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Chapter 35: As an Elder, You Shouldn’t Play Favorites

Xie Qingcen sat in the back seat, his deep inky eyes slightly narrowed. He leaned lazily against the seat, his posture relaxed and indifferent.

Upon hearing Qi Chong’s report, he didn’t even raise his eyes. His voice was flat:
“Mm.”

Qi Chong pursed his lips, then seemed to remember something and added,
“Also, Miss Fu Zhiqing has been taken to the hospital. Compensation was made according to protocol. She likely won’t be bothering Miss Ruan for a long time.”

Xie Qingcen’s brow twitched slightly. He lifted his eyelids, his long, cold eyes revealing a deep, chilling darkness.

“Do I need to be updated about irrelevant people too? Qi Chong, you’re unusually talkative today.”

Qi Chong froze. He pursed his lips, but still felt the need to remind Mr. Xie of something.

He hesitated, then spoke,
“Mr. Xie, but… Miss Fu is actually…”

Xie Qingcen curled his fingers and began rhythmically tapping the armrest. His refined brows and eyes were tinged with mild impatience.

He glanced up coldly,
“Who she is has nothing to do with me.”

“Spit it out. Or do you want to be sent to Africa for a few months of training?”

Qi Chong stiffened, his expression instantly tense, heart leaping into his throat.

After a long pause, he took a deep breath, met Xie Qingcen’s displeased gaze, and said with determination,
“Mr. Xie, actually… Miss Fu Zhiqing is your niece.”

“By blood.”

Then he added, almost whispering.

After saying this, Qi Chong quickly lowered his head, eyes glued to the black carpet beneath him, as if it could sprout flowers. He didn’t dare glance at Xie Qingcen’s face.

Upon hearing that, Xie Qingcen’s eyes paused. A flash of surprise passed quickly through his dark gaze.

He furrowed his brows and looked at Qi Chong,
“That daughter of my so-called sister?”

“Yes,” Qi Chong nodded.

“Hah, so the apple really did fall far from the tree.”

Xie Qingcen let out a cold chuckle, his refined features etched with a deep chill.

No wonder she looked familiar. So she carried one-quarter of the Xie family bloodline.

In this generation of the Xie family in Yun City, there were only two direct descendants.

One was him. The other was Fu Zhiqing’s mother—his full-blooded sister, Xie Qingshu.

However, despite being close relatives, Xie Qingcen had little impression or affection for his sister.

Because Xie Qingshu nearly destroyed the entire Xie family—for a man.

How ridiculous.

A pampered heiress raised with all the resources of the Xie family, yet she betrayed her family for a second-rate rich boy without hesitation.

She caused severe losses to the family, nearly pushing it to bankruptcy.

If not for a century-old foundation, the Xie family might have ceased to exist after that disaster.

There would be no glory like today.

Back then, Xie Qingshu’s betrayal even caused their mother to almost miscarry. She was hospitalized for a long time.

Had their father not brought in top doctors from around the world, Xie Qingcen might not even exist today.

So even without meeting her, Xie Qingcen had no goodwill toward that “cheap sister.”

Now, upon seeing Fu Zhiqing, he felt an even deeper disgust.

A woman so stupid she was practically a pig, yet she carried Xie blood? The very thought made Xie Qingcen sick.

He lifted his eyes slightly and gave Qi Chong a bland look,
“You knew all this so clearly. Did the old lady ask you to investigate?”

The Xie family was cold-hearted by nature. Once Xie Qingshu was removed from the family registry, they would never meddle in her affairs again.

That was the rule. A punishment.

Besides, Xie Qingshu and her beloved husband had died in a car crash five years ago.

Once people are dead, the lights go out. The Xie family wouldn’t dig into the past just to seek petty revenge.

But Xie Qingcen’s eyes shifted, a shallow smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Sometimes, there are exceptions. After all, not everyone in the Xie family carries the Xie name.

The fact that Qi Chong could pinpoint Fu Zhiqing’s identity so clearly… someone must have instructed him.

When people grow old and act on their whims, they tend to soften.

Xie Qingcen squinted, chuckled twice, and looked at Qi Chong with a teasing glint in his eyes.

The look sent a chill down Qi Chong’s spine. He involuntarily shivered.

He forced a dry smile. Nothing ever escaped Mr. Xie’s gaze.

He nodded firmly,
“Yes, Mr. Xie. The old lady had me look into it before you returned to the country.”

“She never intended to hide it from you. It’s just…”

Xie Qingcen let out a cold snort, his gaze sharp,
“Just what? Qi Chong, don’t forget whose assistant you are!”

Qi Chong lowered his eyes in silence, his face full of guilt.

Xie Qingcen looked away, not really intending to pursue it further.

His brow twitched slightly as though he’d remembered something. Then he smiled.

“I want my schedule cleared for tonight. I’m heading back to the old house.”

Since the old lady couldn’t let it go, he didn’t mind playing the good guy.

He’d met his niece. Time to pay his good aunt a visit.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and his dark eyes gleamed with an unreadable light.

As an elder, you shouldn’t play favorites.

Besides, he was very interested in Little Liu Zheng’s ex-husband.

Qi Chong swallowed nervously, his heart full of sympathy for that poor, clueless young Mr. Fu.

He just hoped the guy had more brains than Fu Zhiqing. Otherwise…

Qi Chong shook his head and quietly returned to his seat, reopening his phone to adjust Xie Qingcen’s schedule.

The car fell into silence once more. The pitch-black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped off toward its destination.

Not a word was spoken along the way.

---

Meanwhile…

Fu Zhiqing had been dumped unceremoniously at the hospital entrance by Qi Chong.

Her eyes glared viciously at the dust-covered credit card on the ground.

Her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles cracked.

Remembering the man’s contemptuous expression as he left, her eyes burned with deep hatred.

She had never been so humiliated in her entire life!

It was bad enough being dragged out of a department store in public—worse still, they had the nerve to throw money at her in open humiliation!

They’d better pray she never found out who they were—because if she did…

And then there was Ruan Liu Zheng, who had stood by and watched her get humiliated.

She would make Ruan Liu Zheng pay!

Fu Zhiqing wanted to scream, but her jaw wouldn’t move.

She couldn’t even feel her chin.

Her eyes widened with fear. No longer caring about revenge, she broke the card Qi Chong had left and bolted into the hospital.

She couldn’t afford to be disfigured. She couldn’t lose her voice!

---

Half an hour later, Fu Zhiqing sat in a VIP ward at the top floor of the hospital, surrounded by a team of specialists.

“Miss Fu, your jaw has been set properly. Please avoid talking for the next few days to prevent further injury.”

An elderly orthopedic doctor gave a stern warning.

Fu Zhiqing clutched her jaw, eyes watery. Her once glamorous makeup was now a mess, making her look completely disheveled.

She bit her lip and whispered through the pain,
“My brother is the CEO of the Fu Group! You’d better treat me properly, or else—”

Mid-sentence, she yelped in pain, her eyes full of fury.

Her swollen cheek now resembled a steamed bun—testament to how hard Ruan Liu Zheng had hit her.

Seeing her reflection on the screen, Fu Zhiqing touched her face in disbelief.
“What’s wrong with my face?! Why is it still so swollen?! Can you quacks even fix it?!”

The hospital director, annoyed by her threats, still had to smile obsequiously, remembering Fu Yanci’s influence.

“Don’t worry, Miss Fu. We’re using our best and most expensive treatments. I guarantee your face will recover perfectly.”

“You better mean that!” she glared at him, voice full of menace.

But in her mind, all she could think about was Ruan Liu Zheng—the one who had caused all this.

That cold, indifferent expression…

Her hatred now far outweighed her physical pain, darkening her expression even more.

The director, unsettled by her look, carefully asked,
“Miss Fu, your injuries aren’t that serious. Will you be staying here or…?”

Fu Zhiqing came back to her senses and shot him a cold glance.
“Give me the meds. I’m not staying.”

She had a score to settle with Ruan Liu Zheng—there was no time to waste lying around in a hospital.

A few minutes later, Fu Zhiqing left the ward with her medication, heading for the elevator.

Only to be stopped halfway.

“Zhiqing? What are you doing here?”

Standing in front of her was Fu Yanci. He wasn’t wearing a coat—just a simple shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a watch on one wrist, and a thermos in his hand.

The casual look softened his usually stern aura.

He looked at her with concern and confusion.

“You’re hurt? Who would dare lay a hand on you?!”

His voice turned cold as he saw her swollen cheek, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

Ever since their parents died, Zhiqing had been his only family. Not even in their hardest years did he let her suffer.

And now that he held the reins of the Fu Group, who in Yun City dared disrespect him?

For someone to hurt her under his nose was… unforgivable.