Since Qi Huan became paralyzed in both legs, the company affairs had been temporarily handed over to Qi Yue and Qi Tianxiang to manage, while he stayed at home to recover. However, after growing suspicious of his father Qi Tianxiang and Qi Yue, he decided to visit the company today to assess the situation.
Just as he was about to leave, a middle-aged foreign man in a tailored suit approached him at the door.
"Young Master Qi Huan, I am George, the psychologist your father, Mr. Qi Tianxiang, specially invited from abroad to provide you with psychological treatment. May I ask where you're heading?" The man spoke fluent Chinese.
Qi Huan raised his hand, signaling the servant pushing his wheelchair to stop, and studied the foreign man before him. "Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?"
Dr. George smiled faintly. "Not at all. However, as your psychologist, I hope Young Master Qi Huan can focus on resting and recovering at home, setting aside all other matters for now. Therefore, I kindly ask for your cooperation. I need to first evaluate your psychological state so I can provide you with the best treatment plan."
As he spoke, he pulled out a psychological assessment form from his briefcase.
Qi Huan chuckled. "How much did my father Qi Tianxiang pay to bring you here from abroad?"
Without waiting for George to answer, he continued, "Yesterday, I froze all of my father's expense accounts. From now on, any spending beyond his basic allowance must be approved by me. That means, without my consent, he can’t even afford your consultation fee. Are you sure you still want to accept his request to treat me?"
George’s expression shifted subtly at these words.
Qi Huan smiled lightly. "Alright, whether my father genuinely sent you to treat me or to secretly monitor me, I’ve made myself clear. Of course, I won’t let you come all the way from abroad for nothing. You can stay here under the guise of being my psychologist—I’ll pay your fee, even double it. After all, perhaps my dear father himself will soon be in need of psychological treatment."
George was struck by the young master’s formidable mental resilience.
He didn’t need psychological treatment at all!
Perhaps no one in this world could easily break through his psychological defenses.
Quickly grasping the situation, George smiled and replied, "Understood. I’ll follow your arrangements, Young Master Qi Huan."
Pleased with the doctor’s pragmatism, Qi Huan took the assessment form. "Once I’ve filled this out, I’ll return it to you, Dr. George. Then, I’ll leave it to you to deliver it to my father."
Dr. George bowed slightly. "Of course."
……
Outside the estate, Cheng Jing was already waiting.
When he saw Qi Huan, he stepped forward, took over the task of pushing the wheelchair, and helped Qi Huan into the car before securing the wheelchair.
"So? Did you find anything?" Qi Huan retrieved a pen from the car’s storage compartment and began reading the psychological assessment form in his hands.
Cheng Jing fastened his seatbelt, started the engine, and replied, "I investigated the orphanage where Qi Yue and Qi Yu once lived. The person who sent Qi Yu there was a young woman who had previously worked at the group. However, she was later dismissed for unknown reasons and left Jing City with her severance pay. Her details and photos are in the file beside you, Young Master."
Qi Huan’s grip on the pen tightened as he glanced at the file on the seat beside him.
Setting aside the assessment form, he opened the file and pulled out the documents and photos inside.
Bai Xueru.
The moment he saw the woman’s name and photo, he recognized her.
She was the employee his father had once been involved with at the company.
His mother had made a scene back then, summoning her entire family to threaten his father.
Though he had only been three years old at the time, he remembered it vividly.
His mother was domineering—she would never tolerate even the slightest hint of her husband’s infidelity.
After that incident, his father had become obedient, never daring to engage in any ambiguous relationships with women again.
Yet, it seemed this dismissed employee had still managed to maintain ties with his father, even secretly giving birth to his illegitimate daughter right under his mother’s nose.
His dear father might have been incompetent in business, but he was truly a master at adultery.
Cheng Jing continued, "Bai Xueru died in an accident five years ago. To confirm whether Qi Yu is your father’s illegitimate daughter, we’d only need to arrange a paternity test. However, Qi Yue’s situation is more complicated."
Qi Huan understood Cheng Jing’s implication.
Proving whether he and Qi Yue were full brothers couldn’t be done through a simple DNA test.
"The orphanage hasn’t yielded any clues about Qi Yue’s origins so far. The old Taoist priest who once read Qi Yue’s fortune has also passed away, leaving no leads. But don’t worry, Young Master, I’ll keep investigating until we uncover the truth about Qi Yue’s identity."
"Mm." Qi Huan’s eyes darkened.
If his father Qi Tianxiang had truly schemed on such a grand scale—starting from the moment the old priest claimed his younger brother would bring misfortune to the Qi family, all to orchestrate his real brother’s removal and replace him with an illegitimate son—then he would have ensured the plan was airtight. Given how much time had passed, uncovering the truth wouldn’t be easy.
With Bai Xueru dead, there was no way to conduct a paternity test between Qi Yue and her.
At this thought, Qi Huan stuffed the documents and photos back into the file and picked up the unfinished psychological assessment form.
Coincidentally, the next question read—
[I feel deceived or that someone is trying to control me.]
○ Not at all
○ Slightly
○ Moderately
○ Very
○ Extremely
He lifted his pen and checked the last option—Extremely.
……
When Qi Huan arrived at the group’s headquarters, the receptionist stepped forward to stop him, politely asking, "Sir, excuse me, who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment?"
Cheng Jing, pushing the wheelchair, frowned. "You don’t know who he is?"
The receptionist paused, studying Qi Huan again before smiling apologetically. "I’m sorry, the group receives many clients daily, and I don’t recall meeting you before. Have you made an appointment, sir?"
Before Cheng Jing could retort, Qi Huan raised a hand. "Never mind. Don’t trouble her—she’s just doing her job."
It was obvious. The reception staff and security personnel downstairs had all been replaced during the month he’d been recovering.
He took out his phone and dialed Qi Yue’s number, but the call was immediately rejected.
Listening to the dial tone, Qi Huan’s expression darkened as he ended the call.
The receptionist offered a placating smile. "Sir, if you’re looking for our President Qi, he’s currently in a morning meeting and can’t take your call. You may schedule an appointment with me."
Cheng Jing’s voice turned icy. "President Qi? The real President Qi is right in front of you!"
