1325 Two Options
Li Gui wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded before returning to her room. There was nothing she could say about this matter. It was really too embarrassing!

“Sister Qiao Mei, my younger brother is too thoughtless. Don’t be angry! I apologize to you on his behalf!” Zhao Fei said cautiously.

“How long has it been?” Qiao Mei asked suddenly.

“Wh… what?” Zhao Fei stood rooted to the spot and did not dare to make a sound.

“I’m asking you, how long have you people had designs on my mother?” Qiao Mei tried her best to keep her voice level. She believed that Zhao Fei was not involved in this matter. Given his character, even if he was attracted to any woman in her family, he would not do such a thing.

Zhao Fei had also only found out about this matter recently. In the past, he had always been on his own and lived unrestrainedly. However, after his uncle rendered a helping hand to him, there were actually more restrictions in his lifestyle.

When he was younger, he worked hard at his own business and lived a carefree life. When he ran out of money, he would go out to do sales. When he had money, he would play cards with his friends from the small alley.

After Zhao Fei reached adulthood, he did not know how it happened but his uncle found out about him and insisted on bringing him home. When he did not agree, his uncle kept causing trouble at the alley neighborhood until he gave in.

Zhao Fei had no choice but to follow his uncle home.

In the first week, the family hosted Zhao Fei with nice food and drinks and he gradually lowered his guard. It was the first time he experienced this thing called “kinship”. However, things changed later on. Whenever he earned some money, he had to share it equally with all of them. In the end, he never had much money left for himself.

It was not until Zhao Fei and Li Gui did business together that he finally made more money and gradually had more savings.

“Sister Qiao Mei, it’s not what you think. Listen to me, let me explain it to you,” Zhao Fei said nervously.

“Explain? I don’t want to hear whatever you want to say anymore. This crooked idea has probably been brewing for a while. I trust you, but I don’t trust them. If you want to continue working with me, then from now on, I don’t want to see anyone from your uncle’s family, not even your other relatives from the Zhao family,” Qiao Mei said coldly.

“Sister Qiao Mei! Give them another chance! They are not doing this on purpose!” Zhao Fei said.

Qiao Mei shook her head and said, “I don’t have that much time to waste on this. You also know that time is money right now. I’ll give you two options. Either you work with us on your own and we remain very good friends, or we end our collaboration. I’ll find someone else to do this business with me. You can choose between the two options.”

Zhao Fei looked at Qiao Mei in disbelief. She spoke as if there had never been any friendship between them. However, it also made sense. After all, it had always been a professional partnership all this while. They were business partners first and friends second. If he put himself in Qiao Mei’s shoes, there was nothing wrong with what she was doing.

“I understand… I’ll go back and make the arrangements now,” Zhao Fei said disappointedly.

“We’ll take a break this week. Let me know after you’ve settled your business matters. Our future collaboration will depend on your attitude moving forward.” After saying that, Qiao Mei sent Zhao Fei out.
Zhao Fei walked home dejectedly. He did not know how things had turned out like this. Was his path to becoming rich going to be completely cut off?

As soon as he reached the door of his house, he could hear Zhao Kai cursing inside and even making groundless allegations about Qiao Mei and Li Gui.

“I really don’t know what’s so good about those two sluts! Zhao Fei even spoke up for them! He simply asked me to get out! Pfft! Who do they think they are! Do they really think that I’m attracted to them!” Zhao Kai said furiously.

Zhao Kun hurriedly echoed, “That’s right! Elder Brother, I support you! I’ve long found them to be an eyesore and they order us around just because they have some money! They really don’t treat us as humans at all!”

“Bang!!!”

Zhao Fei kicked open the main door and everyone stared intently at him. Zhao Fei’s uncle, Zhao Liu, immediately scolded him, “You little brat, are you sick of living! Do you think that it doesn’t cost money for repairs if you break this door? Where do you get the guts to strut around so arrogantly at home? Why didn’t you behave this way in those people’s house when your younger brother was being bullied?”