It was 10 pm. Bai Yin was lounging on the lazy chair in Chen Huaixiao's study, playing connect games on her phone.
Chen Huaixiao, on the other hand, was standing by the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, picking out a book to read at his desk.
This was a rare moment of tranquility for the two, each minding their own business without disturbing the other, yet staying together in the same space.
In the past, Bai Yin would lock herself in her room once she got home, while Chen Huaixiao would be alone in his study. They would not seek each other out unless necessary.
But one day, out of the blue, Chen Huaixiao bought a very comfortable lazy chair.
The lazy chair's lazy beanbag color stood out sharply against the solemn and rigorous style of the cold-toned study.
Zou Meizhi, who had OCD, bravely suggested several times that the chair could be placed on the balcony or in the coffee area, but Chen Huaixiao stubbornly insisted on putting it in his study.
After trying the chair once, Bai Yin fell in love with it and started finding excuses to lounge in Chen Huaixiao's study.
She still remembered Zou Meizhi telling her on the first day in this mansion that Chen Huaixiao liked to be alone in his study and did not appreciate being disturbed.
But in reality, she found that Chen Huaixiao did not seem to mind her staying in his study at all, never once shooing her away.
Gradually, a tacit understanding formed between them. Bai Yin would not make any noise to disturb Chen Huaixiao's work or reading. Chen Huaixiao also allowed her to lounge on the chair lazily like a cat, playing games or watching shows.
Sometimes Bai Yin would think, she could just let go of everything and be like a cat, staying by his side, eating and sleeping. That wouldn't be a bad life either.
Wasn't that what she had longed for desperately when she was younger - to be protected and live a peaceful life?
But such spineless thoughts would be brushed aside as soon as they surfaced.
The Bai Yin now was no longer the 18-year-old Bai Yin from the past.
No one could be relied on. She could only depend on herself.
...
Suddenly, the tranquility of the study was shattered by the crisp ringtone of a cell phone.
Chen Huaixiao, bothered by the interruption, frowned slightly and glanced over at her.
Bai Yin quickly tiptoed to the balcony to answer Sun Lili's call.
"Found anything?"
"No updates about your dad yet, but I've got bigger news now, Bai Yin. Brace yourself against a wall!"
"I'm braced. Tell me."
"Li Chunfeng started following you on Weibo!"
"What?!"
"Li Chunfeng! The big shot started following you on Weibo!"
Bai Yin hurriedly opened Weibo and scrolled down her latest followers list for a long time before finally seeing a verified account: Li Chunfeng.
She was baffled. "How could this be?"
Sun Lili replied, "I should be asking you! Did you meet Li Chunfeng at the tennis club?"
Bai Yin shook her head in confusion. "No, I thought Li JingSong was Li Chunfeng before. Remember that misunderstanding?"
"Then did you meet anyone else there?"
"Just a lackey who followed Li around. But he's not Li Chunfeng. He sucked at tennis and was kind of lame."
"Then this is strange. Why would Li Chunfeng suddenly follow you? His account only followed two people - his own studio and now you. This is his personal account, normally not used for work matters."
Bai Yin recalled Li Chunhong promising to help connect her with Li Chunfeng.
"That lackey said he'd keep helping me look for Li Chunfeng at the tennis club. Could he have found him?"
Sun Lili pondered, "Sounds possible. Give me the lackey's contact. I'll ask him. If this is real, it's big news! I have to help you properly discuss a song collaboration. Can't let this opportunity slip by again."
"Um..." Bai Yin hesitated. "We didn't exchange contacts."
"Why didn't you get his number?!"
"Didn't think we'd keep in close contact."
Sun Lili sighed. "Nevermind, no need to be roundabout. Since Li Chunfeng is following you now, stay in touch with him and test the waters. See if you can meet up if possible."
"Okay." Just as Bai Yin was about to hang up, she suddenly remembered something else. "Right, please help me look into Su Yecheng's affairs."
"Don't worry, it's on my mind."
After ending the call, Bai Yin saw she had another hot search topic on Weibo - #LiChunfengFollows BaiYin.
Clearly, it wasn't just Sun Lili who noticed. With every song an explosive hit in the Mandopop industry, Li Chunfeng had a sizable fanbase.
And now his account, which only followed two people, inexplicably added another. Naturally it drew attention.
"What! Li Chunfeng is following Bai Yin now! Are they collaborating?!"
"OMG Bai Yin's connections are just too good!"
"What connection could make Li Chunfeng use his personal account to follow her? The big shot is so mysterious and has never had private friendships with celebrities."
"This is so weird."
"Bai Yin's career has been smooth sailing since her debut. She's destined for success!"
"So excited for her new song!"
...
Bai Yin was completely puzzled. She paced around and went up to Chen Huaixiao, softly hugging him from behind with her smooth arms around his neck. "Brother, did you help me contact Li Chunfeng?"
Without thinking, Chen Huaixiao bluntly replied, "Yes I did. How will you thank me tonight?"
"... "
He admitted it so readily that Bai Yin no longer believed him.
It couldn't be him.
If it was, Sun Lili as her manager would have known.
"Chen Huaixiao, shameless!" She let go of him drily.
Leaning against the chair, Chen Huaixiao toyed with a black enamel pen in his fingers. "When I help, I'm brother. When I don't, I'm just Chen Huaixiao?"
Bai Yin humphed. She laid back down on the lazy chair and followed Li Chunfeng back on her own Weibo account. Nervously, she sent him a message: "Hello, senior."
Li Chunfeng replied almost instantly: "Hi :)"
Seeing her completely absorbed with her phone, Chen Huaixiao silently walked to the Lady of the Luo River painting on the long table, intending to roll it up and take it away.
Bai Yin's gaze sharply flicked over. "Chen Huaixiao, what are you doing?"
"This painting is priceless. I'm putting it away in the basement for safety."
"No need. I have other plans for this painting."
Chen Huaixiao frowned. "What plans?"
"Su Yecheng also seemed to be asking Mr. Li for a painting. I'm thinking this painting may come in handy, doing me a huge favor."
"You want to take advantage of even a painting?" Chen Huaixiao's expression cooled slightly.
Bai Yin guessed what Chen Huaixiao was thinking - that she was beyond redemption.
She walked over and pushed Chen Huaixiao aside, rolling up the scroll herself and holding it in her arms. "I'm just a vulgar person. Besides, Old Mr. Li already said I could even sell this painting if I needed money. So I have his consent. He won't be upset."
Chen Huaixiao insisted, "If you need money, you can withdraw from my card. The painting is too meaningful to be sold."
"It's not about money. The Su family owes me. I want every last bit back." Bai Yin gritted her teeth. "Can you get revenge for me?"
Chen Huaixiao came over and grabbed her hand, staring intensely at her. His voice was low and husky. "Revenge isn't difficult. But Bai Yin, do you really want revenge to consume your whole life? Can even others' goodwill become pawns for your revenge?"
Staring at the ethereal Luo River Goddess on the scroll, Bai Yin's gaze lowered. Her dark eyes flickered with struggling emotions. After a long while, she whispered, "Brother, you haven't experienced what I did - going hungry, living as a burden, being harassed by hooligans, watching my mom die in front of me in a bathtub full of blood... You didn't experience any of that. What right do you have to tell me to be gentle with others' feelings?"
After saying this, Bai Yin shook off Chen Huaixiao's grip. Clutching the scroll, she walked out of the study. At the door, she used the back of her hand to wipe the moist corners of her eyes. She paused in her steps, "I was never...a kind and innocent person."
Chen Huaixiao turned around and gazed at the solitary moonlight outside the floor-to-ceiling window. He was silent for a long time before softly murmuring three words: "I know that."
...
Back in her room, Bai Yin carefully stored the scroll in the safe in her closet.
She was right. She would take advantage of everything - the painting, her marriage, even the brother she used to love so much...
She just wanted to win. Those who wronged her must pay the price. She wanted to stand at the pinnacle among the stars and reap great happiness.
For this goal, Bai Yin would spare no cost.
She no longer thought about it and miserably went to bed, pulling the covers over her head.
In the dark night, there was a crisp "click" at the door as it opened.
Chen Huaixiao liked visiting her suddenly after she fell asleep. But this time, Bai Yin was still awake.
She pricked up her ears and listened carefully, thinking Chen Huaixiao came to steal the painting.
Chen Huaixiao stood by the bed for a very long time.
In the dim night, she couldn't tell if he was looking at her or looking for the painting.
Bai Yin broke the silence of the night and said, "I've hidden away my treasure. You can't find it."
"Hidden it away? Then how did I find it?" Chen Huaixiao slipped into the covers and hugged her from behind, his breath hot against her ear, his voice magnetic.
With anger in her heart, Bai Yin desperately struggled free. Chen Huaixiao bit her ear and said in a low voice, "Little braid, I don't need your innocence and kindness."
Feeling the tingling numbness behind her ear, she stopped resisting.
"I just don't want you to regret."
"Chen Huaixiao..." Bai Yin enunciated clearly, "I never regret."
Loving you before, no regrets. Not loving you now, still no regrets.
Chen Huaixiao bit the back of her neck. Emotions surged in his heart like waves. "No regrets. That's good."
This woman was clearly in his arms. If he wished, he could have his way with her however he wanted.
But Chen Huaixiao still felt empty inside, so very empty...
What he wanted...was never just physical possession.
But Bai Yin only gave him this, sincere affection and love, he wouldn't be able to take the slightest bit.
*
That morning, Bai Yin woke up.
The room was filled with sunshine, and Chen Huaixiao had already left.
Bai Yin sat by the bay window, letting the warm sunshine shine on her fair, smooth skin, feeling warm and cozy.
Last night's Chen Huaixiao was too gentle, really too gentle.
Bai Yin didn't know what to do and reached climax twice.
She leaned against the bay window looking at the lush branches and leaves outside spreading in the sunshine, with her head resting against the wall.
She savored it for a long, long time.
She never knew that Chen Huaixiao could be so meticulous and gentle in pleasing her like this.
For the first time with Chen Huaixiao, she felt a vague...deeply hidden affection.
Did he love her, or was he projecting his longing for someone else onto her?
Bai Yin really didn't know anymore.
But it didn't matter, she didn't need to care so much.
She lazily took out her cell phone and sent Chen Huaixiao a message: "Brother."
Skirt Slave: "I'm not anyone's brother, I'm Chen Huaixiao."
Little Braid: "Brother, brother, brother, brother!"
Skirt Slave: "Meeting a client, remember to eat breakfast."
Little Braid: "Wait, is brother coming back tonight?"
Skirt Slave: "Addicted?"
Little Braid: "[covering face]"
......
Bai Yin didn't get anything done that morning, her mind full of last night's events.
She sat on the yoga mat, shaking her head vigorously to dispel those colorful images from her mind.
She couldn't be like this, she couldn't let this fox Chen Huaixiao seduce her and lose her reason.
After yoga, Bai Yin wiped the sweat from her face with a towel, and at the same time got a call from Sun Lili—
"I know why Su Yecheng went to ask Li JingSong for a painting. The biggest video streaming platform iku is about to enter the domestic market. Recently, several major domestic media giants have been competing for the exclusive agency rights of iku, including Su Yecheng, Qin Group, and even our Spark Media. This is a pie with oozing fat, if one can obtain exclusive agency rights, it would basically establish a firm foothold in the film and television industry."
Bai Yin pondered and asked, "What does this have to do with Li JingSong's ink painting? Why did Su Yecheng have to ask the old man for a painting?"
"You don't know, the person in charge of iku's overseas agency rights is Mr. Cowen. He is very interested in traditional Chinese culture, especially classical charm and landscape ink painting. He has posted the Chinese paintings he collects at home on Facebook more than once. However... after identification by netizens, many of them turned out to be fakes, haha."
Bai Yin understood. Cowen liked traditional Chinese poetry and painting, and Old Master Li JingSong's ink paintings were the pinnacle of this field.
If he could obtain an authentic work and give it to Mr. Cowen, wouldn't that be catering to his preferences?
This was the idea Su Yecheng had.
Bai Yin returned to the study and carefully wrapped the Painting of Goddess scattering flowers in a scroll bag. In the afternoon, she went to Chen Huaixiao's office.
Recently, employees of Spark Media had been busy to death, continuously consolidating data to present their resources to the iku platform, and persuade them to choose Spark Media for iku's exclusive domestic agency rights.
As for Chen Huaixiao... every day was filled with big and small meetings, listening to reports from his subordinates, scrutinizing and picking out faults, constantly optimizing the cooperation plan with iku.
"The artists from our company are among the best in the industry. Here is their information. If we have the honor to cooperate with iku, I believe we can achieve the best promotional effect in terms of influence."
At the end of the long conference table, Chen Huaixiao sat in a chilling black suit. The light from the slides shone on his face, outlining his distinct features. Looking at the PPT, his dark eyes were calm without ripples.
After the supervisor finished reporting, Chen Huaixiao lightly tapped the table with his pen and said expressionlessly, "Who are you trying to convince with these few PPT slides?"
"..."
"You can't even convince me, how do you expect to convince Cowen?"
Hearing his awe-inspiring words, everyone's faces grew solemn.
Another proposal had been rejected.
"Mr. Chen, maybe we can edit highlights from the artists' films and TV shows into promotional videos to showcase them."
"You have ideas, why don't you just do them directly." Chen Huaixiao said coldly, "Do you think I have a lot of time to listen to your nonsense here?"
The supervisor said in a panic, "I...I'll get to it right away!"
Chen Huaixiao rubbed his brow and inadvertently looked up to see Bai Yin standing outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
She wore a light-colored cheongsam in moon white, with curves sculpting her graceful figure. White floral patterns were embroidered on the satin, like white peonies lost in a dream, taking him back to the bluestone paved streets of the rainy Jiangnan small town.
She was also holding a scroll bag in her arms. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, her fair snow-white wrist beckoned to him.
Unexpectedly, everyone noticed that Chen Huaixiao's originally stern cold gaze suddenly softened a little.
However, when everyone followed his line of sight towards the window, there was no longer anyone in the corridor.
An hour later, Bai Yin was waiting for Chen Huaixiao in his office.
She had half-peeled orange in her hand. Seeing him come over, she casually handed that orange slice to him.
Chen Huaixiao naturally took a bite of the orange and asked, "What brings you here this time of day?"
"Mm."
He looked at her fair neck bound by the cheongsam collar, leaned in close and gently sniffed, "Don't tell me you can't wait until night."
"That's not why I'm here."
Bai Yin brought over the scroll bag and handed it to Chen Huaixiao, "Here, it's for you."
Chen Huaixiao looked deeply at Bai Yin, very surprised, "Weren't you hiding it protectively before? Why are you willing to give it to me now?"
Bai Yin tugged at Chen Huaixiao's sleeve excitedly, her dark eyes shining, "Give this to Mr. Cowen and you'll be able to successfully secure the partnership with the iku platform. Su Yecheng also had this idea. Hurry up and do it before he asks Old Master Li for a painting!"
Listening to her words, Chen Huaixiao's originally relaxed expression gradually darkened.
"So it's not a gift for me, but to borrow flowers as tribute to retaliate against your father."
"He's not my father." Bai Yin gritted her teeth and said, "He's the culprit who forced my mother to her death. I won't take their lives this time I'm back, but I want all their beautiful hopes and dreams to be in vain!"
The real punishment for someone is not to let them die, death is too easy. She wanted them to fall into despair and hopeless predicaments.
Chen Huaixiao looked at Bai Yin... her heart had been completely consumed by the flames of revenge.
If one lives only for vengeance against their enemy, unable to enjoy the slightest happiness beyond that, what meaning is left in life?
Chen Huaixiao could not agree, and even more unwilling to let her live like this.
He pushed away the scroll and said coldly, "No need, Spark Media can obtain iku's exclusive agency rights with our own ability."
"It was Su Yecheng who started this underhanded scheme first." Bai Yin could not understand, "We happen to have the painting now and have the advantage, why can't we take it?"
"I cannot use someone else's sincerity to achieve business goals."
This sentence was undoubtedly a slap in Bai Yin's face.
"Chen Huaixiao, you're a businessman, aren't businessmen all cold-blooded and ruthless? Since when did you develop such a strong sense of morality?"
Chen Huaixiao looked at her deeply, "No matter how cold-blooded and ruthless I am, I will not take advantage of someone who is sincere to me."
Bai Yin gave a cold laugh, "Does brother dare say there wasn't the slightest bit of taking advantage of me in this marriage?"
Chen Huaixiao retorted, "What about Little Braid, is there the slightest bit of sincerity towards me?"
The two gazed at each other for a moment before each looking away, both somewhat short of breath.
Bai Yin picked up the scroll and turned to leave his office, "Since brother is unwilling, I'll find another way."
"Do as you please."
Chen Huaixiao turned around, leaning back against his desk as he lit a cigarette lowering his head.
......
Bai Yin walked out of Spark Media. Tang Ka was waiting in the car downstairs of Spark Media's building.
Perhaps only Bai Yin could park so ostentatiously at the entrance of Spark Media. Others would drive directly into the underground garage and not stop at the lobby entrance like this.
Clearly, this was Chen Huaixiao's tacit approval.
Bai Yin got into the car, looking at the scroll in her hand, she fell silent in thought for a long time before calling Su Yecheng.
"Bai Yin, what's the matter looking for dad?"
"I have an ink painting by Old Master Li JingSong. Do you want it?"
Hearing this, Su Yecheng's tone changed instantly. He asked urgently, "What did you say? You have Li JingSong's painting? How did you get it? Is it real?"
"It's an authentic work." Bai Yin said lightly. "Dad can take it to get authenticated if worried about authenticity."
Su Yecheng immediately thought of Chen Huaixiao as a competitor as well. His tone cooled down, "Bai Yin, you're not conspiring with Chen Huaixiao to trick dad, are you?"
"Chen Huaixiao knows nothing about this. I happened to meet Old Master Li while playing tennis at Maple Court and accompanied him for half a month. He gifted me a copy of Painting of Goddess scattering flowers with a dedication."
Hearing Maple Court, Su Yecheng's expression changed slightly, knowing that what Bai Yin said was most likely true.
"This is fantastic, such a windfall! Bai Yin, you really are dad's good daughter. I'm coming over now to get the Painting of Goddess scattering flowers. Where are you?"
"No rush, dad. I haven't told you my condition yet."
"What's your condition? Just say it. As long as dad can do it, I will definitely comply!"
"I want Zou Meizhi and her daughter Su Anning to pack up and get out of my mom's house."
"This..."
Upon hearing this, beads of sweat appeared on Su Yecheng's brow, "You want them to move out, move where? They've been living in that house for over ten years."
"I don't care where you arrange for them, but they absolutely cannot continue living in the place where my mom used to live."
Although Su Yecheng felt embarrassed, thinking about the exclusive distribution rights to Iku, he still gritted his teeth and promised, "No problem, I promise you, I'll let them move out. Now can you let me see the painting?"
"It's not over yet," Bai Yin said lightly with a faint smile: "We've barely started. A house in exchange for this priceless ink painting, what is Dad trying to bargain for?"
"What more do you want?"
Bai Yin's eyes were icy cold. She enunciated each word clearly, "I want your whole family - the three of you - to go to my mother's grave and kowtow to apologize."
