The weather was perfect today. She strolled down the path on the street for a very long time. It was not until her legs could no longer take her weight did she call for a taxi back to the hotel.
The taxi stopped at the entrance of the hotel, and she paid the driver before getting off.
Ling Wei smiled as she greeted Zong Yanxi the moment she walked into the hotel lobby. “Ms. Lin.”
Zong Yanxi was astonished by her appearance at this place.
“Are you here to talk to me about work?” She asked.
Ling Wei smiled. “No. I just wanted to invite Ms. Lin to witness something exciting.”
Zong Yanxi’s heart skipped a beat. This woman was not a kind one, not to mention how fake she was. She used to play the role of a pure and innocent little girl in front of me.
But in the end, she was utterly vicious when she wanted to take my life!
She was definitely someone that needs to be guarded against!
“We’re barely acquainted.” Zong Yanxi rejected her offer.
Who knew if Ling Wei has something up her sleeve?
“Oh, it’s always good to make new friends. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other in the office from now on. We’ll be like family! You’ve just arrived at B City, so I’m sure that there’s a lot of things you’re not yet familiar with. Especially places where you can go to relax. I’m inviting you so that I can help you relax and unwind.” Ling Wei’s heels clicked as she stalked closer to Zong Yanxi. She stopped at a distance less than a meter away from her and leaned in close. “You seem to be avoiding me, Ms. Lin?”
“I have no grudges against you. Why would I avoid you?” Zong Yanxi smiled faintly as she spoke. “With how passionate you are with your invitation, I should be the one asking what you’re up to.”
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us, Ms. Lin.” Ling Wei explained. “I am sincere in my invitation. From the way you are rejecting me, though, it seems like you don’t trust me.”
Zong Yanxi scoffed. “I don’t even trust myself.”
How was she supposed to trust anyone?
Much less someone who had once brought harm upon her?
It was then when a thought suddenly popped into her mind. Could it be that she still was bribing people to hurt me?
Though, she didn’t have a reason to, did she?
Not to mention that I am currently representing Rui Mei to seal a collaboration with the Hengkang Group.
“I’ve still got work to do.” Zong Yanxi stalked toward the elevator after excusing herself.
“Ms. Lin.”
Ling Wei turned around and looked at her. “I’m here to tell you to watch your actions.”
“What are you trying to say?” Zong Yanxi was genuinely confused.
“Do you really think that I didn’t see you purposely approaching Jiang Mohan during the charity banquet the other night?” Ling Wei’s expression was hard and cold. “Anyone who dares covet him will be faced with a horrible plight.”
A revelation hit Zong Yanxi. Ling Wei was referring to that incident that had occurred at the entrance of the banquet. So she saw me deliberately sprain my ankle to fall into Jiang Mohan’s arms.
“I wasn’t planning on trying anything until you said that. But now that I think about it, President Jiang is indeed a fine man. He’s handsome and prestigious. I think I’m fairly fond of him. Thanks for the reminder!” She smiled. “President Jiang isn’t married to you, anyway, so that makes me fair in the game, right?”
Ling Wei looked about ready to blow up and bellowed at her. “How dare you!”
“He’s unmarried. I’m single. Why am I not allowed to chase him? Why won’t I dare?” She purposely dug out her phone. “Why don’t we give President Jiang a call and ask him if it’s alright for me to pursue him?”
“You…” Ling Wei pointed at her. She had lost her arrogant aura and was now looking like a bird whose feathers got ruffled. Lin Ruixi’s attitude had far surpassed her expectations.
“I’m not sure if President Jiang knows of your actions.” She deliberately dialed a number in the pretense of making a call, but Ling Wei rushed over and slapped her phone out of her hand. Her phone slammed onto the floor with a loud bang, and the screen cracked from the impact.
Zong Yanxi stood rooted to the ground as she stared at her phone with a cracked screen. Her eyebrows twitched. “I’ve recently bought this mobile phone. It’s fairly new.”
“How much?” Ling Wei grabbed her wallet out from her bag. “I’ll compensate you.”
“I don’t want your compensation. I want you to pick my phone up and hand it back to me.” Zong Yanxi’s expression darkened.
“Hmph.” Ling Wei mocked with disdain. “I’m not picking that up for you!”
And with that, she turned around and promptly left.
Zong Yanxi bent down to pick up her phone and stared at the screen that was now cracked. She kept a poker face and stalked over to the reception counter instead of heading up to her room. “Are there surveillance monitors in the lobby?”
“Yes.” The receptionist replied.
She dug out a wad of cash from her wallet and placed it on the marble counter. “Send me a copy of the footage of the conversation that I just had with that woman.”
“Well…”
“I’m a guest at your hotel. Something bad just happened to me while I was inside your hotel. All I want is some evidence. What’s wrong with that?” Zong Yanxi questioned solemnly.
The standard protocol in their hotel involved never leaking any information of their Group to the public. The receptionist picked up the phone. “I’ll ask my manager.”
Zong Yanxi waited patiently.
It didn’t take long before the hotel manager rushed out. “What’s wrong?”
The receptionist had witnessed the whole scene between Zong Yanxi and Ling Wei. Thus, she began explaining the situation. “There was a woman who got into a conflict with our guest. The woman broke the mobile phone of this lady over here, and thus she is requesting for a copy of our footage.”
The manager gave it some thought. “I’m sorry, miss. Our hotel has rules and conducts to follow. However, seeing as it was the other party who had caused damage to your mobile phone, it only makes sense for me to provide you with the evidence. Please hold on. I’ll get someone to send you a copy of the footage.”
“Thank you very much,” Zong Yanxi politely replied.
The manager flashed her a professional smile. “It is within our duty to maximize the benefit for our guests.”
The manager picked up the landline at the reception area and dialed out. While waiting for the call to go through, he looked up at Zong Yanxi. “Could you leave a mobile phone number for us, please?”
The receptionist offered her a pen and a piece of paper.
Zong Yanxi jotted down her number on the paper.
She handed the stationery back after she was done. The manager glanced at the paper at the same moment that the call went through. He raised his head to look at Zong Yanxi and asked, “When did the incident happen?”
“Just now,” Zong Yanxi replied.
The manager cast a glance at his watch. “Please get me a copy of the surveillance monitors’ footage between twelve and one in the afternoon. There should be a scene involving a conflict between two ladies. Send it over to this number.” The manager read out the phone number written on the paper.
The manager hung up the phone after the person on the other end expressed his acknowledgment. “Is there anything else that we can do for you, miss?” He asked politely.
Zong Yanxi shook her head. “That will be all. Thank you.”
She received a message on her mobile phone after a short while. She clicked on the link and viewed the footage through her web browser.
She exited the hotel and flagged a taxi to head to the Hengkang Group, bringing her phone with her.
It didn’t take her long to reach the lobby of the Group’s office building, and she got out of the taxi after paying the fee.
The Hengkang Group and Rui Mei were collaborative partners, and as a representative for Rui Mei, Zong Yanxi was no stranger within the Hengkang Group. Thus, the receptionist smiled upon seeing her walking into the building.
“I’m here to see President Jiang.” Zong Yanxi stated briefly.
The receptionist smiled. “Sure.” She made a call to the president’s office line and it didn’t take long for Jiang Mohan to pick up.
“Yes?”
“Ms. Lin is here to see you.”
Jiang Mohan didn’t think of Zong Yanxi at first. Perhaps it was because they had just met up for lunch, so he didn’t think that she’ll want to see him so soon. “Which Ms. Lin?” He asked.
“The representative from Rui Mei, Ms. Lin Ruixi.”
Jiang Mohan closed his eyes briefly. “Let her into my office.”
The receptionist hung up the phone. “Ms. Lin, please head inside. President Jiang is waiting for you in his office.”
Zong Yanxi nodded and stalked toward the elevator. She quickly reached the top level where Jiang Mohan’s office was located.
The elevator halted to a stop, and its doors opened with a ding. She walked down the corridor toward Jiang Mohan’s office and raised her hand to knock upon reaching the entrance.
A voice sounded out from inside of the office. “Come in.” Zong Yanxi then pushed the door open and walked in.
Hearing her footsteps, Jiang Mohan raised his head. He shut the document that he was vetting mid-way and leaned back on his chair. “Ms. Lin, are you here to see me because you’ve finished the proposal for the project?”
“I said I’ll hand that to you within a month. The time is not up yet, is it?” She pulled out a chair in front of the desk and slid into it. “President Jiang, I’ve come here today to ask for an explanation from you.”
“Oh? Tell me more.” Jiang Mohan was curious. His lips curled into a smile due to his interest in the topic, but his demeanor remained unapproachable.
He was cold and indifferent.
