Chapter 59: Revenge
Since the last time Xiao Moyan said those aggressive words to Xia Lingying, Xia Lingying had not gone to find her again. She had only buried herself in the work of Tianhuang day and night. In just a few weeks, she had lost a significant amount of weight. Her once delicate skin had turned sickly pale, and her once bright eyes had dulled. Although she smiled faintly at everyone, it seemed somewhat forced. Her already fragile body, after such endless strain, was frequently sending warning signals. Yet Xia Lingying still refused to rest. She was afraid—afraid that when she stopped, she would fall into the vortex of missing Xiao Moyan, afraid that the fragile tears would bury her once more, suffocating her until she couldn’t breathe. Qiu Muqing was heartbroken for her daughter but understood the reason behind Xia Lingying’s behavior. She could only swallow all her words and keep them inside.
Xiao Moyan, on the other hand, had completely changed from her previous listlessness. She put on her usual mask and actively handled all matters related to Shenghuang. Although starting the new company was exhausting, Xiao Moyan was not just a figurehead. Her skill in handling affairs and her worldly ways did not disappoint the group who had followed her from her previous job. With full support from Hu Feifei in Nanyang, the financial issues were resolved, and everyone was full of hope and energy. Everything seemed to be proceeding according to Xiao Moyan's plan.
Monday, Tianhuang President's office.
The secretary placed the invitation to Shenghuang on the desk, took a few steps back, and carefully said,
"President Xia, this is the invitation from Miss Xiao to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony of her new company."
The hand holding the pen trembled suddenly. Xia Lingying looked up at the secretary, picked up the invitation from the edge of the desk, and slowly opened it.
When Xiao Moyan’s dragon-like signature appeared before her eyes, a dull pain surged in Xia Lingying’s chest. Her slender fingers reached out and gently traced the characters on the paper. After a moment, she sighed and looked up at the secretary.
“Is it tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Without a second thought, Xia Lingying ordered,
“Cancel all the meetings for the company. The matters with the investors will be handled by the vice president.”
“Understood.”
The secretary respectfully nodded, but deep down, she felt a bit sad. After all, she had been with Xiao Moyan for so long and had developed feelings for her. She had even been sentimental for a while when Xiao Moyan fell from power and left. Now, with another faction rising, it was clear why, and she knew that in the future, Tianhuang would inevitably face competition. As for the rumors about her and Xia Lingying, the secretary had heard some, and over the past few days of working with Xia Lingying, she had a general understanding of the situation. However, knowing the special nature of her job, she remained tight-lipped, regardless of what her colleagues discussed. Compared to the strong-willed Xiao Moyan, she felt more sympathy for the woman before her, who pretended to smile.
The company's board of directors was relentlessly pushing forward, with unanimous doubts from all the partners, the chaotic mess in the company, the rumors, and the reporters' incessant questioning. One after another, difficulties piled up. Now, the burden on Xia Lingying was no lighter than Xiao Moyan's back in the past. She, however, endured it, working day and night, unaffected by any gossip. Her only focus was on doing her job well. Looking at Xia Lingying’s frail figure, even she, an outsider couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pity.
The door was knocked, and the secretary snapped back to attention, walking over to open it. The moment the door was opened, a look of astonishment appeared in her eyes.
Gu Yuan, dressed in casual attire, stood at the doorway. The simple jeans highlighted his long legs, which carried a distinct allure. The off-white knitted sweater fit his broad shoulders perfectly. A section of his shoulder jutted forward, creating a graceful curve on either side of his breastbone. He stood there calmly, and upon noticing the secretary’s dazed expression, he gave a faint smile.
“You’re here?”
Xia Lingying’s voice, calling from behind, snapped the secretary out of her reverie. Her cheeks flushed, and after glancing between the two, she served two cups of tea and, understanding the situation, discreetly stepped out.
Gu Yuan sat on the sofa, holding the cup in his hand, his probing eyes fixed on Xia Lingying.
“I received an invitation from Xiao Moyan.”
Xia Lingying stared at Gu Yuan for a moment, then lowered her head without saying anything. She had already guessed it. With Xiao Moyan’s temperament, how could she miss anyone?
Putting down the cup in her hand, Gu Yuan slowly stood up and walked to Xia Lingying’s side. He looked at the woman before him with a hint of pity and tentatively reached out to touch her cheek. However, Xia Lingying quickly pulled away. Although it was expected, Gu Yuan couldn’t hide the pain in his heart and asked,
“Why?”
Xia Lingying slowly lifted her head, looking at Gu Yuan’s hurt expression. For some reason, she thought of Xiao Moyan and recalled the pain she had seen flash across her eyes when she left her last time. Her heart ached again. Without offering any explanation, Xia Lingying said flatly,
“Gu Yuan, you know, I love Xiao Moyan.”
Gu Yuan stared into Xia Lingying’s eyes and said,
“But she doesn’t love you.”
“That’s her business. As long as I love her, that’s enough.”
Xia Lingying’s tone was somewhat stiff, her brows furrowed. Gu Yuan noticed her emotions and sighed,
“Xiaxia, you always say that Xiao Moyan is stubborn like a child, but aren’t you the same?”
Xia Lingying did not respond to Gu Yuan, her eyes reddening slightly. So what if she was stubborn? Could stubbornness bring back Xiao Moyan’s love? It was nothing but her one-sided wishful thinking. The Xiao Moyan of today would never love or cherish her like she did before. What remained between them was nothing but endless hatred and hurt.
Gu Yuan looked at the melancholic expression on Xia Lingying’s face, his heart aching. Xiaxia, why won’t you say what’s in your heart? Why won’t you let me protect you? When Xia Lingying turned her head and met his gaze again, Gu Yuan awkwardly cleared his throat, turning his head to avoid looking at her.
“I’ll accompany you tomorrow,” he said.
Without giving Xia Lingying a chance to refuse, Gu Yuan left without looking back.
Xia Lingying watched his departing figure, sighed after a moment, and turned her head. She absentmindedly picked up the red invitation on the table.
****
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Shenghuang was grand. On the marble floor, a solemn red carpet welcomed the arrival of stars. The loud sound of firecrackers rang out, and the brilliant light effects caught everyone's attention. In the center of the stage stood a giant multi-layered cake, still spewing fireworks. The scent of champagne filled the air, and numerous celebrities appeared in extravagant outfits. Under the blinding flashes of cameras, their faces were all adorned with charming smiles.
A wave of commotion erupted as reporters, who were frantically snapping pictures, turned around. There, Xia Lingying entered, holding Gu Yuan’s hand, dressed to the nines. She wore a Bohemian-style dress with a dynamic ocean vibe, the checkered pattern exuding a summer breeze. The blue tones matched her gentle demeanor, and the layered short skirt accentuated her slender figure. The half-transparent white gauze on her shoulders hinted at what was beneath, making her even more captivating.
Beside her, Gu Yuan wore a Versace double-breasted casual suit with fine stripes. Beneath it was a deep V-neck wine-red shirt, revealing his clear, delicate collarbones. His waistline was smooth and well-shaped, exuding an air of refinement and luxury. Together, they stood side by side, with Xia Lingying gently holding Gu Yuan’s arm. Both of them smiled in perfect harmony at the camera, their stunning looks creating a beautiful picture.
Gu Yuan sat at his designated seat, looking around. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Xiao Moyan had gone to great lengths, inviting nearly all the presidents of major and minor entertainment companies. It seemed she had made up her mind to compete with Tianhuang.
With this thought in mind, Gu Yuan turned his head to look at the person beside him. He saw that Xia Lingying was frequently gazing at the center of the stage, her eyes showing an expectation that had not appeared in a long time.
Just as Gu Yuan's heart grew cold, the lights suddenly dimmed. Amid the cheers of the crowd, Xiao Moyan slowly walked onto the stage. To everyone's surprise, she did not appear in her usual long gown. Instead, she wore a high-collared, form-fitting dress, narrow-legged pants, and metallic-colored boots, and her long hair was styled up. Underneath her purple eye makeup were a pair of smiling eyes. Though she looked enchanting and sexy, there was an underlying sharpness in her allure. Every movement exuded the unmistakable aura of a queen.
Into the microphone, Xiao Moyan followed the usual routine of expressing her gratitude, but her eyes subtly scanned toward Xia Lingying. When she saw Gu Yuan beside her, her eyes narrowed slightly. She tightened her grip on the microphone, turned her head, and no longer looked at Xia Lingying.
Everything proceeded as usual, but Xia Lingying's gaze never left the person on stage. She couldn't see any signs of injury on Xiao Moyan's face. The charming smile, the flowing eyes, the elegant voice, and that slender, sexy figure—everything about her made Xia Lingying captivated. Xiao Moyan seemed to have returned to the mesmerizing queen she was when they first met.
It was only when the person beside her reminded her that Xia Lingying snapped out of her daze. She looked awkwardly at Xiao Moyan on stage, who was giving her a smile that seemed to be neither a smile nor a sneer, her mind blank.
She didn't know how to step onto the stage or how to complete the ribbon-cutting with Xiao Moyan and Hu Feifei. All she remembered was the familiar slippery touch of the hand. Like a wandering soul, Xia Lingying stepped off the stage, while Xiao Moyan on stage looked at her mesmerized face, a strange smile curving up at the corner of her lips.
Gu Yuan frowned slightly, looking at Xiao Moyan with confusion. He didn't know why, but he always felt that Xiao Moyan had changed. Yet, he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed, though a sense of unease lingered in his heart.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, as per Tianhuang's request, the reporters, though unwilling, had no choice but to pack up their heavy equipment and leave, reluctantly watching the various celebrities holding their wine glasses and drinking merrily.
Xia Lingying held her chopsticks, but she barely ate a few bites. Whenever someone came to toast her, she just politely responded. Even so, with little wine left in her glass, she had started to feel a little tipsy. Her eyes, like a rippling lake, made Gu Yuan, sitting next to her, gaze at her in a somewhat mesmerized way.
The banquet was halfway through, and amidst the host's teasing, the lights suddenly went out. The music began, and in the near-complete darkness, Xia Lingying reflexively looked up, her senses heightened. She vaguely heard Gu Yuan saying something to her, but she couldn't quite make it out. Just as she was about to speak, her waist tightened, and someone pulled her over.
"Who?!"
Xia Lingying gasped in surprise, waving her hands and trying to struggle, but as soon as she smelled that familiar mint fragrance, she gave up all resistance. She stood frozen, allowing the person to hold her waist and lead her into the dance floor.
Author's Note:
\(^o^)/~ It’s a little more relaxed, and next time, keke
PS: Some comrades suggested that Xiao’s company should be named Rihuang*. Do you think the Tianhuang or Rihuang is better... 囧**.
*Sun Emperor
**emoticon signifying embarrassment, shock, helplessness, etc.