Bowing to Arranged Marriage [Rebirth] - Chapter 20

Zheng Xiyun wasn’t sure when she had begun to soften, but now the mention of marriage no longer evoked the same aversion as it had initially. Her marriage to Mu Qing had originally been for the sake of family interests. A case of selling off a daughter for glory. But she had never been willing to sacrifice her love and marriage for the Zheng family. She had always believed she had the right and the ability to choose the life she wanted, which was why she had resisted so strongly.

Now, things were different. Since Mu Qing had appeared by her side, although she occasionally disliked Mu Qing’s persistent and clingy personality, to be fair, if the arranged marriage aspect were removed, she might not have been so averse to Mu Qing’s pursuit or to being pursued by a woman at all.

So, her current softening was due to a change in her own heart, not for the sake of her family or because someone was forcing her.

Because it came from her own thoughts, the meaning was entirely different.

But if someone were to say she could genuinely develop romantic feelings for Mu Qing, Zheng Xiyun would argue it was impossible. If she were to like a woman, whether in terms of who came first or compatibility in personality, Zhang Yi was clearly the more likely candidate.

Lost in thought, Zheng Xiyun turned to look at Zhang Yi, who suddenly remarked, “Are you scheming against me again?”

Zheng Xiyun’s tender feelings were instantly frozen by this cold remark. She snorted, “What do you have that’s worth scheming over?”

“Just felt something off about your gaze,” Zhang Yi said, though she kept her eyes on the road. Years of friendship had given her a deep understanding of Zheng Xiyun.

Zheng Xiyun replied, “I was just thinking. If I were to be with a woman, it should be with you. Mu Qing wouldn’t even be in the running.”

“Please spare me,” Zhang Yi said with a helpless laugh. “And I think you’re mistaken. If we were meant to be together, we would have been together centuries ago. No need to wait for Mu Qing to enlighten us. Some relationships, if they’re friendship, are destined to remain friendship forever. If they’re love, no one can hide its radiant glow.”

Zheng Xiyun closed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” As if she and Mu Qing could ever develop romantic feelings.

Zhang Yi grew even more exasperated. “Now you’re throwing a tantrum? Think about what you just said. It’s so misleading, I almost thought you were about to marry Mu Qing.”

“Impossible,” Zheng Xiyun opened her eyes and said seriously. “There can’t be love between us. What we have isn’t pure.”

Zhang Yi seemed to understand. “You mean that whole ‘eight characters’ fortune-telling thing?”

Zheng Xiyun sighed. “Yes. Didn’t I tell you? Her family consulted a Taoist priest who said her fate was unlucky and she needed someone to turn her luck around and that someone is me. So tell me, is she pursuing me and insisting on marriage because she likes me, or because she wants to survive?”

Zhang Yi fell silent.

It wasn’t that they were being overly suspicious, but fate was simply too important. If one died for a worthy cause, life could still be meaningful. But to die from misfortune, or as Zheng Xiyun had in her past life, framed and murdered—neither Zheng Xiyun nor Zhang Yi believed anyone could face life and death so indifferently.

So, Mu Qing was no exception.

The more Zhang Yi thought about it, the more unsettling it became. “And yet you just said you weren’t sure. I thought you were giving in.”

Zheng Xiyun shook her head, responding to Zhang Yi with complete candor, “It’s not just a simple thought. The Mu family won’t give up so easily.” At least in her previous life, they hadn’t given up even by the time of her death. Because a few months later in that life, Mu Qing seemed to have been in and out of the hospital several times. Just before Zheng Xiyun was killed in the car accident, Mu Qing appeared to be critically ill.

Back then, she had been even more averse to this marriage than she was now, consistently refusing any contact with the Mu family. That was why she suspected her death might have been orchestrated by the Mu family to have her accompany Mu Qing in the afterlife.

However, this was merely her speculation. Zheng Xiyun had no idea whether Mu Qing had ultimately died or not.

In this life, it wasn’t just the Mu family’s persistence that unsettled her. It was Mu Qing’s sudden appearance and pursuit. Compared to the Mu family’s covert threats and coercion, Mu Qing’s direct approach was far more potent.

Zheng Xiyun wasn’t sure if she could hold out in the end. Perhaps one day, just to escape Mu Qing’s relentless advances, she might actually agree to marry her. It could be seen as a daily act of kindness, saving Mu Qing’s life. Not to mention the career benefits and support the Mu family could provide after marriage.

When they arrived at Jiateng Entertainment, Zhang Yi finally said to Zheng Xiyun, “I still hope you’ll follow your heart and pursue the happiness that truly belongs to you.”

Zheng Xiyun smiled at her and replied, “Mm, I understand.”

Mu Qing was already waiting by the elevator. Spotting Zheng Xiyun, she grinned and said, “Aren’t we both a bit foolish? All that effort we put in before turned out to be completely pointless.”

Zheng Xiyun had no desire to revisit the dark history of their contract negotiations and shot her a glare, signaling her to be quiet. Mu Qing chuckled but didn’t press further.

Standing beside them, Zhang Yi found the whole scene somewhat unbearable to watch. Yet, she had to admit that compared to Kang Minghong, Mu Qing was superior in every aspect. Even if her pursuit of Zheng Xiyun wasn’t purely out of affection, it was still infinitely better than Kang Minghong’s backstabbing tendencies.

As the elevator ascended, Mu Qing spoke up again to Zhang Yi and Zheng Xiyun, “The CEO of the skincare company has already arrived, and Qin Nan is waiting in the office. But the initial price I quoted you earlier might not work anymore. You’ll need to renegotiate the endorsement fee with Qin Nan.”

Zheng Xiyun rolled her eyes but remained silent. Who would’ve thought the Mu family could produce someone as eccentric as Mu Qing? It was almost impressive in its own way.

Zhang Yi, however, was understanding. “No problem. Our expected endorsement fee was already higher than what you initially offered. As long as it’s within a reasonable range, we’re fine with it.”

Although the endorsement fee wouldn’t be as low as Mu Qing’s original quote, thanks to her involvement, Qin Nan and his agent were surprisingly accommodating. They quickly settled on a fee. The lowest within Zheng Xiyun’s expected range and also the minimum threshold for Qin Nan’s current endorsement rates.

The rest of the meeting revolved around discussing endorsement details. Zheng Xiyun didn’t plan to involve herself too much. She was confident that with the investment secured and her control over the skincare company’s strategic direction ensuring it didn’t deviate from its trajectory in her past life, the product would undoubtedly succeed.

Stepping out of the conference room, she headed to the end of the hallway for some fresh air. There, she spotted Mu Qing shamelessly eavesdropping outside an office door.

Not the least bit embarrassed at being caught, Mu Qing waved Zheng Xiyun over, inviting her to join in the eavesdropping.

Zheng Xiyun sighed in exasperation, but when Mu Qing beckoned again, she finally relented and walked over.

Approaching the office, Zheng Xiyun heard a man’s voice inside, “I told you she’s just here for fun. Taking photos of celebrities is one thing, but managing a company? Just look at today’s contract with Qin Nan. I should talk to President Mu sooner. Mu Qing is just a woman after all; she should stay home, do her makeup, and go shopping instead of coming out here to ruin things for us. President Mu doesn’t care much about Jiateng Pictures, but I do.”

Zheng Xiyun glanced at Mu Qing in surprise. She hadn’t expected Mu Qing to be viewed this way in a subsidiary of the Mu Corporation. Though the contract mishap was indeed a blunder, Mu Qing had admitted she had no prior experience managing a company, her background was in photography. To Zheng Xiyun, artists often seemed detached from practical matters, so Mu Qing’s mistake wasn’t entirely unexpected.

The real anomaly was herself.

Mu Qing, however, was visibly upset. She grabbed Zheng Xiyun’s wrist and pulled her toward the end of the hallway.

At the far end was a small balcony for employees to take breaks. Under normal circumstances, Zheng Xiyun wouldn’t have let herself be dragged along, but given Mu Qing’s mood, she didn’t want to add salt to the wound.

Leaning against the balcony railing, Mu Qing let the cold winter wind tangle her hair further. Lighting a cigarette, she said to Zheng Xiyun, “You know what? The Mu Corporation’s shareholders have been urging my brother to sell Jiateng Pictures. It’s not making much money anyway. But he refuses because I’m into photography, and he thinks having this company gives me a better foothold. He really doesn’t care about Jiateng’s profits, but hearing them talk like that still hurts. So, what if I messed up one contract? Does that make me completely incompetent? And what’s wrong with being a woman? Does doing makeup and shopping mean I can’t run a company?”

Mu Qing looked at Zheng Xiyun. The man who’d just spoken wasn’t even half as capable as her! Mu Jin had praised Zheng Xiyun’s abilities, saying she was no less competent than any man. Given the right opportunities and a broader platform, she could achieve even greater things.

Hoping for some encouragement from Zheng Xiyun’s own experiences, Mu Qing was disappointed to find her staring down the hallway, seemingly not listening at all.

Waving a hand in front of Zheng Xiyun’s eyes, Mu Qing snapped her attention back. Zheng Xiyun’s gaze flickered as she pointed at someone emerging from the office. “That director was kicked out after just a few minutes. Did the movie deal fall through?”

Mu Qing gave her a resentful look. “How would I know? I didn’t install surveillance in his office.”

Zheng Xiyun said, “If you want to prove your capability, you could talk to that director about his film. I heard he has a great script.”

Mu Qing’s frustration melted away as she smiled. “So, you were listening.” Glancing at the woman waiting for the elevator, she added, “Alright, I’ll go talk to her now.”

Watching Mu Qing stride toward the director, Zheng Xiyun stubbed out her cigarette in a hallway ashtray and turned to gaze into the distance.

If her memory served her right, the director currently held an outstanding script. With the right investment, a film made for tens of millions could yield returns dozens of times over.

After Mu Qing left with that director, she never returned. Zhang Yi, having successfully negotiated the contract with the Eight Cups Water CEO, noticed Zheng Xiyun alone on the balcony and remarked in surprise, “I thought you came out here for a secret rendezvous with Mu Qing.”

Zheng Xiyun scoffed, “Don’t joke about that.”

The contract signing went smoothly, and the subsequent advertisement shoot was scheduled without a hitch.

Zhang Mingyu, the CEO of Eight Cups Water, said to them, “Since the timing works out, why don’t I treat you both to lunch? I’d also like to discuss the company’s next steps. After all, you two have ample experience in this field, and I’d love to learn a thing or two.”

Zhang Mingyu had graduated from university just a year or two prior. Unhappy working at a biotech company, he had ventured out to start his own business. Initial funding hadn’t been a major issue, but as the company expanded into the market, substantial marketing and advertising expenses became necessary. In today’s world, the adage “Good wine needs no bush” only held true with luck. Without it, no matter how excellent the product, it might never be discovered.

When Zhang Yi and Zheng Xiyun first approached him, Zhang Mingyu had been skeptical. It wasn’t until they presented their business cards that he set aside his doubts. He was an intelligent man and recognized that while these two women—only a few years older than him—had family backing, their current success was far from solely reliant on it.

After some time working together, Zhang Mingyu grew to admire them deeply. Zhang Yi had an extensive network, effortlessly connecting Eight Cups Water with the right people to resolve any issues they encountered. Zheng Xiyun, on the other hand, had an exceptional eye for detail. No matter how convoluted the proposals or designs, she could pinpoint their key strengths and weaknesses, offering the best possible solutions.

By the end of the meal, the operational plan for Eight Cups Water’s face masks was nearly finalized. Investors as hands-on and responsible as Zhang Yi and Zheng Xiyun were a rare find.

With the face mask business running smoothly, Zheng Xiyun began scouting for other investment opportunities while waiting for Luo Xiaoli to wrap up Kang Minghong’s case.

However, instead of good news, Zheng Xiyun received a call from Luo Xiaoli saying, “Kang Minghong hired a lawyer and got himself released on bail pending trial.”

“Bail pending trial?” Zheng Xiyun frowned. “Wasn’t the evidence solid? How could he get out?”

“The trial hasn’t started yet, and his lawyer is quite formidable. It seems your family also pulled some strings,” Luo Xiaoli’s voice carried a note of urgency. “Is there anyone in your family trying to stop you from prosecuting him?”

Zheng Xiyun understood immediately. “There are plenty who would.”