Chapter 115 - A High-quality Forbidden Fruit.
It had not been Chen Yi who was eager for her first day but someone else.
Chen Ying twirled a contract in her hand; traces of a subtle smile emerged over her face as if all the troubles in her life have been resolved by that piece of paper. "This was all I needed." That smile progressively turned profound and self-assured. "Chen Yi, you have already damaged my relationship with Fu Jianguo. You might not realize it but signing this contract is going to be the biggest mistake in your life. You have lost your wings; you are now under my control. From today onwards, I will have you dance in the palms of my hands."
A light knock on the door had Chen Ying put down the files, her smile disappeared as she said. "Come in."
"The pride of 'Fu' Entertainment, looking as beautiful as ever. I see; days continue to pass but your beauty knows no bounds." A man in his mid-thirties walked into the office. He wore a charming smile.
He was dressed stylishly, with his hair pulled back. Not a single article of clothing he wore came without a decent brand name.
Chen Ying's cheeks attained a tinge of red as if she was abashed at those compliments. "Brother Qin, you always like to joke." She said shyly.
"I only speak the truth." The man knew his words. "This is what everyone says in the entire company."
"Is that so..." said Chen Ying absentmindedly.
A thread of fear emerged in her heart after the initial happiness that has blossomed. If Chen Yi, her cousin, ever release those videos and succeeded, wouldn't it all be lost?
Chen Ying had arrived at this level after such efforts.
How could she let her cousin threaten her status?
As if recalling her real motive, Chen Ying adjusted her expressions. "Brother Qin, Please come in and take a seat."
Her cousin held evidence against Chen Ying. She could seriously damage Chen Ying if she wanted to.
Chen Ying had thought it through; she needed something to have a hold over Chen Yi.
And Chen Ying had thought out of a perfect plan for that purpose.
"How could I be of service?" Qin Chanpu took claimed the chair before Chen Ying unflinchingly and beamed at her.
Chen Yi recalled the words she had prepared. "There is this small matter. It's just that...my cousin will be joining the company from today. She is a newbie. Being her cousin, I have some responsibility towards her. I was hoping if Brother Qin could take her under his wing and guide her well? Could you take care of her..." She wore an amiable smile; it was impossible to detect any malevolence. "...if that won't be any inconvenience, of course?"
But Qin Chanpu could tell this innocuous smile was full of meaning.
Qin Chanpu's eyes flashed. "You mean..." The corners of his lips tilted. "Chen Yi, CEO Fu ex-fiancee?"
A momentary silence followed.
Everyone in the company was aware that the CEO was once engaged to Chen Ying's cousin.
It wouldn't need the genius to guess the animosity between Chen Ying and her cousin.
Thus Qin Chanpu understood at once, the so-called 'take care' was not at all with good intent.
Chen Ying's smile halted. A moment later, her smile became sharp, no longer amiable, instead, full of malevolence this time. "As expected, Brother Qin is knowledgeable."
In response, Qin Chanpu laughed heartily. "You flatter me. I just happened to hear a few rumors here and there. None of them in favor of the ex-fiancee, of course, so you can rest assured." He accepted Chen Yi profile files from Chen Ying. "I can certainly take care of our superstar's cousin."
"Then I will be owing Brother Qin a favor."
At this right moment, Qin Chanpu revealed a trace of hesitancy. "But it's just that...With the last scandal, I am stuck with court affairs. I m afraid..."
"No need to concern yourself." Chen Ying said at once, not hesitating at all. She understood well that if she desired a favor from a person of Qin Chanpu level, she would need to make up for it with similar benefits. "I will have Fu Jianguo assign our company's lawyer to deal with Brother Qin issues. With Lawyer Jian's expertise and connections, that case would not be any issue to Brother Qin."
Although Qin Chanpu was not as accomplished as Shen Yue, he was a man of knowledge and deep contacts. In fact, he had a knowledge of many shady things Chen Ying had done, including her questionable relationship with Jiang Li.
Chen Ying could order around Shen Yue without fear. But she could not be demanding with Qin Chanpu.
Qin Chanpu laughed. "In that case, I will do my best to help Miss Chen Ying."
Inside a cafe.
"Directly assigned to the headquarters. Such favoritism." Gu Chiantao was earnestly reading through the letter Fu Entertainment had sent to Chen Yi for the sake of curiosity, widening her horizons. She was interested in knowing how restricted Chen Yi was going to be.
"I am special." Chen Yi laughed.
If Chen Ying wanted to keep Chen Yi under her close watch, she must keep her close where Chen Ying's sphere of influence was strongest.
It was just that to an outsider who was unaware of these inside details, a newbie directly being assigned to the headquarters without any background must strike odd.
"Special, you certainly are!" Gu Chiantao let go of the letter and squinted her eyes at Chen Yi. After reading through the contents of the contracts, her interest diminished as she flipped it aside carelessly. Instead, she looked at Chen Yi with a deep meaning in her eyes. "Tell me, after rejecting me the first few times when I asked you out, why did you suddenly take the initiative to invite me today?"
"Well, that-" Before Chen Yi could throw a random excuse, Gu Chinatao interrupted her by interjecting directly.
"Who are you trying to avoid?"
Chen Yi choked on her words. "What? How? Why would you say so?" What gave her the impression? Chen Yi had always been under the impression she was not easy to read.
Gu Chiantao raised her hand to signal Chen Yi to stop concocting some excuse. She said with a confident smile. "Don't bother denying it. The way you have been glancing at the entrance every five minutes as if afraid someone is following you, I must be blind to not have guessed by now."
Chen Yi opened her mouth to deny, she blinked but could say no words. With a sigh, she said. "You have become smarter than before."
"Well, completely giving up on that garbage seems to have positively influenced my IQ." Gu Chiantao revealed no emotions while speaking of Jiang Li.
It was obvious she had given up all the hopes on him.
Chen Yi took a sip of her milkshake as she lowered her eyes. "Hmm. It surely does." Chen Yi knew while Gu Chiantao's face might be expressionless but her heart wasn't. She must be hurting inside, just not showing it.
"So, who is this mysterious person who has forced you to go to the lengths of inviting me out to avoid him? Seeing how pretty you are, it won't be misfitting for you to have a couple of stalkers. So who is it, a stalker, a lover... A boyfriend?" Gu Chiantao was a gossip bee.
But she could never have expected someone as young as Chen Yi would be married.
Moreover, she could never have even imagined that she was married to someone on the Li Luxian level.
If she learned somehow, she would be screaming, hooting, and pitying that Chen Ying's fate.
Acting mysterious as her limpid eyes hazed in the recollection of a certain someone, Chen Yi said in a peculiar tone. "None of them." After that, she sank into silence.
Her lack of transparency only prickled Gu Chinatao's curiosity.
She could not hold it anymore as she coaxed.
"Come on, give me something! This won't work; we are supposed to work together against that bitch. With you acting so mysterious, how can we strengthen our bond and cooperate efficiently?"
Chen Yi held in her laughter. "What does it got to do with that?"
"It has! You just don't understand, Come on, give me at least something!"
"Fine, I will give you two words."
"That's not-"
"Take or leave."
Gu Chinatao could only grumble. "Fine!"
"I am trying to avoid...a forbidden fruit."
"Forbidden...fruit?" Gu Chinatao blinked in puzzlement.
Chen Yi smiled. "Yes.. And a very temptingly sweet hidden fruit."