Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Xu Jing is my cousin. After her parents passed away, my parents took her into our home to care for her.
I had always treated her like an older sister.
It wasn’t until the Cheng Family went bankrupt that I realized she had been harboring resentment toward our family all those years.
She was jealous of our wealth, jealous of the love my parents showered on me, and she hated that I was engaged to the boy she secretly loved.
She intentionally leaked confidential company documents, and later, she flaunted her intimacy with my fiancé right by my father’s hospital bed, provoking him until his heart stopped.
On the phone, Xu Jing’s voice sounded sweet:
“Did you have another fight with Zhou Yang? I’ve booked a table at a bar tonight and invited him along. This time, I’ll make sure he apologizes to you!”
It was always like this.
Whenever my fiancé and I had a conflict, Xu Jing would play the role of the caring older sister, acting as a mediator.
But the more she mediated, the worse my relationship with Zhou Yang became.
Listening to her gentle, soft voice, I smiled.
“Cousin, aren’t you overestimating yourself? Forcing Zhou Yang to apologize to me-who do you think you are, his mother or his great-grandmother?”
Don’t think I can’t hear the manipulative, ‘green tea’ subtext in your words!
Xu Jing paused, stunned.
“Zhiyi, how can you say such nasty things to your sister!”
I replied nonchalantly,
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the way I was raised.”
I hung up the phone and called a makeup artist to give me a seductive ‘man-killer’ look before heading out in a great mood.
I had discovered that Chi Ni was working a part-time job at that bar tonight.
It wouldn’t hurt to show my face in front of my future husband while I was at it.
Chi Ni was busy clearing messy tables at the bar.
Under the hazy, ambiguous lights, he gripped a rag and mopped the floor with intense focus.
He wasn’t selling his body or his charms; he was selling pure manual labor.
With those broad shoulders, narrow waist, firm glutes, and long legs, he drew countless wandering eyes.
When he saw me, his brow furrowed deeply.
Before he could speak, Xu Jing emerged from a private booth to greet me.
She glanced at Chi Ni.
“This male model isn’t bad. You like him?”
“I’m not one,” Chi Ni explained coldly.
Xu Jing waved her hand dismissively. “Then go tell the manager to send a group of male models over. I want the highest quality ones.”
Xu Jing pulled me into the booth.
Several of her friends were already sitting inside.
“Zhiyi, Zhou Yang is so stubborn. He refused to come and apologize no matter what I said.”
Xu Jing put on a smile.
“But Zhou Yang isn’t the only man in the world. If you ask me, you should try a different flavor! Once Zhou Yang gets jealous and anxious, he’ll definitely know how to bow his head and admit he’s wrong.”
Her friends chimed in, “Exactly! There are plenty of fish in the sea, why obsess over one flower? Zhou Yang isn’t worth a damn!”
Xu Jing clapped her hands, and the booth door swung open. A line of male models of various styles filed in, bringing with them a pungent cloud of cologne.
Chi Ni walked in last, expressionless as he set fruit platters and drinks on the table.
“Pick the best one to keep you company tonight. Consider it a little toy from your sister to help you relieve your boredom.”
Xu Jing looked the picture of consideration.
Meanwhile, her friends were surreptitiously raising their phones.
They undoubtedly wanted to film a video to send to Zhou Yang to drive a wedge between us.
I had seen these kinds of low-class tactics far too many times after our bankruptcy in my past life.
“Then I’ll take you, you, and you.” I pointed out the three most expensive models in the room.
I turned to smile at Xu Jing.
“Cousin, I have a big appetite. I’m afraid I’ll be making you spend a lot tonight.”
My parents gave Xu Jing and me the same amount of allowance, but Xu Jing was a spendthrift who loved to show off in front of her friends. I had always been the one quietly cleaning up her financial messes.
Tonight, she was likely going to max out her credit cards.
Xu Jing’s smile became strained.
“It’s fine. As long as you’re happy. After all, I am your sister.”
With a male model on each arm and another following behind, I glanced at Chi Ni, who was still arranging the fruit platter before I headed out.
How professional!
He was gripping a watermelon slice so hard he was about to turn it into juice.
Xu Jing had booked a luxury suite for me.
Suddenly, the key card was snatched from my hand.
Chi Ni stood in front of me, his breathing becoming ragged.
“Cheng Zhiyi, this isn’t a place for fooling around.”
“I know. That’s why I’m planning to go somewhere else to fool around.”
Chi Ni’s face went pale.
The male models teased him:
“Does the part-timer want to join in too?”
“He’s so stiff, could he even serve the Young Lady properly?”
“Kid, go back to mopping your floors.”
Chi Ni pressed his lips into a thin line, saying nothing.
It wasn’t until I reached out to grab the key card back that he seized my wrist and pulled me into his arms.
His solid arm locked firmly around my waist.
I struggled for a moment, but Chi Ni only held me tighter.
I looked up and met his misty eyes; even his eyelashes were trembling slightly.
His scorching breath brushed against my ear.
“Don’t choose them. Choose me.”
His voice was so suppressed it sounded like it was breaking.
“Young Lady, choose me.”
“I am… cleaner than all of them.”