Cheng Yu frowned, then bent down, pulling Xia Pei Pei up and seating her in a chair. He casually took a tissue to wipe her face, straightened her hair, and gently held her chin. “Now you’re scared, huh? Pei Pei, this isn’t your first time, is it? Remember the kidnapping of Zhao Dongyuan? Did you really think you got away with it?” Xia Pei Pei’s heart pounded; had she been found out? That incident wasn’t well-hidden, but fortunately, Zhao Dongyuan had disappeared, likely silenced by Fang Junjie. Now, with no proof, how did Cheng Yu know? Could it be that dead woman Liu Yi framing her?
Seeing Xia Pei Pei’s eyes darting around, Cheng Yu had his suspicions. Actually, he had no evidence; he just heard about the kidnapping from Song Li and instinctively linked it to Xia Pei Pei. Now, using the dress incident, he was bluffing to see if she would reveal anything, and indeed, he guessed right.
Cheng Yu chuckled, “Well done! How did I not see this side of you before?” Before Xia Pei Pei could respond, his face darkened, the smile now icy, his gaze piercing, as if wanting to burn holes into her face. “You know better than anyone who Zhao Dongyuan is. By putting Fu Xiaotang in his hands, weren’t you ruining her life? Both of you are women; what deep grudge do you hold against her?”
His words seemed to spit at her, growing angrier with each syllable, and in his fury, he grabbed Xia Pei Pei’s throat. She was terrified, feeling his grip like an iron vice, unable even to struggle. Through blurred vision, she saw Cheng Yu’s ferocious expression, as if he truly intended to choke her to death. In her fear, she managed to gasp out, “Don’t… I was instructed by someone else.”
Cheng Yu’s eyes flickered with curiosity, “Who?” He slowly loosened his grip, letting her slump onto the sofa. Xia Pei Pei, now free, took deep breaths, her throat feeling like it was being scratched by tiny knives, itchy and painful. After coughing several times, she managed to say, half-truthfully, “I had no choice, she’s a wealthy, influential young lady, how could I… I had to do whatever she said.”
“Stop the nonsense,” Cheng Yu interrupted impatiently, his eyes locked on hers. “Who is it?”
“Liu… Yi,” Xia Pei Pei shouted, closing her eyes in desperation.
“What?!” Cheng Yu was shocked. Liu Yi? How could that be… Although he had a hunch from Xia Pei Pei’s description, hearing the name still shook him. Despite his recent preoccupation with Tang Xiaofu, Liu Yi had occupied a significant part of his heart for a long time, not something easily erased. In his memory, she was always gentle and serene with flowing long hair; he couldn’t connect her with cruelty or malice. He squinted at Xia Pei Pei, his tone sharp, “You’re lying! Don’t you dare slander her!”
Xia Pei Pei, equally indignant, retorted, “I’m lying? If Liu Yi had nothing to do with this, may I be struck by lightning! She told me to incite Zhao Dongyuan to kidnap Fu Xiaotang, to kill two birds with one stone, and keep it hidden. At that time, you ignored me, and Liu Yi said if I took care of Fu Xiaotang, she’d sponsor my dance competition. I had no choice but to agree.”
Seeing Cheng Yu’s furrowed brows, Xia Pei Pei grew bolder, pouring out her story, mixing truth with lies, pinning everything on Liu Yi. “She said Fu Xiaotang was born to be ruined by men like Zhao Dongyuan, that she deserved it since she’d been with so many anyway. After Zhao Dongyuan was done with her, let’s see if anyone would still want her…”
“Shut the hell up!” Cheng Yu roared, grabbing the glass ashtray from the coffee table and smashing it against the fish tank. There was a loud crash as fish, plants, and pebbles scattered among shards of glass, water spilling everywhere. Xia Pei Pei, soaked and terrified, screamed, now curled up with her hands over her head. Cheng Yu’s earlier menacing posture had scared her out of her wits.
I thought he was going to smash that heavy glass ashtray right onto her head. Cheng Yu also threw himself onto the sofa, panting heavily as if he had just done some heavy labor. His eyes were bloodshot, his gaze fierce enough to devour someone, with veins bulging on his forehead. However, his mind was completely blank; he couldn’t think at all. He was just angry, furious, and enraged. As for why he was angry, and at whom – Xin Peipei, Xi Liu Yi, or himself? He wasn’t clear. He only felt as if someone had stabbed a knife into his heart, turning and twisting it, not a sharp pain but a dull, throbbing ache that made him want to spit out all the blood in his chest.
After the dance competition, a new generation of the “Four Beauties of Heaven and Earth,” led by Yi Yuanxiaoji, along with Jiang Jie, Wu Jing, and Feng Miaoyin, was officially recognized. With their styling, makeovers, and even media coverage, it was almost like a star-making campaign by an entertainment company! Fang Junjie began frequently taking Fu Xiaotang to various events, introducing her to many people. He gradually involved her in the various business ventures under his banner, except for those shady deals he didn’t want her to touch, he didn’t avoid showing her even some confidential financial operations. After a few instances, Fang Junjie felt that Fu Xiaotang was sharp-minded and meticulous, not inferior to him in the details, and she could see through many things at a glance yet knew when to keep quiet and avoid the limelight. With some polishing, she could be a gem, though she was slightly too emotional in some matters, not rational enough. However, this wasn’t a flaw. Instead, it complemented his own ruthlessness and cruelty. Since Fang Junyi left, he indeed needed someone he could completely trust and who could soften his steel-like demeanor by his side.
Volume Two: The Dancer – Chapter Sixty-Six: Mother (Part One)
Song Li had been swamped with various matters recently, so it had been quite a while since he last visited his mother. During phone calls, he noticed she was in high spirits, seemingly having made many new friends and often not at home. Song Li felt slightly relieved. He didn’t spend much time with his mother usually, and she would be lonely at home alone. But she said she had been lonely all her life and wasn’t afraid of it, adding that they had their own world and didn’t need his sister and him to visit often. His mother had always been low-key, never revealing that her son was the president of Song Corporation, so there was no need to worry about people with ulterior motives approaching her.
Song Li brought some of his mother’s favorite foods. As soon as he entered, he saw her in the living room, wearing an apron and on the phone, “—How can that be? You promised to come, you can’t back out now!” “—I know your boss is fussy, but come on your own.” “Do you know why I took so long to answer the phone? I was in the kitchen, making the sweet buns you taught me last time. Come taste them, they’ll be good this time. I’ve been busy all morning, if you don’t come, you’re looking down on me.” “Oh, you’re just good with words, then I’ll play the hostess. If you don’t come today, I won’t see you again.” “Okay, okay, come a bit later, come a bit later, just come. You’re so good, haha.” She finally hung up the phone, satisfied.
Song Li smiled; his mother indeed seemed much more cheerful. He rarely saw her acting like a child, being playful. It looked like he should thank her new friends properly if he got the chance!
“Ah, Li, you’re here!” His mother only then noticed him, quickly came over with a smile to take the items from his hands, “How come you have time to see me today?”
Song Li couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, feeling like she wasn’t expecting him, “Looks like I’ve interrupted your guest hosting. I’ll just stay for a bit and then leave.”
