I Married My Heartless Ex-Wife’s Black Lotus Sister - Chapter 41

Song Yanqing’s accessories today were far too eye-catching and quickly drew everyone’s attention.

The crowd’s gaze lingered briefly on Zheng Yili’s outfit before settling on Song Yanqing’s neck and ears, each person knowingly curling their lips into an ambiguous smile.

Zheng Yili happened to glance over and found the expressions of those below the stage oddly peculiar, though she didn’t dwell on it.

Standing beside Song Yanqing and basking in the camera flashes, she tactfully stepped back afterward, careful not to steal Song Yanqing’s spotlight.

Today was Song Yanqing’s moment. Since she seemed intent on stepping out from behind the scenes, Zheng Yili couldn’t possibly selfishly cling to her for attention or overshadow her.

So she soon disappeared from Song Yanqing’s side, quietly standing below the stage, looking up at the suddenly distant, untouchable figure who now seemed so far above her.

Song Yanqing had always been warm and approachable around Zheng Yili, giving her the illusion that they were close.

Now that illusion shattered. Zheng Yili realized with a start that she had never truly understood the other woman. Over the years, how much effort had Song Yanqing secretly poured in, unnoticed? How many obstacles had she overcome to reach this point, despite her frail and sickly constitution?

And with the Song family’s complicated, messy internal dynamics… the journey must have been far more arduous than Zheng Yili could imagine.

Lost in thought, Zheng Yili didn’t even notice when the press conference quietly concluded. It wasn’t until the faint, familiar fragrance she associated with Song Yanqing drifted past her nose that she blinked and finally caught sight of the woman’s white-clad figure.

“What’s on your mind?” Song Yanqing asked with a smile.

Zheng Yili shook her head, feigning ignorance. “Is it over?”

“For now,” Song Yanqing replied. “The press conference is officially done, but to thank everyone and build relationships with the media, I’m hosting a yacht party tomorrow. You should come too.”

Zheng Yili wasn’t particularly fond of crowded events, but the thought of Song Yanqing’s struggles over the years made her inexplicably agree. “Alright.”

She wasn’t entirely sure how strong Song Yanqing’s backing was, but given how early it was in her rise, it couldn’t have been long since she started.

Zheng Yili wasn’t all that influential herself yet, but simply showing up to lend support wasn’t a problem. Consider it… repayment for Song Yanqing’s countless acts of gentle patience and guidance in her past life.

“You can bring a plus-one,” Song Yanqing added pointedly. “Preferably a female companion.”

With so many varied and unpredictable guests tomorrow, Song Yanqing might not be able to keep an eye on Zheng Yili at all times. Having someone by her side would ease her worries.

Zheng Yili mulled over the meaning behind those words but misinterpreted them, thinking Song Yanqing was hinting that she should seize the opportunity. She nodded. “Then I’ll bring Meng Sulan.”

Meng Sulan had already achieved modest success in her career. Zheng Yili even felt that keeping her in short dramas was a waste—she belonged back on the big screen.

With Lin Xiaoxiao’s downfall and no one left to support her, Meng Sulan had virtually no rivals among actresses of her type.

Tomorrow’s party would be the perfect opportunity to introduce Meng Sulan to various bosses and influential figures.

Song Yanqing’s gaze swept briefly over her delicate, pensive face, easily recognizing the misunderstanding in her expression. Fortunately, Meng Sulan wasn’t a bad choice—though she appeared soft and fragile, she had a fiery temper and wouldn’t hesitate to argue at the slightest provocation. If anything happened, her loud, combative nature would surely draw attention, making it easier for Song Yanqing to intervene.

So, Song Yanqing nodded in agreement. “That works.”

“But tomorrow, Wang Zhiming will probably be there too,” she added.

Zheng Yili, however, looked utterly confused. She stared blankly at Song Yanqing, lips parting slightly. “Who’s Wang Zhiming?”

Meeting her gaze, Song Yanqing chuckled helplessly. “Maybe try recalling how you first saved Meng Sulan?”

“…Ah.” It finally clicked. Wang Zhiming was that sleazy man who had harassed Meng Sulan when she and Zheng Yili first met.

Zheng Yili blinked. “No big deal.”

“Meng Sulan has been training privately at Madam Ji’s martial arts studio these days. She might not show dramatic improvement in such a short time, but it’s enough to handle an average person.”

Madam Ji had developed a set of ruthless self-defense techniques specifically for women. Once unleashed, it didn’t matter if the opponent was Wang Zhiming or a 200-pound brute—they’d be on the ground.

Those techniques had helped countless women protect themselves, so Zheng Yili wasn’t worried.

Seeing Zheng Yili’s confidence, Song Yanqing didn’t press further. She still had plenty to handle, so she smiled and said, “See you tomorrow night.”

“Alright.” Zheng Yili watched her leave, but just as Song Yanqing took a few steps, she suddenly called out, “Wait.”

Song Yanqing turned back. Zheng Yili hesitated for a moment before speaking firmly, “If you ever run into something you can’t handle, come to me.”

“I’ll help you.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, but the unwavering determination in her eyes was deeply moving, stirring something in Song Yanqing’s chest like fireworks bursting in the dark.

Song Yanqing’s gaze deepened, her eyes locking onto Zheng Yili’s as if trying to consume her.

Uncomfortable under the scrutiny, Zheng Yili averted her eyes and awkwardly changed the subject. “Alright, go on. I should head back to the company too.”

With that, she practically fled.

Song Yanqing chuckled quietly, watching until Zheng Yili’s figure disappeared completely before turning away.

Lin Xiaoxiao stared unblinkingly at the livestream on her phone, her face drained of color. Liang Xin watched her worriedly. “Xiaoxiao, maybe we should stop watching.”

“…Okay.” Lin Xiaoxiao snapped out of it, took a deep breath, and abruptly closed the stream.

An inexplicable sense of panic gripped her—a feeling of helplessness and loneliness, as if the whole world had abandoned her. Song Yanqing had truly replaced Song Qi’an in every aspect of Ding Rui. Not only that, but she had also eagerly partnered with Zheng Yili.

And she had deliberately chosen the same day as Lin Xiaoxiao’s succession to announce it.

Was this a warning? A way to remind her not to cling to Song Qi’an’s legacy and continue opposing Zheng Yili?

Lin Xiaoxiao didn’t know much about Song Yanqing. Their few brief encounters had only given her a superficial impression of the woman. Song Yanqing always appeared aloof, her words carrying a detachment that kept others at arm’s length, leaving Lin Xiaoxiao no opportunity to get closer.

Beyond that, Lin Xiaoxiao knew nothing else about her.

As for Song Qi’an’s relationship with her, Lin Xiaoxiao could only make rough guesses—it didn’t seem as intimate as the two made it appear.

If before Lin Xiaoxiao had merely suspected this, today’s events confirmed her thoughts.

Song Qi’an and Song Yanqing truly didn’t get along. Otherwise, after driving Song Qi’an away, Song Yanqing wouldn’t have deliberately made her collaboration with Zheng Yili so widely known.

By doing this, Song Yanqing seemed to be subtly conveying to everyone that her relationship with Zheng Yili was stronger than the one with Song Qi’an.

She appeared to be gradually conditioning everyone to firmly believe that “Song Yanqing and Zheng Yili are the perfect match, a couple made in heaven.”

Lin Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together, her brows tightly furrowed.

If Song Yanqing and Zheng Yili’s relationship was far better than she had imagined, then she would truly have no place left in Ding Rui.

At this point, it seemed there was only one path left for her.

Apologize.

As Zheng Yili had demanded—formally admit her mistakes and apologize on all major social media platforms to preserve the last remnants of her dignity and wealth.

But the problem was, if she did that, her reputation would be even worse than before, making her even more despised.

It would be tantamount to a public confession—admitting that the “fall” had indeed been premeditated, and that she had maliciously framed an artist from her rumored rival’s company, attempting to drive a wedge between their relationship.

Now, Lin Xiaoxiao was surrounded by enemies. No matter which path she chose, the end would be an abyss that could destroy her completely.

Torn by indecision, Lin Xiaoxiao wavered internally. Even knowing what the right choice was, she couldn’t bring herself to act on it. She couldn’t accept losing so easily to Zheng Yili.

Liang Xin stood nearby, observing Lin Xiaoxiao’s shifting expressions—anger, frustration, regret—and grew increasingly worried. “I’m sorry, Xiaoxiao. This is all my fault.”

“If only I were stronger, more capable, you wouldn’t be in such a difficult position today.”

Liang Xin’s voice drew Lin Xiaoxiao’s attention. She looked at her and forced a faint smile. “It’s not your fault.”

With that, she fell silent again.

After a long internal struggle, Lin Xiaoxiao closed her eyes and finally resigned herself to a decision.

With a heavy heart, she picked up her phone, opened Weibo, and quickly typed out a lengthy post.

When she finished, she handed the phone to Liang Xin. “Tell me if this sounds okay.”

Liang Xin instinctively took the phone, but after just two lines, she jumped up in agitation. “No!” Her voice was sharp. “Xiaoxiao, you can’t do this!”

She was well aware of the consequences this Weibo post would trigger, which is why her expression turned grim and her tone unconsciously sharpened: “I worked so hard to get you to this position—you can’t just throw it all away like this!”

“Xiaoxiao, think about all the hardships we’ve endured together. Remember those nights I drank until I vomited bl00d at banquets, shielding you from the alcohol?”

Tears welled up in Liang Xin’s eyes: “I’ve sacrificed so much for you. How could you bear to destroy everything with your own hands?”

“And what choice do I have? Should I just sit back and wait for Song Yanqing to freeze me out?” Liang Xin’s attitude made Lin Xiaoxiao deeply uncomfortable. She stood up abruptly, refusing to be at a disadvantage. “I have no other options left.”

Liang Xin stared at her, fists clenched so tightly they trembled.

“I admit you’ve done a lot for me in the past, but in return, haven’t I given you substantial rewards?” Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened. “Liang Xin, I don’t like what you just implied.”

“Do you see me as your property?”

Lin Xiaoxiao stepped forward with an intimidating presence: “Do you think every move I make, every decision I take must align with your wishes?”

“Are you trying to control me?”

Liang Xin reflexively denied it: “I’m not—”

“You are.” Lin Xiaoxiao cut her off, her usually sweet, smiling face now devoid of any expression. “And you’ve already started emotionally blackmailing me.”

“You’re using your past sacrifices to make me submit, obey, and follow all your arrangements.”

Lost in her own reasoning, Lin Xiaoxiao continued, “You want complete control over me, to turn me into your most obedient puppet. Liang Xin, do you even love me, or just some idealized version of Lin Xiaoxiao from your fantasies—one who meets all your standards and obeys your every word?”

Liang Xin’s eyes widened in shock. “Xiaoxiao, how could you think that?”

“Can’t you feel my sincerity? You should know exactly what kind of person I love—”

“Enough.” Already agitated, Lin Xiaoxiao had no patience for explanations now.

She forcefully snatched back the phone she’d handed to Liang Xin and turned away without looking back. “I’m tired. You should leave.”

After a brief pause, she added, “Don’t come back for the next few days either. I just want to be alone—I don’t want to see anyone. Including you.”

Though Lin Xiaoxiao had long disappeared from view, Liang Xin remained frozen in place, her gaze unfocused.

How had things between them come to this?

Liang Xin couldn’t understand.

They were supposed to be the closest, most trusting pair. Even if the whole world tried to drive them apart, they’d always choose each other without hesitation.

But… Liang Xin let out a bitter laugh, suddenly reminded of the day her parents called about her brother’s astronomical debts.

Their indifference had been palpable, their eyes so cold—as if they were discussing something as trivial as the weather, completely unrelated to her.

Liang Xin couldn’t help but fall into confusion—had he overvalued the other person? Or was he perhaps not as important in their heart as he had imagined?

Were all the tenderness and closeness she had shown him in the past just an act?

Had all the sacrifices he made, all the battles he fought for her, been nothing more than his own wishful thinking?

After Lin Xiaoxiao returned to her room, she quickly posted the edited Weibo post. Once done, she slowly closed her eyes and turned off her phone completely.

She didn’t want to face the impending storm of accusations and insults, nor did she dare to.

She had always believed herself to be strong and resolute, but the truth was: she still felt fear, still felt terrified. In the past, she had nothing to lose, so she feared nothing.

But now was different.

She had gained some fame, had made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, and had amassed a considerable number of fans. The thought of being cast back to square one, of losing everything, was unbearable.

So even though she knew the consequences of apologizing now, she stubbornly persisted.

An apology might cost her resources temporarily, but with time, once the public’s memory faded, she could still make a comeback and earn again.

But if she remained stubborn and refused to back down, once Zheng Yili took matters into her own hands, Lin Xiaoxiao would have no chance of recovery left.

Lin Xiaoxiao had weighed the pros and cons carefully, and in her heart, she had already made her decision.

Zheng Yili wasn’t surprised by Lin Xiaoxiao’s actions. After all, in her impression, Lin had always been pragmatic—especially when it came to putting on a show. She excelled at that.

That hypocritical act of hers never failed to amaze Zheng Yili.

Still, one thing was certain: an apology from the perpetrator didn’t mean the victim had to forgive. Zheng Yili rubbed her fingertips lightly as her gaze swept over the flood of comments.

“??? What’s this? Did my idol just expose herself?”

“Wait, Lin Xiaoxiao, what are you doing?! Are you drunk or something? Where’s her company? Why didn’t they stop her?”

“Why should they stop her? Isn’t it only right to apologize when you’ve done wrong? For all we know, the company forced her to do this.”

“Didn’t Ding Rui just get a new CEO? I’m starting to like this new leader—fair and just. That’s rare.”

“Compared to this, Song Qi’an really isn’t fit for that position…”

Song Qi’an hadn’t expected to get dragged into Lin Xiaoxiao’s mess for no reason. She stared expressionlessly at Lin’s apology post before promptly pushing it to the top of the trending list.

Right now, Zheng Yili was avoiding her and had blocked all her contacts. Left with no choice, she could only express her remorse through actions, hoping to win her back.

Though she wasn’t sure if Zheng Yili would forgive her so easily.

She used to be confident, believing that since Zheng had loved her for so many years, this relationship must be something she couldn’t easily let go of.

But then, time and again, she saw that icy, detached look in Zheng’s eyes—as if she were a complete stranger—and finally, panic set in.

She began to realize, with painful clarity, that Zheng Yili was about to abandon her.

The girl who had revolved around her every single day since childhood, whose heart and eyes were filled with nothing but her, had abandoned her now.

The last shred of hope in her heart was mercilessly shattered by reality. Song Qi’an felt as if her heart were being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain rapidly spreading through her entire body, tearing her apart from within.

At that moment, even breathing became a struggle, and the air she drew tasted faintly of bl00d.

Never in her life had Song Qi’an experienced such overwhelming, gut-wrenching agony. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. The regret she had been suppressing suddenly surged like spring weeds, growing uncontrollably until it consumed her completely.

Zheng Yili momentarily zoned out, and when she refocused, she saw Lin Xiaoxiao trending on social media.

She blinked in confusion, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind—had Lin Xiaoxiao really gained this much influence? A single casual Weibo post was enough to top the charts?

Scrolling down to refresh the page, Zheng Yili finally spotted Meng Sulan’s fierce reply: “No apologies accepted! The harm you’ve caused me and CEO Zheng can never be undone by anything in this world!”

Zheng Yili’s brow twitched at the sight. She immediately dialed Meng Sulan’s number in rapid succession.

Meng Sulan’s voice brimmed with excitement, like a proud peacock preening for praise: “CEO Zheng, how was that? My reply was pretty domineering, right?”

Zheng Yili felt a headache coming on. Instead of answering directly, she changed the subject. “Rest early tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to Ding Rui’s banquet.”

“Got it!” Meng Sulan eagerly agreed. “Who else is going?”

“Just you and me,” Zheng Yili said. “You’ll attend as my plus-one.”

Meng Sulan was overjoyed, feeling once again valued by Zheng Yili. “No problem. I’ll make sure to dress to impress tomorrow—won’t embarrass you, CEO Zheng.”

The fact that Zheng Yili was only taking her from the entire Xing Yue Entertainment meant she must hold a special place in her boss’s heart.

With that realization, Meng Sulan no longer cared about continuing her online feud with Lin Xiaoxiao’s fans. She hurriedly wrapped up her work and rushed off to the spa for some pre-banquet pampering.

Ding Rui’s yacht banquet was a star-studded affair, teeming with socialites and industry elites. The atmosphere was electric.

Elegant music, the faintly salty sea breeze, and the dazzling interplay of lights amid clinking glasses left Meng Sulan wide-eyed. Excited yet nervous, she clung to Zheng Yili’s arm. “CEO Zheng, this is my first time at such a grand event.”

“Stay close to me. Don’t wander off,” Zheng Yili warned sternly, recalling Song Yanqing’s earlier advice.

Meng Sulan nodded obediently and followed Zheng Yili aboard.

Spotting Song Yanqing engaged in conversation nearby, Zheng Yili chose not to interrupt. She guided Meng Sulan to a quieter spot, plucking a drink from a passing waiter’s tray and handing it to her. “Don’t accept anything from anyone else—only what I give you.”

“Understood, CEO Zheng,” Meng Sulan said with a playful stick of her tongue. “Officer Song already briefed me on the dos and don’ts.”

Zheng Yili arched an eyebrow, her intense gaze making Meng Sulan inexplicably guilty. The latter quickly averted her eyes like a thief caught in the act. Fortunately, Zheng Yili didn’t press further, allowing Meng Sulan to exhale in relief.

This time, Zheng Yili brought Meng Sulan along to help her get acquainted with people. After a brief rest, she led the other woman through the crowd.

At first, everything went smoothly—until Zheng Yili suddenly felt an intense, unignorable gaze fixed firmly upon her.

With an uncomfortable frown, Zheng Yili glanced toward the other person.

Song Qi’an stood at a moderate distance, her gaze firmly fixed in this direction.

Noticing that her stare had been detected, her eyes sharpened before she strode forward with her long legs, quickly closing the distance to Zheng Yili. “Long time no see, Lili.”

“I missed you.” So much it nearly drove me insane.