Fatal Desire

Chapter 101 Did she do it?
“Ms. Song has an exceptionally high level of mental fortitude,” Virginia said. “This is just speculation at the moment and cannot be confirmed.”

"Guess?" Zhao Yansen tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa armrest. "I'm not paying you a seven-figure salary to listen to probability theory."

Virginia, on the other side of the world, felt a chill run down her spine through the internet cable and her heart pounded with fear.

Ms. Song has changed no fewer than ten psychologists in the past four years, and she has stayed with the longest, for a year and five months.

She didn't know what had happened between the employer and the patient, only that the patient refused to mention Mr. Zhao. For the past year and five months, she had never seen Mr. Zhao near Ms. Song.

Their relationship is ambiguous; it seems neither close nor very close.

As a seasoned psychologist selected through a rigorous global process, she couldn't see through it.

*
On the other side, the crystal chandeliers of the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund illuminated the Peacock Hall.

Song Xi's fingertips traced the gold rim of the bone china teacup, glanced at Fu Wenxin, and then looked at the middle-aged man in a suit next to her:

"It's ironic that President Qiao chose to discuss war in the Peace Hall."

Qiao Kun turned the jade ring on his left hand, like a leopard stroking its prey: "Miss Song is joking. I am here today to negotiate peace."

He pushed the gilded tea and snack shelf over, "Would you like to try the newly arrived Lion Peak Longjing tea?"

"No need." The spotlight refracted by the crystal lamp fell directly on the bracelet on Song Xi's left wrist, reflecting a bright blood-red light.

The waiter brought over the coffee, which Shang Shixu took and handed to Song Xi: "Red bean latte."

Fu Wenxin, sitting opposite them, glanced at them without saying a word.

Song Xi took a sip of coffee and said slowly, "Mr. Qiao, you didn't just invite me for tea, did you?"

“Young people are just too impatient.” Qiao Kun put down his teacup. “President Song, our Qiao Group greatly admires your specific antibody technology.”

"So Mr. Fu is going to sue me for patent infringement?" Song Xi's lips curled up slightly. "That's quite a unique way of appreciating someone."

“The evidence is conclusive.” Fu Wenxin remained calm and smiled. “Your Morningside’s specific antibody patent plagiarized my research and development.”

Song Xi said, "Should I remind President Fu what the consequences are for making a false accusation in commercial court?"

Song Xi knew government leaders, and no matter how much Qiao Kun despised such a junior, he was willing to swallow his pride for the sake of the Qiao family.
"How about this, let's cooperate. The Qiao family will invest in Morningside and cooperate with Zhongrui, and the patent dispute will be wiped clean."

"Mr. Qiao is joking," Song Xi said. "Morningstar is not short of funds."

"Moreover, as far as I know, your company's cash flow is not as stable as the blood pressure of an old man in a lane."

Qiao Kun's face turned ashen instantly, burning with rage, but he tried his best to restrain himself.

"Song Xi, do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have power?" Fu Wenxin's face darkened.

“President Xi can do whatever he wants even without relying on power,” Shang Shixu said from the side. “You’ve seen Fu Wenxin before.”

Qiao Kun suddenly burst into laughter, the sound causing the crystal chandelier to tremble slightly. His cloudy eyes turned to Shang Shixu:

"Shixu, are you going to help outsiders against your own father?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Shixu's jawline tightened.

“President Qiao,” Song Xi tapped his knuckles on the coffee table, “you used him to do public relations for the Qiao family, and then you discarded him after using him. Why didn’t you remember that he was President Shang’s father?”

The tense atmosphere was instantly shattered.

It's impossible for the two sides to reach an agreement.

“Song Xi, we’ve come here out of kindness to talk to you, don’t be ungrateful!” Fu Wenxin frowned, turning to look at Shang Shixu. “And you, Shang Shixu, do you really think she wants to start a company with you? All this young lady wants is an obedient dog!”

Shang Shixu looked at her coldly: "Otherwise, what, should I learn from you and become a filthy rat in the gutter?" The cruise ship's horn sounded through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Fu Wenxin and Qiao Kun wanted to say something more.

Song Xi remained unfazed: "Do you need me to show you the bank statement from Zurich so I can tell you what pharmaceutical company you bought in Switzerland last month?"

Qiao Kun and Fu Wenxin's expressions changed drastically, and they could only let them get up and leave.

The private room was silent. Suddenly, Qiao Kun grabbed a teacup and smashed it on the ground. The porcelain shattered on the carpet, and shards of porcelain splashed around Fu Wenxin's feet.

"How did she know about the Swiss pharmaceutical company?" Qiao Kun's face was contorted with rage.

“She has powerful connections, so it’s not surprising that they found out.” In comparison, Fu Wenxin seemed much calmer.

"Don't worry, Mr. Qiao. So what if Song Xi has something on us? We have something on her too."

Qiao Kun turned to look at her, his gaze dark: "What leverage?"

"When Song Xi first arrived in the United States, he couldn't enter the laboratory for six months. Do you know why?" Fu Wenxin smiled slyly. "There was an explosion in the Tsinghua University laboratory four years ago."

Qiao Kun: "She did it?"

Fu Wenxin nodded: "Even if Song Xi finds a loophole in the Qiao family's strategy, it's useless. Her only chance of winning has already been exposed, while our trump card is enough to ruin her reputation!"

*
As they left the hotel, Song Xi waved her phone. "I've sent you the equity pledge record of Qiao's Swiss Pharmaceutical Factory. Considering he's your father, let's give them a warning this time."

Song Xi is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and would not easily put someone to death.

Shang Shixu knew this. She valued family ties, so she was horrified when she witnessed the two of them kissing.

"I'll keep it for now," Shang Shixu asked. "When are you going back?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a car horn sounded from the road not far away.

Song Xi turned her head and looked over. A completely black Maybach was parked there. She paused for two seconds, then looked away and said to Shang Shixu:
"I'm going back today. The car's here, I'm leaving."

"Okay, see you at the company." Shang Shixu will stay in Shanghai for a few more days to handle family matters before returning to Beijing.

He didn't mention her relationship with Zhao Yansen, so Song Xi naturally wouldn't tell him. Besides, even if he asked, she might not answer truthfully.

There's no need to explain to irrelevant people.

Song Xi got into the Maybach. Zhao Yansen wasn't there; only the driver asked her, "Miss, do you need to go back to the hotel to pack your luggage? Or should we send someone over to pack it?"

She had nothing to hide, so Song Xi said, "Just send someone over."

She glanced at the time; it was already past Zhao Yansen's original flight schedule. He had changed his itinerary.

Because of her.

probably.

At six o'clock in the evening, the twilight over Shanghai flowed like melting amber across the private tarmac of Hongqiao Airport.

The Gulfstream G777ER's fuselage was bathed in a golden-red afterglow, its wing lines sharp as blades, gleaming coldly in the setting sun.
Song Xi boarded the plane through the VIP channel, where a flight attendant in uniform gave her a standard smile and led her to the lounge.

On the expensive sofa, Zhao Yansen elegantly crossed his long legs, his well-defined fingers flipping through a contract. He slowly raised his eyes and glanced at her.

Song Xi sat obediently next to him, smiling sweetly: "It's been so long since we went home together."

(End of this chapter)