Chapter 63 Something Has Gone Wrong

Gu Tingchu did not continue, but the outcome was glaringly obvious.

The ridiculous part was that Qiao Yanxin actually believed it.

Clenching her fists tightly, she said, "I will never hand the Qiao family over to that illegitimate daughter!"

Whether it was the effect of Gu Tingchu's words, after pondering for a long time, Qiao Yanxin made a phone call and canceled her flight tickets to Northern Myanmar scheduled for that afternoon.

Secretary Zhang opened her mouth as if to say something, but upon seeing Qiao Yanxin's grim expression, she prudently shut it.

Suddenly remembering something, Qiao Yanxin called out to Secretary Zhang, who was about to leave.

"Go and check where Qiao Zhuxin is right now."

"Yes."

A moment later, Secretary Zhang hurried back.

"I found out, President Qiao. Miss Qiao is currently in Jindian, Northern Myanmar—that is exactly where we were supposed to land."

"What?!"

Qiao Yanxin blurted out in disbelief, her eyes swirling with countless emotions.

"Tingchu was right. She really was trying to set me up!"

Although Secretary Zhang had no idea why Qiao Yanxin had suddenly changed her mind, she hesitantly asked, "President Qiao, are we really not going to Northern Myanmar anymore? But... Young Master Qiao is currently over there..."

Impatiently, Qiao Yanxin cut her off. "If I went there now, I would fall right into their trap! Believe me, if I actually went today, she would take over the Qiao family tomorrow!"

With a complex expression, I looked at the high-spirited Qiao Yanxin, at a loss for words.

Secretary Zhang wore the exact same expression, both of them wondering if there was something wrong with Qiao Yanxin's brain.

If Qiao Zhuxin wanted the inheritance of the Qiao family, what could someone as empty-headed as Qiao Yanxin possibly use to fight her?

Besides, the market value of Qiao Zhuxin's own company was already on the verge of surpassing the Qiao family; in her eyes, the Qiao family probably amounted to nothing at all.

Yet Qiao Yanxin had been so bewitched by Gu Tingchu that her mind could no longer turn a single corner.

Qiao Yanxin was someone who easily lent an ear to others and was quick to believe what people said. Gu Tingchu had seized upon this exact weakness, which made it so effortless for him to alter her thoughts.

"But... what about Young Master Qiao..."

Secretary Zhang asked with lingering worry.

Rubbing her chin, Qiao Yanxin spoke after a moment. "Here is what we'll do. I must stay at the company and cannot go to Northern Myanmar. You go over there instead, help me find Qiao Yunzhou, but be careful not to expose yourself. Ask President Liu to help you."

Secretary Zhang was somewhat bewildered. "As a mere secretary, it will be difficult for me to make critical decisions if major events occur."

Qiao Yanxin seemed somewhat eager to chase Secretary Zhang away. "In short, just remember that as long as you can bring Qiao Yunzhou back, it doesn't matter how much money the other side demands, or what they ask for—just bring Qiao Yunzhou back."

Although Secretary Zhang still wanted to say more, the threatening look in Qiao Yanxin's eyes forced her to swallow the words hanging on her lips.

"All right, President Qiao, I understand."

Secretary Zhang sighed silently, turning back to give Qiao Yanxin one deep, lingering look.

Perhaps she, too, was harboring disappointment, never expecting Qiao Yanxin to pull such a stunt.

Now that a clue regarding me had finally been found, Qiao Yanxin could instantly flip her stance just because of a few words from someone else.

If the Qiao family were ever handed over to someone like this in the future, it would truly spell utter ruin.

As Secretary Zhang left, she closed the door a bit too heavily, though Qiao Yanxin seemed completely unaware.

She took a photograph out of her drawer and placed it into a newly purchased picture frame.

The photo captured a 17-year-old me and her.

The eyes of both girls in the picture curved like crescent moons.

Yet looking at it now, it felt nothing but ironic.

I was already dead, so what on earth was Qiao Yanxin reminiscing about?

Through the frame, however, my thoughts drifted to another matter.

Secretary Zhang had just mentioned that Qiao Zhuxin had also gone to Northern Myanmar. But why would she go there? Could it be that she was looking for me?

No, that was impossible. She and I had no connection whatsoever; she had no reason to walk into such a perilous situation for my sake.

Throughout that entire day, every moment seemed agonizing for Qiao Yanxin.

Because Secretary Zhang had taken the afternoon flight, even rushing at full speed, bringing me back would take until the next day.

She could neither eat well nor sleep properly.

For the first time in all these years, she suffered from insomnia, tossing and turning until the sky grew pale and dawn broke, only then managing to drift into a shallow sleep.

By midday, the cell phone resting on her bedside table suddenly rang with a life-or-death urgency.

Half-asleep, Qiao Yanxin groped for the phone and held it to her ear.

"Hello..."

From the other end came Secretary Zhang's panicked voice, "President Qiao, it's bad! We're currently in the Jindian Industrial Park, and there's a gunfight here. I... Boom!"

A massive explosion suddenly erupted from the receiver—a sound so deafening it jolted Qiao Yanxin completely awake.

Coming to her senses about what had just happened, she gripped the phone tightly. "Secretary Zhang, are you still there?! Are you all right, Secretary Zhang!"

Complete silence met her from the other end.

All sleepiness vanished. Qiao Yanxin scrambled straight out of bed, threw on her clothes, and immediately ordered people to investigate.

Not checking would have been fine, but once she checked, Qiao Yanxin felt as though darkness had descended before her eyes.

Jindian had already plunged into absolute chaos, with various factions engaged in relentless gunfights. Countless lives had already been lost within a single day.

And among those casualties, Secretary Zhang might well be one of them.

Powerless, Qiao Yanxin collapsed into her chair, all color draining from her face.

She must have originally thought that she only needed to pay enough money to bring me back for sure, but reality had just dealt her a crushing blow.

Before long, she received a call from President Liu.

The tone of President Liu on the other end was equally frantic.

"President Qiao, Secretary Zhang went over at the wrong time. Right now, they're trapped inside. If we don't get them out quickly, something terrible is going to happen!"

Qiao Yanxin pressed her lips into a thin line, finally uttering only a single sentence: "I know."

Lowering her gaze in deep thought, she said nothing more.

Right now, she had to make a choice.

Did she want the power of the Qiao family, or did she want me?

In truth, she would end up with neither.

Unable to make a decision, Qiao Yanxin simply drove back to the home of her parents.

When Mrs. Qiao saw Qiao Yanxin, a flash of hope lit up her eyes, but upon noticing her empty hands, disappointment inevitably washed over her face.

"Hasn't Yunzhou that child come back yet?"

Mr. Qiao stepped in to smooth things over. "Ah, it's fine, it's fine. Your mother and I are just glad to have you back, Yanxin. Coincidentally, today we made your favorite braised pork belly—come on over and eat."

Unable to hold back a sigh, Qiao Yanxin stood at the doorway without stepping inside, not even bothering to change her shoes.

"I came here today precisely to talk to you about this. Qiao Yunzhou... he has been tricked into Northern Myanmar!"