"Ya Xi won’t et you, and I won’t allow you to et her either, Qin Yan. I don’t want to get involved in your matters with Yan Anbang, and I can’t interfere. However, Ya Xi is my daughter. If you dare to hurt her, I’ll fight you to the death." Zhao Jiaqing’s expression was fierce, like a beast protecting its young.
Qin Yan widened her eyes in surprise, "Hurt Ya Xi? Are you misunderstanding sothing? I have no ill intentions toward Ya Xi. My daughter went missing because of you, but I know it was because I interfered with your marriage to Anbang. You’re taking revenge on , aren’t you? I’m not here to seek revenge; I just want to see Ya Xi and talk to her. That request isn’t too much, is it?"
Zhao Jiaqing stared at Qin Yan in disbelief, unable to comprehend the woman’s logic. "Qin Yan, I’ll say this one last ti; your daughter’s disappearance has nothing to do with , and nothing to do with the Zhao Family. Even if you think about seeking revenge, it shouldn’t be directed at . I can only say that what happened is your retribution."
"Hahahaha." Hearing this, Qin Yan suddenly burst into laughter, her gaze turning wild. Zhao Jiaqing didn’t know which of her own words had provoked Qin Yan as she defensively watched the woman.
It took a while for Qin Yan to stop laughing, then she stared intently at Zhao Jiaqing, who felt a chill down her spine. Leaning close to Zhao Jiaqing, Qin Yan whispered softly, "Well said, Zhao Jiaqing. This is retribution. Qin Mu’s loss is retribution, and everything Ya Xi endured when she was kidnapped is also retribution. All of this is retribution!"
Zhao Jiaqing suddenly widened her eyes and grabbed Qin Yan, who was attempting to leave, "What did you an by those words just now? Explain yourself clearly."
Qin Yan chuckled softly, "It ans nothing."
"You explain yourself; what do you an by saying Qin Mu is retribution, and Ya Xi is retribution too? Tell , did you have anything to do with Ya Xi’s situation?" Zhao Jiaqing’s expression was frantic, and if Qin Yan dared to say "yes," Zhao Jiaqing would probably fight her on the spot.
Qin Yan tried to break free from Zhao Jiaqing’s grip, but Zhao Jiaqing was holding on tightly. Unable to free herself, Qin Yan let Zhao Jiaqing hold on, "Ya Xi’s situation has nothing to do with . However, you might want to go back and ask your ex-husband, my current husband, whether he did sothing that led to Ya Xi’s ordeal."
Zhao Jiaqing was stunned for a mont, and Qin Yan took the opportunity to wriggle free from her grip and left.
Once in the car, Qin Yan glanced at Zhao Jiaqing still standing dazedly through the rearview mirror, a slight smile curling her lips. Life had been too peaceful lately, and she had grown tired of it. Since King was so useless, she would have to take matters into her own hands.
She never underestimated a woman’s strength, especially a mother who loves her children more than her own life. Such a woman, if driven to madness, can be terribly frightening.
Having successfully planted seeds of doubt in Zhao Jiaqing’s mind, Qin Yan left Xueli City. She had realized that simply dealing with Yan Anbang was letting them off too easily. Not only did she want to ruin the Shen Family and the Yan Family, but she also wanted Shen Qian and Yan Anbang to end up divorced and isolated.
**
After Qin Yan left, Zhao Jiaqing stood motionless in the sa spot. When Ya Xi returned from school and saw her like this, she couldn’t help but ask, "Mom, why are you standing at the door alone? Isn’t it hot?"
Zhao Jiaqing snapped back to reality. Seeing Ya Xi had returned, she tried to smile but couldn’t manage it, "Xiao Xi is back. Mom hasn’t cooked yet; I’ll go and make dinner now; it will be ready soon."
Ya Xi looked intently at Zhao Jiaqing’s face, "Mom, are you unhappy?"
Zhao Jiaqing shook her head, "No, Mom isn’t unhappy. I was just lost in thought."
A while later, Ya Xi suddenly rushed into the kitchen, "Mom, it’s burnt."
Zhao Jiaqing was jolted back to her senses by Ya Xi’s shout, indeed slling a strong burnt odor. She quickly turned off the stove, facing the charred bottom of the pot. Cleaning it up would be a hassle, she looked apologetically at Ya Xi, "It looks like I’ll have to cook sothing else."
Ya Xi wrapped an arm around Zhao Jiaqing’s shoulder, smiling, "Mom, let’s eat out today. Don’t bother cooking; you work hard every day."
Zhao Jiaqing wasn’t really in the mood to cook now either. She changed her clothes and left the house with Ya Xi.
"Mom, today’s al is on ," Ya Xi said while ordering the food.
Zhao Jiaqing looked at her daughter lovingly, "Isn’t your money also given by Mom? Whether Mom pays or you pay, what’s the difference?"
Ya Xi shook her head, "It’s different, today’s money is what I earned myself. Mom, I wanted to tell you, so photos I took earlier were selected by a magazine. They want to buy the rights to those photos, and I agreed. It’s only right I treat you to a al with my first earnings."
Zhao Jiaqing smiled contentedly. Her daughter had truly grown up, "You having that thought makes Mom very happy. Keep the money for yourself; save it for when Mom is old and can’t earn money anymore. Then you can treat Mom to a al; I certainly won’t refuse."
Ya Xi frowned, "Mom, while my fee isn’t much, it’s definitely enough to treat you to a al."
In the end, Zhao Jiaqing couldn’t overrule Ya Xi, and the al was paid for by Ya Xi. Upon leaving the restaurant, Zhao Jiaqing often seed distracted, prompting Ya Xi to ask, "Mom, are you troubled by sothing?"
She had been distracted at dinner too; even with Ya Xi’s typically laid-back deanor, sothing clearly seed off.
Zhao Jiaqing shook her head, "No, Xiao Xi, Mommy wants to go back to her ho country for a few days. Will you be alright staying here alone?"
Upon hearing this, Ya Xi’s eyes lit up, "Mommy, are you going back to see Daddy?"
Zhao Jiaqing t Ya Xi’s expectant gaze and nodded, "Yeah, it’s been a long ti. I want to go back and see how your father is doing."
"Then I’ll go with you, Mommy. I haven’t seen Daddy in a long ti either."
"No." Zhao Jiaqing said sternly.
Ya Xi was startled by the sudden anger and stared blankly at Zhao Jiaqing, still dazed, "Mommy."
Zhao Jiaqing realized she had been too agitated and cald herself, speaking gently, "Mommy has other matters to attend to when she goes back, and it might take a while before I can return. You have so many classes at school, can you really take the ti off?"
"Aren’t you only going for a few days?" Ya Xi countered. "And besides, the professors would approve a few days off to visit family now that I’m in university."
Zhao Jiaqing continued, "Xiao Xi, you’re still a student and should prioritize your studies. Frequently asking for leaves wouldn’t leave a good impression on your teachers."
Ya Xi wanted to say she didn’t often ask for leaves, but eting Zhao Jiaqing’s gaze, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words. After a mont, she nodded in agreent, "Alright, then. I’ll wait for the school holidays to go see Daddy. You can’t stop then." The last ti Ya Xi wanted to go, Zhao Jiaqing had enrolled her in a sumr camp, insisting she go there to gain life experience with her teachers and classmates instead.
Zhao Jiaqing nodded, "Okay, when you have your next vacation, Mommy will go back with you."
Ya Xi smiled warmly, "Mm, then don’t forget to tell Daddy that I won’t be coming this ti, but I’ll definitely visit him next ti."
Listening to Ya Xi repeatedly ntioning ’Daddy,’ Zhao Jiaqing felt an indescribable emotion stirring within her. Her mind was filled with Qin Yan’s words, uncertain of their aning and afraid to contemplate them, yet unable to help but do so.
Knowing Ya Xi couldn’t cook and to ensure she wouldn’t starve during her absence, Zhao Jiaqing had hired a maid to take care of her living arrangents before buying a plane ticket back ho.
This trip back, Zhao Jiaqing didn’t tell anyone, not even Yan Shengyu. Arriving in Nancheng, she imdiately called Yan Anbang, but no one answered. When she went to the Yan Family’s house, the main gate was tightly shut - not just Yan Anbang, but even Qin Yan was nowhere to be found.
With no other options, Zhao Jiaqing checked into a hotel. Qin Yan’s words haunted her thoughts, growing increasingly unsettling, and with no sign of Yan Anbang, her frustration and anxiety intensified. Shen Qinglan’s na flickered through her thoughts, and she hesitated for a long while with her phone in hand before setting it down again.
The next day, Zhao Jiaqing directly contacted a private detective to investigate Yan Anbang.
"This lady, what is your relationship with this gentleman?" the private detective asked her.
Zhao Jiaqing pursed her lips, "He is my ex-husband. I want to know about the won he was involved with in the past."
The private detective frowned, "If he’s your ex-husband, is there a need for such investigation?" He initially thought the inquiry was from a wife looking to catch a cheating husband for the advantage in a divorce.
The detective, discerning Zhao Jiaqing’s affluent appearance, realized that she likely ca from a wealthy background, which promised a significant case. However, the investigation into an ex-husband seed pointless now that the marriage was dissolved, aning no stakes for him to gain, and his interest predictably waned.
Zhao Jiaqing noticed his intentions and slapped a stack of cash on the table, "This is a deposit. If you can find information that satisfies , you won’t be left unrewarded."
The detective’s eyes brightened. He counted the money on the table and reassured her with a smile, "Rest assured, madam. I will thoroughly investigate both the past and present relations of your ex-husband."
Zhao Jiaqing then took out a photo and placed it on the table, "This is my ex-husband’s current wife. She wasn’t in Nancheng for a dozen years prior. I want to know where she went during those years and what she was doing. If you can find that, I’ll double your fee."
Ah, a major client indeed. The detective promptly took the photo, enthusiastically assuring her, "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely have satisfying results for you within a week."
Zhao Jiaqing adjusted her large sunglasses on her face, nodded, and walked away.
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