Chapter 178 – Dragging Gu Shaoqian to Jail with Her?

Chapter 178 - Dragging Gu Shaoqian to Jail with Her?

The foreigners had not expected that a simple demolition project would result in a loss of life.

Qin Shili had already appointed an administrative officer to handle the Tsim Sha Tsui development project.

With Qin Shili's firm and popular character, as well as his impressive family background, even the Governor of Hong Kong would give him some leeway. The foreigners were reluctant to clash with him at such a crucial juncture.

Therefore, despite their reluctance, they acquiesced to Earl Jason Shea's request and decided to collaborate with his stepdaughter, Su Qilan, on the Tsim Sha Tsui project, out of respect for the royal family.

Knowing that Qin Shili looked down upon Su Qilan, the foreigners did not expect any benefits or profits from her, even though she was officially his cousin. Their sole intention was to demonstrate their respect for the royal family to Earl Jason Shea.

Thus, when entering into the collaboration, they specifically instructed Su Qilan not to ruin the deal and to ensure the successful completion of the Tsim Sha Tsui development.

After all, as the saying in Hong Kong went, "Making money isn't shameful," which translates to "Earning money is not disgraceful" in Mandarin.

As a result, the foreigner assigned Chen Shengwen, who had knowledge of Su Qilan's character, to act as a spy and keep tabs on her.

Who could have predicted that Su Qilan, who had been doing fine at first, would suddenly faint... and then use her illness as an excuse to neglect the relocation work for several days, leading to a violent eviction that resulted in death?

The deceased was a gang member, a minor leader in his faction, with a dozen or so underlings under his command.

On the very day of the funeral, a dozen or so gangsters showed up with a coffin, causing trouble.

It even drew the attention of Qin Shilang's administrative envoy in Tsim Sha Tsui. If not for the governor's assistance in suppressing the public narrative, the entire Hong Kong might now be aware of the foreigners' violent demolition that resulted in a fatality.

Now, those gangsters are showing up daily with coffins to cause trouble, while the bereaved family, dressed in funeral attire, kneel at the gate of the foreigners' villa, weeping for no compensation — they demand the life of the foreigner as retribution.

For foreigners had long tyrannized the locals in Victoria Harbour, promising fair compensation for the street clearance but failing to pay when it was time to vacate.

Without compensation, who would willingly surrender their ancestral homes for free?

And when they refused to leave, underhanded tactics were employed – venomous snakes released in the dead of night or violence inflicted upon them.

The gang member who lost his life in the resistance wasn't just fighting for his own interests but also for the welfare of the entire neighborhood. After all, having collected protection fees, he bore the responsibility of safeguarding the community's interests.

Yet, who could have foreseen that the clash would result in a fatality?

Not only were the Triad members' families and comrades visiting the foreigner's doorstep frequently to mourn, but so were the neighbors who had suffered from the violent evictions. The foreigner now found himself, even in his sleep, haunted by dirges and wailing, leaving him desperate to escape.

Yet, with over a dozen Triad members watching him around the clock, he couldn't even find a place to hide. On top of that, he was constantly questioned by administrative officers and police inspectors.

When it came to dealing with the officers, the foreigner could rely on his lawyers. However, against the Triads and the grieving families, legal action was useless. Resorting to force would likely make matters worse. Who didn't know that Hong Kong Triads played for keeps? In their bloodlust, the foreigner feared he might end up being chopped down on the streets...

Just as the foreigner was at his wit's end, Mr. Shen's call felt like a divine message of hope, a beacon of love. "Mr. Shen, you said you have a solution to help me?" The foreigner, addressing Mr. Shen with respect, as if he were an angel sent from above.

"Certainly," Mr. Shen's clear and pleasant voice echoed through the phone. "Mr. Evans, I truly empathize with your plight. You partnered with Su Qilan for a real estate project, yet when things went wrong, she vanished without a trace, leaving you to bear the brunt."

Hearing Mr. Shen's words of justice on his behalf, Evans felt a long-awaited warmth in his heart.

But Mr. Shen wasn't there to offer comfort; he was there to sow discord. "Mr. Evans, haven't you ever wondered why the eviction turned violent? And why did Su Qilan faint at such a crucial moment?"

"I'm well aware," Evans replied. "The conflict erupted because the compensation didn't reach those people in time due to Su Qilan's collapse."

After the violent eviction, Su Qilan had called Evans to apologize and informed him that the payments were being dispersed gradually.

However, with fatalities involved, many were now demanding more compensation, refusing the initially agreed upon amount...

Listening to Evans' curses on the phone, Shen Qing felt personally affronted. With his inherent racial prejudice, Shen Qing sharpened his metaphorical knife even more.

"Mr. Evans, you might not be aware, but Su Qilan has lost tens of millions in the stock market. The compensation you provided was used by her to cover her losses."

As Evans expressed disbelief and suspicion, Shen Qing patiently continued, "Su Qilan's fainting act was deliberate too. She aimed to remain unscathed from the violent eviction, while you, her business partner, became the scapegoat."

"Damn Su Qilan," Evans swore angrily, then sharply asked, "How do you know about this?"

Initially, Mr. Shen seemed like an angel sent from God to spread love on earth. Now, Evans suspects that Mr. Shen might be a temptation sent by Satan.

"Of course, it's because I have a grudge against Su Qilan," Mr. Shen admitted candidly to alleviate Evans' doubts. "You probably know that she pretended to be me and stole my act of saving Gu Shaoqian's life. She was afraid that I would expose the truth and has been doing many wicked things against me."

Shen Qing continued, "Although I don't particularly like Gu Shaoqian, I can't tolerate this injustice. That's why I want revenge..."

Evans thought to himself, Chinese women are so petty, always jealous of others.

As Evans secretly looked down on Shen Qing, he heard her say, "Mr. Evans, you were also a victim manipulated by Su Qilan. You're now surrounded by gangsters and the bereaved families. Aren't you distressed? Don't you want to take revenge on Su Qilan?"

While Shen Qing spoke, faint sobs and mournful music could be heard in the background, making the late-night conversation rather eerie.

"I am indeed distressed, and I do want revenge. Damn Su Qilan, that bitch..." Evans raged. "She swallowed my money and made me take the blame. I wish I could kill that bitch!"

Evans had initially mocked Mr. Shen for being narrow-minded. However, after experiencing the situation himself, he realized how infuriating it was to be wronged without seeking revenge.

The previously skeptical Evans now fully believed Mr. Shen. "You said you have a way to help me?"

"Yes," Shen Qing answered honestly. "I'm not just helping you; I'm also aiding myself in seeking revenge."

Evans clearly found this appealing, so he asked, "What's your solution?"

"I have evidence of Su Qilan using your money to speculate in the stock market. It's already been sent to your home, and I've arranged for journalists to be there as well..."

Mr. Shen said, "This issue can only be resolved if it blows up. Otherwise, Qin Shili will definitely hound you. You should know how difficult he is to deal with and how much importance he places on the Tsim Sha Tsui development project. If you don't implicate the main culprit, Su Qilan, then you'll have to take responsibility for this."

With a gentle Southern accent but a sharp glint in her eyes, Shen Qing said, "Are you willing to take the fall for Su Qilan and face Qin Shili's wrath? You might even end up in jail, even with the Governor's protection. But would Count Jason Shea, Su Qilan's stepfather, sacrifice you to protect his stepdaughter?"

Didn't Su Qilan always use the influence of her count stepfather to lord over Hong Kong?

Well, Shen Qing intended to use Count Jason Shea against Su Qilan.

Sure enough, Evans immediately felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. If Count Jason Shea really threw him under the bus, he would have no place in Hong Kong or even Country Chao.

Failed members of the Evans family were exiled to Africa to harvest rubber, never to return; they could only die there.

The prospect of such punishment, paired with the mournful dirge, filled Evans with dread, as if he had already been exiled to Africa and perished there.

"Okay, okay, okay, Miss Shen, your plan is truly brilliant. You're truly a divine messenger sent by God."

As Evans' words faded, Brother Biao entered the room with an Octopus card, followed by the hooligans and the deceased's family members.

"Hey, you said you'd resolve this with reporters," a dozen hooligans brandished their machetes. "If it's not settled tonight, no one gets out alive."

The enraged gangsters startled Evans so much that he dropped his phone.

Upon hearing the commotion on the call, Mr. Shen's lips curled into a slight smile. No wonder martial arts novels often depicted dark nights for assassinations; such moonless evenings were indeed suitable for such deeds.

At the hilltop villa, Gu Shaoqian emerged from Gu Chengfu's study with a broad grin. He and Su Qilan had already found a way to replenish the money they lost in the stock market.

Moreover, with the violent eviction incident escalating, Qin Shili would surely seize the opportunity to target the foreigners. Once the foreigners were apprehended, they could seize all shares of the Tsim Sha Tsui's abandoned building project.

Gu Shaoqian felt triumphant as his career was soaring. His proposed future redevelopment plan had just earned Gu Chengfu's praise.

Back then, Gu Chengfu patted Gu Shaoqian's shoulder, expressing his satisfaction and confidence in entrusting the real estate division of the Gu Corporation to him.

Believing that he was on the verge of inheriting the Gu family, Gu Shaoqian wanted to share this news with Su Qilan, who had been his constant companion and advisor.

With a radiant smile, Gu Shaoqian went to find Su Qilan, only to find her in a seductive nightgown, wrapping her leg around his waist and coquettishly saying, "You haven't spent time with me in ages."

Gu Shaoqian had quite a liking for Su Qilan. She appeared gentle and refined in public, yet privately, she was full of surprises, capable of driving Gu Shaoqian wild with pleasure. Young and passionate, Gu Shaoqian wouldn't have held back even if Su Qilan hadn't enticed him. As they tumbled from the doorway onto the sofa, Su Qilan accidentally hit the TV remote control switch with her back.

Neither of them noticed when the color television flickered to life.

In the midst of their heated passion, Gu Shaoqian abruptly pushed the dazed Su Qilan away. As she fell to the ground, still in a state of bewilderment, she coyly asked, "Shaoqian?"

Assuming it was just a playful mood swing, Su Qilan was prepared for his response. However, Gu Shaoqian's face had turned ashen as he snatched the remote, turning up the volume.

"Shaoqian, how annoying! Why are you watching TV at a time like this? Don't you think I'm attractive enough?" Su Qilan playfully chuckled, but her smile froze the next moment, as if she had been doused with a bucket of ice water.

On the screen, Evans' voice rang out, "To all media friends, the violent eviction that led to casualties was orchestrated by Su Qilan and Gu Shaoqian. The compensation I offered was siphoned off by them to cover their stock market losses, which is why the neighbors haven't received their due."

Despite his inherent disdain for Chinese people, Evans was a cunning and deceitful businessman. He knew to feign innocence when presenting evidence.

Shen Qing observed Evans, who portrayed himself as spotless, with a cold, mocking smile on his lips.

Meanwhile, Su Qilan, fixated on the TV, attempted to rush over and turn it off. But Gu Shaoqian, holding onto her legs, dragged her back from the floor.

This was the first time Su Qilan had seen Gu Shaoqian enraged, and fear gripped her heart. "Darling, let me explain – that money..."

The rest of her words were stuck in her throat as she met Gu Shaoqian's piercing, icy gaze. It was as if he could see through all her pretenses, leaving Su Qilan shivering with unease.

Suddenly, Gu Shaoqian picked up the silk duvet from the bed, covering Su Qilan's exposed body. "Shaoqian..."

Still on the floor, Su Qilan looked up at him with reddened eyes.

"Qi Lan, I know you did it for my own good," Gu Shaoqian gently lifted her from the ground, whispering softly, "You wanted to help me fill the void left by my stock market losses. I don't blame you."

"Shaoqian, it's enough that you understand me." Su Qilan, with teary eyes, clung to Gu Shaoqian's neck, her voice filled with distress. "I was so afraid that you might misunderstand me, not comprehend me just now..."

"No way," Gu Shaoqian embraced Su Qilan tenderly, but his gaze toward Evans on the television was vicious. His voice remained gentle as he said, "You didn't handle this matter properly, allowing the foreigners to take advantage."

Su Qilan gritted her teeth and exclaimed, "Those foreigners are utterly detestable—I merely borrowed some money from him." Afterwards, she added with a tinge of grievance, "But I never anticipated it would lead to someone's death."

Actually, at the beginning, when people started dying, Su Qilan was quite frightened too.

Already reeling from the stock market crash, Su Qilan, in a bold move, pretended to be ill and confined herself to the hospital, refusing to leave.

Leaving the mess for the foreigners to deal with, Su Qilan felt a sense of satisfaction seeing the victims blaming the foreigners as the root of their troubles.

As Su Qilan basked in her triumph, Gu Shaoqian also saw this as an opportune moment to push the foreigners out, and thus chose to observe from the sidelines coldly.

Both believed their plan had succeeded, but little did they know that a journalist would conduct an interview with the foreigner Evans in the dead of night.

The news was broadcast by Jade TV, at around 9 pm, when television viewership was at its peak.

Jade TV's report went viral and was picked up by numerous channels, for they were the only ones with exclusive information.

Unbeknownst to Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan, the deceased's family was already on their way to the hilltop villa by car.

Though they couldn't enter the Gu residence, they could kneel at the entrance to set up a mourning hall, playing sorrowful music, demanding an explanation from Gu Shaoqian.

Coincidentally, both Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan lived with Gu Chengfu. The deafening cries and mournful tunes outside startled Gu Chengfu.

In a flurry, Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan hastily dressed themselves, ready to quell the situation. Upon seeing them rush out in disarray, Gu Chengfu's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

"Ah Ming, get rid of them," Su Qilan pointed at the mourners by the door and shouted loudly.

"I'll see who dares!" The gangsters wielding watermelon knives stepped forward. "You killed our big brother; you must pay with your lives!"

When the gangsters sought revenge, they wouldn't even spare the Gu family.

Moreover, the foreigners, believing themselves to have suffered greatly due to Su Qilan, also took advantage of the chaos by sending people to cause trouble for both Su Qilan and Gu Shaoqian.

Journalists rushed over with their cameras rolling, live-streaming the scene. The bodyguards of the Gu family couldn't very well kill someone in front of the cameras, could they?

Qin Shilai, a resident of Victoria Peak, was also roused from his sleep. He personally came to restore justice.

With a delighted smile, Shen Qing happily munched on her potato chips, watching Su Qilan on TV, dressed seductively, leaving little to the imagination. Her laughter blossomed uncontrollably.

Let Su Qilan savor this grand feast; Mr. Shen can simply enjoy the spectacle from afar.

"Cousin~"

When Qi Lan saw Qin Shilang, she still harbored the illusion that Su Qilan, as a relative, would come to her aid: "Cousin, I have no idea what's going on here. Please help me out, or this matter might escalate to Grandfather and Grandmother, and I'm afraid it'll upset them."

Qin Shilang pushed away Su Qilan's grasp on his sleeve with an indifferent expression. "If you were truly worried about the elders, you wouldn't have committed such disgraceful acts."

"Su Qilan, the Tsim Sha Tsui development project is a key endeavor under my supervision. If lives are lost, do you think I'd just sit idly at home without looking into the truth of the case?" Qin Shilang gazed down at Su Qilan, who was still trying to play the victim. "How can someone like you be part of our Lu family?"

Qin Shilang couldn't comprehend it. The Lu family had been loyal and righteous for generations, serving the country and its people. How could such a bad apple like Su Qilan have emerged from their lineage?

Was it a genetic anomaly? Or did Su Qilan carry the blood of another family, tainting the reputation of the Lu family?

Under Qin Shilang's scrutinizing gaze, Su Qilan felt as if her blood had frozen, causing her lips to tremble with cold.

As a chilly gust of wind blew by, Su Qilan struggled to keep her balance.

In the next moment, she was enveloped in a warm embrace. A coat was draped over her exposed shoulders. "Mr. Qin, even if you're not willing to help, there's no need to add salt to the wound with such harsh words."

Looking at Gu Shaoqian with gratitude and trust, he replied with a cold expression, "Both you and Qi Lan are grandchildren of the Lu family. You don't help her because your surname is Qin. However, you shouldn't publicly humiliate Qi Lan. She's the beloved granddaughter the Lu elders just found. Do you think they would be pleased to learn how you've treated Qi Lan?"

In this moment, Su Qilan felt that Gu Shaoqian was like an omnipotent deity protecting her.

Qin Shilang scoffed. "You're experts in moral manipulation. Regardless of whether my surname is Qin or Lu, as the official in charge of the Tsim Sha Tsui development, I have the right to uncover the truth behind the case."

Faced with reporters and cameras, Qin Shili stood tall and resolute, stating firmly, "According to the evidence, the violent demolition incidents all point towards Su Qilan and Gu Shaoqian. Please rest assured, I will definitely deliver justice in this case. No one will be spared just because they are related to me."

"As an official of Hong Kong, it is my duty to protect the people," Qin Shili's voice echoed in the ears of everyone standing in the darkness.

"Bravo!" Shen Qing, sitting in front of the television, applauded along with everyone present at the scene, as they all couldn't help but express their admiration for Qin Shili.

Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan stood awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. Their attempt to morally blackmail Qin Shili had proven to be nothing more than a joke.

Gu Chengfu stared grimly at Qin Shili. In a villa further away, Du Yanhong, standing by the window with a telescope, was also observing the spectacle unfolding at the entrance of the Gu family residence.

"Having such descendants is a blessing for the Qin and Lu families," Du Yanhong, dressed in a black silk pajama, put away her telescope. "The person behind this scheme is quite clever."

She handed the telescope to her devoted servant before retreating into a hidden room.

As Gu Madam lit three incense sticks from the altar and knelt to pay respects to her ancestors, the victims' family members, gathered around Gu Chengfu's villa, approached Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan, each holding the tokens of their deceased loved ones.

"There must be accountability for every injustice. You took my son's life, so you must pay with your own," they declared.

"How could this be allowed?" The second wife, in a hurry, couldn't help but interject, "Who knows if you're trying to swindle us? Why should we sacrifice our lives for a dead person?"

"Second Sister, you can't speak without thinking," the third wife said, standing beside Gu Chengfu. "This incident was caused by your branch. You disrupted the peace of the master at midnight instead of finding a solution and are now shirking responsibility..."

The third wife snorted coldly. "So you're waiting for the master to clean up after Gu Shaoqian? What a lucky star, more like a plague..."

Under the murderous glare of the second wife, the third wife disdainfully continued, "Our Gu family's gates have been blocked twice due to incidents involving Gu Shaoqian. If word gets out, where will the master's face be left?"

As the most favored woman of Gu Chengfu, the influence of her words was evident.

"Shaoqian, I'm deeply disappointed in you. Powerless yet harboring ambitions beyond your reach," Gu Chengfu's icy voice sent shivers down Gu Shaoqian's spine. "Now, because of your incompetence, a life has been lost, and you've failed to resolve it. People are causing a ruckus at our doorstep in the middle of the night, turning the entire Hong Kong into a laughingstock of me."

Gu Chengfu's suppressed anger made Gu Shaoqian's knees go weak. "You are not worthy of being my son, Gu Shaoqian."

"Daddy," Gu Shaoqian pleaded anxiously, "Give me another chance, and I'll definitely solve this matter."

When Gu Shaoqian knelt before Gu Chengfu, both the second wife and Su Qilan were heartbroken. However, in front of Gu Chengfu, no one dared to speak up.

Qin Shilang observed with a sneer. Not kneeling before the victim's family but apologizing to Gu Chengfu, who scolded him – Gu Shaoqian, the second heir of the wealthy family, truly knew how to adapt his behavior according to the situation.

It was clear that Gu Shaoqian inherently looked down on ordinary Hong Kong citizens whose social status and influence were inferior to his.

"How do you plan to resolve this?"

Just as Gu Shaoqian was about to respond to Gu Chengfu's question, Gu Chengfu coldly added, "If you had the ability to solve it, these incidents wouldn't have happened one after another."

Gu Chengfu was utterly disappointed in Gu Shaoqian. After saying that, he took the initiative to walk up to Qin Shilie and said, "Mr. Qin, thank you for your hard work tonight. Rest assured, my family will definitely settle this matter..."

Then, he turned to the bereaved family and apologized, "I'm sorry, it was my incompetent son who made a mistake. Please follow me; we'll cooperate with any of your requests regarding this matter."

Gu Chengfu was one of the top figures among Hong Kong's elite, and his aura intimidated the hooligans into not making any rash moves.

However, upon hearing that he would take responsibility and resolve the issue, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Under Qin Shilie's guidance, they followed Gu Chengfu into the Gu family villa.

The mournful music still played at the entrance, and white wreaths were placed at the Gu family's doorstep, creating an eerie scene under the dark night sky.

"Shaoqian..." Su Qilan walked over to Gu Shaoqian, slightly fearful and worried. "Mr. Gu will handle this, so don't worry."

"How can you not be worried? Now that Father has expressed his disappointment in Shaoqian's incompetence, you still think everything is fine?"

The second madam pointed at Su Qilan's nose and scolded, "Shaoqian can't inherit the Gu family because of you. Look at the mess you've caused. As long as you're by Shaoqian's side, nothing good happens to my son."

"Did you conspire with Lin Liping to deceive me?" the second madam asked.

"Second Madam, I understand if you blame me, but I'm not acquainted with Mr. Lin at all," Su Qilan said softly. "Now, I just want to resolve this issue. I'll do anything for Shaoqian."

"The best help you can give Shaoqian now is to do nothing," the second madam said. "Qin Shili has evidence of your forced evictions causing deaths. Just go to jail honestly and don't implicate my son anymore."

Su Qilan froze. She and Gu Shaoqian had committed the act together, so why was she the one going to prison?

Not wanting to go to jail, Su Qilan looked up at Gu Shaoqian. He had always protected her in the past; he surely wouldn't push her away and would stand by her through thick and thin.

Still harboring illusions, Su Qilan's hopes were shattered by Gu Shaoqian's words, "Qi Lan, I can't afford any more trouble."

Gu Shaoqian held Su Qilan's shoulders, his gaze tender. "You know I'm doing this for our future. If I can extricate myself, I'll have a way to save you. Otherwise, we won't have a place in Hong Kong or abroad."

Su Qilan felt as if a knife had pierced her chest. She had done so much for Gu Shaoqian and worked tirelessly. But when faced with adversity, did he so easily push her aside?

Did he not even hesitate to send her to jail? Would Gu Shaoqian make the same choice if it were Shen Qing?

Su Qilan's heart was torn in agony.

Second Aunt spoke with a sarcastic tone, "You claim everything is for Shaoqian, but it seems it's just empty words. Indeed, if you truly cared for Shaoqian's well-being, you wouldn't constantly make mistakes. If Shen Qing had been the one our family took in as a savior back then, Shaoqian surely wouldn't be in this predicament now. With the mess you've created, do you not want to face imprisonment? Are you planning to drag Shaoqian down with you? How could you be so wicked?"

...