She endured the excruciating pain, took a deep breath, and truthfully said, "It's because I received a text from Miss Nan saying the design draft could be submitted later, and the competition was delayed."
"Nonsense! How could I possibly send you a text about submitting it later? Even if it was delayed, why wouldn't you bring the design draft over earlier, instead of waiting until the last minute?"
Agitated, Nan Shiqing yanked the woman a few times.
The woman timidly assured them, her eyes filled with fear, "I'm really not lying. My phone is in my bag. You can look if you don't believe me. Mine is a gesture lock, just an 'L'."
Pragmatism dictated she was wise. If she didn't compromise with this mother and daughter, she wouldn't even survive!
"Ms. He, Miss Nan, let's not talk about the remaining five million. I don't want it anymore. Just let me go, please?" The woman cried, tears streaming down her face, the fear in her eyes more pronounced.
Now that she was tied up by the mother and daughter, especially seeing the ruthlessness in Nan Shiqing's eyes, if she died at their hands, it would truly be a loss far outweighing any gain!
"Don't waste any more words on her, take her phone," He Xia directly ordered Nan Shiqing, her gaze sharp as she looked at the woman.
The next second, Nan Shiqing retrieved the phone from the woman's bag.
Opening the woman's phone, Nan Shiqing went straight to the messaging interface. As soon as she scrolled, she found the text message the woman claimed 'she' had sent.
The number was hers, and the message was in her tone:
— 'Nan Shiqing': [Are you there? The exam time has been extended. If your design draft isn't ready yet, you can give it to me later.]
Nan Shiqing was instantly enraged. She threw the phone at the woman, "Are you an idiot? I'm taking an exam. Even if the exam was delayed, I wouldn't let you submit your design draft later! Besides, phones are confiscated in major competitions. Would I send you a text like this?"
She was so infuriated by the woman's stupidity that she felt like spitting blood. She wanted to kill her and couldn't help but curse the woman a few more times.
Though repeating herself, her words were even more venomous than before.
Damn it! Damn it! It was Mu Yinyin again!
This matter was so clandestine, yet she still managed to find their contact!
He Xia also found the surveillance footage through a staff member. The person who handed over the black box was wearing a baseball cap and did so under the guise of delivering water.
Nan Shiqing, however, was certain it was Mu Yinyin.
"Mom, that assistant, Xiaolu, could appear directly on the on-site display screen, which means he's good with computers, or he has someone capable around him. This number must have been specially processed to appear as mine. Mu Yinyin did all of this!"
Besides Mu Yinyin, no one would go to such lengths.
He Xia sneered coldly, "Of course I know Mu Yinyin did all this. Do you think I tied them up here just to listen to them talk, watch surveillance footage a few times, and check their phones?"
"I know, you want me to see clearly and not be so foolish anymore. Mom, I know I've disappointed you, but don't worry, this won't happen again. I will get revenge for this, and I will rise again!" Nan Shiqing gritted her teeth, her fingernails digging fiercely into her palm.
However, He Xia ignored Nan Shiqing's newfound determination and asked the most practical, most cutting question—
"Have you contacted Fu Siye?"
When Fu Siye wasn't mentioned, Nan Shiqing was filled with rage and confidence.
But the moment Fu Siye was brought up, Nan Shiqing deflated like a leaky balloon, her emotions changing instantly. She cried, tears streaming down her face, "Mom, I can't get through to him. He abandoned me..."
"Then how can you be so confident about rising again? If you want to rise again, Fu Siye is crucial. You must deliver all that information to Fu Siye immediately!"
Before Nan Shiqing could finish speaking, He Xia interrupted her.
He Xia shot her a fierce glance, filled with disappointment.
"Also, can you calm down when something happens? You just cry whenever something happens. Can crying solve anything?"
Seeing Nan Shiqing's face covered in tears, He Xia was furious.
Her most proud daughter had become like this now?
She clenched her fists, wishing she could slap Nan Shiqing.
But ultimately, she was her daughter, and no matter how angry she was, she couldn't bring herself to lay a hand on her.
Nan Shiqing spoke hoarsely, "I don't want to cry either, but I'm scared. I can't control myself. You said all this needs to be given to Fu Siye, but he doesn't even answer my calls or reply to my messages now. How can I give it to him?"
With communication severed, she didn't even know his exact location.
Without knowing his exact location, where could she find him?
Hearing Nan Shiqing's words, He Xia broke out in a sweat.
Even she found Nan Shiqing's incessant crying irritating, let alone Fu Siye, who knew everything. Crying certainly wouldn't solve the problem.
Even if she could find someone to ascertain Fu Siye's location now, could Nan Shiqing forcefully deliver this information to him?
"Mom, don't be silent, I'm so scared..."
Seeing He Xia's silence, Nan Shiqing became even more frightened.
Her heart pounded even harder.
Her throat felt dry as smoke, as if something foreign was stuck there.
He Xia was already racking her brain for a solution, and Nan Shiqing's panicked plea made it even harder for her to think of anything. "You're scared, don't you think I'm scared too? Mu Corporation's stock has plummeted due to Mu Yinyin's influence. If we don't hold onto Fu Siye quickly, Mu Corporation will collapse. What's the point of our existence then? To let Mu Yinyin see Mu Corporation for free?"
If that were the case, why would she have taken that risky gamble in the first place?
A risky gamble? She had it!
He Xia's eyes lit up, her voice filled with undisguised joy. "Shiqing, if you want to win back Fu Siye's heart now, you must become his benefactor once more."
"Mom, what are you talking about? Benefactor?" Nan Shiqing was completely confused; she couldn't grasp the specific meaning of He Xia's words.
He Xia smirked proudly. She beckoned, and Nan Shiqing walked closer.
Then, she leaned down and whispered.
Nan Shiqing's face paled, and she immediately stepped back in a panic, looking at the person before her in disbelief. "Mom, how can you suggest such a thing..."
Before she could finish, He Xia grabbed Nan Shiqing's shoulders, even using some force. "Shiqing, it's come to this. We have to do this. We have no other choice."
For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent.
Neither of them spoke, but they gazed at each other.
After a long pause, Nan Shiqing murmured, "Do we really have to do this?"