Bowing to Arranged Marriage [Rebirth] - Chapter 16

The spokesperson contract was crucial for this yet-to-be-released facial mask, and Zhang Yi was prepared to handle the negotiations personally.

Thus, in the conference room of Jiateng Entertainment, Mu Qing coldly watched Zhang Yi and the CEO of the “8 Cups Water” facial mask company. Wasn’t Zheng Xiyun supposed to be the one negotiating the contract? But the two people sitting here were complete strangers to her. What kind of cooperation could they even discuss?

Zhang Yi’s mind was racing. From the moment this woman had entered the room, she had sensed hostility, yet she had no idea where it was coming from.

Regardless, work had to proceed. Zhang Yi curved her lips into a polite smile and said to Mu Qing,

“Hello, we represent the ‘8 Cups Water’ facial mask company. I’m Zhang Yi.”

Mu Qing leaned lazily against the back of her chair and replied,

“I’ve seen the price you proposed. That amount isn’t enough to sign Qin Nan.”

Zhang Yi, of course, knew the offer wasn’t sufficient but wasn’t negotiation the whole point of business? This woman had outright rejected her without even introducing herself. Was Qin Nan really that hard to sign?

“However…”

Mu Qing suddenly changed her tone, looking straight at Zhang Yi.

“If you bring your other boss here, maybe we can still make this contract work.”

Zhang Yi was even more puzzled. Why was she not good enough, but Zheng Xiyun was? Still, she kept her thoughts to herself and continued smiling.

“You mean CEO Zheng? She’s been quite busy lately.”

At this, Mu Qing straightened her posture and said,

“My name is Mu Qing. I don’t know if Zheng Xiyun has mentioned me to you, but the endorsement fee your company proposed is acceptable. On the condition that Zheng Xiyun comes to negotiate the contract with me.”

The moment Mu Qing’s name was spoken, Zhang Yi was stunned! When she had learned that Zheng Xiyun was actually married to a woman, she had looked up Mu Qing’s information. Though the details she found were scarce, the name alone was unmistakable.

No wonder she insisted on Zheng Xiyun coming to negotiate. Who knew what ulterior motives she had?

Zhang Yi neither refused nor agreed. After politely bidding farewell to Mu Qing, she left the company.

On the way, she reassured the nervous CEO of the facial mask company. Once back at her own office, she immediately called Zheng Xiyun and got straight to the point.

“I ran into your fiancée today while negotiating the endorsement deal!”

“…”

Zheng Xiyun’s hand, gripping the mouse, stiffened for a moment before she sighed helplessly.

“What happened when you met her? Did the deal go through?”

Zhang Yi replied, “No. She told me to tell you that if you go, the contract can be signed at a lower price. If it’s me, I might not even get to see the celebrity in person.”

“Then let’s not sign it.” Zheng Xiyun said. “This celebrity may be famous and good-looking, but there are plenty of others just like them. No need to fixate on one.”

Zhang Yi sighed inwardly for Mu Qing. Zheng Xiyun truly had no interest in her whatsoever. Just like before, she was doing everything she could to avoid seeing her.

After hanging up, Zheng Xiyun fell into deep thought. In her past life, she hadn’t invested in this facial mask, but she still remembered that Qin Nan hadn’t been the endorser. The reason “8 Cups Water” wanted Qin Nan this time was simple: his fanbase was larger, and his popularity was better than the person they had chosen before.

Perhaps, in her past life, “8 Cups Water” had also failed to sign Qin Nan for various reasons but that wasn’t Zheng Xiyun’s main concern. She had made it clear to Zhang Yi: she would rather change endorsers than see Mu Qing again. Otherwise, the ties between them would never be cleanly severed.

Zheng Xiyun had no intention of interfering with the facial mask company, nor was she planning to meet Mu Qing for Qin Nan’s endorsement deal. Regardless, this facial mask product was bound to be profitable. What was more pressing now was the project in Kang Minghong’s hands.

Since Kang Minghong had already betrayed Zheng Xiyun, she no longer trusted him not even in work matters.

The investment project Kang Minghong managed was a struggling trading company on the verge of bankruptcy. In her past life, Kang Minghong had indeed revived the company and set it on the right track. Zheng Xiyun wasn’t sure whether Kang Minghong’s efforts had played a bigger role or if the company had inherent potential.

It would still take a few days before she could review the relevant documents, so Zheng Xiyun wasn’t particularly anxious.

When Mu Qing called, Zheng Xiyun was considering whether to return to the old family residence or her own apartment that evening. She had ignored several of Mu Qing’s calls, but Mu Qing stubbornly kept dialing. Eventually, Zheng Xiyun had no choice but to answer, only to hear Mu Qing’s voice, low and simmering with anger.

“How badly do you not want to see me? You won’t even pick up my calls now?”

Leaning back in her chair, Zheng Xiyun absently traced patterns on her thigh with her index finger and replied indifferently, “Mm.”

Mu Qing choked back a surge of frustration. “Couldn’t you at least lie to me? Why admit it so quickly?”

“Haven’t you always known my stance?” Zheng Xiyun was simply stating the truth. Ever since learning Mu Qing’s identity, she had avoided her whenever possible.

Mu Qing was well aware of her temperament. If she didn’t take the initiative, Zheng Xiyun would probably hide all the way to outer space. So, she took a deep breath, steeled herself, and shamelessly declared, “I’m on my way to your company right now. I have Qin Nan’s endorsement contract with me.”

Zheng Xiyun immediately straightened in her seat, her tone shifting noticeably. “I don’t handle this investment. If you want to sign a contract, go to Zhang Yi or the facial mask company. Don’t come to me.”

Mu Qing scoffed. “No way! The price you offered is ridiculously low. If I sign with them, it wouldn’t be worth the money!”

“Then I won’t sign either.” Zheng Xiyun frowned slightly. The moment Mu Qing mentioned she was coming, Zheng Xiyun couldn’t help glancing toward the door, half-expecting her to barge in at any second.

“You think you have a choice once I’m there?” Mu Qing gritted her teeth. “Today, I’ll show you what ‘forced sale’ really means.”

Zheng Xiyun hung up, her heart pounding. She had witnessed Mu Qing’s shamelessness before and despised that trait of hers. The thought of facing it again soon filled her with restless irritation.

Mu Qing arrived astonishingly fast and strode into the office without any hindrance. When Zheng Xiyun saw her, she almost didn’t recognize her. The Mu Qing standing before her now was dressed in a sleek women’s office suit. A gray wool blazer over a white blouse, paired with fitted black dress pants and ten-centimeter heeled ankle boots. Though her hair was still as unruly as ever, it somehow didn’t clash with the look, instead adding a distinct flair.

Mu Qing unceremoniously took a seat across from Zheng Xiyun and stared at her for a full minute, confirming that the moment she laid eyes on her, her anger truly dissipated.

She pulled out a document and handed it to Zheng Xiyun, who didn’t take it, shaking her head. “I’m not signing any contracts.”

“It’s some other information, freshly obtained from my brother. You’ll definitely be shocked when you see it.” But I love seeing you shocked by this because it means my opportunity has arrived!

Zheng Xiyun noticed her serious demeanor and took the documents. Within a minute of opening them, she couldn’t control her trembling.

Mu Qing walked over to her side, helped her close the folder, and gently massaged the stiff muscles on her shoulders. Only when Zheng Xiyun had mostly relaxed did she speak: “Actually, his motive isn’t hard to guess. If you didn’t have a will, once you married him, your assets would automatically pass to him. Under inheritance law, spouses are first in line to inherit.”

“So that’s why he wanted my hand? Just to quietly alter the will using my fingerprints. He could keep pretending to be devoted to me, propose naturally, marry me, and then arrange an ‘accidental’ death for me soon after—leaving him with all my assets.” The thought that her ex-boyfriend had harbored such intentions made Zheng Xiyun’s anger uncontrollable!

Mu Qing understood Zheng Xiyun’s state better than anyone. Though she was furious too, what she felt most was relief. “Look at it another way. It’s a good thing he tried to have you kidnapped. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have discovered his true motives, right? If you’d kept trusting him blindly, your future would’ve been far more dangerous.”

She was right. If Zheng Xiyun hadn’t been reborn, she wouldn’t have drafted a will or uncovered Kang Minghong’s schemes so soon. In her past life, she hadn’t even known about his infidelity.

Zheng Xiyun reopened the documents, everything was clear now. Kang Minghong’s plan to have her kidnapped had been rushed, which was why he’d hired those two incompetent men. But afterward, he had meticulously covered his tracks. After her escape, he fabricated connections between the kidnappers and a charity, then sent the forged evidence to a journalist. What he didn’t know was that the journalist hadn’t published the story not because he was waiting for the right moment, but because he recognized someone in the evidence and reported it to Lawyer Luo.

“Let’s call the police. He can reflect on his actions in prison.” Zheng Xiyun closed the folder and looked up at Mu Qing, who had stayed by her side the whole time. “Thank you.” Though she hadn’t welcomed Mu Qing’s arrival, the information she’d brought was crucial. Now, she could effortlessly reclaim the trade company project and handle it herself.

Mu Qing leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk as she lowered her gaze to meet Zheng Xiyun’s. “If you really want to thank me, how about signing that endorsement contract?”

Zheng Xiyun replied, “No need. I’m not involved in that project.”

A sly glint flashed in Mu Qing’s eyes. Her crimson lips curled into a smirk, her gaze almost predatory as she teased, “Really? If you don’t sign, I’ll kiss you right here, right now!”

Zheng Xiyun’s pupils dilated in shock. Without thinking, she stood up and backed away, pressing herself against the wall as she stared at Mu Qing, heart racing.

Her reaction would’ve wounded anyone else. Was her kiss really something to flee from?

But Mu Qing, long accustomed to her ignoring, avoiding, or even mocking him, wasn’t the least bit upset. Instead, he found her reaction utterly adorable and eagerly followed after her, spouting nonsense with a grin, “I’m not joking, you know! You’re aware I like women. Truth is, I’ve wanted to kiss you for ages!”