“Someone’s in the way of my husband’s career development and my husband wants to make a compromise so that both parties will be able to benefit from the situation. That way, everyone can remain friends in the future. The infuriating thing is that the other party is particularly stubborn and refuses to give in. The other party insists on fighting with my husband. How do you think we can resolve this matter?”

  Qiao Nan raised her eyebrow deliberately. Did that mean that Li Yayan was Zhai Sheng’s rival’s wife? Who was trying to snatch Zhai Sheng’s position? There didn’t seem to be anyone. Hadn’t Zhai Sheng nearly reached the top? Who could Li Yayan’s husband be fighting against?

  Apart from her parents-in-law and Zhai Sheng, the only candidate left was her and Zhai Hua. So, was she or Zhai Hua the one in Li Yayan’s husband’s way? After giving it some thought, Qiao Nan felt that it was more likely for Zhai Hua to be the one.

  She was no longer that female minister of foreign affairs she had been in her dream. Now, she didn’t even have an official job. Why would she have gotten into a conflict with anyone? On the other hand, Zhai Hua moved around quite a lot while she was in Ping Cheng because she wanted to prepare Jiajia’s dowry. In that case, did Li Yayan’s family think so highly of her to think that she would have influence over Zhai Hua?

  “Qiao Nan, why don’t you give me a suggestion?”

  Qiao Nan shook her head. “This won’t be so easily settled. You were so vague about it, so I’m not too clear about the circumstances either. Without that, I might be dragging you down instead of helping you. Without a full understanding of the situation, it wouldn’t be right for me to make any comments either.”

  \r \r \r

  Li Yayan had been rather vague, and all she had understood was that someone was trying to snatch something from Li Yayan’s husband. She had no idea what or why that person was snatching that away. Although Li Yayan had used the word ‘snatch’, it could be fighting over it instead of snatching it in reality. If they were competing fairly, it would be unfair toward the other party if she were to make a suggestion.

  Besides, what Li Yayan was truly after might not even have been her suggestion but her influence. Whether Li Yayan’s husband was after Zhai Hua and the Zhai family’s position or not, Li Yayan’s husband would definitely have a high chance of winning if she were to make use of her status as the Zhai family’s daughter-in-law. But Qiao Nan refused to even be involved in the Qiao family’s matters, so why would she interfere in someone else’s affairs?

  “Actually, your husband is quite capable himself. You don’t have to worry on his behalf.” If he was incapable and couldn’t win against the other party, then the problem lay in him.

  Li Yayan was naturally dissatisfied with Qiao Nan’s answer. “Qiao Nan, what’s needed here aren’t real abilities. Logically, it should belong to my husband. It’s just that someone’s stirring up trouble.” If not for the will that Zhu Chengqi had left behind, everything of the Zhu family should have gone to her husband. Then, there would have been none of this trouble.

  It was because of this will that her husband had run into some trouble.

  If they went ahead with the lawsuit and Wang Yang applied to freeze the Zhu family’s assets, Qiao Nan would not be able to use a single cent of the Zhu family’s assets. The problem was that their family wouldn’t have access to it either. But money was lifeless while humans were alive. The connections Zhu Chengqi had left behind would be even harder to manipulate than his money.

  Thinking about how all of Zhu Chengqi’s personal connections would become the Zhai family’s if she were any slower, Li Yayan was frantic. Whether it was money or power, Wang Yang wanted it all.

  Even if he couldn’t have all of the Zhu family’s assets to himself as he had intended on, at least eighty percent would be his. Since he wasn’t willing to share those personal connections with Qiao Nan, the only way of getting rid of her was with money.

  “Someone stirring up trouble?” Qiao Nan laughed helplessly. “I think this matter sounds rather complicated. If you really care about your husband, you should simply spend more time with him. I’m sure he’ll figure a way out. After all, this concerns his career and everything he desires, doesn’t it?”

  Sorry, but Li Yayan had better not have any ideas of taking advantage of her. That was impossible. She was truly curious about whom Li Yayan’s husband was. Li Yayan had spared no effort in trying to rope her in. She had played the long game to entice her. Not only had she spent a lot of effort but also a lot of time. This could only mean that Li Yayan’s husband was after quite a lot.

  This wouldn’t do. Once she got away from Li Yayan, she would call Zhai Hua and ask about her situation.

  Li Yayan had thought that they were close friends now that she had had many meals with Qiao Nan and had even gossiped with Qiao Nan.

  Shouldn’t Qiao Nan try to help her out as a friend? Even if she couldn’t think of a solution, she should scold that person who was causing trouble for her and Wang Yang, and who was even stealing their things, at the very least!

  But who would have expected Qiao Nan to respond so calmly, saying that she was not in the position to comment on the matter? Li Yayan had not even been able to achieve her goals. Hearing that her family had run into such trouble, Qiao Nan had no intention of showing her hatred or indignation to her enemy. Li Yayan had to resist the urge to ask, “It’s been such a long time. Do you even treat me as a friend?”

  But Li Yayan suppressed that urge. She couldn’t just ask that question out of the blue. Even Qiao Zijin didn’t have the right to be willful toward Qiao Nan. Even if Qiao Nan really saw her as a true friend, Qiao Nan would surely not tolerate her if she angered her. In that case, all of her previous efforts would go to waste.

  If the result would already be that terrible if she was Qiao Nan’s friend, Li Yayan felt that she might face a huge blow or even vomit blood if Qiao Nan’s answer was in the negative.

  In order to protect what she had worked hard for, as well as her own health, Li Yayan stopped herself from asking such a sensitive and dangerous question. She had better not ask such a question impulsively, not even if she was serious about it.

  “Li Yayan, it’s about time. I need to get some books from the library. You can help yourself.” Apart from chatting during meals, Li Yayan would wisely take her leave as soon as Qiao Nan wanted to concentrate on her reading, in case she annoyed Qiao Nan by staying by her side.

  “Alright. Goodbye. Let’s talk next time.” It didn’t matter that she had failed this time. There would still be another chance. She had already expected that it wouldn’t be so easy to succeed in this matter. But seeing the situation now, Li Yayan had a tinge of regret. As expected, things were not going that smoothly, but at least, she didn’t feel too disappointed.