A Real Heiress Quits (GL) - Chapter 6

Qin Qing’s face was as sunken as still water. “You have no right to do that.”

Qin Xuanhuang laughed. “Then does my sister have the right to revoke a member of Xingjue? Father hasn’t given you this hotel yet.”

He released the piano keys, leaving a long, vibrating hum in the air—as if the instrument itself were weeping.

With someone backing him up, Ji Fu found his confidence again. “The Eldest Miss’s actions were indeed excessive.” Fortunately, he was “magnanimous” and didn’t hold a grudge.

However, Qin Qing gave no reaction. Or rather, both siblings simply ignored him.

Qin Qing said, “The Violet doesn’t belong to you, either.”

Qin Xuanhuang sneered. “True.” He paused, his gaze sharpening. “I’ve never seen you care so much about something before. Is it because of that child?”

Without a second thought, Qin Qing replied, “No.”

Seeing her answer so decisively made Qin Xuanhuang find the situation rather dull. He sank lazily into a single-seater sofa and crossed his legs. Qin Qing sat opposite him and signaled a waiter to bring a glass of red wine.

The deep crimson liquid shimmered under the lights. She swirled the glass lightly, the swaying wine reflecting her own face. It looked somewhat unfamiliar.

“How old are you now? Still playing at running away from home?” Qin Xuanhuang mocked.

Qin Qing curled her lips, her gaze icy. “I simply came out to clear my head. Is even that forbidden?”

Qin Xuanhuang leaned in slightly. “You know yourself…” He glanced at Ji Fu beside him, paused, then leaned back into the sofa again. “I just don’t want to see you on the news one day, killed by a hit-and-run.”

Ji Fu broke into a sudden fit of coughing.

These siblings are too strange. He associated with the Qin family out of mutual interest, but even so, he disliked being close to Qin Xuanhuang. He knew he wasn’t a good person, but the Qins… they barely seemed human.

Qin Qing replied curtly, “How thoughtful of you.”

Qin Xuanhuang slowly took a pair of rimless glasses from his pocket and wiped them gently with a handkerchief. “You’ve grown up. Don’t be too headstrong. Being like Little Zhu… is not good.”

There was no grief in his voice, only a faint sense of regret, as if he had merely lost a favorite trinket.

Qin Qing’s dark pupils constricted slightly. She took a silent sip of wine, her long lashes veiling the emotions in her eyes. Seeing his sister’s distress, Qin Xuanhuang laughed with genuine delight—a laugh that made the hair on the back of Ji Fu’s neck stand up.

“Father misses you. When are you coming back?”

Qin Qing stared into her glass. “Misses me? Or wants me to do work?”

Before her death, Little Zhu was in charge of Tianyu and Taifa. Since she passed, the positions at both companies were vacant. Given Qin Liru’s personality, he certainly wouldn’t trust outsiders with the business. Ultimately, it fell to them to do the heavy lifting.

Qin Qing looked at the smiling man across from her and guessed what was coming. Sure enough, Qin Liru had assigned Tianyu to her.

Compared to the booming Taifa Securities, Tianyu Media had been losing money for years. it was a troublesome task—like a chicken rib: flavorless to eat, but a waste to throw away.

Qin Liru had always favored sons over daughters, giving the best to his son. While he kept the lifeblood of Guangyun firmly in his own hands, he had started delegating companies to his children to manage. Of course, any observer could see the focus was on giving his son “experience.” The kingdom of Guangyun would, one day, belong to Qin Xuanhuang.

Qin Qing lowered her gaze, not surprised at all. In Qin Liru’s eyes, no matter how excellent a woman was, she was merely a tool for alliance. In fact, being too excellent and independent was considered a drawback. Just like Qin Zhu, who fell for an ordinary man and eventually committed suicide over it.

“Tianyu is currently preparing a talent show. Important decisions aren’t being made, so everything is stalled,” Qin Xuanhuang raised his chin. “Take it over early. If things pile up, it’ll be exhausting to handle.”

“Mhm.”

“There are a few contestants who are my people.” Qin Xuanhuang put on his glasses and adjusted the frame.

Qin Qing replied, “If you want to interfere, manage Tianyu yourself. If you want me to take over this muddy mess, stay away from my things.”

“Fine.” Qin Xuanhuang stood up. “My people aren’t ‘vases’ anyway. By the way, dear sister, a word of advice.”

“What?”

“If you want to revive Tianyu, didn’t Heaven just send you a treasure?” He looked toward the window, smiling with ill intent.

Qin Qing’s heart skipped a beat as she turned her head.

Yu Xinyue was leaning against the cabinet, making a phone call. Her long hair was gathered at her chest, her head slightly lowered to reveal a stretch of her porcelain-white neck. Under the lights, it was an image of silent allure.

“Truly a feast for the eyes,” Qin Xuanhuang remarked, adjusting his collar. “Just having her stand there would drive people mad. Who doesn’t love a beautiful face? Though, it wouldn’t be impossible for you to take the stage yourself.” He imagined it, found it amusing, and laughed softly. “As long as Father doesn’t die of rage.”

Qin Qing’s expression remained cold. “I told you, she is just an ordinary student.”

“Once someone possesses such looks, they cease to be ordinary anywhere.” Qin Xuanhuang turned around. “A school… a place like that… Hah, it’s just a suggestion.”

“I don’t need your suggestions.” Qin Qing frowned, her gaze sweeping past Ji Fu before quickly looking away as if looking at him took a Herculean effort to suppress her disgust. “As for this Mr. Ji… I will speak to Father about the Xingjue matter.”

Young Master Ji, never having been so blatantly ignored, looked displeased and prepared to argue. Unfortunately, his protest was ignored by both.

Qin Xuanhuang: “Good, go ahead and speak. After all, he is your future husband. A little bickering can be considered ‘lovers’ play,’ I suppose.”

“What did you say?” Qin Qing asked, each word forced through gritted teeth. Her gaze was like a murderous blade.

Ji Fu shuffled aside, wanting no part in the Qin siblings’ war.

Qin Xuanhuang adjusted his glasses. “I’ve said enough. You’re smart; you’ll figure it out.” With a wave of his hand, as if calling a dog, he said, “Let’s go.” Ji Fu followed quickly.

Qin Qing sat back in the sofa, her face pale. The wine shook slightly, spilling a few drops onto the back of her hand. She placed the glass on the table and struggled to calm herself.

She knew her father wanted to break into real estate, and the easiest way was to cooperate with Xingjue. Which meant… marrying off a daughter.

The original plan was likely Qin Zhu. That was why he had so violently opposed her relationship; of the two daughters, Qin Zhu was the easier to control. But even Qin Liru probably hadn’t expected that his seemingly frail younger daughter—who dared not defy her father but refused to betray her heart—would choose death as her ultimate protest.

Qin Qing wondered: Does Father feel even a shred of regret for driving Little Zhu to her death? Looking at things now, not a bit.

In a merchant’s eyes, there is no kin, only profit. With the younger daughter gone, his calculations had shifted to the elder one.

Their conversation had been overheard perfectly by Yu Xinyue.

Xinyue was anxious. The timeline was indeed developing as it had in her previous life. But Qin Qing must never marry Ji Fu. He was trash. Though, looking at the future, Guangyun was no saint either.

Xingjue wanted Qin Qing as a daughter-in-law to grow together. But Qin Liru wanted the whole cake for himself. In a few years, when the financial crisis hit and Xingjue was devastated, Guangyun wouldn’t lend a hand; instead, they would seize the opportunity to swallow up their market share.

They were the textbook definition of kicking a man while he was down.

Actually, if she could just stall for a few years until Xingjue collapsed, Qin Liru wouldn’t agree to the marriage even if Qin Qing begged for it. Even if she hadn’t hit it off so well with Qin Qing, Xinyue wouldn’t stand by and watch this beautiful woman leap into a pit of fire.

She gazed into the dark night, thinking deeply. She couldn’t exactly just rush over and disable Ji Fu, could she?

The sound of a car horn broke her reverie. Yu Xinyue lowered her eyes and smiled silently.

The Yin family had arrived. They certainly got here fast.