Coveted for a Long Time 58

Chapter 58

Those so-called truths and secrets weren’t hard to imagine—nothing more than being coerced into insincerity, helplessness born of inadequacy. However, digging deeper revealed more than that.

Qiao Xi had always thought the main reason for the investment failure back then was Qiao Jianliang’s poor management, coinciding with her bringing trouble, which led to the family company being suppressed and the subsequent situation. But it wasn’t.

Qiao Jianliang indeed lacked ability and invested too heavily, but the development trend was good, rising steadily. After divorcing Mother Qiao, he followed policies closely, reorganizing assets and formulating new directions. The overall development space was actually broad. His mistake was being too conceited and trusting Liang Jincheng too much, repeatedly fed bewitching soup, transferring a large sum of funds into the stock market.

At first, he did make a lot. After the rise stabilized, he intended to sell the stocks. Who knew that after listening to Liang Jincheng’s “sincere advice,” he invested another sum? Buying stocks is largely like gambling; the parties involved have a gambler’s mentality, thinking they will definitely win. As a result, he sank deeper. After making a big profit again, Qiao Jianliang continued to add investment, a total of four times. It was this last time that the stock began to fall. At first, the drop wasn’t obvious, but later it went lower and lower. Qiao Jianliang panicked, wanting to stop losses and sell quickly, but was persuaded by Liang Jincheng again. Afterward, it bottomed out and rebounded. After a deceptive rise and fall, he was completely trapped.

Before this, the expansion of the real estate project had already been negotiated, contracts signed, requiring more capital injection. Meanwhile, several major profitable companies happened to have problems one after another during this period. By the time Qiao Jianliang reacted, a series of chain reactions came overwhelmingly.

The capital chain broke. Almost all companies were suppressed by a secret force. Investments couldn’t be recovered in the short term. With no help anywhere, completely stuck, Qiao Jianliang was on the verge of bankruptcy and huge debts. He had no choice but to find ways to quickly sell off real estate under his name, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to fill the big hole. Finally, he could only sell subsidiary companies. However, selling companies wasn’t easy; either the price couldn’t be agreed upon, or there were various problems, unable to get money quickly.

Grandpa Fu used helping the Qiao family as a condition to demand Fu Bei study abroad. Fu Bei left, and he fulfilled his promise. However, worried Fu Bei would return or change her mind midway, he tried every means to suppress the Qiao family while helping them.

Only today did Qiao Xi know that Liang Jincheng had harbored ill intentions from the day he approached Qiao Jianliang. The stock matter was designed by him single-handedly to swindle that large sum of money, and to conspire with Zhou Qun to get the real estate project and divide the huge profits. The Fu family knew all this long ago. Not only did they not stop it in time, but they also fueled the flames in secret, even taking advantage to profit, causing Qiao Jianliang to fall into a trough he couldn’t climb out of.

Where are there so many coincidences in the world? Just premeditated plans.

Qiao Xi knew nothing about this at the time. Qiao Jianliang kept it tight, not mentioning a word in front of her despite huge pressure. Qiao Xi thought it was just annoying work matters and didn’t pay much attention. Until one day, not long after Fu Bei went abroad, Qiao Jianliang, who should have gone to work, didn’t appear at the company. Secretary Chen couldn’t find him anywhere and called her.

But she didn’t know either.

That day, Qiao Jianliang didn’t come home until night. She sat in the living room until dawn, sleepless all night.

Qiao Jianliang returned eventually. His shoes were fairly clean, but his trouser legs were covered in mud and dripping wet—the weather was dry, no wind or rain, the road clean. Where did he go? Why didn’t he come home for a day and a night?

Qiao Xi didn’t ask much, and Qiao Jianliang didn’t say. Only seeing her sitting there when entering, his dry lips trembled. After a long time, he said a sentence: “Why up so early? Didn’t turn on the light. Had breakfast? If not, I’ll go up and change clothes then come down to make it for you.”

He didn’t dare look at Qiao Xi once. His face was tired, eyes bloodshot, despair unconcealable in his expression. Step by step, he walked slowly upstairs.

Qiao Xi’s face was wooden. When he was about to reach the stairs, she called softly, “Dad…”

Qiao Jianliang paused, his hand trembling uncontrollably.

News often reported similar stories—so-and-so burdened with huge debts due to bankruptcy, driven to desperation, choosing to jump off a building, throw themselves into a river, or burn charcoal to commit suicide. Watching the news, one only felt sorrow, feeling it was far away. Who knew one day it would almost happen right beside her?

Qiao Xi didn’t know exactly who was involved, but knew most people couldn’t escape responsibility, including Fu Bei.

Now everything was sorted out, everything surfaced. Logically, with Fu Bei giving so much, Qiao Xi should be moved. But only disappointment remained in her heart. So many things happened back then; she was kept in the dark, Qiao Jianliang was set up, while everyone outside was a beneficiary—the Fu family, the Liang family, and even the Zhou family.

Fu Bei parked the car in the nearest available spot to explain to her.

Qiao Xi asked expressionlessly, “Did you know about the stock matter?”

Fu Bei paused, hesitated for a moment, and nodded. “Yes.”

“When did you know? Five years ago or now?”

The car fell into silence. Fu Bei didn’t answer; the answer was obvious.

She knew clearly who did what. Whether indulgence or deliberate concealment, perhaps to protect the Liang and Fu families, or perhaps indifference, not caring about others’ lives.

Many things back then had become set in stone, irreversible. Fu Bei was indeed powerless to save the situation; her ability was limited, unable to do much. But when choosing a stance, she subconsciously stood on the opposite side, not pulling Qiao Jianliang up from the beginning. As for her own family, her initial attitude was hesitation—bluntly put, inaction.

Qiao Xi’s appearance made Fu Bei panic a bit. She grabbed Qiao Xi’s hand. “I reminded Uncle Qiao, but there was no way out by then.”

“What about now? Still no way?” Qiao Xi pressed, staring straight at this person.

Fu Bei explained.

Cars came and went on the street; shop lights on both sides were bright. In the distance was the bustling crowd; behind were towering skyscrapers. Without that document, without knowing these inside stories, Qiao Xi could have continued to accept that kindness, and the rift between them might have been repaired. But when the truth was laid bare, the previous efforts were useless.

Right or wrong, who was right or wrong didn’t matter. Ultimately, it was still that old question: choice.

Reap what you sow.

Qiao Xi wanted to leave. Fu Bei blocked her, hugging her in a moment of desperation, but let go in the end.

That night, Qiao Xi returned to the hospital and guarded Qiao Jianliang all night.

The Maybach parked downstairs at the hospital, also staying all night.

**

Qiao Jianliang woke up.

The doctor said that after waking up, the patient might experience a series of sequelae, even temporary amnesia, memory confusion, etc. Behavior might be extreme, asking the family to prepare before entering.

At that time, Qiao Xi was still at the company. Receiving the call, she rushed over with Secretary Chen. Zhou Meihe and Zhou Lin had already gone in. When she arrived, Zhou Meihe was wiping tears outside the ward door.

Qiao Jianliang’s condition wasn’t ideal. Waking up, he didn’t recognize Zhou Meihe. His memory was confused, only remembering things from a few years ago. Sometimes remembering something, sometimes talking nonsense, reacting fiercely. He didn’t even know he had surgery, clamoring to go back, and pulled out the needle directly, causing blood to spurt on the sheet, scaring Zhou Lin into calling the doctor hurriedly. With no choice, the doctor asked the family to wait outside first, going in to handle it, telling them to wait until the patient’s emotions stabilized.

For sudden cerebral hemorrhage patients, the period after waking up is very difficult. With memory problems, they themselves are scared and confused, requiring extremely patient companionship from family. Qiao Jianliang didn’t show symptoms like aphasia or paralysis, which was lucky for now. When they could go in again, Qiao Xi went in alone.

Qiao Jianliang finally quieted down, a confused look on his face, seemingly memory confused again. Seeing Qiao Xi, he reacted for a good while. His dry lips opened, suddenly asking, “Little Xi?”

Qiao Xi was stunned, slowly went over to sit, responded, and whispered back, “Dad.”

“Why am I in the hospital?” Qiao Jianliang asked.

Soft-hearted after all, Qiao Xi was silent for a while, saying, “You had surgery last month; just woke up today.”

Hearing her say this, Qiao Jianliang seemed to remember something, looking a bit pained. For no reason, he suddenly asked, “Where’s your mom? Why didn’t she come?”

Qiao Xi didn’t answer, only tucking in the quilt for him.

Qiao Jianliang muttered a few sentences to himself, chattering incessantly—remembering this one moment, forgetting that the next, looking mentally unstable. Speaking, he wanted to pull out the needle again. Fortunately, Qiao Xi stopped him. He said he wanted to see Secretary Chen urgently, insisting on getting out of bed. Qiao Xi had to let Secretary Chen in.

Seeing Secretary Chen was like seeing a savior. Qiao Jianliang was extremely excited, saying anxiously, “Little Chen, go back quickly, sell the stocks for me, sell them all immediately, the faster the better!”

Just waking up, his body was still very weak. Lying in bed for nearly a month, he was thin beyond recognition, cheeks sunken, looking nothing like before. Excited, he almost fell off the hospital bed.

Secretary Chen hurriedly supported him, looking at Qiao Xi in embarrassment.

The doctor was waiting on the side. Seeing this, he signaled Qiao Xi not to stimulate him anymore. Qiao Xi nodded to Secretary Chen. Only then did Secretary Chen say, “Boss, don’t worry; I’ll do it right away.”

Memory confusion was only temporary. With more care and companionship later, he would slowly remember.

Qiao Jianliang being like this was bad. The doctor instructed the family to be patient.

The Zhou family came over first to see how the situation was; Zhou Qun didn’t come. From the Fu family, it was still Father Fu who came; the others were nowhere to be seen.

Qiao Xi didn’t greet anyone, indifferent.

Zhou Meihe cried uncontrollably. When Qiao Jianliang finally remembered who she was, she wiped her eyes several times in front of everyone, unsure if sad about Qiao Jianliang’s condition or him not remembering her.

Zhou Lin stood by the side all the time. Seeing Qiao Jianliang awake, he wouldn’t come over, let alone pour water. He gritted his teeth, secretly observing Qiao Jianliang. After a long while, urged by Zhou Meihe, he went to pour a cup of hot water.

In the eyes of a teenage child, the world is black and white. The tragic growing environment created his abnormal paranoid personality. Listening to a few words of “comfort” and “guidance” from Liang Jincheng and the Zhou family, he truly treated Qiao Xi and Qiao Jianliang as sworn enemies. So that day when Qiao Jianliang had the accident, he took no first aid measures. Knowing what condition Qiao Jianliang would be in, he deliberately ran to a place with few people to “seek help,” delaying time. By the time the ambulance arrived, Qiao Jianliang was already in critical condition.

Qiao Jianliang had a tough life; even like that, he could be saved.

Having done something guilty, he was subconsciously afraid. So seeing Qiao Jianliang wake up, Zhou Lin was inevitably scared. But thinking again that he had never been discovered, he gradually calmed down. Handing the cup, he even called out obediently, “Uncle Qiao, drink water.”

Later, when everyone else left and the Zhou mother and son went out to eat, Qiao Xi stayed alone.

Qiao Jianliang was resting. Midway, a nurse came to give medicine. He seemed particularly tired, sleeping dizzily for more than half an hour after taking medicine. Waking up, he seemed to remember something again, calling Qiao Xi guarding by the bed.

“What is it?” Qiao Xi asked.

Qiao Jianliang frowned and thought for a while, saying confusedly, “Little Bei came to find you before; I forgot to tell you.”

Qiao Xi paused for a long time before realizing he was remembering past events again.

At that time, Liang Yuzhi had already discovered the clues between Qiao Xi and Fu Bei. Although never explicitly stated, she hindered them secretly. Plus, that night Qiao Xi was too impulsive, disrupting the original interaction mode at once. Fu Bei needed a cooling-off period.

Many hidden dangers were planted then, brewing long ago. Qiao Jianliang didn’t notice, and neither did Fu Bei.

The stalemate brought Qiao Xi anxiety and annoyance, regretting her impulsiveness. After she kissed Fu Bei, Fu Bei wasn’t right. Although she didn’t blame her or say anything, she clearly distanced herself intentionally.

A seventeen-year-old girl with first awakening of love thought simply, believing she did wrong to cause this. Immediately at a loss, wanting to redeem but daring not, she could only pull the other’s sleeve, wanting to get closer. But Fu Bei avoided subtly, not letting her touch again.

“Fu Bei, I…” She couldn’t complete the sentence, probably realizing the action just now was too overstepping.

The other party lowered her eyelids. After a long time, perhaps as the alcohol’s effect dissipated and she sobered up, she only said in a low voice, “It’s late; I’ll walk you back.”

Going out, stepping deep and shallow in the snow, Qiao Xi walked slowly, head down, lacking the courage to look at the other person once. Fu Bei followed behind until sending her to the Qiao family’s main gate, then turned back.

Only then did Qiao Xi look back. In the wind and snow, she watched helplessly as the other party walked into the Fu house and disappeared from sight.

Then from that night on, the two didn’t meet for nearly a week.

Not knowing if this person was avoiding her or what, Qiao Xi never stepped into the Fu family’s door again. So bold when kissing, now calm, she wished she could turn back time. Every night she secretly observed the house diagonally opposite from her room, but unfortunately, the light in that room never turned on.

She was a bit self-abandoning, considering going to Jiang University to find the person, but hesitated for a long time and didn’t.

On Friday, the teacher kept the class for more than half an hour after evening self-study. By the time she got home, it was late at night. Qiao Jianliang drove to school to pick her up. After returning home and eating, while washing fruit, Qiao Jianliang remembered something, slapping his forehead and saying, “My memory…”

Qiao Xi looked over.

Qiao Jianliang explained, “Little Bei looked for you before; I forgot to tell you.”

She perked up immediately. “When?”

“This afternoon, around five or six o’clock. Came over to sit for a while; you weren’t home, so she went back.”

The haze in her heart vanished instantly, replaced by joy. But daring not show too much in front of Qiao Jianliang, she hesitated, casually grabbed two exercise books, and ran while Qiao Jianliang wasn’t looking.

The whole family next door had gone back to worship ancestors; only Fu Bei and the helper were home. As if expecting her to come, all doors were unlocked.

Fu Bei was in the room on the second floor, just out of the shower, drying her hair. Sensing someone came, she made no sound or movement, not even turning to look.

Unsure what this meant, Qiao Xi tightened her grip, standing at the door. Holding back for a long time, she called softly, “Fu Bei…”