The Beautiful Snake (Part 5)

Although Mo Qingqing did not regain control of her company, the personal assets that Ye Grandmother had asked her to hand over for safekeeping by the Ye Family were returned to her by Ye Ning.

The 5% share of the company also ended up in Mo Qingqing's hands. Ye's Father only knew that Ye Ning had returned what originally belonged to Mo Qingqing, but he was unaware that Ye Ning had also given her shares.

However, some things were still unavoidable. Ye Grandmother personally sent someone to summon Mo Qingqing to the hospital.

The Ye Family had sent Ye Grandmother to the hospital for gradual care and recovery, much as Mo Qingqing had expected. Although she wasn’t dead, the ordeal had taken a heavy toll on the old woman.

Over the past few days, Ye Grandmother had been through a lot. Her once neatly combed hair was now disheveled, her lips pale, and she had visibly lost weight.

When she saw Mo Qingqing, Ye Grandmother smiled and said, "Qingqing, you’ve been working hard lately. I’ve heard from your uncle that you’ve been managing things well. The Ye Family may need to rely on you more in the future."

Mo Qingqing, while observing Ye Grandmother, replied politely, "You’re too kind. Since Ye Ning and I are about to get engaged, these are things I should do as a future daughter-in-law."

Mo Qingqing couldn’t detect anything unusual about Ye Grandmother. She wasn’t sure if the old woman had figured out the tea incident or if she was still under her surveillance.

Many of the things Mo Qingqing was doing now were handled personally. She didn’t fully trust even her long-time assistant, and those who followed Ye Ning were hired at great expense.

Sometimes, Mo Qingqing felt a sudden weariness. What was she really striving for? But having come this far, she couldn’t bring herself to turn back.

Ye Grandmother simply gave her a few words of advice and then handed her a pair of jade bracelets. "I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend the engagement banquet, so consider this my gift to you."

Mo Qingqing tried to decline, but Ye Grandmother insisted, and she had no choice but to accept.

As she left the hospital, Mo Qingqing unexpectedly ran into someone she hadn’t seen in a long time—her younger sister, Mo Tingting.

At first glance, she didn’t even recognize her. Mo Tingting, who had always cared about her appearance, was now dressed in outdated clothes, her hair tied carelessly, with dark circles under her eyes.

When Mo Tingting saw Mo Qingqing, her gaze was empty and numb, showing no emotion.

"Long time no see, big sister."

Her voice was hoarse and weary, causing Mo Qingqing to frown. Mo Tingting reeked of alcohol and cigarettes, something Mo Qingqing remembered her sister had never done before.

"How did you end up like this?" Mo Qingqing sighed. "Didn’t I have someone send you a bank card? I’ll make regular deposits to ensure you’re taken care of. If you want to get married, I can even find you a suitable match..."

"Didn’t you know? Second sister is dead," Mo Tingting said, her hollow eyes locking onto Mo Qingqing’s, a flicker of resentment passing through them. "Big sister, I can understand Mo Xuan hating our family. I don’t have the right to say anything about that. But why did you do this too?"

Mo Qingqing was momentarily stunned. She didn’t even hear the rest of Mo Tingting’s accusations, her mind stuck on the words "second sister is dead."

"Yingying is dead?" Mo Qingqing grabbed her sister’s hand. "Why didn’t you tell me? When did this happen?"

"Could I even reach you?" Mo Tingting let out a bitter laugh, slowly pulling her hand away. "It happened abroad. A car accident. Her body was cremated locally and sent back to the country. Also, Mo Jinpeng, Jiang Sifeng, and that Cheng Jiahao who framed Mo Xuan—they all died in prison."

The people arranged by the Luo Family had been tormenting the three of them daily in prison. Jiang Sifeng was the first to die. Already in poor health, he was beaten, had his meals knocked over, and was even assaulted.

The other two didn’t fare much better, though they lasted a bit longer than Jiang Sifeng.

"Where is Yingying? I want to see her..."

Mo Qingqing didn’t care about the deaths of those three, not even Mo Jinpeng, her half-brother who she had lived with for years. She had indeed abandoned her family, especially her two sisters, but Mo Qingqing had never wished for their deaths.

"Big sister, can you tell me why?"

Ignoring her question, Mo Tingting persisted. Mo Qingqing glanced at her and then around before leading her out of the hospital.

Only after getting into her car did Mo Qingqing look at Mo Tingting sitting in the passenger seat. Suddenly, she laughed. "Don’t tell me you still don’t know anything. You don’t know that Mo Jinpeng was Father’s illegitimate son, and that he was the one who killed our real brother. As for the other one, well..."

Mo Tingting didn’t respond. This twisted family sometimes felt like a cruel joke to her.

"I admit, Tingting, what I did was harsh, but you’ve seen how much I’ve done for the family in the past," Mo Qingqing said, her right hand resting on the steering wheel as she stared out the window. "Our parents ignored my efforts, and even Grandfather never spoke up for me."

"Putting others aside, you know I’ve handled things for you before. I never wronged the Mo Family, nor did I wrong you. But what was the result? I was forced to give up the CEO position. Even after years of hard work, when Mo Industries finally started to thrive, it all became Mo Jinpeng’s gain."

"I gave our parents countless chances, but what happened? I’m not like Mo Xuan. He couldn’t fight back then, but I can."

"Tingting, you must have heard about Mo Xuan being with the Luo Sisters now, right? I don’t have their luck or the platform the Luo Family provides. Since our parents couldn’t be relied on, I had to rely on myself."

"If they were heartless, then I had no choice but to be ruthless. I just want to climb higher, to one day stand at the pinnacle of the Capital."

Mo Tingting listened quietly to her sister’s words, saying nothing until Mo Qingqing finished. Then she asked, "And then what?"

Mo Qingqing was taken aback, not understanding what Mo Tingting meant.

"Big sister, once you reach that pinnacle, what then?" Mo Tingting said softly. "After all this, what will you do next?"

"And you know the Luo Sisters have gone abroad, right? They’ve given up the pinnacle you value so much. Doesn’t that make you think?"

For the first time in her life, Mo Qingqing was left speechless by her younger sister, whom she had always considered naive.

"Big sister, I wish you success," Mo Tingting said with a faint smile, opening the car door. Before stepping out, she glanced back at her. "I’m still living in our family’s villa. You know where it is. If you ever have no one to talk to, remember you still have a sister."

With that, Mo Tingting got out of the car and walked away. Mo Qingqing watched her receding, lonely figure, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

"People are just different, aren’t they?" Mo Qingqing laughed at herself. "The Luo Sisters have always been in that position. I’m not like them..."

Mo Qingqing wasn’t sure if she was answering Mo Tingting or herself.

Her phone suddenly rang. It was Ye's Mother, informing her that the engagement banquet dress was ready and asking her to come for a fitting.

Mo Qingqing took one last look in the direction where Mo Tingting had disappeared, then started the car and drove away from the hospital.

She suddenly remembered a movie she had watched as a child, *Infernal Affairs*. Whether it was Lau Kin-ming or Chen Yongren, they were all caught in one whirlpool after another.

The classic line, "Three years, and then another three years," had seemed funny back then, but now, thinking about it, Mo Qingqing only felt bitterness.

But for her, there was no turning back. She could only keep moving forward...