Chapter 168 Trap
Sheng Qi, Sheng Qi, let's settle our scores one by one!
You won't escape any of those betrayals, those humiliations, those cold stares and schemes.
Today's meal is just an appetizer.
"50,000 Hong Kong dollars."
Sheng Qi returned with a brown paper bag, his steps steady and his tone calm, but his eyes revealed scrutiny and smugness.
He slammed the paper bag down on the coffee table with a loud thud, as if deliberately applying psychological pressure.
The corners of the paper bag were worn, vaguely revealing the edges of the red banknotes inside, which were brand new and glaring.
“However, Ah Qing,” he looked down at her, his voice slow and deliberate, “I need to see your sincerity first.”
Qiao Wanyin feigned ignorance, tilting her head slightly with an innocent expression, "What sincerity?"
She blinked deliberately, as if she really couldn't understand what he was saying.
Her tone was soft, like a harmless feather gently falling into the air.
Sheng Qi pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sharp and playful.
He slowly sat down on the sofa opposite her, tapping the edge of the coffee table lightly with his fingers. "First, write a divorce petition."
He paused, a slow smile playing on his lips, "And then..."
He smiled meaningfully, a smile tinged with desire, revenge, and the thrill of control. "Don't leave tonight."
Back then, he went to great lengths, using his connections and telling a colossal lie, to finally lure her to Hong Kong.
It was a carefully planned hunt, just waiting for her to soften her heart, waver, and completely fall for him.
But on the night before he was about to succeed, she disappeared without a trace, like a gust of wind.
He didn't leave a single word, only an empty room and his humiliation and anger.
He held a grudge about this for many years.
Whenever he thought of how she ran away at the last minute, he felt a surge of anger at being fooled.
Qiao Wanyin felt nauseous, as if a hand was forcefully churning her stomach.
She bit her inner lip hard, using the pain to suppress the sudden nausea, and forced herself not to let her expression twist in the slightest.
She couldn't show weakness, much less provoke him.
Now is not the time to tear off all ties.
"If I stay now, it would be too dangerous for you."
She spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of laughter, yet also a subtle threat.
She spoke clearly, word by word, her gaze fixed on him without the slightest hesitation.
These words were like a thorn, precisely piercing the place in Sheng Qi's heart that he feared most.
Qiao Wanyin was right.
She wasn't just making empty threats; she had genuinely grasped his weakness.
He knew she could say it and she could do it.
But if we just let her take away 50,000 yuan so easily, wouldn't that be too easy on her?
Over the years, he had been secretly investigating her and knew that she was not doing well, but she still had the nerve to come back and ask for money.
The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became, and anger surged within him.
“Ah Qing,” he suddenly adopted a serious tone, leaning forward slightly as if he were confiding in her, “it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’m a businesswoman and I hate being fooled.”
"If you want money from me, you have to give me some kind of guarantee, right? Don't you think so?"
His voice was soft, yet every word was like a knife, clearly forcing her to give in.
Qiao Wanyin knew that Sheng Qi was a very shrewd person and would not easily give in.
He never suffers a loss, and he will never make a transaction without any guarantee.
She had been prepared for this; there was no escaping it.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling, and her voice soft, like a spring breeze, "Then tell me, what should I do to put your mind at ease?"
She lowered her eyes slightly, her eyelashes trembling gently, looking obedient and docile.
But deep within that smile lay a hint of sneer.
For this 50,000 yuan, what's wrong with putting up with it for a while!
Once she has the money, she can take the first step.
She would make him return the rest, with interest.
Even now, she wanted nothing more than to slap him.
This anger surged to her head, and Qiao Wanyin clenched her teeth, her fingertips trembling slightly.
But she can't do it, at least not now.
Reason reminded her that although Sheng Qi was hypocritical and snobbish, he was someone she had to deal with at the moment.
She could only suppress this humiliation and anger in her heart, using silence to mask the turmoil within.
Sheng Qi's eyes flashed, and he immediately said, "Then write an IOU!"
A smug smile played on his lips, as if he had expected her to fall into this trap.
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it carried a somewhat aggressive and oppressive feel.
As he said this, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if urging him on or asserting his dominance.
His gaze was fixed on Qiao Wanyin, trying to catch a trace of panic or hesitation in her expression.
After leaving Sheng Qi's villa, Qiao Wanyin found a secluded corner and stuffed 50,000 Hong Kong dollars into her personal storage space.
The sunlight slanted down to the end of the alley, and the surroundings were so quiet that only a few distant barks could be heard.
She stood against the corner of the wall, took a deep breath, and after confirming that no one was around, quickly took out the stack of brand-new Hong Kong dollars from her bag.
The banknotes still smelled of bank ink. She didn't give them a second glance. With a flick of her finger, the money disappeared silently into her personal storage space.
The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
This guy was indeed not easy to fool. He insisted that she write some kind of "IOU" and even threatened that if she didn't comply within half a month, he would hand the IOU over to Fu Li'an's military leader.
The thought of Sheng Qi's hypocritical demeanor made Qiao Wanyin feel nauseous.
He said, "We're relatives, it's only right that I help you," but his eyes were full of calculation.
That so-called IOU was nothing but a trap—once she signed it, he could use it against her at any time, and might even try to sow discord between her and Fu Li'an.
His casual threat sent chills down her spine.
But she wasn't afraid.
Qiao Wanyin raised her eyes, her gaze calm and firm.
The cold wind tousled her hair, but she didn't even flinch.
She knew better than anyone that this world never earns respect through tears or weakness.
Since Sheng Qi wants to play dirty tricks, then she'll play along with him to the very end.
She has plenty of tricks up her sleeve and plenty of ways to show him what it means to mess with the wrong person.
She had plenty of ways to keep Sheng Qi from saying anything out of line.
For example, she could secretly investigate his shady financial dealings; she could quietly spread rumors that were detrimental to him; and if she wanted, she could make him suffer a major loss in business. She might not use all of these methods, but as long as Sheng Qi knew she had the ability, he wouldn't dare to easily break off relations.
After all, when it comes to profit, no one is willing to cut off their own source of income.
When he got home, Fu Li'an was not yet back.
The room was furnished as usual; the potted green ivy on the windowsill had sprouted new leaves, and the military magazine he hadn't finished reading yesterday was still on the coffee table.
Qiao Wanyin gently put down her bag, walked to the window, and drew the curtains. The afterglow of the setting sun was blocked outside, and the room immediately became quiet.
Looking at the familiar double sofa, a warm feeling suddenly welled up in her heart—this was the little home she and Fu Lian ran together, and she absolutely could not let outsiders disturb it.
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