Chapter 51: A Woman Too Clever

“Qin Xuan, it’s you!”
Su Muqing struggled to sit up.

“It’s all right now,” Qin Xuan reassured her, then turned his head and barked sharply, “Why aren’t you driving? Take me to your boss!”

“Yes, yes, hero!” The bald driver nodded frantically and slammed on the gas. In his heart, he thought: Just wait until we get there, kid, you’ll be the one crying. I’ve got a whole crew waiting. Of course, for now, the driver was alone and didn’t dare lay a finger on Qin Xuan. He had already witnessed Qin Xuan’s terrifying strength—he’d already lost several teeth…

Qin Xuan had no idea what was running through the driver’s mind. He turned back to look at Su Muqing and noticed a faint flush on her cheeks, unsure of the cause.

“Thank you—for saving me again,” Su Muqing said, embarrassed.

She remembered being dragged into a van and then blacking out. When she woke, Qin Xuan was the first person she saw, and she was lying in his arms. She’d even thought, for a moment, that Qin Xuan had tried to kidnap her himself.

Hearing him threatening the driver, she realized it was Qin Xuan rescuing her once more. The realization brought a blush to her face. To be rescued twice, and both times to have misunderstood him—Su Muqing felt she could scarcely show her face.

“It’s nothing.”

“Who was behind this attempt to kidnap me?” she asked.

“I don’t know. We’ll find out soon enough. Whoever it is, I won’t let them off easily.” Qin Xuan shook his head, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He steadied his thoughts before turning to Su Muqing, “I want to ask you something. Please answer me honestly.”

“What is it? Go ahead.” Su Muqing sat up, straightening the wrinkles in her dress and smoothing her slightly tousled hair.

“Where is Li Shihao now?” Qin Xuan tried to keep his tone as casual as possible.

“He should be at home, I suppose. Why?” Su Muqing asked, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

“Where does he live?” Qin Xuan pressed.

Su Muqing frowned slightly. Though she didn’t know why he was asking, a trace of caution surfaced. “Why do you want to know? Is this about the issue with the foreign student from the Land of the Rising Sun? I was just arguing with the faculty about that in the business school office—looking for Li Shihao won’t solve anything. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to get the disciplinary action revoked.”

Qin Xuan was a bit taken aback by her response.

No wonder Su Muqing left campus so late—she’d been arguing with the so-called faculty leaders on his behalf. Clearly, she’d seen the post Zhou Xiaoyu made on the campus forum, and knew Li Shihao was behind it.

Unfortunately, that was no longer Qin Xuan’s main reason for seeking out Li Shihao.

“No, it’s something else.” Qin Xuan shook his head. “Trust me, Li Shihao is not a good person.”

“What’s this about, then?” Su Muqing insisted, determined not to let it drop without understanding.

Seeing her resolve, Qin Xuan could only slowly recount the story about Yang Ling.

Halfway through, the bald driver interjected disdainfully, “Ghosts? Spirits? Ha! Who’d believe that? Kid, you might be tough, but your skills at wooing women are pathetic. I bet you’re no match for that Li Shihao. Of course, neither of you will get this beauty—my boss has his eye on her, heh heh.”

“If you don’t shut up, you’ll lose the rest of your teeth,” Qin Xuan snapped.

The bald driver immediately fell silent.

Yet Qin Xuan realized the man had a point. When he finished his story, Su Muqing frowned and said, “Qin Xuan, are you trying to fool me? There’s no such thing as ghosts. I know you’re upset with Li Shihao, but—”

“Believe it or not. Seems you’re not going to tell me where he lives,” Qin Xuan said, frowning.

“Qin Xuan, as the saying goes, ‘seeing is believing.’ Without evidence, I can’t be convinced by what you’ve said alone.” Su Muqing sounded helpless. “I’ve been with Li Shihao for two years and haven’t seen any real flaws in him—except this time, when he tried to get you expelled. That was too much. But he’d never do something so monstrous.”

“Is that so?” Qin Xuan was struck by her use of the word “together.” They were actually a couple now?

“Let me put it this way,” Su Muqing said with a smile. “I’ve known him since childhood. We’ve been together for two years, and he’s only ever held my hand a few times. If I were your girlfriend, Qin Xuan, would you be upset?”

“Heh, yes, I would,” Qin Xuan answered honestly, though he’d never had a girlfriend.

“That’s just it. Most people couldn’t stand it, but Li Shihao stuck with me without a word of complaint. How could someone like that do what you’re accusing him of…” Her voice trailed off, and her frown deepened. She simply couldn’t believe Li Shihao would hire thugs to assault Yang Ling.

“Heh, beautiful lady,” the bald driver couldn’t help but speak up again. “Think you’re so clever? I don’t know what kind of guy Li Shihao is, but I’m certain you’ve been completely fooled!”

This time, the driver seemed to be speaking for Qin Xuan, so Qin Xuan didn’t interrupt—he was curious to hear what the man would say next.

“The smarter a woman is, the easier she is to trick. Because she thinks she’s too smart to fall for anything. If I were you, I’d drop Li Shihao immediately and throw myself into this guy’s arms…”

“All right, that’s enough,” Qin Xuan broke in, not wanting him to go on.

Su Muqing frowned. As the driver had said, she was a clever woman, and the situation made her wonder: was the bald driver actually in league with Qin Xuan? Was this kidnapping a plot masterminded by Qin Xuan himself, meant to drive a wedge between her and Li Shihao for some darker purpose?

“Driver, are you Qin Xuan’s accomplice?” Su Muqing asked with a wry smile.

“Ha! Accomplice—you’ve got a sharp eye, miss! But do you think that’s likely? Dammit, this kid knocked out half my teeth!” The bald driver burst out laughing.

After driving for over twenty years, he found this the most entertaining ride of his life.

Su Muqing’s expression turned cold. “Enough. Stop the act. Qin Xuan, take me home. I won’t believe anything you say now.”

If the driver had admitted it at once, Su Muqing might not have believed him, but his adamant denial only deepened her suspicion—she was now almost certain of her guess.

“You trust Li Shihao so much, and suspect me so deeply—fine,” Qin Xuan said no more, knocking the driver on the head. “Turn the car around and take her home.”

With that, he fished out his phone, intending to call Zhao Long. If he wanted to know where Li Shihao lived, why not just ask his senior?

Qin Xuan had already decided to get rid of this parasite and return to Mount Shu to confess to his master. This trial was likely over—and what Su Muqing thought no longer mattered.

But just then, he put his phone down.

“Hahaha, you think you can leave now that we’re on my boss’s turf? Wishful thinking!” The driver laughed gleefully and scurried out of the van.

At that moment, the van was parked in front of a mountain-side villa. All around it, a gang of thugs had gathered. At the villa’s entrance stood a short, fat, nouveau riche man with a gold chain and a mouthful of gold teeth, grinning smugly.

“Lei Jinde! So it’s you!” Qin Xuan sneered and stepped out of the van without fear, saying over his shoulder, “Stay in the car—no matter how much you distrust me, I won’t let anything happen to you in front of me.”

Su Muqing was dumbstruck.

Reality had ruthlessly overturned the guess she’d made just a minute ago, and for the first time in her life, she began to doubt her own intelligence.