When this woman left, the damned share transfer agreement remained with me, and she gave me just one day to decide. Her parting words echoed in my mind: “Tang Xiaofan, or should I call you – Liu Ai. Liu Yi, the famous heiress known all over the city, the Southern Liu and Northern Wang, isn’t it referring to Liu Yi from the south and Wang Yan, the second beauty of Heaven and Earth? Only you, her sister, can match her fame among the city’s gentlewomen. Hehe, Liu Shiquan once boasted that he wouldn’t trade his daughter for ten sons. Think about it, doesn’t it make you angry? As a daughter, how did Liu Shiquan treat you? He made you her double, which led to your kidnapping, and then he didn’t care, leaving you to the mercy of the kidnappers. I bet Liu Shiquan never looked for you, did he? If he knew you were working as a dancer here, wouldn’t he wish you had died back then? Imagine if you could become Song Li’s wife, how would Liu Shiquan and Liu Yi react? XinSong’s crown princess – you could take the position that belongs to Liu Yi and vent all your pent-up frustration.” “And you need to understand one thing, since I know all this, I also know why you’re at Heaven and Earth. Even if you don’t think of yourself, think of the one lying in the hospital. Miss Tang, you are the best candidate. I’ve been planning this opportunity for over a decade, and now, I’m ready to kill anyone who stands in my way. If you don’t agree, there’s nothing I won’t do.” The woman who came to see me today was named Fan Jinxuan, once one of the seven fairies of Heaven and Earth, known for her golden voice. Fifteen years ago, everyone knew that Fan Jinxuan was like a reincarnated singer from old Shanghai, her voice could make listeners forget the taste of meat for three months. There were rumors she was about to marry into a wealthy family, and others said a director from XinSong Technology even fell out with his family over her. After a city-wide storm, she suddenly disappeared without a trace. Who would have thought that after more than a decade, she would appear as an enemy of XinSong and seek me out. My past, I’ve tried to forget, wishing it had never happened. I don’t know how she knows. Although I hate the Liu father and daughter, I didn’t want to let them affect my life, but for the person I need to protect, I have no choice. XinSong’s efficiency was indeed impressive. That very afternoon after signing the contract with Fan Jinxuan, a young man in a gold-rimmed glasses and a suit was waiting for me in my room. “Miss Tang,” he smiled at me, the curve of his lips just right. Neither overly flattering nor condescending, his face was so ordinary that it was forgettable. His every move, even his tone of voice, made him seem less like a flesh-and-blood person and more like a robot programmed for interaction. “I am Duan Zhiming from Xin Song Technology,” he handed me a business card, “I suppose you know why I’m here today. You have the option to transfer 15% of your shares in Xin Song to us. To show our gratitude for your generous assistance, Miss Tang, we will offer a very favorable price. Simply put, you will receive nearly…” “Wait a moment,” I interrupted him rather rudely, now hating to hear about how much money I could get; it pained me, “What if I don’t want the money?” Duan Zhiming smiled as if he knew I wouldn’t agree so easily. “Xin Song can fulfill any of your wishes.” “Xin Song, there are many with the surname Song. I want to know, who do you work for?” I paused, slowly pronouncing the name, “Song Li?” “Yes.” “Then it’s settled,” I took out a copy of the agreement signed by Fan Jinxuan from my drawer and handed it to him, “My conditions are on there.” He took it, skimmed through the three pages in five seconds, and then flipped back to the beginning. “Miss Tang,” he finally showed a slightly different expression, “Are you sure you want to do this?” I nodded, “Otherwise, there’s nothing to discuss. I’m not set on marrying him; any Song will do.” Any Song would do, that’s what Fan Jinxuan told me. She said it was just a gesture, and Song Li would definitely agree. They’ve waited too long for this day; they can’t afford any more mishaps. Song Li would marry me, and he wouldn’t be able to initiate a divorce; otherwise, the share transfer would be void. This means that the 15% shares would only count as his if we remain husband and wife. I also wouldn’t have the right to initiate a divorce, or else I would have to compensate Fan Jinxuan with an amount so large that selling myself in pieces wouldn’t cover it. This was our private agreement. She chose me to use my hatred for Liu Shiquan and his daughter to keep Song Li bound for life. Wherever he goes, someone will always point out that Xin Song’s wife was once a prostitute. The bigger the business, the more unpleasant these whispers would become. “Alright then,” Duan Zhiming stood up to leave, “I will give you an answer as soon as possible.”
Chapter Three: Humiliation
