Little Miss Witch: Revenge of the Tainted Angel

Chapter 13 - Entangled With Lies And Conspiracy

To become a film empress?! 

Lan Jinyao looked at her benefactor like she'd grown another head over her shoulders. Was she fucking serious? 

She initially thought that Li Xiuying would ask her to sabotage Lin Meirong by doing underhanded tricks. But to help her reach her dream to become a film empress by paving a way for her? She must be hearing things! 

However, the way this Li princess looked told her that Li Xiuying wasn't joking. Her offer sounded so tempting especially now that it was Li Xiuying who was offering her and not those dirty old men who only wanted physical intimacies from her in exchange. 

Li Xiuying really intended to become Lan Jinyao's golden thigh for her to be able to suppress Lin Meirong's growing career. Although she knew that Mu Jianyu might have left her for good, that didn't mean they'll get their happy ending at the cost of hers.

"You don't have to worry anymore about Xi Shaohua. I'll deal with her. You only need to make sure to make it hard for Lin Meirong. Don't ever give her the limelight she's seeking." 

Li Xiuying continued, explaining the benefits Lan Jinyao would get if she accepted the agreement. Her lady bodyguard was shocked to know that their miss had already planned ahead even before Lan Jinyao suggested her help over the matter. 

This was something she and Su Ling have rarely seen from their miss. Their Miss Ying was very eloquent with words, listing the attributes as well as the advantage the other party could gain like she was presenting a trade agreement. It was an attribute she excelled on while Miss Chuntao could freeze the hell with her gaze, forcing the other party to surrender without consideration. 

Lan Jinyao remained silent. Was she ready to be entangled in this web of lies and conspiracy? More than anything else, she just wanted to work hard in peace without her half sister and Lin Meirong's scheming. She also wanted to repay Li Xiuying's kindness not only by keeping Lin Meirong away but by being her confidante. 

The glint of sadness on Li Xiuying's eyes reminded Lan Jinyao of her days spent alone at the orphanage. She could somehow understand Li Xiuying's pain. The kind of eyes she had before but rarely seen these days. 

"Do you accept?" Li Xiuying asked, breaking Lan Jinyao's trance. 

"Yes." 

Lan Jinyao agreed without batting an eyelid. She knew that if she rejected Li Xiuying now, she wouldn't come with the same offer twice. She needed not only Li Xiuying's protection but the Li family's support. She was aware that this was the same 'You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' set up but she didn't have a better choice than this. 

This would surely not be the last time that she'll be schemed by those women. Li Xiuying might be using her but wasn't it the same with her? 

The film she was working with Lin Meirong and Zheng Yue could be a big break she'd been waiting for. Vice President Tang had told her that if she could act well on this film, she might even earn a nomination for the upcoming awards. She cannot allow Lin Meirong and Xi Shaohua to ruin her chances. 

Li Xiuying sounded pleased and relieved with the young actress' response and smiled. Lan Jinyao made this easier for her. 

"Good, then starting tomorrow, you'll have to communicate with Song Zexi for our arrangements." 

—-

As soon as Mu Jianyu entered the building of Li Corporation, everyone's eyes landed on him. He was startled but hid it in his cold façade and continued towards the private elevator that led to the floor where his office was located. 

Behind him, his assistant, Zhou Cheng, kept their distance short. He looked around, confused as to why everyone's looking at them with curiosity. Did something happen that they weren't aware of? 

"Sir, have you checked the company's operating data I sent you yesterday?" He asked Mu Jianyu as soon as they stepped into the elevator. 

"I'm still reading it. What's the rush?" Mu Jianyu replied monotonously. He pushed the button for his floor and waited for the doors to close but a hand stopped it from closing completely, pushing the sides open. 

Mu Jianyu lifted his gaze and his eyes slightly widened when he saw who dared to join them. He'd seen Song Zexi's annoyed face first. It was her hand that was keeping the doors open to let her miss enter the elevator. Behind her stood Su Ling with Li Xiuying standing patiently next to him. 

"Madam!" Zhou Cheng exclaimed upon seeing Li Xiuying. He quickly recovered from his shock and greeted her respectfully as she joined them inside before her two bodyguards followed her closely. 

"Ying." Mu Jianyu regarded his wife. She was surprisingly beautiful today. "What are you doing here?" He questioned his wife. 

Donning a fitted high waisted skirt and white blouse, Li Xiuying held her chin up with a smile. He had almost forgotten how she looked like when she was in a professional suit until today. He hadn't seen her for three days since he left their home and wasn't expecting to see her soon. 

Li Xiuying didn't look like a wife that was presented with divorce papers by her husband a few days ago.

Flawless smooth skin, thick eyelashes and pinkish lips. Her face was still alluring and charming that no one can easily ignore. She was looking outside until the elevator doors closed. 

Mu Jianyu was briefly reminded again of the woman he was married to. His eyes became duller as he continued to look at her. In comparison to a year ago, he noticed that she had lost a lot of weight. Was she sick again? He wondered. 

Ever since his wife suffered from miscarriage years ago, her health wasn't in the best condition. She was frequently ill and malnourished that he had to confine her to the hospital for weeks to recover. 

However, he pushed these thoughts aside reminding himself that it wasn't his business anymore once she signed the divorce papers. He shouldn't forget that in his heart, Lin Meirong was his beloved. 

Li Xiuying turned her head to look at him and blinked innocently. Her brows creased and thought for a while before answering him. 

"Dear, didn't anyone tell you there's an emergency shareholders' meeting today?" she answered him back with a question. Her tone revealed none of the despair or helplessness Mu Jianyu expected to hear from her. "Grandpa's assistant called me last night and informed me. Didn't you know?"

She was still talking to him like she used to. Was she pretending that he didn't ask for divorce or was trying to make a fool out of him? What she was up to? 

Mu Jianyu's eyes slitted, his face marred with a slight frown. Was it possible that his wife knew about his affair? He'd been careful not to be discovered and had forced Zhou Cheng to cover for him whenever Li Xiuying called him when he was with Lin Meirong. 

An emergency meeting? Mu Jianyu gritted his teeth, annoyed that he was forgotten. He was one of the executives of the company yet no one bothered to inform him?

It took him some time before his wife's word sunk in his mind. Why wasn't he informed ahead with this? He glanced at Zhou Chen and saw him shake his head. It seemed that his assistant wasn't aware of the cause of this sudden meeting.