I Married My Heartless Ex-Wife’s Black Lotus Sister - Chapter 21

Zheng Yili gazed at the person she had once adored so deeply, feeling nothing but numbness in her heart.

Song Qi’an had rotted away at some point, just like the heartless protagonists in countless cliché and melodramatic love stories. Merely sharing the same space with her now filled Zheng Yili with disgust.

Zheng Yili scoffed, “Already jumping to her defense? I haven’t even said anything yet.”

Song Qi’an’s expression darkened instantly, likely infuriated by Zheng Yili’s bluntness. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Clearly furious, yet restraining herself—probably trying to maintain her poised and noble image in front of Lin Xiaoxiao.

Zheng Yili had no intention of playing along with their little charade. She laid everything out plainly: “Regarding Miss Lin’s baseless accusations and slander against my company’s artist, Meng Sulan, our lawyers will be in touch with you directly.”

“So, I suggest you also find yourself a lawyer in advance. That way, when Miss Lin starts flapping her lips again, she won’t be able to claim I’m bullying her with my influence.”

Lin Xiaoxiao froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Director Zheng, isn’t this blowing things out of proportion?”

“How is it out of proportion?” Zheng Yili smiled at her, though not a trace of warmth reached her eyes. “Is Miss Lin’s reputation the only one that matters? Are mine and Sulan’s reputations worthless?”

“Besides, I believe you know better than anyone what really happened when you ‘fell.’”

At these words, a flicker of guilt flashed through Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes. At this point in time, her schemes and mental fortitude were far from the masterful level they’d reach in her past life, making her easy to read.

Song Qi’an glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao with a hint of confusion, her expression thoughtful.

Given the current timeline, compared to Lin Xiaoxiao—a company artist she’d only known for half a year and wasn’t particularly close to—she naturally trusted Zheng Yili more, who had always remained composed and rational.

If Zheng Yili didn’t have proof of Meng Sulan’s innocence, how could she be so certain now?

Clearly, Lin Xiaoxiao had realized this too, and her entire body tensed uncontrollably. How was this possible? She had checked carefully—there were no surveillance cameras in that area.

It was precisely because she was certain of this that she had dared to openly frame Meng Sulan, dragging Zheng Yili down with her to make Song Qi’an completely despise Zheng Yili, to make her believe Zheng Yili was nothing but a deranged, unreasonable woman.

Her fingers unconsciously gripped the bedsheet, and her delicate, doll-like face drained of color, turning deathly pale.

Zheng Yili admitted she was doing this on purpose.

She did have evidence, but she hadn’t revealed it outright because she wanted to watch Lin Xiaoxiao squirm in fear and anxiety. In her past life, she had been tormented by these awful emotions for years—now it was Lin Xiaoxiao’s turn to taste them.

“All warfare is based on deception”—those words couldn’t be more true.

Once she had successfully seen the panic and worry on Lin Xiaoxiao’s face, Zheng Yili left, satisfied.

Song Qi’an chased after her, calling out her name. Zheng Yili didn’t turn back. Left with no choice, Song Qi’an quickened her pace, circling around to block Zheng Yili’s path. “Yili, is there some misunderstanding between you and Xiaoxiao?”

“Xiaoxiao?” Zheng Yili raised her eyes to stare at Song Qi’an. “How intimate.”

She made no attempt to conceal her sharpness: “Have your relations become so close that you can disregard professional hierarchy and address each other by pet names?”

“Yili…” Faced with Zheng Yili’s bristling demeanor, Song Qi’an’s expression darkened, though what showed more prominently was her bewilderment—she simply didn’t know how to handle or placate the situation.

Zheng Yili had always been considerate and sensible, never one to put Song Qi’an in difficult positions. Even during past conflicts, she had always been the first to lower her head and make amends.

Perhaps Song Qi’an had been spoiled by Zheng Yili’s indulgence, always expecting her to be the first to yield in their relationship.

But people change, especially after enduring the torment of illness and the brink of life and death.

Zheng Yili had no patience left for Song Qi’an. “Instead of pestering me here, CEO Song, why don’t you go back and ask your dear Xiaoxiao how she really fell.”

“She deliberately blew this up online, causing such a terrible scandal. Let’s hope she doesn’t end up hoist with her own petard.”

“She’s not that kind of person,” Song Qi’an instinctively retorted, but under the cold gleam in Zheng Yili’s eyes, she involuntarily backtracked. “I’ll look into it.”

She added, “If it really was Xiaoxiao’s fault, I’ll make her apologize to you.”

“You’d better.” Zheng Yili’s sarcasm was merciless. “And don’t come crying to me later, acting like some pitiful victim I bullied.”

“Those little tricks might work on you, but they mean nothing to me.”

With deliberate force, Zheng Yili shouldered past Song Qi’an before striding away in her heels with unshakable poise.

Song Qi’an’s mind was in turmoil, unable to comprehend how she and Zheng Yili had ended up at such loggerheads. She fished out a cigarette case, about to light one, when she abruptly remembered they were in a hospital.

Frustrated and desperate for the nicotine to soothe her frayed nerves, she hesitated before heading straight for the rooftop terrace of the adjacent building.

Whenever conflicts with Zheng Yili arose, Song Qi’an’s reflex was to think of Song Yanqing.

Clutching her phone, she stared at his contact but found herself unusually hesitant, uncertain whether to seek his help this time.

Song Yanqing’s intervention had always been effective. Whenever she couldn’t handle Zheng Yili, he would effortlessly resolve things for her.

Over time, Song Qi’an had developed a deep reliance on him for navigating such thorny situations.

Yet this was ultimately between her and Zheng Yili. A three-person dynamic felt too crowded, and even trusting Song Yanqing’s integrity, Song Qi’an was reluctant to maintain the old pattern.

She smoked two cigarettes. Before finishing the second, Liang Xin called: “CEO Song, you need to come see Xiaoxiao right now…”

Snapping back to reality, Song Qi’an paused before stubbing out the glowing cigarette and hurrying back.

Lin Xiaoxiao sat on the hospital bed, her unfocused gaze drifting toward the window, ignoring everyone who tried to speak to her. Seeing Song Qi’an, Liang Xin anxiously asked, “President Song, did someone come by earlier? Did they say something upsetting? Otherwise, why wouldn’t Xiaoxiao respond to me at all?”

Song Qi’an couldn’t answer because she hadn’t been there earlier.

Lin Xiaoxiao’s condition and mood were clearly off. Song Qi’an walked over and attempted to communicate with her.

Her words only made things worse. The moment she spoke, tears began streaming down Lin Xiaoxiao’s cheeks like broken strings of pearls, falling one after another.

This was the first time Song Qi’an had encountered such a situation. She stood frozen in place, utterly at a loss.

Liang Xin quickly rushed over to comfort Lin Xiaoxiao while shooing Song Qi’an away. “President Song, maybe you should wait outside for now. Seeing you might only bring back painful memories for Xiaoxiao.”

Song Qi’an silently nodded, her eyes fixed on Lin Xiaoxiao’s tear-streaked, reddened face.

After leaving the ward, she leaned against the corridor wall and finally dialed a number. “Sis, could you go comfort Yili for me?”