Liu Zhixi cried even harder, sobbing intermittently, "It was a woman named Quan Jiu. She was jealous of me being the female lead and bribed Xiao Dong to give me substandard fireworks. The explosion ruined my face, and Xiao Dong also slandered me online. My agency has terminated my contract, and the whole internet is cursing me. Ming Hao, if I still had you in my heart, I would be dead by now."
Zhuang Minghao was stunned. After a moment, his anger surged, "Who is this woman Quan Jiu? How come I've never heard of anyone like that in your family? Can't Uncle, Aunt, and your two brothers get revenge for you?"
Liu Zhixi continued to cry, "They were all deceived by that woman. Xiao Dong insists I instructed her, and I have no proof. Quan Jiu isn't part of our family, just shares the same surname. But she married Chu Rong and has the Chu family's backing. Mom and Dad are peace-loving types; they told me to swallow this loss and not pursue it."
"What? You were so terribly wronged, how can you not pursue it? That woman is ruthless. Why should you be lenient with her? It's just the Chu family; our Zhuang family has never feared anyone. Xi Xi, stop crying. I'll drag that woman in front of you, and you can take whatever revenge you want."
Liu Zhixi quickly advised, "Don't go. I'm just too upset and miss you too much, so I complained to you. Mom, Dad, and my brothers all like that woman. They're even inviting her over in a few days. If they misunderstand and think I instructed you to harm her, they'll be angry with me and disown me."
Zhuang Minghao angrily slammed his fists on the table, "This is outrageous! You are the most honored princess in the New City. How can Uncle and Aunt treat you like this?"
"Don't say that. Sometimes I even feel like I'm not their biological child. That's why I'm so afraid of angering them. I have to consider their feelings in everything I do, trying my best to satisfy them. So, Ming Hao, please don't go. If Mom, Dad, and my brothers find out, they'll surely abandon me."
Liu Zhixi sobbed, and Zhuang Minghao's heart ached. He comforted her while assuring her, "Don't worry, I won't reveal myself, nor will I reveal you. Xi Xi, wait for me. I will make that woman pay you back tenfold."
After hanging up, Zhuang Minghao immediately used his connections to inquire about this woman named Quan Jiu. The Zhuang family was one of the four prominent families, on par with the Quan family, with vast influence. Investigating someone's background was a matter of minutes. Soon, he obtained Quan Jiu's background information.
However, to his surprise, this woman named Quan Jiu was incredibly beautiful. The moment he saw her photo, his anger dissipated. He even forgot what Liu Zhixi looked like and couldn't tear his eyes away.
After staring at the photo for a long time, Zhuang Minghao finally came to his senses. Thinking of the woman's vicious nature, he quickly gathered a group of thugs from his clan and made arrangements.
...
After receiving Zhuang Minghao's assurance, Liu Zhixi felt much better, but she wasn't satisfied. After several inquiries, she obtained the contact information of Qu Yi, the eldest son of the Qu family, one of the four prominent families in the New City.
She used a secondary account to call him, and the call was quickly answered.
"Who is it?" a cold voice came from the phone.
Liu Zhixi, being a professional actress, was skilled with lines and dubbing.
She altered her voice to that of a young boy, "Who I am is not important. What's important is that your Qu family has an opportunity to replace the Quan family and become the head of the four families, commanding the entire New City."
Qu Yi raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes slightly, not asking further questions, waiting for the other party to volunteer information. Simultaneously, he wrote a message on a piece of paper and handed it to his assistant.
"Call information, signal band address."
The assistant understood and immediately went to the technical team. Within a minute, the equipment was set up.
Meanwhile, Liu Zhixi, not waiting for questions from the other end, continued, "I have information that is very beneficial to your Qu family. I can tell you, but it depends on whether you can give me what I want."
Qu Yi smiled faintly, "What do you want?"
"I want you to help me kill someone, and not just a quick death, as that would be too easy for her. I want you to peel off her skin, sever her tendons, but deliver her to me alive." Liu Zhixi said with venomous hatred.
Qu Yi's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of disdain and contempt in his eyes, but he said calmly, "The Qu family is one of the four prominent families; every move is being watched. I need to assess if your information is commensurate with the risk I'm about to take."
Liu Zhixi hadn't intended to keep him guessing. She said directly, "Quan Zhi Xi, the third daughter of the Quan family, is not their biological daughter. Their biological daughter is a woman named Quan Jiu, who is not from the New City. They were switched at birth. However, the Quan family now knows the truth, has conducted a paternity test, and is preparing to hold a ceremony to acknowledge her lineage in three days. All the prominent figures in the New City will be invited."
Qu Yi was slightly taken aback. After a moment, he asked in a deep voice, "Do you have proof?"
"I don't have proof, but I have no reason to lie to you. Hasn't your Qu family always wanted the New City's Imperial Seal held by the Quan family? If you want to know if it's true, capture that woman and threaten the Quan family. I guarantee they will obediently hand over the seal."
Qu Yi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Who is the person you want to kill?"
"Quan Jiu, the biological daughter of the Quan family. After you threaten the Quan family and obtain the seal, I want you to hand her over to me, not return her to the Quan family."
"You want our Qu family to be seen as untrustworthy." Qu Yi's emotions were unreadable.
"That's your problem. Figuring out how to exit gracefully shouldn't be too difficult for you," Liu Zhixi said.
Qu Yi, however, curved his lips into a slight smile, "Yes, I will investigate this matter."
Qu Yi glanced at the technical team. The technician nodded, indicating they had found something. Qu Yi then hung up.
"The incoming call came from an untraceable number, so we couldn't identify who it was specifically, but the signal originated from the Quan family's residence," the technician reported.
"The Quan family..." Qu Yi chuckled softly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Finally, he instructed, "Have someone check the Quan family's kitchen for any activity."
If a ceremony to acknowledge lineage was truly being planned, the kitchen would undoubtedly be busy with procurement preparations within three days.
The assistant acknowledged the order and immediately left to investigate. Within minutes, he returned.
"Young Master, confirmed reports indicate the Quan family's kitchen is sourcing various fruits and vegetables from different places."
Qu Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter, then stood up, "Have Black Panther ready. We're going to the outer city."
...
To see their biological sister, the two Quan brothers went to great lengths. Before six in the morning, they crept out of their respective rooms. As soon as they opened their doors, they bumped into each other. After a moment of standoff, they immediately started running.
"Big brother, respect the elders and cherish the young. I'm the younger brother, can't you give me some slack? Besides, you went yesterday, and it's not appropriate to go again today," Quan Tianxi slid down the banister.
Quan Tianyang caught up with Quan Tianxi in a few quick strides, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him back, "I am the elder brother, and the eldest son is like a father. How dare you disobey me."
"Our father is still alive, brother. Can you be a bit more virtuous?"
Quan Tianxi struggled free and finally reached the main entrance. To his surprise, as he pushed the door open, he collided with a dark figure. He looked closely and exclaimed in shock, "Dad, why are you up so early?"
Quan Maoheng's expression was a little stiff. After a pause, he cleared his throat and said with a solemn face, "As the head of the family, if anyone should go to see Jiu Jiu, it should be me."