Chapter 1177: Their First Collaboration (13)
Qiao Zhigang was boldly threatening him and this stunned Qiao Lian.
She clenched her fists tightly as she witnessed the situation in the ward.
Qiao Zhigang’s back was to her, so she could not see his expression. But she could see Lu Nanze’s expression as he lay on the bed, unable to move.
His expression was stormy, his usual smile had vanished and he looked extremely serious.
At this stage, he was probably on the edge of a violent rage.
Qiao Lian stared at him from her wheelchair.
She had no idea what sort of choice Lu Nanze would make.
On one hand was his father. If he proceeded with prosecuting, it would mean his father might end up in jail in the case that Qiao Zhigang handed in the account book.
Given this, would he drop the charges?
In a place like Suzhou, if he dropped the charges and protected Qiao Zhigang, then it would become impossible for her to press charges if she wanted Qiao Zhigang punished.
She forcefully bit her lip, feeling distressed as she watched the situation unfold.
Initially, after the abduction incident, she had felt that there was already softening when it came to Lu Nanze.
But now, if Lu Nanze made the decision to protect his father, then the two of them would never be on good terms again.
She cast her gaze down as these thoughts flashed through her mind. Then she smiled bitterly.
Actually, wasn’t that how relations.h.i.+ps between people worked?
One moment they would fight for each other till death, the next moment they would be at odds over some advantage or benefit they could gain.
Qiao Lian’s lips turned upwards, almost certain about what Lu Nanze was going to choose.
She lowered her gaze and turned her wheelchair around, but as she was trying to wheel herself away, she found that the wheelchair wasn’t moving at all.
She looked back and saw Shen Liangchuan standing there with a hand on the wheelchair. He was looking at her steadily. There was a firmness in his expression that she hadn’t noticed.
She halted and then heard Lu Nanze’s voice coming from the ward, “Actually, my injuries aren’t serious and I’m big enough to overlook what all of you have done.”
Qiao Lian’s pupils shrank as she heard these words. She felt pain in her heart.
Her hands were tightly gripping the armrests of the wheelchair.
Indeed, Lu Nanze had chosen to protect his father.
She took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress the deepening heartache.
Qiao Zhigang started to look overjoyed and he sounded very happy as he said, “That settles it then, my good nephew. I knew you wouldn’t let our family down. Your uncle here apologizes to you, haha. I’ll go home now and tell Qiao Yiyi to come and look after you, she’ll take good care of you for sure—”
Before he could finish, he was interrupted again by Lu Nanze, “I think you misunderstood something.”
Qiao Zhigang paused as the other man continued, “I’m not done speaking.”
He stared at Qiao Zhigang in silence for a moment and then finally said, “I can overlook the fact that you’ve caused me these injuries, but this time your target was Qiao Lian. I think the decision to press charges should be up to her, I have no right to interfere.”
Everyone was shaken by these words.
Qiao Lian looked at the pale man on the hospital bed in disbelief. At this point, his usual smile had returned to his face, which was both stunningly beautiful yet frightening at the same time.
As Qiao Lian bit her lip, she heard Qiao Zhigang blow his top. “What do you mean by that? Isn’t it up to you to let her press charges? I cannot believe for a moment that right here in Suzhou, you can’t handle a girl like Qiao Lian. Lu Nanze, don’t you f*cking talk to me like I’m an idiot! If you can’t get past being beaten up, then just say so!”