Lin Xiaoya's tone was gentle as she spoke of Austin Academy, her eyes filled with memories.
She let out a soft laugh, "Speaking of which, my husband and I met at Austin Academy."
Lin Xiaoya looked up at Fang Yaozu with a tender gaze as she said this. Fang Yaozu chuckled.
Qin He's eyes flickered slightly. When the conversation had run its course, she pulled Gu Qichen to the side.
Moving away from Fang Yaozu and Lin Xiaoya, Qin He's expression turned serious, "Things have gotten complicated."
Lin Xiaoya, or rather Song Nuan, wouldn't be foolish enough to fabricate her alma mater. Her identity could be faked, but the academy was filled with people, and Fang Yaozu couldn't possibly make all her classmates lie.
Moreover, Austin was a prestigious institution, attended not just by Chinese nationals but by elites from all over the world.
Fang Yaozu would be even less capable of silencing all of them.
Therefore, there was only one possibility: Lin Xiaoya had indeed attended Austin Academy, and the stories about the flower vines were true.
Qin He touched her forehead, "Song Nuan has been missing for so long. Someone must have helped her in the interim, enabling her to attend school, undergo plastic surgery, and alter her voice."
Were these actions orchestrated by Fang Yaozu?
Gu Qichen stood beside Qin He, "Leave the investigation to me. Don't worry, even if I can't find anything, I'll make her disappear."
Qin He shook her head. She had hated Song Nuan in the past. Although time had passed, she still detested Song Nuan immensely, but it no longer caused her unbearable heartache.
"No need. Our goal today is the Qing Sui matter. I need evidence. As for Song Nuan, we can leave her be for now."
Since Song Nuan intended to settle in Qingcheng, there would be ample time to investigate.
Qin He scanned the attendees. Zhang Caiyu had arrived late for the annual gala, and Fang's seating arrangement was based on status.
Qin He and Gu Qichen were seated in the front row, center. Zhang Caiyu was in a corner seat at the very back.
Upon seeing Zhang Caiyu, Qin He strode directly towards her.
Zhang Caiyu was holding a glass of champagne, attempting to engage a wealthy young man in conversation. Her smile was strained, appearing somewhat forced.
Qin He walked up behind her and gently tapped her shoulder.
Zhang Caiyu jumped in surprise. Turning and seeing Qin He, her brow furrowed. She then looked at Qin He haughtily.
"Miss Qin, is there something you need?"
Now that Qin He was suspected of plagiarizing her Ku Fang, Zhang Caiyu felt she had the upper hand and unconsciously adopted an arrogant demeanor.
After all, with Fang's backing, things were different now.
Qin He smiled and cut straight to the chase, "Zhang Caiyu, it's been a while. You still love socializing just as much as before."
Zhang Caiyu knew Qin He had seen her attempting to strike up a conversation.
She had previously considered flattering Qin He while on the show, wanting to latch onto the powerful Qin family. However, Qin He had never given her the opportunity.
Zhang Caiyu scoffed, "Qin He, what right do you have to speak to me like this now? I thought you were here to plead for your brand. If not, then step aside. I don't have time for idle chatter."
She reached out to push Qin He, but Qin He smiled and raised her hand, catching Zhang Caiyu's wrist.
She applied a subtle force, gripping Zhang Caiyu's wrist. Zhang Caiyu's hand went numb, and she glared at Qin He.
"What? Are you going to hit me here? You, aren't you afraid I'll call for help? There are quite a few media reporters here!"
Qin He glanced at the reporters at the edge of the banquet hall, "Then let's talk somewhere else."
"I don't want to talk to you. Let go of me!" Zhang Caiyu said angrily.
During this time, their small altercation attracted the attention of a sharp-eyed reporter.
She picked up her camera and quietly aimed it in the direction of Qin He and Zhang Caiyu.
Qin He narrowed her eyes, looking at Zhang Caiyu, "Are you guilty? Zhang Caiyu, if you truly have nothing to hide, why are you afraid to talk to me? Don't worry, I won't use force against you."
Zhang Caiyu gritted her teeth, "Whatever you want to talk about, let's talk about it here!"
Qin He's eyes flickered, "Of course, it's about a settlement. Do you want to set your terms here?"
Zhang Caiyu's pupils brightened.
With Qing Sui's product launch imminent, Qin He was at her wit's end and wanted to buy her off with money?
Zhang Caiyu's mind began to race. Both the Qin and Gu families were immensely wealthy. She figured even if she asked for hundreds of millions, these two families would pay it to protect Qin He's reputation.
However—Zhang Caiyu looked at Qin He.
This woman had almost ruined her career. Although she had Fang's investment now, her reputation in the industry was already tarnished.
The sales of Cai Fang's perfumes had plummeted in the past few months.
With Fang's backing, she appeared glamorous on the surface, but she was hollow inside.
Zhang Caiyu dreamed of destroying Qin He, but Qin He was the eldest daughter of the Qin family and Professor Harlana.
Qin He's reputation was too good, too upright. She had received official commendations multiple times.
Even with this accusation of Qin He's Wild Tea plagiarizing her Ku Fang formula, where Qin He couldn't provide much evidence, people online overwhelmingly believed Qin He.
This was so unfair!
Zhang Caiyu stared intently at Qin He. She wanted money, and she wanted to destroy Qin He.
Thinking of the item she had brought in her bag, Zhang Caiyu nodded, "Okay, I'll go with you."
The two walked through the banquet hall. Qin He saw Gu Qichen about to follow and shook her head at him.
They found a quiet room on the first floor, which looked like a fitting room near the auditorium.
The fitting room was small, and it was clear at a glance that no one was inside.
There couldn't be any cameras in a changing room. Qin He nodded at Zhang Caiyu, "Please sit."
Zhang Caiyu sat down and quietly turned on the voice recorder in her handbag.
"Qin He, you called me here because you want to settle this privately?"
"Yes," Qin He replied, sitting on the chair opposite Zhang Caiyu.
Between them was a small round table with a jewelry display.
Zhang Caiyu tilted her chin, "How do you want to settle this?"
Qin He raised her eyebrows, "That depends on your terms. Qing Sui's new product series launch is approaching. What are your conditions, name them."
Zhang Caiyu's heart pounded with excitement. Seeing Qin He walking step-by-step into her trap, she grew even more exhilarated.
"I want five hundred million."
Qin He nodded, "I can agree."
Zhang Caiyu's hand tightened on her bag, "I also want a public apology."
Qin He frowned, then relaxed her expression, smiling mockingly, "An apology? How should I apologize? I, Qin He, plagiarized Zhang Caiyu's ingredient list, and I publicly apologize to her."
Qin He paused, then said sarcastically, "Do you want me to apologize publicly like this?"
Zhang Caiyu nodded.
Qin He chuckled coldly, "Zhang Caiyu, you clearly stole my ingredient list. I'm also troubled by the fact that I tend to memorize my spice formulas in my head. Don't you know who truly plagiarized whom?"
Zhang Caiyu's face revealed a ruthless smile, "At this point, does it even matter who plagiarized whom? People will believe you're the despicable plagiarizer."
Qin He crossed her arms, "I'm truly unlucky. Not only did you steal my ingredient list, but I also have to pay you five hundred million. Don't be too greedy. You're even asking me to apologize to you. Don't you feel any guilt after committing all these evil deeds?"