Chapter 4 I Just Love Seeing You Like a Drowned Rat

The day after, just before evening self-study, Xie Muhuan had requested leave.

Qu Qingzhi knew she was heading to the Xie family estate, so as soon as she left, she quietly followed him out of school.

The Xie family was one of the most prominent families in Jiangcheng, and they had long-standing ties with the Qu family.

It was rare for Qu Qingzhi to visit, so naturally, the Xie family wouldn’t turn her away. The butler welcomed her warmly.

“Miss Qu, it’s been a while since your last visit. Our madam often speaks fondly of you,” the butler greeted her respectfully.

“I’m here to see Mrs. Xie today,” Qu Qingzhi replied.

She had already called Mrs. Xie on her way there.

Ever since Mrs. Xie had found her biological son, her demeanor had been off—filled with bitterness and sharp, festering hatred.

Her son, Xie Jincheng, had been raised by Fang Xiuqin and Xie Yuandong, and he was crippled.

It was said that when Xie Jincheng was just a child, Fang Xiuqin and Xie Yuandong had neglected him, which led to the six-year-old running into the street and getting hit by a car, leaving his legs paralyzed.

Mrs. Xie harbored deep resentment toward Fang Xiuqin and Xie Yuandong for their negligence, as well as toward the hospital for their mistake in swapping the babies. But her deepest hatred was directed at Xie Muhuan.

Qu Qingzhi had read this part in the original novel, where Mrs. Xie had screamed at Xie Muhuan: “It should’ve been you who’s crippled! You should be the one in a wheelchair! How dare you take away seventeen years of a privileged life that belonged to my son? You deserve to die!”

As Qu Qingzhi stepped into the luxurious and spacious living room, she overheard this very same shrill voice filled with bitterness.

She halted for a moment and looked up, only to see Xie Muhuan standing in the center of the room.

His head was bowed low, his finely chiseled jaw set tight in submission and patience.

He allowed Mrs. Xie to berate him, pointing her finger at his face as she yelled and cursed.

Only when she finished did Xie Muhuan speak in a low voice, “Those system modules and memory storage devices were developed by me. I never intended to take advantage of the Xie family.”

A cold, mocking smile appeared on Mrs. Xie’s well-maintained, beautiful face. “Developed by you? Without our family’s careful nurturing over the past decade, would you have even had access to such technology?”

Xie Muhuan’s gaze remained fixed on the floor as he replied softly, “Consider it a loan. I will repay it, with interest.”

Mrs. Xie’s eyes burned with hatred. “Repay it with your legs, or get out of my house!”

The butler coughed twice, reminding Mrs. Xie of their guest.

Mrs. Xie turned, her expression softening into one of polite warmth. She smiled kindly and said, “Qingzhi, it’s been so long since your last visit. Come, sit. What would you like to drink? Milk, or juice?”

Qu Qingzhi glanced at Xie Muhuan, her haughty persona kicking in. “Mrs. Xie, I’m here today to ask for something. Would you accept this set of diamond jewelry in exchange?”

As she spoke, she handed over an elegant velvet jewelry box.

Mrs. Xie opened it to find a set of diamond necklaces and earrings, which had been auctioned for over a million yuan.

“Qingzhi, you’re being too generous. If you want something, just ask. There’s no need for this,” Mrs. Xie said with a smile.

“I want—” Qu Qingzhi pointed directly at Xie Muhuan, “the things he wants.”

Mrs. Xie raised an eyebrow, quickly understanding the situation.

She had heard about Qu Qingzhi confessing her feelings to Xie Muhuan and getting rejected, leaving her furious.

“No problem,” Mrs. Xie agreed readily, turning to the butler. “Take Miss Qingzhi to the storage room and let her pick whatever she likes.”

Qu Qingzhi cast a smug glance at Xie Muhuan, reveling in her moment of triumph.

—

After leaving the Xie family villa, Qu Qingzhi placed the items into the trunk of her car.

Just as she was about to get in, she spotted Xie Muhuan walking toward her.

“What do you want?” Qu Qingzhi scoffed, raising her chin arrogantly. “Are you trying to forcefully take it back? Mrs. Xie gave it to me, so it’s mine now. You have nothing to do with it!”

“Qu Qingzhi.” Xie Muhuan stopped a few steps away, his tone unusually soft and submissive. “Please give me the system module. Just treat it as a sale. I can write you an IOU.”

“Sell it to you?” Qu Qingzhi sneered. “Do I look like someone in need of money?”

“I can write you an IOU at five times the market price,” Xie Muhuan insisted, fixing his gaze on her, suppressing all his disgust, leaving only patience and humility.

“Not even for a hundred times! I’m deliberately not giving it to you, so what are you going to do about it?” Qu Qingzhi shot back, enjoying the moment.

Xie Muhuan’s breath noticeably quickened.

Yet he didn’t show any outward sign of anger, his eyes downcast as he said quietly, “If you want me to apologize to you in front of the whole class, I can do that.”

“Is that so?” Qu Qingzhi said with interest. “Then go ahead and say you’re sorry right now.”

Xie Muhuan didn’t lift his eyes, emotionlessly uttering three words: “I’m sorry.”

Qu Qingzhi clicked her tongue. “That was so insincere. Say it again.”

“Sorry.”

She let out a mocking sound. “Weren’t you just full of pride? Aren’t you supposed to be aloof? And yet here you are, groveling at my feet like a dog.”

Xie Muhuan fell silent for a moment, offering no rebuttal. He spoke in a low voice, “Can you sell me the module?”

Qu Qingzhi grinned mischievously. “I’m just teasing you. You really believed me? Even if you apologized a hundred or a thousand times, I still won’t sell it to you. I just love seeing you look like a drowned rat.”

Xie Muhuan’s tall frame stiffened for a moment, rage boiling within him.

Qu Qingzhi stole a glance at him.

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with suppressed anger, as if he were on the verge of snapping.

To avoid getting hit, Qu Qingzhi quickly opened the car door and slipped inside.

“Uncle Chen, drive faster,” she urged.

“Yes, Miss,” the driver replied, speeding off.

“Uncle Chen, navigate to this address,” Qu Qingzhi said, handing him an address she had saved on her phone.

“Got it, Miss.”

Seated in the back of the Rolls Royce, Qu Qingzhi felt secure, especially with a tall bodyguard sitting in the front passenger seat. He was muscular and intimidating.

She had brought the bodyguard along for a specific purpose today.

The car arrived in a bustling old district.

Qu Qingzhi handed the bodyguard a box full of cash. “There’s a million in here. Give it to a man named Xie Yuandong. Just tell him it’s from Xie Muhuan, warning him to stay away and not to bother Xie Muhuan again.”

The bodyguard accepted the box. “Understood, Miss.”

Qu Qingzhi added, a bit anxiously, “If Xie Yuandong doesn’t get the hint, show him a little muscle to scare him.”

The bodyguard nodded in compliance.

Qu Qingzhi sat back in the car, a slight smile on her lips.

With this move, she not only played out the malicious supporting character’s role but also avoided harming the innocent old lady.