Chapter Ninety-Four: If You Cannot Explain Yourself Clearly, Then You Need Not Leave!

This was given to me by Li Xin, the son of Aunt Third next door. When he handed it over, he said it was top-grade white jade, good for nurturing the body and beautifying the complexion, and told me to wear it every day, never to take it off.”

“What is it?”

Qiu Shuixia examined it back and forth, but could not make heads or tails of it. It was just an exquisitely crafted piece of white jade.

At the time, Qiu Shuixia had even felt it was far too valuable and did not want to accept it, but Li Xin insisted on giving it to her, telling her to wear it at all times and never remove it, even when sleeping.

Qiu Shuixia was not very good at refusing others, so she believed Li Xin and kept the pendant on even while she slept.

“It’s nothing, Aunt. Let me keep this for now.”

Qin Mu gently removed it from Qiu Shuixia’s neck, but a cold glint had already flashed in his eyes.

“All right.” Qiu Shuixia said nothing more. She trusted Qin Mu absolutely.

After helping Qiu Shuixia back to her room, Qin Mu went into the kitchen again, boiled a bowl of calming soup, and had Qiu Shuixia drink it before finally stepping out in peace.

“Brother.”

For some reason, Jiang Zheng had not slept either. She walked out onto the balcony and stood beside Qin Mu.

“What does this Li Xin do?” Qin Mu asked suddenly.

“He works in the same office as Dad. He was hired in a few years ago, and it seems he’s in the same department as Dad.”

After hearing that, Qin Mu raised his brows, as if he had caught onto something.

“Has anything happened recently that concerns our family?” Qin Mu asked.

“Actually, yes.”

With Qin Mu’s prompting, Jiang Zheng remembered.

“Not long ago, the top leader of Dad’s department fell ill. Dad and that leader’s secretary were running around non-stop, looking for all kinds of doctors.”

“Until a few days ago, the secretary found a miracle doctor who cured him.”

“Although it had nothing to do with Dad, the leader still said he wanted to hold a thank-you banquet. It’s today at noon, and our whole family is supposed to go and properly express our gratitude.”

“Dad even wanted to have you come before, but he was afraid you’d be busy, so he didn’t tell you.”

“But that secretary doesn’t seem like a good person. I think his name is Yang Zhifeng? When he came to deliver the invitation in person, he kept staring at Mom for a long time.”

Just thinking about it made Jiang Zheng feel somewhat disgusted.

She had gone up to call Qiu Shuixia back, and that had earned her a few fierce glares from Yang Zhifeng.

“Li Xin should be one of Yang Zhifeng’s men, right?” Qin Mu inferred immediately after hearing this.

“That’s right. When Yang Zhifeng came, Li Xin was following him everywhere, fawning over him.” Jiang Zheng recalled and nodded.

“All right. Go to bed early. I’ll come with you to the banquet tomorrow.”

Qin Mu had a good idea of the situation, so he told Jiang Zheng to go back to sleep.

Only after Jiang Zheng returned to her room did Qin Mu’s face turn cold. He toyed with the white jade in his hand.

That little secretary, together with Li Xin, actually had designs on his family.

Were they tired of living?

……

The next morning.

Qin Mu was the first to get up and made several breakfasts.

“Godfather, I heard from the Jiang girl that you’re going to a thank-you banquet later. I’ll come too,” Qin Mu suggested.

“Of course.” Jiang Haishan could hardly have been happier.

By noon, the Jiang family had changed into proper formal attire and took Qin Mu’s car to the scheduled hotel.

Upon arriving, Jiang Haishan pushed open the door and saw his superior, Wei Jianxun, seated in the place of honor, with his wife, Xu Mengping, beside him.

Below them stood the secretary, Yang Zhifeng.

Compared with Wei Jianxun, who exercised often and cared about his health, Yang Zhifeng, as a secretary, was much lazier. Layers of fat were squeezed into his suit, his corpulent belly bulging so hard that even the tight fabric could not contain it.

Li Xin, who was greeting guests at the door, saw Jiang Haishan arrive and hurriedly offered his salutations.

When he saw Qiu Shuixia and Jiang Zheng in front, Li Xin smiled so broadly it seemed flowers would bloom from his face.

But the instant he noticed Qin Mu following behind them, his expression turned ugly.

Why had this guy come too?!

He thought it over for a moment, but still forced his expression to remain calm.

No matter how capable Qin Mu was, he was still just one man. When the time came, he would be dealt with all the same.

Once everyone was seated—

“Many thanks to Brother Jiang this time.”

As the leader, Wei Jianxun was not bound by so many formalities. He personally stood up and poured Jiang Haishan a small half-glass of liquor.

“Director Wei, you’re too kind. Though I was running around everywhere, I still didn’t end up helping with the real matter in the end,” Jiang Haishan said, embarrassed to accept the credit.

“What are you saying? So many people in the whole department were hoping I’d fall. It was only you and my secretary, my two trusted aides, who worked yourselves to the bone for me. For this glass, Wei thanks you.”

Wei Jianxun raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Jiang Haishan’s.

Seeing that everyone was present, the waiters began serving the dishes.

After several rounds of drinks, Jiang Haishan was no longer so restrained. The two grown men chatted cheerfully, showing none of the stiffness of a superior and subordinate relationship.

Over there, seeing that the time was about right, Li Xin stood up, picked up the red wine on the table, and poured a small half-glass into Qiu Shuixia’s cup.

“Aunt Qiu, you should go and offer a toast too.”

Hearing this, Qiu Shuixia felt it made sense. Although she was not very good at drinking, she still picked up the cup and prepared to drink a little.

Just as Qiu Shuixia was about to drink, and a sinister, triumphant smile appeared at the corner of Li Xin’s mouth—

Qin Mu reached out and intercepted the cup from Qiu Shuixia’s hand.

“My foster mother can’t drink. I’ll toast Director Wei in her place, and wish you good health and continued promotion.”

When Qin Mu finished speaking, he drained the red wine in one gulp.

“What a drinker! Hahaha!”

Wei Jianxun applauded Qin Mu heartily.

“Old Jiang, as expected, your son is outstanding—better than the generation before him.”

“Director Wei flatters him,” Jiang Haishan said with a smile.

Seeing Qin Mu cut in at the last moment, Li Xin gritted his teeth in fury, but had no choice but to pour the wine for Wei Jianxun’s wife, Xu Mengping.

This time, surely no one could drink on her behalf, could they?

After thanking him, Xu Mengping lifted her glass and was just about to drink when…