An Unexpected Phone Call

After waiting for about half an hour at the milk tea shop, Qiu Qi still hadn't shown up.

Instead, she received a phone call.

"Xu Chi? Why would this kid suddenly call me?"

Xu Chi was from his mother's side of the family. He and Zhuang Xin had gotten along well when they were kids. However, once, when Zhuang Xin was seriously ill, his mother went back to her family to borrow money. Zhuang Xin's maternal grandmother gave his mother fifty thousand yuan, which led to a lot of gossip among her relatives.

In the end, they even said things like 'prodigal daughter' and 'married off and still paying back' in front of his mother, almost causing her to break ties with her family.

If it weren't for his maternal grandparents' persuasion, she would have cut off contact with her eldest aunt long ago.

Moreover, they didn't intend to not repay the borrowed money. A year and a half later, when she had saved enough, his mother returned to her family with sixty thousand yuan. The extra ten thousand was for his maternal grandmother's living expenses, and she sent a little money back every month.

Unfortunately, after that incident, except for visiting his maternal grandparents, they rarely visited other relatives.

"Xin Ge, hurry back and see. The family is in an uproar."

Xu Chi's voice sounded anxious, and the noise from the room could be heard.

"What's going on?" Zhuang Xin was a bit confused. His parents had brought so many gifts back; things should be harmonious.

"Sigh, you know your eldest aunt has always been at odds with your mother. This time, your parents brought back a lot of good stuff. They even gave your aunt a pair of jade bracelets. They were all smiles when they first arrived, but the next day, your aunt's son, 'Cheng Huai,' stole your father's white jade chess set, and even the bank card your parents just got."

"How is that possible? Is Cheng Huai crazy?" Zhuang Xin was stunned. He couldn't believe that Cheng Huai, who seemed so shy as a child, would do such a thing.

"Hey, you don't know. Cheng Huai has been messing around outside for the past two years, doing God knows what. He claimed to be doing business, but he owes over five hundred thousand yuan. He's been afraid to come home, and only returned these past couple of days. I didn't expect..."

"Alright, I'll head back now."

Zhuang Xin hung up the phone, his expression darkening.

His family and his aunt's side had fallen out ever since his maternal family lent him money for medical treatment. This time, they had the audacity to not only steal the white jade chess set but also the bank card.

He just wondered if that guy knew the bank card password. He hoped his parents weren't foolish enough to have revealed it.

This bank card was likely a gift from the Zhuang family, and the money inside would be substantial.

He found the communication app on his phone and sent a message to Qiu Qi, asking her to wait at the plaza.

Then, he notified Xiao Han to handle the procedures for Qiu Qi.

Zhuang Xin returned to the parking lot, got into his Koenigsegg, and left New World Plaza, heading towards 'Green Bud County Town' outside Juncheng.

New World Plaza Entrance.

Qiu Qi, along with a few sisters, drove a business van worth over a hundred thousand yuan into the parking lot.

She saw a Koenigsegg speed past.

Chu Nuan happened to turn her head and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing the car, "A Koenigsegg... Wow, I saw one at a car show two years ago. How could it be here? Did someone buy it?"

"Koenigsegg? You mean the one worth forty-seven million?" Bai Xinxin also rolled down her car window and leaned out to look.

Chu Nuan had talked about it for a long time when she returned.

"Stop looking. It's more important to get down to business. Hurry up and get out of the car, don't keep Zhuang Xin waiting." Qiu Qi opened her car door, picked up her bag, and thought of the time she confessed to Zhuang Xin as a child, causing her pretty face to blush.

She hadn't seen him in a long time and wondered how much he had changed.

"Ooh ooh ooh, not married yet and already worrying about him?"

Her sisters couldn't help but tease her, but they still sensibly got out of the car.

Qiu Qi glanced at her phone a few times, but there was no signal in the underground parking lot, so she couldn't receive messages.

"You again?"

As Qiu Qi and her group were about to lock their car, they saw a plump woman in her forties get out of a Mercedes-Benz, accompanied by a young pretty boy in his early twenties, who looked slick and greasy, following behind the plump woman.

Upon seeing the plump woman, Qiu Qi just frowned and quickened her pace, pulling her sisters along.

The plump woman couldn't help but sneer, "Don't waste your energy. The supervisor of New World's security department is my cousin's husband, and I know quite a few people internally. You think you can secure it just because you approached early? With your little capital, you think you can compete with me?"

The plump woman's real name was 'Zhang Cui.' In her youth, she climbed her way up using her body and started a small company. Coupled with her looks, she received help from many bosses, which allowed her business to flourish.

Unfortunately, her charm faded later. Unable to attract wealthy men, she began to do business honestly and kept several young lovers. She was usually domineering and was the arch-nemesis of Qiu Qi and her friends.

"Qiu Qi, don't pay attention to her. Let's go take a look first."

"Yeah, maybe your friend really has connections."

Her sisters began to comfort Qiu Qi.

However, Qiu Qi's expression became considerably downcast.

Over the years, she had inquired about Zhuang Xin's situation and knew that he was just an ordinary person.

She came here this time, saying she wanted Zhuang Xin's help, but in reality, she just wanted to see him.

As for the matter of the New World shop, whether it succeeded or not, she had already come to terms with it.

Being told this by Zhang Cui, however, made her feel quite uncomfortable.

"Alright, let's go in," Qiu Qi sighed.

Her sisters' moods also soured because of this. Just as they exited the parking lot and her phone got a signal, Qiu Qi received Zhuang Xin's message.

"What's up? A message from Zhuang Xin?"

"What did he say?"

Qiu Qi opened her mouth, unsure how to begin.

After a long pause, she handed her phone to her friend.

Upon seeing it, the girls all gave a bitter smile.

"Is it because he can't handle it and doesn't dare to see us? He wants us to meet the New World staff here?"

"We've been here so many times. If it were useful, we wouldn't have to come again."

"Really... This Zhuang Xin is so unreliable. It's fine if he fails, but the main thing is he left without a word."

The girls could naturally tell that Qiu Qi wanted to see Zhuang Xin more than anything.

They were also very curious what Zhuang Xin looked like to have earned Qiu Qi's unwavering devotion. For so many years, Qiu Qi hadn't accepted anyone's advances, nor had she ever shown any inclination towards marriage.

Only when Zhuang Xin was mentioned would she show a hint of shyness.

"Alright, let's go up and take a look."

They stepped forward, pulled Qiu Qi along, and went upstairs together.

Since they were already here, whether it succeeded or not, they had to give it a try, right?