Chapter 37: A Subtle Charm and a Hidden Threat

Having just experienced a subtle emotional fluctuation, Bai Mengqi’s steps were notably flustered as she made her way into the bathroom.

Her heart still pounded from the recent encounter, a frantic rhythm akin to a small bird trapped within a cage, desperate to escape yet unable to find an exit.

Upon entering the bathroom, Bai Mengqi first took several deep, audible breaths, which resonated with unusual clarity in the otherwise silent space.

It was as if she sought to quell her tumultuous emotions through the sheer force of her respiration.

Next, she gently raised a hand to pat her own cheeks, a gesture imbued with a blend of urgency and profound shyness.

She sought to alleviate the intense flush of embarrassment, and the faint sting of her palm against her cheek offered a momentary clarity, a release from the dreamlike emotional maelstrom that had enveloped her.

Her gaze held a hint of bewilderment, interwoven with a touch of vexation.

“Damn it, what’s happening to me?” Bai Mengqi muttered, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Her face in the mirror was flushed with a vibrant, peachy glow, a tender pink hue as captivating and delicate as spring peach blossoms ready to burst open.

The soft pink spread from her cheeks, reaching all the way to her earlobes, as if her face had been painted with an enchanting crimson filter.

Her eyes shimmered like a pool of spring water, sparkling with an intertwined expression of bashfulness and discomposure that would stir anyone’s heart.

The sight was indescribable, filled with such profound shame that she found herself unable to meet her own gaze.

To use a more vivid analogy, she resembled a cat in heat at that very moment.

The sensation, particularly when she was with Zi Yanran, was one of overwhelming impatience and an inexpressible longing, proving utterly unbearable.

She turned her head slightly away, yet couldn’t resist stealing another furtive glance at her reflection, finding the sight both endearing and amusing.

“Hmph, it truly shows the power of a Fox Demon. Your wife, whether intentionally or not, activated her Fox Demon abilities and cast a charm spell on you. And you, you didn’t even notice! It’s absolutely hilarious,” the Great Immortaless’s voice suddenly chimed in. This voice echoed in the silent bathroom, as if deliberately teasing Bai Mengqi.

Startled by the Great Immortaless’s words, Bai Mengqi’s eyes widened, her face etched with utter astonishment.

Her already large and luminous eyes were now comically round, appearing as though they might pop right out of her head.

“What? Charm? Are you saying I was just affected by Fox Demon power? How could I not have felt a thing?”

Bai Mengqi was utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend how she could have been influenced without sensing even the slightest anomaly.

Her brows knitted tightly into a small furrow, her expression a mixture of profound doubt and confusion.

The Great Immortaless chuckled once more, her laughter echoing playfully through the quiet bathroom.

“Heh heh! It’s because, deep down, you’re willing to accept her, willing to try and like her. You completely opened your heart, so naturally, you wouldn’t feel a thing.”

The Great Immortaless’s words acted like a key, instantly unlocking the door of confusion within Bai Mengqi’s mind.

Only then did understanding dawn upon Bai Mengqi. She nodded slightly. “So that’s how it is,” she murmured, the astonishment in her eyes slowly giving way to a pensive expression.

Moving to the sink, she turned on the faucet, allowing the cool water to cascade over her fingertips before scooping a handful and gently splashing it onto her face.

The water’s invigorating coolness brought an immediate sense of refreshment, as if extinguishing the last vestiges of feverish warmth within her heart.

After washing her face, she gazed at her reflection and smiled, a clear indication that she had finally come to terms with her true feelings.

It was evident, then, that her affection for Zi Yanran was genuine, not merely an acceptance born from the fact that Zi Yanran was the mother of her child.

With newfound clarity, Bai Mengqi stepped out of the bathroom.

“Are you alright?” Zi Yanran’s voice reached her instantly, tinged with a note of concern.

Zi Yanran stood a short distance away, her gaze fixed on Bai Mengqi, a hint of worry clouding her eyes.

Bai Mengqi offered a helpless smile. “Yes, I’m fine now. By the way, regarding the group’s current project, is there a possibility of ability users covertly interfering?”

She deliberately steered the conversation towards work, keen to prevent the lingering, slightly awkward emotions from further permeating the atmosphere.

Noticing Bai Mengqi’s shift in topic, Zi Yanran responded without hesitation.

“It’s difficult to say, there might be, or there might not. However, this project concerns the national interests of our Xia Kingdom. Nations with unfavorable relations towards us certainly won’t stand by and watch it proceed smoothly.”

Zi Yanran’s expression grew serious, deeply aware of the project’s significance and the myriad risks it entailed. “But rest assured, our nation’s relevant departments will undoubtedly handle security. We needn’t trouble ourselves with that concern.”

Bai Mengqi pondered this and agreed; she had no need to overthink it. Her sole responsibility was to ensure the safety of Zi Yanran’s family.

She gave a slight nod, a sense of calm settling within her.

However, just as she was about to exit the office, another thought occurred to Bai Mengqi.

“Oh, one more thing,” she began, stopping and turning to face Zi Yanran. “Is Zhou Xiaodie also your secret bodyguard?”

Zi Yanran’s movements immediately froze.

She had been holding a document, poised to turn the page, but upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s question, she turned a bewildered gaze toward her.

“What? Is there a problem with her?”

From Zi Yanran’s reaction, Bai Mengqi immediately understood that she was unaware of Zhou Xiaodie’s true nature.

“So, you weren’t aware? She’s quite skilled at concealing it, but I detected unusual energy fluctuations emanating from her. In other words, she’s not an ordinary person.”

A flicker of vigilance passed through Bai Mengqi’s eyes. In a world where ability users existed, any hidden individual could introduce unforeseen variables.

Zi Yanran’s expression stiffened, and she fell into a contemplative silence.

“Is that right? An ability user? Yet she’s been with our company for three years, and there’s never seemed to be anything out of the ordinary about her.”

She furrowed her brow slightly, diligently searching her memories for any subtle clues or overlooked details concerning Zhou Xiaodie.

Given Zi Yanran’s reaction, Bai Mengqi couldn’t simply make wild conjectures. It wasn’t uncommon for ability users to live disguised as ordinary people, after all.

“Alright, I’ll keep a close eye on her. I’m heading out now.” With that, Bai Mengqi opened the door and departed, commencing her next round of work for the day.

Yet, precisely as Bai Mengqi had observed, Zi Yanran’s Zijing Group was indeed on the cusp of facing new challenges.

Once outside, Bai Mengqi’s gaze briefly swept over Zhou Xiaodie. She still felt an intuitive need to keep an eye on the woman.

Among everyone in the CEO’s office, Zhou Xiaodie exhibited the most significant hostility towards her. While understandable to a degree, Bai Mengqi’s knowledge of ability users suggested that they rarely behaved entirely like ordinary people.

When their personal interests were at stake, ability users found it nearly impossible to refrain from employing their unique abilities.

Naturally, Bai Mengqi had no intention of exposing Zhou Xiaodie’s true identity unless she made the first move.