Chapter 66 p2
Li Wan rolled her eyes. “I’m saying, you shouldn’t be so nervous around her, you caring so much about her makes it seem unequal!”
Even if you’re the one pursuing her, you can’t be too subservient!
Shen Yiqiu, however, said frankly, “But I do care about her a lot, her every mood, her every emotion. And if I care about her, why should I hide it?”
Li Wan facepalmed, wondering what to say to convince this stubborn child.
Shen Yiqiu didn’t give her a chance to speak. “Making Jiejie happy is my greatest wish. I like her, so I want her to always be happy. Should I pretend to be indifferent just to maintain some sense of equality? That would only hurt her feelings.”
Just the thought made her heart ache.
“I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”
Li Wan finished her tea in one gulp, feeling stuffed from the sweetness of their interaction.
“Shen Yiqiu, remember what you just said. If you’re ever mistreated or lose your position, don’t blame me for not warning you.”
After saying this, Li Wan’s smile deepened, and just as Shen Yiqiu was about to ask what she meant, Qin Qianrou emerged from her room, pulling her suitcase.
“Everything packed?”
Qin Qianrou’s luggage was light this time, just a carry-on suitcase.
“It’s almost time, let’s go.”
Just as Li Wan opened the door, Shen Yiqiu snatched the suitcase from Qin Qianrou. “Jiejie, let me carry this.”
Li Wan sighed, with this child’s gentle and sweet nature, how could she possibly dominate in their relationship?
At the airport, Li Wan wasn’t as clingy as she had been last time, only giving Qin Qianrou one hug at the beginning, because for the rest of the time, Qin Qianrou’s attention was monopolized by Shen Yiqiu.
“Jiejie, don’t overwork yourself when you get back. If there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me, and I’ll learn how to make it by the time you come back.”
“Okay.”
“Winters in Hai City are very cold and damp, so drink plenty of hot water, and don’t just wear a coat, wear a down jacket.”
“Okay.”
“If you have time off next time, just stay in Hai City.”
Seeing the subtle change in Qin Qianrou’s expression, Shen Yiqiu quickly added, “I’ll come visit you, I’ll bring wontons.”
Qin Qianrou didn’t know whether to call her cute or silly, but this child truly cared about her deeply. Her heart softened, but she still had to say goodbye.
“Then I’ll be waiting for you in Hai City…”
Shen Yiqiu was about to smile when she heard the deliberately drawn-out ending.
“…for your wontons.”
Seeing Shen Yiqiu’s pout, Qin Qianrou’s smile widened.
“I should go in now, I’ll message you when I land. Go back and have a good nap.”
Qin Qianrou hadn’t slept well last night, and Shen Yiqiu had been even more restless. She had heard Shen Yiqiu’s footsteps in the middle of the night, she seemed to have been sitting in the armchair by the balcony for a long time.
Shen Yiqiu gave Qin Qianrou a big hug, no longer as hesitant as before, but filled with reluctance.
Parting was truly difficult.
Qin Qianrou let herself be embraced, cherishing this warmth as well.
“Alright, I really have to go now.”
“Jiejie, I’ll miss you, very much.”
“I know.”
Qin Qianrou wanted to say she would miss her too.
**
After a few hours of flying, and the journey from the airport to the hotel, even with a morning flight, it was already afternoon by the time Qin Qianrou finally settled down.
She messaged Shen Yiqiu as soon as she landed, and after a brief exchange, they went their separate ways.
Although Shen Yiqiu was clingy, she always knew her priorities. Qin Qianrou, unpacking her suitcase, thought she would call her after the evening group discussion.
Her work phone suddenly rang. Since starting the training program, there were rarely any urgent matters from the Meng City station. And her break wasn’t officially over yet; no one from the training program would disturb her.
An unfamiliar number, and Qin Qianrou frowned slightly.
Years of professional experience gave her a sense that this call was unusual.
She quickly answered.
“Is this Reporter Qin Qianrou?”
The caller was a middle-aged man, his tone calm and composed, yet also distant, as if he wasn’t truly looking for her.
“This is Qin Qianrou, may I ask who’s calling?”
“This is Li Yuntao, I’m not sure if you remember me.”
She did recognize the name.
After a moment of thought, Qin Qianrou recalled he was the He Chao couple’s defense lawyer.
“I remember, Lawyer Li.”
The man chuckled politely, “Reporter Qin has a good memory.”
Then, he got straight to the point. “I’m calling on behalf of He Chao, he wants to meet with you.”
“Meet with me?”
Lawyer Li emphasized, “He Chao wants to see you, he said there’s something important he has to tell you in person.”
Qin Qianrou had no favorable impression of He Chao, and she had played a crucial role in his case, although she had never been directly involved.
Could it be that He Chao had discovered her involvement?
Seeing her hesitation, Lawyer Li lowered his voice and added, “He said he’s currently in danger and can only rely on someone he trusts.”
He Chao, once a renowned professor, had been constantly surrounded by visitors, especially during holidays and festivals. Those with insufficient connections, status, or social standing couldn’t even get close to him. Now, imprisoned, he had no visitors.
**
Sitting across from He Chao, Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but lament how circumstances changed people.
He Chao looked even more haggard than he had on the day of his trial, his scholarly aura completely gone, replaced by the image of a dejected and defeated old man.
Yet, he was only middle-aged.
“Reporter Qin, thank you for agreeing to see me.” He Chao’s voice was raspy.
Without his usual meticulous grooming, the damage to his vocal cords from years of smoking was evident, adding to his pathetic appearance.
“I heard from Lawyer Li that you’re currently in danger, have you received some kind of threat?”
Although she didn’t know why He Chao had specifically asked to see her, her reporter’s instincts told her this meeting would yield something significant.
He Chao looked utterly defeated. He had only met Qin Qianrou a few times, but his condition had worsened with each encounter. Their first meeting at the hospital seemed like a lifetime ago, when he had still been at his best.
“Yes, I’ve been threatened, someone wants me dead.”
Although defeated, He Chao still clung to life.
Even at the lowest point, without the ambition for a comeback, the survival instinct remained.
“You should report this to the police, I can’t help you with this.”
He Chao smiled bitterly; he knew that, of course.
“I’m not asking you to save me, I’m asking you to help me protect someone.”
“Who?”
“My wife.”
Jiang Yuan was also implicated in He Chao’s case, but her involvement wasn’t crucial, so she had received a lighter sentence.
“What are your conditions?”
This was the first time He Chao and Qin Qianrou had a proper conversation. Only now did he understand what set her apart from other reporters.
She wasn’t eager to pry into the juicy details, nor did she mock or belittle his downfall. She treated him calmly, like any other prisoner.
Yes, the mistakes he had made had already been judged by the law.
There was no personal animosity between them, there was no need for hostility.
However, Qin Qianrou did have her own agenda; after all, He Chao’s actions against the Shen family had angered her.
But this wasn’t the time for personal vendettas. She had to maintain her professional ethics, she was here as Reporter Qin.
“The crimes I was convicted of, they sound serious, but compared to the reality, they’re nothing. For years, I’ve been secretly collaborating with several institutions, using them as intermediaries to sell the latest domestic research, before it’s even patented, to overseas buyers. Then, the funds are laundered back into the country through donations to those institutions and through the companies under my name.”
Qin Qianrou’s heart skipped a beat, this seemed similar to Dongsheng’s operations, which they had investigated earlier. But Dongsheng’s methods were more covert, she and Li Wan had only uncovered superficial anomalies, they didn’t know the specifics of their operations.
Now, hearing He Chao’s explanation, it all became clear.
It seemed this had already become an organized operation. And the people and organizations involved were far more numerous than just He Chao and Dongsheng.
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