["Oh, what a direct attack! This is quite an unusual strategy - she's completely treating Han Ziyu as a scheming white lotus, forcing her to take a stance and leaving her no way out!"]
This was exactly what Lily was thinking.
She was convinced that Han Ziyu had feelings for Qi Li. After all, how could such a lowly girl who had been by Young Master Qi's side for so long, willingly acting as someone's stand-in, not have feelings for Qi Li?
With her question out there.
If Han Ziyu denied wanting to return for the sake of her pride and image, it would deepen the conflict between them, meaning a win for Lily. If Han Ziyu admitted wanting to return, it would prove that everything earlier was just an act, revealing her deep scheming nature, which would offend many people - and Qi Li wouldn't like such a calculating girl.
So this seemingly random and even troublemaking question was actually the most effective way to deal with a scheming woman.
["However... this only works if Han Ziyu actually likes Qi Li and truly wants to return to his side."]
Ji Fei silently commented.
When everyone heard this question, their gossip enthusiasm immediately surged.
After all, this stand-in was the woman who had stayed by Qi Li's side the longest, and they also felt that Qi Li still cared about Han Ziyu.
Initially, Qi Li was angry at Lily's thoughtless words, as he wanted to slowly force Han Ziyu to recognize her true feelings and submit, rather than directly pressuring her to answer.
If she stubbornly said she didn't want to return out of spite, wouldn't that make things more complicated?
But thinking about it, he felt a bit excited - perhaps Han Ziyu would finally succumb to her love for him, willing to abandon all dignity and risk offending everyone by admitting she wanted to return to his side. This would greatly satisfy his vanity.
Qi Li had already started fantasizing about how he would respond if Han Ziyu answered that way. He would definitely agree, but wouldn't show her any kindness - he couldn't let her become proud and needed to keep her in check...
Qi Li's lips curled into a smile as he thought about this. He couldn't help but add, showing off, "Lily, what nonsense are you saying? It's not so easy to return to my side whenever one wants." He finished with a raised eyebrow toward Han Ziyu.
Meanwhile, Lily felt that Qi Li didn't care about this stand-in that much after all.
At this moment, Han Ziyu felt extremely frustrated.
What was all this about? Why would such a question even come up?
If she had known this brain-dead former boss would be here, she would have stayed far away - it was such bad luck.
Indeed, this former boss had always liked to make his own assumptions, thinking she liked him. She had told him several times it wasn't true, but this former boss seemed unable to understand human language, completely refusing to believe it and living in his own world. It was truly hard-earned money and difficult work - she couldn't exactly curse at him and accuse him of having delusions. Fortunately, she had already resigned and couldn't be bothered whether he believed it or not.
With such a chance encounter now, her former boss might really think she was the one who couldn't let go. She felt more wronged than Dou E. Were all rich people this self-centered?
But her idol and her idol's husband were both so nice.
Han Ziyu had an internal rant.
Then she solemnly answered: "No, I don't!"
Everyone was stunned.
Many people had bet that Han Ziyu would answer that she didn't want to return.
But could someone explain to them why the answer was so forceful and resounding?
The firm tone was as if she was about to pledge allegiance to her country - solemn and dignified.
Shouldn't she have hesitated, struggled to speak, with her entire demeanor and expression screaming 'I'm lying' before saying she didn't want to?
Not just the onlookers were surprised.
Even Qi Li seemed as if his pride had been wounded by Han Ziyu's firmness.
Only Ji Fei finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Qi Li's face instantly turned red. After recovering, he immediately stood up and scolded, "Han Ziyu, even spite should have its limits."
Han Ziyu was about to roll her eyes. "Young Master Qi, I swear, I really have no intention of pursuing you, much less returning to your side. Both you and this lady by your side can rest assured!"
If it weren't for the confidential nature of the paid companionship agreement, she would have thrown it in their faces - they had a fair transaction, how did they imagine she would be clingy?
However, Qi Li seemed unable to sense her disgust and directly stepped forward to grab Han Ziyu's hand.
"Shut up! Come with me!" he said, trying to pull her away, apparently attempting to play the domineering CEO role.
Han Ziyu's harsh words had hurt him, and he admitted that he cared about this woman. Since she was being stubborn about saving face, he was willing to take a step back and give her a way out.
But he couldn't lose face, so they needed to talk privately behind closed doors.
However, after trying to pull her for a while, he found he couldn't move her at all.
Han Ziyu had almost half-squatted, lowering her center of gravity and firmly resisting, looking as if she would rather die than go with him.
She appeared as if the person pulling her wasn't her former boss but a human trafficker trying to kidnap her.
Han Ziyu often did physical work and was quite strong. Qi Li hadn't expected his cool and domineering action to stall, and the two ended up in a deadlock.
The surrounding crowd watched this almost comical scene with wide eyes, not knowing how to react.
Lily, who had almost fallen from her chair earlier when Qi Li suddenly let go, now watched as the man who had just started getting closer to her went to pull that stand-in. She became so angry that she also stood up and went to intervene, "Young Master Qi, I'm your date tonight."
"Get out of the way!" Qi Li was already irritated and sweating from being unable to move Han Ziyu, and now being blocked made him even more furious.
His attitude naturally caused Lily's anger to escalate. She directly tried to separate their arms.
The three-way struggle created an even more incredible scene.
This spectacular display had everyone watching with great interest, so much so that they almost missed the grand entrance of the VIP.
Lily turned her attack directly on Han Ziyu, "I get it now, you cheap woman, you're trying to win Young Master Qi back by playing hard to get. Let me tell you, don't think this will work. You're nothing but a stand-in, do you really think Young Master Qi would like you? Stop daydreaming!"
Although everyone knew about the stand-in situation, bringing it up so blatantly made Qi Li momentarily lose focus.
In that moment of distraction, his grip loosened, and Lily successfully separated them forcefully.
She also pushed Han Ziyu hard.
Their position was already close to the swimming pool.
With that push, Han Ziyu instantly lost her balance and staggered backward several steps.
Noticing she was just one step away from falling into the pool, Ji Fei immediately shouted, "Watch out!"
But Han Ziyu had already lost her balance completely.
Luo Fei, being the most agile, immediately jumped up to grab her. Although falling into the pool wasn't dangerous, she was wearing a uniform, and getting it wet would definitely be troublesome.
But before Luo Fei could reach her.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in everyone's view.
Tan skin, flowing body lines, sexy swimsuit, bright red lips, large wavy braids swinging with her movement.
She caught Han Ziyu around the waist, stopping her fall.
Due to the momentum, Han Ziyu practically crashed into the other's sexy embrace. She was completely dazed.
"Little beauty, are you alright?" A bright, clear voice rang out.
That scene was straight out of a TV drama's hero-saves-damsel moment.
Except everyone's expressions seemed frozen, as this wasn't a scene most people could easily process.
["Uh? The real deal heroically saves the stand-in? This... what kind of development is this? It's kind of funny, I can barely hold back my laughter..."]
