Chapter 48

Xie Shiqing finished her set up faster than Zhong Ning. The makeup artist she used was one she regularly worked with and very experienced, so everything went quickly—after all, they know her preference.

Xie Shiqing had originally planned to head downstairs early after getting dressed to greet the guests and possibly secure a few business deals.

Although the acting CEO of Xie Corporation was already working on these connections, as the chairperson person, she had to make an appearance herself. She couldn’t behave like the typical subject of an engagement party, merely sitting back and waiting for compliments from the guests.

She was the only one in the Xie family now, so she couldn’t afford to relax.

But this plan was disrupted.

Because Zhong Zinuan had come to her, saying there was an important matter they needed to discuss—something concerning Zhong Ning.

Xie Shiqing’s heart skipped a beat. Had she noticed something too?

Though Zhong Ning had been staying only at the Xie residence recently, Zhong Zinuan wasn’t some delicate flower raised in a greenhouse. Quite the opposite—she was a sharp, ruthless, and decisive person.

Zhong Lin wouldn’t care about the changes in her descendants, but as a rival, Zhong Zinuan would naturally be watching closely at all times.

After a moment’s thought, Xie Shiqing agreed to her request and followed her into the hallway.

Because of the banquet, this floor had been cleared. The makeup artists, once finished, had left quickly. There were no cleaning staff present, nor would anyone else come up here. The members of the Zhong family, though entitled to access, were all busy socializing with their business associates.

“What is it that couldn’t be said in the room?” Xie Shiqing wasn’t particularly eager to have private conversations with Zhong Zinuan, but she wouldn’t show any sign of avoidance either—as if she were afraid of her.

“Are you so impatient with me now?” Zhong Zinuan stared greedily at her face, her voice as soft as a wisp of mist on an early winter morning.

“When were we ever on good terms?” Xie Shiqing didn’t bother to put on a smile or waste energy on pretenses. She said coldly, “What exactly do you want to say?”

“Say what, say what… you’re in such a hurry!” Zhong Zinuan suddenly flared up. Her voice rose abruptly, then quickly lowered, as if squeezed out through her throat. “Shiqing, have you forgotten how Zhong Ning used to treat you with hostility, bad-mouthing you?”

“Now she’s putting on this glib act and you’ve forgiven her?” she said quickly and anxiously. “I don’t understand why you’re helping her. Have you really fallen for her, that useless girl?!”

“That has nothing to do with you.”

“Nothing to do with me?” Zhong Zinuan repeated those four words. Her back was pressed against the wall, and the cold surface had already been warmed by her burning body. “Not related? Is that really what you think?”

“I love you, Shiqing, I love you!”

“Didn’t you used to hate her? Why would you propose an engagement yourself…” She suddenly stopped her anxious questioning, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes. Cautiously, she asked, “Was it to spite me?”

Xie Shiqing said, “Stop daydreaming. If you called me here just to say these things, I’m leaving.”

“You’re determined to protect her?” Zhong Zinuan’s face darkened like ink. “Is it for her or for the Zhong family? If it’s for the Zhong family, you can choose me instead.”

Xie Shiqing wore a bright red strapless gown, slit at the side, the hem fanned out behind her in a perfect circle, exuding a vintage elegance. She wore a complete set of ruby earrings and necklace.

She rarely wore such vivid red dresses—they were too flamboyant—but this rich color actually suited her the best, like a rose in flames, stunningly beautiful.

She looked gorgeous, but this beauty was displayed for Zhong Ning.

Zhong Zinuan could barely suppress the surge of destructive desire rising in her heart. She could no longer maintain that facade of gentle sweetness. In front of Xie Shiqing, there was no point pretending.

She seemed like a twitching venomous snake, or a crippled antelope. Her body trembled, her features twisted, and even her soft pleas became muddled, as though her tongue had tangled itself in a hundred knots, as if she were being thrown off a cliff.

“I really love you. Why can’t you just look at me?”

Xie Shiqing’s expression remained indifferent as she directly turned to leave. “I’m going.”

“Don’t go, don’t go!” Zhong Zinuan pleaded desperately. “I won’t go after Zhong Ning. For you, I’m willing to give up my right to inherit the Zhong family—as long as you’re happy.”

“But,” she inhaled and exhaled, making her voice clearer. She lifted a leg and set it down again, as quiet and poised as a hunting leopard. “I have one condition.”

Xie Shiqing truly had no patience left; her tolerance was completely exhausted. “What exactly do you want?”

Her dim eyes reflected no image, her face already showing a layer of irritation. She was beginning to regret agreeing to come listen to this nonsense.

And worse, she had let her assistant leave first. Now she didn’t even have anyone to walk her out.

The stairwell was so quiet it felt like another world, such a secluded place—no one would come, no one would care.

In Zhong Zinuan’s heart, resentment, jealousy, longing, and greed were growing wildly. Urged on by these emotions, she suddenly took a step forward. Taking advantage of Xie Shiqing’s blindness and slowed reactions, she grabbed her in an embrace, pleading endlessly, “Spend one night with me. I’ve liked you for so many years. Just this one request. If you agree, I’ll stop fighting.”

“Just one night with me!”

In the chaos, Xie Shiqing didn’t even hear the faint creak of the door opening. She kept pushing the person in front of her, trying to break free. “You really are insane. Have you forgotten who you are!”

“Let go of me, now!”

But Zhong Ning, who had pushed open the door, could no longer deceive herself. This was nothing like that embrace back in the Zhong family greenhouse, when Zhong Zinuan had twisted her ankle.

Her ears had heard everything, loud and clear!

“What on earth is going on…” she murmured, as if in a dream.

Xie Shiqing, panting lightly, heard her voice and could think of nothing else—just that a savior had appeared, though this savior was not at all the one she wished to see.

Inwardly, she cursed how much trouble her blindness caused. If her eyesight were intact, she would have slapped Zhong Zinuan long ago. Instead, she was now restrained, afraid of falling down the stairwell, and even more afraid that Zhong Zinuan might go mad and push her down. After all, the things coming out of that woman’s mouth were hardly what a sane person would say.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep