48: Chapter 48 You Were Picked Up

Liu Qian recalled Wang Yang and her mother walking over from that direction just now; that was the gold jewelry section.

What were they doing there? Buying gold?

Liu Qian stared at those bags, her mind racing.

She remembered the photos she had seen on her social media feed a few days ago. That black bmw x5m, that table of luxurious takeout, the night view of that high-end residential complex.

At the time, she thought it was all fake. A rented car, a borrowed apartment, photos taken to show off.

But what about now? Liu Qian had seen with her own eyes Wang Yang walking out of the gold jewelry store, carrying several bags in his hands.

Those gleaming gold ornaments couldn't possibly be rented, right?

Liu Qian's breathing became rapid. She recalled what Chen Xuemiao had said over the phone: "Fake... he doesn't have any money."

Fake? If it were fake, then what about this gold?

The gold bracelet on her mother's wrist was bright and glittering under the lights. She saw it clearly.

Liu Qian's mind was in turmoil. She remembered the kick Wang Yang had given her earlier—it was fast, ruthless, and shockingly powerful. That was absolutely not the weak Wang Yang she remembered.

Liu Qian stared at the bags, then at the gold bracelet on her mother's wrist. A terrifying thought welled up in her heart.

Could it be... could all of that actually be real? That car, that apartment, that money. All of it was real?

Liu Qian's face turned even paler.

Wang Yang stood there, holding those bags filled with gold. Her mother leaned against his side, wearing the newly purchased gold bracelet on her wrist, smiling so happily.

And what about her? She was kneeling on the ground like a dog. No, she was even worse than a dog.

Wang Yang stood to the side, watching this scene, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He looked at Liu Qian's deathly pale face. Watching her unable to speak after being shut down, crouching on the ground shivering as she cried. Satisfying. It was so damn satisfying.

And it wasn't just satisfaction. A warm current was surging in his heart. Zhao Yaqin was protecting him. In front of so many people, she was protecting him.

He gripped Zhao Yaqin's hand even tighter. Zhao Yaqin felt his movement and turned her head to look at him. In that gaze, there was heartache, comfort, and a firm sense of protection. Wang Yang felt a warmth in his heart.

Liu Qian looked up and happened to see this scene. They were exchanging glances, oblivious to everyone else. Trembling with rage, she scrambled up from the ground, clutched her stomach, and pointed at Zhao Yaqin, cursing. "Fine! Fine! Good for you! Zhao Yaqin, you are not my mother! I don't have a mother like you!"

Zhao Yaqin looked at her with a complicated expression. She was silent for a few seconds. Then she spoke. "You are right."

Liu Qian froze. Zhao Yaqin looked at her, enunciating every word. "You are not my daughter."

Liu Qian's mind buzzed. "You... what did you say?"

Zhao Yaqin took a deep breath, as if she had made a difficult decision. "You are not biologically ours, mine and Jianguo's. You were picked up."

Liu Qian's eyes widened, as if she had been struck by lightning. "Back then, your father and I found you at the entrance of the county hospital. You were placed in a cardboard box, wrapped only in a piece of rag. We took pity on you, brought you home, and raised you as our own daughter."

Zhao Yaqin's voice was calm, but it cut into Liu Qian's heart like a knife. "We raised you for over twenty years, provided your food, clothing, and education. Is this how you repay us?"

Liu Qian's face was as pale as paper. She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but couldn't utter a single word. Her worldview had collapsed. She wasn't their biological child? She was picked up?

Zhao Yaqin looked at her state, without a trace of pity in her eyes. Only disappointment.

Wang Yang watched this scene, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. He stepped forward and stood in front of Liu Qian. "Liu Qian."

Liu Qian looked up at him. Wang Yang looked down at her with a mocking gaze. "You despised me for being poor, for being incompetent, for not being able to provide the life you wanted. So you went with this man." He pointed at Young Master Zhang.

"What has he given you? A meal worth five thousand eight? A Louis Vuitton bag? Or making you kneel on the ground like a dog?"

Young Master Zhang's expression turned extremely ugly.

Liu Qian bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. Wang Yang continued, "Your mother is with me now. I buy her gold, buy her clothes, and take her to eat and drink well. What about you? What do you have?"

He took a gold bracelet out of the bag and dangled it in front of Liu Qian. "See this? Just bought it, over thirty grams, worth over ten thousand yuan. Your mother is wearing one on her wrist too."

Liu Qian looked at that gleaming gold bracelet, and her tears flowed even more fiercely. Wang Yang put the bracelet away and put his arm around Zhao Yaqin's waist. "Let's go."

Young Master Zhang suddenly spoke up. "Stop." Wang Yang turned back to look at him. Young Master Zhang's face was gloomy as he stared at Wang Yang. "You think you can just leave after hitting my person?"

Wang Yang raised an eyebrow. "Your person?" Young Master Zhang sneered. "Liu Qian is my girlfriend. Hitting her is hitting me. You have to look at the owner before beating a dog; do you think I'm dead?"

Wang Yang laughed. "And what do you plan to do about it?"

Young Master Zhang took a step forward, his eyes sinister. "Kid, let me tell you, my dad is sworn brothers with the Police Station chief. You touched my person today; do you believe I have ten thousand reasons to make you rot in a cell?"

Wang Yang looked at him, feeling no ripples in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, a mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.

[Ding! Host detected encountering a threat, system specially issues interpersonal relationship reward!]

[Reward Content: Friendliness of Yuntian City Municipal Government Secretary General Cao Yun towards the host + 100! Cao Yun, male, 52 years old, Secretary General of Yuntian City Municipal Government, a leader with real power. If the host needs help, he can contact him at any time, and the other party will do their best to assist.]

Wang Yang's heart stirred. A Municipal Government Secretary General? That was absolutely the leadership level, heaven knows how many levels higher than a Police Station chief.

He glanced at Young Master Zhang in front of him, suddenly wanting to laugh. This idiot was trying to scare him with a Police Station chief? He now had the Municipal Government Secretary General backing him.

Wang Yang instantly felt confident. He looked at Young Master Zhang, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Police Station chief? What impressive official authority."

Young Master Zhang was stunned for a moment. Wang Yang continued, "Fine, then have him come. I want to see if he moves against me first, or if you go inside first."

Young Master Zhang's expression changed. "What the hell do you mean?"

Wang Yang ignored him, put his arm around Zhao Yaqin, and turned to leave. Young Master Zhang stood in place, his face livid, but he didn't dare to move a step.

Wang Yang put his arm around Zhao Yaqin and turned to leave. Liu Qian watched their retreating figures, seeing Wang Yang about to walk out of her sight. Suddenly, an unprecedented panic welled up in her heart. No. She couldn't let Wang Yang just leave like this. He had money. He really had money. That gold, those bags, those photos, they were all real.

Liu Qian's mind raced. She remembered what Wang Yang had said just now. "Your mother is with me now. I buy her gold, buy her clothes, and take her to eat and drink well." Why should it be Zhao Yaqin? She was the one who was Wang Yang's real girlfriend!