Chapter 56: The Self-Cultivation of a Canary (21)
Pei Ziqing’s smile was all surface, “Miss Ye, surely you haven’t forgotten what you did to me last time, have you?”
He could only recall himself approaching her for a conversation.
But what happened after that…
It was all a blur.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember.
He pondered for a long while, and the more he thought, the stranger it seemed.
Ling Qiong replied, “What could I possibly do to you? I’m just a girl with no strength to even truss a chicken.”
Pei Ziqing regarded her in silence.
No strength to truss a chicken… He looked her over, from head to toe; she was no different from those pampered heiresses of wealthy families, appearing indeed as delicate as she claimed.
Yet…
After what happened last time, Pei Ziqing wasn’t so sure.
He forced a smile, “Miss Ye, if you’ve done something, there’s bound to be evidence left behind. Don’t you agree?”
Ling Qiong nodded in agreement, “You’re absolutely right.”
Pei Ziqing’s gaze narrowed, “So you’re admitting that what happened last time was your doing?”
Ling Qiong looked surprised, “Did any of my words sound like an admission?”
Pei Ziqing was speechless.
She merely agreed with his statement, without confessing to anything.
Still wearing his false smile, Pei Ziqing’s eyes grew darker, “Miss Ye, you’d better hope I don’t find any evidence.”
He’d thought he could use this girl to stir up trouble for Shen Handeng.
Who would have guessed he’d end up tripping himself instead.
“It won’t happen.” Ling Qiong’s soft voice drifted to Pei Ziqing’s ears, oddly distant, as though separated by a veil.
He saw the girl before him curve her lips in a gentle smile, her eyes filled with warmth.
In those clear, luminous eyes, shards of light seemed to scatter, dazzling him to the point of dizziness.
The girl stepped closer, leaned in, and whispered something.
Suddenly, Pei Ziqing brushed past her and strode toward the center of the crowd.
…
Ling Qiong crossed her arms and watched as Pei Ziqing moved into the middle of the gathering, climbed onto the stage, and, under bewildered stares, began to undress, causing an uproar.
Pei Ziqing moved quickly; before anyone could react, he was nearly undressed.
As people rushed to stop him, he was almost finished.
Ling Qiong lost interest in the commotion behind her, smiled faintly, turned away—and promptly bumped into someone’s chest, feeling a gentle tightening around her waist.
She looked up, her smile radiant and sweet. “Young Master.”
Shen Handeng’s gaze lingered on the raucous crowd. “What did you just do to Pei Ziqing?”
“I asked him to perform for everyone.” Ling Qiong glanced over, “Who knew he’d put on such a thrilling show?”
“You told him to, and he just did it?”
He’d seen Pei Ziqing and her speak for no more than two minutes.
How could she make Pei Ziqing so obedient?
---
Ling Qiong thought for a moment. “Perhaps it’s just my charm?”
…
“This place is full of surveillance cameras. You talked to him once—maybe that was coincidence. But twice? Do you really think the Pei family will let you off?”
Ling Qiong was brimming with confidence. “I checked; this spot isn’t caught on camera. I’m a professional, Young Master, you can rest assured—no one will catch me.”
Shen Handeng suddenly recalled the newly installed cameras in the villa.
Every area that could be accessed was under surveillance, yet she always found the blind spots.
“So what did you do to him?”
“What’s in it for me if I tell you?”
Shen Handeng’s eyes narrowed, picking up on the key to getting Ling Qiong to speak, “Half a million.”
Ling Qiong raised one finger.
“Don’t push your luck.”
“I helped you teach him a lesson,” Ling Qiong pointed to Pei Ziqing. “Even if it wasn’t merit, it was at least hard work!”
Shen Handeng was silent.
Who asked you to help?
He suppressed his annoyance. “Speak.”
Ling Qiong sensed his agreement and asked cheerfully, “Do you know about hypnosis?”
…
Of course Shen Handeng knew.
There was a time when Zhou Jing wanted to use that method on him.
But hypnosis…
Wasn’t nearly as magical as people claimed.
Perhaps with years of accumulated suggestion, one could get someone to obey certain commands.
But she and Pei Ziqing had barely interacted.
“You can hypnotize him into undressing in public?”
“If I told him to die, he’d do it too.” The girl’s voice was sweet and gentle, but her words were boldly confident.
A chill crept up Shen Handeng’s spine.
He had a feeling she was telling the truth.
He wanted to ask more, but the words died on his lips.
…
This time, when Pei Ziqing caused a scene, no one could find evidence in the surveillance footage of Ling Qiong speaking to him.
Zhou Jing was proud, but a disturbance like this at her own birthday—she couldn’t have been comfortable.
After Pei Ziqing was escorted away, the atmosphere of the banquet shifted.
Zhou Jing seemed to need some peace; at some point, she disappeared.
“What are you looking for?” Shen Handeng, dragged around by Ling Qiong, grew increasingly impatient.
Why was he following her on this wild chase?
“If only I knew…” Ling Qiong muttered as she scanned her surroundings.
---
“What did you say?” Shen Handeng asked.
Ling Qiong turned, offering an innocent smile, “Nothing at all.”
“You—”
Ling Qiong seemed to spot what she was searching for; she pushed him aside and ran toward it.
Shen Handeng crushed the white pebbles beneath his feet.
Perhaps it was time to find a new occupant for the birdcage…
He’d like to see what she was up to!
Following her, Shen Handeng watched as Ling Qiong suddenly doubled back, grabbed him, and pulled him behind a nearby bush.
“Ye Qingtang…”
“Shh.” Ling Qiong pressed a finger to his lips, extinguishing his anger in an instant.
“Look,” she withdrew her hand and mouthed the words, signaling him to observe.
Shen Handeng was silent.
…
Zhou Jing stood beneath the shade, screened on both sides; unless one walked in, it was nearly impossible to see her.
With her stood a man.
The man was holding Zhou Jing’s hand, speaking to her.
Zhou Jing’s expression was troubled; several times she tried to shake him off, but failed.
“I told you not to come to places like this!” Zhou Jing’s voice was sharp. “Do you think things are easy for me?”
The man smiled soothingly, “I couldn’t reach you and was worried. Don’t be angry. No one saw me arrive; I’ll leave soon, no one will notice.”
Zhou Jing urged him to go, “Hurry up and leave.”
The man hinted, “It’s not easy for me to come all this way…”
Zhou Jing frowned, “There are so many people waiting for me out front.”
The man replied, “A little time won’t hurt; you’ve arranged for them to be entertained.”
Zhou Jing was clearly reluctant, but the man’s soft words blocked her path.
Unable to leave and unwilling to cause a scene, she could only half-heartedly lead him away.
This spot was so secluded, Ling Qiong wouldn’t have found it if she hadn’t been searching.
——— Mini Theater ———
Shen Handeng: It seems I can find a new owner for the birdcage.
Ling Qiong: You really think so?
Shen Handeng: Yes.
Ling Qiong: All right… If you say so, it’d be a shame not to accept.
Shen Handeng: “??”
[Don’t forget to cast your votes~]