Chapter 38#

World 1: The Tragic Supporting Male Lead Changes the Script Online#

Qin Qing helped Xu Yizhi with the discharge procedures and sent him home. On the way, he called Qin Huaichuan.

“Dad, I heard from Qin Zishi that you are going to invest in the Solomon Group. Have you given the money yet?”

Sitting in the coffee shop of a five-star hotel, Qin Huaichuan, who was waiting for Qin Zishi to keep the appointment and accidentally saw the online news that the project had failed, was wiping the cold sweat from his forehead frequently at this moment.

There was a contract in his briefcase, intending to invest 80 million US dollars. The amount was nothing compared to Youtu, but it was also the only remaining working capital of the Qin Group.

If the news had broken out a few days later, this money, along with the Qin Group, would have been cheated by Qin Zishi until not even dregs were left.

“No, no, the money is still in the company’s account, and the contract hasn’t been signed.” Qin Huaichuan picked up the coffee, ignoring the scalding temperature, and took a sip in embarrassment.

He didn’t expect his son’s judgment to be correct, and Qin Zishi made such a big fuss on the Internet, setting off such huge public opinion, but in the end, he only portrayed himself as a clown!

After today, the unrecognized business prodigy, the classic example of a noble son from a humble family, the reversal of adversity to slap the wealthy family in the face, all became jokes!

Qin Huaichuan let out a breath and said with emotion: “Son, Dad should have believed you.”

“Even if you don’t believe my judgment, you should believe Yizhi’s vision. Do you really think he is the kind of person who doesn’t distinguish between public and private and forgets righteousness for beauty?” Qin Qing, who was driving, took time to glance at Xu Yizhi.

Xu Yizhi, sitting in the passenger seat, slowly leaned closer and said playfully into the microphone: “I am. Seeing you, I get dizzy and forget everything.”

After speaking, he laughed in a low voice. His magnetic voice vibrated Qin Qing’s eardrums, making him blush involuntarily.

Qin Qing glared at Xu Yizhi pretending to be annoyed, but a second later he couldn’t hold back and laughed low himself.

Qin Huaichuan on the other end of the signal heard the two flirting and actually felt much more at ease. If President Xu hadn’t been willing to teach his son and even more willing to take responsibility for his son, the Qin Group and Blue Universe couldn’t have avoided this disaster.

“Are you together? Then celebrate well, it doesn’t matter if you come back later. Dad is going to the company.” Qin Huaichuan urged intimately, as if he had never thought of breaking up the two.

Qin Qing tapped the LCD screen, hung up the phone, and then turned his body sideways to avoid Xu Yizhi who was getting closer and closer.

“Sit properly, or I will have points deducted.” He looked at the road conditions ahead and said calmly.

“We didn’t violate traffic rules, why would points be deducted?” Xu Yizhi leaned lazily against the back of the chair, his body still leaning towards his lover.

“If you get any closer, I won’t be able to resist kissing you. Kissing while driving definitely violates traffic rules. For our safety and the safety of others, please sit properly.” Qin Qing looked ahead and ordered seriously.

Xu Yizhi was stunned.

Qin Qing looked at him sideways and suddenly smiled brightly.

The stunned Xu Yizhi realized that he was teased by this little flower again. He shook his head with amusement, and then laughed aloud.

“Darling, find a place to park, I want to kiss you right now.” Xu Yizhi’s voice was hoarse and happy. While speaking, he rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, revealing his strong arms.

It seemed that he couldn’t hold back anymore.

Qin Qing glanced at him quickly, hooked his thin lips and smiled: “There is an underground parking lot ahead, we can get there within three minutes. I’ve already spotted it.”

Xu Yizhi half-covered his face with a deep smile and laughed muffledly.

“Darling, you are so cute!” He sighed faintly, extremely happy.

In the evening, Qin Qing, whose lip bead was somewhat swollen, slowly drove the car into the courtyard of the Qin residence.

When passing by that green and quiet pond, he stopped to watch for a while. Seeing the one-leaf lotus that had grown from a single lotus leaf into a large lotus field, he couldn’t help smiling happily.

Qin Guangyuan stood at the door and said loudly: “Back?”

“En, back.” Qin Qing withdrew his gaze and walked towards the house.

“Why didn’t you bring Xu Yizhi back?”

“He and President Cang have things to discuss.”

“What things? Working right after leaving the hospital, not resting for a few days?”

“The acquisition of Youtu.”

Qin Guangyuan was stunned, and then shook his head and sighed: “Xu Yizhi probably thought of this step when he came back from Europe, otherwise he wouldn’t have let Qin Zishi make such a fuss on the Internet. Hooking Youtu, he succeeded. Ginger is still spicy when old! Zishi is still too young after all.”

“He is not too young, he is too greedy.” Qin Qing supported Qin Guangyuan’s arm.

Ji Lan, who followed out of the gate, listened to the conversation between the grandfather and grandson with a pale face.

“Zishi won’t be in trouble, right? Can he keep his job?” Ji Lan walked to the other side of Qin Guangyuan and supported her father-in-law’s arm.

Qin Huaichuan, sitting in the dining room, raised his head and sneered: “He almost bankrupted the Qin Group too, why are you still worried about him?”

Ji Lan’s face turned paler, and she dared not speak.

Qin Qing helped Qin Guangyuan into the dining room, pulled out a chair for the old man, protected him to sit down, and then sat down himself, speaking slowly: “If he didn’t use his position to obtain personal gain when doing the project, being fired would be fine. If he tampered with the investment funds and accepted bribes, the outcome might be…”

Qin Qing shook his head, sighed, and didn’t finish his sentence.

But Ji Lan understood what a terrible ending was hidden in those unfinished words.

“Zishi has always been honest, he wouldn’t tamper with things.” As a mother, she instinctively defended her child.

Qin Huaichuan sneered: “He is honest? If he were honest, he wouldn’t spread rumors and slander President Xu and Qin Qing on the Internet! If he were honest, he wouldn’t cause such a big mess! Youtu is also an international large company with a market value of hundreds of billions, its strength only a line behind Blue Universe, and is Blue Universe’s strongest competitor! But look at what Youtu is like now? You say Qin Zishi is honest, President Li of Youtu would be the first to disagree!”

Just thinking that this adopted son even cheated the Qin Group, Qin Huaichuan was so angry that he wanted to slap the table.

“After so many days, I have seen through that child. He probably took some money he shouldn’t have taken. Blue Universe will definitely check the accounts when acquiring Youtu, he can’t hide.” Qin Guangyuan sighed helplessly, then turned to look at his well-behaved, sensible, shrewd and capable grandson, and felt quite gratified.

Ji Lan forced a smile and said: “Let’s not talk about him, eat quickly.”

However, at the dinner table, she was the one who ate most tastelessly.

After dinner, Qin Qing carried a pot of water to the balcony and watered his flowers as usual. The roses had already bloomed, but the Chinese roses were still red. The winding creepers poked their heads out from the wall, swaying gently in the evening breeze, cute as children.

Qin Qing sprinkled water droplets on the fiery red petals and tender green leaves. Suddenly feeling itchy at his shoulder blade, he returned to the bathroom, half-removed his shirt, and looked in the mirror. The light pink bud actually unfolded two jade-like petals, with glistening pearly light shining on them, soaking the snow-white and soft skin.

Undoubtedly, this was the most beautiful totem in the world.

Qin Qing stared blankly for a long time, stroked it again and again with his fingertips, probed again and again, and then smiled happily. His always slightly pale lips, without being kissed, also revealed a bit of bright red dripping color.

“Meow! Why did this flower bud open?” 996, who sneaked back, shouted in surprise.

Qin Qing immediately put on his shirt and whispered calmly: “It’s my first time seeing it too, I don’t understand what happened to it.”

996 looked at Qin Qing suspiciously, always feeling that he hid a lot of things. But these were not important anymore; what was important was the protagonist shou!

“Qin Qing, count it as I beg you, okay. I’ll kneel for you first.” 996 stood up like a human, and then knelt down with a thud.

A chubby little cat knelt on the ground with two hind legs like a human, its back and head round and furry, looking really cute.

Qin Qing leaned against the washstand, slowly buttoned his shirt, and said knowingly: “Begging me to help you save Qin Zishi?”

“You know?” 996 dragged its round body and walked a few steps on its knees, hugged Qin Qing’s thigh, opened its green eyes round, and begged pitifully: “I just came from him. He took money from Solomon and Youtu, and it has been found out. If he doesn’t return the money, Youtu will call the police to arrest him. He is the Destined Person! How can he go to jail!”

“Does the Destined Person not have to go to jail for doing bad things?” Qin Qing couldn’t help smiling, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Why is the male supporting character always doomed even if he is cautious, while those so-called protagonists can have a smooth path to immortality no matter what they do?

“Don’t be sour! Saving Qin Zishi is saving ourselves! If you don’t do the return task, I won’t say anything about you, but you can’t let the protagonist shou’s fate completely derail, right? If he goes to jail, who knows how the Heavenly Dao will punish us!” 996 was about to cry with anxiety.

“But every time he got a terminal illness, didn’t the Heavenly Dao take no remedial measures?” Qin Qing said casually.

“He got a terminal illness, that was caused by the environment, there were no human factors. Now he is going to jail, that is caused by you single-handedly! You planted the cause and must bear the fruit! The Heavenly Dao will target you! I’m afraid you haven’t been struck by lightning—”

Before 996 finished speaking, a burst of whispering came from the balcony on the third floor.

Both the person and the cat had senses far beyond ordinary people, so naturally they heard it clearly.

Qin Zishi begged on the phone: “Mom, help me think of a way.”

Ji Lan looked left and right, and asked in a low voice: “How much do you want?”

“Sixty million is enough.”

“Sixty million? Where can I, a housewife, get so much money?” Ji Lan gasped.

“Sell the shares Grandpa gave you, and you will have money. Don’t you still have a lot of jewelry?”

“Those shares are to be left for Qin Qing in the future. Grandpa wants to hand over the Ji family’s company to him for management, he can’t be without shares!”

“He just lost shares, I lost my whole life! Mom, do you really not care about me anymore? Can you bear to see my life ruined like this? If Qin Qing hadn’t deliberately misled me, I wouldn’t be here today. Mom, I really have no way out, you are the only one who can help me! Mom, I beg you…”

Qin Zishi began to cry, his voice suppressed and pitiful.

He said that in this world, only Ji Lan could help him. However, at the same time, another mother was running around for him.

Shen Mingshu’s text message suddenly sent into Qin Qing’s mobile phone.

[Qin Qing, lend Mom 80 million, okay? Mom will thank you for a lifetime!]

Qin Zishi asked Ji Lan for 60 million, and Shen Mingshu asked for 80 million as soon as she opened her mouth. The price rose too fast…

Qin Qing looked at this text message and smiled silently.

Shen Mingshu’s text messages kept coming in. First admitting mistakes, saying she was not a good mother, saying she would compensate in the future, saying she shouldn’t have angered him, etc.

After saying all the good words, she began to curse hysterically: [Don’t you have a very rich boyfriend? Go ask him to borrow it!]

[Mixing in the night market stalls at a young age, you started selling your body long ago, right?]

[It should be easy for you to get money, right? For the sake of me raising you for so many years, can’t you help me?]

[How can you be so cruel?]

[You jinx, whoever touches you will have no good things! You killed my husband, and now you want to kill my son! If you don’t lend money, I will kill you! I will drag you to hell together!]

All kinds of extremely vicious curses and unbearable filthy language poured into Qin Qing’s mobile phone continuously.

At this moment, Ji Lan’s firm voice came from the third-floor balcony: “Okay, Mom will help you. Mom will sell the Ji family’s shares and all jewelry. Qin Qing won’t blame me if he knows. That child has a very good character and won’t care about such things at all. Wait, Mom will contact the buyer tomorrow.”

Qin Qing raised his head and looked up through the ceiling. He could already imagine that Ji Lan was suffering because of the miserable situation of her adopted son. After all, it was a child raised for twenty-five years, she couldn’t let go.

For this child, anything could be sold, including the interests of her own son…

Qin Qing closed his eyes and sighed slowly and helplessly.

996 was ecstatic, immediately got up, and changed its face: “Pah, this cat shouldn’t have knelt for you just now! This cat curses you to lose a hundred years of life! Qin Zishi doesn’t need you to save him. He is the Destined Person, with luck added to his body, he can always turn bad luck into good luck!”

Qin Qing hooked his lips and smiled, “You don’t want me to save him? Then I insist on saving him.”

996 was stunned, “What did you say?”

“I’m definitely saving Qin Zishi.” Qin Qing walked out of the bathroom, stood on the balcony, and called Xu Yizhi.

996 quickly followed behind him, eyes wide open, full of incredulity. Is this person Qin Qing? Wasn’t his soul possessed by someone?

“Qin Qing, are you stupid?” 996 asked with both worry and secret delight.

Xu Yizhi’s mobile phone was placed on the round table. The round table was surrounded by high-level executives of Blue Universe. Everyone was ruddy-faced and in high spirits. Those shareholders who criticized Xu Yizhi severely before were now standing up one by one, holding wine glasses and apologizing profusely.

Xu Yizhi leaned against the back of the chair with a faint smile, without speaking.

Cang Ming, sitting beside him, glimpsed the caller ID on his mobile phone screen, and actually reached out without thinking.

Xu Yizhi’s smile froze slightly, and then he also reached out quickly and clamped Cang Ming’s wrist.

“Is this your phone? You answer without asking?” He hooked his lips and smiled lightly, but his eyes were cold as ice.

The hand bones were almost crushed, and severe pain pierced into the brain fiercely along the oppressed nerves, but it couldn’t make Cang Ming frown even a little bit. He looked at the faintly lit name on the screen, reluctant to let go.

Xu Yizhi leaned closer, smiled coldly, and asked slowly: “What, want to steal my home?”

Cang Ming looked at him steadily and nodded without shy away: “Yes, want to steal.”

Such indecent words, such immoral behavior, he said it and did it. Compared with the past lack of desire and thought, where everything was empty, he had completely changed his appearance.

The screen was still on, the phone kept vibrating, and the person on the other end had waited too long. Cang Ming looked at the phone reluctantly, and then returned it.

Xu Yizhi immediately clenched the phone and threw off Cang Ming’s hand at the same time.

Two dignified presidents, figures who called the wind and summoned the rain in the business world, were actually fighting for a mobile phone at the wine table at this moment. Those who didn’t know would think it was some treasure.

The high-level executives were dumbfounded.

Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi looked at each other, their cold auras colliding invisibly, scattering into ice chips, freezing the people around them to shiver.

A shareholder was about to ask whose phone it was, when he heard Xu Yizhi say gently and dotingly into the microphone: “Darling, have you had dinner?”

Darling? Who? The little lover kept by President Xu?

Xu Yizhi seemed to have mind-reading skills, smiled and looked around at everyone, explaining in a low voice: “Indeed a little lover, Qin of Qin Qing.”

Shareholders: “…” This show of affection!

Cang Ming clenched his already empty palm, then took out a pure black handkerchief, covered his mouth and coughed lightly. Bright red liquid soaked the fabric, but no one noticed.

Physical pain couldn’t make him look away from that mobile phone. Through the erratic signal, he seemed to be able to glimpse that charming and bright face he missed so much, and those gentle and quiet eyes like water.

“How much money did Qin Zishi take exactly?” Qin Qing sat on the swaying rocking chair, looking at the dark night and asked.

“Took 60 million from Solomon, and 80 million from Youtu.” Xu Yizhi told the truth.

“So it’s 140 million?” Qin Qing smiled, for Qin Zishi’s excessive greed. Having lost the Qin family and unable to hook up with Cang Ming, that person’s desire for money was stimulated to the extreme.

“Yes, he is very bold.” Xu Yizhi said playfully.

“My mother wants to sell jewelry and shares to fill the hole for him. Can you find someone to stall her tomorrow.”

996 quickly jumped onto the coffee table and glared at Qin Qing viciously. It wondered how this person could be kind enough to help; it turned out he was waiting here!

Qin Qing glanced at 996 and continued: “I don’t want my mother to sacrifice to that extent for Qin Zishi. I will pay Qin Zishi’s debt. I will sell my car first. You help me find a buyer tomorrow, and by the way, find someone to reveal the news to my mother so she won’t worry.”

Hearing this, 996 breathed a sigh of relief. Didn’t expect Qin Qing to be so filial!

However, Xu Yizhi couldn’t help laughing low. The mood of being annoyed by the toast exchange and flattery at the wine table all turned into high spirits at this moment.

“Darling, you are so cunning. Okay, I will do as you say.” Xu Yizhi agreed exceptionally gently.

Cang Ming crumpled the pure black handkerchief into a ball, threw it into the trash can, and said hoarsely: “Qin Qing, come to work tomorrow. The company will be very busy recently and needs manpower.”

No matter how busy, they didn’t lack Qin Qing. All excuses were just to see that person every day.

Xu Yizhi glanced at Cang Ming with a faint smile.

Qin Qing was stunned for a moment, and then raised his voice to answer: “Okay President Cang, see you tomorrow.”

A sentence “see you tomorrow” actually made the internal organs burning like fire taste a trace of healing coolness. Cang Ming nodded and hooked the corner of his lips imperceptibly.

The phone hung up, Qin Qing went to the third floor and knocked on Ji Lan’s door.

“Mom, this is the message my mom sent me, take a look.” Qin Qing handed the phone over.

The first few messages were all admitting mistakes and apologizing, and the attitude was quite sincere. Ji Lan looked a bit gratified. But turning to the back, Shen Mingshu’s true face was completely exposed. Those dirty, vicious, and unbearable contents made Ji Lan’s hands tremble all the time.

“My mom wants me to pay off the debt for Qin Zishi. Do you think I should pay it?” Qin Qing asked calmly.

“Pay what? She is so bad to you, why should you help her?” Ji Lan questioned sharply, her eyes red and somewhat terrifying due to anger and pain.

“I asked Yizhi just now. He said Qin Zishi took 60 million from Solomon and 80 million from Youtu, adding up to 140 million. If I don’t help my mom pay this money, she won’t find anyone to help her.” Qin Qing sighed in embarrassment, his slightly red eyes also hiding the pain of not knowing how to choose.

Ji Lan quickly grabbed the door handle to stabilize her tottering figure. 140 million?! How could it be so much? Zishi lied to her! How could he be greedy to this extent!

Anger, worry, pain, entanglement… all kinds of emotions pressed on Ji Lan’s heart like dark clouds, making her flustered. But she still forced a smile and said nonchalantly: “Don’t worry about this, they will solve it themselves.”

“How can I not worry, my mom must be very anxious now.” Qin Qing shook his head, murmuring worriedly.

Ji Lan felt a severe blockage in her heart, but couldn’t say her son was wrong. Which child doesn’t rely on his mother? But, she was his mother!

Ji Lan suppressed the bitterness in her heart and persuaded a few more sentences. Seeing her son reluctantly dispel the idea of helping Qin Zishi pay off the debt, she returned to her bedroom exhausted.

When taking out the shares and jewelry from the safe, a surge of resentment and unwillingness rose in her, but she didn’t know who she should resent or what she was unwilling about.

The next day, Ji Lan took all her property and secretly contacted a buyer. The buyer said the transaction amount of shares was too large to get the money temporarily, and had to wait a few days, but jewelry could be acquired immediately.

Ji Lan didn’t suspect him, handed the jewelry to the appraiser, suppressed the heartache and reluctance, and got a check.

The buyer carefully put the jewelry away in a velvet box and said inadvertently: “Is the industry very depressed recently? Many people come to me to pawn things. Today a very beautiful young man came to me to sell a second-hand car, Koenigsegg, global limited edition, silver streamlined, 20% off in one go. He said he still has several sports cars, all to be sold, as well as watches, jewelry, real estate and so on. Even haute couture suits are sold, tsk tsk tsk, how short of money must he be.”

The more Ji Lan listened, the more she felt something was wrong. She grabbed the buyer’s arm and asked anxiously: “What’s that person’s name?”

“Called Qin Qing, that rich second generation everyone is praising on the Internet recently. He works at Blue Universe, quite business-minded.” The buyer said with a grin.

Ji Lan, wearing a mask and hat, covering herself tightly and not giving her real name, felt dizzy for a moment. Her son actually listened to Shen Mingshu’s words and sold all his property to help Qin Zishi pay off the debt?

The car he sold today was the first gift she gave him! Still remember the day he got the gift, he smiled so happily, taking her for a ride back and forth on the Binhu Avenue, shouting excitedly against the wind.

The gift she carefully selected, as long as Shen Mingshu said a word, he could sell it without hesitation. He even wanted to sell all the property given to him by the Qin family and the Ji family to exchange for Shen Mingshu’s peace of mind!

Ji Lan clenched the check in her hand, looking at the numbers on it, actually felt hatred. Deep, surging, bone-piercing hatred!

140 million, who owes this debt exactly? Why did Shen Mingshu’s son make a mistake, but she forced my son to pay with everything?

Unfair! This is unfair!

Standing in her own position, Ji Lan couldn’t see clearly or put it aside. But standing in the position of a mother, she suddenly realized how pitiful her son was.

At this moment, Qin Zishi called, anxiously urging her if the money had arrived.

Ji Lan suddenly felt nauseous, wanted to vomit, wanted to hate, and wanted to cry.

She perfunctorily said a few words and hung up the phone, handed the check to the buyer, and choked: “Can I use this check to buy the sports car you just acquired?”

“Madam, this check has too much money, you transfer the money.” The buyer was honest.

“You keep the check, give me the sports car.” Ji Lan insisted on doing this. Her heartache was beyond measure, and she could only compensate in this way.

The buyer was secretly delighted, quickly handed over the car key, and said happily: “That young man still has a few watches to sell. I didn’t have enough money at the time, so I didn’t buy them. With your check, I can contact him to buy the watches.”

Ji Lan, who just stood up to pick up the car, suddenly stumbled and almost fell.

“If he sells the watches, tell me, I’ll buy them.” At this point, what else could Ji Lan do?

What her son paid silently, she could only find it back for him secretly! Her son, she didn’t feel sorry for him herself, but instead felt sorry for a greedy and selfish adopted son who broke the law! How could she be so stupid!

Ji Lan drove that sports car, speeding all the way, crying all the way. When she returned home, her eyes were red and swollen.

Qin Qing pulled her into his room, brought out a velvet box, and sighed: “Mom, this is the jewelry you pawned. I bought it back for you. I will pay Qin Zishi’s debt. You and Mom Shen don’t need to worry. I am your son, I will carry whatever happens.”

Ji Lan was stunned for a long time before asking in an extremely hoarse voice: “Where did you get the money to redeem the jewelry?”

“I was wandering in the auction house with Yizhi, accidentally saw your jewelry, so I borrowed money from him to buy it back.” Qin Qing opened the velvet box and put an emerald necklace on Ji Lan’s empty neck.

“Mom, you are so beautiful.” He tilted his head and looked for a while, smiled lightly, and finally hugged Ji Lan, sighing: “Mom, don’t worry, I will carry Qin Zishi’s debt. I will sell the shares Grandpa gave me. If he is angry and wants to deprive me of my inheritance rights, that’s okay, I can accept it. Xu Yizhi also has money, I will borrow from him, at worst I will pay it back slowly for the rest of my life. My salary, my property, my shares, I can do without them. I just want you and Mom Shen to be healthy and happy.”

Ji Lan’s heart began to ache sharply at this moment.

Her child sold his property to help her redeem these jewels! Her child, because he was afraid she would worry, took on such a huge external debt for someone who had framed him, and ruined the rest of his life!

Why? Why is it always her child who gets hurt? Why?

Ji Lan hugged Qin Qing tightly, crying silently. No matter how Qin Qing asked, she never said the reason.

What face did she have? What face did she have to be a mother?

Qin Qing helped Ji Lan back to the room, helped her wash her face, wipe her hands, and poured a glass of hot milk.

After he left the bedroom, Ji Lan covered her face, suppressed extreme regret, and cried bitterly.

She didn’t deserve to be a mother, she didn’t deserve it!