Chapter 9: A Strategist’s Dilemma and Dark Intentions

The sunlight outside steadily grew stronger, casting the shadows of the tree branches across Qian Surou’s forearm as it rested on the white round table.

Yan Miqing’s questions persisted.

The precise impression from their initial encounter lingered, leading Qian Surou to mentally label her companion a psychologist.

She could no longer recall how many questions she had answered, nor the countless reassurances and pieces of advice she had been given.

A strange illusion even crept upon her, suggesting she should be the one paying. It was then that she looked up, only to see Yan Miqing suddenly rise from her seat—

“Has something happened?”

A hint of confusion touched Qian Surou’s expression.

She instinctively wondered if she had inadvertently upset her customer.

Yan Miqing composed her nearly frozen expression, forcing a smile.

“I was just thinking, it’s nearly time for lunch.”

‘Hmm, that’s right,’ Qian Surou mused internally.

The sun’s warmth permeated her summer dress, reaching her back, and she imagined Miss Yan, seated opposite her, must have found the heat somewhat unbearable.

Her assumption about the unbearable heat proved entirely accurate.

Catching sight of Jin Xiaoyue strolling through the garden, Yan Miqing felt a surge of emotion that horror alone could not encompass.

Jin Xiaoyue was wearing pigtails!

Earlier in their conversation, Yan Miqing had inquired about Qian Surou’s preferred hairstyle. The answer had been pigtails, a style she enjoyed seeing on others, citing its vibrant appearance as the reason.

‘Heaven knows where she started listening from!’

‘Yan Miqing began to suspect she was carrying electronic devices, or perhaps, while she slept, she had been anesthetized, wheeled underground, and subjected to a minor surgery—a small, lumpy metal sphere implanted within her body.

A faint, crackling current seemed to course through her veins, causing her legs beneath the table to tremble uncontrollably.’

‘No, don’t scare yourself!’

Yan Miqing forced herself to regain her composure. Jin Xiaoyue’s behavior was simply too aberrant; she couldn’t be blamed for succumbing to paranoid delusions!

From an angle invisible to the girl named Qian Surou, Jin Xiaoyue crouched by the flowerbed, observing them with an intensity akin to admiring a prized bloom.

Her face held an expression that seemed to declare, ‘Soon I shall pluck you and hold you close,’ and with both hands cupping her chin, as if whispering ‘I love you, I love you,’ her cheeks were flushed crimson.

She even managed a shy smile.

A shiver of dread ran down Yan Miqing’s spine.

The Jin Xiaoyue she knew was an ever-stoic young lady, one who only ever issued commands.

Yet the impression she now received was utterly disparate, leaving her with the unsettling sensation that she was actively pushing a young girl into a fiery abyss.

A profound unease settled deep within Yan Miqing’s heart.

While it appeared Jin Xiaoyue was merely harboring an unrequited affection, the stark differentiation in her demeanor towards people had already escalated to the point of an obsessive dependency.

‘Could they have known each other for a long time?’

“Which do you prefer, the open-air restaurant or the garden?”

Noticing Yan Miqing’s prolonged stillness, Qian Surou took the initiative to inquire.

“Either will suffice,”

“Then let us remain in the garden; you appear quite reluctant to move.”

‘Reluctant? No, I’m too terrified to move!’

Yan Miqing found herself in an unspeakable predicament.

Qian Surou offered a knowing, understanding smile.

‘The timing seems right,’ Qian Surou mused, deciding to attempt holding hands once more.

It wasn’t so much a display of genuine initiative as it was a means to maintain control, which offered her a sense of security. Should the client initiate contact first, her boundaries could easily be eroded.

However, her gesture was deftly avoided.

The vicinity was slowly filling with more people.

‘Perhaps she is a lady who is very conscious of others’ gazes.’

Unperturbed, Qian Surou led the way, seeking out a congenial vacant spot. Her gaze settled upon a table nestled comfortably beneath the shade of a tree.

Just as she was about to invite her companion to be seated—

“My apologies, I need to visit the restroom. Please feel free to order any food you fancy ahead of time, including my portion. I eagerly anticipate the meal you’ll prepare for me, Xiao Rou.”

Having thus presented Qian Surou with a dilemma, Yan Miqing departed with a certain urgency.

The moment she passed through the white side door into the grand hall, she spotted Jin Xiaoyue seated on a leather sofa, observing her with a disconcerting half-smile.

Yan Miqing’s entire body went rigid.

Jin Xiaoyue rose languidly, draped in a thin deer-velvet coat.

Her incongruous pigtails, coupled with unevenly trimmed bangs that swayed subtly, projected the imposing aura of a person of high status, perfectly integrated with the opulent hall.

Yet, her surprisingly cute hairstyle somewhat diminished her inherent gravitas.

Despite being the taller of the two, Yan Miqing found herself feeling as though she needed to crane her neck to look up at Jin Xiaoyue.

Jin Xiaoyue slowly patted her shoulder.

“Xiao Rou?”

A soft voice whispered in her ear, yet to Yan Miqing, it sounded like the insidious murmur of a demon.

The hand resting on her shoulder, though seemingly boneless in its softness, exerted an overwhelming pressure, as if it might, on some future day, effortlessly snap her neck.

“I was merely attempting to cultivate a good relationship with her, to ascertain her preferences.”

‘The unspoken implication being, it was all for you.’

In her peripheral vision, Jin Xiaoyue smiled, her gaze lingering unsettlingly over Yan Miqing’s face and upper torso.

That particular gaze was akin to someone in a pet store cage, meticulously selecting fodder for a large carnivore.

Yan Miqing’s shoulders involuntarily trembled as she clarified:

“I am only interested in men!”

“I know,” Jin Xiaoyue replied, her tone devoid of reproach.

“I simply fail to comprehend what allure you possess that compelled my Xiao Qian to attempt to hold your hand twice. As for the form of address… I shall grant you special permission to use it today.”

“It is the magic of money,”

Yan Miqing stated candidly, preempting any potential misunderstanding from Jin Xiaoyue: “She holds no interest in me; quite the opposite, her vigilance is acute, and she seeks to seize the initiative to prevent me from making any advances.”

“Have you not reviewed her medical report? It clearly states she is pure of character and singularly devoted in love.”

Upon witnessing Jin Xiaoyue’s brow suddenly furrow and an expression of profound distaste bloom across her features, Yan Miqing instantly realized her misstep.

The fair hand resting on her shoulder shifted, transforming into a grip.

It squeezed with a force that threatened to crush her bones.

Gritting her teeth, Yan Miqing resolved to assume the role of an wicked strategist, intent on atoning for this “error.”

“She remains deeply attached to a girl she once favored, to the extent that the notion of ‘liking anyone else’ hasn’t even crossed her mind. Therefore, we must first implant this very idea within her.”

“Oh?”

Jin Xiaoyue’s interest was piqued. In her estimation, Yan Miqing had always been a timid, compliant girl, utterly devoid of cunning, and thus easily manipulated.

This, indeed, was her primary reason for selecting her as a subordinate.

With a slight lift of her eyelids, she gestured for Yan Miqing to continue.

Yan Miqing exhaled a breath of relief, then slowly unfurled her plan:

“We could enlist a trustworthy individual to portray an unruly guest, and then you would intervene to rescue her. This is an excellent method for inducing the ‘suspension bridge effect.'”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Jin Xiaoyue’s brow.

‘Such a brainless, idiotic scheme is utterly meaningless.’

‘While Xiao Qian is undoubtedly kind, that does not imply she is foolish. Quite the contrary, Xiao Qian excels academically and possesses a keen intuition, making her suspicious of even the slightest illogical discrepancy.’

‘The very purpose of the club is to vet clients, making it wholly illogical for issues to emerge with a crucial one. Nevertheless, this suggestion is not entirely devoid of merit.’

‘Heroically saving the damsel in distress would be gilding the lily. However, for me, prompting Xiao Qian to abandon this job through a seemingly accidental event presents a viable option.’

Having already played the role of a protector once, another instance would make little difference.

Jin Xiaoyue harbored no concern for the crudeness of the methods; the recent debacle at the bar, for instance, had been her orchestration.

All of these maneuvers were designed to expose Xiao Qian to the darker aspects of the world, thereby prompting her to beware and keep her distance.

‘Moreover, darker intentions were fermenting within her.’

‘To tarnish Xiao Qian, to excavate her deepest boundaries, to breach her mental defenses, and then, like a coiled leopard, to seize the ultimate prize: to make her fall in love with me.’

“Hmph, ridiculous,”

“From ancient times, profound affection has never endured; only stratagems truly capture hearts.” Yan Miqing adopted a professional demeanor.

“She is currently under immense pressure. Even should some coincidental events occur, her subconscious will compel her to interpret the outcomes in a manner favorable to herself.”

She continued her exposition:

“I recall your hotel-style apartment possesses numerous unoccupied rooms, does it not? Later, I shall take her to see a film.

As we pass through that vicinity, you are to emerge from the adjacent tutoring institution. I will ensure she catches sight of you, thereby establishing a distinct impression.”

“Regarding the unruly guest, they will lead her to that very apartment, intentionally creating an opportunity for her to escape.

At that precise moment, you will make a sudden appearance, causing her to perceive you as a resident and prompting her to actively seek your assistance.”

Yan Miqing gazed directly into Jin Xiaoyue’s eyes, relieved to find no trace of scorn in their depths this time.

“What transpires next requires no further elaboration from me. Simply employ your usual assertive demeanor, lead the girl to confront the ‘guest,’ and leverage your ‘hold’ over them to issue threats.

In doing so, the girl will undoubtedly develop both affection and dependence upon you.”

Yan Miqing nodded repeatedly, her face clearly asking for praise for her clever idea, as if entirely oblivious to the myriad problems that might arise.

Jin Xiaoyue reached out and patted her head, barely restraining herself from uttering the words, “You clever fool.”

The thought of having someone drug the object of her affection and stage an indecent act, even if it could deceive the target, was beneath Jin Xiaoyue. She disdained such methods.

Even a mere embrace was something Jin Xiaoyue found unacceptable.

If not for societal norms, she would have long since chopped off the hands that dared touch Xiao Qian, thrown them into a meat grinder at a frozen food processing plant, and then set the whole thing ablaze.