Shi Qianqian’s words had thrown everyone off. Jian Bai stared at Shi Qianqian for a long time until finally, a glint of recognition flashed across his eyes. “Oh. We met during that amateur Go tournament held in the city two years ago!”

Shi Qianqian nodded, “I remember you were ranked second in the city.”

“And you were fifth,” Jian Bai smiled happily. “Can’t believe I’d actually run into you here.”

Shi Qianqian pointed at Xin Qing, “I’m here to accompany a friend.”

“Oh, what a coincidence!” Jian Jie noted, “so you and Qianqian know each other. And on top of that, you’re even Go buddies. Ooh, I know, from now on you guys can hang out together and practice your Go skills,” Jian Jie nudged her brother, “come on, give Qianqian your number.”

The rest of the afternoon went by with Xin Qing and Zhang Mi accompanying Le Le for its intravenous infusion while Shi Qianqian and Jian Bai seemed to be engrossed in an animated conversation. The two of them had warmed up to each other quickly. When she left, Jian Jie could barely conceal the smile on her face.

“Since when did Qianqian become so passionate when interacting with another person?” Zhang Mi asked, looking in the direction of Jian Bai and Shi Qianqian. Jian Bai was examining a cat while Shi Qianqian stood beside him grinning.

Xin Qing shook her head, “Beats me.”

By nightfall, Ying Qingcang came to pick her up, though he did not drive because he had brought Monica along. Under normal circumstances, Ying Qingcang would never allow any woman other than Xin Qing to ride his car. But Xin Qing had insisted on treating Monica to a welcoming dinner, so Ying Qingcang had no other choice but to bring Monica along in his car.

Noticing the extra company, Zhang Mi saw the potential for a jolly night. So she reminded Ying Qingcang of his previous offer to treat Shi Qianqian and herself to a meal. “Since we’re all here tonight, why not just make it tonight!” Zhang Mi said.

So it became a dinner for five, at least until they bumped into Young Master Shen at the restaurant’s entrance. The latter was getting off his car when they saw him. There was also a beautiful woman with him. Well, the dinner company just got bigger.

After dinner had ended, Xin Qing went to freshen up in the ladies room. The woman who came with Young Master Shen was also there, reapplying her makeup. The woman looked at Xin Qing. “I know you,” she said in a slightly envious tone, “President Ying treats you really well. He even called you his fiancee in front of so many people.”

Xin Qing chuckled. “Young Master Shen seems to be treating you pretty well, too!” To be honest, Xin Qing had no idea what to say to the woman. After all, she knew very well about Young Master Shen’s attitude towards women in general.

Sure enough, the beautiful woman laughed bitterly. “Don’t joke around,” she said, “I know the rules of the game. He seems to like me now, so he’ll do my bidding for now. But who knows whose bed he’ll be rolling in after a few days!”

“Although,” the woman went on, “do you think that President Ying would really marry you?”

Xin Qing glanced at the woman, though she could not detect any malice in the woman’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Oh gosh, so you really have no idea! Right now all the women of note are placing bets. Bets on when you’ll be dumped by President Ying,” the beautiful woman lowered her voice, “look, we all know men like President Ying. If they ever get married, it would have to be with someone of equal standing. They would only settle for women who can contribute to their families’ interests. As for women like us without social standing? I’d say we’re lucky enough just to have a chance to be eye candy.”

Xin Qing left the ladies room in a daze. A while later after Xin Qing had left, a smiling Monica walked out of the last stall in the bathroom.

Later that night, Ying Qingcang, who had just finished his shower, noticed Xin Qing writing something in her journal.

“What are you writing this time?” Ying Qingcang asked as he embraced Xin Qing from behind.

Xin Qing slammed the journal shut. “Nothing, really. Just a habit. It’d feel strange if I don’t write anything for a few days.”

“You should warn your friend about that guy, Jian Bai. I don’t think he’s as innocent as he seems,” Ying Qingcang said, biting down on Xin Qing’s earlobe. Xin Qing was torn between feeling numb and ticklish, so she turned around and threw herself into the embrace. “Qianqian is not usually this forward,” Xin Qing said, “I don’t know what’s got into her today.”

Xin Qing raised her head to look at Ying Qingcang, “Is there something wrong with that Jian Bai?” Ying Qingcang lifted a finger to Xin Qing’s lips and began a series of gentle caresses, “Young Master Shen told me he’d seen the guy interacting with people from the underworld a few times.”

At Ying Qingcang’s words, Xin Qing reacted instantly. She knew what ‘underworld’ meant. It meant the mob. Gangsters. She panicked, “Is Qianqian in danger?”

“I’d rather you worry more about yourself. Or me!” Ying Qingcang flicked Xin Qing’s forehead, “That friend of yours is smart. Well, at least she’s smarter than you, anyway. You just need to drop her a hint, and she’ll take care of the rest on her own.”

It was as if Xin Qing had suddenly turned into a cat whose hackles were raised. She began pawing and scratching against Ying Qingcang’s torso. “Why aren’t I smart? Which part of me isn’t smart?” Ying Qingcang, who had been entertaining thoughts of taking Xin Qing to bed since earlier, instantly reacted to her playful and flirtatious gesture. Amidst trying to figure out a way to prove her intelligence to Ying Qingcang, Xin Qing found herself thrown onto the bed.

“Ah! That tickles… Hahaha…”

“Say my name, babe!”

“Ying Qingcang…”

“Don’t use the full name!”

“Xiao Qing… Xiao Cang…” Xin Qing shouted as she kicked out her calves.

…

“Okay. I think you should just go back to using the full name!”

The following day after class, Xin Qing was on the way to the vet to see Le Le. Shi Qianqian offered to accompany her.

“Qianqian… Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for that Jian Bai?” Xin Qing thought of Ying Qingcang’s words of advice to drop Shi Qianqian a few hints. “That guy has connections to the mob, I don’t think you should get too close to him.”

Shi Qianqian flashed a smile, one that was profound and meaningful. That smile gave Xin Qing the creeps and she shuddered.

Ying Qingcang had to attend a dinner party that evening, so the driver came to pick up Xin Qing instead. But when she got into the car, she was taken by surprise.

“Hi!” Monica waved at her. Xin Qing smiled at Monica before settling down in the seat across her. “I thought you’ll be attending the dinner party with Ying Qingcang!”

Monica stuck out her tongue, “With an entire table of smelly, drinking men? Please. As if I’d go.”

Xin Qing chuckled. “True,” she said, though deep down she was a little unsettled. “I don’t think Ying Qingcang has ever come home reeking of alcohol before…” Xin Qing thought.

“Xin Qing!” All of a sudden, Monica was sitting beside her and speaking to her in a low voice, “You know, the person in charge of our PR department, she seems to be having complaints about your friend.”

“The person in charge of the PR department…” Xin Qing thought, “wait, isn’t that Jian Jie? So she’s saying that Jian Jie is having issues with Qianqian?”

“What did she say?” Xin Qing asked.

Monica nodded, “I heard her talking on the phone. Didn’t know who she was talking to, but I did hear what she was saying. It was something like, ‘if it weren’t for that useless bitch Shi Qianqian, I’d have become Ding Lei’s wife long ago’.”

Xin Qing’s eyes went wide. “Can’t believe that Jian Jie still hasn’t given up,” she thought.

“What else did she say?” Xin Qing asked.

“She also said that she would, I quote, ‘deal with that bitch sooner or later’, and that she would throw her out the moment she becomes the mistress of the Ding family,” Monica said worriedly, “I think you should warn your friend!”

While Xin Qing was stewing over Jian Jie’s words about Qianqian, Monica went on, “But I think that Jian Jie is delusional. I mean, does she really think that President Ding will marry her? I’m pretty sure that, like Ah Cang, President Ding would only marry one of the daughters of the other financial groups. After all, only such a marriage befits his status, right?”

When Monica turned her head aside, she noticed Xin Qing staring back at her in shock. She quickly waved her hand and said, “Oh, I’m not talking about you. Please don’t take it to heart. Ah Cang sees you differently compared to others. So even if his family disapproves, he will marry you. Don’t worry!”

A humorless smile formed on Xin Qing’s lips. She stared quietly at the passing sceneries beyond the car window. Surreptitiously, Monica sneaked a glance at Xin Qing. Her eyes gleamed at what she saw.

Le Le had been discharged, a fact that provided Xin Qing quite with some relief. Well, for one, she no longer had to worry about Le Le. And two, she would not have to worry about Shi Qianqian meeting Jian Bai again, or so she thought. It turned out that Jian Bai actually showed up at their school’s entrance after their weekend classes had ended. Apparently, he was there to fetch Shi Qianqian.

“We’re going to the Go club,” Shi Qianqian said. After that, she hopped on to Jian Bai’s car and waved at Xin Qing. There was nothing Xin Qing could do to dissuade her friend. Just as Xin Qing was about to leave, she saw another car approaching her. The car stopped beside her. Ding Lei got down.

“Hello, Xin Qing. We’ve met before. I’m Qianqian’s brother-in-law, Ding Lei.”

Xin Qing shook the man’s hand. “Yes, I know you. Nice to meet you.”

“Isn’t Qianqian with you?” Ding Lei asked, his eyes scanning the school compounds, “I thought you guys finish your classes together.”

“Someone else came to pick her up,” Xin Qing said.

Judging from Ding Lei’s sudden emotional outburst, he most likely did not expect anyone else to pick Shi Qianqian up. “What? Who fetched her? Where did they go?” Ding Lei shouted excitedly.

“President Ding, please watch your attitude,” a voice sounded from behind her. It was Ying Qingcang, who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. Lowering his head, Ying Qingcang kissed Xin Qing. “What’s going on?”

“Sorry. I’m sorry!” Ding Lei apologized profusely. “I overreacted. The truth is, Qianqian had been spending more and more time away from home these days. It’s too dangerous for a girl like her to be out so often.”

Xin Qing nodded, “Don’t worry. She’s at the Go club. That’s where she said she’s headed.”

“The Go club?” Ding Lei said, frowning. Moments later, he turned away and yanked open the door of his car, “Thank you. I’ll treat you both to a meal next time.”

“Do you think Ding Lei is interested in Qianqian?” Xin Qing asked Ying Qingcang on the way home.

“What do you think?” Ying Qingcang asked in return.

“I don’t know. I feel like Ding Lei has always treated Qianqian like a little girl. Like a sister.”

Ying Qingcang thought for a moment. And then he said, “Well, there aren’t many men of his age in the business who are still single. Usually, men would be married off to a woman of equal status in order to protect family interests. Perhaps it is really for Shi Qianqian that Ding Lei has stayed unmarried until now. But to know what Shi Qianqian means to Ding Lei, we can only ask the man himself.”

Equal status. Family interests. Xin Qing had been hearing those words over and over again recently. What about her, then? She was just a girl with nothing. She was a nobody. What did she have to match Ying Qingcang with? Did she even have anything that could benefit him?

“Even if his family disapproves, Ah Cang will marry you!” Monica’s words from the other day remained as vivid as ever. Xin Qing certainly could ignore what everyone else was saying. But now, even Ying Qingcang himself had mentioned those words.

Would Ying Qingcang really marry her? Doubts began to form in Xin Qing’s mind. All of a sudden, another thought came to her. If Ying Qingcang did not marry her, and yet she still had to sleep with him once every month, then at the end of the day, was she not just another plaything?

“Qingqing? Qingqing?” Ying Qingcang prodded after noticing that Xin Qing had gone miles away. “What’s wrong?”

Xin Qing turned to look at Ying Qingcang, “In the future, if you…”

BEEP… BEEP… Ying Qingcang’s ring tone blared across the space between them. “You should pick up the phone,” Xin Qing said instead.

Another half a month flew by, and Xin Qing had spent those days fretting over her own circumstances and life prospects. Would she ever find happiness? And if she did find happiness, would she lose it at some point? The weather had gradually warmed up. The school’s swimming classes were starting soon, which was why Xin Qing found herself trying out swimsuits at home one day. And while she was at it, Ying Qingcang had snuck into the room to observe her.

“What a hideous thing,” Ying Qingcang commented on the swimsuits, “I mean, just look at this crap. So dark, dull and, God, they’re ugly as hell. Why aren’t you wearing the ones in your wardrobe?”

Xin Qing slanted her head to look at him. “You sure you want me to put on the bikinis?”

“Of course. Those will look nice!” Mainly because they would show more skin…

Xin Qing nodded, “Okay. Then I’ll just wear the bikinis to my school’s swimming classes.”

“Oh yeah, now that’s what I’m talking about. My girl’s wearing bikinis to her school’s… Wait, school?” Ying Qingcang yanked Xin Qing straight into his arms. “Your school has swimming classes?”