Of course, even if Meng Qian kept tight-lipped about it, it was futile. That afternoon, Li Yue had already leaked the whole story. Mr. Huo's beloved younger sister returned the once-famous Phantom Orchid, now at the center of attention in the Jiang household, to Meng Qian intact after a two-year hiatus. Moon City's media bombarded this news, and Jiang Yang couldn't possibly remain unaware.
No one knew the meaning behind Huo Yun's action. Jiang Yang couldn't just call Huo Yun directly to inquire, leaving Meng Qian anxious, uneasy, and infuriated, wishing to tear Li Yue apart!
In truth, Huo Yun knew exactly what this move would achieve. It was intentional. She wanted to give Doctor Yan Su some satisfaction.
Huo Qing didn't bother about her. In the evening, he stood outside his own room and knocked softly, calling out, "Su Su, it's time for dinner."
After two detectives left, Doctor Yan Su hadn't left his room the whole afternoon. Huo Qing didn't disturb him, but he wouldn't let him starve with his delicate stomach.
He knocked for a good while with no response from inside. Huo Qing directly pushed the door open, thankfully finding it unlocked, but the room remained dark.
Surveying the room from the doorway, he found no trace of the young man. The bed was untouched, no sounds from the bathroom. Huo Qing moved towards the balcony, stepping on the plush carpet without a sound. Then, he saw the figure bathed in moonlight.
Barefoot, the youth crouched on a chair, knees tucked close, focusing intently on tapping away at the laptop's keyboard, commanding as if giving orders. The cold glow of the screen reflected on his glasses. Huo Qing could clearly see who he was communicating with through those lenses. His seriousness contradicted his usual high alertness, not even noticing Huo Qing approaching.
Huo Qing stood silently by, unafraid to offend Nie Jia with his gaze. The longer he observed, the more uncomfortable he felt, an eerie sensation growing stronger. He thought of grabbing the youth's chin again, forcing him to look, questioning the reason behind this behavior, yet afraid to scare him again.
"Su Su, it's time for dinner." Huo Qing ultimately restrained himself from doing anything, not even taking a step forward, just reminding him softly in place.
Nie Jia snapped out of it, raising his head briefly as Huo Qing switched on the balcony lights. He squinted, unable to see Huo Qing clearly, immediately lowering his head again, tapping the keyboard twice before sluggishly replying, "Got it, I'll come soon."
Though he said that, he remained motionless.
Huo Qing frowned disapprovingly, deeply uncomfortable with the youth repeatedly avoiding eye contact. He approached and closed Nie Jia's laptop directly, as if to pull him up.
Nie Jia struggled slightly, grasping Huo Qing's hand, hastily saying, "Don't, my legs are numb."
"You've been crouching like this the whole afternoon?" Huo Qing furrowed his brow, patiently and gently holding Nie Jia's hands, helping him slowly to the ground.
Nie Jia slowly got off the chair, his eyebrows tangled in discomfort. Huo Qing, without a word, lifted him as he did in the hospital and carried him back indoors. He placed Nie Jia on the bed, massaging his ankles gently, swiftly alleviating the numbness in his legs.
"You should change this habit; at least stand up and move around." Huo Qing lectured like a caring father.
Nie Jia glanced at his profile, softly acknowledging.
"He's like a donkey circling a millstone; it takes a nudge to make a few steps," Huo Qing mused lightly to himself.
Meanwhile, Qin Yi Ran was puzzled when Yan Su suddenly cut off contact. There was a knock on the door, interrupting her thoughts. She put her laptop down and went to open it. "Uncle, you're back."
Gu Xueying entered, looking dejected. "The police seem to attach special importance to this case. I couldn't gather any information."
Qin Yi Ran poured him a glass of water and chuckled, "Don't worry, Uncle. Yan Su is fine. I just finished talking to him. He asked me to get ready; next month, I'll start working at the Qin Corporation."
"It's now called the Jiang Corporation," Gu Xueying self-mockingly laughed, then reacted, staring at Qin Yi Ran in astonishment. "What? They want you to work... where?"
When Qin's father passed away, Jiang Yang took advantage of Qin Yi Ran's inheritance rights to seize most of the Qin assets, even acquiring over 45% of the shares, becoming the largest shareholder of the Qin Corporation. Moon City's iconic Qin Building was also absorbed by Jiang Yang, and after the divorce, he directly renamed it the Jiang Corporation, announcing to the city as if taking over his ex-wife's family business was a glorious feat.
After Jiang Yang received investment from Huo Qing and secured government projects, he looked down on the smaller Qin Corporation. Assets that once belonged to the Qin family were now managed by Jiang Yang's assistant and Jiang He.
"Uncle, I'll definitely reclaim what once belonged to the Qin family, then make Jiang Yang regret being alive!" Qin Yi Ran's eyes burned with a crimson hatred.
---
Half an hour after dinner, Huo Qing took the already prepared share transfer documents and went upstairs to find Nie Jia.
He found Nie Jia on the balcony again, dressed in a thin shirt, embracing the cold breeze. The laptop was off, and he sat with his hands around his ankles, gazing at the moon, lost in thought.
"Is Yan Yu's death bothering you?" Huo Qing approached, draping his coat over Nie Jia's shoulders, watching the young man's absent-minded state with a touch of tenderness in his eyes.
Nie Jia paused, a hint of disdain flickering in his eyes subconsciously, but he quickly realized that his despondency had been misunderstood by Huo Qing. He put his feet on the ground, straightening his posture, and lightly shook his head, "It's not because of him."
"Is it because of me?" Huo Qing smiled, taking a seat beside Nie Jia, pushing the documents across the table.
Nie Jia remained silent, picking up the documents to browse through. He shielded his line of sight with the papers, then heard Huo Qing getting up and leaving. Nie Jia breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a subtle sense of loss. He never knew how to deal with his emotions towards Shi Chan.
"If not because of me, I guess you'd have rejected it earlier." Huo Qing's voice came again, and Nie Jia, setting down the documents, saw him pouring a half-glass of red wine.
"Mr. Huo, I'm here just for the reward; you know that," Nie Jia lightly swirled the wine glass, opening the agreement, suddenly taken aback by a series of numbers. Huo Qing's transfer agreement covered 38% of the Jiang Corporation's shares. Yet as far as he knew, Huo Qing only held
around 20%.
"I bought some scattered shares for you. Combined with your mother's shares and the 10% Jiang Yang promised you as a reward for treating Meng Qian's grandfather, you can become the majority shareholder of the entire Jiang Corporation." Huo Qing explained as Nie Jia seemed puzzled by the figures.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Huo. But I never intended to become the controlling shareholder of the Jiang Corporation. I've already sold my mother's shares, including the reward I got from you," Nie Jia pushed back the documents, looking slightly cunning. "If these are from you, they'll likely fetch a better price than what I can get, right?"
"To support the Qin Corporation, you indeed need a considerable sum. I'm more than willing to help," Huo Qing had thoroughly investigated Yan Su's past and Nie Jia's motivations.
Nie Jia, for the first time, stared directly into Huo Qing's eyes for a while. Eventually, he said calmly, "I have a surgery tomorrow morning. I'd like to rest early."
"Are you chasing me away again?" Huo Qing chuckled.
Nie Jia hesitated, scratching his temple, "Sorry, I forgot this is your room."
"You know well that's not what I meant." Huo Qing smiled faintly, clinking glasses with Nie Jia before downing the wine and leaving.
Nie Jia heaved a sigh. After Huo Qing departed, instead of resting immediately, he curled up in the chair again, drinking silently under the moonlight.
The next day, Huo Qing personally drove Nie Jia to the hospital. On the way, he asked, "The case of Yan Yu's death hasn't been closed by the police yet. If you want to investigate, I have resources you can use."
Nie Jia lay reclined in the passenger seat, eyes closed. "No need. I know who did it. Some are aiding him, and if the police can't find out, let it be."
Huo Qing raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't inquire further, casting a gentle, affectionate smile at him.
---
The story continues, with Nie Jia caught off guard by Yan Yu's death. He hadn't expected Meng Qian to be so capable, capable even of murder. Yan Yu's premature appearance and abrupt demise disrupted some of Nie Jia's plans. Yet, Meng Qian's reaction piqued his interest. He wondered what interesting response Meng Qian would give if he continued to prod him from behind?
Would he kill Jiang Yang? That scene would surely be intriguing.
Huo Qing, unaware of the young man's thoughts, could sense a change in the atmosphere. It was like the Su Su from Jiang's house, who chopped off Yan Yu's hand without hesitation. Even though he was just pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, there was an aura of a dormant demon within Su Su. It was unlike the person who had been evading eye contact whenever they interacted before.
"Shall I pick you up for lunch?" Huo Qing stopped him as they got off the car.
Nie Jia hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Okay."
With a smile, Huo Qing left after dropping Nie Jia at the hospital.