The names Shao Qibin mentioned to Hong Xinran—Secretary Yao, Director Deng, and Secretary Gu—didn't pose a significant threat to the Shao family. However, both Shao Qibin and Shao Qile understood that these people were merely pawns pushed into the open by those behind the scenes. In every game, no one will go all out until the crucial moment, revealing their entire hand.
The problem is that Shao Qibin had varying degrees of contact with these forces during his work promoting the development of T City, and even in the local townships where he served before being transferred to T City. Now, it seems that these connections are being used by malicious individuals to fabricate some baseless accusations. The key issue is that his sudden rise to prominence, and even his rapid rise which seems out of step with the realities of China, has made these individuals uneasy.
Although the mastermind behind this is difficult to deduce due to the large scope of the target, just by analyzing the factions behind the officials who have connections with Hong Xinran, it can be found that more than one force wants to hinder Shao Qibin's career.
Shao Qibin didn't know whether to feel honored or think that the other party was making a mountain out of a molehill, given that so many people treated him differently and "appreciated" him, and even went to great lengths to try to bring him down.
"Lele, take Zhang Yue to rest first. I still have some things to take care of."
"Okay, brother, you go ahead and get busy."
After Shao Qibin got into his car and left, a silence fell over the room, leaving only Shao Qile and Zhang Yue.
"Mayor Shao trusts you a lot." Only after the two of them got into Shao Qile's car did Zhang Yue slowly speak and say this.
"I'm his sister! If he doesn't trust me, who else is he supposed to trust?"
"I hope Mayor Shao's trust will not be betrayed."
"What? You've really fallen for my brother? Or has it become real?"
Zhang Yue simply stared at Shao Qile, who was driving steadily without the slightest hint of surprise or emotion, and couldn't help but recall their first meeting.
No one knew, not even Hong Xinran, who brought Shao Qile to see her. In fact, she had known Shao Qile for a long time, long before that. During the most down-and-out and miserable time of her life.
When she met Hung Yan-yin, Hung Yan-yin had already entered the entertainment industry and had freed herself from the burdens of her family through her own efforts. Although she was still somewhat constrained by the various rules and regulations of the entertainment industry, she had finally opened up a new chapter in her life.
Hong Xinran always thought that her fellow transmigrator was luckier. After all, when they met, her friend already owned a design workshop, which, although just starting out, had already gained a small reputation. Otherwise, Hong Xinran wouldn't have rushed to have an evening gown custom-made. But what Hong Xinran didn't know was that her friend's life at the beginning was actually several times worse than hers.
She wasn't an orphan, or rather, when she first transmigrated, the original owner of this body wasn't without relatives. On the contrary, she had a mother. Unfortunately, this mother was a prostitute who frequented the red-light district. Even the reason the original owner of this body died and was taken over by this outsider was because, after playing with the mother's body, the so-called mother's customer saw the now-erect original owner and became aroused. During the struggle, the customer hit her head and bled profusely before leaving.
One can imagine how difficult it must have been for Zhang Yue to live in such a living environment at first.
After being nearly violated again, and even after the mother of this body was beaten up while trying to stop the car due to a pang of conscience, Shao Qile appeared with her people like an angel who had mistakenly entered hell.
Years later, even though many of Shao Qile's orders later seemed strange to Zhang Yue, in Zhang Yue's heart, who had saved her and her mother, the little girl who disappeared after only appearing for the first time was always an angel with a halo.
Zhang Yue always remembered Shao Qile's kindness. She even felt that her business, built from scratch, wouldn't have achieved its current success without Shao Qile's secret support. Even though her mother passed away six months after leaving the red-light district for hospital treatment, leaving Zhang Yue alone in the world, she always carried Shao Qile's kindness in her heart.
However, the way Shao Qile reappeared years later, hoping she would repay his kindness, was quite strange. Even after learning that both Shao Qile and her best friend Hong Xinran had fallen for Shao Qibin, Zhang Yue, who was forbidden from having any feelings for him whatsoever, and even hypnotized at Shao Qile's insistence, still harbored a deep curiosity about him.
Due to the circumstances, Zhang Yue could not publicly reveal Shao Qibin and Hong Xinran's relationship. However, by chance, she played the role of Shao Qibin's fake lover, which only gave Zhang Yue more opportunities to get to know Shao Qibin.
However, she didn't fall in love with Shao Qibin as Shao Qile thought. On the contrary, she couldn't understand what charm Shao Qibin possessed that could make Shao Qile and Hong Xinran, two extremely important women in her life, love him so deeply. Having witnessed Shao Qibin's abandonment of Hong Xinran, even if it was merely a politically deceptive scheme, Shao Qibin showed not the slightest hesitation or wavering, nor did he consider whether his actions would harm Hong Xinran.
What is it about this kind of man that makes him worthy of deep love?
The reason Zhang Yue tentatively asked Shao Qile about his attitude was simply because she vaguely sensed that Shao Qile was about to carry out some crazy plan, and her intuition told her that this plan might cause some irreversible consequences.
Sometimes, Zhang Yue was also confused, wondering if Shao Qile truly loved Shao Qibin as deeply as she appeared. Many of Shao Qile's actions puzzled her.
I just hope Shao Qile doesn't do anything foolish.
Shao Qile didn't get a reply from Zhang Yue, but she wasn't worried at all. Back when she had a hypnotist hypnotize Zhang Yue and gave her the suggestion that Zhang Yue would never fall in love with Shao Qibin and would be absolutely loyal to her, Shao Qile, the system had already announced the completion of the "PK Transmigrated Female Supporting Character" mission.
All things considered, she has now successfully overcome all the obstacles, big and small, and her ultimate goal is nothing more than to win Shao Qibin's heart.
It seems like a very simple step, but to actually do it, to make Shao Qibin, who is extremely heavy-hearted and even selfish to some extent, admit to this love that goes against morality, is not easy at all!
However, she will clear away every obstacle that stands in her way home!
She had to complete this task before Li Jianmei returned to China, even though Li Jianmei had already passed that hurdle. She hadn't forgotten that the task was only completed because of Shao Qibin's disappointment; Li Jianmei herself hadn't completely given up on her unwavering love. Sometimes, adding more chaotic factors, while potentially making the situation more complicated and allowing for opportunistic maneuvering, could also lead to uncontrollable situations.
Therefore, it's best to finish this quickly!
Author's Note: Hmm, the countdown to the ending is on!
57 Absurd Kidnappings
Chapter 56: Absurd Kidnapping
The moment she was drugged and knocked unconscious, Shao Qile had already taken the system's panacea, putting herself in a semi-conscious state. She could instantly regain consciousness if she wanted. In this semi-conscious state, she could also see the outside world through the system's game interface.
She was attacked when she and Zhang Yue were leaving the restaurant and entering the parking garage after having dinner. She pushed Zhang Yue at the last moment, urging her to escape. Judging from the situation inside the car, there are three kidnappers, but Zhang Yue isn't there. It seems Zhang Yue has already escaped. However, it's likely they would have kidnapped her if they wanted to, as she would be the most valuable person to kidnap.
Shao Qile had long anticipated this kidnapping. In fact, she had spent several years meticulously planning, using the money she earned by seizing opportunities to foresee the future to infiltrate the enemy, who was intended to become Shao Qibin's whetstone in the outline. She had also deliberately arranged for high-ranking officials in various positions to befriend Hong Xinran before Hong Xinran and Shao Qibin met. She had already repeatedly envisioned this scenario unfolding.
Shao Qibin is too power-hungry. Ever since she used Zhang Mengxin as a breakthrough point to test him and discovered that Shao Qibin would choose between power and beauty without hesitation, Shao Qile realized that it would be no easy task to complete this mission and gain a place in Shao Qibin's heart, especially as his blood-related sister.
To this end, she spent several years setting up such a scheme.
In fact, Shao Qile played a significant role in stirring up trouble behind the scenes, as she fueled the obstacles and relentless pursuit from various forces that Shao Qibin faced in his career. However, those who received orders to kidnap Shao Qibin's relatives to force him into submission never imagined that the kidnapped person was precisely the one who came up with this absurd idea.
Naturally, Shao Qile would face enormous risks throughout the kidnapping process. However, if she couldn't take a gamble and instead wasted time slowly, like a frog being boiled in lukewarm water, the chances of her completing the mission would decrease as Shao Qibin rose to a higher position.
Moreover, as time went by, her patience seemed to be running out.
Being carelessly tossed on the ground like a rag, the stinging pain on his body didn't make Shao Qile frown. Instead, the burning flame in his heart seemed to be getting out of control.
Suddenly having a large basin of ice water splashed on his face, Shao Qile, who had been prepared for the sudden sound of a woman's high heels clicking in the room, still couldn't help but shiver the moment the ice water hit him.
Opening his eyes groggily, Shao Qile shivered from the sudden light and the icy water. When he realized that the person standing before him, looking down at him, was none other than Hong Xinran, Shao Qile's eyes widened in disbelief: "Hong Xinran, are you crazy? What are you doing? How dare you kidnap me? If my brother and dad find out, do you know what will happen to you?"
Hong Xinran was actually quite shocked when she learned that those people she had been working with had taken it upon themselves to kidnap Shao Qile and teach her a lesson. However, when she arrived at the scene and saw Shao Qile, who had once held her head high and looked down on her as a noisy, lowly sparrow, now in such a pathetic and almost subservient state, she realized that those people's words were merely to let her vent her anger and let Shao Qile or the Shao family know that she, Hong Xinran, was not someone who could be easily toyed with and discarded.
“Shao Qile, you look quite pathetic right now. Don’t worry, Shao Qibin will find out you’re here soon. After I have a good talk with your brother and settle the score between him and me, I’ll let you go. But until then, I’ll have to trouble you to bear with me, Miss Shao.”
Hong Xinran's expression was twisted with madness. Her calls to Shao Qibin and Zhang Yue were both rejected. It wasn't until she remembered something and used a different SIM card that the calls were finally answered. But upon realizing it was her, both Shao Qibin and Zhang Yue were indifferent, hanging up after only a few words.