Chapter 7: Give Me Back Lan Xin

Qiao Lan looked out the window.

Night had fallen, and the night sky was as black as ink, pressing down on her heart, heavy and suffocating.

She could guess the purpose of Qiao Zhenyuan’s call.

The video of Qiao Yue and Chu Zhiheng’s infidelity had been circulating online, and the public opinion was growing more and more intense.

Chu’s stock price was affected, plummeting straight down. Chu Zhiheng was constantly harassed by phone calls and didn’t dare to leave the house.

The goodwill Qiao Yue had accumulated in the variety show had completely vanished. Fans were chasing after her to curse her. Seeing this situation, the director immediately terminated her contract. Black fans began to dig up Qiao Yue’s past.

If Qiao Yue’s past was exposed, her persona would completely collapse. Not only that, her hope of marrying into the Chu family would also be shattered. She couldn’t possibly sit still!

She spoke coldly, “What is it?”

A cautious yet slightly flattering voice came from the phone, “Lanlan, have you eaten?”

Qiao Lan had no mood to play games with him. Her brow furrowed, and she said impatiently, “Get to the point.”

Qiao Zhenyuan didn’t expect Qiao Lan to be so disrespectful. He was immediately furious, but he still needed her to manage the company. He asked through gritted teeth, “My secretary told me that the company’s crisis has been dealt with. When will you handle Yueyue’s black material?”

Qiao Lan had anticipated this, but she still couldn’t help but laugh, “Qiao Yue cheated on me. How pathetic would I have to be to clean up her mess?”

Qiao Zhenyuan’s face flushed with shame. He also found it hard to speak, but Qiao Yue was his daughter. He couldn’t just watch her be destroyed. He could only lick his face and speak.

“Yueyue is still young. You are her older sister. Can’t you be more tolerant?”

Qiao Lan was tired of hearing this excuse, “She’s only one year younger than me.”

Qiao Zhenyuan coughed lightly, softening his tone, “Since she calls you sister, she is younger than you and doesn’t understand. Besides, she is Grandpa’s granddaughter. If you ruin her, isn’t that like stabbing Grandpa in the heart?”

Qiao Zhenyuan paused and added, “Grandpa’s life is already in its final days. Can you bear to see him die with regret?”

Qiao Lan’s beautiful eyes narrowed in displeasure, “Are you trying to morally blackmail me?”

“I’m just reminding you not to act impulsively.”

He believed Qiao Lan would make the right choice.

Qiao Lan clutched the phone, her white hand revealing terrifying veins. Her jawline was taut, and her whole body exuded a chilling aura.

After a long silence, she said, “I can help her, but I have a condition.”

The infidelity video was originally spread by her. It was just a matter of a word to retract it.

But there’s no free lunch in the world.

Qiao Zhenyuan was overjoyed, “You say it.”

If he couldn’t handle it himself, and Qiao Yue was making a fuss at home, he wouldn’t have turned to Qiao Lan.

Qiao Lan said, “Give me back Lan Xin.”

Lan Xin was the fast fashion brand she founded. It quickly captured the market with its affordable prices and strong designs.

It entered Qiao’s company when it was on the verge of collapse and single-handedly saved the entire enterprise.

The current glory of Qiao’s was all brought about by Lan Xin.

Qiao Zhenyuan refused without hesitation, “No.”

If he gave Lan Xin back to Qiao Lan, after Qiao Lao passed away, no one would restrain her. She certainly wouldn’t care about the Qiao family’s affairs.

Qiao Zhenyuan was stupid, but she wasn’t.

“Give me a different condition.”

“This is my only condition.”

What belonged to her must belong to her.

Qiao Zhenyuan said angrily, “You don’t care about Yueyue, you just want to watch Grandpa die of anger!”

Then he hung up the phone.

Qiao Lan narrowed her eyes dangerously.

Mo Qian appeared behind her, “They’re so brazen, and you still haven’t exploded?”

Qiao Lan’s methods in the business world were decisive and ruthless. She had been tolerant of the Qiao family’s eccentricities, but this was not her nature.

Qiao Lan said in a deep voice, “The time is not right.”

When she was three years old, she got lost from her family and ended up on the streets. In her memories, she had slept under bridges, rummaged through garbage bins, and even fought with stray dogs for food.

It was Qiao Lao who brought her home, gave her a name, and allowed her to grow up with dignity. It could be said that he gave her a second life.

So she respected him, loved him, and helped him keep his life’s work, the Qiao Group.

Even for his sake, she easily settled her life’s affairs before his death.

She indulged Qiao Zhenyuan and his family just to let Qiao Lao pass away peacefully.

But the gifts of fate are all marked with a price in secret.

They owed her, and they would pay it back sooner or later!

Mo Qian knew Qiao Lan was a woman with her own ideas, so he didn’t say more, “If you need my help, just ask.”

Qiao Lan blurted out, “Your methods are too ruthless!”

Mo Qian was just helping her vent her anger, which was simply putting a bag over Qiao Yue’s head. It didn’t address the root of the problem.

Dealing with people like them, you should nurture their desires and arrogance, then withdraw. When they have their fill, they will perish.

Mo Qian didn’t deny it, “Simple and direct methods are often the most effective.”

Qiao Lan raised her eyebrows and didn’t respond.

…

Qiao Lan took two days off from work.

She usually stayed in her room to handle her own affairs. When it was time for dinner, she opened the door, and delicious food was already prepared.

Qiao Lan’s slender body leaned against the door frame, watching the man in the kitchen with amusement. His focused side profile as he plated the food was more charming than ever.

Qiao Lan unconsciously became mesmerized.

Mo Qian turned around and raised an eyebrow, “What are you looking at?”

Qiao Lan quickly withdrew her gaze, her cheeks burning. She tried to cover it up, “Nothing.”

But Mo Qian saw her ears, red as blood. He smirked and teased, “Although we are only nominally married, you have the right to openly admire your husband.”

Qiao Lan: “…”

The man’s low, magnetic voice tickled her ears. The word “husband” was like pebbles thrown into a lake. The splash wasn’t big, but it created ripples that lingered in her heart for a long time.

Qiao Lan blushed, her delicate hand clenched into a fist against her lips. She coughed lightly and said seriously, “It’s better if we maintain a respectful distance.”

This man was too handsome. If he kept teasing her, she wouldn’t be able to resist.

Mo Qian raised an eyebrow, “Aren’t we respectful enough?”

Qiao Lan was speechless.

They barely interacted, and there was no physical contact, except for eating. They were indeed respectful.

Mo Qian paused and said, “You don’t need to worry about anything. Even if something really happens, I won’t blackmail you.”

Qiao Lan walked over to the man, propping her hand on the cabinet behind him. She teased with a playful smile, “I hear a ‘take me as you will’ kind of vibe in that.”

His last sentence was too suggestive.

Mo Qian looked down at the little woman in front of him.

Qiao Lan was 170 cm tall, not short, but she still looked petite and lovely in front of Mo Qian’s 190 cm height.

It should have been a domineering wall-pinning move, but in Mo Qian’s eyes, it was more like a playful gesture from a little woman.

Mo Qian lowered his eyes, his long, powerful arms wrapped around Qiao Lan’s waist. He lifted her up, and the softness of the woman and the hardness of the man collided, creating a spark of wonder.

Qiao Lan instantly cowered, her hands pushing against the man’s chest, trying to get away. But Mo Qian didn’t give her a chance. He asked in a low voice, “So, do you want to take me?”

The warm, masculine breath sprayed on her ear, like a tingling electric current running through her body.

Qiao Lan had never experienced such stimulation. Her delicate body couldn’t help but tremble, “You, you let me go.”

Mo Qian: “Answer my question first.”

Qiao Lan was just verbally teasing, but she didn’t expect it to be real. Seeing the serious man, she felt like crying.

Just when Qiao Lan didn’t know how to respond, the sudden ringing of the phone saved her.

“I’ll answer the phone.”

Then she slipped away like an eel.

Mo Qian watched her flee in a panic and curled his lips. He didn’t chase after her.

A cornered rabbit will bite. If Qiao Lan kicked him out, it would be a loss for him.

Qiao Lan went back to her room and picked up the phone. It was a call from Qiao Lao’s attending physician.

Her heart sank.