Chapter 22: Billiard Room
In this world, there are always those who allow officials to set fires but forbid ordinary people to light lamps. Xu Dian was one such official. Meng Ying smiled as she stood up, refraining from even a glance in Xu Dian’s direction. She turned, opened the door, and walked out. Liu Qin and General Manager Yu were waiting outside. When they saw her emerge, they hurried forward, ready to speak.
Their gazes, however, swept past her and landed behind her.
Xu Dian, a cigarette tilted in his mouth, stared intently at Meng Ying without saying a word. His hair was damp, as was the collar of his shirt, which he had unbuttoned.
A hint of skin was visible.
Both General Manager Yu and Liu Qin found their throats caught by something unspeakable. Meng Ying patted Liu Qin on the shoulder.
“I’m heading back first. Just review the script for me. It rained last night, and I didn’t sleep well.”
Liu Qin nodded blankly.
“Alright.”
But she couldn’t help glancing at the man with the gloomy face.
General Manager Yu was momentarily at a loss about whether to make Meng Ying stay. Only when the elevator doors closed did Yu snap out of it. He hurried forward and asked, “President Xu, are you alright? This… this…”
Why are you all wet?
Xu Dian tugged at his collar and replied, “I’m fine.”
With that, he walked past General Manager Yu to the window, opened it, and looked downstairs.
That figure in a black dress had already slipped into a black business car, leaving only the breeze swaying the hem of the dress.
After getting out of the car upon returning to her residential complex, Meng Ying ran into Xu Qing, who had also just gotten out of a car. Her husband had driven her back, and from inside the car, he nodded at Meng Ying as a greeting. Xu Qing smiled, hooked her arm through Meng Ying’s, and said, “Perfect timing. We both have the day off. Make me some egg tarts.”
“Alright.”
Xu Qing was much more charming and alluring compared to Meng Ying’s gentle demeanor. From the moment Xu Qing debuted, her striking appearance had sparked controversy, with rumors constantly linking her to male co-stars. However, she married quite early.
Once they got upstairs, Xu Qing wandered around Meng Ying’s apartment, inspecting the decor and furnishings.
In the kitchen, Meng Ying prepared egg tarts. She had her own method since the ones typically sold were too sweet.
“Meng Ying, where did you buy this succulent plant?”
“On Taobao.”
“Do you have the link?”
“I do. I’ll send it to you later.”
The oven dinged, and Meng Ying took out the egg tarts and placed them aside. She then made a milkshake, slicing strawberries into it.
When everything was ready, she brought it out and set it in front of Xu Qing. Xu Qing smiled brightly.
“It smells amazing!”
Meng Ying sat down next to Xu Qing, sipping the milkshake, and said, “If you want to learn, I can teach you next time.”
“No, no, no, I’d rather not.” Holding the egg tart, Xu Qing tilted the plate to catch crumbs while leaning against the sofa armrest.
“Oh, by the way, I heard this morning that you ran into Qi Tang last night?”
Meng Ying nodded.
“Mm-hmm.”
Only those who have been in the game long enough and built connections truly understand what kind of person Qi Tang is. Xu Qing clicked her tongue, wiped the corner of her mouth, and said, “Your boss is way too naïve and sweet. Qi Tang has slept with plenty of female celebrities in the industry, and that’s his trick. If Xu Dian hadn’t saved you last night, you might have…”
“I know.”
Xu Qing continued, “Sometimes, I feel these young masters are too frivolous and heartless, but other times, they can be quite useful.”
“Exactly,” Meng Ying nodded. Xu Qing stared at her seriousness for a moment, then kicked her lightly. “Hey, you’ve come to your senses? What’s on your mind?”
Meng Ying smiled and said, “I have, indeed. If someone can be used, use them. No need to push them too far away.”
“Wow, impressive!”
Meng Ying took another sip of her milkshake, her expression calm and composed, but she didn’t respond further.
Xu Qing looked at her and said, “You’ve mastered it—controlling your heart, I mean. You’re getting really good at this.”
Meng Ying flicked her hair and swung her long legs slightly.
Last night’s incident was definitely a wake-up call for her. If even General Manager Yu could falter, how much more vulnerable was she? However, as for Xu Dian, he might not take the bait so easily.
A black Hummer stopped. Xu Dian stepped out of the car and climbed the stairs. His clothes were still damp, and his assistant, waiting downstairs, was momentarily stunned at the sight of him.
“President Xu?”
The assistant hurried to follow, glancing at him inside the elevator. There was a faint brown mark on the side of Xu Dian’s face. His skin was pale and well-defined, making even a small flaw noticeable. The assistant hesitated, wanting to reach out but not daring to touch him. Silently, he took a step back.
When the elevator doors opened, Xu Dian strode out, shut the office door behind him, and headed straight to the lounge. He removed his shirt and trousers, stepping naked into the equipped bathroom.
After about ten minutes, he came out, drying his hair with a towel. He tucked his white shirt loosely into his pants and walked over to his desk. Pressing the intercom button, he said, “Come in.”
Jiang Yi opened the door, hesitated for two seconds, and stepped aside as a woman in a white dress entered. She stood in front of the desk with a sorrowful expression.
Xu Dian lowered his towel and looked up, intending to speak, but paused when he saw Yang Rou.
He frowned slightly. “What is it?”
Yang Rou hesitated, recalling the video she saw last night. She had just gotten off the plane. After a moment’s pause, she said, “Can I not be a part of Twins? I’m friends with Tang Yi; she invited me to join. How could you just remove me…”
Xu Dian casually tossed the towel onto the back of his chair, sat down, clasped his hands, and chuckled coldly. “And let you slap Meng Ying again?”
Yang Rou’s head shot up, her face turning pale.
Xu Dian smirked and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve told you before, but you always pretend not to understand. For instance, when you used to message me…”
“You doubted Li Yi and came to me to complain, trying to provoke my pity.”
Yang Rou’s face turned even paler, her legs wobbling. He had read those messages—he had seen them.
“For a long time, I did regret that you married Li Yi. Not because I wanted anything with you, but because you didn’t trust him. Your mistrust only brought you pain, which made me feel deeply guilty. For a while, I even thought, if you hadn’t married him, I could’ve taken better care of you.”
“But you… But you didn’t, and you even…” You even fell for a substitute.
“But later, I realized—why should I take responsibility for your life?” He raised his eyebrows, staring at her.
His words made Yang Rou’s face turn deathly white. She had seen Xu Dian as her fallback option. In this circle, a failed marriage was humiliating. That’s why she fought with Li Yi in court for so long, only to lose in the end. If she wanted to recover her status and live a more glamorous life, her best option was to secure Xu Dian—
The man every heiress in Licheng dreamed of marrying.
Only then could she regain her pride.
“What you’re thinking—I know. Only a man who truly loves you would fall for your tricks, hmm? Understand?” Xu Dian tapped his fingers on the desk, then pointed at the door. “Leave.”
Yang Rou’s face was as pale as her white dress. She swayed slightly before turning and walking out of the office.
Xu Dian leaned back in his chair, his long legs crossed.
He lit a cigarette, took his time tucking his shirt into his pants, and checked his phone as Zhou Yang sent a message:
“Pool tonight?”
Xu Dian typed two words: “Not going.”
Zhou Yang: “Poker then?”
Xu Dian paused briefly before replying: “Alright.”
At the Starry Sky Club.
The black Hummer stopped, and Xu Dian stepped out of the car, his long legs hitting the ground gracefully. He stubbed out his cigarette, ascended the steps, and checked his phone. Zhou Yang had messaged him, saying he was in Room 8.
Raising an eyebrow, Xu Dian walked up the stairs to the third floor. When he reached Room 8, he extended a hand to push open the door but froze.
His gaze shifted to the billiard room next door.
By the pool table stood Meng Ying, dressed in a sleek pantsuit, leaning slightly on her cue with a smile that reached her eyes.
Across from her was Xu Qing. The two of them were chatting as Meng Ying’s tailored top accentuated her figure perfectly.
Xu Dian stood at the door for a few seconds, watching.
Then, he leaned against the wall and took out his phone, dialing a number.
Inside the billiard room, Meng Ying bent down to pick up her phone and answered the call.
Xu Dian’s low voice came through. “What are you doing?”
Meng Ying froze for a moment. “What can I do for you, President Xu?”
“About that matter—I’ve agreed. Come out.”
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