Chapter 70: The Scheming Old Man

Shen Qingli regained some clarity as well. Gazing at the little white cat nuzzling against her hand, she blinked her drowsy eyes and spoke in a muddled voice.

“Did I just see Xie Jinchuan?”

She yawned again after speaking, said nothing more, and hugged the little white cat back into a deep sleep.

Elsewhere.

Ye Qingqing slowly opened her eyes and sneered as she looked at the barrier before her. Her doll-like face now bore a trace of seductive wickedness, making her appear almost otherworldly.

“Did they really think something like this could hold me?”

She let out a cold laugh, snapped her fingers, and the barrier fluctuated for an instant. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Qingqing slipped out of the restricted area.

“Looks like Sister Qiao Yi is looking for me!”

Ye Qingqing flashed a bewitching smile, vanished from the villa, and before leaving, placed a puppet doll in her place to serve as her decoy.

Before long, Ye Qingqing found Rong Qiao Yi.

“Sister Qiao Yi, aren’t I amazing? I managed to make them live apart!”

Rong Qiao Yi regarded the wicked air about Ye Qingqing and sneered inwardly.

“Are you certain? I fear their relationship may only be growing stronger.”

With that, Rong Qiao Yi placed a scrying mirror before the girl’s eyes.

In the mirror, a fleeting image showed Shen Qingli embracing a little white cat. Both of them knew instantly—the little white cat was Xie Jinchuan!

“That’s… Brother Jinchuan!” Ye Qingqing exclaimed in shock. Wasn’t Xie Jinchuan known to loathe cats the most? Yet, to amuse Shen Qingli, he’d willingly transformed himself into a white cat!

Thinking of this, jealousy twisted the girl’s features. “That wretched woman—she doesn’t even have a divine root! How can she be so treasured by him?”

As the girl seethed, a strange smile curled at the edge of Rong Qiao Yi’s lips. Beneath the table, her fingers moved ever so slightly, and a wisp of black spiritual energy silently slipped into Ye Qingqing’s body.

“It seems we’ll be here for quite a while. You must realize Shen Qingli is thriving in this place. If we truly wish to destroy her, we must strike where she’s strongest…”

The two exchanged a glance, and a scheme took shape in their minds.

The next day, as Shen Qingli woke, Xie Jinchuan quietly slipped away, resumed his human form, and seeing his hair still white and unable to return to its normal color, simply tied it up with whatever he could find.

Clad in a loose, vintage-style robe, he looked every bit the ethereal immortal.

“Three more days for the spiritual energy to fully nourish me…” Xie Jinchuan murmured. Climbing the stairs, he glanced at the girl sleeping on the bed and retrieved the spiritual energy orb.

With a wave of his hand, he removed the barrier, pausing as he did so. A glint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

His gaze fell on Ye Qingqing, who appeared to have just awakened. His voice was icy.

“So, you’re awake.”

Hearing his voice, Ye Qingqing looked at him with gratitude. “Brother Jinchuan, thank goodness—I can see you again!”

She cast a concerned look at his side, and seeing no one else, she raised her eyes in confusion. “Brother Jinchuan, where’s Sister Qingli?”

“Did I upset her? Is that why she’s angry…? Don’t worry, Brother Jinchuan, I’ll help you find her.”

Her concern was met with the man’s cold, unfeeling gaze.

The chill nearly broke her composure, making the back of her neck prickle with cold.

Only when he looked away did Ye Qingqing feel she could breathe again.

“No need for your concern. Focus on recovering your health, and don’t wander about. Right now, you’re quite the coveted prize.”

With that, Xie Jinchuan guessed Shen Qingli must be heading out, so he hurried downstairs and happened to meet her as she was leaving.

“Your hair…” Shen Qingli paused, noticing his hair. Memories from last night flickered through her mind, but in those memories, the figure’s hair was jet-black…

“Are you heading to the office?” Xie Jinchuan asked calmly, his expression composed though anxiety churned inside—terrified she might discover the truth.

Hearing his usual tone, Shen Qingli collected herself, remembered their ongoing quarrel, and turned away, boarding a taxi without another word.

No, she absolutely would not be the first to make amends!

Watching the taxi disappear, Xie Jinchuan raised an eyebrow and followed by car.

A wife is to be pursued by her husband—but for now, the investigation had yielded nothing…

After a moment’s thought, Xie Jinchuan refrained from starting the car. Glancing at a fleeting figure on the second floor, the coldness in his eyes deepened.

Shen Qingli’s journey to the office was uneventful, but as she arrived, she found Li Xi anxiously waiting at the entrance.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so flustered?”

Confused, she walked into the company and immediately felt the weight of stares from those around her, frowning slightly.

Li Xi, seeing her reaction, realized she was completely unaware.

“President Shen, someone has posted news about you online. Several partners have already withdrawn their investments, saying… saying…”

Seeing her hesitate, Shen Qingli took the phone. The screen was filled with reports about her and Xie Jinchuan.

The articles clearly analyzed the network of connections between her and Xie Jinchuan, suggesting her success was solely due to his support.

“So, those partners believe I owe everything to Xie Jinchuan, and now they’re all eager to kick me when I’m down?”

Shen Qingli let out a cold laugh. Noticing Li Xi’s worried expression, she took a step forward then paused.

She turned to Li Xi. “Li Xi, go make preparations. I need to hold a press conference—to officially announce the end of my relationship with Xie Jinchuan.”

Shen Qingli’s mind was made up. She could not remain in Xie Jinchuan’s shadow forever—she had to face everything on her own.

“President Shen, is this really…” Li Xi hesitated, concerned this would not bode well for the company.

But seeing the unwavering resolve in Shen Qingli’s eyes, she chose to obey and began preparing for the press conference.

Soon, word spread that Shen Qingli would hold a press conference, and many were eagerly awaiting her downfall.

Meanwhile, Xie Jinchuan was in a meeting, completely unaware of the press conference.

In the hospital, Rong Qiao Yi immediately called Ye Qingqing.

“Our plan can begin.”

A cold gleam flashed in Ye Qingqing’s eyes as she curled her lips into a smile.

“Alright, I’ll go prepare everything.”

After hanging up, Ye Qingqing hurried to the luxurious building across from Tianqi Corporation.

At the same time, an announcement went out for another press conference.

A bombshell was dropped—Rong Qiao Yi would terminate her contract with Shen Qingli and establish her own media company!

This news hit the internet just ten minutes before Shen Qingli’s press conference, and the intent behind it was clear…