Plunder-Chapter 26 - Hooked

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Hooked

Chapter 26 -26 Hooked

He faced Qiao En head-on as he approached, his presence quite formidable.

As they brushed past each other in a moment, Zhou Jin’an spoke up.

“Foolish beyond belief.”

She was someone he’d personally trained, it was impossible for her not to know An Jinhua’s intentions.

Knowing yet acting deliberately.

If not foolish, then what?

Those words were rather harsh.

Qiao En heard them but still maintained an elegant and professional posture, the smile on her lips never fading.

From the moment people are born, their differences are predetermined.

Zhou Jin’an’s starting point was one Qiao En could never reach, even if she struggled her entire life.

She was as lowly as dust, weak and unsupported, at a disadvantage in this bloodless battle from the start.

She had no right to be willful.

An Jinhua, with one arm resting on the back of his chair, narrowed his eyes, those unrestrained pupils sweeping over Zhou Jin’an’s retreating figure and resting on Qiao En.

He watched her for a good while, then waved his hand to signal her to leave.

“Send in Manager Xu.”

“Yes.”

As Qiao En stepped out, Xu Mei entered on command.

“Do you know what to do?”

An Jinhua, holding his teacup, poured and drank by himself, those eagle-like eyes deep and emanating a chill.

Xu Mei had followed An Jinhua for many years and was privy to his leanings, understanding what he was contemplating.

Today, if Zhou Jin’an had not gotten her way, then An Corporation couldn’t swallow that chunk of fat.

But if the meal in their mouth was to be taken back, would An Jinhua agree to it?

Frontally confronting Nanchen, An Corporation would lose more than gain; Qiao En’s existence was An Jinhua’s best leverage against Zhou Jin’an.

“Aren’t you afraid that this will expose things too early?”

An Jinhua snorted coldly from his nostrils and retorted, “What is there to be afraid of?”

“Alright, President An, I understand what to do now.”

Without further words, Xu Mei turned and left; Qiao En was waiting for her in the lobby.

There she stood, lost in thought as she watched a tank of tropical ornamental fish.

In the bustling lobby, Qiao En exhibited a beauty that seemed detached from the world.

Her figure was slender, her eyes clear, and her fair cheeks showed no trace of disturbance.

She was young, but there was a poise and calm about her that belied her age.

“Qiao En.”

Xu Mei called out to Qiao En, who turned around and immediately broke into a sweet smile.

“Manager Xu.”

Xu Mei approached and patted Qiao En on the shoulder.

“President An just praised you, said he’s going to give you a raise. Keep up the good work!”

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A promotion and a pay raise are what every newcomer in the workplace looks forward to the most.

It was cause for joy.

Qiao En grinned, revealing a naive smile, “Thank you, Manager Xu and President An for your appreciation.”

Outside the lobby, the Maybach that Zhou Jin’an rode in had just entered the main road from the parking lot.

He leaned back in the rear seat, his face as dark as a stormy June sky.

Cheng Lu drove while reporting on a clue she had just found.

“The reason Secretary Qiao’s brother took out a high-interest loan was because of a woman. That woman got pregnant and wouldn’t stop pestering him. He’s timid, afraid to let the news spread, and didn’t dare to tell his family, so he sought high-interest loans in secret. Who would’ve thought, that woman was insatiable, asking for abortion money and then compensation for her youth, and just like that, he stumbled clumsily into the whole mess.”

Zhou Jin’an’s gaze rested outside the window.

Cheng Lu talked the whole way, yet he didn’t engage in the conversation, as if he was listening and yet not listening.

“Director Zhou, there’s certainly something off about that woman, shall we investigate…”

“Do you always love to meddle like this?”

Zhou Jin’an sharply interrupted before Cheng Lu could finish.

He had been holding back his anger all night, and now Cheng Lu had walked right into his line of fire.

Cheng Lu immediately fell silent.

Zhou Jin’an’s temper had grown increasingly volatile recently, like firecrackers that explode on contact.

He didn’t dare to provoke him, only to avoid.

Halfway through the drive, An Kexin called.

Zhou Jin’an hung up immediately, and An Kexin called again.

Zhou Jin’an hung up once more, and An Kexin then called Cheng Lu’s phone.

As he hesitated whether to answer or not, Zhou Jin’an picked up his phone and answered the call.

“Assistant Cheng, is Brother An busy?”

From the other end of the phone, An Kexin’s voice came, gentle and polite.

“What’s the matter?”

Zhou Jin’an asked coldly.

An Kexin was startled, then immediately delighted, “Brother An, did I interrupt your work?”

Her voice was coquettish like the seductive whispers of tenderness.

Zhou Jin’an was unimpressed and did not respond.

An Kexin continued, “My second brother just called me and told me, Jin’an, thank you for letting An Corporation have the land in Yu State.”

“I didn’t say I’d let it go.”

Zhou Jin’an spat out three cold words.

An Kexin, not understanding, asked, “Jin’an, what do you mean then?”

“Do you want to know, or does your second brother want to know?”

Zhou Jin’an countered, almost leaving An Kexin unable to smooth things over.

“Jin’an, I was just asking casually, it has nothing to do with my second brother,” An Kexin’s voice softened even more.

He was hard, so she became soft.

However, her softness was entirely different from Qiao En’s. Qiao En’s softness came with a resilience that could soothe the irritability in his heart, while An Kexin’s softness, with a hint of ingratiating, only made him more irritable.

“You’d better not ask about things that aren’t your concern.”

Zhou Jin’an abruptly hung up the phone.

An Kexin hit a wall, feeling somewhat annoyed, and made a call to An Jinhua.

“He refused to say.”

An Jinhua lit up a cigarette, leaning against the window, and blew out a ring of smoke, “Told you not to ask, but you wouldn’t listen.”

To ask was to embarrass oneself.

An Kexin pursed her lips, playing the sympathy card, “Isn’t it all for your sake?”

The tactics An Kexin used, neither Zhou Jin’an nor An Jinhua fell for them.

He chuckled lightly and said, “If you’re thinking about my interests, hurry up and get him on board.”

“You think I don’t want to?”

An Kexin sighed in frustration, annoyed at having touched on a sore point.

An Jinhua’s tone softened a bit as he cajoled, “He’s in my hands, don’t you trust me?”

“Of course, I trust you, Second Brother. When it comes to work, I trust you the most. So, I will leave Qiao En in your good care!”

…

At nine o’clock at night, after finishing her work, Qiao En hurried to the hospital.

She received a call from Xu Mei halfway there.

“Come to Jinma Entertainment right now.”

Her voice sounded urgent.

Qiao En felt a twinge of anxiety, but without overthinking, she promptly replied, “Okay.”

Once she arrived, Xu Mei led her straight to a private room.

“There’s a problem with a project, and the partner is not letting go. Nana and the others have been accompanying them for a night of eating and drinking, but still couldn’t settle it; looks like this tough bone to crack requires you.”

Xu Mei quickly explained the situation and didn’t forget to flatter Qiao En.

Qiao En remained silent.

Her success with Director Huang last time, landing a big contract for the company, was a fluke, a stroke of dumb luck.

One can’t be lucky every time.

Besides, it’s a big taboo to be overconfident before handling a matter.

Xu Mei cracked open the door of the private room and gestured for Qiao En to go in by herself.

Inside, the lighting was dim, and the long sofa was crowded with men and women.

Some were singing, some were playing dice, some were competing in drinking, everyone was preoccupied with their own game, no one noticed an additional person enter the room.

Qiao En, astute, took a seat in a quiet corner upon entering.

She hid in the shadows, observing, looking for her “prey” for the evening.

Zhou Jin’an once said that hunting in the guise of the prey is the mark of a sophisticated hunter.

Qiao En knew this all too well.

She quickly identified her target for the night and embarked on the hunt.

The representative sent by the partner, surnamed Nie, was a tough character, rumored to have a shady background from his days in the underworld.

At that moment, he was embracing Nana and singing an old song called “Intimate Lover.”

He was passionately involved, but off-key, constantly out of tune.

Nana exerted herself to match his pitch, struggling immensely.

Qiao En reclined lazily on the sofa, her blush-colored shirt half unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of her collarbone, hinting at budding sensuality.

Yet, she was oblivious, her hand gently swaying the wine glass in time with the music.

Slightly out of beat one moment, then two beats slow the next, as if by accident, or perhaps deliberately.

Her eyes shimmered like rippling water, filled with allure.

Not too coquettish, nor too plain.

Just the right touch, ensnaring the heartstrings.

Before the song finished, Mr. Nie abruptly stopped. His gaze was captured by Qiao En.