QTIMP -Chapter 114 Character Persona – Money Loving (Part 24)

The twelve people were shocked. After a long pause, the girl stammered out, “Do… donate? T… twenty million? US dollars?”

Si Qiu nodded firmly. “Yes, twenty million US dollars. I will also donate five hundred thousand dollars to government welfare organizations. This money, in a sense, is taken from the people and used for the people.”

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to donate more—it was that some departments didn’t have the credibility she trusted as much as the military. If she truly wanted this money to be spent effectively, it would be better to wait and establish her own welfare organization in the future.

For now, donating this money was also a way to pave the way for her funds and to silence some people.

Seeing that the others seemed unable to react, Si Qiu made a decision. “This isn’t urgent. I’m in a hurry to return to the capital. Once you’ve made contact, let them come to the capital to meet me.”

That night, finally standing on the land of her homeland, she and Qiao Yalan rested exceptionally well. As for the twelve others, after arranging the night watch schedule…

The woman who had responded earlier, along with another man about her height, borrowed the hotel phone to call their former leader.

They agreed to meet in the capital three days later. The bodyguards placed the boxes of money in the bedroom, and everyone rested or took shifts in their respective spots in the hotel room.

Si Qiu and Qiao Yalan opened a box containing one million US dollars. They spread the money out across the bed and then flopped onto it together. Each casually grabbed a handful and tossed it into the air; the bills scattered and floated down again with their weight.

The two of them laughed and talked, imagining their future.

Three days later, Si Qiu returned to the capital. Her bodyguards dropped her off downstairs and left. Si Qiu pulled her suitcase upstairs.

Seeing the bodyguards at the door, she didn’t pay much attention. After all, wherever Pei Jingzhou went, these people always stood there. Naturally, they also recognized her and thoughtfully opened the door for her.

But when the door opened, she found a stranger sitting on her sofa. Si Qiu thought she had gone to the wrong floor and even stepped back to double-check.

The man, however, seemed more at ease than she did. He slowly stood up and pushed his glasses up. “You must be Miss Si Qiu. You’re back. That’s wonderful.”

Si Qiu tightened her grip on the suitcase. “And you are?”

“Hello, let me formally introduce myself. I’m Rong Li, Pei Jing—”

Before he could finish, a heavy thud sounded from the bedroom. His expression changed, and he turned toward the bedroom.

Si Qiu closed the door, set her suitcase aside, and followed him in—only to see Pei Jingzhou bound with restraint straps, just having been helped up by the man.

At that sight, all kinds of bad thoughts flashed through her mind, but when Pei Jingzhou saw her, his eyes instantly lit up.

“Qiu… Qi… Qiuqiu,” his voice hoarse and dry, like sand scraping.

Rong Li also noticed Pei Jingzhou’s change—he was no longer listless, no longer on the verge of harming himself at every opportunity. Instead, his gaze was fixed firmly in Si Qiu’s direction.

“You… he, you… what happened?”

Rong Li, finally able to get Pei Jingzhou to cooperate, helped him sit on the bed. Seeing Pei Jingzhou refuse the water he handed over, Rong Li turned and shoved the cup into Si Qiu’s hands.

“Let him drink some water first, then calm him down. I’ll explain the rest slowly.”

Si Qiu took the cup but didn’t immediately give it to him. Instead, she held it under her nose and sniffed—it was just plain water, no drugs added.

Rong Li noticed her action, raised an eyebrow, and said nothing.

Si Qiu slowly approached Pei Jingzhou, then sat at the edge of the bed, reaching out to smooth his usually neat hair, now disheveled.

“Hubby, what’s wrong? Are you sick? Your voice is hoarse—have some water.”

She brought the cup to his lips, and he drank without hesitation, yet his eyes never left her face.

After drinking, Si Qiu set the cup aside and studied him carefully. His body was still restrained by the bindings, yet he strained and shifted, trying to get closer to her.

Finally, when he managed to reach her, he rested his head directly on her shoulder. Rong Li raised an eyebrow; he had already suspected that Pei Jingzhou relied heavily on his little girlfriend.

But the other person never admitted it, and even he hadn’t expected it to be beyond his guess. This was just from seeing her once—without a single word spoken—the man had calmed down completely. No resistance, no self-harm.

“Qiuqiu… they all bully me. I don’t want to earn money… because you never come to spend my money, and I can’t find you.”

Rong Li couldn’t help but laugh angrily. For this man, he hadn’t slept well for three days. Shen Xuan was busier than a dog, constantly on guard against that father-and-son duo.

And now, this guy, upon seeing the person he cared about, immediately started whining. Previously, he had acted all arrogant, talking only about deals and fearing giving as his mother had, yet his body’s instincts had already betrayed his thoughts completely.

By this time, Shen Xuan had also finished work and came over. This place was just over a hundred square meters—not like a villa.

So, upon entering, he saw the bedroom door open. He set down his briefcase and walked in, hearing Pei Jingzhou’s words.

“Really? Then they’re simply despicable.” Si Qiu responded while glancing at Rong Li and Shen Xuan.

Rong Li looked at Pei Jingzhou and thought he was still within controllable limits, so he tried to help loosen the bindings. But as soon as he approached…

Pei Jingzhou glared at him viciously, as if he’d bite anyone who came near.

Rong Li raised his hands and took a step back. “Okay, okay, I won’t touch you. Miss Si can undo the bindings.”

Si Qiu hesitated briefly, but slowly released her hands to undo the restraints. The moment the bindings were undone, he immediately hugged her tightly.

Murmuring incessantly, he said, “Qiuqiu… Qiuqiu… where have you gone? Don’t leave me. The money I earn is all for you. I have lots of savings. I own many properties abroad, and several mines. I even managed to get some shares from the old man. When the time comes, I’ll inherit even more, and then I can completely control the Pei Group…”

Rong Li, watching him constantly flaunt his wealth and earning ability, couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

Shen Xuan, seeing him recover and hearing his peacock-like display, crossed his arms and leaned against the door, unable to resist remarking:

“Hah, you really know how to manipulate people. Do you know she earned over ten, almost twenty billion USD in just over a month? Sure, it doesn’t compare to your Pei family, but no matter how rich your family is, you can’t let her spend it all.”

The fact that he knew this much was entirely due to Pei Jingzhou’s situation.

Rong Li hadn’t even had time to intervene. Indeed, Pei Jingzhou now could not stand the thought of Si Qiu not needing him.

He then glared fiercely at Shen Xuan. “You’re deliberately sowing discord just to break us apart.”

Immediately afterward, he turned to Si Qiu, his expression instantly pitiful. “Qiuqiu… he’s lying, isn’t he? You won’t leave me, right?”

Not getting an immediate answer or promise, he gradually began to lose control. Suddenly, he shoved Si Qiu away from his embrace.