70: Applying pressure

"Not for now. However, if the conditions they offer are good enough, it would be difficult for us to refuse."

Qiao Rongjing was silent for a long time on the other end before finally replying: "Thanks."

Done!

Yan Zhuohua happily turned off his phone.

As long as Zhao Zixing learned this news through Qiao Rongjing, he would definitely be anxious and want to completely suppress Zhao Minghong as soon as possible. To suppress him, there were only two ways. First, get Zhao Mingting and Zhao Zhongkai out. This was clearly impossible, and Zhao Zixing surely knew that as well.

Then there was only the second way: go see Zhao Mingting, who was locked up at the police station, cry to him about their woes, and obtain the shares and secret connections in his hands. However, given Zhao Zixing's capabilities and methods, this second path was merely "using ginseng soup to prolong a dying life."

But Yan Zhuohua wanted him to choose the second path, and he could only choose the second path.

Whether Zhao Zixing could get the shares wasn't important; what mattered was that Yan Zhuohua wanted Zhao Mingting to hear about the Zhao Family's current precarious situation from his own grandson's mouth. Furthermore, he wanted him to know that as long as the Yan Family lifted a single finger, the Zhao Family would have to change masters.

Zhao Mingting had harbored a grudge against Zhao Minghong for many years—it could be said they were mortal enemies. He would certainly not want Zhao Minghong to snatch away his position as the family head. Even if he gave it directly to Zhao Zixing, and even if the family declined into a second-rate or even third-rate clan, he wouldn't let Zhao Minghong have a single bit.

Therefore, he would have to compromise with the Yan Family. Compromising meant that the truth he previously didn't want to disclose would still have to be told to Yan Zhuohua personally, and then he would have to watch helplessly as that truth became known to everyone.

This might cause massive turmoil for the Zhao Family's reputation and stock market, but he would have no other choice.

See, as long as you got Zhao Mingting inside and then dealt with the Zhao Family, a single message was enough. Yan Zhuohua sat leisurely in his office chair, controlling it to spin in circles. This was the benefit of having strength and power; with just a word and a bit of pressure, the opponent would pay a heavy price.

Similarly, just like the Zhao Family, if your strength wasn't enough, no amount of flashy tricks would make your death look any better.

Having solved a major problem, Yan Zhuohua didn't forget to send a word of thanks to the hardworking Special Assistant Xiao, and incidentally told him that the Boss's Wife had decided to double his bonus this month.

Special Assistant Xiao cried out, "As long as the Boss's Wife does not leave, I shall never abandon him!"

Yan Zhuohua: "That's really not necessary."

After ending the conversation with Special Assistant Xiao, Yan Zhuohua happily threw himself into work; even the discomfort in his body seemed to have eased a lot.

Zhao Zixing's actions were still very swift.

Thanks to the after-sales service of Special Assistant Xiao, who had received double the bonus, Yan Zhuohua received the news the moment Zhao Zixing arrived at the police station.

However, the specific situation inside the police station was outside Special Assistant Xiao's scope of service.

But it didn't matter; Officer Liu could supplement that point.

"Mr. Yan, your actions are truly fast. I made the call yesterday morning, and Zhao Zixing arrived this afternoon."

"Fast action is nothing; what matters is whether this is useful against Zhao Mingting?"

Officer Liu smiled. "Of course it's useful. After seeing Zhao Zixing today, Zhao Mingting couldn't even eat his meal."

"Isn't that great? I expect we'll soon hear news that Zhao Mingting wants to see me."

"You're right."

Sure enough, three days later, a call came from Officer Liu.

"Mr. Yan, Zhao Mingting says he wants to see you."

"He finally compromised?"

"It seems so. After seeing Zhao Zixing last time, he couldn't eat or sleep for several days. I almost applied for Medical Parole for him."

"Then it seems that when I see him this time, I'll be able to find out what I want to know." Yan Zhuohua's voice was somewhat ethereal.

"Mr. Yan?"

Yan Zhuohua snapped back to his senses. "Ah, sorry Officer Liu, I just got distracted thinking about something else."

"No matter." Officer Liu didn't mind. "Then when do you plan to come? Do we need to make arrangements in advance like last time?"

Yan Zhuohua smiled. "No need, the cat's already out of the bag with my husband. This time, I expect he'll come with me."

"Someone with Mr. Yan's methods could let the cat out of the bag?" Officer Liu joked. "Then your husband must be truly extraordinary!"

"Officer Liu, please don't tease me. It was also my own carelessness."

"Hahaha, how could I tease you. Since you have no concerns this time, can you stay a bit longer and chat with us too?"

"Of course. I'll have to ask my husband about the specific time. He's quite busy."

"Alright, then I'll wait for Mr. Yan's news."

When he went up to eat lunch at noon, Yan Zhuohua mentioned this matter to Yan Qinghe.

"So, hubby, are you coming with me?" Yan Zhuohua asked for his opinion while eating the shrimp Yan Qinghe had peeled for him.

"I'm going, why wouldn't I go," Yan Qinghe said.

"Okay, I'm free anytime, but you're very busy this week. How about we go this weekend?"

"You're not in a hurry anymore?"

"I'm certainly not in a hurry; the one in a hurry now is Zhao Mingting. I'll let him stew for a couple of days first."

"Fine." Yan Qinghe had no objections and conveniently placed a piece of sweet and sour pork into Yan Zhuohua's bowl.

The two were eating quietly when Yan Qinghe suddenly spoke again.

"By the way, if I hadn't discovered this matter, what reason were you going to find to sneak out by yourself this time?"

Yan Zhuohua paused for a moment, then confessed honestly.

"I was planning to go out with Brother Yan Ru to help him pick a New Year's gift for his girlfriend, and then have an 'accident' that required a trip to the police station."

Yan Qinghe looked at him meaningfully. "Brother Ru really is a good subordinate of yours."

Yan Zhuohua pleaded for mercy: "Can we just move past this, please?"

"Move past it? Speaking of which, I just remembered you still haven't paid the punishment you owe me."

"...What do you want? My body has just recovered; I really can't handle any tossing around for a while." Yan Zhuohua's face showed a look of distress.

"Don't worry, I won't touch you for now." Yan Qinghe arched an eyebrow. "I'm just reminding you that you're still 'guilty'. Today is Friday; even if I can't have the main course, you should at least give me some 'sweetness', right?"

Intuition told Yan Zhuohua that this "sweetness" definitely had more to it than met the eye.

"What kind of sweetness do you want?" Yan Zhuohua asked warily.

Yan Qinghe didn't speak, just stared at Yan Zhuohua's bright red lips.

Yan Zhuohua's expression, full of confusion mixed with nervousness, pleased Yan Qinghe.

"Don't ask so much. Just wait and see."

For the entire afternoon, Yan Zhuohua was restless.

After finishing dinner in the evening, Yan Zhuohua followed Yan Qinghe into the bedroom with his heart in his throat.

"So scared?" Yan Qinghe pressed Yan Zhuohua down to sit on the edge of the bed, tilted Yan Zhuohua's chin up with his finger, and leaned in close to his face.

A warm draft of air hit Yan Zhuohua's face, causing his breathing to unconsciously lighten. Yan Qinghe's other hand stroked his soft lips and gave them a gentle kiss.

"Let's just use this place, okay?"