Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

With his confidence soaring, Du Yaoye raised his chin, signaling Qi Yan to stand up and speak.

"No, no, the scenery here is beautiful."

Qi Yan shook his head repeatedly.

"Miss, he's looking at your legs," the attendant whispered a reminder.

You! You scoundrel!

Du Yaoye quickly covered her legs with her hands and hurried away from Qi Yan.

Seeing the delicious food in front of him disappear into the distance, Qi Yan pouted, got up, patted his bottom, and asked before Du Yaoye could lash out:

"So, how does our Miss Du plan to cooperate?"

Du Yaoye snorted coldly, temporarily abandoning the idea of ​​teaching Qi Yan a lesson, and said, "Do you remember the time I had a conflict with you at the inn?"

"I remember you were going to steal the wine cup from Lao Li, but you mistook Wu You for Lao Li."

Qi Yan shook his head and said, "But even though you suffered a great loss, you are still unwilling and can't forget about the wine cup because it involves your father's secret deal with Si Suitai, and you want to ruin it."

Once this is done, you can use it to undermine your father's authority, win over your group of young followers, seize control of the business, and implement new-era reforms.

"You...you...how do you know all this?"

Du Yaoye was clearly frightened, and even stammered when she spoke.

This time, Qi Yan confidently raised his chin and said proudly:

Do you think Qi... Swire is some naive young girl like you?

"When I was a regular at the online store, you were still chasing after your dad begging for candy."

"You talk like you're that much older than me," Du Yaoye retorted with a strange look. "Besides, I work in shopping malls, not department stores."

"You're right, it's an online store."

Qi Yan's arrogance grew even stronger: "When I was eight years old, I bought scratch-off lottery tickets at the mall's self-service lottery machine and made a fortune of twenty yuan. I achieved 'lollipop freedom' through my own efforts!"

Du Yaoye: "..."

"Young Miss, is this person really not an idiot?"

The henchman couldn't help but bring up the old story again.

Du Yaoye glared at his follower, signaling him to stop causing trouble.

Then Du Yaoye looked at Qi Yan again and reminded him:

"You don't need to play dumb and stall for time. I'm just waiting for your friends to come looking for me."

"You're not thinking of luring them to some desolate place, catching them all in one fell swoop, and then walking away with your wine cups, are you?"

This time, it was Qi Yan's turn to look at Du Yaoye and the other person with the eyes of someone looking at idiots.

Du Yaoye said urgently, "What nonsense are you talking about? I just want to muddy the waters."

"I saw clearly that Lord Liang and that tall fellow from the Si Suitai who were with you. They were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds. Even if I don't know why they agreed to travel together, their positions and words revealed their mutual scheming."

"You're quite accurate," Qi Yan couldn't help but chuckle.

Du Yaoye seemed somewhat displeased and immediately defended herself:

"If it weren't for my father saying that he wanted to protect me and had me pretend to be a spoiled and willful playboy, I could have started managing the business long ago."

"Didn't you ever think about why your father didn't want you to expose yourself too early?"

"It's because the trading company used to be in the escort business, and my father was worried that old enemies would come after them."

Seeing that Du Yaoye didn't react, Qi Yan shook his head and said:

"Your father is worried about you because you haven't grown up yet; your thinking and actions are still based on childish logic."

"Who are you calling a child?!"

"Look, he's in a hurry."

Qi Yan admonished, "You act impulsively without considering the consequences. You may have some cleverness, but you think too simply. You've made so many mistakes in such a short time without even realizing it."

"It's only because you ran into me. If it were any other powerful or influential son of an official, would you dare to kidnap someone so blatantly? Your family business would go bankrupt in the next second!"

"Are you threatening me?" Du Yaoye's face showed anger.

"I'm just stating the facts." Qi Yan looked directly into Du Yaoye's eyes. "You must have heard the saying 'The common people can't fight against officials,' but you don't understand how terrifying it is."

Why do you think your father, who runs such a large business with shops all over Shangshu, would still try to establish connections with the imperial court?

Does he enjoy being someone's underling?

It was because he knew that these people could, with a single word from the imperial court, settle all their enemies and secure protection for their descendants; yet, they could also, with a single word from the imperial court, never see the sun rise again!

"You... even if you try to scare me like this, it won't work!" Du Yaoye said, forcing a smile.

Qi Yan couldn't help but laugh at her.

Perhaps because of the earlier timeline, Du Yaoye's childishness was even more pronounced than the little tiger girl he remembered.

"If you're not convinced, we can make a bet," Qi Yan said, casting his fishing line.

"What kind of bet?" Du Yaoye asked, hooking the fish.

Qi Yan said casually, "From now on, you and your little followers will all follow my command."

In exchange, I can help you muddy the waters, ensuring everyone involved loses out, and also get your father to voluntarily relinquish your freedom and no longer restrict your ambitions within the business."

"Why should I believe you?" Du Yaoye had clearly taken the bait, but was still struggling desperately.

"Don't be impatient, let the bullets fly for a while."

Qi Yan chose to let out a long fishing line, waiting for the fish to waste all its energy in the air.

Du Yaoye frowned repeatedly.

She found that talking to Qi Yan, even though they were both straightforward, was more tiring than talking to her father and other elders.

Just as Du Yaoye was pondering the reason, there was a sudden knock on the door from the outside.

"Young Miss, something terrible has happened!" came a servant's shout from outside the door.

Du Yaoye hurriedly went to open the door and said urgently:

"What happened? Did Lord Liang directly summon the officials to surround us?"

"No... not!"

The follower, slightly out of breath and covered in sweat, said, "The companion who was keeping an eye on Lord Liang said that Lord Liang and his companions were eating and drinking well at the inn, as if they hadn't noticed that this young master had been kidnapped."

But the news quickly reached Manager Zheng's ears, and he was so enraged that he smashed his two favorite walnuts with a single blow.

Du Yaoye took a breath, her heart pounding with alarm:

"It seems my father is really angry. I'm afraid I won't be able to escape confinement this time I go back."

"Confinement? You're too naive." Qi Yan walked over, leaned against the door frame, and said with a smile, "Your father is a smart man. Why don't you listen to what your lackey has to report?"

Du Yaoye immediately signaled to his follower to continue.

The henchman caught his breath, glanced at Qi Yan with fear, and said in a trembling voice:

"Manager Zheng's anger came quickly and went quickly. Then he seemed to fall into some kind of panic and actually ordered the secret sale of some of his properties to send you away from Shangshu."

He then went to Lord Liang and the others, saying that he would give up his family business and even his life to save you.

"Why did things suddenly become so serious?!" Du Yaoye's face turned deathly pale with fright.

"What do you think?"

Qi Yan made sarcastic remarks from the side: "You know about Wei Gong of Longmen and Si Suitai, but you have no idea what the real meaning of these two names is."

Either one of those options would be enough to destroy your business a hundred or eighty times over, but you directly tied me, the scourge that combines both of them, to your father's head. If he's not worried, who is?

"Girl, I, Beatrice Swire, acknowledge your talent for courting death!"

Chapter 840 Intrigue and backstabbing, a term used to describe ancient architecture

Manager Zheng stood solemnly in front of the entrance to Xingyu Inn.

Even though the inn had announced a temporary closure, the onlookers did not disperse and remained in twos and threes near the inn.

Seeing that Manager Zheng's expression was off, one of them couldn't help but speak up to advise him:

"Manager Zheng, don't worry too much. Miss Du is someone we've watched grow up. She's not a bad person. It's just that the young people are having a tantrum. It won't really cause any big trouble."

"Hurry inside and explain things to Lord Liang, then have your merchant guild send that young Luper back. There might still be a chance for things to turn around."

Many people echoed this sentiment, attempting to appease Manager Zheng.

Hearing these people's words, Manager Zheng's expression did not soften much, but he still forced himself to be cheerful and bowed to the surrounding crowd to express his gratitude.

"Thank you all for your concern. This is my fault for not disciplining my daughter properly, which led her to commit a serious mistake. I am prepared for this."

After saying that, he took a breath and stepped into the inn.

As soon as he entered, a waiter came up to him, trying to convey some message.

Manager Zheng waved his hand first and gave the order:

"Evacuate everyone from the shop. No one is allowed to disturb my conversation with Lord Liang and the others, including those little rascals that Ye'er arranged. Take them all away."

"……Yes!"

This was the first time the waiter had heard Manager Zheng speak in such a tone, so he quickly turned to carry out the order.

Manager Zheng adjusted his slightly disordered breathing from rushing over, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, and finally stepped towards Liang Xun and the others.

As he walked, Manager Zheng's demeanor changed constantly. By the time he reached the table, he had returned to his usual composure, having gone from being hurried and flustered when he entered.

He cupped his hands in greeting to Liang Xun and the others, and said loudly:

"This humble citizen, Zheng Qingyue, greets all of you esteemed officials."

No one paid any attention to his greetings; the only sounds in the inn were the soft rustling of people eating and picking up food in silence.

Zheng Qingyue remained motionless in the cupped-hands posture, as if in deep meditation.

While picking up food, Zuo Le kept glancing at the people around her.

As the only young person present, he was surrounded by a group of seasoned veterans and felt that he couldn't understand the logic behind their behavior everywhere.

Why did Manager Zheng rush over but not immediately admit his mistake?

Why would Liang Xun, who is usually known for his compassion for the common people, deliberately put on airs?

Miss Ning clearly couldn't reach one of the dishes, so why did Liang Xun just keep picking it up for her instead of simply placing it in front of her?

Taihe noticed that Zuo Le was showing signs of turning into a walking encyclopedia of questions, and felt somewhat helpless but there was nothing he could do.

After all, he was the child he had raised, and he couldn't bear to see Zuo Le continue to be confused.

"Manager Zheng, please have a seat." Taihe took the initiative to speak, becoming the first person present to strike up a conversation.

"I dare not. I have failed to discipline my daughter properly, and she has offended Young Master Qi and all the esteemed officials," Zheng Qingyue said sincerely. "I am willing to accept any punishment."

Taihe remained unmoved and said, "If you were even half as honest as you say, you wouldn't be standing in front of us now; you would be here with your daughter to receive your punishment."

You want to save your daughter, and you also want to save your business.

"Yes." Zheng Qingyue readily admitted his thoughts.

"What makes you think you can protect me?" Taihe asked.

"Based on the attitude of you gentlemen."

Zheng Qingyue glanced at Taihe and Zuo Le without showing any emotion, roughly guessed the answer in his mind, and explained in detail:

"The esteemed officials did not react much after learning of Young Master Qi's accident. This must be because there is no need to worry about Young Master Qi's safety. Perhaps Young Master Qi has his own trump cards or has a master by his side."

Having confirmed that Young Master Qi is safe and sound, I, a humble citizen, am willing to compensate all the officials and Young Master Qi for their losses and accept punishment in accordance with the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Moreover, the old man had already given word of the situation on his way here, and I believe his panicked state had reached the girl's ears, making her realize the gravity of her mistake. This can be considered a warning.

Taihe nodded and commented calmly:

"Manager Zheng is a shrewd businessman."

"Is Lord Taihe willing to show leniency?" Zheng Qingyue felt relieved.