Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Asking Zhou Jin’an to Enter the Jar Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Asking Zhou Jin’an to Enter the Jar Zhou Ziyan obviously made things difficult on purpose.

Qiao En looked at him indifferently, “I’m sorry, Director Zhou, I can’t prove something that doesn’t exist unless you want me to frame someone.”

Faced with Zhou Ziyan’s aggression, Qiao En was anything but weak.

Zhou Ziyan sneered coldly, and he gave Qiao En another deep look.

Only then did he realize that he had indeed underestimated Qiao En. She was not as fragile as she appeared to be. When it came time to show her mettle, she showed it fully.

Yao Chuman raised an eyebrow, “Ziyan, stop arguing with this woman, let’s call the police.”

But Zhou Ziyan stopped her with a glance, “Mom, go check on Keke, leave this to me.”

Yao Chuman was still somewhat worried, but united as mother and son, she glared viciously at Qiao En before turning around and leaving.

Once Yao Chuman left, Zhou Ziyan completely let loose.

“Qiao En, sit down and let’s talk.”

Zhou Ziyan sat down, crossed his legs, and looked at Qiao En with profound eyes.

“What does Director Zhou want to talk about?”

Qiao En did not sit down; she stood to one side with her arms crossed.

Zhou Ziyan chuckled lightly, “My son died because of you. Isn’t that worth a conversation?”

“I’m afraid that’s not what Director Zhou really wants to talk about.”

Qiao En was astute, seeing through Zhou Ziyan’s intentions at a glance.

“Clever. No wonder my big brother values you so much.”

Zhou Ziyan lamented, but his cold eyes quickly settled back on Qiao En.

“Since you’re so clever, you should know what I care about most right now. As for me, I’m a businessman, what I value most are profits. If you’re willing to cooperate with me…”

Zhou Ziyan paused when he reached the crucial point.

He set a trap, waiting for Qiao En to fall into it.

However, to his disappointment, Qiao En just stared at him with a feigned ignorance, and didn’t ask.

“How about this, I’ll give you five million to do one thing for me.”

Zhou Ziyan spoke directly, although he didn’t specify the task, Qiao En had already guessed what it was.

“Five million is a little less.”

Qiao En started to bargain.

Zhou Ziyan was surprised, eyeing Qiao En once more with a squint.

This woman kept defying his expectations time and time again. He was a fan of the novel, and at this moment, Qiao En seemed to brim with enjoyment for him.

“Then how much do you want?”

“Ten million, not a penny less.”

Qiao En countered, ready to go for the lion’s share.

Unlike Zhou Jin’an, Zhou Ziyan was a thorough dandy with no real skills and a penchant for showing off. Qiao En would not miss an opportunity to fleece him.

“You have quite an appetite.”

Zhou Ziyan did not agree immediately.

This time, Qiao En smiled, “Ten million is but a drop in the ocean for Nanchen Group, and if I help Director Zhou, he could firmly hold the top position at Nanchen Group. Director Zhou is a businessman, and he knows better than I do what matters more.”

“Hahaha…”

Zhou Ziyan laughed loudly.

He stood up, pointed at Qiao En, “I like working with smart people.”

Zhou Ziyan took out his phone and made a call. Soon after, Qiao En’s account was ten million richer.

She carefully counted the string of zeros, down to the last cent.

This time, she was selling out Zhou Jin’an, and the price was quite good.

“Miss Qiao, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

Zhou Ziyan’s eyes darkened as Qiao En followed his steps out. Outside the emergency room, police were already waiting.

“Please.”

Zhou Ziyan made a ‘please’ gesture, and immediately a police officer stepped forward and grabbed Qiao En’s arm.

“Ms. Qiao En, you are suspected of being involved in a murder case. Please come with us to the police station for further investigation.”

Qiao En was already familiar with such a phrase.

She was composed, her eyes lowered, as she walked forward with the officers.

But she did not notice that not far away, two people with cameras were filming.

Not long after Qiao En entered the police station, the news of her being suspected of murder had already spread in the media.

This play of inviting the guest to lift the cauldron was performed for Zhou Jin’an.

Qiao En was the bait, Zhou Jin’an the fish, and Zhou Ziyan the angler Jiang Ziya.

What he wanted to see was Zhou Jin’an’s frenzy. Only when he became frenzied would it be perfectly justifiable to place the blame squarely on his head.

“Zhou Jin’an Instigates Former Secretary to Murder Unborn Nephew.”

Zhou Ziyan had even thought of a headline for this piece of news.

He was indulging in what could only be described as a pipe dream, attempting to land a fatal blow that would render Zhou Jin’an with no prospect of a comeback.

Everything went as he had expected, and Zhou Jin’an took the bait.

The moment he saw the news, Zhou Jin’an lost his composure.

Qiao En was embroiled in a murder case, and the victim was the son of Zhou Ziyan.

He wanted to rush to the police station, but Cheng Lu stopped him.

“Director Zhou, you can’t go. This matter is extremely suspicious. The Second Young Master has been in office for just three days, and his child dies because of Secretary Qiao. She had no grudges with him, so why would she kill his child? If you go now, people will definitely think you’re involved.”

Cheng Lu had a clear understanding of the whole situation, and how could Zhou Jin’an not understand the reasoning behind it?

But the person involved was Qiao En, and he couldn’t just watch her get caught up in this mess.

“If I don’t go, does that mean I can disassociate myself from this affair?”

Zhou Jin’an asked coldly.

Cheng Lu’s eyebrows knotted into a “川” shape. Zhou Jin’an had already been kicked out of Nanchen Group by Zhou Ziyan, and if he was now to be branded a murderer by Zhou Ziyan, he would never have a day to turn things around.

“Director Zhou, let me go instead.”

Zhou Jin’an’s icy gaze swept across his face, and he patted Cheng Lu on the shoulder, “No need.”

When Zhou Jin’an and Cheng Lu arrived at the police station, there was already a crowd of media reporters gathered at the entrance.

“Director Zhou, you can’t go.”

Cheng Lu objected one last time, but Zhou Jin’an still opened the car door and got out.

As expected, the moment he appeared, all cameras were pointed at him.

“Mr. Zhou Jin’an, is this murder related to you?”

“Did you really instruct your former secretary to kill your brother’s unborn child?”

“Did you do this because Mr. Zhou Ziyan took your position as president?”

…

Countless microphones were thrust in front of Zhou Jin’an, but his face was ashen, and he refused to say a word.

Inside the Mercedes in the parking lot, Zhou Ziyan squinted his eyes with great satisfaction.

“Zhou Jin’an has taken the bait, and now we can all sleep easy,” he said, clenching his mobile phone with a spreading smile at the corner of his mouth.

When Zhou Jin’an appeared in front of Qiao En, she was not at all surprised, let alone shocked.

“Are you alright?”

Inside the visitation room, Zhou Jin’an sat opposite Qiao En with a somber expression and asked gently.

“You shouldn’t have come.”

Qiao En sighed softly, her eyes and brows lowered. She was an accomplice in Zhou Ziyan’s plot, a classic case of luring the tiger out of the mountains.

“If I didn’t come, would you be able to leave?”

Zhou Jin’an’s eyes were deep, as he looked steadily at Qiao En.

A sense of heaviness settled in Qiao En’s heart. Zhou Jin’an had great foresight, and he immediately saw through the trap.

“Then I should thank Director Zhou.”

Qiao En chuckled lightly, her face still calm.

The visit was brief, and Zhou Jin’an stood up to leave. As he reached the door, he paused and asked, “Qiao En, isn’t there anything else you want to say to me?”

There was a distance between the two of them, and it was growing ever larger.

Their gazes met, foreign and distant.

He waited for Qiao En to say something, but she never did.

“Director Zhou, have a safe journey!”

Qiao En’s mouth split into her signature affable grin.

Zhou Jin’an withdrew his gaze, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, before striding firmly away.

Outside, the reporters were still there, swarming over again as he emerged.

“Mr. Zhou, to strike at an unborn child, have you really ceased to care about brotherly love?”

A reporter questioned.

Zhou Jin’an had intended to ignore it, but in a moment of hesitation, he caught sight of the Mercedes in the parking lot, and his eyes darkened at once.

“Brotherly love? Hah, does an illegitimate child deserve such a thing?”

Zhou Zhendong and Mrs. Zhou were still married when Yao Chuman became pregnant with Zhou Ziyan. He was born two months before Zhou Zhendong officially married Yao Chuman.

For Zhou Jin’an to call Zhou Ziyan an illegitimate child was not an exaggeration.

But those unaware of the past two decades were convinced that Zhou Jin’an was slandering Zhou Ziyan’s reputation in his own bid for power.

Public opinion is like floodwater; it can engulf a person in an instant.

In just one night, Zhou Jin’an’s public image collapsed; he became the despicable villain, riddled with malice and deceit.

The next morning, the police arrived at Chu Garden, and Zhou Jin’an was taken away. At the same time, Qiao En was released.