Princess Syndrome - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Playing a Role

Yang Zhizhi was truly going to be driven crazy by Su Lingyue. It was the first time in her life that she had offered someone a backdoor opportunity, and not only did that person not come in, but she also peeked at the door and asked, "Are you planning to retire?"

She immediately shook her head. "No."

Su Lingyue was even more puzzled than she was. "If you're not retiring, why are you asking me to be your manager?"

She said, "I don't even know how to negotiate deals."

Yang Zhizhi said, "I can teach you."

Su Lingyue said, "I don't have any connections."

Yang Zhizhi said, "You don't need connections."

Su Lingyue said, "And I tend to offend people easily."

Yang Zhizhi was silent for two seconds.

Ignoring that major obstacle, she thought for a few seconds and said, "Then just try to talk less."

Asking her to be her manager while telling her to talk less? Yang Zhizhi was really going all out to thank her, but Su Lingyue said, "I still think it's better not to."

Yang Zhizhi looked at her.

Su Lingyue said, "Miss Yang, you don't need to feel like I did you a huge favor last night. I would have gone in for anyone."

Perhaps the person she wanted to bring out wasn't just the person inside.

But also the former version of herself.

She had done it.

In her confrontation with Zhou Yan, she had brought Yang Zhizhi out, and also pulled out her former self. So Yang Zhizhi didn't need to thank her so grandly.

Yang Zhizhi said, "But you did help me after all."

Su Lingyue said, "That's why you treated me to a meal."

Yang Zhizhi couldn't understand Su Lingyue. She clearly had nothing now, yet she was turning down the better conditions and life she was offering, a less stressful job with more pay.

Su Lingyue actually didn't want it.

Wasn't her former young mistress attitude "take it if it's offered for free"?

However, after spending some time with her, she realized that Su Lingyue was very different from the rumors. But even so, she hadn't expected that after saving her, all Su Lingyue wanted was a practically meaningless lunch.

Yang Zhizhi probed, "You really don't want it?"

Su Lingyue said, "A manager? Really not."

She wasn't capable enough for the job. It was better not to harm Yang Zhizhi.

Hearing this, Yang Zhizhi said, "Is it because of President Ji?"

Ji Zhiyi?

What did this have to do with Ji Zhiyi?

Su Lingyue looked at Yang Zhizhi.

Yang Zhizhi assumed it was because Ji Zhiyi had intervened last night that things were settled. Publicly and privately, it wasn't convenient for Su Lingyue to bring up leaving. Yang Zhizhi also didn't feel comfortable overstepping her bounds, so she just said, "If you leave Yilin, or if President Ji..." She couldn't bring herself to say those rumored things, as she had benefited from Ji Zhiyi's help, but she thought Su Lingyue would understand what she meant.

Su Lingyue nodded slightly.

Yang Zhizhi said, "You can always come find me."

Su Lingyue hadn't expected to get a job offer after pulling her out last night. This time, she didn't directly refuse. Instead, she thought for a few seconds and nodded. "Okay."

Only then did Yang Zhizhi's expression soften slightly.

The two sat across from each other at the dining table, having ordered the same set meal. During the meal, Su Lingyue asked Yang Zhizhi how she was going to deal with Zhou Yan. Yang Zhizhi lowered her head, ate a piece of steak, and said, "The company will handle it."

Su Lingyue took a sip of red wine, her expression unchanged, and nodded without asking further.

Suddenly, Yang Zhizhi felt like her knife and fork weighed a ton. At the company, she had remained indifferent to the strange looks she received and pretended not to hear the whispers. She had agreed when the boss wanted to use Zhou Yan to negotiate with her. It should have been a double celebration, but she couldn't feel any joy at all.

Not in front of Su Lingyue.

She couldn't feel any joy at all.

Would Su Lingyue think she was useless?

After being bullied like that last night, she was still willing to let Zhou Yan off the hook and let the company handle it?

The thought made Yang Zhizhi lose her appetite. After a couple of bites, she put down her knife and fork, picked up a glass of wine, and raised it to Su Lingyue. Su Lingyue swallowed her steak, saw the glass in front of her, didn't ask why, picked up her glass, and clinked it against Yang Zhizhi's. With a crisp sound, she tilted her head back and drank the glass of red wine.

It seemed like she was also venting her dissatisfaction.

Yang Zhizhi became even more depressed.

She drank more aggressively.

As she was pouring more wine, Su Lingyue grabbed the bottle. Yang Zhizhi turned her head to look at her. Su Lingyue slowly poured her half a glass. Although no one had taught her etiquette since she was young, the things she had been exposed to in that environment were ingrained in her bones. Even her posture while pouring wine seemed aloof and elegant.

For some reason, Yang Zhizhi thought of that night when she had offered her a drink as an apology.

Even though she was there to make amends, her demeanor was like she was negotiating.

Perhaps from the beginning, she felt that Su Lingyue was different from others.

But she hadn't paid attention.

Now, this difference had quickly separated Su Lingyue from everyone else she knew. On one side was a bustling crowd, and on the other side stood only Su Lingyue. She couldn't see the scenery in the crowded area. She felt that the wind blowing from Su Lingyue's direction was cool and refreshing.

She closed her eyes and drank another glass.

She asked Su Lingyue, "Want to go sing karaoke later?"

She never participated in such after-meal activities, but now she was the one suggesting it.

Su Lingyue didn't mind. "Sure."

She agreed so readily.

And Yang Zhizhi became uneasy again.

She felt like ants were crawling all over her, very uncomfortable.

Although she didn't know what was making her so awkward, she just felt very uncomfortable and couldn't help but say, "Or let's go to the studio. Can you help me rehearse my lines?"

Su Lingyue didn't mind. "Sure."

Yang Zhizhi suddenly realized.

What made her uncomfortable was Su Lingyue's indifferent attitude, as if she would agree to anything because she didn't care who was saying it, whether it was her or Lin Fei.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhizhi said, "Su Lingyue."

Su Lingyue turned her head.

Yang Zhizhi asked her solemnly, "Do you know who I am?"

Su Lingyue was silent for two seconds.

Under Yang Zhizhi's expectant gaze, she called out, "Assistant Zhao!"

Yang Zhizhi's assistant hurried in.

Looking at the two of them.

Yang Zhizhi also looked at Su Lingyue.

Su Lingyue said, "Miss Yang is drunk. Can you take her back first?"

Yang Zhizhi: ...

She was confused. "How am I drunk?"

How could she not be drunk?

Asking her, "Do you know who I am?"

Wasn't that being drunk?

If you asked any random person on the street who had access to the internet, they would know who she was, okay?

If that wasn't being drunk, what was?

Yang Zhizhi's assistant saw that the atmosphere between them was a bit off. It didn't seem like a thank-you meal at all. She was afraid that Yang Zhizhi would really get drunk and remember her past resentment towards Su Lingyue, and do something inappropriate. She immediately pulled Yang Zhizhi. "Zhizhi, we have a schedule for the afternoon. Shall we go?"

Su Lingyue waved her hand.

The assistant forced a smile. "Assistant Su, see you next time."

Su Lingyue said, "See you next time."

She even gave a little wave.

Yang Zhizhi was full of pent-up anger. Even though she wasn't drunk, her head was spinning from frustration. She turned and left first, clutching her purse and clicking her high heels. After finishing her lunch, Su Lingyue looked at her car keys with a headache. She couldn't drive after drinking. Just as she was about to call a driver, she remembered Chu Yi saying she had something to do nearby. She wondered if she was done yet.

Chu Yi had just come out of a client's house when she received Su Lingyue's call. She took a breath. "Where are you?"

Su Lingyue told her the address of the private room at Haotai. Chu Yi took a taxi to her. Su Lingyue had lunch with her. When Chu Yi heard what Su Lingyue said, she almost dropped her fork. "She asked you to be her manager?"

Su Lingyue didn't mention what happened in the private room last night. As it involved Yang Zhizhi's private affairs, she didn't elaborate. She just nodded. "Yeah."

Chu Yi's first reaction was, "Is she crazy?"

Su Lingyue: ...

Why did she have to say it like that?

Although she also thought Yang Zhizhi was crazy for making such a suggestion.

But—"She appreciates my abilities," Su Lingyue said. Chu Yi burst out laughing.

It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Su Lingyue's abilities, nor that she didn't believe in her.

She did believe in Su Lingyue.

A hundred percent.

But Su Lingyue's mouth was just too prone to offending people.

Perhaps it was because she had grown up in the Su family that she had subconsciously learned many etiquette rules, but her mouth was the one thing that was just too direct for people to handle. Because she didn't need to care about other people's feelings, she had never considered using more tactful wording.

Which led to countless 'enemies' later on.

Chu Yi asked curiously, "So, did you agree?"

Su Lingyue said, "No."

Chu Yi was puzzled. "Why didn't you agree?"

Su Lingyue was also puzzled. "Why would I agree?"

Chu Yi thought for a couple of seconds and said, "This way, you could escape Ji Zhiyi's clutches!"

Su Lingyue: ...

That's right.

Her current persona was still that of a pitiful girl being abused by Ji Zhiyi.

Seeing her like this, Chu Yi realized that Su Lingyue was sinking deeper and deeper. There was clearly a wide, open road outside, but she insisted on clinging to a single-plank bridge, carefully staying by Ji Zhiyi's side.

As her best friend, she felt truly heartbroken!

But weren't things like this in relationships?

What was that saying?

Growing more in love as they spent more time together?

Yes, Su Lingyue and Ji Zhiyi were definitely in that kind of situation now. Besides, Su Lingyue had never even been in a relationship before. It was normal for her to be unable to pull herself out after falling into such a gentle trap.

Especially since Ji Zhiyi was so outstanding.

Chu Yi slapped her forehead.

Stop overthinking it. She said, "So, you refused?"

Su Lingyue said, "She told me to think it over and contact her if I needed to."

Chu Yi said, "You should think it over carefully."

Seeing that she had finished eating, Su Lingyue asked, "Want another serving?"

Chu Yi clutched her stomach. "I'm stuffed. Let's go."

Su Lingyue handed her the car keys. "You drive."

Chu Yi gave an "OK" gesture. After getting in the car, Su Lingyue leaned back against the seat. Chu Yi was worried. "So, what's the situation between you and Ji Zhiyi now?"

Su Lingyue tried to brush it off. "It's alright."

Seeing her looking gloomy again, Chu Yi said, "Lingyue, why don't you try being Yang Zhizhi's manager?"

Su Lingyue turned her head.

Chu Yi said, "I think getting along with Yang Zhizhi might be much easier than getting along with Ji Zhiyi."

Then you'd be wrong.

Getting along with Ji Zhiyi was much easier.

And much more comfortable.

She even allowed her to have a cat.

If it were Yang Zhizhi.

She would probably grab the cat by the neck and throw it out that night.

She shook her head.

Chu Yi sighed.

Su Lingyue was deeply immersed without realizing it, but how could she, her friend, stand idly by? She was about to try to persuade her when Su Lingyue pressed her head. "Ah, it hurts..."

Chu Yi was alarmed. "Where? Your head hurts? Should I take you to the hospital?"

Su Lingyue gritted her teeth. "No need, just take me back."

Chu Yi set the navigation for her home. "Then I'll take you back to rest first."

Although Su Lingyue felt apologetic, she really didn't want to get into this with Chu Yi. As the old saying goes, lies are like loopholes. One loophole leads to countless others.

She didn't want to fill those loopholes.

But she had no choice.

She couldn't just tell Chu Yi about her and Ji Zhiyi's plan, could she?

Ji Zhiyi would skin her alive.

Su Lingyue shrank her neck and sat in the passenger seat, turning away from Chu Yi. Chu Yi assumed she was feeling unwell and handed her a thin blanket when they stopped at a red light. Su Lingyue reached out like a cat and quickly snatched the blanket, covering herself with it.

Chu Yi kept looking at her, still worried when they arrived at her apartment building. She followed her out of the car. Su Lingyue said, "You can go back now."

Chu Yi said, "Should I see you inside?"

Su Lingyue's calm facade cracked. "No need."

Chu Yi became even more concerned.

Su Lingyue tried to sound nonchalant. "Ji Zhiyi is home. She doesn't like having outsiders around."

Mainly because she hadn't told Ji Zhiyi about this yet.

She needed to give her a heads-up first.

Chu Yi nodded.

Before she could say anything, the door of the apartment in front of them opened, and Ji Zhiyi stood at the door in her home clothes. Su Lingyue was stunned. Chu Yi also reacted after a couple of seconds. "President Ji, hello."

Ji Zhiyi looked at her.

Chu Yi smiled, revealing faint dimples on her cheeks. She had a round face and her hair was tucked behind her ears. Although she was wearing work clothes, her makeup was light, and she looked very sunny. She nodded at Chu Yi. "Hello."

Why was she so different from the cold President Ji at the company?

Chu Yi thought to herself.

The Ji Zhiyi at home is so much gentler.

Before she could think further, Su Lingyue said, "You can go back now."

Chu Yi glanced at Ji Zhiyi and could only say softly to Su Lingyue, "Then call me if you need anything."

Su Lingyue nodded.

Watching Chu Yi leave, Ji Zhiyi asked Su Lingyue, "Why didn't you ask your friend to come in and sit for a while?"

This wasn't her home. Why would she ask her friend to come in and sit?

But that wasn't really why Su Lingyue hadn't invited her in. She stared at Ji Zhiyi and suddenly became ingratiating. "President Ji, have you had lunch?"

Ji Zhiyi glanced at her.

Su Lingyue smiled, a somewhat flattering smile. She was curious to know what Su Lingyue would say next, so she shook her head. "Not yet."

Su Lingyue said, "I'll go buy you some."

It must be something important.

Ji Zhiyi said, "The housekeeper will bring it over later."

Su Lingyue said "Oh."

She followed Ji Zhiyi inside and sat with her on the sofa. Xiao Mafan jumped onto her lap and nuzzled her face. Su Lingyue absentmindedly stroked the cat's head, hearing Ji Zhiyi ask, "Lunch with Miss Yang is over?"

Su Lingyue snapped out of her thoughts. "It's over."

She needed to steer the conversation towards Chu Yi.

Su Lingyue said, "I ran into Chu Yi just as I was leaving the hotel. She offered me a ride back."

Ji Zhiyi nodded.

She didn't say anything else.

Su Lingyue had never had to explain herself to anyone before. Since she couldn't find a topic, she went straight to the point. "President Ji, there's something I want to tell you."

Ji Zhiyi tilted her head.

Su Lingyue leaned closer. "My friend, Chu Yi, you saw her, she has a bit of a misunderstanding about our current situation."

Ji Zhiyi found it amusing. "A misunderstanding?"

She considered it. "What kind of misunderstanding?"

Su Lingyue said, "She's not quite clear about our current working relationship. She thinks we have another kind of relationship."

Speaking of this "other kind of relationship," Su Lingyue felt a bit guilty.

She had completely forgotten that she had made it up.

Ji Zhiyi frowned. "Another kind of relationship?"

Su Lingyue gritted her teeth. "A sugar baby relationship."

Ji Zhiyi was silent for two seconds, looked at her, and after a long pause asked, "I'm your sugar baby?"

Su Lingyue shook her head. "I'm your sugar daddy."

Ji Zhiyi: ...

This was truly something!

She was about to die laughing.

Ji Zhiyi nodded. "So you didn't want her to come in, afraid of being exposed?"

Su Lingyue knew that she was wrong about this, and seriously wrong. She lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

Ji Zhiyi raised her hand.

She looked at Su Lingyue. "What else?"

Su Lingyue was confused. "What else is there?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Why would I be your sugar baby? What's the reason?"

Su Lingyue bit her lip.

What had she said back then?

She gave a dry laugh.

Ji Zhiyi continued to look at her intently.

Su Lingyue regretted being honest.

She said, "It was all because I didn't want her to know about the factory..."

Ji Zhiyi remained calm and collected. "The reason."

Su Lingyue took a breath and blurted out, "The reason is that you love me to death, you can't live without me, and you begged me to be your sugar daddy."

Ji Zhiyi nodded understandingly.

Su Lingyue glanced at her, seeing that her expression was no different from usual, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She started to reason with her. "She suddenly asked me what our relationship was, and I didn't know how to explain it, so I just made something up."

Seeing that Ji Zhiyi wasn't angry, she continued. "President Ji, don't worry, I'll explain it to her clearly."

Ji Zhiyi said, "Is that so? Can you guarantee she won't spread it around?"

Su Lingyue raised her hand. "I guarantee, I guarantee she will absolutely not tell anyone else about this."

Ji Zhiyi said, "I believe you." Su Lingyue sighed in relief. Ji Zhiyi said, "I don't believe her."

Su Lingyue was speechless.

Ji Zhiyi said, "Have her come back."

Su Lingyue's eyes widened. "Come back?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Yes, have her come back and tell me personally that she guarantees she won't tell anyone else about this. Only then will I believe it."

Su Lingyue: ...

Was that really necessary?

She forced a smile.

Seeing Ji Zhiyi's serious and solemn expression, she bit her lip. After a few seconds, she called Chu Yi.

Chu Yi had just left the neighborhood and was wondering if she should go to the supermarket first or go straight home when she received Su Lingyue's call. Su Lingyue didn't say what it was about, just that she needed her to come back. Chu Yi thought Su Lingyue had forgotten something and turned her car around.

When she arrived at the apartment building, Su Lingyue and Ji Zhiyi were standing at the door. Despite the hot weather, Chu Yi broke out in a cold sweat. She gave an awkward smile. "President Ji, Lingyue, what's wrong?"

Su Lingyue turned her head.

Ji Zhiyi's expression changed, a smile on her face. "We didn't invite Miss Chu in for a seat just now. It was very impolite. That's why I asked Lingyue to invite Miss Chu back. I hope you don't mind."

Lingyue?

That single word made both of them's hair stand on end!

Su Lingyue hadn't expected Ji Zhiyi to be such a good actress. No wonder she was the boss. Her mind worked so fast! She immediately expressed intimacy through her address, not the cold "Assistant Su," but "Lingyue."

Impressive!

Chu Yi was also shocked by the word "Lingyue." She had always thought that Su Lingyue was being oppressed by Ji Zhiyi. Although she said she was Ji Zhiyi's sugar daddy, it was hard to believe. But looking at Ji Zhiyi's attitude now.

She was starting to believe it a little.

Chu Yi said, "Of course, I don't mind."

"If you don't mind, please come in and have a seat." Ji Zhiyi stepped aside. Chu Yi glanced at Su Lingyue, saw her smiling, and nodded as she entered the living room.

As soon as she went in, she saw a cat dart past her. Xiao Mafan ran behind the curtains when it saw a stranger. Then, it remembered its days as a stray cat and that it had seen all kinds of people, so it sauntered out again. Chu Yi, on the other hand, was startled and took a half-step back.

Su Lingyue said, "You're allergic..."

"It's okay, it's not serious." As she spoke, she sneezed. She followed Su Lingyue inside and looked around.

This area of the West Lake District was prime real estate. She usually never set foot in places like this. No, wait, she had been here once before, the night she picked up Su Lingyue. But she hadn't seen anything. It was too dark at night. She had just picked up Su Lingyue and left, so her only memory of this area was that it was affluent.

Now that she was inside the apartment, she realized her thinking was too narrow.

This wasn't just affluent.

This was obscenely wealthy!

How big was this apartment? From the outside, it looked only a little bigger than a regular apartment, but once inside, she realized the space was vast and open. The living room alone was probably as big as their entire rented apartment. It was simply furnished with a sofa, coffee table, and cabinets. There was a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, and the wallpaper was mainly gray and white, creating a very cool color scheme.

It was exactly like the aura Ji Zhiyi exuded.

What hit you wasn't the cold air conditioning, but an indescribable air of luxury!

She was worried that she might accidentally break the sofa and not be able to afford to pay for it.

Just as she was thinking this, Ji Zhiyi walked in wearing slippers. Chu Yi turned around and saw her smiling, which eased her tense nerves a lot. The air was a bit quiet. Ji Zhiyi asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Chu Yi said, "Anything is fine. Please don't stand on ceremony, President Ji."

Ji Zhiyi said, "I'll pour you some tea."

Chu Yi was flattered and nodded. Su Lingyue asked her to sit on the sofa and heard Ji Zhiyi call out, "Lingyue, where did you put the tea leaves?"

How would she know where they were!

Su Lingyue smiled at Chu Yi, got up quickly, and went to the living room, seeing Ji Zhiyi slowly making tea. She said, "Didn't you find the tea leaves?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "I just found them."

Su Lingyue didn't think much of it and carried the tea out to Chu Yi.

She then heard Ji Zhiyi call out, "Lingyue, what about the fruit platter?"

How would she know about the fruit platter!

Su Lingyue took a deep breath and went into the kitchen, seeing Ji Zhiyi cutting fruit. She looked around and took a plate from under the counter, handing it to Ji Zhiyi. Ji Zhiyi arranged the fruit on the plate. Just as Su Lingyue was about to carry it out, she heard Ji Zhiyi call out, "Lingyue..."

Enough was enough!

She strode quickly to Ji Zhiyi's side.

"President Ji, what are you doing?"

Ji Zhiyi looked at her. "What am I doing?"

Su Lingyue clenched her fists. "Why do you keep calling me?"

"Playing a role," Ji Zhiyi said. "Isn't that what you said? That I love you to death, can't live without you, and begged you to be my sugar daddy?"

Su Lingyue: ...

She took a breath. "That was a lie!"

"But your friend doesn't know it's a lie." Ji Zhiyi said calmly, "So, should I go out now and explain it clearly to your friend?"

Explain what?

Explain that the sugar daddy arrangement was fake?

Then Chu Yi would definitely keep asking questions until she got to the bottom of it.

Would she have to come up with a new lie to fob her off?

Su Lingyue's scalp tingled. As Ji Zhiyi turned to leave the kitchen, she whipped around and hugged her from behind, muttering, "It's real! It's all real!"

Ji Zhiyi laughed, looking down at the hands clutching her waist, the fingers slender, the skin fair. Her soft back pressed against her. She straightened up. "So, should we keep playing the role?"

Su Lingyue didn't even think about it. "Yes!"

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