After Transmigrating Into a Book, I Was Played by the Black Lotus – Chapter 18

Subjective

Catering to One’s Tastes

The Qiao family truly wouldn’t completely tear apart their relationship with the Lin family over Qiao Zijin.

It wasn’t that the Qiao family was afraid of the Lin family. Rather, in Father Qiao’s heart, upon careful consideration, Qiao Zijin ultimately just wasn’t worth the trouble.

Compared to the relatively simple family situation of the Lins, the Qiaos’ was far more complicated.

Father and Mother Qiao had a typical marriage between two powerful families—a strategic alliance devoid of any affection. After getting pregnant with Qiao Zijin with extreme speed post-marriage, the two became emotionally estranged despite keeping up appearances.

After Qiao Zijin was born, her parents quickly separated. Both kept their own little lovers, constantly making headlines with their scandals and never returning home.

As time went on, Mother Qiao seemed to find being tied to the Qiao family utterly boring. It was unclear what the two families negotiated, but all anyone knew was that she eventually divorced, remarried, and moved abroad.

As for Father Qiao, after the divorce, a steady stream of illegitimate children began to appear, with a new major scandal breaking every other day. Later, he seemed to have met a particularly scheming woman who, big with child, directly entered his house and became the new Mrs. Qiao.

Thus, from a young age, Qiao Zijin was unloved by her father and uncared for by her mother. Both inside and outside the family, she had younger half-siblings eyeing her position as the heir like tigers, making her situation anything but stable.

And Father Qiao? With so many children and lost in a world of pleasure and women, why would he ever go to great lengths and expend all his effort on this unlikable daughter from his previous wife?

Fearing Bai Xiying would worry too much, Lin Xingzhu briefly explained Qiao Zijin’s current circumstances to her in just a few words.

Bai Xiying pressed her lips together, nodding thoughtfully.

After a moment, she took a sip of her coffee and looked at the person sitting across from her, a little worried. “Your father knows about me. He doesn’t mind, does he?”

“What would he have to mind?” Lin Xingzhu said with a relaxed posture, amused. “You have no idea. When he heard I had a girlfriend, he was clamoring for me to bring her home.”

Lin Xingzhu shrugged, finding the memory of her father’s joyous reaction last night comical.

Bai Xiying pictured the scene and smiled gracefully.

She had, of course, met Father Lin before.

But that was after Lin Xingzhu had been sent to prison. Father Lin had come to her, begging her to let Lin Xingzhu off the hook, willing to give up his entire family fortune to do so.

But what use do I have for so much money? Bai Xiying had thought. My peaceful life can never come back, and shouldn’t the person who started it all pay the price for what she did?

After that, Bai Xiying never saw that tall, upright man again. In her hazy memories, all that remained was a stooped and weathered silhouette.

“Be prepared,” Lin Xingzhu paused, looking at Bai Xiying. “My father… he really might want to meet you.”

Since they were going to confront the Qiao family, Father Lin had every reason to see who this person was that had made his daughter fly into a rage for the sake of a beauty¹.

Bai Xiying naturally understood this reasoning. “Around when? I should prepare.”

Seeing her slight nervousness, Lin Xingzhu said in a gentle voice, “You don’t need to be nervous. Just be yourself, just as you are now. My father actually admires people like you the most.”

Highly talented and hardworking enough to match, from a poor background but unyielding, and admitted into a top university. Not like that good-for-nothing Lin Xingzhu, who needed her father to pull some strings behind the scenes just to get in.

Lin Xingzhu raised her arm and glanced at the time. She had arranged to have lunch with Bai Xiying and discuss a few things.

There were still twenty minutes until the afternoon work session began.

Seeing that Bai Xiying was also about done eating, Lin Xingzhu picked up her bag and stood up. “Let’s go, I’ll take you back.”

When they reached the downstairs parking area, a white car suddenly stopped in front of them.

The car window slowly rolled down, revealing a face familiar to them both.

Mu Muqing’s eyes flickered with a strange light as she looked at the two of them walking side-by-side, but her face betrayed nothing. “Xiying, I can give you a ride back, it’s on my way.”

“President Lin has a million things to do,” Mu Muqing said, glancing at Lin Xingzhu. “And since Xiying works for me, we shouldn’t trouble President Lin to make a special trip to take her.”

Lin Xingzhu said nothing, merely turning her head to glance at Bai Xiying.

Seeing the difficult expression on her face, she smiled faintly and took a step back. “Then I’ll have to trouble President Mu.”

Only then did Bai Xiying get into the back seat.

Lin Xingzhu noticed she hadn’t taken the front passenger seat. Her brow twitched slightly as she watched the car drive away, the final digits on the yellow license plate slowly disappearing from view.

Why do I feel like I’ve seen that car somewhere before?

Lin Xingzhu pondered for a moment, then suddenly recalled the white car that had flashed past when she had pulled over on the side of the road the day she saw Bai Xiying.

It seemed to be this very car of Mu Muqing’s.

Given the other car’s speed, if Lin Xingzhu hadn’t taken Bai Xiying with her, it would have passed by that spot half a minute later and would have naturally spotted Bai Xiying walking slowly on the roadside.

Confusion gathered in Lin Xingzhu’s eyes. So, Bai Xiying got into my car without a second thought that day because she saw Mu Muqing was right behind her?

So, compared to Mu Muqing, Bai Xiying is more willing to be with me?

Lin Xingzhu held the steering wheel, slowly arriving at this conclusion.

Then the question is, what was with Bai Xiying’s voice a few days ago?

Lin Xingzhu had been secretly observing her these past few days, and not once had Bai Xiying’s voice shown that quality again. It was as if that alluring, sweet stickiness from that afternoon was just a fleeting anomaly.

But knowing the original novel, Lin Xingzhu was certain that wasn’t the case.

—No, that’s not right.

The original novel, the world-line.

So is this a trait that the world-line automatically filled in for Bai Xiying?

Lin Xingzhu walked past the crowd and returned to her office, thinking slowly. But I also guessed before that the world operates logically, so it’s impossible for Bai Xiying’s voice to suddenly gain this effect for no reason.

Then there must be some underlying logic…

Lin Xingzhu lowered her gaze and casually picked up the teacup from the upper left corner of her desk to go make some tea in the breakroom.

“I heard you’re not single anymore?”

“Yeah, you have no idea how much effort it took to chase my wife. But hey, I’m a taken woman now, hehehe.”

“D#mn, don’t shove dog food² in my face! But being in love is really the best. You’re amazing, you actually managed to win over such a formidable young lady.”

The girl’s voice was sweet. “Heehee, there are little tricks, you know. Don’t be fooled by how cool and aloof she looks; she actually can’t stand it when someone acts cute and spoiled³ with her. The moment I do, she’s clearly moved!”

“Like this…” The girl cleared her throat and softened her voice. “Jiejie~”

That one word, “jiejie,” was drawn out with so many twists and turns that it gave the listener goosebumps.

Lin Xingzhu hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but when she heard the girl’s final tip for chasing someone, she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks.

Suddenly, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, her muddled thoughts cleared, and her eyes lit up.

She knew why Bai Xiying’s voice had changed!

If Bai Xiying and Mu Muqing had no relationship outside of work, then there was only one possible explanation for this change—she was subjectively willing for it to happen.

Because she wanted to, it happened, perfectly corresponding to the special setting described for her in the original novel.

As for why this special change would also trigger a reaction in her, Lin Xingzhu guessed it was because this body was itself a piece on this grand chessboard, and could barely be considered someone who would react to Bai Xiying.

And with that, everything could be explained.

Having figured it out, Lin Xingzhu felt inexplicably refreshed.

As for why Bai Xiying would want to?

Lin Xingzhu stroked her chin, pondering. It was probably because they hadn’t seen each other, as friends, for a long time, and they had a little spat over breakfast before they parted. She likely wanted to use a soft tone to proactively restore their normal social interaction.

With everything figured out, Lin Xingzhu walked back to her office with a spring in her step, then took the research materials she had compiled and headed to a meeting.

That evening, Mu Muqing suddenly contacted her.

The location was set at a bar, of all places.

Lin Xingzhu’s eyes were full of contemplation as she stared at the WeChat message for a full five minutes.

In the end, she accepted the invitation.

At eight o’clock that night, Lin Xingzhu arrived at the bar on time.

Mu Muqing had booked a private room. It wasn’t particularly large, but it was stylishly decorated and very suitable for discussing business in a bar.

“I wonder if President Mu has invited me for something special?” Lin Xingzhu asked, feigning confusion.

Mu Muqing was still dressed in a black suit. The silver thread in the cuffs exuded an understated luxury, making her look more suited for a high-society gala than a bar steeped in alcohol and sensuality.

In this environment, however, it gave Mu Muqing the air of a refined-looking scoundrel.

Mu Muqing raised a hand to pour her a glass of wine and said slowly, “To be honest, I invited President Lin out today to ask about Qiao Zijin.”

Lin Xingzhu understood. “I’m still handling that matter. What Qiao Zijin did won’t be settled so easily.”

Mu Muqing nodded, speaking at an unhurried pace. “That’s what I thought as well.”

“If President Lin needs any help, please don’t hesitate to ask me,” Mu Muqing said with a smile. “No matter what, I was the one who brought Xiying there. I should also do my part in this matter.”

Lin Xingzhu had no desire to play this boring verbal chess match with her. She tapped the table and asked, “Did President Mu invite me here today just to talk about Qiao Zijin?”

Mu Muqing glanced at the untouched glass of wine in front of her.

“Of course not,” Mu Muqing said. “There are some work-related matters I’d like to ask President Lin about, but wouldn’t it be too boring for us to just talk so dryly?”

Before Lin Xingzhu could speak, Mu Muqing raised a hand and clapped lightly. The door to the private room immediately opened, and a line of graceful women in qipaos entered one after another.

“I heard President Lin enjoys a lively atmosphere,” Mu Muqing smiled. “So I made these special preparations. I hope President Lin will accept them.”

Lin Xingzhu was speechless.

So this is what she was waiting for?

“You’re certainly practiced at this,” Lin Xingzhu said, her tone neither light nor heavy. “Anyone who didn’t know better would think that besides being skilled in design, President Mu is also remarkably successful in other… specialties.”

Understanding the jab, Mu Muqing’s face instantly darkened.

Lin Xingzhu was talking in circles, calling her a pimp.

She thought of her plan and forced down her anger. “What does President Lin mean by that? I am merely catering to your tastes.”

The implication was that if Lin Xingzhu didn’t like this sort of thing, she wouldn’t have arranged it.

Just as the woman in the lead qipao slowly sauntered over and sat down beside Lin Xingzhu, the door to the private room was suddenly thrown open.

---

---