Hearing that if there was an ancient tomb, construction would be forced to stop, Ye Xiaoge's face changed immediately.
Though she didn't understand much, she knew Qin Corporation's current situation—everything depended on this prime land for a comeback. Waiting ten days to half a month was fine, but if it dragged on for over half a year, or the timeline was completely uncertain, Qin Corporation truly couldn't hold on.
She'd sold everything she owned, including items Su Wan and Qin Feng had given her, converting it all to several hundred million to invest. She'd thought it would be guaranteed profit, but if it all got tied up, she'd have nothing left.
"Qin Feng, what do we do now?"
So much money—she'd thrown it all in without leaving a cent. First, because she trusted Qin Feng's ability and believed in him. Second, she wanted to help him. Even if she had her own motives, she just wanted to support him during this difficult time.
Qin Feng's face remained dark, especially hearing the archaeology professor say there was likely an ancient tomb below, unable to determine its size yet. His expression never improved.
"Now we can only hope the tomb's scope isn't too large. Once they determine it, we'll make alternative plans for this land to minimize losses as much as possible."
Ye Xiaoge relaxed slightly. "You mean as long as the tomb isn't large, we can still use other areas?"
"Mm." Qin Feng nodded, but he had no confidence. Who knew whose tomb was down there and how large it would be?
This land originally belonged to the Xu family years ago. Later when the Xu family fell, they surrendered this land to pay debts, and it fell back into government hands. He remembered his father had desperately wanted this land, never expecting the Xu family to have no intention of selling it, directly surrendering it to settle debts.
"Qin Feng, why don't you ask how long it'll take them to determine the tomb's scope?" Ye Xiaoge was extremely anxious, completely lacking the composure she'd shown when speaking to A-Xin earlier. Remembering how she'd just been showing off in front of Su Wan and A-Xin, her face burned.
Those two were still watching from the side. Who knew how they were laughing at her in their hearts. She instinctively looked back, and seeing them actually made her expression falter—those two were actually eating boxed lunches with great appetite.
"My appetite's especially good right now. Everything tastes delicious." Su Wan smiled while eating, whispering to A-Xin, "I hope the tomb's scope is huge—lose them to death."
A-Xin smiled lightly and nodded. "Mm." She ate two bites then stopped, listening to Su Wan's cheerful muttering while playing with her phone. If someone stood behind her, they'd definitely notice she was messaging someone.
A-Xin: Mr. Xu really is impressive, with vast connections.
Mr. Xu: Miss Qin flatters me. This isn't really vast connections. Miss Qin should understand a principle—things you once owned, you definitely know better than anyone what's inside them.
A-Xin read this message, the smile in her eyes never fading. She moved her fingers and sent a message: Mr. Xu is really willing to part with it.
Mr. Xu: Haha, nothing to be unwilling about. Some things carry risks if you keep them—better to send such a ticking time bomb to the enemy's side. Using certain forces to easily disintegrate the enemy, and they'll never know who did it to the end. Isn't that more interesting?
However, I must thank Miss Qin for your generous assistance this time. That place isn't small—no matter how big that thing is, it can't cover the entire area. With Miss Qin's help, those people can forget about trying to salvage their losses.
Su Wan finished her boxed lunch and saw A-Xin typing, instinctively asking, "Who are you chatting with?"
"A friend." A-Xin answered, putting away her phone. "Finished eating?"
"Yes." Su Wan thought about A-Xin messaging someone and couldn't help asking, "What friend? Male or female? When did you meet?"
After asking, she saw A-Xin staring at her without blinking. She coughed lightly to cover up. "Just asking. I'm afraid you'll be deceived. If you don't want to say, forget it."
A-Xin: "Male. Haven't known him long. Previously when visiting the boss, I happened to see him playing chess with the boss. His chess skills were good, so I played a game with him."
"I see."
Su Wan's heart still felt sour. Chess—these cultured types really were popular with girls. "Where's he from? What does he do now?"
"I heard he's originally from this city, not sure about now. Currently runs his own company." A-Xin didn't notice anything and answered honestly. "I think he's decent. Su Wan, if you don't trust him and worry I'll be deceived, I'll bring you to meet him someday. His company is quite large—maybe you'll have cooperation opportunities in the future."
Plays chess AND has a big company.
Su Wan felt even worse. "How old is he?"
"Didn't ask, but probably just one or two years older than you, Su Wan. Truly a promising young man. Most importantly, his chess skills are excellent." A-Xin smiled in response. One game of chess had left the Qin family with no chance of recovery.
"Then bring me to meet him someday." Su Wan heard the admiration in A-Xin's tone and felt very displeased. She had to see what kind of person could earn such praise from A-Xin.
If he was a beast in human clothing, she'd guarantee to expose his true face. But if he was actually good... Su Wan's mood dropped. Would she have to grit her teeth and offer blessings?
After several days of investigation, the archaeology team determined the ancient tomb's scope and marked out a safety perimeter. When Qin Feng saw this safety perimeter, he breathed a sigh of relief. The tomb's location wasn't in the center. The marked area was one-tenth of the total land. Excluding various factors, their operational space was still fairly large. When Ye Xiaoge and Qin Corporation's people heard this news, they all breathed sighs of relief and quickly held meetings to determine new plans.
Mainly because they truly couldn't afford to wait—they had to break ground immediately. Within days, Qin Corporation produced a new plan. By the time they were allowed to break ground, it was already the second month. This one month had still caused enormous losses for Qin Corporation. But the losses could be recovered—everyone at Qin Corporation was filled with hope.
Hearing this news, Su Wan came home that evening and ran to the kitchen to complain to A-Xin. "They really got lucky."
"Is tomorrow their groundbreaking day?" A-Xin transferred the food to a plate and turned to ask.
Su Wan carried the plate of food to the dining table, then came back to say, "Yes, tomorrow's their second groundbreaking. They carefully selected this date—it's an auspicious day. I even checked the weather forecast—it'll be sunny for days."
"Su Wan, let's go watch the excitement tomorrow?" A-Xin brought two bowls of rice to the table. "I already told the boss. He agreed. Want to go watch?"
Su Wan paused. "Go watch again?"
"Qin Xin, it's impossible for last time's situation to repeat. Two large ancient tombs can't be so close together on the same plot of land. Give up on that idea. This time they should be fine, though I wish something would go wrong too."
"But I still want to watch the excitement."
Su Wan looked at the girl sitting across from her and found it hard to refuse. "Fine. I don't have anything important tomorrow anyway. I won't go to the company—I'll go with you to watch." Deep down, Su Wan vaguely hoped something would go wrong.
But surely it couldn't be such a coincidence, right?
The next day, Ye Xiaoge and Qin Feng were both in good moods initially. Then their eyes swept the area and spotted two familiar figures in a corner. Their faces turned green.
This time Ye Xiaoge couldn't keep her composure. She walked up to A-Xin and said quietly, "Last time was just an accident. If you're deliberately here to watch us fail, let me tell you—nothing will go wrong this time."
"Qin Xin, you also have the Qin surname. Why are you so unable to stand seeing Qin Corporation succeed? Must you see Qin Corporation go bankrupt before you're satisfied?"
A-Xin was holding an ice cream cone. After taking a bite, she glanced at Ye Xiaoge and answered, "Mm."
"You..." Faced with someone like this, Ye Xiaoge didn't know how to respond. With no choice, she turned to Su Wan. "Su Wan, look at this—this is Qin Xin's true face. I really don't understand if you truly like her or if you're just impulsively finding someone to spite me."
Su Wan also held an ice cream. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, her heart skipping a beat. Looking at the girl beside her calmly eating ice cream, she answered with unusual composure, "How could I randomly find someone to spite you? Of course I genuinely like her—that's why I'm with her."
"Fine. Whatever."
Ye Xiaoge felt embarrassed and turned back to Qin Feng's side. She shouldn't have gone over there. But seeing Su Wan and A-Xin chatting and laughing, jealousy filled her heart. Since they'd met, besides her, Su Wan had never been this close to anyone else.
"I was being deliberate just now to stop her from constantly bothering us. Qin Xin, you don't mind, right?" Su Wan kept her eyes on the construction team while her peripheral vision watched A-Xin beside her. "She wouldn't believe me anyway if I explained, so I might as well admit it this way to avoid trouble."
"Qin Xin?"
Su Wan didn't hear A-Xin respond and thought she was angry. Her heart sank while growing anxious. "If you mind, next time she asks, I'll explain clearly." Right—a girl with normal orientation wouldn't want others misunderstanding such a relationship.
"What?" A-Xin snapped back to attention. She'd just been slightly dazed by Su Wan's words "genuinely like her"—something seemed to be emerging from deep in her heart. When she tried to find it, she couldn't grasp it.
Su Wan had to explain again. "I won't use that excuse next time. Don't be angry."
"I'm not angry." A-Xin answered, her face showing a faint smile. That thing she'd tried to find seemed completely beyond her grasp now. She continued eating her ice cream. "Say whatever you want. I don't mind." She pondered—was it because Su Wan said that phrase that something emerged in her heart? So if she wanted to find that thing, she needed Su Wan to say she liked her?
A-Xin squinted, looking at Su Wan with curiosity. Su Wan felt uncomfortable under the gaze. "Qin Xin, why are you staring at me?"
"Su Wan, say it again—"
"Stop! Stop digging! There seems to be something underneath!" A loud shout from the distance interrupted what A-Xin was about to say. Both turned toward the construction team, exchanged glances, then quickly ran over.
Because of the previous tomb discovery, this time the construction team had two students from the professor specifically supervising, preventing them from just filling over any treasures. This had happened before. The person who just shouted was one of the professor's students with an especially loud voice that carried far.
Qin Feng and Ye Xiaoge's expressions truly couldn't be maintained. Ye Xiaoge's lips turned pale. "No way. How can we be this unlucky?"
After the young archaeologist shouted, he quickly jumped into the pit and dug out a fragment from the dirt, crouching there to examine it. The archaeology team's main force also rushed over, jumping into the pit where many fragments were faintly visible. The current scene was everyone holding a fragment and observing. Their identical expressions showed excitement, as if they'd discovered treasures.
The construction crew members looked helpless, shaking their heads, putting down all their tools and moving aside.
"We found antique fragments here. You can't keep digging." The archaeology team confirmed. "Wait until we finish investigating, then you can dig. I suspect these cultural relic fragments were broken by your digging."
The professor's face looked displeased. "Did you discover this earlier and want to bury the treasures while we weren't paying attention? These are cultural relics—CULTURAL RELICS! We don't even know which dynasty they're from yet. How could you do something so excessive?"
Qin Feng took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "Professor, these might just be scattered fragments. There shouldn't be an ancient tomb below."
"Whether there's a tomb or not, this area is under our jurisdiction now. Maybe there are cultural relics buried around here. No digging allowed—nobody can damage cultural relics."
Qin Feng frustratedly patted his head, his face looking terrible.
"I now suspect there might be cultural relics throughout this entire plot underground." The professor thought for a moment. "These fragments have significant research value. I'll immediately apply to higher authorities. We're taking over this land. After we excavate everything, then you can come back."
One sentence left Qin Feng unable to object.
Su Wan was somewhat dumbfounded. "This... Did Qin Corporation offend someone? Randomly dig one spot—ancient tomb. Switch spots—cultural relic fragments. Could it be true that doing too many heartless things will eventually come back around?"
Su Wan's expression suddenly changed, whispering to A-Xin, "I remember this land belonged to the Xu family many years ago. Later the Xu family went bankrupt and this land was taken to pay debts, falling back into government hands. The Xu family's bankruptcy was largely because Qin Corporation schemed against them. The one who schemed against the Xu family was Qin Feng's father. That man was formidable—quite a few people suffered under him. Even current Chairman Zhou might not gain the upper hand against Old President Qin."
Using another phrase to describe Old President Qin—a sinister and underhanded old fox. Qin Corporation's development to date involved plenty of scheming against people.
"Qin Corporation acquiring this land that originally belonged to the Xu family, first time digging up an ancient tomb, second time digging up fragments—I can't help but suspect it really is karmic retribution." Su Wan spoke truthfully, her tone carrying hidden satisfaction. Su Corporation had once suffered losses from Qin Corporation too. Fortunately they withdrew in time without damaging their foundation, otherwise the final result wouldn't differ much from the Xu family's fate.
"Then it should be karmic retribution." A-Xin said.
Su Wan looked at Qin Feng's face black as a pot bottom, grabbed A-Xin's arm, and went over smiling to watch the commotion. She felt this excitement was worth watching. She couldn't help telling A-Xin, "Good thing you like watching excitement, otherwise we might have missed such a spectacular scene."
Su Wan's gaze swept the pit's situation. Looking at the fragments in the archaeology team members' hands, her brow furrowed slightly. She said quietly, "Why do I feel those fragments look familiar? Like I've seen them somewhere."
"Artifacts from one period often look similar. Some parts might be alike. That's not strange." A-Xin explained lightly.
Su Wan nodded in realization. "True, antiques from one era often have similar patterns. One fragment doesn't prove anything, and these fragments look severely damaged. Buried in the soil for so long, the color has changed too." Su Wan no longer doubted it, not noticing A-Xin's lips curving slightly upward.
"Qin Feng, don't you think those fragments look a bit familiar?" Su Wan noticed the fragments looked familiar, and so did Ye Xiaoge. She spoke quietly to Qin Feng, "Don't you feel they look especially similar to the ones at the Carnival auction?"
Qin Feng's eyes narrowed as he heard this, immediately staring intently at the fragments. "I'll take a couple photos and have someone verify." If someone really was sabotaging them, he'd definitely catch that person.
He sent the images to his assistant, having them investigate.
Soon, he received a call from the assistant. "Have you confirmed?"
"President Qin, the fragments you sent back do have very similar patterns to the antiques from the Carnival auction that day, but I can confirm they absolutely cannot be the antiques Mr. Zhu bought."
"Why not?"
"I just saw a livestream. Mr. Zhu is holding an antique jewelry exhibition on an island. Oh, why is it called an antique jewelry exhibition? Because he put all the jewelry he bought on the antiques for people to admire, and he's auctioning off all the jewelry with proceeds going to charity. As for the antiques, he said he still likes looking at them and wants to keep them." The assistant spoke rapidly. "By the way, President Qin, the livestream there isn't over yet. Do you want to watch? The room number is..."
Qin Feng and Ye Xiaoge stared at the phone screen showing Driver Old Zhu still wearing sunglasses, surrounded by all those jewelry-adorned antiques, especially that sapphire necklace which was particularly eye-catching. When Ye Xiaoge saw it, she felt uncomfortable.
"They just look somewhat similar." Ye Xiaoge said with some regret.
Qin Feng closed the livestream, looking somewhat defeated. Ye Xiaoge quickly comforted him. "Qin Feng, don't be like this. You're so capable—we still have opportunities."
"There are none left." Qin Feng's eyes were lifeless. "For this land, Qin Corporation already owes many debts. Once news from here spreads, debt collectors will come this afternoon."
"Then... what do we do?" Ye Xiaoge panicked a bit. "Sell this land?"
"At this point, who would dare buy it?" Qin Feng shook his head. "Even if we sold it, we couldn't get that much money back. We'd lose a huge amount. After all, there's an ancient tomb here, and it's still uncertain how they'll handle this tomb. If they preserve it, this land's current value will be even lower."
"Then... can I not get my money back?" Ye Xiaoge truly panicked.
"You can't get it back."
Ye Xiaoge's eyes widened. Several hundred million—just like that, unable to get it back?
Her dream of being a Qin Corporation shareholder shattered just like that?
At this moment, Qin Feng's phone rang. "President Qin, something's wrong at the company. Please come back quickly..."
Su Wan watched Qin Feng leave with a dark expression, Ye Xiaoge in her high heels running quickly after him. She shook her head and said quietly to A-Xin, "Qin Corporation is finished."
"Mm." A-Xin responded. Finally finished.
"Hey, A-Xin, those fragments really are just similar. There's a link in my friend circle—that Mr. Zhu is currently holding an antique jewelry exhibition. This tycoon is quite amusing—putting jewelry on antiques. What a creative idea. But quite a few people are buying those jewels."
"After all, that jewelry was carefully selected by Su Wan. Naturally many people would like it."
Su Wan felt a bit uncomfortable—that was a dark chapter of her history. "Let's not mention that anymore."
The next day, that prime land was temporarily occupied by the archaeology team. As for when Qin Corporation could break ground—that depended on fate.
Because of this land, Qin Corporation owed a lot of money. Learning of Qin Corporation's problems, creditors came knocking one after another.
The already precarious Qin Corporation didn't hold out long before going bankrupt. Next came the liquidation of Qin Corporation's assets—everything that could pay debts was taken to pay debts. Those former enemies of Qin Corporation not only watched it fall but quietly gave it an extra push.
"How can you do this? This is my home! Why can't I live here?" Early one morning, Yu Meiyun heard knocking. Opening the door, the people who entered told her this old villa had been taken to pay debts—she had three days to move out.
Yu Meiyun naturally refused and got into a huge argument with them. She'd never known Qin Feng had mortgaged this villa. She thought he'd only sold all his personal assets. Her expression looked terrible.
"Ms. Yu Meiyun, please prepare yourself. We'll come back in three days."
Three days later, Yu Meiyun had no choice but to move out.
Learning Qin Feng had nothing left, Yu Meiyun hated him to death while quickly clutching her remaining assets tight, immediately cutting off contact with him.
"I heard Yu Meiyun met another wealthy man who just returned from overseas." Su Wan told A-Xin the latest news. "After learning Qin Feng had no chance of recovery, she blocked his number. Haha, this person is really something."
After a pause, Su Wan asked, "She hasn't called you, has she?"
"No."
"Qin Xin, at a time like this, if she needs anything, don't soften your heart." Su Wan couldn't help reminding her. "I'm afraid you'll suffer. Yu Meiyun's reputation has never been good—truly few people in our circle want to befriend her. Although she's your biological mother, I still have to say this."
A-Xin smiled slightly. "I know. Su Wan, I won't concern myself with her."
"Ah, alright. As long as you understand. By the way, did your friend really agree to meet me?" Regarding that cultured young man Mr. Xu, she was extremely curious now.
A-Xin nodded. "Yes, we already made plans."
Su Wan looked a bit uncomfortable. "I'm just worried you'll be taken advantage of." Who knew what she was really thinking?
Just then, the private room door was pushed open.
A man in his twenties with a young, handsome appearance entered. He smiled brightly, calling out as he entered, "Miss Qin, sorry to keep you..." The words "waiting" didn't come out. Xu Cheng froze upon seeing Su Wan. Su Wan also froze upon seeing Xu Cheng. The two locked eyes.
"Classmate Xu."
"Classmate Su."
"What a coincidence, why are you here too?"
They spoke in unison, then both turned their gazes to A-Xin. Su Wan confirmed with A-Xin, "This is the... Mr. Xu you know?"
A cultured young man?
"Miss Qin, the friend you're introducing me to today is Miss Su?" Xu Cheng pulled out a chair and sat down, reaching out his hand toward Su Wan with a smile. "Miss Su, pleasure to meet you. So you're the excellent President Su that Miss Qin mentioned."
"Hehe..." Su Wan smiled without warmth, shaking his hand. "So you're that Mr. Xu with superior chess skills—the cultured young man?" She coldly swept a glance at Xu Cheng, leaving him somewhat baffled. "Su Wan, how do you know Miss Qin?"
Su Wan huffed. "I told you before—picked her up on the road."
Xu Cheng inexplicably felt a chill down his back. Why was Su Wan looking at him like that? Something seemed off.
"Xu Cheng, I also want to ask—how do you know Qin Xin?"