"Impossible! I don't believe it!"
This was Shen Mengqing's most genuine first reaction after hearing my words.
"They say you can recognize a woman by her scent! The fragrance outside box A03 was exactly the same as the one I smelled at Yang Yuanyuan's villa that day!"
"And she booked the box. Do you dare to swear on your chest that... there's nothing fishy going on here?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Mengqing froze on the spot and didn't say another word.
I thought this was a sign that her mind was about to waver.
But I never expected that after a while...
Shen Mengqing still shook her head and said, "No matter what you say, I won't believe that Xiao Yuan would do such a thing! She doesn't lack money!"
She paused, and before I could speak, Shen Mengqing continued, "How about this, let me call Xiao Yuan first, and then I'll subtly check with her about her recent situation, okay?"
They say the bystander sees more clearly than the person involved.
After I exposed Yang Yuanyuan's past actions and pulled Shen Mengqing into the mess, the usually wise Shen Mengqing... changed.
The person has already screwed you over, what the hell are you going to check her recent situation for!?
Besides, I had already had Xianyu investigate Yang Yuanyuan's current situation thoroughly!
I can only say that this woman's ambition is immense! So immense that she dared to extort the Ying family!
Of course, Yang Yuanyuan wasn't so arrogant as to not know her limits and challenge Ying Baolin, the underground overlord of Wenzhou.
On the contrary, she was using every opportunity she could to get close to Ying Baolin.
As for the purpose?
Honestly, I didn't dare to believe it at first!
According to Xianyu's investigation, combined with my deductions and analysis, everything Yang Yuanyuan did before, using that fish-catching scheme on the gambling ship, was actually to lure out Ying Baolin!
No one would ever say no to more money.
Although Yang Yuanyuan was rich and good at making money, after frequently bringing guests to the gambling ship, she discovered that the gambling industry was even more profitable!
With her financial resources, if she found a small venue owner outside and had a serious talk, investing or something similar wouldn't have been a big problem.
But Yang Yuanyuan had high standards and couldn't be bothered with those messy venues outside.
So, from the very beginning, she set her sights on the Ying family's gambling ship business.
Her original plan was to, like those entertainment venues outside, frequently bring people to the gambling ship to spend money. After accumulating a certain amount, the boss, Ying Baolin, would surely come out to meet her, right?
For people in the business world, as long as they could meet, there was a high probability that they could sit down and talk.
But she never expected that Ying Baolin wouldn't even go to the gambling ship at all.
Since the legitimate path was blocked, she had to take a detour.
Initially, Yang Yuanyuan's plan was to find card sharps from outside, then bring them into the game together, and find an opportunity to set a trap for the dealer.
But in a dramatic turn of events, although the two card sharps she found from outside were both brought to the table, before they could set a trap for the dealer, they first told Yang Yuanyuan that she had been trapped!
The subsequent events were almost the same as what I experienced before, and what I heard from Yang Yuanyuan.
It's just that at that time, she had hidden the matters related to herself.
Fortunately, those two card sharps were locals of Wenzhou. With Xianyu, the local expert, not only were the people found, but the truth was also pieced together.
Although Yang Yuanyuan's ambition was great, her ambition was not matched by sufficient wisdom.
Besides that, she was also extremely conceited.
If she hadn't left such obvious loopholes, I might have actually been used by her.
Once the matter of the fish-catching scheme was exposed by me, then undoubtedly, the first person to be hurt... would have been me!
Despite such obvious loopholes, Shen Mengqing adamantly refused to believe it.
What else could I say?
The saying "help righteousness, not kinship" is pure nonsense!
"Help kinship, not righteousness" is the standard answer!
In this world today, no matter what mistake a person makes, their relatives and friends will always stand firmly by their side.
The simplest and most direct example is those spoiled brats and "mama's boys" who are the only sons.
When such people make mistakes, the first thing their family members say is never an apology.
Instead, it's a three-part refusal to admit fault: "The child is still young, he doesn't know any better, don't bother with him..."
With this in mind, I directly shook my head and replied, "No need to make the call!"
Hearing this, Shen Mengqing's tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed.
Before she could speak, after lighting a cigarette, I said coldly, "I have a question for you."
"Ask away!" Shen Mengqing replied quickly.
"If, I mean, if! If your good friend hired someone to frame me, but I caught them, please tell me... can I retaliate?"
Upon hearing my words, Shen Mengqing's beautiful eyes instantly flashed with disbelief.
Seeing this, I didn't urge Shen Mengqing to answer, but just stared at her intently.
I don't know how long it took...
After the look of disbelief faded, a frost suddenly appeared on Shen Mengqing's face. She stared at me and said coldly, "Chen Xiang, what do you mean?"
"I mean nothing, answer my question!"
As I said this, my tone was filled with indifference.
Since Shen Mengqing changed her tune first, I naturally didn't need to be overly enthusiastic.
At this moment, both Shen Mengqing and I could clearly feel an invisible sense of estrangement growing between us.
With her eyes, which were as bright as stars, fixed on me, Shen Mengqing asked in a deep voice, "What did you do to Xiao Yuan!?"
"Why don't you ask me what she did to me first?" I retorted with a cold smile.
"No matter what Xiao Yuan did to you, she is my best and only friend!"
After taking a deep breath, Shen Mengqing's tone suddenly softened. Her eyes were fixed on me as she said, "Can you, for my sake..."
"I'm sorry!"
Before Shen Mengqing could finish, I interrupted her, "Impossible!"
"Not eradicating the roots of the problem already shows you respect. You still want me to let her off scot-free!?"
"Chen Xiang!!!"
At this moment, Shen Mengqing was furious.
Pushing away the arm she had placed in front of me, Shen Mengqing got into the car without hesitation.
The moment the car started, Shen Mengqing rolled down the window halfway, glanced at me coldly, and said, "I owe Xiao Yuan a great favor. No matter what, if you want to touch her... you'll have to get past me, Shen Mengqing, first!!!"
Before her words had completely fallen, Shen Mengqing drove away.
At this moment, the relationship between Shen Mengqing and me was officially declared broken!
Coincidentally, it was this very break that unexpectedly created an opportunity, allowing me to inquire about the whereabouts of the Qian Wang Ling...