Bowing to Arranged Marriage [Rebirth] - Chapter 5

Zheng Xiyun’s words undoubtedly provoked Zhang Meiyan, whose eyes flashed with a hint of malice as she retorted, “Fine! If the Zheng family’s assets suffer losses because of your carelessness, will you still feel indifferent? Can you guarantee that every project you handle will turn a profit? I bet that internet company you recently invested in is going to lose money!”

Zheng Xiyun had initially been riled up by Zhang Meiyan’s words, but upon hearing the last sentence, she suddenly calmed down.

In her previous life, no one had ever suggested that her investment in the internet company would result in losses. It was a project everyone had high hopes for. In the end, the company didn’t lose money; rather, it failed its annual audit due to embezzlement of funds. Of course, Zheng Xiyun wasn’t the one who embezzled, and this time around, she was determined to uncover who was truly behind it.

Now, Zhang Meiyan was suddenly warning her that the internet company would incur losses. Even if she was just trying to scare her, why pick this particular project?

The more Zheng Xiyun thought about it, the more composed she became. She gave Zhang Meiyan a deep, scrutinizing look, watching until the woman stiffened under her gaze before curling her lips into a faint smile. “No need for you to worry about that. Instead, you should pay more attention to the projects Zheng Yoaquin is involved in.”

Zheng Yoaquin was Zheng Xiyun’s half-sister, the product of her father’s infidelity during his marriage. The two had never gotten along. This so-called sister had little talent of her own, but she was surrounded by men. Some of whom were useful allowing her to complete a few small projects over the years. However, most of the projects she handled ended up losing money, including her current investment in a film.

Yet Zhang Meiyan seemed to have unwavering confidence in Zheng Yoaquin. Raising an eyebrow, she said, “There’s no need for you to worry about your sister, Xiyun. I know you don’t like hearing this, but you are Jiangling’s daughter, after all. For her sake, I must warn you. If you don’t agree to the Mu family’s marriage proposal soon, things might not go well for you.”

“Thanks,” Zheng Xiyun replied sarcastically, giving Zhang Meiyan a slight nod before turning away with a cold glance and heading upstairs.

She hadn’t agreed to the Mu family’s proposal in her past life. Why would she do so now that she had been reborn? Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Zheng Xiyun calmly returned to her room.

Since Zhang Meiyan had brought up the internet company, Zheng Xiyun couldn’t just ignore it.

At the company, Zheng Xiyun had two assistants. One was Fu Wei, the woman who had framed her before her death in her previous life. The other was Yu Xiaxi. Back then, Zheng Xiyun had trusted Yu Xiaxi, but after Fu Wei joined, Yu Xiaxi began making repeated mistakes at work. Gradually deceived, Zheng Xiyun assigned more important tasks to Fu Wei, ultimately leading to tragedy.

Now, Fu Wei hadn’t appeared yet, so Zheng Xiyun called Yu Xiaxi. After her rebirth, she was more inclined to entrust matters to her.

Once the call connected, Zheng Xiyun instructed Yu Xiaxi to discreetly investigate the recent financial records of the internet company, emphasizing the need for secrecy.

Additionally, she asked Yu Xiaxi to look into another investment. A skincare mask product that had suddenly exploded in popularity within a year. Back then, its investors had reaped enormous profits.

This feeling of having insider knowledge made everything seem surreal to Zheng Xiyun.

The accounts of the internet company indeed had issues, but they weren’t obvious at the moment. As Zheng Xiyun read the investigation report, her mind wavered. Should she resolve the matter thoroughly or pretend not to know and let the person behind it reveal themselves? She found it hard to decide for a moment.

Setting the report aside, Zheng Xiyun picked up another investigation report about a skincare face mask.

Yu Xiaxi, seeing Zheng Xiyun skim through it quickly, explained, “According to the investigation, this face mask is genuinely good. It doesn’t contain excessive additives, the product is quite conscientious. The effects become more noticeable with long-term use. They’re currently seeking investors.”

Zheng Xiyun said to Yu Xiaxi, “Get in touch with their person in charge. I want to discuss cooperation with them.” She didn’t want to negotiate this collaboration under the company’s name; instead, she preferred to hand it over to Zhang Yi for private investment.

Then, Zheng Xiyun picked up the internet company’s report again and said to Yu Xiaxi, “Fire the person who tampered with the accounts.”

“Aren’t we going to trace the mastermind behind this?” Yu Xiaxi frowned slightly.

Zheng Xiyun smiled. “Do you think we can find them?”

Yu Xiaxi was momentarily stunned before replying with a frown, “It should be possible, but it’ll be very difficult.”

Zheng Xiyun nodded. “That’s why I don’t want to use this project as bait.” Yu Xiaxi understood her meaning. It wasn’t about not uncovering the mastermind but about not letting them ruin a good project.

After arranging the work, Zheng Xiyun leaned back in her office chair, lost in thought. Everything had been going so smoothly. Was it because you were watching over me from above? Closing her eyes, she recalled the gentle smiles of her mother and grandmother, and a faint smile appeared on her face as well.

The ringing of the phone interrupted her peace. Zheng Xiyun answered and heard her father say, “The Mu family wants you to meet their daughter.”

“No.” Zheng Xiyun refused outright. Zheng Jiangling, as if expecting this response, surprisingly didn’t lose his temper and continued persuading, “Meeting doesn’t mean you have to get married. It’s not a blind date. Just think of it as getting to know each other as friends.”

Zheng Xiyun instinctively wanted to refuse but swallowed her words. Suddenly, she felt a little curious about what kind of person this eldest daughter of the Mu family was, someone who could actually agree to marry a woman.

So, Zheng Xiyun agreed to her father’s request. During the meeting, if conditions allowed, she could also have a deeper conversation with the Mu family’s eldest daughter. If both of them shared the same goal, they could collaborate to solve this problem.

Two minutes after Zheng Xiyun agreed, an unfamiliar number called. A bad feeling rose in her heart as she answered and heard Mu Qing’s voice, “Little Yunyun, lend me some more money!”

Zheng Xiyun: “…” She was truly caught off guard. She had thought they would never cross paths again, yet here she was, asking to borrow money once more. Wasn’t this a bit too shameless?

“Why do you think I’d lend you money again?” Zheng Xiyun was genuinely curious. Hadn’t her rejection and aloofness been clear enough?

Mu Qing replied, “Because you have money but hate me, so you’d be willing to pay for peace and quiet.”

Zheng Xiyun was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Mu Qing to be so perceptive about her inner feelings, and to voice them without the slightest hint of shame. Wasn’t being disliked by others something that should cause sadness and embarrassment? If she hadn’t already seen what Mu Qing looked like, Zheng Xiyun would have imagined her as some shameless, ugly female ruffian.

“Do you really think I can’t stop you from harassing me?” Zheng Xiyun thought to herself that Mu Qing only knew her phone number; she could always change it.

But it was as if Mu Qing could read her mind. She continued, “But I have plenty of ways to keep bothering you. Even if you change your number, I’ll find a way. And my dear little Yunyun, do you really have that much time to play mind games with me?”

“How much money do you need?” Time was a precious commodity, especially after her rebirth. Zheng Xiyun had no intention of wasting it on someone like Mu Qing.

Mu Qing chuckled triumphantly. “A few thousand, tens of thousands whatever you can spare. I won’t complain about the amount. But don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you back!”

Zheng Xiyun hung up immediately. She could tell Mu Qing came from a well-off family and would repay the money, but the feeling of being coerced left her unsettled.

Just after transferring 100,000 yuan to Mu Qing, her phone rang again. Zheng Xiyun was about to unleash her anger when she heard Zheng Jiangling’s voice. “Xiyun, something urgent came up for the Mu family’s eldest daughter. She won’t be able to meet you.”

Zheng Xiyun was puzzled. How could something suddenly prevent their meeting? The abrupt change made her suspect something unfortunate had happened in the Mu family.

She was almost amused until she saw Mu Qing’s reply with a kissing emoji, which made her feel slightly irritated again. The most grating thing about her rebirth was undoubtedly encountering Mu Qing.

Why hadn’t she met this woman in her previous life? Back then, they must have been on the same high-speed train, but Zheng Xiyun had never left her seat. Was this the so-called butterfly effect? Just the tiny act of stepping away had led her to cross paths with someone like Mu Qing.

From the start, Zheng Xiyun had no intention of making the facial mask investment a company project. She had Yu Xiaxi prepare the proposal and personally delivered it to Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi was surprised when she saw the plan. “Why are you handing this project to me? It’s a small investment, but the potential is clear. Don’t you want to use it to prove yourself to the board?”

Leaning against Zhang Yi’s desk, Zheng Xiyun rested her elbow on the surface, her posture elegant, the curve of her waist smooth and graceful. “Giving this project to them would be a waste. I don’t want to spoil them too much right now.”

Zhang Yi burst into laughter. “Well, thank you very much then. I’ll take it. But I suggest we invest together privately.”

Zheng Xiyun smirked. “Earning money for charity?”

Zhang Yi shot her a glare. “Stop talking like you’re going to die tomorrow! As long as you’re alive, the money is yours!”

Zheng Xiyun raised an eyebrow, conceding the point. “Fine, I’ll give you the money. You handle it.”

Zhang Yi rolled her eyes. “So lazy.” But she didn’t refuse.

A faint smile curled Zheng Xiyun’s lips as she said, “If you were the one I was arranged to marry, I might not hesitate at all before agreeing.”

“You scared me to death!” Zhang Yi laughed. “You didn’t even ask if I was willing to marry you!”

After their playful banter, the two went out to eat and shop together, their closeness making them seem like a truly loving couple.

Since the accounting issues at the internet company were resolved, Zheng Xiyun had noticed the atmosphere at home had grown much more subdued. She had subtly probed for answers, but both her father and Zhang Meiyan pointed fingers at the Mu family, blaming them for pressuring the Zheng family while also directing their resentment toward Zheng Xiyun.

Unfazed, Zheng Xiyun ignored their moods and began scouting for a fishing project. She wanted to invest in a new venture under the company’s name, using it as bait to lure out whoever was scheming behind the scenes, then follow the trail to uncover who was trying to ruin her.

When Zhang Meiyan learned Zheng Xiyun was looking for a new project, she approached her again, enthusiastically recommending an investment in medical equipment. To Zheng Xiyun, the company seemed suspiciously like a pyramid scheme, and Zhang Meiyan appeared to be the one brainwashed by it.

She frowned slightly. “Who introduced this project to you?”

Her tone held no respect, but Zhang Meiyan was used to it and instead smiled. “A friend recommended it to me. You know how people nowadays fear nothing more than falling ill. The medical industry is always a safe bet. I just thought, since you haven’t had any good projects this year, I’d suggest this to you so the board members won’t start micromanaging you later.”

Zheng Xiyun pushed the proposal back. “This project does sound good. Why don’t you give it to Zheng Yoaquin? I think she needs it more than I do.” After all, Zheng Yoaquin had far too few profitable projects in her hands. In her past life, Zheng Xiyun had planned to use this very weakness to oust Zheng Yoaquin from the company only to end up dead herself.

If this were truly a good project, why would Zhang Meiyan save it for Zheng Xiyun? Seeing that Zheng Xiyun wasn’t biting, Zhang Meiyan seethed with anger, but she knew Zheng Xiyun wasn’t someone to be trifled with. When alone, she rarely provoked her. Still, she pettily stored away every grievance in her heart.

After seeing Zhang Meiyan out, Zheng Xiyun continued reviewing the projects Yu Xiaxi had provided, but none seemed particularly suitable.

A knock sounded at her office door. Without looking up from the documents, Zheng Xiyun said, “Come in.”

When no one approached after a long moment, she finally lifted her gaze toward the door and her eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of Kang Minghong standing there, holding a bouquet of roses and a gift.