An acquaintance?
Zhi Yao's brows furrowed tightly. She didn't really have any close acquaintances in the Fox Clan, let alone someone she and Xie Qinzhou knew in common.
After all, Zhi Yao had once been despised within the clan, while Xie Qinzhou was considered the pride of the Fox Clan, their golden boy.
She and someone like him existed on completely different planes.
The young woman thought long and hard but couldn't figure out who Xie Qinzhou was referring to.
Until...
A familiar female voice suddenly rang out, "Xie Qinzhou, stop wasting time with idle chatter! Didn't you promise to help me? What are you doing now?"
That voice... that voice belonged to...
Zhi Yao didn't need to look up to know who it was.
It was none other than He Kaiting.
"Well? Surprised to see me?"
Upon receiving Zhi Yao's gaze, He Kaiting's expression turned to one of utter disgust. "So you're that annoying little fox from before!"
Recalling the words she had exchanged with this detestable fox at the Pei Group, He Kaiting felt both regretful and embarrassed.
To think that she was that fox!
This realization only deepened He Kaiting's aversion towards Zhi Yao.
She truly despised her.
Seeing He Kaiting's expression, Zhi Yao could only feel helpless. "He Kaiting, have I ever offended you?"
She couldn't recall any conflicts between them, yet He Kaiting repeatedly targeted her, always taking the lead.
"You like Pei Chiyao. You can try to pursue him on your own. If Pei Chiyao genuinely falls for you, I'll have nothing to say. But why do you have to direct your hostility towards me? There's nothing wrong with liking someone, but becoming ugly because of it – that's your mistake."
Zhi Yao's words left He Kaiting feeling utterly mortified.
"Admit it, you're just a vicious woman."
Zhi Yao sneered, "To harm me, you didn't hesitate to hurt your friend Jiang Cheng. What did Jiang Cheng do wrong? He's innocent, yet you dragged an innocent person into this. You're truly vicious, to the extreme. Perhaps this is why Pei Chiyao doesn't like you. Because no one would like such a vicious woman."
"You're like a venomous snake."
"Shut up!!!" Zhi Yao's words cut deep into He Kaiting's heart. She had always refused to admit her wrongdoings, constantly believing that everything she did was simply because she loved Pei Chiyao too much, that she desperately wanted to have him.
She wasn't vicious.
She just loved too much... that was all!
Zhi Yao let out a cold laugh but said no more.
He Kaiting had no intention of wasting more words with Zhi Yao either. She turned to Xie Qinzhou and said, "Xie Qinzhou, are you going to do it or not? If you don't, I will!"
When she looked back at Zhi Yao, her gaze had completely changed. It was no longer cold, but filled with murderous intent, intense murderous intent...
Zhi Yao narrowed her eyes, "You're not thinking of killing me, are you?"
"You think you're capable of that?"
After all, He Kaiting was just an ordinary person, while she was a fox with spiritual powers.
She raised her eyes to look at Xie Qinzhou and continued, "Xie Qinzhou, the matter between you, me, and my mother is an internal affair of the Fox Clan. Why are you involving an outsider?"
"Xie Qinzhou, I can't let this woman live. We'll settle our business later."
Before seeing her mother's condition, Zhi Yao didn't want to openly confront Xie Qinzhou.
Because... she wasn't confident she could handle two people at once.
Zhi Yao decided to tackle them one by one.
But before she could make a move, her intentions were clearly seen through by Xie Qinzhou.
Xie Qinzhou chuckled softly, "I think He Kaiting has a point. Yao Yao, I can't bear to hurt you myself, so let her do it. Don't worry, I absolutely won't allow He Kaiting to take your life. You're too beautiful, and you're still going to be my bride, the lady of the Fox Clan."
Zhi Yao frowned, suddenly seeming to realize something. She abruptly moved her hand to protect her flat belly, "You... you want to harm my child?"
Seeing that Zhi Yao had finally caught on, He Kaiting immediately displayed a smile of satisfaction. She could almost imagine Zhi Yao's agonized expression after losing the child.
"Hahaha! I originally wanted to kill you, to kill that bastard in your belly! But suddenly I think, rather than that, why not let you watch your child slip away, let you feel that pain bit by bit. And then let you watch as Pei Chiyao falls in love with me!"
This made her feel that these words were nothing but a fool's dream.
She forcibly suppressed the urge to laugh that was rising within her, pretending to be terrified and scared. She took two steps back, shaking her head in a panic and helpless manner, "No... no! You... you can't hurt my child!"
The more she acted this way, the more satisfied He Kaiting felt, almost to the point of ecstasy!
She could almost see Zhi Yao's future anguished appearance.
"What a fool you are, daring to come here alone. I really don't know what you were thinking. Aren't you just asking for death? Hahaha!"
Seeing this, Xie Qinzhou frowned in discomfort and said to He Kaiting, "He Kaiting, hurry up! Stop wasting time, make it as quick and clean as possible."
He Kaiting verbally agreed, but in her heart, she thought differently. She had no intention of being quick and clean. She wanted to make it as slow as possible, to thoroughly torment this seductive fox! Serve her right for seducing Pei Chiyao! Disgusting!
She raised her hand, and a white light appeared in her palm. Zhi Yao was momentarily stunned, but quickly reacted, "You... how do you also have spiritual power?"
He Kaiting was just an ordinary person, how could she possibly possess spiritual power?
This truly shocked and puzzled Zhi Yao.
"Well, I have to thank Xie Qinzhou for that. Haha, I must say, Xie Qinzhou is truly an excellent partner."
In truth, He Kaiting's heart was filled with intense jealousy towards Zhi Yao. Why should this vixen receive so much attention from men? So many men were fighting over her. Hah, a seductress through and through—possessing no real skills, only a pretty face to entice others. How disgusting!
He Kaiting wasted no more words. She concentrated, gathering her spiritual energy, preparing to unleash a lethal strike. This attack would surely cause Zhi Yao to bleed profusely!
"Go... die!" she suddenly shouted, her voice rising.
In the next instant, a blinding light flashed, so intense that Zhi Yao couldn't keep her eyes open.
