Qin Yi seemed to pour out all the grievances she had accumulated over the past days, crying uncontrollably.
When the Su family sent lavish gifts, she naturally assumed they were betrothal gifts for her.
When the Su family arranged a private car to take her family to the Starlight Garden Hotel for a banquet, she thought it was an engagement party prepared for her by the Su family.
It wasn't until Su Chengwu personally denied everything that she learned the truth.
However, Old Master Qin refused to believe Qin Yi's words. Furious, he said, "Even if Su Chengwu has no son, the Su family has other unmarried men. The title on the gift list was clearly 'Betrothal Gift List.' Your family only has you unmarried—if these things aren't for you, then who else could they be for?"
Hearing the words "Betrothal Gift List," Qin Yi suddenly understood, her face pale with despair. "So, it really was betrothal gifts… just not for me."
After saying this, she turned and left.
That day, when Su Chengwu said the gifts were a token of gratitude for Yang Chen, she had been puzzled. When the gifts were first delivered, the confirmation slip had clearly stated "Betrothal Gift List." She had originally thought she had misunderstood.
Only now did she realize—those gifts were indeed betrothal gifts, given by the Su family on behalf of Yang Chen, for Qin Xi.
"Xiao Yi, don't leave!"
Seeing Qin Yi walk away, Old Master Qin grew anxious.
"Dad, don't be upset. Give us some time—we'll definitely convince Xiao Yi," Zhou Yucui quickly stepped forward to reassure him.
"If we don't resolve the Qin family's crisis tonight, everything will be over!"
Old Master Qin roared in anger before adding, "The Qin family's crisis was caused by your family. If you can't beg the Su family for forgiveness before dawn, don't even think about returning to the family—I'll make sure you pay the price!"
With that, Old Master Qin stormed off. Zhou Yucui hurried after him. "Dad, what about what you said earlier—about letting Dayong serve as deputy general manager and setting aside a villa for us in the Qin family estate? Does that still count?"
Already enraged, Old Master Qin ignored her, got into his car, and drove off.
"Dayong, what does Dad mean? Didn't he say you'd return to the company as deputy manager tomorrow? And what about the villa he promised us?" Zhou Yucui still hadn't grasped the severity of the Qin family's crisis.
Qin Dayong laughed bitterly at his wife's words. "If you want to live in a villa, go to the Qin family estate tomorrow and see if he's really prepared one for you."
"Qin Dayong, what do you mean by that?" Zhou Yucui flared up in anger.
"You're a fool! Don't you understand? The Qin family is about to collapse. After tonight, there may no longer be a Qin family in Jiangzhou. If he weren't at his wit's end, would he have even stepped foot in our home?" Qin Dayong shouted furiously.
"No, we have to think of a way. We can't let the Qin family fall like this. Dayong, if Xiao Yi won't go to the Su family to plead, we'll go."
Zhou Yucui suddenly became agitated, grabbing Qin Dayong's arm. "As long as we resolve the Qin family's crisis, Old Master will definitely let us move into the estate, make you deputy general manager, and maybe even pass the family headship to you in the future."
Though the Qin family had always looked down on them, they still bore the Qin name. Over the years, even if they did nothing, they received a monthly dividend.
If the family collapsed, they would lose everything.
"Get off me!"
Qin Dayong shoved Zhou Yucui away. "You're obsessed with money! Do you really think the Su family, one of the wealthiest in Jiangzhou, would listen to you?"
Zhou Yucui stood frozen. "Is the Qin family really finished?"
---
**Nightfall Bar.**
Qin Yi picked up a glass of liquor and downed it in one go.
"Xiao Yi, what's wrong with you?"
A voice suddenly spoke up, snatching the glass from her hand.
"Tiantian, you're here! Drink with me." Seeing it was Sun Tian, Qin Yi pulled her to sit beside her.
Sun Tian had no idea what had happened. When she received Qin Yi's call earlier and heard the distress in her voice, she had rushed over immediately.
Seeing several empty bottles already on the table, Sun Tian realized Qin Yi was drunk. "Yiyi, what happened? Tell me—I'll stand up for you."
Instead of making a scene, Qin Yi hugged Sun Tian and burst into tears. "Why… why are they doing this to me? Why?"
After sobbing for a while, she pushed Sun Tian away and reached for another drink.
Sun Tian quickly stopped her. "Yiyi, if you still want to drink, let's go to my place. I'll drink with you as much as you want."
The lustful gazes of men around them made Sun Tian nervous. Qin Yi was clearly drunk—if some predator set his sights on her, Sun Tian wouldn't be able to protect her.
After much effort, she finally managed to get Qin Yi out of the bar.
Just then, a black Audi A6 pulled up outside the bar. Qin Fei, his face bruised and swollen, sat in the driver's seat.
Seeing Qin Yi walk out, he quickly got out of the car and rushed over.
"Xiao Yi, if you don't go to the Su family to plead, the Qin family is finished. I'm begging you—help me just this once, okay? As long as we get through this crisis, I'll do whatever you want in the future." Qin Fei grabbed Qin Yi's arm, his voice desperate.
He didn't know Old Master Qin had already approached Qin Yi personally. Still anxious about the family's plight, he feared Old Master Qin's ruthlessness—if he failed to persuade Qin Yi, he would be exiled from the family.
"Get lost! Get away from me!"
Even drunk, Qin Yi recognized Qin Fei. Her emotions flared, and she kicked at him while cursing.
Sun Tian quickly held her back and apologized to Qin Fei. "I'm sorry—she's drunk!"
Qin Fei seethed with anger. Tonight was the Qin family's final deadline, yet Qin Yi was wasted. By the time she sobered up, it would be too late.
A sinister idea flashed in his mind. He stepped forward and said to Sun Tian, "I'm Qin Yi's cousin, Qin Fei. I'll take her home. Thanks for your help earlier."
Sun Tian grew wary. She had clearly heard Qin Fei's earlier words—Qin Yi had already refused him.
"No need. I'll take her to my place," Sun Tian said firmly.
Without giving Qin Fei a chance to argue, she hailed a taxi and left.
Watching the taxi disappear into the distance, Qin Fei's face twisted with malice. "Qin Yi, you brought this on yourself!"
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Brother Xiong, I need you to kidnap someone for me…"
---
After getting into the taxi, Sun Tian finally relaxed. Qin Yi had already fallen asleep, tear stains still visible on her cheeks.
Seeing her like this, Sun Tian's heart ached.
**Screech!**
The two had just stepped out of the taxi when the sharp sound of brakes pierced the air. Before Sun Tian could react, a van pulled up beside them, and two burly men with tattooed arms stepped out.
"What do you want?" Sun Tian panicked as the men approached.
One of them struck her neck with a chop of his hand, and she instantly blacked out.
The other man had already dragged Qin Yi into the van.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye—so quickly that no one noticed Qin Yi had been taken.
Not far away, the Audi A6 was parked on the roadside. Qin Fei smirked viciously. "Let's see if you'll still dare to refuse me after I have photos of you spending the night with someone else."
---
When Sun Tian woke up, she found herself lying in the bushes. Rubbing her sore neck, she suddenly remembered what had happened and gasped in horror.
"Yiyi!"
But Qin Yi was nowhere to be seen.
---
**Qin Family Estate.**
Qin Xi glanced at the clock. "It's already past ten."
She dialed a number, but the line was dead. A sense of unease settled over her.
She left her room and called downstairs to Zhou Yucui, who was watching TV. "Mom, do you know where Xiao Yi went? It's so late—why isn't she home yet?"
Zhou Yucui didn't even look up, indifferent. "She's not a child. How should I know where she went?"
"Hahaha, this is hilarious!" Zhou Yucui was completely absorbed in the TV drama, laughing heartlessly.
Qin Xi sighed and returned to her room.
Just then, her phone rang. Seeing Sun Tian's name, a bad feeling washed over her. She quickly answered.
"Sis Xi, Yiyi's been taken!"
As soon as the call connected, Sun Tian's tearful voice rang out.