59: Refutation

"But they didn't succeed, and you didn't lose anything!" Zhao Zijing, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

Yan Zhuohua let out a sneer and leaned back against his chair.

"Miss Zhao, I hope you understand that in legal terms, there is such a thing as an attempted crime. Although the sentence may be lighter, it is still a crime. There's no logic in saying that because someone failed in their crime, we can forget the fact that they intended to harm others. Otherwise, if someone finds you unpleasant and stabs you, if you die, that's that, but if you don't die, they can be innocent? Wouldn't that be opening the floodgates for everyone? If doing bad things results in immense profit and a meteoric rise when successful, but carries no punishment when unsuccessful, then who would care about the law? Miss Zhao, don't you agree?"

Zhao Zijing couldn't find any words to retort. She could only bite her lip and look helplessly at Zhao Zixing.

Zhao Zixing looked up. "But we didn't do anything wrong; we even helped you. Why should we have to bear these consequences?"

Yan Zhuohua looked at Zhao Zixing, whose eyes were filled with defiance, and asked, "What consequences have you borne?"

Zhao Zixing was stunned for a moment, then said, "We lost the Zhao Family, we lost our father and grandfather..."

"Young Master Zhao," Yan Zhuohua interrupted him, "were those things ever yours?"

Zhao Zixing froze.

"The Zhao Family—you never had it. In fact, it was almost given away to that illegitimate son. Your father and grandfather, did they really love you?" Yan Zhuohua said slowly. "Those things were never yours to begin with. At least, you hadn't obtained them yet. Perhaps they would have been yours sooner or later, but as long as your name isn't written on them, they aren't yours for a single day. So what have you lost? It seems you haven't lost anything; instead, you've even taken charge of the Zhao Corporation through these events, haven't you?"

"As for your inability to stabilize the situation, that's due to your lack of competence. What does that have to do with us? Am I supposed to help you plan how to completely control the Zhao Corporation? Should I teach you and improve your skills? I've been lenient enough. I didn't even strike at your Zhao Corporation, and I've tacitly allowed your control over the family business. All of this is a reward for the warning you provided. Otherwise, do you think the Zhao Corporation would still be as stable as it is now? Would you still be sitting in the position of acting president of the Zhao Corporation?"

Zhao Zixing was speechless.

Qiao Rongjing squeezed his hand tightly. "Zhuohua, I know you were the victims from start to finish and didn't take any excessive revenge. But could you, could you please help them once for the sake of our brotherhood? I really can't watch my little aunt, older male cousin, and Older Female Cousin suffer without helping."

Yan Zhuohua was still quite tolerant of Qiao Rongjing. He softened his tone and said gently, "Rongjing, it's very hard for me to compromise on this matter. If they just simply wanted to drive me away or targeted me alone, I could let them off for your sake. But what is the reality?"

"The preliminary police interrogation results are already out. They planned to frame Qinghe and send him to prison. A rapist—how many years would he be locked up for? They even intended to use medical means to help Zhao Zijing get pregnant. If they had succeeded, do you think they would have done something directly to Qinghe's body to ensure that child's position was more secure? They wanted to use this matter and that child to seize the Yan Family. What would happen to my family then? How could I possibly accept this?"

Qiao Rongjing lowered his head in shame, not knowing what to say.

Yan Zhuohua sighed.

"Rongjing, I know you can't ignore your relatives, but I also have to protect mine. I can't use my family to pave the way for our brotherhood; they are innocent too. Besides, do you think the Zhao Family's business is just this one incident?"

Qiao Rongjing suddenly looked up. Beside him, Zhao Zixing and Zhao Zijing also grew nervous. "What do you mean by that?"

"Rongjing, with the Zhao Family's current situation, you can hold on for one more month, right?"

Yan Zhuohua didn't answer them but instead posed a new question.

"One month... I can barely manage." Although Qiao Rongjing didn't know why he was asking, he still answered.

"Good. Then continue to maintain it for this month. Soon, you will know what I meant just now. If you still want to come and plead for mercy then, you may do so."

Qiao Rongjing was silent for a long time. "Alright, Zhuohua. I've always trusted you. I'll wait one month to see exactly what's going on."

Yan Zhuohua smiled at him, walked over, and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. "You will understand me."

Qiao Rongjing left with the unwilling Zhao Zixing and Zhao Zijing.

Yan Zhuohua slowly walked back to his office.

That's how it is in wealthy families. One moment you're best friends, and the next you might part ways for the sake of interests or family. The Zhao Corporation's matter is just the beginning. He didn't know if he and Qiao Rongjing could still be brothers as before once all the secrets were revealed.

When interests intertwine, it's often the most sincere people who suffer the most and the truest emotions that are hurt the most.

Yan Zhuohua looked at the documents on his desk and sighed. Having just met them and argued for so long, he was truly a bit tired and didn't really want to continue looking at these files.

But Yan Muxuan was keeping watch outside. He probably wouldn't be able to sneak off to see Yan Qinghe until the lunch break. It was so annoying.

Yan Zhuohua went to the restroom to wash his face and clear his head before returning to his office to focus on his work, striving to clear the documents on his desk.

Time really does fly when you're immersed in work.

Only a small portion of the files had been handled when it was already twelve o'clock. This time he could go to the Chairmans Office openly. Before entering the elevator, Yan Zhuohua even gave Yan Muxuan a triumphant look, leaving Yan Muxuan completely bewildered.

As expected, lunch for the two of them had already been prepared in the Chairmans Office.

Yan Zhuohua pushed the door open and went inside, walking straight to Yan Qinghe's side and began checking his desk, phone, and computer.

Although Yan Qinghe didn't know what Yan Zhuohua wanted to do, he still cooperated and let him check.

After checking for a while and confirming that Yan Qinghe wasn't in a meeting or on a call with anyone, Yan Zhuohua finally felt safe enough to throw himself into Yan Qinghe's arms.

He had truly learned his lesson.

After being accidentally discovered at home yesterday, Yan Zhuohua didn't want to hold back anymore. Since everyone knew anyway, why should he feel aggrieved or control himself?

Yan Qinghe originally thought his wife was checking up on him, but he never expected it would turn into his wife throwing himself into his arms.

He excitedly hugged back Yan Zhuohua, who was still rubbing against him vigorously, and lowered his head to plant a kiss on his forehead.

"Unhappy?"

"Yeah." Yan Zhuohua's voice was muffled.

Yan Qinghe gently massaged the back of Yan Zhuohua's neck. "No wonder you came to act spoiled with me; it turns out you want me to coax you."