Once in the car, Qin Jiao immediately called her dad, briefly explaining the barbecue shop incident.
Boss Qin, hearing they’d already left, praised her decision.
“When something like this happens, you should always call your parents. You did well.”
To Boss Qin, his daughter Qin Jiao was a precious gem, while Yu Wenhao was a rough stone. For a gem to clash head-on with a stone? That’d be foolish!
Qin Jiao felt a bit shy. “Dad, it was Wen Ying who was quick-thinking.”
Boss Qin asked her to pass the phone to Wen Ying.
“Wen Ying, Uncle Qin really owes you a big thank you. It’s rare to find someone who clicks with Jiao Jiao and looks out for her like you do.”
“Uncle Qin, I didn’t do much. Jiao Jie takes good care of me too.”
“Good, good, good—you look out for each other. Anyway, thank you.”
Boss Qin gave Qin Jiao a few more instructions before hanging up.
Some things were better discussed privately when she got home.
Qin Jiao’s face still looked off. Wen Ying comforted her, “Jiao Jie, Uncle Qin will handle it. Don’t scare yourself over it. We might be overthinking—business is booming at that shop. We can go there, so can others!”
Qin Jiao nodded.
“You’re right.”
The thought of a man older than her dad eyeing her made the hairs on her arms stand up.
Whether tonight was a coincidence or not, since Yu Wenhao had shown his hand, Qin Jiao trusted her dad wouldn’t let it slide. She gave Wen Ying an apologetic smile. “The Longtan Lake trip might have to be canceled. I’ll explain it to Wang Shuang and the others.”
Wen Ying pondered for a moment. “Not necessarily. See what Uncle Qin says when you get home. No need to rush and tell Wang Shuang the event’s off.”
If Wen Ying were Boss Qin, she’d let Qin Jiao go to Longtan Lake as planned.
Since Yu Wenhao had tipped his hand, rather than guarding against him endlessly, Wen Ying preferred luring the snake out of its hole.
Of course, that was just her take. What Boss Qin would do, Qin Jiao would find out at home.
Wen Ying guessed right.
Boss Qin didn’t buy the barbecue shop encounter as a coincidence. Yu Wenhao’s actions felt like a provocation. After hanging up with his daughter, he suppressed his anger and called Deng Shangwei.
“Shangwei, where are you? Can you come to my place?”
Deng Shangwei was already fuming.
He’d just gotten off the phone with Detective Luo, who’d filled him in on the barbecue shop.
After handling Deng Shangwei’s request, Detective Luo had dug deeper into Yu Wenhao. Tonight, he’d tailed him to the late-night food street and spotted Wen Ying and her friends at the same shop.
Luo found it odd.
Once Wen Ying and her group left, he called Deng Shangwei from a quiet spot.
Deng Shangwei hadn’t even considered Qin Jiao. He figured Yu Wenhao was targeting Wen Ying as an entry point—maybe because Pan Li had said she was naive and easy to fool?
If Yu Wenhao had eyes on Wen Ying, then Chen Li, Deng Jie, and Deng Hao weren’t safe either!
Even if Boss Qin hadn’t called, Deng Shangwei was about to reach out, asking for reliable bodyguard recommendations in case Yu Wenhao’s schemes failed and he got desperate.
Hearing Boss Qin’s summons, Deng Shangwei headed straight to the Qin residence.
If Deng Shangwei’s current neighborhood was one of Rongcheng’s earlier, upscale commercial complexes, Boss Qin’s home was in the city’s true elite enclave.
Back when Rongcheng’s average monthly income was 300 yuan, this development had stunned locals with its 6,000 yuan per square meter price tag.
Later high-end projects in Rongcheng echoed its layout: multi-story buildings ringing the perimeter, with a villa zone at the core.
Deng Shangwei had visited the Qin villa many times. He parked with ease—Qin Jiao wasn’t back yet.
Boss Qin led him to the study for a talk.
Before Deng Shangwei could mention bodyguards, Boss Qin cut straight to it.
“What’s going on with Yu Wenhao? Did you know he’s targeting Qin Jiao? He’s crossed my line—I’m dealing with him, and I won’t spare anyone’s face!”
Boss Qin laid it out bluntly, shutting down any chance of Deng Shangwei pleading for Yu Wenhao later.
He valued Deng Shangwei partly for his “life-saving favor” and partly for his character.
Driven, not overly greedy, loyal, family-oriented—when Deng hit it big, he didn’t forget to lift old friends up.
Some people, once successful, ditch friends they deem beneath them without a second thought.
Boss Qin understood that people climb and water flows down—friendships fade with changing circumstances. But someone who’d kick old pals aside without hesitation raised his guard.
Same went for men who, after making it, scorned their wives—fooling around was one thing, but dumping them for a younger fling? Boss Qin despised that. Not because he was some moral saint intolerant of flaws, but because doing business with such people demanded extra caution.
If they’d betray old friends and faithful wives so easily, they’d stab a partner in the back without blinking.
Knowing Deng Shangwei and Yu Wenhao went way back, Boss Qin warned him to avoid future awkwardness. He didn’t expect Deng’s stunned reaction.
“Yu Wenhao’s targeting Qin Jiao?”
Boss Qin recounted how, at the villa dinner, Yu Wenhao’s gaze lingered on Qin Jiao after toasting their room, and tonight’s “coincidental” barbecue shop encounter where he secretly paid her bill.
“Both times, your niece Wen Ying was there. You can ask her.”
Deng Shangwei didn’t need to—he knew of both incidents.
But he hadn’t thought of Qin Jiao at all!
Was Yu Wenhao not after Wen Ying?
Now, Deng Shangwei wasn’t sure.
Boss Qin noticed his odd expression and pressed him. Deng Shangwei steeled himself, pride aside, and laid out his recent troubles in detail.
Boss Qin listened, silent for two minutes. He lit a cigarette, smoked half, then snuffed it out.
“Shangwei, these aren’t unrelated. Yu Wenhao set up a honey trap on you, but it’s not your ten-odd million he’s after. No offense—it’s just not enough to fill his hole.”
Deng Shangwei’s heart skipped. “You mean, he’s—”
Boss Qin nodded slowly.
“Exactly. He’s likely after me.”
Deng Shangwei muttered, “I know he lost big in Macau a few years back—most of his fortune gone. He sold off his business and now scrapes by on old connections for quick cash.”
When Boss Qin brought Deng Shangwei into business, Deng had asked Yu Wenhao to join.
Yu Wenhao had scoffed at the “small change,” and Deng chalked it up to pride, not pushing further.
Now, hearing Boss Qin, it seemed Yu Wenhao’s Macau losses went far beyond “most” of his wealth.
