Chapter 113

The woman in the photo had a soft yet aloof beauty, her clear eyes staring piercingly at the lens. An ordinary white shirt hung on her frame with striking poise and elegance.

What caught Li Qinghuan’s attention, however, was that the face bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Li sitting across from her.

If this was mere coincidence, Li Qinghuan wouldn’t buy it.

“I thought Miss Jiang was interested in me,” she said. “Turns out you want me to do your bidding.” The target wasn’t her after all, so Li Qinghuan’s interest evaporated in an instant. Her brows furrowed.

Interest? More like asking for trouble.

The blatant disinterest Li Qinghuan showed toward the woman in the photo suited Jiang Li just fine. This one looked like the stubborn type—talking sense wouldn’t work.

If Li Qinghuan didn’t care about her second identity, that was perfect.

All Jiang Li wanted was to lure her close. If Li Qinghuan wasn’t keen on approaching, Jiang Li would swallow her pride and fawn over her. She’d butter her up until the task ended—then bolt!

If Li Qinghuan had no interest, neither did she. Mutual convenience at its finest.

“Doing my bidding? More like doing Miss Li a favor,” Jiang Li replied.

The hand that had been idly rubbing her wrist suddenly stilled. Li Qinghuan looked up with a soft, puzzled “Oh?” Her lips curved politely, revealing her curiosity.

Treating my hand like a toy… Her brows twitched as Jiang Li glanced down at her own wrist in Li Qinghuan’s grasp. The other woman was even bending her knuckles, pinching them playfully.

Whatever. Just pretend it’s playtime with Comi.

Jiang Li gave up on reasoning with her. Li Qinghuan didn’t strike her as the logical type.

“Huai Jing Entertainment is gearing up for a brand-new romance variety show,” Jiang Li explained. “Jiang Corporation is fully funding the project. If Miss Li’s on board, your name could be attached to it.”

Of course, “Jiang Li” would be participating too.

Li Qinghuan’s fingers continued their absentminded fiddling with her hand, but Jiang Li spoke slowly, outlining the show’s framework and its hooks step by step.

Jiang Li wasn’t an industry pro, but Li Qinghuan was.

She just needed to lay out the details—Li Qinghuan would grasp the value herself.

As Jiang Li murmured in her ear, Li Qinghuan toyed with the slender, soft fingers in her grasp. They were plush yet defined with clear bones beneath.

The show’s potential buzz, hype, and exposure would only benefit Li Qinghuan’s studio.

It was the perfect way for her to stay in the public eye during this downtime.

The only hitch was Jiang Li’s request: to get close to that woman.

Jiang Li waited patiently. Based on her research and their chat so far, she doubted it would be refused.

“Could I ask why Miss Jiang wants me to get close to her?”

No problem—Jiang Li had her story ready.

“Her name’s Jiang You. Think of her as my sister. She’s got terrible taste in partners and desperately needs someone like Miss Li to set her straight.”

Face straight as a board, heart steady as a rock, Jiang Li delivered her fabricated tale. She blackened the persona preemptively, bracing for the next task.

In the sea of her mind, 123 watched Jiang Li spin her lies and started regretting why this world left the persona-making to her.

As a pitiful system repeatedly threatened, it couldn’t fathom handling such a low-effort character later on.

And that name—Jiang You! 123 wanted to swat her with a massive paw!

Jiang You, Jiang You. As if Li Qinghuan wouldn’t notice and get suspicious later.

Determined to make this second identity a throwaway, huh?

Chanting sutras under its breath—Namu Amida Butsu—123 prayed for one thing:

Please don’t let Li Qinghuan figure out Jiang Li and Jiang You are the same person!!!

Only Jiang Li knew of its meltdown, but she clearly didn’t care.

For some reason, Jiang Li just felt like this cat system 123 had screwed her over before the task even started, making her itch to mess with it.

Li Qinghuan watched calmly as Jiang Li spun her wild tales with a straight face. The contrast was striking—the Jiang You from her mouth sounded utterly depraved.

Still, Li Qinghuan’s mind flashed to that photo of Jiang You. The woman there was aloof and refined, worlds apart from Jiang Li’s description.

Curiosity piqued. Li Qinghuan had a weakness for such mysteries.

And even while listing Jiang You’s misdeeds, those eyes stared pleadingly at her without a trace of disgust.

What was Jiang Li hoping to see on her face?

Li Qinghuan tried a furrowed brow of distaste. She watched the expectation fade from Jiang Li’s eyes. So cute. So easy to fool.

She has zero feelings for me but wants me to hate Jiang You.

A sly smile curved her lips as the earlier annoyance at being nudged toward someone else softened. A spark of interest in Jiang You ignited.

What was pushing Jiang Li to shove her my way? Curiosity deepened.

Li Qinghuan arched a brow, deliberately schooling her expression. “Does Miss Jiang think I look like the delinquent savior type? Aren’t you afraid I’ll corrupt her instead?”

Truth be told, Jiang Li did think Li Qinghuan had that corrupting vibe.

But no matter!

Jiang Li had decided: Finish the task with the second identity and vanish!

As long as she herself wasn’t led astray.

So she smiled and leaned back casually. “As long as Miss Li gets close to her, do whatever.”

Her tone was so nonchalant about her “sister’s” potential corruption that Li Qinghuan couldn’t read her.

But she remembered her own initial pitch.

“…”

Jiang Li resolved: After this meeting, she’d have her secretary sign her up for fitness—no, boxing classes.

Next time Li Qinghuan touched her without permission, she’d punch her away. Far, far away.

This habit of grabbing her wrist on a whim…

“Li Qinghuan.”

Jiang Li crooked her arm, pressing her fist against Li Qinghuan’s advance, staring her down in warning. The other hand propped on her thigh slid brazenly higher without hesitation.

“Is this sexual harassment of a business partner, Miss Li?”

The palm on her leg was separated by thin fabric. Fingertips crept upward, their warmth and texture seeping through to her skin.

But the real alarm came from the woman’s eyes.

A faint smile lingered, but the depths swirled with possessive hunger.

She’d become her prey.

The realization sent chills down Jiang Li’s spine. Her brows knit in rejection, hoping Li Qinghuan would back off.

Watching Jiang Li’s defiance, Li Qinghuan shivered with delight. She leaned closer, lips curving, until she could hear the other’s uneven, tense breaths.

“I’m a woman of propriety.”

Her voice was low and husky, laced with circling amusement as she stroked the tender skin in her grasp.

Their breaths mingled hot against each other’s cheeks, cool detachment clashing with vivid allure, inches from touching skin to skin.

Jiang Li arched a brow at the lips nearing hers and decisively raised a hand, blocking between their faces.

Her skepticism was plain. “If Miss Li could stop moving in like she’s about to kiss me while saying that, it might be more believable.”

“And,” Jiang Li glanced at the hand nearing her thigh’s root, “if Miss Li’s lonely tonight, head downstairs. Plenty of young heirs and heiresses waiting.”

With that, she gripped Li Qinghuan’s wrist and shoved her to the far end of the sofa.

Seizing the momentary daze, Jiang Li pulled away cleanly.

She patted her hands, stood from the sofa, and glanced at the disheveled beauty. Her gaze traveled up to narrow, intrigued eyes fixed on her.

Under dense lashes, those eyes were pitch-black and profound, unblinking like hidden abysses.

Jiang Li took deliberate steps away, emphasizing her displeasure.

She liked mermaids, but Li Qinghuan wasn’t that type.

Li Qinghuan was a siren slithering through verdant jungles, flicking a crimson tongue, eyes narrowed on her prey.

Just standing near her set Jiang Li’s instincts screaming.

“What are you smiling at?”

Under that gaze, Jiang Li carefully retrieved her phone and opened WeChat. Li Qinghuan’s soft chuckle followed.

“Hm, just that Miss Jiang reminds me of a startled little rabbit.”

Li Qinghuan smoothed her skirt over her thighs, her smile radiant as city lights outside. Her narrow eyes crinkled.

Her gaze never left Jiang Li, lingering darkly.

She watched her tense at every approach, eyes flashing irritation and faint embarrassment, lower lip caught between her teeth.

Li Qinghuan licked her own lip. What perfect reactions.

She couldn’t wait to find out—

If she invited her to her studio, had her lie still with a white rose between her teeth atop a coffin, those clear eyes staining red with desire, how would that look?

A cool, pure white rose, petals plucked tender, left a wilted mess. The ultimate masterpiece.

Just hold back…

A bit longer…

Keep holding…

“Don’t look at me like a creep!!”

Unable to endure, Jiang Li scowled and kicked Li Qinghuan’s calf. Flames seemed ready to burst from her eyes.

Never had she thought a gaze could feel so clingy.

But Li Qinghuan embodied it.

Unblinking fixation—she mimicked every move. Clinging without moving was one thing…

That sinister urge to devour her piece by piece was torture.

Standing before her, Jiang Li felt like a fish on the board, hers to slice at will.

Wait—no, she’d just called her a rabbit.

Even creepier…

Seeing Jiang Li’s full-body alarm, Li Qinghuan regretfully withdrew her gaze. Just looking—how stingy.

“I’m not a creep,” Li Qinghuan said, flashing her WeChat QR code for Jiang Li to add her.

Only after accepting the friend request did she slowly raise her eyes, tilting her head with a smile to deliver the kicker.

“But for Miss Jiang’s task, I’ll embrace my inner creep.”

Jiang Li: Help, how do I kick off a clingy creep?