It was clearly that this pair of scoundrels who betrayed her, yet they still put on such an act. After Hong Xinran went to the municipal government to find Shao Qibin only to learn that Mayor Shao wasn't in T City, and was also told he wasn't at Zhang Yue's company either, Hong Xinran chased him all the way to Beijing. When those people said they would help her get revenge, she agreed without thinking too much.
Although kidnapping Shao Qile to bring her here seemed a bit too brutal, it worked, so that's all that matters. Look, she just called Shao Qibin, and he immediately said he was coming!
Shao Qile remained lying on the ground, her eyes slightly closed, but she sighed inwardly. She had always thought that Hong Xinran, who had managed to get to where she was today through her own abilities, was quite intelligent. But now it seemed that once a person falls in love, their IQ tends to approach zero, or even become negative.
Shao Qile merely openly used some channels to unite with certain forces and convey the idea that they could use Shao Qibin's trusted relatives to achieve certain goals. She didn't focus much on the specifics of the operation. After all, among the people Shao Qibin cared about, the security around Shao's father and mother was certainly not easily breached. And she, the youngest daughter, would naturally become the most obvious point of attack.
I didn't expect them to use Hung Yan-yin as a target in the open.
"Host, did you really not expect this? I remember that the connection between those people and the transmigrated female protagonist was all arranged by you."
The system's sudden, unexpected commentary made Shao Qile's eyes sharpen instantly. Fortunately, he kept his eyes closed, feigning an unwillingness to see Hong Xinran's arrogance. Otherwise, if Hong Xinran had noticed this flaw, while it wouldn't have affected the overall situation, it was hard to guarantee there wouldn't be any unforeseen complications.
However, Shao Qile didn't intend to respond to the system's complaints. She truly hadn't expected that Hong Xinran would be so resentful of Shao Qibin's feelings and Zhang Yue's betrayal that she would be so easily used as a blatant target.
If Hong Xinran knew that Shao Qibin's decision to break up with her was partly motivated by a desire to protect her from harm, and that his relationship with Zhang Yue was merely an act, how would she feel?
However, these are not things she needs to worry about right now. She must first conserve her strength and make full preparations for the upcoming performance.
She didn't have to wait long before she was roughly pulled up from the ground again. It was so sudden that she almost twisted her ankle and was about to fall. However, she quickly regained her balance.
Led out of the room, Shao Qile immediately saw Shao Qibin, who had rushed over. A strange feeling stirred within her for a moment. Although she had expected Shao Qibin to come regardless, out of a sense of duty and kinship, the speed at which he arrived—whether it was because she had given him a chance to escape Zhang Yue's help after being pushed, or something else—proved that she, Shao Qile, still held a significant place in Shao Qibin's heart. Or perhaps it was because it was Hong Xinran who had called him with the news of the kidnapping.
Of course, Shao Qile was also very certain that, given Shao Qibin's cautious nature, he would not simply come alone.
"Brother," Shao Qile called out softly.
When Shao Qibin saw Shao Qile's pale, panicked face, and how she was being held captive, his eyes darkened. He instinctively gave Shao Qile a reassuring smile before turning to Hong Xinran with a stern expression. He seriously doubted whether the woman who had slept beside him day and night was truly the same repulsive person before him, especially considering that Hong Xinran was now standing against him and using Shao Qile to threaten him.
"Call out the person behind you and have a serious talk."
To be able to scheme and separate the hidden guards right under his nose and capture Shao Qile was something Hong Xinran couldn't have done. However, thanks to the fact that it was Hong Xinran who made the call, Shao Qibin instantly understood what the other party wanted.
He has recently been subjected to such a sudden and concentrated joint attack from multiple forces, even resorting to such underhanded tactics right here in the capital. It seems some people have become desperate and are resorting to such underhanded methods.
His reason for returning to Beijing under the guise of introducing Zhang Yue to his parents was actually due to some secret information he had obtained—information that could send shivers down the spines of many interest groups. The personnel involved in this information shocked Shao Qibin. He naturally knew that power struggles were never simple and straightforward. As the saying goes, "too much clarity leaves no room for fish," and even in a small county in China, factions could be rife with conflict, leading to various disputes.
However, no matter how intense the conflict, if it's merely a minor squabble within a nation or country, then it's simply a matter of settling things behind closed doors. But if the information he received is true, then it's far more than just a minor squabble. As the saying goes, gold is valued in times of chaos, and antiques are valued in times of prosperity. From the perspective of the historical origins of various countries, China's long and rich history undoubtedly stands out. However, although Shao Qibin had heard about the recent outflow of some treasures in the antique trade, he also knew that some things cannot be easily controlled.
However, if the infringement and sale involves more than just antiques, and even touches upon national and familial interests, then it becomes a serious problem.
Shao Qibin hurriedly returned to the capital, naturally because those forces secretly stirring up trouble seemed eager to extend their claws and sever his arms. His coming here was obviously well-prepared.
Perhaps, among those present, the only one who could sense Shao Qibin's confidence was Shao Qile, who had also participated in the collection of those secret documents and even infiltrated the enemy to help gather more information.
However, Shao Qibin probably never imagined that the partners and think tank he thought were on his side had actually been quietly influenced by Shao Qile long ago.
Author's Note: 13914340 threw a landmine.
Thank you so much for the landmine! I'm so happy. To show my gratitude, I'll be updating another chapter today besides this one. Mwah!
58 beauties save the hero
Chapter 57: Beauty Saves the Hero
"What 'person behind the scenes,' Shao Qibin? At this point, do you really not care about our past relationship at all? What do you think I brought Shao Qile here for? Why didn't you answer my calls? What are we now? If you want to break up, then talk to me face to face. I, Hong Xinran, am not the kind of person who clings to a man like that." Hong Xinran tried to straighten her back, not letting her vulnerability show, but the despair and repression spreading from her brows revealed that she was so fragile that she could break at the slightest touch.
“Xinran, I’ll explain some things to you later. If this is really just something you want to talk to me about, then have your people release Lele. You said it yourself, this is between you and me, and has nothing to do with Lele.” Shao Qibin’s worried gaze swept over Shao Qile, then turned to Hong Xinran, who seemed somewhat mentally unstable and delirious. Given Hong Xinran’s usual personality, she shouldn’t have lost her mind to such an incomprehensible degree as she is now.
"All you ever care about is your sister. Shao Qibin, do you even know what your sister is thinking about you? Do you know what she's been up to behind the scenes? My studio's activities have been constantly suppressed. Don't tell me you don't know who's behind this? Shao Qibin, what am I to you? Am I not even worth a hair on Shao Qile's head?" Hong Xinran said, waving her hands excitedly.
When Shao Qibin noticed the unnatural dilation of Hong Xinran's pupils as she spoke, he recalled the information he had gathered about the clandestine human experiments and the heinous drugs those people were using. A chill ran down his spine; he didn't want to implicate Hong Xinran because of him. However, the current situation left him no room for choice. He had to ensure Shao Qile's safety first, no matter what.
"Xinran, it's all my fault. You know, you've always been my favorite person. But Lele is my sister. Blood ties and the bond we've had since childhood, how could I possibly ignore her? Besides, you're so sensible and considerate, I thought you would understand my good intentions."
"Your good intentions? What good intentions? Your good intentions are to cheat on me with Zhang Yue? Shao Qibin, how cruel you are! You actually slapped me like that in front of the national media. What do you take me for? Someone you can summon and dismiss at will?" Hong Xinran became angrier as she spoke, and couldn't help but pick up the glass on the table and smash it on the ground. The crisp sound of the glass shattering revealed a momentary violent glint in her eyes.
Shao Qibin slowly approached Hong Xinran, his suspicions growing stronger. He carefully put his arms around her shoulders, his voice even gentler and warmer: "Xinran, Xinran, how could you think that? You've always been my favorite. It's all my fault. Zhang Yue and I were just putting on an act, and Lele and I are just like siblings. Do you think all the kindness I've shown you these past few days was fake?"
As he gently coaxed Hong Xinran, and as she slightly relaxed her tense back and slowly rested her head on his shoulder, Shao Qibin's eyes flashed with a sharp light. With a swift movement, he struck Hong Xinran unconscious in his arms.
As for Shao Qibin's action of knocking Hong Xinran unconscious, the bodyguard who had been restraining Shao Qile did not make any other move. After Shao Qibin placed Hong Xinran on the sofa, he looked up in one direction and smiled coldly.
Throughout the entire confrontation between Shao Qibin and Hong Xinran, Shao Qile merely observed from the sidelines. However, at the very end, he glanced in the direction Shao Qibin was looking, gave a brief look at the camera installed there, and then said to the two men holding him, "Let go."
The two men naturally wouldn't comply, but after a group of people pushed out a pale, delicate man in a wheelchair, the man happened to hear Shao Qile's reprimand. With a casual glance and a wave of his hand, Shao Qile felt the two men restraining him loosen their shackles. Waving his hand, Shao Qile glanced at the man in the wheelchair, then walked towards Shao Qibin with anxious and self-reproachful emotions in his eyes: "Brother."
Shao Qibin patted Shao Qile's head and looked him up and down: "Are you hurt?"
Shaking his head, Shao Qile said dejectedly, "Brother, I'm fine. It's all my fault for being useless and hurting you..."
"Mayor Shao and his sister's affection is truly deep, it's enviable." The sickly man, however, had no interest in listening to the heartfelt conversation between Shao Qibin and Shao Qile. His casual remark drew everyone's attention back to him.
"Young Master Xing went to so much trouble to invite me here, so please speak frankly." Upon seeing the frail man, Shao Qibin mentally reviewed the man's background. This Young Master Xing was the third son of the Xing family, but he was born with a weak constitution, and even current medical advancements couldn't allow him to live a normal life. Because of his frail health, Young Master Xing rarely appeared in Beijing's social circles. If Shao Qibin hadn't uncovered that shocking conspiracy, he probably wouldn't have imagined that this frail, withdrawn Young Master Xing was among those behind all these events.
"Mayor Shao, you're a smart man. Smart people speak smartly, so I won't waste words. Mayor Shao, you have some information that interests us. If you don't want anything to happen to your precious sister, or if you want your girlfriend to recover and be by your side, it would be best to hand over the information that won't affect you. What do you think?" As Xing Sanshao spoke, he coughed several times. Watching him, Shao Qile felt this man was living a very difficult life. Just a few words, and his heart-wrenching coughs conveyed his pain to everyone present.
Considering that one aspect of the power these interest groups secretly form is used for human experimentation in order to achieve medical breakthroughs, it's likely that part of this is also driven by this man's intense will to live. This young master Xing was predicted from birth to die before the age of fifteen, yet he is now twenty-eight, almost thirty. Just how strong must his will and desire to survive be to struggle for existence in such a weakened state?
If this person wasn't prioritizing their own life over the lives of so many other healthy, ordinary people, then that willpower alone is admirable.
"Young Master Xing, are you referring to the experimental data from your Guangming Hospital, or the data on various medical accidents? If you mean those, you could simply send someone to tell me, and I would have had the data delivered to you openly. Why go to such lengths to invite me here?" Various thoughts flashed through Shao Qibin's mind. He felt quite guilty that he had implicated Hong Xinran, causing her to become a drug addict and fall into this state of mental instability.
"Mayor Shao, you are so young and promising, I believe you will definitely find a good place to transfer next spring. However, I'm sure you also understand that if you take some things too seriously and involve too many people, in the end, I'm afraid no one will benefit."
"Thank you for the reminder, Third Young Master Xing. You're very kind. I know my limits. If you have nothing else to say to me, may I leave with my sister?"
“Mayor Shao, there’s no benefit for you keeping those documents. Hand them over now, and we can all be friends afterwards. You probably don’t want to see the Shao family surrounded by enemies.” Young Master Xing frowned at Shao Qibin’s unyielding attitude, his tone becoming somewhat impatient. “Of course, if Mayor Shao wishes to stay a few more days, we will certainly provide you both with the best hospitality. I think Mayor Shao’s girlfriend, Hong Xinran, is doing quite well right now. She expresses her emotions directly and says what she wants to say. What do you think?”