Chapter 48: Qiao Lan Completely Lost Faith in Old Qiao

Old Qiao pushed Qiao Yue’s hand away: “Mr. Tang will be here soon, you stay with your father at the company and wait for him.”

Old Qiao had his own little thoughts.

Tang Hongwen could even mold Qiao Zhenyuan, who was over fifty, so Qiao Yue, who was in her twenties, should be even easier to mold.

He hoped that he could guide Qiao Yue a bit, so she wouldn’t be so stupid anymore.

Qiao Yue was unwilling, but in the end, Qiao Zhenyuan kept her.

Old Qiao looked at Qiao Zhenyuan, who was now much more stable in his speech and actions, and nodded in satisfaction.

His son had really changed a lot.

Qiao Zhenyuan used to feel that Old Qiao favored Qiao Lan, giving her everything, but now he realized belatedly that everything Old Qiao did was for the Qiao family, for them.

Qiao Lan was just a pawn to stabilize the Qiao Corporation.

After he figured it out, of course, he had to perform well, striving to take control of the company as soon as possible and kick Qiao Lan out.

He didn’t want to live in Qiao Lan’s shadow anymore.

…

Old Qiao and Qiao Lan walked side by side, neither of them speaking.

Finally, Old Qiao broke the oppressive silence.

“Qiao Zhenyuan’s assessment was very successful.”

Qiao Lan said: “I guessed it.”

Qiao Zhenyuan couldn’t hide his thoughts. Even after being trained by Tang Hongwen, he hadn’t improved much.

She said: “Once Mr. Qiao passes your test, I will leave the company.”

Old Qiao stopped: “Lanlan, Grandpa still hopes you can stay at the company.”

He didn’t have many days left, and Qiao Zhenyuan was getting older. While his mind was clear now, it didn’t mean it would always be.

Qiao Yue was a fool, she couldn’t be relied upon.

Qiao Lan frowned, a hint of displeasure rising in her heart: “Grandpa, once Mr. Qiao takes control of the company, the first person he will fire is me.”

“Grandpa can ask the shareholders to protect you.”

They would help Qiao Lan out of years of friendship.

Qiao Lan’s mood became heavier.

Old Qiao knew she didn’t want to stay at Qiao Corporation, yet he made such a request, simply wanting to squeeze her for her last bit of value.

The last bit of warmth in Qiao Lan’s heart vanished. She asked expressionlessly: “Grandpa, what do you want?”

Old Qiao understood that when he made that request, Qiao Lan’s respect for him had disappeared.

But he had no choice. The pain in his body was getting worse, chemotherapy was no longer working.

He had to plan for Qiao Zhenyuan and the Qiao Corporation, so he could leave peacefully.

Old Qiao didn’t beat around the bush: “I want Lan and the company’s renewal contract.”

Qiao Lan refused without hesitation: “Grandpa, you’re asking too much. Lan and Qiao Corporation’s work was obtained through favors. I don’t have any more favors to exchange for her renewal.”

“Then what about Lan Xin?” Old Qiao asked: “It’s the brand you founded, can you bear to see it decline because it doesn’t have a chief designer?”

Old Qiao was using moral blackmail.

He knew Qiao Lan was a sentimental person.

She had deep feelings for Lan Xin.

Qiao Lan looked at Old Qiao’s cunning eyes. It wasn’t just coldness, but complete disillusionment.

The grandfather she had admired and respected, in his final days, was still calculating her.

Qiao Lan suddenly felt pathetic.

Pathetic that she had no one who loved her.

After heartbreak came a heart of stone.

Qiao Lan no longer felt sorry for Old Qiao, she said coldly: “Grandpa, there are many clothing brands in the country, not just Lan Xin can stabilize the Qiao Corporation.”

She paused, then said: “When I founded Lan Xin, I included a clause in the contract stating that Lan Xin and I are intertwined.”

She didn’t trust anyone back then, so she deliberately left a loophole in the contract.

She stays, Lan Xin stays.

She leaves, Lan Xin leaves.

Old Qiao’s cloudy eyes narrowed coldly. He trusted Qiao Lan at the time and didn’t have a lawyer review the contract. He didn’t expect Qiao Lan to leave a loophole.

He asked in a low voice: “Lanlan, don’t you trust me?”

Qiao Lan countered: “Grandpa, don’t you find your words contradictory?”

One moment he wanted to use Lan Xin to keep her, the next he questioned her trust when she said she had a clause in the contract.

If she had fully trusted Old Qiao back then, she wouldn’t be able to escape today.

Qiao Lan said sadly: “Grandpa, I only trust myself.”

In this world, some parents don’t truly love their children, let alone outsiders with no blood ties.

Suddenly, a light drizzle started outside, and the security guard brought an umbrella.

Qiao Lan opened the umbrella, holding it over Old Qiao’s head: “Grandpa, it’s raining, it’s cold outside, your body can’t handle it, go home early.”

She handed the umbrella to the butler beside Old Qiao and turned to leave.

Her back was lonely and resolute.

Old Qiao watched her receding figure, feeling like something important had been ripped from his heart.

His eyes unknowingly became moist.

The butler had been by Old Qiao’s side for decades and rarely saw him like this. He handed him a handkerchief: “Master, you’re also reluctant to let go of Miss, aren’t you?”

They had raised her for over twenty years, how could there be no feelings at all?

Although Qiao Lan and Old Qiao had no blood ties, she had done more for Old Qiao than a granddaughter.

Even an outsider like him was moved, let alone Old Qiao himself?

Old Qiao chuckled bitterly: “Reluctant or not, she’s already drifting away from me.”

He had pushed Qiao Lan away with his own hands.

The butler sighed helplessly.

He could also see that Qiao Lan had completely lost faith in Old Qiao.

…

Qiao Lan returned to her office.

The heavy feeling in her heart lingered.

She knew she had to sever the bond of affection with Old Qiao, but when it came to actually doing it, how could her heart not ache?

A strawberry-flavored lollipop appeared before her.

Qiao Lan was stunned, looking at Mo Qian who suddenly appeared, she quickly suppressed her sadness: “When did you get here?”

“Just now, you were lost in your thoughts and didn’t notice me.”

“Oh.”

Qiao Lan silently took the lollipop, tore off the wrapper and popped it into her mouth.

The sweet strawberry flavor dispelled the oppressive emotions in her heart.

Qiao Lan curiously asked: “Where were you just now?”

“Tang Hongwen came, I just said hello to him.”

Qiao Lan nodded: “He helped me so much, I should treat him to dinner.”

Then, Qiao Lan remembered that Tang Hongwen was invited by Mo Qian.

She also owed him a great debt.

But what a man wanted, she couldn’t give.

Qiao Lan said: “I should also treat you to dinner.”

Mo Qian was dissatisfied: “Just dinner, that’s all?”

“Of course not.”

Qiao Lan picked up her bag next to her.

Mo Qian’s eyes held a hint of anticipation.

He wanted to see what the woman could come up with.

Then, he saw Qiao Lan take out a check and confidently slapped it in front of him: “This check has no limit, fill it in as you please.”

Mo Qian laughed angrily, gritting his teeth: “You’re really generous.”

Qiao Lan said matter-of-factly: “You helped me so much, it’s only right.”