Sheng Yingfei spat in disgust and cursed, “That woman’s a total pervert and nutcase—addicted to drugs, street racing, gambling. She’s got every bad habit in the book, and she especially loves playing with female Alphas younger than her. After all, you can’t get pregnant from messing around with an Alpha, so no need for contraception and way fewer complications afterward.”
“Don’t ask me how I know all her dirty deeds like the back of my hand. Back when I was studying abroad in Lan Wei, I had the misfortune of crossing paths with her. She didn’t know my dad was the big boss of Shengshi Group at the time, so she set her sights on me. If I hadn’t been running wild myself back then, I probably would’ve fallen into her trap. Seriously, even thinking about it now makes me want to puke.”
“Her family couldn’t control her and was afraid she’d cause trouble, so they kept her overseas year-round. She only came back to the country occasionally, and even then, she was always popping up out of nowhere.”
“You’re suddenly investigating her… Does that mean the little one caught her eye? You better watch out and keep that kid close.”
After hearing Sheng Yingfei’s tirade, Shi Youwan grew deeply worried and immediately had Qiao Ke change her flight.
She called Shen Muxi, but her phone was off.
“Qiao Ke, contact Shen Muxi’s manager and tell her to relay this immediately: If anything happens to Xiao Mo at Li Longfeng’s place, her company will pay the corresponding price.”
“Yes, President Shi.”
“I remember that person who came up to chat with me the day before yesterday…”
“The marketing director from MENAS, named Xiao Wei. His business card is in my bag in the car.”
“Let’s go now.”
Shi Youwan hurried toward the elevator in a panic when Zhaoda Tech’s Vice President He caught up. “President Shi, leaving so early? What about the things we discussed yesterday?”
Ever since last year, when he’d persisted for 14 straight days waiting and finally earned Shi Youwan’s gracious “fifteen minutes,” he’d secured a new partnership contract with Shifeng Group.
Shifeng Group’s funding had turned around Zhaoda Tech’s new project from dire straits and reversed his own precarious position at the company.
Shi Youwan had become his “turning point.”
He didn’t know exactly what “good deed” Lu Xinming had done to blow deals with both Shifeng and Shengshi, but he knew his chance had come. He needed to cling to the towering tree that was Shifeng Group—and to the leg of its president.
Shi Youwan didn’t break stride as she entered the elevator and said coolly, “Vice President He, to achieve great things, you still need to learn to stay calm.”
…
At exactly 2 p.m.
Chi Yumo took back her tablet and backpack from the man.
The man used pupil recognition, and the double doors slid open automatically. He bowed and gestured invitingly. “Please come in, Miss Mo.”
The world inside the grand doors was utterly different from what Chi Yumo had imagined.
She’d thought there might be rows of clothing racks or mannequins, perhaps a cabinet full of fine liquors or a long table laden with delicacies.
In any case, she hadn’t expected to see a swimming pool right at the entrance.
Along the edge were all sorts of lounge chairs, beds of various sizes, sofas, tables, mirrors, rugs, a small artificial sandy beach, a patch of pebbles, a display case of bizarre outfits, and an entire wall of… sex toys.
“Fifth Miss, she’s here,” the man said at the door before closing it and withdrawing.
Chi Yumo gripped her backpack strap tightly.
It wasn’t fear—it was nausea at the room’s furnishings.
The blonde woman sitting in the pool, her back to the door, turned around and draped herself over the edge. Her blue eyes were beautiful but unfriendly.
“Mo Yu?” She crooked a finger. “Come closer.”
Along with her voice came the pheromones of an S-Grade Alpha.
It was a strange scent that Chi Yumo couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was pungent, and she didn’t like it.
As she was about to step forward, another slightly younger woman surfaced from the water, wiped the water from her face, and leaned in to kiss the blonde’s ear without a care for who was watching.
“Fifth Miss’s new fling is here. So how does Fifth Miss plan to deal with me, her old flame of many years?”
The blonde woman tilted up her chin and planted a fierce kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry—as long as you’re good and I haven’t gotten bored of you, you’re all new flings to me.”
The scene made Chi Yumo lose all interest in the identity of this Western-featured woman who spoke fluent Chinese.
She kept her head down typing as she walked.
[I came at Director Xiao Wei’s invitation to try on MENAS’s spring-summer collection. Where are the clothes? If they’re not here, I’ll be leaving.]
At the poolside, Chi Yumo held up the tablet for the blonde woman to see.
“I hate looking up at things the most. People included.” Li Longfeng ignored the tablet entirely, not even lifting an eyelid, and continued fondling the woman in her arms.
She was already here—better to endure it for now and keep the peace.
After talking herself into patience, Chi Yumo crouched down.
She held the tablet level with the blonde woman’s line of sight and even tapped the back shell twice to get her attention.
After reading it, Li Longfeng reached out to grab Chi Yumo’s wrist, but Chi Yumo dodged nimbly.
She wasn’t used to strangers touching her, nor did she like it—especially not from someone with Li Longfeng’s style.
“That tattoo on your wrist is beautiful. Why hide it?” Li Longfeng wasn’t annoyed; instead, she seemed intrigued and nodded toward a direction. “I like your tattoo. Go wash it off over there. I want a closer look.”
She was pointing at a sink.
Chi Yumo glanced over but didn’t follow the instruction. Her tattoo was for her own eyes, not for others—and certainly not to please anyone.
[The tattoo has nothing to do with trying on clothes. If Fifth Miss has no real business, I’ll take my leave.]
She’d originally planned to just try on clothes like at the competition, so before leaving home, she’d covered the tattoo on her right wrist with foundation to avoid affecting the fitting. Little did she know there might not even be clothes to try.
“Talk, talk, talk—always talking business.”
Li Longfeng’s enthusiasm waned. She turned her back, pouring water over herself as she said, “First item, first row in the display case. Change into it, and we’ll talk in the water.”
The water in the indoor pool was warm.
While Li Longfeng played in the water, some splashed onto the back of Chi Yumo’s hand.
Chi Yumo had noticed the display case when she entered, and the spot Li Longfeng indicated held a sexy rose-red micro bikini.
The combined fabric of the top and bottom was less than half the size of the top she’d worn during the swimsuit segment of the competition.
Li Longfeng was clearly humiliating her, not discussing work.
[I will only try the MENAS spring-summer collection mentioned in Director Xiao’s contract.] Chi Yumo typed it out and once again held the tablet in front of Li Longfeng from the side.
But Li Longfeng impatiently shoved the tablet away, pointing to a table off to the left front. The other woman swam over that way.
“The New Fashion Model Competition’s say has always been with MENAS. If you’re not obedient, we can eliminate you in the second round—Shen Muxi couldn’t do a thing about it. There are plenty of the 18 finalists who want the MENAS brand ambassador contract, plenty willing to model this swimsuit for me. Why should we pick you?”
The woman climbed out, fetched a tray from the table laden with fruits, drinks, desserts, and such. It held three tall glasses.
By the color, two were orange juice, one red wine.
The red wine went to Li Longfeng.
After setting down the tray, the woman sat calmly by the edge, massaging Li Longfeng’s shoulders. Li Longfeng took a sip of the wine and then poured the rest onto the woman’s chest.
The woman seemed long accustomed to such treatment, showing no resistance in expression or body.
The wine-red liquid trickled down from her white swimsuit, over peaks and plains, smeared open by Li Longfeng’s fingers.
Chi Yumo stood and took a step back.
There was no point continuing such a filthy negotiation.
But Li Longfeng looked up at her with an arrogant smirk. “I dared call you here today because I’m not afraid of you spilling this. But here’s some advice: Don’t underestimate the power of capital. With our means, blacklisting Shen Muxi isn’t impossible. Even if it comes to mutual destruction, it’s no good for you, her, or MENAS. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to play nice and compromise? As long as you amuse me fully, the contract’s yours, the money’s yours. That’s a real deal.”
Shen Muxi didn’t lack this money.
Shen Muxi wouldn’t be blacklisted so easily.
But what about her?
If MENAS eliminated her next round and spread unfavorable rumors in the industry, blacklisting her would be like squashing an ant.
If Shen Muxi insisted on promoting her then, she’d hit walls everywhere, make enemies on all sides.
She wouldn’t earn money—instead, she’d cost Shen Muxi—and helping with charity would be a pipe dream.
How could her mother see her if she never made it big?
The world was harsh and unfair.
She’d only taken a tiny step, only to run into this roadblock called Fifth Miss. How many more “Fifth Misses” lay ahead?
But giving up like this, slinking away with her tail between her legs? She wasn’t willing.
Why should MENAS choose her?
Why should she let MENAS choose her?
It all boiled down to negotiation: [I won’t sell my body, but other ways to play are negotiable. What do you say, Fifth Miss?]
Chi Yumo’s response hit Li Longfeng’s sweet spot. She shoved the woman aside, planted her hands on the edge, and leaped out of the water to sit on the side.
Li Longfeng wore a bright yellow bikini similar to the rose-red one, which made her wheat-toned skin gleam even more, her lean, toned figure almost fully on display.
She laughed wildly, gathered her dripping golden locks, and tugged at the bikini strings on either side, her curves impressive.
“Ways to play? Plenty. Here, two glasses of juice—one laced with an aphrodisiac, the other with a sleeping pill. Pick one and drink. Two hours later, if you’re still clear-headed or can hold out without begging me, you can leave, and I’ll give you the contract—every perk Director Xiao promised included. But if you lose, you’ll spend the rest of the day amusing me here to the fullest. Dare to bet?”
How could one Alpha fully amuse another?
No marking possible—that meant physical torment and humiliation?
Those bizarre outfits and toys…
Chi Yumo’s peripheral glance alone made her feel extreme physical and psychological discomfort.
But she didn’t want to bring trouble to Shen Muxi, nor rely on her for everything. This path in fashion was her choice; she’d come here herself today. Even if it meant swallowing her teeth in blood, she’d walk it alone.
[I want to see the contract first.]
“Not bad, head’s clear,” Li Longfeng praised with feigned sincerity. “In the drawer above the swimsuits in the display case—go get it.”
She was tired of vain, self-debasing white lotus Alphas throwing themselves at her. One with backbone and brains was way more fun.
Chi Yumo fetched the contract and skimmed the key parts—it seemed legitimate.
If this Fifth Miss couldn’t play fair, she’d just issue a fake check; faking a contract would be beneath her dignity.
[I bet with you. But get fresh juice. Wait till I see the drugs myself, then add them.]
“Ok.”
Li Longfeng agreed readily and had the woman fetch juice and drugs.
The woman knew exactly where everything was kept—clearly a regular.
She brought them on a new tray. The old tray and juice went back to the table by the pool’s left side.
Li Longfeng beckoned Chi Yumo to squat.
She sat cross-legged herself, picked up items from the tray, and generously explained like a tour guide: “The powder’s sleeping pills—three tablets per packet. The bottled liquid’s the aphrodisiac—one vial… will have you blissed out for three hours.”
The woman returned once more, kneeling beside Li Longfeng and chiming in, “All good stuff for sweet dreams.”
“Still, my baby understands me.” Li Longfeng planted a kiss on the woman’s face and placed a bag of sleeping pills and a bottle of aphrodisiacs in her hand. “You eat first. I’ll make you feel good later.”
“The Fifth Miss must keep her word,” the woman said, lowering her head. Her voice wasn’t the cloying, sticky sweet kind but carried a mature, commanding tone instead.
She didn’t mind testing the drugs. She tore open the packet and poured the powder into a glass bottle, downing it in one gulp. Then she clung to Li Longfeng’s neck and passed some of the residue to her with a wet kiss.
Li Longfeng licked her lips and smiled at Chi Yumo. “She won’t die.”
The world was full of wonders.
Chi Yumo was truly broadening her horizons.
She held her breath and composed herself, calming her mind.
Then she kept one each of the aphrodisiac and sleeping pill, hurling the rest far away.
[We’ll gamble fair and square.]
[Ten seconds. I’ll turn my back, you add the drugs, and I’ll choose.]
Li Longfeng: “Deal.”
The room fell deathly silent with no one speaking. After turning around and closing her eyes, Chi Yumo focused all her senses on her hearing.
The sound of powder and liquid hitting water was different—subtle, inaudible to ordinary people, but she could hear it and distinguish which glass held what.
She raised her right hand and counted down with her fingers. After ten seconds, she turned back.
The woman’s hands blocked the rims of both glasses.
Chi Yumo couldn’t see the surfaces.
