"Sir, the relationship between Madam and An De is still unresolved, but we found out something even more important," Wan Sui said somewhat complicatedly from the other end.
Qi Weiran loosened his tie and told the other party to continue.
"We found out who that boss surnamed Qi was that Second Master mentioned."
Without giving Qi Weiran a chance to ask, he blurted out the whole sentence in one breath.
"Qi Yuan, she was the second daughter of the main Qi family branch who went missing years ago."
"She is Second Master's secret backer."
It felt as if a big hand had viciously grabbed his heart. The vicious smile from his childhood when she had locked him in the basement surfaced in his mind.
Rubbing his temples to force himself out of the memory, Qi Weiran's gaze was sharp and his tone cold as he commanded Wan Sui, "Tell the planted people to take action. After tomorrow night's banquet starts, Second Master's name must be completely erased from this world."
"Yes."
Qi Yuan, you didn't hide well and even dared to come back.
Tapping his knees rhythmically with his fingers, there seemed to be a thin layer of ice covering Qi Weiran's amber eyes, sending chills down one's spine with just one look.
...
Yi Qingju had originally been worrying about what excuse to use to say she was going out tonight.
Unexpectedly, the next morning at breakfast, Auntie Zhang told her Qi Weiran had something to do and would not be coming home to stay.
"It's the weekend, yet he's always buried in work like this. No matter how good your health is, it'll be worn down this way," Auntie Zhang grumbled.
Hearing Auntie Zhang's muttering, Yi Qingju thought to herself, don't worry, old lady.
That kid has a good balance of work and rest.
Taking a bite of the soft, moist bread roll, Yi Qingju couldn't help hooking her lips.
With Qi Weiran not around and Tuanzi sleeping at An De's place, this really was a heaven-sent opportunity.
That night—
The banquet was held at a private winery far from the city.
Following convention, the attendant at the door took the invitation letter. When he saw this guest was surnamed Qi, he was startled, then looked up.
He suddenly met a pair of eyes as clear as if they had been washed by water.
"Is there a problem?"
Thinking there was something wrong with the invitation letter, Yi Qingju smiled politely, her vermilion lips curved to reveal pearly white teeth.
The attendant who had been dazed for some reason immediately regained his composure. "Sorry, Miss Qi, there's no problem."
The girl had both hands by her sides, clutching the long, sheer stole that shimmered with sequins. Through the thin gauze, one could vaguely make out her slender waist and graceful figure.
The strappy high heels perfectly showcased her beautifully contoured calves.
With just a glimpse of her back, she was beautiful enough to intoxicate people.
As for the person in question—
[Dammit, these heels are too high! And is the neckline of this dress too low? Good thing I had them add a stole, although it's as thin as nonexistent. They probably think I'm wearing a mosquito net studded with diamonds.]
Xiao Ji: [...Are you interested in being a mute beauty?]
Feeling the appraising and sticky gazes around her, Yi Qingju unconsciously frowned.
Seeing that she had come alone, many self-proclaimed handsome men walked over to greet her.
Yi Qingju also smiled and responded to each one. Xiao Ji had given her the fake name Qi Yuan. Hearing this surname, many men with frivolous smiles on their faces sobered up, though their attitude was still not great.
"So it's Miss Qi. My housekeeper has praised how fresh the pork from your family is."
With one "Miss", her identity as a business owner was easily covered up.
"I just wonder if Miss Qi's waist is as soft and tender as that pork."
As he spoke, he wanted to laughingly put his arm around Yi Qingju's waist.
Someone jeered, "Hey, be careful your big belly doesn't bump into her!"
A group of men in suits and leather shoes laughed boisterously, with occasional snickers sounding from around them.
"So it's the one who sells pigs."
"Oh, I said as soon as I came in there was a disgusting smell. So it was her!" A woman glanced at the graceful figure who seemed to make even the dim, yellow light brighter by a degree, a flash of jealousy in her eyes as she spoke.
"Can't say that. Isn't she opening a company now? Be careful or she won't sell you pork to eat, hahaha!"
If it were normal times, these people might be a little more restrained. But with masks on, their appearance hidden away, the evil in human nature poured out unscrupulously.
Yi Qingju dodged the arm the man reached out to put around her.
She copied the women around her who were mocking her, lightly laughing behind slender fingers.
Just this one laugh sounded sweet enough to melt many people's knees.
Two words involuntarily came to their minds—
Seductress.
Who knew the next second, the seductress in front of them would change her charming demeanor. Her gaze disgusted, she said, "As for getting involved with people, you don't do any of that, yet your arm is as thick as my family's pig waist. How can you still bear to put it around others?"
"Stop staring at me, my neck hurts from always looking down at you."
The man who had been insulted for his height pointed at her, anger turning his fat face red. "Do you know who I am to dare offend me like this?"
"Do you still want to stay in this industry?!"
Yi Qingju sneered coldly, "You sure have thick skin. Everyone here is a leader in the circle. Whether or not I can stay here, since when is it your place to say?"
She said this very elegantly. A man who had been watching the commotion in the corner suddenly spoke up, "I say, Wang Laopo, you're the one with thick skin. Saying such lame lines, aren't you ashamed?"
Perhaps the speaker had some influence. Wang Laopo's lips moved, just wanting to retort, when someone behind pulled him away. "That's enough, don't forget she's surnamed Qi."
An eerie silence descended on the scene. Yi Qingju smiled slightly at the well-built man in the corner.
The man was startled at first, then raised his glass at her when he reacted.
A short interlude made Yi Qingju disregard the autumn night's chill as she headed outside.
On the way, she passed the woman who had mocked her. Yi Qingju hooked her lips. "Smells good."
The woman was startled, thinking she was complimenting her perfume. Just as she was about to speak, Yi Qingju playfully blinked. "Oh, sorry, I smelled wrong. Turns out it was your foxy odor."
Without waiting for people to react, she walked out.
The autumn wind blew up her overly long stole. Yi Qingju lifted her foot to step on the grass. The wind carried crimson rose petals that lifted her stole.
She sighed.
"I messed up again."
No matter what, she shouldn't have provoked those rich kids. Who knew how they would make things difficult for her in the future?
Xiao Ji wanted to comfort her and carefully considered her wording before hurriedly speaking up.
Her shoulders shuddered. Even so, Yi Qingju didn't want to go back to that nauseatingly warm place.
Perhaps she really wasn't suited for flattering people in circles of power and influence.
Speaking of which, wasn't that why her boss in her previous life didn't favor her?
She shook her head and laughed mockingly.
She hummed a random, out-of-tune song, holding up her light gauze as she walked along the path lined with rose bushes.
Immersed in her own world, Yi Qingju was completely unaware that the originally lively wine cellar hall full of clinking glasses and boisterous voices had fallen silent without warning.
She idly picked a vibrant red rose.
She caressed it in her hand but did not pluck it, only wantonly playing with the tender petals until her fingertips were stained red with the flower's juice before withdrawing her hand.
When she turned, it was as if in the rose's bitterly resentful retaliation.
The ribbon of her mask got caught on a branch and her mask fell off along with it.
She had already walked several steps before reacting that the covering on her face was gone.
Just as she was about to turn around, a strong gust of wind blew by, blowing her black hair up. Then the sweet, rosy scent made her feel dizzy for a moment. Yi Qingju narrowed her eyes and pressed down on her skirt that had been blown up.
At that moment, the familiar voice that made her heart quiver violently like a magnificent, mellow cello suddenly sounded behind Yi Qingju:
"You dropped something."
Her pupils suddenly contracted, her face full of shock and astonishment.
Qi Weiran!?
