Chapter 62 Using a borrowed knife to kill
Cars were coming and going in the parking lot. The snow that fell last night hadn't completely melted yet, and the sunlight reflected off it, creating a dazzling white glow.
The two brothers squinted, looking up at the man who had stopped them, as the light shone in their eyes.
He was clearly beaten up, and the way he was beaten so badly was quite incongruous with his refined and scholarly demeanor.
The man asked, "I've seen you outside the company building many times. Are you here to see Chairman Chen?"
Even his tone of voice was gentle and refined, the quintessential air of a scholar.
Lu Tao, the eldest brother, recognized the man as Zhu Ao, the vice president of the group. Chen Jiashu, the blind man, rarely appeared at the group's public meetings; it was usually Zhu Ao who made the appearances.
Thinking of this, Lu Tao clenched his fists and cursed inwardly: He's no good either.
A straight beam of white light swept across Zhu Ao's eyes, and he slightly turned his head to avoid it.
Yu Guangzhong: A black BMW is driving this way, and sunlight is dancing on the roof of the car.
"There's a car," he warned. "Be careful."
The three of them moved aside at the same time, and the car drove past them.
Zhu Ao put on a kind smile: "I know you've come with a purpose, but I want to advise you not to act impulsively."
Lu Tao and Lu Jun exchanged a glance, their eyes then turning fierce.
Zhu Ao glanced at the two men, his tone still one of well-intentioned advice: "Let me tell you something. Three months ago, the group laid off a senior executive. It's a real pity. I heard his parents were bedridden, and after losing his job, he defaulted on his mortgage, and his wife left him. He came to see Chairman Chen, extremely agitated, even threatening suicide... But the company has its procedures, and Chairman Chen also has his difficulties. In the end, of course, the security guards followed the rules."
He sighed almost imperceptibly, "If this is a work-related matter, I advise you two to go back to your work and focus on your tasks. Chairman Chen will not see you."
The two men's eyes darkened further after his kind persuasion. The taller man clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, as if he were about to attack him.
Zhu Aolai took a look, calmly took out his wallet from his pocket, opened it, took out all the hundred-yuan bills inside, about half the thickness of a fingernail, held them between two fingers, and handed them over: "Everyone has their difficulties, take this, and work hard."
This statement borders on compassion.
Lu Jun stared at the money, estimating in his mind that there were four or five thousand.
But the next second, a large hand swung down and knocked all the money away.
Hundred-yuan bills, like flowers scattered by fairies, drifted on the breeze and landed on the snow where tire tracks had been left.
Lu Jun was still feeling the pinch of the money when Lu Tao grabbed his shoulder and half-dragged him towards the parking lot exit.
The snow-covered ground is strewn with deep pink 100-yuan bills, which, from a distance, look like a mess of scattered wildflowers.
A black Land Rover slammed on the brakes and came to an abrupt stop, its wheels just a hair's breadth away from running over the banknotes.
Zhu Ao, however, was not in a hurry to pick them up. Instead, he raised his gaze to look at the two people's backs, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Now that things have come to this, the path you choose is up to you."
"Bang!"
The car door was slammed shut.
Lu Tao's chest heaved violently, his fists clenched so tightly they seemed to pierce holes in his palms.
Lu Jun looked timidly at his elder brother. He knew why his brother was so angry. That man was obviously a "lackey" of Chen Jiashu. Chen Jiashu must have discovered them and sent him to bribe them.
"Brother... that money should last us a while..." he asked timidly, "Does Chen Jiashu intend to use this money to make peace?"
Lu Tao whirled around, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, "Money? Is your backbone only worth a few thousand dollars? That Chen guy is humiliating us! Can't you see that?!"
He slammed his fist on the steering wheel.
Lu Jun was so frightened that he trembled and moved his lips, but dared not say another word.
It's only a few thousand yuan, but for them who are already penniless, it's a "huge sum of money".
Lu Tao grabbed his younger brother's shoulder, pulled him close, and glared fiercely, making the old scar on his left eyebrow look even more menacing: "We must avenge Lu Ming, we can't let him get away with this!"
*
Chen Jiashu was lucky this time; he was taken to the hospital in time, and his weak vision was preserved.
People's expectations always keep decreasing, but now that he can see the light, distinguish between day and night, and see Qin Qiao's blurry figure, knowing whether she is standing nearby or far away, he is already satisfied.
“Come here,” Qin Qiao said, walking over with the eye drops and sitting down on the edge of the bed. “I’ll put the eye drops in for you.”
Chen Jiashu raised his chin, and her hand appeared before him. The next second, a drop of cold liquid fell into his eye socket. He blinked and squeezed out some medicine.
The left eye repeated the process, and after three days of practice, the two worked well together. Chen Jiashu closed his eyes for a few seconds, then opened them and stared at her almond-shaped eyes. They were blurry, but he could see they were watery.
Like a moon shattered on the river's surface, its brokenness is heartbreaking.
She secretly cried again.
Chen Jiashu said in a gentle, coaxing tone, "It's alright now." He pressed his two thumbs against the corners of her eyes and gently pulled them away, wiping away the tear stains.
Qin Qiao grabbed his wrist and was about to lean closer when the sound of high heels on the ground came from outside. They were almost at the door. All their emotions were forcibly interrupted, and the two of them immediately straightened up and sat properly.
I almost forgot, Yang Shuhua just went outside to answer a phone call.
“Jia Shu…”
Yang Shuhua stopped at the foot of the bed, her smile and tone equally gentle, "My aunt sent us some free-range chickens she raises herself. How would you like to eat them?"
Chen Jiashu stood up, turned to the side, and gently looked at Yang Shuhua's face: "Mom, I'm fine with anything."
Qin Qiao glanced at Yang Shuhua's face and couldn't help but recall the evening after the press conference that day.
Yang Shuhua brought Chen Jiashu a bowl of old duck soup that had been simmering for three hours. Chen Jiashu was delighted by her arrival and drank the whole bowl of soup, soup and meat, clean.
For the next three days, Yang Shuhua seemed encouraged and came every night with a thermos.
Without a word, Qin Qiao turned to face the bedside table, opened the palm-sized cloth medicine bag, put the eye drops inside, and then zipped it up.
Then it remained there.
"Mom, I'd like to ask you to live with us." Chen Jiashu used a tone of discussion and invitation.
Chen Jiashu also discussed it with Qin Qiao last night. Chen Jiashu's idea was that since they had decided to live together as a family, Yang Shuhua shouldn't live alone, so he wanted to invite Yang Shuhua to come back and live with them.
Qin Qiao only replied with one sentence: "I'll listen to you."
In a moment of distraction, she seemed to hear Yang Shuhua say, "No, I'm going back to Jiang City to live. My aunt, third aunt, and uncle are all there, and they can take care of me."
Qin Qiao suddenly turned around, and accidentally brushed her arm against Chen Jiashu's arm, but this was a conditioned reflex that was almost beyond her brain's control.
When Qin Qiao saw Yang Shuhua's teary eyes, her own eyes suddenly stung, and she couldn't suppress the sadness in her heart.
“Mom,” Chen Jiashu said sincerely, “Please don’t go back. Jiang City is too far away. Qiaoqiao and the children will miss you. Dad is gone, so our family should stay together even more.”
Chen Jiashu's feelings for Yang Shuhua were one aspect, but the most crucial reason was because of her. How could Qin Qiao not know this? She was furious at what Yang Shuhua had done to hurt Chen Jiashu, but these past few days she had been thinking about what would happen if Yang Shuhua returned to Jiang City. There was her mother's illness, her father's dying wish, and the awkwardness of not knowing how to explain to the children if they asked why she was separated from her grandmother.
What should we do then?
Yang Shuhua has shallow eyes, and as she nodded, tears welled up and she said, "Okay," her voice trembling almost imperceptibly.
The moment Yang Shuhua agreed, Qin Qiao's heart, which had been bound by a rope for several days, finally broke free.
Qin Qiao couldn't deny that she couldn't let go of Yang Shuhua at all, and Chen Jiashu understood her feelings and made the decisions that she couldn't make for her.
After chatting for a few minutes, Yang Shuhua went home first, and Chen Jiashu asked Lao Song to come with him to pick up the children and take them home.
After locking the door, Qin Qiao walked back. Just as she turned the corner of the partition wall, she saw Chen Jiashu looking down and unbuttoning his hospital gown. From top to bottom, the collar gradually opened, revealing his well-defined chest. He had low body fat, and even without high-intensity training, his V-line was still faintly visible in his waistband.
These past few days, I've been seeing his well-defined muscles every day, but just like before, every time I see him, my face gets hot and I blush.
Chen Jiashu tossed the hospital gown he had taken off onto the bed, then with a flick of his wrist, picked up the medium-grey turtleneck cashmere sweater she had prepared for him.
"Up is the front," Qin Qiao reminded softly.
Chen Jiashu nodded slightly and deftly put it on. Then he sat down, first taking off his hospital pants, then picking up the black trousers beside him. His fingertips touched the buttons, and he immediately distinguished the front from the back.
He tucked his lean, well-proportioned legs into the trouser legs, and after standing for a moment, the trousers fit him perfectly.
"How much longer do we have to watch?" Chen Jiashu asked, head bowed, adjusting the inner waistband of his shirt.
A slight upturn at the corners of her lips revealed her visibly good mood, a happiness so captivating it was mesmerizing.
Qin Qiao pursed her lips and walked forward, stopping beside him as he slowed his movements.
The man simply stopped. His long, slender fingers, like jade, were still hooked around the strap.
Her gaze lingered there, her heart pounding, and she spoke softly, "This book is quite thick; you should read it slowly."
Chen Jiashu chuckled softly, then turned to look at her: "The table of contents for this book is quite long; you'll need some patience."
An ambiguous atmosphere filled the air with every breath, fermenting uncontrollably and spreading in wisps. Fortunately, reason still prevailed, and Qin Qiao chuckled, urging, "Hurry up, I only have one morning off."
That press conference successfully dispelled the accusations of her being "ungrateful." However, due to her recent high profile and disruption to normal work, the two station directors, after careful consideration, pointed her towards a better path:
Given her years of overseas experience, the station intended for her to take over as station chief in the Middle East. The two leaders made it clear that it was not an exile but a chance for her to hone her skills. She would return in glory after her two-year term, and no one would remember those trivial matters.
Qin Qiao had considered the possibility of being transferred, perhaps to a distant location, or even relegated to a less important post, given the considerable trouble she had caused the station this month.
To her utter surprise, the two leaders would give her such a precious opportunity, an overseas assignment that many of her peers would fight tooth and nail for.
She suppressed the surging emotions in her heart and forced herself to calm down.
Since the arrangement is scheduled for next spring, and the specific time has not yet been finalized, Qin Qiao hoped they would give her a week to consider it. The leader was very understanding and said, "Of course, discuss it with your family."
On the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau, Qin Qiao kept thinking about this matter, because she hadn't told Chen Jiashu yet.
Six years ago, the two had a conflict over the issue of long-term residence. Although Chen Jiashu intentionally escalated the conflict, his displeasure was not unfounded.
At that time, she was very career-oriented, and for a year and a half of the two years after their marriage, she was abroad on and off, leaving Chen Jiashu alone in the house. As for having children, that was completely out of the question for her.
Qin Qiao has never told Chen Jiashu about Danie's background or her three-and-a-half-year marriage abroad.
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Author's note: The next chapter will be quite angsty... I'm afraid it will scare everyone away.
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