Chapter 45
Alice was already beautiful, and dressing up made her even more dazzling.
When Qiu Chi attended the banquet with Jian Yu, she attracted the gazes of many, Jian Qiu among them.
Although Jian Qiu was smiling, the smile didn't reach his eyes.
He had originally planned to take things slow, but seeing Jian Yu standing beside Qiu Chi now, he found the sight jarring. He just wanted to kill Jian Yu immediately and snatch Qiu Chi away.
He should be the one standing beside Qiu Chi.
Qiu Chi was very sensitive to killing intent. No matter how well Jian Qiu concealed it, she could feel it.
This killing intent was sharper than the last time at the manor, as if he had reached his limit and could no longer bear it.
Sensing this, Qiu Chi prepared to add more fuel to the fire.
She raised her hand and linked arms with Jian Yu.
Jian Yu hadn't expected Qiu Chi to do this at all. After a moment of shock, he was overcome with ecstasy, a smile touching the corners of his eyes. Jian Qiu's gaze, however, grew darker.
He stepped forward to greet them. "Xiao Yu, you're here. Qiu Chi, I didn't expect to see you here today. I'm very happy."
Jian Yu's expression soured upon seeing Jian Qiu. It grew even uglier when he noticed Jian Qiu's gaze fixed entirely on Qiu Chi.
But the thought of Qiu Chi's arm linked with his lifted Jian Yu's spirits. He smirked. "You should have some self-respect. Don't keep staring at someone who belongs to another."
A good mood didn't mean his words couldn't be barbed.
Jian Qiu wasn't provoked by Jian Yu's words. His smile remained, and his voice was gentle. "Qiu Chi and I are just friends. Xiao Yu, you're overthinking things."
Jian Yu always got angry seeing Jian Qiu act this way. "How am I overthinking things? How would you know what I'm thinking?"
"It's for the best if you're not."
Jian Yu scoffed, "Heh!"
【I think Jian Qiu is kind of a... green tea...】
Qiu Chi: "He's not 'kind of.' He is one."
After replying to the system, Qiu Chi, playing the part of a heartbreaker, gave Jian Qiu a faint smile and said, "I didn't expect to see you here either. I'm very happy, too."
One man's joy is another's sorrow.
Jian Yu, who had been ecstatic just moments before because Qiu Chi was holding his arm, now had a dark expression on his face.
Meanwhile, Jian Qiu, who had been secretly plotting how to kill Jian Yu, was overjoyed. The smile on his face grew even more brilliant.
Before he could say anything, Jian Yu snorted coldly. "We have other business. We won't chat with you any longer."
With that, Jian Yu led Qiu Chi away.
Only after they had put some distance between themselves and Jian Qiu did Jian Yu lower his head to speak to Qiu Chi. "You know I've never gotten along with him. It hurts me to see you chatting so happily with him. Next time, could you please ignore him?"
【That sounds a little strange... and pitiful...】
Qiu Chi nodded in agreement, which finally satisfied Jian Yu.
For the rest of the evening, whenever Jian Qiu tried to approach, Jian Yu would lead Qiu Chi away, giving him no opportunity to interact with her.
By the end of the banquet, Jian Yu was in an exceptionally good mood, while Jian Qiu was thoroughly frustrated.
Though he still wore a smile, his eyes seemed to be suppressing something as he stared darkly at Jian Yu.
Qiu Chi could sense that Jian Qiu had nearly reached his limit. He was itching to kill Jian Yu right then and there.
In everyone else's eyes, Qiu Chi was just a robot, and no one was inclined to cause trouble for a machine. Besides, Jian Yu's past debauchery had been so outrageous that Jian Qiu was the clear choice for any prospective son-in-law or husband.
Thus, throughout the entire evening, aside from his initial words to Qiu Chi, he didn't speak to her again.
Jian Yu, on the other hand, brought Qiu Chi with him as he cheerfully discussed business with others.
Following by his side, Qiu Chi gave him a surprised look.
Jian Yu noticed her gaze and couldn't help but feel a little smug.
After concluding a deal, he said, "Don't be too surprised. I'm at least this capable."
Qiu Chi didn't hold back her praise. "Not bad."
Having received her praise, Jian Yu grew even more pleased. He felt that bringing Qiu Chi out had been an exceptionally good decision.
He hadn't missed the ugly expression beneath Jian Qiu's fake smile. Ha!
What good would getting angry do? Whether she was Alice or Qiu Chi, she was his.
After the banquet, Jian Yu prepared to take Qiu Chi home.
However, they were stopped outside by Jian Qiu.
Jian Qiu was still smiling, but it wasn't a pleasant sight—it was even a little frightening. "Xiao Yu, are you heading back to the manor? It's on my way. Let's go together."
Jian Yu immediately refused. "It's not on the way. I'm going back to the old family residence."
Then, Jian Yu turned to Qiu Chi. "You haven't been to the old residence in a long time, either. Mother misses you."
With that, Jian Yu ignored Jian Qiu and led Qiu Chi directly to the car.
Before getting in, Qiu Chi even curved her lips into a small smile for Jian Qiu.
Jian Qiu stared after them with a dark expression, then took out his phone.
"Arrange a car accident. If the crash doesn't kill him, finish the job yourselves."
The robot Jian Yu had custom-ordered was surely made of the best materials. Even if it were damaged, it could be repaired, so Jian Qiu wasn't worried about anything happening to Qiu Chi.
The desire to kill Jian Yu now completely consumed his thoughts.
He never knew Jian Yu was so capable of stoking his rage.
In hindsight, the old, debauched Jian Yu had been much easier on the eyes.
Jian Qiu had long been planning to kill Jian Yu; he was only now putting his plan into action.
The moment Jian Qiu made the call, people on the other end arranged for robots to prepare immediately.
This world was actually quite cruel. Deaths resulting from family infighting were perfectly normal. How a person died was unimportant; what mattered was who was left standing.
Take Jian Qiu's father, for instance. How could the rightful family heir have just disappeared?
It was less a disappearance and more a failed assassination, and now he was back.
Jian Yu's father had kept the man in the Jian family for one reason: to temper his own son.
Who could have predicted that Jian Yu would back down halfway through and retreat into a life of debauchery?
Jian Yu's father had nearly given up on him to cultivate Jian Qiu instead. Fortunately, Jian Yu hadn't completely lost his senses and had now finally regained his fighting spirit.
Jian Qiu knew all this, but unlike his father, he was supremely confident in himself. He believed he would be the ultimate victor.
After all, hadn't Jian Yu easily fallen for his provocations back then and descended into debauchery?
How could a pampered young master who had never known hardship possibly compare to him?
In terms of cunning, the pampered Jian Yu was indeed no match for Jian Qiu, who had wallowed in the mud since childhood. But when it came to ruthlessness, the two were evenly matched; after all, the blood of the Jian family flowed in both their veins.
At present, Jian Yu was indeed a bit naive.
But Jian Yu was the male lead, after all, and his growth required a catalyst.
The complete destruction of his custom-made robot while saving him was that very catalyst.
In the original plot, even though Jian Yu didn't realize he liked Alice, it didn't stop him from killing Jian Qiu to avenge her. Or perhaps it was just to vent his own anger.
Qiu Chi watched the car hurtling toward them, feeling completely calm.
Their car had no escape route; they were boxed in on all sides by vehicles Jian Qiu had arranged. He was dead set on killing Jian Yu.
As the car to their left rammed directly into them, Jian Yu's first instinct was to shield Qiu Chi.
Qiu Chi placed a small protective array on Jian Yu—just enough to keep him from dying—then shoved the car door open and pushed him far away.
Then, all four cars crashed into them at once. Flames shot into the sky, and from outside came Jian Yu's roar: "No!"
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