Chapter 28: Qiao Wei's Secret
"Why did you arrive so quickly? Didn't encounter any trouble, did you?" Qiao Wei asked.
Qin Hai first picked a piece of lobster meat for Qiao Wei and then tasted a piece himself. The taste wasn't as extravagant as the waiter described, and compared to the top-grade Australian lobster he had eaten before, it could only be considered average. However, being able to enjoy such fresh Australian lobster at Chunjiang was quite rare.
"Thanks to Director Jian, he ran into an acquaintance, so we went straight to the kitchen to have the lobster brought over!" Xiao Lingling, enjoying her meal, quickly recounted the experience.
"Director Jian really has an extensive network. He even knows people at Haitian Residence," Qin Hai remarked with a slight smile, complimenting Director Jian in a small way.
Director Jian laughed heartily, rubbing his shiny bald head. "It's just our good luck. We happened to run into Manager Huang on our way out, and he surprisingly remembered me. So, he let us bring the lobster directly over."
Director Jian paused for a moment, feeling the timing was right. He picked up his wine glass, filled it for Qin Hai, and then, with an expectant look, said, "Qin Hai, to be honest, you are the only one who can help me now. If even you are unwilling, today next year might be my memorial day."
Qin Hai lifted the wine glass, sniffed the aroma under his nose - the thirty-year-old Maotai liquor was indeed good, with a rich and pure fragrance. If the wine-loving Lone Wolf were here, he would surely cling to the bottle unwilling to let go.
Thinking of Lone Wolf, Qin Hai's mind continued to envision his comrades from the Star Brilliance, wondering about their current situations. After they discovered the deception, he wondered if they were cursing him behind his back.
Familiar faces flashed before his eyes, as if these guys were right in front of him, sitting together, drinking heavily, and eating heartily.
Beside him, Director Jian anxiously watched Qin Hai. Seeing him only sniff the wine without drinking or speaking, Jian began to worry, thinking that Qin Hai might be unwilling to help.
Decisively, he took out a prepared bank card from his pocket and pushed it in front of Qin Hai. "Qin Hai, there's a hundred thousand in this card. As long as you help me out, all of this money is yours."
Looking at the bank card, Director Jian felt as if his heart was bleeding. Although he had prepared the card in advance, he was unwilling to give it to Qin Hai. However, he knew very well that if this matter couldn't be resolved, even if he hugged a mountain of gold and silver, it would be useless – he would end up as nothing more than a pile of dirt.
Interrupted in his thoughts, Qin Hai also realized that he was no longer the person he used to be. The days of the past were gone and could never be regained.
In a silent sigh, Qin Hai lowered his head and glanced at the bank card on the table, smiling, "Director Jian, what do you mean?"
Xiao Lingling and Qiao Wei were also surprised, never expecting Director Jian, who was known for being thrifty, to be willing to take out a hundred thousand.
Director Jian chuckled, "If I can't save my life, no matter how much money I have, it's useless. Xiao Qin, anyway, please help me this time, for the sake of our colleagues."
Weighing the bank card in his hand, Qin Hai smiled, "Director Jian, I can help you with this favor, but you should take this card back."
"No, no, no!" Seeing Qin Hai agreeing with a nod, Director Jian was overjoyed and quickly waved his hand, refusing, "This money is yours once I've said it's yours. Actually, as long as you can help me with this favor, this amount is nothing."
Qin Hai knew that Director Jian had worked at Avon Group for many years, and he had been the head of the marketing department for a long time. The money he had amassed privately was definitely more than this hundred thousand. So, despite sounding like a considerable sum, it wasn't much for this guy.
After refusing a few times, Qin Hai simply accepted the hundred thousand with a smile. After all, this money was Director Jian's privately collected illicit funds, and taking it would be like returning it to its rightful owner. In the future, when he married Lin Qingya, wouldn't Avon Group also be half his?
Seeing that Qin Hai finally accepted the bank card, Director Jian immediately beamed with joy, as if a knife hanging over his neck had finally been removed. He then raised his glass frequently, inviting Qin Hai to share a drink. Even Qiao Wei and Xiao Lingling couldn't resist his repeated persuasion and drank half a glass of white wine.
"Bang!"
The door of the private room was suddenly kicked open. A woman's arrogant voice came from outside, "Get out of the way. I want to see who dares to snatch our Supreme Australian Lobster!"
Following that, the waiter from Qin Hai's room was pushed in by someone, and a woman walked into the private room with an imposing manner. It was none other than Qiao Wei's old classmate, Xiao Hong. She was accompanied by her doctor husband.
"I said who it was. It turns out to be you guys." Seeing Qiao Wei, Xiao Hong's mouth curled with a sneer. She turned to her husband and said, "Darling, forget it, forget it. This old classmate of mine is the best at snatching things. She used to snatch men, and now she's snatching Australian Lobster. No wonder we can't compete with her."
Qiao Wei's face immediately turned extremely pale. Xiao Lingling stood up in anger, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? The Australian Lobster was originally ordered by us, and it has nothing to do with you. Sister Wei is not the kind of person you're describing. You better watch your mouth!"
Xiao Hong coldly snorted, "Is that so? Then ask her if she snatched someone else's man before. Unfortunately, she didn't have that blessing. On the first day of her marriage, she killed her own husband and became a widow. It's really harming others and herself!"
"You're talking nonsense!" Xiao Lingling was trembling with anger, turning to Qiao Wei and saying, "Sister Wei, you tell her you're not that kind of person!"
"Lingling, stop talking." Qiao Wei's face turned ashen, her body trembling slightly, her eyes devoid of spirit, silently shedding tears.
Xiao Lingling stared at Qiao Wei in astonishment, unable to understand what was going on.
Xiao Hong, holding her arms, sneered, "How about that? I didn't say it wrong, did I? Others don't know how Guo Wei died, but I know it very well. Qiao Wei, Guo Wei was killed by you, right?"
Qiao Wei's complexion became even paler, tears streaming continuously, murmuring, "No, no, he wasn't killed by me."
"Not killed by you? Then why have you been living in his house for these years, taking care of his parents?" Xiao Hong sneered, "Because you feel guilty, because you're remorseful! Poor Guo Wei's parents still think they have the best daughter-in-law in the world, but in fact, their son was killed by the so-called good daughter-in-law they thought they had!"