Qin Qing was test-driving the car in the large courtyard. Ji Mingtang sat in the passenger seat, gripping the seatbelt with both hands, looking scared but with a pure, childlike smile on his face.
“Grandfather, can you feel the acceleration?” Qin Qing turned the steering wheel.
“Yes. My grandson is so skilled, almost as good as an F1 driver.” Ji Mingtang was full of nonsense praise, then excitedly promised, “I’ll buy you a car tomorrow. Even better than this one.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.” Qin Qing didn’t refuse. His smile was bright. He knew that accepting all the love his family gave him was the only way to make them truly happy.
Considering his grandfather’s blood pressure and that he shouldn’t get too excited, Qin Qing drove two laps before dropping him off at the door and continuing to test-drive the car. Standing on the steps, Ji Lan hurried to support Ji Mingtang. Qin Guangyuan also walked out, smiling as he watched his grandson drive.
“What, you’ve come to your senses? You can tell who’s family now?” Ji Mingtang spoke quietly.
Ji Lan’s eyes never left her son’s happy, carefree face.
“It’s strange. I’ve bought Zishi four or five cars,” she murmured, “but I’ve never felt this happy and satisfied.”
Ji Mingtang glanced at his daughter and snorted, “That’s because Qin Zishi has too much. Nothing special is special to him. No matter how good you are to him, he’s never satisfied, and neither are you. His heart is a bottomless pit.”
Ji Lan thought about it, and her expression suddenly cleared. Just then, a call came in. Ji Lan took out her phone and saw it was Qin Zishi. She instinctively looked at Ji Mingtang, then at Qin Guangyuan. They had both seen the caller ID but didn’t react. Whether or not she took the call was her choice. Ji Lan gripped her phone, her finger hesitating over the answer button.
Qin Qing drove by with the top down, raising his arm and calling out happily, “Mom.”
Ji Lan quickly looked up and smiled back, nodding. Her finger, which had been about to answer the call, suddenly changed direction and pressed “Decline.”
The phone screen went dark, and Qin Zishi’s face was even darker. The call wasn’t missed. It was cut off. What did that mean? It meant even Ji Lan no longer valued him. It meant he would never go back to the Qin family. Qin Zishi put down his phone, his fingers trembling involuntarily. Fear, panic, confusion. He had completely lost his direction. The phone vibrated, and a WeChat message popped up: [What’s going on? I saw Qin Qing test-driving a car in your yard. Where are you? Got kicked out?]
It was Qin Zishi’s friend, who lived next door to the Qin family. [Your parents don’t want you anymore?] Another wealthy friend texted. Everyone in the same circle could see who was gone and who was thriving. The circle was tight and also realistic. Once you fell behind, you could never rejoin. On Qin Qing’s birthday, Qin Zishi had used his connections to suppress him completely. But in just a few months, the situation had completely reversed. The heir’s position, billions in assets, connections and resources in the circle, and even his career, had all been taken over by Qin Qing. How was he supposed to live now? Fate wasn’t supposed to be like this.
Qin Zishi pressed his fists on the desk, filled with jealousy and resentment. The news that Qin Qing was a rich second-generation quickly spread throughout the company, but it didn’t make his work any easier. He still had to work overtime, memorize laws, and run endless errands. Fortunately, Qin Qing wasn’t afraid of hard work and studied diligently. Within half a month, he had integrated into the group. Of course, a few colleagues disliked him and liked to play tricks behind his back.
“Qin Qing, organize these financial statements today. They need to be submitted to President Xu tomorrow.” Pang Yong’an placed a five- or six-pound stack of documents on Qin Qing’s desk.
How messy would the financial statements of a bankrupt company be? He wouldn’t finish in a few hours, let alone by the end of the day. Qin Qing looked up at Pang Yong’an, whose eyes held a hint of malice and smugness. He picked up the stack of forms and walked around the office. He placed two reports on each colleague’s desk. After one circuit, all the reports had been distributed. No one felt it was abrupt, and no one protested. These reports were meant to be shared; otherwise President Xu wouldn’t have said they needed to be submitted tomorrow.
Pang Yong’an’s attempts to make things difficult for Qin Qing were like child’s play. Pang Yong’an was experienced in bullying newcomers. He’d give them a heavy workload, criticize them for not finishing, and deduct their bonuses. Within half a month, they’d be completely submissive. Pang Yong’an had used this psychological manipulation to subdue many new employees. But Qin Qing’s actions had genuinely angered him. The frustration was secondary. The most embarrassing thing was that everyone in the office was watching him with mocking eyes. From now on, he would no longer be respected or feared.
Pang Yong’an was livid. He slammed his desk and shouted, “Qin Qing, you-”
Before he could finish, someone burst in through the door: “Excuse me, is your department handling POC’s debt issues?”
Pang Yong’an and Qin Qing turned toward the office entrance. A haggard-looking man in shabby clothes stood there, his face tense and nervous.
“Yes, our company is planning to acquire POC, and we’re handling their debts. Which creditor are you?” Qin Qing immediately took out the debt registration form.
Pang Yong’an, unable to vent his anger, thought about how this acquisition was supposed to be his project and his merit. He snatched the form from Qin Qing and led the middle-aged man to his desk. Pang Yong’an sat down and crossed his legs. The middle-aged man stood nervously beside him, taking out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offering one to Pang Yong’an. It was cheap and low-quality. Pang Yong’an refused with a look of disgust on his face. The middle-aged man lowered his head, his back bent, as if all his dignity had been stripped away.
Qin Qing looked at the scene and continued his work. A moment later, after Pang Yong’an said something, the middle-aged man dropped to his knees, hugging Pang Yong’an’s leg and begging. Pang Yong’an kicked at him in panic, but the man held on tighter. The once-quiet office became restless. 996 ran in with a bag of chips and quickly hid under Qin Qing’s desk.
“What’s going on, meow?” It tore open the bag with its chubby paws.
“POC owes wages to its employees. They’re here to demand payment.” Qin Qing slid his chair back, then bent down to look under the desk. “I’ve heard colleagues say snacks in the break room are disappearing fast. Are you the one eating them?”
“Free food. If it’s free, I’ll eat it.” 996 shoved chips into its mouth, making happy noises.
“I’ll replace what you eat. At this rate, you’ll eat the microwave and coffee maker too. Have you gained weight? You don’t have a neck anymore.” Qin Qing frowned.
“None of your business.” 996 bared its teeth.
“If it doesn’t affect your health, I won’t care.” Qin Qing shook his head and looked back at Pang Yong’an and the middle-aged man, who were entangled.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept in days. His dark skin was an unhealthy reddish-purple. Veins and blood vessels bulged on his forehead and neck. His face reflected extreme agitation. This man could snap at any moment. Qin Qing frowned more deeply. He put down his work and walked over slowly.
“I told you, we haven’t started paying wages yet. Come back on the sixth of next month. Your daughter is sick, not dead. What are you in such a hurry for? When she dies, we’ll pay for the funeral too. Get lost. Don’t bother me. Damn lunatic.”
Pang Yong’an slammed his knee into the man’s head. The man cried out and fell back. He got up, clutching Pang Yong’an’s pant leg with one hand, while the other hand slipped into his pocket. He looked up, his eyes wild and fierce. No one could curse his daughter to death.
In that instant, Qin Qing suddenly spoke: “It’s thirty thousand, right? We’ll pay you today. Write a receipt.”
The middle-aged man froze.
Pang Yong’an roared, “Qin Qing, you don’t make the decisions here. The company has rules for when we pay debts. I won’t approve this.”
The man, who had just shown a glimmer of joy, looked at Pang Yong’an in despair.
Qin Qing took out his phone and said calmly, “You don’t need to approve it. I’ll transfer the money from my account.” He held out his phone to the man, his tone gentle: “Come on the sixth of next month to get your wages, then pay me back.”
The middle-aged man stared at Qin Qing in disbelief.
Pang Yong’an laughed in anger: “Qin Qing, trying to play the hero? We’re still verifying if his wages are actually thirty thousand. If it’s less, are you going to cover the difference? You’re breaking the rules. I’ll report this to President Xu. Our department values rules. Public and private are separate. If you can’t tell them apart, there’s no place for you here. You can wait to be fired.”
Pang Yong’an slammed the debt form on the table and stormed toward the department head’s office.
“Qin Qing, forget it. Don’t get involved. People are dying to get into Lanyu. Why make trouble for yourself?” A female colleague advised.
“We’re not refusing to pay, just verifying. Stop making a scene. Leave now, or I’ll call security.” Another female colleague threatened with a phone in hand.
The middle-aged man looked at Qin Qing with trembling, cracked lips, desperate but hopeful.
Qin Qing ignored the others and held out his phone. “Show me your payment code. I’ll scan it.”
The man’s eyes lit up. He immediately took out his phone. A ding signalled the transfer of thirty thousand yuan. The man wrote an IOU, thanked Qin Qing profusely, and left the office in tears.
Qin Qing looked at the IOU, his expression showing “I knew it.”
“You gave him the money?” A magnetic voice came from behind.
Qin Qing quickly turned and bowed: “Yes, President Xu.”
“You broke the rules.” Xu Yizhi said flatly.
Pang Yong’an, standing nearby, wore a smug smile. Wasn’t this new employee so cocky? Where was that attitude now? He wouldn’t have to see that disgusting face tomorrow. It felt great.
“If I hadn’t given him the money, there might have been a murder here. If word got out, it would have damaged the company’s reputation.” Qin Qing said honestly.
“Murder? What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind?” Pang Yong’an was the first to laugh.
996 poked its head out from under the table, watching curiously. Everyone found it ridiculous. They shook their heads, some looking pitying, others suppressing laughter. Only Xu Yizhi watched Qin Qing quietly, saying nothing.
Qin Qing looked back and asked seriously, “President Xu, do you trust me?”
This question reminded Xu Yizhi of something.
“What I hate most is being misunderstood, doubted, denied, and ignored.”
“What I desire most is to be trusted, chosen, and cherished.”
So, Qin Qing had always been doubted and misunderstood like this, often followed by abandonment and betrayal.
Xu Yizhi’s eyes darkened. Then he said softly, “I trust you.” He took out his phone and made a call: “Security? Copy and send up all the surveillance footage of the middle-aged man who just came in.”
Qin Qing stared at him blankly. If he trusted him, why look at the footage?
Xu Yizhi pressed Qin Qing’s shoulder, making him sit back down, and said warmly, “I trust you, but I want everyone else to trust you too.”
Qin Qing was stunned again. No one had ever said that to him. No one had ever done that for him. Trusting him and wanting others to trust him too. Qin Qing blinked, a glimmer of tears in his eyes, a bittersweet sting. He quickly lowered his head and wiped his moist eyes with his slender fingers. Xu Yizhi gently patted his back. Silent but gentle. Qin Qing’s restless heart slowly calmed. Over ten minutes later, security brought up a USB drive. Xu Yizhi stood behind Qin Qing, bent down, plugged it into his computer, and let everyone watch.
He looked at Pang Yong’an, his voice cold and deep: “Take a good look.”
On the screen, the middle-aged man asked the front desk and was allowed into the legal department based on his creditor status. He begged on his feet, on his knees, in tears. He was kicked, insulted, and cursed at. Qin Qing stepped forward, gave him thirty thousand yuan, and he left wiping his tears. Nothing unusual in the footage. Staring at the screen, Pang Yong’an showed a contemptuous expression. But the next second, his smug face twisted. The man went to the basement level, pulled a knife from his pocket, and threw it into a trash can. Xu Yizhi hit pause.
“Did you find the knife?” He asked the waiting security guard.
The guard nodded. “Yes.”
“See clearly now?” He asked Pang Yong’an, his tone severe.
Pang Yong’an was cold all over, unable to answer. Xu Yizhi rewound the footage. In the image, the man was knocked down by Pang Yong’an, one hand in his pocket, a wild, fierce look on his face. He paused again.
Xu Yizhi pointed to the hand in the man’s pocket. “If Qin Qing hadn’t stepped in then, where do you think you’d be now?”
Pang Yong’an’s legs gave way. He shook uncontrollably, unable to speak. If Qin Qing hadn’t been there, he would have been lying in a pool of blood. Qin Qing said there might be a murder. It was true.
“Still think Qin Qing handled it wrong?” Xu Yizhi patted Qin Qing’s shoulder and asked coldly.
Pang Yong’an’s teeth chattered. He was terrified. How could he say Qin Qing was wrong? Qin Qing had saved his life. As he was about to fall, someone caught him and led him to a chair.
Xu Yizhi picked up the IOU and pointed to a red mark in the corner. “See this bloody fingerprint? He hated you so much he didn’t even feel his hand cut by the knife. Thirty thousand is nothing to you, but it can save his daughter’s life. If you delayed her treatment, he would have torn you apart. Never underestimate a father’s determination.”
Pang Yong’an instinctively covered his stomach, as if he’d been stabbed. He couldn’t imagine being in such a life-or-death situation.
Xu Yizhi couldn’t stand looking at Pang Yong’an any longer. He leaned down and whispered in Qin Qing’s ear: “Your observation, adaptability, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills are all excellent. You’re perfect lawyer material. Don’t let this affect you. Keep up the good work. I’ll approve the reimbursement for the thirty thousand.”
Qin Qing nodded, then, after a few seconds, said sincerely, “President Xu, thank you.”
He looked up at this man with moist, tear-filled eyes, focused and intent. Now it was Xu Yizhi’s turn to be stunned. He hadn’t known such eyes existed, seemingly calm and clear, yet enough to drown you. Something warm, full, and overflowing rose from the emptiness in Xu Yizhi’s heart.
He chuckled softly, his hand on Qin Qing’s shoulder, and said gently, “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. I’ll always be here for you.”
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. I’ll always be here for you. When had anyone ever said that to Qin Qing on his long, perilous journey? Qin Qing pressed his pale lips together, his heart aching and warm.
He looked up at Xu Yizhi, unable to hide the gratitude in his hoarse voice: “President Xu, I’m so glad I chose you.”
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