Seeing another client assignnt co in, Shen Ying was naturally delighted.
Facing the cursing Yu Ting, she said cheerfully, "Sounds good, Mr. Yu. Why wait? How about today?"
Even though Yu Ting was currently itching to tear Pei Ying to pieces, he couldn't help but find Shen Ying's enthusiasm baffling.
With a sincere expression, Shen Ying added, "Honestly, I can't stand such cutthroat tactics either. It's downright unethical."
"Though I’m bound by circumstances, my heart has always been on your side, Mr. Yu."
Yu Ting scoffed, "Then why take the job?"
Shen Ying shrugged. "He offered way too much."
Yu Ting: "..."
Shen Ying figured that since she’d already been out working for half the day, she might as well wrap things up in one go.
Efficient ti managent was a basic skill for any self-respecting slacker.
Though she said "today," it was technically already the next day—around 4 or 5 a.m. By the ti Yu Ting finished removing his makeup and they made it back to the city, it would be morning.
Fueled by rage, Yu Ting had no intention of sleeping anyway, so he readily agreed to her suggestion.
While removing his makeup, he transferred the paynt to Shen Ying, emphasizing that Pei Ying must not co out of this unscathed.
As the car sped along the highway, the atmosphere inside was uncomfortably quiet.
Shen Ying, however, was unfazed. With two hefty paynts freshly deposited, she felt invincible.
She imdiately reinstalled her mobile mahjong ga and started battling her usual opponents.
The constant sounds of "Four of Circles," "Eight of Bamboos," "Pong!" grated on Yu Ting’s nerves.
Finally, he broke the silence. "When did Pei Ying hire you? Why was I his first target?"
He let out a cold laugh. "Did he think I was the easiest to deal with, or the biggest threat?"
Without looking up from her ga, Shen Ying replied, "Sorry, client confidentiality. But feel free to interpret it however you like, Mr. Yu."
Yu Ting wasn’t satisfied with her answer, but at least it got the conversation going.
He pressed on, "How did you know that person would be the lead judge?"
"Even industry insiders like didn’t have that info. Pei Ying’s swamped with work—no way he’d keep tabs on sothing like this."
Shen Ying discarded an Eight of Bamboos and said dismissively, "When you’re out to crush the competition, investing in intel is just good business."
Yu Ting sneered. "Right. If he puts his mind to it, nothing’s beyond his reach."
"I’m flattered he considers worth the effort."
He then asked, "And how did you know what Shi Shi and I talked about?"
"Last ti Jiang Liuxu ca back, he couldn’t get a word out of her. Don’t tell you believe in twin telepathy."
Shen Ying was in the middle of a critical round, her focus entirely on the ga. She barely managed a nod to acknowledge she’d heard him, offering no actual response.
Yu Ting was furious. "Answer ."
"Self-draw~" The triumphant sound effect from Shen Ying’s phone signaled her opponent’s victory. She froze.
Slowly, she turned to glare at Yu Ting. "Do you have any idea how close I was to winning before you opened your mouth?"
Yu Ting shot her a disdainful look. "Keep dreaming. They won by self-draw. Bla your own rotten luck."
He then demanded, "You still haven’t answered my question."
Shen Ying, no longer wearing her custor-service smile, said flatly, "Mr. Yu, you hired to do a job, not spill trade secrets."
"You—"
"Mind keeping it down? This ‘sabotage Yu Ting’ gig was a night shift. I need my rest."
Yu Ting: "???"
So you stab , get tired from it, and now I have to accommodate you?
Before he could retort, Shen Ying uninstalled the mahjong app, plugged in her earbuds, tilted her head to the side, and entered a dead-to-the-world slumber.
Yu Ting was seething. He turned away, refusing to look at her.
But after a while, catching her reflection in the window, he found himself glancing back.
When she was asleep, the resemblance to Shi Shi was even stronger. Awake, unless she was putting on an act, her deanor was starkly different—sharp, unyielding.
But asleep, with no venomous words spilling from her lips, that unguarded, harmless expression was almost… disarming.
By the ti they reached the city, dawn had broken.
rging into the morning rush-hour traffic, it took another half hour before Yu Ting’s car pulled up at Pei Corporation’s headquarters.
The chauffeur opened the door, and Yu Ting strode inside with Shen Ying in tow.
He wasn’t a regular at Pei Corp, but as a high-profile celebrity, his "close friendship" with Pei Ying was public knowledge.
The receptionist recognized them imdiately and called upstairs to the executive office.
When Pei Ying got word that Yu Ting had co to see him, he was puzzled but didn’t have his secretary turn them away.
So Yu Ting marched straight into Pei Ying’s office without hindrance.
Pei Ying raised an eyebrow at the sight of him—
"You were filming late last night. Shouldn’t you be resting instead of driving hours to see at this ungodly hour? Won’t this ss up today’s shoot?"
Yu Ting smirked coldly. "I can spare the ti. The director will adjust the schedule."
Pei Ying frowned. "As long as you’re sure. I’d hate for my investnt to go down the drain because the lead actor can’t act professionally."
Yu Ting scoffed. "You care about this production’s success now?"
Pei Ying’s expression darkened. "What’s that supposed to an? I don’t joke about work, and I detest having my professionalism questioned."
Yu Ting nearly exploded. This bastard was still playing dumb?
"You—" He barely got a word out before Shen Ying tugged at his sleeve.
Her eyes said it all: You paid . Let handle this. I’m a professional.
Yu Ting’s lips twitched. Against all logic, he felt a bizarre sense of reassurance.
So he obediently stepped aside.
Shen Ying stepped forward and addressed Pei Ying calmly, "Mr. Pei, Mr. Yu and I ca to inform you that we’ve entered into an employnt agreent."
"We owe this partnership to you, since you’re the one who sent to him. So we wanted to express our gratitude."
Pei Ying’s face contorted for a split second. He already knew about this so-called "employnt" arrangent—he’d confird it last night.
What stunned him was that Yu Ting had the audacity to flaunt it in his face.
First thing in the morning, right after filming, driving hours just to co here and rub it in.
He stared at Yu Ting like he was an idiot. "And this is sothing to brag about? Have you lost your mind?"
Yu Ting laughed bitterly. "Who are you to lecture ? Watch closely."
You hit first. Now it’s my turn.
Pei Ying’s gaze turned pitying. "Have you lost it? The mont Shi Shi’s gone, you drop all pretense and parade this in front of ?"
"You really think I’ll keep your dirty little secret?"
Yu Ting was incredulous. "You talk about keeping secrets? You dare tell Shi Shi?"
Pei Ying’s eyes flashed. "You think I won’t?"
Yu Ting sneered. "Then call her. Right now. Tell her who started this."
Pei Ying looked at him as if he were a shaless madman: "You want to pin this on ? Ha! You’re the one who did it, and now you’re trying to drag down with you."
Yu Ting flew into a rage: "Stop playing dumb. You were so bold you personally delivered her right to . The whole crew saw it. And now you’re trying to wash your hands of it?"
Pei Ying scoffed: "So now I’m being extorted just for sending soone your way?"
"Yu Ting, I never realized how shaless you could be. Do you want an accomplice? Soone to share your guilt and ease your conscience? Then you should be looking for Chang Ming, not coming here to pick a fight with ."
He glanced at Shen Ying: "To , she’s nothing more than Shi Shi’s biological sister. I have zero interest in anything else about her."
Shen Ying spoke up at this: "How can you say that? Clearly, your interest runs quite deep."
Pei Ying had just finished arguing with Yu Ting’s unreasonable accusations, and now Shen Ying’s words made his head throb.
He turned to her, his eyes filled with arrogance and mockery: "Miss Shen, you overestimate your own charm."
Shen Ying: "But my sister still hasn’t contacted ."
A bad feeling crept over Pei Ying.
Sure enough, the woman continued: "When Mr. Jiang ca to see , he made it clear that all four of you knew exactly who I was and had even called my sister to confirm."
"Given my sister’s personality, the mont she learned of my whereabouts, she should’ve rushed back to find . But so far, not only has she not appeared, I haven’t even received a single call."
"In other words, after all these days, none of you told her about . Chang Ming is understandable—what he did isn’t easy to explain."
"But your motives? Now that’s intriguing."
Shen Ying took a few steps forward, stopping in front of Pei Ying’s desk: "Logically, shouldn’t you have been eager to sell out Chang Ming, eliminating a rival?"
"But you didn’t. That ans you see so other value in —one more important than winning points with my sister or taking out a competitor."
Shen Ying locked eyes with Pei Ying, her gaze piercing straight into his conscience: "We both know what that value is. And yet, Mr. Pei also chose silence. Is this what you call ‘no interest’?"
Pei Ying held her gaze for a few seconds before looking away—
"I just didn’t want to disturb Shi Shi’s trip. She left feeling lost, and this journey is important to her. I didn’t want her distracted."
"Besides, I don’t think eting you would do her any good."
Shen Ying asked: "Why not?"
Pei Ying replied coldly: "You and Shi Shi have long since walked different paths. She’s bright and kind-hearted. But you—"
"What you did to Chang Ming proves you’re cunning, manipulative, and unrestrained. You play with people’s emotions without hesitation. Even Chang Ming was no match for you, let alone Shi Shi."
"Have you let go of the grudges and obsessions from your childhood? I doubt it. You’ve just learned to hide them better."
"Soone like you—I won’t allow you near Shi Shi."
Shen Ying nodded, as if convinced by his reasoning.
Then she asked: "And yet, you’re still interested in ."
Pei Ying was speechless. Did everyone today have selective hearing? One after another, they just spouted nonsense.
He was growing angry: "I said I’m not!"
Shen Ying: "Then why haven’t you forced to leave this city?"
Pei Ying stiffened.
Shen Ying smiled: "It would be easy for you, wouldn’t it? By your logic, that would solve everything. So why not drive away?"
"Or do you pity ? Can’t bring yourself to be ruthless?"
"That’s not like you, is it? When have you ever hesitated to eliminate a threat to my sister?"
"Besides, Chang Ming alone gave nearly ten million. If you forced out and compensated a little more, I could settle anywhere in the world."
"A trivial amount of money for a clean resolution—hardly sothing to make you hesitate."
Shen Ying stepped around the desk, coming up behind Pei Ying. She placed her hands on his shoulders—
Leaning down slightly, she murmured: "So, Mr. Pei, the truth is… you’re keeping here because you’re waiting for sothing, aren’t you?"
Pei Ying’s entire body tensed.
Shen Ying: "Last night, when you realized Mr. Chang might have gotten close to , your reaction was… peculiar, wasn’t it?"
"You were furious, but not pleased. Why? Shouldn’t you have been thrilled to have leverage against a rival? One less competitor for my sister’s affection. So where was the satisfaction?"
"Instead, I sensed clear agitation—and relief. Now that’s a contradiction. What were you agitated about? That soone else made the first move? And what were you relieved about? That two others had already crossed the line, so you could justify following suit?"
Pei Ying clenched his jaw, fighting to keep his composure and not reveal his discomfort.
But Yu Ting had no such restraint. He took Shen Ying’s words as an attack—yet found her reasoning flawless. He actually started believing her.
With a scornful look at Pei Ying, he said: "So that’s your ga."
Pei Ying snapped: "Who are you to judge ? Based solely on her twisted words? No matter how convincingly she spins lies, the fact remains—I’ve done nothing."
"Unlike you—"
Before he could finish, Yu Ting cut in: "I don’t know about that. You’re the one who sent her up the mountain. Who’d believe you’re innocent?"
Amid the chaos, Yu Ting secretly rejoiced. It seed this woman was finally making her move.
He settled in, waiting for the show—
Sure enough, Shen Ying now adopted a sorrowful expression: "I heard my sister once saved your life, Mr. Pei."
"And then, as childhood friends, your gratitude naturally turned to love."
"You took her from , brought her into your world. She had to leave behind her only family, with no one else to rely on but you."
"The two of you saved each other, faced life-and-death trials. By all accounts, you should’ve been the last person to ever betray her."
"So why?"
Pei Ying gritted his teeth so hard his tongue ached, forcing himself not to show even a flicker of reaction to her words.
But then the woman slowly circled back, perching on the edge of his desk and locking eyes with him at close range.
Her expression gradually shifted into one of hurt and grief—an exact mirror of Shi Shi’s most vulnerable look:
"Why, A-Ying?"
"You promised to protect forever. Why couldn’t you wait just a few months before seeking out my sister? How could you do this to ? How are we supposed to face each other now?"
"Did you really not care at all about how much this would hurt ?"
Pei Ying shot to his feet: "That’s not true!"
Even though his mind knew full well this was an imposter, overwhelming guilt and panic crashed over him—as if Shi Shi herself stood there, accusing him.
Realizing his reaction, Pei Ying burned with humiliation: "Shut up!"
Shen Ying reverted to her usual deanor, but her words didn’t stop: "Why won’t you admit it?"
"You don’t love my sister as much as you think. She was your savior, the one you swore to cherish for life. And yet, your heart still stirs restlessly."
"It's like there's a void that hasn't been filled, or that final puzzle piece you force in only to realize it doesn’t fit—grinding against your heart every day?"
Pei Ying’s face twisted into a horrified expression, as if he’d seen a ghost. "Enough!" he snapped.
He quickly added, "Whatever else you plan to say, shut your mouth now, or you’ll regret it."
This was his ultimatum, but only he knew how hollow his threat really was.
He wasn’t like Chang Ming, so weakling who could be crushed with a glance. He’d always believed himself untouchable.
Chang Ming’s vulnerabilities were obvious, but Pei Ying was different—even Shi Shi hadn’t noticed the faintest ripple of unease in him.
The arrogance he’d felt upon seeing Chang Ming now struck him as laughable.
Suppressing his disarray, he turned to Shen Ying.
Fortunately, she didn’t press further.
At his warning, she shrugged and said to Yu Ting, "Sorry, Mr. Yu, that’s as far as we go."
"After all, in our agreent, my personal safety cos first."
"So, was my service satisfactory?"
Yu Ting had been staring intently at Pei Ying for who knew how long.
This guy was a master at keeping up appearances, so his true reactions were in the subtleties.
But knowing Pei Ying as well as he did, Yu Ting could tell he’d been rattled—no less than Yu Ting himself had been the night before.
A brilliant smile spread across Yu Ting’s face, radiating satisfaction, though his expression still held a trace of reluctance.
He waved Shen Ying off. "Fine, I didn’t expect him to be such a sore loser, cracking this fast."
"Good job. You delivered."
Pei Ying wasn’t stupid. He glared at Yu Ting, fury boiling over. "This was your idea?"
"No wonder you drove hours just to deliver her in person."
"Are you out of your mind? What do you gain from this? And you had the nerve to flaunt it—do you really think I won’t touch you?"
Yu Ting sneered. "Pushed this far, you think I’d just take it like so spineless fool?"
"Of course, the great Pei Ying can do whatever he wants. But since when did the Yu family beco your punching bag?"
"You’re so damn high and mighty—dumping her in front of without so much as a word."
Pei Ying shot back, "Why should I explain myself to you? Where exactly was I supposed to stand in this ss between you two?"
"I misjudged you. Thought you were the rare idiot among us, but turns out you’re the most cunning."
"Not only did you use her as a stand-in, but you also had her wound , make question my feelings for Shi Shi?"
"How could I ever have mistaken a scher like you for a fool?"
Yu Ting’s eyes narrowed. "Wait—a stand-in?"
"Bullshit! You’re the one who brought her here without a word, and now you’re accusing of betraying Shi Shi?"
Pei Ying scoffed. "You expect to believe that? The second she said she wanted to see you, you ca running. Stop pretending."
Yu Ting snarled, "I ca because I heard you were here! I was confused when the director told —what woman could make him personally notify ?"
The argunt died abruptly as realization dawned.
Both n knew the fable of the fox borrowing the tiger’s terror.
They turned their gazes to Shen Ying, who had sohow faded into the background.
There she was, munching on a pancake while watching them with relish.
She’d swiped it from the set earlier, slipping away while Yu Ting was removing his makeup. Thanks to the hefty red envelope she’d handed out, the crew had been more than happy to oblige.
The kitchen’s first batch of breakfast had included two pancakes for her, still tucked in her bag until now.
Seeing her like this, the two n—now fully aware they’d been played—felt their anger drain into helpless frustration.
Yu Ting snatched the pancake from her hands. "How dare you eat at a ti like this?"
Shen Ying offered an awkward smile. "Well, a girl’s gotta eat after work."
Pei Ying’s voice was low and dangerous. "Care to explain why you frad , Miss Shen?"
Shen Ying blinked innocently. "I didn’t. Not once did I say Mr. Pei hired to ss with Mr. Yu."
"I only ever said, 'Client confidentiality—no comnt.'"
"Right, Mr. Yu?"
Yu Ting gritted his teeth. "You never denied it either! Showing up from his car—who else was I supposed to suspect?"
Shen Ying countered, "So you’re saying Mr. Pei deserves to be falsely accused just for being in the wrong place at the wrong ti?"
Yu Ting scoffed. "Now you’re playing the righteous defender? This is my fault?"
He turned to Pei Ying. "Why did you bring her up here in the first place?"
Pei Ying replied flatly, "She said she wanted to see you."
Yu Ting’s jaw dropped. "That’s it? She asks, and you chauffeur her around? Since when are you her personal driver?"
"You brought this on yourself!"
Pei Ying’s expression darkened. "You’re an idiot."
Yu Ting grabbed his collar. "What did you just say?"
Pei Ying didn’t flinch. "She was obviously shady from the start. Falling for such a clumsy provocation—what else would you call it?"
"If you’d rather waste ti fighting than go after the real culprit, be my guest."
Yu Ting released him with a frustrated growl, then rounded on Shen Ying. "Who was it? Chang Ming or Jiang Liuxu?"
"Chang Ming wouldn’t dare face her right now," Pei Ying said coolly. "The answer’s obvious."
"That scheming four-eyed bastard," Yu Ting spat. "Does he think he’ll walk away from this?"
He grabbed Shen Ying’s arm. "You’re coming with . We’re settling this."
Shen Ying pulled back. "My job’s done. Mistaking the target was your problem—I delivered the service."
"If you want to switch targets, that’s a separate fee."
Yu Ting looked ready to strangle her. "Fine. I’ll pay."
He dragged her toward the door, but Pei Ying grabbed his suit jacket. "Wait. I’m coming too."
As he moved to follow, Shen Ying blocked him with a smile. "Sorry, no free seats in this show."
"Only the employer gets to savor the sweet agony of their rival."
Pei Ying’s teeth clenched at her shaless greed. "I’ll pay."
Shen Ying bead. "Right this way, boss. Best seats in the house!"
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