Jiang Youli let out a light chuckle as she pulled a silver needle from her acupuncture case. "Enough with the banter. Let’s focus on your treatment. If you don’t get back on your feet soon, who knows what rumors will spread outside. Today, you can’t enter your own company; tomorrow, you might not even be allowed into your own home."
With that, she crouched down, rolled up Qi Huan’s pant leg, and deftly inserted the needle into an acupoint near his knee.
Qi Huan’s treatment lasted two hours, and it was only then that Qi Yue finally arrived at Shuixie Huating.
Qi Yue frowned at the sight of the open door and stepped inside, only to find Qi Yu slumped unconscious by the wine cabinet.
Her eyes were shut, her breathing faint. Her knees were a mangled mess of blood, and a dark pool had formed beneath her.
Qi Yue’s pupils dilated in shock.
"Xiao Yu—"
Just as he bent down to check on her, a sudden kick sent him sprawling face-first onto the floor. Before he could react, a heavy foot pressed down on his back, pinning him in place.
Struggling to lift his head, Qi Yue met the cold gaze of Qi Huan, who sat in his wheelchair inside the room.
"Big brother... what are you doing? What happened to Xiao Yu? Did you hurt her?" Qi Yue’s voice trembled with disbelief.
For the three years since he and Qi Yu had been brought into the Qi family, Qi Huan had always doted on them—rarely even raising his voice, let alone laying a hand on them.
Qi Huan slowly wheeled closer. "I told you to come pick up Qi Yu immediately. Yet you took two hours. Did you really think I wouldn’t lay a finger on her?"
Qi Yue hastily explained, "Brother, it’s not what you think! There was an emergency at the company—I had to handle it. That’s why I was delayed—"
Qi Huan’s lips curled slightly. "How very busy you are."
With a nod, he signaled to Cheng Jing, who was standing over Qi Yue.
Without hesitation, Cheng Jing lifted his heavy boot and brought it crashing down onto Qi Yue’s head.
The force was brutal—like a boulder crushing his skull.
Once. Twice. Three times.
Each stomp left Qi Yue’s face more disfigured, his skin splitting open as blood trickled down, staining half his face crimson.
Only when Qi Yue’s face was thoroughly ruined did Cheng Jing finally step back.
Gone was Qi Yue’s earlier panic. Now, he could only stare in stunned horror at the brother who had once cherished him.
Qi Huan tilted his head. "Shocked that I’d do this to you? Do you really not know why you’re being punished?"
Qi Yue swallowed hard. "If it’s about missing the meeting this morning and not picking you up... I truly couldn’t get away—"
"Seems I didn’t hit you hard enough," Qi Huan sighed.
Two bodyguards—originally sent by Qi Yue to protect Qi Yu—burst in and began ruthlessly kicking and punching him where he lay.
The beating lasted ten relentless minutes before Qi Yue finally broke, clutching his head and begging, "Stop! Brother, please—call them off! They’ll kill me at this rate!"
Qi Huan raised a hand, and the guards halted. "Do you understand your mistake now?"
Gasping, Qi Yue nodded. "I... I won’t keep you waiting at the company again. No matter the meeting or client, I’ll come for you immediately."
Qi Huan chuckled darkly. "Still clueless. Keep going."
Another ten minutes passed before Qi Huan stopped them. He wheeled closer to Qi Yue, now battered and bloodied, and looked down at him. "Let me enlighten you."
"After my legs were crippled, you were only temporarily managing the company. Yet you’ve started acting like the real CEO. Qi Yue, tell me—what do you mean by 'picking me up'? Since when do I need your permission to enter my own company? Who do you think you are?"
Weakly, Qi Yue rasped, "Brother... I only wanted to lighten your burden... so you could recover in peace... I never meant to replace you..."
"Good. Because if you had, being my brother wouldn’t save you." Qi Huan wiped his hands clean. "I’ll visit the company tomorrow. Before then, fire every new hire you brought in this month—and pay their severance out of your own pocket, not the company’s. Then personally rehire every employee who didn’t resign voluntarily. If even one refuses, expect another round of punishment."
Qi Yue swallowed hard. "...Understood."
With that settled, Qi Huan turned his attention to Jiang Youli, who had been lounging on the sofa, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle.
A sly smile played on her lips. "Last night, at my welcome banquet, you watched my little drama unfold. Today, it’s my turn to enjoy yours. Quite the show."
Qi Huan grinned. "That’s precisely why I invited you here today—to give you some entertainment while you work on my legs."
Jiang Youli shot him a teasing glance. "How thoughtful of you, Huan-huan."
Qi Huan smirked. "As long as Li’er is happy."
Meanwhile, Qi Yue, slumped beside Qi Yu, clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Damn you, Qi Huan!
After brutalizing him and Qi Yu, he had the audacity to flirt with Jiang Youli like nothing happened!
This humiliation would be repaid a hundredfold.
Mark his words.
---
Starlight Entertainment.
Jiang Zhao stormed into Jiang Xing’s office and dropped onto the couch, seething.
"I’ve settled things with Sister Kitty. She’ll release a statement tonight taking full responsibility for the evening gown incident."
