132: What is imported coffee? Yanyan's mother's nurse - The Rich Second-Generation Villain With No Morals

"That scoundrel Qi Lin bullies me every single day." "I only learned about the childhood incidents a few days ago, and I feel really guilty about it. But now, I can only say, I did pretty well when I was younger." "Hmph, I worked so hard to clean his office, and the moment he steps into the company, he starts bullying me and even snatches my lunchbox. Watch out, or I'll mess you up!" Approaching her desk, Chen Shuyi grumbled about Qi Lin while holding her lunchbox, ready to return to her office. But then, noticing a leftover tube of wasabi on the table, a mischievous idea popped into her mind. "So, you want to bully me, huh? Let's see how you like wasabi coffee today." A sly smile curled on the corners of her lips as she put down her lunchbox, picked up a mug, and headed to the water cooler to make a cup of instant coffee. Once back, she squeezed all the wasabi from the tube into the coffee and stirred it with a spoon. They say a woman's heart can be deviously clever. Chen Shuyi could have just added a little. Yet, she chose to squeeze the entire tube into it. Whoever drinks this coffee won't just suffer—it will be tears of torment streaming down their face. Luckily, this much wasabi was hidden within the dark brown coffee; otherwise, it would have been easily spotted in any other drink. With everything set, the cunning smile reappeared on her delicate face as she carried the coffee and her lunch back to her office. Qi Lin had seen Chen Shuyi's diary; he knew the little calculations in her mind. Although she entered with a smile, her acting wasn't convincing enough, and Qi Lin didn't notice anything amiss. "Boss, lunch is here," her tone unexpectedly softened as she spoke. But Qi Lin knew she was trying to make him drop his guard. "Don't accuse the boss of exploiting you—if you're alright, we'll split the meal." Qi Lin's words left Chen Shuyi speechless, and his actions only agitated her more, making her want to punch him right in the eye. He used her spoon to scoop some food, chewing and swallowing carefully. Then, he scooped some into her lunchbox and said, "Ah, open up, the boss will feed you~" Chen Shuyi winced. When Qi Lin ate, he would put the spoon in his mouth, after which his lips sealed tight, leaving not even a speck of grease. The idea of being fed with the same spoon was revolting. With an awkward grin, she waved her hands dismissively. "Boss, I'm not hungry yet. There's not much food anyway; you should have it all." Qi Lin’s face turned a shade paler, "Chen Shuyi, there's something off about your attitude. Did you do something to my food?" His words startled her, almost making her think he'd noticed her tampering with the coffee. "No, no, not at all! I'd never dare mess with your meal, boss," she denied, shaking her head. "Then eat it to show me." He offered the spoon again, and she bit her lip. Assessing the situation, she realized if she didn't eat, he'd certainly be suspicious. "Fine, if I want that rogue Qi Lin to fall for my trap, I'll have to make a little sacrifice." Resolute now, she bit down on her silver tooth, taking the food he offered like a couple might do. "Ah, so gross. I actually tasted his saliva!" "Why does he keep finding ways to disgust me?" Though she wanted to cry, there were no tears in her heart. But this wasn't the end. Immediately after, they each took alternate bites, sharing a rather intimate meal. In no time, the box was clean, both having had their fill—though what Chen Shuyi consumed felt more like frustration or saliva than actual sustenance. "Boss, how about a coffee to perk you up after lunch? I specially made this for you." With the time nearing, she handed over the coffee with a dash of expectation. "What if I don't want coffee right now? Feeling a bit tired, maybe a shoulder massage?" Qi Lin asked with a cheeky blink. Chen Shuyi was at a loss. Despite ensuring her wasabi secret was safe, she now wondered if Qi Lin knew her plot and was playing along with her. Having already endured his saliva and willing to go through this without gain was unbearable. Qi Lin bullied her daily; seeing him overwhelmed by wasabi-induced tears would be delightful. "Boss, how’s this for pressure? Comfortable?" She swallowed her anger and began massaging him gently. "Feels good. A boss should also care for their staff. Shuyi, standing must be tiring; sit on my lap for the massage." Qi Lin patted his leg, grinning. Faced with his relaxed demeanor, Chen Shuyi nearly wanted to smack him to oblivion. But considering she'd sat there before, she bit her lip, surrendered, and straddled him for the massage. Their faces close, Qi Lin caught a subtle fragrance. "Boss, do you want that coffee now?" she asked softly after a while, as his comfort nearly lulled him to sleep. "Hmm, I can't nap now. I have a class soon. Bring the coffee." Her heart swelled with joy at his words. Finally, after all the preparation, the moment had come. "Boss, here’s the coffee. Need me to feed you?" she offered. If he agreed, she intended to force the entire content down him for revenge. "I’m picky with my coffee, warm or cold. Can you taste it first?" Qi Lin said, lazily half-smiling. She couldn't discern if he was genuinely clueless or merely playing dumb. His superior acting skills often overshadowed her own. Resigned, she took a sip. Even a small amount meant enduring the wasabi and black coffee, her head pounding and throat on fire. She stifled a cough through sheer willpower. "It's perfect, boss, not too hot or cold," she declared, her brow involuntarily twitching with simmering anger. Qi Lin checked the time, realizing it was just right. "Alright, let me take a sip." With a slight smirk, he downed a mouthful. "Darn it, is Chen Shuyi trying to kill me? All this wasabi! If my willpower weren't so strong, I'd be choked now." Internally amused, Qi Lin noted. Seeing him drink, she eagerly awaited signs of distress. But her anticipation underestimated Qi Lin's cunning. He hadn't swallowed the coffee. Catching her gaze, a playful glint entered the depths of his eyes. He cupped her head with his hands, holding her still. In a moment of shock, Chen Shuyi watched as he pressed his lips to hers. "Mmph—" Her eyes widened, blood rushed to her face—not from shyness, but from the wasabi’s fiery sting. Qi Lin had transferred all the wasabi coffee back to her. After less than ten seconds, he released her, knowing timely relief was vital when choking on wasabi; otherwise, it could result in a serious risk. "Cough, cough, cough—" Tears welled up in Chen Shuyi's eyes as she clutched her throat, pointing at him. "You... you jerk! You dumped all the wasabi coffee on me." Qi Lin kindly patted her back. "Sister Shuyi, this isn't my fault. The saying goes: don't harm others, but guard yourself. Your attempt to mess with me flipped back on you." Her breakdown meant defeat as she realized, "So you knew the coffee had something wrong, and you intentionally tricked me earlier?" she accused. He snapped his fingers with a grin. "Bingo! You're right. Alas, no prize for it." Despairing, she fled soaking. Humiliated as the scheme backfired, she not only failed but ended up drinking the wasabi coffee herself. "Ah, if only every heroine could throw surprises like this, life would be so interesting," Qi Lin mused to himself after she departed. Just then, he absent-mindedly took another sip of the cup. "Blegh—" He spat it out immediately, coughing profusely. "Ugh—" Unbeknownst to him, Chen Shuyi hadn't gone far, lurking just outside. Watching Qi Lin get choked, she burst into joyful laughter before darting back to her desk. Once left alone, Qi Lin casually wiped his lips, chuckling softly, "Ah, letting these leading ladies have fun isn't such a bad thing. This way, they’ll have the guts to challenge you again, right?" If Chen Shuyi were here, she'd surely be astounded by Qi Lin's mind-bending influence. With such a deep understanding of women, is it truly possible for any woman he fancies to escape his grasp? After some playful banter with Chen Shuyi, Qi Lin left the "Cityman" company and headed to the electronics market. The tragic accident that befell Yan Yan's parents was riddled with suspicious elements, and Qi Lin was determined to uncover the truth while time was on his side. Ordinary threats weren't enough; to win over Yan Yan, he needed to delve into her and Li Zhou's past. After purchasing a voice recorder, Qi Lin drove to the Huamei Zixin Hospital headquarters. Upon arriving, Qi Lin didn't rush out of the car. Instead, he pulled out a makeup kit and spent a few moments touching up his face. Minutes later, he emerged looking exactly like Li Zhou. Satisfied with his reflection, he opened the car door and made his way to the hospital. "Chairman, what brings you here personally?" A hospital administrator greeted 'Li Zhou' as soon as he walked in. Emulating Li Zhou's voice, Qi Lin replied nonchalantly, "Just thought I'd drop by. Please have someone take me to my mother-in-law's room." To all appearances, this was none other than 'Li Zhou' himself. The administrator, without a shadow of doubt, nodded and summoned a young nurse to escort Qi Lin. At the entrance of the hospital room, Qi Lin gestured for the nurse to leave. Entering, he was overwhelmed by the spacious ICU setup. The 60-square-meter room was lavishly furnished with premium wooden pieces, and equipped with every necessary appliance—television, refrigerator, air conditioning—all in place. In the center stood a multifunctional automatic bed designed for paralyzed patients. If Qi Lin remembered correctly, that specialized bed alone cost over a million. "No wonder Yan Yan is so attached to Li Zhou; his wealth is certainly substantial," Qi Lin thought to himself. Lying on the bed was a middle-aged woman, Yan Yan’s mother, peacefully asleep. Noticing the arrival of 'Chairman Li Zhou,' the nurse initially paused, then greeted him respectfully. "Shh." 'Li Zhou' signaled for silence, gesturing for the nurse to step outside with him for a word. Standing quietly in the hall, the nurse awaited his reprimand. "How has she been lately?" Li Zhou inquired. "Her condition remains the same; she's bedridden and won't regain mobility," the nurse replied honestly. "Her muscles are atrophying from inactivity, and her lifespan is in the hands of fate—perhaps a year or two, or maybe ten." Qi Lin inwardly sighed at the nurse's report. Yan Yan’s family had been misfortunate from the start. Though Yan Yan herself was unscathed, her parents suffered due to her enchanting eyes. If she learned the truth, Qi Lin wondered how she might react. "Tell me about my father-in-law again. I’d like to hear the story one more time," Qi Lin prompted, eager to delve into the heart of it. The nurse, in her forties, had tended to Yan Yan's parents for years. Qi Lin trusted she knew details about the death of Yan Yan’s father that might never have reached the surface. "Chairman, haven't you already issued a directive to conclude matters in 2.9 years?" the nurse replied, chuckling wryly at the reminder. Qi Lin’s interest piqued. Indeed, a secret lay here. "I just want to check for any inconsistencies you may have missed then," he pressed on, despite maintaining a stern exterior. Not daring to delay, the nurse recounted the incident. "Yan Boshen was incredibly fortunate—working amidst harsh radiation, he developed leukemia. After extensive hospital efforts, he began to recover." "All was well until he suspected something amiss with his leukemia’s origins and confided in Mrs. Yan." "Once you were informed, Chairman, I found a way to handle it as per your directions." "Each time, as instructed, I administered minute doses of cardiac arrest medication in Yan Boshen's IV." "Months later, he died of acute myocarditis, leaving no trace of foul play." "Miss Yan was devastated yet never suspected you; she even had Yan Boshen cremated alongside you." The nurse concluded, nervously eyeing 'Li Zhou,' wary of reprimand for her perceived negligence. But Qi Lin was beyond reproaching her; his mind was a storm of revelations. "Zi Zhizhi, Li Zhou’s insanity borders on sociopathy." "To possess Yan Yan, he engineered Yan Boshen's leukemia, then sought to snatch away his life." "And the nurse, complicit in this atrocity, fears not of Yan Boshen haunting her dreams." As Qi Lin coldly mused over this, the voice recorder in his pocket captured every revealing word from the nurse’s confession.