Returning - Chapter 86
Chapter 86: Infighting
[Eight o'clock tonight. Come over.]
Looking at the WeChat message Xu Chengyan had sent along with an address, Zhao Yu smiled, glanced at Ji Sui still busy in the kitchen, and replied: [I'm busy.]
A few seconds later she added: [If you want me to be free, you'll have to pay extra.]
Without even needing to see Xu Chengyan's face, Zhao Yu could imagine exactly what expression he'd be wearing after receiving her reply.
Not only was she not available at his beck and call, but she could also bargain so shamelessly—as a mistress, she was truly arrogant enough.
But didn't that man just love this kind of novelty and excitement? If she fawned over him every day, obedient and gentle, tender and considerate, servicing him comfortably in bed at all times, he would have grown tired of her long ago.
Of course, she also knew that Xu Chengyan was aware these were little tricks she deliberately played in front of him, all aimed at showing how different she was, hoping he would truly be attracted to her, even fall in love with her and marry her.
Her seduction of him had long since moved into the open. What existed between the two of them was more like a contest—one attacking, one defending; one confident they could win the other over, one confident they could make the other get nowhere.
As expected, Xu Chengyan, not yet tired of this game, transferred a sum of money to her—fifty thousand, which was the most generous he, being so stingy with her, had ever been.
Zhao Yu accepted the money immediately and replied: [Is this considered a deposit? Will there be a final payment after the deed?]
Xu Chengyan: [You think too much.]
Zhao Yu: [One must dare to hope to have hope, right? Otherwise, how would I dare to seduce CEO Xu?]
Xu Chengyan sent that trademark smiley face again.
Zhao Yu didn't care. She replied: [Don't worry, Sugar Daddy. I will appear on time, washed clean and waiting for you to fuck me.]
Having finished breakfast and then voluntarily prepared lunch as well, Ji Sui carried a plate out from the kitchen and smiled at Zhao Yu: "Wash your hands, it's time to eat."
Zhao Yu smiled sheepishly and hurried over to help serve the rice.
Her apartment didn't have many ingredients, and since they hadn't gone out to buy groceries, Ji Sui had casually made a few simple home-style dishes, but given his skill level, the taste certainly wouldn't be lacking.
After their morning conversation, which had also been his confession to her, now that they sat facing each other, the atmosphere still carried a lingering awkwardness.
Watching the tips of his ears flush red from sneaking glances at her that she just happened to catch, Zhao Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly—if only Xu Chengyan and Xue Zhan could be as easy to fool as Ji Sui, she wouldn't have to rack her brains so hard every single day.
The two were eating quietly when Ji Sui's phone suddenly rang. Zhao Yu glanced up and caught a glimpse of the caller ID showing the word "Sister."
Sister? Zhuang Yiqing?
Before, he had always called her directly as "Ah-Qing." The contact name that woman had in his phone certainly wouldn't be "Sister" either. Now that he'd changed it to this, it was rather pleasing to see.
Ji Sui didn't hide anything and took the call in front of her, but after only a few words from the other side, his expression changed.
Hearing him say, "I'll come back right away," Zhao Yu looked at him with concern. The moment he hung up, she asked with a caring expression: "Something urgent?"
"Mm." Ji Sui got up from the table and walked to the sofa to pick up his coat. "Sorry, something happened at home. I need to rush back."
Zhao Yu didn't ask any further. Instead, she stood up as well, heading toward the kitchen while advising: "There's still some bread left from this morning. Take some to eat on the way. You've only had a few bites of your meal—don't let your health suffer from hunger."
Ji Sui gazed steadily at her as she brought out the bread. He smiled and spoke: "Just now, that was my sister—I mean, Zhuang Yiqing—on the phone."
"Mm, I saw that." Zhao Yu admitted honestly, still not pressing further.
Ji Sui hesitated a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and hugged her, saying softly: "I care about her now only as a younger brother."
Zhao Yu lowered her head and responded quietly: "Mm."
Then, the corner of her mouth secretly curled upward, deliberately letting him see it.
Clearly, no relationship had been defined, yet all her words, actions, and expressions proclaimed the role of a girlfriend—restrained on one hand, ambiguous on the other.
Zhao Yu thought to herself that she truly had perfected the role of the manipulative vixen.
Seeing her sneaky smile, the grin on Ji Sui's face grew even brighter, and he couldn't resist planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Zhao Yu didn't know what had happened with Zhuang Yiqing or the Zhuang Family, but judging by Ji Sui's reaction when he took the call and the haste with which he left, it was probably quite serious.
She had originally planned to subtly fish for information from Ji Sui after the matter had passed. Who knew that in the evening, just as she was preparing to go meet Xu Chengyan, a WeChat message from that man arrived again: [No need to come.]
He had actively asked her to see him, and now he was canceling the arrangement. Instinctively, Zhao Yu felt that this matter was definitely connected to Zhuang Yiqing.
Zhao Yu replied: [What? CEO Xu finding fifty thousand too expensive and regretting it?]
There was no reaction from Xu Chengyan's side.
After a good while, Zhao Yu tried sending another message: [So, does CEO Xu want me to refund the money now, or shall I keep it on account for next time?]
Xu Chengyan still didn't reply.
At ten o'clock at night, Zhao Yu received an email: [Zhuang Yiqing's pet pretty boy got caught keeping a woman outside, and both were beaten seriously.]
Below the text were accompanying photos. Though blurry, one could still make out a man and a woman being assaulted by several men in black clothing.
This did seem quite like Zhuang Yiqing's methods—arrogant, reckless, and completely unbridled. Even if it were said that the man had been castrated, Zhao Yu wouldn't find it surprising.
But was Ji Sui's intense reaction really just because of this?
Scrolling further down the email, she saw the subsequent development: [Zhuang Ruyun secretly recorded a video and posted it online to expose Zhuang Yiqing hiring thugs for attempted murder. The news has all been deleted, and the police have been squared away by the Xu Family too. I saved the photos in time; they can no longer be found now.]
Looking at the photos and text in the email, Zhao Yu couldn't help but feel somewhat amused.
Zhuang Ruyun was Zhuang Yiqing's half-sister from the same father but a different mother. The struggle between the two had been going on for a long time, but clearly, Zhuang Ruyun was no match. Not only did she have no real power in the company, but she was also suppressed everywhere by Zhuang Yiqing. This move now seemed even more foolish.
The Zhuang Family had money and power—settling such a minor trouble was incredibly simple. Besides, they also had the Xu Family, their marriage alliance, as backing, and behind the Xu Family were figures in both military and political circles.
Who knows how many dirty deeds those people had done in secret. To count on the law to punish Zhuang Yiqing—this Zhuang Ruyun was even more naive than Tang Xi had been back then.
After staring at the computer screen in deep thought for a long time, Zhao Yu finally began typing her reply email: Help me find the ones who did the beating. You name the price.
Didn't Zhuang Yiqing love to teach people lessons with that arrogant, superior air of hers? Now that she was allied by marriage with the Xu Family, she probably felt even more unrestrained, didn't she?
Then what if the relationship between the Xu Family and the Zhuang Family were to completely break apart?
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