Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Reporting In

Bai Chu gently placed one hand on Jiang Yisheng’s cheek, while the other ran through her hair with her fingers like a comb.

“Why did An Hao come here?” she asked softly, her voice calm as she looked down at her.

“He panicked because Youran won’t talk to him, so he came to me,” Jiang Yisheng said casually, brushing it off.

Bai Chu frowned slightly. “Did he cause you any trouble?”

Jiang Yisheng looked up at her with a bright smile, showing her little teeth. “Not at all. I even gave him a good scolding.”

Bai Chu couldn’t help but laugh and reached out to pinch her soft cheek.

“I won’t be able to have dinner with you tonight,” Bai Chu said apologetically. “There’s a business meeting tomorrow. The company’s sending me to negotiate, so I need to head back and go over the documents.”

“Oh.” Jiang Yisheng visibly drooped, resting her chin on Bai Chu’s stomach like a little puppy, her eyes watery and full of longing.

Seeing her like this, Bai Chu’s heart softened even more. Ever since being with Jiang Yisheng, she felt like she didn’t want to do anything else. All she wanted was to spend time glued to her like this.

“I’ll cook for you tomorrow night,” Bai Chu coaxed her gently.

“Okay!” Jiang Yisheng instantly brightened up at that.

She knew Bai Chu had her hands full with work. She was just being clingy on purpose.

Since Bai Chu didn’t drive today, Jiang Yisheng drove her back to the office.

She leaned against Bai Chu and played with her fingers while they rode.

Bai Chu looked down at her quietly, her eyes soft.

“Bai Chu-jie,” Jiang Yisheng rubbed her head lightly against Bai Chu’s chin and looked up at her.

“What is it?” Bai Chu responded.

“Nothing. Just wanted to call your name.” Jiang Yisheng’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.

Bai Chu reached out and ruffled her hair. The two cuddled quietly with music playing in the background. Before long, they arrived at Renyuan Corporation.

Jiang Yisheng reluctantly walked her to the door and stood downstairs watching for a long time before finally letting the driver turn around to leave.

The weather was getting warmer. Jiang Yisheng cracked the window open a bit and stretched her hand out to feel the breeze.

She took a deep breath of the fresh air and closed her eyes in comfort.

If only real life could always be like this.

Or maybe, if she could stay in this moment forever, how nice would that be?

As she glanced into the rearview mirror, she saw Zhang Tao looking down at her tablet and suddenly remembered her younger brother’s situation.

“Taozi,” Jiang Yisheng called.

“Yes?” Zhang Tao turned around immediately.

“How’s everything with your family? Are they still giving you trouble?” Jiang Yisheng asked carefully, not wanting to be too blunt.

Zhang Tao smiled. “We’re pretty much cut off. I’ve figured things out. Over all these years, I’ve paid my dues. From now on, we’ll each live our own lives.”

He looked up and met Jiang Yisheng’s gaze.

“Thank you, President Jiang.” Her smile was sincere. “If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I’d have realized it’s okay to live for myself.”

As she spoke, she raised her wrist to show Jiang Yisheng a bracelet, smiling a little shyly. “Look, I bought myself a gift. Cost me a whole month’s salary.”

Jiang Yisheng looked at the gleaming gold bracelet on her wrist, and her nose stung suddenly. Her throat tightened. “It’s beautiful. It really suits you.”

She didn’t know how much courage it had taken Zhang Tao to get here, or how long it had taken.

But she did know that Zhang Tao no longer had to scrimp and save for others, no longer had to be controlled. She could finally live for himself now.

The Next Day, Outside a KTV on Fujiang Road

Jiang Yisheng sat in the car, frowning at the location pin Bai Chu had sent her.

“Did they really have to sign the contract here?” she asked Zhang Tao, puzzled.

Zhang Tao thought for a moment before replying quietly, “Sometimes, you don’t have a choice.”

Jiang Yisheng clenched her jaw and tapped aggressively on the virtual keyboard.

“Send me the room number. Then message me every fifteen minutes.”

After sending it, she thought she sounded too harsh, and worried Bai Chu might think she was being immature. So she added:

“Otherwise, I’ll start worrying~~~”

Two minutes later, Bai Chu replied with a simple “Okay.”

Jiang Yisheng couldn’t even focus on the music anymore. She sat in silence clutching her phone, muttering to herself, “Who arranges business deals at places like this? No decent person, that’s for sure. If she doesn’t message me in fifteen minutes, we barge in immediately.”

Zhang Tao and Zhang-ge both nodded seriously.

When there were just two minutes left on the countdown, Jiang Yisheng’s heart was pounding—until Bai Chu’s message came in.

It was a sticker of a puppy drinking water.

Clearly something she had picked quickly in a rush.

Jiang Yisheng relaxed a little and leaned back in her seat, waiting for the next fifteen-minute check-in.

And so it went for an hour and a half.

Eventually, she got restless. She opened the car door and stepped out to get some air.

She stood by the door and squinted toward the KTV entrance.

Suddenly, the sound of a car door slamming nearby drew her attention. A group of people were getting out of a car and heading inside.

A faint mention of “Renyuan Corporation” floated over.

Jiang Yisheng immediately turned to look and saw a woman in a leather jacket surrounded by others. A cigarette dangled from her lips, long hair spilling down her back, ears full of mismatched earrings.

The more Jiang Yisheng looked, the more familiar she seemed—until the woman disappeared inside the KTV, and it finally clicked.

Wasn’t that Chen Shuzhi from yesterday?

The difference in appearance was so dramatic she had nearly missed it.

Jiang Yisheng furrowed her brow, deep in thought, then stepped forward.

—

Inside the KTV…

“President Bai, what’s with all the phone-checking?” sneered Meng Wenjun, sitting to Bai Chu’s left, as he topped off his glass.

Bai Chu was keeping an eye on the time. After sending the emoji to Jiang Yisheng, she locked her phone.

“Sorry, just family checking in. I have to report regularly. I hope you don’t mind,” Bai Chu said politely while raising her glass, her eyes betraying no real apology.

“Family?” Meng Wenjun caught onto the keyword.

“President Bai, are you seeing someone?” The moment the topic shifted, the atmosphere brightened. Everyone stared at Bai Chu with keen interest.

Bai Chu set her glass down—not too gently, not too lightly. Her expression didn’t change. “Let’s keep things professional.”

“Aw, that’s no fun. If you open up a little, we’ll get familiar, and that makes business easier,” said another man, Mei Feng, leering as his eyes scanned her from head to toe.

Bai Chu gave a cold laugh and calmly leaned back on the couch, scanning the men in the room.

“President Bai always acts so confident,” Meng Wenjun said as he sipped his drink, narrowing his eyes at her. “Young people shouldn’t be so rigid. There’s more than one way to close a deal.”

“Then tell me, President Meng—how exactly did you sell yourself to reach the position you’re in?” Bai Chu retorted without missing a beat.

His expression darkened instantly, eyes turning sinister.

Seeing that, she continued, “Or maybe you already had some connections, and just had to sell a little of yourself to get where you are now?”

Meng Wenjun snorted. “You really think your company values you that much?”

Bai Chu didn’t answer, staring at him coldly.

“I heard while you were away in training, they started stripping your authority bit by bit.”

Her brow twitched ever so slightly. Lately, the quality of the materials she was getting had noticeably declined.

“It’s good to have principles,” Meng Wenjun said, scooting closer. “But knowing when to bend is more important.”

Before she could reply, someone whispered: “Little President Chen is here.”

Meng Wenjun and the others immediately jumped to their feet and went to the door.

Bai Chu remained on the couch. Another fourteen minutes had passed. She opened WeChat to send her usual check-in to Jiang Yisheng.

And to see just who this legendary Little President Chen was.

The door opened. Chen Shuzhi walked in, smoke trailing from her lips—right as her eyes locked with Bai Chu’s.

Everyone was standing, except for Bai Chu. It made her stand out all the more.

Upon seeing Chen Shuzhi, Meng Wenjun and his group changed their tone entirely, bowing obsequiously. “Good evening, Little President Chen.”

Chen Shuzhi ignored them, walked straight to the head of the table, took a long drag from her cigarette, and looked at Bai Chu through the haze.

“You’re the one Renyuan sent?”

Bai Chu nodded and greeted her as “Little President Chen.”

“Still helping count money after being sold?” Chen Shuzhi sneered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bai Chu asked coldly.

“This contract is bullshit. Renyuan owes us money, and they’ve dragged it out for ages. Now they send you? Don’t you get it?” Chen Shuzhi’s lips curled into a smile as she stared at Bai Chu’s profile. “But don’t worry. As long as you’re willing, I won’t hurt you.”

Bai Chu snorted softly through her nose.

“What’s your name, gorgeous?” Chen Shuzhi began strolling toward her slowly.

“Bai Chu.” Her voice was cool and proud.

Sitting there, she drew every eye in the room. Clearly the prey, and yet she carried herself like the hunter—as though she owned the room.

Chen Shuzhi paused, captivated by the aloof pride in Bai Chu’s eyes.

She liked that look.

The pause only lasted a second. Then she sat beside Bai Chu, leaving just a bit of space between them.

“President Bai, you’re really beautiful,” Chen Shuzhi murmured, inching closer.

Bai Chu immediately stood up, glaring down at her.

“Little President Chen, I suggest you show some respect,” she said sharply.

Chen Shuzhi took a deep breath, savoring the scent Bai Chu left behind, her face showing a hint of intoxication.

She didn’t answer right away. Only after she’d inhaled enough did she speak again.

“Respect?”

“I just wanted the money your company owes us. That’s not a crime, is it? But now… I think I can forget the money.”

With one last drag, she flicked the cigarette to the ground, blowing smoke slowly from her lips as she stood up with a smirk.