Chapter 12 Used to Handling Corpses

Chapter 12: Force of Habit

Qin Shuyi had noticed Zhong Mingzhou acting strangely during the drinks. Seeing him follow Tang Wei's departure, she decided to check on things just in case, casually picking up a bottle on her way.

She hadn't expected Zhong Mingzhou to be so bold.

Just a little booze and he turns murderous.

Not only was he hard-headed, but his skull was hard too.

Qin Shuyi had used all her strength when she swung that bottle.

"Hmm, so my aim was off."

In her haste, she hadn't aimed precisely. The man was bleeding but still conscious enough to try lunging at her.

"Guess what? If I finish you off here in self-defense, do you think Ling Jue would have me locked up or would he cover for me?"

Facing Zhong Mingzhou, who was enraged and about to charge again, she smiled, her eyes curving, her voice unhurried.

To Zhong Mingzhou, it sounded like a demon's whisper.

Zhong Mingzhou hesitated.

However, it's a proven fact: in a fight, hesitation leads to defeat.

"Now's the time."

In that moment of his pause, Tang Wei, though unsteady on her feet, swiftly moved away from the wall. A pair of pale hands grabbed Zhong Mingzhou's hair and slammed his head against the now-exposed wall.

An instant before the pain knocked him out completely, he vaguely heard a woman's scornful, mocking voice,

"Even drunk, you still pick on the weak and fear the strong. You're just asking for it."

Fury at her contempt and panic from his failing strength flooded him, but his eyelids uncontrollably drooped heavily.

Before passing out, his last thought was: She tricked him!

...

With Zhong Mingzhou down, Qin Shuyi quickly checked his head and breathing. Out of professional habit, she even casually wiped the blood from the man's face, posing him peacefully.

Seeing the man lying there as if asleep, Tang Wei looked even more horrified.

Qin Shuyi caught her expression and paused.

"Sorry, force of habit from handling corpses."

"???"

"!!!"

"Is... is he dead?" Tang Wei asked, trembling.

Only then did Qin Shuyi realize what she was afraid of. She snorted a laugh, "Don't worry, bad guys die hard."

Tang Wei let out a deep sigh of relief, her legs giving way as she slumped to the ground again.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness."

"Your necklace." A hand was held out to her.

Tang Wei gazed with mixed feelings at the imitation "Flourishing Moon" necklace Qin Shuyi had picked up. It had fallen during the struggle, been trampled many times, and was now covered in dust.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Tonight had been one misfortune after another, full of twists and turns. She never expected the one who'd rushed out to save her in the end would be Qin Shuyi standing before her.

After all, any woman would feel awkward facing her boyfriend's ex, right?

So many people on the beach had been utterly indifferent to her presence and departure, yet Qin Shuyi had noticed the danger around her and followed her out.

"Mind if I take a look?" Qin Shuyi asked naturally again, pointing to Tang Wei's head.

Tang Wei pressed her lips together and nodded.

Qin Shuyi's movements were very gentle. "No bone damage, but you should still go to the hospital for a thorough check-up later. Your neck needs some ointment too."

Tang Wei nodded, then pointed at the half-dead Zhong Mingzhou. "What about him?"

Qin Shuyi's face was expressionless. "Let the right person handle it."

...

One minute later.

A sudden ringtone cut through the beach barbecue party as it was winding down.

Ling Jue saw the caller's name and answered with a smile, "Baby..."

"Master Jue! Help!"

Tang Wei's urgent voice, who had left the beach not long ago, sounded from the other end before the call quickly disconnected.

Ling Jue's face darkened. Confirming the call had indeed come from Qin Shuyi's phone, he stood up abruptly, his chair toppling over with a loud crash.

Ji Xiuhang, who had been chatting with Xie Muchen, watched the man storm out rapidly, utterly confused. "What's going on?"

Xie Muchen adjusted his glasses and stood up. "Let's check it out."

...

"How was that? Did I nail the emotion?"

After hanging up, Tang Wei flipped her hair flirtatiously.

Only she forgot she was injured; the movement tugged at her scalp, making her grimace in pain.

"Truly a superstar," Qin Shuyi praised.

"Will Master Jue come?" Tang Wei asked, squatting beside the corpse-like Zhong Mingzhou like Qin Shuyi, feeling a bit anxious.

She could have just called the police, but with the Zhong family's power, it was hard to say who would end up worse off.

Involving Master Jue would be different.

But based on her previous understanding, Master Jue wasn't a man who would go to great lengths for a woman.

When Qin Shuyi told her to call Ling Jue earlier, she was almost embarrassed to admit she didn't even have Ling Jue's contact information.

Not even his assistant, Li, had one.

Who would have known that back then, Tang Wei always relied on the chauffeur to notify her when she was summoned to all sorts of drinking parties and banquets, only to be sent back the same way.

So when she saw Qin Shuyi casually dial Ling Jue's private number and matter-of-factly get him to handle the problem, she couldn't help but feel astonished.

"He'll come," Qin Shuyi said with certainty.

Tang Wei glanced at her with envy.

She also felt grateful that the person she'd run into near Ling Jue today was Qin Shuyi.

"I haven't said that to you yet," she said earnestly. "Thank you."

Without Qin Shuyi, she truly didn't know what would have happened to her today.

Qin Shuyi shook her head. "If we really want to talk about it, perhaps you were dragged into this because of me today."

Tang Wei and Ling Jue had broken up long ago; Zhong Mingzhou's anger was mostly directed at her.

"Don't say that," Tang Wei smiled. "If I hadn't been greedy and tried to make a move, I wouldn't have caught that madman's eye."

She opened her hand, looking at the necklace in her palm.

"Actually, 'Flourishing Moon' wasn't something Master Jue bid on and gave to me. I was the one who bid on it. At the time, I helped Master Jue resolve a troublesome matter, and this was my reward. He told me to choose for myself, so I chose it."

Then she laughed at herself. "What can I say? You know? It was the most expensive item at the auction. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Who doesn't like nice things?"

Qin Shuyi also smiled. "Good choice."

"It suits you perfectly and is very beautiful."

When she complimented someone, she would look seriously into their eyes, the corners of her lips slightly curved, her tone calm yet powerful, making people feel as comfortable as soaking in a warm bath. Especially since she herself was very beautiful and had a pleasant voice.

Tang Wei looked at her in surprise; she could tell Qin Shuyi was sincere.

"Well," she sighed. "Actually, I wanted to make you feel better, so you wouldn't be bothered by this necklace. But how come you don't seem to care at all?"

"If my boyfriend gave such an expensive gift to another woman, I'd claw my way out of the grave to give him a piece of my mind. Even an ex-girlfriend wouldn't be acceptable."

She winced.

But compared to spending money on a woman, rewarding a subordinate carries a different meaning altogether.

Qin Shuyi was amused. "I'm not possessive about other people's money."

Moreover, the weight of money is measured by the wealth of the person who possesses it. Sixty million is a lot for ordinary people, but in Ling Jue's hands, how is it any different from sixty cents?

Him being stingy would be even more pathetic.

Tang Wei covered her chest. "I guess I'm just too poor."

Qin Shuyi pursed her lips and smiled, her clear almond-shaped eyes like crescent moons. "You don't need to explain. Besides, it's all in the past anyway, and if he didn't spend this money on you, he would spend it on someone else. It's not like the money he saved would end up in my pocket."

His future wife will be the one to benefit from all his wealth.

Tang Wei didn't ask her why she was so certain she wouldn't be the one to marry Ling Jue.

She just stared at her, admiring her savior. "Oh no, now I'm starting to think Master Jue isn't good enough for you."

Qin Shuyi thought for a moment. "Given his taste in ex-girlfriends, he really isn't good enough for me."

Tang Wei burst into laughter.

Judging by the time, whoever was coming for them should be here any minute. Tang Wei bit her lip, wrestling with herself, before speaking with resolve.

"Miss Qin... do... do you know Tao Wangxi?"

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