The Liu Family had already hung white banners.
Ning Fan, Liu Xinping’s new wife, collapsed in tears before Liu Xinping’s coffin, holding their three-month-old child.
Although the Liu Family was not a top-tier noble family, they were still a household of considerable stature. Even though the police had closed the case, they still refused to believe that a car accident was the true cause of Liu Xinping’s death.
After Liu Xinping died, Qin Jinhai immediately took over Liu Pharmaceutical. They simply didn’t believe Qin Jinhai had no hand in this.
Old Mr. Liu’s face was grim as he watched his nearly fainting daughter-in-law, a calculative glint in his eyes.
Only after the mourners had left, and only the Liu Family members remained, did they turn to Ning Fan.
"Xinping is gone, and you are still young. What are your plans for the future?"
Ning Fan thought she could hide her thoughts well.
She dabbed her tears with a handkerchief. "Dad, now isn’t the time to consider my future. The baby is still so small and has lost his father. What will become of him?"
"The child has Liu Family blood; we will naturally take good care of him. As for you, you are his mother. You need to plan for his future."
Ning Fan was shocked. She looked at the Liu Family members in horror, sensing a murderous intent in their eyes. Fear rising in her heart, she hugged the child tightly. The small child had become her protective talisman.
Old Mr. Liu’s face was etched with displeasure. "If you behave, considering you’ve just provided an heir to the Liu Family, we can spare your life. If you resist, your child will not only be fatherless but will also lose his mother..."
Ning Fan trembled uncontrollably. "What... what do I have to do?"
"Tomorrow morning, I’ll contact journalists to stake out the company building. You go there and cause a scene—the more grief-stricken, the better. Pin all the blame on Qin Jinhai. Prevent him from smoothly taking over the company."
Ning Fan inwardly cursed them for their shamelessness.
But she said, "I’ll listen to Dad. But by doing this, we’ll completely offend Qin Jinhai. Won’t he seek revenge?" Read complete version only at ⓝovelFire.net
She had married Liu Xinping for money. With Liu Xinping dead, she, as his spouse, stood to inherit a considerable sum. As for the child, the Liu Family could take him if they wanted. If they didn’t want the child, she would leave him with her parents to raise, find another man to marry, and be done with it. She didn’t want to take any risks.
"Without the Qin Family’s backing, what is he capable of? Just obey and do as you’re told. Remember, the more sorrowful and desperate you appear, the better."
"I understand."
"We’ll look after the child for you. Rest well, so you can devote your full attention to dealing with Qin Jinhai tomorrow."
Ning Fan shook her head. "The baby has been emotionally unstable these past few days, crying every night. He only sleeps a little when he’s with me. Now that Xinping has just been brought home, he will surely be more unsettled and unable to sleep."
"Alright, you can take care of him then."
Ning Fan took the child and went to her room to sleep.
After nightfall, she became even more uneasy.
She knew exactly what kind of people the Liu Family members were. They were adept at using drugs; it would be all too easy for them to kill her silently.
During a trip to the bathroom, she retrieved another phone—one the Liu Family had never seen—from behind the toilet cistern.
She sent a message to Jian Si: "Liu Xinping is dead. The Liu Family wants me to pin all the blame on Qin Jinhai. They’re also threatening me with my son. I need your help."
Jian Si immediately relayed the message to Qin Jinhai.
Qin Jinhai said, "Tell her to go ahead." He was currently lacking an opportunity to deal with the Liu Family with his hands untied, and they had just delivered it to him. Perfect!
Jian Si told Ning Fan to follow Old Mr. Liu’s instructions; they would handle the rest.
She had met Ning Fan at a bar. Ning Fan never hid her ambition. Her past experiences had made her love money; only money could give her a sense of security. She sold alcohol at the bar. Once she saved enough, she immediately got cosmetic surgery and breast augmentation. If her girlfriends were in trouble, she was always the first to help. Jian Si had a good impression of her, especially since this matter also involved her boss.
Ning Fan knew Jian Si had other connections; back in their bar days, nobody dared to provoke Jian Si. For this reason, she had kept in touch with Jian Si, never hesitating to lend a hand when she could, hoping that one day, if she encountered a problem she couldn’t solve, she could turn to Jian Si for help.
She had a premonition.
The Liu Family wasn’t planning to let her live.
This matter didn’t have much to do with Qin Jinhai, at least not on the surface. If she made a fuss and got linked with Qin Jinhai, offending him, the Liu Family surely wouldn’t protect her. Offending the Liu Family, however, she still had a chance to live.
Ning Fan didn’t sleep all night.
She was mentally rehearsing the events that were about to unfold.
At seven in the morning, Ning Fan was forced into a car. A bodyguard tossed a pill into her hand.
"Take it."
"What is this pill?"
"Medicine to make you obedient."
The bodyguard turned on a phone. The video showed Ning Fan’s child being held at the edge of a rooftop.
"If you don’t obey, he dies!"
Ning Fan trembled with rage. "He also carries Liu Family blood! How can you be so cruel?"
Old Mr. Liu’s voice came from the other end. "Of course, we care. So, dear daughter-in-law, you need to be obedient."
"If I offend Qin Jinhai, can I still live?"
Old Mr. Liu didn’t answer. That wasn’t within his considerations. Liu Xinping’s death was an unchangeable fact. He could only maximize the benefits from it. To achieve that, Ning Fan was key. With the child in their hands, Ning Fan couldn’t stir up any trouble.
The bodyguard pinched Ning Fan’s chin and forced the pill into her mouth. Ning Fan tried to gag, but the pill wouldn’t come up.
She shuddered in fear. Even if Jian Si wanted to help her, after taking some unknown medicine, would she still be alive?
The bodyguard skillfully parked the car in front of the Liu Pharmaceutical building. Ning Fan was pushed out of the car. Before she could steady herself, she was surrounded by a swarm of reporters.
"Mrs. Liu, it’s rumored there are hidden circumstances regarding Liu Xinping’s death. With his body not yet cold, what brings you here?"
Ning Fan’s mind raced. She feigned a dazed expression. Raising her arm, she revealed the fake injury makeup she had deliberately applied before leaving home. The high-definition cameras captured the "bruises" on her body in stark detail.
"My husband has been visiting me in my dreams these past few nights, I..." Ning Fan sobbed uncontrollably. The reporters couldn’t get a single word out.
Old Mr. Liu was so angry he nearly snapped his cane. "Useless!"
The reporters continued to press, undeterred, "Was it Qin Jinhai who killed your husband?"
Ning Fan just kept crying. "Stop pressuring me!"
She looked at the cars on the road and, covering her face, dashed towards them.
Sharp braking sounds echoed one after another.
She hadn’t said anything, yet she had still managed to make a statement for her child. What the media and the Liu Family made of it was up to them. After all, they hadn’t told her what to do or say. Her performance could be considered satisfactory.
Jian Si got out of a car and helped Ning Fan in. Ning Fan hadn’t expected Jian Si to actually come.
"They made me take a pill."
"I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up. My brother will handle the rest. With the evidence we have about what the Liu Family has done, plus your performance today, our case will be more persuasive."
"Your brother?"
"He’s a subordinate of Qin Jinhai."
Qin Jinhai had instructed Jian Lingyuan to arrange matters behind the scenes, while Mu Lin was in charge of crisis public relations. The most challenging aspect of fully taking over Liu Pharmaceutical was dealing with its vast debts and complex, deeply rooted relationships. Even for him, these tasks would require great care and effort.