“Thanks for the concern, Cousin Sister.”
Xu Yijing gnashed her teeth inwardly. When it came to her relationship with her mother, she had absolutely no room to argue back.
If Xu Yijing had any glaring weakness, this was one of the few.
It was also one of the rare “public opinion battlegrounds” where Zhao Qingyu held a clear advantage.
Unfortunately, Zhao Qingyu couldn’t keep harping on it forever. Otherwise, Xu Yijing would shamelessly blow up and dredge up old family dirt.
The skeletons in Zhao Qingyu’s own closet weren’t any cleaner than Xu Yijing’s.
In a certain sense, Zhao Qingyu and Xu Yijing knew each other inside and out. Their clashes were always fierce, but they shared a tacit understanding not to prod each other’s “bottom lines.”
“So, what’s his deal exactly? Psychologist? Nanny? Or a spy planted by your mother?”
Steering clear of Xu Yijing’s bottom line, Zhao Qingyu circled the conversation back to Shen An.
Of course, it was a topic that genuinely piqued her interest.
She badly wanted to know Shen An’s true role. Was he an innocent pawn, or a predator lurking in the shadows?
Xu Yijing drew in a deep breath, steadying her emotions.
In response to Zhao Qingyu’s question, she said flatly, “I don’t know.”
“You haven’t even tested him? That’s not like you at all.” Zhao Qingyu didn’t buy that Xu Yijing could be so “naive.”
“I planned to originally, but after some thought, certain reasons made me drop it.”
“What reasons?”
“I figured you’d be better suited for the probing.” Xu Yijing was blunt to the point of chill-inducing candor.
Zhao Qingyu let out a scoff but didn’t get angry.
She knew full well this was Xu Yijing’s style.
To Xu Yijing, tactics weren’t dirty or noble—they were judged solely by efficiency and payoff.
That was why Zhao Qingyu pegged her as “a master of pretense.”
Xu Yijing could take utterly shameless maneuvers, dress them up as something lofty and pure, and neatly distance herself from the mess. Her capacity for self-delusion was bottomless.
“Looks like you’ve already poked around a bit yourself. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have called me specifically.”
Xu Yijing was remarkably level-headed, with exceptional adaptability.
“True enough. I just gave him the third degree.” Zhao Qingyu didn’t hold back and repeated what Shen An had confessed.
“He has no idea about Aunt’s schemes. He doesn’t even know your exact connection to her or Aunt’s identity. He only took her commission because of his family’s troubles.”
“I’ve seen that contract. His name isn’t on it—nor is yours. Just Aunt’s signature and his mother’s.”
“And they’re genuine, not forged.”
Xu Yijing fell silent for a moment, then said, “You believe him?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m running it by you.”
“Logically and based on the evidence, his story checks out. But the problem is…”
“The problem,” Zhao Qingyu picked up on her pause, drawling lazily, “is that we both know Aunt’s methods. If she’s deliberately hiding something, neither our tricks nor anyone else’s would uncover it.”
“Right.”
Xu Yijing nodded slightly in agreement. “The people Mother placed before—I could never fully pin down their backgrounds either.”
“Tsk. If only Aunt would step up as your ‘psychologist’ herself. Problem solved.”
Zhao Qingyu couldn’t resist a jab.
Zhao Li’s plan was solid, her methods sharp, and her secrecy ironclad.
Too bad her eye for people wasn’t. Everyone she picked had some kind of slip-up, minor or major.
Xu Yijing’s mind was razor-sharp and hypersensitive. The moment a crack appeared, she’d spot it.
But forget those—the real howler was a near-seventy-year-old woman claiming she wanted to be Xu Yijing’s nanny. That was a flaw screaming for attention.
Every previous “psychologist” had been around Zhao Li’s age at the youngest.
The mismatch jumped out instantly.
Xu Yijing sidestepped the topic. She was always exceedingly cautious about anything involving Zhao Li.
“I’m still wary of him,” she said softly. “My judgment is that he’s one of Mother’s plants.”
Zhao Qingyu arched a brow. “That’s a given. We’re debating whether he knows the score.”
“Does it matter?”
Xu Yijing shot back suddenly.
Zhao Qingyu blinked. No, it truly didn’t—to Xu Yijing, anyway.
Whether Shen An knew or not, she wanted him gone.
As long as he was Zhao Li’s man.
Which looped the question right back to Zhao Qingyu.
She sneered coldly. “Don’t count on my help. If he’s clueless, I’d love nothing more than to see him stick around you.”
“He’s a fool who knows boundaries, but anything to get under your skin? Delicious just to imagine.”
“And if he does know?” Xu Yijing replied evenly.
“Does it matter?”
Zhao Qingyu turned the question back on her.
But the meanings couldn’t have been more opposed.
Xu Yijing didn’t care about Shen An’s knowledge; she’d boot him either way.
Zhao Qingyu didn’t care either—as long as he wasn’t Xu Yijing’s ally, she backed him staying put.
Their aims were polar opposites, diverging like their personalities in every direction.
“No worries. I wasn’t banking on you.”
Xu Yijing stayed cool. “You’re not dumb enough for the same trick three times.”
“True. With your brains, you’ve got plenty of follow-ups lined up, right?”
Zhao Qingyu pivoted. “But don’t forget—he’s mine now. Official member of my Art Troupe.”
“Eh?”
Xu Yijing sounded surprised. “Didn’t expect you to rate him so highly.”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t notice. Not every freshman can stand on stage, take your public dressing-down in front of hundreds, and keep a straight face.”
Zhao Qingyu chuckled.
“Stop calling him a freshman. He’s a few months older than you.”
Xu Yijing pointed out Shen An’s age.
“Right—by age, he’s your elder. And you had no qualms cursing an elder black and blue.”
Zhao Qingyu gave no ground, striking back sharply.
Shen An had taken that tongue-lashing in her stead, after all, so there was more than a hint of indirect scolding in her words.
By age, he was Xu Yijing’s senior.
Wasn’t she as well?
Xu Yijing gave a light laugh. “Does it bother you that much?”
“Of course it does.”
“You’re always so hung up on face.” Xu Yijing sighed. “But you really overdid it. I was speaking from the Student Union’s position—criticism, not cursing.”
“Save it. You don’t speak for the Student Union.”
Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes. “How do you change without shaking things up? Clinging to the old rules—what’s the point?”
“If you’ve got time, come check out the Art Troupe. It’s not what it used to be.”
“Yeah. More of a burden now.”
Xu Yijing murmured.
“Fine. Guess we’re just oil and water. No point convincing a die-hard like you.”
Zhao Qingyu had no patience left for the debate.
“Oil and water? I actually enjoy our chats, Cousin Sister.”
Xu Yijing smiled faintly.
“Ha. Your fake sincerity turns my stomach. I’m just warning you—he still trusts you. If you’re set on targeting him, at least give the guy some dignity. Don’t repeat the past and drive someone to death!”
Zhao Qingyu’s warning came heavy, born of pure goodwill.
“If he plays along, he’ll be fine.”
Xu Yijing paused briefly before murmuring.
“Cold as ever. Xu Yijing, I’m genuinely curious—what broke you to make you this ruthless?”
“You were so cute as a little girl.”
“Don’t talk about my childhood. You don’t have the right.” Xu Yijing’s tone was flat.
“Fine. Have it your way. We’ll see.”
Zhao Qingyu sneered, moving to hang up.
“I know what you’re planning, but I advise against it.”
Xu Yijing rubbed her wrist, her voice soft. “Unless you truly don’t care if he lives or dies.”
Zhao Qingyu froze mid-motion, hesitating.
“You love calling me cold-blooded. Ever looked in the mirror?”
Xu Yijing pressed on. “We’re cut from the same cloth—both of us will do anything to get what we want.”
“To some, crushing a person’s dignity is as good as killing them. Isn’t it?”
“I don’t say this much, and you hate hearing it. But I don’t want this feud dragging on. You get what I mean?”
Zhao Qingyu’s eyes tightened. “Don’t lump me in with you. At least I don’t treat everyone like tools!”
“Judge people by their actions, not their words.” Xu Yijing smiled lightly. “Your comeback’s pretty feeble.”
“I told you—I don’t want to fight.”
Zhao Qingyu drew a deep breath.
“I’m just making you face facts and offering some advice. That’s it.” This was true, except for the rare moments when topics touched on her own issues with Zhao Li, where Xu Yijing showed the slightest crack in her composure.
She maintained absolute rationality throughout the entire conversation, a rationality bordering on cold-blooded.
Thanks to this, she could easily seize the psychological upper hand.
Her opponent would inevitably lose the ability to think calmly first.
At the very least, emotions would influence them to some degree.
“Alright, maybe you weren’t wrong. We might be the same kind of people after all.”
Zhao Qingyu calmed down and gave it some careful thought before suddenly changing her tune. “In that case, let’s see whose methods prove more brilliant.”
“This bet is on him?”
“Why not.” Zhao Qingyu flashed a charming smile. “This time, I won’t lose.”
Xu Yijing remained utterly impassive. “That’s what you said last time.”
“Your confidence has me on the verge of throwing up.” Zhao Qingyu’s voice turned icy with mockery.
“Your arrogance is starting to wear on me too.” Xu Yijing replied with perfect calm.
“Trash-talking won’t get us anywhere. We’ll see who’s better when the time comes.”
“Fine, see you then.”
With that, Xu Yijing took the initiative and hung up.
On the other end of the line, Zhao Qingyu didn’t rush to end the call. Instead, she first hit the pause button.
She had enabled recording from the very start of the conversation.
It wasn’t done specifically for Shen An’s benefit.
No, when dealing with Xu Yijing, she always erred on the side of caution.
This wasn’t even the first time Zhao Qingyu had recorded one of their calls.
She harbored a deep wariness toward Xu Yijing.
No matter the time or circumstances.
Better to have some evidence on hand beforehand—who knew when it might prove useful.
At the very least, this recording would be enough to steel Shen An’s resolve.
But Zhao Qingyu had no intention of playing it for him just yet. She would wait for the perfect moment.
A spark of rivalry had ignited within her as well.
If Xu Yijing could inexplicably win his favor out of thin air, then why couldn’t she?
She would surpass Xu Yijing in the end. She always did.
