Blood Orange, Slice Thirty-Three

Only two people remained in the private room: one pleaded with audacious confidence, while the other warily sought to confirm the first wasn't talking nonsense.

Shen Qiancheng's eyes were too bright. Su Tongqin, who met her gaze, soon conceded defeat with a long sigh. She heard her own voice tremble as she made one final attempt with Shen Qiancheng: "Shen Qiancheng, do you know what Jile Paradise is? What do you need the key for? Using this to bring down Su Zeye is far from enough!"

"I know," Shen Qiancheng said, stubborn to the core. She knew she shouldn't touch this thing, yet she insisted on doing so—and even flaunted it with pride. "I'm just taking someone on a tour. My little bunny's ambitions are too big."

Shen Qiancheng's expression was serious. Something certain and resolute was about to spill from her eyes as she spoke with a stern face.

Su Tongqin hadn't seen Shen Qiancheng in three years. When Shen Qiancheng stood before her again, her every word and action was too strange—too unlike the Shen Qiancheng she knew.

Following rules and keeping to oneself were antonyms for Shen Qiancheng.

Watching Shen Qiancheng marry Su Zeye just to get into the Shen Corporation, watching her provoke the Su family for Liao Xue—this was the Shen Qiancheng she recognized. Ruthless, reckless, unstoppable. Arrogance and a total disregard for consequences—that was the real Shen Qiancheng.

Did Su Tongqin have any reason to refuse?

"I'll bring you the key tomorrow." Su Tongqin heard herself agree to Shen Qiancheng, and in the same breath, she boarded Shen Qiancheng's rickety, storm-tossed ship.

Shen Qiancheng, satisfied with the answer, smiled as she poured wine for Su Tongqin.

The two raised their glasses. Shen Qiancheng laughed heartily; Su Tongqin smiled reluctantly.

"Here's to our success!"

###

Through Shen Qiancheng's coercion and bribery of Dean Li, who in turn dropped hints to the doctor, and with the best medicine administered to Liao Xue, her cold soon cleared up.

That morning, Shen Qiancheng was reviewing financial reports when she reached out without looking up to stop Liao Xue from going to watch TV.

"Liao Xue, I'm taking you out today."

Taking me out?

Liao Xue racked her brains but couldn't think of anything she'd done recently that deserved a reward.

She hesitated and asked, "Did I do something wrong lately?"

Shen Qiancheng didn't speak to get such a timid response from Liao Xue; hearing her talk only annoyed her.

"There's a dinner party. I need a female companion. You'll come with me."

Liao Xue frowned and asked genuinely, "Shouldn't you bring a male companion? Besides, you have a fiancé—"

The tablet was flipped face-down on the coffee table. Shen Qiancheng, with her long limbs, curled up on the sofa, displeased. "Are you coming or not? If not, I'll ask Sui Shi."

Liao Xue's heart gave a sharp pang. She mumbled, "I'll go. Don't ask Sui Shi."

Shen Qiancheng nodded in satisfaction, letting her appreciative gaze wander over Liao Xue from head to toe.

"Wear the qipao I gave you last time."

Liao Xue lowered her head. Last time's qipao?

Liao Xue had opened it to look. It was a moon-white qipao with a one-line front placket and frog buttons. The silky fabric bore a plum blossom pattern, each flower adorned with lustrous pearls.

Girls love to look pretty. Even if it was a second-piece-at-twenty-percent-off deal, Liao Xue had secretly worn it when Shen Qiancheng wasn't home.

The color complemented her skin tone beautifully. Its elegant, understated style matched her refined and serene temperament perfectly.

The fit was impeccable—nothing like a hastily made second-piece discount.

So when Liao Xue first stood before Shen Qiancheng in that qipao, she caught the flash of amazement in Shen Qiancheng's eyes—quick and precise.

Liao Xue's lips curled up, her heart feeling as though it were filled with sparkling water, bubbling over with little more than warmth.

Shyly, she asked, "Do I look good?"

Shen Qiancheng smiled. The moment she'd seen that fabric, she knew it had to be Liao Xue's. But now, with the real thing on Liao Xue—her skin's warmth and breath settling into the dress—it was like a delicate ancient Chinese painting come to life.

"Beautiful," Shen Qiancheng said, unable to tear her eyes away. She regretted it almost instantly—she shouldn't have brought the beautiful Liao Xue to a banquet. She wanted to keep her all to herself. "I'll go change."

###

The banquet was held in the backyard of Lin Ruwen's sprawling courtyard estate. Amid the intricately carved, ancient-style architecture, carefully cultivated peonies and roses from the greenhouse had been brought in to decorate, interspersed with charming crabapple blossoms in various poses, forming a classical scene reminiscent of the Grand View Garden from Dream of the Red Chamber.

The guests mingled among the flowers, dressed in suits and haute couture gowns, holding champagne flutes and trading pleasant smiles.

Su Tongqin leaned against a blossoming crabapple tree, a champagne flute in her left hand, a half-burned cigarette pinched between her pinky and ring finger, her right hand typing on her phone. Her short hair was swept up high, and she wore a snow-white long dress—a style she'd never been seen in before. Gone was her usual ruthlessness, replaced by a hint of charm at the corners of her eyes.

Su Tongqin clicked her tongue, brows furrowed, cursing Shen Qiancheng under her breath.

What was the deal? She still hadn't arrived.

A commotion at the entrance drew Su Tongqin's attention along with everyone else's.

Beneath the ornate, flower-wreathed moon gate stood two striking figures—one in black, one in white, arms linked, receiving the gaze of the entire room. Shen Qiancheng wore a black suit, her lean form like a drawn sword. Liao Xue, in her moon-white qipao, looked even more delicate, with skin like smooth jade—gentle and serene.

Su Tongqin let out a soft tsk. A couple, perfect for each other, damn it!

The cigarette burned down to her fingers, the sting snapping her back to reality. She tossed it aside.

Shen Qiancheng smiled with satisfaction—a beautiful smile, but one tinged with mischief. Everyone present knew Shen Qiancheng's nature and quickly averted their eyes, resuming their earlier revelry.

The hostess, Lin Ruwen, draped in a sapphire-blue shawl, called over a server carrying a tray with two glasses of red wine.

Lin Ruwen and Shen Qiancheng each took a glass. Lin Ruwen smiled gracefully. "Ms. Shen, enjoy yourself."

Shen Qiancheng responded with a smile and a nod, tucking away her aggressive edge.

Long tables were set up under the eaves, covered with white cloths and laden with a spread of Chinese and Western delicacies.

At such an upscale venue, Liao Xue was so nervous she didn't know where to put her hands or feet. She followed closely behind Shen Qiancheng, her eyes fixed on the unfamiliar, exotic foods.

Shen Qiancheng noticed and asked, "Hungry? Let's get something to eat."

Liao Xue's eyes lit up with joy as she happily made her way to the tables.

Shen Qiancheng watched Liao Xue's smile from the corner of her eye—a feeling of reunion after a long separation.

Shen Qiancheng stood behind Liao Xue, her wine glass hanging at her waist, creating a barrier between Liao Xue and the buffet, keeping anyone from intruding on their space.

A hand landed on Shen Qiancheng's shoulder. She glanced back to see Su Tongqin in white approaching.

Shen Qiancheng turned and pushed Liao Xue behind her, blocking Su Tongqin's view and cutting off any potential sarcastic remarks about Liao Xue. With a smile, she asked, "Did you bring it?"

Su Tongqin raised her glass and clinked it against Shen Qiancheng's. "No. I'm here, so he's definitely here."

Sure enough, Shen Qiancheng spotted Su Zeye not far away. Good thing she'd tucked Liao Xue behind her.

Su Tongqin sighed. "Stop hiding her. He's already seen her."

As soon as Su Tongqin finished speaking, Su Zeye walked over with a glass in hand. "Long time no see, fiancée."

Gone was his flower-patterned shirt. He wore a crisp white shirt with a blue tie, his hair styled. He looked human enough.

Shen Qiancheng sneered. "Indeed, it's been a while. I've been avoiding you—didn't you notice?"

Su Zeye turned to look at Liao Xue with a genuine smile. "Out with your little toy again?"

Shen Qiancheng raised her hand to block his view, forcing Su Zeye to step back. "Didn't you bring your toy? Here all alone? How pathetic."

Unable to get the upper hand verbally, Su Zeye could only bark in frustration. "Shen Qiancheng, I'll be waiting for the day you marry me. You know that."

Shen Qiancheng shook her head, her sarcasm on full display. "I have no idea."

Liao Xue wasn't as afraid of Su Zeye's approach anymore, but Shen Qiancheng, oblivious, found the banquet increasingly perilous. She took a champagne flute and made her excuses to leave.

###

At dinner time, Shen Qiancheng was heaping praise on Liao Xue's newest culinary creation when her phone rang.

Frowning, she answered. "What are you doing here? Fine."

Liao Xue bit her chopsticks. "Who was that? Where are you going?"

Shen Qiancheng's eyes darted. "No one. It's Su Tongqin. She doesn't know the way. Go down and pick her up."

Su Tongqin? Shen Qiancheng's archenemy from childhood?

Liao Xue bit down harder on her chopsticks. "Okay, I'll go."

Under the crabapple tree, amid a sea of blossoms, stood a figure in a leather jacket, jeans, and tall boots, hands in pockets. Tall and striking.

Liao Xue forced a smile that was closer to a grimace.

Su Tongqin, more gracious, smiled appropriately. "You looked lovely in that qipao last time."

Liao Xue fumbled, "So did you."

Su Tongqin stifled a laugh. "Have you seen me in a qipao?"

"I..." Liao Xue was at a loss for words.

Su Tongqin pressed on, "You and Shen Qiancheng—"

"It's one-sided on my part," Liao Xue answered without hesitation.

Su Tongqin rubbed her forehead and followed Liao Xue inside, unable to help marveling: You two are birds of a feather.

Given the neighborhood's location, amenities, and surroundings, if Su Tongqin ever revealed this place, people would just laugh at Shen Qiancheng for being stingy with her kept woman.

Upstairs, the door opened, and Liao Xue walked straight in.

Su Tongqin asked, puzzled, "Don't I need to change into slippers?"

Liao Xue paused mid-step. "We don't have any for guests."

Fine, fine. So only you two have slippers, and you two are the only family.

Su Tongqin rolled her eyes and stepped onto the wooden floor.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Shabby on the outside, shabby on the inside.

She really wanted to mock Shen Qiancheng about this for the rest of her life.

Shen Qiancheng sat at the dining table; four dishes and a soup had been mostly devoured.

This little life certainly was cozy and content.

Liao Xue said politely, "Ms. Su, would you like to sit and have something to eat?"

Shen Qiancheng was protective of her food. "She doesn't want to eat."

Su Tongqin choked back the ready reply and said, annoyed, "I came to bring you the wedding dress designs."

Shen Qiancheng's chopsticks slipped and clattered onto the table. Liao Xue calmly picked up a new pair and handed them to her.

Su Tongqin raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"Well, thank you kindly, Ms. Su!" Shen Qiancheng ground out. "In this digital age, can't you just send me the file?"

Why did she have to come and ruin her mood?

Sensing the tension, Liao Xue retreated to the bedroom.

"In this digital age, you hide a concubine in this dump?" Su Tongqin shot back. A meeting between them without verbal sparring felt incomplete.

Shen Qiancheng rolled her eyes. "Get to the point!"

Su Tongqin placed the file folder on the table with authority. "This is the point!"

Shen Qiancheng's urge to curse erupted like a volcano. "If you've got nothing to do, go clean the public trash cans downstairs."

"I want this bracelet," Su Tongqin said, spreading out the document to reveal a dazzling bracelet.

Shen Qiancheng understood instantly. Three years ago, she'd sold the bracelet Su Tongqin had given her. This was revenge.

Shen Qiancheng's finger tapped on the image. "You checked my accounts? Thirty million—exactly right."

Su Tongqin crossed her arms, looming over Shen Qiancheng. "So, will you buy it or not?"

Shen Qiancheng gritted her teeth. "I'll buy it."

A pair of eyes watched their every move through the crack in the bedroom door. Liao Xue's heart pounded like a drum.

Thirty million. Shen Qiancheng was giving Su Tongqin a thirty-million bracelet. Weren't they supposed to be rivals? Could rivals who exchanged such gifts truly be rivals?

And what had Shen Qiancheng ever given her?

A painful memory of being abandoned, a white dress she didn't want anymore, a qipao bought at twenty percent off...

Was Liao Xue not worthy of a thirty-million bracelet from Shen Qiancheng, only worth these things that Shen Qiancheng deemed cheap?

Su Tongqin was Su Zeye's sister. Was Shen Qiancheng's agreement to marry Su Zeye all about getting closer to Su Tongqin...

Liao Xue's mind was a muddle. She commanded herself to stop thinking.

Shen Qiancheng had never clearly expressed her feelings. What was she speculating about?

###

At home, Shen Qiancheng asked Liao Xue if she'd like to go to the auction; she had to be there all day. Liao Xue shook her head dejectedly.

"Don't just eat whatever at home, don't watch TV all day. You can go out for a walk," Shen Qiancheng instructed, but Liao Xue clearly wasn't listening.

Shen Qiancheng assumed she was just still sleepy and left early for the auction house.

The bracelet Su Tongqin wanted was successfully bid on by Shen Qiancheng for thirty million.

Before the auction, Shen Qiancheng spotted a pair of Song dynasty pearl earrings in the catalog that would suit Liao Xue perfectly—matching her face shape and temperament.

Waiting for the earrings to come up took some time. It was already ten o'clock at night when she left the auction house, so Shen Qiancheng returned to the hotel.

She texted Su Tongqin crossly that she'd bought the bracelet, then messaged Liao Xue that she'd be home tomorrow evening and not to eat dinner—she was taking her somewhere.

Liao Xue: [Okay.]