TNSFC – Chapter 80

Xiaoxiao raised her head and saw Que Yining crying. She quickly took off her headphones and walked over.

“Youngest Aunt, what’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

“It’s nothing, I just got something in my eye.”

Que Yining coaxed her, stopping her tears.

She had just accidentally lost control of her emotions.

She looked at Xiaoxiao’s innocent and carefree eyes, wishing she could stay like that forever.

Que Yining then chatted with You Lanqing about some trivial family matters, not mentioning Que Linyang again.

Now wasn’t a good time. Que Linyang probably didn’t know yet that she was tripping him up, but it was only a matter of time. She wouldn’t tell You Lanqing alone at this point, afraid she couldn’t handle it. She had to pick a time when Que Hanyi and You Lanqing were together to inform them.

Of course, she also had to call Que Chuling and Que Zixi.

When it was getting late outside, Que Yining asked You Lanqing to go home. After all, You Lanqing was getting older, and her energy wouldn’t hold up if it got too late.

“Mom, don’t send Xiaoxiao back tonight. Let her stay at your place for a while.”

You Lanqing said, a little strangely, “What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain to you later. Listen to me,” Que Yining said to You Lanqing, then turned to Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, are you willing to stay at Grandma’s house for a while?”

Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Que Yining knew she must still be thinking about her mother, but Hou Manni definitely wouldn’t be able to look after Xiaoxiao recently. It was better not to let Xiaoxiao face those negative emotions.

“Did something happen?”

You Lanqing sensed something was wrong. Her daughter’s mood had seemed off since just now, and now she was saying such things. Had she noticed something?

“It’s nothing. Go home and let Dad know, keep Xiaoxiao for a while.”

Que Yining only hinted at something, making You Lanqing think there was a problem with their company that was affecting them. Seeing Que Yining unwilling to say more, You Lanqing had no choice but to leave with Xiaoxiao.

Outside the window, the night curtain hung low, the moon bright and the stars sparse.

At eleven o’clock, Gu Shanxue arrived.

She comfortably sat on the companion bed and asked Que Yining if she wanted some fruit.

Que Yining stared at her with wide eyes, blinking slowly.

She clearly likes me, taking such meticulous care, yet she deceives herself into thinking they’re just friends.

Could Gu Shanxue really deceive herself?

“What’s wrong? You don’t look like you’re in a good mood.”

Gu Shanxue noticed her somewhat distracted appearance, put down the fruit in her hand, and sat down by Que Yining’s bedside.

“Shanxue, come sit here.”

Que Yining patted the side of her bed, hoping Gu Shanxue would come closer.

Never before had she felt so lonely as she did at this moment, like a fish thrown ashore, gasping for air, needing Gu Shanxue’s company as much as it needed water.

Gu Shanxue did as she was told and sat sideways on the bed. As soon as she sat down, a pair of hands wrapped around her waist.

Her body stiffened slightly but quickly relaxed.

She didn’t speak, just silently let Que Yining lean against her.

She looked down but couldn’t clearly see the expression on Que Yining’s face. However, she subconsciously felt that Que Yining didn’t need comfort at this moment, but just wanted to quietly pour something out.

This subconscious perception almost perfectly matched Que Yining’s needs, forming a tacit understanding akin to telepathy. Neither of them spoke.

Que Yining’s sorrow slowly spread and dissipated in the air. She felt Gu Shanxue’s body heat, touching the reality she desired.

After a long while, she finally spoke.

“I got some evidence today. I’ve already started internal actions.”

Que Yining didn’t leave Gu Shanxue’s embrace as she spoke about her plan.

Gu Shanxue listened to her plan, secretly analyzing it for her.

She was putting pressure on Que Linyang both internally and externally, ensuring his company affairs wouldn’t settle down, his home life wouldn’t be peaceful, causing trouble in his backyard, and making him besieged from all sides.

“Does he really think he’s hidden it so well? As long as it’s a pretense, there will always be a time when his true colors are revealed. I just asked my mom about some things, and now I even suspect if he deliberately targeted our family from the start.”

When Que Yining said this, her emotions weren’t actually very intense; rather, she stated it very calmly with a touch of coldness.

A bad person can pretend to be good in front of one person, but they can’t pretend to be good in front of everyone.

Although what Que Linyang did seemed worse than an animal, Que Yining wasn’t surprised. She never underestimated human malice. What was harming or killing for profit? Such evil people never regarded others’ lives as lives.

Gu Shanxue pondered, “If you ask in more detail, perhaps it can be investigated.”

It had only been thirty or forty years. As long as some information could be gathered, perhaps something could be learned from old acquaintances and past events.

“But it might not be very meaningful.”

Que Yining also wanted to investigate, to know what happened to Que Linyang before he joined the Que family. Perhaps she could find out some reasons for his current personality, or even trace back to deeper things. But as she said, it wasn’t very meaningful. If nothing was found, it would be a waste of time and energy. If something was found, but there was nothing worth exploring, it would be even more of a loss.

“Forget it, let’s focus on the present and not worry about his past. I’m thinking about how to separate him from Que Corporation, and it’s very difficult.”

The separation Que Yining spoke of wasn’t just kicking Que Linyang out of Que Corporation. That was simple: sever the adoptive son relationship, dismiss him from the company, cut off all ties, and issue a statement. Although Que Linyang held some Que Corporation shares, the percentage wasn’t large, and the impact wouldn’t be significant.

The separation she meant referred to the many things Que Linyang had done over the years under the banner of Que Corporation. If he were to retaliate, deciding that if he couldn’t have it, no one else could either, the damaging information he held could completely ruin Que Corporation.

To preserve Que Corporation completely intact was almost impossible.

“I’ll help you.”

Gu Shanxue said softly, smoothing the frown on Que Yining’s brow.

“How are things on your end? Is everything going smoothly?”

“Yes, quite smoothly.”

While Que Yining had her troubles, things weren’t entirely smooth sailing for Gu Shanxue either. But fortunately, the situation was always under her control, and she was moving forward step by step according to her plan.

“As long as it’s smooth, that’s good. If there’s anything I can help with, you must tell me. And tell me if you’re unhappy too.”

Que Yining shifted her upper body, leaning back into Gu Shanxue’s embrace.

Her hair, loosened in her sleep, cascaded like a cloud-like waterfall over Gu Shanxue’s lap. Her face was clear and beautiful, like a rose in the early morning, adorned with dewdrops.

“Okay.”

Gu Shanxue’s eyes were gentle, the frost in them melted, filled with the warmth of a spring breeze.

Although it was a single patient room, Que Yining’s bed was actually very spacious. At night, she asked Gu Shanxue to sleep with her. When Gu Shanxue hesitated, she wheedled in a soft voice.

“My leg hurts, and I feel like I can’t get warm no matter how I sleep. Shanxue, just stay with me, okay? Just for one night.”

Who could resist Miss Que’s coaxing? Anyway, the duplicitous Miss Gu couldn’t.

As for Que Yining, one night meant one night, but who said there couldn’t be a second or third night?

Gu Shanxue didn’t refuse. Every morning when she woke up, she would sit by the bed and gaze at Que Yining’s face for a while before washing up and leaving the hospital for her company.

A few days later, Que Chuling came to see Que Yining.

She spoke not only about company matters but also about Hou Manni.

“She found out from Que Linyang’s enemies that he has an illegitimate child. Her emotions have been very unstable these past few days. I’ve also seen the evidence; it’s ninety percent true.”

Que Chuling was actually quite surprised by this. She hadn’t known Que Linyang had done these things for so many years, which showed how good Que Linyang was at hiding things.

“It’s one hundred percent true.”

Que Yining said with certainty.

Que Chuling immediately reacted, “You sent those things?”

Que Yining smiled, answering the question.

Que Chuling gained a new understanding of Que Yining’s methods. She hadn’t expected her to be able to uncover such secret matters.

Que Chuling: “She has decided to cooperate with you. She told me she will definitely not let Que Linyang have an easy time. She and Que Linyang have been married for many years, so she can provide us with a lot of help. However, Que Linyang must be wary of her now, although he might have never trusted her. When do you plan to let her know your identity?”

“After some more time. She hasn’t passed my trust assessment yet. I want to see if she’s truly made up her mind and what sincerity she can offer.”

Que Yining wasn’t in a hurry. She still had time. She couldn’t confront Que Linyang directly yet, and Que Linyang, having painstakingly built his position for many years, wouldn’t tear off the facade so quickly before he got what he wanted.

He had even come to see Que Yining the day before yesterday. Of course, no one said much; the scene was harmonious, a picture of sibling affection.

“What about your side? Has he made any more moves on the subsidiary?”

“No, he’s been very busy lately, tied up with things. A project in Father’s company, which was handed over to his confidant, has aroused Father’s suspicion. Father is keeping an eye on that project, so he can’t do much. Things at his own company don’t seem to be going smoothly either.”

“Then you should speed up clearing out the weeds in the subsidiary. Don’t waste the opportunity I’ve created for you.”

Que Yining said with a smile, her eyes full of profound meaning.

Que Chuling felt a sudden chill. She looked at Que Yining, her heart filled with unfamiliar shock and suspicion.

Que Yining sat in her wheelchair, a thin blanket covering her legs, her hair loosely tied back, holding a book. She looked very quiet and elegant.

But in that instant, in that smile, Que Chuling felt an uncontrollable, chilling sensation that made the hairs on her back stand up, as if Que Yining wasn’t basking in the sunlight but was in a blood-colored abyss, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Que Chuling agreed and hurriedly left.

In mid-April, Que Yining was discharged from the hospital.

She hadn’t fully recovered, but other aspects were no longer a major concern, except that she still needed a wheelchair to get around.

She arrived at the company. Her office was spotlessly clean, and fresh flowers in a vase were in full bloom, looking particularly delightful.

Although she had been working online, and Zhang Shiyu and Li Suyin often went to the hospital to report on work, it was still different from being physically present at the company.

The company had undergone some changes. Due to expansion, Gu Shanxue had transferred the lease for the floor below to her. Que Yining accepted it but felt it still wasn’t enough and was looking at new buildings.

Because of the massive success of Galaxy Watch, the future looked promising. She was determined to build a headquarters, and this current location could be used for other smaller game studios under the company.

Que Yining sat in her wheelchair, her gaze sweeping over the employees.

“You’ve all worked hard during this time. I’m back.”

---

If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.