Qin Chuan’s eyes were filled with coldness as he stared intently at Xiao Qing.
In the surveillance video he had watched earlier, he saw Qin Nian being slapped away by the Xiao family’s bodyguard, and it was this woman who had given the order.
It was also the first time that Xiao Qing had seen Qin Chuan. As their cold gazes met, her body couldn’t help but shiver.
Yet, the fear was momentary, and Xiao Qing sneered, "So, you’re that slut’s brother."
"Slap!"
The crisp sound of a slap echoed.
The once haughty Xiao Qing now had a swollen red palm print across her face.
Even Sun Xiuyun was dumbfounded for a moment.
Luo Jun’s eyes widened in shock, his wife had just been slapped by a young man.
"Ah..."
After being stunned for a split second, Xiao Qing let out a piercing scream, her face twisted with rage as she snarled, "How dare you hit me?"
Killer intent filled Qin Chuan’s eyes as he said coldly, "If you dare to be disrespectful again, I will kill you!"
"You..."
Xiao Qing was overwhelmed by the powerful aura emanating from Qin Chuan, managing only a single word before she dared not continue.
Still, as she looked at Qin Chuan, her eyes were filled with intense murderous intent.
She had never been slapped in the face in her life, especially not by someone so young.
Sun Xiuyun had long found the woman displeasing and felt quite satisfied inside.
"Useless, you just watch as your woman gets slapped?"
Xiao Qing didn’t dare to talk to Qin Chuan anymore, so she vented her fury on Luo Jun instead.
Luo Jun finally came to his senses, glaring at Qin Chuan and bellowed, "You’ve got some nerve, boy, even daring to lay a hand on my wife?"
Qin Chuan’s gaze turned icy as he said coldly, "Out of respect for Elder Luo and Granny Sun, I won’t hold this against you, but if you dare to mouth off again, I won’t hesitate to punish you."
"You wouldn’t dare!"
Luo Jun was seething with anger.
Sun Xiuyun scoffed, "If you dare to spout off again, even if Xiao Chuan doesn’t discipline you, I will."
"Mom!"
Hearing Sun Xiuyun’s words, Luo Jun’s demeanor softened, and he said to her, "Mom, this kid slapped your daughter-in-law in front of you, and you’re not going to do anything about it?"
"Hmph!"
Sun Xiuyun said coldly, "I have no daughter-in-law with such a foul mouth; she deserved to be slapped by Xiao Chuan!"
Xiao Qing was nearly driven mad with rage, but remembering the purpose of her visit today, she forcibly suppressed her anger.
"Xiao Chuan, once Grandfather Luo comes back with steak, I will cook something delicious for you, and Granny Sun will pour you some water to drink first."
Sun Xiuyun warmly took Qin Chuan into the house, leaving Luo Jun and Xiao Qing outside.
"Luo Jun, if we can’t secure the cooperation with the Song Family today, I’m divorcing you!" Xiao Qing said, fuming.
Luo Jun immediately panicked, pleading, "Wife, you can’t leave me!"
"Useless!"
Xiao Qing slapped Luo Jun, her anger surging as she said, "If you were the slightest bit useful, would I have to suffer such humiliation?"
"I don’t care, once we’ve secured the cooperation with the Song Family, you must kill that bastard for me, or I’ll divorce you!"
With a bitter expression, Luo Jun said, "Wife, killing him isn’t a good idea, right? After all, he’s on very good terms with my parents."
"Get lost!"
Xiao Qing gave Luo Jun another slap, then stormed into the villa.
Sun Xiuyun acted as if she hadn’t seen them, chatting with Qin Chuan.
Just then, Luo Changsheng came back carrying loads of bags, and upon seeing Luo Jun and Xiao Qing still there, he frowned and said, "Why haven’t you left yet?"
Xiao Qing covertly kicked Luo Jun, who then said, "Dad, to be frank, our visit today was to seek your help in securing the Song Family’s cooperation."
"This matter is extremely crucial for us. Please consider it as helping your son for the last time. I promise, I won’t let you down again."
Luo Jun’s attitude was earnest, his face filled with pleading.
Seeing Luo Jun beseeching so desperately, Luo Changsheng’s heart softened a little.
"Thump!"
Suddenly, Luo Jun fell to his knees heavily, his eyes red as he said, "Dad, I know you’re very disappointed in me, but I’m truly out of options. If I can’t secure the cooperation with the Song Family, I’ll never be able to turn my life around."
"Dad, I beg you, please help me, okay?"
Luo Changsheng sighed and didn’t immediately agree, instead sitting in the wicker chair with a look of melancholy on his face.
After all, they were flesh and blood, the bone might be broken but the sinews were still connected. No matter how disappointed he was in Luo Jun, how could he bear to watch him continue like this?
Seeing this, Xiao Qing also hurriedly said, "Dad, if you could help us secure the cooperation with the Song Family, my dad will hand over the Xiao Family to me and Luo Jun."
"Even if you’re disappointed in Luo Jun, you wouldn’t want to see him continue to waste away, right? I beg you, please help him—he’s really having a hard time at the Xiao Family!"
Sun Xiuyun watched Luo Jun with reddened eyes, she also knew how difficult it was for him at the Xiao Family.
Qin Chuan looked at Luo Changsheng and Sun Xiuyun with their sorrowful expressions and could understand how they felt at the moment.
If it weren’t for the Xiao Family forcibly arranging Meng Yi’s marriage, and Xiao Qing instructing the bodyguards to beat up Qin Nian, even for the sake of Luo Changsheng and Sun Xiuyun, he wouldn’t turn against the Xiao Family.
But there weren’t so many ifs, the Xiao Family wouldn’t give up the alliance through marriage with the Chen Family, and Xiao Qing wouldn’t apologize to Qin Nian.
He and the Xiao Family were destined to become enemies.
"Stand up!"
After a while, Luo Changsheng finally addressed Luo Jun.
Luo Jun’s face lit up with excitement as he said, "Dad, are you agreeing to help me?"
Luo Changsheng didn’t answer his question but instead counter-asked, "Xiao Yi, can you avoid marrying into the Chen Family?"
Luo Jun’s expression instantly stiffened; after all, Meng Yi was his daughter, and he wished for her happiness as well.
But how could he stop it when it was Elder Xiao’s decision?
Xiao Qing’s eyes darted around, and she quickly said, "Dad, the day after tomorrow is just an engagement, not a wedding."
"As long as you help us secure the Song Family’s cooperation, Luo Jun and I will be able to control the Xiao Family soon. Once we have the power, we will void Xiao Yi’s engagement."
For her, securing the Song Family’s cooperation was the most important thing right then, any deception would do.
Forget gaining a say in the Xiao Family; even if she became the Patriarch of the Xiao Family, for the sake of family interests, she would insist on Meng Yi marrying into the Chen Family.
Luo Changsheng immediately brightened up, "Are you serious?"
Xiao Qing nodded eagerly, "Of course, I’m serious! Dad, please help us!"
"I can introduce you to Elder Song, but whether he agrees to cooperate with you is beyond me," Luo Changsheng said after a brief silence.
Xiao Qing was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, "Dad, just introduce us to Patriarch Song. As for the cooperation, we’ll discuss with him and ensure you won’t be put in a difficult position."
As Qin Chuan watched the thrilled Xiao Qing, he sneered inwardly.
Before coming here, he had just been discussing with Song Yan how to deal with the Xiao Family—letting the Xiao Family secure the cooperation with the Song Family was part of the plan!
It was like someone providing a pillow as soon as you wanted to sleep.