Chapter 197 The Old Fox Can’t Outsmart the Little Fox

Qu Jingyu didn’t respond to that remark.

He frowned slightly, picked up his phone, and said, “I honestly didn’t know about Weiwei lending money to Jingmo. Don’t worry—I’ll ask her directly.”

As he spoke, he dialed her number and turned on speakerphone.

The call rang three or four times before it was answered.

From the other end came Qu Weiwei’s crisp, efficient voice: “Dad, I’m in a meeting. What’s up?”

“I need to ask you something.”

Getting straight to the point, Qu Jingyu said, “Did you lend Jingmo ten billion?”

There was a two-second pause on the other end.

Then Qu Weiwei’s voice came back, carrying a hint of a smile: “Dad, your information network is pretty impressive.”

“Yes, Jingmo said he had an investment project and a large funding gap, so he asked me for help. As his cousin, of course I’d support him.”

Leng Qinghua’s breathing hitched.

Qu Jingyu glanced at her before continuing, “What kind of investment needs ten billion? And what about the interest rate?”

“That’s a business secret—I can’t say much.”

Qu Weiwei answered flawlessly, “As for interest, it’s set at the bank’s highest rate. Even between close relatives, accounts must be clear—haven’t you always said that?”

“And the repayment period?”

“Five years.”

Her answer was crisp. “Jingmo set it himself. He said he’d definitely repay it within five years.”

Qu Jingyu paused, then asked again, “This money… is it for Jingmo’s own use?”

“What else would it be?”

Qu Weiwei laughed lightly. “Dad, you don’t think I’d lend money to someone else, do you? Jingmo is my cousin—if he asks, how could I refuse?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Leng Qinghua spoke toward the phone, “Weiwei, it’s Aunt Leng.”

There was another brief silence on the other end.

Then Qu Weiwei’s voice returned, still polite but noticeably more distant: “Hello, Aunt Leng. You’re there too.”

“Weiwei, Jingmo didn’t borrow money for any investment. He borrowed it to help Lu Er repay his debts. Did you really not know?”

“Repay debts?”

Her tone carried just the right amount of surprise. “Lu Er is in debt? Did that brat go gambling in Las Vegas or something?”

“I truly didn’t know. Jingmo only told me it was for an investment and asked me to help with liquidity. Their relationship is close enough that he’d help repay a ten-billion debt?”

Furious, Leng Qinghua repeated, “They’re together.”

“Oh, they’re together? Are they married? How come I didn’t know? Those two brats didn’t even send me an invitation.”

Leng Qinghua nearly lost her breath from anger, her voice trembling. “By lending them money, you’re encouraging them.”

“Aunt Leng, I’m a businessperson. When I lend money, I only look at collateral and repayment ability—not the purpose.”

Leng Qinghua’s grip tightened around her teacup, her knuckles turning white.

Qu Weiwei’s “I don’t know anything” stance was delivered far too perfectly.

She didn’t know Lu Er was in debt.
She didn’t know they were together.
She didn’t know the actual use of the money.

She had pushed all responsibility away cleanly while maintaining the posture of simply helping her cousin.

Most infuriating of all, the contract set the highest interest rate and a repayment term of only five years.

On the surface, this didn’t look like help at all—it looked more like taking advantage of someone in a crisis.

So much so that Leng Qinghua couldn’t even accuse her of favoritism or interference.

What kind of “help” was this?

Charging the highest interest, demanding the tightest repayment.

“Weiwei,” Leng Qinghua took a deep breath, “Lu Er is my son. His debts should be handled by me, his mother. Isn’t it inappropriate for the Qu family to intervene like this?”

On the other end, Qu Weiwei laughed.

“Aunt Leng, that’s not quite right.”

Her tone remained polite, but the sharp edge beneath it was unmistakable.
“First, I lent the money to Song Jingmo, not Lu Er.
Second, this is a standard business loan—there’s a contract, and the interest is legal.
Third, someone as capable as Song Jingmo is even willing to sign a lifelong contract. What boss wouldn’t be tempted by that?”

Leng Qinghua’s face turned completely pale.

Qu Jingyu, the old fox, calmly sipped his tea, looking entirely uninvolved.

Meanwhile, Qu Weiwei, the little fox, performed flawlessly over the phone—deflecting all responsibility without a single flaw.

Father and daughter, playing their parts in perfect harmony, left her completely cornered.

“Aunt Leng, I truly didn’t know Jingmo borrowed the money to help Lu Er repay debts.”

Qu Weiwei took a step back. “But the contract has already been signed, and the funds have been transferred. It’s too late to say anything now. How about I ask Jingmo if they can repay early?”

Repay early?

Leng Qinghua almost laughed from anger.

Ten billion over five years, plus high interest—Lu Er and Song Jingmo probably couldn’t even cover the interest right now, and she was talking about early repayment?

“No need. Since the contract is signed, we’ll follow the contract.”

“Alright.”

Qu Weiwei’s tone relaxed. “Anything else, Aunt Leng? I still have a meeting here…”

“That’s all.”

Leng Qinghua hung up.

Qu Jingyu’s tone turned mild. “See? The Qu family truly didn’t know anything about this. Everything followed standard business procedures.”

“The children are grown—they have their own choices. As elders, we have to let go when it’s time. Don’t you agree?”

Leng Qinghua opened her mouth to argue, but found herself speechless.

The contract was signed by Song Jingmo.
The money was lent to Song Jingmo.
The interest was the highest.
The term was the shortest.

From any angle, this was a perfectly normal business loan.

On what grounds could she accuse them?
On what grounds could she say the Qu family had interfered?

The teahouse fell into silence.

Only the soft bubbling of the kettle and the occasional chirping of birds outside could be heard.

Qu Jingyu refilled her cup. “Qinghua, have some tea. It would be a pity to let it go cold.”

Leng Qinghua picked up the slightly cooled tea and drank it in one gulp. “Brother Qu, sorry for the disturbance. I’ll be leaving now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

Qu Jingyu stood as well. “Stay a bit longer—have dinner here tonight, I’ll have the kitchen—”

“No need.”

Leng Qinghua picked up her bag. “There are things at home.”

Qu Group President’s Office

Qu Weiwei tossed her phone onto the desk, a meaningful smile curling on her lips.

Her assistant, standing nearby, couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up. “President Qu, you’re incredible—you predicted Aunt Leng would come knocking.”

Qu Weiwei took a sip of coffee, calm and composed. “With her personality, it’d be stranger if she didn’t.”

“When you first had me print the contract with the highest interest rate, I thought you were being harsh. Now I see—you were preparing in advance.”

Qu Weiwei smiled—there was a businessperson’s sharpness in it, but also a hint of familial warmth.

“Remember this: you can help people, but you must never give them leverage over you.”

“And with Jingmo’s personality, if you give him special treatment, he’ll feel uncomfortable. It’s better to handle things strictly by the book—highest interest, shortest term. That way, he feels at ease.”

“As for Leng Qinghua, she can think whatever she wants. The contract is in black and white—she won’t find any fault even if she tries.”

“President Qu,” the assistant couldn’t help but sigh, “you really put a lot of thought into being a cousin.”