She was desperate for money right now.
But now, seeing Charles Yin actually rattled for once felt strangely satisfying.
Sean Kerr gently closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his fighting spirit had returned.
Whenever Sean Kerr spent money, Rona Muir always knew about it.
Sylvia Ran bit her lip, eyes reddening as she struggled to speak. "Yes, I like you. I’m willing to stay in the shadows for you. Joe Qi, I have nothing left—I’ve given you everything. Please don’t let me down!"
Joe Qi grumbled, "What’s that supposed to mean? I put everything on the line for you, and now you’re doubting me?"
As long as he wants to control someone’s heart—man or woman—it’s effortless.
Except for her...
Charles Yin shook his head. "I’m not sure yet. When Sylvia Ran came back, she came to me first. When she realized I wasn’t an option, she went after Sienna Yin. She didn’t get anywhere with him either, but she spent all his money. Now that Sienna Yin’s no longer useful to her, she’s set her sights on you…"
Joe Qi didn’t answer. Instead, he challenged Charles Yin, "Why are you being so harsh on Sylvia Ran when she’s already down? You two grew up together—are you really going to be that cold?"
At least he was quicker on the uptake than Sean Kerr.
He listened to Charles Yin and, after thinking it over, started to feel suspicious himself.
"I always suspected Sylvia Ran was strapped for cash—and not just a little. She seems desperate for Yin Enterprises’ money. If I’m right, you’ve got some shares in the company…" Charles Yin shot Joe Qi a meaningful look. "Sean Kerr does too."
This move had always worked wonders on Sean Kerr before.
Together, it was a pretty substantial amount.
Charles Yin was taken aback, but quickly understood. "Are you saying... she went to Thailand for gender reassignment surgery?"
Sylvia Ran isn’t even a woman?
Sylvia Ran endured the deep, tearing pain, but forced herself to smile: "Dieyi is my best friend. How could I ever do something like that?"
They grew up together, after all!
How could he possibly be mistaken about Sylvia Ran’s gender?
Sylvia Ran seemed to realize it too and quickly said, "I’m not greedy. I’m fine staying in the background—if I have to live in the shadows my whole life, so be it."
Joe Qi moved a bit faster. "Really? You don’t want anything at all?"
Sylvia Ran’s face looked a little pale, but she still forced herself to say, "Yes. As long as you think of me sometimes, I’m content."
Joe Qi, strong and muscular, deliberately dragged things out, and Sylvia Ran’s face turned paler by the minute.
Finally, Sylvia Ran spoke: "Joe Qi, I really do like you. But by the time Dieyi was with you, I could only bury my feelings deep inside... Joe Qi, I’m not joking, I don’t want any title! I just want you... to visit me often, like now."
Joe Qi reached out and stroked Sylvia Ran’s head, saying, "So, where were you during those six missing years? Sylvia, you’re mine now. Aren’t you going to tell me?"
Sylvia Ran hadn’t expected Joe Qi to ask this, and she hesitated.
Joe Qi isn’t Sean Kerr, and he’s definitely not the foolish Sienna Yin.
Sylvia Ran knew that if she lied, Joe Qi would definitely find out!
Of these men, the scariest isn’t the cold and wicked Charles Yin, but Joe Qi, who always wears a harmless smile yet has unimaginable power!
Maybe he’s already noticed something strange about her body? Looks like she won’t be able to hide it from him much longer!
Since she ultimately chose Joe Qi, she might as well cling to him for dear life!
With her mind made up, Sylvia Ran wrapped her arms around Joe Qi’s back, enduring his thrusts, and answered with difficulty: "I... I’ve actually been in Germany all this time."
A look of understanding flashed in Joe Qi’s eyes. He kissed Sylvia Ran’s forehead and asked, "Then why did Charles Yin search for you for so long and never find you?"
Sylvia Ran was already exhausted from all the commotion, her eyes growing unfocused and her guard dropping. Hearing Joe Qi’s question, she blurted out, "Because I had to have surgery..."
Surgery?
Joe Qi’s sharp eyes swept over Sylvia Ran’s body. He was so perceptive—he could spot where a woman had surgery at a glance.
Sylvia Ran was completely natural—no signs of surgery anywhere.
If there was anything odd about her... it had to be that place...
Joe Qi wanted to keep questioning her, but Sylvia Ran suddenly tensed up and hugged his waist, pleading, "Joe Qi, I can’t take it anymore..."
Joe Qi smiled faintly and sped up.
Sylvia Ran lay in bed, watching Joe Qi calmly climb off her, get dressed, and prepare to leave.
Sylvia Ran shot up, her voice urgent: "You... you’re leaving?"
"What else?" Joe Qi turned back, his smile meaningful. "Didn’t you just say you’re willing to be my woman in the shadows, without a title?"
Sylvia Ran bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening as she made a troubled, embarrassed expression. "Yes, I like you, so I’m willing to be a woman who always stays in the dark. Joe Qi, I have nothing left. I’ve given you everything. You can’t let me down!"
Joe Qi finished dressing, his smile deepening. "So how do you want me to not let you down?"
"I... I... I want the lead actress role. Is that okay?" Sylvia Ran asked cautiously.
Joe Qi suddenly laughed.
Sylvia Ran immediately put on her signature 'hurt but silent' look—she was a master at this.
Sure enough, Joe Qi didn’t answer her question. Instead, he pulled out his checkbook, quickly wrote a number, tore out the check, and placed it on the table.
"This is a million yuan. It should last you for a while." Joe Qi’s smile was full of meaning. "You coaxed Dieyi Chen, got my number from her, all for this day, right? I’ll grant your wish!"
Sylvia Ran immediately put on a look of indignation, gazing at Joe Qi with tearful, pitiful eyes.
This chapter isn’t over yet~.~ Please click ‘next page’ to continue reading the exciting story!
This trick used to be devastating against Sean Kerr.
Whenever she cried like this, Sean Kerr would always cave.
Unfortunately, the man in front of her now isn’t Sean Kerr—it’s Joe Qi.
Joe Qi didn’t say another word. He grabbed his stuff and walked out.
"I’ll let you act in the show, but you’ll never be the lead actress." With that, Joe Qi disappeared out the door.
As soon as Joe Qi left, Sylvia Ran jumped out of bed and snatched the check off the table, her eyes gleaming with triumph.
What she really wanted wasn’t the lead role—it was money!
Right now, she desperately needed money!
The reason she chose Joe Qi over Sean Kerr wasn’t because Sean Kerr didn’t have money.
Quite the opposite.
Every time Sean Kerr spent money, Rona Muir would know.
But Joe Qi was different. His money was completely out of Dieyi Chen’s reach.
After leaving the restaurant, Joe Qi immediately made a phone call.
In less than five minutes, Charles Yin had pulled up in front of him.
Joe Qi got in the car and said to Charles Yin, "You were right—there’s definitely something up with Sylvia Ran."
Charles Yin’s lips curled up. "Can you get proof?"
Joe Qi didn’t answer. Instead, he asked Charles Yin, "Why are you kicking Sylvia Ran when she’s down? She’s already in a pretty bad spot, isn’t she? No matter what, you grew up together as childhood friends. Are you really going to be that ruthless?"
Charles Yin’s long fingers tapped on the steering wheel—the pure peachwood carving was dazzlingly beautiful.
"Anyone who covets the Yin Family—I won’t let them off easily." Charles Yin said coldly. "Or do you still think she’s the Sylvia Ran you used to know?"
Joe Qi was silent for two minutes before finally replying, "I was never close to her anyway."
Charles Yin immediately changed the subject: "Tell me, what’s wrong with her?"
"Her body." Joe Qi was frank. "I’ve dated hundreds of women, maybe even a thousand. I’ve seen it all. She lied! She said she was in Germany, but my gut says she was in Thailand! Charles, focus your investigation on the small hospitals and clinics there—you might find something."
Charles Yin was stunned, but quickly caught on. "You mean... she went to Thailand for gender reassignment surgery?"
Sylvia Ran isn’t even a woman??
How is that possible?
They grew up together!
How could he be wrong about whether Sylvia Ran was a man or a woman?
Joe Qi and Charles Yin had known each other for years, and Charles was always calm and collected—he almost never lost his composure.
But now, seeing Charles Yin shaken for once actually felt kind of satisfying.
Charles Yin slammed on the brakes, stopping hard by the side of the road.
Joe Qi nearly flew forward. "Hey, why’d you brake so suddenly?!"
Charles Yin looked at Joe Qi seriously. "Are you absolutely sure?"
Joe Qi replied irritably, "What’s that supposed to mean? I risked everything for you, and you’re doubting my judgment?"
Charles Yin waved his hand. "No, that’s not what I meant. I’m asking about Sylvia Ran’s real reason for coming back…"
Joe Qi froze for a moment, then asked, "What are you suspicious of?"
Charles Yin shook his head. "I’m still not sure. When Sylvia Ran came back, the first person she looked for was me. When she realized she couldn’t get anything from me, she turned to Charles Yin. But she didn’t succeed with him either—instead, she burned through the hundreds of millions he had. Now that Charles Yin is no longer useful, she’s set her sights on you…"
Joe Qi was a smart guy.
At least he was sharper than Sean Kerr.
After hearing Charles Yin’s words, he thought it over and found it odd too.
"I always suspected Sylvia Ran was short on money—and not just a little. She seemed desperate for Yin Enterprises’ money. If I’m not mistaken, you also hold shares in Yin Enterprises…" Charles Yin gave Joe Qi a meaningful look. "Sean Kerr has some too."
That’s right—Joe Qi and Sean Kerr both held a small number of shares, just not enough for a seat on the board.
Still, combined, it was no small sum.