VBNWDW - Chapter 40
Chapter 40
"Secretary Li is a two-faced bastard! She's a traitor, CEO Xi!"
The girl standing before her looked very young, wearing a white sweatshirt with a small bear printed on it. She had shoulder-length hair, almond-shaped eyes red from crying, and a touch of baby fat that hadn't yet faded.
Xi Zhoulu remembered that she had just graduated this year. When Xi Zhoulu was hiring, she had requested someone "clean and a little naive," and this girl had been hired as if she'd hit the jackpot.
To be honest, Xi Zhoulu didn't have much attachment to her. She had occasionally entertained the thought that if Xi Zhoukang managed to buy her off, she could be kept as a pawn.
Unexpectedly, Duan Jia had a one-track mind. When Xi Zhoukang tried to forcibly occupy Xi Zhoulu's office, she had clung to the door, displaying a resolute willingness to die rather than yield.
Xi Zhoulu suddenly recalled the text message from earlier and couldn't help but interject, "Where's the key to my office?"
The Omega across from her sobbed as she pulled a key from her sweatshirt pocket. "Don't worry, CEO Xi. Even if, even if I'm gone, they won't be able to get in."
Xi Zhoulu's expression grew complicated. It was the first time she had met someone so loyal and yet so…
So simple-minded.
If Xi Zhoukang and the others were determined to get in, they could just change the lock. What good would hiding the key do?
Besides, on the surface, she was only missing, not dead. To stabilize the Xi Group and win over others, Xi Zhoukang's trio wouldn't resort to any drastic measures for the time being. They would even have to leave her office untouched, feigning grief, sorrow, and a reluctant takeover to cultivate a good image.
However, Xi Zhoulu tilted her head and thought for a moment. Duan Jia had actually done her a small favor regarding the leftover ointment she had left in the break room.
Thinking of it this way, Xi Zhoulu found the person opposite her less noisy. She tried to say gently, "Don't cry."
But not only did Duan Jia not stop, she wailed like a child who had found her family. "CEO Xi, your dad is so mean! He wants six cubes of sugar in his black coffee, and when I wouldn't make it for him, he yelled at me."
Xi Zhoulu rubbed her brow, knowing full well that Xi Yunting was putting on his non-existent airs again.
"Your stepmother even tried to hit me! Luckily, I was smart and ducked under the desk."
That was indeed quite smart…
But what if she had ducked down too? How would you have escaped?
Duan Jia wiped her tears and continued her accusations. "Secretary Li is a bad person, too. She didn't even try to make me stay. She just rushed me to leave the company."
This was something Xi Zhoulu could explain. She said, "Qingli was worried that if you lingered any longer, you'd be kicked out by Xi Zhoukang."
"So, so she's still a good person then?" Duan Jia blinked.
"If you mean that she hasn't betrayed me, then yes, she should be," Xi Zhoulu explained.
In fact, Duan Jia should thank Li Qingli. If she hadn't mentioned this fiercely loyal little secretary when she contacted Xi Zhoulu, Xi Zhoulu truly wouldn't have remembered her, let alone arranged for someone to bring her here.
Duan Jia let out a huge sigh of relief. "Then I can still work with Sister Qingli in the future."
Xi Zhoulu's lips twitched.
Then, as if remembering something else, she said hurriedly, "CEO Xi, CEO Xi! The bodyguards who were injured protecting you were also kicked out of the hospital by Xi Zhoukang. One of them is still in a coma!"
"You don't need to worry about them. I've already made arrangements."
Although Xi Zhoulu appeared cold, she was extremely good to her own people. Most of them earned much higher salaries than elsewhere, with frequent bonuses and compensation. This time, they had died or been severely injured because of her. Xi Zhoulu had seen it all; how could she possibly treat them poorly?
She was just afraid of making too big a move and attracting the Old Master's attention, so she hadn't had a chance to provide more substantial compensation yet. But those who were still alive had been transferred here for treatment.
Duan Jia was instantly relieved and patted her chest. "Then I can rest easy. CEO Xi, is there anything you need me to do now? You can give me any task. I promise to complete the mission."
Xi Zhoulu thought for a second, then said with certainty, "Yes."
"You are to stay here during this time. Minimize contact with the outside world, and don't mention this to anyone."
"That's it?"
Duan Jia blinked. This was completely different from what she had imagined.
"CEO Xi, shouldn't we be making a beautiful comeback and kicking Xi Zhoukang out of power right now?" After a moment's thought, she added, "Is it because you haven't recovered yet? Do we need to wait a little longer?"
Although she couldn't tell what injuries Xi Zhoulu had sustained, seeing her in the blue and white hospital gown and looking weaker than usual, even someone as carefree as her could see something was wrong.
Xi Zhoulu nodded slightly, then shook her head. "We will go back, but not right after my injuries heal."
Duan Jia had stopped crying, her face full of confusion. Before she could ask, she heard Xi Zhoulu call out, "Yu Xing."
The driver from before walked in.
"Take her to pick a room."
"Alrighty."
Duan Jia was led away by the wrist, walking out in a daze. Before she could process what was happening, she heard Yu Xing ask in a low voice, "By the way, does our boss hate seafood?"
"Huh?" Duan Jia looked up, her eyes, redder than a rabbit's, misty as she looked at her. "CEO Xi isn't a picky eater…"
"Is that so?" Yu Xing scratched the back of her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.
As the footsteps faded into the distance, Xi Zhoulu lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
Although Li Qingli would use covert methods to inform her of what was happening at the company after her accident, due to time constraints and her rigid personality, she mostly mentioned official business and rarely brought up the antics of Xi Zhoukang and the others.
Now, with what Duan Jia had said, Xi Zhoulu could determine that the three of them were even more impatient than she had imagined.
Her fingers tapped on the quilt as she remained silent for a long time.
Xi Zhoulu made a call and said as soon as it connected, "I can send you the information you wanted in a bit."
The person on the other end finally spoke, their voice low. "What about them?"
"I have theirs too."
"All for tonight?"
"Yes." Xi Zhoulu turned her head to look out the window. The cold early winter wind blew, making the withered branches look even thinner, as if they were about to snap.
The person on the other end was silent for a moment before saying, "I want that piece of land in the west of the city."
Xi Zhoulu paused, then chuckled. It wasn't the gentle indulgence she showed Luo Yueqing. Her pale gray-blue eyes shimmered like a shrewd merchant sizing up a buyer. "The Qin Family wants to get involved too? These waters are murkier than you think."
Qin Yuan reacted immediately. "Who else is there?"
Xi Zhoulu remained silent.
Qin Yuan reacted even faster. Knowing Xi Zhoulu wouldn't say, he upped the ante. "You know most of the Qin Family's assets are overseas. For the past two years, the elders have been clamoring to come back, trying all sorts of methods…"
The implication was that the Qin Family was willing to pay more.
But Xi Zhoulu said, "The Qin Family can't swallow this alone. Go ask around."
As she spoke, the sound of water from the bathroom stopped, followed by the rustle of fabric. With a soft click, the door opened.
Xi Zhoulu was momentarily distracted, her gaze fixed on the damp mist.
Luo Yueqing had said she was going to take a shower, but her hair showed no signs of being wet, with only her temples slightly damp. The blue and white hospital gown she wore was loose, barely reaching her thighs, while the pants that should have been there were nowhere to be seen. As she walked, water droplets slid down, tracing the lines of her straight, well-proportioned legs.
Xi Zhoulu's eyes darkened. Qin Yuan's determined voice came through the phone again.
"Two locations. I'll let you choose any two of the Qin Family's mining veins. And I'll leave the personnel I arranged behind, so you can start work as soon as you take over."
The scent of roses laced with red wine filled the air. Xi Zhoulu pressed her lips together and said simply, "I don't have the energy to manage that much."
The person on the other end was stunned. "Didn't you want…"
Xi Zhoulu's mind was no longer on the conversation. She said nonchalantly, "The canary I'm keeping likes shiny things."
Luo Yueqing had already walked over to her, straddling her thighs with natural ease and hooking her arms around her neck. Her peach-blossom eyes rippled with moisture.
Xi Zhoulu's barely noticeable Adam's apple bobbed. She continued, "So I'll buy her a mine to play with."
Qin Yuan was instantly speechless, unsure of what to say.
Xi Zhoulu was in a rather good mood, so she offered a rare piece of advice. "The Qin Family is rich, but can you hold onto it after you've secured the contract?"
"They're friendly with you now only because the Qin Family hasn't been involved in domestic affairs. But if you rush in recklessly…"
Xi Zhoulu smiled, raising a hand to support the waist of the person on her lap.
She continued, "It's not that you don't understand these things. It's that your Qin Family is too impatient right now, insisting on wading into these muddy waters at this time…"
Luo Yueqing loved to cause trouble. The busier the other person was, the more chaotic she became. And now, she was pressing her lips against Xi Zhoulu's.
And the person beneath her? Not only did she not stop her, but she even tilted her head up to cooperate. These past few days, she had long since learned how to tease her canary.
Qin Yuan thought to himself for a moment, then sighed. "Zhoulu, I'm not as good as you."
"An onlooker sees the game best, that's all," Xi Zhoulu said dismissively, only to have Luo Yueqing bite her lower lip the next second.
Qin Yuan gave a bitter smile. "You should be the one playing the game."
He took a deep breath. "Tell me, what do you want?"
The buttons of the hospital gown were undone, revealing pale, delicate skin like freshly fired white porcelain, so translucent that sunlight seemed to pass right through it.
Xi Zhoulu's eyes half-closed. She thought she shouldn't have let Luo Yueqing remove the cast so quickly. She should have restrained her a little to stop her from being so mischievous.
She replied, "Shares of the Xi Group."
Back when the Xi Group was in chaos, various families had inevitably gotten involved, using all sorts of means to grab a piece of the pie. Even after Old Master Xi took over, he hadn't managed to reclaim much, only barely securing the family's controlling stake. Now, he had given half of that to Xi Zhoulu…
If someone were to rally the shareholders against him, Xi Zhoukang's position would certainly be untenable.
Qin Yuan seemed to laugh, as if he had guessed correctly all along. He immediately said, "I can make the decision to transfer them to you at the lowest price, but we don't have many shares…"
Before he could finish, Xi Zhoulu interrupted him. Her tone was calm. "No, I don't want them."
"Huh?"
"If other members of the Xi family contact you, I hope you can transfer the shares to them at a suitable price."
"What?!" Qin Yuan was aghast.
Xi Zhoulu paid him no mind. Her breathing hitched for a moment. The person in her arms was being very restless, ducking her head to explore elsewhere, leaving mottled red marks under the blue and white hospital gown.
It seemed this wasn't the first time. Some marks were still faintly visible, only to be deliberately deepened by Luo Yueqing.
Xi Zhoulu took a deep breath, forcing her voice to remain steady. She added cryptically, "The Qin Family has been in business for so many years. If you're making a deal, you must have more than just the publicly declared shares, right…?"
This was all beyond Qin Yuan's expectations. He couldn't guess Xi Zhoulu's intentions at all and could only play along. "Didn't I secretly sell some to the Qin Family a few years ago to establish my footing?"
Qin Yuan knew this had never happened, but he said with a smile, "That's right, that did happen. So this time, the Qin Family has no choice but to sell them to the Xi family to raise funds."
The two exchanged a few more casual words before the call was disconnected.
The person who had just been in complete control of the situation now couldn't help but try to shrink back, forgetting that the bed behind her was raised. Pressed against the soft mattress, she couldn't escape no matter how hard she tried.
Seeing this, Luo Yueqing couldn't help but laugh, satisfied. "We should have one of these at home."
It was much more convenient than a regular bed. The upper half could be adjusted at will, saving Xi Zhoulu the trouble of sitting up and freeing up one of Luo Yueqing's hands that would have been needed to support her shoulder.
Xi Zhoulu couldn't help but roll her eyes at her, but said, "If you like it, I'll have someone move one over."
The Alpha who had just been called a canary to her face beamed, her eyes curving into crescents. She praised, "Our CEO Xi is so generous."
There was no trace of coyness or modesty; her skin was thicker than a city wall.
Xi Zhoulu didn't know what to say. Her gaze drifted downward. "I thought you were actually going to take a shower."
Luo Yueqing made a sound of dismissal. "I'm not stupid. If I washed everything, wouldn't I have to reapply the medicine when I came back?"
After speaking, she continued her downward exploration, using a pressure that was half-bite, half-caress to nibble at the tender flesh. The force wasn't heavy, though. Mindful of Xi Zhoulu's still-healing ribs, she didn't even press down lightly.
Xi Zhoulu let her be, knowing the little fox had been cooped up for too long. She might as well let her have a few licks to keep her from tossing and turning all night.
A breeze slipped through the partially open window, carrying a hint of chill that diluted the scent of roses in the room and also made certain damp places suddenly cold.
Xi Zhoulu covered her eyes with her hand and said in a small voice, "Luo Yueqing, you just washed for nothing."
The reply was a bit muffled. "Then I'll just wash again."
Not finding it troublesome at all.
Xi Zhoulu thought helplessly, wondering if there were any clean clothes left in the closet.
The wind blew through the treetops, and the branch that had held on for so long finally snapped, falling into the earth and fallen leaves, disappearing without a trace.
In the garden, someone new to the place was chattering incessantly, finding everything novel.
Another person teased them playfully, only to be chased and playfully hit moments later.
The bathroom light turned on again. The lingering hot steam condensed once more, crowding the small space. It was just barely possible to make out someone sitting on a chair, tugging at the hem of a standing person's clothes, creating messy wrinkles.
The other person seemed to be testing the temperature, one hand on the control, twisting it from time to time.
And the one sitting gave the most direct feedback—too hot or too cold, or a little softer, not so close.
But Luo Yueqing was always clumsy. When told to move it away, she would deliberately move it closer, standing stubbornly in the middle and giving the other person no chance to dodge.
Steam slipped out from under the door, only to condense into mist on the frosted glass, as if eavesdropping.
Xi Zhoulu was about to bite her lower lip raw, but the long rinse still hadn't ended. Water dripped to the floor, trying to cling to a slender ankle, only to be knocked away by other droplets and merge with the water that had nearly submerged her feet.
It seemed someone spoke then, asking if she was done washing.
The other person clearly said yes, but the sound of the water didn't stop. It trickled on for another half hour before finally ceasing. Only then could a few soft sobs be faintly heard.
But soon, someone held her, coaxing her in a low voice.
The drawn-back curtain slowly fell back against the wall. The door was locked from the inside, a "Do Not Disturb" sign hung on it. The room instantly darkened, leaving only the sound of long, deep breaths.
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