The Ice King's Little Trouble Maker

When Qiao Yuxian arrived at the restaurant,

Zhao Shimeng was already there early. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As Qiao Yuxian entered the private room, she could feel Zhao Shimeng breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing her.

As if she was afraid she wouldn’t come.

"Yu Xian." Zhao Shimeng stood up and walked to her side, wanting to hold her hand.

Qiao Yuxian slightly stepped back to avoid it.

Zhao Shimeng paused for a moment when she couldn’t reach her, then smiled and said, "Yu Xian. How was your trip?"

Qiao Yuxian walked with her towards the table, saying, "It was good."

Qiao Yuxian pulled out a chair when she reached the table and looked at Zhao Shimeng, signaling her to sit first.

Zhao Shimeng smiled again and sat down first.

Only then did Qiao Yuxian sit down.

The two sat facing each other, and after a brief silence, Zhao Shimeng said, "I heard from Special Assistant Su that you had an allergic reaction here last time. Are you alright now?"

"Yes. I’m fine now," said Qiao Yuxian.

"I wasn’t sure which mushroom you were allergic to, so I didn’t order any," Zhao Shimeng said, handing the menu tablet to her. "Check if there’s anything you’d like to eat."

Qiao Yuxian took the tablet, glanced at it, then said, "You’ve been looking for me. Is there something you want?"

Zhao Shimeng didn’t speak.

Qiao Yuxian looked at her.

Zhao Shimeng met her gaze and, after a pause, said, "Yu Xian, were you attacked on your way back from here that night?"

Qiao Yuxian nodded.

"The people who attacked you have all been arrested," Zhao Shimeng said.

Qiao Yuxian nodded again.

Zhao Shimeng said, "Among those arrested was your Uncle Sheng."

Qiao Yuxian looked at her without speaking.

Zhao Shimeng had delicate makeup on.

She was originally a person with a strong presence.

But now, there was an undeniable fatigue on her face.

Her tone was also subdued.

Seeing Qiao Yuxian say nothing, Zhao Shimeng added, "There was a misunderstanding about this matter. Your Uncle Sheng wasn’t targeting you. He was there to deal with someone else that day. It just happened that you were there."

"Yu Xian," Zhao Shimeng said, "I assure you, Chendong really wasn’t after you. You’re my daughter; how could he possibly harm you?"

Qiao Yuxian put down the tablet, looked at her, and said, "You want me to let him go?"

"Is it possible?" Zhao Shimeng cautiously asked, "It was really a misunderstanding that night. It wasn’t intentional."

Qiao Yuxian looked at her, paused, and then said, "But he was indeed after me that night."

With a gentle tone, Qiao Yuxian extinguished the hope that had ignited in Zhao Shimeng.

"He wasn’t..." Zhao Shimeng said.

Qiao Yuxian said, "I didn’t have my face covered that night. Whether it was a misunderstanding, whether I was the target, I have my judgment."

The lowered expression in Zhao Shimeng’s eyes slowly faded.

Qiao Yuxian’s expression remained calm, unchanged, as she said, "After we had dinner together that night, I called a ride to leave. In the middle, someone hacked into the car’s navigation and altered the route."

Zhao Shimeng looked at her.

Qiao Yuxian continued, "Someone deliberately led me to that place."

"Do you think the person who hacked the car’s navigation is related to me or Sheng Chendong?" Zhao Shimeng tried to distance herself, "You’re my daughter. Even though we haven’t lived together, I carried you for ten months. How could I harm you?"

After saying these few words,

Qiao Yuxian didn’t immediately respond but held her gaze for a while.

After a moment, she directly and gently said, "I won’t release Sheng Chendong."

Zhao Shimeng’s eyes flickered slightly.

Qiao Yuxian said, "We both know whether the person who hacked the navigation has anything to do with you and him. There’s no need to hide anymore given the situation."

"The ride I called that night, the driver was Shang Chen," Qiao Yuxian said.

Zhao Shimeng’s expression stiffened.

Qiao Yuxian said, "You had your purpose for calling me for dinner. I showed up for my reasons. In the end, it’s about winning or losing between us."

"In other words, it was you guys who started this, and the outcome is something you must accept, whether it’s a win or a loss," Qiao Yuxian said.

The expression on Zhao Shimeng’s face gradually turned cold as she looked at Qiao Yuxian’s ever-calm demeanor, realizing she had underestimated her.

She seemed obedient and submissive on the outside, but she had calculated everything in her mind.

Despite appearing passive, they were the ones who were truly passive all along.

She was quietly turning the tables.

"Sheng Anhe is allergic to green-headed mushrooms. You brought me here because we were both born from you," Qiao Yuxian said, "Though you weren’t sure if I’d be allergic, you were testing. If I was allergic, it would save you a lot of trouble. If not, it wouldn’t matter. After all, Sheng Chendong had arranged so many people. One of me, easy to catch."

Caught, Zhao Shimeng didn’t bother to disguise any longer and quietly laughed.

Qiao Yuxian said, "Actually, I can understand you. People tend to choose what’s most important to them. In any situation, you might consider the maternal bond between us and spare me. But if Sheng Anhe were harmed, my life would mean nothing to you."

Zhao Shimeng still didn’t speak.

Qiao Yuxian added, "When you first came back, I indeed held a glimmer of hope. I hoped you truly wanted to acknowledge me."

"We returned indeed to acknowledge you," Zhao Shimeng said.

"And the purpose of acknowledging me?" After Qiao Yuxian finished, she placed her left hand on the table, glancing at the Peace Pendant on her wrist.

Her fair skin made the Peace Pendant appear exceptionally vivid and eye-catching.

Zhao Shimeng followed her gaze and looked.

Qiao Yuxian looked at her.

Zhao Shimeng said, "Regardless of the purpose, we truly came to acknowledge you and sincerely wanted to treat you well. As long as you hand over this Peace Pendant, whatever Anhe has, you’ll have too."

Qiao Yuxian raised her eyebrows slightly, saying, "I already have everything Sheng Anhe has now."

Zhao Shimeng furrowed her brow.

Qiao Yuxian said, "Your approach seems idealistic. Acknowledging you means I have to release Sheng Anhe and Sheng Chendong. Living with Sheng Anhe, I doubt you can treat us fairly. It might be okay for a day or two, but what about over time? Would Sheng Anhe allow it? I don’t believe you could do better than Aunt Chen Hui."

"I am your biological mother," Zhao Shimeng suddenly said with some agitation.

"Yes. That’s why Sheng Anhe walked out of the hotel alive," Qiao Yuxian said, "This repays the debt of giving life."

"If you’re repaying the debt, why catch her?" Zhao Shimeng asked.

"She was caught with contraband; it was entirely her own doing," Qiao Yuxian said.

"The contraband was always with Gu Yanjing," Zhao Shimeng said.

"Did she buy it?" Qiao Yuxian asked, "The purchase record isn’t fake."

Zhao Shimeng remained silent.

Qiao Yuxian also didn’t speak.

After a while, Zhao Shimeng asked, "How can I get you to let them go?"

Her mind had been too tangled lately, always thinking about seeing Qiao Yuxian as soon as possible.

She had forgotten.

Qiao Yuxian was willing to meet her, meaning there was still a chance to change things.

Otherwise, she would never meet her at all; why make the trip?

Qiao Yuxian rubbed her fingertips, asking, "Who wants the Peace Pendant? Or, who is the power behind you? Tell me, and I’ll release them."