Transmigrated as a White Lotus Heroine, but I’m Pursuing the Cold Villain - Chapter 23

Lin Qinglian, however, took this as a sign of reconciliation, her eyes lighting up instantly.

She watched Rao Jinqing’s retreating figure, then scurried after her, her steps both eager and pitiful.

The two walked together toward the edge of the grassland.

This vast grassland area had been transplanted directly from Inner Mongolia by the Paradise Corporation, covering a vast expanse of low-lying terrain where the wind constantly rustled through the tall grasses.

The gentle breeze whispered in Rao Jinqing’s ears, causing the hem of her dress to flutter wildly. As she walked forward, she calculated how long it would take for Lin Qinglian to catch up.

Lin Qinglian maintained a distance behind her, neither too close nor too far.

She told herself she wasn’t hesitating; she was merely considering whether this was the right thing to do.

Finally, when the wind billowed Rao Jinqing’s sleeve, Lin Qinglian reached out and grasped it, pulling the fabric into her palm.

Rao Jinqing hadn’t anticipated today’s activities, and she disliked excessive ornamentation, which she felt made her look like a gaudy, nouveau riche bore. She always presented herself as sharp, simple, and vibrant.

So when the wind brushed past her cheek and caught her sleeve, she paid it no mind. But the wind transformed her sleeve into a fluttering wing, until Lin Qinglian’s hand abruptly halted its flight.

The person who stopped her had no idea of the terrible thing she had done, that she had interrupted a butterfly’s flight.

In a pure, pitiful voice, she asked, “Are you still angry with me?”

Rao Jinqing wanted to retort, “Are you stupid?”

How could anyone so bluntly ask someone if they were still angry? A slightly more tactful person would have chosen a disingenuous answer to save face.

Since she was being so direct, Rao Jinqing had no choice but to respond in kind. Fortunately, Rao Jinqing had become so adept at social maneuvering that she wouldn’t sacrifice honesty for the sake of smoothing things over.

The things she could gain from people had become the fundamental basis for her varying attitudes.

Of course, this didn’t apply to those she despised.

Rao Jinqing turned her head into the wind, her hair becoming fluttering wings. She curled her crimson lips into a playful smile, the vivid red of her mouth peeking out from beneath her raven hair.

“It depends on your performance,” she said with amusement. “What, am I that important to you?”

Tit for tat. Since she was being so blunt, Rao Jinqing would be equally direct.

Lin Qinglian nodded without hesitation, her large, clear black-and-white eyes fixed on her. “Very important.”

Her unwavering resolve was absolute. In the setting sun, a hint of orange colored the depths of her eyes, with only Rao Jinqing standing against the wind at its center.

Her eyes hold nothing but me.

So sincere, so fervent.

Rao Jinqing suddenly found her smile meaningless under that gaze, the emptiness almost causing her to falter.

Her hand instinctively clenched under that intense scrutiny, her crimson-painted nails digging deep into her palm until a sharp pain pierced through.

It was strange. A faint sadness, barely noticeable, slowly tightened its grip around her heart.

What am I sad about…? Was she afraid of Lin Qinglian discovering the truth about their interactions? Or did she feel guilty for betraying someone’s trust?

Then, she snapped back to reality.

Why waste time on someone worthless when I can exploit them while they still have value?

Forcing a light tone, Rao Jinqing said, “Then it depends on your performance. You’re important to me too.”

The cheerful tone numbed her troubled mind, creating a fleeting illusion of contentment.

Fortunately, Lin Qinglian didn’t ask what constituted a good performance.

How else could she have answered?

Just telling me the price Xunjun and Robert agreed on would have been a kindness.

That would have been too embarrassing, making her look utterly humiliated, resorting to such underhanded tactics just to come up with a counteroffer.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but wonder:

Who leaked her company’s bid?

Was it those board members, watching like hawks for her to slip up? Or her own grandmother, who had long believed she should step aside?

The collaboration with Robert Corporation was crucial—so vital that countless eyes scrutinized every aspect of it, day and night.

She operated under this relentless scrutiny, dragged forward by countless hands, until she had become a villain, resorting to despicable tactics.

Lin Qinglian lowered her head, deep in thought.

Given the known facts, whenever Rao Jinqing took her out, she always insisted on treating her to meals, followed by trips to the cinema or amusement parks.

Therefore, it’s clear Rao Jinqing loves food.

Who doesn’t love good food? Who could possibly dislike it? This only proves Rao Jinqing has excellent taste.

But they can’t just keep eating, can they?

She suddenly thought of her mother, that gentle yet authoritative woman who ruled their household.

In Lin Qinglian’s eyes, Rao Jinqing was no different from her own mother—one outwardly tough but inwardly soft, the other outwardly gentle but inwardly tough.

Based on the theorem that if two triangles share one equal angle and two equal sides, they are congruent, Lin Qinglian reasoned that since her mother loved shopping, Rao Jinqing must also enjoy it.

Before transmigrating, Lin Qinglian’s entire understanding of people came solely from two individuals: her beloved mother and father.

After transmigrating, she arrived after the Male Lead and Female Lead had already met—specifically, when the Female Lead received sponsorship and left the orphanage.

At that time, Lin Qinglian lived alone in a tiny room, spending her days studying and studying, with little desire or experience in interacting with others.

After careful consideration, Lin Qinglian had already decided on the appropriate activity for her apology.

Rao Jinqing remained unaware of the thoughts swirling in Lin Qinglian’s mind, which were far removed from the outcome she desired.

She simply assumed that Lin Qinglian, who nodded confidently, already had a plan in mind.

Though somewhat relieved, Rao Jinqing knew better than to rely solely on others. She had already prepared a backup plan.

The bidding process agreed upon between Rao Jinqing, Robert, and Xunjun Corporation was as follows: each company would anonymously submit their existing equipment, available technical personnel, feasible solutions, and proposed prices. Robert would then select the winning bid, determining which company would secure the contract.

Rao Jinqing’s greatest advantage was her ready access to state-of-the-art equipment and skilled technicians. However, funding remained a critical challenge.

Already short on capital, she feared that submitting an excessively high bid during the initial bidding phase would bankrupt her before the project even began. Yet, she couldn’t afford to undercut Xunjun’s bid too drastically. Therefore, she needed to know Xunjun’s proposed price.

Although Chi Jiheng only nominally worked at Xunjun, the company held a significant stake within the Chi Family’s corporate empire and was tightly guarded by Chi Jiheng’s elder brother.

Rao Jinqing found it impossible to infiltrate the company through internal contacts. Lin Qinglian’s sudden appearance, however, presented her with an unexpected opportunity.

Each harboring their own motives, the two women reached the edge of the grassland.

Rao Jinqing walked ahead, with Lin Qinglian trailing slightly behind.

Remarkably, as they emerged from the grassland, the relentless wind abruptly ceased.

Lin Qinglian bluntly asked the staff member standing at the park entrance, “Were you using wind machines inside?”

The staff member, initially intending to shoo away the troublemakers, paused when he saw Lin Qinglian’s curious expression. He chuckled awkwardly, “No, no, ma’am. Please don’t spread rumors like that. It could damage the park’s reputation.”

Lin Qinglian didn’t grasp the deeper meaning behind his words and pressed further, “If there’s no wind, why did it suddenly stop as soon as we stepped out here? That’s very strange.”

The staff member struggled to maintain his composure, thinking, She’s pretty enough, but her brain seems a bit slow. Yet she doesn’t look slow at all… Is she here to cause trouble?

With that thought, he immediately pressed the button on his walkie-talkie, ready to call security the moment she started making a scene.

“Our grassland is located in the lowest part of the park,” the staff member explained. “Combined with the nearby lake, this creates a prevailing wind pattern across the grassland. It’s one of the park’s carefully planned features.”

Lin Qinglian nodded thoughtfully, about to ask another question when Rao Jinqing calmly interjected beside her.

“Thank you. My friend was just curious, no harm intended.”

The staff member awkwardly removed his hand from the walkie-talkie.

Clumsy idiot, he thought, why couldn’t you be more discreet?

Rao Jinqing, with one hand in her pocket, glanced at Lin Qinglian. Her meaningful look was clear, and Lin Qinglian eagerly followed her.

Just as Lin Qinglian was about to catch up, Rao Jinqing stopped abruptly, as if she had spotted something. She whispered, “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”

Rao Jinqing had no choice but to wait for her. Fortunately, the sun was setting, casting only its warm afterglow upon her. The day’s oppressive heat had dissipated, replaced by gentle breezes that occasionally brushed against her skin.

The temperature was just right, allowing her to stand still comfortably.

Lin Qinglian returned with the ice cream she had been craving.

Perhaps because it was getting late, there was no longer a line at the entrance. After handing her the ice cream, the staff member said, “You should head home soon after you’re done.”

It was a slightly odd remark, but Lin Qinglian didn’t dwell on it. She had other things on her mind.

She nodded, took the two ice creams, and walked away happily.

After entering the amusement park through the ice cream shop entrance and turning left, she arrived at the spot she had noticed earlier.

Even though it was the usual time for people to be leaving work and school, the park was nearly deserted. The few passersby simply brushed past Lin Qinglian without a glance.

Lin Qinglian approached the young woman sitting at the corner. She looked to be in her early twenties, about the same age as Lin Qinglian, dressed casually in a comfortable outfit, and was packing up her stall.

The stall owner turned her head and saw Lin Qinglian gazing at her stall with keen interest.

The girl put down the items she was packing up. “Our flowers here are all very beautiful. Is there anything that catches your eye? I can tell you about them, but I’m about to close up shop.”

Lin Qinglian gazed at the vibrant array of colors before her, then spotted a familiar shade of blue.

The flower’s outer petals were a pale blue, fading into a soft pinkish-white at the center. A dozen or so blooms clustered together, creating a stunning display.

These were the flowers her father often brought home to her mother. Deciding to borrow her father’s idea, she pointed to the blue petals.

The stall owner launched into an enthusiastic explanation: “These are blue demon roses. Their meanings are all so beautiful, varying with the number of stems. My favorite is two stems—’Meeting is destiny.’ One stem means…”

Lin Qinglian’s eyes remained fixed on a single droplet of water clinging to a petal, looking as if it was about to fall. Without looking up, she said, “I’ll take two stems.”

The stall owner swiftly arranged the flowers. Two blue demon roses were nestled among five vibrant orange accent flowers, with sprigs of mint adding a delicate touch.

A small, elegant bouquet was complete.

The stall owner wrapped the flowers and handed them to Lin Qinglian. Noticing the flicker of excitement in her eyes, she couldn’t resist offering a warning: “The garden has been reserved for a private event. Tourists aren’t allowed to stay. You should leave quickly.”

Lin Qinglian accepted the flowers and thanked the vendor. Before she could turn away, a delicate, girlish voice called out from nearby.

“Brother Chi, I want this one!”