Chapter 175 Bro, Why So Gloomy?

Chapter 175: Bro, Why You Mad?

Ling Jue didn’t waste any time getting back at them.

Before Qin Shuyi even went back to work, word got out that the He family had filed for emergency bankruptcy, and even their in-laws, the Tao family, were caught in the fallout, with the already shaky Tao Corporation on the verge of collapse.

He Haokun got a beating from his family’s disciplinary code and was sent to the emergency room.

But Ling Jue didn’t give a damn about that peace offering.

Ling Jue wanted to make an example out of someone, and the one who let this reckless chicken run wild was the entire He family.

He Haokun was totally done for, and the He family collapsed. Later, it was said that he couldn’t take the heat from his family, the gossip from classmates, and the retaliation from those he had bullied, so he threw in the towel and dropped out.

Back then, without a degree, he still had the family business and trust fund to fall back on, but now he had to go out and hustle to get by.

He always wanted to one-up Jiang Yuzhou, but he didn’t realize that not keeping his bad impulses in check would drag him straight into the gutter.

The Tao family was a little better off than the He family, but still nowhere near what it used to be.

The Taos used to pride themselves on being high-class, looking down on new money and low-tier rich families, but now they’d sunk even lower than the people they looked down on.

Word had it the Tao siblings had a huge blowout one day for some unknown reason.

…

When Qin Shuyi bumped into Tao Wangxi downstairs at Ling Corp, she wasn’t all that surprised.

The Taos kept their cool when the He family, into which Tao Wangxi’s aunt had married, got into trouble, but when it was their turn, they knew they couldn’t just sit around and do nothing.

Besides, the old company issues Tao Wangxi’s brother never fixed also blew up at the same damn time.

They felt like they were getting screwed over.

It was He Haokun who was stupid—it had nothing to do with the Taos.

Once the match between Tao Wangxi and Ling Jue fell apart, the Taos immediately started looking for a new catch for her.

When the Tao couple tried to plead their case to her, Qi Manjun just brushed them off, saying she didn’t get involved in Ling Jue’s business.

Ling Mufeng was even more straight-up.

The Tao couple cornered him at Qi Manjun’s doorstep.

He looked at the tightly shut door, looking all defeated and reckless.

“Ling Jue even had the nerve to kick me out and push his mom to divorce me. You think if I go beg for you, I’ll get a way out, or just dig my own grave faster?”

The Tao couple stared at Ling Mufeng, who looked way older since the divorce, and at the gifts he’d given Qi Manjun that she sent back, and went dead silent.

Ling Mufeng looked beaten down from all the hits, his face blank even when his ex-wife sent his gifts back. Before leaving, he left one last remark.

“Leave Manjun alone. You say He Haokun’s mess has nothing to do with the Taos, but he calls you ‘uncle’ and your daughter ‘cousin,’ right? You know damn well how you spoiled him into being so out of control, and who gave him the idea that Tao Wangxi was a sure thing to marry into the Ling family, and that Qin Shuyi had stolen his brother-in-law.”

…

In the end, the Taos held a grudge against Qin Shuyi.

They’d long seen the Mrs. Ling spot as theirs for the taking, but then some unexpected player like Qin Shuyi messed up the game.

This bitterness, though kept under wraps because they were scared of Ling Jue’s methods, had definitely led to some sneaky moves and gossip behind the scenes.

He Haokun’s self-destruction was kinda their own fault, really.

Not letting the Taos go bankrupt with the Hes was already them being merciful.

Ling Mufeng had called out the Tao couple’s sneaky intentions, but they wouldn’t let it go and sent Tao Wangxi to feel out Ling Jue.

Tao Wangxi knew deep down it was pointless.

Sure enough, she was blocked downstairs as soon as she arrived.

Then she saw Qin Shuyi, who had on a whim cooked a meal and brought a love lunch to Ling Jue, who was busy working at both the Qi and Ling corporations.

The receptionist clearly recognized her. Her eyes lit up when she saw Qin Shuyi, and she not only greeted her warmly but also handed her a few green candies.

“Miss Qin, thank you for the White Rabbit candy last time.”

That day, she had skipped breakfast and had low blood sugar. Qin Shuyi, who always carried candy out of habit, had given her some that she had planned to leave in Ling Jue’s office.

“This is one I often buy—it’s really good. Try it.”

Qin Shuyi smiled and took it. “Thanks.”

The receptionist girl beamed.

This boss’s wife, whom she had been looking forward to meeting for nearly a year, was even easier to get along with than she had imagined.

Tao Wangxi watched the two chatting and suddenly remembered that when she used to come to Ling Corp on business, she always needed an appointment.

Everyone treated her with a purely professional attitude.

But with Qin Shuyi, Ling Jue had told the front desk not to stop her as early as when they first started dating.

The signs had been there from the start.

Yet she and her family had stubbornly waited until they had been dating for almost a year before waking up.

Maybe it was because Ling Jue’s old playboy image was too deeply ingrained, or because Qin Shuyi seemed too harmless.

Tao Wangxi felt a mix of emotions.

If she could do it over, she definitely wouldn’t underestimate her opponent, or rather, she would reassess the weight of love. But time couldn’t be reversed.

“Miss Qin, would you like to have a coffee?” Tao Wangxi, who had been waiting in the lobby lounge, walked over.

Qin Shuyi looked up at the sound.

Compared to that night at the restaurant, Tao Wangxi seemed to be in much better spirits.

The turmoil in the Tao family didn’t appear to have touched her.

Qin Shuyi had no particular opinion of Tao Wangxi, but she also had no desire to engage with her.

She gestured at the lunchbox in her hand.

“Someone’s waiting for me, so it might not be convenient.”

Her refusal was clear.

Tao Wangxi smiled.

She understood—she and Qin Shuyi had no real need to talk.

"I only need a few minutes. Ten minutes, tops."

She glanced at the guest sofa in the waiting area. "If you don't want to go to the café, we can sit over there. After I say what I need to, I won't need to go upstairs."

...

It was still a while until lunchtime. The receptionist kept glancing at the clock, occasionally stealing glances at the waiting area.

Are those two gonna start fighting if they're together?

Should she call upstairs to report this?

But in reality, the vibe between Qin Shuyi and Tao Wangxi was way less tense than people thought. Actually, it was the calmest it had been in their recent meetings.

"I also owe you a thank you." Tao Wangxi smiled.

The Tao family thought she came to beg for mercy, but she was actually here to say thanks.

"Thanks to you and Master Jue, I've gotten my hands on two-thirds of the Tao family's assets."

It's not as much as the family's former glory, but it's several times more than what she could've originally fought for.

While Ling Jue was busy going after the He family, leaving the Tao family vulnerable, Tao Wangxi talked her parents into transferring the remaining assets to her, calling it her dowry.

At the time, they thought they were just shifting assets to avoid disaster—they could always be moved back later, as Tao Yusheng's comeback capital, held in his sister's name.

But once something was in her hands, there was no way she'd give it back.

That's why rumors of a rift between the siblings started spreading.

Tao Wangxi dropped her usual frail and docile act, turned on them, and ruthlessly ripped a chunk out of her family.

Watching her brother, who was too pissed to keep up his gentlemanly act, Tao Wangxi coughed a couple times and smiled all innocent.

"Brother, didn't you always say we rise and fall together as siblings? I promise these assets won't lose value in my hands. People will praise me for doing well—so why aren't you happy?"

Tao Yusheng's face twisted with rage.

Was she mocking him for his poor decisions that had led the Tao family downhill?

But times had changed. Not only could he not afford to fall out with Tao Wangxi, he had to keep her sweet.

Qin Shuyi understood now. No wonder Tao Wangxi looked better—she was thriving on good fortune.

She sincerely said, "Congratulations."

Compared to the hypocritical Tao Yusheng, who was always scheming to marry off his sister for alliances, at least Tao Wangxi had never sold out her brother for personal gain.

Seeing the Tao family get outmaneuvered by Tao Wangxi was pretty satisfying.

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