After Transmigrating Into a Book, I Was Played by the Black Lotus – Chapter 89

Madam Jiang

Qian Duoduo left something for Lin Xingzhu when she left the next day, and then ran off without saying anything else.

Two days later, when Lin Xingzhu was having a meal with people and a cooperation partner, she saw Wen Lin at the banquet.

She and Wen Lin exchanged a look, then shifted her gaze away as if nothing had happened.

The main character of the banquet was neither her nor Wen Lin, so for the duration of the meal, Lin Xingzhu ate what should be eaten and drank what should be drunk, speaking appropriately only when she needed to, and letting the President Jiang beside her take the lead.

The Wen Lin opposite was also the same.

Lin Xingzhu noticed the hard-to-detect impatience on Wen Lin’s face as the banquet neared its end.

They had only met face-to-face; besides the necessary socializing, they said nothing else.

After the meal, Lin Xingzhu saw a little sprout¹.

President Jiang brought her because Father Lin had once told him to bring her along, to let her open up her experience and be tempered more. Therefore, on this project that was very important to the Lin family, the main person in charge, President Jiang, had always kept her by his side to teach by verbal instruction and personal example².

So when chatting, President Jiang would sometimes specially reserve opportunities for her. In contrast, the Wen Lin opposite, compared to her, was truly a flower vase³.

Leaving the restaurant, President Jiang had to leave one step ahead of her because he had other matters, so Lin Xingzhu drove back to the company by herself.

The things that had happened recently truly made Lin Xingzhu realize that what she was now facing was not a simple confrontation with Wen Lin, but the cooperation and struggle between two families.

Lin Xingzhu even felt that there might be a third-party power in the midst of this.

After Father Lin told her about Wen Yuanyi, Lin Xingzhu consciously began to collect news about him and more information about the change of leadership. And when she video-chatted with Bai Xiying every evening, they would also talk about these things. Both of them felt that the opponent the Wen family truly had in their hearts right now was definitely not the Lin family.

But now, in the cooperation between their two companies, neither side was actually treating the other with frankness. If there was an opportunity, the other would definitely want to occupy the big head⁴.

Although Father Lin appeared magnanimous and gentle, Lin Xingzhu did not believe that, with the business world being like a battlefield, he would not think of profiting from a benefit when the other party harbored ill intentions.

To not take an advantage is to be a turtle’s egg⁵.

She estimated the other side was also thinking this way.

Bai Xiying had just finished squeezing, her face crimson as she lay on the bed looking at Lin Xingzhu in the video.

“Do you think there might be another wave of people who might have long ago discovered the matter of Miyue Bar and Fenghong Tower⁶?”

Lin Xingzhu nodded, “We know about this matter because of a bizarre mistake, but that doesn’t mean we were the first people to have a bizarre mistake.”

She remembered Shang Cengrou.

Back then, after Lin Xingzhu had taken Jiang Yeye and the others and left, having caused such a big incident, Shang Cengrou, who had proactively taken her there, sought her out afterwards, feeling uneasy.

So Lin Xingzhu asked her how she had discovered this place.

Shang Cengrou said she had met a friend from before, and it was her friend who had introduced it to her.

Lin Xingzhu asked a few other things, then drove Shang Cengrou away.

Lin Xingzhu recalled, saying, “Such a big place, the number of people who go every day is definitely not small. Although everyone wears a mask and doesn’t know who is who, it can’t be excluded that there are people who know things more clearly.”

Moreover, for such a big place to operate, it needs to manage relationships. Most importantly, it still looks like a big piece of fat meat⁷, and people with intentions may have already cast their gazes upon it.

Most importantly, Lin Xingzhu felt that if there was someone with a bit more ability, they might have already dug up its relationship with the Wen family.

It doesn’t make sense that Qian Duoduo, all by herself, managed to get something, while others would still be asked one question and not know three things⁸, right?

Lin Xingzhu and the Bai Xiying in her phone exchanged a look, their gazes both very subtle.

Lin Xingzhu coughed once, and asked Bai Xiying again, “How is the progress on your side?”

Bai Xiying had been gone for over a week. During this period, Lin Xingzhu was incredibly busy, so she didn’t even have time to fly to see her on the weekend.

Bai Xiying thought for a moment and said, “Soon.”

Lin Xingzhu asked, “How long is ‘soon’?”

Bai Xiying thus made a thinking expression: “Half a month?”

Still that long.

Lin Xingzhu’s black, bright eyes revealed this meaning.

Bai Xiying glimpsed this, her eyes brightened slightly, and she said, “Should I buy something? It’s been so long.”

Bai Xiying felt that if she took advantage of this moment to make a request, perhaps Lin Xingzhu would have a soft heart.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xingzhu was still very insistent: “Not okay.”

After speaking, she saw Bai Xiying’s eyes dim, and she hesitated a little.

Am I being too controlling?

It is a very normal thing for a normal woman to have physiological needs, let alone the fact that Bai Xiying has been plain⁹ for so long.

Lin Xingzhu pondered again and said, “If you need to, then buy it.”

Hmm?

Bai Xiying, who had originally been completely disappointed, her pupils brightened, and she looked at Lin Xingzhu eagerly: “Can I make one more request?”

Lin Xingzhu looked at her, having made up her mind not to satisfy her other requests, lest she be unable to quit.

Thus, she said reservedly, “You say it first.”

Bai Xiying’s voice was gentle and soft: “I’ll tell you what I’m buying, tomorrow you prepare one the same as mine, and then we’ll make a phone call at night, okay?”

Lin Xingzhu: “……”

Phone sex¹⁰?

She stared thoughtfully at Bai Xiying until a crimson slowly rose from behind Bai Xiying’s ears, only then did she retract her gaze.

She just acted as if she didn’t see the traces of wetness that had bled through the thin sleepwear.

“……If you want, we can set a time for tomorrow,” Lin Xingzhu said, lowering her eyes.

The Bai Xiying on the screen immediately revealed a satisfied smile.

The next evening, Lin Xingzhu, who had made preparations early, and Bai Xiying had a phone call for an hour and a half.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xingzhu took the wet, thin blanket that was spread on the bed, threw it into the washing machine, and then seriously sent a message to Bai Xiying saying goodnight.

Although they did not meet via video today, Lin Xingzhu felt that Bai Xiying would probably sleep well tonight.

Every time after the two of them finished being sticky¹¹, Bai Xiying’s cheeks would be reddish when she fell asleep. Her skin was originally fair, and with this contrast, it appeared even more fair with a reddish glow, making it look like she was sleeping very comfortably.

No wonder it is said that sleep is more fragrant after exercise.

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Three days later, Lin Xingzhu met a strange stranger.

She was certain she had never seen the other person, but the other person looked as if they knew her.

This stranger said they wanted to treat her to a meal.

Lin Xingzhu glanced at the time; it was indeed lunchtime.

“Okay.”

Lin Xingzhu got into the other party’s car, following him as he made seven twists and eight turns¹² before stopping in an ancient alley¹³.

Following this strange woman inside, Lin Xingzhu discovered there was a private kitchen¹⁴ deep in the ancient alley.

She glanced at the strange woman’s back and followed her inside, her face not changing color¹⁵.

The private kitchen’s interior was decorated with ancient color and ancient fragrance¹⁶, looking very stylish. Lin Xingzhu followed her to a private room on the third floor, watched the other person knock on the door, and then signal that she could go in.

The entire time, she was refined and courteous.

Opening the door and going in, the one sitting inside was also a woman, about thirty or forty years old, with a very good temperament—steady and reserved, yet not lacking an approachable appearance. Lin Xingzhu swept her gaze over the traces left by the years on the other’s face, pursed her lips, and sat down opposite her.

The other party pushed a cup of tea in front of her and very gently told her to order, also recommending several signature dishes during the process.

Lin Xingzhu looked at this person she had once seen on the news and opened her mouth to ask, “Madam Jiang, you’ve come to take back the thing that was stored with me, haven’t you?”

Although it was a question, there was no meaning of surprise or doubt in her words.

Madam Jiang, a strong rival competing with Wen Yuanyi for a higher position.

Madam Jiang looked at her with a smile: “It seems you’ve guessed. I do indeed need it very much right now, so today I came uninvited, planning to treat you to dinner.”

Lin Xingzhu smiled and said, “Then I’ve still managed to freeload a meal for free.”

She adopted the posture of a junior.

Madam Jiang smiled magnanimously, “This is a treat I should give. You helped me keep something safe, so it is as it should be for me to treat you to a meal.”

Lin Xingzhu looked at her graceful and approachable appearance and remembered Qian Duoduo, who had been rushing to leave that early morning.

“I want you to help me keep something safe. It’s not good for this thing to be with me right now. I want to deposit it with you first.”

Lin Xingzhu looked at the black U-drive¹⁷ on her palm, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll refuse?”

Qian Duoduo shook her head and curved her lips, “I said it, you are a good person. A good person wouldn’t see this kind of thing and sit and watch, doing nothing.”

She handed the U-drive to Lin Xingzhu: “If you want to look, you can.”

But in the end, Lin Xingzhu still didn’t look. She had guessed what was inside, so she just put the U-drive away properly.

She didn’t know what Qian Duoduo was specifically doing, but she sensed what Qian Duoduo and the person behind her wanted.

They wanted Miyue Bar and Fenghong Tower to get the fate they deserved, and that was enough.

And then today, Lin Xingzhu had waited until the person behind Qian Duoduo arrived.

Steaming hot dishes were brought up, the fragrant aroma assailing the nostrils.

Lin Xingzhu ate the meal very comfortably. As expected of a person who mixes in officialdom, Madam Jiang’s way of speaking and handling matters made one feel very comfortable.

Drinking the tea that was delivered, Lin Xingzhu said, “The thing is at my home. It might require you to make another trip with me.”

Madam Jiang nodded.

Seeing this, Lin Xingzhu’s heart was slightly moved, and she asked, “Will those people get the fate they deserve?”

Madam Jiang and Wen Yuanyi were competitors. It looked as though she was now holding such a big handle¹⁸ against the other party, and it was impossible for her not to make a move at this critical moment.

And once Madam Jiang made her move, after disclosing the things the Wen family had done, the involved personnel of the Wen family would definitely be punished. At that time, regardless of whether Wen Yuanyi had participated in this matter, the other party would fall from power.

Moreover, Lin Xingzhu felt it was impossible that Wen Yuanyi did not know and did not participate.

Madam Jiang nodded. The big picture was about to be set. Facing Lin Xingzhu, she did not hide it: “I have been investigating them for a very long time, and only recently did I finish collecting the key evidence.”

Luckily, this time was not too late.

Lin Xingzhu asked, “Qian Duoduo…… is she your wodi¹⁹?”

She remembered the Qian Duoduo in the shopping mall who looked vulgar and money-worshipping, the calm and quiet Qian Duoduo when hiding from the car at night, and the pained and sad Qian Duoduo when telling her story.

Lin Xingzhu knew her question was a bit abrupt, but she was really a bit curious.

Because from their brief time together that night, Lin Xingzhu had sensed Qian Duoduo’s feelings for that friend she mentioned, Deng Jin.

Thinking again of the things she had done, she felt a complex admiration in her heart.

Madam Jiang shook her head, denying Lin Xingzhu’s guess.

“I have a wodi, but the wodi is someone else.”

She did not say it clearly, but after meeting her eyes, Lin Xingzhu suddenly realized something.

She opened her mouth to ask, “……Is it the missing Deng Jin?”

Mentioning this name, Madam Jiang’s expression became a little complex, but she did not deny it.

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