Chapter 42: Returning to My Hometown

Qin Ze was somewhat speechless:

"Dad, don't go around saying that; never flaunt your wealth."

"I know, I know!" Qin Shougang said with a chuckle.

"By the way, I only told Lao Zhao. Haven't you met his daughter, Yutong? That girl has really made something of herself; she studied abroad and is now preparing to return to Jiangcheng to develop her career!"

"Your mother and I were discussing, perhaps you two..."

"Dad!" Qin Ze hurriedly interrupted.

"Let's talk about this later. I'm returning tomorrow just to see you and Mom, nothing else."

"Alright, alright, we'll talk when you're back!" Father Qin said cheerfully before hanging up the phone.

Qin Ze shook his head and then called Jiang Wan, a fellow townsman.

"Senior Brother?" Jiang Wan answered quickly.

"Jiang Wan, I'm going back to Qingshui County tomorrow to visit my parents. Do you want to come along? We'll only stay for two days."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds.

"Senior Brother, I haven't been back in three years."

"Ever since my startup failed, I haven't had the face to return..."

"Then let's go back together," Qin Ze said.

"The projects here at the company have already been implemented; your absence for two days won't affect anything."

"Is that really okay?"

"It is," Qin Ze said. "Tomorrow morning at eight, come to Fusheng Hotel and ride back with me."

"Okay! Thank you, Senior Brother!" Jiang Wan's voice was full of gratitude.

After hanging up, Qin Ze let out a long sigh of relief.

The car pulled into the hotel parking lot.

He parked the car and walked into the lobby.

As soon as he entered, he saw Su Qingqing and Xiao Ya sitting in the lounge area.

Both had changed their clothes.

Su Qingqing wore a light blue dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders; with light makeup, she looked innocent and cute.

Xiao Ya wore a black business suit, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and she wore glasses, looking like a workplace elite.

Qin Ze walked over:

"Oh, dressed so formally today?"

Upon seeing him, Xiao Ya immediately stood up:

"Brother Qin!"

Su Qingqing also stood up and ran to Qin Ze's side:

"Brother Qin! You're back!"

Looking at the two of them, Qin Ze smiled:

"Are you two going to attend some event?"

Xiao Ya chuckled:

"Brother Qin, we arranged to drink with some former sisters tonight."

"It's been so long since we gathered, so we thought we'd dress up; we can't embarrass Brother Qin."

Su Qingqing hooked her arm through Qin Ze's:

"Brother Qin, do you want to come along?"

Qin Ze shook his head:

"I won't go; I have to get up early tomorrow."

He looked at the time:

"Have fun, and stay safe."

"Got it!" Su Qingqing said. "Brother Qin, what time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Eight o'clock."

"Then I'll come to see you off!"

"No need," Qin Ze said. "Take good care of your mother."

"Alright..." Su Qingqing said, sounding somewhat disappointed.

Xiao Ya spoke from the side:

"Brother Qin, shall we head out then?"

"Go ahead."

The two bid farewell to Qin Ze and walked out of the hotel arm in arm.

What Qin Ze did not know was this:

As soon as Su Qingqing stepped out of the hotel entrance, more than ten people emerged from the doorway, all looking like delinquent youths.

Xiao Ya looked at the group and immediately stated:

"Sister Su is paying; today we do just one thing! Catch this guy named Liu Bin and beat him until he's crippled!"

"Anyone who goes today gets five hundred per person!"

The next morning at seven fifty.

Qin Ze drove the car to the hotel entrance.

Jiang Wan was already waiting by the roadside.

Today she wore a white shirt paired with black slacks, covered by a beige trench coat.

Her hair was tied in a ponytail, her makeup light, making her look spirited.

She also carried two gift boxes in her hands.

Qin Ze rolled down the window:

"Get in."

Jiang Wan pulled open the door and sat in the passenger seat.

"Good morning, Senior Brother."

"Morning." Qin Ze started the car. "Are those for your uncle and aunt?"

"Mm." Jiang Wan nodded. "I brought a carton of cigarettes for my dad and bought a set of skincare products for my mom."

"I haven't been back in three years; I can't exactly go home empty-handed."

The car pulled out of the hotel and merged into the morning rush hour traffic.

Inside the car, it was very quiet, with only the navigation system's prompt sounds.

After quite a while, Jiang Wan finally spoke:

"Senior Brother, thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Qin Ze glanced at her.

"Actually... I've never dared to go back. My startup failed, I'm buried in debt, and I have no face to show my parents. For three years, I haven't even dared to make many phone calls, afraid they'd ask about my situation."

Qin Ze nodded without saying a word.

He understood Jiang Wan's pressure.

For a young woman to start a business after graduating from university, only to fail and owe hundreds of thousands in debt—such a blow is not something everyone can bear.

"When I go back this time, my parents will definitely ask what I've been doing these past few years, how much money I've earned, and whether I have a partner..."

Qin Ze focused on driving.

"You are now the General Manager of Qingfeng Holdings, with a monthly salary of Fifty Thousand and year-end bonuses."

"When you go home, your parents will surely be proud of you!"

"That's only because Senior Brother gave me the opportunity."

Jiang Wan turned her head to look at Qin Ze.

"If it weren't for you, Senior Brother, I might not even have a proper place to live right now."

Jiang Wan's eyes turned red; she sniffled and turned her gaze out the window.

After a long time, she finally spoke softly:

"Senior Brother, this time when we go back, could you accompany me to my home? To meet my parents."

Qin Ze was stunned:

"Why?"

"My parents have been pressing me to get married for three years; every time they call, they say that even bringing a boyfriend home for a look would be fine."

"I was thinking... could you pretend to be my boyfriend, just to deal with them?"

"Senior Brother, you don't need to take it seriously; it's just to get them off our backs."

Jiang Wan quickly explained.

"Just one meal, some chat, enough to put their minds at ease. After some time passes, I'll say we broke up, and they won't say anything."

Qin Ze didn't even think twice; he nodded directly:

"Isn't it just a trip to your home? What's wrong with that?"

"Really?" Jiang Wan's eyes lit up.

"Mm, but first you have to wait until I finish handling my own family matters!"

Meanwhile, at Liu Bin's home.

Liu Bin sat on the sofa, his face so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water.

Sitting opposite him was a bald man—none other than Brother Hu.

"Brother Hu, what went wrong this time?"

"Didn't you say it was absolutely foolproof?"

Brother Hu took a sip of tea, looking utterly helpless:

"Manager Liu, I didn't expect that kid to have such a capable bodyguard by his side."

"The few men I sent were all knocked down."

Liu Bin frowned:

"A bodyguard? He could have a bodyguard?"

Brother Hu snorted coldly.

"Not just a bodyguard!"

"That bodyguard is definitely a professional; his moves were clean and sharp, clearly a trained fighter."

He paused for a moment:

"Manager Liu, since I've taken your money, let me advise you: let this matter drop."

"Drop it?" Liu Bin laughed coldly. "When has I, Liu Bin, ever suffered such a loss?"

"Moreover, last night when I got off work and went to the parking lot, I was dragged by several masked men into an alley and beaten black and blue!"

"This must have been orchestrated by that Qin Ze!"

"Tell me, can I just let this matter rest?"

Brother Hu put down his teacup:

"President Liu, let me speak plainly to you."

"Yesterday, I urgently found someone to investigate that Qin Ze's background again."

"Guess what?"

Liu Bin looked at him:

"What is it?"

"This kid is absolutely not the kind of poor loser you described." Brother Hu's expression was serious,

"He owns two companies under his name: one called Qingfeng Holdings, and the other Qingteng Apartment."

"Qingfeng Holdings was acquired just a few days ago using offshore capital; there must be someone powerful behind it."

"Owning an entire building like Qingteng Apartment is not something an ordinary person could have."

Liu Bin was stunned:

"What did you say?"

"I'm saying you've messed with the wrong person." Brother Hu stood up,

"I can't handle this matter; please seek someone more capable."

Liu Bin grew anxious:

"Brother Hu, you can't do this! I'll still pay the money; just think of another way!"

"I got beaten up last night! You have no idea; those fists fell like raindrops!"

"I called the police afterward, but there were no surveillance cameras near where I was beaten. Does that mean I took that beating for nothing?"

Brother Hu shook his head:

"President Liu, this isn't about money. Someone like this is beyond my ability to provoke."

"On the surface, he appears to be just an ordinary person, but behind the scenes, his influence is terrifyingly huge. Do you think someone like that is a pushover?"

"If you still want to stay in this line of work, I advise you to go apologize as soon as possible."

Liu Bin's face turned iron-green:

"Ask me to apologize to him? Impossible!"

Brother Hu shrugged:

"Then it's up to you."

"But I must remind you, your wife is also missing now, isn't she?"

Liu Bin's expression changed:

"She disappeared yesterday and even demanded a divorce. When I refused, she deleted all my contact information!"

"Once I find that damn bitch, I'll kill her!"

Hearing this, Brother Hu let out a cold laugh.

"Your wife has disappeared and is even asking for a divorce."

"I suspect the next step will be her exposing all your dirty deeds; you'd better watch yourself."

"By the way, I didn't come today to discuss these things with you. Send me Qin Ze's phone number!"

"I need to go apologize to him!"