Chapter 149 The Farewell Banquet Was Planned in Adversity
Qian Zhaoye's words caused Qu He's outstretched hand to freeze in mid-air.
The elevator doors rose automatically, and the numbers kept changing.
Qian Zhaoye looked at Qu He's stiff back with a complicated expression.
After the farce at the hospital, Qiao Mian was detained by the police and was only released the day before yesterday.
In front of the entire internet audience, he was cheated on; the Qian family could no longer tolerate him.
During this period, he truly regretted his actions, especially towards Qu He.
You only appreciate something when you lose it, and now he finally understands how good Qu He is.
Recently, many of the company's partners have cancelled their collaborations, and even the largest investor, who was with the company since its inception, withdrew all of its funds without warning.
The company's cash flow dried up completely, and it seemed that overnight, it went from a burgeoning enterprise in Beicheng to a fading success story.
Later, after much effort, he discovered that the mysterious investor was actually a subsidiary of the Zhuang family.
At that moment, Qian Zhaoye felt a chill run down his spine.
Five years ago, when the company was just starting out, why did Zhuang Bieyan choose to invest?
It wasn't until he married Qu He that he began to suspect something.
Perhaps, back then, that man had already laid a trap and had already set his sights on Qu He.
"Ahe, do you know that Zhuang Bieyan used to date Yan Shu?"
He uttered those words hoping to see Qu He's panicked expression.
But Qu He showed no shock as he had expected. She turned to look at him calmly, even with a hint of mockery.
Qu He found it quite ridiculous.
This is the second time in one day that someone has come to remind her of Zhuang Bieyan and Yan Shu's past.
"So?" she countered.
Qian Zhaoye was somewhat speechless at her reaction.
"Aren't you...aren't you angry?"
He was somewhat unconvinced, "Yan Shu's achievements and fame today are inseparable from Zhuang Bieyan's resources and help. She's suddenly returned to the country now, why do you think it's for? It's hard to guarantee they won't rekindle their old romance, you..."
"That's none of your business," Qu He coldly interrupted his provocation.
Seeing her stubbornness, Qian Zhaoye, driven by jealousy and revenge, uttered the most vicious words, "But Zhuang Bieyan only sees you as a substitute!"
Qu He didn't quite understand and looked at him blankly.
Qian Zhaoye looked heartbroken.
He took out his phone, tapped a few times, and handed it to Qu He.
The video above has poor resolution and is shaky, as if it's from a long time ago.
The video begins with a voice-over in an accent, "Hey, Shu, what are you doing?"
The camera slowly focused, landing on a workbench by the window.
Yan Shu, wearing a brown apron, was engrossed in carving the clay on the table, her expression focused.
Hearing the sound, she looked up and smiled at the camera, then covered the lens as if to keep it a secret, saying, "Surprise."
"Surprise? Oh, it's a swallow!" The camera wobbled as it zoomed toward the table.
Yan Shu reluctantly lowered her hand, her fingers gently touching the edge of the clay, her voice softening slightly, "It's a birthday present."
Is this a gift for your loved one?
Her ears turned slightly red, and she nodded shyly.
Why send a swallow? Is it because of your name?
“He’s very busy now, and we can’t see each other often.” Her voice was tinged with sadness. “This is a little swallow I made myself. I hope that when he sees the swallow, he will think of me.”
"How romantic! Is that why you learned pottery specifically for him? I think he'll love it!"
Yan Shu became even more embarrassed by the praise, but the smile in her eyes deepened.
"I must record this moment carefully, so that it can be your documentary when you get married in the future."
As he spoke, the camera circled around the half-finished swallow.
Although the carving is not yet complete, the wings and body are beginning to take shape.
The swallow has a lively expression and an endearing appearance.
The video ends here, and Qian Zhaoye puts his phone away.
Looking at Qu He's pale face, he revealed an even crueler truth, "Ahe, don't you think this swallow looks a lot like your graduation project?"
Qu He felt her head was heavy, and she had to clench her palms tightly to keep herself awake.
Her graduation project, "The Lone Swallow," is now in the collection of Beicheng Zhongxin Art Museum.
The swallow that Yan Shu made in the video just now looks four or five parts like her graduation project.
She was probably a beginner, as her technique was somewhat immature, but the overall effect was similar.
Her graduation project was only collected by the museum six months after graduation, when Yan Shu was still in the UK.
At that time, she and Zhuang Bieyan had never met before.
So, after Zhuang Bieyan broke up with Yan Shu, he saw her graduation project in China and then used her as a substitute for Yan Shu.
No wonder Yan Shu was so skilled at throwing pottery in the "Chengqi" program; this is the reason.
She used to wonder why Zhuang Bieyan favored her so much and treated her so well.
Now, the answer is clear: he had been seeing the shadow of another woman through her.
Fireworks, confessions, gifts.
Their past was truly spectacular.
Qu He felt that life was absurd.
She had given him seven years of her life, only to find out she had been cheated on for four of them, leaving her feeling like a complete fool.
Now, she thought that escaping the fire pit and meeting Zhuang Bieyan was a rebirth, a blessing from heaven.
But it turned out they had only jumped into another, more sophisticated and cruel trap.
Her sincere feelings, which she carefully offered again, were once again smashed to the ground.
In the end, it was all just a mirage, a fleeting illusion, and nothing but empty joy.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably; my heart felt like it was being twisted by something, making it hard to even breathe.
Qian Zhaoye put away his phone, glanced at the elevator floor numbers out of the corner of his eye, and calculated the time in his mind.
Seeing Qu He's breakdown, he knew he had succeeded more than halfway.
"Most of our recent partners have withdrawn, and even our largest investor, who supported us from the very beginning, has left," he said with a self-deprecating laugh.
Qu He's eyes were vacant, showing no interest in his company's affairs.
“Ahe, I found out after checking that the person behind that investor is actually Zhuang Bieyan. Have you ever wondered why Zhuang Bieyan would invest in my company five years ago?”
Qian Zhaoye deliberately guided the conversation, "At that time, you had only been with the company for a short time, while Zhuang Bieyan was already the heir to the Zhuang family business. You had never met before. This is no coincidence! There is only one possibility: he invested in my company, perhaps to better control us and ultimately steal you away from me!"
Qu He looked at him with an incredulous expression.
Five years ago?
Did he think he was filming a business war movie?
She was even impressed by Qian Zhaoye's imagination, feeling that he would stop at nothing to sow discord.
"Ahe, now you understand everything, right? Zhuang Bieyan lied to you. He wasn't sincere with you at all. He either used you as a substitute or he had this planned all along. What's the point of such a marriage?"
He stepped forward and tried to take her hand, coaxing her, "Come back, okay? Divorce him and start over. I swear, after everything that's happened, I know you're the one I should cherish the most. I will definitely make it up to you and be good to you alone."
Qian Zhaoye looked confident of victory.
Just as my fingers touched her wrist, the elevator doors opened.
Outside the door, Zhuang Bieyan witnessed the entire scene.
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