Chapter 422: Chapter 422: Why Do You Want to Harm Me?
Lv Cancan didn’t want to let Dong Qingqing benefit from this.
If Nan Qiao could include them in the experiments, it was bad enough that Dong Qingqing wasn’t appreciative. But stealing their hard-earned results?
Nan Qiao calmed her down in a low voice, “Cancan, calm yourself first. Causing a scene without evidence won’t help, and it only gives others more of a reason to laugh at us.”
Lv Cancan stopped and went back to her seat.
“Qiaoqiao, I acted rashly.”
Huang Xue chimed in, “Good riddance that she left. When we win first place in the competition, it’ll make her livid!”
The three of them smiled knowingly at each other and continued working on the experiment.
…
Over on Li Xia’s side, she was analyzing the data Dong Qingqing had brought in.
“Are you sure this experiment data is yours?”
Dong Qingqing responded seriously, “It is. It’s all here. Since I’ve committed to partnering with you for this competition, I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Li Xia murmured an acknowledgment, asking no further questions.
However, her gaze drifted toward Nan Qiao’s direction, her eyes growing cold.
Li Xia: This time, I will take back everything that belongs to me!
…
Nan Qiao left the school and headed to Chen Xinwan’s beauty salon.
Chen Xinwan had messaged her, asking her to come over for some skincare and to leave work together afterward.
When Nan Qiao arrived at the salon, Chen Xinwan was waiting for her at the entrance.
“Qiaoqiao, my darling, you’re here.”
Chen Xinwan naturally took Nan Qiao’s hand. They walked together, looking like sisters.
As they walked toward a room, Nan Qiao noticed someone.
Nan Qiao stopped in her tracks. Chen Xinwan, still holding her hand, noticed that she had stopped and turned to look at her.
Nan Qiao didn’t say anything, her gaze fixed in the distance.
Chen Xinwan didn’t press her but waited quietly.
Nan Qiao turned and, upon meeting Chen Xinwan’s curious eyes, leaned closer and whispered something into her ear.
Chen Xinwan’s eyes widened in shock, her expression shifting to panic. “How can this be?!”
Nan Qiao replied, “Mom, let me go check it out.”
Chen Xinwan grasped her hand tightly. “Qiaoqiao, I’ll go with you. I can’t let you go alone.”
Faced with this situation, Chen Xinwan couldn’t leave Nan Qiao to handle it on her own, especially since it concerned both of them.
Together, they approached a room and stopped at the door.
Chen Xinwan knocked. A beautician answered and stepped out, gently closing the door behind her.
“I’ll handle this client personally. Please step aside for now.”
“Understood.”
Recognizing it was the owner herself, the beautician quickly complied.
Nan Qiao and Chen Xinwan entered the room. The client was already sitting upright.
The woman looked startled to see someone other than the beautician walk in.
“Who are you? Where’s the beautician?”
Nan Qiao sat down, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Speak. Why are you trying to harm us?”
The woman frowned in annoyance. “What are you talking about? Harm you? I’ve done nothing!”
Although Chen Xinwan didn’t fully understand what Nan Qiao was implying, she stayed silent, sitting by Nan Qiao’s side and letting her take charge.
Nan Qiao said, “You applied juice from the traction flower on your skin. Coming to a beauty salon for treatment with it would cause a reaction with the skincare products. Am I right or not?”
The woman stared at Nan Qiao in shock but quickly masked her emotions.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Nan Qiao sneered. “Don’t know? If that’s the case, we’ll call the police and have them take you to the hospital for an examination!”
The woman stood up immediately, attempting to leave. Nan Qiao blocked her path, her piercing eyes glaring at her fiercely. “Talk. Who sent you here?”
Chen Xinwan finally connected the dots—this woman was here to harm her!
A scandal at her beauty salon, coupled with the inevitable online uproar, would certainly deal a devastating blow to her business.
Nan Qiao continued, “You can stay silent. But when the police arrive, you’ll have to talk whether you like it or not.”
Panicked, the woman tried to shove past Nan Qiao to escape, but Nan Qiao didn’t budge an inch.
Nan Qiao kicked her. “If you have the nerve to harm others, how do you not have the courage to face the consequences?”
Chen Xinwan, now furious, demanded, “Talk! Who’s behind this? Who would go to such lengths to hurt me?”
Clutching her stomach, the woman shook her head. “I don’t know who they are. I’m just doing this for the money.”
Nan Qiao didn’t buy it and continued interrogating her.
After a lengthy questioning, the woman couldn’t provide any useful information.
Nan Qiao couldn’t help but think of Jiang Linyu’s usual tactics.
The only people she had offended recently were Jiang Linyu and Ren Yongshi’s families. As for Du Qianqian, her crowd wasn’t yet aware of her involvement in this matter.
Unable to get any solid answers, Nan Qiao handed the woman over to the police.
She asked Chen Xinwan to call the police, and it wasn’t long before they arrived and took the woman away.
Nan Qiao also explained the substance applied on the woman and advised Chen Xinwan to remind her staff about it.
The faint scent was indeed detectable.
Nan Qiao detailed additional judging criteria before finally feeling at ease.
Chen Xinwan hadn’t anticipated being targeted in this way. If she hadn’t called Nan Qiao today, she’d have been overwhelmed with chaos.
“Qiaoqiao, my darling, thank you! You’re my lucky star.”
“Mom, these people are targeting me. When they couldn’t find a better way, they turned to those close to me.”
“Qiaoqiao, you’re my daughter. Targeting you is no different from targeting me. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.”
Holding Nan Qiao’s hand, Chen Xinwan couldn’t hide her unease.
These people were now openly opposing her, and she couldn’t help but worry about the hidden dangers around Nan Qiao.
The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. She wished she could take on all the risks herself so that Nan Qiao could be safe and secure.
“Mom, don’t worry. These are minor issues. I can handle them without any real danger, trust me.”
Chen Xinwan sighed silently to herself, her heart aching all the more.
…
As Nan Qiao and Chen Xinwan left together, Nan Qiao’s phone rang.
Rong Miao was calling to invite her to dinner.
Having turned them down so many times, this time Nan Qiao didn’t refuse.
After informing Chen Xinwan, Nan Qiao made her way to the restaurant.
Both Rong Yan and Rong Miao were already there.
Seeing Nan Qiao walk in, Rong Miao excitedly approached her, looping her arm through Nan Qiao’s. “Sister Qiaoqiao, you’re finally here! I’ve invited you so many times, I thought you’d reject me again.”
“I really was too busy before. Today, I finally had time.”
Nan Qiao sat down. Rong Yan used hot water to rinse a cup and poured her some warm water.
“Mr. Qiao, have some water.”
Nan Qiao replied, “When we’re out, you don’t need to call me Mr. Qiao. Just call me Nan Qiao.”
Rong Yan chuckled but made no move to change the title.
Rong Miao handed her phone to Nan Qiao. “Sister Qiaoqiao, my lyrics got picked up by a record label!”
Taking the phone, Nan Qiao scanned the message and smiled brightly.
“Miaomiao, congratulations!”
“Sister Qiaoqiao, I should thank you. Without your guidance and help, I wouldn’t have achieved this.”
“Miaomiao, you’re talented in your own right.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Rong Miao continued chatting with Nan Qiao.
The three of them ordered a feast, eating and talking as they went.
Not long after dinner, Rong Miao proposed going out for karaoke, but Nan Qiao’s phone rang.
Nan Qiao answered the call.