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Seems like it.

There might be hope for the alliance with the Qiao Corporation.

Fang Jingguo concealed his excitement and pretended to look toward the door. "Where's Younger Sister? Didn't she come?"

"I told you to bring A Yi along," Fang Jingguo deliberately put on a stern expression.

"Did you want A Yi to come?" Chu Yuening raised an eyebrow, not mentioning that A Yi didn't wish to come. Instead, she asked, "Why didn't you send a car to pick her up then? Fang Kaize has a sports car."

Fang Jingguo felt mortified by the exposure. "I am, after all, a CEO; running the company keeps me quite occupied."

"Never mind if you didn't come. Next time, I'll personally pick you up! Come, let me show you the new mansion I bought - it's a spacious 500 square meters. I've specially reserved a room for you and A Yi, along with a huge wardrobe. I'll buy you both more clothes when the time comes."

Chu Yuening ignored Fang Jingguo's deliberate attempts to please her, striding past him with her long legs.

Her cold indifference was like a slap in Fang Jingguo's face.

Fang Jingguo tried to save face with a forced laugh. "Ah, young women truly have their whimsical moments."

"Willful?" Qiao Xing's temper flared. He retorted, "Sister isn't homeless. If she's willing, any of the luxury properties under the Qiao Corporation are available for her to choose from."

Qiao Ziyuan's expression also turned cold.

The atmosphere became awkward.

Fang Jingguo forced himself to lead the way into the villa.

As Chu Yuening stepped into the house, a chilly gust of wind hit her in the face.

Sensitive to her surroundings, she lifted her gaze and sharply spotted the shrine in the living room. Inside it lay a large black toad with blood-red eyes staring straight at her.

Chapter 58

Qiao Xing followed inside. The icy cold was like being in an ice cellar, making him shiver as he wrapped his suit jacket tighter around himself. He looked around, surprised. "Huh? Isn't it unusually cold?"

He found it peculiar.

The coldest winter temperatures in Hong Kong usually didn't dip below ten degrees Celsius.

Logically speaking, it should be colder outside with the wind blowing. Why is it that the inside feels like an ice cellar?

Recalling the last time she witnessed the malevolent aura firsthand.

Qiao Xing's first instinct was that something was off, so he slowly made his way to Chu Yuening's side and whispered.

"Big Sister, is there something amiss about the Fang family's villa?"

"Mm-hmm," Chu Yuening softly acknowledged.

Qiao Xing wore a look of confirmation, instantly casting a disdainful glance at Fang Jingguo. Fang Jingguo was left utterly confused by the glare.

In the hall, many businesspeople were seated.

They represented various industries.

Chu Yuening's gaze was fixed on the thin golden threads hovering above the living room. They extended from the guests, shimmering faintly as they drifted through the air, gradually converging towards the golden toad.

"The person sitting in the corner is the managing director of HSBC."

Her gaze shifted back to Qiao Ziyuan.

Qiao Ziyuan took the initiative to explain, "Most of the people here hold considerable influence in the business world."

Noticing that Chu Yuening had been observing the guests in the living room, he assumed she was interested and offered, "If you need it, I can arrange meetings with them for you."

"No need," Chu Yuening declined with a gentle smile.

Qiao Xing quickly shook his head and whispered, "Brother, Sister senses something's off here."

"Something off?" Qiao Ziyuan was quite surprised, and also puzzled.

Fang Jingguo seemed to have gained a significant number of connections overnight.

On the day he personally visited the Qiao Corporation, Qiao Ziyuan had somehow allowed him into his office, and they had promptly agreed on a joint land development project without much deliberation. In the past, such a decision would have required careful thought.

Countless golden threads were tied to the toad in the shrine box, forming an invisible web that spanned the entire living room.

The Fang family clearly employed malefic arts to borrow fortune.

Those whose luck was borrowed would inexplicably become close to the Fangs, using their own fortunes to support the family.

Chu Yuening took out two charms from her pocket and handed them to Qiao Xing and Qiao Ziyuan.

"Put them on."

Qiao Xing took the charm and promptly stuffed it into his suit's inner pocket, pressing it against his chest. He exhaled deeply. "Feeling safe now."

"Nothing beats the reassurance of a sister's charm."

Qiao Ziyuan rubbed the charm, a small yellow triangle with red runes inscribed on it.

Curiosity piqued within him.

"Did Erice use this kind of charm before?"

"Officer Zhou?" Chu Yuening had heard his English name before and nodded in response. "I gave him one previously."

"Thank you." Qiao Ziyuan affixed the life-saving talisman securely.

Instantly, he felt a chilly sensation dissipate, as if a warm sun had risen within him. The invisible golden thread in mid-air snapped.

"Certainly a valuable item for preserving one's life."

Realizing that the Fang family must have tampered with him, Qiao Ziyuan's usually composed expression turned grim.

"Ingratitude cannot repay such a great favor. Are you free on Wednesday? There's a newly opened Western restaurant with quite a delightful taste."

No sooner had Qiao Ziyuan finished speaking than the previously bustling living room fell silent.

All eyes were on them.

Who was Qiao Ziyuan?

He was the eldest son of the Qiao family, one of the three major tycoons in Hong Kong's business world! A sought-after bachelor for alliances among Hong Kong's elite families. Not to mention, Qiao Ziyuan had recently officially taken over the Qiao Corporation.

Countless heiresses had dreamed of him as their prince charming.

Such an aloof figure had actually taken the initiative to invite Chu Yuening for a meal?

Numerous young misses' hearts shattered on the spot. They usually got ignored when they threw flirtatious glances at Qiao Ziyuan or tried to make plans with him.

Fang Jiajia's face turned deathly pale with anger.

After all, not long ago, Qiao Ziyuan had just chased her away, yet now he was actively asking out this country bumpkin, Beigugu?

Many had witnessed Fang Jiajia provoking Qiao Ziyuan before the banquet.

They compared Fang Jiajia with Chu Yuening, first one, then the other.

In terms of both bearing and appearance, Chu Yuening outshone Fang Jiajia by miles.

It was like heaven and earth, utterly incomparable.