Ning Fei had left.
His face was ashen when he departed, and Xu Mingzhi knew without a doubt that several girls would suffer that night.
As the gate closed, Xu Mingzhi felt a sense of relief.
He hurried to retrieve medical supplies from his drawer to tend to his daughter's wounds, but Xu Nianqing coldly stated, "You don't need to trouble yourself with my well-being; I can manage."
Xu Mingzhi scratched his head, appearing somewhat flustered.
"Daughter..."
"Don't blame me. I was also forced into this. If I hadn't done this, both you and I would be finished."
Xu Mingzhi glanced at the photos and added, "You shouldn't have gone looking for him. It would have been fine if Ning Fei hadn't discovered it, but now that he has, you can only hope he shows mercy."
Xu Nianqing remained silent. She stood up, returned to her room, and locked the door.
"You, sigh..."
He was helpless.
Inside the room.
Xu Nianqing took out her phone and typed a long message in the SMS box. Just as she was about to send it to Chen Jinzhao, she paused.
Should she send it?
If she did, given Chen Jinzhao's personality, he likely wouldn't let it go.
But if she didn't, Ning Fei would go looking for trouble with Chen Jinzhao.
If Chen Jinzhao wasn't forewarned, he could be severely harmed by Ning Fei.
For a moment.
Xu Nianqing was caught in a dilemma.
Ultimately.
The text message was never sent by Xu Nianqing. She knew it was like opening Pandora's Box; re-establishing contact with Chen Jinzhao would make it impossible to sever ties again.
The entire night passed, and Xu Nianqing found no sleep.
Coincidentally, Yu Mengzhi was also unable to sleep due to matters concerning Chen Jinzhao. As for Ning Fei, there was no need to mention it; he found several women in his villa for pleasure, staying up all night.
Chen Jinzhao, on the other hand, slept the soundest.
The next two days were the weekend, and he didn't have to go to the company. Chen Jinzhao returned to his old habits and began physical training.
After two days of high-intensity training, Chen Jinzhao's physical condition recovered well.
In another two to three months, he was confident he could recover forty to fifty percent of his peak strength, which was already astonishing.
Monday, back at work.
Liu Wenyu had been staring at Chen Jinzhao with a resentful gaze.
This was mainly because over the past weekend, Liu Wenyu had invited Chen Jinzhao out for drinks numerous times, but Chen Jinzhao had refused each time, leaving Liu Wenyu unable to trap him.
As the deadline he had promised Su Jinghui drew closer, Liu Wenyu's heart was filled with anxiety, like an ant on a hot pan.
However, Chen Jinzhao was completely unyielding, leaving him with no recourse.
As noon approached.
Liu Wenyu finally couldn't sit still any longer. He walked over to Chen Jinzhao's desk and said, "Captain Chen, would you do me the honor of having lunch? I heard there's a new teahouse nearby that's quite good."
"Don't refuse me, or you'll be disrespecting me."
"I also had a part to play in the Luo Xiaoli incident. If I don't treat you to a meal, I'll feel guilty."
Liu Wenyu had spoken to this extent, clearly revealing his intentions. Chen Jinzhao replied without hesitation, "Alright, I'll humbly accept your invitation."
"Great, I'll see you then." Liu Wenyu rejoiced inwardly.
As long as Chen Jinzhao agreed, everything would be easier from then on.
Before noon, Liu Wenyu left the company early, claiming to be going to the restaurant to book dishes. Chen Jinzhao inwardly chuckled, curious to see what Liu Wenyu was up to.
Half an hour later.
Chen Jinzhao also headed to the restaurant near the company and quickly found the private room Liu Wenyu had booked.
Liu Wenyu had been waiting there for a long time.
Liu Wenyu was very different today from his usual self. He was particularly enthusiastic and hospitable. As soon as Chen Jinzhao sat down, Liu Wenyu penalized himself with three cups of wine, apologizing to Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao looked at the cup of wine and asked, "Is there any medicine in this wine?"
His remark made Liu Wenyu's expression falter, and his eyes clearly darted away. Chen Jinzhao had guessed correctly—
The wine had been drugged.
Furthermore.
The drug was the new one Su Jinghui had bought from Southeast Asia last time.
If not for the time constraint, Liu Wenyu wouldn't have resorted to drugging him directly, as the risk was too great.
Although Liu Wenyu quickly regained his composure, his guilty expression couldn't escape Chen Jinzhao's notice.
To Chen Jinzhao, such tricks were too childish.
Chen Jinzhao sat down calmly without drinking the wine. He sighed and said, "Liu Wenyu, everyone in the company knows you're Su Zong's man, and I have a conflict with Su Zong. I really don't dare to drink this cup of wine."
Liu Wenyu hadn't expected Chen Jinzhao to see through their relationship so clearly. He quickly said, "That's just a dispute between higher-ups. We below should still unite. After all, you are now my superior."
"Is that so?" Chen Jinzhao asked with a half-smile.
"I remember that the people under me all listen to you, not me, their captain."
Liu Wenyu paused.
He then said with a fawning smile, "So that's how it is. I promise it won't happen again. From now on, everyone will listen to you."
"Don't you think this wine is poisoned?"
"I'll drink it to show you."
Liu Wenyu changed the subject, draining the wine from the cup in front of Chen Jinzhao, thereby proving he hadn't drugged it.
Afterward.
He used the same wine pot to pour wine for himself and Chen Jinzhao separately.
On the surface, there seemed to be no problem.
Chen Jinzhao glanced at the wine pot and quickly discovered the trick.
It was a yin-yang pot with two non-communicating inner compartments. If his guess was correct, the wine in one compartment was safe, while the other was poisoned. Liu Wenyu's clumsy trick was something he must have learned from somewhere.
Liu Wenyu, thinking he had gotten away with it, raised his glass to Chen Jinzhao and said, "Cheers?"
Chen Jinzhao smiled and swapped the cup in front of him with Liu Wenyu's. A bead of cold sweat immediately broke out on Liu Wenyu's forehead as he desperately tried, both openly and subtly, to get the cup back.
"Chen Jinzhao, what do you mean by this?! Don't you trust me?" Liu Wenyu feigned anger.
However.
Chen Jinzhao was completely unfazed. He said lightly, "Yes, I don't trust you. You'll drink both these cups of wine."
Liu Wenyu naturally refused.
If he drank one of the cups, which had been drugged, there would be serious consequences.
A deep sense of defeat turned into exasperation, and he slammed his palm on the table, saying, "Fine, since you won't give me any face, why should I be the one to fawn over you?"
Liu Wenyu stood up, about to leave.
Chen Jinzhao also stood up and blocked his path, smiling faintly, "Liu Wenyu, are you refusing to give me face? You'll drink these two cups of wine whether you want to or not, or you're not leaving."
Liu Wenyu was furious.
Before he could speak, Chen Jinzhao grabbed his chin and poured both cups of wine down his throat.
Only after ensuring the liquid had gone down was Liu Wenyu released.
"You unconscionable bastard!"
"Get out of my way! If anything happens to me, can you bear the responsibility?"