Tang Lingyun squeezed her already balled fists even tighter as fury roared through her mind. Zhuo Jingren was the man in the photo?! How was that possible? Lily must be lying to make me feel horrible, Tang Lingyun thought, hate apparent in her eyes.
Tang Lingyun felt herself quiver in anger while Lily continued to give her a smile.
“Always remember that you are the reason why your family fell from grace, and you will be the reason why the Qin Family will continue to fall. And you can only watch, helplessly. Watch them crumble under your feet.” Lily then took a step back. She tilted her head, and with the same smile plastered on her face she said, “I will see you soon, Mother.”
As Lily moved, Tang Lingyun noticed that Zhuo Jingren was standing just a few steps behind Lily. His face was devoid of any expression as he stared at her. He then shifted his gaze to Lily as she walked towards him. Zhuo Jingren quickly gave Lily a handkerchief to wipe her hands before giving her another glass of champagne. Then the duo walked out of the crowd together while talking, a gentle look clearly visible in Zhuo Jingren’s eyes as he talked to her, as if the thing just now did not happen.
Tang Lingyun’s gaze travelled over everyone who still surrounded her. Humiliation and anger coursed through her veins. She wanted to yell at them, curse them for staring at her with such mockery in their eyes.
“Why are you all still here? Go! Leave us!” Qin Liwei’s voice suddenly echoed near Tang Lingyun as she felt a coat being draped over her shoulders. “Let’s leave this place and talk once we get home,” Qin Liwei said in a voice that easily reminded Tang Lingyun of her own husband’s voice: cold and distant. Tang Lingyun helplessly nodded before she remembered that Qin Mo had been watching them a while ago. She looked around and was not really surprised to see her husband missing from the scene.
To Qin Mo, she was an embarrassment right now. Tang Lingyun felt another stream of tears fall on her cheeks as she imagined the repercussions of her act once they reached home.
…
“Thank you,.” Lily accepted the flute of champagne from Zhuo Jingren’s hands after returned the handkerchief he’d given to her.
“You did good,” Zhou Jingren said.
“If I hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t have stopped pestering me,” Lily said, a little surprised by her honesty towards the man walking next to her.
“I know,” he said, his tone a little grim.
“Did you find something?” Lily asked.
“Yes. However, I need to call another person,” he said, gloomily. All night, he had been calling his men to figure out who had ordered the accident. This was the reason why he was not able to accompany Lily during most of the event. Though Zhuo Jingren was a little dejected about it, he also understood the importance of finding the culprit. Lily’s safety would always be his main priority.
“No worries. I am here. Let’s go home together after the event,” Lily said. How could she not know what Zhuo Jingren was thinking at this moment? This was supposed to be Secretary Go’s job. However, since the latter was still in the hospital, Zhuo Jingren assumed this responsibility. “Do you have someone to replace Secretary Go since he is still in the hospital?”
“I do. He will start on Monday,” he answered. “Do you have one?”
Lily nodded.
Cathy, her PR manager, would arrive tomorrow, Sunday, and she could always ask her to act as her secretary for a week. Lily was sure that Cathy would not mind as she’d always wanted to become Lily’s right hand woman. Just like Zhuo Jingren, Lily was also worried about the mastermind behind the accident. “Go ahead and complete the things that you need to do,” she said. In response, Zhuo Jingren nodded before giving her a peck on the cheek before he walked out of the venue.
“What transpired earlier with Tang Lingyun was a surprise to me,” Lily didn’t even have to turn her head to know that the one speaking to her was Yang Lina. How could she forget the latter’s stern tone?
“I am always cruel to people who choose to cross me,” Lily said as she took a sip from her champagne glass.
“You are as cruel as the rumors say you are.”
“Rumors are rumors,” Lily said. “Experiencing it first hand is still different.”
“They are still your family, you know,” Yang Lina noted. They were currently standing near one of the circular cocktail tables that was located away from the stage. These tables were specifically arranged near the entrance for people who preferred to stand and mingle rather than be near the stage lights.
“Family is nothing but a word, Miss Yang.”
“They will be the first ones to be there with you in case you encounter a problem. You shouldn’t be too cruel against your own family. People here are different from those in the West. We value family more than money.”
Lily scoffed at her words. “You are saying this because you haven’t experienced being abandoned by your own family… Yet.”
“I know they will never abandon me,” Yang Lina said, confidence evident in her tone.
“Yeah… we’ll see about that,” Lily said in a low voice before she turned her head towards Yang Lina. “Earlier today, someone important to me got into an accident. Did you have something to do with that?”
“Your bluntness always surprises me.”
“Talking in circles is such a waste of my time, Miss Yang. Answer me. Were you responsible?”
“So, what if I am? So what If I’m not?” Yang Lina countered. Was Lily expecting her to just confess? What a fool. Yang Lina was aware that Lily had the tendency to record things, just as she’d done with Tang Lingyun.
“Tang Lingyun used to be so proud. As someone from the Tang Family, she acted like royalty, bullying everyone while maintaining a gentle smile on her face. However, now that the Tang Family has fallen, she’s become useless,” Lily said. The sudden shift of the topic instantly made Yang Lina more interested in the conversation. “With Qin Mo’s tendency towards cruelty, how long do you think it would take for him to sell his own wife to those greedy producers and directors?”
“Are you saying that you are the one responsible for the fall of the Tang Family?” Yang Lina asked before she stifled a laugh. The Tang Family was a criminal group that had its roots buried deep in the Far East and Lily did not possess the capability to destroy them.
“So what if I am? So what if I’m not?” Lily used the same turn of phrase that Yang Lina had used just a few seconds ago. “The Tang Family is a family of the past. Why don’t we talk about your family, instead?”
“You- Are you threatening my Yang Family?”
“Miss Yang is truly humorous. I was merely saying, we should talk about them. Why are you acting so defensive? Just like the Tang Family, your Yang Family already have a long history with the government. Taking them down would not be that easy, no?” Lily then let out a mocking laugh.
