to her anyway. To which ss? Qiao Yue asked. Seeing that Qiao Yue didnt ask further, the teacher quickly said, Change to your brothers ss. That way, Qiao Yu can help you improve. The teachers impatient look tickled Qiao Yue. What kind of wild animal was she that her teacher was in such a hurry to get rid of her? Although Qiao Yue didnt think so herself, she had great influence on the teachers. She had been in school for less than half a month, and she had either taken leave of absence, skipped ss or gone on a half-day trip to the teachers office. There were also those things on the forum. Although nothing happened, or rather, even if something happened, he was not there, so he was not responsible. However, he was still shocked when he saw the photo of Qiao Yue pressing Sun Bin against the desk. He was just an ordinary homeroom teacher, and he couldnt afford to offend any of the students here. If it werent for the high pay and good benefits, he would have quit this heart attack-inducing job. Seeing that Qiao Yue, the troublemaker, was finally going to leave, the young headroom teacher almost cheered to send her off. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes and smiled. She was a little annoyed when she saw her homeroom teacher so happy. Teacher, actually, I think this ss is not bad. Its quite fun every day. I might get bored after changing sses. Why dont I talk to the higher-ups and tell them that you are a good homeroom teacher and that I dont want to change sses? Hearing Qiao Yues words, the homeroom teachers face turned from red to white, then from white to green, and finally from green to ck. Qiao Yue marveled at her homeroom teachers change of expressions. But even after she frightened her homeroom teacher so much, she still wasnt satisfied and continued, Why dont I go and find the head of department now? Dont! The homeroom teacher shouted out this word reflexively. He immediately showed an annoyed expression and stiffly turned his objection into a more tactful one. What I mean is, itll be more conducive if you could learn together with your older brother. He can help you catch up with your studies, which is a very good thing for you! Qiao Yues eyes filled with delight as she watched her homeroom teacher rack his brains to analyze the benefits of changing sses for her. Only when the homeroom teachers mouth was dry from talking did Qiao Yue finally show mercy and let him go. Yes, teacher. You are right. Ill do as you ask! The homeroom teacher almost cried when he heard Qiao Yues agreement. Thank goodness he could finally send this little devil away. After Qiao Yue left, a burst ofughter suddenly came from another desk. The homeroom teacher couldnt help but look over. Sister Lin, are you looking at your phone? The young homeroom teacher thought that Sister Linughed out loud because she saw something interesting on her phone. Sister Lin raised her head and looked at the young homeroom teacher, still smiling. I wasughing at you! Sister Lin said. Ah? The young homeroom teacher was puzzled, his eyes filled with confusion. I say, Xiao Qian! When you talk to Qiao Yue, you should watch his expression more! He obviously doesnt care if he changed sses. He was just waiting to hear what story you would tell him! Sister Lin teased. The young homeroom teacher recalled Qiao Yues demeanor after he heard this. At first, Qiao Yue really didnt say anything. He only asked which ss he would change to. It felt like he only said he didnt want to change after hearing his story. He had seen Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu leave together twice, so the two brothers should be on good terms. So, if it wasnt because of Qiao Yu that Qiao Yue didnt want to change sses, the reason must be him. Could it be that he was looking too happy, so Qiao Yue got annoyed and decided to mess with him? The more the young homeroom teacher thought about it, the more he felt that it was probable. His expression turned into one of bitterness. Sister Linughed even harder and rubbed salt on the young homeroom teachers wound. Xiao Qian, I tell you. Everyone could see the excitement on your face when you told Qiao Yue that hes changing sses. Werent you just waiting for him to make fun of you? Sister Lin, dont say anymore. My head hurts. The young homeroom teacher massaged his temples wearily. Fortunately, he finally got rid of the troublemaker, Qiao Yue. Otherwise, he didnt know what kind of torture he would be subjected to in future. Chapter 64 - Affection

Chapter 64: Affection

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue didnt know that her offense had been recorded by the young homeroom teacher again. She went back to her ssroom and started to pack. Because Qiao Yue had been called to the office alone for the change of ss conversation, the other students started specting when they saw her packing her things. However, no one dared toe forward and speak to her because of the martial arts they had seen her disy. Sun Bins follower saw Qiao Yue packing and suddenly made a guess. He moved carefully to Sun Bins side and whispered, Brother Sun, has Qiao Yue been expelled? Did you make it happen? Sun Bin looked up with an annoyed expression. Sun Bins ssmates thought that he wouldnte to school today after he suffered such a big embarrassment yesterday. But to their surprise, not only did Sun Bine to school, but he also looked as if nothing had happened, except for his slightly gloomy expression. Its logical for Sun Bins follower to ask such a question because Sun Bins father was a board member of the school, so it was only right for him to stand up for his son when he saw him being bullied. Brother Sun? The follower called out again when Sun Bin didnt answer. Sun Bin still didnt answer. He just stared at Qiao Yue, his eyes full of hostility. Feeling the resentful gaze, Qiao Yue didnt need to turn around to know who was staring at her. But its useless to kill her with just his eyes. If he wanted to kill her, he would have to act. Wasnt this an apt time for the saying whoever with the bigger fist had the final say? A brave girl walked up to Qiao Yue and asked, Qiao Yue, are you changing schools again? The girl dared not mention dropout, afraid that she would touch Qiao Yues sore spot. With that thought in mind, she red at Sun Bin. Everyone knew about Sun Bins family. If Qiao Yue really dropped out of school, it would be Sun Bins doing. However, when the girl red at Sun Bin, she was immediately frightened by his murderous stare. She broke out in a cold sweat and quickly turned her head away. Qiao Yue shed a big smile at the girl. Im not changing schools. Just changing sses. Goodbye. Qiao Yue didnt have many things. She stuffed two books she needed for ss into her bag and casually flung her backpack over her shoulder. Her swift and clean moves stunned many girls. Change ss? The girl didnt expect that it was just a change of ss. The words offort she wanted to say were instantly stuck in her throat. Which ss are you changing to? Is this ss not good? The girl asked hesitantly. Qiao Yue kept her smile and replied tactfully, Its quite interesting here, but its the higher-ups at school who requested for me to change ss. I cant just ignore them, can I? Bye now. Qiao Yue then turned to leave but was stopped by the girl. Qiao Yue, can I still go and visit you in your new ss? Qiao Yueughed when she heard the girls question. Was this girl acting in a romance drama? It wasnt like she had dropped out of school. It was just a change of ss. If the girl wanted to visit her, could she stop her? She really couldnt understand what the girl was thinking. Qiao Yue didnt pursue things that she didnt understand, so she left the ssroom after saying a casual whatever. She followed her ssmates directions and arrived at Qiao Yus ss. Qiao Yu was talking about something at the time and was surrounded by many people. Qiao Yue walked straight to Qiao Yu. There was no lesson now and the teacher hadnt left any instructions, so she could only hear what Qiao Yu had to say. As soon as Qiao Yue approached, she heard people talking about her. Qiao Yu, your little brother is amazing! I saw the photo yesterday. That little tyrant Sun Bin was pressed down on the table by him with one hand. Hes so strong! Yeah! Ive seen those photos too. He looked so good! He looked so handsome from all angles, 360 degrees with no bad angle! Qiao Yu, does your little brother have a girlfriend? If not, do you think hell consider me? Hey! Get in line, okay! I saw the little handsome Qiao Yue first. His bad boy looks really got to me! Hey handsome little brother, big sister ising for you! Qiao Yues eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Were all her fourth brothers ssmates so affectionate? She was a little scared! Qiao Yus sharp eyes caught sight of Qiao Yue, who was standing at the back of the crowd. He had a gentle smile, but his words were like a demons whisper, It looks like youre all quite curious about my brother. Why dont you let him give you the answers in person? That wont do! We can only ask you behind his back. How can we ask him directly? Yes, yes! These things cant be said directly! Chapter 65 - An Unusual Online Forum

Chapter 65: An Unusual Online Forum

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Eh? You cant say it directly? I thought you are only telling me because you saw him. Qiao Yu still had a gentle smile, but Qiao Yue could tell that he was up to no good. She just didnt know if he wanted to mess with her or the girls who were asking about her. Was it toote for her to run away now? The ssroom fell silent instantly, and the girls around Qiao Yu turned their heads in unison. Qiao Yue couldnt hide the awkwardness on her face. She could only raise her hand and say hello. Hello, everyone. Im Qiao Yue, who has just changed sses today. As if someone had pressed the pause button, the girls eyes zed over for a few seconds before someone banished the awkwardness with augh. H-hello, wee to our ss! The one who spoke first was the peer tutor in Qiao Yus ss, and a member of the student union. Seeing that someone had spoken, the others also acted as if nothing had happened and moved to their seats while saying words of wee to Qiao Yue. After most of the people had left, Qiao Yue put down her bag and sat next to Qiao Yu. Fifth brother, youre very popr! Even I, your fourth brother, am jealous. Qiao Yuughed and teased Qiao Yue. Seeing Qiao Yus mischievous look, Qiao Yue threw a canned drink at him. You talk too much. If you want to be popr, Ill help you post on the school forum and say that the school hunk, Qiao Yu, is looking for a girlfriend; applications wee. After the previous incidents, Qiao Yue realized the power of the school forum. It seemed that in future, if she wanted to know more about the school, she should just look up the school forum! Dont, dont, dont. Youre the star of the school forum now. I dont want to be on the hot trends with you. Qiao Yu declined quickly. Qiao Yue smirked and twirled a pen between her fingers. We brothers should share our happiness. How can I, the younger brother, make my older brother jealous? Qiao Yue then took out her phone and seemed to really want to post something. Qiao Yu jumped up and snatched Qiao Yues phone away. Stop it! y your Tetris! Qiao Yu said as he exited the forum page on Qiao Yues phone,unched Tetris, and threw the phone back to Qiao Yue. What a joke! How could Qiao Yu really let Qiao Yue post that? When Qiao Yu first came to Harvey, he was on also a hot trend on the school forum. There wasnt enough space on his desk for his school bag after all the gifts and love letters. He also had to endure all kinds of stares every day. That was a real test period for him. Sensing Qiao Yus trauma, Qiao Yue didnt say anything more and changed the subject. Fourth brother, are you the one in charge of Harveys forum? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Yu nodded and asked, So? Qiao Yue touched her chin and continued, That day, I saw that you could see deleted posts in the backend. How long will it take for deleted posts to disappearpletely? Although Qiao Yu didnt understand why Qiao Yue would ask such a question, he was his younger brother and theres nothing to hide. It wont disappear. The Harvey forum and web pages were coded by top programmers. Unlike ordinary schools, they specially designed an independent system, so we can find the information and posts from all the students who have studied here. Qiao Yu pulled his chair and sat down at Qiao Yues table as he exined. Qiao Yue was silent for a moment before she smiled and said, Then you must know a lot of gossip as a forum administrator! Like posts that were deleted as soon as they were posted. A person whos the president of the student union and constantly wore a mask was no ordinary person. After Qiao Yue questions, Qiao Yus gaze changed a little, but he kept his smile. What kind of gossip are you looking for, fifth brother? Ill help you find it when Im free. What Qiao Yu didnt mention was that, although he could find the information of all the present students at Harvey, information about former students was managed by the school, inessible to him even with his administrator rights. When Qiao Yu first took over the student union, he was also curious and tried to attack the firewall. He almost broke it, but he stopped at thest second because he suddenly realized that once he pressed the final key, his personal information would be leaked without a doubt. He had no choice but to stop. Chapter 66 - Qiao Yue’s Secret

Chapter 66: Qiao Yues Secret

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yu didnt tell Qiao Yue about this because he was curious about what Qiao Yue wanted to find on the forum. His fifth brother was too mysterious, and he wanted to know him better. Qiao Yue looked up at Qiao Yu. Even if her fourth brother had been imitating their eldest brother, there would always be times when he couldnt hide his unruly nature. Just like now, even if he tried to hide his thoughts, his eyes would still reveal a little something. What I want to know Qiao Yue spoke halfway and smiled as she looked Qiao Yu in the eye. What I want to know is, of course, scandals rted to fourth brother, and second brother, third brother. Better yet scandals involving eldest brother. If I have something on all of you, Ill be the boss of the Qiao family. Qiao Yue replied casually, obviously toying with Qiao Yu! Of course, Qiao Yu knew that he had been yed, so he gave Qiao Yue a p on the head. Qiao Yue! What do you think about every day! Spend more time on your studies to improve your grades. Dont neglect your studies. Seeing that he couldnt get Qiao Yue to say anything, Qiao Yu decided to stop chatting with her. He moved his chair back to his desk and started to read. Qiao Yue tapped her pen rhythmically on her desk. She had her reasons for asking Qiao Yu these questions today. Last night, when she was looking through information about her mother, she learned that her mother was also a student at Harvey. Since the ss change also happened today, she took the opportunity to ask Qiao Yu. Qiao Yus answer surprised her. She had attended many schools over the years, but Harveys professionally built school forum was indeed unusual. It seemed that she would have to try hacking Qiao Yus ount when she had the chance. Just as Qiao Yue was engrossed in her thoughts, the school bell rang. Qiao Yue went through the process when she transferred schools again. Perhaps because most of the girls were caught red-handed when gossiping about her, when Qiao Yue introduced herself, they only called with their heads lowered and avoided eye contact. It was Qiao Yus idea for Qiao Yue to change sses, so after ss, he didnt let Qiao Yue go and dragged her to the basketball court. As she had been raised as a boy for many years, Qiao Yue naturally knew how to y basketball, and she was quite good at it. However, when she saw Qiao Yu throw his basketball jersey at her, she waspletely speechless. Putting aside her injuries, she wouldnt do something as stupid as wearing a tank top in a contact sport like basketball and risk exposing her identity. Seeing that Qiao Yue didnt move, Qiao Yu thought that Qiao Yue wasnt used to wearing other peoples clothes, so he said, I just bought it and havent worn it yet. Its yours. Qiao Yue looked at the tank top and then at Qiao Yu, who was changing his clothes. It would have been better if she didnt look because she caught Qiao Yu taking off his shirt. Qiao Yus abs werent visible when hes in his usual clothes. Now that his shirt was off, his abs were in full view of Qiao Yue. Although she was used to hanging out with men in the organization, she had left the organization for some time. She couldnt help but feel a little embarrassed when the body of a boy about her age was suddenly disyed in front of her. She had to turn around. Qiao Yu heard a noise and quickly put on his tank top. He looked at Qiao Yue andughed, Little Five, why did you turn around? Do you feel inferior because of your fourth brother has such a good body? Qiao Yue wanted to spit in his face. If she wasnt afraid that he would use her of watching himsciviously when her gender identity was revealed in future, she would have looked at him. She had nothing to lose anyway. Just as Qiao Yue was cursing Qiao Yu in her heart, Qiao Yu was quietly approaching her from behind. Suddenly, she felt something attacking her waist. Qiao Yue subconsciously blocked it and grabbed the other persons wrist. Ouch! Little Five! Qiao Yu sucked in a breath of cold air. His little brother was really strong. Qiao Yue smiled and turned around, holding Qiao Yus hand. She just loosened her grip a little so that he didnt hurt so much. Fourth brother, what are you doing with your hand? Qiao Yus hand was still in Qiao Yues grasp. Seeing Qiao Yues if you dont answer, Ill exert more force posture, Qiao Yu quickly said, I just wanted to help you change since you havent changed yet. Who knew you would have such a big reaction? As soon as he said this, Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue were both stunned. Qiao Yue realized that she had exposed a big w, and Qiao Yu realized that Qiao Yues reaction was too unusual. Chapter 67 - A Storm Is Coming

Chapter 67: A Storm Is Coming

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue could reveal to the Qiao family that she was not short of money, even that she was rted to KA, but she could not let them guess that she was rted to the organization. Seeing Qiao Yu turn away to avoid her gaze, Qiao Yue couldnt help but frown. This wasnt a good sign. If Qiao Yu made any wild guesses, it might cause her trouble. Fourth brother, Im very alert. Dont sneak attack me in future. Qiao Yue said. Qiao Yu didnt expect Qiao Yue to mention what happened just now. He looked at Qiao Yue with confusion. Ive survived rogues and gangsters and have encountered danger, so Im more vignt. As she spoke, Qiao Yue slowly untied the bandage around her neck. Qiao Yues actions caught Qiao Yus attention. From the first time he met Qiao Yue, he had been curious about the bandage on her neck. Now that Qiao Yue was willing to take the bandage off, how could he not look? As the bandage came off, a scar that extended to Qiao Yues back came into view. Qiao Yu held his breath, not daring to imagine how serious Qiao Yues injury had been. Your injury? Qiao Yu wanted to touch Qiao Yues scar, which was covered in bandage just seconds ago. I was hacked by someone. A kind person saved me. Otherwise, there would be no Qiao Yue now. Qiao Yue said it casually, but Qiao Yu clenched his fists. Fourth brother, dont attack me from behind in future. I might be heavy-handed. Qiao Yues expression didnt change, but her words were serious. Qiao Yu patted Qiao Yue on the shoulder, like a form of encouragement. Its all in the past. Youre part of the Qiao family now. No one would dare to hurt you. Qiao Yue turned her head and smiled sarcastically. No one would dare to hurt her, really? Other than the unhappiness in the changing room, the basketball game went on smoothly. Since he knew about Qiao Yues scar, Qiao Yu didnt ask Qiao Yue to change into the tank top again. But Qiao Yues different outfit made her the center of attention again. While Qiao Yue was feeling uneasy on her end, something big happened at the Qiao residence. When Qiao Xin heard that Qiao Jing was going to take Qiao Yue to see Old Master Qiao, she ran home skipping all her sses. Mom! Second brother is going to take Qiao Yue to meet Grandpa! Is he crazy? Why would we allow a bastard child to split our family money? Qiao Xin rushed to the third madams bedroom and shouted at her mother who was going through her skincare routine. As Qiao Xin spoke too quickly, Third Madam Qiao didnt understand what she was saying and could only frown at her. Qiao Xin regained her senses from her mothers stare, but she was still gasping for air. She was really angry at the news. How could her second brother do this? Had he been bewitched by Qiao Yue? After calming herself down, Qiao Xin repeated what she just said to the third madam, word for word. Third Madam Qiao was different from her brainless daughter. She immediately got the point. Xiner, where did you hear this from? The cleaningdy told me about it. I called her today and she told me this big news. Qiao Xin replied smugly. Third Madam Qiao immediately understood why this person didnt tell her first but her daughter. The reason was simple: Qiao Xin has given the cleaningdy more money. In order to find out about the other Qiaos, Third Madam Qiao paid the cleaningdy to tell her whatever news she heard. Because the servants had a lot of gossip and information, the third family always managed to avoid the other two families minefields and maintained their appearance as nice people. She was being smart, but she had a prodigal daughter. The cleaningdy wasnt satisfied with her money alone, she also wanted her daughters money. She had told her daughter that this would encourage unruly behavior but her daughter wouldnt listen. Third Madam Qiao sighed. She felt that the information this time was useful, so she stopped ming Qiao Xin. She only told you that Qiao Jing is going to take Qiao Yue to see the old man? Did she say when? The third madam asked. Qiao Xin shook her head. No. Thats all she heard. Hearing Qiao Xins words, Third Madam Qiao started to n. Chapter 68 - Visiting Grandpa

Chapter 68: Visiting Grandpa

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

If one were to say who would be affected the most with Qiao Yues return to the Qiao family, it would be the third family. Although the Qiao family didnt favor sons over daughters, the third family was always inadequatepared to the other two families because Old Master Qiao didnt like them. As of now, the first familys Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing, and the second familys Qiao Ze, all had their own careers. How the old mans assets were divided didnt matter much to them. But the third family only had two daughters who were both still in school. How much assets or stocks they would inherit in future was of great importance to the third family. The third madams frown was deep. The other two families wouldnt care much if Qiao Jing brought Qiao Yue to meet the old master, so she must think of a way to make the other two families see Qiao Yue as an enemy like she did. Qiao Xin was a little unhappy at her mothers silence. She walked up to the dressing table and shook her mother and said, Mom, quickly think of a way to get rid of that bastard child. He bullied me yet second brother took his side. Why should he? Third Madam Qiao had suffered a few losses at Qiao Yues hands and was very dissatisfied with him. She sighed and said, Xiner, you know that Qiao Jing wont side with you, so why do you still try to cozy up to him? Third Madam Qiaos words were somewhat resentful because Qiao Xin had failed to live up to her expectations. Although she loved both her daughters, its difficult to not have a favorite child. She loved her elder daughter more than her younger daughter. Even if the elder daughter was impetuous, she knew how to think for her family. She made things difficult for Qiao Yue because she wanted to push him out of the Qiao family and not let him take a share of the third familys money. Compared to the elder daughter, the younger daughter was a little timid. Qiao Xin pouted. Theres something wrong with second brother. Im his sister and I grew up with him, but hes always siding with the bastard child, against me. In fact, most peoplecked self-respect sometimes. The more they were being ignored by a person, the more they wanted to cozy up to that person. Qiao Xin was no exception. She knew that Qiao Jing didnt like her, but she still wanted to cozy up to him. Third Madam Qiao was also very helpless seeing her daughter like this. She could only wave her hand for Qiao Xin to go back to school. She would handle this matter. After Qiao Xin left, the third madam called her husband In the presidents office on the top floor of Jinghang Group headquarters, Qiao Jing looked at his phone and frowned. He hesitated for a while before he picked up the phone and made a call. In less than two rings, the other person picked up the call and said in a gentle male voice, Hello? How are you? Its me, Qiao Jing. The person on the other end of the line didnt seem to expect Qiao Jing to call him for he fell silent. A few secondster, Qiao Jing heard the other person say, Meeting adjourned. Well discuss the details in the afternoon. Busy? Qiao Jing asked. Im alright. What made you call me out of the blue? Hearing the chuckle on the other end of the call, Qiao Jing swallowed the words of concern he was about to say. Im going to take Qiao Yue to see Grandpa. Qiao Jing stated his purpose directly. To see Grandpa? The tone at the other end of call became tter as the person continued, Grandpa hasnt woken up yet. Im afraid he wont be able to recognize anyone. It doesnt matter. He has to see Grandpa since he came back to the Qiao family. Qiao Jing paused for a moment before he continued, Brother, you said you were going to visit a Chinese medicine doctor. Hows that going? Qiao Xuan didnt expect Qiao Jing to suddenly address him. His hand holding the phone trembled but the smile on his face turned warmer. The old doctors assistant said that the doctor is too old to fly, so he will send two of his disciples to examine Grandpa. Qiao Xuans words made Qiao Jings eyes light up, but when he thought about his past disappointments, Qiao Jing forced himself to calm down. Although it would be good to invite a famous Chinese medicine doctor to treat their grandfather, Qiao Jing didnt dare to have high hopes. Qiao Jing closed his eyes and said in a steady voice, Did he say when they will arrive? The doctors assistant said that the disciples are currently overseas and might need three to four days to return. Okay. Ill bring Qiao Yue to see Grandpa then! On the other end of the call, Qiao Xuan chuckled. Sure. We brothers havent seen each other in a long time too. Although Qiao Xuan was in the same research Institute as Zhou Lan, he travelled frequently for work. It had been almost half a year since he left the country. Qiao Jing ended the call, took off his sses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He leaned back in his swivel chair and sighed. Chapter 69 - Standing as Punishment

Chapter 69: Standing as Punishment

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The day Qiao Yue changed sses was an exciting day. She overheard her new ssmates asking Qiao Yu about her in the morning. At noon, she almost revealed her gender. And in the afternoon, someone reactivated an old discussion thread on the forum about her background when she first came to Harvey. How did Qiao Yue know about this? Its because Sister Lin taught her new ss in the afternoon. She didnt know if this batch of students all had gossiping hearts, but from the moment Sister Lin entered the ssroom, many eyes, whether overtly and covertly, were on her. In order not to be the center of attention, Qiao Yue pretended to listen attentively until everyone stopped looking at her. Only then did she y with her phone discreetly. As soon as Qiao Yue clicked into the forum, she saw the words Illegitimate Child of the Qiao Family. It was clearly about her. These students were quite free. Flipping through the forum page by page, Qiao Yue realized that the earliest post was from four years ago, which was when the seniors had just entered Harvey. The school was very good at keeping secrets! Qiao Yue exited the forum. As soon as she looked up, she met Sister Lins eyes. When she turned her head, she saw Qiao Yus eyes, looking like he was waiting for a show to start. Qiao Yue, if you dont want to pay attention in ss, go stand at the door as punishment. Sister Lin said to Qiao Yue with a serious face. Sister Lins words were rigid, but Qiao Yue couldnt ignore the joy in her eyes. The corners of Qiao Yues mouth twitched slightly. She never expected that Sister Lin would give her standing as punishment when shes a university student. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Yue walked out of the ssroom under the gazes of the students. Shortly after, the ssroom door opened again. Qiao Yue turned around and saw Qiao Yu walking out. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows, not understanding why Qiao Yu hade out. When Qiao Yu was standing next to her, Qiao Yue asked, What did you do wrong? Just like you, not paying attention in ss. Qiao Yu replied indifferently. However, Qiao Yus situation was far worse than what he said. Not only did he not listen to the teacher, but the entire ss heard the sound of him ying games. Although it seemed like an ident, it was no coincidence that Qiao Yu was caught ying with his phone as soon as Qiao Yue was punished. Youre going to stand for the entire period? Qiao Yue asked as he looked at Qiao Yu, whos still ying games. What else? Qiao Yu looked up from his phone when he heard Qiao Yues question. Lets go boxing! Qiao Yue suggested excitedly. Qiao Yu was a little tempted, but his ssmates had said that they were going to throw a wee party for Qiao Yue after school, so he didnt sumb. No, thanks. You dont go anywhere too. Theres something happeningter. Qiao Yu buried his head in his game again. Qiao Yues curiosity was piqued. But seeing that Qiao Yu wasnt going to tell her more, she leaned over to look at Qiao Yus phone. Qiao Yu was ying a newly released and locally made MOBA game. Qiao Yue yed it with Zhou Lan for a few days during the games beta testing phase. But she was beaten so badly by Zhou Lan that she uninstalled the game. Since Qiao Yu seemed to like it, she reinstalled the game and gave it another try. After all, if she wanted to get her hands on an administrator ount for the forum, she would have to start with Qiao Yu. The school bell rang on time. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu stood and yed the game for the entire period. asionally, Qiao Yu would make a mistake, which would attract Qiao Yues ridicule. After the period ended, Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu went back to ss to pack their things, but they were surrounded by a group of people. Qiao Yue, weve booked a private room on the top floor of Qingyue Hotel. Were throwing you a wee party for transferring to our ss. The person who spoke first was a peer tutor. She had a small round face and a pair ofrge, watery eyes. The way she spoke, with her eyes curved, could melt peoples hearts. Qiao Yue liked this kind of girl the most, soft-spoken and cute. But in order not to expose her true nature, Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu with a straight face, only to find Qiao Yu staring back at her. In an instant, Qiao Yue understood. Qiao Yu said that he didnt want to go boxing because he knew about the wee party. Seeing everyones expectant eyes on her, Qiao Yue couldnt bear to decline her new ssmates and nodded slowly. The ssroom then burst into loud cheers, scaring the students passing by. The students at Harvey were all from rich and powerful families all over the country. They were all from prominent families, so it was natural for them to be ferried in luxury cars. Therefore, as soon as school ended, more than a dozen luxury cars lined up and drove to the Qingyue Hotel. Many of them who were close shared cars and had their own cars driven away first. Chapter 70 - Qingyue Restaurant

Chapter 70: Qingyue Restaurant

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

These were children who grew up with money. As soon as they entered the private room, they ordered food non-stop. They ordered the most expensive dishes at Qingyue Hotel, which made Qiao Yue frown. It wasnt because the dishes were expensive, but she felt that it would be wasteful if they couldnt finish the food. Before she was adopted by godfather, Qiao Yue was an orphan. She often had to fight with others for food. She had more money as she grew up but her habit of not wasting food had never changed. Qiao Yu saw Qiao Yue frown and thought that she was afraid of spending too much money, so he whispered in Qiao Yues ear, Dont worry, we can afford it. Order whatever you like. Qiao Yu also grew up in a family like the Qiaos, so he naturally didnt understand what Qiao Yue was struggling with. Qiao Yue could only sigh and stop thinking about it. Seeing that the other students had almost finished ordering, Qiao Yue also ordered two dishes out of courtesy. The dishes were not expensive, but they had Qiao Yues favorite vors. After hearing Qiao Yues order, the girls in charge of the event looked at each other. Qiao Yu broke the silence and said, What are you doing? Do you want to eat or sing? Hurry up and get started. The Qiao family has a curfew. We must be home before midnight. The crowd became lively again when they heard this. Qiao Yu leaned over to Qiao Yue and whispered, Little Five, tell me the truth. Did second brother not give you any pocket money? You really dont need scrimp, fourth brother has enough money to treat you ten or even a hundred times. Qiao Yue chuckled helplessly. Second brother gave me money. Fourth brother, I really didnt order those two dishes because I wanted to save money. I only ordered them because I think Ill like them. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue suspiciously, his eyes filled with disbelief. No matter how good vegetables were, how could they be more delicious than the meat? Why did he not believe Qiao Yue? Eighteen- or neen-year-old boys were at the age when they loved meat, so even if Qiao Yue exined, Qiao Yu wouldnt listen. It would be better to wait until the dishes arrived. Besides, how could she not know what was delicious at Qingyue hotel? The dishes arrived very quickly. It didnt take long for all the appetizers to be served. At first, everyone was still concerned about table manners. They were raised in prominent families after all. It was inevitable that they would pay attention to their image when eating. However, slowly, everyone felt that this way of eating was really not suitable for a ss gathering. It was too quiet and a little depressing. At this time, it was up to the students in the ss who liked to crack jokes. A male student looked left and right, and seeing that no one was speaking, he stood up and said, Today is our wee party for Qiao Yue. Why is everyone so nervous? Everyone, just rx and have fun. Come, I suggest we have a toast. The boys words warmed the atmosphere, especially hisst sentence, which made everyone raise their sses. Seeing that many people were having red wine, the boy continued, Red wine is boring. Ill switch to beer. If you dont like beer, thats fine too. We can also drink white wine. Theres enough alcohol to go around. After the boy finished speaking, peopleughed out loud and jeered for the red wine to be reced with beer or white wine. The atmosphere gradually warmed up, and Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu clinked their beer sses. As more and more dishes were served, Qiao Yue gradually became familiar with the students in her new ss. There was no other reason than the fact that the boy had dragged Qiao Yue around the entire table and introduced her to each and every student. Not only that, he also wanted to make Qiao Yue drink. The toasts came one after another and Qiao Yue had more than ten drinks in session. When she returned to her seat, she couldnt even eat a single bite of food. The two dishes ordered by Qiao Yue were thest to arrive. Qiao Yu had left some room in his stomach for Qiao Yues favorite dishes. Atst, they were served. Qiao Yu looked at the two dishes with some disappointment. He thought that they would look spectacr, but they looked very ordinary. Qiao Yue found Qiao Yus frowning funny. Although these two dishes looked ordinary, making them involvedplicated techniques. Just like boiled cabbage at a state banquet, they shouldnt be underestimated. Qiao Yue used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of vegetable and put it on Qiao Yus te. Try it. Its not toote to be disappointed after youve tried it, Qiao Yue said with a chuckle. Qiao Yue reluctantly picked up the vegetable and put it in his mouth. In an instant, all his disgust turned into shock. It tasted fresh and elegant, and the fragrance was rich. Although the gravy was thick, it was fragrant and refreshing, not greasy at all. The delectable taste in his mouth made Qiao Yu change his attitude towards vegetables, and he took a few more bites. Chapter 71 - Fourth Brother’s Voice

Chapter 71: Fourth Brothers Voice

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yue squinted at Qiao Yu and said smugly, How is it? The dish I rmended isnt bad, right? Not bad. Qiao Yu replied after taking a few bites. How do you know that this dish is delicious? Qiao Yu turned to ask Qiao Yue. Seeing the suspicion on Qiao Yus face, Qiao Yue replied coolly, Ive had it once by chance, and it tasted good, so I remembered it. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue a few more times and didnt doubt him. These two dishes were cheap, and ordinary folk could afford to eat them. When everyone was about 60% full, some ssmates started to mor about singing. The private room that could amodate 20 to 30 people was naturallyrge enough, and there was a singing area next to the dining area. Turning the lights at the dining area off and lights in the singing area on immediately brought on a party atmosphere. They were all eighteen or neen-year-old kids, and everyone could sing a few words when they got the microphone. They had even more fun with the help of alcohol. Qiao Yue was lying on the sofa. Although there was noisy music in her ears, she was still sleepy. She had been forced to drink too much just now. She could hardly keep her eyes open now. Qiao Yue was about to close her eyes when someone pulled her. She opened her eyes and saw that it was the boy who had introduced her to her new ssmates. Why are you lying down? Quickly get up. We are ying a game. The boy grabbed Qiao Yues arm and prepared to pull him up. Qiao Yue moved her arm to shake off the boy and mumbled, y what game? Im tired. Im going to take a nap. How can you be down with so little alcohol? Qiao Yue, you must build your alcohol tolerance! Youre too weak! The dissatisfied boy stood in front of Qiao Yue, and scolded her with a smile. Although she was tired, Qiao Yue was still conscious. If it wasnt for the fact that she didnt want to move now, she would have punched the boy. She had bottoms up with 20 to 30 people and she still needed to build her alcohol tolerance? At this moment, Qiao Yu walked over and gave the boy a friendly punch in the head. What are you doing? Bullying my little brother while Im not around? Qiao Yus smile was still gentle but it had a sinister quality. No, I wouldnt dare, President! Its only because Jiang Qing and the others wanted to invite Qiao Yue for a game that I came over! The boy hugged his head exaggeratedly and wailed at Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue and said, Alright, I think hes about to fall asleep. You guys go ahead and y. Well go over when he wakes up. Qiao Yu sat down beside Qiao Yue and covered him with a nket on the sofa. The boy tutted and thought to himself that when Qiao Yue woke up, it would probably be time to go home. It seemed that the girls n tonight was going to be ruined. Feeling the familiar aura, Qiao Yues tightly furrowed brows gradually rxed. She didnt know when, but a soft singing voice rang in her ears. It was different from the noisy sounds before, as if it was lulling her to sleep. The presidents singing voice is so good! He was even singing a love song and it melted my heart. Please forgive me for falling in love with the president again! One of the girls muttered to the girl beside her. Fall in love again? You fell out of love before? Didnt you say that youre the presidents forever fan? The girl next to her teased mercilessly. Its not that I didnt love him. Its just that little Qiao Yues handsome face is too much my type. And thats how Ive switch targets! When Qiao Yu started singing, the people around him all quieted down. Like Qiao Ze, Qiao Yu had a good voice too. Qiao Zes voice had a hint of seductiveness that drew people in. Qiao Yus voice was slightly deeper and his slow and soothing tone was captivating, especially when he sang. After one song, some of the pretty girls who had been distracted by Qiao Yues good looks returned to Qiao Yus fan club. Someone was about to p when Qiao Yu stopped him, pointing out that Qiao Yue was asleep. All the students looked at the two brothers strangely. Biological brothers usually grew up fighting each other, but these cousins were closer than biological brothers. However, since the president of the student union had said so, everyone could only move farther away to y their game. Under the dim light, Qiao Yus gaze unconsciously drifted to Qiao Yue, moving from the young mans cheek to his neck. After seeing the scar on the back of Qiao Yues neck, Qiao Yu still couldnt imagine what Qiao Yue had gone through to be injured like that. Qiao Yus hand slowly touched the circles of bandages wrapped around Qiao Yues neck. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his. Fourth brother? Qiao Yue opened her eyes, still sleepy. Chapter 72 - Truth or Dare

Chapter 72: Truth or Dare

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Yu felt a little awkward when Qiao Yue held his hand. He didnt know how he had woken Qiao Yue when he touched her bandage just now. He cleared his throat and asked, Youre awake? Qiao Yue rubbed her eyes and sat up. What time is it, fourth brother? Qiao Yu picked up his phone and looked at the time. 10:20 Qiao Yue used her muddled head topute the duration. She had slept for an hour, but it felt like she hadnt slept at all. Rubbing her temples, Qiao Yue asked again, Fourth brother, are we going home? Qiao Yu nced at the group of people who were still partying. Up to you. Do you want to stay here or go home? Just as Qiao Yue was about to answer, the group of people who were ying a game suddenly burst into cheers. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Before thest kiss sounded, there was a wave of wolf-whistles. Its been three or four hours, and these people were still not done! Qiao Yue felt helpless. She suddenly couldnt understand the vitality of youth. Someone with sharp eyes suddenly shouted that Qiao Yue was awake, giving her a fright. The boy who had introduced Qiao Yue to the others walked over first. Qiao Yue only remembered now that the boys name was Xu Hao, a sportsmittee member from Qiao Yus ss. No wonder he was so popr in ss. What are you two doing here? Come and y the game with us. Its boring without the two handsome guys in our ss. Xu Hao handed a ss of fruit juice to Qiao Yue to sober him up. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes as she drank the juice. This kids ability to lie through his teeth was really good! She didnt think that they would have less fun without her and Qiao Yu. Seeing that the crowd was about toe and grab them, Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu looked at each other and got up. It was really inelegant to be carried away. By the time Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu walked to the table where they were ying, seats had been reserved for them. They had no choice but to sit in the most conspicuous seats. They were ying Truth or Dare, and it seemed that Xu Hao was the one who suffered the worst punishment. He almost copsed after doing 40 push-ups. No wonder the sportsmittee member looked at them with malicious eyes just now. He was probably waiting for them experience it. They were drawing Jokers to determine who would ept the Truth or Dare challenge. Because there were less than 50 people, there would be instances where no one drew a Joker, or both Jokers were drawn. It was up to the person who drew the Joker to decide who would ask the question. In general, the person would pick a friend to ask the questions. After all, good friends understood each other better. If it was someone they liked, they would take the opportunity to y nice. However, there were also people who liked to sabotage each other like Xu Haos friend, who almost developed stitches fromughing when Xu Hao did the push-ups. After the game started, the students who were gathered in a circle rubbed their palms and stared at their targets with burning eyes. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly. Their wish to mess with her was probably going to be in vain. She had been taken to all kinds of casinos by godfather since she was a child. She was familiar with slot machines, ckjack, roulette, barat, dice, pai kow and many other games. If she didnt want to get the Joker, she could easily do it. Qiao Yue smiled as she drew cards with the others. Everyone was disappointed in the first round. Neither Qiao Yue nor Qiao Yu drew the Joker. The two girls who drew the Jokers, one chose Truth, the other Dare. Both of them asked the people next to them to ask the questions. The friend of the girl who chose Truth looked at Qiao Yu and smiled mysteriously. Two questions could be asked for Truth, but only one task could be assigned for Dare. So, the questioning began. The girls friend asked, Is there anyone you like here? Whats hisst name? Even in the dim light, the girls shyness could be seen. She replied in a low voice, Yes, his surname is Qiao. Oh, oh, oh! There was a burst of cheers. The girl lowered her head shyly, so no one could tell if she was talking about Qiao Yue or Qiao Yu. But even so, the cheering didnt stop, and everyones eyes were focused on the two. After Truth, it was Dares turn. This girls friend was not like the Truth girls friend. She swiped her phone with a smirk and handed it to the Dare girl. Please read this love letter to the person of the opposite sex closest to you. Chapter 73 - Punishment

Chapter 73: Punishment

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The girl took the phone and read what was on it. She almost spat out the juice in her mouth, choking and coughing. Youre mean! The girl forced out these words as she coughed. Hurry up, dont dilly-dally! Her friendughed out loud. The girl who chose Dare took a deep breath and walked up to a boy. She held up the phone and said, Im water, youre fire. Although were barelypatible, your most beautiful and true appearance has long been reflected in my heart Pfft! Hahaha, what the hell! Where did these words of lovee from? Theyre so outdated. The boy who was forced to listen to the love letter burst outughing. The girl nced at the boy with a look of despair and continued to read. No matter how bright the stars are, they cant be as bright as my heart. I know that I will never forget you. No matter how clear the moon is, it cant be as clear as my heart. I know that Ive fallen deeply in love with you. Ive spent the first half of my life wandering, and I want to spend the second half of my life making soup for you Boisterousughter in the room hadnt stopped since the girls first sentence. Fortunately, the girl was not a bashful person. Otherwise, she would have been so embarrassed that shed run away. Qiao Yue listened with great interest. This girl was a really good sport. Not only did she not get riled up by the crowd, but she became more fluent and emotional as she read. The boy blushed and his friends cheered as they watched. Finally, the girl put on an extremely affectionate expression. I think you are very much like a game that I like. The girl confessed. The boy was already cringing from the girls reading. He caved and asked, What game? My, world. Screams were apanied byughter. The boy pretended to hold his chest and said, I cant take it anymore, my HP bar is empty. After saying that, the boy fell in his friends direction, almost causing his friends to fall to the ground. After the girlughed along with everyone else, she went back and pinched the face of the girl who had given her the punishment. Youre pretty good at the game! Youd better not draw a Joker. With the girls epilogue, the jubnt crowd started the next round of Truth or Dare. The Truth questions included if people had kept their first kiss, when someone had their first kiss. Some even asked about the number of ambiguous rtionships one had had. The Dare tasks were a lot more interesting. Some yers were asked to reenact their first love confession, some were tasked to call their friends and pretend to be scammers. But most of the tasks were to create opportunities for boys and girls who hadnt had the chance to pair up. Naturally, Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu got many love confessions. It was already past 11 oclock, and Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu had to head home soon. The crowd was extremely dissatisfied that the two of them didnt receive any punishment. In thest round, they swapped cards manually and put the two Jokers in the hands of Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu. Truth or Dare. The peer tutor asked with a smile. Qiao Yue felt helpless. This group of people really wouldnt give up until theyd messed with them. Dare, Qiao Yue said. Me too, Qiao Yu followed. Xu Haoughed arrogantly and patted Qiao Yus shoulder. President, you and your brother are both very sensible! Qiao Yu nced at Xu Hao and said, You speak as if youll let us off if we chose Truth. Everyoneughed and answered, Of course not! What punishment? Qiao Yue asked with a sigh. There are two punishments for you to choose from. Naturally, well let you go if youplete them. If you cant, then were sorry! You wont be able to go home even if the Qiao family has a curfew. The peer tutors smile on her round face was still cute, but Qiao Yue felt that she was up to no good. Without giving them a chance to regret, the peer tutor said quickly, The first punishment is to princess carry anyone here, walk around the room once and then tell that person to give you a chance to pursue her. Qiao Yues forehead twitched when she heard this. She wasnt going to do that. Princess carry meant that she had to choose a girl, carry her around the room and then confess to her. What if the girl took it seriously? Wouldnt that be unfair to her? At the thought of this, Qiao Yue hurriedly asked, What about the other punishment? What is it? I choose the second option. Qiao Yu didnt expect Qiao Yue to pass the first punishment so hastily. He looked at Qiao Yue inquisitively. Chapter 74 - Sing “Conquer”

Chapter 74: Sing Conquer

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The peer tutor said without hesitation, Three U-boats and the song Exaggerated without getting a single word wrong! Qiao Yues head and stomach were still filled with alcohol. These people were serious about poking fun at them! The two of them looked at each other and Qiao Yu said after clearing his throat, Im not a good drinker. What he didnt say was, Why dont you do that? Qiao Yue nced at Xu Hao, who was excitedly preparing the U-boats. This kid actually used baijiu in one of them. Was he trying to knock her outpletely? Hehe! Have you two handsome guys decided? Well start once you have. The peer tutor said in high spirits, and the people around her followed suit. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with a focused gaze. I go first? Okay. Qiao Yue had just finished nodding when she was suddenly lifted. The room was silent for a moment before piercing screams rang out. Qiao Yue wasnt prepared at all. Her eyes were filled with shock as she stared at Qiao Yu. I have no choice. Xiao Yue, do fourth brother a favor! Qiao Yu gave Qiao Yue a bright smile. President, youre cheating! How can you carry Qiao Yue! One of the girls teased. Qiao Yu smiled gently and replied, There was no rule that say that I must carry a girl. Qiao Yue was princess carried by Qiao Yu. They walked from the sofa and circled the room. Qiao Yues face remained expressionless. She suddenly regretted that she didnt think of carrying Qiao Yu! As they walked, the girls in the group kept screaming. The two of them really looked too cute. The punishment was intended at finding out if these two school hunks had someone in their hearts or someone they liked. Who would have thought that one would carry his younger brother around? Who could say anything now? There was nothing to gossip about. Sister, quick, quick, take a picture! They look toopatible! Qiao Yue was like the submissive one in a male couple! The way he snuggled up to Qiao Yu was stuff of romance novels! I love it, I love it. Ill kowtow to these brothers as a sign of respect. A short-haired girl pulled the long-haired girl beside her and said excitedly. Fortunately, Qiao Yue didnt hear this. Otherwise, she would ask this girl to wash her eyes. From which angle did she see her snuggling up to Qiao Yu? Her limbs were stiff and her face was expressionless. The long-haired girl nodded vigorously, agreeing with her friends statement. She didnt forget to add, Just now, when Qiao Yu looked down at Qiao Yue, his doting expression melted my heart. I clearly like Qiao Yue, so why do I suddenly feel that Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu are a good match? Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu didnt know that after tonight, a mysterious organization would appear in their fan club, who would embellish the brotherly rtionship between the two. But thats a story for another day. Although Qiao Yue felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, Qiao Yu didnt. Qiao Yue was lighter than he had imagined, and his body was much softer. It wasnt hard to carry him. Qiao Yu subconsciously pinched Qiao Yues arm. Seeing Qiao Yues look of confusion, Qiao Yu smiled and said, Youre too light. Well need to feed you better in future. Qiao Yue gave Qiao Yu a helpless look. Brother, if you want to carry me, please focus on that. Dont think about other things. Qiao Yue felt that her current weight was just right, and she didntck muscles. However, Qiao Yu worked out frequently, and what he practiced was boxing. Hes stronger than the average guy, so it was easy to for him to carry her. Qiao Yu walked fast. It didnt take long for him to finish circling the room. After putting Qiao Yue down, Qiao Yu stood in front of her and said seriously to her, Give me a chance to pursue you. What could have been an overbearing and slightly greasy line actually had a lingering touch when spoken by Qiao Yu. It was even more alluring under the dim lights. The shrieks around them were endless. Before, it was all the girls who were excited, but now the boys were also teasing Qiao Yue to change into womens clothes and agree to Qiao Yus pursuit. Qiao Yue raised her brows slightly and the corners of her mouth curled into a smirk. You want to pursue me? The crowd didnt expect that there would be a follow-up after the punishment, and they waited eagerly for Qiao Yues reply. Qiao Yu also nodded cooperatively. Kneel down and sing Conquer. Pfft, hahaha! Xu Hao was the first tough out loud. Chapter 75 - A Princess Carry

Chapter 75: A Princess Carry

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Xu Haoughed as he sang a line from the song, Just like that, Im conquered by you, cutting off all escape routes. President, your brother is asking you to sing! Quick! You must sing your Conquer-ed heart! Xu Hao teased, and the people around him followed suit. Qiao Yu stepped forward and put his arm around Qiao Yues neck. He put on a fierce look as he tightened his grip. Kid, you want your brother to sing Conquer to you? And sing it kneeling down? No, no. I wouldnt dare. Im just kidding. Just kidding. Qiao Yue yed along and begged for mercy. Now that Qiao Yu was almost done with his punishment, it was Qiao Yues turn. Qiao Yue had already drunk about a case of beer. Because she didnt drink anything else, she was sleepy but clear-headed. But she had no idea what would happen after she drank the three U-boats with mixed alcohol. Amid the crowds cheers, Qiao Yue drank all three U-boats in one go. She wanted to get it over with quickly and sing the song before shes drunk. The song had already been selected. Seeing Qiao Yue pick up the microphone, the person sitting at the console pressed the y button. Qiao Yue started to sing with the musical apaniment. To the disappointment of some of her new ssmates, although she sang well, it wasnt as spectacr as they had imagined. The most unexpected thing tonight was Qiao Yus singing. But Qiao Yue had always surprised people, so everyone had high expectations of her. Qiao Yu stood to the side and watched Qiao Yue sing. Qiao Yues side profile looked gentler under the light from the screen. Perhaps because he was sleepy, Qiao Yues eyes were misty. He looked like a pitiful puppy waiting for its owners pampering. Qiao Yu was mesmerized; he only came back to his senses when the song ended. Seeing that both Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu had been punished, the students finally let them go. In the elevator, Qiao Yue leaned against the wall. She already felt the alcohol go to her head when she was singing just now. It seemed that she had drunk a little too much tonight. Qiao Yue heard Qiao Yu call the butler, asking him to send someone to pick them up. Uncle Fu, did you say that second brother is at Qingyue Restaurant too? And waiting for us downstairs? Qiao Yus voice was filled with confusion. Yes, fourth young master. Assistant Zheng has already called home. Alright, I got it. Qiao Yu ended the call and muttered under his breath, Why is second brother here to pick us up? Ive never seen him do that before. There was momentary silence in the elevator. Qiao Yue felt a hand on her forehead, and the cool touch made her open her eyes. Are you feeling sick? Qiao Yu asked gently. Qiao Yue looked up at Qiao Yu. His eyes were clear and filled with concern. Qiao Yue leaned forward, resting her head on Qiao Yus shoulder. Yes, I dont feel well. Qiao Yue thought she was just expressing her thoughts, but she sounded a little flirtatious to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu wrapped his arms around Qiao Yues shoulders, making him morefortable. Ill piggyback you when we are downstairs. Qiao Yu said softly. Its fine, I can walk. Qiao Yue mumbled. Qiao Yu didnt say more, but when the elevator reached the ground floor, he lifted Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue opened her eyes in confusion. Brother? Sleep! Well be in the car soon. Qiao Yue was so sleepy that she didnt have the mood to care about how Qiao Yu was carrying her. She just found afortable position and fell asleep. As soon as they arrived at the underground parking garage, Qiao Yu saw Qiao Jings car. Qiao Jings assistant in the car also saw them and quickly got out of the car to open the door for them. What happened to Master Yue? The assistant asked. Qiao Yu carefully ced Qiao Yue in the back seat and said in a low voice, He had too much to drink. My ssmates organized a wee party for Qiao Yue today. Just as Qiao Yu was about to get in, Qiao Jing said, Go sit in the front passenger seat. Qiao Yu frowned in dissatisfaction, not understanding why Qiao Jing was suddenly driving him away. But seeing Qiao Yues frowning face, he listened to Qiao Jing and sat in the front. After getting into the car, Qiao Yu still worriedly turned his head to look in the backseat. It would have been better if he hadnt looked because what he saw shocked him. He saw Qiao Jing pull Qiao Yue towards him to hold him. Although his movements were a little stiff, it was obvious that this was not his first time. What surprised Qiao Yu the most was that a cold-hearted person like his second brother would treat someone so tenderly, especially someone he had just met. Chapter 76 - A Strange Group Chat

Chapter 76: A Strange Group Chat

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qiao Jing also felt Qiao Yus gaze, and he looked at him coldly. Sit properly. Qiao Jing was a cold person, and so was his voice. Although Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu didnt like their second brother, Qiao Yu was still under Qiao Jings care and had to listen to him. As they drove, Qiao Yu peeked at the two people in the backseat through the rearview mirror from time to time, but he didnt see anything unusual anymore. There was less trafficte at nightpared to during the day. The summer breeze blew through the car windows, making the ride pleasant for everyone. Qiao Yue opened her eyes slightly, still confused about her surroundings. Brother? Her slightly hoarse voice instantly attracted the attention of the two men. Yes. Fifth brother, youre awake? The two people who answered Qiao Yue at the same time looked at each other and didnt speak again. Qiao Yues alcohol-soaked brain took a little while to fullyprehend her situation. Where are we now? Qiao Yue mumbled. Were almost home, Qiao Yu replied immediately. Qiao Yue turned her head to look out the window. They were indeed almost home. She could more or less see the gate of the Qiao family vi. How much did you drink? Suddenly, the person beside her spoke again. Qiao Yue knew that it was Qiao Jing who had asked her. She smiled and replied, Four bottles? Maybe five? I cant remember. Four or five bottles and youre already this drunk? Although Qiao Jings tone remained calm, Qiao Yue could hear the doubt in his voice and criticism that hes a better drinker than her. Yes. Qiao Yue lied without changing her expression. Qiao Yu didnt say a word. He just quietly listened to Qiao Yue lie and secretly gave him a thumbs up in his heart, thinking that he was a hero. As soon as they got home, Qiao Yues phone rang. She nced at the number and frowned slightly. She quickly sneaked back to her room giving the excuse that she wanted to sleep. Qiao Jing, who had wanted to talk to Qiao Yue, missed her. Whats wrong? Qiao Yue asked after picking up the call. As Qiao Yue was living with the Qiaos now, she couldnt reveal her identity. It was always her who called Chu Jia, never the other way around. Boss, godfather has sent word that Trand has sent people after you. You have to be careful. Chu Jias voice was anxious, clearly worried about her. Qiao Yue chuckled. Trand has recovered so quickly? Looks like the next bullet need to hit closer to his heart. Boss, how can you be so rxed? Hes a mad dog. We didnt kill himst time, and now hes going to kill us. Iming back with Stone and the rest. Please be careful in the next couple of days. No need, Qiao Yue stopped her. What? Chu Jia did not understand for a moment. You dont have toe back. You guys should have fun. Be careful. Qiao Yue said lightheartedly, as if she was in no danger. How can we do that? Boss, that mad dog doesnt care about the consequences when he bites! Chu Jia eximed. Its okay. Ill be going abroad in a few days. He wont be able to find me for a while. Going abroad? Where to? Are youing to Saint Peters Ind? After hearing Qiao Yues reason, Chu Jia was relieved and quickly asked Qiao Yue where she was going. Qiao Yue changed her clothes and cradled the phone between her neck and shoulder. To S-Country. Old Master Qiao is at a hospital there. Oh! I see! Chu Jia had a realization. Then, boss, theres nothing else on my side. Be careful. Qiao Yue hung up and frowned. She had underestimated the mad dog, Trand. She thought that he wouldy low for a while after the assassination attempt. She didnt expect him to take revenge so soon. It seemed that she had to be more careful when she went about her life in the next few days. Suddenly, her phone dinged. Qiao Yue nced at the screen and saw that she had been added into a group chat. Within seconds, there were five messages in the group chat, and the number was increasing rapidly. In the past, she would leave a group chat immediately when she was added without her knowledge. However, today, probably because of the alcohol, she opened the chat. The first message in the group was a video, followed by a row of love-struck emojis. Qiao Yue frowned and clicked on the video. Qiao Yus voice suddenly came from the phone. I go first? Okay. This question and answer came from a video of their Dare punishments. Qiao Yue then watched Qiao Yu pick her up and walk around the room. Chapter 77 - You Know Acupoints? Chapter 77: You Know Acupoints? Perhaps it was because of the angle of the camera, in Qiao Yues memory, it was just an ordinary princess carry where their bodies were even a little stiff, but the person who filmed it made it look like they were snuggling each other and flirting. Especially the part when Qiao Yu lowered his head and she raised hers. Special effects were added where hearts filled the screen. When their eyes met, it was as if there was an electric current. Qiao Yue had goosebumps all over her body as she watched the video. She remembered that she was still a boy! Was it appropriate for them to fool around like this? After watching the video, Qiao Yue scrolled down the chat. In just a short while, there were more than 40ments discussing her and Qiao Yus brotherhood. Qiao Yue quietly sent a speechless emoji. The entire chat group instantly fell silent. After a minute, someone finally asked, Who added Qiao Yue to the group? Qiao Yue was about to send a question mark when she was suddenly kicked out. Qiao Yue, who had never experienced such a situation before, was stunned on the spot holding her phone. Even her hand that was drying her hair stopped. After a while, Qiao Yue snapped out of her daze and couldnt help butugh. The students in her new ss were indeed very different from the students in her previous ss. Students from ss Three avoided her like the gue, but students from ss One organized a wee party for her. She was the first one to experience such contrasting treatments in the short time since she came to the school. Probably because of the alcohol in her system, Qiao Yue had no dreams that night and slept quite well. As expected, Qiao Yue received notice from Qiao Jing the next day that he would take her to S-Country the day after tomorrow. The reason was that its mid-autumn festival in two days and they had a three-day holiday. Qiao Jing was going to take this time to bring Qiao Yue to meet Old Master Qiao. Qiao Jing announced this over breakfast and everyone at the table had different expressions when they heard it. Since Qiao Xin didnt want to be in the same car as Qiao Yue, the butler had to prepare a separate car for Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu sat in Qiao Yues car with a dispirited look on his face. Although he didnt drink as much as Qiao Yue, he still had a lot to drink, especially red wine. The hangover effects were bad, and he still had a headache. You didnt sleep well? Qiao Yue asked when he saw Qiao Yus annoyed face. Qiao Yu lowered his head and mumbled, Mm. Just as he was about to take a nap in the car, a slightly cold hand suddenly touched his neck, giving him a fright. Qiao Yus eyes widened as he looked at Qiao Yue warily. What are you doing? Qiao Yue couldnt help but raise her eyebrows when she saw Qiao Yus big reaction. Dont move. Ill help you relieve your headache. Relieve my headache? Qiao Yu asked back. Qiao Yue didnt answer, but forcefully turned Qiao Yus shoulders and used both her thumbs to massage his Feng Chi acupoint. At first, Qiao Yu scoffed at Qiao Yues method, but gradually, Qiao Yu felt that his headache was getting better. Qiao Yue then massaged other parts of his body, and five minutester, Qiao Yu was surprised to find his headachepletely gone. Qiao Yue, you know acupoints? Qiao Yu asked in surprise. I dont really know much, just a little. Qiao Yue replied. When the two of them arrived at their ss, most of the other students were already there. Some looked lethargic while others looked excited. The excited ones were basically talking about the wee partyst night. A few girls expressions changed when they saw Qiao Yue, and they lowered their voices. Seeing the girls guilty expressions, Qiao Yue immediately thought of the person who kicked her out of the chat groupst night. Qiao Yue revealed her signature smile as she walked slowly to their desks and said, The group chatst night was quite interesting. Why did you kick me out? The girl sitting on the far right said softly, Its not interesting. Its not interesting. Were just fooling around and chatting in private. Qiao Yue, dont be angry. Oh? In private? Qiao Yue questioned them back. The girl in the middle nodded vigorously. Yes, yes! Thats a group of only the girls in our ss. I dont know how you got in. Qiao Yue cocked an eyebrow. Thats strange. She really didnt notice who added her. Hence, she chuckled and said, Next time, if you add me again, dont kick me out. After saying that, Qiao Yue walked back to her seat. After a few steps, she seemed to have thought of something and turned around. The girls were shocked, thinking that Qiao Yue might still be angry. Who knew that Qiao Yues next words would make their jaws drop. They heard Qiao Yue say, Just tell me if you like me. Dont go overboard though. I dont mind normal confessions. Chapter 78 - The Miracle-working Dr. Lu Chapter 78: The Miracle-working Dr. Lu Qiao Yue actually was not interested in such things. It was just that the weing party was proposed by the peer tutor and these girls are quite close to her. Moreover, she seemed to have seen the peer tutor in the chat group yesterday. Since they were willing to show her kindness, she could return the favor. At this time, Qiao Yu was lying on his deskzily. Perhaps it was because of Qiao Yue, who knew his secret, Qiao Yu was a lot more rxed these days. He didnt wear a mask all the time like before. When he saw Qiao Yue, he asked, What did you chat about for such a long time? We talked about something that they like, Qiao Yue said with a smile. Qiao Yues happy expression made Qiao Yu a little jealous. Why did he suddenly feel that Qiao Yue treated those girls better than him? Youre a dude, how do you know what girls like? Qiao Yu asked. Qiao Yue smiled mysteriously. I know a little. If fourth brother wants to pursue a girl, I can probably give you some tips. Seeing that he couldnt get anything out of Qiao Yue, Qiao Yu tutted and ignored Qiao Yue. At noon, Qiao Yue was having lunch with Qiao Yu in the cafeteria when a message popped up on her phone. It was Lu Ying. I heard from master that youreing to S-Country with the Qiao family. Which flight are you taking? Qiao Yue picked up her phone and replied, You are done already? Hes cured? Of course! Look whos the one doing it!, Lu Ying replied. Yes, yes, yes! You are the famous miracle-working Dr. Lu. You have been a legend in the field since master retired. Qiao Yue replied indifferently. Her messaging buddy seemed to have been choked by Qiao Yues mindless ttery and didnt reply for a long time. Qiao Yu saw that Qiao Yue had finally put down his phone and asked, What are you chatting about? So busy even during lunch. Didnt second brother say that he would bring me to meet Old Master Qiao? I am so happy so I talked to my friend about it. He was asking me! Qiao Yues lies were extremely smooth. You have friends? Qiao Yu was surprised. Brother Ze said once that he was going to pick up Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yu he didnt go with him. Qiao Yues friend that hes chatting with was probably someone from the vige. Of course! But after I returned to the Qiao family, weve been in less contact. Qiao Yue wasnt lying. She had a few friends in every industry. She saw them frequently in the past when she was managing KA. After she handed over KA to Chen Qing and returned to the Qiao family, she naturally had less contact with them. Invite them over sometime. No one will restrict your freedom even if youve returned to the Qiao family. You can contact your friends if you want to. I can also take you guys out and show you around. Qiao Yu said sincerely. Qiao Yue was touched and amused at the same time. If she had really brought her friends here, Qiao Yu would probably be shocked! At this moment, Qiao Yue received another message on her phone. What legend? I didnt do those things. I dont know who used my name to swindle people and somehow managed to cure them. Qiao Yue replied with a speechless emoji. Which teenager hadnt done a few stupid things? Why did this group of people remember hers and still tease her every now and then? Obviously, Qiao Yue had forgotten that she was the one who brought this up. Lu Ying sent another message quickly. Why didnt you save Old Master Qiao yourself? Why did you ask master to specially call me back? Its too troublesome to exin. Besides, the outside world only knows that master has one disciple called Lu Ying. My name is not Lu Ying. Qiao Yues message was apanied by a smiling emoji, which really angered Lu Ying. He forcefully manipted the dislocated arm of a person back into its shoulder join and the man screamed in pain. Its done, The man in sses and a white coat said coldly. Thank you, Dr. Lu. You are a miracle-working doctor. The man was in so much pain that he broke out in a cold sweat and was about to curse out loud, but when he moved his arm, it waspletely fine. The vulgarities that were about toe out of his mouth immediately turned into words of gratitude. Sure. You can go now. Normally he wouldnt treat such minor ailments, but he knew this patients friend, and had to give him face by doing him this favor. Looking at Qiao Yues message on his phone, Lu Ying abandoned his cold image and rolled his eyes. Chapter 79 - Thieves Chapter 79: Thieves To Lu Ying, that was truly a dark period of time. He and Qiao Yue were thest disciples of the old doctor. Qiao Yue joinedter and he was the old doctors adopted son who grew up by his side. Logically speaking, he should have learned better and finished his apprenticeship earlier. However, he was afraid of misdiagnosing patients or sticking the needle in the wrong ce among other things that he didnt dare to see patients alone. Instead, he let Qiao Yue, who joined the sect at the age of 14, treat patients before him. He wouldnt mind if Qiao Yue was simply more talented and had better attitude than him. After all, there were many geniuses in the world, and he happened to meet one. However, hes not pleased that Qiao Yue didnt use her own name to practice medicine. Instead, she used his name and left much of the follow-up work on the almost cured patients to him. Qiao Yue became more outrageous after he cleaned up after her a few times. Whenever she encountered a difficult case, she would leave his name and contact information with the patient, while she happily disappeared. As time went by, he gradually got used to treating patients. He honed his medical skills, and was no longer afraid of treating patients. Reminiscing, Lu Ying let out a long sigh and picked up his phone to type, What time are you arriving? Ill pick you up. Qiao Yues reply came very quickly. In less than two minutes, Qiao Yues message appeared. No, no, no. Ill be travelling with the Qiaos. Why would youe to pick me up? Lets catch up when Im there. Lu Ying knew that Qiao Yue was busy again and did not reply to her message. In fact, sometimes he wondered how long it would take for him to be able to practice medicine if Qiao Yue didnt do those things. In a few months? A few years? Or more than a decade? People tend to live in theirfort zones if no one pushed them. Qiao Yue felt that time passed very slowly in thest two days, probably because she was thinking about something. The atmosphere in the Qiao residence was extremely tense because Qiao Jing said that he was going to take Qiao Yue to see the old master. What did it mean when Qiao Yue met Old Master Qiao? It meant that if he received Old Master Qiaos approval, he would officially be part of the Qiao family and have a right to the Qiao inheritance. Like the rest of the Qiao family, he would be able to get a share of the old masters inheritance after his death. How could this not make some people jealous? On the night before the holiday, Qiao Xin bumped into Qiao Yue on campus. Qiao Xin said aggressively Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue, are you really going with second brother tomorrow? Obviously! Qiao Yue replied nonchntly, leaning against a tree. I wont allow you to go! Your mother was kicked out of the family by Grandpa. What right do you have toe back? You think that you are like the rest of us? Qiao Xins eyes were red as she tried to keep her voice down. Qiao Yue raised her eyes and looked at Qiao Xin. My legs are mine. Where I go is none of your business! Qiao Yue! Do you have any sense of shame? Even a beggar has more dignity than you! Your mother was a thief, and so are you! Youre here to steal from my family! Qiao Xin saw that her mother had been worried in the past two days about Qiao Yue meeting her grandfather. She was also upset, but there was nothing she could do. She could only find Qiao Yue to make him back off. Qiao Xin, was the previous lesson not enough? Do you need me to remind you? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Xin coldly. Qiao Xin was really skilled at courting death. She knew that her mother was her Achilles heel and yet she brought her up every time. Qiao Yue didnt take any action because Qiao Xin was underage. If Qiao Xin really pissed her off, she didnt know if Qiao Xin would be able to see the sun tomorrow. Qiao Xin trembled from Qiao Yues stare, but her domineering nature from a young age made her unable to lower herself. She pouted and said, Your mother was a thief, and you dont admit it! What right do you have to stay in the Qiao family? You are the sinner of the Qiao family! Qiao Yues eyes were filled with anger. Very well, she really wasnt afraid of death. Suddenly, Qiao Yue stood in front of Qiao Xin and grabbed her neck. You said my mother was a thief. What did she steal from you? Tell me! The murderous intent in Qiao Yues eyes was obvious; she didnt hide it at all. Qiao Xins neck was being held by Qiao Yue. Although she was being strangled, she could still speak. Qiao Yue had always been precise in her strength control. She was no fool. She couldnt do something like strangling someone to make them talk. Chapter 80 - A Final Warning Chapter 80: A Final Warning Qiao Xin wasnt sure if it was because her life was threatened that a light bulb went on in her head. She grabbed Qiao Yues hands with hers to give herself space to breathe. I, ahem, I dont know what exactly she stole, but I, uh, know that your mother must have stolen it. Qiao Xin took a deep breath and continued, If you dont believe me, you can ask any of the elders in the Qiao family. They all know about it. Qiao Yue frowned deeply when she heard this. Qiao Xin had no reason to lie to her at this time. So, what exactly did her mother steal? Qiao Yue shook off Qiao Xins hands with great force and took out a tissue to wipe her hands as if she had touched something dirty. Qiao Xin couldnt care less about Qiao Yues actions. She fell to the ground and started panting. What suffocated her wasnt Qiao Yues strength, but her oppression. It was as if she was being stared at by a beast that would tear her into pieces if she said anything wrong. Qiao Xin couldnt stop crying. She had always been a princess admired by many since young, but why? Why did everyone change when they met Qiao Yue? On what basis? At the thought of this, Qiao Xin couldnt help but re at Qiao Yue angrily. She didnt expect that Qiao Yue was also looking at her and looked away quickly. Qiao Yue sneered. Qiao Xin, even though you havent told me your reasons for picking on me, I can only think of three. First, your family will get less inheritance once Im back in the Qiao family. Second, I stole the limelight from you, the princess of the Qiao family, but this is quite strange because how does a boy steal the limelight from a princess? I dont get it. And the third reason, because second brother seems to be paying more attention to mepared to you. Qiao Xins breathing stopped. Qiao Yue had psychoanalyzed her perfectly and all her dark thoughts had been exposed. Why did he do this? Youre curious why Im telling you all this, right? Qiao Yue was clearly smiling, but Qiao Xin felt extremely cold. Because Im giving you a final warning. No matter what you do, its just a clowns trick to me. Youre worried that Ill take away some of the Qiao familys assets, but theres nothing you can do if the old master decides to take me back. Not only you. Your mother couldnt do anything either. As for your jealousy and resentment, the admiration and love you crave had to be given by others. Whats the point of being jealous and resentful? Ask yourself, without all these, what do you have left? Qiao Yues words were like a sharp knife, but also a hypnotizing pocket watch. Qiao Xins mind followed them unconsciously. Unknowingly, Qiao Xins tears had covered her entire face and she looked embarrassing. Qiao Yue had a bad habit. If the person whom she defeated wasnt truly evil, she would remind them to try to change their ways. If that person continued to act stubborn and continued to find trouble with her, she would be ruthless. Just as Qiao Yue turned to leave, she heard Qiao Xin say in a low voice, Qiao Yue, you said that Im useless, then what about you? What do you have thats worthy of attention? Qiao Yue could still hear the resentment in Qiao Xins voice, but it was less vicious. Qiao Yue watched the teenagers who were ying carefreely on the basketball court from afar and chuckled, Something worthy of attention? Its probably because they want to know something from me! Qiao Yue didnt give Qiao Xin a chance to ask more questions and left. In Qiao Yues eyes, Qiao Xin was just an immature, naughty child. When she was bad, she was really bad and made you want to kill her. But in the end, the main reason naughty children behaved this way was because their parents didnt teach them well. So, Qiao Yue gave Qiao Xin a warning. What she did next was up to her. However, Qiao Yue had said a lot since she came back but very few people listened. Qiao Xin was a little stunned as she watched Qiao Yue leave. Qiao Yue was older than her by less than a year but he seemed to have experienced a lot. Although she used to think that Qiao Yue was scary, she believed that Qiao Yue would not dare to touch her no matter what until today. She didnt think so now. If it wasnt because she was sure that Qiao Yues mother had stolen something, she believed that Qiao Yue would really beat her to death just now. Chapter 81 - A Warning About Paralysis Chapter 81: A Warning About Paralysis The next morning, Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing got on a ne to S-Country. Although Qiao Jing had suggested that they take the Qiaos private jet, Qiao Yue felt it was too ostentatious and refused. For the convenience of visiting the old master, Qiao Jings assistant booked them rooms at a hotel near the hospital Old Master Qiao was at. The eldest son of the Qiao family, Qiao Xuan, would also arrive in S-Country in the afternoon. Qiao Yue received a text message from Lu Ying as soon as she stepped into her room. I saw you just now. Free toe out for a get-together? What get-together? What would Qiao Jing think if he saw us together? Qiao Yue quickly typed and sent this message. After more thought, Qiao Yue typed another message, Where did you see me? In the hallway. You passed by my room when I opened the door. Its been a long time since west met. Why dont you sneak out tonight and we find a ce topare notes on acupuncture? The acupuncture that Lu Ying was talking about was not the kind used in martial arts in wuxia novels, but the kind used as medical treatment. There were many aspects of acupuncture. For example, which acupoint to insert the needle, how deep the needle should be inserted, to achieve what kind of effect. Countless practice was required before the practitioner could do this with precision. It was also necessary for the practitioner to have a helper whos proficient in acupuncture so that any problem that arose could be solved immediately. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows and replied impolitely, What notes do we need topare? Compare who will paralyze a patient first by way of acupuncture? Qiao Yue had indeed done this before. In her first year studying traditional Chinese medicine, when she graduated from inserting needles into herself to inserting needles into others. The subject of her experiment was naturally Lu Ying, under the supervision of the older Dr. Lu. Qiao Yue grew up skating on thin ice and surviving hardships, so she was very bold. She didnt hesitate at all when inserting the first needle into Lu Ying. When she was inserting the second needle, a flying bug suddenly burrowed into Lu Yings nose causing him to sneeze. Although Qiao Yue withdrew the needle in time, the needle still went a little deep on that acupoint and caused Lu Ying to copse into the single bed. Both Qiao Yue and the older Dr. Lu were shocked. After the older Dr. Lus examination, Lu Ying was diagnosed with hemiplegia. Qiao Yue then watched the older Dr. Lu demonstrate how to treat hemiplegia. The older Dr. Lu inserted 32 needles in total and managed to cure Lu Ying. That was the first time Lu Ying was traumatized by Qiao Yue. Although it wasnt Qiao Yues fault, she did almost paralyze him. After that incident, Lu Ying didnt let Qiao Yue get close to him for half a month. Seeing that Qiao Yue brought up his sore point again, Lu Ying hurriedly replied, Its fine if you dont want toe out. Ill find your eldest brother when he arrivester to discuss the old masters condition. You cane along too. Qiao Yue thought about it and agreed. She had never met the eldest son of the Qiao family, Qiao Xuan. She was also curious about the person Qiao Yu tried to emte all the time. But what Qiao Yue didnt expect was that she waited from noon to night, and even took a nap, before Qiao Jing knock on her door to tell her that Qiao Xuan had arrived. Qiao Yue woke up from her dream, rubbing her eyes. It wasnt a pleasant dream. She dreamed of her mothers death. She didnt know if it was because of Qiao Xin that she kept thinking about what her mother had stolen. She hadnt had a chance to ask Qiao Jing about it yet, and decided to wait until she was done visiting the old master. Brother, please go ahead first. Ill wash my face quickly ande. Qiao Yue shouted at the door. As soon as Qiao Yue finished speaking, Qiao Jings voice came from outside the door, Alright, well be in Room 5706. Qiao Yue washed her face and looked at herself in the mirror. For a moment, she was in a trance. She actually looked a lot like her mother when she was young, but as she grew up and experienced many things, there was a bit of ferocity in her eyes, and she looked more fearless. She looked a little androgynous while her mother looked delicate even in photos, with bright eyes, beautiful but unattainable. Realizing that her thoughts had gone astray again, Qiao Yue quickly collected herself and went into the bedroom to change. Perhaps she was used to the leisurely life in the mountain vige that the developed the habit of daydreaming. If this happened in the past, she would have died hundreds of times over. After straightening her clothes in front of the mirror, Qiao Yue left the room. Qiao Jing was staying in the room next to hers, and Room 5706 was two doors down. It was Assistant Zheng who opened the door. Qiao Yue peered into the room and saw two people she didnt know. Chapter 82 - An Extraordinary Gentleman Chapter 82: An Extraordinary Gentleman To be precise, there was only one person who caught Qiao Yues attention C the man standing next to Qiao Jing, who was also looking at her. Qiao Yue was stunned. She finally met the person Qiao Yu tried to emte. When people said, He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks, they were referring to Qiao Xuan. There was a warm smile on his delicate face. Unlike Qiao Yu, Qiao Xuans warmth came from the heart, making people feel like they were walking on air just by looking at him. Among the three people who knew medicine here, Qiao Xuan was the most suitable to be a doctor. Although Qiao Yues medical skills were good, she always had a frivolous look. But when she got serious, she was terrifying. This made the patients who see her feel like they were riding a roller coaster. Lu Ying, on the other hand, was too serious. He usually met strangers with a cold face, and when hes with patients, he was even more serious. To the point that people didnt even dare to breathe too loudly. Therefore, it was rare to find a doctor like Qiao Xuan whom patients trust, and he made his patients feelfortable. Moreover, Qiao Yue had heard rumors about her eldest brother. Qiao Xuan became the chief physician at the Beijing Chinese Medical Association Hospital at a young age. He had made great contributions to medical research in C-Country and was also an adjunct professor at several medical schools. Not only that, since he established the Medical Assistance Foundation, he had been helping needy patients suffering from major diseases. He also gave personal attention to the foundation from time to time. If he encountered a particrlyplicated case, he would even make house calls to treat the patient at home. Qiao Xuans acts of kindness were not limited to these. Whenever there was a natural disaster in C-Country, he would disregard the danger and bring his team there. Qiao Xuans medical team was the first to arrive almost every time. Seeing that Qiao Yue was in a daze staring at Qiao Xuan, Assistant Zheng cleared his throat. Qiao Yue snapped out of her daze and quickly walked up to Qiao Xuan to introduce herself. Hello, first brother. Im Qiao Yue. Qiao Xuan didnt expect Qiao Yue to be so proactive. He was stunned for a moment before he replied with a smile, Hello, fifth brother. After the two met, Qiao Jing introduced Lu Ying to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue greeted him politely, and the two of them acted as if they didnt know each other. Now that everyone was present, Qiao Jing began to ask about the old masters condition and treatment. Listening to their conversation, Qiao Yue knew that Lu Ying had already seen Old Master Qiao. Of the three people who knew medicine, only Qiao Yue didnt know what was going on with the patient. Ive wanted to try open craniotomy on Grandpa but it was too risky for an old man, so I ask the miracle-working Dr. Lu to try acupuncture first. If that doesnt work, well do the open craniotomy. All Qiao Yue knew now was that the old master was unconscious. She didnt know the details, so she couldnt reallye to any conclusion by listening to Qiao Xuan and Lu Yings conversation. Hence, Qiao Yue turned her attention to Qiao Xuan. The sons of the Qiao family all had distinguishing characteristics. The eldest, Qiao Xuan, was gentle and warm, like the rising sun. The second, Qiao Jing, was cold and indifferent to things that didnt interest him. The third, Qiao Ze, was direct and pure-hearted. As for the fourth, Qiao Yu, it was hard to describe his personality. He seemed to have lost his own personality after emting Qiao Xuan most of the time. Feeling Qiao Yues gaze on him, Qiao Xuan looked over after he finished speaking. Their eyes met, and Qiao Xuan saw the slightly roguish young man smile at him. He could feel Qiao Yues kindness but he didnt expect Qiao Yue to be so even-tempered with him. He had heard from Qiao Ze how Qiao Yue had left them behind when he and Qiao Jing first went to pick him up. Although Qiao Xuan had been busytely, he would still hear about Qiao Yue whenever Qiao Ze called him. Qiao Ze said that their fifth brother was very mysterious. The information clearly stated that he was a child raised in the countryside, but on the first day they met, Qiao Yue rode a Dodge Tomahawk and left them far behind. And at the Qiao residence when Qiao Yue was provoked by Qiao Xin, he shot Qiao Xins snow wolf with a gun, making himself a sworn enemy of Qiao Xin. ording to Qiao Ze, Qiao Yue fought very well. It didnt look like he learned it from fighting on the streets but from professional training. Chapter 83 - A Devoted Person Chapter 83: A Devoted Person Qiao Xuan had been curious about his fifth brother since he heard about him. He always wondered what hes like in person. Noticing that Qiao Xuan was staring at her, Qiao Yue winked at him mischievously. This stunned Qiao Xuan. He couldnt help but cover his mouth with his fist to prevent others from seeing him smile. Qiao Yue stared at the smile in Qiao Xuans eyes and couldnt look away. His every move seemed attractive to her. Big brother. Qiao Jings sudden cold voice caught Qiao Yues eyes. Qiao Xuans smile hadntpletely disappeared when he turned to look at Qiao Jing. Whats wrong? Dr. Lu asked if you can be at the hospital at eight tomorrow morning. For some reason, Qiao Yue detected a hint of displeasure in Qiao Jings voice. Im fine with anything. No problem. Qiao Xuan turned to look at Lu Ying as he spoke, his smile still warm. They were going to have dinner together after the meeting, but Lu Ying and Qiao Xuan were both busy, so the dinner didnt happen. Qiao Yues eyes were glued to Qiao Xuan until he left. What were you looking at? Qiao Jing walked up to Qiao Yue and asked. Qiao Yue was snapped out of her daze by Qiao Jing. Nothing. Brother, are you going back to your room? Qiao Yue asked. I have to attend a video conferenceter, Qiao Jing replied. Qiao Yue nodded. Excellent. It looked like she could sneak out tonight. I see! Youd better go back soon. Im going back to my room to sleep. Qiao Jing frowned slightly at Qiao Yues sudden change in attitude, but he went back to his room as Qiao Yue wished. As expected, Qiao Yue received a text message from Lu Ying as soon as she returned to her room. Attaboy, Ill meet you there. Attaboy was one of the most famous bars in B-City of S-Country. It was hidden in a rtively quiet street. There was no menu, but a bartender would appear quickly when someone sat down. As all cocktails at Attaboy were custom-made, there would be a bartender to personally understand the customers preferences and mood. While drinking, customers would also be treated to some special dishes. This was why Lu Ying loved Attaboy. Qiao Yue replied with an OK and sneaked out of the hotel after making sure that both Qiao Jing and Qiao Xuan were busy. She took a taxi and headed straight to Attaboy. The bar wasnt big and was divided into two floors. In fact, it felt more like a pub. Qiao Yue went to the second floor with familiarity and saw Lu Ying sitting in the corner at a nce. You came out pretty quickly this time, Lu Ying said with a smile as Qiao Yue sat down. Qiao Yue looked at Lu Yings drink and raised her eyebrows. The usual? Yes, Lu Ying responded and took another sip of his drink. Youre really devoted, Qiao Yue chuckled. The bartender arrived at the right time and asked Qiao Yue, Mr. Qiao, a dry martini as usual? Sure. Ill have a daiquiriter. Qiao Yue added. Coming right up. After the bartender left, Lu Ying revisited the previous subject. If you say Im devoted, arent you the same? Lu Ying looked at Qiao Yue intensely under the dim light and said. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows and took a bite of a fruit in front of them. I just like the way the bartender makes it here. Dont you order a vesper martini everywhere you go? Word had it that vesper martini was the favorite drink of the girl Lu Ying liked, but the girl didnt survive her terrible illness and died. Well, I also just like the taste of this cocktail. Seeing that Lu Ying was not willing to talk about it, Qiao Yue dropped the subject. Instead, she talked to Lu Ying about thest patient he treated. Didnt thest patient say that he couldnt make it anymore? Why? Are you asking the master for advice? Qiao Yue teased. Lu Ying instantly retracted his smile. This girl was making fun of him again. However, he had to admit that her medical skills were indeed better than his. Before contacting their teacher, he had discussed the patients case with Qiao Yue. With the details Lu Ying gave her and half a month of observation, Qiao Yue gave him some suggestions. Although he trusted Qiao Yue, he still contacted their teacher just in case. He only dared to treat the patient after their teacher came to the same conclusion. Fortunately, the oue was good. Lu Ying reached out and gently knocked Qiao Yues head. Teacher asked you to visit him more often. Hes afraid that youll forget him. In a while! I wont be able to leave the Qiao family in the near future. Chapter 84 - Being Cared For Chapter 84: Being Cared For Speaking of the Qiao family, I noticed that Qiao Xuan was looking at you strangely today. Did he recognize you? Lu Ying asked with a frown. Qiao Yue was stunned and asked in confusion, Recognize me? Have I met Qiao Xuan before? Her memory had always been good, and Qiao Xuan was such an outstanding person. She would remember if they had met before. Three years ago, at a gathering between Chinese and western medicine practitioners. Qiao Xuan had noticed you then. Lu Ying replied. Qiao Yue was really shocked now. Why didnt she notice that Qiao Xuan was there too? That shouldnt be the case! She would have noticed someone like Qiao Xuan right away. Lu Ying saw the shock on Qiao Yues face and knew that she had forgotten. So, he cleared his throat and said, He gave a speech on the first day, but you missed it because you had a cold. There were too many people from the western medicine side over the next two days. He was surrounded by people, so you probably didnt see him. Eh? Is that so? After Lu Yings detailed exnation, Qiao Yue did have some impression. She had been very busy then juggling medical school, the organization and KA. She was constantly tired and frustrated; she had no time to pay attention to anything else. How did you know he noticed me? Qiao Yue asked curiously. Lu Yings body stiffened at Qiao Yues question. He touched his nose and replied, I heard about it by chance. Lu Yings vague answer made Qiao Yue even more curious. She asked further, Where did you hear that? I dont remember. I only know that it happened. By the way, you said that your medical skills are so good. Why did they look for me? Dont they find it troublesome? Lu Ying changed the subject to stop Qiao Que from asking further. Qiao Yue nced at him and replied, Its problematic. The more they know, the more they wonder. Besides, the Qiao family doesnt trust me. Why should I get involved in this mess? Lu Yingughed. Why did you go back if its so problematic. Arent you just asking for trouble? No choice. Its my mothers dying wish. Qiao Yue replied. However, she had another reason to stay here now. What did her mother steal from the Qiao family? Lu Ying raised his hand and clinked sses with Qiao Yue. Qiao Yues reflection filled his beautiful eyes. If you need me, just let me know. Lu Ying said seriously. Qiao Yues eyes squinched up as she smiled. Definitely. I dont need to find anyone else when the miracle-working Dr. Lu is at my disposal. So, Ill ask you now to give your best when treating Old Master Qiao. Thats already a big help. Lu Ying rubbed Qiao Yues head and asked, When do you n to return to your female form? Arent you envious when you see other girls in dresses? When Lu Ying mentioned this, Qiao Yue suddenly realized that she hadnt worn womens clothes in a long time. However, she didnt really think about dressing up because its more convenient to do things as a boy. Its quite alright! No ns yet. Looking at the time, Qiao Yue gulped down the drink just served by the waiter and got up to pay the bill. Leaving so soon? Why dont you stay a little longer? Lu Ying asked as he followed behind Qiao Yue. If Qiao Jing finds out that Ive sneaked out, Ill be in trouble. Qiao Yue couldnt help but recall the previous misunderstanding. Qiao Jing? Are you afraid of him? Lu Ying asked in surprise. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes and smiled. She was not afraid of him but she cherished the special attention that Qiao Jing gave her. She did not want to disappoint him again, so she willingly shackled herself. Im not afraid of him. I just feel that its nice to be cared for like that. Seeing the smile on Qiao Yues face, Lu Yings face suddenly darkened, and a bitter smile appeared on his face unwittingly. By the way, will only you and Qiao Xuan be allowed in the ward tomorrow for Old Master Qiaos acupuncture? Or will everyone be allowed? Qiao Yue suddenly turned around and asked. Lu Ying stopped in his tracks and quickly reverted his expression. Only two people are allowed in the ward. I think there might be other reasons why Old Master Qiao has been unconscious for so long. Lu Ying replied. Actually, Qiao Yue had sensed that something was wrong when she heard Lu Ying and Qiao Xuans discussion today. It was just that she couldnt say anything in her position. It seemed that Lu Ying had also sensed it. Everything would be revealed at the acupuncture session tomorrow. Chapter 85 - A Familiar Figure Chapter 85: A Familiar Figure Qiao Yue wasnt the only one talking about acupuncture at this moment. Qiao Xuan was doing the same. Qiao Xuan was leaning back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked exhausted. He had just operated on a patient before he came to S-Country and he had been up for almost 24 hours. He didnt sleep well on the ne. He could finally rx for a while now that he had some downtime. Do you think that Dr. Lu can really wake Grandpa up? Qiao Xuan asked his assistant. The assistant thought for a moment before he said, Dr. Lu is an internationally renowned TCM practitioner. He should be able to help the old master. Dont you already have a backup n if TCM didnt work? Qiao Xuan sighed. He really didnt want to operate on his grandfather unless it was absolutely necessary. Although Western medicine worked more quickly, it also harmed the human body to a certain extent. TCM methods, on the other hand, were gentler. Acupuncture plus medicine could supplement the deficiencies in the patients body and help the body recover. His grandfather was already advanced in age. Risk of surgery would be higher for himpared to younger patients. Recovery would take longer. He was therefore eager to see Dr. Lus treatment work on this grandfather. If I wasnt so busy now, I would also like to learn TCM. Qiao Xuanughed. TCM was very well established in C-Country. Just the art of acupuncture was something people admired and respected. Qiao Xuan recalled the time when he saw an old TCM doctor used acupuncture to help an anorexic patient eat at a Chinese and western medicine symposium a few years ago. It shocked him beyond belief. Qiao Xuan suddenly remembered something else when he thought about the symposium. He thought that Qiao Yue looked familiar when he first met him. On second thought, Qiao Yues figure, side profile, and voice were all very simr to the other disciple of the older Dr. Lu. The first time he heard of the older Dr. Lu was because of a patient. The patient was also an old man. His family asked an acquaintance to find the older Dr. Lu and asked him to treat the old man. After studying the old mans condition, Qiao Xuan spoke to the old mans family as promised. They had decided on surgery but when he spoke to the old man, the old man would not agree to surgery no matter what. The family couldnt persuade the him but they were also very worried about the old mans condition. A young man who was a disciple of the old miracle-working Dr. Lu then appeared. He imed that he could cure the old man and asked to treat the patient. Because the old man didnt want surgery, his family had no choice but to let the young man try. They didnt expect that the experiment would end with the old man cured. The family was overjoyed. Of course, Qiao Xuan heard all this from his friends. He had been very busy and he couldnt dy other patients because of one patient. So, he told the family to contact him if the old man agreed to the surgery. He didnt hear any news about the surgery. Instead, he heard news that the old man was recovering gradually. After he heard about this, he purposely researched the old miracle-working Dr. Lu and found out how amazing he was. Whenever he had time, he would visit the old man at the hospital, hoping to meet the disciple of the old miracle-working Dr. Lu. He crossed path with a youth once at the entrance to the ward. He only saw the young man briefly, but his figure was engraved in his memory. Wu Chen, dont you think that Qiao Yue looked like the other disciple of the older miracle-working Dr. Lu? Qiao Xuan asked. Qiao Xuans question stumped his assistant. Not everyone had a memory as good as Qiao Xuans. He had long forgotten people he had met only once or twice, but Qiao Yue The fifth young master of the Qiao family was a bit special. When Qiao Xuan asked this, he suddenly felt that Qiao Yue did look like that other disciple. A bit. Brother Qiao, do you think Qiao Yue has another identity? The assistant asked. Maybe! From the moment Qiao Ze told Qiao Xuan about Qiao Yue, Qiao Xuan had felt that Qiao Yue was too mysterious. He couldnt help but overthink. Whether it was him, Qiao Jing, Qiao Ze, or Qiao Yu, they would keep their guard up against Qiao Yue. It was just that until now, they still hadnt found out why Qiao Yue was hiding his identity. Wu Chen thought that Qiao Xuan had more to say, but when he looked over, Qiao Xuan had already fallen asleep on the chair. Chapter 86 - Old Master Qiao Chapter 86: Old Master Qiao Many cardiovascr specialists gathered at the entrance of the Clevnd Clinic at 8a.m., hoping to meet the internally renowned Dr. Qiao. Qiao Xuans whereabouts were usually not publicized. Its only because he had invited a TCM doctor to treat his grandfather that many people knew that hed being to the Clevnd Clinic. Many specialists came here in hopes of learning from Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan and Lu Ying walked in front while Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing walked a few steps behind. Qiao Yue couldnt help but raise her eyebrows when she saw the weing party. Hasnt the old master been staying at this hospital for a while? Its also not big brothers first time here, so why are these people so surprised? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Jings voice was t when he said, Big brother has always visited in private. His whereabouts were not known. Qiao Yue nodded at Qiao Jings exnation. Qiao Xuans such a big shot. It would be quite troublesome if his whereabouts were known However, her big brother was indeed very popr; his weing party was impressive. Although Lu Ying was also well-known miracle-working doctor in C-Country, not many people knew about him overseas. After all, foreigners could not really understand TCM. You care a lot about big brother? Qiao Jing asked suddenly. Qiao Yue looked around and saw that only she and Qiao Jing were walking side by side. After ascertaining that Qiao Jing was asking her, she replied, I think big brother is a good man. Hes handsome and has good character. Hes also kind and treats patients from all walks of life. Qiao Jing stopped in his tracks. Whos better? Him or me? What? Qiao Yue asked even when she heard Qiao Jings question. She seemed to have heard Qiao Jing ask her who was better C him or Qiao Xuan. She didnt expect him to ask such a question. Its nothing. Qiao Jing replied calmly as if nothing had happened. He then quickened his pace and walked side by side with Qiao Xuan and Lu Ying. Qiao Yues eyes followed Qiao Jing as question marks popped up in her head. Did her brother take the wrong medicine today? At the hospital entrance, Qiao Xuan greeted the crowd before he introduced Lu Ying. Although Qiao Xuan intentions were good, Qiao Yue knew that the thing Lu Ying hated most was socializing. If she hadnt spread Lu Yings name everywhere back then, he would have probably spent the rest of his life at a small hospital, living an unknown life. It was obvious that when Lu Ying shook hands with the third person, his body had already started to stiffen. By the time he shook hands with the fifth person, his expression had be so cold, like he had just arrived from the north or south pole. Qiao Jing could see the frustration in Lu Yings face and interrupted Qiao Xuan. The Qiao brothers were famous internationally, so even when Qiao Jing interrupted impolitely, no one said anything. Surrounded by the crowd, they arrived at Old Master Qiaos ward. Since the patient should not be disturbed, everyone said that they would wait outside. It was only when Qiao Xuan said that he would be staying at Clevnd Clinic for a while and was willing to give a lecture that the crowd dispersed. Old Master Qiao was staying in a ss A ward, so it wasnt crowded even if all six of them entered. As soon as they entered the ward, Qiao Yues gaze was locked on the unconscious old man in the hospital bed. His hair was white. Although his eyes were closed, he looked like a kind old man with tubes all over his body. Qiao Yue looked through the tubes. The instruments were all top-notch. As the old man had been unconscious for a long time, he relied solely on intravenous fluids to meet his caloric and nutritional needs. Lu Ying checked the old mans pulse and came to the same conclusion as Qiao Xuan C cerebral embolism and heart disease, which could be treated with surgery given Qiao Xuans skills. But the old man has been in aa and no one dared to operate on him. What they needed to do now was to wake the old man up from hisa and do the surgery after. Dr. Lu, please see if theres a way to wake up the old man first. Well proceed with the next steps of treatment after. Qiao Xuan looked at his grandfather as he asked worriedly. Qiao Jings eyes were as worried as Qiao Xuans. Qiao Yue thought to herself that Old Master Qiao must be really kind and loving old man that his two grandsons respected and loved him so much. Chapter 87 - Uninvited Guests Chapter 87: Uninvited Guests Lu Ying thought for a moment and decided to try to unclog the blood vessels in the patients brain to wake him up as soon as possible. Lu Ying subconsciously looked at Qiao Yue and saw her daydreaming. Lu Ying retracted his gaze, took out his acupuncture kit and ced it on the side table. Just as everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see Lu Ying in action, the door to the ward was kicked open. Qiao Xuan, Qiao Jing! How dare you give your grandfather acupuncture without consent from the elders! Are you trying to kill your grandfather? The loud roar shocked everyone. That included Qiao Yue. She turned around and saw a middle-aged man ring angrily in the direction of the hospital bed. Qiao Jing frowned and looked at the man with an icy gaze. Qiao Xuans smile also disappeared, his expression as cold as Qiao Jings. Qiao Yue looked at the man with even more curiosity. It was not easy to make someone as good-tempered as her big brother change his attitude in an instant. Second uncle, Xiao Jing and I have always been in charge of grandpas condition. What brings you here today? Qiao Xuans voice was cold. In charge? What can you two kids be in charge of? The middle-aged man whom Qiao Xuan called second uncle sneered. Get out of here. I dont know where you got this quack doctor. Do you think its so easy to scam people nowadays? How dare you just stick these needles into people? Quack doctors harm people! The middle-aged man spewed a string of curses, causing the veins on Lu Yings forehead to pop. It was the first time he had been called a quack doctor in all his years of practice. He was ready to pack up and leave. Qiao Yue quickly stopped Lu Ying. She gave him a look, smiled apologetically and said, Miracle-working Dr. Lu, we know what youre capable of. Hurry up and treat the old master! Lu Ying was quite a stubborn person. He didnt have many pursuits in life. He had the skill to cure people and save lives. He didnt have to worry about food and clothing. All he wanted was to live a carefree life. What he hated most was people belittling him and mocking him. Coincidentally, this man had stepped on both his sore points. Lu Yings anger dissipated by half with Qiao Yues coaxing. Lu Ying wouldnt have been able to see Qiao Yue gently coaxing someone if not for the fact that she was hiding her identity. Seeing that the man was about to scold Lu Ying again, Qiao Jing blocked him by standing in front of Qiao Yue and Lu Ying. Get out. Qiao Jings words sent chills down everyones spine. It was as if a gust of cold wind had blown through the ward. The middle-aged man was startled. His lips moved but no sound came out. Xiao Jing, how can you talk to your second uncle like that? A womans voice suddenly cut in, breaking the suffocating atmosphere in the ward. Qiao Yue poked half her head out from behind Qiao Jing and looked towards the door. It was Qiao Jings mother, her third uncle and his wife. Seeing that he had support, her second uncle quickly ran to Qiao Jings mother andined. Sister-inw, you have to control Xiao Jing. He doesnt care about me at all! He doesnt even know how to respect his elders. This woman was Qiao Jings mother after all. No matter how much Qiao Jing looked down on others, he always listened to his mother. His aggressive manner gradually subsided. Qiao Xuan walked up to the iing party with a smile on his face. Qiao Yue didnt know if it was an illusion, but she felt that Qiao Xuans smile wasnt sincere. Mom, long time no see. What brings you here? First Madam Qiaos expression softened as she looked at her eldest son and said, Its all because your brother insisted on letting someone else treat your grandfather. Ive already objected to it, but he did it anyway. Qiao Yue cocked an eyebrow. She didnt even know that there was an objection. And she was wondering why the Qiao family went along so easily when Qiao Jing said that hes bringing her to meet the old master. Qiao Xuan kept his smile as he took all the me. Mom, this is not Xiao Jings fault. I was the one who told him to find Dr. Lu as soon as possible and get him to treat Grandpa. A hint of reprimand appeared on First Madam Qiaos face as she heard this. She didnt really want the old man to wake up and acknowledge Qiao Yue. Although both her sons were very sessful, the more assets they got, the better. Also, she felt ufortable whenever she saw Qiao Yue and didnt want him to return to the Qiao family. Its enough to have you treat your grandfather. Why do we need another doctor? Chapter 88 - What a Joke Chapter 88: What a Joke Qiao Xuan didnt answer his mothers question and started talking about something else. Mom, Im the one who invited Dr. Lu here. If second uncle continues to make a scene here and other people saw us, wouldnt it embarrass the Qiao family? Qiao Xuans smile was warm, but his words were not. First Madam Qiao thought what Qiao Xuan said made sense. She had heard about this miracle-working Dr. Lu back home. If word got out about todays fiasco, the Qiao family would be aughingstock! Besides, her sons were famous internationally. It was not worth it to have people gossiped about them over such a small matter. First Madam Qiaos eyes swept the few people by the hospital bed. She frowned slightly when she saw Qiao Yue but didnt say anything and turned to leave. Although First Madam Qiao had silently endorsed Qiao Xuans decision to have Dr. Lu treat the old master, it didnt mean that the others agreed. The middle-aged man shouted unhappily, Sister-inw, you cant indulge your children like this! If Dr. Lu couldnt cure father and made his conditions worse, whos going to be responsible? Itll be on me. Qiao Jing said. Perhaps it was because of Qiao Jings cold aura, as soon as he spoke again, the temperature in the room dropped to zero. How? If you let this random person treat your grandfather, are you going to pay for your grandfathers life if he cant be cured? The man continued to argue. Although the man looked like he was concerned about the old master, his real intention was probably to make sure that the old master didnt wake up. Qiao Yue sized up her second uncle. The two brothers, Qiao Yu and Qiao Ze, were both so good-looking, but why was their father so fat that even his eyes couldnt be seen? Ill pay with my life. If Grandpa really doesnt wake up, Ill pay with my life. Their second uncle didnt expect Qiao Jing to be so stubborn and was at a loss for words. He could just be saying it and wouldnt really pay with his life if the old master didnt make it. However, Qiao Jing had always been a man of his word. Their second uncle was afraid that Qiao Jing would do as he said and escte the matter, so he didnt continue the conversation. Seeing her sons being driven into a corner, First Madam Qiao no longer sided with her brother-inw and said, Second brother, what are you saying? Dad has been in aa, and it was Xiao Xuan and Xiao Jing who found a famous doctor to treat him. But you are now finding fault with them? Sister-in.w, I didnt mean it like that. I just The second son of the Qiao family was a little embarrassed as he said this. His eyes darted around until he saw Qiao Yue when he started to point the finger at Qiao Yue. Sister-inw, I just didnt want your two children to be conned. It hasnt been long since this kid from goodness knows where talked Xiao Jing into bringing him to see Grandpa. Ive also heard that Xiao Jing and all havent been able to find any miracle-working doctor. So, how did this kid manage to find one as soon as he arrived? How can there be such a coincidence? The second son of the Qiao family rubbed his hands together and sneered. Even though he just came up with this excuse, he thought he had found the perfect excuse. The first madam didnt say anything this time. She had no problem if her brother-inw picked on Qiao Yue instead. Or rather, she couldnt wait to have someone else get rid of Qiao Yue. When Qiao Yue saw her second uncle look at her just now, she knew that she was going to be dragged into things again. As expected, the gun was now pointed at her. Qiao Yues lips curled into a mocking smile as she said, If its like what you said C I found a miracle-working doctor when I came to the Qiao family, I should be the lucky star of the family! If the old master wakes up, would I be the savior of the Qiao family? The family would put me on an altar and worship me? How can dad wake up? Her second uncle quickly retorted. But he felt that he had spoken too quickly and added, What I mean is that you colluded with this so-called miracle-working doctor to deceive us. Theres no such coincidence in the world. You must have heard that Xiao Jing was looking for a doctor and found an imposter. His response made Qiao Yue burst intoughter. Whether or not one had actual skills would be known after a test. Their second uncle was trying all means to stop them, without even giving them a chance to prove it! This is the miracle-working doctor were looking for, I am sure of it. Qiao Xuan said to his second uncle. Oh my, Xiao Xuan! Youve running around overseas all year round. He could have been imitating the real person the whole time! Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Get Out Chapter 89: Get Out Well know once we try. Why does second uncle keep stopping us? Qiao Xuans question hit the nail on the head. Their second uncles expression froze as he shouted at the top of his voice, Xiao Xuan, thats easy for you to say. If theres really a problem when we try, your elders will be the ones bearing the infamy of being unfilial. As for that brat who came from god-knows-where, quickly get him out of here. He shouldnt even be here. Their second uncles words sounded like a bluff because his voice was shrill from irascibility. Qiao Yue frowned impatiently. It seemed that this person was determined to find trouble with her. But before Qiao Yue could say anything, Qiao Jing was already standing in front of her. Get out. What? Their second uncles eyes widened. He didnt expect Qiao Jing to say something so rude. Qiao Jing didnt repeat himself and said coldly instead, I was the one who brought Qiao Yue home. Where he goes is none of your concern. Qiao Jings words were not only directed at their second uncle as he turned his gaze to the third madam Qiao. The third madam Qiao couldnt help but take two steps back in fear when her eyes met Qiao Jings. Qiao Jing, how can you speak to your elders like that? Do you still have any manners? He was frightened by Qiao Jing at first, but then he realized that he had been humiliated by a younger Qiao and roared with a red face. Qiao Jing blocked Qiao Yue from their viewpletely as he spoke, not giving them the slightest chance to attack Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jings back with a troubled expression. She could handle such a small matter. The most important thing now was to get these people out of the ward so that Dr. Lu could treat the old master. Since they couldnt be reasoned with, she should just break their bones and see if they still want to meddle in other peoples business. Shut up. Ill say it onest time. Get out! There was a hint of impatience in Qiao Jings cold eyes. The disapproving words that their second uncle was about to say were stuck in his throat like a fishbone. He thought about the consequences of offending Qiao Jing. Although his Qiao Ze was an international superstar, he was not in business like Qiao Jing. Qiao Zespany and his exposure outside the country all required support from Qiao Jing. If he really pissed off Qiao Jing, Qiao Jing could withdraw his investment and Qiao Zes career would be over. The second son of the Qiao family let go of his clenched fists and looked at First Madam Qiao. Seeing that the woman had no reaction, he knew that no one would help him now and left angrily. He even mmed the door when he left the ward. Everyones eyes turned to Third Madam Qiao after their second uncle left. This woman had always been good at reading people. She knew that it wasnt her ce to speak now, so she left silently. Mom, lets go out too! Qiao Xuan said to First Madam Qiao, his usual gentle demeanor returning. What? Me too? First Madam Qiao asked in disbelief. Doctors need a quiet environment when treating patients. Lets wait outside. First Madam Qiao looked at Lu Ying with distrustful eyes, and then at her eldest son. After a moment, she caved under her eldest sons determined gaze. When they were near the door, Qiao Jing saw Qiao Yue following them from the corner of his eye. He stopped, turned around and said, You stay here. What? What? The same question was asked at the same time by Qiao Yue and First Madam Qiao. If you go out, second uncle will make a fuss. You stay here and help Dr. Lu. Qiao Jing said calmly. Xiao Jing, this First Madam Qiao wanted to say something but was stopped by Qiao Xuan. He could tell that his younger brother was already very impatient. This matter concerned their grandfathers condition. If Qiao Jing was provoked further, he might really take action against the two families who were making trouble. After all, they still lived under the same roof, and it was never a good thing to make things too awkward. Qiao Yue looked up at Qiao Jing. The worry in Qiao Jings eyes swept away her anger from being mocked by their second uncle. Alright, Ill follow second brothers instructions. For some reason, Qiao Jing avoided Qiao Yues eyes and exited the ward with a grunt. Qiao Xuan and First Madam Qiao left soon after. Before the door closedpletely, Qiao Yue heard their second uncles questioning voice. How could you leave that wild child and a quack doctor from god-knows-where in there? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. Her second uncle kept calling Lu Ying a fraud. Did he really think that Lu Ying had no temper? Chapter 90 - 90 Treating the Patient 90 Treating the Patient After the door closedpletely, Qiao Yue and Lu Ying looked at each other. Has Qiao Jing found out? Lu Ying asked, raising an eyebrow. Found what out? Qiao Yue walked back to the hospital bed. Found out that you are also teachers disciple. Lu Ying made room for Qiao Yue to take the old masters pulse. Why do you say that? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Yue frowned as she took the old masters pulse. She felt that it was a little strange. It seemed that other than the brain and heart problems, he was also showing signs of organ failure. His symptoms felt different from othera patients who hadnt eaten for a long time. They seemed to be drug-induced. I feel so. Lu Ying replied nonchntly. Qiao Yue teased, A big man like you have feelings? Sixth sense? TCM medicine emphasized on seeing, listening, asking and feeling. Qiao Yue examined the old master after checking his pulse and said seriously, Did you notice other abnormalities when you checked his pulse just now? Lu Ying became serious when he heard Qiao Yues question. Yes, but I didnt dare to say anything. The two of them said concurrently as their eyes met, Organ failure. The two of them then turned their eyes to the old masters IV drip. Things could be a littleplicated so I thought its better to avoid more trouble, said Lu Ying. Qiao Yue immediately removed the old masters IV. Start inserting needles! You help to clear the old masters meridians first, Ill take care of his head and heart. Alright, he said. As the old master had been in aa for a long time, the acupoints where Qiao Yue had to insert needles were dangerous ces. Even an experienced practitioner like Lu Ying wouldnt attempt it. It was obvious how precise Qiao Yues technique was. Ten minutester, Lu Ying had cleared the old masters meridians and protected his major organs with acupuncture. Qiao Yue then began. Lu Yings expression was grave as he watched Qiao Yue insert threaded needles into the old master. Time passed and Lu Yings fists were clenched. Mostatose patients would have reacted in some way after Qiao Yue inserted so many needles, but Old Master Qiao had no reaction. Qiao Yue? Lu Ying couldnt help but exim when he saw Qiao Yue take out an extremely thin silver needle. Qiao Yue knew why Lu Ying was surprised and said calmly, We have to try. If the old master doesnt wake up, wed still be nuisance. Qiao Yue was about to insert the needle in the baihui acupoint, which would stimte the brain and had a calming effect on the heart and mind. Qiao Yue took out the thinnest needle and indicated that she would insert the needle a little deeper this time. This acupoint went directly to the brain. Any mistakes would put the patients life at risk. When Lu Ying heard Qiao Yues words, he knew that she wouldnt listen no matter what he said. Once Qiao Yue made up her mind, nothing could sway her. He would only add to her burden if he said anything more. Half an hour passed, and Qiao Yue started to worry. She didnt know if she had done the right thing. After what seemed like a few seconds but also a long time, Old Master Qiaos eyelids started to twitch lightly. Qiao Yue gestured to Lu Ying to hold the old mans body still. Once the old master woke up, he would feel pain. Any movement would affect the threaded needles and all their efforts would be in vain. Just as Qiao Yue had expected, the old masters body started to move a momentter. Fortunately, he was held still by Lu Ying, so nothing happened. Then, Old Master Qiaos head also started to move, but Qiao Yue held it in ce with both hands. A whileter, Old Master Qiaos eyelids fluttered, and he woke up. As he had just woken up, the old masters eyes were a little cloudy as if he had to think for a moment before he realized where he was. Old master, youre awake. Qiao Yue said when she saw the old mans eyes focus. Old Master Qiaos eyes followed the voice. The moment the two looked at each other, Qiao Yue saw the shock in Old Master Qiaos eyes. Xiao Qing? Old Master Qiaos voice trembled. He reached out to touch Qiao Yue but was stopped by Lu Ying. Qiao Yue frowned and said in the simplestnguage, Old master, Im Qiao Yue, Qiao Qings son. Dr. Lu is performing acupuncture on you now, please dont move. The patient had just woken up. Other than staying still, he also shouldnt be agitated. These wouldpromise the effects of acupuncture. When the old master heard this, he understood his current situation and tried to calm himself down. But his eyes were fixed on Qiao Yue. Chapter 91 - 91 Grandpa 91 Grandpa A few minutester, Lu Ying walked to Qiao Yues side to remove the needles on Old Master Qiao. Since the old master was awake, he no longer needed someone to hold him still, so Qiao Yue stepped aside. Lu Ying was extremely quick when removing the needles. In just a short while, all the needles on the old master had been removed. With Lu Yings help, Old Master Qiao sat up and beckoned Qiao Yue. Although the old master didnt lose hisposure again, he couldnt hide the excitement in his eyes. Youre Xiao Qings son? Old Master Qiao asked as he held Qiao Yues hand. But before Qiao Yue could answer, he muttered to himself, Yup! You look so much like her so you must be Xiao Qings son! Your name is Qiao Yue, right? Xiao Yue! Im your grandfather! Qiao Yue was a little ufortable at her grandfathers touch. Although her mother often told her about her grandfather when she was young, she was still very young then and she had never met her grandfather. She couldnt get close to someone she had just met, so she just said Grandpa matter-of-factly. Qiao Yue felt that her Grandpa was dry and insincere but Old Master Qiao had tears streaming down his face. He patted the back of Qiao Yues hand and said, When your mother left the Qiao family when she was pregnant with you, I thought that I would never see you again in this life. I didnt expect to see you again. Grandpa feels that he owes you and your mother for all these years. From now on, youll live with us and the Qiao family will protect you! Qiao Yue detected something strange in her grandfathers words. Why did he say that the Qiao family would protect her? What did he mean? Just as Qiao Yue was about to ask, Lu Ying suddenly coughed. We need to be more watchful since the old master has just woken up. Lu Ying gave Qiao Yue a look as he spoke, indicating that there were still people waiting outside. Qiao Yue understood what he meant. If they still didnt go out, the people who didnt want the old master to wake up would probably cause a ruckus outside. Qiao Yue was right. The second son of the Qiao family had been restless since Qiao Yue was left behind in the ward. One moment he would say that Qiao Yue colluded with Lu Ying to murder the old master, and the next moment, he would say that Qiao Jing had been tricked into bringing Qiao Yue home. Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing stood on both sides of the door, their faces cold. If Dr. Lus treatment didnt work, the only thing they could do was to bring the old master back to C-Country and ask Dr. Lus teacher to treat him. Their second uncles mouth didnt stop, and both of them were annoyed. Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing were both sort of brought up by Old Master Qiao, so their feelings for him were deeper than the rest of the Qiao family. Hearing his second uncles endless chatter, Qiao Jing took out his phone and dialed a number. Terminate all our contracts withpanies under Qiao Zhong. His words were like a pause button, but before his second uncle stopped, Qiao Jing had already hung up. Qiao Xuan looked up at Qiao Jing with a smile. The second son of the Qiao family didnt believe it at first and walked to a corner in silence. Twenty minutester, his phone rang, and a womans anxious voice sounded. Hubby, what happened? The person in charge of public rtions came to the office just now to tell us that Xiao Jingspany has terminated their contract with us. Arent you all in S-Country to see Dad? Why did this suddenly happen? Hearing the womans voice, the second son of the Qiao family seemed to be in a daze. He stared at Qiao Jing nkly but Qiao Jing didnt even look at him as he stared at the door. Qiao Xuan turned his head and smiled at his second uncle. His smile was gentle but full of mockery. Qiao Zhong was about to pounce on Qiao Jing to beg for mercy but was stopped by Qiao Xuan. Youd better not make a fuss now. If you disturbed Grandpa, I cant guarantee what will happen to you next. You know Qiao Jings temper. Qiao Xuans voice was gentle, but it sent a chill down Qiao Zhongs spine. He threw Qiao Jing a quick nce before he walked out of the hospital talking on his phone. Qiao Xuan shifted his gaze to his third aunt, who was sitting on a long hospital bench. This woman looked kind andcent on the surface, but she was a scheming person. Qiao Xuan couldnt see Third Madam Qiaos sweaty palms. She had been hoping that Qiao Yue and the so-called miracle-working doctor would kill the old master. For everyone waiting outside the ward, the time the door stayed closed was unbearable. Suddenly, a beam of light appeared on the corridor, the door to the ward finally opened. Chapter 92 - 92 Qiao Yue’s Backer 92 Qiao Yues Backer The door to the ward opened and Lu Ying was the first to walk out. He scanned the corridor but did not see the person who called him a quack. He needed to keep calm before treating a patient, so he didnt argue with this man. But now that the old master was awake, how could he let him off? Dr. Lu, how is Grandpa now? Qiao Xuan asked as he met Lu Ying at the door. Seeing the anxiety in Qiao Xuans eyes, Lu Ying didnt keep him in suspense. Hes already... Before Lu Ying could finish, the sound of someone running came from the corridor. As the old master was staying in a ss A ward, with less than ten high-status patients across the entire floor, who would be so impolite to run in the corridor? Second brother, how can you believe the words of a so-called miracle-working doctor! Theyre all liars! Qiao Xin ran up to Qiao Jing and said anxiously. Qiao Ying followed behind her, along with Qiao Yu and Qiao Ze. This was great, the entire third generation of the Qiao family was here. Qiao Jing frowned silently at Qiao Xin before he fixed his eyes on Lu Ying. Qiao Xuan was also a little annoyed that Qiao Xin interrupted Lu Ying, but he didnt show it as obviously as Qiao Jing. When Third Madam Qiao saw her daughters, she calmed down a little and walked up to Lu Ying. Sir, I dont know where you came from. Everythings fine if Father is cured but if his conditions worsened because of your treatment, please be prepared to receive a legal notice. Lu Yings eyes were filled with ridicule as he said, You threaten me before the treatment and then after the treatment. It looks like you really dont want the old master to wake up at all. Why else would you keep riling up the doctor? Third Madam Qiaos body stiffened at Lu Yings words. Qiao Xuan also stared at her after hearing Lu Yings words. Thats right! It was a taboo for doctors to be riled up before treating a patient, especially before an acupuncture session, which required extreme concentration. Wouldnt his grandfather be in great danger if Dr. Lu was affected by them? Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing looked at each other. They didnt speak, but they understood what the other meant. Third Madam Qiao shivered from the stares and tried her best not to shudder as she held Qiao Xins hand. I only have Fathers best interests at heart, dont nder me! And that Qiao Yue, you must be in cahoots with him! Why else would he appear so suddenly? Third Madam Qiao scolded sternly. Lu Ying kept his expression but the mockery in his eyes grew. Sorry to disappoint you, but the old man is awake now. You can go and see him! With that, Lu Ying gave way to Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing. As soon as Qiao Jing entered the room, he saw Old Master Qiao holding Qiao Yues hand and telling him how he fell intoa. It was because Qiao Jing had discovered Qiao Yues whereabouts and news that Qiao Qing had died long ago. Old Master Qiao copsed under the shock of great joy and great sorrow and was rushed to the hospital immediately. For some reason, he fell into aa and was unconscious for a month before he woke up today. Xiao Yue, now that Grandpa is awake. I will be your backer from now on. Just tell me if anyone bullies you, and Ill teach them a lesson for you. Old Master Qiao red at Third Madam Qiao as he spoke. Qiao Yue didnt expect the old master to say this and didnt know how to react. She had very few rtives since young. She lived with her mother and they didnt stay in one ce for long. As soon as she got to know her friends and neighbors, her mother would move again. Her mothers health deteriorated because of that. After her mother passed away, she was sent to an orphanage. Although there were many children there, not many became friends. Sometimes, they would fight over an opportunity to be adopted. After living in the orphanage for half a year, godfather found her. At first, she didnt know that he was looking for her on purpose. She heard it by ident when she returned early from a mission. She had been wandering around for more than half of her eighteen years of life. She only settled down after meeting godfather, but he had never been so close with her. She was at a loss now when faced with love from an elder like Old Master Qiao. Old master, I... As soon as Qiao Yue opened her mouth, she was red at by the old master. What did you just call me? Old Master Qiao said to Qiao Yue with a threatening tone. Chapter 93 - 93 Reason For Grandpa’s Coma 93 Reason For Grandpas Coma Qiao Yue hesitated for a moment before she said tentatively, Grandpa. The fact that the old master was so happy to be called Grandpa made Qiao Yue wonder if he really was the head of the Qiao family who brought up the expressionless Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing walked up to the old master and said, Grandpa, how do you feel now? Seeing his grandson, Old Master Qiao regained his serious look and nodded. Qiao Yue finally witnessed the old masters rapid change in expression. After confirming that the old master was awake, Qiao Xuan went up to ask how he was feeling. He was preparing to operate on his grandfather, so he had to know his grandfathers condition in advance. Qiao Yue saw that the old master was surrounded by people and quietly left. Lu Ying was waiting for her at the door. After seeing here out, the two of them headed to the smoking area. Qiao Yue did not smoke, but Lu Ying had the habit of smoking after acupuncture. Because acupuncture was a mentally exhausting treatment. Every acupoint on the human body was closely connected to the organs. Any mistakes would affect the patients life. So, smoking was the only thing thatpletely rxed Lu Ying after. Qiao Yue did not agree at first, but she got used to it after a few times. Lu Ying lit a cigarette and smoke surrounded him. For a moment, his face was blurry. I inhale second-hand smoke every time I do a treatment with you, Qiao Yue held a cigarette between her fingers but didnt light it. Lu Ying chuckled, There must be time for rxation after a battle. Ill apany you if you have any habits. Lu Ying felt that Qiao Yue was too self-disciplined. Her ability to adapt and manage stress had shocked Lu Ying several times. However, it was also because of this that Lu Ying was attracted to Qiao Yue. But when he met Qiao Yue this time, he felt that she seemed different. He couldnt tell exactly what had changed, but he felt that she had somehow be more human. I dont have any habits. Its just that instead of smoking, why dont you run or box or something? I can still apany you. Qiao Yue took a sip of water and spoke. Lu Ying chuckled, Youve said that many times. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. But you never listened. Lu Ying took a puff of his cigarette and changed the subject. Right, hows life with the Qiao family? I think those people were trying to bully you today. Bully me? Are you sure? Qiao Yue replied with a smile. I very much think so. I think your second uncle and third aunt arent easy to deal with. Also, although the first madam Qiao didnt say anything today, she looked at you with eyes full of hostility! Lu Ying said with a hint of gloating. He then teased, Do you want to throw yourself into my arms and let mefort you? Qiao Yue instantly felt that the old Lu Ying had returned when she heard this. Lu Ying was like this when they were studying medicine together. Especially after finding out that she was a girl when he got worse. She gave Lu Ying two acupuncture needles when she couldnt bear it anymore; only then did he show some restraint. She really should have threatened him by sending him a video of his shaking hands when he was inserting needles. Im very curious about how you managed to keep your cool and aloof image in front of other people. Qiao Yue said expressionlessly. How can theypare to you? I can naturally be cool and aloof with them. Who would have thought that such sweet nothings woulde from the cool and aloof Dr. Lu? So, you asked me out here to say this? Qiao Yue asked, speechless. Of course not. Its just that Old Master Qiaosa was really strange, so I wanted to get your opinion. Lu Ying said seriously. Old Master Qiao had been suffering from cerebral embolism and heart problems for a while, but these didnt cause hisa. Whats more puzzling was that he couldnt detect the reason for his unconsciousness from his pulse. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes. She had a few guesses, but she couldnt be sure. And she didnt feel like sharing. I dont have an opinion. Weve been out for a long time, lets go back! Someone mighte looking for you. Qiao Yue then got up and prepared to leave. Who knew that as soon as she got up, she felt dizzy. Her body swayed and she steadied herself by putting her hands on the coffee table. As Qiao Yue and Lu Ying were sitting across from each other, when Qiao Yues unsteady body leaned forward and Lu Ying got up to help her, the distance between them closed. Chapter 94 - 94 Forbidden Love? 94 Forbidden Love? Qiao Yue shook her head and steadied herself. Lu Ying had also gotten up to support her. Youre not feeling well? Lu Ying asked as he held Qiao Yues wrist. Qiao Yue shook her head. Im fine. Maybe I got up too quickly. Lu Ying didnt quite believe Qiao Yues exnation, but after checking her pulse, he had no choice but to agree with her exnation. What he didnt understand was that Qiao Yue had always been in good health, even healthier than a man like him. How could she feel dizzy when she got up? Suddenly, a pair of hands separated Lu Ying and Qiao Yue. Dr. Lu, my brother said just now that hed like to discuss Grandpas operation with you. Please go back as soon as possible. Qiao Jing said coldly. As soon as an outsider appeared, Lu Ying reverted to his cold demeanor, but he still looked at Qiao Yue worriedly. Qiao Yue nodded, indicating that she was fine. Lu Ying still looked at Qiao Yue worriedly before he left but he noticed the unfriendly look in Qiao Jings eyes. Lu Ying was stunned for a moment, then something struck him and surprise appeared in his eyes. He moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but Qiao Jing stopped him, Dr. Lu, Grandpa also wants to thank you. Please go back as soon as possible. Alright, Lu Ying swallowed the words he was about to say, turned and left. Only Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue were in the smoking area. Qiao Yue thought that Qiao Jing would stay by the old masters side, but he came to find her instead. Brother, why are you here? How did you know Dr. Lu? Both of them spoke at the same time, but they didnt answer together. Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yue, waiting for her answer. We met by chance. Dr. Lu saved my life. Qiao Yue said. By chance? Qiao Jing asked in disbelief. Qiao Yue was helpless but she had toplete her own lie. I was seriously injured in a fight. Fortunately, Dr. Lu found me or Id be dead. Qiao Yue replied casually, but Qiao Jing frowned. Injured? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yue sighed and pointed to the back of her neck. Here. This injury. Qiao Yue didnt want to keep using the same injury to act pitiful, but these people kept asking her questions. She felt really helpless. Just when Qiao Yue thought that the matter was over, a hand suddenly touched the back of her neck. The warmth from his palm permeated through the bandage on to her skin, making her tense up. A few secondster, the palm became a finger and touching became tracing, as if he was tracing her scar. It was slightly seductive. Qiao Yue reached out and held down the mischievous hand as she said unhappily, Brother, what are you doing? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yues angry expression and suddenly smiled. I just wanted to look at your injury. Qiao Yue was so mesmerized by Qiao Jings smile that she forgot to resist. She loosened her grip on Qiao Jings hand and thetter removed her bandage easily. Qiao Jings eyes fell on the scar on the back of Qiao Yues neck. His eyes darkened. He couldnt imagine how Qiao Yue had been on the verge of death then. Does it hurt? Qiao Jings voice softened unconsciously. Qiao Yue felt ufortable under Qiao Jings gaze. When Qiao Jing asked, she quickly took the bandage from him and quickly wrapped it around her neck. Its an old injury and Ive long recovered. I just cover it with a bandage because the scar is too scary. Qiao Yue said as calmly as she could. Qiao Jings focused gaze made her blush and she felt that something was wrong with her. I wont let this happen to you again. Ill protect you. Qiao Jings voice was firm, and Qiao Yues heart fluttered. Brother, please stop saying things like that. Its a good thing Im not a girl. Otherwise, this could be considered flirting. Are you trying to have forbidden love with me? Qiao Yue replied yfully on purpose, cutting the atmosphere with a knife. Qiao Jings temper was extinguished by her joke, and he pressed his hand against Qiao Yues head. You can do whatever you want. It doesnt matter if you are in a rtionship with a man or a woman, but you must get your grades up first. Otherwise, dont even think about getting into a rtionship. Ah? Qiao Yue didnt know why Qiao Jing suddenly brought this up; her mouth was opened so wide that it could fit a whole egg. Qiao Jing cleared his throat and said, I saw you and Dr. Lu just now. He saved your life and I understand that you have feelings for him, but you have to be clear about the kind of feelings that you have. Qiao Yue didnt expect that Qiao Jing would say these things out of concern for her rtionship problems. Chapter 95 - 95 Second Brother’s Beauty 95 Second Brothers Beauty Qiao Yue raised his hand to rub her temples, Brother, what exactly are you thinking about that made you misunderstand to this point? Seeing Qiao Yues expression, Qiao Jings usually expressionless face showed some confusion. Didnt you just kiss Doctor Lu? Qiao Jing asked. What? You said I kissed Lu Ying? Qiao Yue was so frightened by Qiao Jings words that she said Lu Yings full name. Seeing Qiao Yues reaction, Qiao Jing knew that he had misunderstood, but he didnt understand why he would misunderstand when he had seen it with his own eyes. You stood up and kissed him just now, Qiao Jing said with a frown. Qiao Yue recalled what had happened just now and chuckled when she thought of the direction Qiao Jing hade from, Brother, you have misunderstood. I was in a hurry so I stood up abruptly just now and almost fell because I felt faint. How did you see me kiss him? After listening to Qiao Yues exnation, Qiao Jing suddenly felt relieved. For some reason, the suffocating feeling he had just felt disappeared. By the way, brother, are you fine with me liking both men and women? Qiao Yue asked curiously. Qiao Jing recalled what he had just said and felt a little embarrassed, Its up to you who you like. Outsiders have no right to interfere. Eh? Brother, I didnt know you were so open-minded! Qiao Yue couldnt help but sigh. Qiao Jing pursed his lips and did not answer. The two of them returned to Old Master Qiaos ward. Although Old Master Qiao was still surrounded by people, the others made way for them when they saw them. It was all because Old Master Qiao had personally acknowledged Qiao Yues identity. Even when she was not around, he made the effort to clear her name. It was clear how much Old Master Qiao favored Qiao Yue. There were still a few days left before the holiday, so Qiao Yue decided to stay by the Old Masters side for the next few days. The purpose of her return to the Qiao family was to fulfill her mothers filial duties. Everything else could be put aside for the time being. In the evening, Qiao Yue knocked on Qiao Jings door. After a long while, just as Qiao Yue was wondering if Qiao Jing had left the house, the door to Qiao Jings room opened. Qiao Jing was wearing a sleeping robe with a deep V-neck cor that revealed arge area of his pale skin. He was drying his hair with one hand while the other hand was on the doorknob. Beads of water slid down his delicate face to his neck, making Qiao Yue gulp unconsciously. Qiao Yue? Seeing Qiao Yues dazed look, Qiao Jing frowned and called out. Qiao Yue was called back to her senses and cleared her throat lightly to cover up her loss ofposure. Brother, I wanted to talk to you about Grandpa, Qiao Yues eyes flickered, but she didnt look at Qiao Jing. Come in and talk! Qiao Jing said. Qiao Yue hummed in acknowledgment and followed Qiao Jing into his room in a daze. It wasnt until she sat on the sofa that Qiao Yue smacked her forehead. She had nned to go back to her room to sleep right after she had finished saying whatever she wanted to say at the door. How did she end up following him in a daze? Qiao Jing sat on the sofa opposite him, waiting for Qiao Yue to speak. Brother, I want to stay here and take care of Grandpa. Ill go back when Grandpa recovers, Qiao Yue had her own considerations when she said this. She suspected that someone had drugged Old Master Qiaos drip, but she wasnt sure. Therefore, she wanted to stay here for a while longer. Maybe she could find the person who did it. Ill take care of Grandpa, Qiao Jing said after a few seconds of thought, You should go back to school. Brother, skipping a few days of school wont make a difference. Grandpa has just woken up and hes so good to me. I just want to take care of him by his side, Qiao Yue spoke with a hint of coquettishness. She didnt know how Qiao Jing treated others, but she knew that he was amenable to coaxing but not coercion in her case. As long as she was soft, Qiao Jing would always give in to her. Unfortunately, Qiao Yue was wrong this time. Even though she said so, Qiao Jing still refused, Ill take care of Grandpa. When hes more or less recovered, Ill bring him back. Dont worry. An idea shed past Qiao Yues mind, and she got up before walking behind Qiao Jing. She took the towel from Qiao Jings hand and gently wiped his hair, Brother, its fine to skip a few days of school, dont you think? I just... Qiao Yues gaze was once again drawn away halfway through her sentence. From her angle, she could clearly see the water droplets sliding down Qiao Jings face, down his neck, and then down to his chest. She could feel her cheeks heat up, and she forced herself to turn her eyes away from the beautiful scene before her. Someone who only scored 60 points on the exam is saying that skipping a few days of school is fine? Perhaps it was because he was rxed, but Qiao Jings tone also carried a hint of ridicule. Chapter 96 - 96 Ambiguous Feelings 96 Ambiguous Feelings Qiao Yue felt like a herd of alpacas was running in her head. To think Qiao Jing was still brooding over her score of 60. Brother, Qiao Yue called out in dissatisfaction, and the strength of her hand increased. Qiao Jing raised his head and stretched out his hand to stop her frenzied actions, Its no use even if you call me like that. Go back to ss. Qiao Yues wrist was caught and she looked down at Qiao Jing. She could see her figure in his eyes. Her gaze moved from Qiao Jings eyes to the bridge of his nose, and then down to his thin and slightly red lips. She still remembered the idental touch that day. His soft and warm lips had be moist because of the wine, and his hot breath hadnded on her face, the emotions in the air unusually ambiguous. Suddenly, Qiao Jings hand moved to Qiao Yues neck and rubbed the bandage on her neck. As Qiao Jings hand slowly moved up, Qiao Yue seemed to be able to hear her heart beating as she subconsciously moved her head down. The distance between the two of them grew closer as if they could feel each others breathing. Just as the distance between the two of them was only a millimeter apart, Qiao Yue suddenly came back to her senses and called out brother in an unstable tone. Qiao Jing was jolted awake by her voice. He seemed to be stunned for a second before he quickly retracted his hand. After a moment of silence, Qiao Yue stammered, I, Ill go back first. Qiao Jing nodded and did not say anything else. The door closed and Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief. Her heart was also slowly recovering. Turning back to look at Qiao Jings door, she couldnt help but sigh that beauty dyed serious matters. Early the next morning, Qiao Xuans assistant knocked on Qiao Yues door, saying that since everyone was free, they wanted to have a meal together before visiting their grandfather. After Qiao Yue washed up, everyone was already in the dining room. Of course, this did not include the First Madam and the others. Only Qiao Xuan, Qiao Ze, and the others were there. Qiao Ying was the first to notice Qiao Yue. She greeted her with a sweet smile, Good morning, fifth brother. Qiao Yue also returned a smile, Morning, Qiao Ying. Of course, Qiao Xin had also heard Qiao Yings words. After all, the two had been chatting just now. However, this time, Qiao Xin didnt cause trouble for Qiao Yue as soon as she saw him. Instead, she silently turned her head and treated Qiao Yue as air. Qiao Xuan and Qiao Ze were chatting, Qiao Yu was sitting at the side ying games, and Qiao Jing was typing on theputer as if dealing with work. When he heard Qiao Yings words, his body stiffened but he did not look up at Qiao Yue. Xiao Yue, youre here. Have a seat, Qiao Xuan smiled at Qiao Yue as he patted the seat beside him. The seat was between Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing, and on the other side of Qiao Xuan were Qiao Ze, Qiao Yu, Qiao Xin, and Qiao Ying respectively. ording to Qiao Xuan, he had intentionally arranged for a small private room so that it would be convenient for everyone to talk. Qiao Yue looked around and had to admit that the Qiao familys genes were really good. They were all handsome men and beautiful women. Since Qiao Xuan had not returned home in a long time, he asked about many things that had happened at home recently. The most recent events were none other than Qiao Yues return home. Qiao Ze, in particr, couldnt wait to talk about Qiao Yues great achievements all the time, such as fighting the snow wolf, skipping ss, and making Qiao Jing lose hisposure. Qiao Yue simply wanted to knock him out with a club. She could see Qiao Xins venomous expression when Qiao Ze said she had single-handedly fought the snow wolf. She could also see Qiao Jings gloomy gaze at Qiao Ze when thetter said that the former had lost hisposure because of her. She simply mourned for Qiao Ze for a second. Qiao Xuan found it interesting and excitedly asked Qiao Ze to continue. Big brother, you dont even know! I was still sleeping that day when Qiao Jing called to ask me if Xiao Yue was with me. Since Ive not been around for such a long time, how could Xiao Yue havee to find me? Hearing Qiao Zes words, Qiao Xuan looked at Qiao Jing in surprise. Qiao Jing frowned, Dont listen to him. I was just asking. Qiao Xuan chuckled and said to Qiao Yue, Xiao Yue, it seems that Xiao Jing likes you. As soon as she said this, not only Qiao Yue, but Qiao Jings body also stiffened. The two of them thought of the scenest night at the same time. During the meal, everyone else had a good meal, except for the two of them who felt like they were chewing on wax. Fortunately, when they arrived at the hospital, Qiao Yue no longer thought aboutst nights mess. She had heard from Ying Lu that the Old Masters body was rtively weak, so they could use diet therapy to reduce the dosage and achieve the effect of conditioning the body. Chapter 97 - 97 The Qiao Family 97 The Qiao Family Qiao Xuan nodded, Dr. Lu, I dont know much about diet therapy. Can you help me write the recipes? Ying Lu subconsciously nced at Qiao Yue, Sure, but I need to discuss the recipe with my master. Ill give it to you in a few days. Can Grandpa have the surgery as usual after he wakes up this time? Qiao Jing, who had been silent the entire time, asked. Yes, In fact, Old Master Qiao could also be treated with traditional Chinese medicine, but its effects were much slower than Western medicine. Besides, Qiao Xuans main expertise was in Western medicine, so it was much more reassuring for another family member to treat him. During their conversation, Old Master Qiao kept holding Qiao Yues hand and asking her how she had been all these years. Qiao Yue told him everything she could say, and Old Master Qiaos eyes turned red as he listened, saying that Qiao Yue had suffered all these years. Grandpa, Im really fine. Look at me, Im fine, Although she was still not used to the Old Masters concern for her, she could feel his kindness. Seeing how the Old Master was treating Qiao Yue, the Third Madam couldnt help but frown and push her two daughters forward. Although she had done some things, it was all in the dark. Now that the Old Master had woken up and was still the head of the Qiao family, she had to continue to build a good impression in front of him. Qiao Xin was a little reluctant. God knows why, but her grandfather had been very strict with her since she was young, causing her to shiver whenever she saw him. Qiao Ying didnt have such scruples and walked to the Old Masters bedside and said, Grandpa, youre finally awake! You dont know how worried weve been! Hearing his youngest granddaughters voice, the Old Master shifted his attention from Qiao Yue to Qiao Ying. Seeing the sincerity in Qiao Yings eyes, he beckoned for her to sit beside him and asked with a smile, Little girl, how are you worried about grandpa? Qiao Ying thought for a moment and recounted what they had done, Eldest brother and second brother have hired Dr, Lu for grandfather. Third brother has been looking for famous doctors everywhere while hes working. I heard that third brother has already asked those doctors toe and assist if eldest brother operates on you. Fourth brother, fifth brother, and sixth sister are all in school and cant do much for you. Mother could only bring us along while praying for you. Thank God that Dr. Lu could be hired, thus waking you up. Qiao Yues eyes could not help but focus on Qiao Ying. She had always thought that Qiao Ying was not good with words. She did not expect her to be so well-rounded. The Old Master looked around and patted Qiao Yings hand in relief when he saw all his grandchildren, Youre all good children. Then, he turned to First Madam and Third Madam, saying. Thank you for your hard work. The Old Master had just woken up and his body was still very weak. He needed more rest. After he had his meal, he asked everyone to leave, leaving only Qiao Jing behind to talk. Standing in front of the ward, Qiao Xuan smiled and patted Qiao Yues head, You have to call the Old Master grandpa now. He had heard from Qiao Jing that Qiao Yue had been insisting on calling their grandfather the Old Master, but seeing her attitude towards the Old Master today, she was probably going to change her form of address soon. Qiao Yue blushed at Qiao Xuans words and actions. It made her seem pretentious in the past. Pulling down Qiao Xuans hand, Qiao Yue changed the topic, Big brother, youre messing up the hair I especially dried this morning. Qiao Xuan chuckled and ruffled Qiao Yues soft hair before letting her go. As soon as she escaped from Qiao Xuans grasp, Qiao Yue fell into the hands of Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu. Qiao Ze grabbed her by the neck and pinched Qiao Yues face, Grandpa said that youre a member of the Qiao family now, so were brothers in the future. If youre still so polite, youre going to get beaten up! Qiao Yu nodded in agreement, There shouldnt be any secrets between brothers. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows and gave Qiao Yu an evil smile, then her eyes drifted to Qiao Xuan. When Qiao Yu saw the look in Qiao Yues eyes, he knew that Qiao Yue was thinking about him imitating his big brother. Grabbing the other side of Qiao Yues face, Qiao Yu shot her a look that said, Youll die if you dare to say anything. Qiao Ying stepped forward and extended her hand to Qiao Yue with a gentle smile, Fifth brother, I still havent said this yet, but wee home. Qiao Yue held her hand and smiled, Thank you. To be honest, it doesnt feel bad to have a sister like this, Qiao Yue couldnt help but think. Chapter 98 - 98 Mother’s Secret 98 Mothers Secret In the blink of an eye, the school break wasing to an end. Qiao Yue and Lu Ying discussed a set of recipes, and Lu Ying handed it to Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan would stay in S Country for a few more days. After all, he still had to perform the surgery on the Old Master. He would only leave after the Old Master recovered and returned to the country. Before she left, Qiao Yue had a private conversation with the Old Master and asked about her mother, Grandfather, Ive heard some rumors since I returned to the Qiao family. I wonder if you know about them. Old master Qiao looked at Qiao Yue gently, his eyes full of the love of an elder to a junior, What is it? Qiao Yue thought for a moment and decided to get straight to the point, Grandpa, I heard that you didnt chase my mother out of the Qiao family because she eloped with someone. Instead, my mother stole something, right? In fact, the rumor was that her mother had been chased out of the family because she had eloped, but when Qiao Yue was asking Old Master Qiao about it, she still said that rumors had it her mother had stolen something. She wanted to see his reaction. Upon hearing Qiao Yues words, Old Master Qiaos expression abruptly changed and his voice was full of coldness, Who spread the rumors? Tell me, Grandpa will help you! Although Qiao Yue had expected Old Master Qiao to have a reaction to this matter, she didnt expect it to be so big. I just heard it by chance. Im not sure who spread the rumors exactly, Qiao Yue said vaguely. The servants said that? Old master Qiao asked. Im not too sure about this. I only heard about it from outside the door, Qiao Yue naturally couldnt say that it was Qiao Yu and Qiao Xin who told her, so she could only give a vague answer. Qiao Yu had only told her out of good intentions, so she couldnt possibly sell him. As for Qiao Xin, she still wanted to learn more from her, so she couldnt tell on her either. Old master Qiao snorted coldly, These people dont know anything and yet they dare to spread rumors. When I return, Ill help you teach them a lesson. Qiao Yue was silent for a moment. She didnt let the Old Master change the topic. Instead, she asked again, Grandpa, did my mother really take something from the Qiao family? The more Old Master Qiao tried to change the topic, the more it showed that something had really happened, and Qiao Yue wanted to get to the bottom of it. Old master Qiao looked at Qiao Yue with aplicated expression. He knew that his grandson wanted to get to the bottom of it, so he only sighed and said, Your mother didnt take anything from the Qiao family. If you hear gossip or someone asks you in the future, you can tell them that your mother left the Qiao family empty-handed and didnt take anything with her. If they ask you how you know, just say that your grandfather said it himself. Qiao Yues eyes darkened slightly. Whether it was a misunderstanding or something else, there must be a reason for rumors to spread. Moreover, judging from her grandfathers actions now, he must know something that he wasnt telling her. Grandpa, if its not because of elopement or theft, why did you kick my mother out of the Qiao family? Qiao Yue kept asking questions, and Old Master Qiaos gaze on her became increasinglyplicated, Xiao Yue, let bygones be bygones. Since your mother didnt tell you, I wont tell you either. Go along, then. Xiao Jing told me you have to go back to school tomorrow, so you should return home early and have a good rest. Qiao Yue could hear the heavy tone in her grandfathers words. What exactly happened that year that made even the head of the Qiao family reluctant to disclose? After confirming that she wouldnt be able to find out more about the situation back then, Qiao Yue could only tell her grandfather to rest well. However, she noticed that ever since she mentioned the theft, her grandfather had been in a very low mood. He didnt even say anything about her returning to the country. Before leaving the ward, Qiao Yue looked back at the emaciated Old Master lying on the bed. She opened her mouth, but in the end, only left silently. Outside the door, Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing were waiting for her. Seeing here out, Qiao Xuan walked over and asked, How is it? What did you talk to grandpa about? Qiao Yue collected her emotions and smiled, Its nothing. I just told grandpa to rest more. Grandpa is very good to me, so I hope that he can get better soon. Qiao Xuan looked at Qiao Yue for a while before smiling and nodding. After sending the two of them to the airport, Qiao Xuan ced an exquisitely wrapped box in Qiao Yues hands, You came and left in a hurry this time, so I didnt prepare anything. Take this first, and when I get back, Ill get you something better. Chapter 99 - 99 Being Followed 99 Being Followed Qiao Yue nodded with a smile. Seeing that it was almost time to board the ne, she didnt open the box but followed Qiao Jing directly to the gate. It wasnt until they got on the ne that Qiao Yue found out that other than the gift for her, Qiao Xuan had also prepared some local specialties he bought from wherever he went, indicating that she could share them with her ssmates. Qiao Yue couldnt help but sigh at Qiao Xuans thoughtfulness. No wonder his siblings all listened to him. Sitting next to Qiao Jing, Qiao Yue nced at him out of the corner of her eye and saw him leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed as if he was going to catch up on sleep. You didnt sleep wellst night? Qiao Yue asked tentatively. Yes, Qiao Jing replied lightly. Seeing Qiao Jing close his eyes, Qiao Yue began to size him up brazenly. It was only then that she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. It seemed thatst nights incident had not only affected her but also Qiao Jing. It was only because his behavior today was too normal that he didnt attract her attention. Qiao Yues gaze wandered over Qiao Jings face. He still had that cold, abstinent, and unapproachable look, but she rememberedst night, those eyes had been filled with her figure, and as she got closer, they seemed somewhat wet, cold but charming. After looking at him for a long time, Qiao Yue felt sleepy, and unknowingly leaned back in her chair and fell asleep. Not feeling the burning gaze anymore, Qiao Jing slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were filled with mixed emotions. Had he really drunk too much yesterday? Qiao Jing did not usually drink, but when the Old Master woke up yesterday, he had drunk a little on a whim. He did not expect that something like that would happen. Qiao Jing sighed, looked at the fast-asleep Qiao Yue, and put her head on his shoulder. From the first time when he had been stiff to how he was so familiar with doing the same thing now, he could feel that his care for Qiao Yue was more than any of his feelings toward his other brothers. However, he had to admit that who could refuse someone willing to take the initiative to get close? Qiao Yue slept until the nended. However, as soon as she got off the ne, she felt that someone was sizing her up. With that, she quietly retreated behind Qiao Jing. Behind him were Qiao Ze, Qiao Yu, and the others, who covered Qiao Yues figure. Eh? Why is Xiao Yue here? Is it because its too cold to walk with that ice block, Qiao Jing, so youre looking for your third brother to warm up? Qiao Ze said with a smile. However, Qiao Yue wasnt in the mood to talk to him about anything else. She only said a few words perfunctorily before carefully observing the surrounding environment. Since Trand didnt go straight to the Qiao family, it meant that he didnt see her face clearly that day. He would probably look for her by her figure and voice. Someone at the airport must have noticed her, but the other party was probably not sure, so they kept looking at her. Qiao Yues eyes darkened, and when she passed by the bathroom, she told Qiao Jing that she needed the bathroom before going in. [Hongan Airport, male, age 30-40. ck jacket, sweatpants, and sneakers, with Skechers ck cap. Take him out.] She received an OK in less than two minutes. As soon as Qiao Yue came out of the toilet cubicle, she saw someone using the urinal. She pretended not to see anything and walked out of the mens room with a normal expression. When she arrived at the public area between the male and female restrooms, she did not forget to wash her hands before leaving. Qiao Yue walked over to Qiao Jing and smiled at him. Brother, Im hungry. Why dont we grab something to eat here? Here? Qiao Jing asked, frowning. Qiao Yue nodded. She had to let that person follow her for a while longer, Ive never tried airport meals before and I want to try it. She looked around and pointed at a ramen shop. Without waiting for Qiao Jing to object, she shouted at Qiao Ze, Third brother, you can go back first! Ill have a bowl of noodles with Brother Jing before going back. When she came out just now, she heard Qiao Xin asking Qiao Ze about his job. It was quite probable that thetter had been urged to go back to work again while she was in the toilet. Qiao Zes eyes were full of surprise. He looked at Qiao Yue and then at Qiao Jing, You guys are going for ramen? Qiao Yue shed her white teeth at Qiao Ze, Bye-bye, third brother. Were leaving. With that, Qiao Yue grabbed Qiao Jings wrist and headed for the ramen shop, not giving Qiao Ze any chance to ask any more questions. Qiao Ze touched the bridge of his nose as he muttered, I didnt say you guys cant go, but at least bring me along! Qiao Yu patted Qiao Zes shoulder tofort him, Brother, hurry up and go to work. Dont always think about skipping work. Chapter 100 - 100 Indiscriminate Gunfire 100 Indiscriminate Gunfire Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing didnt walk at a brisk pace when heading to the ramen shop. Instead, they chose to walk in crowded ces. Qiao Jing let himself be pulled by Qiao Yue in silence, his gaze unfathomable as he looked at the person in front of him. When the two of them arrived at the ramen shop, Qiao Yue felt the phone in her pocket vibrate. It seemed that there was a message. Brother, what do you want to eat? My treat, Qiao Yue said generously to Qiao Jing when they arrived at the table. Qiao Yue pretended to nce out of the window inadvertently, but the person following her had already disappeared. Qiao Jing pushed the menu to Qiao Yue, You order, Ill order the same thing as you. Qiao Yues attention was drawn back by Qiao Jings actions. She took the menu and just randomly ordered two bowls of signature noodles before picking up her phone to check the message. The new message she received a minute ago was [The person has been found.]. Although she knew that the people in the organization acted quickly, she didnt expect them to be so fast. It had only been less than 20 minutes! What dangerous thing are you doing now? Qiao Jings sudden words startled Qiao Yue. Brother, what are you saying? Qiao Jings eyes fell on Qiao Yues phone and he continued, Ive told you not to touch anything dangerous after entering the Qiao family. Qiao Yue chuckled, Well, Im not home yet! Is there a big difference? Qiao Jing asked in a t tone. Qiao Yues eyes turned and her smile became even more unrestrained, Its not that I want to cause trouble, but trouble wille to me. If you want to protect me, then you just have to find out everything about me. Qiao Jings eyes darkened, Youre just an orphan from a mountain vige, yet youre involved with both the KA Group and Dr. Lu. I see youve had an interesting life all these years. Judging from her second brothers tone, he probably had evidence that she was rted to the KA Group. In that case, she did not have to deny it anymore. She simply chuckled and did not answer. I wont ask what your rtionship with the KA Group and Dr. Lu is, but if you have other identities and are involved in dangerous activities, I hope you can leave in time. Qiao Yues hand that was holding the noodles in her chopsticks paused. Her second brother was really sharp. To think he could even detect this. However, she didnt want to continue on this topic, so she simply answered with an mm. After the meal, the two of them returned to the Qiao familys vi directly. Nothing else happened in between. ... This is the evening news report. A malignant indiscriminate shooting urred at Hongan Airport today. The attackers attacked passers-by at Hongan Airport indiscriminately, causing seven people to be injured... Qiao Ying was watching the news in the living room. When she saw Qiao Yueing down, she lowered the volume and said, Fifth brother, its a good thing we left early this afternoon. Otherwise, we wouldve met a madman. Qiao Yue nced at the TV and nodded with a smile. The shooting happened after she and Qiao Jing had left Hongan Airport. They could be considered lucky. Qiao Yue sat down next to Qiao Ying and watched the news with her. At the same time, she browsed through the discussion forums and Weibo about the shooting incident. In a country like C Country, where it was forbidden for individuals to carry guns, a case with a shooter was undoubtedly a big deal. There were constant discussions on the inte. Some suspected that it was a spy from another country, some said that it was a psychopath who would carry out an indiscriminate attack, and some said that the relevant departments should dig out the details of the attacker. Qiao Yue thought that it would be great if they could dig out the truth. It would be best to just unroot all of the sinful drug dealers like Trand and shoot them all. Unfortunately, even if the police wanted to investigate further, they couldnt find anything. Since a few hours have passed, Trands men must have already cleaned up all traces. However, the advantage of this being such a major public incident was that the country would be more strict in controlling the flow of guns, making it more difficult for Trand to bring anything in. It also gave her a little more security. While everyone was discussing the conspiracy theory, ament suddenly caught Qiao Yues attention. [When I watched the video, I somehow felt that the eyes of the person holding the gun were empty. It was as if he was hypnotized.] Thisment was followed by a few replies. [Empty? Thats because he has no hope for life and wants to take revenge on society! Youre probably thinking too much.] [Hypnosis can make people kill indiscriminately? No way! If thats the case, anyone who wants to kill others can just learn how to hypnotize others. Rather, I wont need to hypnotize others to help me kill. I can just hypnotize the person I want to kill and make himmit suicide.] A few minutester, the person who posted the post probably deleted it after seeing that no one agreed with his point of view. Chapter 101 - 101 The Qiao Family’s Treasure 101 The Qiao Familys Treasure The next day, when Qiao Yue went to school, her ssmates were still discussing this matter. Some of the students who had heard more from their parents described the situation in great detail as if they had seen it themselves. Qiao Yu clicked his tongue and whispered into Qiao Yues ear, Xiao Yue, you cant be like them. Theyre acting as if they had never seen the world. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Yu helplessly. God knows who had been gossiping with her in the car this morning. Qiao Yue stopped Qiao Yu, who still wanted to say something to her, Brother Yu, its time for ss. Qiao Yu and Qiao Yues gifts were distributed to everyone after ss. Their ssmates were all children of rich families and didntck anything, but since it was a thoughtful gift, it was quite appreciated. At the beginning of the second ss, Qiao Yue received a message from Qiao Yu, asking her to check the forum. Thetest post on the forum was about a gift from the Qiao familys little princess to her ssmate. She clicked on the post and saw a photo of the gift and a photo of Qiao Xin giving her something. Thements were all praising how Qiao Xin was forthright, beautiful, and had a kind heart, giving Qiao Yue goosebumps. Although the Qiao family wasnt one of the most powerful families in C Country, it was still one of the top families. Even in an elite school like Harvey, many would try to get close to them, so it was normal for so many toment on the post. Qiao Yue didnt understand what Qiao Yu was trying to show her. She continued to scroll down and found ament that mentioned her. [As expected, Qiao Xin is the Qiao familys treasure! When I saw how arrogant Qiao Yue was before, I thought that the Qiao family was only good to an outsider and didnt care about their own sister! This watch cost at least a few hundred thousand Yuan, yet Qiao Xin gave it away just like that. It seems that the Qiao family is good to their own family after all. Theyre just pretending to be nice to Qiao Yue.] The intention of this reply was obviously to drive a wedge in the Qiao family, but the brainless Qiao Xin actually replied. [Dont say that. My brothers just love me more.] She also added a fewughing emojis at the end. Qiao Yue pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. If Qiao Xin wanted to say whatever she wanted, she wouldnt stop her. As long as she didnt provoke her in person, she couldnt be bothered to argue with this brainless person. Qiao Yue closed Qiao Xins post and browsed other posts. Some posted the shooting incident on the forum, while others reposted game information on the forum. [Glorys first pro league spring season tournament is about to begin.] Glory was the game that Qiao Yu had yedst time. Qiao Yue had yed the game for a while during its beta but had never touched it again after that. Out of curiosity about the game, she clicked on the post and found that it was not a promotional post but a recruitment post. The OP was a loyal fan of the game. After hearing the news that the professional league was about to start, he posted the news on the school forum and wanted to form a team with people who also liked the game. Qiao Yue flipped through it and found that many in school were ying this game. Glorys main contents werepetitions. yers would engage in 1v1, 3v3, 5v5, and many other types of PvP battles. After fulfilling certain conditions, the yers could participate in the games rankingpetition and PvE stage-clearing modes. It was a tower-pushing type of game. This game had many hero characters, so yers needed to choose their respective heroes before fighting. Each hero had multiple active skills and one passive skill. Heroes could be divided into mages, tanks, warriors, assassins, archers, and supports. Different heroes had different attributes and skills. Mages skills dealt magic damage, while tanks were responsible for absorbing the damage from the opponents attacks and protecting their teammates with their own bodies. The warrior in the team had to ensure a certain amount of damage output and also help the tank absorb a part of the damage. Assassins were heroes that dealt damage in closebat. They usually had movement skills, and at the same time, they had super high explosive power, which allowed them to kill their opponents instantly. Shooters dealt high damage but had poor survivability. They needed to have excellent positioning skills and goodbat awareness. The role of the supporting heroes was to control and protect their teammates, healing them. Chapter 102 - 102 The Game 102 The Game Because she had seen Qiao Yu y the game before, Qiao Yue remembered a lot of settings for the game. Since she had nothing to do now, she might as well download it and y. Back when Zhou Lan had dragged her to y this game, she had suffered losses due to Zhou Lan many times. Zhou Lans gaming skills werent good, but she loved to y. Not only did she only know how to y as a mage, but she also didnt listen to others advice and rushed forward whenever she saw someone. After ying with Zhou Lan once, she had almost be a full-time nanny for the mage. She had discussed with Zhou Lan about getting a supporting hero to follow her, but Zhou Lan had told her that if she couldnt control the entire game, then ying the game would be meaningless. She agreed with Zhou Lans words, but the key was that Zhou Lan was not controlling the entire game, but her! Until now, every time she thought about that experience, she felt that it was traumatic. Just as Qiao Yue was in a daze, the bell rang. Xiao Yue, what are you thinking about? Seeing that Qiao Yue was still in a daze after ss, Qiao Yu walked up to her and knocked on her desk. Qiao Yue raised her head and showed him her phone. Glory? Qiao Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. He had only seen Qiao Yue y single-yer games like Tetris, so he thought Qiao Yue didnt like these kinds of games. Qiao Yue smiled at Qiao Yu, I saw you ying before, so I downloaded it since I wanted to y with you. President, what are you guys talking about? Suddenly, an arm wrapped around Qiao Yus neck, forcing him to bend over. Thetter look over with a dark expression. Xu Hao, take your arm away, Qiao Yu squeezed out the words from between his teeth. Eh? Isnt this Glory? Qiao Yue, youre ying too? Xu Hao ignored Qiao Yus threat and asked in surprise when he saw Qiao Yues phone. His question made Qiao Yue wonder if it was that surprising that she yed games. All of them had the same shocked expression. Yes, why? You look surprised, Qiao Yue asked. Of course Im surprised! Every time I see you, youre always acting like an old man and dont seem to be interested in anything. I didnt expect you to know how to y games! Xu Hao said with a sigh. Xu Haos answer waspletely out of Qiao Yues expectations. She was only 18 years old. Where did she get the air of an old woman? Or was this person so sharp that he could detect her past? Qiao Yue carefully sized up the person in front of her a few times, but looking at the pair of eyes that were full of youthful vigor, she could only get one answer in the end. This persons judgment of her was probably out of instinct. Otherwise, out of so many people who had met her by chance, why would Xu Hao be the only one to say such a thing? Without giving Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu a chance to speak, Xu Hao continued, Qiao Yue, seeing that you just downloaded it, you probably havent yed it before, have you? Ill add you as a friendter. Ill help you win. Xu Haos hand moved from Qiao Yus shoulder to Qiao Yues shoulder and patted him a few times. Xu Hao, Im his real brother. Do I need you to take care of my little brother? Qiao Yus voice was cold. This guy had cut off what he wanted to say. He really needed a beating. Games could enhance friendships, and she was ying with Qiao Yu. When they got to know each other better, Qiao Yu might even lend her his forum administrator ount. Thinking of this, Qiao Yue smiled and said, Alright! Ill lie t and you two can help me win! Hearing Qiao Yues words, Qiao Yu began to exin Glory to Qiao Yue. Xu Hao also joined in. After a while, Xu Hao suddenly pped his thigh and said, I almost forgot, I came to ask if you wanted to form a team. Are you talking about the news of the professional league on the forum? Qiao Yu asked. Yes, Ive received urate news that Glory will announce the professional league in three months. Would you like to participate? Qiao Yu thought for a moment and nodded, I can try. Then lets y together tonight, Xu Hao decided. After Xu Hao settled the matter with Qiao Yu, he went to ask other people. He seemed to be quite busy. Chapter 103 - 103 Follow-up to the Shooting 103 Follow-up to the Shooting Qiao Yu looked at thepleted download of Glory on Qiao Yues phone and suddenly thought of something. He asked, How are your studies? Do you want me to help you with your studies? Qiao Yue looked up from the phone and shook her head at him. She had only gotten 60 because she was afraid of trouble. She didnt expect doing so would bring even more trouble. No, Im fine myself. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue suspiciously but didnt say anything. At this moment, someone came to the door and shouted, Qiao Yue, Ms. Lin is asking you to go to the office. Sister Lin? Qiao Yue was a little surprised. Why was she looking for her? Yes, Ill go now, Seeing Qiao Yu frowning, Qiao Yue gave him a reassuring look. In the resting room of the teachers office, Qiao Yue sat on a chair while ying with her phone. Sister Lin ced a cup of coffee in front of her as she said, The incident at Hongan Airport yesterday was quite a big deal. Qiao Yue looked up at her, Does the organization know about it? Almost. The hypnotist under you is a little eye-catching, Sister Lin said as she took a sip of her coffee. What did the Godfather say? Qiao Yue also picked up her coffee cup and took a sip. The Godfather is still in B Country so he wont find out so soon. You sure know how to get into trouble. Was your face seen when carrying out a mission? Someone found you so quickly? Sister Lin asked. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes and chuckled. The shooting incident had blown up so much that she couldnt believe it when she was told Godfather didnt know about it. So, what was Sister Lins reason for saying that? Sister Lin, do you know about the operation to snipe Trand? Qiao Yue asked instead of answering. Yeah. Everyone in the organization knows about this. Why are you suddenly asking this? Sister Lin was confused. When did you find out? Qiao Yue continued. When you guys were out on a mission! At that time, Chu Jia sent a message to the organization. Qiao Yue nodded, her fingers tapping on the sofa. She seemed to have thought of something, and her lips curled up into a yful smile. Sister Lins heart was racing. She felt that Qiao Yue was trying to test something. I called you here to question you. How did it be you questioning me instead? Quickly tell me how you managed to escape from being followed yesterday. It was especially dangerous, wasnt it? Qiao Yue raised her head and saw Sister Lins expression which was full of interest in gossip. She was really unleashing her gossiping instincts. Wheres the danger? Since I was discovered, I just killed the person who discovered me, Qiao Yue said indifferently. Theres no thrilling chase or quick transformations? Sister Lin asked suspiciously. Qiao Yues face was full of helplessness, My dear big sister, that was the airport. It was crowded and the surveince was everywhere. The police also patrolled from time to time. Did I want to die or did the people following me want to die by ying tricks there? Sister Lin sneered, But didnt you still cause a shooting incident? Its someone else whomitted the shooting and was judged as a psychopath taking revenge on society. It has nothing to do with me. If its like what you said about transformations and pursuits, I wouldve been involved and that would be different, Qiao Yue slowly exined the situation. Sister Lin rolled her eyes at Qiao Yue, Youre such a bad kid. To think you even made a big deal out of it. I heard that the Ministry of National Defense held a meeting after the shooting. They suspect that its a premeditated crime by another country and its just an experiment this time. As such, theyre asking all the provinces to strengthen their military deployment. Its especially difficult to go abroad now. Isnt that good? if Trand dares to make a move, we dont have to waste any energy, Qiao Yue smiled widely, but Sister Lins gaze was extremelyplicated. Although thats the case, its hard for our people to bring anything in now either. Qiao Yues smile remained, As long as you dont bring any prohibited items, I think its quite convenient to go in and out. Dont you think so, Sister Lin? Sister Lin opened her mouth, but she didnt say anything. Sister Lin, if anyone in the organization wants you to tell me something, just tell them that I cant do anything about it. Whatever they want to do, they can wait until the control over the borders is rxed! After Qiao Yue finished speaking, she didnt give sister Lin any time to answer. She simply opened the door and left, leaving sister Lin alone in the room frowning in deep thought. Chapter 104 - 104 A Mess 104 A Mess Due to the hugemotion caused by the shooting, Trand had no choice but to quiet down, and Qiao Yues life also calmed down. Of course, this was only on the surface. She heard from Chu Jia and the others that the organization had received news that Trand was frantically investigating the people who had attacked himst time. They thus told Qiao Yue to be careful. Qiao Yue looked at the message on her phone and showed a rare look of fatigue. She leaned back in her swivel chair to rest. She felt that things had not been going well recently, from the failed assassination of Trand to the clueless investigation of her mothers past, which made her feel irritated. It was undeniable that her arrogance was partly responsible for the failure of the assassination, but more importantly, she did not expect that Trands reinforcements would arrive so soon, which made her suspect that someone had leaked the operation. It would be fine if the operation was leaked because someone had betrayed the organization, but she was afraid that someone was targeting her. That nights operation had been an impromptu decision. If she hadnt been there, Chu Jia and the others might have died in Trands hands. After she joined, Trands reinforcements arrived quickly and took the hostages from her hands. All these coincidences made her feel that there was someone behind the scenes. Chu Jia, Stone, and the others had been with her the longest in the organization. There were also some talents that she had trained who specialized in certain skills, such as hypnotists, imitators, and doctors. They were her personal forces in the organization. It was also thanks to having them in the organization and the support of Chen Qing managing the KA Group outside the organization that she dared to live such a carefree life. However, someone now wanted to destroy the barrier that she had worked so hard to build. It was really annoying. Qiao Yues fingers rubbed her temples. Over the years, many in the organization didnt like her, so it wasnt easy to investigate who was targeting her. Moreover, although she had her suspicions, she didnt have any evidence, so she couldnt investigate openly either. However, the most important thing was... Qiao Yues eyes flew open, and they were filled with coldness. She was worried that the Godfather would be dissatisfied with her. Sister Lin had always worked for the Godfather. Why would she be teaching in Harvey? Could it be that she wanted to earn some extra money? When Qiao Yue thought of this, she was amused by her thoughts. She had once asked her ssmates about Sister Lin. Apparently, Sister Lin hade to Harvey Academy half a year ago, and because of her unique teaching style, every student in the school knew her. Ms. Lin has only been here for half a year, but I feel like shes been here for a long time, The student whom she had asked had mumbled in surprise back then. Half a year was the time point when she told the Godfather that she wanted to return to the Qiao family. After the Godfather agreed, she began to hand over her work and deal with the problems that might arise after she left. She had been doing this for a few months now. The Godfather had sent Sister Lin to Harvey at that time. Was he trying to protect her or monitor her? As for why she was suspicious of the Godfather, the reason was simple. It was the Godfather who ordered the assassination of Trand, yet all the actions of the Godfather as mentioned by Sister Lin were simply iprehensible in her eyes. Qiao Yue let out a long sigh, and her gaze fell on the wallpaper of her phone. She reached out and hit the Enter key, and the screen that was full of codes just now quickly changed its appearance. Upon closer inspection, it was the page of Harvey Academys forum. She had doubts about the assassination of Trand, but ultimately, as long as the whistle-blower was caught, she could get the answer she wanted by various means. In contrast, regarding her mothers matter, she really didnt know where to start. She had thought that she would find out something from Old Master Qiao, but after saving him and even waking him up, there was still no answer. She even received a warning not to continue asking. In the face of Old Master Qiao, who adored her, she couldnt do anything to force a confession. After her n failed, she tried to hack into Harvey Academys forum. In the end, it was just as she had thought. She had to wait for Qiao Yu to give her his ount. The firewall of Harvey Academys forum was not written by one person, but by many top programmers. If not for her quick reaction just now, the forums automatic rm program would have been activated. It might take half a month to a month topletely crack the code. She might as well spend this time getting closer to Qiao Yu and not waste her brain cells. Qiao Yue pinched the bridge of her nose, got up, and did some exercise. She might have to end the matter with Trand as soon as possible so that she could put all her energy into her mothers matters. Chapter 105 - 105 Makeover Transformation in a Second 105 Makeover Transformation in a Second After making the n, Qiao Yue became increasingly well-behaved for the next few days. She attended sses obediently, studied obediently, and hung around Qiao Yu when she was free to make him closer to her. Qiao Yu liked boxing, car racing, and games. It just so happened that she knew all these things. Qiao Yu, on the other hand, thought that she had never yed games before, so he always asked her to choose a support hero while he helped her win. Qiao Yue was happy to be rxed though. Qiao Yue! The two people on the other side are targeting me, help me! Bro! Suddenly, a wail from the opposite side startled Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue shifted her view to the top area of the game. Half of Xu Haos heros HP bar was full, and it was moving nimbly. He didnt seem to be dying anytime soon. He probably just wanted to give Qiao Yue something to do. You need my help? Qiao Yues tone was full of doubt. Yes! Of course! Hearing Qiao Yues question, Xu Hao seemed sincere. Qiao Yue clicked her tongue and was about to get off Qiao Yus hero when thetter seemed to have seen through her thoughts and said, No need. After saying that, he controlled his hero to run to the top area of the game where Xu Hao was fighting alone against two people on the opposite side and had already been suppressed under the tower. Qiao Yus second skill arrived at the enemys back, and with an upward flick, the two opponents were sent flying. After the huge skill, he followed up with a normal attack. First Blood! With Qiao Yus first kill, Qiao Yue jumped down from his hero and cast a shield on him before climbing back onto his head. Double Kill! Qiao Yu killed both opponents. At this time, Xu Hao had already returned to the city with only a little HP left, and Qiao Yu only had one-third of his HP left. The opposing jungler in the middle area had rushed over to help, and the junglers skill was locked onto Qiao Yu. With Qiao Yus HP, facing two heroes skills at the same time, he was probably doomed. Qiao Yue seized the opportunity and jumped behind Qiao Yu to block the opponents junglers skill, then turned around and hung on Qiao Yus head again. The newly cast shield was destroyed by the opponent, but fortunately, Qiao Yus life was saved. Qiao Yu sessfully obtained an HP kit under the tower and his HP recovered to half. Seeing that the opponent couldnt be killed, the opposing jungler retreated. Only the opposing mage was still thinking about whether he could get a kill on Qiao Yu and thus ran into the bushes in the jungle. Qiao Yue used a controlling skill on the opposing mage and instantly reached the target. Then, the two of them used a set of skills to kill the opposing mage. Triple Kill! With three kills when the game just started, their side had a clear advantage. Qiao Yue, youre good! Xu Hao stared at the screen and sighed in amazement. Qiao Yue raised his eyebrows and nced at Xu Hao, who was standing still. Your economy is going to be overtaken by the support, Qiao Yue said lightly. In this game, heroes had to buy equipment with gold coins. The more gold coins the character had, the higher the damage the character could deal. A warrior would be aughing stock if his economy was not as high as the supports economy. Upon hearing Qiao Yues words, Xu Haos face fell and he kept quiet while farming gold coins. Qiao Yu also looked at Qiao Yue with surprise in his eyes. Thetters timing in releasing skills just now was very urate, and she didnt seem like a newbie. With this thought in mind, Qiao Yu subconsciously observed Qiao Yues operation. She was fast, urate, and ruthless in the game. She always managed to cast a shield on her teammates at critical moments. As long as her teammates didnt seek death themselves by staying in the battle while only having a little HP, Qiao Yue could save them. In the early stages, Qiao Yue followed Qiao Yu, but in theter stages of the team fight, she no longer focused on one person. Instead, she focused on casting as many shields as possible to take the damage for her teammates. After the team battle, Qiao Yue and the others were injured but not dead. On the contrary, the opposing side had three deaths and two who quit the game on low HP. Qiao Yue, did you instantly change into the resurrection armor just now? Amazing! Is this really your first time ying this game? Xu Hao said in surprise. Qiao Yue chuckled, Ive had some contact with the game in the past. Back when she was ying games with Zhou Lan, thetters actions forced her to train and obtain such skills. As soon as Zhou Lans character died, she would shout for Qiao Yue to avenge her. However, given that Zhou Lan was often ganged up on, the targets of revenge would usually be two or three people at a time. As such, Qiao Yue had no choice but to learn how to change her equipment in seconds. Qiao Yue, youre too humble. Youre saying youve only had some contact with the game, but your skills are almost as good as Qiao Yus. The game had just beenunched, and many yers were still at the stage of practice. There werent many like Qiao Yu who had already started to figure out how to operate the heroes smoothly in the game. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with both curiosity and admiration. It seemed that Qiao Yue knew everything that he knew, and she was no inferior to him. The two also had amonnguage. Chapter 106 - 106 Battle Team’s Invitation 106 Battle Teams Invitation Brother, why are you looking at me like that? Qiao Yue asked in confusion. I feel like you know a lot of things, Qiao Yu said with a deeper meaning. Ive learned some things after some contact with them, Qiao Yue said with a smile. These days, posts about the game were getting more and more popr on the forum, and many were talking about thepetition and game controls, but Qiao Yues ambition wasnt there, so she simply put them aside after a few nces. Instead, Qiao Yue had asked Qiao Yu twice about the forum. Qiao Yu was a meticulous person. Whenever Qiao Yue asked, he would always ask her instead what she wanted to investigate. Qiao Yue had no choice but to only give vague replies. However, due to Qiao Yues previous disy of her gaming skills, Xu Hao remembered her and kept inviting her to join his game team. Xu Hao was very popr. From the moment he mentioned the idea of building a team, people came to him in an endless stream. He yed three matches with each person and it took him a week to confirm the other two members of his team. Xu Hao reserved thest empty spot for Qiao Yue, but she had never agreed. After ss, Qiao Yu had to go to the Student Union for a meeting, and Qiao Yue waited for him in the ssroom next door. She was scrolling through the news on her phone. From the details, she could tell that the security in C Country had indeed be more strict recently. This was probably the reason why she could live in peace for so long. A few days ago, she had a call with Chu Jia and the others and found out that they would return to the country soon. God knows if someone among them had been exposed or if their identities had been targeted from thest assassination, but they were also being watched when they were abroad. Its just that the people in the dark hadnt made a move. After receiving this news, Qiao Yue could only tell them to be more careful. Xiao Yue, sorry for the long wait, Hearing the voice, Qiao Yue raised her head and smiled at Qiao Yu. Lets go! Lets go home, Qiao Yu continued. Qiao Yue nodded, got up, and walked out of the ssroom with Qiao Yu. At this time, there were a lot fewer people on campus. The Student Unions meetings wouldst at least an hour, and there was no time limit for the long ones. Once, Qiao Yue waited for Qiao Yu to finish a meeting to the point she fell asleep while waiting. I told you that you didnt have to wait for me. You can just get the driver toe pick you up first, Although Qiao Yu said no, his tone didnt sound unhappy at all. On the contrary, he was quite pleased. Qiao Yue could feel that Qiao Yu was happy when she waited for him, yet he just had to say the opposite. Its good to go home with fourth brother. Im not in a hurry anyway, Qiao Yue replied casually. Suddenly, her eyes were attracted by a fiery red. Qiao Yu followed her gaze and saw a fiery red maple forest. I heard that it was nted by a senior who really likes maple trees. It only grew to this size in the past two years. Its quite beautiful. Qiao Yue hummed in agreement, I didnt notice it before. We used to leave the school building from the main entrance. There are no maple trees there. Only after Qiao Yus reminder did Qiao Yue realize that it was indeed the case. They had left through the back door today because Qiao Yu and the others had changed to another ssroom for the meeting. Looking at the maple forest again, Qiao Yue suddenly realized that she had been in the Qiao family for nearly three months now. It was already half of October. She had been in the Qiao family for quite a long time. Seeing that Qiao Yue was in a daze again, Qiao Yu smiled mischievously and stretched out his foot to trip her. He did manage to trip her, but Qiao Yue didnt fall. Instead, her body leaned forward but she stepped firmly on the ground. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu helplessly. Seeing the regretful look on the face of the person next to her, she punched Qiao Yu in the shoulder. Since tomorrow is a resting day, shall we go out and y tonight? Qiao Yu asked. Where to? Boxing? Qiao Yue returned the question. OK, Ill call the butler and tell the drivers that they dont need to pick us up, Qiao Yu hadnt been boxing for a while, and his hands were itching for a fight. He couldnt wait to agree to Qiao Yues suggestion. Qiao Yu stayed on the phone as he walked out with Qiao Yue. The two of them went to Qiao Zes car shop to pick up the car first, then went to the boxing club. The two of them chatted along the way, mostly with Qiao Yu talking and Qiao Yue listening. They talked about motorbikes, boxing, and gaming. Suddenly, Qiao Yu asked, Xiao Yue, why didnt you agree to join Xu Haos team? Im not interested, Qiao Yue replied. She was surrounded by a heap of unsettled matters and she really didnt want to be distracted by other things. Every time she thought of the unresolved matters she had on her te, Qiao Yue wanted to sigh. She felt that she had simply made her life a mess. Chapter 107 - 107 Kidnapping 107 Kidnapping Qiao Yues preference didnt change. He still chose the previous motorcycle, while Qiao Yu got a new one. Just as the two of them got on their motorcycles and were about to leave, Qiao Yue pretended to inadvertently nce at the person who had been following them. The other party, ady, had been following them from the campus for some unknown reason, and Qiao Yue had only let her continue doing so to find out her purpose. Just as Qiao Yue thought that the person following them was about to make a move, the gaze that had been on the two of them suddenly disappeared. She frowned slightly and suddenly had a bad feeling in her heart. Thus, she got on her motorcycle and quickly rode to the corner. Qiao Yu caught up to her and asked in confusion, Whats wrong? Qiao Yue looked around and saw a man pushing someone into a van. From the mans movements, it could be seen that the person who was being forced into the van was struggling hard. The man pushed the person in with great force and got in the car himself. Before the car door closed, Qiao Yue vaguely saw the corner of Harveys uniform. A student has been kidnapped, Qiao Yue said quickly and rushed straight after the van. Although Qiao Yu didnt understand what was going on, he still gave chase. It was a ck van, and it was very fast. Qiao Yue found that the van began to speed up after turning off the small road. The van was driving on a route with fewer people and cars. It seemed that it was a long-premeditated kidnapping. Qiao Yue could feel that Qiao Yu kept looking in her direction, probably wanting to ask something, but they couldnt hear each other through the helmet. The van was driving into increasingly dested areas, and the number of cars decreased steadily. Qiao Yue didnt dare to follow too closely for fear of being discovered. A momentter, she saw that the van had started to slow down, so she slowed down as well. After a turn, the van disappeared. Qiao Yue frowned and got down of her motorcycle, stopping it by the side of the road before going forward to check the situation. After turning the corner, Qiao Yue looked in the direction that the van might have gone. She saw an abandoned factory that the van must have driven into. Qiao Yue took out her phone and was about to call the police, but she stopped when she took out the phone. At this moment, Qiao Yu walked over, Whats going on? Someone has been following us since we left the school gate. I wanted to see what the persons purpose was, but before that person could act, she was captured, Qiao Yue was full of helplessness when she said this. She should have just caught the person who was following her earlier, then there wouldnt be so much trouble. Following us? And she was captured? Qiao Yu could understand every word that Qiao Yue said, but he couldnt understand what they meant when they were put together. Yes, I vaguely saw Harveys uniform just now. Maybe a student from our school was looking for you, but for some reason, she couldnte up and say anything. Then, she was kidnapped, Qiao Yue exined her guess. Qiao Yu frowned as well. This was really troublesome. Have you called the police? Qiao Yu asked as he took out his phone. When he saw the cross on the signal, he fell silent for a moment. We can call the police, but we cant tell the exact location and the GPS is not working either. Lets go and see whats going on, Qiao Yue pressed on Qiao Yus hand and said. Exchanging a nce, Qiao Yu nodded. The two of them carefully approached the perimeter of the abandoned factory. The other party was very cautious. Even though they had already kidnapped their target and brought her to such a remote ce, they still left two people to guard the perimeter. Qiao Yu had wanted to lure the two guards to the side where they would take care of one each, but Qiao Yue stopped him. She pointed to the surveince camera above the two of them and beckoned for Qiao Yu to follow her. The factory was rented. When Qiao Yue approached the ce, she noticed that many of the cameras outside the factory walls were working, so she took Qiao Yu to a path that could avoid the cameras. She bent down and groped along the base of the wall before finally finding a blind spot of the cameras. Because she had been professionally trained, Qiao Yue knew very well how to avoid cameras. She ran a few steps, then abruptly stepped onto the wall, grabbed the top with both hands, and nimbly jumped onto the high wall. Qiao Yu used the same method to climb up the wall, but he didnt have enough strength and almost didnt reach the top. Qiao Yue reached out and pulled him up. Chapter 108 - 108 Abandoned Factory 108 Abandoned Factory After climbing over the wall, the two of them carefully looked around and saw that no one was guarding the ce. They sneaked over and hid behind a stack of wood. The area of the factory was not small. From where Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu were standing, they could see the main entrance. Byparing their positions, they should be on the left side of the factory now. Since they could not just swagger in through the main entrance, they could only quietly explore other ways to enter. There were many surveince cameras outside the door, but fewer after they entered the courtyard, which gave the two some space to move around. Qiao Yu followed behind Qiao Yue without saying a word, only looking at her with his deep eyes. He had said that Qiao Yue was full of secrets, and he was right. Just like now, his fifth brother had brought him into a factory full of surveince cameras, but he did it as easily as if this was their backyard. If it had been an ordinary person, they would have long been discovered. Qiao Yue stopped in front of a pipe. The factory had two floors, and the pipe before her led to the second floor. Although she didnt know which room it led to, after walking around, she found that the window next to the pipe was the only one that was open. Qiao Yue asked Qiao Yu to wait downstairs while she went up to check on the situation. Given Qiao Yues skills, Qiao Yu nodded. Nimbly climbing up the pipe, Qiao Yue sneaked a look at the room with the window open. She couldnt help but frown when she saw the situation inside. Not only was the ce a toilet, but a mens toilet. Thinking of the situation when she hid in the airport mens toilet, Qiao Yue really didnt want to be fated with mens toilets at all. She jumped in and waved at Qiao Yu, who was under the window. In less than two minutes, Qiao Yu also climbed up. What they needed to do now was to find the location of the kidnapped student. After leaving the toiled, outside was a row of rooms that looked like the staffs dormitory. There was a lot of junk in the corridor, probably left behind by the staff when they moved out, which made it easy for the two of them to hide. Although they didnt see anyone in the corridor, their hearts were still in their throats since they didnt know where they were. As it was a factory, they saw many tools along the way. Qiao Yu picked up a wrench for self-defense, while Qiao Yue picked up an iron bar. After a while, Qiao Yue found footprints on the dust. Suddenly, the loud sound of an object falling to the ground startled the two. Qiao Yue quickly pulled Qiao Yu to the room next door. Brother Peng, dont be angry. Weve got the money anyway. Brother Hai can do whatever he wants. It wont affect us, A man said in a ttering tone. The wall of the factory dormitory was thin, so the two of them could hear the conversation in the next room clearly. Damn it, to think he dares to touch that woman. He doesnt want his life, but I still want mine! I dont want to have the life to earn money but not spend it! The mans voice was filled with anger as he roared. Theres nothing we cant do about it! We cant beat Brother Hai either, and this n was thought of by Brother Hai too. Brother Hai said that after we finish this job, hell arrange for us to go abroad where its far away. The family of this woman wont be able to find us, The man continued. There was the sound of something being smashed again, and the man roared, If were just asking for a ransom, theyll give up when they cant find us. But if Wang Hai rapes that woman, wont her familye to us for revenge? Qiao Yue clenched her fists tightly when she heard the mans words. She instantly realized the severity of the situation. If Brother Hai wants to do it, we simply cant do anything about it! The mans voice was filled with helplessness, Brother Peng, why dont we just quit this job and run while Brother Hai cant be bothered about us? Bah! I was the one who kidnapped the woman, and I was the one who drove the car. What did Wang Hai do? Why cant I get my share of the money? Besides, Im in the same boat as him now. Even if I run away, I cant guarantee that he wont rat me out. Then, then theres no point in getting angry, Brother Peng! Although Qiao Yue was worried about the situation of the kidnapped girl, she was quite speechless when she heard the mans words. This was really adding fuel to the fire. Sure enough, the mans scream came from the other side. I just cant stand his high and mighty appearance. Who does he think he is? Qiao Yue gave Qiao Yu a look, signaling that they had to leave as soon as possible and find the location of the kidnapped girl. However, as they were leaving, Qiao Yu identally touched a water bottle. Although Qiao Yue quickly caught the bottle, the sound still attracted the attention of the two in the next room. Chapter 109 - 109 A Disgusting Man 109 A Disgusting Man Whos in the next room? The hot-tempered man asked cautiously. The next room? Our men and Brother Hais men are all downstairs, so there shouldnt be anyone next door! After the man said this, his voice instantly disappeared. The space seemed to have frozen, and every second became extremely unbearable. ng! The door to the room where Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu were was kicked open, and two men, one tall and one short, appeared with guns. Get out here, The hot-tempered man said in a rough voice. The tterer bent down to check under the bed, then looked around the room, but he didnt see anyone. Did I hear wrong? The hot-tempered mans face was full of doubt. The only thing left untouched in the room was the closet in the corner. The hot-tempered man and the tterer looked at each other before slowly approaching the only corner of the room that they had not checked. The hot-tempered man fired two shots at the wardrobe without hesitation. The tterer was stunned for a second before he stepped forward to open the wardrobe. As the wardrobe slowly opened... Brother Peng, theres no one inside. The hot-tempered man clicked his tongue and said, Lets go and see whats the situation on Wang Hais side. However, just as the two of them turned around, a ck shadow suddenly descended from the sky and nimbly kicked the hot-tempered man to the ground. The ck shadow then snatched the gun from the other partys hand and pointed it at the tterer. Put down your guns and raise your hands. Although there was a gun pointed at their heads, seeing that the other party was a young student who seemed to still be in school, the two men couldnt help but look down on the other party and even had the mood to gossip. Youre that womans ssmate? The hot-tempered man said indifferently. Qiao Yue nced at him and pulled the trigger. A bullet flew along the tterers ear and hit the opposite wall. Squat. The shot immediately scared the tterers legs into jelly, and he fell to the ground. Seeing that Qiao Yue was not someone to be trifled with, the short-tempered man did not dare to say anything more and obediently squatted as well. A figure appeared behind the two men, gagging their mouths with rags and tying their hands and feet with rope to the point they could not move. Qiao Yue picked up the tterers gun and threw it to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu skillfully pulled out the safety catch before smiling at the two. His smile was gentle, but it made them break out in cold sweat. Qiao Yu squatted and pulled out the cloth that had just been stuffed into the tterers mouth. Which room is the person you kidnapped in? Qiao Yus gun was pointed directly at the other partys temple, causing him to break out in cold sweat. The tterer wanted to look at the short-tempered mans expression, but Qiao Yu pressed his head down. In, in the room at the end of the corridor, The tterer said, trembling. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu looked at each other. Qiao Yu stuffed the cloth back into the mans mouth and the two quickly left the room. The room at the end of the corridor? Qiao Yue observed the terrain after leaving the room and determined the direction from the ground. The two quickly approached the end of the corridor. Just as they reached the door, the two could hear the cries of a girl from the room. Bastard, get lost! Qiao Yue frowned and wanted to kick the door open, but she was stopped by Qiao Yu, who hid at the side, and knocked on the door. The next second, a low growl came from inside the house, Who is it? Youre disturbing me! When Qiao Yu stopped Qiao Yue, she understood that he was afraid of rming the people downstairs. After thinking for a while, Qiao Yue mimicked the voice of the tterer and said, Brother Hai, Brother Peng is looking for you. Can youe over? Damn it, dont you know Im in the middle of business? Tell Gao Peng that if theres anything, well talkter. Qiao Yue suppressed his anger and pretended to be anxious, Brother Hai, Brother Peng said that the girls family might have called the police. It seems like the police are already on their way here. Motherf*cker! The man in the room cursed angrily, followed by the girls heart-wrenching wails. Qiao Yues eyes were cold as she listened to the sound of the man walking over through the door. She gave Qiao Yu a look, telling him to get ready. Didnt Xiao Zheng already hack into the public securitywork? How did they find this ce? The mans voice in the room became clearer, This bunch of police officers... The door was opened from the inside, and before the man could finish his words, Qiao Yue pointed the ck muzzle at his temple. Dont make a sound. The safety catch of this gun is off, Qiao Yues voice seemed to be soaked in poison, seeping into the mans skin bit by bit. Chapter 110 - 110 Prepare to Escape 110 Prepare to Escape As if to prove that the bullet had been loaded, Qiao Yu deliberately raised the gun in front of the man to show him. The man was forced into the room step by step by Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu then skillfully found a hemp rope in the room and tied the mans hands and feet. Just as he was about to pull out a piece of cloth, Qiao Yu suddenly noticed the naked girl lying on the bed. He was stunned for a second before he quickly pulled out a piece of cloth and stuffed it into the mans mouth. Sensing Qiao Yus abnormal behavior, Qiao Yue turned around and saw the naked girl covered in wounds lying on the wooden bed, her eyes nk. Qiao Yue frowned and walked to the girls side to put a coat on her. It was useless for her to say anything now. She could only help the girl up through the coat. It was not the time to rx yet. How they were going to escape was still a problem. The girls eyes slowly regained focus. As if she couldnte back to her senses, she looked at Qiao Yue for a long time before she reacted. Her eyes gradually filled with tears. She was about to cry out loud when Qiao Yue covered her mouth. This persons subordinates are still downstairs. If we rm them and theye over, none of us will be able to escape, Qiao Yue exined the situation to the girl in a concise manner. Although she sympathized with the girl, now was not the time for her to vent her feelings. From the mans words just now, it was fortunate that they did not call the police. Otherwise, they would have been caught before they even entered the factory. When the girl heard Qiao Yues words, she bit her lower lip. Her face was already covered in tears, but she held on and didnt make a sound. Qiao Yue sighed and reached out his hand to Qiao Yu. What? Qiao Yu didnt dare to turn around during this time. He didnt know what Qiao Yue wanted when he saw her hand. Take off your coat, Qiao Yue said. Oh, Qiao Yu replied and obediently handed the coat to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue, who had received the coat, also remembered that she was still disguised as a man. She ced the coat in front of the girl, then turned around and said, Put on the clothes. Well bring you away from her. Seeing that Qiao Yue came to squat in front of the man next to him, Qiao Yu raised his eyebrows and silently asked Qiao Yue why she didnt continue tofort the girl. Qiao Yue simply red at him. Then, she aimed the gun at the mans lower body and took out the cloth strip in the mans mouth as she asked, Tell me, how were you going to get her family to pay the ransom? Qiao Yue was thinking that if these people asked the girls family toe here and pay the money, then they could just have a big fight after the girl was sent away. If the location of the transaction was not here, then they would have to send the girl away safely first before thinking of a way to deal with these people. The man was so frightened by Qiao Yues actions that he broke out in a cold sweat. He said in a trembling voice, I, I asked her family to ce the ransom in Jingshan Park and Ill hand her over to them. Jingshan Park? Qiao Yue didnt know the location, so she could only look at Qiao Yu. Theres quite the crowd in Jingshan Park, Qiao Yu exined, If one blend in with the crowd, one can easily get the ransom. How far is Jingshan Park from here? Qiao Yue continued to ask. About an hour, Qiao Yu replied. Qiao Yue frowned. The kidnappers were quite smart. They even left some time for themselves to escape after getting the money. But now it seemed that calling the police would not work. After observing the terrain just now, they couldnt leave from the first floor. They could only take the path they came from. Fourth Brother, where did you get the rope that you used to tie them up? Qiao Yue asked. Theres quite a lot in the cabs. They should be left behind by the staff when they packed their things. Find a few more. Well escape from the way we came in, Qiao Yue said. Qiao Yu nodded, Sure, wait here for me. Ill go find the ropes. However, Qiao Yue stopped Qiao Yu a second before he left. She was not at ease to let him go out alone. Whats the matter? Qiao Yu turned around. Qiao Yue frowned and said, Im worried about you going out alone. Wait for me to bring her along. Are you done? She asked the girl. Qiao Yues voice had a gentleness that she didnt notice herself. Perhaps she didnt notice that she was much gentler to girls than boys. The girls movements paused, and her tears fell like a broken string of beads. Yes, The girls choked voice sounded, making ones heart ache even more. Chapter 111 - 111 Many Ways 111 Many Ways Qiao Yues lips opened and closed a few times, but she still couldnt find anything to say tofort the girl. Qiao Yu stood by the door and turned back to look at the two, Arent we leaving? As he spoke, Qiao Yus eyes inadvertently nced at the man who was still trying to move despite his bound hands and feet. What should we do with this trash? He said with a frown. !! Qiao Yus words sessfully broke the silence in the room. Qiao Yue and the girls eyes focused on the man. It was as if all her grievances had found an outlet. The emotion in the girls empty eyes turned from despair to confusion, then fear, and finally into monstrous hatred. The girls eyes were fixed on the man. She yearned to eat his flesh, drink his blood, pull out his tendons, peel his skin, and burn the bones of the person who had defiled her into ashes. The man who was tied up also saw the shocking hatred in the girls eyes. At this time, he no longer had his previous arrogance and could only widen his eyes in fear and move back. The girl approached him step by step, holding the wrench she had just picked up. Although it was not wrong to kill such a man, Qiao Yue had to consider the girls future. If she were to let the girl kill the other party just like that, it would be a psychological blow to the girl. To this day, Qiao Yue could still remember the feeling of killing someone for the first time and the temperature of the blood spraying on her face. There were basically only two oues when someones hands were stained with human life. The first was that one would lose respect for life and be a machine that could trample on other peoples lives at any time. The other was that one would live in fear with the scenes of murder still vivid in ones mind, and one couldnt sleep at night. No matter what, Qiao Yue didnt want the girl who had experienced an undeserved disaster to experience it again. Qiao Yue watched as the girl walked up to the man and hit the mans head with a wrench. In an instant, the mans head bled. Unable to withstand the intense pain and psychological fear, the man fainted. The girl wanted to continue hitting the mans head, but Qiao Yue stopped her. There are many ways to torture a person. You dont have to stain your hands with blood, Qiao Yue held the girls hand and looked straight into the girls almost crazy eyes as she said gently. The temperature from her hand gradually spread to the girls body. Her lost rationality came back, and her hand trembled as she subconsciously threw away the bloodied wrench. Qiao Yue didnt give the girl any more time to think. She squatted and said with her back to the girl, Get on. Ill carry you. Hearing Qiao Yues words, the girl stifflyid on Qiao Yues back and wrapped her arms around her neck. However, what she didnt notice was that the moment she got onto Qiao Yues back, Qiao Yue quickly inserted a silver needle into the mans acupuncture point to stop the bleeding. Fourth brother, lets go, Qiao Yue carried the girl on her back and walked towards the door. While Qiao Yue and the girl were doing the series of actions, Qiao Yu didnt say a word. He just watched the two silently and listened to their conversation. At the same time, he became more and more curious about Qiao Yues past. In just 20 minutes, he had seen Qiao Yues coldness and gentleness. Although he also loathed the scum to the extreme, the way Qiao Yue looked at the man as if she was looking at a dead object really made his scalp go numb. If they werent present at the moment, he felt that Qiao Yue might have turned into the god of death who would reap lives. However, in front of the girl, Qiao Yues voice and actions were all warm. Perhaps she was taking care of the girls emotions, but Qiao Yue seemed to have thought over every word she said a few times in her heart. He didnt think that Qiao Yue had suddenly fallen in love with the girl, but Qiao Yues gentleness was really moving. Even as her older brother, he couldnt help but be attracted to her. Qiao Yu carefully pulled the door open. There was still no trace of anyoneing up to the second floor. The scumbag must have told the others not toe up here. Qiao Yu led the way in front, and Qiao Yue carried the girl on her back while following slowly behind. The three of them sessfully arrived at the room where the grumpy man and the tterer were tied up. As soon as they entered the house, Qiao Yue realized that the two men had moved a lot during the time they left. Looking in the direction they were moving, she saw a wallpaper knife on the ground. Qiao Yue put the girl down and a mocking smile appeared on her face. She walked over to the wallpaper knife and bent down to pick it up. Then, she squatted in front of the two who were tied up. Chapter 112 - 112 Escape 112 Escape Weve only been gone for a while, but your petty actions are quite a lot, Qiao Yue said as she yed with the wallpaper knife with one hand. The wallpaper knife was very close to the two. It cut their clothes but didnt hurt them at all. However, the two men were still in an extremely nervous state. Their eyes were staring at Qiao Yues hand, not even daring to breathe. Come over and help, Qiao Yu had already found the rope. Hearing Qiao Yus words, Qiao Yue knocked the two unconscious with his two hand des. !! Because they needed to take the girl away, they couldnt climb the pipe again. After securing the rope, Qiao Yue suddenly heard the sound of conversationing from outside the door. Brother Hai wont be angry if we go to him now, right? The mans voice wasnt loud, but because the door was very thin, his voice clearly entered Qiao Yues ears. Qiao Yue frowned and motioned for Qiao Yu to lower the rope. Seeing Qiao Yues serious expression, Qiao Yu looked down, turned back, and gave Qiao Yue an OK sign. Qiao Yue picked up the bed sheet that was twisted into a rope and tied the girl to herself. She could vaguely hear the two shameless people discussing the girl outside the door. Qiao Yue carried the girl down first, followed by Qiao Yu. Just as Qiao Yue grabbed the rope and climbed down, a scream came from the building, followed by a loud curse, Which bastard did this?! Qiao Yue frowned and sped up her descent. The mans scolding also alerted the people on the first floor, and Qiao Yue clearly saw Qiao Yus muscles tense up in an instant. After sliding down the rope hastily, Qiao Yue was a little breathless from the girls grip. She patted the girls arm twice to signal her to loosen her grip a little. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu looked at each other and quickly ran to the door. With the current situation, they couldnt possibly carry the girl and climb the wall again, so they could only break through head-on. Moreover, the people inside had already discovered that the man was injured. Even if they wanted to hide and escape, it was not realistic. In the end, they would only end up as turtles in a jar if they did that. Suddenly, an rm went off. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu sped up towards the door. When they were close to the door, Qiao Yue saw that the two enemies guarding the entrance were already armed with guns and waiting in a tight formation. She did not hesitate to fire two shots, hitting the opponents wrists. Wails rang out, and one of them tried to pick up the gun but was shot by Qiao Yu again. After taking care of the two gatekeepers, the three of them sessfully escaped from the factory, but now was the real thrilling moment. Qiao Yue and the other two rushed toward the road. As expected, in less than five minutes, the van chasing them drove to the factory gate. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue anxiously. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to be able to run at the same speed as him even though she was carrying someone on her back. The sound of the van was getting closer and closer. They were still a third of the distance away from their motorcycle. Seeing that they were about to be caught up, Qiao Yue turned around and fired two more shots, hitting the front wheels of the van. The van thus shook left and right due to the broken tires. Qiao Yu couldnt help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw this. He was about to speak when he heard Qiao Yues voice. Keep running, they have other cars. With Qiao Yues reminder, Qiao Yu didnt dare to dy and continued to run. The people in the van got out of the van after it stopped and began to chase. Because Qiao Yue and the others had the girl with them, the pursuers didnt dare to shoot easily. They could only continue to chase after the three people on their legs. Running to the motorcycle, Qiao Yue quickly undid the bed sheet on her body and got on the motorcycle before asking the girl to get on. Qiao Yu also got on his motorcycle. The motorcycles started and Qiao Yu wanted to call the police again, but Qiao Yue stopped him. Their men have hacked into the public security system. The phone calls from here will be intercepted, and they will be able to locate us. Motherf*cker! Qiao Yu cursed. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu didnt wear their helmets. Qiao Yue gave her helmet to the girl, and Qiao Yu didnt wear it because he wanted to hear Qiao Yues words at all times. The two of them got on the motorcycles and sped along. This ce was remote and sparsely popted, so there were basically no vehicles passing by. The two of them rammed up the horsepower of the motorcycle to the maximum and thus increased the speed, but even so, they could not shake off the vehicles chasing after them. Because the two of them were riding motorcycles this time, the people behind them no longer had to be afraid of hitting anyone by mistake. They fired straight at the tires. Fortunately, the two of them had good skills and dodged a few times. Just as Qiao Yu thought that they would be able to get to a more crowded area sessfully, a bullet hit the back wheel of his motorcycle. His motorcycle lost its bnce and flipped to the ground. Chapter 113 - 113 Caught 113 Caught Qiao Yus entire leg was under the motorcycle, and his face was pale with pain and cold sweat. He wanted to tell Qiao Yue to run and ignore him, but the pain made him unable to speak. Seeing this, Qiao Yue immediately stopped the motorcycle and ran to Qiao Yu. She lifted the motorcycle and held him in her arms, Fourth brother, how are you? At this time, Qiao Yu was in so much pain that he was barely conscious. He forced his eyes open to look at Qiao Yue, and the worry in the others eyes made him suddenly want to reach out to touch the other party and tell him that he was fine, but his body was in so much pain that he had no strength. The cars that were chasing after them surrounded them. Qiao Yue protected Qiao Yu in her arms, and the girl also squatted next to Qiao Yue and curled up into a ball, clutching her sleeve tightly. Qiao Yue looked calmly at the hot-tempered man in front of her. Her gaze made the man feel like he was an ant being looked down on. The hot-tempered man grabbed Qiao Yues cor and said angrily, Youre very arrogant, kid! Just the two of you dared toe and save her? Ill let you be arrogant! As he spoke, the hot-tempered man punched Qiao Yues face. She fell to the ground, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. The hot-tempered man seemed to not be satisfied. He kicked Qiao Yues stomach again and punched Qiao Yue repeatedly. Qiao Yue could only try her best to protect the vital parts of her body and not let herself be injured too badly. The hot-tempered man cursed, Arent you very powerful? A hero saving a beauty? Ill let you y the hero! Qiao Yu was already unconscious at this time. Seeing Qiao Yue being beaten up by the man, the girl wanted to stop him but was stopped by a few people. Because the girl only had two school uniform coats covering her body, the men inadvertently saw her body when they pulled on her. Although the girl struggled with all her might, the men didnt think much of it. Some even reached their hands into the girls clothes and touched her as they wished while she was struggling. Stop! The girl shouted at the top of her lungs. The next moment, Qiao Yue, who was being kicked, gritted her teeth and said, If you kill us, dont you want the ransom? Upon hearing this, the hot-tempered man finally stopped and said in a mocking tone, We only have to leave the woman alive. It doesnt matter even if we kill the two of you. As he spoke, he was about to punch and kick Qiao Yue again, but he heard Qiao Yues next sentence, Me and that unconscious person over there are both members of the Qiao family. You can ask for double the ransom. The Qiao family? The hot-tempered mans tone was full of disbelief. He wanted to continue mocking Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yue continued, If you dont believe me, go online and check. Harvey Academys Qiao Yu. There are photos of him from some mathpetitions. Seeing how certain Qiao Yue was, the hot-tempered man couldnt help but be suspicious. At this moment, the tterer said, Brother Peng, why dont we bring them back first? If its really like what this kid said, then we can get more money. If hes lying, hes now in our hands anyway, and we can deal with him however we want. The hot-tempered man felt that these words made sense and ordered his men to tie them up and throw them into the car. There were three rows of seats in the van. Qiao Yue, Qiao Yu, and the girl were thrown into thest row. The hot-tempered man and the tterer sat in the middle. In the front seats, one man was driving, and the other was holding a gun. Because Qiao Yue and the other two were tied up tightly, the four people in the car began to chat in a rxed atmosphere. Most of the conversation was about how much ransom they should ask for if Qiao Yu was really from the Qiao family. Qiao Yue hung his head and pretended to faint, but she was actually using a de to cut the rope on her hands from behind. The reason why she didnt resist was to prevent them from searching her body. Qiao Yu was injured, and if she wanted to bring the two of them away from here, she would have to find another means of transportation. Qiao Yue quickly cut the rope on her hands and began to deal with the rope on her feet. Brother Peng, how do you think we should spend the money when we get it? The tterer asked expectantly. hahaha, Im going to go to Las Vegas to gamble for a few days, then buy a vi abroad and find a few women to have fun with every day, The hot-tempered man replied excitedly. This Qiao family was a piece of fat meat. He would get as much as he could so that he could live a carefree life in the future. The tterers eyes lit up at his words, full of longing for a good life. Not only these two, but the other people who hade to capture the three were also full of joy. Chapter 114 - 114 Escaping From the Devil’s Den 114 Escaping From the Devils Den The Qiao family was different from the family of the girl they kidnapped. Even if the ransom they asked for was hundreds of millions, the Qiao family could afford it. When they nned the kidnapping, the children of the Qiao family were the first targets they thought of. However, the Qiao family had tight security, and they didnt have a chance to make a move. They didnt expect to catch a treasure today. This deal of getting one free for kidnapping another couldnt be better. Peoples vignce tended to be low when they were excited. Qiao Yue saw her opportunity and suddenly got up. She used both hands to hit the temples of the hot-tempered man and the tterer. In the next second, Qiao Yue approached the front seat from the gap on the right side of the middle seat. Before the two in the front seat could react, a de was quietly ced across the neck of the person sitting in the front passenger seat, while another de in the other hand was ced in front of the driver. Turn around, With his life in Qiao Yues hands, the pilot didnt dare to disobey. He could only slow down and change direction. With such a big movement, the car in front naturally noticed the abnormality. A questioning voice came from the walkie-talkie, Brother Peng, why did you guys turn around? Qiao Yue gestured for the passenger seat to hold the radio and say, I dropped my phone there. Im going back to get it. Oh, I see! Well wait for you. While the passenger was talking, the car had already turned around. Five minutester, they returned to their original positions. Leave your guns behind. Get down or die, your choice, Qiao Yues voice was cold as if she was a demon who had climbed out of hell. The driver and the passenger exchanged a look and said at the same time, Well get out of the car. The car stopped, and the two in the front seat raised their hands as they got out of the car. When they got out of the car, Qiao Yue threw a knife and cut the sleeve of the front passenger, stopping the passengers action of reaching for his phone. The front passenger was so frightened by Qiao Yues action that he broke out in a cold sweat. He backed away and didnt dare to make any more sneaky moves. Qiao Yue then opened the left door of the middle seats and kicked the grumpy man and the tterer out. After finishing the series of tasks, she got into the drivers seat and drove away. Although Qiao Yue had expected these people to catch up, she didnt expect them toe so quickly. She had no choice but to step on the elerator and speed all the way. The pain in her body made Qiao Yues forehead break out in cold sweat, but she didnt have the time to care about that. She could only try to avoid the bullets flying behind her. The group of people behind her was angered by Qiao Yues repeated provocations and fired incessantly at the van. Qiao Yue asked the girl to crouch low with Qiao Yu. The left and right side mirrors had been broken, but Qiao Yue couldnt fight back. She could only hope that they would encounter other vehicles as soon as possible. ncing at her phone, Qiao Yue saw that she already had a signal. So, she quickly made a call, Come and pick me up. Yes. It was only then that Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief. She didnt have to worry about the aftermath after she managed to contact her people. In less than five minutes, Qiao Yue received a call. Boss, turn left at the intersection. Drive at your current speed for 20 minutes. Our men will be there to meet you. Alright, After she hung up the phone, a fork appeared in front of Qiao Yue. She followed the instructions and entered thene. The cars behind them followed closely, but as they entered the road, they could gradually see some vehicles. Sure enough, when they saw other cars, the people behind them didnt dare to act arrogantly anymore, but they continued to pursue the three of them. This time, they didnt encounter any idents during the escape. Qiao Yue sessfully met up with the others, and the three of them were sent to the hospital where Zhou Lan was. When Qiao Yue stopped the car and walked toward the person in front, the girl knew that they had arrived at a safe ce. She finally let go of her tense nerves and fainted. Chu Jia moved closer to Qiao Yue and carefully touched the wound on her face. Boss, I havent seen you for a month. How did you get injured again? Qiao Yue frowned, How are the two of them? Theyre alright, their lives arent in danger. Its just that Qiao Yus leg is fractured and he needs to rest for a few months. That girl Chu Jia frowned as well, her eyes filled with worry, The girls external injuries arent serious, but after examination, she should have been sexually assaulted. The psychological trauma is greater than the physical damage. Qiao Yue clenched her fists, Send the people you caught to the police station. Dont deal with them yourself. Qiao Yue was about to go and see those people, but she felt a wave of dizziness as soon as she got up. After her body swayed a few times, her vision turned ck and shepletely lost consciousness. Chapter 115 - 115 The Hero Saves the Beauty? 115 The Hero Saves the Beauty? Qiao Yue woke a dayter. The ring sun shone in her eyes, and she raised her hand to block it. In doing so, she noticed a man sleeping on a chair. Brother, Qiao Yue called out in a hoarse voice. Qiao Jings ears twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes, twin pools of darkness that zeroed in on Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue shifted guiltily under his gaze. Brother, whats wrong? !! So you still know Im your brother, do you? Qiao Jing murmured emotionlessly, sending goosebumps along Qiao Yues skin. Qiao Yue swallowed, asking hesitantly, Brother, are you angry? Qiao Jingughed. It was a humourless sound betraying his fury, which was beyond creepy. To be young and full of vigour Once again, the hero saves the beauty, Qiao Jing spat out coldly. Qiao Yue choked on her words, her expression turning bitter, It was an emergency! Brother, please dont be angry. What was so urgent you needed to pay half of your life to aplish? Qiao Jing rebuked, his tone growing colder. Half my life? Qiao Yue did not understand. She was injured, but her injury was not serious! One of your ribs broke and nearly pierced your lungs. Qiao Yue, youre amazing. Even now, you pretend your injury isnt serious. Qiao Yues expression changed. Although she felt some pain, she did not expect it to be more serious than she first thought. Qiao Jing got up and walked over to Qiao Yue. His tall figure reflected in Qiao Yues eyes. Qiao Yue was not used to being looked down on like this, so she turned away, but it was for nought. Qiao Jing sat next to her and looked her in the eye. Qiao Yue, why do you always put yourself in so much danger? What else are you hiding? Qiao Jing had cupped her chin as he spoke, preventing her from looking away. She was forced to stare into those deep obsidian pools that seemed to draw her hither. The longer she looked, the more she saw the worry hidden behind the mask of anger. Qiao Yue was silent for a moment before she said, Yesterday, that girl followed Fourth Brother and me out. I couldnt pretend as if I had not seen her being tied up. Since it was an emergency, Fourth Brother and I chased her captors on our motorcycle; we did not even have the time to phone anyone or put our helmets on. If we had tarried, we would have lost her. You could have called the police or returned to inform me, but you still chose the most dangerous option. Qiao Jing could not ept Qiao Yues exnation. We werent familiar with the area and didnt want our call to be intercepted before it reached the police. Qiao Yue wanted to say that it was a good thing they had not wasted much time. Otherwise, the girl could have been hurt worst. But Qiao Yue knew Qiao Jings personality too well. He would not bat an eye if someone died before him, more so if it were someone unrted. Qiao Jing would not understand why she did what she did. Just as Qiao Jing was about to say something, Qiao Yue grabbed his hand. Qiao Jing froze, forgetting what he had wanted to say because of Qiao Yues sudden action. Brother, it hurts, Qiao Yue said softly. Qiao Jing stiffened. Even though he knew Qiao Yue was trying to change the topic, worry overcame all else. I-Ill go get the doctor, he said. Before Qiao Yue could respond, Qiao Jing had already left the ward, leaving her pointing at the call bell in a silly caricature of life. Qiao Yue could not help but smile as the sight of Qiao Jings nk expression reyed in her mind. Qiao Jing was worried about her. Lying on the bed, Qiao Yue went over what Qiao Jing had said. She did not feel much, not even when he said her ribs were broken. Did it slip her mind? Or was she just numb to the pain? Could that exin why she had thought her injuries were not serious? Qiao Yue was unsure. Qiao Jing soon returned with a doctor in tow. Coincidentally, it was Zhou Lan. Qiao Yue says she is in pain. Please have a look at her, Qiao Jing said. Zhou Lan raised an eyebrow as she surreptitiously sent Qiao Yue a questioning look. She said to Qiao Jing, Mr Qiao, please excuse us for a moment. Qiao Jing frowned but acquiesced, stepping out of the ward. Only Qiao Yue and Zhou Lan remained. Zhou Lan broke the silence, teasing, My, my. Its quite a surprise seeing you here again, Miss Qiao. Qiao Yue sighed helplessly. Of course, Id have to visit. You are attached to this hospital, after all. Zhou Lans retort was swift and merciless. Ouch! I dont want to see you so often, you know? But since youve gone to such lengths to meet me, I suppose Ill join you for lunch some other time. Qiao Yue went with the flow, saying, Ill hold you to it, then. Zhou Lan snorted and quickly checked Qiao Yues condition. Chapter 116 - 116 Self-care 116 Self-care Hows Qiao Yu and that girl? Although she had already asked, Qiao Yue was still a little worried, but the answer she got surprised her. Are you saying the girl has already returned home? Yup! Her family took her away the night you arrived at the hospital. You were unconscious at that time. The girl wanted to see you, but her family would not allow it and left with her in a car. !! Qiao Yues eyebrows knitted as she frowned. If it was as Zhou Lan described, the girl either was not well-liked by her family, or the incident had left some indelible mark on their attitude towards her. It was also possible that it was a norm in their family. In this case, the girl likely did not have a good life back home. Qiao Yue sighed. She had already done all she could to save the girl. There was not much more she could do. Hey, Earth to Qiao Yue. Yes, Im talking to you! If you have so much energy to care about others, why dont you start by taking better care of yourself? I heard from Chu Jia that you were admitted just two days ago. You couldnt even tell that your ribs were broken! Im impressed. I havent seen someone with so little consideration for their own health. Although Zhou Lan admonished her, Qiao Yue could tell it was out of concern. Qiao Yue grinned as she gently patted Zhou Lans head. I know, I know. Zhou Lan swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. How cunning of Qiao Yue to pat her on her head. Whenever she encountered a topic she did not want to engage in, Qiao Yue would pat her head, consoling her like she was a frightened animal. Zhou Lan let the matter rest; instead, she gave Qiao Yue a full-body check-up and informed Qiao Jing of the results. Mr Qiao, the patient has a broken rib. It isnt unusual for her to feel pain during this recovery period. Theres nothing to worry about, Mr Qiao. Qiao Jing was not satisfied with Zhou Lans answer and looked at Qiao Yue with a frown. Qiao Yue was dumbfounded by the look her brother gave her. Was there something else she was supposed to say? Zhou Lan rolled her eyes. Itd be best if Miss Qiao had someone to care for her while she is recovering; either family or friends would suffice. There are some things only family or close friends can sign off on. Qiao Yue shot Zhou Lan a look that seemed to form arge question mark over her head. What was Zhou Lan talking about? Why would close family or friends need to look after her? Qiao Jing answered, Okay. He did not wait for Qiao Yue to give her opinion. Qiao Yue turned to Qiao Jing, confusion evident in her look. Did she hear things right? Qiao Jing actually agreed? Wasnt he so busy that he wanted to split every second in two? How was he going to find the time to take care of her? Her questions were soon answered. Staring at the assistant bringing documents into the ward, Qiao Yue despaired. Didnt her brother know that patients needed to rest? How could she rest with everything happening in the background? Qiao Jings assistant gave Qiao Yue a sympathetic look and said, Good luck! Qiao Yue almost spat blood. Qiao Jings assistant knew what her brother was up to, but he kept mum, hoping to watch a good show! Even though she was screaming internally, Qiao Yue could not dismiss her brother. Qiao Jing cared about her. How could she trample on his good intentions? Now that they were in the same room, Qiao Yue finally realised how busy Qiao Jing was. She had heard from her brothers assistant that he was trying to break into the international market; hence, he had a lot of work every day. Seeing him in action reminded Qiao Yue why she had returned in the first ce. She wanted to talk business. Working withpanies in the country was easier than if she tried from outside. Some people in C-City, especially the very wealthy, viewed foreign goods as better than those produced at home. That was why she wanted to invest in foreignpanies and sell the products they produced back home. She did not need to concern herself with the problem of people looking down on her because of her age, thanks to several agents she worked with. Since her second brother, Qiao Jing, was having so much trouble breaking into the international market, Qiao Yue thought she might as well lend him a hand. Qiao Yue mulled over her decision for a long time before locking eyes with Qiao Jing, drawing his attention. Qiao Jing looked up from his documents and asked, Whats wrong? Nothing. I was admiring your looks. Has no one ever said you looked handsome while working? Qiao Jings ears turned red from Qiao Yues suddenpliment. He wondered whether Qiao Yue was so free with herpliments to everyone else, which brought a frown to his face. Youre so glib. Those simple words were a response to Qiao Yues praise. Chapter 117 - 117 A Storm of Love Letters 117 A Storm of Love Letters Qiao Yue pouted unhappily, How could you say that? Im being sincere! Qiao Jing continued with his work. I heard from Qiao Yu that youve been receiving love letters. Qiao Jings sudden change of topic caught her off guard, but the contents soon elicited an eye roll. Has Fourth Brother been telling on me? Hes received as many love letters as I haveno, more than me! Qiao Jing asked because Qiao Yu had told him about Qiao Yues poprity at school, pointing out how the many love interests were distracting Qiao Yue from her studies. !! Although he had not reacted then, it was still concerning news to Qiao Jing. Qiao Yue seemed to have plenty to say about Qiao Yu,ining, Brother, you dont know how many bees Fourth Brother attracts with his honey! Guys and girls, theyre all the same. They flock to him in droves. Fourth Brother is publicly acknowledged as the school idol, and hes received tons of love letters from his fans and suitors. Brother, you have to discipline him! Many like him? Qiao Jing asked. Seeing Qiao Yue nod, he rified, What about you? Qiao Yu was her fourth brother. Although she did not particrly like him, she could not say she hated him, could she? Not understanding Qiao Jings meaning, Qiao Yue answered, a strange expression on her face. Fourth Brother is alright. Qiao Jing looked up at Qiao Yue, who still looked confused. Qiao Yue could not understand why her brother was behaving so strangely. Quiet soon returned, and only fluttering pages could be heard as Qiao Jing leafed through several documents. Qiao Yue fell into a peaceful sleep. Qiao Yue felt a gentle hand caressing her face as shey half-asleep. Feeling the warmth against her skin, she could not help but lean into the touch. When Qiao Yue woketer that afternoon, she discovered she was alone. She tried stretching, but as she did so, a sharp painnced through her chest. Hiss! Qiao Yue sucked in a cold breath. It took a while, but the pain passed. Qiao Yue looked at her phone. Tapping on its screen, she saw a backlog of messages. Some were from her colleagues, while others were from her ssmates, asking about her condition. The most recent message was from Qiao Yu, asking her to text him when she woke up. Qiao Jing must have told him that she was sleeping, so he would note knocking. Qiao Yue sent a message to Qiao Yu, and soon after, she heard someone at the door. Come in. A nurse pushed Qiao Yu into the ward. He was in a wheelchair. Little Yue. Qiao Yu called out to Qiao Yue, his eyes betraying his guilt. Qiao Yue offered him a small smile. Whats with your expression? My injury isnt as serious as you think. Dont worry! I heard from the doctor that your ribs are broken. You brought that girl and me back despite the pain you must have been experiencing Im sorry. I should have done more; I should have protected you as your older brother! Qiao Yu spoke openly, without any hint of guile. His only thoughts revolved around his inadequacy as Qiao Yues big brother. How could he let his younger sister get hurt? Seeing Qiao Yu so distraught, Qiao Yue could not help but sigh. Fourth Brother, what happened wasnt your fault. Why do you insist on ming yourself? By the way, what happened to those kidnappers? Qiao Yue knew it was pointless tofort Qiao Yu in his present state, so she changed tactics, leading the conversation elsewhere. Qiao Yu frowned and said, They were arrested. I dont know whether they were sentenced to life in prison or death. Qiao Yu was not exaggerating. Those kidnappers had provoked more than two influential families with their actions, and now they were reaping their just desserts. With or without Qiao Yu and the girl, Qiao Yue was confident in her ability to dispose of those kidnappers. They had nned to escape abroad but did not know that it was easier for Qiao Yue to end them outside of the country than from within. Isnt that good? Theyll have to suffer in prison. Qiao Yues smile may have looked harmless, but her words carried an unmistakable chill. Fourth Brother, whats with that expression? Qiao Yu sighed. Dont worry about those kidnappers; Im more concerned for that girl we saved. She doesnt look like shes having a good time. Qiao Yu did not have a good impression of that girl. How would they havended in all this trouble if not for her? She had caused him and Qiao Yue these injuries, even if not directly. ording to the doctors, he and Qiao Yue would need at least three months of rest before regaining some modicum of mobility. How could he not hate that girl? That changed when he caught word from over the grapevine. Now, he did not me her as much, merely resigning himself to his ill fortune. Chapter 118 - 118 Is Tutoring the Answer? 118 Is Tutoring the Answer? No one from her family came to pick her up; the housekeeper brought her away. Our third brother checked her familys situation. She has an older sister, a younger sister, and two brothers. She was the apple of her familys eye. But because of this incident, her family couldnt arrange a good marriage, so shes lost her value. Qiao Yu said as he shook his head. Qiao Yue fell silent upon hearing Qiao Yus words. All she could do was pray the girl would pull herself together. Qiao Yu asked the nurse to push him closer to the bed. It hurts, doesnt it? He asked, concern reflecting in his eyes. With the light shining around him, dyeing his hair the same colour as the sun, Qiao Yu looked radiant. Qiao Yue subconsciously avoided Qiao Yus gaze. She had always tried to maintain a certain distance from the Qiao family, but familiarity bred attachment, and she longed for the care and kindness they showed her. Im okay. It doesnt hurt much. I didnt even realise my ribs were broken back then, Qiao Yue joked, smiling. However, Qiao Yue did not know that her seemingly ordinary smile and pale face made Qiao Yus heart ache even more. You protected me this time, but Ill protect you in the future. Before he fell unconscious, Qiao Yu recalled the figure of Qiao Yue defending him as she was dragged away by those kidnappers. If only he had been stronger, Qiao Yue would not have been taken away. Qiao Yue could tell Qiao Yu was ming himself again, but there was nothing she could do. Fourth Brother, did the doctors say how long itd take for your leg to recover? Three months, give or take. Youll need at least three months for your broken ribs to heal, Qiao Yu replied. Speaking of her injury, Qiao Yue wondered why it seemed so abnormal. Although she had puked blood, she did not feel much pain back then or now. She had been injured many times, so she had developed some pain tolerance, but it was her first time experiencing almost no pain. It was very strange. Did the doctors say when we can be discharged? Qiao Yue asked. I can be discharged anytime so long as I am in a wheelchair. Youll need to remain in the hospital for a week under observation. Afterwards, youll need to spend a week at home to rest and recuperate; no going to school! Qiao Yue nodded. That was good. It did not make much difference whether she went to school or stayed home. Just as Qiao Yue was happily dreaming of her stay at home, Qiao Yus following words turned her dream into thin air. Even if you dont attend school, youll still have to sit for the final exams. Dont worry; Ill tutor you while youre confined at home. You can lie in bed and listen, Qiao Yu said calmly. What? Qiao Yues eyes widened into saucers. Im already in this state, and youre still thinking of tutoring me? If words could be written on her face, they would have read how speechless she was. Of course, you need tutoring! Youre injured, and thatll dy your studies. Since you protected me, this is the least I can do for you. Ill repay you by helping you improve your grades! Qiao Yu dered. Qiao Yues expression morphed into a rictus of pain. This was revenge, not repaying a debt! Fourth Brother, Im sure you can see Im in no condition for tutoring. Please let me handle things myself. Qiao Yu shook his head determinedly. Thats what you said the other day, and look how much it has done for you. This time, I shall oversee your studies to ensure you understand the material properly! Qiao Yus insistence left Qiao Yue with no other option but to give in; not even her pleas for mercy found purchase in his stone-like heart. The two of them talked about the kidnappers. From Qiao Yu, Qiao Yue learned that the girls family did not n to allow the girl to appear in court. Instead, they wanted to enter into a bargain of some sort. However, the district attorneys office would not allow them this leeway. The kidnappers thought they had gained a lucky break; little did they know what awaited them was something a hundred times worse than dying in prison. Qiao Jing reappearedter that evening. He immediately noticed Qiao Yue was awake, so he asked, How do you feel? Qiao Yue giggled. Im fine. It doesnt hurt. Brother, you dont have to keep mepany if youre busy. Im not busy, Qiao Jing answered. Qiao Yue nearly choked. That could not have been further from the truth; even his assistant was drowning in paperwork! Qiao Yue noticed Qiao Jings assistant, who silently stood behind him. In his hands was a lunch box. Brother, is that for me? Qiao Yue pointed at the item in the assistants hands. The assistant quickly said, Miss Yue, this is something Mr Qiao prepared for you. You made this? Qiao Yue asked in disbelief. Chapter 119 - 119 Fish Soup 119 Fish Soup Qiao Jing nced at his assistant and said, No. As he spoke, Qiao Jing carefully helped Qiao Yue. His movements were so stiff that he identally aggravated Qiao Yues injury. Seeing her brother try his best, Qiao Yue endured the pain and allowed him to help her up. Ayer of sweat had formed over Qiao Jings forehead. It was not because she was very heavy, but rather he was afraid of hurting Qiao Yue that he moved so mechanically. Qiao Jings assistant watched the interaction between the two with bated breath. He had considered giving his boss some advice to reduce his jostling, but he refrained upon seeing his smiling face. It was a side to his boss that he rarely saw, and it was quite a treat. Qiao Jing had opened a foldable table on the side. While his boss helped Qiao Yue, he set the table. Soon, several dishes wereid out before Qiao Yue. Although Master Jing did not prepare the food, he watched the chef like a hawk, instructing him on your preferences and avoiding certain types of food. Qiao Yue quirked a brow as she eyed Qiao Jing. She did not know Qiao Jing cared so much about her. No, I just wanted to learn how to cook, Qiao Jing denied. He shot his assistant a warning look. Qiao Jings assistant wisely shut his mouth. The Qiao familys chef had suffered under Qiao Jings scrutiny. Apart from Qiao Xin, no one in the Qiao family was particrly picky about their food. Hence, the familys chef merely focused on taste rather than appearance. It took a lot of work for him to prepare something that would taste and look good with the number of ingredients Qiao Jing demanded that he add to the food. Things were made more difficult with Qiao Jing actively breathing down his neck. Qiao Yues eyes shone, and a smile brightened the room like Christmas hade early. Thank you, brother. A faint dusting of pink coloured Qiao Jings cheeks, and he turned away. Try it. I ensured the chef didnt add too many spices, so I dont know how itll taste. Qiao Yue nodded. The food smelled delicious. She had not eaten since the night before and could eat a horse now. After a mouthful of ginseng, Chinese yam, and double-boiled bass soup, the savoury taste inundated her mouth. It was so delicious Qiao Yuue wanted to swallow her tongue. The doctor said you should drink fish soup since it promotes the healing of ones bones, so I asked the chef to prepare this for you. Qiao Yues satisfaction was evident in her dreamy look, and a faint smile tugged at Qiao Jings lips. Brother, its delicious! Try it. Qiao Yue did not know what the chef had thrown into the soup, but the fish was tender and smooth, and the nice, milky sheen was enticing. She savoured each sip, allowing the mellow fragrance to tingle her tastebuds. Qiao Yue scooped a spoonful of fish and soup and brought it to Qiao Jings lips. Qiao Jing was stunned by the gesture, his eyes flitting between Qiao Yue and the spoon, but he did not immediately ept it. At first, Qiao Yue could not understand why Qiao Jing was so reserved, but the answer eventually came to her as she noticed his fixation on the spoon. In an instant, Qiao Yues face flushed red. How could she expect Qiao Jing to use a spoon she had used before? She tried to retract her arm, but Qiao Jing stopped her. Qiao Jing looked up at Qiao Yue, took the spoon into his mouth, and swallowed the spoons contents whole. He even licked the edge of the spoon, cleaning it off. It doesnt taste bad, Qiao Jing said as he wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. Qiao Yue had watched everything from start to end and gulped. Why did she feel something off with Qiao Jings actions? Why did she feel like there were romantic overtones in what he had just done? The thought made her face and ears burn. Who said Qiao Jing did not have a romantic bone in him? He was a wolf in disguise! Qiao Yue inhaled deeply, looking away. If you think its delicious, you should eat more. Heres a spoon, she stammered. Qiao Yue shoved the spoon into Qiao Jings hands and asked if she could get another from his assistant. It dawned on her, then, that someone had watched the whole exchange, and Qiao Yues face turned several shades darker. She looked around. Where had Qiao Jings assistant gone? What are you looking at? A cold voice sounded from the man opposite her, drawing her attention back to him. Nothing. I was wondering where your assistant went. He still has things to do, Qiao Jing said, fishing out an extra bowl from the lunch box. Chapter 120 - 120 Hacker 1 120 Hacker 1 Qiao Jing may not have thought much about the event, but it unsettled Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing wanted to eat with her. How was she supposed to eat with him as if nothing had happened? Qiao Yue could not refuse to eat with Qiao Jing. Since she could not uninvite him, Qiao Yue did the next best thing: she focused on her fish soup. But her traitorous eyes would linger on Qiao Jings lips if she allowed herself even a moments distraction. Qiao Yues eyes drifted, catching sight of his twinkling eyes. She choked. After a series of coughs, she red at Qiao Jing. What are youughing at? Qiao Yue demanded. Qiao Jing put down his chopsticks, his smile a constant fixture. Oh, nothing. It looked like you were having trouble concentrating on your food. Thats not true! Qiao Yue refused to give Qiao Jing the satisfaction of being right and continued eating as if it were not there. Qiao Yue stayed in the hospital for three days. On the first day, it was quiet, with only Qiao Yu and Qiao Jing visiting her. However, on the second day, more and more people came to see Qiao Yue. Although Qiao Jing said he would care for her, he could not always be by her side. Hence, he got someone else to stand in for him. Whenever Qiao Jing was not around, Chu Jia and several others would watch her in his stead. As soon as Chu Jia entered the ward, she sized up her boss. Boss, youre amazing! You got to the hospital without any help despite the injuries you sustained because of those kidnappers. Then there was that other time you took two people to wipe out an entire gang! Im getting too old for this Chu Jia sighed, surprised to see Qiao Yue so hale and hearty. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes. Here was her subordinate, happily poking fun at her again! Chu Jia, the irondy who had weathered mountains of daggers and seas of me, nearly burst into tears when she heard Zhou Lan say her boss had fainted. By the way, Boss, I beat up those small fries. They were so weak I thought I got the wrong people! Chu Jiaughed. Qiao Yue put on a smile and said, Is that so? Perhaps well need to get some practice in once I recover. Sensing the malice in Qiao Yues words despite her smiling face, Chu Jia swallowed her words. Zhou Lan was not so reserved and burst intoughter. I told you not to tease her. Youre just asking for trouble! Chu Jia grit her teeth, ring at Zhou Lan. She had to remind herself that she was here for important business. Boss, we found someone interesting yesterday. Qiao Yue tilted her head in thought. A hacker? Qiao Yue asked. Bingo! With your speed, the only way they could have matched you would have been through a coordinated assault with someone inmand. Chu Jias words reminded Qiao Yue of the events that night. She was certain she had managed to shake off their lead, but they always caught up with her not long after. This faceless hacker, thismander-in-chief, had some tricks up their sleeves. Qiao Yue nodded. Curious, Chu Jia asked, Boss, dont you love talents like these as much as your life? Are you not going to try recruiting them? Why would I? We already have YQ. Do we still need anyone else? Qiao Yue questioned. Qiao Yues question confused Chu Jia. Still, YQ was the best in the world; that bit was true. Chu Jia just found it weird that Qiao Yue did not jump at the opportunity to recruit someone useful. Then again, it was not for her to countermand her superior. Chu Jia had asked YQ to help her obtain a map for a mission in the past, but he refused no matter how she begged. She had thought it would be a piece of cake for YQ, but who could have known he would jump the gun andplete the mission himself? There was a world of difference between them. In line with YQs style of handling things, Chu Jia grew determined to get this new, nameless hacker into their fold, or more precisely, under Qiao Yue. Boss, think about it. YQ is worked to the bone. Im sure he would be happy to receive some help! Chu Jias eyes lit up as she pushed her proposal. If you want to do it, then do it. Leave me out of whatever it is youve nned. Qiao Yue was well aware of YQs personality. She did not want YQ to think she was questioning his ability. The situation would be vastly different if Chu Jia engaged the nameless hacker herself. Ill do it. Boss, may I borrow your phone? Without giving Qiao Yue an opportunity to reject her, Chu Jia took advantage of Qiao Yues limited mobility and swiped her phone lying next to her pillow. Big guy, control your wife. She even dares to steal my phone! Qiao Yue turned to therge man beside Chu Jia, helpless. The big man smiled. He was extremelyrge and built like an ox, which instilled fear in most people around him. Yet, when he smiled, it revealed a certain innocence about him. Chapter 121 - 121 Hacker 2 121 Hacker 2 Boss, I cant reign her in. If anything, she tells me what I can or cant do. The big guy scratched his head, answering with a silly smile. Chu Jiaughed and pinched the big guys arm when she heard those words. Zhou Lan smiled and said to Qiao Yue, Shi Tou said he and his crew would arrive tomorrow. Boss, it might not be a good idea for them to bump into the Qiao family. Qiao Yue massaged her temples. Tell them not toe. Im injured, not dead. Why are they alling as if to mourn my passing? Chu Jia chuckled and said, They arenting to send their condolences. Theyreing to see how a group of small fry managed to leave our boss in such a sorry state. Just as Qiao Yue was about to threaten Chu Jia with another intense bout of training, the call went through. A low, somewhat sleepy voice that instantly captured ones attention answered. Hello? Boss? The sun is up, and youre still sleeping. YQ, are you the reincarnation of Somnus? Chu Jia teased. Chu Jia? Isnt this the bosss number? When the person on the other end of the phone heard Chu Jias voice, he was like an angry cat. Tsk! Your tone changed when you heard me instead of the boss. Not even Sichuan opera performers change their faces as fast as you. Whats with your voice? Were you trying to seduce our boss? Qiao Yue did not think much of Chu Jias barrage of words. She adapted to each situation ordingly, reframing her state of mind to tackle each situation with the best set of skills. Because of her ability, the higher-ups in the organisation arranged for her to return to the city to take over the clubs business. Chu Jia only revealed her true self to those close to her. Hurry up and exin yourself. Why do you have Bosss phone? What have you done to her? I always knew you had designs against our boss! Qiao Yue wanted tough but could not. Chu Jia, on the other hand, rolled her eyes. Is that how you should be talking to people? Have you been sitting in front of theputer for so long that youve turned your brain to mush? I called because there is something serious Id like to discuss. Talk, he said. YQ tended to speak in clipped sentences when it came down to business. Weve found a good potential hacker and are nning to bring him into the fold, Chu Jia said. Silence greeted Chu Jias words. Only the sound of YQs breathing could be heard from across the line. What did our boss say? YQ eventually asked. Qiao Yue frowned and suddenly wanted to snatch the phone away from Chu Jia and tell him she had not said anything, but Chu Jia was too far away. Boss agreed. There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. After a few minutes, YQ said, Chu Jia, do you think Im as stupid as you? Would you have called me if the boss had not agreed? Ive already ryed the bosss approval to the rest of the organisation. Now, speak! What did you do to our boss? What are you trying to do with this takeover? Bah! You brat. Are you tired of living? If theres anyone I want to kill, that would be you! Chu Jia roared in rage. Pass the phone to the boss. Chu Jia returned the phone to Qiao Yue, looking displeased. Boss? YQ tried tentatively. Its me, Qiao Yue replied. Boss, do you want to bring other hackers into the organisation? YQ asked after a moment of silence. Qiao Yue snickered. Im fine with anything. It depends on you. Do you need help? If you dont, we wont force the issue. YQ heaved a sigh of relief. With renewed arrogance, he said, Boss can decide what is best. How could I gainsay whatever decision youve made? Dealing with YQ reminded Qiao Yue of appeasing an angry cat in that they were very simr. Going along with him, she said, Ive told you before, but Ill say it again: I dont trust anyone else on the Inte except you. Its up to you whether or not Ill invite anyone else into the organisation. Alright. I dont mind getting myself an underling, but you must make it clear that they have to listen to whatever I say. Otherwise, theres no need for us to continue this conversation. Already, YQ sounded much happier, and his mood improved. Okay, Qiao Yue replied. Although she had agreed, whether or not the other party wanted to be recruited was still up in the air. Nothing was certain yet. Chu Jia hung up, still unhappy. YQ only like you, Boss. Hes caustic to everyone else. Since Chu Jia was the one to propose this recruitment, she was in charge of seeing it through. Once she had Qiao Yues approval, Chu Jia did not hang around for much longer. She pulled the big guy along and ran off to get things done. One could only imagine how frustrated she had been dealing with YQ. Chapter 122 - 122 Caring Classmates 122 Caring ssmates Zhou Lanughed so hard that she was in stitches at the sight of Chu Jia running away. Qiao Yue, between YQs tormenting and your threats to schedule extra training sessions, Chu Jia ran away. No way! Am I that scary? Qiao Yue doubted Zhou Lans analysis of the situation. As long as you dont drag me to train with you, well stay good friends. Zhou Lan did not want anything to do with Qiao Yues hellish sparring sessions. While she had no trouble enjoying the suffering of others as they trained under Qiao Yue, Zhou Lan did not wish to be in their shoes. Qiao Yue eyed Zhou Lan speechlessly. Why did she make it sound like she was a ferocious wolf, tiger and leopard all in one? !! After Chu Jia departed, Zhou Lan went to do other things. Qiao Yue was so bored that she began ying games while in bed. Simrly, Qiao Yu was so bored that he decided to stay in Qiao Yues wardroom. In the evening, a new wave of guests arrived. They were Qiao Yue and Qiao Yus ssmates. Qiao Yue searched the crowd of neers but did not find the girl she had saved. Baskets of fruit cluttered the room, forming piles on the ground with each of her peers wishing her well. Xu Hao asked Qiao Yu about the rescue details while many concerned girls surrounded him. Qiao Yu, I thought we were bros! You didnt even call me when you rushed to save the girl, Xu Hao joked, punching Qiao Yus shoulder. Qiao Yu reacted indifferently, his gaze falling on Qiao Yue. Surrounding her were all their female ssmates. Why would I call you? We were already at the hospital. How else could you have helped? Could you have gotten another room? Qiao Yu retorted sarcastically. He did not have anything he wanted to say to Xu Hao. Xu Haos expression soured. You two arent as limber as me. Its no wonder you were caught. Neither of you would have gotten hurt if you had brought me along. Xu Haos words reminded Qiao Yu of the skills Qiao Yue had demonstrated when she was kidnapped. Qiao Yue had fought two against one, and her agility astounded. Qiao Yu chuckled. Why dont you have a match with Qiao Yue one day? You might not evenst three moves! How is that possible? Are you saying I cant beat Qiao Yue? Xu Haos expression betrayed his disbelief. Attracted by the conversation between the two, a girl asked, Is Xu Hao going to spar with Qiao Yue? The girl had not bothered to moderate the volume of her voice, soon gaining everyones attention. Even Qiao Yue could not help but look toward them in askance. It wouldnt be a serious fight. Its just that Qiao Yu said Qiao Yue is very strong, so I felt the urge to spar with her, Xu Hao exined with a red face. Xu Hao, dont you practice Taekwondo? How is Qiao Yue supposed to spar with you? Another girl asked. Thats right! Its only a spar when two people practice martial arts. Qiao Yue doesnt. Xu Hao, dont be a bully! A voice in the crowd chorused. Xu Hao scratched his head, wanting to exin himself but could not find the words to do so. Qiao Yue was about to step in when a weak voice caught everyones attention. Qiao Yue is very good at fighting. Didnt she beat up Qiao Xin when she brought her goons to make trouble for her? What?! Qiao Yues ssmates eximed in unison. Qiao Yue raised a brow. Hadnt the video of her hitting someone been deleted a long time ago? How was it possible for someone to know about it? This is it! Seeing that his ssmates were all looking at him, the bespectacled boy took out his phone and swiped on the screen a few times, bringing up a video for everyone to see. The girl in the video was brave and heroic. Her punches and kicks were clean and crisp. Watching her fight was like watching a performance. She knocked down foes bigger and stronger than her with just a few moves. Amazing! Xu Hao, who stood at the front, could not help but sigh in amazement. Where did this videoe from? Why havent I seen it before? A boy beside Xu Hao asked. Many people echoed the boys words, saying they had never seen this video before and asking the phone owner where he had seen it. I saw it while browsing the forums, so I saved it. It was deleted a long time ago, The bespectacled boy said. Qiao Yue sighed. Who would have known someone would have seen and saved it so quickly? She could no longer hide the truth. I had it deleted. Qiao Yus voice rang out amid themotion. Ah? Xu Hao turned to look at Qiao Yu in confusion. The others stopped asking for the video, and the room fell silent. Chapter 123 - 123 My Heart Aches for You 123 My Heart Aches for You Qiao Yue felt the atmosphere around her turn weird. Her ssmate had not meant any harm in showing the video, so it would not be very nice if she got upset over it. Just as she was about to speak up, Qiao Yu continued, Qiao Yue hasnt been back in the country for long. If that video were to spread, it could hamper her recovery. The video continued to y, and Qiao Xins side profile could be seen in a small corner of the screen. Everyone understood what Qiao Yu was saying. If the video was leaked, wouldnt it be as good as poking the hos nest? One by one, the students stepped forward and deleted the video in front of Qiao Yue. Xu Hao did not immediately leave upon deleting the video. Instead, he regarded Qiao Yue with a measure of excitement. Qiao Yue, you mustve learned martial arts before. Lets exchange a few moves when youve recovered! Qiao Yue chuckled. Alright. There was no harm in agreeing. Even if she decided against it, that would be a concern forter. The pudgy ss representative waddled up to Qiao Yue, his round face beaming brightly, Qiao Yue, you did a great job. Youre a hero for saving those that needed saving. Although we cant openly celebrate because of Wang Yis family, youre still the hero of our hearts. The ss representative spoke exaggeratedly, which made Qiao Yueugh. Qiao Yue knew the ss representative worried she would injure herself further if she continued to save people. While she was disappointed that there would not be any reward for her heroics, she was happy that her stunt would not push her into the limelight. Otherwise, wouldnt school be even more troublesome than it already was? Since it was gettingte, Qiao Yues ssmates bade farewell in twos and threes. A short whileter, Qiao Jing entered. Seeing Qiao Yu influencing Qiao Yue to y games with him, Qiao Jings expression fell, and he drove Qiao Yu out of the ward. Qiao Yue smiled happily at Qiao Jing, only to receive a smack on her head. Why are you smiling so goofily? Qiao Jing teased as he ruffled Qiao Yues hair. The smile on her lips remained. It felt good being cared for. In the past, Qiao Yue kept everything to herself, afraid to let anyone know she was injured. It was her first time receiving the care and support she needed from those around her. Qiao Jings eyes shed with a hint of heartache. He silently set the table andid out dinner. Whats wrong? Qiao Yue asked, concerned by Qiao Jings abrupt silence. Qiao Jing looked up with mixed feelings. I just thought it would be better to bring you home sooner. Qiao Yue fell silent as she processed Qiao Jings words. She did not quite understand what he meant. Staring at the white hospital sheets, she asked, Brother, do you pity me? No, its just Just? Qiao Yue looked up and met Qiao Jings gaze. My heart aches for you. Qiao Jing had not spoken loudly, yet his voice exploded in her ears like the crash of thunder. It certainly sent a jolt coursing through her heart. It was her first time receiving a confession, and her heart hammered to the beat of a drum. Everything was happening so fast and so suddenly that it hurt. A deep flush travelled up her neck, turning her ears pink, and soon her face sported a matching shade close to that of a ripe peach. Qiao Yue tried to ignore the sound of her beating heart, frantic in its pulsations. Brother, you You sound like a homosexual. Qiao Yues reaction dispersed Qiao Jings embarrassment, filling him with smiles andughter. You think Im gay? Qiao Jing parroted softly. Swift as ark, he grabbed hold of Qiao Yue and drew her close to him. If anything, this is gay. Qiao Yues breath caught in her throat. Qiao Jings delicate features, deep, ck eyes, high nose, and luscious lips closed in on her, almost teasingly. But what attracted Qiao Yue most was his skin. It was as smooth as jade with nary a pore in sight. It was so tempting she wanted nothing more than to touch and feel him against her skin. However, Qiao Yues n fell through. As soon as she leaned into his arms, she pulled away, gasping in pain. Qiao Jings brows furrowed, and worry clouded his sight. Be careful Brother, its your fault for teasing me! Qiao Yue pouted, a little displeased. Qiao Jing chuckled helplessly. Okay, okay. It was my fault. Dont move. Yes. Qiao Yue nodded with her nose upturned. Once bitten, twice shy, Qiao Yue finished her dinner with Qiao Jings help. Qiao Yue watched Qiao Jing clean up after the meal and said, Brother, the nurses can handle the rest. You still have your work to do. Qiao Jing put the cutlery aside and helped Qiao Yue back to the bed. Ill have the nurses clean up the rest. You need to sleep. Qiao Yue felt her mouth twitch. Her brother was really good. To think he would expect her to sleep right after eating. Wasnt he afraid she would get indigestion? Brother, I just ate. Shouldnt I get some exercise before bed? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing expectantly. Chapter 124 - 124 A Bedtime Story 124 A Bedtime Story Bo Studio Qiao Jing was sitting next to Qiao Yue, reading a book, when Qiao Yue expressed her desire to stretch her legs. Qiao Jing nced at Qiao Yue, echoing, Exercise? Im not talking about going for a walk or anything. Im talking about this, Qiao Yue said as she posed like a game character. No. You either study or go to sleep. Pick one. Qiao Jing immediately shot her request down. Qiao Yuey on the bed in utter despair. Did she have no other choice? Qiao Yue eyed the book Qiao Jing was reading. While her brother was upied, maybe she could y with her phone. Quietly, she snuck towards her phone, but it vanished as soon as she touched it. She looked up and saw Qiao Jing smiling at her faintly. Brother, I was just going to y for a while, Qiao Yue said gloomily. She even used her feminine charm to try and get her way. No, Qiao Jing replied indifferently. I cant sleep. I dont want to study. Since her feminine wiles had no effect, Qiao Yue resorted to pouting. Qiao Jing looked at her from the corner of his eye and caught her peeking at him. He could not help but smile. Is something the matter? Do you need me to coax you to sleep? Qiao Yue continued to act shamelessly. Brother, if you want to coax me, thats fine too. Dont people read storybooks to coax their children to sleep? Please read me a bedtime story. None of her usual methods was working, so Qiao Yue did not bother to continue saving face. Qiao Jings smile widened. Fine. Ill coax you to sleep. Qiao Yues eyes widened as she watched Qiao Jing turn to the first page of his book. Psychology. It is the scientific study of the behaviour and mental processes of individuals. The scientific method consists of an ordered set of steps for analysing and solving problems using objectively collected information as a factual basis for drawing conclusions Qiao Yue was rendered speechless by Qiao Jings dry recital. Qiao Jing ignored her and continued reading. The soft, slow drone of Qiao Jings voice filled the room. Soon, her eyelids fluttered, and she sank into sleep. Qiao Jing put down his book when the sound of even breaths was all he heard outside his voice. Complicated emotions filled his eyes once again. After what seemed like an age, Qiao Jing got up and turned off the lights, leaving only a smallmp far away from the bed to light up the room. With light steps, Qiao Jing exited the room to meet his assistant, who had been waiting outside for a while. Master Jing, Country A has rxed its foreign investment policies. You can acquire severalpanies you like at any time. Although Qiao Jings assistant appeared calm, the excitement in his voice could not be disguised. The project had been in the works for over half a month, and they finally had an opportunity to acquire the businesses which would give them a foothold in the foreign market. Qiao Jings assistant was so surprised by this change that he worried it was a trap. Qiao Jing knew what was on his assistants mind and assuaged his doubts, saying, Its fine. Whether or not it was a trap, he still had to take the leap and embracee what may. It was the first step in his n to expand his business abroad, and he had to seize the opportunity. Is Miss Yue asleep? His assistant asked as he nced at the door. Yes, she is asleep. A gentleness surfaced in Qiao Jing upon mentioning Qiao Yue, which surprised his assistant. Over the years, he had seen Master Jing surrounded by women, some of whom were well-matched in status, while others sought to reach for the sky through a positive rtionship with him. Those women had dozens of means, and Master Jing had seen most of what they had to offer. Who could have known the stubborn Master Jing of yonder years would fall at his sisters hands? Those women could notpare with Miss Yue. She was the first to receive such special treatment from Master Jing. He opened his mouth and was about to say something, but he stopped himself. Qiao Jings assistant had wanted to ask what his boss thought of Miss Yue but decided against it when he saw his bosss expression. Although they were siblings, they werent blood-rted. Then again, the assistant could not see the Old Master agreeing to a marriage either way! What are you looking at? Qiao Jing frowned at his assistant, who stared at him bug-eyed and hesitant. Qiao Jing quicklyposed himself, returning to his normal state as if the earlier gentility he exuded had been a lie. Qiao Jings assistant felt his heart tremble at the sudden change in tone, but he did not allow his inner turmoil to reflect on his outward expression or treatment of Qiao Jing. Chapter 125 - 125 Favoritism 125 Favoritism Master Jing, are you heading home now, or will you stay in the hospital? Qiao Jings assistant asked. The hospital. Ill bring Xiao Yue home after the checkup tomorrow. Yes, Master Jing. On the third day at the hospital, Qiao Yue woke up early and was dragged by Zhou Lan for a physical examination. Seeing as Shi Tou and the others wereing, she had to send Qiao Jing away. She called for Qiao Jing, who arranged a full-body examination only after Shi Tou and his crew left. Before she knew it, the sun had travelled from east to west, setting over the horizon. Just as Qiao Yue was about to go to bed, Qiao Jings assistant entered the room and began packing their things. He informed Qiao Yue that Qiao Jing had arranged for her to return home to rest. While the Qiao family did have a doctor on retainer, there was no need for her to head home so soon! This development elicited a curse from Qiao Yue. When Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing arrived home, they saw Qiao Ying, Qiao Xin, the Eldest Madam, and the Third Madam eating dinner. The Eldest Madam quickly invited her son to join them, asking the housekeeper to prepare another cutlery for him. The Third Madam readily agreed with her counterpart. Both of them treated Qiao Yue as if she were invisible. Fortunately, Qiao Ying was still at the table. After greeting Qiao Jing, she asked how Qiao Yue was. How are you? Qiao Ying asked with concern. Qiao Yue smiled at her. Its nothing serious. I need to rest at home for a while, thats all. You dont have the ability, yet you still tried ying the hero. Youre a disgrace to the Qiao family. Despite her best efforts, Qiao Xin could not keep her mouth shut for her life, but as long as she did not cross her bottom line, Qiao Yue was prepared to ignore her. Arguing or getting into a scuffle over a few words was too much trouble. Qiao Jing pushed Qiao Yue along, but not before ring at Qiao Xin. Sensing Qiao Jings gaze, Qiao Xin shrank in on herself, unwilling to provoke him over Qiao Yue. Qiao Xin still remembered her lesson. Her present outburst resulted from constantly hearing her ssmates talk about Qiao Yue over the past two days. Despite being absent, Qiao Yue was the centre of attention, which made Qiao Xin unhappy. Qiao Jing turned to the Eldest Madam. Mother, Ive eaten with Xiao Yue. Please continue without me. Qiao Jing had not bothered to acknowledge the Third Madam from start to finish. He had always felt something was off with the third branch of their family, and that feeling grew more pronounced when he visited the Old Master in S Country. Unfortunately, his digging had turned up nothing, or he would have taken action against them sooner. The Eldest Madam knew it would be pointless for her to press the issue from the cold, indifferent attitude her son bore. Since there was no persuading him, she would let him do as he wished, praying he knew what he was doing. The Eldest Madam heaved a deep sigh once Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue vanished upstairs. Her marriage with Qiao Jings father was purely for business purposes. The first three years of their marriage had been some of the best years of her life. She had a good husband and two wonderful sons, Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing. However, as her family fell from grace, her husband stopped returning home as often, forcing the Eldest Madam to chase him abroad to keep an eye on him. With neither of their parents around, Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing were raised by Old Man Qiao. When she realised her mistake, her two children had already grown up, leading their own lives. It was toote for her to fix their rtionship. The Third Madam could tell the Eldest Madam was at a loss, so she caught thetters eye and whispered in her ear. What do you think? The Third Madam asked, to which the Eldest Madam frowned. Sister-inw, if you want to improve your rtionship with Xiao Jing, you must do something! The Third Madam pushed, appearing harmless with the gentle smile she wore. The Eldest Madam continued frowning, lost in thought. She was troubled by the Third Madams suggestion but did not wish to scorn her counterparts advice, so she neither agreed nor refused. Meanwhile, Qiao Jing pushed Qiao Yue upstairs. Like Qiao Yu, Qiao Yue was in a wheelchair for convenience. Qiao Yue looked up at Qiao Jing. She had seen the warning look Qiao Jing had shot her just now. Qiao Yue had always been curious why Qiao Jing treated her better than Qiao Xin, whom he had grown up with. Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked the question weighing on her mind. Brother, why are you nicer to me than Qiao Xin? Didnt you two grow up together? Qiao Yue asked. She was not trying to sow discord; she was merely curious. Qiao Jing paused as he closed the door, answering Qiao Yues question. Qiao Xin has a vicious heart, which gives her all sorts of ideas, some more awful than thest. She inherited it from her mother Qiao Jing said. Qiao Yue did not expect such a forthright answer or a quick assessment of Qiao Xins character. Qiao Yue mulled over Qiao Jings words and nodded. Qiao Jing was right. Qiao Xins ck heart was not as simple as being spoiled by the family. She had total disregard for life. The most memorable example was when she arrived at the Qiao family, where Qiao Xin released a pack of snow wolves to maul her. No matter which side the bread was buttered, it was not something an ordinary person would do. Chapter 126 - 126 Qiao Yu 126 Qiao Yu Having been seated for a long time, Qiao Yue was stiff and as she moved, a sharp painnced through her ribs. She subconsciously rubbed her wound, and the action was not lost on Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing quickly pushed Qiao Yue to the bed and carried her off the wheelchair. Qiao Yue was startled by this sudden development and clutched Qiao Jings shirt tightly. Are you scared? Qiao Jing asked, looking at his awkward passenger. Im fine; you just startled me. Qiao Jing exited the room once Qiao Yue was tuckedfortably in bed. Since Qiao Yue would be staying home to recuperate, he would need to pay more attention to her. It seemed he would need to instruct the housekeepers on what they needed to do. Not long after Qiao Jing left, someone knocked on her door. Who is it? Qiao Yue shouted from her bed. As the bed was some distance from the door, Qiao Yue had no choice but to raise her voice to be heard. However, in doing so, she pulled on her wound, causing her face to pale from the influx of pain. Whoever it was at the door heard her gasp and hurriedly pushed the door open. It was Qiao Yu. Qiao Yue had heard that Qiao Yu returned home earlier that morning, saying he did not want to stay in the hospital any longer. He made such a fuss, refusing even the full-body checkup to determine his condition, and left. Youre finally home! Would you like to y a few rounds with me? Qiao Yu asked, wheeling himself to Qiao Yues bedside. Qiao Yue was left speechless. He did not even tell her to rest; instead, he wanted her to y with him as soon as she returned. Then again, it was not so bad. At least he was not treating her like an outsider. Qiao Yue did not think she could sleep so soon, so she agreed to y two rounds with Qiao Yu. While waiting for their game to start, Qiao Yue casually asked, Why are you in such a hurry to y today? Were you abused in-game? Qiao Yue was making a wild guess, but who could have known she would strike true? Abused? Me? How could I let myself be abused by three pieces of trash? They dont have any skill, yet they bark at every opportunity! Qiao Yu retorted. Qiao Yues interest was piqued. Was it a girl who had driven Qiao Yu mad? Come,e. Tell me what happened. Qiao Yues excitement fanned the mes of Qiao Yus anger. He gritted his teeth and growled, The games matchmaking paired me with a girl. I was assigned the jungle while she became our teams mage. She added me soon after. Qiao Yue nodded. It was normal for girls to add Qiao Yu as a friend in games because he was just that good. Still, she did not see why he needed to get so worked up if he was gaming with a few girls. The girl invited me to her party, and I agreed. There was someone else in the lobby when I joined. Qiao Yus eyes were bloodshot, and they threatened to shoot gouts of me. Qiao Yue, on the other hand, continued listening happily. When picking our champions, that fellow contested me for the jungle role. I didnt want to argue, so I chose to y on the topne. The girl chose to y as a support. She should have yed with a ranged champion or a mage, but she chose to stick with me instead. I didnt mind when she followed me. It would still benefit the team if we could gain an advantage in the topne. Qiao Yue nodded along. There was nothing wrong with that idea. What mattered was securing victory by any means possible. Things would only go south if two people could not beat a single enemy, forcing their other teammates to deal with a simr situation elsewhere on the map. Everything seemed to be going fine, and we held the advantage with our minions sieging the enemy tower. I hid in the bush with my support. That was when that fellow in the jungle decided toe top. One would think that three against one should have been an easy victory, dont you think? Qiao Yu turned to Qiao Yue, waiting for an answer. Qiao Yue regarded Qiao Yu quietly but did not say anything. He was probably going to reveal a twist from the tone with which he spoke. When he got no response from Qiao Yue, Qiao Yu continued, I drew the towers attention so that the idiot could take first blood, but he wasted the opportunity and even caused my champion to die! Hearing Qiao Yus irascible voice, Qiao Yue had trouble holding back herughter. Poor Qiao Yu had been tricked into putting himself in harms way. Qiao Yu inhaled deeply to calm himself. Its fine if he isnt a good yer, but he brings everyone down with him! He tries to show off but fails, and when he does, he sells out his team, stealing the resources the rest of us need to advance. Instead of helping the team and securing objectives, he wanders around the jungle with the support in tow, dancing in the tall grass like the buffoon he is! The more Qiao Yu spoke, the angrier he became. He wished he could return to that match and chop his opponent and teammates into pieces. One had to be blind not to see Qiao Yues great effort suppressing herughter. She was definitely gloating over his misfortune! Hurry up! Why havent youe online yet? Qiao Yu could not touch Qiao Yue, but that did not mean he could not get her to speed up. Chapter 127 - 127 Don’t Hit the Mage? 127 Dont Hit the Mage? Wait for an update, Qiao Yue replied as she tried to suppress a smile. It sounds like its that yers fault. How does it have anything to do with the girl? Qiao Yue asked after a moments thought. Qiao Yues curiosity exploded as Qiao Yus expression turned ck. I challenged him to a one-on-one battle, and that woman thought I was fighting him because of her. Qiao Yue could no longer hold in herughter and burst into giggles. At least she tried to cover it up by holding a hand to her mouth. Qiao Yu red resentfully, so Qiao Yue quicklyforted him. Were up! Come,e. Lets y. Hearing that Qiao Yues game client had opened, Qiao Yu stoppedining and invited her to a ranked match. The queue was surprisingly fruitful, with Xu Hao joining them randomly. It was almost as if they were ying as a three-man team. The game assigned roles to each of them. Xu Hao yed top, Qiao Yu in the jungle, and Qiao Yue was the support. Mages and sharpshooters were popr roles, so they were always the first to be snapped up. With no other choice, Qiao Yue had to fill in where ever she could. Qiao Yue and the other two were fairly skilled and seldom lost. The games matchmaking decided who they teamed up with, going from Bronze to Silver, tinum, Diamond, Starshine and King, from low to high. The three of them were all ranked Kings. There was a subtle science to matchmaking, and it was their luck that they got to y with one another. Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue yed two ranked matches, both victories. Just as Qiao Yu was about to invite Qiao Yue for another match, he received a friend request. Qiao Yu clicked on the note attached, which read: [ Hello, are you a friend of Dont Hit Mage? ] Qiao Yu frowned and replied: [ No. ] Seeing Qiao Yu upied, Qiao Yue looked up and asked, Are we not ying another game? We will; dont worry. Someone just sent me a friend request asking if I am a friend of some guy called Dont Hit Mage, Qiao Yu answered a little distractedly. Qiao Yue was stunned when she heard the name. Wasnt that the name she had used while the game was still in open beta? Why are they looking for Dont Hit Mage? Qiao Yue asked, unable to restrain herself. Qiao Yu shook his head. I dont know. Ill ask. [ I dont know who this Dont Hit Mage is. May I know why you are asking after them? ] Qiao Yu sent the message to the individual who posted the friend request. He soon received a response. [ Your friend ys like Dont Hit Mage, but I might have been mistaken. My bad! ] Qiao Yu did not respond. Instead, he turned to Qiao Yue in askance. Xiao Yue, do you know someone called Dont Hit Mage? Qiao Yu asked. Qiao Yue paused, still checking she had bought the correct items from the shop. No. I dont know them. Why do you ask? Qiao Yu pretended to be indifferent while secretly observing Qiao Yues movements. Although he had asked if Qiao Yue had yed the game before, and Qiao Yue said she only yed a little, Qiao Yu doubted Qiao Yue was as green as she said she was. In the draft selection screen, Qiao Yu chose to pick his rolest, leaving Qiao Yue with either top or mid asne options. Xiao Yue, which role would you like to take? Qiao Yu asked. Ill take the middlene, Qiao Yue replied after some consideration. When the match started, Qiao Yu realised they were ying against two familiar faces. They were the two who had angered him prior. Seeing Qiao Yus champion remain stationary in their base, Qiao Yue called out, Fourth Brother. Qiao Yu returned to his senses, remarking darkly, Xiao Yue, I want you to target their mid and jungle. Make sure they die a thousand deaths! Huh? Qiao Yue did not know where that came from. Those two are the ones I was talking about. Though he did not say much, Qiao Yue could read between the lines. She burst intoughter, only to receive a vicious re from Qiao Yu. Okay, okay. Ill do my best. Ill beat them till theyre ck and blue, Qiao Yue said, smiling. Qiao Yue reached level four ahead of her opponent, unlocking her finishing move. She pushed her opponent under their tower before disappearing into the jungle. The enemy jungle had cleared most of the monsters lurking in the underbrush, but that did not matter. Qiao Yue hid in a bush, stalking her prey: the enemy topne. With enough vision in their jungle, Qiao Yu lured hisne opponent towards Qiao Yue. The enemy jungle took the bait as soon as Qiao Yu stepped within range. He, and the enemy topne, ganged up on Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu activated his champions second skill, Shield Protection, reducing the damage of his enemies ultimate moves whilst increasing the gap between him and them. The enemies pursued Qiao Yu relentlessly since he was only at half health. Qiao Yue seized the opportunity,bining the effects of her second and ultimate skills, unleashing a deluge of damage that sent the two enemy yers into critical condition. Qiao Yu cleaned up the rest with a skill and a basic attack, earning himself a double kill. Chapter 128 - 128 Qiao Yue’s Game 128 Qiao Yues Game Beautiful! Qiao Yu sighed. Together, they scored a double-kill, one who had been at half health and the other full. Since he and Qiao Yue had not taken much of a beating in that fight, they returned to theirnes and earned more gold, widening the gap between them and their foes. When Qiao Yue reached herne, she bumped into her opponent. Her foe was not very experienced with her champion, and her aim was subpar, giving Qiao Yue an easy pass dodging her skill shots. Qiao Yue felled another wave of minions before heading to the bottomne. The 2v2 became a 3v2, with her side scoring another double-kill on the enemy sharpshooter and support. Soon, the bottomne turret fell, the three of them pushing their advantage to take the enemies Tier-2 turrets. !! Once they destroyed that turret, their team would gain greater control over the map, increasing the number of resources Qiao Yue could steal from the enemy jungle. It would also give her more opportunities to ambush her opponents. While Qiao Yue had fun poaching monsters from the enemy jungle, a game notification shed on her screen, informing her that Qiao Yu had scored another kill on the enemy jungle. Fourth Brother, have you taken a fancy to the enemy jungle? Youve caught him three times already! Qiao Yue teased. Qiao Yuughed coldly. Since he has the nerve to trespass in our territory, he should be prepared for death. Come, lets take the battle to them. It seems theyve grown too cowardly to explore the limits beyond their turrets. Well push the wave of minions into their top-side tower. Okay! Qiao Yue directed her champion to the topne to assist Qiao Yu. Still unhappy with the enemy jungle with whom he had yed together earlier, Qiao Yuunched a vicious campaign against the top outermost turret. He only wanted to crush that tower and run down the enemy jungle on their turf. Catching the enemy topne in a pincer manoeuvre, they swiftly dispatched their opponent, with Qiao Yu taking the kill. Maybe it was a force of habit after ying as a support for so long, but Qiao Yue instinctively gave all her kills to her teammates. Just then, Qiao Yue was ambushed by four from the enemy team while she was down in the bottomne. The enemy sharpshooter died, and the support escaped with a sliver of health. Meanwhile, the enemy jungle, hampered by his teammates, ended up dying, giving Qiao Yue a little more gold. Once she handled that mess, Qiao Yue rushed to herne and chipped away at the enemies middle turret. They had not even been in the game for more than 15 minutes. The enemy mage was so flustered by the sequence of events that they hurried to their middle turret, unleashing their ultimate skill. The enemy mage probably thought they could take Qiao Yue and Qiao Yus lives since they were under half-health when they breached the outer turret with their minions. Qiao Yue giggled. She didnt want to bully the enemy mid-yer, so why did she rush over, delivering her head on a silver tter? It would be a waste not to ept such a precious gift. Qiao Yue used her first, third and second skills in session, crashing down on the enemy mage, who could only wait for death with all her skills on cooldown. With their enemies defeated, Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu harvested gold from the jungle monsters before returning to base. After the midne mage died, the enemy jungleunched several sneak attacks on Qiao Yue but failed, with each attempt almost killing him, but he had no choice; he could not allow Qiao Yue free reign over the middlene. The enemy team soon realised that Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue were not marks they could easily ovee, so they turned their sights to their other three opponents. The enemy jungle managed to catch the sharpshooter time and time again, despite their supports best efforts to protect him. Qiao Yue and the support yer teamed up to defend their sharpshooter, but the enemy would retreat whenever she appeared. If nothing else, they were at least aware enough of the disparity in skill between them. The gold deficit between Qiao Yue and Qiao Yus team and their enemies steadily grew. Bridging a three-yer gap took work. Qiao Yue was toozy to continue with the tug-of-war, so she resolved to force them into a confrontation. Fourth Brother, lets wrap things up, Qiao Yue said. The two blitzed the enemy middlene turrets, heading straight for their nexus. Ranked games were supposed to hone a yers skill; Qiao Yue understood that. What she found appalling, however, was the enemys guerri tactics, avoiding directbat. Since they refused to meet her head-on, Qiao Yue would force them. Seeing that their inner turrets were falling one by one, the five enemy yers swiftly retreated to defend their base. Their teams support caught up with Qiao Yu and her. They sieged the enemys nexus turrets between the three of them C thest line of defence before the enemy base fell C grinding its health down to a third. The support took the lead, using their ultimate skill to stun two enemies. Qiao Yu followed up and stunned another but ended up rooted because of the enemy sharpshooters skill. Before the enemy mage or jungle could capitalise on Qiao Yus momentary weakness, Qiao Yue joined the fray, stabbing them both with all the might mustered behind her spear, killing two champions in the process. Double-kill! The mage and sharpshooter lost their lives, while the topne, jungle and enemy support were all half-dead. Qiao Yu took another third of the three enemies lives, reducing their health bars further, before retreating. When she arrived, Qiao Yue controlled her champion using an item that would refresh her ultimate skills cooldown. The item, an armour of resurrection, took effect, and the remaining three enemies sumbed to her blows. It was as if someone had pressed the slow-motion button. Qiao Yu had thought Qiao Yues champion would perish trying to save him and the support; not in his wildest dreams did he expect Chapter 129 - 129 Dropping the Champion 129 Dropping the Champion Triple-kill! Quadra-kill! Penta-kill! The game seemed to have been paused. Qiao Yus character stopped moving, as did the support, sharpshooter and topne. Everyones attention turned to Qiao Yue. Though she did not have much health left, she still stood proud and tall in a corner where the enemy turrets could not reach her. [ Amazing! ] The sharpshooters words brought them all back to their senses. The jungle began to type: [ That was amazing! The brilliance of that execution blinds me. Boss, you should take the jungle role next time! ] To the discerning eye, it was no secret that Qiao Yue could have taken more kills for herself, but she had not. Not only did she not steal kills from her fellow teammates, but she also ensured the gold deficit between their team and the enemy closed. Her selflessness was a surprise in a game where many sought benefits for themselves before others. [ Boss, lets add each other as friends. Please carry me! Ive been stuck in Starshine for so long I need help getting into the next rank! ] The sharpshooter typed into their chat. Qiao Yue smiled but did not answer. After thatst team wipe, the enemy had no chance of aeback. Now, they had to wait for their minions to catch up so they could destroy the turrets and end the game. [ Cooking Wine, were you a beta tester? ] The support asked. Cooking Wine was Qiao Yues current in-game name. Qiao Yue quirked a brow when she read what the support yer had typed. Just as she was about to reply, the sharpshooter posted another message. [ Test server? Why would you ask something like that? ] The support yer did not respond to the sharpshooters question and continued asking Qiao Yue: [ Did you y during the open beta? ] [ I yed a little. ] Qiao Yue answered. The support quickly followed up: [ Was your username Dont Hit Mage? ] Qiao Yue was quiet for a moment before answering no. The support did not seem to expect Qiao Yues answer and fell silent. Despite the awkward lull following her response, the jungle and sharpshooter grew excited. [ Youre right! Cooking Wines y style is very close to Dont Hit Mage. There are still a few videos on the forum showcasing their skill. Watching their videos always inspires me to y a few rounds. ] The jungles words dominated the screen. To stop them from gossiping further, Qiao Yue destroyed the enemy nexus as quickly as possible. While she could hide the fact from those on the inte, she could not hide from Qiao Yu. As soon as she looked up, Qiao Yue felt a burning gazend on her. Qiao Yue, shouldnt you exin yourself? Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with a dark expression. Qiao Yue fiddled with her phone, not looking at Qiao Yu. What do you mean? Are you Dont Hit Mage? Qiao Yus words rang heavily in the air. Qiao Yue chuckled, refusing to admit to anything. She did not want to be in the spotlight. Qiao Yues refusal to admit to anything cemented Qiao Yus belief that she was the character Dont Hit Mage, who had yed in the open beta version of the game. Since Qiao Yue chose to remain silent, Qiao Yu did not force an answer out of her. Didnt one of them mention something about a forum? They were likely referring to the Glory Forums. With a goal in sight, Qiao Yu logged out of the game and visited the website. Qiao Yu clicked on thest page of the forum since the topic they were discussing involved the open beta. There it was. On thest page was a post involving a yer called Dont Hit Mage. The post denounced Dont Hit Mage as a cheat, attaching a video of their performance as proof. The video showed Dont Hit Mage could change their equipment in seconds, boosting their damage output beyond reason. Even as it looked like they were about to lose, Dont Hit Mage would always survive with a smidgen of health. Subsequent posts continued to deride Dont Hit Mage. Some went as far as saying they had lodged reports against them for cheating. However, when a third person recorded their encounter with Dont Hit Mage, it dispelled the rumours circting like clouds on a sunny day. A pair of hands appeared on the screen. Those slender fingers and joints could be seen tapping away on a mouse and keyboard as if it was natural for them to be so good. Dont Hit Mage possessed a strong rhythmic ability that bolstered her reactions, making her movements very pleasing to the eye. After the video was uploaded, no one questioned the Dont Hit Mages actions anymore. Those who had insulted Dont Hit Mage before were all called out to apologise. Only one poster remained staunch, refusing to apologise. Qiao Yu grew curious. Why didnt that one individual retract their post? It was not untilter, when he read other posts, that he found out the answer. It turned out that this post had been deleted before, but the forum administrator always restored it. When the original poster noticed the public uproar caused, he immediately abandoned that ount. Qiao Yu browsed through several forum posts, all rted to Dont Hit Mage. Some asked for their contact information, while others wanted to spar. There were even some who asked to be allowed to record these battles. Chapter 130 - 130 Borrowing an Account 130 Borrowing an ount Tell me the truth, Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with interest. After reading so much, Qiao Yu was no longer depressed about Qiao Yue hiding things from him. Instead, he wanted to know what other secrets Qiao Yue was hiding. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes but clutched her wound, whimpering. Qiao Yu shot her a smile. The monk may flee, but the temple will remain. Even if I dont tell you today, youll still learn the truth sooner orter. Besides, Qiao Yue began, almost exasperatedly, Theres nothing in it for me. Why should I reveal anything? Qiao Yu quirked a brow. If anyone else had said that, he would have been fine even if they chose not to tell him what he wanted to know. But this was Qiao Yue. How could he allow her to hold so many secrets from him? Qiao Yu vowed he would dig up as many as he could. Benefits? What do you want? Qiao Yu countered. Lets see How about you lend me your school forum ount to tinker with? Qiao Yue giggled. No, Qiao Yu retorted before he could process his words. Why not? This time, it was Qiao Yues turn to ask. Qiao Yu frowned. Managing the school forum ount is part of the Student Councils responsibilities. I cant let just anyone use it. Why would you want to borrow it, anyway? Seeing how serious Qiao Yu was, Qiao Yue sighed and thought things were over. However, Qiao Yus tone changed, and he continued, That being said if Im present while you use it, I can allow you to take a peek. Although Qiao Yus suggestion was an openpromise that moved her, she was wary he would be drawn into conflict if some people were to learn she was trying to find out more about her mother. While Qiao Yue was lost in thought, Qiao Yu spoke up. What do you think? Ill go with your suggestion. Qiao Yue could sense that Qiao Yu was on the verge of backing out, so she hastily agreed. Since youve agreed, youll need to keep your end of the bargain! Qiao Yu refused to allow Qiao Yue to weasel her way out of their agreement. Qiao Yue sighed and began recounting her sad past gaming with Zhou Lan. They mostly coincided with what Qiao Yu had learned, save for a few details here and there. You practised all the different roles because of her? Qiao Yu asked in disbelief. Qiao Yue nodded, recalling the terrifying memory of Zhou Lans gamey. Amazing! Is it someone you like? Qiao Yu sighed dramatically. Qiao Yue paled. Somehow she felt violently offended by the suggestion. Qiao Yu regarded Qiao Yue curiously. Nothing he had heard from his second or third brother was true. From what he could piece together, Qiao Yue grew up with a silver spoon, albeit in a dangerous environment. It was a paradox to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yue did not sound capable of running a criminal enterprise, so where had she been all these years? Qiao Yus sudden silence caught Qiao Yues attention, and she looked at him expectantly. Whats wrong? Qiao Yue asked. Its nothing. Im just tired after our few matches. Would you like to look at the forums now? Qiao Yu had probably guessed that she wanted to investigate something, but she went with the flow. Getting up was a chore, with pain ring in her ribs. Meanwhile, Qiao Yu opened the webpage for the school forum, entering his password discreetly. As she expected, the interface was vastly different from the one she had seen on her phone. The red ones are deleted posts. Sitting in his wheelchair, Qiao Yu slid to Qiao Yues bedside and highlighted those things. A quick scan informed Qiao Yue that many posts were deleted daily. Some were deleted by the original poster, while others were by the management. Many more were sent and deleted because of mistakes. Only a select few deliberately stirred up trouble. After scrolling through a few pages, Qiao Yue jumped to the end. Are you looking for posts about your mother? She expected no less from someone who helmed the Student Council. Qiao Yu connected the dots quite quickly. From a few disjointed pieces of information, he solved what Qiao Yue was looking for on the school forum. Since the cat was out of the bag, Qiao Yue did not hide her motives, nodding in response to her Fourth Brothers question. Originally, she didnt want the Qiao family to know why she was investigating her mother because she was afraid someone would interfere. If she desperately denied her motives, there was a chance she would lose valuable information regarding her mother. The forum archives were vast. Qiao Yue leafed through posts from students several batches before theirs. Her mother had gone to the school some 20-odd years ago. She was probably the third batch of students to graduate from the school, just around the time the school forums were first established. To her surprise, very few posts, deleted or otherwise, remained in the school database. It was abnormal. Wouldnt the inception of the new forums be the time when they were most lively? Yet, why couldnt she find anything rting to her mother? Qiao Yu noticed Qiao Yues confusion and exined, There are some things not even the Student Council have ess to, and only the principal or members of the board of governors may inspect. Qiao Yue frowned. Was Qiao Yu trying to say this was a dead-end? Chapter 131 - 131 A Turn of Events 131 A Turn of Events Qiao Yue grew sombre as she reached this conclusion, which showed in her expression. I could give you my password if you want. Would that help? The disappointment on Qiao Yues face was so obvious that Qiao Yu could not help but feel guilty. Qiao Yue hummed weakly as shey in bed, preparing to go to sleep. It was as if she had seen the light of hope, only to realise it was an illusion. Theplete and utter devastation she felt could not be quantified. Guilt weighed heavily on Qiao Yus mind. Not knowing what to say, he beat a quick retreat, exiting the room. Rest well. Qiao Yue sighed. She picked up her phone and logged into the system through Qiao Yus ount. Qiao Yue felt caged. The Old Master Qiao refused to relent, while the rest of the family insisted that her mother had stolen something, though nobody knew what it was. Getting Qiao Yu to let her use his ount had been a hassle; even now, she wondered whether it had been worth it. Did she need to borrow KAs intelligencework? Qiao Yue pinched her nose bridge, feeling a headache thrumming behind her eyes. She had always tried to separate KA from the organisation since many knew that KA was her right hand. While she knew for certain that the higher-ups in KA were her people, there was no guarantee that spies had not infiltrated their ranks. If she were to involve them and one of them so happened to be an agent for someone else with ill intentions towards her mother, all her efforts would be for nought. Qiao Yues mind wandered as she browsed the forums, sifting through the posts from front to back. This time, unlike earlier, when Qiao Yu was around, Qiao Yue only clicked on posts that might be rted to her mother. She scanned each post methodically, looking for any sign of her mother. Just as she was about to give up, a photo entered her line of sight, immediately stealing all her attention. They were several photos of students undergoing basic military training. Boys and girls from each ss smiled into the camera with youthful exuberance. Qiao Yue eyed each one and soon found a familiar face. Unlike the other sses, there was only one photo of her mothers ss; strangely, it was not a group photo. There was her mother standing in military garb. It merely showed her side profile. Even so, her mother stood out in uniform. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief, and a sense of joy rushed into her chest. She saved the photo of her mother, feeling relieved. She did not care about the time she had spent. That time was well spent since she had found something rted to her mother. This new clue renewed Qiao Yues belief that she would find out more by using the school as a springboard. The harvest greatly improved Qiao Yues mood, and it was not long before sleep imed her. Elsewhere While Qiao Yue was happy, others did not share her good mood. One such individual was the jungle yer they had trumped. There were three types of people who yed those games. The first treated it as a form of entertainment and rxation; the second viewed it as a means to pursue their dreams of bing a professional gamer; the third viewed it as a tool to gain attention. The jungle and mage fell into the third category. The jungle yer was a boy who enjoyed gaming with girls. Listening to their tter was one of his greatest sources of self-satisfaction. The girl who yed the mage was, in fact, a somewhat famous streamer. Glory was thetest and most popr MOBA game. There were fewer females than males who yed Glory, so it was a treat when he discovered she was also a streamer. The jungle yer enjoyed the attention she showered on him, more so whenever she gifted him things for doing well. The girl had gained fame by streaming her games, building a small following in Glory. She was often regarded as a goddess by many boys. That day was no different. She had been live-streaming her practice of a new champion. She knew her skills were not spectacr, but that did not stop her from trying her best. Still, the attention on her did not stop the rise of other streamers. The more time passed, the fewer fans she would have. Arriving at that conclusion, she tried different ways of attracting other peoples attention. And the method she thought up was to find a partner. All would be well if she could find someone to make up for her deficiencies. When she tried this out, the number of boys following her stream decreased, but the number of girls increased. Some even sent her private messages, leaving gifts if only she would give them the boys contact information. This led to a few girls receiving certain passwords they should not have had. Chapter 132 - 132 Being Remembered 132 Being Remembered Just like now, a wall of posts filled her vision. [ Why isnt the jungle doing more? The opposing jungle and mage are suppressing him! ] As soon as thisment appeared, another group chose to hurl ridicule. [ True. Streamer, your support is too slow. They arent doing enough. ] !! [ Its not just the skill difference. The jungle is to me. He lost allposure after dying at the hands of the enemy jungle twice in a row. How many kills has he missed this game? If he cant pull his weight, you should invite me instead! Even I y better than he does. ] Although unhappy, she still had to keep up appearances since everything was being streamed live. Smiling, she said, The jungle isnt that bad; our opponents are too strong. Im trying out a champion, so Im not ying very well, either. Many people watching her live stream began echoing her. [ Ya The enemy is too strong. Our dear streamer is still learning the ropes, so it isnt strange she is having trouble. ] [ I started a game in high spirits, but after watching that mage score a Penta-kill, I feel like I should quit. ] [ Haha! Its good you know how to face reality. ] The discussion caused a wave ofughter to erupt in the chat. [ That mage is pretty good. I never noticed them until they got that Penta-kill. I had to watch a rey to see what happened. Look at how they timed that entrance! Those dodges were sublime. I havent seen such incredible skills before. ] [ +1 above. I watched the rey too. The more I watch the mage, the more it feels like they are the teams support. The mage took skill shots for the team and even funnelled kills their way. ] [ The previous post says it all. I thought something was off when I checked the rey Everything makes sense if the mage is ying like a support champion. If I had such godly support for a teammate, Id have wings to fly! ] Countless posts discussed the opposing mages ability, drawing attention away from the female streamer. It left her dissatisfied, but she went along with the flow dutifully. At this moment, a post caught her eye. [ Has anyone yed during the games open beta? I feel like the mage is very simr to a certain big shot. ] Perhaps thement would have passed unnoticed in other circumstances, but on this asion, it did not. Eventually, someone responded. [ Youre referring to Dont Hit Mage, arent you? The mages ystyle does resemble that character; even the overly protective supporting manoeuvres are simr! ] A hardcore streamer noticed, adding his pennys worth to the conversation. [ Overly protective? What do you mean? ] Another asked. An individual with the username Hardcore Fan exined, For all those newbies out there, let me give you a history lesson! Dont Hit Mage was a legend in Glorys open beta. If you want to know more, you can visit Glorys forum page. They were nicknamed Boss because of an individual they used to y with called Find the Jungle. Find the Jungle enjoyed ying as a mage, but she was not very good. However, she had Dont Hit Mage by her side. Anytime a yer killed Find the Jungle, Dont Hit Mage would PK that person tenfold C which was considered a rtively low number of deaths. [ Why would Dont Hit Mage pamper Find the Jungle so much? ] Although it was phrased as a question, everyone could tell there was a great deal of surprise behind it. [ Theres no doubt about it! I witnessed it firsthand since I was the subject of their pursuit. I still remember that figure stalking in the shadows that game was a nightmare! ] Several lines ofughter filled the screen. Although the female streamer tried to concentrate on her game, her attention constantly wandered to thements section. [ Hey, Shroud! Do you think that jungle earlier was Find the Jungle? They looked like they had great synergy. ] Someone else chimed in. [ I doubt it. Find the Jungle was a girl who only yed female mage champions. ] The die-hard fan replied. [ Shes too spoiled! The envy! I want that mage as my friend to share in the love she receives! ] The words were typed with a feminine flourish, which spoke to the female streamers heart. Earlier, she had been jealous that all thements were on the mages side. However, a new thought came to mind now that a chord had been struck within her. [ Its just a guess. Itd be embarrassing if we got the wrong person! Besides, it looks like the mage already has a partner. It wouldnt be nice toe between them. ] Those who were still rational tried to sway him. Nheless, the disimer was enough to put a damper on several hot-headed girls posting in the streamsments section. Soon, thements section calmed down. Chapter 133 - 133 Hidden Concerns 133 Hidden Concerns The female gamers live stream caused Qiao Yues fame in Glory to skyrocket. yers who had yet to hear about Dont Hit Mage soon began to question if Cooking Wine and the former had any rtion. Many people waited with bated breaths for Qiao Yue toe online, hoping she would dispel their doubts, but she did not reappear. At this moment, Qiao Yue was leaning against the headrest, staring at the photo of her mother that she had found the other day. The past few days had been busy. After finding a photo of her mother in military fatigues, Qiao Yue tirelessly dug for clues in the forum. !! Reading arge number of posts every day gave Qiao Yue a headache. In addition to those photos, she perused several posts that coincided with the period in question, fearing she would miss out on any clues. Fortunately, her hard work paid off. She finally found some information hidden in the photos and text. She discovered another photo with her mothers silhouette. After erging and cropping the photo, she uncovered the image of a man in military uniform reflected in her mothers eyes. If she needed to hazard a guess, that person was most likely her mothers military training instructor when she was in school. As one of the countrys elite schools, the instructors hired for military training were not simple people. Bearing that in mind, Qiao Yue investigated all the instructors of her mothers cohort but could not find anything about her mothers ss. Information on her mothers ss or instructors was suspiciously absent from the forum archives. Just then, Qiao Yues rm sounded. She put away herputer and picked up a book, pretending to read. This was because Qiao Jing had returned home. It had not been five minutes since she picked up her book when she heard a familiar knock at the door. Please,e in, Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jings eyes fell on Qiao Yue as soon as he entered. Relief washed over him when he noted she was studying herputer science text. Qiao Yue never thought she would experience what most others felt when their parents checked in on their childrens studies. She was already 18! Do your ribs still hurt? Qiao Jing asked, sitting at the edge of Qiao Yues bed. Qiao Yue wanted to say she was perfectly fine but rolled her eyes, asking a rhetorical question, Do you need to ask what is obvious? If I say Im in pain, will you let me skip make-up lessons? Qiao Jing stared straight at Qiao Yue, but he was the first to avert his gaze. What do you think? Qiao Yue gulped. I think its fine. A half-smile spread across Qiao Jings face. You can take make-up lessons when the pain passes. Qiao Yues face fell. She wanted to tell her brother that she could attain full marks without having to for make-up lessons. Brother, I dont want to go for make-up lessons, Qiao Yue whined dejectedly. Qiao Jing never pulled punches when it came to ones studies. Qiao Yu had only three days of rest before Qiao Jing packed him off to school. Qiao Jings reason had been: Since theres nothing seriously wrong, you should go to ss. You hurt your leg, not your brain. Qiao Yue suspected the real reason Qiao Jing insisted Qiao Yu return to school was so that he would not get to y games with her every day. As for her? Well, Qiao Jing had arranged for a home tutor to fill in the gaps in her knowledge. Seeing that Qiao Jing remained unmoved, Qiao Yue continued, Brother, why do you force us to study like this? Qiao Yue was honestly curious. Neither she nor Qiao Yu shared the same parents as Qiao Jing. Qiao Yu was one thing, but what about her? What was she to him? After a moment of silence, Qiao Jing replied, I hope that you and Qiao Yu will have something to call your own, regardless of where you end up in life. Staring into Qiao Jings eyes, Qiao Yue suddenly understood what he meant. No matter what they wanted to do in the future, knowledge was the foundation of their career. Even if Qiao Jing was suspicious of her identity and did not know what she knew, he believed she should get a good education. Qiao Yue chuckled wryly. Brother may seem cold, but he really cares for us. Hearing Qiao Yues words, Qiao Jings expression did not change, nor did he answer. Since Brother is so concerned for our wellbeing, I shall say it. Otherwise, how will he know? Even if youre too shy to admit it, Ill say those words for you! Qiao Yue knew that Qiao Jing would not let her get in over her head, but she still found joy in teasing him. Qiao Jing nced at her coldly. Stop being so noisy. Chapter 134 - 134 What Do You Know? 134 What Do You Know? Qiao Jings abashed look made Qiao Yueugh out loud, but thisugh tugged at her wound, causing her to gasp in pain. Qiao Jing quickly got up and walked to the bed, wanting to help Qiao Yue lie down, but Qiao Yue grabbed his wrist. Brother, Ive been bored all day. I want to go out for a walk, Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jing frowned, unwilling to allow Qiao Yue to get up. However, Qiao Yues insistence soon swayed him, and he helped her into a wheelchair. After caring for Qiao Yue for so long, Qiao Jing had familiarised himself with caring for others. He was no longer as clumsy as before and did not jostle or aggravate her injuries. Qiao Jing wheeled Qiao Yue downstairs, where Qiao Xin and the Eldest Madam were seated. The sound of the wheelchair moving attracted the twos attention. The Eldest Madams expression grewplicated as she watched Qiao Jing pushing Qiao Yue in her wheelchair. Qiao Xin was more straightforward, overflowing with jealousy. Second Brother, we have servants taking care of Qiao Yue. Why do you need to trouble yourself? Qiao Xin harped unhappily. Qiao Jing ignored her; instead, he pushed Qiao Yue out of the room. Xiao Jing, Xiner is speaking to you. Did you not hear her? The Eldest Madam frowned, disgruntled. The Eldest Madam had spoken up not just on the part of Qiao Xin but herself since Qiao Jing did not even greet her, his mother. Qiao Jing turned to his mother calmly and said, Mom, Im taking Xiao Yue out for fresh air. Without waiting for a response from his mother, Qiao Jing ushered Qiao Yue out the back door. Qiao Yue noted Qiao Jings rtionship with his mother seemed strained. It was the end of October, and the air had grown chilly in preparation for the winter months toe. Qiao Jing bundled Qiao Yue up in his coat. Qiao Yu told me about the other day, Qiao Jing began, almost as if he wasmenting on the weather. Qiao Yue stared at the leaves, now dyed various shades of red, brown and gold, a soft smile touching her lips. Brother, what is it you want to ask? Qiao Jing pushed Qiao Yue to a small pavilion and said, I wont ask about your past, but Qiao Jing paused, seemingly hesitating. Qiao Yue looked up at him, meeting his eyes that were as deep as ake. A few secondster, Qiao Jing spoke, having organised his thoughts. I hope your life will be easier from now on. Every time Qiao Jing spoke like this, it filled Qiao Yue with the suspicion that he knew something. With the Qiao familys influence, discovering her past would not have been difficult. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes. Brother always says things I dont understand. A breeze ruffled their hair. Qiao Jings face was reflected in Qiao Yues eyes, showing a bit of willfulness. Second Young Master, Fifth Young Master, the butler interrupted, Fifth Young Master, your ssmate is here to visit you. The butler could tell that his young charges valued Qiao Yue deeply, so he also treated her with respect. Alright, she answered. When Qiao Yue reentered the house, she saw it was Xu Hao. Qiao Yu heard the sound of a wheelchair and turned around, wanting to talk to Qiao Yue, but happened to meet Qiao Jings gaze, causing Qiao Yu to swallow his words. Second Brother, Qiao Yu greeted Qiao Jing. Qiao Yu. Qiao Jing acknowledged indifferently before addressing Xu Hao, Xiao Yues room is upstairs. Lets go. Qiao Jing pushed Qiao Yue back upstairs while Xu Hao and Qiao Yu followed. Unlike usual, Xu Hao was not carefree; instead, opting to maintain his silence in the presence of Qiao Jing. It was not until they stepped into Qiao Yues room and saw Qiao Jing off that Xu Hao patted his chest and sighed in relief. Your Second Brother is scary! It felt like a mountain weighed on my shoulders Qiao Yue was puzzled. Really? Second Brothers presence always feelsforting to me. While Xu Hao was rendered speechless, Qiao Yus expression darkened. Qiao Yue, cant you feel it? His presence is so cold it suffocates and drives the air out of peoples lungs. When he looked at me, I thought our schools discipline master was staring me down, lecturing my ears off for cutting ss Xu Hao trembled in exaggeration. Qiao Yu may not have spoken, but his expression was unsightly. He would be the first to say that he did not fear Qiao Jing. But whenever he saw him, it reminded Qiao Yu of a particr conversation they had regarding Qiao Yues propensity to save people. After that conversation, Qiao Yu always felt ufortable around Qiao Jing and tried his best to avoid him. I didnt feel anything. Second Brother is just concerned about me, Qiao Yue chuckled. Chapter 135 - 135 Everyone Knows 135 Everyone Knows Seeing the two expressions that seemed to ask, what on earth are you talking about?, Qiao Yue shook her head, toozy to exin. Instead, she asked Xu Hao why he hade. When she was hospitalised, her ssmates came to visit her. It had only been two days since then, yet here he was. Xu Hao probably had other reasons for visiting. Qiao Yues question surprised Xu Hao. President, didnt you tell your brother? No, hes been a little busy these two days, Qiao Yu replied. What is he busy with? Why didnt you tell him about something so important? Its big news for the game! Xu Hao moured excitedly. The two questions piqued Qiao Yues curiosity. She had not been online for a while, but not very long. What could have happened in the meantime? Whats going on with the game? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Yu was about to exin the situation to Qiao Yue when Xu Hao stopped him. With an enigmatic smile, he urged Qiao Yue to go online and have a look for herself. Xu Haos refusal to speak openly caused Qiao Yue to frown, but she still did as he suggested, clicking on the game icon on herptop. It would take a while for the game to load. Something in Xu Haos expression sent chills down Qiao Yues spine. Would you please give me the gist so I can mentally prepare myself? Qiao Yue pleaded, beginning to feel exasperated by all the secrecy. Xu Hao chuckled. Nah. Itd be more fun if you saw it for yourself. By then, the game had loaded and was now waiting for input from Qiao Yue. She did not disappoint, immediately clicking enter. As soon as she entered the game, friend request notifications began ringing one after another, leaving Qiao Yue dumbfounded. What was going on? It took two whole minutes before the sound of notifications petered out. Qiao Yue opened the friend request page and saw more than a hundred messages. She briefly considered whether she had done anything to offend someone for them to send so many people to beat her up. Whats going on? Qiao Yue squeaked, her face paling in fright. Xu Hao burst intoughter. Ill let you enjoy the limelight. Take your time. Im sure youll find people youd like to game with! Fourth Brother, what is all this? Qiao Yue doubted she could get anything useful from Xu Hao, so she turned to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu sighed. Yourne opponent in ourst match was a streamer. Many people watching her stream saw how amazing you were and are now hoping to y with you in-game. Qiao Yu had experienced much the same two days ago when he and Xu Hao loaded up their game clients to y for a bout or two. Who could have known that his screen would be bombarded by friend invites as soon as the game loaded? It was a shocking scene. Only after Xu Hao checked the forums did they learn what had caused this sharp uptick in attention. Xu Hao could barely contain hisughter, adding, Its not as simple as you think! Qiao Yue, your open beta ount information was dug out. Now theres a host of gamers, mostly females, hoping youd carry them in games. What do you mean? Qiao Yue frowned, unsure what to make of this development. Go to the forum and take a look. Xu Hao had been feeling quite happytely. He did not think he would end up ying with such a celebrity through the games random matchmaking. At first, he thought that Qiao Yue was only good at ying support champions. However, that changed swiftly upon watching the rey of their match. Qiao Yue was a surprisinglypetent mage yer. More impressive was what severalizens managed to uncover, showing how Qiao Yue was an excellent all-rounder. He had made quite a tidy profit through sheer force of luck! The best part was that Qiao Yue had agreed to join the team. Since they were practically teammates, Xu Hao treated her as such. Following Xu Haos advice, Qiao Yue quickly surveyed the games forums. She did not even need to spend any effort searching; it was the post pinned at the top. The original posterpared the video of Dont Hit Mage to Cooking Wine. Many people were immediately drawn to the simrities in ystyle; whether it was positioning, timing or the ability to sweep away threats with a grand entrance, they shared too much inmon to be exined away by mere coincidence. Ultimately, the original poster concluded that these two IDs belonged to the same person. Qiao Yue was left speechless. How much free time did these people have? Couldnt they have spent it elsewhere instead of chronicling her habits? Sighing, Qiao Yue asked, So what do we do now? Should I create a new ount? The game was purely for entertainment; Qiao Yue did not want to attract unnecessary trouble. Xu Hao guffawed happily. Why should you create a new ount? You should take advantage of your poprity to boost the teams fame! Although the main roster has already been decided, we can still add more members to our reserve, especially if they are good. That was a surprise to Qiao Yue. She could not help but ask, Are you thinking of forming another team? Are you nning to grow the team and expand its influence in the gaming industry? Chapter 136 - 136 Team Battle 136 Team Battle Qiao Yue originally thought that Xu Haos team was just for fun. After all, the rich kids in Harvey Academy had family businesses to inherit. How many of them would put their time and energy into a game? Xu Hao chuckled and said, Thats what I was thinking. I was going to try it out myself and tell everyone about it after participating in thepetition. But now, things are different. Its a good time to ride on your poprity. Qiao Yue was surprised. Did your family approve? My brother will hold the fort. My parents wont interfere in a trifle like this, Xu Hao said, scratching his head. There is much to be said about a persons personality and life at home. Compared to the Qiao family, Xu Haos family was much more harmonious. Qiao Yue giggled at the sight of Xu Haos dazed look. Forget it. Matters regarding her mother could not be rushed. She might as well take the opportunity to rx. So How do you n to ride on my wave of poprity? Qiao Yue quirked a brow, addressing the elephant in the room. Xu Haos eyes lit up. Are you willing to help us? Qiao noted Xu Haos use of us and turned to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu looked away. It seemed Xu Hao had managed to persuade Qiao Yu to tag along. I dont mind helping you, but I dont want anything to do outside of ying the game. Anything else is too much of a hassle, Qiao Yue said. Xu Hao agreed easily. No problem! We were nning on live streaming a few matches. With your skills, it would be even better! No! Before Xu Hao could finish, Qiao Yue rejected his suggestion. I dont want to show my face on a live stream. Qiao Yue knew her identity was a littleplicated and would invite trouble should her face be known to the public. Xu Hao mulled over his options and sighed. But thats such a waste! If you dont want to show your face You can be our teams mysterious ymaker! Though Xu Haos weird words were funny, Qiao Yue suppressed the urge tough. She did not want to aggravate her injury. Xu Hao was still going on about his ns for the team when Qiao Yu suddenly interrupted him, That midne mage is back at it. Theyve sent us another friend invite. Qiao Yue tilted her head in askance. Are you talking about the mage we crushed? Qiao Yu furrowed his brows, nodding. Although Qiao Yue did not make it a point to target herne opponent, Qiao Yu was not the same. He reaped the enemys life mercilessly. He did not expect that they would return looking for him. Should we ept her invite? Qiao Yu asked Qiao Yue. Huh? Why was Qiao Yu asking her? Wasnt this something he could decide himself? Qiao Yue was still confused even when Xu Hao said, ept it. Of course, you should ept it. While the two of you distract her, Ill check out their live stream to see how shes using your poprity to boost attention for her. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes. Even if he had not said it, Xu Haos intentions were clear. He wanted to use her to scout thepetition. Having reached a consensus, Qiao Yu pressed the agree button, joining the lobby with Qiao Yue in tow. As soon as Qiao Yue entered the room, she saw a message from Rabbit Sauce. [ Rabbit Sauce: YU, Im sorry about before. I didnt think you would get into a tiff with Scorching Sun over me. ] Scorching Sun was the IGN of the jungle yer that Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu faced in the game. For reasons unclear to Qiao Yue, Rabbit Sauce brought up the topic again. Qiao Yues eyes sparkled mischievously as she snuck a nce at Qiao Yu. Her senses told her that some juicy gossip was ripe for the picking. Since she had not been online for a few days, Qiao Yue wondered if Rabbit Sauce was referring to some new interaction that had urred without her knowledge. Feeling Qiao Yues eyes on him, Qiao Yu looked up with a frown. What are you looking at? Qiao Yus expression as he raised his head was one of abject depression. Oh? Are you in close contact with this streamer? Qiao Yue asked with great interest. No. I dont know why theyd raise this, Qiao Yue answered. Qiao Yue was a little disappointed. She had thought she stumbled on something fun to watch [ YU: Its not because of you. I dont like people who betray their teammates. ] Qiao Yu remained silent. He was not about to admit that all he had done was because of a grudge. [ Rabbit Sauce: Can I still y with you in the future? ] [ YU: Open. ] Qiao Yu avoided Rabbit Sauces question, responding extremely coldly. Qiao Yue teased, Youre so cold and heartless. Please be careful not to hurt other girls. Qiao Yu did not want to have anything to do with Rabbit Sauce. Quite frankly, he was sick of her. He was only doing what he was doing because Xu Hao asked him to ept her invitation to gain more data through her live stream. With no other choice, he teamed up with Rabbit Sauce again. Chapter 137 - 137 Taking Girls to Play Jungle 137 Taking Girls to y Jungle Qiao Yue and Qian Yu entered the game, Xu Hao also entered the girls live room and they heard his exaggerated exmation, So many people here! Xu Hao was sitting right next to Qiao Yue, and Qiao Yue nced over to see the name of the live room. [Technical Emperor Dont Fight Mage Live Show!] How many people are watching the live show? Qiao Yue asked carelessly. !! More than 2300, still going up. Xu Hao replied. Qiao Yue continued to farm monsters. Qiao Yu today was still top single, leaving the jungler position to Qiao Yue. This time the girls followed Qiao Yue to farm the jungle monsters. Compared to other positions, the junglers activity range was the entire map, powerful jungler can not only cross the tower for killing, but also cure injuries teammates, therefore the junglers in the team y a vital role. The above reasons made good junglers very popr among girls. Two junglers farm monsters much faster than one person. Qiao Yue quickly finished her own area and prepared to move towards the opposite wilderness. Usually, Qiao Yue would first go to the opposite wilderness and then back to her own, but today she was cautious since it was a live show. Qiao Yue, someone said that your blue buff was almost grabbed by a support? Xu Hao mocked Qiao Yue based on thements in the live stream room. The blue buffs in the jungle monster give the hero the benefit of regaining mana and reducing skill cooldown time, while the red buffs increase damage and slow down opponents. Farming jungle monsters is important in the early stage. If they farmed more than their opponent team, they would gain a great advantage. Qian Yue snickered, You cant get it. Although its been quite a long time since she yed jungler, if the support didnt maliciously hurt the jungle monsters, she wouldnt let anyone steal them away. When she got to the opposite jungle with the support, their opponents had note to the red buff. Qiao Yue killed one small monster and hid behind a bush, waiting. In less than a minute, the opposite jungler also arrived. She waited until the jungler almost killed the monster. Then Qiao Yue activated a big skill, freezing the opposite jungler while collecting the red buff. With ease, she killed the opposite jungler. First Blood! Xu Haos eyes had been glued to Qiao Yues screen and he forgot what he was doing. After the first kill, Qiao Yue ran to the dragon pit where the monsters were much more difficult to fight, but the reward was more gold coins which could be used to buy equipment. Brother Yue, youre really good as a jungler! Xu Hao eximed, the name changing from Qiao Yue to Brother Yue. Go watch your live stream. Qiao Yue said. Xu Haoughed and went to look at his phone. Brother Yue, the viewers in the live broadcast room are crazy with you! Some people say the host got the two kills because of you. Sensing Qiao Yue was a threat, the opposite jungler tried to catch him twice but Qiao Yue dodged with ease. Qiao Yues upperne was developed well and after some tentative fights, no one could gain a kill. The first group battle broke out in the lowerne, Qiao Yue and the teams shooter and support encountered their counterparts from the enemy team. The enemy team finished farming before Qiao Yues team, and the shooter instantly lost half of his blood when he was pinned down by three people. Qiao Yue came toote and could only cut off the opposite shooter and support. With primary and second skill, Qiao Yue damaged the opponent shooter almost to death and the support to half blood. The opposite support took the fire and covered their shooter back to their own tower. When Qiao Yue crossed the tower, the girl did not react and let Qiao Yue take two hits from the defense tower with only half blood left. When the girl remembered that she had immunity to the defense tower damage, Qiao Yue had killed the shooter, jumped over the wall and run back towards the home base. When Qiao Yue returned, the opposite jungler blocked the way while the enemy middlene support came behind. Qiao Yue was trapped. Qiao Yue noticed that their own middlene was rushing this way, but it might be toote. Seeing the monsters in the dragon pit was refreshed, Qiao Yue went straight to the dragon pit. Chapter 138 - 138 Qiao Yue’s Livestream Debut 138 Qiao Yues Livestream Debut The monster dragon in the dragons pit was separated by a wall. when Qiao Yue ran to the wall and activated the monster dragon with a normal attack, then immediately jumped over the wall. Although the monster dragon would attack the yer who dealt the most damage to it, it could only move within the dragons pit. At the same time, the other yers in the dragons pit would also receive different degrees of damage. However, Qiao Yues goal of hitting the dragon was not to kill the enemy. What she wanted was the shock effect of the dragons first attack. Just as Qiao Yue had expected, the enemys middlene was sent flying by the monster dragon, and when she jumped out of the wall, she met the opponent jungler. Without saying a word, the two of them began to hit each other with their skills, and their health bars dropped rapidly. The middlene rushed over and fought with the enemys middlene, and the enemys middlenes health bar had dropped a lot because of the monster attack. Seeing her health bar was almost empty, Qiao Yue counted the time when her skills would recover. The skills came back just right, so she jumped back into the dragons pit and went straight to the opposite sides middlene with low health, taking the head of the opponents middlene. Brother Yue, your counterattack with low health was amazing! Xu Hao stared at the screen and sighed. Qiao Yues lips curled up slightly as she opened the equipment page and quickly sold a piece of equipment and bought a new one. She turned around and ran into the jungler who was chasing after her. Although Qiao Yue and the support were facing only one opponent but one of them was on low health and the other was half health. The opponents jungler was on half health, so it was still uncertain whether they could escape. Just as the audience in the live streaming room, including Xu Hao, were worried for Qiao Yue, the opposite jungler used a skill and a normal attack to break the supports shield. The possession skill disappeared, and the supports health dropped. During this time, being hit by Qiao Yue and the supports skills at the same time, the opponents junglers health was also decreasing. Qiao Yue and the opponents junglers big moves refreshed at the same time and they pressed their skills at the same time. The opponents jungler fell to the ground. Qiao Yues body lit up with a blue light for an instant and she still stood in the same ce. Counter-kill with Minimum Health! The livestream room was flooded with bulletments. Xu Hao was thrilled as he watched, and he couldnt wait to start a game himself. While Qiao Yue was showing off her skills, Qiao Yu was also doing well. When a small team battle broke out at the bottomne, he directly killed the opponents topne and broke the opponents first turret. After that, the support stayed by Qiao Yues side. Because it was a ranked game, losing meant drop in rank. During the first half of the game, the girls in the live broadcast didnt say anything in the game. However, in the live broadcast room, Xu Hao had the audio on, and Qiao Yue could clearly hear the screams of the female host. Qiao Yue moved a little further away from Xu Hao and said helplessly, Lower the volume. Im just cheering for you, Xu Haoughed. Thank you so much, but I dont need it. In fact, Qiao Yue didnt really like the support following her. It wasnt that she was arrogant, but that the jungler she yed was very flexible. If she couldnt win, she could run. But if the support followed her and couldnt keep up with her rhythm, she would have to go back to help the support, and it was possible that the two of them would be dead. Just as Qiao Yue was multitasking on killing wild monsters, she suddenly heard a scream in the live broadcast room. Argh! Jungler,e and save us! Qiao Yues temples twitched. The support had run into the bushes in the middlene and was discovered by the three yers on the opposite side. In order to save her, their middlene was also trapped. After taking the blue buff with one skill, Qiao Yue quickly rushed to the middlene and sneaked into the enemys topne to help. Fourth Brother. Coming. Qiao Yus reply came immediately. With Qiao Yu as the shield, Qiao Yue was instantly relieved and directly used a big move to break into the crowd. Although Qiao Yue came in time, the mages health was too low to be saved. When the support saw Qiao Yueing, she immediately possessed, turned around, jumped out of the team battle range, and ran away, leaving Qiao Yue alone to face two half-health and two full health. The supports actions stunned Qiao Yue for a moment. She had been sold? Just when Qiao Yue thought it was over and was ready to take the enemy mage with her when she died, the hero controlled by Qiao Yu descended from the sky. With a big move, he bounced all four opponents and froze them. Although they could only be frozen for two seconds, it was enough for Qiao Yue to take the head of the enemy mage and escape with a low HP. Qiao Yue killed two monsters, recovered a bit of health, and saw that Qiao Yu was about to retreat. Brother, dont go. Get a kill. Alright, he said. The two of them were thinking about the opponents support, who didnt have much health. Chapter 139 - 139 KP Battleteam 139 KP Battleteam Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue worked together and took the enemy supports head before retreating. After they left, the other party had no choice but to stop and leave. After the mages from both sides returned, they would take over the middlene. [ Twenty-four Sr Terms: I love it, I love it. The jungler and topne that dont farm minions after killing their opponents are so cool. ] Qiao Yue replied with a haha, but this conversation somehow reminded the the girl on the livestream, and a line of words appeared on the screen. [ Rabbit-Sauce: Jungler brother, youre really amazing! Will you take me to y with you in the future? Ive been ying games with YU all this time and havent added you as a friend yet. ] Qiao Yue raised her brows slightly and didnt say anything. The scene of being sold out was still fresh in her mind. She really didnt like people who sold out their teammates. Just as Qiao Yue was about topletely ignore the streamer, thetter continued, Jungler bro, can you let me have this blue buff? Although Qiao Yue didnt like this person, she already had a blue buff, so she directly gave it to the streamer. Qiao Yue was did it for the game, but the people in the live broadcast room didnt seem to think so. Brother Yue, youre a scumbag! Xu Hao suddenly said with feeling. Qiao Yue frowned and nced at him. What? Qiao Yu also looked at Xu Hao. Xu Hao coughed lightly and read thements with emotion. Cooking Wine is amazing! I love you, I love you. You can not only do high damage and save your teammates, but youre also so gentlemanly. I really love you. I want to add you as friend. Qiao Yue was amused by Xu Haos funny tone and smiled, Alright! Dont joke around, this round is almost over, tell me how the response is. Brother Yue, youre so popr! Its a good thing Qiao Yu and I didnt y in the beta testing server, or we mightve been beaten as well. When Xu Hao noticed that the number of people in the live broadcast room had soared from 2000 to 7000, he was dumbfounded and seriously suspected that there was a problem with the data. At the end of the game, almost all the female streamers were ttering Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yue didnt care. Many people in the live broadcast roomughed at the female streamers for sucking up to Qiao Yue. However, the benefits the streamer would get were obvious if she seeded. Seeing that she couldnt seed with Qiao Yue, the female streamer turned to Qiao Yu. After the game ended, she kept talking to Qiao Yu in private, which annoyed him. Seeing Qiao Yus impatient expression, Qiao Yue was about to tease him when she noticed the cold look on Qiao Yus face Qiao Yu curled his lips sinisterly and said, Xu Hao, didnt you want to ride on Xiao Yues poprity? This a good opportunity. Xu Hao didnt understand what Qiao Yu meant, but Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows, wondering what the female streamer said to her Fourth Brother and displeased him so much. Ah? Xu Hao was confused. You can announce in her live broadcast room that Cooking Wine belongs to KP team and let those who like Xiao Yuee directly to our teams live broadcast room in the future, Qiao Yu said with a warm smile. He was a good person, but this was a prank. Xu Hao, the dumbass, did not care about the impact of these words in the live broadcast room. He pped his head and sighed, President, youre so smart. why didnt i think of that? Qiao Yue was speechless as she watched Qiao Yu duping Xu Hao. She suddenly realized that her Fourth Brother had a bad temper. However, Qiao Yue was also curious about the impact of Xu Haos words, so she logged out of the game and went to the female streamers live stream. Qiao Yue came just in time to see Xu Haos words. Hello, everyone! Im very happy to see that everyone likes our KP Teams Cooking Wine so much. I hope that in the future, when our KP Team has a live broadcast, everyone wille and support us. After reading the message, Qiao Yueughed out loud. Xu Hao had really said it so bluntly. She could feel his enthusiasm through the screen. As soon as Xu Hao said this, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button in the live broadcast room, and only Xu Haosments remained on the public screen. Xu Hao seemed to feel that it was not enough and added, [ by the way, YU is also a member of our KP team. I hope that everyone will support us in the future! ] After a moment of silence, the female host was the first to react and quickly said, Administrator, someone is doing false advertising here. Please help me ban this ount. Chapter 140 - 140 A Tough Recovery Period 140 A Tough Recovery Period After hearing what the female host said, thements became more active. So its not true! I was so startled! I was wondering what he meant by battle team! One couldnt me the yers for saying this. Although there were teams in the game, many of them were not serious yers, so they didnt care if they joined a team. Xu Hao looked at Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu in confusion, his big eyes asking, why dont they believe me? The two of them looked at each other and clearly saw the resignation in each others eyes. [Speaking of teams, I recently heard that the Glory is holding apetition. It might be the teams for thepetition! ] Ament appeared on the screen, but Xu Hao had been banned to speak and could no longer answer. [Competition? It wasnt mentioned in the forum! Ill go take a look. ] The person who said this was clearly interested and went to Glorys official website to find thetest news. This conversation had piqued the interest of the other people in the stream. They started discussing what would happen if there was apetition in Glory. The female host had been trying to make her fans to think that she was close to the big yers to entice them to visit her live broadcast room more often, but Xu Hao interrupted her. While everyone in the live broadcast room was discussing excitedly, someone suddenly asked, Are Cooking Wine and YU really from the KP team? If yes, I would like to join. When people were talking about thepetition, the female host also joined in the discussion. However, in the blink of an eye, the topic was brought back. Someone asked, Is the person who spoke just now really muted? Let hime out and talk. Seeing that the female host wouldnt unmute Xu Hao, Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu bought name change cards and changed their names to KP. Cooking Wine and KP. YU. The viewers in the live broadcast room were dumbfounded when they saw the changed names on the screen. The entire live broadcast room was in an uproar. [So Glory is really going to have apetition, and in the form of battle teams? ] Someone asked in surprise. [No way! The official website has not announced it! ] Another person said in doubt. [Competition or not, Im going to watch the big bosses team. How many people does a team have? I wonder if I can join them. ] Thements gradually slowed down. it seemed that many people had logged into the game. What happened next had nothing to do with Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu. Today, not only did Xu Hao witness the poprity of the two, but he also promoted their team, which was considered to be a big sess. Putting down his cell phone, Xu Hao heaved a long sigh of relief and gave them a thumbs up. You guys are really popr. it seems like we dont need to promote ourselves in the future. Anyway the teams name got out and Qiao Yue didnt need to do anything as Xu Hao and Qiao Yu would take care of everything. She only needed to focus on thepetition. Time went by. Although Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu both had injured their bones and needed three months to recuperate, they were in good health. Qiao Yu went to school in a wheelchair after he was discharged from the hospital, while Qiao Yue needed one more month to recuperate. Qiao Yue felt tortured in this month. During the day, the tutor woulde and made her study, and at night, Qiao Yu would take her to y games. When Qiao Jing got home, she had to report to him about her studies. What made Qiao Yue even more frustrated was that since that day in the hospital, Qiao Jing woulde to her room every night to read to her. He imed that he did it to make her sleep better, but Qiao Yue suspected that Qiao Jing did it to prevent her from ying games. Just like now, Qiao Yue yawned and looked at Qiao Jing, who was sitting by her bed and reading a book. Brother, Im fine now. Why do you stille to my room every day? Qiao Yue asked helplessly. Qiao Jing closed his book and said, What? You dont wee me? As soon as she met Qiao Jings eyes, Qiao Yue cowered and swallowed her words. She didnt want to y games, but she still had a lot investigation to do. They took up all her time and she didnt have any private space. She had tried to fool Qiao Jing by pretending to be asleep, but this person was too smart. He waited in the room for a long time before leaving. When he left, Qiao Yue had fallen asleep. Chapter 141 - 141 Back to School 141 Back to School No, I didnt! Qiao Yueughed insincerely. Qiao Jing looked at her and smiled. He closed the book and said, You seem to be recovering well. You can go to school tomorrow! Qiao Yue nodded vigorously. In fact, the doctor had said that she could walk slowly during her follow-up visit. As long as she did not do exercise vigorously, it would not affect the healing of her wound. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief at finally having her own private space. Qiao Jing patted her head as if she was a puppy. Be careful at school. Dont get yourself hurt. !! Qiao Yue looked up and smiled at him. Qiao Jing was cold to everyone else, but he was gentle to her. This contrast made Qiao Yue feel very special. Okay, brother. I got it. Qiao Yue rubbed her face against Qiao Jings palm as he spoke, which made Qiao Jings eyes darken. Qiao Jing always kept his word. The next day, he sent Qiao Yue to school. Yes, Qiao Jing personally drove her there. As for Qiao Yu, he was rejected to have a ride on the grounds that there was no room for him. When they got out of the car, Qiao Jing personally carried her into the wheelchair and said, Be careful of your wound, and dont do any strenuous exercise. I know, brother, Qiao Yue smiled helplessly. Youve said it so many times. After Qiao Jing left, Qiao Yu wheeled himself to Qiao Yues side. Youve finally been released, Qiao Yu mocked. Qiao Yu had seen Qiao Yues situation. Although he felt that his second brother was too a bit too cautious with Qiao Yue, seeing Qiao Yues frustration, he felt that it was fun and thus hadnt said anything. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Yu resentfully. Was it fun to watch the show? Qiao Yu nodded, and the two of them drove side by side on their wheelchairs as they headed towards the campus. Their wheelchairs were really eye-catching, and they were under the scrutiny of many people along the way. Those who coulde to the Harvey Academy all came from prestigious families, and they would not do something likeing to school in a wheelchair. If they were injured, they would definitely stay at home. Some people suspected that Qiao Yue did it to make her look good to Qiao family who had just taken her in. But when they saw Qiao Yu also in a wheelchair, they was confused. The news of the two most handsome boys in the Harvey Academy going to school in wheelchairs became a hot topic on the forum, and the news spread quickly. Some people wondered if the Qiao family was very strict, while others thought that Qiao Yue did it on purpose to leave a good impression on the Qiao family. However, more people were discussing the fact that the two of them were so handsome even though they were in wheelchairs. As soon as the two of them arrived in ss, they were surrounded by their ssmates, who were either concerned or making fun of them. Qiao Yue, why did youe to school so soon? Why dont you rest at home for a few more days? The Study Representative came up to Qiao Yue asked with concern on her round small face. Qiao Yue gave her a gentle smile. Its boring to stay at home. Its more interesting here. Xu Hao agreed with Qiao Yues words. Every time he went to the Qiao familys house with Qiao Yu, he would see Qiao Yue studying with her tutor. it was more tiring than going to school. Thats true. Its more lively in school. Its fun to listen to us chatting than to stay at home. The Study Representative nodded in agreement. Qiao Yue scanned the ss and frowned slightly. Is that girl not here yet? She had asked Qiao Yu about the girls, but Qiao Yu had said he didnt know. After all, Qiao Yu never cared about these things. The people around Qiao Yue looked at each other and said, Her family sent her overseas. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly. Overseas? The Study Representative nodded. It was quite sudden and she didnt tell us. We only knew it when we nned to pay her visit at home. Qiao Yue was silent. It was surprising that the girls family sent the girl overseas at this time. It was obvious that the girl neededpany the most at this moment Qiao Yue sighed and said, I hope shes doing well overseas! The others also quieted down when they suddenly heard the news. They returned to their seats when the bell rang. Qiao Yue looked at the empty seat and felt pity for the girl. Chapter 142 - 142 The Bet 142 The Bet As usual, Qiao Yues photo was posted on the school forum. Many people asked what was going on below the photo. Although some people knew what was happening, they steered the discussion to protect the girls reputation. What do you think are the chances of sess if one confesses their love to Qiao Yue? A girls question on the forum suddenly started a discussion. Confess? Hasnt someone tried that before and was rejected? A response appeared right below the girls question. !! I agree with the person above. I remember a post about Qiao Yue rejecting someones confession! Someone in the knowmented. The discussion was soon about the kind of girls Qiao Yue liked. Some said that Qiao Yue liked cute girls, while others said that he liked sexy ones. One by one, the replies piled up, and the thread grew to pages. Until ament said, I dont think Ive seen Qiao Yue being close to anyone. Other than his brother, Ive never seen him alone with anyone else. The discussion thread became weirder after thisment appeared. Some people even asked Qiao Yue was into boys. Qiao Yues first period had just ended when she felt people staring at her secretly from all directions. But whenever she looked over, those people pretended to go about their lives again. Qiao Yue wheeled herself up to Qiao Yu and said, Brother, do you feel that our ssmates are a little strange today? Qiao Yu said no without even looking up. Qiao Yue looked at the notebook Qiao Yu was writing in and realized only after a long time that her brother was calcting his travel time in a game. Brother, are you possessed? Qiao Yue asked in disbelief. Qiao Yu raised his head when he heard this and replied in seriousness, I quite like this game, and Im nning to develop my skills in this area. Esports? Qiao Yue was skeptical. Although the Qiao family didnt set any rules about the futures of the younger generation, it was unrealistic to y online games for a living,ing from that kind of family. Qiao Yu frowned as he asked, You dont believe me? Qiao Yue was silent momentarily before she replied, Its not that I dont believe you. I just feel that its very difficult and its hard to exin to the family! Dont tell anyone. I want to wait until I get some results first. Looking at Qiao Yus serious eyes, Qiao Yue sighed, I wont tell anyone. At this moment, someone called out to Qiao Yue from the door. Qiao Yue, someone is looking for you. Qiao Yue turned her head curiously. Who would be looking for her? Youre looking for me? Even Qiao Yue couldnt help but feel surprised when she saw the person. Qiao Yue, our Brother Sun has a challenge for you. At the end of this term, whoever with the worse grades will leave Harvey. One of Sun Binsckey shouted. Qiao Yue nced at the boy indifferently and couldnt be bothered with him. She turned her wheelchair around and was about to leave, but she was blocked by the boy. Hey! Are you scared, you little brat? If you are, then apologize to our Brother Sun and beg him to let you off. Theckey shouted. Qiao Yues lips curled up slightly, her eyes filled with ridicule. Do you have nothing to do every day? Were not in the same ss anymore, so why are you still picking on me? The boy looked at Sun Bin subconsciously when he heard this. Sun Bins expression was dark as he stared at Qiao Yue like a venomous snake. Although Sun Bin also hated Qiao Yue, there was another reason for his persistence. Sun Bins ssmates had been teasing him about the public rejection since his crush rejected him. The way these ssmates looked at him made him so irritable that he wanted to pick fights all the time. After so many days, he couldnt take it anymore and went to find Qiao Yue. Between him and Qiao Yue, only one of them could stay in Harvey. He had seen the video of Qiao Yue fighting and felt that he was no match for Qiao Yue, so he thought aboutpeting academically. Qiao Yue had barely passed her exams thest time. Sun Bin had heard that Qiao Yues results had always been bad. He was willing to do anything as long as he could make Qiao Yue leave Harvey. Are you taking on the challenge or not? Sun Bins voice was filled with malice. No, Qiao Yue replied with a casual smile. You! Theckey roared suddenly, but he was stuck because he didnt know what to say. Chapter 143 - 143 The Bet’s In Place 143 The Bets In ce Why? Sun Bin, who was more mature than hisckey, asked calmly. Qiao Yue sneered. Because its stupid. Sun Bins expression got increasingly sinister as he stared at Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yue only looked back at him expressionlessly. Shortly after, Sun Bin walked up to Qiao Yue and whispered, Qiao Yue, if you and Qiao Yu dont want to be in any trouble, youd better agree. Qiao Yue finally had an expression when she heard this. Coldness grew in her eyes as she replied, Are you threatening me? !! Qiao Yue, both you and Qiao Yu have mobility problems now. No one can be med if the wheelchair malfunction and you roll down the stairs or onto the road. The madness in Sun Bins eyes was scary. Qiao Yue didnt think that embarrassing a guy would make him crazy. However, there werent many people who dared to threaten her like this, so she found it interesting. Since there are better ways, why do we need topete academically? Wouldnt it be easier to just kill me? Sun Bins threat was vicious, but Qiao Yue was even more vicious. Her retort shocked Sun Bin and made him take a subconscious step back. However, when Sun Bin saw the casual and roguish smile on Qiao Yues face, he wondered if he had heard wrong. Why did killing someone sound so casualing from Qiao Yues mouth? Although Sun Bin threatened Qiao Yue, he wasnt stupid. He knew how risky it was to kill someone. But for the sake of his pride, he insisted, Are we going topete or not? Qiao Yue replied indifferently, Since youre so insistent, letspete! Sun Bins eyes lit up at Qiao Yues agreement. Its a deal then. Wellpare our year-end results. Whoever with the lower ranking will drop out of Harvey. What happens if you lose and dont fulfill your promise? Qiao Yue asked nonchntly. Hows that possible? Our Brother Sun always keeps his word. Sun Binsckey interjected. Qiao Yue nced at the boy coldly. Is the bet with you or with your Brother Sun? Theckey was stunned speechless, but fortunately, Sun Bin answered, The bet is with me, and Ill post it on the school forum and let the students of Harvey bear witness. Seeing that there would be witnesses, Qiao Yue nodded in agreement. She didnt care if anyone tempered with the post on the school forum. Since it would be there, everyone would see it. Even if someone tempered with it, people would see that too. Seeing that Qiao Yue hadnt returned to the ssroom after a long time, Xu Hao pushed Qiao Yu out of the ssroom. Xiao Yue? Qiao Yu called out from the ssroom door. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu and smiled. Fourth brother. Sun Bin wanted to leave with his twockeys as soon as he saw Qiao Yu, but Qiao Yue stopped them. It just so happens that my fourth brother can also be a witness, Qiao Yue said. Xu Hao pushed Qiao Yu next to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu sized up the three people across from him and narrowed his eyes. He knew this person. He had paid attention Qiao Yues adventures in her previous ss. This kid appeared rather frequently in Qiao Yues adventures. Witness for what? Qiao Yu asked. Qiao Yue chuckled. This person wants to bet with me using our year-end results. Whoever with the worse final ranking will drop out of Harvey. Qiao Yu frowned slightly. He knew that since Qiao Yue said this, he must have agreed to the bet. However, given Qiao Yues results, it would be difficult to guarantee his win. And you want to bet with him? Qiao Yu asked even when he knew the answer. Hese all the way to our ss, so naturally I must agree to the bet. Qiao Yue gave Qiao Yu a reassuring look. Qiao Yus gaze fell on the boys across from him. Since Qiao Yue had spoken, he had to give him face. Worst case, he would tutor Qiao Yue in theing days. He would help Qiao Yue so he wouldnt lose. Alright! Ill be the witness then. Since the loser has to drop out of the school, both sides have to abide by it. Qiao Yu asked Sun Bin for his confirmation. Sun Bin looked at Qiao Yu and nodded. The bet was now in ce. Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Sun Bin left with hisckeys. When Qiao Yue, Qiao Yu and Xu Hao went back into the ssroom, the school bell rang. Xu Haos curiosity had to be suppressed again. He could only wait for school to be over at noon to ask the Qiao brothers what was going on. Chapter 144 - 144 Qiao Yue’s Results 144 Qiao Yues Results News about the bet between Sun Bin and Qiao Yue spread throughout the entire grade in just one afternoon. Some people had even begun to discuss the oue on the school forum. The two were betting on their final exams, which were about two months away. As soon as school ended, a few ssmates close to the Qiao brothers gathered around them. Qiao Yue, is the bet real? One of the boys asked curiously. What do you think? Qiao Yue replied with a chuckle. !! The boy didnt give Qiao Yue any face and said directly, Whose grades can yours beat? Tell me, are you sick of being here and just looking for an excuse to drop out? Though that was what he said, the ssmates who came to tease Qiao Yue all knew that he had a brother whos consistently the top student of their grade to help him. He would never let Qiao Yue do worse than Sun Bin, so they didnt hold back when teasing Qiao Yue. Another boy put his arm around the boys shoulder and chimed in, What you said seems to make sense. Qiao Yue, tell us how youll prepare yourself. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes at each of them and muttered, Buzz off. She then turned and called out to Qiao Yu, Brother, are you going home? Uh-huh, wait a moment, Qiao Yu responded without looking up. Qiao Yue was curious about what Qiao Yu was doing so she got someone to wheel her to Qiao Yus desk where she saw Qiao Yu flipping through a book and writing something. Brother, what are you writing? Qiao Yue moved her head closer as she spoke and saw that Qiao Yus notebook was filled with notes. Your notes are immacte! Qiao Yue couldnt help but exim after skimming through the notes. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue in surprise. These were the notes he had prepared for Qiao Yue. Did Qiao Yue see it? Its for you. Qiao Yu quickly finished writing thest few words and handed the notebook to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue took the notebook in surprise, and the others havee over to look. Eh? Qiao Yu, youre such a good brother! I wish I could beat up my brother eight times a day. One of the boys eximed after skimming through the notes. Qiao Yu snatched the notebook back from the boy and passed it to Qiao Yue. Study these. Dont let me down in your exams. Qiao Yue took the notebook and chuckled. Dont worry! Fourth brother, I wont let you down! Qiao Yue didnt want to tell the Qiao family about her bet, but other than Qiao Yu, Qiao Ying and Qiao Xin also attended Harvey. Qiao Ying naturally wouldnt say anything, but Qiao Xin had a big mouth. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu received a wave of ridicule from Qiao Xin as soon as they got home. Somebody, yeah, is finally leaving Harvey and not embarrassing the Qiao family anymore! Qiao Xin was seated on a sofa on the first floor living room, ying with her phone. From the corner of her eye, she saw Qiao Yuee in and immediately mocked her. She must have been waiting for Qiao Yue. Qiao Ying tugged on Qiao Xins sleeve, asking her to shut up. Qiao Yue didnt even look at Qiao Xin and went upstairs with Qiao Yu. Given Qiao Xins big mouth, Qiao Jing naturally knew about the bet when he came home. He went to Qiao Yues room to ask. Why did you agree to the bet? Qiao Jing asked directly. Qiao Yue pouted helplessly. He kept pestering me. I cant just keep running away, right? Qiao Jing frowned slightly and asked, Do you think you can beat him? Qiao Yue had an idea. Although she could control her grades, she didnt want to be provoked endlessly. It was better to get this over with once and for all. Besides, if her grades were good, Qiao Jing would not keep monitoring her! Brother, if I do well this time, I wont need a tutor anymore, right? Qiao Yue asked, her eyes bright. Hearing Qiao Yues question, Qiao Jings gaze turnedplicated. Qiao Yue couldnt understand Qiao Jingsplicated gaze and was even more curious. Why did Qiao Jing react this way when she said she didnt need remedial sses? After a long while, Qiao Jing answered yes. What are you looking at? Qiao Jing asked, feeling a little ufortable under Qiao Yues stare. Qiao Jing couldnt say that she was curious about why Qiao Jing wanted her to have a tutor, so she made up an excuse. Brother is so handsome. I couldnt help but stare. Qiao Jings eyes darkened at the casual reason. After a long while, Qiao Jing finally said, When we were in S-Country Qiao Jing didnt know how to finish his sentence, and slight annoyance sneaked into his expression. Seeing Qiao Jings hesitation, Qiao Yue also remembered the ambiguous situation they were in, and the atmosphere became awkward instantly. Chapter 145 - 145 Godfather 145 Godfather After returning from S-Country, they had both been busy and hadnt thought about this matter. Its a little confusing when its suddenly brought up. Qiao Yue organized her thoughts and said, Brother, it was just an ident. Were both straight. Its okay if we cant see properly we are asionally drunk. Qiao Yue actually knew more than Qiao Jing. Other than that time in S-Country, there was also that time when Qiao Jing was drunk, both of which happened when shes by his side. Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yue for a long time. Only when Qiao Yue felt ufortable did he nod slightly, which made Qiao Yue heave a sigh of relief. Perhaps because he had been too busy with work recently, Qiao Jing had dark circles under his eyes and fine lines between his eyebrows. Qiao Yue reached out and touched Qiao Jings forehead. Brother, dont work too hard. Youre getting wrinkles. Qiao Jing had long been used to Qiao Yues touch, so he didnt resist his sudden touch and just hummed in agreement. After this conversation with Qiao Jing, Qiao Yues days were much more rxed. She went to school as usual during the day and spent her nights holed up in her room doing research under the pretense of revision. Since she found out that Qiao Yu couldnt see all the information on Harvey, she had been trying to get through the firewall of the online forum. Unfortunately, the firewall wasyered, so she could only break through all of them at once, not separately. Therefore, Qiao Yue could only try once every few days, recording the method to break through differentyers for future use. During this period, she had also found out some things about her mother. The information most suspicious to Qiao Yue was about her mothers instructor during military training. Her other instructors had returned to the army or retired from the army after that military training, except for this instructor, who seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. Hard work paid off. After a few attempts, Qiao Yue found some clues about the man, such as the photo shes staring at now. The man in the photo stood tall and straight, wearing a military uniform. Although the photo showed only his profile, one could tell that hes a good-looking man that people would notice on first nce. As Qiao Yue stared at the photo on screen in a daze, her phone suddenly rang. As soon as Qiao Yue answered the call, she heard Chu Jias urgent voice on the other end, Boss, theres some action on Trands side. Theyve found me? Qiao Yues expression changed, and coldness crept into her voice. No, theyve found me. Theres news that Trand has found out about the club! Boss, save me! Chu Jia exined the situation in the quickest way possible. Who gave you the information? Is it urate? When do you n to make your move? Where? Qiao Yue asked her questions in rapid-fire. From the organization. Its urate. Well make our move tonight at Yayi Club. Qiao Yues eyebrows twitched. She wanted to call the police and let the police force of C-Country handle this matter. However, if she called the police, they would ask for a reason and then Yayi would no longer be a clean business because it would be targeted. After thinking for a while, Qiao Yue ordered, Ill report the matter to Godfather and request for backup. You take some people and set up an ambush near Trands vi. Dont report this to the organization. If you catch someone, fake their deaths and dont let anyone find out. Boss? Chu Jia called out in confusion. Dont reveal your whereabouts. Qiao Yue emphasized again. Yes. Chu Jia replied firmly. Chu Jia knew Qiao Yues situation. She wouldnt have called her if it wasnt an emergency, so Trands people must have made their move. After hanging up, Qiao Yue dialed a string of unfamiliar numbers. Xiao Yue? A low and hoarse male voice asked through the phone. Godfather, Qiao Yue said. Hearing Qiao Yues voice, the mans voice carried a hint of a smile as he said, Its really rare for Xiao Yue to call me. Godfather, Trand is going to attack Yayi tonight. Im calling to request for backup. The man chuckled, Where are your people? I remember that Chu Jia and the rest are in C-Country! There was a slight pant in the mans voice in addition to his smile. Even if the man deliberately hid it from Qiao Yue, she had some guesses about what he was doing. At this moment, a womans delicate gasp made Qiao Yues eyebrows twitched. Chapter 146 - 146 A Two-year Period 146 A Two-year Period After the previous assassination attempt, Trands people were already on to Chu Jia and the team. If we want to kill Trand, we will need new people. Qiao Yue replied calmly. The man didnt seem to believe her as he sneered, New people? Qiao Yue didnt care if the Godfather believed her and quietly waited for his response. Xiao Yue, if you ask for help, youll have to pay a price. The man stated his condition casually. Qiao Yues tone was t as she said, Godfather, you were the one who gave us the mission to assassinate Trand. !! Qiao Yue had long been ustomed to the Godfathers flip-flopping. Oh really? Then the mission is over now. You guys can clean up the mess. The mans breathing became heavier and Qiao Yues eyebrows furrowed deeply. What does Godfather want me to do? Qiao Yue had no choice but to ask. The mans smile deepened. Xiao Yue, dont you know what I want? Qiao Yue took a deep breath, her eyes solemn. Godfather, Qiao Yue continued, but this time in a softer tone. The man noticed the change in Qiao Yues tone and his smile deepened. Xiao Yue, when are you nning toe back? When the man saide back, hes naturally referring to A-Country, the country where their organization was located. Qiao Yue was silent for a moment. Ill go back after Ive fulfilled my filial duties to the old master. Give me some time, Ill think about whether I want to help you. The mans voice was getting hoarser. Qiao Yue took a deep breath. In two years. Ill go back when time is up, but you cant send anyone to monitor me when Im here. No problem. As long as you keep your promise, Ill help you solve your problems. As the mans words fell, the womans continuous screams came from the other end of the phone. Qiao Yue was not allowed to hang up until the high-pitched voice ended. With a pale face, Qiao Yue mumbled that she felt sick. She got up from the wheel wheelchair and walked into the bathroom with a first aid kit. Qiao Yue touched her aching chest and secured it with gauze. She looked at the wounds all over her body and sighed. Two years! Time seemed to be running out. Qiao Yue cleaned herself up and came out of the bathroom when she received a call from the temporary leader of the organization. Master Yue, Ive already set up everything around Yayi. Team A is on standby. The womans voice was crisp and clear over the phone. Alright, Qiao Yue responded. As Qiao Yue hung up the womans call, Sister Lins call came in. Qiao Yue sat back in her wheelchair, went to Qiao Jings door and knocked. Enter, said Qiao Jing. Qiao Yue pushed the door open and went in. Brother, my teacher asked me to go to her ce. At this hour? Qiao Jings face was filled with displeasure as he checked the time on his watch suspiciously. Its Teacher Lin. She just got off work and wanted to ask me about the bet. Brother, you know that Teacher Lin and I knew each other. Qiao Yue believed in Qiao Jings ability, so she didnt hide the fact that she knew Sister Lin. Qiao Jing looked at her with a frown and asked his assistant to ask Sister Lin about the situation. In the meantime, Qiao Yue could only wait face to face with Qiao Jing. I heard that you are old friends with that Teacher Lin. How did you meet her? Qiao Jing asked with a judgmental stare. Qiao Yue chuckled. Everyone has a past! You can check it out yourself. Qiao Yue then added in her heart, You cant find it anyway. Qiao Jings eyes darkened. After a moment, he answered with a smile, Sure. Qiao Jings smile gave Qiao Yue the heebie-jeebies. Did her brother take the wrong medicine? What did he mean by sure? Hes going to check it out himself? Qiao Yues hair stood on end at Qiao Jings strange behavior. She wished that his assistant woulde back soon with a reply. Just as Qiao Yue was counting the seconds, Qiao Jings assistant called. Qiao Yue peeked at Qiao Jings pale face and let out a long breath. She had finally passed. After the call, Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and said, Ill send you there. Qiao Yue quickly waved her hand. No need, no need. Brother, you can let the driver send me. Youve worked hard all day. I can go by myself. Are you afraid that Ill see something? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yue shook her head like a rattle. How can that be? Brother, Im just concerned that youve been working all day, and I dont want you to busy yourself with such a small matter. To convince Qiao Jing, Qiao Yue tried her best to open her eyes wide so that Qiao Jing could see her sincerity. Chapter 147 - 147 Coming of the Storm 147 Coming of the Storm After a long pause, Qiao Jing finally relented and agreed to let Qiao Yue go to Sister Lins ce alone. Be careful, Qiao Jing said suddenly as Qiao Yue was about to leave. Qiao Yue turned to look at him, but Qiao Jing had already buried himself in the documents he was reading. Just as Qiao Yue had wished, the Qiao family chauffeur drove her. The car arrived at Sister Lins apartment building and Sister Lin was already waiting for Qiao Yue at the entrance. The driver wanted to help Qiao Yue upstairs, but Qiao Yue declined. !! Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief after she watched the driver leave. Sister Lin, is the equipment ready? Qiao Yue asked. Yes, its ready. Team A has enough weapons. Dont worry about it, Master Yue. Sister Lin was her teacher at school but her position in the organization was below Qiao Yues. Therefore, whenever they were on a mission, Sister Lin would call her Master Yue like everyone else. Qiao Yue nodded and was wheeled into another car by Sister Lin. Sister Lin updated Qiao Yue with the organizations deployment around Yayi as she drove. Qiao Yue looked out the window at the scenery that was quickly passing by as she tapped her fingers on her seat. You said that there are only two people deployed at Linchuan Road? Qiao Yue asked casually. Yes, Militant and Rose are on guard there. Sister Lin replied. Qiao Yue was quite familiar with these two people. They had worked together several times, and they were both people who would risk their lives for missions. Did Godfather really want to kill Trand by sending these two here? Could she have guessed wrong? Qiao Yue couldnt figure out what the Godfather was thinking. The car soon arrived at the main entrance of Yayi. Qiao Yue left her wheelchair in the car, got up, straightened her clothes and walked in alone. The organization had a rule that the person who received the mission would be responsible for it till the end. If anyone else interfered during the mission, their life or death would have nothing to do with the organization. This mission had nothing to do with Sister Lin, so Sister Lin didnt need to interfere. Yayi felt different today. Even the waiters and waitresses looked serious. Chu Jias assistant had been waiting in the office for a long time. The moment she saw Qiao Yue, she seemed to have found her savior and mumbled non-stop. Brother Yue, youre finally here. There are a lot of people in the lobby who look like gangsters. I was totally lost after my boss left. Qiao Yue chuckled. What? Youve never seen gangsters here? The assistant nodded quickly. I have, but they werent as scary as the ones today. They look like they are going to kill someone. And my boss left, so Im a little scared! Its okay, dont be scared. I wont let anything happen here. Qiao Yueforted. The assistant nodded. It was not her first day working here, and she had been through a lot with Sister Chu. However, she only realized today that there were situations that made her so scared that she could not speak. Qiao Yue took her things and went into the bathroom to dress up. She had mastered many skills to survive her missions in the past. After putting on the wig, Qiao Yue started to put on her makeup. Although she couldnt replicate all the details, under dim lights at night, and with the other party not too familiar with Chu Jia, she could still pass of as her. When Qiao Yue came out of the bathroom, the assistant was shocked. Sister, Sister Chu? the assistant eximed. Qiao Yue smiled and said, Im your Brother Yue. Brother Yue? The assistant was even more shocked as she looked Qiao Yue up and down. Brother Yue, you really look like Sister Chu! Youre so beautiful! The assistants words were full of sincere praise. Qiao Yue was a little dazed at the assistants words. How long had it been since shest wore a girls clothes? These dresses were very beautiful, but they were inconvenient to move in. Moreover, she still had to maintain her image as a boy, so these dresses were really out of her reach. Qiao Yue snapped back to reality and flicked the assistants forehead, pulling her back to reality. Logically speaking, the assistant had been with Chu Jia so long and was used to Chu Jias face. However, the difference between the real Chu Jia and Qiao Yues Chu Jia was that Qiao Yues Chu Jia had a more heroic air about her. This was a mission that involved Qiao Yues life, so she went all out and made Chu Jias already attractive face even more mboyant. Qiao Yue didnt bring the assistant and walked alone into the lobby of Yayi Club. As soon as she arrived, Qiao Yue saw more than a dozen pairs of dark eyes looking at her. With just a casual nce, she noticed an old acquaintance sitting behind the sofa. Trand had fully recovered after a few months. He saw Chu Jia walk up and stared at her with dark eyes. Chapter 148 - 148 Face-off 148 Face-off Just you? There was a deep chill in Trands voice. Qiao Yue twirled her long wavy hair and smiled, Naturally, its just me. Trand looked Qiao Yue up and down, and his expression became gloomier. Miss Chu, youre very courageous. I wonder if you have this courage or did someone give it to you? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows and met Trands eyes dauntlessly. She had been living on the edge since her teenage years, so she wasnt bothered by Trands threats. Crossing her legs, Qiao Yue said slowly, Mr. Jiang, what are you saying? Were a business and we wee our guests. Why are you talking about courage? !! Trands alias in C-Country was Jiang Zhao. Outsiders called him Mr. Jiang, so Qiao Yue followed suit. As long as Trand didnt corner her, Qiao Yue would y dumb with him. She wasnt in a hurry anyway. Trand squinted and studied Qiao Yue. To him, the current Chu Jia was different from the one he had met before. Was it possible that Chu Jia was hiding her true self before and was only revealing her true nature now? But, since Trand had brought so many people here today, he was not here to chat with Qiao Yue. He waved his hand, and Qiao Yue had a few dark muzzles aimed at her. When I left Yayi that day, Miss Chu gave me a big gift. Ive been thinking about how to repay you. Trand said with a gloomy face. For the sake of her life, Qiao Yue cooperated and put her hands up. I dont quite understand what Mr. Jiang means by that. Did someone here offend Mr. Jiang and make you unhappy? Qiao Yue asked as if she didnt know anything. Trand replied with a sinister smile, If you dont understand, then Miss Chu, pleasee with us. Ill make you understand. Qiao Yue squinted and got up and moved in the direction Trands men pointed with their guns. After capturing Chu Jia, Trand did not want to hang around Yayi Club and took his men to leave. Trand had thought that it would be difficult to take Chu Jia away. He didnt expect Chu Jia to follow him so willingly. Although he had brought enough men and his team wouldnt be disadvantaged in a gunfight, its not unusual if Chu Jia chose to follow them. But he still felt that things had gone too smoothly. Qiao Yue could feel Trands gaze on her as she moved forward with guns pointed at her. Miss chu, youre leaving with me so easily. Have you already made ns? Trand asked casually from behind Qiao Yue. Just as Qiao Yue was about to stop and answer Trand, the person behind her noticed her intention and pressed his gun against Qiao Yues waist, forcing her to move forward. Mr. Jiang, youve brought so many men to my club. I dont think I can fight you head-on, so I might as well go with you. Once I resolve whatever misunderstanding I have with Mr. Jiang, Im sure youll send me back safely. Qiao Yue answered unhurriedly. Trand chuckled at Qiao Yues reply, as if he was mocking Qiao Yues naivety for not admitting to what had happened before. From the Yayi lobby to the club entrance, they didnt meet anyone else, including the serious-looking waiter whom she met on her way in, who had also disappeared. Qiao Yue praised the assistants speed in her heart. Although Yayi was the organizations clean business, they were still on high alert. Once there was a crisis, they always had a safe ce for their employees. Miss Chu, you are really good, to be able to hide so many employees of Yayi. Trand said in a strange tone as he also noticed the strangeness at Yayi. Qiao Yue chuckled. Mr. Jiang is only unhappy with me. I have to take care of the others, right? They are just here to work. Its not good for them to suffer any unexpected disaster. Trand sneered. Miss Chu, youre a ratherpetent boss. Trand gestured for his men to search Yayi as he spoke. In the meantime, Qiao Yue was brought to their car under threat. To avoid any mishaps, Trand motioned for his men to tie Qiao Yues hands and feet before putting her in the car. Chapter 149 - 149 Sharpshooter 149 Sharpshooter Just as Trands men were about to tie the rope around Qiao Yues wrist, something happened. A cold light shed, and the men who were holding Qiao Yue hostage and about to tie her up fell to the ground. However, as gangsters who had been living on the edge all their lives, although these men couldnt react to what had happened, their instinct made them raise their guns quickly to shoot at Qiao Yue. But before any bullets could be fired, the first two men who aimed their guns at Qiao Yue were shot dead with silenced guns. With the escape time created by her reinforcements, Qiao Yue took advantage of the darkness of the night and quickly slid under the car and came out on the other side, leaving the battle site. Qiao Yue had observed the surroundings when she came out. Trand probably wanted to be done quickly, so he parked the car in the Yayis courtyard. Just so he could leave with Chu Jia as quickly as possible, he had chosen the most practical modified off-road vehicle, which gave Qiao Yue an opportunity. F*ck, weve been betrayed! Qiao Yue heard Trand scream before she climbed out from under the car. The situation was extremely disadvantageous to Trand. With his enemy in the dark and his hostage on the run, Trand could only take the beating. Retreat to the club, Trand ordered quickly. However, how could Qiao Yue not anticipate what Trand was thinking? She had already deadbolted the door to the club. At this time, Trand figured that there was no way he could take Chu Jia away today, so he ordered his men to get into the car and pull out. Although Qiao Yues reinforcements were in the dark and had a geographical advantage, they were a smaller teampared to Trands. The only advantage they had was that they struck first and caught the enemy off guard. They wouldnt have been able to fight Trands team head-on, so Qiao Yue didnt n to take Trand down at Yayi. Trands men got into their cars and left as fast as the wind. Qiao Yue also didnt stop them. She got out from the hedges only after they were gone. The members of Team A came up to Qiao Yue and handed her some equipment. The moment she put on her earpiece, YQs voice came through, Boss, as you expected, they left through Linchuan Road. Are Militant and Rose ready? Qiao Yue said as she stepped onto the off-road vehicle that the Team A leader was driving. Yes, boss. Lets go, Qiao Yue ordered coldly. They must take down Trand tonight. Yayi and Chu Jia were already Trands targets. She couldnt let Trand have any time to catch his breath. With YQ giving Trands location in real-time, they caught up with Trand as quickly as they could. However, they were still in the city and could not make a move here. At the same time, Trands men had also discovered that they had been tailed. They ran a red light and headed straight to Trands arsenal in C-Country. Qiao Yue and her team didnt take the same route as Trand. Instead, they drove through a small path to Linjiang Road. Stop the car and set up an ambush here, Qiao Yue ordered. Although the Team A leader was puzzled, Qiao Yue had always been stubborn, so the team leader didnt refute her. Everyone just waited quietly for Trand and his team to arrive. In less than five minutes, they saw Trands car turning the corner. The leader of Team A took the lead and fired, but Trands men dodged the bullets agilely. Seeing that their leader had fired, the rest of Team A also focused their fire power on Trands convoy. Qiao Yue aimed at the driver of the first car. With her first shot, cracks appeared on the windshield of the car. However, it was a modified car after all, so even ss wouldnt break so easily. Qiao Yues second shot widened the crack on the windshield. The driver of the first car stared at the cracked windshield in horror, wishing that he could drive the car upwards to avoid Qiao Yues bullets. He was clearly facing a moving vehicle, yet someone in that car could hit the same spot twice. Who wouldnt be afraid of such a sharpshooter? Wouldnt be fearful? If another shot came, wouldnt he lose his life here? No one wasnt afraid of death. Even gangsters felt afraid when faced with life and death. Just as the drivers heart was pounding, the third shot arrived as expected and urately pierced the drivers forehead. The first car lost control, and the cars behind went into a frenzy. Chapter 150 - 150 An Ominous Feeling 150 An Ominous Feeling Of course, the panicsted only for a moment. The bodyguards responsible for Trands safety were no ordinary people. They quickly regained control of the convoy and a body was thrown out of the first car. The ambush did not cause much damage to Trands team. The Team A leader turned his head and asked, Master Yue, why did we ambush them here? Wouldnt it be more effective if we teamed up with Militant and Rose? Qiao Yue smiled lightly and looked at the man. She didnt answer his question but said, Lets follow them. Since it was an arsenal, Trand would have situated it in a deste ce, and he would avoid surveince while he got there. It was the perfect location for a sneak attack or an ambush. As for Militant and Rose, their main job was to wear down Trand and his team. As the top snipers in the organization, apart from their outstanding sniping skills, they were also incredibly good at setting up traps and ambushes. The real fight would be at Trands base, and Qiao Yue wanted to take Trand and his team outpletely. Linchuan road cut through the suburbs and away from the city. There was a remote vige about two hours away. It was Trands stronghold in C-Country. Its Trands base for all sort of illegal activities, from drug trafficking to human trafficking. As for how Qiao Yue had discovered Trands secret stronghold, it was all thanks to YQ. He said that he discovered it while sorting through some information in the organization out of curiosity. He discovered the small mountain vige while tracing a smuggling route. Qiao Yue believed whatever YQ said and didnt question him. This was also the reason YQ treated Qiao Yue differently from others. Unlike Chu Jia and the rest, the people in the organization would not talk about things other than the mission when they were deployed. This reminded Qiao Yue of the time when she first joined the organization. She was considered special in the organization because she was adopted by the previous Godfather. However, her special trait did note with special treatment. Instead, she was trained more strictly than others. There were countless times when she suspected that the Godfather only adopted her to torture her to death. However, her survival instinct allowed her to survive time and time again, whether it was finding her way back from a deserted ind orpleting missions with traitors around her. Later on, the trainer who managed them divided the children into several groups toplete different tasks. That was also the first time she met real teammates. The high tension made everyone nervous. Some children with friendlier personalities tried to ease the tension, but it was the friendly voices of these children that attracted the enemy. In the end, only she and her team leader survived. When her team leader reported the situation, members of the other teams listened in silence. Later, the organization established a rule that there would be no talk other than the mission when they were deployed. Qiao Yue opened her eyes and looked into the distance. At this time, their car had already left the city. The night was dark and Qiao Yue felt a little uneasy. She suddenly had the desire to talk to someone. Seeing the serious faces around her, Qiao Yues slightly opened mouth closed. The closer they got to Trands stronghold, the more uneasy Qiao Yue felt. Stop the car, Qiao Yue said. The Team A leader was confused, but he had to obey Qiao Yues orders. Qiao Yue jumped out of the car and walked to the side. She tapped several times on her phone and called Chu Jia. Boss? Chu Jias confused voice could be heard from the phone. Retreat! Qiao Yues short order stunned Chu Jia on the spot. Yes, boss. Even though she was confused, Chu Jia was not someone who would drag others down. She immediately followed Qiao Yues order. Qiao Yue added, Dont let anyone discover your tracks. You can retreat to a ce further away to observe the situation. I suspect that other forces have intervened. Yes, boss. After returning to the team, Qiao Yue said, Lets get to the vige as fast as we can and dont let anyone find out. I suspect that someone else is trying to attack Trand. The Team A leaders face was full of shock. Master Yue, have you heard something? Something like that, Qiao Yue didnt want to exin and replied perfunctorily. Chapter 151 - 151 Capturing Trand 151 Capturing Trand The Team A leader didnt sit on Qiao Yues order andpleted the 2-hour journey in an hour and a half. Qiao Yue was more certain about her guess as they got closer to the vige. Even if the vige was situated in a remote mountainous area, it was impossible that they didnt see another person or a car along the way. Its also suspicious that there were absolutely no lights in the dark of night. Moreover, she found traces of other vehicles when she got out of the car just now. When they were still some distance away from the vige, Qiao Yue asked for the car to be hidden away and that they go on foot. Qiao Yue led Team A in the opposite direction of Chu Jias team to prevent them from bumping into each other. Qiao Yue and her team hid in the bushes and observed the vige using binocrs. They could vaguely see light in the vige. And because it was moving, Qiao Yue suspected those were headlights from Trands car. Time passed by. Suddenly, Qiao Yue saw another light appear somewhere in the vige. The spot of light grew bigger, and it looked like a fire had broken out somewhere in the vige. At the same time, Qiao Yue noticed that there seemed to be numerous dark shadows moving forward slowly near the entrance of the vige. After confirming that there was no one around them, Qiao Yue led Team A slowly toward the vige. Suddenly, an explosion sounded through the clouds. This time, Qiao Yue saw clearly through her binocrs people in C-Countrys police uniforms shuttling back and forth in the vige. This made Qiao Yue suck in a cold breath. The Team A leader was extremely shocked when he saw the armed police force. The people next to him also sighed. Thanks to Master Yue, or we wouldnt be able to escape our ill-fate tonight. Although Qiao Yue thought that someone else was after Trand, she didnt expect it to be the Peoples Armed Police. Fortunately, she did not bring many people with her this time and acted separately from Chu Jia. Otherwise, it would be difficult to hide everyone. The sound of gunfire was endless. Qiao Yue could not help but frown. If Trand was captured by the police of C-Country, he would be locked up in prison and eventually sentenced to death. But she still had something to confirm with Trand. Qiao Yues head hurt even more as she thought about this. Why did the police have to arrest Trand at this time? Qiao Yue felt helpless. However, she had to try something at this time, but the people from Team A Qiao Yue nced at the serious faced people around her. She had to shrug them off. You guys wait for me here, Ill go over there and take a look. Qiao Yue said. The Team A leader frowned and stopped her. Master Yue, the Peoples Armed Police has already taken action against Trand, why do you still want to take risks? What he said made sense, but Qiao Yue had her reasons. I need to make sure that Trand is dead. Wait for me here. This is an order. Qiao Yue was toozy to exin and gave a direct order. When Team A heard that it was an order, they stopped questioning. To avoid detection, Qiao Yue moved very slowly. The closer she got to the vige, the louder the gunshots became. Trand was still fighting back. As Qiao Yue got closer, she could still see the women and children who had been rescued, hiding in the dark. Qiao Yue tried to figure out the situation inside. Qiao Yue sneaked into the vige carefully and headed to the battle site. Trand was now a trapped animal. Qiao Yue saw many bodies of Trands men along the way. Finally, Qiao Yue arrived at the location of the confrontation, right in front of Trands armory! After all, it was an armory. Before knowing what was inside, no one dared to act rashly. Once a chain explosion was triggered, the consequences would be unimaginable. Qiao Yue observed her surroundings, thinking about how she would capture Trand. There was only one way for her to capture Trand on her own now, and that was to fake his death, get the answers she wanted from him before handing him over to the police. The atmosphere was getting increasingly tense, and war was about to break out. If she wanted to take Trand away, she had to create chaos. At that moment, a sh of light appeared. It was It was Stone! Attaboy, how dare he disobey her orders? However, now was the time she needed him. Qiao Yue quickly sent a message to Stone. In less than two minutes, a gunshot pierced through the night sky, causing the people on both sides to tense up. An intense gunfight broke out in an instant, but the police was very careful in consideration of Trands armory. Chapter 152 - 152 The Escape 152 The Escape Under the cover of gunfire, Qiao Yue quickly took the clothes off one of Trands dead men and put them on herself, and then smeared her face with dust. After disguising herself, Qiao Yue quickly moved toward Trand. During this time, an eagle-eyed police officer saw her and fired two shots at her, which Qiao Yue sessfully dodged. It was nighttime after all and men on both sides had to rely on their clothes to tell each other apart. This allowed the disguised Qiao Yue to close in on Trands team very quickly. Qiao Yue searched eagerly for Trand among his men. When she reached the entrance of the armory, Qiao Yue looked in through the window and saw Trand. When one of Trands men went into the armory to reload, Qiao Yue sneaked in behind him. !! As soon as she got close to Trand, Qiao Yue heard one of Trands men persuading him to escape. The subordinate said, Boss, the most important thing now is to escape. Weve been surrounded, if we dont leave now, we will all die! Boss! Meanwhile, Trands face was full of gloom. F*ck! I havent even caught the traitor and you want me to run away just like that? To be able to say such words, Trand must have let his anger from both assassination attempts go to his head. He was thinking about luring everyone into the armory and then killing everyone. Based on what Qiao Yue knew about Trand, she knew that he must have thought of a solution to say something like this, but she could not let him execute his n. Many things that happened tonight were beyond her expectations. When she first learned that Trand was going to attack Yayi, she was ready to kill him and had asked for reinforcements from the organization. She didnt make her move at Yayi because firstly, she didnt want the polices attention on Yayi. Secondly, she wanted to minimize damage. The attack midway was to buy more time for Rose and Militant to setup. She also wanted to see what the two of them could do and verify her hypothesis. However, what happened next waspletely beyond her expectations. All her ns were ruined when the armed police of C-Country intervened. The two sides exchanged fire and her people had no choice but to retreat. However, if she missed this opportunity, she might not get another one in future. Qiao Yue pretended to reload her gun with her back to Trand as she said, Boss, theres hope as long as we are alive. We still have power abroad. Once we are out of the country, itll be easy for us to plot revenge. Whether in or out of C-Country, it wasnt the first time Qiao Yue encountered Trand. She knew how powerful he was and hence said such words. Hearing someone else persuade Trand, Trands subordinate quickly chimed in, Yeah, boss! Even if we are surrounded, we still have an escape tunnel. Theres no need to give up because of this failure. With continuous persuasion from two of his subordinates, Trands frenzied mind calmed down. He took a deep breath and ordered, Take all the weapons that can be controlled remotely with us, confiscate allmunication devices, and tell everyone to retreat. Qiao Yues heart skipped a beat when she heard this. At first, she was d that she had followed them here and learned that theres an escape tunnel. But now, once she lost contact with the outside world, shed be in danger with no ability to ask for help. After giving the order, Trand took the lead to walk down the tunnel with his men. Qiao Yue had no choice but to follow. Before entering the tunnel, Qiao Yue vaguely heard Trands men say to the people guarding the tunnel entrance, After all of our people evacuate, blow up the armory. Qiao Yues heart skipped a beat, but since things hade to this, Qiao Yue couldnt really setup any countermeasure. Although the tunnel was basic, it was very well hidden. Trand, under his mens protection, walked towards the exit, and Qiao Yue could only follow behind them. In the pitch-ck tunnel, everyone relied on their other senses to move forward. Seconds and minutes passed and only breathing sounds could be heard in the tunnel. Qiao Yue estimated the time. They had been walking in the dark for about ten minutes. Suddenly, the voice of Trands subordinate rang out. Boss, were almost there. Lets ascend. Qiao Yue heard Trands gloomy order. Trands men went up one after another. Qiao Yue was nning in her heart that after she went up, shed take care of the others and then take Trand away. A faint light entered Qiao Yues line of sight. Just as Qiao Yue bent over to get out, a gun was pressed against her forehead. Long time no see, Number 47. Chapter 153 - 153 Captured 153 Captured Qiao Yues expression darkened. She raised her head to look at the man who blocked her way out of the tunnel. You already knew? Qiao Yue asked calmly. Trand replied, I found out not too long ago, but I knew that it was you when the first ambush happened. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes. As expected of someone who was on the Interpols most wanted list, Trand thought a lot. So, youre going to kill me now? Qiao Yue looked dauntlessly up the muzzle of the gun pointed at her. Trandughed, and the earlier panic on his face disappeared. This worried Qiao Yue. It seemed that all of Trands actions were premeditated. Youre so useful, how could I kill you just like that? Trand looked Qiao Yue up and down before he ordered his men to tie her up and put her in the car. Meanwhile, due to the reduced number of people on Trands side, the armed police quickly had the upper hand and ended the battle. As for why Trands armory didnt blow up, it was all thanks to the quick action from the armed police. Trands man was stopped right before he was about to throw the grenade. Not far away, Chu Jia, who was watching everything with a pair of powerful binocrs, let out a long sigh. Luckily boss told us to retreat, or we might have been arrested. Chu Jia sighed. Stone nodded next to her and took Chu Jias binocrs to check the situation. Looking at the situation, the police must have been watching Trand for a long time! Trand is doomed this time! Stone gloated. However, before Stone could celebrate, Chu Jia knocked him on the head. What are you so happy about? The boss asked us to capture him alive, how are we going to do that now? Chu Jia said gloomily. Stone rubbed his head and argued, We knew that we wont be able to capture him when boss ordered us to retreat. By the way, was my shot cool or what? The shot that caused both sides to fight, hahaha. Chu Jia rolled her eyes at Stone. Thats because boss ask you to fire the shot. By the way, how did boss know the situation inside so well? Could she be in there? Hearing Chu Jias question, Stone was shocked as well. He then looked at the others, who all shook their heads, indicating that boss hadnt given them any orders. Quickly take a look, is boss among the people taken away by the police? Chu Jia said anxiously. No way, boss is so good. She wouldnt be arrested by the police. Although Stone said that, he used the binocrs to study the group of people being taken away by the police. There were many people in the vige. As the criminals were brought into police cars one by one, Stones expression gradually became serious. Even after the police car doors were shut and the police started to search for prohibited items in the vige, Stone still did not see any sign of Qiao Yue. Cant find boss? Seeing Stones hesitation, Chu Jia guessed the answer. Who would have thought that Stones response was worse than Chu Jias guess? I cant find boss or Trand, Stone replied with a frown. You mean Trand has escaped? Chu Jia asked sternly. Its possible. People like Trand would be taken away even if he was dead, but I didnt see him. What should we do now? Stone frowned, wondering if his boss had seen Trand escape and chased after him. Chu Jia immediately got 01 to contact YQ, and 01 immediately executed the order. Stone suggested that they sneak into the vige to see if there were any traces of Qiao Yue, but Chu Jia rejected his suggestion. The police is still there. We might be discovered if we sneaked in. If the boss is still with Team A, our rash action could get her into trouble. Even though Chu Jia was also worried about Qiao Yue, she was more clear-headed than Stone. What do we do now? We just wait around? Im worried that boss might be in danger. Stones brows furrowed with worry. Lets see what YQ has to say first. Boss and YQ have a special way of contacting each other. Even if we cant locate boss, YQ can. Once upon a time, Chu Jia was unhappy about the special rtionship between Qiao Yue and YQ. But she could not help but rejoice now. Thanks to their special methods, they were not kept in the dark about everything. Chapter 154 - 154 Qiao Yue’s Codename 154 Qiao Yues Codename They drove for a long time. Qiao Yue was blindfolded with her limbs firmly bound. Trand still thought highly of her. If it werent for the fact that it was too degrading to put a gunny sack on her, he would have put her in a gunny sack. A momentter, Qiao Yue felt that she was being carried over someones shoulder. The violent jolting made her feel that the stitches on her wound broke again. After ten minutes or so, Qiao Yues feet were finally on ground. Her blindfold was removed, and the light was so ring that she was forced to close her eyes again. When Qiao Yues eyes finally adapted her surroundings, she started to look around. They seemed to be in an abandoned warehouse. There were abandoned crates all over,yered thick with dust. Although Trand had spotted her, it was not difficult to see that he was caught off guard tonight. Qiao Yue was tied to a chair as she stared at Trand. Why did Trand bring her here instead of killing her right away since he knew that she tried to assassinate him? Did he want to ask her something? Something about the organization? Trand looked Qiao Yue up and down coldly and then burst intoughter. Qiao Yue had heard about Trands moodiness, but she had never seen it before. Shes finally experienced it today. Number 47, top sniper of the Beadok Organization, citizen of C-Country, real name Qiao Yue. Trand didnt go into detail, but since he knew Qiao Yues real name, he could have easily dug up anything about Qiao Yue of C-Country. Qiao Yue frowned slightly when she heard this. It seemed that even though she had quickly gotten rid of the person who found her thest time, Trand still found clues about her and discovered her true identity. Qiao Yue swallowed the bloody taste in her mouth and said, Tell me why you captured me! Qiao Yue racked her brains but could only think of one reason Trand captured her, which was to ask her about the organization, because it was the only ce where their paths had crossed. However Qiao Yue, hand over the key and Ill spare your life. Trand said without sincerity. Qiao Yue was amused. They knew who each other were. He would spare her life? Did he think that she was a three-year-old? But what key was Trand talking about? Qiao Yues replied dispassionately, What key are you talking about? Trands joyful expression turned gloomy. Are you pretending that you dont know? Qiao Yue looked straight into Trands eyes and enunciated each word, Tell me, whats this key that you want? She had a feeling that the key Trand was talking about could lead her to the past that she didnt know. Trand looked at Qiao Yue sharply, as if he wanted to see through Qiao Yue from the inside out. He then narrowed his eyes. You really dont know? Qiao Qing didnt give you anything before she died? Trand asked suspiciously. Qiao Yue felt uneasy when she heard Trand mention her mother, but she could not show it. She just replied calmly, I was very young when my mother died. I dont remember her giving me anything. Obviously, such an answer did not satisfy Trand. He stared at Qiao Yue with burning eyes. Qiao Qing didnt tell you anything before she died? Trand continued. Qiao Yue frowned. Did my mother take something of yours? Trands incessant questions made Qiao Yue think about other members of the Qiao family. They also said that her mother had stolen something. Were these two things connected? Trand was silent, as if he was trying to ascertain if Qiao Yue really didnt know. He then said, You can say so, or not. Qiao Yues mouth twitched. What Trand said didnt help. But no matter how hard she tried to recall, she could not remember her mother giving her anything. At this moment, Trands phone rang. He nced at the caller ID and got up. He gave Qiao Yue a deep stare, then gave his men a look to ask them to continue with the interrogation. After Trand left, the way Qiao Yue was interrogated changed. Qiao Yue onlymunicated with Trand verbally, but to Trands men, the only thing they wanted were answers. They would use all method to make Qiao Yue spill information useful to them. Qiao Yue knew something about their methods. Chapter 155 - 155 Conditions 155 Conditions As Qiao Yue had expected, Trands man inched towards her with a cattle prod. Number 47, you are a well-known figure in the underworld. Are you sure you want to embarrass yourself like this? The mans words rang in Qiao Yues ears. Qiao Yue kept her mouth shut as the mans cattle prod moved closer to her. In an instant, the pain of electrocution ran through Qiao Yues body. She couldnt help but spat out blood, which shocked Trands men into looking at each other. Qiao Yue was in a bad shape. The injury on her ribs hadnt recovered, the stitches most likely broken when she was tossed around, and now shes been electrocuted. Pain spread all over her body, to the point of causing her chills. Just as Qiao Yue was feeling dizzy, Trands men suddenly tied her up again. Are we retreating? Someone who didnt understand asked. The person who carried her cursed and then said, Yes! The police have somehow found their way here! Boss told us to take him and leave immediately. Qiao Yues lips curled up slightly when she heard the conversation between the two men. Not bad, Chu Jia acted rather quickly. Although Qiao Yue couldnt see through the blindfold, she felt Trands breath when she was put in the car. Boss has already asked them to change thending site of the ne. We need to get to B-City as soon as possible and leave the country tonight! Qiao Yue heard a voiceing from her left. Trand acknowledged with a mutter and didnt say anything else. This time, the atmosphere in the car felt way more tense than before. Everyone was a bundle of nerves, afraid for their lives. After some thought, Qiao Yue understood the change in Trands attitude. He thought that he had shrugged off the police and the assassins, and had even caught her, but the police still tracked him down How could he not be afraid? Boss, the police are too quick. I suspect Before Trands subordinate could finish, everyone understood what he was saying, that the mole among them were still with them. Impossible. Trand disagreed immediately. If we dont have a mole, then In an instant, Qiao Yue felt pairs of eyes on her. Feeling that she had been exposed, Qiao Yue held a de to Trands neck in the blink of an eye. Dont move, Qiao Yue held the de to Trands neck with one hand while removing her blindfold with the other. Trands face was gloomy as he looked into Qiao Yues smiling eyes. But weve search you earlier Before Trand could finish his sentence, he saw Qiao Yues bloody arm, and his eyes were filled with horror. You actually Before Trand could finish, Qiao Yues de was so close to cutting him that he shut up. Its my turn now, stop the car. Qiao Yue ordered the driver while holding Trand hostage. With Trand as her hostage, Qiao Yue was not afraid that his men would disobey her. The car slowed to a stop and Qiao Yue grabbed Trand and got out of the car. This was herst chance; she wouldnt let Trand escape again. Besides, Trand knew about her mother. Although Trand was being held hostage by Qiao Yue, his words were still arrogant. Ive underestimated you, Number 47. What now? Did you capture me to get a reward? If you want money, I have loads of it. I can give you money. I can also let you leave safely, but you must guarantee my safety. Qiao Yue looked at the people who were pointing their guns at her and said, Tell me! How much will you give me? Qiao Yue didnt really want the money, but since Trand joked with her like this, shed y along. 1 billion in C-Country currency. Itll guarantee you a carefree life for the rest of your days. You will no longer need to live a life of wounds and injuries. Trand offered immediately. Qiao Yue chuckled. Your life is a little cheap, isnt it? You are an international drug and human trafficker, and you are worth a mere 1 billion? Trand was just joking at first. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to negotiate with him. Now that she did, he started to wonder if Qiao Yue even wanted the money. Ill double it, and I promise that as long as you dont bother me again, my people will not touch you. Chapter 156 - 156 Mission Failure 156 Mission Failure Interesting offer, but I still have something to ask you. Qiao Yue said as she retreated while holding Trand hostage. Seeing Qiao Yue waver, Trands expression rxed. What is it? I want to know whats this key you are talking about. How is it rted to my mother? Qiao Yue asked. You really dont know? Trand still couldnt believe it. It seemed that this thing was truly important. Its a document about a few international organizations. It should be with your mother. Trand replied. They were near a wooded area now. Qiao Yue was confident that if she got Trand into the woods, she could make his disappear forever. Just as the two sides were standing off, sounds of approaching cars were heard. Qiao Yue frowned and pulled Trand hard, trying to hide in the woods. However, with strength that came from nowhere, Trand disregarded the wound on his neck and elbowed Qiao Yue suddenly in the chest. Qiao Yues wound was hit, causing her to spit out a mouthful of blood. As Trand broke free, Trands men shot at Qiao Yue despite the dangers of being discovered. Qiao Yue had no choice but to run into the woods. There were pursuers behind them and Trands men didnt want to fight. After Trand got into the car, they sped off quickly. Qiao Yue leaned against a tree and squatted. She was dizzy due to the excessive blood loss. A sharp pain came from her chest and Qiao Yue felt her vision go ck, and she gradually lost consciousness. However, before she fell unconscious, she didnt know if it was an illusion, but she saw an unexpected person. Meanwhile, Chu Jia started tracking Qiao Yue after she heard back from YQ. She and the police arrived sessively at the site of Qiao Yue and Trands stand-off. Chu Jia noticed tire tracks on the ground and quickly got Stone to stop the car. Whats wrong? We are not giving chase? Stone asked in confusion. Chu Jia shook her head. The tire tracks here are messy, but the police went straight after them. I think they must have stopped here. There is only one reason Trand would stop here. Youre saying that it might be boss? Stone was enlightened. Chu Jia nodded. Its very likely. Now that YQ has lost track of boss and the police are in hot pursuit of Trand, we might be discovered if we follow them. After listening to Chu Jias analysis, Stone frowned. So, we can only wait now? Stone asked uneasily. Sister Chu, Brother Stone, theres blood here. Come and look! When Chu Jia and Stone got out of the car just now, the others also got out and looked around. If one didnt look carefully in the dark, they wouldnt have noticed that there was a blood trail on the ground beside the car. Chu Jia and Stone looked at each other and quickly walked over. The few of them followed the blood trail until they came to a tree. Chu Jias shone her shlight up the tree trunk and saw a very clear, bloody handprint. Stone punched the tree, his face full of regret. He should have read the message their boss sent him just now. Its on him that they didnt know if their boss was dead or alive! Boss should be fine. Stone said this but even he didnt believe his own words. Chu Jia looked around and saw the worry and confusion on everyones faces. She took a deep breath and said, Boss should be fine. When has boss not ovee danger all these years? Besides, you guys know what boss is capable of. Why are you afraid? At times like this, everyone could be confused, but not Chu Jia. There was once when their boss was seriously injured. Everyone thought that Qiao Yue would not make it, including Chu Jia. At that time, Qiao Yue had entrusted all her men to Chu Jia before she fell unconscious. Although Qiao Yue had nned to leave the organization to set up her own shop, it was far from where they were now. Hence, she told Chu Jia to stay calm and take things one at a time. When Qiao Yue was injured then, Zhou Lan, Lu Ying and the senior Dr. Lu treated her non-stop for two whole days before they pulled her back from hell. Chu Jia remembered everything that Qiao Yue told her before she fell unconscious back then. Stone looked at Chu Jia and then at the people around them. He understood what Chu Jia meant and supplemented, Thats right, why is everyone so dejected? Lets hurry back. Maybe boss is already waiting for us there. With that, Stone took the lead and walked back to the car. Chu Jia also herded everyone back to the car. Chapter 157 - 157 Secret Uncovered 157 Secret Uncovered On the top floor of Jingsheng Hotel next to the Qiao Corporation in A-City, Qiao Jing looked at the pale-faced person in bed with a troubled expression. Whether it was from past conversations with Qiao Yue or Qiao Yues unusual behavior, Qiao Jing was sure that Qiao Yue was no ordinary person. But he did not expect Qiao Yue to be involved with drug dealers wanted by the police. The only saving grace was that based on Qiao Yues behavior, she wasnt on the same side as drug dealers. Qiao Jing sighed as he sat by Qiao Yues bed. With heartache in his eyes, Qiao Jiang moved his hand from Qiao Yues forehead to her pale lips. Qiao Yue was out of the woods now, and Qiao Jing had learned from the doctor that his fifth brother was actually his fifth sister. He didnt think much about it when he took Qiao Yue to the hotel to get a private doctor to treat her. It was just that Qiao Yue had bullet wounds on her and it would be hard to exin if he brought her to a hospital. He didnt expect to uncover such a secret. Qiao Yue was seriously injured this time. Her ribs hadnt fully recovered, and she had been electrocuted. But Qiao Yues injuries werent limited to these. There was also an eight or nine-centimeter wound on her arm. After the doctors examination, the cut seemed to have originated from under her skin. Qiao Jing couldnt imagine what could have caused Qiao Yue such serious injuries. But when he saw Qiao Yue covered in blood, he couldnt breathe. Qiao Jing studied Qiao Yue for a moment before he took out his phone and dialed a number. Have you found out anything about Qiao Yue? Im sorry, Brother Jing. I havent found any information on Master Yue. Qiao Jing couldnt help but frown when he heard this over the phone. Not only hadnt they found more information on Qiao Yue, they still thought that Qiao Yue was a boy. Even so, Qiao Jing did not stop the person and said, Continue with the investigation. Focus on KA. Yes, Brother Jing. Qiao Jing walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at the night sky. He was only suspicious of Qiao Yues abnormal actions tonight and asked the police to keep a look out. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to go Yayi Club, which the police had been watching. He knew that Qiao Yue was a conservator-restorer at Yayi. He had his suspicions, but he didnt expect Qiao Yue to be involved in so many things. Without familiar scents around her, Qiao Yue frown in bed and mumbled Mom. In her dream, Qiao Yue saw her mother. She could see her mothers figure clearly and it looked exactly like in the photo. She wanted to ask her mother what key Trand was talking about but she could only open her mouth; no sound came out. She watched her mother walk from the study to the living room. There was a girl ying on the foam mat in the living room. When the little girl saw her mother, she quickly threw herself into her mothers arms. Oh my goodness! Did my little Yueyue gain weight again? How much did you eat today? The mother asked the girl with a smile. I didnt gain any weight! Yueyue is very light! The girl puffed up her cheeks and answered angrily. The mother smiled and poked the girls face. Okay, okay, okay. If my Yueyue says shes not heavy, shes not heavy. Come, let Mom give you a hug. Hearing her mothers words, the little girl beamed and snuggled into her mothers arms. Mom, do you think my painting looks good? The girl held up a painting of random colors to her mother, as if she was showing off a masterpiece. The mother pretended to admire the painting for a few seconds before she asked, Yueyue, whats this blue thing? The girl chuckled and pointed at the blue area. This is Dad! The white one is Mom, and the yellow one is me. The mother smiled gently and asked the girl why she used these three colors. The little girl blinked herrge eyes and said seriously, Mom said that Yueyue hasnt seen Dad because Dads job is to protect many people. Although Yueyue cant see Dad, Dad is always protecting us. So, Dad is the sky. We can see him but cant touch him. The mother was stunned for a moment, and she looked at the little girl with heartache. Im so sorry, Yueyue. Mom will tell Dad and ask him toe back and see us when he has time. The little girl nodded obediently. Mom must also let Dad know that Yueyue misses him very much. Chapter 158 - 158 Blessed 158 Blessed A tear ran down Qiao Yues face. She had forgotten these things. Looking at her mothers beautiful face, Qiao Yue mouth the word mom. Coincidentally, her mother turned her head to face her When Qiao Yue opened her eyes again, she was in a hospital. Her gaze moved from the snow-white ceiling to the side of her bed. Zhou Lan was sound asleep by her bed. Massaging her forehead, Qiao Yue try to remember everything that had happened. Wasnt she in the woods? Why was she in a hospital now? Did someone save her? Feeling Qiao Yues movements, Zhou Lan fuzzily opened her eyes. Seeing that Qiao Yue was awake, Zhou Lan was stunned for a moment before surprise filled her eyes. Youre awake! Qiao Yue touched her aching ribs and asked, How did I end up in a hospital? Im also not sure, Zhou Lan replied with a confused expression. What do you mean? Qiao Yue asked with a frown. After thinking for a moment, Zhou Lan recounted how she picked up Qiao Yue. Qiao Yues brows furrowed even more. You are saying that an unknown number called you and asked you to pick me up from the hotel? Yes! When I got there, your injuries had already been treated. I was worried, so I brought you to the hospital for re-examination. Zhou Lan then started to scold Qiao Yue, chiding her for putting herself in danger when she hadnt even fully recover from her previous injuries. Qiao Yue didnt dare to make a sound. Suddenly, the figure Qiao Yue saw before she fainted appeared in her mind. She shook her head. She must have been seeing things. How could she have seen Qiao Jing in the woods? Because of Qiao Yues repeated injuries, she had no choice but to be hospitalized again. To the outside world, she had identally fallen when she was out at night. Among the many visitors, Qiao Jings gaze made Qiao Yue particrly uneasy. Speaking of her visitors, Stone had to be mentioned. When Chu Jia, Stone and the rest sneaked into the hospital to see her, Stone, a man over 1.8 meters tall, stared at her with red eyes. Qiao Yue was also helpless. She cleared her throat and exined, Im fine. Im hospitalized because I aggravated my previous injuries. Qiao Yues words were like the opening of floodgates for Stone. His voice was a little choked as he said, Boss, how could you put yourself at risk like that? There was so much blood at the scene, we thought that Stone stopped halfway through his sentence. Chu Jia stood silently by the side, looking at Qiao Yue with using eyes. Of course, there were also other people in the room with them. With so many pairs of eyes staring at her, Qiao Yue couldnt help but feel guilty. Im sorry! It was an emergency. I was afraid that Trand would escape, so I had to. Chu Jias gaze sharpened as she asked, Boss, then did you catch him? Qiao Yues face froze. Chu Jia really knew how to poke at her sore spot. But the risk-taking did have some effect, didnt it? If it wasnt for her, how could the police have caught up so quickly? Seeing Qiao Yue being lectured mercilessly, Zhou Lan tried to smooth things over, Alright now, stop the lecturing! Shes still the boss. Lets give her some face. Qiao Yue was still fine if Zhou Lan hadnt opened her mouth. After she said that, Qiao Yue wished that she could crawl into a hole and die. Although Qiao Yue had been embarrassed, Zhou Lans attempt to ease the atmosphere worked. Everyones expressions got more pleasant, and there was no more talk about the incident. Boss, now that Trand has been arrested by the police, should we break him out or just leave him be? Chu Jia asked. Qiao Yue had already seen the news about Trands arrest; she had also vacited about what to do. After two encounters, Qiao Yue was also very tired of Trand. If not for the fact that Trand knew about her mother, Qiao Yue wanted to have nothing to do with this man. Boss? Chu Jia called out in a strange tone when she saw Qiao Yue in a daze. Qiao Yue snapped out of her daze. Leave things be for now. Lets see if he can escape this time. Qiao Yues words were sinister, making some of her team members look at each other. By the way, boss, do you have any impression of the person who saved you? Chu Jia asked. Qiao Yue shook her head. Although she seemed to have seen Qiao Jing, it was probably just an illusion. Chu Jia sighed. Boss, its a good thing you met a good Samaritan. With the amount of blood you lost, you might not have been able to with until we arrived. Qiao Yue chuckled. She was very blessed indeed. Chapter 159 - 159 The Feeling of Guilt 159 The Feeling of Guilt Qiao Yues rescue was glossed over. Qiao Yues people knew how to read her. They knew that she didnt want to talk about it, so they stopped asking. YQ had investigated the unknown number called Zhou Lan, but it turned out to be a bogus number. They could not find any useful information. After everyone left, Zhou Lan left a few reminders before she went back to work. Qiao Yue stared nkly at her phone for a while before she sent a message to YQ, asking him to look into Qiao Jiang. She felt that the way Qiao Jing looked at her was significant. Qiao Yues hospitalization this time was for a longer period because of her ribs plus arm injuries. Qiao Jing had also kept a closer eye on her. Two caregivers took turns looking after her every day, and she had to inform them of her whereabouts whenever she left the ward. Looking at the falling snow outside the window, Qiao Yue sighed and turned her gaze to the caregiver by her bed. I say, little miss pretty, you dont have to sit next to me all the time, right? I cant run away. Qiao Yue looked at the caregiver helplessly. The caregiver who was peeling an apple looked up and said to Qiao Yue, Master Yue, Master Jing said that you get into trouble all the time and asked me to keep an eye on you. The corner of Qiao Yues mouth twitched. She was bored out of her brains being locked up. She wanted to go out and move around, but why must there be someone tailing her? I just want to go out for a walk. Im just downstairs. You dont have to follow me. Qiao Yue said to the caregiver with a hopeful face. The caregiver shook her head firmly. Just as she was about to say something, someone pushed the door open and entered. No. The persons short and simple answer instantly dashed Qiao Yues hopes. Qiao Yue looked at her visitor and called out softly, Brother. Qiao Jing walked to her bedside with a cold expression, his eyes sharp. Are you nning to go out again? Qiao Yue gulped. No, Im just talking nonsense. Ever since she was injured that night, Qiao Yue had felt guilty whenever she saw Qiao Jing. Seeing Qiao Yues dejected look, the coldness in Qiao Jings eyes receded a little as he walked to her bedside. Your rib injury has been aggravated. If you dont want to be bedridden for the rest of your life, youd better rest properly, Qiao Jing said. Alright, Qiao Yue replied in a muffled voice. Seeing Qiao Yues still dejected look, Qiao Jing changed the subject. Big brother and Grandpa wille back tomorrow. You can recuperate at home then! Qiao Jings tone softened. But before Qiao Yue could cheer, Qiao Jing continued, If you run away again, Ill re-admit you. Okay! Qiao Yue replied with her cheeks puffed. Qiao Yues face made Qiao Jing want to pat her on the head, but he resisted the urge. Help him pack his things. Qiao Jing said to the caregiver before he turned to Qiao Yue and said, Ill wait for you outside. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly when she heard this. Why did her brother suddenly want to wait for her outside today? Didnt he always wait in the ward? Qiao Yue was stunned only for a few seconds before she nodded. Whether Qiao Jing was in the room or not, she would change in the bathroom. When Qiao Yue arrived home, she found the rest of the Qiao family there. Qiao Yu looked Qiao Yue up and down, shook his head, and walked up to her with his walking stick. You just went to the teachers house for tuition and you fell down the stairs? How stupid are you? Qiao Yus words were filled with schadenfreude. Qiao Yue rolled her eyes at him and kicked his leg, causing Qiao Yu to grimace in pain. Qiao Ze did not care that the person who was kicked was his biological brother from the same parents andughed out loud. Serves you right! Thats what you get for mocking Xiao Yue! Qiao Ze then turned to Qiao Yue and said, Xiao Yue, Im hardly home. Watch a movie with me tonight? Qiao Zes words reminded Qiao Yue of something painful. She was about to decline when Qiao Ze added, I dont want to watch a movie like the previous one! Well watch a nicer movie this time. I guarantee that you wont regret watching it! When Qiao Yue was injured for the first time, Qiao Ze flew back immediately to see her. However, his schedule was so tight that he was taken away by his manager in less than two hours. Qiao Yue gave Qiao Ze a suspicious nce. She was curious about the kind of movie that Qiao Ze said she would never regret watching. She was about to agree when Qiao Jing interjected, He hasnt recovered from his injuries, so he cant stay upte. Chapter 160 - 160 Special Treatment 160 Special Treatment Qiao Ze looked at Qiao Jing unhappily, but Qiao Jing met his eyes with an indifferent gaze. Qiao Ze tsked and said to Qiao Yue, Looks like well have to watch it another day. Xiao Yue, its not because Im listening to him. Im doing this for you. Qiao Yue burst intoughter at Qiao Zes yful banter and nodded. Yes, I know that third brother treats me the best. It was clearly a perfunctory remark, but it altered the three mens expressions at the same time. Qiao Ze was grinning from ear to ear. Qiao Yu snorted to express his dissatisfaction. Qiao Jing, who was standing behind Qiao Yue, stared thoughtfully at the person in the wheelchair. Ill take Xiao Yue upstairs first. Qiao Yu,e to my studyter. Qiao Jing said as he pushed Qiao Yue toward the second floor. !! On the way upstairs, Qiao Yue could sense Qiao Jings bad mood but she couldnt figure out what she had done to upset him. After entering Qiao Yues room, Qiao Jing silently picked her up and put her on the bed. He then picked up a book from her bedside table. Brother, you! Qiao Yue pointed at Qiao Jing with a trembling finger. Qiao Jing looked up nonchntly. Whats wrong? Qiao Yue cleared her throat. Brother, are you going to read some more? Bedtime story, Qiao Jing flipped through the book with his smiling eyes lowered. Qiao Yue scrunched up her face. She really didnt want to listen to it anymore. She had already heard this book twice during herst recuperation. However, her brother said that since she had heard it, she must have learned something and asked her to write it down. Her brother had thought too highly of her. Even if she had an outstanding memory, she couldnt y this game! She would have fallen asleep while listening! Brother, I dont want to hear any bedtime stories. Im going to sleep now. Ill fall asleep in a second. Hearing this, Qiao Jing no longer wanted to hide the smile in his eyes and looked straight at Qiao Yue. Why dont we try another book? Qiao Jing picked up another book from the bedside table as he spoke. Qiao Yue quickly held Qiao Jings hand and said, Brother, whats wrong with you? Didnt we agree that there would be no more bedtime stories? The sudden soft touch on his hand made Qiao Jings body freeze, but he quickly recovered. He stared at Qiao Yue and said, I dont think I treat you well enough. I have to do better. Huh? Qiao Yue didnt know what he meant and stared nkly at Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing proceeded to grab a book, but Qiao Yue seemed to be suddenly enlightened. She said quickly, You already treat me well! Very well! In this family, brother is the nicest to me! Oh? Really? Qiao Jing cocked an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. Qiao Yue nodded quickly and exined, When I first came, brother reprimanded Qiao Xin because of me. You were worried that I didnt have enough money and gave me a ck card. When others thought that I would embarrass the Qiao family by attending Harvey, you believed in me. And then at the club Qiao Yue didnt think that she would remember so many nice things that Qiao Jing had done for her. But when she told him all these things, she suddenly realized that Qiao Jing had always been looking out for her silently. He attended to her growth but never limited her. He knew that she had other identities, even the special ones. But he never made things difficult for her but getting to the bottom of these identities. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes and said herst words, Brother, in the Qiao family, youre really the person who treats me best. Qiao Jing just wanted to tease Qiao Yue. Although he was a little unhappy when he heard Qiao Yue say that Qiao Ze treated her the best, it would seem petty if he made a fuss over such a small matter. When Qiao Yue talked about him, he listened with a smile in his eyes. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to remember everything so clearly. What surprised him even more was that he wasnt even aware when he started paying so much attention to Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing looked at the person sitting on the bed with aplicated expression. When Qiao Yue raised her head to look at him, Qiao Jing clearly felt his heart pound. Qiao Yues eyes were so gentle that Qiao Jing felt his heart never calm down again. Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted their locked eyes. Second brother, are you still in Xiao Yues room? Qiao Yus voice came from outside the door. Qiao Jing cleared his throat before he said to Qiao Yue, Have a good rest. Ill take my leave now. Chapter 161 - 161 Homecoming of Old Master Qiao 161 Homing of Old Master Qiao Because of the information Trand had provided, Qiao Yue wanted to continue with the investigation immediately but the old masters trip home disrupted her ns. Homing of Old Master Qiao. By right, the whole family should be there to wee him but Qiao Que was injured and it was inconvenient for her to go to the airport. Qiao Yu, Qiao Ying and all had also school, so the responsibility of picking up the old master fell on the first and the third madams. Naturally, Qiao Jing had to be there as well. ording to Qiao Yu, Qiao Jing wanted to fly the old master back using a private jet, but the old master thought that it was too ostentatious and refused. Qiao Yue wheeled herself to a floor-to-ceiling window. From there, shed be able to see them the moment they came home. Trand had told her that her mother had documents about several international organizations. Although her mother grew up in the Qiao family, she was only an adopted daughter. Even if the Qiao family had documents about these organizations, they would not give them to her. After eliminating the possibilities, the only person who might give these things to her mother was Qiao Yues father. !! Considering her fathers job as a military instructor, Qiao Yue suspected that the documents contained information about these organizations crimes, hideouts, and such. However, she needed someone to confirm her suspicion. And that person was Old Master Qiao, her maternal grandfather. Qiao Yue sighed at the thought of this. From her grandfathers previous reaction, he didnt want her to investigate the matter but she couldnt back down now. Moreover, she had another suspicion, that these documents might be rted to her mothers exile and Qiao Xins im that her mother had stolen from the Qiao family. Seconds and minutes passed. After an hour, the few members of the Qiao family finally appeared at the door. Qiao Yue moved her wheelchair to meet them. Qiao Xuan and Old Master Qiao didnt look surprised when they saw Qiao Yue in a wheelchair. Qiao Jing must have told them everything on the way home. Old Master Qiaos eyes were filled with mixed emotions when he heard Qiao Jing exin the reason for Qiao Yues injuries. There was relief, but also disappointment, as if he had some other thoughts. Old Master Qiao asked Qiao Xuan to push him back to his room as he didnt want to see anyone else. Old Master Qiaos strange behavior confused Qiao Yue. When she saw Qiao Xuane out, she went up to him and asked, Big brother, whats wrong with Grandpa? Qiao Yue had a slight frown on her face. She didnt understand why the old masters attitude was so different when he saw her this time. Qiao Xuan walked to Qiao Yues wheelchair and patted her head with a smile. Its nothing. Maybe Grandpa is reminded of your mother. As soon as these words came out, the faces of the first and third madams of the Qiao family didnt look well. Back when Qiao Yues mother was still living at the Qiao residence, she was the one most doted on family member. She didnt look like she was adopted at all, more like a real little princess envied by many. They were all women from prominent families, but some of them became tools for marriage, while others were pampered like treasures and even found the man they liked. If it wasnt for what happenedter and Qiao Qings passing at such a young age, they wouldnt have let Qiao Yue return to the Qiao family. Qiao Yues eyes lit up when Qiao Xuan mentioned her mother. She asked quickly, Big brother, do you know my mother well? Qiao Xuan smiled and said, I know her a little, but not too well. Qiao Jing frowned and looked at his brother. He did not want Qiao Yue to get too involved in matters of the past. Qiao Xuan gave Qiao Jing aforting smile and pushed Qiao Yue into the study, without a care for the first and third madams, who were left looking at each other in the living room. The first madam looked at Qiao Jing and frowned. The third madam looked calm on the outside but was panicking inside. When she first married into the Qiao family, she hated Qiao Qing and often secretly made things difficult for her. Although the old master didnt know, Qiao Xuan had heard about it a few times. She didnt know if Qiao Xuan would still remember what happened so long ago. Qiao Xuan pushed Qiao Yue to desk in the study and sat across from her. Qiao Yue looked into Qiao Xuans kind eyes and suddenly didnt know where to start. She wanted to know what documents her mother had, what kind of life she had in the Qiao family, and most of all, what the man she had run off with was like. Chapter 162 - 162 Mother, Qiao Qing 162 Mother, Qiao Qing Qiao Xuan could tell that Qiao Yue needed to figure out where to start, so he took the initiative. When Auntie left home, I was young and inexperienced. But in my memory, Auntie was a very gentle person. Hearing Qiao Xuans words about her mother, Qiao Yues eyes brightened, and she revealed a beautiful smile. She looked at Qiao Xuan, hoping he would say more. A soft smile touched Qiao Xuans lips as he recalled his few memories of his aunt. Even though he did not remember much because of how young he was, this aunt of his left a profound impression on him. She was a woman in love. His aunt, Qiao Yues mother, was just like her name. There was a warmth to her that few couldpare. She was like the sun on an early summers day, and all who met her basked in her afterglow. Qiao Yues mother was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, so much so that he had unconsciouslypared all the girls who had appeared by his side to his aunt. It was not that he had feelings for his aunt beyond family, but after seeing the sea, streams, andkes, he would always think of her. Such was the impression she left on him as a child. !! Qiao Yue listened to Qiao Xuans story, and her eyes grew dim with a bitter light. Ever since she returned to the Qiao family, she had heard nderous words, painting her mother in the dark robes of viiny. As much as she wanted to call them out for nder, she could not, which ate away at her heart. It was unbearable. Big Brother, did my mother steal something and get kicked out of the house, or did she run away? Who was the person she eloped with? Qiao Yues red-rimmed eyes pleaded with earnest hope as she spoke to Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan was stunned by Qiao Yues question. He opened his mouth and closed it again as if he was considering his words. I dont know much about this matter. Auntie left with her lover and returned to the family a few yearster. It was only afterwards that rumours spread of things being stolen. Rumors? Qiao Yuetched onto Qiao Xuans words like a bloodhound tracking its prey. Qiao Xuan nodded. Grandpa said that Auntie did not steal anything. The facts aligned insofar as their grandfather telling them the same things. Since that was the case, it was likely to be the truth. Big Brother, you said my mother left with the person she loved, but you never mentioned that she eloped. What do you mean? Why would Grandpa kick her out of the house if she didnt elope or steal anything? Qiao Yue asked in confusion. Qiao Xuan sighed. This was a topic he had a little more knowledge of. On the day his aunt left, his grandfather locked himself in his room for a long time, and when he came out, his eyes were red and puffy. He remembered asking his grandfather if his aunt would return, but he did not answer. Instead, the old man said, Dont speak of your aunt anymore. Just treat it as if she disappeared! Although he was still young at that time, he could still hear the reluctance and helplessness in his grandfathers voice. It was not that his grandfather had driven his aunt away but that his aunt had no choice but to leave to save the family from trouble. Qiao Xuan told Qiao Yue everything he knew. Silence fell upon the room. Big Brother, have you seen my father? Qiao Yue asked after a long time. Qiao Xuan shook his head slightly. Ive never met your father. The confirmation of something she had known all along caused Qiao Yues heart to sink into the abyss. Her father was too mysterious, and if he were who she thought he would be, then it was not an identity she dared believe to be real. While she had never really thought about her father, she still hoped he was alive. It was a strangebination of factors that derailed her investigations. Now, she did not dare dig further into his identity. She was afraid of the truth she would have to confront. Qiao Yueforted herself with the knowledge that the likelihood of her father being alive was infinitesimally small. Xiao Yue? Seeing Qiao Yues dazed silence, Qiao Xuan could not help but call out. Qiao Yue returned to her senses, looking up at Qiao Xuan with her red eyes. Qiao Xuan was stunned. He subconsciously got up tofort Qiao Yue but did not know what to say. After all, Qiao Yue had not said anything. After a long while, Qiao Yue spoke in a hoarse voice, Thank you, Big Brother. N-no need to be so polite. The longer Qiao Yue remained silent, the more uneasy Qiao Xuan felt. Even the usually mild-mannered and calm Qiao Xuan could not help but feel flustered. Having seen Qiao Yues mischievous smile, it was hard to reconcile the image with the young woman seated before him. For such a carefree person to suddenly look so cynical It left him at a loss. Qiao Yue smiled faintly even as she tried and failed to dispel Qiao Xuans concerns. She could not make any other expressions right now. Chapter 163 - 163 The Gentle Qiao Jing 163 The Gentle Qiao Jing Big Brother, Ill go back to my room first. Im a little tired. Qiao Yue said softly, her voice a hoarse tremble. Alright, Ill send you back, Qiao Xuan said. No, thats alright. Im fine, Big Brother. I-I want some time alone Qiao Yue wheeled herself around and left the study. Qiao Xuan wanted to follow but stopped. Outside her room, Qiao Yue met Qiao Jing. He was waiting by the door. Qiao Yue subconsciously turned away to hide her sorry state from him. Whats wrong? Qiao Jings question hung in the air, not as cold as it usually was. Warmth emanated from Qiao Yues heart, and she felt a sting in her eyes. Its nothing. Without looking at Qiao Jing, Qiao Yue slowly rolled her wheelchair into her room. Just as she was about to close the door, a hand reached in, stopping her. Fortunately, Qiao Yue had not forced the door shut; otherwise, Qiao Jings hand would have been clipped by ident. Qiao Yue huffed in annoyance, asking, Brother, what are you doing? With his hand through the door, Qiao Jing squeezed in through the narrow gap. Qiao Yue would have been impressed on any other day, but she was not in the mood today. Since Qiao Jing was already in her room, Qiao Yue did not bother trying to stop him. She manoeuvred her wheelchair over to the bookshelf and picked a book to read. It was a habit Qiao Yue developed whenever she faced things she found too difficult to handle. While reading, few people would interrupt to get her attention. She was the sort to brute force solutions to her problems, even if it meant driving her further to a dead end. Hence, she developed this coping mechanism. Qiao Yue knew it was not the healthiest solution, but it was the best she could manage when all others seemed to reaffirm the prickling thorns that wound their way around her heart. A hand relieved the token shield she bore, stealing the book from her hands. Qiao Yue looked up and met Qiao Jings dark eyes, regarding her in solemn silence. A word came unbidden to her lips, Brother. If something is bothering you, dont bottle it up. Speak. Let it all out. Although Qiao Jing appeared calm, concern lined his features and came through in his words. Qiao Yue clenched her fists, digging her nails into the palm of her hands. She just wanted to be alone. She never asked for anyones sympathy. So why did Qiao Jing have to force his way into her world when she wanted nothing more than some time to herself? Qiao Jing knelt,ing eye-level with Qiao Yue, and gently covered her eyes in hisrge hands. If you want to cry, cry. Dont hold it in. Qiao Jing wore down Qiao Yues psychological defences again and again. Finally, Qiao Yue could no longer hold it in. Her eyes went dark, and hot tears drew rivulets down her parched cheeks. As she cried, Qiao Jings hand remained a firm fixture over her face. Only when Qiao Yue pulled away did Qiao Jing turn around to get a few pieces of tissue paper. Qiao Yue felt much better. She had always been alone, wondering if her father had passed away like her mother, the fear bred by uncertainty a constant in her life. Still, she held onto the illusion, that tiny ember of hope, only for it to be crushed mercilessly. The pain and sadness she had repressed for years reared their head andshed out with reckless abandon. Qiao Jing patted Qiao Yue on her head, asking softly, Do you feel better? Qiao Yue flushed in embarrassment, recalling how she had broken down earlier. She cleared her throat and levelled a question back at him. Brother, arent you going to ask me what happened? Youll tell me if you want to, Qiao Jing replied. Qiao Yue pursed her lips and said, I heard about my mother and father. Qiao Yue looked at the floor as she spoke, so she did not see Qiao Jings frown upon hearing her mention her father. Your father? Qiao Jing echoed. Yes My father is too mysterious. Qiao Xuan said hes never met my father, but that doesnt mean you havent, have you? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Jing hummed in agreement and did not say anything else. He merely listened as Qiao Yue recounted her childhood. Qiao Yue was thankful for the listening ear. She had buried so many things in her heart over the years that they spilt over in an unceasing torrent. What was left was numbing exhaustion that reached into her bones. While she spoke much about her past, there were some secrets she did not reveal. Still, what little she shared of her childhood managed to ease the burdens she had shouldered alone for so long. Chapter 164 - 164 The Qiao Family’s Genes 164 The Qiao Familys Genes Qiao Jing was a good listener. He did not interrupt Qiao Yue while she was speaking, but neither did he make it seem she was talking to thin air. By the time Qiao Yue finished, it was already evening. One of the familys butlers knocked on the door, informing them that dinner was ready. He invited them downstairs for dinner in the dining room. The Old Master had returned earlier that day, so the whole family was present. When Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing made their way downstairs, they heard the head butler rting news of the Qiao brothers to the Old Master. The Old Master had three sons. They were named Qiao Ren, Qiao Yi, and Qiao Li. The one who had caused amotion in the ward was the Old Masters second son, Qiao Yi. One would expect sons of the Old Master to be wise and virtuous under his strict upbringing, yet, for all the good he tried to instill in them, they all turned wayward. Qiao Ren should have been an honest and simple man, judging by the name he was given. Instead, he continually rued romantic debts wherever he went. His marriage with the First Madam was strictly business-rted, and only the first two years of their marriage showed any promise. After Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing, Qiao Ren indulged in debauchery, failing to fulfill his duties as a father. !! It was not that the Old Master did not care about what his eldest son was doing; rather, that rascal had fled so quickly that there was nothing he could do to discipline him. The Old Masters second son, Qiao Yi, was so focused on his business because he did not want to be outdone by his highly capable wife. Qiao Yis wife rose to his challenge and followed him wherever he went, leaving her two children at home without anyone to care for them. Meanwhile, Qiao Li, the vice president of the Qiao familys enterprise locally, had not returned to the country in a few months because of pressing business overseas. While Qiao Li was not as rebellious or strong-willed as his two older brothers, he was mediocre. He did not excel in any field, which often made the Old Master sigh in disappointment. Perhaps it was due to these threecking sons that the Old Master liked Qiao Yues mother, Qiao Qing, best. The Qiao familys genes were strange in that way. While all three of the Old Masters sons were disasters of different scales, his grandchildren were each more capable than thest. There were times the Old Master wondered if it was precisely these absent parents that the children of his first and second sons were so sensible. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu, who were looking at their phones. Qiao Yue could scarcely believe that Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu were Qiao Yis sons. Now a middle-aged man, Qiao Yues uncle, Qiao Yi, had dined on the excesses of women and alcohol and wasrgely out of shape. Although Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu were not what could be described as normal, they were still somewhat reliable and did not seem to be heading in the same direction as their father. The head butler informed the Old Master that Qiao Ren would be back in three days, while Qiao Yi and Qiao Li would arrive tomorrow. The old man waved his hand uncaringly. He had long grown numb to the constant disappointment that was his three sons. If it were not for his capable grandsons supporting the Qiao family, he would not know who to pass on the mantle to in his old age. Parents of other children treated their sons and daughters as treasures, and their children reciprocated as a gesture of filial piety. Because of what the Old Masters sons and their wives had done, his four grandchildren treated their parents with indifference. Even though the Old Master did his best to fill the gap, it would never be enough to fill the hole they had left in his beloved grandchildrens lives. Having given his report to the Old Master, the head butler instructed the other attendants to serve dinner. The First Madam, Third Madam, Qiao Xin, and Qiao Ying sat on the Old Masters right, while Qiao Xuan, Qiao Yue, and the others sat to his left. Qiao Xuan would usually sit next to the Old Master. However, the old man had specifically asked Qiao Yue to sit beside him, so Qiao Xuan acquiesced and sat further away. While it was just a family dinner, that fact did not mean much in Qiao Xins eyes. She red at Qiao Yue as if trying to y her skin via force of will alone. It wasnt until someone nudged her arm that she reluctantly looked away. The mixed feelings of everyone at the table were clear. The Old Master would chat with Qiao Yue only to be interrupted every so often by Qiao Ze. Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing listened to the stilted conversations quietly. On the other hand, Qiao Yu remained conspicuously quiet throughout the meal. Qiao Yue had her fill of food while Qiao Xin stewed in anger. Qiao Xin could not understand why everyone seemed to like Qiao Yue. Even her grandfather was enamored! Why was her grandfather still so focused on her aunt, who had stolen and eloped from the family? Chapter 165 - 165 Herbal Cuisine 165 Herbal Cuisine Qiao Yue was genuinely happy that her grandfather had returned to the country so soon. As she had not stayed in S-country for long, she did not know what had caused him to fall into aa. Before she left, Qiao Yue had asked Lu Ying to remind Qiao Xuan to pay attention to the people around the old man. Seeing the old man hale and hearty, Qiao Yue deduced that Lu Ying did as she asked, passing on her message to Qiao Xuan. Qiao Yue had returned to the Qiao family to fulfil her mothersst wish. After meeting her grandfather in S-country, she felt she could face her mothers request with greater sincerity. She could tell that the old man loved her mother from the bottom of his heart; it was as if nothing her mother ever did could disappoint him. Now that the old man was back, taking care of his health was the highest of her priorities, followed by investigating the secrets surrounding her parents. It just so happened that she could not go to school and needed to recuperate at home. She could use this opportunity to ensure the old man had enough rest. With this n in mind, Qiao Yue got to work. She found a recipe in her free time to treat the root of the problem. As the saying goes, food is the fundamental force that drives the body. Pairing the recipe she found with her knowledge of Chinese medicine, Qiao Yue developed a meal n that she believed would help bolster the old mans health. It only took one night for Qiao Yue to devise the n. Her grandfather was recovering from a serious illness and needed to partake in nutritious food that would aid in his recovery. However, due to his age, a delicate bnce had to be struck. Too much was as bad as too little. Something mild would be best. The next morning, Qiao Yue stopped by the kitchen and asked the chef to prepare a few herbal dishes, asking him to add certain ingredients to enhance their taste. Qiao Xuan woke early and saw Qiao Yue following the chef into the kitchen as he was about to go on his morning run. Curious, he backtracked a little to see what was going on. What are you doing? The sudden question startled Qiao Yue. She turned around and met Qiao Xuans probing gaze. Big Brother, why are you up so early? Qiao Yue stuttered, dazzled by Qiao Xuans handsome features. Qiao Xuan was handsome in the ssical sense and ticked all the right boxes in Qiao Yues humble appreciation of masculinity. Facing the full brunt of it in the early morning light, Qiao Yue felt like she could gobble him up. I usually run in the morning. I try not to miss it when I have the time, Qiao Xuan chuckled as he answered Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue nodded, giving Qiao Xuan a thumbs up. As a doctor, Qiao Xuan was on call 24/7. Yet, he still took the time to ensure he remained fit. Qiao Yue was impressed. Even she had rxed from her gruelling workout sessions since returning to the Qiao family. Whether it was school or life with the Qiao family, it was all a vacation to her. A strong herbal aroma wafted out of the kitchen, drawing Qiao Xuans attention back to the topic. Youre up early. Are you visiting the kitchen for a before-breakfast snack? What are you going to have? Qiao Xuan asked. Qiao Yue did not expect Qiao Xuans next question and found herself at a loss for words. She stared at him for what was likely longer than strictly appropriate, but eventually, her faculties returned to her. Im not here for a snack! Grandpa has just recovered from a serious illness, and I wanted to see if we could prepare something herbal for him. Something herbal? Im surprised you so much. This time, it was Qiao Xuans turn to gape in shock, his star-lit eyes shing with mesmerising light. Fifth Young Miss, the congee is ready. Would you like to try it? Just as Qiao Xuan was about to continue, the chef interrupted. Qiao Yue grinned cheekily at Qiao Xuan and said, I know a little She pointed at the y pot. Would you like to try some? Qiao Xuan nodded with a smile. Of course, I have to try Xiao Yues porridge. Qiao Yues teeth glimmered, bright and pearly. I didnt cook it. I just asked the chef if he could make something using my recipe. Qiao Yue was not so shameless as to im someone elses work as her own. All she had was her understanding of Chinese medicine and some of its applications in meal preparation. For instance, the herbal food she had eaten in the hospital was a recipe she had given Lu Ying. Anything she touched seemed to turn into poison when she cooked. Qiao Yue still recalled her masters suffering as they tested the various recipes she prepared by hand. Qiao Xuan did not refute her. Upon eating a spoonful of porridge, his eyes lit up, and he praised, Its smooth and fragrant. Its really hard to make herbal cuisine ptable. Hearing Qiao Xuanspliment, Qiao Yue gave the chef her approval. Qiao Xuan nced at the small y pot and sighed. It looks like there wont be enough for everyone to eat today. Chapter 166 - 166 She May Have a Brain but It Is Nothing to Speak Of 166 She May Have a Brain but It Is Nothing to Speak Of Qiao Xuan was right; there was not enough for everyone. She had made sure of it. Herbal congee took a lot of work to make. Furthermore, the sheer variety of ingredients called for a precise amount to be used. It was a delicate bnce, which required using a specifically sized y pot with adequate thermal conductivity. Most y pots were not veryrge, so they helped concentrate the vours in a dish. This specificity gave the chef pause because he needed to look for a y pot that would fit Qiao Yues requirements. Moreover, the herbal porridge was based on a recipe meant to nourish the Old Masters body C it was not suited for general consumption. Even if she could tweak the recipe, why should she? Qiao Yue disliked the petty tricks of the third branch of the family and did not feel like making food for them to enjoy. Big Brother, why dont you ask Grandpa to give you some? Qiao Yues eyes formed twin crescents as she spoke. !! Qiao Xuan rapped Qiao Yue on the head. Its fine. Next time, dont forget to prepare enough for the rest of the family. The family was a sensitive topic for Qiao Yue, and considering what the First and Third Madams had done, Qiao Xuan could not me her. Still, it should not hurt to nudge her gently. Qiao Yues eyebrows shot to her hairline. Thatll depend on my mood. While the twoughed in the kitchen, they did not notice a figure watching them from a window nearby. Qiao Jing frowned as he considered the two. The air around him chilled in the early morning light. When had Qiao Yue and his brother grown so close? His fingers clenched, leaving deep marks on his palm, but Qiao Jing did not notice. At breakfast, Qiao Yue sat next to the old man once again. To her surprise, Qiao Xin did not re at her; she merely stared at her food, refusing to meet her in the eye. A nce at the breakfastid out was enough for the Old Master to note the difference. Immediately, he asked one of the servants why breakfast was not as usual. Without waiting for the servant to respond, Qiao Xuan said, Xiao Xue prepared some herbal porridge for you, Grandpa. You made this? The old man seemed to ask, curious to know what Qiao Xuan meant. Qiao Yue shot Qiao Xuan a look, shaking her head helplessly. Grandpa, Big Brothers words arent urate. The chef cooked the porridge. I merely gave him the recipe. What recipe? The old man asked. Qiao Yue smiled. I know a little about herbal cuisine. Grandpa, youre still recovering from that illness, so I asked the chef to prepare something mild but nourishing. The Old Master beamed, quite pleased by Qiao Yues thoughtfulness. However, before he could praise Qiao Yue, the Third Madam interrupted, I didnt know you knew much about herbal cuisine. When did you be so knowledgeable? Qiao Yues smile faded as she turned to the Third Madam. Is there a problem? The Third Madam was more experienced than Qiao Xin and could hide her vicious edge behind a mask of civility. She offered Qiao Yue a warm and gentle smile. Qiao Yue is a dutiful child. Its good she prepared breakfast early while thinking about you. However, Im concerned that this herbal porridge might be too nourishing for you. Youve just recovered. It isnt a good idea to eat something too strong for your body to handle. Qiao Yue eyed the Third Madam expressionlessly, wondering how long she would continue this charade. While it might seem like she was praising her on the surface, the underlying note to her words was an implicit criticism. Filial to a fault but only insofar as one allowed themselves to be drawn into her cunning web of ill-intentioned schemes. The Third Madam probably did not even care about the Old Masters health; she merely wanted to appear as if she cared. Qiao Yue lowered her eyes, a self-satisfied smirk sprawling across her face. The Third Madam may have a brain, but it was nothing to write home about since she scarcely used it. Did she forget Qiao Xuan had spoken up on her behalf? As expected, Qiao Xuan intervened. Dont worry, Third Aunt. Ive reviewed all the ingredients used in Xiao Yues herbal dishes. They wont affect Grandfathers body. The ingredients are warm and nourishing, but they are still mild enough to be safe for Grandfather to consume. The Third Madams expression froze. Ah, Im d you were involved in the process, Xiao Xuan. I was worried. The Third Madam had thought Qiao Yue had found a recipe or two from the inte and wanted to use it to curry favour with the old man. The fact that Qiao Xuan had curated them already meant they were safe. Not only would this gesture alleviate any suspicions the Old Master might have towards Qiao Yue in the future, but it would also serve as a reminder of her attentiveness. Who would have thought Qiao Xuan would check the ingredients? This time, the Third Madam acknowledged that she had shot herself in the foot. The Old Master nodded in relief and patted Qiao Yue on her shoulder, Alright, lets have breakfast. Although he could smell the fragrant aroma filling the air, the old man had thought the porridge would be the same as what he had eaten in the hospital. That porridge may have smelled nice, but it did not have the taste to match it. Chapter 167 - 167 A Wish 167 A Wish The old master, who was mentally prepared, was surprised at the first bite. He ate a few more spoons of the soup. The warmth it provided spread from his stomach to his limbs, making the old master sigh. Xiao Yue, your medicinal cuisine tastes excellent. You must have put your heart into it! The old master said to Qiao Yue with a smile. Qiao Yues eyes were bright as she repeated what she had said to Qiao Xuan. Grandpa, I only provided the recipe. The chef was the one who made everything tasty. The old master nodded and asked the butler to double the sry of the chef who prepared the meal. The two members from the third family were shocked by the old masters jaw-dropping gesture. The Qiao family always paid their help well. Their servants monthly sries were easily six times of the benchmark sry. Doubling it for the chef would mean an entire years pay for an ordinary person. Who would have thought that making a meal of medicinal cuisine would make the old master so happy? Xiao Yue, although you didnt cook this meal, Grandpa is very happy for your thoughtfulness. Let me know if you want anything. Ill give it to you as long its within my means. The old master said to Qiao Yue with a smile. Qiao Yue was stunned. She didnt expect the old master to turn his attention to her in the blink of an eye. As soon as the old master said this, people at the dining table all looked at Qiao Yue. Grandpa, I dont have anything that I want. Qiao Yue said helplessly. Actually, the old master wanted to reward her but tried to distract everyone by raising the chefs sry first. It looked like his distraction tactic didnt work. The old masterughed. Then, I shall leave this offer open. You let Grandpa know when you think of something. Qiao Yues eyes lit up as she said, Grandpa, I can ask for anything? The old master nodded and asked in return, What, you little brat? Youve already thought of something so quickly? No, Im just asking out of curiosity. Qiao Yue revealed a polite smile. Seeing Qiao Yue smiling happily, Qiao Xuan also smiled quietly, while Qiao Jings eyes that were staring at Qiao Yue dimmed for a moment. Qiao Ze still looked sleepy; its obvious that he had stayed uptest night. As for Qiao Yu, he just ate with his head down. In fact, the old masters words were not just recognition; he granted a wish to Qiao Yue as a form of support. No one would dare to question her status as a member of the Qiao family if she had the old masters support. In less than two days after the old masters return to the Qiao residence, the surficial bnce of power at home had been disrupted. In addition to the third family, there was also Qiao Yue. Its still unknown who would be the one in power at the Qiao residence in future. After breakfast, the first madam called Qiao Xuan and Qiao Jing away. Before the first madam spoke, Qiao Yue saw Qiao Jing wanting to say something to his mother but held back. Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying were also taken away by the third madam, leaving Qiao Yue, Qiao Ze, and Qiao Yu in therge living room. Because of the old masters return to the country, Qiao Ze had pushed back his schedule for the next few days so he could be home to apany the old master. As for Qiao Yu, its his rest day so he didnt have to go to school. Qiao Ze yawned, told his brothers that he was going to catch up on his sleep and went upstairs. As residents at the Qiao residence kept different schedules, the mealtime rules were not as strict. However, since the old master was back, they could not bete for breakfast the very next day, right? Qiao Ze resisted the urge to stay in bed and got up. He really couldnt take it anymore, so he went back upstairs to sleep. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu looked at each other and suddenly didnt know what to do. Qiao Yu stared at Qiao Yue for a few seconds before he said, You even know about medicinal cuisine? Then why didnt you make some for me when I was injured? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. I was also injured, and I still havent recovered. Qiao Yu tsked unhappily. Didnt you say that you didnt lift a finger and only provided the recipe? Um Uh Qiao Yue couldnt think of a reason despite a long pause. Her eyes darted around guiltily. Could she say that she waszy? Although she didnt have to cook the dishes, she had to supervise the chef. She wouldnt have done this if not for the old master. Qiao Yu was even more unhappy when he saw Qiao Yues expression. He could guess what this brat was thinking. Didnt he just feel that it was too much trouble? To think that he treated him so well, what a heartless boy! After arriving at this conclusion, Qiao Yu pestered Qiao Yue to agree to make him a meal of medicinal cuisine. He also wanted to try the herbal dish that made his grandfather sigh. Chapter 168 - 168 Unfilial Son 168 Unfilial Son On medicinal cuisine, it wasnt the rarest taste in the world. Its just that the food that the old master ate while in hospital were more medicinal than cuisine. He was in recovery then but now in health maintenance mode. The medicinal cuisine would naturally taste better. Its strong herbal taste was even more enticing to the old master who had been eating nd food and taking medicine for such a long time. If it werent for these reasons, medicinal cuisine wouldnt be a big deal for Old Master Qiao, who had tasted all kinds of delicacies. Under Qiao Yus pestering, Qiao Yue had no choice but to agree to his request. In return, Qiao Yu would tutor her. Qiao Yue expressed that there was really no need. In the afternoon, Qiao Yue saw Qiao Yi and Qiao Li rush home. One of them looked anxious while the other calm. !! Although Qiao Yue had experienced Qiao Yis tantrum at the hospital, it was the difference between her uncle and his sons, Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu, that left an impression on her. The one who couldnt wait to find the old master as soon as he came back was the anxious looking Qiao Yi. Qiao Yue sized up Qiao Li, whom she was meeting for the first time. When she saw Qiao Li, she was sure that there was no problem with the Qiao genes but Qiao Li was so fat that she couldnt tell what he really looked like. Qiao Li didnt ignore Qiao Yue like Qiao Yi did. Instead, after receiving Qiao Yues gaze, he walked towards her. Qiao Yue, right? Youre Xiaoqings kid. Qiao Li looked at Qiao Yue with a loving smile. Qiao Yue looked at her uncle and smiled. Hello, third uncle. Hello, my child. Qiao Yue couldnt figure out Qiao Lis attitude in that instant. The third family had always been hostile to her, so why was Qiao Lis attitude so different? Qiao Yue looked into her uncles eyes but didnt notice anything strange. She suspected that either her uncle had hidden his true feelings well or he really didnt have any ill intentions toward her. However, after some thought, Qiao Yue thought that thetter was unlikely, but she had no evidence. Third uncle, you must be tired from the flight. Why dont you wash up and lie down for a while? Well catch up after dinner. Alright, Qiao Li nodded and headed upstairs to the third family quarters. Qiao Yue was confused by Qiao Lis actions. She said those things intentionally to Qiao Li. She was just an outsider who had just arrived at the Qiao residence and yet she used the tone of the master to say such things to a person who had lived here for decades. Anyone would feel ufortable, but Qiao Li was very calm. Qiao Yue stared at Qiao Lis back and couldnt help but sigh, Trouble seems to be endless. When Qiao Yue went upstairs and walked by the old masters room, she suddenly heard a loud crash inside. Qiao Yues brows twitched, and she quickly walked over. The door wasnt closed tightly, and that was why Qiao Yue could hear the sound of something breaking. You b*stard! Qiao Yue heard the old masters angry scolding inside the room. Qiao Yu roared back, Dad! Why are you so biased? Youre willing to help Qiao Ren, whos a useless piece of sh*t, but why are you so heartless when ites to me? I helped Qiao Ren because I cant let him starve to death! And you? What do you want my help with? You actually want me to help you import those dirty things into our country! Although the old master was still scolding his son, his breath was unsteady. Qiao Yi didnt care about the old masters condition and continued to talk back. Its just once, whats the big deal? Im in a life and death situation right now, and Qiao Jing withdrew the funds just like that, without giving me any time! What can I do? Dad! Im your son too, youve already helped the others, why cant you help me? Qiao Yi yelled hysterically at the old master. You! You! Qiao Yue heard her grandfathers breathlessness and rushed in. While calming the old masters breathing, she pinched his philtrum acupoint to prevent him from fainting. Grandpa, take a deep breath and calm down. When Qiao Yue rushed in, she saw the almost fainting old master and quickly caught him before he fell to the ground. The old master gradually calmed down under Qiao Yuesfort. With his wrinkled hands, he patted Qiao Yues arm that was soothing and stood up with Qiao Yues help. Chapter 169 - 169 Dirty Business 169 Dirty Business Everything happened within minutes and Qiao Yi had no time to react. Although he wasnt filial, it wasnt to the point that he wished his father dead. He was also stunned when he saw that the old master almost fainted. The old master recovered from his fainting spell and struck the ground with his walking stick. Qiao Yi, just give up! If its that kind of business, I wont give you a single cent even if your business goes bust. Get lost now and dont appear in front of me! The old master didnt give Qiao Yi any face and ordered him to leave. Qiao Yi red fiercely at his father. As though it wasnt enough, he red at Qiao Yue one more time he left indignantly, mming the door behind him. Although Qiao Yue was curious about what business Qiao Yi was doing, she didnt ask in view of the old masters condition. Qiao Yue helped her grandfather on to a chair and pressed on his acupoints to relieve the tension. The old master exhaled two mouthfuls of turbid air before he slowly said, Xiao Yue, go and rest. Grandpa would like some time alone. Qiao Yue nodded silently and left her grandfathers room. She wanted to know what Qiao Yi had done to make the old master so angry. Before dinner, Qiao Yue vaguely heard Qiao Yi borrowing money from Qiao Li. Because they were quite far away, Qiao Yue didnt hear the result, but from Qiao Yis expression, he probably failed. As for the kind of business Qiao Yi was into, Qiao Yue found out before she went to bed. Reading the information sent by YQ, Qiao Yues lips curled into a cold smile. No wonder her grandfather was so angry. Qiao Yi was engaged in human trafficking, prostitution, and whoring. Hed identified a country that valued men over women, bought women at a low price, and then sold them back in C-Country. Hed also pick out the good-looking ones, package them, and send them to inappropriate ces. Qiao Yue tapped her fingers on the document. It said that after Qiao Jing withdrew his investment, Qiao Yi encountered cash flow problem, which led him to such dirty business so he could recoup his business. However, Qiao Yue didnt think so. To be able to perfect the supply chain in a short time with only one remaining step, which was to sell the merchandise in China, how could this be triggered by Qiao Jings withdrawal of capital? Also, based on what YQ said, Qiao Yi had done everything discreetly. YQ only managed to find out what Qiao Yi was doing by tapping his wifes phone. Its probably not a spur of the moment decision when Qiao Jing withdraw all the money he had invested on Qiao Yi within a day. Could Qiao Jing have found out something too? Qiao Yue drummed her fingers on the table as she smiled. Her second brother must have a lot of secrets! The atmosphere at the Qiao residence was somber with Qiao Yi and Qiao Lis return. Qiao Yi hade back home before his wife to ask for help from the old master. He didnt expect to be rejected so harshly by his father. His wife was still waiting there, so he had to go around begging for help. The two brothers, Qiao Ze and Qiao Yu, didnt have an easy time in the past few days either. As Qiao Yis children, they had naturally been asked by their father for help. But how could the old master not know the kind of person his son was? He had long told his grandsons what their father was up to. The boys had decades of education and their own conscience on one hand and their parents coercion on the other. They didnt even dare to stay at home. They would asionallye back to apany their grandfather, but as soon as they heard that Qiao Yi was home, they would instantly disappear without a trace. Qiao Yue felt tired for her brothers. Qiao Yue wanted to help, but the country that Qiao Yi was in did not prohibit the trafficking of women. Instead, these transactions were an important source of ie for the country. A country that acquiesced to such trafficking was basically rotten to the core, and it would be a daydream to expect them to do anything. Sighing, Qiao Yue walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with a coffee. It looked like they would have to wait for Qiao Yi to make the first move, and then deal with his actions one by one. It wasnt that she didnt want to rescue those women, but there was no way to rescue them. However, no matter what, she shared her grandfathers sentiment. They couldnt let those women enter C-Country. In the pitch-ck and starless night sky, every room in the Qiao family mansion was brightly lit. Most likely, not many were able to sleep peacefully because of Qiao Yis matter. They were all members of the same family, but they had different thoughts. No one knew whos actually thinking about the future of the Qiao family. Chapter 170 - 170 Anxiety Resolved 170 Anxiety Resolved On the fourth day after the old masters return, Qiao Yue finally met her alleged yboy first uncle. Qiao Rens appearance indeed earned him the right to be a yboy. Unlike Qiao Xuans gentleness and warmth, or Qiao Jings aloofness, Qiao Ren exuded a bad boy aura. He was slightly frivolous but not offensive. His actions were measured, and he still carried with him the upbringing of a prominent family. Qiao Yue sized up her first uncle with a little surprise in her eyes. After meeting Qiao Yi and Qiao Li, she never expected Qiao Ren to be like this. As for Qiao Ren, he was obviously stunned when he met Qiao Yue. After the old master introduced them, he only greeted Qiao Yue coolly. This surprised Qiao Yue. She thought that Qiao Ren would say something to her, but he didnt. The first meeting was just an interlude. The next few days were rtively peaceful, and Qiao Yue seemingly entered early retirement. She woke up early every day to prepare medicinal cuisine for her grandfather. During the day, she would either study or apany the old master. After dinner, she would take a walk with the old master. Basically, all her attention were on her grandfather. The old masters health improved under her meticulous care. As for Qiao Ren and his brothers, they didnt cause any trouble recently. Qiao Ren was well-behaved and basically stayed home. He didnt go out to party, but his rtionship with the first madam was cold. asionally, he would stare nkly at Qiao Yues face. Qiao Li knew his ce and often went to the Qiao corporation to oversee things, while Qiao Yi was eager to do something. But as soon as he tried, he was caught red-handed by the police of C-Country and brought to the police station along with his merchandise. ording to thetest from the police, Wang and Zhou colluded with foreign criminal gangs to smuggle abducted women into the country, while Li and Sun waited to receive these women at the border of Bai County in F-City. Zhang and Wu were responsible for selling the abducted foreign women to the rural viges in N-City and other ces When the old master saw the news, he could not help but p his thigh and cheer, As expected of the C-Country police, they are so efficient! As he said this, he nced at the ashen-faced Qiao Yi and added, One must do things with a conscience. If one keeps thinking about making ill-gotten money, one will get into trouble sooner orter. Qiao Yue chuckled as she listened. She had heard from Chu Jia this morning that the person who had received the information from her had called to share the good newsst night. He said that he had been recognized for this operation and would be promoted soon. This meant that their men could gradually infiltrate the police force. Qiao Yue didnt forget to sigh in her happiness. Qiao Yi had really gone against the wind andmitted crimes. The conclusion of this matter seemed to have resolved an anxiety for the old master; he even had an extra bowl of rice. After the news, Qiao Yue watched other television programs with the old master. Seeing that no one was paying attention, the third madam gave the first madam a look. The first madam frowned slightly but didnt say anything. While the old master was recuperating, Qiao Yues injuries were also healing. Because of Qiao Yis example, the others dared not stir up any trouble. However, because of the old masters favoritism towards Qiao Yue, the atmosphere at the Qiao residence was tense, like a string wound so tight that the slightest movement would snap it. Just like today. When news about the old master bringing Qiao Yue to thepany for an inspection tour broke, everyone at the Qiao residence was shocked. Except for the few family members who couldnt leave school, everyone was present. Qiao Ren and the first madam sat on opposite sides, looking nothing like a married couple. The first madam kept eyeing her husband to sit with her, but he ignored her. Qiao Yi sat gloomily on the sofa, his eyes giving Qiao Yue hateful res from time to time. Qiao Li and the third madam seemed to be on good terms, sitting together and asionally leaning close to chit-chat. The old master slowly descended the stairs, his old but dignified eyes scanned the people waiting in the living room. You guys are home too? The old masters gaze fell on Qiao Xuan and the other two grandchildren. Qiao Xuan smiled gently and said, Grandpa, we have no objections to your suggestion. Its just that your health isnt good, so we wanted to apany you for the inspection. If you dont like it, we can hang back. Qiao Xuan specifically mentioned that the old master was not in good health. He didnt just say that for the old masters benefit, but for the others. Chapter 171 - 171 The Old Master’s Favorite 171 The Old Masters Favorite Qiao Xuan said that to warn the others against saying anything that could upset the old master. Seeing Qiao Jing and Qiao Zes silent concurrence, the old masters rising anger dissipated. Qiao Yi was the first to protest, Dad, even if you favor Qiao Yue, you cant do this. Which descendent of the Qiao family didnt get exposure to the family business until after graduation? What do you mean when you give Qiao Yue exposure just like that? Dad, second brother is right. Although you like Qiao Yue, you cant do this! The first madam chimed in, unaware of Qiao Rens frown when she said that. The old master looked at the two of them with an unfriendly expression. The first madam felt a little guilty under his gaze and turned her head away, avoiding his eyes. In fact, her two sons were already of age, so it wasnt her ce to meddled in this matter. However, she couldnt stand watching Qiao Yue get whatever he wanted. Before the old master could speak, Qiao Jing, who had been silent all this while, spoke up, Mom, I have no opinion on this matter. Thepany belongs to Grandpa, and its his decision to let whoever he wants join thepany. If Xiao Yue joins thepany, Grandpa can let him work under me first. It was rare for Qiao Jing to utter such a long sentence. On the surface, it looked like he was being submissive to the old master, but in fact, he was protecting Qiao Yue. Qiao Xuan echoed Qiao Jings sentiment with a smile. Thats right! Mom, Xiao Jing is right. Besides, Xiao Jing and I both have our own careers. Why do you have to meddle in this? The two brothers spoke one after another until the firstdy couldnt get a word in and their father staring at them. The old master was quite happy with his grandsons reaction. He tapped the ground with his walking stick and said, Qiao Yi, Xiao Ze also has his own career and is hardly home. Ive made the same offer to Xiao Ze before, but he declined. Let me ask Xiao Ze again if he wants to work at thepany. Qiao Ze shook his head like a rattle-drum when he heard his grandfather turn his attention to him. Grandpa, you still dont know me? Ive never liked doing business. Besides, Im so busy that Im hardly home, so I dont have time to manage thepany. Qiao Yi red at Qiao Ze, but thetter pretended not to see him. Qiao Ze didnt get along with Qiao Jing purely because he didnt like him. Besides, their parents were always fighting each other for the family inheritance. As for thepany, he really couldnt be bothered. Seeing that Qiao Ze had failed to live up to his expectations, Qiao Yi continued, Dad, no matter what, isnt it a little too much for you to favor Qiao Yue like this? Qiao Yue hasnt been here for long, and youre already prepared to expose him to the Qiao family business. Do you expect us to work for him in future? Qiao Yis words werent polite at all, directly exposing the old masters intentions. It was true that the old master didnt bring Qiao Yue over just for an inspection. If possible, he would very much like to give Qiao Yue a job, so that he could learn the ropes of the family business. The old master looked at his disappointing son, feeling resentful that he had failed to live up to his expectations. Why did he have cash flow problem? Why did his own son refuse to give him any financial aid? Didnt he already know? If the Qiao family business were to be handed over to him, he would probably squander it away in less than two years! Before the old master could refute, the third familys husband and wife looked at each other. Qiao Li said, Dad, how about this? Lets call Xiao Yu, Xiner, Yinger, and the rest over. Well go to thepany together and let them see what its like inside. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows slightly when she heard this. The third family really resented her. But looking at the current situation, her grandfather had indeed favored her. Qiao Yue smiled and gave the old master a yful look before turning to Qiao Yi. Second uncle, third brother has his own career and cant take care of the family. Why do you have to force him? As for fourth brother, hes in school now. His results are excellent and hes the president of the student council. You know Harvey better than me. If we reduce his time at school and force him to spend time at thepany, his rtionships with his ssmates will be estranged and he will lose his connections. Isnt it worse off for him? Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Yue with disdain. Xiao Jing and Xiao Yu dont have the time, but I can take over. Its better than the old master handing thepany to an outsider like you. As soon as Qiao Yi said this, the old masters face darkened. He never let his family mention that Qiao Qing was adopted. His third son had really spoken without thinking this time. Chapter 172 - 172 A Warning 172 A Warning Qiao Yue didnt mind Qiao Yis words. She smiled and said, Grandpa hasnt even said anything about me working at thepany. Thepany belongs to Grandpa, so he has the final say. Why are you intervening? Qiao Yue said nonchntly. She didnt care about the Qiao family business, but she felt it a pity if the old masters blood, sweat and tears fell into the hands of such a useless person. Qiao Xuan and her other brothers held more promise but none of them wanted to inherit the Qiao family business. Perhaps it was up to Qiao Yu, if he had any interest in thepany! You! Qiao Yi was so angry at Qiao Yue that he pointed at her with a trembling hand. Youre the one whos intervening! Im your grandfathers son. Who do you think you are? Youre just an outsider whos not even rted to us by blood! So was your mother. None of you outsiders should have a ce in the Qiao family! Qiao Yi was so angry that he blurted out whatever that popped into his mind. The old masters eyes widened in anger and Qiao Yues eyes turned cold. Qiao Yi, Im only calling you second uncle because of Grandpa and my mother. Dont be so ungrateful. Let me remind you, if you keep coveting things that dont belong to you, be careful not to lose what you already have. Qiao Yue said expressionlessly. Qiao Yue wasnt speaking loudly but her words drew the attention of the old master, her third uncle Qiao Li, even Qiao Jing. Qiao Yis face turned pale at Qiao Yues words. He suspected that Qiao Yue knew about his businesses overseas. He didnt even reveal that one of them went bankrupt recently, so how did Qiao Yue know? Qiao Yi didnt quite believe that Qiao Yue was capable of finding out his background, so he said, What are you talking about? What else have I got to lose? Dont speak ill of me just because you want to get a piece of the Qiao family business. Qiao Yue was unperturbed by Qiao Yis denial. She moved closer to Qiao Yi and said something in his ear that changed his expression in an instant. How did you know? Qiao Yi dared not raise his voice and growled softly at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue smirked. You dont need to know how I know. Ill close one eye if you kept things overseas, but if you dare to extend your hands into the Qiao family business here, Ill chop them off. Qiao Yis eyes were filled with shock when he heard this but the anger on his face didnt subside. His expression looked extremely strange. Qiao Yue continued, Grandpa, if youd like me to apany you for an inspection, Im more than happy to apany you. However, if youd like to hand the business over to me, please forgive me for my incapability to take over, ever. But Ill say this C the Qiao family business belongs to Grandpa. Ill support whoever Grandpa hands it over to. However, if anyone tries to force Grandpa using improper means. Qiao Yue scanned the elders around her and sneered, Then dont me me if you encounter anything bad. Qiao Yues words were both a warning and a threat. Although her elders didnt like what they heard, they didnt refute after they saw what happened to Qiao Yi. The atmosphere was tense. The old master looked at Qiao Yue disapprovingly, but Qiao Yue looked back at him with a bright smile. With such an interlude, the inspection trip to thepany was naturally cancelled. Qiao Yue helped her grandfather back to his room to rest. As soon as she was on her way back to her own room, Qiao Jing stopped her. Brother. Qiao Yue called out with a smile at the sight of Qiao Jings unfriendly expression. Lets talk inside, Qiao Jing said as he looked at Qiao Yue indifferently. Oh, okay. Qiao Yue responded in a low voice. Qiao Yue observed Qiao Jing carefully as she opened the door. As soon as her eyes met Qiao Jings, she trembled and quickly opened the door. After the door was closed, Qiao Yue walked up to Qiao Jing with a fawning look and asked, Brother, do you need something from me? Were you the one who did that to Qiao Yi? Although Qiao Jing was asking a question, Qiao Yue felt that he already knew the answer. Brother, I dont really understand what youre talking about. Qiao Yue mumbled her denial. Qiao Jing didnt answer and just stared at her. Qiao Yue cleared her throat and said, Im not that capable. I only made an anonymous call to the police. Public security is everyones responsibility. Qiao Jing sat down at the desk and knocked on it, signaling for Qiao Yue to sit across from him. Mahad. Qiao Jing repeated what Qiao Yue had said to Qiao Yi. Chapter 173 - 173 Question 173 Question Qiao Yue didnt expect Qiao Jing to hear her when she spoke so softly just now. Mahad was a famous casino in D-Country. It wasnt just in the gaming business; it also dealt with prostitution and drugs. Qiao Yis years abroad werent for naught. He somehow managed to know the second-inmand of Mahad. Qiao Yis human trafficking in C-Country this time was instigated by Mahads second-inmand. This was one of the data points YQ had given to Qiao Yue. She had memorized it and didnt expect to use it so quickly. Brother, you have really good hearing. Qiao Yue shrugged as she said. !! I didnt hear you. I read your lips. Qiao Jing didnt hide from Qiao Yue that he knew how to lipread. Qiao Yues eyes widened in surprise. Her brother had so many skills. Brother, dont you know that I have some influence? I found the information. Qiao Yue said indifferently after she recovered from the shock. Qiao Jing stared at Qiao Yue and drummed his fingers rhythmically on the table, making Qiao Yue a little flustered. The CIO of KA was able to find this information? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Jings question stunned Qiao Yue, and she frowned. Her brother had already found out so much. If he could find KA, its a matter of time before he found out that shes the behind-the-scenes boss of KA. Qiao Yue started to doubt her brothers identity. Many people had done background checks on her, but Qiao Jing was the first person who manage to trace her to KA. Who then was her brother? She didnt think that Qiao Jing was just someone running apany. Xiao Yue, I told you not to use your methods with the Qiao family. Qiao Jing said. Qiao Yues face turned cold when she realized that Qiao Jing was here to criticize her. Brother, you heard what Qiao Yi said just now. If I dont have any other means, should I just let them gossip about my mother? Let them use Grandpa? Qiao Jing frowned. He knew that his mother and the elders from the other two families were hostile to Qiao Yue. However, if Qiao Yue exposed herself, theres no saying that they wouldnt gang up against her. No, Qiao Jing sighed. I just dont want you to get into unnecessary trouble. With Grandpa favoring you, those who are after the Qiao family business will investigate you till the end if they find out that you have other authority. Qiao Jing didnt finish what he was trying to say but Qiao Yue already understood. Once they found out who she was, they would eliminate her. Knowing that Qiao Jing was just concerned about her, Qiao Yue smiled and said, Brother, you make it sound like they wont attack me if I dont have other authority. If you give up the Qiao family business as you did today, they wont do anything to you. I can also protect you. Qiao Jing said quietly. If Qiao Yue was just an ordinary younger brother, Qiao Jing would naturally protect her since she had caught his eye. However, Qiao Yues identity was special. Even if he wanted to protect her, he was afraid that he couldnt. After all, he still had to worry about his parents. Qiao Yues eyes softened when she heard Qiao Jings words. Qiao Jing was right. If she was just an ordinary person, he would be able to protect her, but she was not. Qiao Yue got up with a smile, walked over to Qiao Jing, and squatted down beside him. Brother, youre already protecting me. Qiao Yue was powerful, so powerful that even if all of them worked together, they wouldnt be able to touch her. However, she still craved kinship and wanted someone to truly care about her. Qiao Jing didnt say anything and just looked down at her. Qiao Yue looked into Qiao Jings eyes and suddenly wanted to ask if he was the one who saved her the other night. Qiao Yue opened her mouth, but when the words were at the tip of her tongue, she suddenly changed the question. Brother, if one day your mother decides toe after me, what would you do? This wasnt a stupid question like who he would save first if his wife and mother fell into the sea at the same time. It was a question about which side he would stand on if their grandfather and the first madam had different opinions. The old masters favoritism towards her was obvious to all. If Qiao Jing only wanted to help his biological mother, she would prepare herself and not put Qiao Jing in a difficult position. She was also curious about Qiao Jings stand. I wont let mother have the opportunity to go after you. Qiao Jing said seriously, looking into Qiao Yues eyes. What if she secretly ganged up with the other two families? Qiao Yue probed. After a moment of silence, Qiao Jing said, If my mother was the one who incited them against you, I will not side with her and will do my best to protect you. However, if my mothers safety is threatened, I will not stand by and do nothing. Chapter 174 - 174 Mahad 174 Mahad What if you must choose between the two? Qiao Yue regretted immediately when she asked this question. Because this question made it look like she was asking the stupid question about saving the mother or wife first if both of them fell into the sea at the same time. Qiao Jing looked at her and was about to speak when Qiao Yue interrupted, Its gettingte, Id better go back. Qiao Yue took a deep breath before she said, Even if you need to sacrifice me to protect your family one day, Ill understand. She had known Qiao Jing long enough to know the kind of person he was. He was calm, rational, and big-picture oriented. How could he give a biased answer to such a question? !! Qiao Yue had just turned around when Qiao Jing suddenly hugged her from behind. Qiao Yue covered her chest with her hands and pushed Qiao Jing away. Second brother, I know what you mean, but were two grown men, so lets not be so mushy. Qiao Jing smiled and avoided Qiao Yues touch. Qiao Yue still didnt know that the man in front of her had already found out that she wasnt a boy. The atmosphere in the room became a little awkward. After a long time, Qiao Jing said, Go to bed then. Youll be back in school in a few days. Qiao Yue nodded, turned and walked out of the room. Back in her room, Qiao Yue reread the file on Mahad. The information that YQ was able to find included a few transactions between Qiao Yi and Mahad. Qiao Yis business was in healthcare. Unfortunately, he didnt inherit Old Master Qiaos business skills, but he was extremely ambitious. He had exported a batch of illegal herbs, hoping to deceive the quality inspection center overseas. However, he didnt expect that he would fail to trick the quality inspection center overseas, who then detained his expensive herbs. Qiao Yis faced cash flow problem after and borrowed heavily from loan sharks. It was at this time that Mahad extended a helping hand and paid for the batch of illegal herbs. However, in exchange, Qiao Yi had to be their human trafficking partner. Qiao Yue felt her hands balled into fists when she read this. She flipped through the rest of the information, which was about the women trade Mahad dealt in. Trafficking women, abusing them Mahad didnt only sell them to high-ranking officials and wealthy families, but also to thugs who could not find wives. There were also many photos taken inside the casino in the file. A woman in yboy bunny costume surrounded by big men, with a disgusted expression but powerless to refuse There was also a girl who seemed to be drugged being surrounded and toyed with by a few people Qiao Yue had always hated people who used womens bodies and lives for business. People in such business were often protected by officials to keep their illegal supply chain running and the womensining or resisting mouths shut. Qiao Yi probably wanted to use this method to make friends with the higher-ups in D-Country, and thus protect his business of selling illegal herbs. Although Old Master Qiao had no intention of helping Qiao Yi, he would find a way to continue his business and find ways to stop Qiao Yue from interfering in the Qiao family affairs. The next thing would not be easy to deal with. Qiao Yue massaged her forehead but she wasnt worried. She was able to make KA so big, so she wouldnt care about the Qiao family assets. She was protecting the Qiao family to fulfill her mothers wish. After all, Old Master Qiao wouldnt want the family business ruined under his watch. After reading the file, Qiao Yue was ready to take a shower and go to bed. Rat-tat-tat. Someone suddenly knocked on her door. Qiao Yue put her clothes back on and walked to the door. She opened the door and saw Qiao Zes smiling face. He had with him a dozen beers. Although he was smiling, he looked tired. Fifth brother, how about having a few drinks with me tonight? Qiao Yue looked at him and nodded. Although she had just recovered from her injuries, she could still have a few drinks. I have something to show you. Qiao Ze brought her to the family theatre where they had watched a movie together with Qiao Yu before. The two of them sat on the sofa in family theatre, holding beers. The servants had prepared a lot of snacks in the room. Qiao Ze started to adjust the projector. A new movie? Qiao Yue asked curiously. No. The lights in the family theatre dimmed, and a video appeared on the wall. It was a very soothing song, with a city pop feel, which reminded Qiao Yue of her days in the countryside. It was an MV of Qiao Ze, which was also directed by him. It was a simple love story, shot tenderly in a refreshing way. Chapter 175 - 175 Qiao Ze’s Worries 175 Qiao Zes Worries It was a music video, so it was quite short. It was over before they could finish half their can of beer. Qiao Ze cocked an eyebrow at Qiao Yue and asked, How was it? Its the first MV I directed. Although Qiao Ze was now an actor, he was learning many other things, such as producing, directing, and evenposing. The beat of this song was produced by Qiao Ze. !! Looking at Qiao Ze, Qiao Yue was reminded of his father. Qiao Ze wasnt interested in the familys assets, but Qiao Yi fought for a piece of the family assets to keep his own business afloat despite his angry father. Old Master Qiao had four very capable grandsons, but why did he have a useless son like Qiao Yi? Its not bad. Even though I dont watch these things often, I still feel its quite good. Its just a demo, so its still quite unpolished. Fifth brother, youre too kind. Qiao Ze picked up his beer and finished it in one gulp. He didnt have his usual cheeky smile and he looked exceptionally serious. Im in the process of setting up my own studio andpany. I dont n to use the Qiao familys influence in any of it. Qiao Yue nodded. She had some understanding of Qiao Zes inspirational story of pursuing his dreams in the entertainment industry. It was the story of a rich mans son who hid his real identity to find his ce in the entertainment industry. After running into many obstacles, he was taken under an unrelenting managers wing. Together, the two of them earned back an entire building for theirpany. Although ourpany is doing well, not everyone wants to do well. Qiao Ze said with his head lowered, like he was in deep thought. Qiao Yue, if theres any unttering rumor about me one day, do you think my fans will believe me? Qiao Yue shook her head. She didnt know anything about the entertainment industry. You should ask your fans, not me. Fans are generally swayed by public opinion. If theres any unttering rumor about me, they will leave me. I think that as long as youre sincere and produce good work, there shouldnt be any problem. Although Qiao Yue didnt know how celebrities connect with their fans, she felt that one shouldnt go wrong with sincerity and good work. Qiao Jing smiled bitterly. Im relieved to hear you say that. I just need to do my own thing and not care about what others say or do. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ze. He had always been unruly, but tonight, she saw a different side of her third brother. She felt that Qiao Ze must know something. I know what my father did. He didnt stop when he kidnapped the female student and even hurt Qiao Yu. I know that hes beyond help. He doesnt represent the entire Qiao family, and he doesnt represent you. Qiao Ze smiled bitterly. Qiao Ze knew what his father had done, but he could not expose him. He could only watch from the sidelines. Qiao Yue took a sip of her beer. Youll always be my third brother. I wont associate you with your father, and neither will fourth brother. Qiao Ze nodded. If you need to deal with my father, you can go ahead. After a moment of silence, he continued, If second brother wants to do something, thats fine too. Qiao Yue was slightly shocked. Qiao Ze and Qiao Jing had never gotten along. Qiao Ze even thought that Qiao Jing was someone who would do anything to please their grandfather. But now, Qiao Ze actually said that he would let Qiao Jing deal with his father. Qiao Zes act of cing righteousness before family clearly showed how disappointed he was with Qiao Yi. Okay, Ill let Qiao Jing know. Qiao Yue figured that Qiao Ze wanted her to pass the message to Qiao Jing. Qiao Ze opened another can of beer, and his eyes seemed misty. He finished the beer in one gulp and crushed the can with his hand. Qiao Yue followed suit and finished her beer as well. The beer tasted bitter, just like Qiao Zes worries that he had just shared. Looking at the young man in front of him, Qiao Ze felt an indescribable sadness in his heart. Qiao Ze had heard the conversation between his grandfather and father today. He came home to see his parents, but he got an earful of Qiao Yisints. Qiao Yi had even told him to stay away from Qiao Yue. What was even more outrageous was that he even asked Qiao Ze to contact hispany overseas to see if there was any way to transport the people he was going to sell. It waspletely deranged. It was ridiculous that the first thing he said to his son, whom he hadnt seen in a long time, was to ask him to help with illegal human trafficking. Chapter 176 - 176 Back to School 176 Back to School Qiao Yi was rtively well-behaved over the next few days perhaps because of Qiao Yues warning. Qiao Yues injuries were almost healed. Although she cared more about fulfilling her filial duties to her grandfather than her studies, Old Master Qiao had specially called her over and told her to study hard. She couldnt break her grandfathers heart. The night before she went back to school, Qiao Yu came to Qiao Yues room. He also brought with him arge stack of new notes and practice questions. Qiao Yue looked at the notes and practice questions, which had all been neatly annotated by Qiao Yu using different colored pens. !! He also took out stic sheets of different colors. This is a learning method I heard from someone. Use different colored sheets to cover the answers. He flipped open to a practice question where he had written his exnation in red. He covered his annotations with a red stic sheet, leaving only the question visible. Practice once without looking at the exnation and then read the exnation. Its much more convenient this way and you can practice as many times as needed. Did fourth brother worked hard like this to be a top student? Qiao Yue said as she flipped through the book. Thats not necessary. Im usually able to get everything right on my first try but based on fifth brothers current academic performance, I think such learning method is necessary. The corners of Qiao Yues mouth twitched. She had indeed seeded in her role as a terrible student. After all, I dont want you to lose your bet with Sun Bin. At the mention of Sun Bin, Qiao Yue suddenly remembered her bet with Sun Bin using their year-end results. It was almost November now, and the mid-term exams were just around the corner. The final exams were only two months away. I heard that Sun Bin has been studying very hard recently, burning the midnight oil every day. You have been recuperating for a month because of your injury. If you dont study hard now, you will be wasting my effort of transferring you to my ss. Qiao Yue almost spat blood. She didnt really care about the bet. After all, whether she remained in Harvey wasnt something that could be decided by just a bet. She entered Harvey with a letter of rmendation. Even if she wanted to drop out, she would probably be forced to stay. If she tested for real and did better than Sun Bin and Sun Bin had to drop out, the Sun family would probably kick up a fuss. That would be another storm. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yues troubled expression and thought that she was not motivated enough to study. He reached out and ruffled her hair. If you beat Sun Bin, Ill buy you a motorcycle. You can choose any model you want. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. She didntck motorcycles, but if it was a gift from her family because of her grades, she was interested. She was raised by the Godfather, and he had never given her any rewards. The rtionship between the two were unlike that between a normal parent and child. The Godfather always liked fair trade. Whatever she wanted, she had to give something in exchange. Qiao Yue didnt know familial love until she came to the Qiao family. The two chatted for a while more before Qiao Yu left. Qiao Yue opened the book of practice questions and looked at the questions. These questions were not difficult. To her, it was like a college student solving 1+1. Moreover, the process of solving the questions was too cumbersome for her. But it was understandable. After all, they were given points for effort! Qiao Yue nced at it a while more before she put down the book of practice questions. She then picked up the notes and started reading. Her memory was surprisingly good, and she quickly grasped thetest lessons. She looked at her watch and realized that it was already veryte. She could not help but feel a little puzzled. She had been sleeping well since she came back to Nanshan Vige half a year ago. She even slept more than before. After she came to the Qiao family, she often felt tired. Perhaps it was because of her chronic fatigue from before, she tried to catch up on sleep whenever she had down time. But she hadnt been so sleepytely. At the thought of this, she checked her pulse. It seemed fine. Perhaps she had rested well during her recuperation. She read another book before we went to bed. The next morning, Old Master Qiao and the rest of the family sat at the table for breakfast. Chapter 177 - 177 Sun Bin’s Class Transfer 177 Sun Bins ss Transfer For the sake of the old masters health, todays breakfast was in porridge with side dishes. Qiao Yue wrote the recipe, and the food cooked by the auntie who lived with them. Qiao Xin didnt feel good having this breakfast. Qiao Yue sat between her grandfather and her second brother, Qiao Jing. Qiao Xin was depressed. Why was everyone in the family so protective of Qiao Yue? She, the granddaughter who had been doted on previously, was now ignored. !! Qiao Yue, pay attention in school and study hard. Old Master Qiao said as he picked up some bamboo shoots for Qiao Yue. Old Master Qiao had specially instructed the kitchen staff to get the bamboo shoots from Nanshan. Qiao Yue could tell with one bite that the fresh and sweet taste was not something that could be bought from any supermarket in the city. Thank you, Grandpa. This bamboo shoot is delicious. When Qiao Ren, who was eating across from Qiao Yue, heard her words, he picked up some bamboo shoots and tasted them. This is really not bad. Aunties cooking is good too, but something iscking. Whatscking, Uncle? Qiao Ying asked curiously. Qiao Ren shook his head and didnt say anything but Tao Xi pulled a long face. Grandpa, you told fifth brother to study hard, but he barely passed his exams. He even made a bet with his ssmate. Qiao Xin said. The atmosphere around the dining table suddenly turned awkward. Qiao Xin smugly reached out her chopsticks to pick up some food, but just as she was about to pick up a piece of beef, Qiao Ze hit it away with his chopsticks. Third brother, what are you doing? Qiao Ze smiled, back in his usual unruly appearance. You talked so much. I thought you are trying to lose weight and not eat. Qiao Ze then looked at Qiao Yue and winked at her. Qiao Xin saw their interaction and put down her chopsticks angrily. Old Master Qiao cleared his throat and said to Qiao Yue, Boy, you must still study hard. Your mother was a good student. If you need help, you can ask your cousins to tutor you. Qiao Xin, you must remember to tutor your fifth brother. Qiao Ze said with a cheeky smile. After breakfast, the school-going children left in the same car. Qiao Xin was originally seated in the middle row, but when she saw Qiao Yue open the car door, she angrily moved to thest row. Qiao Yue sat with Qiao Ying after she got into the car. Qiao Ying was still thinking fondly about gaming with Qiao Yue, so she took out her phone and showed Qiao Yue her recent battle scores. Qiao Yue looked at it briefly. Although Qiao Ying looked gentle and weak, shes recently quite an aggressive gamer. She yed all kinds of positions, and she was getting faster at collecting kills and gold. Youve been ying well recently. Qiao Ying smiled sweetly and the two of them moved closer. As Qiao Ying looked on, she suddenly felt a little strange. She grew up with her brothers and often yed with them. Qiao Yue seemed to be different from her other brothers. There was a faint sweet scent on Qiao Yue. Its not the kind of scent like Qiao Zes artiste perfume, but the kind of sweet scent from a girls hair and skin. The few of them came to the ssroom and Qiao Yue saw an unwanted guest in her ssroom C Sun Bin. She felt a hateful and challenging gaze directed at her the moment she entered. Sun Bin gave her the middle finger. As Qiao Yue sat down, Xu Hao, who was beside her, came over. Whats up? Qiao Yue asked in a low voice. Sun Bin said he wanted topete fairly with you, so he didnt want to stay in the other ss and transferred to our ss. Topete fairly? Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. He said that only under the guidance of the same teachers can the exam scores bepared. Qiao Yue shrugged. She knew her stuff, so it didnt make a difference if they changed teachers. Come on, Qiao Yue, I have faith in you. Xu Hao silently made a cheering gesture and even thumped his chest. I support you. The first period was Sister Lins ss. Qiao Yue opened her music app again and fell asleep on the table. After ss, she stretched and was about to leave the ssroom when Sun Bin stopped her. Chapter 178 - 178 Treat Him Well 178 Treat Him Well What do you want? Sun Bin blocked Qiao Yues way. His face was red, and he seemed very angry. I specially transferred here, hoping topete properly with you. Qiao Yue nodded. I know. I was very attentive in ss just now. I even answered questions. Qiao Yue choked. She reached out her hand and patted Sun Bin on the shoulder. All the best then? She didnt understand why Sun Bin hade to find her. So, may I trouble you to study hard and not make a joke of our bet? Qiao Yue nodded. She had participated in some foreign mathematicspetitions before, so she understood how important these academicpetitions were to students. Sun Bins male pride was at stake in his bet with her. She understood how important the bet was to him. During the second period, Qiao Yue seemed to be a lot more serious. She sat up straight with her book opened and took notes from time to time. Actually, she wasnt really listening to the lecture. She was browsing the school forum. She was looking through old posts from former students, hoping to find something about her mother. But after searching for a long time, she found nothing. After ss, a girl suddenly ran in and handed a letter to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was confused. Hadnt she be a scumbag after she rejected Xiaoxiaos deration of love? Why were people still sending her love letters? Qiao Yue was going to throw away the love letter, but Xu Hao patted her and said, Dont throw that away. She is no ordinary girl. Qiao Yue frowned. How extraordinary could she be? Her name is Bo Ning. Shes a well-known aloof goddess, even more popr than Xiaoxiao. She used to have short hair, so everyone thought she was a boy. A few girls even pursued her. Later, when she grew her hair, everyone realized that she was really pretty, but she doesnt seem to be interested in men. Brother, take care. Qiao Yue frowned. Was this person taking her route? Also, Qiao Yue didnt think she liked women. But she suddenly had a thought. This Bo Ning, could she have found out that Qiao Yue was a girl? Qiao Yue opened the letter and found an invitation inside, asking her to attend a birthday party next Tuesday. Qiao Yue was indeed not interested in that kind of birthday party. She had never liked these asions where the rich and powerful gathered to drink and mingle, let alone for a person she didnt really know. But thest line of the invitation caught her attention. It said, I know a secret about Qiao Jing. Ill tell you if youe. A secret about Qiao Jing? Qiao Jings cold face popped up in Qiao Yues mind. Well, she was curious now. Their sses for non-elective subjects ended at two oclock in the afternoon. The rest of the day was for electives. Harvey Academy was different from ordinary schools. In addition to required credits, students must also acquire elective credits. The elective subjects were mainly rted to the arts. Qiao Yue was not good at these. She could do business, martial arts, and had some academic achievements, but she knew nothing about the arts. Her experience surviving deserted inds turned her away from things that evoke feelings. Perhaps it was also because she didnt have any talent. Therefore, she chose a rtively simple musical instrument, the marimba, which was basically a xylophone. The marimba was a percussion instrument which made sounds when struck. It didnt seem to require other skills. Qiao Yue came to the music room with a heavy heart. She saw Qiao Xin in the music room. Qiao Xin pulled a long face when she saw Qiao Yue. Why are you here? Qiao Xin had learned many other instruments before. She only picked up the marimba because it was rtively simple and she could get high marks. A tone-deaf country bumpkin from a mountain vige. No wonder he chose the simplest instrument. Qiao Xin mumbled. Qiao Yue didnt mind Qiao Xins words. Instead, she went to her seat, took the mallets and struck the marimba a few times. The few notes she yed made her recognize that she was indeed a little tone-deaf. It seemed like she wouldnt be able to get any high marks in the elective subjects. Shed better focus on the science subjects. Suddenly, the music room fell silent. A petite and beautiful female teacher appeared on stage, making the students below stage sigh in admiration. This teacher was too good-looking. Chapter 179 - 179 Jin Lu 179 Jin Lu The teacher was really too good-looking. She wore her long wavy down, and her eyes were as charming as a deers. She was petite but elegant. She walked into the ssroom in a cheongsam. The students were full of praise. This teacher is so good-looking; she looks like a celebrity. Yeah, if I had that figure, Id be a celebrity or an online influencer. Why would I be a teacher? The teachers eyes swept over the students, and everyone fell silent. No one noticed that her eyes paused on Qiao Yue for a moment. Hello, everyone. Im your music teacher for this semester, Jin Lu. Qiao Yue frowned. She had heard of this name before. KA owned several entertainmentpanies and Jin Lu seemed to be one of their artistes. Qiao Yue raised her head to look at Jin Lu. Jin Lus eyes met Qiao Yues and she smiled as if she was smiling at Qiao Yue. Im a girl band member managed by one of KAs entertainmentpanies. Because our band is currently on a break, Im here to be a teacher for a semester. When the students heard this, they started searching for Jin Lu on the inte. It wasnt a very famous band, and it seemed to have be known only recently. The reason the band took a break was because of members academic problems. How could it be so coincidental that Jin Lu was her music teacher? Qiao Yue frowned. She felt that something was not right. In the first lesson, Jin Lu mainly exined the history of the marimba and the basic ying techniques. After exining the basic techniques, Jin Lu let the students try out the instruments by themselves. She also gave an assignment where students sitting in the same row would y against each other before the lesson ended. Qiao Yue and Qiao Xin happened to sit in the same row, which meant that the two of them would go head-to-head. Qiao Yue frowned and yed ording to Jin Lus instructions. She chose the simplest song. Her memory and hand speed were not bad. Other than ack of rhythm and a bit of clumsiness in the way she held the mallets, there was basically no problem. Qiao Xin, who was standing next to her, looked at Qiao Yues slightly clumsy ying posture and smiled smugly. Even though Qiao Yue was wearing a Harvey uniform, he was still not presentable when it came to such high arts. Qiao Xin cleared her throat and flipped to thest part of their songbook. Songs in their standard songbook were arranged by level of difficulty. While everyone was still ying the easier pieces at the front, Qiao Xin was already looking through the songs at the back. After she found a piece that she liked, she put her songbook on the music stand. She even pretentiously adjusted her posture as she looked at Qiao Yue provocatively. Mallets fell on keys and musical notes flowed smoothly with Qiao Xins every movement. It was a song adapted from the piano piece Fr Elise. The climax, when yed on the marimba, sounded like flowing water. The students next to Qiao Xin forgot the song they were ying and looked at Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin did have some musical talent. Jin Lu, who was walking around the ss correcting students postures, also looked over expectantly. At the end of the song, the students all pped and looked at Qiao Yue, who was standing in the same row as Qiao Xin, reading a score. Qiao Xin, you yed very well. Did you have any musical foundation? Qiao Xin held her head high, proud as a peacock. Ive learned many other instruments. Ive dabbled in the violin, piano, and so on. Just as Qiao Xin was about to say more, Jin Lu interrupted, Then what song will Qiao Yue, who was in the same group as Qiao Xin, y? Everyone looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue cant y any instruments, can he? There were two boys in the ss who were very close to Qiao Xin. Even after the fight, they still protected Qiao Xin. These two boys took the lead in mocking Qiao Yue. Everyone looked at Qiao Yue skeptically. Although Qiao Yue was good at fighting, he probably didnt have much talent in this area. Qiao Yue, what song did you choose? Qiao Yue nced at the crowd, opened her songbook and put it on the music stand. Everyone stuck their heads out and looked at the title on the page to which Qiao Yue opened. They all gasped. This was too ambitious. The page that Qiao Yue opened to was Flight of the Bumblebee. This song was adapted from a symphony and was very fast. It required a very strong memory to y it well. Chapter 180 - 180 Unspoken Rules? 180 Unspoken Rules? To y Flight of the Bumblebee, one had to basically memorize the score, know all the notes and have quick hands. Everyone was shocked when the song Qiao Yue picked. When this song was yed, the mallets would look like they were struck until sparks flew. Alright, lets start. Jin Lu stood next to Qiao Yue with her arms crossed. She looked at Qiao Yue with no intention of stopping her. Qiao Yue took a deep breath and struck the first note on the marimba with her mallet. The rest of the notes followed. Although the beat sounded a little off, it was covered up by the speed of the piece. Qiao Yue yed the piece at such great speed that it sounded almost like the symphony. Her hands left only afterimages as they flew. Everyone watched Qiao Yue y the marimba with their mouths wide open. For a moment, they didnt know what they were listening to. Qiao Xin stood before her own marimba with a long face. Although Qiao Yues performance wasnt elegant, all her notes were correct. Qiao Yues eyes also didnt look at the score at all when she yed. She must have the memory of a child prodigy. On the other hand, Jin Lu showed no surprise on her face. Instead, she looked at Qiao Yue with a mysterious smile. Qiao Xins face turned red as the music continued and reached its climax. How was this Qiao Yue so good that he could memorize the entire piece and know the positions of all the notes in such a short time? The two boys who took the lead in mocking Qiao Yue were also speechless. They only red at Qiao Yue fiercely. What was up with Qiao Yue recently? Not only did he start studying hard, but he even dared topete with Qiao Xin in music ss. At the end of the song, other than the few people who were close to Qiao Xin, the rest of the ss apuded. Someone even took the lead and said, Encore. Encore. Qiao Yue rotated her wrists and said to Jin Lu, Teacher, what do you think? Jin Lu smiled. Both students yed very well. Qiao Xin has a strong sense of musicality and Qiao Yue has great memory. Its indeed impressive that you yed so well today if you had zero foundation. After she finished speaking, she picked up a mallet and handed it to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was a little confused but took the mallet. Jin Lu took a step forward and grabbed Qiao Yues hand that was holding the mallet. Qiao Yue frowned as she looked at Jin Lu. Subconsciously she wanted to pull back her hand. Jin Lu still had a gentle smile on her face. She held Qiao Yues hand and adjusted her grip. However, Qiao Yue, you have to pay more attention in ss next time. The way you held the mallets just now was incorrect. If you yed more holding the mallets like that, you will hurt your wrist. Her voice was very soft, and there was a faint jasmine scent on her body. If Qiao Yue wasnt a girl, she might have been enamored by Jin Lus actions. How is it? Does your wrist feel better now? Jin Lu turned to look at Qiao Yue, her eyes shining. Qiao Yue praised herpanys talent scouts for being increasingly capable. Even such an artiste would sign with KAs entertainmentpany. But did people like this style now? Seeing that Qiao Yue didnt respond, Jin Lu withdrew her hand and walked back to the other students. Xu Hao, who was standing in front of Qiao Yue, looked at her and said, You are really lucky with thedies. This teacher is a real stunner. These words made Qiao Yue feel a little ufortable. What was Jin Lu trying to do with this intimate gesture? Was she trying to use her to climb up the ranks? Was she trying to y by some unspoken rules? Very soon, it was time for ss to end. Qiao Yue packed her things and was about to leave when Jin Lu called out to her. Qiao Yue, pleasee with me to the office. Jin Lu still had that gentle look on her face. When she looked at Qiao Yue, she tilted her head slightly. She didnt look like a teacher at all, more like a little girl whos acting cute in front of her crush. When they arrived at the office, Jin Lu took out a bottle of safflower seed oil from a drawer. She pulled Qiao Yues wrist and was about to apply some oil on her. Teacher Jin, if theres something you would like to say, just say it. Qiao Yue wasnt used to this kind of fawning behavior. She frowned, took a step back and pulled her hand away. You are the real person in charge of KA, right? After Jin Lu said this, she wiped the smile off her face and looked at Qiao Yue. I didnt expect the person in charge to be a student at an elite academy. I couldnt believe it at first. Her face then turned cold as she kept the safflower seed oil in her bag and stared at Qiao Yue. Who told you that? Chapter 181 - 181 The Girl Band 181 The Girl Band KA owned many businesses. Qiao Yue hired capable people to manage each of the different businesses and did not worry about the details. She had never been fond of the entertainment industry and always left it to her subordinates to manage the entertainmentpanies. She had also never appeared in any of thosepanies. So, how did Jin Lu know that shes the person in charge? I was determined so I found out. Jin Lu replied, looking into Qiao Yues eyes. At this moment, Jin Lu was no longer the gentle teacher she was just now. Her eyes were sharp, and her hands were clenched tightly. !! What do you want? If you are after resources, you can fight for them yourself. I wont give them to you. Jin Lu shook her head. No, Im not after resources. Do you know why our band took a break? Why the band took a break? Ive been on leave for the past six months, so Im not sure. Qiao Yue frowned. What happened? Do you know Qiao Ze? Your brother. Hearing this, Qiao Yue looked at Jin Lu warily, Qiao Zes words shing through her mind. Theres news recently that Qiao Ze is setting up his own studio. Many artistes with poor resources are trying to get in touch with him. Its the same for our band, UE. Qiao Yue was shocked. She hadnte across many people who said that they wanted to jump ship in front of their boss. My sister Jin Yan contacted Qiao Zes staff in October. She went to the studio for an interview a month ago, but she disappeared after that. She had also contacted KA, but I dont know what she told them. Jin Lu looked Qiao Yue in the eye. Ive tried everything to find my sister, but I couldnt find her. Other than KA and Qiao Zes studio, I cant think of anyone who would want to hurt my sister. Qiao Yues heart skipped a beat. What happened during her time away from KA? Jin Lu stood up and knelt before Qiao Yue. Please help us. I was at my wits end, so I thought of finding you. Please help us. Im willing Willing to pay any price. Qiao Yue rubbed her throbbing be. This matter was moreplicated than she had imagined. Then tell me first, how did you know my identity? Qiao Yue pulled Jin Lu up from the floor and held her shoulders, staring straight into her eyes. Meanwhile, two boys clenched their fists tightly outside the office windows. These were the boys who mocked Qiao Yue with Qiao Xin just now. One was Li Rong and the other, Li Cheng. They were brothers and fans of UE. UE was an alternative band, and its fans were mostly otakus. These otakus were usually not very satisfied with their own lives and gave their heart and soul to their idols. Although Li Rong and Li Cheng came from well-to-do families, they spent half their pocket money chasing their idols. They were also crazy about their idols. They would be considered sasaeng fans in the South Korean culture, who stalked their idols, even sneak into their idols houses. They also treated their idols as their actual lovers. These two boys were fans of UE and were famous for being sasaeng fans in the industry. I didnt expect this innocent looking Jin Lu to seduce a student. Yeah, look at her. Shes kneeling before Qiao Yue. Li Rong grabbed callously at the vines outside the office windows. What kind of magic potion did Qiao Yue feed Jin Lu? She couldnt have left the band because of this kid, right? Li Chengs eyes were fixed on Jin Lu and Qiao Yue, who were talking in the office. I spent so much money on her and attended every single band performance. What right does she have to treat me like this? We spent so much money on her for nothing. What a heartless woman. Li Rong gritted his teeth and said. Qiao Yue is still more detestable. Dont you know that hes a scumbag? Li Cheng said viciously. Watching Jin Lu walk Qiao Yue out, Li Cheng couldnt take it anymore and picked up a brick, ready to teach Qiao Yue a lesson. Li Rong stopped his brother. Brother Cheng, if you beat him up, the Qiao family will not let you off. Li Cheng threw the brick on the ground. Then, what should we do? Li Rong quietly moved closer to Li Cheng and whispered something. Li Chengs eyes suddenly lit up, and the two of them looked at each other andughed. Li Cheng said, Sure. Since he dared to be intimate with Jin Lu, well let him get kicked out of school. Chapter 182 - 182 Refuse to Join Forces 182 Refuse to Join Forces The brothers, Li Rong and Li Cheng, arrived at Qiao Yues ssroom. They were not here for Qiao Yue though. They were here for Sun Bin. Sun Bin had been studying hardtely. He would stay back after school every day to finish his homework for the day. The two of them saw that Sun Bin was the only person in the ssroom, so they walked in and sat down beside him. Li Rong put his arm around Sun Bins shoulder. Sun Bin, youve been working hard recently. !! Sun Bin shrug his shoulder to shake off Li Rongs arm. Im studying. Dont disturb me. The three of them knew each other but not well. Sun Bin found it strange that they were putting arms around each others shoulders. You must be very worried about your exam results now. Your parents probably wont let you drop out, right? Li Rong said. Sun Bins parents were people who paid attention to Sun Bins education. Although they didnt expect Sun Bin to be first in ss, they wouldnt let him to drop out of school because of a bet. Sun Bin looked at the brothers with a frown. Since you know, then dont disturb my study. Sun Bin was confident that if he studied hard, he would definitely score better than Qiao Yue. Even if Qiao Yue studied hard now, his foundation formed at a rural high school wouldnt be as good as his. Moreover, his mother worked in an information technology firm. He had been learning programming since young, so he was confident that he would do better than Qiao Yue. We have a way for you to beat Qiao Yue, Li Rong leaned over and said in Sun Bins ear. Sun Bin pushed Li Rong away. Im not interested. I dont know why you are picking on Qiao Yue but mypetition with him has to be fair and square. Li Cheng put his arm around Sun Bins shoulder. Dont be so square. Helping you is helping ourselves. Helping yourselves? Li Cheng and Li Rong told Sun Bin about what happened between Qiao Yue and Jin Lu. Sun Bin frowned as he listened. He couldnt believe it. Although everyone said that Qiao Yue was a scumbag, he wouldnt be so crazy as to seduce a teacher. Im not working with you, Sun Bin rejected their invitation firmly. Li Rong mmed his palm on the table in exasperation. Dont think that we cant do anything if you dont work with us. I want to win thepetition fair and square. Sun Bin stood up and looked sharply at both boys. Im not joining forces with you. Li Cheng stood in front of Li Rong. Stop quarreling, you two. You can decide if you want to work with us after the monthly test. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue had already gone home and it was dinner time. Todays dishes were more sumptuous than usual. The grandchildren were all seated at the table, but the old master and his sons hadnt arrived. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes when she saw Qiao Yue. She was still brooding over what happened in the afternoon. Qiao Yue ignored Qiao Xins displeasure, checking her phone from time to time for Xiao Jias response. On her way home, Qiao Yue had asked YQ to investigate what happened between UE and Qiao Zespany. It should have been a quick check but Xiao Jia hadnt given her any feedback. When Qiao Yue got up to get herptop from upstairs to check things herself, the old master was wheeled downstairs by his sons. The few of them must have just had a conversation. Qiao Yi and Qiao Lis faces were as ck as the bottom of a burnt pot. When they saw Qiao Yue, their expressions got even worse. Qiao Ren, on the other hand, looked normal but when he saw Qiao Yue, his eyes twitched a little. When the grandchildren saw Old Master Qiao, they all stood up and greeted him. After Old Master Qiao sat, everyone sat down to eat. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue naturally took the seats closest to the old master. Old Master Qiao seemed sprightly and was in a good mood. How was school today? Not bad. Qiao Yue said as she picked up some food for her grandfather. Old Master Qiao nodded. Study hard. Grandpa has a gift for you. A gift? Qiao Xin was the first one to look at Qiao Yue, her eyes filled with jealousy. It had only been a few days, and the old master already had a gift for Qiao Yue? And she, his favorite granddaughter had nothing Grandpa, what are you giving fifth brother? Qiao Xin said in a resentful tone. Later, Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze will show you in the garage. Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze nodded in agreement. At this moment, Qiao Yues phone vibrated, and a message popped up. Chapter 183 - 183 Car Racing 183 Car Racing Qiao Yues eyes flickered when she saw the message, but her expression remained still. Dont look at your phone during mealtimes. Focus on eating. Old Master Qiao pretended to be angry and said to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue turned off her phone, nodded, and happily ate the food that the old master picked up for her. After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms while Qiao Ze and Qiao Jing took Qiao Yue to the garage. Although it was called a garage, it was really a parking lot that was dozens of kilometers long. The younger Qiaos loved cars and each of them owned dozens of luxury cars, even supercars. Including the family cars that they were chauffeured in, there were more than four to five hundred cars parked here. The family also had their own security guards and maintenance staff for these vehicles. So, Grandpa gave me a car? Qiao Jing held out a car key and pressed the button. A Mercedes-Maybach not far away shed its headlights. That one. The three of them walked to the car. It was a blue Mercedes-Maybach. Qiao Yue studied the car. It looked like it had been modified for mountain racing. What do you think, fifth brother? This car isnt bad, right? I personally found the team who modified it. Qiao Ze walked to the side of the car and opened the door. Ive specially modified this cars fuel consumption and speed. It can race on icy mountain roads. The suspension has also been modified for off-road racing. Itll be most exciting to race in this car. Fourth brother has asked me many times but I didnt give it to him. Qiao Yue smiled and nodded. Thank you, third brother. Qiao Jing frowned and looked at Qiao Ze. A modified car like this is not safe on the road. Qiao Ze shook his head and let out a maniacalugh. Of course its safe. My people are all professionals. If you dont believe me, why dont we have a little race? Qiao Yue had only heard from Qiao Yu that Qiao Ze owns a racetrack, but she had never raced with Qiao Ze. This was a good opportunity, and she also needed to discuss something with Qiao Ze. Qiao Ze, Grandpa only asked us to give the car to Xiao Yue. Theres no need for anything else. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Ze with a frown. Car racing was not on his list. Qiao Yue, are you game? Qiao Ze ignored Qiao Jings words and asked Qiao Yue. Its already nighttime. Qiao Jing grabbed Qiao Yues arm. Qiao Yue looked at him and shook her head slightly. The racetrack on the nearby mountain should be lit. Dont worry. As they spoke, Qiao Ze had already started a red Grand Cherokee next to them. The red body of the car glowed in the dark, looking dangerous yet charming, which matched Qiao Zes temperament. Then lets meet at the end of the racetrack, which is at the top of the mountain, east of the city. Qiao Ze closed the car door after he finished speaking. Alright, Qiao Yue replied as she got into her car. Seeing that he couldnt stop the two, Qiao Jing opened the door to the front passenger seat and got into Qiao Yues car. Second brother, do you know whos usually in the front passenger seat during a race? When racing, the person sitting in the front passenger seat was usually the race queen whos apanying the driver. Qiao Jings face was cold, and he didnt answer Qiao Yues question. Come home quickly after the race. Dont let Grandpa worry. Qiao Yue turned her head in disappointment and started driving. She was hoping to see Qiao Jings defeated expression. As the timer began, both cars sped towards the east of the city. The racetrack was one of Qiao Zes properties. It was located on Mount Baicheng in the east of the city. The mountainous track had more than a hundred bends and was suitable for motorcycle, car and off-road racing. Its difficulty level was extremely high, and the track was dangerous. However, there were still many rich kids who went to challenge it. There was a hairpin turn on the track, which was known as the Bend of Death. Any slight deviation would cause one to fall off the cliff, and the end of the racetrack was at the top of the mountain. This track is very dangerous, be careful. Qiao Jing reminded Qiao Yue. He had oncepeted here with the brothers of the Qiao family a long time ago. Qiao Yue had raced on more dangerous racing circuits overseas, so she wasnt worried. When the staff of the racetrack heard that Qiao Ze was racing, they lit up all the streetlights along the circuit. The streetlights cast a yellow glow on the road, making the track look like a ribbon tied around the mountain. At the end of the ribbon was a white stone carving, which looked like Ophanim in the Bible. It looked like an eye wrapped in gears. It was also lit up, as if it was watching the three brothers who wereing. Chapter 184 - 184 Bend of Death 184 Bend of Death The two cars soon arrived at the starting line of the racetrack. Unlike from a distance, the mountain track looked high up in the clouds up close. The turns also looked treacherous, with the danger of falling off the cliff at any time. Although the track was lit, the trees that were all around them looked dark and a little scary. Be careful, Qiao Jing said. Will do, Qiao Yue smiled. She had participated in simr underground racing when she was abroad. At that time, it was a territory fight between two gangs. Her opponents were desperadoes trying to expand the local red-light district and their illegal businesses abusing women. !! To protect safety of the neighborhood, Qiao Yue drove at 180 miles per hour during the race, leaving the cars behind to sigh at her exhaust. At the finish line, due to the overused tires, she almost became scraps with the car. Luckily, she managed to jump out at thest second before the car exploded. Since then, she became a legend in local underground racing. Although Qiao Yue had never driven on Qiao Zes refurbished track, she had seen the topographic map. She had a good memory andputational power. Even if she had not travelled the road before, she could predict the speed at which she could safely pass each curve. The two cars got on the track at the same time. There were fournes on this track, so four cars were allowed to race at any one time. Qiao Ze and Qiao Yues cars upied the two middlenes. The two cars were almost on the same level, and it was hard to tell whose was better. It looks like this race is going to be a draw, Qiao Jing said. Qiao Yue smiled and looked at the mountain road in front of her with squinted eyes. Not necessarily. This is just the beginning. Why the suddenpetition? Qiao Jing asked, frowning. Because third brother has a secret he hasnt told me. A secret? Qiao Jing frowned. He was a little ufortable when he heard this. When did Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze be so close that she even had to know Qiao Zes secret? I also have a secret that I havent told you, Qiao Jing said unhurriedly. Qiao Yue burst intoughter. Why did Qiao Jings words sound so childish? If youd like to, we can also have a race. There was a sharp turn in front. Qiao Yue didnt turn the steering wheel. Instead, she drove straight, and in front of them was a cliff. Be careful! When the front of the car was about to touch the guardrail at the edge of the cliff, Qiao Yue turned the steering wheel and steered the car in the right direction. She then stepped on the gas and the car sped forward, overtaking Qiao Zes by half a car. Second brother, Ive already said that this is just the beginning. An hour ago YQ sent the information about Jin Lu and her sister to Qiao Yue. Jin Lus sister wasst seen at a KTV. YQ had hacked into the KTVs systems and saw the surveince footage from that day. The girl named Jin Yan didnte out of the private room they were in. Instead, a few people came out of the room with a huge gunny sack and left through the back door. If he guessed right, it should be Jin Yan in that gunny sack. Not long after, Qiao Ze brought his men to the KTV and seemed to have said something to the host in the private room. The KTV was Qiao Zes property. A ce like a KTV had always been a breeding ground for all kinds of illegal activities. However, its very difficult to do anything illegal here without permission from the KTV staff. Qiao Ze must have known about Jin Yan, but why did he acquiesce to this kind of behavior? He had just said a few days ago that he would not get involved in his fathers illegal activities. In the blink of an eye, he seemed to be breaking thew on his own property. Qiao Yue maintained her speed that was one car ahead of Qiao Ze. Qiao Ze rolled down his car window. Qiao Jing saw it and did the same. The mountain breeze came in and blew Qiao Yues bangs, revealing her bright eyes. Qiao Jing stared at her in a daze, feeling a little awkward as he rted the moment to the hug that Qiao Yue pushed away yesterday. Not bad, fifth brother. However, Im going to overtake you soon. Qiao Zes voice was heard, in his usual rebellious tone. Chapter 185 - 185 A Long Chat 185 A Long Chat Qiao Yue paid no attention to Qiao Ze. She floored the elerator and overtook Qiao Ze by a whole car. At this time, they were already halfway through the racetrack and thest ce to overtake was at the hairpin turn ahead. There was a cliff between the two ends of the pin. If the car had enough power, it could jump the cliff to the other end of the pin. There was even a ramp built specially for that purpose. However, no one had ever used that ramp. After all, if one went too far, they could fall off the mountain altogether. No one would kid around with their lives. When they were near the Bend of Death, Qiao Ze suddenly elerated, and the two cars were tied. Qiao Yue also sped up and rushed up ramp ahead of Qiao Ze. The momentum of the car helped her jump the cliff. Even though Qiao Jing was experienced and knowledgeable, he was still a little frightened. Qiao Yue was crazier than he had imagined. However, to his surprise, Qiao Ze did not go up the ramp. Instead, he went up one end of the pin and drove in reverse into the other end. Reversing the car saved time for the turn, and the two cars were tied again. One of them jumped the cliff, while the other drove in reverse at thest turn of the racetrack. Both were daredevils. Both cars rushed toward the finish line where the statue of an Ophanim watched them quietly. The statuesrge eye seemed toe alive in the darkness, its gaze merciful as it watched all good and evil. When the two cars were about two hundred meters away from the statue, Qiao Ze overtook Qiao Yue and drove face to face with her car, the fronts of their cars almost kissing. Qiao Zeughed maniacally through his car window. Qiao Yue changednes and Qiao Ze followed suit. However, Qiao Yue did not continue to drive forward. Instead, she turned her car sideways and blocked Qiao Ze. Qiao Ze had no choice but to turn the car around. This time, Qiao Yue was in front. Qiao Yue was the first to reach the finish line. The three of them got out of their cars. Qiao Ze took out cans of beer from his car and threw one at each of them. The statue of the Ophanim looked even bigger from here. Its huge pupil faced them, casting apassionate and cold gaze at the three of them. Third brother, why is there a statue of an Ophanim at the end of this racetrack? Qiao Yue broke the silence. Ophanim upholds justice for the world Qiao Ze opened his can of beer with a loud bang and took a swig of the bitter liquid. Ophanim was the third or fourth angel in the Bible, in charge of upholding justice for the world. The Ophanim doesnt actually have a physical existence. He doesnt care about material things or the mortal world. He only cares about things that are unfair and unjust. He is the chariot of God. Qiao Ze said. Thats meaningful. Qiao Yue nodded. The night breeze blew past them, and the night became still again. Third brother, did you bring me here in hopes that I would judge you, or do you want to tell me something? Qiao Yue looked into Qiao Zes eyes and asked. So, you already know. Qiao Ze smiled bitterly. I thought you would believe what I said yesterday. I believe you didnt do those things. But could you exin to me what happened to Jin Yan, please? Qiao Yue said. What is this? Qiao Jing frowned. He couldnt stand the two of them talking in riddles. It didnt feel good to be kept in the dark. Qiao Ze, what have you done with your father behind my back? Qiao Ze smiled. If I told you that I have no part in those things, will you believe me, second brother? Qiao Zes second brother didnt contain his usual sarcastic or mocking tone. Instead, he sounded serious. As long as you didnt do anything that goes against the Qiao family rules, Ill believe you. Qiao Jing replied coldly. The two brothers had never had such a conversation before. Usually, they would either mock or ignore each other. This was the first time they had a serious talk. I didnt do it. If you need evidence, I can give it to you. Qiao Ze looked at Qiao Yue and said. I dont have Jin Yan. I also just found out that Qiao Yi was using my KTV to do that kind of thing. Hes also in cahoots with my manager, using my studio to recruit the girls they need. Qiao Yue was quiet. Although Qiao Ze was mostly unrestrained, hes rather serious about his career. He had probably spent a lot of time and effort to set up his studio but Qiao Yi actually used it to recruit female students. This was equivalent using Qiao Zes precious career to hold him hostage. Chapter 186 - 186 The Birthday Party 186 The Birthday Party Do you know where they sent the abductees? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Ze shook his head. I only know that they deal at the end of every month, but theyve just been found out by me. Im afraid their next deal will only happen next month. It seemed that the next deal might be in December. Qiao Jing had a rough idea of what was going on. If they were found out, your career might be jeopardized. Qiao Yue didnt n to use any of her influence and power in C-Country. Such cases always ended up in the hands of the police and the count ofw. However, once the police was involved, this matter would be public news, and it might end Qiao Zes career as an artiste. You are willing to throw away your career? Qiao Yue asked. Im not afraid of such rumors. Ive already told you yesterday. Qiao Ze looked at the gigantic pupil on the Ophanim and smiled bitterly. This shouldnt be what the Qiao family is known for. Qiao Jing nodded. At the end of next month, I will think of a way to deal with this. He looked at Qiao Yue and asked, Will KA also step forward? KA? Its now Qiao Zes turn to be confused. Could Qiao Yue be rted to KA? Qiao Yue sighed, Yes. Fifth brother, are you rted to KA? Qiao Ze asked with a frown. However, as soon as he asked, Qiao Ze regretted it. The talent that Qiao Yue had exhibited during this period was not something that a child from a mountain vige could have. Qiao Yues resume was definitely not as simple as he had thought. Just a little. Qiao Yue answered guiltily. My fifth brother is indeed no ordinary person. Qiao Ze nodded. Then Ill leave it to both of you. He let out a long sigh. If your acting career ends,e to Qiao Corporation. Qiao Jing said suddenly. Qiao Jing had always been in charge of Qiao Corporation. Qiao Xuan and Qiao Ze had their own careers and avoided crossing paths. If Qiao Ze joined thepany, it would mean that he would have control over a part of the Qiao family business. People would then start to specte about the distribution of the Qiao family assets, and Qiao Jings position might bepromised. Qiao Ze shook his head. Its okay. I could use a break. He smiled bitterly before he added, Itste. Lets go home. After that, he went back into his car. Qiao Yue wanted to follow him but was stopped by Qiao Jing. Let your third brother have some time alone. Qiao Zes car disappeared at the end of the road. Qiao Yue looked at the huge statue of the Ophanim and sighed, I dont want to sacrifice third brothers career. Qiao Jing patted her on the shoulder. The two of them stood under the statue for a long time without speaking. The days gradually calmed down and Qiao Yue seemed to have gone back to being just a student. She went to school and came home at the same time every day. Renovation of Yayi had also beenpleted, and the club was back in business. However, the people at Yayi had received orders to go to Qiao Zes KTV at the end of December to arrest Qiao Yi and his gang. In the blink of an eye, it was the day of Bo Nings birthday party. Rumor had it that both Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu were invited to the birthday party, so all the girls were filled with excitement as they went around to verify their attendance. Two of the schools most handsome men were going to the party. Bo Ning was indeed capable. Bo Nings birthday party was on a Friday at the Bo Mansion. Bo Nings parents were in politics. Their mansion looked low profile but exuded an air of unostentatious wealth. Although the furnishings in the courtyard were not very eye-catching, Qiao Yue could tell that the mountains,kes, and stones were of the best quality. Thendscape was simple but the nts and sculptures were very expensive. The Bo Mansion didnt look like the home of ordinary government officials. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu arrived at the Bo Mansion together. The girls at the birthday party almost went crazy as they crowded around the Qiao boys, asking them this and that. Bo Ning walked over and put her arm in Qiao Yues. Qiao Yue frowned, wanting to move away but Bo Ning whispered in her ear, Do you want to know the secret? Its about your second brother. If you do, dont push me away. As Bo Ning got close, Qiao Yue could smell the perfume on her. It smelt of oranges and lemons. It was so sweet that Qiao Yue felt a little dizzy. Was there something else added to the perfume? The people around them saw Bo Ning with her arm in Qiao Yues and began to gossip. Did Qiao Yue like Bo Ning? Such intimate act between the two? Qiao Yue ignored Bo Nings threat, took her arm and moved it away from hers. Chapter 187 - 187 Duped 187 Duped What do you mean? Dont you want to know Qiao Yue frowned at Bo Ning. You should know what you shouldnt do, Miss Bo. Qiao Yue was only interested in Qiao Jings secret. She had absolutely no interest in Bo Ning. After all, Qiao Yue was a girl herself and she had no such inclination towards girls. Bo Nings smile froze as she let go of Qiao Yues arm. Okay. Wait for me after the birthday party. Ill tell you the secret then. After saying that, Bo Ning went into the Bo Mansion. Qiao Yu was surrounded by a group of girls with a polite smile on his face. Qiao Yue was amused. Qiao Yu had helped her share the burden of the girls attention and shes happy to be free. Qiao Yue sat in the courtyard and read on her phone the n that Xiao Jia sent her. Without the Godfathers help, they were a little short-handed. Qiao Yue felt her head throbbing as she recalled herst phone call with the Godfather. Two years. Already more than a month had passed. She didnt know if she had enough time to finish what she came back to do. Everyone was enjoying the party in the courtyard when it started to snow. The servants hurriedly brought the tables and food back into living room while serving mulled wine to the guests in the courtyard. Qiao Yue also took a ss of the mulled wine and took a sip. Fresh oranges, lemons, and cherries were added to red wine to cover up the sourness of the wine. The Bo family had a good chef. Although Qiao Yue didnt like to drink that much, she enjoyed her ss of mulled wine. Meanwhile, Bo Ning smiled smugly as she stood by the window on the second floor, watching the figure by the pool, whos enjoying the snow and drinking wine. Just now, she had specially instructed the servant to put something in Qiao Yues wine. It was a colorless and odorless drug that would react with the special perfume she was wearing, and then some indescribable things might happen. Bo Ning had noticed Qiao Yue long ago, but she didnt like him. She looked at Qiao Yue, who had just finished his mulled wine, and a cold smile appeared on her face. Scumbag, Im going to embarrass you big time today! The mulled wine was a little strong. Qiao Yue turned off her phone and watched the snow. She was able to hold her liquor but something in the mulled wine made her dizzy. Just as everyone was drinking, Bo Ning walked down the stairs. She was wearing a pink dress with a furry cloak. The dress was made up ofyers of pink chiffon, whichplemented her snow-white skin and made her look very elegant. She wore her ck wavy hair down. The soft curls fell on her shoulders and she looked extremely beautiful. Shes so pretty. Shes a real goddess. She looks good with both long and short hair. Everyone eximed in admiration. Qiao Yue felt that something was wrong. She felt her body temperature rise and Bo Nings perfume scarily overpowering. They were standing so far apart, yet she could smell the orangey scent. There was something wrong with her mulled wine! Qiao Yue clutched her arm, her nails digging in, leaving ring red marks. This Bo Ning, she really shouldnt have trusted her. However, this dosage was nothing. Since its snowing today, lets cut the cake in the snow. Bo Ning walked around Qiao Yue to the middle of the courtyard. There was a big threeyered cake there, which the servant had not moved. Qiao Yue frowned and took a step back. Bo Nings perfume reacted to what she had just drunk. As long as she stayed away from Bo Ning, she should be fine. Bo Ning walked up to the cake, picked up the cake knife and started to cut the cake. Against the snowy backdrop, she looked like an ice princess, and all the girls and boys present gasped in admiration. The two brothers, Li Cheng and Li Rong, were also invited to the birthday party. They looked at Qiao Yue with hateful expressions. Like Jin Lu, these girls were also fooled by Qiao Yues face. Qiao Yue was not a good person. Bo Ning divided the cake and asked the servants to bring a piece to each of the guests. Only Qiao Yues piece was personally served by Bo Ning. Qiao Yue held her breath when Bo Ning walked over. Bo Ning looked at Qiao Yue and tilted her head slightly. Why dont you try it? This is a custom-made cake and its delicious. Chapter 188 - 188 Tenderness 188 Tenderness Qiao Yue looked at Bo Ning coldly and said, I dont like sweets. But since you came to the birthday party, you should have some. Bo Ning replied. Thats right. Since youve epted Bo Nings invitation, if you dont eat some cake, youll be letting down her kind intentions. Hearing the crowds cheers, Qiao Yue frowned, took a step back to avoid the overpowering perfume on Bo Ning, and took a bite of the cake. It was just an ordinary butter cake with icing, and there was no strange taste. Bo Ning probably did not do anything to the cake. Even so, Qiao Yue still felt a strong sense of difort as she felt dizzier by the minute. She put down the cake and wanted to find a ce to calm down. Qiao Yu noticed her expression and walked up to her. He grabbed Qiao Yues arm, pushing Bo Ning to the side. Whats wrong? Are you alright? Qiao Yue shook her head. Qiao Yus hand on her arm was cold, but she felt a strange feeling. What was going on? She looked up at Qiao Yus concerned face, and the ufortable feeling came back. She knew what Bo Ning had put in her wine! Do you have a fever? Qiao Yu reached out to touch Qiao Yues forehead. I dont. Qiao Yue shook off Qiao Yus hand and walked towards the vi. Li Rong and Li Cheng didnt know what Bo Ning had done, but they walked over deliberately to ask Qiao Yu, Is Qiao Yue okay? They couldnt wait to see Qiao Yue make a fool of himself. Qiao Yu ignored Li Rong and Li Cheng and looked in Qiao Yues direction. If he didnt see wrong, Qiao Yues face looked very red. Whats wrong with Qiao Yue? Bo Ning didnt care about Qiao Yues condition. Instead, she instructed the servants to turn on the projector to y a movie for her guests. When the movie started, everyones attention was focused on the screen, but Bo Ning sneaked away in a different direction. Qiao Yue found a bathroom inside the vi and locked herself in. She sshed cold water on her face, hoping to wake herself up quickly. She felt dizzy and couldnt focus at all. A persons figure kept circling in her mind. She held on to a pir in the bathroom, took out her phone, and subconsciously dialed a number. As soon as the call connected, the door opened, and Bo Ning appeared in her evening gown. At home, Qiao Jing had just finished a meeting with several board members of hispany. At the end of every year, these board members woulde back from all over the country to check on thepany performance for the year. Qiao Corporation had been expanding its business since Qiao Jing took over, and the board members were very pleased. After the meeting ended, it was time for the Board of Directors dinner. This year, the dinner was held at thergest five-star hotel in C-Country. Tonights dinner wasnt a formal one, so Qiao Jing went back to his room to change into casual clothes after the meeting. Qiao Jing was on his way to the dinner venue when his phone suddenly rang. Caller ID showed that it was Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue had never called him before. Could there be some emergency? He answered the call but didnt hear Qiao Yues voice. Instead, he heard an argument. Bo Ning looked at Qiao Yues flushed face andughed. Whats the matter, the number one scumbag of Harvey? Tell me what youre thinking now. I dont like you, so why did you drug me with this? Although Qiao Yue felt dizzy, her mind was still clear. Drugging her with this drug might not make Qiao Yue feel attracted to Bo Ning, but she might feel attracted to boys. She looked at Bo Ning, with just a feeling of dizziness. Why did you treat Xiaoxiao like that? Qiao Yue frowned. That happened so long ago. How could she still be faulted for it? I didnt do anything to Xiaoxiao. Bo Ning walked over and grabbed Qiao Yues cor. You broke her heart, and youre still entangled with so many girls. In all honesty, Qiao Yue usually kept a respectful distance from the girls in school. When did she be entangled with so many girls? I also heard from Li Cheng that you and Teacher Jin Lu have an improper rtionship. Qiao Yue felt aggrieved. What could a girl like her do to these girls? Unfortunately, Bo Ning didnt know that she was a girl. But I dont n to do anything with you today. Ive installed a camera in this bathroom. When you act upter, everything will be recorded. Then, everyone will know that youre a jerk. Chapter 189 - 189 Illicit Drug 189 Illicit Drug Qiao Yue suddenly became alert when she heard the word camera. Your n is to drug me so that I would harass you and then record everything? Qiao Yue asked with a frown. Yes. Bo Ning saw that Qiao Yue hadnt reacted, so she walked up to him and held his hand. Qiao Yue felt that her body was hotter than Bo Nings, but how could she be turned on by Bo Ning? Qiao Yue took a step back and held her phone in her hand. Why are you so sure that Ill harass you? The drug I gave you was custom-made. Unless youre a woman, theres no way you wouldnt react to me. Qiao Yue almostughed out loud. It had really never urred to this person that she might be a woman. If I remember correctly, this kind of drug is illegal in C-Country. How did you get it? Qiao Yue leaned against the wall, trying her best to open her eyes wide so she could see clearly and to stall for time. If Qiao Jing had epted the call, he would have sent someone over. These drugs can be found on an merce website. Although its illegal, it wont be found out if no one reports it. Qiao Yue frowned. She didnt know much about this kind of illegal drug, but if it was so easily avable, wouldnt people like Qiao Yi use these drugs on the girls to make thempliant? Qiao Yue admired herself a little for being able to calmly analyze a forbidden drug under such circumstances. Alright, stop talking nonsense. The video recorded here will be projected on the big screen outside shortly. We have to hurry. God, this Bo Ning had actually set up a live broadcast! Qiao Yue slowly stood up against the wall. She took the shower head beside her, twisted it off with trembling hands, and held it in front of her. You know that Im good at beating people up, right? Bo Ningughed. Qiao Yue, youre not going so far as to hit a woman, are you? No wonder you are a scumbag. If you dont want to be beaten up, let me out now. Ill exin any misunderstanding that arises. Bo Ning sneered. She had heard words like these many times. Didnt all scumbags like to sweet talk? This wont work on me. Qiao Yue, Ill let everyone see your true colors today. Bo Ning reached out to grab Qiao Yues clothes as she spoke. Qiao Yue felt that shes in a trulyughable situation. The scenario was simple enough but the reason for it was stupid. How could she be duped by such a clumsy trick? Meanwhile, Qiao Yu realized that something was wrong. Qiao Yue and Bo Ning had both disappeared. Could something have happened between his fifth brother and Bo Ning? The more he thought about this, the more Qiao Yu felt that something was wrong. Also, Qiao Yue didnt look well just now. Just as he was about to look for Qiao Yue, he heard amotion outside. Qiao Jing came in with a few bodyguards. Second brother? Qiao Yu frowned. Why would his second brother be here? Qiao Yu ran up to Qiao Jing. Second brother, what happened? Qiao Jings face was as cold as ice. His eyes were frighteningly cold as he looked at Qiao Yu. He ignored Qiao Yu and led the bodyguards to the bathroom, where they knocked on the door. Bo Nings parents heard themotion and ran out. Whos causing a ruckus at my daughters birthday party? Bo Song asked sternly. Seeing that it was Qiao Jing, he greeted him quickly, Second Young Master Qiao. The Qiao family and the Land Management Bureau where Bo Song worked had several dealings a year, so Bo Song naturally knew Qiao Jing. I dont know what happened, but its my daughters birthday party today. Why is Second Young Master Qiao Before Bo Song could finish, Qiao Jing kicked the bathroom door to the ground. Qiao Jing walked in and saw Qiao Yue curled up on the ground holding a shower head and Bo Ning walking towards him aggressively. Qiao Jings eyes were cold, and Bo Ning was so scared that she quickly made way for him. Qiao Jing walked over and picked Qiao Yue up in his arms. Qiao Yue was already a little delirious at this time. She was still talking clearly over the phone just now but how could she have fainted in just a few minutes? Miss Bo, you used forbidden drugs and recorded people in secret. These are all illegal. Youre an adult now, so you must take responsibility for your own actions. Chapter 190 - 190 The Rescue 190 The Rescue Bo Ning had never encountered such a situation. She was scared and shocked. I didnt The Qiao familywyer will contact you. The people in the hall who had followed them in to watch the show were all frightened by Qiao Jings imposing aura. Everyone quietly made way for Qiao Jing to carry Qiao Yue out. Qiao Yue felt her body heat up again, while Qiao Jings body was cold. She felt the coolness like she was holding an ice cube in the hot summer. She couldnt help but wrap her arms around Qiao Jings neck, her entire body trembling. When Qiao Jing saw Qiao Yue like this, his eyes were shrouded in darkness. Meanwhile, the movie that was projected outside stopped ying and a video of what was happening in the bathroom was screened live. Everyone there knew Qiao Jing and knew that Qiao Yue and him were brothers, but they were all shocked to see Qiao Yue curled up in Qiao Jings arms. Although they were both men, the scene was like out of an anime. The crowd covered their mouths with their hands, and their faces looked like they had just hit something. Qiao Yu looked at the big screen and frowned. He had noticed that Qiao Yue looked unwell just now. His condition now. It seemed like he had been drugged! Qiao Yu, your fifth brother and second brother look like a good match. Someone came up to Qiao Yu and said. Qiao Yu grabbed the man by the cor. Theyre brothers. Youd better watch your words. Qiao Yu felt a little displeased, like a child whose toy had been snatched away. Qiao Jing carried Qiao Yue out of the vi. Bo Song and Bo Ning followed behind with gloomy faces. Second young master, please dont be angry. I can help fifth young master find a hospital. Please dont take your anger out on the Bo family. Bo Song looked at Qiao Jing with a panicked and ingratiating expression. Please dont hold it against my daughter, second young master. Qiao Jing got into the car expressionlessly, ignoring Bo Song who was shouting behind him. Qiao Yu walked over and was about to get into the front passenger seat when Qiao Jing suddenly said, Fourth brother, Ill take fifth brother to the hospital. You stay put at the Bo Mansion and investigate this matter. Qiao Yu looked worriedly at Qiao Yue, who was curled up in Qiao Jings arms. I will take good care of fifth brother. Qiao Yus face darkened. He closed the door and nodded at Qiao Jing. Second young master, are we going to the hospital now? Qiao Jing shook his head and hugged the person in his arms even tighter. No, back to my private residence. Qiao Jing was the only one who knew that Qiao Yue was a girl. Although the Qiao family also owned a hospital, it was hard to guarantee that there would be no leaks. Although Qiao Jing still didnt understand why Qiao Yue was pretending to be a boy, he decided to keep her secret. The assistant looked at Qiao Jing, who was holding Qiao Yue tightly in the back seat, and was a little confused. Why did these two young masters look more like a couple than brothers? Although Qiao Yue was a boy, looking at his features, he would be very pretty as a girl too. If the fifth young master was really a girl, the second young master would probably like her as well, right? The assistant couldnt help but turn around again. Turn back around, Qiao Jing saw his assistants actions and ordered coldly. Qiao Yue was feeling sicker by the minute. She clung to Qiao Jing and the distance between them closed. Qiao Yues eyshes trembled slightly, and she looked at Qiao Jing in confusion, her eyes misty. Qiao Jing had never seen Qiao Yue in such a fragile state. She waspletely different from when she was injured, and she had a power that drew people in. Dont move. Qiao Jing tightened his grip to hold her steady. Qiao Yue opened her mouth slightly, as if she had something to say. Qiao Jing leaned closer to listen. Qiao Yues voice was low and she was panting softly. Please find out how Bo Ning got the aphrodisiac It might have something to do with Qiao Yis illegal business. Alright, Qiao Jing replied before he patted her on the head. Be good. She was in such a state and yet she was thinking about investigating the matter. Qiao Yue snuggled her head against Qiao Jings hand and her rationality almost disappeared in their intimate distance. She unconsciously reached out and pressed her face against Qiao Jings hand. Qiao Jings hand was cold, which eased the heat caused by the drug. She gently opened her mouth and licked his palm like a cat. Qiao Jings face darkened. Chapter 191 - 191 Chaos 191 Chaos The scene of Qiao Yue kissing him a few months ago surfaced in Qiao Jings mind. He retracted his arm and pinched it in an attempt to calm himself down. This drug was too powerful. He had never seen Qiao Yue like this. There were other people in the car, and he didnt want anyone to see Qiao Yue like this. !! Fortunately, the driver drove speedily, and they arrived at his private residence in less than ten minutes. He put Qiao Yue on the bed. He smelled the perfume on Bo Ning when he was talking to her just now. He knew the effects of this perfumebined with the aphrodisiac. He called the hospital and asked them to send the antidote. It would take at least half an hour for the medicine to arrive. He really didnt know how Qiao Yue would survive this time. Qiao Jing loosened his cor and felt his body burn. The feeling of the girls tongue licking his palm and the wonderful touch when holding her still lingered on his hands. He walked into the bedroom to check on Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was lying in bed and hugging his nket. Her face was pressed against the nket, as if there was something on it that calmed her down. The girl panted softly. At this moment, Qiao Yue didnt look like the usual ruffian youth. Instead, she hadpletely revealed her girly side. Qiao Jing walked over and held her hand. She moaned and snuggle her face against his hand. This drug was very powerful. He had seen women who had been drugged with it and sent to his bed. The way they tore off their clothes and stuck themselves to him was nauseating. This drug devoured human nature and heightened sexual desire. It could make the most emotionless people face each other with naked sincerity in the mostpromising positions, until they fell into the quagmire of lust. However, Qiao Yue wasnt that kind of person. Even though she had been drugged, she could still rationally ask him to investigate the source of this illicit drug. When Qiao Jing was still in a daze, Qiao Yue suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down. Qiao Jing couldnt avoid her in time and his whole body was on top of Qiao Yue. The two of them were so close that their lips were almost touching. Qiao Jings rational mind told him to sit up immediately, but when he saw the girls face, he suddenly had the urge to kiss her. Before he could figure out what he was going to do, Qiao Yue raised her head and closed the distance between them. Their lips touched. It wasnt a deep kiss, just a light peck. Qiao Yues eyes were tightly shut, as if she was trying to hold back something. Her mouth was slightly open. If Qiao Jing wanted to, he could deepen the kiss at any time. But Qiao Jing didnt. He clenched his fists and put them next to Qiao Yues waist, trying hard to control himself. Qiao Yue was clearly the one who was drugged, but why did it seem like he was drugged too? The two of them remained in this position. Qiao Yues body was still hot, and she was groaning as if she was protesting about Qiao Jing not deepening the kiss. Finally, the doorbell rang, and the assistant brought in the medicine. Qiao Jing helped Qiao Yue sit up. Her fringe was wet with sweat and her whole body was wet, as if she had been drenched. He poured a cup of hot water and fed Qiao Yue the medicine. After a few minutes, Qiao Yue calmed down and slowly fell asleep. Qiao Jing tucked her in and let her sleep while he turned and walked out of the room. Qiao Yu, along with Bo Ning and Bo Song, were already waiting in the living room. Qiao Jings private residence was usually only upied when he worked overtime. Its usually empty. The living was even more deserted, and Bo Ning shivered slightly. The atmosphere in the living room was too somber, as if a trial was about to take ce. Qiao Jing straightened his clothes as he walked into the living room. Bo Song saw Qiao Jing and quickly stood up. He bowed and asked, Is the fifth young master alright? Do you need me to find a woman to help him Qiao Jing picked up a ss of water from the table and thew the water at Bo Songs head. How could this old man still be so arrogant at this time? It was because of Bo Songs parenting that Bo Ning was audacious enough to do such a thing! Chapter 192 - 192 Source of the Illicit Medicine 192 Source of the Illicit Medicine Qiao Jings face was long when he said, Miss Bo, youd bettere clean about what youve done today. He turned on his phone and showed her a video of the bathroom where Bo Ning had ced the camera. Drugging, recording people in secret and buying forbidden drugs. Every single offence can send Miss Bo to jail. Bo Song apologized hurriedly, My daughter doesnt know anything. Please dont let the police arrest her. Bo Song only had one daughter, Bo Ning, and he had raised her like a boy. Because he spoiled her too much, Bo Ning was fearless, which led to such an incident. Quickly apologize, Bo Song urged Bo Ning with a pat. Bo Ning was shocked. Her father was a high-ranking official, and he had always been the one who had the final say in the family. She had never seen him so humble to anyone. Im sorry, I only did it for the sake of justice. Justice? Qiao Jing found it even more amusing. Qiao Yue has always been a scumbag in our school. He lied to a girl Bo Nings voice trailed off. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yu. Qiao Yuughed. What scumbag? He only rejected our department belle, but she is persistent and keeps pestering fifth brother. Fifth brothers rejection wasnt too tactful and the rumors on the school forum are ridiculous. Thats probably why Miss Bo misunderstood. Bo Nings face turned red. Qiao Yu made it sound like she had a crush on the department belle. Qiao Jing did not expect this kind of misunderstanding. Qiao Yue seemed to be very popr at school. However, he knew that Qiao Yue was really a girl. How could she have any romantic rtionship with these girls? This Bo Ning was probably just a clueless person. Where did you buy the medicine from? From an merce website Would an merce website in C-Country sell such things? Qiao Jing frowned. The medicine contained hallucinogenicponents, even drugs. How could it be bought on an merce website? Bo Ning took out her phone andunched the merce website. The website was very well hidden. It used a novel website asunchpad. Once a user was in the novel website, he or she would see a discreetly ced link to the merce website. Once the link was clicked, the user would pay to register as a member before being allowed into the merce website. Qiao Jing looked at the sales volume of each drug and found that there were hundreds of thousands of sales. There were people in this country who actually used this method to profit. Actually, I could have bought it from a normal shopping website before, but I didnt need it then. I just saved the merchants contact information. When I needed the drug, it was the merchant who taught me how to buy it Bo Song gave Bo Ning a tight p. How could you do such a thing? Dont you know that this drug is illegal? Bo Ning was a little dizzy from the p. Her father had always loved her, and she had asked him indirectly about this matter, and he had approved it. Qiao Yu looked at the merce website. The website looks simple enough but it might be a little difficult to hack through its firewall. Qiao Yu was aputer science student, so he probably saw some vulnerabilities. Ill get someone from thepany to solve the problem. Second Young Master Qiao, you see, my daughter is just a na?ve girl. We have also apologized You need to apologize to Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing did not look at the father and daughter again. Bo Ning was stupid but her father, Bo Song, was no smarter. They probably chanced upon this, and they were not connected to Qiao Yues background or her past. There was no need to investigate this father and daughter anymore. Ill have my daughter prepare an apology. Please dont be angry. Apologize to Qiao Yue in three days, or Ill get someone to kick Bo Ning out of Harvey Academy. Thank you, Second Young Master Qiao. Bo Song heaved a sigh of relief, As for our cooperation Dealings between Qiao Corporation and the government will not be affected by personal grudges. Bo Song calmed himself down. Thank you. I will make sure that my daughter apologizes to the fifth young master as soon as possible. Chapter 193 - 193 Sacrifice 193 Sacrifice The drug caused drowsiness, so did the antidote. Qiao Yue slept until noon the next day. When she woke up, she realized that she wasnt at home. Thest thing she remembered was lying in Qiao Jings arms. She got up and checked her clothes. She was still wearing yesterdays clothes and because of the sweat, they were stuck to her body. She was sticky and dirty. Qiao Jing probably hadnt touched her. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief. She thought that her secret might havee out yesterday, but it was still hidden. She found a pair of sweatpants and a white shirt in the closet. In the closet were mostly Qiao Jings clothes. Qiao Jing was taller than her, but she could hold up his clothes, barely. Qiao Yue showered quickly, changed into fresh clothes and walked out of the bedroom. Qiao Jing didnt go to work. Instead, he sat at the dining table and worked on hisptop. Qiao Jing nced at Qiao Yue. She was wearing his white shirt and pants, which looked really loose on her. She had deliberately rolled up her trousers, revealing her delicate ankles, which were as white and slender as lotus roots. The image of their kiss from yesterday appeared in Qiao Jings mind. He turned his head away and said, Lunch is ready. If we eat now, you can still make it to your afternoon sses. Im sorry, second brother. Ive caused you trouble. Qiao Yue said with a smile. She quietly looked Qiao Jing up and down, trying to see if he had done anything out of line yesterday. Qiao Jings expression was his usual. She couldnt see anything different. It was an emergency yesterday. I had no choice but to ask second brother for help. Yes, Qiao Jing nodded and closed hisptop. On the dining table were in porridge with simple side dishes. That kind of medicine did some harm to the body, so Qiao Jing had specially asked someone to make something light and bring it to his private residence. Qiao Yue picked up the bowl and took a sip. The vegetable porridge was sweet and delicious. It should be the cooking of the servants at home. Thank you, second brother, for specially getting the Auntie at home to cook me this meal. Qiao Yueughed boisterously. Qiao Jing looked at her carefree attitude and suddenly had a different idea. If he told her that he knew that she was a girl, would their rtionship change? However, as soon as this thought emerged, Qiao Jing suppressed it. Be more careful in school and dont flirt around. Our family has never liked people who are too flirtatious. People said that I flirt, but I I know, Qiao Jing nodded. But you still have to be more careful. I dont want to have toe and deal with such things again. Qiao Yue stuck out her tongue. She didnt know how she could be so charming even when she was disguised as a boy. Did second brother investigate the source of the medicine? Qiao Jing nodded. I did but we havent found anything yet. Qiao Yue was a little suspicious. Bo Ning had mentioned yesterday that she bought it from an merce website. It shouldnt be too difficult to find out who the merchant was. After the two finished eating, Qiao Yue went to school. She had an elective music ss in the afternoon. Although it was not very important, it was still very important to Qiao Yue. After all, there was an exam for it. Although she had yed Flight of the Bumblebee from memoryst time, her rhythm was one big mess. She was afraid that she would be disadvantaged by this during the exam. Todays teacher was still Jin Lu. When Qiao Yue arrived, there were still ten minutes or more before ss started. When everyone saw her walk in, they looked at her strangely. Qiao Yue patted Xu Haos shoulder and asked, Whats wrong? Is there something on my face today? Xu Hao replied softly, Dont you know? Bo Ning apologized to you, saying that she shouldnt have drugged you. Youre quite lucky with women, boy, to have a girl drug you. Qiao Yue felt that this incident was too peculiar. How could she make a public apology for such a thing? Check out the online forum. Bo Ning has personally written you an apology letter. Qiao Yue took Xu Haos phone and read the apology letter. This Bo Ning really wasnt very bright. Her apology letter revealed her not-so-high IQ. Chapter 194 - 194 The Apology 194 The Apology Bo Nings apology letter was posted on the school forum using her own ID. It was a handwritten apology letter. Throughout the letter, Bo Ning exined why she had misunderstood Qiao Yue. After the misunderstanding, she decided to drug Qiao Yue to make him reveal his true colors. The reason seemed too strange, but that was what Bo Ning thought and did. Qiao Yue facepalmed herself. Why did shee across such a muddle-headed person? When people read this exnation, they would think that Bo Ning had taken a fancy to Qiao Yue and had found an even weirder reason to drug Qiao Yue. With such an apology, its better not to apologize. The bell for ss rang and Jin Lu walked in. She looked very haggard today without any makeup. Today, they started practice with a simple tude. Probably because of Bo Nings apology, everyones attention was on Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue felt as if there were dozens of curious eyes staring at her when she yed. After ss ended, Jin Lu called Qiao Yue to the teachers room. Its about my sister Well take action when they next deal, but Ive checked. Your sister should have been smuggled overseas, but my men in A-Country havent found her yet. Jin Lus eyes were filled with tears. She grew up with Jin Yan, and Jin Yan didnt treat her like an older sister, but more like a mother. The two sisters came from a poor family and relied on their own talents to get to where they were today. They did not expect to encounter such a thing. Thank you for helping us. Jin Lu took out a package, which contained a broken Hetian jade bracelet and a cut-open amulet with bloodstains on it. What is this? Qiao Yue frowned. Someone sent this to me a few days ago, together with an invitation to an audition. I dont know what happened to my sister. Qiao Yue frowned. These people were too outrageous. They used the audition to trick Jin Lus sister and they were using her sisters life now to threaten her. Ill think of a way to send more people to find your sister. When is your audition date? Christmas Day. Qiao Yue nodded. Christmas Day was the perfect day for Qiao Yis monthly deal, which Qiao Ze mentioned before. It seemed like she had to make this trip. Qiao Yue took the package. If you dont mind, I would like to take this to do a blood test. Jin Lu nodded. Ive already tried to give this to the prosecution, but they dont seem willing to ept the case. Neither the police nor the court were willing to ept the case. Just what kind of power was behind Qiao Yi? Qiao Yue frowned. I may need your cooperation for the operation next month. Jin Lu nodded with tears in her eyes. Ill do it. On her way out of the teachers room, Qiao Yue ran into Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu had just collected the exam admission tickets from the teachers room and was on his way back to the ssroom to distribute them. Why are you in the teachers room? Did a teacher ask you there for a chat? Qiao Yue put the package into her bag. A teacher just gave me something. Dont tell me its a female teacher! Fifth brother, you have to be more careful. Youre now a scumbag people wanted even if they had to drug you. Qiao Yu revealed a teasing smile. Alright, brother. There are only teachers here. Who knows which teacher has heard you say that? Your image would be destroyed. Qiao Yus smile disappeared. What happened between you and second brother yesterday? How did he know that you were in trouble? I called second brother. Qiao Yu replied with an oh and seemed a little disappointed. You can call me for help next time. I was just outside. You couldve asked me for help. Qiao Yues mind had been a little muddled after she was drugged. She only called Qiao Jing in a moment of emergency, forgetting that Qiao Yu was outside. Alright, fourth brother, Ill call you next time. She patted Qiao Yu on the shoulder. When Qiao Yu heard this, he felt a mix of disappointment and happiness. He didnt understand himself. Qiao Yue was just asking for help. Why was he jealous when his fifth brother asked his second brother for help? This was not like him. The two of them talked for a while before they went back to their ssroom. Everyone was either ying with their phones or chatting, except Sun Bin, who was studying hard. Sun Bin pursed his lips when he saw Qiao Yuee in. He was a little disgruntled. This Qiao Yue had clearly said that he wanted topete with him. Why did he skip ss this morning? Chapter 195 - 195 Studying 195 Studying Qiao Yue returned to her seat and looked at the book in front of her. While thinking about Jin Lu and her sister, she flipped through the book absentmindedly. Xu Hao saw that Qiao Yue was studying and turned to look at his own notes. After a while, he turned again to say something to Qiao Yue only to find that Qiao Yue had already flipped to the end of the book. You dont have to be so dramatic, do you? Xu Hao looked at Qiao Yue in disbelief. What? Qiao Yue snapped back to her senses. Youve almost finished revising the entire book? This is advanced mathematics. Even a genius cant read it so quickly, right? Xu Haos voice was very loud, and the people around them looked over. Sun Bin also looked over with a look of disbelief on his face. You dont have to insult me like this. Sun Bin walked over to Qiao Yues desk and looked at the book he was reading. You consider this an insult? Qiao Yue realized that Xu Hao had misinterpreted her actions, but she had no intention to exin herself. After all, she had already mastered the knowledge in the book. She just didnt expect Sun Bin to be so fragile. After she said this, Sun Bin left the ssroom with a long face. Qiao Yue didnt take the matter to heart. It was dinner time when she came home from school. There were very few people at the dining table today, only Old Master Qiao and a few of his grandchildren. Qiao Jing seemed to be busy and hadnte home. After Qiao Yue finished dinner, she returned to her room. Just as she took out her phone to make a call, someone knocked on her door. After she opened the door, Qiao Yu walked in with some fruits and milk. Qiao Yue burst outughing. What was going on? You need to replenish your vitamins and protein. I asked the servants to prepare these for you. Qiao Yue nodded and took the tray from Qiao Yu. As she was about close the door, Qiao Yu grabbed her hand. Dont you have anything to ask me? Qiao Yue was confused. What I mean is, is there anything you dont understand from reading these notes? I can tutor you for a bit. Qiao Yue shook her head. Your notes are very detailed. I can understand them. Dont worry. A look of disbelief appeared on Qiao Yus face. How could a student who scored 60 points on average have no questions studying on his own? Then let me hang out in your room. In case theres something you dont understand, you can ask me right away. Qiao Yue couldnt argue with him, so she let him in. Qiao Yue looked at the practice questions, while Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with his head rested on one hand. After a while, Qiao Yu realized that things were not quite what he had expected. Qiao Yue was reading too quickly. How can you read so quickly? Are you reading properly? Im reading carefully, Qiao Yue said, and I remember what I read. Qiao Yu didnt believe her. He asked a few questions from the book, and Qiao Yue answered them easily. Youve finished revising this book? I mugged this book today, so yes. Qiao Yue replied. Qiao Yu nodded. He didnt think that hed misjudged Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue had a good memory, and he could learn very quickly when he was serious. I believe that youll do well this time. Study hard. He handed the book back to Qiao Yue. Since you believe in me, you dont have watch over me here. Why dont you go back first? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Yu kept quiet as he looked at the books on Qiao Yues table. He had no intention of leaving. Fourth brother, do you have something to ask me? Qiao Yu shook his head. Nope. I just want to keep youpany. I have nothing to do anyway. Qiao Yus words were confusing. His request didnt sound like one between brothers, but more like one between lovers What was up with Qiao Yutely? Why was he so clingy? At this moment, someone knocked on the door. Qiao Jing was standing outside the door. As soon as he entered, he saw the two of them studying. Qiao Yu turned to Qiao Jing and smiled. Second brother. What are you doing here? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yu opened a book. Im studying with Qiao Yue. The mid-term exams areing up. Whats wrong? Is second brother not happy with something? No, Im here to check on Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue listened to their conversation and felt that they werepeting with each other. Hows your revision going? Qiao Jing bent down and looked at Qiao Yues book. He recognized Qiao Yus handwriting on the book. You can ask me if theres anything you dont understand. Qiao Yus also taking the exams, so dont take up his study time. Im basically done with my revision. Helping Qiao Yue can also help me remember better. Qiao Yu said with a smile to Qiao Jing. Chapter 196 - 196 The Plan 196 The n Looking at her brothers who werepeting for no reason, Qiao Yue quickly said, Ill study hard. Why dont both of you leave? I need some peace and quiet for my revisions. Qiao Jing didnt look like he was leaving as he pulled up a chair and sat next to Qiao Yue. Although he didnt say anything, his intentions were clear. Qiao Yu also showed no intention of leaving as he read a book with his head lowered. Qiao Yue was a little speechless as she looked at the two people in her room who refused to leave. She had other things to do today. Its impossible to carry out her n with these two around. Fortunately, Qiao Jings phone rang not long after. It seemed that something had happened at thepany, and he had to go and take care of it. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu. Im almost done with my revision. Fourth brother, why dont you go back first? Qiao Yu frowned and asked, Really? Youve finished studying? Its only ten oclock. Really. Qiao Yue nodded vigorously. Qiao Yue pushed Qiao Yu out the door and heaved a sigh of relief after closing it. What was going on with these two? Why must they gather at her room today? Qiao Yue had already contacted Qiao Ze today. Arrangements had been made for people from Yayi to re Qiao Zes KTV today, so that they could familiarize themselves with theyout and people there before the day of their mission. Qiao Yue opened herptop and read the message Xiao Jia sent her. The KTV owned by Qiao Ze was named Zeyu. It was located in the middle of the main street of the citys entertainment center, a prime location. Although the location was very lively, the back door of the KTV opened into a dark and narrow alley. The alley led to the only slum in the downtown area. Most of the residents in the slum were poor migrant workers who came to the city to make a living. There were naturally many hooligans and gangsters, so it wasnt the safest ce in the city. The government had no intention of managing the myriad of people there, so it had always been chaotic. Illegal merchandises and trafficked persons would pass through this area to the slum before they were shipped to other ces. This alley was probably the way they transported the girls out. Hows the investigation on the forbidden medicineing along? Qiao Yue asked. We managed to hack through their firewall but found out that the website had already been hacked. Theres nothing there now. Its just an ordinary website. Someone had moved even faster than her? I remember that there is a very precious herb in the medicine that can only be extracted from ruby mines. You can investigate along this line. Xiao Jia replied promptly with an okay. Xiao Jia then sent a document containing a list of names; names of people who had bought forbidden herbs. Qiao Yue saw a familiar name on the list. Qiao Xin! Why did she buy such medicine? Qiao Yue scrolled right on the document and found the Qiao Xins purchase date and time, which was around the time when she first hunted down Trand. A bad idea suddenly emerged in Qiao Yues mind. Was Qiao Xin trying to seduce Trand using this medicine? That waspletely deranged. One more thing. Trands brother, Andy, ising to C-Country soon. I dont know if hes going to interfere in Trands affairs. Qiao Yue frowned. The people in Trands family had always kept their whereabouts under wraps. But his brother was so open about his whereabouts this time. Something must be wrong. On the organization side. Did the Godfather give any orders? Xiao Jia didnt reply for a while. Not at the moment, Xiao Jia finally replied. Now the problem had be very tricky. Andy was definitely interfering in Trands affairs. Andy was not a criminal. On the contrary, he was a member of parliament of D-Country and had even be an ambassador of the country this year. Trands arrogance probably had something to do with this brother who could protect him. On the surface, Andy didnt participate in Trands business, but he had provided financial assistance multiple times and had even proposed legal provisions that would benefit Trands business. Andys trip to C-Country this time was most likely for political reasons. But no one knew if he had other any other purpose foring here. Chapter 197 - 197 Physical Education Exam 197 Physical Education Exam Track his movements. Lets observe first what he does to Trand. After Xiao Jia replied and they said good night to each other, Qiao Yue was ready to shower and go to bed. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, she looked her body full of scars and smiled bitterly. Everything had gone out of her control since she returned to the Qiao family. She didnt know what she would have to go through next, but the road ahead was much more difficult than she had imagined. She really couldnt rx for even a minute in these two years. The next day was their mid-term exam for physical education. The physical education exam was divided into two parts, the basic physical education test, and the electives. The basic physical education test consisted of running, long jump, and shot put. Boys and girls were assessed separately with a higher standard imposed on boys. The electives included many other events. Harvey Academy had its own sports stadium, swimmingplex, as well as an arena for artistic gymnastics. The students here learned a lot of things. ... Qiao Yue chose archery as her elective. She had learned archery before, so she could get good results without spending too much time training. Topete with Qiao Yue, Sun Bin also chose archery. When it was time for the physical education exam, all the students in Qiao Yues ss came to the field. There were even some students from other grades here. Qiao Yue was considered the most popr person at Harvey this year. Many people knew about her bet with Sun Bin, and the people who came were all curious to see the two of thempete. The students were split into ten groups for the running event. Topete fairly, Sun Bin deliberately chose to be in the same group as Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was warming up on the track when she felt an angry gaze on her. She turned around and saw Sun Bin staring at her with a serious expression. Qiao Yue had goosebumps all over her body. Why did this person put all his attention on her just because they made a bet? The starting pistol was fired, and the timer started. All the runners dashed towards the finish line. The standard for their assessment was one kilometer, to bepleted within three minutes for full marks. Although Qiao Yue was a girl, the training she had received since she was young was something that many boys had never experienced. Her physical strength and reaction time were excellent. She could even win a gold medal at the Olympic Games for running, let alonepeting here with a few college students. But she discovered something unusual very soon. ... There were two boys blocking her throughout the run, Zhang Rui and Li Ming. The two of them firmly upied the two running tracks in front of Qiao Yue, not giving her any chance to overtake them from the inner track. Qiao Yue ran leisurely behind the two of them, feeling amused. Zhang Rui and Li Ming were both cousins of Li Rong and Li Cheng. They were probably acting so arrogantly under Li Rong and Li Chengs instructions. However, Qiao Yue didnt care whose cousin they were. Since they dared to make things difficult for her, they had better be prepared to pay the price! Qiao Yue mmed directly into the gap between the two boys. She was very strong. Even though running had consumed much of her energy, she still knocked the two of them over. Without anyone blocking her way, Qiao Yue quickly crossed the finish line. The timer stopped, and it had been exactly three minutes. Sun Bin arrived slightlyter than Qiao Yue andy on the ground, exhausted. He looked at Qiao Yue, who was still as calm as usual, with a face full of disbelief. How did Qiao Yueplete the one kilometer run so easily at this speed? What they didnt know was that Qiao Yue had to run more than ten kilometers when she trained in the past. This distance was nothing to her. ... Li Rong and Li Cheng came over and helped Sun Bin up. Look, weve tried to help you. Sun Bin was panting and couldnt speak. He just stared at Qiao Yue in surprise. Li Ming and Zhang Rui arrived in a sorry state and scolded Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue, you cheated. How could you knock down your ssmates and affect their grades? Zhang Rui raised his elbow, revealing a wound where his skin had been rubbed off after he fell. You can report it to the examiners. Of course, you must first be sure that the examiners wont penalize you for blocking people. Qiao Yue replied with a cold smile. There were surveince cameras all over the field when they took the running test. What the two boys had done could not escape those surveince cameras. The two boys immediately stopped talking and gave the Li brothers a look. This was different from what they had agreed on before. Coming from the countryside, its normal that you can run faster. Your archery resultster may not be better than mine. Sun Bin spoke before Li Rong and Li Cheng could say anything. Just now, he had wanted to overtake Qiao Yue towards the end, but he didnt expect Qiao Yues final sprint to be so fast. He couldnt overtake Qiao Yue even if he used all his strength. ... Chapter 198 - 198 Archery 198 Archery Yeah, a country bumpkin who doesnt know anything about sportsmanship. He only got good results by pushing and shoving his ssmates while running. How shameless. Li Rong said with a disdainful expression. He can only get a good grade if he also gets high marks in his elective. Li Cheng added. At this point, Sun Bin suddenly remembered that he and Qiao Yue had both chosen archery as their elective. Sun Bin ignored Li Rong and Li Cheng and walked up to Qiao Yue. Although you ran faster than me, I wont give you a chance to beat me at archery. Qiao Yue was calm andposed at the moment, not looking at all like she had just finished a one-kilometer run. She nodded and said, Sure, I look forward to your results. As for the Li brothers who had just mocked her, she didnt even spare them a nce. Ignoring people like them would annoy them more than talking to them. After the physical tests, all the boys looked at the big screen. The first ce on screen was none other than Qiao Yue! Qiao Yues long jump achievement was 2.5 meters, his running time was three minutes, and his shot put score was the highest among all of them. Xu Hao nudged Qiao Yue with his elbow. Not bad, kid. If I wasnt so tall, Id definitely do as well. Qiao Yue looked at Xu Hao speechlessly. This stupid giantpleted his one kilometer run in five minutes The girls at the side also looked over curiously. When they saw that Qiao Yue was in first ce, they also began to discuss. This Qiao Yue isnt good at his studies, but hes good at sports. One of the girls added, Yeah, hes good at sports. No wonder, since hes from the countryside. Hes been running and jumping in the mountains since young. I guess his fitness level is good. He definitely wont do as well in his elective. Yeah. He chose archery and archery is not like shooting birds with a slingshot in the mountains. He wont get good results without training. Qiao Xin mocked. She didnt believe that Qiao Yue would do well. As the crowd discussed animatedly, Qiao Yue sauntered to the archery range. She picked up the bow and arrow and checked the feel. Sun Bin saw her walking to the archery range and quickly chased after her. He crossed his arms and watched Qiao Yues performance. Ive been learning archery since young. Youre definitely going to lose this round! Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. Youre so confident? Seeing Qiao Yues disbelieving look, Sun Bins anger from losing the race surged. Since you dont believe me, lets have a match. Five arrows, moving targets, whoever gets the highest score wins! Qiao Yue had practiced archery for a long time, and she specialized in moving targets. She had even trained for distances over a few hundred meters. The 50-meter distance in this test was a piece of cake for her. Qiao Yue agreed tacitly to Sun Bins rules and raised her hand to shoot her first arrow. uracy wasnt the only thing that mattered in a moving targetpetition. If one hit the bullseye before the moving target reached the end of the track, ones score would increase ordingly. If one hit the target when it was at the edge of the track, one would get the highest score. Li Rong and Li Cheng saw that the match was about to begin and came over. Look at him, still putting on an act. Better not miss the target when he shoots. They are actuallypeting with moving targets. Really overestimating themselves. The brothers, Li Rong and Li Cheng, kept talking Qiao Yue down. However, before they could finish their disparaging words, the results for Qiao Yues first arrow were out. Qiao Yue 10 points, full marks for distance! Everyones jaw dropped. This country bumpkin actually got a perfect score. Although the students at Harvey were brilliant, not many could get a perfect score when shooting a moving target. This level of excellence should be more than enough for any sports meet, right? Qiao Yue looked at Sun Bin and handed the bow and arrow to him. Its your turn. Sun Bin was so shocked that he couldnt speak. Although he was also good at archery, he wasnt at the level where he could get full marks for distance. He drew his bow nervously and shot his first arrow. Sun Bin, 10 points, and 90 points for distance. The surrounding crowd didnt say anything. Qiao Yues archery skills were too terrifying. The two of them then shot their remaining four arrows. Qiao Yue got perfect scores for all of them. Sun Bin looked at Qiao Yue in disbelief. The Li brothers were also stunned. Alright, letspete again in the next test. Qiao Yue threw the bow and arrow to Sun Bin. She scored full marks for all five shots. Even if Sun Bin scored full marks for hisst shot, he would not be able to beat her. Chapter 199 - 199 Lucky Charm 199 Lucky Charm A teacher who was watching from the side ran after Qiao Yue and stopped her. Are you interested in joining the schools archery team? You can represent our school and get a ranking. Qiao Yue put down her bow and shook her head. Sorry, Im not interested. She carried her school bag and was about to leave the arena when another teacher caught up with her. Im the instructor of the schools archery team. My name is Cui Min. If youre interested in joining the archery team,e find me. !! He handed her a business card. Qiao Yue kept the business card. Although she had no intention of joining the school team, she still had to show some respect. At this time, the crowd in the arena had dispersed. Sun Bin stood in the archery range, his hands trembling. He shot hisst arrow. 10 points and 98 points for distance. He clenched his fists as he looked at the results on the big screen. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to be so good. However, there were still exams for the academic subjects and other electives. He would not be beaten by Qiao Yue! Exams for the academic subjects began a few days after the physical education exam. They were still in their first year of university, so they hadnt specialized yet. The courses they were doing were still more generic. On the first morning of the exams, Old Master Qiao specially instructed the servants to prepare a sumptuous breakfast for his grandchildren, to better prepare for the exams. When Qiao Yue came downstairs to eat, her cousins were already seated at the table. Qiao Jing, who rarely skipped work, was still seated at the dining table. When he saw Qiao Yuee downstairs, his eyes followed her. Qiao Yue felt her second brothers eyes on her. When she turned around, Qiao Jing had already looked away. Qiao Xin and Qiao Yue seemed to be in good condition, but Qiao Ying was not. She ate the food on her te with difficulty, her hands trembling. Qiao Ying, are you okay? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Ying shook her head, but her hands were still shaking. She almost spilled the porridge on herself. Ive been like this before. Im a little anxious about exams, and when it came to major ones, my hands and feet will turn cold and my hands would tremble. Qiao Ying said to Qiao Yue with a bitter smile. But Im fine. Im already much better than before. Im just nervous. Qiao Yue frowned. This kind of anxiety about grades wasmon among students at this level. But Qiao Yings symptoms seemed to be very serious. For her to be in such a state, she must have encountered some trauma in the past. Qiao Ying should see a doctor. What were Qiao Li and his wife thinking? After the meal, the school-going children were about to set off. Qiao Jing followed Qiao Yue and stuffed something into her hand. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing in confusion. Take it. Qiao Jings face was cold. Open it in the car. Qiao Yue nodded in disbelief. She got into the car and opened the paper bag. It was a lucky charm. The quality looked very good. There was an embroidered red carp framed in gold silk. In C-Country, red carp represented good luck. Although it was a superstition, many parents would give their children such charms. Qiao Jing seemed rather superstitious. Qiao Yue hung the lucky charm on her keyring. Perhaps this would bring her good luck. Even without the so-called good luck, she was confident that she would do well in the exams. Cough, cough Qiao Ying suddenly started coughing violently. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ying. Her little face was red, and she covered her mouth with her hand, retching in pain. Qiao Yue reached out to pat her back. Are you still ufortable? Qiao Ying nodded in pain. This illness had been haunting her since that incident. It was like a nightmare. She could have gone to a better major and gotten better grades, but because of this illness, she had chosen liberal arts. Qiao Yue grabbed Qiao Yings wrist and pressed a few times at two spots on her arm. Qiao Yings dry retching symptoms improved, but her hands were still cold. She looked at Qiao Yue with an expression of disbelief. Qiao Yue nced at the two people sitting in the back row. Qiao Yu and Qiao Xin were both reading. She motioned for Qiao Ying not to tell anyone about this. Qiao Ying nodded. With just a few simple presses, Qiao Ying felt the nauseating feeling in her stomach subside. Her blood flow seemed to have improved and her hands and feet were no longer cold. Thank you. Qiao Yues phone vibrated. It was a message from Qiao Ying. Qiao Yue replied with a smiley face. How did fifth brother do it? Does fifth brother also know acupoint massage? I know a little, but you still need to see a doctor. Otherwise, you will get worse. Chapter 200 - 200 Collateral Damage 200 Coteral Damage The messaging app showed that Qiao Ying was typing, but Qiao Yue still didnt get a reply after a long time. It was probably because Qiao Li and his wife had been reluctant to let Qiao Ying see a doctor. After all, parents of that generation didnt think that mental illnesses were illnesses. I can help you if you need it. Qiao Ying looked up at Qiao Yue, her eyes full of gratitude. !! Can I really recoverpletely? Im not sure about full recovery, but your condition should improve significantly. Thank you, Fifth Brother. Qiao Ying looked at Qiao Yue with a face full of admiration. Her fifth brother knew more than she had imagined. He was not like what her parents had said, an impolite country boy. Qiao Yue arrived at the exam hall. Since this was her first official exam, she was assigned to a seat in thest row. Her good friends, Xu Hao and Sun Bin, were all in the same exam hall. She had just sat down when Xu Hao leaned over. Brother, are you confident about the exam? Qiao Yue shrugged. I barely passed thest time. What do you think? Im just worried about your bet with Sun Bin. When you answerter, can you move the test paper closer to me? You want to copy my answers? Qiao Yue looked at him and revealed a yful smile. Xu Hao scratched his head andughed in embarrassment. Lets discuss No. Qiao Yue shook her head and refused decisively. Xu Hao sat back down. Before the exam, he had heard the dean mention that the tests would be extremely difficult, especially for advanced mathematics. He was not sure if he could pass. Sun Bin, who was sitting in front, was still studying the practice questions seriously. Soon, it was time to hand out the exam papers. The first test was advanced mathematics. Qiao Yue looked through the test paper. The questions were more difficult than the notes and practice questions that Qiao Yu had given her. This might be a bad thing for the other students but not for her. Just like thest time, she wrote the correct answers to all the questions on the draft paper and then picked a few to answer formally on the actual test paper. She could probably get 80 or 90 points by answering this way. She looked at thest question. It was the most difficult question on the paper, and it was also the question she chose not to answer formally. She just needed a normal score. Sun Bin wasnt a good student. He had always been at the bottom of the ss. Even if he studied hard during this period, it would still be difficult for him to get full marks. If Qiao Yue answered all the questions, including the difficult ones, and got full marks, it would be too suspicious. Even though she was serious about her bet with Sun Bin, she didnt want to expose herself so quickly. After she finished copying her answers over, she started solving thest question on the draft paper. This question was quite interesting. There were traps everywhere, and the design was very clever. It was almost an Olympiad-level question. In the past, in order to improve her academic ability as soon as possible, she had worked on countless Olympiad questions day and night. She felt a sense of familiarity seeing such a question now. If it wasnt for her mothers dying wish and her promise to the Godfather, her ideal life would be to be a professor and devote herself to research every day. This kind of life seemed pretty good. After solving all the questions, there was still half an hour before the test ended. Qiao Yue flipped over her test paper and slumped over the desk to take a nap. The invigtor saw that Qiao Yue had fallen asleep and walked over. Just as he was about to wake Qiao Yue up, he saw Qiao Yues draft paper. His eyes widened as he looked at the answers on the draft paper. He was the teacher who set the advanced mathematics paper this time. Thest question was specially set by him to identify students for the Math Olympiad. He had assumed that no one would be able to solve it. However, not only were the answers written on the draft paperpletely correct, but the workings and forms were also more elegant and ingenious than the answers he had written. Zhang Chengs eyes lit up. This kid could be taken to thepetition. Why was he taking the exam here? Why didnt he notice such a genius at Harvey? He nced at the name on the admission ticket: Qiao Yue. Zhang Cheng frowned. Wasnt this the kid that the Qiao family recently acknowledged? When Zhang Cheng checked Qiao Yues results previously, the kid had barely passed. How did he be so good now and could even solve such a difficult question? Zhang Cheng held his chin and pondered. It must be that his results fromst time werent good enough so hes taking things more seriously now If that was the case, this student was too amazing, to be able to solve such a difficult, Olympiad-level question in such a short time. He decided that he would bring this student to the Math Olympiad. Such talent must not be wasted! Chapter 201 - 201 Playing the Marimba 201 ying the Marimba Sun Bin was writing feverishly at his desk. Anger shed in his eyes when he turned his head and saw that Qiao Yue was asleep. How could Qiao Yue be sleeping? Was he trying to insult him? Two days of exams passed by quickly. It was Friday afternoon, and time for the music exam. Qiao Yue wasnt that confident in her ying skills, but she found a way. As an assassin, she had the habit of counting time. She broke the rhythm of the music down to seconds, counted the seconds in her heart, and then yed the instrument. She should be able to get the rhythm right for the piece, right? When she arrived at the music room, Qiao Xin was already waiting there. She had done well in the quiz, so she was the first to take the exam. She walked up to the stage and gave Qiao Yue a disdainful nce. She was the most musically gifted in the family and had ns to go into the music industry in future. She was confident that she could do a hundred times better than Qiao Yue in this field. Qiao Yue was in the limelight during the physical education exam two days ago. Qiao Xin wouldnt lose today. Qiao Yue didnt care about this kind of arts-rted exam. Compared to the arts, she was more interested in science and business. To her, the arts were there to enrich ones life. Qiao Xin smiled at the teacher from the stage before she picked up her mallets. She took a deep breath and music flowed from her nimble hands on the marimba. She yed Flight of the Bumblebee, which Qiao Yue had yed previously. Qiao Xin had practiced hard for a long time and broke several pairs of mallets. She thought that she could easily master this song, but after learning it, she realized that her hand speed couldnt keep up with the intended rhythm at all. She hadnt been revising her academic subjectstely. Instead, she had spent most of her time practicing the marimba. She finally made headway in the past two days and yed this piece better. Although she yed it a little slower than intended, it was already very good. Qiao Yue found it interesting that Qiao Xin would actually fight to the death for this song. Qiao Xin finished ying the song in one breath, and the audience burst into apuse. Jin Lu also nodded. Qiao Xin was indeed musically gifted, and she interpreted the piece quite well. Next, Qiao Yue. Everyone held their breaths as they watched Qiao Yue walk up the stage. Qiao Yue yed Flight of the Bumblebee really well thest time. Qiao Yues performance in the physical education exam two days ago was also very impressive. Everyone wanted to see what special performance Qiao Yue would give in the music exam. Qiao Yue chose a quiet pop song. This was one of the few pop songs she liked, and it was a song from probably more than a decade ago. The tune was quiet and melodious, and the lyrics told the story of a woman who had to support her family alone because her husband was always away. The story wasnt a bitterint, but a faint sorrow of longing. She only discovered this song recently and was touched the first time she heard it. Her mallets struck gently, and notes flowed softly to tell the story of the song. Everyone was mesmerized, including Qiao Yue, who was ying it on the marimba. She remembered the dream she had after she was injured. How she saw her mother in the dream, and how she experienced the same type of longing. As the song reached its climax, she felt her heartbeat elerate slowly. What kind of magic did this song have? Why did she feel a heartache when she heard it? Bits and pieces of her childhood memory seemed to appear before her eyes, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She gave up counting time and yed the song instinctively. At the end of the song, everyone apuded. I thought Qiao Yue was going to take the technical route. I didnt expect him to take the emotional route. Yeah, its really quite pleasant to hear. His performance was so emotional. After Qiao Yue finished ying, she bowed to the audience. She bowed to hold back her tears so they wouldnt roll down her face. This song must have meant something to her. The music exam was soon over. The other students yed ordinarily. Xu Hao even broke his mallet. Qiao Yues mood improved after she watched Xu Hao embarrassed himself. After the exams, it was time to grade the papers. Harvey had been usingputer-assisted grading, so the teachers were able to grade the entire departments papers in a day or two. Zhang Cheng, as the head of the mathematics department, oversaw grading of the mathematics papers. He browsed through the scores for each question marked by the teachers. When he saw the marks for thest question, he frowned. Didnt Qiao Yue solve this question? Why didnt he get full marks? Zhang Cheng then checked the test paper with the highest marks, but thest step was left out. Could this test paper be Qiao Yues? Chapter 202 - 202 Genius 202 Genius Teacher Zhang, Qiao Yu did pretty well this time. Ive looked through the papers, and only Qiao Yu attempted thest question. The other students didnt even try. Chang Yuan, the lead teacher for the first years at Harvey said as he tidied up the test papers. Zhang Chengs face changed. Who did you say it was? Qiao Yue? What Qiao Yue? Its Qiao Yu, the top student in our grade. He did pretty well in other subjects too. Chang Yuan took out Qiao Yus test paper from the pile. The handwriting on the paper was neat, and every step was written in detail. Other than thest question, which was a difficult one where he missed five points, he basically scored full marks for the rest of the paper. Wheres Qiao Yues test paper? When I was invigting the exam, I remember that Qiao Yue solved thest question. Zhang Cheng started searching through the pile of test papers. Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue Zhang Cheng mumbled as he anxiously searched for Qiao Yues paper. Teacher Zhang, why do you suddenly want to look at Qiao Yues test paper? Arent his grades bad, always at the bottom of the ss? Chang Yuan found it a little strange, but he helped Zhang Cheng look. Chang Yuan was Qiao Yues math teacher. Whenever he heard the name Qiao Yue, his head would hurt. Qiao Yue was a grandson of the Qiao family. He had the support of the deputy mayor when he entered Harvey. The principal had repeatedly urged the teachers to discipline this student, but Qiao Yue was apathetic every day. Zhang Cheng yanked out Qiao Yues test paper from the pile. Qiao Yues handwriting wasnt as neat, but it was elegant. Zhang Cheng looked through Qiao Yues test paper and found that he answered the paper well. Except for two multiple-choice questions, he basically got the rest of the questions right. Also, Qiao Yue had left thest question unanswered. It was nk. Zhang Cheng asked with a frown, Teacher Chang, does the school keep the students draft papers? Chang Yuan shook his head. The school didnt keep the draft papers. They had probably been sold as scrap long ago. Zhang Cheng frowned. Teacher Chang, when I was invigting the exam, I saw Qiao Yue solve this question on his draft paper. I dont know why he didnt copy the solution over to his actual test paper. Qiao Yue? Chang Yuan picked up Qiao Yues test paper and looked at it. Although he has improved a lot, its not to the point where he can solve questions of this standard, right? The two multiple-choice questions that Qiao Yue got wrong were also quite difficult. He must have studied hardtely; he knew his stuff. It was normal for Qiao Yue to not know how to answer something out of sybus. My eyes werent ying tricks on me, he really solved it. Zhang Cheng kept staring at the nk on Qiao Yues paper, as though Qiao Yues solution would appear miraculously. Chang Yuan didnt believe Zhang Cheng. He thought that Zhang Cheng must have been so busytely that he was a little muddle-headed. However, Zhang Cheng argued with conviction that Qiao Yue had answered thest question. As the two of them were talking, the results of the other subjects were released. Zhang Cheng and Chang Yuan went to theputer to look at the overall scores. The two students who had improved the most were Sun Bin and Qiao Yue. Sun Bins ranking had improved by more than a dozen ces and he was now in the top ten. Qiao Yues improvement was even more shocking. He made it from thest ce to the third ce of the entire grade. His results in advanced mathematics andputer science results were far ahead, only second to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yue has worked hard recently. Chang Yuanmended with a nod. Ive never seen any of the Qiaos perform badly in their studies. Although Qiao Yues foundation was poor, hes caught up. Zhang Cheng was still struggling with thest question on the advanced mathematics paper. Looking at his old friends conflicted expression, Chang Yuan patted Zhang Cheng on the shoulder and said, Dont worry. Ill ask Qiao Yue to exin his train of thought for this question in ss on Monday. Zhang Cheng nodded. You are the best. Everyone was very nervous during the first period on Monday. As it was the homeroom ss, Chang Yuan announced everyones results. Sun Bin was so nervous that his face turned pale. He clenched his fists tightly and was at the brink of vomiting. Qiao Yu was also a little nervous. The questions this time were more difficult than expected and he wasnt sure if he could get the results he wanted. Only Qiao Yue looked calm. Why arent you nervous at all? Qiao Yu asked. Qiao Yue stretchedzily and yed mindless games on her phone. Its okay. Its just an exam anyway. The results are already out. Its no use being nervous, right, fourth brother? Chapter 203 - 203 Hallucination 203 Hallucination After all, I very much look forward to the reward you are giving me. Qiao Yue said with a smile. You really thought about this. Qiao Yu teased. As the two of them spoke, Chang Yuan had already walked up to the podium and turned on the projector. The noisy ss suddenly quieted down, and everyones eyes were fixed on the words on screen. Qiao Yues eyes were glued to her game. The results were out, and Qiao Yu remained top of the ss, which was within everyones expectations. However, as the ss looked down the list, they almost screamed in surprise. Qiao Yue is in third ce? The students all looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue had her headphones on, and her hands were busy swiping and tapping her phone. Qiao Yu nudged her with his elbow. Whats up? Qiao Yue took off her headphones and saw that everyone was staring at her. Qiao Yue, although you got third ce this time, youre not at the level where you can y games in ss. Chang Yuan said. Qiao Yue put away her phone and looked at her scores on screen. Her scores were all within her expectations, except for the higher-than-expected score in music. Sun Bin grabbed his wrist, his eyes wide open. How did Qiao Yue get such high scores? Although Sun Bin had worked hard, studying day and night, even hired a tutor to help him with his homework, he still did worse than Qiao Yue. Could Qiao Yue be a genius? How could he have improved so much over such a short time? Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue and smiled. You can pick your gift when we get home. After announcing the results, it was time to discuss the exam questions. When Chang Yuan got to thest question, he deliberately asked Qiao Yu to stand up and exin his process. Even though Qiao Yu missed thest step, his idea was correct. Qiao Yus exnation was also very detailed. Chang Yuan nodded in approval. After Chang Yuan sent Qiao Yu back to his seat, he looked at Qiao Yue, who was dozing off at her desk. Qiao Yue! Chang Yuan frowned and called out. Qiao Yue raised her head and looked at Chang Yuan in confusion. Do you have any thoughts on this question? Qiao Yue squinted at the question on the ckboard and shook her head. I dont know how to answer this question. Qiao Yues expression was nk, not revealing any hint. Then tell me how you would go about it, Chang Yuan said. Qiao Yue pursed her lips and frowned, looking clueless. Use linear algebra, Qiao Yu reminded her in a low voice. Qiao Yue said nkly, Use linear algebra to Chang Yuans face was red from anger. He cleared his throat and said, Sit down. Chang Yuan looked at Qiao Yue and said, Some students did well this time. But thats the result of their recent hard work. They shouldnt rx after this but keep working hard. He didnt know what Zhang Cheng was thinking. Although Qiao Yue had improved significantly this time, he wasnt that good yet. After ss, Chang Yuan walked into the staff room and threw the test papers on his desk. Zhang Cheng, you must have seen wrong. Ive exined thest question today in ss and that Qiao Yue didnt even remember it, and had to rely on tips from his ssmates. Zhang Cheng followed Qiao Yues method the other day and worked out thest question on a draft paper. It was a more elegant method than the standard answer he had written. Chang Yuan,e and look at this solution. Chang Yuan lowered his head and looked at the solution on the draft paper. His jaw dropped and then he pped twice in an exaggerated manner. This solution is too ingenious. How did youe up with it? Wow, Zhang Cheng, youve improved. Believe it or not, this is the answer I saw on Qiao Yues draft paper. I didnt think of this method. Chang Yuan shook his head. Although Qiao Yue has improved a lot this time, Ive already tested him. He doesnt understand at all. Have you been too tired recently? Do you need a break? Zhang Cheng looked at the draft paper and sighed. Perhaps he had been too tired and was hallucinating. However, looking at the situation now, Im afraid that our college will have some difficulties in the advanced mathematicspetition. Theres still half a year to go. I wouldnt worry about not finding anyone. I think Qiao Yu is a very good candidate. Chang Yuan was optimistic instead. Chapter 204 - 204 Reward 204 Reward Qiao Yu was indeed a very good candidate for thepetition. Qiao Yus advanced mathematics results had always been good, and not many people could answer thest question to such an extent. Chang Yuan nodded. Ill get Qiao Yu to form a team and pick out a few more talented students. Zhang Cheng moved on from Qiao Yues matter, treating it as a hallucination on his part. !! Qiao Yue was very happy with her progress and was in a good mood, not so much for Sun Bin. Sun Bin had been studying day and night and had moved up by more than ten ces. It was already a significant improvement, butpared to Qiao Yue, he was still far behind. In the car on his way home, Sun Bin cried alone. People said that men shouldnt shed tears too easily, but at this moment, he felt very wronged. When he got home, Sun Bins parents joined him for a rare meal together. Sun Bins family was in business, mainly foreign trade. His parents travelled often, so it was rare for the family to sit together happily for a meal. Mom, Dad, Im home! Sun Bin was so excited that he almost stuttered when he saw his parents. I heard from Teacher Chang that you did very well this time. I specially pushed back the conference in D-Country toe home. Sun Bins mother said to Sun Bin with a smile. Sun Bins father also asked him to sit. Sun Bin looked at all his favorite dishes on the dining table and felt his eyes tear up. His parents were rarely together, and they were not on good terms. Sun Bin had not experienced such a happy family gathering since he graduated from elementary school. Dad, Mom Sun Bin held back his tears and ate the rice in his bowl, Actually, I didnt do that well. Theres a boy named Qiao Yue in my ss. He improved all the way to third ce this time. Sun Bins mother, Cheng Yue, patted Sun Bins head and said, Dont worry. Youve improved a lot this time. You dont have to be the best. You cant say that. Dad will always support you to work hard and surpass your ssmate Qiao Yue, right? Sun Wu picked up some food with his chopsticks for Sun bin. Sun Bin stacked his parents hands together and said, Dad, Mom, I will definitely work hard. Sun Bins parents looked at each other. Their eyes were filled with disdain, but when they saw Sun Bin, their eyes turned kind again. Cheng Yue quietly pulled her hand away. Alright, lets eat. Dad, Mom, does it mean that if I study hard, you two wille home together more often? Sun Bin looked at his parents with anticipation. Cheng Yue looked away and nodded. The family began to enjoy a happy meal together. At the Qiao residence, dinner was also very sumptuous tonight. There were hot pots on the table with three kinds of soup base: spicy m, tomato, and chicken cogen. The chicken cogen soup base was specially prepared by Qiao Yue for Old Master Qiao. Old Master Qiao had also specially ordered the kitchen to buy plenty of seafood and high-quality wagyu for this hot pot meal. Ive arranged for this special meal to celebrate the significant progress that Xiao Yue and Xiao Ying made in the recent exams. The old masters face was ruddy, and he looked much more energetic than usual. He raised his teacup. Come, lets have a toast. The whole family stood up and clinked their sses with the old master and Qiao Yue with a smile. Only Qiao Xins face was ck. No one knew what she was thinking. Seeing his daughters expression, Qiao Li reminded her in a low voice, No matter how much you dont like your fifth brother, hes still your grandfathers favorite. Give him some face. Qiao Xin stood up reluctantly and clinked sses with Qiao Yue. Fifth brother did really well this time. Keep up the good work. Qiao Xin said with a fake smile. Xiner, you have to learn from Xiao Ying. Xiao Ying has improved a lot this time. You cant always just focus on music and ignore your other subjects. Old Master Qiao said. Qiao Xin nodded, but she was still a little indignant. If she did well in music, she could be a star like Qiao Ze. How could any studious nerd do better than her? Qiao Yu clinked sses with Qiao Yue as he said softly, Youll know what your present is in a moment. Qiao Yue raised her eyebrows. Fourth brother has prepared in advance? Are you a prophet? Qiao Yu nodded and made a gesture of zipping his mouth. Just you wait. Qiao Jing cleared his throat and said, Ive also prepared a gift for you this time. Ill give it to youter. Qiao Yueughed. Why did they all start giving her gifts now that she had good grades? Chapter 205 - 205 Fireworks 205 Fireworks Qiao Yus gift to Qiao Yue was a Harley-Davidson with a full set of essories and parts for modifications. This motorcycle was a limited edition that was produced a few years ago. It was very expensive, and the total price was tens of millions of yuan. Qiao Yue stood in front of the garage with her arms crossed. She elbowed Qiao Yus arm and said, This bike is not bad. Was it very expensive? No gift is too expensive for my brother. !! This motorcycle was actually part of Qiao Yus collection. He cherished it very much and would not ride it unless there was a very important race. When he said he was going to give Qiao Yue a gift, he immediately thought of this motorcycle. This motorcycle looked like a little ck beast in the dark, exuding a charming yet dangerous metallic glow, just like the feeling Qiao Yue gave him. Actually, I saw you solve thest question that day. Qiao Yu chuckled. What? Qiao Yue said with a frown. You solved thest question, but you left the answer on the draft paper. How did you know? Qiao Yu didnt answer Qiao Yues question. Instead, he turned around and looked deeply into Qiao Yues eyes, as if he wanted to see through the depths of her heart and through her disguise. I also want to know what kind of person my fifth brother is. Why is he in disguise like me? Why was she in disguise? All Qiao Yue wanted was to fulfill her mothers wish and be filial to the old master. She didnt want to stand out. Although the offspring of the Qiao family were all outstanding, there were still all kinds of disputes and sabotages. Instead of being an extraordinary bird that was shot, it was better to be a person with no ambition and ability. Maybe its because Im gifted? Qiao Yue yawned. Im a member of the Qiao family. How can I be so bad? Sensing that Qiao Yue didnt want to answer his question, Qiao Yu smiled. I hope that one day, fifth brother will face me with his true self. Qiao Yue lowered her head, feeling a little down. Her true self, who was her true self? Was it the person in charge of KA, a member of the organization, or was it the identity that she was most unwilling to admit? Ive always shown my true self in front of fourth brother, Qiao Yue replied. Qiao Yu smiled and ruffled her hair. Alright, lets go back. Its a cold night. It started to snow lightly as the two of them walked back together. The old master was in a good mood and said that he was going to make tea with his grandchildren in the snow. The servants got busy. They erected a canopy in the courtyard and set up a tea table with snacks on it. Qiao Yue walked over and put on a furry hat and gloves for her grandfather. Grandpa, its cold outside. You must wear more warm clothes. She didnt object to the old master admiring the snow outside. He was still recovering from his illness. Exercise and fresh air were both good for his health. All the grandchildren came out to apany the old master. Only one person from their parents generation turned up and that was Qiao Ren. Qiao Ren sat in front of the tea stove, wearing a down jacket. He used a charcoal rake to move charcoal around under the stove and stared at Qiao Yue. I havent seen snow in a long time. Im getting old, and I dont know if Ill be able to see snow in future. Grandpa, dont worry. You still have a few more decades. Qiao Ying said. Everyoneughed. Qiao Ying was usually quiet but her usually talkative self today made everyone very happy. Everyone was eating desserts and drinking warm ck tea when loud roars were heard from the sky. Different kinds of fireworks exploded in the sky, forming beautiful patterns. When Qiao Yue turned her head to look, the fireworks in the sky had just formed the shape of a red carp, before turning into a fiery red rose, lighting up the entire night sky. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing didnt look back at her, but stirred the tea in his cup with a spoon. Its so beautiful. Qiao Yue praised. As she spoke, she saw the corners of Qiao Jings mouth curl up slightly. For some reason, Qiao Yue felt her mood improve. The fireworks went on for more than ten minutes. Qiao Ren watched the fireworks with a little sadness in his eyes. After everyone finished watching the fireworks, the snow was also letting up. Everyone packed up and went back to their bedrooms. As soon as Qiao Yue entered hers, there was a knock on her door. When she opened the door, she saw Qiao Jing standing outside, holding a small box. For a moment, Qiao Yue panicked. Why did the box in Qiao Jings hand look like a ring box? Chapter 206 - 206 Repeating the Same Mistake 206 Repeating the Same Mistake Second brother, what are you doing here? Qiao Jing didnt say anything and just handed the box to Qiao Yue, motioning for her to open it. Qiao Yue opened the box and saw a gear-shaped ne inside. Werent the fireworks just now a gift? Because youve improved so much, Im giving you two gifts. Qiao Jings face was still cold, as if he wasnt the person who smiled during the fireworks just now. Thank you. Qiao Yue took the ne out of the box. The ne felt a little heavier than it looked. She studied the pendant and it looked like there was a little catch on it. When she pressed the catch, a small and delicate dagger popped out. Why did second brother give me a covert weapon? Qiao Yue had seen many weapons, but such an exquisite one was rare. She fiddled with the ne and looked at Qiao Jing with a half-smile. Dont put yourself in danger anymore. Qiao Jing looked into her eyes and for some reason, images of her being drugged by Bo Ning appeared in her mind. The two of them were very close, their breaths intertwined. Qiao Yue suddenly blushed. Good night, second brother. Qiao Yue pushed Qiao Jing out the door and leaned against the closed door, her heart pounding. She hadntpletely passed out that night. She still remembered some things. She remembered being in Qiao Jings arms, and the two of them seemed to have kissed. At the thought of this, her face turned even redder. Qiao Jing didnt really think that his younger brother had the hots for him, right? Qiao Yue got a little annoyed as she thought about the incident. Bo Nings trap was so unsophisticated, yet she was too careless and fell into it. She should have been more vignt. During her time at the Qiao residence, she had rxed a lot, probably because she was with family. She was not as vignt as before. She must be more careful in future. Qiao Jing did not get angry after being pushed out the door. Instead, he stood outside Qiao Yues room and burst outughing. Qiao Ren was at the top of the stairs. He looked at his sons face and let out an almost inaudible sigh. It really looked like it, but too bad Qiao Jing was about to leave when he saw his father standing at the top of the stairs, looking at him with an unprecedented gaze. Dad. Qiao Jing nodded at Qiao Ren. Qiao Yue did well in his exams this time. I was here to give him a gift. Qiao Ren nodded. Its only right. Hes your brother, so you should give him a present. You arranged the fireworks tonight, right? Qiao Jing frowned. He had not told anyone about it and had arranged everything himself. How did Dad know? Qiao Ren replied, I was just guessing. Go to bed. Dont let me hold you back. With that, Qiao Ren left, leaving Qiao Jing there, feeling somewhat baffled. His father had been acting strangetely. He stayed home all the time and never went out. After the mid-term exams, the biggest event of the month was the schools anniversary. This year was Harveys 100th anniversary so the celebration was an important one. Every ss had to put up a performance and operate a game booth at the funfair. Some of the more renowned schools in C-Country would also send students over to Harvey for a student exchange program. After the mid-terms, the students could finally rx and start preparing for the schools anniversary celebration. Except for Sun Bin, who was still studying the exam questions repeatedly, trying to see where he could improve. Chang Yuan went for a meeting today and gave the ss free time to discuss their program for the schools anniversary celebration. Sun Bin went to the grove behind the school to study on his own. Just as he was engrossed in his revision, someone ced a hand on his shoulder from behind. Sun Bin was so shocked that he almost threw out the thing he was holding. Sun Bin, youre studying hard here. Li Rong said with a smile. Li Cheng quickly took out the milk tea he had just bought. Come, brother, have some milk tea. Youve been studying so hard, drink something nice. Sun Bin epted the milk tea suspiciously, not knowing what the two brothers were up to. Were here to help you. Li Cheng cocked an eyebrow. You didnt beat Qiao Yue this time. Itll be a little difficult for you to catch up at the end of the semester. Yeah, our form teacherst semester was Chang Yuan. His questions for the term-end exams were always very difficult, so you might not be able to do well. Thats right brother, why dont you listen to us. Weve just bought thetest cheating device from the dark web. It can definitely help you ace the exams. Li Cheng and waved the device in front of Sun Bin. Listen to us. You wont go wrong. Chapter 207 - 207 Being Led Astray 207 Being Led Astray Li Cheng took out the camera pen and demonstrated it. As long as Sun Bin used the pen to write during the exam, the camera on the pen would record the question, and someone would tell him the answer through the mini earbuds. Work with us, well help you beat Qiao Yue. Hes just faster with his revisions. Well find someone to help you with the answers and youll be able to answer all the questions. Li Rong said while patting Sun Bins shoulder. Sun Bin clenched his pen, feeling a little conflicted. He was indeed not as good as Qiao Yue. In fact, he was not confident that he would do better than Qiao Yue in the next exam. But things would be different with this pen. If he agreed, someone would help him answer all the questions. !! Think about it. Think about how many peopleughed at you that day at the archerypetition. Qiao Yue stole the limelight at the archerypetition the other day. The onlookers allughed at him for overestimating his own abilities. Sun Bin clenched his fists as he thought about his parents happy faces when they saw his improved grades. If he didnt do well this time and was forced to leave Harvey, his parents would be so sad. Li Rong saw Sun Bins hesitant expression and gave Li Cheng a look. Li Cheng shoved the camera pen into Sun Bins hand. You cane to us after youve thought about it. We are ready to help you any time. Li Rong and Li Cheng left with their arms around each others shoulders. Sun Bin stood in ce holding the pen. His brows remained furrowed. When they started, he was the one who said that they wouldpete fairly, but now he was the one who was going to break the rules. In the ssroom, Xu Hao and the art and literaturemittee member, Hong Ning, were busy organizing the sss program for Harveys anniversary celebration. Qiao Yu had also been called away by the student council to organize work for the schools anniversary celebration. Qiao Yue had some free time and was going to practice in the music room. There would still be a final exam in music and this subject was still slightly more challenging for Qiao Yue. Although she was notpletely tone deaf, she was not really interested in music. When she arrived at the music room, she saw a group of people going in with recording equipment and heard a singing voice that made people speechless. Qiao Yue listened carefully at the door. The voice sounded familiar. She walked in and saw Qiao Xin standing in the middle of the room, like she was practicing singing. Qiao Xin was singing a song that was a recent hit. Although she was good at ying musical instruments, her singing voice was not up to standard. Seeing Qiao Yue walk in, the few people who were close to Qiao Xin sized her up. What are you doing here? Qiao Xin is recording a song here today. Recording a song? Qiao Yue didnt understand. Qiao Xin is going to sign with a talent agency soon. Dont you know? Qiao Yue was shocked and almostughed out loud. They lived under the same roof but why didnt she hear about Qiao Xins debut? Moreover, with Qiao Xins current singing ability, it would be difficult for her to make a debut, right? Although Qiao Yue wasnt interested in celebrities, she could still tell who sang well and who didnt. With Qiao Xins talent, she would probably have to rely on the autotune. You dont know? An international talent agency has had their eye on Qiao Xin. Yeah. Who knows? Maybe Qiao Xin would make her debut in D-Country! D-Country? Qiao Yue frowned. Isnt this the country where Trand and Andy are from? She suddenly felt a sense of uneasiness. There werent many famous entertainmentpanies from D-Country, and the entertainment industry there wasnt as developed as K-Countrys. Could there be other reasons for Qiao Xin to be involved with a talent agency from D-Country? Isnt the ambassador of D-Country visiting C-Country? Word has it that he wants to vigorously develop the entertainment industry. Who knows? Qiao Xin might be a first batch artiste. Hearing Andys name, the uneasiness in Qiao Yues heart became more intense. The entertainment industry was the best cover for any illegal business. People like the sisters, Jin Lu and Jin Yan, entered the entertainment industry with dreams but suffered great losses in the end. For someone like Qiao Xin who wasnt that talented to join the industry, they must want something from her. In fact, they might even want something from the Qiao family. Qiao Yue looked at the letters on the crews t-shirts. AT Company. Arent A and T the first letters of Andy and Trands names? Could this rumored international talent agency be rted to Andy, as she suspected? Chapter 208 - 208 Hacked 208 Hacked Just as Qiao Yue was thinking, Qiao Xin walked over. What are you doing here? Qiao Xins eyes were filled with disdain. Im here to check if anyones using the music room. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes. Youre not thinking about recording a song and take part in this audition, are you? Qiao Xin crossed her arms and looked at Qiao Yue with disdain. You? Just forget it. You can neither sing nor dance, and you want to be a star? !! Qiao Yue was still trying to figure out AT Company and ignored Qiao Xins ridicule. AT Company? Qiao Yue said. Yes. Its an international talent agency thats supported by the government of D-Country. You didnt know, right? Supported by the government? Was it also Andys proposal? You didnt know, right? My father helped me contact the ambassador, Andy, who came to C-Country, you know? Qiao Xin continued proudly. Qiao Yues eyes darkened. Andy and Trand were brothers. Qiao Xin hooked up with Trand before because Trand disguised himself as a rich man and Qiao Xin didnt know better. But Andy was different. After he became a member of parliament, he put forward several proposals in D-Country that were beneficial to drug smuggling, which made his reputation questionable. Qiao Xins obvious connection to him must have cost Qiao Li and his wife a lot. Could Qiao Li and his wife be involved in Trands business too? Qiao Yue dared not think about it. First, there was Qiao Yi, and now, Qiao Li. Although the Qiao family was a prominent one with upstanding businesses, the business that some descendants did behind the scenes might not be upstanding at all. Alright, if you dont want to leave, then stay here and watch me perform. Qiao Xin really thought that Qiao Yue would stay because she was curious about her audition. After saying this, she walked back to the microphone and started singing. Her singing was indeed not very good. Qiao Yue covered her ears and left the music room. Back in the ssroom, Qiao Yue sent Xiao Jia a text message, asking her to check on AT Company. After Xiao Jia replied, she reported a few other things. During this period, the organization hadnt assigned them any missions, nor contacted them. Most of the people in the organization were doing their own things. Did Sister Lin go back too? Yes. Qiao Yue felt it strange that she had not attended Sister Lins ss for the past two days. The Godfather hasnt given us any tasks, and he is also controlling us less. Ive recently hired more people. Qiao Yue frowned. People hired by the organization usually had to go throughyers of screening and eventually would need to be reported to the Godfather. But now Xiao Jia could hire people without the Godfathers consent? This didnt make sense. How are the preparationsing along for our end December mission? Qiao Yue asked. We are basically ready. Should we run it by the Godfather? No need. Qiao Yue put aside her phone after thest reply. She was confused. The Godfathers actions were increasing out of her league. First, he removed the people he had nted in her team. Now, he let the power in C-Country develop. No matter how she thought about it, she felt ufortable. It seemed that he was hands off the organization in C-Country, either to give up on them here, or to get them all. Why did the Godfather do this? Qiao Yue looked at the Godfathers contact information saved on her phone. She was one of the few people in C-Country who was allowed to contact the Godfather directly. Two years, and that promise. All these tormented Qiao Yue. Just as she was deep in thought, Xu Hao turned his head to face her. Qiao Yue, did you see the forum? Qiao Yue couldnt care about the school forum at this time. When she heard Xu Haos words, she just nodded. I heard that theputer science faculty of St. Faustinas Institution next door was challenging us to a hackingpetition. They hacked into our forum today and issued the challenge. Qiao Yue snapped out of her daze when she heard hackingpetition. One of the anniversary traditions at Harvey waspetition with different institutions. Thispetition with theputer science faculty of St. Faustinas Institution was one such tradition. They issued such an arrogant challenge. They said that theyll take over our schools inte for a week. I wonder if anyone can beat them. Although Xu Hao was aputer science major, he wasnt interested in such apetition. He was happy being a spectator. Chapter 209 - 209 Code 209 Code A formal challenge? Interesting, there was a deration of war between the two academies. Qiao Yue essed the school forum. The ce where the school emblem was ced now had a logo with the words Harvey Trash. The posts on the homepage were all funny pictures and provocative texts. Qiao Yue could tell right away that this was the lowest level of intrusion, where only uploaded content was corrupted. When KA group first started, its shopping website had also been hacked like this. At that time, she had specially studied the countermeasure and even optimized the intruders code and improved the firewall. At that time, she had even posted her code on a hacker forum in D-Country. Later, a hackerpeted with her on the same problem. The two of them continuously optimized the code and reconstructed the firewall. Theypeted like this tirelessly for two months before the other hacker gave up. The next day, the other hacker sent a private message to Qiao Yue to admit defeat and expressed that he hoped to work with Qiao Yue in this area. The other hacker was YQ. Qiao Yue thought of sending the address of the school forum to YQ to have him solve the problem. But after more thought, she didnt think it was appropriate since this was apetition between the two institutions. Nevertheless, she sent the address of the school forum to YQ with a message. Study the invading code and see if our previous remedy could be optimized. You dont need to solve it. YQ replied okay very quickly after Qiao Yue sent the message. Qiao Yue felt a little tired after all this and fell asleep on her desk. She had been more tiredtely, like when she had first arrived at Nanshan Vige. This was strange. She had not been worried about anything recently, so why was she so tired? Sleepiness overcame her thoughts, and she was fast asleep on her desk. After sleeping for about half an hour, someone shook her awake. Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue, wake up. It was Xu Haos voice. She looked at Xu Hao and looked up with sleepy eyes. Whats wrong? It seems that the virus hasnt been solved yet. The student council has already mobilized all the top students in our department, but it seems that there is still no progress. How could there be no progress? Qiao Yue frowned. Wasnt this just a simple virus? She rubbed her eyes to wake herself up and saw Chang Yuan standing near the podium. Chang Yuans expression was serious as he struck the ckboard several times. Everyone, attention please. Lets go to theputerb now. Its time to test everyone. We havent yet solved the difficult problem set by St. Faustinas Institution. We muste together now and solve it together. As soon as he finished speaking, all the students got up and walked to theputerb. Qiao Yue followed rubbing her eyes. YQ had yet to reply to her. Was this code that difficult to crack that even YQ was stumped? Qiao Yue walked into theputerb and saw that the student council members were already there. When Qiao Yu saw Qiao Yue, he greeted her with a nod. Qiao Yus expression was unpleasant, probably because the problem still wasnt resolved. Was it really that difficult? Qiao Yue turned on aputer. Thending page of the forum was filled with all kinds of funny pictures and texts, which made her eyes hurt. She keyed in two lines of code and went into the backend of the school forum. The invasion code was not that sophisticated but when assembled, there were traps everywhere. What these students studied were conventional coding andputer programs. They knew nothing about this kind of unpredictable invasion code that behaved like a virus. Just as Qiao Yue was about to crack the code, YQ sent a message. Boss, Ive found a solution. There was a video attached. In the video, YQ cloned the school forum and found a solution on the cloned website. Was the code very difficult to solve? Its not difficult to solve, but it requires a lot ofputing power. So, even if some of them are solved, with Harvey Academys server size, it will keep showing insufficient space. Qiao Yue frowned. They used a simple code to trick the opponent, and then defeat the opponent withputing power. The move made by St. Faustinas Institution was malicious, unlike any move that a university student coulde up with. Help me find out more about St. Faustinas Institution. Get me a copy of the information on the current faculty of theputer science department and their top students. Chapter 210 - 210 Fainting 210 Fainting Qiao Yues fingers danced on the keyboard while Xu Hao watched. Qiao Yue, this problem is so difficult that even Teacher Chang cant solve it. Are you sure you can do it? Xu Hao asked curiously. Qiao Yue shrugged. No harm trying, right? Maybe Lady Luck is on my side? She did have an idea, but it was different from the solution that YQ came up with. !! The invading code itself required substantialputing power. The people at St. Faustinas Institution probably used multipleputers tounch this attack. With suchputing power requirements, it should copse as soon as it was invaded. The best defense was not defense, but offense. She modified the code that she and YQ hade up with and made it into a virus that looked easy to crack. Very quickly, she found St. Faustinas Institutions school forum and injected the virus. In less than five minutes, a senior in theputerb suddenly eximed, It seems that I have enoughputing power now. Its so strange. The garbage program that I just wrote is actually running! The others also looked at theirputers. The hurdles that they couldnt ovee no matter what they did just now were all removed. The remedy code was running at full speed, recing the things on the Harvey forum. The weird pictures and content were gone and the original content was restored. Xu Hao was suddenly motivated by the students hard work and enthusiasm in theputerb. Although he was not interested in professional courses, the feeling of everyone working together was intoxicating! After the invading code was sessfully remedied, Xu Hao leaned back on his chair, heaved a sigh of relief, and turned to Qiao Yue. Theputer in front of Qiao Yue wasnt disying the code page. Instead, it was showing a scene from Glory. Qiao Yue was actually ying games when everyone was working hard to crack the code? Xu Hao shook his head and said, Brother, you really are using any time you have to y games, huh? Qiao Yue shrugged. Dont worry. Isnt everything resolved now? Theputerb was filled with cheers. Everyone was happy to win thispetition. I think we should take this opportunity to hack into their forum and teach them a lesson, Xu Hao said. Hmm, good idea. Qiao Yues eyes didnt leave her game. She just nodded. Maybe someones already doing it. Xu Hao was puzzled. At this moment, the big screen at the front of theputerb disyed the homepage of St. Faustinas Institutions school forum. Xu Hao looked at it. At first nce, there was nothing wrong with it. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the date of thest post was half an hour ago. For the people of St. Faustinas Institution, such posting rate was highly abnormal. Our people moved so quickly? Xu Hao suddenly had an idea. Half an hour ago, we still havent solved our own problems, right? No, half an hour ago, didnt you Xu Haos eyes widened as he leaned over and asked softly, Are you the one who solved this? Qiao Yue felt a little ufortable under Xu Haos eager gaze. She put a finger to her lips and made a shushing gesture. My brother is so awesome! Youve solved a problem that even they cant solve. I admire you so much! Xu Hao put his arm around Qiao Yues shoulder. Brother, how about I follow you from now on? Qiao Yue felt awkward from his sudden touch and quickly pulled Xu Haos arm away. Dont be so touchy-feely. Its strange between two grown men. Xu Hao also felt awkward when his arm was suddenly pulled away. Qiao Yue was different from his basketball buddies. His body seemed to be softer and even had a faint fragrance. Brother, youre wearing perfume? Qiao Yue rolled her eyes at him. Could it be your body fragrance? Xu Hao continued to guess. Qiao Yue was even more speechless now. She was even more determined in her mind to not let this person find out her true gender. A big mouth like Xu Hao would tell others everything. Besides, it wasnt the time for her to reveal her gender and identity to the public yet. Its the scent of theundry detergent that the servants use at home, Qiao Yue said. Xu Hao nodded. Your servants have good taste. It smells really good. Let me know the brand of thisundry detergent, Xu Hao said as he closed in to smell Qiao Yue again. Qiao Yues vision suddenly went ck, and she slumped over uncontrobly on the table. What was going on? Why did she suddenly be so weak? Chapter 211 - 211 Low Blood Sugar 211 Low Blood Sugar Xu Hao panicked and shouted, Teacher! Qiao Yue has fainted! When Qiao Yu heard this, he quickly dropped everything and rushed over. He picked up Qiao Yue and ran to the school infirmary. Everyone was still stunned, not knowing what had happened when Qiao Yus figure had already disappeared out the window. Xu Hao also stood up and ran out. When Qiao Yu picked up Qiao Yue, he realized that Qiao Yue was very light. Although he wasnt as light as a feather, he definitely wasnt of a normal boys weight. Her eyes were tightly shut as she clutched her sleeves in pain. Qiao Yu felt as if his heart had been punched, and it ached dully. He put Qiao Yue down on the bed in the school doctors office. Qiao Yue opened her eyes slightly. Where am I? At the school doctors office. Qiao Yu found a nket and covered Qiao Yue with it. Dont move, Ill go find the school doctor. No need, fourth brother. Qiao Yues voice sounded weak, but her rejection was firm. I have low blood sugar because I havent eaten in a while. You can just get someone to buy me some food. But you fainted. Qiao Yu frowned. Qiao Yue shook her head. If the school doctor examined her, her real gender would be exposed. She must persuade Qiao Yu to not help her find the school doctor. Im fine. I was like this when I was at Nanshan Vige. Dont go find the school doctor. I dont want any injection or medicine. Qiao Yues face was sullen, and her tone was a little coquettish. Qiao Yu sighed. He was worried about Qiao Yue, but since Qiao Yue had said that, he couldnt go against his wishes. Alright, Ill get you something to eat. You stay here. If the school doctores, you can ask her to prescribe you some medicine. With that, Qiao Yu left. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief. She thought for a moment that Qiao Yu would learn her secret today. She checked her own pulse. There seemed to be nothing wrong with her, except low blood sugar. However, she had been injured a while ago and she didnt know if there were any after-effects. Forget it. Shed go to Yayi and have Zhou Lan examine her. Qiao Yu came back quickly and ced a bag of bread in front of Qiao Yue. Eat up. Ive bought all the bread I can find in school. Qiao Yue smiled. Thank you, fourth brother. Qiao Yue then opened the package and started eating. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue. He had many questions but didnt know how to ask them. When he carried Qiao Yue just now, he had a strange feeling. There was a faint fragrance on Qiao Yue, and his body seemed soft. Qiao Yue didnt feel like a boy. Moreover, Qiao Yues refusal to see the doctor made him even more suspicious. A bold idea emerged in his mind. Could Qiao Yue be a girl? His eyes swept across Qiao Yues face. He had delicate but somewhat ruffian-like facial features, a slightly angr face and soft hair. He looked no different from any other boy, except for his slightly smaller frame. Qiao Yu frowned. He seemed to have developed feelings that he shouldnt have for this younger brother of his. He turned his head away from Qiao Yue to calm himself down. Hows the fixing of the school forum going? I was busy ying games and didnt pay attention. Qiao Yue asked casually. Qiao Yu said, We were getting errors about insufficient memory and disk space at first. I dont know which line of code cleared it all up in an instant. Also, someone seems to have injected a virus in St. Faustinas school forum. Now, they are the ones who are pissed. Qiao Yue nodded. Is this how the hackingpetition between Harvey and St. Faustinas is? It doesnt look that difficult. Qiao Yu rapped Qiao Yue on the head. Of course not. Therell be a face-to-facepetitionter, but the teachers will set the questions and organize a hackathon. Qiao Yue knew about hackathons although she had never participated in one before. YQ was a famous hackathon champion in D-Country. She wondered if the person who hacked their school forum would appear at the hackathonter. But allputer science students must participate in the hackathon. You might even be able to get a good ranking! Qiao Yue shook her head. She didnt really want to take part in the hackingpetition. She didnt want to stand out too much at Harvey. She was just a little curious about the person who created the program. Chapter 212 - 212 Follow-up 212 Follow-up Qiao Yue felt fine when she arrived at home, so she went to see the old master first. The old master looked well today. When Qiao Yue got home, he was sitting in his bedroom, receiving treatment from Lu Ying. Although Old Master Qiao was almost fully recovered, to avoid having others in the family tamper with his health, Qiao Yue specially asked Lu Ying toe over every half a month to see if the same poison was still present in the old masters system. When Qiao Yue entered, Lu Ying had just finished putting away his acupuncture needles. Xiao Yue, Lu Ying said that the medicinal cuisine you arranged for me is very good. My health has improved since hest saw me. Lu Ying looked at Qiao Yue and nodded. The two of them exchanged a look. Old Master Qiaos in good health now. For his future medicinal dishes, you dont need to put too many nourishing herbs. Milder herbs will do. Lu Ying continued as he looked at the old master, Old Master Qiao should be feeling fitter now. You asked mest time when you could do mental work and I think you are ready now. Just dont strain yourself. Old Master Qiao smiled. Im old. These children can make decisions for me. I dont have to do any mental work anymore. Looking at Old Master Qiao, Qiao Yue also smiled. She had deliberately set aside these two years in hope of spending more time with her grandfather. Now, not only could she spend more time with him, but his health had also improved. Alright, Dr. Lu, Ive asked the butler to prepare a meal for you. Please go and enjoy it now. The old master probably had something say to Qiao Yue alone. Lu Ying understood his intent and left after saying goodbye. After Lu Ying left, Qiao Yue sat down in front of her grandfather. Xiao Yue, hows school been? Not too bad. Ive improved in thest exam. I still have to thank fourth brother for tutoring me. Old Master Qiao nodded. I asked Qiao Jingst time to find you some work at thepany. Has he found you anything? Qiao Yue nodded. I still have school these days. Im afraid I can only go during the winter break. The old master had no objections. Sure, just go with Qiao Jings n. Grandpa, Im actually not very interested in thepany. I would like to know why you want me to work there. The old master sighed. Youre a smart kid. You should know our familys current situation. Qiao Yue indeed knew a lot, but she dared not tell Old Master Qiao everything. After all, she didnt know how much Old Master Qiao knew about Qiao Yi and Qiao Lis doing. The old master coughed. My good-for-nothing children. Its still fine if they lost money in their businesses but some of them have lost the Qiao family reputation. Old Master Qiao shook his head. You mean Qiao Yue probed carefully. Your second uncle! I know all about his shady businesses and his rtionship with Mahad. Qiao Yue lowered her head. She didnt know that the old master knew so much. You and Qiao Jing are the children I can count on. Ive thought about it. This family will eventually be handed over to you two. Qiao Yue raised her head and looked at Old Master Qiao in disbelief. Grandpa, Im actually Old Master Qiao shook his head. Although Qiao Qing is our adopted daughter, shes more aplished than her brothers. Ive built such a big family business, not to have it squandered away by those unfilial children! But first brother, second brother, and the others Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Xuan is obsessed with medicine, Qiao Ze has his ambitions, and Qiao Yu thinks too much. So, that leaves me with you and Qiao Jiang Old Master Qiao shook his head and sighed. You must not disappoint me. Qiao Yue could feel the burden on her shoulders be heavier. She never expected the old master to have such high hopes for her. She thought that she was only here to be a catfish so that the Qiao grandchildren could be better. Looking at Old Master Qiaos aged face, Qiao Yue couldnt bear to disappoint him, so she agreed. I wont let you down, Grandpa. Old Master Qiao patted her shoulder in satisfaction. Alright, I would like to lie down for a while. You may go now. Qiao Yue nodded and left the room. She still had something to discuss with Lu Ying, so she went downstairs. From a dark corner, a middle-aged man slowly walked out. He gritted his teeth as he watched Qiao Yue walk away. Chapter 213 - 213 Poisoned 213 Poisoned Lu Ying was eating at the dining table in the living room. Qiao Yue sat down opposite him. Lu Ying quickly pulled the food towards himself. These are all mine. Dont snatch my food. One phone call from you and I came here without lunch, and now youre not letting me eat. Qiao Yue smiled and said, Theres no hurry. I still have trouble you with something else today. What is it? Well talk after you finish. Lu Ying lowered his head and ate two mouthfuls of rice. Finally, he couldnt stand Qiao Yue watch him eat from across the table and put down his chopsticks. Why dont you tell me first. I cant eat in peace with you watching me like this. I think Im sick but I dont know whats wrong with me. If you can, please take a look for me? Lu Ying raised his eyebrows. You are testing me, right? Do you think I dont know your standards and youre asking me for help? I cant see the problem this time. Maybe its because Im the patient. Doctors cant treat themselves. Its not like you dont understand this principle. Lu Ying nodded. Qiao Yue sat next to Lu Ying and let him check her pulse. Lu Ying put his fingers on Qiao Yues wrist. He didnt feel anything extraordinary. Other than a little spleen deficiency, theres no big problem. Youre so busy, so its normal to have a little spleen deficiency. Lu Ying frowned. Are there other symptoms recently? When I was in Nanshan Vige, I always felt tired. I felt the same way when I first came to the Qiao family. The fatigue subsided for a while, but it seems to have returnedtely. Qiao Yue replied. Lu Ying frowned. It sounds like youve been poisoned, but I dont know what with. Qiao Yue also frowned. The pharmaceutical market was constantly evolving. Different poisons were being developed every day. In this aspect, Lu Ying knew more than she did. How about this? Ill try to detoxify you with acupuncture first to see if it works. If not, I may need to take some blood for testing. Qiao Yue nodded. This was a good idea. Qiao Yue brought Lu Ying back to her room. Lu Ying used the most traditional detoxification method. He inserted needles into several important acupoints. If the needles turned ck, it meant that Qiao Yue had been poisoned. Although this was a traditional method, it could detect most poisons. Qiao Yue closed her eyes as she waited to be poked. Fine needles pierced into her skin, and blood seeped out. Qiao Yue didnt feel any pain. Instead, she felt relieved. Half an hourter, Lu Ying removed the needles. Only one needle turned slightly ck, the rest of the needles had no reaction. The acupoint where the ck needle was put was one responsible for the central nervous system. Qiao Yue frowned as she looked at it. Whoever poisoned her had used poison to attack her central nervous system. Youre right. Lu Ying sighed, What kind of lions den is this? Im starting to worry about your safety if you stay here. Qiao Yue shook her head and smiled. You dont have to worry too much. Ill be more careful in future. Lu Ying drew a vial of blood from Qiao Yue. The toxins still need to be removed. Its not good to have it in the system for too long. Ill take this blood back and study it. Qiao Yue nodded in agreement. Qiao Yue walked Lu Ying out of her room. As soon as they stepped out, they ran into Qiao Jing, who seemed to havee out of the old masters room. Good evening, second brother. Im not feeling well, so I asked Lu Ying to take a look. Qiao Jing nodded. Thank you, Dr. Lu. Grandpa just told me that you are a brilliant doctor. Thank you for taking the trouble. Lu Ying bowed slightly and went downstairs first. Qiao Yue was about to go down to see Lu Ying off when Qiao Jing suddenly called out to her. Whats the matter? Qiao Yue asked. Come to my study. I have something to give you. Qiao Yue followed Qiao Jing to his study and Qiao Jing dropped a stack of documents in front of her. Qiao Yue looked at the documents. Most of them were about the Qiao family business operations. Whats the matter? Do you n to share your position as the head of the Qiao family with me? Qiao Yue teased. Qiao Jing smiled. Youll be doing an internship at Qiao Corporation during your winter break. Youll need to familiarize yourself with these beforehand. Dont these involve trade secrets? Am I allowed to see? Qiao Yue teased. Of course you can. Youre a member of the Qiao family. This is also Grandpas request. When Qiao Yue heard this, she suddenly thought of something. Second brother, will you be mad if I fight with you for the family inheritance? Chapter 214 - 214 Falling Ill 214 Falling Ill Qiao Jing was stunned. We are both members of the Qiao family, why should we fight over it? Qiao Yue wasnt interested in the Qiao family assets, but from what Old Master Qiao said, the Qiao family wasnt as clean as she thought. However, Qiao Yue didnt want to see the Qiao family reputation tainted because of those unsavory people. If her mother was alive, she would not want this to happen either. I know what youre worried about, Qiao Jing said. Although I cant fully control the Qiao family yet, I wont let those people mess us up. Qiao Jing could tell what she was worried about. Thats one of the reasons I would like you to join thepany earlier. I know that you are on my side, right? Qiao Yue was stunned. She didnt expect Qiao Jing to know so much, but since he was able to find out about her rtionship with KA, it wouldnt be difficult for him to find out what Qiao Yi and Qiao Li were up to. Why hadnt he dealt with them yet? Perhaps it wasnt the right time yet, or perhaps it was because they were family. What if I want to deal with the other members of the Qiao family? Will you stop me? Qiao Jings eyes darkened. We might be after the same people. Qiao Yue nodded and smiled. Then, lets work together. Qiao Jing ruffled her hair. Other than this, why did you ask Lu Ying to examine you? No, I didnt, Qiao Yue subconsciously hid her arms behind her back. Lu Ying had just given her acupuncture, so there were still needle marks and band-aids on her arms. Qiao Jing caught her hiding her arms and pull them from behind her back. I didnt. Qiao Yue subconsciously retracted her arms, but she wasnt as strong as Qiao Jing, so he still held them. Then what is this? Qiao Jing held one of her wrists and rubbed the band-aid on her arm with his other hand. Dont tell me that you identally hurt yourself. Qiao Jing inched closer to her and looked into her eyes. No? Qiao Yue retracted her arm. Ive been feeling sleepy all the timetely, so I asked Lu Ying to take a look. Qiao Jings eyes darkened. Whats the matter? Are you exhausted from preparing for the exams? He had been paying attention to Qiao Yue in the past two days. Although she was studying hard, she didnt wake up early or burn the midnight oil. Qiao Yue shook her head. Qiao Jing immediately understood. Ill ask them to check if theres anything wrong with your food. Qiao Jing was smart enough to notice that her sleepiness was abnormal. When did it start? Qiao Jing asked. When I was at Nanshan Vige, and then in the past two days. I was fine during the time in between. Qiao Jings brows furrowed even more. He had his suspicions but he couldnt tell Qiao Yue. There was indeed a big problem within the Qiao family. Someone had been ying games under his nose and harm had reached Qiao Yue. He would not tolerate any of it. Ill find out. No one can touch you. Qiao Jing was still holding and caressing Qiao Yues wrist. His touch felt warm, and it made her a little dizzy. Qiao Yue sighed and looked up again. She met Qiao Jings eyes and asked, Second brother, will you protect me? Qiao Jing was stumped by the question. Qiao Jing, will you protect me? Qiao Yue repeated. Qiao Jing nodded, but something in his eyes changed. I will protect you, always. Qiao Yue took a deep breath and said in a low voice, Someone must have drugged me, but I dont know who it is. The symptoms are very simr to Grandpas. If Im not wrong, Grandpa must have felt sleepy all the time before he fell ill and became unconscious. Qiao Yues words triggered something in Qiao Jing. He frowned. The old master was drugged? Qiao Yue nodded. Qiao Jing finally understood why Qiao Yue had asked that question. Tell me what you know, Ill look into it. Qiao Yue told Qiao Jing all the details she knew about the old masters illness. Qiao Jings brows furrowed even more as he listened. The old master had fallen ill at home back then, which meant that if he had been drugged, the culprit lived under their roof. Qiao Yue knew that if the culprit found out that they knew that the old master had been drugged, Qiao Yues safety would be under threat. Chapter 215 - 215 Provocation 215 Provocation And that was why Qiao Yue had asked him if he would protect her. Qiao Jing nodded. Ill look into it. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. She didnt know why, but she felt a sense of calm that she had never felt before. Since she came to the Qiao family, she felt a sense of security that she had never experienced before. There were people here who treated her as family. !! But her feelings for Qiao Jing seemed to be a little different. Lately, she had been asking him questions that she thought she would never ask. The two of them chatted for a while more before they returned to their respective rooms. After Lu Yings treatment, Qiao Yue felt more alert. She turned on herptop and began to study the code that St. Faustinas used to invade their school forum. If she guessed right, St. Faustinas would cause more trouble before the hackathon. She must think of a way to deal with them beforehand. Harvey had been celebrating its 100th anniversary for the past two days and Friday would be the anniversary party. Every ss would perform at the anniversary party and after that, friendlypetitions with students from invited schools would take ce. The winning ss would be rewarded. So, lessons werepletely optional in the past two days. Students who would be taking part in the hackathon were busy studying. Students who would be performing were busy rehearsing. Hong Ning and Xu Hao were responsible for Qiao Yues ss performance. They have chosen a few girls to dance on stage. Hong Ning had been studying dance for many years and was good at various types of dance. She was also a good choreographer and teacher. On the way to the library, Qiao Yue passed by a few rehearsal studios, which were all used by students for their rehearsals. Qiao Xin was standing at the door of the studio at the end, blocking Qiao Yues ssmates from entering. Hong Ning was standing at the door and arguing with Qiao Xin. We have reserved this studio online in advance a few days ago. What right do you have to use it now? As Hong Ning said this, she shielded her ssmates behind her like a mother hen protecting her chicks. Qiao Xin stood on the door sill with her arms crossed. Upon closer inspection, there were a few burly men standing in the studio behind her. They were all wearing t-shirts with the logo of AT Company. So what if youve reserved it online? Im in a hurry to rehearse my performance. Dont you know who I am? Qiao Xin rolled her eyes so hard that she could see her brain. I dont care who you are. Do you understand the firste, first served principle? Hong Ning pushed Qiao Xin away and walk into the studio. Let me tell you. Ive already signed a contract with AT Company from D-Country. Ill be a big star in future. If you provoke me now, Ill make sure youll bear the consequences! Qiao Xin then shoved Hong Ning so hard that she lost her bnce and fell to the ground. So what if youve signed a contract? You havent even made your debut yet. There are so many others who have signed contracts to be trainees but never made their debuts. Hong Ning mocked as he stood up and patted the dust off her body. Youre a nobody. Why are you fighting with me? Qiao Xin cursed in exasperation. Hong Nings words werent unreasonable. Nowadays, there were many shady entertainmentpanies that signed artistes but never let them make their debuts. Thepanies would keep dying their debuts just so that the artistes would proactively terminate their contracts and pay the penalty. When Qiao Yue was in the entertainment industry, she had paid special attention to such a phenomenon, so she had specifically asked the entertainmentpanies under KA to avoid such unscrupulous means to make money. With Qiao Xins talent, she might not make her debut even if she had signed with a talent agency. As for AT Company, they had other motives. Even if Qiao Xin eventually made her debut, their motives werent pure. Even if youe from a prominent family, you shouldnt bully people like this. Hong Ning put her hands on her waist and was about to push Qiao Xin again. Qiao Yue knew a little about Hong Ning. Hong Ning came from an ordinary family. She was a dancer, and because she was good at dancing and had good grades, she was epted by Harvey as an exception. Although many children from prominent families attended Harvey, not many were like Qiao Xin. Most people respected people like Hong Ning who had real talent and ability. If you continue to make trouble for me, be careful that Ill get the Qiao family to find trouble with you! Qiao Xin shouted and pushed Hong Ning away. Qiao Yue walked over and supported Hong Ning. She looked at Qiao Xin and said with a frown, If you take pleasure in bullying your ssmates, the Qiao family will not back you up. Chapter 216 - 216 Fighting over a Rehearsal Studio 216 Fighting over a Rehearsal Studio Qiao Yue walked up next to Hong Ning and looked at Qiao Xin with an indifferent expression. What right do you have to call yourself a Qiao? Qiao Xin said through gritted teeth. She needed another half hour toplete her recording for the day, but it was now Hong Nings turn to use the rehearsal studio. Qiao Xin didnt reserve it in advance, so she wanted to bully Hong Ning into giving her half an hour of their reserved time. Who wouldve thought that Hong Ning wasnt someone to be trifled with? She wouldnt give Qiao Xin even a second of their time. When I be a celebrity, Ill bring glory to the school. For someone like you, itll probably be difficult for you to even perform at the schools anniversary celebration. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue and scolded. Im not interested in performing. Qiao Yue replied coldly. I have no choice but to interfere when youre bullying other students using the Qiao family name. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes at Qiao Yue. Well, it figures. Coming from the countryside, you have no special talent other than being able to run fast. Qiao Xin walk back into the studio and close the door. But Qiao Yue didnt give her the chance. Instead, she grabbed the door handle and forced the door open. Qiao Xin let go of the door handle and looked at her hand as she said, Qiao Yue, do you have a grudge against me? Qiao Yue spread out her hands. I dont have any grudge against you. You must obey the school rules. Since the school has stipted that the rehearsal studios must first be reserved, you cant break the rules. Qiao Xin looked at her. Who are you tomand me? I was going to give up the studio. If you didnte and scold me, I wouldnt have continued to upy it. Hong Ning took a step forward, looked at Qiao Xin and said, Please dont change your tune now. Qiao Yue is helping us, dont try to sow discord between us. Given Qiao Xins bossy attitude, how could she give up the studio? Hong Ning didnt believe a word she said! She only said it to me Qiao Yue and sow discord between them. Hong Ning didnt buy it. How about this, apologize to me and Ill let you have the studio. Qiao Xin said to Qiao Yue. Dont tell me you dont want to apologize? If you dont apologize, your ss wont be able to rehearse. Qiao Xin smiled slyly at the two. She wasnt afraid of them. Although Qiao Yue was the favored grandchild at home, she believed that most people would take her side because she would be a big star in future. Qiao Xin was too na?ve. Neither Qiao Yue nor Hong Ning was easily bullied. Qiao Yue took a step back. Qiao Xin thought that Qiao Yue was going to apologize to her, but Qiao Yue called the school security instead. Hello, is this the school security, please? There are some outsiders here upying school rehearsal studios. Qiao Xin quickly snatched Qiao Yues phone and shouted for the AT Company people to leave first. Although the school allowed pre-approved outsiders to move about in school, they were not allowed to upy school rehearsal studios or other facilities. In case of any conflict, Harvey students would be given priority. Whats more, Hong Ning and her ssmates were preparing for the schools anniversary celebration. If the school found out that Qiao Xin didnt clean up her mess, the people from AT Company might never be able to step into Harvey again. Qiao Xin red at Qiao Yue with hatred. Just you wait. Do you think that I wontin about you to my parents when I get home? Youll suffer the consequences then. Qiao Yue shrugged indifferently. She wasnt afraid of anyints. True enough, Qiao Xin was very enthusiastic during dinner. She picked up food for the old master and brought snacks for everyone. Old Master Qiao was a little confused by Qiao Xins hospitality. Ever since he came home from abroad, his rtionship with Qiao Xin wasnt as good as before. Qiao Xin, do you have something to say to everyone today? Old Master Qiao asked. Qiao Xin smiled and nced at Qiao Yue. Its nothing much. Im going to sign a contract with an entertainmentpany soon, so I want to celebrate with everyone. An entertainmentpany? Qiao Ze and Qiao Jing both turned to look at Qiao Xin. The Qiao family is also in the entertainment business, and I have a studio. Why didnt I see you signing a contract with my studio? Qiao Ze asked. Qiao Xin shook her head. I also want to have my own career like you and first brother and not rely on the family. So, I contacted AT Company from D-Country. Qiao Jing frowned. He knew about AT. Thispany had also recently signed with many artistes from C-Country, in a high profile manner. Chapter 217 - 217 Beware of Scammers 217 Beware of Scammers Ive heard about this AT. From what I know, they dont have any established artistes yet. How do you know that theyre reliable? Qiao Ze said with a frown to Qiao Xin. He had ess to gossip like this in the entertainment industry. Manypanies had bad records, such as embedding unfair uses in contracts with new artistes, or deliberately tricking them into paying penalty fees for contract breach. Qiao Ze didnt rely on his familys connections when he joined the industry. It was only because he was lucky to have met a manager who really wanted to take care of him, or he might have been scammed badly. Qiao Xin was a little angry. Why was her familys attitude like this when she announced that she was going to have her own career? Shouldnt they congratte her? Xiao Ze is right. Since youre going down this path, you cant just choose any randompany. You should let your second and third brothers check it out. Old Master Qiao also agreed with her cousins. Qiao Xin was going to use this opportunity toin about Qiao Yue. She didnt expect her family to be worried about her being scammed, so she didnt say anything. Do you have so little confidence in me? Ive made up my mind about having my own career. Qiao Xin, you still need to be capable of managing your own career, right? Qiao Yu said uncharacteristically with sarcasm. Qiao Yu was usually very polite, but he had just tantly dissed Qiao Xin, which confused people. Fourth brother, why arent you speaking up for me? Qiao Yu shook his head and chuckled. When I passed by the rehearsal studios today, I identally heard your singing. I feel that you dont have what it takes to be an artiste. Could Qiao Yu have also seen her bullying behavior? Qiao Xin was a little annoyed. Qiao Yu looked like he was going to speak up for Qiao Yue. I also saw you hogging the rehearsal studio. Dont do it again. The school has its rules and regtions. Fourth brother! Qiao Xin put down her chopsticks angrily. She didnt expect Qiao Yu to bring up this matter. Qiao Yue! Did you ask fourth brother to say it? Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Xin shrugged. Nope. Dont forget that Hong Ning and fourth brother are also in the same ss. You! Qiao Xin was about to say something when Old Master Qiao scolded her. Qiao Xin, its good that you want to have your own career, but should still consult your parents about thispany, and get some advice from your second and third brothers. Old Master Qiao put down his chopsticks after he said that. Its fine, Dad. Ive looked into thatpany when I was working abroad. Its a properpany and has the endorsement of the ambassador of D-Country. It should be legit. Qiao Li finally spoke up. Qiao Yue frowned when she heard this. It wasnt too difficult to find out that the mastermind behind AT Company was rted to Trand. Qiao Li knew that thispany was in cahoots with the drug trade, and yet he still sent his daughter there. It was unbelievable. Qiao Yue turned to Qiao Jing and exchanged a look with him. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue had the same thought. They thought that it was already ridiculous that Qiao Yi was in business with Mahad. They didnt expect that Qiao Li had just tantly supported dealings with Andy. There was indeed an undercurrent in the Qiao family. Old Master Qiao nodded. Xiao Jing, give me a copy of AT Companys information after youre finished with your investigation. Qiao Li said, Dad, youre still recuperating. Dont strain yourself with these things. Old Master Qiao nced at Qiao Li and gestured for him to sit. Dr. Lu said that Im almost fully recovered, so Ill be back managing thepany soon. Ive also sent Qiao Yue to thepany for an internship. Whats wrong, Qiao Li? Is there something not to your satisfaction? Qiao Li felt a little guilty. Im just worried about your health, Dad. So Old Master Qiao gave him a knowing look. Qiao Yi, who had been sitting quietly, didnt look happy either, while Qiao Ren looked indifferent. Dad, since youre going back to thepany, Ill go back to my businesses overseas. Qiao Yi said. Youre not allowed to. Youd better stay in the country. Old Master Qiao snapped. Havent you learned your lesson from before? Qiao Yi knew that the old master was referring to his human trafficking incident, so he shut his mouth. You can leave your overseas business to Qiao Xuan and transfer the rest of your businesses here to Qiao Yue. The entire living room fell silent. Did Old Master Qiao just ask his son to transfer his businesses to Qiao Yue? Chapter 218 - 218 A Target for All 218 A Target for All As soon as the old master said this, even Qiao Ying, who was least interested in the family business, widened her eyes. Old Master Qiaos announcement was like a seismic wave that shook the Qiao residence. The first person to react was Qiao Yi. Dad, what do you mean? I wont have my own businesses anymore? Did I hear wrong? Im going to transfer all my local businesses to this grandson of yours whos not even rted to you by blood? Qiao Li frowned and chimed in, Thats right, Dad. Second brother didnt have that many businesses in the country to begin with. Besides, it was you who asked him to set up his business abroad. !! Qiao Ren, on the other hand, looked indifferent. He just sat and ate quietly. Thats right. Its a little unfair for you to treat second brother like this. Qiao Yue is still a child after all. Tao Xi rolled her eyes at her good-for-nothing husband and spoke up for Qiao Yi. The old master hadpletely recovered and was ready to rejoin thepany and reorganize the family. Because of this, Qiao Yi and Qiao Li had recently toned down, in hope of avoiding the old masters inspection. However, the old master seemed to be turbo-charged and decided very quickly to remove Qiao Yi from management of the family business, and introduced Qiao Yue. Grandpa, youre not thinking clearly. Fifth brother might not have the ability to do so. Qiao Xin said. Qiao Ying tugged at her sisters sleeve, asking her to shut up. Qiao Xin frowned at Qiao Ying, not understanding why her timid sister would remind her at this time. Alright, my decision is final. Old Master Qiao ignored their objections and went upstairs to rest. Everyones eyes turned to Qiao Yue again. Qiao Yue, in contrast, was calm,posed and eating his dinner. Qiao Jing was very calm too. When Old Master Qiao spoke with him a couple of days back, he had already hinted that he would let Qiao Yue manage some of Qiao Yis businesses. Qiao Yue, I really dont know what kind of magic potion youve been feeding Old Master Qiao to make him like you so much that hes even given you all my assets. Qiao Yi said through gritted teeth. Qiao Yue raised her head and looked at Qiao Yi as she enunciated word by word, Those whomit injustice are doomed to destruction! Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Yues cold face and detested him even more. What did you say? When have Imitted injustice? Do you think the old master doesnt know about Mahad? Qiao Jing stood up and shielded Qiao Yue. Youre just like your mother. You only know how to steal things from the family. Youre shameless! Qiao Yi shouted. Qiao Ren got up and stood beside Qiao Jing. Big brother, what are you doing? Qiao Yi shouted at Qiao Ren. You dont have to be so harsh to a junior. Second brother, this is the old masters decision. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ren, who still had an indifferent expression on his face. This was the first time she had seen Qiao Ren express his opinion on something since she came to the Qiao family. Big brother, I know you have a good son, Qiao Jing, but neither of my sons have any assets. Now that Ive been stripped of mine, what will happen to them? Qiao Yi then turned to his two sons and said, You guys have to help me take back what belongs to our family! Mahad? Qiao Yu chuckled. Dad, do you know what Mahad does? Qiao Yu wasnt just a nerd who only knew how to study. He also paid attention to current and international affairs. Mahad is an organization thats involved in gambling, human trafficking, the dark web, and religious cults. Dad, is this how you manage your career? Qiao Yu rarely spoke to his father like that. Qiao Yue was also stunned for a moment. Qiao Yu was actually butting heads with his father. Regardless of who I do business with, all of you are willing to watch an outsidere into our family and take away our assets? Thats right, big brother. Even if second brother is in the wrong, this inheritance shouldnt be given to Qiao Yue. Qiao Li chimed in. If Qiao Yue could take over Qiao Yis businesses now, he might also covet their assets in future. Mitigation would be too difficult then. Qiao Ren sneered, Do you think that by doing this, the old master will hand over his assets to you? Are you guys not aware that since you drove Qiao Qing away because of such a thing back then, the old master has lost his confidence in you? Chapter 219 - 219 The Punishment Cane 219 The Punishment Cane Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ren. Such a thing? What kind of thing? What did the Qiaos do to her mother? Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Yue with a vicious gaze. That b*tch Qiao Qing is dead, so she sent this little b*stard here to disgust me. Qiao Yi cracked his fingers. Qiao Yue stared back at her uncle and said coldly, You think youre qualified to call my mother by her name? Qiao Yi sneered as he walked towards Qiao Yue. Qiao Ren and Qiao Jing stood in front of Qiao Yue to shield her from Qiao Yi. Qiao Ren said, Second brother, be sensible. This isnt the ce to beat someone up. Qiao Ren, stop pretending. Dont think that we dont know how you felt about Qiao Qing back then. Qiao Ren spat. And Qiao Jing, look at him. Hes protecting Qiao Yue now. Is there some kind of incest here? Second uncle, please watch your words! Qiao Jing said coldly. Qiao Li was still sensible as he pulled Qiao Yi and whispered to him, The old master is still alive. You wont be able to get back your assets even if you do this. What if the old master detests you even more? Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Li and chuckled. Third brother, do you think Im afraid of them? They just dont know whos behind me. How can the Qiao familypete with the power of D-Country? So, you are admitting it? Qiao Yue chuckled before she continued, Colluding with Trand and Mahad, trafficking women, and smuggling drugs. My good nephew, these are all conjectures. You dont have any evidence. Qiao Yi shrugged. Even if you tell the old master, Ill continue to work with them. None of you can do anything. You can only obediently hand over the Qiao family assets. I will continue to work with them. Just wait and see. Qiao Yi chuckled. Ill let that b*tch mother of yours and her little b*stard see how Im going to drag you both down with me! Qiao Yi was about to leave when he was stopped by Qiao Ren. Qiao Rens eyes were filled with rage, like he was about to kill Qiao Yi. Big brother, after so many years, you still havent let go... Ah! Before he could finish his sentence, he was pped to the ground by Qiao Ren, and his face quickly swelled. Qiao Ze rushed forward to shield Qiao Yi. Uncle, you shouldnt have pped my father. Everyone was shocked. Qiao Ze usually didnt care about family matters, but this time, he actually took his fathers side. It was really shocking. Qiao Li also rushed forward and stood between his brothers. Big brother, second brother, stop fighting. It wont be good if the old master got wind of this. Qiao Yi got up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, pushed Qiao Ze and Qiao Li aside, and reached out to p Qiao Ren. The living room was thrown into chaos. Qiao Ren and Qiao Yi were fighting. Qiao Ying, who had never seen such a scene, fainted. The madams wanted to stop the fight, but no one dared to step forward. A few boys from the third generation were also in the scuffle. Alright! Who allowed you to fight at home! Amidst the chaos, Old Master Qiaos voice rang from the top of the stairs. Are you guys trying to anger me to death? Old Master Qiaos eyebrows were raised in anger. You unfilial descendants, its one thing for you to fight over the family assets and collude with unsavory forces, but now you want to kill each other? Old Master Qiao walked to the center of the chaos and looked at Qiao Ren and Qiao Yi, who were both on the floor. They had gone all out just now, with the intention of hurting the other party, and now both of them were seriously injured. Qiao Yi wanted to drag Qiao Yue into it, but Qiao Yu and Qiao Jing had been protecting her, so she was unharmed. Qiao Ze, Qiao Jing, and Qiao Yu, on the other hand, had taken a few blows from Qiao Yi. I made the announcement today to warn you against collusion with those unsavory forces. The old master said to his two worthless sons. Fetch the punishment cane. Tao Xi walked out. She was now in charge of upholding the Qiao family rules, so the punishment cane was with her. Dad, the weather is so cold. Are you really going to cane them? Yes! The old masters tone was firm. Tao Xi left for a while and brought back the punishment cane and handed it to the old master. The old master handed the punishment cane to a few security guards. Qiao Ren and Qiao Yi, beating up own brother, ten strokes each. Qiao Li stood by and did nothing. Five strokes. And the grandchildren, one stroke each. With that, the Qiao descendants knelt on the floor to receive their punishment. Except for Qiao Yi, who sat on the floor staring at the old master. Chapter 220 - 220 Departure 220 Departure Dad, I cant be part of this family anymore. Qiao Yi sat on the floor and wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. The color of blood spread across his cheek and made him look sinister. Qiao Yi! Did your mother and I give birth to you and raise you just to have you involve yourself in that kind of unscrupulous business? Old Master Qiao reprimanded his son. Qiao Yi shook his head and slowly got up. He looked at the other descendants of the Qiao family who were kneeling and said, Dad, youve told me since young that I can inherit the Qiao family assets only if I do my job well. Qiao Yi looked at Old Master Qiao with a cold smile. I didnt do well in the mainstream businesses, so you sent me overseas to gain experience. I worked hard alone for so many years and finally found a way to make a fortune, but you say that Im unscrupulous. Dad, are your sons and grandsons not as good as your goddaughter and her son? But you must know that Qiao Qings surname isnt Qiao. Neither is Qiao Yues. Theyre not your family! Qiao Yue looked coldly at her uncle who was crying andughing at the same time. This man looked almost insane. Old Master Qiao couldnt be med for not handing over the family assets to Qiao Yi. His impatient personality didnt make him a suitable heir. You see, because big brother likes your goddaughter, youre willing to help him. Im just... Dont talk nonsense. The old master took the punishment cane from one of the bodyguards and struck Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi stood up straight and received the forceful stroke. Old Master Qiao was very forceful. After he caned Qiao Yi, he lost his bnce and fell backward. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue immediately went forward to support Old Master Qiao. If you want to leave, then leave today. Apart from Qiao Yi, finish caning the rest! The old master fainted as soon as he finished speaking. Everyone carried the old master back to his room in a flurry. Qiao Ren was still kneeling on the floor. Qiao Yi looked at the crowd from afar and sneered, Big brother, its been hard on you too. Youre always so weak and useless. Youre the one whos useless. Qiao Ren replied without even looking at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was struck rather forcefully just now. There was a deep wrinkle on the back of his shirt and blood was seeping out. Big brother, I shant say more but I cant be here anymore. Qiao Yi turned to leave. A few bodyguards saw that Qiao Yi was about to leave and came forward to stop him. Let him go, Qiao Ren said. Young Master Ren, the old master... the butler whispered to Qiao Ren. Let him go. Ill exin to the old master. Qiao Yi quickly went upstairs to pack up and leave with his wife and Qiao Ze. When he was leaving, he saw Qiao Yu standing at the door. Qiao Yu, arent youing with us? Qiao Yi frowned as he looked at his unmoved younger son. Dad, now is not the time for you to leave the Qiao family. The Qiao family has already abandoned me to this extent, and the old master has already fainted because of me. Do you think Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue will let me off? Dad, let it go. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yi and said. Your businesses overseas arent upright at all and you almost killed me and fifth brother thest time. Are you really going to continue? Qiao Yi looked at his son, who had always been well-behaved and hadntined even after the kidnapping incident, and was moved. It was a pity that he was blinded by his lucrative business overseas and he couldnt think straight. Qiao Yu, you are all grown up now. You dont need Dad to teach you anything anymore. Qiao Yi lowered his head and smiled helplessly. In any case, the Qiao family still treats you like a grandson. You dont have to tell people that Im your father in future. Qiao Yi walked past Qiao Yu and out the door. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Ze, who was following behind their father, and the two of them exchanged a brief look. Qiao Yu let out a long sigh as he watched his three closest family members get into the car. He always assumed that his father would cut all ties with the Qiao family someday, but he never expected the day toe so soon and so suddenly. Qiao Yis room had already be empty. Qiao Yu looked at the ce where he grew up and felt a strong sense of unfamiliarity and loss. Since young, his father had forced him to be on good terms with everyone and live a perfect life like Qiao Xuan. But he had never figured out the meaningfulness of it all. Chapter 221 - 221 Wound Treatment 221 Wound Treatment Now that his father had left, Qiao Yu suddenly felt that his persistence all these years had been meaningless. He couldnt understand his fathers insistences, and he couldnt understand the insistences his father had imposed on him. As for Old Master Qiao, he was now surrounded by everyone as Lu Ying treated him. The old master closed his eyes in pain and seemed to be mumbling to himself. Qiao Yue clenched her hands tightly. Nothing must happen to Old Master Qiao! She didnt know that things would turn out like this. If she did, she would have knocked Qiao Yi unconscious before he tried anything. She didnt want to see Old Master Qiao so angry even if she was punished. Qiao Jing stood behind her and patted her shoulder gently. He mouthed to her, Everything will be fine. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing and nodded. Lu Ying frowned and inserted thest needle. Everyone held their breath and looked at the old master. The pain on the old masters face gradually disappeared, and his face rxed as if he had fallen into a deep sleep. Lu Ying gestured for everyone to be quiet and led them to the hall outside. The old master fainted from agitation. The problem is neither big nor small. Qiao Yue looked at Lu Ying with a frown. The old master was on his way to full recovery, but he was still taking some supplements, mainly for his heart and kidneys. The effects are quite strong, so he should be resting. After saying that, Lu Ying sighed. But after this happened, the supplements he took before was too strong and the old master couldnt take it. I will reduce the dosageter. However, he will have to recuperate for a while. Try not to agitate the old master during this time. Lu Ying continued. Qiao Jing frowned. Then when will Grandpa wake up? He should be able to wake up tomorrow. Dont worry about that. Lu Ying replied. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief after hearing that. Her grandfather just needed to rest and not go through the previous suffering. After everyone left, Qiao Yue sat by Old Master Qiaos bed and held his hand. Grandpa, you must get better. She looked at her grandfather lying in bed and felt a little sad. After spending time with the Qiaos, she had regarded the old master as her most important rtive. She hoped that she could apany him for a longer time. Qiao Jing stood nearby, looked at Qiao Yue and patted her head. Dont worry too much. Grandpa will get better. Qiao Yue nodded. The two of them stayed with the old master a while more before they left. They walked in silence until they reached Qiao Yues room. Qiao Jing watched Qiao Yue enter her room. Rest early. Ill pretend I didnt hear a lot of things today. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing, who also looked exhausted. He found out tonight the story between his father and his aunt. It probably didnt feel good. Would you like me to give you a massage? Likest time? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yues sincere eyes and nodded. Qiao Yue led Qiao Jing into her room, sat him down and massaged his shoulders and neck. Qiao Jings shoulders and neck were even more tense thanst time. Youve worked hard recently, Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jing closed his eyes. Its alright. Its my responsibility to the Qiao family. When Qiao Yue pressed on Qiao Jings back, she seemed to have touched a wound and Qiao Jing let out a gasp. Whats wrong? Did you get injured just now? Qiao Yue reached out to lift Qiao Jings shirt. Qiao Jing clutched his shirt tightly. Its okay. Second uncle must have got me. Its okay. Its okay, I have a first aid kit here. Let me treat your wound. Qiao Yue was really worried. No need, Qiao Jing tugged at his shirt tightly, as if Qiao Yue was going to molest him. After a few minutes, Qiao Jing finally realized that Qiao Yue didnt know that he already knew that she was a girl. If he refused now, it would only arouse her suspicions. He let go of his shirt and smiled. I didnt mean it like that. I just didnt want you to worry. Second uncles beating just now was quite painful. Qiao Yue felt a little upset when she heard this. Qiao Jing was tough and this was the first time she heard him cry out in pain. You must say when its painful. Ill help you treat the wound. Qiao Yue asked Qiao Jing to take off his shirt as she went to get the first aid kit. She was a little anxious and her actions were flustered. Chapter 222 - 222 Danger 222 Danger Qiao Yues fingers were dipped in antiseptic cream as she applied it to Qiao Jings wounds. Her hands werent as delicate as most girls. Qiao Jing could feel the rough calluses and slightly lower body temperature and his heart beat very fast. Qiao Yue stood behind him, treating his wounds gently and he could feel her warm breath. Qiao Jing always felt that he had good self-control, but at this moment, he couldnt help but feel a little restless. Does it hurt? Qiao Yue asked. Its alright. Qiao Jing said. The air quieted down just like that, leaving only the light sound of fingers rubbing against skin. Qiao Yue felt her own face turn red. She was so concerned just now that she hadpletely forgotten about the safe distance between men and women. She tried not to look at parts of his body she shouldnt as she applied antiseptic cream on his wounds. Although Qiao Jing sat in the office all day, he had a good body. His chest and abdominal muscles were well defined and taut. The areas that Qiao Yi had hit him looked badly bruised. Qiao Yue was gentle and careful when applying the cream. Qiao Jing seemed to feel no pain and allowed her to treat his wounds. Dont take todays matter to heart. Qiao Jing broke the silence. Qiao Yue knew what Qiao Jing was talking about. In fact, she was also very curious about what had happened between her mother and Qiao Ren, and what kind of thing Qiao Yi kept talking about. Before today, they said that her mother had stolen something from the family. And now, none them were willing to tell her exactly what had happened. She couldnt find any evidence on the school forum or any other ces. The search for her mothers true identity seemed to have be an unsolved case. She should have had a talk with Qiao Ren. As she pondered, her movements slowed. Qiao Jing could feel her hands slowing down. Qiao Yue? Qiao Yue? Only then did Qiao Yue snap back to reality. Im sorry, I was distracted. Qiao Yue quickly finished treating Qiao Jings wounds and helped him put on his shirt. Qiao Jings body was once again in full view of her, and she felt her face heat up again. Thank you, Qiao Jing said. No worries. Qiao Yue lowered her head, still thinking about her mother. Ill get to the bottom of this. Dont worry. Qiao Jings voice was calming. Qiao Yue looked up at Qiao Jing, her face full of disbelief. Qiao Jings parents had always been at odds with each other, probably because of Qiao Qing. It would hurt Qiao Jing to ask his parents about this. This might not be a good idea... Qiao Yue lowered her head. She really wanted to know what had happened to her mother, but she didnt want Qiao Jing to hurt like that. Qiao Yue felt that she was being shameless. Qiao Jing patted her on the head. Its okay. Tao Xi and Qiao Rens conflict had been going on for a long time. When Qiao Jing was young, he had hoped that his parents would make up. But now, Qiao Jing only hoped that his parents were safe and sound. This kind of loveless marriage was meaningless. Qiao Jing had long lost hope in the two of them. However, based on what Qiao Ren said tonight, it seemed that their feud had something to do with his aunt, Qiao Qing. He still felt bad for a moment. However, it wasnt because of his parents. It was because of Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing hoped that Qiao Yue could live a carefree life under the Qiaos roof. He didnt want her dragged into these things. But now, it seemed that they were all inevitably pulled into an emotional whirlpool from the past. I will help you, Qiao Jing said. Qiao Ze has probably chosen Qiao Yis side. Should we continue as nned? Only then did Qiao Yue remember Qiao Zes matter and she frowned. End of December was a good opportunity to take down Qiao Yi and his cronies in one fell swoop. If they didnt take this opportunity to punish Qiao Yi, it might be very difficultter on. Aside from Qiao Yi, there seems to be something wrong with Qiao Li as well. Ive looked into that AT Company. Its not that simple. Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jing nodded. Leave these things to me. If theres any operation, let me handle it. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing, not understanding what he meant. Let me handle all the dangerous things from here on out. Qiao Jing added. Chapter 223 - 223 Conspiracy 223 Conspiracy The next day, Old Master Qiao woke up in the morning and had breakfast with everyone. Other than Qiao Yis family who had left, everyone was eating as usual, but they all looked tired. Qiao Ying was so stressed out about what happened yesterday that she couldnt eat. She sat in front of her te, hands trembling. She was unable to pick up any food. !! When Qiao Li saw Qiao Ying like this, he was so angry that he pped away Qiao Yings chopsticks. Dont eat if you cant. Youre such a good-for-nothing. After Qiao Ying was scolded by her father, she trembled even more violently. Her entire body was on the verge of copse, and she was close to tears. Alright, Qiao Li. Xiao Ying just got a shock yesterday. Dont scare her like this. Qiao Ren said. Qiao Ying looked at Qiao Ren with gratitude. Big brother, you should take care of your own children first. I know my kid. Qiao Li snorted. The old master put down his chopsticks with a m. Qiao Yue quickly reached out to support the old master and stroked his back. Grandpa, dont be angry. The doctor said that you cant be angry. Old Master Qiao reached out and patted Qiao Yue, acknowledging what she said. After what happened yesterday, you guys should restrain yourselves. I cant watch any dirty nonsense now. Qiao Li knew that Old Master Qiao was recuperating, so he didnt say anything more and lowered his head in silence. I hope all of you remember that the Qiao family doesnt rear livestock. If you insist on being a livestock, then get out of the Qiao family like your second brother! Qiao Li had no stable foundation, and he still needed protection from the Qiao family, so he shut his mouth and didnt speak anymore. Qiao Ying seemed to have calmed down a little. She grabbed her chopsticks shakily and began to eat. The dining table fell silent again. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ying with a little heartache. She had such a serious anxiety disorder that she was showing physical symptoms, yet Qiao Li was not willing to let her see a doctor. It seemed that the incident that triggered her anxiety had not been resolved. Qiao Yue frowned. Its not good if this continued. She must find someone to treat Qiao Ying. After breakfast, Qiao Yue packed up quickly and got into the car. Qiao Ying and Qiao Yu also got into the car as usual, but Qiao Xin didnt show. After waiting for a few minutes, Qiao Xins servant finally came over to tell them that Qiao Xin wasnt going to school today. Qiao Yue frowned. Although Qiao Xin wasnt a very good student, she wasnt the type who would skip school altogether. Besides, the schools anniversary party wasing up. Wasnt Qiao Xin anxious to practice her performance? Qiao Xin was practicing indeed, but at home. She would be signing a formal contract with AT in December. Before that, AT had given her a social ount to post some of her singing videos to gain some fans in C-Country. Many of these fans were girls who liked to sing and dance like Qiao Xin. As long as they were willing, AT would give them a chance to audition. Qiao Li ced great importance on this matter. It looked like Qiao Xin was signing a contract with AT, but behind the scenes, there was also a deal between him and Andy. When Andy visited C-Country a few days ago, Qiao Li had specially found someone to introduce him to Andy. After he got to know Andy, he found out that the tycoon, Trand, was actually Andys brother. Qiao Li usually didnt watch the news, so he didnt know who Trand was, and that he had been arrested. He was still dreaming about his daughter cozying up with these two big shots. After all, Qiao Li didnt have much to offer, except his two daughters. Qiao Xin looked tough on the outside but was actually weak on the inside, and Qiao Ying was very timid. Qiao Li didnt think that his two daughters could make it big in the business world, so the best way was to marry them into rich families. Then, he could rely on the inws to stand his ground in the Qiao family. Qiao Li had started his search for his daughters suitors a few years ago. Now that he had met Andy, he felt that he was a good candidate. After all, Andy had assets and political power abroad. Once Qiao Xin married into such a rich family, he would live the rest of his life in luxury. Qiao Xin sat in the practice room and used an autotune to correct her intoxicating singing. She had no idea that in her fathers eyes, her dream of bing a superstar was just aughable tool. Qiao Li looked at Qiao Xin with an encouraging smile. He must make good use of this daughter and get himself a long-term meal ticket. This way, he would not have to be at the mercy of others in the Qiao family! Chapter 224 - 224 Competition 224 Competition Oswalds words infuriated Qiao Yues ssmates instantly. If it wasnt for Hong Ning, they would have already surrounded Oswald and given him a beating. What are you talking about? If you know how to do it, why dont you help? Xu Hao frowned as he looked at Oswald. Its not my business. Besides, you guys didnt ask me for help. !! Xu Hao didnt know if it was he was imagining things but when Oswald said this, he was looking in Qiao Yues direction. But Qiao Yues eyes were staring at the error page disyed on theputer screen. Theputers in the security control room have probably been infected by a virus, and a primitive virus at that. It would be easy to remove the virus, but the virus had a self-destruction code that would corrupt the data that was originally stored on the system. If the virus was simply removed, it might destroy the programs and data that were originally stored on theputers. She didnt know who Qiao Xin found to help her. In less than 20 minutes, they beat someone up and imnted a virus. It was a rather impressive move. Qiao Yue knew of another solution. She had studied this type of virus with YQ before and they hade up with many different solutions. It was just that these methods involved some advanced frameworks and programming, which were probably unfamiliar to a college student of their age. If she were to solve the problem now, she would be revealing her true capabilities in front of these people. Qiao Yue took a deep breath. Hong Ning was a friend she made in Harvey, and she didnt want her friend to get hurt. She walked up to one of the workstations and was about to remove the virus when Oswald walked up. I can help, but I have a condition. Qiao Yue ignored this random person and continued to deal with the virus. Arent you going to listen to my condition? Oswald reached out and held down Qiao Yues hands. You college students probably cant see the nuance of this virus. Qiao Yue pushed Oswalds hand away. Mr. Oswald, if youre unwilling to help, please dont disturb us here. Oswald chuckled. You guys probably cant tell, but if this virus was simply removed, you wouldnt be able to retrieve the information you want. The few students with better grades who had been trying to solve the problem frowned. They had indeed thought of a way to crack it, but they had not expected it to be so dangerous. Oswald sat in front of the workstation and took off his watch and ne. He quickly set up his watch and ne. The ne was a mini mainframe and a projector, while the watch was a monitor. Oswald had a satelliteputer on him. He connected his remoteputer to the system in the security control room and raised an eyebrow at Qiao Yue. Youve never seen this before, right? How could Qiao Yue not have seen this before? These gadgets were produced by KA, which served advanced hackers. Qiao Yue turned her head and continued to deal with the virus. I know youve already discovered the secret of this virus. Oswald whispered to Qiao Yue while coding frantically. Qiao Yue frowned and ignored his words. However, Oswald wasnt unhappy because of this. He coded while leaning back in his chair, as if he was rxing on his couch at home. Qiao Yues hands moved so fast that the students around her were stunned. Qiao Yue, do you really know how to do this? Yeah, I know youve made great progress in your studies, but its such a tricky virus. Why dont we get a teacher to help you? Everyone looked at Qiao Yue worriedly. They didnt want the surveince video to be destroyed. Qiao Yue ignored their words and continued to focus on dealing with the virus. Oswald was also very quick. It didnt take long for him to type out a bunch of code. Xu Hao looked at their screens with his mouth wide open. There were so many lines of code he didnt recognize on both their screens. And the programming framework they were using was also something he had never seen before. He remembered Qiao Yues performance when St. Faustinas Institution attacked the Harvey forum. Qiao Yue was not a substandard, country bumpkin student like he had imagined. Her mastery and understanding of programming definitely surpassed many people. As time passed, everyone held their breath, waiting for the virus to be resolved. Finally, theputer screens refreshed, and the surveince video was disyed. Chapter 225 - 225 Backing Her up 225 Backing Her up Oswald had also solved the virus. Both worked very quickly, but Qiao Yue was faster. Everyone gathered in front of theputer and looked at the surveince video that was ying. The moment Hong Ning walked out from the audience, she was led away by two girls. Qiao Yue pressed a key on the keyboard, and the scene changed to one outside the hall. Hong Ning was pulled to the side door by the two girls. One of the girls was Chen Shan. There were already a few big men waiting there. The men raised their baseball bats and hit Hong Nings leg a few times, then pushed her down the stairs. The burly mens actions were very decisive. They attacked quickly and ruthlessly without any hesitation. Everyone covered their mouths. In less than twenty minutes, these people had destroyed Hong Nings leg. Oswalds eyes were fixed on the few big men, and his eyes flickered for a moment. Qiao Yue had seen these men before. They were the same men who had recently entered the Harvey campus with the excuse of recording songs for Qiao Xin. Did the people sent by AT know what kind of illegal things these men were up to? Qiao Yue narrowed her eyes. This Qiao Xin was indeed stupid and vicious. Could she even bear the consequences of using these people? Qiao Yue made a copy of the video. Lets take this to the principal. Chen Shan definitely knows something. Meanwhile, Hong Nings parents had also arrived at Harvey. Although they were blue-cor workers, they loved their daughter very much and supported her dreams. They supported Hong Nings dancing wholeheartedly. After learning that their daughter was in trouble, they rushed over immediately. Hong Ning had already woken up. After telling her parents what had happened to her, her parents immediately went to the principal to ask for an exnation. When they arrived, the principal was with Qiao Jing, updating him on some of the schools recent projects. Hong Nings parents told the principal about what happened to their daughter. Qiao Jing frowned as he listened, and the principal was a little embarrassed. That Qiao Xin youre talking about is the younger sister of our school chairman. Even the chairman himself cant hurt a student, right? Besides, our Hong Ning only had a minor dispute with Qiao Xin, but how is Hong Ning going to dance after this? The principal was afraid that Qiao Jing would be angry, so he gave Hong Nings parents a look as he said, Qiao Xin has always been excellent in both character and academic performance. Its better not to nder the younger sister of our school chairman if you dont have any evidence. Qiao Jing looked at the principal with a frown. He understood what Hong Nings parents meant. Based on his understanding of Qiao Xin, she could have done something like that, but the principal seemed to be exonerating her just to please him. Hong Nings parents, Hong Nings a special admission student, and its because of the school boards financial support that shes able to study here. Dont you think its a little inappropriate for you to do this? The principal smiled awkwardly at Qiao Jing. Who said theres no evidence? Qiao Yue led the group into the principals office. The principal looked at Qiao Yue, then at Qiao Jing. Why were they all gathered here today? Qiao Yue This is a surveince video I copied from the security control room. Qiao Xins friend, Chen Shan, was involved in this matter, and those big men were also found by Qiao Xin. Theyve been apanying Qiao Xin in and out of the school many times. When Qiao Jing saw Qiao Yue, his cold face softened. At this moment, he was looking at the video on Qiao Yuesptop. The girl in the video was beaten up so badly that it hurt just to watch the baseball bat falling on her leg. Chairman Qiao This Principal, please deal with Chen Shan and Qiao Xin, as well as those strange men, Qiao Yue said. Qiao Yues ssmates were also looking at the principal with burning eyes. The principal was in a difficult position. One was Chairman Qiaos fifth brother and the other was his sixth sister. He would offend the other if he punished anyone. Qiao Yue, maybe theres a misunderstanding. After all, only Chen Shan is seen in this video. Qiao Yue nced at the principal. Do you want me to find the footage of those burly men apanying Qiao Xin in and out of school? The principal looked at Qiao Jing with a troubled expression. Qiao Jing was already standing beside Qiao Yue as if he was backing her up. Chapter 226 - 226 Reward 226 Reward Principal, just handle this ording to the school rules. A school chairman shouldnt act worse than his younger brother who is still in school. Looking at the situation, Hong Nings parents could roughly guess the rtionship between Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue. Theyd always looked down on those from the upper ss who used their position to bully others. Besides, Qiao Xin had destroyed Hong Nings leg this time; she might not be able to dance for the rest of her life. With tears in her eyes, Hong Nings mother looked at the principal and said, You must seek justice for my daughter! Qiao Xins doing this to vent her anger but my daughter might lose her future career. !! The principal looked at Qiao Jing again. Qiao Jing yed the surveince video a few more times, and his face darkened. He saw the gold letters AT on their jackets. The connection between D-Countrys investments and Qiao Lis family was not as simple as he had thought. ording to the school rules, the Qiao family willpensate Hong Ning for all her losses. Qiao Jing said coldly. Well deal with Qiao Xin when she gets home. Qiao Jing looked at the principal again and continued, Principal, you can expel them now or suspend them and punish them after further investigation. The principal was a little surprised, and so was Qiao Yue. Qiao Xin was Qiao Jings cousin, why did he have to punish her so severely? Hong Nings parents, who had thought that their daughters matter would be overlooked, stared at Qiao Jing in disbelief. Chairman Qiao was indeed extraordinary, to actually put righteousness before family. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue looked at Hong Nings parents with a sad expression. Although Hong Ning could be exempted from the medical expenses, she might never dance again. For someone who regarded dancing as her dream and career, this was a huge blow. The Qiao family will bear all of Hong Nings expenses. Well get the best doctors to treat her. If Hong Ning cant dance anymore, the Qiao family will take care of her studies and job in future. Qiao Jing said. The students in the office were all shocked. This was the legendary bearing of the head of the Qiao family. He was not biased towards his family and dealt with things ording to the rules. Hong Nings parents nodded and left. The principal asked Qiao Yue and the others to leave the principals office so he could discuss Qiao Xins punishment with Qiao Jing. Qiao Yue waited for Qiao Jing outside the principals office. Qiao Jing and the principal didnt chat for long before he came out. He saw Qiao Yue standing there and asked, Whats wrong? Qiao Yue shook her head. Nothing. Shall we go home first? Qiao Xins punishment would probably be known to Qiao Li in a moment. Qiao Yue was afraid that Qiao Li and Qiao Xin would do something crazy, so she wanted to go home and deal with it. Alright, Qiao Jing said as he led Qiao Yue to the underground parking garage. The two of them got into the car. Well done. Qiao Jing patted Qiao Yues head. Qiao Xin was indeed at fault this time. Qiao Yue sighed. Perhaps todays incident angered Qiao Xin. The two of them didnt say anything more. Qiao Xins matter once again reminded the two of the things that the Qiao Li and Qiao Yis families had done. Qiao Xins bossy attitude was probably fostered by Qiao Lis pampering. Now that Qiao Xin had done something like this, Qiao Yue didnt know if she would quickly be a tool for Qiao Li. You did well today, Qiao Jing said. On which matter? Thepetition or Hong Nings matter? Both. Qiao Jing nodded. The thought of facing Qiao Li and his wife when they got home made Qiao Jing feel a little irritated. But when he saw Qiao Yue, his mood became much better. He took out some sweets and pastries from a box in the car. He had bought them for Qiao Yue before he came today. He had also seen Qiao Yues performance on stage today. Qiao Yue, who was in a female outfit, gave him a shock, but he quickly recovered. Only he knew that Qiao Yue was really a girl. When the audience apuded, he was slightly gratified, but also a little jealous. His fifth brother must be a very popr person, unlike what he had previously imagined. However, selfishly, he didnt want Qiao Yue to be so popr. After all, he sometimes didnt even understand his own feelings for Qiao Yue. Whats wrong? Why is second brother staring at me? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing as she ate a piece of cake. I will give you another reward after these matters are resolved. Qiao Yue smiled. Thank you, second brother. Qiao Jing started the car and the two of them drove in the direction of the Qiao residence. Chapter 227 - 227 Destroying the Props 227 Destroying the Props After Qiao Xin finished her song, she turned on the sound system and reyed the song she had just sung. Qiao Xins sense of rhythm and music was not bad, but shecked talent. There was nothing special about her voice; it was even a little unpleasant to hear. Although the song had been autotuned, it was still a little ufortable for the ear. How is it, Dad? Qiao Xin was immersed in her singing and didnt care about her fathers frown. Qiao Li smiled. Not bad. Keep up the good work. Qiao Li didnt really think that she sang well. It didnt really matter to him if Qiao Xin could sing or be an artiste. She just needed to be useful. Qiao Xin was so engrossed in her dream of bing a big star that she had no idea whaty ahead. Soon, it was the day of Harveys anniversary party. When Qiao Yue arrived at the dressing room, it was bustling with activity. The girls were busy perfecting the costumes, while the boys helped assemble the props. The program that Hong Ning was rehearsing for was more like a stage y than a dance. It was abination of several types of dance and plots, and the props for each scene were different, so people had to move them around. The props for Qiao Xins ss performance were much simpler. Qiao Xin was covering her ss performance single-handedly. Only she and the staff from AT with professional autotuning equipment were in the dressing room now. Qiao Xin looked at the people in Hong Nings ss who were busy with their work, and said with her face was full of disdain, So unprofessional. To have the cheek to go on stage with props made out of Styrofoam and bubble wrap. The AT staff all echoed Qiao Xin. Hong Ning rolled her eyes at Qiao Xin. Do you think you can win the award just because you have professional autotuning equipment? Dont you know how terrible you sound? Seeing that Hong Ning actually scolded her, Qiao Xin walked over and kicked the prop that had just been assembled. She was too fast, and no one stopped her. The city tower made out of Styrofoam and bubble wrap was instantly dismantled by her kick. Bubble wrap and Styrofoam were all over the floor, along with thumbtacks and ropes used to hold them together. Qiao Xin! Were about to go on stage, why did you destroy our props! Hong Ning shouted. With this shout, everyone in the dressing room looked over. Qiao Xins ss and Qiao Yues ss were in the same dressing room, so Qiao Yue and her ssmates were there. When Qiao Yue saw that it was Qiao Xin and Hong Ning having a stand-off, she walked over and stood in front of Hong Ning. Qiao Yue! What are you doing here? Qiao Xin was filled with anger when she saw Qiao Yue. You destroyed our props, shouldnt you apologize? Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue with a cheeky smile. Yes, yes. Im sorry. Im sorry. Her face was full of contempt and smugness. So what? Even if I said sorry, we are only an hour away from the show. You wont be able to fix it. Just wait until you make a fool of yourself on stage! Hehe! The schools anniversary party is such a big event, and you think you can mess around? Qiao Yu had somehow arrived at the scene and grabbed Qiao Xin. The Student Council and all the sses have prepared hard for it. Now that youve ruined a performance and the party, youll have to take responsibility. Qiao Yu said with a cold face. Take responsibility? What responsibility? Qiao Xinughed. Fourth brother, dont act all righteous now. I am also performing tonight, and it might even be the best performance. Even if you want to hold me ountable, the school might not let you. Qiao Yu was about to say something when he saw that Qiao Yue had already squatted down to examine the broken prop. The entire city tower was built using Styrofoam. The connecting parts were damaged so even nails and ropes might not hold it back together again. This is probably not fixable anymore. Why dont we go without this prop? Hong Ning walked to Qiao Yues side and said. Qiao Yue shook her head. Not necessarily. She held up the prop and examined carefully. You still want to fix it? Didnt your people say that its not fixable anymore? Qiao Xin sneered. Qiao Yue stood up and walked up to Qiao Xin. Do you know what you just did? Qiao Xin looked straight at Qiao Yue and said provocatively, I do, but you cant fix it now, right? Qiao Xin, youd better be careful. Qiao Yue said and walked back to the prop. Qiao Xin thought about the way Qiao Yue looked at her just now and cursed him in her heart. She dared not say anything more. Qiao Yues gaze just now was a little scary. Chapter 228 - 228 Repairs 228 Repairs Qiao Yue used to be a conservator-restorer. She had restored cultural relics as well as old buildings. Her understanding of the style and structure of ancient city towers was no less than any experts. It was not difficult for her to repair a stage prop created by students. She walked up to the pile of Styrofoam and collected the scattered pieces and nails. Qiao Yue ced the pieces together in the same order as before. Other than the connection points which had been destroyed, there was no other damage. !! Does anyone have a pair of scissors? Qiao Yue asked. Someone quickly handed her a pair of scissors. Qiao Yue cut one of the Styrofoam boards from the middle and a few uneven shapes at the joint. Xu Hao, who was watching, was a little confused. Qiao Yue, are you nning to nail them together? Qiao Yue shook her head. If she used nails to connect the damaged parts together, it was easy to damage it further with vibration from the floor. The method she used was to attach the boards together with tab and slot joints. This way, the structure would be stable, but there wouldnt be enough boards. Thus, she would have to alter the design of the city tower. This was, of course, also not a problem for Qiao Yue. She was an ancient architecture enthusiast. She had seen many structures of ancient buildings, and it was easy to find a temte to build a prop city tower. Very quickly, she finished the repairs. The finished city tower looked sturdier than before, and more stylish. Everyone gathered around, and some even reached out to touch it carefully. This structure is very stable. It can withstand touching. Qiao Yue exined with a smile. Qiao Xin looked at the repaired city tower indignantly. Isnt it still a prop? Itll break with a kick. Its still made out of paper! Qiao Xin said as she walked over to kick the prop again. Qiao Yues ssmates all stood in front of Qiao Xin. Qiao Yu said, Qiao Xin, dont be so childish. If you still act childishly, Ill go back and tell Grandpa. Tell Grandpa? Qiao Xin rolled her eyes at Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu, dont think that just because youre well-liked by the adults in the family, you canin as you please. If you are going to report me, do you have any evidence? Of course, Qiao Yue said to Qiao Xin as he pointed at the surveince camera on the ceiling. The school hall is an important ce in school. There are surveince cameras everywhere. Qiao Xin didnt say more. She just rolled her eyes furiously at Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue and walked out. Hong Ning walked up to Qiao Yue and patted him on the shoulder. Thanks so much. If it werent for you, I really wouldnt know how to exin this to our form teacher. Its fine. Its a small matter. Anything to ensure that our ss performance go well. Qiao Yue said to Hong Ning with a smile. Suddenly, there was a heart-wrenching scream from the crowd. A girl in her performance outfit was sitting on the ground in pain, holding her foot. Whats wrong? Hong Ning hurried over. Blood flowed from the girls fingertips. Upon closer inspection, she had probably just stepped on a nail. Everyone hurriedly brought over the first aid kit. Hong Ning disinfected the girls injured foot with gauze and alcohol. The nail probably had bacteria and rust on it. You should get a tetanus shot soon. Qiao Yue said. The girl nodded her head in pain and grabbed Hong Nings hand. Im really sorry. I didnt see it just now. I only realized after I stepped on it. Im really sorry about todays performance. Hong Nings mind was in a mess. Ill think of a way. This girl was in charge of the sword dance solo. She was quite tall, so her clothes wouldnt fit many girls. It would be difficult to find a girl who could do a sword dance wearing her costume. Hong Ning nced at the boys in the ss. None of them looked like they knew how to dance. Were done for. Why dont we delete that part of the music? Hong Ning looked at a practice video on her phone. If we delete part of it, our ss performance would be too short and we might lose our chance to win the award, a ssmate reminded. But I dont think anyone can learn the moves so quickly. Just as they were frowning, Qiao Yue watched the dance sequence on the practice video and sighed, If theres no one else, Ill do it. Everyone turned around and looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue, you know how to dance? Chapter 229 - 229 In Drag 229 In Drag Qiao Yue really didnt know how to dance. However, the part this girl was in charge of wasnt really a dance. Its more like martial arts. Hong Ning showed Qiao Yue their rehearsal video. Qiao Yue only took a few minutes to remember the dance sequence in general. When she was training before, she had trained with cold weapons like swords and sabers. Sword dance was just choreographing sword moves into a dance sequence. Moreover, this student wasnt in charge of a mass dance, but a solo. If Qiao Yue could remember the sequence and keep the beat, he could rece her. Hong Ning looked at Qiao Yue worriedly. Can you really do it? If you cant, we can just give up the opportunity to win the award instead of making things difficult for you. Qiao Yu turned to look at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue wasnt listening to what people were saying at all. His eyes were fixed on the screen as hemitted every movement to memory. Qiao Yus memory was very good, and she memorized the sequence very quickly. Besides, many of the movements in a sword dance were just modified versions of swordsmanship. They were just toned-down versions of the sword movements. This was not difficult for Qiao Yue. Its okay, you can trust Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu patted Hong Nings shoulder. Qiao Yu knew that Qiao Yue wasnt as simple as he looked. He believed that Qiao Yue could do it. Really? Qiao Yue put down the phone and turned on the speakers. She picked up a prop sword and went through the sword dance sequence on the spot. Because the dressing room wasnt big, everyone moved to make space for Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue followed the music and casually swung the sword as she danced. She was stronger than the original girl, so her sword movements left afterimages. A few boys started to cheer. As the music climaxed, her movements became faster. She looked very skilled, as if she had practiced the dance countless times. Impressive! He looks like the main character of a martial arts movie. Yeah, Qiao Yue looks so thin, but hes so good at sword dancing. Qiao Yu watched Qiao Yues movements from the side and thought to himself that his fifth brother was indeed not simple. He knew everything, even sword dance, which required years of experience. He started to admire Qiao Yue. With his talent, he could easily live a good life even if he left the Qiao family. Why did he live in Nanshan Vige? Or did hee to the Qiao family to find something? The sword dance, whichsted a minute and a half, stunned the students in the dressing room. Qiao Yue was a genius! How did he remember the entire sequence in such a short time and performed it perfectly? After the dance, the dressing room was filled with loud apuse. Hong Nings eyes were filled with admiration for Qiao Yue. She had practiced dance for years and after watching Qiao Yue, she felt that he must be a gifted person. Although it was a sword dance, Qiao Yues memory and sense of rhythm were not bad, and her movements and positioning were perfect. She quickly handed the costume to Qiao Yue and pulled him to the dressing table. Genius, Im counting on you to save the day. Before Qiao Yue could react, Hong Ning had already pressed her in front of the mirror. Hong Ning had gotten an ancient-style female wig from somewhere and put it on Qiao Yues head. Do I need to wear a wig for this? Qiao Yue was a little confused. Yes, you do. This is a female costume. We didnt prepare an ancient-style male wig. Youll need to dress up as a girl. Qiao Yue choked. What was she doing? A pretend boy in drag? Hong Ning moved quickly, adjusting the wig and putting makeup on Qiao Yue. The character in this scene was a heroine, so her makeup and hairstyle were not overly feminine. If this was a boy, he wouldnt look so much like a girl. But when this was Qiao Yue, things were a little different. Qiao Yues facial features looked like a boys because of her messy hair. Without the messy hair, her facial features stood out beautifully. Hong Ning, who was putting eyeshadow on Qiao Yue, praised, You look beautiful. Really beautiful. Brown eye shadow outlined her slightly upturned eyes. Her big eyes were ck and bright, and they were sparkling. Qiao Yue, if you were a girl, youd definitely be very pretty. Hong Ning sighed in admiration after she finished Qiao Yues makeup. Chapter 230 - 230 The Competition 230 The Competition Qiao Yue looked in the mirror. She saw her ssically made-up self in the mirror. Light brown eyeshadow entuated her beautiful eyes. With her lightly colored red lips, she looked like an androgynous heroine, with the chivalry of a boy and the femininity of a girl. Hong Ning then stuffed the costume in Qiao Yues hands. Qiao Yue walked into the fitting room and changed into the costume. When she walked out of the fitting room, everyones eyes fell on her. She stood at the door of the fitting room in her red costume. The ck belt cinched her waist, making her look tall and handsome with a hint of girls elegance. Gorgeous! Is this Qiao Yue? I thought she is the reincarnation of an ancient heroine. Xu Hao and Qiao Yu were both stunned. Qiao Yue looked beautiful in womens clothing. It was not the delicate kind of beauty, but one thats full of vitality, like red plum blossoms blooming in winter. Beautiful. It fits you better than I thought. Hong Ning walked up and helped Qiao Yue adjust the red ribbons in her wig. But Qiao Yue, you might want to remove this. What? Qiao Yue looked at Hong Ning. Hong Ning pointed at the bandage around Qiao Yues neck. Can you take that off? It might affect Hong Ning suddenly felt a little awkward. Qiao Yue wore this bandage every day. Hong Ning didnt want to ask why, but she still hoped that Qiao Yue would take it off before going on stage. Im afraid I cant do that. I have a scar. It will be visible if I remove this. Qiao Yue didnt intend to hide the scars on her body, but she didnt want to go on stage with a visible scar. Ah, Im sorry. I didnt mean to. Hong Ning lowered her head quickly and apologized. I was just thinking about the overall effect. Qiao Yue shook her head. She didnt mind Hong Nings behavior. Hong Ning was a person who had high standards for the stage, and she didnt have any ill intentions. Hong Ning nodded. Please continue to prepare yourself. Ill call you when its time to go on stage. The onlookers dispersed. It was less than ten minutes before the schools anniversary show, and less than half an hour before their performance. All teams were making their final preparations. Qiao Xin had also returned backstage. She was wearing a blue evening gown with her hair curled into loose waves. She looked noble and elegant. However, her eyes were still filled with contempt, and her expression sour, which made her generally ufortable to look at. Qiao Yue, dont tell me youre going on stage? Qiao Yue ignored her and continued to look at the sword she was holding. She had studied under a kendo master in Japan for some time. The sword she was holding wasnt simple. It was two feet long and the de looked to be made of high-quality carbon steel. The de was thin, and it glinted. The hilt was in the shape of an agile crane. The de of the sword was extremely sharp, like frost in autumn. This was a good sword, and it felt good to the touch. If it was a working cold weapon, it should also have the upper hand. Didnt you hear me? What was up with Qiao Yue today? He had been ignoring her all day. What? Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Xin. Are you going on stage? Wasnt Qiao Xin asking the obvious? Qiao Yue was already in costume, so how could she not go on stage? Qiao Yue waspletely uninterested in Qiao Xins meaningless provocation. Qiao Xin was like a child, talking nonsense every day. Perhaps it was because of her naivety and pampered character that made her a tool for Qiao Li to please Andy and his brother. Qiao Yue recalled what had happened at the dinner tablest night, when Qiao Li announced to everyone that Qiao Xin was signing up for an audition with AT Company in December. December. Wasnt that when Qiao Ze had predicted that Qiao Yi would start human trafficking again? Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Xin. She was so happy now, but she might be one of those people. Qiao Yue couldnt believe it. After all, she was Qiao Lis biological daughter. What are you looking at? Im going on stage now. Just you wait. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue and smiled. Qiao Yue turned her head away; she didnt want to look at Qiao Xin any longer. Outside, the sound of introductions could be heard. A big wee to the students from St. Faustinas Institution. St. Faustinas has sent representatives from the arts as well asputer science faculties this year to our school anniversary celebrations Qiao Yue peeked through the curtains at the representatives from St. Faustinasputer science faculty. One of them caught Qiao Yues attention. Chapter 231 - 231 Performing on Stage 231 Performing on Stage Most students from St. Faustinas Institutionsputer science faculty wore id shirts and thick sses, but there was one student who stood out. He had light brown hair and he looked very polite, epting the audiences attention with a smile. Qiao Yue felt like she had seen this person before. She sized up this person coldly. He seemed to have felt Qiao Yues gaze and even turned his head and smiled at her. Technically, Qiao Yue was standing backstage, which was not lit. However, that student seemed to have spotted her despite theck of light. This made Qiao Yue a little ufortable. Before she could recall who he was, the student representatives from St. Faustinas left the stage. The first performance began. Qiao Yue didnt even have time to recall who he was before she was pulled into the queue. They were the fifth to go on stage, and Qiao Xins performance was right before theirs. Qiao Xin even nced at Qiao Yue when she went on stage. Her voice rang out in the hall. Qiao Yue looked out to the stage. Qiao Xin was holding the microphone with one hand and had her other hand on her chest. She was totally engrossed in her singing. Unfortunately, even though the sound from the PA system seemed to have been autotuned and enhanced, she still sounded unpleasant. With her abilities, she might not even excel at KTV, and she wanted to be a celebrity? After Qiao Xins performance, it was time for Qiao Yues ss to perform. Qiao Yue was going to appear in the second act. The first act was a folk dance led by Hong Ning. Hong Ning had a very good foundation in dance. Her movements were smooth and perfectly in sync with the music. She danced like a flower blossoming on stage. Dazzling and pretty as a picture. As soon as the dance ended, thunderous apuse rang out from the audience. It was now Qiao Yues turn. Qiao Yue somersaulted onto the stage, and the crowd burst into cheers. As the music yed, the dance sequence appeared in her mind. Although she wasnt sensitive to the rhythm, she could still follow the beat from memory. Although her movements were not as graceful as a dancers, they were fluid and exuberant. It wasnt so much a dance but a sword fight on the battlefield. Her teacher had once taught her that no matter what, as long as she was holding a sword, she had to keep her fighting posture and mentality. Years of training had made this second nature to her as soon as she picked up a sword. Qiao Yu peeked at Qiao Yue through the curtains from backstage. Qiao Yue in womens clothing was alluring in an androgynous way. When she was sword dancing, the heroic spirit that appeared between her brows was hard to resist. If Qiao Yue were a girl, Qiao Yu might fall for her. The thought was extinguished as soon as it appeared in Qiao Yus mind. His feelings for Qiao Yue were confusing. Qiao Yue had seen through his mask the first time they met. Qiao Yu had thought then that Qiao Yue was just a brat who was good at seeing through people. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to exhibit so many other aspects of him that surprised him. If Qiao Yue were a girl, he might really like her. Why is Qiao Yue so good-looking? If he were a girl, our school belle can quit. Xu Hao sighed. Dont you like those innocent-looking ones? You like this type too? Qiao Yu teased. Xu Hao replied seriously, I dont like girls who are too girly. I prefer those with a little attitude. If Qiao Yue were a girl, she would definitely be pretty and cool. She wouldnt be bullied at online games either. Who wouldnt want a girlfriend like that? Qiao Yu nodded. True. Xu Hao felt that Qiao Yus tone was a little off. I didnt mean it that way, okay? Im straight. Xu Hao nced at Qiao Yu. His expression didnt change. He still had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes were a littlemanding. After Qiao Yue finished her dance, she went backstage and asked Xu Hao and Qiao Yu, How was it? Qiao Yu took the sword from her and handed her a bottle of water. Drink some water first. You danced very well. Thank you, fourth brother. Qiao Yue smiled. When she heard the apuse from the audience, she knew that she had done a good job. However, she could still feel a gaze from the crowd, a gaze that made her very ufortable. She couldnt really put a finger on it, but she felt suffocated. Who was that person? Chapter 232 - 232 Eugene Corporation 232 Eugene Corporation There were less than twenty faculties at Harvey, with a few dozen sses in total. The anniversary showsted a full three hours before it ended. Fortunately, no matter which faculty the students were from, they were all talented, and the performances they put up were all very exciting. Although the audience sat and watched for three hours, they were not bored at all. Qiao Yues ss sat on the second floor of the hall on the left, very close to the students from St. Faustinas Institution. St. Faustinas was founded by Catholic priests, so the students uniforms looked like monk robes. With all sorts of outfit under their robes, the students looked like transmigrators. Qiao Yue scanned the representatives from St. Faustinas, searching for the gaze that made her ufortable earlier. Soon, her eyes were locked on the boy she saw from backstage. The dim lighting entuated his side profile. His facial features were exquisite, and he looked charming and a little androgynous. Qiao Yues memory was very good and she could remember faces, but she couldnt remember where she had seen this boy before. Feeling her gaze, the boy also looked back at Qiao Yue and gave her a polite smile. You know that person? Qiao Yu asked. Which person? The one who dyed his hair brown from St. Faustinas. I dont. Qiao Yue shook her head. His name is Oswald and hes from D-Country. He was the one who attacked our schoolwork. The boy could also feel Qiao Yus gaze on him and smiled back politely at Qiao Yu. Fourth brother, whats this persons background? Qiao Yu essed the school forum on his phone and showed a post to Qiao Yue. One wouldnt know if they didnt look, but this Oswald boy had already set off a heated discussion on the Harvey forum. Qiao Yue clicked on the post. It was an ID photo of Oswald. He had an east-west, mixed-blood face, light brown hair, and a small mole at the corner of his right eye. Mixed-blood? Qiao Yue continued to scroll down. Gossip spread extremely quickly at Harvey. Oswalds family background had already been uncovered. Oswald seemed to be connected to the political big shots of D-Country. His family business was also very mysterious, and his status in D-Country was extremely high. His mother was from C-Country. He came to St. Faustinas in C-Country on a student exchange program to fulfill his mothers wish for him to visit his other hometown. Qiao Yue looked at thepany name of his family business. It was Eugene Corporation, a big name in D-Country. The Eugene family was a family that must not be underestimated in D-Country. Many big-wigs in business and politics came from this family. Anyone of status was somehow connected to this family. It could be said that this family had a monopoly on half of the wealth and talent in D-Country. It was rumored that Andy was also closely connected to the Eugenes. The family funded his campaign when he ran for member of parliament. Qiao Yue looked at the information on the phone and frowned. She had heard about the Eugenes from the Godfather. This family had been in control of D-Countrys economy and that of several nearby countries for centuries. Although many people opposed their monopoly, they could not help but acknowledge the power that the Eugenes held. The Godfathers tone was always filled with dissatisfaction when he spoke about the Eugenes. For some reason, he hated the Eugenes. In addition to his family background, Oswald also had an impressive resume in D-Country. He was a genius hacker and had won many hackathons in D-Country. Compared to YQ, Oswald was younger, but he rose faster. Many people predicted that Oswald would surpass YQ very soon. Moreover, unlike hackers like YQ, who hid their identities all year round, Oswald was very high-profile because of his family background. He hadunched many malicious attacks against other hackers. His moniker in the hacker world was Bad Child. Many hackers needed to put in a lot of effort toplete a mission, and these missions were rted to their survival. But Oswald often hacked into other peoples systems as a prank. He would make them think that their hard work had gone to waste, and then he would help them recover their systems. This kind of attack didnt do much damage, but it was very insulting. Chapter 233 - 233 Qiao Jing Is Here? 233 Qiao Jing Is Here? Oswalds hacking skills were also quite impressive. His coding and attack styles were very unique. Instead of beating the other party withplex codes, he preferred the framework he invented and the simplest code to beat the other party usingputing power. Many hackers in D-Country would get a headache whenever they talked about him. Moreover, Oswald had the backing of the Eugene family, so no one dared to antagonize him. If hes so good, why is he attending St. Faustinas? Xu Hao, who was sitting beside Qiao Yue,mented. Qiao Yue nodded in agreement. !! Oswald was a direct descendent of Eugene family. His father was the current head of Eugene Corporation. Although his mother had passed away long ago, his standing in the Eugene family was still very good. Oswald wanted to fulfill his mothersst wish for him to visit C-Country. He didnt have to take the exchange student route. Qiao Yue sent a screenshot of the post on the Harvey forum to YQ and asked YQ to check if Oswald had other motives. YQ, a man of few words, sent a few vomiting emojis back to Qiao Yue. I was wondering why we havent heard from Bad Child for such a long time. Hes not just in C-Country. He has stirred the girls into a frenzy on the Harvey forum because of his good looks. When YQ read this, he sent back a few more speechless emojis. Oswald was indeed good-looking. There were many strangements below the post about his family background. Oswald is too handsome. Send me to D-Country for a diplomatic marriage. This guy is too cool. Hes from a prestigious family and hes so handsome. He shouldnt be the kind of rich young master who would fight over the family inheritance, right? This sounds too exciting! Oswald is so, so, so handsome. Does anyone have his contact information? Oswalds family in D-Country was very powerful. Qiao Yue wondered if his visit to C-Country this time was rted to Andy and Trand. Qiao Yue felt the conspiracy getting bigger and moreplex. The original mission was to take down a drug dealer. First, the Qiao family was implicated, and now, Eugene Corporation and Andy. More and more power behind the scenes were surfacing. This worried Qiao Yue. Plus, the Godfather hadnt contacted hertely. He also never showed up at the organization. Although the Godfather had always been elusive, this was the first time he was like this. Qiao Yue wondered if he had encountered some difficulties. She wondered if the difficulty was rted matters involving D-Country. Just as Qiao Yue was thinking about this, the show ended and the judges had finished scoring all the performances. In the lead now were Qiao Yues ss and Qiao Xins ss. Now, it was the VIP judges turn to score. The VIP seats on the east side of the second floor lit up, and several school board members stood up and greeted the students. Qiao Yue saw a familiar face among the VIPs. Qiao Yu eximed, Why is second brother here? The others looked over when they heard this. Qiao Jing was standing in the gallery, wearing a ck suit. He wasnt wearing a tie and his hair wasntbed up like usual. His soft bangs hung over his forehead, making him look like a friendly neighbor. Qiao Jings eyes swept the crowd and zoomed in on Qiao Yue, who was sitting in the balcony. Qiao Yue was also looking at Qiao Jing. Most of the students in the audience had never seen Qiao Jing in person. Their understanding of him came from all kinds of information on the inte. But Qiao Jing used to be a student at Harvey, who left behind some legends, so they were very excited when they saw him. Look, the person standing in the middle of the VIPs is the current head of the Qiao family, right? Yeah, hes so handsome. I thought the photos on the inte had all been touched up. I didnt expect him to look so good in person. Everyone says that overbearing CEOs are all sleazy. Why isnt this President Qiao sleazy at all? Hes so good-looking. Yeah boy. Hes so much better than those rich kids my family set me up with. Hes so handsome. If it was him, I would have agreed immediately. Dont bother. Hes the head of the Qiao family, he wont be interested in you. The crowds discussion was interrupted by the emcee. The emcee announced, Chairman Qiao, please cast your vote on behalf of the school board. A vote from the school board was equivalent to twenty votes from the live audience, so this vote was very important. Qiao Jing bowed slightly and raised the voting device in his hand. Everyone looked at the results on the big screen. Chapter 234 - 234 Winning the Award 234 Winning the Award It was also very interesting to see which performance Qiao Jing would vote for. Although his vote represented the school boards, the older board members were not interested in this kind of thing. In the end, the school boards vote dependedrgely on Qiao Jing. And two of the performances this year involved Qiao Jings family members. One involved his fifth brother while the other, his sixth sister. It was unknown which performance he would vote for. Qiao Xin clenched her fists and looked at Qiao Jing from the audience. Qiao Jing was rted to her by blood. He couldnt possibly vote for a godbrother who wasnt his blood rtive, right? Qiao Xin then remembered that since Qiao Yue came to live with them, her second brother hadpletely forgotten about her. She couldnt help but look at Qiao Yue. Why did Qiao Yue have to butt heads with her on everything? Everyone in the family seemed to like him more. Even her own sister had told her not to butt heads with Qiao Yue. Qiao Xin was furious. At this moment, the countdown to the school boards vote appeared on the big screen. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see who Qiao Jing would vote for. Except for Qiao Yue, who was chatting with YQ on her phone with her head lowered. Although she also wished that her ss would win the award, thepetition was already over, and the rankings had already been decided. Its pointless to look at the vote now. The students around Qiao Yue eximed when the school boards vote appeared on the big screen. Our ss got another 20 points! Xu Hao grabbed Qiao Yues arm and shook it. Your brother is so loyal. He voted for us. We got this in the bag! Qiao Yu wasnt as excited as Xu Hao, but he smiled. He didnt care if his ss won the award. He only cared if winning the award would make Qiao Yue happy. If their ss won today because of Qiao Yues performance, Qiao Yue would definitely be happy. Theres still the vote from St. Faustinas. Dont get excited too early. At this moment, the spotlight fell on the student representatives from St. Faustinas Institution. The representative who would vote on behalf of St. Faustinas was Oswald. His face was bathed in gold from the follow spotlight in the hall, and he had the air of an aristocrat. The other noble students from St. Faustinas looked shabby next to him. In the entire hall, only Qiao Yu and Qiao Jings looks and aura couldpare to Oswalds. The infatuated girls also looked at Oswald. He smiled, stood up and took a bow, looking very gentlemanly. On behalf of St. Faustinas, I vote for Everyones eyes were on Oswald. Right now, Qiao Yues ss was in the lead, but they were only 20 votes ahead. St. Faustinas vote was equivalent to 30 points. If they voted for Qiao Xins performance, Qiao Xins ss would win the award. St. Faustinas vote was therefore of utmost importance. Oswald paused mid-sentence and looked to his right. Qiao Yue felt his gaze and looked back. Oswald looked at her and revealed a gentlemanly smile. Look, Oswald seems to be looking in the direction of Qiao Yues ss! Yeah, dont tell me hes looking at Qiao Yue. How can that be? One look and I can tell that Oswald isnt into boys. How can he be looking at Qiao Yue? Instead of seeing the plot where Oswald fell for Qiao Yue, the students were more keen for a plot where the noble western boy fell for an eastern ssical beauty. Qiao Yue retracted her gaze and looked forward. Oswald seemed to be paying too much attention to her, which made her even more suspicious. No. 02, Oswald continued. 02 was the program number for Qiao Yues ss performance. On the big screen, 50 points were added to Qiao Yues ss. Now, there was a 50-point gap between Qiao Xins ss and Qiao Yues. The students in Qiao Yues ss were overjoyed. They stood up and hugged each other, screaming and cheering. Hong Ning, go backstage and get ready to receive the award! Someone from the student council called out. Hong Ning was overjoyed and ran downstairs. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing, who was sitting in the VIP area, and Qiao Jing looked back at her. He smiled at her. Qiao Yue rarely saw Qiao Jing smile, so she felt an indescribable joy in her heart and smiled back. Qiao Yu, who was standing on the other side, saw Qiao Yues expression. He looked in the direction of Qiao Yues gaze and saw Qiao Jing smiling at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu suddenly felt bitterness in his heart. Chapter 235 - 235 Hong Ning’s Disappearance 235 Hong Nings Disappearance Qiao Xin, get ready to go on stage to receive your award. Qiao Xins face darkened as she looked at the student who came to inform her of the award ceremony. Going up to receive this award was nothing but a great humiliation for her. She was about to sign a contract with a talent agency and make her debut, yet she still lost to them in thispetition! And there was Qiao Jing, who didnt even give her any face! !! Qiao Xin turned on her phone and sent a message to a girl she was close with. If she couldnt afford to offend Qiao Jing, or Qiao Yue for that matter, she could at least teach Hong Ning a lesson, right? Qiao Xin sneered. Hong Ning, you shouldnt me me if something happened to you. If you must cast me, me it on the fact that you were in the same ss as Qiao Yue. After the voting segment, there were still a few performances put up by the teachers. They were mainly funny and didnt contain much substance. Qiao Yues form teacher, Chang Yuan, even went up to perform a harvest dance, which amused the audience. Qiao Yue didnt pay attention to the show. She was focused on her chat with YQ. YQ had found something. Oswald came to C-Country with Andy this time. However, unlike Andy, there was no news about his visit to C-Country. The media seemed to be tight-lipped about Oswalds arrival. Moreover, in the first week of his visit, Oswald stayed inside the embassy and never came out. He also didnt do much. No one saw him. His social media and dark web ounts were dormant. He even hid his IP address. In other words, Oswalds visit to C-Country was originally a secret trip. However, for some reason, after a week of his secret trip, he suddenly attended St. Faustinas Institution. He was very high profile at St. Faustinas. On his first day, he had beaten all the top students in theputer science faculty, andter, he had even hacked into the schoolswork. In less than a month, he had gained arge group of supporters at St. Faustinasputer science faculty, and he was the mastermind behind the IT war with Harvey Academy. Qiao Yue looked at the information YQ had sent her. Oswald didnt seem to be connected to the Qiao family. Although he and Andy were both at the embassy, they hardly crossed paths. Unlike Andy, he did not meet with people from the corporate or political circles. He behaved very much like a rich young master who came to C-Country for leisure. But there was one noteworthy thing. Oswald had visited Trand in prison. Qiao Yue squinted when she read this. Was Trand and Oswald somehow in cahoots? Just as she was deep in thought, Xu Hao nudged her. Do you know where Hong Ning is? Hong Ning? Qiao Yue was puzzled. Didnt she go on stage to receive our award? Qiao Yue then turned to look at the winners podium on stage. No one was standing in the first ce, but Qiao Xin was standing next to it with her trophy and smiling brightly. A student council member ran over to Qiao Yue. Is there anyone else from your ss who can go up and receive the award? I dont know where Hong Ning has gone to. Qiao Yue frowned. What was going on? Where was Hong Ning? Why dont you go? Xu Hao quickly pushed Qiao Yue to follow the student council member. Qiao Yue followed the student council member backstage. It was just a short walk. Where did Hong Ning go? I was just leading them backstage. When I turned around, your ss representative was gone. Who knows? Qiao Yue suddenly had a bad feeling, but she still followed the student council member to the front of the stage to receive the award. She looked around, searching for Hong Ning. But she couldnt find her. It was the principal who presented the award to Qiao Yue. He smiled as he presented the award to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue, youve worked hard. The performance your ss put up was very good. Qiao Yue nodded perfunctorily; she was worried about Hong Ning. Since Qiao Xin got second ce, she wouldnt let Qiao Yues ssmates off that easily. She couldnt do anything to Qiao Yue, or Qiao Yu. Her best bet was Hong Ning, who didnte from a prominent family. After they walked off the winners podium, Qiao Yue grabbed Qiao Xin and asked, Where did you take Hong Ning? I dont know. Qiao Xin smiled, her eyes smug. Why are you asking me when someone from your ss goes missing? Im not a human trafficker. Chapter 236 - 236 Imminent Danger 236 Imminent Danger Human trafficker or not, youre the one who did it! Qiao Xins reaction confirmed Qiao Yues suspicion that she had taken Hong Ning somewhere. What does that have anything to do with me? Even if I knew, I wouldnt tell you. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes at Qiao Yue. You know that there are surveince cameras everywhere, right? You kicked our prop and broke it, and then you did this to Hong Ning. Are you trying to get expelled from school? Speaking of expulsion from school, Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue and sneered, Why would I get expelled? If anyone should be expelled, it should be a poor and unimportant student like Hong Ning! Qiao Xin emphasized the word poor, as if it was the only way she could spurn Hong Ning and Qiao Yue. Youd better not be too arrogant. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Xin coldly. She then left backstage and continued her search for Hong Ning. Xu Hao was also searching for Hong Ning with his ssmates. Everyone had Hong Ning to thank for their win. Why did she go missing when it was time to receive the award? Finally, they found Hong Ning outside the hall. She had been pushed down the steps near the side door of the auditorium. The stairs ran for almost an entire floor. Although one might not die from a fall like that, one would still be seriously injured. When they found Hong Ning, she was lying at the bottom of the steps, her eyes closed in pain. Her clothes were covered in dirt, and there were cuts all over her body, probably from the sharp edges of the steps. Qiao Yue rushed over and carried Hong Ning to the school infirmary. The doctor examined Hong Ning and found injuries all over her body. She had probably also been beaten up. One of her legs had suffered a heavy blow, and it might be broken. Qiao Yue eyes narrowed. How was Qiao Xin capable of something like that now? She asked the doctor to take care of Hong Ning and went back to the auditorium to find Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin was with a few of her friends, and they all looked at Qiao Yue with disdain when they saw him. What happened? You didnt find Hong Ning? One of the girls named Chen Shan said with a smile. Hong Ning is just a special admission student. Shes unimportant. Unimportant? So, you just find someone to beat her up, Qiao Xin? I didnt, okay? Dont nder me. Wheres the evidence? Qiao Xin chuckled as she looked at Qiao Yue. Like I said, there are surveince cameras all over the auditorium. Qiao Xin and the girls cackled at the mention of surveince, as if they had just heard a joke. What surveince footage? Go find it. Xu Hao also felt very angry as he watched the girls. Hong Ning specialized in dance and she was going to pursue dance as a career. If these people destroyed her legs, they would have ruined her studies and her life. It was just apetition, but these people wanted to destroy another persons life. Lets go to the security control room. Qiao Yue led her ssmates to the security control room, and they bumped into students from St. Faustinas on the way. When Oswald saw Qiao Yue rushing to the security control room with people, he followed. Where are you guys going? Oswald looked at Qiao Yue and asked with a smile. Sorry, we have something urgent to attend to, and I dont think we know each other. Qiao Yue replied coldly. Oswald didnt get angry and continued to follow Qiao Yue. Then why dont we just get to know each other now? Xu Hao was grumbling silently about this personspleteck of tact. Oswald followed them into the security control room. In the room, one of the security officers, Zhang, was busy typing on aputer. Uncle Zhang, we would like to look at the security footage of the school auditorium. Qiao Yue didnt beat around the bush and went straight to the point. Its not that I wont let you look at the footage, but theres something wrong with the system. Uncle Zhang scratched his head in embarrassment. I dont know why the surveince system went down just now. After I rebooted the system, I cant find the recordings anymore. Im sorry, students. She knew it. How could Qiao Xin not know about the surveince cameras? Some of students with better grades had already gone over to help Uncle Zhang deal with the system. Qiao Yue frowned. With her ability, she would probably be able to restore the system, but her ssmates would then find out about herputing skills. Computing skills at Harvey isnt so good after all. Oswald spoke just as everyone was getting anxious. Chapter 237 - 237 In Trouble 237 In Trouble When the two of them arrived at the Qiao residence, it was already dinner time. There was an unexpected guest here today: Qiao Ze. Qiao Ze had brought an ordinary looking man with ck-rimmed sses to the Qiao residence. He stared at Qiao Yue the moment they walked in. !! Old Master Qiao did not say anything about Qiao Zes return. He just asked Qiao Ze to join them for dinner. Qiao Li and Qiao Xin were also seated at the dining table. There were still tears on Qiao Xins face as she red at Qiao Yue viciously. Qiao Li stared at Qiao Jing without a word. No one dared to mention Qiao Xins matter. The Qiao family had always advocated kindness towards others. Qiao Xins actions were disgraceful and brought shame to the family. Butpared to Qiao Xin, Qiao Jings actions made Qiao Li even angrier. In such a situation, he should have defended his family unconditionally. But Qiao Jing sided with Qiao Yue to deal with Qiao Xin. Qiao Jing was his usual self as he chatted and ate with Old Master Qiao. No one at the table brought up Qiao Xins matter. Old Master Qiaos health had just turned better. If Qiao Xins matter was brought up, it would upset Old Master Qiao to the point of rpse. Although Qiao Li wasnt capable, he was afraid to bear the consequences if he upset the old master. So, he just kept quiet as he red angrily at Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing. Old Master Qiao noticed Qiao Xins abnormal behavior. Xiao Xin, whats wrong? Did something happen at school? Why are you crying? Qiao Xin dared not mention that she had been suspended from school, so she sobbed to her grandfather, Im just upset and ming myself for not getting first ce at the school anniversary show. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Xin in surprise. Qiao Xin did have some talent as an artiste because she could cry onmand. But its good that Qiao Yues ss got first ce. Although she wasplimenting Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue could hear the grudge in her words. Thats good. Second ce isnt too shabby either. Old Master Qiao nodded. Qiao Yue did well this time. Next time, Qiao Xin will do better and win first ce. Thats right. Qiao Yue will do better next time and win first ce. Qiao Li said as he fixed his gaze on Qiao Yue. He realized that hed really underestimated Qiao Yue. A few days ago, when Qiao Yi was kicked out of the house, hed thought that it was because of the conflict between Qiao Yi and the old master. It looked like Qiao Yue was the catalyst. Todays incident made him realize that Qiao Yue was no simpleton. He hadnt been living at the Qiao residence for long, but he had managed to get the people with the right to speak in the family, from Old Master Qiao to Qiao Jing, on his side. Although Qiao Xin had butt heads many times with Qiao Yue, she had never suffered any substantial damage. But today, Qiao Yue had actually reported Qiao Xin to the principal of Harvey. Qiao Xin would probably have to stay home for at least half a year before she could go back to school. Although this was beneficial for the execution of Qiao Lis n, the thought that everything was masterminded by Qiao Yue scared him. Old Master Qiao said to Qiao Yue, Youve done well in your exams and extra-curricr activities. Let your brother take you out to celebrate Christmas. Christmas. Qiao Yue was heartened. Christmas was not a traditional holiday in C-Country, so people didnt pay much attention to it. It was just a school holiday for the Harvey students, a day for them to go out with friends. When Qiao Yue was still at the Godfathers side, she had celebrated Christmas a few times. People at the organization would gather, have a Christmas feast, and then exchange gifts. Christmas was also a time when everyone would be off mission, so the base would be decorated like a real home. Although Qiao Yue hadnt been back at the base for a long time, the mention of Christmas made her miss the rare idle days at the organization. The organization had changed a lot recently. She couldnt help but have doubts about it. Qiao Yue was a little distracted as she thought about this. She didnt notice that the man beside Qiao Ze was looking at her. Let me introduce to everyone C this is a talent manager whos a close friend of mine. Qiao Ze introduced the man to everyone. Hes here today to discuss coboration with our family. Cheng Yang looked at the Qiaos and smiled politely. My name is Cheng Yang and Im an agent. Chapter 238 - 238 I Don’t Want to be Famous 238 I Dont Want to be Famous Cheng Yang had been a talent manager for years. He had never managed Qiao Ze, but they used to work in the samepany. He left his previouspany because of his boss then, and hes working on his own now. He hadnte to the Qiao residence today for Qiao Ze, but for Qiao Yue. Someone had uploaded a video of Qiao Yues sword dance to a video-sharing website today. In just an hour, it had made it to the trending list. Someone had even given the video a hashtag: #AttractiveSwordDancingGirl. This hashtag had a high social media reach. Soon, the video and hashtag had garnered more than a million interactions. When Qiao Yue was helping Hong Ning seek justice in school, she had be a small celebrity on the video-sharing website. Cheng Yang had nurtured many artistes who started off as inte sensations. He wanted to take Qiao Yue through the same route now. After all, Qiao Yues sword dance solo was so popr now. If she rode on this wave and went on some reality or variety show, she could be famous instantly. Qiao Yue didnt expect to be famous suddenly. She turned on her phone and checked her social media apps. Her social media ounts had not been revealed yet, but her chat group with the organization had exploded. People from KA had even sent her a video. Thats amazing. How are you famous now after attending school? Yeah, why did boss appear in a school performance? And in drag? You dont say. Boss, you looked really good dressed up as a girl. Do you have a sister? I would like to date your sister! Qiao Yue clicked on the video. It was shot in the school auditorium. There was no first act of her ss performance, only Qiao Yues solo dance. The person who shot it was quite skilled. He had steady hands. Although Qiao Yues movements were swift, his camera followed her very quickly. Qiao Yue frowned. From the angle of the shot, she could roughly guess where the person sat in the auditorium. Cheng Yang looked at Qiao Yue and asked, You really wouldnt consider bing an artiste? Your looks and sword-dancing skills are very good. Youll have a bright future whether youre be a singer or an actor. Qiao Yue finally understood why the artistes these days were so ipetent. Most of them started off as inte sensations without knowing how to sing, dance, or act. What was this manager thinking? He actually wanted her to act, dance, and sing? I dont really know how to do those things. Qiao Yue said to Cheng Yang. As you can see, I only went on stage to help out my ssmate. I am even of a different gender from the video. Thats a non-issue. Theyll be even more excited when they know that youre a boy. Cheng Yangs eyes were filled with excitement. Nowadays, there were too many artistes who looked the same. Those with androgynous faces like Qiao Yues were the most popr. Cheng Yang felt that Qiao Yue could even take the cross-dressing route. Qiao Jing, who was listening to their conversation, felt as if cartoonish ck lines were about to fall off his head. Qiao Yue was a real girl. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue jealously, but she still had to pretend that she didnt care. Yeah, you should be so lucky that a manager is willing to take you under his wing. Qiao Yue, it isnt so bad to be even a small-time artiste. You might be able to earn more than you could ever earn in your lifetime back in Nanshan Vige. Qiao Li also looked at Qiao Yue. He thought that it would be great if Qiao Yue became an artiste. Being an artiste would take up a lot of Qiao Yues time and energy, leaving him no time to care about what happened at home. Then, they wouldnt need to share the Qiao family assets with Qiao Yue. This is a really good opportunity. Your video has a million views, so we just need to package you a little. You dont really need to be a good actor like Qiao Ze to be an artiste. You can also seed if you are good at generating publicity. Qiao Yue frowned. She was totally not interested in the entertainment industry. Cheng Yangs words also confused her. When had it be possible that one could be an artiste as long as they are good at generating publicity? Without any real artistic skills? Qiao Yue shook her head under everyones gaze. She didnt want to be famous like this, nor did she want to be an artiste. Cheng Yang tried to convince her again. Mr. Qiao Yue, please reconsider this. Why dont you try it out with a minor role in Qiao Zes movie? Chapter 239 - 238 I Don’t Want to be Famous 238 I Dont Want to be Famous Cheng Yang had been a talent manager for years. He had never managed Qiao Ze, but they used to work in the samepany. He left his previouspany because of his boss then, and hes working on his own now. He hadnte to the Qiao residence today for Qiao Ze, but for Qiao Yue. Someone had uploaded a video of Qiao Yues sword dance to a video-sharing website today. !! In just an hour, it had made it to the trending list. Someone had even given the video a hashtag: #AttractiveSwordDancingGirl. This hashtag had a high social media reach. Soon, the video and hashtag had garnered more than a million interactions. When Qiao Yue was helping Hong Ning seek justice in school, she had be a small celebrity on the video-sharing website. Cheng Yang had nurtured many artistes who started off as inte sensations. He wanted to take Qiao Yue through the same route now. After all, Qiao Yues sword dance solo was so popr now. If she rode on this wave and went on some reality or variety show, she could be famous instantly. Qiao Yue didnt expect to be famous suddenly. She turned on her phone and checked her social media apps. Her social media ounts had not been revealed yet, but her chat group with the organization had exploded. People from KA had even sent her a video. Thats amazing. How are you famous now after attending school? Yeah, why did boss appear in a school performance? And in drag? You dont say. Boss, you looked really good dressed up as a girl. Do you have a sister? I would like to date your sister! Qiao Yue clicked on the video. It was shot in the school auditorium. There was no first act of her ss performance, only Qiao Yues solo dance. The person who shot it was quite skilled. He had steady hands. Although Qiao Yues movements were swift, his camera followed her very quickly. Qiao Yue frowned. From the angle of the shot, she could roughly guess where the person sat in the auditorium. Cheng Yang looked at Qiao Yue and asked, You really wouldnt consider bing an artiste? Your looks and sword-dancing skills are very good. Youll have a bright future whether youre be a singer or an actor. Qiao Yue finally understood why the artistes these days were so ipetent. Most of them started off as inte sensations without knowing how to sing, dance, or act. What was this manager thinking? He actually wanted her to act, dance, and sing? I dont really know how to do those things. Qiao Yue said to Cheng Yang. As you can see, I only went on stage to help out my ssmate. I am even of a different gender from the video. Thats a non-issue. Theyll be even more excited when they know that youre a boy. Cheng Yangs eyes were filled with excitement. Nowadays, there were too many artistes who looked the same. Those with androgynous faces like Qiao Yues were the most popr. Cheng Yang felt that Qiao Yue could even take the cross-dressing route. Qiao Jing, who was listening to their conversation, felt as if cartoonish ck lines were about to fall off his head. Qiao Yue was a real girl. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue jealously, but she still had to pretend that she didnt care. Yeah, you should be so lucky that a manager is willing to take you under his wing. Qiao Yue, it isnt so bad to be even a small-time artiste. You might be able to earn more than you could ever earn in your lifetime back in Nanshan Vige. Qiao Li also looked at Qiao Yue. He thought that it would be great if Qiao Yue became an artiste. Being an artiste would take up a lot of Qiao Yues time and energy, leaving him no time to care about what happened at home. Then, they wouldnt need to share the Qiao family assets with Qiao Yue. This is a really good opportunity. Your video has a million views, so we just need to package you a little. You dont really need to be a good actor like Qiao Ze to be an artiste. You can also seed if you are good at generating publicity. Qiao Yue frowned. She was totally not interested in the entertainment industry. Cheng Yangs words also confused her. When had it be possible that one could be an artiste as long as they are good at generating publicity? Without any real artistic skills? Qiao Yue shook her head under everyones gaze. She didnt want to be famous like this, nor did she want to be an artiste. Cheng Yang tried to convince her again. Mr. Qiao Yue, please reconsider this. Why dont you try it out with a minor role in Qiao Zes movie? Chapter 240 - 240 Feelings 240 Feelings Qiao Yue nodded, looked at Qiao Ze and said, I think its worth a look. Qiao Ze looked at Qiao Yue, his previously dejected eyes lit up. Thank you, Qiao Ze replied softly,pletely unlike his arrogant and flirtatious celebrity persona. How are second uncle and the others doing? Qiao Yue asked. Still not seeing the truth. Qiao Ze shook his head. Although Qiao Yi was a direct and legitimate descendant of the Qiao family, he actually didnt have any of the Qiaos character traits. I dont think hell evere back to apologize. Hes only thinking about how to ride on Mahads coattails to send himself abroad. Qiao Ze shook his head. Qiao Yue got a pretty good idea about their situation. The two of them talked for a while more before they re-entered the house. Cheng Yang, Ill do it. But its only for this role. A one-time deal only. Cheng Yang nodded quickly. Even if its just a one-time deal, they could still ride on Qiao Yues current poprity. He had heard Qiao Ze mention that with Qiao Yues personality, he would not be an artiste long term. Qiao Yues willingness to take on this role and help him this time was probably due to Qiao Zes persuasion. Ive already prepared the contract. Please take a look. Cheng Yang quickly took out a contract and passed it to Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing looked on coldly as Cheng Yang busied himself. Qiao Jing knew that Qiao Yue had never liked the entertainment industry, but this time, she actually decided to join the industry? Could there be some other reason she did this? Or there was no other reason and she was just doing Qiao Ze a favor? But why did she help Qiao Ze? Qiao Jing tried toe up with a reasonable exnation. Maybe it was for better investigation, or a necessary step for their operation, or she simply wanted to help Qiao Ze. There were many logical exnations, but Qiao Jing still felt a little bitter. He didnt want Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze to have any secrets that he didnt know about. Although he thought this, he didnt interfere. Just then, Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. Second brother, I dont know much about contracts. Could you please help me take a look? Her voice was clear and melodious and she looked at Qiao Jing with a smile. A smile appeared on Qiao Jings cold face as he took the contract from Qiao Yue. The crowd in the living room also noticed the smile that shed across Qiao Jings face. Old Master Qiao looked at Qiao Jing thoughtfully, and Qiao Ren looked at his son with a frown. Qiao Li didnt look at Qiao Jing. Instead, he kept staring hatefully at Qiao Yue. Theres nothing wrong with this contract. Qiao Jing handled the matter quickly. He had handled such contracts before. It was just a simple, short-term film contract. There were no penalty fees or other uses that were out of his expectation. It was a very ordinary contract. Ill sign it if theres no problem. Qiao Yue signed her name on the contract. Qiao Xins eyes were red with jealousy. All Qiao Yue did was to dressed up as a girl and performed a dance, yet so many people liked him. She was clearly good at singing and knew how to y musical instruments, why hadnt she be famous? But at the thought of what AT had promised her, Qiao Xin calmed down. Qiao Yue only signed a contract for a lousy movie. It was nothingpared to her bright future as a star! Cheng Yang watched Qiao Yue sign the contract, and then left with Qiao Ze. Qiao Jing called Qiao Yue to the study. Everything looked normal in the study except for a small suitcase on the floor. Second brother, what are you doing with the suitcase? You cant be thinking of eloping with me, right? Qiao Yue said with a smile. Qiao Jing knew that Qiao Yue was joking, but something still stirred in his heart. He was very sure of his feelings for Qiao Yue. It was just that he had been controlling his thoughts. However, after watching the video of her dancing today, and seeing her sign the contract, and knowing the many secrets she still kept, he could no longer hold back his feelings. He wanted to know her secrets and face all the difficulties that she was facing with her. He looked at Qiao Yue deeply and finally said in a cold tone, Im going on a business trip. Itll be December when Ie back. Qiao Yue nodded in understanding. Have a safe trip, second brother. There are more important things to do when you are back. Qiao Jing nodded and reached out to touch Qiao Yues hair. Qiao Yue looked at him and did not avoid his touch. Instead, she looked back at him and smiled. Qiao Jing reached out and pulled Qiao Yue into his arms. Chapter 241 - 241 Cheng Yang’s Company 241 Cheng Yangs Company Qiao Jings hug was affectionate, and he held Qiao Yue tight. Qiao Yue couldnt move in his arms and even found it difficult to breathe, but she had no intention of pushing him away. She said with a smile, Its just a business trip, not separation by life and death. Do you need to be like this? Qiao Jings face was buried in the crook of her neck, and his breath seeped through the gauze around her neck. It was warm. !! You must protect yourself, Qiao Jing said after a while. Okay. Im not a kid anymore. Besides, theres still third brother, fourth brother and the old master. Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jing let her go. The two of them only had eyes for each other now. Qiao Jing had been very busytely. He looked a little haggard and even had dark circles under his eyes. Qiao Yue reached out and touched under Qiao Jings eyes. Second brother has been working too hardtely. Youve even developed dark circles under your eyes! Qiao Yue stood up, went behind Qiao Jing, and began to massage him as usual. Qiao Jing closed his eyes and felt the strength of Qiao Yues hands on his temples. Qiao Yue massaged Qiao Jings temples for a while, then his shoulders. It was very quiet in the study, and there was a faint fragrance in the air. Qiao Yues movements were very slow and gentle. She wanted this moment tost a little longer even though she didnt know why. Rat-tat-tat. The sudden knock on the door startled both of them. Qiao Yue sat on the sofa and watched Qiao Jing open the door. Qiao Yu stood at the door and looked at the two of them in the study. A hint of surprise shed through his eyes. Fifth brother, so youre with second brother. Qiao Yue stood up and nodded in a panic. She didnt know where her panic came from. I had something to discuss with second brother, but were done. Im leaving now. Qiao Yue smiled at Qiao Yu and walked out of the study. Inside the study, Qiao Jing was still staring in the direction where Qiao Yue had left. It was a dreamless night. The next day, Qiao Yue drove to the address that Cheng Yang had given her yesterday. Cheng Yang had specifically asked her to go to his office today to discuss filming. There was supposed to be an inter-college hackerpetition this morning, but Qiao Yue had asked Xu Hao to apply for leave on her behalf. Brother, thank goodness you took a leave of absence today. Your fangirls and fanboys in school have gone crazy. What? Qiao Yue asked in confusion. Your video from yesterday went viral. Many people are looking for you now. Xu Hao exaggerated. Brother, youre really good at hiding your skills, huh? Youve officially be an inte celebrity! Qiao Yue sighed. She had only wanted to help Hong Ning, but now she hadnded herself in hot soup. She didnt want to be too famous in C-Country, nor did she want to be a widely recognized public figure. The organization expected them to keep as low a profile as possible unless it was a mission requirement. If the Godfather found out that she was being so high-profile, there would be a lot of trouble. Qiao Yue pulled her lips inwards in frustration. Sigh, why were there more and more troubles recently? Cheng Yangspany was located in an office building in the city center. There were several entertainmentpanies in the building. Cards parked downstairs were mostly luxury cars such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Bentley, and so on. These minor celebrities would buy themselves a few luxury cars as soon as they got slightly famous. Song Lin was one such slightly famous actor. She was a small star in a talent show and her family was quite well-off. Her family had spent money to buy her a good ranking in the talent show. Unfortunately, after the group made their debut, they didnt live up to expectations and didnt make a name for themselves even after they disbanded. Although she still attracted some fans with her beautiful appearance, she only hovered around the B-list and became a familiar face in some second-rate web dramas. She finally found someone to connect her with Cheng Yangspany this time. When she heard that they were working with Qiao Ze on a new TV drama, she came early to fight for the role of a woman in a mans disguise. However, just as she made the deal with the assistant director, Qiao Yues video online went viral the next day. And the role went to Qiao Yue. Naturally, Song Lin felt indignant. She wanted to see what kind of person Qiao Yue was, that she actually dared to steal her role. She had spent a lot of time researching Qiao Yues family background on the inte but she couldnt find anything. It seemed that although her surname was Qiao, she had nothing to do with the prominent family behind Qiao Ze. Song Lin was reading the information that her assistant sent her when a BMW stopped outside the window. Chapter 242 - 242 Incident at the Carpark 242 Incident at the Carpark The car window rolled down and an androgynous face appeared. If Song Lin remembered correctly, this was the face that was trending on the inte yesterday. It was the face of the girl who became a trending search with her dance video. But why did this girl spot such a hairstyle and look so thin? How could this kind of unshapely body appear as a heroine in a historical drama? It didnt make sense, right? And this car was just a BMW, and not a very popr model at that. It was probably one of the older models put on the car rental market. Song Lin narrowed her eyes and looked Qiao Yue up and down as she got out of the car. She couldnt figure out how someone like that could be chosen by the director for the role she coveted. Qiao Yue got out of the car, looked around and then she got back in to find another parking space. She was extremely vignt. She had offended many peopletely, and she wasnt sure if the organization had sent people to protect her. So, she chose another parking space in a corner so she could escape quickly at the sign of any trouble. Song Lin watched as Qiao Yue drove towards her new parking space and she followed. She was just a small inte celebrity who shot to fame because of a video. How could she snatch the role from her? She must teach this girl a lesson. She cut in front of Qiao Yues car and snatched Qiao Yues lot. Unfortunately, this parking lot was rather tricky. Song Lins mediocre driving skills didnt allow her to park her carpletely. Qiao Yue calmly looked at the stuck Song Lin but she didnt reverse her car or try to make way for Song Lin. Qiao Yue had noticed this Bentley just now and it had been following her. Now, it was here to steal her parking lot. She didnt know who it was. But her vignce was immediately aroused. She kept staring at Song Lin, waiting to see what she was up to. If it was someone who was targeting her, she would definitely not let them off. Unexpectedly, this person was like a primary school kid trying to find fault with a college student. This person wanted to take her parking space but couldnt park properly because of her poor driving skills. Qiao Yue was amused as she looked at Song Lins dazed expression when she turned her steering wheel. Qiao Yue got out of her car to give this person a hand. She was also curious who this person was and why she snatched her parking space. When she walked up to Song Lins car and was about to knock on the window, Song Lin suddenly reversed her car and brushed against Qiao Yues car for several meters. This scratch would probably cost her tens of thousands in repair fees. Qiao Yue took a step back and looked coldly at the woman who just rolled down her window. Song Lin took off her sunsses and smiled at Qiao Yue. She even fiddled with her curly hair. Youre that inte celebrity, right? This car should be a rental. Expensive? When she spoke, her lips, which had been plumped by injection, looked fake and gross. Qiao Yue took another step back and ignored Song Lin. This person was probably herpetitor for the same role Lets talk about it. How about you give me the role you got from thispany? Its hard to survive in the entertainment industry. Ive been acting for a few years, and I still havent made a name for myself. Im a little peeved that youve stolen my role. Song Lin touched her curly hair. Qiao Yue looked at Song Lin. No wonder she didnt get many roles given her acting skills. Kid, know whats good for you. If you do as I say, Ill reimburse you for your car repair and rental fees. Not only was Song Lins acting bad, but she also had poor judgement . The BMW that Qiao Yue drove wasnt a widely known model because it was a limited edition. There probably wasnt a second one in the entire C-Country. Qiao Yue ignored Song Lin, but she was inexplicably angry. All she wanted to do now was to teach Song Lin a lesson. She got into her BMW and pushed Song Lins car out of the parking lot. The consequence was a huge dent in Song Lins car. She would probably need to call a tow truck to haul it out of the carpark. Song Lin was dumbfounded by Qiao Yues actions. What the hell was this? She must be crazy to crash into a Bentley that was worth tens of millions of yuan. Qiao Yue parked her car and looked at the scratch marks on her BMW, feeling a little distressed. Chapter 243 - 243 Arrogant Arm-twisting 243 Arrogant Arm-twisting After all, this BMW was a gift from the old master. Fortunately, the scratches werent too severe; they should be repairable. Qiao Yue looked coldly at the screaming Song Lin before she turned to go upstairs. She had already informed her staff at Yayi toe and deal with the car ident. It was time for her appointment with Cheng Yang. Song Lin, who was left downstairs, was in a sorry state. She had to find someone to tow her car away, and the repairs would be costly. Just as she was figuring out what she needed to do, the assistant director from Cheng Yangspany called her and asked her to go up. Although she had lost a supporting role this time, the Director Cheng Yang said that he would still give her a chance. Song Lins mood improved at the assistant directors words. After all, she still had a chance to appear on screen. This was no ordinary movie. Getting a role in it was more important than anything else. As she brisk-walked her way to the office, the meeting room was already full of people. Director Cheng Yang sat at the head of the conference table, and beside him sat Qiao Ze, who was looking at his phone. The little inte celebrity was sitting next to Qiao Ze. Even the female lead was sitting next to Qiao Yue. Song Lin was a little peeved when she realized that she was the lowest-ranking person here. She had no choice but to sit unwillingly far away from the head of the table. She looked at Qiao Yue and rolled her eyes several times. For some reason, even Cheng Yang seemed to be ttering this person. The assistant director gave Song Lin a look, signaling her to go over. Song Lin walked up to the assistant director, Peng Xi. Peng Xi was an overweight man in his thirties and had previously wooed Song Lin. Although Cheng Yang had already invited Qiao Yue over, Peng Xi still wanted to fight for Song Lin. Cheng Yang, look, this is the Song Lin I told you about. Peng Xi brought Song Lin over to Cheng Yang for him to take a look. I wanted Song Lin to y the role that was given to Mr. Qiao. She was an idol before and can dance. What do you think? Qiao Yue, Cheng Yang, and Qiao Ze all looked at Peng Xi. Qiao Ze frowned. This Peng Xi had a rather low EQ, to say this in front of the actor who had gotten the role. Peng Xi, Ive already decided on this role. We cant just change it. Cheng Yang frowned as he looked Song Lin up and down. Ive seen this actor before. Lets do an auditionter. There are still some roles that havent been decided. Cheng Yang was not willing to refute Peng Xi directly, so he replied perfunctorily with a frown. This person isnt famous and hes rmended by Qiao Ze. I dont think Qiao Ze is very good at picking people. Why dont you let my person try? Peng Xi probed. Song Lin is quite popr, and her family is well-to-do. Peng Xi winked at Cheng Yang, as if he was hinting at something. Cheng Yang understood Peng Xis hint. In order to get their ownpany off the ground, they had cast many actors who also invested in production. However, Cheng Yang had no intention to rece Qiao Yue. Since the decision has already been made, lets have Qiao Yue y the role. Well talk about this actorter. Cheng Yang was getting impatient. Why wont you listen to me? I just want to use the actor that I picked. Peng Xi was annoyed. He stood up, mmed the table, and red at Cheng Yang. Song Lin looked on like she was watching a show. This Qiao Yue was indeed capable to have Cheng Yang speak up for him. However, she, Song Lin, was also not someone who was easily bullied. If Director Pang has any ideas, you can tell me directly. Theres no need to make things difficult for Director Cheng Yang. Just as the two directors were arguing, Qiao Ze spoke. If you dont let my brother y this role, then I wont act either. Everyone was shocked by Qiao Zes words. This little inte celebrity who was on trending search yesterday was the brother of best actor Qiao Ze? From the mysterious aristocratic Qiao family? Moreover, Qiao Ze actually threatened to pull out in order to make sure that his younger brother was in Song Lin was also shocked by Qiao Zes words. This movie had been promoted with Qiao Ze as the male lead. There would be public outrage if the male lead was suddenly reced. Chapter 244 - 244 Tracking 244 Tracking Qiao Yue didnt expect Qiao Ze to say something like that. At this time, someone came in and whispered something to Cheng Yang. Cheng Yang frowned and looked at Song Lin. I heard that you hit Qiao Zes brothers car? He was a little angry. This small-time actress Peng Xi brought was not particrly outstanding in terms of looks and poprity. Why did she cause trouble before she even got a role? !! Peng Xi seemed to be under this girls spell, and ignored his hints repeatedly. Ive already decided to use Qiao Yue for this role. Peng Xi, please find a way to deal with Qiao Yues car. Cheng Yang was really upset with Peng Xi this time. He thought that this small-time actress might have a some talent, but he didnt expect her to be so bold before she could even show her talent. Ill take care of the car. Id like to ask you though, whats so good about Qiao Yue? Just because hes Qiao Zes rtive? Cheng Yang turned opened hisptop, clicked on the video that had been shared millions of times yesterday and showed it to Peng Xi. The number of shares had already exceeded ten million by now, and thements section was full of praise. Someizens even mentioned in thements section that Qiao Yues swordsmanship was reflective of Guang Juns, a kendo master from J-Country. Guang Jun was a famous kendo master from J-Country and enjoyed a great reputation internationally. He had taken in less than ten disciples in thest ten years, all of them mysterious. Guang Jun himself only perform kendo once a year at the New Years celebration. A few kendo enthusiasts could see Guang Juns moves in Qiao Yues sword dance; some even uploaded screenshots forparison. This video had also been posted on J-Countrys video sharing tform, and in an instant, the number of views soared. Do you see that? This video has considerable influence locally and in J-Country. Who knows? Maybe we can even use this to market the movie in J-Country! J-Country also had a rtivelyrge film market. For Cheng Yangspany, this move could only profit them. Only then did Peng Xi realize that Cheng Yangs decision made a lot of sense. Guang Jun seems to have shared the video of our best actors brother! Everyone looked at the big screen. Qiao Yues video had just been reposted by Guang Jun on J-Countrys social media. This kendo master was an old man more than half a century old. He lived simply in the mountains and rarely went out. And he rarely used social media. Hisst post was a new year greeting. He actually posted something on social media today because of Qiao Yue. Everyone thought this unbelievable. Are you really a disciple of Master Guang Juns? Peng Xi asked Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue didnt want people to know, but the situation had forced her to admit it. Qiao Ze looked at Qiao Yue in surprise. He knew that his younger brother was no simpleton, he did not expect him to have such connections. He was definitely not a country bumpkin. He was a top talent. Qiao Yue nodded. We met by chance. I studied under the master for a while. Everyone couldnt help but p. This kendo master was known to be very strict with his students. It was no easy feat to train under him. Qiao Ze patted Qiao Yues shoulder. Fifth brother, youre really something. Third brother has underestimated you. Qiao Yue smiled and didnt say more. It was now Song Lin and Peng Xis turn to be dumbfounded. They were noparison to the fifth young master of the Qiao family. Moreover, he was willing to lower himself to y a minor role. Who else should Cheng Yang have supported? Them? Peng Xis expression changed. He looked at Qiao Yue and said, Fifth young master, Im really sorry for offending you before. I hope you can forgive me. Qiao Yue didnt look at him. She just stared at her screen. She had no interest in the assistant directors games. She had used her phone to connect to the wirelesswork here just now and cracked some encrypted information about Cheng Yangspany. This was her real purpose foring here. The secret information included a financial report, which recorded some illegal investments that Cheng Yangspany had received, including investments from AT. Tracking these AT ount would allow her to see which otherpanies in C-Country had received funds from AT. Although this was a risky method thats easily found out, she was not afraid that AT would trace it to her. Chapter 245 - 245 Preparations 245 Preparations It looked like there was a group of well-trained hackers behind AT. If AT wanted to keep this list a secret, they would have set up a firewall in advance and not expose such an obvious security loophole. It seemed that Cheng Yang was quite involved. His transactions with AT werent limited to financed capital injection. Qiao Yue sent the information to Chu Jia and YQ. The organization was not providing much help now, so had to rely on her own resources to uncover the truth. Very quickly, Chu Jia replied that she had received it. At the same time, Chu Jia sent her a message she didnt expect. Trand is likely to be repatriated to D-Country. Qiao Yue clenched her fists. It was not a good sign if Trand were sent back to D-Country. After all, people whomitted crimes in C-Country should be sentenced in C-Country first before they were sent back home. Its too strange for Trand to be repatriated to D-Country when he had just arrived. Qiao Yue frowned at the thought of Andys recent trip to C-Country. Is there any new order from the Godfather? The Godfatherstest instruction was for all of us to stay put and wait for orders. He is now in D-Country. This sounded really odd. The Godfather had sent people from C-Country to intercept and kill Trand multiple times. It would be a good idea to get someone to intercept and kill Trand while he was being repatriated. But the Godfather gave no such instruction now. The atmosphere in the conference room was still a little tense. Qiao Yue didnt pay any attention to the argument between Peng Xi and Cheng Yang. She was busy devising countermeasures. When she told the Godfatherst time, he didnt send her any help. So, should she take this opportunity to kill Trand? As she thought about this, an even moreplicated problem appeared in her mind. At first, the Godfather gave her a mission to kill Trand. But after multiple failures, she had to ask for help from him. But now, she wanted to kill this drug dealer herself. Not just because she had almost fallen into Trands hands a few times, but also because she wanted to know what kind of grudge existed between the Godfather and Trand that made the Godfather put a hit on him. Our people and Yayis were more or less fully recovered. If we want to take action, we should hurry. Chu Jia reminded. How long more? He will be repatriated in ten days. Criminals like Trand were usually sent back to their own countries via international waters. The best ce for them to attack was when hes on international waters. The city they were at was near the sea, and there was a beach. If they find an excuse to go to the beach, they could find an opportunity to attack Trand. If they didnt kill Trand now, they wouldnt be able to do anything when hes back in D-Country. After all, Andy and Trand were brothers. Even if Trand went to prison, Andy would find a way to give him a good life. The thought of a scumbag like Trand living a good life made Qiao Yue want to kill him immediately. Well act on our own in ten days. Just as Qiao Yue gave Chu Jia the order, the meeting in the conference room ended. Qiao Ze patted Qiao Yue on the shoulder and said, Lets go home. Qiao Yue followed Qiao Ze to his car. Her car had already been towed to the repair shop for treatment. It was just a little scratch, a small injurypared to Song Lins car. Fifth brother, youre really full of surprises. Qiao Ze praised. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to have studied under a kendo master. I just met him by chance. Its not a big deal. Qiao Ze nodded and drove in the direction of the Qiao residence. Did you find anything today? Qiao Yue replied, Cheng Yangspany is indeed connected to AT, but AT worked with manypanies. ATs fund transfers were from theirpany ount. And it did, in fact, received funds from D-Countrys member of parliament, Andy. Qiao Ze nodded. These few dots were slowing connecting: Mahad, Andy, AT Company. These people were probably closely connected to Trand and these seemingly innocent organizations were somehow involved in drug or human trafficking, or both. Qiao Ze felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of this. His father was actually hanging out with such people and even wanted to do business with them. If theres anything you need to find out from my father, feel free to call me. Chapter 246 - 246 Returning from Business Trip 246 Returning from Business Trip Meanwhile, in a duty-free shop at an international airport in D-Country, a cold-faced man was standing in front of a counter, seemingly choosing cosmetic products. A young man stood next to Qiao Jing, looking at him in confusion. He was Sun Yi, a new personal assistant who had just been assigned to Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing had been browsing for ten minutes. With Qiao Jings financial resources, he could have easily bought everything at the shop. Sun Yi did not understand why he was picking so carefully. Second master, the ne will take off in half an hour. Please take note of your shopping time. Sun Yi reminded Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing nodded and casually pointed to a few popr cosmetic products and asked the staff to wrap them. These were for Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying. The two of them really liked this brand and would pester him to buy them every time he went on a business trip. But today, other than the two of them, Qiao Jing had to pick out another gift. Sun Yi, have you ever given a girl a present before? A girl? Why is second master suddenly asking this? Although Sun Yi was a workaholic and had never wooed a girl after he started working, he had had a few girlfriends in college. Compared to Qiao Jing, who had no experience in this field, he was a veteran. Girls usually like high-quality, elegant things, like roses, cakes, expensive jewelry, handbags, clothes, and so on. Qiao Jing frowned. If this girl is different from other girls, what should I give her? Qiao Yue was different from other girls. If he gave her these things, he would expose the fact that he already knew she was a girl. Qiao Jing still didnt know why Qiao Yue had to hide her gender, but he still hoped to keep her secret. Different from other girls? Sun Yi was a little confused. How was she different? In terms of talent, beauty? Or was she particrly feisty? Seeing Sun Yis troubled expression, Qiao Jing added, Shes a very boyish girl, but I want to give her something girly. Its best if its something thats gender neutral. Sun Yi thought for a moment. I think fragrance is good. Second master, would you like to consider that? Qiao Jing had never considered using fragrances or perfume. Although he used an aftershave, it was more a social etiquette than anything else. Perfumes and fragrances usually have names and scents. You can choose a scent that matches the personality of the person you want to give it to. Sun Yi suggested. Although he hadnt been with Qiao Jing for long, he had rarely seen his boss so concerned about a gift. It was just a gift, but he took so long to choose and even consulted him. This girl must be someone special to Qiao Jing. Sun Yi followed Qiao Jing to the perfume counter. Qiao Jing picked up each perfume and tried them on. He looked at the name and scent on each of them before he finally picked one. He asked the counter staff to get two bottles of the same perfume, and for one of them to be wrapped exquisitely with a local postcard on it. He handed the other bottle to Sun Yi and said, Keep this one for me. Ill be using this bottle on this business trip. Sun Yi nodded and quickly kept it. The second young masters abnormal behavior made him even more curious about the receiver of the gift. After all, if they used the same perfume, they would smell the same. It was like a shared experience between couples. The second young master never paid much attention to things like perfume. He just used it casually. This time, not only did he buy a fragrance, but he even used some on the spot. It seemed that the receiver of this gift was really special to the second young master. Send these gifts back to C-Country to the names I wrote. Qiao Jing instructed. In the past, he would always buy gifts and send them back on thest day of his business trip. But it was different this time. He wanted to send the gifts back as soon as possible. He hoped that Qiao Yue would receive his gift as soon as possible. Even though he wasnt by her side, she could still feel him. Such a state of mind made him feel very strange but also very happy. A feeling of contentment spread through his heart, and for a moment, his heart was filled with joy. Chapter 247 - 247 Perfume 247 Perfume Qiao Yue attended school peacefully for a few days without incidents caused by Trand or AT. When she returned home today, she found a pile of gift boxes on the table and Qiao Xin was already seated by the coffee table unwrapping gifts. What are these gift boxes? Qiao Yue asked the butler who was standing by the side. These are the gifts the second young master sent back. Why had Qiao Jing sent gifts back already? She thought that he would bring the gifts back with him after his business trip. Qiao Ying found a gift with Qiao Yues name and handed it to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue smiled at her. Qiao Xin saw Qiao Yue and Qiao Yings closeness, her face filled with disdain. She had just unwrapped her present. It was thetest make-up set from the most popr cosmetic brand in D-Country. Every time Qiao Jing went on a business trip to D-Country, he would bring back thetest line for Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying. Qiao Jing had actually couriered the gifts back this time. These were non-perishable cosmetics. She really didnt know why her second brother was in such a hurry to send them back. Qiao Yue also unwrapped her gift, which was a beautifully packaged bottle of perfume. The perfume was also a brand from D-Country. It was not custom-made, but still very expensive. The exquisitely sculpted bottle had an Englishbel in italics. She read thebel. The perfume was named Midnight Flight; it was a woody scent perfume. Qiao Yue had seen this brand before. She was into perfumes. She had a shelf full of perfumes in her office at KA, all niche fragrances that she had collected over the years. The bottle she was holding wasnt a niche fragrance, but it was still quite rare. Although it had woody notes, it wasnt made from ordinary sandalwood or cedar. It was made from round-leafed eucalyptus from Australia. The round-leafed eucalyptus was the food of kos. It was a nt with a distinct smell. When on trees, its leaves seemed to be coated in silvery powder. It was a unique nt with a unique smell. Qiao Yue sprayed some perfume on her wrist and sniffed it. Qiao Xin pursed her lips. Its just perfume. Do you have to go that far? Its not like its never been seen before. Qiao Ying instead smiled and said, This perfume is umon. It doesnt smell like the usual woody perfumes. Qiao Yue nodded and handed the perfume over for Qiao Ying to try. Just as they were unwrapping the gifts, the butler came in with another cart of presents. These are also gifts chosen by the second young master. He said that the young masters and misses can choose what they like. Qiao Yu looked at the gifts and smiled. Why did second brother give us gifts and even let us help ourselves this time? This gifts on this cart were really exaggerated. It had things that could be eaten, used and yed. There were also many little things that would appeal to girls. Actually, this was Sun Yis idea. No matter what kind of girl she was, she wouldnt reject a cart full of gifts. Sun Yi had even specially picked out things that girls would like. There was a wide variety so Qiao Yue would definitely be able to find something that she liked. When Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying saw that there were so many more gifts to choose from, they were wreathed in smiles. The two of them quickly put down their gifts and walked over to the cart. They picked through the clothes, bags, essories, and so on for a long time. Qiao Yu also chose a few handicrafts and some books. Qiao Yue looked around casually and didnt rush to choose like Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying. Instead, she waited for the two to finish. She walked over and took a few casual nces. There were obviously many gifts for girls, which made her curious. Why did her second brother give them so many strange things to choose from? After a while, Qiao Yue chose a box of jigsaw puzzles. Among all the gifts, only this box of jigsaw puzzles attracted her. It contained puzzles made up of world-famous paintings, and it was said to challenge ones intelligence. As they were picking out their gifts, and the butler gave Qiao Jing a progress report. When Qiao Jing heard that Qiao Yue had only chosen two gifts, he felt a little perplexed. He wanted to give Qiao Yue more gifts, but how did this end up benefitting Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying? However, after thinking about it, Qiao Yue still liked the gift he chose, so his mood improved. Chapter 248 - 248 The Exquisite Boy 248 The Exquisite Boy The next day, after Qiao Yue got up and washed up, she sprayed herself with the perfume. The faint woody scent permeated the room, its distinct smell mind-clearing. Qiao Yues fragrance followed as she descended the stairs. This smell really suited Qiao Yue, as if it belonged to her. The perfume that second brother got you really suits you, Qiao Yu said. Qiao Xin asked quickly, What about me? Im using the make-up that second brother got me. Qiao Xins make-up was always heavy. Qiao Yu chuckled. You had better remove what you have on and put on lighter make-up. That way, you wont be questioned by your form teacher. Qiao Xin pouted unhappily. Qiao Jings favoritism towards Qiao Yue was getting more obvious. The perfume he had chosen for Qiao Yue was specially picked out for him, but he just bought her the usual,test line of make-up. Qiao Xin felt bitter in her heart. Qiao Yu was also a little suspicious. He had never seen his second brother so enthusiastic about buying gifts. He had even picked out Qiao Yues perfume so carefully by scent and name. Qiao Yue, whats the scent of your perfume? I think its pretty good. Can you tell me? I would like to buy the same. Qiao Yu asked as he ate his breakfast. Fourth brother, its better to find a scent that suits you when ites to perfume. Qiao Yue said to Qiao Yu with a smile. Qiao Yue was rarely so petty that he didnt even want to share with Qiao Yu the scent of his perfume. Qiao Yu was a little confused. He sniffed the perfume in the air again and felt that there was nothing special about it. It was just an ordinary woody scent. He had overreacted. After breakfast, Qiao Yu didnt mention the perfume again. Instead, he went on to a shopping website and searched for perfumes. He also wanted to give Qiao Yue a bottle of perfume. He didnt know why, but maybe he was inspired by Qiao Jing, or maybe he just wanted to find a perfume that was suitable for Qiao Yue. When everyone finished breakfast, the school-going cousins all got into the car and headed for school. Harveys anniversary celebration was basically over. But because the schoolsputerb was being renovated, theputer science fair was postponed until this week. The students from St. Faustinas stayed at Harvey for an additional week. Theputer science fair consisted of two parts. The first part was a hackathon, and the second, a software developmentpetition. Qiao Yue and her ssmates were still in their first year, so they didnt participate in the software developmentpetition. Instead, they focused only on the hackathon. This years hackathon was a Capture the g (CTF) hackingpetition. CTF was an internationally recognized form of hackingpetition where teams or individuals had to solve a series of challenges. Once a challenge had been solved sessfully, thepetitor will find a g within the challenge that was proof ofpletion. This proof must then be submitted to the organizers in exchange for scores. The gs this time were nted by Harvey Academy. They didnt employ the traditional attack and defense format, but one of battle royale. All the first-yearputer science students and all the students from St. Faustinas would take part in thispetition. The first person who solved Harveys challenges and got the highest score would win thepetition. And the school the winner was from would be the hackathon champion. Although thepetition format looked rather straightforward, it was no trivial matter to Harvey as it affected the schools dignity and honor. The small fights they had before the schools anniversary celebration were small potatoespared to this. Thispetition was the real thing on the battlefield. The yer most likely win the championship this time was Oswald from St. Faustinas. Hisputing skills were known to all, and he had made a name for himself internationally. As soon as Qiao Yue and the others arrived in ss, Chang Yuan asked them to go to theputerb. Today was the first round of the CTFpetition. The first 30 people who got the g would advance to the second round. There was another round after the second round and the challenges would get increasingly harder. When Qiao Yue and the others arrived at theputerb, the students from St. Faustinas were already there. They were all wearing the long robes they wore before and looked like a group of missionaries. Seated across from Qiao Yuesputer happened to be Oswald. Chapter 249 - 249 The Competition 249 The Competition Qiao Yue ignored Oswalds gaze, kept her head down and turned on herputer. She had used a fake identity when participating in suchpetitions abroad. This was the first time she participated in something simr after she came back to C-Country. The schools hackathon was mainly to encourage students to study. It wasnt designed to stump them. So, Qiao Yue didnt expect the problems to be too difficult. However, for an expert like Oswald, such simple problems would take him less than ten minutes each to solve. !! If the team from St. Faustinas won the championship on Harveys campus, it would be a great humiliation to Harveys students and teachers alike. Qiao Yue nned to observe Oswald before she decided if she would user her real skills in thispetition. As the bell rang, the problem appeared on everyonesputer screen. Xu Hao, who was seated next to Qiao Yue, started to sigh. Xu Hao wasnt a very bright student. It was already difficult for him to understand the problem, let alone solve it. Qiao Yue studied the problem and started typing on herputer. It wasnt a difficult problem. Despite the many traps, the underlying logic was very simple. Anyone with a solid foundation could solve this problem in half an hour. Qiao Yue stopped at herst step. She wanted to see how fast the others were. On the big screen in theputerb was an empty ranking table. Names would appear on the board based on the speed each participant solved the problem. Only the first 30 names that appear on this list would make it into the second round. Ten minutes passed, and the first name had yet to appear on the board. Qiao Yue was a little puzzled. This wasnt a difficult problem, why hadnt anyone solved it yet? She raised her head to look at Oswald, who happened to be looking back at her with a calm expression. He looked like he had solved the problem just like Qiao Yue. He just didnt want to be the first name on the list. Another five minutes passed, and the first name appeared on the big screen. It was a student from St. Faustinas, and he used fifteen minutes to solve the problem. Qiao Yus name soon followed and very quickly, a dozen more names had appeared on the list and the atmosphere in theputerb became tense. The students who hadnt solve the problem were busy typing on their keyboards. The sound of people hitting the Enter key rang out in the entireb. Oswald crossed his arms and smiled at Qiao Yue. Then, a line of words appeared on Qiao Yuesputer screen. What are you waiting for? Qiao Yue looked at the message and then at Oswald. She quickly typed on her keyboard, and a line of words appeared on Oswaldsputer opposite her. What about you? What are you waiting for? Oswald shrugged and pressed the Enter key. Only then did Oswald realize that hisputer seemed to be locked, and he couldnt run the program that he had written. At this moment, there were only five spots left on the board. Oswald cursed as he leaned in front of hisputer and typed frantically. Qiao Yue hit the Enter key and her name appeared on the list. Oswald was very fast. The virus that Qiao Yue had imnted on hisputer would only freeze hisputer for a short time. It could be resolved quickly. Qiao Yue didnt really want to eliminate Oswald. This boy had been acting like he knew everything in front of her, which confused Qiao Yue. She just wanted to test him. Besides, Qiao Yue had installed a mirroring program in her little virus. How Oswald cracked her virus would be shown on herputer simultaneously. Every hacker had their own style, and she wanted to use this to understand Oswalds style. She wasnt nning to take the top spot in the subsequent rounds, but she also didnt want to let St. Faustinas Institution win. Oswald cracked the virus very quickly and rushed to submit his solution. Thest person to solve the problem was Xu Hao. Xu Hao looked at the names on the board and sighed fervently. This Oswald was too quick. I almost made it before him. When Oswald heard this, he shook his head and chuckled. Xu Hao felt a little indignant. Why is this personughing? Isnt he just a little faster than me? Qiao Yue shrugged her shoulders. He wasnt just a little faster. Chapter 250 - 250 A Secret Conversation 250 A Secret Conversation The second round of thepetition wouldnt happen until the afternoon. The spare time in the morning was for the students to discuss the previous problem. Qiao Yue didnt have anything to discuss. She sat in theputerb with nothing to do and watched the others discuss. Qiao Yue, I was so close. I was just about to submit my solution when he submitted his. And then my spot was gone. Xu Haoined non-stop as if Oswald didnt just take his spot but his Olympic gold medal. !! Even without this person, you wouldnt have made it. Brother, wake up. Qiao Yue said as he patted Xu Haos shoulder. Xu Haos face fell, and he looked resentful. Opposite Qiao Yue, Oswald looked at her with an unhappy expression. Qiao Yue didnt care about the look that Oswald was giving her andforted Xu Hao. Oswald walked over to Qiao Yue and knocked on her table. I know what youve done. Is this how you people from Harvey treat others? What did I do? Qiao Yue smiled. The message you sent me contained a virus. Qiao Yue, did you need to y dirty in a hackathon? When Xu Hao heard Oswalds words, he was so shocked that his mouth could fit an egg. What message? What virus? When did his brother be someone who could imnt a virus when sending a message? Im just using the same method you used to send me a message to send you a message. Of course, Oswald wouldnt just send a casual message to Qiao Yue. The message he sent also contained a virus, which could wipe out Qiao Yues code. If not properly handled, all the codes that Qiao Yue had written would be invalid. Qiao Yue looked at Oswald and smiled. Giving someone a taste of their own medicine. Thats how I treat my guests. Annoyed by Qiao Yue, Oswald wrapped his robe around himself and left theb. Xu Hao quickly came near and asked, Why did Oswald y dirty? Qiao Yue shook her head. His problem-solving skills are very impressive. If I didnt interfere just now, he might have been the first one to solve the problem. But youre pretty good too. Since when did you be such a good hacker? When can you teach me? Xu Hao nudged Qiao Yue with his elbow. Qiao Yueughed and typed out a program for Xu Hao to study. It was a set of basic code. By using this set of transformation code, he could have quickly solved the problem just now. If Xu Hao could understand it, he would make great progress in this area. Qiao Yue looked at Xu Hao, who was studying the solution, and decided to go out for a walk. Theputerb was stuffy in winter, so she felt that a walk would do her good. She walked to the rooftop of the teaching building where theputerb was located. The winter wind cleared her mind a little. She had just reyed Oswalds actions on herputer. His coding style looked very familiar. His cracking method was very simr to another persons. This person was no other than herself. Usually, when she cracked a virus, she would look at it from a macro perspective and solve the most difficult part first before cracking the other parts. This was the way of thinking that the Godfather had taught her. Some of Oswalds detailed code were also very simr in style to hers. Oswalds identity, in rtion to the Godfather, had be a mystery. That Qiao Yue is very capable. Youd better not let your guard down. A girls voice suddenly rang out from the edge of the rooftop. Shes just a good dog raised by the Godfather. Im not afraid of her. It was Oswalds voice. Qiao Yue hid in a corner of the rooftop so as not to be discovered by them. How do you know that shes not capable? Dont forget that you were also taught by the Godfather. The girls voice was clearly anxious. Oswald, you didnte to St. Faustinas to y house with them. You haventpleted your main mission yet, and youre not here to deal with Qiao Yue. Can you be more serious? Mission? Qiao Yue frowned. Not only was Oswald connected to the Godfather, but he also seemed to have some ulterior motives foring to C-Country. Anyway, Andy has to stay here for another month. Its not too much for me to take a break now, right? Besides, Qiao Yue is quite interesting. Chapter 251 - 251 Origin 251 Origin Qiao Yue was stunned for a moment. Oswald was actually the Godfathers student? Qiao Yue frowned. She grew up in the organization and was personally taught by the Godfather. When she was a teenager and sent to run KA, the Godfather had also been her personal coach. When had Oswald been taught by the Godfather? !! The Godfathers identity had always been a mystery to Qiao Yue. People in the organization only knew that he came from the royal family of a certain country and was a very charismatic and ambitious person. As for his exact origin and the reason why he founded the organization, even Qiao Yue did not know. If the rumors were true, that the Godfather was a member of some royal family, could he be rted to D-Country? Qiao Yue tilted her head as she listened to the conversation between the girl and Oswald. The two of them didnt say anything useful or mention the mission the Godfather had given to Oswald. Qiao Yue finally understood why Oswalds coding style was so simr to hers. It turned out that they were both taught by the same teacher. The two of them chatted for a while more before they left the rooftop. It was still windy on the rooftop but Qiao Yue felt her mind in chaos again. Could Oswald be like Teacher Lin, also sent here to monitor her? Qiao Yue used to have some idea about what the Godfather was trying to do, but she had absolutely no clue now. It looked like all she could do now was to follow her instinct and do what she felt was right. The morning passed quickly, and the second round of thepetition would take ce in the afternoon. The problem theyd need to solve this time would be much harder than thest one. When Oswald saw Qiao Yue return, he sat opposite her and smiled provocatively. Im not going to lose this time. He mouthed to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was frowning, her expression solemn. She didnt notice Oswalds provocation at all. Qiao Yu was confused as he watched the interaction between Qiao Yue and Oswald. Qiao Yues expression also confused him. Qiao Yue had always been a calm person, like nothing in the world would faze her. But he looked a little panicked now. Qiao Yu walked to the water dispenser and got Qiao Yue some water. They had encountered danger near the school before and Qiao Yue didnt looked as flustered then as he was now. Whats wrong? Do you want to rest if youre not feeling well? Qiao Yu handed the cup to Qiao Yue. Temperature of the hot water passed through the cup to Qiao Yues hands and she felt her mind clear up for a moment. Im fine. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu and forced a smile. Its just apetition. Dont stress yourself out. Teacher Chang and the rest said that we dont need to care about the ranking. Qiao Yue shook her head andughed. I got through the first round by luck. Theres nothing to be afraid of. Qiao Yu nodded, but his eyes were still on his fifth brother. Qiao Yue looked better, but his lips and face were still a little pale. He looked a little fragile. Qiao Yus heart ached a little. The problem was quickly given and Qiao Yue studied it. The problem in the second round was still rtively simple, nothing beyond her expectations. Just as she started typing on herputer, Oswald sent her a message like before. How about wepete in something else? I know you can solve this problem in ten minutes. Compete in what? Oswald sent her a different problem. This problem had been asked in a previous hackingpetition. YQ had participated in thatpetition, but Qiao Yue had never solved this problem. This is the problem from a previous hackingpetition I found randomly. Whoever solves itst will withdraw from the hackathon. Qiao Yue raised her head and looked at the provocative smile on Oswalds face. The conversation on the rooftop reyed in her mind again. This might not be a fair duel, but it might be rted to the mission they mentioned. Did Oswald hope that she could solve this problem because he, like her, was testing his opponents problem-solving skills, or was he simply provoking her? Qiao Yue felt very confused and didnt know whether she should take on the challenge. Ive wanted topete with you for a long time. Are you not going to ept the challenge, coward? Qiao Yue had never been called a coward. Although she knew that Oswald was goading her, she still wanted to ept the challenge. Chapter 252 - 252 Computing Power 252 Computing Power There were 30 people in the second round of thepetition, and only the top 15 would make it to the final round. What Oswald meant was that they must solve both problems before the first 15 names appeared on the board in order to win. Its unknown how much time the first 15petitors would take to solve thepetition problem. In other words, they must solve two problems in an unknown time limit. This was a test of ones mind. !! Qiao Yue was very calm as she epted Oswalds challenge. The problem wasnt difficult but it required a lot ofputing power. Qiao Yue had a different solution. YQ was the one who had told her about it and they had studied it for a while. Teacher, something is wrong with myputer. Someone suddenly raised their hand. Whats the problem? Chang Yuan asked. Myputer is suddenly running very slow. Chang Yuan pushed up his sses and moved closer to the studentsputer. It seemed to be performing a lot of calctions, and there was even an error message about insufficient memory. Check if theres a problem with your own code. Chang Yuan thought that the problem might be caused by the student himself. He didnt expect that in just a few minutes, a few more students would experience the same problem where theirputers slowed significantly. Chang Yuan frowned and connected hisptop to thework in theputerb. As expected, hisputer also had a seriousck ofputing power. A few students were so angry that they were about to smash their keyboards. Qiao Yue and Oswald, in contrast, were very calm. Oswalds method was indeed vicious. He did not find a more effective way to solve the additional problem. Instead, he chose to steal other peoplesputing power and memory. This would ensure that he could solve the additional problem before the top 15 names appeared as well as his own speed of solving the problem. It was a smart but despicable method. Qiao Yue focused on her own solution. It seemed that for the sake of fairpetition, Oswald hadnt stolen herputing power. She quickly solved the additional problem. The moment she solved it, theputers in theputerb seemed to be released and started to run at high speed. But Qiao Yuesputer slowed. There were already a few names on the board. Qiao Yue looked up at Oswald, who was looking at her with a smug expression, like he was provoking her. Qiao Yue didnt bother with him. After all, the most important thing now was to solve thepetition problem. Based on her currentputing power, Oswald was probably still solving the additional problem. However, Oswald did not exit thepetition as they had agreed. Instead, he continued to work in a rxed manner. Qiao Yue knew that he wouldnt keep his word. Even if he couldnt solve the problems today, he would drag her down with him. He was a real dirty yer. Qiao Yue looked at Oswald and suddenly felt that his behavior was simr to the Godfathers. Back then, when the Godfather led people from the organization to annihte an opposing organization, he had behaved the same way. The Godfather had promised that as long as the opposing organization surrendered and handed over everything, their leaders family would be safe. Although the leader had eventually handed over all the stolen goods and information, the Godfather still killed his family. For some reason, looking at Oswald now, Qiao Yue felt that he and the Godfather were the same kind of people who wouldnt give up until they achieved their goals. Perhaps the Godfather took Oswald as a student because they had simr personalities. But, like the saying good will always triumph over evil, Qiao Yue was neither a nobody nor a sitting duck. When she was solving the additional problem, she also solved thepetition problem. All she had to do now was to submit her solution. When Qiao Yue submitted her solution, she took the 14th spot. Oswalds name was still not on the board. Qiao Yue looked at Oswald. The otherputers in theb ran slowly again. Oswald seemed to be using the same trick to drag his opponents down with him. Qiao Yue sneered, her fingers flying on the keyboard. Qiao Yu, who was still working on thepetition problem, suddenly turned to look at Qiao Yue, his eyes filled with disbelief. Qiao Yue, what are you doing? Be quiet. Qiao Yue didnt speak and instead worked quietly. For some reason, Qiao Yusputer that seemed frozen was working again. Qiao Yu wasnt typing, but hisputer was quickly calcting and solving thepetition problem. In less than five minutes, the timer stopped, and Qiao Yus name appeared in the 15th spot. Chapter 253 - 253 Conceding Defeat 253 Conceding Defeat With a crash, Oswald threw his keyboard down on the table. Everyone was shocked and looked in his direction. Oswald was staring at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue, you are ruthless. Youre more ruthless, Mr. Oswald. Qiao Yue looked at him, her face cold as ever. Oswald looked at Qiao Yue with a sneer. He had been showing everyone his gentlemanly and rational side, but now he was yelling at Qiao Yue like a madman. Even the seasoned Chang Yuan was so shocked that he stammered. Oswald, please calm down. This is just apetition What kind ofpetition is this? Is it still fair to have participants who are so much better than the average student here? Oswald pointed at Qiao Yue. Look at this participant. Do you know who he is? Hes an internationally renowned hacker. What about you, Your Royal Highness? Or D-Countrys top hacker, Oswald? Qiao Yue reached out and grabbed Oswalds wrist. Students in theputerb were all stunned. They couldnt believe what they were hearing. Did these two just imply that they werepeting with two top-notch hackers? Forget about this guy named Oswald. He didnt look to be an ordinary person to begin with. What about Qiao Yue? Wasnt Qiao Yue always at the bottom of the ss? Had he been hiding his true capabilities? Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue suspiciously. He was perplexed at the number of mysteries surrounding Qiao Yue. How could a country boy know so much about cars, guns, and hacking? It was not normal for a boy from the countryside. His younger brothers identity was even more mysterious than he had imagined. Alright, Oswald. Youll be punished for antagonizing a student from Harvey Academy like this. The person who spoke with Oswald on the rooftop walked over. She also had a beautiful mixed race face, and a nametag on her robe. Vanessa. This girl Vanessa was the leader among the student representatives from St. Faustinas. She said with authority, Im really sorry, Teacher Chang. Oswald has been a little willful. Sorry to have caused you trouble. Chang Yuan shook his head, thinking that the two students were just talking nonsense. He asked everyone to leave theputerb. Oswald was still using Qiao Yue like a madman even as she walked out. Qiao Yue thought that Oswald wasnt as outstanding as she had assumed, but he was quite mad. Qiao Yu patted Qiao Yue on the shoulder, as if he had something to say to her. Qiao Yue looked at the concerned expression on Qiao Yus face and was d that Qiao Yu didnt confront her about her identity. Are you okay? Qiao Yues face was slightly pale. He looked even weaker than when he first walked into theputerb, like he had experienced a fierce battle. Oswald was very good, and it took a lot of effort for Qiao Yue to deal with the troubles he had created. Im fine, Qiao Yue said before she shook her head. I would like to be alone for a while. Is it okay? Qiao Yu nodded and watched Qiao Yue walk towards the schools back garden. Qiao Yue looked very thin from behind, as if he was carrying a lot of secrets. This made Qiao Yu sad; his heart ached for Qiao Yue. They had experienced some tough times together, but Qiao Yue was more burdened than he had imagined. In theputerb, Chang Yuan started to look up Oswald on hisptop. As Oswald was very famous, information about him popped up quickly. Chang Yuans jaw almost dropped from the shock. Qiao Yue was right. Oswalds background could only be described as terrifying. He was also a top-notch hacker. Chang Yuan then essed theputerbs activity log and looked at Qiao Yue and Oswalds activities. There was nothing suspicious about Qiao Yues activities. He just solved the problems and submitted his answers calmly. He even paused to think sometimes. He was performing at the level of an ordinary student. On the other hand, Oswald seemed to be using a great deal ofputing power to solve a problem. Oswald had even made things more difficult for himself. Chang Yuan looked at their activities and felt that something was off. Qiao Yue was performing at the level of a university student. But if that was the case, why was Oswald targeting him, and made things more difficult for himself? Chang Yuan could not make sense of it. Chapter 254 - 254 Taken Ill 254 Taken Ill Qiao Yues mind was racing. The air in the school garden was quite fresh. She took a few deep breaths to let the fresh air calm her nerves. Even so, she still felt a little dizzy. She wasnt a person who was afraid of difficulties, but recent events had been somewhat out of her control. Most people in the organization didnt notice anything abnormal about the Godfather, or that the organization was moving in a direction that was somewhat out of control. She hadnt evenpleted her investigations and she kept hitting dead ends. With the appearance of Oswald, she began to doubt the organization and the Godfathers real purpose. It was as if the whole world was forcing her to give up what she was doing and go back to safety. Today was a cloudy day. Qiao Yue looked up at the sky and saw no sun or fluffy white clouds. Only dark clouds covered the sky. Even her mood became sullen. Qiao Yu didnt feel at ease leaving Qiao Yue alone in the garden, so he followed her and watched her from a distance. He was afraid that something would happen to her. In Qiao Yus eyes, Qiao Yue had always been a mysterious and independent person. However, Qiao Yue appeared weak today, exhibiting a vulnerability that Qiao Yu had never seen before. His vulnerability seemed toe out of nowhere. Just as Qiao Yu felt that Qiao Yue was fine and was about to go back, Qiao Yues legs seemed to have given way and he fell to the ground. Qiao Yu rushed over, picked Qiao Yue up and ran to the school infirmary. Qiao Jing took the earliest flight back home. He wasnt finished with his affairs abroad yet, but he rushed home as soon as he heard that Qiao Yue was in trouble. Qiao Yue had already been sent back to her room. When Qiao Jing pushed open the door, he saw Qiao Yu sitting by Qiao Yues bed. Qiao Yue was lying in bed, her cheeks and lips pale. She looked very fragile, like a paper doll that would break at the slightest touch. And she was on an IV drip. What happened? Qiao Jing asked with a frown. Qiao Yu turned his head slowly to look at Qiao Jing. Its just low blood sugar. Our school and St. Faustinas had a hackingpetition today. Hes probably too tired, so he fainted. Qiao Jing heaved a sigh of relief at Qiao Yus reply. Ive already asked Lu Ying toe over. Hell help take care of Qiao Yue. Qiao Yu could tell that Qiao Jing was asking him to leave. He looked at Qiao Jing and chuckled. Are you the only one who knows about fifth brother? Qiao Jing was confused, but his face remained cold. What about? You are not going to tell me, right? Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Jing, his eyes cold. Their rtionship wasnt bad but they seemed to be at each others throats now. Qiao Jing narrowed his eyes. What secret does Qiao Yue have? Id like to know as well. When fifth brother was inexplicably injuredst time, you were the one who saved him, right? All the doctors were your people, second brother. Qiao Yu replied coldly. You guys also seem to be nning something that I dont know about. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Jing coldly. I dont know why fifth brother is hiding it from me, nor do I know what your n is, but youd better not do anything to him. Qiao Yu stared at Qiao Jing, his mask of obediencepletely off. Qiao Jing did not speak and just stood there quietly. He already knew what Qiao Yu was talking about. He didnt mean to hide it from you. I only found out by ident. Qiao Yu walked up to Qiao Jing and looked at him, his eyes full of distrust. He smelled a familiar scent on Qiao Jing. It was the scent of the perfume Qiao Jing had bought for Qiao Yue a few days ago. The smell was exactly the same. In the past, he would have thought that the two brothers were too mushy together, but now Qiao Yu understood everything. Qiao Jing, you should hide your feelings. Qiao Yu stood up and walked towards the door. I know how you feel about fifth brother but think about it. Will Grandpa and the rest agree? Will fifth brother agree? I dont think I asked it correctly. I should have asked C will fifth sister agree? The door mmed shut behind Qiao Jing. Chapter 255 - 255 Power and Influence 255 Power and Influence Although the door m wasnt too loud, it still startled Qiao Yue. She seemed to be a little ufortable as she turned in bed, hoping to sleep in another position. But she couldnt turn because of her IV drip. Qiao Jing walked over and checked the infusion tube. It worked fine. He looked at Qiao Yue, who was lying supine in bed, frowning and sleeping restlessly. !! Qiao Jing felt a little depressed. He had tried to finish his work abroad as quickly as possible so he could return to Qiao Yue. He didnt expect so many things to happen to her while he was away. He sat down and grabbed Qiao Yues hand. She had a girls small hands. Her fingertips were so cold that his heart ached. He wrapped one hand tightly around hers and stroked her hair with the other. He felt nothing but heartache when he saw her like this. He even wished that he could take on the pain himself so Qiao Yue could feel better. Qiao Yus words just now also confused him. Qiao Yu already knew that Qiao Yue was a girl. He didnt know what Qiao Yu would do, but the second family had always been most aggressive in the struggle for the Qiao family assets. If Qiao Yu were to reveal Qiao Yues gender to the public, it would probably cause another uproar. He knew that Qiao Yue didnt care about the Qiao family assets, but there would always be some zealous people who would try to hurt her. They might even try to establish a connection with Qiao Yue through marriage, which would put Qiao Yue in more danger. Qiao Jing pondered for a while before he called Sun Yi. Sun Yi was still overseas, trying to finish up what Qiao Jing went there to do. Boss, whats up? Everythings going well here. Can you help me find out if Qiao Yu has been in contact with anyone recently, like if he had contacted Qiao Yi. Also, help me find out what happened at the hackingpetition between Harvey Academy and St. Faustinas Institution. Shall I go through the Qiao family, or Sun Yi asked. Use my resources, Qiao Jing replied. Qiao Jing had his own resources and influence. He would never expect the Qiao family resources to be dedicated to him. Qiao Jing had started nning three years ago. He wouldnt put all his energy on the Qiao family business. The Qiao brothers had aplicated rtionship. The second and third families had been nning for years to topple the first family. Three years ago, when Qiao Jing was almost assassinated, he had started to train his own people. He now had people in various fields, some of them doing covet work. They could be activated at any time to protect the first family. His elder brother, Qiao Xuan, had always been engrossed in his research. He knew nothing nor care about family matters. So, Qiao Jing had been nning for the both of them all these years. If Qiao Jings power and influence grew, he could even rece the current Qiao family if need be. Although he didnt want the Qiao family to break apart, or have something happen to them, he had to be prepared. Qiao Jings resources could also help him to protect Qiao Yue now. After Qiao Jing made the necessary arrangements, Qiao Yue coughed lightly in her bed. Qiao Jing turned to look at her. She was still frowning and not awake. This couldnt just be hypoglycemia. Qiao Jing frowned. Could Qiao Yue have some other illness? Just as Qiao Jing was about to call Lu Ying to hurry him, there was a knock on the door. Lu Ying pushed the door open and walked in. He looked travel-worn, probably because he had been busy attending a medical conference in C-Country. He had dark circles under his eyes. What happened to Qiao Yue? Lu Ying walked over quickly to check Qiao Yues pulse. Suddenly, his brows furrowed. Has Qiao Yue been feeling fatiguetely? Qiao Jing nodded and looked at Qiao Yue with heartache. He didnt know why she would be exhausted from a hackingpetition. Hes been participating in apetition recently. That might be the reason. Lu Ying frowned. The hackathon was just a schoolpetition. How could Qiao Yue be exhausted from that? Qiao Yue was a world-renowned hacker. No matter how good her opponent was, it would just be childs y. Theres nothing especially wrong with her pulse. Shes probably just resting. For further examination, I may have to use acupuncture. Chapter 256 - 256 Calm 256 Calm Qiao Jing nodded and took a step back, indicating that Lu Ying should go ahead with the examination. Lu Ying took out the box of acupuncture needles that he carried with him, pulled up Qiao Yues sleeves and started inserting needles. Qiao Yues arms were covered in scars. Although Qiao Jing was standing a short distance away, he could still see them. Among them was a scar from an injury she sustained when Qiao Jing rescued her thest time. It was since then that Qiao Jing started investigating Qiao Yues background. !! Lu Ying inserted a number of needles into Qiao Yues arms. Dark blood emerged in several ces where her skin was pierced. Qiao Jing frowned. Although he did not know much about medicine, dark blood was not a good sign. It usually signified toxin in the patients body. Qiao Jing asked Lu Ying with a frown, Is it because theres toxin in Qiao Yues body? Lu Ying nodded and turned to Qiao Jing. Second young master, Im afraid youll have to check her food. Qiao Yues food? Has Qiao Yue been poisoned? Lu Ying nodded solemnly. Qiao Yue had shown signs of poisoning before, Lu Ying said after some hesitation. Ive also found the same kind of poison when I diagnosed Old Master Qiao. Lu Yings words hit Qiao Jing like a ton of bricks. Why didnt you say anything before? Qiao Jings gaze was sharp. Lu Ying looked at Qiao Jing and replied, Ive already told Qiao Yue when I found out that she had been poisoned before. When she was living in Nanshan vige, she always had problems with her sleep. She also felt sleepy all the time when she first came to live here. Qiao Jing suddenly remembered that when Qiao Yue first arrived, she often fell asleep in the car. But her symptoms have improved over the past few months. I dont know why she fainted this time from the poison. Lu Ying frowned. He also noticed something else. If someone wanted to poison Qiao Yue, there was no reason for this person to stop halfway. Or did this person just want to torture Qiao Yue repeatedly? Lu Ying found this persons method strange. This poison can be removed without any side effects but it could be torturous for the victim. Lu Ying continued, This poison makes people nervous, sleepy all the time, and anxious. It can be removed if found in time. Then why were the old masters symptoms so severe? Qiao Jing did not understand. The old master was poisoned with a muchrger dose than Qiao Yue. The person who poisoned the old master wanted to kill him, but the person who poisoned Qiao Yue probably just wanted to torture her mentally. Qiao Yue was already highly strung with all the burdens she was carrying. If she was poisoned on top of this, the consequences could be unimaginable. If it werent for Qiao Yues strong willpower, the repeated poisoning would have driven her crazy. Ill check. Qiao Jings face darkened. He had been so vignt, but such a thing still happened in under the Qiao roof. Lu Ying nodded, kept his needles and left. Qiao Jing stood in the room and looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was still frowning, as if she was experiencing a nightmare she couldnt escape. Qiao Jing sat down and soothed Qiao Yues forehead, in an attempt to calm her down. Qiao Yue calmed down under Qiao Jings touch and finally fell into a deep sleep. Qiao Jing sighed and felt a little guilty. He hadnt protected Qiao Yue well enough that something like this happened to her. He would never let Qiao Yue get into danger again. Whatever she wanted to do, he would protect her well. When Qiao Yue woke up, it was already the next morning. She felt like she had a very long dream. In her dream, she saw her mother and the Godfather. Everything shed by like a rotatingntern, and she thought that she was going to die. Qiao Yue turned her head and saw Qiao Jings face. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of round-leafed eucalyptus. Second brother. Qiao Yues voice was a little hoarse. Qiao Jing was still fast asleep on a chair, holding her hand. Qiao Jing must have stayed by her side the whole night. At the thought of this, Qiao Yue felt a dull ache in her heart. Chapter 257 - 257 Persistence 257 Persistence As Qiao Yue got up slowly to get out of bed, Qiao Jing stirred, as if he was about to wake up. Second brother, Qiao Yue called out softly. Qiao Jing looked very tired, probably because he stayed up all night to take care of her. Why are you back? Qiao Jings business trip seemed to shorter than she thought. Was he back because of her? She looked at Qiao Jing, trying to read his expression. Qiao Jing was also looking at her, but neither of them spoke. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Lu Ying was standing outside. He hadnt slept all night and had consulted his medical books. The poison used on Qiao Yue was different from the one used on the old master. Hers was more terrifying. It was a virus that would make the victim fall into depression quickly and suffer a mental breakdown. Qiao Yues unstable moodtely was probably caused by this virus. She had also been taking medicine and was overworked. Thats why her symptoms red up this time. When will I get better? Qiao Yue asked. Soon it would be time for them to investigate Qiao Yis KTV. It might be even more dangerous then, so Qiao Yue wanted to get better before that. At least half a month of recuperation. Lu Ying frowned. Youre not in good health, and your mental state isnt good either. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue with a frown. Ive already prepared the necessary medicine for you. Youll have to take them as instructed in theing days. Lu Ying was a worried about Qiao Yues health. She was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. If this continued, her mental state might copse along with her body. Qiao Jing gestured for Lu Ying to leave the medicine. Ill talk to Qiao Yue. Please give us the room. Theres still Qiao Yis matter to deal with. Qiao Yue said to Qiao Jing as soon as Lu Ying left. Qiao Jing nodded. This was something they had agreed on before. Arrangements had been made and they shouldnt give up now. I can go on my own. Qiao Ze will cooperate with me. You just stay here and recuperate. Qiao Jing said with a frown. I must go personally. Ive also activated my people. Im afraid that two of you wont be enough. Qiao Yue insisted. Ivepleted missions while injured before, this ailment is nothing. Back when she was an assassin, Qiao Yue had once killed a target when she had an almost 40-degree fever, so it wasnt a difficult task for her to investigate Qiao Yi. Qiao Jing made her sit in bed. I dont care about what youve done before, but youre a member of the Qiao family now. I wont let you put yourself in danger. Qiao Jings hand was warm and strong as he pressed it on Qiao Yues shoulder. Qiao Yue felt a warmth that she had not felt for a long time. She was craving Qiao Jings warmth. When she was with the organization, they couldnt decline their missions most of the time. Their rtionship with the Godfather was more like business transactions. Only by providing rewards to the Godfather would they get resources. But with Qiao Jing, she didnt need to do anything to feel that she was protected. This realization warmed her heart. Ill take this time to recuperate, dont worry. But I must be part of this mission. Qiao Yue grabbed Qiao Jings hand and said. Ive already made arrangements. No. You should stay at home and recuperate. Qiao Jing helped Qiao Yue lie down. Take your medicine diligently for the next few days and let Lu Ying treat you. Well talk about other things when the timees. Qiao Jing had no intention to let Qiao Yue take part in this mission. Qiao Zes attitude was unclear at the moment. Qiao Lis family was probably also involved in this matter. Qiao Yue wasnt in the right frame of mind, so she couldnt take part in this mission. After Qiao Yue fell asleep, Qiao Jing walked out of her room and asked the butler to apply leave of absence for Qiao Yue. When he reached the top of the stairs, he bumped into Qiao Yu, who was carrying a tray of food. Qiao Jing wanted to just walk past him, but Qiao Yu didnt give him the chance and blocked him. I think we should talk, Qiao Yu said. What about? Lets talk about you and Qiao Yue. The Qiao Yu now waspletely different from the obedient and adorable little brother Qiao Jing had. He was exuding a never-seen-before hostility. Chapter 258 - 258 Prison Break 258 Prison Break Meanwhile, at C-Countrys main detention center, a transfer vehicle filled with armed soldiers pulled up at the guard post. ording to C-Countrysw, prisoners who had not been sentenced would be locked up at a detention center until they received their sentences, at which point, they would be transferred to a nearby prison. Most criminals would be transferred to the prison after their trial. Only the most dangerous felons would be transferredter. The criminal to be transferred today was extremely dangerous and of special status. The police contacted the military and mobilized an entire truck of soldiers to transport him. !! The gates opened, and a man in a prisoners uniform walked out, apanied by several prison guards. His head had been shavedpletely bald, but his face was not thin. He wasnt like most prisoners who shriveled when locked up. He was surrounded by heavily armed prison guards, but he was still calm andposed. He looked up as if he was looking at something in the sky. The prison guards saw his action and became alert. They all looked up at the sky and raised their guns. Why is everyone so nervous? I havent seen the sky for long, so Im just appreciating it. The mans voice was very calm, without a trace of fear. Mr. Trand, youre a felon. Please cooperate with us and not cause trouble. The prison guard beside him said coldly. Sure, Trand said, sounding very cooperative. When the soldiers escorted Trand into the truck, gunshots suddenly erupted around them. The soldiers quickly divided into two groups. One group fired back while the other surrounded Trand with bulletproof shields and quickly pushed him into the truck. The buildings around the detention center werent tall. Most of them were low-rise houses though there were a few tall buildings about five hundred meters away. Meanwhile, the soldier on the watchtower also aimed his sniper rifle at the surrounding high-rise buildings. Through his rifle scope, he swept the suspicious looking corners one by one, but there was no suspect. One of the soldiers found a shell casing that had fallen to the ground and picked it up. It was a 300 Win, a bullet produced in D-Country. It was usually used for ultra long-range shooting. The soldiers and prison guards waited for a minute, but the attack didnt continue. Continue with the transport. Transfer Trand now. The team leader ordered. The soldiers pushed Trand into the truck as they retreated. The sniper scanned their surroundings to eliminate any possible danger. Usually when problems cropped up during a transfer, the mission would be terminated immediately. However, for some reason, they continued with this mission. Chief, suspect seen on the building in the southeast, the sniper reported via theirms channel just as Trand was pushed into the truck and they were about to drive away. The team leader was just about to call a stop to the mission when the sound of bullets whizzed through the air. Take cover! Only one shot was fired, and the bullet passed through the ss and hit Trand. It was only one shot, but it was fatal. The soldiers raised their guns and bulletproof shields again like before, but the attack had stopped. Sniper, why didnt you aim at the suspect in the building just now? The team leader asked throughms. The suspect was very fast. I didnt have the chance to shoot. The snipers voice was heard throughms. The soldiers scanned their surroundings to eliminate all dangers before they returned to the truck. They found Trand barely breathing. The doctor on duty at the detention center ran out and put him on a stretcher. The bullet just now hit Trand in the temple. Even if the miracle-working doctor, Hua Tuo were alive, he couldnt save Trand. The building was more than 500 meters away, and the shooter still had to estimate the distance between him and Trand. What a sharpshooter! Only a top-notch sniper could pull this off. The team leader looked at the building 500 meters away. The shooter must haveunched his attack from there. Search Jinyue Tower, he ordered. Everyone ran towards the building. If they hurry, they might be able to find the shooter. If they went anyter, they would probably find no clues. Chapter 259 - 259 Investigation 259 Investigation Meanwhile, on Jinyue Tower that was 500 meters away from the detention center, a young man in a ck uniform quickly disassembled his rifle, packed it into a violin case and removed his goggles. He lowered a rope from the venttion shaft of the building and rappelled down to the ground floor of the building amidst dizzying heights. He then cut the uniform he was wearing from the middle, threw it into an incinerator nearby and then changed into casual clothes. He was now looking like a teenager who had just gone for music lessons in the area. !! He cut through the alley behind the building and passed by a police car. The officers in the police car didnt pay any attention to him. At the next junction, he jumped into a normal-looking minivan. In the minivan sat a patrician man. He was wearing a ck sweater and chino pants. He looked like a noble who was going for high tea. The ordinary-looking minivan felt different because of his aura. Mission aplished. The young man removed his hoodie, revealing his exquisite, mixed-race face. Godfather, there were no obstacles in this mission. Everything went a little too smoothly. The man tapped his fingers on the armrest in the back seat. Andy has given up his pawn, Trand. Nothing unexpected. Andy didnt give up. He was still using his influence to help Trand get a lighter sentence yesterday. I think its a mistake on Andys part. The boy answered. The man chuckled. Maybe youre right, Oswald. Youll be rewarded for eliminating Trand. Oswald lowered his head and said, Thank you, Godfather. Dont forget the other thing. The Godfather said. I tried to hack into Harvey Academys school forum, but their website isnt as simple as it looks. Information from the past seems to have been specially archived. The man stopped his tapping and frowned. Archived? Someone must have made a copy of the information and then archived it. How did they archive it? The man asked. Oswald didnt reply. Good children dont lie. The man took a sip of his coffee and looked at Oswald through the rearview mirror. Oswald had his head lowered, like he was thinking. Your main job now is to look after Andy. I will let Minnie take care of the other things. Oswalds eyes shifted at the sound of the girls name. Minnie is with me now. I can do whatever she can. Oswald, do what you are asked to do. The mans voice was calm. Oswald nodded and didnt say anything more. I heard youve challenged Qiao Yue? The Godfather asked. Yes, I have. Thinking about how Qiao Yue had turned the tables on him, Oswalds face was indignant. Its not that Im wasnt capable, Qiao Yue was just too good at reading people. As expected of someone who was personally trained by Godfather. There was a hint of jealousy in Oswalds words. Then tell me how Qiao Yue defeated you. The man looked at Oswald through the rearview mirror and gave him a smile of understanding. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue was sleeping soundly at the Qiao residence. Although the medicine prescribed by Lu Ying was very effective, it made her drowsy. Qiao Yue fell asleep not long after taking the medicine. Qiao Yue slept all the way until night. When she woke up, she saw the messages and missed calls on her phone. Xiao Jia had been calling her non-stop when she was sleeping. She opened their chat and the new messages woke her up. It was thetest news of the day. Trand had been shot dead during a secret transfer. This news threw Qiao Yue into confusion. Even if Trand had been arrested, he was so powerful and he had Andys protection. How could he die so easily? Qiao Yues pupils constricted. How did Trand, her sworn enemy for so long, suddenly die of a gunshot? Did the Godfather send someone to kill him? Qiao Yue frowned. A suspicious name shed in her mind. Could this person be the one the Godfather sent to C-Country? Qiao Yue thought as she called Xiao Jia. Chapter 260 - 260 Rumors 260 Rumors Xiao Jia answered the call very quickly, Boss, did you see the news? Yes. Did you guys do it? Qiao Yue asked. No way! How dare we act without order? Xiao Jia seemed to be busy, but she soon walked to a quiet ce to talk to Qiao Yue. The police and the army have sent people to investigate. Our informants in the task force said that they havent found anything yet. The person who killed Trand is very well hidden. Qiao Yue opened her iPad and looked at the 3D map. It was a panoramic map of the area around the detention center where Trand was held. The detention center was located in an open space, and there were no tall buildings within a 500-meter radius. The only ce where the suspect could hide was the Jinyue Tower 500 meters away. It was an office building with manypanies and a few training centers. It was not difficult to bring in a disguised gun using a guitar case or a file box. I heard that they locked down the building immediately, but they still couldnt find anyone suspicious. Qiao Yue frowned. If they surrounded the building right after Trand was shot but couldnt find the suspect, it meant that the suspect did not take the ordinary route when exiting the building. He either went through the venttion shaft or attached ropes to the building facade. Have you looked into the nearby cars? Qiao Yue asked. Its difficult to investigate. Its not a prosperous area and there were urban viges and alleys nearby. If the suspect sneaked into the urban viges or alleys, itll be difficult to trace him. Qiao Yue sighed. This person didnt employ ordinary methods indeed. Only a top-tier assassin would have such capabilities. Have you looked into the whereabouts of the top assassins in the organization? Qiao Yue asked. Most of them are not in C-Country. Only No. 53 is in the country, based on recently reported trips. No. 53 was an assassin with almost the same status as Qiao Yue in the organization. Qiao Yue had never met him before. His identity was very mysterious, and he had only lived in the organizations system. People in the Godfathers organization contacted each other using a multiyer encrypted social app. They didnt use ordinary social apps, but a secret software that was specially developed by YQ. This software could be said to be the worlds most powerful social app. Its confidentiality and speed were almost the worlds most advanced. The identity and serial number of each organization member would be searchable inside. This No. 53 was also in Qiao Yues contact list. However, Qiao Yue had never contacted him. No. 53 seemed to have been overseas all the time and had never turned up at any of the organizations gatherings. No. 53 had always been given secret solo missions. The Godfather had never mentioned anything about his training. Qiao Yue opened the social app on her phone and looked at the dark profile picture. No. 53s profile picture was a very dark one where one couldnt see what was on it. Qiao Yue clicked on the picture, erged it, and increased the brightness on her phone. Only then did she see that it was a gun with its muzzle pointed off frame. It was a long-distance sniper rifle made in D-Country. Qiao Yue had used it before. Moreover, the range of this rifle was 500 to 1000 meters, which was exactly the distance between Jinyue Tower and the detention center. Qiao Yue narrowed her eyes. All the information seemed to connect. She didnt believe that there would be so many coincidences. All these must lead to one final answer. No. 53 must be Trands murderer, but why did he kill him? Was it ordered by the Godfathers order or was it With this question in mind, Qiao Yue typed a message and sent it to No. 53. You there? Qiao Yue held her breath when she saw the word read at the end of her message. Although they could contact each other freely on this social app, people with no ovepping missions generally didnt contact each other. It didnt seem wise for her to contact No. 53 out of the blue. After waiting for a long time, the app showed that No. 53 was typing. After a few more minutes, No. 53 replied with a simple sentence. Trand was my mission. Qiao Yues pupils constricted when she read this. Things were just as she had expected. After a while, No. 53 sent her another message. Qiao Yue, Im your opponent. Chapter 261 - 261 Canaries 261 Canaries Qiao Yue narrowed her eyes. Her opponent? This word reminded her of Oswald, the boy who had been challenging her and unwilling to admit defeat. Could he be No. 53? Qiao Yue wanted to find out No. 53s identity, but in the end, she did not send the text message. After all, it was normal that the Godfather would train people other than herself. Her two-year deal with the Godfather hadnt been fulfilled yet, so there was no need to rock the boat. At the thought of this, Qiao Yue turned off her phone andy back down in bed . She had just gotten up, but she already felt tired. Lu Ying had indeed given her some very strong medicine. Shey in bed, but her mind was racing. Her mothers face kept appearing in her mind, as well as the things she experienced when she grew up under the Godfathers care. She took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and let herself fall back into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a banquet was in full swing. It was a banquet held at D-Countrys embassy in C-Country. D-Countrys ambassador, Andy, was going to leave C-Country to go back home. C-Countrys whos who all gathered at the embassy at Andys invitation. Andy was a handsome and wealthy ambassador. He had the support of the biggest tycoon in D-Country at a young age. He was also an important member of parliament in D-Country. He might even run for president in future. The whos who from any country would want to be on good terms with such a person. The two children he brought with him to the banquet were also very eye-catching. The boys hair was dyed brown, and he had an androgynous, mixed-race face, with the sharp features of the west and liveliness of the east. Rumor had it that he was Andys nephew and one of the more outstanding Eugenes of his generation. He was now a student at St. Faustinas Institution and he performed very well at a recent duel with Harvey Academy. Although he was still a university student, he had a maturity beyond his years. The girl with Andy had red hair and simrly, a mixed-race look. However, she looked more aloofpared to the genteel Oswald. Rumor had it that she was an adopted daughter of the Eugene family. Two of them with Andy wielded more than half of the Eugene family influence. Andy stood in the middle of the banquet hall, toasting with the people who came and went. His smile was gracious, and it was hard to imagine that his brother had just been murdered just outside the detention center. As expected of the Eugenes, they are still able to wee guests so calmly despite Trands scandal. Yeah. I heard that Andyughed it off when he heard about his brothers death. Hes indeed the most promising member of parliament in D-Country. Andys expression did not change much when he heard these discussions among his guests. Only Oswald noticed that his hands trembled whenever he made a toast. Uncle, are you alright? Oswald asked in a low voice. Im fine. Andy ignored Oswalds concern and continued to chat with his guests who came forward to have a drink with him. Oswald looked at Andy with narrowed eyes. He whispered, Hypocrite. Isnt hypocrisy inherent in the Eugene family? The girl beside him said with a smile. Oswald rolled his eyes when he saw Minnies expression. Come on, Minnie. Youre a hypocrite too. Why did you snatch the mission that Godfather gave me? Minnie looked at him and smiled. Because I didnt overestimate myself and challenge the person whom Godfather admires. Godfather admires? Oswald chuckled. When I first met the Godfather, I thought he was a great man with no desires. But hes now taken away my right to missions because of a girl. Its ridiculous. Im obviously so much more talented than her. Minnie smiled nomittally. You dont understand Godfather, and you dont understand the organization. Its just an organization that uses humanity to control the world. Its not that hard to understand. Oswald replied. He had been trained as a member of the organization since young and he thought that he had seen through everything about the organization. The world is nothing but a prey in Godfathers eyes. Minnie took a sip of her champagne. You know, the Godfather doesnt like to keep canaries. He would much rather keep an eagle like its a canary. Minnie tilted her head and looked at Oswald. Do you understand what I mean, Oswald? Chapter 262 - 262 Confrontation 262 Confrontation Just as Oswald was about to say something, the door to the banquet hall suddenly opened, and a man in a tailored suit walked in. The crowd quieted down instantly and made way for the man to walk in. The man had a cold and aloof demeanor. Despite his oriental face, he looked charming and formidable. Everything he wore was branded and custom made. He exuded a noble aura from the inside out. When Andy saw him, he quickly walked over with a ss of red wine and politely handed it to his guest. Second young master Qiao, you made it! Qiao Jing epted the ss of red wine and politely clinked sses with Andy. His face was still cold as he said, How can I decline an invitation from Mr. Andy? It was a polite diplomatic reply, but when the words came out of Qiao Jings mouth, it seemed believable. Minnie stroked her chin as she looked at Qiao Jing. She nudged Oswald with her elbow and said, That is Qiao Jing, the second young master of the Qiao family. He is the second brother of Godfathers chosen one. Oswald looked at Qiao Jing with a frown. Qiao Jing looked younger than he had imagined. He was no ordinary person. He controls much of the Qiao family at such a young age, surpassing his father and uncles. He also has an organization thatsparable with the one behind KA. How can he be an ordinary person? Minnie continued, But based on my investigation, he also has an extraordinary rtionship with Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing was the one who defended Qiao Yue in many of the family disputes. As the two of them spoke, Qiao Jing walked over and raised his ss. Minnie smiled and did a curtsy holding her skirt, while Oswald simply raised his ss. What organization is more powerful than KA? Oswald asked. He had never heard of any other organizations in C-Country. I met them when I covered Trands retreatst time. We had the chance to kidnap Qiao Yue then, but they saved him. Minnies eyes followed Qiao Jing as he mingled with the other guests. Ive tried to investigate that organization, but I dont know their name. But their logo looked like a ck four-leaf clover; Im not sure what it means. Andys guests were the whos who of C-Country, but for some reason, he had been talking with Qiao Jing since Qiao Jing arrived without having any in-depth conversations with his other guests. Andys conversation with Qiao Jing was mostly about how he could be partners with the Qiao family. The Eugene family was making their foray into the entertainment industry. They nned to nurture Qiao Xin, the first artiste they signed in D-Country. Andy naturally wanted to use this Qiao Xin connection to do more business with the Qiao family. Is second young master interested in ATs projects here in C-Country? Qiao Jing held his wine ss did not look at Andy. He seemed to be thinking about something. After a long time, Qiao Jing finally said, No. Qiao Xin made a personal choice and it doesnt reflect what the Qiao family wants to do. Andy, who hit a wall with Qiao Jing, wasnt upset. Instead, he looked at Qiao Jing and said calmly, I thought Mr. Qiao Yis words carried a lot of weight. It seems that he has lied to me. Qiao Jing frowned. As he had expected, Qiao Yi and Andy had long been in cahoots. Qiao Yi doesnt represent the Qiao family. If you have any other projects that we could work on together, you can contact the Qiao Corporation directly. You dont need to go through my uncles. Qiao Jing said. Andy chuckled. I have a casino called Mahad. I dont know if Mr. Qiao has heard of it. How could Qiao Jing not know about the notorious Mahad? Mr. Qiao Yi has some business dealings with Mahad, but unfortunately, hes not especially capable. We are currently looking for a partner from D-Country who can work with us on this project. I wonder if Mr. Qiao Jing would be willing to do so? The project he mentioned was probably the detestable human trafficking project. D-Countrys government was indeed rotten to some extent. Even a politician like Andy was using his position and power to do illegal things. Qiao Jing smiled but did not agree or refuse. He just replied calmly, Im not very interested in Mr. Andys project, but Im a little curious about what youre going to do at the end of this month. Chapter 263 - 263 A Dangerous Person 263 A Dangerous Person Andy smiled. Instead of answering Qiao Jings question directly, he said, If Mr. Qiao Jing is not interested in this project, we can talk about other projects. After all, I would really like to work with Mr. Qiao Jing. Mr. Andy, why talk about other projects? The Qiao family will never work with people who have broken thew. Qiao Jing wasnt nning to use any diplomatguage with Andy. Thats not what Mr. Qiao Yi said, Andy replied with a smile. !! As an experienced diplomat, he maintained a polite smile despite Qiao Jings innuendos. Qiao Yi has already been kicked out of the house by my grandfather. Hes no longer part of the Qiao family. Andy made a surprised expression. But the third master of the Qiao family seems to be in contact with Mr. Qiao Yi. Qiao Jing had expected Qiao Li and Qiao Yi to be in contact. These two families had always been the most aggressive in their fight to split the Qiao family assets. Qiao Yi justid his cards on the table, but Qiao Li was different. Qiao Li liked to do things in secret. Compared to Qiao Yi, Qiao Li was a bigger headache. This is my family matter. Perhaps you shouldnt ask. Qiao Jing said. It was my family matter that Trand was arrestedst month. I dont know why Mr. Qiao Jing intervened. Andy gestured for one of the waiters to pour Qiao Jing more wine. The champagne that Andy served was of the highest quality. It had a rich taste, and one could smell the strong aroma before even drinking it. There was also a hint of strange medicinal smell Qiao Jing frowned. This is C-Country. Isnt Mr. Andy being too outrageous by doing such a thing here? Qiao Jing swirled his ss. The color of champagne was supposed to be pure gold, but there seemed to some white impurities in his ss. Those impurities were what Trand had secretly brought into C-Country. You are inside the embassy of D-Country, Mr. Qiao Jing. Andy swirled his ss and the champagne in it was of the same color. I dont think a man like Mr. Qiao Jing has ever experienced true indulgence. Why dont you give it a try? After all, one of your rtives was once poisoned by such a thing. Andys words struck Qiao Jing like a bolt of lightning. The person Andy was referring to wasnt any of the Qiao brothers, nor was it any of the grandchildren. It could only be the person who had passed. But how did Andy find out about this? Does my aunt and Mr. Andy have anymon friends? Andy swirled the champagne in his ss but did not drink it. He just stared at the liquid and revealed an unruly smile. She is an old friend of mine. Andy was only a few years older than them. He was just a child when Qiao Jings aunt passed. How could Andy be old friends with his aunt? Qiao Jing didnt know what to think. How did this matter turn into something supernatural? If Andy was his aunts old friend, he should be at least the same age as Qiao Jings father. Did Andy reincarnate in another persons body? This mystical thought shed through Qiao Jings mind, and he quickly dismissed it. How could that be possible? Of course, in a n like Andys, there should be someone in his fathers generation that Qiao Jing didnt know about. Therefore, it was normal for someone in Andys fathers generation to make Andy probe him like that. Qiao Jing frowned at Andys teasing gaze. Mr. Andy, you are tarnishing your old friend by saying such things. Whats wrong with me casually mentioning someone who had been expelled from the Qiao family? Or are you protecting your aunt against your family wishes? Or is it because of some other reason, for instance, the fifth young miss? Qiao Jing felt a chill run down his spine when he heard fifth young miss. He had goosebumps all over his body. Even people in KA didnt know Qiao Yues true gender. How did Andy know? My fifth brother is a boy. Im afraid Mr. Andy has made a mistake. Is that so? Andyughed. Only then did Qiao Jing notice that Andys expressions were always stiff, as if he had undergone stic surgery. His youthful and delicate facial features seemed to be a beautiful human skin mask on his face. Qiao Jing really could not figure who Andy was. This person was very scary. Chapter 264 - 264 The Past 264 The Past Of course. The Qiao family has already announced it to the public. Besides, your nephew, Oswald, also met my fifth brother at Harveys anniversary. You are probably aware of my brothers true gender. Qiao Jing said. Was Oswald the one who discovered Qiao Yues true gender? I see. Andy took a sip of his champagne elegantly. Is there another possibility? That Mr. Qiao Jing doesnt know his sister well enough? Andy spoke with confidence and did not seem to be lying. Qiao Jing frowned. !! This is also my family matter. Perhaps Mr. Andy should stop intervening. Qiao Jings voice was cold. He didnt want to talk about Qiao Yue anymore. It looks like Mr. Qiao Jing needs to pay more attention to his brothers and sisters. Andy sensed Qiao Jings disinterest and politely clinked his ss to Qiao Jings before he walked towards Oswald and Minnie. Qiao Jing put down his ss, looked around, and left the banquet hall. Uncle, why didnt you talk more with Qiao Jing? Oswald was curious. Recently, his family had been pursuing the Qiao family as a business partner. It was strange for Andy to let his partner leave just like that. It was not his style. Helle back and find me. Andy tapped his fingers against his ss, like he was ying a piece of music. When Qiao Jing returned to the Qiao residence, it was already past dinner time. The living room and dining room of the old mansion were quiet, with only a few servants cleaning. Butler, wheres the fifth young master? Qiao Jing asked as he handed his bag to the butler. The fifth young master is resting upstairs. The old master woke up today. The fifth young master kept himpany for a while before he went back to his room. Alright. Qiao Jing walked upstairs to Old Master Qiaos room. Lu Ying had justpleted an acupuncture treatment on Old Master Qiao. The old master looked a little weak, but much better than when he was unconscious. His face was ruddier. Qiao Jing, youre here. Qiao Jing sat beside Old Master Qiao and motioned for Lu Ying to leave. Lu Ying took his medical kit and left. Grandpa, I have something to ask you. What is it? Other than Qiao Yue, Old Master Qiao doted on Qiao Jing the most. Qiao Jing was his quiet grandson. Although he was very filial, he rarely took the initiative to sit down and chat with his grandfather. Does aunt have any old friends? Old Master Qiao couldnt help but sigh at the mention of Qiao Qing. Among his children, he liked Qiao Qing the most. Although she was not his biological daughter, her character was the most simr to his. And among his grandchildren, only Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue were most like him. The rest of his descendants were different kinds of good-for-nothings. Xiao Qing had a lot of friends. She was a warm person. Everyone who met her wanted to be her friend. Old Master Qiao sighed as he spoke. Qiao Qing had always been surrounded by people. From her school days to work, she nevercked friends. It wasnt until that man appeared in her life and turned everything upside down. I wanted to ask if she had any old friends from abroad? Such as from D-Country? Not the friends she usually hung out with. Old Master Qiao frowned at the mention of D-Country. D-Country smelled of freedom. The man who came into Qiao Qings life had once gone on a mission there. It was after that that Qiao Qingpletely lost contact with her family. Because of some special circumstances, Old Master Qiao could only lie and say that Qiao Qing had eloped with a man. However, in the few years when Qiao Qing was abroad, she had been secretly keeping in touch with the old master. Until that incident happened, after which they lost all contact. Old Master Qiao had searched for more than a decade. It was only this year when he finally found something and brought Qiao Yue back to the family. There should be an old friend, but that person is probably dead. If there was any old friend from abroad, its probably an exchange student from St. Faustinas Institution. There was already a student exchange program between St. Faustinas and Harvey decades ago? Qiao Jing frowned. St. Faustinas Institution had always been closely linked to D-Country. Many rich kids from D-Country were sent to St. Faustinas for tertiary education. Perhaps its a friend that aunt made there? Chapter 265 - 265 Family 265 Family That sort of made sense. Perhaps someone in Andys family knew Qiao Qing and told Andy about her. Therefore, Andy said those things to him at the banquet just now But that didnt exin how Andy knew Qiao Yues true gender. It couldnt just be a random guess on his part. Did aunt mention fifth brother when she wrote to you? Old Master Qiao nodded. Yes. She told me that she had given birth to a son. Unfortunately, her son couldnt be reunited with his father. That man had abandoned your aunt. Qiao Jing frowned. Qiao Qing didnt even tell the old master that Qiao Yue was a girl, which meant only very few people in the world knew that Qiao Yue was a girl. How then did Andy know? He couldnt be rted to Qiao Yue, right? Thanks, Grandpa. Qiao Jing lowered his head respectfully. Why did you suddenly ask me about your aunt today? Did something happen? Qiao Yue hesitated for a moment before he told Old Master Qiao about his encounter with Andy. Old Master Qiaos brows furrowed at the mention of the Eugene family. The Eugene family had been prosperous for centuries. Old Master Qiao had himself dealt with the head of the family when he was young. The Eugene family. Although the descendants are all outstanding in their respective fields, the Eugene family has always been malevolent. They own many illegal businesses. Old Master Qiao shook his head. The Qiao descendants must never be involved in those shady businesses. Qiao Jing nodded. The Qiao family was an upright, aristocratic family who had never been involved any immoral businesses. It had been this way even for Qiao Jings generation. Ive already refused any coboration with the Eugene family, and I wont have anything to do with them in future. Dont worry, Grandpa, the Qiao family will never join them in their evil ways. The two of them chatted for a while more before Qiao Jing left. Old Master Qiao was still recuperating, so he shouldnt be strained. After saying goodbye to the old master, Qiao Jing went to his study. Qiao Yues background, as well as Qiao Qings rtionship with the Eugene family These mysteries were all tangled up in his mind. He had investigated Qiao Yue before, but all he found were her linkages to Yayi and KA. Qiao Yue seemed to be the real boss of KA, and she worked behind the scenes. However, if Qiao Yue really grew up in a remove vige like Nanshan Vige, how did she possess so many talent and skills, and how did she found KApany? Qiao Jing couldnt figure this out. Unless Qiao Yue was raised by someone else! Qiao Jing massaged his aching be. Just as he was feeling vexed, someone knocked. Qiao Yue walked in with some fruits and drinks. She still looked a little weak. Her lips and face were pale. Why are you here? I came over when I found out that you were here. Thank you for taking care of me yesterday. Sorry to have troubled you with my illness. Qiao Jings heart ached when he heard this. How many secrets did Qiao Yue keep? How much pain was she suffering that he didnt know about? Qiao Jing reached out and took the tray from Qiao Yue and put it on his desk. He then looked at Qiao Yue. You dont have to do these things. Were family. Its my duty to take care of you. Qiao Jings care and concern had long surpassed that of a rtive. It was moving in a direction that Qiao Yue couldnt understand. But Qiao Yue still held Qiao Jings hand tightly and nodded. Were family. We should take care for each other. Second brother, you look very tired. Would you like me to give you a massage? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Jing nodded, adjusted the back of his chair, and leaned back. Qiao Yue walked behind him and started to massage his temples. Her fingers were a little cold, but her strength was as gentle and slow as before. Her movements calmed Qiao Jings anxiety and nervousness. Qiao Yue, if you have any secrets, dont hide them from me. Qiao Jing suddenly said. The hands on his shoulders paused for a moment, and the air in the room became still. After a long time, Qiao Yue answered softly, Okay. Qiao Yues massage skills were good as always. Qiao Jing rxed after a while and even took a short nap. When Qiao Jing awoke, he felt his mind clearer. He straightened the back of his chair, looked at Qiao Yue, and took a deep breath. Qiao Yue, how much do you remember about your mother? Chapter 266 - 266 An Operation Plan 266 An Operation n Mother was a very distant word to Qiao Yue. Other than seeing her in her dreams, everything about Qiao Yues mother was a distant memory. But she remembered that she returned to the Qiao family to fulfill her mothersst wish. However, the Qiao family and the city they lived in werent as simple as she had thought. In the few months she lived with the Qiao family, she had discovered serious undercurrents beneath the calm. !! The past was like an evil eye in a ck hole, watching her and trying to pull her into the vortex of evil. I met Andy today. Qiao Jing took a deep breath and exhaled hard. Wasnt Andy the important member of parliament from D-Country? Andy told me that he was an old friend of your mothers. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing with surprise in her eyes. Qiao Jing knew that Qiao Yue also didnt believe Andys words. Based on Andys age, there was no way that he could have known Qiao Qing. I dont remember, second brother. I only remember how my mother took care of me and how we waited for my father together. Thats all. Waited for her father? Qiao Yue had never mentioned her long-lost father. What kind of person is your father? Although everyone in the family said that Qiao Qings husband was a scumbag who lied to her and made her sever ties with the family, Qiao Jing still wanted to hear about Qiao Yues father in her words. My father probably isnt a scumbag. Qiao Yue frowned as she recalled her dreams. In her dreams, her father was a man with a mysterious career. He seemed to be protecting something or was on some kind of secret mission. That was why his rtionship with Qiao Yue and her mother couldnt be made public, nor could they have any contact with him. Their family had to change their names and hide. It was easy to guess the kind of job he held. After Qiao Jing heard Qiao Yues description, he had a rough idea. Andy might know your mother, even your father. Andyes from a prominent, drug-dealing family. Your fathers profession was probably as you guessed. Qiao Jing did not point it out directly. It was a noble profession, but his family was bound to face danger and responsibilities. Their identities and their past would be sealed in C-Country. Their files would be kept in ck folders and sealed with special wax seals. Its just a guess from the fragments of my dreams. It might not be true. We need to find more evidence. If they could figure out his profession, they could start their investigation from sealed government files, or business dealings of the Eugene family. It would be a more effective waypared to perusing archived information from the Harvey school forum. Besides, Andy wasnt a big mouth. Since he told Qiao Jing about Qiao Qing, he might know much more than they thought. He might also use this information against the Qiao family. Although Qiao Jing still could not figure out Andys objectives, it was best to solve the problem as soon as possible. Ill get Jin Lu and people from Yayi to assist you in the operation next week, Qiao Yue said. Jin Lu is ready to be prey in their hunting ground. Hunting ground was amon term in their business. They tricked girls with dreams of making it into the entertainment industry into signing so-called foreign acting contracts with seemingly reputablepanies. But these girls were just signing a contract to sell themselves. These ignorant girls would then be shipped to D-Country to be ythings in ces like Mahad. Those people would also take nude pictures of these girls and use them, on top of their contracts, to threaten the girls into going abroad. Those who didntply would be drugged on the spot and raped before they were shipped overseas. Qiao Yue handed over the information she had found out to Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing was not surprised. When he was building his own team away from the Qiao family, he had also hired people to look into Mahad and its business dealings. Simr things happened from time to time in D-Country. The best oue of this operation is to obtain evidence of their crimes and save those girls. Our priority is to save the girls, even if we are unable to obtain any evidence. Qiao Jing nodded in agreement. Well probably run into Qiao Yi and Qiao Li in this operation. If we do, dont let them go either. Well just act ording to our n. Chapter 267 - 267 Disguise 267 Disguise Jin Lu looked in the mirror as she put on her make-up. Her face looked sunken because she had lost a lot of weight since her sister disappeared. She had no choice but to apply a thickyer of foundation to cover up her fatigue. Fortunately, her make-up skills were good, and she managed to cover up the ws on her face in no time. The face in the mirror was still beautiful and alluring. Her every frown and smile could touch the hearts of her audience. !! Young idols like her were the best ythings for the rich and powerful. When singing and dancing in front of the camera, these idols brought visual and spiritual enjoyment to everyone. For the rich and powerful, owning or destroying these beautiful objects brought them indescribable pleasure. These girls were the bestfort for the rich and powerful who lived stressful lives, threading carefully in their upper-ss society every day where any misstep would plunge them into the abyss. What they didnt know was that they were dragging these girls into an even deeper abyss. Jin Lu followed Qiao Yues instructions and attached the visual and audio surveince equipment on herself. The surveince cameras and listening device had been modified to avoid detection by other surveince equipment so they could be brought to the gathering. Although it was called a gathering, it was actually an excuse to parade the girls in front of the pimps for their picking. Its all pimping business under the pretense of a performing arts activity. These gatherings could also get chaotic. If any of the johns behind these pimps took fancy to a girl, the girl might be drugged immediately and brought upstairs to her john. Jin Lu would be put in danger, but she was the best choice. Qiao Yue wasnt fully recovered yet. Chu Jia and the others from Yayi basically knew the rich and powerful of C-Country. Only Jin Lu, who had been in the acting industry but was recently put on ice, was believable. Its believable that she would take the bait as she find herself a newpany where she could runch her career. They wouldnt suspect her. Can you hear me? Qiao Yue said through thems. The earpiece on Jin Lu was very small, and it had been modified to look like a clip-on earring. The microphone had been embedded in her pearl ne and the surveince camera was a small button on her dress. When Jin Lu received the surveince equipment, she was also shocked by the exquisiteness of them all. Yes. How about you? Can you hear me clearly? Jin Lu replied. Qiao Yue could hear her very clearly. She was sitting in a private room on the upper floor of the KTV. She wasnt fully recovered yet, and her main job was being themander of todays operation. Todays operation involved a group of newly trained people from Yayi. They were all over the KTV, disguised as waiters, cleaners and so on. Many of them hung around outside the private room where the illegal transactions would take ce. Qiao Jing, on his end, pretended to be having a gathering with the people he had trained. Night fell, and the street where the KTV was located lit up brightly. The neon lights made the dark night even brighter than day. The lights in Qiao Yues room werent on. She looked at the street below that was as bright as day and watched the girls who got out of the cars and walked into the KTV. She felt nothing but heartache. These girls came here with their dreams. Although they felt that such an asion was strange, they still came. However, the people who treated them as money-making objects were here to destroy their dreams, their bodies, even their lives. At the thought of this, Qiao Yue felt a little breathless. Anxiety climbed up to her throat, making her feel suffocated. Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Qiao Jing, who was dressed simply, walked in. Second brother, shouldnt you be downstairs? Why are you here? Qiao Yue felt a little strange. Lu Ying said that you arent at your tip-top mental state yet, so I came here to keep youpany for a bit. Qiao Jing turned on the lights in the room. Dont sit alone in the dark. He tousled Qiao Yues hair gently. Jin Lu will be here soon. Ive been watching the entrance. There are about 50 girls. Qiao Yue continued, Only the girls are here now. Qiao Yi, Qiao Li, and people from Mahad and AT arent here yet. Based on their investigation, the johns usually stayed in the hotel above the KTV, while people from Mahad and AT would likely make their way here from the embassy of D-Country. They were about to arrive. Chapter 268 - 268 Qiao Xin’s Appearance 268 Qiao Xins Appearance Just as Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue were talking about Mahad, a car with the AT logo appeared in front of the KTV. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue sat up straight and stared at the monitor. Qiao Yue was a little nervous. Qiao Jing reached out to hold her hand, signaling her not to be nervous. Qiao Jings hand was warm and strong. It wrapped around Qiao Yues hand and also seemed to have wrapped around her anxious heart. !! Just as they were looking at the surveince footage, a familiar car appeared in their field of vision. It was a Qiao family car, which was usually used by Qiao Li. The car door opened, and a flirtatious-looking Qiao Xin got out of the car. This Qiao Xin lookedpletely different from the Qiao Xin before. She had exquisite make-up on and was wearing an off-shoulder fur cloak and a short skirt. She looked very mature and charming overall. However, her small face was still very young and tender, with an excited expression. Qiao Jing sighed heavily. I cant believe that Qiao Li would send Qiao Xin to a ce like this. AT does have a legit entertainment business, but its not as well-established as we think. Qiao Lis reason is most likely to connect Qiao Xin with AT and with Andy. Andy was a direct investor of AT. Qiao Xin had also been sent to Trand as a gift before. If Trand hadnt been arrested, Qiao Li would have married Qiao Xin to him. Trands background had little to do with the Eugene family, so most people wouldnt be able to find out the businesses behind him. So, at that time, Trand had used his identity as a boss from abroad to trick Qiao Li and his family. Qiao Li had probably investigated Trand and Andys background only after Trands arrest. Andys businesses were dirtier, but he was more powerful. Qiao Li wanted to improve his family status by building a rtionship with Andy so he could stand taller in the Qiao family. Qiao Li had never wanted to form alliances with these internationally famous tyrants, Qiao Jing said. Qiao Li was the most cautious among the three Qiao brothers. He had always managed the familys more stable businesses and did not show any ambition. It was probably after Trands incident that he saw the power of the Eugene family, which evoked his ambitions that he had this idea. Unfortunately, Qiao Xin doesnt know yet. As the two spoke, Qiao Xin had already arrived at the private room. Just as she was about to enter the room, someone suddenly appeared from behind and pulled her into the corridor. Qiao Yue watched closely and saw that the person was none other than Qiao Yu. Qiao Yue had been busy recuperating and hadnt seen Qiao Yu for a while. She also didnt tell him about the operation. How did Qiao Yu find his way here? Meanwhile, Qiao Yu had pulled Qiao Xin into the stairwell. Fourth brother, what are you doing? Why are you stopping me? I have an audition today. Qiao Xin stood still and shook off Qiao Yus hand. Dont stop me from auditioning. Qiao Xin straightened her outfit that Qiao Yu had messed up, her face full of disgust. Im here to stop you from bing their pimping target. Qiao Yus face was cold, and he looked very scary. Qiao Yu had always been kind and gentle to others. Qiao Xin had never seen him being so fierce to her. Its not that I dont want you to be an artiste, but theres something wrong with AT. How is that possible? It was second uncle who rmended that I join AT. Qiao Xin frowned and looked at Qiao Yu, not knowing what the father and son were up to. Now that she had gone to the audition her second uncle had arranged for her, but his son had jumped out to stop her. Dont tell me you listened to second brother and that country bumpkin and came here to make things difficult for me? You mean second brother and fifth brother? Qiao Yu frowned. They dont know that Im here to stop you. My dad talked to AT before, and I know what real business theyre doing. Theyre not really going to make you an artiste. Qiao Xin sneered, Of course I know that Im not going to be an artiste. My dad has always hoped that I would marry a rich husband. The heir of a rich family from D-Country, Andy, will be at this audition. Qiao Yu choked when he heard this. He didnt expect Qiao Xin to know what her father wanted her to do, and she didnt even resist? Chapter 269 - 269 Qiao Yu Awakens 269 Qiao Yu Awakens So you want to be his scapegoat? To be a sacrifice for Third Uncle to fight for the family inheritance? Fourth Brother, not everyone is like you, turning a blind eye to the things the adults do. You can always be like Eldest Brother, working a job far away from the fight for the familys inheritance, living the carefree life you want. But I cant. Qiao Xin shook off Qiao Yus hand, feeling like she was drowning. Qiao Yu felt powerless as if all the strength in his body had been sucked out. Brother, please respect my choice. Not everyone in this family has to walk the path you think is right. Qiao Xin left with a flourish of her skirt, entering the private room. Qiao Yu stood in the corner, watching those beautiful girls dressed in beautiful clothes disappear into the room with their dreams. He suddenly felt that it was very funny. Ever since he was young, his father had made him follow his elder brothers example. He had to do everything perfectly. They hoped he could be like his big brother, who could lead a decent life outside the familys sphere of influence. But today, he realized it was all a lie. Everyone in the family was actively fighting for the familys inheritance, and he was the only one who did not know anything. He had still clung to the belief that the family stood united and in harmony. Qiao Yue sighed as she regarded Qiao Yu, who appeared numbed by the revtion as he stood in the surveince room. Ill do my best to make sure the family returns to how it once was as soon as Iplete what has to be done, Qiao Jing said. He understood Qiao Yues thoughts. They had the same thoughts when it came to the Qiao family. Fourth Brother is innocent at heart. He shouldnt have been involved in todays matters, Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jing understood what Qiao Yue was trying to say. He fished out his phone from his pocket and called Qiao Yu. Through the video feed, they could see Qiao Yu holding onto his phone while staring at the name shown on the screen. He did not immediately answer the call. Qiao Jing frowned. What was his brother doing? Why wasnt he picking up the phone? It was some time before Qiao Yu picked up. Second Brother His voice quivered, sounding like he was barely keeping it together. Lu Ying will make sure Grandpa takes his medicines. I cant go back tonight. You should head home to see him. Second Brother, I have some urgent matters to attend to What urgent matters are you talking about? Qiao Jing cut him off coldly. As far as they could tell from the image of Qiao Yu in the surveince room, he seemed stunned by Qiao Jings frigid tone. Qiao Yu wanted to devise an excuse to avoid the matter. He did not expect Qiao Jing to press him. He looked at the lights outside and suddenly felt silly. Even now, he was still trying to cover up how he was not in ss but at a gathering outside with his ssmates. Im at Third Brothers KTV right now. Qiao Yus response was outside of Qiao Yues expectations. From her understanding of Qiao Yu, he would never admit the truth even when pressed. What are you doing? Before Qiao Jing could finish his sentence, the dams holding back Qiao Yus tears failed, and he broke down. Second Brother, pleasee quickly. Father and Third UNcle brought Qiao Xin here for some reason. Theyre going to hand Sixth Sister over to that Andy guy. That guy is a criminal from Country D. Only you can save her. When Qiao Jing heard this, he suddenly felt tears welling up in his eyes. Fourth Brother was usually distant but polite. It took courage for him to step outside of hisfort zone. Listen to me, Qiao Yu. I want you to go back; theres nothing you can do there. Andy and his gang are not people you can deal with. Ill handle this matter. Second Brother, let me stay here. You could have your mene over; Ill stay and watch from the sidelines. Andy and his gang had brought drugs and guns. If Qiao Yu were discovered by them, who knew what would happen? Qiao Yu, calm down. Qiao Yue decided to speak up. Fifth Sister, how can you ask me to calm down at a time like this? Qiao Yue was taken aback, not knowing how to respond to being called Fifth Sister. She was about to say something to Qiao Jing when thetter sighed, saying, Stay where you are, and dont let them find you. Keep an eye out, but nothing more. Ill send someone over. Qiao Jing turned to Qiao Yue and said, We might need a change of ns. Chapter 270 - 270 Obedient Water 270 Obedient Water Their original n was to let Jin Lu capture the evidence with a video camera, then send people from the organization to capture Qiao Li, Qiao Yi, and Andy. They needed a few more contingencies now that Qiao Yu was added to the equation. While Qiao Yu was quite skilled for his age, he could notpete with the hun-wielding veterans of Andys faction. Someone had to protect Qiao Yu and escort him out. Before the arrest, Ill try and get Qiao Yu out. I want you to stay here; dont wander off alone, am I clear? Qiao Jings steely-eyed gaze was fixed on Qiao Yue as he spoke. Qiao Jing had not wanted to be too involved in the operation, but for Qiao Yus sake, he would have to do more. He would see Qiao Yu leave unscathed. Its dangerous, Qiao Yue murmured, worried about Qiao Jings safety. Andys style of doing things was different from Trands. Trand was ruthless but always open in his confrontations. However, Andy was different. He was unpredictable, and the way his mind worked was a mystery to them. Moreover, Andy had invited several celebrities who were not supposed to be there. Those celebrities would also be implicated if the matter got out of hand. Although Qiao Jing was very influential in C-Country, he could not afford to offend that many celebrities. If those celebrities worked together, destroying the Qiao family was not impossible. Therefore, they needed to be very careful, ensuring they would not be exposed in the aftermath. Justice is blind, and few in the upper echelons of society were paragons of virtue. Hoping for them to uphold justice was always a gamble. Be careful, Qiao Yue warned as she reached out to hold Qiao Jing by the arm. Qiao Jing nodded and turned to leave the room. Qiao Yue returned to her vigil, staring at therge screen. Jin Lu had arrived. Dancing lights flickered in the private room, bouncing off disco balls held aloft. The air was filled with the fragrance of wine. Jin Lu sniffed, feeling that there was something unusual about the smell. The potent mix of alcohol and perfume that saturated the air was so strong she could not help but wonder what it was trying to conceal Was it a hallucinogen?! Jin Lu had frequented several bars throughout the year and had grown ustomed to certain smells. The others in the rooms seemed ignorant of the danger they were in. They were all dressed to the nines. Thin, chiffon skirts revealed the fair skin of severaldies, while low-cut, shoulder-revealing dresses exposed their beautiful curves. The ensemble highlighted their narrow waists, bringing out the best in their forms. Each of them seemed more self-satisfied than thest as if they were therepeting at a beauty pageant. Perhaps they felt they would garner attention and praise through their outfits. Still, they were, in reality, secondary to the main attraction: the traysden with food and drink,ced with hallucinogenic drugs just waiting to be consumed. Jin Lu picked up a flute of champagne and sniffed it, hoping to see if she could identify what was inside. Jin Lu, dont inhale the fumes. Find a corner to sit down, Qiao Yue spoke softly into Jin Lus earpiece. Jin Lu hastily put down the ss and went to a quiet corner. A din arose amid the crowd of gathered celebrities as they anxiously awaited the representative from the AT Company to arrive. It served to cover up Jin Lus movements. Its a hallucinogen, Jin Lu whispered into her concealed microphone. Even though it had only been for a short while, Jin Lu was certain of what she had smelled. Barely discernable through the haze of wine and roses was the distinct smell of medicine. The hallucinogenic drug was called Obedient Water. As the name suggested, it made one more susceptible to outside influences when ingested. Some celebrities had strange fetishes, and it was a popr drug in certain circles. I know. Qiao Yue had seen simr products while shopping online. She had sent people to investigate it before, but they always turned up empty-handed. The only thing they knew was that it was from D-Country. It seemed like Andy, Trand, and Mahad were closely rted to the creation of the hallucinogen. Andy entered the room just as Qiao Yue was about to issue further orders to Jin Lu. He wore a ck velvet suit,plimenting the gentlemanly smile he wore. Qiao Yue only wanted to kill him when she saw his face. Ladies, wee to AT Companys audition! Chapter 271 - 271 The Process 271 The Process The camera angled toward Andy. Qiao Yue did not know if it was an illusion, but Andys gaze swept past all the girls present and stopped on Jin Lu for a moment. Did Andy know Jin Lu? Andy ignored the girl who reached out to him and chose to sit on a sofa,mandeering a central view of the room. He folded his legs, crossing one over the other. It looked like he was sitting on a luxurious throne instead of a sofa at a KTV. Jin Lu swiveled toward the door, her body camera capturing who was entering the room. This time, it was Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was old and overweight. When he entered, his steps were unsteady, but that did not detract from his face full of smiles. At least a hundred girls had fallen into their, and Qiao Yi salivated at themission he would earn for his part in the venture. It was bound to be a hefty sum. Shock erupted among the guests as they saw who entered after Qiao Yi. It was Qiao Ze, an international superstar. It was a pleasant surprise! Scores of hungry gazes were glued on Qiao Ze. Many thought that as long as they managed to snag a contract sessfully, they would quickly rise to stardom, enjoying a status simr to Qiao Ze. Several AT Company employees entered alongside the duo. A few carried cameras and tripods, while others held thick envelopes, carrying the coveted contracts in ck folders. They were the contracts the girls in the room were vying for. Wee to the AT Companys audition. We know that the venue may seem strange, but it was chosen specifically to ensure everyone has a chance to rx and unwind, regardless of the results. Andy stood on the small stage in the center of the KTV and raised a toast to his audience. Qiao Yue stared at Andy through her monitors screen. For some reason, Andy only smiled when he raised a toast in Jin Lus direction. Qiao Yue frowned. Could Andy have taken a fancy to Jin Lu already? ording to her investigation, Andy was not very close to any woman. Over the years, many people had tried currying favor by sending women to apany him, but he always turned them away. He was clean in that regard. Did he like Jin Lu? Qiao Yue could not think of any other exnation. While she puzzled over a possible exnation, Andy had finished his ss of champagne, signaling for the audition to start. The so-called audition was simr to a talent show. Judges would evaluate each contestants singing and dancing, offering perfunctoryments at the end of each section. Unbeknownst to the girls singing and dancing on stage, a secret auction took ce in the background. The auction was for those very girls on stage! Numerous celebrities enjoyed the view from screens set up in the hotels they stayed in. They studied the dream-filled faces of those desperatelypeting for a chance at stardom and imagined what they would look like once ravaged and defiled. Would they still burn brightly, or would they sumb to despair? Whenever a girl walked on stage, countless celebrities began bidding on a particr app, and the girl would go to the highest bidder. As for those who were not selected, they would be sent to Mahad after signing a contract and be the ythings of foreign celebrities. Qiao Yi watched the proceedings through narrowed eyes while keeping tabs on the secret auction using his phone. The quality of this batch of girls was not half bad. It seemed the firstdy who went up on stage already had a potential customer. A beautiful girls innocence did note cheap, and the first bid rose to 900,000 yuan. Qiao Yi stared at the numbers on the screen, his eyes wide. He would earn amission of 450,000 yuan for the first bid alone. All that without having had to lift a finger. It seemed he would make quite a bit tonight. After the first girls audition ended, a so-called staff member quickly pulled her aside, inviting her to sign the contract in an adjoining room. The girls name was Lin Xia. She was a student at C-Countrys dance academy. She had a good figure and a pair of beautiful, toned legs. After the staff member exined the general content of the contract to Lin Xia, she immediately signed, having not sensed anything suspicious. The contract offered an attractivemission and would help her repay therge sum she borrowed from her family to study her art. That staff member gave Lin Xia a flute of champagne as congrattions, and she poured its contents down her throat without hesitation. It was not long before Lin Xias consciousness grew muddled. In the haze induced by the drug, the staff member suggested she ought to take a break in the room next door. Having imbibed the spiked beverage, Lin Xia had neither the strength nor the will to resist and was led away. Chapter 272 - 272 Jin Lu 272 Jin Lu Waiting for Lin Xia was an old man in his 50s. His name was Huang Hai. He was the boss of a constructionpany and had made a lot of money. It was a pity that his pursuit of wealth in his youth left him little time to care for his body. Not only was he physically weak, but he was also bald. Whether or not he was capable in other areas outside his money-making abilities was up in the air. However, it did not stop him from fancying young girls. He enjoyed whipping them and liked painting their bodies in freshly melted wax. The way the wax bloomed on their bodies, like flowery spirals forming intricate patterns, was one of his greatest pastimes. The current auction was one of the best ways for him to find fresh meat to fuel his sadistic pleasures. It was love at first sight for Huang Hai when Lin Xia stepped on stage. Lin Xia had a pair of doe-like eyes, fair skin, and a figure exclusive to dancers. As he stared at Lin Xia through the video feed, Huang Hai could not help but drool. He felt his loins stirring for the first time in many years. A staff member helped Lin Xia into the room andy her on the bed. The staff member was a tall, middle-aged woman with a shriveled appearance. Huang Hai rolled his eyes as he nced at the staff member. Someone like her could only serve as a foil to a beauty like Lin Xia. He stared hungrily at Lin Xias prone form on the bed and said, Alright, you may leave now. Huang Hai shoved the staff member aside and pounced on the bed, not noticing whether the middle-aged woman had left. Like a disgusting worm, he began wriggling on Lin Xias body, having his way with her. Just as he was about to get his whip, he noticed the staff member standing to one side. Are you one of Qiao Yis underlings? How can you be so insensible? Why havent you left? The middle-aged woman nced at Huang Hai but did not do as he bade. Huang Hais anger rumbled to the surface, threatening to explode. He raised his hand andunched his whip at the staff member. Unfortunately for him, the shriveled, middle-aged woman had sharp eyes and quick hands. She grabbed the whip and pulled, causing Huang Hai to tip forward and crash onto the floor. Huang Hainded in a heap of tangled limbs, his voluptuous body doing him no favors in scrambling back to his feet. No sooner had he tried to stand than a hand came throttling down, forcing him back. He tried to call for help but was cut off, like a broken fan with one of its des whirring in disrepair. The strength of the individual who had struck him down could not havee from a woman. Huang Hai realized the middle-aged woman was a man in disguise! By the time he realized what was going on, the other party had already struck his vitals, rendering him unconscious. The middle-aged woman took off her mask, revealing the face of a young man. Some people are just outrageous He put on his mask and followed another staff member waiting outside back to the private room. Another staff member stepped out, holding the hand of a girl. The two exchanged a look. Once she is delivered, your mission will be over. You can take a break after that. Mr. Andys tip will be transferred to your ount, the staff member leading the girl said. In the private room, the lights were still shing red and green. The girls stood in a line, waiting for their turn. Not one knew they were being strung along; they had no idea the endless abyss theirpanions were marching into. Jin Lu was next. She took out her electric guitar and yed a death metal song. Jin Lus body camera faced Andy, allowing Qiao Yue to study him. Andy faced the camera. No, it was more urate to say he was staring straight at Jin Lu. He showed an extraordinary interest in Jin Lu, and his eyes shone in a way they never did when he watched the other contestants perform. After Jin Lu finished her song, she was brought aside. Andy patted Qiao Yis shoulder and said, Dont make any arrangements for the previous one. Qiao Yi was a little surprised. Although Jin Lus approach was a little strange, several people still bid on her, and their bids were not any lower than Lin Xias. Why did Andy not want him to arrange anything for her? She is mine. Andy took a sip of wine, revealing a wolfish smile. In that case, the auction fee The highest offer was 1.2 million yuan, Qiao Yi said carefully. Ill transfer 1.2 million yuan to your ount. Alright, he said. Qiao Yi smiled tteringly, unaware of his sons sorrowful eyes as he sat beside him. He had heard the entire conversation, and Qiao Ze felt deep sorrow. Chapter 273 - 273 Rescue 273 Rescue 1.2 million yuan was enough to buy Qiao Yis conscience. 1.2 million yuan was arge sum now that he was no longer part of the Qiao family. When Qiao Yi was exiled from the family, most of his assets were frozen. Old Master Qiao had only left him a few properties and apany on the verge of bankruptcy. While Qiao Yi was not some good-for-nothing wastrel, he was not particrly outstanding either. Back then, he had the whole familys support and could lead a life of excess. Now that most of the assets he had ess to were frozen, Qiao Yis standard of living had taken a hit. Qiao Yi actively helped Andy facilitate his deals to ensure he earned greater margins to prop up his standard of living. Every girl he sessfully auctioned off would him a portion of the profits. Qiao Yi felt that his conscience was a small price to pay in pursuing greater wealth. Otherwise, how could he have had the courage to push these girls into the pits of hell? To sunder their futures and tarnish their hopes No one with an ounce of moral sense would do such a thing. Son, youve done a marvelous job. If not for your resources, how could we have found so many girls for Andy to choose from? Tell you what, Ill let you take your pickter, Qiao Yi said as he eyed another 200,000 yuan entering his ount. Qiao Yi pped his thigh and pointed out a few girls to Qiao Ze, who shook his head in response. Qiao Ze checked the time. If he remembered things correctly, the operation was supposed to be underway by now. Eyeing the girls being led out one by one, Qiao Ze frowned. Why hadnt they arrived yet? Jin Lu, Andys pick of the night, was not sent to another room. Instead, she was led to a seat next to Andy. Jin Lu was a little worried. Had she been exposed? Wasnt she supposed to be sent to one of those wealthy, powerful individuals? Why did Andy want her to stay behind? Andys expression was normal. He would look at Jin Lu from time to time, but his gaze was always gentlemanly and restrained. He was a good host, polite and conscientious to a fault, showing just the right amount of admiration in his shy nces. If Jin Lu had not known better, she would have been deceived by his act. Andy poured Jin Lu a ss of wine and said, Theres nothing to worry about, Miss Jin. We want to offer you an exclusive contract. As you are very talented, the contents of the contract will differ from the rest. Please give us a moment. Jin Lu tried to hold her ss of wine as naturally as she could. However, her nerves betrayed her. The ss shook as her hands trembled, and wine spilled from its mouth, staining her dress. She met Andys steady gaze like a deer caught in the headlights. I-Im sorry. I wasnt holding the ss properly. Thats alright. Theres no need to be nervous. Andy opened a packet of tissues and dabbed the stains forming on Jin Lus dress dry. The veins on his hands stood out, and there was a mole on the back of his hand. His skin was a little rough, contrasting with his delicate features. Seeing Jin Lus expression, Andy smiled. My hands arent pretty. Ive been raising horses since I was young, so theyre rough. I hope Miss Jin doesnt mind. Jin Lu shook her head and leaned back. Qiao Yue watched with bated breath as Jin Lu interacted with Andy from the monitoring room she was nestled in. A hand like Andys did note about by raising horses. Someone who trained horses would not have calluses where Andy had his. If he had held a whip since he was young, Andy should have had calluses along the palm of his hand, not on his fingertips or the area between his thumb and forefinger. Those types of calluses formed from prolonged use and exposure to firearms! It was not strange for someone like Andy to be familiar with guns, but the young master figure he was trying to project certainly should not possess calluses like those. Andy was probably a gunman and likely not inferior to her. Qiao Yue held her breath, continuing her vigil as time passed. They nearly had all the evidence they needed. The only thing left was to cut the buildings power and bring him into custody. Andy was standing very close to Jin Lu; the distance between them could have caused anyone to mistake them for a couple. Andys hair brushed past the body camera disguised as a button, and Qiao Yue felt her heart threaten to leap out of her chest. Andy slowly raised his head, looking straight at the hidden camera. It almost felt like Andy was staring at her through the screen. His eyes were a ck hole. Sin and mystery entwined in an endless vortex, sucking people into those abyssal depths. The next second, Andy pressed a finger against the button. Chapter 274 - 274 Power Outage 274 Power Outage Qiao Yue felt like a hand was wrapped around her throat. Her chest felt tight, and her breath came inbored gasps. Andy seemed to stare straight through the monitor, fixing her with his pointed gaze and devilish smile. It was the look of a predator stalking its prey, enjoying thetters struggles in futility. !! Logic dictated that Andy was directing his gaze at Jin Lu, but in Qiao Yues eyes, it could not be further from the truth. Andy was staring at her. Qiao Yue had only ever felt this suffocated in the face of the Godfather. Qiao Yues heart clenched, and a terrifying thought emerged. Could Andy be the Godfather? She tried to recall what the Godfather looked like, but nothing in her memories indicated any resemnce to Andy. Then again, with the Godfathers abilities, it would not be surprising if he could disguise himself or appear to look like someone else. A particr pair of hands was conjured to mind. That pair of hands Qiao Yue searched her memories but soon realized she had never seen the Godfathers hands. The Godfather always wore gloves in their interactions as if he wanted to protect his delicate hands. All this while, Andy had continued staring at the button. This is quite a beautiful button, Miss Jin. The button was sewn at the intersection of Jin Lus corbone and chest. It was a highly intimate position. Andys attention would not be strange if he were focused on flirting with Jin Lu. However, the way he eyed the button, to the exclusion of all else, suggested that things were far more serious. As the seconds passed, Qiao Yue grew more and more ufortable. Nausea overwhelmed her. Qiao Yuey on the table and retched, but her eyes remained fixed on Andys smirking visage disyed on her screen. Thank you, Jin Lu said, her heart beating a mile a minute. Andy was more than meets the eye. If he had already discovered the hidden body camera in the shape of a button, wouldnt it mean the operation was a failure? Andy did not press the issue, seemingly not noticing anything amiss. He merely expressed his interest in the button, touching it a few times to get a feel of the unique piece. Its just an ordinary essory. Mr. Andy, if you like it, I dont mind giving it to you after the audition concludes, Jin Lu said. Andy was dangerous and unpredictable. Jin Lu did not want to put herself in harms way if she could help it. Oh? Then I must thank you, Miss Jin. Is this button made of crystal? Its rare to see such things in this day and age. My family had a crystal broach, much like this button. It was something like a badge if you will. Its been a long time since Ivee across something like it; it brings back memories. Andys words carried a different meaning in Qiao Yues ears. She could not help but feel those words were aimed at her. What did he mean by saying it had been a long time since he came across something so simr? Who was he? Qiao Yue gripped the sides of the table to steady herself. However, her heart had other ns. It was beating so hard that she felt like she was getting palpitations, and her eyes blurred from the invisible pressure that threatened to swallow her whole. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, her phone rang. The world snapped, and rity returned. Whoever it was on the line was a godsend. Qiao Yue picked up her phone, noting it was Qiao Yu. Fourth Brother. Qiao Yue tried her best to retainposure, despite every inclination screaming otherwise. Qiao Yue, I think Im going to die What? The oppressive, suffocating sensation returned in full force. I know youre somewhere in the KTV Theyve brought more people than we thought. I dont know where Second Brother went, but Ive been captured alongside those from Yayi. That brat stabbed me, and I dont know if Ill make it Those from Yayi were her subordinates. Qiao Yue quickly picked up her walkie-talkie to check on her peoples situation, but no one responded. She shouted twice, panic settling into her bones, but no one answered. Damn it! The people she had brought along were all elites. How could they have gotten themselves captured so easily? Its Oswald! Hes their aplice! The mixed-blood boys face floated to the forefront of Qiao Yues mind. But Oswald was the Godfathers right hand. Why would he be here with Andy? Before Qiao Yue could rify the situation, the line went dead, leaving the endless drone signaling that the line was engaged. Qiao Yues heart plummeted. She felt like she had been locked in an ice cer. What was Oswald doing here? Qiao Yue turned on herputer and connected it to her phone. Using the call records, she could triangte Qiao Yus position and perhaps rescue him. No sooner had shee up with the n than the buildings power was cut. It plunged everything into darkness! Chapter 275 - 275 Hostage 275 Hostage The sudden power outage caused an uproar in the building. The agents disguised as cleaners and waiters took off their coats, revealing bulletproof vests underneath. They held pistols and daggers and plowed their way through the crowd with the threat of violence. It was unknown who fired the first shot, but the sound of gunfire produced a hush, which quickly transformed into screams. They were there for an audition. How did things devolve into such a mess? Jin Lu gritted her teeth and suppressed the shakes that overtook her, doing her best not to cry out. She had not received any training for her role, and it was all she could do to follow the n. Just as she was about to sneak away to meet up with Qiao Yue, a pair of hands grabbed hold and pulled her back. Hot air blew in her ear, trapping her in a suffocating heat. Miss Jin, where are you going? The night has just begun. The man C for it could only be a man C had an arm around her waist as he chuckled. They have guns! Were in danger, Jin Lu tried, speaking softly but urgently. Dont worry. I shall escort Miss Jin to safety. Andy pulled her to her feet as he spoke. They were so close that Jin Lu caught whiffs of a strange smell on him. Jin Lu had been a bar singer for years, and she had seen many people who showed disdain for thew. The smell permeating the air around Andy was manufactured by long-term drug abuse. Although his heavy cologne effectively covered the odor, it was not enough to dispel the stench that had prated his body. Now that they were so close, Jin Lu finally smelled that familiar scent. Andy was not simple! Dont be afraid, Miss Jin. Those outside are all my people. Andy directed Jin Lu away, walking past several girls who hid, trembling in the dark. Even then, Jin Lu could hear the terror in the voices of the other auditioners. Her heart fell. The corridor was pitch ck, and the gunshots had stopped at some point. Jin Lu grabbed Andy by hispels, but that did nothing to stop the iron bar of an arm leading her on. It did not even seem like Andy was using much strength. Not to worry, Miss Jin is delicate. As expected of an idol. Im sure you manage your body well, Andy whispered in her ear. Thank you for thepliment. May I know where youre taking me? Andy did not answer, and the two continued their silent march to the elevator. Most elevators in buildings, like the one they were in, had backup generators in case of a power outage. The lights in the elevator were off, but the danger sign near it shone bright red. Hush. Dont be afraid, Miss Jin. The elevator is safe. Andy stepped into the elevator with Jin Lu. The walls of the elevator were covered in mirrors. In them, Jin Lu saw her fear etched in stark relief. It was a frightfulparison to Andys calm, stoic demeanor. It was then that Jin Lu realized how dangerous her situation was. She had dropped her earpiece somewhere along the way, and now she only had the body camera disguised as a button still on her person. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue kept calling Jin Lu through her microphone. Yet, Jin Lu did not respond. Qiao Yuesputer had enough battery life tost for a while, so the scene of Jin Lu being led away by Andy was transmitted to herptop without interruption. What was going on? Andy eyed the button, a mysterious yet frightening smile lighting his face. It was almost familiar. I think I dropped my ear stud, Jin Lu muttered. Its just an ear stud. I can gift Miss Jin many more if shed like, Andy said without missing a beat. Jin Lu felt her hair stand on end and goosebumps travel along her arms. Where are we going? Andy led Jin Lu to the top floor of the building. It was strange. While the rest of the building was shrouded in darkness, the top floor remained brightly lit. The room wasvishly decorated in a European style, with furniture and muralsplimenting each other. As soon as they entered, Andy picked a bottle of wine and filled a ss. Come, Miss Jin, have a ss of wine. Itll do wonders for your nerves. Andy passed Jin Lu the ss. Qiao Yue clenched her fists as she red at the image on the screen. No, Jin Lu, dont drink it! The wine was either filled with drugs or Obedient Water. I Perhaps Jin Lu sensed the urgency in Qiao Yues voice, despite not being able to hear her, which caused her to hesitate. She bit her lips, shaking like a leaf. Mr. Andy, I cant drink. Its bad for my throat. I still want to be a singer in the future. Are you afraid that Im trying to poison you? I only want to help you reach your full potential, to give form to your inner beauty Chapter 276 - 276 Long Time No See 276 Long Time No See Andys words were like the chanting of a demon. Qiao Yue, who was watching the live surveince footage, quivered. This man was a demon. He actually described such a thing as beautiful. Jin Lu trembled and almost spilled her wine. Its fine if you dont want to drink it. We can get straight to business. Andy scooped up Jin Lu and carried her into the bedroom. Qiao Yue clenched her fists. This b*stard! Jin Lu shook even harder. Although she knew that she might face such a situation, she did not expect it to be so soon and with Andy. You cant do this. Im here for an audition only. You cant insult my dignity. Jin Lu said in a trembling voice. Is that so? Andy ced Jin Lu on the bed and pressed against her as he whispered, Im not asking you, Im asking her. Jin Lus eyes widened. Qiao Yue, who was sitting in front of the surveince monitor, also widened her eyes and had already drawn her gun. She was going to save Jin Lu, and then Qiao Yu. These b*stards! Youd better not act rashly, kid. I know youre watching from over there. Andys touched Jin Lus dress and started unbuttoning it, except for the button that hid a surveince camera. What are you saying? Jin Lu bit her lip as she felt her body gradually being exposed. The room was climate controlled, but Jin Lu felt as if she had been dropped into an ice cer that her scalp tingled. Qiao Yues clenched her gun tightly. She knew what the man was doing. She was ready to burst through the doors and rush upstairs to save Jin Lu. When she reached the door, there were already fully armed soldiers standing outside. The mans voice could be heard from the surveince system. I didnt expect you to think that you can get away. Ive already had people surround you. Dont even think about escaping. The people who saved you must have died in their hands. They are mercenaries, Miss 47. 47 was Qiao Yues code number. No one except people in the organization would know this. How did Andy know? You must want to know how I know, right? After all, I escaped from the Godfathers organization. Andy chuckled. Whos the Godfather? He is but a piece of trash. Qiao Yue estimated the number of people at the door and thought about how she could get away. There were 12 soldiers outside. Even if they were the worst mercenaries armed to the teeth, Qiao Yue would not be able to escape even if she had wings. Who the hell are you? Qiao Yue asked finally as she stood in the room. You must be close to the Godfather, No. 47. Since the Godfather likes you so much, I like you too. Jin Lus mouth was covered by Andy, so she couldnt make a sound. I love you so much that Im going crazy, Qiao Yue. Andys other hand was holding the earbud that was previously hidden in Jin Lus ear as he said with a sinister smile. This was outrageous. What love was there to talk about when hes from that kind of organization! He only wanted to use Qiao Yue to provoke the Godfather. Dont you do anything to Jin Lu. You just want to hold me hostage for the Godfather, right? I can go with you. Just let my brother and Jin Lu go. I will leave with you. Qiao Yue said coldly. Since he wasing for her and was a member of the organization, she didnt mind giving him a taste of his own medicine. What was the point of threatening her with men from KA? Your brother? Those good-for-nothings from the Qiao family? Andy frowned. I didnt do anything to them. Oswald, your nephew, hes also one of Godfathers men. Did he also betray the Godfather and flee with you? You were the ones who killed Trand, right? The man in front of the camera frowned, as if he didnt understand Qiao Yues words. Oswald? His expression turned ugly in an instant. Is he also a member of the organization? What else do you know? Tell me! Andy seemed flustered at the moment, but he quickly regained hisposure and pretended to be calm as he negotiated with Qiao Yue. I know what you want. Like I said, you can take me hostage. Qiao Yue said coldly. Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter was heard, and a few gunshots burst through the windows. Qiao Yue quickly squatted down and used the table as cover. The windows were broken, and several people in bulletproof suits with olive branches painted on them broke into Qiao Yues room. Chapter 277 - 277 The Custodians 277 The Custodians They walked into the room with their guns. Qiao Yues surveinceputer had just been shot through by a bullet. The monitor disyed no images now and the sound of a wheezing bullet rang from its speakers. If Qiao Yue guessed correctly, these were people from the internationally famous organization, The Custodians! With olive branches as their logo, The Custodians were backed by a charity consortium. They would go around and the world and destroy illegal, drug-rted organizations. Word had it that they hired ex-UN peacekeeping troopers. They were a pure non-profit organization. Qiao Yue should be able to get out with their help. The few of them slowly scanned the room for people with infrared detectors, moving towards the door. Qiao Yue stood up. Hello, you are from The Custodians, right? More than a dozen guns were immediately aimed at Qiao Yue. Whos there? The men looked at Qiao Yue warily. If Im not wrong, youre here to arrest Andy tonight, right? Qiao Yue asked. Since things hade to this, Qiao Yue could only take a gamble. A shlight shone on Qiao Yues face. Qiao Yue didnt close her eyes under the re. Instead, she looked at the people in front of her. Light also shone on the mens faces. They were all wearing gas masks, so it was almost impossible to see their faces. The leaders gaze lingered on Qiao Yue, as if he was stunned. Weapons down, The man ordered. Colonel Su? The rest of the team asked. This is the youngest master from C-Countrys prominent Qiao family. He should have nothing to do with Andy. Qiao Yues eyes lit up. This person recognized her! Give him a set of our equipment. The man turned off his shlight. You should know that there are many people outside your room, right? The man referred to as Colonel Su asked. He had a middle-aged mans voice, and he seemed to be around Qiao Li and Qiao Yis age. But he didnt have the chubby look of a middle-aged man at all. Instead, he looked like a soldier in his twenties. His movements when holding his weapon were also sharp and clean and he was well-trained. Then Ill need your help. Colonel Su reached out to shake Qiao Yues hand. Qiao Yue shook hands with him and put on the equipment they gave her. A team member asked, Colonel Su, can we trust this girl? What if shes one of Andys people Im not! Qiao Yue replied. I was also tricked by Andy and my friends are still in his hands. Trust her and turn on the signal jammer. Colonel Su said. One of the soldiers unloaded therge box he was carrying and set up the signal jammer. This signal jammer could block all signals in the room. No one would be able to hear what they were saying now. Colonel Su was themander of this team. Since he believed Qiao Yue, the rest of the team would not doubt him. This was a fundamental quality for soldiers on the battlefield. Andy is on the top floor right now. My friends are also there. I heard the sound of an attack upstairs when you arrived just now. There are twelve soldiers outside. The soldiers on the other floors should have been re-deployed to protect Andy. Alright. Colonel Su nodded. We have another team here. We have agreed to meet on the top floor. Team One, the goal of our operation is to capture Andy alive! Colonel Su ordered. The few of them nodded and got into fighting stances. Colonel Su pulled the wire on a smoke bomb and threw it out the door the moment the door opened. The smoke bomb exploded in the corridor. The mercenaries were on high alert. Lets go, Colonel Su ordered. The mercenaries outside werent to be trifled with. In an instant, the corridor was filled with fire, gunshots, and smoke. Qiao Yue and Colonel Sus team worked together to fight the mercenaries. Although the mercenaries were all ex-soldiers, they were still not as good as the well-trained team and Qiao Yue. After a round of fighting, there were only two mercenaries left. They held their guns and hid behind a corner of the corridor, waiting for the opportunity to ambush their attackers. However, their attackers didnt give them the chance. The teams sniper had already locked on to the two from the other side. When the two stood up, ready to ambush Qiao Yue and the team, he finished them off with two shots. However, one of the mercenaries quickly fired a shot at Colonel Su. Chapter 278 - 278 Life-saving Grace 278 Life-saving Grace Before anyone could react, Qiao Yue quickly raised her gun, loaded it, and fired. The two bullets collided with a loud bang in the air, and a wall nearby exploded. Everyone was dumbfounded. Qiao Yues marksmanship was remarkable. This was the first time they had seen someone use a bullet to block another bullet. Excellent marksmanship. Colonel Su wiped the sweat off his forehead. Although he was still quite energetic, he was almost shot just now. After this saving shot, most people in the team trusted Qiao Yue that much more. If she was one of Andys people, she could have let Colonel Su get injured just now. The Custodians will thank you, Colonel Su said. Its alright. We have the same goal. Lets capture Andy. Everyone carefully followed Colonel Su and moved up. After witnessing Qiao Yues skills, they let her be in the rear. The team walked up to the tenth floor. The hotel had a total of twelve floors, and Andy was in the premium suite on the twelfth floor. There was no one on the tenth floor. Qiao Yue got worried. Where were Qiao Yu and Qiao Jing? When the team reached the eleventh floor, they found a man lying on the floor. He was bleeding and groaning in pain, Save me, save me. Qiao Yue found the voice familiar. Qiao Yu? Qiao Yues shlight on Qiao Yus face. Seeing that his face was covered in blood and the wound on his abdomen still bleeding, Qiao Yue rushed over. In the blink of an eye, a man walked out from the opposite side of the corridor and pointed his gun at them. Who is there? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Yue, its really you. The man smiled, his face smug. He was holding a gun. Qiao Yue, I knew you woulde. The reason Im here today was to have a match with you. Oswald, you seem to have too much time on your hands. Have youpleted the mission that the Godfather gave you? Upon hearing this, the young man revealed a disgusted expression. Dont talk to me about the organization. Oswald approached Qiao Yue slowly with his gun. Lets have a match, and well use your fourth brother as the wager. How about it? Oswaldughed evilly. Im not here to deal with you. Isnt your target Andy? Why are you challenging me now? Qiao Yue asked coldly. Oswald had been picking on her since he appeared. Cut the crap. Are you going to ept the challenge or not? If not, Ill kill your fourth brother right now. Qiao Yue frowned and looked at the team sent by The Custodians, who were all looking at her strangely. As Oswald was forcing Qiao Yue, he did not notice that the door behind him had opened slowly and someone had pointed a gun at his back. Raise your hands and let Qiao Yu go. Qiao Yue looked carefully and saw that it was Qiao Jing. She felt relieved. Thank God, they were both safe. You let hatred take over when you talk about Qiao Yue. Thats why you didnt realize that I was behind you. Qiao Jing said coldly. As he spoke, he used a rope to tie up Oswald. Oswald struggled with all his might, but he was not as strong as Qiao Jing. He red at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue, I dare you to tell them your true identity! Lets see if theyd still acknowledge you as their sister after theyd found out! The air froze momentarily, and the team from The Custodians revealedplicated expressions. The youngest master of the Qiao family was actually a girl? Shut up! Qiao Yue walked up to Oswald and stuffed the muzzle of her gun into his mouth. If you cant speak properly, then shut up. Young Master Qiao, we still have important things to do. Team medic, you stay here and take care of Fourth Young Master Qiao. Second Young Master Qiao, you should be able toe with us, right? Colonel Su was not surprised at all and was stillmanding the situation. The team medic, Ai Ye, nodded and walked up to Qiao Yu to bandage his wound. Qiao Yu had been stabbed by Oswald, but it wasnt a fatal injury. He looked at Qiao Yue, his dark eyes shimmering in the dark corridor. You guys go ahead, dont mind me. What nonsense are you talking about? We havent reached the point where you have to sacrifice yourself. Shut up. Ai Ye pressed the alcohol onto Qiao Yus wound, and Qiao Yu shut his mouth in pain. Its just a knife wound. You wont die from it. Dont worry, Young Master Qiao. You guys go. Chapter 279 - 279 Andy’s Escape 279 Andys Escape The group proceeded upstairs from the tenth floor. There were more mercenaries on the stairs, but they were quickly eliminated. When they reached the top floor, they met up with the other team from The Custodians as nned. Strangely, the door of Andys suite was wide open, and cold air came from inside the room. Back up and move slowly. Colonel Su frowned. He suspected that Andy had already left. !! We have just dealt with the guards on the top floor and havent yet gone into Andys suite, themander of the second team said. Everyone walked towards Andys suite, with Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing in the rear. When they opened the door, they saw a broken wine cab and shattered ss everywhere. The whole room smelled of blood. Qiao Yue looked at the messy room and her heart sank. Andy had probably left but where is Jin Lu? The group slowly walked towards the bedroom. Cold wind came in through the broken windows, making everyone shiver. Police sirens could be heard in the distance. The police were on their way. There was a figure standing in the dark bedroom and Jin Lu was lying on the bed. Andy? Qiao Yue called out. The man slowly turned around. Helped by light outside the bedroom, Qiao Yue saw his face. Andy, stop struggling and surrender now. Andy was standing very close to the windows. If he took another step back, he would fall from the twelfth floor of the building. Capture me alive? Andyughed as he pointed his gun at the people in the room. Team members from The Custodians also pointed their guns at Andy. Qiao Jing stood in front of Qiao Yue shielding her. Feeling his familiar aura, Qiao Yue felt a little more at ease. Youre from The Custodians, right? Do you know that the two young masters you see here are not of simple background? Since you want to eliminate all evil, why dont you take care of these two? Andy sneered. The team members looked at each other. We have a mission. Colonel Su said. Qiao Yue was stunned. She didnt know what Qiao Jing was doing. He was able to find out her rtionship with KA, and the way he tied up Oswald was also very skillful. It was obvious that he was no ordinary person. Do you really think you can capture me today? Andy sneered. Ive installed a time bomb in this room. If you dont let me go, Ill blow up the entire building. The whole building will be gone with just one bang. The teams bomb disposal expert quickly put down his equipment and began to examine the room. However, the results of his examination sent a chill down his spine. Everyone, the time bomb is Where is it? Colonel Su was a little impatient. He had been on so many missions and had seen all kinds of perverts. How could a little time bomb faze him? The time bomb is on that girl. Andy smiled with his head tilted. The Godfather will not let you off if you do this! Jin Lu is a member of KA, and a member of the organization. Qiao Yue said. If you confess now, I can help you leave the organization. Qiao Yue, do you think you can influence the Godfathers decision? Andy shook his head and revealed a scary smile. The Godfather has been in power for too long. Do you think that everything he does is righteous? Do you think youre a friend of justice just because you work for him? Qiao Yue, wake up! Of course, Qiao Yue knew something about the Godfather, but at least he wasnt involved in the criminal activities Andy was involved in. Do you think I dont know how the Godfather feels about you? Andyughed. Thats why Im going to get rid of you, and let him suffer for real. When Qiao Jing heard this, he pulled Qiao Yue tightly behind him. Andys gun was pointed at Qiao Jing. I have five bullets in this gun. Even if you shield her, I could still kill Qiao Yue. Andy said with a smile. Suddenly, the sound of a helicopters rotor came from outside the window. Hes going to escape! Colonel Su shouted. Everyone chased after Andy, but he did not shoot. Instead, he fell backward. By the time everyone rushed to the bedside, Andy had already grabbed thedder from the helicopter in the air. Fire! Colonel Su ordered. As dozens of guns were aimed at the helicopter, the sound of a bomb countdown rang out in the room. Everyone looked stiffly in the direction of the sound. The sound originated from Jin Lu. Chapter 280 - 280 Defusing The Bomb 280 Defusing The Bomb We have to leave now, or we wont make it! Colonel Su quickly realized the seriousness of the matter. Yes, the bomb is going to explode in about five minutes. We must leave this ce before it explodes. The explosives expert echoed. Lets go! Colonel Su pushed his team out of the door one by one. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly realized that Qiao Yue was still standing by the bed, trying to wake Jin Lu. Dont touch her. Youll be blown to pieces. Looking at the sleeping Jin Lu, Qiao Yue reached out to find the bomb. The bomb was hidden in Jin Lus bra. That b*stard Andy! Qiao Yue gritted her teeth and tore apart Jin Lus dress. In the dark, she picked up the equipment that the explosives expert had put aside. The Godfather had taught her how to defuse bombs, and she had defused no less than 500 bombs. The bomb that Andy used must be something she hade across before. She would definitely be able to save Jin Lu! Qiao Yue, stop. Lets go! Colonel Su called out anxiously. You must live on! Qiao Jing stood next to Qiao Yue, showing no intention to leave. Why are members of the Qiao family so stubborn? I told you to leave. Didnt you hear me? Colonel Su stayed on to deal with the stubborn brother and sister after sending his team members away. Are you not afraid of death? You want to stay here with just five minutes on the clock? Even the elite Custodians would need half an hour to defuse this bomb. What makes you think that you can do it? I believe in Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing raised his head and looked at Colonel Su. Colonel, why dont you leave first? Your team still needs you. Ill stay here with Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was so focused on the bomb that she couldnt hear anything else. She paid no attention to the conversation between Qiao Jing and Colonel Su. Ill stay here and keep watch for you. Colonel Su did not leave. Instead, he pointed his gun toward the door. Thank you, Qiao Jing said to Colonel Su. Qiao Yue had defused this kind of bomb before. She could find a way to reduce the bombs range of destruction, but she couldnt stop it from exploding. Second brother, find the bathroom and fill it up with water, Qiao Yue ordered. Later, she would put the bomb in the water to reduce the impact of the explosion. This was the most effective method now. Qiao Jing nodded and went to find the bathroom. Qiao Yue squatted on the bed and worked skillfully. Jin Lu was still in deep sleep and had no idea what was going on. As time passed, the sound of the ticking time bomb seemed to be reminding them that time was running out and they must defuse it as soon as possible. By the time Qiao Jing finished filling up the bath tub and sinks in the bathroom, Qiao Yue had already dismantled most of its parts. Hurry up! Theres only one minute left! Colonel Su, who stood guarding the door, was a little nervous. Qiao Yue was a little surprised. The Custodiansbat skills were pretty impressive. They could still count time so skillfully while standing guard. Qiao Yue pulled the bomb off Jin Lu and ran towards the bathroom. The timer on the bomb showed only fifteen seconds. Qiao Yue held her breath. Just as she was about to sprint to the bathroom, a figure suddenly shed past her and rushed into the bathroom with a bomb at an even faster speed. It was Qiao Jing! Second brother! The moment Qiao Yue shouted, the bomb exploded in the water. Water sshed all over the bathroom floor and the curtains in the bathroom were set on fire. Qiao Yue felt a little dizzy as she looked at the ze. Nothing must happen to Qiao Jing! Qiao Yue rushed into the bathroom and found Qiao Jing sitting on the floor. He had been sted by the explosion but fortunately, it wasnt a powerful blow. He only grazed his face and arms and was not injured anywhere else. Qiao Yue was instantly relieved, and tears rolled down her face. Im fine, Qiao Yue. Qiao Jing held on to Qiao Yue as he pulled himself off the floor and wiped the tears off her face. Lets go. Colonel Su is still waiting for me. Colonel Su heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the two of theme out safely. This Qiao family is too much. How could they let juniors like you risk your lives? The three of them rxed. Qiao Yue scooped Jin Lu up and followed Colonel Su down. Team members from The Custodians were already waiting for them on the tenth floor. Qiao Yu was passed out, but he was fine under Ai Yes care. He just needed to rest for ten to fifteen days. Oswald was also tied up and thrown to the side. The police are here. Our mission wasntplete, but we must go back and report. Colonel Su said to the people around him. Chapter 281 - 281 The Departure 281 The Departure Alright. Qiao Yue said, looking at the warriors in front of her. Thank you all. You dont have to thank us, Colonel Su was just about to say something else when Qiao Yue fell backward. Qiao Jing rushed forward to hold her. Ai Ye! Colonel Su called out. Ai Ye quickly walked over and put his hand under Qiao Yues nose. Qiao Yues breathing was a rapid. Ai Ye looked at his teammates and said, Ill need to check if he has any external injuries. Ai Ye undid Qiao Yues clothes and found that Qiao Jing had turned around. Ai Ye was a little confused. Wasnt Qiao Yue a young master? Why did Qiao Jing look away? And then, Ai Ye was shocked. This young master wasnt just a girl, she had scars all over the body from years of fighting or military training. Ai Yes heart ached at the sight of these scars. Girls were vain and didnt want any scars on their bodies, but Qiao Yue was covered in scars. He carefully examined Qiao Yue and found no fatal wounds. He asked Qiao Yue to put on her clothes and reached out to check her pulse. Ai Ye had studied both Western and Chinese medicine. Shes probably exhausted and stressed out. Also, she mightve been injected with some psychotic drugs. Ai Ye turned Qiao Yues wrist over and looked for needle marks. There were none. It seemed that someone had drugged her. You must rest when you get home. You cant overwork yourself anymore. Qiao Jing carried Qiao Yue in his arms and nodded. Ill make sure of it. You must take good care of her when you get home. Shes a Custodians hero tonight. If you dont take good care of her, we Your Qiao family is too useless. Colonel Su was a little incoherent. The other members of the team looked at Colonel Su and felt that he was acting strange. Why was he so concerned about the youngest master of the Qiao family? Were they rted? Colonel Su was a core member of The Custodians, considered one of the founders. He had always been cold to people. Rumor had it that he lived in C-Country when he was young and his entire family was killed by drug dealers. So, when he left the army, he founded The Custodians and never returned to C-Country. If not for the mission to capture Andy, Colonel Su would probably still be in D-Country. I will, Colonel Su. Qiao Jing nodded and looked away. He now knew who Colonel Su was. Although he had bits and pieces of information from his investigation and some scattered memories, he was able to piece together this man. Please leave in peace. I will take good care of Qiao Yue. Okay. Colonel Su took ast look at Qiao Yue before he turned and left with his team. When they got on to the helicopter, many of the team members were still wondering what happened. Could Colonel Su be taking a godson and a goddaughter in C-Country after their seamless cooperation with Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue tonight? There were many spections, but no one asked Colonel Su. As soon as Colonel Su got on to the helicopter, he took off his mask and looked at the sky outside, as if lost in thought. After a long time, he sighed. The faint morning light in the distance illuminated his face, and his usual hard-as-a-rock expression, seemed to have cracked. Everyone looked at Colonel Su. They had never seen such a sorrowful expression this steely warriors face. It was probably because the two young masters were about the same age as his two deceased children. The police had already arrived downstairs and had taken the girls out of the hotel. The powerful people involved and Qiao Yi were all taken into police cars. Qiao Ze was among them, and many of the reporters cameras and microphones were pointed at him. Third Young Master Qiao, may I ask if you are involved in your fathers matter? What do you think of the vicious incident caused by your managementpany? Qiao Ze, please answer our questions. Qiao Ze did not speak. He only stared at the building entrance. It wasnt until he saw Qiao Jing carry Qiao Yue out of the building that he turned and lowered his head. It was fine as long as they were safe. Qiao Xin was also in the crowd. When she saw Qiao Yi, she almost went crazy. She rushed up to him and kicked and hit him. Second uncle, you are a liar! I almost lost my life. How dare you joke around with my life? The police quickly pulled the two apart and pushed them into separate police cars. Chapter 282 - 282 Getting Back On Track 282 Getting Back On Track Andys matter was tooplicated, so the media could only employ the safest method by giving a vague report. The police and the special task force struggled with interrogations every day. It was also year-end, so it took them half a month to finish the interrogations, investigations, and trial for this vicious incident. Andy was used of human trafficking and drug trafficking, but he had already escaped, and no one could pay the price for him. A few of the powerful people involved were also sentenced but they all pleaded for probation. For the sake of the Qiao family reputation, Qiao Yi was also put on probation. Qiao Jing was afraid that the old master wouldnt be able to take it if he was sent to jail, so he locked Qiao Yi up at home. Qiao Ze was implicated but the police soon found out that Qiao Yi was the mastermind behind his involvement. Although many media outlets had released statements about Qiao Zes illegal activities, Qiao Ze was ultimately found not guilty and was suspended from the entertainment industry for a year. Due to the stab wound on his abdomen, Qiao Yu needed a month of recuperation. Qiao Yue was ordered to rest at home. Fortunately, the old master was persuaded to recuperate at a nearby hot spring vi, so he didnt see the mess at home. To better care for Qiao Yue, Qiao Jing moved to a room next to hers. Qiao Yue wasnt seriously injured and was only unconscious for a day. But since she had been poisoned, Qiao Jing forced her to stay at home to recuperate. Second brother, I dont think its good for you to do this. Im not injured, and I even made a bet with my friend that whoever doesnt do well in the exams will leave school. Youre making me look like a deserter. Qiao Yue was sprawled across a table in Qiao Jings study. Lu Ying had instructed her not to overexert herself during her recuperation. Qiao Jing interpreted Lu Yings words as not use any energy. He wanted to see Qiao Yue recuperate in bed. He didnt even allow her to y games. If he gave Qiao Yue aputer or a cell phone, with Qiao Yuesputer skills, she would start to study those hacking programs in a minute. After much persuasion, Qiao Jing finally brought Qiao Yue a game console that could be connected to a TV screen. Qiao Yue could only y some extremely simple games under Qiao Jings watch. Simple things like bombing the kitchen with other yers, controlling an avatar to save a princess in the castle, or collecting vegetables to decorate her home. Qiao Yue felt her intelligence decline as she yed these games. Mushroom might have already sprouted in her brain. Second brother, are you really going to let me keep ying these silly games? I have to go to school. Qiao Yueined. You dont need to go to school this semester. Rest up like I told you before. If it werent because of this Qiao Yi incident, you wouldve recovered long ago. Are we really going to bring second uncle home? Qiao Yue asked. She didnt really want to see Qiao Yi because at the thought of him, she would remember losing the elites she had trained in this operation. It was very difficult to train people for Yayi. And the Yayi crew this time was made up of all newbies. Although Qiao Yues men didnt suffer any injuries or lose their lives in this operation, many of them suffered mental trauma. Although it wasnt unusual to lose people in this kind of operation, it was still too much of a shock for them. Therefore, Qiao Yue simply gave the Yayi folks a long holiday in advance. When the Godfather heard her report, he only gave a in acknowledgment and agreed to let the Yayi folks take a break. Qiao Yue also told the Godfather about Andy and Oswald, but the Godfather didnt say much. His attitude was very mysterious. So, Qiao Yue decided not to think about it before the new year. Since Qiao Jing wanted her to rx, she would do so and not be bothered by these things. When she pulled herself out of her thoughts, her little avatar on the TV screen died again. Qiao Yue put down the game controller and stretchedzily. Whats wrong? If youre done, Ill carry you back to your room to rest. Qiao Yue had been depending on Qiao Jing since she was hurt, so she was used to being taken care of by him. She held out her hand and let Qiao Jing carry her back to her room. Halfway through, Qiao Yue suddenly remembered something. When she was fighting with Oswald, he seemed to have told Qiao Jing and Qiao Yu about her true gender Chapter 283 - 283 Emotional Conflict 283 Emotional Conflict So, you didnt believe what Oswald said before? What did he say? Qiao Jing carefully put Qiao Yue on the bed before he stood up straight and looked at her. The part where he said that Im a girl. Qiao Yue tried hard to sound natural. I didnt believe it. Qiao Jing answered firmly. His unyielding attitude confused Qiao Yue. Why? Qiao Yue asked. Ive personally read your gic report. I would know if youre a girl. Qiao Jing lied through his teeth. He, of course, knew that Qiao Yue was a girl. He was also shocked when he found out. But when he came to his senses, he felt more heartache than surprise for Qiao Yue. He was curious as to why Qiao Yue would hide her gender and everything about her. However, he didnt want to force Qiao Yue to tell him the reason. Qiao Yue was an adult. She must have her own thoughts and reasons for doing things. Not everything must go ording to his thoughts. What about fourth brother? What does he think? Qiao Yue asked Qiao Jing. He wouldnt think anything. He hasnt even recovered from his injuries.. What thoughts could he have? Qiao Yue replied with an oh andy down. She then suddenly sat up and motioned for Qiao Jing to sit next to her. She opened the drawer to her bedside table and took out some alcohol and a new band-aid. When Qiao Jing threw the bomb the other day, his face was scratched by a bomb fragment. Although it was a shallow wound, it could still leave a scar. Ill help you apply some medicine. Lu Ying gave this to me two days ago. Its very effective in preventing scars. Its not good to have a scar on your face. Qiao Yue said as she pulled Qiao Jing to sit and tore off the bandage on his face. The wound had healed a little, but the pink scar on Qiao Jings fair face looked as ugly as a bug on a beautiful flower. You shouldnt have taken such a risk back then. Qiao Yue touched the healed area and asked softly, Does it hurt? Its alright. It doesnt hurt anymore. Qiao Jing allowed Qiao Yue to touch the mark on his face. Qiao Yue picked up some alcohol with a cotton bud and cleaned the wound. She then applied the special medicine Lu Ying gave her before putting on a new band-aid on Qiao Jings face. Qiao Yues movements were extremely gentle, like she was afraid of hurting Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yues eyes. Her eyshes were long and fluttered like a ck butterfly. He wanted to reach out and touch it, but he resisted. The rtionship between the two of them had be a little confusing. He hoped that nothing else would happen before he sorted out his feelings. Qiao Yue didnt notice Qiao Jings unsettling thoughts. After re-dressing his wound, she smiled at Qiao Jing and said, All done. Its not a big deal. You dont have to change the dressing for me. Its more important to take care of your own body. Qiao Yue nudged Qiao Jing. Ive already done it. Dont be so hypocritical. Her smile was a little reproachful, and Qiao Jing couldnt help butugh when he saw it. Ill talk to Qiao Yu. Dont worry. Qiao Jing said. Its okay. I believe that were family. Any misunderstanding can be easily resolved. Qiao Yue didnt want to expose her identity yet. It was best to hide this matter. If she couldnt, it was better not to let more people know. Just as Qiao Yuey down to take a nap, she suddenly felt that something was wrong. Her period seemed to be here. Qiao Jing was sitting beside her, reading a book. He wanted to make sure that she fell asleep. Can you go out for a moment? Second brother, I would like to have a Coke with ginger, Qiao Yue asked tentatively. Qiao Jing nced at Qiao Yue. Youre still recuperating. You shouldnt drink those carbonated drinks. Second brother, can you please get me some? It was rare for Qiao Yue to wheedle, so Qiao Jing gave in. He left her room to ask a servant to get Qiao Yue a Coke with ginger. When he came back with the drink, Qiao Yue had already changed her bed sheet. Qiao Jingughed. So that was the reason. He ced the drink on a table, brought in a box of lollipops and handed it to Qiao Yue. This vor is nice. Have a taste. Qiao Yue nodded. Qiao Jing watched Qiao Yue finished the drink before he left. He now wanted to find out why Qiao Yue was pretending to be a boy. Chapter 284 - 284 The Talk 284 The Talk But before Qiao Jing figured out why Qiao Yue was pretending to be a boy, he had to see Qiao Yu. The stab to Qiao Yus abdomen had almost injured his internal organs, but he was lucky and survived after losing a lot of blood. Qiao Yu was lying in a hospital bed. The TV in front of him was broadcasting the news, and his IV drip was delivering medicine, nutrients, and the like. How are you? Are you alright? Qiao Jing sat down beside him and asked. Im fine. I wonder how Qiao Yue is doing. Qiao Yus eyes were glued to the TV screen. News about Andy was being broadcasted. Andy had be a wanted criminal internationally, but no one knew his whereabouts. The helicopter that carried him flew to X-Country, a small country neighboring C-Country. X-Country was an internationally famous port. Business was usually chaotic, so it was a piece of cake to hide someone there. All their leads were gone. Besides, D-Country was not willing to cooperate with Andys arrest. After all, a ce like D-Country needed bold criminal likes Andy, who did not care about his life. We wont be able to catch Andy, and Oswald has applied for political asylum. Our operation seemed to be meaningless. Qiao Yu touched the wound on his body. It was a scar in the shape of a crescent moon, and this scar would probably apany him for the rest of his life. Weve already applied for bail for second uncle. You dont have to worry. Its just that he would have to stay at home for a while and be a prisoner at home. Qiao Jing said. Qiao Yu didnt have much of a reaction. Instead, he asked, Hows Qiao Yue? Qiao Yue is fine. Hes just not in a good state of mind and needs to rest. Is it because someone drugged him? Yes. Qiao Jing did not deny it. Before this, he wouldnt have told Qiao Yu any of this. Qiao Yu was the original youngest son in the family. Unlike them, who had entered society, lived through more experiences and therefore had a deeper understanding of these unsavory things. Qiao Yu, on the other hand, was a well-behaved and sensible boy who hadnt finished school. Qiao Jing didnt want him involved in these matters too early. The Qiao Corporation isnt as simple as I thought, right? Qiao Yu stared straight into Qiao Jings eyes. Quai Yu had removed his usual maskpletely, showing the ws and fangs of a wolf cub. For some reason, Qiao Jing felt a little relieved. His youngest brother seemed more mature than he thought. Perhaps he could share some responsibilities for the family soon. I have trained my own people outside of the Qiao Corporation. They now form an organization responsible for missions and investigations. Ill give you their contact detailster. Qiao Jing said. You can give them a mission if you encounter any problem. Qiao Yu smiled bitterly. Does our Qiao family also do illegal things? Just like the Eugenes? Qiao Jing shook his head. No. I started training these people when I took over the Qiao Corporation. I need to be able to survive outside of the Qiao family. This was the only way I can run the Qiao Corporation without caring about the fight for family inheritance. Qiao Yu was a smart guy and immediately understood Qiao Jings intentions. Qiao Yi couldnt survive on his own, so he had to fight for the family inheritance. That was why he had gone astray and ended up in this situation. I know about Qiao Yue, but you have to keep it a secret. Qiao Jing said, looking at Qiao Yu. This was the main purpose of his visit today. Qiao Yu had no intentions of exposing Qiao Yue after he found out about her true gender at the school infirmary. He was just curious as to why his sister had to dress up as a boy. However, after learning this secret, his feelings for Qiao Yue became a little awkward. Qiao Yue was not as simple and innocent as he thought. She was like a box full of secrets. Although he didnt know if he would find disaster or hope when he opened the box, he was still very curious. Chapter 285 - 285 Jin Lu’s Thanks 285 Jin Lus Thanks On the tenth day of Qiao Yues recuperation at home, Jin Lu was discharged. Jin Lu visited the Qiao residence after her discharge from the hospital and felt helpless when she saw Qiao Yue jumping around. Why dont you rest more? Can your body take all this jumping around? Jin Lu helped Qiao Yue sit and looked at her worriedly. Jin Lu was physically fine. She just suffered a huge shock and only came around after lying in the hospital for ten days. !! Qiao Yue asked the servants to serve Jin Lu hot tea and snacks. The aroma of ck tea filled the room. Andy escaped this time but the people I sent to find your sisters group found a way to bring them back. They will be back soon. Dont worry. Qiao Yueforted Jin Lu. Jin Lus sister was among thest group that was trafficked overseas in the name of artiste trainees. However, they were transported on a private ship and were stranded at sea for a while, which was just right for Qiao Yue to send men from KA to bring them back. I know. My sister is safe now. Jin Lu stood up and bowed deeply to Qiao Yue. We sisters only have each other. If it werent for you, I really dont know how I could live on. I will be a loyal servant to KA in future. Qiao Yue felt a little awkward at Jin Lus sincerity and helped her up. Theres no need to talk about loyalty. Ive already spoken to people at KA. There might be some public reaction if you guys resume your band activities now but Ive already asked public rtions to deal with it. You guys can make aeback after six months. How about that? Qiao Yue asked. Jin Lu nodded gratefully. Andys incident could be considered gossip in the entertainment industry. Any female star rted to such news would definitely bebeled as a bad person and would be a target for gossip. That was why Qiao Yue had asked YQ to deal with these matters. There was no way to find the list of girls who were at the audition across all inte forums in C-Country. Although the publics curious eyes also contained sympathy and pity for these girls, it wasnt what they needed. I want to know what happened to you after the helicopter arrived. Did Andy hurt you? Qiao Yue asked. No. When the helicopter arrived, Andy smashed the windows. Jin Lu fell into deep thought. When the sound of the helicopter rang through the sky that night, two teams of people attacked the building from different directions. One of the teams were at a location near Jin Lus room. Andy pulled the surveince camera off her and then smashed the windows with a baseball bat. Jin Lu didnt know what he was going to do. She could only wait helplessly in bed for her fate. The gunshots outside were clear indications of the intense gunfight happening around her. Just as Jin Lu was about to say something, Andy suddenly walked over and stuffed something into her bra before knocking her out. Jin Lu could not remember what happened after that. Qiao Yue thought that it was fortunate that Jin Lu didnt remember. If she knew that a bomb had been nted on her, she would be even more upset. Thank you, Qiao Yue said. This operation was actually very dangerous. Thank you for helping me. Jin Lu shook her head. Dont mention it. I did it for my sister too. Now that we are all safe, Im really sorry that I couldnt help you catch Andy. However, even if they did not capture Andy, C-Country had already put a bounty of 100 million yuan on his head. Many international assassins were probably already taking action to bring Andy to justice. The two of them chatted for a while more before Qiao Yue walked Jin Lu out. Qiao Yue thought about Andy, and then about the Godfather and Oswald. She could not help but feel a headache. Just as she was about to go back to her room, she saw Qiao Ze sitting in a daze by the artificialke. Qiao Ze had recently stopped all work and stayed home. He was very dispirited and lived on junk food, soda, and games every day. Even when the elders in the family took turns to persuade him, he could not get better. He had personally sent his father to prison and destroyed his own acting career. Chapter 286 - 286 Let’s Go Car Racing 286 Lets Go Car Racing Qiao Yue walked up to Qiao Ze and asked softly, Third brother, why arent you inside? Qiao Ze only woke up from his dream at Qiao Yues reminder. It was already winter. If one stayed out for too long, they would feel the cold air and dew drenching their entire bodies, with the cold and wet feeling seeping into their bones. Qiao Yue, youre here. Qiao Ze looked at Qiao Yue and squeezed out an ugly smile. !! The Qiao Ze in front of Qiao Yue now waspletely different from the arrogant and domineering Qiao Ze she remembered. It was as if he had be a different person. I heard from second brother that you are still recuperating. Why are you out in the cold? I cant always stay in the house. I have toe out for a walk every now and then. Qiao Yue sighed. Although its good to take a walk, its so cold. Third brother, you shouldnt keep standing outside. Its not easy to cure the cold after it enters your body. Whats that? Fifth brother, do you also know medicine? Qiao Ze tried his best to sound chirpy, but only he knew that he was depressed. There was no way he could pretend to be optimistic and sunny. Ive learned a little from Lu Ying before, but I dont know if that counts. Qiao Yue replied. Physical illnesses are easy to treat, but mental illnesses are not. Qiao Ze shook his head. After all, it was his own business that he had run for years. He had carved out from scratch his own career in the entertainment industry. Qiao Ze was probably the only one who understood all the hardships he had gone through. But if I could trade the destruction of my career with my fathers repentance, its worth it. Qiao Ze smiled bitterly. Why are you so pessimistic, third brother? Youre not even thirty! Although you may not be able to act like before, you can still be a director. You canpose music and do lots of other things. Besides, public opinion is so easily influenced these days with the inte. In a year or so, people will forget about this thing. Qiao Yue consoled. She still remembered watching the movie that Qiao Ze shot. Although it was only a short film, every scene was beautiful. Although the technique looked a little raw, she could see Qiao Zes effort and talent. As long as Qiao Ze was willing, he could totally be a famous director someday! You still have a long way to go in your life. You dont have to make a bad choice because of a moment of unhappiness. Qiao Ze understood Qiao Yues words. Qiao Yue didnt want him to continue wasting his life away. Although the Qiao family could guarantee that they would never have to worry about food and clothing, if they wasted their lives away like this, the golden years of their lives would quickly pass. Qiao Ze didnt want to be as useless as Qiao Yi in his middle age. Thank you for saying this to me. Although everyone had been consoling him these days, Qiao Yues words made him see some hope for the future. Qiao Ze did not have nothing. Ill find a way to pull myself together. To thank you for helping me, Ill treat you to dinner tonight. Order whatever you want. Ill pay! Qiao Yueughed. Actually, there was something she wanted to do more than eat. Qiao Jing had been keeping a close eye on hertely, but she really wanted to go out and have fun, especially at the racetrack east of the city, which she had not visited for a long time. Two days ago, Yayi imported an off-road vehicle. It was a limited-edition vehicle that Qiao Yue had been waiting for. She couldnt wait to drive it as fast as lightning. Seeing the excitement in Qiao Yues eyes, Qiao Ze found it difficult to refuse her suggestion. Just as well. Anyway, Qiao Yue was almost fully recovered, so theres no harm in a littlepetition. Ill call the racetrack. Well drive our own cars to the racetrack east of the city and have a good race! Seeing that Qiao Ze had already agreed to her request, Qiao Yue was afraid that he would regret it or be caught by Qiao Jing, so she quickly went back to her room and changed into a racing suit that she had not worn for a long time. Standing in front of the mirror, Qiao Yue looked herself up and down. Because she was recuperating, she had lost some weight and looked thinner than before. The racing suit that she had just put on looked a little loose on her. Qiao Yue sighed. When she was fully recovered, she would resume her fitness regime. Without muscles, she was as thin as a rake and would probably be the first person killed if she encountered any dangerous situation. Chapter 287 - 287 Face-off 287 Face-off Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze were soon ready and drove their respective cars to the Nanshan Racetrack. The Nanshan Racetrack was open to the public recently. It was almost New Year, and many rich kids wanted to take this time to rx and have fun. So, there were already a few impressive-looking cars parked at the foot of the mountainous racetrack. Qiao Yue found several cars familiar. Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze drove to the parking garage to have their cars checked by professionals before they continued on their journey. After they parked, they noticed another group of people very near them. Two of them were the brothers, Li Rong and Li Cheng, who had a grudge against Qiao Yue. The two of them sneered at Qiao Yue. Li Rong looked at the girl he was hugging with a contemptuous smile. Your third brother and fifth brother who are doing illegal business are here. Qiao Ze and Qiao Yue looked closely and realized that the girl with heavy make-up in a mink cashmere and a tiny leather skirt was Qiao Xin. After Qiao Yis incident, Qiao Li quickly fetched Qiao Xin from the police station without anyone knowing and made her go back to school immediately. After all, any girl who engaged in that kind of activity would have her reputation tarnished. Moreover, Qiao Li was going to trade Qiao Xin for arge business deal. He naturally wouldnt let Qiao Xin reveal anything about the matter. I dont know him. What bad luck I have. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes at Qiao Yue. She probably already found out that it was Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing who had ruined her n. Qiao Jing was now the head of the family and controlled the entire Qiao Corporation. She wanted to disobey him but she was afraid that he would kick her out of the Qiao family. But Qiao Yue was different. Although Qiao Jing treated him very differently, he wouldnt kick her out of the family because of Qiao Yue. So, Qiao Xin didnt want to control her temper at all when she saw Qiao Ze and Qiao Yue. You luck was indeed bad. Your audition was going smoothly, but who knew that your two brothers would be so jealous of you that they destroyed it. Qiao Xins audition had caused a lot ofmotion. The whole school thought that she was going to be a big star. Who knew that such a thing would happen? Qiao Xins story for her ssmates was that she had been auditioning somewhere else, but Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue had mistook her as attending an indecent audition. They ruined her audition in the end without even an apology. Li Rong and Li Cheng werent very smart, so they just epted whatever the school goddess said. Qiao Yue didnt know that during his time away from school, Qiao Xin had already turned him into a perverted brother who was jealous of his sister. Qiao Yue only shifted her gaze away as she listened to the two brothers. She could guess what Qiao Xin had said. However, to each their own. Qiao Xin hadnt touched her bottom line yet, but if she did one day, she would make her pay. The professionals quickly finished checking Qiao Yue and Qiao Zes cars. Both cars were newly bought off-road vehicles that had been customized slightly. They presented no safety hazards. Qiao Ze knocked lightly on his car door, signaling for Qiao Yue to quickly get into her car. Just as the two of them were about to start their race, a loud voice rang out from Li Rongs group. Qiao Yue, save me! It was a very familiar voice. Qiao Yue was just opening her car door when this familiar voice called out to her. It was Hong Ning, the girl who was attending Harvey on special admission. Why was she here? These rich kids usually use women as wagers. Thats why they always carry a girl in the front passenger seat when they race. The loser will have to give his girl to the winner. Its a very dirty racing rule. Qiao Ze exined. He had been in the entertainment industry and had seen too many of such things. He could tell at a nce that Hong Ning had been coerced. Why are these rich kids so bored? Theyre using other peoples innocence as wager. How vicious! Qiao Yue walked up to the group and pulled Hong Ning over. It was the middle of winter, but Hong Ning was wearing a small tank top and a short skirt, with only a thin jacket. The make-up on her face was also strangely exaggerated. Stop! What do you think people are? Li Rong and Li Cheng looked at each other and smiled. Whats wrong? Did we cross Young Master Qiao? Chapter 288 - 288 Car Racing 288 Car Racing Hows your behavior different from the criminals mentioned by Qiao Xin? Qiao Yue looked coldly at the group. These little demons would probably grow up to be like Andy, with no regard for other peoples lives. Whats wrong with hiring people? Li Rong pulled Hong Ning close, wanting to nt a kiss on her cheek. Hong Ning struggled with all her might to prevent Li Rong from touching her. As she struggled, Li Cheng hugged her from her other side, and gently nibbled her ear. The two of them looked at Qiao Yue as if she was a piece of trash. Everyone knew that Qiao Yue and Hong Ning were close. Qiao Yue stood up for Hong Ning during their ss performance and even helped her solve the problem with the props. Therefore, Qiao Yue probably liked Hong Ning. Li Rong and Li Cheng thought so anyway. In their eyes, using Hong Ning as their wager today was an insult to Qiao Yue. Hong Nings tears rolled down her cheeks. Qiao Yue looked at her, feeling troubled. She had met Hong Nings parents before. Although they didnt coddle Hong Ning, they still loved their daughter very much. She didnt understand why they would sell Hong Ning into this kind of business. Enough! Qiao Yue pushed the two brothers away and pulled Hong Ning behind her. How much did you hire Hong Ning for? Ill pay you and take her away. The Qiao family had plenty of money, and Qiao Yue didnt believe that she couldnt save Hong Ning. We know that Young Master Qiao has so much money and nowhere to spend it, but we dont want money this time. Li Rong and Li Chengughed hideously as they looked at Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze. How about we race? Qiao Ze almostughed out loud when he heard this. These two idiots probably didnt know that the Qiao family owned this racetrack. He had driven here more than a thousand times, practicing repeatedly how to conquer every corner and where to overtake. Even with such diligent practice, he was still no match for Qiao Yue. How dare these ignorant kids challenge Qiao Yue? Hearing Qiao Zesughter, Li Rong and Li Cheng could not hold it in any longer. Whats that about? Qiao Ze, do you also want to race with us, or are you looking down on us? Qiao Xin pulled Li Rong and reminded him in a low voice, This racetrack belongs to my family. Li Rong and Li Chengs faces instantly turned red. Qiao Xin only told them that they could use a racetrack for free, but she didnt tell them that the racetrack belonged to the Qiao family. So what? Qiao Yue has only returned to the Qiao family for a short time. How could he have familiarized himself with this track so quickly? Li Rong looked at Qiao Ze. You dont have topete with us. Wellpete with him! I dont believe us brothers cant beat this Qiao Yue who doesnt look like he knows how to race at all. Qiao Yue smiled and pulled Hong Ning into her car. Fasten your seat belt and close your eyes if youre scared. Hong Ning looked at Qiao Yue, her face full of worry. This racetrack was built on a cliff and it looked dangerous. They could die if they were not careful. Dont worry, Qiao Yueforted Hong Ning. Qiao Yue had a way of making people feel at ease. Hong Ning fastened her seat belt, leaned back in her seat and took a deep breath. The racing g was lowered, and three cars went up to the starting line. Two cars sped away as soon as the g was raised. The crowd realized that Qiao Yue didnt drive off. A few of Li Rong and Li Chengs friends startingughing from the side. How could this Qiao Yue know how to race? Yeah, dont tell me hes just gotten his drivers license. Can he even finish the race? Dont embarrass yourself, Qiao Yue. Its better to admit defeat earlier, haha. Hong Ning was also a little confused and turned to look at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was just leaningzily in his seat, his fingers tapping gently on the steering wheel with a m expression on his face. Qiao Yue Yeah? The moment Qiao Yue spoke, the car suddenly rushed forward at the speed of an arrow. Another car followed closely behind Qiao Yues. It was Qiao Ze. Everyone was shocked, including Hong Ning as words she was about to say got stuck in her throat, and scenery around her changed rapidly. The way Qiao Yue raced was very risky. His every turn brushed the edges of the cliff. If he werent careful, they would both be plunged off the cliff and killed. Hong Nings heart was in her throat. She couldnt just die here today, could she? The Li brothers kept looking out for Qiao Yue in their rearview mirrors, overjoyed when they didnt see Qiao Yue behind them. Chapter 289 - 289 Busted 289 Busted Why isnt your fifth brother driving? Does he not even know how to start the engine? Haha! Li Rong said to Qiao Xin, revealing a mouthful of rotten teeth. Dont becent, or youll lose faceter. Qiao Xin knew that Li Rong and Li Cheng were very skilled drivers, but she didnt know if they could beat Qiao Yue. Recent events had made Qiao Xin more wary of Qiao Yue. !! Qiao Yue should not be underestimated, and his background was also somewhat unfathomable. Dont worry, hes just a poor kid from the countryside. Ill teach him a lesson today. Just as Li Rong was about to negotiate a curve at high speed, a car suddenly rushed past him at the edge of the road. Li Rong only felt a sh before his eyes, and then he couldnt see the other car anymore. Was that a car? It must have been going at 180 miles per hour, right? Doesnt Li Cheng want to live anymore? Thats not right. Qiao Xin turned her head to look outside. Li Chengs car was right behind them. Who was that if it wasnt Li Cheng? The two of them suddenly became nervous. Could that be Qiao Yue? He didnt drive off with them, but now he had surpassed both of them? That made no sense at all! Qiao Xin, help me ask my friends whats going on. As soon as the call was connected, Li Rong saw another car rush by. What was going on? Was he going to let the two brothers humiliate him today? Has Qiao Yue set off yet? Li Rong asked nervously. They started moving half a minute after you left. Whats the matter? Did they surpass you? Li Rongs friend asked tentatively. Li Rong wished that he could throw his phone away. How did this Qiao Yue surpass him? Fasten your seat belt, Li Rong said to Qiao Xin, Let me show off my skills now. Qiao Xin revealed an expression of disgust. The moment she fastened her seat belt, Li Rongs car suddenly swerved around a corner and Qiao Xin almost fell onto the windshield. Damn it, drive slower! Qiao Xin was a little nervous. She now regretteding out with these two brothers to race. The racetrack was full of cliffs and precipitous rock faces. She was really afraid of death, and her fear-driven instinct made her scream desperately. Can you shut up, woman? If they were not in apetition, Li Rong would have given this woman a p. Drive slower! There are slopes and cliffs everywhere. Arent you afraid of falling over? Qiao Xin protested. Your brother is driving at 180 miles per hour. He would probably die Before he could finish his sentence, Li Rong was shocked by the scene in front of him. At the death curve ahead, Qiao Ze and Qiao Yues cars were chasing each other. They didnt seem to have reduced speeds as they charged towards the statue of the Ophanim at the top of the mountain. Its all because of you, what are you screaming about! Li Rong was now annoyed at the sight of any Qiao. If you hadnt suggested thispetition, I wouldnt have lost so much face today! Li Rong scolded Qiao Xin as he elerated up the mountain. Qiao Xin was so scared that she almost jumped out of her skin. She shouldnt havee out with these two people today! In the end, Qiao Yue arrived at the statue of Ophanim first. Seeing the statue light up, Li Rong and Li Cheng pped hard at their steering wheels simultaneously. Damn this Qiao Yue! When the two of them arrived at the top of the mountain, Qiao Ze and Qiao Yue had already been there for a while. The two of them were even drinking tea leisurely. If youre not convinced, lets have another round when we go down the mountain? The feeling of mountain breeze and being as fast as lightning on the mountain was too exhrating. Qiao Yue couldnt wait topete again. Looking at the winding road down the mountain, the brothers, Li Rong and Li Cheng, did not dare to continue the conversation. The winding road down the mountain was a hundred times more dangerous than the one up the mountain. They did not dare to joke around with their lives. Qiao Xin was very angry as she looked at the Li brothers. Who were these two people? How could they back down just because of one little setback? They were really idiots! If you agree to a bet, you must ept your loss. Qiao Yue said expressionlessly to the Li brothers. The brothers watched dejectedly as Qiao Yue drove down the mountain with Hong Ning. Qiao Yue drove very fast down the mountain too but the drive was more stable than when she went up. After witnessing Qiao Yues skillful driving, Hong Ning rxed and enjoyed the mountain scenery on their way down. Qiao Yue had no idea that her dear second brother was already waiting for her at the foot of the mountain. Chapter 290 - 290 Bullying 290 Bullying Qiao Yue decreased her speed when she drove down the mountain. It was already evening, and the setting sun shone on the huge statue of Ophanim. The huge eye was dyed red by the setting sun, making the statue look mythical and bloody. After experiencing a few hell-like days, Qiao Yue didnt feel anything scary about this statue. There were many things more terrifying than this. In the Bible, angels were the ones who looked more scary. They usually wrapped themselves up with their huge wings and used their terrifying true bodies to intimidate the demons. And demons were the ones with beautiful faces. Qiao Yue reyed the confrontation with Andy in her mind. Andy was a respectable opponent, but his methods were extremely underhanded. After this incident, Qiao Yue realized that she knew too little about the Godfather. She grew up in the organization, but her knowledge of the Godfather stagnated at knowing him as the founder of the organization. As for how the organization worked, she had no idea. Most of the missions she received from the Godfather were to assassinate political enemies or criminals like Trand. So, Qiao Yue had always felt that perhaps the Godfather was like The Custodians. They both worked for justice, and what she wanted was just to be a friend of justice. But now, it seemed like that wasnt the case at all. She was going to fulfill her mothersst wish, find out more about her own background and then return to the organization to work on more missions, run KA like before, and live among her friends. But now, it seemed that her n would fall through. Qiao Yue drove slowly as she let these thoughts wander in her mind. Thank you. Hong Nings voice pulled Qiao Yue back to reality. Dont mention it. Qiao Yue turned the steering wheel as she said to Hong Ning. How did they trick you intoing here? Although Hong Ning didnte from money, her family was middle-ss. Why did she have to do such a part-time job now? Something happened in my family. Thepany that my parents used to work for was acquired by the Li family, and my parents lost their jobs. Li Rong and Li Cheng were close with Qiao Xin, so it wasnt strange for them to do such a thing to Hong Ning for her. Qiao Yue, they have been bullying me when you were away from school. Qiao Yue stopped the car and turned to look at Hong Ning. Tears welled up in Hong Nings eyes. She rolled up her sleeves and revealed arms covered in candle burn marks and whip marks. Some of the wounds looked terrible, as if they were caused by a sharp de. Qiao Xin? Qiao Yue asked. Hong Ning nodded. She wasnt nning to tell Qiao Yue about this. After all, Qiao Yue and Qiao Xin were family. Hong Ning didnt think that Qiao Yue would do anything to Qiao Xin because of her usation. But today, Qiao Xin and her friends came to find Hong Ning and told her that if she went out with Li Rong and Li Cheng for the day, they would let her parents go. As for going out with the Li brothers, it entailed car racing and, of course, some activities that were not suitable for children. Hong Ning no longer had any ns for her future. She still had a younger brother at home, and her parents had to support the family. If sacrificing herself would ensure her familys safety and prosperity, she was willing to do so. But she didnt expect to meet Qiao Yue here, at her most embarrassing moment. Qiao Yue had helped Hong Ning many times in the past, and she had always been grateful. She was also very fond of Qiao Yue. There were too many arrogant people at Harvey, too few who treated a special admission student like her as sincerely as Qiao Yue. The young heart of a teenage girl would always be touched by such care and understanding. I will help you. Qiao Yue started the car after listening quietly to Hong Ning. She never liked people who used their familys wealth to bully others. This time, she would settle all scores C old and new C with Qiao Xin. She would make Qiao Xin pay! When Qiao Yue parked her car, the Li brothers, Li Rong and Li Cheng, had already driven in front of her. The two of them had no intention ofpeting with Qiao Yue again. Chapter 291 - 291 Payback Time 291 Payback Time Qiao Yue was crazy when it came to driving, even crazier than the top racers the Li brothers had met. The two of them rushed down the mountain at their fastest speeds. When they saw Qiao Yues car parked by the roadside, they didnt stop to provoke him. Instead, they sped up as if they were avoiding the gue. However, Qiao Yue wasnt going to let them off so easily. Qiao Yue elerated after the two of them. Li Rong, why is Qiao Yue following us again? Didnt he just park his car? Howe hes chasing us again? When Qiao Xin saw Qiao Yues off-road vehicle in the rearview mirror, she looked like she had seen a ghost. How would I know! The road down the mountain is so narrow, and hes driving so fast. Is he trying to run us off the mountain? Li Rong was also on the verge of a mental breakdown. The road down the mountain was more dangerous than the road up. Many people would deliberately slow down when going down the mountain, but Qiao Yue didnt seem to think so. With so many downhill slops and curves, their cars could fly off the track and hit the mountain if they were not careful. Qiao Yue was really toying with their lives. Hurry up, or well be hit. Qiao Xin was very anxious, her heart was in her throat. Although she hated Qiao Yue, she didnt want him to get her killed like this. Youre really useless! Cant you just step on the gas? Qiao Xin panicked as she watched Qiao Yues car closing in behind them. If Qiao Yue continued driving at this speed, he could really knock them off the mountain. Li Rong gritted his teeth and stepped on the elerator, diving down the mountain. The speed pressed the two of them firmly against their car seats. The eleration made their faces look ferocious. Its all your fault. Why did you ask us to challenge the devil, Qiao Yue? You Qiaos are really too much! Li Rong felt like he was about to cry; he didnt know if he would die here today. Qiao Yue followed closely behind them with no intention of slowing down. Soon, they reached a sharp turn. Li Rong turned his steering wheel violently, but the rear wheels of his car still hung over the cliff. Qiao Xin screamed in fear. Looking at the cliff in front of her, she felt like her life was going to end here today. Qiao Yue was in her car, turning her steering wheel steadily. The speed and the challenging track were nothing to her. She had sped on roads much more difficult than this. She just wanted to use this method to teach Li Rong and Li Cheng a lesson. At the next intersection, Li Rong didnt brake in time and crashed into the face of the mountain. The railings by the side of the road were banged crooked. Li Cheng also didnt brake in time and crashed into Li Rongs car. Although the drivers seat wasnt damaged, the front of Li Chengs car was almost destroyed. Both cars were undrivable now. Qiao Yue flew past them. Qiao Yue, are you trying to kill me? Yeah, Qiao Yue. We already told you that we are notpeting down the mountain. Why did you do that? Are you trying to rob and kill us? Li Rong, Li Cheng and Qiao Xin climbed out of their cars and cursed at Qiao Yue. Just as the three of them were about to walk down the mountain, Qiao Yues car drove up in reverse. This was simply a provocation to them. What are you doing? Li Rong and Li Cheng immediately rushed in front of Qiao Yues car, ready to y dead. In the car, Qiao Yues face was cold as she looked at the two people who were blocking her way. Are we getting out of the car? Hong Ning trembled in fear. These people had been brutal to her, and she didnt want to face them at all. You just watch. Qiao Yue looked at the Li brothers and Qiao Xin, who were on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and slowly got out of the car. The three of them saw Qiao Yue walk out and shouted, You mustpensate us for our cars! Qiao Xin even rushed up to Qiao Yue, grabbed his cor, and was ready to give him a p. She was covered in dust and smelled of pungent gasoline. Her previously beautiful clothes were torn, and she looked like a shrew in the market. Qiao Yue, Ive long wanted to teach you a lesson. What do you want from me? Are you going to keep picking on me like this? Qiao Xin raised her left hand and pped Qiao Yue in the face. Chapter 292 - 292 Younger Sister 292 Younger Sister The sound of a p reverberated throughout the valley. Qiao Xins hand didntnd on Qiao Yues face. Instead, her arm was grabbed by Qiao Yue, and she was thrown to the ground. What right do you have to hit me? Qiao Xins eyes were red. She stood up hurriedly to lunge at Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yue didnt give her a chance to get close. !! Qiao Yue raised her leg and kicked Qiao Xin in the chest. This kick was so forceful that Qiao Xin fell to the ground and didnt get up for a long time. Qiao Xins lungs almost popped out of her chest from the kick. Who asked you to bully my ssmates? Qiao Yue walked up to Qiao Xin and stepped on her expensive fur shawl. Who did I bully? Qiao Xin tried to argue. Qiao Yue put her phone in front of Qiao Xin and showed her the surveince video she had just pulled up. Qiao Yue had YQ install a surveince software on her phone after the previous near-attack masterminded by Qiao Xin. The surveince video ying on Qiao Yues phone showed the violent actions of these people towards Hong Ning. What do want? Li Rong and Li Cheng also saw the video. We were just teaching Hong Ning a lesson. Why are you meddling in our business? You guys are bullying Hong Ning because I helped her, right? Qiao Yue leaned over and looked at Li Rong and Li Cheng. Her eyes were sharp, and her entire being exuded a strong sense of oppression. Li Rong could not help but shiver. We We didnt. We only retaliated because Hong Ning bullied us. Qiao Yue didnt give Li Cheng any face and kicked him. Li Cheng wasnt half as strong as Qiao Yue, and he was kicked to the ground. He couldnt get up and just sat there rubbing his knee. Save your words for the school disciplinarymittee. Ill prepare the evidence. Qiao Yue kicked Li Cheng in the stomach. Even if you are Qiao, you cant just beat people up! Li Rong shouted. We are in the mountains. Do you have any evidence? Qiao Yue shrugged her shoulders. Also, if youre unconvinced, feel free to have your injuries examined. Qiao Yue turned and got into her car, ready to drive down the mountain. Hong Nings soft sobs sounded in the car. Just cry if you feel like it. Youll feel better after that. Qiao Yue massaged her be. Send me your parents CVs, I I have a friend at KA. Ill ask them to set your parents up with jobs. Qiao Yue found some tissues in her car and handed them to Hong Ning. If you still want to be a dancer, you cant have any visible scars on your body. I have a doctor friend who developed a scar-removal ointment. Ill give you someter. Dont worry, you can still be a very good dancer. Hong Ning nodded. Her eyshes were soaked in tears. She looked up at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue, why are you so nice to me? Qiao Yue was at a loss for words. She suspected that Hong Ning had misunderstood her. The two of them now looked like Cindere and Prince Charming from the fairy tale. But Qiao Yue helped Hong Ning only because she admired her and hated what Qiao Xin and her friends did to her. More importantly, Qiao Yue was a girl with normal sexual orientation. She had no romantic interest in Hong Ning. Qiao Yue reached out and ruffled Hong Nings hair. She noticed that Hong Nings face was red. My parents didnt give me a younger sister despite my wish for such a long time. Qiao Yue suddenly thought of a better idea. You can be my adopted sister. They wont bully you anymore after that. An adopted sister of the Qiao family? Hong Ning raised her head in shock. She was about to confess her love to Qiao Yue, but why did Qiao Yue say that? Bing Qiao Yues adopted sister was equivalent to having a backer in the Qiao family. However, based on the usual plot of romantic dramas, shouldnt Qiao Yue like her back? Ive always wanted a younger sister. If you dont like the idea, I wont force you. Qiao Yue looked at Hong Ning with a smile. Hong Ning shook her head quickly. Although she liked Qiao Yue, she couldnt force Qiao Yue to like her. If Qiao Yue didnt like her, she wouldnt pester him. After all, a good person like Qiao Yue was worthy of a better girl. Seeing Hong Nings sad yet relieved expression, Qiao Yue could roughly guess what she was thinking. Alright, will you be my younger sister? If yes, lets pinky swear. Qiao Yue held out her pinky, ready to make a pinky promise with Hong Ning. Chapter 293 - 293 Second Brother Is Here 293 Second Brother Is Here Hong Ning hesitated for a moment before she hooked pinkies with Qiao Yue. There were calluses on Qiao Yues finger, but the skin on the back of his hand was fair and delicate. For some reason, it didnt feel like a boys hand. You are my adopted sister from now on. You can tell me if anyone in school bullies you. Ill stand up for you. Qiao Yue smiled at Hong Ning. Being Qiao Yues adopted sister was equivalent to being a goddaughter of the Qiao family. Qiao Yue nned to invite Hong Ning to the family residence someday. !! This girl reminded her of the girls that she had trained in KA. The organization had lost a few girls because of Andy. Jin Lu had also decided to leave C-Country and nevere back. Qiao Yue feltfort in her heart knowing that Hong Ning could live a normal life. Okay, thank you, brother. Hong Ning said with a sweet smile. Lets go, big brother will take you to eat something nice. Qiao Yue started her car, ready to make their way down the mountain. Suddenly, a car drove past them and stopped steadily next to Qiao Yues car, blocking her way. Just as Qiao Yue was trying to figure out who was blocking her way, the car doors opened and Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze got out. Qiao Ze had an indignant expression; he looked like he had just been reprimanded by Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing had ordered the entire family not to take Qiao Yue out. But in the blink of an eye, Qiao Ze did just that,pletely ignoring his orders. Sh*t, my brother is here. Qiao Yues face fell. She was going to take Hong Ning and Qiao Ze for a hotpot meal. Hotpot was forbidden food for her during her recuperation. Everything was ruined now. Qiao Jing looked at Li Rong, Li Cheng, and Qiao Xin, who were lying on the ground, with a cold expression. He walked straight up to Qiao Yues car and knocked on her window. Qiao Yue rolled down her window and looked at Qiao Jing with her big eyes. Second brother, would you believe me if I told you that I was kidnapped by third brother? Such an excuse would never fool Qiao Jing. Get out. Qiao Jing ordered. Hong Ning nced at Qiao Yue. You just sit in the car and wait for my return. Qiao Jing felt the onset of a headache when he saw Hong Nings blushing face when she looked at Qiao Yue. Did his sister even know her true gender? She was clearly a girl, but she was flirting with other girls. Wasnt she afraid of getting into trouble? Or was his sister a lesbian to begin with? Qiao Jing shook his head to drive this ridiculous thought out of his mind. Whats up with the three of them? Qiao Jing asked, pointing at the three people groaning in pain on the ground and the two damaged cars. They insisted on racing with me, but they werent as good as me, so they ran into the mountain. Qiao Yue said seriously, acting dumb. Qiao Xin slowly got up and clutched her chest. Qiao Yue, you did this on purpose. You made a fool of yourself on purpose, made us ruin our cars and even hit me. Qiao Xin saw Qiao Jing looking at her and ran over to him. She grabbed his arm, shook it and said like a spoiled child, Second brother, Qiao Yue has been bullying me these days. Today when he and third brother came here to race, he saw me with my friends and decided to bully us. Qiao Jing wasnt about to side with Qiao Xin; he just looked at her clothes. Qiao Xins coat was already torn, revealing a dress that hugged her figure. Her outfit looked very outrageous. The Qiao family always had strict rules and was particr about the childrens dressing. Qiao Xins outfit looked very indecent. Qiao Jings brows furrowed at the sight of the thick foundation on Qiao Xins face and her strange make-up. You came to a race with these guys wearing this? No racing suit, no protective gear. Are you nning to be a race queen? Race queens were girls who were typically used as wagers. Qiao Xins outfit today was no different from those girls. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Xin and remembered how she had tried to seduce Andy. He was in a foul mood. Since when did the Qiao family have a member who needed to use beauty to bewitch others? Brother, Im just out with my friends. Im not the one in the wrong. Qiao Yue is the one in the wrong. She brought Qiao Ze along to bully me! Oh? Why dont you tell everyone how Ive bullied you? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Xin with a cold face. It was clearly Qiao Xin and the Li brothers who provoked her first. How could Qiao Xin lie so tantly? Chapter 294 - 294 Cleaning House 294 Cleaning House Qiao Xin, I havent settled the score with you yet about your dealings with Trand and Andy. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Xin and said coldly. How did you know about me and Trand? Qiao Xins heart skipped a beat when she heard the name. Trand How did you know about me and Trand? Have you been following me or investigating me? Qiao Xin lost it and shouted. I have plenty of things I can use against you, so youd better not provoke me. If you do, I wont let you off. Qiao Yue lowered her head and looked straight into Qiao Xins eyes. !! Qiao Xin clutched her painful chest from the kick. The bruise seemed to hurt even more with Qiao Yues threat. Qiao Yue, youve caused all three of us internal injuries. Do you think my parents and the Lis will let you off? Qiao Xin said. Trand is already dead but everything you did today was on record. Then, please have your injuries evaluated. Qiao Yue turned and got into her car, ignoring Qiao Xin. Second brother, look at fifth brother. Isnt he clearly bullying me? Im going to tell Mom and Grandpa. Theyll definitely help me seek justice! Qiao Xin hoped to hear constion and affirmation from Qiao Jing, but he didnt say anything. Instead, he looked at her coldly like he was looking at a piece of trash. Ive already called an ambnce for you. Please go to the hospital for checkups first. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jings cars sped away. The Li brothers and Qiao Xin could only watch the exhaust fumes from their cars while sitting on the ground. The three of them couldnt be internally injured, right? If they were, Ill be a burden to you again Hong Ning was a little worried. From the rearview mirror, she could see the three people get up sorrily clutching their chests; they looked like they couldnt even walk straight. They will be fine. Qiao Yue chewed gum as she turned the steering wheel. She wasnt worried about the three people behind them at all. Qiao Yue had dinner with Qiao Ze and Hong Ning as nned. They thought that Qiao Jing would either join them or stop them, but it seemed that something had happened at work and Qiao Jing did not stop them from going ahead. After eating and drinking to their fill, Qiao Yue and Qiao Ze returned to Qiao residence together. As soon as they entered the living room, they saw Tao Xi sitting there with a serious expression. Tao Xi had been busy recently, dealing with Qiao Rens business abroad. She hadnt been paying attention to home affairs. First aunt, Qiao Ze greeted politely with a smile when he saw Tao Xi . Tao Xi nodded, acknowledging Qiao Zes greeting. Qiao Yue knew that the first madam of the Qiao family didnt like her, so she didnt n to say hello and headed upstairs. Qiao Yue, stop! Qiao Yue turned and looked at Tao Xi. Whats the matter? I heard that you kicked your fellow students today and even caused Qiao Xin internal injuries? Tao Xi stared at Qiao Yue with a frown. Qiao Yue was really a child with no manners. He had clearly hurt his ssmates, yet he still swaggered in without any sense of shame. Well, I did kick them, but internal injuries? First aunt, I dont think you have any evidence No evidence? Qiao Xin is still unconscious in her room. What evidence do you need? Do we really need to go to the extent of injuries evaluation? Tao Xis voice was sharp. First aunt, are you going to convict me without any injuries evaluation report Qiao Yue sneered. Youre really an ill-mannered child. Are you going to admit your guilt only after you see the official injuries evaluation report? Tao Xi called the butler over. The butler then went upstairs and asked the third madam of the Qiao family down. The third madam looked like she had been crying. Her eyes were swollen, and she looked at Qiao Yue with hatred. Ive just asked them to have their injuries evaluated at the hospital. The third madam took out a piece of paper with the evaluation results on it. ording to the evaluation results, Qiao Yues kick had caused a moderate injury. If this was reported to the police, he would be punished. Qiao Yue looked at the report coldly and sneered. Are you nning to send me to prison? You want to file awsuit against me? Kid, we are family. How can I send you to prison? The third madam said in a choked voice. I just want to know how Qiao Xin has offended you that you keep picking on her. Third sister-inw, your temper is too good. This kid is born to do evil. Why dont we clean house on behalf of the old master while hes recuperating? Chapter 295 - 295 Going Back to School 295 Going Back to School Cleaning house? The nerve the first and third madams had to say such words. Qiao Yue looked the two middle-aged women up and down. These two women had such clumsy methods. They wanted to kick her out of the Qiao family while the old master was recuperating? You didnt only hurt Qiao Xin. You also kicked her ssmates, right? Tao Xi asked. Yeah, so? Qiao Yue sneered. Ill contact the disciplinarymittee at Harvey. Be prepared to receive your punishment of expulsion from school. When that happens, youll go back to Nanshan Vige with your tail between your legs. The disciplinarymittee at Harvey was established specially to deal with school violence. It had punished many students who bullied their ssmates. Some of the more serious cases had even been expelled after punishment. Once students were punished, they would have a disciplinary record on file. Students who were expelled by Harvey for school violence would not be able to transfer to other schools. They were going to ruin Qiao Yues life this time. Sure, I also have something to report to the school disciplinarymittee. Qiao Yue could use her aunts help in dealing with Hong Nings matter. Sister-inw, theres really no need to rm the school. The Qiaos are major shareholders of the Harvey Academy. Its not very nice if we did this. Im fine as long as Qiao Yue exin his reasons and apologize to Xiner. Why are you so kind to this child? Qiao Yue understood what was going on. The two of them were ying good cop bad cop, hoping that she would give in. If Qiao Yue said that she would apologize, these two might even use her apology as an excuse for something else. Im going to report to the school disciplinarymittee that Qiao Xin, Li Cheng, and Li Rong had been bullying my adopted sister. Adopted sister? Tao Xi and the third madam looked at each other. Why didnt they know that Qiao Yue had an adopted sister? Qiao Yue took out her phone and held it in front of the two madams. It was the video evidence of the three of them bullying Hong Ning. If both of you dont mind, Ill take this to the schoolmittee. The third madams eyes shifted when she saw Qiao Xin grabbing Hong Ning and beating her up. How did this little brat get the evidence, and this kind of video evidence at that? She had already signed a joint petition with the Lis to submit a formalint to the school disciplinarymittee, and the results would probably be out tomorrow. If Qiao Yue showed these surveince videos to themittee, wouldnt Qiao Xin be implicated? Do what you think is right. Qiao Yue kept her phone and left the living room. Tao Xi looked at the third madam. Were finished. Who knew that Qiao Yue would have this up his sleeve? The third madamforted Tao Xi. Although Tao Xi was usually in charge of most home affairs, she was still helpless when faced with this kind of situation. Sister-inw, dont worry, I have another solution. Hong Ninges from an ordinary family. With a little tactic, shell let this go. If Hong Ning doesnt concur with the usation, Qiao Yue cant do anything. Qiao Yue didnt go to her room but to Qiao Jings study instead. She left in a hurry today and had a game to finish; she wanted to finish the game. After ying for about an hour, Qiao Yue felt that her neck was a little sore. She was stretchingzily when the door was suddenly pushed open. Her eyes met Qiao Jings in the middle of herzy stretch. Qiao Yue felt a little embarrassed and said, Good evening, second brother. Qiao Jing saw Qiao Yue and sighed. Didnt I tell you not to go out? Why did you go out to race? You havent recovered yet. Im almost fully recovered now. I want to go back to school. Qiao Yue stood up and made several twirls in front of Qiao Jing. See, Im fine. I can even do front handsprings now. Qiao Yue stretched out her hands, ready to demonstrate her strength to Qiao Jing as she spoke. About Qiao Xins matter, Ive already spoken to the third madam. Qiao Xin is fine, and she wont report you to the school disciplinarymittee. Third madam wont, but the Li family will. Qiao Yues lips curved into a smile. She knew the third madams style well. She always looked innocent on the surface, but there was nock of maniption behind the scenes. Ill take care of it. Second brother, you dont have to worry. Just let me go back to school tomorrow. Qiao Yue hugged Qiao Jings arm and looked at him with big, watery eyes, as if begging him. Chapter 296 - 296 On the Way to School 296 On the Way to School It felt strange to be pestered by Qiao Yue. The girl looked at him with herrge eyes, pleading coquettishly. Qiao Jing felt his ears burn and wrapped Qiao Yues hand in his. The girls fingertips were slightly cold, and the delicate touch made him regret holding her hand. !! No, youre not fully recovered yet. You cant go. Qiao Jings tone left no room for discussion. Second brother, Im begging you. Qiao Yue felt a little strange. She was the boss of KA, and she had never begged anyone for anything. It had always been others who begged her. Its refreshing that she had to beg someone so she could go back to school No, Qiao Jing made her sit. If you really want to learn, I can ask the teachers toe here and teach you, but you cant go back to school yet. Qiao Yue sat in front of theputer with an aggrieved face, pounding the keyboard ying games. Qiao Jing was amused at Qiao Yues deted expression; he thought it adorable. He sent a text message to the butler, informing him that Qiao Yue could go back to school tomorrow. Qiao Yue didnt know that Qiao Jing had already arranged for her to go back to school. She sat in front of theputer, regretting her move. She didnt want to beg Qiao Jing initially. Although the Qiao residence was heavily guarded, it wasnt difficult for her to escape with her skills and abilities. She was feeling a little depressed for not getting an okay from Qiao Jing after begging him for what felt like half a day. With this depressed feeling, Qiao Yue yedputer games for the whole evening before she returned to her room angrily to sleep. When her rm clock sounded in the morning, Qiao Yue turned it off to go back to sleep. But the butler knocked on her door. Fifth young master, you can go back to school today. Breakfast is ready. Please get ready for school. Qiao Yue jumped out of bed when she heard this. Her second brother had actually allowed her to go back to school! It looked like she would be able to deal with those annoying brothers and Qiao Xin today! This was great! Qiao Yue was even a little excited when she got into the car. Only Qiao Ying and Qiao Yue were in the car today. Qiao Yu hadnt fully recovered and Qiao Xin imed that she was dying and almost called an ambnce in the middle of the night. Butler, there are only two of us today, we can set off now. Qiao Ying said to the driver after watching Qiao Yue get into the car. Wait! Qiao Yu staggered out the front door, carrying his school bag. Im going to go back to school today too. Qiao Yu ignored the butlers attempt to stop him and quickly got into the car. Fourth young master, second young master said that you cant go back to school yet. The butler frowned. Its okay, Ill exin to second brother. Qiao Yu removed the butlers hand from the car door and quickly closed it. The butler could only stand in the driveway and sigh as he watch the car drive away. The atmosphere in the car was not as harmonious as before. This was the first time Qiao Yue had seen Qiao Yu awake after that incident. He looked like he had lost about ten pounds, and his cheeks were a little sunken. When he smiled, he looked a little like a Shriveled green pepper? Fourth brother, why are you going to school when you havent fully recovered? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Yu didnt answer but stared out the window. After a long time, he asked, Are you free tonight? I would like to go to the racetrack. You havent recovered yet; how can you go to the racetrack? What if you tear your wound? Car racing was a high-intensity sport. If he wasnt in tip-top condition, he might die on the track. Then Ill see you at the racetrack tonight. Qiao Yu said, ignoring Qiao Yues dissuasion. Qiao Ying was thoroughly confused. Her fourth brother was usually gentle and didnt seem like the kind who race cars. What was up with him today? Moreover, Qiao Yu seemed to have be a different person after he was injured. He was reticent and not as obedient as before. He was always standing on the rooftop of the Qiao residence, lost in thought. Alright. Qiao Yue agreed. Qiao Ying was shocked again. Both of her brothers were into car racing? This was Really hard to imagine. Qiao Ying, do you want toe along? Qiao Yue asked. I guess so. Qiao Ying was a little hesitant, but she still agreed. She had a feeling that she was about to see the real side of her two brothers. Chapter 297 - 297 The Committee 297 The Committee Before Qiao Yue could sit down in her ssroom, she was called away. The school disciplinarymittee that oversaw bullying was extraordinarily quick. Themittee had just received the reportst night, and they were already taking action this morning. The school disciplinarymittee had its own office and conference room, which were located on the fifth floor of Harvey. !! The conference room was more like a courtroom. Those who were used of school violence would sit in the middle of the room and receive a so-called trial from their ssmates, their ssmates parents, and themittee members. Qiao Yue sat in the middle of the conference room and scanned the people around her. Qiao Xins family was sitting in the victims bench, and the third madam of the Qiao family was still secretly wiping her tears. Qiao Xin clutched her chest, looking like she was going to pass out at any moment. The principal and a few teachers were seated opposite Qiao Yue, looking at her. Qiao Yues form teacher, Chang Yuan, was also there frowning at her. He always thought highly of Qiao Yue and couldnt figure out how such a student could be involved in a controversy surrounding school violence. Si Yun, the chairperson of the school disciplinarymittee, stood up and motioned for everyone to quiet down. Would the victims family please tell us how Qiao Xin was bullied? The third madam stood up slowly. Her eyes were swollen. Because she had been crying for a long time, her voice was hoarse as if she was still sobbing. She recounted the incident as Qiao Xin, Li Rong, and Li Chengs going for a drive in the mountains, instead of car racing, and that Qiao Xins injuries would have long term negative effects. It must be said that the third madam was extremely effective in swaying public opinion, using just a few short sentences with her tearful expression. Everyone saw a mothersint about a school bully, a great mother who loved her child. The way they looked at Qiao Yue contained more suspicion and contempt after her narration. Qiao Yue sneered. These people were so na?ve that they would believe whatever the third madam said. After the third madam finished speaking, Tao Xi, who was part of the disciplinarymittee, stood up and looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue is a child of the Qiao family. She killed a pet we raised on the first day she arrived. Its obvious that this child has violent tendencies and is unfriendly to her siblings. I cant control this child anymore. Ill let you do it. Tao Xi looked into Qiao Yues eyes. Qiao Yues eyes seemed bottomless, like a ck hole. Tao Xi had seen a lot of things over the years as part of the Qiao family. She had also encountered a lot of trouble, but the way Qiao Yue looked at her scared her. So, my fellowmittee members, our education is no longer effective on children of such moral character. In other words, only expulsion from school or other coercive measures could solve this problem. I think Ms. Tao is right! Thats right. If this child doesnt listen to us, we dont need to be soft-hearted! Most of the parents in the school disciplinarymittee were rich and famous. They were close to Tao Xi and were usually her supporters. Moreover, Qiao Yues grades were outstanding, and he might be a hindrance to another childs path to sess. They must work together this time to kick Qiao Yue out of school. Principal, themittee will rule unanimously that Qiao Yues behavior is considered school violence. Please expel him. The principal of Harvey Academy looked at Qiao Yue, then at the members of themittee, and felt his head hurt. ording to the school rules, if more than half themittee members agreed to expel a student, he must rule expulsion. I dont agree! Im Qiao Yues form teacher. This kid is good at his studies, and hes always happy to help his friends. He also got very good results in the hackingpetition between Harvey and St. Faustinas Institution. Hes a top talent at Harvey, how can we just expel him? Chang Yuan was a little anxious as he mmed the table and stood up. You cant just listen to the one-sided story from Qiao Xins parent and give this child such a severe punishment, right? Teacher Chang, are you saying that Harveys students can be talented but have no morals? I chose to send the other Qiao children to Harvey and even invested in the school because Harvey ces great importance on moral education. Teacher Chang, your reaction has really disappointed me. Tao Xi said with a pained expression. If thats the case, Id like to announce, in my capacity as the chairman of the school board, that all donations to the Harvey Academy will be suspended. Qiao Jing is the chairman of the school board. Aunt Tao Xi, may I know who you are deciding on behalf of, please? Chapter 298 - 298 Learning a Lesson 298 Learning a Lesson While everyone was still in shock, Qiao Yue had already stood up. For some reason, she looked calm andposed, without the slightest panic or confusion after being judged. Since Director Tao is your first aunt, its only right for her to give you a few words of advice. Yeah. Director Tao is cing righteousness before family. She didnt protect you, which shows how much youve gone overboard. Is that so? Qiao Yue smiled and walked up to Qiao Xins family. Seeing Qiao Yue walk over, Qiao Xin quickly cried and hid in her mothers arms, looking like a weak, helpless, and pitiful victim. Qiao Yue, what do you mean by that? Cant you see that Qiao Xin is already so scared? The third madam quickly held Qiao Xin in her arms and red at Qiao Yue. She should be scared. Qiao Yue turned around. The remote control for the projector that was originally on the table had somehow appeared in her hands. The image on the projection screen turned into a video. Third madam, you know what I have. Ive given you a chance yesterday. Qiao Yue pressed the y button, and the screen showed a girl who was repeatedly thrown to the ground. The girls clothes looked like they had been tugged at, and her face had been pixted. She had on a Harvey school uniform, and the contents of her school bag had been scattered all over the floor. Qiao Xins voice was in the background. Li Rong, Li Cheng, beat Hong Ning to death for me! Hit her! Dont be afraid. My family is on the school board anyway. Nothing will happen! Qiao Xinughed as she recorded a video on her phone. The two brothers, Li Rong and Li Cheng, threw the girl on the ground and stepped on her fingers. Her delicate and fair fingers were covered in dust and dirt. After the video finished ying, everyone was shocked and looked at the screen with their mouths wide open. Qiao Xin didnt dare to raise her head, afraid of meeting everyones judgmental eyes. This is a video of Qiao Xin bullying another student on campus. This is nder! Everyone knows that our Xinxin is a very good girl. How could she bully others? The third madam spoke first. In any case, the video could be forged. There was even a chance that the student wasnt from Harvey. Ive already done a voiceprint analysis. The report is here. A voiceprint identification report appeared on the projection screen, and it showed that it was Qiao Xins voice in the video. If you think that I also participated in bullying, lets take a look at the next piece of evidence. Qiao Yue continued to project on the screen expressionlessly. On the screen was a report of yesterdays car racing ident. Li Rong and Li Chengs cars had been illegally modified, and they werent registered with the International Car Racing Association. ording to the ident report, it was Li Rong and Li Cheng who had illegally operated the cars. Qiao Yues vehicle had always been within the speed limit of race cars. At most, this was a car race with a great disparity in skills. It could not be considered bullying at all. If you guys think that Im viting school rules by racing, why dont you take a look at my international racing license and certificates of participation? The golden trophies and awards on screen were so bright that they almost blinded the audience. International car races. This Qiao Yue was hiding too much. Qiao Yue turned around and looked at Tao Xi, who had a serious expression on her face. First aunt, what other evidence do you have to prove that I was violent towards Qiao Xin? How are you going to exin the injury report and Qiao Xins injury? Tao Xi asked. Qiao Yue yawnedzily and yed an audio recording. Help me fake an injury evaluation report. Write down all the possible injuries that can be caused by a kick to the chest. The third madams voice rang out. Thats not very good, right? Miss Qiao Xin only has some superficial wounds, and all her vital signs are normal. The person who kicked her was very clever and didnt hurt Miss Qiao Xin. Just do what I tell you to do. Why are you talking so much nonsense? Do you want to offend the Qiao family? Tao Xis face darkened after she heard the audio clip. Why did the third madam forge the injury evaluation report behind her back? Alright, thats all I have to say. Members of the school disciplinarymittee, do you still think that Im a bully? Qiao Yue tilted her head and smiled at the parents. The parents looked at each other, but no one dared to speak. This Qiao Yue seemed to be an impressive person too. She was able to get all kinds of test reports and exin things in such a clear and organized manner. But if they offended Tao Xi, they would be offending the Qiao family and the chairman of the school board. No one dared to be the first to make such a difficult decision. Chapter 299 - 299 The Outcome 299 The Oue The conference room was silent for almost five minutes before the principal spoke in a trembling voice. Since this is a Qiao family matter, shouldnt we consider letting the Qiaos solve this by themselves? The principal looked at Tao Xi and asked. Qiao Yue was the fifth young master of the Qiao family. A small quarrel between the fifth brother and the sixth sister was a family matter. Family matters could be resolved behind closed doors. There was no need to escte it to the school level. Both would save face if the problem was resolved within the family. If the Qiaos solved this internally, what about the student who have been bullied? Qiao Yue pressed a button on the remote control and an injury evaluation report appeared on screen. It listed the wounds on the student who had been bullied. Every wound corresponded to the victim who had been beaten in the video. That kid might not even be a Harvey student. Shes just wearing a Harvey uniform, and her face is pixted. Did you forge the video to frame my daughter? The third madam looked at the masked face in the video and seemed to have found thest ray of hope. Since Qiao Yue had masked the face of the student who had been bullied, this person must be someone very important to him. In which case, Qiao Yue would be in a dilemma. If the unmasked video was released, this student would be judged and criticized by everyone in school. Moreover, at their age, there were many kids with pack mentality who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Some of them may follow suit to bully the same student. If Qiao Yue was unwilling to release the unmasked video, she could say that the video was forged. Qiao Yue sneered. Whether the video was forged, we can leave it to the police to investigate. Third Madam, you dont think the police will believe the evidence you forged, do you? Indeed, if the case was handed over to the police, the police would investigate it while keeping the identity of the bullied person a secret. You! The third madam shouted angrily, You are shameless! Harming your own siblings like this. Does that mean that Third Madam admit that the bully in the video is Qiao Xin? Qiao Yue sneered. Everyone looked at the third madam and Qiao Yue in silence. Tao Xi also sat back down. The third madam turned to look at Tao Xi, pleading for help with her eyes. This problem is a littleplicated. Lets deal with it ording to the school rules. The student who was bullied also needs an oue. Qiao Yue looked at the principal and continued, Principal, you wouldnt like Harvey to be in the news for tolerating school violence also, right? The principal looked at Qiao Yues eyes and shuddered. This boys gaze was as sharp as a knife, stabbing straight to the jugr. Cold sweat broke out on the principals head. Qiao Yue, our determination of school violence has to be based on the specific case and the opinion of the school disciplinarymittee Qiao Yue mmed the table and the principal trembled in fear. Director Tao Xi, you wouldnt want the bullying of the Qiao children to be in the news, right? Tao Xis face was pale. Her overbearing attitude hadpletely disappeared, and she looked a little dejected. Qiao Yue, dont be a sh*t stirrer. Qiao Xin is your sister. Its bad enough that you led others to bully her, but now you want to ruin your sisters life. You really have no conscience! Tao Xi stood up and said to the principal, I want to withdraw our investment. If you punish Qiao Xin, I will withdraw our investments on behalf of the Qiao Corporation. The shareholders were shocked. Tao Xi didnt seem to be kidding. Once the Qiaos withdrew their investments, many other shareholders would follow suit. If that happened, Harvey Academy wouldnt be able to cope with the schools daily expenses, and the entire school might copse. Ms. Tao Xi, please reconsider. You cant withdraw your investment just because of a student, right? So what if we withdraw the familys investment? I can put in my own investment. Qiao Yue sneered, KA group will invest 80 million yuan in Harvey Academy as long as Qiao Xin and the Li brothers receive the punishment they deserve. The parents in the audience were all shocked. KA group, that multinational conglomerate? It would actually invest in Harvey in exchange for a few students punishment? Eighty million yuan was basically the same amount of money that the Qiao family had invested over the years. The principals hands trembled with excitement. This was a huge sum of money. He picked up the microphone and said, For the sake of school peace, I hope that all parents will hear me out. Since Qiao Xin has indeed hit someone, we can suspend her from school indefinitely first. Chapter 300 - 300 Still Want to Complain 300 Still Want to Comin An indefinite suspension from school was a very severe punishment second to expulsion. A student who had been suspended indefinitely would require the approval of many people if he or she were to return to school. Furthermore, they could only wait until the next year to rejoin school with the next batch of students. The student would effectively be forced to repeat a year. The third madam almost fainted when she heard this. The child that she worked so hard to raise was going to have a stain on her record. We withdraw, withdraw our investment! The third madam shouted like a shrew,pletely unlike her usual dignified and elegant self. You dont have the final say in the Qiaos investment in Harvey Academy, third aunt. Qiao Yue sneered, The Qiao family is now controlled by Qiao Jing. If he doesnt announce the withdrawal of investment, none of you have the right to do so. Qiao Yue looked at the principal and said, Principal, if you punish them ording to the school rules, the Qiao family will not withdraw their investment and the KA Group will also invest. KA Group, who are you? Tao Xi asked through gritted teeth. The parents in the audience were also very surprised. KA was currently the most famous multinationalpany. It owned many businesses and its assets were probably more than all of their assetsbined. Could such a business belong to the boy in front of them? Qiao Yue ignored the parents spections and stared at the principal. Were waiting for you to decide on the punishment for the students who bully others. In the end, the principal gave Qiao Xin and the Li brothers indefinite suspensions from school and formal demerits as punishment. In the afternoon when Qiao Yue returned to her ssroom, the PA system in school announced Qiao Xins punishment. Hong Ning looked at Qiao Yue with tear-stained face. Although she was smiling, her face was still streaked with tears. Qiao Yue walked over and wiped away Hong Nings tears. Alright, Ive taken care of everything for you. You can attend school in peace from now on and not worry about those people bullying you again. Hong Ning nodded gratefully. Qiao Yu raised his head and looked at Qiao Yue with aplicated expression. Meanwhile, the Qiao residence was in an uproar. When Tao Xi got home at noon, she asked Qiao Ren and Qiao Li toe out. The third madam had already fainted from anger, and Qiao Xin was crying so hard that she couldnt speak. Tao Xi looked at Qiao Ren and Qiao Li with a long face and said, This Qiao Yue has really gone too far. I didnt expect him to pick on his own sister like this. Qiao Ren looked at Tao Xi coldly as usual. The husband and wife werent on good terms, and Qiao Ren didnt like to be involved in these things. Stop it. After all, Qiao Xin was in the wrong first. What does it have to do with Qiao Yue? Big brother, what do you mean by that? Now that the old master is sick, you, as the eldest brother of the family, is the pir of this family. If you dont help me, I dont know what to do with Qiao Xin. Qiao Li more or less knew what happened. You watched Qiao Xin grow up too, and shes put in a lot of effort to get into Harvey. You cant just see her future ruined like this! Having a formal demerit recorded on her Harvey file was a severe punishment. It would probably affect her future work and life. Then you guys can go and argue with Harvey. Im not the school principal, what can I do? Qiao Ren was annoyed by the three womens crying. He waved his hand and went upstairs. Tao Xi looked at her husband with clenched teeth. Qiao Ren had always treated the things she cared about with such indifference, as if she wasnt his wife. Qiao Ren returned to his study and stared at the photo on his desk in silence for a long time. As expected, no one can be like you. He sighed deeply. But I will do my best to protect your child. I wont let the others hurt him. The woman in the photo had a bright smile, like a sunflower. All the women who had been with Qiao Ren over the years looked like this woman, but none of them were really like her. Tears welled up in Qiao Rens eyes. Its been so many years. I didnt expect your child to experience what youve experienced. Ill help him this time. Dont worry. Qiao Ren caressed the face of the person in the photo and held the photo in his arms. His eyes were filled with love and gentleness that she had never seen before. Tao Xi, who was standing at the door, clenched her fists as she watched everything that happened in the room. It had been so many years, yet someone was still wandering around the house like a ghost. This feeling sickened her. Chapter 301 - 301 Who Do You Think You Are? 301 Who Do You Think You Are? When she got home, Qiao Yue saw Qiao Xins family and Tao Xi sitting around the coffee table, ring at her. Fifth young master is back? Qiao Li spoke first. Qiao Yue ignored them and went around the living room to go upstairs. Stop! You cant even hear your elders talking to you? Qiao Li stood up, walked up to Qiao Yue and stopped her. !! Qiao Li was a little taller than Qiao Yue, but because he hadnt worked out for years, he was as fat as a pig. Please get out of the way, Qiao Yue said coldly. You b*stard, I was too good tempered to teach you a lesson before. Who said that you can bully Qiao Xin? Qiao Li held out his hand, ready to p Qiao Yue in the face. Qiao Yue grabbed his hand. Qiao Li hissed. Qiao Yue was so strong that Qiao Li felt like his arm was being crushed. Qiao Li tried to free his arm from Qiao Yues grasp, but he failed. How can you treat your elders like this? Qiao Li raised his voice. He had been unhappy with this non-blood rtive for a long time, and now he had a reason to teach him a lesson. You live and eat at the Qiao residence yet you caused Qiao Xin to be suspended from school. Youre truly heartless, just like your mother. Both trying to hurt the Qiao family! What did you just say? Qiao Yue grabbed Qiao Lis cor and lifted him up. Qiao Li didnt know that Qiao Yues mother was her Achilles heel. Qiao Yue would fight anyone to death if they mentioned her mother. Qiao Yue, what are you doing? Quickly put your third uncle down! This is so unbing! Tao Xi looked at Qiao Yue, afraid that she was going to cripple Qiao Li in the next second. Recalling how Qiao Yue had beaten Qiao Xin up a few days ago, Tao Xi and the third madam were a little afraid. Although Qiao Xin wasnt seriously hurt by Qiao Yues kick, she was in pain for a few days. Qiao Xin still felt a little pain thinking about it. Qiao Yue must have learned kung fu before. His punches and kicks were urate and ruthless, and he could attack a person at ces that wouldnt cause fatal injuries. This boy, Qiao Yue, was really dangerous! Youve been hurting the Qiao family members since you arrived. Ill tell the old master when he wakes up and ask him to kick you out! Tao Xi said through gritted teeth. She had been running the Qiao residence for years and was always considered the manager of the Qiao family. But Qiao Yue had been defying the elders time and time again and had even hurt other children in the family. Such a person could no longer stay in the Qiao family. Sure, you can go and tell Grandpa. Qiao Yueughed. Old Master Qiao would never side with them. When the old master was in aa, Qiao Yi, Qiao Li, and their dealings with Andy were enough to make them lose their right to the family inheritance, even to be kicked out of the Qiao family. Qiao Li, dont tell me you have forgotten what happened to Qiao Yi? Since Qiao Li had already disrespected her mother, Qiao Yue didnt want to say another word to him. If you insist on antagonizing me, Ill make this public. Ill tell the old master how you and Qiao Xin seduced Trand and colluded with Andy to sell girls. You! Qiao Li was so angry that he couldnt speak. Qiao Yue saw that Qiao Li had been defeated and threw him to the ground. The fatty, who weighed a few hundred pounds, fell to the ground with a loud thud. It hurt to just hear the thud. Qiao Li rubbed his ankle that was hurting from the throw. Qiao Yue, youre really something. Dont think that you can do whatever you want just because youre the old masters favorite. This is the Qiao residence, and youre not a member of the Qiao family! Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Li and sneered, You people have raised your children to bully their ssmates You are not worthy of being part of the Qiao family. In Qiao Yues memory, her mother had told her that the Qiao residence was a good ce. The people there were filled with a sense of justice, capable and fair. Their family education and values were good too. But now, it seemed that those were just superficial characteristics. There were still dishonorable people like Qiao Li in the Qiao family. Just as Qiao Li and Qiao Yue were arguing, the door to the living room was pushed open and a man in a ck suit walked in and looked at the people in the living room. Second brother Qiao Xin was the first to speak. Im about to be expelled because of Qiao Yue. Look. Qiao Xin show the report of her punishment to Qiao Jing. The man only nced differently at the words on the punishment report without saying a word. Chapter 302 - 302 Remediating The Qiao Family 302 Remediating The Qiao Family Brother, its all Qiao Yues fault. I wouldnt have broken the school rules otherwise. Qiao Xin exined anxiously. They were now inplete fallout with Qiao Yue, so they must get Qiao Jing, who could help them, on their side. Or their future in the Qiao family would be unbearable. Qiao Jing, I need to tell you this today. Qiao Yue cant stay in the Qiao family anymore. Tao Xi grabbed Qiao Jings arm. !! Qiao Jing looked at his mother with a cold expression. Tao Xi felt that if she hadnt given birth to Qiao Jing, he would have shrugged her off immediately. This Qiao Yue was so capable. He seemed to have cast a spell on the family, adults and children alike Youve seen what happened. Since Qiao Yue arrived, your grandfather who was about to recover, fell ill again. Because of him, your second uncle had also been kicked out of the house, gone astray and almost went to jail. Pfft. Qiao Yue snorted. First aunt, you dont have to be so fond of distorting the truth. Qiao Yi, Mahad and Andys coboration was already established a few months ago. Second uncle deserves to go to jail, its not my fault. Qiao Yue walked up to Tao Xi. As for why hes gone astray, you really dont know? The elders in the Qiao family were responsible for fostering Qiao Yis greedy personality. Youre saying that its our fault? Qiao Li stood up abruptly but fell to the ground again because of the pain in his foot. The several hundred-pound fatty fell to the ground again with a loud thud. Qiao Yue chuckled and looked at Qiao Li disdainfully. You should get your leg checked out. Youre too much! Qiao Yue, how can you talk to your third uncle like that! The third madam stood up as well and red at Qiao Yue, her usual gentle fa?ade gone. Qiao Yue, you were the one who pushed your third uncle. Ill call the police and report you for hurting your family. Just wait to be sent back to Nanshan Vige! Says who? The mans voice was like a stabilizing force, and the whole room fell silent. Everyone looked at Qiao Jing in surprise. What was this child saying? Tao Xi looked at her son in shock. She never thought that he would side with Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue is not rted to you by blood, but Qiao Li is your third uncle. Qiao Xin, youll be punished to clean the ancestral hall for six months. Go to the track tonight and finish an eight-kilometer run. Mother, youve worked hard as the household manager. Please handover your duties temporarily to Qiao Yue. What? Tao Xi eximed. It was fine that she wasnt the household manager, but to hand her power over to Qiao Yue? Wasnt it a tant p to her face? She had been in charge for more than ten years and had never given up her power. Now, she must hand it over to a young man who had not even graduated from college? Its almost winter vacation. Lets leave the household management to Qiao Yue and Qiao Ying. Qiao Jing ignored Tao Xis incredulous look and continued, Mom, Ive booked you a ticket to the Maldives. You can rest there for a week, and well have a good chat when you are back. Tao Xi fell to the ground as if all her strength had been sucked out of her. She never thought that her son would one day ask her to leave the house and give up her right as the household manager. Third uncle and third aunt, please stay home this week and recuperate. You brat, who gave you the right? Qiao Li stood up to lunge at Qiao Jing. However, there seemed to be a sharp pain in his foot and he fell to the ground with a loud cry. Qiao Yue felt the floor shake where she was standing. What right do you have to make such arrangements? Imprisoning your elders, mistreating your sister, and even chasing your own mother out of the house? Just wait for your punishment when the old master wakes up! Qiao Li shouted as he stared at Qiao Yue resentfully. And you, when the old master wakes up, Ill ask him to send you back to Nanshan Vige! Qiao Yue bent down and whispered something in Qiao Lis ear. Qiao Lis eyes widened. Dont you dare! Of course, I dare. Qiao Yue stood up and crossed her arms. Im the head of the Qiao family now, of course I have the right. Qiao Jing continued coldly, Too many things have happened to the Qiao familytely. Ill take this time to remediate the family. He then looked at Qiao Li trembling on the ground. Qiao Li shivered under Qiao Jings gaze. Chapter 303 - 303 Yin He 303 Yin He At the track within the Qiao property, Qiao Xin was running in circles. Her clothes were soaked in sweat, and her legs were sore. Every step she took felt like she was stepping on the edge of a knife. She had barelypleted 3 kilometers, but she feltpletely exhausted, like all her strength had been sucked out of her. Qiao Xin was usually a spoiled child. She was the kind of person who would take sick leave so she could get out of running 800 meters, but she had to run a whole 8 kilometers this time. Qiao Yue, you and I are sworn enemies forever! How dare you sow discord between me and second brother this time and make him punish me? Qiao Xin clenched her fists. After she finished the 8 kilometers, she still had to clean the ancestral hall. The Qiao family ancestral hall was a full 100 square meters, and it was filled with ancestral tablets and Buddha statues. Qiao Xin already found the ancestral hall eerie whenever she had to pay respects there, let alone cleaning it all by herself at night. A whole 100 square meters Wouldnt she be spending the whole night with her ancestors and other, possibly evil, ghosts? Qiao Xin shuddered at the thought. Qiao Xin brought a rag with her to the ancestral hall. The Qiao family ancestral hall was built of sandalwood; even the floor was made of red sandalwood. This wood was very delicate, and the floor must be cleaned by hand using a rag while kneeling on the ground. This work would take a long time and would be very tiring. Even an experienced servant would feel pain all over their body after cleaning the entire floor. A pampered youngdy like Qiao Xin already felt her back ache and saw stars after she wiped just ten tiles. Stupid Qiao Yue. If it werent for you, I wouldnt be here. Qiao Xin massaged her shoulders and looked at the ancestral tablets in front of her. She sped her hands together and made a wish, My dear ancestors, please bless me and make Qiao Yue, the b*stard of unknown origin, leave the Qiao family. Although Qiao Xin felt a little scared when she looked at the ancestral tablets, she really hoped that their spirits would help her punish Qiao Yue. Haha, Miss Qiao has quite a temper. Someone walked out from behind a pir in the hall. It was a man in a ck suit who looked about the same age as Qiao Jing. Unlike Qiao Jings cold and stern appearance, he looked gentle and had a kind of androgenous beauty. Who are you? Qiao Xin asked. Since when did the Qiao residence wee such a guest? Im Qiao Jings guest. I lost my way and ended up in the ancestral hall. You must be Miss Qiao Xin? The man chuckled. You are indeed as beautiful as rumored. Qiao Xin loved to hear such ttering words. She blushed and looked at him. But my fifth brother has caused trouble, and Ive been punished to clean the ancestral hall. Qiao Xin continued angrily, My fifth brother is a b*stard. Hes not of Qiao blood yet hes acting like tyrant in our home. The man just quietly listened to Qiao Xinsints. Im sorry for telling you so many bad things about our family. The manughed. Im willing to listen. Im also very willing to help Miss Qiao take revenge on your so-called fifth brother. What? Qiao Xin was a little surprised and jumped up from the floor. At this moment, the family butler entered the ancestral hall. Mr. Yin He, youre here. The butler saw the man and quickly walked up. The second young master has been looking for you. I didnt expect you to be in the ancestral hall. The butler saw Qiao Xin wiping the floor and quickly exined with embarrassment, This is the second young miss of the family. She has been punished to clean the ancestral hall because of something she did. Please pardon us. Its nothing. When I was young, I have also been punished to clean my family ancestral hall for a whole year because I was naughty. Yin He smiled. He looked very kind, and he spoke with dignity. Second young master Qiao is still waiting for you in the study. Lets bring you over there now. Alright. Yin He turned and nodded at Qiao Xin. See you next time, Miss Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin clutched her pounding heart and reluctantly watched Yin He leave. This Mr. Yin He was the son of a prominent family in C-Country. Qiao Xin has seen his name in her fathers files. If she could be with this young master Yin, her father should be very happy, right? Moreover, this Yin He seemed to have something against Qiao Yue and even suggested that he would deal with Qiao Yue someday. This would be so great. She wouldnt have to fight Qiao Yue alone anymore. She went back on all fours to wipe the floor, scolding Qiao Yue in her heart as she wiped. Chapter 304 - 304 A Long-distance Gift 304 A Long-distance Gift Meanwhile, Qiao Yue was already back in her room. She didnt sympathize with the people who were punished today. They had all done something bad and they deserve to suffer the consequences. When she turned on herputer, she saw that Qiao Jing had already sent her information about housekeeping and financial situation of the family over the past few months. Qiao Yue skimmed through the information. Although the Qiao household wasrge, the financial management of it was simple. Tao Xi didnt strictly control their expenses. !! The consequence of this was that a lot of expenses seemed to be inted, and there were likely kickbacks. Just from the past six months bills, nearly 100,000 yuan had gone missing. If this had been going on for a while, it wouldnt be difficult to squander away the family fortunes over time. The money that Qiao Yi and Qiao Li invested in Mahad probably came from these household expenses. They used money from the family to invest in their illegal business, without any regard for the family reputation. Qiao Yue sent the household ount information and the tutorial she had created for the finance department when she was managing KA to Qiao Ying. Shortly after, there was a knock on her door. Fifth brother, why did you send me these? Qiao Yings face was a little flustered. She never thought that she would one day have the right and power to manage the Qiao household. Second brother would like us to manage the household while first aunt is on vacation. Qiao Yue exined. Qiao Ying furrowed her brows when she heard this. Her tiny face was all scrunched up, like she was worried that she wouldnt be able to do the job well. Qiao Yue reached out and patted Qiao Ying on the head. These are not difficult. Ive also attached a tutorial in my email. I believe that you will do well. Qiao Ying looked at the tutorial. Each lesson was only about ten minutes long. It was the most basic finance course, and the contents were very practical. It would basically prepare Qiao Ying for the job she was going to take on. Things like finance are a little too difficult for me. Im afraid I cant do it. Why dont we get fourth brother to manage finances and Ill help with other things Dont pass it on. Its second brothers wish that you are in charge. Qiao Yue said with a smile. Although Qiao Ying was a coward, being a coward had its benefits. Qiao Ying was very cautious in her work. She was good at mathematics and was very meticulous. Most importantly, she was not a greedy person and was not as ambitious as the two elders. Qiao Yue felt that Qiao Ying was very suitable as the finance manager of the Qiao household. Why dont you give it a shot. Ill help you if theres anything you dont understand. Qiao Yue passed the household ount book to Qiao Ying. Qiao Ying nodded. Since Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing both believed in her, she was willing to give it a try. After Qiao Ying left, Qiao Yue looked through the documents again. There were many things that needed sorting through. There were property and shop rents to be collected, and New Year supplies to be bought. Friends and family would visit each other and exchange gifts over the New Year. They would need to prepare for that. Fortunately, Qiao Yue had experience in managing argepany like KA. So, to her, this wasnt a difficult task. Qiao Yue made a rough n and set a timetable for herself to deal with these things. It was already 8 p.m. when she was done. She went to a shelf in her room and opened a gift box, which was sent by Colonel Su from The Custodians. The packaging wasnt very well done; it was even a little sloppy. The box inside the wrapping paper was very sturdy though. It wasnt damaged despite rough handling by the courier. Qiao Yue shook the box, and it made a muffled sound. The box was heavy, and she didnt know what was inside. When she opened the box, she saw a Custodian bulletproof vest, a pair of motorcycle gloves, and a gun. The empty space within the box was filled with colorfully wrapped fruit-vored sweets. Qiao Yues head was full of question marks. What kind of packaging style is this? Was bat girl the style of The Custodians? Qiao Yue took out the bulletproof vest and put it on. The bulletproof vest was just the right size for her, and the motorcycle gloves were also very snug and warm. She picked up the gun. There was a small moon character and a moon engraved on it. It seemed that Colonel Su had misunderstood and thought that her name was Qiao Yue, with the moon character. However, it was a good gun, a Colt M2000, only slightly worse than the Beretta 92F she often used. The Custodians were very generous to give her such a big gift. Chapter 305 - 305 The Accompanying Message 305 The Apanying Message The Colt M2000 originated from A-Country. It was one of the best handguns with a recoil recovery rate of one nanosecond. It was extremely fast and urate, and its size wasparable to a cell phone. It was the handgun many snipers used for self-defense. The cost of a Colt M2000 was around 200,000 yuan, which was enough to buy a small car. The Custodians were indeed generous. It was a very expensive thank you gift. !! If she received this, what kind of gifts did they send to Qiao Jing? Qiao Yue found a letter among the colorfully wrapped sweets. It was written by Colonel Su. Although Colonel Su was a tough man, his handwriting wasnt illegible. It was neat and the letter looked like it was penned by a schrly person. Hope this letter finds you well. This is Su Xun. Thank you very much for your help during our mission to capture Andy. This is a token of appreciation from The Custodians. We would also like to invite you to help us keep an eye on Andys subsequent moves. If there is a future operation, wed graciously ask for your help. Finally, I wish you the best of health and happy reunion with your family over the New Year. Colonel Sus letter was very direct. He had simply invited Qiao Yue toplete the mission with them. Qiao Yue did not give up on capturing Andy. She had also asked the people at Yayi to help her keep an eye on Andy. It was just that Andy seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. There had been no news of him. Although Qiao Yue was burning with anxiety, she had no other choice. In contrast, Oswald had appeared twice on the news in D-Country. The first time was when he inherited Andys position as the heir of the Eugene family, and the second was when he started his search for Andy publicly on the inte. Qiao Yue read the news on her phone and sighed. She was tempted to ask the Godfather for help. The Godfather probably had some means to find and kill Andy, but she had none. The trust between her and the Godfather had fissured recently, not to mention the whole situation with Oswald. Qiao Yue turned off her phone and went to the bathroom to wash her face. Suddenly, she thought of an even more urgent matter. She was supposed to race with Qiao Yu today, but it was already 9 p.m. and Qiao Yu still wasnt home. Could he already be at the motorcycle racetrack? Qiao Yue quickly changed and jumped down from her window on the second floor. She rushed to the garage, got on the Tomahawk, and sped toward the racetrack. Meanwhile at the racetrack, Qiao Yu had just finished his tenthp around the circuit and was sitting on the ground beside the racetrack, adjusting his motorcycle gloves. Qiao Yue had made an appointment with him topete here, but she still hadnt arrived. Was she going to stand him up? A sharp pain came from the wound on his body. He had just recovered not long ago, so he shouldnt be taking part in this kind of extreme sport. It was too easy to tear the wound open. However, he didnt really care about that now. After all, he was going to lose all hope about his life. What was a wound? Now, even Qiao Yue had failed to keep their appointment. Ha. Heughed at himself. The only thing people in this world cared about was the gentleness and obedience he had always exhibited. Only Qiao Yue got him, but Qiao Yue didnt seem to want to understand him anymore. No one in the world understood him anymore. Just as Qiao Yu was packing up to leave the racetrack, a thunderous sound burst into the racetrack. Im sorry Imte! When Qiao Yue passed by him, she lifted the face shield on her helmet and smiled at him. Qiao Yu immediately perked up, got on his motorcycle, and put on his helmet. The Tomahawk shed in front of him, and he followed closely behind. Both of them were experienced racers. This circuit was the venue for this years MotoGP. It was a challenging circuit but not too difficult for the two of them who had been racing for years. The two of them chased each other on the track, and the record on the timer was constantly refreshed. Qiao Yue was slightly ahead of Qiao Yu, and her performance around the bend was better than Qiao Yus. Qiao Yues entire body hugged the motorcycle and the speeding bike lifted her hair. She looked like a falcon swooping on her prey. Qiao Yus desire to win was aroused. He held on to the handlebars of his bike and sped up. The two of them were soon on par. Dont lose to me. Qiao Yu finally overtook Qiao Yue at a turn. He lifted his face shield and smiled at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue smiled back and the two of them rushed towards the finish line. Chapter 306 - 306 Your Secret 306 Your Secret Qiao Yuesp time was faster than Qiao Yus, but they reached the finish line at almost the same time. Here, drink some water. A bottle of mineral water was thrown into Qiao Yues hand. Qiao Yu sat down beside Qiao Yue and opened his bottle of water. The cold water flowed down his throat, and Qiao Yu felt a long-lost sense of pleasure. Qiao Yue reached out and grabbed Qiao Yus bottle. Youre still recuperating. You shouldnt drink such cold water. Qiao Yu ignored Qiao Yues dissuasion. He took back the bottle and drank all the water in one gulp. I know my own body. Qiao Yue didnt argue with him. The two of them just sat quietly at the racetrack. Qiao Yu had many questions for Qiao Yue but when he was sitting next to her, he didnt know where to begin. He hoped that Qiao Yue would tell him everything, instead of him questioning her. Thank you for saving me at the KTV. The people who saved you were The Custodians, not me. You can thank them. The Custodians? Qiao Yu was confused. He didnt know who The Custodians were. Qiao Yue exined to him what The Custodians were about. So, there are so many organizations and things in this world that I dont know about. Qiao Yu shook his head and smiled. I didnt even know what you and second brother were up to. Im the only one whos trying to y the role of an obedient child every day. But you guys seem to be hiding everything from me. Qiao Yus words were like a childs while throwing a tantrum. I know that you cant understand the rtionship between us and Andy, but I dont really want to exin it to you. Qiao Yue had never told anyone about KA or Andy. It was her secret. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue, knowing that she probably wouldnt exin what went on during this period. Heughed self-deprecatingly. How about what happened in the Qiao family? I have the right to know that, right? Ive let my father down, but I wont regret stopping him frommitting a crime. Qiao Yu said. He knew what his father was doing at the time. He wasnt nning to cover it up, but he wanted to know the reason. Second uncle isnt a good businessman, and he has too many ideas. The old master has never been willing to invest in him. Qiao Yue sighed. Thats why he wanted to join hands with people from D-Country in that human trafficking deal. He would make a few million yuan from that deal. A few million. Qiao Yu smiled, but his smile was somewhat dismal. For a few million yuan, his father had ruined the Qiao family aspirations and reputation for so many years. Qiao Li was really a filial descendant. I know you cant ept it, but its the truth. Qiao Yue reached out and patted Qiao Yu on the shoulder. He was also the one who kidnapped us, right? The atmosphere turned silent. After a long time, Qiao Yue finally nodded. Both of them nearly lost their lives in that kidnapping. But everything was nned by Qiao Yi. When Qiao Yu heard this, he felt as if his heart had fallen into an ice cer and a bone-chilling feeling ran up his spine. I didnt know that my father would do such a thing. What a disappointment. Qiao Yu shook his head. But your father is your father, and you are you. Qiao Yue replied. The Qiao family doesnt just belong to Qiao Yi. It also belongs to you. Qiao Yu fell silent. Qiao Yue was right. Qiao Yi alone couldnt decide what happened to the Qiao family. Neither could he determine Qiao Yus life. I know that you must be feeling very depressed right now. After all, you respect your father a lot and have been living ording to his guidance and expectations. Qiao Yue patted Qiao Yus shoulder. But you can now try to live your life the way you want. Most of the younger Qiaos in their generation were very smart and could find their own path. Qiao Yue believed that Qiao Yu could do the same. Qiao Yu nodded. Lets have another match, fifth brother. Qiao Yue nodded and got on to her motorcycle. The two bikes sped around the circuit; the sound of their engines reverberated throughout the racetrack. Meanwhile at the Qiao residence, Qiao Jing was chatting with Yin He. The reason Qiao Jing invited Yin He over was to discuss a project he was nning to do in K-Country. Qiao Jing was going to take Qiao Yue with him for this project. The old master had asked him to get Qiao Yue up to speed with the family business. This healthcare project would be a great opportunity for Qiao Yue. Chapter 307 - 307 Resemblance 307 Resemnce When Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu arrived home, Qiao Xin was walking out of the ancestral hall. After running and cleaning the floor, she waspletely exhausted and stood panting at the door. But Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu were standing at the door with bags of desserts and food from a nearby restaurant, as if they were mocking her. You guys can still go out and eat? Qiao Yue, you really have no sense of shame. Qiao Yue was baffled by the scolding and sneered, You deserve your punishment of cleaning the ancestral hall. What does that have anything to do with me? Qiao Yu shielded Qiao Yue to prevent Qiao Xin from hurting her. Fourth brother, why are you also protecting this guy? Qiao Xin was so angry that she threw the rag at Qiao Yu. Qiao Xin, what are you doing? Qiao Yu threw the rag on the floor in disgust and flicked the dirty water off his body. Why do all of you take his side? Second brother did that, and so are you. I clearly didnt do anything wrong! You didnt do anything wrong. Why did you bully your ssmate? I saw the video. The school disciplinarymittee had already posted the video of Qiao Xins bullying on the school website. Qiao Yu had personally reviewed and approved the post. But these were all forged by Qiao Yue to sow discord! Didnt you realize that since Qiao Yue came here, nothing good has happened to our family? Qiao Xin questioned. Thats because there are too many things in our family that need to be changed. Qiao Yu turned and left. Qiao Xin screamed and shouted behind them. When the two of them entered the house, Yin He was standing in the living room, ready to leave. Yin He lowered his head slightly when he saw Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue. Hello, second young master, fifth young master. Qiao Yue sized up the man standing in front of her. He was extremely good-looking, and there was a little effeminate charm between his eyes, but his eyes resembled hers. Who was this person? This is the sixth young master of the Yin family. Qiao Jing introduced. The Yin family was an aristocratic family of simr status with the Qiaos. But since the previous family head, Yin Xun, ran away for a woman, the family was in shambles. Fortunately, Yin He was a very capable person, and he saved the Yin family from its mess. Hello, Yin He. Qiao Yue reached out and shook hands with the man. Yin Hes smile was gentle. I think young master Qiao Yue and I look alike. It must be fate. You might even be rted. Qiao Yue only came back this year. His mother is my grandfathers adopted daughter. Other than an uncle who had passed away a long time ago, our family has no rtives. It is probably just fate. Yin He said with a smile. But I think young master Qiao Yue and I will get along fine. Ill count on young master Qiao Yue for our uing project. Project? Qiao Yue asked. Go to K-Country with me when the school holidays begin. Qiao Jing said. At that moment, Qiao Xin walked into the house and was shocked to hear Qiao Jing mention the project in K-Country. She had heard her father mention this project before. It was supposed to be her fathers, but why did Qiao Jing give it to Qiao Yue without saying a word? Qiao Xin clenched her fists as she watched the four people chatting happily in the living room before she went upstairs. And this is? Yin He looked at Qiao Xins back and asked. Shes my sixth sister. Shes being punished for doing something bad recently. Shes in a bad mood and thats why shes like this. Yin Hes eyes glistened with a hint of yfulness. The few of them chatted for a while more before Yin He took his leave. Qiao Yu went back to his room while Qiao Yue followed Qiao Jing to thetters study. She wanted to ask Qiao Jing what the project was about, why he had to go abroad and take her with him. Qiao Jing motioned for Qiao Yue to sit when they entered his study. I know what you want to ask me. Ive already prepared the information for you. Qiao Jing handed a file to Qiao Yue. This was a healthcare project with a few million yuan in funds, which was plentiful. This project is a coboration with the Yin family. Well go to K-Country together for a site visit. There might be some charity activities involved. Well stay there for a while together. Chapter 308 - 308 The Household Account 308 The Household ount With Qiao Xin suspended from school indefinitely, Qiao Yues school life became more pleasant.
She would go to school and y games with Qiao Ying and Qiao Yu every day. When they came home, she would help Qiao Ying with household management. For arge household like the Qiaos, there were many ws in its management. The two of them would often work past midnight. Qiao Yu would bring them delicious supper and they would eat together before going to bed. Today, Qiao Yue and Qiao Ying were sorting out household procurement over the past few years. They realized there were many mistakes in their procurement over the past few years. Look at this, this pen was logged as a gift, but the invoice didnt match what was in our procurement list. Theres a difference of hundreds of thousands of yuan. Where did the money go? Qiao Ying pointed at the discrepancies and showed them to Qiao Yue. Qiao Ying was very smart. She had only been learning for a few days, and she could already spot ounting problems. Qiao Yue patted Qiao Yings shoulder. Good job. You needed my hints in the beginning, but now you can spot the problem on your own. Qiao Ying scratched her head in embarrassment. Fifth brother has also worked hard to teach me. If Im still clueless, Ill be letting fifth brother down.
Qiao Yue looked at the ounting problem Qiao Ying pointed out with a smile. Theres indeed a problem with this. Well investigateter where the money went. After Qiao Yue looked through household procurement from the past few years, she realized that Tao Xi had used procurement as cover to siphon off a lot of money to fund Qiao Li and Qiao Yis business. Qiao Ying was a little confused because the Qiao family seemed very rich in the past few years, so there was no need to care about a few hundred thousand yuan. After hearing Qiao Yings words, Qiao Yue exined, The Qiao family doesnt need to worry about money now, but if this money is used to fund illegal business, the Qiao family will be held ountable. It wont be good for us. Qiao Ying nodded, not fully understanding. Qiao Ying had never cared about what happened at home. Firstly, because her past experience had made her a little fragile. Secondly, because Qiao Li valued Qiao Xin more and spent most of his money grooming Qiao Xin. He hadnt paid much attention to Qiao Yings development. Looking at Qiao Yings careful expression, Qiao Yue felt a little sad. If it werent for Qiao Lis eagerness to seed, his two daughters would have good lives and bright futures. Unfortunately, Qiao Xin was unruly and domineering now while Qiao Ying was overly cautious. Youve been learning well, dont worry. Ill let you handle this years procurement. Qiao Ying opened her mouth wide in shock when she heard this.
The New Year procurement list was already very long and required her to apply everything that she had learned. But managing all procurement for the year would be even more challenging. This was something that her mother and Tao Xi had worked on together before. And it was now on her alone. I Will I be able to handle it? Ive just started to manage these things. Qiao Ying was a little hesitant. She didnt know if she could do a good job. Dont worry, its not that difficult. Qiao Yu pushed the door open and entered. If you need any help, Ill help you. Qiao Yu ruffled Qiao Yings hair. Among the younger sisters in the family, Qiao Yu liked Qiao Ying more. If Qiao Li and his wife hadnt been negligent back then, that incident would have never happened. Thanks. I will do my best. Qiao Ying turned on herputer as she spoke. This is the New Year procurement list Ive prepared. Fifth brother, please take a look. Qiao Yue took Qiao Yingsptop and started reading the list while eating the snacks that Qiao Yu brought. Qiao Yings list was very detailed. It even included which store to buy which things from and what discounts to use. Based on Qiao Yings n, they would end up below budget for the New Year purchases. Well done. Qiao Yue patted Qiao Yings head. Qiao Ying smiled in embarrassment. Qiao Yue picked up a cookie and handed it to Qiao Ying. Eat this. Give yourself a little reward. Qiao Ying shook her head. Fifth brother, theres a final exam tomorrow morning. I cant eat anything, or Ill be so nervous that Ill throw up tomorrow. Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue sighed almost at the same time. It seemed that Qiao Yings affliction could not be cured. Qiao Yue handed the cookie to Qiao Ying. Ill help you settle things tomorrow morning. Eat first. Chapter 309 - 309 Qiao Xin’s Dropout 309 Qiao Xins Dropout Qiao Ying took the cookie from Qiao Yue and put it in her mouth. At the same time, her stomach growled. Dont tell me you skipped dinner, just like before? Qiao Yu asked. Qiao Ying nodded. Every time before an exam, Qiao Ying would try not to eat. !! And because of that, she often feel faint from hunger during exam, and would lose ten points or more on her paper. But if she ate, she would throw up in the examination hall due to nervousness. Although she knew that skipping dinner was not really a solution, Qiao Ying could not think of any other way. That incident from the past followed her everywhere like a shadow, never to be forgotten. Qiao Ying sighed. I have a way to help you tomorrow. Dont worry. Qiao Yue smiled at Qiao Ying. Rest assured. The three of them ate snacks for a while more before returning to their bedrooms to sleep. As soon as Qiao Ying returned to her room, the notebook in her hand was inexplicably snatched. Youve finished studying. Let me see what youve learned. Qiao Xin chewed on a bubble gum as she flipped through Qiao Yings notebook with disdain. It contained notes that Qiao Ying had taken while she was studying financial management. Qiao Xin flipped through her notebook harshly, without any respect for Qiao Yings hard work. Sister, please stop Qiao Ying protested softly but didnt reach out to stop Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin was always overbearing, and their parents loved her more. In the past when the two sisters fought, their parents would always side with Qiao Xin. Qiao Ying could only silently pray that Qiao Xin wouldnt destroy her notebook. What are all these things? Arent these things that first aunt used to manage? How is it your turn now? Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Ying unhappily. Dont think that youll be better off just because you cozy up to Qiao Yue. Who the hell is Qiao Yue? Hmph! Its just a moment of negligence on my part. When I go back to school, Ill make sure that he pays! You were suspended from school for bullying. How can you return so easily Qiao Ying said softly. Qiao Xin still didnt know that when she was given the punishment notice that day, the school had already broadcasted her matter to the public. At the same time, many students and parents of the school also received an anonymous email. The email contained evidence of Qiao Xin bullying Hong Ning, and this evidence had be the talk of the town among students and parents. Everyone was worried that their children would be bullied by Qiao Xin, so they jointly requested for Qiao Xin to be expelled. If it werent because of the principals inability to reach Qiao Jing, Qiao Xin would have been expelled by now. What did you just say? Qiao Xin grabbed Qiao Yings hair and asked loudly. How do you know that I wont return to school? Just read the school forum. Qiao Ying pulled her hair back from Qiao Xins grasp. Qiao Xin was so forceful that she had already broken strands of Qiao Yings hair. The first post on the forum was evidence of Qiao Xin bullying her ssmate. Violent girl, please get out of school. Qiao Xins expression got increasingly uglier as she read the discussion thread on her phone. Qiao Xin is really too arrogant. I heard that her brother reported her because he couldnt stand her. Otherwise, she would still be in the same school as us, which is too scary. Yeah, who knows if shell bully us one day? She has her family to back her up, so shes especially outrageous. Support Qiao Xins expulsion from school. Those who support us, please cast your vote in our poll. Qiao Xin clicked on the link to the polling site. There were already more than 1,500 people who voted to expel her from Harvey. It should be mentioned that there were only 2,000 people in the entire Harvey Academy. Qiao Xin clenched her phone tightly. You people are just taking advantage of the situation. What do you know, what do you know! Qiao Xin couldnt stay calm anymore when the screen was full of people voting to have her expelled. She wished that she could rush through the screen and beat all those people to death. Dont tell me you also voted to expel me? Qiao Ying, youve been jealous of me since young and even tried to make things difficult for me. Now youve ganged up with that b*stard Qiao Yue to humiliate me. You really dont know whats good for you! Qiao Xin reached out and grabbed Qiao Yings hair again. Qiao Ying couldnt avoid her in time and was ruthlessly thrown against the wall. Qiao Xin used a lot of strength, making Qiao Ying cough a few times as she was pressed against the wall. Chapter 310 - 310 A Threat 310 A Threat What are you arguing about in the middle of the night? The third madam walked over from the next room. Qiao Li and his wife, Qiao Xin and Qiao Ying lived on the same floor, so the third madam could hear everything that happened here. My precious, whats the fuss about sote at night? The third madam walked up to Qiao Xin and stroked her head. Qiao Ying stood by the wall, hands covering her injured ribs, but the third madam didnt even look at her. !! Qiao Ying felt heartbroken. I dont know who it is, but they instigated my dropout. I dont know who sent this anonymous email. Qiao Xin handed her phone to the third madam. Readingments about Qiao Xins dropout, the third madams expression gradually turned ugly. It must be Qiao Yue. The third madam handed the phone back to Qiao Xin. But I also find it strange. How did Qiao Yue know that you bullied Hong Ning? Qiao Xin felt a little guilty and didnt tell the third madam that she had brought the Li brothers to the red-light district to buy Hong Ning. The third madams suspicious eyes looked Qiao Ying up and down. Were you with Qiao Ying when you and the others bullied that girl? Qiao Ying and Qiao Xin were in the same ss. Because Qiao Xin felt that she was better than Qiao Ying in every way, she made her sister follow her everywhere as her foil. When the bullying happened, Qiao Ying was standing in a corner, not daring to speak or protest. Qiao Xin would sometimes bully Qiao Ying too with her friends. It must be you, right? Didnt you follow me thest time? Qiao Xin closed in on Qiao Ying and grabbed Qiao Yings hair, pulling it even harder than the previous times. Qiao Ying felt a sharp pain in her scalp, as if her entire scalp was being pulled off. Qiao Ying curled up and covered her head; she didnt dare to look at Qiao Xin or call for help. It had been like this countless times before. If the other people in the family found out that Qiao Xin was bullying her, she would be bullied even more. Alright, Qiao Xin, dont be in a hurry to hit Qiao Ying. What are these? The third madam noticed the ount books scattered all over the floor. She saw a few ounts that they had previously tampered with. If Qiao Yue found out that she and the first madam had tampered with the household ounts, they would be finished. Qiao Yue would definitely tell the old master, who hated nothing more than people who did dirty things at home. When the time came, they would probably have to beg for forgiveness together. Moreover, Tao Xis involvement had always been hidden from Qiao Ren. If Tao Xis tampering with the ounts was found out, Qiao Ren would have a good reason to divorce her. The third madam ced the ount books in front of Qiao Ying. Youre now in charge of the ounts? Qiao Ying nodded, crying. Qiao Ying, were a family, you understand? If you do something with the ounts and let Qiao Yue find out about us, our family will be kicked out. Qiao Ying shuddered as she looked at the third madam who had suddenly be very gentle. Although this person was her mother, Qiao Ying had always lived in the shadow that this family had cast over her. She didnt know why her parents doted on Qiao Xin but not her, even though they were both their daughters. They even bullied and insulted her sometimes. These ount books would decide if we can continue to stay in the Qiao family, do you understand? The third madam walked closer to Qiao Ying and stroked her head. Its your sisters fault just now. She shouldnt have hit you. But Mom hopes that you wont do anything stupid with these ount books. Qiao Ying raised her head slowly when she heard this. The third madam looked at her tenderly and spoke to her in a gentle voice that she had never heard before. Qiao Yings tears rolled down her face. You know that your fifth brother is an outsider no matter what. You should stand together with your family, yeah? Qiao Ying suddenly felt sick in her stomach. She hurriedly stood up, rushed to the bathroom, and vomited. Qiao Xin and the third madam stood outside with disgusted expressions. They listened to Qiao Yings painful cries, but neither of them moved. Although Qiao Xin didnt understand ounting, she could tell from her mothers tone that it was something very important. Mom, we cant let Qiao Ying hang out with fifth brother anymore. Qiao Xin clenched her fists. Chapter 311 - 311 Qiao Ying’s Background 311 Qiao Yings Background Qiao Xin grabbed Qiao Yings cor and pulled her up from the ground. Seventh sister, you know that were family, right? She loosened her grip and helped Qiao Ying adjust her cor. Qiao Ying kept trembling. We dont need to exin too much to her. Now that we have the ount books, well just alter them. The third madam took the ount books and threatened Qiao Ying, Dont tell Qiao Yue about us altering the ounts. Do you keep a softcopy on yourputer? Give me your sh drive, Ill change that too. !! Qiao Ying shook her head violently but Qiao Xin was one step ahead of her. She had already taken the USB sh drive from Qiao Yings pocket. Qiao Ying tried to snatch it back but was smacked to the ground by Qiao Xin. Thats enough, Qiao Ying. You should prepare for tomorrows exam. Ive overseen the ounts for so many years, so I know them better than you. You should have a good rest. The third madam left the room with Qiao Xin. As soon as the two of them left, Qiao Ying rushed to the toilet and continued to retch. But she had already thrown up all the food she had eaten. Shey next to the toilet bowl, feeling sick. Why? Qiao Xin and her were both the third madams children. Why was she treated so unfairly? Her second and fifth brothers were the people who treated her the best in this family. Qiao Ying curled up in a corner of her bathroom and started crying. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue was still awake. She was in the shower. Suddenly, a few dialog boxes popped up on herputer screen. They were all documents from her ount folder. To ease management of the household ounts, Qiao Yue had uploaded all the ounts on herputer and even designed her own ounting software. The dialog boxes showed that someone was altering the ounts. Qiao Yue walked out of the bathroom and looked at the dialog boxes on herputer screen with narrowed eyes. She typed amand on herputer and pulled up the IP address of the dialog boxes. It was Qiao Yings IP address. The dialog boxes were invoked from Qiao Yingsputer. Qiao Yue frowned. Was Qiao Ying altering the ounts in the middle of the night? Qiao Yue typed a few moremands on herputer. These forcibly turned on the camera on Qiao Yingsptop, and the third madams face appeared on herputer screen. The third madam was cursing as she altered the ounts. Qiao Yue plugged in her headphones to hear what the third madam wasining about. This little b*tch Qiao Ying only knows how to cause trouble with Qiao Yue every day. If I had known this earlier, I would have let her die in the hospital that year. We cant let Qiao Yue find out that these ounts have been altered. If he tells the old master, our family will be finished. Qiao Xin sat beside her mother and watched impatiently. Mom, when can we kick Qiao Ying out of the family? I cant take it anymore. How can someone like her be a young miss of the Qiao family? And that Qiao Yue, hes a b*stard too. Wasnt Qiao Ying the third madams biological daughter? What did the third madam mean by that? Qiao Yue was a little confused. Could Qiao Ying be like her, and had a mysterious background? Qiao Yue continued to wear her headphones while she stared at her screen to see what the mother and daughter were up to. The third madam was not very proficient in ounting. All she did was to make up a few line items to ount for the deficit and alter a few lines of expenses. If the ounts were audited, the amendments she made would be considered illegal. Qiao Yue wasnt in a hurry to correct things. She just clicked a button to start recording her screen. If your brother hadnt died back then, why would I randomly buy a baby? The third madam said through gritted teeth. This little b*tch! All I wanted to do then was to fool the old master. Who knew that she would cause so much trouble? Mom, when pushes to shove, lets just reveal the mystery surrounding her birth. I dont think anyone in the family would ept her. Why not? Look at Qiao Yue. His mother is just the old masters adopted daughter, yet he can interfere in our family matters! Even if the old master found out about Qiao Yings identity, he wont kick her out. Qiao Yue was shocked when she heard this. As expected, Qiao Ying was not the third madams biological daughter. No mother would treat her two children so differently. Qiao Yue only felt sad for Qiao Ying. Qiao Ying was a very good girl. Regardless of whether they were rted by blood, she had always considered Qiao Ying her sister. At this moment, Qiao Yue suddenly thought of something terrible. If Qiao Yingsptop was with the third madam, where was Qiao Ying? Did they snatch Qiao Yingsptop? Chapter 312 - 312 Treatment 312 Treatment Qiao Yue rushed to Qiao Yings room on the third floor. Qiao Yings room had the worst lighting in the entire Qiao residence. It was cold all year round and no sunlight could enter. Qiao Yue found it a little strange at first, but now she understood. Qiao Yings avoidance from talking about the incident from back then was probably the third madams doing. The door to her room was wide open, and Qiao Yue could see the mess inside. Torn books and papers were scattered all over. Qiao Yue recognized the cover from Qiao Yings notebook. Qiao Yues heart skipped a beat. She looked in every corner of the room for Qiao Ying and finally found her shaking inside the bathroom. Fifth brother Qiao Ying saw Qiao Yue and burst into tears. Qiao Yues heart ached as she rushed over to hug Qiao Ying. Its alright, I know. You dont have to say anything. Just by looking at the situation in her room, Qiao Yue could tell what Qiao Ying had been through. The mother and daughter were really cruel. I didnt lose it on purpose. They destroyed the ount book. Im sorry, fifth brother. Qiao Ying said while sobbing. Probably because Qiao Ying recalled what just happened, she leaned over the toilet and retched in pain again. Its going to be fine. Qiao Yue patted Qiao Yings back. After Qiao Yings condition stabilized, Qiao Yue pressed on a few acupoints on her hand. Qiao Ying quickly became a little tired. Qiao Yue helped Qiao Ying back to her bed and then went back to her room to get her acupuncture kit. She took Qiao Yings hands out of the nket and pulled up her sleeves. Qiao Yue was fuming mad in the next second. What kind of animal would do such a thing! There were all sorts of bruises on Qiao Yings arms. The new and old wounds were stacked, and there were signs of scabs being reinjured. Qiao Yue clenched her teeth, took out some medical ointment from the first aid kit and applied it on Qiao Yings arm. Qiao Ying wasnt sleeping peacefully either. She kept shaking her head as if she was having a nightmare. After Qiao Yue treated the wounds on Qiao Yings arms, she treated her again with acupuncture. The moment the needle pierced her skin, dark blood flowed out. Qiao Yue tested it with a silver needle and found that it was not poison, but a result of long-term depression. Qiao Yues heart was heavy as she watched Qiao Ying frown in pain. The Qiao family had too many secrets and too many children had suffered because of these secrets. Qiao Yue reached out and stroked Qiao Yings brows, trying to calm her down. After the acupuncture treatment, Qiao Yings brows rxed a lot. Qiao Yue checked Qiao Yings pulse again. Qiao Yings illness was probably caused by prolonged depression. Coupled with her post-traumatic stress symptoms, Qiao Ying hadnt been well all these years and she fainted easily. Qiao Yue felt sad as she looked at Qiao Ying. She didnt know who else knew about Qiao Yings background. It seemed that no one knew this secret except for the third madams family. Qiao Ying herself probably didnt even know. She only felt that she had done something to upset her mother and therefore the third madam punished her. Qiao Yue dialed Chu Jias number. Help me find out what Qiao Xin has been up totely. Qiao Li too. Alright, Chu Jia replied quickly. Qiao Xin was probably worried that she would never return to Harvey Academy. Therefore, she had applied to a few music schools abroad. She might be studying overseaster. It was school application season, so Qiao Xin should receive an offer soon. The Qiaos were wealthy. Although Qiao Xin hadnt behaved quite appropriately, she still had some musical talent. She should be able to get an offer. Qiao Li had been busy transferring his assets abroad. Check if they had done any child trafficking in the past. Qiao Yue said. Child trafficking? From how long ago? Chu Jia furrowed her brows. This Qiao Li really had his fingers in all kinds of bad. Eighteen to twenty years ago. Check if there was any medical record of the third madam giving birth to Qiao Ying. Qiao Yue said. Noted, Chu Jia replied. This kind of investigation would take some time, so Qiao Yue didnt rush Chu Jia. As she looked at Qiao Yings pained expression, she had already thought of a better solution. Qiao Li would definitely make things difficult for her going forward; she wouldnt let them off when time came. Chapter 313 - 313 Assault 313 Assault Although Qiao Ying had a torturous night, she didnt feel too bad when she woke up. She tried to drink a little warm milk from the thermos by her bed and she didnt feel like retching. She patted her chest in confusion, that stuffy feeling was gone. Herst memory was Qiao Yue bringing her back to bed and then falling asleep. She stood up and felt much more rxed. How could this be? She turned to look at the bedside table and saw a note. Pack your bad and get dressed when you wake up. Ill take you out for breakfast. Qiao Yue. Qiao Yings heart felt warm when she read the note. Who knew that the person who cared most about her in the family was her fifth brother who was not even rted to her by blood? She quickly packed her bag and went downstairs, but she stopped at the foot of the stairs. Qiao Xin and the third madam were sitting in the dining room, nking Tao Xi like her left and right guardians. Qiao Ying shrank back a little as she thought about the ount book, but the sharp-eyed Tao Xi saw it. Qiao Ying, why are you hiding? Tao Xi said with a smile. Come and have breakfast. Qiao Ying had goosebumps all over her body. Since when did the first madam speak to her so nicely? She was like the third madam and Qiao Xin in the past, ignoring her. Its probably because of the ount book. As Qiao Ying moved back, a familiar nauseating feeling rose from her stomach. Alright,e and eat. Wasnt it just a fight with your sisterst night? You have an exam today, so hurry up and eat. Dont bete. The third madam walked up and pulled Qiao Ying towards the dining table. Qiao Ying was in pain, but she couldnt shake off her mothers hand. The third madam held her arm tightly. Qiao Ying could feel a small wound on her arm being torn apart. Blood quickly seeped through her white shirt. Why are you so delicate now? The third madam looked at the blood stain and violently rolled up Qiao Yings sleeve. The original wound on her arm was applied with ointment. Some of the wounds that hadnt scabbed over were wrapped in gauze, and there were needle marks on her acupoints. She must have received acupuncture treatment. However, when the third madam saw the needle marks, she screamed. Oh my God, Qiao Ying, when have you be a degenerate? Tao Xi also stood up and saw the needle marks on Qiao Ying. No doctor had been called to the house yesterday, so it was impossible for Qiao Ying to have received acupuncture treatment. These needle marks Could she have taken drugs? Tao Xi grabbed Qiao Yings shoulder. How could you do such a thing? Come, lets go for a drug test. Qiao Ying pulled down her sleeve and looked at the two women in front of her. They did not care about her feelings at all, even if they were family. What are you waiting for? Qiao Xin, quickly tie her up. Drug addicts might act crazy! The third madam instructed. The third madam even called over a few servants and ordered them to pin Qiao Ying down on the floor. Tao Xi stood rooted to the ground as she watched the men assault Qiao Ying. What are you doing? A youths clear voice and a sharp pain in her scalp came together. The third wife was grabbed by the hair and fell to the ground. The third madam could feel the strength of the other person. It felt as if her scalp was being pulled off. The back of her head hit the floor and she felt like she was seeing stars despite the carpet. Who is it? The third madam shouted. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing appeared in her field of vision. Qiao Ren was behind them. Tao Xi was stunned. Mom, Ive already booked you a ticket. You can go to the Maldives this afternoon. Qiao Jings voice was so cold that Tao Xi was stunned. Mom is doing this for you and for the Qiao family. Thats enough, Mom. This is not a reason for you and third aunt to bully Qiao Ying together. Qiao Jings eyes were filled with disappointment as he looked at his mother. Qiao Ren only looked at the injured Qiao Ying and did not look at Tao Xi even for a second. Qiao Ying, are you alright? Qiao Yue helped Qiao Ying up. Qiao Ying looked well. Qiao Yue heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that the treatmentst night worked. Fifth brother, second brother, lets go. We still have an exam today. Qiao Ying picked up her things from the floor and said to Qiao Yue. Qiao Yues cold eyes swept over the third madam. Third madam, you might want to watch your step. Chapter 314 - 314 Continuing With The Exams 314 Continuing With The Exams The third madam was startled by Qiao Yues gaze and her whole body trembled. How dare this little brat threaten her? Who do you think you are? You think you can call the shots in the Qiao family? The third madam said fiercely,pletely incongruent with her gentle image. That doesnt mean third sister-inw can call the shots. Qiao Ren shot the third madam a look. !! The third madam shut up. Although Qiao Ren was a good-for-nothing, he had two good sons. Qiao Jing was now in control of their finances, and she could not afford to offend him. Third sister-inw, please dont discipline your child like this in future. Shes still young, and this type of disciplining may cause more harm than good. Qiao Ren looked at Qiao Xin again and said, I heard from fifth young master that you were suspended from school for bullying. You should reflect on your actions. First uncle! I was clearly wronged. Qiao Xin felt extremely aggrieved. If the punishment of cleaning the ancestral hall for six months isnt enough, you can go there and copy sutras starting today. Qiao Ren was a Buddhist and had copied many sutras for Old Master Qiaos illness. How about this? Copy a sutra every day to calm your heart. Second brother! Qiao Xin turned to Qiao Jing. Two sutras, Qiao Jing said sternly. Qiao Xins heart sank. If she copied two sutras a day, she probably wouldnt have time to do anything else. Come. Lets go to school. Qiao Yue held Qiao Yings arm as they walked out the door. Tao Xi was stunned on the spot as she looked at her husband and son, who were acting against her. You two, are you defying me because of these two b*stards? Tao Xi looked at the father and son with an expression of disbelief. Yes. Qiao Ren sneered, Tao Xi, youve been managing the household for years. Dont think that I dont know how much youve profited from it. Tao Xi looked at her husband and almost went berserk. You know that Ive birthed you two sons and must still manage the Qiao household. Instead of asking me if its been hard on me, you colluded with outsiders to defy me? Qiao Ren turned his face away from Tao Xi. Their marriage was a business transaction; there was no love at all. Qiao Ren only found Tao Xi detestable as he looked at her livid expression. Thats enough, Mom. Qiao Yue is the fifth young master of the Qiao family, acknowledged by the old master. Hes not an outsider. Qiao Jing sighed. Since things have been so hard on Mom, you should go to the Maldives and have a good rest. Ive arranged for my secretary to apany you. Mom, you must enjoy your vacation this time. Tao Xi sat on the ground and felt nothing but bone-chilling cold. She had sacrificed her youth and her marriage for the Qiao family. She only skimmed a little money off the top. Why did they have to hold it against her? Her failed marriage and her lost youth What was so wrong with trading them for a little cash? Qiao Jing walked out of the house after he said that. He would personally drive Qiao Ying and Qiao Yue to school this morning. Although Qiao Ying looked a little shaken up, she was no longer as anxious as before. She seemed fine. If you really cant take it, take a break and take a make-up test next time. Qiao Yue said. Qiao Ying shook her head. Fifth brother, I can do it. Qiao Yue nodded and passed the breakfast she had bought to Qiao Ying. She also gave Qiao Ying a few tips for the exam. Qiao Yings learning was simr to theirs, so Qiao Yue was able to help her a little. The car pulled to a steady stop at the entrance of Harvey Academy. Qiao Ying went into school first. Qiao Yue was in no hurry to go in. Instead, she took out a stic bag from her pocket and handed it to Qiao Jing. Not taking the exam? Qiao Jing asked. I can join themter. Qiao Yue ced the bag in Qiao Jings hand. Only then did Qiao Jing realize that there were two strands of hair inside. What is this? I have something that I need second brother to investigate. But no matter what the result is, can second brother keep it a secret? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and slowly nodded. Sure. This is the third madam and Qiao Yings hair. In theputer science exam hall, Sun Bin was holding a pen and looking around sneakily. Today was the first day of the final exams. If he didnt do as well as Qiao Yue, he would have to drop out of Harvey as promised. He didnt want to use such a method at first. He didnt know what kind of injury Qiao Yue had suffered, but he had taken long leave until two days ago. Sun Bin thought that Qiao Yue wouldnt turn up for the exams, which would void their bet. However, Qiao Yue actually came to school the past two days and was continuing with the exams. Sun Bin spun his pen slowly as he thought to himself, Qiao Yue, you forced me to do this. Chapter 315 - 315 Cheating 315 Cheating The exam bell rang, and Sun Bin carefully turned his pen in the direction of the question. The voice that announced the answer came through his earpiece. Sun Bin covered his ear as he wrote the answers while peeking at Qiao Yues seat. Qiao Yues seat was empty. Sun Binughed in his heart. !! So, this Qiao Yue didnt turn up for the exams in the end. It was just an exam, whats there to be afraid of? Whats wrong? Did your friend miss the exam? The person who was helping him cheat was someone he had found on the inte. He was very cold but very easy to talk to. That person seemed to be standing on a rooftop because Sun Bin could hear the sound of wind as he spoke. Mind your own business. Sun Bin wrote on his notepad. That person chuckled and the wind made hisughter sound other-worldly. Even if Qiao Yue didnt turn up for the paper today, Sun Bin must still get into the top ten so he could p Qiao Yue in the face. That persons voice rang out again, and Sun Bin buried his head to write the answers. Fifteen minutes had passed. If Qiao Yue didnt arrive in the next fifteen minutes, he would be disqualified. Sun Bin was secretly happy. As long as Qiao Yue didnt turn up, he would make it into top ten and it would be a big p to Qiao Yues face. As he thought of this, his hands moved faster, and his handwriting became more arrogant and confident. Sir! A young mans voice called out from outside the exam hall. Qiao Yue was standing at the door. Sun Bin clenched his pen and looked up at the clock on the wall. 9:58 a.m Two minutes before the half-hour mark. Was Qiao Yue doing this just to embarrass him? Sun Bin stared daggers at Qiao Yue as he walked into the exam hall. Qiao Yue ignored him and went straight to his seat, not nervous at all. This was the advanced mathematics paper. Logically, if a student was half an hourte, he might not even be able to finish the paper. Why was Qiao Yue so calm andposed? Sun Bin red at Qiao Yue. Whats wrong? Is your enemy here? The mans voice sounded in Sun Bins earpiece and Sun Bin could feel the teasing tone in his voice. Shes a very pretty girl. Shut up. Hes a guy. Are you blind? Sun Bin wrote on his notepad. That personughed again and began to give another answer to Sun Bin. By the time Sun Bin finished half the paper and looked up at Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue had already finished most of the questions and was napping at his desk. Sun Bin wanted to stab Qiao Yue with his pen. What was Qiao Yue doing? Was he insulting him? Sun Bin gripped his pen tightly. Dont get too excited. If you hold the pen too tightly, you may damage the camera inside. The man in Sun Bins earpiece yawned and sounded a little impatient. Just continue answering the questions. Sun Bin continued to answer the questions under the mans guidance. Qiao Yue fell asleep with her head on the desk. She was so tired today because she treated Qiao Yingst night. She thought that she could handle it, but after she finished answering the exam questions, she felt tired. When she woke up, the exam bell had already rung and the teachers were collecting the papers. Qiao Yue pandicted as she stood up. The questions were rather simple this time. It took her about ten minutes to answer them, and she used the remaining time to catch up on her sleep. Qiao Yue, what are doing? Sun Bins voice rang out behind Qiao Yue as she was about to leave carrying her pencil case. I waste because I overslept. Why? Qiao Yue yawnedzily. Cant you respect our bet a little more? Sun Bins eyes were like raging fire. Qiao Yue shrugged. Ive already answered all the questions. Thats respecting our bet. She didnt even hand in her paper early like she usually did. She felt that she had given Sun Bin enough face. You taking a nap during exam means what? Sun Bin asked. Qiao Yue suddenly saw the pen Sun Bin was holding. If she remembered correctly, this was a special pen used by special agents in the organization. In the past when the Godfather sent people to spy on politicians, they would use such pens to steal information. Seeing Qiao Yues gaze on his pen, Sun Bin guiltily hid the pen behind his back. I studied hard for so many days just to honor our bet Chapter 316 - 316 A Young Man In Red 316 A Young Man In Red Then honor it seriously. Dont use any underhanded tactics. Qiao Yue said coldly. The man in Sun Bins earpiece chuckled. Sun Bin had goosebumps all over his body. Did Qiao Yue know how to read minds or predict the future? How did he know that he was cheating? Young man, this girl said it very well. !! I already told you hes a boy! Sun Bin wished he could crush the pen he was holding. But he still needed the mans help to cheat in a few more papers, so he didnt dare to cross him. For some reason, Sun Bin felt a sense of oppressioning from this man. Qiao Yue yawned as she walked out of the exam hall. She found a corner and dialed Chu Jias number. Boss, you finally called. Chu Jia said. Weve been so boredtely. The Godfather doesnt assign us any task, and neither do you. Weve really be a club. Qiao Yue hadnt been in contact with the Godfather recently too. Can you help me check the inventory of 7-13s special agent pens and the whereabouts of each? Chu Jia broke out in cold sweat when she heard the code name. Boss, isnt this pen Chu Jia hesitated. This would be in the secret files. Have YQ investigate it. If the Godfather asks, tell him that I saw someone using the pen at Harvey. Chu Jia nodded. In the organization, 7-13 was a special number. It was the code name of one of the members of the organization. This person seemed to be inextricably linked to the Godfather. She was an amazing inventor. She was the one who basically invented the early mechanical equipment in the Godfathers organization. But she had passed away more than a decade ago. Although all the things she invented were put to use, they must be returned intact after every use, or the users would have to cut off their fingers as apology. Qiao Yue had once used a gun modified by 7-13. Although the gun parts were decades old, the mechanics of the gun was sophisticated and it felt good to the touch. When Qiao Yue used the gun, she felt that it had a soul. Qiao Yue asked about the organization as she walked downstairs. After the first paper, it was time for lunch. She walked towards the school cafeteria. A boy in a red sweater walked past her. Among the students ck, white, and gray clothes, his presence seemed a little out of ce, like a rose blooming through the cracks of a city building. It was blinding, but with a strange beauty. Qiao Yue noticed the boy. He was wearing arge hoodie with most of his face covered; only his beautiful jawline was seen. He seemed to be wearing a microphone on his cor. Qiao Yue immediately became on guard. She turned around and chased after him. Unfortunately, there were too many people. She pushed her way through the crowd and went upstairs but did not see the man. It was not until she reached the stairwell to the rooftop when she saw him. Just as she was about to give chase, she heard a helicopter watched the man skillfully ascend its ropedder. Qiao Yue turned around and hid behind the door. She didnt know if it was an illusion, but she felt the man ncing at her. The feeling of a venomous snake slithering up her throat returned. Who was he? By the time she turned around, the helicopter was long gone. The helicopter had no special paint or customizations. It was just an ordinary helicopter. Who was this man? Could this have something to do with Sun Bin? Qiao Yue walked back downstairs, thinking hard. No matter what, she had to fill her stomach before she thought about this again. She arrived at the cafeteria and met Sun Bin, who had just finished his lunch. Sun Bin was walking out with a few of his good friends. He looked at Qiao Yue and mocked from afar. I thought he was a child prodigy but he handed in his test paper sote! Yeah, what a fake! One of the boys was Chang Yin. He was one of Hong Nings suitors who had be jealous when he saw Hong Ning hanging out with Qiao Yue. He couldnt believe that his goddess actually liked a country bumpkin. Although Qiao Yue was different from the typical country bumpkins, Chang Ying still couldnt ept it. Yeah, why pretend to be a child prodigy? Who knows whats wrong with him? Sun Bin sneered. Chapter 317 - 317 Flaw 317 w Qiao Yue didnt look at them and walked straight into the cafeteria. But Sun Bin stood in front of her. What are you doing? Qiao Yue asked coldly. You just insulted me. Am I not qualified to say anything? Sun Binughed. Im taking the exam and doing my own thing. What does it have to do with you? Qiao Yue was baffled. You cant sleep during exams. You must respect your opponent, right? Qiao Yue almostughed out loud. What kind of childish request was this? He actually forbade her from sleeping during exams? He should look at the results to know what it meant to be disrespectful to the opponent. I dont n on attending school anymore, is that not okay? Qiao Yue crossed her arms andughed. What do you mean by that? Sun Bin was a little annoyed. Cheating at Harvey was punishable by expulsion. He was taking the risk of being expelled, but Qiao Yues attitude was like this! What I mean is I dont want to go to school anymore. You do whatever you want with this bet, okay? Qiao Yue didnt want to argue with Sun Bin, but Sun Bin started it to teach Qiao Yue a lesson. Chang Yin pulled Sun Bin back. Brother Bin, dont bother with a country bumpkin like him. He was just lucky to get good grades thest time. We dont know what will happen this time. At the thought of the person who helped him, Sun Bins heart calmed. He spun the pen in his hand, snorted, and left. Three days of exams passed by quickly. The teachers marked the papers quite quickly this time. In less than three days, they finished marking all the exam papers. The student who came up tops was Qiao Yue again! Chang Yuan couldnt believe it. Qiao Yue had never liked to take part in anypetition, but his exam results were so outstanding. With his results, Qiao Yue could easily secure a ce at C-Countrys Institute of Science and Technology, where the top scientists were. It would be a pity if a talent like him couldnt make the country proud. This Qiao Yue is really good at programming. His answers to the programming questions were more than enough to win internationalpetitions. The Dean, Lu Yuan, sighed. Who would have thought that such a talented young man came from a mountain vige? Many students have done well this time, especially Qiao Ying. She moved up by more than 50 ces. I think she has adjusted her mentality. Lu Yuan said as he looked at the results. Other than Qiao Yu moving down by a rank, all the other students in their ss had improved. How about Sun Bin? Hes a transfer student, I wonder if hes settled into the ss? Sun Bin, let me find his name. Lu Yuan knew about the bet between Sun Bin and Qiao Yue. He found Sun Bins name very quickly. Sun Bin has improved a lot too. Hes ranked fifth in ss and tenth in the entire grade this time. Chang Yuan sighed. These students have really surprised me. Sun Bins progress is so great, and so is Qiao Yings. I feel like theyre all influenced by Qiao Yue. Yes. I think Qiao Yue should go on a ss tour. This way, Harveys standard will rise to another level. Lu Yuan said with a smile. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to be able to bring about such a strong catfish effect. But I still feel that theres a problem. Chang Yuan sighed. Although Sun Bin had been working hard, his results seemed a little strange. He did not lose points in advanced mathematics and programming, which were his weaker subjects. Instead, he lost points in general literature. Based on Chang Yuans observation, Sun Bin wasnt as outstanding in mathematics and programmingpared to general literature. Whats there to doubt? Its possible that the boy suddenly understands as he learns. Lu Yuan replied with a smile. I just feel that somethings not right, but I cant put a finger on it. Chang Yuan stroked his chin as he pondered. He would test Sun Bin. If Sun Bin really did well in these two subjects, he would send him to thepetition and let him win the prize with Qiao Yue. It was soon back-to-school day, and everyone was waiting for Chang Yuan to announce their results. Sun Bins hands were sweating. After all, he didnt want to lose the bet and leave Harvey in disgrace. Chapter 318 - 318 Accusations 318 usations Chang Yuan walked onto the podium and looked at the ss. Everyone looked at Chang Yuan with anticipation. Qiao Yue was oblivious and just dozed off. Since the holidays started, Qiao Yu and Qiao Ying had asked her to y games every night all night. If Qiao Jing hadnt remembered that today was back-to-school day and had forced them to go to bed at 3 a.m., they would still be fighting for the top spots in Glory. Qiao Yu was also dozing off. He looked at Qiao Yue and mouthed, Lets do another 1-on-1 tonight. Im definitely going to beat you today. Lets wait and see, Qiao Yue mouthed back. Qiao Yu, Qiao Yue, stand up. What are you whispering about? Chang Yuan mmed the table. Although his tone was stern, he was smiling. Even if the two of you did well, you cant becent and arrogant, understand? Chang Yuan pursed his lips. Qiao Yue ranked first in ss. GPA 4.70. Harveys highest possible GPA was five points. A GPA of 4.70 meant that Qiao Yue had scored full marks on most papers, with only a few assignment marks deducted. Pay attention to thepetitions next semester and dont lose unnecessary assignment marks. Qiao Yue yawned, took her report card and said with a smile, Teacher, I still have to spend my free time ying games with my brother. Well talk about thepetitionter. Everyone burst intoughter. Chang Yuan too. Such a rascal. Although he said that, his eyes were hopeful as he looked at Qiao Yue. Sun Bin held the thing in his hand tightly. How did Qiao Yue get such good results after taking long leave? He had been studying hard for so long, yet he couldnt be at Qiao Yues level! The rest of the report cards were given out. Sun Bins GPA was 4.47. Although it couldnt bepared to Qiao Yue and Qiao Yus, it was still very high. When Sun Bins results were announced, the ssroom fell into dead silence. Everyone knew about the grudge between Sun Bin and Qiao Yue. Whats wrong? Sun Bins results are so good this time, shouldnt everyone encourage him? There was sparse apuse from the ss. Li Guang, who had had run-ins with Sun Bin, shouted, But Sun Bin still didnt do as well as Qiao Yue. Sun Bins going to drop out next semester! He took the lead andughed, not noticing Sun Bins darkened face. What? Im just telling the truth. Everyone in our ss knows about their bet. Li Guangughed. Sit down, what bet, dont do this in ss! Qiao Yue, youre not allowed to do this in future. Chang Yuan said. Yes, teacher. Qiao Yue stood up and stuck out her tongue. Sun Bin was infuriated by everyonesughter. What did they mean? Could it be that because he lost the bet, both him and the bet had be a joke? Qiao Yue didnt think that at all. She only wanted this chapter to be over as soon as possible. It wasnt easy for Sun Bin to attend Harvey. She would feel bad if he really dropped out. Sun Bin was alreadyughed at for losing the bet, which was punishment enough. Teacher, I want to report Qiao Yue for cheating. Sun Bin said as he looked at Chang Yuan. The entire ss fell silent. Qiao Yues past results were also very good. He even won first ce in thepetition against St. Faustinas Institution. How could he have cheated? Do you have any evidence? Hong Ning stood up and asked. Hong Ning had been grateful for Qiao Yues help and she had always wanted to repay him. Now that Qiao Yue was being wronged, she naturally wouldnt let it go. Thats right. Weve all seen how good Qiao Yue is. Why would he cheat? Sun Bin looked at the people who spoke against him, and his eyes like raging fire. These people only knew how to curry favor with Qiao Yue, they didnt care about what he said at all. Youve also improved a lot and the teacher didnt say anything about you! Someone said. Sun Bins anger rose when he heard this. How could these people have double standards? Both of them could have cheated, so why was he the only deserving suspect? Tell us about the evidence, Sun Bin. I also want to know how I have cheated. Chapter 319 - 319 Investigation 319 Investigation Teacher, you can check out Qiao Yues pen. I discovered that he cheated using that pen at our exams! Chang Yuan frowned. Cheated using a pen? That sounded like a rathermon cheating method. To prevent this kind of cheating, the school had long installed a signal blocker so that no message could be transmitted. Qiao Yue looked at Sun Bin, and Sun Bin looked away guiltily. !! Qiao Yue had already figured it out. Sun Bin had probably slip the pen he used to cheat into her bag when she wasnt paying attention. Sun Bins next step would be to search her bag. It was a rather rudimentary move. Qiao Yue shrugged. Are you going to search my bag next? Sun Bins face was flushed as he looked at Chang Yuan. Teacher, I think cheating is a very serious offence. Please investigate this seriously. Qiao Yue, who had gotten full marks in both exams, shouldnt need to cheat. Chang Yuan couldnt understand why Sun Bin was so sure that Qiao Yue had cheated. Alright, since Sun Bin said so, lets investigate. Chang Yuan said. However, randomly searching through other peoples belongings is not something that a teacher should do. Qiao Yue, how do you want to handle this? Qiao Yue smiled, picked up her bag from the table and poured its contents on the floor. Since Sun Bin reported her, he must have made sure that the cheating device was in her bag. There was no need for her to hide it anymore. The pen fell to the ground. Qiao Yue picked it up and gave it a few gentle twists. A signal receiver and a camera appeared in front of everyone. Qiao Yue, did you really cheat? Chang Yuan turned pale with shock. He had seen many students cheat, but Qiao Yue? Who just took out the cheating device in public and showed it to everyone? Oh my God, what was going on? Sun Bin looked at Qiao Yue and smiled confidently. What did I say? Qiao Yue has cheated. He knew that hes been caught and showed everyone how he did it. He is really shameless! Teacher, you must punish him! Sun Bin said to the teacher. Chang Yuan was also perplexed at the situation. He didnt expect Qiao Yue to show everyone the cheating device. Qiao Yue, you need to give me an exnation. Qiao Yue was staring at the pen. There was a small Chinese character engraved on the back of it. Qiao Yues hand stopped at the engraved character. Yin? The androgenous young man whom Qiao Yue met the other day popped up in her mind. Could the Yin family be connected to the organization? The crowdsmentary interrupted her train of thought. I didnt expect the genius to be a cheat. How disappointing. Yeah, I thought Qiao Yue was really talented. I didnt expect him to rely on such underhanded methods. If Qiao Yue lost the bet, wont he have to drop out of school? ording to the bet, Qiao Yues results would be nullified if he cheated. With that, his GPA would definitely be lower than Sun Bins. Sun Bin was a little excited at the thought. His feud with Qiao Yue would finallye to an end. As long as he insisted on his usation, Qiao Yue would definitely be expelled from Harvey for cheating. Qiao Yues reputation would be ruined, and he wouldnt be able to attend other schools. Sun Bin was thrilled. Qiao Yue, you need to give everyone an exnation. Sun Bin smiled like he was already the winner. Qiao Yue would never cheat. Are you saying that his results in thepetition with St. Faustinas was also faked? Qiao Yu stood up and said. The crowd wavered a little when they heard Qiao Yus words. Qiao Yue had saved Harvey from danger back then. If anything, he was a hero. How could he have cheated? Chang Yuan was also frowning. Qiao Yues behavior was too unexpected. He really couldnt tell if Qiao Yue had cheated or if he was thinking about something else. Qiao Yue, arent you going to say anything? He walked up to Qiao Yues desk and looked straight at him. Chapter 320 - 320 Proof 320 Proof Qiao Yue sighed. I cant prove that this pen isnt mine. Qiao Yues ssmates all gasped. Was he confessing? Qiao Yue, are you saying that you cheated with this pen? Chang Yuan was a little surprised. Why was this student so strange? Qiao Yue, what do you mean? Qiao Yu asked nervously. !! Given the Qiao family influence, there was no problem keeping Qiao Yue safe, but her cheating would be reported, and she would be formally reprimanded. If she admitted to cheating, even if she didnt get an indefinite suspension, she would still be punished. Was Qiao Yue going to destroy her own student life? This pen is mine but I didnt use it to cheat. Qiao Yues voice rang out again, and the entire ssroom burst into an even louder discussion. Is Qiao Yue crazy? He admitted that the pen is his but not to cheating. What is he doing? I dont get it. Is this the logic of a genius? I have the cheating device, but I didnt cheat? Even murderers wont hold a knife and say that they didnt kill anyone. This is too funny. Sun Bin stared at Qiao Yue. He had spent almost 50,000 yuan to rent this pen, and he must return it to the mysterious manter. If he couldnt get the pen back, he would lose his huge deposit. Sun Bin felt cold sweat breaking out on his head as he thought about it. Qiao Yue, what do you mean by that? I may be bald but Im not stupid. Are you making fun of your teacher? No, Ive always kept this pen in my bag. I didnt take it out during exams. Qiao Yue continued, You can check the surveince footage if you dont believe me. Sun Bin didnt say anything more. He sat down slowly. It wouldnt matter if they checked the surveince footage. Chang Yuan thought for a while before he said, Okay, Ill go to the security office now to ask for the surveince footage. Everyone, self-study time. The ss quieted down, but there were still people who looked at Qiao Yue from time to time. There was confusion, disdain, and indifference in their eyes. Only Qiao Yu silently handed a piece of paper to Qiao Yue. She unfolded the piece of paper and saw the words I believe you. Qiao Yue smiled. Qiao Yu had seen her take part in the programmingpetition, so how could he not believe in her ability? Shortly after, Qiao Yue handed the note back to Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu unfolded the note and found the words Dont worry. Qiao Yu stared at the back of Qiao Yues head withplicated feelings. He knew that this sister of his wasnt rted to him by blood, but he had always treated her as family. But now, he seemed to be no longer satisfied with just being her family. Xu Hao nudged Qiao Yues arm. I believe you too. Dont worry, youre my boss. Qiao Yue smiled. Friendships in school were all like this, forged in passion and unconditional trust. Shortly after, Chang Yuan returned. Chang Yuans expression was solemn; his eyes darted between Qiao Yue and Sun Bin. I have bad news. A security guard told me that he identally deleted the surveince video fromst weeks exams. Sun Bin heaved a sigh of relief. After all, he had bribed the security guard to delete the surveince footage or he would be exposed. Just as Sun Bin was feeling pleased with himself, thinking that his n had worked, Chang Yuan slowly opened his mouth, But since thats the case, I have a better way to help Qiao Yue prove his innocence. Sun Bins heart thumped. We have papers A and B for this exam. I specially brought over paper B. Qiao Yue can take the exam in front of the whole ss to prove his innocence. To prevent vicious incidents from happening, Harvey always had a set of backup questions for their final exams. However, since Harveys paper B was rarely used, the teachers who set the backup questions would often show off their skills by setting questions that were beyond the students capabilities. If Qiao Yue scored well answering this set of questions, it would prove that he didnt cheat. Sun Bin panicked. He knew Qiao Yues ability. Qiao Yue looked at Sun Bin and said calmly, Sure, but I have a request. I need someone to take the exam with me. I doubt the authenticity of Sun Bins results. Is it okay if he takes the exam with me? Chapter 321 - 321 Mass Slaughter 321 Mass ughter Sun Bin panicked and almost fell off his chair. What do you mean by that? You cheated and now you want me to retake the exam with you? Sun Bin replied fiercely. I havent been used of cheating. Why should I take the exam with you? Qiao Yue replied unhurriedly, How about I use you of cheating now? Sun Bins face was twisted. Then tell me how Ive cheated. !! Qiao Yueughed. I dont have any proof. I just wanted to find someone to take the exam with me. Everyone was confused by Qiao Yues provocative attitude but Qiao Yue was a frivolous person to most of them, and this attitude was in line with his image. Since thats the case, how about I also take the exam with my fifth brother? Sun Bin, do you have any objections? Qiao Yu stood up as he said gently. When Sun Bin turned to look at Qiao Yu, he was so frightened by Qiao Yus gaze that he shuddered. Qiao Yus eyes had never been so cold. He looked as if he could see through all lies. Why should I retake the exam? Sun Bins attitude weakened, but he was still stubborn. Teacher Chang, please be our judge. Qiao Yue yawned, still lookingzy and indifferent as if he wasnt the person who was used of cheating, but a bystander. Sure. Well do as Qiao Yue suggested. Theres an empty ssroom next door. Qiao Yue, Qiao Yu and Sun Bin, you threee with me. Teacher, I Sun Bin seemed unabated. Thats enough, Sun Bin. Since youve improved so much this time, more practice will always do you good. Chang Yuan said. The three of them sat in the empty ssroom. There was an aisle between each person. Sun Bins palms were sweaty. Although he had studied hard earlier on, but because he wanted to cheat, he had spent most of his remaining time finding a partner. He was not familiar with theter topics. Qiao Yue and Qiao Yu didnt look nervous, especially Qiao Yue, who sat slumped over her desk, gracefully spinning a pen. After all, she was familiar with all the topics. It wouldnt be a problem for her to retake the test. The bell rang, and the three of them started answering the paper. Chang Yuans voice was heard over the PA system. Ill be invigting from the homeroom with the surveince cameras turned on and your ssmates watching. Meanwhile, everyone in the homeroom held their beaths and stared at the big screen. Sun Bin slowly worked through the calctions while Qiao Yu answered the questions quickly. Qiao Yu was a top student in their ss, so it was only natural that he was fast. When everyone saw Qiao Yue, they were so surprised that their jaws almost fell off. What was going on? Was Qiao Yue sleeping at her desk? The exam would go on for an hour and a half. Has Qiao Yuepletely given up? But that didnt make sense. Didnt Qiao Yue agree to the retest? Chang Yuan also frowned, not understanding what Qiao Yue was doing. The surveince cameras were very good. Everyone could see what the three were writing. Sun Bin answered very slowly, which was not what Chang Yuan expected. Sun Bins results had improved a lot this time, but the way he was answering the questions was inconsistent with his improved results. Time passed quickly. Qiao Yue woke up when there was half an hour left on the clock. She slowly picked up her pen and started answering the paper. Everyone held their breath as they looked at her new stance on screen. Qiao Yue answered the questions so quickly that his answers came the moment he finished reading the questions. He did some calctions for theter questions, but most of the questions were answered very quickly. He didnt look like someone who would cheat. Chang Yuans anxious heart finally settled down. He hadnt misjudged Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue indeed had potential. He couldnt have cheated in the exams. If he hadnt, how could he exin the pen? An hour and a half went by quickly. The three of them stopped the moment the bell rang. Qiao Yue had finished the paper long ago and was doodling on a piece of draft paper. Sun Bin was in cold sweat. These backup questions were a little more difficult. Compared to questions which focused on the fundamentals in paper A, questions in paper B was a lot more robust in testing ones thinking ability. These backup questions tested ones potential, not hard work. Chang Yuan collected their test papers and walked back to the homeroom. He more or less knew the results. The questions were set by him and he had already looked through their answers as they worked on the paper. Chapter 322 - 322 Full Marks 322 Full Marks Chang Yuan finished marking their tests in less than half an hour. He looked at the ss and sighed. Qiao Yue has aced this extra test using paper B. He got full marks. The students were all stunned. The truth of whether Qiao Yue had cheated was now obvious to everyone. Why would a person who scored full marks on advanced mathematics paper B cheat? !! In second ce is Qiao Yu, 97 points. He got one multiple choice question wrong, but this question was not part of the sybus. Sun Bin grabbed the sides of his desk tightly. His face was pale, and he was trembling. Qiao Yue noticed his reaction and raised her hand. Teacher, since Ive proven my innocence, theres no need to announce Sun Bins results. Sun Bin raised his head, his eyes red with fury. Qiao Yue had forced him to retake the exam because he didnt want to let him off. Now that the exam was over, Qiao Yue wanted to let him off? What a joke. Qiao Yue, dont go too far. Even if youre innocent, you still have that cheating pen. Sun Bin said. Qiao Yueughed. She was clearly giving Sun Bin a way out, but he didnt seem to appreciate it. Since you dont want to ept my favor, how about this? Teacher, please announce Sun Bins results. Chang Yuan stood on the podium and sighed as he watched the two students butt heads with each other. He used to be their age, so he sort of understood what Sun Bin was thinking. I wont be announcing Sun Bins score. You two stay behind. Chang Yuan hoped to solve this problem in private. Sun Bin sneered instead. Teacher, theres no need to care about my reputation. I dont care anymore. Please tell everyone my score. Chang Yuan sighed heavily. Sun Bin, 59 points. 59 points, one point short of passing. This score when put against Sun Bins significant improvement was like a joke. Everyone started to discuss. Could Sun Bins results be fake? Yeah, didnt he scored very well in paper A? Why did he get this score now? Actually, the one who cheated was Sun Bin, right? He didnt do as well as Qiao Yue despite his cheating. When he thought about their bet, he flew into a rage out of humiliation? Everyone looked at Sun Bin with some disdain now. They had never seen someone lost their head because of apetition. Ill drop out, okay? Sun Bin raised his fist and shouted as he rushed towards Qiao Yue. Even if he dropped out of school, he would teach Qiao Yue a lesson. Qiao Yue grabbed Sun Bins cor and threw him over her shoulder. Sun Bin was stunned by the throw and sat on the floor for a long time. Everyone, ss is dismissed! Please go home. Qiao Yue, stay behind. Although the students were very curious about what was going to happen next, they still obediently left the ssroom when they heard Chang Yuans request. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Yue with worry. Qiao Yue shook her head at Qiao Yu, signaling him not to worry. Everyone in the ssroom left. Only Qiao Yue, Sun Bin, and Chang Yuan remained. Chang Yuan looked at the two of them and said, You shouldnt have made such a bet. Whether you can attend school or not is a very serious matter. How can you treat your future as a game? Sun Bin was still a little stunned. He just nodded mechanically, without knowing exactly how to face the situation in front of him. If I stayed at Harvey, Ill be aughingstock for everyone. Sun Bin smiled bitterly as tears rolled down his face. Qiao Yue didnt sympathize with Sun Bin, nor was she willing to forgive him. After all, he was dead to her for framing her after not doing well in the exams. Youll have to discuss with your parents how youre going to resolve this matter. I am not going to interfere. Chang Yuan sighed. Sun Bin guessed right. There was no point in staying at Harvey. Everyones strange looks and discussions were enough to destroy him. Teacher, I would like to talk to Sun Bin alone. Qiao Yue said. Chang Yuan left the ssroom. Sun Bin looked at Qiao Yue and sneered, What do you want to talk to me about? Are you going to pity me and ask me to stay? No, its your business whether you leave or not. It has nothing to do with me. I just have a question for you. Qiao Yue asked coldly, Where did you get this pen? Chapter 323 - 323 Tracing 323 Tracing Sun Bin hemmed and hawed but couldnt say word. Ill ask you again, where did you get this pen? Qiao Yue stared straight at Sun Bin, eyes like ck holes, making Sun Bin a little breathless. Why should I tell you? I get it now. You just want this pen, right? Sun Binughed coldly. He felt that he had found Qiao Yues weak spot and was even a little pleased with himself. Do you know why I told Teacher Chang that the pen was mine? Qiao Yue looked at Sun Bin with her head tilted, like a cunning ck cat. Sun Bin couldnt help but shudder. I dont know. Sun Bin answered indifferently. Because it was the only way that the pen will end up with me instead of being searched and found by you. Teacher Chang would also give the pen back to me in the end. Qiao Yue smiled even more brightly. If Im not wrong, you rented this pen, right? High tech gadgets developed by the organization costs millions, even tens of millions of yuan. Even if they could be rented out for money, they would be taken back eventually. Based on her understanding of Sun Bins family finances, they probably didnt have the money to buy him such an expensive cheating pen. In other words, if you cant return this pen, youll lose your huge deposit, right? Sun Bins legs gave way and he fell to the ground. How did Qiao Yue know so much about these things? He merely stumbled into that illegal website, and Qiao Yue sounded like he was regr customer of the website. You actually visit that illegal website. Sun Bin said. Qiao Yueughed coldly. Of course, and Im a VIP customer there. Ive sold human organs there for tens of millions of yuan. If you dont answer my question, not only will I not return the pen to you, but I will also take and sell your organs. Sun Bin moved backwards. He was already scared out of his wits. Based on his understanding, no one in school knew about the dark web. When Qiao Yue mentioned it so casually, Sun Bin realized that he had taunted the wrong person. I will tell you. I beg you, please dont take my organs, please Im begging you. Sun Bin knelt and even wanted to kowtow to Qiao Yue. The Li brothers had given him a simr pen before, but that pen would have been rendered useless by the signal jammer. Later before the exam, Sun Bin posted on a science and technology Forum, asking if anyone knew about this type of cheating device and could provide a link to purchase it. An anonymous user provided him with a login and a link to the website. The website was called Lucifer Market, and the sellers and buyers there were all demons. They provided illegal services. Some sold human organs, assassination orders and other strange things. As long as you were willing and had enough money, you could buy any outrageous thing there. As Sun Bin spoke, he logged on to the website using his phone and showed Qiao Yue the transaction record. The sellers name was Nori, and his profile picture was a ck cat with its eyes open. The ck cat looked like it was about to jump out of the screen. Qiao Yue took Sun Bins phone and took out herptop. She typed something on herptop and transferred Sun Bins information from his phone to herptop. Qiao Yue also removed all traces of the dark web from Sun Bins phone and installed a firewall for him. He was not from that world and he had bad intentions. She did not want him to visit Lucifer Market again. Then tell me about the process of your transaction, and what the person who helped you cheat was like? Sun Bin frowned as he tried to recall the person who helped him cheat. In his memory, that person was wearing arge red hooded sweater. He had red hair and wore a cat mask. He exuded a very mysterious aura. He sounded like a young man in his 20s. He didnt use a voice changer. Sun Bin tried hard to recall. Also, his speed of answering the questions was very fast, almost as fast as you. Qiao Yue nodded. Cat face. She remembered that there was an assassin known for his cat face in the organization. He also kept saying that youre a girl Chapter 324 - 324 Meeting Yin He Again 324 Meeting Yin He Again Qiao Yues pupils contracted. How did this person know that she was a girl? What do you mean? When the camera on the pen captured you, and he kept saying that youre a pretty girl and things like that. Could this person be someone from the organization? Continue. We made the deal at the rooftop of our school. He didnt take off his mask when we met and he left in a helicopter. Qiao Yue nodded. When are you going to return this thing to him? He didnt set a time limit. He only told me how much the monthly rent is. If I need it for longer, I just need to transfer money to his bankcard. If I need him to help me cheat, Ill need to contact him a week in advance. Sun Bin, youre really stupid. Qiao Yueughed when she heard this. How could a person who had this kind of intelligence device and doing business on the dark web be simple? Moreover, almost all the organizations assets wereparable to what the rich in C-Country owned. Why would they spend their precious time on such hard earning of less than four-digit sum of money? Sun Bin replied dejectedly, I wanted to beat you so badly that I didnt even think about it. Its all my fault. No need to apologize. Im not good at forgiving others, and I wont be friends with you. Qiao Yue put away herptop and swiftly packed her bag. Our bet is off. Its your decision to stay or leave. After that, Sun Bins phone chimed with the sound of payment received. Qiao Yue had transferred 150,000 yuan to him. That was the deposit he had put down for the pen. Just as Sun Bin was about to say something, Qiao Yue had already closed the door and left. Qiao Yue did not go back to the Qiao residence. Instead, she took a taxi to Yayi. She had some things she needed Chu Jia to do. She heard Chu Jias voice the moment she entered Yayi. She had forgotten that Yayi was holding an auction. Other than being thedy boss of Yayi, Chu Jia was also auctioneer. Qiao Yue sat down in thest row. The staff of Yayi all knew her and handed her her exclusive bid paddle. The item up for auction was an expensive dress withplicatedce, all kinds of embroidery, pearl and other gem decorations. The starting price was 10 million, which was not cheap for an antique of this category. People wouldnt really wear it if they bought it but would disy it at home as a collection to show their friends. 15 million. Someone raised their paddle as soon as the starting price was announced. It was a familiar voice. Qiao Yue looked towards the source of the voice. It was Yin He, whom she had met once before. Yin He was wearing a simple ck suit. His hair wasnt gelled, but hung down his forehead like a gentle lions mane. Just as Qiao Yue was looking at him, he looked back and smiled. Qiao Yue found the smile familiar, but she couldnt put her finger on it. She only felt goosebumps all over her body. 20 million. Someone who looked like a big boss raised the bid. Yin He raised his paddle unhurriedly. 25 million. The other party seemed to really like the dress and quickly raised the bid to 50 million. Everyone felt it ridiculous. This dress wasnt really a rare treasure, and it wasnt passed down by a famous person. It was just an ordinary dress for a nobledy. In the end, the dress was bought by Yin He at the price of 75 million yuan. Congrattions, Mr. Yin He, for getting the dress. Chu Jia said with a smile. When everyone turned to look at Yin He, he was staring straight at Qiao Yue. She was not used to such a stare. The auction ended quickly. Qiao Yue stood up to find Chu Jia in her office. Mr. Qiao Yue, may I have the honor to have a little chat with you? Yin He stood in front of Qiao Yue, his eyes sincere and his smile perfect. Sure. Qiao Yue also wanted to know what this young master wanted to say to her. The two of them went to the garden in the backyard of Yayi Club. It was winter and there were only snow and plum blossoms in the yard. Fifth young master, please watch your step. Its slippery. Yin He reminded. I am someone who gets straight to the point, so I hope that Mr. Yin will not beat around the bush. Lets have a proper chat about what you want to say. Qiao Yue looked at Yin He coldly. Chapter 325 - 325 One Less Sister 325 One Less Sister I just want to get to know the fifth young master. Ive been wanting to get to know you since I met you at your housest time. Its not like Im in charge of the family. My mother was only an adopted daughter of the old master. I dont think its beneficial to know me. Qiao Yue replied coldly. Yin He nodded. He wasnt angry and asked with a smile, Did you like that dress? Qiao Yue knew that Yin He was referring to that antique dress. Im a boy. I dont like things that only girls like. !! Fifth young master can also buy it and give it to your sweetheart. You dont have to wear it yourself. Qiao Yue felt a little annoyed when she heard this. If Mr. Yin only wants to chit chat, I dont think theres any need for us to continue talking. Qiao Yue pretended to leave. Id like to give the dress to fifth young master Qiao as a gift, for being friends with me. Qiao Yue felt that this person was either too bored or too cunning. What is your purpose? Qiao Yue asked. You want to be friends with me? I dont like that dress, so I dont know why you want to give it to me. Did you know that the nobles in the Middle Ages wouldnt take off their dresses even when they went to the toilet? Yin He said with a smile. And there were no toilets in Europe at that time, so many nobles just urinated and defecated on the ground. So, I was thinking that under those gorgeous dresses would be the best ce to hide dirt and filth. Yin He said with a smile. Qiao Yue agreed with him, but she did not know what he was trying to say. What are you trying to say? That you know about evidence of the crimes of the Qiao family, or you think that the Qiao family is hiding filth? Yin Heughed. Im just telling a story. I respect the Qiao family very much, and which prestigious family doesnt have a little stain on their reputation? Its just that some things have yet to surface. He turned to Qiao Yue and smiled. You dont have to overthink it. I just want to be friends with you. Qiao Yue was confused by Yin Hes words. She just nodded and said, If theres nothing else, Mr. Yin, you can go first. I need to think about whether I want to be friends with you. Yin He smiled. Sure. Ive always envied the Qiao family for having so many siblings. Ive always wanted a younger sister. If my younger sister is like the fifth young master Thats even better. Qiao Yue walked into Chu Jias office with a cold face. Chu Jia noticed her odd expression and asked, Whats the matter, boss? Werent you just outside with the young master from the Yin family? Why did youe back with such a long face? This Yin He is ridiculous; he insisted on giving me the dress. Qiao Yue said inly. Chu Jia and the people at Yayi didnt know her true gender, and she did not want to exin it to them. Maybe he just wants to add it to your collection. Its not a big deal. Chu Jia smiled and added, This Mr. Yin is engaged. Hes not gay. Dont worry, boss. Engaged? Qiao Yue asked. Actually, young master Yins surname was not Yin. He was a child from a fallen noble family in J-Country. The Yin family in K-Country, who was from C-Country, were on good terms with aristocrats of J-Country. So, they adopted the child and arranged a marriage between him and the youngest granddaughter of the Yin family. However, the family head at that time, Yin Xun, had left with his entire family and never returned, so Yin He had now be the person in charge of the Yin family. Yin He changed his surname to Yin because he was afraid of being ridiculed by the other family members. Furthermore, he had undergone multiple stic surgeries to make himself look more like a member of the Yin family. Recalling the unnatural smile on Yin Hes face, Qiao Yue put two and two together. Not a member of the Yin family but have to deal with the Yin family mess. He had to make some big sacrifices. Qiao Yuemented. Thats basically it. Did youe to me this time to investigate Yin He? Qiao Yue shook her head and took out the pen from her bag and held it in front of Chu Jia. Have you found out anything about this? The pen made by this code name isnt in the inventory, so I havent. Chapter 326 - 326 Destroying The Offer 326 Destroying The Offer This was well within Qiao Yues expectations. And this pen has been taken apart by someone, right? Chu Jia repeatedly examined the pen. She treasured old spy equipment like this very much. Once dismantled, they would be damaged. Many parts wouldnt be as good as before after refurbishment. Theres a tracker in here, Ive just removed it. Chu Jia sighed. If theres a tracker, we might be able to locate them. No, Ive tried, and it will expose us. Instead of this, why dont we find them another way? Qiao Yue showed Chu Jia her chat history with Nori on the dark web. Nori did not seem to know that there was a tracker on the pen when Qiao Yue asked to return it. They had even agreed on a time and ce to return the pen. However, it was still a long time before their appointment, which was two months away. Ill let everyone go for their Spring Festival break now. We must catch the person who has this pen. Chu Jia nodded. Chu Jia passed another file Qiao Yue. This is what you asked me to checkst time. Its information on Qiao Xins applications to other schools. Ive discovered something interesting. Qiao Yue opened the file and looked at the information. It was Qiao Xins forged report card. She chuckled. How could this be Qiao Xins results? Qiao Xins grades werent bad, but it wasnt to the point where she could get such high marks. She had applied to D-Countrys Friedrich Schiller University, which was a renowned music school that took in top students from all over the world. Qiao Xins grades were far from good enough, so she had forged this report card to trick them into giving her an offer. It was ludicrous. Also, send a girl to the Qiao residence to protect the sixth young miss. The sixth young miss? Chu Jia found these words very strange. Qiao Yue rarely mentioned the Qiao family in front of them, nor did he mention their cooperation with the Qiao family. This was the first time that Qiao Yue had asked to protect someone. I know youre not a child of the Qiao family, so you shouldnt be rted to this sixth young miss by blood. Boss, have you taken a fancy to her? Qiao Yue shook her head. How could she possibly like Qiao Ying? Although she looked androgynous, her sexual orientation was still normal. Stop specting. Im at the age to focus on my career. Dont try to match make me. Chu Jia did not probe further. Instead, she asked how they should protect Qiao Ying. Ill be going to K-Country next week. Im afraid theyll make things difficult for Qiao Ying. Chu Jia nodded and quickly suggested a suitable candidate. Lydia is a neer in our organization. Shes from J-Country and has been learning martial arts since young. She joined the organization recently. Qiao Yue looked at Lydias photo. She was a very beautiful girl with a small mole on her ear. Alright. Qiao Yue nodded and left after giving Chu Jia a few other instructions. She was flying to K-Country the day after tomorrow, so she needed to get ready. When Qiao Yue got home, Qiao Ying was waiting at the door to her bedroom. Tonight was herst household management lesson with Qiao Yue. The ount books had been sorted out, and the new years procurement n was ready. Qiao Yue nodded as she looked at Qiao Yings work. Youve done well. Lets manage the household following your n. Qiao Yings face turned red. No one at home had ever helped her or praised her like this. I have time tomorrow. Ill take you out for a day of fun. You can decide what youd like to do. Qiao Ying pointed at herself. I can decide? Qiao Yue nodded. Then can we go and bake a cake? Ive always wanted to try. Qiao Yue nodded and sent a text to Chu Jia to make the necessary arrangements. Im going to K-Country soon and Im a little about your safety. Thats why Ive found someone to protect you. Qiao Yue lowered her voice, Someone named Lydia will beingter. Shell protect you. Qiao Ying nodded gratefully. Just as the two were chatting, Qiao Jing walked in. He had just seen Qiao Ying, Qiao Yue, and Qiao Yus report cards and was about to ask them what kind of reward they would like. Qiao Ying looked at Qiao Jing and said, Why dont youe with me and fifth brother to bake a cake tomorrow? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and Qiao Yue was looking at the things on her desk with a smile on her face. Sure, Ill join you. Chapter 327 - 327 Setting Off 327 Setting Off The next morning, Qiao Ying woke up early and put on her favorite outfit. This was the first time she felt appreciated. She was so excited that she almost couldnt sleep all night. As soon as she left her room, she saw Qiao Xin standing with her arms crossed. Qiao Xin had lost a lot of weight, and her cheeks were sunken. It must be because she had to clean the ancestral hall every day that she looked haggard. !! At the sight of Qiao Ying, Qiao Xin said fiercely, What exactly did you say to that b*stard Qiao Yue? Dad and Moms assets have all been seized. Qiao Ying didnt know about this. All she did was to sort out the household ounts as requested by Qiao Yue. Did you know that when you were sorting out the ounts, you put up all of first aunt and mothers fake records? Both their assets have been temporarily frozen by Qiao Yue! Qiao Ying was shocked, her mouth agape for a long time. How can I have that kind of power? If they didnt do anything wrong, how could they have been caught? Qiao Ying retorted. Although she was timid, she was not stupid. She wasnt going to cover up for her parents or lie for them. Grandpa has taught all of us since young to be honest even if we are incapable. Qiao Ying continued righteously, Its their business that they were punished. Im not them and I didnt do anything wrong. Qiao Xin raised her hand to p Qiao Ying as usual, but this time, Qiao Ying grabbed her hand. You still want to hit me? Qiao Yings face was tensed. Her hands were trembling slightly but she still held Qiao Xins hand tightly and continued with a smile, I wont let you hit me again, not ever. Qiao Xin frowned, Are you fighting back now? Qiao Ying flung Qiao Xins hand away rudely. Were both descendants of the Qiao family. Youre not nobler than me, stop bullying me. Qiao Xinughed wildly when she saw Qiao Ying speak so righteously. Thats so funny. What did you say? Youre a descendant of the Qiao family? And we are equals? Thats too funny. Qiao Xinughed holding her tummy, like she has heard the funniest joke on earth. You dont know yet, do you? How could a person like you be a descendant of the Qiao family? How could you be a biological child of our parents? Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Ying as she slowly said this. Smack! Before Qiao Ying could react, Qiao Xin was pped to the ground. That person was very strong, and he didnt even make a sound when he came near them. Who do you think you are? Qiao Yue stood shielding Qiao Ying. Third uncle and third aunt are also very interesting. Qiao Ying helped them to turn over a new leaf, but they dont want her anymore? Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yue and held her face with a cold smile. Do you know what youre saying? Lets go. Qiao Yue didnt want to argue with Qiao Xin. They were going out today to have some fun, and with second brother too. Qiao Yue, youll regret hiding everything from her. Qiao Yue turned and pulled Qiao Ying along with her, ignoring Qiao Xin. She was certain of one thing. Qiao Xin knew the truth about Qiao Yings birth. But before she could think of a way to protect Qiao Ying, Qiao Yue would never let Qiao Ying know this secret. Qiao Yue and Qiao Ying got into the car and found Qiao Jing in the drivers seat. Second brother, why are you driving yourself? Qiao Ying was a little confused. Qiao Jing did not usually drive. Im taking the two of you out for a day of fun, theres no need to have the driver with us. It will just be us. Qiao Jing said with a smile. Qiao Jing handed them a paper bag with freshly baked buttered bread and coffee. Take these. Itll be your breakfast. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yue exchanged a look when Qiao Ying wasnt looking. Qiao Yue saw a document in the paper bag. Suppressing her curiosity, Qiao Yue said to Qiao Ying, Well be there in a moment. Why dont you take a nap first? The car drove steadily on the road. Qiao Ying fell asleep in the back seat and Qiao Yue opened the paper bag. There was a paternity test report inside. It showed that Qiao Ying and the third madam were not blood rted. Just as I expected. Qiao Yue put the report back and found that there was another report in the bag. Chapter 328 - 328 Qiao Ying’s Origin 328 Qiao Yings Origin Qiao Yue frowned as she read the contents of the report. What does this mean? I didnt give you any DNA sample of third uncle, right? We have samples at home. Qiao Jing sighed. Their family had established a DNA library with samples from everyone. And Qiao Yings samples were fake. !! When I was looking through the library, I found out that third uncle and Qiao Yings DNA had been tested, so I was curious and repeated the test. The results were as I expected. Did third uncle do this on purpose? But third aunts child had indeed died from illness. Qiao Yue frowned. The child that third aunt bought tofort herself was actually third uncles illegitimate daughter? But its strange. If thats the case, shouldnt third uncle be more protective of Qiao Ying? Qiao Yue asked. Impossible. Not all illegitimate children are born out of love. Qiao Jing sighed. He had investigated Qiao Yings mother. Qiao Yings birth mother was born into a family that could be considered noble. Although they were not as rich as the Qiao family, they were still wealthy. However, Qiao Yings mother and Qiao Li did not really have a rtionship. It was a one-night stand after a party. She identally got pregnant with Qiao Ying and gave birth to the her. These rich and powerful families could really hide their sins. Qiao Yue sneered. What happened after that? After Qiao Ying was born, Qiao Li must have struck some kind of agreement with her mother to raise Qiao Ying in a welfare home owned by the Qiao family. After that, when third aunts child died, Qiao Ying was brought home as the seventh young miss. How are we going to deal with this matter? Should we tell Qiao Ying? Qiao Yue asked. Qiao Jing shook his head. He couldnt tell Qiao Ying about this now as it would hurt her. After all, she had been bullied by the third madam and Qiao Xin for years without Qiao Li speaking up even once for her. Its really sad. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ying, who was sleeping soundly in the back seat, and sighed. Ill find someone to protect her while were in K-Country. I wont let them hurt her. Qiao Yue said. She felt a closeness with Qiao Ying whenever she looked at her. After an hours drive, they arrived at the cake shop where they had booked a ss. It was a small, exquisite shop selling seasonal chestnut-vored desserts now. The three of them walked into the shop and the staff greeted them warmly. They were going to bake a chestnut ck tea cake today, and the three of them would work together. Qiao Jing was in charge of the chestnut jam. He had to mix peeled chestnuts with butter and then blend it into a jam. The jam looked simple, but it was quite tedious to peel the chestnuts one by one. But Qiao Jing had always been a patient man. He sat by the window and peeled the chestnuts by hand. The sunlight from outside the window fell on him. He was wearing a yellow sweater with daisy pattern. His hair hung softly as he peeled the chestnuts with a slight frown. He looked more rxed. Qiao Yue was making custard when she was stunned by the scene. This was the first time she felt that her second brother was so handsome. Qiao Ying was in charge of the ck tea cake. She was more serious and meticulous, so she made no mistakes. Although it was their first time making a cake , the three of them worked well together andpleted the project very quickly. An exquisite cake appeared in front of them. Qiao Yings face was flushed red. Thank you, second brother. Thank you, fifth brother. There were tears in her eyes. Alright, everythings fine. Dont cry, cut the cake. Qiao Jing handed a tissue to Qiao Ying. Howe youre so touched by just making a cake? Qiao Yue said teasingly. The three of them brought the cake back to the Qiao residence. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing were leaving for K-Country tomorrow and there were many things to prepare. In the car, Qiao Yue and Qiao Ying chatted. Qiao Ying looked more lively than usual. Thinking about what happened between Qiao Li and the third madam, Qiao Yues heart ached. Qiao Ying was such a good person, how could she have such parents? When we are in K-Country, you must protect yourself, okay? Qiao Yue instructed. She was afraid that Qiao Li and the third madam would do something to this poor girl. Chapter 329 - 329 Departure 329 Departure Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing boarded a ne to K-Country the next day. K-Country wasnt far from C-Country, but it was still an international flight that would take five hours. As soon as they boarded the ne, Qiao Jing took a neck pillow, nket, and slippers from his assistant and handed them to Qiao Yue. Second brother, they give these out in first ss. Why do you have to bring your own? !! Qiao Jing covered Qiao Yue with the nket, his expression as cold as ice. Go to sleep. Qiao Jing wrapped Qiao Yue up like a dumpling with the nket, patted her head, and then turned on hisputer to work. Second brother, your obsession with cleanliness is quite strange. Qiao Yue was, in fact, a little sleepy. Although she knew that she had a busy day today, she didnt go to bed earlyst night. She was indeed sleepy now. The sound of Qiao Jings typing was hypnotizing. Qiao Yue watched Qiao Jing work and got increasingly sleepy. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep. The typing stopped and the assistant turned around to look at Qiao Jing. Second young master Before he could finish, he saw Qiao Jing gazing at Qiao Yue with a rare gentleness in his eyes. And Qiao Yue had wrapped himself up like a cocoon, revealing only his tiny face. It had to be said that Qiao Yue was indeed very delicate and pretty. He looked so sweet when he was asleep. The assistant sighed in his heart. If only this young master Qiao Yue was a young miss. The two of them looked like a perfect couple. Qiao Jing noticed his assistants gaze and looked up at him, What is it? In that moment, Qiao Jings expression changed and there was a hint of annoyance in his eyes. Qiao Jing raised his hand and ced a finger on his lips, signaling for his assistant to keep his voice down. The assistant quickly nodded and said softly, News came from K-Country just now. The meeting with the Yin family will be postponed, and we will visit the charity project at Hanshan City first. Hanshan City was near S-City, but because of some strange maic field problem, the children there often suffered from a strange blood disease. The city was very remote, and one had to cross a mountain to get there. Okay. Qiao Jing nodded. Relevant arrangements have been made. Well go straight to Hanshan when wend. The assistant was a little hesitant, Your previous reservations Qiao Jing frowned. He had made reservations at several restaurants and famous amusement parks in S-City he wanted to take Qiao Yue to, but now it seemed that everything had to be postponed. Push them back, change the reservations. The assistant felt a little pinched. Changing the restaurant reservations would cost a lot of money, enough for a repeat visit. Seeing the hesitation in his assistants eyes, Qiao Jing immediately understood. Ill increase the budget. Dont worry. The assistant nodded and turned around to get back to work. Qiao Jing couldnt help but reach out and touch Qiao Yues hair. This kid must be tired from exam preparations and other things. He didnt expect to have to travel Hanshan City as soon as theynded in K-Country. When Qiao Yue woke up, the ne had yet tond. Qiao Jing, who had finished his work, was taking a nap in his seat. Qiao Yue stretched her hand out of the nket and turned on the iPad in front of her seat. It showed that there was still an hour and a half to go before theynded. She yawnedzily. Qiao Jing, who was seated beside her, seemed to be disturbed by her small action and frowned slightly. Qiao Jing was still the same as before, such a light sleeper. Qiao Yue stood up and slowly massage Qiao Jings temples. Qiao Jing didnt wake up because of her actions but fell into deeper sleep. Looking at Qiao Jings sleeping face, Qiao Yue felt her heartbeat quicken. She had never acknowledged the fact that their rtionship had turned somewhat romantic. After making sure that Qiao Jing was sound asleep, Qiao Yue touched his face gently, fingers tracing his exquisite facial features. She had to admit that Qiao Jing was really handsome. He was like a child when asleep, without his usual cold expression. Qiao Yue felt the urge to kiss him. She bent over and pressed her lips against Qiao Jings face. The gentle touch and the faint woody scent on Qiao Jing engulfed her. It was the perfume that Qiao Jing had given her. It had the faint scent of round leaf eucalyptus, and smells of the ocean and the freshly cut grass. In that instant, Qiao Yues heartbeat elerated. She held her chest and slowly sat down. Qiao Jing probably didnt do it on purpose. He probably didnt know her true gender yet. That must be the case. Chapter 330 - 330 Up The Mountain 330 Up The Mountain The ne touched down with a bang when thending gear opened. This was followed by high-speed taxiing until the ne came to a stop. Qiao Jing was jolted awake by the deceleration and realized that his short nap hadsted for an hour and a half. Second brother must be very tired to be able to sleep so soundly. Qiao Yue teased. Qiao Jing smiled. Probably. !! Qiao Jing rubbed his eyes. It had been a long time since he had slept so soundly. He had also never felt the sense where all his fatigue had been lifted by something. He got up, took out his suitcase and packed the things he had prepared for himself and Qiao Yue into it. Their group disembarked. Because they were doing charity work this time, Qiao Jing had brought a few doctors and pharmaceutical experts with him and everyone got off the ne. Weing them was a bus from Hanshan City. It looked quite old, with its exterior white from the sun. Qiao Yue carried her luggage and got on the bus. There was nothing wrong with the seats inside; they had probably been refurbished. But there was an unpleasant smell in the bus, like the smell of cigarettesbined with smell of badly sunned seats. The smell is so bad. Qiao Yue wrinkled her nose andined. She had been on a bus like this before. When she was living in Nanshan Vige, she would ride in a bus like this with the uncles and aunties from her vige to go to the market in the city to buy things. But the buses there didnt smell this bad. Assistant, Qiao Jing called his assistant over. Didnt we arrange our own transport? Why are we on a bus like this? The assistant frowned. Everything here was arranged by the Yin family. Ill make alternative arrangements now Qiao Yue frowned. The Yin family? Yin Hes Yin family? No need, lets just make do. Qiao Yue held Qiao Jings arm. I havent been on a bus like this for a long time. I want to re-experience the feeling. Qiao Jing frowned and looked at Qiao Yue. After a long time, he finally said, Contact people at Hanshan City and find out what the amodation is like. If it doesnt work, please find the best for me, understand? Qiao Jings assistant nodded quickly. Qiao Yue didnt fall into a deep sleep on the bus like she did on the ne. Instead, she turned on her phone and downloaded the most popr mobile game now: Operation Maui. She hadnt been ying Glorytely and Xu Hao rmended Operation Maui to her two days ago. This was a battlefield survival game. The yers would be dropped at a deserted ind with equipment and various means of transportation. On the ind, everyone would battle it out. Thest surviving team would be the final winner and win the title of Valiant Champion. The journey to Hanshan City would take seven to eight hours anyway, so she might as well pass time by ying this game. Qiao Jing, on the other hand, was busy with work. The bus drove steadily on the mountain road. Qiao Yue yed game while looking at the scenery outside. K-Country was north of C-Country. It was currently the season of ice and snow. There was not a single trace of green on the entire mountain. It was covered in white snow. The road that the bus was driving on was the only thing that could be seen. Hanshan City was on the northside of the mountain. Its a small city that produced petroleum and chemicals, and it had an ice-free port. Qiao Yue looked at the winding mountain road and remembered her days back in Nanshan and how she missed that life. The mountain road was treacherous. Whenever someone saw a mountain cliff through the window, which was rather often, they would let out a soft cry of surprise. Qiao Yue was fighting intensely on the battlefield and didnt care about the dangers of the mountain road. Just as she won a battle, the bus suddenly stopped. There was nothing in their way on the road. The driver stood up and said apologetically, Im really sorry, the bus has broken down. I think Ill need to fix it. There was amotion in the bus. Originally, they were going to stay at a hotel they had booked in S-City tonight. But there was now no hotel to stay in and they might not even make it to Hanshan City. What are the people at Yin Corporation doing? They cant even find us decent transport! Yeah, its so cold today. Not only could we catch a cold, we couldnt even move when theres frost on the road. The driver apologized again and got off the bus. The crowd quieted down, but Qiao Yue could still hear everyones hushedints. Qiao Yue asked Qiao Jing in a low voice, Do you think well be spending the night here? Chapter 331 - 331 Breakdown 331 Breakdown No, we wont. Qiao Jing patted her hand. Qiao Yue nodded as she felt inexplicably relieved. It was fine even if she was trapped here tonight. The Godfather had left her alone in the rainforest and other types of jungles many times before. She had long mastered the skills of surviving in the wild. The driver fiddled with the bus for a while but still couldnt fix it, and the passengers became anxious. !! They were at the top of the mountain, so walking all the way back down wasnt practical. The road was slippery with snow and its almost night. Who knew if there would be wild beasts in the jungle at night? Even if they called for cars from Hanshan City, they wouldnt be able to drive up the mountain in daylight. Qiao Yue nced at Qiao Jing. Ill go down and take a look. Qiao Jing nodded and asked his assistant to follow Qiao Yue down. Su Yan, the assistant he had brought along this time, had just taken up the job because his usual assistant had a problem with his visa. So, he had specially transferred an experienced person from a branch office to be Qiao Jings assistant. Su Yan wasnt bad. She was quick-witted and good at reading people. Qiao Yue got off the bus and walked to the front of it. When everyone saw that it was Qiao Yue, they made way for him to walk to the front of the bus. The hood had already been opened, revealing all sorts of vehicle parts inside. Some parts were already rusty and there was a strong smell of engine oil in the air. Qiao Yue took a wrench and turned it several times on two of the smoking parts. She then dismantled the parts and found that the circuit inside had been fried. These two are fried. Do you have any spares? Qiao Yue looked at the driver. The driver looked away guiltily and stuttered, I dont Most vehicles would have this kind of spare parts, but for some reason, this bus didnt have any. Qiao Yues eyes swept over the driver coldly. How many years have you been working for the Yin family? Five years Five years wasnt a short time, how could this driver be so bad? Ill talk to the master of the Yin family. You cant work like this. Qiao Yue said as she observed the drivers expression. For some reason, the driver didnt look scared. He seemed relieved. If there are no spares, well have to wait for someone to deliver the parts to us. There should be something like tents in the bus in case of emergency. Please bring them out. The driver nodded. The driver and a few male doctors took out a fewrge tents from the bus. There were even a few heat stoves. It looked like they were set for a camping trip. Qiao Yue chuckled. I didnt expect the Yin familys way of weing their guests is to leave us camping in the wilderness. We didnt expect this to happen either. Besides, weve already prepared some camping equipment. We hope that our distinguished guests from C-Country can bear with it for a little while. The person-in-charge sent by the Yin family lowered his head and apologized, but he didnt seem sorry. It doesnt matter if the Yin family doesnt deal with your dereliction of duty. The Qiao family will take action. A man said coldly. Qiao Jing put an arm around Qiao Yues shoulder and stood behind her. Qiao Yue watched the two men rush to the side of the bus, pretending to help with the tents, andughed. It looks like we really cant go down the mountain tonight. Ill get someone from Hanshan City to take us away. Qiao Jing took out his phone; he had probably made calls. Qiao Yue shook her head. It might be interesting to experience survival in the wild. What do you think, second brother? If Qiao Jing wanted to, he could have called a helicopter to take the two of them away. Qiao Jing didnt wee the thought of having to stay the night on the mountain. After all, he was used to the warm bed and warm scent of his room at the Qiao residence. However, when he saw the anticipation in Qiao Yues eyes, he suddenly looked forward to roughing it out for the night. Alright, Qiao Jing said and turned off his phone. Ill camp with you. Qiao Yue was stunned. She had just counted the number of tents. It was just enough for two people to a tent, and the number of men and women in the team happened to be even. She couldnt find a female doctor to bunk with her. Didnt it mean that she would have to bunk with Qiao Jing? While Qiao Yue was still pondering over this, Qiao Jing had already started setting up a tent. Second brother, do you mean that you and I will bunk together? Whats the alternative? Are you going to bunk with those female doctors? Qiao Jing skillfully set up the tent while he looked at Qiao Yue teasingly. Chapter 332 - 332 Surviving The Wild 332 Surviving The Wild Qiao Yue was stunned. Qiao Jing was right, but why did it sound so weird? Qiao Yue even saw a little teasing in Qiao Jings expression? Give me a hand. Qiao Jing handed the other end of the tent to Qiao Yue, and the two of them set it up. It was a small blue tent and he lined it with the two nkets that he had brought with him. Come, try it out. Qiao Jingy down and patted the spot next to him. Qiao Yue slowly squatted andy down as well. It was warm enough inside. The space was tight, which forced them toy down very close to one another. Qiao Yue felt her body burn and avoided Qiao Jings gaze. How is it? Its warm enough, I guess. Qiao Yue nodded and looked up at the sky outside. The sky was a faint crimson, and it was almost nightfall. We will be able to see stars here at night. They were cramped inside the tent, and theck of space made Qiao Yue speak softly. Qiao Jing nodded. The sound of clothes rubbing against each other added a bit of intimacy to the tight space. Are we supposed to chop our own firewood and catch our dinner? Yeah, what are we going to eat? There were sounds of an argument outside. Qiao Yue sat up and got out of the tent. A few doctors were questioning the person in charge sent by the Yin family at the open space where they had set up tents. The man kept his head down and apologized profusely, but he didnt seem keen to solve the problem at all. There isnt much we can do. The driver and I are nning to go hungry tonight. Please understand Yeah, were really sorry. Qiao Yue sighed as she looked at the useless men sent by the Yin family. Brother, theres really something wrong with the Yin family. Qiao Jing didnt reply and just stared coldly at the two men. Lets go, brother. Qiao Yue pulled Qiao Jing away from the dispute. They wouldnt be able to find anything to eat if they just quarreled. It was wiser to find some food before dark. Qiao Yue brought Qiao Jing to a nearby river. Qiao Jing raised an eyebrow and asked, Youre going into the river to catch fish? Seeing the doubt in Qiao Jings eyes, Qiao Yue chuckled. Do you think that Ive spent those days in Nanshan Vige for nothing? Qiao Yue wasnt actually telling the truth. She learned how to survive in the wild when she was with the Godfather. Be careful. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue with a frown. Just watch me. Qiao Yue skillfully took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves and pant legs and walked to the stream. She aimed at the ice with fish below it and started pounding the surface. Qiao Jing didnt stay idle either. He found fungus and mushrooms under the trees around him. Although it was difficult to tell them apart, he picked them all. Just as he was picking mushrooms, he found a sleeping rabbit by ident. The rabbit was about to run away when it saw Qiao Jing, but Qiao Jing caught it. He held the rabbit by its ears and brought it to the stream. Qiao Yue had already caught more than a dozen fish. She put the fish into a stic bag she had brought with her and two of them were still alive and kicking. Looking at the rabbit that Qiao Jing was holding, Qiao Yue had a strange doubt in her heart. Rabbits in the wild were the most difficult to catch, so how did Qiao Jing manage to catch one? Theres something wrong with this rabbits legs Qiao Jing exined. Qiao Jing was a little confused when his eyes met Qiao Yues. Whats wrong? You want to set it free? Qiao Yue shook her head. I feel like having spicy rabbit head. She had once eaten a wolf raw when she was thrown into a snowfield to survive. Why would she sympathize with a delicious rabbit? Lets take these back. The two of them carried the rabbit and the fish back to their campsite. The people there had already figured out how they would chop firewood and start a fire. Qiao Yue pulled Su Yan away when she saw him frowning, trying to light a fire. This firewood is soaking wet, how can it be lit? We have to dry it first. Everyone nodded in realization. But how could they dry the wood without a fire? Qiao Yue looked at their bus. Theres heater in the bus. The driver was a little hesitant when he heard Qiao Yues words. He looked at the person in charge and frowned. Theres not much gas left in the bus. We cant drive down anyway now. Well just get someone to send some gas over tomorrow. Qiao Yue pushed the two of them away to bring the firewood into the bus. You cant do this The driver quickly locked the door. Why not? Are you going to make me open the door by force? Qiao Yue frowned as she looked at the driver. ... Chapter 333 - 333 The Driver 333 The Driver The driver stammered and could not say a word. He only insisted on not opening the door. The Qiao family can well afford a minibus. Qiao Yue said coldly, Are you forcing me to find mmable materials in your bus? The seats in the bus were definitely mmable. If the driver didnt want them to burn wood, Qiao Yue would dly light a fire using the seats from the bus. The person in charge sent by the Yin family, Yin Yue, stood in front of Qiao Yue and said, Would you stop and think for a minute that you are in K-Country and it isnt very polite for you to do this? !! Qiao Yue sneered after hearing Yin Yues words. She threw the firewood on the ground and walked to the driver. The driver guiltily hid the car keys in his pocket. Qiao Yue sneered as she approached the driver. The driver only felt a pain in his wrist before his whole world was turned upside down and he was pressed to the ground. And then his hands were tied by something. When the drivers vision cleared, he realized that his hands had been bound using a belt. Qiao Yue had pulled the belt off him in an instant. What are you doing? Is this how you people from C-Country treat us? The driver shouted. Qiao Yue waved the car keys in front of him and sneered, Shut up. Be careful or Ill take off some of your clothes and throw them in the fireter. Qiao Yue opened the door to the minibus and asked the doctors to bring in the firewood. The doctors were happy to help Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue started the engine and heat filled the bus. The firewood was quickly dried. The group had already cleared snow off part of the ground in front of their tents and piled firewood on it. As the fire burned, the surrounding tents also became warm. Qiao Jing and a few male doctors had also finished preparing the ingredients. As they had no pot in the wild, they could only barbecue their food using sticks. Qiao Yue knew that the food barbecued in the wild tasted terrible without seasoning, salt or marination. She sighed as she watched everyones expectant look. At this time, Qiao Jing asked Su Yan to take out some spices from his suitcase. Qiao Yue was shocked. Why hadnt she realized that her second brother was so domesticated? Qiao Jing rolled his eyes at Qiao Yue. I brought these for you because I was worried that you wouldnt be used to the food in K-Country. Seeing Qiao Jings serious expression, Qiao Yue felt a little touched. The grilled fish and rabbit were seasoned, and so were the grilled mushrooms. Everyone started eating. It was already dark, and everyone was wolfing down their dinner in front of the fire. The atmosphere was quite good. There were even people singing by the fire. It felt like a pic. This feels good. If I lived with the Qiaos, I probably wouldnt experience this kind of life. Qiao Yue sighed. Why? Dont you like living with the Qiaos? Qiao Jing asked. The Qiaos had everything except freedom. But if she returned to the organization, she would go back to being the person in charge of KA, shoulder many more missions and work hard for the future of the organization. She wasnt looking forward to those things either. What about you, brother? Are you happy being part of the Qiao family? It didnt matter if Qiao Jing was happy or not. He was a descendant of the Qiao family and was better at business than his older brother, so he was sent to do this kind of thing. It isnt really up to me. Qiao Jing sighed. What if you had a choice? Would you leave the Qiao family and live a normal life? Why? Are you going to destroy the Qiao family? Qiao Jing asked with a smile. Qiao Yue replied jokingly, Yeah. One day Ill acquire the Qiao family and make all of you beg on the street. You wish, kid. Qiao Jing ruffled Qiao Yues hair. If the Qiao family was really acquired one day, Qiao Jing would give up everything to take it back. The Qiao family was not just a gift from his ancestors, but also a responsibility that he had to bear. Looking at Qiao Yue, Qiao Jing suddenly wondered what he would do if the situation Qiao Yue described really happened. He didnt really know if Qiao Yue would always stand with him. Everyone was tired after dinner. Qiao Jing had already contacted a maintenance team who woulde over tomorrow morning to fix the bus. After everyone learned that they would leave early the next day, they all went back to their tents to sleep. Qiao Yue was standing outside, fiddling with the fire. Fifth brother, arent you going to sleep? Qiao Jing asked as he tidied up the tent. Qiao Yue shook her head. I dont know if there will be any wild beasts in the forest tonight. I want to keep watch and protect everyone. Chapter 334 - 334 Wolf! Wolf! 334 Wolf! Wolf! Then Ill do it with you. Qiao Jing patted Qiao Yue on the shoulder and sat down. The fire was stocked with enough firewood to keep it burning all night. Qiao Yue had even set up a rack and used mugs as pots to make flower tea. Faint fragrance of flower tea permeated the air. This is very different from the Qiao residence. Qiao Yue suddenly said. How different? You can see stars here. Qiao Yue looked up at the sky. Air was thin in the mountains and the sky was clear. Stars sparkled big and bright, like gemstones in the sky. True. You cant see such bright stars at the Qiao residence. Qiao Jing took out a coat from the tent and wrapped it around Qiao Yue. I thought about what you said just now. If it werent for the Qiao family, I would probably be an ordinary person, clock in and out every day doing the most ordinary job, get married and live a life thats neither good nor bad. Unfortunately, there was the Qiao family. If it werent for the Qiao family, I would really like to do scientific research or be a traveler. Qiao Yue sighed. Its a pity that my grades were so bad when I was at Nanshan. I dont think Ill get into any university in this lifetime. Qiao Jing nudged Qiao Yues head. You. He knew that Qiao Yues real academic achievements were not as documented. Qiao Jing had hired many people to investigate Qiao Yue. Although the results were minimal, he could still get a glimpse of Qiao Yues life in the past few years. She had many patents for inventions abroad and held an important position at a bigpany like KA. She was also inextricably linked with an international organization. However, he didnt want to probe. There was no point in probing. He would wait for the day when Qiao Yue told him. Before this business trip, he had prepared for Qiao Yue the things that she would need. Every item was prepared ording to his own packing list. He had never been so serious about a girl. People would call this kind of seriousness love, but Qiao Jing felt that there had to be more profound feelings in this world. His feelings for Qiao Yue could not be described as love. Not necessarily. Maybe its possible if you work hard? Qiao Jingughed. The tea was ready. The two of them took a sip by the fire under the stars. The tea was sweet and fragrant. Drinking it would warm anyones heart. Just as the two of them were enjoying the silence, a strange wolf howl came from the distance. What is that? Qiao Yue stood up and stared at the forest in full alert. Awooooooo! The sound was far away, as if it was not on this mountain. These bonfires easily attract wolves. I didnt think that there would be wolves near Hanshan. Qiao Yue frowned. Wolves rarely came out of their caves to hunt for food in such cold weather. Even though the wolves sounded far away, they could be here in a few hours. Someone is doing this on purpose. Qiao Yue said coldly. The forest should be very safe this season. I dont know why there would be wolves. She took out a dagger and held it in her hand. Qiao Jing nced at her and also picked up a knife. Dont worry. Its less than four hours to dawn. We should be able to make it. Qiao Yue nodded. The two of them sat in silence again. Qiao Yue quietly closed her eyes but remained vignt. This was the way she would preserve her strength in case of any battleter. The darkness of the night was slowly lifted, and the sky brightened. The wolf howls were getting closer. Qiao Yue opened her eyes and looked in its direction. She gave Qiao Jing a look, and thetter understood. The two of them slowly hid behind a tree near their campsite. The bonfire was still burning, and the wolf seemed to be famished as it dashed toward them. They could hear leaves rustling as the wolf moved. It was now that the sound of the wolf became clear. The wolf reeked of blood. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing held their breaths and watched the shrubs sway wildly. The wolf suddenly appeared at their campsite. There were all kinds of leftover food fromst night on their campsite. The wolf first gobbled up the leftovers, then looked at the surrounding tents. People in the tents were all fast asleep and did not sense the approaching danger. Qiao Yue watched the wolf approach a tent and gave Qiao Jing a look. Qiao Jing nodded. Just as the wolf was about to pounce on the tent, Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing pounced on the wolf at the same time. Chapter 335 - 335 Lin Jie 335 Lin Jie In that tent were two girls, both doctors who had followed them to K-Country. Both doctors were pampered girls with no fighting skills. After being pounced on by the wolf, they could only scream helplessly and struggle. The struggle excited the hungry wolf even more as it waved its ws wildly, leaving huge scratch marks on the tent. One of the girls had her arm scratched; there were three terrifying scratches that were still bleeding. Qiao Yue grabbed the wolfs hind leg and shed it with her dagger. Blood sttered everywhere. Qiao Yues eyes were covered in ayer of red and she felt a little dizzy. Wiping away the blood in her eyes, Qiao Yue forced herself to stay alert. Qiao Jing put his hand on her waist and helped her up. Thank you, second brother. Qiao Yue steadied herself, pulled out her dagger from the wolfs leg and stabbed the back of its neck. The wolf howled and struggled madly, its ws scratching wildly. People around them were all woken up now. They surrounded the wolf, but most of them didnt dare to get close. Qiao Jing wasnt shaken off by the wolfs mad struggle. Instead, he grabbed the wolfs front leg and stabbed his knife into it. Before the wolf could react, Qiao Yue pressed it to the ground. The two of them worked together. One of them stabbed the wolfs eye, while the other stabbed its heart. The wolf struggled a few times before it finally stopped. Qiao Yue looked at the wolf, smelled the blood in the air, and kept seeing red spots. Blood, it was all blood. Qiao Jing saw that Qiao Yues expression didnt look right and reached out to hold her. Qiao Yue fell backward, her entire body trembling. Its all blood, Mom, its all blood. Doctor! Qiao Jing shouted. One of the doctors in their entourage came forward to check on Qiao Yue. The fifth young master must have been frightened and needs to rest. Su Yan, get an RV here. Qiao Jing shouted. Its been arranged. Su Yan walked over quickly with a first aid kit. The RV arrived shortly and Qiao Jing carried Qiao Yue into the vehicle while the rest cleaned up the campsite. The RV that Su Yan got was probably the most luxurious one in K-Country. There was a big soft bed in it. Qiao Jing put Qiao Yue on the bed and called in a female doctor. The female doctor he called was the most outstanding one in the team, Lin Jie. Lin Jie had just cleaned the blood off her body. The wounds on her arm had been bandaged, and the three bandages with blood stains looked scary. Second young master. Lin Jie nodded at Qiao Jing. Only you and your teacher know about the fifth young masters condition. Dr. Chang is not here now, so you are in charge of the fifth young masters condition. Lin Jie nodded. She had treated Qiao Yue with her teacher before, so she knew Qiao Yues true gender. Alright, she replied. Lin Jie walked up to the bed and Qiao Jing walked out. Lin Jie undid Qiao Yues clothes, the bandages on her body and looked at the wounds all over her body. More wounds had been added to what she had seen before. The wolf had also left bloody marks on Qiao Yue. Lin Jies eyes shed with heartache as she looked at the bloody scratches. Girls were generally vain. Miss Qiao, how could you do this to your body? She applied ointment on Qiao Yues wounds. Qiao Yue looked heartbreaking. She was covered in wounds, and no one knew what she had gone through. Li Jie had once studied the wounds on Qiao Yues body during an operation. There were all kinds of knife wounds, burns, even strangtion marks. And now, there were injuries from a wolf attack. After treating the wounds, Lin Jie gave Qiao Yue a tetanus shot. She then checked Qiao Yues pulse and other aspects for any problems. When she was done, she walked out of the bedroom and closed the door. Fifth young Fifth young master will be fine but he suffered a shock and showed symptoms of palpitations from fear. Thats why he fainted. Palpitations from fear? Qiao Yue, who was not afraid of anything, would be in fear because of a wolf? Qiao Jing was in disbelief. What would cause palpitations from fear? Generally, its the first time that someone has been frightened or they have been frightened by something simr before. When they recall their memories, they will have these symptoms. Qiao Yue was a strong fighter and had gone through a lot. She wouldnt fall into a state of fear because of a wolf. It must be thetter case that Lin Jie mentioned. Take good care of Qiao Yue. Ill get your teacher to reward you when we get back. Chapter 336 - 336 Something’s Off 336 Somethings Off Everything she saw was red, there was blood everywhere. Her mother was standing at the door, looking at the ruins that had been ttened to the ground. She was at a loss for words and she couldnt speak. She was also pointing a gun at a strange man. Dont hurt my child. !! Im not going to hurt your child. Why wont you leave with me? Whats there to keep you in C-Country? If its this child, Ill help you get rid of him. No, Qiao Qing shouted as she took a step back, protecting the young Qiao Yue behind her. Qiao Yue squinted hard to see the mans face, but she couldnt. That man is so full of himself. He thinks he can give you happiness, but he cant give you anything. Dont you think its better for you to leave with me? I want to stay. Qiao Qings voice was cold, without a trace of hesitation. You can either get rid of me today or you can leave. The man across from her seemed to be sighing helplessly. I can take you away. Theres a better life and a more beautiful world waiting for you in D-Country. I dont want you to be with that man and live this kind of life. Arent we living this kind of life because of people like you? Qiao Qing sneered. These memories had never appeared in Qiao Yues mind. What were they? Qiao Yue felt her head hurt. The scene before her eyes swiveled and a mans face appeared. He was holding a watch in his hand, and swinging it slowly. Forget it all, forget it all. Thest thing Qiao Yue saw was the hands of the watch warping and then she woke up. The ceiling was white, and the bed was soft. She had just fainted. Where was she now? She felt like she was lying in the middle of something moving. Qiao Yue pulled open the curtains and saw the moving scenery of a forest. She should be on her way down the mountain. Qiao Yue stood up and realized that all her wounds had been treated. She checked her undershirt; it had not been touched. Her chest binder was also in ce; no one had touched it. It seemed that only the wounds on her body had been treated. Good. Her secret had not been discovered. Qiao Yue walked out of the room and saw Qiao Jing on the phone with someone. His brows were tightly knitted, and he looked very upset. Qiao Yue walked over slowly and sat opposite him, looking at some information on herputer. It was information about Hanshan City. Hanshan City had all kinds of mineral mines and a chemical nt. It was probably because of over-mining and killing that God had punished them. People of Hanshan City were prone to a kind of limb deformity, ranging from walking with a limp to amputations. Children could also be infected by this disease, and they were prone to anemia at a young age. Some childrens wounds would not heal and they would bleed non-stop. Sometimes, one could hear a child cry one day but not the next. And on the third day, there would be a small coffin at the door of the family home with all four of its corners covered in blood. It was really Gods punishment. Qiao Jing saw that Qiao Yue was awake and frowned, Do you feel better? I feel much better. I even had a very long dream, but I cant remember it. Qiao Yue massaged her head. That dream didnt seem to be a pleasant one or she wouldnt have felt so much pain. What was your dream about? A lot of scenes in red and nothing else. There was also a watch or something. I cant remember. Qiao Yue shook her head. Its just a dream. Qiao Jing stopped talking and showed Qiao Yue the project information. For this project, they were providing resources such as doctors, medicine, and medical equipment, but the Yin family did not contribute anything useful. Why is the Yin family sox this time? Its not their style at all. I just contacted Yin He and he asked us to take charge of the project but didnt answer my question. Yin He, the man who was like a venomous snake. Qiao Yues head hurt at the thought of him. She didnt know what he wanted but he gave her the feeling of familiarity and danger. Then lets go to Hanshan City first. Since were already here, lets take things as they are. We also cant go back to S-City now. Qiao Yue stretchedzily. It was getting dark, and the journey down the mountain would take a few hours. It would be dark when they reached Hanshan City. Qiao Yue looked at the scenery outside and suddenly felt a little unsettled. Chapter 337 - 337 Taken Away 337 Taken Away It was already 7 p.m. when they arrived at Hanshan City. There were no stars in the night sky, only waste gas from the chemical nt. The waste gas had turned into clouds that hover above Hanshan City and had be a nightmare to the citys residents. Qiao Yue took another nap in the RV. When she woke up, they had already arrived at the hotel. Qiao Jing had arranged for Qiao Yue and Lin Jie to stay in nearby rooms so its more convenient for Lin Jie to care for Qiao Yue. !! Qiao Jing took Qiao Yue to Lin Jies room for another checkup. Dr. Lin, Im really okay. I havent seen a wolf in a long time, so I got a shock. Dont listen to my brother. Qiao Yue made a sad face and said coquettishly to Lin Jie. She remembered this doctor. Although her and her teachers medical skills were brilliant, the medicine they prescribed was extremely bitter. She had eaten a lot of sweets and candied fruits during her recuperation. Do you have symptoms like dreaming or hysteria? Lin Jie ignored Qiao Yues wheedling and asked in a business-like manner. I had a dream, but I cant remember the details Qiao Yue tried to recall. In my dream everything was red, like blood, but I really cant remember. Qiao Yue frowned as she tried to recall. How about dizziness? Qiao Yue recalled the moment she felt dizzy after being sshed by the wolfs blood. Lin Jie frowned. This was very strange. Qiao Yue never had hemophobia. Did that scene remind you of something? No. Qiao Yue shook her head. She had never encountered such a scene. At the end of the dream, I saw something like a watch. Lin Jie frowned. The appearance of a watch wasnt good. After all, many people who had been hypnotized would see clocks or watches in their dreams. She suspected that Qiao Yue had been hypnotized in the past. Have you ever undergone any psychological treatment? Lin Jie probed. Are you asking me if Ive been hypnotized? Qiao Yue asked back, looking into Lin Jies eyes. Lin Jie nodded solemnly. Im not sure, Qiao Yue replied. Some of her memories were very fuzzy. Memories from her childhood were not very clear to begin with, so she did not know if they were real. You might have been hypnotized to forget to mistake something, but I dont know the details. Perhaps your recent dreams will tell you. After leaving Lin Jies room, Qiao Yue also fell into suspicion. In her memory, she had never encountered something like hypnosis. But she was having doubts now. Just as she was about to enter her room, she saw Su Yan. Su Yan was going into Lin Jies room. Su Yan? Qiao Yue called out. Fifth young master. Su Yan seemed shocked. Is there anything you need from Dr. Lin? Su Yan smiled unnaturally. I have something to discuss with Dr. Lin. Fifth young master should rest early. Qiao Yue walked back to her room with questions marks in her head and turned on herputer. In less than a few minutes, she had hacked into the hotels system. Security footages from the hotel appeared before her eyes. Su Yan also went to a few other doctors rooms. And then, he walked up to the rooftop. Qiao Yue switched camera to check the rooftop. There was a lot of clutter on the rooftop, and Su Yan seemed to be updating someone. Qiao Yue zoomed in on the camera. She had felt that something was up with Su Yan just now. He was new and he might not have the best intentions. The camera zoomed in and the person talking to Su Yan was someone she didnt know. He was wearing a red hoodie and had a delicate side profile. Qiao Yue was disgusted. Wasnt this the person who helped Sun Bin before? Unfortunately, the hotels surveince system didnt record voices, so Qiao Yue could only guess what they were saying by reading their lips. The two of them seemed to have mentioned her name and even said that she had fainted or something. Wasnt this her business? Why was this red-clothed person asking about her? Just as Qiao Yue was waiting for the man in red to say something, the lights in the hotel suddenly went off. Qiao Yue stood up and looked out the window. It was pitch-ck outside, as if the entire Hanshan City had cked out and melded with the night sky. In the pitch-ck world, a shiny helicopter took off in the night sky, drawing a beautiful arc in the air. The helicopter must have taken off from the hotel. The shiny paint on it seemed to be a few letters. When it got closer, Qiao Yue could see clearly that the letters on it were the abbreviation of the Eugene family. Chapter 338 - 338 An Old Acquaintance? 338 An Old Acquaintance? Someone sent by the Eugene family? Qiao Yue looked at the passing helicopter and frowned. Why did they appear again? It seemed like there was indeed something off with Su Yan. Qiao Yue felt a chill run down her spine when she recalled what Su Yan had asked her. Andy must still be alive. Qiao Yue clenched her fists at the thought of this. She would not let Andy escape again. The ckoutsted just for a short while. After the power came back, Qiao Yue went to Qiao Jings room. Qiao Jing had just taken a shower and was wearing a simple white t-shirt and ck pants. His hair hung loosely down his forehead, making him look like an innocent college student. When the door was opened, Qiao Jing was still drying his hair with a towel. His eyes were glistening, and he looked very seductive. Qiao Yue felt her face burn for some reason. Whats wrong? Qiao Jing let Qiao Yue in. You dont like the hotel? No, I have something to tell you. Qiao Yues expression was grave. Your Just as she started her sentence, Qiao Yue shut her mouth and looked around. She took out her phone, which had been modified to block or search for other signals. Qiao Yue searched using her phone and found two spy bugs in the room. One was hidden behind the television, and the other under the bed. With a frown, Qiao Yue showed Qiao Jing where the two surveince devices were ced. Qiao Jings expression darkened. How audacious of them to install listening decides in his room! Qiao Yue shook her head and motioned for Qiao Jing to keep quiet. She then took Qiao Jings hand and wrote the name Su Yan on it. Su Yan? He was the most likely person to have ced these bugs in Qiao Jings room because his room would have been carefully inspected by his assistant. There was no way there would be things like listening devices. Now that his room had been bugged, it could only be Su Yan, who was his assistant, an insider. Qiao Jing nodded and mouthed to Qiao Yue, Ill keep a close eye. Qiao Yue reached out and wrote Andys name on Qiao Jings hand. Qiao Jings eyes darkened. Qiao Jing had been looking for Andy since he escaped, but Andy seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Meanwhile, Oswald, from the younger generation of the Eugene family, seemed to be on a path to be the next political figure. It was unknown whether Oswald would find his uncle in future. What happenedst time was not the end of their confrontation, but the beginning. The two of them exchanged a look and Qiao Yue understood what Qiao Jing meant. If Su Yan was really connected to the Eugene family, they couldnt fire him or send him back to the country or their enemy would be tipped off. It was better to use this time to observe Su Yan so they could figure out what the Eugene family was up to. The charity event at Hanshan City was focused on sick children at a welfare home. Early the next morning, Qiao Yue got in the car and went to the welfare home with Qiao Jing. The welfare home was filled with sick children with all kinds of bruises on their bodies. A few of them had flushed faces, obviously from fever. The director of the welfare home exined, These children are all sick, but our home doesnt have sufficient facilities or funds to pay for all their treatments, so we hope that everyone can help. This time, weve brought with us thetest medicine developed by the Qiao Corporation. Its already passed clinical trials, but it isnt made avable on the market yet. We would like to try it out here. Qiao Jing said to the director. The doctors moved the advanced equipment and medicine into the small courtyard. The children looked with curiosity at therge boxes that were brought in. Qiao Yue also looked at the children. They were all very young. They had been sick since young and had been abandoned by their families. Qiao Yue felt a little depressed. Big brother, are you here to treat us? One of the children walked up to Qiao Yue, pulled on his pants, and asked. Qiao Yue nodded. Yes. With our medicine, youll be fine soon. Qiao Yue squatted and touched the little girls hair. She was so thin that she looked unhealthy, and there were all kinds of bruises on her body. Those bruises were not caused by being hit, but by bumping into things by ident, causing their blood capiries to burst. Chapter 339 - 339 The Evil Director 339 The Evil Director Qiao Yues felt pressure building behind her eyes when she looked at the bruises on the little girl. The disease these children were suffering from definitely had something to do with the chemical nt. But the chemical nt was the economic lifeline of Hanshan City. Due to incorrect development in the early years, radiation from the chemical nt had always exceeded the safety standards. There were many other poor children like this girl. Youll get better. We brought a lot of medicine for you. Qiao Yue patted the little girls head. Big brother, do you want to know a secret? Qiao Yue nodded. The little girl moved closer to her and whispered a few words. Qiao Yue frowned. How did you know? Ive been to the directors room before and saw it in the secret chamber. When the little girl said this, she grabbed the hem of her skirt subconsciously with panic in her eyes. Is what the director did very bad? Can you make him leave? The little girl blinked and asked. Qiao Yue was about to say something when the director, Lin Hui, walked over. The little girl quickly hid behind a wall when she saw him. Fifth young master, Ive heard a lot about you. The welfare home director extended his hand to Qiao Yue. I just saw you talking to Linlin, where did the child disappear to so quickly? Lin Hui was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had a big belly and was bald on top of his head. He looked like a dirty old man. Thank you for helping our welfare home. We are always underfunded. I sometimes have to pay out of my own pocket to take care of these children. Qiao Yue smiled. Director Lin is an upright person. Im very impressed. We will do our best to help these children. Lin Hui nodded. Ive prepared a wee dinner tonight. I hope the two young masters can join us. Ive also asked the children to prepare a performance. I hope the two of you will like it. We will. These childrens performance would definitely be very good. But young master, I still want to remind you that the children here are all very smart. Some of them may have poor backgrounds, but they have a habit of lying and hurting their ssmates. Like Linlin whom you just met. Im quite worried. Thank you for your reminder, Qiao Yue replied with a smile. I will be careful. After Qiao Yue saw the director off, she squatted and looked at Linlin. Tell me, other than what you told me, what other secrets does the director have? The little girl clutched the hem of her dress, her body trembling slightly. Big brother, can I tell you? The director said we cant tell anyone. Qiao Yue nodded. I wont tell him. If the director did something wrong, Ill make him leave. The little girl moved closer to Qiao Yue and then gently lifted her skirt. Qiao Yue almost vomited when she saw what was in front of her. This little girl, who was not even ten years old, had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. Thinking back to what the director had just said, he must have done something that only animals would do to these poor children. Qiao Yue clenched her fists at the thought of this. Are you the only one with this condition, or are there others with the same condition? This happened to a few other younger sisters too. They were also brought to the directors office. There was also an older sister called Chengcheng, but she disappeared after she went there. So, it wasnt just one child, but also a missing child. This director was really evil. Lets go. Ill take you to get treated. Qiao Yue brought Linlin to Lin Jie. Lin Jie, can you help me check on this little girls condition, please? Im A little busy here Lin Jie was about to treat the next child when she suddenly looked in the direction Qiao Yue was pointing. Lin Jies expression suddenly became serious. She had worked in the pediatrics department for a while, so she could guess what had happened. Lin Jie pulled Linlin into a separate consultation room. Linlin was very well-behaved and did not resist the inspection. Ill leave. Qiao Yue stood outside the curtain. After a while, Lin Jies sigh could be heard from behind the curtain. Qiao Yue felt like she had been punched in the gut. She could guess what had happened but without professional equipment, she still had a glimmer of hope. Lin Jie walked out of the curtain and shook her head. Is it what I think it is? Lin Jie nodded. She must have contracted it a long time ago. We cant rule out the possibility of syphilitic heart disease and other syphilis-rted symptoms. Even if we start treatment now, she might still die. Moreover, this child already has a blood disease. Chapter 340 - 340 The Welcome Dinner 340 The Wee Dinner Its not just Linlin. There are many other children here with the same condition. Qiao Yues words made Lin Jie widen her eyes. Lin Jie had encountered a simr situation before, so she immediately understood what Qiao Yue was trying to say. If a child in an orphanage like this was infected with this disease, the biggest suspect could only be the person in charge, the director. This girl also told me that the director had secretly pocketed medicine for the blood disease. They were meant for the children, but the director had probably sold them. Lin Jie frowned. This kind of medicine for blood diseases was not cheap in C-Country. Its a huge expenditure when it came to Hanshan City. If he were to sell this medicine, he could buy a few houses with sea view. This director really deserves to die. Has the fifth young master thought of any way to bring him down? Lin Jie asked. Qiao Yue frowned. She had thought of a way, but it might cause trouble. Lin Jie, take a few female doctors with you to examine each child and find out how many children are suffering from the same sexually transmitted disease. Give me a list of medicine and equipment youll need. I will deal with the director. Lin Jie nodded and immediately went to organize things. Qiao Yue took out her phone and sent a message to Chu Jia. Help me look into the transaction records in Hanshan City for blood disease drugs. See if there are any transaction records under the name of Lin Hui. Okay. Chu Jia replied quickly. There were no transaction records under Lin Huis name, but there were many transaction records for blood disease drugs under his wifes name. But boss, this Zhang Yan is no simpleton either. She owns a pharmaceuticalpany. Its not impossible to say that those drugs came from herpany. What about real estate? Zhang Yan has properties in both D-Country and C-County, but she doesnt have any here. D-Country and C-Country were much more developed than K-Country. The real estate prices were also much more expensive than in K-Country. If she did not own properties in K-Country but in other countries, it meant that Zhang Yan was deliberately hiding her wealth. This husband-and-wife team were true demons. Very soon, Qiao Yue met the demon couple at the wee dinner organized by Lin Hui. Zhang Yan was a fashionably dressed middle-aged woman. She wore an expensive mink coat, and her hair was held up neatly into a top knot secured with two gold hairpins. The food on the table was also quite exquisite,pletely different from the food the children in the welfare home had. You must be the fifth young master of the Qiao family. Wee to Hanshan City. I heard that you were trapped in the snow yesterday. Im really sorry. I should have gone to pick you up, but I was busy with mypany. Otherwise, I would have gone. Qiao Yue sized up Zhang Yan with cold eyes. She was very kind when she spoke, and even served them food. Im running a pharmaceuticalpany now, and some of the medicine is for the children. But Ill be honest with you, I dont like my husband doing charity work. Im a businesswoman. She paused. These children are like bottomless pits. They never stop. A lot of the money I earn has been used to treat the childrens illnesses. My husband and I dont even have our own house in Hanshan. This sentence further confirmed Qiao Yues suspicion. She saw that Qiao Jing was frowning as well. But the children are all very cute. Yeah, but because of these children, Lin Hui and I havent had our own kids yet. Zhang Yan looked at Qiao Jing. Young masters Qiao, if youre interested, we can talk about cooperation. I know that the Qiaos also own a pharmaceuticalpany. We can grow our businesses together. We are not in the market for a partner now. Qiao Yue said. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue, not understanding why she suddenly spoke. Qiao Yue had never interfered with the family business. For Qiao Yue to reject Zhang Yan so directly, there must be some kind of grudge between them. But Mrs. Lin, I do have something that I would like you to hear. Qiao Yue took out her phone. Voices of children were ying on her phone, but after being put through a voice changer. The director would do those things to me like the uncles and aunties do on TV. He would kiss me on the lips and there. After the director took sister Chengcheng away, she never returned. Zhang Yans expression suddenly changed. She looked at Lin Hui sharply and said, What is this? Chapter 341 - 341 Divulgence 341 Divulgence Lin Hui, on the other hand, looked calm. Mr. Qiao, I dont know how Ive offended you. Why did you forge this? Is it because you dont want to work with me? Qiao Jing frowned as he looked at the husband and wife in front of him. He believed that Qiao Yue would not lie to him, so he was even more suspicious of the couple. You cant make up such a lie just because you dont want to work with me. Ive been married to my wife for years. We have a harmonious rtionship and no sexual scandals. If Im not wrong, one of the drugs Ms. Zhang Yan took just now was for syphilis, right? Qiao Yue looked at Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan had just taken some pills before dinner. Qiao Yue recognized those pills. They were developed by KA specifically for syphilis. What do you mean by that? You dont want to work with me, so youre making up rumors about my husband? Zhang Yanughed. Im not an idiot. Syphilis can be spread in many ways. Some people get it after using unclean towels when they go for a massage. Qiao Yue sneered. Then why dont I bring you to see those poor children? Lin Hui looked at Qiao Yue sharply. Some of these kids were returned after being adopted. It is also possible that they had been tortured and infected when they were away. They then spread it to other children because of unhygienic conditions. Qiao Yue just stared at Lin Hui. Lin Hui felt a little creeped out. Qiao Yue was so certain. He might have other evidence. Its my fault for not managing it properly. Ill help the children better in future if something like that happen again. Lin Hui saw that the two of them did not refute him, so he added, Besides, Im a man. I didnt realize that these children had contracted such an illness. Ill hire some female caretakers to take care of these children. Director Lin, youre really quite stubborn. Qiao Yue then turned to Zhang Yan and sneered, Ms. Zhang, you dont have to keep lying to yourself. Qiao Yue took out a remote control and turned on the big screen. On screen was a video of the director molesting a little girl. You keep these videotapes in the secret room, right? If Im not wrong, theres also a batch of goods you are nning to sell overseas in the secret room. Qiao Yue pressed a few times on the remote control and a video clip of an entire document folder appeared. These videos were all evidence of Lin Huis crimes. Lin Hui was an animal. Not only did he molest children, but he also recorded them to threaten them. Do you know that one of the children has developed syphilitic heart disease along with other illnesses? Her days might be numbered. Qiao Yue said angrily. These are all from my personalputer, how did you find out? Lin Hui stood up and pounced on Qiao Yue. Just as Qiao Yue was about to block Lin Hui, someone suddenly stood in front of her, pushed Lin Huis hands behind him, and then pressed him down on the table. How dare you touch a Qiao in front of me? Qiao Jings voice was cold. You must be tired of living. Lin Hui struggled for a while and stopped after realizing that Qiao Jing was very strong. He only looked at Qiao Yue with eyes full of hatred. Zhang Yan, what do you think? Zhang Yan stared at Lin Hui. She had shared a bed with this man for more than ten years, and this was the first time she saw his true self. He had been lying to her, telling her that he had contracted syphilis because he had once apanied her to a social gathering at a ce with poor hygiene. Later, out of guilt, she promised Lin Hui that she would use herpany to fence his goods. She would then invest the profits into real estate so the two of them could enjoy life abroadter. She had never once thought that the man beside her was such a demon. Ms. Zhang, you should know that youve fenced those drugs usingpanies under your name. Youll go to jail when you are found out. Also, I found this in his cab. Qiao Yue opened a document bag. Inside it was a will and an insurance policy. It was a will written in her name. If Zhang Yan died, all the properties would belong to Lin Hui. In addition, the beneficiary on the insurance policy was also Lin Hui. If Zhang Yan died in an ident, Lin Hui would enjoy a huge payout. Chapter 342 - 342 Between Husband and Wife 342 Between Husband and Wife Lin Huis eyes shed momentarily with panic, but he calmed down quickly. Honey, Ive also bought insurance for myself, and youre the beneficiary. Im just thinking that our DINK family isnt protected. If anything happens to one of us, we should take care of each other, dont you think? Zhang Yans eyes showed hesitation. What Lin Hui said wasnt wrong. Besides, she had always been against Lin Huis charity work. Lin Hui had probably epted the bribe to make it up to her. How did you find these things? You must have nted them to sow discord between us. What do you want? Zhang Yans sudden change of tone shocked Qiao Yue. This Zhang Yan waspletely smitten with her husband. It was unbelievable that she would still protect such a man. Are you still protecting your scumbag husband? Youre really funny. Qiao Yue sneered. She had never thought that Zhang Yan would be the screw-up. Zhang Yan, how do you exin those little girls? Are you so willing to be with a pedophile? Qiao Jing said slowly. Zhang Yans eyes darted between the two Qiao brothers. Since youvee all the way from C-Country, why cant you just work with us peacefully? Why are you creating a scene? Because of those poor little girls. Qiao Yue looked at Zhang Yan with a cold face. A scumbag like Lin Hui should be punished. Do you realize that that little girl is dying? Qiao Yues eyes were fixed on the two. Lin Hui felt a chill down his spine. This is K-Country. No matter how powerful the Qiao family is, you cant meddle with things in K-Country. Dont go too far. Lin Hui stood up. I think you have no idea how powerful I am in K-Country. Lin Hui tapped on his phone a few times and a group of people came in and surrounded Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing. These people all looked burly and seemed to be retired soldiers. Youre actually using mercenaries? Qiao Yue frowned. If she remembered correctly, it was illegal to hire soldiers in K-Country. Hanshan City is so remote and its a port to the outside world. I can do whatever I want. Lin Hui sat down slowly on his chair. My wife and I ownpanies that form the lifeline of Hanshans economy. Do you think that foreigners like you can afford to offend me here? Zhang Yan also stood by Lin Hui. This woman was too ridiculous. She thought that just because her husband was a local emperor, she could be the local empress. Do it, tie up these two guests. Lin Hui looked at Qiao Yue and revealed an evil smile, Im sure young master Qiao doesnt know, but some of the mercenaries in my army have a fetish. They like young boys with soft skin like fifth young master Qiao. Just them? Qiao Yueughed. Two mercenaries tried to get close to Qiao Yue, but they were each kicked to the ground by Qiao Yue. One of them vomited blood and fainted on the spot. Whats the matter? Still want to challenge me? Next! Qiao Yue looked at the mercenaries in front of her and said with a smile. The rest of the mercenaries just looked at Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing, not daring to step forward. This Qiao Yue looked soft and delicate; he didnt look like a powerful person at all. But with just one kick, he made a mercenary with quite a lot ofbat experience vomit blood. Mr. Lin, if you really want me to get started, I dont mind. Qiao Jing stood up and rolled up his sleeves. You two bosses probably dont want murders to happen in your own residence, right? Qiao Jing looked strong; the muscles on his arms looked like they were about to burst. Get a gun. We have guns. Dont be afraid. Lin Hui scolded the mercenaries. A mercenary took out his gun and pointed it at Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing. Qiao Yue took out a gun from her backpack and pointed it at Lin Hui. Before anyone could react, Qiao Jing had quickly held Lin Hui hostage. You can shoot, but your boss will be my shield. Qiao Jing said coldly. A mercenary tried to restrain Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yue kicked him to the ground. Suddenly, the sound of ss shattering came from outside the window. Chapter 343 - 343 Back At The Yin Residence 343 Back At The Yin Residence The windows shattered in an instant, and the helicopters ropedder was lowered. A few people in military uniforms rushed into the room. A smoke bomb was detonated, and the room was instantly filled with smoke. While the mercenaries panicked, Qiao Yue went across the table and held Zhang Yan down. Qiao Yue saw the symbol on these mens bodies. They were from that organization, The Custodians. Su Xuns voice rang out in the room. Why is it you two again? Why do I keep bumping into you in my recent operations? The lights in the room suddenly went on and all the mercenaries were on the floor. The members of the team were dozing off at the side. These mercenaries are rubbish. I guess this Lin Hui isnt very capable. The mercenaries he hired are too weak. Su Xun looked at Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing who were holding down Lin Hui and Zhang Yan and gestured for his team members to take over. Lin Hui and Zhang Yan were both scared out of their wits as they looked at the people in front of them, trembling. Who are you people? Zhang Yan asked in a trembling voice. Lin Hui looked at Su Xun, and his eyes suddenly widened. Arent you that Su Xun took a step forward and stuffed his gun into Lin Huis mouth. Cut the crap. What despicable things have you done? We didnt. We are honest businesspeople, Zhang Yan shouted. The police of K-Country will never let you off for doing this in Hanshan City. The police of K-Country? When have I ever been afraid of the police? Shut up! Su Xun lowered his head and looked at the couple in front of him. We are here to rid the world of people like you. But before that, you must confess to your crimes. Zhang Yanughed coldly. Who are you to make me confess? Apologize to the public? I will never do that, not even if you kill my husband and me today. You will just be murderers who killed good people. Boss, shall we just do it? One of the team members asked. No, have you forgotten what we do for a living? The team member shut his mouth. The job of The Custodians wasnt just to kill these bad people. Their more important job was to make these peoples crimes public. I know. Im sorry, boss. The team member backed down. At this time, Qiao Jing took out a cell phone from his pocket. On its screen was a video of a boy. The boy looked to be only three or four years old. He shook his head and called out innocently, Dad, dad This boy bore a resemnce to Lin Hui. This is your kid, isnt it, Lin Hui? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yue was also shocked. She didnt expect Qiao Jing to havee prepared. Zhang Yans eyes widened when she heard that. They had both agreed to be a DINK family when they got married. Who knew that Lin Hui would secretly have a child? Youre really a b*stard. Zhang Yan struggled with all her might, wanting to give Lin Hui a few tight ps. Hahaha, good, very good. As expected of the first heir of the Qiao family. Su Xunughed out loud and asked the team member beside him to take out the camera from his bag. Ms. Zhang, dont worry. I have a way for you to get your revenge. You can say on camera the dirty things that your husband has done. Ill help you post it online. This was also one of the ways of The Custodians, which was to make the bad guys confess. Zhang Yan nodded and looked at Su Xun with a pleading look in her eyes. If you can, can you please spare my life? Lets see if you can exin all your mistakes. Su Xun motioned for a few team members to bring Zhang Yan to the room next door to record her testimony and confession. Lin Hui looked at the boy on screen, his eyes glistening with tears. This woman Zhang Yan wanted a DINK family. So what if I found someone to bear my child? Qiao Jing red at Lin Hui, Did you know that the mother of this child is also a child? The boys mother was the Chengcheng that Linlin had mentioned earlier. You imprisoned Chengcheng in the basement to give birth to your child. Then you cruelly killed her after she gave birth. And this is what you meant when you found someone to bear your child? Qiao Yue wanted to rush up and kill Lin Hui when she heard this. Youre really an animal, Lin Hui. Qiao Yue cursed in anger. Youre using my child to threaten me. Do you think you are good people? Fine, Ill tell you everything I know, but Ill also tell the people who will see my video what kind of people The Custodians are. Chapter 344 - 344 Father 344 Father By the time they finished with Lin Hui and Zhang Yan, it was already midnight. Hanshan City wasnt safe, and no one had called the police, so no one actually asked about what happened with the Lins. It wasnt until the next day when the food delivery people saw the tragic deaths of Lin Hui and Zhang Yan, as well as the video recording they had left behind, that someone called the police. At this time, Qiao Jing, Qiao Yue and the team sent by The Custodians had already returned to their hotel. The Custodians team did not leave town immediately. Instead, they nned to stay in Hanshan City for a while before they left. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing had long wanted to have a drink with Su Xun and his team, and this was the perfect opportunity. Qiao Jing sent his assistant to buy some wine from a nearby supermarket. The three of them sat on the rooftop of the hotel and started drinking under the night sky. Su Xun had been to many countries; his knowledge and experience were all very interesting. Su Xun poured sses of wine for Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing. I have to thank the two of you for today. If you havent found so much evidence in advance, our operation wouldnt have gone so smoothly. What you are doing is very admirable. Its only right that we help you. Qiao Jing reached out and clinked sses with Su Xun. Why is Colonel Su staying at Hanshan City? Is there some other business you need to deal with? Su Xun shook his head. Im not young anymore. I thought that Ill retire after a few more missions. Besides, Ive found the person Ive been looking for. Su Xun lowered his head and smiled. Is it Colonel Sus sweetheart or something? Qiao Yue asked nosily. My wife passed away many years ago. Su Xuns eyes were a little red. It was my fault. The mood turned somber instantly. Qiao Yue looked at the middle-aged man in front of her and empathized with his pain. My parents died when I was very young, so perhaps I can understand your pain. Both your parents? Su Xun was a little surprised. Yes, my father disappeared, and my mother died from illness. Doubt shed across Su Xuns eyes momentarily, which confused Qiao Yue. Your father disappeared. He could still be somewhere on earth doing something very important to him. Its just that he cant meet you for some reason. Su Xun took a swig of wine with his head lifted. Perhaps. If hes still alive, I hope that he never sees me again. After all, he was so cruel to abandon me and my mother. I will never forgive him. Su Xun did not say anything more. Instead, he swallowed another mouthful of wine. So, Colonel Su has found your family? Qiao Jing asked. Yes, I found my daughter But shes grown up to be a good person. She has her own family and career Since shes married, its not very convenient for me to just show up as her father. When Qiao Yue heard Su Xuns words, she suddenly felt that she had been a little harsh with her words. Im sorry, Colonel Su. My father is a scumbag. I heard that he abandoned my mother back then, which was why I said that. I hope you dont take it to heart. Su Xun shook his head and clinked sses with Qiao Yue. Its not right to abandon ones family. Im just like your father. Im an irresponsible man and an irresponsible father. Su Xun turned his head and looked at the night sky. My daughter is just like you. Shes a smart and kind girl. I hope you can forget the pain brought on by your birth family and have a better future. Qiao Yue nodded. When she looked up, she saw tears flowing down Su Xuns face. Colonel Su, if you really miss your daughter, you should go and see her, as a friend or in some other capacity. There was a saying that real men dont cry. Qiao Yue couldnt bear to see Colonel Su cry for his child and family. If I have the chance, I will. Colonel Su wiped the tears off his face. Why are we talking about sad things? Its my problem. I shouldnt have mentioned it. Lets drink. Qiao Jing quietly clinked sses with Qiao Yue and Su Xun, but his eyes were darting between the two. A strange hypothesis appeared in his mind. Your daughter is already married. What kind of person is her husband? Hes just an ordinary boy, but hes very kind and filial. I believe that hell treat my daughter well. Su Xun said as he looked at Qiao Jing. Chapter 345 - 345 Post-drinks 345 Post-drinks But if he lets my daughter down, Ill make him pay. Su Xun continued. Qiao Jing lowered his head and smiled. I understand. You really love your daughter. The two of them clinked sses in implicit understanding. The three of them chatted about other things for a while with Qiao Yue being a little drunk already. Her face was red, and she was slurring her words. The gun that Colonel Su gave me is really good. I used it to defeat them today. Hehe, second brother, I was amazing, right? Qiao Jing smiled and took away her drink. Its time to stop. Qiao Yue frowned at Qiao Jing. Why are you stopping me? Dont stop me. Colonel Su, can I join your organization? I want to kill that Andy! Kill him! My fifth brother is drunk. I should bring him back to rest. Qiao Jing nodded at Su Xun while he scooped Qiao Yue up in his arms. Su Xun opened the door and followed Qiao Jing to Qiao Yues room. I hope you will protect her. Qiao Jing nced at Su Xun and said, Colonel Su, you dont have to say anything more. Fifth brother is also my family. I will always protect my family. Su Xun shook his head and smiled. I can see how you feel about her, so I hope youll take care of her. I cant do much about the organization but I dont want her to live an unhappy life. Qiao Yue fell into deep sleep in Qiao Jings arms. The two men stood face to face in the quiet corridor. Qiao Jing smiled. It seems that I was right. Colonel Su is indeed a man with regrets and conviction. Su Xun sighed and nodded. I hope that my daughter will never know this. I also hope that I can keep the familys secrets from her forever. How long will you be staying in Hanshan City this time? Qiao Jing asked. Three days, Su Xun replied. I see. Qiao Jing nodded. The charity team from ourpany will also be here for three more days. You are wee to join us for the next three days. Su Xun raised his head and looked at Qiao Jing, his eyes filled with gratitude. Thank you, Su Xun said. You are wee. I want her to be happy too. With that, Qiao Jing carried Qiao Yue into her room. Qiao Yue opened her eyes slightly, probably because of the sudden change in environment. Qiao Jing was helping her take off her shoes. Second brother, are we done? I havent had enough yet. She stretchedzily and sat up. She took Qiao Jings hand and said, I want to drink some more. You cant. Youve had quite a lot to drink today. Qiao Jing stroked Qiao Yues head. Qiao Yue was probably quite drunk as she fell into Qiao Jings arms. No, I want to drink some more. Lets go drink. The girls arms wrapped around Qiao Jings waist, and a strange desire climbed up from below his waist. Qiao Jing grabbed Qiao Yues hand and slowly put her back in bed, No, youre not allowed to drink anymore, understand? Qiao Yue pursed her lips and looked at Qiao Jing with dissatisfaction. No, I want to drink some more. Lets go and chat with Colonel Su. It would be so great if Colonel Su was my father Qiao Yues voice suddenly lowered, If hes my father, I wouldnt be so sad. Does my father still miss me? If only he is alive. Qiao Jing sighed. If hes still alive, hell love you too. He didnt intend to tell Qiao Yue what he had discovered. In fact, he already knew everything during theirst operation. He just didnt say anything for Qiao Yues sake. Now was not the time to tell her these things. He patted Qiao Yues head. That day wille. Dont worry. Is my father really still alive? Tears flowed down Qiao Yues cheeks. Yes. Qiao Jing nodded and reached out to wipe away the tears on Qiao Yues face. You will definitely meet again. Qiao Yue wiped her tears and reached out to hug Qiao Jing, burying her head in his arms. Qiao Jings body froze as he felt the warmth and fragrance of the girl in his arms. He knew that it was inappropriate, but he didnt push her away. Second brother, Im really sad. Qiao Jing sat down slowly and held the crying Qiao Yue tightly in his arms. Its alright. Ill always be your family. Always your family. Qiao Yue raised her head slowly and looked at him with herrge eyes. Chapter 346 - 346 Farewell 346 Farewell Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. The alcohol had already washed away her rationality. She slowly straightened up and pressed her lips against Qiao Jings. Qiao Jings body stiffened. How many times had they kissed? The girls sweet scent lingered at the tip of his nose, and a faint blush appeared on his usually calm face. Qiao Yue gently sucked on his lower lip. Qiao Jing reached out and held Qiao Yues face in his hands and began to kiss her back. Qiao Yue only felt his kiss getting deeper and gentler. She felt that she was so immersed in Qiao Jings kiss that she couldnt extricate herself. It was only when Qiao Jing released her that she slowly came back to her senses. The kiss sobered her up. Second brother, I For a moment, Qiao Yue didnt know what she was doing so she pretended to be sleepy and slowlyy down in bed. Qiao Jing covered Qiao Yue with the nket before he got up to sit on the sofa. He suddenly had the urge to tell her how he felt about her. He had never treated Qiao Yue as his younger brother, not even his younger sister. To him, she was one of a kind and irreceable. Looking at the girl sleeping soundly in bed, Qiao Jing was reluctant to leave her side. If he only stayed here for a night, she probably wouldnt notice anything, right? With this thought in mind, Qiao Jing turned off the lights and slowlyy down on the sofa. Moonlight fell on the girl through the curtains. Her thick eyshes were like ck butterflies, slowly fluttering his heartstrings. Qiao Jing felt as if his heart had been captured. When Qiao Yue woke up, Qiao Jing was still lying on the sofa. He was fast asleep with a wool nket over him. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing his beautiful vicle. Qiao Yue rubbed her eyes as she looked at Qiao Jing. The sleeping Qiao Jing was like a child, pouting slightly like he was acting cute. Sunlight fell on his face, casting a shadow over his long eyshes. He looked very handsome. Qiao Yue reached out, wanting to touch his eyshes. She tiptoed to the sofa and touched Qiao Jings eyshes. As if feeling ufortable, Qiao Jing moved his body and the nket on him fell. Qiao Yue only took a nce and her face turned red. Qiao Jings shirt was left open, half-covering his torso. His taut abs looked nice to the touch. Qiao Yue reached out and touched Qiao Jings t stomach. Her face immediately burned, right to the base of her ears. To make matters worse, Qiao Jing had opened his eyes and stared at her. Second brother, why didnt you sleep in your room? Qiao Yue grinned, trying to cover up herscivious act. What were you doing just now? Qiao Jing asked. Qiao Yue grinned as she reached out to touch Qiao Jings abs. Second brother, your abs feel really good. Girls must like them. Can you teach me? I want to get abs too. Qiao Yue was trying to y dumb and let the matter pass, but to her surprise, Qiao Jing grabbed her hand and pressed it against his stomach. Then feel some more. Qiao Yue felt as if her entire body was burning up and quickly retracted her hand. No, its too weird for two grown men like us to do this. Its good that you know that its weird. Qiao Jing stood up and buttoned his shirt. I didnt go crazyst night, did I? Qiao Yues face was already red. Qiao Yue could usually hold her liquor, so she didnt know why she got drunk so quicklyst night. No, you didnt, Qiao Jing said inly. Really? I wasnt drunk or crazy? Qiao Yue asked. She couldnt remember anything aboutst night. No. Qiao Jings face was a little red. Thinking about the kissst night, Qiao Jing couldnt control himself and almost blurted out his feelings for Qiao Yue. The two of them walked out of the room together and bumped into the team from The Custodians. Good morning, Colonel Su. Qiao Yue said with a smile. Good morning, young masters. Our team has three days off. You know that we are not the kind who could stay idle, so we thought it would be a good thing to do volunteer work with you. Of course. Wee to our team! Qiao Yue smiled. Su Xun looked at Qiao Jing, who nodded in understanding. Of course, I wee Colonel Su to our team. All of them left for the welfare home together. News of K-Country was ying on the big screen in the city center. The richest couple in Hanshan City died mysteriously. The husband was a pedophile for years Chapter 347 - 347 Amusement Park 347 Amusement Park When Qiao Yue arrived at the welfare home, Linlin, who was still running around a couple of days ago, was gravely ill and lying in bed. Brother, youvee to see me. Linlin tried her best to smile adorably when she saw Qiao Yue. Whats going on? Why are you so weak? Qiao Yue touched Linlins head. Brother, how much longer will I live? Linlin looked at Qiao Yue with tears in her eyes. I know Sister Lin Jie is lying to me. Actually, I wont recover at all. No, no. Youll be fine. Qiao Yue looked at Linlin, her eyes filled with heartache. Brother, can you bring me to the amusement park? I really want to go. Linlins round eyes lit up. I want to try cotton candy and jump on the trampoline. Sure. Qiao Yue nodded. This girl was not even ten years old, but she had to go through such suffering. That man deserved to die. Lin Jie and Qiao Yue yed with Linlin for a while before Lin Jie asked Linlin to go to bed and brought Qiao Yue to another room. Whats the situation with Linlin? Qiao Yue asked with a frown. It should be this month. What? Qiao Yue frowned. Wasnt she okay just a few days ago? Once there are signs of internal bleeding, its hard to save her. She has been needing blood transfusion more frequently. She wont be able to hold on for long. If you can, try to take her to the amusement park in the next two days. Qiao Yue looked at Lin Jie, and the hope in her eyes slowly dissipated. She knew that death was inevitable. Although she was a renowned doctor, she could not cure all diseases. Hows our medicine? Is it helpful? Lin Jie nodded. Although we dont have much time left, our medicine can sustain her for a while. Qiao Yue looked through the ss panel at Linlin, who was lying inside the ward. Linlin was sleeping soundly. She might be dreaming about something that she was crying silently. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes into her hair. Help me arrange things so I could take her there in the next couple of days. Ill go with you, Qiao Jings voice rang out from behind Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue turned around and saw Qiao Jing standing behind her. For some reason, she felt her eyes sting and lowered her head to hold back her tears. Sure. Ive never been to the amusement park in Hanshan City. Lets go together. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue, his eyes dark and gloomy. The two of them took Linlin to the amusement park the next day. The amusement park in Hanshan City wasnt big. There were only a few simple facilities such as bumper cars, trampolines, a dusty merry-go-round and a roller coaster. It was obvious that business was not very good. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing each held Linlins hand as they walked into the amusement park. They looked like a couple bringing their kid to an amusement park. Perhaps due to excitement, Linlins little face was flushed, and she was very energetic. You have two brothers bring you out to y today. Are you happy? Qiao Yue asked. Linlin smiled. Im happy. It would be great if you two brothers were my parents. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue, whose face was a little red. Two boys cant get married, right, second brother? Qiao Jing smiled, but his eyes were dark. He seemed to have thought of something. Well, its not entirely impossible. How is it okay? Linlin asked curiously. If theres a girl pretending to be a boy, then its fine. Qiao Jing smiled before he pulled Linlin to the merry-go-round queue. Qiao Yue stood rooted to the ground in disbelief. Had Qiao Jing noticed something? Did Qiao Jing know that she was a girl? Qiao Yue shook her head to clear her mind. They were here to y with Linlin today, not to think about other things. Qiao Yue ran a few steps and caught up with the two. There werent many people in the merry-go-round queue, so it was soon their turn. There werent many people on the merry-go-round either, only a few couples and children. Qiao Yue and Linlin sat together, while Qiao Jing sat on another horse. The turning merry-go-round made Linlin giggle. She didnt look like a sick child now. Linlin, what do you want to do when you grow up? Qiao Jing asked. Linlin frowned and fell into deep thought. Brother, do you think I will grow up? Chapter 348 - 348 The Truth 348 The Truth They both fell silent. Perhaps Linlin would never grow up. The blood in her body was like a volcano that had been umting for years, waiting for the moment to erupt. When there was a piece ofnd that was struck thin enough, blood would gush out like magma and take the childs life. Qiao Yue replied softly after a long time, Of course, you will grow up. Then I want to be a police officer and beat up all the bad guys. Linlin said with a smile, her small face filled with joy. Just like Sister Lin Jie, she can cure and save people. !! Thats good. Being a doctor is very good. I hope that the world can be like what Linlin wished, that there will never be illness. Qiao Yue said with a nod. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and then at Linlin, sighing in his heart. Why was this child so unfortunate? After the merry-go-round, they went to the haunted house. Surprisingly, Linlin was the least afraid of ghosts among the three. Qiao Jing looked at all kinds of blood and bones in disgust. He would still be shocked when he saw an NPC. Although Qiao Yue wasnt that scared, she would still scream when she was suddenly attacked by a broken hand or something. In contrast, the young Linlin stood at the front of the team leading the two adults. She would even greet the NPCs when they met. Qiao Yue was a little impressed with this kid. Qiao Jing stood at the end of the line, protecting Qiao Yue. He suddenly thought about how he would react if Qiao Yue hid in his arms out of fear. All the thinking was useless because Qiao Yue would stand in ce when she was scared. She would only pat her chest and not shrink into his arms. Qiao Jing saw that Linlin was not afraid at all and asked, Linlin, why arent you afraid? Linlin shook her head. Im not afraid because I might be neighbors with these ghost soon. Sister Lin Jie said that if a person dies, they might be a ghost in the haunted house and y with the visitors. Qiao Yue felt her eyes burn but she still smiled and touched Linlins head. Does little Linlin like haunted houses? Linlin nodded. That way, I will be able to scare them, but I wont hurt them. Linlin made a face and the two of themughed. Just like that, Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing took Linlin to thest stop, the Ferris wheel. Just as the three of them were queuing, Su Yan ran over from a distance. Su Yan looked at Qiao Jing and said, Second young master, theres an emergency meeting. Its about a domestic project. Its rted to ourpanys recent listing. Qiao Yue had a bad feeling after Qiao Jing followed Su Yan out. But she still took Linlin on the Ferris wheel. Sitting on the Ferris wheel, Qiao Yue looked at the scenery below distractedly. She was looking for Qiao Jing, who had left with Su Yan, but to no avail. Is Brother Qiao Yue looking for Brother Qiao Jing? Linlins tender childs voice sounded. Yes. Qiao Yue replied distractedly when she suddenly realized that she was here today to fulfill Linlins wish. Im sorry, Linlin. Its my fault. I was distracted. Its okay, brother. Do you like Brother Qiao Jing? Linlins eyes lit up. Qiao Yue almost spat out the food in her mouth. Because when I was looking at you, you would secretly look at Brother Qiao Jing. When Brother Qiao Jing left just now, you were also a little worried, so Qiao Yue scratched her head. Linlin is so young. How do you know so much? This was what Sister Chengcheng told me. She said that this is how it is for two people to like each other. But Sister Chengcheng is gone. Has she been at the directors office this whole time? Now the director is also missing. Did he take Sister Chengcheng with him? The girl named Chengcheng had long since died in the basement. She was only sixteen years old, but she gave birth to that b*stards child before she was brutally killed. Brother Qiao Yue, do you know where Sister Chengcheng went? Qiao Yue stroked Linlins head and said, Sister Chengcheng is sick, so she has gone to another ce for treatment. The director did something very bad, so he has to stay in prison. Linlin smiled. Thats great. No girls will get hurt anymore. The truth was too cruel. Qiao Yue also didnt want to tell Linlin that she was already counting down her life. Many of her organs were slowly failing, and her blood flow was also slowing down. However, the excitement of her wish being fulfilled lit up her lovely little face, making her look like a normal child. Chapter 349 - 349 Kidnapped 349 Kidnapped Qiao Yue and Linlin got off the Ferris wheel, but Qiao Jing was nowhere to be seen. The ominous feeling in her heart surged. At this moment, a person dressed like a staff member walked up. Mr. Qiao Yue? Mr. Qiao Jing said that he had something urgent to attend to and left. He has prepared a car for you to take you back to the welfare home. Qiao Yue looked at the staff member in front of her in confusion. !! Qiao Jing wouldnt have left them here, so this staff member was probably not sent by him. Qiao Yue knew this, but she still pulled Linlin along and left with the staff. The staff member did not walk towards the main entrance but went to a quiet path. This was not the path leading to the outside at all. It felt more like a path leading to the secluded back of the mountain. Dont worry, thats the VIP passage, so its very quiet The staff member turned to look at Qiao Yue, but Qiao Yue, who was supposed to be behind him, was gone. Hello? Just as he was looking around in confusion, he suddenly felt pain in his leg. His attacker moved very fast, and he was pressed to the ground very quickly. As he tried to stand up, he realized that he could not move his legs. No. 789, its you, right? Qiao Yue found themunication device of the organization on him. You were the one who betrayed the organization with Andy, right? The man gritted his teeth and did not speak. Are you still trying to hide it from me? Do you know who I am? Qiao Yue stretched out her leg and stepped on No. 789s hand. The sound of bones breaking was heard. Linlin, cover your eyes. Linlin obediently turned around and covered her eyes. What do you want? Qiao Yue reached out and grabbed the mans other wrist, You know, I never leave any room for negotiation. The man gritted his teeth, and then there was the sound of a wrist bone breaking. Qiao Yue had broken his wrist. Are you going to tell me or not? The man sneered, and something stirred in his mouth. Qiao Yues eyes and hands were quick. She opened the mans mouth with her left hand and took out a miniature bomb from his mouth with her right hand. In less than three minutes, the bomb turned into scrap metal and ashes. This miniature bomb is from the batch with serial number 0314, right? Im sorry, I developed it myself. Qiao Yueughed coldly. Since you dont want to tell me now, then follow me back and tell meter. Qiao Yue hit the back of his neck with one hand, knocking him out. At this time, Qiao Jing finished his business and returned to the site of the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel had already turned a few rounds, but there was still no sign of Qiao Yue. He was getting anxious. Where did Qiao Yue go? Qiao Yue, Qiao Yue? Qiao Jing, along with several staff members and the Qiao family bodyguards, were frantically searching the amusement park. Finally, on the path to the back of the mountain, he saw Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue was dragging No. 789 down the mountain. Qiao Jing felt a moment of relief. It was good that nothing had happened. He rushed in front of Qiao Yue and hugged her tightly, Are you alright? Did anyone hurt you? Im sorry, second brother. I hit him a little too hard and identally broke his wrist. Qiao Jing frowned as he looked at the unconscious No. 789. His eyes were dark and gloomy. Did this person attack you? This man was trying to trick me and Linlin away and take us to who knows where. Qiao Yue shrugged her shoulders. But his methods were too clumsy and I caught him red-handed. Qiao Jing ordered several bodyguards to take the man away. It was Su Yan who asked me to join an emergency meeting over there. Qiao Jing tried to recall what had just happened. Theres something off with Su Yan. Qiao Yue said softly. Qiao Jing nodded. It was a coincidencest time, but this time, he could see that Su Yan was really working for the escaped Andy. Andy should still be alive. We dont know when he will return, so we must not let our guard down. Qiao Yue said coldly as he watched No. 789 being taken away. I wont leave you out of my sight again. Qiao Jing said. Qiao Yue found his words somewhat cringey. Second brother, please dont say such things. I can take care of myself. Didnt you see that I defeated that person with Linlin in tow? Qiao Jing chuckled. Thats because hes alone. Youre just lucky. Chapter 350 - 350 Qiao Jing’s Secret 350 Qiao Jings Secret Two dayster, Linlin passed away. Qiao Yue watched as the girls small coffin was lowered into the grave and then buried in soil mixed with flowers. Tears rolled down Qiao Yues cheeks. She would never see this adorable girl again. !! Qiao Jing stood at the side, holding a ck umbre as he ced a bunch of sunflowers on the tombstone. The group of people walked out of the cemetery. The team from The Custodians were also there. They were all wearing ck clothes and holding ck umbres. When they reached the entrance of the cemetery, there were already more than a dozen Lincoln stretch limousines waiting for them. Qiao Yue was a little surprised and asked Qiao Jing, Arent we going back to Hanshan City? No. We are going to straight to the Yin residence. Qiao Yue turned around and nodded at Su Xun. Colonel Su, we wont be going back to Hanshan City. Lets meet again when we have the chance. Su Xun nodded. Just as he was about to leave with his team, someone stopped him. You must be Mr. Su Xun. The head of the Yin family would like to meet you. The master of the Yin family? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. Why would Yin He want to meet Su Xun? Su Xuns eyes turned sharp in an instant. I dont know the master of Yin family. I dont want to meet him either. Su Xuns voice sounded as if it had been soaked in ice water. Qiao Yue had never seen Su Xun speak like that. What Master Yin means is that after so many years, you should go back and ept everything that you should ept. At least, you should let the people who should know the truth know the truth. Dont you think so? Su Xuns eyes swept over Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing, and a trace of helplessness shed in his eyes. I wont say anything. Ill follow you back to meet Master Yin. Su Xun walked to the car behind them and got into it expressionlessly. Ai Ye was a little surprised. Su Xun would never change his ns when they were on a mission. Why did he change his ns because of a small Yin family? Team! Captain! Su Xun rolled down the window and threw hismunicator to Ai Ye. Ai Ye, you are now the temporary leader of the team. Bring Team 1 back and Ill be back in two months. The team Ai Ye was a little hesitant. Our mission Mission as usual. This is an order! Su Xuns tone was very strict. He was probably in the army before as this tone was usually a soldiers. Its time for me to pay off some of the debts that Ive owed for more than 20 years. Su Xun looked at his team members and revealed a gentle smile. Qiao Yue and Qiao Jing got into the car in front. The cars slowly drove out of Hanshan City towards S-City. S-City was the capital of K-Country. It was much livelier than Hanshan City. The shining neon lights, roads and high-rise buildings of S-City were visible from the top of the mountain. Just what kind of cooperation does the Yin family have with us? Qiao Yue turned to ask Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing remained silent. Brother, Ive seen Yin He before. He looks like me, doesnt he? Qiao Yue said slowly. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue in surprise, How did you Im not stupid. Ive checked. Yin He didnt use to look like he does now. Hes from a prominent family in J-Country, right? Qiao Yues voice was low as she continued, In order to secure his position in the Yin family, he had stic surgery based on a photo of the original Yin family master, right? Yes. Qiao Jing nodded. So, Im actually a member of the Yin family, right? Qiao Jing didnt say anything and only sighed softly. You know about my background, dont you, brother? Qiao Yue turned to look at Qiao Jing. I just realized that this was a trap set by you and the Yin family. The goal was to lure out The Custodians and me. Qiao Jing nodded. Second brother, why did you do all this? Is it just so the Yin family and I would acknowledge each other? Youll find out when you get there. Qiao Jing replied coldly. The atmosphere in the car turned cold. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jings cold profile and suddenly didnt know what to say. What else could she say? She thought that she could trust Qiao Jing but he hid this Yin family secret from her. When she caught No. 789, she had already investigated. No. 789s appearance and the tragedy in Hanshan City were all deliberately made known to her. And this person was none other than Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing had promised her that he would not lie to her, but what was he doing now? Chapter 351 - 351 Reunion 351 Reunion The cars arrived at the Yin residence rather quickly. The Yin residence was in the style of old Japanese architecture, with beautiful wooden buildings and a hugewn. When they arrived, Yin He was already waiting at the entrance. He was standing at the door with a group of Yin family people. Unlike when he was in C-Country, he was wearing a traditional outfit from K-Country with an embroidered golden python. !! The python was wrapped around its own body with its fierce head resting on its chest. It looked like it could swallow everything. When Qiao Yue got out of the car, her eyes met Yin Hes. Wee, distinguished guests from the Qiao family. Yin Hes gaze fell on Su Xun. Su Xun did not look at Yin He. Instead, he walked toward the main hall. When the servants of the Yin family saw Su Xun, their expressions were a little strange. The Yin family has already prepared a wee banquet for everyone. Pleasee with me. Yin He led everyone into the main hall. Most of the furniture at the Yin residence were made of wood, and they looked very simple and unadorned. The dining table was already filled with dishes that the three of them liked. There was also an old man, a girl who was about Qiao Yues age, and a woman in her forties sitting at the table. The girl who was about Qiao Yues age also looked like her. Grandpa, Auntie, weve brought our guests back. We can eat now. The people at the dining table were all dressed in K-Countrys traditional clothing. The old man seemed to be in high spirits, and the little girl and the woman looked very dignified. Qiao Yue followed Qiao Jing to the dining table and looked at the three people sitting across from them. This is the current elder of the Yin family, Yin Yue. This is my aunt, Yin Ming, and this is my sister, who is also my aunts child, Yin Qi. Yi He paused for a moment before he said, This is the second young master and the fifth young miss of the Qiao family. Yin He? Qiao Jing looked at Yin He. Qiao Yue is our fifth young master, not miss. What do you mean by that? Dont you know Qiao Yues true gender? Is it a secret to you? Yin He smiled as he said. As for this man, Uncle, how have you been all these years? Are you happy? Have you thought about my aunt and your daughter who is far away in C-Country? Su Xun looked at Yin He with a face as cold as ice. What are you trying to say? Alright, lets eat. Grandpa Yin mmed the table. My granddaughter and son came back together today. Arent you going to let me eat in peace? Old Master Yins words dropped like a huge bomb on the dining table. What? Qiao Yue stood up and looked at the few people around the dining table. What are you hiding from me? Lets eat first, Qiao Yue. Ive specially chosen your favorite dishes today. Old Master Yin looked at Qiao Yue and said, Ill exin everything after we are done eating. Qiao Yue couldnt eat the meal in peace. Her heart was beating fast and her hands and feet felt cold. Regarding secrets from the past, there was only the matter of her mother. Now, this mystery was about to be solved. If she guessed correctly, Old Master Yin was her grandfather, in which case, Su Xun was her father. That would exin why she felt an unusual sense of familiarity when she met Su Xun. This sense of familiarity came from their blood rtionship. Our family uniform. Ive also ordered a set for Qiao Yue. After youre done with dinner, change into it ande see me in the tearoom. The old master finished eating very quickly and was the first to leave the table. Qiao Yues eyes followed Old Master Yin. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and said, Ill go with you. Qiao Yue turned to look at Qiao Jing, her beautiful eyes full of disbelief. Second brother, I think its better if you let me handle my own matters. Qiao Yues voice was cold, as if their closeness all this while was just a dream. Now that they had woken up from the dream, Qiao Yue had returned to her cold and unapproachable self. Qiao Yue, Im worried about you. Second young master Qiao, theres nothing to worry about. This is the Yin residence, and its also Miss Qiaos home. Her family wont harm her, so you can rest assured. After Qiao Yue finished eating, she got up and walked to the room where the family uniform wasid out for her. There was a faint chill around her, and Qiao Jing felt an inexplicable heartache as he watched her. He only lied to her this once, but just this once might have destroyed their rtionship. Chapter 352 - 352 I’ve Always Known 352 Ive Always Known The Yin family would make a traditional costume for every descendant. When it came to Qiao Yues generation, the patterns on their uniform were all animals. Yin Hes was a python, and Yin Qis was a crane. The pattern on Qiao Yues costume was a dragon. After Qiao Yue put on her costume, which was for a woman, and stood in front of the mirror, she suddenly felt a little confused. She hadnt worn womens clothes for years. She walked into the tearoom where Old Master Yin had already prepared tea and ced it on the other side of the table. Qiao Yue sat on the side of the tea and took a sip. The tea smelled faintly of jasmine. It wasnt a very strong tea, but it was still memorable. Qiao Yue, nice to meet you. You look a lot like your mother. The old masters eyes were cloudy, and he was staring at her with a kind smile. Its been so many years. Why didnt youe to C-Country to find me? Because your mother died an unnatural death, we always thought that you were killed by an extremist organization. It was not until we reinvestigated that we found out that you had returned to the Qiao family. Died an unnatural death? In her memory, her mother had died of an illness. Suddenly, strange memories flooded her mind and Qiao Yue held her head in pain. The pocket watch, a mans voice, a soaring fire, and people walking around her. Forget whats happening now. Your mother died of an illness. Your mother died of an illness. My mother didnt die of illness? Old Master Yin nodded. Your mother died in a fire, but it was no simple fire. Your mother passed away after the fire. Your father was on a mission then and only found out about her death half a year after she passed. He then established The Custodians. As Old Master Yin spoke, the scenes of Qiao Yues past slowly unfolded like an ancient book. Qiao Qing and Yin Xun met in the army of C-Country. Qiao Qings original name was not Qiao Qing, but Su Qing. She wasnt born into a noble family and had always dreamed of bing a soldier. She became an exception and joined the army in her teens. Yin Xun was her mentor then. The two of them were together for two years when Su Qing grew from a sixteen-year-old ignorant girl to an eighteen-year-old elegant woman. The rtionship between the two grew deeper. However, at this time, two missions were issued by the army. One was to track down the head of the Eugene family, Austin, while the other was to track down the descendants of the Qiao family. Su Qing used that opportunity to join the Qiao family as a goddaughter. The driver who eloped with her at that time was not Yin Xun, but a member of the organization. She left the Qiao family after she found out Qiao Ren and Qiao Lis connection to the Eugene family. Later, the Qiao brothers also discovered her purpose for being there and kicked her out. Meanwhile, Yin Xun used his excellent social skills to quickly be a VIP guest of the Eugene family. Yin Xun and Su Qing didnt meet much, but because of the deep love they had for each other, the few times they met, they got married and had Qiao Yue. At this point, Old Master Yin took out a wedding photo. In the wedding photo, Qiao Qing, who was wearing a wedding gown, smiled sweetly as she leaned into Yin Xuns arms. And Yin Xun was looking back at her lovingly. Qiao Yue was stunned when she saw the photo. This was her mother in her memory, and Yin Xuns face was exactly the same as Su Xuns. And Qiao Yue herself looked very much like the two of them. Qiao Yue slowly picked up the wedding photo and called out softly, Mom. Her mother passed away a long time ago, and her face became more blurry with time. However, when Qiao Yue saw this photo, she realized that her mothers face had never disappeared from her mind. Mom. Tears rolled off the corners of Qiao Yues eyes. Your mother died in a mission about the Eugene family. Old Master Yin sighed heavily at the mention of Su Qing. If it werent for that scum from the Eugene family, your mother would still be alive. The Eugene family. Qiao Yue frowned. Who from the Eugene family? It was a man in the Eugene family who was slightly younger than your parents but had always liked your mother. When he found out about your parents, he sent someone to end your mother. Chapter 353 - 353 In Love 353 In Love The Eugene family is indeed malicious. I have just fought with their people. Qiao Yue said in a low voice. Austin is the most powerful person that the Eugene family has produced in recent years. Old Master Yin sighed. Your father has been looking for Austin all these years, Old Master Yin continued. Austin? Qiao Yue frowned. Austin was the most outstanding young man of the Eugene family then, but he was also the most evil. Austin owned D-Countrysrgest drug supply chain, but he wasnt keen on drugs and hadnt even touched them. He used the money from drug trafficking to set up a veryrge multinationalpany andter, a covert organization. It was said that this organization gathered elites from all over the world. These elites all worked for Austin. Qiao Yue frowned. Why did this organization sound so familiar? Your father worked for him at that time and was close to him like a brother. He was one year younger than your father, but he started his business when he was thirteen or fourteen years old. By the time he was seventeen, he was already a famous drug lord. At the mention of this person, Old Master Yin was filled with hatred. Unfortunately, your father couldnt get rid of him. He even lost your mother because of him. Austin fell in love with Su Qing at first sight at a ball held at the Qiao residence. When he investigated Su Qingter, he identally discovered the rtionship between Su Qing and Yin Xun. After that, he sent people to murder Su Qing and even erased all traces of Su Qing at the Harvey Academy. This Austin is really scary. I have never fought him before, but most people who have didnt end up well. Grandpa Yin drank some tea before he continued, After your mothers passing, your father set up The Custodians. While this organization was wiping out all evil, its biggest task was actually to capture Austin, who was behind most evil. So, Colonel Su has been trying to get rid of Austin all these years? Old Master Yin nodded as he looked at Qiao Yue with eyes filled with love. I really didnt expect to see you again after so many years. You really look like your mother. This was too much information. Qiao Yue thought that she was an orphan, but who knew that when she came to K-Country she would find out the secret about her birth, and find her grandfather and father? I was hoping that you would inherit my position, so the costume Ive prepared for you was embroidered with a dragon. Old Master Yin looked at Qiao Yue lovingly. If you are willing toe back to K-Country, Id still like to hand my position over to you. However, Yin he has been the head of the family for so many years, so its Grandpa, I dont need it. You dont have to worry. Qiao Yue took a deep breath. Im having quite a good life with the Qiaos now. I dont want to leave the Qiao family. I know that the Qiao kid is interested in you. Old Master Yin said slowly. But Qiao Yue, you have to know that they almost caused your mothers death. Besides, the ball where Austin and your mother met was hosted by the two brothers, Qiao Yi and Qiao Li. What? Qiao Yues eyes widened. She remembered what her two uncles had done. They had even given Qiao Xin as a gift to please the Eugenes. Qiao Yue felt her brain go numb at the thought of this. These two people were really Thats why I dont want you to stay with the Qiao family. I know that Qiao Jing is a good kid, but hes rted by blood to Qiao Yi and Qiao Li. The first madam, Tao Xi, was also involved in what happened back then. How can I be at ease with you two being together? Qiao Yues mind was still muddled when she walked out of the tearoom. When Qiao Jing saw Qiao Yue, he quickly walked up and grabbed her arm. Whats wrong, Qiao Yue? Qiao Yue looked at him and shook her head. Second brother, I asked you that question twice before. If I asked you to choose between me and your mother, what would you choose? Do you still remember? Qiao Jings chest tightened. I do. What happened? Second brother, if I told you that my mothers death is rted to your mother, will you take her side? The girls eyes were clear under the sunlight and Qiao Jing didnt know what to say. This family secret was like an ocean between the two of them. The closeness they had now felt as distant as the horizon sail. Chapter 354 - 354 Misunderstanding 354 Misunderstanding I cant answer your question. Qiao Jing only wanted to escape from this ce as he looked into Qiao Yues clear eyes. You knew about this long ago, right? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing nodded solemnly. He had already found out about Qiao Yues background after she was injured the first time. However, he only found out that Qiao Yue was a descendant of the Yin family. He didnt find out about his mothers involvement in Qiao Yues mothers death. So, are you still going to take my side? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. The air became still. Qiao Jing didnt know how to answer her question. He liked her so much that no matter what happened between her parents and the Qiao family, he would always be her second brother. I cant choose but I wont harm you. Qiao Jing finally said in pain. He had to take the side of the Qiao family, even protect his mother. So, the best promise he could give Qiao Yue was that he wouldnt harm her. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing, the disappointment in her eyes obvious. If I do anything to your parents in future, you wont stop me, right? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue in surprise. You mean I have no ns to let Qiao Yi and Qiao Li off the hook, or first aunt for that matter. They were all murderers, and theyre even connected to Austin now. I wont show any mercy when I make them pay even if you stand in my way. Qiao Yue stood up, her entire being cold, her eyes unprecedentedly icy. But Qiao Yue, Grandpa is true to you and Auntie. If you do something like that, Im afraid they wont let you off either. Qiao Yue sneered. Do you know why my mother approached your family back then? Qiao Jing was stunned. He had not investigated this matter. Because Qiao Yi and Qiao Li were already connected to the drug lords decades ago. You didnt expect that, right? Qiao Yue smiled and Qiao Jing felt a chill run down his spine. You mean the Qiao family has been rotten for decades? Qiao Jing was stunned. He had been in charge of the Qiao family for so many years, but this was the first time he had heard such words. Thats right, second brother. I didnt expect that the famous Qiao family in C-Country, known for their excellent upbringing, would do such despicable things behind the scenes. Qiao Jing felt as if he had been doused in cold water. No, Ive investigated the Qiao family thoroughly. Its impossible, its impossible for such a thing to have happened. Second brother, dont be silly. Ive never believed in the nonsense that the Qiao family is innocent. Lets just treat everything that happened between us during this time as an ill-fated rtionship. Qiao Jing stood on the spot speechlessly for a long time. Finally, he took out a box and put it in Qiao Yues hand. This is my gift to you when I dere my love. Keep it. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing in shock. What did he mean? Deration of love? She opened the box and found a key inside. This is the house I bought with the first pot of gold I made when I started working for the Qiao family. I was going to use it as my nuptial home but I dont need it now. I would like you to have it. Qiao Yue felt her heart skip a beat. What did he mean? A nuptial home? What did Qiao Jing think of her before? Second brother, are you saying that youve never treated me as your sister? Qiao Jing nodded. Actually, Ive always liked you. The air became still again, as if time had stopped. He liked her. Qiao Jing told Qiao Yue that he had always liked her. It sounded so ironic, but it was the truth. Im really sorry for letting you fall in love with your enemys daughter. Qiao Yue bit her lip and tossed the key back to Qiao Jing. The key drew a beautiful arc in the air andnded on Qiao Jings body. Qiao Jing did not catch it and the key fell to the ground with a tter. Second brother, lets just treat everything weve experienced as an ill-fated rtionship. Qiao Yue turned and left, leaving Qiao Jing alone on the spot. Qiao Jing looked at the girls dragon-embroidered skirt and lowered his head tough at himself. Who knew that it would end up like this? The two of them really couldnt leave any dignity for each other. The key was on the floor, reflecting the sunlight. Qiao Jing turned and left. The key was all alone on the floor, catching nobodys attention. Chapter 355 - 355 Back to the Qiao Residence 355 Back to the Qiao Residence As Qiao Yue walked out of the room, she saw Yin He leaning against a pir on her left. Whats wrong? You didnte to an agreement, or did he confess? Yin Hes eyes were filled with ridicule. You know everything too. Yin He yawnedzily. Of course, I know everything. After all, the Yin family has been looking for you all these years. Who knew that you would be hidden so deeply by that legendary organization? If you hadnt returned to the Qiao family, we wouldnt have been able to find you at all. How much do you know about that organization? Qiao Yue asked with a frown. I dont know whats going on with that organization, but my guess is that its connected to Austin. Qiao Yue was stunned. Connected to Austin? Austin? The real murderer who killed my mother. Yin He nodded. Yes. Ive done a lot of research over the years. This Austin must be connected to your mother. What? You know Austins whereabouts? The person who spoke was Su Xun. No, he should be called Yin Xun now. Yes, I may know. Yin He had been investigating Austin all these years, but Austins final whereabouts was when he went to Su Qings house, burned it down and then took Qiao Yue away. He had disappeared without a trace after taking Qiao Yue. That meant that Qiao Yue must have fallen into Austins hands. You mean my godfather is Austin? Qiao Yue said with difficulty. She had never thought that her godfather, who had always been kind to her, was the real mastermind behind everything. Godfather? Su Xun frowned. Qiao Yue exined to them the story of her being adopted by the Godfather. The Godfather had made her learn all kinds of skills since she was a child. He also made her hide her true gender. Later, she was sent back to C-Country. After she established a big corporation like the KA group, she was given a long break which allowed her to return to the Qiao family. If my godfather is Austin, he wouldve stopped me from returning to the Qiao family and find out what he had done. But he was very supportive of me returning to the Qiao family. Qiao Yue frowned as she couldnt figure this out. Its simple. Austin has always been a person who likes to challenge and conquer. He may be treating you like this because he wants to keep you. Yi He shared his analysis. Qiao Yue felt a little disgusted as this matter unraveled so suddenly. The Godfathers expectations of her werent just for her to grow the organization and to take over. What he wanted was Qiao Yues submission as a woman. Qiao Yue couldnt help but retch as she held on to a pir. Su Xun patted her back to help her calm down, but his eyebrows were already deeply furrowed. Youre right, Yin He, but how do you know these things? Su Xuns eyes were fixed on Yin He. Yin He yawnedzily. I found out. Im very interested in your past, so I did some research. I didnt expect to find what I found. What do you want to do? Qiao Yue looked at Su Xun. Su Xun fell silent. Qiao Yue didnt call him father but coldly asked him what to do. The past was like a needle pricking Su Xuns body. I can go with you to capture the Godfather and get rid of him. As for those people from the Qiao family, I wont let a single one of them off. Qiao Yue nodded. Then the most important thing now is to return to the Qiao residence. Qiao Yi and Qiao Li should still be there, so our first goal is to get rid of them. Qiao Yue said coldly. Su Xun suddenly felt a little scared as he looked at his daughter who was so decisive about murders. Qiao Yue wasnt like him when he was young. She was like Austin when he was young. Austin had always been a decisive killer, and he would never let off anyone who defied him. Qiao Yue, the Qiao family has also raised you Su Xun said. Perhaps we can let the Qiao family off. Father, youve been searching for Austin and watching over the Qiao family for so many years. Our ultimate goal is to avenge my mother. Ive been trying to find out about my mothers background and my fathers. Qiao Yue turned to look at Su Xun. I wont let off anyone who killed my mother. Qiao Yues eyes were filled with hatred. Alright, Su Xun sighed. In that case, Ill follow you back to the Qiao residence. Chapter 356 - 356 Funeral 356 Funeral Qiao Yue didnt leave the Yin residence with Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing left first. On the day he left, Qiao Yue didnt even see him off. They used to be so close, but now, everything was broken like sea foam hitting the shores. Qiao Yue returned to the Qiao residence with Yin He and Su Xun. Their purpose today was to confront the two brothers, Qiao Yi and Qiao Li. She didnt expect to see a funeral wake shed and all kinds of wreaths when she arrived at the Qiao residence. Qiao Yue was confused. Whats all this? Qiao Yue frowned as she looked at the entrance. Words on the wreath at the entrance read: We mourn the seventh miss of the Qiao family, Qiao Ying. Qiao Yues eyes widened instantly. Qiao Ying? Why was Qiao Ying here? Wasnt she alive and well? How did she suddenly die? She dashed into the Qiao residence in disbelief, shocking all the guests at the wake. Qiao Yings coffin was ced in the courtyard of the Qiao residence, looking very out of ce. At this time, Qiao Yue had already reverted to dressing like a girl. Both guests and people of the Qiao family were shocked to see her. Isnt that the fifth young master of the Qiao family? Why is he dressed like a girl? Yeah. Didnt his brother say that shes staying in K-Country? Why is she back? Shes really rude to cause trouble when her sister just died. She doesnt give a damn that if it werent for the Qiao family, shes still a country bumpkin from Nanshan. Qiao Yues eyes scanned the crowd before her gaze fell on the third madam who was about to leave. The third madam was wearing a ck dress, with ck and white flowers in her hair. Her eyes looked swollen, as if she had been crying for her daughter. Qiao Yue walked up and grabbed the third madams cor. Are you the one who caused Qiao Yings death? Qiao Ying died from poisoning. Qiao Li walked over and looked coldly at Qiao Yue grabbing his wifes cor, but without any intention to stop her. Can you repeat that? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Li sharply. How did she get poisoned? Qiao Ying was fine when I went to K-Country. How is she dead now? Qiao Li looked a little sad. I dont know either. It seems that she was in low spirits and drank a lot of poison to kill herself. We didnt find out until it was toote. Impossible, you must have poisoned her. Qiao Yue dropped the third madam to the ground. Tell me, did you kill Qiao Ying? The third madam panicked and shed a few tears. How could I kill my own daughter? Shes my daughter. I am also very heartbroken with her passing. Qiao Yue looked at the hypocritical third madam and sneered, Qiao Ying is your biological daughter? Do you think I dont know the truth? Qiao Ying is the daughter you bought. You bought her after your son died so as not to upset the others. What nonsense is an outsider like you spouting? A man rushed up from the crowd to grab Qiao Yue but was stopped by Yin He. Qiao Yue looked at them with a cold smile. Youre the ones who killed Qiao Ying, right? Qiao Ying isnt your biological daughter. Besides, she has evidence of your crimes. The third madam pursed her lips and shed a few more tears. How can I possibly kill my own daughter? Qiao Yue, you need evidence when you speak like that. What makes you say that I didnt give birth to my daughter? Besides, youve been turning Qiao Ying against us. She probably couldnt take it and chose to kill herself. The crowd watched the turn of events in surprise. What kind of shocking secret is this? The seventh miss of the Qiao family is actually not the third madams biological daughter? The third madam of the Qiao family may have other secrets that we dont know about. This third madam of the Qiao family is a powerful figure. The doctor has been imprisoned on an ind and the second family has been banished. Shes now the one in charge of the Qiao family affairs. Yeah. This third madam may have other secrets How can such a powerful person be innocent? But this fifth young miss of the Qiao family is also outrageous. Shes clearly an adopted daughter, but she dares to challenge the third madam of the Qiao family. Thats too outrageous. Just as everyone was discussing animatedly, the crowd suddenly made way. Qiao Jing walked out of the crowd, followed by Qiao Ren and Qiao Yu. Qiao Jing was now acting like the head of the family. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing and felt that he was a stranger. Chapter 357 - 357 Demanding an Autopsy 357 Demanding an Autopsy Qiao Jing didnt say anything. Instead, Qiao Yu spoke first, Fifth sister, we have not seen each other for a few months, and you have changed a lot. Qiao Yu didnt seem surprised that Qiao Yue was a girl, and only greeted her with a smile. Qiao Yue suddenly felt that the Qiao Yu had be a stranger again. When they first met, Qiao Yu was like this, cold but polite. Its been a long time, fourth brother. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. Qiao Jings face was cold as he looked at the ruckus in the courtyard. Someone, bring the third madam back to rest. Thank you everyone foring here for my seventh sisters wake. Please go home. Seeing that Qiao Jing had no intention of entertaining any guests, the crowd was ready to leave the Qiao residence. Hold on. Yin He said with a smile. Since Qiao Yue is suspicious of Miss Qiaos death, dont you want to rify, Qiao Jing? Yin He spoke without restraint, but his words were protective of Qiao Yue. The Qiao family shouldnt have offended the Yin family, so why would the Yin family make things difficult for us? Im also very sad that my younger sister has passed. But its not your ce to point fingers at my family for my sisters death. Qiao Jing continued coldly, If the three of you are here to pay your respects, you may leave now. The Qiao family does not wee rude guests. I have evidence, Qiao Yue sneered. These words struck the crowd like a bolt of lightning. Qiao Yue had evidence to prove that Qiao Yings death was suspicious? The people who were about to leave all stayed behind. Most of them were the rich and powerful of C-Country. They were very interested in this kind of gossip about the Qiao family. Just as Qiao Yue was about to retrieve the recording from her phone, Qiao Ren stepped forward to snatch away her phone. Su Xun stood in front of Qiao Ren. Qiao Ren, long time no see. Su Xun turned his hand slightly, and Qiao Ren retracted his hand in pain. The phone was back in Qiao Yues hands. Su Xun, this is the Qiao residence. You cant do whatever you want here. Qiao Ren rarely showed such hostile attitude. You should know that Su Qingsst wish was for the Qiao family to be well. Su Xun sneered. Dont lie to me. You people joined forces to drive Qiao Qing out and even used her of eloping with the driver. Su Xun, theres a misunderstanding. Qiao Ren said to Su Xun with a frown. Qiao Yue looked at the two men in front of her, who had both loved her mother deeply. Qiao Ren had a soft spot for Qiao Qing many years ago. He defended and protected Qiao Qing even after he found out that she was an undercover agent at the Qiao residence. Father, let go of Qiao Ren. He protected mother once back then. Su Xun snorted and let go of Qiao Ren. Qiao Yue held up her phone and started to y the voice recording. It was the recording that was taken using Qiao Yingsptop when Qiao Xin and the third madam bullied her. Qiao Yue had saved it on her phone in case of emergency. I really didnt. Im sorry, please dont do this. Youre not our parents flesh and blood. Its only right for you to suffer. Hand over the ount book, or well make you die a horrible death. Qiao Xin and the third madams threatening words lingered in everyones ears, mixed with the sound of all kinds of beating on the girls body. Qiao Yue looked at the third madam coldly. The third madam and Qiao Lis faces turned pale. The recording is real. You said all those things when you found out that Qiao Ying had the ount book. Qiao Yue looked the third madam up and down coldly. The third madam looked at Qiao Yue and tried to exin, I was just extremely angry at that time. It was you who taught Qiao Ying all the wrong things or Qiao Ying wouldnt have disobeyed me. Or helped you sort out the ounts, picking on the first madam and me. I was extremely upset then and thats why I said those words. Sure, third madam. Would you do a DNA test with Qiao Ying? The third madams expression changed immediately. My daughter. Why do I have to do a DNA test with her? Ill do the DNA test. Qiao Li walked up to Qiao Yue. But Qiao Yue, if you want to do a DNA test for Qiao Ying, youll have to open your sisters casket. Your sister is already dead. You cant even let her rest in peace now. Do you have to take her body out of the casket and cause a ruckus before you stop? Are you such an ingrate? Qiao Xin also stepped up and said to Qiao Yue. Open the casket, do an autopsy, and a DNA test. Qiao Yue coldly spat out the words looking at the people in front of her. Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Faked Death Chapter 358: Faked Death Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Everyone at the wake was stunned. Open the casket and autopsy the dead? What an outrageous thing to do? Qiao Yue, no matter how much the Qiao family doted on you before, you cant do that. Qiao Jing said. He looked at Qiao Yue like she was a stranger, stunning her for a moment. Second brother, youve heard everything. Are you still going to protect Qiao Li and the third madam? Qiao Yue suddenly felt that the man standing in front of her was a stranger. She never thought that her Qiao Jing would one day take Qiao Li and the third madams side. Qiao Jing, this audio recording is real. The grudge between Qiao Ying and the third madam is also real. Do you think everyone will be convinced if we didnt perform an autopsy and do a DNA test today? Yin He spoke up. The crowd recognized Yin He as the head of the Yin family and agreed. Thats right. Whats said in the recording cant be baseless. There might really be a problem. Better to check it out. Yeah. Since Qiao Ying might not be a biological child of the Qiao family, her death at the Qiao residence is very suspicious. Yes, there should be a thorough investigation. Otherwise, how would we know if it was a wrongful death? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. Second brother, Qiao Ying has always trusted you. What would she think if you treat her like this? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue coldly. Open the casket and perform an autopsy. Qiao Yings corpse appeared before everyones eyes as the casket was opened. A pale-faced girl was lying in the coffin wearing a simple dress. The crowd gasped. Not because of anything but the bruises on the girls arms and legs, and marks on her wrists that indicated that she had been bound by chains. Qiao Ying! Qiao Yue leaned over the casket and looked at Qiao Ying, tears welling up in her eyes. She regretted not bringing Qiao Ying to K-Country with her. If she had brought Qiao Ying along, perhaps she wouldnt have suffered all of this. Qiao Ying! Qiao Yu also ran over when he saw Qiao Yings body. He couldnt believe that his favorite little sister had died so tragically. The third madam and Qiao Li stood on the side with gloomy faces. Wheres Lu Ying? Lu Ying was taking care of Old Master Qiao but he also came out of the house after hearing themotion outside. The moment he came out, he saw that Qiao Yings casket had been opened. He knew that Qiao Ying had died, but he didnt know that she had died such a tragic death. Lu Ying, pleasee here. Qiao Yue noticed Lu Ying. Can you help me check what kind of poison is in Qiao Yings body? Lu Ying pricked Qiao Yings body with a needle, causing her to bleed a little. Everyone held their breath as they looked at Qiao Yue and Lu Ying. This was the first time such a thing had happened at the Qiao residence. This doesnt seem to be poison, but some kind of paralytic. Lu Yings words dropped like a bomb. The crowd began to discuss. Paralytic? That means that Qiao Ying isnt dead at all. Yes. The paralytic Miss Qiao Ying took can make a person appear dead for up to three days. After that, Miss Qiao Ying would wake up naturally. But when she wakes up, she wont be able to open the casket and will eventually starve to death. Everyone was shocked when they heard Lu Yings exnation. This was no decent way to die. This is a young miss of their family. How could they force her to die in such an undignified way? Yeah. If the old master is in good health, he would have been angered to death. How could they force their own child to die like this? This is too vicious. Ive never seen such a vicious family. Thats right. And the current head of the Qiao family is actually protecting these two people? Qiao Jings expression was still cold and emotionless. His eyes softened a little when he looked at Qiao Yue. Since its a paralytic, Dr. Lu Ying must be able to revive her, right? Qiao Jing said coldly. I dont know much about that. Im not good at detoxification, but my teacher is an expect. Good thing is that my teachers favorite disciple is here. Maybe she can solve the problem faster. Lu Ying was already a master in medicine; his teacher was even more famous. His teachers favorite disciple must be someone very skillful too. Is that doctor here now? Qiao Yu asked. Lu Ying nodded and looked at Qiao Yue. Qiao Yue is my senior and my teachers favorite disciple.. Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Point of No Return Chapter 359: Point of No Return Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio | Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Everyone was also shocked to the point of gasping. The fifth young miss of the Qiao family was actually a world renowned medical expert Qiao Yue, will you save Qiao Ying? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and asked coldly. She is my sister, of course I will. Qiao Yue had already asked Yin He to get her set of needles and inserted them into Qiao Yings various acupuncture points. In less than five minutes, Qiao Yings stiffness disappeared and her body seemed to be flexible again. Lu Ying, who was assisting Qiao Yue, could feel a faint warmth on Qiao Yings body. Lu Ying, massage the two acupoints at the back of her neck. Lu Ying nodded and began to massage Qiao Ying while Qiao Yue continued the acupuncture treatment on Qiao Ying. Everyone held their breath. The excitement tonight was too scary. An apparent murder case at the house of the richest man in C-Country was actually a mistake. However, if Qiao Yue hadnt insisted on opening the casket, Qiao Ying would have died a tragic death underground. Everyone was nervous as they watched Qiao Yues every move. After about ten minutes, Qiao Yings fingers started to move. Someone among the mourners noticed her movement and quickly shouted, Look, Miss Qiao is moving. Miss Qiao is moving! Qiao Ying slowly raised her hand and held Qiao Yues sleeve. The third madam and Qiao Li had already fallen to the ground. Qiao Xin was also panicking and fell with her parents. Qiao Jing looked at the two people in front of him, and a fleeting gentleness suddenly appeared in his eyes. Fifth brother, youre back The girl smiled at Qiao Yue. She wasnt surprised to see Qiao Yue in a girls outfit. Its not fifth brother anymore, its fifth sister. Dont talk, save your strength. You just woke up, so youre very weak. Qiao Yue stroked Qiao Yings hair and said a few words to Lu Ying. Lu Ying quickly returned to her room to brew the medicine. Qiao Yue ordered people to carry Qiao Ying back to her room. Qiao Jing, if it werent for my insistence to open the casket today, my sister would have died in there. What do you think we should do with the third madam and Qiao Li? Given the situation now, even the police could close the case. Qiao Jing nced at Qiao Yue and said coldly, The third madam, Qiao Xin and Qiao Li are all grounded. Ill get the police to deal with this. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue. Since Miss Qiao Yue has helped our family solve a big case, why dont you stay today? It will be my thanks for your help. How about it? Qiao Jing said this very politely, as if they were strangers. Qiao Yueughed self-deprecatingly and said, Sure, Ill do as you asked, second brother. Qiao Jing was a little moved by the address of second brother, but he didnt show it. He just wanted to send the mourners and the funeral objects away. Qiao Yue went to Qiao Yings room and stayed close to her. Qiao Ying quickly fell asleep and when she woke up, it was already night. Fifth brother, youre finally home. Qiao Yue nodded. Didnt I send someone to protect you? Why didnt you ask my person for help when they attacked you? Qiao Ying shook her head. The person fifth brother sent to protect me was taken away a few dayster. They said it was the organization who took her away. Someone from the organization? Only then did Qiao Yue realize something very terrifying. Chu Jia and YQ hadnt been on contact with her for a while. Since she left C-Country, she knew nothing about what happened here. She opened themunication software the organization used but was notified that the software had been deactivated. Qiao Yues heart sank. Where had all the people from the organization gone? How did they all disappear in a sh? Wheres the Godfather? Qiao Yue dialed the number that she had not been able to get through for a long time. The call was quickly connected, and the Godfatherszy voice came through. Hows it going, Qiao Yue? Was K-Country fun? An inexplicable fear crept into Qiao Yues heart. How much did her godfather know about the secrets between the Qiao family and the Yin family? I cant get in touch with the people from Yayi or KA. May I know if Godfather has sent them on any missions? Yes, they have more important things to do. The Godfather chuckled. What about you? How was your trip? Or should I ask hows life with the Qiao family? Everything okay? Godfather is so well connected. Im sure you know. Qiao Yue smiled bitterly. I have a mission for you. If youplete it, Ill let you return to the organization.. How about it? Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: The Godfather’s Appearance Chapter 360: The Godfathers Appearance Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio | Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Qiao Yue wanted to ask him about her mother and Austin, but she didnt. She couldnt let her godfather know now that she suspected that he was Austin. The mission is this C help me kill Andy, and thene back to the organization to do the thing you promised me three years ago. How about it? Qiao Yue shuddered as an unprecedented fear crept up her back. When? Qiao Yue asked. Three days from now, a cruise ship will set off from C-Country to D-Country. Andy will be on that ship. You can change your identity, get close to him, and then kill him. Okay, Qiao Yue agreed. Youre still so cold, Qiao Yue. It seems that you didnt understand who was the nicest to you during your years in the Qiao family. Familiar sounds were then heard from the Godfathers end of the phone call. The screams and moans of women. My favorite girls, cheers, the Godfather said to the girls. Qiao Yue narrowed her eyes. Her godfather had always been like this. So, have you decided to join my party, Qiao Yue? Qiao Yue closed her eyes and said slowly, Thank you, Godfather. Thats right. You should know that I raised you with my own hands. Qiao Yue ended the call and Qiao Yings voice rang from behind her, Fifth sister, are you really going to do something very dangerous? Qiao Yue looked into Qiao Yings eyes and nodded slowly. Yes. Alright. Qiao Ying smiled. Then I hope everything goes well for you. I dont want you to stay at the Qiao residence anymore. Qiao Ying. Please leave with Yin He after this. Qiao Yue had already thought of a ce for Qiao Ying. Second brother will protect me. Qiao Ying said softly, I dont want to leave this ce yet. Qiao Yue shook her head. If Qiao Jing really wanted to protect you, why would you be harmed by them? Only then did Qiao Yue remember that she hadnt asked Qiao Ying what happened. Qiao Ying spoke slowly and recounted everything that happened to her. After the person sent by Qiao Yue left, the third madam and Qiao Li locked Qiao Ying up in the attic. The attic at the Qiao residence was pitch ck and had only a toilet and a bed. They even fed Qiao Ying rotten food to force her to hand over the ount book. However, Qiao Yue had installed a security software on Qiao Yingsputer. Unless Qiao Ying wanted to, no one could crack the password. Hence, they kept tormenting Qiao Ying to get her to unlock herputer. Then one day, probably because second brother wasing home and they felt that I wouldnt give them what they wanted, they brought me out and let me eat a very sumptuous meal. Qiao Li and his wife must have put poison in the food that time. Qiao Yues heart ached for Qiao Ying as she looked at her sister. She wasnt even twenty years old, and she had already experienced such torture. So, second brother probably didnt know that my death was faked when he came home. They must have arranged for a doctor to be there. So, I trust second brother. Qiao Yue nodded. Okay then. As you wish. But I may leave this ce. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ying and smiled bitterly. Cant you not leave? Or is fifth sister noting back ever? Qiao Ying was a little confused. If you are really in trouble, I believe that second brother, third brother and fourth brother will all help you. Qiao Yue shook her head. She couldnt let anyone get involved this time. This was between her and the Godfather. She didnt want anyone else to be sucked in. Itll be fine. I can manage. Qiao Yue said. After Qiao Yue appeased Qiao Ying, she walked out of Qiao Yings room and went back to her own at the Qiao residence. The lights were off in her room, and it was dark. Qiao Yue walked into her dark room. The moment she stepped into her room, she sensed a familiar aura. She turned on the lights and saw Qiao Jing sitting on the sofa opposite her, staring at her. When Qiao Jing came to see her in the past, he would always sit on the same sofa and wait for her, but things were different now. Mr. Qiao Jing, Im here to pack up. Qiao Yue smiled politely and continued, Im going to return to the Yin family with my father after this. I hope that we can get along in ourst moments together. Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue, his eyes hiding something that Qiao Yue couldntprehend. Dont tell me that you dont want me to leave? Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Trapped Chapter 361: Trapped Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Cant you not go? Just stay here with us. Dont go back to the organization or your godfather. Qiao Jing revealed a rare vulnerability. The windows in Qiao Yues room were open. It was early spring, and the wind brought smells of grass and trees into the room. Qiao Yue felt a sadness emanating from the bottom of her heart. I must go this time. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. You have things you need to protect. So do I. The thing you want to protect, is it your organization? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue, his eyes filled with sorrow. So you know. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. You probably already know who I am. 11 Qiao Jing knew everything. Do you know who the financial backer of the AST organization is? Its the Eugene family. Andy and Trands family. They killed your mother, didnt they? Do you still want to go back? Yes. Qiao Yue nodded. Why? Is it because the Godfather raised you or is it because of something else? Qiao Jings heart was filled with sorrow. Because I love the Godfather. Qiao Yues eyes were very calm, but what she said was like a bolt of lightning. Qiao Jing was so shocked that he was speechless. What did you just say? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue. The young girls eyes were calm, as if these words were nothing more than amon sentence. The Godfather? The mysterious man who was the founder of the AST organization? Qiao Jing looked at Qiao Yue and smiled bitterly. Is this an excuse you made up for me to send you away? No. Qiao Yue sat down slowly and looked at Qiao Jing. The liveliness that she had when she looked at him before was gone. In its ce was a gaze as dead as a pool of stagnant water. I came to the Qiao family to fulfill my mothersst wish. Although there were a few scums in the Qiao family, my mother has always loved Grandpa, so I wont do anything to him. Now that Grandpas health is much better, I dont need to stay here anymore. Qiao Yues tone was very calm. Ive always liked the Godfather. Our agreement was that I would be his woman after I fulfilled my mothersst wish. Qiao Yue! Qiao Jing was at the verge of a breakdown. Dont you understand how I feel? Why do you still want to go back to that man? Qiao Jing leaned forward. He only needed to lean forward a little more to be able to hold the girl in front of him. What can your feelings do? Qiao Jing, can your feelings help me get revenge? Qiao Yue sneered. Well, if you are willing to punish your mother, Ill consider your suggestion. Qiao Jing sat down dejectedly with a bitter smile. I always thought you understood. I dont. Qiao Yue stood up and continued, Being with the Godfather has always been my dream and his wish. I was taken away by him when I was young, and I grew up by his side. I dont know who else I can rely on other than him. Qiao Jing saw that Qiao Yue wasnt going to change her mind and smiled bitterly. Qiao Yue, I wont let you go. You think you can trap me? Qiao Yues voice came from behind him. No matter what, I wont give you the chance. The door closed in Qiao Yues face and she sat on the floor dejectedly. She had never thought that their rtionship woulde to this. If she were to find out more about her mothers past, she had to go back to the Godfather. But she didnt want Qiao Jing to go back with her. Qiao Jing wouldnt punish the Qiao family for her sake. She also didnt want to see Qiao Jing hurt his own family because of her. Their rtionship had reached an impasse and there was no way out. Qiao Yue packed her things. She didnt packed many things, just some clothes, files,ptop, and the pistol that she had locked away. She still remembered that on the first day she came to the Qiao residence, she killed a wolf with this pistol. It was also from that day that her life and Qiao Jings were entangled. Qiao Yueughed at herself. If only the Qiao family didnt take her in or drive her away that day If that happened, her life and Qiao Jings wouldnt be so entangled that they ended up like this. Qiao Yue took onest look at her room, put the pistol in her suitcase, and turned to leave.. Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: The Key Chapter 362: The Key Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The Yayi Club in the south of the city was where the upper ss usually hung out. But now, all the lights were off. Only an empty building stood at its site with no sign of life. Apparently the boss of Yayi Club had offended someone, and the club was closed overnight, and no one ever visited it again. Qiao Yue went around the safety barriers to the entrance of Yayi. It was already nighttime, and the huge building was like a monster with its mouth wide open, waiting to swallow all the sins of the world. There was a seal on the door, and a golden chain around it. Qiao Yue unlocked the chain using an all-purpose key and removed the chain. She even tore off the seal. The usually lively lobby was now quiet. The huge windows were not covered by curtains, and moonlight fell on the white floor. Qiao Yue slowly walked towards her old office, her footsteps echoing in the hall. Yayi Club didnt look like it was in ruins. It looked the same way it had except everyone had disappeared overnight. Qiao Yue walked up the ornamental stairs and entered her office in the dark. A man was sitting by the window of the office. Qiao Yue didnt make a sound but looked at the man. The window behind him wasnt covered by curtains, and the statue of the Ophanim in the distance could be seen clearly under the full moon. Third brother, long time no see. Qiao Yue slowly spat out these words. Yeah, long time no see. Qiao Ze jumped down from the window and looked at Qiao Yue. I dont think second brother will be able to persuade you, so Im here to try again. Third brother, since you are here, you must know my identity. I dont want to repeat what I said to second brother. I remember when I saw you in Nanshan, you were in high spirits. You rode a motorcycle to the Qiao residence. After that, we raced many times. Ive always felt that you were a carefree person with no worries. Qiao Ze ignored Qiao Yues words and continued talking. I know the current situation with the Qiao family. Qiao Li and Qiao Yi have ruined our family reputation, so when you came, I thought you can help second brother to revive the Qiao family. But now, I just want you to be happy. Qiao Ze looked at Qiao Yue. Im not here to stop you, but I hope that youll make a decision that makes you truly happy. Qiao Yue was touched. A happy decision. Qiao Ze never thought that Qiao Yues background would be soplicated. Nor did he think that his sister would leave them in the end and go back to her old ce. However, during her time here, she had been there for him through many difficult days of his life. Im really grateful to you, Qiao Yue, but I hope youll find happiness. Happiness free of the so-called justice, or revenge, or the need to please someone else. This had always been Qiao Zes life pursuit. Third brother, thank you. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Ze. The statue of the Ophanim looked at the two of them quietly from a distance. Do you know why I ced a statue of the Ophanim on the racetrack? Qiao Ze asked. Why? Angels are often ugly. The ones who seduce you with their beautiful appearance are usually demons. Thats what the Bible says. Qiao Yue was silent. She used to think that the Godfather represented justice. He had wealth and power that many people in the world didnt have. He also assigned missions like The Custodians, to clear out the scum of the earth. She had been seduced by the Godfather. Perhaps he just wanted them to get rid of his enemies, and had no other purpose. But thats something must do, even if it doesnt make me happy. She needed to avenge her mother and get rid of that scum. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If she didnt go back to the Godfather, she wouldnt have the chance to take revenge on him. She wanted to ask him in his face why he had adopted her and spared no effort to raise her for so many years, making her the person she was now. And then let her find out everything. Alright. Qiao Ze raised his hand and threw a key to Qiao Yue. If you cant get your revenge and need a ce to hide, you can go there. Its a house in M-Country where I used to hide when I try to escape from things. Qiao Yue smiled and took the key. Thank you, third brother. . Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Andy Chapter 363: Andy Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Take care, Qiao Yue. After Qiao Ze said this, he jumped out of the window. Qiao Yue was the only one left in the huge club. Qiao Yue opened the catch behind a bookshelf and turned on the main power. This was her secret base where she kept her collection of items made by No. 7-13. A pen, a gun, and a notebook used by secret agents. When she was at the Yin residence, some of her fragmented memories came together. She remembered that July 13th was her mothers birthday. If she guessed correctly, her mother had worked for the AST organization, and these things were all designed by her. After she packed the few things, she walked out of the office with her suitcase. The dazzling lights before her forced her to squint. All lights in the lobby were lit up and a man was sitting in a main seat in the middle of the lobby, looking at her with a yful smile. Long time no see, Qiao Yue. The mans lips curved up as he reached for a ss of champagne. A group of armed mercenaries surrounded the lobby, looking coldly at Qiao Yue. Andy, long time no see. Wasnt he supposed to be on that cruise ship? What was he doing here? I know about your mission, so I came here to find you. The man swirled the ss he was holding. The light golden liquid moved reflecting golden rays under the bright lights. Since you know my mission, why did you present yourself on a silver tter? Are you so keen to die? Qiao Yue was waving the gun she had just taken out of her suitcase. Dont get so worked up, I just wanted to have a discussion. Andy said with a smile. A discussion shouldnt involve your mercenaries pointing their guns at me. Qiao Yues eyes coldly swept over the mercenaries around her. Stand down. Andy said with a smile. His face was as stiff as before, as if he was wearing a human mask. What do you want to discuss? Qiao Yue asked. Andy pointed at the seat across from him. Lets sit and talk. Qiao Yue sat and a woman standing next to Andy poured her some champagne. I heard youve found your family. Yes. Qiao Yue did not drink. She just wanted to observe Andy and figure out what he was up to. Your family doesnt mind youing here sote? Its the organization business that I should kill you. It has nothing to do with my family. You dont have to threaten me with that. Its useless. Andy chuckled and made a gesture of surrender. I want to work with you. How about we get rid of Austin together? Austin? Qiao Yue looked at Andy in disbelief. Dont be so surprised. Who else could have taken you away other than Austin? What else do you know? Qiao Yue asked. Dont forget that Im a Eugene. Its a long story though. Andy took a sip of his champagne and slowly recounted his familys past. Austin was the most sessful person cultivated by the Eugene family back then. He was sessful in both legitimate and illegitimate businesses in D-Country and became the head of the family at a young age. However, Andys father, who was Austins eldest brother, was not happy. He wanted to take control of the family, so he plotted to drive Austin out of the family. Since then, Austinnded in the streets of D-Country. However, Austin was no simple opponent. He worked the streets and connected with many drug dealers. It was also because of drugs that Austin quickly established his own business empire. After establishing his business empire, he returned to the Eugene family. At the same time, his influence extended into C-Country where he had Qiao Yi and Qiao Li as his downlines. It was also at that time that Su Xun, who was still Yin Xun at the time, entered his line of sight. He had been working for the Eugene family. Later, Austin met Qiao Qing at a ball hosted by Qiao Yi and Qiao Li. Qiao Qing was a very gifted engineer and programmer, much better than Austin. Austin got to know Qiao Qing as a fellow student. Later, when he found out about Qiao Qing and Su Xuns rtionship and their undercover statuses, he told Qiao Li about Qiao Qings identity in a fit of anger. That was why Qiao Qing was kicked out of the Qiao family. It was also at that time that Qiao Qing was pregnant with Qiao Yue.. Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Cruise Ship Chapter 364: Cruise Ship Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio What Andy told Qiao Yue next about Qiao Qing being killed by Austin was the same as what she had heard at the Yin residence. Qiao Yue took a deep breath and looked at Andy, So, what are you nning to do? My father was murdered by Austin. After killing my father, Austin even made me and Oswald his subordinates and trained us. It seemed to be Austins usual practice to recruit the children of his enemies and then train them to be his loyal followers. So, its all the same. Qiao Yue sneered. Its not the same. The Godfathers feelings for you arent just like how he felt for me and Oswald. Hes transferred his love for your mother to you. Qiao Yue shuddered. Austin was a real pervert. He couldnt have her mother, so he took the daughter and raised her as a loyal follower, with the hope that she would be his lover one day. Its disgusting, isnt it, Qiao Yue? Thats why we must get rid of him together. Andy looked at Qiao Yue and smiled. To Qiao Yue, the best solution now was indeed for her to work with Andy. The two of them might be able topete with Austin. Your mission is to kill me, so pretend to bring me to the Godfather. Then, well get rid of him together. What do you think? I believe youll say yes. Andy extended his hand to shake Qiao Yues. Four dayster, a cruise ship named Utopia set off from C-Country. This cruise ship would sail through the high seas surrounding C-Country, cross the Pacific Ocean, to D-Country. It would pass through several small inds along the way. The cruise ship was very luxurious. It had a movie theater and a swimming pool. The suites were luxurious. The highlight was the ships buffet restaurant. It was a revolving restaurant serving delicacies from all over the world. Most of the guests on the ship were important government officials and VIPs from various countries. Qiao Yue took her luggage and walked to the VIP suite on the top floor. This was the room her godfather had prepared for her. This suite was different from other VIP suites. All its furniture were made of light-colored mahogany, and there was a light scent of round leaf eucalyptus throughout. This was Qiao Yues favorite scent. The suite had a bedroom and a living room, with ensuite toilet and bathroom. Everything was set up ording to Qiao Yues preferences. This was in line with the Godfathers style. Although Qiao Yue was here on a mission, the Godfather would change everything to suit her so that she felt cared for even when she was on a mission. Qiao Yue only felt more disgusted at the thought. She had actually lived with the enemy who killed his mother for so many years. There was a ball on the ship tonight, which was a good opportunity to check out people on the ship. Andy and Qiao Yue both spected that the Godfather would be on the ship to watch Qiao Yue and Andy fight instead of waiting foolishly for news in D-Country. He would want to enjoy his handiwork. Their n was to find the Godfather on the ship and then take him as a hostage to D-Country for the Eugenes to deal with him. Andy had basically gained control of the Eugene family. As long as he had the Godfather, his organization would naturally copse. Qiao Yue changed into a ck cocktail dress. She couldnt remember thest time she wore a cocktail dress. The ck silk material outlined her perfect figure. She had covered the scars on her body with concealer. From a distance, her skin looked fair and translucent, like a piece of fine white jade. Qiao Yue had also grown out her hair during this period. She put on a crystal hairband and then walked out the door with a ck feather fan. The ball was held at the Crystal Ballroom on the top floor of the cruise ship, very close to Qiao Yues suite. When she opened the door, she could already hear faint music from the ballroom. Qiao Yue took a deep breath and walked towards the Crystal Ballroom. When she pushed open the door to the ballroom, she was greeted by dazzling crystal chandeliers and thick floral carpet covering the floor. The ballroom felt very grand and the guests milling about inside were all wearing expensive outfits. Fragrance filled the entire room. Qiao Yue walked in slowly and observed everyone near her, looking for suspicious people. As she passed by the champagne tower, a man wearing a mask caught her attention. The man was wearing a fox mask and a ck velvet suit. The eyes under the mask were icy.. Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: The Ball Chapter 365: The Ball Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Andy, tell me, why is Qiao Jing here? Qiao Yue asked through themunicator. Qiao Jing shouldnt be here. You still dont know what happened to the Qiao family, right? Why dont you ask him yourself why hes here? Andys voice was heard from her earpiece. Qiao Yue put on her mask and walked up to Qiao Jing. Qiao Jing was chatting with a blonde girl who pointed at Qiao Yue when she saw her. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing. We need to talk. Qiao Jing held out his hand and made an inviting gesture for a dance. Lets not talk about business. How about a dance? Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing and slowly extended her hand. Qiao Jing took Qiao Yues hand, put his other hand on her waist and led her to the dance floor. A waltz was ying and the two of them started dancing. Qiao Yue knew ballroom dancing because her godfathers training included dance. How is it going? Are you okay? Qiao Jings voice was cold. Are you on this ship to find your godfather? Yes. Qiao Yue spun under Qiao Jings guidance, and her ck skirt swung gracefully. I thought someone like the Godfather would fly you there? After all, you cant wait to give yourself to him. Qiao Jing, what are you talking about? Qiao Yue gritted her teeth and stomped on Qiao Jings foot. Qiao Jing pulled Qiao Yue closer to him. Youre working with Andy, so why wont you work with me? I also want to get rid of Austin. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Jing in surprise. You shouldnt be telling me this. Ive pledged my loyalty to the Godfather. I cant help you kill him. Qiao Jing sighed. Stop lying to me. He twirled Qiao Yue a few times. Their dance moves attracted cheers from the people around them. Dont worry, Im not doing this toplete your revenge. The Godfather has offered me something I cant refuse, so Ive decided to work with Qiao Li and Qiao Yi. Why? Are you not satisfied? What? Qiao Yues eyes widened. What are you saying? How could Qiao Jing work with the two scumbags, Qiao Yi and Qiao Li? Was he working with Austin to kill Andy? My mission is to get rid of Andy, just like yours. Why dont we work together? Qiao Jing leaned over slightly, his lips brushing her ear. Youre working with Andy, but you told the Godfather that you will get rid of him. So, I want to know whose side youre on. She no longer heard the music on the dance floor. She never thought that she had to make a choice like this one day. Was Qiao Jing crazy to work with the Godfather? Im not going to work with you. Getting rid of Andy is my business. The cruise ship will dock at X-Country tomorrow morning. Please get off and go home from there. I dont want you involved. Qiao Yue tried to extract herself but Qiao Jing held her hand tightly. Working with me is the same. Wont you consider it? Qiao Yue tried to free her hand from Qiao Jings grip, but Qiao Jings hand was as hard as steel. Qiao Jing, I dont want you to do anything that will disappoint Grandpa. Qiao Jing pulled Qiao Yue into his arms, then lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. At this time, most of the people in the ballroom were already drunk and had no time to care about two people kissing on the dance floor. Qiao Jings kiss wasnt intense but gently probing. It felt different from all the previous kisses. Qiao Yue felt excitement but also heartache and pain. She loved Qiao Jing, so she didnt want him to put himself in danger because of her. Even if they eliminated Austin, the two of them would never be together. This kiss was like a celebration before the end of the world. It was filled with heartache that made breathing difficult. Qiao Jing, youd better leave as soon as possible. Dont ruin my n. Qiao Yue pushed Qiao Jing away when he wasnt paying attention and turned to leave the ballroom. She stood on the deck and stared at the pulsing sea, tears welling up in her eyes. This trip on the cruise ship was never assumed to be safe. Who knew what kind of fight would happenter? She didnt want to see Qiao Jing in danger. Qiao Jing had to leave this ce. What do you think? This arrangement is not bad, right? Andys voice sounded in her ear. Did you lure Qiao Jing here?. Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Sending Qiao Jing Away Chapter 366: Sending Qiao Jing Away Trantor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio??Editor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio Of course not, its the Godfather. Andy held a ss of wine and stood beside Qiao Yue. His face looked like a human mask. He looked very fake. Whats wrong? Do you think I dont have the ability to get intel on them? Andy looked at Qiao Yue. Then what should we do now? This is our cooperation and I dont want Qiao Jing to get hurt. You like that kid? Andy raised his eyebrows. No, I dont. Grandpa Qiao is very old. He wont be able to bear the pain of something happening to his grandson. Grandpa Qiao was very good to my mother. It was my mothersst wish to let him live his old age in peace. Andy chuckled. Hes the one who got himself involved. Hows the situation with the Godfather? Any trace of him? Mr. K from Room 304 and Mr. S from Room 709 both have scars on their hands, like the Godfathers. Seems like the Godfather is a rather interesting person. Andy chuckled. He even found himself body doubles. Andy handed a check to Qiao Yue. Go to the casino tomorrow and interact with them. It would be best if we capture the Godfather alive. Qiao Yue looked at Andy in shock. Andy had really gone crazy. Lets not talk about whether these two people were the Godfather. It was a very bad idea to capture the Godfather alive. I cant beat him. Qiao Yue said. Even if we cant beat him, we still have to try, right? Or well be letting down the years of training he has given us. Qiao Yue went back to her suite and changed. Her phone suddenly rang. It was the Godfather. Godfather, whats the matter? I have another task for you. There will be an auction for a gun at the casino on the cruise ship tomorrow. You need to buy that gun. Okay, Godfather, but I have a request, and Im not sure if you can fulfill it. Speak. The Godfathers voice waszy, and sound of a ssical symphony could be heard in the background. My request is to get Qiao Jing off the ship. Qiao Yue said. In five hours, this cruise ship will dock at X-Country. Please get him off the ship and not interfere with my mission. I really may not be able to fulfil your request, Qiao Yue. The Godfather chuckled. Since you think that Qiao Jing is a threat to you, why dont you send him away? I believe in your ability. The Godfather hung up. Qiao Yue didnt turn on the lights. She stared into the darkness and fell into silence. Qiao Jing returned to his suite, which he was sharing with Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu looked at Qiao Jings cold expression and said, How as it? Did you see her? Qiao Jing nodded. How is she? Is she okay? Shes fine. Well take her to X-Country tomorrow morning. I wont let her stay on this ship any longer. Theres something wrong with Andy and the Godfather. Something wrong? Qiao Yu frowned. Arent they just two drug lords? Whats wrong with them? I saw Andy and also talked to the Godfather. I dont know why, but I feel like theyre very simr. I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe this is all a trap set up by the Godfather. Qiao Yu frowned. He had also thought of the worst possibility. Just as the two of them were about to say something, the lights in the room suddenly dimmed. Someone opened the door with a master key, and a familiar scent came from the door. Qiao Yue? Just as Qiao Yu was feeling puzzled, he heard the sound of a bodynding heavily on the bedsheet. Shut up. A girl in a ck jumpsuit put Qiao Jing down on the bed and pointed a gun at Qiao Yu. Qiao Yu didnt expect that Qiao Yue would one day point a gun at him. Qiao Yue, Im fourth brother. What are you doing? Qiao Yue tied Qiao Jing up, and then Qiao Yu. Are you all here to assassinate Andy? What Andy? I dont know. Qiao Yu said hurriedly. He felt the cold tip of a needle approaching the back of his neck, and then cold liquid injected into his body. What you need to do now is to shut up and listen to me. Qiao Yues voice sounded cold. This anesthetic should be good until tomorrow morning. I will leave you in X-Country and you are not allowed to back on board again. Youre the one who should go back with us. For you, second brother Before Qiao Yu could finish, his vision went ck, and he was unconscious. Qiao Yue looked at Qiao Yu and sighed, I should have let him finish. She also wanted to know what Qiao Jing had done for her.. Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: The Auction Chapter 367: The Auction Trantor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio??Editor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio Soon it was the day of the auction. Very few people used their real identities at an underground auction like this. Almost everyone used their pseudonyms and wore masks to the auction. Qiao Yue searched for Andy in the crowd. But Andy wasnt there. Andy, where are you? Isnt today D-day? Dont worry, Ill be there in time. Andys reply came. There seemed to be sound of waves at his end. He was probably on the deck. Just as Qiao Yue was about to ask more questions, it was time for the third auction item. It was a carved pistol with beautiful carvings and a Qing character. This pistol was donated by Mr. K from Room 304. It belonged to his beloved when she was alive. He donated this item to remind all of us to cherish what we love. Qiao Yues eyes turned to the legendary Mr. K. He wasnt in a ck suit like most people here. Instead, he wore a long white robe with sleeves that fluttered in the wind. He looked like an immortal. Qiao Yue looked at the scar on his hand. It was indeed the Godfathers scar. It seemed that Mr. K was the Godfather in disguise.

Mr. Ks starting price is 500,000 yuan.

Although the color and quality of the pistol was good, it looked old and well used. Although 500,000 yuan wasnt a lot of money to the people here, no one was willing to buy a possibly useless gun. Does the gun still work? Yeah, who knows if this old pistol still works? We dont want to buy a broken gun. The crowd was in a heated discussion, but Mr. K, who was at the center of the discussion, didnt say anything. He just looked at the crowd quietly. I can invite someone who knows how to fire a gun to test it. The emcee said as he looked at Qiao Yue, Miss, how about you? Qiao Yue stood up slowly and walked up to the stage. She reached out and grabbed the gun. There were still faint bloodstains on the gun, and the Qing character engraved on it was worn down. Qiao Yue looked at the character and suddenly felt a pain in her heart. A strange memory entered her mind. In a sea of fire, the woman raised her gun and pointed it at the man opposite her. The man looked at the woman in the sea of fire, his white robe fluttering in the wind. Austin, why wont you let us go? Ive never wronged you in any way. Why are you doing this to me? The womans voice was hoarse. Teacher, Ive always respected you. If youre willing to be with me, Ill let you and your child go. But you will return to the Eugene family with me. Ill give you a new identity and make you my bride forever. In this memory, the mans voice was so clear. It was the Godfathers voice. Qiao Qing covered Qiao Yues ears. That was the five-year-old Qiao Yue. The mes rose higher and higher, as if it was going to engulf the entire house. The man stood in the distance and revealed a yful smile. Teacher, why wont you be with me? With you, the AST and the Eugene family can control the world. I wont join you in your dirty work! Even though her ears were covered, Qiao Yue could still hear the voices of her mother and the man. In the next palt of her memory, Qiao Yues vision turned ck, and mes surrounded her. The next part of her memory was filled with the smell of disinfectant in a hospital. A golden pocket watch swung in front of her eyes. As it swung, someone chanted strange words. Qiao Yue, your mother died of illness. Your mother died of illness. This was a memory of hypnosis. Qiao Yue clenched the pistol with her hand to make the memory go away. Miss, we have an apple here. If you shoot the apple with the pistol, youll prove that the gun is not broken. The host revealed a mechanical smile. Qiao Yue looked at Mr. K in the distance and pointed the pistol at him. Memories of the past suddenly poured into her mind. She was in the hospital and the man had ced the same gun in her hand. You have to learn how to use a gun. This is the first lesson Im teaching you. The man looked at her and revealed a gentle smile. But why do I have to learn this? The young Qiao Yue asked. Only by learning all these can you rece that woman and be my bride. . Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Real Identity Chapter 368: Real Identity Trantor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio??Editor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio The man in Qiao Yues memory put the gun in her hand and pulled the trigger. Miss, what are you doing? We are only testing the gun. You cant use it to shoot someone. Is thisdy crazy? Quick, get her out of here! How did such a dangerous person get on the ship! Everyone panicked as they watched Qiao Yue stand there with a gun pointed at Mr. K. The emcee had already ordered the staff to evacuate the frightened guests. There werent many security staff on board the ship. Most of them were afraid of the gun Qiao Yue was holding and didnt dare to approach. The ck muzzle was aimed at Mr. K but he didnt move. He sat there like a mannequin, motionless. Qiao Yue, you are not scared, are you? The emcees voice rang out from behind her. The man held her hand and before she could react, he pulled the trigger. Mr. K fell to the ground with a thud. Qiao Yues body suddenly started to shake. As Mr. K fell to the ground, the mask on his face also fell off. Qiao Yue saw clearly that Mr. K wasnt a real person but a mannequin with a mask. And the face on the mannequin was Andys. Qiao Yues eyes widened as she looked at the mannequin. A strange thought urred to her. The mannequin was Andy. She turned around and looked at the masked emcee. She reached out and took off his mask, revealing Andys face. The man smiled at her stiffly and took off the human mask on his face. Qiao Yue was stunned on the spot. Everything made sense now. How Andy knew so much about her past, how he knew her style at every mission. The man revealed a gentle smile. Long time no see, Qiao Yue. Does the gun feel good? Qiao Yue trembled uncontrobly. She looked at the person in front of her and revealed a miserable smile. Long time no see, Godfather. I wonder how youve been. After she said that, Qiao Yue felt her vision go ck and she fell backward. When she came to, she was in a huge bathtub. She was in a VIP suite on the cruise ship, and it was decorated to the Godfathers liking. There was a beige tatami, a huge bathtub, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The Godfather was standing by the window with a ss of wine. The sky had already turned dark. Qiao Yue subconsciously checked her clothes. I got someone to help you change. Qiao Yue, I promised you that if you dont submit, I wont force you. Who? Me. A young girl walked out from behind the screen, and the persons face looked so familiar. Chu Jia, youre back in the organization. Chu Jia smiled and removed her mask. You didnt notice, did you? Actually, after you failed to assassinate Trand the first time, weve switched Chu Jia. The person standing there was none other than Minnie, the girl from St. Faustinas Institution who came for the student exchange. Ive been watching you for the Godfather all this while, and provided you the information he wanted me to give you. Qiao Yue looked up at the Godfather. Why are you doing this? Ive already promised you that I wille back to you in three years. Why are you doing this? Austinughed. He turned around and looked at Qiao Yue, still holding his ss of wine. I didnt give you that option. Without you by my side, I missed you every day. How could I bear it? So, I used a little trickery and hoped that you will submit yourself. Between a canary that was forced into a cage and a canary who walked into the cage of her own free will, thetter was more likable. The Godfather walked over slowly. He was almost forty but he looked very young. He reached out and gently stroked Qiao Yues cheek. So, I hope youll submit yourself. So, you made me send Qiao Jing away and then walk into your trap? Thats right, my love. Its time for us to be together. The Godfather moved closer to her. Just as he was about to kiss Qiao Yue, the roar of a helicopter came from outside. Godfather, its The Custodians, Minnie said. Qiao Yue looked out the window. The helicopter outside was approaching fast. The letters that spelled out The Custodians were painted on it. . Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Surgery Chapter 369: Surgery Trantor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio??Editor:?Nyoi-Bo Studio The chandelier was shot, and the Custodians team broke in through the window. However, they found the bathtub empty except for some rose petals in the water. Damn it, its only been three minutes. Where did they go? Ai Ye kicked the fallen chandelier in frustration and scanned the surroundings with his sniper rifle. Austin is a very good fighter, not to mention he has Minnie, who has excellent Kung Fu skills. Su Xun said as he scanned the pitch-ck room. He knew that they would miss Austin, but it didnt matter. The cruise ship was sailing. They would find Austin if they searched the ship inside out. Search the area. If you encounter any mercenaries, kill them. Yes! The team members quickly began their fight. Meanwhile, Qiao Yue had already been transferred to a room in the lower decks. Austin was standing in front of her and her hands and feet were bound. The surgical lighting above her made her dizzy. Godfather, must you treat me like this? Qiao Yues voice was already trembling. Qiao Yue, you should know that I wanted you to be my bride from the beginning. Only the child of my lover looked most like her. Only you can be herpletely. The scalpel was already ced at the side. This injection will make you lose your memory. After that, Ill make you my true love. Austin held Qiao Yues chin and examined her face. Do you know which part of you resembles your mother the most? Qiao Yue closed her eyes, refusing to look at Austin. Its your eyes. Austin touched her eyes, and Qiao Yue only felt disgusted. We are ready for your surgery. Qiao Yue, get ready to enjoy thest of your time. The needle was already pressed against Qiao Yues skin. The cold medicine was injected into Qiao Yues body, and she trembled slightly. Austin stood in the distance and admired Qiao Yues trembling. This was what he wanted to see. A girl who had been tamed, a girl whod belonged to himpletely. Pop! Pop! Two gunshots were heard, and the door was opened. Qiao Jing and Qiao Yu aimed their sniper rifles at Austin. Minnie, who was standing at the side, quickly withdrew her pistol and pointed it at the two. Godfather, the drug is about to take effect. Should we continue with the surgery or leave? In such a situation, the surgery should definitely stop. Qiao Yu was confused. Youre both going to die. What surgery is there to continue? Austin stood behind Minnie and took her gun. Ill deal with them. You continue with the surgery. I believe in your ability. Godfather No more talking. Austin pushed Minnie to the operating table. Qiao Yue already felt herself fading away, her limbs weak. Let Qiao Yue go and Ill pretend that everything you did never happened. Qiao Jing pointed his gun at Austin. Why should I? I was the one who saved my lover from a sea of fire back then. I wont let anyone else take her away. Shes not your lover, shes her daughter. Youre a real pervert. You cant have her mother, so you must have her. Seriously. Qiao Yu didnt know how to describe his anger. When he thought about how Qiao Yue had been bullied by this man, he just wanted to tear him into pieces. Qiao Jing, I know you care very much about Qiao Yue, but Austin ignored Qiao Yus curses and took out a small remote control. Im afraid you dont know this, but Ive nted a miniature bomb in her body long ago. She didnt even notice it. Although the miniature bomb wont kill us, it will kill Qiao Yue. Qiao Jings expression was unchanged. He only looked at Austin and sneered, You must have Qiao Yue even if you have to kill her? Austin looked at Qiao Jing and slowly moved forward, pressing his body against Qiao Jings gun. It doesnt matter. As long as no one else can have her, shes mine. I can destroy her just like how I destroyed her mother. What do you think, Qiao Jing? Qiao Jing looked at Austin with a calm expression. His hand was on the trigger, ready to pull it at any moment. Just as he was about to shoot, two gunshots were heard in the small room. Austin turned around and looked at Qiao Yue in disbelief.. Chapter 370-End - Chapter 370: Finale 370 Finale "Qiao Yue?" The girls sat up unsteadily from the operating table with her gun aimed at Austin. It was the gun that Su Xun had gifted her. The girl standing behind Qiao Yue tore off the sticky human mask from her face and revealed a gentle face. "Godfather, my sister died because of you. You deserve it." It was Jin Lu. Godfather covered his bleeding wound and smiled at Qiao Yue. "It doesn''t matter. I''ll press the remote control now, and you''ll meet your stupid mother. What I can''t have..." "Godfather, since I can rece Minnie under your nose, I can also find the bomb you nted on me. Godfather, you were too stupid." Qiao Yue''s body was on the verge of copsing, but she still stood up slowly with the help of the bed. Qiao Jing walked over and helped her up. "When I was saved by Qiao Jing back then, the miniature bomb on me had already been removed." Qiao Yue looked at Austin. "I''ve never really trusted you, Godfather." Austin pressed the remote control several times in disbelief, but there was no response. He looked at Qiao Yue and revealed a self-deprecating smile. "But don''t forget, Qiao Yue, you''ve been injected with a drug that causes amnesia. Even if you regain your memoryter, how can you be sure that you''ll still fall in love with Qiao Jing?" Qiao Yue smiled. "That''s none of your business. Godfather, you just have to go to hell now and apologize to my mother." Qiao Yue slowly raised her hand and pulled the trigger. This shot hit Austin''s temple. After the shot, Qiao Yuey weakly in Qiao Jing''s arms. "Don''t talk anymore. I''ll take you home now." Qiao Jing scooped her up in his arms, his heart aching. Qiao Jing didn''t actually get off the cruise ship. He found Jin Lu on the ship the day he boarded. Heter found a substitute to rece him and got off the ship. After that, he got in touch with Jin Lu andid an ambush in the operating room Austin had set up. "The drug is real." Qiao Yue said weakly. "When I wake up, I''ll forget who you are." Qiao Yue reached out and touched Qiao Jing''s face, as if she wanted to etch his face into her palm. "It''s alright. I''lle find you." Qiao Jing looked at the woman he loved, who was gradually losing consciousness in his arms. He grabbed her hand and ced it on his heart. After Qiao Yue said that, she closed her eyes. The ship continued cruising as the people who just survived a life and death crisis disembarked via lifeboat. The stars were silent as they watched everyone under the infinite sky. Three yearster... L-City was the sunshine city of M-Country, well suited for recuperation and vacation. In a retro-styled building by the sea, a girl was stretching out of bed. The windows were left openst night, so the sea breeze blew through the curtains while the sun shone on the girl. She picked up a bandage from the bedside table and wrapped it around her neck a few times. There were ugly scars on her neck and many more on her body. After covering them with bandages or concealer, she stood up and tidied the room before going downstairs. "Morning, Qiao Yue." Mrs. Annie, who was preparing breakfast downstairs, smiled at her. "You don''t have sses today. Why are you up so early?" "I''m going to the beach with Jin Lu today, so I woke up early." Qiao Yue stuffed the bread into her mouth. She came to L-City three years ago with amnesia. It was said that she was a youngdy from a prestigious family in C-Country, who was sent out of the country after her family fell. But Qiao Yue didn''t mind this. She was studying in M-Country and living the life of an ordinary foreign student. No family would disturb her. She would receive living expenses on her bankcard regrly, like clockwork. After breakfast, Qiao Yue rode her bike to the beach. At an intersection, she ran into a man holding arge bouquet of roses. The man was wearing a ck sweater, his fringe hung down his forehead. The roses he was carrying were scattered all over the floor. He smelled faintly of a tropical nt. Qiao Yue sniffed carefully and looked at the man. He was a very good-looking person from C-Country, with cold eyebrows and sharp features. "May I know what perfume you''re wearing?" "It''s of round-leaf eucalyptus." The man smiled at her. This person''s voice also sounded very familiar. Qiao Yue extended her hand. "Hello, my name is Qiao Yue." "Qiao Jing." The man smiled. The smell of round-leaf eucalyptus rekind14:22 "Did we know each other before?" The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!