Yan Xi was certain she didn't know Liang Shuang, yet she couldn't understand why Liang Shuang was targeting her.
If it was solely because of her background, it didn't seem to add up.
Yan Xi narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Liang Shuang, and asked, "Who exactly are you? Why are you speaking to me like this?"
"I am Qiao Wei."
Liang Shuang looked at Yan Xi, a slight smile curving her lips. She knew revealing this name would undoubtedly make Yan Xi restless, but she said it anyway.
As expected, upon hearing the name, Yan Xi's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe the woman before her was He Yun's ex-wife, Qiao Wei, who had supposedly died two years ago.
What exactly had happened back then?
If Qiao Wei was alive, why didn't she return to the Qiao family? Why did she change her name to Liang Shuang and alter her appearance?
At this moment, all these questions flooded Yan Xi's mind. Yan Xi couldn't comprehend Qiao Wei's actions.
"My 'death' was to make He Yun feel guilty for the rest of his life. I want He Yun to know that he owes me, and he owes the Qiao family, forever. As for you, whether I'm alive or dead, I never intended to let you go. Yan Xi, you'd better be ready for what's coming."
Yan Xi looked at Qiao Wei before her. She was blinded by hatred. At this point, no matter what Yan Xi said, she wouldn't listen.
"Qiao Wei, you've truly gone mad. To make He Yun feel guilty, you disregarded your family's feelings and chose to fake your death. How could you do this to your parents?"
"Do I owe them?"
Qiao Wei recalled her father's illicit affair with Li Qin, Fu Yan Ting's paternal aunt. Li Qin had even committed adultery and bore a son with Qiao Yun Long.
Thinking of this, Qiao Wei's hatred for them intensified.
It extended to Fu Yan Ting as well.
To the current Qiao Wei, the whole world had wronged her. She wanted to become powerful and retaliate against everyone, against this world.
"Alright, Yan Xi, I don't want to waste my breath on you. If you're smart, you'll hand over the drug formula yourself. Or you can continue your research. If you don't hand it over, don't say it's me; even your maternal grandfather, Old Mr. Yao, won't let you off."
Qiao Wei paused here and then added, "Haven't you always wanted to know where your mother went? I can tell you now. She's dead, forced to death by Old Mr. Yao. Yan Xi, if you don't cooperate with us, your fate will be the same as your mother's."
Yan Xi was genuinely shocked by Qiao Wei's words.
Old Mr. Yao had come to pick Yan Xi up to bring her back to Kyoto. Yao Wan Qi was very warm towards Yan Xi, but Yan Xi felt that Yao Wan Qi was merely acting. Yan Xi couldn't feel any maternal love from her. Although the previous Yao Wan Qi had been erratic, she always protected Yan Xi, making Yan Xi feel warm inside.
Now, hearing Qiao Wei's words, Yan Xi realized that the real Yao Wan Qi was already dead, and the Yao Wan Qi living in the Yao family now was a fake, a killer hired by Old Mr. Yao.
How cruel could one be to act so decisively?
No matter what, Yao Wan Qi was his own daughter. How could he be so cruel to Yao Wan Qi?
Every time Yan Xi thought of this, she was consumed by rage.
Seeing Yan Xi's distressed expression, Qiao Wei felt even happier. She couldn't stand Yan Xi's smug, "innocent as a green tea" look, as if nothing concerned her.
If it weren't for Yan Xi, He Yun wouldn't have been so heartless towards her.
Every time she thought of these things, Qiao Wei's hatred for Yan Xi grew even stronger.
"If you're sensible..."
"Get out."
Before Qiao Wei could finish speaking, Yan Xi interrupted her.
Yan Xi couldn't calm herself down.
The thought of Yao Wan Qi being harmed and killed by them made Yan Xi lose all reason. She couldn't accept this fact.
What was Yao Wan Qi's fault? If Yao Wan Qi had any fault, it was being born into the Yao family and becoming a pawn of theirs.
Qiao Wei showed no intention of leaving. The angrier Yan Xi became, the happier Qiao Wei felt.
She looked at Yan Xi and said indifferently, "Yan Xi, if you're sensible, you'll obediently hand over the drug formula. If you do, perhaps I'll spare you this once out of respect for Old Mr. Yao. But if you refuse to hand over the formula, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"I told you to get out. Can't you understand plain language?"
This was the first time Yan Xi had lost her temper in front of Qiao Wei, clearly showing the immense blow Yao Wan Qi's suicide had dealt her.
Qiao Wei glanced at Yan Xi. This was the Yao family's residence; she didn't need to cause a scene that would attract onlookers just for revenge.
Qiao Wei knew what was more important. Causing a scene here between her and Yan Xi due to personal grudges wouldn't be good for anyone.
After careful consideration, Qiao Wei still left Yan Xi's room.
Now, Yan Xi was under house arrest by Old Mr. Yao. Even without Qiao Wei, Old Mr. Yao wouldn't let Yan Xi go. Since that was the case, Qiao Wei saw no need to create further complications.
Fu Yan Ting was in his hotel room, in a state of neither life nor death.
Everyone sneered, "Doesn't Fu Yan Ting have immense power?
It seems he's just average after all.
He's under house arrest. If Yan Xi doesn't hand over the drug formula, both Yan Xi and Fu Yan Ting will die."
The entrance to the Yao family residence was surrounded by plainclothes police officers. No one dared to provoke Old Mr. Yao, given his status in Kyoto.
Seeing these plainclothes police officers surrounding the Yao family, Old Mr. Yao couldn't help but frown. He snorted coldly and demanded, "You dare surround the Yao family? Are you tired of living?"
Although Old Mr. Yao was old, his tone was calm, yet those present were still awestruck by his authority.
Those who had worked for Old Mr. Yao for many years knew that he was already furious.
Old Mr. Yao's cold gaze swept across the plainclothes police officers, only to find that every face was unfamiliar. In Kyoto, he knew the faces of the people from the police department.
But these plainclothes police officers before him were strangers. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes. He needed to investigate whether they were genuine plainclothes police officers.
Suddenly, Fu Yan Ting appeared among the crowd. He looked at Old Mr. Yao and cut straight to the chase, asking, "Where is Yan Xi? I want to see her."
So it was Fu Yan Ting. Old Mr. Yao narrowed his eyes. Wasn't Fu Yan Ting already poisoned?
Why wasn't he dead yet?
Seeing him appear at the Yao family residence in such good health, Old Mr. Yao suddenly became suspicious of Fu Yan Ting.