Chapter Forty-Two: Evil Repaid with Evil

“How about this one?”
“No. The color is too plain. It’s not bold enough; it doesn’t show off my daughter’s style.”
“And this one?”
“No, no. You’d look like an idiot in that.”
“Zhang Yiyi, if you call me an idiot one more time, I swear I’ll lose it,” Wang Jiujie said angrily.
Zhang Yiyi smacked her daughter on the head and scolded, “You little rascal, your mother’s only doing this for your own good! Who wears jeans on a date? What’s the point of having those long legs if you don’t show them off?”
“How about this one, then?” Wang Jiujie held up a blue floral dress and sized herself up in the mirror.
“This one’s got a nice cut, but it’s a bit conservative. No cleavage, no legs—where’s the allure?” Zhang Yiyi shook her head.
“I’m going to meet Mr. Qin, not to flaunt myself,” Wang Jiujie rolled her eyes. “Besides, I don’t even have cleavage.”
“Now, that’s something your mother can’t stand to hear. How could my daughter not have a chest? Haven’t you heard the saying? A woman’s chest is like Lu Xun’s time—if you squeeze, something will come out. Come on, try on this black one. Let your mother help you squeeze out some curves.”
“Zhang Yiyi, if you keep being so lewd, I’m throwing you out,” Wang Jiujie said helplessly. She truly had no way to deal with her roguish mother.
“Alright, alright. I’ll stop. Honestly, none of your clothes are suitable. They’re either too plain or too conservative. Why not wear my white silk T-shirt?”
“No way! That top is terrifying. The front looks like someone cut a huge piece out of it,” Wang Jiujie shook her head vehemently.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Yiyi grew serious, her eyes scanning her daughter up and down. “Actually, you’d look very sexy in it.”
“I don’t want to.”
“But I insist!”
“I said I won’t wear it.”
“You have to.”
“My life is my own business.”
“I’m your mother. It’s my duty to take care of you.”
Wang Jiujie, thoroughly exasperated, grabbed her mother’s hand and pulled her out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Phew.
Wang Jiujie took a deep breath. At last, peace and quiet.
“Sweetheart, the neckline needs to be a little lower. Lower, trust your mother. I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Don’t I know what men like? You’re still too young—” Zhang Yiyi called through the door.
Wang Jiujie had an urge to kill and silence her own mother.
“She can’t possibly be my real mother,” Wang Jiujie thought suspiciously. What kind of mother urges her daughter to dress so provocatively to attract a man?
Turning down her mother’s offer to accompany her one more time, Wang Jiujie grabbed her mother’s Audi and hurried off to the Starbucks where she’d arranged to meet Qin Luo.

Yanfu Road was a main thoroughfare, so every shop along it was bustling with business. Wang Jiujie parked in front of Starbucks, grabbed her bag, and walked inside. She knew that, on a date, a girl should arrive five minutes late to show some restraint, but she still showed up right on time.
Qin Luo was already seated by the window. Seeing her arrive, he gestured for her to come over.
“Mr. Qin, have you been waiting long?” Wang Jiujie smiled as she took the seat across from him.
“I just got here myself,” Qin Luo replied with a smile. He had always admired Wang Jiujie’s beauty, a kind of clean, decisive beauty that was truly unique.
It was clear that today, Wang Jiujie had put special effort into her appearance. Her eyebrows were lightly penciled, though even without makeup, their natural dark, fine shape was already striking.
And the T-shirt she wore beneath her jacket had a daring neckline—if she leaned forward, one could easily catch a glimpse inside—
In the end, Wang Jiujie lost the argument with her mother and was forced to wear that white silk T-shirt. It was beautiful, but the front featured a deep U-shaped neckline, which she found unacceptable. So, she layered a fitted, black blazer over it.
But for the sake of beauty, she had braved it.
Under Qin Luo’s gaze, Wang Jiujie felt both shy and sweet. “Have you ordered yet, Mr. Qin?”
“No, not yet.”
“Shall we have tea?” Wang Jiujie suggested, guessing that, given Qin Luo’s personality, he probably didn’t care for coffee.
“Yes. I’ll have tea. You can get coffee if you’d like,” Qin Luo smiled. What a thoughtful, clever girl.
“No need. I like tea, too,” Wang Jiujie replied.
After ordering drinks and snacks, Wang Jiujie noticed that Qin Luo seemed hesitant to speak, so she smiled and asked, “Is there something you’d like to say?”
“Well—I was hoping you could help me with something,” Qin Luo said.
“Help?” Wang Jiujie’s heart sank as she realized Qin Luo hadn’t asked her out just for her company, but she remained enthusiastic. “What do you need?”
Qin Luo glanced around, then moved to sit beside her and quietly explained his discovery and suspicions.
“How vile! What kind of scum does that? They should just be shot!” Wang Jiujie, ever the firebrand, fumed.
Hearing Qin Luo’s story, she was incensed. For college students who hadn’t seen much of the world’s darkness, such realities were hard to comprehend.
“But we lack evidence of their collusion,” Qin Luo said helplessly.
“I get it.” Wang Jiujie nodded, understanding at once what he wanted her to do.
She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Dahai, I need a favor. Yes, help me look up a medical equipment company.”
After discussing some details on the phone, she hung up and turned to Qin Luo. “It’s done. We’ll let the police handle this. Report that there’s a wanted criminal hiding in that factory, and with any luck, they’ll raid the underground operation. I’ve already arranged for someone to monitor the factory owner, in case he tries to flee, as well as that treacherous Ma—”
“What if Wang Hao refuses to testify against Ma Youcai, and we can’t find proof of their partnership?” Qin Luo asked worriedly.
“Once they’re suspects, the police can investigate as deeply as they want. They’ll find out everything, even how many times they wet the bed as children. Don’t worry,” Wang Jiujie reassured him.
Qin Luo nodded, satisfied. He knew that in the face of real force, all pretenses fall away.
Looking at Wang Jiujie, so decisive in action, he said, “You shouldn’t be studying traditional medicine.”
If she joined the military or government, she’d surely make her mark.
Wang Jiujie smiled, her eyes narrowing with delight. “I think studying traditional medicine is wonderful. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you, Mr. Qin.”
Something shone brightly in the girl’s eyes, enchanting.

*************************************************

When Qin Luo returned to the villa, Lin Huanxi was already back. Just as when they first met, she was wearing a white casual suit, watering the flowers in the garden—a quiet beauty outshining the blooms.
Seeing Qin Luo return, she called out, “There was an inspection team at work today, and I had to give a report on a project, so I couldn’t come home for lunch.”
She had apparently felt guilty for not being able to come home and eat with him at noon.
“It’s fine. If you’re busy, I can manage on my own,” Qin Luo said with a smile.
“It won’t happen again,” Lin Huanxi replied softly, but there was a note of resolve in her voice.
“By the way, where’s Grandpa Lin?” Qin Luo asked.
“He went out,” Lin Huanxi replied, putting down the watering can and turning to face him. “He’s told me about your discovery. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Qin Luo chuckled, “Grandpa Lin really is something. He warned me repeatedly to keep it a secret, not to leak a word—yet he couldn’t wait to tell you himself.”
“Still, thank you,” Lin Huanxi said.
Lin Qingyuan didn’t return until dinner time, beaming with joy that he couldn’t hide.
“Grandpa Lin, what’s got you so happy?” Qin Luo asked knowingly. He was sure that Wang Jiujie’s connections had already sprung into action—remarkable efficiency.
Lin Qingyuan grinned, “Qin Luo, you once said it: evil will be punished, it’s only a matter of time. Indeed, the heavens have a long arm, no one escapes justice.”
“Everyone’s been caught?” Qin Luo asked.
“That’s right! And it was a stroke of luck. The police were after a wanted man and ended up storming that Wang Hao’s factory. They took down the whole underground operation, and even reporters showed up—no one could cover it up.”
“Later, the police found a record on their computer, detailing all the bribes Wang Hao had paid to heads of major hospitals in Yanjing. It was shocking. This time, the authorities are furious and determined to investigate everyone involved. All those evildoers are going to be purged.”
“I always said it—bad people love to keep diaries of their misdeeds. The truth always comes out. What about Ma Youcai? Did anything happen to him?” Qin Luo asked with concern.
“Did anything happen? He’s the worst of the lot! He owned twenty percent of that factory. Wang Hao confessed under police interrogation. Now Ma Youcai’s been detained too. Do you know why I’m home so late?” Lin Qingyuan teased.
“Why?” Qin Luo played along.
This old man, really—Ma Youcai’s arrest had left the hospital leaderless, so of course they’d call him back as the old hand. Wasn’t it obvious?
“They called me in for a talk. Said my health is good, and offered me another term as director of the hospital,” Lin Qingyuan revealed, unable to hide his excitement.
“That’s wonderful news! Congratulations, Grandpa Lin!” Qin Luo exclaimed with a beaming smile, as if he’d just heard the news.
Lin Huanxi cast a meaningful look at Qin Luo and gave the faintest hint of a smile.