Satisfied by their responses, Rose Young told them about her rough plan.
“Whoa, Rosie dear! You’re joking, right?” Jenny Tseng gave her friend an exaggerated once-over from head to toe, as if checking if Rose was still sane.
Similar to Jenny, Luke also expressed his hesitation after hearing his cousin’s plan. “Is this really okay? Uncle Romeo said that Big Sister Rose should be more careful during this time, lie low, and follow his instructions. Isn’t this plan…uhm, too reckless?”
Only Jin Jiali supported her plan without doubting it for even a second. “I’m all in, Big Sis! I might still be a teenager but I’ll do my best to help your plan succeed in any way that I can!”
“Thank you, Jia’er.” Rose was very pleased by the teenage girl’s resoluteness in supporting her despite the current public beating that her reputation was taking.
Jenny sighed in a dramatic manner before leaning forward towards her friend. Her botoxed face might not move much but it was still able to express her seriousness. “Rosie honey, listen to your bestie, okay? You’re a smart girl and should think up a better plan than this super clichéd stupidity. If this is a novel, the readers will be cursing the author for being so unoriginal.”
Rose crossed her arms over her chest and sent Jenny a displeased frown. “You just said earlier that you’re ready to help me with anything because that’s what a best friend is supposed to do. Are you going back on your words now?”
“Sometimes being the voice of reason is also a best friend’s duty especially if I know that my friend is planning to rush head first into something stupid. Rosie, you’re usually super smart, but I swear to the god of botox that your IQ always falls to the negatives whenever it involves Jin Liwei.”
“I know what I’m doing, Jenny.”
“Girl, I would’ve believed those words if only you didn’t copy-paste a stupid clichéd plan directly out of a trashy romance novel. I, Jenny Tseng, am not book-smart like you, but with two amicable divorces under my belt, at least I know that self-respect is important to live a happy and fulfilling life free of worries that can cause wrinkles, cellulites and sagging boobs!”
Rose glared at Jenny while both Luke and Jin Jiali stayed quiet and watched the two best friends’ tense argument.
Jenny flipped her ash-blonde hair and continued lecturing. “Also, I don’t understand why you’re so hung up on a frigid man like Jin Liwei. I’ve always tried to support your obsession with him, but I’m telling you that a man who doesn’t respect you is not worth your time and love. I’m already getting tired watching you chasing after him for years with no results. Aren’t you getting tired? Please, girl! Even if it’s just a little, have some self-respect, okay? I promise that it’ll make you feel so much better than regular sex and masturbation!”
“SHUT UP, JENNY!!!”
Rose grabbed her purse and threw it at her friend. Luke moved instinctively and blocked the small but heavy bag from hitting Jenny.
“You bitch!” Jenny jumped out of the couch and lunged at Rose but Luke hugged her and blocked her from attacking.
Rose looked startled at how things suddenly developed to the current situation. Angry tears started pouring out of her eyes. “I just love Big Brother Liwei so much, Jenny!!! I love him!!! I want Jin Liwei to be mine!!! I’ll do anything to make him mine!!! I can’t live without him, Jenny!!!”
Jin Jiali had already retreated to a safe corner. Her shock at what happened was clear on her face.
Jenny finally stopped trying to scratch her friend’s face. She sighed while continuing to hang on to Luke’s skinny arm. “Fine, whatever. Since I can’t convince you otherwise, I’ll support you. Happy now? We’ll just have to make sure that you won’t land in deeper shit than you’re already in now.”
Rose’s sobs filled the entirety of the small apartment unit. It took some time before she stopped and calmed down.
Later, Jenny dragged Luke to buy dinner for all of them, using him as a guide in the area while she drove her eye-catching hot pink sports car. Meanwhile, Jin Jiali accompanied a swollen-eyed Rose in the apartment unit.
Rose was in no mood to chat with the teenager, so she locked herself in the bathroom. She washed her face with cold water and looked at her horrible reflection in the mirror.
Her best friend’s words kept replaying in her head. What Jenny said to her was harsh, but deep inside, Rose knew that her friend was right.
Yes, her plan was indeed reckless. Even she knew that much. But she still wanted to try it no matter what. After failing to obtain the man of her dreams, Jin Liwei, failing to reclaim her CMO position at Jin Corporation, failing the mission her family appointed her with when she came to this country, and now having to suffer the public humiliation caused by the viral spread of those illegally captured sex videos of her, Rose was feeling extremely desperate.
She had decided to bet everything in this plan, no matter how clichéd. It was now all or nothing!
If she succeeded, then she would give the slut Iris Long a painful blow. Jin Liwei would also be hurt in the process, but he was a man. Society was always more forgiving to men of status like him especially in situations like the one Rose planned on creating. Even if her plan succeeded, it might still not be an ideal situation for her, but she would definitely gain an upper hand against that hateful woman, Iris Long, the cause of all her current misfortunes.
And if she failed, it would be as Jenny said. Rose would be in deeper shit than she was in right now. However, she didn’t want to worry about it too much. Her father, Romeo Young, would surely be able to do something to save her and clean up after her mess, especially with the mysterious power backing their Young family.
She wiped the water off her face and looked at her reflection with pure determination.
“Go crazy, Rose. You have nothing to lose now but that slut Iris Long has everything to lose.”
Then she smiled and laughed.
