Chapter 24: The True and False Heiress 24

"What kind of cooperation?"

Huai Ying took the business card and glanced at it.

Lu Ziming?

She looked up at him and asked directly, "You say you can help me get what I want. How?"

"You must be very jealous of Bai Jinwei. She is more favored by the Bai family than you are. She has already joined the Bai Corporation; in a few years, it will all be hers."

Lu Ziming’s words were filled with malice, and he curled his lip in disdain.

"But what about you? What do you have? Even your fiancé was stolen from you. You were replaced on the very day of your engagement and have become the laughingstock of the Imperial Capital."

"Don't tell me you actually think you won by getting engaged to the Mu family's young master? He's just an illegitimate son—he's nothing."

"Only someone as sheltered and inexperienced as you would think you'd struck gold."

Huai Ying lowered her eyes, masking her true emotions.

Though she remained expressionless, Xiao Hong knew for certain that she was furious.

Her heart leaped into her throat.

Oh, we're done for!

This ancestor's destructive potential is no small matter.

Don't drag me down with you if you want to die!

"Host, Big Boss, Ancestor, My Lady, let's be law-abiding citizens, very, very good citizens."

"We can't kill people, set fires, or break the law."

"Listen to me, take a deep breath. A moment of patience brings peace; a step back opens up the sky."

"The world is so wonderful; you must not be so irritable."

By the end of her frantic plea, she was rambling.

"Who said you're inexperienced? You’ve seen more than anyone."

"Who are you? You are the ultimate intergalactic villain, the top target of the Heavenly Dao Tribunal, the final 3S+ boss."

"Why bother with such a small-time character? It's not worth it."

Her response was Huai Ying’s cold scoff.

"He said Mu Jinnian is nothing."

"Uh." Xiao Hong fell silent.

So, the thing she cared about was the insult to Mu Jinnian.

She quickly said, "We know how good and outstanding he is; there's no need for others to acknowledge it."

"These small-time characters, these NPCs, they just have no vision. They only know how to suppress others and look down on people."

"Let's be magnanimous and not stoop to his level."

While Huai Ying was lost in thought, Lu Ziming spoke again: "You have no power and no influence. No one will help you except me."

"Are you really willing to hand over everything that belongs to you? Even if you were willing, Bai Jinwei would never tolerate you, the Bai family's own flesh and blood."

"Besides, if you don't take revenge, how could you ever justify the suffering you've endured?"

He tried to persuade her with earnest concern. Seeing that Huai Ying remained unmoved, a flash of impatience crossed his eyes.

What exactly is she still hesitating about!

***

It wasn't until Huai Ying nodded that he stopped. "Fine, I will cooperate with you."

Xiao Hong’s expression changed. She had thought that since Huai Ying had been getting along well with the Bai family and Mu Jinnian lately, she had given up on her plans as a villain to destroy the world.

She hadn't expected Huai Ying to remain so consistent.

But what could Huai Ying possibly be blamed for?

It was all Lu Ziming's fault for whatever scheme he was harboring.

"Big Boss, there is no such thing as a free lunch. This man definitely has ulterior motives to harm you; you must not trust him."

Xiao Hong pleaded, "Besides, the Bai family is so good to you. Bai Jinwei's favorability toward you is over ninety; she would never harm you."

"And if something happens to her, who will earn money for you in the Bai family? How will you continue to eat, drink, and have fun?"

"This is not a profitable deal."

Huai Ying understood all these reasons.

But it didn't matter.

Since she was a villain, she should do what a villain does.

Whitewashing a villain is a sign of disrespect to the villain herself.

Life was so dull; she needed to find something to do.

Ignoring Xiao Hong from start to finish, she asked the man in front of her, "How do you intend to help me?"

"I have already devised a plan. You just need to follow it," Lu Ziming said with a satisfied smile.

He knew she was an idiot.

As expected, she took the bait so easily.

However, he quickly realized a problem.

He eyed Huai Ying with confusion: "Don't you want to ask why I'm helping you?"

But he heard her retort: "Why should I ask? It's not important."

Lu Ziming’s inner sense of unease grew stronger.

But he quickly suppressed it.

She was just a young girl who hadn't been an adult for long; she couldn't have that much depth.

He took the initiative to explain: "I am helping you because I can't stand how the Bai family ignores you, and I have some personal grievances with Bai Jinwei."

"We have a common enemy. Don't worry, I will definitely help you get what you want."

"Oh," Huai Ying replied with a flat tone.

This attitude truly displeased Lu Ziming.

He frowned, feeling a surge of irritation.

He wanted to lash out but didn't know where to start.

He could only mutter, "Fine, then let’s wish for a pleasant cooperation. I will contact you later if anything comes up."

Huai Ying gave a soft grunt and turned to leave.

"Big Boss, you aren't really going to cooperate with him, are you? This guy definitely has bad intentions."

"You mustn't let him deceive you."

"Big Boss..."

***

"Shut up." Huai Ying finally lost her patience.

She glared at Xiao Hong: "You don't really think you can control my choices, do you?"

"I am going to do this, and you can't stop me."

She hadn't displayed such an angry expression in a long time.

Her eyes contained a warning, and upon closer inspection, one could see a deep, hidden rage.

Xiao Hong quickly clamped her mouth shut and smiled sheepishly.

How could she have forgotten that the Big Boss in front of her was never someone she could lecture at will?

She had assumed they were close and had become increasingly overstepping.

A sense of sadness flickered in her heart.

She had actually thought she and Huai Ying had become friends.

But she hadn't expected...

Seeing the look of disappointment on Xiao Hong's face, Huai Ying felt a slight stir.

She had expected the other to keep pestering her, trying to make her complete the mission.

She hadn't expected her to just fall silent, looking so wounded.

Did she hurt her?

Huai Ying didn't understand.

She shook her head, casting away the extra thoughts and emotions in her mind.

None of that was important.

The plan Lu Ziming had for her was simple.

He wanted Huai Ying to help him kidnap Bai Jinwei to force the Bai family to pay a ransom.

Lu Ziming would ensure that Bai Jinwei would accidentally lose her life during the kidnapping.

By then, everything in the Bai family would be hers.

This was more or less what would have happened in the original trajectory.

It was what the original host would have done.

Only, in the original timeline, when the host invited Bai Jinwei, although the other agreed, she was full of suspicion.

She had prepared in advance, and the host did not succeed.

But this time, Huai Ying invited Bai Jinwei out for a shopping trip.

Although Bai Jinwei felt it was strange, she went out with her in high spirits.

After all, this was the first time Huai Ying had ever invited her.

But just as they stepped out, people from an unmarked van pulled them into the vehicle by force.

Bai Jinwei tried to resist, but she was smothered with a towel soaked in anesthetic and lost consciousness.

The van disappeared into the city, and everything returned to silence.