Plunder-Chapter 159 Recognizing Relatives

Qiao En was passively embraced into this large, welcoming hug.

At that moment, her heart felt warm.

But soon after, her heart turned cold.

"Yayun, are you and Director Zhou getting married soon?"

Qiao En’s mother wiped her tears and clung to Qiao En’s hand without letting go.

"Mom, you’re asking even though you already know. My sister is certainly going to marry Director Zhou."

Qiao En stated with certainty.

"Yes, yes, our Yayun will definitely marry Director Zhou."

Qiao De and their mother continued back and forth, and Qiao En was unable to get a word in for a long time.

It seemed they had forgotten that the woman standing before them was called Xu Yayun, not Qiao En.

"Ah De, go peel an apple for your sister."

"Okay."

Qiao De cheerfully went to peel an apple for Qiao En.

"You don’t need to go to so much trouble."

With the return of the familial affection she had missed for so long, Qiao En was somewhat taken aback.

But she knew clearly, at this moment, that she was Xu Yayun.

"Yayun, come sit for a bit. I need to speak with you," her mother said, leading Qiao En to the sofa by the hand.

No sooner had Qiao En sat down than her mother’s face was wreathed in worry.

"Yayun, you know about your brother being scammed. He is young and ambitious, always wanting to make a mark, but he’s had bad luck, and nothing has gone right for him these past six months. You’re getting married to Director Zhou, right? Could you please ask him to find a job for your brother at Nanchen Group?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao En’s face turned cold.

She had never imagined that Qiao De and their mother had come looking for her to arrange a job for Qiao De.

But it was only a moment of panic before she calmed down.

"What kind of job would you like to find for Ah De?"

Not well-informed about the outside world, their mother hastily called out to Qiao De, "Ah De, you tell us, if you go to your sister’s husband’s company, what kind of job would you like to do? Your sister is preparing to help you."

She had misinterpreted Qiao En’s words.

Qiao En had no intention of arranging a job for him.

Qiao De finished peeling the apple and handed it to Qiao En, who took it but didn’t take a bite.

"Sis, I studied international trade in college and am particularly interested in sales. I’ve inquired, and just last week the manager of the sales department at Nanchen resigned. How about you mention it to your husband and let me take the position? I promise to employ what I’ve learned and build a great career, not letting you or your husband down."

So much time had passed, yet Qiao De hadn’t changed at all.

He was still full of empty talk and grandiose claims.

Qiao En’s heart sank a little.

"But the position of sales manager requires ten years of experience in the field. Are you up for it?"

Qiao De snorted with derision, "What’s there not to be up for? Sis, I come from a top university with outstanding abilities in my major, learning, and communication. Just give me a lever, and I’ll move the earth. Sis, just put in a word with your husband. With your help, it could be a mere word from him, and I might even become the sales director!"

Qiao En had underestimated Qiao De’s arrogance and overconfidence.

He had stayed too long in the Ivory Tower, completely lacking a proper understanding of himself.

Qiao En had criticized him before, but he hadn’t taken a word of it to heart.

Now, Qiao En didn’t plan to say much more, nor did she intend to indulge him.

"I’ll mention it to Director Zhou later, but ultimately it’s his decision."

She didn’t immediately agree, her wording similar to that of Zhou Jin’an.

Their mother, upon hearing this, became anxious, and her demeanor instantly changed.

"Ah? Why turn such a simple thing so complicated? Is it really that hard for my nephew to learn something at your husband’s company?"

Qiao De’s eyes also darkened.

"Sis, you’re my only sister now. If you don’t help me, no one will. Believe in me, I can surely make something of myself and live up to yours and your husband’s trust."

Their mother immediately grasped Qiao En’s hand tight.

"Yayun, why not call Director Zhou right now? He values you, and your words carry the most weight. Ah De failed in his business and his confidence was shaken. He just wants to achieve something now. Just a good word to Director Zhou from you, and your brother’s matter will be settled."

They took turns trying to convince Qiao En.

But they had forgotten that the person sitting before them was Qiao En, yet not Qiao En anymore.

"I think there’s no need to make that call."

Qiao En refused flatly.

Back when she was Qiao En, her mother had repeatedly manipulated her with familial obligation.

She had been unaware then.

She felt gratitude for the upbringing she received from her parents and did everything she could to support this family adrift in a storm.

Because she was the eldest sister, she always protected Qiao De behind her.

Yet, this sacrifice never earned their understanding or consideration; instead, it emboldened their exploitative arrogance.

When receiving became an entitlement, it could easily turn into a sharp blade that harms others.

And this blade was given to Qiao En by the person she considered closest to her.

"What do you mean by that?"

Qiao De suddenly flew into a rage.

He stood up, glaring at Qiao En with fury.

"Yayun, your brother now can only count on you. Mom is begging you, please, would you call Director Zhou? Just one call, and your brother will have a job," pleaded their mother, tears streaming down her face, her lips trembling.

In the past, Qiao En would have been softhearted, unable to carry that heavy burden, yet she forcibly took it upon her shoulders.

No one saw the tears and sweat she shed, and no one gave a thought to the hardships she endured. They simply took it for granted that she could bear it.

Having been through so much, Qiao En gradually saw through it all.

"Nanchen Group has its own hiring process, Qiao De doesn’t meet the requirements. Why make Director Zhou uncomfortable?"

She rejected them more firmly than ever.

Qiao De became suddenly restless, grabbing his hair and pacing wildly around the room.

"Yayun, mom is begging you. Please, I’m kneeling down for you, okay?" said their mother, actually kneeling down to Qiao En.

She clung to Qiao En’s legs, crying her heart out.

Tears also flowed in Qiao En’s heart.

Her mother, for the sake of Qiao De, would give up anything, including her daughter.

This time, Qiao En was calmer than ever.

She pried her mother’s hands off, stood up, and walked to the door.

As she opened the door, a cold frost spread across her face.

"Mrs. Qiao, I’m sorry, but please, you and your son need to leave."

The room fell silent all at once.

With such a resolute action, Qiao En established a distance between them.

And it brought everyone back to reality.

"Yayun, can you really be so heartless?" cried out her mother, her voice raw with emotion.

She tugged at Qiao De, gesturing for him to kneel as well, "Ah De, kneel down to your sister, beg her earnestly. She’s the only one who can help you now."

But Qiao De refused to kneel, his eyes hostile as he glared at Qiao En.

"Do you really not plan to help me?"

"Please leave!"

Qiao En raised her voice, steadfast in her previous stance.

"Fuck."

Qiao De cursed out loud, grabbing a glass from the coffee table and hurling it in Qiao En’s direction.

The glass shattered on the floor, the fragments flying everywhere, one piece striking right onto the wound on Qiao En’s forehead.

Instantly, fresh red blood started pouring out.

"Yayun, you’re bleeding."

Their mother rushed over, visibly panicked.

But Qiao En stepped back, "Please leave my house, or I will call the police immediately."

The three of them stood frozen at the door, in a momentary standoff.

"Ah De, let’s go," pleaded their mother, trying to pull Qiao De by the sleeve, but he shook her off impatiently.

"If you want to leave, then leave, I’m not going."

He turned around and slumped back onto the sofa.

"Today, you’ll help me whether you want to or not. If I can’t get a job at Nanchen, no one will have peace."

"Yayun, could you just call Director Zhou, please? Your brother is like this, and I’m really scared. If he loses control and something happens, I truly don’t know what I will do," the mother sobbed, trying to work on Qiao En’s emotions again.

"Fine, I’ll call," said Qiao En.

But what they didn’t expect was that Qiao En’s call wasn’t made to Zhou Jin’an.