Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 41

If certain news about her and Xia You was bound to reach those who admired Xia Yo, the best approach would be to mix truth with falsehood, misleading them a little.

The system had wandered off again, leaving Bai Shuixi alone in the study. Leaning back in the spacious swivel chair, she pondered for a while before getting up to knock on Xia You’s door.

The sound of knuckles rapping against wood was crisp and clear.

Bai Shuixi waited patiently by the door, neither eavesdropping nor rushing to urge her.

Though some details were impossible to ignore.

Back when she had tested Xia You’s attitude toward her, she had followed Xia You into her room even spent the night there. Now, even without trying, she could vividly picture what Xia You’s room looked like a soft click interrupted Bai Shuixi’s thoughts.

Xia You opened the door and stepped out, her expression slightly embarrassed. Her soft, rosy lips pressed together lightly as she averted her gaze, speaking with a hint of shyness: “Wh-what is it. Did you find out who’s been secretly paying attention to us?”

Bai Shuixi blinked, raising an eyebrow.

She hadn’t expected Xia You to be so concerned about that matter. After a moment’s thought, she set aside what she had originally planned to say: “Not yet, Are you really that bothered by who’s spreading rumors about us?”

Xia You paused, looking at Bai Shuixi in surprise. “You’re not?”

“It’s not that. I’ll keep an eye on who’s talking behind our backs, but there’s something more pressing right now.” Bai Shuixi smiled faintly, her thick lashes lowering as her expression turned cool, carrying an inexplicable sharpness.

Xia You hesitated, frowning slightly. “Did, something happen?”

“Nothing major, just a minor issue at the moment. I might need your help, jie.”

Bai Shuixi chuckled, her eyes curving in a way that made her resemble Xin Wensheng by seventy percent.

Xia You was momentarily dazzled by her smile before snapping back to reality. She recalled how Bai Shuixi always acted decisively, effortlessly solving any problem she faced seemingly invincible.

Could there really be something Bai Shuixi needed her help with?

Unless…

“Is your mother pressuring you to get married?” Xia You lifted her gaze, puzzled.

“Huh? Marriage?” Bai Shuixi was taken aback, completely unprepared for that angle. After a brief daze, she burst into laughter, her usually indifferent features warming up, lively like a genuine young woman. She nodded solemnly. “Yeah, exactly. My mom’s pushing me to marry, and I don’t want to. How about we fake it, jie?”

“……” Xia You quickly realized her misunderstanding, flustered by Bai Shuixi’s teasing. For a moment, she was too embarrassed to speak, her face flushing as she brushed past Bai Shuixi and hurried into the living room. “Alright, stop joking. Just tell me what you need help with.”

Bai Shuixi followed her into the living room with a smile, leisurely settling onto another sofa. She looked up at Xia You, her tone still lighthearted and casual:

“Actually, it’s about the company. You’ve been at Tianyin for a while now, jie. You must’ve noticed that not everyone there listens to me, right? I’m planning to fix that.”

Xia You remained silent, watching as Bai Shuixi picked up an orange and began peeling it. As she meticulously removed the white fibers from the fruit’s surface, she said:

“Having employees and executives in a company simultaneously taking orders from two superiors is highly inefficient. Moreover, I dislike people secretly working against me, so I’ve been thinking of ways to address this. Right now, I need someone outside the company to help handle some private matters, someone who can coordinate with me anytime and ensure proper document management. Can you do this, sister?”

Xia You was taken aback. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” Bai Shuixi smiled, placing the peeled orange in Xia You’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll guide you on what to do. You just need to stay at home, feel free to use the study.”

Xia You blinked, staring at the warm orange segments in her palm, her mind inexplicably wandering. She recalled how Bai Shuixi had also peeled an orange for her when taking her backstage at the variety show last time.

Does Bai Shuixi really like oranges?

Lost in thought, Xia You’s tongue seemed to taste the memory of that orange segment from the VIP lounge again. In a sudden fluster, she agreed without even asking who Bai Shuixi intended to deal with.

Bai Shuixi was also surprised. She hadn’t expected Xia You to be so easily persuaded so much so that the “incentives” she had prepared remained unspoken. After a brief pause, she said, “Mm, alright. Tomorrow, I’ll have He Jiu deliver a work laptop to you.”

“Oh, I see,” Xia You realized something. “You won’t be at home?”

Bai Shuixi pulled out a wet wipe, carefully cleaning her fingers, her gaze lingering on the damp marks left on her fingertips. She narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. “I’ll be here, but not every day. I still need to go to the company often.”

Xia You thought about it and nodded. Bai Shuixi wanted to regain control of the company, not continue playing the spoiled heir. Naturally, she couldn’t stay home all the time like before.

“Alright,” Xia You agreed.

Bai Shuixi curved her lips into a smile. As Xia You stood up to return to her bedroom, Bai Shuixi suddenly tilted her head and spoke with a playful smirk, “Sister, since you’re helping me this time, I’ll repay you.”

Xia You, already at the edge of the living room, turned back, puzzled. “What are you going to give me?”

“I can’t say now, but I think you’ll like it,” Bai Shuixi replied with a smile.

If all went well, she could finally deal with Bai Ye. After that, whether it was Li Wei or other characters, they would gradually exit the stage as the plot progressed. And her own consciousness would leave this world once the story concluded.

What she wanted to give Xia You was a small world where she could thrive independently.

As long as all loose ends were tied up before the story ended, Xia You would never have to face devastating hardships again.

Xia You considered this, though she didn’t fully understand Bai Shuixi’s meaning. A faint unease stirred within her some inexplicable intuition suddenly triggered. For the first time, she made a request that came purely from her heart, one that sounded almost, transgressive:

“If you really want to give me something, could it be a wish instead? Let me choose what I’d like.”

Bai Shuixi froze for a moment, her usual composed expression briefly blank. “This…”

“Is it not okay?” Xia You snapped out of her thoughts, lowering her eyes slightly as she gave Bai Shuixi a somewhat disappointed look.

“…It’s fine.” Watching Xia You’s expression, Bai Shuixi changed her mind and agreed.

She wouldn’t admit that she hadn’t seriously considered it at all,she had agreed almost impulsively. She consoled herself: after all, she’d never heard of forcing gifts on people. If Xia You had any wishes within her power to fulfill, helping out wouldn’t be a problem.

“Then I’ll head back to my room first.” Xia You smiled softly at Bai Shuixi, her gaze gentle, her tone warm. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” Bai Shuixi watched as Xia You spoke.

Xia You’s figure soon disappeared around the corner. Bai Shuixi sat there, lost in thought for a while, before also returning to her bedroom.

She still had a few people to contact.

The system had mentioned that news about her and Xia You would inevitably reach the ears of those who admired Xia You, but it refused to reveal exactly which details would be leaked.

But this wasn’t really a big deal.

If the original plot’s logic was uncontrollable and the information spread might not be what she wanted, then she could just fabricate the narrative herself tailored to her liking and let those people hear it.

Back in her room, Bai Shuixi didn’t rush to rest. Instead, she first contacted Shen Yanxin.

Shen Yanxin was someone who dabbled in shady dealings, commanding a group of dubious individuals. Spreading rumors and manipulating information was as natural to her as eating and drinking.

Next, Bai Shuixi ordered a batch of adult toys, even going so far as to awkwardly reconnect with old, disreputable friends to procure some banned substances not available on the market.

She had Shen Yanxin spread rumors about a fight between her and Xia You, weaving half-truths and outright lies while keeping Xia You’s whereabouts under wraps.

Xia You, believing she was merely helping Bai Shuixi with paperwork, didn’t show up at the company for several days.

With Xia You absent from Tianyin Tower, Bai Shuixi quietly mixed the empty boxes of the adult toys and the empty vials of the banned substances into the daily trash she took downstairs.

If Bai Ye was still keeping tabs on her and Xia You, she would surely notice this anomaly.

And even if Bai Ye remained skeptical, Bai Shuixi had one final move.

Fang Shangzhe was the type who played all sides, indifferent to credibility as long as he could appease his clients. The source of information was just a minor detail to him.

Bai Shuixi pulled up Fang Shangzhe’s WeChat and gave him her second explicit instruction.

X: [Look into the rumors about the Bai heir’s illegal confinement. If you can get solid evidence, your reward will be tenfold.]

The promise of a hefty payout had Fang Shangzhe replying instantly: [!!]

Fang Shangzhe: [Got it, boss. I’m on it, expect good news soon.]

Two minutes later, in a property within the same neighborhood unseen by Bai Shuixi, Bai Ye, her expression dark and brooding, received Fang Shangzhe’s message: [Boss, it’s confirmed. Bai Shuixi and Miss Xia had a falling out. Miss Xia is suspected to be confined by Bai Shuixi.]

Reading those words, Bai Ye, already seated in the shadows, clenched the medicine box in her hand tightly.

Apart from the one in Bai Ye’s hand, there were many instruction manuals and crushed medicine boxes scattered at her feet. The small boxes were covered in English or Thai, with translations revealing utterly unspeakable contents.

Before Fang Shangzhe sent his message, Bai Ye had already gone through these materials repeatedly.

She looked down on Bo Shui Xi’s methods, but when reading those messy instructions for drugs and tools, she couldn’t help but imagine how they would be used on Xia You.

It must be humid, sensual, and so obscenely tempting that refusal would be impossible.

Lost in thought, Bai Ye’s throat grew dry with thirst, her pheromones faintly stirring out of control.

Why?

Clutching the medicine box, Bai Ye narrowed her eyes. She was the one who met Xia You first. Even if it was about love, about revenge against that fickle childhood friend, shouldn’t Xia You have chosen her?

After a slow, deliberate moment, Bai Ye sent a message to a long-serving secretary of one of the few Bai family directors who still supported her:

[Has the guest list for Manty’s upcoming banquet been finalized? Is it confirmed that the Bo family heir will attend with a female companion?]

The secretary, ever professional, quickly replied: [Correct.]

Seeing the response, Bai Ye set her phone aside, her gaze dangerously fixed on the staff roster for the Manty banquet on the table.

It would be best if Bo Shui Xi’s companion isn’t Xia You. That way, she could just go and take Xia You away directly.

Unfortunately, the chances of that were slim. Most likely, Bo Shui Xi would still bring Xia You. In that case, she’d have to find a way to get Xia You out using this staff list.

Now that Xia You had already been forced by Bo Shui Xi, surely she wouldn’t trust her again.

As Bai Ye studied the staff list, she slowly folded the medicine box.

This time, if she rescued Xia You, then from then on, she would be Xia You’s only one. Even if Xia You wanted to indulge in something wild, it should be with her.

Meanwhile—

In the gradually illuminated Tianyin Building, Xu Chuan, dressed sharply, strode briskly down the hallway and entered the planning department’s conference room.

Technically, it was already after work hours, but Xu Chuan was a notorious workaholic late nights were nothing unusual.

Tonight, her sudden visit to the project department was due to urgent cross-departmental checks on several projects. Some relevant personnel were still on their way, and even the planning director hadn’t arrived yet. The conference room was empty except for Xu Chuan.

She had just sat down and picked up a document when her secretary walked in, leaving only the two of them in the spacious room.

Xu Chuan glanced up. “What’s the matter?”

The secretary answered respectfully, “The Omega we hired earlier is pressing for the final payment. She claims she successfully brought President Lei in front of CEO Bo, and that President Lei did indeed remember Assistant Xia. Everything that needed to be said has been said. The gatherings you carefully arranged worked, President Lei did take in all that gossip.”

“Hmm. And?” Xu Chuan twirled her pen. “Weren’t you supposed to verify the results? Assistant Xia hasn’t come to work these past few days. What’s the reason?”

“As we suspected, they did fight. But, it seems CEO Bo has confined Assistant Xia at home.” the secretary whispered.

Hearing her secretary’s reply, Xu Chuan paused her movements, her expression turning dark and complicated. After a long silence, she finally spoke, “So it seems such a trivial matter isn’t enough to make Bai Shuixi let go.”

The secretary listened but didn’t dare respond.

After another moment, Xu Chuan suddenly said, “In a few days this week, isn’t President Bai attending the Mantie Fashion Gala on behalf of Director Xin? I remember that artist from Rixin. Zhou Wanwan, will also be there. Isn’t her agent somewhat acquainted with our Assistant Xia?”

The secretary quickly ran through the connections in her mind and replied, “Yes, they graduated from the same high school and were very close back then.”

“Hmm,” Xu Chuan responded lightly, not looking up as she said, “Miss Zhou’s current status seems rather awkward, stuck between top-tier and first-rate. Her professional limitations make it hard for her to advance further. Let’s give them a hand. Childhood friendships are so rare, after all.”

Understanding Xu Chuan’s implication, the secretary acknowledged and left the room.

Watching her secretary depart, Xu Chuan leaned back in her chair, unable to focus on the documents before her.

Truthfully, she didn’t mind that Bai Shuixi had many people around her, playing the field. What she feared was Bai Shuixi actually caring about someone.

She hoped this time she could truly make Bai Shuixi lose interest in Xia You.

Under the watchful eyes of several parties with differing agendas, the Mantie Jewelry Fashion Gala finally began.

Due to its clientele, this gala maintained a high level of privacy, with no media allowed and a relatively small scale. Compared to charity galas or annual fashion events, the guest list was significantly shorter.

However, the smaller number of attendees didn’t diminish the brand’s attention to the event. Mantie had transformed an entire luxury hotel into the gala venue, with security and staff outnumbering guests by two or three times.

Local elites from G City and wealthy families from elsewhere arrived at the hotel in succession, their luxury cars forming a more comprehensive display than some auto shows.

Bai Shuixi and Xia You arrived at the hotel in one such car this time, Bai Shuixi used Xin Wensheng’s business vehicle in the country, with a driver typically reserved for the Bai family’s directors, making access far smoother than with her own subordinates.

The Bai family car bypassed many luxury vehicles and slowly pulled up to the hotel entrance. The door opened, revealing Bai Shuixi, as impeccably polished as ever, who then turned to take Xia You’s hand and guide her out.

Bai Shuixi’s favored designers always had top-tier taste. The champagne-colored fitted evening gown chosen for Xia You accentuated her figure perfectly, with exquisite tailoring that enhanced her silhouette.

Ordinarily, such a gown would have made Xia You radiant, but her face was inexplicably drawn, betraying a hint of exhaustion.

Nearby attendants and guests who had already arrived and were coming over to greet them noticed Xia You’s unusual state, their expressions flickering with subtle reactions before quickly masking them with polite smiles.

It’s a shame that whenever it doesn’t involve romance, Xia You is always sharp enough to quickly pick up on people’s thoughts. Feeling awkward, she couldn’t help but shoot an annoyed glare at the culprit.

Bai Shuixi, knowing she was in the wrong, could only play dumb with an innocent smile.

Last night, just when they were about to rest, Xia You had even applied a face mask before bed. But then Bai Shuixi suddenly dragged her into watching a horror movie, coaxing and pleading until she had no choice. Xia You was so frightened she barely slept all night. The next day, Bai Shuixi pulled her into playing shooter games the entire day, only letting her go when she finally dozed off with the controller in hand.

After being tormented like this for a full day and night, it was no wonder she looked exhausted!

Xia You truly couldn’t understand what Bai Shuixi was up to. After all, Bai Shuixi had never been into horror movies or gaming before.

It was all so baffling.

After brushing off a few people trying to cozy up to her, Bai Shuixi led Xia You to a quiet corner. Still feeling a bit guilty, she hooked Xia You’s finger playfully and whispered, “Still mad at me, jiejie?”

Sleep-deprived and struggling in high heels, Xia You was utterly drained. Fatigue made her spirit wilt, and she pursed her lips, her gentle eyes brimming with discontent as she murmured, “You knew we had this banquet today.”

Bai Shuixi was indeed at fault. She had deliberately made Xia You look like she’d been ‘forced into submission’ to sell the rumors she’d fabricated to Bai Ye. But perhaps she’d gone too far, Xia You seemed on the verge of collapsing.

After a moment’s thought, Bai Shuixi lowered her voice. “How about I get you a room to rest in later? Don’t worry, everything’s been prepared in advance here.”

Xia You neither agreed nor refused. Before she could respond, voices rose again from the depths of the banquet hall. Instinctively turning, her gaze landed on a strikingly familiar figure.

Zhou Wanwan, radiant in her glamorous yet innocent allure, made her entrance. Her faint, dreamy smile struck the perfect balance between aloofness and her signature charm.

The crowd that instantly flocked to her side spoke volumes about her popularity.

Though Zhou Wanwan’s talent had never quite propelled her to greater heights, she clearly never lacked opportunities.

Xia You’s eyes didn’t linger on Zhou Wanwan for long, but Bai Shuixi glanced over, quickly spotting someone standing at the edge of the group.

Ah, perfect. Li Wei and Zhou Wanwan were both here.

If only Xu Chuan showed up, the whole cast would be complete.

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