Distance Formula - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Su Yanshi went ahead to have her makeup done, while Bai Biqing lagged a step behind. Her clenched phone vibrated; she lowered her head to glance at it—it was a message from Su Shang. She scanned her surroundings and ducked into a secluded corner to check it.

Su Shang: “I have an impression of Cui Xiaojiu. She’s always relied on Liu Sheng for resources. Her actual strength is decent, but she holds herself in far too high regard; she’s not very likable.”

Su Shang: “But why are you asking about this?”

Bai Biqing’s fingertips paused. She typed: “I find her eyesore.”

Su Shang: “Understood! You’re standing up for Su Yanshi, aren’t you?”

Bai Biqing: “Mm.”

She didn’t reply further, turning her thoughts to Liu Sheng. She had some memory of him; he was in his forties, reasonably good-looking, and hadn’t yet reached middle-age spread.

Bai Biqing had met him and his wife at a cocktail party once. In truth, this Alpha-Omega pair had long since gone their separate ways in terms of private affairs. Most people in the circle knew this well; as long as it wasn’t brought into the open, Liu Sheng didn’t care how people gossiped behind his back.

She remembered she had saved his number.

Bai Biqing quickly found Liu Sheng’s contact and dialed. He didn’t keep her waiting long.

“Little President Bai?”

The voice on the other end was tentative. Bai Biqing curled her lips into an extremely cold arc: “It’s me.”

Liu Sheng let out a chuckle: “I wonder what Little President Bai needs from me? If there’s anything Liu Sheng can do to help, I certainly will.”

Bai Biqing toyed with her fingertips, her voice light: “It’s nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you know a person named Cui Xiaojiu?”

The other end went silent for a few seconds. When the voice returned, it was significantly more solemn: “Are you talking about the Cui Xiaojiu in the entertainment industry? I know her. May I ask how she has offended you?”

Bai Biqing’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, and a faint hint of threat colored her words: “Offended? Why put it like that, President Liu? She clearly wants to give me a ‘show of strength’.”

The Beta’s casual remark made Liu Sheng tremble slightly as he held the phone. His back broke into a cold sweat as he replied nervously: “This… how could she be so ignorant! I will definitely give her a proper scolding.”

Cui Xiaojiu played fast and loose, and she knew how to please him. Liu Sheng didn’t want to grow tired of her quite so soon.

Bai Biqing gave an “oh,” her gaze instantly turning dark: “It seems President Liu is reluctant to let her go. Cui Xiaojiu must serve you very comfortably then—”

She let out a light laugh that struck Liu Sheng’s heart like a heavy hammer. Her next words threw him into a total panic.

“President Liu, let’s see if you love the beauty more, or yourself. Surely you don’t think I don’t have a few things on you in my hands?

Cui Xiaojiu has done quite a lot of ‘good work’ relying on your influence. I only found out today that she actually moved against someone by my side. Guess what will happen today.”

Liu Sheng explained frantically: “Little President Bai, I—”

“Liu Sheng.” Bai Biqing called his name in a low voice. There was no tenderness in her eyes, only a gloom that Su Yanshi had never seen before. “Actually, I don’t need you to do much. Just cooperate with me. When the time comes, you just need to push Cui Xiaojiu as high as possible. As for the rest, I’ll handle it.”

“After all,” Bai Biqing chuckled lowly, “the higher you climb, the harder you fall, right?”

She gave Liu Sheng one final reminder: “President Liu, I hope you won’t interfere too much. I will give you updates. I imagine you wouldn’t want to make the cooperation between our two families… unpleasant, would you?”

Liu Sheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and immediately agreed: “Of course, of course.”

Bai Biqing had always been the darling of the Bai and Su families. Not only because of her background, but because this Beta herself was extremely capable and ruthless. Liu Sheng was a self-made man; he couldn’t afford the loss. No matter how reluctant he felt, he didn’t dare get close to Cui Xiaojiu again.

He gritted his teeth, thinking to himself that Cui Xiaojiu had better not cause any trouble that would disadvantage him.

Bai Biqing’s expression remained cold, yet she still said: “President Liu, I have things to do, so I’ll hang up now. I wish you a pleasant mood today!”

She hung up cleanly and leaned back against the wall, trying to soothe the coldness radiating from her body. She rubbed her temples, adjusting her aura before heading to the dressing room to find Su Yanshi.

Just as she reached the door, she heard an unfamiliar voice coming from inside.

“Isn’t this the big star Su Yanshi? You’re actually willing to take the second lead.”

Su Yanshi didn’t speak. She looked coldly at Cui Xiaojiu, who was mocking her with thinly veiled sarcasm. Her makeup wasn’t finished yet and the makeup artist was still there; starting a fight wouldn’t benefit her. The opponent was different—Cui Xiaojiu had backing.

For some reason, Su Yanshi suddenly thought of what Bai Biqing had said. In an instant, she felt a sense of security. With newfound confidence, she prepared to strike back, casting a glance at Cui Xiaojiu.

“Yes, it’s certainly better than playing my ex-wife.”

Su Yanshi rarely looked so cold in front of others. She licked her lips and continued: “Perhaps you’re just a bit player used to drive the plot forward.”

Cui Xiaojiu let out a “ha” and said disdainfully: “You think I wanted to come?”

The makeup artist, seeing that things weren’t right, sped up. Once finished, they hurried to leave. Upon opening the door, they saw Bai Biqing with a dark expression. They had a good impression of this assistant and weren’t afraid, whispering: “Go check on Teacher Su. I feel like those two are about to snap at each other.”

Bai Biqing nodded and quickly caught the makeup artist’s arm. She looked at them silently. The makeup artist understood immediately and made a zipping motion over their mouth. The Beta smiled with satisfaction.

However, the smile was faint and vanished almost instantly.

She pushed the door open gently and stood behind Cui Xiaojiu, locking eyes with the foul-mooded Su Yanshi.

The Alpha’s eyes visibly brightened when she saw her. Cui Xiaojiu noticed the anomaly and turned around, meeting a pair of calm eyes that seemed like bottomless abysses.

“Hello, I am Su Yanshi’s assistant, Bai Biqing.”

Bai Biqing introduced herself calmly, her gaze lingering on Cui Xiaojiu for only three seconds before withdrawing.

Cui Xiaojiu felt an inexplicable sense of pressure. She maintained a facade of composure and gave a cold sneer: “Who cares what you’re called? Like master, like dog—eagerly sticking yourselves to others.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Biqing finally turned her gaze to Cui Xiaojiu. She wasn’t angry; she even curled the corner of her lips, not wishing to say more. On the contrary, Su Yanshi frowned deeply, seemingly wanting to demand an explanation from Cui Xiaojiu, but was stopped by Bai Biqing’s head shake.

Cui Xiaojiu couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the scene. She turned around and looked at Su Yanshi provocatively: “I hope you can act in a few more shows. Let’s hope this isn’t your last one.”

“Please get out.” Su Yanshi was clearly incensed, her features full of hostility. “Don’t make me say it again, Cui Xiaojiu.”

“Do you really think I can’t touch you? At worst, we can both go down together.”

Bai Biqing raised an eyebrow, watching Su Yanshi vent her anger on her behalf. She slowly exhaled in secret, her heart feeling as if a piece of it had softened, while her hidden hand had long since clenched tight.

Cui Xiaojiu—we’ll take our time.

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