Chapter 39: The Perfume Formula Leak

"What did you say?"

"The formula was leaked?"

"Impossible."

Qin Xingwan's face turned pale, and the blood in her entire body ran cold.

Early this morning, a rival company suddenly released their latest perfume, and the formula for this perfume was almost identical to the Jieqi Perfume that the Chu Group was about to launch.

The Chu Group immediately called the police, and it was ultimately determined that Qin Xingwan was suspected of selling the formula.

"It wasn't me; I've been in the laboratory for the past two days and haven't gone out at all," Qin Xingwan explained.

"The laboratory has surveillance footage as proof."

The office door was pushed open with a click at this moment.

Qin Yunshu walked in hurriedly, her voice exceptionally loud.

"Sister, I heard that you sold the perfume formula to our rival company?"

"I know you don't like me, but you shouldn't do something like this just to get back at me."

"What are you going to make A Li do?"

In just a few words, she had found a motive for Qin Xingwan and convicted her.

Moreover, the office door was not closed, and the people outside heard everything clearly.

Qin Xingwan cast a cold glance over, "Do you have evidence?"

Qin Yunshu shrank her shoulders and took a step back, looking somewhat frightened.

"I'm sorry, Sister, I didn't mean to say it like that; I was just anxious."

She put on a perfect display of fear.

Qin Xingwan had no time to watch her act and only said to Chu Li, "I said, I didn't do it."

Chu Li walked over and gripped her trembling fingers, "The police will get to the bottom of it."

A chill settled in the depths of Qin Xingwan's eyes.

"You don't believe me?"

Then again, if he believed her, he wouldn't have brought the police with him.

In her mind, the words he said that day in Bali Town about giving him another chance surfaced.

If he couldn't even manage trust, what was there to talk about regarding their marriage.

"Chu Li, do you believe me?" She stood up straight, her expression very calm, and stared into his eyes as she asked again.

Chu Li felt the chill in her palm and said in a low voice, "Go to the Police Station to give your statement; I will come to pick you up after I finish my meeting."

He did not answer that question.

The light in Qin Xingwan's eyes slowly faded away.

She shook off his hand, "I won't trouble you, President Chu."

She left with the police.

The strange looks from outside almost drowned her, but she held her back straight.

Upon arriving at the Police Station, the police questioned her repeatedly.

Qin Xingwan kept repeating what she had done over and over again.

But the laboratory's surveillance just happened to be broken.

She also had no witnesses.

Furthermore, the police discovered a deposit of five million in a bank card under her name.

This money was transferred from an overseas account, and the source could not be traced.

Someone had gone to great lengths to set up this flawless trap to drive her to her death.

Qin Xingwan's self-confidence gradually collapsed under the repeated questioning.

She dug her nails into her palms, forcing herself to remain calm.

After a night passed, she felt completely numb.

The hope in her heart had also vanished entirely.

Not knowing how many more hours had passed, the police called her to sign some papers.

She was released on bail, but she could not leave Yuncheng in the near future and had to be available on call.

After signing the papers and coming out, she saw her husband.

"Xingwan, I'm taking you home." His voice was gentle.

Qin Xingwan walked toward him step by step.

She looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

Chu Li's heart trembled.

"Xingwan."

Qin Xingwan walked up to Chu Li, her voice exceptionally calm: "Has Qin Yunshu become the Research and Development Director again?"

Chu Li paused.

"Let me explain."

"No need, Chu Li, no need to explain."

Qin Xingwan curled the corners of her lips in self-mockery, "It must have been hard for you to come up with such a good solution just to help her solve her problem."

She asked this question only to let herself give up hope.

Chu Li gripped Qin Xingwan's wrist tightly, almost forcing her into the car.

"You misunderstood; this matter has nothing to do with me, nor does it have anything to do with Yun Shu."

It was just a dirty business war.

"Let's go home first."

The corners of Qin Xingwan's eyes were damp, already brimming with tears.

"That is not my home."

It was the place she had always wanted to escape.

The tears finally slid down.

How cruel.

The moment she entered the Police Station, he had impatiently let Qin Yunshu return to that position.

It was equivalent to indirectly announcing to the outside world that she was the one who betrayed the formula.

In the future, she would have no foothold in this circle.

Chu Li used all his strength to hold his wife tightly, kissing the top of her hair with force.

"I believe in you, Xingwan."

He spoke of his trust in her, and spoke of letting Qin Yunshu return to resume the position of Research and Development Director, merely to stabilize the situation.

Once the matter was investigated clearly, Qin Yunshu would leave of her own accord.

Qin Yunshu...

Qin Xingwan's fingers tightened on her husband's white shirt, a glimmer of hope reigniting in her eyes.

"It was her."

"It was Qin Yunshu who set the trap to frame me."

She was two hundred percent certain it was Qin Yunshu.

But Chu Li did not believe her.

He gently stroked her back, soothing her intense emotions.

"Xingwan, calm down; this matter has nothing to do with Yun Shu."

Qin Xingwan's voice was very soft, "You still don't believe me."

Chu Li explained patiently, "I believe you wouldn't do such a thing, but I also don't believe your claim that Yun Shu did it."

"Xingwan, everything must be based on evidence; you cannot frame her for this just because you don't like her."

He prided himself on being fair.

Qin Xingwan slowly loosened her fingers; she sat up straight and ran her fingers through her somewhat messy long hair.

"Since everything must be based on evidence, why were you so impatient to help her ascend to that position?"

"I have already said, it is to stabilize the current situation."

"Does it have to be her?" Qin Xingwan laughed mockingly, her eyes bloodshot, "There are plenty of people capable of research, yet you chose only her."

To put it bluntly, it was still because he had feelings for her.

Thinking of the things he said in Bali Town, about giving him another chance—it was all a joke.

It was a massive lie he told as a fallback.

Chu Li rubbed his brow, full of exhaustion, "All current evidence points to you being the one who sold the perfume formula."

"You and Yun Shu do not have a good relationship, so you have sufficient motive."

"Xingwan, be a little more obedient."

Qin Xingwan did not speak again; she looked out the window, tears still clinging to her eyelashes.

Returning to Beicheng Villa, she went straight upstairs.

Just as Chu Li was about to go up, Madam Chu called, demanding they return to the Old Residence immediately.

Chu Li refused.

"I'm busy, I can't go."

Madam Chu's voice was exceptionally sharp, "She committed such a scandalous act, and you are still protecting her."

Calling them back was to hold a critique of what Qin Xingwan had done.

After all, this incident involved the interests of the entire family.

It might even lead to them getting a divorce.

Madam Chu was looking forward to it.

As it turned out, Chu Li would not return.

"The matter is still under investigation, please don't talk nonsense." Chu Li's voice turned cold, and he hung up the phone.

He was just about to lift his foot to go upstairs when Qin Xingwan already came down dragging her suitcase.

Chu Li's brow furrowed deeply as he grabbed the suitcase, "Qin Xingwan, calm down."

He called her by her full name, his own temper rising.

Qin Xingwan looked up, "Let go."

She had said long ago that she would move out, but later, when Grandmother fell ill, she followed her back to Bali Town; now, she was simply putting the postponed matter back on the agenda.