Chapter 56 The Three-Person Group of Siblings and Husband and Wife: She wanted to act cute, she was acting cute. ...

When Zhu Qingzhi returned to the hotel, she found that the air conditioner in the room was malfunctioning. She planned to make do for the night and then negotiate with the hotel to change rooms the next day.

Unexpectedly, the hotel staff proactively came to her door, saying that they had conducted a routine check in the afternoon and found that the air conditioning system in this room was malfunctioning. They had prepared another room for her on the same floor, and a bellhop would come later to help with her luggage.

This was a common occurrence, but Zhu Qingzhi was cautious. After the room change was completed, she used the excuse of tidying up her belongings to carefully inspect the room and discovered a listening device at the entrance.

This type of hotel wouldn't be foolish enough to ruin its own reputation, so it must be someone instigating it.

interesting.

Zhu Qingzhi took out her phone and took five photos of herself and the bugging device. She intended to post them directly to the actors' group chat, but then Lu Yao called.

"Are you adjusting well?"

"That's good." Zhu Qingzhi couldn't use speakerphone for convenience this time, so she could only ignore the message that had just been sent on WeChat, open the door, and lean against the door to make sure she could be captured by the corridor's security cameras.

"You did well in the group interview today; you were a bit smarter."

The sound of typing could be heard from Lu Yao's side, so he was probably still working overtime. Being a CEO isn't easy. Zhu Qingzhi clicked her tongue twice to express her sympathy, and then started to say nice things: "Don't you know whose sister I am?"

Lu Yao was clearly pleased, his voice even carrying a hint of relief: "I want to ask you something." Without waiting for her reply, he continued, "I heard someone prepared a gift for someone else?"

"That gift looks familiar to me, it looks a lot like the one that someone made three years ago, so I came to ask that person if I guessed correctly?"

He had ill intentions and spoke in a sarcastic tone; you could tell he was deliberately trying to embarrass her.

To this, Zhu Qingzhi simply replied, "Oh."

Lu Yao persisted: "Didn't someone promise me before that he was as celibate as Abbess Miejue and that it was just for fun? How come he's fallen for her so quickly?"

Zhu Qingzhi: "..."

If it weren't for this bugging device, she would have fought Lu Yao to a standstill today, to the point of life and death.

"I don't want to talk to you."

To her surprise, Lu Yao not only didn't argue with her, but also very patiently changed the subject: "When are you coming back?"

"Next Monday." Zhu Qingzhi counted on her fingers, plotting how to end this phone call, in which Lu Yao was unilaterally suppressing her, without leaving a trace.

"Perfect timing, Katrina, let's attend Chairman Liu's birthday banquet together after your event."

"Chairman Liu?" Zhu Qingzhi's gaze involuntarily fell on the bugging device, and her voice unconsciously rose a little. "I'm afraid Director Zheng won't grant me leave, and I'm also afraid the Liu family won't welcome me."

"No one knows a sister better than her brother," Lu Yao immediately sensed the sarcasm in Zhu Qingzhi's tone. "Who else could it be? Everyone in the capital knows that the eldest daughter of the Liu family is deeply in love with Wen Qi."

He suddenly became interested: "Have you two had a grudge?"

Zhu Qingzhi's voice was lazy, as if she meant it sincerely: "No, not at all. She even helps me earn sales."

“Then you should thank them in person and be polite.” Lu Yao suddenly stood up and moved the phone on the table to the other side. “By the way, you should also say a few words to President Wen, otherwise I’m afraid he’ll tell me I’m impolite.”

He could sense that Zhu Qingzhi on the other end of the phone was visibly laging, but he was most adept at adding fuel to the fire. "I'm discussing a cooperation on a project in Nancheng in President Wen's office. There's no need to be so nervous."

Zhu Qingzhi: "..."

That's enough! How can her brother be so annoying! If she hadn't wanted to make a big deal out of the bugging device, he wouldn't have pushed her to this point!

She hung up the phone decisively, only then seeing the notification from Wen Qi. Without hesitation, she typed and sent it: "Are you also attending Chairman Liu's birthday banquet?"

Upon seeing this sentence, and looking at Wen Qi's cold, murderous gaze across from him, Lu Yao still wore a look of anticipation, but without lingering, he picked up his coat and left.

Before leaving, he patted Wen Qi on the shoulder with a kind gesture, saying, "Add a little seasoning, and life will have flavor. Mr. Wen, take your time with your work."

Lu Yao had barely stepped out of his office when Wen Qi called: "The invitation hasn't been sent to Wen's yet. But we're supposed to attend. I just got the news and haven't had a chance to tell you yet."

It was rare for Wen Qi to say so much at once, but given his behavior on WeChat today, Zhu Qingzhi remained unmoved and simply replied with an "Oh".

She didn't actually mean to confront them; she was just trying to keep her words concise because of the listening device.

But Wen Qi didn't know.

A cold "Oh" slammed into his ears and into his heart, causing him unbearable pain. He immediately replied, "If you don't want to participate, you don't have to. I won't accept the invitation."

However, he still didn't get any substantial response, only an even colder "oh" than the previous one.

She's angry.

Wen Qi was almost certain that the deliberate calmness and aloofness in Zhu Qingzhi's tone stemmed from her having heard about the birthday banquet from Lu Yao first, rather than being informed by him personally. Given his entanglement with Liu Xiaoning, this "delay" and "oversight" could be interpreted in countless ways.

He could even picture Zhu Qingzhi's expression at that moment—a slight raise of her eyebrows, her eyes languid yet carrying a silent question. Lu Yao's comment, "Add some spice," which seemed to enjoy the drama, was damnably accurate.

Wen Qi closed his eyes in annoyance: "I didn't mean to hide the birthday banquet from you, and it's not that I... felt you shouldn't know. Please don't be angry, okay?"

His voice was deep and earnest, carrying a solemnity of eagerness to speak his mind, which was completely different from his usual concise, aloof, and self-possessed style.

Zhu Qingzhi was stunned for a moment, then realized instantly that he had misunderstood!

Wen Qi was unaware that all her unusual behavior stemmed from this damned bugging device, so he assumed her coldness was because she was angry that he hadn't informed her of the birthday banquet in advance.

Hmm, it's strange to suddenly have someone to rely on. She quickly switched to WeChat, sent the selfie she had just taken, and then said casually, "No."

She wasn't angry, nor did she intend to accuse anyone. But as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt that she might as well use her connections, and besides, whoever caused the debt should settle it.

Wen Qi's phone vibrated, but he didn't pay attention to it until Zhu Qingzhi bluntly reminded him to "check WeChat!", at which point he realized it was a message from her.

The image on the screen finished loading; it was a lively, funny selfie, completely different from her cold demeanor on the phone. He was a little confused about Zhu Qingzhi's thoughts.

But almost instantly, he noticed the small red dot in the shadow of the door frame—it was a bugging device.

He had inspected the Civic Hotel. Although it wasn't the most luxurious in terms of environment, it was at least a five-star hotel, and guests' safety and privacy were well guaranteed.

So someone wanted to frame Zhu Qingzhi. Thinking of this, Wen Qi's eyes suddenly turned cold and desolate, and his previous anxiety and helplessness disappeared without a trace.

Zhu Qingzhi's finger was already on the bugging device, a wicked smile playing on her lips. She slashed her nail with her fingernail and deliberately added a touch of feigned grievance to her voice, "Honey, help me investigate."

Her soft, harmless tone, whether from afar or right next to him, always managed to easily break down his defenses.

The night view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows remains as vibrant as ever, with neon lights creating a rich New Year atmosphere that also permeates the otherwise cold and monotonous office.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, the regular movement of the second hand feels more like a weak electric current, slowly flowing into the heart, matching the heartbeat rhythm.

Wen Qi suddenly realized that her easy surrender was not because she was afraid, but because she wanted to act coquettishly.

She wanted to act cute; she was acting cute.

His voice softened, carrying a hint of reassurance: "I'll send someone over immediately. Don't hang up the phone."

Zhu Qingzhi obediently hummed in agreement, then leaned most of her body out of the door. The warm yellow light illuminated the bohemian-style carpet laid out in the corridor, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

On the other end of the line, Wen Qi was calmly instructing the person in charge of the Nancheng project team to come over immediately to handle the situation, so she, as the person involved, also had to react.

Zhu Qingzhi rubbed her ears, then sent the photo to the actors' group chat, adding a friendly reminder: "Everyone, please check yourselves carefully; it's really terrifying."

Almost as soon as she finished sending the message, she heard several gasps of surprise, and the messages scrolling through the actors' group chat were so fast it was dizzying.

【？？？】

[What era are we living in? Why are they still doing this?]

【My God! I need to check that too.】

Did you call the police?!

Several doors opened one after another, and lights peeked out, like a progress bar slowly sliding in a dim space, and then the whole floor began to stir.

Alas, tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

Zhu Qingzhi raised an eyebrow, shook her head as if helpless, and glanced at the inconspicuous little red dot on the door frame for a moment, as if talking to herself: "Who will be the scapegoat?"

The voice was almost inaudible, yet Wen Qi heard it clearly. It sounded like a sigh, but with a hint of schadenfreude and anticipation. Because of this anticipation, Wen Qi immediately knew what she was planning.

He loosened his tie and let out a soft chuckle: "I'll prepare the suit for you."

Zhu Qingzhi: "..."

It has to be said that the CEO's insight is different; she hasn't said anything yet.

Having her secret exposed, Zhu Qingzhi snorted and said, "Who asked you to prepare? My brother and I will go."

Wen Qi noticed her slight awkwardness. He leaned against his desk, stretched out his long arm, and turned off the computer monitor: "If we happen to run into each other, will you pretend you don't know me?"

With that nonchalant tone, Zhu Qingzhi felt completely under his control.

Just then, Dani rushed over from around the corner of the corridor. She gritted her teeth, said "Goodbye!", and hung up the phone.

"What's going on?" Dani pulled her out of the door, her eyes fixed on the flashing red dot.

When Zhu Qingzhi sent a message to Wen Qi, she also sent one to her. But seeing that Wen Qi's hair was slightly damp and her pajamas were wrinkled, it was clear that she had just taken a shower and rushed over as soon as she received the message.

"Call the police first." Dani took out her phone to make a call, but Zhu Qingzhi stopped her. Dani's heart skipped a beat. Knowing Zhu Qingzhi as she did, this was not a good sign.

She gave Zhu Qingzhi a look that was hard to describe, "Don't tell me you can't bear it?"

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Author's note: Kiyoshi [glasses]: Wow.

Wen Qi [shrugs]: Waiting.

Lu Yao [eating melon]: Wow.

Dani [question mark]: ? ? ? Don't mess with me.

Ah-me [doge head with rose in hand]: I hope my imagination can keep up with my daily update speed [doge head with rose in hand]