C8 8

Tong Nianyu had no idea where Tong Qing had picked up such a trick. It left her in excruciating pain, too angry to speak and too frightened to voice it. All she could do was stare with eyes wide, her face etched with humiliation and defiance. "Not going to hit back?" Tong Qing scoffed. "Fine, keep suffering then." With that, she tossed the phone back to Nianyu and stood up to leave. In a panic, Nianyu blurted out, "Wait!" Tong Qing turned to her, an air of patience about her. "I... I'll do it..." With shaking hands, Nianyu picked up the phone from the ground and dialed a number. Minutes later, Tong Qing received a call from Chiang Nan, who reported that Shen Wanqiu had been returned to her hospital room. Concerned, Chiang Nan peppered her with questions about her whereabouts and what she had been doing. It was a long story, too complicated to explain in a hurry. "I'll explain later," Tong Qing said. Chiang Nan accepted the response and hung up without further inquiry. Tong Qing pocketed her phone and faced Nianyu, who was drenched in sweat from the pain, looking as though she had just been dragged out of water. Locking eyes with Tong Qing, Nianyu clenched her jaw and spat, "I did what you asked. She's back in her room. What more do you want?" Tong Qing said nothing. She simply pulled out the silver needles she always carried. Nianyu shuddered instinctively, wanting to escape, but her body was too weak to move. Without hesitation, Tong Qing took Nianyu's hand and inserted several needles. Almost immediately, the agonizing pain that had plagued Nianyu vanished as if by magic. Nianyu lowered her gaze, her complexion ghostly. This despicable woman had such skills at her disposal. Tong Qing's lips curled slightly. "I know what's going through your mind. Come at me if you dare, but if you lay a finger on my mother, you'll face consequences far worse than today." Her voice held no humor, and her eyes were as deep and chilling as a frozen lake, brimming with icy resolve. Nianyu's face tightened, turning an ugly shade as she struggled to respond. Tong Qing turned and walked away without giving her another glance.

Inside the CEO's office at FOR Group, Fu Chijing sat in his wheelchair by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a phone in his hand and a wry smile on his lips as he listened to the Fu family patriarch's ramblings on the other end of the line. "You finally got married, and yet you don't want a grand wedding. Aren't you shortchanging my granddaughter-in-law?" "And another thing, if there's no wedding, at least bring her over so I can meet her, right?" "Grandfather," Fu Chijing interrupted, "she's young, and I'm worried you might intimidate her." He hadn't been averse to bringing her; he had only just managed to coax her to his side. What if the old man frightened her away? The old man retorted angrily, "What are you implying? Do I look like a monster? You're saying I scared her, and we haven't even met." Fu Chijing tried to interject, but the old man was having none of it. "I don't want to hear it. Next month is my birthday, and I've planned a family banquet. You must bring her, no excuses." Reminded by his grandfather, Fu Chijing suddenly remembered that the old man's seventieth birthday was indeed approaching. If he continued to hide her away, he couldn't blame his grandfather for being upset. "Fine," Fu Chijing said, pressing his temples. "I'll bring her next month." After placating the old man, Fu Chijing ended the call. His fingers, well-defined and deliberate, tapped against the armrest of his wheelchair as he lost himself in thought. A knock at the door pulled him from his reverie. Fu Chijing steadied himself and called out, "Come in." His assistant, Soong Shi, entered, his sharp features etched with urgency. "Sir, there's been an issue at the hospital. It seems Mrs. Fu hasn't made her payment on time, and they're threatening to evict Ms. Shen." Fu Chijing's expression turned grave. "When did this happen?" "Around 10:00 this morning." It was already noon. Fu Chijing's thoughts turned to Tong Qing, alone and unsupported in his past life, and his heart clenched painfully.

As he approached the door, Fu Chijing suddenly called out, "Stop."

"Sir?" Soong Shi turned, his expression confused, to face Fu Chijing. The man had regained his usual composure, his face set in its customary indifference. "Where is Tong Qing?" Soong Shi hesitated, then answered, "Madam first visited the hospital, then she returned to the Tong family. It seems she went back to borrow money from them." Having been tasked by Fu Chijing to check on Tong Qing after a recent fire incident, Soong Shi was somewhat familiar with the dynamics between her and the Tong family. Fu Chijing's gaze turned icy and penetrating, and he remained silent for a long stretch. Uncertain, Soong Shi ventured, "Sir, are we heading to the Tong family's place or the hospital?" A slight smile played on Fu Chijing's lips. "To the hospital." Soong Shi was taken aback. "Not to the Tong family?" Just yesterday, Tong Qing had given Tong Nianyu a thrashing. Returning now to ask for money was likely to bring her more trouble. "No," Fu Chijing's voice was deep, tinged with a hint of pleasure. "To the hospital, to pick up your lady."

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