Volume One Chapter 3 Hoist with One’s Own Petard

Chi Qianyu was visibly upset. “I was pushed down the stairs. Why aren’t any of you angry about it?”

Chi Baiyu leaned against the wall, sneering. “Oh, come off it. You were trying to push Chi Xingwan yourself and lost your balance. That’s why you fell.”

“Brother, how can you take Chi Xingwan’s side? You’re supposed to stand with me!” Chi Qianyu was genuinely furious now.

Yang Jing tried to soothe her. “Qianyu, maybe the fall muddled your mind. The surveillance footage shows clearly that Chi Xingwan never touched you.”

Chi Qianyu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s impossible. I clearly felt someone shove my waist. That’s why I fell.”

Seeing she was about to make a scene, Chi Zhenghua pulled out his phone and brought up the footage. “See for yourself. She never touched you.”

Chi Qianyu watched the video again and again, finally starting to doubt her own memory.

Still, she couldn’t let go of the humiliation she’d suffered. She was unwilling to accept it.

“Dad, delete the surveillance footage. No matter what, it was Chi Xingwan who pushed me. I want her to kneel in public and apologize.”

Chi Zhenghua had always doted on Chi Qianyu. Such a small request, he would never refuse—especially since the one at fault was Chi Xingwan, whom he’d never liked.

He deleted the footage from his phone, then called Butler Li to have all surveillance in the house wiped clean and ordered that Chi Xingwan be brought to the hospital.

In the luxurious hospital suite, Chi Xingwan stood facing the Chi family.

“Why have you called me here?” Her tone was icy, tinged with barely-suppressed anger.

Yang Jing was the first to speak, immediately accusing Chi Xingwan. “Xingwan, Qianyu is young and thoughtless. She may have said a few things she shouldn’t, but you should be the bigger person. Even if you were upset, you could have just scolded her. But to push her down the stairs and cause her injury—that’s inexcusable.”

Chi Zhenghua’s face hardened as he added, “Enough. What’s done is done. Talking about it won’t help. Xingwan, apologize to Qianyu and let’s put this matter to rest.”

A mocking glint flashed in Chi Qianyu’s eyes. “Kneel and apologize to me now, and maybe I’ll consider forgiving you.”

Chi Baiyu still stood aside, looking indifferent, as if none of this concerned him.

Chi Yueyao opened her mouth as if to speak, but in the end said nothing.

Chi Xingwan glanced at Chi Zhenghua and Yang Jing. “Where’s the surveillance footage?”

Yang Jing’s eyes flickered. “What nonsense are you talking about? The camera on the stairs has been broken for a while.”

Chi Xingwan let out a cold laugh. “So the camera on the stairs at home is broken, but the one in the hospital suite isn’t, is it?”

The Chi family all felt a chill run down their spines.

Yang Jing forced a stiff smile. “What are you talking about? Hospitals don’t install cameras in private rooms.”

Chi Xingwan flicked her wrist. A crisp crack exploded right beside Chi Qianyu’s ear.

Turning her head, Chi Qianyu saw a silver needle lodged perfectly in the hidden camera they had installed, splitting the device in two.

Chi Qianyu shrieked, “Are you insane? What if that needle had hit me?”

Chi Xingwan replied, “You wanted to pin this accusation on me, stain my reputation, and secretly record me apologizing so you could use it to threaten me.”

Her tone left no room for doubt.

Chi Zhenghua’s face was flushed with embarrassment.

Yang Jing tried to brazen it out. “We didn’t install that. We have no idea how that camera got there.”

Chi Xingwan looked at her with a half-smile. “Oh, you didn’t know? Then it must be the hospital’s doing. Installing cameras in private suites is illegal. I think we should call the police.”

“No, we can’t!” For the first time, Chi Baiyu, usually indifferent, voiced his opposition.

“If this gets out, who knows what people will say about our family.”

He didn’t care about anything except himself; a ruined family reputation would drag him down, and he would never allow that.

Yang Jing, angry and flustered, snapped, “Don’t try to change the subject. You pushed Qianyu down the stairs, and you owe her an explanation!”

Chi Xingwan remained unruffled. “If that’s the case, then allow me to show you a recording.”

As she spoke, the television in the suite switched on without warning, startling everyone.

On the screen played the very surveillance video Chi Zhenghua had just deleted, clearly showing Chi Qianyu falling down the stairs on her own.

“Where did you get that footage?” Chi Zhenghua couldn’t help but raise his voice.

When Chi Xingwan had gotten her hands on a computer, she had already hacked into the family’s surveillance system. Ever cautious by nature, she had saved that particular footage—never expecting it would prove so useful so soon.

Of course, she would never admit as much.

“How I got this video doesn’t matter. What matters is that if I post it online, Chi Qianyu’s future is over.”

The Chi family’s faces drained of color.

Chi Qianyu dreamed of becoming a top celebrity. She had recently participated in a girl group talent show, debuting as the winner and was now quite popular.

If this video got out, revealing her attempt to push Chi Xingwan down the stairs, her image would be destroyed in an instant.

No—absolutely not!

Tears welled up in Chi Qianyu’s eyes as she looked pitifully at Chi Zhenghua.

“Dad, if this video is made public, my life is over. You can’t let her do this.”

Chi Zhenghua felt a headache coming on; he had well and truly shot himself in the foot this time.

“Xingwan, you’re a member of the Chi family. Our fates rise and fall together. I hope you understand that.”

Chi Xingwan smiled coldly. “Trying to guilt-trip me? Sorry, but I’m not buying it.”

“Then what do you want to end this?” Chi Zhenghua forced back his anger.

Chi Xingwan stated her terms crisply, “Ten million, and I’ll guarantee the video is deleted completely.”

Yang Jing gritted her teeth. “How do we know you won’t keep a copy?”

“You’re free not to make the deal. It’s up to you.”

That shut Yang Jing up immediately.

“Fine. I agree.” Chi Zhenghua made his decision.

Once the transfer was confirmed, Chi Xingwan deleted the video in front of them.

“I keep my word, unlike you and your underhanded tricks.”

With those words, Chi Xingwan turned and strode out of the room.

Inside, Chi Qianyu clung to her pillow and wept.

Yang Jing, annoyed at the loss of ten million, felt her heart soften at the sight of her daughter sobbing. “Don’t cry, Qianyu. We’ll find another way. I promise you’ll get your revenge.”

Chi Yueyao quickly chimed in, “Don’t be sad, Qianyu. Even if you do nothing, Chi Xingwan won’t have it easy. She’s about to get engaged to Xiao Yue, after all.”

She hadn’t said this to comfort Chi Qianyu, but because she feared the mother and daughter might stir up trouble, even involving the Xiao family.

The engagement with the Xiao family was originally with the Chi family’s second branch. If the Xiao family rejected Chi Xingwan, she, as the adopted daughter, would be expected to take her place.

She was born under a lucky star—her future husband could not be a fool.