The image on the crystal screen gradually cleared, and Ma Yanyan’s figure appeared in the center.
Upon seeing Ma Yanyan, Qiao Ruosheng’s expression froze.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock, and her lipstick-painted mouth parted slightly.
No wonder she felt something was off tonight; it turned out that fool Ma Yanyan wasn’t by her side.
Otherwise, with the Ma family’s influence, they would have been eligible to attend the Xue family’s banquet tonight.
But from the start of the banquet until now, Qiao Ruosheng hadn’t seen Ma Yanyan at all.
It seemed that fool Ma Yanyan had fallen into the trap set by Xue Manting and her group.
Qiao Ruosheng’s heart panicked, but her expression remained outwardly calm.
“What, are you very surprised to see Ma Yanyan appear on the big screen?” Xue Manting’s lips curved upwards, then she exaggerated, “No, no, I misspoke. It shouldn’t be surprise, but fear, right?”
Qiao Ruosheng let out a soft hum, a nonchalant smile on her face, and even asked Xue Manting with a puzzled tone, “Why should I be afraid? I’m just curious about what kind of show this is tonight.”
Lin Xingwan watched Qiao Ruosheng’s composed demeanor, wondering if she was faking it or if it was genuine.
If she was faking it, she would be embarrassed later; if it was genuine, then their plan for tonight would only achieve half its effect.
However, even so, she would absolutely not let go of those who had wronged her.
Ma Yanyan on the big screen was currently locked in a room.
Even though Ma Yanyan was frantically twisting the doorknob, the door wouldn’t open.
What’s more, the lights in the entire room began to flicker.
The guests present had already sensed that something was wrong with the video.
“What… what is this? It feels like a prank!”
“It doesn’t seem like a prank. This Ma Yanyan must have offended someone and is being toyed with.”
“Whether she offended someone or not, I’m just here to watch.”
…
The guests began to whisper, their faces full of curiosity, forming a stark contrast with Ma Yanyan, who was pale and screaming on the big screen.
“Ah… what’s going on? Let me out…”
“Dad, Mom… where are you… save me…”
Ma Yanyan screamed and took out her phone to call her parents, but the room had already been equipped with a signal jammer, so Ma Yanyan couldn’t make any calls.
Suddenly, a figure covered in blood appeared behind Ma Yanyan.
Ma Yanyan on the big screen hadn’t noticed, but the guests watching outside were sweating for her!
This woman was too stupid; danger was right behind her, and she knew nothing.
It turned out that the scenes in horror movies where ghosts appear behind unsuspecting characters were not lies but reality.
The figure extended a hand and patted Ma Yanyan’s shoulder.
Ma Yanyan turned her head, and after her gaze met the woman’s, she screamed again, even falling heavily to the side.
“You… you… you you you aren’t you already dead? Are you human or a ghost? Don’t come any closer… don’t come any closer… I don’t know anything…”
Ma Yanyan shrieked at the top of her lungs, her bloodless face contorted and ferocious with extreme fear.
“You killed me, you killed me! I want blood for blood, give me your life…”
The woman grabbed Ma Yanyan by the neck with both hands, her grip so strong that Ma Yanyan felt she wouldn’t live much longer.
She desperately grabbed the woman’s hands, trying to pry them off her neck, “I don’t want to die… don’t… let me go… it wasn’t me who killed you, you committed suicide.”
Ma Yanyan had never believed in ghosts or spirits, but the woman before her was already dead…
Could it be a vengeful spirit seeking retribution?
“If you hadn’t threatened me with my child’s life, I wouldn’t have poisoned the artists at Top Peak Entertainment. I wouldn’t have done it. You forced me to my death, and I cannot rest in peace.”
The woman’s eyes were filled with immense hatred, and Ma Yanyan was terrified.
“But… we also paid for your daughter’s medical expenses…”
At this moment, all of Ma Yanyan’s rationality was replaced by fear.
Qiao Ruosheng was almost crying at Ma Yanyan’s stupidity. They hadn’t directly contacted this woman, so how could she possibly know who the mastermind was?
Moreover, how could a dead person come back to life?
Only this fool Ma Yanyan, when scared, lost all her intelligence.
Ma Yanyan’s words left the guests bewildered.
What was going on?
“I feel like I’m watching a fog-filled dream.”
Someone couldn’t help but ask.
Just then, Jia Yanzhen’s smug and spirited voice rang out from the crowd, “What’s so confusing about it? Yesterday morning, an entertainment company in Rongcheng called Top Peak Entertainment had its employees investigated for collective poisoning, which severely impacted the reputation and careers of their artists. The final investigation results were actually a misunderstanding. However, the person who created this misunderstanding was Ma Yanyan, the daughter of the Ma family. She not only harmed those innocent artists at Top Peak Entertainment but also threatened the cook’s sick daughter, saying that if she didn’t follow her orders, her child would die! The cook compromised and, following Ma Yanyan’s orders, committed suicide.”
As the intelligence expert of Yanjing, there was nothing Jia Yanzhen couldn’t find out if he wanted to.
Furthermore, this matter was related to Lin Xingwan, so it was difficult for Jia Yanzhen not to know.
Jia Yanzhen’s explanation allowed the other bewildered guests to understand the whole story.
“So that’s how it is. I didn’t expect Ma Yanyan, at such a young age, to be so wicked. After tonight, which family in Yanjing would dare to marry such a poisonous woman?”
“This woman has completely disgraced her family. In my opinion, such a poisonous woman should be expelled from the family, expelled from Yanjing, and never return, lest she tarnish our eyes.”
As the guests were talking, the image on the big screen suddenly cut off.
A moment later, Ma Yanyan was dragged out by two bodyguards.
Her face was still pale, and her eyes were unfocused and vacant. It was clear that the recent events had terrified her.
“This woman, could she have been scared insane?” Xue Manting sneered, crossing her arms as she looked at Ma Yanyan, who had collapsed on the ground like a puddle of mud.
Just as Qiao Ruosheng considered Ma Yanyan a fool, Xue Manting felt the same.
In fact, Xue Manting had never taken Ma Yanyan seriously since childhood.
“Someone, wake her up,” Xue Manting ordered her subordinate.
Soon, someone poured a basin of ice water, prepared beforehand, over Ma Yanyan’s head.
Ma Yanyan shivered from the cold, and her previously vacant eyes finally came back into focus.
When she saw the surrounding guests encircling her, Ma Yanyan was stunned. “What… what is going on?”
After speaking, Ma Yanyan saw Qiao Ruosheng and, as if seeing a lifeline, got up from the ground and quickly ran towards her.
“Ruosheng, that woman’s ghost came for me, what should we do? What should we do? She said she wants us to pay with our lives…”
Ma Yanyan had always been Qiao Ruosheng’s shadow. In Ma Yanyan’s mind, Qiao Ruosheng was the one who could control everything, and the sense of security Qiao Ruosheng gave Ma Yanyan surpassed that of her parents.
“Ma Yanyan, I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting. I know we’ve had our disagreements, but you don’t need to drag me down with you at this time. There are no such things as vengeful spirits in this world. I think you’ve lost your mind.”
Qiao Ruosheng knew that this pawn, Ma Yanyan, was no longer necessary after today.
Upon hearing Qiao Ruosheng’s words, a look of deep shock flashed across Ma Yanyan’s tear-streaked face.
“Ruosheng, we’ve known each other for so many years, and you’re not going to help me now? I really didn’t do anything… No, this is a setup, I’ve been framed.” Ma Yanyan finally came to her senses and immediately turned her angry gaze to Xue Manting, “This was all your design, wasn’t it? Xue Manting, how could you be so insidious and despicable, setting me up.”
“Yes, so what if I designed it? Ma Yanyan, at your young age, you’ve framed so many people and carry a life on your conscience. Doesn’t your conscience hurt? I am seeking justice for the deceased. I have saved all your recent actions, so you can expect to spend the rest of your life in prison.”
Xue Manting perfectly embodied the role of a triumphant victor. Even Lin Xingwan found her demeanor incredibly charming.
Of course, since this was a trap designed by Zhou Jinbai for her, and Xue Manting had helped with the inside cooperation, the remaining matters were up to her.
Lin Xingwan raised her hand and slapped Ma Yanyan, “Ma Yanyan, if you have something to settle, come at me. What kind of ability is it to scheme against my company’s employees?”
The slap was delivered beautifully, and some guests even applauded.
“Good, well slapped! We must deal with these vipers like this. If it weren’t for Miss Xue tonight, we wouldn’t have known how wicked Ma Yanyan is.”
“Aren’t the police here yet? Has anyone called the police? I, Wang, hereby declare that I will supervise Ma Yanyan. Whatever sentence the law gives her, she will have to serve it in prison. If it’s even a day less, I will hire lawyers at my own expense to ensure she serves her full sentence.”
“I can tolerate Ma Yanyan killing someone, but I cannot tolerate her using a child’s illness to threaten a mother. This is not a poisonous woman; she is a beast.”
“In any case, anyone who dares to help this woman is going against me. I will never let this woman get out of prison in my lifetime.”
…
Ma Yanyan’s actions had incited public outrage, and Lin Xingwan’s slap further enraged her.
“I didn’t do anything. You are deliberately framing me. You have no evidence against me, so I’d like to see what you can do to me.” Ma Yanyan was now resorting to tantrums and denial. For her, as long as she didn’t admit it, nothing would happen.
“Ma Yanyan, you are too naive. Do you really think that what you’ve done will go undiscovered? Every word you’ve said just now will become evidence in court. Don’t measure the world by your intelligence. After all, our police officers are not fools.”
Lin Xingwan sneered. Just as she finished speaking, several people in police uniforms emerged from the crowd.
“Ma Yanyan, we are from the Yanjing Police Department. You are involved in a case of intentional homicide. Please cooperate with us and return to the police station for investigation.”
One of the police officers showed his badge. Ma Yanyan’s face turned pale with fear again.
“You don’t have conclusive evidence, so I won’t go with you.”
After speaking, Ma Yanyan tried to break free, but the police officer had already grabbed her arm.
“Ma Yanyan, whether you are guilty or not is for the law to decide, and we also have witnesses.”
As the police officer spoke, a familiar figure appeared in Ma Yanyan’s sight.
This man was none other than the subordinate she had sent to pay the cook’s daughter’s medical expenses.
Instantly, Ma Yanyan’s face turned ashen.
“How… how is this possible…” Ma Yanyan couldn’t believe it. Didn’t Qiao Ruosheng tell her that this matter wouldn’t be exposed?
But now, both she and her subordinate were caught.
Ma Yanyan instinctively locked her gaze onto Qiao Ruosheng, but Qiao Ruosheng merely looked at Ma Yanyan with a cold, indifferent expression, as if they had never met.
Ma Yanyan’s heart turned cold.
She knew that Qiao Ruosheng would absolutely not help her, and this time, she had indeed become cannon fodder.
It was Qiao Ruosheng who had told her to deal with Lin Xingwan, yet in the end, only she was in trouble.
“It wasn’t me who killed her, it really wasn’t me. I didn’t kill anyone… It was Qiao Ruosheng, she told me to…”
Bang—
Before Ma Yanyan could finish speaking, a bullet, flying from an unknown direction, entered her forehead.
The entire banquet hall descended into chaos. Ma Yanyan’s body crashed to the ground, but even in death, her eyes remained wide open, looking at Qiao Ruosheng in disbelief.
Qiao Ruosheng’s lips curved slightly. She hadn’t wanted to kill Ma Yanyan, but this woman was too foolish and had tried to drag her down.
The fate of such a woman was death!
The dead were the ones who kept their mouths shut forever and guarded secrets.
Neither Xue Manting nor Lin Xingwan had expected Qiao Ruosheng to be so audacious as to shoot Ma Yanyan in full view of everyone.
“Qiao Ruosheng, you…” Xue Manting’s eyes widened in disbelief at the calm person before her, who was once her best friend.
She had changed too much; apart from her appearance, she had become a completely different person.
“What about me? You don’t think I killed Ma Yanyan, do you? I didn’t lay a hand on her or speak a word. Perhaps someone present felt that Ma Yanyan was wicked and was doing a good deed for the people.” Qiao Ruosheng replied with a smile, then yawned, “I thought there would be some good entertainment tonight, but it’s so boring. Excuse me, I’m leaving.”
After speaking, Qiao Ruosheng turned and left.
Xue Manting stomped her feet in anger, “Qiao Ruosheng, stop right there, you’re not allowed to leave.”
Just as she was about to chase after Qiao Ruosheng, Lin Xingwan stopped her, “Don’t chase her. Since Qiao Ruosheng dared to do this, she must have made preparations to escape. Ma Yanyan was just a warning for her. Qiao Ruosheng won’t be arrogant for long.”
Lin Xingwan looked at Qiao Ruosheng’s confident back, her eyes deepening.
This time, she didn’t even need Zhou Jinbai’s advice; she had already found a way to punish Qiao Ruosheng.
“What are you still standing around for? Hurry and take Ma Yanyan back. What bad luck.” Xue Manting’s father rushed over and saw the thoroughly dead Ma Yanyan, feeling immense resentment towards the woman.
The Xue family was hosting a banquet tonight, and this woman had come to cause trouble. It seemed they would need to invite someone to perform a ritual to avoid spoiling the feng shui of their home.
Soon, Ma Yanyan’s body was carried away, while the banquet continued in an orderly fashion.
Standing on the top floor of the villa, Zhou Jinbai said to his subordinate behind him, “From now on, ban the Qiao family.”
“Yes—” Xuan Yin acknowledged and left.
Meanwhile, at the banquet, Xue Manting was still complaining to Lin Xingwan.
“Qiao Ruosheng is too ruthless. Ma Yanyan followed her for so many years. Even a dog would develop feelings after being raised for so long, let alone a person.” Xue Manting’s face was filled with disgust. Jia Yanzhen, standing beside Lin Xingwan, simply smiled.
“If a woman isn’t ruthless, she won’t have a stable position. Qiao Ruosheng is very cautious in her actions. How could she risk herself for Ma Yanyan? Think about it, you and she were once so close, yet this woman could turn her back on you in an instant. Some things are actually easy to understand, but some people deliberately refuse to think about them.”
Just as Jia Yanzhen finished speaking, a hearty voice came from behind them.
“Young Master Jia—”
Jia Yanzhen and the others turned their gaze to the man who spoke. They saw a man around forty years old, with a gentle woman on his arm.
The man wasn’t particularly handsome, but his demeanor was extraordinary, giving him a very steady and upright impression.
However, Lin Xingwan’s expression froze when she saw the hand holding a glass of red wine.