Chapter 4: Chapter Four: This Is To Put Her In A Deadly Situation
She certainly didn't think this was due to some ridiculous male possessiveness; she merely believed it was Qi Zhenan's way of getting back at her.
Compared to watching her improve her dire situation by selling herself, he probably found more pleasure in seeing her utterly cornered with no way out.
This was likely just the first step in his revenge.
Based on her understanding of him, he would gradually erode her means of survival until she was completely broken, kneeling before him in utter humiliation.
It was like a game from their childhood: draw a circle on paper, and you could easily trap an ant, keeping it from escaping until you lost interest and casually squashed it...
Sure enough, soon after, she received a notification from the Blue Night Bar, informing her that she no longer needed to come to work.
Shortly thereafter, the part-time tutoring job and the art studio also called, politely letting her go.
In less than half an hour, all the jobs she had struggled to find were gone.
She put down her phone numbly and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Qi Zhenan, you're really trying to push me to my death!
...
In the study, Hiram Louise, Qi Zhenan's close friend, looked at him speechlessly as he put down his phone.
"Zenan, sometimes I really don't understand whether you still hold a grudge against the Jian family or if you can't let go of Quintina Foster."
Qi Zhenan lifted his eyes and gave him a cold glance. "What are you trying to say?"
Hiram Louise rubbed his nose. "Isn't what you're doing a bit too ruthless? After all, that woman... "
Before he could finish, the coldness in Qi Zhenan's eyes silenced him. He raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. Do whatever you want!"
The dim light cast deep shadows on Qi Zhenan's handsome face, making it impossible to read his expression. All one could hear was his indifferent voice. "How can the harm they inflicted on Chenxi be so easily forgiven?"
Outside the study, Agatha Grey, holding a tray of freshly made tea and pastries, stood quietly for a moment before knocking on the door. "Brother, can I come in?"
The door opened, and Qi Zhenan walked to the doorway, taking the tray from her and leading her into the study. "These things should be done by the servants. The doctor said you need to rest."
Agatha Grey smiled gently. "Such small tasks won't tire me. Resting too much will make me rusty."
Qi Zhenan looked at her helplessly and led her to sit on the sofa.
Hiram Louise grinned. "Chenxi, if you get sick, your brother will be heartbroken."
Agatha Grey's face turned slightly pink, and she stole a glance at Qi Zhenan. "Ruishi, I heard there are many fun activities at your seaside resort. Can I go?"
"Of course, you should have gone out more often." Hiram Louise shrugged.
Agatha Grey looked at Qi Zhenan expectantly.
Qi Zhenan stroked her black hair. "I'll have Xiao Min accompany you. The company has a lot going on right now, and I can't leave."
Agatha Grey fidgeted with her fingers, looking disappointed, but she nodded obediently.
However, she couldn't help but wonder if it was really because of work, or if he simply didn't want to leave the city.
After all, that woman was here.
The next day, Quintina Foster, burdened with worries, rushed to the hospital to pay off a portion of the overdue medical bills.
The money she had gotten from Qi Zhenan last night was barely enough for one day of her father's care, but there was still a large gap. She needed to find a way to raise more money quickly.
However, with her recent unemployment, finding a new job wouldn't be easy, leaving her in a state of panic.
After paying the fees, she spent some time talking to her father in the ward before going to find Doctor, her father's attending physician.
"Miss Jian, your father's condition is not looking good. I suggest transferring him to a more specialized hospital," Doctor said, putting down the medical records and sighing.
Quintina Foster's heart tightened. "Didn't you say you could maintain his basic vital signs?"
"Mr. Jian already has underlying conditions, and the injuries from his previous suicide attempt have never fully recovered... Honestly, our hospital's facilities are not sufficient to ensure... "
Quintina Foster could no longer hear the rest, her mind buzzing with one thought.
Her father was about to give up, and she was going to lose him...
Quintina Foster didn't remember how she left the hospital. When she came to, she was standing behind a factory.
Qi Zhenan would never have imagined she would end up here.
Quintina Foster walked in and met the foreman.
The foreman looked at her frail figure and shook his head with a smile. "Girl, we only do physical labor here. You can't handle it."
"I can!" Quintina Foster insisted. She saw workers moving boxes and immediately ran over, lifting one onto her shoulder.
The weight felt like a thousand pounds, but she gritted her teeth and carried the box to the designated spot.
"This box is light. See, I can do it!" Quintina Foster said through clenched teeth.
The foreman, moved by her determination, asked, "Miss, are you sure you want to stay?"
Quintina Foster nodded. "Please, I beg you."
The foreman reluctantly agreed. "We'll pay you by the day. If you can't handle it, you can leave anytime."
Quintina Foster was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Foreman! Thank you, Foreman!"
No one would ever know that a once-pampered young lady, who couldn't even carry her own schoolbag, was now handling heavy and dirty cargo boxes.
Quintina Foster changed into work clothes and, with her small frame, went back and forth, helping the other workers move the boxes.
By the end of the day, she was exhausted. Looking at the last box, she told herself to push through, but as she tried to lift it, she suddenly collapsed, and the box fell heavily on top of her.
Quintina Foster felt everything go dark as she passed out.
"Little girl! Little girl!" The factory was in chaos.